Calendar of Events

Celebrate Independence Day with us at The Omni Grove Park Inn, where grandeur meets festivity. Witness the night sky come alive with two breathtaking fireworks displays, enjoy live music in our iconic Great Hall and by the outdoor pool, and dive into family-friendly activities like movie screenings, bingo, and glitter tattoos. Our beloved mascot, Major Bear, will make a special appearance, spreading cheer and creating magical moments. From morning till night, there’s always something happening, ensuring a perfect blend of relaxation and celebration.

Experience double the thrill this Independence Day with our Stars & Stripes Package. Relish in viewing two mesmerizing firework shows, with exclusive viewing, and indulge in an Evening Picnic on July 4th with live music and activities for all ages. Join us for a patriotic weekend filled with fun, music, and memories. We look forward to celebrating with you!

WEDNESDAY, JULY 3

Family Movie Screening │Laurel │1 PM – 3 PM
Live Music │Great Hall │3 PM -6 PM
Balloon Twister │Great Hall │4 PM -6 PM
Omni Grove Park Inn’s Fireworks │TBD │ 9 PM -10 PM

THURSDAY, JULY 4

Family Bingo │Skyline │1 PM -3 PM
Live Music with Alex Taub │ Great Hall │ 3 PM -6 PM
Glitter Tattoos │ Great Hall │3 PM -5 PM
Stars & Stripes Evening Picnic │TBD │7 PM – 10 PM
City of Asheville Fireworks │9:30 PM

FRIDAY, JULY 5

Craft │Outdoor Pool│2 PM – 3 PM
Family Movie Screening │Laurel │3 PM -5 PM
Live Music with Jamar Woods│ Great Hall │ 3 PM -6 PM
Omni Grove Park Inn’s Fireworks │TBD │ 9 PM -10 PM

SATURDAY, JULY 6

Live Music with Jeff Thompson │Outdoor Pool │1 PM -3 PM
Family Bingo │Skyline │3 PM -4 PM

This Fourth of July, the Asheville Downtown Association and the City of Asheville are excited to invite you to the Independence Day Block Party, presented by Ingles. We are thrilled to announce that this year’s free event is moving to the vibrant South Slope area, specifically on Coxe Avenue and Buxton Avenue in Downtown Asheville. The festivities kick off at noon with a thrilling performance by the Ultimate Airdogs, alongside a variety of local food and beverage vendors where delicious treats will be available for purchase throughout the day. Additionally, a number of local marketplace vendors will be present, offering unique goods and crafts that showcase the best of Asheville’s vibrant community. The entire South Slope neighborhood is participating, ensuring an exciting day filled with kids’ activities, live music, and engaging activations for all ages. The Rock Academy will provide musical entertainment during the early part of the day, setting the perfect mood for a celebration of independence and community spirit. At 4:00 PM, the main stage opens with Asheville’s very own Secret Agent 23 Skidoo as the emcee, followed by performances from DJ Badonkey Kong and The Legendary Tuesday Night Funk Jam House Band. The night will feature a headline performance by The Pink Stones. Don’t miss the grand finale – a dazzling fireworks display set to light up the night sky at 9:30 PM. This family-friendly event is the perfect way to celebrate our nation’s independence in the heart of Asheville. Bring your friends and family, and enjoy a day filled with music, fun, and community spirit. We look forward to celebrating with you! For more information, please visit www.ashevilledowntown.org or contact [email protected].

Join us for our annual 4th of July Celebration! A Low Country Boil with The Silo Cookhouse & Root & Bone + Live Music + FIREWORKS!

Celebrate Independence Day with us at The Omni Grove Park Inn, where grandeur meets festivity. Witness the night sky come alive with two breathtaking fireworks displays, enjoy live music in our iconic Great Hall and by the outdoor pool, and dive into family-friendly activities like movie screenings, bingo, and glitter tattoos. Our beloved mascot, Major Bear, will make a special appearance, spreading cheer and creating magical moments. From morning till night, there’s always something happening, ensuring a perfect blend of relaxation and celebration.

Experience double the thrill this Independence Day with our Stars & Stripes Package. Relish in viewing two mesmerizing firework shows, with exclusive viewing, and indulge in an Evening Picnic on July 4th with live music and activities for all ages. Join us for a patriotic weekend filled with fun, music, and memories. We look forward to celebrating with you!

