ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — This weekend marks the one year anniversary of Hurricane Helene, which devastated Western North Carolina on Sept. 27, 2024. Between anniversary events commemorating the year since the storm, there are several festivals, performances and Blue Ridge-centric activities to check out this weekend. Read more in our guide below.
Click here for a roundup of Helene anniversary events.
Friday, Sept. 26
Sufferin’ Fools EP Release Show – 8-10 p.m., Eda’s Hide-a-Way, 1098 New Stock Road
Sufferin’ Fools, an Asheville-based Americana and rock band, will launch their second EP, “Forest for the Trees,” with a live show at Eda’s Hide-a-Way in Weaverville, N.C. Tickets are $10 at the door. The show is for ages 21 and up.
Manhattan Short Film Festival 2025 – 3-5:30 p.m., Pack Memorial Library
The Manhattan Short Film Festival is an annual showcase of 10 short films from all over the world. Previous festivals have seen documentaries, animation, star-studded casts and Oscar-winning entries, with awards for the best films decided by ballots cast by the audience. This Friday, Manhattan Short will return to Pack Memorial Library for the first of four free screenings of this year’s festival lineup.
Montford Park Players present “King Lear” – 7:30 p.m., Hazel Robinson Theatre, 92 Gay St.
The Montford Park Players continue their 53rd season, “A Season of Lunatics, Lovers, & Poets,” with “The Tragedy of King Lear,” written by William Shakespeare. Read our review of the free, outdoor theater show here.
Asheville Greek Festival – 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 227 Cumberland Ave.
This weekend marks the return of the annual Asheville Greek Festival, a celebration of Greek food, culture and faith. Several traditional Greek dishes will be served inside The Hellenic Center at the fest, including chicken and pistachio and Greek pastries, and a Greek gyro grill will be serving up hot meat and pita outside.
Saturday, Sept. 27
Local Comic Shop Day 2025 – Noon to 6 p.m., Comic Envy, 333 Merrimon Ave.
This Saturday, North Asheville comic book and collectible shop Comic Envy will participate in Local Comic Shop Day, a national event which celebrates the community of brick-and-mortar comic shops with a day of sales and superheroes.
66th annual Art on Main – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Hendersonville Main Street
The annual Art on Main art show will return to Hendersonville this weekend for its 66th rendition. Over 100 artists and several arts nonprofits will be in attendance at the Main Street art festival.
National Public Lands Day volunteering – Blue Ridge Parkway
The National Park Service is inviting neighbors and visitors to join in service projects and programs Sept. 27 to mark National Public Lands Day and the first anniversary of Hurricane Helene’s impact on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Volunteer opportunities will be offered across the parkway, including Citizen Science Bioblitz events from 10 a.m. to noon. Using the iNaturalist app, participants will help document plants, animals and fungi to aid research on biodiversity and ecological recovery.
Uplifting Deals Bake Sale and Donation Drive – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Uplifting Wholesale Warehouse, 128 Bingham Road
A bake sale, raffle and donation drive will be held this weekend by Uplifting Deals to support community nonprofit BeLoved Asheville. Food and bake sale items will be provided by Benny’s Pizza, Pies by Di, Turk Da Jerk, Buddie’s Bakeshop and more, while raffle prizes have been contributed from shops and spots like Shabingo, the Malvern, South Paw, Spotted Banana and others.
2025 Blue Ridge Pride Festival – Noon to 6 p.m., Pack Square Park
The largest Pride celebration in Asheville will return to the city this weekend for an LGBTQ+ extravaganza. Music, vendors and drag performances are all on the table for the 2025 Blue Ridge Pride Festival.
Sunday, Sept. 28
2nd Annual Black Mountain Blues Festival – Noon to 5 p.m., Black Mountain
The 2nd annual Black Mountain Blues Festival, a celebration of storytelling, blues music and Appalachian history, will be held this weekend at multiple venues across the mountain town. In addition to blues music, the festival will spotlight the history of the tradition with workshops and displays.