This year marks the 35th anniversary of one of my favorite festivals in WNC. The Asheville Herb Festival isn’t just a North Carolina staple—it’s the largest herb and herb festival in all of North America. Held at the spacious WNC Agricultural Center in Fletcher (we’re talking over 27,000 square feet!), this event is packed with vendors—so much so that they spill out onto the sidewalks behind the building.
From April 25th–27th, we’ve got a full weekend of herbs, tinctures, workshops, and community—and it’s all FREE! Whether you’ve never been, are a long-time fan, or just curious about what’s in store this year, here’s your guide.
Workshops You Don’t Want to Miss
The Herb Fest isn’t just a great place to stock up on local plants and handmade medicine—it’s also a rare chance to learn directly from experts in the field. Last year, I attended a few workshops, and honestly? They were my favorite part of the whole weekend. This year’s free classes will run Friday through Sunday from 9am–3pm, and topics cover everything from gardening and herbalism to yoga for gardeners.
Friday kicks off with an herbal mocktail-making class, followed by workshops on medicinal mushroom cultivation and growing your own tea garden (hello, my niche dreams!).
Saturday is packed with sessions on botanical skincare, DIY lip balms, foraging, and soil health.
Sunday closes out with workshops on plant propagation, herbal activism, body oils, and edible weed foraging.
Seriously, there's so much to learn. Be sure to check the full Asheville Herb Fest schedule online to plan your weekend.
Pro tip: Running late? No worries. Nobody minds if you sneak in and sit on the floor—everyone’s just glad to be there.
What You’ll Find at the Vendor Booths
We at The Farm Connection are thrilled to be joining the festival again this year! Expect to find us fully stocked with medicinal herbs, veggie starts, fruit plants, and a special focus on native species—a selection we work hard to curate and stand behind. Below you a can take a look where you can find us!
But it’s not just herbs and plants! With 70+ vendors, you’ll find:
- Herbal skincare: salves, balms, bath salts, soaps, creams
- Tinctures, teas, and CBD products
- Mushroom plug kits and live logs
- Organic soil amendments and compost tea
- Handmade gifts: yard decor, pottery, art, cards, herbal perfumes
With Mother’s Day just around the corner and lots of spring gardens getting started, it’s a perfect chance to support local artists and growers. Also important to note: after the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene, many local farms are still rebuilding. Supporting this festival is a powerful way to show loyalty to our community—choosing small farms and dreamers over big-box garden stores.
*Confused on exactly what to plant or where? The Asheville Herb Festival has Master Gardners available at your disposal located at the main entrance. These folks are more than happy to help and give you tips to elevate your garden!
What’s Next for The Farm Connection?
We love connecting with our community at festivals like this one—and we’ll be out and about all season long! Catch us next at:
- Growing in the Mountains Spring Festival (May 2–4) @ WNC Farmers Market
- Arboretum Plant Sale (May 30–31) @ NC Arboretum
- The Homestead Festival (June 6–7) @ Hardison Mill, Columbia, TN
The Homestead Festival is especially close to our hearts—not just for what it stands for, but because our very own Alyson Wade will be there as an educator!
She’ll be teaching “Fruit Trees 101 & Interactive Fruit Tree Guild Demonstration,” covering the basics of planting and caring for fruit trees, plus how to create fruit tree guilds—layering in supportive herbaceous plants to promote health and productivity.
For more info or to buy tickets, check out The Homestead Festival website.
Will We See You There?
Are you a workshop regular? A plant-hauling pro with a garden wagon in tow? I can't resist a good gardening rhyme! Or maybe this will be your first time dipping into the world of herb and plant festivals.
Either way—we’d love to see you at the 35th Asheville Herb Festival!
Let us know in the comments: What are you most excited about this year? Be sure to check out our newsletter this week for an exclusive discount for Herb Fest customers.