Calendar of Events
Upcoming events and things to do in Asheville, NC. Below is a list of events for festivals, concerts, art exhibitions, group meetups and more.
Interested in adding an event to our calendar? Please click the green “Post Your Event” button below.
Biltmore Park’s Farmers Market features fresh seasonal produce, delicious homemade pastries, premium meats and seafood, beautiful vibrant flowers, and more. There’s always something to take home with you! It’s the perfect way to support local small businesses and celebrate community this summer. Visit biltmorepark.com for more information.
Fri, Oct 17 • 7 pm
In this visually stunning adventure for all ages, a friendly dinosaur discovers a glowing world and the true meaning of love. Lightwire Theater blends puppetry, technology and dance to tell tender-hearted stories that spark childlike wonder and (literally) light up the darkness.
“What you see looks like magic” —CBS Sunday Morning
“absolutely incredible” —Rolling Stone
Spotlight on Lightwire Theater:
Semi-finalists on America’s Got Talent and winners of truTV’s Fake Off
Recipient of the Jim Henson Foundation Grant for DINO-LIGHT
Each puppet is hand-built from recycled materials like skateboards, dryer ducts, and fishing poles
Characters glow with electroluminescent (EL) wire, taking 200+ hours to create
Come get down to some spooky, groovy, and funky disco house tunes!
Feat. a stellar lineup of local talent:
– Sketchy Decks
– Earl Grae
– Interstellar Noise
– Double Helix
$10 entry. Don’t miss this one!
🎉 Calling All Young Entrepreneurs! 🍅
We’re thrilled to partner with J&M Farms at their vendor market day in October!
🌟 Got a kid with a big idea? Whether it’s homemade crafts, baked goods, lemonade stands, or creative services—this is their chance to shine!
🍅 Visit kids markets.com
Sign up your child’s booth 🌽
Explore upcoming children’s markets 🎨
Support young local entrepreneurs 💼
Come support young business minds as they showcase their creativity, passion, and entrepreneurial spirit alongside your favorite local vendors.
Shop local and discover handmade crafts, delicious treats and unique finds from amazing vendors. It will be a day of family fun, and a perfect day to shop, explore, and be inspired by the next generation of innovators.
Mon Cher let’s get to it! Most requested faves Zydeco Ya Ya are back in the Big Barn for zydeco, swamp pop, second line, and Cajun swing. These guys always provide a fabulous groove and engaging show that makes you want to hop out onto the floor- or bob and weave from your chair, cold one in hand.
- HNG will be running a bar with local beers, NA beverage and snack cart.
- Barn Door Ciderworks will provide some sweet and snappy sips of their legendary cider brewed right here in Fairview.
- The Garden Foodtruck by chef Simone Jaramillo will be serving seasonal, sustainable, food-as-medicine MAGIC!
- Pro tip: we have picnic tables, benches & patio sets, but always bring a backup folding chair or picnic blanket JUST in case. It can get packed!
By purchasing your ticket online you will be on our Will Call list, admission will be checked in at the Cabana!
BMCA Fall Dance Day!
Celebrate the fall season with movement, creativity, and community at BMCA! Join us for a pay-what-you-can / free event featuring a performance of BMCA’s Dance Troupe’s new fall choreography in our theater, followed by festive activities upstairs in the dance studio. Families and kids can enjoy autumn-themed crafts, games, and activities.
It’s the perfect way to spend an afternoon together—supporting local dancers, exploring the arts, and welcoming fall at BMCA.
Performance: 3:30–4:00 PM Studio Activities: 4:00–4:45 PM
Free or Pay-What-You-Can All are welcome!
Biltmore Park’s Farmers Market features fresh seasonal produce, delicious homemade pastries, premium meats and seafood, beautiful vibrant flowers, and more. There’s always something to take home with you! It’s the perfect way to support local small businesses and celebrate community this summer. Visit biltmorepark.com for more information.
Beginner’s workshop lesson at 7:30 P.M., then 8-11 P.M. Contra Dance with Country Waltzing at the break and the final dance. This is a partner dance but it’s not necessary to come with a partner. We have different live bands and callers.
Audio Visual Butoh Performance: Frequency in Motion
Featuring Atsushi Takenouchi, Hiroko Komiya and Chris H.Lynn.
