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.
Thursday, July 31 – Ben Bailey, Emmy-winning host of Cash Cab, brings hisrazor-sharp wit and storytelling mastery to the stage.
Friday, August 1 – Rising comedy sensation Jessica Michelle Singleton, known for
her raw honesty and viral stand-up clips, delivers a night of fearless, unfiltered humor.
Saturday, August 2 – Fan favorite and comedy powerhouse Eleanor Kerrigan, whose
no-holds-barred style and magnetic energy have made her a staple on the national
comedy scene, closes out the weekend with a bang.
The laughs keep rolling August 7–9, with multiple showcase performances featuring over 30
of the fastest-rising comedians from across the U.S. These hand-picked performers represent
the next wave of comedy, from sharp observational wits to boundary-pushing storytellers.
All ACF shows begin at 7:30 PM at the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, a
state-of-the-art venue in the heart of Asheville’s vibrant downtown.
The laughs keep rolling August 7–9, with multiple showcase performances featuring over 30
of the fastest-rising comedians from across the U.S. These hand-picked performers represent
the next wave of comedy, from sharp observational wits to boundary-pushing storytellers.
All ACF shows begin at 7:30 PM at the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, a
state-of-the-art venue in the heart of Asheville’s vibrant downtown.
Tickets on sale NOW at
https://www.worthamarts.org/events/the-17th-annual-asheville-comedy-festival/. Early purchase
is strongly recommended — this festival has a history of sell-out shows and unforgettable
surprises.
Ticket prices for the 17th ACF are $23.50-$28.50 + fees while supplies last.
A limited supply of “Cosmo Passes” are also available!. The pass will be good for all shows and
has a savings of 35%!
Louis C.K. is a six-time Emmy Award and three-time Grammy Award winner. He has released over ten stand up specials including his most recent “Louis C.K. at the Dolby,” “Sorry,” and “Sincerely, Louis C.K.,” all released direct to fans on his website. In 2023, C.K. live-streamed his sold out in the round performance from Madison Square Garden, aptly named “Back To The Garden,” through his website. Previous specials include “Shameless,” “Chewed Up,” “Hilarious,” “Word – Live at Carnegie Hall” (audio), “Live at the Beacon Theater,” “Oh My God,” “Live at the Comedy Store,” and “Louis C.K. 2017.” C.K. is the creator, writer, director, and star of the Peabody Award winning shows “Louie” and “Horace and Pete.” C.K. also co-wrote, directed, and appeared in the feature film “Fourth of July,” released in theaters nationwide in July 2022. In January 2015, he became the first comedian to sell out Madison Square Garden three times for the same tour.
Fans can go to Louiskc.com for more information.
Thursday, July 31 – Ben Bailey, Emmy-winning host of Cash Cab, brings hisrazor-sharp wit and storytelling mastery to the stage.
Friday, August 1 – Rising comedy sensation Jessica Michelle Singleton, known for
her raw honesty and viral stand-up clips, delivers a night of fearless, unfiltered humor.
Saturday, August 2 – Fan favorite and comedy powerhouse Eleanor Kerrigan, whose
no-holds-barred style and magnetic energy have made her a staple on the national
comedy scene, closes out the weekend with a bang.
The laughs keep rolling August 7–9, with multiple showcase performances featuring over 30
of the fastest-rising comedians from across the U.S. These hand-picked performers represent
the next wave of comedy, from sharp observational wits to boundary-pushing storytellers.
All ACF shows begin at 7:30 PM at the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, a
state-of-the-art venue in the heart of Asheville’s vibrant downtown.
The laughs keep rolling August 7–9, with multiple showcase performances featuring over 30
of the fastest-rising comedians from across the U.S. These hand-picked performers represent
the next wave of comedy, from sharp observational wits to boundary-pushing storytellers.
All ACF shows begin at 7:30 PM at the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, a
state-of-the-art venue in the heart of Asheville’s vibrant downtown.
Tickets on sale NOW at
https://www.worthamarts.org/events/the-17th-annual-asheville-comedy-festival/. Early purchase
is strongly recommended — this festival has a history of sell-out shows and unforgettable
surprises.
Ticket prices for the 17th ACF are $23.50-$28.50 + fees while supplies last.
A limited supply of “Cosmo Passes” are also available!. The pass will be good for all shows and
has a savings of 35%!
