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.

Photo by Stephan Pruitt Photography

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. Click to see all upcoming Downtown After 5 events.

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.

SPONSORED BY

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.

Event Details

• 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

  Other Options
  On-street metered parking is free after 6pm Monday - Saturday, free on Sundays. 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 & Activities

  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.

• Accessibility

  We strive to make our events accessible to persons with disabilities. Accessible portajohns 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.

Volunteer Opportunities

Interested in volunteering at the September Downtown After 5? Sign up for a shift here! If you are interested in joining our volunteer list, you can email info@ashevilledowntown.org!