In conjunction with Asheville Butoh Dance Festival 2025
Thursday, October 30th, 2025 at 7:30 pm
Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center {120 College Street}
TICKETS – $15 General Admission / $10 for BMCM+AC Members + Students w/ ID
Asheville Butoh Festival, in collaboration with Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center and the University of North Carolina at Asheville, presents its 15th annual festival from October 30 – November 2. BMCM+AC will host Frequency in Motion, an audiovisual performance featuring Butoh dancers: Atsushi Takenouchi, Jenni Cockrell, Julie Becton Gillum, and Constance Humphries. Dancers will be accompanied by live sounds, field recordings, and objects by Chris H.Lynn and Hiroko Komiya. Visuals, including Super 8 and digital film, are by Chris H.Lynn.
🎉 Calling All Young Entrepreneurs! 🍅
We are so excited to partner with UNC-Asheville Men’s Soccer Game for a day of goals and great ideas!
🌟 Got a kid with a big idea? Whether it’s homemade crafts, baked goods, lemonade stands, or creative services—this is their chance to shine!
🍅 Visit kids markets.com
Sign up your child’s booth 🌽
Explore upcoming children’s markets 🎨
Support young local entrepreneurs 💼
Come support the Bulldogs on the field and young entrepreneurs on the sidelines as kids run their very own businesses—selling everything from handcrafted goods to tasty snacks.
It’s a fun, family-friendly event that celebrates local talent and community spirit!
Save the date for this year’s annual Handcrafted Holiday Market! This year’s show will run from November 7 through December 18, with the reception planned for Thursday, November 6, 5:30 – 7pm. Regional artists will fill the TACS Gallery with fine and handcrafted goods, rotating their inventory with each week and providing you with ample opportunities for holiday shopping! Stay tuned for more information regarding participating artists.
Our Li’l Angels Tree is filled with ornaments donated by area artists each year. By purchasing one of these ornaments, you are supporting our Youth Scholarship Fund, providing equal opportunities to creative kids!
TACS will be hosting a collection for Thermal Belt Outreach (TBO)! Items being donated will be distributed by TBO this holiday season.
Grand Kyiv Ballet presents: Swan Lake
November 11, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
Swan Lake is a ballet masterpiece that tells the story of a prince who falls in love with a beautiful swan princess under a spell. The ballet is renowned for its stunning choreography, intricate set design, and Tchaikovsky’s captivating music. Its themes of love, sacrifice, and redemption continue to resonate with audiences of all ages and backgrounds, making it a timeless classic that has endured for more than a century.
This timeless tale of love and magic will be brought to life by the finest dancers of the Grand Kyiv Ballet. The graceful movements of the world’s best dancers from Ukraine, Italy, Spain, the USA and Japan will give you unforgettable emotions. And colorful costumes and decorations will transport audiences to a world of enchantment and wonder.
Grand Kyiv Ballet presents: The Snow Queen
November 12, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
Join the Grand Kyiv Ballet for the WORLD Premiere of the new Ballet, The Snow Queen. The Snow Queen is a powerful and cold-hearted ruler who travels the world with the snow, bringing winter wherever she goes. The tale tells the adventures of a young girl named Gerda and her quest to rescue her friend Kai from the clutches of the Snow Queen.
It is a classic fairytale ballet about love and friendship, and about how the warmth of a friend’s devoted heart removes the spell of the wicked Queen. A colorful journey full of dangers and obstacles, shown through the beauty and aesthetics of the ballet will bring festive delight to the stage this winter.
The performance is interpreted by Alexander Adbdukarimov and Arshak Galumyan, a successful choreographic duet. Former artists of the best European theaters now collaborating with them as choreographers, bearers of the traditional classical school and founders of the Berlin Ballet Company. Fabulous orchestral music combined with live effects, colorful pictures, and unique choreography will bring pure joy.
When We Were Queens…
A Performance by Murielle Elizéon and Shana Tucker
November 13, 2025, at 7PM
Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center {120 College Street}
TICKETS – $15 General Admission / $10 for BMCM+AC members
Acclaimed Durham-based cellist Shana Tucker and Saxapahaw-based French choreographer Murielle Elizéon (co-creator of Culture Mill) present When We were Queens…, a powerful multidisciplinary performance presented as a diptych—two solos in conversation.
Fri, Nov 14 • 7 pm
In bursts of vivid color, acrobats expertly execute gravity-defying moves to the exhilarating beat of live music—somersaulting in sync with the percussive rhythms of Afro-Jazz. Truly a circus experience like no other, this production vibrates with energy—showcasing the strength, agility, youth and artistry of African culture.
