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Destinations › Western North Carolina › Hendersonville
Hendersonville is the apple town south of Asheville: a walkable Main Street, family orchards, the 220-acre Jackson Park and the first open miles of the Ecusta Trail. Below are places, dated holiday events and the annual NC Apple Festival, each from an official page.
- CountyHendersoncounty seat
- RegionAsheville & Foothillsone of our nine regions
- From Charlotte2 h 11 minestimate, no traffic
- From Asheville35 minestimate, no traffic
About Hendersonville
Hendersonville is the seat of Henderson County, in the Asheville & Foothills region of this guide. The city runs a Main Street program downtown, and the county’s orchards supply the NC Apple Festival, whose 80th edition ran September 4-7, 2026. The 2027 dates were not posted on November 3, 2026.
Jackson Park on 4th Avenue East covers 220 acres and is the largest municipally owned park in Western North Carolina, per Henderson County. The first 6 miles of the Ecusta Trail, Hendersonville to Horse Shoe, are open. Hurricane Helene damaged the city’s wastewater plant, which is still being repaired; we found no closure notice for the places listed below.
Anything marked “Not confirmed” was not stated on an official page when we looked on November 3, 2026. Check with the town, park or organizer before you go.
Places to Go in Hendersonville
Downtown and Museums
| Place | Type | Address | Hours | Cost | About |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown Hendersonville (Main Street) | downtown | Not confirmed (street); City Hall 160 6th Ave E, 28792 | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Historic downtown district with a city Main Street Program. Hosts the farmers market, summer concert series, parade and holiday events. N. Main St… |
| Historic Henderson County Courthouse (Courthouse Plaza) | landmark | 100 block of Main Street (per city event page) | Not confirmed | Free to view; event costs not listed | Courthouse plaza on Main Street. Site of the 2026 Holiday Tree Lighting, Santa on the Square and Holiday Train Rides listed by the city. |
| Hands On! Children's Museum | museum | 318 North Main Street, 28792 | Tue-Sat 9am-5pm (Sun/Mon not listed) | Not confirmed (admission page not opened) | Children's museum on Main Street, entrance next to Black Bear Coffee. Phone 828-697-8333. |
| Hendersonville Farmers Market | market | Maple Street, Historic 7th Avenue District | Sat; regular May-Oct season ended Oct 31, 2026; Holiday Markets Nov 21 and Dec 5, 9am-1pm | Not confirmed | Weekly Saturday market in the 7th Avenue district. Two holiday markets remain in 2026. |
| Hendersonville Welcome Center | visitor center | Main Street (number Not confirmed) | Not confirmed | Free (not stated) | Visitors center on Main Street; starting point for the Mardi Gras T-Rex mini-parade and site of the Bearfootin' Art Walk bear reveal. Tourism site… |
Orchards and Farms
| Place | Type | Address | Hours | Cost | About |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justus Orchard | orchard | 187 Garren Road, 28792 | Orchard daily 9am-5pm; taproom Thu 12-5, Fri 12-8, Sat 10:30-8, Sun 12-8 (page may be seasonal) | Not confirmed (U-pick prices not stated) | Family orchard with U-pick apples, Asian pears and blackberries, bakery, taproom, Cow Train rides and gift shop. |
| Stepp's Hillcrest Orchard | orchard | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | 100-acre Henderson County farm with donuts, U-pick apples, wagon rides and a corn maze, per NC Apple Festival grower list. |
| Creasman Farms | orchard | Not confirmed | U-pick apples Sept-Oct (festival page); current hours Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Third-generation apple farm selling at WNC farmers markets, with U-pick apples in September and October. |
| Bright Branch Farm | orchard | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Six generations of the Enloe family growing apples in Henderson County. Over 50 varieties; presses fresh juice almost year round. |
| McConnell Farms | orchard | Not confirmed (Hendersonville farm) | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Farm specializing in small fruits, vegetables, ciders, fruit butters, preserves and homemade ice cream. |
| Apple Mill (Saluda store) | food/shop | Saluda, NC (street Not confirmed) | Open year-round (festival page); hours Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Store selling apple butters, jams, preserves and gifts. In Saluda, outside Hendersonville city limits. |
| Twisted Apple | orchard | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Orchard described as the area's first naturally and sustainably grown apple farm; sets up at Main and Barnwell during the festival. |
Parks, Trails and The Parkway
| Place | Type | Address | Hours | Cost | About |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson Park | park | 801 4th Ave East, 28792 | Not confirmed (page lists none) | No entry fee stated; shelter rental $45-$55 per 4 hours | 220-acre park, largest municipal-owned park in Western NC per the county. Mountain bike skills park, disc golf, tennis, ball fields, 1.2-mile nature… |
| Ecusta Trail (Hendersonville to Horse Shoe) | trail | Not confirmed (no trailhead address on page) | Not confirmed (trail rules page reportedly says open at all times; not opened) | Not confirmed (2026 fee schedule PDF not read) | Rail trail, 19.4 miles planned between Hendersonville and Brevard. First 6 miles open. County page notes 30-day closures tied to US 64 work, first at… |
| Blue Ridge Parkway, Hendersonville Rd. section (MP 384.7-388.8) | scenic drive | Parkway Hwy 74 to Hwy 25 (Hendersonville Rd.) | Road status as of 7am Nov 3, 2026: Open | Not confirmed | Parkway section reported open on the NPS road-status page updated Nov 3, 2026. Related MP 388.8-393.6 has single-lane daytime traffic control for a… |
Dated Events in Hendersonville
Read from official calendars on November 3, 2026, starting from that date. Organizers change plans, so check the event link before you go. Every NC event we track is also on Asheville & Foothills events.
