Here’s another event that you should not miss out if you plan to visit Asheville, North Carolina, in the future. For the first time ever, LEAF graced downtown Asheville last August 1 and 2 and I consider myself lucky enough to join the fun and excitement of this event.
This year is the 41st year of LEAF (Lake Eden Arts Festival) which is held at Lake Eden in Black Mountain, a nearby town. The event features artists, musicians, performers, entertainers and teachers from around the world whose goal is education through the use of arts. Many of the participants arrive a week early and teach in school residencies, do local showcase performances, sharing their talents with all ages of children to foster a culture of service using the arts. It’s a four day experience and many people will go camp at the lake and not miss a minute of it, which also includes a food fest from many cultures around the world.
As I’ve mentioned, this was the first time they gave a free preview right in the middle of downtown Asheville in hopes of spreading the word of their work. I learned about the event a week before after I read about it on a leaflet that I grabbed from the salon where my son was having his haircut. I made sure to mark it on my calendar so I wouldn’t miss it. Good thing my boys gladly obliged when I told them we’re going to check it out. Good boys! 😉
Festivals like this is not something new to me because my country, the Philippines, holds hundreds of festivals throughout the year. My hometown, Gensan alone, celebrates around four festivals every year, one of which is the Tuna Festival. My hometown is known as the Tuna Capital of the Philippines and that’s basically one reason why we celebrate the festival, but the festival is not all about tuna. Like LEAF, it also celebrates music and arts.
But I know for certain that there are things that I would see at LEAF that I didn’t see or will never ever see at the festivals back home. The display of arts from different cultures is just one of them. We didn’t get to check every single stall or booth at the festival, but I saw enough to amaze me of the creativity shown in arts and crafts.
The map to where all the fun at LEAF Downtown Asheville (AVL) was happening.
The packed Pack Square Park.
Good play of percussion and other musical instruments here. Their music is really unique. Something I don’t usually hear, but something that I considered really entertaining. My husband said they were a mixture of Santana and WAR, two of his all-time favorites, along with some reggae thrown in. It was super hot that day, but we didn’t mind the heat and stood there in front of the stage enjoying the music. A lot of people enjoyed listening to their music too. Them dancing to the beat was a proof it, I believe.
Aren’t those bees cute? I do wonder how difficult it was to stand up on those stilts.
A copper statue! Well, you know he’s not a real statue, right? It was the first time we’ve seen him. We’ve seen a silver woman statue before, but he’s equally as adorable as the woman.
He was using his hands to create a street art. Simply amazing!
So aside from the five things to do in downtown Asheville, make sure to include LEAF Downtown Asheville or LEAF Downtown AVL on your list too. It’s really such a fun and enjoyable event.
Are there any festivals that you celebrate in your area?
Summer festivals are so much fun! I love taking the opportunity to discover new artists and support the local economy!
I only live a few hours from Asheville, and I love art. I will have to try and get there next year to check this event out. It sounds like fun.
I love things like this. We had a small one in our town over the weekend, too. It is always fun to get out there in the community!
I LOVE going to art festivals! There is so much creativity everywhere. We live close to there, but somehow we missed this. I will have to try to get there next year.
Asheville looks like so much fun! I had no idea there was so much to do there.
Summer festivities are fun all over the world! Great pictures of summer fun! I would love to visit this town. The people look so fun and warm!
I love festivals! It is so much fun running through tent after tent checking out goods. I love finding new and interesting artisans that live in my own neighbourhood!
Looks like you guys had lots of fun! Thanks for the great photos
Wow, what a cool festival. It would be great to hear some new music while admiring some art.
We love going to things like this. Thank you for the Share.
I’m only 3 hours away from Asheville and would love to attend that festival. Those bees are adorable and I’m with you, I don’t know how they walk on those stilts. I would be terrified.
Asheville is so charming and they seem to have so much going on all the time. My friend lives there and says it is just the best place.
i don’t think we have summer festivals. Sounds fun for kids ! I really want to go to food festivals
What a fun post! I love Asheville and glad I got to re experience it through your eyes!
Another worthwhile activity when you get tired of traveling, going to beaches, or hiking/trekking. I love festivals too, there are goodies that you can’t buy anywhere else. And the shows and music makes it more enjoyable.
Nothing more fun than a summer festival in the city! Those ‘statue people’ always fool folks don’t they? I like when people go to take a selfie with it and they move and scare the person out of their wits! I know I have a twisted sense of humor right? LOL
This looks like a fun event to attend to sis. We rarely get involved with what’s going on in our city which I think should change from now on. Thanks for sharing.
I love going to flea markets or bazaars like this. I usually find things there that I don’t normally find in malls.
Seeing somebody make street art like that has been a dream of mine since watching Mary Poppins for the first time. It is one of the coolest things in my opinion.
This sounds like such a fun event to go to. I love street festivals and things like this!
I just love to be outside. If there’s live music, well that’s even better!
This sounds like an amazing family time indeed. I would so love to go to Asheville some day. The music sounds like it would have been very enjoyable along with seeing all the street art, etc.. Thanks so much for sharing.
Ahhhh festivals are the best!!! When I lived inFL I swear every weekend you could find a fun festival to attend. Here in NY ughhhh… They are pretty rare
I love little arts , crafts and musical festivals in various cities. Homemade gifts and local bands are often some of the best things in life. I also adore the food vendors. Good times.
This looks like a really fun event! Seems like it attracted some pretty interesting people.
I enjoy going to festivals, especially during the summer! I’d love to visit one in Asheville someday.
I have friends who have said Asheville is SO great!
I would love to visit one day.
This looks like fun. I love going to festivals. We have two a year where we live. I usually skip the one in July because it’s just too hot outside.
Wow, that looks like such a fun time! I love the bees on stilts!
This looks like a great time. I always enjoy festivals and such during the warmer months.
This looks like a great time! I love outdoor concerts and things like this in the summer, they are honestly my fav part of the summer
I love festivals. They are so fun. I can’t wait for some of the fall festivals here in the south.