BOOLMA, BOOM

If it’s any Friday night in April through October, you are in luck. Put on your dancing shoes or grab your drum or best people-watching attire and head for Pritchard Park in downtown Asheville on Patton Avenue at College Street. It should be easy to find just follow the sound of the drums—boomla, boomla, boomla—boom! and discover folks of every age and description dancing and swaying to the thunderous rhythm of the drums.That’s the location of the Drum Circle, a favorite Asheville tradition. The Drum Circle began in 2001 with 10 drummers. Since that time, it has grown into a community-wide event that includes all who want to join the fun. The Drum Circle has no leader or rules, which means everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, or any other social identifier, is more than welcome to join in and feel the beat. The Circle includes percussion instruments of all kinds, including, congas, shekeres, djembes, dunduns, tambourines, triangles and bells.There is no better place or time to experience the individuality and diversity of this wonderful “weird” mountain city. Everyone plays a different role, from drummer to spectator, but that’s just part of the fun. And the fun usually begins about six in the evening and builds until the end at ten at night. If you arrive early or decide to take a break from the beat of the drums, Pritchard Park is surrounded by Asheville restaurants, unique galleries and museums, and plentiful shopping opportunities.I can promise you that a night with the Drum Circle revelers will just make you feel good!