Spotlight on Cirque Kalabanté:
Founded by Yamoussa Bangoura, former Cirque du Soleil and Cavalia performer
Rooted in the Nyamakala circus tradition of West Africa
Features performers from Guinea, Canada, and Bangoura’s own extended family
Stars in Circus Without Borders, an award-winning documentary on art as activism
Created a Montreal-based school teaching African dance, cirque, and drumming
Join us in Biltmore Park Town Square on Friday, November 21, 2025, for an enchanting start to your holiday season. The Town Square Tree Lighting and Holiday Market promises to be an evening of magic and wonder.
Wander through the charming holiday market filled with over 35 local artisans, farmers, and craftspeople offering unique finds that will be perfect for gift-giving and holiday gatherings. You can even take home a freshly cut, Christmas tree from a local farm. Enjoy the warm, festive ambiance, sip on a rich cup of hot cocoa and shop for one-of-a-kind treasures and gifts.
Don’t miss the highlight of the evening – gather with family and friends to countdown for the lighting of the Biltmore Park Christmas tree at 6:30 pm! Experience the holiday cheer with the community, as twinkling lights illuminate the tree. The Christmas tree and the market will be surrounded by an abundance of festivities including a special holiday story time hosted by Barnes & Noble after the tree lighting, bringing joy to all ages.
Celebrate the season with the Biltmore Park community and make it a night to remember!
Get ready for holiday magic at Ross Farm, our sweet 22-greenhouse winter wonderland!
Join us for the Holiday Farm Market on November 22, 2025 (12-4pm) presented by Ross Farm and Appalachian Standard.
~Local craft vendors (Pottery, baking, and plants!!)
~Seasonal treats with a dessert food truck AND hot dogs
~Caroling & community sing-a-long (Get ready for Last Christmas 4.0!)
~Cozy holiday vibes
Find unique gifts, support local artisans, and celebrate the season with your neighbors amidst the stunning beauty that is Ross Farm.
~Ross Farm | 91 Holbrook Rd, Candler, NC 28715
Mark your calendars – this is THE place to be for Appalachian holiday cheer!
Beginner’s workshop lesson at 7:30 P.M., then 8-11 P.M. Contra Dance with Country Waltzing at the break and the final dance. This is a partner dance but it’s not necessary to come with a partner. We have different live bands and callers.
Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre presents
The Nutcracker and the Mouse King
Friday, Dec 5 2025 • 7:30 pm
Saturday, Dec 6 2025 • 2 pm & 7:30 pm
School Show! – Friday, Dec 5 • 10:00 am
Call the box office for tickets: 828-257-4530, ext. 1.
A wonderful way to kick off the holiday season!
Expect the brilliantly unexpected from Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre’s 13th annual performance of The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. ACDT has surprised audiences over the years with their original production of the Nutcracker. Though the Nutcracker is one of the world’s most famous ballets, when performed by ACDT you can guarantee it is something you haven’t seen before. Their version couldn’t be further from Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet. It is based on the the original story written in 1816 by German author E.T.A. Hoffman.
“I always want to go back to the original story,” artistic co-director Collard says. “The characters and the story are always so much more interesting. Take, for example the King and Queen of Sausages, who have surprised and delighted audiences with their humor, and the party guests wrapped in gorgeous costumes dancing a wild and wonderful polka. And then there is the famous Mouse King with his lovely wife and their numerous children creating havoc all over the ballet, and the wild, psychedelic ride that is the World of Sweets.”
PLEASE NOTE: Wortham Center for the Performing Arts’ Box Office is the ONLY official ticketing provider for events at the Wortham Center’s venues: Diana Wortham Theatre, Tina McGuire Theatre and Henry LaBrun Studio. Beware of third-party ticketing scams.
Gather your family and friends Saturday, December 6, 2025, for a magical day in the heart of South Asheville where the holiday spirit truly comes alive. Biltmore Park Town Square can’t wait to welcome the community to this very special holiday tradition.
At the Town Square Green right in front of Reuter Family YMCA, children will have the unforgettable opportunity to meet Santa Claus, share their Christmas wishes, and pose for keepsake photos that will be treasured for years to come. Santa will be joined by Mrs. Claus and merry elves, all excited to greet families and spread holiday cheer. Children can even stop by the North Pole Express Station to write and send their very own letter to Santa, adding even more magic to magic to the day.
