MILLS RIVER — U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue met with regional farmers on Monday to tour a facility where food boxes are being packaged for a federal program that is feeding people nationwide, including in Buncombe.

Unlike so many canceled events, the Tour d’Apple will take off on Labor Day, Sept. 7, with rolling starts beginning at 7 a.m. until 10 a.m. from Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock.

PISGAH FOREST — FIND Outdoors, one of Brevard’s longest-operating local nonprofits, will hold its eighth annual Cradle to Grave 30K and 10K trail races virtually from Sept. 5-12 to adhere to guidelines concerning COVID-19 and ensure the safety of the racers.

iDaph Events' new Pop-up 5k in the Park will be a socially distanced 5K at Fletcher Park every 2nd and 4th Wednesday through September.

Executive Chef Randy Dunn has blended his culinary skills and years of experience into a recipe for Fork Lore Storied Food and Spirits at the Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park.

The rafting and tubing business is booming in and around Asheville as people head to the river to cool off and enjoy the riparian scenery.

The COVID-19 pandemic put some hurdles in front of Crossfire Ministries’ this year, but it’s not keeping the team from its mission of spreading the gospel through the sport of basketball.

The 2nd Annual Light Up the Night 5K is set for Friday, Aug. 7 at Carrier Park, Asheville, North Carolina and this year the nighttime charity run means more than ever. 

Unusual times call for innovative programming. Whether you’re brand new to eSports or an experienced gamer, there’s a spot for you in Asheville Parks & Recreation’s brand new AVLPARKS eSports programs.

Our community, our kids – this can resonate with everyone, especially during tough times such as COVID-19 quarantine. Can you imagine living an hour from your home and family? What about three hours from even the grocery store you recognize?

Updated: July 27, 2020

Named in honor of author and poet, Joyce Kilmer - who fittingly penned the short poem “Trees” - the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest (now known as the Joyce Kilmer - Slickrock Wilderness) in the Nantahala National Forest of Western North Carolina is one of the oldest and longest contiguous tract…

A North Carolina craft beverage company turns a tasty and adventurous new leaf.

In the years following World War II the leaders of Western North Carolina faced an enormous challenge: how to bring a region the size of New Jersey together to address the future in a spirit of cooperation?

The Anything that Floats Parade looks a little different this year due to safety concerns surrounding COVID-19. This year RiverLink is hosting Anything that Floats: French Broad in Wonderland—a semi-virtual river float with a flexible time frame that ensures a safe experience of the river wh…

The statue of Rocky, the University of North Carolina Asheville mascot, is sporting a blue face mask. When students begin an early fall semester next month, they also will be wearing face masks—except when in their private residences.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has delayed announcing plans to reopen schools amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

Oscar Wong founded Highland Brewing Company in 1994 and kicked off the craft beer movement in Asheville.

As dusk settles, Nature Connects: Art with LEGO Bricks will be brought to light as part of the Arboretum’s ArborEvenings summer after- hours series.

During July, the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation is celebrating National Picnic Month with a new twist on a great summer tradition, with the Picnic for the Parkway event.

Asheville Outlets will host a blood donation drive in partnership with the American Red Cross on Friday, July 24 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The American Red Cross will test all blood, platelet, and plasma donations for the COVID-19 antibody.

As retailers in Asheville have reopened for in-store shopping, customers may notice one store that's had a makeover. Party City’s location at Overlook Village, 80 S. Tunnel Road is among the first to debut the national party retailer’s new NextGen layout.

Biltmore announces that its immersive exhibit, Downton Abbey: The Exhibition has reopened and will remain at George Vanderbilt’s estate through Sept. 7.

Asheville Outlets is hosting the Warehouse Sale, a traveling pop-up shoe store concept, which will be open through Sunday, July 12.

iDaph Events has announced that the registration is back open for the Asheville Triathlon, which will take place at Patton Park in Hendersonville July 19.

Buncombe County Parks and Recreation has partnered with the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation’s Kids in Parks program to install a new TRACK Trail at Charles D. Owen Park in Swannanoa. Children and families are invited to hike the new TRACK Trail, which was installed in celebration of National G…

On Friday, June 26, 2020, the Buncombe County Health and Human Services (BCHHS) Board unanimously passed a proclamation declaring racism as a public health crisis and outlining action steps that the board will take to advance racial equity and justice in our county.