Side Stories Live!Hosted by Henry Zebrowski and Ed Larson
FULLY SEATED SHOW
It’s scary, it’s silly, it’s slimy. It’s SIDE STORIES. Dig into the latest true crime news and paranormal happenings, breaking down ooky-spooky stories. ONE night only.
Thursday, July 31 – Ben Bailey, Emmy-winning host of Cash Cab, brings hisrazor-sharp wit and storytelling mastery to the stage.
Friday, August 1 – Rising comedy sensation Jessica Michelle Singleton, known for
her raw honesty and viral stand-up clips, delivers a night of fearless, unfiltered humor.
Saturday, August 2 – Fan favorite and comedy powerhouse Eleanor Kerrigan, whose
no-holds-barred style and magnetic energy have made her a staple on the national
comedy scene, closes out the weekend with a bang.
The laughs keep rolling August 7–9, with multiple showcase performances featuring over 30
of the fastest-rising comedians from across the U.S. These hand-picked performers represent
the next wave of comedy, from sharp observational wits to boundary-pushing storytellers.
All ACF shows begin at 7:30 PM at the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, a
state-of-the-art venue in the heart of Asheville’s vibrant downtown.
The laughs keep rolling August 7–9, with multiple showcase performances featuring over 30
of the fastest-rising comedians from across the U.S. These hand-picked performers represent
the next wave of comedy, from sharp observational wits to boundary-pushing storytellers.
All ACF shows begin at 7:30 PM at the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, a
state-of-the-art venue in the heart of Asheville’s vibrant downtown.
Tickets on sale NOW at
https://www.worthamarts.org/events/the-17th-annual-asheville-comedy-festival/. Early purchase
is strongly recommended — this festival has a history of sell-out shows and unforgettable
surprises.
Ticket prices for the 17th ACF are $23.50-$28.50 + fees while supplies last.
A limited supply of “Cosmo Passes” are also available!. The pass will be good for all shows and
has a savings of 35%!
End your week on a high note and join us every second Friday this summer for free live music in Biltmore Park Town Square! Bring your friends and family to dance, play games, and enjoy eats and treats from Biltmore Park restaurants.
“Soul Blue” is a charismatic and entertaining classic Soul/Blues/R&B band whose five members hail from both Asheville, NC and Atlanta, GA. These seasoned musicians come together from a variety of popular bands such as: Daddy’s Money, The XL’s, Banks and Shane, and a good many more; enabling them to create an authentic approach to the music of many best-loved Soul, Blues, and R&B artists.
Thursday, July 31 – Ben Bailey, Emmy-winning host of Cash Cab, brings hisrazor-sharp wit and storytelling mastery to the stage.
Friday, August 1 – Rising comedy sensation Jessica Michelle Singleton, known for
her raw honesty and viral stand-up clips, delivers a night of fearless, unfiltered humor.
Saturday, August 2 – Fan favorite and comedy powerhouse Eleanor Kerrigan, whose
no-holds-barred style and magnetic energy have made her a staple on the national
comedy scene, closes out the weekend with a bang.
The laughs keep rolling August 7–9, with multiple showcase performances featuring over 30
of the fastest-rising comedians from across the U.S. These hand-picked performers represent
the next wave of comedy, from sharp observational wits to boundary-pushing storytellers.
All ACF shows begin at 7:30 PM at the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, a
state-of-the-art venue in the heart of Asheville’s vibrant downtown.
The laughs keep rolling August 7–9, with multiple showcase performances featuring over 30
of the fastest-rising comedians from across the U.S. These hand-picked performers represent
the next wave of comedy, from sharp observational wits to boundary-pushing storytellers.
All ACF shows begin at 7:30 PM at the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, a
state-of-the-art venue in the heart of Asheville’s vibrant downtown.
Tickets on sale NOW at
https://www.worthamarts.org/events/the-17th-annual-asheville-comedy-festival/. Early purchase
is strongly recommended — this festival has a history of sell-out shows and unforgettable
surprises.
Ticket prices for the 17th ACF are $23.50-$28.50 + fees while supplies last.
A limited supply of “Cosmo Passes” are also available!. The pass will be good for all shows and
has a savings of 35%!
Grandfather Mountain’s Junior Ranger Program is now the Junior Naturalist Program — a new program for our new Conservation Campus! Activities throughout the day will be provided specifically for children ages 5-12 to explore their environment and experience all that Grandfather has to offer.
