Hello Thursday.
April 18 2024
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Fourth of July weekend in Asheville is around the corner, with events to celebrate America’s 246 years as an independent country. Those celebrations include parades, ceremonies, family-friendly festivals + summertime soirees.
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Fourth of July in Asheville is going to be wild, y’all. | Photo via @justintclark
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Here’s an overview for the upcoming weekend…
🌞 Weather
- Sat: 85° | 🌧️ | 47% chance of rain
- Sun: 83° | 🌦️ | 72% chance of rain
- Mon: 85° | 🌦 | 43% chance of rain
🇺🇸 Independence Day
Ingles Independence Day Celebration | Mon., July 4 | 12-10 p.m. | Pack Square Park, 80 Court Plz. | Free | Ring in the holiday in downtown Asheville with food, beverages, and fireworks. Then watch the Ultimate Air Dogs competition — where talented pups fly off the dock and compete for the farthest jump — cool off at Splashville Fountain, and enjoy live music from artists like local Hannah Kaminer + country rock musician Ricky Gunter.
Lake Julian Fireworks | Mon., July 4 | 8 a.m.-10 p.m. | Lake Julian Park, 37 Lake Julian Rd. | Free | Enjoy all that the park has to offer, including disc golf, cornhole, sand volleyball, picnic tables, grills, and fishing. Top it all off with one of the largest fireworks displays in the area.
🌊 Cool off
Splasheville opened on Sat., June 4 and will remain open seven days a week throughout the summer, only closing for special events. The Asheville city pool at Recreation Park is also open for the season daily with varying times.
The beach at Lake James State Park — roughly 45 miles east of Asheville — is open everyday from May through September, including all of the Fourth of July weekend. Cool off with swimming + water activities like paddle boarding, canoeing, and kayaking. Then enjoy ice cream and popsicles at the concession stand.
For more ways to cool off, review our guide of 20+ swimming spots.
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Share this with your friends and family you plan to celebrate with on Fourth of July.
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Today
Thursday
- Asheville Gallery of Art’s June Exhibit “Nature’s Mirrors” by Cynthia Llanes | Thurs., June 30 | 11 a.m.-6 p.m. | Asheville Gallery of Art, 82 Patton Ave. | Free | The last showing for this oil painter’s exhibition. 🎨
- Creating a Literacy Rich Environment in the Outdoors | Thurs., June 30 | 6-7:30 p.m. | Verner Center for Early Learning, 2586 Riceville Rd. | $7.50 | Increase language development + literacy justice with this outdoor training for all ages. 🗣️
- Weymouth, Motel Portrait, Fantomex & USUALLY at Fleetwood's | Thurs., June 30 | 8-11 p.m. | Fleetwood’s, 496 Haywood Rd. | $10 | Rock out to garage punk music. 🎸
- KNOW Asheville Girl’s Night Out | Thurs., June 30 | 5:30-7 p.m. | W XYZ Bar, 51 Biltmore Ave. | Free | Network at this ladies-only night with complimentary cocktails. 🍸
Friday
- Light My Fire: Make Your Own Candle + Match Striker Set | Fri., July 1 | 6-8 p.m. | Center for Craft, 67 Broadway St. | $15 | Listen to tunes at this candle-making class that includes learning how to bend freeform taper candles + sculpt a striker and holder out of air-dry clay. 🕯️
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We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
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Weather
- 82º | Partly sunny | 29% chance of rain
Community
- Asheville City Council entered into a contract with a consulting firm for a stormwater program analysis on Tues., June 28. City documents relayed that intense storm events due to climate change have accelerated stormwater management issues, including improving water quality. ⛈️ (WLOS)
Cause
- The 35th Annual Operation Blood Drive will be held tomorrow, Thurs., June 30, starting at 7 a.m. in 11 locations — including Asheville Chamber of Commerce, American Legion Post 70, and Mission Memorial Campus. Donors will receive gifts like t-shirts, free food, gift cards + more. 🩸 (WLOS)
