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.

Saturday, May 25, 2024
ABSFest Saturday Workshops: Whip Arts, Songwriting, Shimmies for Every Body, + The History of Sideshow
May 25 @ 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm
The Orange Peel

Now in our 15th year, we are proud to offer affordable, all-levels workshops!
Class topics include Intro to Whip Tricks, Badass Shimmies, and Song-writing. We are also offering a FREE LECTURE on the history of Sideshow with America’s top historian, the legendary James Taylor. Study with the best!

Monday, May 27, 2024
Run for Life Memorial Day 5K and Fun Run
May 27 @ 8:00 am
Bill Moore Community (Fletcher) Park

Join us for this Memorial Day 5K Run for Life event to remember those who gave their all for our country and to help support Open Arms Pregnancy Center. This will be a run/walk-timed event to be held at Bill Moore Community Park in Fletcher (AKA: “Fletcher Park”) located at 85 Howard Gap Road, Fletcher, NC US 28732 on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27th with a start time of 8:00 AM. A Fun Run will start at 9:00 AM.
Runners should register by April 20th to secure a T-shirt for the race.
Sign up at https://runsignup.com/Race/NC/Fletcher/Run4for5k
Those interested in sponsoring the event should contact Open Arms Pregnancy Center to learn more. (Marlies Zerressen at [email protected] or call 828.676.4510)
Open Arms provides a safe place for women facing unplanned pregnancies, those
needing material goods for their baby, or those who need emotional support. We serve
each mom throughout her pregnancy and continue supporting her and the baby to 18 months of age. All services are free and confidential.

Thursday, May 30, 2024
Cultivated Community Dining Series
May 30 @ 6:00 pm
Cultura

This month’s Cultivated Community Dinner Series, in partnership with Olivette Farm, features Chef Eric Morris & benefits Feed AVL.

Please communicate any dietary restrictions or allergies at least 72 hours in advance. We cannot guarantee accommodations without notice. For more information on Feed AVL, you can visit feedashevillewest.com and to learn about Olivette Farm, you might explore their connection with the community via olivettefarm.com.

About

Spring unfolds its bounty at Olivette Farm, and Cultura’s table is set amidst the bloom. This April, join us under the stars and amongst the fields where our food roots. Cultura’s own Executive Chef Eric Morris will illuminate the night with a menu drawn from the earth and crafted with care. In partnership with Feed AVL, we celebrate the power of community and local sustenance. Feed AVL’s mission resonates with our own — nourishing the bonds between land, produce, and people. With every dish, we pay homage to their efforts to provide free, fresh, locally sourced food, particularly to the BIPOC community in Asheville. Reserve your seat at a table where dining transcends the meal before you. It’s a place where food is a bridge to understanding, care, and support for those who nurture us all. Olivette Farm, nestled by the French Broad River, offers more than just a setting; it’s an experience where each leaf and root tells a story of sustainability and conscious cultivation.

Saturday, June 1, 2024
Nerd Pride Fest
Jun 1 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
The Nerd Dungeon

Are YOU READY for NERD PRIDE FEST 2024!!
Saturday, June 1st 2024 : 10am – 4pm

Asheville’s local artist convention every first Saturday in June in honor of Pride month! This is a fun, free way to celebrate pride month by supporting local artists and nonprofits who do incredible things for the queer LGBT+ community in western North Carolina.

Nerd Pride Fest was our first ever event in our current location. So it had to be to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and reopening with food, games, live music, and more.

As a shop owned and operated by queer-identifying folks, The Nerd Dungeon is committed to being a safe and welcoming environment for people of all ages to express themselves any time of year, not just during Pride Month. We will always be a 3rd Place.
It is nice to have an excuse to go all-out and party, though! Pride Cosplay encouraged!

Artists + Writers Coffee
Jun 1 @ 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Tryon Fine Arts Center

Saturdays from 10:30 AM – 12 PM

TFAC Pavilion (park/enter at rear of building)
Free drop-in event
Just Brew It
Jun 1 @ 2:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Pisgah Brewing Company

What’s Brewing at Just Brew It:

Just Brew It isn’t just any beer festival; it’s a celebration of community, creativity, and great taste. Picture this: 50+ unique beers crafted by 20+ talented homebrewers. From classic IPAs to experimental brews infused with coffee, chocolate, spices, and fruit – there’s something for every beer lover’s palate. Those in attendance sample the homebrew and vote for their favorite while the homebrewers compete for the coveted People’s Choice Award!

