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 11, 2024
Jump Off Rock Half Marathon + 10K
May 11 @ 7:30 am – 12:00 pm
Jump Off Rock

Discover the beauty of the 4th annual Jump off Rock Half Marathon & 10k presented by Hunter Subaru and UNC Health Pardee, an endurance running event unlike any other! Experience the thrill of one of the most scenic and fastest half marathon races in the south, running “downhill to downtown.” The Half has garnered a reputation as the most breathtaking and picturesque downhill half marathon in the Southeast, and it’s no wonder why!

Starting at Jump off Rock, a national landmark and the highest peak of the Town of Laurel Park, endurance runners will be captivated by the stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the colorful blooms and blossoms of spring. Then, continue on the gently downhill and picturesque 13.1 mile route that leads straight to the heart of downtown Hendersonville at Main Street.

The 10k race is fast and fun, commencing at the base of the Town of Laurel Park at the Hendersonville Family YMCA. Runners can join in with the half marathoners along the route and enjoy the beauty of the Town of Hendersonville that surrounds them. The 10k route is moderately flat and has a couple of gentle rollers throughout.

Finish line festivities await all participants at the same location in Historic Downtown Hendersonville on Main Street, creating a vibrant atmosphere of celebration and camaraderie!

Don’t miss your chance to experience the inspiring beauty of the Jump off Rock Half Marathon & 10k, an event that promises to inspire and captivate you like no other!

EXCITING NEWS: Both races are now USATF Sanctioned AND Certified!

Sunday, May 12, 2024
ASAP: How Does Western North Carolina Shop for Food SURVEY
May 12 all-day
online

ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) has released a survey to learn more about how people in Western North Carolina shop for food and why they choose the food they do. The survey, part of a three-year project by ASAP’s Local Food Research Center, is for any resident of Western North Carolina over the age of 18, no matter where or how they shop for food. It can be completed online at surveymonkey.com/r/WNCFoodASAP or over the phone by calling ASAP at 828-236-1282. It should take approximately 8 to 12 minutes to complete and will be open through Oct. 31, 2024. Respondents are encouraged to share the survey widely with families, friends, and co-workers.

 

“By completing this survey, you are helping local farmers understand and connect with consumers,” said Amy Marion, ASAP Associate Director and lead researcher. “The challenges of our food system are constantly evolving. Improving it requires active participation from all community members. With this research we can better understand consumer values and the barriers they face, and help farmers and food producers improve communications with their customers and their communities.”

 

The survey is part of a three-year research project, “Connections in Direct Markets: Assessing the feedback loop between consumer values and farmers’ marketing strategies,” which will examine and improve communication and alignment between farmers and consumers in Western North Carolina. The research phase will also employ consumer focus groups, farmer interviews and case studies, and more targeted surveying. The broad consumer survey provides an update to the last consumer survey conducted by the Local Food Research Center in 2014. Results from the current research project will be shared in 2025.

 

ASAP founded the Local Food Research Center in 2011 to study the economic, environmental, and social impacts of localizing food systems. From its inception, ASAP’s programs and services have been grounded in research and evaluation, adjusting based on a strong feedback loop and observation of current conditions in the food system.

 

This project is supported in part by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2022-38640-37488 through the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under subaward number LS23-382. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider.

Monday, May 13, 2024
ASAP: How Does Western North Carolina Shop for Food SURVEY
May 13 all-day
online

ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) has released a survey to learn more about how people in Western North Carolina shop for food and why they choose the food they do. The survey, part of a three-year project by ASAP’s Local Food Research Center, is for any resident of Western North Carolina over the age of 18, no matter where or how they shop for food. It can be completed online at surveymonkey.com/r/WNCFoodASAP or over the phone by calling ASAP at 828-236-1282. It should take approximately 8 to 12 minutes to complete and will be open through Oct. 31, 2024. Respondents are encouraged to share the survey widely with families, friends, and co-workers.

 

“By completing this survey, you are helping local farmers understand and connect with consumers,” said Amy Marion, ASAP Associate Director and lead researcher. “The challenges of our food system are constantly evolving. Improving it requires active participation from all community members. With this research we can better understand consumer values and the barriers they face, and help farmers and food producers improve communications with their customers and their communities.”

