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, April 27, 2024
Artists + Writers Coffee
Apr 27 @ 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Tryon Fine Arts Center

Saturdays from 10:30 AM – 12 PM

TFAC Pavilion (park/enter at rear of building)
Free drop-in event
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Love is Like a Butterfly: A Dolly Parton Poetry Workshop
Apr 30 @ 6:30 pm
Fairview Library

Start off Poetry Month at the Library with a celebration of Dolly Parton’s lyrics at the Fairview Library.

What could the songs of legendary singer-songwriter Dolly Parton teach us about writing, craft, and perspectives in poetry? In this in-person workshop, poet Dustin Brookshire guides participants through exploring the discography and cultural impact of Dolly Parton. We’ll use this as inspiration for writing new poems via thematic prompts.

This free workshop will be Tuesday, April 30 at 6:30 p.m. at the Fairview Library.

Our facilitator, Dustin Brookshire is the recipient of the 2024 Jon Tribble Editors Fellowship awarded by Poetry at the Sea and is the co-editor of Let Me Say This: A Dolly Parton Poetry Anthology (Madville Publishing, 2023), which was named to the 2024 Books All Georgians Should Read list by the Georgia Center for the Book.

Friday, May 3, 2024
The Controlled Chaos Film Festival
May 3 @ 7:30 pm
WCU Fine Art Museum at Bardo Arts Center

Rounding out the 2023/2024 Stage and Screen Main Stage Season is the most exciting single night of the academic year, the Controlled Chaos Film Festival, a celebration of numerous narrative and documentary films created by the students in the Film and Television Production program. For more information on the festival explore: controlledchaos.wcu.edu

Please Note:

  • NO photography, videography, or recording of any kind.
  • This event includes language which may not be suitable for all audiences.
  • The content of each film in the Controlled Chaos Film Festival will vary.
Saturday, May 4, 2024
Artists + Writers Coffee
May 4 @ 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Tryon Fine Arts Center

Saturdays from 10:30 AM – 12 PM

TFAC Pavilion (park/enter at rear of building)
Free drop-in event
In Time for Mother’s Day: DIY Self-Care Products
May 4 @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Bullington Gardens

Looking for a chance to celebrate mom and make her a unique gift?  Or are you wanting to learn a new skill?  In this fun introductory class led by Judy Peacock, you will learn to make your own herbal self-care products including an oatmeal rose honey scrub, a rose clay mask, and herbal tea blend. It’s the perfect way to spend time with mom, or make something for yourself.  Each participant will take home a honey scrub, a clay mask blend, and an herbal tranquil tea blend.

Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert
May 4 @ 7:00 pm
Bon Secours Wellness Arena

Experience the magic of a galaxy far, far away at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on Saturday, May 4th, 2024. The Greenville Symphony Orchestra presents “Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert.” Enjoy the iconic film with a live performance by GSO of John Williams’ Oscar®-winning score. Feel the force as the orchestra delivers an unforgettable family-friendly event.

Tickets go on sale Tuesday, January 16 at 10:00 am and can be purchased online at BSWArena.com. Don’t miss this chance to be part of Star Wars like never before. May the force be with you!

Link: https://www.bonsecoursarena.com/events/detail/starwars-greenvilesymphonyorchestra-greenville

Monday, May 6, 2024
Letters to the Editor + Opinion Editorials Creative Workshop
May 6 @ 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Buncombe County Democratic Party HQ

Democrats need to be more actively messaging and to overcome the makers of fake news with the truth! Join this ongoing group of writers working together on Letters to the Editor and Opinion Editorials. We’ll discuss the issues we care about most deeply and craft a plan to respond to events as they occur in real time.

The group meets the first and third Monday of each month for writing, responding to one another’s work, scheduling submissions, and exploring media outlets across the state.

“Rant with purpose. Support with facts. Propel action.” – Myra Schoen

Friday, May 10, 2024
Mother Runner’s Day Sale
May 10 all-day
Jus' Running

Mother Runner’s Day Sale 25% off

Take Your Momma to the Greenhouse
May 10 @ 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Ross Farm Nursery and Greenhouses
25% off all plants, Mother’s Day BANANZA! 🌷🥳 Come celebrate your momma at Ross Farm in our beautiful greenhouses on…
-Friday, May 10th from 9-6 pm
-Saturday, May 11th from 9-6 pm
All orders $100+ at the farm get a free, hanging, ceramic, moon-phase pot! Treat yourself, AND momma, to the gift of plant beauty this Mother’s Day!
Movies in the Park: Free Family Films
May 10 @ 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Pack Square Park

Movies in the Park returns with free family favorite films projected on a massive outdoor screen in Pack Square Park just after dusk on the second Friday of the month! Community members are invited to bring blankets and lawn chairs to the beloved summer tradition produced by Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR) and sponsored by Au Pair in America.