WEDNESDAY, JULY 3

Family Movie Screening │Laurel │1 PM – 3 PM
Live Music │Great Hall │3 PM -6 PM
Balloon Twister │Great Hall │4 PM -6 PM
Omni Grove Park Inn’s Fireworks │TBD │ 9 PM -10 PM

THURSDAY, JULY 4

Family Bingo │Skyline │1 PM -3 PM
Live Music with Alex Taub │ Great Hall │ 3 PM -6 PM
Glitter Tattoos │ Great Hall │3 PM -5 PM
Stars & Stripes Evening Picnic │TBD │7 PM – 10 PM
City of Asheville Fireworks │9:30 PM

FRIDAY, JULY 5

Craft │Outdoor Pool│2 PM – 3 PM
Family Movie Screening │Laurel │3 PM -5 PM
Live Music with Jamar Woods│ Great Hall │ 3 PM -6 PM
Omni Grove Park Inn’s Fireworks │TBD │ 9 PM -10 PM

SATURDAY, JULY 6

Live Music with Jeff Thompson │Outdoor Pool │1 PM -3 PM
Family Bingo │Skyline │3 PM -4 PM

Saturdays from 10:30 AM – 12 PM

Celebrate Independence Day with us at The Omni Grove Park Inn, where grandeur meets festivity. Witness the night sky come alive with two breathtaking fireworks displays, enjoy live music in our iconic Great Hall and by the outdoor pool, and dive into family-friendly activities like movie screenings, bingo, and glitter tattoos. Our beloved mascot, Major Bear, will make a special appearance, spreading cheer and creating magical moments. From morning till night, there’s always something happening, ensuring a perfect blend of relaxation and celebration.

Experience double the thrill this Independence Day with our Stars & Stripes Package. Relish in viewing two mesmerizing firework shows, with exclusive viewing, and indulge in an Evening Picnic on July 4th with live music and activities for all ages. Join us for a patriotic weekend filled with fun, music, and memories. We look forward to celebrating with you!

WEDNESDAY, JULY 3

Family Movie Screening │Laurel │1 PM – 3 PM
Live Music │Great Hall │3 PM -6 PM
Balloon Twister │Great Hall │4 PM -6 PM
Omni Grove Park Inn’s Fireworks │TBD │ 9 PM -10 PM

THURSDAY, JULY 4

Family Bingo │Skyline │1 PM -3 PM
Live Music with Alex Taub │ Great Hall │ 3 PM -6 PM
Glitter Tattoos │ Great Hall │3 PM -5 PM
Stars & Stripes Evening Picnic │TBD │7 PM – 10 PM
City of Asheville Fireworks │9:30 PM

FRIDAY, JULY 5

Craft │Outdoor Pool│2 PM – 3 PM
Family Movie Screening │Laurel │3 PM -5 PM
Live Music with Jamar Woods│ Great Hall │ 3 PM -6 PM
Omni Grove Park Inn’s Fireworks │TBD │ 9 PM -10 PM

SATURDAY, JULY 6

Live Music with Jeff Thompson │Outdoor Pool │1 PM -3 PM
Family Bingo │Skyline │3 PM -4 PM

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.

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].

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.

5 week series. Every Wednesday from 6:30-8:30, beginning June 5. Class cancelled July 3. Ending July 10.

Poetry is the written act of paying attention. Paying attention to words, rhythm, and writing but most importantly the worlds that inspire you to write. Namely, your world.

“Wanted: a needle swift enough to sew this poem into a blanket.” -Charles Simic

Have you ever swooned at the thought of exploring your full expression, only to shuffle around the house more determined to rearrange mothballs than get something on paper?

Poetry is undoubtedly a practice, but it doesn’t have to be an intimidating sport for Creative Gods alone. The only “ask” is to take note and notice of your life.

We’ll help develop the work itself, together.

