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.
Uniting Communities: Inaugural She Slays 5K and One-Mile Fun Run Empowers Women
In a celebration of solidarity and empowerment, the inaugural She Slays 5K and One Mile Fun Run is set to kick off on April 20th, bringing together individuals from all walks of life to support the Women Helping Women program at UNC Health Pardee.
This exciting event aims to foster a sense of community while raising crucial funds for a program dedicated to uplifting and supporting women in need.
Participants of all ages and fitness levels are invited to lace up their running shoes and join in the festivities. Whether racing to beat personal records or strolling leisurely, everyone’s participation contributes to the greater cause of empowering women in our community.
Registration for this event is now open – Register for She Slays Now.
Looking for a new second-hand treasure? Love a good deal? Want to support a local non-profit? Come check out the Blue Ridge Roller Derby Yard Sale! Shop for a variety of items from clothes to furniture and more, or just come say hi to your favorite skaters. All proceeds from the sale benefit Blue Ridge Roller Derby.
Sale is in convenient West Asheville at 133 Dorchester Ave. from 8am to noon. See you there!
Join Painters Greenhouse for our 17th Annual Herb Fest!
On Saturday, April 20th come enjoy:
🌿A wide selection of specialty herbs
🌿Special savings on select plants
🌿Home-baked treats from Houston House and drinks & snacks from Leisa’s Kettle Corn on Saturday
🌿Artisan Craft Market with 12 local vendors selling a beautiful array of handmade goods (Including art, metal work, jewelry, leather goods, soaps, prints, and stickers!)
🌿And shopping from our wide selection of plants at the height of our season!
On Sunday, April 21st you will find:
🌿A wide selection of specialty herbs
🌿Special savings on select plants
🌿Enjoy chocolate from Brix Chocolate or take some home for your favorite wine pairing
🌿Argentinian comfort food on Sunday from El Bogedon
🌿And shopping from our wide selection of plants at the height of our season!
Vendors for the Saturday market will include:
- Earth Echoes: Hand crafted soaps and other natural body care products
- Houston House: Home baked goodies made with love!
- Kaysha Siemens: Beautiful botanical jewelry
- Cindi’s Sacred Garden: Organic Soaps, Salves, Teas, Skincare, outdoor natural goods and more
- Leisa’s Kettle Corn: Kettle Corn, Pork Skins, Boiled Peanuts, Soft Pretzels, Shaved Ice, Cinnamon Glazed Nuts, Freeze Dried Candy, Coffee & Sodas
- Beehive 95 Designs: Art prints, totes, stickers, and more featuring original nature illustrations
- Her Heartbeat Farm: Hand-crafted rawhide drums & leatherwork including custom designs. Purses, belts, growler & wine carriers, wallets, small bags for children, Buckskin Medicine Bags, and more.
- Pretty Petals: Beautiful alcohol ink tile creations with vibrant flowers. The ink is dispersed by a straw, air compressor, canned air, or hand blower to make a totally unique one-of-a-kind creation.
- Galaxita: Needle-felted landscapes inspired by sea and sky. These tiny landscapes were first watercolors and then recreated using upcycled wool garments as a canvas and loose wool roving as paint. And hardwood cutting boards & serving trays with salvaged walnut wood from Northern California.
- The Plaide Fox & Lightning Struck: Fractal Lichtenberg burning and copper jewelry and charms.
