This 2 day indoor holiday market will feature 20 local artists and small businesses. Watercolor paintings, wire bonsai tree art, jewelry, organic clothing, natural home cleaning products, locally sourced seasonings and herbs, leather goods, home décor and much more! Event will also offer a drawing for a raffle basket filled with products from all of the vendors!
Dec 13th 5pm-8pm AND Dec 14th 10am-2pm

Explore Asheville’s historical gems, flourishing neighborhoods, and latest attractions. Tourist, local, or new to town, this is a lively small group activity that anyone can enjoy. Lace up your walking shoes and get ready to experience the city like you never have before. Snap pics, race against the clock, and put your navigation skills to the test as you wander at your own pace. No reservations, no tour guides, and fun for all ages.

For the month of December, Asheville Yoga Center (AYC) will be supporting Carolina Resource Center for Eating Disorders (CRC for ED). Beginning December 1st, there will be donation boxes in AYC’s studio and boutique locations for monetary contributions. On December 26th, 10% of drop-in and community-class sales will be donated (along with a generous $250 direct donation from AYC!), to the CRC for ED General Fund for the distribution to the various programs of the organization.

We are excited to bring back two very popular Personal Training specials through the end of the year! From now through December 31st, we are pleased to offer new YWCA Fitness and Aquatics Center members 2 free Personal Training Sessions as a sign-up bonus, and all members are entitled to 20% off Personal Training packages!  Our team of Certified Personal Trainers offer support, motivation, and accountability to help you reach your personal health and fitness goals. Together with your trainer, you will create and implement an individualized exercise plan for proper form, function, and results. To sign up, inquire at the Guest Services desk or on our website.
 

Giving Challenge Issued: Gifts to Pisgah Legal Services Matched Through Dec. 31

To help meet the needs here in our mountain region, generous donors have created the “Campaign for Justice in WNC” Giving Challenge. All gifts made to Pisgah Legal Services by December 31^st will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, up to $150,000.

Giving online is fast, easy and secure at www.pisgahlegal.org/give or contact Development Director Ally Wilson by phone at 828-210-3444 or via email: [email protected]

If you need help, call Pisgah Legal Services at 828-253-0406 or toll free at 800-489-6144 or visit www.pisgahlegal.org.

Across the country, schoolchildren place their hands over their hearts and recite “with liberty and justice for all,” an ideal in the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance professing that justice should be accessible to everyone. In criminal cases, legal assistance is a right. Unfortunately, there is no such right to counsel in civil legal matters, and most low-income Americans are forced to go it alone.

A recent study by The Pew Charitable Trusts shows that about 1 in 3 households in the U.S. faced housing, family or debt issues in 2018, suggesting that Americans could benefit from more assistance with civil legal issues. Those numbers increase dramatically for low-income people. A 2017 study shows that 86 percent of civil legal problems reported by low-income Americans received inadequate or no legal help.

Pisgah Legal Services Stands for Justice for People in Western North Carolina (WNC)

For more than 40 years, nonprofit Pisgah Legal Services (PLS) has provided free civil legal aid to help low-income people seek justice and meet their basic needs. 

“Folks who live in low-income households regularly experience problems that can be addressed with a civil legal aid attorney by their side: stopping domestic violence, accessing veterans’ benefits, escaping poor housing conditions, and securing health care for example,” says Pisgah Legal Executive Director Jim Barrett.

He continues, “Lawyers are powerful allies who can tackle the issues that keep people locked into poverty, trapped in abusive situations and living in substandard conditions, but we need support from the community to do so. We hope folks will make a gift to help their neighbors in need by the end of the year, because at Pisgah Legal we believe that justice is for everyone, not just those who can afford it.”

Last year PLS served more than 16,800 people across the mountain region. The nonprofit’s main service area includes eight WNC counties, with offices in Asheville, Brevard, Hendersonville, Marshall, Rutherfordton and Spruce Pine. PLS has 27 attorneys on staff and relies heavily on the pro bono legal services of more than 300 volunteer attorneys.

