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.
Featuring handmade gifts, accessories, clothing and art, the Holiday Market is the perfect place to complete your holiday shopping list. There will be more than a dozen vendors inside and outside of Local Cloth! And you can meet an alpaca! Bring your friends and family!
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
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
Live art creation, demos, and more. Peer into the process of artists in their studios, working in ceramic, fiber, paint, and more. Featuring Art Garden studio artists, and occasional special guests.
Studios:
#314: Trish Salmon, hand-built ceramic sculpture
#324: Cynthia Llanes, landscape expressionism
#320 Canopy Suite:
320a: Emily Alley and Leviticus Moore, fiber sculpture and painting.
320b: Skwerl, painting and drawing
320c: UCB+Youth Arts Empowered, Cleaster Cotton and Tarah Singh, mixed media
320d: Jack Henry, painting and wheel-thrown ceramics
320e: Dillon Endico, oil painting, woodwork, murals
320f: Annie Kyla Bennett, Regenerative Nouveau. oil and mixed media
320g: Sierra the Moth Queen, apothecary and plant arts
320h: Alex Stilber, painting and mixed media
Outdoor German-style Christkindlmarkt.
Artisans & Crafters. Food. Drink. Music. Santa Claus. Children’s crafts. Make your own s’mores. Outdoor games. Fun For All Ages.
Featuring: Haus Heidelberg Food Truck, Guidon Brewing Co., 30 vendors, & more
Saturday, December 9th between 1-6, we’re unleashing a blast from the past with a downright delightful Vintage Popup!
Saddle up for a journey through time as you peruse the delightful array of clothes and curiosities curated by Soft Cowboy Trading Co and Tangelo Vintage. From timeless duds that’ll have you looking dapper at the local watering hole to trinkets with tales as vast as the prairie.
So, mosey on down, take a sip, and indulge in a shopping spree that’ll make you Yeehaw
Honey & the Hive will present their Winter Market, taking place at 23 Merrimon Avenue on Saturday, December 9, 2023, from 3 – 7 p.m., featuring small-scale local crafters, artisans, and artists.
The team at Honey & the Hive is proud to bring the Winter Market back for the fifth year. The 2023 Winter Market will be a one-day event featuring 15+ local vendors and artists with everything you need for gift shopping, including fermented foods, culinary goods, botanical art, foraging gear, herbal crafts, goat milk soaps, self-care products, and honey, of course! The market will be held at our storefront with vendors both indoors and outdoors, rain or shine.
The 5th Annual Market is free to attend. Customers who purchase from our vendors will be automatically entered into a chance to win a gift basket. Attendees are welcome to sample our infused honey and honey varietals from beekeepers around Western North Carolina.
“We live in an amazing place with many talented artisans and we believe strongly in supporting local businesses and producers. This market has grown and changed over the years to accommodate the needs of our community, and we look forward to a wonderful market day for our fifth year.” says staff member Amber Shehan.
—–
Honey & the Hive is a beekeeping supply, honey, and gift shop in Weaverville, North Carolina. We carry beekeeping supplies, offer classes on beekeeping, sell local honey, and make products from the hive, like propolis tincture, infused honey, and beeswax candles. More than just a store, we are a hive of like-minded people who love bees and pollinators and want to educate our community about how to help care for this valuable part of our ecosystem.
Vendors include: Fermenti, Sister of Mother Earth, Wise Earth Way, Larkspur Art, Toe River Threadworks, Of Sage and Stone, LeighAlan Skincare and Candle Co., Honey Badger Bakes, Tiny Sun Creations, GR Woodworking, Bold and Brash Bakery, Felt Good, Habibi Village, SAVOR Shrub Bitters, Deep Time, Appalachian Sacred Smoke
Come see over 22 vendors with everything from affordable treasures to the finest gems, minerals, and jewelry in the Southeast! The Mountain Area Gem & Mineral Association (MAGMA) will host our Christmas & Holiday gem show from December 8-10.
Our shows are open to the public, with free admission and food and drink available daily. The show is only a 10-minute drive from Asheville in Swannanoa, NC.
Christmas & Holiday Show hours:
Friday, December 8: 9AM- 6PM
Saturday, December 9: 9AM- 6PM
Sunday, December 10: 10AM- 5PM
This gem show is a fun family event where you can shop for minerals, crystals, and handcrafted jewelry from locally and nationally known vendors. Our vendors enjoy sharing their expert knowledge and you’re sure to learn new things and find some great gifts.
Entering the show is always free and once there, you’ll find prices range from affordable to very expensive. There’s truly a wide variety of treasures to see, from great deals to museum quality specimens! We have something for everyone, from seasoned rockhounds to new collectors and jewelry lovers.
