FAQ
Children
We welcome and encourage students of all ages to attend our classes. We do not have an age limit for class participants and just ask that the student be sincerely interested in the subject and not a distraction to others. Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Adult chaperones are responsible for any housing, meal, or tuition fees, but the non-student activities fee is waived for non-student chaperones. Please refer to class descriptions to evaluate the fit of a class for a particular individual.
We welcome and encourage students of all ages to attend our classes. We do not have an age limit for class participants and just ask that the student be sincerely interested in the subject and not a distraction to others. Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Adult chaperones are responsible for any housing, meal, or tuition fees, but the non-student activities fee is waived for non-student chaperones. Please refer to class descriptions to evaluate the fit of a class for a particular individual.
To register children for classes, they are registered with their own registration form. Please ensure that an email address accessible to parents/guardians is used for the registration of any minors.
During Traditional Song, Celtic and Old-Time Music & Dance Weeks we offer a full-day program for children ages 6-12, taught by Children’s Program Coordinator Melissa Hyman. This is not a program of music instruction (although music is certainly incorporated!), but a program of crafts and creativity, games, friendship, silliness, and discovery. Program activities are scheduled during Gathering class periods, and parents are responsible for their children at all other times. (This means that you drop-off before the first class period, pick-up for lunch, and then pick-up after the last class period.)
Are you instead looking for your child to take our Swannanoa Gathering music instruction courses? Children taking Swannanoa Gathering classes can be registered under their own registration.
Adult chaperones are required for those under 18 years of age.
During Old-Time Music & Dance Week, we also have an evening jam session program, “Young Old-Time”
Young players have the opportunity to get together each evening after supper for a young-folks-only hour of music and socializing facilitated by one our class instructors. The Young Old-Time band that forms at this jam session will have the opportunity to play for the square dance on Wednesday night and at the Friday class showcase! Young string players, singers, dancers, and non-musicians are all welcome.
Those bringing children should indicate so on their registration form.
Fees will need to be adjusted, if appropriate, by our office, before full payment is made.
Scenarios for one room (two beds)
1 adult student + 1 child non-student = $595 + $300 + any applicable child meal fee
1 adult student + 2 children non-students = $595 + $300 +any applicable child meal fees (1 child will need mattress/cot, bedding, pillow provided)
1 adult + 1 child taking classes = $595 + $595 (may be slightly less depending on age of child, due to meal fees)
1 adult + 1 child taking classes + 1 child non-student = $595 + $595 + any applicable child meal fee (1 child will need mattress/cot, bedding, pillow provided)
2 adults + 1 child = $595 + $595 + any applicable child meal fee (child will need mattress/cot, bedding, pillow provided)
Scenario for two rooms located next to each other
2 adults + 1 to 4 children = $595 + $595 + ($595 for student or $300 for non-student) + ($595 for student or $300 for non-student) + applicable child meal fees (2 children will need mattresses/cots, bedding, pillow provided)
Youth Scholarships: housing/meals is included for the scholarship recipient, but any adult chaperones are responsible for their housing/meal fees.
Children 6 and under eat for free.
Concerts
Contact
During each program, we maintain a lost & found. During the summer, the lost & found is located at our attendee support office, at Sunderland 114. We hold all items through the second Monday in August.
- Car Keys are held at Sunderland 114 during that day, but are then transferred to Public Safety at 4:30 PM.
- Cell phones are held at Sunderland 114 and can be claimed between 8:30 AM and 5 PM.
- Cash, cards, valuables: are locked up by our Operations Manager. Please inquire at Sunderland 114.
- Shipping items: As our office’s capacity allows, we can ship items that are “claimed” by the second Monday in August. Postage/Shipping fees will need to be paid online, prior to the item(s) being shipped. Warren Wilson College & The Swannanoa Gathering are not responsible for lost or damaged items before or during shipping. We will not ship water bottles.
Housing
Our quick room turn-over needs do not allow for this.
Those registered for back-to-back weeks ARE permitted to stay in their same room for the weekend in-between the weeks registered for. The cafeteria is typically closed for Saturday Lunch & Dinner and Sunday Breakfast and Lunch, so stay-overs are responsible for their own meals during that time.
Please reach out with any questions, including if there are concerns about access to weekend meals.
Most dorm rooms do not have air conditioning. If driving, we do recommend bringing a room fan, if possible, as daytime temperatures can make the rooms warm. We have a limited number of box fans to loan out.
Depending on registration numbers, air-conditioned rooms are typically reserved for medical needs. We then prioritize those 65+. We reserve the right to require a letter from a doctor for medical needs, if needed. We may also need to limit A.C. rooms to shared/roommate scenarios, but it will depend on needs.
Your registration form has text boxes where you can communicate any medical or non-medical housing requests. Please feel free to include an A.C. request.
If you need an absolute guarantee, we recommend you look into staying off campus. There are several short-term rental options in the area, searching for “Swannanoa, NC,” as well as hotels in East Asheville and Black Mountain.
Meals are included in the housing fee for those staying in on-campus housing. Those staying off campus may purchase meal cards or pay for individual meals at the door. Children aged 6 and under eat for free. Meals are not provided from lunch time Saturday through lunchtime Sunday. The College is catered by Sodexo, and low-sodium and vegetarian meals are available. Please include any dietary restrictions in your registration form so that we can give advanced notice to Sodexo.
If you have very specific dietary restrictions (other than those that can be self-accommodated with the options provided), please also check-in with a Sodexo employee at the first meal.
Camping is not permitted on campus, including car/van/RV camping. If you have an RV or trailer to park, not to sleep in/camp in, please email us to arrange a larger parking assignment.
OFF-CAMPUS LODGING: There are various hotels/motels, short-term rentals, B&Bs, and camping/RV sites in the area. Early reservations are recommended due to the popularity of the area with tourists.
Ideas: Airbnb, Vrbo, FlipKey, Expedia, HomeToGo, TripAdvisor, Agoda Homes, Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy, Sonder, Onefinestay, Outdoorsy, Kid & Coe, Vacasa, GlampingHub.com
Mama Gertie’s Hideaway Campground – back up and running post-Helene.
East Asheville KOA – back up and running, post-Helene.
Hotels, etc: Less Than 10 minutes, west of campus
Holiday Inn Asheville East-Blue Ridge Pkwy (Let them know that you’re a visitor of Warren Wilson College for a discounted rate.)
Tru by Hilton Asheville Blue Ridge Parkway
Quality Inn & Suites Biltmore East
Comfort Inn Asheville East – Blue Ridge Pkwy Access
Carolina Mornings Vacation Rentals
Various Locations Near Campus
(855) 398-0712
Looking for less traditional lodging? Carolina Mornings offers unique homes ranging from studios to 6 bedrooms in size. Pet friendly homes, hot tubs, pools, mountain views and more amenities are available!
Promo Code: WWCRENTAL
Booking Link
Hotels: 15 minutes away, east of campus
Hampton Inn Black Mountain
Peri Social House
Monte Vista Hotel
Other Lodgings, further away, with discounts for visitors to Warren Wilson College:
Cambria Hotel Downtown Asheville
15 Page Avenue, Asheville, NC, 28801
(828) 348-4850
Haywood Park Hotel
1 Battery Park Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 252-2522
Those bringing children should indicate so on their registration form.
Fees will need to be adjusted, if appropriate, by our office, before full payment is made.
Scenarios for one room (two beds)
1 adult student + 1 child non-student = $595 + $300 + any applicable child meal fee
1 adult student + 2 children non-students = $595 + $300 +any applicable child meal fees (1 child will need mattress/cot, bedding, pillow provided)
1 adult + 1 child taking classes = $595 + $595 (may be slightly less depending on age of child, due to meal fees)
1 adult + 1 child taking classes + 1 child non-student = $595 + $595 + any applicable child meal fee (1 child will need mattress/cot, bedding, pillow provided)
2 adults + 1 child = $595 + $595 + any applicable child meal fee (child will need mattress/cot, bedding, pillow provided)
Scenario for two rooms located next to each other
2 adults + 1 to 4 children = $595 + $595 + ($595 for student or $300 for non-student) + ($595 for student or $300 for non-student) + applicable child meal fees (2 children will need mattresses/cots, bedding, pillow provided)
Youth Scholarships: housing/meals is included for the scholarship recipient, but any adult chaperones are responsible for their housing/meal fees.
Children 6 and under eat for free.
Rooms are double-occupancy with communal bath facilities. Linens, towels (bath and hand), washcloth, sheets, a pillowcase, one light blanket and one pillow will all be provided. As these linens may not be what you’re used to at home, you may wish to bring an extra towel, favorite pillow and a heavier blanket. Some attendees have found that a mattress pad or twin-size foam mattress cover makes the beds more comfortable. Each room typically has two dressers, two closets, and two desks. Wireless internet is available.
Those with accessibility accommodation needs should include a detailed, written description of those needs in their registration form. You can contact us with any questions or to discuss further.
