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.

Friday, May 12, 2023
Movies in the Park: DC League of Super-Pets
May 12 @ 8:00 pm
Pack Square Park

A summer tradition returns to Pack Square Park, the popular FREE Movies in the Park series produced by Asheville Parks & Recreation.

.: MOVIE SCHEDULE :.
📽️ May 12 – DC League of Super-Pets, begins around 8:10pm
📽️ June 9 – Cruella, begins around 8:30pm
📽️ July 14 – Top Gun: Maverick, begins around 8:30 pm
📽️ August 11 – Little Giants, begins around 8:10pm
👉 Asheville Parks & Recreation Rec n Roll Fun Zone activities start an hour before showtime with games, giveaways, and other activities for kids and teens.

.: MAKE A PLAN :.
📍 All movies are free and begin at dusk in Pack Square Park on 80 Court Plaza in downtown Asheville. Approximate showtimes are listed, but plan to arrive at least 15 minutes prior. Bring blankets and folding chairs for comfort.
📍 Asheville Parks & Recreation Rec n Roll Fun Zone activities start an hour before showtime.
📍 Bring money for food and treats from local vendors. Smokee’s Pizza is scheduled for opening night on May 12 while Tin Can Pizzeria is scheduled for the remaining dates. Kona Ice of Asheville and Kernel Mike’s World Famous Kettle Corn will be available at all dates.
📍 Free parking is available in marked spaces on city streets and in city-owned lots on Marjorie Street after 6pm.
📍 Pets, smoking, and alcohol are prohibited.
📍 Have fun! Dress up as your favorite characters, invite friends, and celebrate cool summer nights.

Movies in the Park allows people to enjoy blockbusters on the big screen with a spectacular backdrop – Asheville City Hall’s art decor exterior flanked by the rising mountains and a night sky full of stars. As Asheville’s town square, Pack Square Park’s central location allows community members in nearby neighborhoods including East End, Montford, South French Broad, and Southside to easily walk, bike, or ride to the show. Free parking in downtown after 6pm makes it a low-cost night out for those traveling from further away.

Monday, May 15, 2023
Beyond Walls
May 15 @ 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
YWCA of Asheville

Beyond Walls – 5 films for prison industrial complex abolition

Join the YWCA community on May 15 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm in the multi-purpose room for a free screening of Beyond Walls, a series of five short documentary films about prison industrial complex abolition. The screening will be followed by a discussion period. This event wraps up the Advancing Racial Justice Challenge.

Friday, May 19, 2023
Outdoor movie ‘Big Hero 6’
May 19 @ 7:30 pm
Grovemont Square

(adjacent to Swannanoa Library). Movie at dark. Arrive about 7:30 p.m. to secure your spot and enjoy pre-movie festivities. Popcorn and light refreshments available for purchase. Rated PG. Free.

Swannanoa Library Cinema on the Square Presents: “Big Hero Six”
May 19 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Swannanoa Library

Come and enjoy an evening under the stars while you watch one of the highest earning and rated animated films in 2014. “Big Hero Six” is an adventure story for the whole family. Refreshments will be available for sale. Please bring a blanket or camp chair if you like.

Saturday, May 27, 2023
Asheville Beer Week: Black is Beautiful Documentary Screening
May 27 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company

When social unrest gripped the United States in the summer of 2020, co-owner and head-brewer of Weathered Souls Brewing Company, Marcus Baskerville, decided to shed light on the related problems of racial inequality and police brutality.
The Black is Beautiful collaborative brewing project was born with the mission to raise money, provide education, and drive change to a system that has fractured families and perpetuated injustice. More than 1,200 breweries in all 50 states and 22 countries participated in the collaborative brewing project, donating proceeds from their versions of the Black is Beautiful collaboration beer to local foundations that support police brutality reform and organizations that support equality and inclusion.
Join us for a screening of the Black is Beautiful Documentary Film, produced by Flagship Video Works. The short film captures the inception and motivation behind the initiative and the impact and success that followed. A Q&A discussion featuring the director and Baskerville will immediately follow the screening.