Staten Island native Sal Vulcano is best known for creating and starring in truTV’s long-running hit “Impractical Jokers,” and for “The Misery Index” on TBS. In addition to performing as part of The Tenderloins Comedy Troupe to sold-out arenas, Sal founded the No Presh Network in 2020, hosting “Hey Babe!” and “Taste Buds” podcasts. Sal’s debut solo comedy special ‘Terrified’ was released in May 2024 on YouTube.
Join us at the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center (MHCREC) for our annual Field Day. Since 1949, our station has been a hub of agricultural innovation, with the added addition of Field Day being a long-standing tradition. This year’s event promises an engaging, informative, and hands-on look at the latest in horticultural research and extension activities.
Field Day 2025 will feature a comprehensive showcase of ongoing research programs across a variety of crops such as apples, tomatoes, nursery plants, and other specialty crops. In addition to the featured research, the event will highlight various other projects and initiatives that reflect the breadth of work being done here at MHCREC.
Come for the whole day or drop in for part of it — your choice! Admission is free.
Enjoy a complimentary lunch on us! And of course, don’t miss the chance to make your own fresh tomato sandwich right in the field!
We look forward to welcoming growers, researchers, students, and community members alike for a day of learning, networking, and celebration of agricultural innovation.
Eric Eaton
An Adults-Only Comedy Magic Show
FULLY SEATED SHOW
Eric has performed all over the United States with his sold out tour Magic for Adults. Eric can be seen on the hit TV Show Masters of Illusion that has had over 100 million viewers in 126 countries. He is a 2x Merlin Award (Oscar’s of Magic) for Comedy Magician of the Year. Eric has had many viral clips on social media some include celebrities such as; George Lopez, Gary Owen, Lou Ferrigno, Russell Peters, Desiigner, and many more in which you can find on his social media platforms; @themagicofericeaton. Eric is known for his unique blend of magic and comedic wit that makes his show not like any you have seen before.
Asheville’s longest running comedy open mic is rolling our a brand new comedy showcase every Weds 8pm at the Asheville Music Hall. The best of local and not-so-local comedians that come through out comedy open mic. We hand pick them and they do their stuff. Free show like always
The Grey Eagle and Worthwhile Sounds Present: THE MOTH /Asheville StorySLAM – “CHILDISH”
All Ages
Thursday, August 21
Doors: 6:30pm // Show: 7:30pm
Grey Eagle Music Hall
The Moth StorySLAM is an open-mic storytelling competition in which anyone can share a true, personal, 5-minute story on the night’s theme. Sign up for a chance to tell a story or sit back and enjoy the show! Tonight’s theme is…
CHILDISH: Prepare a five-minute story about feeling young. Ditching second period or calling out “sick” from work. Middle school crushes or puppy love that had you feeling 16 again. Chasing ice cream trucks, building pillow forts, and losing stuffed animals. Whether it’s temper tantrums, tattle tales, or tumultuous inner-toddlers…it’s time to grow up. Tag! (no take backs times infinity)
Doors Open: 6:30 PM
Show Starts: 7:30 PM
Tickets for Asheville StorySLAMs go on sale 3 weeks prior to the show date at 3 PM ET.
Seating is not guaranteed and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please be sure to arrive at least 10 minutes before the show. Admission is not guaranteed for late arrivals. All sales final. As many as 10 tickets may be available at the door for all of our StorySLAMs on a first-come, first-served basis.
We have another standup comedy contest, coming up on Thursday August 21! Come out for the fun as you pick your favorite comic of the night!! Audiences love these shows and tickets go fast!
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The Slice of Life Comedy Asheville Fall/Winter Standup Contest Series: ROUND 1
Thursday August 21, 7:30p-9:30p, doors at 6:30p
The Orange Peel’s Comedy Basement, Pulp Lounge
103 Hilliard Ave, Downtown Asheville
Tickets: $17 (available at door or The Orange Peel website)
These shows sellout!
Hosted by Hilliary Begley from Netflix & Amazon Prime!
Cocktails available while you laugh the night away to some of the area’s best Stand Up Comics in a ridiculously fun adult environment!!
Free snacks while availability lasts! You may bring your own food in (no drinks)!
How it Works:
Comics on the show will do approximately 3-1/2m of comedy. This show’s 3 top comics will be brought back with other show winners to compete in our pageant finale, date TBD. Audience votes through paper ballots to be picked up and counted at end of show, winner will be announced.
