8 Ways to Share a Family-Friendly April and Easter in Asheville

Header photo: The Biltmore Company

Can you smell that? It's the sweet smell of flowers opening up and buds popping on trees throughout the mountains of Western North Carolina. It's finally warm enough to venture outside and enjoy the blooms, birdsongs, and fresh air of spring in Asheville.

Celebrate Easter hunting eggs with the kids, catch the opening of minor league baseball season, or take a relaxing or vigorous hike in our many forests and parks. Whatever you choose to do, April is a fantastic time to visit.

Best of all, the whole family can stay at The Residences at Biltmore, with 2- and 3-bedroom suites with room for as many as 6 to sleep comfortably. Keep reading for our ideas for family fun in April.

Biltmore

Biltmore Blooms

Biltmore in April means it's time for Biltmore Blooms, the annual explosion of colorful flora throughout the property and in the Walled Garden. Thousands of tulips, flowering cherry and magnolia trees, and many more blossoms create a kaleidoscope of sights and smells.

New plants are popping up every day, such as forsythia, quince, and fothergilla. Azalea flowers are on their way up in April, and their vibrant colors turn the Azalea Garden into art.

Learn what is currently in bloom by visiting the online Bloom Report before you go.

Italian Renaissance Alive

Beginning March 3, Biltmore’s Amherst at Deerpark™ exhibition space is hosting Italian Renaissance Alive, an immersive exhibit that features works of Michelangelo, Botticelli, Caravaggio, and other Italian masters. The experience lasts about 45 minutes, and the cost is included with Biltmore admission.

Venture Out

Asheville has plenty to do off the grounds of the estate, too. For a unique spring celebration, head to one of the small towns on the outskirts of Asheville, walk through flower fields, or visit animals while you run a 5K. Read on for more things to do in Asheville in April.

Root for the Home Team

The Asheville Tourists’ Minor League baseball team will host their first home game of the season on April 6 against the Bowling Green Hot Rods. The team plays at McCormick Field in Downtown Asheville, and general admission tickets are between $12-$21.

Greening up the Mountains

The town of Sylva celebrates spring's arrival with the Greening Up the Mountains annual Downtown festival. Scheduled for April 22, the festival features vendors, local artists, craft displays, musicians, youth talent contests, food, drinks, and more. It starts at 10 a.m., and it’s best to arrive early - in the past, as many as 12,000 attendees joined in on the festivities.

Run with the Goats

Join the Friends of the WNC Nature Center for the 3rd annual Running of the Goats 5k and Nature Walk on April 23 to support the animals who live there. Your race entry fee is your ticket to free admission to the WNC Nature Center on race day, and friends and family can cheer you on with the Nature Center's goats during and after the event when they purchase tickets before 10 a.m. The after-race festivities will include snacks, music, a costume contest, and of course, prizes.

Cider, Wine & Dine Weekend

Hendersonville, Asheville's cousin to the south, will showcase its wineries and cideries April 21-23. The events on tap include tours, tastings, wine releases, food trucks, music, and plenty more activities over the three days. Find more information, including specific times, participating businesses, and locations on the website. In all, about 14 wineries and cideries are participating, and most have activities to keep the kids busy.

Fluorish Flower Farm

For a truly unique (and heavenly scented) experience, head to the 9-acre farm just 15 minutes from downtown Asheville. The farm features idyllic pastures, a babbling creek, mountain views, and specialty and heirloom floral varieties. In addition to selling local cut flowers and bouquets, Fluorish Flower Farm offers workshops and private sessions on several growing-related topics. Check out the website for all the offerings.