If you’ve ever met the GRB team in person, there’s a good chance you met us at LEAF- the Lake Eden Arts Festival. Twice a year, in the spring and fall, artists and musicians of all kinds gather in Black Mountain, NC for a weekend-long family friendly festival and it’s one of our all time favorite places to be.
This year, of course, everything is a little different. The spring LEAF was cancelled a couple of months ago and while it’s a rough time for everyone involved in the festival scene, that was of course the right call. And now, there’s a silver lining- anyone in the world can now attend the festival this weekend!
LEAF online
LEAF has organized the very first V-LEAF, a virtual festival experience that goes all weekend from Friday May 15th- Sunday May 17th. All throughout this weekend they’ll host live, vintage, and pre-recorded concerts, workshops, poetry, and other unique experiences you can only get at LEAF.
We hope you’ll join us online as we celebrate LEAF’s 25th anniversary from our homes this weekend (as well as Brad Martin’s birthday!). Each morning at 10am the line-up for the day will be posted at www.vleaf.org and if you’re able to purchase a membership or donate to support the artists, we encourage you to do so.
The cancelation of the live festival of course means a loss of financial resources for LEAF and their Global Arts Foundation, and for that reason they’ve set up an incredible auction. Some of the items up for auction are: a stand up paddleboard, a gift card to VInnie’s Italian restaurant, cases of Buchi Kombucha, gift certificates to the Grey Eagle, and several handmade items from local artisans.
Here’s a message straight from LEAF organizers about the auction:
“In solidarity with LEAF and wanting to add some shopping fun to our VLEAF, our beloved Vendors, Partners, Sponsors, and Board have donated to create an online auction! When you bid in this Auction, you will not only help ensure LEAF’s future beyond this global pandemic, you support bringing LEAF Schools & Streets and LEAF International to over 12,000 youth annually even when the world stops! LEAF cultural arts education programs use the arts to bridge cultures and create life-affirming, community-building experiences – empowering our youth to become global citizens, leaders, and agents of positive change. Thank you for supporting creativity and global connections for our future leaders, while supporting LEAF in continuing to build community and connections for you and our world!”
Whether you can enter the auction, donate, buy a membership, or want to drop in for free, we hope to see you at this unprecedented first ever virtual LEAF! Meet us over at https://www.vleaf.org/
