Spring LEAF Festival has a Cuban Flair

Twice yearly, LEAF Festival combines music, food, art, crafts, healing arts, and family-friendly activities for a weekend of discovery and fun. Surrounded by mountain beauty on the grounds of Lake Eden in Black Mountain, the 42nd LEAF Festival will take place Thursday through Sunday, May 12–15. Food, sights, and sounds will celebrate the theme, “World Fusion and Cuban Spice.” Juan De Marcos & The Afro-Cuban All-Stars, Shovels & Rope, Fatoumata Diawara, Danay Suarez, DakhaBrakha, and many others will perform music from around the globe. Ehren Cruz, performing arts director of LEAF Community Arts, says “For generations, the artistry and culture of Cuba has fueled the spirit of Latin music, dance, and performance throughout the globe. Now for the first time in over 50 years, Cuba spreads its wings and prepares to descend upon the United States and into the heart of the Appalachian Mountains.” This event is hosted by LEAF Community Arts, a nonprofit organization that supports music and arts education programming locally and globally. LEAF Schools & Streets has served more than 45,000 youth with programs in more than 20 locations in Western North Carolina and LEAF International offers cultural preservation programs in ten countries around the world. At the spring festival, student groups from LEAF International Haiti and LEAF International Tanzania programs will perform on stage after their five-day residency in Asheville. While traveling in Cuba before the festival, Ehren says, “We are having an incredible adventure out in Cuba. The country and its people are extraordinary. The people are happy, peaceful, and don’t feel they are in lack with resources. They may not have much, but (they do) have powerful family and community bonds. The food is also fantastic! Cuba libre! Saludos!” Also, mark your calendar for the fall LEAF Festival, October 20–23. Weekend passes, which include overnight camping, are sold out. Day passes ($42–62) and community passes for residents of Buncombe County ($115 for all three days excluding camping) are still available and can be purchased by visiting theleaf.org or calling 828.686.8742. Photo by Hunter McRae