Montford is the kind of neighborhood that feels like it was designed with a sketchbook in mind.

Just north of downtown Asheville, Montford blends leafy streets, rolling hills, and some of the city’s most charming historic architecture. Victorian and Queen Anne homes—many lovingly restored—peek through old-growth trees, their porches, turrets, and gables catching the light at all hours of the day. It’s a place where shadows stretch long across lawns, colors shift subtly with the weather, and every corner seems to offer a new composition.

Montford’s rhythm is calm but never sleepy. Birds, cyclists, and the occasional dog walker move through the streets, while Montford Park provides open green space, winding paths, and a gentle sense of pause. The neighborhood’s proximity to downtown adds just enough hum to keep things lively, without breaking the spell of quiet observation that painters love.

For artists, Montford offers a masterclass in atmosphere: soft mountain light filtering through trees, layered textures of wood, brick, and stone, and a feeling of time unfolding slowly. It’s a place where history and everyday life overlap—perfect for capturing mood, memory, and movement with a brush.

Bring your easel, wander a bit, and let Montford reveal itself one porch, path, and patch of light at a time.

Friday, April 10, 2026 — Arrive, Sign In, Start Painting
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Check in at 129 Cumberland Avenue, Asheville.
Have your canvases stamped, pay the $20 participation fee, and get oriented. Once you’re signed in, you’re free to paint at recommended spots throughout Montford—or follow your instincts and set up wherever the light pulls you.

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Meet & Greet at 129 Cumberland Avenue
Wind down the day with fellow artists. Share stories, swap locations, and enjoy the community that makes plein air painting so special.

Saturday, April 11, 2026 — Paint On
This is a full day to continue painting, refining, or starting fresh.

Additional Sign-In Opportunity
For artists who couldn’t make it Friday, sign in at 129 Cumberland Avenue between 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Canvases will be stamped, and then it’s back to painting in the neighborhood.

Sunday, April 12, 2026 — Wet Paint Sale & Celebration
2:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Bring your finished work and an easel to 129 Cumberland Avenue for the Wet Paint Sale. Show and sell work created during the festival in a lively, outdoor setting.

• People’s Choice Award with cash prizes
  (Prize amounts depend on participation)

• 15% commission on all sales

• Live music to close out the weekend

Come for the architecture, the light, and the history—stay for the paint on your hands, the conversations, and the shared experience of capturing Montford in the moment.

A $20 registration fee is required to participate in the festival. This fee helps cover light festival expenses, with the majority of the funds going directly into the prize pool for the People’s Choice Awards on Sunday. Your participation helps support both the event and your fellow artists.

For artwork sold during the Wet Paint Sale, a 15% commission will be collected. This commission helps offset event costs and allows us to continue offering community-focused, artist-forward events in Montford.

Simple, transparent, and centered on supporting the artists and the experience.

Montford truly shines in spring, when flowering trees, layered gardens, and soft mountain light turn the neighborhood into a living color study. The locations below offer a mix of architecture, greenery, and atmosphere—ideal for plein air painters looking to capture the season.

Montford Avenue
A classic Montford stroll. Large historic homes are framed by blooming dogwoods, redbuds, and mature landscaping. Long sightlines, porches, and sidewalks shaded by flowering trees make this a reliable favorite throughout the day.

Cumberland Avenue
Quieter and more intimate, Cumberland offers smaller-scale homes, gardens in bloom, and subtle elevation changes. The spring flowers here feel close and personal—perfect for painters interested in texture, light, and layered compositions.

Elizabeth Street
One of Montford’s most picturesque streets. In spring, this area comes alive with flowering shrubs and canopy trees that filter light beautifully. Expect strong contrasts between architecture and organic forms.

Pearson Drive
Tucked and peaceful, Pearson Drive feels almost hidden. Spring growth softens the lines of historic homes and stone details, creating a gentle, lyrical setting ideal for atmospheric studies and softer palettes.

Montford Park & Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre Area
Open green space meets mature trees and historic structures. Spring grasses, blooming trees, and wide skies offer a different rhythm from the residential streets—great for larger compositions or studies of light and shadow.

Reed Creek Greenway
A natural counterpoint to Montford’s architecture. Reed Creek winds gently through the neighborhood, bordered by spring wildflowers, fresh greens, and reflective water. Great for painters drawn to movement, water studies, and layered woodland light.

Montford Cemetery
Historic, quiet, and unexpectedly beautiful in spring. Flowering trees, stone monuments, and rolling paths create a sense of time and stillness that translates beautifully to paint. Morning and late afternoon light are especially compelling here.

Hummingbird Park
A small but lively pocket of green space filled with spring energy. Fresh growth, open lawns, and neighborhood activity make this a wonderful spot for capturing color, gesture, and the rhythm of people moving through nature.

Spring in Montford is generous—flowers bloom freely, light shifts gently, and every block offers something worth slowing down for. Wander, set up, and let the season guide your brush.

In the event of rain, the festival will move to our rain date weekend of April 25. This allows artists to fully enjoy the outdoor painting experience Montford offers without weather interruptions. Any updates or confirmations will be shared in advance so you can plan accordingly and focus on what matters most—painting.