Q&A to follow with:
Marcus Baskerville – Co-owner, Weathered Souls Brewing
Marco Ortega – Producer and Director
There will also be a raffle with the prize – a signed poster. 100% of raffle donations will go back to the Black is Beautiful Initiative

Saturday, June 3, 2023
Nature at Night Hike
Jun 3 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park
Cost: Includes Park admission: $25 Adult, $8 Adult Annual Passholder, $15 Youth, $6 Youth Annual Passholder. Advance Registration Required.

Watch as the Park comes alive under the shadow of darkness on this guided evening excursion with a Park naturalist. Do you know which animals come out along the Hickory Nut Falls trail when the sun goes down? Get ready to learn more about the Park’s rarely-seen residents. NOTE: The Hickory Nut Falls Trail is considered a moderate trail. Attendees must be able to hike the trail 3/4 of a mile each direction.

Wednesday, June 7, 2023
Music Movie Mondays Series: MONTEREY POP
Jun 7 @ 7:00 pm
Grail Moviehouse

Grail Moviehouse in Asheville’s River Arts District continues its popular event series: Music Movie Mondays. Showcasing the best in new, classic and cult films about music, these special screenings feature an introduction by music journalist Bill Kopp (that’s me), followed by a screening of the film and then a moderated discussion about what we’ve just seen and heard.

The latest in the series is MONTEREY POP, the documentary film by D.A. Pennebaker showcasing the first great pop music festival. The film features legendary perfomrances by Otis Redding, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane, The Byrds, The Grateful Dead and more than two dozen other acts. A rousing success, the festival created a template for the festival movement.Details are in the attached press release; more info at http://musoscribe.com/movies

 

Friday, June 9, 2023
Movies in the Park: Cruella
Jun 9 @ 8:30 pm
Pack Square Park

.: MOVIE SCHEDULE :.
📽️
📽️
📽️ July 14 – Top Gun: Maverick, begins around 8:30 pm
📽️ August 11 – Little Giants, begins around 8:10pm
👉 Asheville Parks & Recreation Rec n Roll Fun Zone activities start an hour before showtime with games, giveaways, and other activities for kids and teens.

.: MAKE A PLAN :.
📍 All movies are free and begin at dusk in Pack Square Park on 80 Court Plaza in downtown Asheville. Approximate showtimes are listed, but plan to arrive at least 15 minutes prior. Bring blankets and folding chairs for comfort.
📍 Asheville Parks & Recreation Rec n Roll Fun Zone activities start an hour before showtime.
📍 Bring money for food and treats from local vendors. Smokee’s Pizza is scheduled for opening night on May 12 while Tin Can Pizzeria is scheduled for the remaining dates. Kona Ice of Asheville and Kernel Mike’s World Famous Kettle Corn will be available at all dates.
📍 Free parking is available in marked spaces on city streets and in city-owned lots on Marjorie Street after 6pm.
📍 Pets, smoking, and alcohol are prohibited.
📍 Have fun! Dress up as your favorite characters, invite friends, and celebrate cool summer nights.

Movies in the Park allows people to enjoy blockbusters on the big screen with a spectacular backdrop – Asheville City Hall’s art decor exterior flanked by the rising mountains and a night sky full of stars. As Asheville’s town square, Pack Square Park’s central location allows community members in nearby neighborhoods including East End, Montford, South French Broad, and Southside to easily walk, bike, or ride to the show. Free parking in downtown after 6pm makes it a low-cost night out for those traveling from further away.

Monday, June 12, 2023
Juneteenth Festival: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Jun 12 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Ferguson Auditorium, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
juenteenth graphic

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County, in partnership with the City of Asheville, has planned the 2023 Juneteenth Celebration with the intended outcomes of a diverse celebration that fosters broad participation, fosters community awareness and appreciation, and celebrates the liberation of enslaved people. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19 th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved were now free. This was two-and-a-half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Thus, starting the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. The City of Asheville designated Juneteenth as a City holiday in 2021, and on June 8, Mayor Esther Manheimer issued a proclamation acknowledging Juneteenth as a day of celebration for Black Americans.

