Enjoying sunny days is the Asheville way and Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR) has events, programs, and opportunities to welcome summer fun, create smiles, and bust boredom. Browse highlights below and fill your summer calendar with events and activities built to help explore, connect, and discover.
Summer 2026 Asheville Festivals and Special Events for All Ages
- Foam Frenzy in the Park on June 7, June 25, July 30, and August 2
- Get Your Dye On Tie Dye Creations on June 11, July 30, and August 20
- Southside Block Party on June 12, July 10, and August 14
- Movies in the Park on June 12, July 10, and August 14
- Summer Splash on June 18, June 28, July 7, July 18, July 31, and August 8
- Fish Fry at Stephens-Lee on June 25
- Summer Vendor Festival on June 27-28 and July 25-26
- What’s the Scoop? Ice Cream Social on July 9
- Shiloh Community Association July Celebration on July 11
- Community Block Party on July 18
- Back to School Bash on August 8
Little Explorers: Toddler Activities
- First Saturday Playdate on June 6 and August 1
- Park Hop Adventures on June 15, June 29, July 13, July 27, and August 10
- Toddler Carnival Water Day on June 27
- Toddler Prom on July 18
- Magnificent Messes on August 17 and August 31
- Check Out Rec ‘n’ Roll’s Summer 2026 Mobile Play Schedule
Summer Enrichment Programs for Kids and Teens
- First Sunday Football Boot Camp for Ages 5-9 on June 7, July 5, and August 2
- Register for Youth Fall Baseball starting June 8
- Carolina Diva Diamondz Dancing Group for Ages 8-16 begins June 9
- Dart Side of the Moon Nerf Takeover for Ages 11-15 on June 12 and June 26
- Tie-Dye-Versity Tie Dye Party for Ages 7-10 on June 16 and June 30
- Second Saturday Teen Weightlifting on June 13, July 11, and August 8
- Teen Takeover Pool Party on June 26 and July 24
- Sun, Fun, and Science for Ages 5-9 on July 2
- Sculpt & Sip: Three-Session Clay Art for Ages 11-17 begins on July 8
- Let’s Wrestle sessions begin on July 20
- Fourth Sunday family Keepsake Arts & Crafts on July 26 and August 23
- Teen Color Party on August 2
- Family River Snorkeling on August 29
Connections and Meetups for Adults
- Water Aerobics begins on June 6
- Importance of the Juneteenth Holiday on June 11
- Salsa Some More Dance Skill Building sessions begin on June 11 and July 23
- Art in the Park on June 16 and July 21
- Chair Pilates for Beginners begins on June 22
- Register for Over 40 Basketball starting on July 1
- Register for Adult Fall Volleyball starting on July 1
- Register for Adult Fall Softball starting on July 1
- Bottle Garden Terrariums on July 10 and July 24
- Southside Spades Tournament on July 25
- Casino Night on August 15
- Hand Building Clay sessions begin on August 18
- Sightless Sing-Off No Lyrics Karaoke on August 20 and August 27
- River Snorkeling for Naturalists on August 21 and August 25
- View Opportunities for Active Older Adults Ages 50+ including card games, exercise classes, wellness programs, day trips and lunch meetups, and line, folk, and tap dance
Explore More with Asheville Parks & Recreation
These are just a few of the many programs, activities, and special events taking place in Asheville parks and community centers every month! Programs fill up fast and many require advance registration, so it’s worth spending some time planning which activities and events to attend. Use these resources to discover additional opportunities:
- View APR’s free program guide online or pick up a copy at community center locations
- Search programs online, available in multiple languages via Google Translate’s Website Translator
- Follow APR on Facebook and Instagram
- Discover parks, greenways, playgrounds, and recreation locations throughout Asheville