November 29
Downtown Street Lighting & Santa’s Arrival
5:00pm  
The lighting of downtown holiday lights and Santa’s arrival kick off the holiday season in Downtown Hendersonville.  The evening features entertainment, sing-along, hot chocolate and a visit from Santa Claus at the Historic Courthouse on Main Street. Click for more information Downtown Hendersonville

November 8 – 17
Flat Rock Playhouse presents:  “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe”
Four kids travel through a wardrobe to the land of Narnia and learn of their destiny to free it with the guidance of a mystical lion! The play was based on the novel by C. S. Lewis. 828-693-0731 Click for tickets Flat Rock Playhouse

November 29 – December 23
Peppermint the Bear Scavenger Hunt
Free
Peppermint Bear will take you on a fun-filled bear hunt through downtown Hendersonville looking for her cubs.  As you search for the cubs, visit at least 12 of the 22 downtown participating businesses to be eligible for prizes. Complete the entry form in the brochure and drop it in Peppermint’s mailbox, located in front of the Visitor Center, by December 23rd. For more details about the Scavenger Hunt, stop by the Visitor Center at 201 South Main Street.

December 7
Hendersonville Christmas Parade
10:00am
A traditional hometown Christmas parade travels along Main Street from Five Points to Caswell Street. Sponsored by the Hendersonville Merchants & Business Association. This year’s theme is the “The Magic of Christmas”. Visit the Hendersonville Merchants & Business Association web site to download a Parade application. 828-692-4179

November 29 – December 22
Flat Rock Playhouse Mainstage presents:  “A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas”
An all-new Christmas production follows up last year’s smash holiday hit. This original musical revue performed by your favorite Flat Rock Playhouse singers and dancers is filled with holiday cheer. Celebrate the holidays Vagabonds style!  Click for tickets Flat Rock Playhouse

December 6
Olde Fashioned Hendersonville Christmas
Main Street / 5pm – 8pm
The Downtown merchants open their doors and invite holiday shoppers in with a festive window displays, decorations, caroling, music, and refreshments. 828-697-2232.

December 8
Holiday Tour of Historic Inns and Cookie Caper
1pm-4pm
$20
The Holiday Tour of Historic Inns and Cookie Caper is a self-guided tour of several inns and the Cookie Caper part of the tour is a delicious Christmas treat at each inn. The inns on tour include the 1898 Waverly Inn, Charleston Inn, Mill House Lodge, Echo Mountain Inn and Brightwaters Guesthouse. 828-697-3010

December 18 – January 1
Iceless Skating Rink
Regular Hours 11am-6pm, EXCEPT Christmas Eve 11am-3pm, Christmas Day Closed, New Year’s Eve 11am-3pm, and New Year’s Day from 1pm-6pm
Admission: $10, Children 10 & under $5 (payment by cash or check only)
Enjoy ice-skating in Downtown Hendersonville this holiday season. The  iceless rink is located at the Visitor Center on South Main Street. The synthetic surface is made from special polymers that does not require liquid, so it can be enjoyed year-round in any temperature.  A curling lane is also available. Curling involves players sliding stones on the ice towards a target. Play a variety of free games while you wait your turn on the ice. Skate rental included in admission price. Admission: $10, Children $5 for ages 10 & under, with group rates available for groups of 10 or more, but must call to reserve a time for groups, $5 for for 30 minutes of curling. Regular Hours 11am-6pm, EXCEPT Christmas Eve 11am-3pm, Christmas Day Closed, New Year’s Eve 11am-3pm, and New Year’s Day from 1pm-6pm. Operates weather permitting. Benefits the Henderson County America In Bloom Program, 828-768-4413 To learn more go to: Henderson County America in Bloom

December 20 – 22
Main Street Holiday Hayrides
5pm – 8pm
Free
Take a magical hayride through Historic Downtown Hendersonville among its twinkling lights and festive decorations. Board the tractor-drawn wagon ride at the Visitor Center, located at 201 South Main Street. Reservations are not accepted, first-come, first-served basis.

