Join us for our monthly market, where you’ll discover local vendors offering a variety of houseplants, garden plants, and planty-related items, including crafts and jewelry. Show your support by visiting our social table, where we will have branded merchandise for sale to help fund the event, as well as tags for social media pages to follow your favorite vendors. Enjoy live music and a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere.
🅿️Free parking is available! Please park at the front of the building and enter through the hydroponics shop. Vendors will be set up inside the shop as well as outside the back of the shop.

RISE: A Fly Fishing Festival

Wrong Way River Lodge & Cabins and Uproar Concept are hosting, RISE: A Fly Fishing Festival, taking place on August 24 in Asheville, NC. A portion of proceeds from the one-day event will benefit two local conservation nonprofits: RiverLink & MountainTrue. Both have been vital to recovery efforts in WNC. Borne from Blue Lines, which supports fly fishing guides in Western North Carolina and Tennessee, will host a guide expo during the event in an effort to help them rebuild their customer base after Hurricane Helene.

The riverfront Wrong Way (9 Midnight Drive, on Amboy Road) will host RISE which will be free and open to the public and include activities like casting and fly-tying competitions, clinics, kid-friendly programming, raffles, and shoppable A-frame cabin “takeovers” by outdoor brands. Festival goers will enjoy an eclectic mix of live music in the Wrong Way Meadow and food and drinks from Imposter Pizza Co., Chop Shop Butchery, and featured local breweries.

Sip and stroll through the Arboretum’s gardens in the glow of the golden hour, all while listening to live music from a variety of local and regional artists! ArborEvenings runs Wednesdays and Thursdays through September 18, 2025 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

**Please note: Outside alcohol is prohibited on the campus of The North Carolina Arboretum.**

There is no additional cost to attend ArborEvenings beyond our standard parking fee. As always, Arboretum Society members and their accompanying guests can enter for FREE (guests must be in member vehicles to receive free entry). Proceeds from ArborEvenings help support the The North Carolina Arboretum Society and further advance the Arboretum’s mission.

Sip and stroll through the Arboretum’s gardens in the glow of the golden hour, all while listening to live music from a variety of local and regional artists! ArborEvenings runs Wednesdays and Thursdays through September 18, 2025 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

**Please note: Outside alcohol is prohibited on the campus of The North Carolina Arboretum.**

There is no additional cost to attend ArborEvenings beyond our standard parking fee. As always, Arboretum Society members and their accompanying guests can enter for FREE (guests must be in member vehicles to receive free entry). Proceeds from ArborEvenings help support the The North Carolina Arboretum Society and further advance the Arboretum’s mission.

Garden and Adventure Photography Basics

with Cami Calnan

Friday, August 29  |  10 am – 1 pm

Elevate your photography from the level you are currently working from. In this immersive workshop, we will explore the technical aspects of the camera you photograph with. Bring your phone, your slr or point and shoot digital or film camera, and we will explore the concepts behind taking the kinds of photos you are hoping to capture.

This program will take place outside and will follow easy trails and paved walkways. Dress for the weather and prepare to be outside for the entire program time.

Chasing Dragons and Damsels in WNC

with Shane Myers

Saturday, August 30  |  9 – 10:30am

Dragonflies and damselflies (order Odonata) are some of our most fascinating insects. Come with us as we talk about their natural history, lives, and ecological importance. We’ll go down to Willow Pond and observe some of these enchanting insects in the wild and up close.

This program will take place outside and will follow easy trails and paved walkways. Dress for the weather and prepare to be outside for the entire program time.

Plein Air Painting

with Erika Busse

Monday, September 1  |  9am – 11am

There is no better way to relax and connect with your creative side and nature than en plein air painting. In this class, artist Erika Busse will teach you how to paint an original Appalachian inspired artwork outside at the beautiful North Carolina Arboretum. She will take you through each step of the painting process, all skill levels are welcomed and all supplies are provided.

