Nathan's Newsletter The best of what's happening this weekend in Asheville

Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands

The Southern Highland Craft Guild's fall fair, now in its 79th year, fills the arena downtown with more than 100 juried makers plus 10 emerging artists, with live demos all day. The Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual, the Cherokee artists' co-op, is back for the first time in nearly 30 years. Bluegrass on the downstairs stage Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are at the door, and a hand stamp gets you back in the same day. Saturday morning, cold and maybe damp, is a good time to be inside.

Lake Eden Reunion

The October weekend at Lake Eden, with the Grey Eagle booking the music. El Khat, the Yemeni psych band, plays Friday at 7:45. Saturday has The Suffers at 5:30 and Of Montreal closing at 9:30. Sunday brings Tyler Ramsey at 3, then a second line down to the water at 6:15. Contra and square dancing run all weekend in the dance hall. There are day passes and weekend passes with camping, kids 10 and under are free, and it's capped around 2,000. Saturday night drops into the low 40s, so pack layers.

StarTribe with Dimond Saints in Pack Square

StarTribe's sober dance party is back in Pack Square for the first time since Helene: Dimond Saints, Osiah, Morphonic and Magdalyn on a 24-speaker sound system, with no alcohol, smoke or drugs, plus food vendors and an artisan market. Magdalyn opens with guided movement at 5:30. It's capped at 600, presales are over, and StarTribe says a few tickets are left. It's about 54 at 5 and in the 40s after dark, so dress for dancing in the cold.

The Dam Slam fish parade

Spencer Beals, the artist behind Batland, is putting on a fish parade by the French Broad: puppets, more than 20 artists, Eastern Band of Cherokee artists, the Street Creature Puppet Collective and the Blue Ridge Snorkel Trail. The point is taking out the Craggy Dam so fish can get back upriver. It's about 46 at 11 with a slight chance of a shower, so wear a jacket.

Dogs & Drag at New Belgium

Mountain Pet Rescue's first Dogs & Drag: Queen Divine hosts a dog costume contest on the riverfront, with pet portraits by Owendale Art, treats from Pawsitive Bakes and prize drawings. Contest spots are limited, but you don't have to enter to come watch. Sunny and in the 50s, so bring the dog.

Asheville Symphony: Nightfall

A night-themed program, played twice: Anna Clyne's This Midnight Hour, Sibelius 5, and Tan Dun's Wolf Totem, a concerto for double bass with Joseph Conyers as the soloist. Darko Butorac conducts. This one's at First Baptist, not Thomas Wolfe. The 8pm show should be out around 10.

Young country with a song on the radio

Avery Anna

Her single Blood Runs Thicker was the second most added song at country radio the week it went out in July, and this tour is named for it. It's one of ten dates, and it started in Raleigh two nights before. Jaid Joice is also on the bill. Plan on out by about 10:45.

Dallas country, back after cancer

Joshua Ray Walker

A Dallas songwriter known for country character songs and a big voice. His sixth album, Ain't Dead Yet, came out in May and was made around his cancer treatment, so this tour is a comeback. Cecilia Castleman opens: she's 24, on Glassnote, and has opened for Hozier and Sheryl Crow. Out by about 10:45.

A new album made live in the room

Maya de Vitry

She spent seven years in The Stray Birds before going solo. Her fifth album, All My Faith, came out in July, and she made it with the players gathered around her instead of leaning on studio tricks. Her brother Lyle opens. It's a seated listening room on Haywood Road and it runs to about 9:45, so eat first. The price goes up the day of the show.

Phish and Almost Dead players, no singer

LaMP

An instrumental trio: Russ Lawton, who drums for the Trey Anastasio Band, Ray Paczkowski on keys and Scott Metzger of Joe Russo's Almost Dead on guitar. Asheville's the night after Raleigh on a short fall run, and they're making a third album for early 2027. Long, loose jams, so plan on a late one.

Swedish folk with new music out

The Tallest Man On Earth

Kristian Matsson fingerpicks and roams the stage on a long guitar cord. Colors, out in May, is his first new music in nearly three years, and Asheville is the second night of his fall tour. Gwenifer Raymond opens: a Welsh guitar player in the old American finger-style tradition, who did an NPR Tiny Desk in April. Out by about 10:45.

