It’s September 2, and I’m still grasping onto the hem of summer, even though all signs points to autumn’s arrival.
We have Oktoberfest marching in, ASAP Farm tour rolling forward and cozy coffee drinks pouring at cafes. I love all of these things, but this summer’s heat and humidity (says the girl who used to live in Louisiana), and the rainy days and nights putting a damper on my outdoors time, I’m hoping this fall offers better conditions and temperatures warm enough for more time in the sunshine before winter whips through.
The aforementioned events and other happenings around town offer the opportunity to get off the couch and out into the wonderful world of Western North Carolina.
Here are ideas for your September explorations:
The North Carolina Mountain State Fair is back Sept. 11-20 at the WNC Agricultural Center in Fletcher.
Take your hunger for zany fair food and adventure for the four new and many more returning rides planned for this year. Beyond the midway games and attractions, visit the lovable livestock in the barns, stroll through exhibitions showcasing Western North Carolinians’ talent and heritage, and shop for delicious mountain-made food and beverages to elevate your next meal and snack time.
Baby goats! Now that I have your attention, this year’s ASAP Farm Tour is on Sept. 19-20, with 15 destinations ― all within an hour of Asheville ― on the map.
How it works: Purchase a car pass for $35 (the price increases to $45 on event days). It covers the two-day event. Load up your friends and family, or roll solo, and drive to any of the participating farms, ranches, vineyards and orchards in Haywood, Leicester, Barnardsville, Morganton, or Polk counties.
Enjoy a day of guided tours, demonstrations, activities, markets, and strolling through the crop rows admiring (and sometimes picking) the harvests. Did I mention the sweet goats and other farm friends that will be at many sites? Visit ASAP’s website for a map and details about this year’s farm lineup. And don’t forget to take photos for yourself and for ASAP’s photo contest.
An easy way to enjoy your fall days and nights is by restaurant, bar and brewery hopping. Fall is prime time for rooftops, as they offer peak viewing points to witness nature’s landscape transform into warm, vibrant bursts of colors across the city and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Several rooftops to put on your radar for great views, bites and sips: Capella on 9, The Roof at Flat Iron Hotel, Wildwood Still at Moxy Hotel, and Soprana at Embassy Suites.
The German tradition of Oktoberfest remains strong in Asheville and WNC, with local breweries observing with original brews and themed festivities that often include German food, music, games, contests, and the wearing of fashionable lederhosen and dirndls. The 191st Munich Oktoberfest is Sept. 19-Oct. 4, aligning with the state of leaf season in WNC.
Many local brews are already on tap and in retail, with events coming down the pipe. A few Asheville Oktoberfest highlights:
- Appalachian Mountain Brewery‘s Oktoberfest beer release and celebrations on Sept. 26 at its three destinations: High Country Oktoberfest in Boone, and Oktoberfest in both Mills River and Old Fort. highcountryoktoberfest.com and amb.beer
- Highland Brewing‘s Clawtoberfest release and festival on Sept. 26 in the East Asheville taproom and Meadow, following the Clawtoberfest Beer Dinner in the Event Center on Sept. 25. highlandbrewing.com
- Wicked Weed Brewing‘s Fest Bier release and Oktoberfest live music events at the Asheville brewpub and Funkatorium, beginning Sept. 19. wickedweedbrewing.com
- Asheville Oktoberfest, hosted by Asheville Downtown Association and Fields Automotive, returns with multiple breweries serving samples on Oct. 3. This year, the annual event will be hosted in the South Slope brewing district. ashevilledowntown.org
There’s much more to come in September, with October hot on its heels, with more fall fun and Halloween magic and mayhem to come, including themed bar and dining room takeovers at The Golden Pineapple and Little Jumbo.
Keep coming back for more AVL Bites and Brews, and follow citizen-times.com for daily updates.
Cheers!
Reporting by Tiana Kennell, Asheville Citizen Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