- Darcys Daydreams: One-of-a-kind metal wall art, lanterns, and jewelry
- Instar Innovations: Insect diarramas and greeting cards plus information on moths and butterflies as pollinators & a display case from an ecological collection
Our Spring 2024 Featured Herbs:
- Anise Hyssop
- Basil, African Blue
- Basil, Cinnamon
- Basil, Everleaf Genovese
- Basil, Holy
- Basil, Holy – Red and Green
- Basil, Lemon
- Basil, Pesto Perpetuo
- Basil, Purple Ruffles
- Basil, Red Ruben
- Basil, Sweet
- Basil, Sweet Large Leaf Italian
- Basil, Thai Siam Queen
- Basil, Lettuce Leaf Tuscany
- Borage
- Calendula
- Catnip
- Chamomile, German/Common
- Chives, Common
- Chives, Garlic
- Cilantro, Santo
- Curry Plant
- Cutting Celery
- Dill, Fernleaf
- Dill, Superdukat
- Echinacea angustifolia
- Eucalyptus, Baby Blue Bouquet
- Fennel, Bronze
- Feverfew
- French Tarragon
- Jewels of Opar
- Lavender, Phenomenal
- Lavender, Superblue
- Lavender, Vera (Lavandula angustifolia)
- Lemon Balm
- Lemon Grass, East Indian
- Lemon Verbena
- Lovage
- Marjoram, Sweet
- Mexican Mint Marigold
- Nasturtium, Dwf Jewel Mix
- Oregano, Mexican
- Parsley, Flat Leaf Italian
- Parsley, Moss Curled
- Patchouli
- Rosemary, Arp
- Rosemary, Hills Hardy
- Sage, Bergartten
- Sage, Garden Grey
- Sage, Pineapple
- Sage, Purple
- Sage, Tricolor
- Salad Burnet
- Salvia, Pineapple Sage
- Santolina, Grey Lavender Cotton
- Savory, Summer
- Savory, Winter
- Stevia
- Tarragon, French
- Thyme, English (Thymus vulgaris)
- Thyme, Hi-Ho Silver (Thymus argentea)
- Thyme, Magic Carpet (Thymus serpyllum)
- Thyme, Pink Chintz (Thymus serpyllum)
- Valerian, Common
Veggie Stars, Herbs, Flowers
ELIDA helping children succeed
Saturdays from 10:30 AM – 12 PM
Our pick-your-own tulips are a spring crop, and you are invited to pick as many of these beauties as you like. We charge $2 per stem. You will not need clippers. You can bring your own container or buy one from us.
Tulip season will start on Friday, March 22, 2024.
Hours:
Friday: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday: 1 to 4 pm.
2024 Gardening Series
Sign up for one or sign up for the whole series!
Classes will occur over four Saturdays, April 13 – May 4, from 2-4 pm. Each class is $25.
April 13 Class – Garden Planning and Prep
We will discuss what goes into garden planning through setting priorities, observation, mapping, budgeting, and succession planting. The class will include tips for choosing what to grow and how much to plant. Learn what is needed to start and care for plants, whether you are growing from seed indoors, purchasing transplants, and/or direct seeding; this will include discussions of useful tools and how to use them. This class will also include some hands-on transplanting. We will also review some great perennial edibles and how to care for them year-round.
April 20 Class – Soil Management and Care
In this class, we will dive into soil management. We will talk about the principles of healthy soil and how to amend your soil naturally and affordably, including discussions on composting, compost tea, and vermicompost. We will experience different strategies to build a raised bed, clear space for a new one, or revive an old garden bed. Get ready to get your hands in the dirt!
April 27 Class – From Lawn to Garden: Making the Most of Your Space
We will meet at Laura Ruby’s West Asheville garden for our third class together. Delve into the wide world of garden pro tips, tricks, tools, and secrets! This class will cover ideas and options for making your garden more manageable, fun, and productive through systems thinking. See established gardens and ways to adapt to your needs and growing space. You will also see how fruit production can be integrated with growing flowers and veggies.
May 4 Class – Summer Garden Management and Preservation
We will reconvene at Peace Gardens & Market for our final workshop, discussing succession planting, summer weed and pest management, and preserving the harvest (what to do with all those tomatoes and more!). We will share tips for keeping your body and energy up throughout the season to sustain you through the joy of harvests and eating your home-grown produce.
