Asheville – “Our Power, Our Planet” is the theme for Earth Day 2025. Groups are gathering throughout the area to explore how to enjoy and protect the planet. As Western North Carolina has been significantly impacted this year, first by Hurricane Helene and more recently by wildfires, conservation groups and eco-friendly vendors are organizing festivals to encourage activities that remind us of the area’s beauty.
The 3rd annual Hendersonville Earth Fest will take place on Saturday, April 19th, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM along South Main Street, from Allen to Caswell Street. It promises to be well attended, with activities for the whole family. Local organizations and environmental advocates will educate, entertain, and raise awareness about the need to protect our planet for future generations. Sugar Hollow Solar will showcase a Solar Power House to demonstrate clean energy in action. Muddy Sneakers, which promotes outdoor hands-on education for all ages, will have a booth featuring hands-on activities to inspire a love for nature and learning. Visitors are encouraged to bike to the event, as the Blue Ridge Bicycle Club will offer free bike-checking services. The BREV Club will display a variety of electric vehicles at the Hendo Earth Fest in downtown Hendersonville.
Explore Asheville Travel and Hospitality will host an Earth Day Cleanup on April 22 from 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM at five locations: Biltmore Village at Village Pub, Black Mountain at Foothills Grange, Downtown at Kimpton Hotel Arras, River Arts District at The Radical, and Weaverville at Eluvium Brewing Company. The program includes welcome remarks, a one-hour cleanup, and a post-cleanup social with local brews and light bites. Participants will receive a safety vest, gloves, a grabber, and a trash bag. On the same day at Lake Julian Park from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, volunteers can assist with cleanup and service projects like landscaping and debris removal, with all tools provided.
On April 26th, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Lake Julian Park, there will be games, pontoon boat tours, kayak demonstrations, and mini greenhouse creation opportunities. Volunteers must be 16 or older. In Hendersonville at Lennox Station from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM, workshops on printmaking, candle making, and environmental talks will occur, with live local music throughout the day.
Bee City USA suggests protecting pollinators and bees during Earth Week by growing native flowers, providing natural nesting sites, avoiding pesticides, and spreading awareness about ways to protect pollinators. Pollinators are more than just insects; they are the foundation of ecosystems and essential to our survival. Yet nearly half of them are at risk of extinction. That’s why Bee City USA, founded in Asheville, has grown into a nationwide movement of 426 affiliates dedicated to safeguarding these vital creatures. Asheville and the Chamber of Commerce recently launched a Butterfly Trail starting at the Asheville Visitor Center. Human-scale butterflies are being placed in strategic locations throughout Buncombe County. Each of the fifteen butterflies featured is native to Western North Carolina.
As many mountain communities have faced devastation, garden centers are holding annual spring plant sales. Bullington Gardens, a horticultural education center and nonprofit botanical garden in Hendersonville, is hosting its 21st annual Spring Plant Sale on April 24th-26th. The loss of trees has increased light exposure, allowing for the growth of sun-loving plants. Bullington’s sale features colorful, pollinator-friendly plants like foxglove, lobelia, coneflowers, abelia, and hydrangea.
To replace lost trees, Bullington offers the Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra), known for its fall color and wildlife value, along with Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry (Amelanchier), American Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana), and American Beech (Fagus). Plants that aid erosion control, such as Elderberry (Sambucus ‘Black Lace’), a fast-growing native shrub, and blueberry shrub (Vaccinium ‘Splendid! Blue’), which stabilizes soil, are also available. Bullington Gardens is known for reliable vegetable starts, including 14 types of tomatoes and unique herbs. A complete list of offerings is on the Bullington Gardens website.
As spring planting begins with the last day of possible frost approaching, attending an Earth Fest serves as a reminder of ways to enhance and appreciate the beauty of Western North Carolina.