ASHEVILLE, N.C., September 2026. Fall is arriving in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and Asheville is welcoming the season with an exciting combination of mountain scenery, major sporting events, music, culture, food and festivals.
For travelers looking to experience the beginning of autumn in Western North Carolina, Asheville Hotel Group is offering an additional reason to visit. Through a partnership with Explore Asheville, guests can receive 25% off eligible stays at four Asheville Hotel Group properties, making a September getaway an especially attractive way to experience the destination.
“September is really when Asheville begins its transition into fall,” said Lori Brady, Sales Manager of Asheville Hotel Group. “The mountains are beginning to change, the weather is beautiful, and our events calendar is packed. This year, with the PGA TOUR coming to Asheville for the first time in more than 80 years, September is an extraordinary time to visit.”
The 25% Fall discount at Asheville Hotel Group properties:
Guests can use Asheville as a home base for exploring the Blue Ridge Parkway, visiting Biltmore, enjoying Asheville’s renowned food and beverage scene, attending fall events or simply experiencing the first signs of the season.
Offer is subject to availability, eligible dates and restrictions.
September brings a landmark event to Asheville
This September, Asheville will welcome one of the biggest sporting events in the city’s history.
Biltmore Championship Asheville
September 17–20, 2026
The inaugural Biltmore Championship Asheville will bring the PGA TOUR back to Asheville for the first time since 1942.
The tournament will take place at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove, marking a historic return of professional golf to the region. The four-year agreement brings the PGA TOUR to Asheville through 2029 and is expected to draw thousands of spectators while putting the Asheville area in the national spotlight.
For golf fans, it’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity to see PGA TOUR professionals compete in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
For Asheville’s hospitality industry, it is also an important milestone.
More September reasons to visit
The PGA TOUR isn’t the only reason to make Asheville your September destination.
NC Mountain State Fair, September 11–19
The annual NC Mountain State Fair returns to the WNC Agricultural Center in nearby Fletcher with rides, food, agricultural exhibits, live entertainment and family activities.
ASAP Farm Tour, September 19–20
Visitors can explore working farms throughout Western North Carolina during the annual ASAP Farm Tour, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the region’s agricultural community.
Blue Ridge Pride, September 25–26
Blue Ridge Pride returns to Asheville September 25–26 with events celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community throughout the city.
Fall Festival of the Arts, September 26
More than 50 local artists and artisans will gather at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville for a day of handmade crafts, live music, food and drink.
The beginning of Asheville’s favorite season
September is only the beginning.
As the month progresses, temperatures cool, the highest elevations begin turning color and Asheville’s calendar builds toward October, traditionally one of the destination’s busiest and most spectacular months.
For travelers looking to experience the beginning of the season while taking advantage of special lodging savings, Asheville Hotel Group’s 25% Explore Asheville offer provides an ideal reason to plan a September mountain getaway.
Experts expect a strong fall-color season
For many travelers, the arrival of fall color is the ultimate reason to visit Asheville.
According to Dr. Howard S. Neufeld, Appalachian State University biology professor and longtime fall-color expert known as “The Fall Color Guy,” the 2026 season is shaping up to arrive close to its normal schedule, with healthy trees across the region.
Fall color moves gradually down the mountains because of Western North Carolina’s dramatic elevation changes. The highest ridges begin changing first, with color gradually progressing toward Asheville and lower elevations.
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Late September: Higher elevations begin showing the first significant signs of fall color.
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Early to mid-October: Color becomes increasingly visible throughout the higher mountain elevations.
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Mid-to-late October: Asheville and surrounding areas typically begin experiencing some of their most impressive displays.
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Early November: Lower elevations can continue to offer beautiful foliage as the season moves toward the valleys.
“Peak color depends strongly on the weather conditions during the latter half of September and early October,” Neufeld notes.
The result is one of Asheville’s greatest natural advantages as a fall destination: there isn’t just one weekend to see the leaves.
Visitors can follow the color down the mountains over several weeks, exploring scenic overlooks, hiking trails, waterfalls, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Biltmore and the communities surrounding Asheville.
About Asheville Hotel Group
Asheville Hotel Group is a locally operated hospitality company representing five Hilton-branded hotels in the Asheville area. The group is committed to providing welcoming accommodations and exceptional guest service while supporting the attractions, restaurants, businesses, artists and events that make Asheville and Western North Carolina a premier destination.