Love Shine Play Festival 2026
Multi day summer festival in downtown Asheville's Court Plaza, July 23–26, 2026, gathering community for sunlit outdoor performances, local vendors, and plaza activities for the 9th annual Love Shine Play celebration.
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Zesty summer tasting of experimental pickles, fermented condiments, and crazy flavor mashups alongside local craft vendors; all food menu items priced ten dollars or less for budget friendly snack and shop fun.
Zesty summer tasting of experimental pickles, fermented condiments, and crazy flavor mashups alongside local craft vendors; all food menu items priced ten dollars or less for budget friendly snack and shop fun.
Zesty summer tasting of experimental pickles, fermented condiments, and crazy flavor mashups alongside local craft vendors; all food menu items priced ten dollars or less for budget friendly snack and shop fun.

Crisp autumn street fair with dozens of local makers and craft vendors, seasonal food stalls, kid activities, and community booths spread across the downtown plaza for a family friendly outdoor celebration.

Crisp autumn street fair with dozens of local makers and craft vendors, seasonal food stalls, kid activities, and community booths spread across the downtown plaza for a family friendly outdoor celebration.
Crisp autumn street fair with dozens of local makers and craft vendors, seasonal food stalls, kid activities, and community booths spread across the downtown plaza for a family friendly outdoor celebration.

Sunlit outdoor festival celebrating local honey with tasting tables, beekeeping demos, and vendor booths on Highland Brewing's beer garden; family friendly activities and brewery beer pairings highlight Asheville's pollinator-focused foodways.

Sunlit outdoor festival celebrating local honey with tasting tables, beekeeping demos, and vendor booths on Highland Brewing's beer garden; family friendly activities and brewery beer pairings highlight Asheville's pollinator-focused foodways.
Sunlit outdoor festival celebrating local honey with tasting tables, beekeeping demos, and vendor booths on Highland Brewing's beer garden; family friendly activities and brewery beer pairings highlight Asheville's pollinator-focused foodways.

High-energy improvisational comedy featuring long-form jams, short-form games, and ensemble sketch pieces in a day-long festival format that highlights local and touring troupes with playful audience participation.

High-energy improvisational comedy featuring long-form jams, short-form games, and ensemble sketch pieces in a day-long festival format that highlights local and touring troupes with playful audience participation.
High-energy improvisational comedy featuring long-form jams, short-form games, and ensemble sketch pieces in a day-long festival format that highlights local and touring troupes with playful audience participation.

Outdoor community festival of movement, song, and playful creativity at Pack Square Park, including a Joy Parade with the Street Creature Puppet Collective, guided singing by Travis Redtail, and local artist vendors.

Outdoor community festival of movement, song, and playful creativity at Pack Square Park, including a Joy Parade with the Street Creature Puppet Collective, guided singing by Travis Redtail, and local artist vendors.
Outdoor community festival of movement, song, and playful creativity at Pack Square Park, including a Joy Parade with the Street Creature Puppet Collective, guided singing by Travis Redtail, and local artist vendors.
Tactile, curiosity driven festival of invention with hands on workshops, robotics demos, 3D printing stations, and interactive maker booths for kids and adults exploring DIY electronics, crafts, and creative engineering.
Tactile, curiosity driven festival of invention with hands on workshops, robotics demos, 3D printing stations, and interactive maker booths for kids and adults exploring DIY electronics, crafts, and creative engineering.
Tactile, curiosity driven festival of invention with hands on workshops, robotics demos, 3D printing stations, and interactive maker booths for kids and adults exploring DIY electronics, crafts, and creative engineering.
Family-friendly downtown basketball celebration with a Downtown Dribble parade of Southern Conference teams, kid-focused activities, interactive festival booths, youth skills challenges, and community programming on the lawn at Pack Square Park.
Family-friendly downtown basketball celebration with a Downtown Dribble parade of Southern Conference teams, kid-focused activities, interactive festival booths, youth skills challenges, and community programming on the lawn at Pack Square Park.
Family-friendly downtown basketball celebration with a Downtown Dribble parade of Southern Conference teams, kid-focused activities, interactive festival booths, youth skills challenges, and community programming on the lawn at Pack Square Park.
Transformative earthskills immersion in the Blue Ridge Mountains with 300+ hands on classes, nightly communal music, and intergenerational camping at Wild Human Preserve for skill building, nature connection, and community.
Transformative earthskills immersion in the Blue Ridge Mountains with 300+ hands on classes, nightly communal music, and intergenerational camping at Wild Human Preserve for skill building, nature connection, and community.
Transformative earthskills immersion in the Blue Ridge Mountains with 300+ hands on classes, nightly communal music, and intergenerational camping at Wild Human Preserve for skill building, nature connection, and community.

