Connect Beyond Festival 2020 organizers announced today that the festival, slated for April 3-5, 2020, is officially postponed. With recent developments surrounding COVID-19 nationally and in North Carolina, we cannot in good conscience move forward with the festival as scheduled. The safety of our guests and participants is our number one priority.
“To say that postponing the festival is heartbreaking for me is an understatement,” said Jessica Tomasin, festival founder. “I want to bring people together and provide a space to share stories and support one another and I want that space to feel safe enough where people will get outside of their comfort zones. Asking people to risk their health is not how I want people to expand their comfort zones. I felt a moral obligation to not put people at any more risk than is needed.”
THANK YOU TO OUR CORE FESTIVAL PARTNERS!
Full list of festival partners and sponsors available here.
2020 ARTISTS
2020 FEATURE FILMS
CUTTING-EDGE MUSIC CONVERSATIONS & PERFORMANCES
We know you want more out of your weekend, so Connect Beyond Festival invites you to rise up, sing out, and dance along with us. Between fireside chats with your new favorite songwriters, and a wide-ranging lineup of guest performances, we promise you’ll get your live music fix at Connect.
INSPIRING SPEAKERS,
THOUGHT-PROVOKING PANELS
Do you consider yourself an NPR junkie? Are you fascinated by storytelling and are curious about your community and beyond? We’re bringing together some of the most distinctive minds of today to explore what it takes to be a catalyst for change, and how we as individuals can act on what matters to us.
CAPTIVATING FILMS & DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKERS
First run documentaries that resonate. Short films that profile amazing people doing extraordinary things. Stories that implore you to expand your horizons. Connect Beyond Festival and Social Construct films have hand-selected some of the most gripping narratives making a impact on local and global levels, and will be serving them up all weekend long with great films, Q&As, and workshops presented by visiting visionaries.
MORE THAN AN EVENT...
CONNECT BEYOND FESTIVAL IS A MOVEMENT THAT BRINGS CREATORS & ATTENDEES TOGETHER TO ENGAGE IN THOUGHT PROVOKING WAYS.
Connection. A word that by definition means to join together to establish a link, so as to provide access and communication. Connect Beyond Festival has established that link and is using music, film, and storytelling to create connections. More than just an event, Connect Beyond Festival is a movement to develop a network of people inspired by creative mediums and united in the pursuit of equality and social justice. Our goal is to inspire a sense of community and personal engagement.Lauded as “Asheville’s version of SXSW” (Ashvegas) this event is perfect for those who are looking for a more dynamic festival experience - one that prioritizes exploration and participation just as much as entertainment. If you’re looking to broaden your horizons, to engage with others, and want to leave a festival with more than just a hangover, Connect Beyond Festival is just the place to be.