Calendar of Events

Enjoy live music and traditional Appalachian performances by local musicians surrounded by the gardens and beautiful mountain vistas!

Performance Schedule

Join us on Tuesday, April 22nd, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the A-B Tech Conference Center for the spring WomanUP Workshop: Landing Your Message with Confidence. Led by Angie Flynn-McIver and Neela Muñoz of Ignite CSP, you’ll gain practical tools to help you communicate with clarity and purpose – whether you’re pitching a new idea, leading a team meeting, or delivering a keynote speech.

Through real-life examples, stories, and interactive moments, Angie and Neela will walk participants through a three-part process to improve presentation skills and build confidence. Attendees will learn how to craft an effective message tailored to their audience and goals, leverage nonverbal communication, and practice for meaningful results. This workshop is designed for professionals at any career stage across all industries.

Doors open at 8 a.m. for networking and a light breakfast provided by Everyday Gourmet!

Give back this Earth Day with Buncombe County Parks and Recreation.  Volunteers are invited to assist in clean-up and service projects.  Volunteers groups are limited in capacity so Volunteer Registration is required.  All tools and materials will be provided.   More details coming soon!

Meet Kanuga’s local animal ambassadors, catch critters in the stream, sow native seeds, and learn in our mini-ecology classes.

Post Helene, nurturing and repairing our relationship with and to Nature is vital for our children and our community. Gather with us at Kanuga to celebrate the wonders of Mother Earth! The fun begins at 3:30 p.m. Come meet our local animal ambassadors, catch critters in the stream, sow native seeds, and learn in our mini-ecology classes.

Support our organic garden by purchasing native plants.

We can’t wait to welcome you and your family to Kanuga!

Tryon Arts & Crafts School presents the 2025 Glaze Daze seminar with Mayco Colors! This 1-day event includes 3 demonstrations and student exercises in the application of Mayco glaze products. Catered lunch and breakfast from local Tryon establishments are included with your ticket. No experience necessary! Pre-registration is required to attend.

Geology of the Blue Ridge II with Anton DuMars

Wednesday, April 23 |  12 – 4 pm

The second class of this two-part Geology course builds on fundamentals from the first class, Geology I. We progress to a model of Southern Appalachian Mountain building and include an overview of geologic processes such as earthquakes, mass movements, and floods. We wrap up with a summary of the Spruce Pine Mining District and the Sparta, NC Earthquake of 2020

iNaturalist: An Amazing Tool for Identification in Your Pocket with Lauren Lampley.

Thursday, April 24  |  2:30 – 4 pm

BRN + BREG – Elective

Learn how a smartphone app, iNaturalist, can both be a very useful identification tool and a way to participate in Community Science! Submitting observations to iNaturalist helps scientists learn more about species by crowd-sourcing information from users all over the world. During this class we will look at the different versions of the app and website as well as take some time outside to practice submitting your own using your own smartphone. The City Nature Challenge will take place from April 25-28 and is a great way to submit iNaturalist observations in a global effort as well as earn a Bioblitz patch from Science Across North Carolina! https://scienceacrossnc.org/

This program takes place in the classroom and outdoors. Please come prepared to walk on gentle, yet uneven terrain, and dress appropriately for the weather.

In collaboration with Verbal Purple and Our VOICE, we will be facilitating SAFE, an Anti-Human Trafficking Prevention Education Workshop for students in 6th-12th grades and their parents, informed by existing scientific evidence, that teaches on sex trafficking risk factors, recruitment dynamics, warning signs, healthy and abusive relationships, and strategies for seeking and providing help for youth. This event is open to the wider public if you are interested in attending.

The SAFE Anti-Human Trafficking Prevention Education Workshop includes sensitive content related to human trafficking and we understand this material may be distressing for some individuals. We also understand these conversations can bring up a wide variety of feelings and reactions, so reach out to Our VOICE if you need support or have concerns about the content.

Our VOICE Inc. is a non-profit crisis intervention and prevention agency that has been serving survivors of sexual violence, ages 13 through adult, in Buncombe County for over 45 years. Our VOICE also works to provide primary prevention education to stop sexual violence before it occurs.

