The River Arts District is Downtown Asheville’s focal point. It features everything from coffee to urban wines, restaurants, and skateparks.
The walls are adorned with paintings, sculptures are proudly displayed in gardens, and murals cover the bars and backsplashes. Graffiti wraps around the rehabilitated warehouses and brick buildings of this region.
It is not just a few buildings that celebrate local artisans and a vibrant spirit of the community, but many. It’s well suited to the free and adventurous lifestyle of Western North Carolina.
It’s definitely one of our favorite things to do in Downtown Asheville.
What is the River Arts District of Asheville?
The River Arts District, or RAD for short, is Asheville’s artistic heart.
It was the city’s industrial heart in the late 1800s, with many factories and mills along the river. This didn’t last and soon it turned into a run-down area with abandoned and boarded up buildings.
Until the 1980s where this gritty industrial area started to transform, its rebirth growing local artist’s need for cheap rents and large studio spaces.
Over the past two decades, these abandoned warehouses and factories, tanneries, and mills have been transformed into a colorful and creative safe haven by local and resident artists and visitors who want to see what can happen when a community puts people, art, and unique stories before all else.
These days the rent prices aren’t as cheap as they were in the beginning. It was only a matter time with the rapid growth of this area and future expansion plans.
The River Arts District stretches over a mile and is made up of 22 buildings housing more than 200 local artists working in paint, pencil, pottery, metal, fiber, glass, cold wax, paper and more. Within some of these buildings, you’ll find multiple artists, sculptors, and studios.
The region is divided into hubs, which take up a block or so.
Each hub is identified by a color (red, green, blue, purple, orange), which corresponds to pole banners you’ll see along the road, building colors, and the map/brochure for each area.
Within each hub, you’ll find studios, galleries, places to eat and drink, and live music venues. (See our REEL about the River Arts District).
Where is Asheville River Arts District?
The River Arts District is located south of downtown Asheville, east of the railroad tracks and the French Broad River. The Wilma Dykeman greenway is a 2-mile-long paved road that runs parallel to the river and through the district. It also features public art.
Parking is plentiful on the streets surrounding each hub.
Why not visit River Arts District (especially for kids)?
I was worried that half a day exploring this area in Asheville would prove too much for the kids and would lead to boredom. They are usually in an arts museum.
But it’s not as pristine, stuffy, or quiet as an art museum. Even our teenager enjoyed it very much.
This is not an art museum. It is a creative, living space that is unique.
It’s art in process: from the originating ideas written all over walls, to pieces in motion sitting on desks or easels, to completed works beautifully displayed on shelves.
You can walk through artists’ studios and see the messy side of creation (with its mistakes), touch (check first) or snap mural photos, talk to the artists, participate in a class, see an eclectic mix of art designs and forms, and even purchase something you can’t stop thinking about or looking at.
All of this is done with a local perspective, which allows you to understand the culture and people of the area you are visiting. Asheville is a city that places community, art and nature at its core.
Anyone who is an art lover or collector and is visiting Asheville will enjoy exploring this vibrant, eclectic, and home-grown art scene.
It’s also a place for those who love shopping – you can’t beat a piece of art hanging from your wall to remind you of your Asheville.
There is something for everyone, from postcard-sized prints to small trinkets, mugs to vintage clothes and jewelry to wall-sized canvas paintings to commissioned sculptures that can cost thousands of dollars, to everything in between. Art is always in your eye (of the wallet or eye).
As this is a living, breathing space, I can’t wait to come back with every return visit to Asheville to see how it is evolving and keeping up with Asheville’s vibrant spirit and pace.
How to enjoy Asheville’s River Arts District
Spend some time planning your River Arts District Day. I recommend spending at least 3-4 hours planning.
We started at top red hub and ended in the Blue Foundy area. It was my favorite section, with lots to do, and I enjoyed ending here.
Plan your itinerary around where you want to eat, have coffee, and a craft brew or urban wine – and at what times. It’s easy to fit in art around this. Unless there is live music, exhibitions, or events.
Many people enjoy riding around the River Arts District. You could also walk from one district into another. It felt manageable, and we walked between two districts.
Some of the streets between the hubs don’t have sidewalks. Even with children, I would have been fine. However, we didn’t visit during a busy day.
Maps can be picked up at many locations in the city. This will most likely be your first stop on your River Arts Explorations. You can also find an interactive map here.
