‘Chere’ the Fun!
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| Bele Chere 2009. Photo: Renato Rotolo |
Bele Chere 2011
A Greener, Cleaner Festival – Bele Chere began in 1979 as a way to bring life to Asheville’s then floundering downtown; the original festival included local music, local art, and local revelry.
In the thirty-two years since, “Bele Chere,” (pronounced “bell share”) has morphed into the largest free outdoor street festival in the Southeast.
This year’s festival will be held across downtown Asheville the weekend
of July 29-31, 2011, and will feature live music on four stages for an
expected 300,000 festival-goers.
Always Something Different!
Searching
for something original? If so, the Arts and Craft exhibits present an
opportunity for you to call one of these masterpieces your own. Vendors
travel from all over the country to set up shop in the streets of
downtown Asheville. Metalwork, fabric, paint, ceramics, woodwork, and a
variety of other mediums are featured throughout the festival venue, and
many artists will be stationed in the Arts Park in the Drhumor building
parking lot at the corner of Patton Avenue and Church Street.
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| Photo courtesy of Bele Chere |
Children’s Area Full of Bele Chere Fun!
The Children’s Bele Chere amusements and events area will be located on the Arena Level inside the Asheville Civic Center at 87 Haywood Street. Free crafts, ticketed rides, and free children’s performances will be offered to festival goers all weekend. The children’s area is an alcohol-free venue.
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| Photo courtesy of Bele Chere |
Bele Chere Food Courts
Bele Chere will offer two food court locations for 2011. They include the “Taste of Asheville,” which offers local restaurants the opportunity to sell food and beverages; the Prichard Park location will allow the festival-goers to experience foods from other invited food vendors.
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| Photo courtesy of Bele Chere |
Parking – Ground Transportation
If you drive, be aware that parking will be at a premium during festival times, but all the parking decks in the downtown areas are open for business, and “special event” parking rates will apply. Free handicapped parking is available at designated handicapped parking areas throughout the festival area, and at metered spaces.
Shuttle routes will operate from the east and from the west; each day, service begins one hour before the festival starts and continues until one hour past regular festival hours. The east shuttle will run from the back parking lot of the Asheville Mall on South Tunnel Road east of downtown; the west shuttle will run from the K-Mart Plaza shopping center on Patton Ave. Shuttles will run approximately every 20 minutes at a round-trip fare of $3 per person.
No-Pet Policy
Pets are strictly prohibited inside of the festival boundaries! Please be kind to your animal, and considerate to the visiting crowds of people. July temperatures and thousands of people can be a bit overwhelming for pets!
This year the City of Asheville is partnering with Chain Free Asheville to offer the Doggy Jail, a cool, clean, and friendly place to house your pet for a nominal fee while you attend the festival. Festival organizers will enforce the no-pet policy as necessary, so either leave your pooch at home, or be prepared to make a trip to the Doggy Jail should your pet get sequestered. The Doggy Jail will be located at 70 Court Plaza in front of City Hall.
Can I Buy Beer at Bele Chere?
You must have a wristband to carry alcohol on the streets during Bele Chere. Be prepared to show your picture ID when buying alcohol, as the wristband itself is not proof of age. Wristbands can be purchased for $2 at booths located adjacent to beverage stations, or from participating merchants. Wristband colors will change every day.
A wristband is not required to drink in Asheville’s downtown pubs, only while drinking on the streets. And of course, a valid picture ID is required. Coolers are not allowed inside the festival area. And remember, consumption of alcoholic beverages on the street is prohibited after 10 p.m. Friday & Saturday and all day Sunday.
