Gay Guide to Asheville
Marriage equality reached North Carolina in 2014, and Asheville, the progressive arts town tucked into the Blue Ridge Mountains, stands out as one of the most welcoming LGBTQ+ destinations in the American South. There is no gayborhood here; the queer community is woven through the whole of the small, creative downtown.
The scene runs on a handful of beloved venues rather than a strip of clubs. O.Henry's, the oldest gay bar in North Carolina, anchors it, joined by the late-night dance floor at Scandals and a broadly queer-friendly culture across the city's breweries, galleries, and cafes.
Asheville leans into mountain scenery, farm-to-table food, and an independent, bohemian spirit, and its gay life fits that laid-back, integrated mold.
Blue Ridge Pride takes over downtown's Pack Square Park each fall, with a procession and a street festival that has been named among the world's best places to celebrate Pride.