August in Asheville—A Local’s Perspective

Ian Wasserman
Aug 2, 2022
3 min read

Updated: 4 days ago

These are confusing times. Yesterday, August first, I looked out my window to see a vagrant yellow blob, drifting across the lawn; turns out it was a leaf. In fact, there were multiple leaves. You know leaves: those things that grow and trees and then turn colors then fall off (usually in the fall).

Yet it’s still summer, theoretically. Hence my confusion. On the upside, maybe the trees will change color early this year. Who knows what it’ll look like in two to three weeks. Or then again, maybe not.

Confusing times. If you’re visiting Asheville this August, I reckon you’re in need of some good old-fashioned local’s lore. Which is where I come in, with five of the best things to do in August in Asheville.

1: Go on a Picnic

If the weather holds, I say there’s no better way to spend your morning than hiking up an appetite at one of the Blue Ridge's beautiful mountain trails. If you’re a frequent reader here at Asheville Cottages, then you should know one of my favorite hikes is Craggy Gardens, offering three-hundred-and-sixty-degree views of the mountains at its peak.

It's about a forty-minute drive from Asheville, with picnic tables near the Craggy Gardens visitor center, some ways before the actual hike.

As far as provisions are concerned, I suggest picking up one of Biscuit Head’s fried chicken brunch boxes and a mimosa kit. “Brunch in the hills,” we call it. Or, if you find yourself with some time on a Saturday morning, you can visit the ASAP Farmer’s Market on downtown’s North Market Street. They’re chock-full of local produce and products, from quail eggs to jun from Shanti Elixers.

Live in Eternal August: Escape to the wilderness. Develop survival skills. Become the hermit you’ve always dreamed of becoming.

2: Visit the Black Mountain Sourwood Festival

Black Mountains’ one of my favorite small towns near Asheville, about a thirty-minute drive to the east. If you’re in need of an excuse to check out this nifty little mountain town, then you’re in luck. This August—the weekend of the 13th and 14th—Black Mountain's hosting their annual sourwood festival.

Expect live music, bustling art-stalls, fried pastries, and of course, WNC’s famous sourwood honey. Check the calendar on their website to make sure you get there in time for the petting zoo, pony rides, and your favorite musical acts.

While you’re in town I suggest you check out Cousin’s Cuban Café. It’s a relative newcomer to the area, but already my go-to spot for brunch in Black Mountain.

Live in Eternal August: Revitalize bee-populations by becoming an apiarist. It’s a delightful hobby. Fun for the whole family.

3: See Local Art at the Asheville Art Museum

If you’ve had enough of the great outdoors and are a-hankering for that sweet, sweet air conditioning, then I suggest you visit the Asheville Art Museum. With a focus on WNC artists, Cherokee art, and the legacy of Black Mountain College—renowned for educating some of the 20th century’s finest makers—I guarantee you’ll come away with a spring in your step and newly-refined sensibilities.

Plus, a visit here will land you in downtown, within one minute’s walk of the French Broad Chocolate lounge, a favorite of locals and visitors alike.

Live in Eternal August: Visit the museum’s rooftop café.

4: Catch a Live Show at Asheville Yards

If there’s one thing Asheville’s known for, it’s beer. If there’s a second thing Asheville’s known for, its live music. Asheville Yards combines both of these Ashevillean treasures at their expansive outdoor venue, right in the middle of downtown's South Slope brewing district.

Make it dinner-and-a-show by sampling the menu next door at Asheville Pizza and Brewing. They’ve got the perfect pub-crawl menu: wings, fries, and of course, steaming hot pizza.

Live in Eternal August: Fall in love with the venue? Rent it out as your own.

5: Dine al Fresca at Cafe Bomba

Located right off downtown's central Pack Square, here they serve a blend of "French and Latin inspired” breakfast and brunch foods, with covered outdoor seating just perfect for people watching.

Their menu includes all the classics of highfalutin breakfast: benedicts, crispy croissants, French-style omelets, as well as, on the Latin-side, arepas and huevos rancheros.

It's fine dining in a relaxed atmosphere, and an excellent way to round out your visit to Asheville this August.

Live in Eternal August: Learn some Spanish, so that you may more aptly order your café con leche, and the rest of life’s necessities.

Businesses Mentioned

Craggy Gardens Visitor Center

(828)-298-0398

364 Blue Ridge Pkwy, Black Mountain, NC 28711

Cuban Cousins Café

(828)-357-5513

108 Broadway Ave, Black Mountain, NC 28711

Asheville Art Museum

(828)-253-3227

2 S Pack Square, Asheville, NC 28801