Weekend Roundup Oct. 16-18

What's in your weekend, Asheville?

(Image from the official photographer of BlogAsheville, The Zen)

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LEAF
Oct. 14-17
Black Mountain, NC
Already bloody sold out. It'll be back in May though.

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The Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands

what: 62nd annual Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands
where: Asheville Civic Center
when: Oct. 15 to 18 (10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Adults, $7, children under 12 free. http://www.craftguild.org or 298-7928).

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Early Voting

It started yesterday and continues, fittingly, through Halloween. City council candidate (and BlogAsheville blogger) Cecil Bothwell hands out cupcakes while supplies last to early voters at the BoE, starting today (Friday) at noon.

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The Blue Ridge Orchestra

The orchestra opens its 10th season with Pictures at an Exhibition, featuring some of classical music's most-beloved pieces: Mozart's overture to The Marriage of Figaro, Dvorak's "Slavonic Dance No. 8" and two of Debussy's "Nocturnes."

The group is made up of amateur, semi-professional and professional musicians who volunteer in an effort to make orchestral music more affordable and accessible.
8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16. Diana Wortham Theatre. $15 adults, $10 students and groups of five or more, free for children under 5. http://www.dwtheatre.org or http://www.blueridgeorchestra.org.

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Fall Fest 2009
Biltmore Park Square
Saturday, Oct. 17
11a.m.-5p.m. festival
7-9p.m. free concert, Caribbean Cowboys

From a press release:

Biltmore Park Town Square is gearing up for Fall Fest 2009, where retailers, restaurants, and entertainers will color the season fantastic with their displays and performances. A perfect outing for the whole family, the festival will feature plenty of activities for both adults and children, and with the back to school rush settling down and routines starting to take hold of our days, now is a better time than ever to spice up your weekends by getting outside with friends and family.

The aromas from the food vendors will probably be familiar because they come from your favorite Asheville restaurants including Brixx Pizza, 131 MAIN Restaurant, Cold Stone Creamery, and soon to be open Travinia Italian Kitchen. The adults in the crowd will love exploring the offerings of spas, salons, boutiques, and national retailers REI and Barnes & Noble, and of course the children will find it hard to resist the moonwalk, face painting, magician, and more.

The fun starts at 11 a.m. and lasts all day until 5 p.m. But if you haven't had your fill by then, grab a bite to eat or catch a movie and stick around for a free concert by The Caribbean Cowboys that will take place from 7-9 p.m., and dance the evening away.

Find Biltmore Park Town Square immediately off I-26 at exit 37--just ten minutes from downtown. Be there. Be square.

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(Stephen Miller/smmiller@citizen-times.com)

Basilica of St. Lawrence Centennial Celebration

(a jewel of Asheville architecture is 100 years young)

Oct. 16: Concert featuring organ recital, vocal group Pastymes and the Biltmore Brass, 7 p.m., in the Basilica.

Oct. 17: Mass at 11 a.m. Reception follows at the Haywood Park Hotel. Vans will be provided for the elderly and disabled to get to the reception.

For more information about the church or centennial celebration, call 252-6042 or visit www.saintlawrencebasilica.org.