 

The survey is part of a three-year research project, “Connections in Direct Markets: Assessing the feedback loop between consumer values and farmers’ marketing strategies,” which will examine and improve communication and alignment between farmers and consumers in Western North Carolina. The research phase will also employ consumer focus groups, farmer interviews and case studies, and more targeted surveying. The broad consumer survey provides an update to the last consumer survey conducted by the Local Food Research Center in 2014. Results from the current research project will be shared in 2025.

 

ASAP founded the Local Food Research Center in 2011 to study the economic, environmental, and social impacts of localizing food systems. From its inception, ASAP’s programs and services have been grounded in research and evaluation, adjusting based on a strong feedback loop and observation of current conditions in the food system.

 

This project is supported in part by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2022-38640-37488 through the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under subaward number LS23-382. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider.

Tuesday, May 14, 2024
Adult Mental Health Series: Navigating Depression
May 14 @ 1:00 pm
Enka-Candler Library

Want to learn more about managing depression and nervous energy? Got questions about medications or  emotional implications of chronic illness? Join Vaya Health’s Geriatric and Adult Mental Health Specialty team for a series of classes at the Enka-Candler and Leicester Libraries

Classes are free to attend, but registration is required. Please visit the Vaya Health calendar to register. Everyone is welcome.

Depression is common in older adults and often overlooked or misdiagnosed. This course explores risk factors, symptoms, and treatment options. Care providers receive tips on how to support others experiencing depression.

The End of the Affair
May 14 @ 2:00 pm
Tryon Fine Arts Center
Showings: 2 pm Matinee & 7 pm “The End of the Affair” is based on Graham Greene’s classic novel by the same name.

The 1999 romantic drama film written and directed by Neil Jordan and starring the all-star cast of Ralph Fiennes, Julianne Moore and Stephen Rea, was based on the 1951 novel by British author Graham Greene. The End of the Affair depicts an extramarital affair which lasts from 1939 to 1946 and is set during World War II and its aftermath.

Set in London, the novel examines the obsessions, jealousy and discernments within the relationships between three central characters: writer Maurice Bendrix; Sarah Miles; and her husband, civil servant Henry Miles.

Julianne Moore was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress and cinematographer Roger Pratt was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography. Neil Jordan and Moore were nominated for Best Director (Motion Picture) and Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama in the Golden Globe Awards.

The End of the Affair
May 14 @ 7:00 pm
Tryon Fine Arts Center
Showings: 2 pm Matinee & 7 pm “The End of the Affair” is based on Graham Greene’s classic novel by the same name.

The 1999 romantic drama film written and directed by Neil Jordan and starring the all-star cast of Ralph Fiennes, Julianne Moore and Stephen Rea, was based on the 1951 novel by British author Graham Greene. The End of the Affair depicts an extramarital affair which lasts from 1939 to 1946 and is set during World War II and its aftermath.

Set in London, the novel examines the obsessions, jealousy and discernments within the relationships between three central characters: writer Maurice Bendrix; Sarah Miles; and her husband, civil servant Henry Miles.

Julianne Moore was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress and cinematographer Roger Pratt was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography. Neil Jordan and Moore were nominated for Best Director (Motion Picture) and Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama in the Golden Globe Awards.

 

Wednesday, May 15, 2024
ASAP: How Does Western North Carolina Shop for Food SURVEY
May 15 all-day
online

ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) has released a survey to learn more about how people in Western North Carolina shop for food and why they choose the food they do. The survey, part of a three-year project by ASAP’s Local Food Research Center, is for any resident of Western North Carolina over the age of 18, no matter where or how they shop for food. It can be completed online at surveymonkey.com/r/WNCFoodASAP or over the phone by calling ASAP at 828-236-1282. It should take approximately 8 to 12 minutes to complete and will be open through Oct. 31, 2024. Respondents are encouraged to share the survey widely with families, friends, and co-workers.

 

“By completing this survey, you are helping local farmers understand and connect with consumers,” said Amy Marion, ASAP Associate Director and lead researcher. “The challenges of our food system are constantly evolving. Improving it requires active participation from all community members. With this research we can better understand consumer values and the barriers they face, and help farmers and food producers improve communications with their customers and their communities.”

