Arts and Events

Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville

Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville is known as a quality venue that hosts a diverse variety of events that reflects the creativity, uniqueness, and artistry that Asheville is known for. With over 200 days of events and drawing well over 200,000 people annually, the venue continues to support the vitality of the region as a whole and the vibrant downtown of Asheville in particular.

Outdoor Special Events and Festivals

The Community and Economic Development Department manages outdoor special event consultations, permitting, partnerships, lease agreements, and city service coordination for all event and festival productions on city-owned property, sidewalks, streets, and parks. The Outdoor Special Events office at Community and Economic Development serves as the City’s one-stop shop for outdoor special event applicants.

Commercial Filming and Photography

The Community & Economic Development Department manages permitting, location agreements, and city service coordination for all commercial filming and photography work involving city-owned property, sidewalks, streets, and parks. Commercial filming and photography is permitted under the same conditions as other special event uses of public property in Asheville. A permit may not be required for small scale projects that do not require the reservation of public space, closure of streets/sidewalks/parking, use of generators, structures or unusual scenes.

Public Art

As you explore Asheville, you’ll see a number of sculptures and other pieces of art. The “Energy Loop”; the Deco Gecko in Pritchard Park; the murals in the City Hall chambers; the bronze life-size sculpture of Martin Luther King, Jr. at MLK Park; the more than 30 sculptures and plaques along the Urban Trail are all part of Asheville’s public art collection.

Sports Commission

Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission works to identify and attract sports events and related meetings to enhance the health, wellness and quality of life for area residents and sports enthusiasts and will generate a positive economic impact by promoting our region as a recognized sporting destination.