The APR Rec n Roll Play Zone opens about an hour before showtime with games, music, and other activities for kids and teens, as well as themed giveaways while supplies last.

.:. Movies in the Park 2024 Lineup .:.
🎩 May 10, begins around 8:25pm – Wonka – Kids receive free bottles of bubbles
🕶 June 14, begins around 8:45pm – Barbie – Kids snag free pink and black sunglasses with UV400 lenses providing 100% UVA and UVB protection
🦝 July 12, begins around 8:45pm – Guardians of the Galaxy – Kids get free Recycling Raccoon coloring books
🤠 August 9, begins around 8:25pm – Toy Story – Kids receive unique rubber duck toys that change color in water
.:. Make a Plan .:.

🌜 All movies begin after dusk in Pack Square Park on 80 Court Plaza in downtown Asheville. Approximate showtimes listed above, but plan to arrive at least 15 minutes prior.
🥰 Bring blankets and folding chairs for comfort.
🎨 APR Rec n Roll Play Zone activities start approximately an hour before showtime.
👛 Bring money for treats from local vendors Kona Ice of Asheville and Kernel Mike’s World Famous Kettle Corn.
🌮 Food truck and food tent spaces available for vendors who sell more substantial food like pizza, sandwiches, and other entrees. Please contact Calvin Owens at [email protected] or (828) 747-1347 for more info.
🚲 Parking is free in marked spaces on city streets and in city-owned lots on Marjorie and Valley streets after 6pm, so there’s no need to feed the meter.
🚫 Pets, smoking, and alcohol prohibited.
🥳 Have fun! Dress up as your favorite characters, invite friends, and celebrate cool summer nights. Be sure to tag APR on Instagram and Facebook.
⛈ Outdoor events may be impacted by summer weather. Follow APR on Instagram and Facebook for cancellation announcements.

Saturday, May 11, 2024
Mother Runner’s Day Sale
May 11 all-day
Jus' Running

Mother Runner’s Day Sale 25% off

Take Your Momma to the Greenhouse
May 11 @ 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Ross Farm Nursery and Greenhouses
25% off all plants, Mother’s Day BANANZA! 🌷🥳 Come celebrate your momma at Ross Farm in our beautiful greenhouses on…
-Friday, May 10th from 9-6 pm
-Saturday, May 11th from 9-6 pm
All orders $100+ at the farm get a free, hanging, ceramic, moon-phase pot! Treat yourself, AND momma, to the gift of plant beauty this Mother’s Day!
Mother’s Day Market
May 11 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Historic Johnson Farm

Historic Johnson Farm will host the fourth annual Mother’s Day Market on Saturday, May 11th from 10 AM-4 PM, rain or shine. This outdoor craft fair will showcase over 25 local vendors. A diverse array of crafts will be available, including jewelry, ceramics, leather items, wooden décor, baked goods and more.

The event will take place outdoors at the farm. Hot dogs (donated by Hot Dog World), chips, and drinks will be available for purchase to support the farm’s operating fund. Stop by the farm table to purchase a plant from the Johnson Farm gardeners or a farm logo item like a mug or magnet. The Heritage Weavers & Fiber Artists will have their gift shop open with plenty of fiber gifts for purchase. In addition to the numerous crafters, the historic farmhouse will be open for self-guided tours including the Johnson’s 1924 Model T that was recently returned to the farm.

Parking will be available across the street at Rugby Middle School, and volunteers from the Sheriff’s Office will help visitors cross the street. Handicapped parking is available at the farm.

Historic Johnson Farm is located at 3346 Haywood Road, Hendersonville, NC 28791. It features 15 acres of forest, fields, and streams, 10 historic structures, animals and picnic tables. The farm was a gift to schoolchildren and the community by the late Vernon and Leander Johnson.

For more information, call 828-891-6585 or visit www.historicjohnsonfarm.org or
www.facebook.com/HistoricJohnsonFarm/.

Artists + Writers Coffee
May 11 @ 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Tryon Fine Arts Center

Saturdays from 10:30 AM – 12 PM

TFAC Pavilion (park/enter at rear of building)
Free drop-in event
Mother’s Day Tea Party
May 11 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
The Omni Grove Park Inn

Whether you’re a daughter expressing gratitude, a partner recognizing the mother of your children, or a friend honoring the matriarchs in your life, our Mother’s Day Tea Party is the perfect way to say thank you. Our Mother’s Day Tea Party is a lavish affair designed to pamper and honor the special women in your life.