 

The survey is part of a three-year research project, “Connections in Direct Markets: Assessing the feedback loop between consumer values and farmers’ marketing strategies,” which will examine and improve communication and alignment between farmers and consumers in Western North Carolina. The research phase will also employ consumer focus groups, farmer interviews and case studies, and more targeted surveying. The broad consumer survey provides an update to the last consumer survey conducted by the Local Food Research Center in 2014. Results from the current research project will be shared in 2025.

 

ASAP founded the Local Food Research Center in 2011 to study the economic, environmental, and social impacts of localizing food systems. From its inception, ASAP’s programs and services have been grounded in research and evaluation, adjusting based on a strong feedback loop and observation of current conditions in the food system.

 

This project is supported in part by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2022-38640-37488 through the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under subaward number LS23-382. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider.

Thursday, May 16, 2024
8 Week Series A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls
May 16 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Pack Memorial Library

A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls

Many older adults experience concerns about falling and restrict their activities. A Matter of Balance is an award-winning program designed to manage falls and increase activity levels.This program emphasizes practical strategies to manage falls.

You Will Learn To:
· view falls as controllable
· set goals for increasing activity
· make changes to reduce fall risks at home
· exercise to increase strength and balance

Who Should Attend?
· anyone concerned about falls
· anyone interested in improving balance, flexibility and strength
· anyone who has fallen in the past
· anyone who has restricted activities because of falling concerns

Classes are held once a week for 8 weeks for 2 hours each. Participants are expected to attend the entire series. Registration is required and will be limited.

This class will be facilitated by Heather Bauer, master trainer. The series is sponsored by the Land of Sky Area Agency on Aging.

Adult Mental Health Series: Anxiety: Managing Nervous Energy
May 16 @ 1:00 pm
Leicester Library

Want to learn more about managing depression and nervous energy? Got questions about medications or  emotional implications of chronic illness? Join Vaya Health’s Geriatric and Adult Mental Health Specialty team for a series of classes at the Enka-Candler and Leicester Libraries

Classes are free to attend, but registration is required. Please visit the Vaya Health calendar to register. Everyone is welcome.

May 16 at 1 p.m. at the Leicester Library

A growing number of individuals report experiencing anxiety symptoms in recent years. This course examines anxiety as it disproportionately affects the aging population. Tradition and alternative treatments will be the focus of symptom management.

Third Thursday: live music w/ DJ Phantompantone, a screening of Who is Bozo Texino? by Bill Daniel
May 16 @ 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum

very Third Thursday the Museum comes alive with an evening filled with music, tours, art making and more! Join us for an eclectic evening featuring live music with DJ Phantompantone, a screening of Who is Bozo Texino? by Bill Daniel, special cocktails at the Museum’s Perspective Café, and our public tour of Discovering Art in Asheville.

THIRD THURSDAY FEATURES

Live Music: DJ Phantom Pantone—Enjoy an evening of live music at the museum’s rooftop featuring DJ Phantom Pantone.

Film: Who is Bozo Texino?Shot on freight trips across the western US over a period of 16 years, Who is Bozo Texino? chronicles the search for the source of a ubiquitous rail graffiti—a simple sketch of a character with an infinity-shaped hat and the scrawled moniker, “Bozo Texino”—a drawing seen on railcars for over 80 years.

THIRD THURSDAY SCHEDULE

5–9pm

Special Cocktail: Signature Sangria • Perspective Café, level 4

6–7pm

In Conversation: Katherine Ware • Multipurpose Space, level 1

6–7pm

Public Tour: Discovering Art in Asheville • Windgate Foundation Atrium, level 1

6–8pm

Live Music: DJ Phantompantone • Sculpture Terrace, level 4

7–9pm

Film: Who is Bozo Texino? by Bill Daniel (runtime 57 minutes) • Multipurpose Space, level 1

THIRD THURSDAYS

Each third Thursday, the Museum and community partners offer fun events for adults to socialize through interactive art-related activities, delicious drinks, and tasty treats. For more information or to add your name to our Third Thursday mailing list, click here to email us or call 828.253.3227 x121.

Friday, May 17, 2024
ASAP: How Does Western North Carolina Shop for Food SURVEY
May 17 all-day
online

ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) has released a survey to learn more about how people in Western North Carolina shop for food and why they choose the food they do. The survey, part of a three-year project by ASAP’s Local Food Research Center, is for any resident of Western North Carolina over the age of 18, no matter where or how they shop for food. It can be completed online at surveymonkey.com/r/WNCFoodASAP or over the phone by calling ASAP at 828-236-1282. It should take approximately 8 to 12 minutes to complete and will be open through Oct. 31, 2024. Respondents are encouraged to share the survey widely with families, friends, and co-workers.

