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Things to do in Asheville & WNC: Oct. 3-5

Things to do in Asheville & WNC: Oct. 3-5

Several festival events will be held this weekend in Pack Square Park. Photo: Saga Communications/Pruett Norris


ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Looking for things to do this weekend in the Asheville area? We’ve got you covered. Check out our guide below, featuring everything from a classic circus to beer and music festivals.

Friday, Oct. 3

Food Truck Fridays – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Pack Square Park

Beginning Oct. 3 and continuing through Dec. 19, a different local food truck will serving up hot food every Friday in Pack Square Park. The city will post weekly hints on social media about which food trucks are scheduled to participate, but this week’s kickoff will feature Philly-style cheesesteaks.

Venardos Circus – 7-8:30 p.m., Tanger Outlets Asheville

The Venardos Circus, a Broadway-style, animal-free classic circus showcase, will return to Asheville for a three week residency outside the Tanger Outlets. The circus was envisioned by creator Kevin Venardos as a return to traditional circus entertainment, from aerialist stunts and jokester gags to classic concessions like cotton candy.

Montford Park Players present “She Kills Monsters” – 7:30 p.m., Hazel Robinson Theatre, 92 Gay St.

The Montford Park Players conclude their 53rd season, “A Season of Lunatics, Lovers, & Poets,” with “She Kills Monsters,” a Qui Nguyen play about sisterhood, grief and Dungeons & Dragons.

Saturday, Oct. 4

2025 Burnpile Beer and Music Festival – 2-7:30 p.m., Forestry Camp, 10 Shady Oak Dr.

The 12th annual Burnpile Beer and Music Festival will be held at Burial Beer Co.’s Forestry Camp location this weekend, uniting over 60 breweries from around the world for an all-day celebration of brews, tunes and Asheville community.

Hop to the Movies – Arms Around ASD Fundraiser – 6:30-9:30 p.m., Land of the Sky UCC, 15 Overbrook Place

Arms Around ASD, a volunteer-run nonprofit that provides a huge array of services and programs for autistic people of all ages, will host its annual Hop to the Movies fundraiser and film screening this weekend with a showing of the 1974 Mel Brooks comedy “Young Frankenstein.” Proceeds from the outdoor family movie night will go to support Arms Around ASD programming.

Asheville KOA Grand Reopening – 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Asheville East KOA Holiday, 2708 US-70, Swannanoa

A year after closing due to the impact of Hurricane Helene, Kampgrounds of America, Inc. will reopen their Asheville East KOA Holiday campground in Swannanoa, N.C. The milestone event, cohosted with the Black Mountain-Swannanoa Chamber of Commerce, will be marked with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, refreshments and campground tours.

Carolinas Horror-Fest – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Haywood Park Hotel, 1 Battery Park Ave.

Carolinas Horror-Fest, a new Asheville horror convention, will be held this weekend, featuring spooky vendors of all sorts, as well as celebrity appearances from Tony Moran, the original Michael Myers in “Halloween,” Pinhead actor Paul T. Taylor and more.

Asheville Oktoberfest – 1-6 p.m., Pack Square Park

Asheville Oktoberfest, the annual Bavarian celebration of beer and cheer, will return to downtown Asheville with free admission for all. Over 20 Western North Carolina breweries and beverage manufacturers will be in attendance, presenting an array of more than 60 different beverages. Local food trucks, including Haus Heidelberg German Restaurant, will have Bavarian bites for sale.

Sunday, Oct. 5

Asheville Veganfest – Noon to 5 p.m., Pack Square Park

The “festival day” of Asheville Veganfest, an annual celebration of the vegan lifestyle with vegan food and vendors, will be held in downtown Asheville this Sunday. The event will feature music, free face-painting and more.

Read more. . .

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