The films listed below will also be shown each evening, June 12 – 16, at Ferguson Auditorium, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

  • Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Monday, June 12
  • Ali, Tuesday, June 13
  • The Woman King, Wednesday, June 14
  • Ray, Thursday, June 15
  • Madea’s Family Reunion, Friday, June 16
Music Movie Mondays Series: Monterey Pop Festival
Jun 12 @ 7:00 pm
Grail Moviehouse

The Woodstock Music and Art Fair of August 1969 is often recalled as the beginning of the festival era, the spark that lit the fire. There’s some truth to that, but the real turning point – at which wider pop culture coincided with the concept of a massive music festival – all started in June 1967 at the Monterey Pop Festival.

That three-day event showcased both major stars and up-and-comers; the lineup included now-legendary performances by Otis Redding, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane, The Byrds, The Grateful Dead and more than two dozen other acts. A rousing success, the festival created a template for the festival movement. And documentary filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker was there with a crew, capturing the concert for history. His acclaimed film, Monterey Pop premiered in theaters in December 1968.

Nearly 55 years after its original release, the excitement, appeal and influence of the concert festival and its documentary film continue to endure. Grail Moviehouse proudly presents a special one-night screening of the movie on Monday, June 12. Hosted by author, speaker and music journalist Bill Kopp, the evening will feature a screening of the film followed by an interactive discussion. is the latest in Grail Moviehouse’s ongoing series, Music Movie Mondays.

Tuesday, June 13, 2023
Juneteenth Festival: Ali
Jun 13 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Ferguson Auditorium, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
juenteenth graphic

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County, in partnership with the City of Asheville, has planned the 2023 Juneteenth Celebration with the intended outcomes of a diverse celebration that fosters broad participation, fosters community awareness and appreciation, and celebrates the liberation of enslaved people. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19 th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved were now free. This was two-and-a-half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Thus, starting the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. The City of Asheville designated Juneteenth as a City holiday in 2021, and on June 8, Mayor Esther Manheimer issued a proclamation acknowledging Juneteenth as a day of celebration for Black Americans.

The films listed below will also be shown each evening, June 12 – 16, at Ferguson Auditorium, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

 

  • Ali, Tuesday, June 13
  • The Woman King, Wednesday, June 14
  • Ray, Thursday, June 15
  • Madea’s Family Reunion, Friday, June 16
Wednesday, June 14, 2023
Juneteenth Story Walk
Jun 14 all-day
Chimney Rock State Park

NC State Parks is celebrating Juneteenth. Throughout the week, explore our Juneteenth Story Walk on the Great Woodland Adventure trail to learn more about this national holiday and its history.

Juneteenth Festival: The Woman King
Jun 14 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Ferguson Auditorium, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
juenteenth graphic

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County, in partnership with the City of Asheville, has planned the 2023 Juneteenth Celebration with the intended outcomes of a diverse celebration that fosters broad participation, fosters community awareness and appreciation, and celebrates the liberation of enslaved people. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19 th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved were now free. This was two-and-a-half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Thus, starting the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. The City of Asheville designated Juneteenth as a City holiday in 2021, and on June 8, Mayor Esther Manheimer issued a proclamation acknowledging Juneteenth as a day of celebration for Black Americans.

The films listed below will also be shown each evening, June 12 – 16, at Ferguson Auditorium, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

 

  • The Woman King, Wednesday, June 14
  • Ray, Thursday, June 15
  • Madea’s Family Reunion, Friday, June 16
Thursday, June 15, 2023
Juneteenth Story Walk
Jun 15 all-day
Chimney Rock State Park

NC State Parks is celebrating Juneteenth. Throughout the week, explore our Juneteenth Story Walk on the Great Woodland Adventure trail to learn more about this national holiday and its history.

Juneteenth Festival: Ray
Jun 15 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Ferguson Auditorium, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
juenteenth graphic

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County, in partnership with the City of Asheville, has planned the 2023 Juneteenth Celebration with the intended outcomes of a diverse celebration that fosters broad participation, fosters community awareness and appreciation, and celebrates the liberation of enslaved people. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19 th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved were now free. This was two-and-a-half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Thus, starting the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. The City of Asheville designated Juneteenth as a City holiday in 2021, and on June 8, Mayor Esther Manheimer issued a proclamation acknowledging Juneteenth as a day of celebration for Black Americans.