There is a guided tour available of the River Arts District, if you don’t want to do it on your own. Find out more.
Things to do in River Arts District
Although we didn’t get to see everything, we plan to return to explore more. That’s where we (and future readers of this post) need your help! Please leave a comment to share your River Arts District favourite and why! Your suggestions are greatly appreciated!
We have compiled a list of unique and memorable things to do in the River Arts District based on what we saw.
I’ll move down from the most northern green hub down to the southern blue. We started in the purple area and, with this decision missed the Green district! I’ve researched to give some information below.
RAD Green Hub, Riverside Drive
Asheville Cotton Mills Studios
The Cotton Mill Complex is one of Asheville’s oldest buildings. It was built 1887. It made denim and flannel and employed over 300 people until 1953.
Most of the two-story, brick complex burned to the ground in 1995, except for the south wing building which is today known as The Asheville Cotton Mill Studios.
It’s now one of the busiest studios in the district, with eight studio spaces filled with natural light that is the dream of all artists.
Inside Cotton Mill you’ll find photographers, custom-made clothing, tattoo artists, painters, and printers.
My wish list includes a return visit to the Asheville Guitar Bar. This intimate music venue allows musicians to play, network, and create. Daidala Ciders is a small-batch cider producer that is experimenting with rare and unusual ciders.
Hatchery Studios, White Duck Taco Shop
White Duck Taco Shop is high up on the list of foodies in Asheville. This colorful, sunlit shop sells $3 fish tacos that are delicious. One of their locations is in Hatchery Studios. This was once the Earle-Chesterfield Mill Company Hatchery.
The Hatchery is home to R.A.D. Artists who create jewelry, pottery and paintings in the Hatchery
RAD Red Hub (Roberts St.)
North Carolina Glass Center
After seeing master glass blower Chihuly’s artwork around the country, in particular Biltmore Estate Gardens and the Chihuly center in Seattle, the NC Glass Center was at the top of my list of things to do in the River Arts District.
The vibrant mural at the front of the building was the first highlight. It invites you into the fiery world that transforms glass into artful masterpieces.
You can watch artists at work and view beautiful pieces in their gallery. You can also try your hand at glassblowing by taking one of the many workshops, flameworking, or glassblowing classes they offer.
Olde London Road English Pub
As we walked by, I gazed longingly at the windows of this English pub. Crowds of people sat with team scarves draped over the shoulders, intently watching their team’s screen.
The girls certainly wouldn’t have been happy if we stopped in to watch. But, if you’re an English fan, this may be a place you want to stop, especially if there is a soccer game on.
Wedge Studios
One of the most well known and popular of the places to visit in the River Arts District is Wedge Studios. This historical building houses over 30 professional working artists’ studios on four levels, a brewery, a restaurant, a hair salon, and a wine bar. It was originally built in 1898. It was once the biggest leather tanning facility in America.
I was captivated by the encaustic paintings made with beeswax and the abstract art of Callie Ferraro. Children will love all the thoughts she has written on the walls.
Wedge Brewing Company
Tucked away behind the art studios is an industrial railroad yard is the popular brewery and beer garden of Wedge Brewing Company
Although it may feel cluttered and thrown together, the vibe is great. I loved the industrial weld aesthetics of the place with its tables and seats and hanging art made from salvaged steel and iron. Perhaps John Payne, the founder of Wedge Studios, was the inspiration for this design.
There are regular rotating food trucks that they have and customers love their hoppy IPAs. You can find live music on Saturdays. They also have a second location at the Foundy Section in RAD.
We will be stopping by for a beer on our next visit. When we return, we will be there without kids. I will also visit Bottle Riot, an adults-only wine bar.
Ultra Coffeebar in the red zone is a great place to get coffee. The Bull and Beggar, a popular restaurant that serves delicious cocktails, is also a favorite.
Purple District (Depot Street).
Pink Dog Creative
A good place for us to start our River Arts District, especially to capture the girls attention, was the vibrantly colorful Pink Dog Creative, housed in a former manufacturing and warehouse building.
You can walk from one studio to the next along the row. You’ll find 30 artists, a gallery and two restaurants – Fresh West Pizza and Vivian.
The intricate patterns on the Ukrainian Pysanky Eggs by Andrea Kulish were a favorite of ours. Christie Calaycay might have some stunning handcrafted jewelry.
