Last Updated on April 24, 2025
We all love a good comeback story. Here’s one I guarantee will warm your heart.
Asheville is open and once again ready to inspire. If you haven’t been to this vibrant city nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, now is the time to go. Especially to show support for the city’s comeback six months after Hurricane Helene.
It’s more than just the resilient Appalachian spirit that has propelled this mountain destination into a season of renewal, it’s also the goodness of a Dutch-born Swannanoa resident and tulip wholesaler, Marco Rozenbroek.
Rozenbroek reached out to his friends at DutchGrown, a European flower bulb company, to see if they could help restore beauty to his adopted hometown. The response? More than 10,000 tulip bulbs arrived, shipped straight from the Netherlands to Grovemont Park.
Today, the park is a breathtaking sea of color with petals in rich purples, snow whites and vibrant reds where floodwaters once stood, a living symbol of recovery and renewal.
“Flowers give hope,” Rozenbroek said, according to Blue Ridge Public Radio. “Planting a bulb is believing in tomorrow.”
This tulip garden isn’t just a local feel-good story — it’s a reminder that Asheville and the surrounding region is blooming and more vibrant than ever. From mountain hikes lined with wildflowers to downtown streets buzzing with art and music, this season brings the beauty of new beginnings.
Asheville is Open and Ready to Inspire
Seeing is believingand from blue ghost fireflies and glass blowing to fresh and refreshed places to stay, a full calendar of openings and events is beckoning guests to the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Signature attractions in full bloom include iconic places like Biltmore and the North Carolina Arboretum, celebrating the season with fresh experiences and floral displays. Now more than 75 percent of hospitality businesses are open and welcoming visitors.
The Blue Ridge Parkway reopens to travelers with than 300 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway, including 11 miles in Asheville. Key attractions like Black Balsam and Graveyard Fields provide sweeping views of mountain vistas, waterfalls and spring wildflowers.
Immersive art adventures return to the River Arts District with than 340 artists exhibiting work. This district of creativity and craft is healing – now 20 percent open – welcoming visitors to studios, galleries, art classes, shops, restaurants and a new award-winning hotel.
Iconic hiking trails return offering more than 100 miles of trails in Pisgah National Forest welcoming hikers back and offering renewed access to the Appalachian wilderness.
Music and festivals include must-see concerts, festivals and cultural celebrations – bringing energy back to the city’s stages and streets. With headliners from Vampire Weekend, Wilco and Rilo Kiley to Rhiannon Giddens, Shakey Graves and Widespread Panic, Asheville regularly punches above its weight, and this summer is no different.
More Travel Insights and Inspiration
Outdoor adventure and wellness await with nature’s restorative powers on full display this spring and summer as Asheville’s trails, forests and wellness spaces offer visitors a chance to immerse in lush landscapes and holistic rejuvenation.
Glow in the dark with blue ghost fireflies from late May to early July. Asheville Wellness Tours will guide visitors through the forest to witness the rare and magical blue ghost fireflies. Pinecrest Bed & Breakfast has introduced the “Ignite Your Senses” package, in collaboration with Asheville Wellness Tours, offering early bird pricing for the Ghostflies experience, a $25 gift card to Nine Mile, and a 10 percent discount on Tumblestone Tours.
A secluded wellness resort opens its doors this May. SoHum Healing Resort will open its spa services to the public for the first time. Visitors can enjoy Ayurvedic treatments and a new serenity retreat in a 100-acre wooded sanctuary adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Wildlife center welcomes visitors back after closing due to flooding. The WNC Nature Center is back showcasing the region’s unparalleled biodiversity, with new visitor pathways and upgraded facilities. Guests can reconnect with more than 60 animal species, including red pandas, river otters, black bears, red wolves and bobcats.
Forest bathing and wild-foraged tea with the Spring Forest Bathing Retreat at the North Carolina Arboretum welcoming guests to celebrate spring equinox with a guided immersion in nature, breathwork exercises and a wild-foraged tea ceremony.
Businesses Reopen, Rebuild and Innovate
Asheville’s culinary and nightlife scene is flourishing once again. Beloved bars, restaurants and social hubs reopen after Hurricane Helene, bringing fresh energy, new flavors and vibrant gathering spaces back to the city.
After closing due to flood damage, Daytrip, a queer-owned cocktail bar and creative space, reopened in March with a refreshed interior and a renewed focus on fostering Asheville’s nightlife and artistic community. Enjoy cocktails on a crushed velvet couch, retro decor, kitschy antiques and jewel tones.
Just weeks after opening, Moxy Asheville became a refuge for the community, providing power, Wi-Fi and support in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
Now fully thriving, the boutique hotel offers guests vibrant public spaces and a lively social scene. Its newest addition, Wildwood Still, features a rooftop bar with Blue Ridge views, over 150 whiskeys, and Asian-inspired small plates by Chef Austin Tisdale.
A new collaboration between Wild Goods and Beradu blends foraging with fine dining. Guests join expert guides in harvesting wild ingredients, then enjoy a multi-course meal prepared with their finds.