The MAGMA Land of Sky Gem Show happens 4 times a year, with shows in March, June, September, and December, so this is an event that you can keep coming back to!
Ever wondered what it’s like to drive a racecar? Buncombe County Public Libraries has added The Track at Asheville as a new ZOOM partner. Each ZOOM pass will give up to four drivers 30 minutes of hot laps in a standard rig (race simulator) at The Track. Utilizing state-of-the-art hardware and software, you can choose your car, track, and conditions to experience the thrill of driving racecars around simulated tracks all over the world. No experience is necessary.
ZOOM passes at The Track require two things:
- You need to book a ZOOM pass on the Library’s website.
- You will also need to visit The Track’s website and use the reservation code provided to reserve your seat.
You are responsible for booking your timed reservation and you will need to bring your ZOOM pass to The Track to use your reservation. You can only drive if you have a ZOOM pass and a reservation. ZOOM passes for The Track are for ages 8 and up.
If you have any questions or need a library card to start ZOOMing, just let us know.
NOW until January 1, 2024- NOT REAL ART Grant for Artists is a $12,000 bi-annual award
designed to empower the practice of 6 contemporary artists, each of whom receive $2,000 plus
thousands of dollars in FREE marketing exposure worldwide. ArtsvilleUSA’s West Coast affiliate
Not Real Art encourages WNC visual artists, 2-D and 3-D, to apply by January 1, 2024. Learn more
and apply at https://notrealart.com/grant/
About Our Grant
Founded in 2019 and powered by Arterial, the NOT REAL ART Grant for Artists is a $12,000 annual award designed to empower the practice of 6 contemporary artists, each of whom receive $2,000. But, NOT REAL ART Grant winners get more than money. Each recipient gets to share their story and promote with exclusive, in-depth featured interviews on the NOT REAL ART podcast and blog. And, whether or not you receive our grant, every applicant automatically qualifies to be included in future blog stories, newsletters and our artist marketing database!
Applications are open, and the deadline for submission is December 15, 2023. The WNC Center for Craft Artist in Residency program is trailblazing a new source of support for Western North Carolina (WNC) artists.
Grant Overview:
- Selected artists will receive a $10,000 honorarium, a testament to supporting the cultural sector in WNC.
- In addition, a $2,000 materials stipend will be provided to help artists realize their creative visions.
For a period of 8 weeks, artists will have exclusive access to dedicated studio space at the Center for Craft, conveniently located in the vibrant heart of downtown Asheville, NC.
The two selected artists will work alongside two Virginia A. Groot Material Exploration Residents in a cohort of four artists. This opportunity allows for each resident to have their own studio space and the time to work independently and to also build relationships with the other residents and participate in engagement with the Western North Carolina region through studio visits with curators, museums, and collectors and explore other regional craft schools.
This unique opportunity will empower artists to flourish in an environment designed to nurture their craft. Don’t miss the chance to be part of this groundbreaking initiative that’s redefining support for craft in the region.
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
Growing Minds Farm to School Funding Opportunities
We want to help fund your farm to school project in Western North Carolina! Mini-grants are available for schools to engage children in the following farm to school experiences:
- Local food taste tests & cooking demonstrations
- Incorporating local food into meals or snacks
- Farm field trips or farmer visits to preschools and classrooms
- Growing edible gardens
Funding can be used to start new projects, or to expand upon existing activities.
Pre-k through 12 schools and homeschool groups are eligible to apply. Schools must be located throughout our 23 westernmost counties of North Carolina.
- Smoky Mountains, NC: Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain
- Southern Mountains, NC: Henderson, Polk, Transylvania
- Central Mountains, NC: Buncombe, Madison, Yancey
- Foothills, NC: Burke, Caldwell, McDowell, Rutherford
- High Country, NC: Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes
Growing Minds 2023-24 Farm to School / Preschool Funding
ASAP’s Growing Minds mini-grants help early childhood education (ECE) centers and K-12 schools provide children positive experiences with healthy local foods through these components of farm to school: school gardens, farm field trips and farmer classroom visits, and local foods served in meals, snacks, and/or taste tests.
Mini-grant applications are available three times during the 2023-2024 school year. You may apply one time during this cycle. The amount awarded will be based on availability of funding, number of applicants, and the scope of your project. Mini-grants must be used within a year after receiving the funding.
Applications are due by: January 31, 2024 or March 29, 2024. Funding will be awarded by the 15th of the following month.
If you have questions about your eligibility to apply for funding, please email us at [email protected] before submitting your application. We are unable to provide mini-grants to schools located outside of our 23-county service area or to folks who have received a grant from us within the past year.
NOW until January 1, 2024- NOT REAL ART Grant for Artists is a $12,000 bi-annual award
designed to empower the practice of 6 contemporary artists, each of whom receive $2,000 plus
thousands of dollars in FREE marketing exposure worldwide. ArtsvilleUSA’s West Coast affiliate
Not Real Art encourages WNC visual artists, 2-D and 3-D, to apply by January 1, 2024. Learn more
and apply at https://notrealart.com/grant/
About Our Grant
Founded in 2019 and powered by Arterial, the NOT REAL ART Grant for Artists is a $12,000 annual award designed to empower the practice of 6 contemporary artists, each of whom receive $2,000. But, NOT REAL ART Grant winners get more than money. Each recipient gets to share their story and promote with exclusive, in-depth featured interviews on the NOT REAL ART podcast and blog. And, whether or not you receive our grant, every applicant automatically qualifies to be included in future blog stories, newsletters and our artist marketing database!
Applications are open, and the deadline for submission is December 15, 2023. The WNC Center for Craft Artist in Residency program is trailblazing a new source of support for Western North Carolina (WNC) artists.
Grant Overview:
- Selected artists will receive a $10,000 honorarium, a testament to supporting the cultural sector in WNC.
- In addition, a $2,000 materials stipend will be provided to help artists realize their creative visions.
For a period of 8 weeks, artists will have exclusive access to dedicated studio space at the Center for Craft, conveniently located in the vibrant heart of downtown Asheville, NC.
The two selected artists will work alongside two Virginia A. Groot Material Exploration Residents in a cohort of four artists. This opportunity allows for each resident to have their own studio space and the time to work independently and to also build relationships with the other residents and participate in engagement with the Western North Carolina region through studio visits with curators, museums, and collectors and explore other regional craft schools.
This unique opportunity will empower artists to flourish in an environment designed to nurture their craft. Don’t miss the chance to be part of this groundbreaking initiative that’s redefining support for craft in the region.
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!
Growing Minds Farm to School Funding Opportunities
We want to help fund your farm to school project in Western North Carolina! Mini-grants are available for schools to engage children in the following farm to school experiences:
- Local food taste tests & cooking demonstrations
- Incorporating local food into meals or snacks
- Farm field trips or farmer visits to preschools and classrooms
- Growing edible gardens
Funding can be used to start new projects, or to expand upon existing activities.
Pre-k through 12 schools and homeschool groups are eligible to apply. Schools must be located throughout our 23 westernmost counties of North Carolina.
- Smoky Mountains, NC: Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain
- Southern Mountains, NC: Henderson, Polk, Transylvania
- Central Mountains, NC: Buncombe, Madison, Yancey
- Foothills, NC: Burke, Caldwell, McDowell, Rutherford
- High Country, NC: Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes
Growing Minds 2023-24 Farm to School / Preschool Funding
ASAP’s Growing Minds mini-grants help early childhood education (ECE) centers and K-12 schools provide children positive experiences with healthy local foods through these components of farm to school: school gardens, farm field trips and farmer classroom visits, and local foods served in meals, snacks, and/or taste tests.
Mini-grant applications are available three times during the 2023-2024 school year. You may apply one time during this cycle. The amount awarded will be based on availability of funding, number of applicants, and the scope of your project. Mini-grants must be used within a year after receiving the funding.
Applications are due by: January 31, 2024 or March 29, 2024. Funding will be awarded by the 15th of the following month.
If you have questions about your eligibility to apply for funding, please email us at [email protected] before submitting your application. We are unable to provide mini-grants to schools located outside of our 23-county service area or to folks who have received a grant from us within the past year.
NOW until January 1, 2024- NOT REAL ART Grant for Artists is a $12,000 bi-annual award
designed to empower the practice of 6 contemporary artists, each of whom receive $2,000 plus
thousands of dollars in FREE marketing exposure worldwide. ArtsvilleUSA’s West Coast affiliate
Not Real Art encourages WNC visual artists, 2-D and 3-D, to apply by January 1, 2024. Learn more
and apply at https://notrealart.com/grant/
About Our Grant
Founded in 2019 and powered by Arterial, the NOT REAL ART Grant for Artists is a $12,000 annual award designed to empower the practice of 6 contemporary artists, each of whom receive $2,000. But, NOT REAL ART Grant winners get more than money. Each recipient gets to share their story and promote with exclusive, in-depth featured interviews on the NOT REAL ART podcast and blog. And, whether or not you receive our grant, every applicant automatically qualifies to be included in future blog stories, newsletters and our artist marketing database!
Applications are open, and the deadline for submission is December 15, 2023. The WNC Center for Craft Artist in Residency program is trailblazing a new source of support for Western North Carolina (WNC) artists.
Grant Overview:
- Selected artists will receive a $10,000 honorarium, a testament to supporting the cultural sector in WNC.
- In addition, a $2,000 materials stipend will be provided to help artists realize their creative visions.
For a period of 8 weeks, artists will have exclusive access to dedicated studio space at the Center for Craft, conveniently located in the vibrant heart of downtown Asheville, NC.
The two selected artists will work alongside two Virginia A. Groot Material Exploration Residents in a cohort of four artists. This opportunity allows for each resident to have their own studio space and the time to work independently and to also build relationships with the other residents and participate in engagement with the Western North Carolina region through studio visits with curators, museums, and collectors and explore other regional craft schools.
This unique opportunity will empower artists to flourish in an environment designed to nurture their craft. Don’t miss the chance to be part of this groundbreaking initiative that’s redefining support for craft in the region.
Mini-grant applications are available three times during the 2023-2024 school year. You may apply one time during this cycle. Mini-grants must be used within a year after receiving the funding.
Applications due by:
- November 30, 2023
- January 30, 2024
- March 30, 2024
If you have questions about your eligibility to apply for funding, please email us at [email protected] before submitting your application. We are unable to provide mini-grants to schools located outside of our 23-county service area or to folks who have received a grant from us within the past year. Learn more and apply here!
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!
Growing Minds Farm to School Funding Opportunities
We want to help fund your farm to school project in Western North Carolina! Mini-grants are available for schools to engage children in the following farm to school experiences:
- Local food taste tests & cooking demonstrations
- Incorporating local food into meals or snacks
- Farm field trips or farmer visits to preschools and classrooms
- Growing edible gardens
Funding can be used to start new projects, or to expand upon existing activities.
Pre-k through 12 schools and homeschool groups are eligible to apply. Schools must be located throughout our 23 westernmost counties of North Carolina.
- Smoky Mountains, NC: Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain
- Southern Mountains, NC: Henderson, Polk, Transylvania
- Central Mountains, NC: Buncombe, Madison, Yancey
- Foothills, NC: Burke, Caldwell, McDowell, Rutherford
- High Country, NC: Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes
Growing Minds 2023-24 Farm to School / Preschool Funding
ASAP’s Growing Minds mini-grants help early childhood education (ECE) centers and K-12 schools provide children positive experiences with healthy local foods through these components of farm to school: school gardens, farm field trips and farmer classroom visits, and local foods served in meals, snacks, and/or taste tests.
Mini-grant applications are available three times during the 2023-2024 school year. You may apply one time during this cycle. The amount awarded will be based on availability of funding, number of applicants, and the scope of your project. Mini-grants must be used within a year after receiving the funding.
Applications are due by: January 31, 2024 or March 29, 2024. Funding will be awarded by the 15th of the following month.
If you have questions about your eligibility to apply for funding, please email us at [email protected] before submitting your application. We are unable to provide mini-grants to schools located outside of our 23-county service area or to folks who have received a grant from us within the past year.
NOW until January 1, 2024- NOT REAL ART Grant for Artists is a $12,000 bi-annual award
designed to empower the practice of 6 contemporary artists, each of whom receive $2,000 plus
thousands of dollars in FREE marketing exposure worldwide. ArtsvilleUSA’s West Coast affiliate
Not Real Art encourages WNC visual artists, 2-D and 3-D, to apply by January 1, 2024. Learn more
and apply at https://notrealart.com/grant/
About Our Grant
Founded in 2019 and powered by Arterial, the NOT REAL ART Grant for Artists is a $12,000 annual award designed to empower the practice of 6 contemporary artists, each of whom receive $2,000. But, NOT REAL ART Grant winners get more than money. Each recipient gets to share their story and promote with exclusive, in-depth featured interviews on the NOT REAL ART podcast and blog. And, whether or not you receive our grant, every applicant automatically qualifies to be included in future blog stories, newsletters and our artist marketing database!
Applications are open, and the deadline for submission is December 15, 2023. The WNC Center for Craft Artist in Residency program is trailblazing a new source of support for Western North Carolina (WNC) artists.
Grant Overview:
- Selected artists will receive a $10,000 honorarium, a testament to supporting the cultural sector in WNC.
- In addition, a $2,000 materials stipend will be provided to help artists realize their creative visions.
For a period of 8 weeks, artists will have exclusive access to dedicated studio space at the Center for Craft, conveniently located in the vibrant heart of downtown Asheville, NC.
The two selected artists will work alongside two Virginia A. Groot Material Exploration Residents in a cohort of four artists. This opportunity allows for each resident to have their own studio space and the time to work independently and to also build relationships with the other residents and participate in engagement with the Western North Carolina region through studio visits with curators, museums, and collectors and explore other regional craft schools.
This unique opportunity will empower artists to flourish in an environment designed to nurture their craft. Don’t miss the chance to be part of this groundbreaking initiative that’s redefining support for craft in the region.