The 42nd annual Sourwood Festival is here

A late-summer tradition will return to downtown Black Mountain beginning Friday, Aug. 9, with the return of the Sourwood Festival. 

The three-day event, which is presented by the Black Mountain-Swannanoa Chamber of Commerce, is back for its 42nd year.

The festivities will begin with the 10th annual Sourwood Idol Contest on Friday night in the entertainment tent located on the west end of Sutton Avenue, which will be closed to vehicular traffic through the weekend. 

The festival, which will continue through Saturday, Aug. 10 and Sunday Aug. 11, features hundreds of regional craftspeople, artists and more. A full slate of live music and dancing is set to provide the entertainment for the event. Carnival rides and food will be featured as well. 

Over 30,000 people are expected to attend this year's Sourwood Festival, which will also feature demonstrations from area beekeepers shedding light on how sourwood honey, from which the festival's name is derived, is produced and what makes the substance so popular.