AVL Fest 2025 Cancelled, Returns In 2026
Is Ashevilles vibrant music scene truly as resilient as it seems? Despite the postponement of the highly anticipated AVL Fest 2025, the heart of Asheville's music continues to beat, echoing in smaller venues, workshops, and the unwavering spirit of its artists and community. The postponement, while a setback, has offered a unique opportunity for reflection, allowing the city to consolidate its strengths and reimagine the future of its musical landscape.
The announcement on March 28th by WLOS sent ripples through the community: AVL Fest 2025, a cornerstone of Asheville's musical calendar, was cancelled. This collaborative effort between Wicked Weed Brewing and Worthwhile Sounds, originally slated for August and promising over 100 performances across 20 venues, was put on hold. The decision, while difficult, was made to allow the community to recover from the challenges of the preceding six months. The organizers pledged to return in 2026 with an even more impactful festival experience, aiming to surpass the anticipated 10,000 attendees (including artists, staff, and volunteers) they had projected for 2025.
| Event Name | AVL Fest |
| Organizers | Wicked Weed Brewing & Worthwhile Sounds |
| Original 2025 Dates | August 4th - 7th (Projected) |
| Projected Attendance (2025) | ~10,000 (Attendees, artists, staff, volunteers) |
| Number of Venues (Planned for 2025) | 20+ |
| Number of Performances (Planned for 2025) | 100+ |
| Postponement Announcement Date | March 28, 2024 |
| Rescheduled Year | 2026 |
| Reference | Explore Asheville - AVL Fest (Note: Link may not reflect postponement) |
The ripple effect of the postponement touched various corners of Asheville's cultural scene. Downtown businesses, already grappling with a challenging 2023, as noted by local business owner Didasik, faced another hurdle. The phased release of the artist lineupinitially generating excitement with names like Gwen Stefani, Dave Matthews Band, Weezer, Anders Beck, Holly Bowling, and Travis Bookwas abruptly halted. The anticipation surrounding the festival, carefully cultivated by the organizers, transformed into a collective understanding and a shared hope for the future.
However, the pause on AVL Fest doesnt signify a pause on Ashevilles creative pulse. The city continues to hum with activity. The Flying Squirrel Pub, a popular local haunt, announced changes and a reopening date of April 10th. A vibrant calendar of events continues to unfold, including the AVL Mardi Gras Parade and AVL Fringe Arts Festival in March, the HVL Cider, Wine & Dine Weekend and AVL Beer Week in May, the NC Apple Festival over Labor Day weekend, the AVL Vegan & Oktoberfest in October, and the Winter Lights and National Gingerbread House Competition in November. These events, while smaller in scale than AVL Fest, represent the enduring strength and diversity of Ashevilles cultural fabric.
The spirit of collaboration and creativity also finds expression in smaller, community-driven initiatives. A zine-making workshop, organized by Jessica White and Mica Mead of the AVL Zine Fest, in partnership with the Center for Craft, provided a platform for artistic expression and skill-sharing. Scheduled for Saturday, March 29th, the workshop offered participants a chance to delve into the intricacies of zine creation, from copier techniques and letterpress printing to the art of bookbinding. These intimate gatherings nurture the very essence of Ashevilles artistic community, fostering connection and providing a space for creative exploration.
Even as the larger stages fall silent temporarily, the music finds its way through the cracks. Smaller venues continue to host performances, offering intimate experiences that connect artists and audiences on a deeper level. The AVL Honey Fest, featuring Queen Bee & the Honeylovers, Chikomo Marimba, and a puppet show by Billy Jonas & Hobey Ford, scheduled for Sunday, June 2nd, 2024, exemplifies this resilience. This small event, with its limited menu and focused lineup, demonstrates that the spirit of celebration and artistic expression remains undeterred.
The postponement of AVL Fest 2025 is not an end but a transition. It's a moment for Asheville to reflect, rebuild, and reimagine. While the grand spectacle of the festival will be missed, the underlying current of creativity continues to flow, nourishing the city's artistic soul and promising a vibrant return of AVL Fest in 2026. The story of Ashevilles music scene is not one of silence but of adaptation, innovation, and the enduring power of community.
