About Sourwood Festival
Vendor Applications Closed on May 31!
Since 1977, historic Black Mountain has drawn in more than 30,000 annual attendees for the Sourwood Festival. This annual summer community celebration marks the beginning of the sourwood honey-selling season. This unique honey is gathered from the sourwood tree, a native tree in the Southern Appalachian region.
Explore the allure of Black Mountain and find out why we proudly hold a ranking as one of the most picturesque towns in America. Downtown Black Mountain’s Sourwood Festival is a vibrant celebration of our bees and locally-produced sourwood honey, proudly presented by the Black Mountain Swannanoa Chamber of Commerce.
Things to Know
Festival Entry
The Sourwood Festival is free and open to the public.
Pet Policy
Furry friends are welcome to attend the Sourwood Festival! All pets must be on a leash at all times, and we kindly ask that you clean up after them.
That said, we strongly discourage you from bringing pets during the heat of the day. The pavement can become dangerously hot and uncomfortable for their paws, and the crowds and noise may cause stress for even the most social animals. We love your pets as much as you do, and their safety and comfort come first.
Festival Entry
The Sourwood Festival is free and open to the public — all are welcome to join the fun.
Festival Location
The Sourwood Festival takes place in historic downtown Black Mountain. Vendors and festival events will be hosted on Cherry St., Sutton Ave, Black Mountain Ave, and Terry Estates.
New this year: Enjoy live music at The White Horse and behind The Foothills Grange as part of the festival experience — proudly sponsored by Explore Asheville.
Food
The Sourwood Festival will feature snack and food vendors throughout the event. However, we also encourage attendees to explore the culinary scene of our community by visiting one of the over 38 local eating and drinking establishments in Black Mountain and Swannanoa. There’s something for every taste just steps away from the festival!
Road Closures
During the Sourwood Festival, these streets will be closed to traffic, creating a pedestrian-friendly experience: Cherry St., Sutton Ave., Black Mountain Ave., Terry Estates, and a small portion of Vance Ave.
Parking & Shuttle
Free public parking is available near downtown, with additional parking at the Black Mountain Ingles near the Garden Center. A free shuttle will run every 15 minutes to help festival goers get to and from the event with ease.
Bathrooms
Public restrooms are available on Cherry Street and in Town Square, with additional regular and handicap-accessible porta-johns located throughout the festival area for your convenience.
Official Sourwood Sponsors
Thank you to our generous sponsors who
made the 2025 Sourwood Festival possible!
Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority
Presenting Sponsor
We also must thank our Platinum Chamber Champions — Givens Estates, PC Productions, and the Town of Black Mountain — whose support helps make the festival and all the functions of the Chamber possible throughout the year.
Interested in being part of the excitement next year? Email SourwoodFestival@gmail.com to learn more about 2026 sponsorship opportunities and how you can help bring this community celebration to life.