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.
Join us for the 16th annual Authors for Literacy Fundraiser featuring New York Times bestselling author, David Baldacci. The evening will feature testimonials from the students and staff at Literacy Together, as well as a keynote address from David Baldacci. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. for mixing and mingling and heavy hors d’oeuvres. You’ll have an opportunity to hear from our team about the work we do to support more than 7,200 individuals throughout Buncombe County. Our seated program begins promptly at 6:30 p.m., and we’ll close the evening with a book signing managed by Malaprop’s Bookstore.
Tickets are on sale now!
Bring your littles to the front steps of M. Judson for our bi-weekly story time! Enjoy some wonderful picture books read aloud to the crowd by our very own booksellers, and children will even get a sweet treat to go.
The Brevard Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) is sponsoring its 55th Annual Book Sale, the largest and best book sale in North Carolina. Net proceeds support local STEM and educational scholarships for girls (5th-12th grades) and women at Brevard College and Blue Ridge Community College.
Book donations are collected in Yellow Boxes at numerous community locations from early February to late May 2025. Walk-in donations are accepted each Thursday until May 22 from 10am-2pm at The Book Book, 170 S. Broad St., Brevard, NC.
The Brevard Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) is sponsoring its 55th Annual Book Sale, the largest and best book sale in North Carolina. Net proceeds support local STEM and educational scholarships for girls (5th-12th grades) and women at Brevard College and Blue Ridge Community College.
Book donations are collected in Yellow Boxes at numerous community locations from early February to late May 2025. Walk-in donations are accepted each Thursday until May 22 from 10am-2pm at The Book Book, 170 S. Broad St., Brevard, NC.
The Brevard Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) is sponsoring its 55th Annual Book Sale, the largest and best book sale in North Carolina. Net proceeds support local STEM and educational scholarships for girls (5th-12th grades) and women at Brevard College and Blue Ridge Community College.
Book donations are collected in Yellow Boxes at numerous community locations from early February to late May 2025. Walk-in donations are accepted each Thursday until May 22 from 10am-2pm at The Book Book, 170 S. Broad St., Brevard, NC.
The Brevard Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) is sponsoring its 55th Annual Book Sale, the largest and best book sale in North Carolina. Net proceeds support local STEM and educational scholarships for girls (5th-12th grades) and women at Brevard College and Blue Ridge Community College.
Book donations are collected in Yellow Boxes at numerous community locations from early February to late May 2025. Walk-in donations are accepted each Thursday until May 22 from 10am-2pm at The Book Book, 170 S. Broad St., Brevard, NC.
The Brevard Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) is sponsoring its 55th Annual Book Sale, the largest and best book sale in North Carolina. Net proceeds support local STEM and educational scholarships for girls (5th-12th grades) and women at Brevard College and Blue Ridge Community College.
Book donations are collected in Yellow Boxes at numerous community locations from early February to late May 2025. Walk-in donations are accepted each Thursday until May 22 from 10am-2pm at The Book Book, 170 S. Broad St., Brevard, NC.
The Brevard Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) is sponsoring its 55th Annual Book Sale, the largest and best book sale in North Carolina. Net proceeds support local STEM and educational scholarships for girls (5th-12th grades) and women at Brevard College and Blue Ridge Community College. A King size quilt-set (with matching pillows and wall hanging) raffle is also offered.
Book donations are collected in Yellow Boxes at numerous community locations from early February to late May 2025. Walk-in donations are accepted each Thursday until May 22 from 10am-2pm at The Book Nook, 170 S. Broad St., Brevard, NC.
Saturday, June 7 10am-7pm
Sunday, June 8 noon- 7pm
Monday, June 9 10am-7pm
Tuesday, June 10 10am-3pm – half price day
Wednesday, June 11 10am-3pm – fill a box for $5 day
**Wednesday, June 11 (only 12-4pm) – Free books for local teachers and non-profits**
– 30,000 well organized books in all genres, plus puzzles, audiobooks, DVDs, CDs, vinyl
– Ample parking, free admission, dealers welcome
– Prices range from 50 cents and up
– Assistance provided to load books into cars
– Cash, checks with ID, or cards accepted
🎉 Get Ready to Crawl, Celebrate, and Shine – The Official Pride Bar Crawl Awaits! 🎉
Gather your crew, rock your rainbow, and get ready for a day of colorful drinks, good vibes, and epic bar-hopping fun—let’s make this Pride Bar Crawl one to remember! _
The Pride Bar Crawl will take you through some of Asheville’s most inclusive bars, where you’ll meet new friends, spread love, and celebrate who you are in style. With vibrant music, laughter, and a whole lot of Pride, this is the ultimate way to embrace the spirit of the season and party with purpose.
