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.

Join us in celebrating the Grand Opening of Coldwell Banker Advantage with a ribbon cutting!

Join us for an evening of networking, great food and drinks at Bears Smokehouse BBQ!

PROpel AVL provides outstanding professional leadership development opportunities through educational seminars, service opportunities and networking for Asheville professionals between the ages of 21 and 40.

United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County’s annual School Supply Drive is thrilled to give you the opportunity to help distribute backpacks to various local nonprofits for students who cannot afford school supplies. This year, PROpel AVL is teaming up with Highlands Circle, UWABC’s young professional group, to highlight how essential community service is for ensuring that everyone in Asheville and Buncombe County can thrive.

We have an important volunteer shift coming up on Wednesday, July 31st, from 3:00 to 5:00 PM. During this time, we’ll be loading backpacks into vehicles, breaking down and cleaning the space, and returning items to UWABC’s offices.

By joining us, you’ll play a crucial role in providing over 2,000 backpacks to students in our county, giving thousands of children the supplies they need to succeed in school. Your participation is vital to making this initiative a success.

Every single contribution counts, and your efforts truly matter. Together, we can make a significant impact on our community. Your support will help ensure that all students have the tools they need for a bright future. Please come out and join us—your involvement can make all the difference!

To read more about school supply drive go here! If this shift does not work for you, but you would like to participate please email Ella Pullman at [email protected].

WomanUP welcomes keynote speaker, author and executive coach Val Grub for a workshop on working across generations. On August 1st, we’ll explore strategies to engage with people of all ages in the workplace and embrace the wisdom of age while valuing the contributions of youth.

Are you ready to rock the networking scene in Hendersonville? Join us for an unforgettable evening of connection and opportunity at the Rockstar Connect Networking Event on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, from 6 PM to 8 PM at Trailside Brewing Co.

Hosted by Jeff Patterson, this event is all about building meaningful relationships with people who get things done in Hendersonville. Our events are open to everyone to make meaningful connections, known for their friendly and engaging atmosphere, and we guarantee that you’ll feel welcome from the moment you arrive.

Don’t pass up the chance to network with the appropriate people, become part of the Hendersonville community, and create long-lasting connections that will further your career. Join our Facebook Group: Hendersonville Networking powered by Rockstar Connect

Visit our landing page: https://rockstarconnect.com/hendersonville-networking/

Rockstar Connect

Homepage

WHY: To learn more about our mission and raise funds which will provide shelter, residential treatment, education, and life skills for children and young adults at Eliada. Helping children and teens in crisis develop the skills they need to overcome life’s obstacles and become productive adults helps ensure the future of our community. But we cannot do it without your support.

MISSION: Helping Children Succeed

SERVICE AREA: State of North Carolina – Eliada serves more than 500 children annually through 5 key programs that provide a place to live, education, special education, food and clothing, and intensive therapy to children who need these services. While most children are from Buncombe and surrounding counties, Eliada serves children from all corners of NC.

Thank you for helping us share Eliada’s mission with the community!

Have an auction item you would like to donate? Please fill out the Auction Donation Form. We appreciate your helping making this event a success!

If you’d like to attend, please call the Memorial at 828-253-8304, or email Kayla Seay at [email protected] to reserve a spot. Our capacity for this event is 40.

This is a free event, but donations are appreciated as we raise funds to update our A/V equipment and website.

For its first big community event, Phoenix Fire Coffee is hosting Phoenix Festival – a fundraising event and small business expo showcasing local artists, food trucks, and live music. The event will be at The Outpost near Carrier Park on August 2liv4th. Food and vendors open from 4pm to 9pm. Music goes until 11pm. We hope to use this event to raise money for our grand opening while simultaneously uplifting small businesses and fostering a sense of community.
Admission is free, but a donation of $5 or more would be greatly appreciated.

We are delighted to invite you to a special gathering designed exclusively for the women of our community—Reflect: A Ladies-Only Event at Elevation Church AVL Watch Party! Join us on 9/13 at 7 PM (10 Genevieve Circle, Asheville, NC 28801) for an evening dedicated to reflection, renewal, and connection.

This event is sure to uplift and inspire each lady as we reflect on our personal journeys and celebrate our shared faith. Your presence will add a unique and cherished dimension to our gathering.

We can’t wait to share this special evening with you and experience the joy and renewal that comes from coming together in faith.

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.

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.

Flat Rock, N.C. – The Episcopal Church of St. John in the Wilderness will offer a “Blessing of the Animals” on Sunday, October 6, at 4pm in the back parking lot located behind the Parish Hall at 1905 Greenville Highway in Flat Rock.

Furry and feathered companions are invited to this special service to receive a blessing. Cats,
dogs, snakes, chickens, horses, birds, goats, in fact all domestic animals, are welcome! As an option, a stuffed animal or pet photo may be presented to receive a blessing. Our outdoor meeting space will create a lively Eucharist for all creatures involved.

“The more time I spend in Creation, the more I feel connected to the plants and animals that surround us and the God who made it all,” said Rev. Josh Stephens, the Rector of the parish. “We know your pets and farm animals are members of your family so please come out for this special service that honors your animals and asks for God to bless and care for them as they bless and care for you.”

The service comes a few days after the annual Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, a man with a true
spirit of love and peace that could have only come from God. He turned the cerebral,
inward-leaning theology and scholasticism of the Middle Ages, on its head by his radical
commitment to living a life of poverty and service in the pattern of Jesus of Nazareth.

Those who encountered St. Francis were drawn into the peaceable Kingdom of God to know
more fully the Prince of Peace. Even animals, it is said, were attracted to his Christ-like
gentleness. In one story he preaches to a flock of birds. In another he makes peace with a wolf that had been terrorizing a village calling the creature “Brother Wolf” and reconciling him to the village.

As we thank God for the animals in our lives we pray that the reconciling work of Jesus Christ might extend beyond our relationship with God to include all creation. We hope you will join us with your animal companions for this fun outdoor worship service. In the event of rain, the service will be relocated inside the Parish Hall.

For more information call the church office at 828-693-9783 or visit www.stjohnflatrock.org.

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.

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.

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.

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/

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Making connections is key to meeting business goals and building brand awareness. Mega Networking lets you do just that. In a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, you’ll meet business contacts from a variety of industries, gain exposure for your company and learn about other local businesses.

Held just twice a year, Mega Networking’s structured, “round robin” approach allows you to make valuable connections in a small group. Each person has a chance to share about their business, and a table leader moderates to put you at ease and keep the group on track. As you rotate from table to table, you’ll interact with most of the attendees, allowing you to make numerous connections in just one morning.

You’ll leave with great leads, great ideas and positive energy to keep your business moving forward.

Helpful tips:

• *     Practice your “elevator speech” ahead of time so you can share your most important information in one minute.
• *     Bring a little something to help others remember you and your business (something visual yet simple, AND your business card).
• *     Stay “portable” — you’ll be moving from table to table throughout the morning.
• *     If you’re a newcomer to this event, arrive a little early so you can settle in comfortably at your first table and learn the flow of the event without being rushed.
• *     Schedule time now on your calendar to follow up soon with those you meet.

Cost is $50 per Chamber member, $85 for other attendees.