On Day 951...
Just in case Asheville wasn't odd enough, once a year we invite other weirdos from across the nation to visit out precious little city. This past weekend 300,000+ people descended on Asheville for a 3-day Arts/Music Festival called Bele Chere (Pronounced Bell Share). The City shuts down the entire downtown area and sets up 5 or 6 stages in different parts of the city and hundreds of booths, full of paintings, pottery, face painting, hair braiding, sculptures, flowy-new-age-meets-hippy clothing, not to mention the food, and LOTS OF BEER.
There is really no way to describe to you the atmosphere during Bele Chere. Suffice it to say that Asheville is a Mecca for wicken, homosexuals and new-age individuals and Bele Chere is the event. When picturing these things please keep in mind that everyone has a beer in one hand and a cigar in the other, yes, the woman too. In addition to the 5+ stages around the city many of the local bluegrass/folk/anything-goes bands set up on street corners. My personal favorite (I say that sarcastically) was a 3-man (washboard, tub & fiddle) band that sang (although "screamed hoarsely" is a truer description) about how his father has been decapitated by a train and the body was never found. There was also a very interesting drum circle, with very unique dancers.
Drew and I had a fun weekend of people watching (although the karioki was particularly painful). People watching is very entertaining and it is Free!
L
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