Asheville Weekend Highlights: Fringe Arts Fest, Stargazing, Music, and Community Events

Good morning, this is your Asheville Local Frequency for March 22, 2025. As we dive into the weekend, there's plenty happening around town to keep you engaged and entertained. The Asheville Fringe Arts Festival kicks off today, bringing a bold lineup of experimental and boundary-pushing performances to various venues across the city. With over 50 shows spanning dance, theater, puppetry, music, and art that defies definition, this festival is sure to challenge and inspire.

For those looking to enjoy the great outdoors, the Guided Forest Bathing & Nature Therapy retreat offers a chance to escape to the Blue Ridge Mountains for a truly relaxing and rejuvenating experience. Meanwhile, astronomy enthusiasts can head to the Grassland Mountain Observatory in Madison County for a stargazing event tonight, weather permitting. Don't forget to check the website for the entry code and directions.

Music lovers have a treat in store as Cosmic Charlie takes the stage at The Orange Peel's Pulp venue tonight, promising an evening of fantastic tunes. Over at the Grey Eagle, you can catch the Jimmy Vivino Band for some soulful blues rock.

Sports fans can cheer on the UNC Asheville Women's Tennis team as they head to Longwood to open Big South Conference play this afternoon. And for those interested in local politics, the Community Reparations Commission has scheduled a retreat today from 10 AM to 4 PM at the Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Center.

In community news, the Asheville Downtown Association recently hosted its annual State of Downtown event, providing updates on downtown development and key initiatives affecting the community. And as we continue to recover from Hurricane Helene, Governor Stein has signed a relief bill allocating $524 million for recovery efforts.

Looking ahead, don't miss the upcoming Chihuly at Biltmore exhibition, which promises to showcase the artist's iconic creations in an intimate gallery setting. And for those planning ahead, the Garden Jubilee Festival, one of the largest gardening shows in Western North Carolina, is set to take place over Memorial Day weekend.

As we wrap up, a reminder that several counties in our area, including Buncombe, Henderson, Madison, Polk, and Transylvania, are under an extreme fire danger risk according to the NC State Climate Office. Please stay vigilant and follow all safety guidelines.

This has been Asheville Local Frequency. We'll see you tomorrow with more local updates.