Calendar of Events

April 12: Garden Design, Planning, and Prep

This class covers garden planning essentials, including layout design, budgeting, and succession planting. Participants will learn to choose crops, determine planting quantities, and start plants from seeds or transplants. Topics include essential tools, hands-on transplanting, and perennial edible care

Arboretum Excursions: Highlands Biological Station with Patrick Brannon

Saturday, April 12  |  1 – 4 pm

Since 1927, the mission of WCU’s Highlands Biological Station has been to foster education and research focused on the rich biodiversity of the southern Appalachian Mountains. Through its Nature Center exhibits, hands-on educational STEM programs, and immersive biological field experiences, HBS seeks to instill a greater awareness, understanding, and appreciation of our region and the natural world. Participants in this workshop will have opportunities to tour the Station’s facilities such as the Nature Center exhibits, research laboratories, and Botanical Garden Trails – which feature more than 500 species of native plants including old-growth hemlock trees.

Although scientists working at Highlands Biological Station have conducted research on a wide variety of species over the years, no group of animals has been studied more thoroughly than salamanders. After the tour, participants will learn about the region’s high biodiversity including salamanders, and then be given an opportunity to collect and identify species in an onsite stream. Please bring shoes that can potentially get wet (these need not be “water shoes”; old sneakers are fine).

Please visit www.highlandsbiological.org for additional information.

This program takes place in the classroom and outdoors. Please come prepared to walk on gentle, yet uneven terrain, and dress appropriately for the weather.

Forest Bathing Retreat: Celebrating Mother Earth with Asheville Wellness Tours

Saturday, April 12  |  2 – 5pm

April is Earth Month, a time to honor our precious planet and take action to protect her. Celebrate spring while cultivating your relationship with Mother Earth, yourself, and others, during this rejuvenating afternoon nature immersion retreat.

Your guide will lead you on a gentle journey through the spring forest, weaving mindfulness, breathwork, forest bathing (Shinrin Yoku) and nature therapy together for a restorative afternoon on some of the trails less traveled at the North Carolina Arboretum. We’ll celebrate the experience in community, enjoying a wild-foraged tea ceremony and snacks. Bring an open mind and an open heart. All are welcome. Presented through Adult & Continuing Education Programs in collaboration with Asheville Wellness Tours.

This program takes place outdoors. Please come prepared to walk on uneven terrain and dress appropriately for the weather.

Join Jessa Kennedy, Holistic Esthetician, Crystal Reiki Master, and Sound Bath Practioner,
for a harmonic experience focused on nervous system regulation, energetic balance, and whole body wellness. Select Sundays.

Get ready to move, get inspired, and get your game on!

Discover your inner athlete and ignite your path to wellness at the Asheville Sports + Fitness Fair presented by Asheville Parks & Recreation! Step into the recently renovated Memorial Stadium as it transforms into a vibrant hub of energy showcasing the world of local sports leagues, fitness opportunities, and healthy living.

Explore youth and adult sports leagues, learn about organizations focused on wellness and active living, and discover a wealth of resources dedicated to improving well-being. Uncover hidden gems in the local fitness scene and learn about exciting new ways to stay active and engaged.

At 6pm, join the City of Asheville for a special ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony celebrating the renovation of Memorial Stadium and revitalization of Mountainside Park. It’s a chance to be part of Asheville’s commitment to health and recreation.
If your organization is interested in participating in the fair, please email [email protected]. Space is limited.

Standup Comedy Picture Show with headliner Cayla Clark
Comics on the show do standup with pictures to illustrate their sets!
Wednesday April 16, 7:30-9p in The Orange Peel’s comedy basement. PULP is a bourbon speakeasy (400+ varieties) located under the iconic stage. No food is served but we do have free snacks while they last and outside food is permitted (no drinks of any kind).
$17 tickets available at door or The Orange Peel’s website
Host is Hilliary Begley voted repeatedly Asheville’s Favorite comic in the Mountain Xpress. Film debut in the Netflix original Dumplin’ as Aunt Lucy, or “Jennifer Anniston’s fat sister,” and Austin Film Festival winning movie When We Last Spoke with Cloris Leachman, now streaming on Amazon Prime.
Headliner Cayla Clark is an Asheville-based playwright, comedian, creator, and producer. While she is still new to the world of stand-up comedy, she has enjoyed exploring various other forms of comedy over the years, including sketch comedy, improv, and more. Since moving to Asheville, Cayla has had the opportunity to produce and host local comedic dating shows like Blind Date Live and Bad Date Mic. You can check out her hilarious Asheville centric comedy videos on instagram at @blinddateliveavl
Also on the show is Ryan Gordon, Roman Fraden, Sarah Love & other great comics showing it all!
tix: https://theorangepeel.net/…/pulp/asheville-north-carolina/

Unleash your creativity at Bullington Gardens by learning to craft your very own hypertufa open roof planter! This hands-on class will guide you through the process of mixing and molding hypertufa—a lightweight, durable material perfect for garden containers. All materials are provided, so just bring your enthusiasm and get ready to create a unique piece for your garden. Whether you’re looking to add a rustic touch to your outdoor space or simply enjoy a fun afternoon of crafting, this class is perfect for all skill levels. Join us for a memorable experience and take home a beautiful, handcrafted container! April 18th, 2025, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM. $ 45.00. Class limit 10.