Plan Your Visit
Yes, if you didn’t request a parking permit in your registration form, please email our office so that we can add it to your registration. Permits will be picked up at check-in and must then be displayed in your front window while parked. Parking is only allowed in areas designated for parking. If you have a government issued/official handicapped parking tag/plate, please let us know that too.
Most dorm rooms do not have air conditioning. If driving, we do recommend bringing a room fan, if possible, as daytime temperatures can make the rooms warm. We have a limited number of box fans to loan out.
Depending on registration numbers, air-conditioned rooms are typically reserved for medical needs. We then prioritize those 65+. We reserve the right to require a letter from a doctor for medical needs, if needed. We may also need to limit A.C. rooms to shared/roommate scenarios, but it will depend on needs.
Your registration form has text boxes where you can communicate any medical or non-medical housing requests. Please feel free to include an A.C. request.
If you need an absolute guarantee, we recommend you look into staying off campus. There are several short-term rental options in the area, searching for “Swannanoa, NC,” as well as hotels in East Asheville and Black Mountain.
We do not have a shuttle service from the airport, but here are a few resources to see your options: https://flyavl.com/groundtransportation
https://flyavl.com/GTproviders
We will also promote a rideshare link.
Meals are included in the housing fee for those staying in on-campus housing. Those staying off campus may purchase meal cards or pay for individual meals at the door. Children aged 6 and under eat for free. Meals are not provided from lunch time Saturday through lunchtime Sunday. The College is catered by Sodexo, and low-sodium and vegetarian meals are available. Please include any dietary restrictions in your registration form so that we can give advanced notice to Sodexo.
If you have very specific dietary restrictions (other than those that can be self-accommodated with the options provided), please also check-in with a Sodexo employee at the first meal.
During Traditional Song, Celtic and Old-Time Music & Dance Weeks we offer a full-day program for children ages 6-12, taught by Children’s Program Coordinator Melissa Hyman. This is not a program of music instruction (although music is certainly incorporated!), but a program of crafts and creativity, games, friendship, silliness, and discovery. Program activities are scheduled during Gathering class periods, and parents are responsible for their children at all other times. (This means that you drop-off before the first class period, pick-up for lunch, and then pick-up after the last class period.)
Are you instead looking for your child to take our Swannanoa Gathering music instruction courses? Children taking Swannanoa Gathering classes can be registered under their own registration.
Adult chaperones are required for those under 18 years of age.
During Old-Time Music & Dance Week, we also have an evening jam session program, “Young Old-Time”
Young players have the opportunity to get together each evening after supper for a young-folks-only hour of music and socializing facilitated by one our class instructors. The Young Old-Time band that forms at this jam session will have the opportunity to play for the square dance on Wednesday night and at the Friday class showcase! Young string players, singers, dancers, and non-musicians are all welcome.
Non-students can pay a $200 activity fee per week to gain access to all of the Gathering events except classes. This includes concerts, dances, jams, student showcases, etc. Some weeks also offer yoga or qigong classes in the mornings. If you and your non-student guest choose to live on campus, each of you would pay the shared housing & meals fee. Note: SG non-students are individuals (max of one adult per registered student) registered on a SG student’s registration and, if staying on campus, must share a room.
Camping is not permitted on campus, including car/van/RV camping. If you have an RV or trailer to park, not to sleep in/camp in, please email us to arrange a larger parking assignment.
OFF-CAMPUS LODGING: There are various hotels/motels, short-term rentals, B&Bs, and camping/RV sites in the area. Early reservations are recommended due to the popularity of the area with tourists.
Ideas: Airbnb, Vrbo, FlipKey, Expedia, HomeToGo, TripAdvisor, Agoda Homes, Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy, Sonder, Onefinestay, Outdoorsy, Kid & Coe, Vacasa, GlampingHub.com
Mama Gertie’s Hideaway Campground – back up and running post-Helene.
East Asheville KOA – back up and running, post-Helene.
Hotels, etc: Less Than 10 minutes, west of campus
Holiday Inn Asheville East-Blue Ridge Pkwy (Let them know that you’re a visitor of Warren Wilson College for a discounted rate.)
Tru by Hilton Asheville Blue Ridge Parkway
Quality Inn & Suites Biltmore East
Comfort Inn Asheville East – Blue Ridge Pkwy Access
Carolina Mornings Vacation Rentals
Various Locations Near Campus
(855) 398-0712
Looking for less traditional lodging? Carolina Mornings offers unique homes ranging from studios to 6 bedrooms in size. Pet friendly homes, hot tubs, pools, mountain views and more amenities are available!
Promo Code: WWCRENTAL
Booking Link
Hotels: 15 minutes away, east of campus
Hampton Inn Black Mountain
Peri Social House
Monte Vista Hotel
Other Lodgings, further away, with discounts for visitors to Warren Wilson College:
Cambria Hotel Downtown Asheville
15 Page Avenue, Asheville, NC, 28801
(828) 348-4850
Haywood Park Hotel
1 Battery Park Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 252-2522
During each program, we maintain a lost & found. During the summer, the lost & found is located at our attendee support office, at Sunderland 114. We hold all items through the second Monday in August.
- Car Keys are held at Sunderland 114 during that day, but are then transferred to Public Safety at 4:30 PM.
- Cell phones are held at Sunderland 114 and can be claimed between 8:30 AM and 5 PM.
- Cash, cards, valuables: are locked up by our Operations Manager. Please inquire at Sunderland 114.
- Shipping items: As our office’s capacity allows, we can ship items that are “claimed” by the second Monday in August. Postage/Shipping fees will need to be paid online, prior to the item(s) being shipped. Warren Wilson College & The Swannanoa Gathering are not responsible for lost or damaged items before or during shipping. We will not ship water bottles.
Acrostic Corner rents some stringed instruments: https://acoustic-corner.com/pages/stringed-instrument-rentals-asheville-black-mountain
Phone number: 828-669-5162
2026 Fees
Tuition $695 per week
Shared housing (with a roommate) & meals $595 per person, per week (optional)
Single housing (no roommate) An additional $300 (optional)
Non-student activities fee $200 per week
Children’s Program fee $250 per week, per child (Ages 6-12)
Meal cards can be purchased individually for those not staying in campus housing.
Meals can also be purchased individually at the door for those not staying in campus housing.
**Children 6 and under eat for free.
Contact your airline for carry-on policies, as well as the following link: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/all
Rooms are double-occupancy with communal bath facilities. Linens, towels (bath and hand), washcloth, sheets, a pillowcase, one light blanket and one pillow will all be provided. As these linens may not be what you’re used to at home, you may wish to bring an extra towel, favorite pillow and a heavier blanket. Some attendees have found that a mattress pad or twin-size foam mattress cover makes the beds more comfortable. Each room typically has two dressers, two closets, and two desks. Wireless internet is available.
Check-in is from 2 PM – 6 PM on Sunday; you can move into your room beginning at 2 PM. The cafeteria is open for dinner from 5:00 – 6:30 PM. On-site orientation for all attendees (required) begins at 7 PM. Late check-ins after 6:00 PM are only allowed in cases of emergency or extenuating circumstances. If you need to check in late, please notify the Swannanoa Gathering Office as soon as possible at gathering@warren-wilson.edu or 828-298-3434. Classes begin Monday morning at 9 AM. Check-out is on Saturday from 8 AM – 10 AM. The cafeteria is open for breakfast on Saturday morning, but not for lunch or dinner.
**Those attending two or more weeks in a row and staying on campus can stay in their same rooms through the weekend, but they will be responsible for their own meals between Saturday breakfast and Sunday dinner. These are the only Saturday stay-overs permitted.
Those with accessibility accommodation needs should include a detailed, written description of those needs in their registration form. You can contact us with any questions or to discuss further.
Students may choose to take a class during each of the offered class periods, but concentration on a few classes is strongly recommended. You can use an open class period for practice or to take a walk on the campus trails, take a nap, enjoy a yoga class, head to the gym or just sit and enjoy a new friend. Your schedule is entirely up to you!
Policies
We welcome and encourage students of all ages to attend our classes. We do not have an age limit for class participants and just ask that the student be sincerely interested in the subject and not a distraction to others. Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Adult chaperones are responsible for any housing, meal, or tuition fees, but the non-student activities fee is waived for non-student chaperones. Please refer to class descriptions to evaluate the fit of a class for a particular individual.
Our quick room turn-over needs do not allow for this.
Those registered for back-to-back weeks ARE permitted to stay in their same room for the weekend in-between the weeks registered for. The cafeteria is typically closed for Saturday Lunch & Dinner and Sunday Breakfast and Lunch, so stay-overs are responsible for their own meals during that time.
Please reach out with any questions, including if there are concerns about access to weekend meals.
Yes, if you didn’t request a parking permit in your registration form, please email our office so that we can add it to your registration. Permits will be picked up at check-in and must then be displayed in your front window while parked. Parking is only allowed in areas designated for parking. If you have a government issued/official handicapped parking tag/plate, please let us know that too.