Join us on Thursday, April 24th at 6pm at the Franklin School of Innovation!
Please help us estimate attendance by filling out this short form:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc39uHDRne-m6pXlyqgKLXtrB82s1U5xYJjkW1apiSMN3lZ5w/viewform

In collaboration with Pardee Hospital Foundation and Hunter Subaru, we are thrilled to present the 2nd Annual She Slays 5K. This event is all about celebrating the strength, courage, and fierce determination of women fighting cancer. Whether you walk or run, you’re making a difference for those who are in the midst of this battle. This event aims to empower people to take charge of their health and well-being, while also raising funds for Hendersonville women who are fighting cancer.

While this event supports women with cancer, everyone is welcome to participate!

Ages 5+

Suitable for Beginners to Advanced Birders

This outing takes place at Lake Julian Park from 8:30-11:30 am. Get to know the birds of Lake Julian, one of Buncombe County’s birding hotspots!  We will start with a walk along the shore of Lake Julian and ends with birding on the lake from Lake Julian’s pontoon boat.  Free, Registration Required.  Binoculars are available upon request but supplies are limited. Dress for the weather!

Registration opens 30 days prior to activity.

For more information email [email protected] or call 828-250-4260.

Native Azalea Day

April 26, 2025

Visit the gardens this spring for Native Azalea Day, an invitation to celebrate and experience azaleas through the eyes of plant enthusiasts, botanists, and artists. In partnership with the Mountain Science Exposition, Native Azalea Day plans to bring even more excitement in its third year! For one day only, visitors can observe as plein air artists capture the scene in paint and pen, learn about the garden and its collection on a walking tour, and participate in hands-on activities for children and adults.

A shuttle to the Collection will be available between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., departing to and from the Baker Visitor Center throughout the event. Visitors are also welcome to walk to the Native Azalea Collection from the Gatehouse Parking Lot using Old Mill Road to Bent Creek Road, or can park at the Baker Visitor Center and walk down Running Cedar Road to Bent Creek Road. Walkers should be prepared to travel one mile over unpaved roads and paths.

Schedule

10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Shuttles running continuously between Baker and Azalea Collection for public

8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.: Pre-registered bird netting activity with Wild Bird Research Group meets

10:00 a.m.: Event begins with ongoing walk-up features: tabling, activity booklet, scavenger hunt, and cyanotype activity

10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.: Pre-registered walking tour with curator (45 minute)

11:30 p.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Pre-registered walking tour with volunteer docent (30 minute)

12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.: Cyanotype demonstration with Calissa Lawn

1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.: Pre-registered walking tour with volunteer docent (30 minute)

2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Pre-registered walking tour with volunteer docent (30 minute)

3:00 p.m.: Event ends, last shuttle

Get in Gear Fest is noon – 5 p.m. at the Adventure Center of Asheville. This free festival showcases the Outdoor Industry Hub of the East with demos, sales, discounts and giveaways. Enjoy local food and beverages. ACA will offer family activities. High adventure activities will also be available at regular price: Asheville Ziplines, Asheville Treetops Adventure Park, KidZip, Kolo Bike Park. All proceeds from the ACA activities will benefit Camp Lakey Gap Autism Programs. For more information and to book a high adventure activity, visit ashevilletreetopsadventurepark.com/get-in-gear-festival.

Join us for Appalachia Day at Hickory Nut Gap Farm on April 26! Enjoy a free, family-friendly festival from 12-6 pm with live music, local artisans, food trucks, and fun farm activities. Plus, don’t miss the evening concert with Darren Nicholson Band (ticketed event). Proceeds benefit SAHC.

Celebrate the Outdoor Industry Hub of the East and connect with local outdoor companies, products, and experiences at the free 10th Annual Get In Gear Fest.

Join us with friends and family as we celebrate Earth Day and the spring season! Games, pontoon boat tours, Earth Day crafts and education, kayak demos from waterways, and more. Make your own mini greenhouse and visit with community partners. This free event is open to all ages, and no registration is required.

For more information email [email protected] or call 828-250-4260.