The films listed below will also be shown each evening, June 12 – 16, at Ferguson Auditorium, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

  • Ray, Thursday, June 15
  • Madea’s Family Reunion, Friday, June 16
Bicycle Film Festival – Asheville
Jun 15 @ 8:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Rabbit Rabbit

Get ready to immerse yourself in the world of cycling with a curated selection of short films that showcase the beauty, diversity, and excitement of this sport. From documentaries to animations, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Don’t miss out on this unforgettable event that celebrates everything we love about cycling. Mark your calendars and get ready to ride with us at the Bicycle Film Festival – Asheville, NC!

Friday, June 16, 2023
Juneteenth Story Walk
Jun 16 all-day
Chimney Rock State Park

NC State Parks is celebrating Juneteenth. Throughout the week, explore our Juneteenth Story Walk on the Great Woodland Adventure trail to learn more about this national holiday and its history.

Juneteenth Festival: Madea’s Family Reunion
Jun 16 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Ferguson Auditorium, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
juenteenth graphic

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County, in partnership with the City of Asheville, has planned the 2023 Juneteenth Celebration with the intended outcomes of a diverse celebration that fosters broad participation, fosters community awareness and appreciation, and celebrates the liberation of enslaved people. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19 th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved were now free. This was two-and-a-half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Thus, starting the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. The City of Asheville designated Juneteenth as a City holiday in 2021, and on June 8, Mayor Esther Manheimer issued a proclamation acknowledging Juneteenth as a day of celebration for Black Americans.

The 2023 Juneteenth Celebrations include five “Lunch and Learn” Sessions, five African Americans in Films Entertainment Events, and a two day Juneteenth Festival in Pack Square Park. The full list of Juneteenth celebratory events is listed on the Association’s website.

Saturday, June 17, 2023
Juneteenth Story Walk
Jun 17 all-day
Chimney Rock State Park

NC State Parks is celebrating Juneteenth. Throughout the week, explore our Juneteenth Story Walk on the Great Woodland Adventure trail to learn more about this national holiday and its history.

Sunday, June 18, 2023
Juneteenth Story Walk
Jun 18 all-day
Chimney Rock State Park

NC State Parks is celebrating Juneteenth. Throughout the week, explore our Juneteenth Story Walk on the Great Woodland Adventure trail to learn more about this national holiday and its history.

Monday, June 19, 2023
Juneteenth Story Walk
Jun 19 all-day
Chimney Rock State Park

NC State Parks is celebrating Juneteenth. Throughout the week, explore our Juneteenth Story Walk on the Great Woodland Adventure trail to learn more about this national holiday and its history.

Outdoor Movie Nights – Avengers: End Game
Jun 19 @ 8:00 pm
Silverado's

Silverado’s, located between Swannanoa and Black Mountain at 2898 U.S. 70, is hosting Family Movie Night under the stars every Monday night through August 21. Tickets are $5 per person, and are only available for purchase on the day of the movie. All movie nights are dependent on weather.

Bring your friends and family, and enjoy a blockbuster outdoor movie on a 24 foot screen. Concessions will be available for purchase. For more info, check the Events tab on the Silverado’s Facebook page.

Tuesday, June 20, 2023
Juneteenth Story Walk
Jun 20 all-day
Chimney Rock State Park

NC State Parks is celebrating Juneteenth. Throughout the week, explore our Juneteenth Story Walk on the Great Woodland Adventure trail to learn more about this national holiday and its history.

Wednesday, June 21, 2023
Juneteenth Story Walk
Jun 21 all-day
Chimney Rock State Park

NC State Parks is celebrating Juneteenth. Throughout the week, explore our Juneteenth Story Walk on the Great Woodland Adventure trail to learn more about this national holiday and its history.

Saturday, June 24, 2023
Naturalist Niche: Summer Birding
Jun 24 @ 7:30 am – 9:30 am
Chimney Rock State Park
 Advance Registration Required.