Camping is not permitted on campus, including car/van/RV camping. If you have an RV or trailer to park, not to sleep in/camp in, please email us to arrange a larger parking assignment.
OFF-CAMPUS LODGING: There are various hotels/motels, short-term rentals, B&Bs, and camping/RV sites in the area. Early reservations are recommended due to the popularity of the area with tourists.
Ideas: Airbnb, Vrbo, FlipKey, Expedia, HomeToGo, TripAdvisor, Agoda Homes, Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy, Sonder, Onefinestay, Outdoorsy, Kid & Coe, Vacasa, GlampingHub.com
Mama Gertie’s Hideaway Campground – back up and running post-Helene.
East Asheville KOA – back up and running, post-Helene.
Hotels, etc: Less Than 10 minutes, west of campus
Holiday Inn Asheville East-Blue Ridge Pkwy (Let them know that you’re a visitor of Warren Wilson College for a discounted rate.)
Tru by Hilton Asheville Blue Ridge Parkway
Quality Inn & Suites Biltmore East
Comfort Inn Asheville East – Blue Ridge Pkwy Access
Carolina Mornings Vacation Rentals
Various Locations Near Campus
(855) 398-0712
Looking for less traditional lodging? Carolina Mornings offers unique homes ranging from studios to 6 bedrooms in size. Pet friendly homes, hot tubs, pools, mountain views and more amenities are available!
Promo Code: WWCRENTAL
Booking Link
Hotels: 15 minutes away, east of campus
Hampton Inn Black Mountain
Peri Social House
Monte Vista Hotel
Other Lodgings, further away, with discounts for visitors to Warren Wilson College:
Cambria Hotel Downtown Asheville
15 Page Avenue, Asheville, NC, 28801
(828) 348-4850
Haywood Park Hotel
1 Battery Park Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 252-2522
Those bringing children should indicate so on their registration form.
Fees will need to be adjusted, if appropriate, by our office, before full payment is made.
Scenarios for one room (two beds)
1 adult student + 1 child non-student = $595 + $300 + any applicable child meal fee
1 adult student + 2 children non-students = $595 + $300 +any applicable child meal fees (1 child will need mattress/cot, bedding, pillow provided)
1 adult + 1 child taking classes = $595 + $595 (may be slightly less depending on age of child, due to meal fees)
1 adult + 1 child taking classes + 1 child non-student = $595 + $595 + any applicable child meal fee (1 child will need mattress/cot, bedding, pillow provided)
2 adults + 1 child = $595 + $595 + any applicable child meal fee (child will need mattress/cot, bedding, pillow provided)
Scenario for two rooms located next to each other
2 adults + 1 to 4 children = $595 + $595 + ($595 for student or $300 for non-student) + ($595 for student or $300 for non-student) + applicable child meal fees (2 children will need mattresses/cots, bedding, pillow provided)
Youth Scholarships: housing/meals is included for the scholarship recipient, but any adult chaperones are responsible for their housing/meal fees.
Children 6 and under eat for free.
Should a registrant need to cancel, we can refund all monies collected other than the $100 deposit, if notified four weeks before their program begins. No refunds other than the cost of meals can be made within four weeks of the event. The deposits required for registration are processing fees credited toward tuition and not student funds held in escrow, and are thus non-refundable.
Programs
We welcome and encourage students of all ages to attend our classes. We do not have an age limit for class participants and just ask that the student be sincerely interested in the subject and not a distraction to others. Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Adult chaperones are responsible for any housing, meal, or tuition fees, but the non-student activities fee is waived for non-student chaperones. Please refer to class descriptions to evaluate the fit of a class for a particular individual.
We welcome and encourage students of all ages to attend our classes. We do not have an age limit for class participants and just ask that the student be sincerely interested in the subject and not a distraction to others. Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Adult chaperones are responsible for any housing, meal, or tuition fees, but the non-student activities fee is waived for non-student chaperones. Please refer to class descriptions to evaluate the fit of a class for a particular individual.
To register children for classes, they are registered with their own registration form. Please ensure that an email address accessible to parents/guardians is used for the registration of any minors.
After their first class meeting, students have until Monday at 6 PM to switch into another open class and are then expected to remain in those classes. You will be able to request changes through your User Page or by visiting our support office (Sunderland 114/off lobby) for assistance in submitting the request.
Each class is a five-day course of study. The classes run Monday-Friday and are held at the same time each day. So if you choose to take a 9:00 AM Fiddle class, you will meet with the class Monday-Friday at 9:00 AM in the same room. Our program’s ‘open’ format encourages students to take several courses a day. For example, a fiddle player may take a class in their instrument in the morning, then, after lunch, a dance class that uses tunes from the fiddle class, and a folklore class in the afternoon describing the cultural context in which both tunes and dances developed. How many classes you take is an individual decision. You can take from 1 to 3 or 4, depending on the week. Tuition fees are the same, regardless of how many classes that you take. Many registrants prefer to leave a class period or two open for practice.
Each class is a five-day course of study. The classes run Monday-Friday and are held at the same time each day. So if you choose to take a 9:00 AM Fiddle class, you will meet with the class Monday-Friday at 9:00 AM in the same room. Our program’s ‘open’ format encourages students to take several courses a day. For example, a fiddle player may take a class in her instrument in the morning, then, after lunch, a dance class that uses tunes from her fiddle class, and a folklore class in the afternoon describing the cultural context in which both tunes and dances developed. How many classes you take is an individual decision. You can take from 1 to 3 or 4, depending on the week.
Class limits are typically 15, but some weeks offer a few unlimited enrollment classes as well.
Classes may also have a few volunteers, staff, or scholarship students added beyond the class limit.
Once a class fills, we begin a waiting list based on a first-come, first-served policy. The earlier you get on the waiting list, the better your odds of getting off. Once a student makes a class change or cancels their registration, we offer their slot to the next person on the wait-list. Some of our busier weeks tend to fill very quickly, so we recommend registering early.
During Traditional Song, Celtic and Old-Time Music & Dance Weeks we offer a full-day program for children ages 6-12, taught by Children’s Program Coordinator Melissa Hyman. This is not a program of music instruction (although music is certainly incorporated!), but a program of crafts and creativity, games, friendship, silliness, and discovery. Program activities are scheduled during Gathering class periods, and parents are responsible for their children at all other times. (This means that you drop-off before the first class period, pick-up for lunch, and then pick-up after the last class period.)
Are you instead looking for your child to take our Swannanoa Gathering music instruction courses? Children taking Swannanoa Gathering classes can be registered under their own registration.
Adult chaperones are required for those under 18 years of age.
During Old-Time Music & Dance Week, we also have an evening jam session program, “Young Old-Time”
Young players have the opportunity to get together each evening after supper for a young-folks-only hour of music and socializing facilitated by one our class instructors. The Young Old-Time band that forms at this jam session will have the opportunity to play for the square dance on Wednesday night and at the Friday class showcase! Young string players, singers, dancers, and non-musicians are all welcome.
If you are on the wait-list for a class that is full, and a space opens up, we will offer the class in turn to each person on the list until the space is filled. Please respect those ahead of you on the wait-lists by not asking the instructor about sitting in on the class. They will simply refer you to us.
Wait-list movement varies, but there IS typically a significant amount of movement between class sign-ups and the start of the program. If you would like to know your place on a wait-list, you can reach out by email, but please refer to your User Page to check to see if you’ve been moved into a class.
Registration
Preferred payment methods:
- Online payment with Visa, MasterCard, or American Express
- Online payment with e-check
A payment link can be found on your User Page
Alternate payment methods
- Check or money order
- Made out to: The Swannanoa Gathering
- Mail to: The Swannanoa Gathering
Warren Wilson College
PO Box 9000
Asheville, NC 28815 - A $35 fee applies for checks that bounce.
- Please email our office to alert us that a check or money order has been mailed.
- Wire transfer
- Payee is responsible for any bank fees
- Please contact our office for additional information
We are unable to take payments by phone, but feel free to reach out to our office with questions or payment issues.
We welcome and encourage students of all ages to attend our classes. We do not have an age limit for class participants and just ask that the student be sincerely interested in the subject and not a distraction to others. Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Adult chaperones are responsible for any housing, meal, or tuition fees, but the non-student activities fee is waived for non-student chaperones. Please refer to class descriptions to evaluate the fit of a class for a particular individual.
We welcome and encourage students of all ages to attend our classes. We do not have an age limit for class participants and just ask that the student be sincerely interested in the subject and not a distraction to others. Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Adult chaperones are responsible for any housing, meal, or tuition fees, but the non-student activities fee is waived for non-student chaperones. Please refer to class descriptions to evaluate the fit of a class for a particular individual.
To register children for classes, they are registered with their own registration form. Please ensure that an email address accessible to parents/guardians is used for the registration of any minors.
Yes, if you didn’t request a parking permit in your registration form, please email our office so that we can add it to your registration. Permits will be picked up at check-in and must then be displayed in your front window while parked. Parking is only allowed in areas designated for parking. If you have a government issued/official handicapped parking tag/plate, please let us know that too.
