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.
Art in Bloom – Plein Air Paintings
It’s hard not to crack a smile while enjoying amazing views of Lake Lure and the Hickory Nut Gorge from on top of the Chimney. Capture photos of your family and friends enjoying the Park and enter them into our Smiles of Spring Photo Contest for a chance to win fabulous prizes. We’ll use the winning entries on our website and Facebook album, and you’ll win some fun prizes. Photos must be taken within the Chimney Rock section of the Park.
GREAT PRIZES FOR THE WINNERS:
First Place – An overnight getaway to Hickory Nut Gorge with a stay at the historic 1927 Lake Lure Inn & Spa, two passes to Chimney Rock, brunch for two at the 1927 Lake Lure Inn & Spa, and two tickets for a tour with Lake Lure Boat Tours
Second Place – A Chimney Rock prize package including two passes to Chimney Rock, lunch for two at the Old Rock Café and two tickets for a tour with Lake Lure Boat Tours.
People’s Choice – Selected by our Facebook fans, the winning photo will be featured as the cover photo of our Facebook page for two weeks and the cover of our Pinterest board of winning photos. Prize includes two Park admission tickets, lunch for two at the Old Rock Café and a $20 gift certificate for Old Time Photo in Chimney Rock Village.
CONTEST RULES:
There is no fee to enter the contest. All photographs must be taken inside Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park only in areas accessible to guests between June 21, 2018- Sept. 21, 2018. The contest is open to amateur and professional photographers.
Up to three photos per person can be submitted via any of the following ways to be eligible to win:
Facebook: First, like the Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park page and share our photo contest post on your wall. Then post your photo to our wall with the photographer’s name and a brief caption (25-75 words) through your personal Facebook account. Next, send us a private message including your contact information specified in rule #3.
Pinterest: First, re-pin our photo contest pin to one of your boards and follow our 2017 The Different Seasons of Chimney Rock Spring Photo Contest Board so we can easily contact you. Then pin your photo with the hashtags #chimneyrock AND #photocontest with your personal account, and include the photographer’s name and a brief caption (25-75 words).
Twitter: First, follow Chimney Rock Park and retweet our tweet about the photo contest. Then tweet your photo to @ChimneyRockPark with the photographer’s name and the hashtag #photocontest. Next, send us private messages with your brief photo caption.
E-mail: If you don’t have access to any social media sites listed above, you may email your digital photo with your contact information specified in rule #3 to [email protected].
Snail Mail: Send your print photo with the clearly marked photographer’s name, city & state, a brief typed photo caption and a phone number to: Photo Contest, Chimney Rock Management LLC, PO Box 39, Chimney Rock, NC 28720.
Every entry should be clearly labeled with the photographer’s name, city & state, a brief photo caption your photo of the Seasons of Chimney Rock, an email address and the best phone number to reach you.
Photos should be available at a minimum resolution of 1200 x 1600 pixels (1 MB minimum) to be eligible to win. Photos taken via smart phones, tablets and other mobile devices are welcome if they meet minimum requirements.
For entries showing human faces, you must list their name(s) and have written permission from any photographed person(s) to use their image.
Entries should reflect the photographer’s interpretation of a face of Chimney Rock. Emphasis will be placed on quality, composition and creativity. All entries may be used in promotions of Chimney Rock and park-related activities.
Digital images can be optimized but not dramatically altered with photo editing software. Black and white photographs are welcome.
Decisions of the judges are final.
Winners will be notified and announced at chimneyrockpark.com and on Chimney Rock’s social media channels.
For more information, call 1-800-277-9611 or email us at [email protected].
Half Day Camps ($125)
June 25 -29
July 9-13
July 23-27
July 20-Aug. 3
Seasonal – Saturday morning community event featuring organic and sustainably grown produce, plants, cut flowers, herbs, locally raised meats, seafood, breads, pastries, cheeses, eggs and local arts and handcrafted items.
9am to Noon, 130 Montreat Rd. behind First Baptist Church.
Property: Omni Grove Park Inn
Event Type: Hotel Event
Event Category: Art & Culture,Couples,Entertainment,Family
Contact: Concierge Desk
Contact Phone: 828-252-2711
Link: https://www.omnihotels.com/hotels/asheville-grove-park/things-to-do/tours
Our guided history tour covers the history of E.W Grove, the construction and early years of the resort, our Arts and Crafts style furniture, and some of our most notable guests.
