Over four days in the spring and fall, LEAF Global Arts hosts a celebration of world music, art, creativity and culture in the backdrop of Black Mountain's beautiful Lake Eden. With a festival atmosphere that includes local vendors, global cuisine, multiple stages of wall-to-wall performances and presenters, LEAF's festivities offer valuable opportunities for global learning and inspiration that has led to non-stop fun for attendees since its inception in 1995.
This year, the Spring LEAF Retreat will take place May 8-11 and the Fall LEAF Festival October 16-19. Tickets go on sale Feb. 1.
The upcoming Spring Retreat, a more intimate celebration than its fall counterpart—now in its fourth year—adopted the theme "Each One Teach One,” a powerful mantra that illuminates and inspires the path toward a brighter future.
The festival also includes full access to more than 300 acres of Lake Eden where you can explore, play, hike, bike, disc golf or relax in the shade of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Notable headlining musical acts for the 2025 Spring Retreat include Las Cafeteras, Josh Phillips, Datrian Johnson and Whitney Monge.
Lodging is available at the festival with 30 private camp cabins and two large camp lodges with rooms for families and large groups. You can book your lodging here.
Things to know about the Spring LEAF Retreat
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at theleaf.org. Prices range from $56 to $246 depending on the day and type of pass. Work exchange is also available for the retreat. All proceeds from your ticket go back to LEAF Global Arts, a non-profit organization where memberships and donations support cultural arts education programming locally and globally. Since 2004, LEAF Schools & Streets has served over 85,000 local youth. Children under 10 enter free. Youth tickets are available for children 10-17 years old.
Food & Beverage
LEAF Festival hosts many local food trucks and chefs at the three-day event. In 2025, that list includes:
Cecilia’s Kitchen, Catering Kerala Curry Food Truck, Greenlight Café, Kernel Mike’s Famous Kettle Korn, Ultimate Ice Cream, and LeBon Coffee. A festival culinary passport, which included a five-meal voucher at Baba Nahm, was also available for $65.
Things to Do Before and After LEAF Retreat & Festival
If you want to explore outside of the retreat or festival, we suggest a quick journey into the nearby town of Black Mountain! Known as the front porch to the Blue Ridge Mountains, Black Mountain boasts a lively downtown packed with galleries and cozy bistros, offering a charming and walkable experience overflowing with arts, crafts and — at an elevation of 2,405 feet — incredible outdoor adventures that include awe-inspiring hikes and thrill-seeking mountain bike trails.
Explore: Top 10 Things to Do in Black Mountain
Day-Trip: Spend a Perfect Day in Black Mountain
