New Year, New Adventures
Starting the new year with a list of adventures is an excellent way to try new things. Check out these 12 ideas (one for each month) that could become favorites for you and your family. Get ready to shake it up and have some fun in 2024!
January: Maggie Valley Ice Festival
Revel in the wonders of winter, and see ice artists creating their art in real time at the Maggie Valley Ice Festival Jan. 26 – 28. In addition to live ice carving demonstrations, this event will have an ice slide, games, and warm beverages. For more information, visit maggievalleync.gov/events/maggie-valley-ice-festival-2024 and Maggie Valley Ice Festival (runsignup.com).
February: Asheville Mardi Gras Parade
You don’t have to go to New Orleans to celebrate the famous Mardi Gras traditions that occur every year near Fat Tuesday. Bring the whole family to the South Slope in Asheville to revel, sing and celebrate at the Asheville Mardi Gras Parade. Full of colorful characters and performers this free parade occurs at 3:05 pm on Sunday Feb. 11. For more information, visit ashevillemardigras.org.
March: Try new food at Botiwalla Restaurant
Check out one of Asheville's newest restaurants and try the new flavors and savory spices of Botiwalla. This restaurant pays homage to the Irani Cafes, or tea and kabob houses of India and late night street food of India. Choose from a menu of naan wraps, rice bowls, appetizers and much more. For details, visit: botiwalla.com/west-asheville.
April: Ring in spring with disc golf
Experience one of the fastest growing sports in the world, get outside, bring the kids and enjoy nature by trying out disc golf. Apart from the costs of your disc, disc golf is an excellent fun and free sport to play with your family. The Asheville area features lots of options for disc golf courses where you can play for free. Among others, Buncombe County Sports Park, Veterans Park and Lake Julian Park all feature free courses. Just bring some discs and get ready to toss it for fun. Visit buncombecounty.org/governing/depts/parks.
May: Pick your own May flowers
Based in Western North Carolina in Barnardsville, north of Asheville, The Never Ending Flower Farm offers a pick-your-own flower experience your family will not forget. Visit this flower farm in May to pick a beautiful bouquet for mom or friends selecting from poppies, snapdragons, bachelor buttons, larkspur, nigella and more. You can also opt to go later in the summer for different selections of flowers. For more cost and details, visit theneverendingflowerfarm.com/youpick-flowers.
June: Tubing Deep Creek
Experience The Great Smoky Mountains National Park from a different vantage point when you tube down the gushing waters of Deep Creek. Located just outside Bryson City, Deep Creek features two sections. The upper “whitewater” section of Deep Creek has wilder waters and more rapids, while the lower section is a wider route with fewer rapids and more floating. Tubes are available for rent at several tubing companies located just outside the park entrance. JJ’s Tubing on Deep Creek is an excellent place to pick up a tube. It’s family owned and operated for more than 30 years. For more information, visit deepcreektubes.com.
July: Fourth of July Parade in Montreat
A fun community parade, held in the morning, the Fourth of July Parade hosted by Montreat Conference Center is a great way to celebrate our nation’s birth. This uber family friendly parade is especially great for families with younger children who may not make it for nighttime fireworks. This parade, which has been celebrated for more than 50 years, features local officials, police, fire departments and floats. The procession starts near the conference center and winds down Montreat Road. After the parade, take the kids to the park, head off on a hike or walk around Lake Susan. For details, visit townofmontreat.org.
August: Asheville Music Festival
Asheville Music Festival kicked off its inaugural year last August featuring more than 150 acts at 20-plus venues across the city. The festival was such a big success that plans are in the works for the 2024 edition, Aug. 1 – 4. Indoor and outdoor venues featured local, regional and national musicians. For details, visit avlfest.com.
September: The Mountain State Fair
If you haven’t been before, attending The Mountain State Fair is a must. In addition to rides and carnival games, your family can celebrate the rich legacy of agricultural and folk art from our region. With rides, exhibits, games, shows and delicious treats, there will be something for everyone. Even better: 2024 is the 30 year anniversary for this fun-filled fair. For more information, wncagcenter.org/p/mountainstatefair.
October: Check out a corn maze
There’s no better way to support a phenomenal local mission and have lots of fun to boot than at Eliada’s Annual Fall Festival and Corn Maze. Held during the weekends each October, this fall festival features its signature corn maze as well as a straw maze for younger tikes. However, this festival is much more than mazes. It features corn cannons, bouncy pillow, lawn games, hayrides, slides and pumpkins for purchase. For details, visit eliada.org/fall-festival-and-corn-maze.
November: Kick off cookie season
If your family enjoys eating sweets more than baking them, consider ordering cookies and desserts next holiday season from Crumbl Cookies at Westgate in Asheville. In addition to cookies, they offer other gourmet desserts. You can have them delivered or pick them up at the store. Crumbl also does catering –perfect for birthday parties, weddings, or your holiday party. For more information, visit crumblcookies.com/ncwestgate.
December: Winter Wonder Walk
Next December, get your family outside at night to enjoy the Winter Wonder Walk. Families can walk through a live- action immersive story walk. In addition to stepping inside this interactive story, attendees can climb a glowing ropes course, see hundreds of glittering lights and shop from local makers. The Winter Wonder Walk offers small bonfires where families and friends can also enjoy s'mores, hot chocolate and games. For details, visit winterwonderwalk.com.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: New Year, New Adventures
