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.

On Your Mark, Get Centered, Throw! Clay Camp Ages 6-10 with Sara Ballek
July 23-27
Monday- Friday, 2-5pm
Your dreams of becoming a Clay DJ will come true in this week full of wheel throwing! Not only will students learn how to use the potter’s wheel, but they will also create fun, funky objects for daily use! After the pots come off the wheel, lively decorating and sculpting will add the finishing touches to their masterpieces!
The English for Speakers of Other Langauges (ESOL) program teaches oral English, reading, and writing to adults who have immigrated to the U.S. from around the world. ESOL is the largest program at the Literacy Council, serving approximately 250 students annually. Our students’ most common goals in learning English are to improve their employment prospects, help their children in school, and pass the U.S. Naturalization exam.
Each student works with a trained volunteer tutor, either individually or in a small group of up to ten people. Tutoring takes place for two hours once each week at times and locations that are mutually convenient for students and tutors.
This film, based on the song by Arlo Guthrie and starring the musician as himself, captures the essence of late 1960’s counter-culture. Starting with a trip to the dump on a fateful Thanksgiving Day, the film follows Guthrie and his friends through a frenetic series of events that lampoon the Vietnam War and American society. $8 for BMCM+AC members + students w/ID / $10 for non-members. Tickets are available through the Fine Arts Theatre Box Office

In partnership with the Fine Arts Theatre, we’re celebrating the work of Black Mountain College alumnus Arthur Penn with two screenings of his classic films on the big screen. The films will be preceded by a short talk on Arthur Penn’s legacy in American film, a legacy rooted in his experiences at Black Mountain College.
July 12th – “Bonnie and Clyde” (1967). Arthur Penn’s modern classic was revolutionary in its time, opening the door for the hyper-violent, morally ambiguous films produced throughout the 1970s. Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway star as two star-crossed lovers on a doomed crime spree across Depression-era America. They’re Young, They’re In Love, They Kill People.
July 26th – “Alice’s Restaurant” (1969). This film, based on the song by Arlo Guthrie and starring the musician as himself, captures the essence of late 1960’s counter-culture. Starting with a trip to the dump on a fateful Thanksgiving Day, the film follows Guthrie and his friends through a frenetic series of events that lampoon the Vietnam War and American society.
Shelby Lynne Moorer was born in Quantico, Virginia, on October 22, 1968, and raised in Frankville, Alabama. She came from a musical family and her house was filled with the sounds of classic country music as well as The Beatles and Elvis. Her mother was a natural singer, and her father began teaching her to play guitar around age seven. Lynne once said in an interview, “I was singing before I could talk.”
After high school, Lynne decided to leave her Alabama life behind, for Nashville in 1989, so she could pursue her musical dreams. Once in Tennessee, Lynne met veteran songwriter Bob Tubert, and she gave him her demo tape. Tubert liked it and played it for the TV producer of Nashville Network’s Nashville Now, who invited Lynne to perform on the show. The performance caught the attention of CBS Records, and Lynne was offered a contract with the label.
Over the next three years, Lynne produced an album a year: Sunrise (1989), Tough All Over (1990) and Soft Talk (1991), landing a few hits along the way. In 1991, she won the Academy of Country Music’s Top New Female Vocalist award.
Never complacent, after two more albums, Lynne became hungry for a change from the Nashville system, and for her next album she enlisted producer Bill Bottrell, who had worked with such artists as Michael Jackson, Madonna and Sheryl Crow. The resulting album, I Am Shelby Lynne (1999), recorded far away from Nashville on the Northern California coast, earned Lynne the Grammy for Best New Artist in 2000—which was especially poignant as she had been in the music business nearly 13 years.
Love, Shelby was released in 2001, followed by two self-produced albums:Identity Crisis (2003) and Suit Yourself (2005). Just a Little Lovin’, her critically acclaimed tribute to Dusty Springfield, was released in 2008. And the same year Suit Yourself came out, Lynne made her acting debut in the Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line, playing Cash’s mother. She has also appeared on the TV shows Head Case (2007) and Army Wives(2009).
Again showcasing her need to take a different path, Lynne founded her own label, Everso Records, and its first release, Tears, Lies, and Alibis, debuted at No. 16 on Billboard’s Top Independent Albums chart in April 2010. The album resonated with critics as well, and Newsday called it “her strongest album in a decade.” After this critical success, Lynne released her first-ever holiday collection, Merry Christmas, in time for 2010’s holiday season.
In 2011, Everso released Revelation Road, and Lynne headed out on a year-long solo acoustic tour. In 2013, a five-song EP, Thanks, came out to rave reviews from the likes of Mother Jones and The New York Times. Lynne said of the album: “These songs are a way to express my love and gratitude to the universe and to all of the music appreciating souls out there for the friendship and fellowship that music brings us.”
In 2014, I Am Shelby Lynne got the deluxe reissue treatment.
I Can’t Imagine was released in the spring of 2015, it was her first album for Rounder. The tour that followed included complete concert performances of the new recording and I Am Shelby Lynne in a single set.
Lynne and sister Moorer teamed for the Side by Side tour, and considered recording an album together. The plan was shelved until 2017 when they got together in Los Angeles with producer Teddy Thompson and a small group of invited guest musicians including Benmont Tench, Erik Deutsch, Doug Pettibone, and Val McCallum. The sisters chose to record a host of covers from the classic country canon, alongside contemporary fare by pop and Americana songwriters. Their lone co-written original was the set closer “Is It Too Much?” Titled Not Dark Yet, the album was released by Thirty Tigers in August. They sold out venues across the U.S. And U.K. Lynne recently wrapped her first starring film role called Here I Am, a rock and Roll saga, directed by Cynthia Mort (Nina, Tell Me You Love Me). Lynne co-wrote the music and film score. The new single Off My Mind is currently available online.
shelbylynne.com

