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.

Friday, May 29, 2020
Formal Friday, a fancy online comedy show
May 29 @ 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Online

 

Image may contain: possible text that says 'Modelface Comedy Presents Formal Friday Instagram Live 8pm EST @ModelfaceComedy Venmo @modelface-comed comedy All donations will be shared Join a group of the best dressed comedians for a fancy night of high-clas -class laughs'

A fancy formal live comedy show on the internet featuring 10 very well dressed comedians!

Live streaming on Instagram on @ModelfaceComedy
The show is free but tips are appreciated and will be divided among all the comics on the show.
Paypal [email protected]
Venmo @modelface-comedy

Saturday, May 30, 2020
A Moment in Nature – Gutches Creek Online Video
May 30 all-day
online
Click Here to View Gutches Creek Video
Take a moment to enjoy the relaxing sounds of rushing stream waters and see beautiful mossy boulders in this virtual visit to SAHC’s Gutches Creek Preserve in the Highlands of Roan.
Asheville Art Museum Summer Art Camp To Go!
May 30 all-day
online classes

Summer Art Camp To Go!

Join us for Summer Art Camp To Go! Sessions are available for K–12 students. Each weekly session includes several age-appropriate art projects using a variety of materials to engage students in an exploration of art through creativity and imagination. Enrollment is limited, and registration is required.Registration includes instructional videos for each project, art materials, and daily virtual classes. Virtual classes—beginning at 10am via Zoom—include time for inspiration, Q&A, and sharing. Streaming instructional videos and creative challenges are designed to provide hours of creative engagement at your own pace each day. All art materials necessary for each session are available for curbside pickup at the Museum the week before each session begins; if you prefer to ship materials to your home, then two weeks’ advance registration is required. Registration starts this Monday. For more information, email Sharon McRorie, education programs manager, or call 828.253.3227 x124.

Members: $85, Non-Members: $95 (additional charge for shipping materials)

Grant Opportunities for the Crafts
May 30 all-day
online
The Craft Futures Fund will fund up to $30,000 each month from May 2020 – October 2020 to support craft-based education projects. These one-time, unrestricted grants of $5,000 will be disbursed to craft-based education projects that envision and build new futures for craft.
Have You Taken Our Reopening Survey Yet? Asheville Art Museum
May 30 all-day
online
Online Hide Tanning Course Return to Ancestral Ways
May 30 all-day
Wild Abundance

A video-based program that guides aspiring hide tanners through every step of tanning a deer hide.

Natalie Bogwalker

Natalie is a hide tanner, craftswoman, builder, teacher, mom, and gardener. She founded Wild Abundance 10 years ago because of her passion for sharing real, practical skills that get people closer to the Earth. Hide tanning was one of the first earthskills that she learned, and it changed her life profoundly. That was over 15 years ago! Since then she’s tanned uncountable hides, but more importantly, she’s taught hide tanning to hundreds of students.

Natalie knows what usually trips people up who are new to hide tanning. In this online course she shares a thorough, step-by-step guide to hide tanning, including numerous tips and tricks that will help you succeed.

 

Redesigning Our Future: National Environmental Summit for High School Students
May 30 all-day
Catawba College
Reopening Resources for the Creative Sector
May 30 all-day
online

Asheville Area Arts Council

In addition to our COVID resources page, AAAC has a new Reopening Resources page to assist the creative sector with the reopening process. We will continue to add to this page as more information becomes available.
Reopening the Arts in North Carolina Guideline
May 30 all-day
online

Last Monday, Arts NC and the North Carolina Arts Council shared a new reopening guide for the arts in NC. The purpose of this document is to provide recommendations for arts organizations as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and develop plans for reopening to the public. A webinar (recording above) was also held on Wednesday to go over the document and address questions.

South Arts Sustainability Grants Arts Organizations
May 30 all-day
online

In response to COVID-19, grants between $5,000 and $20,000 are available to statewide or regional arts and cultural service organizations.

