Hendersonville – Downtown Hendersonville takes center stage this Mother’s Day weekend with Love Hendo. On Saturday, a concert by Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits and other local events and family outdoor activities will take place.
The headlining Love Hendo event this Saturday is An Acoustic Evening with Peter Noone, who sang with Herman’s Hermits. Showtimes are at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. This is inside the Center for Arts & Entertainment — formerly Playhouse Downtown — at 125 S. Main St. in Hendersonville. The theater is revamped, with more socially distanced seating.
Noone, 73, was the baby-faced raspy-voiced frontman of Herman’s Hermits in the British Invasion. Their hits in 1964-67 include the swirling pop hit “There’s a Kind of a Hush (All Over the World),” “Wonderful World,” “I’m Into Something Good,” “Mrs. Brown You Have a Lovely Daughter,” “No Milk Today,” and very comical “I’m Henry the Eighth I Am.”
Tickets for Noone’s concert can be purchased at thecenterae.org.
Apart from Love Hendo, a historic school fundraiser and a solemn tribute to slain police officers are slated. The Law Enforcement Candlelight Memorial Service is on Saturday, May 15th at 7:30 p.m. at the Henderson County Sheriff’s Law Enforcement Center at 100 N. Grove St. It is co-hosted by Sheriff Lowell Griffin and the new Hendersonville Police Chief Blair Myhand. There will be several guest speakers and an Honor Guard service.
Love Hendo
“Love Hendo Saturday kicks off a new year to welcome the community to experience downtown — while still practicing a safe social distance with outdoor shopping and entertainment,” said Allison Justus, communications manager for the City of Hendersonville.
Jamie Carpenter coordinates such promotional events of the city. They aim to help downtown merchants as they look to survive and better thrive in this pandemic era.
Love Hendo drew steady crowds last summer, with the city allowing outdoor dining seating on sidewalks of Main.
“Nearly one year ago, Covid-19 and broad closures created uncertainty for downtown businesses,” Justus stated. “But the Hendersonville community stepped up with the LoveHendo movement to support local businesses in Henderson County. Now, as restrictions are being lifted, downtown Hendersonville continues to offer the best amenities for outdoor dining and activities for all ages.”
Love Hendo Saturdays are slated for the second Saturday of each month in May through December, other than in September. On these Saturdays, vehicular traffic is closed along Main Street from First to Sixth avenues for a more pedestrian-friendly flow.
These Saturdays vary in theme and/or partnering events.
Markets, Balloon Fest
Related events this coming Saturday include the Hendersonville Farmers Market’s seasonal opener. The outdoor fresh market typically has more than 30 growers and other vendors. They sell produce, eggs, meat and baked goods.
The site is near the Historic Train Depot, along Maple Street just south of Seventh Avenue. The market is “rain or shine” on Saturdays through October, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. For details, check hendersonvillefarmersmarket.com.
Also on Saturday, May 8th is the Mother’s Day Market of crafters at Historic Johnson Farm to benefit the farm from 9 am to 3 pm. Parking is across Haywood Road/N.C. 191, at Rugby Middle School.
Main Street’s special attractions on Saturday include Team ECCO Shark Lab and Aquarium hosting a balloon festival for children, as a fundraiser for the aquarium’s tenth anniversary. It is entitled Ship Shape and Sailing On! and is in front of the Historic Courthouse.
Balloon artists from across the state will make balloon shapes and join them together in a balloon sculpture Saturday morning. A parade of people dressed as sea creatures and other characters plan to start at noon from ECCO at 511 N. Main St. and go to the courthouse for the balloon unveiling.
Family activities include a wind tunnel prize machine, hula hooping with Michele Simpson, children meeting a mermaid, a Tap Snap Photo Booth, face painting and tables for crafters and Overmountain Vineyards. Check teamecco.org for more on the aquarium.
The Jump Off Rock Half Marathon goes sharply downhill from Jump Off Rock in Laurel Park to end on Main Street’s 500 block. The accompanying 10K race starts at the base of Laurel Park and is a much flatter course. Hunter Subaru is the naming sponsor.
Downtownhendersonville.org has info on upcoming events. Public bathrooms are at 125 Fifth Ave., and in the Visitors Center at 201 S. Main. People are urged to continue wearing facial masks.
Bears, Rock, Valley Hill Benefit
Festivities heat up this month. Bears — those decorated figurines — invade downtown Hendersonville in the Bearfootin’ Bear Reveal Thursday, May 13th at 4 p.m. in Courthouse Square.
Then the Rock and Roll Truth Festival 2 is Saturday, May 15th, 11 am to 8:30 pm at Saluda Outfitters. Christian Justus put on this seven-band gala to benefit the Blue Ridge Human Society.
The historic former Valley Hill School has a large indoor sale this Saturday, 9 am – 2 pm in the old gym. It will partly benefit renovating the property and an upcoming celebration of the school’s legacy — thanks to its new owner, Kirby Johnson. The site is at 175 S. Carolina Ave., near Willow Road.
Some of the proceeds will go towards developing the Henderson County Education History Initiative’s “Preservation Room” upstairs in school central offices, at 414 Fourth Ave. W., HCEHI Board Chairman Rick Wood noted.
A few of the school’s bricks and student desks will be for sale. Donated items for sale include dining room furniture, glassware, tools, small appliances, and original art.