5th Lovely Asheville Annual Fall Festival

Pack Square Park transforms into a celebration of community and creativity on the second weekend of October (2026 dates TBD), running Saturday 10 AM to 9 PM and Sunday noon to 6 PM. Organized by Ray Mapp and Olympia Adams of Lovely Asheville Enterprises alongside Abby Felder of Asheville Creative Arts, this free admission festival features multiple stages showcasing R&B, pop, rock, jazz, Afrobeats, and reggae.

Past performers have included Lyric and her band, Women to the Front Band, The Free Flow Band, and Delta House Jazz Band. The Roger McGuire Green and Reuter Terrace host vendor booths, food stations, and a Kids Korner with hands-on activities, while a special exhibit honors local celebrities including Roberta Flack, Nina Simone, Chris Chalk, Brad Daugherty, and Cameron Maybin.

Pack Square sits 80 Court Plaza in downtown Asheville, with parking available at Buncombe County Parking Garage (164 College Street, $1 per half hour) and Civic Center Garage (68 Rankin Avenue, first hour free). The festival is completely free and family-friendly, with proceeds supporting performing arts programs for at-risk youth.

For groups, explore nearby Beaver Lake (2-3 miles north) for a quick nature walk, Lake Powhatan (10-12 miles southwest) for swimming and camping, or the iconic Lake Lure (28 miles southeast) where Dirty Dancing was filmed.

After the festival, grab dinner at Pack’s Tavern (founded 2010) in the restored 1907 Hayes & Hopson Building at 20 South Spruce Street, or The Lobster Trap (opened March 2005) at 35 Patton Avenue for sustainable seafood.

Make it a long weekend by booking a nearby vacation rental and combining the festival with riverside gallery hopping, brewery tours along the South Slope, and sunrise paddling on mountain-ringed waters.