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.
5:00-8:00 pm on Main Street
Cuddle under a warm blanket and enjoy a festive Main Street carriage ride with Carolina Horse & Carriage. This wonderful holiday experience is set amidst the twinkling lights and Christmas decorations of downtown Hendersonville.
Cost is $15 for adults and $10 for children (free for children under 2). Advance reservations are strongly encouraged by contacting Carolina Horse & Carriage. Walk-ups are accepted only if space is available. Starting point is the Historic Henderson County Courthouse on Main Street.
A newer tradition during Hendersonville’s Home for the Holidays is a fun evening of train rides with Mountain Fresh Orchards. These Main Street mini-train rides pick up and drop off at the square of the Historic Henderson County Courthouse.
In addition to the rides, the evening’s festivities include holiday craft vendors, educational displays, face painting and a pop-up market with fresh baked goods and treats from Mountain Fresh Orchards. Snap photos with holiday llamas from Ellaberry Llama Farm.
Winter Lights is excited to provide an all-new premium trolley experience, in partnership with Biltmore Park Town Square and Gray Line Trolley Tours! Skip the lines and ride the Winter Lights Trolley!
Enjoy dinner and shopping at Biltmore Park Town Square before hopping on the Winter Lights Trolley to experience Winter Lights!
Ride the Winter Lights Trolley Friday November 28 and select Fridays and Saturdays in December. Trolleys depart from Biltmore Park Town Square every half hour, beginning at 5:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $50 per-person and available select dates only.
Stuff your stockings with some COMEDIC ANARCHY this Holiday Season!
Adult comedy night, featuring an action-packed cast of comics from both Carolinas!
Doors open at 6:30. Suggested donation $10 at door. Light food and refreshments available. And bring a toy to be donated!
Produced by Brendan C. Ahern of “Rainy Night Theatre”.
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Grovewood Gallery proudly presents Artful Living: The Spirit of the Craftsman Style, a group exhibition celebrating the enduring influence of the American Arts and Crafts movement. On view from October 18 through December 31, 2025, this curated showcase brings together the work of four contemporary makers who honor traditional craftsmanship while offering fresh perspectives on timeless forms.
Featured artists include ceramicist Leslie Green Guilbault, a Roycroft Artisan whose pottery blends nature, myth, and metallic luster; blacksmith Paul Garrett, known for his handcrafted metalwork and luminous mica lamps inspired by early 20th-century design; furniture maker Timothy Livingston, whose heirloom-quality pieces reflect a deep reverence for honest materials and joinery; and painter Shawn Krueger, a Roycroft Master Artisan whose landscapes echo the quiet mood and tonal beauty of historic plein air work.
Women of the Pacific Northwest celebrates the voices, visions and material mastery of female artists working today, with roots from this rich and progressive region. Through the execution of disparate media from bronze, steel, glass, tin, plaster, mylar, printmaking, hair nets, cloth, rubber, wax to paint, these artists have achieved inventive, creative practices originating from critical, generative, inquisition of natural, social or subliminal forces. This exhibition highlights a group of female artists working in diverse media creating art that explores connections to place, whether sociological, environmental or spiritual, in a region supportive of equality, ecology and enterprise. These artists are among today’s pioneers, interpreting universality through personal observation and inventing poetic, transcendent works inspiring greater, pluralistic understanding, connecting us to one another and to the world around us.
Featured artists:
Victoria Adams, Drie Chapek, Jaq Chartier, Susan Dory, Betsy Ebys, Ann Gardner, Emily Gherard, Estuko Ichikawa, Lisa Jarrett, Brenda Mallory, Wendy Red Star, Katy Stone, Susan Zoccola, Marie Watt, and Julie Speidel.
Included with admission
Capture that classic Christmas moment you and your children will never outgrow. Afterward, explore all that Antler Hill Village has to offer: ice cream at The Creamery, friendly animals at our Farmyard, plus Pisgah Playground, shops, restaurants, and an award-winning Winery.
Dates available:
November 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 22-23, 28-30
December 6-7, 13-14, 17-24
5:00-8:00 pm on Main Street
Cuddle under a warm blanket and enjoy a festive Main Street carriage ride with Carolina Horse & Carriage. This wonderful holiday experience is set amidst the twinkling lights and Christmas decorations of downtown Hendersonville.
Cost is $15 for adults and $10 for children (free for children under 2). Advance reservations are strongly encouraged by contacting Carolina Horse & Carriage. Walk-ups are accepted only if space is available. Starting point is the Historic Henderson County Courthouse on Main Street.
A stirring, song-filled celebration of the traditional Festivals of Light from these traditions — Diwali, Kwanzaa, Christmas, Hanukkah, and Solstice — with Billy Jonas and Mary Stair.