Golden Hour, the in-house restaurant at The Radical Hotel helmed by James Beard Semifinalist Jacob Sessoms, has reopened, once again serving seasonal drinks and inventive small plates in a space with an industrial edge and warm hospitality.
A River Arts District favorite, Golden Hour remains a go-to for locals and visitors alike. The Radical was recently named one of the World’s Greatest Places by Time and the No. 2 Best New Hotel by USA Today’s 10Best.
Following its post-Hurricane Helene opening, The Watch at The Restoration Asheville invites guests to enjoy a refreshed menu of Low Country-inspired dishes, craft cocktails and a welcoming atmosphere.
Floral displays, Gardens and Hands-On Experiences
Wildflowers and seasonal celebrations bring color and life to every corner of the city.
From April through May, Downtown Asheville transforms into a living floral and artistic showcase featuring live music, vibrant floral displays and a live painter capturing the energy. On April 26, Grove Arcade In Bloom brings botanical installations, a market of local growers, live performances and an Aperol Spritz pop-up in the historic arcade.
From March 21 to May 22, Biltmore Estate invites guests to enjoy 50,000 tulips, 14,000 daffodils and 1,000 hyacinths in the Walled Garden.
Carolina Flowers, an Asheville-area florist and flower farm, has opened a new storefront offering fresh, local arrangements. Visitors can also participate in floral design and flower farming workshops, gaining hands-on experience in creating their own floral masterpieces.
Opening in spring 2025, Haunt offers a curated selection of handcrafted tools, artisan décor and workshops led by local makers, all rooted in Appalachian traditions.
New Spaces for Art and Innovation
The Asheville area’s ever-evolving creative spirit is on display with new galleries, studios and meaningful ways to show love for impacted artists.
Western North Carolina has a deep-rooted glassmaking tradition, and the North Carolina Glass Center carries it forward with its new second location in Black Mountain.
Visitors can explore the gallery while the state-of-the-art studio nears completion. Starting in March, hands-on glassblowing classes invite guests to experience this Appalachian craft firsthand.
When Hurricane Helene displaced dozens of Asheville artists, Resurrection Studios Collective transformed the historic Moog Music building into a new space for studios, exhibitions and rotating First Friday art strolls.
Spring Events: Art, Heritage and Seasonal Celebrations
Asheville’s spring season offers a dynamic mix of art, culture, and festivals in some of the city’s most iconic settings. From a world-renowned exhibition and large-scale public art to craft beer celebrations and floral displays transforming downtown, this season is filled with creativity, history and immersive experiences.
A new exhibition at Biltmore transports visitors to one of archaeology’s greatest finds. Tutankhamun: His Tomb and His Treasures showcases 1,000 meticulously recreated artifacts, offering a rare look at the moment King Tut’s tomb was uncovered. The exhibition, running through January. 4, 2026, honors the legacy of global exploration embraced by Biltmore’s original resident, George Vanderbilt.
On May 10, Asheville’s River Arts District will host RAD Renaissance, a dynamic festival marking the neighborhood’s renewal after Helene’s historic flooding.
Spanning Upper RAD—Roberts Street, Artful Way, Clingman Avenue and Depot Street—the event features live painting, interactive art classes, music, storytelling, food trucks and flower-planting stations and launches the new RAD Art Market, a weekly showcase for displaced artists debuting work created since the storm.
The Asheville Black Cultural Heritage Trail continues to grow, with three new large-scale murals honoring Black artists, leaders and traditions. The first mural, debuting this spring in South Slope, is a vibrant celebration of Black joy by Asheville-based artist Tommy Lee McGee.
The inaugural For the Love of Craft festival highlights Asheville’s deep-rooted craft heritage, uniting local brewers, chefs and artisans for a day of tastings, demonstrations and interactive experiences on May 17, 2025.
Asheville Beer Week 2025 runs from May 15 to May 29, bringing together the city’s top breweries for exclusive releases, limited-edition collaborations and meet-the-brewer events.
The Asheville Bread Festival returns April 26 and 27, celebrating the craft of bread-making with hands-on workshops, tastings and expert demonstrations, connecting visitors with the region’s thriving artisan baking scene.
Biltmore Village: Historic District on the Mend
Biltmore Village, a historic district that faced severe flooding from Hurricane Helene, is in the midst of a dramatic revival. In six months, local businesses have come back, breweries are reopening, and a boutique hotel will welcome guests once again.
After six months of repairs, French Broad River Brewing brewed its first beer and has set plans to reopen this spring, bringing its signature lagers and live music series back to its taproom in April.
Grand Bohemian Asheville debuts in May with a refreshed interior, enhanced wine program at Red Stag Grill, and refined guest experiences blending modern comfort with historic charm.
After a 10-week closure due to flood water damage, Hillman Beer is back, serving house-made beers and elevated pub fare in its cozy taproom and beer garden.
Built in the 1930s, Forestry Camp, now a Burial Beer Co. taproom, served as a relief hub after Helene, offering meals, water and power to the community. The taproom is now open, offering a gathering space with a full kitchen and a menu inspired by its history.
