Editing Asheville, North Carolina (section)

==Arts and culture==
[[File:J. Rush Oates Plaza, Asheville, NC IMG 5210.JPG|thumb|J. Rush Oates Plaza]]
[[File:Fountain, downtown Asheville, NC IMG 5204.JPG|thumb|Fountain in Pack Square]]

===Music===
Live music is a significant element in the tourism-based economy of Asheville and the surrounding area. Seasonal festivals and numerous nightclubs and performance venues offer opportunities for visitors and locals to attend a wide variety of live entertainment events.<ref>"Music pumps up economy, enlivens nightlife"; Michael Flynn; Asheville Citizen-Times; August 22, 2003.</ref>

Asheville has a strong tradition of [[street performance]] and outdoor music, including festivals, such as [[Bele Chere]] and the [[Lexington Avenue (Asheville, North Carolina)|Lexington Avenue]] Arts & Fun Festival (LAAFF). One event is "Shindig on the Green", which happens Saturday nights during July and August on City/County Plaza. By tradition, the Shindig starts "along about sundown" and features local bluegrass bands and dance teams on stage, and informal jam sessions under the trees surrounding the County Courthouse. The "Mountain Dance & Folk Festival" started in 1928 by [[Bascom Lamar Lunsford]] is said to be the first event ever labeled a "folk festival". Another popular outdoor music event is "Downtown After 5", a monthly concert series held from 5&nbsp;pm until 9&nbsp;pm that hosts popular touring musicians as well as local acts. A regular [[drum circle]], organized by residents in Pritchard Park, is open to all and has been a popular local activity every Friday evening.

Asheville is also home of the [[Moog Music]] Headquarters<ref>{{cite news |last=Dewan |first=Shaila |title=36 Hours in Asheville |url=http://mobile.nytimes.com/article?a=684577 |access-date=June 6, 2011 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=October 24, 2010}}</ref> and the museum of the [[Bob Moog Foundation]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://wncmagazine.com/feature/amped |title=Amped Up |date=2019-04-11 |work=WNC Magazine |access-date=2020-02-22 |language=en |archive-date=February 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222163806/https://wncmagazine.com/feature/amped |url-status=live}}</ref>

Asheville plays host to [[The Warren Haynes Christmas Jam]], an annual charity event which raises money for [[Habitat For Humanity]], and features notable musicians.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Music star Warren Haynes gives back to community - CNN.com |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Music/12/23/christmas.jam/ |access-date=2020-10-23 |website=CNN |archive-date=August 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810094456/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Music/12/23/christmas.jam/ |url-status=live}}</ref> DJ music, as well as a small, but active, dance community are also components of the downtown musical landscape. The town is also home to the [[Asheville Symphony Orchestra]], the [[Asheville Lyric Opera]], the Land of the Sky Symphonic Band, the Asheville Jazz Orchestra, the [[Smoky Mountain Brass Band]], and the Asheville Community Band. There are a number of bluegrass, country, and traditional mountain musicians in the Asheville area. A residency at local music establishment the Orange Peel by the [[Smashing Pumpkins]] in 2007, along with the [[Beastie Boys]] in 2009, brought national attention to Asheville.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ledger-dispatch.com/life/lifeview.asp?c%3D217801 |title=Smashing Pumpkins' return puts Asheville on music map |date=June 22, 2007 |website=Ledger Dispatch |access-date=June 23, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927130728/http://www.ledger-dispatch.com/life/lifeview.asp?c=217801}}</ref> The rock band [[Band of Horses]] have recorded two albums at Echo Mountain Studios in Asheville, as have the [[The Avett Brothers|Avett Brothers]] (who have also traditionally played a New Year's Eve concert in Asheville). Christian vocal group [[The Kingsmen Quartet|the Kingsmen]] originated in Asheville.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Kingsmen |url=http://www.newhavenrecords.com/team/the-kingsmen/ |access-date=2020-10-23 |website=New Haven Records |archive-date=October 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029105554/http://www.newhavenrecords.com/team/the-kingsmen/}}</ref>