Santa is waiting for your wish list! Visit Santa this holiday season at his Asheville Outlets home and receive two FREE 4” x 6” Santa photo prints and a high-resolution digital download of a single image for every family! Additional photos and Christmas merchandise will be available for purchase. One photo giveaway per family. Some restrictions may apply and hours are subject to change. Valid November 16 through December 24, 2019. Santa Photo is located inside the Food Court. Visit ShopAshevilleOutlets.com for more information. FREE Santa photo is sponsored by N.C. Arboretum Winter Lights.

Santa’s Photo Hours:
11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday – Saturday, Sundays, 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. and Christmas Eve, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Happy Holidays LEAFers!

We’re celebrating this special time of year by thanking our LEAF Members with the opportunity to book your lodging and purchase your tickets for our 50th Festival, May 14-17, 2020 NOW!!! Give us a call Monday to Thursday 9-5 and Friday 9-2 to take advantage of early-bird pricing. Not only will you be able to lock in your upcoming LEAF experience but you’ll also receive the LEAF 2020 calendar and a 50th Festival commemorative gift!

This opportunity ends Friday, December 13th at 5:00 pm.

Not currently a member? Call and join today to take advantage of this unique opportunity!

Peppermint the Bear is a special friend of Santa and she needs your help finding her missing cubs! They were sent out to get holiday decorations and a tree, and have not come home. Find Peppermint at the Visitor Center, and then head out to shops along Main Street to look for her cubs. If you help her find 12 of her cubs, you will be eligible to win a prize. The scavenger hunt is available from 11/29-12/23, so that the bears will be home in time for Christmas!

More information can be found at the Visitor Center.

This year’s curated exhibition of intimately scaled works by gallery artists and special guests addresses themes of memory, the passage of time, mortality, and the natural world. Although small in scale, these works have real presence, conveying the sensibility and proficiency of their accomplished makers.

Small Works | Big Impact is an annual exhibition that affords our clientele the opportunity to discover and acquire exquisite original works by artists new to the gallery. They are great options for intimate spaces and make unique holiday gifts.

The AIR Passport is your buy-one-get-one (BOGO)* ticket to some of Buncombe County’s highly acclaimed independent restaurants. Visit an old favorite or try a new member of the area’s vibrant independent restaurant community. AIR Passports make great gifts, but they go fast.

The AIR Passport offers BOGO from 60 area eateries with discounts up to $15 per participating restaurants. All proceeds from the AIR Passport go to benefit the ongoing efforts of AIR to keep Asheville’s food scene eclectic and authentic.

“It is one of our largest fundraisers of the year,” Anderson said.  “We are able to use these funds throughout the year for educational classes,  events and other opportunities for our members and their staff.”

Participating restaurants in the 2020 AIR Passport:

Known for its monumental scale of traditional holiday décor and dazzling lights, this year Biltmore’s annual Christmas at Biltmore celebration will offer even more than ever before.

A yuletide feast for the senses, Christmas at Biltmore begins Nov. 1, 2019. One week later, on Nov. 8, the estate will welcome Downton Abbey: The Exhibition, an immersive experience that celebrates the global hit television series and new feature film.

Biltmore House aglow with five dozen Christmas trees

Biltmore House interiors will shine with the sparkle of more than 50 hand-decorated Christmas trees, ribbons and garlands measured by the mile, and thousands of lights. A majestic 35-foot Fraser fir in the Banquet Hall is the home’s holiday centerpiece. For the first time, hand-decorated Christmas trees will be displayed on the balcony that wraps around the home’s two-story Library.

Candlelight Christmas Evenings

During Candlelight Christmas Evenings, candlelight, firelight, and live music will create a magical environment that elevates seasonal celebrations inside Biltmore House. A 55-foot Norway Spruce on the home’s front lawn lit with 55,000 lights will greet guests as they arrive to enter Biltmore House.

The warm welcome continues at Antler Hill Village & Winery with a constellation of holiday lights leading to the Winery and estate restaurants. A towering tree of lights will illuminate the Village Green, with a sea of lighted grapevine spheres nestled in the landscaping. Lights cascading from the trees that surround the bonfire area near Antler Hill Barn will offer a unique touch to the experience.