In the spirit of the season, an invitation to listen, sing, expand, and focus on luminously launching ourselves into new possibilities, and a new year.
Following the CCLD annual Solstice Labyrinth Walk (3:00-5:00pm), with a short time for connecting over light refreshments, at 5:30pm Billy will offer a concert featuring pieces from his recent release, “Bridging Divides,” as well as songs from the various faith traditions. Mary will facilitate a “Dance of Universal Peace,” accessible to all levels of physical ability.
All are welcome ages 16 and up!
Grovewood Gallery proudly presents Artful Living: The Spirit of the Craftsman Style, a group exhibition celebrating the enduring influence of the American Arts and Crafts movement. On view from October 18 through December 31, 2025, this curated showcase brings together the work of four contemporary makers who honor traditional craftsmanship while offering fresh perspectives on timeless forms.
Featured artists include ceramicist Leslie Green Guilbault, a Roycroft Artisan whose pottery blends nature, myth, and metallic luster; blacksmith Paul Garrett, known for his handcrafted metalwork and luminous mica lamps inspired by early 20th-century design; furniture maker Timothy Livingston, whose heirloom-quality pieces reflect a deep reverence for honest materials and joinery; and painter Shawn Krueger, a Roycroft Master Artisan whose landscapes echo the quiet mood and tonal beauty of historic plein air work.
Included with admission
Capture that classic Christmas moment you and your children will never outgrow. Afterward, explore all that Antler Hill Village has to offer: ice cream at The Creamery, friendly animals at our Farmyard, plus Pisgah Playground, shops, restaurants, and an award-winning Winery.
Dates available:
November 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 22-23, 28-30
December 6-7, 13-14, 17-24
Nov. 28-Dec. 23 • Peppermint Bear Scavenger Hunt
Downtown Hendersonville
Peppermint Bear takes you on a fun-filled bear hunt in downtown Hendersonville in search of her lost cubs. Hint: the cubs are hiding in downtown businesses.
Once you have found a lost cub in at least 12 of 28 participating businesses and the shopkeeper has punched your brochure, you are eligible to win scavenger hunt prizes. To enter, submit an image of your brochure via our online entry form by scanning the provided QR code by Dec. 23. Find out how it works here.
Peppermint Bear Scavenger Hunt brochures will be available at the Hendersonville Welcome Center, located at 201 South Main Street, starting Nov. 28
Grovewood Gallery proudly presents Artful Living: The Spirit of the Craftsman Style, a group exhibition celebrating the enduring influence of the American Arts and Crafts movement. On view from October 18 through December 31, 2025, this curated showcase brings together the work of four contemporary makers who honor traditional craftsmanship while offering fresh perspectives on timeless forms.
Featured artists include ceramicist Leslie Green Guilbault, a Roycroft Artisan whose pottery blends nature, myth, and metallic luster; blacksmith Paul Garrett, known for his handcrafted metalwork and luminous mica lamps inspired by early 20th-century design; furniture maker Timothy Livingston, whose heirloom-quality pieces reflect a deep reverence for honest materials and joinery; and painter Shawn Krueger, a Roycroft Master Artisan whose landscapes echo the quiet mood and tonal beauty of historic plein air work.
Included with admission
Capture that classic Christmas moment you and your children will never outgrow. Afterward, explore all that Antler Hill Village has to offer: ice cream at The Creamery, friendly animals at our Farmyard, plus Pisgah Playground, shops, restaurants, and an award-winning Winery.
Dates available:
November 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 22-23, 28-30
December 6-7, 13-14, 17-24
Experience the magic of the holidays with the Constellations Orchestra and Dr. Bill Bares as they interpret the iconic melodies of Vince Guaraldi that capture the nostalgic spirit of the season with the warmth and wonder of Christmas, bringing Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the entire Peanuts gang to life through music. Get your tickets now to make this a part of your holiday celebration!
Experience the magic of the holidays with the Constellations Orchestra and Dr. Bill Bares as they interpret the iconic melodies of Vince Guaraldi that capture the nostalgic spirit of the season with the warmth and wonder of Christmas, bringing Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the entire Peanuts gang to life through music. Get your tickets now to make this a part of your holiday celebration!
Grovewood Gallery proudly presents Artful Living: The Spirit of the Craftsman Style, a group exhibition celebrating the enduring influence of the American Arts and Crafts movement. On view from October 18 through December 31, 2025, this curated showcase brings together the work of four contemporary makers who honor traditional craftsmanship while offering fresh perspectives on timeless forms.
Featured artists include ceramicist Leslie Green Guilbault, a Roycroft Artisan whose pottery blends nature, myth, and metallic luster; blacksmith Paul Garrett, known for his handcrafted metalwork and luminous mica lamps inspired by early 20th-century design; furniture maker Timothy Livingston, whose heirloom-quality pieces reflect a deep reverence for honest materials and joinery; and painter Shawn Krueger, a Roycroft Master Artisan whose landscapes echo the quiet mood and tonal beauty of historic plein air work.
