News

The Friends of Downtown Hendersonville welcomes the public to witness the unveiling of 20 new works of bear art! The Annual Bearfootin’ Art Walk program will hold the reveal event from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 7, on the outdoor Welcome Center Stage at 201 South Main Street.

The reveal will focus on stories about each bear’s creation, providing behind-the-scenes insight on what inspired the artist and the mission of the nonprofit beneficiary chosen by the sponsors. Attendees are welcome to bring their own chairs for comfortable enjoyment of the event.

The Friends of Downtown Hendersonville has partnered with the Blue Ridge Community College Collision Repair Refinishing Technology Department again this year, to provide the automotive finishing for the Bears. Their state-of-the-art facility trains students in proper vehicle repair and replacement procedures to bring an automobile back to its pre-accident condition. “Working with Blue Ridge is always a fantastic experience” said Terrye Jacobs, Downtown Event Coordinator. “Program instructor, Brian Foster, has been an incredible partner, encouraging community participation from his students in taking care of our bears! Their crew will be on site at the Reveal to help kick off the Art Walk!”

After the reveal, the bears will take their post on Main Street to bring joy to passersby until the auction in October. Since 2016, over $523,000 has been distributed to nonprofits from the Bearfootin’ Auction. The virtual auction is scheduled to conclude on October 25, 2025, with virtual bidding opening on September 25 (stay tuned for more details).

Special thanks to the co-Masters of Ceremony of the event, Bryan Byrd, HendoEmcee and Lew Holloway, Community Development Director with the City of Hendersonville. Additional information about the 2025 Bearfootin’ Art Walk can be found at downtownhendersonville.org.

The Friends of Downtown Hendersonville are a 501c3 organization focusing on the vibrancy of downtown Hendersonville's Main Street and 7th Avenue Districts. The Friends produce the Hendersonville Farmers Market, Rhythm & Brews, Bearfootin’ Artwalk & Auction, Garden Jubilee, holiday events and more of your favorite downtown activities. Find out how to get involved at downtownhendersonville.org!

Brevard Music Center invites audiences to a captivating evening of music and storytelling with Bach: Tales in Music and Words, a special event on Wednesday, May 7 at 7:30 p.m. at Parker Concert Hall. Presented as part of the 2025 Asheville Amadeus Festival, the concert explores the beauty, humanity, and imagination of Johann Sebastian Bach through an intimate blend of performance and narration.

Hosted by cellist Nicholas Tzavaras—BMC’s Senior Director of Artistic Planning and former member of the internationally acclaimed Shanghai Quartet—the program invites audiences to experience beloved works of Bach through a personal, conversational lens.

The evening features favorite masterpieces including:

• Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major
• Brandenburg Concerto No. 4
• Trio Sonata for Two Flutes and Continuo BWV 1039
• Violin Sonata No. 6 with Harpsichord

Joining Tzavaras on stage is an extraordinary ensemble of Brevard Music Center faculty and guests whose international careers span the Philadelphia Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, Carnegie Hall, and stages across Europe, Asia, and North America.Featured performers include:

• Jason Posnock, violin – President & CEO, Brevard Music Center; former Concertmaster, Asheville Symphony Orchestra
• Dilshad Posnock, flute – Solo Piccolo, Asheville Symphony Orchestra; Artist Faculty, BMC; Faculty, Brevard College 

• Sophia Anastasia, flute – Award-winning concert flutist and founding member of Electrum Duo
• Wendy Rawls, violin – Concertmaster, Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle ; Artist Faculty, Brevard Music Center
• Scott Rawls, viola – Principal Viola, Greensboro Symphony Orchestra; Chamber Musician with Steve Reich and Musicians; Artist Faculty, Brevard Music Center
• Dmitri Shteinberg, harpsichord – Clifton Matthews Distinguished Professor of Piano, University of North Carolina School of the Arts

“Bach has been part of my musical journey from my earliest days as a young violin student, and always will be,” says Jason Posnock, President & CEO of Brevard Music Center. “It is deeply meaningful to bring this incredible music to life with my BMC family, and a great joy to present it to our community in the intimate environment of Parker Concert Hall.

“Bach’s genius isn’t just in the structure of his music—it’s in the emotion behind it,” adds Nicholas Tzavaras. “This program is about bridging that gap, inviting audiences to meet Bach not just as a composer, but as a storyteller.”

