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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.

Saturday, September 7, 2024
AVL Clothing Swap
Sep 7 @ 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
The Regeneration Station

The biggest clothing swap in Asheville is back!

Join AVL Clothing Swap at The Regeneration Station and help raise money for reproductive rights. New for this event – we’re partnering with AVL Fatties for an even better plus size selection!

How does the clothing swap work?

1. Gather clothing you no longer need that is in good, clean condition.
2. Purchase your ticket to the event. 100% of profits go to charity.
3. Drop off your clothing before the day of the event (September 7!) We accept adult clothing and shoes in good, clean condition. Please, no bras, underwear, kid’s clothing, or accessories
4. On the day of the event, show up to shop the swap!

Clothing swaps are a great way to get rid of items that you no longer need, but that might be just what someone else is looking for.

Saturday, September 14, 2024
WNC Run/Walk for Autism
Sep 14 @ 8:00 am
Bill Moore Community Park

Join us on Saturday, September 14!
The 19th annual WNC Run/Walk for Autism is an amazing and fun-filled community event that helps improve the lives of autistic children and adults by raising funds to support local autism programs.

You must register online by noon on Wednesday, September 11, to participate.

The WNC Run/Walk for Autism will be held at Bill Moore Community Park in Fletcher.

Event Schedule:

* 8:00 a.m. – Packet pick-up begins
* 9:00 a.m. – 5K competitive and non-competitive runs begin
* 9:15 a.m. – 1 mile Fun Run/Walk begins

Awards ceremony for 5K race and top fundraising teams to follow.

For more event details, including all deadlines, course map, etc., click here.

As many as 1 in 36 children may be diagnosed with autism in the United States. You can make a difference in the lives of people with autism, their families, and communities by supporting this event and asking for donations.

Bullington Gardens Fall Plant Sale
Sep 14 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Bullington Gardens

Bullington Gardens’ Fall Plant Sale is happening from September 12-14 from 9 am – 4:00 pm. Bullington has long been well known for growing unique and healthy plants. This year is no exception. The sale will feature an impressive selection of locally grown native plants, fall perennials, shrubs, trees, and cool-season annuals, all carefully chosen to thrive in our local climate. 100% of the proceeds from this event will go directly towards supporting the ongoing operation of Bullington Gardens, a beloved non-profit botanical garden that has been a cornerstone of the Hendersonville community for 35 years. With a focus on horticultural therapy and environmental education, Bullington Gardens plays a vital role in connecting people with nature and promoting well-being through the power of plants.

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Artists + Writers Coffee
Sep 14 @ 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Tryon Fine Arts Center

Saturdays from 10:30 AM – 12 PM

TFAC Pavilion (park/enter at rear of building)
Free drop-in event
Saturday, September 21, 2024
Artists + Writers Coffee
Sep 21 @ 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Tryon Fine Arts Center

Saturdays from 10:30 AM – 12 PM

TFAC Pavilion (park/enter at rear of building)
Free drop-in event
Authentic WNC Smoked Barbecue Served at Scouting America Fund-Raiser
Sep 21 @ 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Riceville Fire Department

Each year locals look forward to the annual Scouting America Cub Scout Pack 17 and Scouts Troop 17 barbecue dinner benefit, The event set for Saturday, September 21, 2024 offers tender juicy Western North Carolina smoked BBQ dinners with all the fixin’s. Take out dinners will be served behind the Riceville Fire Department and Community Center, 2251 Riceville Road, Asheville, NC, 11:00AM – 4:00PM or while supplies last. Outside Creekside picnic tables are available for dining.

Pitmasters smoke premium North Carolina pork shoulders throughout the night prior to the event. All dinners include a generous portion of BBQ pork, homemade BBQ sauce, home baked beans, North Carolina BBQ slaw and southern roll.

The charge for BBQ dinner plates will be $12.00. Reservations are not required. Creekside Picnic Tables available for all. Donations to benefit the Scouts are always appreciated.

“Local Scouting America Packs and Troops raise funds to provide support for Scouts in their service area,” said Committee Chairman Dan Little. “Funds are used to provide assistance for Scouts from economically challenged communities by sending scouts to summer camp, providing scouting handbooks, uniforms and paying for the national Scouting America annual recharter fee. Raised funds are also used to purchase flags for our veterans graves.”