Women of the Pacific Northwest celebrates the voices, visions and material mastery of female artists working today, with roots from this rich and progressive region. Through the execution of disparate media from bronze, steel, glass, tin, plaster, mylar, printmaking, hair nets, cloth, rubber, wax to paint, these artists have achieved inventive, creative practices originating from critical, generative, inquisition of natural, social or subliminal forces. This exhibition highlights a group of female artists working in diverse media creating art that explores connections to place, whether sociological, environmental or spiritual, in a region supportive of equality, ecology and enterprise. These artists are among today’s pioneers, interpreting universality through personal observation and inventing poetic, transcendent works inspiring greater, pluralistic understanding, connecting us to one another and to the world around us.
Featured artists:
Victoria Adams, Drie Chapek, Jaq Chartier, Susan Dory, Betsy Ebys, Ann Gardner, Emily Gherard, Estuko Ichikawa, Lisa Jarrett, Brenda Mallory, Wendy Red Star, Katy Stone, Susan Zoccola, Marie Watt, and Julie Speidel.
Included with admission
Capture that classic Christmas moment you and your children will never outgrow. Afterward, explore all that Antler Hill Village has to offer: ice cream at The Creamery, friendly animals at our Farmyard, plus Pisgah Playground, shops, restaurants, and an award-winning Winery.
Dates available:
November 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 22-23, 28-30
December 6-7, 13-14, 17-24
Celebrate Christmas Eve with an elegant three-course prix fixe dinner featuring seasonal dishes and an optional wine pairing, accompanied by live piano music. This exclusive evening offers refined dining and festive charm in the heart of the Blue Ridge foothills. Reservations required. $95 per adult, $55 per child.
2025 THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride (GSMR)
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, Bryson City, NC
Mark your calendars — December 5, 2025, through January 5, 2026 — the beloved Deck the Trees holiday tradition is back, bigger and brighter than ever!
Now celebrating 15 years, Deck the Trees will once again bring holiday wonder to Black Mountain and Swannanoa, all for a great cause. This cherished fundraiser benefits the Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry (SVCM) Fuel Fund, which helps neighbors in need to keep their homes warm during winter.
This year’s theme, “Christmas in Music & Song,” will inspire more than 50 beautifully decorated trees across town. You’ll find many of them at Peri Social House, Tyson Furniture Company, and White Horse Black Mountain, plus dozens of other local businesses decked out for the season.
How It Works:
From December 5 to January 5, you can vote for your favorite tree(s) by donating $1 per vote. Vote as many times as you’d like. Every dollar goes directly to the SVCM Fuel Fund. Voting is easy:
-Scan the QR code at each tree to donate online
-Or drop cash or checks in the donation box next to the tree
(Online donations encouraged.)
Can’t Visit in Person?
A full list of locations — plus photos of every tree — will be posted soon on the SVCM Deck the Trees website so you can vote from anywhere.
Follow the Festivities:
Stay updated on this year’s dazzling displays and special moments by following SVCM on Facebook (facebook.com/svcmcares) and Instagram (@svcmwnc).
This holiday season, let your heart and your votes warm homes across our valley!
Step into the magic of the season at the Holiday Ice Rink at Asheville Yards – the destination for ice skating in Asheville, NC. Glide across our real, outdoor ice rink, surrounded by twinkling lights, festive music and holiday vibes.
Whether you’re planning a family outing, a festive date night or a weekend adventure, we have something for everyone to enjoy including holiday-inspired craft cocktails and hot chocolate, festive photo ops, a winter market and weekly theme nights.
Don’t miss your chance to create unforgettable memories this holiday season.
Admission to Asheville Yards is FREE to all non-skaters, all season long.
Magic of Lights is a dazzling, drive-through holiday lights experience featuring favorite holiday scenes and characters of the season using the latest LED technology and digital animations. Experience Magic of Lights from the comfort and safety of your own car as you wind through the sparkling path of Greenville’s best holiday tradition. Be sure to stop by Santa’s Village and the Enchanted Deer Forest for extra holiday magic! Kids 2 and under are free!
Step into the magic of Santa’s Village, where holiday cheer meets hands-on fun for the whole family. Feed and interact with gentle miniature horses, camels, Watusi cattle, pigs, sheep, alpacas, goats, waterfowl, antelope, and more—and don’t forget to purchase animal food to treat the many residents. Cuddle with bunnies, have your photo taken with a baby kangaroo, snap pictures with Santa in his animal barn, and visit the Grinch at his festive Grinch House.