 

“By completing this survey, you are helping local farmers understand and connect with consumers,” said Amy Marion, ASAP Associate Director and lead researcher. “The challenges of our food system are constantly evolving. Improving it requires active participation from all community members. With this research we can better understand consumer values and the barriers they face, and help farmers and food producers improve communications with their customers and their communities.”

 

The survey is part of a three-year research project, “Connections in Direct Markets: Assessing the feedback loop between consumer values and farmers’ marketing strategies,” which will examine and improve communication and alignment between farmers and consumers in Western North Carolina. The research phase will also employ consumer focus groups, farmer interviews and case studies, and more targeted surveying. The broad consumer survey provides an update to the last consumer survey conducted by the Local Food Research Center in 2014. Results from the current research project will be shared in 2025.

 

ASAP founded the Local Food Research Center in 2011 to study the economic, environmental, and social impacts of localizing food systems. From its inception, ASAP’s programs and services have been grounded in research and evaluation, adjusting based on a strong feedback loop and observation of current conditions in the food system.

 

This project is supported in part by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2022-38640-37488 through the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under subaward number LS23-382. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider.

Cinema on the Square Presents – “Dungeons + Dragons: Honor Among Thieves”
May 17 @ 7:00 pm – 10:30 pm
Swannanoa Library

Come and enjoy an evening under the stars while you watch the award winning 2023 adventure film Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. A charming thief and a band of unlikely adventurers embark on an epic quest to retrieve a long-lost relic, but their charming adventure goes dangerously awry when they run afoul of the wrong people.

Learn more about the movie here: tinyurl.com….

Refreshments will be available for sale.

Please bring a blanket or camp chair.

Saturday, May 18, 2024
Basic to Advanced Echocardiography: From the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville
May 18 all-day
The Omni Grove Park Inn

We will then discuss a broad range of disease states for which echocardiography is useful, including ischemic heart disease, valvular heart disease, pericardial disease, and cardiomyopathies. The presentations will include basic concepts as well as advanced techniques including 3-D imaging and strain imaging. Throughout the course many cases will be presented.

Unique Features:
– Faculty members are clinical sonographers and echocardiologists
– Easy access to faculty members during the entire conference
– Afternoon on pediatric/adult congenital echocardiography
– Presentations involving multimodality imaging

Date and Time: On Wednesday May 15, 2024 at 7:00 am to Saturday May 18, 2024 at 5:00 pm

Visible Mending
May 18 @ 10:30 am – 12:30 pm
Black Mountain Library

Bring a bottle of water and a snack
Are there holes in the elbows of your favorite sweater and tears in your most comfortable pair of jeans? Visible mending, a form of repair that seeks to be seen, celebrates the history of the fibers we wear while simultaneously breathing new life into well-loved clothes. Whether adding new layers to frayed edges or creatively embellishing marks and stains, visible mending is a stylish way to keep clothes out of the landfill.

Andrea Connolly will lead this hands-on workshop, introducing simple mending techniques and providing a forum for participants of all skill levels to share and learn from one another. Bring an item of clothing to repair, along with any mends you feel comfortable sharing with the group.
All supplies provided. (Feel free to bring your own favorites to use as well.)

Andrea Connolly is a member of Local Cloth’s Mending Matters group. She has dabbled in sewing, embroidery, crochet, and knitting since early childhood and loves mending for its freedom from patterns and charts.
FREE but limited to 20 participants. Registration is required at https://www.buncombecounty.org/governing/depts/library/branch-locations/black-mountain.aspx

Sunday, May 19, 2024
ASAP: How Does Western North Carolina Shop for Food SURVEY
May 19 all-day
online

ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) has released a survey to learn more about how people in Western North Carolina shop for food and why they choose the food they do. The survey, part of a three-year project by ASAP’s Local Food Research Center, is for any resident of Western North Carolina over the age of 18, no matter where or how they shop for food. It can be completed online at surveymonkey.com/r/WNCFoodASAP or over the phone by calling ASAP at 828-236-1282. It should take approximately 8 to 12 minutes to complete and will be open through Oct. 31, 2024. Respondents are encouraged to share the survey widely with families, friends, and co-workers.

