A free downtown weekend of live music, food, merchants and culture that celebrates nature and raises money for youth theater. The story behind LAAFF, when it happens and how to plan your visit.
The Lovely Asheville Annual Fall Festival, known as LAAFF, is a free weekend festival in the heart of downtown that celebrates nature, community and the arts while raising money for local youth theater. Expect live music across several genres, food, merchants, cultural activities and speakers, all with Asheville's fall-colored mountains as the backdrop.
Who Runs It
LAAFF was started by organizers Ray Mapp and Olympia Adams of Lovely Asheville. The idea came out of a conversation about the need for a fall festival that would celebrate the nature of the Asheville area while promoting its preservation through clean efforts and green energy. Asheville Creative Arts, a nonprofit that produces theater with and for young people, serves as the festival's fiscal nonprofit partner, and festival proceeds help make its performing arts programs accessible to local youth.
The organizers bill it as the first official annual fall festival in Asheville's history, with the theme of celebrating "the glamour of nature, humanity and art."
A Short History
The festival debuted in 2022. It returned in 2023 and was planned to run each year on the second weekend in October. In 2024 the festival had to be canceled because of Hurricane Helene. It came back in 2025 for its fourth edition with a theme centered on the community's resilience, and local TV reported crowds of about 3,000 to 4,000 people on the Saturday alone. The 2026 festival was the fifth.
When It Happens
LAAFF is a two-day weekend festival, planned for the second weekend in October. In 2026 that was October 10 and 11. The dates box at the top of this page shows the next festival once it's announced.
Where It Is
The festival sets up in downtown Asheville around Pack Square Park, with stages and festival areas in the park, on the Roger McGuire Green and on the Reuter Terrace, near 1 Court Plaza. It's right in the middle of downtown Asheville, so restaurants and shops are a short walk away.
Admission
Free and open to the public. Food and merchandise are sold by vendors.
What to Expect
- Live music in a wide range of genres, including R&B, pop, rock, jazz, Afrobeats, reggae and inspirational music.
- Food and merchants throughout the festival grounds.
- Cultural activities and speakers, with an emphasis on caring for the natural environment.
- Tributes to local talent. An early festival included an exhibit honoring famous natives of the Asheville area, from Nina Simone and Roberta Flack to Brad Daugherty and Bellamy Young.
Getting There and Parking
Pack Square Park is in the center of downtown. The City of Asheville runs four downtown parking garages open to the public 24/7, with the first hour free and $2 an hour after that, up to a $15 daily maximum. If you're staying downtown, it's an easy walk.
Tips
- Check the music schedule. Live music runs throughout the day, so pick the sets you don't want to miss.
- Make it a fall weekend. The organizers time the festival for when the surrounding mountains are in full fall color.
- Get involved. The organizers recruit vendors and sponsors each year, and festival proceeds support Asheville Creative Arts' youth programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is LAAFF?
It's planned each year for the second weekend in October. Check the dates box at the top of this page for the next festival.
Is it free?
Yes. The festival is free and open to the public.
Where is it held?
Around Pack Square Park in downtown Asheville, including the Roger McGuire Green and the Reuter Terrace.
Who benefits?
Asheville Creative Arts, a nonprofit that makes theater programs accessible to local youth.
Was the festival canceled after Hurricane Helene?
The 2024 festival was canceled because of the storm. LAAFF returned in 2025.
Visiting in the fall? Our fall in Asheville guide has more to do while the leaves are turning.
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