Bele Chere Music and Arts Festival

The City of Asheville will host the 35th annual Bele Chere street fair and festival July 26, 27 and 28 in downtown Asheville.

“Bele Chere” means beautiful living and that’s what you’ll find in Asheville at the largest free arts and music street festival in the Southeast.

Nationally appealing but locally-focused, Bele Chere is an annual summer destination event that welcomes around 275,000 people of all ages to experience and enjoy. People come to stroll the streets shopping for handmade crafts ranging from jewelry to photography, furniture to pottery, and everything else in between. Discover a cool new band, find the perfect piece of art, sample some local or national cuisine, enjoy a microbrew – or find your own way to celebrate Bele Chere.

Bele Chere Events Schedule

• Friday, July 27: noon – 11 p.m.
• Saturday, July 28: 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.
• Sunday, July 29: noon – 7 p.m.

View the Bele Chere 2013 Entertainment Line-Up

Bele Chere Transportation and Parking

If you drive remember that parking will be limited, so carpooling is encouraged. Downtown parking is limited, so consider taking a shuttle for just $2 roundtrip. City Parking Decks will be open at: the Civic Center, Rankin Avenue, Wall Street, and BB&T Parking Deck on Broadway, but access may be different than normal.

Also, a number of surface lots around the perimeter may also offer parking. In both cases, be aware that special event rates may apply. Free handicapped parking is available at any metered parking space outside the festival boundaries.

Shuttles will begin accepting passengers at the start of the festival, and run for one hour past the festival’s close time; shuttles run approximately every 20 minutes.

East Shuttle: Asheville Mall, 3 South Tunnel Road, Connects to Pack Square Park.

West Shuttle: K-Mart Plaza Shopping Center, 1001 Patton Avenue, Connects to the US Cellular Center.

Pets

Pets and reptiles are not allowed within the festival boundaries. The streets are crowded with people and vendors so it’s not a safe environment for pets. Leave your pooch at home or to make a trip to Doggy Jail. And don’t worry; it is a cool, clean, and friendly place to house your pet while you attend the festival. Doggy Jail is located at 70 Court Plaza (in front of City Hall).

Food Courts

Asheville is fast becoming the premiere culinary destination of North Carolina and the Southeast. Local chefs and entrepreneurs have spurred the region’s farm-to-table and local food movements.

Bele Chere will offer two food courts for 2013, the Taste of Asheville, and the Pritchard Park Food Court. Taste of Asheville offers local restaurants the opportunity to sell food and beverages while the Pritchard Park food court will offer food cuseines from vendors from all over the country.

The Pritchard Park food court is the festival’s largest food court and is made up of food vendors from all over the country. Pritchard Park food vendor spaces are awarded based on menu variety, booth size requested, booth setup photos and prior participation in the festival.

Beat the Heat With a Cold Drink!

Coolers are not allowed, but beverage booths will be located throughout the festival with water, sodas, and beer. Most of the area’s numerous microbreweries will have their brews available, and wine is also available.

To buy alcoholic beverages at Bele Chere, you must be at least 21 years old and purchase a wristband, which you must wear to buy or carry alcohol on the streets during the festival. You can acquire a wristband for $2, along with your state or military-issue picture identification. Areas in which to purchase wristbands are conveniently located next to the beverage stations.

In addition to wearing your wristband through the entirety of the festival (or as long as you wish to buy and enjoy beer and wine), you must show your identification each time you purchase an alcoholic beverage at Bele Chere. But remember, the Children’s Area is an alcohol-free zone, and Sunday is an alcohol-free day.

Cooling Stations

Cooling station will be located throughout the Bele Chere Festival. Walk through one of the misting stations and be pleasantly cooled down, as the calming water-mist takes the edge off on a hot day.

Children’s Area

Bele Chere is a place for the entire family, and we want the little ones to have as much fun as possible. Our Children’s Area has activities geared to children, but these activities are offered to all festival goers throughout the weekend.

The Children’s Area, located inside U.S. Cellular Center, offers kids a mix of crafts, rides, and performances. Kids can practice Tae Kwon Do, join sing-alongs, learn fire safety from the Asheville Fire Department, or pet animals from the Western North Carolina Nature Center. Bele Chere partners with local non-profit organizations that help to organize the events and activities in the Children’s Area.

The Children’s Area is an alcohol-free zone. Remember: No childcare services will be offered, so do not leave your children unattended without a parent or guardian.

Mommy Haven

If you have a little one and need a changing or nursing station, you’ll find the Mommy Haven at the U.S. Cellular Center on the concourse level before you go down the ramp to the Children’s Area.

Senior Oasis

The Senior Oasis is located in the U.S. Cellular Center where it is cool inside. Please check with attendants for any activities.

Shopping

Bele Chere Vendors as well as store front businesses offer a variety of shopping opportunities for art, crafts, gifts, décor, and unique clothing to satisfy the most discriminating of tastes. Bele Chere T-shirts past and present will also be available for sale – just ask at information booths. Cash, credit, or check will vary from vendor to vendor, but if you need to acquire cash while attending the festival, you can find ATMs throughout the Downtown Asheville.

ATM Locations

• Asheville Savings Bank: Patton Avenue at Arts Park
• Bank of America: 68 Patton Avenue,  across from Pritchard Park, and at 162 College Street
• BB&T: 1 West Pack Square, BB&T Building
• Cash Points: Corner of Charlotte and College Streets
• First Citizens Bank: 108 Patton Avenue
• Premier Credit Union: Haywood St., at the U.S. Cellular Center
• Wachovia: 1 Haywood Street, across from Pritchard Park

Restrooms, Lost & Found, First Aid

There will be temporary restrooms located throughout the festival boundaries. There are also restrooms located within the U.S. Cellular Center. Lost and Found will be located in the U.S. Cellular Center.

First-Aid tents are located in three areas:

•     Patton Avenue and Church Street

•     Children’s Area, inside the U.S. Cellular Center

•     Lexington near College Street

Here’s the last word on Bele Chere: Keep cool by ducking inside or walking through the cooling stations. Drink plenty of fluids (and if you drink alcohol, drink responsibly). Be respectful of everyone you meet, and enjoy the party!