New West Asheville Tasting Festival Added; More WNC Food and Beverage Festivals on the Menu

New West Asheville Tasting Festival Added; More WNC Food and Beverage Festivals on the Menu

Premium beverages and artisanal dishes are set to take center stage at new and upcoming food and beverage festivals in and around Asheville. From the Carolina CiderFest and Heritage Fire Tour to Bite Me and the newly announced Westival, foodies and beverage enthusiasts have a lot to look forward to.

Westival

This new tasting festival, celebrating West Asheville’s food and community, is scheduled for 4-8 p.m. on September 28 at Archetype Brewing, 265 Haywood Road. More than 10 West Asheville-based food businesses will offer samples, coupled with music by a DJ, raffle, information tables, and activities planned. The Asheville Poverty Initiative established the Westival fundraiser to support their work in promoting economic justice, providing poverty education, and addressing hunger, housing, and poverty issues through various outreach services.

Participating businesses include Botiwalla, Food Experience, Gan Shan, Jargon, Pizza Mind, Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack, Taco Billy, Sunny Point Café, The Hop Handcrafted Ice Cream, The West End, and West Village Marketplace. Tickets for Westival start at $35 for admission and unlimited tastings, with a $55 ticket option including a T-shirt.

Burial Beer’s Anno XI

Burial Beer Co.’s Anno XI anniversary live music concert and beer festival will kick off at noon on June 15 at Burial Forestry Camp, 10 Shady Oak Drive. The event promises several music acts on an outdoor stage, with general admission tickets priced at $60 and VIP tickets at $115.17. Beer, food, and other treats will be available for purchase à la carte, and watch out for announcements regarding Burial’s annual beer-tasting festival, Burnpile, in October.

Carolina CiderFest

Presented by Shay & Company and the North Carolina Cider Association, Carolina CiderFest is set for 12:30-4 p.m. on June 22 in the streets of Asheville’s South Slope brewing district. The age-21-and-older event will offer samples of hard ciders, mead, apple wine, and seltzers from over 20 local and regional producers, served alongside artisanal food bites. General admission tickets are priced at $45, with VIP tickets at $85.

Heritage Fire Tour

On July 14, more than a dozen local and regional chefs will compete in the Heritage Fire Tour: Asheville, a national touring food festival. Hosted at Horse Shoe Farm in Hendersonville, the festival will see chefs serving dishes prepared over a live fire, followed by audience voting for their favorite bite of the day. General admission tickets for the event are priced at $125, with VIP tickets at $175.

Urban Garden Tour & Tasting

The Urban Garden Tour & Tasting with Bountiful Cities returns from 1-6 p.m. on July 14. This all-ages self-guided tour invites guests to explore 10 Asheville urban gardens, sampling chef-made savory and sweet dishes and local beverages using seasonal produce. Educational activities, raffles, and demonstrations will be part of the event.

Bite Me

From August 14-18, the Bite Me food culture festival will showcase events in various locations across the city, including indoor and outdoor restaurants and event venues. Festival passes range from $79-149 and feature local and national special guests, including James Beard Award-nominated chefs.

AVL Food Series

The AVL Food Series, presented by Shay & Co. and Devil’s Foot Beverage Co., continues with more food and beverage-centric events throughout the year. From multi-course dinners prepared by renowned chefs to food festivals celebrating various cuisines, this series promises a culinary delight for Asheville residents and visitors alike.

Stories you may have missed:

• Equal Plates Project opens new kitchen, addresses food insecurity in Asheville
• Mount Mitchell State Park’s restaurant reopened by Burnsville couple; What’s on the menu?
• Asheville Food Bites: Chocolate contest, downtown bowling, supper club dining, more
• Local sustainable roaster opens first coffee shop in West Asheville

For more details on the food and dining scene, reach out to us at tkennell@citizentimes.com.