This full-bodied beginner’s poetry class will help you shift from “Oof, I could never…” into “Wait, where’s my journal?!” by tuning into your world: to the color palette of grass, to coffee-shop conversation, to the twitch in your left elbow. If you want language for the volcanic prayers of your soul or to describe your partner’s voice whispering “I love you” at 4am, we’ll get there. This class weaves the elements of poetry, forms of poetry, guided discussion with peers, and the works of prolific poets all into a multidisciplinary play space. Plus, oodles (oodles!) of writing time to build personal confidence and craft. This class immerses itself in artful experimentation across mediums, paired with a toolkit of technical writing skills. It’s the ultimate permission slip to be a beginner.

“Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance.” -Carl Sandburg

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.

Saturdays from 10:30 AM – 12 PM

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.

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].

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.

Chicago’s Funniest Interactive Standup show is back in Asheville Wednesday July 17, 7-9pm. Hosted by Alex Joyce in The Orange Peel’s Comedy Basement PULP. Get tix early! These shows sellout.
The Blackout Diaries is a comedy show where standup comedians, plus ‘regular’ people (cops, firefighters, teachers, etc) tell hilarious drinking or other buzzed stories. Then you, the audience, can dive even deeper by asking questions to the performers about their stories.
The show has been a critics’ pick by all major Chicago periodicals and has been featured on NPR, Comedy Central and more. Its host and creator, Sean Flannery, was even named the best drunk in Chicago by The Chicago Reader, though we are still trying to figure out what that award means and if it should be considered an accolade.
Come for some of the funniest drinking stories you’ve heard
Featuring comedians Ryan Gordon, Cayla Clark, Larry Griffin & Miranda Allison!!
*if you have a funny buzzed story, whether it involves drinking or other, and would like to be on this show, contact Michele at [email protected]

Chicago’s Funniest Interactive Standup show is back in Asheville Wednesday July 17, 7-9pm. Hosted by Alex Joyce in The Orange Peel’s Comedy Basement PULP. Get tix early! These shows sellout.
The Blackout Diaries is a comedy show where standup comedians, plus ‘regular’ people (cops, firefighters, teachers, etc) tell hilarious drinking or other buzzed stories. Then you, the audience, can dive even deeper by asking questions to the performers about their stories.
The show has been a critics’ pick by all major Chicago periodicals and has been featured on NPR, Comedy Central and more. Its host and creator, Sean Flannery, was even named the best drunk in Chicago by The Chicago Reader, though we are still trying to figure out what that award means and if it should be considered an accolade.
Come for some of the funniest drinking stories you’ve heard
Featuring comedians Ryan Gordon, Cayla Clark, Larry Griffin & Miranda Allison!!
*if you have a funny buzzed story, whether it involves drinking or other, and would like to be on this show, contact Michele at [email protected] See less

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.

Saturdays from 10:30 AM – 12 PM

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].

Standup Comedy featuring Sarah Love On Wednesday July 24, 7-9p we will be having another professional comedy open mic 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). Featuring Sarah Love, also known as “Ingles Laura Lynn Sarah Silverman”, is a comedian from Asheville, North Carolina. She is wry yet kinetic. Provocative yet relatable. She can’t wait for you to see her.
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.
[Comedy Open Mic is 3-5m depending how many signup. Signup at door. See Hilliary at the show to get your time and lineup placement. We have a comedy table with exclusive snacks. No entry fee for performing comics.]

Join us in celebrating the Grand Opening of Coldwell Banker Advantage with a ribbon cutting!

Saturdays from 10:30 AM – 12 PM

Sunday July 28 at 6:30p is another great comedy show at Asheville Pizza in Theatre 2, get your dinner , drinks & laughs with a comedy open mic & Professional featured performers in a fun environment. Hosted by Zandra Johnson, featuring Hilliary Begley, Jess Cooley & Alana Eisner!

Sunday July 28 at 6:30p is another great comedy show at Asheville Pizza in Theatre 2, get your dinner , drinks & laughs with a comedy open mic & Professional featured performers in a fun environment.
Hosted by Zandra Johnson, featuring Hilliary Begley, Jess Cooley & Alana Eisner!

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].

Join us for an evening of networking, great food and drinks at Bears Smokehouse BBQ!

PROpel AVL provides outstanding professional leadership development opportunities through educational seminars, service opportunities and networking for Asheville professionals between the ages of 21 and 40.