Smart bets: French Broad River Festival

Posted on by Emily Glaser

The 20th annual French Broad River Festival celebrates the biggest river of our region with three days of music and outdoor sports. This year’s festival will include whitewater raft and mountain bike races, an opportunity to “Paddle with the Pro” open canoe legend Eli Helbert, an expanded kids village and live music from regional artists like Snake Oil Medicine Show and Empire Strikes Brass. “With Cinco de Mayo, you may see a Mariachi band wander through your campsite and some festive hats and some other surprises in celebration of the 20th anniversary,” notes organizer Sid Border. The festival returns to Hot Springs Campground & Resort Friday-Sunday, May 5-7. $105 weekend pass with camping/$75 weekend pass/$65 Saturday only/$45 whitewater rafting. frenchbroadriverfestival.com. Photo courtesy of Snake Oil Medicine Show

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

About Emily Glaser
Writer scribbling away in the shaky lines of the mountains.
View all posts by Emily Glaser →

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

3 thoughts on “Smart bets: French Broad River Festival”

  1. Deplorable Infidel

    oh! yet another ‘festival’…double YAWN … save your money for retirement…

    • DreadT

      No, it’s not just “another ‘festival’…” It has been going on for 20 years and is unique in its blend of music, art and outdoor sports that is a family event and nonprofit fundraiser.

      Why does MX continue to allow purely negative comments from people that have no idea about the subject matter?

  2. Becca

    To DreadT, I completely agree with you. For those who wish to be negative, I suggest not commenting at all. I would LOVE to be able to attend this festival and any others; however, due to aging parents in Florida (drat!) I had to give up my full-time residence in Asheville and relocate a few years back. I still visit from time to time and am determined to return “home” in the next several years, but in the meantime, I do not enjoy reading negative comments from folks. Sometimes people do not know what they have or the beauty that is in front of them until they no longer have full and complete access to it. So to the negative post about the festival, keep in mind SOME of us long for festival nights and music nights, time with friends and family alike and the fresh mountain air. XOXO

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.