 

“By completing this survey, you are helping local farmers understand and connect with consumers,” said Amy Marion, ASAP Associate Director and lead researcher. “The challenges of our food system are constantly evolving. Improving it requires active participation from all community members. With this research we can better understand consumer values and the barriers they face, and help farmers and food producers improve communications with their customers and their communities.”

 

The survey is part of a three-year research project, “Connections in Direct Markets: Assessing the feedback loop between consumer values and farmers’ marketing strategies,” which will examine and improve communication and alignment between farmers and consumers in Western North Carolina. The research phase will also employ consumer focus groups, farmer interviews and case studies, and more targeted surveying. The broad consumer survey provides an update to the last consumer survey conducted by the Local Food Research Center in 2014. Results from the current research project will be shared in 2025.

 

ASAP founded the Local Food Research Center in 2011 to study the economic, environmental, and social impacts of localizing food systems. From its inception, ASAP’s programs and services have been grounded in research and evaluation, adjusting based on a strong feedback loop and observation of current conditions in the food system.

 

This project is supported in part by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2022-38640-37488 through the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under subaward number LS23-382. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider.

Ritual Herbalism: Wildcrafting + Medicine Making Weekend Immersion
May 19 all-day
Soulflower Botanical Sanctuary

Join us for this mid Spring weekend of wild abundance as we dive deeply into the Art, Science & Spirit of Herbalism. We will spend this incredible weekend deeply immersed in the abundance of wild plants as well as cultivated herbs that can easily be found (and grown) throughout the Appalachian mountains.

We will focus on improving proper plant identification skills, ethical wildcrafting & foraging techniques and learn the craft of magical medicine making together. We will gather herbs from the landscape and create a plethora of herbal medicines. Folks will receive both new skills and plenty of recipes and remedies to take home.

Throughout this weekend immersion will honor the craft of intuitive & ritual herbalism while learning how to pair these skills to make the most potent forms of herbal infusion and decoctions (medicinal teas) with both fresh and dried plants. We will co-create botanical tonics meant to fortify our systems throughout the seasons. And produce potent medicinally infused herbal oils to be used for the body as well as the Spirit.

Monday, May 20, 2024
ASAP: How Does Western North Carolina Shop for Food SURVEY
May 20 all-day
online

ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) has released a survey to learn more about how people in Western North Carolina shop for food and why they choose the food they do. The survey, part of a three-year project by ASAP’s Local Food Research Center, is for any resident of Western North Carolina over the age of 18, no matter where or how they shop for food. It can be completed online at surveymonkey.com/r/WNCFoodASAP or over the phone by calling ASAP at 828-236-1282. It should take approximately 8 to 12 minutes to complete and will be open through Oct. 31, 2024. Respondents are encouraged to share the survey widely with families, friends, and co-workers.

 

“By completing this survey, you are helping local farmers understand and connect with consumers,” said Amy Marion, ASAP Associate Director and lead researcher. “The challenges of our food system are constantly evolving. Improving it requires active participation from all community members. With this research we can better understand consumer values and the barriers they face, and help farmers and food producers improve communications with their customers and their communities.”

 

The survey is part of a three-year research project, “Connections in Direct Markets: Assessing the feedback loop between consumer values and farmers’ marketing strategies,” which will examine and improve communication and alignment between farmers and consumers in Western North Carolina. The research phase will also employ consumer focus groups, farmer interviews and case studies, and more targeted surveying. The broad consumer survey provides an update to the last consumer survey conducted by the Local Food Research Center in 2014. Results from the current research project will be shared in 2025.

 

ASAP founded the Local Food Research Center in 2011 to study the economic, environmental, and social impacts of localizing food systems. From its inception, ASAP’s programs and services have been grounded in research and evaluation, adjusting based on a strong feedback loop and observation of current conditions in the food system.

 

This project is supported in part by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2022-38640-37488 through the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under subaward number LS23-382. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider.