Dress in vibrant attire and express your true self in a safe, welcoming space. This event is more than just a pub crawl; it’s a celebration of love, diversity, and inclusion. Whether you’re rocking a rainbow flag, glittering accessories, or something totally unique, this is your chance to drink, dance, and create moments you’ll never forget!
Don’t miss out on Asheville’s most colorful night of the year! Grab your tickets today and get ready for a night of celebration, joy, and making a difference in the community

Join us on Thursday, July 10th, from 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM at the Asheville Museum of History (AMoH) for a special History Hour program: The Story of Asheville’s Water, with Michael Holcombe. Light refreshments will be available. Also, Michael’s newly published book, The Story of Asheville’s Water: Before and Beyond Hurricane Helene, will be available for purchase before and after the program.
Michael Holcombe’s presentation will introduce attendees to his research and the story of the Asheville, North Carolina water system, and focus on the water sources for the city, from 1883 through to the present day (Along with interesting factoids!).
Elon Green presents The Man Nobody Killed, in conversation with Carrie Frye
Join us in store for the launch of local author Christine D. Page’s new book All Hallows’ Eve, including a conversation with illustrator Dana Irwin, and a reading from the book’s main character Adelaide.
The event is free but registration is required to reserve your seat.
All Hallows’ Eve can be spooky, especially for Asheville kids who venture into the cemetery this night! A witch, a pirate, a werewolf, and a vampire play hide-and-seek among the gravestones as they visit the graves of some well-known Ashevillians. Come join the fun and learn a bit of local history along the way. As the four children find, if you are quiet—and if you listen long enough—the generations who have gone before us have stories to tell. When the kids wander through the darkening cemetery, they “meet” the angel in Thomas Wolfe’s famous novel. They are guided by the spirit of Isaac Dickson to do well in school, and they are inspired by George Masa’s photographs. They are told a story of true love when they visit O. Henry’s gravesite. They watch ghostly images of Zelda Fitzgerald and the Pink Lady drift past the clouds, and through the mist they might hear the faint sound of drums of Civil War soldiers. Come with us on an eerie adventure through the mystical world of Riverside Cemetery…if you dare!
Poet Quartet: Chris Arvidson, Andy Young, Caroline M. Mar, Paul Jones
Join us for our monthly poetry reading, curated by Mildred Barya. This month’s Poet Quartet features Chris Arvidson, Andy Young, Caroline M. Mar, and Paul Jones reading from their newest collections.
The event is free but registration is required to reserve your seat.
Join us for The Black Experience Book Club, a monthly gathering held every fourth Thursday at either the YMI Cultural Center’s Art Gallery or just around the corner at Noir Collective AVL. This community-centered series is hosted by alexandria ravenel, YMI’s Director of Community Engagement, and is designed to explore literature that centers the voices, histories, and futures of the African Diaspora.
For location details or to RSVP, please contact alexandria ravenel directly at [email protected].
WED 8/10/25 – 7-9 PM – The North Carolina Writers Network and The Brandy Bar + Cocktails present as next in their series “In the Company of Writers.” Kate Crawford
The program offers a series of personal and conversational dialogues featuring guest writers/poets, followed by an open mic forum. These inspirational gatherings will elucidate and entertain those attending. The guest author speaks from 7-8 PM with an open mic from 8 -9 PM. The Chicago blues music of “John Longbottom” welcomes you, continues during intermission, and closes the evening. You are welcome to sign up for the open mic with the sign-up sheet at the entrance.
