Description:

Everyone has their personal definition of when the oppressive blanket of winter has officially lifted, but mine is the opening of the Tailgate Markets. There is a joie de vivre permeating the air, redolent with fragrances of cinnamon from the fresh treats, rosemary-garlic wafting up from fresh baked breads and the invigorating scents of herbs.

Music weaves its magic powers and you will notice while walking from booth to booth of treasures each person settling into the rhythm and mood of the melodic offerings. Even the dogs, always warmly welcomed with complimentary water bowls at vendor stations, are smiling. There is a festivity to this scene that is unrivaled and the shopping opportunities are too numerous to mention, always unique, hand crafted, and locally sourced or made.

Here is a smattering of what you may find every Saturday from mid-April through the end of November 2013 at any one of these Asheville tailgate markets:

North Asheville Tail Gate Market: One University Heights Asheville NC 28804
Asheville City Market: S. Charlotte Street (Public works Bldg Lot)Asheville NC 28801
Montford Farmer’s Market: 36 Montford Avenue (Parking Lot behind Visitor’s Center) Asheville NC 28801

On the crafty side: Visit with a local weaver who was taught by her grandmother to make hand made wool socks using a mechanism dating back to the civil war. The wool she uses is (you guessed it) spun from local sheep and locally died save some perfectly beautiful, vibrantly colored German yarn the weaver fell in love with during her travels (and the subject of our photo above!)

On the foodie side: fresh eggs, apple tarts, hand made soap, local herbs, homemade crackers, locally farmed goat cheese, homemade pasta, home grown and made salsa, fresh, organic locally grown produce, artisan bread; or

For the gardeners: plants and herbs, all locally grown of course!