CooperRiis Mental Health Awareness Day
May 20 @ 9:30 am
CooperRiis
 Asheville’s Mayor Esther E. Manheimer, proudly announces the designation of May 20th, 2024, as CooperRiis Mental Health Awareness Day. This proclamation coincides with Mental Health Awareness Month and underscores the City’s commitment to promoting mental health advocacy and destigmatization within the community.
To commemorate this significant declaration, CooperRiis Healing Community will host a special event on May 20th, at 9:30 am. The event will take place at CooperRiis at Asheville’s courtyard, located at 85 Zillicoa St in Asheville, NC. Asheville Community Members, mental health professionals, journalists, television reporters, and media broadcasters, are invited to attend and take part in the activities.
The event will feature representatives of CooperRiis, including its founders Don Cooper and Lisbeth Riis Cooper, as well as its Chief Clinical Officer, Johnie Featherston , President & CEO, Eric A. Levine, and Chief Program Officer, Lisa Schactman. These individuals will share mental health insights and innovations as well as discuss CooperRiis’s holistic and person-centered approach to recovery.
Writing from the Top of Your Head
May 20 @ 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Story Parlor
Monday evenings from 6:30-9:00pm at Story Parlor
4/15, 4/22, 4/29, 5/6, 5/13, 5/20
Student showcase reserved for 6/3
No class 5/27
Writing from the Top of Your Head is a 6-week workshop for beginning through experienced writers, inspired by Emily
Tuesday, May 21, 2024
Virtual Writers Workshop Greg Lobas
May 21 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
online

Greg Lobas will lead a virtual writer’s workshop titled: “Writing Your Life into Poetry.”

“Write what you know” is one of the first and best maxims for the aspiring writer. But what if “what you know” is ordinary, even mundane? This workshop will look at ways to mine the gold that is in everyone’s life and turn it into poetry. It may take some digging. It may take a little change in perspective. But it is there, and it is material only you can use. We will focus on the narrative poem as a means of story-telling but will consider the lyric poem as well.

This workshop is open to writers of all skill levels and is a fun way to find inspiration from a new prompt or revise current work. It is hosted by the Friends of Carl Sandburg at Connemara and will Zoom for the virtual connection. Sign up to attend the workshop at workshop here:

Greg Lobas has been published extensively as both an outdoor writer and a poet. His debut book, Left of Center, won the 2022 Dogfish Head Poetry Prize, and placed second in the Delaware State Press Association awards. The book deals with his real life experiences as a fire captain and paramedic. His poems have been published in many journals. He is an experienced poetry workshop facilitator at Isothermal Community College.
Greg lives with his wife Meg and his dog Sophie in Polk County North Carolina.

Wednesday, May 22, 2024
ASAP: How Does Western North Carolina Shop for Food SURVEY
May 22 all-day
online

ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) has released a survey to learn more about how people in Western North Carolina shop for food and why they choose the food they do. The survey, part of a three-year project by ASAP’s Local Food Research Center, is for any resident of Western North Carolina over the age of 18, no matter where or how they shop for food. It can be completed online at surveymonkey.com/r/WNCFoodASAP or over the phone by calling ASAP at 828-236-1282. It should take approximately 8 to 12 minutes to complete and will be open through Oct. 31, 2024. Respondents are encouraged to share the survey widely with families, friends, and co-workers.

 

“By completing this survey, you are helping local farmers understand and connect with consumers,” said Amy Marion, ASAP Associate Director and lead researcher. “The challenges of our food system are constantly evolving. Improving it requires active participation from all community members. With this research we can better understand consumer values and the barriers they face, and help farmers and food producers improve communications with their customers and their communities.”

 

The survey is part of a three-year research project, “Connections in Direct Markets: Assessing the feedback loop between consumer values and farmers’ marketing strategies,” which will examine and improve communication and alignment between farmers and consumers in Western North Carolina. The research phase will also employ consumer focus groups, farmer interviews and case studies, and more targeted surveying. The broad consumer survey provides an update to the last consumer survey conducted by the Local Food Research Center in 2014. Results from the current research project will be shared in 2025.

 

ASAP founded the Local Food Research Center in 2011 to study the economic, environmental, and social impacts of localizing food systems. From its inception, ASAP’s programs and services have been grounded in research and evaluation, adjusting based on a strong feedback loop and observation of current conditions in the food system.

 

This project is supported in part by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2022-38640-37488 through the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under subaward number LS23-382. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider.

Thursday, May 23, 2024
8 Week Series A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls
May 23 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Pack Memorial Library

A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls

Many older adults experience concerns about falling and restrict their activities. A Matter of Balance is an award-winning program designed to manage falls and increase activity levels.This program emphasizes practical strategies to manage falls.