Sign-up at the Concierge desk.
Event Type: Local Event
Event Category: Art & Culture
Link: http://www.ashevilleartinthepark.com/
Asheville Art in the Park will once again be providing access to some of the finest artists in the region with it’s market series now in its eighth year. The event takes place on three consecutive Saturdays each June and October. Nationally known artists exhibit at this event and the best part is- they are local. Muddy Knees Design and Production is proud to once again offer local artists the opportunity to connect with the public in Asheville‘s Pack Square Park.
To mark the 10th Anniversary of the Windgate Fellowship, the Center for Craft awarded a total of ten, $10,000 Project Grants. This exhibition showcases how the next generation of craft artists used their funds to explore scale, installation, and community practice.
Artists: Andrea Donnelly (Richmond, VA), Josh Copus (Marshall, NC), Dustin Farnsworth (Montreal, QC), Brian Fleetwood (La Mesilla, NM), Ani Geragosian (Salem, MA), Adam Ledford (Philadelphia, PA), Rebecca Manson (Bedford Hills, NY), Rachel Mauser (Louisville, KY), Aaron McIntosh (Richmond, VA), and Mark Reigelman II (Brooklyn, NY).
The 9th Annual Walk a Mile Asheville:
The People’s March to End Rape, Sexual Assault and Gender Violence
This event consists of participants walking a mile, in the shoes of another, through the streets of downtown Asheville. It is a symbolic gesture of responsibility and solidarity, as well as a great way to raise awareness about a very serious issue in a fun, family-friendly environment. Walk a Mile Asheville has been voted in the top three fundraising events by the ” Best of WNC” four years in a row and is the top fundraiser for Our VOICE, Buncombe County’s Sexual Assault Services agency.
Be sure to follow our Facebook page for updates! 
Chihuly at Biltmore represents the first art exhibition in Biltmore’s historic gardens, and the first garden exhibition of Dale Chihuly’s works in North Carolina. The world-renowned American artist’s work is included in more than 200 museum collections worldwide, and now, for a limited time only, they can be seen at Biltmore.
We invite you to immerse yourself in this unique visual experience, an absolute must-see presentation of unparalleled artistic expression.
Dazzling in daylight, the exhibition takes on an entirely new dimension when viewed after nightfall; experience the brilliance and beauty of these awe-inspiring marvels of color, form, and light.
Property: Omni Grove Park Inn
Event Type: Hotel Event
Event Category: Family,Recreation,Wellness & Fitness
Contact: Golf Pro Shop ext. 1034
Contact Phone: (800) 438-5800
Link: https://www.omnihotels.com/hotels/asheville-grove-park/golf
Let our golf professionals open the world of golf to you. This introduction to the game of golf is a clinic that covers the basic rules, etiquette, and the PGA’s of golf (posture, grip, and alignment). Clubs will be provided. Proper golf attire is required. Please sign-up at least one (1) day in advance by calling (800) 438-5800 ext. 1034.
Enjoy Burgers & Beers all summer long at the Tunnel Road Tap Haus (inside Whole Foods). Every Saturday from noon to 2pm you can grab a $5 Grass-fed Burger and $3 drafts. The featured brewery will change weekly.
Link: http://www.ncsbe.gov/Elections/Candidate-Filing
Candidate Filing begins for Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisor no earlier than 12:00 noon on the second Monday in June and no later than 12:00 noon on the first Friday in July preceding the elections GS § 139-6. For a list of available offices and fees go to https://www.buncombecounty.org/common/election/filing-fees.pdf
FREE – Children of all ages welcome.
Visitors to Grovewood Village will have the opportunity to learn the story of Biltmore Industries on a guided history tour, offered Wednesday – Saturday at 1pm during April – November. The tour includes a visit to Biltmore Industries’ production facility (aka Dye House), where guests can peek into the past and view the original looms, carding machines, spinning mule and dye vats used to make the famed Biltmore Handwoven Homespun.
The tours last approximately 45 minutes and operate on a first-come, first-served basis, open to 25 people. There is no charge to take the tour, but donations are appreciated. Tours begin at the Homespun Museum in Grovewood Village, where a docent will give a detailed overview of Biltmore Industries’ historic importance before leading guests into the 100-year-old Dye House (usually closed to the public).
Private group tours are also offered for a fee and should be scheduled at least one week in advance.
