Out-of-market visitation to Downtown Asheville totaled 462,700 in September, up 6.8% year-over-year.
Visitor traffic peaked on September 27, when roughly 52,000 people came downtown. That day marked the one-year milestone since Hurricane Helene, as many gathered to reflect and reconnect as a community. It was also the day of Blue Ridge Pride, which alone drew over 12,000 attendees, adding to the vibrant and uplifting atmosphere throughout downtown.
Fridays and Saturdays averaged the highest visitation, with Saturdays drawing around 43,000 visitors. And weekend afternoons continued to be a draw for visitors, with steady activity between 12 PM and 7 PM…