Love Shine Play Festival 2026
Multi day summer festival in downtown Asheville's Court Plaza, July 23–26, 2026, gathering community for sunlit outdoor performances, local vendors, and plaza activities for the 9th annual Love Shine Play celebration.
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A community festival centered on love, joy, and playful connection with activities that encourage mingling and shared experiences. Expect an upbeat, inclusive atmosphere geared toward locals and visitors alike.
A community festival centered on love, joy, and playful connection with activities that encourage mingling and shared experiences. Expect an upbeat, inclusive atmosphere geared toward locals and visitors alike.
A community festival centered on love, joy, and playful connection with activities that encourage mingling and shared experiences. Expect an upbeat, inclusive atmosphere geared toward locals and visitors alike.
Four-night improv festival across three Asheville venues, mixing quick-fire short form games with longform and narrative unscripted theater. Expect headliner sets, musical improv, and a rotating lineup of diverse teams.
Four-night improv festival across three Asheville venues, mixing quick-fire short form games with longform and narrative unscripted theater. Expect headliner sets, musical improv, and a rotating lineup of diverse teams.
Four-night improv festival across three Asheville venues, mixing quick-fire short form games with longform and narrative unscripted theater. Expect headliner sets, musical improv, and a rotating lineup of diverse teams.
Zesty summer tasting of experimental pickles, fermented condiments, and crazy flavor mashups alongside local craft vendors; all food menu items priced ten dollars or less for budget friendly snack and shop fun.
Zesty summer tasting of experimental pickles, fermented condiments, and crazy flavor mashups alongside local craft vendors; all food menu items priced ten dollars or less for budget friendly snack and shop fun.
Zesty summer tasting of experimental pickles, fermented condiments, and crazy flavor mashups alongside local craft vendors; all food menu items priced ten dollars or less for budget friendly snack and shop fun.
Crisp autumn street fair with dozens of local makers and craft vendors, seasonal food stalls, kid activities, and community booths spread across the downtown plaza for a family friendly outdoor celebration.
Crisp autumn street fair with dozens of local makers and craft vendors, seasonal food stalls, kid activities, and community booths spread across the downtown plaza for a family friendly outdoor celebration.
Crisp autumn street fair with dozens of local makers and craft vendors, seasonal food stalls, kid activities, and community booths spread across the downtown plaza for a family friendly outdoor celebration.
Sunlit outdoor festival celebrating local honey with tasting tables, beekeeping demos, and vendor booths on Highland Brewing's beer garden; family friendly activities and brewery beer pairings highlight Asheville's pollinator-focused foodways.
Sunlit outdoor festival celebrating local honey with tasting tables, beekeeping demos, and vendor booths on Highland Brewing's beer garden; family friendly activities and brewery beer pairings highlight Asheville's pollinator-focused foodways.
Sunlit outdoor festival celebrating local honey with tasting tables, beekeeping demos, and vendor booths on Highland Brewing's beer garden; family friendly activities and brewery beer pairings highlight Asheville's pollinator-focused foodways.
High-energy improvisational comedy featuring long-form jams, short-form games, and ensemble sketch pieces in a day-long festival format that highlights local and touring troupes with playful audience participation.
High-energy improvisational comedy featuring long-form jams, short-form games, and ensemble sketch pieces in a day-long festival format that highlights local and touring troupes with playful audience participation.
High-energy improvisational comedy featuring long-form jams, short-form games, and ensemble sketch pieces in a day-long festival format that highlights local and touring troupes with playful audience participation.
Outdoor community festival of movement, song, and playful creativity at Pack Square Park, including a Joy Parade with the Street Creature Puppet Collective, guided singing by Travis Redtail, and local artist vendors.
Outdoor community festival of movement, song, and playful creativity at Pack Square Park, including a Joy Parade with the Street Creature Puppet Collective, guided singing by Travis Redtail, and local artist vendors.
Outdoor community festival of movement, song, and playful creativity at Pack Square Park, including a Joy Parade with the Street Creature Puppet Collective, guided singing by Travis Redtail, and local artist vendors.
A hands-on “touch a truck” takeover with utility trucks, rescue vehicles, transit buses, and heavy construction rigs parked for close-up exploring. Kids and adults can climb in, ask questions, and learn how city vehicles keep Asheville running.
A hands-on “touch a truck” takeover with utility trucks, rescue vehicles, transit buses, and heavy construction rigs parked for close-up exploring. Kids and adults can climb in, ask questions, and learn how city vehicles keep Asheville running.
A hands-on “touch a truck” takeover with utility trucks, rescue vehicles, transit buses, and heavy construction rigs parked for close-up exploring. Kids and adults can climb in, ask questions, and learn how city vehicles keep Asheville running.
Tactile, curiosity driven festival of invention with hands on workshops, robotics demos, 3D printing stations, and interactive maker booths for kids and adults exploring DIY electronics, crafts, and creative engineering.
Tactile, curiosity driven festival of invention with hands on workshops, robotics demos, 3D printing stations, and interactive maker booths for kids and adults exploring DIY electronics, crafts, and creative engineering.
Tactile, curiosity driven festival of invention with hands on workshops, robotics demos, 3D printing stations, and interactive maker booths for kids and adults exploring DIY electronics, crafts, and creative engineering.
Free family favorites light up a massive outdoor screen at dusk in Pack Square Park, with blankets and lawn chairs encouraged. An hour before showtime, the Rec n Roll play zone adds games, music, kid and teen activities, and themed giveaways.
Free family favorites light up a massive outdoor screen at dusk in Pack Square Park, with blankets and lawn chairs encouraged. An hour before showtime, the Rec n Roll play zone adds games, music, kid and teen activities, and themed giveaways.
