Celebrate Mom and Spring in Asheville

When you think of spring in Asheville, what comes to your mind first? Residents of our city think of sunshine, warmer temperatures, flowering trees, and colors spreading across the tops of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

May is a lovely month to visit, and with Mother’s Day just around the corner, it’s a delightful month to show mom all the beauty of the Western North Carolina mountains.

Best of all, the whole family can stay at The Residences at Biltmore, with 2- and 3-bedroom suites with room for as many as 8 to sleep comfortably. Keep reading for our ideas for making memories with Mom - and even a few Memorial Day weekend events to start the summer right.

Outdoor at Biltmore

Spending a day at Biltmore is always a hit with mom. After touring the grand home, spend the afternoon exploring the gardens and grounds, then head to Antler Hill Village for wine tasting and shopping.

• Monet & Friends – Life, Light & Color This immersive experience explores the paintings of Claude Monet and the Impressionist painters of the 19th and 20th centuries. Prepare to not only see the Impressionists’ masterworks but also to experience them as they come to life in a rich display of light, color, and sound.
• Biltmore Blooms is the estate’s annual celebration of spring flowers, where 8,000 acres and more than 100,000 individual flowers are on display throughout the gardens. You’ll see tulips, azaleas, roses, magnolia, redbud trees, and more at their height of color. Have a particular blossom in mind? Check out the Bloom Report for a detailed list for each week.
• For even more outdoor artistry, the Biltmore Gardens Railway has returned with a new display, “Wonders of the World.” The model train display is made entirely out of natural elements like leaves, twigs, and bark, and features pieces designed to reflect buildings and structures associated with the Vanderbilt family’s travels around the world.

More for Mom

• Treat Mom to a musical celebration downtown to see local favorite Bluegrass band (and actor Steve Martin’s sometimes side-project), The Steep Canyon Rangers' Free For All concert presented by Oskar Blues Brewery. The free concert takes place at Pack Square Park on May 7 at 5 p.m.
• Is Mom more of an adventure type? Treat her to a day at the Treetops Adventure Park or KidZip. All moms climb for free on Mother’s Day with paying family members. Use code “mom” when booking online.

Flowery Festivals

• __Uncommon Market __

Asheville's largest curated pop-up market for antiques, art, vintage decor, jewelry and more takes place outdoors on May 22 at 1 Foundy Street in the River Arts District. Everything starts at 10 a.m., and ends at 4 p.m. Admission and parking are free, and there are food trucks, a DJ, and even adult beverages available.

• Asheville Memorial Day Weekend Festival of the Arts

The latest installment of this annual event takes place at Pack Square downtown May 28-29 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The free event will feature more than 100 regional, local and national artists, fine jewelry craft artisans, hand-crafted apparel and decor and more.

• Garden Jubilee Festival

One of the largest gardening shows in Western North Carolina, this garden lover's event features more than 200 plant and craft vendors lining Main Street in Hendersonville. The Festival takes place over Memorial Day Weekend, May 28-29 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.