Most dorm rooms do not have air conditioning. If driving, we do recommend bringing a room fan, if possible, as daytime temperatures can make the rooms warm. We have a limited number of box fans to loan out.
Depending on registration numbers, air-conditioned rooms are typically reserved for medical needs. We then prioritize those 65+. We reserve the right to require a letter from a doctor for medical needs, if needed. We may also need to limit A.C. rooms to shared/roommate scenarios, but it will depend on needs.
Your registration form has text boxes where you can communicate any medical or non-medical housing requests. Please feel free to include an A.C. request.
If you need an absolute guarantee, we recommend you look into staying off campus. There are several short-term rental options in the area, searching for “Swannanoa, NC,” as well as hotels in East Asheville and Black Mountain.
Pre-registration is pretty popular, with over half of attendees pre-registering. We don’t close registrations, but how quickly classes fill up, varies too much to reliably predict. Recently, Guitar & Contemporary Folk Week classes have filled quickly. We do use a waitlist system and there can be significant movement on waitlists up until programs begin.
Note:
Many folks choose not to fill all class periods with classes and we cannot guarantee that you will fill all class periods, unless/until they show on your schedule.
If you are unable to get into classes that you wanted and decide not to attend, as a result, our cancellation and refund policy applies. However, if you are unable to get into at least two classes, please contact our office.
During Traditional Song, Celtic and Old-Time Music & Dance Weeks we offer a full-day program for children ages 6-12, taught by Children’s Program Coordinator Melissa Hyman. This is not a program of music instruction (although music is certainly incorporated!), but a program of crafts and creativity, games, friendship, silliness, and discovery. Program activities are scheduled during Gathering class periods, and parents are responsible for their children at all other times. (This means that you drop-off before the first class period, pick-up for lunch, and then pick-up after the last class period.)
Are you instead looking for your child to take our Swannanoa Gathering music instruction courses? Children taking Swannanoa Gathering classes can be registered under their own registration.
Adult chaperones are required for those under 18 years of age.
During Old-Time Music & Dance Week, we also have an evening jam session program, “Young Old-Time”
Young players have the opportunity to get together each evening after supper for a young-folks-only hour of music and socializing facilitated by one our class instructors. The Young Old-Time band that forms at this jam session will have the opportunity to play for the square dance on Wednesday night and at the Friday class showcase! Young string players, singers, dancers, and non-musicians are all welcome.
Non-students can pay a $200 activity fee per week to gain access to all of the Gathering events except classes. This includes concerts, dances, jams, student showcases, etc. Some weeks also offer yoga or qigong classes in the mornings. If you and your non-student guest choose to live on campus, each of you would pay the shared housing & meals fee. Note: SG non-students are individuals (max of one adult per registered student) registered on a SG student’s registration and, if staying on campus, must share a room.
2026 Fees
Tuition $695 per week
Shared housing (with a roommate) & meals $595 per person, per week (optional)
Single housing (no roommate) An additional $300 (optional)
Non-student activities fee $200 per week
Children’s Program fee $250 per week, per child (Ages 6-12)
Meal cards can be purchased individually for those not staying in campus housing.
Meals can also be purchased individually at the door for those not staying in campus housing.
**Children 6 and under eat for free.
Those bringing children should indicate so on their registration form.
Fees will need to be adjusted, if appropriate, by our office, before full payment is made.
Scenarios for one room (two beds)
1 adult student + 1 child non-student = $595 + $300 + any applicable child meal fee
1 adult student + 2 children non-students = $595 + $300 +any applicable child meal fees (1 child will need mattress/cot, bedding, pillow provided)
1 adult + 1 child taking classes = $595 + $595 (may be slightly less depending on age of child, due to meal fees)
1 adult + 1 child taking classes + 1 child non-student = $595 + $595 + any applicable child meal fee (1 child will need mattress/cot, bedding, pillow provided)
2 adults + 1 child = $595 + $595 + any applicable child meal fee (child will need mattress/cot, bedding, pillow provided)
Scenario for two rooms located next to each other
2 adults + 1 to 4 children = $595 + $595 + ($595 for student or $300 for non-student) + ($595 for student or $300 for non-student) + applicable child meal fees (2 children will need mattresses/cots, bedding, pillow provided)
Youth Scholarships: housing/meals is included for the scholarship recipient, but any adult chaperones are responsible for their housing/meal fees.
Children 6 and under eat for free.
If you are on the wait-list for a class that is full, and a space opens up, we will offer the class in turn to each person on the list until the space is filled. Please respect those ahead of you on the wait-lists by not asking the instructor about sitting in on the class. They will simply refer you to us.
Wait-list movement varies, but there IS typically a significant amount of movement between class sign-ups and the start of the program. If you would like to know your place on a wait-list, you can reach out by email, but please refer to your User Page to check to see if you’ve been moved into a class.
Should a registrant need to cancel, we can refund all monies collected other than the $100 deposit, if notified four weeks before their program begins. No refunds other than the cost of meals can be made within four weeks of the event. The deposits required for registration are processing fees credited toward tuition and not student funds held in escrow, and are thus non-refundable.
Rooms are double-occupancy with communal bath facilities. Linens, towels (bath and hand), washcloth, sheets, a pillowcase, one light blanket and one pillow will all be provided. As these linens may not be what you’re used to at home, you may wish to bring an extra towel, favorite pillow and a heavier blanket. Some attendees have found that a mattress pad or twin-size foam mattress cover makes the beds more comfortable. Each room typically has two dressers, two closets, and two desks. Wireless internet is available.
Pre-registration is an opportunity to reserve a spot for our early-bird class selections, which will occur a couple of weeks after we distribute the season’s course catalog (Feb/March). You’ll pay a deposit when you pre-register, which is non-refundable. It will be applied to your tuition fee, but is otherwise considered a processing fee. The order in which you pre-register does not affect your chances at getting the classes that you want, but pre-registering at all, does.
Pre-registration and general registration require a $100 deposit, and full payment is due by May 31st to guarantee your class choices. If we are holding a space for you in a class that is full, and your balance is unpaid after May 31st, we may release that space to another student. After May 31, full payment is required at time of registration to secure any remaining spaces in the classes. Full payment includes any housing fees.
Those with accessibility accommodation needs should include a detailed, written description of those needs in their registration form. You can contact us with any questions or to discuss further.
Safety
Welcome to Black Bear Country
Black bears are a common presence on and around campus. While we can—and most often do—coexist peacefully with these furry neighbors, it is essential that we all act responsibly and vigilantly to protect both the community and the bears themselves.
Irresponsible behaviors (crowding or approaching bears, feeding bears, leaving food trash outside, etc.) could not only result in injury to yourself or a community member, but can sometimes result in bears that are so used to humans, and become so habituated that it can get them into trouble. If the N.C. Wildlife Resource Commission folks need to get involved because a bear(s) have become dangerous, from our behavior, it could have fatal results for the bear(s), as re-location is not usually a solution. No one wants that ending.
Reporting a Bear Encounter or Concern
- Immediate Danger or Irresponsible Behavior:
- Call Public Safety: (828) 230-4592
(Call 911 first if there are serious injuries)
- Call Public Safety: (828) 230-4592
If everyone is safely walking away/staying away from a bear and the bear goes on its way or is minding its own business, everyone can just go about their business and fill out the reporting form.
- Non-Emergency Bear Sighting (after the fact):
Please complete the Bear Encounter Report Form
(This helps us track and understand bear-human interactions on campus) - Casual Sightings (not requiring Public Safety):
If you see a bear on main campus and no immediate action is needed, text the location and details to: (828) 298-3434 (the SG Office)
(Especially important if bears are seen getting into trash, etc.—report form still encouraged)
Black Bear Safety
Below, is helpful information for living around black bear, but here are the key points for folks to remember:
- Ensure that all food trash is either in a bear-proof trashcan (located behind Bryson & by the Pavilion) or in an indoor trashcan. Food is typically what gets bears into the most trouble.
- Never corner a bear, always give it an escape route. This includes a bear in a tree.
- If you see a bear, move in the opposite direction immediately. Do not try to slip past it, and definitely do not stop to take pictures. Do not run.
- Bear Spray: While most locals do not carry bear spray on them, it is an option. It can be especially helpful if your dog gets into trouble with a bear. It can be found at most outdoor stores, located in bear country. Do not use pepper spray designed for humans. It can make things worse.
- At night or in a wooded area, you don’t want to be startled by a bear and they don’t want to be startled by you. Make noise to ensure that any bear know that you’re there. They can then avoid you! Sing! Talk to a friend. Play music on your phone. Talk to yourself. A flashlight can also be nice to have.
For more information on living with black Bear, visit BearWise.org
Volunteering
For our Work Exchange program, we guarantee your top two choice classes, so you not only definitely get into those classes, but we also ensure that you’re not scheduled for work hours during those periods. That is for 20 hours of work. Otherwise, if there is an opening in your schedule (which will be the same each day) and another class(es) has an opening, then there is the opportunity to sign up for more.