===Performing arts===
[[File:Girl-Rain-Spout.jpg|thumb|Sculpture in Downtown Asheville of a girl drinking from a fountain shaped like a horse]]

The Asheville Community Theatre was founded in 1946, producing the first amateur production of the Appalachian drama ''[[Dark of the Moon (play)|Dark of the Moon]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Asheville Community Theatre » PRODUCTION HISTORY |url=http://www.ashevilletheatre.org/about/production-history/ |website=Ashevilletheatre.org |access-date=January 22, 2016 |archive-date=January 28, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128110322/http://www.ashevilletheatre.org/about/production-history/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Soon after, the young actors [[Charlton Heston]] and wife [[Lydia Clarke]] took over the small theatre.<ref>{{cite web |title=Asheville Community Theatre |url=http://www.ashevilleguidebook.com/wnc/cultural-attractions/asheville_community_theatre.htm |website=Ashevilleguidebook.com |access-date=January 22, 2016 |archive-date=September 12, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912081226/http://www.ashevilleguidebook.com/wnc/cultural-attractions/asheville_community_theatre.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> The current ACT building has two performance spaces – the Mainstage Auditorium (and named the Heston Auditorium), and the more intimate black box performance space 35below.<ref>{{cite web |title=Asheville Community Theatre {{!}} Asheville, NC's Official Travel Site |url=http://www.exploreasheville.com/listings/asheville-community-theatre/213/ |website=Explore Asheville |access-date=January 22, 2016 |archive-date=January 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129204246/http://www.exploreasheville.com/listings/asheville-community-theatre/213/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Asheville Lyric Opera]] celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2009 with a concert featuring [[Angela Brown]], David Malis, and [[Tonio Di Paolo]], veterans of the [[Metropolitan Opera]].<ref name="Opera">[http://citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009901250315]{{dead link|date=May 2016}}</ref> The ALO has typically performed three fully staged professional operas for the community in addition to its vibrant educational program.

