We’re excited to announce the first weekly winner of the Asheville Downtown Association’s Shop Small, Win Big holiday campaign, presented in partnership with Explore Asheville. This week’s winning retailer is Duncan & York Modern Market, matched by shopper Paul Stroebel, who each received $500 after Paul uploaded his qualifying receipt.

This GivingTuesday, we invite you to support the Asheville Downtown Association Foundation, the 501(c)(3) charitable arm of the Asheville Downtown Association.

If you missed the festive energy in Downtown Asheville last weekend—or just want to relive it—you can now stream the 2025 Asheville Holiday Parade presented by Bojangles on YouTube.

One of Downtown Asheville’s most beloved holiday traditions is returning: the Winter Window Display Program in partnership with GoLocal Asheville! Each year, local businesses transform their windows into whimsical, festive works of art, bringing holiday cheer to residents and visitors alike.

Asheville’s favorite fall tradition is back! Oktoberfest returns to Pack Square Park on Saturday, October 4, 1–6 PM—and this year it’s free and open to the public. Expect big Bavarian energy with 20+ beverage makers pouring 60+ styles, live music from Lagerhosen and The Hillclimbers, hilarious emcee Hilliary Begley, and classic Oktoberfest Games presented by Aloft/Moxy Hotel. Come hungry—local food trucks (including Haus Heidelberg) will be serving German-inspired bites and festival favorites.

In September, the Asheville Downtown Association had the pleasure of hosting Jon Jon, the Happy Urbanist, for his engaging talk, Move Fast and Fix Things. The event was a wonderful opportunity to explore how small, thoughtful changes can make a big difference in the life of a city.

On September 18th, Asheville Downtown Improvement District hosted our first community event based on significant feedback from the community who expressed a concern for the perception of public safety downtown at this critical time before our fall season.

The Asheville Downtown Association is excited to announce that Asheville is in the running for a Levitt AMP Asheville Grant Award, a competitive matching grant program created by the Levitt Foundation. This grant could bring a 10-week series of free, family-friendly concerts to Pritchard Park in the heart of Downtown Asheville.

Mark your calendars—Downtown Asheville’s Holiday Parade is back on Saturday, November 22 from 11 AM to 2 PM!

When I wrote last year’s anniversary post, I imagined spending the next twelve months fine‑tuning strategy and polishing new programs. Then Hurricane Helene barreled through, turning long‑term plans into day‑to‑day triage. What followed was the most demanding—and, in many ways, the most inspiring—year I’ve experienced in downtown work.

The Asheville Downtown Association is thrilled to announce that we’re now accepting applications for marketplace vendors for the 2025 event season! If you’re a local maker, artist, or small business owner, this is your chance to showcase your craft to thousands of attendees at some of Asheville’s most iconic events.