Plans are underway for the 2009 Bele Chere festival held in beautiful downtown Asheville each July. Arts & crafts, food, entertainment, interactive events, and a children’s activity area will fill the streets, drawing about 300,000 visitors throughout the three-day Bele Cher Festival. Bele Chere is the largest free street festival in the Southeast! We invite you to join us!

Changes Are Afoot!
Be prepared for some new things this year – a different festival layout and a return to music that’s ALL free are just a couple of the changes in the works for 2009! (After all, we’re 31 years old this year – it’s time to shake things up a little!)

About Bele Chere
"BELE CHERE" means "beautiful living" and you'll see how the festival got its name when you visit beautiful downtown Asheville.

For three days each year, always the last full weekend in July, the central downtown area is barricaded against vehicular traffic and the largest free street festival in the Southeast holds court in Asheville.  Festivalgoers from across the country come to celebrate our mountains, our bustling downtown area, our diverse cultures, and the festival that brings it all together once a year.

Showcasing local talent is a Bele Chere tradition, as well as hosting some of the hottest artists in the country.  From rock superstar Kenny Wayne Shepherd, country legend, Marty Stuart to 90’s rockers, Gin Blossoms, blues artist Shemekia Copeland and 60’s favorites, Lovin’ Spoonful, this year’s Bele Chere is loaded with phenomenal musicians.