Name: 86 the Stigma Benefit for Linked4Life at Bear's Smokehouse BBQ
Start: 2026-11-07T11:00:00.000-05:00
End: 2026-11-07T23:00:00.000-05:00
Location: Bear's Smokehouse BBQ

86 the Stigma Benefit for Linked4Life at Bear's Smokehouse BBQ

Bear's Smokehouse is spending all of Saturday raising money for Linked4Life, which connects people in Asheville's food and beverage industry with mental health resources. Start with an 8.6-mile community bike ride with Asheville on Bikes. Riders gather at 11:30 AM and roll out at noon.

The day runs from 11 AM to 11 PM at 135 Coxe Avenue, with vendors and activities all afternoon. Donate $20 to spin for a mystery Bear's gift card worth $25 or more. Then Deejay Delight hosts an '80s dance party from 8 to 11 PM, so bring out the neon and leg warmers.

Come for the ride, stay for the barbecue and help support the people who feed this town.

Bear's Smokehouse is a Kansas City style BBQ restaurant on Coxe Avenue in Asheville's South Slope brewery district. Brisket, burnt ends, pork and chicken are smoked daily, with house appetizers, a long list of sides and smoked tempeh for vegetarians, plus local craft beer on tap and a daily happy hour.

There's a second kitchen at Sweeten Creek Brewing on Sweeten Creek Road, where regulars bring their dogs to the patio. The South Slope spot is open daily, 11 to 9 Sunday to Thursday and 11 to 10 Friday and Saturday.

Bear's Smokehouse BBQ

Asheville's food scene is mostly local, and this guide walks it neighborhood by neighborhood. Start with our [Asheville Food Guide](/asheville-nc/dig-deeper/242-asheville-food-guide-where-to-eat-asheville-nc) for Michelin picks. For specials by day and happy hours, see the [Dig Deeper guide to deals, specials and free things to do](/asheville-nc/dig-deeper/142-deals-specials-free-things-to-do-asheville-nc). Downtown, [Posana](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/34-posana) on Biltmore Avenue builds its menu around local farms, [Bargello](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1883-bargello) makes hand-rolled pasta on Pack Square, [Old Europe Pastries](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1716-old-europe-pastries) has made Hungarian pastries since 1994 and now sits on Broadway, and [Capella on 9](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1369-capella-on-9-rooftop-bar-and-lounge) serves tapas on the roof of the AC Hotel. On the South Slope, [Tiger Bay Cafe](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/2068-tiger-bay-cafe) cooks Latin and West Indian food inside Ben's Tune Up, and the [Funkatorium](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1134-the-funkatorium) on Coxe Avenue pours sour beer. Haywood Road in West Asheville has [Biscuit Head](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1753-biscuit-head), [Thai Pearl](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1985-thai-pearl-west-asheville), [Finest](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/4262-finest) and [Westville Pub](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/118-westville-pub). Merrimon Avenue in North Asheville has [plant](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1574-plant), [Mountain Madre](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1186-mountain-madre), [Mother Ocean Seafood Market](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/2187-mother-ocean-seafood-market) and [828 Family Pizzeria](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/962-828-family-pizzeria). In East Asheville, [RendezVous](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1907-rendezvous) serves French bistro food on New Haw Creek Road. [Rocky's Hot Chicken Shack](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1185-rocky-s-hot-chicken-shack-west-avl) fries Nashville-style hot chicken on Patton Avenue in West Asheville and on Sweeten Creek Road in South Asheville. For vegan kitchens and meat-free menus, see the [Dig Deeper guide to vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Asheville](/asheville-nc/dig-deeper/2-best-vegetarian-food-in-asheville-nc).

Asheville Food and Drink: Restaurants, Specials and Happy Hours

Veteran owned spots in Asheville, including [Rye Knot](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/2258-rye-knot), [Off The Wagon Dueling Piano Bar](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1878-off-the-wagon-dueling-piano-bar), [Foot Rx](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1090-foot-rx-asheville) and [Asheville Cryotherapy](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/3964-asheville-cryotherapy-and-recovery). Every spot below has hours, photos and directions.