You Will Learn To:
· view falls as controllable
· set goals for increasing activity
· make changes to reduce fall risks at home
· exercise to increase strength and balance

Who Should Attend?
· anyone concerned about falls
· anyone interested in improving balance, flexibility and strength
· anyone who has fallen in the past
· anyone who has restricted activities because of falling concerns

Classes are held once a week for 8 weeks for 2 hours each. Participants are expected to attend the entire series. Registration is required and will be limited.

This class will be facilitated by Heather Bauer, master trainer. The series is sponsored by the Land of Sky Area Agency on Aging.

Scribblers Studio: Writing Lab for Tweens
May 23 @ 4:15 pm – 5:30 pm
Story Parlor

Led by a certified Inward & Artward Creative Facilitator, Tikva Kingrea, this 6-week series workshop gives space for young folks’ imaginations to run wild, turning anything and everything into an opportunity for storytelling! Students ages 11-14 will dive into their own worlds, build their own imaginations, and creating their own stories through a smorgasbord of storytelling forms. In this class, we’re putting creative power back in the hands of the budding creative both individually and as a group. What kind of wildernesses can we construct and discover?

At the end of the day, we’re exploring various forms of writing, infusing imagination into our stories, and we’re building trust and confidence in young creatives. No homework necessary!

Friday, May 24, 2024
ASAP: How Does Western North Carolina Shop for Food SURVEY
May 24 all-day
online

ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) has released a survey to learn more about how people in Western North Carolina shop for food and why they choose the food they do. The survey, part of a three-year project by ASAP’s Local Food Research Center, is for any resident of Western North Carolina over the age of 18, no matter where or how they shop for food. It can be completed online at surveymonkey.com/r/WNCFoodASAP or over the phone by calling ASAP at 828-236-1282. It should take approximately 8 to 12 minutes to complete and will be open through Oct. 31, 2024. Respondents are encouraged to share the survey widely with families, friends, and co-workers.

 

“By completing this survey, you are helping local farmers understand and connect with consumers,” said Amy Marion, ASAP Associate Director and lead researcher. “The challenges of our food system are constantly evolving. Improving it requires active participation from all community members. With this research we can better understand consumer values and the barriers they face, and help farmers and food producers improve communications with their customers and their communities.”

 

The survey is part of a three-year research project, “Connections in Direct Markets: Assessing the feedback loop between consumer values and farmers’ marketing strategies,” which will examine and improve communication and alignment between farmers and consumers in Western North Carolina. The research phase will also employ consumer focus groups, farmer interviews and case studies, and more targeted surveying. The broad consumer survey provides an update to the last consumer survey conducted by the Local Food Research Center in 2014. Results from the current research project will be shared in 2025.

 

ASAP founded the Local Food Research Center in 2011 to study the economic, environmental, and social impacts of localizing food systems. From its inception, ASAP’s programs and services have been grounded in research and evaluation, adjusting based on a strong feedback loop and observation of current conditions in the food system.

 

This project is supported in part by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2022-38640-37488 through the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under subaward number LS23-382. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider.

Spring Awakening Retreat
May 24 @ 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
The Horse Shoe Farm

Immerse yourself in lovingly-curated experiences of embodied mindfulness, conscious breathing, gentle somatics, self-reflection, walking meditation, and autogenic relaxation.

You will leave replenished, balanced, and renewed. “in Just-spring” as E.E. Cummings wrote,

“when the world is mud luscious and puddle wonderful” … is a perfect time to retreat, making space for yourself to practice contemplative joy, savor quietude, and relax thoroughly.

Balance and harmony will be restored with rejuvenating yoga, ritual, time spent in nature, mind + heart opening meditation, and expanding breath awareness.

A contemplative period of silence will help quiet the mind, settle the emotions, decompress the nervous system, heighten the senses, and increase clarity and connection to source energy.

This retreat is a wonderful opportunity to hit the reset button.

