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.
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Join us for a FREE film screening of the Sundance Award-winning documentary, Step, and a Q&A with cast member, HBCU advocate & national speaker Paula Dofat and hosted by Slay The Mic’s Elizabeth Lashay Garland. Even though this event is free, registration is required. Head to our tickets link to save your seats! STEP is the true-life story of a girls’ high-school step team set against the background of the heart of Baltimore. These young women learn to laugh, love and thrive – on and off the stage – even when the world seems to work against them. Empowered by their teachers, teammates, counselors, coaches and families, they chase their ultimate dreams: to win a step championship and to be accepted into college
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Entertainment will include: Jennifer Armstrong, Mountain Square Dance Circle with Walt Pickett, dulicimer players Steve and Jean Smith, local Folk musician Laura Boosinger, and headlining Blues Legend Mac Arnold!
Amphitheatre
10a.m: Jennifer Armstrong kicks off festivities with storytelling for kids of all ages, to honor Sandburg’s Rootabaga Stories, which were tales written for his daughters. Jennifer has spent her life writing, singing, and making music with fiddle, bagpipe, banjo, and words. She was a featured teller at the National Storytelling Festival and has been heard on NPR.
12p.m: Laura Boosinger celebrates the music of Appalachia through old-time banjo, guitar, Appalachian dulcimer, and fingerstyle Autoharp. Laura attended Warren Wilson College in the 1970’s, where she learned clawhammer banjo, called Southern Mountain Square dances, and attended Shaped Note Singing School with North Carolina Folk Heritage Award winner Quay Smathers. Laura is a Blue Ridge Music Trails of North Carolina consultant and the voice of their podcast, “Down the Road on the Blue Ridge Music Trails.” In 2017, Laura was inducted into the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame.
2p.m: Mac Arnold plays the Blues with Austin Brashier and Max Hightower. At age 24, Arnold joined the Muddy Waters Band, shaping the electric Blues sound of the 1960’s and 70’s. Mac has shared stages with Howlin’ Wolf, Jimmy Reed, and Big Mama Thornton. In 2012, Mac was nominated for the Blues Foundation’s Traditional Blues Male Artist Award and also received a Blues Blast Music Award Nomination for “Traditional Blues Recording of the Year,” with Plate Full O’Blues. In 2014, he received an Honorary Doctorate in Music from USC Columbia. In 2017, Mac was inducted into the Alabama Blues Hall of Fame. In 2023, he received the South Carolina Entertainment and Music Hall of Fame Award.
Austin Brashier is a guitar slinger and vocalist. He grew up listening to Blues, and eventually took his band on the road. He has had the privilege to open for Blues players such as B.B. King, Koko Taylor, Tinsley Ellis, Derek Trucks, and Nappy Brown.
Max Hightower started his music career at age 12 when he bought his first Blues cassette tape, “Muddy Mississippi Live by Muddy Waters.” He plays keyboard, guitar, bass, and sings. Harmonica is his instrument of choice. Max is a founding member of Plate Full O’Blues and has shared stages with Hubert Sumlin, Willie Smith, and Leon Everette.
Barn Garage
10:45am to 12pm: Walter Puckett calls Mountain Circle Square Dances. A festival first, to celebrate the Sandburgs’ love of square dancing! Come dance! When he was just nine years old, Walter called his first dance at a PTA event with his third-grade class. Walt has traveled with the Blue Ridge Mountain Dancers and the Stoney Mountain Cloggers, winning many awards. Walt also had the ultimate privilege to dance at the Grand Ole Opry. 2024 marks his 80th birthday!
Barnyard
12pm to 2pm: Henderson County natives Steve and Jean Smith play mountain dulcimer and hammered dulcimer. They perform regularly at Carl Sandburg Home. They have taught dulcimer at festivals and workshops nationwide. In 1984, Steve won the National Hammered Dulcimer Championships at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas. He returned to win the 1985 National Mountain Dulcimer Championships at Winfield, only the second person to win both Championships.
Parking, Shuttles, and Accessibility
Parking is limited. Please carpool or take a ride share or taxi. Three parking lots will have shuttle service. Approximate shuttle times will be posted in all parking lots with shuttle service. Visitors with mobility concerns are strongly urged to take a shuttle.
- Wheelchair-Accessible Shuttle: The park’s main parking lot has the only wheelchair-accessible shuttle. This lot is located on Little River Road, across from Flat Rock Playhouse.
- Passenger-Only Shuttle: Flat Rock Playhouse (enter via Little River Road).
- Passenger-Only Shuttle: Flat Rock Village Hall, 110 Village Center Drive.
Parking lot without a shuttle: The hikers’ lot (located ½ mile drive from the main lot). Park and then walk .4 to .7 mile through the park to festivities.
Free Sandburg Home Tours
As part of Music Fest, free Sandburg Home tours will be offered at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Tickets are first come, first serve in the Visitor Center/Park Store (on the Sandburg Home ground floor) beginning at 9:30 a.m. (To reserve tickets on non-festival days visit www.recreation.gov).
Music Festival is supported by:
Friends of Carl Sandburg at Connemara, Inc.
America’s National Parks, the non-profit partner that operates the park store
The music festival began in 1987, to celebrate Carl Sandburg’s efforts to document the history of American music in his American Songbag. Carl Sandburg published the American Songbag in 1927 after spending years documenting and researching early American songs. As Sandburg said, “The American Songbag is a ragbag of strips, stripes, and streaks of color from nearly all ends of the earth. The melodies and verses presented here are from diverse regions, from varied human characters and communities, and each is sung differently in different places.” His publication does not focus on one genre of music, but rather on the human experience. “It is an All-American affair, marshalling the genius of thousands of original singing Americans.”
Sandburg enjoyed all American musical genres. He spent years interviewing musicians and singers, documenting their songs, including folk, gospel, jazz and blues. Carl Sandburg said, “the American Songbag comes from the hearts and voices of thousands of men and women.”
Compiling and publishing the American Songbag was one of the most difficult writing projects Sandburg took on during his life. Today, the Carl Sandburg Music Festival celebrates his work and the work of modern singers and songwriters to share diverse and original American music.
SATURDAY, JUNE 8 – THOMAS WOLFE AUDITORIUM
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Recycled Art Workshop
Lonnie Holley
DeWayne Barton
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Empower Hour
Edivan Guajajara
Chelsea Greene
Rob Grobman
Jared Wheatley
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Lunch Break
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Rebalanced: Solutions Journalism for Turbulent Times
Rebecca Worby
Julia Hotz
Ezekiel Walker
3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Meet & Greet + Book Signing with Julia Hotz
Julia Hotz
4:30 PM – 6:00 PM
Music & Words: An Evening With Lonnie Holley
Lonnie Holley
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Dinner Break
7:30 PM – 10:00 PM
WE ARE GUARDIANS: Award-Winning Film Screening & Filmmaker Q+A
Edivan Guajajara
Chelsea Greene
Rob Grobman
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Join us for our June open studio & pop up shop
Sunday, June 9th
11am – 4pm
115 Elk Mountain Rd, Woodfin, NC
Shop home goods, wooden kitchenware, art, jewelry, accessories + vintage clothing with:
@loomimports @kerrwoodworking @gennypopshop @townesandbirdie @maadilicollective @prideandarchive
Additional parking across street at Woodfin Elementary
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.
June 6-9
La Vie en Rose Art & Music Festival, 6-9pm, (At 1pm or 3pm on June 8th) (4-8pm on June 9) Experience the Elegance and join for
this exclusive ticketed preview.
Be the first to witness this remarkable exhibition. The evening also includes a special performance by
the popular Jason DeCristofaro and his jazz ensemble.
Enjoy a sampling of Marked Tree’s charcuterie and a complimentary glass of
their award-winning wine.
This is your chance to revel in the beauty of La Vie en Rose’ – reserve your tickets now for an
unforgettable evening of fine art and exquisite entertainment.
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The Brevard Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) is sponsoring its 54th Annual Book Sale. Net proceeds support local STEM and educational scholarships for girls (5th-12th grades) and women at Brevard College and Blue Ridge Community College.
Saturday, June 8 (10am – 7pm)
Sunday, June 9 (noon– 7pm)
Monday, June 10 (10am – 7pm)
Tuesday, June 11 (10am – 7pm)- Half price day
Wednesday, June 12 (10am – 3pm)- Fill a box for $5 day
*Wednesday, June 12 (only 3-5 pm)- 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 25 cents and up.
-Assistance provided to load books into cars.
-Cash, Checks with ID, or Cards accepted.
The Brevard Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) is sponsoring its 54th Annual Book Sale. Net proceeds support local STEM and educational scholarships for girls (5th-12th grades) and women at Brevard College and Blue Ridge Community College.
-30,000 well organized books in all genres, plus puzzles, audiobooks, DVDs, CDs, vinyl.
-Ample parking, free admission, dealers welcome.
-Prices range from 25 cents and up.
-Assistance provided to load books into cars.
-Cash, Checks with ID, or Cards accepted.
Saturday, June 8 (10am – 7pm)
Sunday, June 9 (noon– 7pm)
Monday, June 10 (10am – 7pm)
Tuesday, June 11 (10am – 7pm)- Half price day
Wednesday, June 12 (10am – 3pm)- Fill a box for $5 day
*Wednesday, June 12 (only 3-5 pm)- Free books for local teachers and Non-Profits
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Join us at the Greenville Convention Center for an unforgettable evening of elegance and celebration at the JuneteenthGVL Royal Gala, taking place at the prestigious Greenville Convention Center on June 14, 2024. This glamorous event is a highlight of our Juneteenth celebrations, commemorating the rich history and enduring legacy of African American freedom and culture.
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A night of Live Comedy with in our cozy, vape-friendly Rezonance VIP Lounge, featuring a 3-course cannabis-infused dinner and infused drink, samples from local brands, and a goodie bag of dispensary freebies worth $50+!
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Come out to the Hendersonville Family YMCA and get your car washed to support our teen programs! Donations welcome.
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America’s favorite coffee chain announced today the return of Dunkin’ Iced Coffee Day on Thursday, June 20 – the first day of summer. Celebrated once a year, $1 from every iced coffee sold at participating Dunkin’ locations will be donated to the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation – making every sip count.
To celebrate Dunkin’ Iced Coffee Day, the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation is hosting a series of special “Painting with Joy” events in partnership with hospitals across the country. These events aim to bring joy to patients and their families through art therapy while raising awareness of Dunkin’s annual Iced Coffee Day fundraiser.
The Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation, the charitable foundation supported by Dunkin’, provides the simple joys of childhood to kids battling hunger or illness. The Foundation partners with food banks, children’s hospitals and nonprofit organizations to fund joyful environments and joyful experiences for kids when they need it most. Since 2006, the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation has granted more than $50 million to hundreds of national and local charities across the country thanks to the generosity of its franchisees, guests, vendor partners and employees. For more information, please visit www.bringjoy.org.