Celebrate the season at Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard in Hendersonville, NC! Open daily August 15 through the end of October, enjoy u-pick apples, grapes, flowers, and pumpkins. Explore a 5-acre corn maze, take a weekend wagon ride, bounce on the jump pad, and launch apples from the apple cannon. Don’t miss fresh cider donuts, slushies, plus many more sweet treats and local goods from the Apple House. No admission fee—just pay for what you pick or do. Make it a fall tradition your whole family will love!
📍 steppapples.com | 170 Stepp Orchard Dr., Hendersonville, NC

Celebrate the season at Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard in Hendersonville, NC! Open daily August 15 through the end of October, enjoy u-pick apples, grapes, flowers, and pumpkins. Explore a 5-acre corn maze, take a weekend wagon ride, bounce on the jump pad, and launch apples from the apple cannon. Don’t miss fresh cider donuts, slushies, plus many more sweet treats and local goods from the Apple House. No admission fee—just pay for what you pick or do. Make it a fall tradition your whole family will love!
📍 steppapples.com | 170 Stepp Orchard Dr., Hendersonville, NC

Sip and stroll through the Arboretum’s gardens in the glow of the golden hour, all while listening to live music from a variety of local and regional artists! ArborEvenings runs Wednesdays and Thursdays through September 18, 2025 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

**Please note: Outside alcohol is prohibited on the campus of The North Carolina Arboretum.**

There is no additional cost to attend ArborEvenings beyond our standard parking fee. As always, Arboretum Society members and their accompanying guests can enter for FREE (guests must be in member vehicles to receive free entry). Proceeds from ArborEvenings help support the The North Carolina Arboretum Society and further advance the Arboretum’s mission.

Celebrate the season at Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard in Hendersonville, NC! Open daily August 15 through the end of October, enjoy u-pick apples, grapes, flowers, and pumpkins. Explore a 5-acre corn maze, take a weekend wagon ride, bounce on the jump pad, and launch apples from the apple cannon. Don’t miss fresh cider donuts, slushies, plus many more sweet treats and local goods from the Apple House. No admission fee—just pay for what you pick or do. Make it a fall tradition your whole family will love!
📍 steppapples.com | 170 Stepp Orchard Dr., Hendersonville, NC

Late Summer Tree ID

with Lauren Lampley

Thursday, September 4  |  1 – 4 pm

Join this class as we discuss how to use different characteristics and field guides to identify common trees of Western North Carolina found here at the NC Arboretum. We will look at using different characteristics including habitat, bark, buds, growth pattern, leaf shape, and fruit/nut shape to identify trees.

This program will take place outside and will follow easy trails and paved walkways. Dress for the weather and prepare to be outside for the entire program time.

Sip and stroll through the Arboretum’s gardens in the glow of the golden hour, all while listening to live music from a variety of local and regional artists! ArborEvenings runs Wednesdays and Thursdays through September 18, 2025 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

**Please note: Outside alcohol is prohibited on the campus of The North Carolina Arboretum.**

There is no additional cost to attend ArborEvenings beyond our standard parking fee. As always, Arboretum Society members and their accompanying guests can enter for FREE (guests must be in member vehicles to receive free entry). Proceeds from ArborEvenings help support the The North Carolina Arboretum Society and further advance the Arboretum’s mission.

Celebrate the season at Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard in Hendersonville, NC! Open daily August 15 through the end of October, enjoy u-pick apples, grapes, flowers, and pumpkins. Explore a 5-acre corn maze, take a weekend wagon ride, bounce on the jump pad, and launch apples from the apple cannon. Don’t miss fresh cider donuts, slushies, plus many more sweet treats and local goods from the Apple House. No admission fee—just pay for what you pick or do. Make it a fall tradition your whole family will love!
📍 steppapples.com | 170 Stepp Orchard Dr., Hendersonville, NC

River Systems of the Blue Ridge

With Anton DuMars

Friday, September 5  |  12 – 4pm

Water is essential to life but is also a powerful agent of change. Rivers, through both daily processes and catastrophic floods, shape Earth’s surface through erosion and sediment transport. In River Systems of the Blue Ridge, we will investigate how the Broad River changes character and shapes the landscape along its course from the headwaters, through the Piedmont, and onto the Atlantic Ocean.

