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.
The Third Annual Asheville Ideas Fest is June 17-20, 2024.
When the inaugural Asheville Ideas Fest launched in June 2022, it was a watershed moment when 450 friends from around the country came together with world-class thinkers and doers to engage in meaningful discussions. The program evolved in 2023, and now 2024 promises to be an even more impactful gathering.
Asheville Ideas Fest is for curious citizens who want to engage with other deep thinkers on topics that matter. You may find your deeply held beliefs challenged on these important topics, and we invite you to lean into those moments, approaching them with an open mind and genuine curiosity.
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This year will include three core themes:
The Thriving American City: Revitalizing Communities through Connection and Growth
In an era of rapid urbanization and evolving societal needs, we will examine strategies that encourage human connection and promote sustainable growth, creating a blueprint for thriving cities. Join us for an engaging day of panel discussions and intensive workshops that evaluate the essential elements of revitalizing American cities and communities.
The Edges of the Unknown: Seeking Enlightenment through Exploration
Ideas Fest panelists and speakers will contemplate the mysteries of space, depths of the ocean, and what lies beyond our current scope of understanding. Using a lens of exploration and curiosity, we will navigate uncharted physical and spiritual territories as we seek to unlock secrets that lie at the edges of the unknown. Prepare to be inspired, enlightened, and challenged in this unique journey of discovery.
House of Cards or Hallowed Halls: Our Polarized Union and the Future of Democracy
Dive into the heart of contemporary political discourse with Ideas Fest. We will examine the polarized landscape of our union and explore the critical challenges facing democracy today. Engage in thought-provoking discussions about the structural, cultural, and societal factors shaping the future of our democratic institutions.
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In addition to dynamic panel discussions with audience Q&A, afternoon workshops with panel speakers provide further opportunities to explore the themes and develop your ideas. Our program consists of a phenomenal lineup of speakers and a laser focus on generating civil discourse on topics that ignite conversations.
In our June installment of the PROpel AVL GROW series for young professionals, Erin Vandermore presents “Closing the Gap: Mastering Intergenerational Communication in the Workplace”
In today’s multigenerational workforce, effective communication is crucial to success. With each generation bringing its unique set of values, beliefs, and technological preferences, it can be challenging to navigate communication styles in the workplace. In this presentation, we will explore the different generations currently in the workforce and their communication styles. We will also discuss tips on how to effectively communicate with each generation and bridge the generational gap.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the different generations currently in the workforce and their communication preferences
- Identify potential challenges in communicating across generations
- Learn strategies for bridging the generational gap and promoting effective communication in the workplace
About the presenter:
Erin Vandermore, MA, LCPC, LCMHC, is a transformative thought leader, licensed therapist, and pioneering wellness coach with over 14 years of experience in the fields of mental health and life coaching. As the founder of Age of Uncertainty Coaching, Erin has dedicated her life to helping individuals discover their unique skills and talents—those often overshadowed by self-sabotage. Her empathetic lens, cultivated through her personal journey as a mom, a survivor of pre-eclampsia, and an individual living with Dyslexia, ADHD, and Anxiety, allows her to connect with clients on a deeply human level.
12:00-1:00pm – GROW Session
Sandwiches, salad and chips will be catered by Del Vecchios!
Please register for this event in order to help us plan accordingly.
About PROpel AVL:
Designed for young professionals between the ages of 21 and 40 in the Asheville/Buncombe area, PROpel AVL provides outstanding professional leadership development opportunities through educational seminars, service opportunities and networking.
Stay connected with text alerts! Text #propelavl to 828-827-5332 for updates and reminders about PROpel AVL programs.
Come join us for Business After Hours at Emergency Tech Repair!
Feel free to bring a gift to be raffled off as door prizes towards the end of the evening. Bring your business cards for networking and a chance to win prizes!
Please take a look below at our members who have renewed for another year!
FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers
This event is offered as a benefit for Chamber membership. We welcome you to come and check us out! Please contact Jessica Kanupp, our Member Development Specialist, at [email protected] if you’re considering a Chamber membership.
Downtown on Fridays, discover a delightful assortment of quality handmade goods from skilled makers at Asheville’s weekly street party. The Pack Square Artisan Market is produced by Places For Makers, an Asheville, NC based non-profit organization.
The Enka-Candler Friends of the Library are hosting their big book sale in the library community room! Purchase books, DVDs, music, tote bags, and t-shirts. All purchases go to the Friends of the Library who co-sponsor Enka-Candler Library programs and materials.
Join us on June 24th-27th at the Greenville Convention Center for the 2024 South Carolina Education and Business Summit. Come on out and checkout new innovations and opportunities for networking for educators and entrepreneurs.
Parking can be located off Exposition Drive and Eisenhower Drive.
To register: Registration (ebsummit.info)
Ribbon Cutting for Drip Sauna
| Drip Sauna | No Registration
Join us to stay updated on business in Mills River. With updates from the Town of Mills River and networking with neighboring businesses, let’s work to GROW your business in Mills River.
Food Connection is a local nonprofit organization whose mission is to reduce food waste while easing hunger. They keep surplus, fresh, chef–prepared meals out of the landfill and and share them with their neighbors, no questions asked.
They will have coffee and light snacks, and a brief introduction to Food Connection by their founder, followed by a Q &A and a tour of their operations including the Mobile Meals Truck which they bring to communities to offer a free food truck experience.
Directions: They operate out of the kitchen and Parish Hall of St. George’s Episcopal Church. Parking can be accessed via School Rd. and Mimosa Dr. Overflow parking is available across Mimosa Dr. in the Malvern Hills Presbyterian Church parking lot. To enter the Parish Hall, use the green ramp next to the playground and enter through the green door.
Plus don’t miss the chance to try your luck in our 50/50 raffle!
No cost to attend, just pre-register.
Downtown on Fridays, discover a delightful assortment of quality handmade goods from skilled makers at Asheville’s weekly street party. The Pack Square Artisan Market is produced by Places For Makers, an Asheville, NC based non-profit organization.
Downtown on Fridays, discover a delightful assortment of quality handmade goods from skilled makers at Asheville’s weekly street party. The Pack Square Artisan Market is produced by Places For Makers, an Asheville, NC based non-profit organization.
Come celebrate the Grand Opening of Allen Tate/Beverly-Hanks real estate firm! Beverly-Hanks has joined Allen Tate and is now part of the #1 real estate company in the Carolinas! Join us in celebrating their ribbon cutting with light bites as well as refreshments.
Across North Carolina, local government employees provide essential services for their everyday lives. Civic was created to be part of the local government world, offering member-specific financial solutions and support to build stronger communities. A member-focused Credit Union, they serve their members — not corporate interests. That means everything we do begins and ends with you.
Join us in celebrating their Grand Opening with light bites as well as beer, wine and refreshments from Twisted Laurel.
Come join us for Business After Hours at Holiday Inn Asheville East – Blue Ridge Parkway!
Feel free to bring a gift to be raffled off as door prizes towards the end of the evening. Bring your business cards for networking and a chance to win prizes!
Please take a look below at our members who have renewed for another year!
This event is offered as a benefit for Chamber membership. We welcome you to come and check us out! Please contact Jessica Kanupp, our Member Development Specialist, at [email protected] if you’re considering a Chamber membership.
Downtown on Fridays, discover a delightful assortment of quality handmade goods from skilled makers at Asheville’s weekly street party. The Pack Square Artisan Market is produced by Places For Makers, an Asheville, NC based non-profit organization.
LOOM Imports + Friends JULY Open Studio + Pop Up Shop
Join us for our July open studio & pop up shop
Sunday, July 14
11-4pm
115 Elk Mountain Rd, Woodfin, NC
Shop home goods, wooden kitchenware, art, jewelry, accessories + vintage clothing with:
@loomimports
@kerrwoodworking
@gennypopshop
@townesandbirdie
@twindenimco
@annajohnsonjewelry
Additional parking across street at Woodfin Elementary
The July session of the PROpel AVL GROW series for young professionals, we’ll explore “Acquistion Entrepreneurship.”
In the ever-evolving business landscape, “Acquisition Entrepreneurship” has emerged as a powerful pathway for young professionals eager to carve out their niche in the corporate world.
This presentation, designed specifically for forward-thinking and ambitious young professionals, will delve into the complexities and opportunities of acquiring and growing existing businesses as a form of entrepreneurship. Unlike traditional entrepreneurship that starts from scratch, acquisition entrepreneurship offers a unique blend of challenges and rewards involving the identification, evaluation, and successful takeover of existing enterprises.
The program will cover essential aspects of acquisition entrepreneurship, including the art of identifying potential acquisition targets, conducting due diligence, understanding valuation techniques, and negotiating deals. Participants will gain insights into the critical skills needed to navigate these processes successfully, such as financial analysis, market assessment, and leadership abilities to integrate and grow the acquired business. Additionally, the presentation will highlight the common pitfalls and how to avoid them, ensuring a smoother transition into ownership and management roles.
Key takeaways from this session will include specific, actionable strategies that young professionals can apply immediately in their pursuit of business acquisition. These include:
Frameworks for Identifying Suitable Acquisition Targets: Learn how to spot businesses with growth potential and understand what makes an acquisition target viable.
Due Diligence Checklists and Techniques: Gain knowledge on conducting thorough due diligence, a critical step in assessing a business’s true value and potential risks.
Negotiation Strategies for Acquisition: Discover key negotiation tactics for acquisition deals to ensure a beneficial agreement for all parties involved.
Post-Acquisition Integration Plans: Understand the steps necessary to successfully integrate an acquired company, from employee management to merging systems and cultures.
Financial Analysis and Funding Options: Explore financial analysis basics for acquisition and learn about various funding options, including loans, investors, and other financial instruments.
About the presenter:
Benjamin Wann, CMA, CSCA, MBA, PMP, owns Asheville accounting firm CFO Consultants, LLC, with a team of 13 and 2 offices in NC.
Originally from the Philadelphia region and coming from a 10-year career providing insights to executives of mid-sized manufacturing firms, Ben transitioned to entrepreneurship full-time in Nov 2022. Ben’s thesis was that the small business community would value the same expertise, technology and know-how that the large organizations have to help accelerate their own businesses.
12:00-1:00pm – GROW Session
Sandwiches, salad and chips will be catered by Del Vecchios!
Please register for this event in order to help us plan accordingly.
About PROpel AVL:
Designed for young professionals between the ages of 21 and 40 in the Asheville/Buncombe area, PROpel AVL provides outstanding professional leadership development opportunities through educational seminars, service opportunities and networking.
Stay connected with text alerts! Text #propelavl to 828-827-5332 for updates and reminders about PROpel AVL programs.
Chamber members impact the local business community by making an investment in Chamber membership. Whether you’re a new member, a long-time member with new staff, or a business who’s considering membership, we welcome you to attend our Chamber Orientation to learn how to get the most value from your membership investment.
Chamber President Kit Cramer will give an overview of the work the Chamber is doing every day to build our community, including how we support our thriving economy by growing jobs, advocating for a business-friendly environment and helping our members prosper. We’ll dive into member benefits and share ideas of how you can take advantage of the many opportunities available to you as a member. You’ll also have a chance to meet Chamber staff and learn how you can get more engaged.
Orientation is also a great chance to meet other Chamber members.
This event is free, but registration is requested in order to help us plan appropriately.
Drip is Asheville’s first and only wood fired sauna and cold plunge experience, overlooking the beautiful French Broad River. Enjoy a traditional sauna experience in the great outdoors with friends, for a truly unique experience that will leave you energized and inspired. They’re supporting events through mobile delivery and bringing the heat to nature near you.
Come check out their new location to take in the view while enjoying a sauna and cold plunge experience. They will offer a raffle for a free sauna experience as well as other fun items on site.
AI in Production is a two-day, single-track conference designed for product teams and software developers tasked with building AI products, offering guidance on best practices and starting points.
This community event brings together professionals to exchange ideas, learn about the latest AI practices and tools, and discuss their applications and limitations with industry leaders and peers in AI and software development.
Join us to learn, network, gain inspiration, and shape the future of AI in business and applications.
Downtown on Fridays, discover a delightful assortment of quality handmade goods from skilled makers at Asheville’s weekly street party. The Pack Square Artisan Market is produced by Places For Makers, an Asheville, NC based non-profit organization.
Join us in celebrating the vibrant Asheville Design District’s anniversary at the Collaborative, located at 121 Sweeten Creek Rd, Asheville, NC 28803, on July 20, 2024. This festive event will be filled with activities and entertainment for everyone.
Event Highlights
Enjoy a variety of food trucks offering delicious eats.
Groove to live music.
Explore the full market hosted by Marchè, featuring numerous vendors showcasing unique products. This is a wonderful opportunity to immerse yourself in the local art and design community.
Family and Pet Friendly
Bring your family and furry friends along for a day of fun and celebration. The event is designed to be enjoyed by all ages, ensuring an inclusive and enjoyable experience for everyone.
Outdoor Yoga
The Asheville event kicks off at 11am with a breath of wellness. Join us for yoga in our outdoor space overlooking Sweeten Creek, hosted by Yoga Nut.
Asheville Marchè
The Asheville Marchè will run from noon to 5pm. Peruse vendors of artisanal and hand-made goods, art, and crafts. Support local vendors and find the perfect item or gift.
Atelier Maison & Co. Sale
During this exciting event, Atelier Maison & Co. will be running a sale on our luxury heirloom furnishings. Discover beautiful, high-quality pieces to enhance your home.
Join us in celebrating the Grand Opening of Coldwell Banker Advantage with a ribbon cutting!
Downtown on Fridays, discover a delightful assortment of quality handmade goods from skilled makers at Asheville’s weekly street party. The Pack Square Artisan Market is produced by Places For Makers, an Asheville, NC based non-profit organization.