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 Grey Eagle Presents: Blue Country Line Dance’s Giddy-Up Brunch
Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance presents Appalachian Phoenix, a Celebration of Community, Resilience and Hope.
July 24, 25 & 26, 2025 at 8 p.m.
Resilience. Hope. Celebration. Experience a transformative evening where world class dance, art, and community come together to honor local heroes and inspire renewal. This vibrant performance features breathtaking choreography, stunning visuals crafted from reclaimed materials, and stories of selflessness and unity — a powerful reminder that from adversity, a new strength, like a phoenix, can rise.
Join Asheville’s critically acclaimed contemporary ballet company for an unforgettable evening that blends stunning dance, breathtaking visuals, and stories of heroism inspired by our community’s recovery from Hurricane Helene.
Choreographer Heather Maloy’s latest work, Appalachian Phoenix, pairs Terpsicorps’ exceptional dancers — handpicked from some of the nation’s finest professional companies — with local artists and musicians. Together, they bring to life a powerful story of hope, unity, and transformation in the face of disaster.
An evening of beauty and resilience through the art of dance, Terpsicorps’ world premiere of Appalachian Phoenix is more than a performance—it’s a testament to the strength, creativity, and unity of Western North Carolina. This powerful new work transforms real stories of kindness and perseverance in the wake of Hurricane Helene into breathtaking movement, music, and design. Terpsicorps, now in its 22nd season, features world-class dancers who will bring to life the true stories of local heroes, nominated by their communities. Their acts of kindness and courage shape the choreography, making Appalachian Phoenix a deeply personal and meaningful experience. Around 15,000 water bottles collected from the storm’s debris will be utilized to create a remarkable translucent backdrop that will frame the choreography and reflect abstracted images of WNC projected onto its surface. The original score was created by composer Jeff Schmitt, along with River Guerguerian and Chris Rosser, of Free Planet Radio. It blends the past and present into a dynamic, inspiring, and evocative composition. The score fuses old-time, bluegrass, Afro-Appalachian folk, hip-hop, funk, blues-rock, and Latin rhythms. Collectively, they’ve performed at venues ranging from Carnegie Hall to MerleFest, and the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
Extension Master Gardener volunteers will staff the Helpline as indicated in the schedule below. You may send an email or leave a voicemail at any time and an Extension Master Gardener volunteer will respond during Garden Helpline hours. When emailing, please include a photo if it helps describe your gardening question. Soil test kits can be picked up at the Extension office, 24/7. The kits are located in a box outside the front door.
Three ways to contact the Garden Helpline
⮕Call 828-255-5522
⮕Email questions and photos to [email protected]
⮕Visit the Extension Office at 49 Mt. Carmel Road during Helpline hours, listed below.
Garden Helpline Hours
March (starts March 10) – October (ends October 23)
Monday 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Thursday 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Extension Master Gardener volunteers will staff the Helpline as indicated in the schedule below. You may send an email or leave a voicemail at any time and an Extension Master Gardener volunteer will respond during Garden Helpline hours. When emailing, please include a photo if it helps describe your gardening question. Soil test kits can be picked up at the Extension office, 24/7. The kits are located in a box outside the front door.
Three ways to contact the Garden Helpline
⮕Call 828-255-5522
⮕Email questions and photos to [email protected]
⮕Visit the Extension Office at 49 Mt. Carmel Road during Helpline hours, listed below.
Garden Helpline Hours
March (starts March 10) – October (ends October 23)
Monday 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Thursday 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Docents and Presenters: Extension Master Gardener volunteers working in the garden.
Program Description: On the last Wednesday of the month from May to October you can join a more formal tour and be led through the gardens by a master gardener docent as you watch the other gardeners caring for the plants. See beautiful and interesting plants, delicious vegetables, native plants for beauty and pollinator interest.
The tours start at 10:00 a.m. and should last approximately an hour. The tours will begin outside the front door of the Buncombe County Extension Office.
Wear appropriate attire (hat, sunglasses and sturdy shoes and bring some water) as this event will be held outside. In the event of steady rain in West Asheville, the workday and the tour will be canceled.
The tour is free and registration is not necessary.
If you have questions, call 828-255-5522.
NOTE: The Learning Garden is open for informal visits Monday through Friday throughout the year, but if you visit on a Wednesday, during the growing season, you can meet the Master Gardeners working in the gardens and ask questions about the plants and their care. We invite you to visit often, observe the gardens, and ask questions as the Master Gardeners tend the gardens through the growing season. If you have questions, call 828-255-5522.
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.
Extension Master Gardener volunteers will staff the Helpline as indicated in the schedule below. You may send an email or leave a voicemail at any time and an Extension Master Gardener volunteer will respond during Garden Helpline hours. When emailing, please include a photo if it helps describe your gardening question. Soil test kits can be picked up at the Extension office, 24/7. The kits are located in a box outside the front door.
Three ways to contact the Garden Helpline
⮕Call 828-255-5522
⮕Email questions and photos to [email protected]
⮕Visit the Extension Office at 49 Mt. Carmel Road during Helpline hours, listed below.
Garden Helpline Hours
March (starts March 10) – October (ends October 23)
Monday 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Thursday 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
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.
THURSDAY JULY 31, 7:30Pm at The Orange Peel PULP
ENJOY standup comedy in a whole new way with picture and videos to go along with the fun in a bourbon bar comedy club! Hosted by Hilliary Begley from Netflix & Prime Video. Headliner Jordan Julius, winner of Slice Standup Comedy Contest. Featuring hot regional comics Sarah Love, Jason Reel & Lois Adjevi
FREE SNACKS, outside food ok!
Get you tix now, these shows sell out!
On July 31, August 1, and 2, 2025, a different show will be presented live on stage each evening allowing you to appreciate the talent and dedication of the hundreds of musicians, dancers, and storytellers who are preserving the traditions of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. These traditions involve not only the hand-clapping, toe-tapping rhythms of Bluegrass, the style and stories of century-old ballads, the high energy of clogging, the elegance of Big Circle Mountain Smooth Dance, the fun and entertainment of storytelling, but also include an awareness of the hardships and trials that have brought us to this place and 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.
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.
Join us at the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center (MHCREC) for our annual Field Day. Since 1949, our station has been a hub of agricultural innovation, with the added addition of Field Day being a long-standing tradition. This year’s event promises an engaging, informative, and hands-on look at the latest in horticultural research and extension activities.
Field Day 2025 will feature a comprehensive showcase of ongoing research programs across a variety of crops such as apples, tomatoes, nursery plants, and other specialty crops. In addition to the featured research, the event will highlight various other projects and initiatives that reflect the breadth of work being done here at MHCREC.
Come for the whole day or drop in for part of it — your choice! Admission is free.
Enjoy a complimentary lunch on us! And of course, don’t miss the chance to make your own fresh tomato sandwich right in the field!
We look forward to welcoming growers, researchers, students, and community members alike for a day of learning, networking, and celebration of agricultural innovation.
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.
The first annual Bodhi Fest, a Buddhist Arts and Film Festival at Asheville Community Theatre on August 16th, 2025 will be a day of illumination as we explore the gladdening qualities of the human spirit ranging from sweet solitude to ecstatic joy. The program will consist of Buddhist films + Q&A, shorts, a dance workshop, a songwriting workshop, musical performances and more. Crafts, art and food from Buddhist sanghas, artists and local vendors will be shared in the front lobby during the festival.
Enjoy an event of immersion in compassionate-wisdom activities that provoke insight and lift the spirit.
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.
Presenters: Drake Fowler, Executive Director, North Carolina Arboretum
Program Description: We often see Asheville, North Carolina, as a “climate haven,” and we were all shaken by the impacts of Hurricane Helene last September.
In this thought-provoking talk, Drake Fowler, the Executive Director of the North Carolina Arboretum, discusses our first-hand experience living through this major geological event and what it reveals about the vulnerability—and potential—of our landscapes.
Learn how local professionals and other specialists are charting a path toward long-term recovery, and explore strategies for building more resilient gardens and communities in a changing climate.
The presentation is free, and registration with Eventbrite is required.
If you have questions, contact the Buncombe County Extension office at 828-255-5522.
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.
We have another standup comedy contest, coming up on Thursday August 21! Come out for the fun as you pick your favorite comic of the night!! Audiences love these shows and tickets go fast!
___________________________________
The Slice of Life Comedy Asheville Fall/Winter Standup Contest Series: ROUND 1
Thursday August 21, 7:30p-9:30p, doors at 6:30p
The Orange Peel’s Comedy Basement, Pulp Lounge
103 Hilliard Ave, Downtown Asheville
Tickets: $17 (available at door or The Orange Peel website)
These shows sellout!
Hosted by Hilliary Begley from Netflix & Amazon Prime!
Cocktails available while you laugh the night away to some of the area’s best Stand Up Comics in a ridiculously fun adult environment!!
Free snacks while availability lasts! You may bring your own food in (no drinks)!
How it Works:
Comics on the show will do approximately 3-1/2m of comedy. This show’s 3 top comics will be brought back with other show winners to compete in our pageant finale, date TBD. Audience votes through paper ballots to be picked up and counted at end of show, winner will be announced.
Want to compete?
These spots go fast! There is no cost to performing comics. Comics should have 3-5m of material and be prepared for additional material in the event of a tie-breaker performance. Winners will be compensated for the night and move on to the finale.
Go to SliceofLifeComedy.com for more information. Contact Michele with any questions, or to sign up at [email protected]
Support your local pollinators in The Learning Garden and participate in the Great Southeast Pollinator Census. Join us and learn how to identify and count common pollinators and what plants they favor. After a brief presentation we will go out into the garden and count pollinators.
Two (15 minute) counting sessions will be held back to back. Come for the first one or stay for both. Extension Master Gardener volunteers will provide instruction and assist. Your count matters!
Please bring a hat, water bottle and a chair if needed.
The program is free, but participation is limited and registration is required. Details of the program, along with registration instructions are found on the Buncombe County Extension website.
If you encounter problems registering or if you have questions, call 828-255-5522.
Photo by Donna Sapp, Extension Master Gardener volunteer
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.
Join the fun, French inspired dance party that is the rage in Europe and gaining ground here in the US. Guest teacher Catherine Rudin joins us from Omaha, Nebraska where she leads a local IFD group and is a frequent teacher at Midwestern workshops. Live music will be by Geraud Barralon who was born in France to a musical family then relocated with marriage to Brasstown, NC. There he is a musician with the John C. Campbell Folk School and an instructor with the Junior Appalachian Musicians when not touring with Balfolk events in France. Dances will be led but not taught. https://www.mountainplayshop.org/balfolk-concert-details
Tours on the last Wednesday of the month, May through October: May 28, June 25, July 30, August 27, September 24, October 29
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
This is an in-person program, held at The Learning Garden. Visit and Learn!
Visit informally Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (no docents or tours)
Docents and Presenters: Extension Master Gardener volunteers working in the garden.
Program Description: On the last Wednesday of the month from May to October you can join a more formal tour and be led through the gardens by a master gardener docent as you watch the other gardeners caring for the plants. See beautiful and interesting plants, delicious vegetables, native plants for beauty and pollinator interest.
The tours start at 10:00 a.m. and should last approximately an hour. The tours will begin outside the front door of the Buncombe County Extension Office.
Wear appropriate attire (hat, sunglasses and sturdy shoes and bring some water) as this event will be held outside. In the event of steady rain in West Asheville, the workday and the tour will be canceled.
The tour is free and registration is not necessary.
If you have questions, call 828-255-5522.
NOTE: The Learning Garden is open for informal visits Monday through Friday throughout the year, but if you visit on a Wednesday, during the growing season, you can meet the Master Gardeners working in the gardens and ask questions about the plants and their care. We invite you to visit often, observe the gardens, and ask questions as the Master Gardeners tend the gardens through the growing season. If you have questions, call 828-255-5522.
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.
Beginner’s workshop lesson at 7:30 P.M., then 8-11 P.M. Contra Dance with Country Waltzing at the break and the final dance. This is a partner dance but it’s not necessary to come with a partner. We have different live bands and callers.
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.