Corner Kitchen owners place time capsules in walls of historic restaurant
Corner Kitchen owners place time capsules in the walls at the Historic Biltmore Village restaurant as renovation continues, April 11, 2025.
ASHEVILLE – Tasty months are ahead with food and beverage festivals and events planned in Asheville, including a springtime breaking of bread.
Asheville Bread Festival will return with free and ticketed events for baking professionals, home bakers and other bread enthusiasts, April 26-27.
Keia Mastrianni, festival committee member and baker-owner of Milk Glass Pie in Shelby, said the festival, themed ‘A sense of place,’ uplifts the grain economy and is a learning and gathering space for the area’s grain and baking industries.
“All these folks are invested in the relationships that come from knowing your miller, knowing the farmer who grew your grain, and the beautiful baking community that I find to be extremely generous and supportive of one another,” she said.
Ticketed hands-on events include workshops, demonstrations, discussions and masterclasses, which will be hosted by award-winning professionals at bakeries and venues across Western North Carolina.
However, there will be much to learn, sample and buy at the Asheville Bread Fair, 8-11 a.m. April 26, outside New Belgium Brewery, 21 Craven St. Admission is free.
More than 30 bakers, grain growers, millers, farmers and other bread-savvy professionals will have products to sell and resources to share. Shady Grove Coffee will vend beverages.
Hurricane Helene Raffle for Relief tickets are $20 at the festival’s information booth. Mastrianni said the proceeds will be dispersed in $1,000 increments to local Helene relief and recovery aid organizations in small WNC towns impacted by the storm.
Mastrianni said Jennifer Lapidus, festival director and owner of Carolina Ground, and committee members wanted to rally around the baking community as it recovers from last fall’s historic, devastating storm. Lapidus worked with Explore Asheville to secure a grant to waive vendor fees for WNC bakers.
“We’re excited to bring back the festival in what feels like a crucial year, “ Lapidus said in a news release. “The comfort that bread and baking offer is a welcome restorative. Our hope is that gathering together in WNC spurs camaraderie and extends much needed tourism to the region.”
Bakeries will include Back Porch Baking Co., Hominy Farm, Honey Badger Bakes, Ninth Street Bakery, OWL Bakery, Pisgah Bakehouse, Pizza Finta, Stonewall Bakery, Tang & Sass, The Backwoods Bakery LLC, The Crunchy Baker and Underground Baking Co.
Grain farmers and millers: Two Stones Farm & Mill, Carolina Ground and Farm & Sparrow.
Stop by Malaprop’s Bookstore, Two Blue Books and author Dorette Snover’s booths to stock up on reading materials.
Additional “baking friends” will include Bread Bakers Guild of America, DMW Designs, DOAP, Imladris Farm, Olive This, Rise Baking Systems LLC, Simply Bread and Sourhouse.
“WNC is a special place for bakers who are focused on this time of artisan baking and baking connected to land, local ingredients and being in relationship with all elements of the food system,” Mastrianni said.
Fair attendees are encouraged to bring a reusable mug for coffee, and carpool, bike or walk to the venue. Free parking is available but limited.
The first 100 guests will receive an Asheville Bread Festival tote bag.
A free panel discussion for all-level bakers will be 5-6:30 p.m. April 26, with a networking gathering to follow from 6:30-7 p.m. at White Labs Brewing Co., 172 S. Charlotte St.
For more, visit ashevillebreadfestival.com and follow @ashevillebreadfest.
More upcoming food and beverage festivals and events:
- Farmers markets. Find various farmers and tailgate markets across Western North Carolina throughout the week. For a list and schedules, visit Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project, asapconnections.org/find-local-food/farmers-markets/.
- Asheville Herb Festival. The 35th Annual Spring Herb Festival will be April 25-27 at WNC Agricultural Center, 761 Boylston Highway, Fletcher. Free admission, all ages. ashevilleherbfestival.org
- WNC Farmers Market Spring Festival. Purchase herbs, fruit trees and more from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. May 2-4 at WNC Farmers Market, 570 Brevard Road. Free admission, all ages. facebook.com/WncFarmersMarket
- Vegan Market Asheville. Over a dozen local vegan vendors at Bridge & Tunnel Coffee Café from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. May 4. at the Coman Center at A-B Tech, 10 Fernihurst Dr. Free admission, all ages. Follow the pop-up market on social media at @vgnmkt.
- Homebrew Cellarbration. The second annual event, hosted by Salt Face Mule Brewing and MALT Homebrewers Association, will feature WNC homebrewers pouring samples of small batch beer from 4-8 p.m. May 17. Admission is $10, benefiting N.C. Craft Brewers Guild’s hurricane relief fund, Pouring for Neighbors. Ages 21 and up. saltfacemule.com
- RAD Renaissance: A Celebration of Art, Resilience & Renewal in Asheville’s River Arts District. Celebrate the rise of RAD after Tropical Storm Helene with a day of food, art, music, art demonstrations and classes, live performances and more from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. May 10 in the upper River Arts District (Roberts Street, Artful Way, Clingman Avenue and Depot Street). Free admission, all ages. riverartsdistrict.com
- Asheville Beer Week. Hosted by Asheville Brewers Alliance, a multiday celebration of local craft beer and other beverages from May 15-29 at various locations. avlbrewers.com
- For The Love Of Craft: A WNC Arts, Craft Beverage, and Craft Mac & Cheese Festival. Hosted by Asheville Brewers Alliance and FIRC Group, a showcase of artisans offering various art, beverages and macaroni and cheese dishes from Noon-8 p.m. May 17 at Battery Park Hall, 1 Battery Park Ave. Admission is $43.14 general admission and $95.66 VIP, including online fees. avlbrewers.com
Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Tips, comments, questions? Email tkennell@citizentimes.com or follow @PrincessOfPage on Instagram/Bluesky.
