The Asheville Downtown Association is trying to beef up the street-performance scene for holiday shoppers during December, putting out the call for buskers in its Downtown Decked Out celebration.
Flyers circulated around downtown remind performers that, on the four Saturdays before Christmas — Dec. 1, 8, 15 and 22 — many merchants will stay open until 9 p.m.
“Anyone with special talents is invited to dress festively and perform on the sidewalk,” reads the flyer.
The association is also reminding buskers that they can have tip jars and no permit is required, but that performers can stay in the same spot for only one hour and no goods can be sold.
For more info, call 251-9973 or e-mail jt@ashevilledowntown.org.
— Brian Postelle, staff writer
Bistro 1896 invites musicians and street performers to take part in the first annual Downtown Decked Out Festival. Please put your tip jar in front of Bistro 1896. We will keep you full of coffee, hot chocolate, soda, or tea. Please feel free to sit in our lounge between sets to warm-up or use the restrooms.
Bistro 1896 will also offer diners a 10% discount on Bistro 1896 check with local downtown merchant’s receipt for day of purchase.
FREE FACE PAINTING! From 10am ~ 1 pm near the downtown park area. Professional, festive body paintings for children and adults.
The 9-yr old CHINESE YO-YO MASTER will be making appearances as well, so keep your eyes peeled! See you all on Saturday!
Haywood Park Hotel would like to invite you to experience downtown for the Holidays. We would like to offer a special rate of $160, Sunday through Thursday. Support local merchants and show your receipt and we will send you a complimentary bottle of champagne. Happy Holidays for Haywood Park.
I will be performing christmas carols on my violin/fiddle on the 15th. I appreciate the opportunity and encourage all other musicians and street performers to participate…what a great idea for the city of asheville and the downtown association!
Starlight Express participated in Downtown Decked Out Saturday, Dec 1 by performing from the Grove Arcade to Mast General Store and various locations in between. We are a registered quartet out of Asheville’s own Song o’ Sky Chapter of Sweet Adelines International. We sang holiday songs in a capella harmony in the barbershop style. Our performances were met with smiles, applause and a few sing alongs. We want to thank the downtown association for offering us this fantastic opportunity to share our joy of song and our love of the season with shoppers and merchants downtown. To learn more about Song o’ Sky, please visit our website songosky.org.
Hello look for Avec La Force Drum and Dance Ensemble on the streets of downtown for the next few Saturdays in Dec. We’ll probably be somewhere in the neighborhood of the flat iron building or on the corner of Biltmore and Eagle St. Come get down to some west african rhythms with us!!
I will be swearing at children and passing cars. I’m not asking for money, but I just wanted to share this with someone.
This sounds like a great opportunity to give the homeless something to do, maybe we could dress them up as the manger scene so that tourists can throw change at them?
Playing my violin/fiddle downtown last Saturday was a BLAST! I set up in front of the Bistro and played Christmas tunes, Bluegrass, Classical and Irish. The people seemed to really enjoy the holiday spirit and my dog Jasper too!
We will be there again this Saturday.