Fall is the season we wait for. The air turns, the pastures go gold at the edges, and the mountains put on the show that brings people to this part of North Carolina from everywhere. It is also our busiest stretch, which means a little planning goes a long way.
Here is what we tell guests who are putting a fall visit together, from fifteen minutes north of Asheville.
THIS SEASON · FALL 2026
WHAT IS HAPPENING THIS FALL
- Art in Autumn, Saturday, September 19, 2026, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Main Street in Weaverville. The nineteenth year, over 100 juried artists, live music, free to attend and free to park. Seven miles from the inn.
- Arbor Evenings at the North Carolina Arboretum run Wednesdays and Thursdays through September 17, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Live music in the gardens at golden hour, included with parking.
- Winter Lights returns to the Arboretum for the holiday season.
- The Biltmore Christmas season begins in early November.
WHEN THE COLOR ARRIVES
Leaf timing in the Blue Ridge runs by elevation, not by calendar, which is why the season here lasts closer to six weeks than one. It moves down the mountain.
- Late September: first color appears above 6,000 feet in the highest mountains.
- Early October: color moves through elevations above 5,000 feet.
- Mid October: the best window at 3,000 to 4,000 feet, and prime Blue Ridge Parkway viewing.
- Late October into early November: Asheville proper, the Biltmore Estate, and the Arboretum come into their own.
We sit at a lower elevation than the peaks, so our own sixteen acres tend to turn toward the end of October. Guests often plan a high-elevation drive one day and stay close to the farm the next.
THE BILTMORE ESTATE
Fall at Biltmore is worth the day, and as a partner property we can save you money on tickets. Purchase in advance through biltmore.com/partners using the promo code amarisfarms, all lowercase, no spaces, and save up to eight dollars per ticket off the gate price on the Enhanced Experience with Audio Guide. There are no blackout restrictions.
Two things worth knowing. Midweek visits, Monday through Thursday, are meaningfully cheaper than weekends. And an exhibition-inclusive ticket includes next-day grounds access, which is the best value on the property if you want to see the gardens without rushing.
Biltmore Christmas begins in early November and books up. If that is the trip you want, reserve well ahead.
THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY
The Parkway is the reason many people come, and we want to be straight with you about its condition. Recovery from Hurricane Helene is still underway. Sections north of Asheville, including the stretch from Linville Gorge toward Mount Mitchell, have been closed and are expected to be repaired by the end of 2026. Separate construction near Blowing Rock has been running in staggered sections since spring, with detours in place.
None of that ruins a fall drive. Plenty of the Parkway is open and beautiful, and the sections closest to us are among the best in October. It does mean you should check before you go rather than assume a route.
- Check the National Park Service road status page the morning you drive. It is updated daily.
- The Parkway information line is 828-298-0398.
- The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation publishes a Detours of Discovery guide with alternate routes and stops worth making.
- Ask us. We drive these roads and we will tell you what is open and what is worth your morning.
THE NORTH CAROLINA ARBORETUM
Four hundred and thirty-four acres off the Parkway just south of Asheville, with cultivated gardens, ten miles of trails, and the bonsai collection that people come back for. Admission is free. Parking is twenty-five dollars per personal vehicle and covers you for the full day, in and out. On the first Tuesday of each month parking is ten dollars off.
Through September 17, Arbor Evenings brings live music to the gardens on Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 5:30 to 8:30, included with parking. Later in the season, Winter Lights turns the gardens into a walk-through display of more than a million lights.
GUIDED TOURS AND OUTDOOR DAYS
Fall is the best time of year for a guided hike, a lake kayak paddle, or a zipline run through the color. We work with guides we know and can arrange any of it for you. Have a look at our tour packages, or call us and we will match you to the right day.
WHERE TO EAT IN WEAVERVILLE
Asheville deserves its reputation, and you should book dinner there ahead. But Weaverville is seven minutes from our door and holds its own. These are the places we send people.
- Glass Onion Tavern, 18 N Main St. New American and Italian, and a Weaverville institution.
- Maggie B’s Wine and Specialty Store, 10 S Main St. Sandwiches, soups, and small plates. A local favorite.
- Salt Face Brewing Co., 450 Weaverville Hwy. Brewery and restaurant, burgers and wings alongside fried food and salads.
- Twisted Laurel, 10-A South Main Street. Mediterranean-leaning menu with American turns and a well-stocked bar.
- Well-Bred Bakery and Cafe, 26 N Main St. Pastries, artisan breads, organic coffee.
- Soba Sushi and Noodles, 76 N Main St. The best sushi and sashimi in town.
- Blue Mountain Pizza and Brew Pub, 55 N Main. Locally owned, full Italian menu, homemade ice cream.
- Stoney Knob Cafe, 337 Merrimon Ave. A funky local spot with American, Greek, and European cooking.
MAIN STREET WORTH AN AFTERNOON
- Tessa’s Shop Around the Corner, 55 N Main St. Vintage pieces, jewelry, bath products, and gifts.
- Salvaterra Pottery and Woodworks, 30 Cole Road. Weaverville’s most distinctive handcrafted work.
- Artisans on Main, 14 N Main. Four artist studios and a gallery representing more than thirty regional artists.
- Mangum Pottery, 16 N Main. Watch potters at work in the studio.
- Miya Gallery, 20 N Main. Fine art and craft from 100 local artists.
ADD SOMETHING TO YOUR STAY
Arriving late, or marking an occasion? We can have a charcuterie board, flowers, or truffles waiting in your room. Tell us when you book and we will take care of it.
A FEW THINGS WE TELL EVERYONE
- Book lodging and dinner reservations further ahead than you think you need to. October fills first.
- Visit the big attractions on weekdays. The difference in crowds is not small.
- Layer. Mountain temperatures swing more than twenty degrees between morning and afternoon.
- Check Parkway conditions the day you drive, not the week before.
- Bring a real camera if you have one.
Most guests tell us the same thing at checkout: the part they remember was not the drive or the estate or the festival. It was the morning on the porch with coffee before any of it started. We have sixteen acres, six rooms, and no reason to rush you out of any of them.
Whatever brings you to the mountains this fall, let us know how we can help you make the most of it.
WHEN IS PEAK FALL COLOR NEAR ASHEVILLE?
Color moves down the mountain by elevation. Late September brings first color above 6,000 feet, early October moves through 5,000 feet, mid-October is peak at 3,000 to 4,000 feet and the best Parkway window, and late October into early November is when Asheville, the Biltmore Estate, and the Arboretum turn.
IS THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY OPEN THIS FALL?
Much of it is open, but not all. Recovery from Hurricane Helene continues, and some sections north of Asheville remain closed, with repairs expected to finish by the end of 2026. Construction near Blowing Rock is also causing staggered closures with detours. Check the National Park Service road status page, updated daily, before you drive.
HOW FAR IS THE INN FROM ASHEVILLE?
About fifteen minutes north of downtown Asheville, in Weaverville. Main Street Weaverville is seven minutes away.
DO YOU OFFER A BILTMORE DISCOUNT?
Yes. As a Biltmore partner property, we can save you up to eight dollars per ticket. Purchase in advance at biltmore.com/partners using the promo code amarisfarms, lowercase and no spaces.
WHEN IS ART IN AUTUMN IN WEAVERVILLE?
Saturday, September 19, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Main Street in downtown Weaverville. Free admission and free parking, with over 100 juried artists and live music.
HOW FAR AHEAD SHOULD I BOOK A FALL STAY?
October is our busiest month and fills earliest. We recommend booking as far ahead as you can, and making dinner reservations at the same time.