But that’s not all! We’re adding a twist this year with a selection of non-alcoholic drinks for those looking for a different kind of refreshment.

How to Join the Fun:

To savor these sensational sips, become a 2024 individual member of Just Economics today.  This event is not ticketed, but rather a benefit for Just Economics’ members. Purchase a membership here and your name will be on the event attendee list. Then, all Just Economics members can sample the homebrews and vote for their favorites! 

  • Memberships are $35, which grants you entry to the event.
  • The VIP Package with Membership is $55, which grants you entry to the event an hour early (1:00pm) and a VIP swag bag with a souvenir glass and other goodies.
  • Non-alcoholic event passes are $15— For those who want to enjoy the music, atmosphere, and a creative selection of non-alcoholic beverages, this year we are offering a non-alcoholic event pass.

Get your membership here!

Support a Cause, Sip for a Purpose:

Just Brew It isn’t just about great beer; it’s about supporting Just Economics’ mission to promote living wages, affordable housing, and better transit in our community. Your membership directly contributes to positive change while you have a blast at the festival.

Monday, June 3, 2024
Letters to the Editor + Opinion Editorials Creative Workshop
Jun 3 @ 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Buncombe County Democratic Party HQ

Democrats need to be more actively messaging and to overcome the makers of fake news with the truth! Join this ongoing group of writers working together on Letters to the Editor and Opinion Editorials. We’ll discuss the issues we care about most deeply and craft a plan to respond to events as they occur in real time.

The group meets the first and third Monday of each month for writing, responding to one another’s work, scheduling submissions, and exploring media outlets across the state.

“Rant with purpose. Support with facts. Propel action.” – Myra Schoen

Tuesday, June 4, 2024
Dark City Poets Society Workshop Circle
Jun 4 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Black Mountain Library

Dark City Poets Society is a completely free poetry group that is open to writers of all ages and experience levels.
Join us at the Black Mountain Library from 6:00-7:30 pm on the first Tuesday of every month for our (respectful) feedback group.

FREE. Meets in the garden weather permitting.

Saturday, June 8, 2024
Vibes for the Valley: A Benefit for Black Mountain Schools
Jun 8 all-day
Pisgah Brewing Company

Join us Saturday, June 8th for a music festical benefitting Black Mountain Schools’ Afterschool Program featuring performances by Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters, Scott McMicken & The Ever Expanding and Hannah Kaminer & The Wistfuls!

The Black Mountain Schools PTO Vice President explained the need for the benefit concert: “The lack of public school funding and then the pandemic was hard on kids, and very hard on our public school afterschool programs. There isn’t sufficient funding for them. We want to bring afterschool programs back to the Black Mountain Schools in a big way – these programs are so important for kids’ socialization and academic achievement, and for parents, it’s critical to have afterschool care for their kids. If we want to keep our public schools thriving, we must bring back more of these programs, and make sure the teachers are compensated to do it!”

Black Mountain Schools PTO is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education.

**All funds collected from ticket sales will be donated to the Black Mountain Schools PTO.**

Artists + Writers Coffee
Jun 8 @ 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Tryon Fine Arts Center

Saturdays from 10:30 AM – 12 PM

TFAC Pavilion (park/enter at rear of building)
Free drop-in event
Sunday, June 9, 2024
Connect Beyond Festival
Jun 9 @ 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Thomas Wolfe Auditorium

Connect Beyond Festival returns to downtown Asheville, N.C. on June 7-9, 2024 for a weekend of performances, panels, film screenings and workshops with award-winning artists and thought leaders, exploring how the intersection of music, art, film and storytelling can inspire positive change. This year’s festival, dubbed by Ashvegas as “Asheville’s version of SXSW,” is themed around Connection To Deepen Resilience and Keep Moving Forward. Connect Beyond will be partnering with Slay The Mic Media to co-curate programs centered around youth empowerment. Tickets for the Connect Beyond Festival are slated to go on sale by May 13th. To optimize community accessibility, options include individual event tickets or a full weekend pass.