Celebrate the season at Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard in Hendersonville, NC! Open daily August 15 through the end of October, enjoy u-pick apples, grapes, flowers, and pumpkins. Explore a 5-acre corn maze, take a weekend wagon ride, bounce on the jump pad, and launch apples from the apple cannon. Don’t miss fresh cider donuts, slushies, plus many more sweet treats and local goods from the Apple House. No admission fee—just pay for what you pick or do. Make it a fall tradition your whole family will love!
📍 steppapples.com | 170 Stepp Orchard Dr., Hendersonville, NC

Celebrate the season at Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard in Hendersonville, NC! Open daily August 15 through the end of October, enjoy u-pick apples, grapes, flowers, and pumpkins. Explore a 5-acre corn maze, take a weekend wagon ride, bounce on the jump pad, and launch apples from the apple cannon. Don’t miss fresh cider donuts, slushies, plus many more sweet treats and local goods from the Apple House. No admission fee—just pay for what you pick or do. Make it a fall tradition your whole family will love!
📍 steppapples.com | 170 Stepp Orchard Dr., Hendersonville, NC

Celebrate the season at Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard in Hendersonville, NC! Open daily August 15 through the end of October, enjoy u-pick apples, grapes, flowers, and pumpkins. Explore a 5-acre corn maze, take a weekend wagon ride, bounce on the jump pad, and launch apples from the apple cannon. Don’t miss fresh cider donuts, slushies, plus many more sweet treats and local goods from the Apple House. No admission fee—just pay for what you pick or do. Make it a fall tradition your whole family will love!
📍 steppapples.com | 170 Stepp Orchard Dr., Hendersonville, NC

Celebrate the season at Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard in Hendersonville, NC! Open daily August 15 through the end of October, enjoy u-pick apples, grapes, flowers, and pumpkins. Explore a 5-acre corn maze, take a weekend wagon ride, bounce on the jump pad, and launch apples from the apple cannon. Don’t miss fresh cider donuts, slushies, plus many more sweet treats and local goods from the Apple House. No admission fee—just pay for what you pick or do. Make it a fall tradition your whole family will love!
📍 steppapples.com | 170 Stepp Orchard Dr., Hendersonville, NC

Celebrate the season at Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard in Hendersonville, NC! Open daily August 15 through the end of October, enjoy u-pick apples, grapes, flowers, and pumpkins. Explore a 5-acre corn maze, take a weekend wagon ride, bounce on the jump pad, and launch apples from the apple cannon. Don’t miss fresh cider donuts, slushies, plus many more sweet treats and local goods from the Apple House. No admission fee—just pay for what you pick or do. Make it a fall tradition your whole family will love!
📍 steppapples.com | 170 Stepp Orchard Dr., Hendersonville, NC

Gardening in a Changing Climate

with Laura Lengnick

Wednesday, September 10  |  1 – 3pm

The changing weather patterns caused by climate change create new challenges for gardeners in Western NC and beyond. More variable and extreme temperatures and rainfall, a longer growing season and warmer winters disrupt the growth and development of plants and animals common to our region. This course provides an overview of the practices, both old and new, that gardeners can use to cultivate a climate-resilient garden. Learn how to evaluate climate risk, anticipate the arrival of new pests and diseases, and track local changes in weather patterns to improve your ability to adjust seasonal work plans, select well-adapted plant species/cultivars, and manage landscapes to promote climate resilience.