Event Type: Local Event
Event Category: Family
Contact: Grovewood Village
Contact Phone: 828.253.7651
Link: https://www.grovewood.com/
Grovewood Village is housed in the historic weaving and woodworking complex of Biltmore Industries, a noteworthy enterprise in the history of American Craft and textiles, founded by Edith Vanderbilt and two inspired teachers, Eleanor Vance and Charlotte Yale. At the height of its success in the late 1920s, Biltmore Industries had a total of 40 looms in steady operation, producing bolts of some of the finest handwoven wool fabric in the country. Orders were shipped as far as China and Uruguay, and customers included the likes of Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Helen Keller, and several U.S. presidents and first ladies.
Learn the story of Biltmore Industries on a guided history tour, offered Wednesday – Saturday at 1pm during April – November. The tour includes a visit to our historic Dye House (usually closed to the public), where you’ll peek into the past and view the original looms, carding machines, spinning mule and dye vats used to make the famed Biltmore Handwoven Homespun. Tours last approximately 45 minutes and operate on a first-come, first-served basis, open to 25 people. Meet your guide at the Biltmore Industries Homespun Museum next door to Grovewood Gallery.
TOURS ARE FREE, but donations are greatly appreciated.
Private Group Tours
We gladly offer private group tours for a fee. These tours offer the exact same experience as the public tours, only in a private setting. Contact us for rates, and please schedule your group tour at least one week in advance.
Please Note: Our historic Dye House (Biltmore Industries’ production facility) is not handicap accessible or heated. Warm attire on cold days and comfortable walking shoes are strongly recommended.
Gate open at 3:00pm. Farm tour begins at 3:15pm. Come meet our wolfdogs, hear their tales and howls!
Join us for an optional pot luck dinner for $5 a plate (bring a side dish, we provide the meat and drinks)
Please contact [email protected] or 828-664-9818 for details, directions and to confirm events. If day of event – call.
Love Makes a Home: The Life of Rebecca Boone tells the compelling tale of Rebecca Boone, a frontier woman who blazed trails alongside her husband, legendary Daniel Boone, and gave birth to ten children, too. The play features wonderful old time music played by William Ritter, and was written by local playwright Kiesa Kay. For a great day, browse in the craft gallery, see the play, and enjoy the parkway! Patti Louise Smith is Rebecca.
Property: Omni Grove Park Inn
Event Type: Hotel Event
Event Category: Culinary
Contact: Blue Ridge
Contact Phone: (800) 438-5800
Link: https://www.omnihotels.com/hotels/asheville-grove-park/dining/blue-ridge
The Blue Ridge is a farm-to-table artisanal buffet overlooking the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains. Don’t miss the Saturday night Prime Rib Buffet.
Adult Pricing:
Saturday Night Prime Rib Buffet $44 plus tax
Child Pricing (6-12):
Saturday Night Prime Rib Buffet $20 plus tax
Kids 5 and under eat free with paying adult.
Gratuity is included on parties of eight or more.
Attire: Resort Casual
Location: Vanderbilt Wing (Lobby Level)
Reservations: Recommended
2017 Parking Rates
Outdoor Self-Parking and Garage:
0-3 hours: Complimentary│4-6 hours: $10│6-24 hours: $15
Valet:
Day Guests: $15│Overnight Guests: $22
Each Saturday in June from 5-7pm., 10+ galleries and specialty shops in downtown Black Mountain will offer FREE wine while you shop!
Shifts start at 5 PM and last 3-5 hours. To learn more about perks and shift details, contact volunteer coordinator Autumn Trama at [email protected].
Carolina Music Planner is proud to announce our first annual Helpmate Benefit Concert in partnership with Revelry Unique Downtown Events and the Asheville Masonic Temple. This is a cause near and dear to our hearts. All proceeds after expenses will be donated directly to Helpmate.
Featuring Tina and Her Pony, The Moon and You, Jeff Thompson, and Alex Krug, the evening will be filled with top notch talent.
There will be a raffle, and throughout the evening, prizes will be given. 1 raffle ticket will be included with each ticket purchase (to be given at the door). Additional raffle tickets will be available, and proceeds will go directly to Helpmate.
Saturday, June 30
Doors: 6pm/Show: 6:30pm
Tickets:
VIP: $15/presale and $20/door
Balcony: $10/presale and $15/door
(plus applicable online fee and sales tax)
There are additional sponsorship opportunities and VIP packages available. Also, we are accepting items for the raffle.
