River Arts District

Where Asheville's Artists Work

The River Arts District, or RAD, is a stretch of old industrial buildings along the French Broad River that now hold hundreds of working artists in glass, clay, metal, paint, and print. You can walk in, watch people work, and buy directly from the maker. The River Arts District Artists association says the district was recently named the best arts district in the country in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice awards.

Helene and the Rebuild

The river flooded the district in September 2024, and many studios, restaurants, and breweries were destroyed or badly damaged. Artists have been reopening in stages, and the association describes a challenging year of recovery. Not everything has come back yet, so always check that a studio or restaurant is open before you go.

Events

The district's event calendar lists Open Studio Saturdays, Third Thursday socials, and classes. Second Saturday strolls are listed for October 10 and November 14, 2026, and RADfest is the district's fall open-studio weekend in November (check the event calendar for 2026 dates). See our River Arts District neighborhood guide.

Eat and Drink Nearby

The Hi-Wire RAD Beer Garden is on Lyman Street, and All Souls Pizza and Ultra Coffeebar and PennyCup are both open in the district.