Last week, Explore Asheville’s The Year Ahead: The Road to Recovery and Revival event convened nearly 350 community leaders and travel & hospitality partners to discuss pathways to recovery, while honoring five local organizations leading our community's recovery efforts. The gathering emphasized the theme of seizing this moment of recovery to build back stronger, more sustainable, and more resilient than before. 

View the photo album from the event, and access the comprehensive event recap and presentation slides for key insights. We invite you to share your feedback on The Year Ahead event through our anonymous 2-minute survey to help us enhance future program content and logistics.

Western North Carolina for-profit and non-profit arts businesses specializing in craft, visual, performing arts, and music are invited to apply for the ArtsAVL Arts Business Relief Grant. Grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded based on the budget size of the business and the revenue losses caused by Hurricane Helene. The deadline to apply is March 14.

The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority (BCTDA) is seeking three new members for its Tourism Product Development Fund (TPDF) Committee, which guides strategic investments in major tourism capital projects. Openings include two positions for lodging owners/operators and one for a professional with expertise in tourism, legal, financial, economic development, architecture, or engineering. 

Applications are due February 28 at 5 p.m. To learn more about the TPDF Committee roles and responsibilities, click here. 

Riverbird Research, in partnership with local and state agencies, has launched the WNC Helene Impacts Business Response Survey to assess the storm’s impact on WNC businesses. Your input in this 10-minute survey will provide critical data to inform federal relief policies and funding decisions.

All WNC businesses—regardless of size or operational status—are encouraged to participate, and respondents can enter a drawing for a $500 Visa gift card provided by the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. This survey is a collaborative effort between Riverbird Research, the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC), Buncombe County, the City of Asheville, and Explore Asheville to support business recovery efforts across WNC.

Looking for a fun and rewarding way to get involved in the community? We’re seeking volunteers to help with the upcoming inaugural SoCon Wrestling Championship, March 7–8, and we’d love for you to be part of the action! 

Sports not your thing? No problem! We have volunteer opportunities year-round at sporting events, festivals, and arts events—there’s something for everyone. Fill out an application now so you can be informed when opportunities come up that interest you.

Sign up today and be part of something special. Thank you for helping make Asheville’s events unforgettable!

• Asheville Web Design
• Plant Bar - Coffee and Tea
• Rare Bird Collective
• Resurrection Studios Collective
• Subject Matter Studio

• TP's Day Trip Adventures, LLC
• The Breath Nurse
• Wagbar
• Waypoint Adventure

Calling all pizza makers in Western North Carolina! Stu Helm invites you to participate in the inaugural WNC Pizza Week, taking place March 10–16. Every pizza maker in WNC is welcome to join—whether you operate a traditional pizzeria, restaurant, food truck, or even a portable pizza oven for pop-up events. Participation is easy: offer a specialty pizza and/or slice at a special price during the seven-day event. 

You can join in two ways:

Outdoor gear manufacturers, outfitters, and retailers are invited to showcase their products at the 10th Annual Get In Gear Fest, taking place April 26 at The Adventure Center of Asheville. A celebration of everything outdoors, this festival features local and regional companies, demos, music, food, and family fun!

The festival attracts hundreds of outdoor enthusiasts and targets national, regional, and local press, offering incredible exposure for outdoor businesses. This year’s event carries special significance as we celebrate the resilience of WNC businesses rebuilding after Hurricane Helene. Vendor space is limited and assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority given to WNC-based outdoor businesses.

To better represent the diverse events our partners offer, Explore Asheville has expanded its event calendar categories to include four new options:

Accessible Events

Educational/Workshops

Games & Trivia

Shopping

REMINDER: If you have not submitted an event since October 2024, you’ll need to create a new account on Explore Asheville’s new dedicated event submission website, which is now separate from the Partner Portal. Create an account here! 

Join MountainTrue and a panel of experts on April 3 to discuss regional recovery following the devastation of Hurricane Helene. Panelists will address the impacts of natural disasters, what recovery means for our region, and how the community can support these efforts. The recovery panel and discussion will be held at the North Carolina Arboretum Education Auditorium. Social time with snacks and beverages starts at 5:30 p.m., followed by the panel from 6:00–7:30 p.m.

Registration is required, as attendance is limited to 160. Participants can submit questions for the panel through the registration form. This event is free of charge, but if you feel moved to donate to support critical work in our area, you are invited to do so when you register.