Savor fresh coffee and pastries at Santa’s Sweet Delights, or enjoy hot cocoa, drinks, snacks, and food from our concession stand. Visit the souvenir shop for fun, colorful, and festive items, and leave your mark on the “feel good” graffiti board. Warm up by a crackling fire pit or the grand bonfire, roast marshmallows and s’mores, and steal a kiss under the mistletoe tree. Pose inside the giant lighted present, then find a picnic table to relax and take it all in.
Santa’s Village is more than a visit, it’s a memory in the making.
Grovewood Gallery proudly presents Artful Living: The Spirit of the Craftsman Style, a group exhibition celebrating the enduring influence of the American Arts and Crafts movement. On view from October 18 through December 31, 2025, this curated showcase brings together the work of four contemporary makers who honor traditional craftsmanship while offering fresh perspectives on timeless forms.
Featured artists include ceramicist Leslie Green Guilbault, a Roycroft Artisan whose pottery blends nature, myth, and metallic luster; blacksmith Paul Garrett, known for his handcrafted metalwork and luminous mica lamps inspired by early 20th-century design; furniture maker Timothy Livingston, whose heirloom-quality pieces reflect a deep reverence for honest materials and joinery; and painter Shawn Krueger, a Roycroft Master Artisan whose landscapes echo the quiet mood and tonal beauty of historic plein air work.
Lasting Legacies shines a spotlight on the architectural work of Richard Sharp Smith, Albert Heath Carrier, and Douglas D. Ellington, highlighting the contributions of two of the city’s most prominent architectural firms to Asheville’s built environment and artistic spirit in the early decades of the 20th century. Alongside the featured architectural materials, the exhibition showcases the parallel revival of craft and decorative arts in Western North Carolina, showing how artistic dialogues crossed genres and found expression in everyday life. This exhibition has received major support from The Ellington Family, with additional support from the National Endowment for the Humanities and Leigh Ann Hamon & Bruce Johnson.
Closed Monday and Tuesday.
In medieval Europe, a bestiary—or “book of beasts”—was a popular type of handwritten, illustrated manuscript whose stories and images taught Christian lessons. Animals in the bestiary were associated with particular human traits and behaviors, making abstract moral lessons easier to communicate to a mostly illiterate public. While the books themselves were rare and precious, their thought-provoking tales and vivid imagery were a familiar part of everyday life in the Middle Ages (500–1500 CE). Tapestries, metalwork, jewelry, sculptures, sermons, and popular storytelling all incorporated motifs from the bestiary.
Closed Monday and Tuesday.
Women of the Pacific Northwest celebrates the voices, visions and material mastery of female artists working today, with roots from this rich and progressive region. Through the execution of disparate media from bronze, steel, glass, tin, plaster, mylar, printmaking, hair nets, cloth, rubber, wax to paint, these artists have achieved inventive, creative practices originating from critical, generative, inquisition of natural, social or subliminal forces. This exhibition highlights a group of female artists working in diverse media creating art that explores connections to place, whether sociological, environmental or spiritual, in a region supportive of equality, ecology and enterprise. These artists are among today’s pioneers, interpreting universality through personal observation and inventing poetic, transcendent works inspiring greater, pluralistic understanding, connecting us to one another and to the world around us.
Featured artists:
Victoria Adams, Drie Chapek, Jaq Chartier, Susan Dory, Betsy Ebys, Ann Gardner, Emily Gherard, Estuko Ichikawa, Lisa Jarrett, Brenda Mallory, Wendy Red Star, Katy Stone, Susan Zoccola, Marie Watt, and Julie Speidel.
Flood Gallery Fine Art Center revives its visual art program after Helene with this second in open exhibition series, featuring 25+ local artists showing multiple perspectives & styles. Art media for this show may include ceramic, stained glass, painting, drawing, photography, collage, printmaking, ceramic, enamel, fiber arts, digital media, and mixed media.
Show runs Dec. 13, 2025 – Feb. 20, 2026
Open daily 12-4pm, or by appointment.
802 Fairview Rd. Suite 1200, Asheville, NC 28803
(Located off I-240 Exit 8, River Ridge Business Center, behind Sun Soo Martial Arts,
next to Hot Yoga Asheville & Asheville Dance Theater)
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Winter Lights is excited to provide an all-new premium trolley experience, in partnership with Biltmore Park Town Square and Gray Line Trolley Tours! Skip the lines and ride the Winter Lights Trolley!
Enjoy dinner and shopping at Biltmore Park Town Square before hopping on the Winter Lights Trolley to experience Winter Lights!
Ride the Winter Lights Trolley Friday November 28 and select Fridays and Saturdays in December. Trolleys depart from Biltmore Park Town Square every half hour, beginning at 5:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $50 per-person and available select dates only.