Tuesday, June 11, 2024
Veterans Writing Classes: Brothers and Sisters Like These
Jun 11 @ 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
East Asheville Public Library

In 2014, a group of Vietnam combat veterans began meeting at the Charles George VA Hospital in Asheville to participate in a unique creative writing program. The focus was capturing their stories through essays and poetry to find the voices war had taken from them. The hope was to reclaim a sense of their shared humanity, build camaraderie and find some degree of healing.

To continue this work, the NC Veterans Writing Alliance Foundation will be offering free creative writing classes at the East Asheville Library in June and July. The goal is to provide healing through the art of creative writing to all veterans in our community.

Join other veterans for this series of classes on Tuesdays at 4:30 p.m. from June 11-July 30 at the East Asheville library. To sign up, please e-mail Ron Toler at [email protected].

Thursday, June 13, 2024
15th Annual Authors for Literacy Event
Jun 13 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
DoubleTree Biltmore

Lisa See is the New York Times bestselling author of The Island of Sea Women, The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Peony in Love, Shanghai Girls, China Dolls, and Dreams of Joy, which debuted at #1. She is also the author of On Gold Mountain, which tells the story of her Chinese American family’s settlement in Los Angeles. See was the recipient of the Golden Spike Award from the Chinese Historical Association of Southern California and the Historymaker’s Award from the Chinese American Museum. She was also named National Woman of the Year by the Organization of Chinese American Women.

Friday, June 14, 2024
Modern Dance Workshop
Jun 14 all-day
Center Stage Dance Studios

Train with world renowned Performing Artist, former Alvin Ailey principle Dancer & Teacher Raquelle Chavis- and explore modern dance and the Horton technique. Dancers will have 1 week of daily class training, while learning a series of fortification studies and challenging combinations, designed to perfect their technique, placement and performance. Additionally, dancers will learn new choreography and rehearse that piece daily. a studio performance will be given on the final day of this intensive workshop, showcasing the skills they’ve learned throughout the week. This program is open to dancers age 9-18 who possess a passion and drive to excel.

Saturday, June 15, 2024
Artists + Writers Coffee
Jun 15 @ 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Tryon Fine Arts Center

Saturdays from 10:30 AM – 12 PM

TFAC Pavilion (park/enter at rear of building)
Free drop-in event
Monday, June 17, 2024
Letters to the Editor + Opinion Editorials Creative Workshop
Jun 17 @ 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Buncombe County Democratic Party HQ

Democrats need to be more actively messaging and to overcome the makers of fake news with the truth! Join this ongoing group of writers working together on Letters to the Editor and Opinion Editorials. We’ll discuss the issues we care about most deeply and craft a plan to respond to events as they occur in real time.

The group meets the first and third Monday of each month for writing, responding to one another’s work, scheduling submissions, and exploring media outlets across the state.

“Rant with purpose. Support with facts. Propel action.” – Myra Schoen

Tuesday, June 18, 2024
Veterans Writing Classes: Brothers and Sisters Like These
Jun 18 @ 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
East Asheville Public Library

In 2014, a group of Vietnam combat veterans began meeting at the Charles George VA Hospital in Asheville to participate in a unique creative writing program. The focus was capturing their stories through essays and poetry to find the voices war had taken from them. The hope was to reclaim a sense of their shared humanity, build camaraderie and find some degree of healing.

To continue this work, the NC Veterans Writing Alliance Foundation will be offering free creative writing classes at the East Asheville Library in June and July. The goal is to provide healing through the art of creative writing to all veterans in our community.

Join other veterans for this series of classes on Tuesdays at 4:30 p.m. from June 11-July 30 at the East Asheville library. To sign up, please e-mail Ron Toler at [email protected].

Saturday, June 22, 2024
Breakthrough Breathwork Meditation Workshop with Sound Baths
Jun 22 all-day
Magictown Movement Studio

Embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery and inner healing through our groundbreaking Breathwork Meditation Workshop including 2 Sound Baths! During this immersive experience you will be guided through a powerful Breathwork practice to help you massively release stress, heal past wounds and traumas, access deeper levels of awareness, and connect more profoundly to Source.