For more information, please email [email protected].
Carolina Music Planner is proud to announce our first annual Helpmate Benefit Concert in partnership with Revelry Unique Downtown Events and the Asheville Masonic Temple. This is a cause near and dear to our hearts. All proceeds after expenses will be donated directly to Helpmate.
Featuring Tina and Her Pony, The Moon and You, Jeff Thompson, and Alex Krug, the evening will be filled with top notch talent.
There will be a raffle, and throughout the evening, prizes will be given. 1 raffle ticket will be included with each ticket purchase (to be given at the door). Additional raffle tickets will be available, and proceeds will go directly to Helpmate.
Saturday, June 30
Doors: 6pm/Show: 6:30pm
Tickets:
VIP: $15/presale and $20/door
Balcony: $10/presale and $15/door
(plus applicable online fee and sales tax)
There are additional sponsorship opportunities and VIP packages available. Also, we are accepting items for the raffle.
For more information, please email [email protected].
Select Evenings, May 17–October 7, 2018
Biltmore House & Gardens opens to the public on Thursday–Sunday evenings for a special reservations-only viewing of Chihuly’s stunning large-scale glass sculptures. Chihuly Nights at Biltmore is an enchanting opportunity to witness the effects of dramatic nighttime lighting upon the luminous colors and graceful forms of these spectacular pieces. Sunset over the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains, live music in the gardens, and a wine bar make the evening experience all the more enticing. Chihuly’s towering works of art illuminated against a night sky surrounded by the timeless beauty and magnificence of Biltmore House & Gardens: a truly moving, memorable experience
Every Saturday through the Summer and the Fall, Hillman Beer will feature an eclectic array of live music from 7pm-9pm. Come join the party every Saturday night with some sweet beats, delicious fare from Rise Above Deli, and refreshing libations from Hillman Beer!
Lineup:
5/19 – Wintervals
5/26 – Steelin Time
6/2 – The Groove Shakers
6/9 – Record Prophets
6/16 – Fin Dog
6/23 – Cyndi Lou & the Want To
6/30 – Jordan Okrend Experience
More acts to be announced!
Producer David O. Selznick has shut down production of his new epic “Gone With The Wind” because the screenplay doesn’t work. So, he hires Ben Hecht and Victor Fleming and the 3 of them are locked in a room for 5 days to fashion a screenplay that will become the most successful film of all time.
This hit Broadway musical retrospective celebrates the life and times of Ellie Greenwich, whose doo-wop sounds skyrocketed to the top of the 1960’s charts. In the city of Levittown of New York state lived an ordinary girl named Ellie. She dreamed of a great career in the music industry and longed to hear her songs played on the radio. Through joys and heartaches, commercial successes and painful loss, Ellie managed to fulfill her dream with a career spanning more than forty years and countless gold records. The Leader of the Pack Musical tells the story of that girl though the melodies and lyrics of more than thirty songs that made her famous including such hits as “Chapel of Love,” “Be My Little Baby,” “Da Do Run Run,” “Why Do Lovers Break Each Others Hearts,” “Do Way Diddy Diddy,” “The Leader of the Pack” and many more. A full two-act production.
Presented by the Overlook Theatre Company
Property: Omni Grove Park Inn
Event Type: Hotel Event
Event Category: Art & Culture,Entertainment
Contact: Great Hall Bar
Contact Phone: 800-438-5800
Enjoy live music performed by James Hammel at The Great Hall Bar.
For the very first time, April B. & Cool will be playing The One Stop! Join The Cool at 55 College Street on Saturday, June 30th for a fun night of original soul, R&B, reggae, and hip-hop!
If you aren’t familiar with the band, here’s a little info:
April B. & The Cool is a soulful concoction of jazz, hip-hop, and R&B. Based in the Carolinas, the hard-hitting, rotating line-up of The Cool is fronted by multi-instrumentalist, April Bennett. You can expect some of the most silky-smooth, soul-stirring vocals you’ll ever have the pleasure of hearing to the as well as lyrics that will cause you to smile, think, and feel.
Listen to their debut EP “The Sidechick Chronicles: Thanks a lot Mr. Scott” here:
https://aprilbandthecool.bandcamp.com
The EP is available everywhere music is streamed or sold! (Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, GooglePlay, Apple Music, SoundCloud, etc.)
Visit aprilbmusic.com for music, videos, and more information!