BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The LEAF Global Arts Festival, one of Western North Carolina’s most beloved celebrations of the arts, returns this weekend for its 30th year, but this year could be its last.

LEAF will run from 6 p.m. this evening, Thursday, Oct. 16 through Sunday, Oct. 19 at Lake Eden in Black Mountain, N.C.

Find tickets for the festival here.

Leaping into LEAF

This year’s LEAF is a pivotal festival for the organization. LEAF Global Arts addressed the community in an open letter on their website, detailing the community outreach of their arts programs and the precarious state of their financial future.

“For nearly 30 years, LEAF Global Arts has connected people through the power of art, music, and culture. Every shared moment has been made possible because of you – our community,” the organization wrote. “The LEAF Festival is critical to funding LEAF’s larger work: providing global cultural arts programming for thousands of local youth and preserving cultures and traditions around the world.

“This year, we are facing a financial crossroads: between the loss of last fall’s Festival, losing a majority of our arts education funding in 2025, and not fully recovering from COVID, the future is bleak. The upcoming LEAF Festival could be our last if we don’t come together to sustain the heart of LEAF’s mission – but we have seen what this community can do when united for a cause greater than itself.”

(Courtesy: Laura Mitchell) Bees and fairies dance during a spring LEAF.

Since 1995, LEAF has connected thousands of people with art from all over the world, holding 58 festivals and organizing hundreds of arts education programs. The organization works closely with schools, ensuring youth have the opportunity to engage with art from all manner of cultures and traditions.

In order to fundraise for this year’s LEAF, the organization is offering “LEAF LOVE” tickets at a 30% discount, hoping to open the festival to as many members of the community as possible.

“Your presence, your voice, and your support matter more than ever right now. Join us in making this LEAF Festival one that the world will never forget and ensuring the music continues for generations to come,” LEAF wrote in the letter.

What to expect at LEAF

If you have never attended LEAF before, the festival is spread out across the Lake Eden campus, populated by music venues, artist tents and grassy campsites. LEAF attendees can expect to enjoy live music, dancing workshops, community games and more.

For a full schedule of music and events, visit theleaf.org/leaf-october-festival.

For more information about LEAF Global Arts, visit www.theleaf.org.