LEAF to bring global artists - and tight traffic

The popular LEAF festival May 11-14 at Lake Eden on Lake Eden Road will likely tie up traffic on Old U.S. 70 on Thursday and Friday. But tickets are still available.

LEAF organizers suggest motorists not attending the festival avoid the highway between Owen Middle School and Lake Eden Road from 3-7 p.m. Thursday and 2-7 p.m. Friday. That's when many campers and attendees will be driving to the festival.

Tickets are available for Buncombe County residents and for individual days and vary from $45 for a single day to $120 for a weekend Community Pass (for local festival-goers with no camping). Buy them at theleaf.org.

For the last 22 years, LEAF has brought people together for music, art and culture every May and October. This spring’s lineup includes Macy Gray, Antibalas, A Tribe Called Red, Lee Fields and The Expressions, Martin Sexton, Danay Suarez and many others.

The theme this season is "ignite and inspire," and the lineup features performers from 13 African countries. Head to theleaf.org for more.