Fun Fact: Bele Chere turns 30 years old in 2008!
More facts about the history of Bele Chere would go here… like the original idea, scheduling, pictures of the first Bele Chere… for filler reason’s I’ve pulled Melanie Bianchi’s article from 2007:
The Children’s Area presented by Food Lion is still alcohol- and smoke-free. The Tot Spot (for the littlest birds) is still there, along with crafts, clowns, rides, “inflatables” (e.g. the Moon Bounce), storytellers and face painting. What’s new is a local theme—“Appalachian History, Heritage and Culture”—in keeping with Bele Chere 2007’s spotlight on all things WNC.
“The Bele Chere Children’s committee decided ... to bring an educational component back into the children’s area, as well as to highlight the crafts and area-inspired entertainment,” says festival organizer Cristin Corder. “The area will feature eight free arts-and-crafts booths, a free play area for toddlers, an entertainment tent and local non-profits.”
Crafts run to Native American themes, including instruction in weaving baskets and placemats and constructing seed mosaics and rattles, according to Corder.
Also, a new emphasis on nonprofit involvement will make visiting Bele Chere easier for parents.
“The [groups] we are working with participate in a Children’s Partnership Program, and focus their resources on serving children and their families,” Corder explains. “We will have a diaper-changing tent, a breastfeeding tent and an additional child-resources tent.” And the festival has invited reps from RiverLink to present interactive, environmental programs to kids and their families. “RiverLink’s focus will be on the French Broad River, its watershed, the impact of development on our river systems and how to get involved.”
Corder adds that the new spotlight on WNC heritage is intended to “showcase the incredible place we live—to locals and tourist families alike.”
Open until 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 6 p.m. Sunday. Renaissance Asheville Hotel Parking Lot.
Children’s Area entertainment schedule
Friday
2-2:30 p.m.—Storytellers*
3-3:30 p.m.—Sharon Clark, storyteller
4-4:30 p.m.—Sharon Clark, storyteller
Saturday
12:30-1 p.m.—Music Together program
2-2:30 p.m.—Storytellers*
3:30-4 p.m.—Music Together program
4:30-5 p.m.—Storytellers*
6:30-7 p.m.—Mountain Thunder Cloggers
Sunday
Noon-12:30 p.m.—Storytellers*
1-1:30 p.m.—PAL Clowns skit and roving
2:30-3 p.m.—Music Together program
4-4:30 p.m.—Music Together program
* Various Buncombe County librarians