Katherine Scott Crawford is the award-winning author of The Miniaturist’s Assistant and Keowee Valley. A former backpacking guide, adjunct professor, and recovering academic, her newspaper column appeared weekly across the country and abroad, including in USA Today, The Detroit Free Press, The Herald Scotland, and more. Winner of a North Carolina Arts Award in fiction, she holds an MFA in Writing from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. She’d rather be in the woods with her dog than anywhere else, enjoys curious people, adventure, and snow, and believes historical fiction the best way to time travel. An eleventh-generation Southerner, she directs writing retreats at a remote mountain lodge near Brevard, North Carolina, where she lives with her family.
For more info visit: https://www.facebook.com/TheBrandyBar/events
Dig into Bullington Gardens’ Fall Plant Sale! Grab trees, shrubs, perennials, natives, and seasonal plants to spruce up your yard. Don’t let your garden be the only one on the block still growing last year’s weeds—join us this fall September 12-13, 9am-4pm.
Reconnecting through Hard Times & Listening Circle
Join Resources for Resilience™ for an afternoon of learning and community connection. During this two-hour event, you’ll gain practical tools to manage stress and support friends and neighbors through hard times. – LEARN how challenges affect us all differently – DISCOVER what to say and do for others after a crisis – SHARE difficulties and lean on one another – PRACTICE stress-reducing tools and strategies to turn good intentions into real support. Thanks to our generous partners, we are able to offer complimentary attendance and refreshments for WNC residents.
All Hallows’ Eve is a new Asheville children’s book about kids who dress in costume on Halloween and visit Riverside Cemetery to tell ghost stories and visit the graves of Asheville’s most prominent residents, including Thomas Wolfe, Isaac Dickson, George Masa, and O. Henry. Up in the clouds, they see the ghosts of Zelda Fitzgerald and the Pink Lady. Please join Dana and Chris at 3 pm, with special guest and main character: Adelaide the Witch, for a special reading of the story. Also, Constance Lombardo will be presenting her new children’s monster book, itty bitty Betty Blob Makes a Splash!
Kids love stories that are a little spooky. Come with us on an eerie adventure through Riverside Cemetery… if you dare!
Dark City LIT! A Literary Festival at the Black Mountain Public Library
105 N. Dougherty St. Black Mountain NC 28711
Saturday, November 8
Join us for the inaugural Dark City LIT! Literary Festival!
Write Local, Read Local Author Fair is back for its fourth year! 20 local authors will be handselling books from 9-11 a.m. and reading from their works from Noon to 1 p.m.
Free Workshops Follow:
1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
The Fun, Fascinating, and Fabulous World of Research with Dr. Susan Eischeid
In this engaging workshop, you’ll learn practical strategies for harnessing research—whether historical, personal, or primary sources—to elevate your fiction and non-fiction writing with vivid detail and universal resonance.
3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Publishing as Collective Practice with Andrew Mack of Loblolly Press
Discover how vibrant communities and collaborative efforts—from writers’ groups to small presses—are reviving literature today and leave with your own personalized “community map” to sustain your creative journey.
Followed by An Evening with Tessa Fontaine!
5:00 – 6:30 p.m.
Author of The Electric Woman: A Memoir in Death-Defying Acts and The Red Grove, longlisted for the Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize. Tessa will be reading from her work and signing copies of her books.
The North Carolina Writers Network and The Brandy Bar + Cocktails present VIVIAN I BIKULEDGE & MICHAEL HETTICH as next in their series “In the Company of Writers”
The program offers a series of personal and conversational dialogues featuring guest writers/poets followed by an open mic forum. These inspirational gatherings will elucidate and entertain those attending. The guest authors speak from 7-8 PM with an open mic from 8 -9 PM. The original music of Bob Sherrill welcomes you, continues during intermission, and closes the evening. Sign-ups for the open mic sheet are posted at the entry.
Vivian I. Bikulege is a poet and essayist. Her work has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and has appeared in the North Carolina Literary Review, The Fourth River, and Broad River Review. A semi-finalist for the 2023 James Applewhite Prize, she also earned honorable mention in the 2022 Randall Jarrell Poetry Competition. Vivian was the 2022 Gilbert-Chappell emerging adult poet for western North Carolina under the mentorship of Ken Chamlee.
BEFORE + AFTERPARTY
Saturday, October 11
8:30–11:00 pm
Suggested donation $40
Open to all
I Spy an immersive projection experience in the Center for Craft’s Ideation Lab. Curated cocktails, DJ, hands-on craft activities with Print House and Swannatopia, and a dance floor.