Want to compete?
These spots go fast! There is no cost to performing comics. Comics should have 3-5m of material and be prepared for additional material in the event of a tie-breaker performance. Winners will be compensated for the night and move on to the finale.
Go to SliceofLifeComedy.com for more information. Contact Michele with any questions, or to sign up at [email protected]
Beth Stelling
Ages 18+
FULLY SEATED SHOW
Beth Stelling is a comedian, writer and actress based in Los Angeles. Her new Netflix special “If You Didn’t Want Me Then” topped every ‘Best of 2023’ list. Her half-hour special is also on Netflix in the first season of The Standups. Conan O’Brien produced Beth’s previous hour special for HBO Max called “Girl Daddy.” Beth has been a writer for the following television series: Rick and Morty, Strange Planet, The Last O.G., I Love You America with Sarah Silverman, Another Period and Crashing on HBO. She’s a sought-after punch-up writer for feature films following her success as an on-set writer for the Universal hit, Good Boys. She has guest starred on Amazon’s Red Oaks, Corporate on Comedy Central, and she played Ms. Fish on the Peacock comedy Rutherford Falls.
RISE: A Fly Fishing Festival
Wrong Way River Lodge & Cabins and Uproar Concept are hosting, RISE: A Fly Fishing Festival, taking place on August 24 in Asheville, NC. A portion of proceeds from the one-day event will benefit two local conservation nonprofits: RiverLink & MountainTrue. Both have been vital to recovery efforts in WNC. Borne from Blue Lines, which supports fly fishing guides in Western North Carolina and Tennessee, will host a guide expo during the event in an effort to help them rebuild their customer base after Hurricane Helene.
The riverfront Wrong Way (9 Midnight Drive, on Amboy Road) will host RISE which will be free and open to the public and include activities like casting and fly-tying competitions, clinics, kid-friendly programming, raffles, and shoppable A-frame cabin “takeovers” by outdoor brands. Festival goers will enjoy an eclectic mix of live music in the Wrong Way Meadow and food and drinks from Imposter Pizza Co., Chop Shop Butchery, and featured local breweries.
Join us for our bimonthly general meeting from 6 to 7:30 pm at the Enka-Candler Library. This meeting will include updates from our busy Action Teams, with opportunities to get involved, plus a peek at our upcoming voter outreach campaign launching this fall.
Brochure: https://go.evvnt.com/3216976-0?pid=10412
Date and Time: Thu, 28 Aug 2025 18:00 – Thu, 28 Aug 2025 19:30
Venue details: Enka-Candler Public Library, 1404 Sand Hill Road, Candler, North Carolina, 28715, United States
Garden and Adventure Photography Basics
with Cami Calnan
Friday, August 29 | 10 am – 1 pm
Elevate your photography from the level you are currently working from. In this immersive workshop, we will explore the technical aspects of the camera you photograph with. Bring your phone, your slr or point and shoot digital or film camera, and we will explore the concepts behind taking the kinds of photos you are hoping to capture.
This program will take place outside and will follow easy trails and paved walkways. Dress for the weather and prepare to be outside for the entire program time.
Chasing Dragons and Damsels in WNC
with Shane Myers
Saturday, August 30 | 9 – 10:30am
Dragonflies and damselflies (order Odonata) are some of our most fascinating insects. Come with us as we talk about their natural history, lives, and ecological importance. We’ll go down to Willow Pond and observe some of these enchanting insects in the wild and up close.
This program will take place outside and will follow easy trails and paved walkways. Dress for the weather and prepare to be outside for the entire program time.
Ali Siddiq is a stand-up comedian and public speaker out of Houston, TX. In 2024, Vulture called him stand-up comedy’s most prolific storyteller. Ali’s unique style of stand-up originated behind the walls of incarceration, an incubator for interesting experiences and good stories. He is the first comedian to ever release a 4-part series of comedy specials, The Domino Effect 1-4, which has over 40 million views combined on YouTube.
Get ready to laugh till your sides hurt as Joe Zimmerman and his hilarious friends take the stage for a night of fun. In Downtown Asheville
Joe grew up in Morgantown, West Virginia, and started his comedy career in North Carolina shortly after graduating Davidson College (where obviously, he was an English major). While starting out in the South, he launched a tour with three friends, called “The Beards of Comedy” and landed a record deal with Comedy Central Records.