- ABCCM’s annual cooling drive needs your help. So far, they’ve provided A/C units for 115 families + fans for 100 families. Wanna help? Consider donating online or send contributions to 20 20th St. — 100% of donations go to purchasing fans and air conditioners for those in need. 🌡️
Sports
- The 90th anniversary Asheville Open Tennis Tournament will take place at Aston Park (336 Hillard Ave.) over two weeks in July, starting Tues., July 5 through Sun., July 24. The tournament will bring in roughly 600 players and the registration deadline is Fri., July 1 for players of all skill levels. 🎾
Listen
- In July, Citizen Vinyl’s artist in residence will be the 2021 winner of the NewSong Music Performance and Songwriting Competition, Michael Flynn. Free performances will occur every Friday at 5 p.m. with a special collaboration on Fri., July 22 with 2021 finalists Olivia Lloyd + Jay Filson. 🎶
Arts
- The Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a new director. John Young Shik Concklin, from Greenville, will take over as the new music director for former executive director Paul Conroy. John competed with 60+ candidates in the nationwide search and received positive accolades from both audience + musicians. 🎻 (Tribune Papers)
Feel Good
- Local Katie Wilson has a goal of using Asheville as a hub for fostering cultural understanding through her international exchange program. Grow Abroad uses WNC host families for incoming international students, which Katie says helps give a positive impression on Americans. 🎒 (Mountain Xpress)
Ashevillian
- Air Force veteran Spence Cocanour is Asheville’s top cat rescuer. Using unique skills he learned in his 24 years of military service — like climbing + rappelling — he’s provided rescue services across WNC for 100+ cats since his first in 2019 when local animal shelter Brother Wolf called on him for help. 🐈 (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Award
- Asheville Watchdog members took home three honors in the North Carolina Press Association Awards. Reporter Sally Kestin was honored with a first place Public Service Award and third place in the Investigative Reporting category. Managing editor Peter Lewis + reporter Barbara Durr were awarded third place for News Enterprise Reporting. 🥇 (Asheville Watchdog)
Number
- Sometimes less really is more. For the second week in a row, gas prices in Asheville have fallen an extra 2.9 cents, bringing the average to $4.63 per gallon. Surveying 259 gas stations across the city, GasBuddy found the lowest to be $4.39 and the most expensive sitting at $4.99. (WLOS)
Ranked
- No. 8. That’s where AVLtoday’s parent company 6AM City, landed on The Tech Tribune’s list of “Best Tech Startups in South Carolina.” The list looked at revenue potential, the leadership team, brand + product traction, and competitive landscape. It’s the second year 6AM City made the list.
Survey
- In case you haven’t taken our newsletter product survey yet, trust us — it’s as easy as a walk in Carrier Park. Let us know what you think about our AVLtoday newsletter for a chance to win cash. Take the survey.
Stat
- One in five women will have a stroke between the ages of 55-75, making it the third leading cause of death for women in the US. Jessica Crane, NP, explains how strokes + stroke risk are different in women, and why women should talk to their provider about risk factors. 🧠 *
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Ready to get those paws wet, Asheville pups?
This weekend, Wagbar Dog Park + Bar is hosting a sizzling hot pool party for dogs with pools, water guns, bubbles, and a photo booth on Sun., July 3 from 12-5 p.m. at 320 Merrimon Ave., Weaverville.
Reward your dog’s good behavior and throw them a bone — or better yet, a cookie — when you sign up for Sea of Sweets’ Dog Cookie Decorating Class, which takes place that day from 4-6 p.m. Cookies are pre-baked + ready for your dog to eat. Aprons and decorating tools will be provided. 🍪
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Editor's pick: Does Independence Day get you jazzed for July the way it does for me? Head over to our Events Page for more things to do in the Land of the Sky. And in the meantime, send us some can’t-miss July celebrations to add to our ever-growing events list.
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