Fall festival season is here, and western North Carolina is more than ready to welcome visitors one year after Hurricane Helene devastated dozens of communities.
In late September of 2024, more than 100 people were killed and homes and businesses were washed away when Helene carved a path of destruction through western North Carolina.
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One year later, Wit Tuttell, executive director for VisitNC, wants tourists to know the region is not just open for business; it's thriving again and urgently needs visitors. With festivals in full swing and fall color set to peak in October, the timing is perfect for a weekend trip to the mountains.
“The saddest thing we hear is when people say, ‘Well, I don't want to disturb them. I don't want to go out and interrupt or hurt their recovery,’” Tuttell said. “What they need for recovery is you to be out there and experiencing all those events in those towns.”
Although some western North Carolina residents are still rebuilding their livelihoods, restaurants, hotels, Airbnbs, parks and communities devastated by Helene are ready to welcome travelers, especially as the region plays host to dozens of festivals and the mountains turn into seas of vibrant red, yellow and orange leaves.
“The fall and fall color, you know, is amazing,” Tuttell said. “Some of the landscape is going to be a little different this year, but it's still going to be spectacular.”
Western NC fall festivals are in full swing
Tuttell said the region lost a few festivals during the COVID-19 pandemic, but those and others have returned stronger than ever since Hurricane Helene. When it comes to fall festivals in the mountains, there is something for everyone, although many of the events center around apples, fall color, art and folk music.
“The best way that viewers can help us today is come for a visit,” emphasized Vic Isley, president and CEO of Explore Asheville. “Come for these special events, come for a festival, stay overnight, eat in our restaurants, drink in our breweries, have a great time here, because walking through the front door of these small independent businesses is the best way to support our community going into the important fall season.”
Helene’s devastation in Asheville’s River Arts District (RAD) has inspired the RAD Resilience festival on Sept. 13 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. The free festival will feature live music, food trucks and 350 artists, including 100 artists who were forced out of their homes or businesses after the storm.
Many of the pieces were created in direct response to the storm and explore climate change, urgency and rebuilding.
“There'll be food trucks and interactive projects really focusing on the resilience of that artist community here in western North Carolina,” Isley said.
A week later, on the Sept. 27-28 weekend marking one year since Helene, Rising Appalachia will play two shows at Pisgah Brewery in Asheville, with proceeds going to hurricane recovery.
A list of popular festivals coming in the next months include:
· River Arts District (RAD) Resilience, Sept. 13
· ASAP Farm Tour in Asheville, Sept. 20-21
· Mayberry Days in Mt. Airy, Sept. 22-28
· Black Mountain Blues Festival, Sept. 26-28
· Blue Ridge Pride in Asheville, Sept. 27
· Rising Appalachia Hurricane Helene Anniversary Shows, Sept. 27-28
· Carolina Mountain Cheese Festival in Black Mountain, Sept. 28
· Brushy Mountain Apple Festival in North Wilkesboro, Oct. 4
· John C. Campbell Folk School's 49th Fall Festival, Oct. 4-5
· Asheville Art in the Park, Oct. 4, 11, 18
· Autumn Leaves Festival in Mt. Airy, Oct. 10-12
· Taylorsville Apple Festival, Oct. 18
· Apple Harvest Festival in Waynesville, Oct. 18
· Woolly Worm Festival in Banner Elk, Oct. 18-19
· Christmas at Biltmore, Nov. 1-Jan. 4, 2026
· Highlands Food & Wine Festival, Nov. 13-16
· Giant trolls art exhibit at North Carolina Arboretum, Nov. 12-Feb. 17
Are any western NC festivals canceled due to Helene?
Amazingly, nearly all existing festivals are a “go” in western North Carolina this year.
“I think that's one of the great things about this season,” Isley said. “These festivals and events that are put on by nonprofits and musicians and community leaders, [they’re] a testament to the grit and gumption and determination of our community. We've made such great progress thus far and that is something to celebrate, while also honoring and remembering that there's many miles to go. There’s progress being made every day.”
One of the only major events still impacted by Helene in 2025 is Autumn at Oz at Beech Mountain, which has a goal of revamping and reopening in 2026.
“We were really fortunate in that a lot of events are still happening,” Tuttell said.
A post on the Autumn at Oz event’s website reads, “As our event has evolved, we face new challenges in maintaining the high standard of experience that our guests expect. Following Hurricane Helene’s impact on North Carolina, we’ve been reminded of the critical importance of long-term sustainability and preparedness. With that in mind, we’ve made the difficult decision to place Autumn at Oz on pause for 2025 in order to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the event and the park itself.”
How to support western NC
Tuttell said, while you may take a different road to get there, the region’s fall festivals are on. Visiting the mountains to eat, shop and vacation is a great way to boost the local economy.
“You don't want two disasters, the natural disaster happening and then an economic disaster happening if people don't show up and those businesses have to close,” Tuttell said. “We don't want to see that. We want to keep as many of these unique and distinct local businesses going and keep those North Carolinians employed and keep them doing well.”
While the entire region can benefit from guests, Tuttell suggested a few spots that could really use visitors, including Asheville’s River Arts District and Spruce Pine, which is in Mitchell County and just south of Beech Mountain and Sugar Mountain.
“There are some areas that were really hit hard that could really use the business,” Tuttell said. “In Spruce Pine, that downtown was devastated. They're really working hard to get it back.”
Tuttell recommends visiting the shops inside the Market on Oak in Spruce Pine. He also recommends visiting Marshall, which is near the French Broad River in Madison County.
“A wall of water came through there,” Tuttell said. “They've gone through a tremendous effort to get that back, and they're open and ready for business.”
Other areas to check out are the towns of Lansing and West Jefferson, both in Ashe County.
“I think if people can go to those small towns and come back, that's tremendously helpful,” Tuttell said.
Another area in need of tourists is Swannanoa, a hard-hit area east of Asheville.
The Smokies, or North Carolina’s far western counties, are also in need of visitors.
“They weren't really impacted by the storm, but unfortunately they've been impacted by people who think they were impacted and haven't gone,” Tuttell said. “So they've lost a lot of business.”
“As our governor says, coming to western North Carolina and spending money is going to be the most fun public service you'll ever do this year,” Isley added. “It’s a really a special time.”
Ready to host
“Western North Carolina is ready to host you,” Tuttell said. “They're happy to give you this unforgettable experience so you can rediscover that.”
Although much of the region is ready for visitors, Tuttell recommends travelers call their hosts, particularly if they’re staying in Airbnbs or vacation rentals, because they may be able to offer helpful travel advice.
“Some of the roads have changed, and some of the best ways to get here are a little different,” Tuttell said. “Google might not be the most updated thing, so we really recommend that you call ahead and just make sure you know the best way to get there.”
Find a list of events coming up in Asheville and other events across the region.
Helene: What we've lost, what we've found: Watch on WRAL
During the summer of 2025, WRAL reporters Eric Miller and Cristin Severance and photographers Sean Braswell and Dwayne Myers spent a week in the mountains, talking to people about the progress made and work still to be done almost a year after Hurricane Helene.
The WRAL documentary "Helene: What we've lost, what we've found" will debut Sept. 25 at 7:30 p.m. on WRAL-TV. You can stream is everywhere you find WRAL.