Whether your ideal Asheville visit takes you gallery hopping on Broadway, antique shopping in Biltmore Village, trekking along the Appalachian Trail, or to a downtown show at a rock club named one of the top five in the country by Rolling Stone Magazine, the Asheville area has something guaranteed to delight every visitor. Don’t just take our word for it…experience it for yourself. 
Ask almost any Chamber member why they are a member and they’ll tell you—in Asheville, it’s the most important way to meet people and grow your business. As North Carolina’s third largest Chamber, the Asheville Chamber includes more than 2,000 businesses, organizations and coalitions. Members know the value a membership provides. Find out how members find value with the Asheville Chamber. 
Look at snapshots from Chamber events and view videos of Chamber programming and events. 
Meet and connect with the leadership team that sets goals and leads the activities of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. 
Do you have questions about the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce? Are you wondering where we are located, what we do, or how to find photos of the Asheville area? We’ve listed answers to our most frequently asked questions here. 
The Asheville region has expertise in several dynamic talent driven industries. Local businesses, educational programs, and community leaders are working in collaboration to nurture and grow these targeted sectors. 
Many businesses are thriving in Asheville and yours could be next. Here are a few of the local businesses making headlines recently. 
Consider the Economic Development staff your one-stop resource for connecting to the Asheville community. Find a complete list of staff available to help you plan the next phase of your business. 
Asheville’s economy and industry is constantly evolving. Keep up to date on the latest industry announcements and plans here. Contact the EDC staff if your company has exciting news to share with the community. 
Arts and Culture
Arts, culture and nightlife…YES!
There’s so much to see and do in the arts, culture and nightlife scene in Asheville, the biggest problem you’ll have is narrowing down your options if you’re a visitor. If you live here, pace yourself!
Long known for its arts and crafts scene, you can feast your eyes on great art in dozens of galleries downtown, in the eclectic River Arts District, and in small studios and cultural centers in all parts of the Western North Carolina region. Galleries run the gamut from sophisticated modern art spaces to small, intimate working studios. The Folk Art Center, home of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, is located along the Blue Ridge Parkway—this facility houses world-class art ranging from wearable to pottery, metalwork, and everything in between.
Fashion design is also an up-and-coming industry here—no surprise given the artistic culture that permeates the area. Local designers and boutiques draw inspiration from nature, creating an Asheville chic style; much of it organic, all of it functional and unique.
Theatre, symphony and dance
Special cultural opportunities abound, including great venues such as the Asheville Art Museum, The Health Adventure, Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, Diana Wortham Theatre at Pack Place, and the Thomas Wolfe Memorial. Performing arts enthusiasts can choose from several theater companies, the Asheville Symphony, Asheville Choral Society, Lyric Opera, Terpsicorps Dance Theatre, Flat Rock Playhouse or the free outdoor summer Shakespeare series provided by the Montford Park Players.
Brewtopians and Foodtopians love it here
Microbreweries are an important part of Asheville’s nightlife scene—we were recently named Beer City, USA! Brew pubs such as Highland Brewing, the Lab, Asheville Pizza and Brewing, Craggie, French Broad Brewery, Pisgah Brewing Company and the Wedge serve cold, refreshing microbrews day and night. Asheville’s Brews Cruise, a brew tour with a designated driver, helps you discover your favorites.
Asheville loves food, and foodies demand variety and quality. Asheville boasts the world’s only Foodtopian Society. More than 200 independent restaurants and at least a dozen farmers markets serve the city, and you can find anything from modern cuisine to ramps and biscuits to all kinds of international foods.
Got nightlife?
You bet. Check out dozens of clubs that feature live music, ranging from blues to jazz to rock & roll to country. The Orange Peel downtown has a national reputation as a great live music venue and dance space. It was even named as one of the best rock clubs in the country by Rolling Stone Magazine. The Grey Eagle Tavern and Music Hall is a mid-size music hall and listening room. Tressa’s Downtown Jazz and Blues offers up lively bands and dancing. Most clubs crank it up starting later in the evenings, offering live music to get you dancing….contra, swing, rock & roll, even ballroom dancing!
Downtown Outdoor Adventures
Don’t miss downtown Asheville’s drum circle; a free event at Pritchard Park on Friday nights weather permitting. People gather to drum—a few at first, then more and more. It’s an intergenerational spontaneous event that gets everyone moving.
Outdoor festivals rule the weekends, especially during summer and fall. Shindig on the Green, Goombay, and Bele Chere (the largest free outdoor street festival in the Southeast), are just a few of the gems that take over city streets. The free Downtown after Five series features live music and great food.