A Transformative Vision Quest Weekend For Women:
Through mystical Shamanic Journeys, Wisdom Teachings, Sweat Lodge and Medicine Wheel ceremonies, we will call upon our Spirit Guides and Teachers to help us quest in the sacred places of this ancient and healing land. We will gain wisdom, guidance, answers, and insight. We will sense ourselves anew and joyfully open to our special path, our place in the Oneness of Life.

On Your Mark, Get Centered, Throw! Clay Camp Ages 6-10 with Sara Ballek
July 23-27
Monday- Friday, 2-5pm
Your dreams of becoming a Clay DJ will come true in this week full of wheel throwing! Not only will students learn how to use the potter’s wheel, but they will also create fun, funky objects for daily use! After the pots come off the wheel, lively decorating and sculpting will add the finishing touches to their masterpieces!

Take A Spin Clay Camp Ages 6-10 with Kelsey Sickmeyer
July 30- August 3
Monday- Friday, 2-5pm
First time throwing on the wheel? Maybe you’ve tried it a few times already? You won’t be alone! You will use the wheel to craft handmade cups, bowls, plates and who knows what else. Come ready to have fun and get messy! (PS- this class is NOT taught by Ms. Frizzell from The Magic School Bus. But close.)

Take A Spin Clay Camp Ages 6-10 with Kelsey Sickmeyer
July 30- August 3
Monday- Friday, 2-5pm
First time throwing on the wheel? Maybe you’ve tried it a few times already? You won’t be alone! You will use the wheel to craft handmade cups, bowls, plates and who knows what else. Come ready to have fun and get messy! (PS- this class is NOT taught by Ms. Frizzell from The Magic School Bus. But close.)
Senator Terry Van Duyn, Trena Velez, Director of Elections, Buncombe County, and Dr. Ashley Moraguez, Ass Professor, Political Science, UNCA will present a FREE panel discussion about voting security issues in today’s political climate. This non-partisan event is hosted by The League of Women Voters of Asheville-Buncombe County

Take A Spin Clay Camp Ages 6-10 with Kelsey Sickmeyer
July 30- August 3
Monday- Friday, 2-5pm
First time throwing on the wheel? Maybe you’ve tried it a few times already? You won’t be alone! You will use the wheel to craft handmade cups, bowls, plates and who knows what else. Come ready to have fun and get messy! (PS- this class is NOT taught by Ms. Frizzell from The Magic School Bus. But close.)