Led by two professional highly experienced facilitators with over 50 years experience between them, this workshop will
deepen your connection with your breath and unlock its incredible potential for physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Join a group of like-minded individuals on the path to self-discovery in a supportive nurturing environment on the beautiful island in Marshall on one of the world’s oldest rivers.

You may come to the full day (10am-4.30pm, $120 ) which includes two Breathwork Meditation Sessions with sound baths and a session of Self-discovery. You may also come to the first Breathwork Meditation Session with sound bath only (10am-1pm, $60) or the second Breathwork Session with sound bath only (1.30pm-4.30pm, $60).
Register at www.breakthroughbreathwork.com/events

Artists + Writers Coffee
Jun 22 @ 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Tryon Fine Arts Center

Saturdays from 10:30 AM – 12 PM

TFAC Pavilion (park/enter at rear of building)
Free drop-in event
Tuesday, June 25, 2024
Veterans Writing Classes: Brothers and Sisters Like These
Jun 25 @ 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
East Asheville Public Library

In 2014, a group of Vietnam combat veterans began meeting at the Charles George VA Hospital in Asheville to participate in a unique creative writing program. The focus was capturing their stories through essays and poetry to find the voices war had taken from them. The hope was to reclaim a sense of their shared humanity, build camaraderie and find some degree of healing.

To continue this work, the NC Veterans Writing Alliance Foundation will be offering free creative writing classes at the East Asheville Library in June and July. The goal is to provide healing through the art of creative writing to all veterans in our community.

Join other veterans for this series of classes on Tuesdays at 4:30 p.m. from June 11-July 30 at the East Asheville library. To sign up, please e-mail Ron Toler at [email protected].

Saturday, June 29, 2024
Artists + Writers Coffee
Jun 29 @ 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Tryon Fine Arts Center

Saturdays from 10:30 AM – 12 PM

TFAC Pavilion (park/enter at rear of building)
Free drop-in event
Yappy Hour at The Radical
Jun 29 @ 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
The Golden Hour Patio at The Radical

Grab your leash, gather your squad (both human and furry), and join us for some Sips and Treats. Plus, 15% of the proceeds will go to our friends at Mountain Pet Rescue. See you at The Golden Hour Patio from 4 – 6 p.m.

16TH ANNUAL GIVE TO THE MUSIC BENEFIT CONCERT
Jun 29 @ 7:00 pm
The Orange Peel

Come check out our Rock Academy bands with performers ranging in age from elementary school thru high school as they perform“Decades of Hits” from the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. The Asheville Rock Academy’s talented students have played many high profile gigs, including the Main Stage at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. Academy bands have also played with Cliff Williams of AC/DC, Victor Wooten and American Idol’s Caleb Johnson.

GTTM has served the Asheville Community for over 16 years and has helped hundreds of WNC Students discover the joy of music by raising more than $275,000 providing for scholarships to fund private music lessons, Rock Academy band lessons, summer camps, and musical instruments.

Sunday, June 30, 2024
BAND TOGETHER
Jun 30 @ 3:00 pm
The Orange Peel

feat. The Feels, Aunt Vicki, Safety Coffin, and Monster Wave

A community fundraiser event for local cancer patients in need.
Visit the GoFundMe.

Monday, July 1, 2024
Letters to the Editor + Opinion Editorials Creative Workshop
Jul 1 @ 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Buncombe County Democratic Party HQ

Democrats need to be more actively messaging and to overcome the makers of fake news with the truth! Join this ongoing group of writers working together on Letters to the Editor and Opinion Editorials. We’ll discuss the issues we care about most deeply and craft a plan to respond to events as they occur in real time.

The group meets the first and third Monday of each month for writing, responding to one another’s work, scheduling submissions, and exploring media outlets across the state.

“Rant with purpose. Support with facts. Propel action.” – Myra Schoen

Beginner Thai Massage Series
Jul 1 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Weaving Rainbows

Hello Asheville Fam! Thank you for the invite to teach in our community. Previously, I spent five years teaching multiple weekly classes in Knoxville, TN. Now that I’m officially in AVL, Maan and I are excited to offer two class series in July: Foundational AcroYoga and An introduction to Thai Massage. Mark your calendars and register soon as space is limited!