Visits with Santa will be surrounded by an array of family-friendly entertainment as the Town Square transforms into a holiday wonderland with whimsical stilt walkers, face painting, carolers, hot cocoa, festive treats, and so much more.
Along Town Square Boulevard, explore the Holiday Market with a vibrant selection of local vendors offering everything from artisan and crafts products to delicious seasonal foods and baked goods, jewelry, and handcrafted wooden toys. Whether you’re shopping for unique presents, savoring holiday flavors, or simply soaking in the atmosphere, the market is the perfect place to celebrate local makers and traditions among the warm glow of holiday lights. You can even take home a fresh-cut locally grown Christmas Tree – just in time for the season!
This cherished tradition brings the entire community together for a day of wonder, joy, and connection. Come be part of the magic at Biltmore Park Town Square and celebrate the holidays in true festive style!
Market Hours: 3-7PM
Where: Town Square Blvd
Visits with Santa: 3-6PM
Where: Town Square Green in front of Reuter Family YMCA
🎉 Calling All Young Entrepreneurs! 🍅
We’re thrilled to join with the Winter Wonder Walk for a one-of-a-kind Children’s Entrepreneur Market!
🌟 Got a kid with a big idea? Whether it’s homemade crafts, baked goods, lemonade stands, or creative services—this is their chance to shine!
🍅 Visit kids markets.com
Sign up your child’s booth 🌽
Explore upcoming children’s markets 🎨
Support young local entrepreneurs 💼
Join us at the Winter Wonder Walk where the season is brought to life like never before. Wander an outdoor trail and literally step inside the pages of a magical winter story. It’s a one-of-a-kind winter adventure you won’t want to miss being a part of.
Join us at the Winter Wonder Walk where the season is brought to life like never before. Wander an outdoor trail and literally step inside the pages of a magical winter story. It’s a one-of-a-kind winter adventure you won’t want to miss being a part of.
Come support young entrepreneurs (ages 5–17) as they showcase their talents, sell their products, and learn the ropes of business firsthand at the Winter Wonder Walk! As part of the Winter Wonder Walk you will be transported into the magical world of Winterland, where the pages will come to life with live-action immersive story-walk on an outdoor trail.
📣 Interested in participating?
Young entrepreneurs can register at: https://kidsmarkets.com/
Follow us on Facebook @ChildrenEntrepreneursNorthCarolina for updates, sneak peeks, and more!
✨ Why You’ll Love It:
💡 Educational & Inspiring – Kids learn valuable skills in leadership, creativity, money management, and marketing.
🎨 Hands-On Fun –Family-Friendly Fun
🛍️ One-of-a-Kind Shopping – Support the next generation of business leaders and take home unique, kid-made treasures.
🛡️ Safe & Supervised – A welcoming, secure environment for kids and families.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Come celebrate & shop with us at our 11th annual Holiday Market. We’ll have vintage Christmas, art, plants, jewelry, homemade toys and gifts for those on your list.
The market will be held downtown at the beautiful Battery Park Hall, adjacent to the Haywood Park Hotel, 46 Haywood Street. Saturday 10 am – 5 pm and Sunday 10 am – 4 pm.
Admission is FREE! Park in metered street parking or in the Harrah’s Cherokee Center or Wall Street Parking Decks. Sunday metered parking is FREE.
Adoptable puppies with Mountain Pet Rescue will be here.
This is an INDOOR market and service dogs only are allowed.
Food & coffee onsite.
NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet is returning to the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium at Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville on December 9, 2025.
🎄 Second Annual Christmas Spectacular! 🎄
Step into a Winter Wonderland and experience the magic of the season at our Second Annual Christmas Spectacular— a joyful holiday showcase filled with music, dance, and festive fun for the whole family!
This year’s show features an Enchanted Forest theme, complete with festive holiday songs, tap and jazz dancing, and breathtaking aerial silks performances. You’ll also enjoy reimagined Christmas classics and a show-stopping hip-hop Nutcracker number that’s sure to bring the house down!
Enjoy performances by our 1-Year Choir students, Chamber Choir, and Performance Media Crew (dance troupe), plus a special preview number from our upcoming production of The Lion King Jr. at Wortham Center for the Arts (Jan. 10 & 11).