Veteran Owned Businesses in Asheville, NC

Asheville is a dog friendly town, and these breweries, restaurant patios, bars, shops and pet services welcome you and your dog. Many breweries allow leashed dogs, including [Highland Brewing](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/45-highland-brewing-company) and its meadow in East Asheville, [Wedge Brewing](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/69-wedge-brewing-co), [RAD Brewing](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/2372-the-river-arts-district-brewing-company), [New Belgium](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/4888-new-belgium-brewing) and [Ginger's Revenge](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1325-ginger-s-revenge) in the River Arts District, and [Archetype](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1243-archetype-brewing), [One World West](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/866-one-world-brewing-west) and [Westville Pub](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/118-westville-pub) on Haywood Road in West Asheville. Downtown, [Wicked Weed](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1133-wicked-weed-brewing)'s brewpub has two pet friendly patios, the [Funkatorium](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1134-the-funkatorium) is on the South Slope, and [Twisted Laurel](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/857-twisted-laurel-downtown-asheville-twisted-laurel-weaverville) and [Posana](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/34-posana) have dog friendly patios near Pack Square. Woodfin has [Zillicoah](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/2015-zillicoah-beer-company), [Riverside Rhapsody](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/2132-riverside-rhapsody-beer-company) and [Salt Face Mule](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/2481-salt-face-mule-brewing-co) along the French Broad River. South of town, try [Sweeten Creek Brewing](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1329-sweeten-creek-brewing), [12 Bones Smokehouse](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/2134-12-bones-smokehouse-and-brewing) in Arden, [Turgua](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1327-turgua-brewing-company) in Fairview, and [Sierra Nevada](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/2361-sierra-nevada) and [Mills River Brewing](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/2255-mills-river-brewing-co) in Mills River. Black Mountain has [Pisgah Brewing](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/886-pisgah-brewing-company) and [Lookout Brewing](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/4658-lookout-brewing-company). For pet supplies and care, visit [Asheville Pet Supply](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1016-asheville-pet-supply) on Merrimon Avenue and [All Pets Animal Hospital](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/2251-all-pets-animal-hospital) on Patton Avenue. Every listing below has hours, photos and directions.

Dog-Friendly Breweries, Bars and Shops in Asheville, NC

Asheville has a long list of women-owned businesses, and this guide rounds them up. Downtown, one stretch of Broadway has [Old Europe Pastries](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1716-old-europe-pastries) for Hungarian cakes, the honey tasting bar at [Asheville Bee Charmer](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1377-asheville-bee-charmer) and [VaVaVooom](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/974-vavavooom)'s lingerie boutique. On Patton Avenue, [Hazel Twenty](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/676-hazel-twenty-boutique) and its menswear sister [Lex Twenty](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/2262-lex-twenty-menswear) carry Free People, Filson and Barbour. [Instant Karma](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1501-instant-karma-asheville) sells crystals on Lexington Avenue and Haywood Road, and [Good Hot Fish](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/3667-good-hot-fish) fries Carolina seafood on Buxton Avenue. In the River Arts District, [ButterPunk](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/4129-butterpunk) bakes biscuits on Depot Street. West Asheville has [The Odd](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1413-the-odd-eclectic-dive-bar-music-venue-oddities-museum) on Haywood Road for drag and punk nights, plus the fried chicken sandwich at [Sand Hill Kitchen](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1307-sand-hill-kitchen) on Sardis Road. [Asheville Raven & Crone](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1253-asheville-raven-crone) stocks tarot decks and candles on Merrimon Avenue, and [Hemp 4 Victory](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/2074-hemp-4-victory) is in Woodfin. Head south for [Retro Coffee](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/2305-retro-coffee) on Sweeten Creek Road, the Pie Flight at [Baked Pie Company](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/1362-baked-pie-company) in Arden and the antique dealers at [Altamont Vintage](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/2578-altamont-vintage-collectibles-antiques) near Biltmore Village. [Asheville Charcuterie Co](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/3304-asheville-charcuterie-co). builds boards and grazing tables, and [SweetPeas Photo Camper](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/3106-sweetpeas-photo-camper) brings a photo booth to parties. For branding and illustration, there's [Flori Pate Designs](/asheville-nc/explore-places-to-go/51-flori-pate-designs). Every business below has hours, photos and directions.

86 the Stigma Benefit for Linked4Life at Bear's Smokehouse BBQ

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