ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The final weekend of June brings festivals, concerts, food and drink events, history programs and community gatherings to Asheville and communities across Western North Carolina. Events scheduled June 26-28 include AVL Stonewall Fest in downtown Asheville, Haywood Pride on Main in Waynesville, Thunder in the Smokies in Maggie Valley, live music in Asheville and a 1918-themed living history event at the Thomas Wolfe Memorial. Here’s a look at some of the events scheduled for the weekend.
Weekend at a glance
- Festival: AVL Stonewall Fest, Haywood Pride on Main or Pioneer Heritage Festival
- Family-friendly: Sarge’s Summer Tails Adoption Event or 1918 Summer Social
- Outdoors: Thunder in the Smokies Summer Rally
- Food and drink: New Belgium Brewing 35th Anniversary Party or Summer Sips at Oak and Grist
- Live music: Sunny War, Chuck Ragan, Nobody’s Darling String Band or Traditional Irish Music Session
Festivals
AVL Stonewall Fest
Asheville Yards, downtown Asheville
Friday-Sunday | Ticketed
AVL Stonewall Fest is scheduled for Friday through Sunday at Asheville Yards. The event includes music, performances and Pride-related programming.
3rd Annual Haywood Pride on Main Festival & Parade
Wall Street, Waynesville
Friday | Free admission
Haywood Pride on Main is scheduled in downtown Waynesville. The event includes community speeches, a parade through downtown and a festival on Wall Street with live music, performances, buskers, wrestling and vendors.
Pioneer Heritage Festival – America 250 Event
Shelton House History, Heritage & Crafts, Waynesville
Saturday | Free admission
The Pioneer Heritage Festival is scheduled for Saturday at Shelton House in Waynesville. The event is part of the America 250 initiative and includes heritage demonstrations, local music and food trucks.
Family-friendly & community
Sarge’s Summer Tails Adoption Event
Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation, Waynesville
Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Free admission
Sarge’s Summer Tails Adoption Event is scheduled for Saturday in Waynesville. Adoption fees are set to be waived for dogs and cats during the event. Food from North Meats South is also scheduled to be available on site.
1918 Summer Social
Thomas Wolfe Memorial State Historic Site, Asheville
Saturday, 9 a.m. | Ticketed
The 1918 Summer Social is scheduled for Saturday at the Thomas Wolfe Memorial State Historic Site. The living history program is set inside the Old Kentucky Home Boardinghouse and includes self-guided interactions with costumed characters portraying people who might have passed through Asheville during the period.
Outdoors & daytime
Thunder in the Smokies Summer Rally
Maggie Valley Festival Grounds, Maggie Valley
Friday-Sunday | Ticketed
Thunder in the Smokies Summer Rally is scheduled for Friday through Sunday at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. The motorcycle rally includes vendors, concerts, bike games, a bike show and rides in the surrounding mountains.
Food & drink
New Belgium Brewing 35th Anniversary Party
New Belgium Brewing, Asheville
Saturday, noon-6 p.m. | Free admission
New Belgium Brewing is scheduled to mark its 35th anniversary Saturday at its Asheville location. The event includes live music, vendors, games, giveaways and a 1990s costume contest.
Summer Sips Free Cocktail Tasting at Oak and Grist Distilling Co.
Oak and Grist Distilling Co., Black Mountain
Saturday, 3 p.m. | Free admission
Oak and Grist Distilling Co. is scheduled to host Summer Sips on Saturday in Black Mountain. The event includes cocktail samples, a short mixology lesson and recipes for attendees.
Live music & nightlife
Sunny War
Asheville Music Hall, Asheville
Friday | Ticketed
Sunny War is scheduled to perform Friday at Asheville Music Hall.
Trial by Fire: Tribute to Journey
The Orange Peel, Asheville
Saturday, 7 p.m. | Ticketed
Trial by Fire, a Journey tribute band, is scheduled to perform Saturday at The Orange Peel.
Chuck Ragan
Eulogy, Asheville
Saturday | Ticketed
Chuck Ragan is scheduled to perform Saturday at Eulogy. Cliff B. Worsham and Jacob Danielsen-Moore are also listed on the bill.
Nobody’s Darling String Band
Jack of the Wood, Asheville
Saturday | Ticketed
Nobody’s Darling String Band is scheduled to perform Saturday at Jack of the Wood.
Traditional Irish Music Session
Jack of the Wood, Asheville
Sunday | Free admission
Note: Event details are subject to change. Some events may be delayed, rescheduled or canceled because of weather or other conditions. Check official event listings for the latest updates before attending.
Looking ahead
Additional concerts, festivals, markets and outdoor events are scheduled across Asheville and Western North Carolina in June. Find more local listings on the 828newsNOW events calendar.