Grammy winners at 20

The Infamous Stringdusters

The Grammy-winning bluegrass band's 20th year, on Pisgah's outdoor stage, with Broken Compass Bluegrass opening. Saturday clears into a cold night, about 50 at 7 and in the 40s by 10, so bring a real jacket. Mountain View BBQ and Bric's Dip & Roll are the food trucks. Out by about 10:15. Same night as Lake Eden, so pick your lane.

Sharp, funny, political folk-pop

Carsie Blanton

Twenty years of witty pop songs with a political streak. She sailed with the Global Sumud Flotilla to Gaza, was held in Israel for five days, and came home with a new song about it, The Little Flame. Canada's The Burning Hell opens, and the two have recorded together. Out by about 10:45.

Memphis rap royalty in a small room

Project Pat

Juicy J's older brother, a Three 6 Mafia original and the voice on Chickenhead, playing two nights in a room that holds a few hundred. Friday is sold out. Saturday isn't yet.

Finest Fest, the deli's first birthday

Finest turns its West Asheville deli into a beer garden for its first birthday. A ticket gets you two pints of Noblebrau from Brevard and a soft pretzel from Underground Baking, and about the first dozen people keep the mug. Sunny and in the 50s at 5.

Black Jar Honey Masquerade Gala

The winners of the 15th International Black Jar Honey Contest get revealed here, with small bites, beer, wine and a silent auction. Fine attire, and masks are encouraged.

Animal Haven's fall fundraiser

A vegan buffet and dessert, beer and wine, live music, a silent auction and time with the rescued farm animals, for the sanctuary in east Asheville. The thrift store is open too.

Shattered Glass at The Hop

The Hop's new flavor goes out at lunch on Friday: creme brulee ice cream with shards of burnt sugar. Friday's 76 at noon, so it's the right day for it.

The high Parkway is at its best

This week's color report expects the best color of the year along the high Parkway this weekend, holding into next weekend before it slides down the mountain. The Pink Beds, Funnel Top and Looking Glass Rock overlooks (mileposts 409 to 417) have turned, and that whole stretch south of town is open, Graveyard Fields included. Friday is sunny and up to 81 in town. Sunday is sunny too, but it's 35 at 7am in town and colder up top. Closer in, Bearwallow Mountain has yellow and orange along the fire road.

Daniel Tosh moved to Friday

If you have tickets for Sunday, check them: his My First Farewell Tour stop got moved up to Friday, Oct 16. The venue offers refunds if you can't make the new night.

Rocky Horror with a live shadowcast

The Unexpected Pleasures troupe acts out the movie in front of the screen, with a Tim Curry tribute this time. Costumes encouraged. Prop bags are $5, and you can't bring your own props. Under 18 needs a parent with a ticket.

Womyn Rising at Hellbender

More than 40 women-led vendors on the river lawn, with Sunnie Rae opening and two sets from Abby Bryant and her band. Nonprofits including Mountain Pet Rescue, and things for kids. It's sunny and about 55 by 3.

Jewish Film Festival: Sabbath Queen

The Asheville Jewish Film Festival screens Sabbath Queen with a discussion after. There's an encore matinee Sunday if Saturday night doesn't work.

American Pachuco, with the producer

A documentary about Luis Valdez, who wrote Zoot Suit and started El Teatro Campesino, on the Southern Circuit film tour. Executive producer Steve Ives talks after.

In the Round sculpture opening

UNC Asheville's outdoor sculpture competition comes around every two years, and this is the third. The opening is in the Owen Hall sculpture garden on a warm, sunny afternoon, and it also features the artist in residence, Ledelle Moe.

The Dead, acoustic

Gillian Welch & David Rawlings play Grateful Dead Acoustic Reckoning

Next weekend, two nights of songs from the Dead's acoustic live album, Reckoning, at Thomas Wolfe. Not sold out as of Thursday.

The Ride Lonesome Tour

Beck

A Wednesday, but it's Beck in a 2,400-seat room. On sale now.