Come enjoy the holiday lights at Lake Julian Park. Walk through the park and view the dazzling displays. Santa, hot chocolate and more awaits you.
*More details will be available in early November
Parking will be available at Family of Faith Fellowship Church, 212 Long Shoals Road, Arden. Cars will not be permitted to enter the park.
Celebrate the turning of the leaves at this FREE family festival with games, face painting, popcorn, cotton candy, and fun for all ages. There’s nothing quite like fall in the North Carolina mountains — and nothing quite like enjoying it next to Lake Julian. (And it’s all FREE!)
This year’s Fall Festival features a Curious George theme. Dress as your favorite children’s book character (get creative!) and enter the costume contest at 1:00 for a great prize.
The Fall Festival at Lake Julian Park is produced by Buncombe County Recreation Services.
Let’s be honest, between work and our hectic plethora of family and life commitments, few of us get the exercise we need. Nor do we get to spend the time outside that we’d like to. Our furry canine companions who eagerly await our return home each day are often the victim of these scheduling tragedies. These hard working pups never openly express their disappointment. They occupy their solitude patiently guarding our homes from ruthless thieves, utilizing mind over matter to will you home by staring at the front door, and lounging on the otherwise offlimits upholstery with dreams of walking you on your leash through sunny open fields.
Get some exercise and throw your dog a bone at Buncombe County’s “Tails and Trails Adventure Run”. The 5k adventure run is a timed, but non- competitive opportunity to get outside and get active! It’s unique because dogs are more than welcome to bring their humans (provided they keep them on their leashes).
This year’s run takes place at Buncombe County’s Charles D. Owen Park, a puppy’s paradise with plenty of unmarked territory and a wide variety of wildlife to bark hello to. Aside from being a great opportunity to enjoy some outdoors, the Tails and Trails Adventure Run will also raise funding and awareness of the work of the Ashevilel Humane Society.
Bring two cans of dog food for your pup to be able to run the race with you. All canned dog food will go directly to the Asheville Humane Society.
We will also have a craft section for the kids that come with their parents and do not want to run. We will make toys for all the animals at the Asheville Humane Society.
The Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks Display at Lake Julian Park will be taking place on June 29th, this year. The fireworks are scheduled to begin just after dark, but Buncombe County Parks & Recreation recommends arriving earlier to allow ample time to park and board the shuttle.
Get your lawn chairs and blankets ready! From fireworks to food trucks to yard games, there will be plenty of fun in store for all! Food trucks will be at the park from 2 to 9 p.m. There will also be an activity station where cornhole bags and horseshoes can be checked out. Disc golf and fishing will be open on the backside of the park closest to Hendersonville Road (56 Fisherman’s Trail). Please note that boat launching is not available on the backside of Lake Julian Park. 
WHY IT’S NOT ON THE 4TH, THIS YEAR
“We know that our 4th of July fireworks have been a long-standing and much-loved tradition in our community, and we’re genuinely sorry for this year’s date change. Our previous fireworks supplier is no longer operating, and as soon as we found out, Buncombe County Parks & Recreation started working to find a new option. We were thankful to find a new supplier, but unfortunately with a shorter runway, July 4th was already booked. We are hopeful that with June 29 being a weekend, we can still create an opportunity that our whole community can enjoy.” 
On Saturday, April 29th, Buncombe County Recreation Services, in partnership with NC Wildlife Resource Commission, will host a Kids Fishing Derby at Charles D. Owen Park in Swannanoa. The fishing tournament is open to all children up through age 15. No fishing license is required for children under 16 years of age.
Check in registration begins at 8:00 and the tournament starts promptly at 8:30am and will conlcude at 11:30am. Registration will also be available the day of the event. The cost for the event is $5.00 per child.
Registration includes snacks, hot dog lunch and prizes for those who place within event categories. Prizes will be awarded for the largest fish, smallest fish and the most fish caught.
Fishing Poles will be available from the NC Wildlife Commission on a first come first served basis. Recreation Services will supply a bucket and bait for each competitor’s catch. Participants are encouraged to bring their own fishing supplies. This is a “Catch and Release” event. After the fish has been measured, it will be released back into the ponds.
For more inforation you may contact Lynn Pegg at (828) 250-6707 or email at lynn.pegg@buncombecounty.org.
On Saturday, April 28, 2018, Buncombe County Recreation Services, in partnership with NC Wildlife Resource Commission, will host a Kids Fishing Derby at Owen Park in Swannanoa (875 Warren Wilson Road, Swannanoa, NC 28778). The fishing tournament is open to all children through age 15. No fishing license is required for children under 16 years of age, but bring an adult to help with baiting hook and removing fish.
Check-in and registration begins at 8:00am and the tournament starts promptly at 8:30am and will conclude at 11:30am. Advance registration for the event is available on line for $7.00 per child at owenkidsfishing.buncombere
Registration will also be available on site the day of the event, $10.00 per child.
Registration includes snacks, hot dog lunch and prizes for those who place within event categories. Prizes will be awarded for the largest fish, the smallest fish, and the most fish caught.
Fishing poles will be available from the NC Wildlife Commission on a first come, first served basis. Recreation Services will supply a bucket and bait for each competitor’s catch. Participants are encouraged to bring their own fishing supplies.
This is a “Catch and Release” event. After the fish has been measured, it will be released back into the lake
The Buncombe County Healthy Parks, Healthy You 5k is a family event for adults and children. The event will be 5k (3.1 miles) you can run, jog or walk. For everyone’s safety, no pets or bikes are allowed on course during this event.
BUNCOMBE COUNTY SPORTS PARK
Saturday, March 12, 2016
Registration Begins at 8:30am
Start time is 10:30am
For information, contact Jay Nelson at 250-4269 or jay.nelson@buncombecounty.
Help us find the pot of gold LEGO bricks on Thursday March 17th! Ages 19 months – 5 years are invited to join us for a free LEGO Building Event at 12:30pm.
There are no more spots for 3-5 year olds left, but you can still sign up if your child is under 3.
Call, email, or sign up at the front desk to save your spot!
Full-Day: 8:30am-5:30pm
Half-Day: 8:30am-1:00pm
*Extended care available upon request