Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville has a new run of summer events coming up, with July bringing a mix of classic pop, family-friendly performance, local makers, and Appalachian craft to downtown.

The month starts with Air Supply on Thursday, July 9, at Thomas Wolfe Auditorium. Doors are listed for 6 p.m., with the show scheduled for 7 p.m. It is a strong pick for fans of classic soft rock and a polished downtown concert night.

The next day, The Princess Concert comes to Thomas Wolfe Auditorium on Friday, July 10, with doors at 1 p.m. and the show at 2 p.m. This one fits families, musical theater fans, and anyone looking for an afternoon performance downtown.

For Asheville’s creative crowd, the biggest local lifestyle draw is the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands, scheduled for July 16–19 at Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville. The Southern Highland Craft Guild says the fair brings together more than 100 juried artists, with live demonstrations, music, and regional craft. Tickets are available at the door during all four days.

That fair is especially strong for 828 readers because it connects directly to Western North Carolina’s maker culture. Visitors can browse handmade work, meet artists, and support a craft tradition that has helped define the Southern Appalachians for generations.

The venue’s calendar also points to bigger late-summer events, including John Mulaney: Mister Whatever on Aug. 9, plus fall dates for the Asheville Tattoo Arts Festival, Little Feat, Gary Owen, Brad Williams, JJ Grey & Mofro, Beck, and the October edition of the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands.

For anyone planning a night out, the usual downtown advice applies: check ticket availability, confirm event times, review venue policies, and leave extra time for parking, dinner, and getting into the building.

Local takeaway: Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville has shifted from June concerts into a July lineup led by Air Supply, The Princess Concert, and the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands — with the craft fair standing out as the most Asheville-specific event for local makers, shoppers, and visitors.