In 2012, he moved to New York City, quickly appearing on The Late Late Show and John Oliver’s New York Stand-Up Show, as well as Montreal’s Just for Laughs festival. His resume has since grown to include The Tonight Show, Conan, Nickelodeon, Last Comic Standing, and his own Comedy Central Half Hour, and the Comedy Cellar’s topical show, “This Week at the Comedy Cellar”.
Joe’s first solo album Smiling at Wolves (2014) reached number two on the iTunes comedy charts, and shortly after Paste Magazine named him one of 10 best comedians from the south. His second album, Innocence, came out on Comedy Central Records (2018) and is played regularly on Sirius XM radio, and in 2019 he recorded a dry bar special with upwards of million views on YouTube. His first, fully produced one-hour comedy special “Cult Classic”, came out in 2023, directed by Nate Bargatze and produced by 800 Pound Gorilla.
Plein Air Painting
with Erika Busse
Monday, September 1 | 9am – 11am
There is no better way to relax and connect with your creative side and nature than en plein air painting. In this class, artist Erika Busse will teach you how to paint an original Appalachian inspired artwork outside at the beautiful North Carolina Arboretum. She will take you through each step of the painting process, all skill levels are welcomed and all supplies are provided.
Celebrate the season at Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard in Hendersonville, NC! Open daily August 15 through the end of October, enjoy u-pick apples, grapes, flowers, and pumpkins. Explore a 5-acre corn maze, take a weekend wagon ride, bounce on the jump pad, and launch apples from the apple cannon. Don’t miss fresh cider donuts, slushies, plus many more sweet treats and local goods from the Apple House. No admission fee—just pay for what you pick or do. Make it a fall tradition your whole family will love!
📍 steppapples.com | 170 Stepp Orchard Dr., Hendersonville, NC
Celebrate the season at Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard in Hendersonville, NC! Open daily August 15 through the end of October, enjoy u-pick apples, grapes, flowers, and pumpkins. Explore a 5-acre corn maze, take a weekend wagon ride, bounce on the jump pad, and launch apples from the apple cannon. Don’t miss fresh cider donuts, slushies, plus many more sweet treats and local goods from the Apple House. No admission fee—just pay for what you pick or do. Make it a fall tradition your whole family will love!
📍 steppapples.com | 170 Stepp Orchard Dr., Hendersonville, NC
Celebrate the season at Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard in Hendersonville, NC! Open daily August 15 through the end of October, enjoy u-pick apples, grapes, flowers, and pumpkins. Explore a 5-acre corn maze, take a weekend wagon ride, bounce on the jump pad, and launch apples from the apple cannon. Don’t miss fresh cider donuts, slushies, plus many more sweet treats and local goods from the Apple House. No admission fee—just pay for what you pick or do. Make it a fall tradition your whole family will love!
📍 steppapples.com | 170 Stepp Orchard Dr., Hendersonville, NC
Late Summer Tree ID
with Lauren Lampley
Thursday, September 4 | 1 – 4 pm
Join this class as we discuss how to use different characteristics and field guides to identify common trees of Western North Carolina found here at the NC Arboretum. We will look at using different characteristics including habitat, bark, buds, growth pattern, leaf shape, and fruit/nut shape to identify trees.
This program will take place outside and will follow easy trails and paved walkways. Dress for the weather and prepare to be outside for the entire program time.
Celebrate the season at Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard in Hendersonville, NC! Open daily August 15 through the end of October, enjoy u-pick apples, grapes, flowers, and pumpkins. Explore a 5-acre corn maze, take a weekend wagon ride, bounce on the jump pad, and launch apples from the apple cannon. Don’t miss fresh cider donuts, slushies, plus many more sweet treats and local goods from the Apple House. No admission fee—just pay for what you pick or do. Make it a fall tradition your whole family will love!
📍 steppapples.com | 170 Stepp Orchard Dr., Hendersonville, NC
River Systems of the Blue Ridge
With Anton DuMars
Friday, September 5 | 12 – 4pm
Water is essential to life but is also a powerful agent of change. Rivers, through both daily processes and catastrophic floods, shape Earth’s surface through erosion and sediment transport. In River Systems of the Blue Ridge, we will investigate how the Broad River changes character and shapes the landscape along its course from the headwaters, through the Piedmont, and onto the Atlantic Ocean.