Experts predict a vibrant and long-lasting fall color season, setting the stage for Asheville’s milestone autumn. With more than 100 tree species spanning 5,000 feet of elevation, the Blue Ridge Mountains are home to one of the longest fall color seasons in the world — now paired with a U.S. art premier, major reopenings and community-wide celebrations in the year following Hurricane Helene. The tropical storm struck during last year’s peak travel season, disrupting one of the region’s most critical economic drivers. This fall, the Asheville area returns with resilience: a region alive with festivals, artistic debuts, culinary openings and neighborhood gatherings — all against a kaleidoscope of red maples, golden poplars and scarlet sourwoods.