Children
We welcome and encourage students of all ages to attend our classes. We do not have an age limit for class participants and just ask that the student be sincerely interested in the subject and not a distraction to others. Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Adult chaperones are responsible for any housing, meal, or tuition fees, but the non-student activities fee is waived for non-student chaperones. Please refer to class descriptions to evaluate the fit of a class for a particular individual.
We welcome and encourage students of all ages to attend our classes. We do not have an age limit for class participants and just ask that the student be sincerely interested in the subject and not a distraction to others. Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Adult chaperones are responsible for any housing, meal, or tuition fees, but the non-student activities fee is waived for non-student chaperones. Please refer to class descriptions to evaluate the fit of a class for a particular individual.
To register children for classes, they are registered with their own registration form. Please ensure that an email address accessible to parents/guardians is used for the registration of any minors.
During Traditional Song, Celtic and Old-Time Music & Dance Weeks we offer a full-day program for children ages 6-12, taught by Children’s Program Coordinator Melissa Hyman. This is not a program of music instruction (although music is certainly incorporated!), but a program of crafts and creativity, games, friendship, silliness, and discovery. Program activities are scheduled during Gathering class periods, and parents are responsible for their children at all other times. (This means that you drop-off before the first class period, pick-up for lunch, and then pick-up after the last class period.)
Are you instead looking for your child to take our Swannanoa Gathering music instruction courses? Children taking Swannanoa Gathering classes can be registered under their own registration.
Adult chaperones are required for those under 18 years of age.
During Old-Time Music & Dance Week, we also have an evening jam session program, “Young Old-Time”
Young players have the opportunity to get together each evening after supper for a young-folks-only hour of music and socializing facilitated by one our class instructors. The Young Old-Time band that forms at this jam session will have the opportunity to play for the square dance on Wednesday night and at the Friday class showcase! Young string players, singers, dancers, and non-musicians are all welcome.
Those bringing children should indicate so on their registration form.
Fees will need to be adjusted, if appropriate, by our office, before full payment is made.
Scenarios for one room (two beds)
1 adult student + 1 child non-student = $595 + $300 + any applicable child meal fee
1 adult student + 2 children non-students = $595 + $300 +any applicable child meal fees (1 child will need mattress/cot, bedding, pillow provided)
1 adult + 1 child taking classes = $595 + $595 (may be slightly less depending on age of child, due to meal fees)
1 adult + 1 child taking classes + 1 child non-student = $595 + $595 + any applicable child meal fee (1 child will need mattress/cot, bedding, pillow provided)
2 adults + 1 child = $595 + $595 + any applicable child meal fee (child will need mattress/cot, bedding, pillow provided)
Scenario for two rooms located next to each other
2 adults + 1 to 4 children = $595 + $595 + ($595 for student or $300 for non-student) + ($595 for student or $300 for non-student) + applicable child meal fees (2 children will need mattresses/cots, bedding, pillow provided)
Youth Scholarships: housing/meals is included for the scholarship recipient, but any adult chaperones are responsible for their housing/meal fees.
Children 6 and under eat for free.
Concerts
Contact
During each program, we maintain a lost & found. During the summer, the lost & found is located at our attendee support office, at Sunderland 114. We hold all items through the second Monday in August.
- Car Keys are held at Sunderland 114 during that day, but are then transferred to Public Safety at 4:30 PM.
- Cell phones are held at Sunderland 114 and can be claimed between 8:30 AM and 5 PM.
- Cash, cards, valuables: are locked up by our Operations Manager. Please inquire at Sunderland 114.
- Shipping items: As our office’s capacity allows, we can ship items that are “claimed” by the second Monday in August. Postage/Shipping fees will need to be paid online, prior to the item(s) being shipped. Warren Wilson College & The Swannanoa Gathering are not responsible for lost or damaged items before or during shipping. We will not ship water bottles.
Housing
Our quick room turn-over needs do not allow for this.
Those registered for back-to-back weeks ARE permitted to stay in their same room for the weekend in-between the weeks registered for. The cafeteria is typically closed for Saturday Lunch & Dinner and Sunday Breakfast and Lunch, so stay-overs are responsible for their own meals during that time.
Please reach out with any questions, including if there are concerns about access to weekend meals.
Most dorm rooms do not have air conditioning. If driving, we do recommend bringing a room fan, if possible, as daytime temperatures can make the rooms warm. We have a limited number of box fans to loan out.
Depending on registration numbers, air-conditioned rooms are typically reserved for medical needs. We then prioritize those 65+. We reserve the right to require a letter from a doctor for medical needs, if needed. We may also need to limit A.C. rooms to shared/roommate scenarios, but it will depend on needs.
Your registration form has text boxes where you can communicate any medical or non-medical housing requests. Please feel free to include an A.C. request.
If you need an absolute guarantee, we recommend you look into staying off campus. There are several short-term rental options in the area, searching for “Swannanoa, NC,” as well as hotels in East Asheville and Black Mountain.
Meals are included in the housing fee for those staying in on-campus housing. Those staying off campus may purchase meal cards or pay for individual meals at the door. Children aged 6 and under eat for free. Meals are not provided from lunch time Saturday through lunchtime Sunday. The College is catered by Sodexo, and low-sodium and vegetarian meals are available. Please include any dietary restrictions in your registration form so that we can give advanced notice to Sodexo.
If you have very specific dietary restrictions (other than those that can be self-accommodated with the options provided), please also check-in with a Sodexo employee at the first meal.
Camping is not permitted on campus, including car/van/RV camping. If you have an RV or trailer to park, not to sleep in/camp in, please email us to arrange a larger parking assignment.
OFF-CAMPUS LODGING: There are various hotels/motels, short-term rentals, B&Bs, and camping/RV sites in the area. Early reservations are recommended due to the popularity of the area with tourists.
Ideas: Airbnb, Vrbo, FlipKey, Expedia, HomeToGo, TripAdvisor, Agoda Homes, Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy, Sonder, Onefinestay, Outdoorsy, Kid & Coe, Vacasa, GlampingHub.com
Mama Gertie’s Hideaway Campground – back up and running post-Helene.
East Asheville KOA – back up and running, post-Helene.
Hotels, etc: Less Than 10 minutes, west of campus
Holiday Inn Asheville East-Blue Ridge Pkwy (Let them know that you’re a visitor of Warren Wilson College for a discounted rate.)
Tru by Hilton Asheville Blue Ridge Parkway
Quality Inn & Suites Biltmore East
Comfort Inn Asheville East – Blue Ridge Pkwy Access
Carolina Mornings Vacation Rentals
Various Locations Near Campus
(855) 398-0712
Looking for less traditional lodging? Carolina Mornings offers unique homes ranging from studios to 6 bedrooms in size. Pet friendly homes, hot tubs, pools, mountain views and more amenities are available!
Promo Code: WWCRENTAL
Booking Link
Hotels: 15 minutes away, east of campus
Hampton Inn Black Mountain
Peri Social House
Monte Vista Hotel
Other Lodgings, further away, with discounts for visitors to Warren Wilson College:
Cambria Hotel Downtown Asheville
15 Page Avenue, Asheville, NC, 28801
(828) 348-4850
Haywood Park Hotel
1 Battery Park Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 252-2522
Those bringing children should indicate so on their registration form.
Fees will need to be adjusted, if appropriate, by our office, before full payment is made.
Scenarios for one room (two beds)
1 adult student + 1 child non-student = $595 + $300 + any applicable child meal fee
1 adult student + 2 children non-students = $595 + $300 +any applicable child meal fees (1 child will need mattress/cot, bedding, pillow provided)
1 adult + 1 child taking classes = $595 + $595 (may be slightly less depending on age of child, due to meal fees)
1 adult + 1 child taking classes + 1 child non-student = $595 + $595 + any applicable child meal fee (1 child will need mattress/cot, bedding, pillow provided)
2 adults + 1 child = $595 + $595 + any applicable child meal fee (child will need mattress/cot, bedding, pillow provided)
Scenario for two rooms located next to each other
2 adults + 1 to 4 children = $595 + $595 + ($595 for student or $300 for non-student) + ($595 for student or $300 for non-student) + applicable child meal fees (2 children will need mattresses/cots, bedding, pillow provided)
Youth Scholarships: housing/meals is included for the scholarship recipient, but any adult chaperones are responsible for their housing/meal fees.
Children 6 and under eat for free.
Rooms are double-occupancy with communal bath facilities. Linens, towels (bath and hand), washcloth, sheets, a pillowcase, one light blanket and one pillow will all be provided. As these linens may not be what you’re used to at home, you may wish to bring an extra towel, favorite pillow and a heavier blanket. Some attendees have found that a mattress pad or twin-size foam mattress cover makes the beds more comfortable. Each room typically has two dressers, two closets, and two desks. Wireless internet is available.
Those with accessibility accommodation needs should include a detailed, written description of those needs in their registration form. You can contact us with any questions or to discuss further.
