On Saturday, May 10, 2025, from 10 AM – 5 PM, Asheville’s iconic arts district will host RAD Renaissance, a powerful celebration of art, resilience, and renewal. As spring breathes new life into the city, this event will showcase the strength of the RAD community and mark a major milestone in its ongoing recovery from Hurricane Helene’s historic flooding.

More than just an art festival, RAD Renaissance is a call to action—inviting locals and visitors alike to support the artists, galleries, and studios that define this creative district. Throughout the Upper RAD (Roberts Street, Artful Way, Clingman Avenue, and Depot Street), attendees will experience:

• Opportunities to meet and support working artists
• Live painting, artist demonstrations, and interactive art classes
• Music and storytelling performances across multiple locations
• Pop-up food trucks + local restaurants, cafés, breweries, and bars
• Community flower stations to help restore the beauty of the RAD

The Launch of the RAD Art Market

This event also marks the debut of the RAD Art Market, a weekly marketplace at Pinegate Renewables’ parking lot, dedicated to giving displaced artists a vital platform to showcase and sell their work. Many of these artists lost everything in the flood and are now unveiling their first new pieces since the storm, making this market an important opportunity for the community to support their comeback, celebrate their resilience, and witness the rebirth of creativity in RAD.

"The artists of the River Arts District are more than creators—we are a community of storytellers, builders, and visionaries. RAD Renaissance is a testament to our collective strength and an invitation for Asheville to stand with us as we rebuild," said Jeffrey Burroughs, President of River Arts District Artists (RADA). "This is not just about art—it’s about reclaiming our spaces, reimagining our future, and proving that creativity endures even in the face of hardship."

Event Highlights & Experiences

• Tour the Upper RAD & the RAD Art Market – Explore artist studios, collectives, and galleries, and shop for locally made artwork.
• Savor the flavors of spring – Enjoy a variety of pop-up food trucks, plus local restaurants, cafés, breweries, and bars here. (Be sure to make dinner reservations!)
• Immerse yourself in live music & storytelling – Experience performances throughout the district, celebrating the theme “The Sounds of Place.”
• Restore the beauty of RAD – Get hands-on with flower-planting stations throughout the community.

Date: Saturday, May 10, 2025
Time: 10 AM – 5 PM
Location: Upper River Arts District (Roberts Street, Artful Way, Clingman Avenue, and Depot Street)

Source: River Arts District Artists.