Saturday, November 14 & Sunday, November 15, 2026
Asheville’s River Arts District
Celebrate the creativity and community of Asheville’s River Arts District at RADFest 2026! This two-day festival brings together local artists, galleries, studios, musicians, food vendors and community organizations for a weekend of art, entertainment and hands-on experiences.
Explore outdoor artist markets, watch live demonstrations, meet working artists, discover original artwork and enjoy family-friendly activities throughout the district. Whether you’re a longtime art lover or discovering the River Arts District for the first time, RADFest is the perfect opportunity to experience Asheville’s vibrant creative community.
Festival-Wide Activities
Saturday, November 14
Wedge Studios Lot – Payne’s Way
- Outdoor tented artist and vendor market
- Full lineup of live music
- Pet adoptions hosted by Sarge’s Pet Rescue
- Free pet portraits
Morning Sky Power and Wyre Lots
- Outdoor tented artist and vendor markets
- Food trucks
- DJ entertainment
Sunday, November 15
RAD Rendezvous
- Pet adoptions hosted by Mountain Pet Rescue
- Free pet portraits
Morning Sky Power and Wyre Lots
- Outdoor tented artist and vendor markets
- Food trucks
- DJ entertainment
Food & Refreshments
Food trucks scheduled for the weekend at the Morning Sky Power and Wyre lots include:
- Top Dogs
- Smashville
- Dino’s Cajun Grub
- Grassroots Pizza
Participating Studios, Galleries & Special Events
Cotton Mill Studios
12x12x12 Exhibition – Studio 22
Alison Press Art presents 12x12x12, a special exhibition celebrating the creativity and individuality of 12 local artists.
Each participating artist has created work on a 12-by-12-inch canvas, using this shared format to explore their own distinctive artistic language. The exhibition features an exciting range of styles, including surrealism, digital collage, abstraction and landscapes.
Discover how a single canvas size can inspire an extraordinary variety of artistic expressions.
Odyssey ClayWorks
Pottery Demonstrations & Seconds Sale – Both Days
Visit Odyssey ClayWorks during RADFest for a behind-the-scenes look at the ceramic arts.
- Live pottery demonstrations throughout the weekend
- Special seconds sale featuring ceramic works
Explore the craft of pottery, meet local makers and find handmade ceramic pieces to take home.
Mark Bettis Gallery
Live Artist Demonstrations – Both Days
Mark Bettis Gallery will showcase its diverse collection of work by 17 artists, spanning wood sculpture, glass, ceramics, metal sculpture, landscape painting, abstract art and more.
Visitors can watch artists at work and learn about their creative techniques.
Saturday, November 14
- 12–2 p.m.: David Sheldon, an oil painter and metal sculptor, will demonstrate his painting process.
- Throughout the day: Nabil El Jaouhari will demonstrate techniques related to his mixed-media collage and wood-burning paintings.
Sunday, November 15
- Throughout the day: Nabil El Jaouhari returns for additional demonstrations.
The Village Potters
Fall Firing Festival
Saturday, November 14 | 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Free and Open to the Public
The Village Potters invites visitors to a special Fall Firing Festival filled with pottery demonstrations, hands-on ceramic-themed activities, studio tours and the opening of its Kazegama kiln.
One of the day’s highlights will be the unloading of the Kazegama, revealing a fresh collection of pottery produced in this distinctive wood-fired kiln.
Demonstration Schedule
| Time | Demonstration | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 10:15 a.m. | Wheel Throwing | Maria Andrade |
| 11 a.m. | Alternative Firing | Judi Harwood |
| Noon | Throwing Big with Sectionals | Julia Mann |
| 1:30 p.m. | Kazegama Kiln Opening & Unloading | Karen Dubois |
| 2:30 p.m. | Slip Trailing Design | Katie Meili Messersmith |
Special Preview: Friday, November 13
The Village Potters will fire its Kazegama kiln on Friday evening before RADFest. The firing is especially dramatic at dusk and into the evening, offering an opportunity to witness this unique ceramic process in action.
This informal preview is primarily intended for the artist community.
Light + Love Arts
Family-Friendly Activities & Live Music
Light + Love Arts will welcome visitors with activities for the whole family, live music and special RADFest hours.
