Earth Day Celebrations and Community Updates in Asheville

Good morning, this is your Asheville Local Frequency for Tuesday, April 22, 2025. We start today with a bright and sunny outlook, temperatures hovering around the low seventies and the promise of spring in full bloom across our beautiful city. Today is Earth Day, and Asheville is buzzing with ways to celebrate and care for our local environment. Over at Biltmore Park this evening, the festivities kick off at six with a fun run hosted by Fleet Feet, offering routes for every pace from two to four miles. After your run, swing by Taco Boy's patio for live music from local favorites Andy and Ruthie Hunter, plus jumbo yard games and a chance to win some great Earth Day prizes. Just look for entry boxes inside Taco Boy, Fleet Feet, and REI.

If you are looking for more Earth Day ways to pitch in, Asheville’s Sustainability Department is urging everyone to pick up a litter bag and join a community cleanup or volunteer for Asheville GreenWorks’ clean-and-green efforts. There is also an Earth Month event with Explore Asheville Travel and Hospitality for a clean-up from two to four thirty this afternoon, and Bountiful Cities is hosting a hands-in-the-soil community garden and edible park workday. Don’t forget the kids: Bee City has pollinator events designed to help families and youth recognize and support the bees that keep Asheville blooming.

For something different, sign up for a free Home Energy Navigator session through Electrify Asheville Buncombe, or check out Riverlink’s WaterRICH guide for tips on collecting rainwater and building a rain garden at home. This month is also Food Waste Reduction Month, so consider composting or joining a local food scraps drop-off to keep your household waste in check.

In other news, Asheville Rides Transit is offering free bus rides throughout the day in honor of Earth Day, a great reminder to leave the car at home and lighten your carbon footprint. It’s also a time to reflect and gather as the Basilica of Saint Lawrence holds a special noon prayer service today following the passing of Pope Francis yesterday, a loss that has touched the Asheville Catholic community and beyond.

Wildfire recovery continues in the region, with crews making progress on containing the Haoe Lead Fire, now at over two thousand acres with improving conditions on the horizon. Meanwhile, residents in Swannanoa and Swain County are seeing some evacuation orders lifted as firefighters gain the upper hand on recent blazes.

Finally, the I-26 widening project in Western North Carolina is nearing completion, promising smoother commutes and more room on the roads—something that regular drivers will certainly appreciate.

That wraps up today’s highlights. Whether you are pitching in for the planet, enjoying live music, or simply soaking up the spring sunshine, there’s something for everyone in Asheville today. This has been Asheville Local Frequency. We'll see you tomorrow with more local updates.