Celebrate summer in Henderson County with music, food, dance and fireworks festivals
HENDERSONVILLE - While this very warm spring has made it feel like summer in Henderson County for a while, the official start to summer is June 20. Following are some of the many ways to celebrate summer, from music and dance festivals to food and beer parties and of course, those fireworks shows.
BOLD Bonfires: From 6-9 p.m. every Friday in June, sit back, grab a cider and relax at BOLD Bonfires at Bold Rock Mills River Cidery, 72 School House Road, Mills River. Enjoy fire pits burning, s’mores kits for purchase, live music from local acts and cider to kick your weekend off right.
Sandburg Music Festival: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. June 8, Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site, 1800 Little River Road, Flat Rock. Visitors may bring lawn chairs, food and non-alcoholic drinks. Light snacks and water will be sold. In case of severe weather, the event will be canceled. Check the park’s Facebook page and website for updates. Free admission.
Music on Main: 7 p.m. Fridays, June 14-Aug. 16, Welcome Center, 201 S. Main St., Hendersonville. Kicks off with music by Tom Brown. Held outdoors, bring a chair or blanket. Free.
Street Dances: 7 p.m. June 15 and 29, July 13 and 27, Aug. 10 at the Welcome Center, 201 S. Main St., Hendersonville. Concert series showcases traditional, local bluegrass music, square dancing and Appalachian clogging demonstrations. Free.
Riverfest!: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. June 15, Champion Park, Main Street, Rosman. Family-friendly event with many hands-on activities for kids of all ages. Exhibits and activities, free tube rides, music, food trucks. Free admission. The Hellbender 20-Miler Relay Canoe Race coincides with Riverfest! and will finish in the afternoon at Brevard’s Hap Simpson Park. Visit www.conservingcarolina.org.
SOLBLADE Medieval & Fantasy Festival: Noon-6 p.m. June 15, Fae Nectar, 2992 Memorial Highway, Lake Lure. Fantasy Tavern filled with merriment, fine mead and live music. Serving house-made mead, wine, imported beers and more. On the Festival Lawn, you'll find an artisan village, entertainment booths and sword and axe fighting. Free admission. Visit Facebook or www.faenectar.com for full details and event schedules.
Rhythm & Brews concert series: 5:30-9:30 p.m. every third Thursday, June 20-Sept. 17, South Main Street, Hendersonville. Music, food trucks, children's area. Free. Kicks off with Queen Bee & the Honeylovers. Tickets and wristbands, for purchase of beer, wine and hard cider, at the Downtown Hendersonville tent.
Hendersonville Ice Cream Trail: Join Our State magazine at McConnell Farms, 177 Old Dana Road, Hendersonville, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. June 29 to celebrate the July issue and the Hendersonville Ice Cream Trail. Honor National Ice Cream Month by tasting McConnell Farms’ renowned flavors. Witness the crew demonstrate an old-fashioned hit-and-miss engine ice cream maker and craft your own frozen delights using fresh produce, farm tours, browse the bakery and produce shop, and meet some of the Our State editorial staff, including Hendersonville’s own Katie King. Guests will also receive a map highlighting all 13 ice cream shops on the trail for future visits. Visit https://www.ourstate.com/trips/hendersonville-ice-cream-trail-celebration/.
French Broad Valley Mountain Music Jam: 6-9 p.m. July 3, Trailside Brewing Company, 873 Lennox Park Drive, Hendersonville. Weekly mountain music JAM with players in a round, where the session is focused on regional fiddle tunes and songs. Come to listen or to learn and join in. This event supports the Henderson County Junior Appalachian Musician (JAM) Kids Program. Free but donations are accepted.
July 4th celebration: Begins at 10:30 a.m. July 4 with a parade in downtown Hendersonville. At 5 p.m. come back downtown for a family-friendly festival with inflatables, kid’s games and activities, food trucks and two stages of live music. The evening will be capped off at 9 p.m. with a fireworks display.
Coon Dog Day Festival: 8 a.m.-10 p.m. July 6 in downtown Saluda. Starts with Saluda Elementary School 5K and Fun Run on Main Street, 11 a.m. parade (register by June 15), festival 9 a.m.-5 p.m., music at 5:30 p.m., square dancing at 7:30 p.m. Visit https://saluda.com/coon-dog-day/.
Chalk It Up!: Sidewalk chalk art contest from 9-10:30 a.m. July 13, 408 N. Main St., Hendersonville. Narnia Studios presents the 27th annual Chalk it Up! Watch as downtown Hendersonville’s sidewalks are transformed into beautiful murals. Art will be judged in the following categories: age 5 and younger, 6-8, 9-12, 13-20, 21 and older and professional. Free but registration required. Visit https://www.narniastudios.com/chalk-it-up. Rain dates are July 20 and 27.
Heritage Fire Tour: On July 14, more than a dozen local and regional chefs will compete in Heritage Fire Tour: Asheville, a national touring food festival making its third consecutive return to the area. For ages 21 and older, it will be hosted at Horse Shoe Farm, 155 Horse Shoe Farm Drive, Hendersonville. Participating chefs and restaurants will provide samples of dishes prepared over a live fire followed by the audience voting for their favorite bite of the day and the naming of the event's "Heritage Hero" winner. General admission tickets: $125. VIP tickets: $175. For more, visit heritagefiretour.com/tour-dates/asheville-nc.
NC Apple Festival: Aug. 30-Sept. 3 in downtown Hendersonville. Street Fair includes freshly picked apples, arts and crafts vendors, festival food, music, diverse range of events and entertainment options for all ages, King Apple parade. Visit www.ncapplefestival.org for full schedule.
Have a festival calendar item? Email Carole Terrell at CTerrell@citizentimes.com.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Henderson County NC summer festivals: What to know