Bach: Tales in Music and Words offers something rare: internationally acclaimed artists who don’t just perform in Brevard—some live here, they teach here, and form the heart of Brevard Music Center’s artistic community. Together, they offer audiences an intimate and unforgettable celebration of Bach’s enduring brilliance.

Tickets are available now at brevardmusic.org.

Event Details

Date: Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Time: 7:30 p.m.

Location: Parker Concert Hall, Brevard Music Center

Tickets & Info: brevardmusic.org or call 828.862.2105

About Brevard Music Center

The Brevard Music Center (BMC) is one of the nation’s premier summer music training programs and festivals. It recently welcomed its largest and most diverse cohort yet: over 1,000 gifted students from 22 countries and 49 states. 

Under Keith Lockhart's artistic direction, BMC presents over 100 public performances, including orchestra, opera, chamber music, jazz, bluegrass, and film with live orchestra.

For nearly nine decades, BMC has provided exceptional training for young musicians who study with principal players from major symphonies, GRAMMY-winning composers, and world-renowned conductors and soloists. Legendary artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Wynton Marsalis, Joshua Bell, Renée Fleming, and Béla Fleck have performed on BMC’s stages, reinforcing its tradition of musical excellence.

Beyond its celebrated summer festival, BMC’s Parker Concert Hall Series offers world-class performances year-round, enriching the local cultural landscape. Learn more at brevardmusic.org.

A man has been charged with first-degree arson following a structure fire in Henderson County on April 27.

According to the Henderson County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) Facebook page, the HCSO's Department's Edward Squad and the Green River Fire Department responded to a structure fire in the Tuxedo community of Henderson County on April 26.

The post said due to the nature of the fire, foul play was "immediately suspected," prompting the multi-agency investigation.

The Henderson County Fire Marshal's Office, the Henderson County Arson Task Force, and the Major Crimes Unit – Violent Crimes Division responded to the scene to determine the origin and cause of the blaze.

The post said following their investigations, officials arrested and charged Daniel Israel Patino, 23, of Tuxedo, N.C., with first-degree arson.

Patino was taken before a Magistrate Judge, where he was issued a "no bond" ruling pending his first appearance in District Court.

HCSO said they encourage anyone with additional information regarding this investigation to contact Detective Simpson at 828-694-2736 or use the “submit a tip” feature available on our mobile app.

STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOSMan charged with first-degree arson after suspected foul play in Henderson County fire

This Saturday, May 3, the Friends of Downtown and City of Hendersonville invite the community to celebrate two exciting events in the heart of downtown! Start your day at the Opening Day of the Hendersonville Farmers Market and continue the fun with the 7th Avenue Street Fest, marking the grand reopening of the newly revitalized 7th Avenue District.

Locally Grown, Community Strong at the Hendersonville Farmers Market Opening Day 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Maple Street at the Historic Train Depot

The 2025 Hendersonville Farmers Market season officially begins this Saturday! Shoppers can browse an incredible selection of fresh local produce, baked goods, handmade crafts, and more.  Many vendors will stay past market hours to participate in the 7th Avenue Street Fest.

The Market will feature live music by Jacob Dunham and fun activities in the Kids’ Corner, sponsored by Mini Batch Bakery. Over 45 local vendors will be on hand, ready to bring you the very best our area has to offer.

SNAP/EBT Double Dollars Program:
The market is a SNAP/EBT retailer and matches purchases dollar-for-dollar through the Double Up Food Bucks program. Shoppers can swipe their EBT cards at the information booth and use tokens to buy eligible goods, thanks to support from local sponsors and the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project’s Double Up NC Grant.

About the Hendersonville Farmers Market

• Every Saturday, May through October
• 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Historic Depot on Maple Street
• Well-behaved dogs are welcome!
• Please dismount from bikes and walk through the Market
• Parking is available along Boxcar Street across the train tracks, and ample parking is also available at the Courthouse just 2 blocks away on 4^th Avenue E. On opening day, there will be no parking available on 7^th Avenue between Grove and Maple for the Street Fest.

The Hendersonville Farmers Market is presented by Pardee UNC Health Care with support from: Caroline Ericksen Real Estate, WAG! A Unique Pet Boutique, Osceola Lake Inn, Laura Flores, Joyce Windows Sunrooms and Baths, Duke Energy, Hendersonville Community Co-op, Honeybee Bliss Apiary, Printville, Mini Batch Bakery, and Discover Hometown Magazine.