Sip and stroll through the Arboretum’s gardens in the glow of the golden hour, all while listening to live music from a variety of local and regional artists! ArborEvenings runs Wednesdays and Thursdays through September 18, 2025 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

**Please note: Outside alcohol is prohibited on the campus of The North Carolina Arboretum.**

There is no additional cost to attend ArborEvenings beyond our standard parking fee. As always, Arboretum Society members and their accompanying guests can enter for FREE (guests must be in member vehicles to receive free entry). Proceeds from ArborEvenings help support the The North Carolina Arboretum Society and further advance the Arboretum’s mission.

Celebrate the season at Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard in Hendersonville, NC! Open daily August 15 through the end of October, enjoy u-pick apples, grapes, flowers, and pumpkins. Explore a 5-acre corn maze, take a weekend wagon ride, bounce on the jump pad, and launch apples from the apple cannon. Don’t miss fresh cider donuts, slushies, plus many more sweet treats and local goods from the Apple House. No admission fee—just pay for what you pick or do. Make it a fall tradition your whole family will love!
📍 steppapples.com | 170 Stepp Orchard Dr., Hendersonville, NC

Sip and stroll through the Arboretum’s gardens in the glow of the golden hour, all while listening to live music from a variety of local and regional artists! ArborEvenings runs Wednesdays and Thursdays through September 18, 2025 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

**Please note: Outside alcohol is prohibited on the campus of The North Carolina Arboretum.**

There is no additional cost to attend ArborEvenings beyond our standard parking fee. As always, Arboretum Society members and their accompanying guests can enter for FREE (guests must be in member vehicles to receive free entry). Proceeds from ArborEvenings help support the The North Carolina Arboretum Society and further advance the Arboretum’s mission.

Celebrate the season at Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard in Hendersonville, NC! Open daily August 15 through the end of October, enjoy u-pick apples, grapes, flowers, and pumpkins. Explore a 5-acre corn maze, take a weekend wagon ride, bounce on the jump pad, and launch apples from the apple cannon. Don’t miss fresh cider donuts, slushies, plus many more sweet treats and local goods from the Apple House. No admission fee—just pay for what you pick or do. Make it a fall tradition your whole family will love!
📍 steppapples.com | 170 Stepp Orchard Dr., Hendersonville, NC

Dig into Bullington Gardens’ Fall Plant Sale! Grab trees, shrubs, perennials, natives, and seasonal plants to spruce up your yard. Don’t let your garden be the only one on the block still growing last year’s weeds—join us this fall September 12-13, 9am-4pm.

Celebrate the season at Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard in Hendersonville, NC! Open daily August 15 through the end of October, enjoy u-pick apples, grapes, flowers, and pumpkins. Explore a 5-acre corn maze, take a weekend wagon ride, bounce on the jump pad, and launch apples from the apple cannon. Don’t miss fresh cider donuts, slushies, plus many more sweet treats and local goods from the Apple House. No admission fee—just pay for what you pick or do. Make it a fall tradition your whole family will love!
📍 steppapples.com | 170 Stepp Orchard Dr., Hendersonville, NC

Forest Bathing: A Harvest Season Retreat

with Asheville Wellness Tours

Saturday, September 13  |  10 – 1pm

Celebrate abundance, balance and equilibrium during this immersive morning nature connection retreat. During this seasonal transition, we’ll mark the threshold between summer and fall, honoring the Earth’s bountiful harvest while slowing our pace, awakening our senses, and practicing embodied acts of gratitude. Honoring this liminal fifth season, connecting with ourselves, each other, and the more-than-human-world, nourishing the relationships that sustain and connect us.

Your guide, Christa Hebal, will lead you on a gentle journey through the forest, weaving mindfulness, breathwork, forest bathing and nature therapy together for a restorative morning on some of the trails less traveled at the North Carolina Arboretum. We’ll celebrate the experience with a community Earth offering, followed by a wild-foraged tea ceremony and snacks. Bring an open mind and an open heart. All are welcome. Presented through Adult & Continuing Education Programs in collaboration with Asheville Wellness Tours.