Since the early 1950’s Spruce Pine, North Carolina has been the host of the Festival and welcomed visitors from around the world to shop for beautiful jewelry, gemstones, minerals, beads, crystals, fossils and more! Even celebrities have been spotted at the Festival selecting their jewelry, gemstones and gifts! The Festival features gem, jewelry and mineral dealers from across the country showcasing their merchandise to fit every budget. Whether you are shopping for an engagement ring, a special stone for your own setting, a custom designed piece of jewelry or a special crystal display for your home, you can’t miss the NC Mineral and Gem Festival.
Th, Fri, Sat: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sun: 12:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Admission: $3
Children under 10 admitted free
Friday: $1 admission for Senior Citizens
The Commons Shopping Center
12121 Hwy 226 S
Spruce Pine, NC 28777
Contact:
Mitchell County Chamber of Commerce
Phone: 828-765-9033
Website: www.ncgemfest.com
Email: [email protected]

Take A Spin Clay Camp Ages 6-10 with Kelsey Sickmeyer
July 30- August 3
Monday- Friday, 2-5pm
First time throwing on the wheel? Maybe you’ve tried it a few times already? You won’t be alone! You will use the wheel to craft handmade cups, bowls, plates and who knows what else. Come ready to have fun and get messy! (PS- this class is NOT taught by Ms. Frizzell from The Magic School Bus. But close.)

Take A Spin Clay Camp Ages 6-10 with Kelsey Sickmeyer
July 30- August 3
Monday- Friday, 2-5pm
First time throwing on the wheel? Maybe you’ve tried it a few times already? You won’t be alone! You will use the wheel to craft handmade cups, bowls, plates and who knows what else. Come ready to have fun and get messy! (PS- this class is NOT taught by Ms. Frizzell from The Magic School Bus. But close.)

One Night Pottery Class
#10 Friday, August 3
Ever wanted to try your hand at the pottery wheel? Have you always wanted to learn to throw but you’re not sure if you want to commit to an 8-week class? Or maybe you and some friends are just looking for something different to do in Asheville on a Friday night. Well, look no further. Ready, Set, Throw is here!
Even if you’ve never touched clay before, our highly skilled staff will guide you through the entire process. It’s the perfect opportunity to get creative and have fun! All ages and skill levels are welcome.
Level: All Levels, Beginners Welcome
Tuition: $55 Per person, per night

Advanced Wheel Clay Camp Ages 8-12 with Kelsey Sickmeyer
August 6-10
Monday- Friday, 2-5pm
Attention all young artists! This is a camp for kids who have taken a wheel camp with Kelsey or who already have some experience on the potter’s wheel. Daily demonstrations will cover cool things you can do in the studio. A series of challenging projects will inspire your creativity. We will be working on making a set of bowls, cups, or plates, and show you the tricks for making taller vases and lidded jars.

Magical Nature Clay Camp Ages 4-8 with Cassie Mazur
August 6-10
Monday- Friday, 9am-12pm
Story time! In this camp, we will listen to a series of nature themed children’s stories and then illustrate our imagination with creative sculptures. Demonstrations will be given on how to create fairy houses, mushrooms, flowers, leaves and more. By the end of the week, we will have a whole collection of colorful sculptures to play with.

Advanced Wheel Clay Camp Ages 8-12 with Kelsey Sickmeyer
August 6-10
Monday- Friday, 2-5pm
Attention all young artists! This is a camp for kids who have taken a wheel camp with Kelsey or who already have some experience on the potter’s wheel. Daily demonstrations will cover cool things you can do in the studio. A series of challenging projects will inspire your creativity. We will be working on making a set of bowls, cups, or plates, and show you the tricks for making taller vases and lidded jars.
The Adult Education program teaches reading, writing, spelling, and math to adults who read at or below a basic skills level. This program serves approximately 50 students per year. Students come to the Literacy Council because they want to improve job prospects, help their children in school, enroll in a High School Equivalency program, and better navigate the world around them.
Tutoring takes place for one hour twice each week at times and locations that are mutually convenient for students and their tutors.

