Downtown After 5
N Lexington Ave
Asheville, NC 28801
USA
2016 DATES
- May 20
- June 17
- July 15
- August 19
- September 16
2016 Lineup
May 20
Headliner: CHA WA
Opener: Jeff Thompson Band
June 17
Headliner: Futurebirds
Opener: Raising Caine
July 15
Headliner: Anderson East
Opener: Sweet Claudette
August 19
Headliner: Asheville All-Stars
Opener: Asheville Music School and LEAF Delta Jazz Band
September 16
Headliner: Cracker
Opener: The Dirty Badgers
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Each summer the Asheville Downtown Association partners with five local nonprofits to sell wristbands at the event. Each group received a grant of $2000. The ADA has given more than $100,000 to area nonprofits through this program. 2016 partners include: Asheville GreenWorks, Asheville Music School, CarePartners, Homeward Bound and the YMI Cultural Center.
Downtown After 5 features local, regional and national beers on tap as well as wine by the glass. Local food vendors sell everything from BBQ to ice cream, kettle corn to vegetarian items. Downtown After 5 also partners with Asheville Plays to bring kids activities to the event.
More information on Downtown After 5 and the Asheville Downtown Association can be found at ashevilledowntown.org.
PARKING
We recommend using City of Asheville or Buncombe County parking decks. They’re safe, reliable and cheaper than on-street parking. The first hour is free and each additional hour is $1 with a daily maximum in each garage.
Civic Center Garage – enter from Haywood Street or Rankin Avenue
Rankin Avenue Garage – enter from Rankin Avenue or Walnut Street
Wall Street Garage – enter from Otis Street near Patton Avenue
Biltmore Avenue Garage – enter from Biltmore Avenue or Lexington Avenue
Buncombe County Garage – enter from College Street
On-street metered parking is free after 6pm.
MUSIC
Typically, the opening act hits the stage just after 5pm, and the headliner starts at 7pm.
ITEMS “NOT” ALLOWED
- No pets are allowed in the Downtown After 5 festival boundaries.
- Weapons of any kind
- Illegal substances (including narcotics) or drug paraphernalia
- Outside alcoholic beverages
- Fireworks and explosives
- Bicycles (we provide a complimentary bike corral with Asheville on Bikes)
- Coolers
- Tents
- Unauthorized or illegal vendors
- Moshing, crowd surfing, and/or stage diving
- Unauthorized solicitations, handbills, sampling, give-aways, etc.
Downtown After 5 started in 1988 as a small event to bring people to Downtown Asheville and has since grown to the event as it is today on North Lexington Avenue. It is a production of the Asheville Downtown Association, a nonprofit organization committed to the preservation and improvement of the central business district.
Beer and wine is available for purchase, with a variety of local and regional options. To purchase alcohol, attendees will need to show a valid picture ID and buy a $2 wristband. Proceeds from wristband sales will support a nonprofit organization. There are also several food options available including tacos, ice cream, kettle corn, hot dogs, lobster rolls and more.
Downtown After 5 is committed to reducing its impact on the environment and features a solar array, complimentary bike corral, compostable food and beverage containers, and staffed recycling and compost bins. Since implementing its greening initiative, the event has reduced the number of bags headed to the landfill to just a handful.