St. Patrick's Day in Asheville ☘️

After a long, gray winter, spring is finally in the air in Asheville, and with it comes the start of Asheville’s events and festivals season. Two of the first events to kick it off take place this weekend, with city-wide St. Patrick’s Day festivities, and the start of the Asheville Amadeus Festival.

St. Patrick’s Day

St. Patrick’s Day is March 17, and there are plenty of ways to celebrate your Irish heritage - even if you’re only Irish for one day - in Asheville.

One of our favorite places to get our Irish on is Hillman Beer, which will hold their St. Patrick’s Day Shindig at 3 p.m., featuring the sounds of the Asheville Firefighters Pipes and Drums, as well as Bangers and Mash with Stout Onion Gravy and Lucky Charms Bread Pudding from the Rise Above Deli. Best of all, the brewery is just around the corner from The Residences at Biltmore!

Venture downtown to Jack of the Wood beginning at 10 a.m. They'll have live music, Irish food, and drink specials all day. The Grey Eagle in the River Arts District is hosting Four Leaf Peat, traditional Irish musicians from Tennessee, at 8 p.m. on the 17th.  

Head to South Asheville for the Hickory Tavern in Biltmore Park on March 16 & 17 for “The Real McCoy St. Patrick’s Day Party”. They’ll offer discounts on beer buckets, shots of green liquor, prizes, giveaways, and corned beef & cabbage for $13.50. A limited number of green beer glasses will also be given out.

Highland Brewing is celebrating a day early on the 16th with the Get Right Band, the Carpenter Academy of Irish Dance, and their Irish stout. The festivities start at noon.

Asheville Amadeus Festival

The Asheville Symphony Orchestra is celebrating Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with 10 days of events throughout the city. “Inspired by the things we believe (Mozart) would have loved,” the Orchestra will be joined by pianist Garrick Ohlsson and hometown guitarist Warren Haynes to bring unique performances, educational programs, social events, and collaborations to the city.

The festival kicks off on March 15 at 5 p.m. at Burial Beer Co., with the introduction of the brewery’s Symphony-inspired brew, The Righteous and Barbaric Souls Imperial Stout. In addition to the beer, a trio of Asheville Symphony musicians will play, and the kitchen is serving dishes reminiscent of Mozart’s Austrian heritage.

The party continues the next 2 nights with performances by Haynes and some of his musician friends, like Edwin McCain and John Medeski, accompanied by the Symphony. “Dreams & Songs: A Symphonic Experience” begins at 8 p.m. at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, and tickets range from $46-$72.  

On March 17, the whole family is invited to enjoy “Mozart, Mountains & Mickey Mouse” at UNC Asheville’s Lipinsky Auditorium. The Asheville Community Band will play Mozart’s “Marriage of Figaro,” followed by Disney favorites. Kids (and adults) are encouraged to dress up as their favorite Disney characters. Shows are scheduled for 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. Adult tickets are $12, and students and kids are free.

If dance is more your style, join the Ballet Conservatory of Asheville for a performance of interpretations of Bach and Rachmaninoff pieces. “Ballet with Bach and Rach” will take place at the Ballet Conservatory of Asheville Studios on March 17 at noon and 1 p.m. Adult tickets are $10, and youth tickets are $5.

Even Asheville’s LaZoom bus tours are participating in the festival, with two Asheville Musical History tours on March 19 and 20 at 3 p.m. Take a ride on the bus for a tour of Asheville’s musical legacy, accompanied by a live band and featuring alcohol and snacks. Tickets are $45 per person.

Many other events are planned, including a panel discussion of women in music (“Women Get the Job Done”), followed by a performance of local female musicians (“Women Who Move the Needle”), as well as a symphony talk, a fashion show, several performances, and the Asheville Amadeus Finale Concert on March 24.

Winter Getaway Rates

Book a suite at The Residences at Biltmore when you visit Asheville and get $10 off per night when you stay two or more nights in March. Use the code MAR10 when you book your stay.

Call for more information, 1-888-786-3648