You can grab a coffee from Grind Coffee Shop, first Black-owned coffee shop in Asheville. It’s also a coworking space and café whose aim is to nurture entrepreneurship, especially in the Black community. You’ll find pastries AND cool artwork on the walls inside as well.
The Community Container Project
Pink Dog Creative was home to one of my favorite murals.
Trinity Harper Pierce, an eleven-year-old budding artist, won a competition to paint the 44×18 ft container.
Her message was accompanied by a giant red heart “Love your community.” She says,
“There was a lot of violence in my neighborhood. I want people to be more concerned about their community. I hope they will see this painting as a reminder of their community. I want the love to spread all throughout my community, my city and my county.” (Source: The Laurel of Asheville)
This makes my heart grow just by reading it.
(If you arrive, make sure to take a photo. We had brain fog and had to settle with a photo after navigating around them.
Orange Art District (River Arts Pl.
Curve Studios and Garden
Curve Studios has been keeping the RAD in R.A.D for over 30 years. It was originally built by Standard Oil Company of New Jersey in 1916 as a warehouse to supply their chain of retail gasoline stations. In 1989, Patti Torno purchased the buildings and made it a studio space.
You’ll now find 11 artists hard at work making ceramic sculpture, functional pottery, jewelry, clothing, and fine art photography as well as teaching the art of chair caning.
Curve Studios close on Sundays which meant we couldn’t see anything inside the studios. We enjoyed taking photos outside, in front of the LOVE murals and their hidden garden.
Not to miss is the 8ft tall chair arch to honor Torno’s long contributions to the art district. Brandy Clements, Dave Klingler and Lucy Kruesel built the Silver River Center for Chair Caning at Curve Studios, which is the only American chair caning school and museum.
Blue Hub: Foundy St
The Blue Foundy St area was my favorite place in the River Arts. It had an urban funk feel with wild graffiti covering the walls of every building.
It feels like you’ve just walked onto a canvas and become part of the masterpiece.
If you like street art, and your selfies in front of it, you’ll want to plan to spend some time here.
This area also has many places to eat, drink, and cool vintage shops.
Foundation Studios
Foundation Studios is a gallery space with working artist studios, and rooms for events and classes. Their mixed media art includes printmaking, painting, ceramics and metal arts, as well as wood burning and fiber art.
There are many classes, such as oil painting or basket weaving, that cater to both adults and children.
The variety of art was astounding.
The Amy Winehouse painting in the gallery caught the attention of both my girls and me. I did not record the artist’s name down and now cannot find it!
I loved the fun and bright prints and stickers from A Quartzy Life (Perfect gifts or souvenirs) and Jerry Cahill’s murals on the outside of the building are boldly mesmerizing.
Riverview Station
This 110,000-square-foot space houses a vibrant community of 60 artists. It was once used as a candle manufacturing and tannery building.
Inside Riverview Station you’ll find potters and painters, photographers, woodworkers, jewelry designers, mixed media artists as well as three art galleries.
Don’t miss the Art Garden, a studio and gallery space of artists working together to create an immersive art environment with Earth centered themes.
You’ll find not only extraordinary pieces of art but plants that naturally uplift and inspire awe and wonder. It’s worth going here just to see the fantastic realism paintings of Annie Kyla Bennett and Magical Realism art from Medicine Heart Mural (Annie Kyla Bennet, Dillon Endico, Jack Henry)
Riverview also offers live art demonstrations and classes.
Summit Coffee
On our last morning leaving Asheville, we stopped into the Foundy St for lunch and a latte from Summit Coffee. I’m so glad we did, otherwise we would have left Asheville without sampling its best coffee.
Its minimalist interior and graffiti-wrapped exterior create a unique coffee shop experience. Two floors of seating are available inside, with plenty of natural lighting.
12 Bones Smokehouse
Obama was so good, he went back twice to Carolina for barbecue!
The unpretentious 12 bones Smokehouse has a few delicious options that the President and his family will love. It’s hard to resist the smells wafting through the entire Foundy district as you]re exploring.
There are many meats available, including pulled chicken and port, as well sliced beef and brisket.
12 Bones makes everything from scratch and meats are smoked long & slow over select hardwoods, oak, and cherry.
We didn’t have the pulled pork. Obama returned for that. The brisket was delicious, but I’ve had better. It is still a great place to visit. Let us know your thoughts about the pork after you have tried it.
