This is Bele Chere weekend. Downtown Asheville is already barricaded. If you must go from one side of the city to another, do not be an idiot like I was tonight and forget.

Bele Chere is a street festival of several superlatives. Organizers claim no sanctimonious legendary origins, but are upfront about it originating as an attempt by merchants to attract customers. To many, the event has become “a wretched hive of scum and villainy” marking time to take a vacation because one cannot do business anyway. The tradition of evangelicals and LGBT’s duking it out is expected to continue, and rumors are circulating that exhibitionists are going to try to make a statement. Meanwhile, celebrants will mill about the uneventful event with a beer in-hand thinking they are having a good time. I will be working as one of many volunteers, because I enjoy the crowd.