Hey Asheville 👋Stephanie here. When I moved to Asheville for school in 2011, I remember hearing all about an amazing festival out in Black Mountain that I had to attend. That would be the LEAF Festival, of course. Since then, I’ve been a faithful LEAF attendee.

What I didn’t know back then was that LEAF is so much more than a festival. It is, first and foremost, an Asheville-based nonprofit that focuses on building community, connecting cultures and enriching lives through music and art – locally and globally.

They do this with four main branches of their org:

1️⃣ LEAF Schools + Streets, a collection of youth-focused cultural arts programs

2️⃣ LEAF International, which brings culture + the arts to Rwanda, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama + more

3️⃣ LEAF Downtown, an annual celebration in downtown Asheville

4️⃣ LEAF Festival, a good old-fashioned music + arts festival.

#Protip: Read our previous feature on LEAF to get the full scoop about their impact.

The 48th bi-annual LEAF festival will be held May 9-12 at Lake Eden in Black Mountain...and if you don’t have your tickets already, a few day passes + community tickets are still available here. 📅 The theme this spring is “Breaking Ground.”

Last week, we asked you for your top LEAF insider tips. Here’s what you had to say:

“Bring a sunbrella.” - @mirijwest
“Hot tip – tie it down BETTER. Like even more weight, no maybe more.” - @terrildolan
“Dried mango & other nuts & fruits. Overnight oatmeal cups. PBJs. Baby wipes. Tent flags or other fun eye-catchy markers. Lights. Clothing layers. Fire artists!” - @admccort
“The foam truck/bath!!! Amazing best thing ever! Music at the barn, and late night bonfire. Veggie thing” - @sandita01

Read on for more #Protips and #MustDos for spring LEAF 2019.

🍃 Choose what type of ticket works best for you.

LEAF offers four different types of tickets. As of now, weekend + weekend plus passes are sold out, so file this away for fall LEAF (Oct. 17-20) if you want to get your hands on those. Day + community tickets are still available.

👉 Individual day passes | Prices vary depending on day

👉 Community ticket (Weekend-long day pass) | $127

👉 Weekend passes (Friday-Sunday) | $190 (Sold out)

👉 Weekend plus passes (Thursday-Sunday) | $227 (Sold out)

#Protip: If you’re local to Asheville + want to check out the festival all weekend but still sleep in your own bed, consider the community ticket. This ticket excludes camping but gives you access to festival happenings from early in the morning to late at night, so you can come and go at your leisure.

Read the festival guidelines for information about arrivals. Once you’re on your way, try your best to carpool. Parking is $10 per vehicle at the gate (or pre-pay for your parking here).

🍃 Decide where you’ll stay

For LEAF attendees who have a weekend pass + plan on spending the night, the only option still available right now is tent camping, which is first-come, first-served. Vehicle camping + lodging in nearby cabins are all sold out now (but bookmark this for fall LEAF if you want to reserve one of those).

🍃 Read up on festival rules

Quiet hours: 11 p.m.-9 a.m.

Do...

Be green + respect those around you
Enjoy small grills + fire pits (as long as they are 18+ inches off the ground)
Dispose of your coal properly

Don’t...

Have an open fire
Bring outside alcohol (you can buy it from LEAF vendors)
Bring firearms, drugs, pets or glass
Be publicly intoxicated or engage in drug use
Busk
Scalp your ticket. LEAF will cancel scalped tickets.

🍃 Figure out your food situation

You can bring your own food or purchase food from LEAF’s culinary vendors. LEAF also offers something called a Culinary Passport which is $50 for 5 meals made by Brian + Laura Smith of Rezaz and Baba Nahm.

🍃 Plan your can’t miss events

If you want to learn, chill out, or have little ones to keep happy, there are a ton of options.

Check out the music lineup

This year, Shovels + Rope, India.Arie + Trevor Hall are headlining.

Try a healing arts workshop

This is a LEAF staple. There are three healing arts tents, each of which have different themes.

👉 Earth Tent: movement, dance, yoga, music + sound healing

👉 Sky Tent: lectures, writing, meditation, improv, music + more

👉 Earth Skills: sustainability, permaculture, building, nature walks + education

Visit the family adventure villages

Each village is filled with interactive + creative activities that are appropriate for all ages.

Here at AVLtoday, we’re especially excited to watch the Southern Fried Poetry Slam (2 p.m. on Saturday) and see some killer live music.

🍃 And for fall LEAF: If you’re strapped for cash, volunteer.

All spring volunteer spots are filled. Want to volunteer for fall? Applications open on July 20 and are accepted on a rolling basis until all positions are filled.

This is how my friends and I made it work in college.

If you work 10 volunteer hours, LEAF will give you a weekend ticket (9 a.m. on Friday-7 p.m. on Sunday) that includes overnight tent camping. Not a bad deal. 15 volunteer hours get you a weekend plus ticket (6 p.m. on Thursday-7 p.m.on Sunday).

Volunteer positions include set up and tear down crew, hospitality, childcare + more.

#Protip: If you have previously volunteered with LEAF, you’re eligible to apply to be a star volunteer. As a star volunteer, you work 20 hours in exchange for a weekend plus ticket + a culinary passport.

Have a #protip to add to our festival guide? Click here to share it.