Join us as we celebrate Earth Day and spring!  More details coming soon

Join Kanuga for an enchanting evening under the stars, sponsored by Yoga and Massage (Y.A.M.) and Roper Mountain. This event combines the calming practice of astrological yoga, the peacefulness of a guided labyrinth walk, and the magic of star and Lyrid meteor shower gazing.

Optional: dinner in the dining hall before the event
6:00 p.m. – Meet at the labyrinth for astrological yoga with Katie
7:30 p.m. – Facilitated labyrinth walk with Aimee
8:30 p.m. – Stargazing in Pinky Elliot Field

Get ready to lace up and represent your business at the 2025 Chamber Challenge 5K! This fun, community-focused event encourages wellness and friendly competition among Asheville-area businesses. Whether you’re walking every step or racing to the finish, we know you’re up for the challenge!

Join us in person on May 2nd or participate virtually.

Important Deadlines & Details:

• Register by April 13th at midnight to receive a short-sleeve shirt with your registration!
• After April 13th, shirts will be available in limited quantities and sizes.
• Registering a large group (25+ participants)? Contact Judi Willard at [email protected] for assistance.

To stay updated—text cc5k to 828-827-5332 to receive event notifications (you can opt out anytime).

with Asheville Wellness Tours.

Celebrate the ephemeral beauty of flowers during this immersive morning nature retreat! In Japan, the birthplace of forest bathing (Shinrin Yoku), they celebrate the annual cherry blossom bloom (Sakura) with a practice known as Hanami, which translates to “contemplate the flowers.” This experience gently invites us to cultivate our attention and sensory awareness, while noticing the evanescent nature of flowering, both within and around us. Together, we will explore our relationships with native wildflowers, ourselves, each-other, and the more-than-human-world.

Your guide will lead you on a colorful journey through the blossoming spring 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 in community, enjoying 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.

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.

Join us for a powerful evening with Massey Campos, a nationally recognized speaker, preacher, and constitutional advocate. In this timely and engaging presentation, Massey will unpack the moral and biblical foundations of our nation, exploring how faith, liberty, and personal responsibility intersect with the U.S. Constitution.

With humor, passion, and deep conviction, Massey challenges audiences to think critically about our role as citizens and the values that make America exceptional. Whether you’re a seasoned patriot or just beginning to explore your civic responsibility, this event will inspire and equip you to stand for truth in today’s cultural climate.

This class offers a creative, hands-on experience perfect for all skill levels!  Participants will decorate terracotta pots using vibrant paints to transform each one into a heartfelt gift just in time for Mother’s Day.  Feel free to get creative with your design!  Everyone will get seeds to take home with them to plant in the pot once the paint is dry, creating a thoughtful and lasting token of appreciation for Mother’s Day.

Tuesday May 6th, 2:00 – 4:00. $20/$15 for Friends of Bullington Gardens.

Insect Pollinators of the Blue Ridge

with Shane Myers

Friday, May 9  |  1 – 3 pm

BRN – Elective |  BREG – Core

Our plants in the Blue Ridge are pollinated by more insects than just Honey Bees. In this course, we will look at common and some less obvious pollinators of the region and discuss their life cycles, the benefits they provide the world, and how to attract them. We will also go outside to look for pollinators doing their work around the Arboretum grounds.

This program takes place in the classroom and outdoors. Please come prepared to walk on gentle, yet uneven terrain, and dress appropriately for the weather.

Garden photography workshop with Camilla Calnan.

Do you want to take better photos in the gardens? Join us for a hands-on workshop where we use whatever camera you are working with to learn tips, tricks, and techniques to take the photos you are hoping to capture. Working from whatever level you are currently and using your phone, point and shoot camera, or SLR camera, we will discover new ways to think about photography to help you grow in your photography.

This program takes place in the classroom and outdoors. Please come prepared to walk on gentle, yet uneven terrain, and dress appropriately for the weather.

Adult comedy with a heart! Featuring comics from both Carolinas at the new Flood Gallery!