April 19: Soil and Water Management and Plant Care

This class covers soil management, including natural amendments, composting, vermicomposting, and raised bed techniques. Participants will learn to create, clear, and revive garden beds—hands-on experience included!

Come on out and support our local people! Local artisans, crafts, produce, specialty foods, skin care, ets.

Join us on Saturday, April 19th, for a festive & unforgettable 420 block party! Enjoy fantastic vendors, live music and entertainment, delicious food, amazing in-store deals & discounts throughout the day! Plus, there will be exciting surprises, including a limited number of Golden Tickets that are redeemable on 4/19 or 4/20, and will be hidden inside select flower bags/Prerolls. Customers who find a ticket receive a free gram of their choice on 4/19 or 4/20. And on top of that, there will be a drawing for a Grand Prize Chromebook giveaway!
The Caravan Art Bazaar will transform our space into a hub of creativity, featuring live caricatures. Mo’s Magical Manes will add a touch of sparkle with fairy hair and bang trims, and Wyld Heart & Friends will showcase their unique one-of-a-kind creations.
Chill & relax at the traditional smoke sesh with the Asheville Dispensary crew at 4:20 PM. on our spacious deck & enjoy delicious food from The Royal Vegan Food Truck and Dalaya Thai Cuisine.
Whether you come for the art, the food, or the music, take a moment to kick back, unwind, and connect with the community. We’re offering a full day of uplifting experiences to enhance the vibe for 420 weekend 2025! This is one block party you won’t want to miss. We hope to see you there!
Celebrate with us! 919 Haywood Rd., West Asheville, 12 PM to 8 PM.

Grand Opening of Asheville’s ONLY professional Obstacle Course Race Training Center! Stop by and try out the new obstacles, enjoy food, fun, games, and giveaways. Great for the whole family!

Celebrate with the whole family at The Horse Shoe Farm’s Silo Cookhouse this Easter with a delicious brunch buffet crafted from farm-fresh ingredients. Gather with your loved ones around the table and indulge in delightful Southern favorites, from honey roasted ham to house biscuits with savory jam and butter. Guests can build their own omelets at a bespoke station, select from an assortment of fresh salads, and enjoy tasty desserts like carrot cake cupcakes to get into the easter spirit. Most excitingly for the little ones, guests to the Silo Cookhouse Easter Brunch can participate in a fun-filled easter egg hunt on the property starting at 2pm!
Sunday April 20 from 11am to 3pm, reservations required. $85/adults, $50/kids age 3-12.

Celebrate Easter brunch with the whole family at Kanuga! Enjoy a delicious selection of seasonal favorites, including fresh pastries, savory entrees, and delicious desserts. Gather with loved ones in a warm and welcoming setting as we celebrate this special day together.

Ready to feel renewed and refreshed this Spring? Join me in relaxing your nervous system with a soothing Sound Bath!

Join your host Kristin Hillegas, for a one-hour Serenity Sound Bath and experience a deeply immersive, full-body sound and vibrational experience. A sound bath can cleanse your soul, restore your balance, surround you with peace and tranquility and stimulate healing.

Note: Please bring a yoga mat/pillow/blanket since you will be lying on the floor. Wear warm, comfortable, and flexible clothing.

The Sound Bath will take place upstairs in the Education Building. Choose your space starting at 12:45 PM, doors close promptly at 1:00 PM.
This service is being offered on a Love Offering basis. Donations allow us to continue to provide these immersive experiences.

Accessible parking is available in the Center for Spiritual Living Asheville upper parking lot. The entrance to the upper parking lot is off of S. Bear Creek Rd between Science of Mind Way and Sand Hill Rd.
There is a boardwalk walk-way from the upper parking lot to the building entrance.

You’re invited to join CenterWell Senior Primary Care as we celebrate the opening of our new center in Asheville. Come see how CenterWell delivers primary care centered on seniors! Join us and meet the CenterWell physician and Care Team, tour our senior primary care center and enjoy free music, food, giveaways and more. Plus, meet Mister Moon, the mascot from the Asheville Tourists! We look forward to seeing you there!

Geology of the Blue Ridge II with Anton DuMars

Wednesday, April 23 |  12 – 4 pm

The second class of this two-part Geology course builds on fundamentals from the first class, Geology I. We progress to a model of Southern Appalachian Mountain building and include an overview of geologic processes such as earthquakes, mass movements, and floods. We wrap up with a summary of the Spruce Pine Mining District and the Sparta, NC Earthquake of 2020

Mark your calendars for Bullington Gardens’ Annual Spring Plant Sale, a must-visit event for gardening enthusiasts! Discover a unique selection of perennials, annuals, trees, shrubs, veggies, and tomatoes, all carefully curated to inspire your garden. This year, we’re also highlighting a variety of pollinator-friendly plants to support local ecosystems and bring life to your outdoor spaces. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, our sale offers something for everyone, with expert advice on hand to help you make the most of your selections. Don’t miss this opportunity to cultivate beauty and sustainability in your garden!