Magical Nature Clay Camp Ages 4-8 with Cassie Mazur
August 6-10
Monday- Friday, 9am-12pm
Story time! In this camp, we will listen to a series of nature themed children’s stories and then illustrate our imagination with creative sculptures. Demonstrations will be given on how to create fairy houses, mushrooms, flowers, leaves and more. By the end of the week, we will have a whole collection of colorful sculptures to play with.

Advanced Wheel Clay Camp Ages 8-12 with Kelsey Sickmeyer
August 6-10
Monday- Friday, 2-5pm
Attention all young artists! This is a camp for kids who have taken a wheel camp with Kelsey or who already have some experience on the potter’s wheel. Daily demonstrations will cover cool things you can do in the studio. A series of challenging projects will inspire your creativity. We will be working on making a set of bowls, cups, or plates, and show you the tricks for making taller vases and lidded jars.

Magical Nature Clay Camp Ages 4-8 with Cassie Mazur
August 6-10
Monday- Friday, 9am-12pm
Story time! In this camp, we will listen to a series of nature themed children’s stories and then illustrate our imagination with creative sculptures. Demonstrations will be given on how to create fairy houses, mushrooms, flowers, leaves and more. By the end of the week, we will have a whole collection of colorful sculptures to play with.

Advanced Wheel Clay Camp Ages 8-12 with Kelsey Sickmeyer
August 6-10
Monday- Friday, 2-5pm
Attention all young artists! This is a camp for kids who have taken a wheel camp with Kelsey or who already have some experience on the potter’s wheel. Daily demonstrations will cover cool things you can do in the studio. A series of challenging projects will inspire your creativity. We will be working on making a set of bowls, cups, or plates, and show you the tricks for making taller vases and lidded jars.

Magical Nature Clay Camp Ages 4-8 with Cassie Mazur
August 6-10
Monday- Friday, 9am-12pm
Story time! In this camp, we will listen to a series of nature themed children’s stories and then illustrate our imagination with creative sculptures. Demonstrations will be given on how to create fairy houses, mushrooms, flowers, leaves and more. By the end of the week, we will have a whole collection of colorful sculptures to play with.

Advanced Wheel Clay Camp Ages 8-12 with Kelsey Sickmeyer
August 6-10
Monday- Friday, 2-5pm
Attention all young artists! This is a camp for kids who have taken a wheel camp with Kelsey or who already have some experience on the potter’s wheel. Daily demonstrations will cover cool things you can do in the studio. A series of challenging projects will inspire your creativity. We will be working on making a set of bowls, cups, or plates, and show you the tricks for making taller vases and lidded jars.
The Adult Education program teaches reading, writing, spelling, and math to adults who read at or below a basic skills level. This program serves approximately 50 students per year. Students come to the Literacy Council because they want to improve job prospects, help their children in school, enroll in a High School Equivalency program, and better navigate the world around them.
Tutoring takes place for one hour twice each week at times and locations that are mutually convenient for students and their tutors.