Eclectic fringe festival across multiple Asheville venues presenting short form experimental theater, performance art, boundary-pushing comedy, and indie music by local and touring artists with a community driven DIY ethos.

Eclectic fringe festival across multiple Asheville venues presenting short form experimental theater, performance art, boundary-pushing comedy, and indie music by local and touring artists with a community driven DIY ethos.
Eclectic fringe festival across multiple Asheville venues presenting short form experimental theater, performance art, boundary-pushing comedy, and indie music by local and touring artists with a community driven DIY ethos.

An evening tasting and community benefit at Archetype Brewing highlighting West Asheville's local food vendors and craft beers, raising funds for 12 Baskets Café and Asheville Poverty Initiative through donations and vendor proceeds.

An evening tasting and community benefit at Archetype Brewing highlighting West Asheville's local food vendors and craft beers, raising funds for 12 Baskets Café and Asheville Poverty Initiative through donations and vendor proceeds.
An evening tasting and community benefit at Archetype Brewing highlighting West Asheville's local food vendors and craft beers, raising funds for 12 Baskets Café and Asheville Poverty Initiative through donations and vendor proceeds.

Vibrant outdoor marketplace in South Pack Square highlighting Black owned vendors, local artisans, and street food stalls. Community focused shopping and cultural activities create a convivial daytime gathering space for neighbors and families.

Vibrant outdoor marketplace in South Pack Square highlighting Black owned vendors, local artisans, and street food stalls. Community focused shopping and cultural activities create a convivial daytime gathering space for neighbors and families.
Vibrant outdoor marketplace in South Pack Square highlighting Black owned vendors, local artisans, and street food stalls. Community focused shopping and cultural activities create a convivial daytime gathering space for neighbors and families.
Late night bar hopping across Asheville's best pubs, blending patriotic party energy, drink specials, and organized pub crawl pacing for groups. Expect lively crowds, 21 plus atmosphere, and celebratory Independence Day revelry.
Late night bar hopping across Asheville's best pubs, blending patriotic party energy, drink specials, and organized pub crawl pacing for groups. Expect lively crowds, 21 plus atmosphere, and celebratory Independence Day revelry.
Late night bar hopping across Asheville's best pubs, blending patriotic party energy, drink specials, and organized pub crawl pacing for groups. Expect lively crowds, 21 plus atmosphere, and celebratory Independence Day revelry.

Community-rooted visual arts gala and fundraiser presenting multidisciplinary installations, local artist showcases, and participatory community engagement in the vaulted Crest Center & Pavilion, organized by OpenDoors Asheville on March 7, 2026.

Community-rooted visual arts gala and fundraiser presenting multidisciplinary installations, local artist showcases, and participatory community engagement in the vaulted Crest Center & Pavilion, organized by OpenDoors Asheville on March 7, 2026.
Community-rooted visual arts gala and fundraiser presenting multidisciplinary installations, local artist showcases, and participatory community engagement in the vaulted Crest Center & Pavilion, organized by OpenDoors Asheville on March 7, 2026.

