Asheville Resilience: One Year After Hurricane Helene

Good morning, this is your Asheville Local Frequency for Thursday, September 18, 2025. We’re starting today with a story of resilience as Asheville marks one year since Hurricane Helene’s impact. ABC’s Good Morning America is in town for a special broadcast today, spotlighting local recovery efforts and the incredible spirit that’s guided the rebuild here in western North Carolina. As the city continues its journey forward, officials are seeking community members interested in joining the new temporary Helene Recovery Boards, so if you’ve got a heart for helping shape Asheville’s future, now’s your chance to get involved. If you’re feeling connected to community action, don’t forget there’s a public safety panel this morning at 9am for our downtown stakeholders—an important conversation about making Asheville safer for everyone who lives, works, and plays here. Arts and culture are shining bright this Thursday night, with The Moth’s “Themeless” StorySLAM at The Grey Eagle. Doors open at 6:30, and at 7:30 you can settle in to hear true stories from locals—no theme, just raw, honest storytelling where anything goes. Music lovers, Asheville always has something for you. Tonight is Haus of Kiki, a new monthly queer social at Potential New Boyfriend in West Asheville from 7 to 10. If you’re looking to dance, Banks Ave Bar is hosting Butts and Boots, Asheville’s favorite weekly country two-stepping and line dance night—no partner needed, just bring your best boots and let the music move you. As we head into the weekend, Saturday is stacked with happenings. Start your morning at the Mental Health Matters 5k and Resource Fair at UNC Asheville’s Karl Straus Track, beginning at 9am. Organized by All Souls Counseling Center in honor of National Suicide Prevention Month, the event features a group warm-up, a welcome, and a run that supports breaking the stigma around mental health. The race is free for folks 22 and under, and for everyone else, your twenty-dollar registration scores a t-shirt and helps fund vital mental health services. For the festival crowd, Shrektoberfest returns to DSSOLVR in downtown, bringing back that legendary Shrek-themed Oktoberfest fun—costumes, pints, and enough green vibes to make even ogres feel at home. And if you haven’t been yet, Lovely Asheville’s Annual Fall Festival is still underway and offers the best of autumn’s charms—local food, crafts, and music that capture the beauty of the season. Looking for connection? The city’s LGBTQ+ scene is bustling too, with ongoing art exhibits like “Our Living Record” at Revolve Gallery, a heartfelt tribute to queer resilience that’s on display through the weekend. This Saturday night, Date My Queer Friend lands at Daytrip, providing a light-hearted but heartfelt way to make new friends or maybe meet someone special. Baseball lovers, remember to check out the Asheville Tourists games at McCormick Field for family-friendly fun and some great ballpark eats. And if nature calls, th This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.