Details:
Mondays in July 7:30pm-9:00pm
$111 For Series
$33 Drop-in
Downtown at Weaving Rainbows (62 Wall St)

Join Rebekah JOY and Maan for a 5-week series! Each week, participants are guided through giving and receiving a 30-minute, full body Thai Massage. We will explore different postures including supine, prone, and seated. Moving with the breath, we use gravity and bodyweight to flow seamlessly through transitions and postures. In this partner practice, we build trust by using clear communication and honoring personal boundaries. Participants are fully clothed.

To Register:
Venmo @rebekah-luhrs

Limited Space
Register in advance

All attendees get 50% off if they are signed up for the AcroYoga Series.

More info at:
https://www.rebekahluhrs.com/register

Rebekah Joy has been teaching Thai Massage since 2016 in conjunction with AcroYoga in Knoxville, TN. In 2017 she completed her AcroYoga Teacher Training though AcroYoga International in Mexico.

Tuesday, July 2, 2024
Veterans Writing Classes: Brothers and Sisters Like These
Jul 2 @ 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
East Asheville Public Library

In 2014, a group of Vietnam combat veterans began meeting at the Charles George VA Hospital in Asheville to participate in a unique creative writing program. The focus was capturing their stories through essays and poetry to find the voices war had taken from them. The hope was to reclaim a sense of their shared humanity, build camaraderie and find some degree of healing.

To continue this work, the NC Veterans Writing Alliance Foundation will be offering free creative writing classes at the East Asheville Library in June and July. The goal is to provide healing through the art of creative writing to all veterans in our community.

Join other veterans for this series of classes on Tuesdays at 4:30 p.m. from June 11-July 30 at the East Asheville library. To sign up, please e-mail Ron Toler at [email protected].

Dark City Poets Society Workshop Circle
Jul 2 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Black Mountain Library

Tuesday, 7/2 at 6:00 pm – Dark City Poets Society Workshop Circle (outdoors in the garden, weather permitting.)
Dark City Poets Society is a completely free poetry group that is open to writers of all ages and experience levels.
Join us at the Black Mountain Library from 6:00-7:30 pm on the first Tuesday of every month for our (respectful) feedback group.

Thursday, July 4, 2024
Annual July 4th Freedom Gala: Picnic and Ride
Jul 4 all-day
279 Chestnut St, Asheville, NC 28801, USA

COME CELEBRATE WITH US!

We are so excited to celebrate once again on Thursday, July 4th, 2024, with good food for a great cause!

The continued political unrest and instability have brought devastating ongoing hardship to the people of Haiti. Despite all of this, our mission to help the children of Haiti with sustainable food, clean water, and medical care has not changed in fact we need your help now more than ever before!

You can be a part of helping our program children and have loads of fun while you’re at it!

Ride. Eat. Do Both. Or, donate.

Through the generosity of Siemens Family Law Group, the Patton Parker House, Downtown Asheville Racing Club (DARC), the Charlotte Street Business Association we are offering multiple bike ride options for both individuals and families.

  • Gravel Ride – starts at 8:30 am

  • Family Ride – starts at 10 am

  • You can purchase tickets to just ride or join us for our meal at 6:00 PM too.

  • All proceeds from this event will go to Consider Haiti to help us meet our yearly budget goals!

Our July 4th picnic starts at 6:00 pm on the Patton Parker House lawn. With gorgeous views of downtown Asheville’s skyline and the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains, it’s the perfect way to celebrate with friends and family under the stars.

The meal will be catered by the always fabulous Chop Shop Butchery and will include:

  • Pulled pork

  • Geraldine’s Buns

  • Baked beans (vegetarian)

  • Coleslaw (vegetarian)

  • Potato salad (vegetarian)

  • Salad(vegetarian)

Other Event Details:

  • This event is BYOB. Water and tea will be provided with your meal.

  • To ensure enough seating we suggest bringing your own lawn chairs and blankets although we will be providing seating as well.

  • There will be parking available just North of the Patton Parker House.

  • We are looking for volunteers to help with set-up and tear-down for this event.

  • Please share this event with friends and family (click on the icons below).

Saturday, July 6, 2024
Artists + Writers Coffee
Jul 6 @ 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Tryon Fine Arts Center

Saturdays from 10:30 AM – 12 PM

TFAC Pavilion (park/enter at rear of building)
Free drop-in event