Bring an object to cast in acrylic. Record a message for the digital time capsule. Don’t miss it!
Sliding scale entry to support the Center for Craft’s mission to resource, catalyze, and amplify makers and scholars.
Activation and music by Frisson Studios.
Graphic design by Maxwell James Sauls.
After being cancelled last year due to Helene, our annual fundraiser Walk For Your Neighbor is BACK! Please join us on Sunday, October 26 at First Baptist Church of Swannanoa for a walk and block party! There will be music, as well as food and drink! The walk will start at 2pm, with the block party continuing until 5pm.
To register for Walk for Your Neighbor, just scan the QR code on this flyer, or follow the link below. Registration is by donation only, but we are encouraging a $20 minimum donation for those who are able. You can also ask family and friends to sponsor your walk using the donation link you receive when you register. To be cost and environmentally conscious, we will be using last year’s t-shirts.
Our valley is still recovering and needs remain high. The more we raise through this walk, the more we can tangibly share the love of Christ with neighbors in need through food, clothing, baby supplies, healthcare, home repairs, and so much more! We hope you’ll give generously, lace up those sneakers, and come walk with us!
Jimmy X & Nan K. Chase launch How I Got You Your Ounce, with Marilyn Ball
Join us in store or live online when Jimmy X and Nan K. Chase launch their new book How I Got You Your Ounce, joined in conversation by Marilyn Ball.
This is a free hybrid event with the option to attend in-store or online.
The Black Mountain Public Library is excited to announce that registration is now open for the fourth annual “Write Local Read Local Author & Illustrator Fair” taking place Saturday, November 8, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
This beloved community event brings together authors, illustrators, and book lovers from across the Swannanoa Valley for a morning of conversation, connection, and creativity. Participants will have the opportunity to meet the public face-to-face, hand-sell their books, and share their stories in a welcoming, literary atmosphere.
The fair is more than just a book signing—it’s a celebration of the incredible talent in our valley and an invitation for our neighbors to discover and support it.
Each registered participant will receive table space for the drop-in event at no cost. Whether you’re an emerging author, an established illustrator, or somewhere in between, this is your chance to be part of the vibrant Swannanoa Valley literary community. (If you participated in the 2024 event, we ask you to wait until next year unless you have published work since 11/2024. We appreciate your understanding.)
Buy Now: https://www.amazon.com/Why-Hate…/dp/B0971SNTQ9…
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Then, don’t miss our Live Sale Events on Whatnot (virtual):
Alabama Poets Garrett Ashley & Salaam Green to Headline Asheville Poetry Reading & Book Signing with Holiday Artisan Market
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Garrett Ashley – Author of A Field Guide to North American Trees (Good Printed Things / Loblolly Press, 2025) and Habitats (Loblolly Press, 2026). His limited-run chapbook features poems named after Southeastern trees, weaving ecological awareness with human transformation.
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Salaam Green – Birmingham’s first Poet Laureate (2024–2026), storyteller, and teaching artist. Her forthcoming collection The Other Revival (Pulley Press, Juneteenth 2025) excavates generational memory from the Wallace Plantation, uniting descendants of enslaved people and slaveholders through poetry as a tool for racial healing.
Join Us for Our 11th Annual Fundraiser – Friday Nov. 14th!
At the Asheville Museum of Science (AMOS) stars reflect an important message, especially after a year of community resilience post-Helene. While we might exist in different orbits, we all play an integral part of connecting for a bigger picture.
Under the Stars is our evening of celebrating the way we connect to serve our STEAM community, reflecting on our past year, and helping shape our mission for the year ahead.
Silent & Live Auction | Local Beer & Wine | Out of This World Food | Special Music Guest
Tuesday, Nov. 18 @ 6pm ET
Join us in person at MALAPROP’S BOOKSTORE or streaming live online when Asheville-based writer Bill Kopp presents his new book, What’s the Big Idea: 30 Great Concept Albums, in conversation with Malaprop’s bookseller Patricia Furnish.
This is a free hybrid event with the option to attend in-store or online.
Copies of What’s the Big Idea will be available for purchase, and Bill Kopp will be on hand to sign them.
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”.
Follow us on Facebook for updates!
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!