Come enjoy a hilarious night of laughs, show your support for our headliner Chris “Hillbilly” Pritchett who needs a new heart, and celebrate the reopening of Flood Gallery after Hurricane Helene! Our tentative comedian line-up includes:

1. Brendan From Long Island (Host)
2. Austin Arney
3. Jason Henson
4. Joseph Thompson
5. Kim H. Falls
6. Reggie Massey
7. Paul Ain’t Right (DJ)
8. Geo. Wagner
9. Nate Bechtel
10. Bob Maier
11. Superdad Jones
12. Hillbilly (Headliner)

Food and drinks available, $10 suggested donation. Doors open at 6:30. Produced by Brendan C. Ahern of “Rainy Night Theatre”.

Arboretum visitors will witness some of the most surprising animal behavior in the new National Geographic exhibition, “The Greatest Wildlife Photographs.” The very best wildlife pictures from the pages of National Geographic magazine have been chosen to be displayed in this exhibition. Curated by renowned nature picture editor, Kathy Moran, this exhibition is a celebratory look at wildlife with images taken by National Geographic’s most iconic photographers such as, Michael “Nick” Nichols, Steve Winter, Paul Nicklen, Beverly Joubert, David Doubilet and more. Showcasing the evolution of photography, the images convey how innovations such as camera traps, remote imaging, and underwater technology have granted photographers access to wildlife in their natural habitat.

For 115 years, National Geographic has pioneered and championed the art of wildlife photography, and captivated generations of engaged audiences with a steady stream of extraordinary images of animals in nature. From the very first such image to appear – a reindeer in 1903 – National Geographic Society’s publications have broken new ground and push the bar higher again and again, establishing an unmatched legacy of artistic, scientific, and technical achievement. These are the Greatest Wildlife Photographs. This is included with admission to NC Arboretum.

A Rose by Another Name: Paper Flower Workshop with Charlie Zimmerman.

Have you ever wished for flowers that would last forever? You can make your very own everlasting blooms out of paper! In this guided floral artistry workshop, you’ll learn basic techniques for crafting paper flowers with realistic petals, stamens, sepals, and more, while creating your own paper rose to admire and share. Throughout class we’ll talk about the botany of flowers and consider the role of each structure for plant reproduction and pollination. All tools and materials for constructing two paper roses are included.

Kids, join us for an educational program with the North Carolina Arboretum to learn all about the many different Herptiles that call Western North Carolina their home! What’s a Herptile you ask? Herptiles are reptiles and amphibians! We’ll answer all of our biggest questions about Herptiles, like “Why are some amphibians slimy?” and “Where do Herptiles go in the winter?” Come ready to hear about the ecoEXPLORE program, find out what distinguishes Herptiles from other animals, where they live, what they eat, how they breathe, plus much more! Located at the Black Mountain Library.

This event is open to all youth 15 and under. Competitors will be divided into age groups (0-5, 6-10, and 11-15) with prizes in each for Biggest Fish (GRAND PRIZE), Smallest Fish, and Most Fish Caught.
This is a catch and release tournament. Each fish that is caught must be brought one at a time to the measuring station. After each fish has been measured, they will be released back into the lake. Your $10 registration fee includes a bucket, bait, plus snacks and drinks. You must be in the measuring station line before the horn goes off at 11:00 am to have your fish measured. Competitors must bring their own fishing poles and tackle.

On Saturday, May 17, 2025, the Rotary Club of Rocky Mount is hosting the annual TACKLE THE TAR 5K Obstacle Course Race & Family Fun Day at the Rocky Mount Sports Complex.  Our first heat begins with our Kid’s 1-mile fun run at 8:45 A.M. and festivities will continue until noon.

All proceeds from this event go directly to the funding of college scholarships for deserving students in the Rocky Mount Area.  Since 2016, thanks to you, we have raised and awarded over $600,000 in scholarships to youth in our community. Thank you for making such a difference in the lives of so many!

​Tackle the Tar is a 5K Obstacle Course Race that begins at the Rocky Mount Sports complex and courses through historic Battle Park and the E.B. Grain Company property.  It comes complete with a MUD PIT and 15+ OBSTACLES to overcome.  All racers will receive: T-shirt, medal, one free beer (if over 21), and goodie bag