Downton Abbey: The Exhibition

Downton Abbey: The Exhibition will feature interactive elements that connect fans to their favorite characters, fashions, locations, and historic events of the era. Showcased in two estate locations, the exhibition pairs seamlessly with the real-life story of the Vanderbilt family at Biltmore. Amherst at Deerpark will host multimedia presentations and some of the series’ most recognizable sets—including Mrs. Patmore’s hectic kitchen and the gossip-fueled servants’ quarters. At The Biltmore Legacy in Antler Hill Village, a gallery of more than 50 costumes from the series will be on view.

The exhibition will run through April 7, 2020. Access to Downton Abbey: The Exhibition is included with daytime admission, Candlelight Christmas Evenings admission, or an overnight stay that includes daytime admission.

Christmas at Biltmore 2019 Event Calendar

• Christmas at Biltmore daytime experience – Nov. 1, 2019, through Jan. 5, 2020
• Candlelight Christmas Evenings nighttime experience – Nov. 1, 2019, through Jan. 4, 2020 
• Illumination of Antler Hill Village – Nov. 1, 2019, through Jan. 4, 2020, 5:30 p.m. to midnight
• Downton Abbey: The Exhibition at Biltmore’s Amherst and the Biltmore Legacy in Antler Hill Village – Nov. 8, 2019, through April 7, 2020
• A Gardener’s Place How-to Seminar: “Illuminated Holiday Tablescapes” – daily Nov. 1 through Dec. 31, 2019, at 1:30 p.m.
• Conservatory’s annual seasonal display – Nov. 1, 2019, through Jan. 5, 2020
• Complimentary wine tasting at Biltmore Winery. Winery specialty tours available with additional price and reservations required – Nov. 1, 2019, through Jan. 5, 2020
• Bonfires in Antler Hill Village with s’mores kits available for purchase at The Creamery – Nov. 1, 2019, through Jan. 3, 2020, select dates, 3 to 10 p.m.
• Roving Holiday Carolers in Antler Hill Village – select dates
• Candlelight Winery Tour with a look into the winemaking process and tasting with light cheese pairing. Additional price and reservations required.
• Visits with Santa at the bandstand in Antler Hill Village – select dates
• The Inn on Biltmore Estate’s Annual Gingerbread House Tea – additional price and reservations required – Dec. 14 through 22, 2019, select dates, 1 to 3 p.m.
• Festive holiday meals prepared by award-winning chefs served in all of the estate’s restaurants – ongoing

We are excited to bring back two very popular Personal Training specials through the end of the year! From now through December 31st, we are pleased to offer new YWCA Fitness and Aquatics Center members 2 free Personal Training Sessions as a sign-up bonus, and all members are entitled to 20% off Personal Training packages!  Our team of Certified Personal Trainers offer support, motivation, and accountability to help you reach your personal health and fitness goals. Together with your trainer, you will create and implement an individualized exercise plan for proper form, function, and results. To sign up, inquire at the Guest Services desk or on our website.
 

You might have heard about the need to recruit more foster parents in Buncombe County. “We currently have 300 kids in foster care in Buncombe County,” says Heather Hill-Pavone, Buncombe County Licensing Social Worker. “Only some of those kids get to stay in Buncombe County as we only have 100 licensed foster homes with BCHHS.” We need your help to let people in our community know about the upcoming Foster Parent Training Classes happening in 2020!

These courses begin the licensure process for becoming a foster parent. They are offered quarterly, for anyone in Buncombe County, who is interested in becoming a foster parent. While the next round of Foster Parent Training Classes starts on September 11, the classes for 2020 are NOW on the calendar! You can sign up by clicking this link.