On Memorial Day, Independence Day and Veterans Day Cub Scout and Scouts BSA Troop 17 honor our deceased veterans at Bethel United Methodist Cemetery by placing flags on their graves.

If you have a youth between Kindergarten and 18 years that would be interested in Scouts, there will be a Scouting America representative at the BBQ event to provide information.

Scouts Serving Others: Since 1910, over 4,000 young men in Western North Carolina have earned the coveted rank of Eagle Scout. Through their Eagle Scout service projects, thousands of community service hours have been conducted to benefit our communities. Scouts in Western North Carolina will perform over 40,000 hours of community service in 2024.

Tuesday, September 24, 2024
Creative Facilitator Training
Sep 24 @ 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Story Parlor

Story Parlor and Inward & Artward present: an interactive 18-week program on how to create and facilitate unique offerings rooted in the intersection of the creative process, personal stories, and the human condition. Tailored for folks interested in starting a new and fulfilling career path, or simply wanting to deepen and/or refresh their approach to holistic creative facilitation.

Guideposts Include:

  • Identifying creative blocks, obstacles, and breakthrough strategies for self and others

  • How to create and conduct creative-based groups, workshops, classes, and retreats

  • Teaching philosophy and ethics

  • The intersection of mindfulness and the creative process, and how to implement into facilitation

  • Nurturing a sustainable creative lifestyle, personally, professionally, and instructionally

  • Tools to excavate personal stories and ways they can be used for healing, transformation, and creative bounty

  • Marketing, business planning, and logistics

  • Two one-on-one creativity coaching sessions

Early Bird pricing through March 31 | $1600
Regular price effective April 1 | $1850

Class dates include Tuesdays from 6:30-9:00pm
5/14, 5/21, 5/28, 6/4, 6/11, 6/18, 6/25, 7/9, 7/16, 7/23, 7/30, 8/6, 8/13, 8/20, 8/27, 9/10, 9/17, 9/24
Some classes will be conducted over zoom; Final three meetings will go till 9:30pm.

Before registering, prospective participants must first submit the below application. Next steps will be provided thereafter.

Thursday, September 26, 2024
A Wild Night for Wildlife: Celebrating 10 Years of Saving Wild Lives
Sep 26 @ 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
The Mule at Devil's Foot Beverage

Appalachian Wildlife Refuge, a Candler-based nonprofit dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating injured and orphaned wildlife, is excited to announce its 10th Anniversary Celebration, “A Wild Night for Wildlife: Ten Years of Saving Wild Lives and Counting!” The event will take place on Thursday, September 26, from 6:30-9:00 pm at The Mule at Devil’s Foot Beverage, located at 131 Sweeten Creek Road in Asheville.

For the past decade, Appalachian Wildlife Refuge has provided care for more than 7,000 wild animals while also offering conservation education and promoting a deeper appreciation for local wildlife.

Event Highlights:
Date: Thursday, September 26
Time: 6:30-9:00 pm (6-6:30 pm early admission for VIPs)
Location: The Mule at Devil’s Foot Beverage, 131 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville, NC
Dress Code: Business Casual
Tickets: $50 per person
VIP Tickets: $85 per person (benefits listed at ApplachianWild.org)

This special celebration will feature live music, food, drinks, silent auction, and live ambassador animals. Guests will have the opportunity to meet ambassador animals and learn about getting injured and orphaned wildlife into care.

Ticket Information:
Tickets are available for $50 per person. VIP tickets, which offer early entry at 6 pm and additional perks outlined on AppalachianWild.org, can be purchased for $85 per person. All proceeds from the event will directly support the rescue and rehabilitation efforts of Appalachian Wildlife Refuge.

“We are thrilled to invite the community to join us in celebrating this milestone,” said Savannah Trantham, executive director of Appalachian Wildlife Refuge. “This event is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our supporters, volunteers, and staff over the past ten years. We look forward to continuing our mission and making an even greater impact in the years to come.”

Tickets for “A Wild Night for Wildlife” will be available in late August. To purchase tickets or for more information, please visit AppalachianWild.org. For information on sponsorship opportunities, email [email protected].

Appalachian Wildlife Refuge is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of injured and orphaned wildlife in Western North Carolina. The organization also focuses on educating the public about conservation and wildlife protection, fostering a harmonious relationship between humans and the natural world.