| Event | Date | Time | Venue | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hendersonville Farmers Market Holiday Market | 2026-11-21 | 9:00am-1:00pm | Maple Street (7th Avenue district) | Not confirmed |
| Turkey Trot 5K | 2026-11-26 | 8:03-10:30am (downtown page) / 8:30-10:30am… | City Hall | Not confirmed; benefits Hope Coalition |
| Holiday Tree Lighting | 2026-11-27 | 5:00-8:00pm | Historic Henderson County Courthouse | Not confirmed |
| Small Business Saturday | 2026-11-28 | All day | Downtown businesses | Not confirmed |
| Olde Fashioned Christmas (Santa on the Square) | 2026-12-04 | 5:00-8:00pm | Historic Downtown Hendersonville | Not confirmed |
| Hendersonville Christmas Parade | 2026-12-05 | 6:00-8:00pm | Main Street, heading south | Not confirmed |
| Holiday Farmers Market and Holiday Cookie Stroll | 2026-12-05 | 9:00am-1:00pm (market); stroll time Not confirmed | Maple Street / 7th Avenue | Not confirmed |
| Holiday Historic Inns Tour and Cookie Caper | 2026-12-06 | 1:00-5:00pm | Historic inns (addresses Not confirmed) | Not confirmed |
| Holly Jolly Train Rides with Mountain Fresh Orchards | 2026-12-19 | 5:00-8:00pm | Historic Henderson County Courthouse | Not confirmed |
Annual Events in Hendersonville
These come back every year. The date shown is the last one an official page confirmed; the next edition’s date is not confirmed unless it says so.
| Event | Last Confirmed Date | Time | Venue | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hendersonville Mardi Gras: T-Rex Parade | 2026-02-07 | 2:00pm | Starts at Welcome Center, Main Street | Spectators: not listed |
| Garden Jubilee | 2026-05-23 to 2026-05-24 | 9:00am-5:00pm | Main Street, historic downtown | Not confirmed |
| Rhythm & Brews Concert Series | 2026-06-18 to 2026-10-15 | 3rd Thursday; openers 5pm, headliner 7-9pm | South Main Street | Free |
| NC Apple Festival (80th) | 2026-09-04 to 2026-09-07 | Daily; times Not confirmed | Downtown Hendersonville (Main Street) | Not confirmed |
| Bearfootin' Art Walk | 2026-05-06 to 2026-10-22 | Bears on display summer-fall; auction celebration… | Main Street; Historic Courthouse Plaza | Auction celebration free; bidding starts $1,500 |
Getting There
From Uptown Charlotte: about 2 h 11 min, 103 miles. From downtown Asheville: about 35 min, 26 miles. Most drivers come up I-26 from Columbia or Spartanburg, or from Asheville to the north.
Drive times are estimates, not official figures. We computed them on November 3, 2026 from OpenStreetMap road data (OSRM routing) with no traffic. Rush hour on I-77, I-85 and I-40, weekend lake and leaf traffic, weather and construction all add time.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the NC Apple Festival?
The 80th festival ran September 4-7, 2026 in downtown Hendersonville. The 2027 dates were not posted on the festival site when we checked on November 3, 2026.
Can I pick apples in Hendersonville?
Several Henderson County farms on the NC Apple Festival grower list offer U-pick in season, usually September and October. Hours and prices are not confirmed for most, so check the farm first.
How far is Hendersonville from Asheville?
About 35 min by our road estimate, with no traffic.
Sources
- City of Hendersonville, Downtown (checked Nov 3, 2026)
- City of Hendersonville, Holiday Cheer (checked Nov 3, 2026)
- Henderson County, Jackson Park (checked Nov 3, 2026)
- Henderson County, Ecusta Trail (checked Nov 3, 2026)
- NC Apple Festival (checked Nov 3, 2026)
- National Park Service, Blue Ridge Parkway road status (checked Nov 3, 2026)
Checked November 3, 2026. How we check: editorial standards; spot a mistake? Tell us.
Cite this page: It's North Carolina, “Hendersonville”, itsnorthcarolina.com/destinations/hendersonville/ (updated ). By the It's North Carolina editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.