SoCon Week in Asheville Approaching Fast
Tickets Available Online for an Exciting Slate of Events
SPARTANBURG, SC – An exciting, fun-filled week in early March is only one month away and tickets for a variety of events for SoCon Week in Asheville are available for purchase online.
The activities begin on Thursday, March 5, with the Ingles SoCon Basketball Championships beginning that morning at Harrah’s Cherokee Center-Asheville. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.com , the iHeart Media Asheville Box Office at Harrah's Cherokee Center-Asheville, and the ticket offices of participating SoCon member institutions.
The SoCon Hall of Fame Ceremony at the SoCon Soiree, presented by Explore Asheville, is also set for Thursday, March 5, at Battery Park Hall. Doors open at 7:00 pm and tickets can be purchased here . The 2026 Hall of Fame Class features Georgia Southern football coach Paul Johnson (1997-2001), The Citadel football and longtime pro football broadcaster Paul Maguire (1957-1959), Davidson men’s basketball coach Bob McKillop (1992-2014), Furman women’s basketball standout and coach Jackie Smith Carson (1996-2000, 2010-2023), and App State men’s soccer legend – who remains the all-time scoring leader in NCAA Division I soccer history – Thompson Usiyan (1977-1980). The iconic 2007 App State football team will also be inducted.
The 2026 SoCon Business Leader Forum, presented by Explore Asheville, is March 6, at 3:00 pm inside Battery Park Hall and this year’s speaker holds a special place in the hearts of Western North Carolina. Naismith Hall of Famer and native son Roy Williams will provide candid insights on topics ranging from high-performing and resilient teams, leading with empathy and integrity, and driving sustained success through change and adversity. Tickets for the Business Leader Forum are $75, with all proceeds benefitting the Always Asheville Fund. Those tickets can be purchased here .
Longtime broadcaster Mick Mixon will serve as emcee for both the Hall of Fame Ceremony and the Business Leader Forum.
The Explore Asheville SoCon Wrestling Championships begin on March 6 as well, with preliminary rounds starting at 10:00 am inside Kimmell Arena on the UNC Asheville campus. The tournament runs through Saturday. Tickets for all sessions, VIP tickets, or individual tickets for each day are available here .
On Saturday, March 7, the annual Downtown Dribble & KidsFest presented by Champion Credit Union returns Roger McGuire Green at Pack Square Park. Festivities feature inflatables, pep bands, cheerleaders, and, of course, the Downtown Dribble parade, which starts at Roger McGuire Green and ends at the Harrah's Cherokee Center-Asheville. Each participant will receive a basketball, a Downtown Dribble t-shirt, and a ticket to the Noon session quarterfinal basketball games. Parents can purchase a discounted ticket at registration for $15.00. Tickets can be purchased in advance through the Harrah's Cherokee Center-Asheville Box Office. Check-in will begin at 9:30 a.m. at Pack Square Park, with the Downtown Dribble Parade starting at 11:15 a.m.
For more information on tickets for SoCon events, visit SoConTickets.com .