The inaugural HempX festival, which takes place at Highland Brewing Co., on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 18-19, has announced a full schedule of events.

Here is the press release from organizers:

HempX, a collaboration between Adapt, Highland Brewing Company and Asheville Event Co., is the first event of its kind in the state of North Carolina. The goal of HempX is to help educate the public about the many uses and benefits of industrial hemp. Organizers are excited to announce event specifics, including speakers, panelists, vendors and live music.

The two-day event kicks off at noon on Friday, September 18th, with A Taste of Hemp. Spearheaded by Plant Restaurant chef/owner Jason Sellers, A Taste of Hemp will offer a variety of small bites made with hemp seed, hemp oil, and hemp flour. Considered by nutritionists to be one of nature’s “most perfect foods,” hemp seed is loaded with all 20 amino acids (including the nine essential), and is rich in protein, omega-fatty acids and fiber.

A Taste of Hemp is the only ticketed event at HempX. Tickets are $20 and include all food and beverage. All proceeds benefit Accelerating Appalachia. Tickets may be purchased at Plant Restaurant or online at https://www.eventbrite.com/myevent?eid=18203930446

Friday’s panel discussion, Hemp and the Future of the Family Farm, will be moderated by Preston Whitfield, a Board Member of the American Hemp Association and longtime hemp activist. Panelists include Mike Lewis, Founder of Growing Warriors and the first US citizen permitted to grow hemp again; Sara Day Evans, Founding Director of Accelerating Appalachia and Co-Founder of Prosperity Collective; David Schmitt, COO, Industrial Hemp Manufacturing, LLC; and Chad Oliphant, Co-Owner of Smiling Hara Tempeh.

After the panel it’s all about live music with Woody Wood in the Tasting Room, followed by surf-a-billy rock band Red Honey on the Highland Outdoor Stage. Bluegrass fusion band Brushfire Stankgrass takes the stage at 6:30, with Raleigh jam band Urban Soil ending the evening with their sweet Americana rock and soul blend.

Saturday’s events begin at 1:00 p.m. with the Food/Fuel/Fiber Expo in the Highland Meadow. Over 15 hemp-friendly businesses and organizations will be exhibiting their products and providing information. There is also a full schedule of live music, presentations, and fun activities for families and kids all afternoon.

The first Saturday panel is HempUSA: Construction/Clothing/Consumers. Moderated by Preston Whitfield, the discussion features Tim Callahan, Chief Designer at Alembic Studio, an architectural firm that specializes in hempcrete design and building; Stephanie Teague, Owner of Pretty Birdie, a hemp clothing company based in Greensboro, NC; and Leah McGrath, Corporate Dietitian for Ingles Markets. The event will also feature a hemp fashion show with designs by Pretty Birdie.

Immediately following is Emerging Technologies of Hemp, a presentation by Richard Rose. Rose is the founder of the Medicinal Hemp Association, author of The Hemp Nut Cookbook, and one of the acknowledged fathers of the hemp movement in the United States.

Saturday’s musical highlights include Devils and Dust, Key West’s Micah Gardner and the Bar Stool Sailors, electronic instrumentalist Thunderdrums, and a highly anticipated reunion of Count Clovis.

HempX Asheville is sponsored by The North Carolina Industrial Hemp Association (NCIHA), Canna Energy and Industrial Hemp Manufacturing, LLC. All event proceeds benefit Accelerating Appalachia.

For more information and a full schedule of activities and music, visit www.hempxasheville.com