Calendar of Events
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.
Jewelry artist Laura Wood and textile artist Libby O’Bryan, co-founder of the slow-fashion label Rite of Passage, have collaborated along with Erin Hawley, founder of Melona, to launch COLLECT, a curated designer market at Rite of Passage’s store in the River Arts District.
COLLECT features extraordinary gifts for the holidays by regional artists and makers not usually found in Asheville and handpicked for this reason. Participants include Megan Huntz, Anna Johnson, Vinx Apothecary, The Dustworks, Carrie George Leather, Elizabeth Suzann, Poem Crown, Jeffrey, Opie Way, State the Label, and Cicil Home — in addition to jewelry by Laura Wood Studios and clothing by Rite of Passage, designed by Giovanni Daina-Palermo.
“Laura [Wood], Erin [Hawley], and I wanted to create an alternative to the ‘pop-up’ or a larger fair — something curated, warm, and festive,” said O’Bryan of COLLECT. In addition to gifts, COLLECT will feature food and drink from Crocodile Wine, Roll Up Herbal Bar, Botanist & Barrel, and Nibbly Onigiri.
COLLECT opens on Friday, December 8, 5-7:00 pm. The event continues Saturday and Sunday, December 9 and 10, 11:00 am until 5:00 pm.
Rite of Passage is located next to Ultra Coffeebar at 240 Clingman Avenue Ext. in the River Arts District.
Give the gift of holiday joy in the form of a unique, beautiful, locally made ornament! Handcrafted ornaments made by local artists will be for sale in our lobby on our Christmas tree through the middle of December. Gift the gift of art this year and support local artists in the process!
Join us for a Holiday Pop Up Shop at Open Studio
Saturday, December 9th – 11-5
Sunday, December 10th – 11-5
115 Elk Mountain Road, North Asheville NC 28804
Shop pottery, art, vintage clothing, home goods, jewelry, teas, tinctures, gifts + more from:
@gennypopshop
@a13rattlesnakesandrainbows
@junopottery
@heilbronherbs
@loomimports
@yewocollective
Join us for the 2nd Annual Holiday Extravaganza, hosted by R2S, on Sunday, December 10th, from noon to 5 pm. We are excited to announce that Derrick Barnes, a critically acclaimed author of “Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut” (Agate), as well as three NY Times Bestsellers (“The King of Kindergarten”, “I Am Every Good Thing”, and “The Queen of Kindergarten”), will be joining us.
We will be celebrating the release of his newest book, “Santa’s Gotta Go!”, by giving out free copies! In addition to meeting the author, we have other exciting events planned such as holiday carnival games, hot cocoa bars, cookie decorating, holiday crafts, free food, and more!
Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate the holiday season with us!
Refraction Holiday Art Market Returns to Wedge Brewing
RAD community artists share their creative roots as Refraction market vendors
Asheville, NC, December 10, 2023: Refraction Art Market, a curated art market celebrating the vibrant artistic energy the Wedge was built upon will be returning to the Wedge at Foundation for its third year. The art showcased will represent a wide array of high quality work including ceramics, painting, printmaking, woodwork, jewelry, leather, glass and more. The event will run from 12-6 pm at the Wedge at Foundation, 5 Foundy St.
Refraction cofounder Andrew Massey fondly remembers the days of walking down to the Wedge after a long day in the ceramics studio and having a beer alongside a plethora of other artists. The Wedge was the watering hole for the community from the get go, the place where you could count on sharing ideas and creative visions amongst a pool of equally passionate creators. While Asheville has grown, the Wedge and the River Arts District have still held that feeling of creative source, which is why Andrew and Amy are so passionate about bringing artists together for Refraction. Their mission is to ignite the creative energy that pulses at the heart of the RAD and create space for a multitude of talented artists to share their work and their love for this community.
URLs:
Facebook: https://go.evvnt.com/2083107-2?pid=10412
Instagram: https://go.evvnt.com/2083107-3?pid=10412
The Great Smokies Writing Program presents “Writers at Home” celebrating the fall 2023 issue of “The Great Smokies Review” at the Story Parlor at 7:00 p.m. on December 10, 2023. The event is free and open to the public.
