Name: Taste of Asheville 2027 on March 18
Start: 2027-03-18
End: 2027-03-18
Location: Asheville Independent Restaurant Association

Taste of Asheville is back on Thursday, March 18, 2027, at the A-B Tech Conference Center. It's the one night a year when dozens of Asheville's independent restaurants and local drink makers set up under one roof, and you graze your way around the room. Last year brought more than 50 restaurants, and every ticket helps fund the work AIR does for local spots all year.

Tickets aren't on sale yet. Last year VIP tickets came with early entry and a cocktail or mocktail tasting. It sells out most years, so put it on the calendar now and grab tickets as soon as they drop.

Asheville Independent Restaurant Association, or AIR, is a nonprofit association of more than 150 independent restaurants in Asheville and Buncombe County, started in 2003 by four local chef-owners. It supports local restaurants through education, advocacy and collaboration, including ServSafe food safety classes at its office at 27 College Place. Food lovers know it for the Taste of Asheville each spring and the AIR Passport, with deals at 40+ independent restaurants.

Regulars at Asheville's independent spots plan their spring around the big tasting event, and neighbors pick up a Passport to try new places.

Asheville Independent Restaurant Association

These are the local people who keep Asheville running, from rides and vets to nonprofits. [AVL Ride](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/723-avl-ride) has run taxis and car service around the clock since 2014, with vans that seat 15 for weddings and brewery tours. [All Pets Animal Hospital](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/2251-all-pets-animal-hospital) on Patton Avenue has cared for West Asheville pets since 1993, and [Asheville Cryotherapy and Recovery](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/3964-asheville-cryotherapy-and-recovery) on Merrimon Avenue is veteran owned. [Asheville Parks & Recreation](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/3370-asheville-parks-recreation) runs more than 50 city parks, plus community centers, pools and greenways. [Food Connection](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/839-food-connection), which started at Dig Local, rescues surplus chef-prepared food and turns it into free meals. For home and car, [The Organic Mechanic](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/33-the-organic-mechanic) on Haywood Road repairs cars with eco-conscious practices, and [MB Haynes](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1065-mb-haynes-corporation) has handled electrical, plumbing and heating work since 1921. [Asheville Barber Company](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/2110-asheville-barber-company) on Merrimon does fades and straight razor shaves, and [Envision Eyecare](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/2438-envision-eyecare) is just north of downtown on East Chestnut Street. [Mountain BizWorks](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1508-mountain-bizworks) lends to and coaches small businesses, and the [Asheville Humane Society](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/74-asheville-humane-society) is the county's open-admission shelter. Every spot below has hours, photos and directions.

Taste of Asheville 2027 on March 18

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