Saturday, September 28, 2024
Artists + Writers Coffee
Sep 28 @ 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Tryon Fine Arts Center

Saturdays from 10:30 AM – 12 PM

TFAC Pavilion (park/enter at rear of building)
Free drop-in event
Thursday, October 3, 2024
A Taste of the Vineyard
Oct 3 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Point Lookout Vineyards

If dancing and craft beer – and the opportunity to sample some fine bourbon – sound like fun, Big Brothers Big Sisters’ fundraiser Oct. 3 at Point Lookout Vineyards will get your toes to tapping.

A Taste of the Vineyard, BBBS of Henderson County’s annual fundraiser now 11 years old,
has added a new twist – an optional specialty bourbon tasting. It’s all part of a night of fun, friendship, and fundraising for an organization that matches professionally vetted and supported “Bigs” with “Littles” looking for mentors who listen well and are up for fun.

The annual event will pair a sumptuous BBQ dinner with a cash bar accessing craft beer and wines by Point Lookout Vineyards (specialty bourbon tastings are an additional cost, except for package deals and sponsorships). A silent auction featuring unique experiences will accompany live music by Marley’s Chain. The dance floor opens up after the meal to continue the celebration of the power and potential of Henderson County youth.

“We are fortunate to have community support through sponsorships and ticket holders, allowing us to raise funds that are applied to keeping our dream alive,” said Joey Popp, a Henderson County Big Brother and former BBBS of Western North Carolina board member. “The annual event will provide valuable support for our volunteers as they mentor young people to help guide them to success.”

Admission is $75 per person. The $1,000 VIP package include eight event tickets and a complimentary bourbon tasting for each of the eight guests. Tickets are available at https://secure.qgiv.com/for/totv-bootsbourbon/event/totv-boots/. Several levels of sponsorship, with increasing benefits, are available at the website too.

Point Lookout Vineyards, with its extraordinary views, is at 408 Appleola Road, Hendersonville.

Under the Stars – AMOS’ 10th Annual Fundraiser!
Oct 3 @ 6:00 pm
The Mule at Devil’s Foot Beverage Company
The Asheville Museum of Science invites you to join us on Thursday, October 3rd, 2024 at The Mule at Devil’s Foot Beverage Company for a stellar evening of science, dinner, dancing, and premier live and silent auction! Featuring delicious dinner by Sage and Spice Catering and live music from the talented Queen Bee and the Honeylovers! The event is from 6pm – 10pm with a VIP reception from 4:30pm – 6pm.
Ticket prices are as follows:
– Non-member tickets: $70
– Member tickets: $65
– VIP tickets: $80
Saturday, October 5, 2024
InterBeing Festival
Oct 5 @ 10:00 am
Samasati Sanctuary

Most festivals are about the music, the food and the fun… the InterBeing Festival includes all of that, but the focus is on meaning and connection. Individuals from all walks of life are invited to gather, elevate the spirit, relate with others, and explore the power of community.

Through a rich array of interactive workshops, engaging discussions, artistic performances and group ritual, participants will embark on a journey of discovery and connection. Whether singing in a song circle, being part of a cacao ceremony, creating art on the spot or dancing to the rhythm of world music, there will be something for everyone to enjoy and engage with.

The festival will feature an inspiring lineup of speakers, activists and artists; performers include musical headliner Alexander Caruso, along with Adama Dembele, Billy Jonas, and One Heart Band, all of whom are known for catchy tunes and meaningful lyrics.

The festival theme this year is Community: Refuge in a Changing World. To that end, our featured session will be the Community Leaders Roundtable, bringing together community support organizations to be in dialog with each other for the first time, sharing their values, their vision, their challenges and solutions.

The festival is a fundraiser for Beloved Asheville, our scrappy local nonprofit that serves those most in need.

Artists + Writers Coffee
Oct 5 @ 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Tryon Fine Arts Center

Saturdays from 10:30 AM – 12 PM

TFAC Pavilion (park/enter at rear of building)
Free drop-in event
Saturday, October 12, 2024
Artists + Writers Coffee
Oct 12 @ 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Tryon Fine Arts Center

Saturdays from 10:30 AM – 12 PM

TFAC Pavilion (park/enter at rear of building)
Free drop-in event
Saturday, October 19, 2024
Creative Writer’s Workshop: Panning For Gemstones
Oct 19 – Oct 20 all-day
Story Parlor

What do you do when you find you’re facing an insurmountable pile of unfinished creative work? An entire digital archive of ‘maybes?’

To use an Appalachian metaphor, you pan your dirt for gemstones.

This workshop explores what it means to run creative writing through an objective sieve. It provides a framework for tackling the current pile of unfinished work, as well as addressing the indefinite ‘maybes’ of tomorrow.

Learn to sift your mounds of incomplete material, develop self-editing skills, readjust your critical lens, and polish, refine, and complete your precious pieces.

Among peers and in the safety of a validating creative space, writers can anticipate the delight of creative collaboration, the usefulness of constructive feedback, and the thrill of showcasing the rarity and purity of their finest gemstones.

Artists + Writers Coffee
Oct 19 @ 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Tryon Fine Arts Center

Saturdays from 10:30 AM – 12 PM

TFAC Pavilion (park/enter at rear of building)
Free drop-in event
Sunday, October 20, 2024
Senderos 20th Anniversary Celebration
Oct 20 @ 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Highland Brewing

Senderos is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting children and communities in Guatemala through educational initiatives. Since its inception, Senderos has worked to improve the lives of children through partnerships with local changemakers. This 20th Anniversary Celebration will feature a performance by Senderos founder and acclaimed musician David LaMotte, as well as live music from students in the El Tejar Music Program, presented via video feed. Attendees will also enjoy one complimentary drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic), authentic Guatemalan finger foods, and a big dose of inspiration.

Saturday, October 26, 2024
Artists + Writers Coffee
Oct 26 @ 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Tryon Fine Arts Center

Saturdays from 10:30 AM – 12 PM

TFAC Pavilion (park/enter at rear of building)
Free drop-in event
TOUCH-A-TRUCK®️ FAMILY FESTIVAL
Oct 26 @ 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Tanger Asheville

TOUCH-A-TRUCK is an annual community-wide event where both kids and kids at heart have the opportunity to see, touch, and learn about vehicles of all types, including public service, emergency, utility, construction, delivery, and public transportation — all in one place! Guests will meet the drivers and operators of these vehicles. Children will be able to “Truck-or-Treat” during the festival, and family-friendly costumes are encouraged (but not required). There will be a quiet hour from 11AM-noon for individuals sensitive to loud noises. Tickets are $5 per person ages 3 and up and can be purchased online or at the gate. Food and additional activities will be available at Tanger Asheville.

Strings of Hope Benefit Concert
Oct 26 @ 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Pisgah Brewing Co.

The Builders Association of the Blue Ridge Mountains is hosting “Strings of Hope”, a concert to support local builders, suppliers, and industry professionals impacted by Hurricane Helene. The event, from 2 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, October 26, will feature live performances from Cuberow, The Asheville Mountain Boys, Red Clay Revival, and Fireside Collective. Suggested ticket donation: $10.

Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Great Smokies Eco-Adventure
Oct 29 @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Mark your calendar for an immersive Smokies experience like none other! Spend your days exploring the wilds of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and your nights glamorously camping off the grid. Discover Life in America and partner A Walk in the Woods bring you a 3-day, 2-night adventure, with expert-led nature hikes, camping in a luxurious off-grid setting, mouth-watering, local food and drink, and much more. All proceeds from this fundraising event will help DLiA discover and conserve the rich biodiversity of the Smokies.

Saturday, November 2, 2024
North Carolina Writers Network Fall Conference
Nov 2 – Nov 3 all-day
DoubleTree - Biltmore

Registration is now open for The North Carolina Writers’ Network 2024 Fall Conference. The conference will open on Friday, November 1, with a keynote address by Ron Rash, author of The Caretaker, Serena, and The World Made Straight.

The Fall Conference takes place November 1-3, 2024 at the DoubleTree Asheville in Biltmore Village. The organization’s biannual conferences are hosted in different North Carolina cities each year. The last time the conference took place in Asheville was 2019. This weekend event, designed to deepen meaningful connections among attendees, is a three-day celebration of North Carolina’s literary craft with talks, workshops, panels, and resources.

Join over 200 other writers and literature enthusiasts!

The conference welcomes attendees to experience two sides of literary craft: the evolving publishing environment for North Carolina writers, as well as craft technique that makes good writing endure through the ages. Ron Rash will be joined on the conference faculty by more than three dozen award-winning and acclaimed writers, editors, and publicists leading classes on the craft and business of writing.

Artists + Writers Coffee
Nov 2 @ 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Tryon Fine Arts Center

Saturdays from 10:30 AM – 12 PM

TFAC Pavilion (park/enter at rear of building)
Free drop-in event
Saturday, November 9, 2024
Artists + Writers Coffee
Nov 9 @ 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Tryon Fine Arts Center

Saturdays from 10:30 AM – 12 PM

TFAC Pavilion (park/enter at rear of building)
Free drop-in event
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
NC Writers Network & The Brandy Bar host “In the Company of Writers” series with Kathy S. Bowers & Lee Stockdale
Nov 13 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
The Brandy Bar + Cocktails

The North Carolina Writers Network and The Brandy Bar + Cocktails present
KATHY SMITH BOWERS & LEE STOCKDALE as next in their series “In the Company of Writers.”
The program offers a series of personal and conversational dialogues featuring guest writers/poets followed by an open mic forum that occurs the 2nd Wednesday of each month. These inspirational gatherings will elucidate and entertain those attending. The guest author speaks from 7-8 PM with an open mic from 8 -9 PM. The Chicago blues music of “Hollywood Johnny Cosgrove” (accompanied by Charlie Wilkinson) welcomes you, continues during intermission, and closes the evening. Sign-ups for the open are available at the entrance.
Cathy Smith Bowers, a former Poet-Laureate of North Carolina, lives in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

NC Writers Network & The Brandy Bar host “In the Company of Writers” series with Kathy S. Bowers & Lee Stockdale
Nov 13 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
The Brandy Bar + Cocktails

The North Carolina Writers Network and The Brandy Bar + Cocktails present
KATHY SMITH BOWERS & LEE STOCKDALE as next in their series “In the Company of Writers”
The program offers a series of personal and conversational dialogues featuring guest writers/poets followed by an open mic forum that occurs the 2nd Wednesday of each month. These inspirational gatherings will elucidate and entertain those attending. The guest author speaks from 7-8 PM with an open mic from 8 -9 PM. The Chicago blues music of “Hollywood Johnny Cosgrove” (accompanied by Charlie Wilkinson) welcomes you, continues during intermission, and closes the evening. Sign-ups for the open are available at the entrance.
Cathy Smith Bowers, a former Poet-Laureate of North Carolina, lives in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Thursday, November 14, 2024
NC Benefit Concert featuring Unspoken Tradition
Nov 14 @ 7:00 pm
White Horse Black Mountain

The Blue Ridge Music Trails is hosting a benefit concert at White Horse in Black Mountain on November 14, 2024, at 7 p.m. We invite you to attend and support the traditional music artists in Western North Carolina post-Hurricane Helene. 

Headlining the show will be Unspoken Tradition, a chart-topping quintet hailing from Western and Central North Carolina. Their music is influenced by their lives and roots in traditional and new grass music, as is evident in their quality catalog of unique songs. Several of their singles have topped the Billboard Bluegrass and Bluegrass Today charts. They took the stage at the 2024 IBMA Bluegrass Live! concert.

Unspoken Tradition has also been busy dedicating time and raising money for their home state the past month. We’re excited to have them play this event, bringing more joy to the region and providing hope and levity as we focus on lifting up this region’s rich and enduring music scene.

Tickets will be available in advance and at the door. Due to the impact of Tropical Storm Helene this is a pay-what-you-can event. A portion of the proceeds will support the Blue Ridge Music Trails artists, with the other portion going towards charities of White Horse’s choice. Together, we continue to support our communities. If you cannot make the event but would like to help, please consider donating to the Blue Ridge Music Trails at: https://www.blueridgemusicnc.com/donate/

Friday, November 15, 2024
Winter Lights
Nov 15 @ 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.

Saturday, November 16, 2024
3rd Annual Blackhawk Bolt 5k & 1 mi Fun Run
Nov 16 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
North Buncombe High School

Lace up your running shoes and join us at 10:00am for our 3rd annual Blackhawk Bolt 5K & Fun Run on Saturday, November 16, 2024. Run this unique road-to-trail course to benefit North Buncombe High School PTSO and Blackhawks Marching Band

Artists + Writers Coffee
Nov 16 @ 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Tryon Fine Arts Center

Saturdays from 10:30 AM – 12 PM

TFAC Pavilion (park/enter at rear of building)
Free drop-in event