7th Avenue Street Fest Celebrates the Grand Opening of the District

Noon – 5:00 p.m. | 7th Avenue District

Continuing on from the Farmers Market, we celebrate the grand opening of the newly refreshed 7th Avenue District with an afternoon of live music, local vendors, food, family-friendly activities, and community pride!

The event is free and open to all.

Street Fest Schedule:

• 12:00 p.m.: Street Fest begins with live music by Radical Joy with Mary Kay Williams & Reggie Headen
• 2:00 p.m.: Community Ribbon Cutting celebrating the revitalization of 7th Avenue
• 2:30 p.m.: ArtScape Banner Reveal at the Hendersonville Rescue Mission
• 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.: Live music continues with The Stipe Brothers

This celebration marks the completion of a $4.2 million streetscape project, including major underground utility improvements, that has transformed the historic district into a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly destination.

Thank you to our 7th Avenue Street Fest sponsors:
Osceola Lake Inn, Noble Pest Solutions, Henderson Oil, Harper Construction, Hendersonville Historic Preservation Commission, Watermark Landscape Architecture, Carolina Specialties Construction, Green Light Ink, White Duck Taco Shop, Dunlap Construction, and Hendersonville Honeycrisps.

Make It a Full Day Downtown!

Experience why Hendersonville is Locally Grown, Community Strong — start at the Farmers Market in the morning and head straight into the celebration on 7th Avenue in the afternoon!

For more information, visit downtownhendersonville.org.

The City of Hendersonville Public Works Department will be conducting roadside mowing on City streets starting May 5 and continuing until late September. Vegetation control along roadsides improves the visibility of signs, preserves sightlines for road users, and keeps sidewalks clear and free from overhanging limbs and branches. 

“Managing the vegetation along our streets is an important function of the Public Works Department,” said Public Works Director Tom Wooten. “Keeping our roadways maintained is important for safety and visibility. Our crews are working hard to ensure roads, bike lanes, and sidewalks remain clear and accessible for everyone who uses them.” 

Residents are encouraged to maintain their property adjacent to the street right of ways to avoid the need and effect of the City’s sidearm mower. With 68 miles of streets to maintain, the sidearm mower is the only viable way Public Works can manage this volume of roadside maintenance. 

A general guideline for homes adjacent to roadways is to keep any bushes, tree limbs, etc. out of the roadway and 1-2 feet behind the curb or edge of the pavement. The height should be approximately 16 feet above the road surface. 

For streets with sidewalks, the same applies for the roadway, while sidewalks should be clear of obstructions to a height of 7-8 feet.  

Property owners near intersections are also asked to keep vegetation and debris trimmed far enough away from the intersections to allow motorists a reasonable line of sight before entering the intersection. 

For more information about the roadside mowing program, please visit https://www.hendersonvillenc.gov/public-works or contact the City’s Public Works Department at 828-697-3084. 

The Speaker Showcase of the 33rd Garden Jubilee, presented by Osceola Lake Inn, will be held on Saturday, May 24 and Sunday, May 25. The Speaker Showcase begins at 10:15 am each day at the Historic Courthouse Plaza on Main Street. The Showcase will feature keynote speaker Brie Arthur. Also presenting this year will be Jordana Chalnick, Scott Davis and the Shady Ladies of Ramond’s Garden Center: Kay Campbell and Brenda Rosbrook.

Brie Arthur
Bestselling author and national leader of the Foodscape Movement, Arthur brings 20 years of horticultural experience to the stage. Her practical, inspiring guidance helps home gardeners cultivate beauty and abundance in any landscape.

Jordana Chalnick
A seasoned horticulturist at the Biltmore Estate since 2006, Chalnick now serves as the Landscape Manager. Her in-depth knowledge of landscape design and seasonal displays offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at one of America’s most iconic gardens.

Scott Davis
A Certified Master Beekeeper and owner of Garren Creek Apiaries, Davis shares insights from 14 years of experience in beekeeping. He champions the use of Varroa Sensitive Hygienic (VSH) queen stock to support healthy pollinator populations across Western North Carolina.

The Shady Ladies: Kay Campbell & Brenda Rosbrook
Campbell, a Clemson-trained horticulturist with decades of experience, joins forces with Rosbrook, the self-taught grower and Garden Center Manager at Raymond’s Garden Center. Together, they deliver fresh, fun, and informative talks on perennials, native plants, and four-season gardening.

Saturday, May 24

10:15 am Opening Ceremony with Stuller Power Solutions

10:30 am Jordana Chalnick – Biltmore: Exploring Olmstead’s Horticultural Design Intent

11:30 am Brie Arthur - Summer Foodscape Containers: Effortless Beauty & Bounty in Every Pot!