Other topics to be covered, time permitting:
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DIY structures, e.g., trellis, rainwater collection, bed building
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Early spring weeds, what’s edible, early tips for managing weeds
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Common garden pests & how to deter them
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Reading a soil test
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Cover cropping and NPK
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Common problems in the garden
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Maximizing your space
Get revved up for best weekend of the year! Join us for the Tail Chaser 250, where you will experience an epic “ride at your own pace” dual sport adventure ride on the best scenic paved, gravel, and back roads in the Southeast. This in-person event is an absolute must for anyone who loves being on the motorcycle, hanging out with good people, and enjoying the beauty of the open road.
We’ll be returning to Deerwoode Reserve, situated along the French Broad River, just outside Brevard, NC, where we’ll gather for meals together in their new event pavilion, enjoy the property’s beauty, and stay both Friday and Saturday nights. We’ll be able to spread out in wide open fields for camping and cabins available for rent, and enjoy the view beyond.
Join Eurosport Asheville and the entire adventure motorcycle community to help raise essential funds for Muddy Sneakers and the Veterans Healing Farm. It’s an honor to donate 100% of the proceeds of Tail Chaser 250 to these organizations doing important work in our communities. We really appreciate your support!
So mark your calendars, gather your friends, and get ready to immerse yourself in a weekend of adventure and being a part of the motorcycle community. The Tail Chaser 250 is waiting for you – suit up and prepare for the best weekend of the year!
Join Painters Greenhouse for our 17th Annual Herb Fest!
On Saturday, April 20th come enjoy:
🌿A wide selection of specialty herbs
🌿Special savings on select plants
🌿Home-baked treats from Houston House and drinks & snacks from Leisa’s Kettle Corn on Saturday
🌿Artisan Craft Market with 12 local vendors selling a beautiful array of handmade goods (Including art, metal work, jewelry, leather goods, soaps, prints, and stickers!)
🌿And shopping from our wide selection of plants at the height of our season!
On Sunday, April 21st you will find:
🌿A wide selection of specialty herbs
🌿Special savings on select plants
🌿Enjoy chocolate from Brix Chocolate or take some home for your favorite wine pairing
🌿Argentinian comfort food on Sunday from El Bogedon
🌿And shopping from our wide selection of plants at the height of our season!
Vendors for the Saturday market will include:
- Earth Echoes: Hand crafted soaps and other natural body care products
- Houston House: Home baked goodies made with love!
- Kaysha Siemens: Beautiful botanical jewelry
- Cindi’s Sacred Garden: Organic Soaps, Salves, Teas, Skincare, outdoor natural goods and more
- Leisa’s Kettle Corn: Kettle Corn, Pork Skins, Boiled Peanuts, Soft Pretzels, Shaved Ice, Cinnamon Glazed Nuts, Freeze Dried Candy, Coffee & Sodas
- Beehive 95 Designs: Art prints, totes, stickers, and more featuring original nature illustrations
- Her Heartbeat Farm: Hand-crafted rawhide drums & leatherwork including custom designs. Purses, belts, growler & wine carriers, wallets, small bags for children, Buckskin Medicine Bags, and more.
- Pretty Petals: Beautiful alcohol ink tile creations with vibrant flowers. The ink is dispersed by a straw, air compressor, canned air, or hand blower to make a totally unique one-of-a-kind creation.
- Galaxita: Needle-felted landscapes inspired by sea and sky. These tiny landscapes were first watercolors and then recreated using upcycled wool garments as a canvas and loose wool roving as paint. And hardwood cutting boards & serving trays with salvaged walnut wood from Northern California.
- The Plaide Fox & Lightning Struck: Fractal Lichtenberg burning and copper jewelry and charms.
- Darcys Daydreams: One-of-a-kind metal wall art, lanterns, and jewelry
- Instar Innovations: Insect diarramas and greeting cards plus information on moths and butterflies as pollinators & a display case from an ecological collection
Our Spring 2024 Featured Herbs:
- Anise Hyssop
- Basil, African Blue
- Basil, Cinnamon
- Basil, Everleaf Genovese
- Basil, Holy
- Basil, Holy – Red and Green
- Basil, Lemon
- Basil, Pesto Perpetuo
- Basil, Purple Ruffles
- Basil, Red Ruben
- Basil, Sweet
- Basil, Sweet Large Leaf Italian
- Basil, Thai Siam Queen
- Basil, Lettuce Leaf Tuscany
- Borage
- Calendula
- Catnip
- Chamomile, German/Common
- Chives, Common
- Chives, Garlic
- Cilantro, Santo
- Curry Plant
- Cutting Celery
- Dill, Fernleaf
- Dill, Superdukat
- Echinacea angustifolia
- Eucalyptus, Baby Blue Bouquet
- Fennel, Bronze
- Feverfew
- French Tarragon
- Jewels of Opar
- Lavender, Phenomenal
- Lavender, Superblue
- Lavender, Vera (Lavandula angustifolia)
- Lemon Balm
- Lemon Grass, East Indian
- Lemon Verbena
- Lovage
- Marjoram, Sweet
- Mexican Mint Marigold
- Nasturtium, Dwf Jewel Mix
- Oregano, Mexican
- Parsley, Flat Leaf Italian
- Parsley, Moss Curled
- Patchouli
- Rosemary, Arp
- Rosemary, Hills Hardy
- Sage, Bergartten
- Sage, Garden Grey
- Sage, Pineapple
- Sage, Purple
- Sage, Tricolor
- Salad Burnet
- Salvia, Pineapple Sage
- Santolina, Grey Lavender Cotton
- Savory, Summer
- Savory, Winter
- Stevia
- Tarragon, French
- Thyme, English (Thymus vulgaris)
- Thyme, Hi-Ho Silver (Thymus argentea)
- Thyme, Magic Carpet (Thymus serpyllum)
- Thyme, Pink Chintz (Thymus serpyllum)
- Valerian, Common
Join us for the first OGS Forest Farming event of the year!
Explore various ways to integrate tree crops into farm and forest landscapes through a hands-on workshop and tour at A Way of Life Farm. We will demonstrate and practice basic grafting principles, and each participant will graft their own apple or pear tree to bring home.
We will tour the farm’s tree crops–including pawpaw, chestnut, persimmon, and pecan–and discuss how to establish new trees into a silvopasture or orchard, graft onto existing trees, and site considerations for planning.
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Join us for weekly workdays in the Sand Hill native tree nursery. Tasks vary and often include repotting, weeding, mulching, and other special projects to improve infrastructure and function.
Need to know
Please come dressed in work clothes with close toed shoes. Bring water and sun protection. All other gear and supplies are provided.
Join us every Tuesday in April for Taco Tuesdays at Highland Brewing! Indulge in delicious tacos from Dirty Gertie’s while enjoying our $5 Cerveza special in the Taproom. Bring your friends and family for a flavorful evening with tasty food and great drinks. Don’t miss out on this weekly fiesta! See you there!
A portion of Cerveza sales will be donated to SAHC all month long. To see all the amazing things they are a part of click here!
Congratulations to our Youth Spoken Word Contest winners:
Eva S. — 11th grade at Carolina Day
Tesslyn H. — 8th grade at IC Imagine Public Charter School
Gabriella B. — 11th grade at School of Inquiry and Life Sciences at Asheville (SILSA)
Lily A. — 9th grade at Madison Early College High School
Come experience these talented students perform with artist Dasan Ahanu, Tuesday, April 23 at 5:30 p.m. at Atelier Maison’s showroom. Admission is free; RSVP required. Drinks and light appetizers will be provided.
RSVP to [email protected].
Event location:
Atelier Maison Showroom
121 Sweeten Creek Road, Ste. 50
Asheville, NC 28803
About Dasan Ahanu: Christopher Massenburg, better known as Dasan Ahanu, is a public speaker, organizer, curator, educator, poet, spoken word artist, songwriter, emcee, and loyal hip-hop head born and raised in Raleigh, NC.
Sponsored by Atelier Maison.
Join the Dark City Poets Society for a free publishing workshop from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at the Black Mountain Library,105 N. Dougherty Street, Black Mountain, NC 28711. This workshop will be led by John Himmelheber, editor of Smoky Blue Literary and Arts Magazine, along with Ivy Rosen, editor of Black Mountain Press. Learn tips and tricks on how to get published and what the best practices are for submitting your work for consideration. This workshop is open to all ages, and no registration is required.
oin the Dark City Poets Society for a free publishing workshop at the Black Mountain Library!
This workshop will be led by John Himmelheber, editor of Smoky Blue Literary And Arts Magazine, along with Ivy Rosen, editor of Black Mountain Press. Learn tips and tricks on how to get published.
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Author, Steven Frowine is back with part 2 of his plant and garden series. Whether you have a sunny spot or a shady nook, a few acres or only a back porch, Steve Frowine, a professional horticulturist, life-long passionate garden, and author of nine garden related books including, Gardening Basics for Dummies will guide you through the process of how to create your own garden that you will be proud of. This program will discuss most aspects of garden design and planting principles for edible and ornamental landscapes so you can be successful in designing a garden that is both beautiful and functional. This program will take place in our library community room and is free to the public. Author Bio: |
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Spring has sprung, and at the YWCA that means that our talented Nutrition team is cooking up new ways to serve fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables to the children in our Early Learning and Empowerment Child Care programs. We are so grateful to be partnering with the wonderful volunteers who operate Grace Covenant’s Community Garden to receive produce grown specifically for our kitchen! The YWCA has been partnering with Grace Covenant for three years, and we have received over 1000 pounds of healthy, local produce from the garden.
YWCA Nutrition Specialist Melinda Aponte works hard to make the most of the bounty from Grace Covenant, and she also nurtures our own YWCA garden to teach kiddos in our childcare programs healthy habits and get them in the garden. Love the idea of helping to feed children fresh, healthy foods? Volunteer with the YWCA Nutrition team this spring and summer to help out in the YW garden space.
Participating Asheville Restaurants |
The Western North Carolina AIDS Project (WNCAP) will host its annual Dining Out For Life event on Thursday, April 25. Now in its 22nd year, Dining Out For Life 2024 encourages residents of Asheville and Western North Carolina to dine out at participating restaurants. This celebration supports both the local restaurants that host the events while raising money for WNCAP’s life-saving services. The money raised by Dining Out for Life helps provide care, rental assistance, and education in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
2024 Participating Restaurants (List Updated Daily)
* Member of Asheville Independent Restaurant Association
*Farm Burger Downtown
*Farm Burger South AVL
*Gan Shan West
*Jettie Rae’s Oyster House
*Laughing Seed
*Posana
*Salt Face Mule
The Noodle shop
*Twisted Laurel Downtown AVL
*Vinnie’s Italian
*Vinnie’s South
Vivian Asheville
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Pollinators are keystone species and plants and humans depend on them for survival. Gardeners can have a HUGE impact on supporting these amazing creatures even if you don’t have space for a full garden.
Pollinator container gardens are an excellent, quick and easy way to bring more bees, butterflies and hummingbirds to your space whether in a small garden yard, condo or deck. Learn how to select the correct containers and pollinator friendly plant combinations to transform your space into a pollinator friendly habitat.
Wear appropriate attire (hat, sunglasses and sturdy shoes and bring some water) as most of this presentation will be held outside.
The talk is free, but seating is limited and registration using Eventbrite is required.
The Asheville Museum of History (Formerly the Western North Carolina Historical Association) announces David Joy’s Those We Thought We Knew as the winner of the 2023 Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award
The Asheville Museum of History announces the selection of the winner David Joy for Those We Thought We Knew for the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award. Finalists Erica Abrams Locklear, Elizabeth Giddens, Jennifer McGaha and Terry Roberts will also be honored at an awards ceremony Thursday, April 25, 6 p.m. at A-B Tech’s Ferguson Auditorium (19 Tech Drive). A reception will follow at the Asheville Museum of History at the Smith-McDowell House, 283 Victoria Road, Asheville, NC.
Originated by the Louis Lipinsky family, the Award has been presented annually by the organization since 1955 for printed works that focus special attention on Western North Carolina. To be considered, an entry must be a published work of fiction, nonfiction, drama or poetry and meet the following criteria:
- It must be a first edition work; revised editions of published works will not be considered.
- The publication date must have been no later than August 1, 2023.
- The author must be a native of Western North Carolina or a resident of Western North Carolina for at least twelve months prior to the closing date for the Award.
- An author may also qualify if the work submitted has a focus on or setting in Western North Carolina.
The Western North Carolina Historical Association presented the first Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award to Wilma Dykeman in 1955 for The French Broad. Brent Martin won the 2022 award for George Masa’s Wild Vision: A Japanese Immigrant Imagines Western North Carolina. Other authors who have received the award include Robert Brunk, Wayne Caldwell, Wiley Cash, Charles Frazier, John Ehle, Gail Godwin, Michael McFee, Doug Orr, Ron Rash, Fiona Ritchie, Terry Roberts, Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle and Lee Smith.
A prize of $1,000 accompanies the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award and will be awarded to David Joy, winner of this year’s award, at a ceremony at AB Tech’s Ferguson Auditorium (Fernihurst Drive, Asheville) on Thursday, April 25, 6 p.m. Each of the finalists will read a short passage from their work. There will be a reception at 7 p.m. at the Asheville Museum of History at the Smith-McDowell House.
This year’s finalists were chosen from an original group of more than 35 nominations. The finalists, listed below in alphabetical order, encompass a broad range of genres and forms.
- Erica Abrams Locklear Appalachia on the Table: Representing Mountain Food and People
- Elizabeth Giddens Oconaluftee: The History of a Smoky Mountain Valley
- David Joy Those We Thought We Knew (Winner of the 2023 Thomas Wolfe Literary Award)
- Jennifer McGaha Bushwhacking: How to Get Lost in the Woods and Writer Your Way Out
- Terry Roberts The Sky Club
The Award Panel this year consists of: Catherine Frank, Chair, Director, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville; Wayne Caldwell, author and former Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award winner; Dee James, professor emeritus, UNC-Asheville; and Jim Stokely, President, Wilma Dykeman Legacy.
For more information visit https://www.ashevillehistory.org/literaryaward/ and https://www.simpletix.com/e/thomas-wolfe-literary-award-tickets-167349#location
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Spring has sprung, and at the YWCA that means that our talented Nutrition team is cooking up new ways to serve fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables to the children in our Early Learning and Empowerment Child Care programs. We are so grateful to be partnering with the wonderful volunteers who operate Grace Covenant’s Community Garden to receive produce grown specifically for our kitchen! The YWCA has been partnering with Grace Covenant for three years, and we have received over 1000 pounds of healthy, local produce from the garden.
YWCA Nutrition Specialist Melinda Aponte works hard to make the most of the bounty from Grace Covenant, and she also nurtures our own YWCA garden to teach kiddos in our childcare programs healthy habits and get them in the garden. Love the idea of helping to feed children fresh, healthy foods? Volunteer with the YWCA Nutrition team this spring and summer to help out in the YW garden space.
Plant Clinic is returning to the WNC Herb Festival after a Covid hiatus of 4 years. This is always a lively and popular event for gardeners and EMG volunteers.
Plant Clinic is returning to the WNC Herb Festival after a Covid hiatus of 4 years. This is always a lively and popular event for gardeners and EMG volunteers.
Our table will be located at the entrance hall to the Davis Event Center at the Ag Center. The Ag Center is located across the highway from the Asheville Airport. A link to an Ag Center map and directions can be found at
Just bring your enthusiasm, curiosity and questions. Extension Master Gardeners will be
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Saturdays from 10:30 AM – 12 PM
The goal of this event is to build bridges and celebrate the common ground we all share in our beautiful county and community.
Live music and poetry performances.
Appearances by state party chair Anderson Clayton and several North Carolina candidates.
Fun for the whole family!
$20 admission.
$10 for students.
Kids 16 and under free.
All funds raised will help get voters to the polls in November 2024!