If you want to cool it off with something cold and local, the Wedge Brewing Foundy St is right next door.
Pleb Urban Winery
If there is one unmissable thing to do in the Asheville Arts District, it’s a tasting flight of local wine at Pleb Urban Winery.
A huge mural depicting an angelic girl blowing her dandelion into a breeze draws you into the large, open warehouse space. It is both chic as well as rustic. The mural behind this bar is just as attractive.
It is a relaxed atmosphere that encourages thoughtful discussion, much like the Roman community of plebeians after which it is named. They worshiped the gods fertility, agriculture, and viticulture.
A $12 wine paddle gives you the opportunity to choose from four wines. There’s much to discuss. You can choose from the crafted or your own wines.
Know that with every sip, you are supporting local Western NC agriculture, sustainable practices, all the while enjoying the unique characteristics of Appalachian wine
I chose the Roaminglands paddle with a Redwood white wine chardonnay and a Sequoia Rose. Also, I had a Sequoia Red (Syrah) as my wine pairing. The Syrah is well worth the effort to leave with a glass in your hand or to return for another visit.
Grail Moviehouse
While we did not watch a movie at the Grail MovieHouse, I loved the concept and look of this tiny independent theater.
An intimate theater that showcases a mix first-run films, old favorites, documentaries, as well as indie flicks.
The small theater rooms have upholstered chairs and loveseats, creating an eclectic atmosphere.
Foundation Spot Skate Park
It’s not just art lovers coming from all over to visit Asheville, but skateboarders as well. The Foundation Spot is an open-air skatepark that volunteers built using all the pipes and tunnels.
I love watching skaters when we travel – it helps you get to know more about the people who live there. It’s my favorite thing to look at when we visit Venice Beach in California.
Next door is also the Rad SkatePark. It’s an indoor skate park with all the ramps and obstacles skaters dream of.
The French Broad River Trail
If you haven’t yet walked on the paved path beside the French Broad River, now is the perfect chance, as it’s right next to the blue area.
The French Broad River is third oldest river in the world, and is older that the Blue Ridge Mountains. You can either walk north to reach River Arts District’s sculptured sign or south to French Broad River Park.
This is a great spot to take a bike ride. A float is also a great option for tubers and kayakers (in the warmer months).
TOUR IDEA – Guided Tours on French Broad River
1 KAYAKAs you travel, take in the French Broad River and Asheville. Your naturalist guide will teach you about the local fauna and flora. You’ll also get a glimpse of the Biltmore Estate. Book your trip by clicking here.
2. PADDLEBOARD TOUR: With a private guide, paddle 7 miles (11km) on the scenic French Broad River. You’ll pass by Asheville’s massive Biltmore Estate and hear about its history Book your trip here.
Best time to visit River Arts District
Many studios are open daily, all year. However, it varies from studio to studio. Make sure you check the opening times if you are interested in seeing a particular artist.
Wednesday to Saturday is typically the best time to catch artists, although Saturday is usually the busiest day of the week and when you’ll have the best shopping success.
‘Second Saturday’ is held every second Saturday of the month. Gallery walks in the Asheville Arts District include demonstrations, workshops and wine tasting.
Studio Stroll is a popular event for art enthusiasts. It takes place every Fall on a weekend. Two days of special demonstrations and events including workshops and receptions at galleries, are included. Many studios offer snacks and refreshments. There are trolleys available to assist you in getting between the buildings.
From May to November, the River Arts District Farmers Market operates every Wednesday from 3:00 to 6:00 pm. Here you will find many local farms, creameries and bakeries.
Where to stay in Asheville
You have many options for accommodation, as the River Arts District is just minutes from downtown Asheville.
We enjoyed our stay at Hotel Indigo Asheville downtown.
We love accommodation options that tell the story of the area we are visiting. This boutique Asheville hotel does just that. It is in a great location, offers engaging service with insider tips, and features local flavors in art and food. Click to see why we loved it.
CONSIDER OTHER ASHEVILLE HOSTELS
- Cambria Hotel Downtown Asheville
- AC Hotel Asheville Downtown
- Kimpton – Hotel Arras
- The Biltmore Inn
Places to See Near Asheville
You can find inspiration and things you can do in Asheville by looking at the following posts.
Source: Breaking Travel News