12:30 pm The Shady Ladies of Raymond’s Garden Center – It’s All Sun and Games: New, Unusual & Native Sun Loving Perennials to Brighten Any Garden

1:30 pm Scott Davis – Bees & Pollinators: Why It Matters

Sunday, May 25

10:15 am Opening Remarks with Stuller Power Solutions

10:30 am Jordana Chalnick – Perennials at Biltmore: Creating Year-Round Interest

11:30 am Brie Arthur - Summer Foodscape Containers: Effortless Beauty & Bounty in Every Pot!

12:30 pm The Shady Ladies of Raymond’s Garden Center – Funky and Fun: Multi-Season Interest in Your Garden – Bring Year-Round Interest Through Foliage, Color & Textures with Shrubs and Perennials including Deer Resistant Varieties

1:30 pm Scott Davis– Bees & Pollinators: A Year in the Life – A Beekeeper's Journey

In addition to Speaker Showcase Presenting Sponsor Osceola Lake Inn, Soil³ has generously sponsored our keynote speaker Brie Arthur.

The Garden Jubilee features over 200 vendors, including regional nurseries, orchards, and artisans offering everything from rare perennials and edibles to home décor and handcrafted treasures. It’s one of the largest gardening festivals in the Southeast, drawing visitors from near and far.

Proceeds from Garden Jubilee benefit the Friends of Downtown Hendersonville, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing the small-town character and vitality of historic downtown Hendersonville.

Plan your visit: Paid parking is available in public and private lots throughout downtown, including the parking garage at 5th Avenue and Church Street. View a detailed map at hvlnc.gov/parking. Hotel and accommodation information can be found at www.visithendersonvillenc.org.

For more information on this year’s Garden Jubilee festival please visit www.gardenjubilee.org, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 828-233-3205.

 Hendersonville celebrated Arbor Day with a tree planting ceremony at Hendersonville Elementary School on April 25. Mayor Barbara Volk joined members of the Hendersonville Tree Board, Four Seasons Rotary Club, and local students for the event.

During the ceremony, the Arbor Day Foundation presented Tree City USA awards to the City, and Mayor Volk proclaimed April 25 as Tree City Day in Hendersonville. Public Works staff planted a Red Maple tree that will provide shade and beauty for generations to come.

This year’s event marked the 153rd anniversary of Arbor Day in the U.S. and continued a local tradition sponsored by the Four Seasons Rotary Club since 1991. Hendersonville has proudly held Tree City USA status for over 30 years, reflecting its long-standing commitment to urban forest management.

Sullivan Park Tree Planting and Plant Giveaway

 Volunteers gathered at Sullivan Park for a successful Community Planting Day and Native Plant Giveaway, hosted by the City of Hendersonville Stormwater Department, Tree Board, and Environmental Sustainability Board.

The event brought residents and city staff together with a shared goal: to plant native trees and enhance stormwater management in a neighborhood park while promoting sustainable landscaping practices. Volunteers rolled up their sleeves to plant a variety of native species that will help reduce erosion, improve water quality, and support local wildlife habitats. They also learned to identify some common invasive species and picked up litter along the streambank.

To encourage sustainable landscaping at home, the Hendersonville Environmental Sustainability Board gave away free native plants for rain gardens or streambank planting after the event to city residents. Featured plants included Clethra ‘Hummingbird’ and Juncus ‘Blue Arrow.’

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Attached are photos from today’s events, along with the previous Arbor Day Event Press Release

Donald Dean "Red" Price - passed away peacefully in his home on April 23rd at age of 85.

Red was a proud graduate of Edneyville High School, furthered his education at Winston Salem Barber School and served his country honorably as a Korean War Army Veteran.

For 51 years, Red was the owner and operator of Crystal Barber Shop on 7th Avenue East here in Hendersonville.  He also owned and operated Mountain Fresh Orchards.

Red was a man of deep faith, and an active member of the Hendersonville First Baptist Church where he had served as a deacon.

His commitment to his community was also acknowledged when he was named the WHKP Hometown Hero on April 1, 2016.

A visitation will be held on Monday, April 28th from 6:00 til 8:00 PM at Church Street Funeral & Creation, with funeral service being held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, April 29th at Hendersonville First Baptist Church.  In lieu of flowers, the family lhas asked that memorial contributions be made in Red's honor to First Baptist Church of Hendersonville.