Downtown After 5, Asheville's free outdoor concert series, returns this week: What to know

The seasonal end of Asheville concert series Downtown After 5 is around the corner in September - but there are a few concerts left to catch before fall.

The local concert series, presented by the Asheville Downtown Association, is 36 years old as of 2024. Downtown After 5 aims to give residents and visitors the chance to enjoy live music in the heart of downtown Asheville. Event organizers also collaborate with a nonprofit partner during every concert, with themes that celebrate "diverse musical genres, food and beverage offerings, local makers and community initiatives."

With this year's Downtown After 5 series halfway over, and events like Blue Ridge Pride and the MLK Foundation's Juneteenth celebration in the rearview mirror, here's what to know about the remaining shows.

When is Downtown After 5 in 2024?

Downtown After 5 concerts take place on the third Friday of each month from April through September. The next event is July 19. The shows run from 5 p.m. until about 9 p.m.

Where is Downtown After 5?

Downtown After 5 events are held on North Lexington Avenue in downtown Asheville. The stage is set up near the Interstate 240 overpass.

Who's playing at Downtown After 5?

July 19 - AVL Fest Kickoff

• Partner: Asheville FM
• Headliner: Soul rock band Caitlin Krisko & The Broadcast
• Opener: Progressive bluegrass band The Greenliners

Aug. 16 - LEAF Downtown

• Partner: LEAF Global Arts
• Headliner: Latin music artist Tito Puente Jr.
• Opener: LEAF Kono Band

Sept. 20 - Outdoor Rec Fest

• Partner: Riverlink
• Headliner: Indie folk band Oliver Hazard
• Opener: Rock singer-songwriter Paul McDonald

Where to park at Downtown After 5

The dedicated webpage suggests the following parking options:

• Harrah’s Cherokee Center Garage
• Rankin Avenue Garage
• Wall Street Garage
• Biltmore Avenue Garage
• Buncombe County Garage
• Coxe Avenue Garage
• On-street metered parking is free after 6pm Monday-Saturday, free on Sundays

Organizers also reminded attendees to read any signage and pay fees to avoid fines or towing if parking in a private lot.

How much does Downtown After 5 cost?

Downtown After 5 events are free to the public and feature food and beverages for sale by on-site vendors. A portion of the proceeds from each of these vendors will go to one of the 15 United Way nonprofit organizations supported by the event series.

Beginning this year, Downtown After 5 will also feature a marketplace for attendees to explore and shop, featuring handmade crafts from local makers.

Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.