2020 Schedule: 

• Winter Classes: Jan 16, 2020 through Feb 20, 2020 (Thursdays) at Buncombe County Health and Human Services in Downtown Asheville
• Spring Classes: March 25, 2020 through April 29, 2020 (Wednesdays) at Biltmore Church in Arden, NC
• Summer Classes: June 2, 2020 through July 7, 2020 (Tuesdays) at Biltmore Church in Arden
• Fall Classes: September 14, 2020 through October 19, 2020 (Mondays) at Buncombe County Health and Human Services in Downtown Asheville

Join us January 19 – 26, 2020, as we celebrate our 18th year as the fearless, boundary pushing performing arts festival. We are returning bigger and bolder than ever, beginning a little early, with a free preview party, 7 pm, January 11th at Fleetwood’s in West Asheville. Enjoy art installations from ZedAVL and Geneva Bierce Wilson, be delighted by everyone’s favorite site-specific dance troupe The Accidentals, and grab a newly printed guide so you can start planning your festival!

Fringe Freak Passes go on Sale December 6!

Buy a Freak Pass now to pick from 25 different ticketed shows, which run Thursday, January 23 through Sunday, January 26. The Freak Pass is only $65. Freak Passholders are given priority with reserved seats. There are a limited number available, when they are gone, they’re gone! Price goes up to $75 on January 1st.

As well as over 100 ticketed show times from local, national and international artists, we have FREE Random Acts of Fringe popping up all over town, all week long, and lots of parties!  The Kickoff party returns to the Lazy Diamond at 7 pm, co-hosted by the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority, from 6-9pm, on Sunday, January 19th. Check out the new Artist Wine Party, hosted by Zapow Gallery, 7 pm, Tuesday, January 21st. Free after-parties return, starting at 10 pm, Thursday at Sly Grog, Friday at Mothlight and Saturday at The Block Off Biltmore, There you can enjoy more Random Acts of Fringe, meet the artists and chat about your favorite shows! See AshevilleFringe.org for all the details.

Individual tickets for each show are $14-$19 and go on sale January 1. See www.AshevilleFringe.org individual show descriptions and ticketing links.

Giving Challenge Issued: Gifts to Pisgah Legal Services Matched Through Dec. 31

To help meet the needs here in our mountain region, generous donors have created the “Campaign for Justice in WNC” Giving Challenge. All gifts made to Pisgah Legal Services by December 31^st will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, up to $150,000.

Giving online is fast, easy and secure at www.pisgahlegal.org/give or contact Development Director Ally Wilson by phone at 828-210-3444 or via email: [email protected]

If you need help, call Pisgah Legal Services at 828-253-0406 or toll free at 800-489-6144 or visit www.pisgahlegal.org.

Across the country, schoolchildren place their hands over their hearts and recite “with liberty and justice for all,” an ideal in the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance professing that justice should be accessible to everyone. In criminal cases, legal assistance is a right. Unfortunately, there is no such right to counsel in civil legal matters, and most low-income Americans are forced to go it alone.

A recent study by The Pew Charitable Trusts shows that about 1 in 3 households in the U.S. faced housing, family or debt issues in 2018, suggesting that Americans could benefit from more assistance with civil legal issues. Those numbers increase dramatically for low-income people. A 2017 study shows that 86 percent of civil legal problems reported by low-income Americans received inadequate or no legal help.

Pisgah Legal Services Stands for Justice for People in Western North Carolina (WNC)

For more than 40 years, nonprofit Pisgah Legal Services (PLS) has provided free civil legal aid to help low-income people seek justice and meet their basic needs. 

“Folks who live in low-income households regularly experience problems that can be addressed with a civil legal aid attorney by their side: stopping domestic violence, accessing veterans’ benefits, escaping poor housing conditions, and securing health care for example,” says Pisgah Legal Executive Director Jim Barrett.

He continues, “Lawyers are powerful allies who can tackle the issues that keep people locked into poverty, trapped in abusive situations and living in substandard conditions, but we need support from the community to do so. We hope folks will make a gift to help their neighbors in need by the end of the year, because at Pisgah Legal we believe that justice is for everyone, not just those who can afford it.”

Last year PLS served more than 16,800 people across the mountain region. The nonprofit’s main service area includes eight WNC counties, with offices in Asheville, Brevard, Hendersonville, Marshall, Rutherfordton and Spruce Pine. PLS has 27 attorneys on staff and relies heavily on the pro bono legal services of more than 300 volunteer attorneys.