I can't speak for experience actually living there, but it's been my observation that any city, town or place that attracts that many artists and craftspeople has GOT to be good on a number of levels. And I would imagine that includes more open acceptance of beliefs like paganism.

I'm in Asheville! I love it here (lived here 3 years now, originally from Connecticut).

There are lots of good things to say for Asheville. The nature and mountains are phenomenally beautiful, we get four distinct seasons, but a tolerably short and somewhat mild winter, and a warm but not-too-hot, long summer. There are drum circles with huge crowds every Friday, and lots of great local and touring music. Cost of living is pleasantly reasonable. People are friendly and interesting.

There are tons of hippies in Asheville.

There are definitely plenty of queers.

The main bad ... tragically, at least in the downtown nightlife, there are very, very, very, very, very few queer hippies or bohemians/alternative people of any sort among the gay conformists. Unfortunately, the gay boys have some sort of reaction (my theory) to the Southern prejudices that do somewhat leak into this otherwise extremely liberal city. Somehow they think that if they ALL wear Abercrombie things will be better. I disagree.

Peace and Love,
Ryvr

Asheville is an amazing place!! the crunchy boys rock out in the hills.