Press release from City of Hendersonville Downtown Program :
Downtown Hendersonville is open for business Labor Day weekend with friendly local faces at LoveHendo Saturday. Typically, the North Carolina Apple Festival hosts a downtown street fair with hundreds of vendors and hundreds of thousands of visitors. This year, the festival is spreading out and taking it to the growers with Orchard Trail Days, a self-guided tour of Henderson County’s Apple Orchards. Enjoy the smaller crowds and personal service while you support the mom and pop businesses that make Historic Downtown Hendersonville special. LoveHendo Saturday is a celebration of downtown on the first Saturday of each month when Main Street is closed to vehicles to allow space and activity for all to enjoy.
Giving Back:
- Downtown businesses are giving back to local nonprofits with partnerships and fundraising opportunities during LoveHendo Saturday. Many are offering a percentage of sales for the day to their nonprofit of choice. Downtown merchants have seen the struggle faced by many local nonprofits amid the closures and are ready to support their friends and community partners. Featured businesses and nonprofits include:
- Silver Fox Gallery & Team ECCO Aquarium & Shark Lab
- Vintage Photo Scan & Arts Council of Henderson County
- The Cheerful Word & Thrive
- Homestead Linens & Big Brothers Big Sisters of WNC
- Mast General Store & Habitat for Humanity
- Moonshine & Magnolias, Black Bear Coffee, and Brandy’s on Main & Hands On Children’s Museum
- Wine Sage and Gourmet, Guidon Brewing & Safelight
- Never Blue & the Blue Ridge Humane Society
- Rotary Club of Hendersonville CART (Coins for Alzheimer’s Research Trust) collection of spare change near Wag! A Unique Pet Boutique on the 200 block
- And more!
Jenifer Ojeda, store manager of Silver Fox Gallery was happy to participate in this promotion, “Even with the Apple Festival not going on, we are continuing with our annual Labor Day Sale! This year is even more special because we are donating a portion of our sales to our neighbors, Team ECCO. We want all businesses to succeed during this time and this is a way we can help.”
Traditions Continue:
The Hendersonville Farmers Market at the Historic Train Depot on Maple Street will feature Bright Branch Farms on-site with a truckload of apples, apple donuts, and apple cider slushies to celebrate the weekend, in addition to 30+ vendors of fresh local produce and meat, baked goods, prepared foods and, craft vendors. Other apple-infused offerings will include mini apple pies from Raspberry Fields, and house-made apple syrup with coffee at ShareWell Coffee and Roastery. The market is open 8am until 1pm.
Kiwanis Club of Hendersonville is forgoing the traditional pancake breakfast but will kick off its centennial year by giving out “pancake breakfast to-go.” Kiwanis Club members will give away preassembled bags at the Hendersonville Farmers Market and in the 400 block of Main Street near Postero from 9am-3pm.
The Apple Festival Races, hosted by the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce are virtual. This means runners can complete the course of their choice at any time during the weekend. Register for the race at www.hendersoncountychamber.org to receive a race packet and goodies…after the run is completed, stop downtown for a bite to eat or a craft beer.
Things to do Downtown:
- Team ECCO Shark Lab & Aquarium will have mermaid and critter meet and greets, arts and
crafts and other outdoor activities.- This will be the first weekend of the Sun Earth Universe NASA Space Exhibit, for private
parties and open to the public groups of up to 8 people. This special exhibit is brought to you by Team ECCO Shark Lab & Aquarium and is located at the Shelley’s Jewelry building – 429 N Main Street.- Art Mob Studios will have several art and craft demonstrations and booths on the 400 block near Postero.
- Live Music on the 200 block: Fiddlin’ Ryn & Friends 2pm-4pm; Myron Hyman 5pm-7pm.
- Free outdoor fitness on the 400 Block: Yoga with YMCA at 8:30am (Bring your own Mat!); Sit Step Sing Chair Fitness at 10:30am (Bring your own Chair!).
- Saturday and Sunday, Guidon Brewing is hosting a “mini Apple Festival” with vendors and music.
Getting Around:
Main Street will be closed to vehicles all day on Saturday, September 5, and the first Saturday of each month from 2nd Avenue to 6th Avenue. The cross streets will remain open to traverse to the unique avenue businesses and the abundant downtown parking available just a short walk from Main Street. The spaces on Main immediately in front of the Historic Henderson County Courthouse are reserved for handicap parking. Visit www.hvlnc.gov/parking for a map of downtown parking.
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