The Fringe Arts Festival features alternative performances.<ref name="AshevilleFringe">{{cite web |url=http://www.ashevillefringe.org/ |title=The Asheville Fringe Arts Festival - Asheville Fringe Arts Festival |work=Asheville Fringe Arts Festival |access-date=January 26, 2013 |archive-date=December 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121230105109/http://www.ashevillefringe.org/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Visual arts===
*[[Asheville Art Museum]], located on Pack Square in downtown Asheville, which reopened on November 14, 2019, after a $24&nbsp;million renovation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Asheville Art Museum re-opens after major three-year expansion project |url=https://artdaily.cc/news/118217/Asheville-Art-Museum-re-opens-after-major-three-year-expansion-project#.XcrDpklzLAx.mailto |website=Art Daily |publisher=Jose Villareal |access-date=2 December 2019 |archive-date=December 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220185756/https://artdaily.cc/news/118217/Asheville-Art-Museum-re-opens-after-major-three-year-expansion-project#.XcrDpklzLAx.mailto |url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center]], located on Pack Square in downtown Asheville, which presents exhibitions, performances and other public programs related to the history and influence of [[Black Mountain College]].
*[[Flood Gallery Fine Arts Center|Flood Gallery Fine Art Center]], a non-profit contemporary art institution formerly located in Asheville's River Arts District, downtown Asheville, and the nearby Town of Black Mountain before moving (after Hurricane Helene) to East Asheville<ref>{{Cite web |title=about |url=https://floodgallery.org/ |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=Flood Gallery Fine Art Center |language=en}}</ref>
*The [[River Arts District]], a formerly industrial section of Asheville along the French Broad River which began to house artist studios in the 1980s.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-20 |title=History of Asheville's River Arts District |url=https://www.riverartsdistrict.com/history/ |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=River Arts District Artists |language=en-US}}</ref> By 2024, prior to Hurricane Helene, the RAD included 26 warehouses and 300 artists.<ref>{{Cite web |last=WRAL |date=2024-10-13 |title=Helene destroyed 80% of Asheville's River Arts District. The economic impacts could be just as devastating |url=https://www.wral.com/story/helene-destroyed-80-of-ashevilles-river-arts-district-the-economic-impacts-could-be-just-as-devastating/21664823/ |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=WRAL.com |language=en}}</ref>
* The [[Southern Highland Craft Guild]]'s [[Folk Art Center]], dedicated to Appalachian craft traditions.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.southernhighlandguild.org/folkartcenter/ |title=Folk Center |website=Southern Highland Craft Guild |language=en-US |access-date=2020-02-14 |archive-date=February 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217214601/https://www.southernhighlandguild.org/folkartcenter/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
* The [[Young Men's Institute Building|YMI Cultural Center]], exhibiting art related to the heritage of African Americans in the area.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.blueridgeheritage.com/destinations/ymi-cultural-center/ |title=YMI Cultural Center – Blue Ridge National Heritage Area |language=en-US |access-date=2020-02-22 |archive-date=February 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222163758/https://www.blueridgeheritage.com/destinations/ymi-cultural-center/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Film and television===
Several brief-lived film festivals have been held in Asheville. The Asheville Film Festival was first held in 2003, but the City of Asheville ceased funding it in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Arnaudin |first=Edwin |date=2021-11-20 |title=A look back at the Asheville Film Festival's brief, exciting run |url=https://mountainx.com/arts/a-look-back-at-the-asheville-film-festivals-brief-exciting-run/ |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=Mountain Xpress |language=en-US}}</ref> From 2011-2014, filmmakers Sandi and Tom Anton to relaunch the defunct Asheville Film Fest as Asheville Cinema Fest.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Motsinger |first=Carol |title=Couple behind Asheville cinema festival celebrate their love of film - and city - in annual event |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/asheville-citizen-times-tom-and-sandi-an/161889044/ |work=Asheville Citizen-Times |pages=D1 and D7}}</ref> From 2016-2018, A-B Tech hosted an independent Asheville Film Festival without city sponsorship.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Asheville NC Film Festival 2016-2018 Looking Back |url=https://www.ashevillencfilmfestival.com/ |website=AshevilleNCFilmFestival.com}}</ref> The Asheville Jewish Film Festival began in 2009 and was most recently (as of 2024) held in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-03-10 |title=Asheville Jewish Film Festival |url=https://mountainx.com/tag/ashevillejewishfilmfestival/ |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=Mountain Xpress |language=en-US}}</ref>

Currently active film and multimedia events in Asheville include the 48-Hour Film Project, which the city participates in annually;<ref name="Asheville Branch">{{cite web |title=48-Hour Film Festival Asheville |url=http://www.48hourfilm.com/en/asheville/ |website=48hourfilm.com |access-date=May 22, 2016 |archive-date=November 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161110095433/http://www.48hourfilm.com/en/asheville/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Cat Fly Fest, founded in 2017;<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-08-24 |title=Asheville's Cat Fly Film Fest Caters To Short Works On Small Budgets |url=https://www.bpr.org/arts-performance/2021-08-24/ashevilles-cat-fly-film-fest-caters-to-short-works-on-small-budgets |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=BPR |language=en}}</ref> Connect Beyond Festival, launched in 2018;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://connectbeyondfestival.com/ |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=Connect Beyond Festival |language=en-US}}</ref> and the Twin Rivers Media Festival, which held its 30th annual event in 2024.<ref name="Asheville 1">{{cite news |last1=staff |date=May 18, 2012 |title=Asheville's River Arts District hosts 19th annual Twin Rivers Media Festival beginning Friday |url=ftp://ftp.ashevillenc.gov/parks/NCAC/Complete_Applications/Twin%20Rivers/examplesashevillepress.pdf |access-date=August 13, 2015 |publisher=ashevillenc.gov}}{{Dead link|date=October 2019|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref><ref name="Appalachian Getaways">{{cite web |last1=Moe |first1=Jack |title=The Vision of the Twin Rivers Media Festival-Asheville, NC |url=http://www.appalachiangetaways.com/twinriversmediafestival.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150810180513/http://appalachiangetaways.com/twinriversmediafestival.html |archive-date=August 10, 2015 |access-date=August 13, 2015 |publisher=Appalachian Getaways}}</ref><ref name="Citizen-Times">{{cite news |last1=Motsinger |first1=Carol |title=20th annual Twin Rivers Media Festival opens May 17 |url=http://blogs2.citizen-times.com/carol/2013/05/09/20th-annual-twin-rivers-media-festival-opens-may-17/ |access-date=August 13, 2015 |publisher=[[Asheville Citizen-Times]] |date=May 9, 2013 |df=mdy-all}}{{dead link|date=August 2017|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=30th Annual Twin Rivers Media Festival |url=https://filmfreeway.com/trmf |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=FilmFreeway |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Thomas Wolfe House, Asheville, NC IMG 5170.JPG|thumb|[[Thomas Wolfe House]] in downtown Asheville]]
[[File:5-14-14 Biltmore Estate NHL-66000586.jpg|thumb|The Biltmore House on [[Biltmore Estate]], the largest private residence in the United States]]
[[File:Old BB&T Building, Asheville, NC (45829077065).jpg|upright|thumb|[[The Arras]], formerly the BB&T Building]]

