In April of this year, Wayne attended our first ever Lake Eden Arts Festival (LEAF) in Black Mountain, NC. He enjoyed the experience so much that he insisted if they would have us back that we would go together. And so we did.
We headed up the mountain last weekend with two car loads of stuff to set up the tent. Although Wayne was versed on the experience, I had no idea what to expect and was in for quite a pleasant surprise. Coming in, you can see all the folks starting to set up camp. From a vendor perspective, the set up was pretty cushy. We got to move all our furniture and product directly from the car into a trailer pulled by an ATV. The LEAF staff pulled our goodies and dropped them off at our spot for set-up. From the start, I was immediately feeling spoiled.
Basically the festival is a weekend celebration of music and together-ness. Most folks camp on site and you can see smatterings of tents almost anywhere there is room. There was an awesome mix of talented vendors including several we know (shout out to Metamorphosis Metals , Lucky Accessories , Marisol Spoon, and Deona Fish). There is also a separate vendor area dedicated to the Healing Arts. Need a massage? Acupuncture? No problem.
Throughout the day there are multiple stages with music, activities galore (didgeridoo session anyone? How about paddle board yoga? A Zip line into the lake?), and food options including many veggie choices abound.
It doesn't hurt that Lake Eden is absolutely beautiful. The LEAF gods smiled upon us and our tent not only backed onto the water, but was also directly across from the stage. Amazing.
Our photos give you a peak into our experience and can be viewed in a slideshowvia our flickr page.
Our one regret? Not camping ourselves. Driving off the grounds each night meant that we missed a lot of good music, events, and the drum circles. Next time, we shall stay.
So, good company, gorgeous setting, yummy food, and amazing music. Not to get too gushy about it (too late, I know), but we adored the entire weekend and can't wait to go back!