This is an in-person program, held at The Learning Garden

Program: Growing Vegetables in Containers

Presenter: Barb Harrison, Extension Master GardenerSM volunteers

Program Description: So, you don’t have a lot of space to grow fresh vegetables. Growing vegetables in containers is an easy way to have fresh vegetables all through the summer. If you only have a small space to work with such as a patio, balcony, alleyway, sidewalk or even a rooftop, you can still grow a bountiful garden choosing the right variety of vegetable plants.

We will cover types of containers that work best for vegetables, sun requirements which impacts what vegetables you can grow, growing media, watering, the best vegetables to grow in containers, and the benefits of mulch and a fertilization plan.

After a brief presentation we will then visit the Vegetable Garden and plant some vegetables in containers while reviewing the basic principles.

Portions of this program may be held outside; please dress appropriately for the weather. The classroom size is limited so register to reserve your seat!

The talk is free, but seating is limited and registration using Eventbrite is required.

If you have questions, contact the Buncombe County Extension office at 828-255-5522.

iNaturalist: An Amazing Tool for Identification in Your Pocket with Lauren Lampley.

Thursday, April 24  |  2:30 – 4 pm

BRN + BREG – Elective

Learn how a smartphone app, iNaturalist, can both be a very useful identification tool and a way to participate in Community Science! Submitting observations to iNaturalist helps scientists learn more about species by crowd-sourcing information from users all over the world. During this class we will look at the different versions of the app and website as well as take some time outside to practice submitting your own using your own smartphone. The City Nature Challenge will take place from April 25-28 and is a great way to submit iNaturalist observations in a global effort as well as earn a Bioblitz patch from Science Across North Carolina! https://scienceacrossnc.org/

This program takes place in the classroom and outdoors. Please come prepared to walk on gentle, yet uneven terrain, and dress appropriately for the weather.

The Enka-Candler Farmers Market located at A-B Tech Enka Campus, in the parking lot of the Small Business Center will host Extension Master Gardener plant clinics on the fourth Thursday of the month for the 2025 season!

At each Plant Clinic, Master Gardener volunteers will be available to answer all of your gardening questions and address your related concerns. Feel free to bring plant or insect samples for identification and/or problem resolution.

You can pick-up soil test kits and receive information about in-person programs and activities at The Learning Garden and the schedule for the Gardening in the Mountains, online seminars.

Stop by and learn more!

Beginner’s workshop lesson at 7:30 P.M., then 8-11 P.M. Contra Dance with Country Waltzing at the break and the final dance. This is a partner dance but it’s not necessary to come with a partner. We have different live bands and callers.

Mark your calendars for Bullington Gardens’ Annual Spring Plant Sale, a must-visit event for gardening enthusiasts! Discover a unique selection of perennials, annuals, trees, shrubs, veggies, and tomatoes, all carefully curated to inspire your garden. This year, we’re also highlighting a variety of pollinator-friendly plants to support local ecosystems and bring life to your outdoor spaces. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, our sale offers something for everyone, with expert advice on hand to help you make the most of your selections. Don’t miss this opportunity to cultivate beauty and sustainability in your garden!

Join Reiki Master Teacher and Yoga Nidra Facilitator, Kate Wargo of Woven Light in a soothing Yoga Nidra (Yogic Sleep) practice guiding you into the “in-between”; that space between being awake and asleep. Within this space, a dream will be induced taking you into a state of consciousness that can bring about immense healing in your conscious, subconscious, and unconscious mind.

The cave will transform into a “Nidra Nest” with comfy reclining loungers, blankets, and bolsters to fully support you, whether sitting or lying down, for the entire experience. During this session, Kate will also offer Reiki to those who desire it. Reiki feels like a wonderful glowing radiance that flows through and around you. This divine energy treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind, and spirit creating many beneficial effects that include relaxation and feelings of peace, security, and well-being.

Release stuck emotions, rest, and rejuvenate!

In collaboration with Pardee Hospital Foundation and Hunter Subaru, we are thrilled to present the 2nd Annual She Slays 5K. This event is all about celebrating the strength, courage, and fierce determination of women fighting cancer. Whether you walk or run, you’re making a difference for those who are in the midst of this battle. This event aims to empower people to take charge of their health and well-being, while also raising funds for Hendersonville women who are fighting cancer.

While this event supports women with cancer, everyone is welcome to participate!

Mark your calendars for Bullington Gardens’ Annual Spring Plant Sale, a must-visit event for gardening enthusiasts! Discover a unique selection of perennials, annuals, trees, shrubs, veggies, and tomatoes, all carefully curated to inspire your garden. This year, we’re also highlighting a variety of pollinator-friendly plants to support local ecosystems and bring life to your outdoor spaces. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, our sale offers something for everyone, with expert advice on hand to help you make the most of your selections. Don’t miss this opportunity to cultivate beauty and sustainability in your garden!