✨ 3 Showtimes:
Friday, December 12 – 5:00 PM & 7:00 PM
Saturday, December 13 – 2:00 PM
📍 Location:
174 Bradley Branch, Unit 4/5, 28704
(Please enter from the front side of the building.)
☕ Refreshments will be available for sale, with all proceeds benefiting AJT.
❄️ Expect an indoor snowstorm and plenty of sparkle and surprises along the way!
🎫 Seating is general admission (first come, first served).
🌟 Tickets will sell out quickly! Last year’s two shows completely sold out — so this year we’ve added a third performance to make room for everyone. Don’t wait — grab your tickets early and join us for this heartwarming, high-energy holiday celebration!
🎟️ Purchase your seats today for a truly spectacular Christmas experience!
So excited for Asheville Phoenix Fire Nonprofit’s 1st Annual – YULE TIDE PRIDE – Holiday Market Convention! We are bringing Pride into the festive season! Come get your holiday gifts, enjoy some local live music, coffee shop treats, connect with resources, take a holiday photo, sink in with community and more!
Once again, the magic of the Fae will fill our Great Hall with whimsy and elegance, illuminating the night in a spectacle of music, dance, and shared revelry to warm the winter’s chill. The sylvan sounds of Holler & Crow will grace the stage as we waltz through the evening, and in the witching hours DJ Jaime ignites the dance floor with enchanted rhythms that turn our royal court into pure revelry.
Don’t forget to attire yourself, and your entourage, in your finest regalia! A masque is required, and our Costume Contest will reward the most resplendent creations with generous prizes during our grand on-stage finale.
Join us on Saturday, December 13th, for an unforgettable night of enchantment and revelry at the next incredible Fae Masquerade!
The first 50 tickets are available at Early-Bird prices!
🌙 Indoor event | Ages 18+
🏰 Great Hall doors open at 7 PM
💃 Formal festivities begin at 8 PM
A pop up vegan market featuring vegan vendors
Come join us at the Bridge & Tunnel Coffee Cafe at the Coman Center at A-B Tech for a wonderful day filled with good food and good people. We are so excited to have local vegan vendors get together and show you what they’ve got. You can stop by and get some treats to go or, even better, hang out with us for a while. There will be plenty of seating for eating and socializing. Find out more on Instagram and Facebook @vgnmktThe event is indoors and is Rain or Shine. There will be some food trucks right out front.Hours are 11:00 – 3:00.Admission is free and everyone is welcome. It’s a vegan party & you’re invited!
PERFORMANCE: Johnny Loves Johann – Music and Dance
With violinist Johnny Gandelsman and choreographers Melissa Toogood and John Heginbotham
Monday, December 15, 2025 at 7PM
Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center {120 College Street}
TICKETS – $15 General Admission / $10 for BMCM+AC members + Students w/ID
Join us Monday, December 15 at BMCM+AC for a one-night-only performance featuring world-renowned violinist Johnny Gandelsman and internationally acclaimed choreographer/dancers John Heginbotham and Melissa Toogood.
In this intimate, museum-scale version of Johnny Loves Johann, Gandelsman will perform Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1 with new choreography by Melissa Toogood and Cello Suite No. 4 with new choreography by John Heginbotham. This unique program offers a powerful glimpse into the larger evening-length work, bringing together music and dance in fresh, unexpected ways. With Gandelsman’s folk- and dance-inspired interpretation at its core, Toogood and Heginbotham infuse Bach’s timeless compositions with humanity, curiosity, and contemporary movement—transforming them into a vibrant celebration of connection and community.
___
About the Program
At its heart, Johnny Loves Johann is a tribute to community – both among the artists themselves and with the audience members who join them on this journey. By inviting these remarkable choreographers to bring their personal and cultural narratives to Bach’s music, the project creates a tapestry of voices and perspectives that reflect the shared human experience.
Bach’s music is often put in the context of order and notions of perfection. While we can enjoy hearing it this way, it can also limit our experience of this music as the celebration of humanity and beautiful opportunity for connection that it is.
Gandelsman’s interpretation of Bach’s Cello Suites is special in its folk music- and dance-like qualities. Building upon that, the Johnny Loves Johann collaborators—each known for visceral, big-hearted art-making—re-visit the suites by leading with their humanity and curiosity.
Beginner’s workshop lesson at 7:30 P.M., then 8-11 P.M. Contra Dance with Country Waltzing at the break and the final dance. This is a partner dance but it’s not necessary to come with a partner. We have different live bands and callers.