===Places of worship===
Places of worship in Asheville include the Roman Catholic [[Basilica of St. Lawrence, Asheville|Basilica of St. Lawrence]], the [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopal]] [[Cathedral of All Souls]] and [[St. Luke's Episcopal Church (Asheville, North Carolina)|St. Luke's Church]], and the Jewish [[Congregation Beth Israel (Asheville, North Carolina)|Congregation Beth Israel]].

===Restaurants===
Asheville was the first U.S. city recognized by the [[Green Restaurant Association]] as a Green Dining Destination (significant density of green restaurants).<ref name="Archived copy"/>

In 2022, two Asheville restaurants were given the [[James Beard Foundation Award|James Beard Award]]. [[Chai Pani]] received Outstanding Restaurant and [[Cúrate Bar De Tapas|Cúrate]] received the award for Outstanding Hospitality.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The 2022 James Beard Award Winners {{!}} James Beard Foundation |url=https://www.jamesbeard.org/blog/the-2022-james-beard-award-winners |access-date=2023-02-18 |website=www.jamesbeard.org |language=en |archive-date=February 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230218155428/https://www.jamesbeard.org/blog/the-2022-james-beard-award-winners |url-status=live }}</ref> Asheville is also home to Cantonese chef J Chong who was a finalist on the HBO cooking competition, [[The Big Brunch]].<ref>{{Cite web |title='The Big Brunch' Chef J Chong Talks Dan Levy, Diversity, & Great Food |url=https://www.out.com/television/2022/11/10/big-brunch-chef-j-chong-talks-dan-levy-diversity-great-food |access-date=2023-02-18 |website=www.out.com |language=en |archive-date=February 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230218233939/https://www.out.com/television/2022/11/10/big-brunch-chef-j-chong-talks-dan-levy-diversity-great-food |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Points of interest===
* [[The Arras]], tallest structure in Asheville
* [[Biltmore Estate]], largest privately owned house in the United States, and listed as U.S. National Historic Landmark
* [[Blue Ridge Parkway]], a national parkway noted for its scenic beauty, known as "America's Favorite Drive"
* [[Botanical Gardens at Asheville]], non-profit botanical gardens initially designed by Doan Ogden
* [[Demens-Rumbough-Crawley House]], "Hanger Hall", built by [[Peter Demens]], listed on the National Register of Historic Places
* [[Grove Park Inn]], hotel listed on U.S. National Register of Historic Places
* [[Jackson Building (Asheville, North Carolina)|Jackson Building]], first [[skyscraper]] in western North Carolina
* [[McCormick Field]], one of the oldest minor-league stadiums still in regular use
* [[North Carolina Arboretum]], arboretum and botanical garden located within the Bent Creek Experimental Forest
* [[Smith-McDowell House]], the city's first mansion and oldest surviving house, and the oldest brick structure in Buncombe County
* [[Thomas Wolfe House]], boyhood home of American author Thomas Wolfe, and a U.S. National Historic Landmark