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Big changes for the LEAF Art Dash 5k. Join us on a brand new fast, flat and family friendly course in the River Arts District. Start and end at our host sponsor, Second Gear on Saturday August 20th at 8:30am! All ages and levels welcome to THE MOST unique 5k in downtown Asheville. Art and Music accompany your 3.1 mile run/walk through the city. It is a great race to run with family and friends. Costumes are encouraged. Pets are welcomed.
LEAF Art Dash 5K fees are supporting LEAF Schools & Streets.
Registration for the upcoming Art Dash 5k on August 20th, 2022 is open now! REGISTER HERE+ Get Details.
LEAF Summer 2022 will be happening in some new ways that continue to bring LEAF’s mission to life and give opportunities for our youth and families to come together in celebration through the arts.
We have LOVED creating LEAF Downtown since 2015, and it is our hope to be back in Pack Square Park one day.
The big challenges which included:
1. Date Conflict. Being given a Date that conflicted with Downtown After 5 which is a partner & we share many volunteers, board & sponsors. We tried many efforts to trade, swap, move dates.
2. Funding. Funding Loss of City of AVL Strategic Partnership Funding that supports foundational services of any event.
3. Process & Support. Changes in process, rules, fees, dates and guidelines have been shifting in ways that are not welcoming or
LEAF Downtown since 2015 has been a beautiful journey. The LEAF team has been grateful and proud to create “one of the BEST FAMILY events in downtown AVL that brought together our community” and featured some of the best music legends nationally and locally.
We are grateful Asheville, that we were able to MASK UP and TURN UP! We were grateful to bring to you: “Concrete Love” a phrase and a notion that has pushed us forward into this joyous resurgence of music, dance and community; bringing the love back to the city of Asheville and reigniting the spirit of rebuilding. Our diverse lineup included: Newcleus, Electro Funk Band from Brooklyn, known for hits like “Jam on It” and “Computer Age.” Grandmaster Caz of the Cold Crush Brothers – a legendary rapper stapled into Hip Hop history. Caz will perform a couple songs with Cactus of The Secret Agency with 23 Skidoo, off Cactus’ latest project. We enjoyed local giants like: The West Sound, Free Planet Radio, DJ Bowie, Kinobe and the Dance of Hope, DJ Brett Rock, The Kalimba Man Kevin Spears, Funkin’ Around with King Garfield and many, other amazing acts and presentations.
Thank you to all who joined us in this wondrous revival and all we ask is that you bring your “Concrete Love!”
See Photos by Steve Atkins + Other LEAF Facebook Downtown Photos
LEAF Downtown AVL Features a dynamic range of local, regional & national talent spanning a diversity of genres and artistic lineages that uplift, empower, and inspire! In the spirit of HEALTH & SAFETY, space and controlled environments, you do need a DIG LEAF VIP EXPERIENCE TICKET for shows and happenings at LEAF Global during the event. All other experiences are FREE to PUBLIC and yes MASK UP. Check out this year’s schedule below modified for more space, health & happiness!
Since 2014, over 100,000 people, families, and friends of all ages and walks of life came out to enjoy 960 performing artists from 19 countries in our downtown.
LEAF brings downtown to life for families and our local communities.
LEAF Downtown connects our local communities and cultures while celebrating creativity and diversity in the heart of downtown Asheville! This special event works to further the city’s goals of equity, partnerships, and economic vitality in the greater Asheville area. The priority audience is our local families and friends of all ages & all neighborhoods coming together in a way that builds positive connections and allows locals to feel that downtown is theirs. This event also creates platforms for voices often unheard as we connect people to the world, each other, and themselves. LEAF’s vision to create a thriving global community starts right here in our own backyard.
LEAF Downtown AVL invites, celebrates and appreciates YOU! | LEAF Downtown is dedicated to honoring the diverse and rich culture of Asheville. We seek to ensure every neighborhood, race, ethnicity, and culture has a voice and gathering space at our event. LEAF supports healthy expressions of progress featuring diversity and inclusion in all its signature events and LEAF Downtown gives us the unique opportunity to support local Asheville interests, honor heritage and share history.