“BALANCE”
An Educational Experience Addressing the Many Aspects of Living Well with MS
This free event was designed to inform and empower people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) and their care partners.
(RSVP required to attend – Please see below)
Interactive Q&A to follow after the presentations!
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Special Guest Speaker #1:
Jeff Segal, NSCA-CPT, CSCS, CPTS
Certified Personal Trainer and MS Exercise Specialist
Will Discuss:
– Exercise and movement to improve strength and flexibility
– Heat intolerance: Management during exercise
– Specific exercises for specific issues
– Plus an inspiring talk focusing on living well with multiple sclerosis (MS) and what you can do today
35 min. presentation + 10 min. Q&A
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Special Guest Speaker #2:
Rebecca McGowan, PA
Physician Assistant at Asheville Neurology Specialists
Will Discuss:
– MS Symptom Management: Managing and addressing MS symptoms to improve your daily life
– MS Symptom Management Treatments: FDA approved and complementary therapies
35 min. presentation
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Special Guest Speaker #3:
James Patton, MD
Neurologist at Asheville Neurology Specialists
Will Discuss:
– An overview of multiple sclerosis (MS); increasing understanding for you and your care partner
– Understanding the impact of early treatment upon diagnosis
– Extending your healthcare team to meet all your needs
– Developing a team that works for your individualized needs
40 min. presentation
Plus a 25 minute interactive Q&A session with both Rebecca McGowan and Dr. James Patton.
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Date: Tuesday, August 14th, 2018
5:39pm – Check-in
6:15pm – Program Begins
Complimentary Dinner
Location: Doubletree by Hilton- Asheville-Biltmore
115 Hendersonville Rd.
Asheville, NC 28803
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PLEASE Register (RSVP) Online at: www.events.msvn.org
If you do not have internet access, please call (888) 871-1664 – Ext 102
Program limited to the MS Patient plus a max of (1) guest
No children permitted under the age of 16 unless this is a child that has MS
Organized by: MS Views and News, a 501C3 not for profit organization
Support for this program was provided by: Sanofi Genzyme and Celgene
Exhibitors: Sanofi Genzyme and MS Views and News
Susan Anderson presents Paul’s Prayers: A Mother’s Account of Raising an Autistic Son
Paul’s Prayers is the story of a moderately autistic young man navigating life with a spiritual intelligence that runs further than most people can walk. Written by Paul’s mother, this insightful memoir gives readers a unique look at the challenges and joys of raising her autistic son in a large Catholic family.
The first of six children, Paul’s early years were an exciting and confusing time for his parents. At the time, very little information on autism and its early signs was available, and the fact that the disorder is a spectrum ranging from mild to severe was not widely known.
Unpredictable outbursts and sensitivities to light and schedule disruptions lead Paul’s parents to refer to his condition as “The Marauder.” The Marauder sweeps over the hospital nursery as the fluorescent lights blind Paul’s eyes. The Marauder throws his black cape over the Christmas holidays, stealing four-year-old Paul’s speech for three long days. In school, The Marauder keeps other students at bay, leaving Paul isolated and alone. Finally a developmental assessment gives some clarity to the exhausted family: Paul is on the autism spectrum, and they will all have to adjust their perspectives. Small victories emerge as Paul begins to reach developmental milestones in creative ways. Six years of piano lessons lead to a dramatic improvement in reading skills. A jaunt through the mountains with his father introduces Paul to his talent for running; with his brothers, he joins the high school cross country running team, which goes on to win the state championship. After high school, Paul works for the family business and attends college.
Throughout this intimate memoir, every day is a challenge to be met with creative thinking, patience, and faith. Paul finds comfort in contemplative prayer and the support of his family when the world around him becomes too chaotic. As her son grows up, Susan Anderson learns how to cope with autism and embrace the importance of faith in the things unseen. Her family’s experience is a beacon of light for those who find themselves on a similar path.
This book is available for purchase in-store, by phone, or online by visiting https://www.malaprops.com/book/9781680993479
We ask that you purchase the books you want to be signed at our events from Malaprop’s. When you do this you are not only supporting the work it takes to run an events program, you are also telling the publishers that they should keep sending authors here.
Can’t make it to the store for the event? Call us or order the book on our website in advance, and we’ll get it signed for you. Make sure you write your preferences in the comments if you purchase online.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1063959153770449/
Are you looking for an excuse to knit or crochet for a good cause? Help make baby hats and blankets and adult hats, scarves, and slippers to support at-risk newborns and homeless adults. Your handmade knitwear will keep our neighbors warm. Volunteers with basic skills in knitting or crocheting are welcome. Please bring your own needles or crochet hooks and a pattern.
Check out Knit-n-Give on WLOS: http://wlos.com/news/only-on-wloscom/close-knit-group-of-women-use-their-talents-to-help-asheville-charities
The Adult Education program teaches reading, writing, spelling, and math to adults who read at or below a basic skills level. This program serves approximately 50 students per year. Students come to the Literacy Council because they want to improve job prospects, help their children in school, enroll in a High School Equivalency program, and better navigate the world around them.
Tutoring takes place for one hour twice each week at times and locations that are mutually convenient for students and their tutors.
