This week on The Mountain Magnolia Show, I sit down with Jennifer Pickering, the visionary behind LEAF Festival and LEAF Global Arts, as the beloved fall festival celebrates its 30th anniversary at Lake Eden in Black Mountain, North Carolina on October 16-19th, 2025.

Jennifer shares the inspiring story of LEAF’s founding — how a dream of creating a place where families could connect with world cultures blossomed into one of WNC’s most cherished community traditions.

We talked about the festival’s theme this year — “Live Life Like a Festival” — which is also the title of Jennifer’s upcoming book capturing 30 years of heartfelt conversations, global art, and connection.

She reflects on the spirit of resilience and rebuilding that defines this year’s celebration, and shares touching stories like the creation of the Luminary Ceremony, held Saturday night ( Oct 18th) at 7 p.m. — a moment of silence and light honoring those who have passed, reminding us who we walk with and whose footsteps we follow.

Highlights:

• The origins of LEAF and its global cultural impact

• The beauty and meaning of the Luminary Ceremony

• The 2025 Poetry Slam — one of the world’s longest-running slams, hosted by James Navé

• Jennifer’s personal reflections on Lake Eden’s magic and community

~ Learn more & get tickets: https://theleaf.org

~View the lineup: https://theleaf.org/leaf-october-festival/

"Stay curious and treasure those cultural traditions — that’s the sweetness of life.” – Jennifer Pickering

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