LEAF Downtown AVL is about FAMILY. LEAF Downtown AVL is about LOCAL COMMUNITY and CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT .
Stages are created for a variety of engagement experiences from Main Stage, ULEAF Community Stage, Voices of Asheville, Cafe Stage, Busker Corner., and Easel Rider Mobile Art Lab. The park is artfully curated with local artists, vendors, family adventure, and opportunities for kids to elders to share their stories and arts.
LEAF Downtown AVL showcases dynamic musical talent, immersive cultural arts performances and local handcraft & culinary artists. At this special event, experience a world-class music, art & cultural immersion featuring over 200 performers on 3 stages, 70 hand-selected artisan craft & food vendors, non-stop family adventure programming, and the Voices of Asheville cultural epicenter. No matter who you are, where you are from, and what lights your fire, LEAF Downtown celebrates YOU – Championing diversity, equity & inclusivity as core principles at the heart of the event.
As the world shifts, we have designed LEAF Downtown with primarily outdoor venues. Washing hands & Social distancing is always encouraged. We ask people to MASK UP when coming into LEAF Global Experience during Downtown event. We want to do our part to stop COVID for good. NEW ELEVATED COVID PROTOCOLS as of 8/17/21.
LEAF Downtown AVL Masks Up, Gives More Space & Elevates COVID Protocals
YES! MASK UP at LEAF DOWNTOWN! In order to keep the MUSIC & ART flowing. LEAF asks EVERYONE to MASK UP both indoors (always) and outdoors (when in Pack Square Park & The Block area during the event). We all know HOW to do this and NOW is the time to get those masks back on. Just do it!
LEAF Downtown AVL Changes + Elevated Covid protocols to meet the world today & keep HEALTH as #1:
-The 3 W’s are Back! WEAR A MASK. WAIT 6′. WASH UP.
-The event footprint & staging has been simplified to give MORE SPACE.
-Areas of congestion such as the ULEAF Stage, Cafe Stage & concessions near BLM Mural will NOT be happening b/c this area is too tight for ample social distancing.
-To SHOP at any Vendor or Get Beverages EVERYONE MUST MASK.
-Food vendors are being spread around the event rather than in one unified location to avoid congestion.
-Booth Vendors that had been accepted but expressed concerns were offered refunds or transferred to a future event and those vacated spots were not refilled to create greater spacing.
-Masks will be available on site.
-There will be 7 extra sanitizer stations throughout the event.
-Artists that don’t feel comfortable performing at this time are being invited to perform at the October LEAF Festival or at LEAF Global or the agreement voided.
-We are working to elevate signage and resources.
-Art Dash 5k is happening with Kick It Events leading the details. Runners will mask at the start and until socially distanced.
-VIP Events are happening and are MASKED and in controlled environments.
-ALL of LEAF’s core staff will be tested just prior to the event.
Note: We will continue to monitor the daily changes and adapt as needed to keep our community health a priority. During COVID, LEAF has successfully created 3 events that were 100% health success. LEAF is dedicated to do our very best for our community and is driven by mission and dedication to our artists, staff and others. These free, public events are a labor of love and service. Thank you all for working together and supporting each other as we all navigate these challenging unique every changing moments. Love & Gratitude!
Featuring a dynamic range of local, regional & national talent spanning a diversity of genres and artistic lineages that uplift, empower, and inspire!
Connecting and celebrating LEAF Schools & Streets youth performers, local arts education partners, community elders, and voices of leadership.
This is the hub of all things LEAF! An immersive artful place with the rich music history of Club Del Cardo, engaging presence of music traditions as we grow as Global Citizens together.
Roaming artists, arts experience, installations, and Buskers are a vibrant part of the arts in the streets. Get to connect with local buskers in fun ways
Featuring a dynamic range of local, regional & national talent spanning a diversity of genres and artistic lineages that uplift, empower, and inspire! The Voices of Asheville is designed to be a safe space where all the voices of local Ashevillians can be heard and honored. We have community organization and additional local non-profit information here as well.