Plan Your Visit
Yes, if you didn’t request a parking permit in your registration form, please email our office so that we can add it to your registration. Permits will be picked up at check-in and must then be displayed in your front window while parked. Parking is only allowed in areas designated for parking. If you have a government issued/official handicapped parking tag/plate, please let us know that too.
Most dorm rooms do not have air conditioning. If driving, we do recommend bringing a room fan, if possible, as daytime temperatures can make the rooms warm. We have a limited number of box fans to loan out.
Depending on registration numbers, air-conditioned rooms are typically reserved for medical needs. We then prioritize those 65+. We reserve the right to require a letter from a doctor for medical needs, if needed. We may also need to limit A.C. rooms to shared/roommate scenarios, but it will depend on needs.
Your registration form has text boxes where you can communicate any medical or non-medical housing requests. Please feel free to include an A.C. request.
If you need an absolute guarantee, we recommend you look into staying off campus. There are several short-term rental options in the area, searching for “Swannanoa, NC,” as well as hotels in East Asheville and Black Mountain.
We do not have a shuttle service from the airport, but here are a few resources to see your options: https://flyavl.com/groundtransportation
https://flyavl.com/GTproviders
We will also promote a rideshare link.
Meals are included in the housing fee for those staying in on-campus housing. Those staying off campus may purchase meal cards or pay for individual meals at the door. Children aged 6 and under eat for free. Meals are not provided from lunch time Saturday through lunchtime Sunday. The College is catered by Sodexo, and low-sodium and vegetarian meals are available. Please include any dietary restrictions in your registration form so that we can give advanced notice to Sodexo.
If you have very specific dietary restrictions (other than those that can be self-accommodated with the options provided), please also check-in with a Sodexo employee at the first meal.
During Traditional Song, Celtic and Old-Time Music & Dance Weeks we offer a full-day program for children ages 6-12, taught by Children’s Program Coordinator Melissa Hyman. This is not a program of music instruction (although music is certainly incorporated!), but a program of crafts and creativity, games, friendship, silliness, and discovery. Program activities are scheduled during Gathering class periods, and parents are responsible for their children at all other times. (This means that you drop-off before the first class period, pick-up for lunch, and then pick-up after the last class period.)
Are you instead looking for your child to take our Swannanoa Gathering music instruction courses? Children taking Swannanoa Gathering classes can be registered under their own registration.
Adult chaperones are required for those under 18 years of age.
During Old-Time Music & Dance Week, we also have an evening jam session program, “Young Old-Time”
Young players have the opportunity to get together each evening after supper for a young-folks-only hour of music and socializing facilitated by one our class instructors. The Young Old-Time band that forms at this jam session will have the opportunity to play for the square dance on Wednesday night and at the Friday class showcase! Young string players, singers, dancers, and non-musicians are all welcome.
Non-students can pay a $200 activity fee per week to gain access to all of the Gathering events except classes. This includes concerts, dances, jams, student showcases, etc. Some weeks also offer yoga or qigong classes in the mornings. If you and your non-student guest choose to live on campus, each of you would pay the shared housing & meals fee. Note: SG non-students are individuals (max of one adult per registered student) registered on a SG student’s registration and, if staying on campus, must share a room.
Camping is not permitted on campus, including car/van/RV camping. If you have an RV or trailer to park, not to sleep in/camp in, please email us to arrange a larger parking assignment.
OFF-CAMPUS LODGING: There are various hotels/motels, short-term rentals, B&Bs, and camping/RV sites in the area. Early reservations are recommended due to the popularity of the area with tourists.
Ideas: Airbnb, Vrbo, FlipKey, Expedia, HomeToGo, TripAdvisor, Agoda Homes, Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy, Sonder, Onefinestay, Outdoorsy, Kid & Coe, Vacasa, GlampingHub.com
Mama Gertie’s Hideaway Campground – back up and running post-Helene.
East Asheville KOA – back up and running, post-Helene.
Hotels, etc: Less Than 10 minutes, west of campus
Holiday Inn Asheville East-Blue Ridge Pkwy (Let them know that you’re a visitor of Warren Wilson College for a discounted rate.)
Tru by Hilton Asheville Blue Ridge Parkway
Quality Inn & Suites Biltmore East
Comfort Inn Asheville East – Blue Ridge Pkwy Access
Carolina Mornings Vacation Rentals
Various Locations Near Campus
(855) 398-0712
Looking for less traditional lodging? Carolina Mornings offers unique homes ranging from studios to 6 bedrooms in size. Pet friendly homes, hot tubs, pools, mountain views and more amenities are available!
Promo Code: WWCRENTAL
Booking Link
Hotels: 15 minutes away, east of campus
Hampton Inn Black Mountain
Peri Social House
Monte Vista Hotel
Other Lodgings, further away, with discounts for visitors to Warren Wilson College:
Cambria Hotel Downtown Asheville
15 Page Avenue, Asheville, NC, 28801
(828) 348-4850
Haywood Park Hotel
1 Battery Park Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 252-2522
During each program, we maintain a lost & found. During the summer, the lost & found is located at our attendee support office, at Sunderland 114. We hold all items through the second Monday in August.
- Car Keys are held at Sunderland 114 during that day, but are then transferred to Public Safety at 4:30 PM.
- Cell phones are held at Sunderland 114 and can be claimed between 8:30 AM and 5 PM.
- Cash, cards, valuables: are locked up by our Operations Manager. Please inquire at Sunderland 114.
- Shipping items: As our office’s capacity allows, we can ship items that are “claimed” by the second Monday in August. Postage/Shipping fees will need to be paid online, prior to the item(s) being shipped. Warren Wilson College & The Swannanoa Gathering are not responsible for lost or damaged items before or during shipping. We will not ship water bottles.
Acrostic Corner rents some stringed instruments: https://acoustic-corner.com/pages/stringed-instrument-rentals-asheville-black-mountain
Phone number: 828-669-5162
2026 Fees
Tuition $695 per week
Shared housing (with a roommate) & meals $595 per person, per week (optional)
Single housing (no roommate) An additional $300 (optional)
Non-student activities fee $200 per week
Children’s Program fee $250 per week, per child (Ages 6-12)
Meal cards can be purchased individually for those not staying in campus housing.
Meals can also be purchased individually at the door for those not staying in campus housing.
**Children 6 and under eat for free.
Contact your airline for carry-on policies, as well as the following link: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/all
Rooms are double-occupancy with communal bath facilities. Linens, towels (bath and hand), washcloth, sheets, a pillowcase, one light blanket and one pillow will all be provided. As these linens may not be what you’re used to at home, you may wish to bring an extra towel, favorite pillow and a heavier blanket. Some attendees have found that a mattress pad or twin-size foam mattress cover makes the beds more comfortable. Each room typically has two dressers, two closets, and two desks. Wireless internet is available.
Check-in is from 2 PM – 6 PM on Sunday; you can move into your room beginning at 2 PM. The cafeteria is open for dinner from 5:00 – 6:30 PM. On-site orientation for all attendees (required) begins at 7 PM. Late check-ins after 6:00 PM are only allowed in cases of emergency or extenuating circumstances. If you need to check in late, please notify the Swannanoa Gathering Office as soon as possible at gathering@warren-wilson.edu or 828-298-3434. Classes begin Monday morning at 9 AM. Check-out is on Saturday from 8 AM – 10 AM. The cafeteria is open for breakfast on Saturday morning, but not for lunch or dinner.
**Those attending two or more weeks in a row and staying on campus can stay in their same rooms through the weekend, but they will be responsible for their own meals between Saturday breakfast and Sunday dinner. These are the only Saturday stay-overs permitted.
Those with accessibility accommodation needs should include a detailed, written description of those needs in their registration form. You can contact us with any questions or to discuss further.
Students may choose to take a class during each of the offered class periods, but concentration on a few classes is strongly recommended. You can use an open class period for practice or to take a walk on the campus trails, take a nap, enjoy a yoga class, head to the gym or just sit and enjoy a new friend. Your schedule is entirely up to you!
Policies
We welcome and encourage students of all ages to attend our classes. We do not have an age limit for class participants and just ask that the student be sincerely interested in the subject and not a distraction to others. Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Adult chaperones are responsible for any housing, meal, or tuition fees, but the non-student activities fee is waived for non-student chaperones. Please refer to class descriptions to evaluate the fit of a class for a particular individual.
Our quick room turn-over needs do not allow for this.
Those registered for back-to-back weeks ARE permitted to stay in their same room for the weekend in-between the weeks registered for. The cafeteria is typically closed for Saturday Lunch & Dinner and Sunday Breakfast and Lunch, so stay-overs are responsible for their own meals during that time.
Please reach out with any questions, including if there are concerns about access to weekend meals.
Yes, if you didn’t request a parking permit in your registration form, please email our office so that we can add it to your registration. Permits will be picked up at check-in and must then be displayed in your front window while parked. Parking is only allowed in areas designated for parking. If you have a government issued/official handicapped parking tag/plate, please let us know that too.
Camping is not permitted on campus, including car/van/RV camping. If you have an RV or trailer to park, not to sleep in/camp in, please email us to arrange a larger parking assignment.
OFF-CAMPUS LODGING: There are various hotels/motels, short-term rentals, B&Bs, and camping/RV sites in the area. Early reservations are recommended due to the popularity of the area with tourists.
Ideas: Airbnb, Vrbo, FlipKey, Expedia, HomeToGo, TripAdvisor, Agoda Homes, Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy, Sonder, Onefinestay, Outdoorsy, Kid & Coe, Vacasa, GlampingHub.com
Mama Gertie’s Hideaway Campground – back up and running post-Helene.
East Asheville KOA – back up and running, post-Helene.
Hotels, etc: Less Than 10 minutes, west of campus
Holiday Inn Asheville East-Blue Ridge Pkwy (Let them know that you’re a visitor of Warren Wilson College for a discounted rate.)
Tru by Hilton Asheville Blue Ridge Parkway
Quality Inn & Suites Biltmore East
Comfort Inn Asheville East – Blue Ridge Pkwy Access
Carolina Mornings Vacation Rentals
Various Locations Near Campus
(855) 398-0712
Looking for less traditional lodging? Carolina Mornings offers unique homes ranging from studios to 6 bedrooms in size. Pet friendly homes, hot tubs, pools, mountain views and more amenities are available!
Promo Code: WWCRENTAL
Booking Link
Hotels: 15 minutes away, east of campus
Hampton Inn Black Mountain
Peri Social House
Monte Vista Hotel
Other Lodgings, further away, with discounts for visitors to Warren Wilson College:
Cambria Hotel Downtown Asheville
15 Page Avenue, Asheville, NC, 28801
(828) 348-4850
Haywood Park Hotel
1 Battery Park Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 252-2522
Those bringing children should indicate so on their registration form.
Fees will need to be adjusted, if appropriate, by our office, before full payment is made.
Scenarios for one room (two beds)
1 adult student + 1 child non-student = $595 + $300 + any applicable child meal fee
1 adult student + 2 children non-students = $595 + $300 +any applicable child meal fees (1 child will need mattress/cot, bedding, pillow provided)
1 adult + 1 child taking classes = $595 + $595 (may be slightly less depending on age of child, due to meal fees)
1 adult + 1 child taking classes + 1 child non-student = $595 + $595 + any applicable child meal fee (1 child will need mattress/cot, bedding, pillow provided)
2 adults + 1 child = $595 + $595 + any applicable child meal fee (child will need mattress/cot, bedding, pillow provided)
Scenario for two rooms located next to each other
2 adults + 1 to 4 children = $595 + $595 + ($595 for student or $300 for non-student) + ($595 for student or $300 for non-student) + applicable child meal fees (2 children will need mattresses/cots, bedding, pillow provided)
Youth Scholarships: housing/meals is included for the scholarship recipient, but any adult chaperones are responsible for their housing/meal fees.
Children 6 and under eat for free.
Should a registrant need to cancel, we can refund all monies collected other than the $100 deposit, if notified four weeks before their program begins. No refunds other than the cost of meals can be made within four weeks of the event. The deposits required for registration are processing fees credited toward tuition and not student funds held in escrow, and are thus non-refundable.
Programs
We welcome and encourage students of all ages to attend our classes. We do not have an age limit for class participants and just ask that the student be sincerely interested in the subject and not a distraction to others. Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Adult chaperones are responsible for any housing, meal, or tuition fees, but the non-student activities fee is waived for non-student chaperones. Please refer to class descriptions to evaluate the fit of a class for a particular individual.
We welcome and encourage students of all ages to attend our classes. We do not have an age limit for class participants and just ask that the student be sincerely interested in the subject and not a distraction to others. Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Adult chaperones are responsible for any housing, meal, or tuition fees, but the non-student activities fee is waived for non-student chaperones. Please refer to class descriptions to evaluate the fit of a class for a particular individual.
To register children for classes, they are registered with their own registration form. Please ensure that an email address accessible to parents/guardians is used for the registration of any minors.
After their first class meeting, students have until Monday at 6 PM to switch into another open class and are then expected to remain in those classes. You will be able to request changes through your User Page or by visiting our support office (Sunderland 114/off lobby) for assistance in submitting the request.
Each class is a five-day course of study. The classes run Monday-Friday and are held at the same time each day. So if you choose to take a 9:00 AM Fiddle class, you will meet with the class Monday-Friday at 9:00 AM in the same room. Our program’s ‘open’ format encourages students to take several courses a day. For example, a fiddle player may take a class in their instrument in the morning, then, after lunch, a dance class that uses tunes from the fiddle class, and a folklore class in the afternoon describing the cultural context in which both tunes and dances developed. How many classes you take is an individual decision. You can take from 1 to 3 or 4, depending on the week. Tuition fees are the same, regardless of how many classes that you take. Many registrants prefer to leave a class period or two open for practice.
Each class is a five-day course of study. The classes run Monday-Friday and are held at the same time each day. So if you choose to take a 9:00 AM Fiddle class, you will meet with the class Monday-Friday at 9:00 AM in the same room. Our program’s ‘open’ format encourages students to take several courses a day. For example, a fiddle player may take a class in her instrument in the morning, then, after lunch, a dance class that uses tunes from her fiddle class, and a folklore class in the afternoon describing the cultural context in which both tunes and dances developed. How many classes you take is an individual decision. You can take from 1 to 3 or 4, depending on the week.
Class limits are typically 15, but some weeks offer a few unlimited enrollment classes as well.
Classes may also have a few volunteers, staff, or scholarship students added beyond the class limit.
Once a class fills, we begin a waiting list based on a first-come, first-served policy. The earlier you get on the waiting list, the better your odds of getting off. Once a student makes a class change or cancels their registration, we offer their slot to the next person on the wait-list. Some of our busier weeks tend to fill very quickly, so we recommend registering early.
During Traditional Song, Celtic and Old-Time Music & Dance Weeks we offer a full-day program for children ages 6-12, taught by Children’s Program Coordinator Melissa Hyman. This is not a program of music instruction (although music is certainly incorporated!), but a program of crafts and creativity, games, friendship, silliness, and discovery. Program activities are scheduled during Gathering class periods, and parents are responsible for their children at all other times. (This means that you drop-off before the first class period, pick-up for lunch, and then pick-up after the last class period.)
Are you instead looking for your child to take our Swannanoa Gathering music instruction courses? Children taking Swannanoa Gathering classes can be registered under their own registration.
Adult chaperones are required for those under 18 years of age.
During Old-Time Music & Dance Week, we also have an evening jam session program, “Young Old-Time”
Young players have the opportunity to get together each evening after supper for a young-folks-only hour of music and socializing facilitated by one our class instructors. The Young Old-Time band that forms at this jam session will have the opportunity to play for the square dance on Wednesday night and at the Friday class showcase! Young string players, singers, dancers, and non-musicians are all welcome.
If you are on the wait-list for a class that is full, and a space opens up, we will offer the class in turn to each person on the list until the space is filled. Please respect those ahead of you on the wait-lists by not asking the instructor about sitting in on the class. They will simply refer you to us.
Wait-list movement varies, but there IS typically a significant amount of movement between class sign-ups and the start of the program. If you would like to know your place on a wait-list, you can reach out by email, but please refer to your User Page to check to see if you’ve been moved into a class.
Registration
Preferred payment methods:
- Online payment with Visa, MasterCard, or American Express
- Online payment with e-check
A payment link can be found on your User Page
Alternate payment methods
- Check or money order
- Made out to: The Swannanoa Gathering
- Mail to: The Swannanoa Gathering
Warren Wilson College
PO Box 9000
Asheville, NC 28815 - A $35 fee applies for checks that bounce.
- Please email our office to alert us that a check or money order has been mailed.
- Wire transfer
- Payee is responsible for any bank fees
- Please contact our office for additional information
We are unable to take payments by phone, but feel free to reach out to our office with questions or payment issues.
We welcome and encourage students of all ages to attend our classes. We do not have an age limit for class participants and just ask that the student be sincerely interested in the subject and not a distraction to others. Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Adult chaperones are responsible for any housing, meal, or tuition fees, but the non-student activities fee is waived for non-student chaperones. Please refer to class descriptions to evaluate the fit of a class for a particular individual.
We welcome and encourage students of all ages to attend our classes. We do not have an age limit for class participants and just ask that the student be sincerely interested in the subject and not a distraction to others. Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Adult chaperones are responsible for any housing, meal, or tuition fees, but the non-student activities fee is waived for non-student chaperones. Please refer to class descriptions to evaluate the fit of a class for a particular individual.
To register children for classes, they are registered with their own registration form. Please ensure that an email address accessible to parents/guardians is used for the registration of any minors.
Yes, if you didn’t request a parking permit in your registration form, please email our office so that we can add it to your registration. Permits will be picked up at check-in and must then be displayed in your front window while parked. Parking is only allowed in areas designated for parking. If you have a government issued/official handicapped parking tag/plate, please let us know that too.