  • 9:30 – 11:30am Yoga asana (somatic movement), breathwork, meditation, autogenic relaxation

  • 11:30 – 12pm Cleansing ritual: shed the old and bring ease + radiance to the whole being

  • 12 – 1pm Lunch** and special Ayurvedic tea break: a time to journal, mindfully sip a cup a tea, and relax

  • 1 – 1:30pm: Arriving Where We Are Outdoor mindfulness practice and walking meditation instructions

  • 1:30 – 2:30pm Contemplative silence, nature walking meditation, Labyrinth journey

  • 2:30 – 3pm Closing ceremony: gratitude practice, journaling, sharing

Spring Awakening Retreat
May 24 @ 9:30 am – 3:00 pm
The Horse Shoe Farm

Immerse yourself in lovingly-curated experiences of embodied mindfulness, conscious breathing, gentle somatics, self-reflection, walking meditation, and autogenic relaxation.

Spring Renewal Retreat
May 24 @ 9:30 am – 3:00 pm
The Horse Shoe Farm

Immerse yourself in lovingly-curated experiences of embodied mindfulness, conscious breathing, gentle somatics, self-reflection, walking meditation, and autogenic relaxation.

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!

Sunday, May 26, 2024
ASAP: How Does Western North Carolina Shop for Food SURVEY
May 26 all-day
online

ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) has released a survey to learn more about how people in Western North Carolina shop for food and why they choose the food they do. The survey, part of a three-year project by ASAP’s Local Food Research Center, is for any resident of Western North Carolina over the age of 18, no matter where or how they shop for food. It can be completed online at surveymonkey.com/r/WNCFoodASAP or over the phone by calling ASAP at 828-236-1282. It should take approximately 8 to 12 minutes to complete and will be open through Oct. 31, 2024. Respondents are encouraged to share the survey widely with families, friends, and co-workers.

 

“By completing this survey, you are helping local farmers understand and connect with consumers,” said Amy Marion, ASAP Associate Director and lead researcher. “The challenges of our food system are constantly evolving. Improving it requires active participation from all community members. With this research we can better understand consumer values and the barriers they face, and help farmers and food producers improve communications with their customers and their communities.”

 

The survey is part of a three-year research project, “Connections in Direct Markets: Assessing the feedback loop between consumer values and farmers’ marketing strategies,” which will examine and improve communication and alignment between farmers and consumers in Western North Carolina. The research phase will also employ consumer focus groups, farmer interviews and case studies, and more targeted surveying. The broad consumer survey provides an update to the last consumer survey conducted by the Local Food Research Center in 2014. Results from the current research project will be shared in 2025.

 

ASAP founded the Local Food Research Center in 2011 to study the economic, environmental, and social impacts of localizing food systems. From its inception, ASAP’s programs and services have been grounded in research and evaluation, adjusting based on a strong feedback loop and observation of current conditions in the food system.

 

This project is supported in part by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2022-38640-37488 through the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under subaward number LS23-382. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider.

Monday, May 27, 2024
ASAP: How Does Western North Carolina Shop for Food SURVEY
May 27 all-day
online

ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) has released a survey to learn more about how people in Western North Carolina shop for food and why they choose the food they do. The survey, part of a three-year project by ASAP’s Local Food Research Center, is for any resident of Western North Carolina over the age of 18, no matter where or how they shop for food. It can be completed online at surveymonkey.com/r/WNCFoodASAP or over the phone by calling ASAP at 828-236-1282. It should take approximately 8 to 12 minutes to complete and will be open through Oct. 31, 2024. Respondents are encouraged to share the survey widely with families, friends, and co-workers.

 

“By completing this survey, you are helping local farmers understand and connect with consumers,” said Amy Marion, ASAP Associate Director and lead researcher. “The challenges of our food system are constantly evolving. Improving it requires active participation from all community members. With this research we can better understand consumer values and the barriers they face, and help farmers and food producers improve communications with their customers and their communities.”

 

The survey is part of a three-year research project, “Connections in Direct Markets: Assessing the feedback loop between consumer values and farmers’ marketing strategies,” which will examine and improve communication and alignment between farmers and consumers in Western North Carolina. The research phase will also employ consumer focus groups, farmer interviews and case studies, and more targeted surveying. The broad consumer survey provides an update to the last consumer survey conducted by the Local Food Research Center in 2014. Results from the current research project will be shared in 2025.

 

ASAP founded the Local Food Research Center in 2011 to study the economic, environmental, and social impacts of localizing food systems. From its inception, ASAP’s programs and services have been grounded in research and evaluation, adjusting based on a strong feedback loop and observation of current conditions in the food system.

 

This project is supported in part by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2022-38640-37488 through the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under subaward number LS23-382. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider.