Calendar of Events

Join us to stay updated on business in Mills River. With updates from the Town of Mills River and networking with neighboring businesses, let’s work to GROW your business in Mills River.

Food Connection is a local nonprofit organization whose mission is to reduce food waste while easing hunger. They keep surplus, fresh, chef–prepared meals out of the landfill and and share them with their neighbors, no questions asked.

They will have coffee and light snacks, and a brief introduction to Food Connection by their founder, followed by a Q &A and a tour of their operations including the Mobile Meals Truck which they bring to communities to offer a free food truck experience.

Directions: They operate out of the kitchen and Parish Hall of St. George’s Episcopal Church. Parking can be accessed via School Rd. and Mimosa Dr. Overflow parking is available across Mimosa Dr. in the Malvern Hills Presbyterian Church parking lot. To enter the Parish Hall, use the green ramp next to the playground and enter through the green door.

Friday, June 28 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Saturday, June 29 from 10 a.m-3 p.m.

On June 28 and 29, the Friends of Pack Library will be having their annual Super Summer Sale of antique, collectible, & coffee table books. There will also be a special sale on all items in Bookends Used Book Store for these two days.

On Friday, June 28 all of the antique, collectable and coffee table books in Lord Auditorium will be priced as marked. This sale will include hundreds of newly acquired signed mystery books. Sealed DVDs and children’s better books will be available in the auditorium Friday only, priced as marked. All items in Bookends Used Book Store on the main floor of the library will be half off, with books in the children’s area of Bookends specially priced at 25¢ each.

On Saturday, June 29 the antique and collectable books in the auditorium will be half off the marked price. Bookends items will still be half off, with books in the children’s section marked down to 10¢ each.

All proceeds from this sale will benefit Buncombe County Public Libraries. If you have any questions, contact the Friends of Pack Library.

Friday, June 28 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Saturday, June 29 from 10 a.m-3 p.m.

On June 28 and 29, the Friends of Pack Library will be having their annual Super Summer Sale of antique, collectible, & coffee table books. There will also be a special sale on all items in Bookends Used Book Store for these two days.

On Friday, June 28 all of the antique, collectable and coffee table books in Lord Auditorium will be priced as marked. This sale will include hundreds of newly acquired signed mystery books. Sealed DVDs and children’s better books will be available in the auditorium Friday only, priced as marked. All items in Bookends Used Book Store on the main floor of the library will be half off, with books in the children’s area of Bookends specially priced at 25¢ each.

On Saturday, June 29 the antique and collectable books in the auditorium will be half off the marked price. Bookends items will still be half off, with books in the children’s section marked down to 10¢ each.

All proceeds from this sale will benefit Buncombe County Public Libraries. If you have any questions, contact the Friends of Pack Library.

Join us Sunday, June 30th for the big reveal of our new transport van, Big Hun 2!

At this fundraising event, we’ll be at RAD Brewing from 12:00-4:00 pm, where you will get to see SDTA logo creator and artist, Andy Herod, complete the mural on our van along with live music, bingo, raffle baskets, adoptable pups and more!

We hope to see you there and please share with your family and friends!

Once again The Episcopal Church of St. John in the Wilderness celebrates its patron saint with the Feast of St. John the Baptist. In 2021, the historic church extended the
festivities outside the parish to the broader community and since then continues the tradition. The fourth annual celebration will be held from 5 – 8 p.m. on Sunday, June 30, 2024 at HubbaHubba Smokehouse, located behind Little Rainbow Row at 2724 Greenville Highway in Flat Rock.

The rain location is set for the Parish Hall of St. John in the Wilderness at 1905 Greenville Highway.
All are welcome to join the festivities at the family-friendly celebration featuring food, fellowship
and live music with the return of North Carolina’s Chatham Rabbits. Music begins at 6pm but
guests should arrive early to get their food order in and find a seat. Yard games will be offered for
children. Barbecue and other family-favorite foods and beverages will be available for purchase at
Hubba Hubba Smokehouse. Seating at the picturesque outdoor courtyard is limited, so guests are
encouraged to bring portable chairs.
Proceeds from the Feast will benefit the Community Food Pantry in Edneyville. Admission is free
but donations are encouraged from attendees. Chatham Rabbits and St. John in the Wilderness are
teaming up to match donations up to $2,000.

The Fiddle/Mando & Banjo Weeks Concert II on Tuesday, July 2 features the wide-ranging music of mandolin virtuoso Mike Marshall, classical mandolinist Caterina Lichtenberg, progressive bluegrass from mandolinists Emory Lester and John Reischman, and banjo player Bill Evans, Irish music & more from Andrew Finn Magill, Alan Murray and Liz Knowles, and old-time from the college’s own Natalya Weinstein.

All shows begin at 7:30 pm in the college’s Kittredge Theatre. Tickets are $35 per concert (during Old-Time Week, ticket price includes dances following concerts). Children under 12 are $17. Limited tickets are available for check or cash only in Asheville at Malaprops Bookstore, and in Black Mountain at Acoustic Corner.

Come celebrate the Grand Opening of Allen Tate/Beverly-Hanks real estate firm! Beverly-Hanks has joined Allen Tate and is now part of the #1 real estate company in the Carolinas! Join us in celebrating their ribbon cutting with light bites as well as refreshments.

We are nature and not separate from it. So, let’s come together to celebrate the forests and community we ARE. To lift our spirits, touch our hearts, and change our minds about what is possible when we combine our forces to create magic.

We’ve partnered with SlayTheMic to bring our annual event to Asheville again this August.

Woods & Wilds will feature five live storytellers, music, and fun for all.

Our goal is to raise $5,000 in donations to support the meaningful work we’re doing at the intersection of forests, climate, and justice.  Reserve your entry in advance. You can help us reach our goal with a suggested donation of $25 per person.

Across North Carolina, local government employees provide essential services for their everyday lives. Civic was created to be part of the local government world, offering member-specific financial solutions and support to build stronger communities. A member-focused Credit Union, they serve their members — not corporate interests. That means everything we do begins and ends with you.

Join us in celebrating their Grand Opening with light bites as well as beer, wine and refreshments from Twisted Laurel.

Come join us for Business After Hours at Holiday Inn Asheville East  – Blue Ridge Parkway!

Feel free to bring a gift to be raffled off as door prizes towards the end of the evening. Bring your business cards for networking and a chance to win prizes!

Please take a look below at our members who have renewed for another year!

This event is offered as a benefit for Chamber membership. We welcome you to come and check us out! Please contact Jessica Kanupp, our Member Development Specialist, at [email protected] if you’re considering a Chamber membership.

Heritage Fire Asheville, the all-inclusive, walk-around tour, will feature a lineup of local chefs and artisans, each grilling globally inspired, heritage-breed proteins al fresco. An all-star cast of top chefs from Asheville and beyond will be on-site serving up delicious bites prepared over live fire. Participating talent include Jason Sweeney (Asheville Proper), Erica Glaubitz (Bun Intended), Benjamin Sullivan (Cranford Bros BBQ), Santiago Vargas (Mikasa Criolla), Jeff McInnis & Janine Booth (Root & Bone – Hendersonville), Michael Lewis (Ukiah Japanese Smokehouse), and more. In addition to one-of-a-kind live-fire culinary creations, Heritage Fire will feature entertainment, axe throwing, custom hats, and permanent jewelry. Free flowing cocktails, wine, brews, and beverages will be available. After tastings, tour goers will also have the chance to vote for the Heritage Hero champion.

Sponsorship and Registration (eblencharities.org)

The July session of the PROpel AVL GROW series for young professionals, we’ll explore “Acquistion Entrepreneurship.”

In the ever-evolving business landscape, “Acquisition Entrepreneurship” has emerged as a powerful pathway for young professionals eager to carve out their niche in the corporate world.

This presentation, designed specifically for forward-thinking and ambitious young professionals, will delve into the complexities and opportunities of acquiring and growing existing businesses as a form of entrepreneurship. Unlike traditional entrepreneurship that starts from scratch, acquisition entrepreneurship offers a unique blend of challenges and rewards involving the identification, evaluation, and successful takeover of existing enterprises.

The program will cover essential aspects of acquisition entrepreneurship, including the art of identifying potential acquisition targets, conducting due diligence, understanding valuation techniques, and negotiating deals. Participants will gain insights into the critical skills needed to navigate these processes successfully, such as financial analysis, market assessment, and leadership abilities to integrate and grow the acquired business. Additionally, the presentation will highlight the common pitfalls and how to avoid them, ensuring a smoother transition into ownership and management roles.

Key takeaways from this session will include specific, actionable strategies that young professionals can apply immediately in their pursuit of business acquisition. These include:

Frameworks for Identifying Suitable Acquisition Targets: Learn how to spot businesses with growth potential and understand what makes an acquisition target viable.

Due Diligence Checklists and Techniques: Gain knowledge on conducting thorough due diligence, a critical step in assessing a business’s true value and potential risks.

Negotiation Strategies for Acquisition: Discover key negotiation tactics for acquisition deals to ensure a beneficial agreement for all parties involved.

Post-Acquisition Integration Plans: Understand the steps necessary to successfully integrate an acquired company, from employee management to merging systems and cultures.

Financial Analysis and Funding Options: Explore financial analysis basics for acquisition and learn about various funding options, including loans, investors, and other financial instruments.

About the presenter:

Benjamin Wann, CMA, CSCA, MBA, PMP, owns Asheville accounting firm CFO Consultants, LLC, with a team of 13 and 2 offices in NC.

Originally from the Philadelphia region and coming from a 10-year career providing insights to executives of mid-sized manufacturing firms, Ben transitioned to entrepreneurship full-time in Nov 2022. Ben’s thesis was that the small business community would value the same expertise, technology and know-how that the large organizations have to help accelerate their own businesses.

12:00-1:00pm – GROW Session

Sandwiches, salad and chips will be catered by Del Vecchios!

Please register for this event in order to help us plan accordingly.

About PROpel AVL:
Designed for young professionals between the ages of 21 and 40 in the Asheville/Buncombe area, PROpel AVL provides outstanding professional leadership development opportunities through educational seminars, service opportunities and networking.

Stay connected with text alerts! Text #propelavl to 828-827-5332 for updates and reminders about PROpel AVL programs.

Chamber members impact the local business community by making an investment in Chamber membership. Whether you’re a new member, a long-time member with new staff, or a business who’s considering membership, we welcome you to attend our Chamber Orientation to learn how to get the most value from your membership investment.

Chamber President Kit Cramer will give an overview of the work the Chamber is doing every day to build our community, including how we support our thriving economy by growing jobs, advocating for a business-friendly environment and helping our members prosper. We’ll dive into member benefits and share ideas of how you can take advantage of the many opportunities available to you as a member. You’ll also have a chance to meet Chamber staff and learn how you can get more engaged.

Orientation is also a great chance to meet other Chamber members.

This event is free, but registration is requested in order to help us plan appropriately.

Drip is Asheville’s first and only wood fired sauna and cold plunge experience, overlooking the beautiful French Broad River. Enjoy a traditional sauna experience in the great outdoors with friends, for a truly unique experience that will leave you energized and inspired. They’re supporting events through mobile delivery and bringing the heat to nature near you.

Come check out their new location to take in the view while enjoying a sauna and cold plunge experience. They will offer a raffle for a free sauna experience as well as other fun items on site.