Asheville Grown Business Alliance and The Big Crafty are putting on another celebration of unchained and independent Asheville. We like to think of Big Love Fest as a ritual affirmation of the value of community in commerce and a festive annual showcase of the amazing things Ashevillians are up to.

And this year we have even more to celebrate!  In recognition of the natural connection between the local economy, our vibrant community and our schools, we’re partnering with the Asheville City Schools Foundation through the Go Local Card program. Look for the Love Asheville – Go Local Card offers throughout the festival!

In addition, we are pleased to announce our musical guests Kovacs and the Polar Bear, Floating Action, Pleasure Chest and the Decent Lovers.  This year Asheville FM, our fair city’s newest, non-profit, community radio station is joining hands with the Big Love Festival.  They will be hosting a stage jam-packed with local musicians and DJs ushering in summer with the piping hot sounds of sonic wow!

Big Love Fest is sponsored and made possible by over 150 local and independent businesses, crafters, artists, entertainers, restaurants, breweries, non-profits and is free to attend. Our mission is to highlight independently owned businesses in the community and to celebrate their vital economic, social and cultural role in our vibrant local economy.  Our vendors have been selected & we will post them here soon.

See you there!

You heard right, last year’s inaugural event was such a huge success we’re crazy enough to do it all over again!

Big Love Fest 2012

Pack Square Park

Sunday May 6, 2012

1pm – 8pm

We’re accepting vendor applications now, just click HERE to apply.

We are specifically seeking local talent and entrepreneurs who meet & strive to exceed the following specifications:

Makers - Artists and crafters who source their goods locally will be given priority.  In addition to quality work, we look for outstanding and creative booth presence.

Food Vendors - Preference will be given to food vendors who source a portion of their food locally or regionally.  If you need or already have a health department permit, please apply as a “Food Vendor”, if not, please apply as a “Maker.”  To determine if you will need a permit from the health department, please contact Pam Cassanego at 828.250.5229.  There are limited number of spaces for food vendors and we expect to have a designated area for food trucks as well.

Business Vendors - We are seeking independent businesses who specialize in locally sourced or manufactured products.  We welcome businesses who supply services or engage the public in an activity as well. Preference will be given to applicants who conduct their businesses in Asheville or Buncombe County.

We will not be considering vendors from outside of the Western North Carolina area.

If you are a non-profit that helps incubate local independent businesses, we have a few spaces set aside for this purpose.   Please e-mail us if you are interested in representing  your organization at the festival.

Preference will also be given to vendors who have had previous experience with outdoor festivals in our area.

We enjoyed our day with you! See you on our first anniversary?

    

Check out photos, videos & wrap-ups at these fine websites:
The Big Crafty on Flickr
Mountain Xpress
Asheville Citizen Times
Asheville Indie Weddings, Part 1
Asheville Indie Weddings, Part 2
Clicks Photography
Life By Design

MOUNTAIN XPRESS STAGE
1:00 – 1:30 Ruph
1:50 – 2:25 Rubber Cushions
2:45 – 3:45 Kovacs and the Polar Bear
4:05 – 4:55 Joshua Carpenter
5:15 – 6:25 Mad Tea Pary
6:45 – 8:00 Floating Action

Dr. Filth at intervals throughout the day.

WCQS PERFORMANCE AREA
1:00 – 1:30 Double Take
1:45 – 2:00 Steph Flynn Crooks
2:30 – 3:30 Sky Lake
3:45 – 4:45 Tiny Mountains
5:00 – 5:20 Just Economics
5:45 – 6:45 Red June

We’re pleased to announce the locally crafted food and beer that you’ll be enjoying on May 1!  Here are our delightful participating vendors:

Brewers
Craggie Brewing
Pisgah Brewing
Oyster House Brewing
French Broad Brewery

Food Artisans
Looking Glass Creamery
The Hop Ice Cream
Short Street Cakes
HeatherLane Farm
Ursa Minor Coffee
French Broad Chocolate Lounge
Dream Cream
Home Free Bagels
French Broad Food Coop
Bandidos Burritos
Beulah’s Bavarian Pretzels
MacDaddy’s Lemonade
Flying Falafel Brothers
Ceci’s Culinary Tour
Gypsy Queen Cuisine
Chai Pani
Green Light Cafe
Simma Down

See the full event lineup.

We’re excited to announce the music you’ll be tapping your toes to on May 1.    They’re some of our favorites and we know they’ll put on a great show!

They are:

Floating Action
Joshua Carpenter
Mad Tea Party
Kovacs and the Polar Bear
Tiny Mountains
Red June
Rubber Cushions
Whitney Shroyer (Dr. Filth)
Sky Lake
Lisa Zahiya
RUPH
Sirius.B
Double Take

Hear them all at the Mountain Xpress Stage, WCQS Performance Area and LaZoom Bus Tour.

See the full event lineup.

BIG LOVE FEST – May 1, 2011 – Pack Place Park – Asheville, NC

On Sunday, May 1, 2011, Asheville Grown Business Alliance, The Big Crafty and Just Economics are putting on the BIG LOVE FEST, a free celebration of unchained and independent Asheville.  This festival is sponsored and made possible by local and independent businesses, crafters, artists, restaurants, breweries & non profits. The mission of the festival is to support independently-owned businesses in the community and to celebrate their vital economic, social and cultural role in our vibrant local economy.

Just Economics is bringing their home-brew competition to the Big Love Fest (held last year at the Wedge Brewery).  Just Brew It will highlight the quality and variety of Asheville’s finest home-brewed beer.  A $16 membership to Just Economics gains you wristband admittance to the Just Brew It portion of the Big Love Festival.  Find more information and submit your membership at www.justeconomicswnc.org.

Floating Action, Joshua Carpenter, Mad Tea Party, Kovacs and the Polar Bear, Red June and Rubber Cushions are just a portion of the event’s musical entertainment.

The LaZoom bus will be offering half hour comedy tours throughout the day featuring new skits and hysterical stories of Asheville’s sordid past.  Local absurdist folk-punk act Sirius.B will join them for the evening routes.

Get ready to enjoy local beer, food, entertainment and music on two stages, fun family activities and the BEST local arts and crafts from the area!

Big Love Fest is a free event that will be held in downtown Asheville at Roger McGuire Green and Pack Square on Sunday, May 1^st from 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

Find news & updates at www.loveasheville.org

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If you would like more information or wish to volunteer:  email: biglovefest@gmail.com