Picture you and your loved ones welcomed by the soft melodies of local live music. Savor the moment as you indulge in a delectable selection of hors d’oeuvres from delicate finger sandwiches to decadent pastries, expertly crafted to elevate your culinary experience. But the magic doesn’t stop there—tap into your internal artist and create pressed flower lanterns and personalized friendship bracelets to take home and savor the memories.

Join us in raising a teacup and purchase your ticket for this enchanting event, where we invite you to revel in the beauty of connection and create timeless memories that will be cherished for years to come.

*Tickets are non-refundable. Parking, accommodations and other amenities are not included with tickets purchased on Eventbrite. Cash bar will be available.

Looking for overnight accommodations? Click here to book the Mother’s Day Made Easy Package which includes accommodations, parking, admission to the Mother’s Day Tea Party, sparkling wine amenity, and late check out.

Sunday, May 12, 2024
Mother Runner’s Day Sale
May 12 all-day
Jus' Running

Mother Runner’s Day Sale 25% off

Mother’s Day Spring Birding
May 12 @ 8:00 am – 11:00 am
Hickory Nut Gap Farm

Explore the Farm and surrounding forest with birder Clifton Avery of Venture Birding Tours(@bigbaldbirder on IG) to spot the various species of birds that can be found in WNC!
Edge habitat birding, learn how planned grazing benefits the local avian population.
We will be hiking in uneven and sometimes steep terrain, so please wear sturdy shoes and be dressed for the weather.
Learn about our Holistic Land Management from Farm Director Virginia, and how this practice works in tandem with the local flora and fauna.
Spotted on the farm by our farm crew, staff & neighbors: bluebirds, a rainbow of finches, downy & hairy woodpeckers, vultures, cardinals, wood doves, robins, red-shouldered hawks, northern goshawks, swifts, egrets, blue herons, hermit thrush, golden-winged warblers and this last year we’ve had a resident Bald Eagle!
Attendees will break for an included biscuit brunch* from butcher Brian’s kitchen, as birding is hungry work. When attending classes, you will receive a 5% discount in the Farm Store & Butchery!
A portion of the proceeds for this event support our activities as a Savory Hub, and further the reach of regenerative agriculture.

Mother’s Day Native Plant Swap and Sale
May 12 @ 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
39 Courtland Ave #39, Asheville, NC 28801, USA

 

Parking: On the street, or at the North Star Academy corner of Montford & Courtland

On May 12, we’ll hold our annual Native Plant Swap at Charlotte Caplan’s house on Courtland Avenue, in the Montford neighborhood of Asheville. This is our main fundraiser for the year, so come out to have fun choosing plants for your garden and support BRNN.

Our emphasis is on plants that are native to the Southern Appalachians. We’ll have foamflower, wild ginger, bloodroot, green and gold, bee-balm, mountain mint, joe-pye weed, sweetshrub, pawpaw, and many others. But we’ll accept non-natives too, even houseplants and vegetable starts, as long as they are not considered invasive in NC – see list on https://www.inaturalist.org/guides/2455 . Just a note—vegetable starts can only be swapped for vegetable starts.

No pots? Just save plastic containers from the recycling bin. Medium-sized yoghurt, cottage cheese, and sour cream pots are ideal. Poke a few holes in the bottom and voila! You can cut up a pot up to make labels, too.

No plants to contribute? No problem. We’ll have a large stock for sale at a modest $4 each.

QUESTIONS? Contact Charlotte at [email protected]

 

Mother’s Day Tea Party
May 12 @ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum

Tabletops of 2–6 only

This afternoon tea party features local indulgences from Asheville Tea Company, as well as fresh tea sandwiches, scones, fruit, and house-made pastries.

The afternoon also includes the opportunity to design and create your own Fascinator Hat and take a stroll through the galleries. Limited seating remains, so reserve your spot before it’s too late!

Tuesday, May 14, 2024
Memorial Day Weekend Outdoor Adventures
May 14 all-day
Nantahala Outdoor Center
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
Memorial Day Weekend Outdoor Adventures
May 15 all-day
Nantahala Outdoor Center
Thursday, May 16, 2024
Memorial Day Weekend Outdoor Adventures
May 16 all-day
Nantahala Outdoor Center
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
Memorial Day Weekend Outdoor Adventures
May 17 all-day
Nantahala Outdoor Center
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
Memorial Day Weekend Outdoor Adventures
May 18 all-day
Nantahala Outdoor Center
Artists + Writers Coffee
May 18 @ 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Tryon Fine Arts Center

Saturdays from 10:30 AM – 12 PM

TFAC Pavilion (park/enter at rear of building)
Free drop-in event
Sunday, May 19, 2024
Memorial Day Weekend Outdoor Adventures
May 19 all-day
Nantahala Outdoor Center