There’s nothing like an early summer hike before the Park gates open. Join a local birding expert and spot some of our resident species as they enjoy the morning quiet. This hike is perfect whether you’re a lifelong birder or just getting started with America’s fastest-growing hobby.

documentary film: WISDOM OF NATURE THRU NATIVE EYES
Jun 24 @ 7:30 pm
North River Farms

Saturday, June 24 – 7:30 PM, North River Farms, 3333 N Mills River Rd, Mills River, NC 28759.  Tickets are per carload.  All cars are $45 each. Larger vehicles must park in the rear. Sound is available via outside speakers or through your car radio.  Whether you watch from your car or sit outside under the stars, a spectacular way to watch a film! Bring your camp chairs and either sit by your car or upfront to enjoy the music and film! (weather date:  June 30.)

Sunday, June 25, 2023
Mountaintop Yoga Hike
Jun 25 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Asheville Wellness Tours

Take time away in nature to breathe deep, relax, and immerse yourself in the beauty of our lovely Blue Ridge Mountains!

Enjoy a 2-mile round trip hike along an easy/moderate trail to a mountaintop with stunning views. Once there, we’ll share an hour of yoga for all levels at the summit as we take in the unbeatable, panoramic views and soak up the wide open space.

We’ll bring the mats. You bring your spirit of adventure!

Monday, June 26, 2023
Outdoor Movie Nights – Remember The Titans
Jun 26 @ 8:00 pm
Silverado's

Silverado’s, located between Swannanoa and Black Mountain at 2898 U.S. 70, is hosting Family Movie Night under the stars every Monday night through August 21. Tickets are $5 per person, and are only available for purchase on the day of the movie. All movie nights are dependent on weather.

Bring your friends and family, and enjoy a blockbuster outdoor movie on a 24 foot screen. Concessions will be available for purchase. For more info, check the Events tab on the Silverado’s Facebook page.

Tuesday, June 27, 2023
Screams in the Stacks! Horror Film Series: The Menu (R)
Jun 27 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Pack Memorial Library

Our Screams on the Stacks! horror film series continues with one of 2022’s biggest hits: The Menu! Rated R. Come to the library and watch this wickedly funny black comedy psychological horror film for free. If you missed this in cinemas, take the opportunity to see it now!

From IMDB: “A young couple travels to a remote island to eat at an exclusive restaurant where the chef has prepared a lavish menu, with some shocking surprises.”

Light refreshments will be provided. No registration is required.

Wednesday, June 28, 2023
‘Shadow of a Wheel: Can One Bike Ride Change Your Life?’ documentary
Jun 28 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Sierra Nevada Brewing

In the summer of 1982, 31 teenagers attempted a daunting coast-to-coast 3,600 mile bicycle journey across the United States to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis. They experienced a coming of age summer filled with intense challenges, humor, mishaps, personal discovery and tragedy. This poignant and powerful story, encapsulates the era, the adventure and life itself.

The summer of 1982 was transformational for Director Paul Bonesteel. It inspired him toward a path of creating films where service and passion are central to the story.

Paul has directed more than a dozen documentary films including an award winning film for PBS’ American Masters on Carl Sandburg and the 2021 film Muni telling the story of Black golfers and desegregation on a public course. From Alaska to the Soviet Union to Africa and to the mountains of North Carolina where he grew up, Paul’s storytelling is both local and global, but always filled with the enthusiasm and commitment of 1982’s bicycling adventure.

 

Proceeds from ticket sales will go to Pisgah Area SORBA and The Bicycle Thrift Shop.

Pisgah Area SORBA – A local nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving mountain biking opportunities by maintaining and improving the trail systems in and around the Pisgah Ranger District. This mission is completed through education, advocacy, and environmental stewardship on behalf of the mountain biking community.”

The Bicycle Thrift Shop – Our Mission: We provide access to cycling for youth families and individuals who would not otherwise have that opportunity! We do this by refurbishing donated bikes, parts and gear and selling to the general public at costs lower than (almost) anywhere else.