The following contributors will be featured and perform a reading:
Rebecca Beck
Ginny Callaway
Anne-Marie Dany
Hope Donnellan
Sondra Hall
Tom Meyer
Patrick Pickering
Doors open at 6:30 and seating is first come first served; there will be a chance after the readings for the audience and readers to mingle.
This will be the final event in the Great Smokies Writers at Home series for Fall 2023. The series, started by novelist and longtime former Program Director Tommy Hays, celebrates local and regional writers reading from their own work. Today, the series is hosted by Program Coordinator Jennifer McGaha.
The Great Smokies Writing Program is a joint effort between the UNC Asheville departments of English, Creative Writing, and the Asheville Graduate Center. The program offers opportunities for writers of all levels to join a supportive learning community in which their skills and talents can be explored, practiced, and forged under the careful eye of professional writers.
Give the gift of holiday joy in the form of a unique, beautiful, locally made ornament! Handcrafted ornaments made by local artists will be for sale in our lobby on our Christmas tree through the middle of December. Gift the gift of art this year and support local artists in the process!
Give the gift of holiday joy in the form of a unique, beautiful, locally made ornament! Handcrafted ornaments made by local artists will be for sale in our lobby on our Christmas tree through the middle of December. Gift the gift of art this year and support local artists in the process!
Your Chance to Build Great Connections – You Don’t Want to Miss This Event!
Business After Hours is the Chamber’s premier networking event and the best chance for your to make valuable connections to build your business – all while having a great time!
With fantastic food and beverages compliments of our host sponsor, and the chance to win great door prizes – and Networking Beast – this event is the best combination of business and fun!
There is no cost to attend but registration is required.

Great news for poets and poetry lovers: Dark City Poet’s Society is returning to the Black Mountain Library. DCPS is a completely free poetry group that is open to poets of all ages and experience levels. Join us at the Black Mountain Library from 6-7:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month for our (respectful) critique group. DCPS will meet at BAD Craft from 6-7 p.m. on the third Tuesday for our monthly open mic Poetry Night. Find out more on Instagram @darkcitypoetssociety or contact the Black Mountain Library.
Networking begins at 7:45 AM
Program begins at 8:00 AM
This monthly event is co-sponsored with Blue Ridge Community College\’s Small Business Center, the City of Hendersonville Main Street program, and the Hendersonville Merchants & Business Association features several speakers on timely community events and issues affecting our business community.
Give the gift of holiday joy in the form of a unique, beautiful, locally made ornament! Handcrafted ornaments made by local artists will be for sale in our lobby on our Christmas tree through the middle of December. Gift the gift of art this year and support local artists in the process!
Bargain Hendo Thrift Store will be permanently closing its doors on December 13th.
• WNCSource operates the small thrift store which is located on the corner of King Street
and 2nd Avenue in Hendersonville.
• Bargain Hendo first opened in December of 2020 and was meant to support the programs
and services WNCSource provides in 4 western North Carolina Counties. Unfortunately,
low sales and competition from other local thrift stores has made the store less than
profitable.
• But don’t worry, starting Thursday, November 2nd, Bargain Hendo will be open
Wednesdays through Fridays 10AM to 4PM and Saturdays from 10AM to 2PM with some
incredible bargains and sales to clear the shelves.
• Bargain Hendo’s last day is December 13th
Darren Todd, will lead a virtual writing workshop titled “What if you fly? Weaving speculative elements into fiction.”
The term speculative fiction has grown in usage, but what does it mean? Simply, it’s fiction that speculates or forecasts what might happen. The “if” in that scenario is up to the writer. Spec-fic (as it’s often called) isn’t beholden to a single genre. Certainly, dystopian novels fall under this category, but so could alternate history, science fiction, horror, or even drama. Many ideas can greatly benefit from introducing speculative elements, which give readers a heightened sense of curiosity, wonder, and even engages them to be a part of how the writer’s “what if” develops. Humans are natural problem solvers, and few things kick off that need to find answers like a solid “what if.”
For this workshop, we’ll delve into the rise of spec-fic, how it crosses genre, as well as flexing our speculative muscles with breakout exercises to be reviewed during the workshop.
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 use Microsoft Teams for the virtual connection. Sign up to attend the workshop here!
Darren is a freelance book editor for Evolved Publications, and his short fiction has appeared in fifty publications over the years, including Chilling Tales for Dark Nights, Cosmic Horror Monthly, and The Stoneslide Corrective. His short story collection, The Ugly Mug and Other Stories, launched on Amazon and Audible in 2023.
While some of his works fall under the literary umbrella, he often returns to speculative and horror fiction. His style and preferences tend toward the psychological, as he enjoys stories that linger in the imagination long after he’s closed the book on them.
He lives in Hendersonville, NC with his son and girlfriend. See what he’s up to at darrentodd.net.
Give the gift of holiday joy in the form of a unique, beautiful, locally made ornament! Handcrafted ornaments made by local artists will be for sale in our lobby on our Christmas tree through the middle of December. Gift the gift of art this year and support local artists in the process!
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Join us for creative writing online! We’ll meet on Zoom and do several rounds of writing prompts. The group is simple – we just write and read our writing to each other. This is a supportive and fun environment that gets your creative juices flowing with low stakes and lots of fun. Email [email protected] for the link to the online meeting. The contents of this presentation are for informational purposes only. Nothing herein constitutes medical, legal, or financial advice nor is it a substitute for professional advice on any issue. You should not rely on the information received in this presentation for any important decisions, including medical, legal, or financial decisions. Always consult with an appropriate professional for specific advice related to your situation. The views and opinions expressed in this presentation do not necessarily reflect those of Buncombe County or its Public Library System. |
The Spa at Capitola Mill is a day spa located in downtown Marshall NC. We offer Massage, Facials, Foot Soak & Reflexology, Himalayan Salt Room Sessions, & Sauna Sessions.
The Spa at Capitola Mill is thrilled to commemorate their first year in business. Their celebration will align with downtown Marshalls “Jingle Mingle” event. They are excited to welcome Santa and his helper to extend greetings to our guests. Additionally, they will host a holiday raffle featuring gifts from local businesses, refreshments and appetizers will be provided by the spa.
*Parking: From downtown Marshall at the Madison County Courthouse, cross over the French Broad River, and make an immediate left turn off the bridge into the Capitola Mill parking lot. Handicapped parking is available next to the front entrance ramp. The Spa is located inside the Capitola Mill Building, Studio 2.
Venture Asheville grows Asheville’s startup community and connects high-growth entrepreneurs to talent, mentors and investors through unique programming and events. The Venture 15 and Venture Asheville Honors is our annual end-of-year party where we announce and rank the 15 fastest growing startups in the area and award Entrepreneur, Mentor, Investor, ESO of the Year, The Shining Rock Award and the Venture Asheville Vanguard Award and Best Startup to Work For.
Let the dance parties, networking, good food and drinks begin! With Jeffrey Kaplan as your host, you can expect to hear from our sponsors, winners and finalists all wrapped up in one creative program, along with a few surprises. Buy your tickets now and join us for an exciting, fast-paced evening of awards. Doors open at 6:30 pm, and the show starts at 7:00 pm.
Venture 15 Awards recognize the 15 fastest growing Asheville-area startups. This event celebrates the area’s outstanding entrepreneurs, and it serves as an elite setting where they can share their talent and wisdom as well as offer inspiration to other fledgling companies to be part of this exclusive group.
We can’t do the Venture Asheville Honors without you. We need you to make the nominations for the people and organizations that make this ecosystem run.
- What entrepreneurs are making it rain in this wild year?
- What mentors have been there for you?
- What investors provided capital when you needed it most?
- What resource or ESO helped you get through this year?
- And who is an up-and-comer we need to know? (that’s the Shining Rock Award)
- Who’s the best start-up to work for?
Applications and nominations are open until November 21st: www.ventureasheville.com/venture15
This event is open to the public. Tickets are $40 per person, $190 for a reserved cocktail table (5 tickets included) or $300 for reserved seated table (8 tickets included). Table quantities are limited so don’t wait to reserve your space! (Ticket price includes entry to the event, one drink and light food.)
Doors open at 6:30 p.m., event kicks off at 7:00 p.m.
Give the gift of holiday joy in the form of a unique, beautiful, locally made ornament! Handcrafted ornaments made by local artists will be for sale in our lobby on our Christmas tree through the middle of December. Gift the gift of art this year and support local artists in the process!

TFAC invites all artists: painters, sculptors, writers, performers & more — to a casual weekly drop-in gathering on Saturday mornings at 9 AM to share your works in progress, alert others, and chat about art and what’s happening in your community.
The first weekly Coffee is Saturday, August 20 at 9 am.
No RSVP needed, just drop by!
Free parking available on Melrose Avenue, behind and alongside TFAC.
Come enjoy the Canopy Gallery and check out local growers and makers of all things plantie: from rare tropicals to native medicinals, handmade pots and trellises to botanical watercolor paintings, cut flower bouquets to herbal salves and teas….
Pop-up market features 6-10 local plant vendors on the 3rd Saturday of each month. This event is free to attend and vend.
Support local + small this holiday season at our 𝑴𝒆𝒓𝒓𝒚 𝑴𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒕!
We’re decking the halls as you shop housewares, vintage pieces, original art, handmade craft, fair trade imports, and more! Free and open to the public. Dogs are welcome! Vendors are setup inside and outside the showroom and runs rain, snow, or shine. Parking is available behind the showroom.
27 Buxton Ave
24 Buxton Ave
144 Coxe Ave
197 Hilliard Ave
Sunday, December 17, 2023, from 1-4 pm
This is a free market that will be held in The Canopy at Art Garden AVL, 191 Lyman St., #316, Asheville, NC, 28801
The two local non-profits, FIRSTwnc and Imprint Artists have come together to bring a unique holiday market filled locally hand crafted treasures by artists supported by the two organizations.
“Our mission at FIRSTwnc is to help all people, especially persons with disabilities more fully participate in the community. We work directly with persons with disabilities and their families to help them navigate complex systems and get the resources they need to thrive. With our specialized knowledge and dedicated perseverance we are able to move mountains and create solutions. We believe that individuals with disabilities can thrive within the community. Thus, we work hard to arm families and persons with disabilities with the required knowledge and support to make this a reality.”
“Imprint Artists serves artists and creative individuals through mentorship and programming that provides tools to develop the financial autonomy necessary to navigate the marketplace without having to compromise their integrity, principles or values. In this way, Imprint Artists elevates the human experience as well as quality of life through funding projects and programming that encourage cultural preservation and ritual as demonstrated through the arts.”

Great news for poets and poetry lovers: Dark City Poet’s Society is returning to the Black Mountain Library. DCPS is a completely free poetry group that is open to poets of all ages and experience levels. Join us at the Black Mountain Library from 6-7:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month for our (respectful) critique group. DCPS will meet at BAD Craft from 6-7 p.m. on the third Tuesday for our monthly open mic Poetry Night. Find out more on Instagram @darkcitypoetssociety or contact the Black Mountain Library.
To the New Members of 2023: welcome and thank you – your investment in the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce allows us to continue to serve the businesses of Henderson County and our surrounding area by advocating for business through public policy, and providing opportunities for members of our business community to network, learn, and succeed.We offer various programs and opportunities throughout the year to help our members get engaged in the business community and now is the time to learn more about them! This is a fun, laid-back chance to meet Chamber Staff, Board of Directors Members, and Ambassadors, learn about the different offerings at the Chamber and what may best fit your business goals, and network with fellow new members
Order of Event
4:30 – 5:30 – Arrival, Network and Mingle
5:00 – 5:20 Presentation
5:20 – 5:30 Meet and Greet Board and Staff of the Chamber
5:30 – 6:00 Network and Mingle, Depart
