Celebrate Our Waters with Stewardship & Advocacy
A full slate of events from July 6-11, 2026
Join us for a county-wide celebration to engage in stewardship & appreciation of our local waterways!
Through collective action, education, and creative activities, deepen your relationship with the French Broad River & local streams, take action to protect clean water, and contribute to ongoing conservation & restoration efforts!
Focus Area: Buncombe County
Calendar of Events
Collective Art & Conservation
July 6th | 6:00PM – 9:00PM
12 Baskets Cafe | 610 Haywood Rd, West Asheville, NC 28806
SketchbookClub presents an art & education event highlighting conservation initiatives & river cane restoration efforts! Come make art with a guided art activity while learning about Appalachia’s native bamboo and creek stewardship opportunities!
This class costs $10 to support environmental art educator Spencer Beals. We will have art supplies available!
French Broad Float
July 7th | 10:00AM – 2:00PM
Asheville, NC
Join MountainTrue for a 6-mile float down the French Broad River near Asheville! Participants will enjoy friendly currents, pastoral views, native flora and fauna, and glimpses of the historic Biltmore Estate, and learn about efforts to protect, study, and steward the river!
Community Farm Tour
July 8th | 10:00AM
SAHC Community Farm | 180 Mag Sluder Rd., Alexander, NC 28701
Enjoy a moderate hike on the 2-mile Discovery Trail loop trail at the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy’s Community Farm in Alexander, NC. Along the way, learn about how our stream restoration project in 2013 improved water quality in the French Broad River watershed.
Hoppy Water Wednesday Creek Cleanup
July 8th | 5:00PM – 7:00PM
Sweeten Creek in Biltmore Village
Join a fun & rejuvenating creek experience and leave knowing you contributed to cleaner waterways in WNC! Volunteers will walk in the creek and retrieve litter. We will be getting wet and potentially a bit dirty!
Celebrate your hard work with live bluegrass offered at French Broad River Brewery!
*HWW is an ongoing bi-weekly volunteer opportunity. If you can’t make it for Creek Week, please join GreenWorks another week!
Hemlock Hike
July 9th | 5:00PM – 7:00PM
North Carolina Arboretum | 20 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville, NC 28806
Join Hemlock Restoration Initiative on an educational hike along Bent Creek through one of our Hemlock Conservation Areas. We’ll discuss the importance of hemlocks, especially through the lens of stream health. We’ll also cover the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid, how we manage it, and what you can do to help!
Lake & Learn Day!
July 10th | 2:30PM – 4:30PM
Lake Julian | 37 Lake Julian Rd, Arden, NC 28704
Enjoy an afternoon at Lake Julian where kids of all ages can explore water-themed science and play!
Partners include Buncombe County Environmental Educators & Library staff, City of Asheville Stormwater, the NC Arboretum’s ecoEXPLORE program, & RiverLink. Stations will offer arts & crafts and STEM learning opportunities celebrating our watershed!
River Cane Care
July 11th | 10:00AM – 12:00PM
Azalea Park
Join us at RiverLink’s Azalea Park to learn about Appalachia’s native bamboo, river cane, and contribute to ongoing conservation efforts!
River cane experts will show us how to identify native river cane, remove invasive species that compete with young plantings, and share knowledge about river cane’s ecological and cultural significance.
River Canoe Cleanup
July 11th | 1:00PM – 5:00PM
Craven St Bridge River Access (exact location may vary)
Enjoy an afternoon of paddling and clean-up along the French Broad River! GreenWorks provides canoes, kayaks, life jackets, and all necessary gear. At times we will get out of our boats and into the water to pull out litter. Please wear clothes you don’t mind getting wet or dirty.
Afterwards, enjoy “Sunset Sessions” on New Belgium’s Riverview Deck!
We hope to see you there!
RiverLink’s Creek Week is Supported by:
