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.

Sunday, December 1, 2024
TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC SESSION
Dec 1 @ 3:30 pm
Jack of the Wood

Jack’s long-running Traditional Irish Music Session is the perfect way to enjoy the Celtic-influenced sounds of talented pluckers from all over WNC & further afield! Stop in to enjoy a pint or afternoon Irish coffee with the music! Sláinte!

Joe Troop’s Truth Machine
Dec 1 @ 4:00 pm
EST

Over the years, Joe Troop has carved himself a niche as an “artivist,” entwining music and social justice. He has now recruited some of his favorite festival friends from the old time and bluegrass scene to form a political protest powerhouse, the Truth Machine:

Joe Troop (banjo, guitar, vocals), Lu Furtado (guitar, vocals), Deb Shebish (fiddle), Olivia Fernandez (mandolin, vocals) and Jimmy Washington (bass).

Winter Lights
Dec 1 @ 6:00 pm
North Carolina Arboretum

Winter Lights is a spectacular open-air walk-through light show made from over one million lights! Located at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, North Carolina, this year’s event features favorites like the famously tall 50-foot lighted tree and the Quilt Garden, along with enchanting new details designed to delight and surprise. All prices are per vehicle. No pets allowed.

Winter Lights features live entertainment nightly and food and beverages from the Bent Creek Bistro, the Cocoa Shack and the Cocoa Cabin! Open nightly from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Monday, December 2, 2024
Winter Lights
Dec 2 @ 6:00 pm
North Carolina Arboretum

Winter Lights is a spectacular open-air walk-through light show made from over one million lights! Located at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, North Carolina, this year’s event features favorites like the famously tall 50-foot lighted tree and the Quilt Garden, along with enchanting new details designed to delight and surprise. All prices are per vehicle. No pets allowed.

Winter Lights features live entertainment nightly and food and beverages from the Bent Creek Bistro, the Cocoa Shack and the Cocoa Cabin! Open nightly from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Tuesday, December 3, 2024
Winter Lights
Dec 3 @ 6:00 pm
North Carolina Arboretum

Winter Lights is a spectacular open-air walk-through light show made from over one million lights! Located at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, North Carolina, this year’s event features favorites like the famously tall 50-foot lighted tree and the Quilt Garden, along with enchanting new details designed to delight and surprise. All prices are per vehicle. No pets allowed.

Winter Lights features live entertainment nightly and food and beverages from the Bent Creek Bistro, the Cocoa Shack and the Cocoa Cabin! Open nightly from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Asheville Symphony Chorus Presents: A Messiah Sing-Along
Dec 3 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Trinity Episcopal Church

Asheville Symphony Chorus is delighted to present a beloved Asheville tradition. Join us for our Messiah Sing-Along on Tuesday, December 3 at 7pm at Trinity Episcopal Church in Downtown Asheville. Bring your copy of Handel’s masterpiece, or use one of our copies. No matter what, bring your voice and your energy.

Never have we had such a need to come together, heal, and lift each other up. This Sing-along is dedicated by ASC to you, our most precious Asheville community. We would be honored to have your voices join ours this winter.

Date and Time: On Tuesday December 03, 2024 at 19:00 – 20:30

Prices:
Adult General Admission: USD 25.0,
Youth General Admission: USD 16.0

Wednesday, December 4, 2024
A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas
Dec 4 @ 2:00 pm
Flat Rock Playhouse

Tis the season to be jolly! The tradition continues with the same great holiday cheer to put you in the Christmas spirit. All new renditions of your holiday favorites will help you get those sleigh bells jinglin,’ and chestnuts roasting! There is truly no better way to kick off your holiday season. So, hurry on over with your family, friends, and loved ones to share in the joy and excitement of this seasonal spectacular that will have you feeling merry and bright! Ring-a-ling-a-ding-dong-ding, y’all!

OLD-TIME JAM Old-Time Mountain + Folk Music
Dec 4 @ 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Jack of the Wood


Grab some dinner and a pint while enjoying our long-running Old-Time jam! Featuring many talented musicians from the local WNC area, our traditional Appalachian mountain music jam runs from 5-9pm every Wednesday night at Jack of the Wood!

Sing Your Heart Out
Dec 4 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
LEAF Global Arts

Sing songs that celebrate Peace & Community, with Resident Teaching Artist Melissa McKinney. Sing, play, drum, and dance while learning songs from the Justice Choir Songbook.

Wednesdays at 6 p.m.
$15 drop-in class
All ages welcome.

Winter Lights
Dec 4 @ 6:00 pm
North Carolina Arboretum

Winter Lights is a spectacular open-air walk-through light show made from over one million lights! Located at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, North Carolina, this year’s event features favorites like the famously tall 50-foot lighted tree and the Quilt Garden, along with enchanting new details designed to delight and surprise. All prices are per vehicle. No pets allowed.

Winter Lights features live entertainment nightly and food and beverages from the Bent Creek Bistro, the Cocoa Shack and the Cocoa Cabin! Open nightly from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m.

A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas
Dec 4 @ 7:30 pm
Flat Rock Playhouse

Tis the season to be jolly! The tradition continues with the same great holiday cheer to put you in the Christmas spirit. All new renditions of your holiday favorites will help you get those sleigh bells jinglin,’ and chestnuts roasting! There is truly no better way to kick off your holiday season. So, hurry on over with your family, friends, and loved ones to share in the joy and excitement of this seasonal spectacular that will have you feeling merry and bright! Ring-a-ling-a-ding-dong-ding, y’all!

Thursday, December 5, 2024
Holiday Fair & Kringle Village
Dec 5 @ 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Greenville Convention Center

Enjoy a uniquely elevated holiday experience created by the partnership of Greenville Convention Center’s Annual Holiday Fair and Rotary Club of Greenville’s Kringle Holiday Village.

Holiday Fair & Kringle Village will delight locals and draw visitors to the Upstate for three days of holiday fun December 5-7, 2024, at the Greenville Convention Center.

Greenville Convention Center will transform into a Winter Wonderland featuring a massive vendor market, roving performers, a European Bier Garden, the North Pole children’s play area, Santa’s Workshop, The Enchanted Tea Party, Little Miss Kringle Pageant, holiday movie night, snowball fights, main stage entertainment, the Grand Carousel, visits with Santa and more!

A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas
Dec 5 @ 2:00 pm
Flat Rock Playhouse

Tis the season to be jolly! The tradition continues with the same great holiday cheer to put you in the Christmas spirit. All new renditions of your holiday favorites will help you get those sleigh bells jinglin,’ and chestnuts roasting! There is truly no better way to kick off your holiday season. So, hurry on over with your family, friends, and loved ones to share in the joy and excitement of this seasonal spectacular that will have you feeling merry and bright! Ring-a-ling-a-ding-dong-ding, y’all!

Winter Lights
Dec 5 @ 6:00 pm
North Carolina Arboretum

Winter Lights is a spectacular open-air walk-through light show made from over one million lights! Located at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, North Carolina, this year’s event features favorites like the famously tall 50-foot lighted tree and the Quilt Garden, along with enchanting new details designed to delight and surprise. All prices are per vehicle. No pets allowed.

Winter Lights features live entertainment nightly and food and beverages from the Bent Creek Bistro, the Cocoa Shack and the Cocoa Cabin! Open nightly from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m.

BLUEGRASS JAM Hosted by Drew Matulich
Dec 5 @ 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Jack of the Wood

BLUEGRASS JAM

Hosted by Drew Matulich


Don’t miss your chance to check out some of the best pickers from all over WNC at our amazing Bluegrass Jam curated by the talented Drew Matulich — every Thursday starting at 7:00 pm! A real show-stopping performance only at Jack of the Wood! Open jam starts at 9:30 pm.

Cirque de la Symphonie
Dec 5 @ 7:00 pm
Harrah's Cherokee Center

The Asheville Symphony combines forces with the incredible Cirque de la Symphonie for a family-friendly holiday-themed performance featuring favorite tunes from Tchaikovsky, John Williams, Brahms, and much more — all while acrobats perform death-defying feats, tumbling through the air and across the stage.

Members of the Asheville Symphony Youth Orchestra will join the Asheville Symphony Orchestra for select pieces, celebrating the amazing talent of our student musicians on this performance!

A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas
Dec 5 @ 7:30 pm
Flat Rock Playhouse

Tis the season to be jolly! The tradition continues with the same great holiday cheer to put you in the Christmas spirit. All new renditions of your holiday favorites will help you get those sleigh bells jinglin,’ and chestnuts roasting! There is truly no better way to kick off your holiday season. So, hurry on over with your family, friends, and loved ones to share in the joy and excitement of this seasonal spectacular that will have you feeling merry and bright! Ring-a-ling-a-ding-dong-ding, y’all!

Handel’s Messiah
Dec 5 @ 7:30 pm
Brevard Music Center

Celebrate the holiday season with the timeless masterpiece, Handel’s Messiah. This cherished oratorio, renowned for its potent choruses and poignant solos, has graced holiday traditions for centuries. Uplift your spirit and awaken the joy of the season with an unforgettable performance.

Friday, December 6, 2024
Acoustic Jam Session
Dec 6 @ 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Sideways Farm & Brewery

Plan to collaborate with other musicians at Sideways Farm & Brewery in Etowah. Bring your instruments and voices and enjoy making music and networking with other artists, while enjoying the beautiful scenery. Food truck is on site and beverages available for purchase from Sideways (small
batch craft beers, hard jun, ciders, wine, and non alcoholic drinks). Family, fans, friends, and leashed dogs are all welcome!
During winter months enjoy playing under the covered, sheltered, heated porch! And during the summer months enjoy
collaborating in the fields, on the stage, or under the patio

Winter Lights
Dec 6 @ 6:00 pm
North Carolina Arboretum

Winter Lights is a spectacular open-air walk-through light show made from over one million lights! Located at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, North Carolina, this year’s event features favorites like the famously tall 50-foot lighted tree and the Quilt Garden, along with enchanting new details designed to delight and surprise. All prices are per vehicle. No pets allowed.

Winter Lights features live entertainment nightly and food and beverages from the Bent Creek Bistro, the Cocoa Shack and the Cocoa Cabin! Open nightly from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Under the Stars 2024
Dec 6 @ 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Asheville Museum of Science

Join us for Under the Stars 2024, a fundraiser for AMOS and the communities in our orbit.

The Asheville Museum of Science invites you to join us for a night at the museum on December 6th, 2024 from 6:30pm – 9:30pm with a VIP reception from 5:30pm – 6:30pm. This year’s Under the Stars fundraiser, rescheduled from October, will include an expanded purpose, with proceeds supporting both our programs and critical community needs. We look forward to hosting you at the museum for a night of coming together and imagining how we can transform this space together.

Non-member tickets: $70
Member tickets: $65
VIP tickets: $80

Featuring delicious dinner by Sage and Spice Catering!

The Greenville Symphony presents Holiday at Peace: Greenville’s favorite Christmas family tradition
Dec 6 @ 7:00 pm
Peace Concert Hall

Your Greenville Symphony pulls out all the festive stops to ring in the season. You’d never guess Holiday at Peace has been going strong for decades, because she’s as fresh as ever with nationally renowned soloists and a joyful showcase of the best local talent. The orchestra, vocalists, and dancers weave a narrative celebrating the magic of the season.

Is it even Christmastime if you haven’t seen Holiday at Peace?

GUESTS
Siri Howard, vocalist
International Ballet

*perfect for ages 7 to infinity!

A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas
Dec 6 @ 7:30 pm
Flat Rock Playhouse

Tis the season to be jolly! The tradition continues with the same great holiday cheer to put you in the Christmas spirit. All new renditions of your holiday favorites will help you get those sleigh bells jinglin,’ and chestnuts roasting! There is truly no better way to kick off your holiday season. So, hurry on over with your family, friends, and loved ones to share in the joy and excitement of this seasonal spectacular that will have you feeling merry and bright! Ring-a-ling-a-ding-dong-ding, y’all!

Saturday, December 7, 2024
The Greenville Symphony presents Holiday at Peace: Greenville’s favorite Christmas family tradition
Dec 7 @ 1:00 pm
Peace Concert Hall

Your Greenville Symphony pulls out all the festive stops to ring in the season. You’d never guess Holiday at Peace has been going strong for decades, because she’s as fresh as ever with nationally renowned soloists and a joyful showcase of the best local talent. The orchestra, vocalists, and dancers weave a narrative celebrating the magic of the season.

Is it even Christmastime if you haven’t seen Holiday at Peace?

GUESTS
Siri Howard, vocalist
International Ballet

*perfect for ages 7 to infinity!

A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas
Dec 7 @ 2:00 pm
Flat Rock Playhouse

Tis the season to be jolly! The tradition continues with the same great holiday cheer to put you in the Christmas spirit. All new renditions of your holiday favorites will help you get those sleigh bells jinglin,’ and chestnuts roasting! There is truly no better way to kick off your holiday season. So, hurry on over with your family, friends, and loved ones to share in the joy and excitement of this seasonal spectacular that will have you feeling merry and bright! Ring-a-ling-a-ding-dong-ding, y’all!

Finding Home
Dec 7 @ 3:00 pm
Haywood Community College

Please join the Blue Ridge Orchestra for this tribute, in two 3:00 pm concerts: on Saturday, December 7th in Charles Beall Auditorium of Haywood Community College; and on Sunday, December 8th in Lipinsky Auditorium, UNC Asheville. Finding Home elicits the many emotions that accompany life’s journey and explorations. Experiencing the magic of both urban and rural environments, far away destinations, and the familiarity of home, this concert will include Quinn Mason’s Inner City Rhapsody, Copland’s Letter from Home, Gershwin’s American in Paris, and Carlos Simon’s The Block! We are proud to feature renowned baritone Isaiah Feken on Mahler’s Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen and of course we will include holiday favorites…In the wake of Hurricane Helene, this program is all the more poignant, bringing our community together with its inspiring music. 

1st Performance:

Saturday, December 7th, 2024, 3:00 pm
Haywood Community College
Charles Beall Auditorium
185 Freedlander Drive
Clyde, NC. 28721

Tickets:
General Admission: $25
Students (ages 5+): $15

2nd Performance

Sunday, December  8th, 2024, 3:00 pm
UNC Asheville
Lipinsky Auditorium
300 Library Lane
Asheville, NC. 28804

Tickets:
General Admission: $20
Friends of the Orchestra: $15
Students: $5
Children 6 and under: Free

 

Winter Lights
Dec 7 @ 6:00 pm
North Carolina Arboretum

Winter Lights is a spectacular open-air walk-through light show made from over one million lights! Located at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, North Carolina, this year’s event features favorites like the famously tall 50-foot lighted tree and the Quilt Garden, along with enchanting new details designed to delight and surprise. All prices are per vehicle. No pets allowed.

Winter Lights features live entertainment nightly and food and beverages from the Bent Creek Bistro, the Cocoa Shack and the Cocoa Cabin! Open nightly from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m.

The Greenville Symphony presents Holiday at Peace: Greenville’s favorite Christmas family tradition
Dec 7 @ 7:00 pm
Peace Concert Hall

Your Greenville Symphony pulls out all the festive stops to ring in the season. You’d never guess Holiday at Peace has been going strong for decades, because she’s as fresh as ever with nationally renowned soloists and a joyful showcase of the best local talent. The orchestra, vocalists, and dancers weave a narrative celebrating the magic of the season.

Is it even Christmastime if you haven’t seen Holiday at Peace?

GUESTS
Siri Howard, vocalist
International Ballet

*perfect for ages 7 to infinity!

Sunday, December 8, 2024
Jack’s Bluegrass Brunch
Dec 8 @ 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Jack of the Wood

Jack’s Bluegrass Brunch kicks off every Sunday at 12 noon — with lively bluegrass tunes courtesy of The Jack of the Wood Bluegrass Brunch Boys from 1-3pm. Sip a Bloody Mary or Mimosa or a warm Irish coffee. Tasty brunch specials alongside our regular menu and 18 taps of rotating craft brews! Sláinte, y’all!

A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas
Dec 8 @ 2:00 pm
Flat Rock Playhouse

Tis the season to be jolly! The tradition continues with the same great holiday cheer to put you in the Christmas spirit. All new renditions of your holiday favorites will help you get those sleigh bells jinglin,’ and chestnuts roasting! There is truly no better way to kick off your holiday season. So, hurry on over with your family, friends, and loved ones to share in the joy and excitement of this seasonal spectacular that will have you feeling merry and bright! Ring-a-ling-a-ding-dong-ding, y’all!