36th Annual Downtown After 5 Presented by Prestige Subaru 
The Asheville Downtown Association is thrilled to unveil the lineup for the 36th annual Downtown After 5, presented by Prestige Subaru. This year's series promises an eclectic mix of music and themes, alongside collaborations with local nonprofit organizations, underscoring our commitment to community engagement and cultural enrichment.

Join us the third Friday of each month from 5pm - 9pm April through September. Downtown After 5 has become a staple of Asheville's cultural calendar, offering residents and visitors alike a chance to experience live music in the heart of our vibrant city. This year, each event is centered around highlighting a nonprofit partner with a theme that celebrates diverse musical genres, food and beverage offerings, local makers, and community initiatives. Each Downtown After 5 event draws an enthusiastic crowd of between 5,000 to 6,000 attendees to North Lexington Avenue, transforming it into a vibrant hub of music, dance, and community.

2024 Line Up
April 19 | Psychedelic Funk
In partnership with the Mosaic Art Walk, an event supporting 15 nonprofit organizations through the United Way, we’ll kick off the series with a blast of color and sound. Empire Strikes Brass will headline the evening, supported by opener Magenta Sunshine. The event will be emceed by comedian Kim Richardson, setting the stage for a night of immersive funk and psychedelic grooves.

May 17 | Yacht Rock
Teaming up with Blue Ridge Pride, we invite you to smooth sail through the sounds of Yacht Rock Schooner, with Lazr Luvr opening the night. Our emcee, DIVINE the Bearded Lady will ensure a memorable evening for all.

June 21 | Juneteenth
In a special collaboration with the MLK Foundation, we celebrate Juneteenth with the soulful Sierra Green & the Giants headlining and Lyric setting the mood.

July 19 | AVL Fest Kickoff
The official kick-off to AVL Fest, Asheville FM brings to the stage Caitlin Krisko & The Broadcast as headliners, with The Greenliners opening.

August 16 | LEAF Downtown
In collaboration with LEAF Global Arts, we're excited to bring back LEAF Downtown at Downtown After 5. Tito Puente Jr. will be headlining the event, with the LEAF Kono Band opening.

September 20 | Outdoor Rec Fest
Closing out the series is September’s Outdoor Rec Fest with Riverlink. Featuring headliner Oliver Hazard and opener Paul McDonald. Celebrate Asheville's outdoor lifestyle by engaging with our outdoor recreation partners and vendors.


Downtown After 5 is more than just a concert series; it's a community staple that celebrates the diversity and creativity of Asheville. Each event is free to the public, thanks to the generous support of our sponsors and partners. Food and beverage vendors will be on-site, with a portion of proceeds supporting the nonprofit partners associated with each event. This year, we're excited to introduce a new addition to Downtown After 5: a marketplace component where attendees can explore and shop handmade crafts from local makers. Join us on North Lexington Avenue for these unforgettable evenings of music, community, and celebration. 

A big thank you to our sponsors, who make this all possible! Prestige Subaru, Sweeten Creek Brewing, Sierra Nevada, Skyla Credit Union, Central United Methodist Church Explore Asheville, Highland Brewing, Hi Wire Brewing, Small Axe Cannabis Co., Green Man Brewery, Appalachian Mountain Brewery, Go Mini’s Portable Storage, Mellow Mushroom, Star 104.3, 97.7 The Brew, 98.1 The River, 105.9 The Mountain, Strada Italiano, Isa’s Bistro, Hemingway’s, Crooked Tree Creative, A Look At Asheville, DSSOLVR, and Asheville Color and Imaging.


Interested in becoming a sponsor?
Interested in becoming a volunteer?
Email: marci@ashevilledowntown.org for more information

Prestige Subaru Logo

Parking

• Harrah’s Cherokee Center Garage - enter from Haywood Street or Rankin Avenue

• Rankin Avenue Garage - enter from Rankin Avenue or Walnut Street

• Wall Street Garage - enter from Otis Street near Patton Avenue

• Biltmore Avenue Garage - enter from Biltmore Avenue or S. Lexington Avenue

• Buncombe County Garage - enter from College Street
• Coxe Avenue Garage - enter from Sears Alley
• On-street metered parking is free after 6pm Monday - Saturday, free on Sundays
• Private lots - if you park in a private lot, be sure to read any signage and pay fees to avoid fines or towing  
We also encourage you to check out our transit service, Asheville Rides Transit or use multi-model transportation.

And if you enjoy adult beverages at our events, please use AVL Ride or another ride-share service. 

Prohibited items

• Pets are not allowed in permitted special event boundaries (this is a City of Asheville ordinance), certified service dogs are excepted
• Weapons of any kind
• Illegal substances (including narcotics) or drug paraphernalia
• Outside alcoholic beverages
• Fireworks and explosives
• Coolers
• Tents
• Unauthorized vendors
• Moshing, crowd surfing, and/or stage diving
• Unauthorized solicitations, handbills, sampling, give-aways, etc.  

VOLUNTEERING

Interested in volunteering at our events? 
email: marci@ashevilledowntown.org

Accessibility

We strive to make our events accessible to persons with disabilities. Accessible portajohn/s are located near other portable restrooms. Regarding wheelchair accessibility, sidewalks run throughout the event. These sidewalks will remain open for the duration of the event and provide the best route for ingress, egress and concert viewing. Some event areas are grassy or paved and may present bumps or inclines. Food vendors are required to be prepared to serve people with disabilities. If you have suggestions as to how we can better serve our neighbors with disabilities, please let us know by emailing info@ashevilledowntown.org.