Due to the impact of Hurricane Helene, the normal studio stroll scheduled for this time of year will instead be RADFest 1.0, a "soft opening" showcasing displaced artists, open studios and galleries, food trucks, and music.
The festival will take place on Saturday and Sunday, November 9-10, from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Come witness the fortitude and creativity of this incredibly resilient community as they rebuild and reimagine the RAD.
The River Arts District Studio Stroll takes place twice a year, during May and November, and includes an open door into nearly 280+ art studios and galleries over two days in Asheville's popular River Arts District. For two days, visitors, art buyers, and spectators alike can visit over 25 historic industrial buildings that have been transformed into artist headquarters to view live demonstrations of painting, glass blowing, hand-building or throwing pottery, and much more. The strolls also give interested visitors the ability to ask artists about their craft or art as well as purchase original artwork or prints.
The River Arts District is located by the railroad tracks and the French Broad River within a couple of miles of downtown Asheville. Most of the studios are within walking distance of each other but there is also a free trolley that will run from one section of RAD to the other every 15 minutes. A helpful map for the area is located on RomanticAsheville.com's site.
If you're feeling the hunger pangs or want to grab a mid-afternoon beer, there are many great establishments located in the River Arts District, including Fresh Pizza West, White Duck Taco Shop, The Bull and Beggar, RosaBees, and 12 Bones Smokehouse.