Whimsical, family friendly fairy tale production featuring costumed youth performers, choreographed swordplay, and twinkling stage lighting that brings knights and fairies to life for children and community theater audiences.

Whimsical, family friendly fairy tale production featuring costumed youth performers, choreographed swordplay, and twinkling stage lighting that brings knights and fairies to life for children and community theater audiences.
Whimsical, family friendly fairy tale production featuring costumed youth performers, choreographed swordplay, and twinkling stage lighting that brings knights and fairies to life for children and community theater audiences.

Eclectic open air market of vintage, handmade, and oddity vendors, inviting browsing and discovery of artisanal goods, curios, and small batch makers; casual, family friendly vibe with community focused stalls and live strolling energy.

Eclectic open air market of vintage, handmade, and oddity vendors, inviting browsing and discovery of artisanal goods, curios, and small batch makers; casual, family friendly vibe with community focused stalls and live strolling energy.
Eclectic open air market of vintage, handmade, and oddity vendors, inviting browsing and discovery of artisanal goods, curios, and small batch makers; casual, family friendly vibe with community focused stalls and live strolling energy.

Breezy after work gathering on the outdoor 80 Court Plaza in downtown Asheville, where locals mingle and unwind during a weekday evening of casual socializing and low-key nightlife energy.

Breezy after work gathering on the outdoor 80 Court Plaza in downtown Asheville, where locals mingle and unwind during a weekday evening of casual socializing and low-key nightlife energy.
Breezy after work gathering on the outdoor 80 Court Plaza in downtown Asheville, where locals mingle and unwind during a weekday evening of casual socializing and low-key nightlife energy.
Rugged 250 mile ADV off road endurance weekend over dirt roads and technical singletrack, pairing group rides, rider clinics, and campground camaraderie for the adventure motorcycle community hosted by Eurosport Asheville.
Rugged 250 mile ADV off road endurance weekend over dirt roads and technical singletrack, pairing group rides, rider clinics, and campground camaraderie for the adventure motorcycle community hosted by Eurosport Asheville.
Rugged 250 mile ADV off road endurance weekend over dirt roads and technical singletrack, pairing group rides, rider clinics, and campground camaraderie for the adventure motorcycle community hosted by Eurosport Asheville.
Rowdy St. Patrick's Day pub crawl through downtown Asheville with green themed drink specials, live DJs, and bar to bar party energy; organized by PubCrawls.com for a 21 plus nightlife celebration starting March 14, 2026.
Rowdy St. Patrick's Day pub crawl through downtown Asheville with green themed drink specials, live DJs, and bar to bar party energy; organized by PubCrawls.com for a 21 plus nightlife celebration starting March 14, 2026.
Rowdy St. Patrick's Day pub crawl through downtown Asheville with green themed drink specials, live DJs, and bar to bar party energy; organized by PubCrawls.com for a 21 plus nightlife celebration starting March 14, 2026.

Forward-looking civic briefing on downtown Asheville's economic development, safety, and cultural vitality; city planners, business owners, and community leaders present updates and solicit public input in a public forum and stakeholder panel.

Forward-looking civic briefing on downtown Asheville's economic development, safety, and cultural vitality; city planners, business owners, and community leaders present updates and solicit public input in a public forum and stakeholder panel.
Forward-looking civic briefing on downtown Asheville's economic development, safety, and cultural vitality; city planners, business owners, and community leaders present updates and solicit public input in a public forum and stakeholder panel.

Bright holiday procession rolls through downtown streets with community floats, marching bands, and family oriented street side viewing, creating festive lights, local vendor stalls, and seasonal cheer along the parade route.

Bright holiday procession rolls through downtown streets with community floats, marching bands, and family oriented street side viewing, creating festive lights, local vendor stalls, and seasonal cheer along the parade route.
Bright holiday procession rolls through downtown streets with community floats, marching bands, and family oriented street side viewing, creating festive lights, local vendor stalls, and seasonal cheer along the parade route.