Asheville Outlets has announced that the majority of retailers and eateries at the center are now open, including American Eagle Outfitters, Lucky Brand, RH Outlet, West Elm Outlet, Pandora, Skechers, Sportsman’s Warehouse, Tommy Hilfiger, Vera Bradley Factory Outlet Store, Johnston & Mu…

When author Marci Spencer was working on her book about the Pisgah Inn, she made intriguing connections with people familiar with its colorful history.

The Fourth of July is just ahead, a time when people typically enjoy the summer holiday with backyard barbecues, fireworks or water fun. But this year, celebrating Independence Day will be different due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The American Red Cross offers safety tips you can follow.

Starting Friday, June 26 at 5 p.m. face coverings are required across North Carolina as part of an Executive Order issued by Governor Roy Cooper.

The YMCA of Western North Carolina’s award-winning summer feeding program is partnering with three local chefs to serve healthy, delicious food at its summer day camps.

CULLOWHEE – Western Carolina University will hold a series of virtual Open House events beginning in July for prospective students interested in graduate study. 

The UNC Board of Governors announces that the University of North Carolina Asheville will receive $610,000 in funding, through its recently announced partnership with the N.C. Policy Collaboratory at UNC-Chapel Hill, to help fight COVID-19.

The North Carolina Center for Health & Wellness (NCCHW) at UNC Asheville has received a $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living to extend its evidence-based falls prevention programs partnership and network across the state.

Sierra Club will host a Webinar on Thursday, July 2 titled "Bear-ly There: Safe Encounters with Bears in the Wild and at Home."

A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 14.9 million visitors to the Blue Ridge Parkway in 2019 spent $1.1 Billion in communities near the park. That spending supported 16,341 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $1.4 Billion.

The Omni Grove Park Inn proudly and safely re-opened its doors. As part of reopening, the hotel is following new protocols and safety measures put in place as part of Omni Hotels & Resorts’ brand-wide program, Omni Safe & Clean.

Driving through downtown Asheville, people may catch fleeting glimpses of the city’s history as they pass historic buildings and sites. Walking on the Urban Trail, however, offers an up-close view of Asheville’s rich heritage—and the people and forces that shaped it.

As food insecurity rises across WNC due to the pandemic, more people are turning to MANNA Foodbank than ever before in its history.

PISGAH FOREST — The Cradle of Forestry, operated by FIND Outdoors and in partnership with the US Forest Service, has made the decision to immediately open the Cradle site to the general public on a partial basis in accordance to the latest CDC guidance in regards to COVID-19 protocol.

The historic Cotton Mill property located at 191 Riverside Drive and the property directly across the street at 144 Riverside Drive will soon be on the market.

In order to keep participants safe and to encourage social distancing, Girls on the Run of WNC will host a virtual 5K in lieu of an in-person event this season.

You may have seen the movie, read the book, or sipped the beer but have you hiked the well-known landmark, Cold Mountain, itself?

The Asheville chapter of Pandemic of Love makes connections between people who need of financial assistance and those willing to help them, said Ness Nowik, a volunteer with the grassroots organization started a few months ago in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

Asheville Outlets will host a blood donation drive in partnership with the American Red Cross on Friday, June 12 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The blood drive will be held indoors in the storefront between Famous Footwear and VF Factory Outlet.

The outdoor gardens and trails of the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville are once again open to the public.

As everyone is aware, the WNC Nature Center is temporarily closed to the public. Nature Center staff are working closely with local officials to develop a plan to safely reopen. This will most likely take place during Phase 3 of North Carolina’s Stay Safe COVID-19 order.

A 17-year old wanted to help others in need. Despite the limitations placed on him by COVID-19, and despite the closure of his high school and local training facilities, cross-country athlete, Connor Mailander, came up with a plan to compete against himself in a 100-mile ultra-marathon.

National forests throughout WNC have reopened trailheads for the Appalachian Trail, although long-distance hiking is still advised against.