#2: Art booths abound
If you want to duck out of the sun and see some great examples of handcraft and art, there are nearly 150 chances to do so at Bele Chere. That’s how many artists and craftspeople set up for the festival this weekend.
From paintings to metal works to woodcarving to eclectic and inventive items, Bele Chere booths house a great variety of artworks, clothing, photography and jewelry. And you often get a chance to chat up the artist who made them. It is an opportunity to browse, shop and take in the colorful, vibrant and imaginative arts community that populates the Bele Chere festival.
#1: The Bands!
For three days the music will soar in downtown Asheville and the crowds will soak it in. Free live music is the pulse of the festival and there are so many kinds to enjoy this year.
From local favorites like CrazyHorse and Colston and the Swayback Sisters, to national acts like Brandi Carlile and the Jonathan Scales Fourchestra, there is music to capture fans of all kinds.
Over the past few years, there has been an increased focus on local and regional musicians, giving festival goers a healthy slice of what music in WNC is all about, and this lineup is no different. Then there are the touring acts that bring their own sounds to the party. Together, these bands make Bele Chere a three-day smorgasbord for music lovers.
Antique Firearms ~ The Archrivals ~ ArtOfficial ~ Aunt Martha ~ Baby Rattlesnakes ~ Balsam Range ~ Blackberry Smoke ~ BoomBox ~ Boys in the Well ~ Brani Carlile ~ The Buchanan Boys ~ CrazyHorse & Colston ~ The Critters ~ David Holt & The Lightening Bolts ~ David Mayfield Parade ~ David Wax Museum ~ Delta Rae ~ Doc Aquatic ~ Dr. Dog ~ Ethan Andrew McMahan “Easy” ~ Grown Up Avenger Stuff ~ Inner Visions ~ Jody Medford & Cash Creek ~ Jonathan Scales Fourchestra ~ Kovacs & the Polar Bear ~ Lacy Green ~ Larry Keel & Natural Bridge ~ Lorraine Conrad Band ~ Los Amigos Invisibles ~ Lucero ~ Lyric ~ Michael Reno Harrell ~ Papa Grows Funk ~ Randall Bramblett ~ Sanctum Sully ~ Spicy Moustace & the Flavor Saviors ~ stephaniesid ~ The Swayback Sisters ~ Tennessee Hollow ~ The Travis Smith Project ~ Whitney Moore ~ Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band