Take an Inside Look at the 2022 Asheville Ideas Fest

South Street Partners and The Cliffs are proud to announce their support for the inaugural 2022 Asheville Ideas Fest. Held in one of the country’s top cities, this world-class intellectual experience will be one you won’t want to miss! 

Continue reading to learn more about the event schedule, featured speakers, and how you can attend this exciting event in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Why Attend the Event

Taking place from June 14 through June 18, 2022, the Asheville Ideas Fest is designed to help you see the world’s greatest challenges from new perspectives with the hope of driving change in the world. As an investment in yourself and your community, it offers attendees the opportunity to learn from and engage in civil dialogue with respected thought leaders in a spectacular natural setting that sparks inspiration, creativity, and productivity. 

Featured Speakers

Over the three days of discussions and lectures, attendees will have the honor of listening to and engaging with a number of global thought leaders. Here is a list of the featured speakers for this year’s event: 

• Fareed Zakaria, Global Analyst & Bestselling Author
• Kizzmekia Corbett, Former Lead Researcher, NIH Vaccine Research Center
• Jon Meacham, American Historian & Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author
• Lynn Novick, Created nearly 100 hours of acclaimed programming for PBS in collaboration with Ken Burns
• Bill McKibben, Gandhi Peace Award Winner & Environmental Scholar
• Jason Mott, 2021 National Book Award Winner, author of Hell of a Book

To register for the Asheville Ideas Fest, click here. 

Schedule of Events

Presented by the University of North Carolina Asheville, the Asheville Ideas Fest takes place in various venues throughout the city. Here is a brief overview of the tentative schedule for the event.

Tuesday, June 14th.

The Asheville Ideas Fest kicks off with an evening welcome reception on the roof deck at Highland Brewing. The reception will feature musical guests, tapping of the special Asheville Ideas Fest Pilsner, and a great opportunity to mingle with other attendees while you gaze out on the Blue Ridge Mountains. 

Wednesday, June 15

The first day of the event begins bright and early with Wellness and Guided Outdoor Discovery Activities, followed by a day filled with lectures and discussions, lunch, and opportunities to explore Asheville. The evening’s events are held on the UNC Asheville campus, including a lecture and conversation with Fareed Zakaria, and a coffee house concert with grammy-winning guitarist and vocalist Graham Sharp of the Steep Canyon Rangers.

Thursday, June 16

The next day is also filled with early morning outdoor activities, morning lectures, and lunch, with an additional two lectures taking place in the afternoon. You won’t want to miss a talk by author and presidential historian Jon Meacham on The Soul of America. That evening, Asheville Ideas Fest moves to the iconic Omni Grove Park Inn for a reception with documentary filmmaker Lynn Novick held at the Omni Grove Park Inn. To wrap up the day, you will enjoy a screening of Novick’s new film and a discussion with two people whose inspiring stories are featured.  Cap off the evening with an intimate sunset Asheville Symphony Orchestra performance of traditional and modern symphonic music. 

Friday, June 17

Friday is the last day of lectures and follows a similar schedule to the previous two days. In the morning, you’ll see the inaugural “The William L. Roper Lecture in Medicine & Public Health” followed by a respondent panel and lunch from Asheville’s award-winning Food Trucks. The capstone speech will be delivered by former New Jersey Governor and Administrator of the EPA, Christine Todd Whitman.

Saturday, June 18

To conclude the event, attendees are invited to go out and experience the mountain gem that is Asheville! With a curated list of events and activities, including tours of Biltmore House, a float trip on the historic French Broad River, Music on Main (Weaverville, NC), Asheville Art in the Park, and more. There are also opportunities to take in the beauty of the outdoors with selected day hikes, and fly fishing. If you are looking for additional ideas for your trip to Asheville, read our Guide to Spending a Day in Asheville to learn more about how to plan your days in this charming mountain city.

Our tip: consider registering for a Founder’s Pass, which provides access to small VIP events each day with featured speakers, signature cocktails, and cuisine from legendary Asheville chefs like Meherwan Irani and John Fleer.

To view the detailed schedule of events, click here.

The Cliffs at Walnut Cove, A Private Luxury Community

One of seven communities that make up The Cliffs, The Cliffs at Walnut Cove community is located just minutes from downtown Asheville. This private luxury community nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains offers a world of outdoor adventure, premier golf, private social gatherings, fine dining, and more! To fully discover the luxurious lifestyle The Cliffs at Walnut Cove affords members, click on the link below.