Welcome the new year by creating a calendar of birthdays, anniversaries and graduations in 2025—leaving space for happy surprises like the arrival of a new baby or a housewarming party. Make a pledge to purchase gifts for these occasions at local boutiques and galleries, and create a list of at least six retail locations that you like, making it easier to find the right gift when the time comes. 

FEBRUARY

Celebrate Your Loves

Celebrate love—for spouses and partners, friends and family. Book your dinner reservations early at a local and independently owned restaurant—check out our Restaurant Directory on page 23 of the 2025 Live Local Guide—and perhaps meet for drinks beforehand at a local bar within walking distance. Consider thoughtful gifts from one of the many local jewelry designers or artists and remember to tuck the artist’s business card in the gift, so the recipient can learn more about them. 

MARCH

Sign Up for CSA Shares 

Now is the time to research shares in community-supported agriculture (CSA) harvest subscription programs, which guarantee you a season or two of the region’s freshest fruit, vegetables, herbs, meats, cheeses and flowers. Apart from the fun of regularly receiving a box of locally grown goodies, shares in CSAs deliver valuable financial support to local farms, providing a steady stream of income and the confidence to plan for another season of growing. Keep an eye out for the CSA Fair hosted by the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project, usually held in March, which allows you to meet the local farms offering CSAs. Every season presents unique opportunities to invest in your community. By becoming a thoughtful consumer, you can support your neighbors while also engaging in some of the most fun local experiences, collecting some of the most beautiful gifts and treasures and enjoying some of the most extraordinary local food and drink. Check out our month-by-month suggestions for inspirational ideas— and pledge to live locally for the year.

APRIL 

Plan a Spring Break Staycation 

Families with children will be looking for fun ideas for Spring Break. Instead of planning a vacation away, consider a “staycation” that takes advantage of local adventures. There are, of course, amazing programs at the Asheville Art Museum, NC Arboretum and WNC Nature Center, (check for opening dates), and you can also splurge at the Asheville Pinball Museum, Retrocade, Asheville Adventure Center or one of the escape rooms offered around town. Consider also treating young ones to a facial or a foot soak—or look for cooking schools that welcome children to prepare a dish or meal. Check out the 1.7-mile Asheville Urban Trail (stopping by a downtown restaurant for lunch) or grab a picnic to-go from a local deli and hit the trails for spring hiking. 

MAY 

Visit Local Farmers Markets 

Many local farmers markets are in full swing by now, so start planning for the coming months of bounty and harvest. Explore several markets to find your favorites and make note of the dates and times they’re open. It’s smart to have a strategy for shopping at farmers markets. Some folks prefer to walk the aisles of vendors and wait for inspiration, opting to build meals on the spot around the seasonal produce or a beautiful cut of locally raised meat; others prefer to know in advance what will be offered and show up with a shopping list. FYI, many farmers markets will provide details of their weekly offerings in newsletters or social media posts. 

JUNE 

Host a Summer Vacation 

As summer unfolds, you might be looking to connect with family and friends who live outside of Western North Carolina—and now’s the perfect time to invite them to visit you on your home turf. Woo them with a carefully planned itinerary of the regional highlights. Start with a tour of George Vanderbilt’s famous Biltmore House and follow up with dinner and drinks on the Sunset Terrace of Omni’s Grove Park Inn. Schedule time for shopping in Asheville’s downtown and the bustling South Slope, as well as the River Arts District, where several portions have reopened. Plan a day trip to one of the many cities in surrounding counties— where downtown strolls through Hendersonville and Brevard are easy wins, as is a day trip to Hot Springs, with a hike around Lover’s Leap and a soak in the natural hot springs. Don’t forget to squeeze in a hike or a fun adventure like zip-lining or white-water rafting. 

JULY 

Attend Live Music Concerts 

The weather is warm, the beer is cold and the music is lively. Check out the region’s legend-making music venues for their summer lineups and invite your buddies for an afternoon or evening of jams. Check out Rabbit Rabbit, The Grey Eagle, The Orange Peel and the Wortham Center for Performing Arts—and don’t forget all of the local brewpubs, including Highland Brewing and Sierra Nevada, that host live music on a regular basis. Many of the venues offer newsletters to keep you up to speed on upcoming shows—popular headliners sell out fast—and make sure to show extra love for local acts.

AUGUST 

Plan a Day of Pampering 

As summer starts to wind down, it’s time to take a break and plan a day (or days) of pampering. Gather your pals and schedule a spa day. Look for locally owned businesses that offer facials, massages, foot soaks, manicures and pedicures, or perhaps indulge in a salt cave or one of the hot-cold therapy saunas around town. Consider also splurging on an item you wouldn’t normally get for yourself. Look for a handmade vase by a local artist and buy yourself a colorful bouquet of flowers or indulge in a handmade scarf, wrap or hat. 

SEPTEMBER 

Visit a Farm for Apple Picking 

While many people associate apple picking with the chilly weather of fall, the apple harvests in Western North Carolina actually begin in August and September. Check out the orchards in Henderson County, one of the most prolific apple-growing regions in the country, and plan a U-pick trip for family fun. In addition to offering ripe fruit for the picking, many orchards host food trucks and offer tractor rides and kids’ games, while also selling a variety of apple products like turnovers and cider. Once the kids have had their fun, don’t forget to check out the wineries in the area, as well; more than half a dozen wineries are in this federally designated wine-growing region known as Crest of the Blue Ridge. We like Marked Tree Vineyard in Flat Rock, which also has a tasting room in downtown Asheville. 

OCTOBER 

Give Your Home a Fresh Update 

As the holiday season approaches, it’s time to give your home a fresh little update and prepare for the family and friends who might be visiting. Check out local stores for handmade throw blankets, pillows and locally poured candles. Visit local galleries, like Grovewood Gallery, for new serving platters or cheese boards, or perhaps a set of cloth napkins or candlesticks, and prints from local artists that can be framed by independent framers. Check out local nurseries for houseplants that add life to any space. 

NOVEMBER 

Prepare for a Thanksgiving Feast 

There are several farms that offer locally raised turkeys, and they start to accept reservations for the birds several weeks before Thanksgiving. So in this case, the early birds get… well, the early birds. And just about every other component can be purchased locally, as well. You can visit your tailgate markets for sweet potatoes, greens and winter squashes; go to a local bakery for baguettes and bread rolls; and connect with your local dessert shop for cookies and pies. For local herbs and seasonings, check out Well Seasoned Table or The Spice & Tea Exchange in downtown Asheville. For the wine, check out the local wineries—there are seven in our region—or a local distillery for spirits. Oak & Grist in Black Mountain makes whiskey and gin.

DECEMBER 

Buy Local Gifts & Stocking Stuffers 

This is an easy win for local shopping. Make a list of everyone you’ll be shopping for—including friends, family, coworkers, neighbors and perhaps the invaluable folks who make your life easier, like landscapers, house cleaners and postal workers—and plan a day of local love to one of the neighborhoods that offer clusters of retail stores and galleries. In Asheville, there’s the downtown area and River Arts District. And there are also plenty of options in Black Mountain, Hendersonville and Brevard, along with other towns in Western North Carolina. As always, make sure to grab the business card of the artist or store you’ve purchased from, and include it with your gift!