Most dorm rooms do not have air conditioning. If driving, we do recommend bringing a room fan, if possible, as daytime temperatures can make the rooms warm. We have a limited number of box fans to loan out.
Depending on registration numbers, air-conditioned rooms are typically reserved for medical needs. We then prioritize those 65+. We reserve the right to require a letter from a doctor for medical needs, if needed. We may also need to limit A.C. rooms to shared/roommate scenarios, but it will depend on needs.
Your registration form has text boxes where you can communicate any medical or non-medical housing requests. Please feel free to include an A.C. request.
If you need an absolute guarantee, we recommend you look into staying off campus. There are several short-term rental options in the area, searching for “Swannanoa, NC,” as well as hotels in East Asheville and Black Mountain.
Pre-registration is pretty popular, with over half of attendees pre-registering. We don’t close registrations, but how quickly classes fill up, varies too much to reliably predict. Recently, Guitar & Contemporary Folk Week classes have filled quickly. We do use a waitlist system and there can be significant movement on waitlists up until programs begin.
Note:
Many folks choose not to fill all class periods with classes and we cannot guarantee that you will fill all class periods, unless/until they show on your schedule.
If you are unable to get into classes that you wanted and decide not to attend, as a result, our cancellation and refund policy applies. However, if you are unable to get into at least two classes, please contact our office.
During Traditional Song, Celtic and Old-Time Music & Dance Weeks we offer a full-day program for children ages 6-12, taught by Children’s Program Coordinator Melissa Hyman. This is not a program of music instruction (although music is certainly incorporated!), but a program of crafts and creativity, games, friendship, silliness, and discovery. Program activities are scheduled during Gathering class periods, and parents are responsible for their children at all other times. (This means that you drop-off before the first class period, pick-up for lunch, and then pick-up after the last class period.)
Are you instead looking for your child to take our Swannanoa Gathering music instruction courses? Children taking Swannanoa Gathering classes can be registered under their own registration.
Adult chaperones are required for those under 18 years of age.
During Old-Time Music & Dance Week, we also have an evening jam session program, “Young Old-Time”
Young players have the opportunity to get together each evening after supper for a young-folks-only hour of music and socializing facilitated by one our class instructors. The Young Old-Time band that forms at this jam session will have the opportunity to play for the square dance on Wednesday night and at the Friday class showcase! Young string players, singers, dancers, and non-musicians are all welcome.
Non-students can pay a $200 activity fee per week to gain access to all of the Gathering events except classes. This includes concerts, dances, jams, student showcases, etc. Some weeks also offer yoga or qigong classes in the mornings. If you and your non-student guest choose to live on campus, each of you would pay the shared housing & meals fee. Note: SG non-students are individuals (max of one adult per registered student) registered on a SG student’s registration and, if staying on campus, must share a room.
2026 Fees
Tuition $695 per week
Shared housing (with a roommate) & meals $595 per person, per week (optional)
Single housing (no roommate) An additional $300 (optional)
Non-student activities fee $200 per week
Children’s Program fee $250 per week, per child (Ages 6-12)
Meal cards can be purchased individually for those not staying in campus housing.
Meals can also be purchased individually at the door for those not staying in campus housing.
**Children 6 and under eat for free.
Those bringing children should indicate so on their registration form.
Fees will need to be adjusted, if appropriate, by our office, before full payment is made.
Scenarios for one room (two beds)
1 adult student + 1 child non-student = $595 + $300 + any applicable child meal fee
1 adult student + 2 children non-students = $595 + $300 +any applicable child meal fees (1 child will need mattress/cot, bedding, pillow provided)
1 adult + 1 child taking classes = $595 + $595 (may be slightly less depending on age of child, due to meal fees)
1 adult + 1 child taking classes + 1 child non-student = $595 + $595 + any applicable child meal fee (1 child will need mattress/cot, bedding, pillow provided)
2 adults + 1 child = $595 + $595 + any applicable child meal fee (child will need mattress/cot, bedding, pillow provided)
Scenario for two rooms located next to each other
2 adults + 1 to 4 children = $595 + $595 + ($595 for student or $300 for non-student) + ($595 for student or $300 for non-student) + applicable child meal fees (2 children will need mattresses/cots, bedding, pillow provided)
Youth Scholarships: housing/meals is included for the scholarship recipient, but any adult chaperones are responsible for their housing/meal fees.
Children 6 and under eat for free.
If you are on the wait-list for a class that is full, and a space opens up, we will offer the class in turn to each person on the list until the space is filled. Please respect those ahead of you on the wait-lists by not asking the instructor about sitting in on the class. They will simply refer you to us.
Wait-list movement varies, but there IS typically a significant amount of movement between class sign-ups and the start of the program. If you would like to know your place on a wait-list, you can reach out by email, but please refer to your User Page to check to see if you’ve been moved into a class.
Should a registrant need to cancel, we can refund all monies collected other than the $100 deposit, if notified four weeks before their program begins. No refunds other than the cost of meals can be made within four weeks of the event. The deposits required for registration are processing fees credited toward tuition and not student funds held in escrow, and are thus non-refundable.
Rooms are double-occupancy with communal bath facilities. Linens, towels (bath and hand), washcloth, sheets, a pillowcase, one light blanket and one pillow will all be provided. As these linens may not be what you’re used to at home, you may wish to bring an extra towel, favorite pillow and a heavier blanket. Some attendees have found that a mattress pad or twin-size foam mattress cover makes the beds more comfortable. Each room typically has two dressers, two closets, and two desks. Wireless internet is available.
Pre-registration is an opportunity to reserve a spot for our early-bird class selections, which will occur a couple of weeks after we distribute the season’s course catalog (Feb/March). You’ll pay a deposit when you pre-register, which is non-refundable. It will be applied to your tuition fee, but is otherwise considered a processing fee. The order in which you pre-register does not affect your chances at getting the classes that you want, but pre-registering at all, does.
Pre-registration and general registration require a $100 deposit, and full payment is due by May 31st to guarantee your class choices. If we are holding a space for you in a class that is full, and your balance is unpaid after May 31st, we may release that space to another student. After May 31, full payment is required at time of registration to secure any remaining spaces in the classes. Full payment includes any housing fees.
Those with accessibility accommodation needs should include a detailed, written description of those needs in their registration form. You can contact us with any questions or to discuss further.
Safety
Welcome to Black Bear Country
Black bears are a common presence on and around campus. While we can—and most often do—coexist peacefully with these furry neighbors, it is essential that we all act responsibly and vigilantly to protect both the community and the bears themselves.
Irresponsible behaviors (crowding or approaching bears, feeding bears, leaving food trash outside, etc.) could not only result in injury to yourself or a community member, but can sometimes result in bears that are so used to humans, and become so habituated that it can get them into trouble. If the N.C. Wildlife Resource Commission folks need to get involved because a bear(s) have become dangerous, from our behavior, it could have fatal results for the bear(s), as re-location is not usually a solution. No one wants that ending.
Reporting a Bear Encounter or Concern
- Immediate Danger or Irresponsible Behavior:
- Call Public Safety: (828) 230-4592
(Call 911 first if there are serious injuries)
- Call Public Safety: (828) 230-4592
If everyone is safely walking away/staying away from a bear and the bear goes on its way or is minding its own business, everyone can just go about their business and fill out the reporting form.
- Non-Emergency Bear Sighting (after the fact):
Please complete the Bear Encounter Report Form
(This helps us track and understand bear-human interactions on campus) - Casual Sightings (not requiring Public Safety):
If you see a bear on main campus and no immediate action is needed, text the location and details to: (828) 298-3434 (the SG Office)
(Especially important if bears are seen getting into trash, etc.—report form still encouraged)
Black Bear Safety
Below, is helpful information for living around black bear, but here are the key points for folks to remember:
- Ensure that all food trash is either in a bear-proof trashcan (located behind Bryson & by the Pavilion) or in an indoor trashcan. Food is typically what gets bears into the most trouble.
- Never corner a bear, always give it an escape route. This includes a bear in a tree.
- If you see a bear, move in the opposite direction immediately. Do not try to slip past it, and definitely do not stop to take pictures. Do not run.
- Bear Spray: While most locals do not carry bear spray on them, it is an option. It can be especially helpful if your dog gets into trouble with a bear. It can be found at most outdoor stores, located in bear country. Do not use pepper spray designed for humans. It can make things worse.
- At night or in a wooded area, you don’t want to be startled by a bear and they don’t want to be startled by you. Make noise to ensure that any bear know that you’re there. They can then avoid you! Sing! Talk to a friend. Play music on your phone. Talk to yourself. A flashlight can also be nice to have.
For more information on living with black Bear, visit BearWise.org
Volunteering
For our Work Exchange program, we guarantee your top two choice classes, so you not only definitely get into those classes, but we also ensure that you’re not scheduled for work hours during those periods. That is for 20 hours of work. Otherwise, if there is an opening in your schedule (which will be the same each day) and another class(es) has an opening, then there is the opportunity to sign up for more.