Free family favorites light up a massive outdoor screen at dusk in Pack Square Park, with blankets and lawn chairs encouraged. An hour before showtime, the Rec n Roll play zone adds games, music, kid and teen activities, and themed giveaways.
Seasonal farmers market in Biltmore Park with outdoor vendor stalls and a neighborhood browsing vibe. Shop local produce and artisan goods along Town Square Boulevard in an easygoing community setting.
Seasonal farmers market in Biltmore Park with outdoor vendor stalls and a neighborhood browsing vibe. Shop local produce and artisan goods along Town Square Boulevard in an easygoing community setting.
Seasonal farmers market in Biltmore Park with outdoor vendor stalls and a neighborhood browsing vibe. Shop local produce and artisan goods along Town Square Boulevard in an easygoing community setting.
Downtown fills with roaming street performers and pop up sets, blending music, juggling, and interactive acts in a festival atmosphere. A walkable, all ages celebration of Asheville busking culture and community energy.
Downtown fills with roaming street performers and pop up sets, blending music, juggling, and interactive acts in a festival atmosphere. A walkable, all ages celebration of Asheville busking culture and community energy.
Downtown fills with roaming street performers and pop up sets, blending music, juggling, and interactive acts in a festival atmosphere. A walkable, all ages celebration of Asheville busking culture and community energy.
A self guided evening art walk through downtown galleries and public art stops, paired with a benefit fundraiser supporting local creative community efforts. Expect gallery hopping, street level browsing, and a lively after work crowd.
A self guided evening art walk through downtown galleries and public art stops, paired with a benefit fundraiser supporting local creative community efforts. Expect gallery hopping, street level browsing, and a lively after work crowd.
A self guided evening art walk through downtown galleries and public art stops, paired with a benefit fundraiser supporting local creative community efforts. Expect gallery hopping, street level browsing, and a lively after work crowd.
A vibrant open air Ujamaa marketplace spotlighting Black owned businesses and African diaspora artisans, with handmade goods, local food vendors, and community focused stalls at South Pack Square for a family friendly gathering.
A vibrant open air Ujamaa marketplace spotlighting Black owned businesses and African diaspora artisans, with handmade goods, local food vendors, and community focused stalls at South Pack Square for a family friendly gathering.
A vibrant open air Ujamaa marketplace spotlighting Black owned businesses and African diaspora artisans, with handmade goods, local food vendors, and community focused stalls at South Pack Square for a family friendly gathering.
Transformative earthskills immersion in the Blue Ridge Mountains with 300+ hands on classes, nightly communal music, and intergenerational camping at Wild Human Preserve for skill building, nature connection, and community.
Transformative earthskills immersion in the Blue Ridge Mountains with 300+ hands on classes, nightly communal music, and intergenerational camping at Wild Human Preserve for skill building, nature connection, and community.
Transformative earthskills immersion in the Blue Ridge Mountains with 300+ hands on classes, nightly communal music, and intergenerational camping at Wild Human Preserve for skill building, nature connection, and community.
A citywide charity dining day where participating Asheville restaurants donate a portion of sales to support HIV and AIDS services. Dine in or take out while turning everyday meals into community fundraising impact.
A citywide charity dining day where participating Asheville restaurants donate a portion of sales to support HIV and AIDS services. Dine in or take out while turning everyday meals into community fundraising impact.
A citywide charity dining day where participating Asheville restaurants donate a portion of sales to support HIV and AIDS services. Dine in or take out while turning everyday meals into community fundraising impact.
A festival-style night at a downtown concert hall with a rotating multi-artist lineup and high-energy crowd. Expect loud, late sets, pro sound and lights, and a packed-floor concert vibe.
A festival-style night at a downtown concert hall with a rotating multi-artist lineup and high-energy crowd. Expect loud, late sets, pro sound and lights, and a packed-floor concert vibe.
A festival-style night at a downtown concert hall with a rotating multi-artist lineup and high-energy crowd. Expect loud, late sets, pro sound and lights, and a packed-floor concert vibe.
Unhurried gallery viewing encourages close looking and small-group reflection in a calm museum setting. Spend the afternoon pausing with artworks and sharing observations as part of the worldwide Slow Art Day movement.
Unhurried gallery viewing encourages close looking and small-group reflection in a calm museum setting. Spend the afternoon pausing with artworks and sharing observations as part of the worldwide Slow Art Day movement.
Unhurried gallery viewing encourages close looking and small-group reflection in a calm museum setting. Spend the afternoon pausing with artworks and sharing observations as part of the worldwide Slow Art Day movement.
Rows of handmade quilts and fiber art fill the Davis Event Center, with judged displays, shopping from quilting and fabric vendors, and chances to meet local makers. A community-forward show for stitchers, collectors, and craft lovers.
Rows of handmade quilts and fiber art fill the Davis Event Center, with judged displays, shopping from quilting and fabric vendors, and chances to meet local makers. A community-forward show for stitchers, collectors, and craft lovers.
Rows of handmade quilts and fiber art fill the Davis Event Center, with judged displays, shopping from quilting and fabric vendors, and chances to meet local makers. A community-forward show for stitchers, collectors, and craft lovers.
A free, citywide celebration of Asheville’s street performing scene with scheduled sets and pop-up gatherings across multiple stages. Catch roaming buskers and curated performances at Pack Square, Pritchard Park, Reuter Terrace, and the River Arts District.
A free, citywide celebration of Asheville’s street performing scene with scheduled sets and pop-up gatherings across multiple stages. Catch roaming buskers and curated performances at Pack Square, Pritchard Park, Reuter Terrace, and the River Arts District.
A free, citywide celebration of Asheville’s street performing scene with scheduled sets and pop-up gatherings across multiple stages. Catch roaming buskers and curated performances at Pack Square, Pritchard Park, Reuter Terrace, and the River Arts District.