Highlights include:
- Family-friendly activities inside the studio and outdoors
- Live music inside the studio
- Coffee on 7th, a kid-run coffee business, serving visitors from a tent in front of the studio on Depot Street
- Special extended hours to coincide with RADFest
Face painting may also be offered, pending confirmation.
Wedge Studios
Gathered in Green – Exhibition & Opening Reception
Exhibition Dates: November 1–30
Opening Reception: Saturday, November 14 | 4–6 p.m.
Location: Spotlight Gallery, Second Floor, Wedge Studios
Live Music: John O’Connor
Gathered in Green brings together 20 artists from the Artists of 129 at Wedge Studios for a vibrant exploration of a single color and its endless possibilities.
Every work in the exhibition is predominantly green, but each artist interprets the color through a distinctly personal lens.
The exhibition includes watercolor, acrylic, oil, mixed media, collage and pastel, with artwork ranging from bold abstractions to intricate studies of line, form and detail.
Join the artists for an opening reception on Saturday, November 14, featuring live music by John O’Connor.
Trackside Studios
Art Exhibitions, Holiday Shopping & Family Activities – Both Days
Trackside Studios will be open throughout RADFest, inviting visitors to explore original artwork and connect with working artists.
Colors of Celebration Exhibition
The Stairway Gallery features Colors of Celebration, a group exhibition exploring the colors that fill our landscapes, homes and special occasions.
Jumpstart Your Holiday Shopping
Get an early start on holiday gift-giving with curated boxes of locally made art, ready to give or use as inspiration for shopping.
Visitors can also build their own art-filled gift boxes, with supplies available while they last.
Additional Activities
- Meet and visit with working artists
- Nature- and animal-themed scavenger hunt for children
- Explore original artwork throughout the studios
Kiito’s Fine Art
Raymond Byram Exhibition, Artist Talk & Live Jazz – Both Days
Kiito’s Fine Art will welcome visitors throughout RADFest with work by 15 represented artists and opportunities to meet artists in three working studios.
The weekend also marks the final two days of a special weeklong exhibition featuring Raymond Byram, known for his impressionistic realism and evocative depictions of North Carolina’s mountains.
Approximately one-quarter of the gallery will be dedicated to Byram’s work during the exhibition.
Saturday, November 14
3:30–5 p.m. – Artist Talk with Raymond Byram
Join Raymond Byram for a discussion of his artistic techniques, including his use of palette knives to create oil paintings on canvas.
Byram will also discuss the art of serigraphy, an intricate printmaking technique in which he is a master. His process often involves 16 to 22 individual layers of color, compared with the six or seven layers commonly used.
5:30–7:30 p.m. – Live Jazz & Gallery Reception
Enjoy live music from Kass Blount and her jazz guitarist duo, along with refreshments, finger foods and an opportunity to explore the exhibition.
Sunday, November 15
The Raymond Byram exhibition continues for its final day, along with the gallery’s regular collection of artwork.
Visitors can also interact with working artists and learn about the inspiration behind their creations.
Squeaky Wheel Potters Studio at Hatchery Studios – 1 Roberts St.
- Outside Table with wine, snacks, and refreshments.
- Free parking
- Local pottery made by over 20 artists.
- Hours of operation Saturday and Sunday 11–5
Pet Adoptions & Free Pet Portraits
RADFest is welcoming four-legged friends into the festivities with pet adoption opportunities and complimentary pet portraits.
Saturday, November 14
- Location: Wedge Studios Lot, Payne’s Way
- Hosted by: Sarge’s Pet Rescue
- Activities: Pet adoptions and free pet portraits
Sunday, November 15
- Location: RAD Rendezvous
- Hosted by: Mountain Pet Rescue
- Activities: Pet adoptions and free pet portraits
Meet adoptable pets, connect with local rescue organizations and celebrate the animals that make our lives brighter.
Plan Your RADFest Visit
RADFest takes place across multiple locations throughout Asheville’s River Arts District on November 14–15, 2026.
Visitors are encouraged to explore the district, discover participating studios and galleries, enjoy the outdoor markets and take part in special events throughout the weekend.
Dates: November 14–15, 2026
Location: Asheville River Arts District
Featuring: Outdoor markets, live music, artist demonstrations, exhibitions, food trucks, family activities and pet adoptions
Individual studio activities and demonstrations have their own schedules. Please refer to the listings above when planning your visit.
Come celebrate Asheville’s artists, shop local and experience the creative spirit of the River Arts District at RADFest 2026!