Important Dates & Deadlines

  • Applications must be submitted on or before June 10, 2020.
  • Applicants will be notified by email within three weeks of the deadline.
  • Funded expenses must occur between July 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021.
Take a Virtual Hike for the Smokies!
May 30 all-day
Virtual Smoky Mountains National Park
Alum Cave At-Home Adventure is a Virtual Fundraising Hike on one of Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s most iconic trails. Although the trail will look different for everyone, we’re all going the distance together – 4.6 miles for a roundtrip hike to Alum Cave or 10 miles up to the top of Mount Le Conte and down via Alum Cave Trail. Find your own trail. It could be your yard, your neighborhood or a treadmill in your basement. If a hike isn’t your thing, just choose the Park Bench option! Anyone can join us in solidarity to raise funds for Great Smoky Mountains National Park from the comfort and safety of your own home.
Here’s how it works:
1. Register to virtually hike at AlumCaveAtHome.org, and personalize your fundraising page.
2. Ask your family, friends, and coworkers to support you by making a tax-deductible donation to Friends of the Smokies through your personal fundraising page.
3. You have until June 6, 2020 to fundraise and complete your virtual hike, then you will receive your hike swag, including a t-shirt and finishers medal, in the mail!
Over the last few weeks, we’ve become pros at staying home and practicing social distancing. As we take care of ourselves and each other, we hope you’ll also help us take care of the Smokies. The park is closed for the safety of visitors and staff, but critical conservation projects still need funding. It’s up to us to preserve the park for generations to come so we hope you’ll join us.
The Virtual 44th Clean Streams Day GreenWorks+ Mountain True
May 30 all-day
online

Environmental Education

Clean Streams Day is going virtual! We’re partnering with MountainTrue and Asheville GreenWorks to share a mix of educational videos and activitiesaction steps and petitions, and hands-on service opportunities to highlight the 44th Clean Streams Day. Connecting with our streams and rivers is vital during these difficult times, and we hope you will join us on social media from May 21-30 to learn about our waterways, create positive environmental change, and help clean up our community!

Picture

Since 1976, Asheville GreenWorks has held “Clean Streams Day” to kick off the summer river cleanup season. Teams sign up prior to the day of the event to take on a particular stream, river or roadside of their choosing. Teams then report back their findings at the after cleanup party.

Thousands of bags of trash and tires have been removed over the last 42 years making our waterways cleaner and safer to use.


Contact our Volunteer Coordinator if you have any questions about this event or if you would like to be a sponsor. Ph 828-232-7144
Urge Support for H1068 and Arts Funding During COVID-19
May 30 all-day
online

New NC Arts Funding Bill Needs Support

Joint Caucus on Arts and Arts Education Co-Chairs Rep. Becky Carney and Rep. Jeffrey Elmore are joined by Rep. Michele Presnell and Rep. Susan Fisher as primary sponsors of H1068, the new legislation that would allocate $3 million to arts organizations negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic through the NC Arts Council.
YMCA of Western North Carolina Mobile Market Schedule MAY
May 30 all-day
varies

https://ymcawnc.org/sites/default/files/May%202020%20Nutrition%20mobile%20market.pdf

 

Animal Habitats VIP Tours
May 30 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Grandfather Mountain

See where the cougars and otters sleep overnight, meet black bears that are not commonly on display, learn the ins and outs of what it takes to care for the animals year-round, observe a training session and find out why the animals call Grandfather Mountain home.

Offered on weekends, April – October.

Rendezvous Mountain Educational State Forest Reopening
May 30 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Rendezvous Mountain Educational State Forest

Rendezvous Mountain Educational State Forest will reopen to the public effective 9a.m. May 13. To encourage responsible use and to maintain required social distancing, phased reopening will begin with allowing public access only to areas of the forest that promote movement-focused activities such as hiking. All areas and facilities of the forest will not be available during phase one of the reopening but will become available in accordance with Governor Cooper’s phased plan for reopening the state.

What can visitors expect during a visit to Rendezvous Mountain ESF during phase one of the reopening?

  • Rendezvous Mountain ESF will be open Monday through Friday, 9a.m. until 5p.m.
  • Most of the trail system will be open, and visitors should come prepared to access trails and to keep moving.
  • Parking has been adjusted to allow for more spacing and to make it more feasible for visitors to maintain recommended social distance.
  • While portable toilets will be available for visitors, restrooms will remain closed.
  • Gathering areas of the forest will remain closed to encourage movement and separation. These areas include the following:
  • all picnic areas;
  • the McGee Forestry Center;
  • the Bathhouse;
  • the Ranger Station;
  • the Logger’s Shack;
  • the Office; and,
  • the amphitheater.

As we move forward with this phased approach, we urge the public to adjust expectations, to be prepared, to stay local and to continue complying with CDC recommendations and guidelines. Visitors are asked to be responsible for individual best practices and to follow social distancing recommendations. Visitor behavior will be a key factor for providing continued public access and to avoid additional closures to the forest during this period of phased reopening. For phased reopening to be successful for public lands across our state, visitors must be good stewards and good neighbors. If you arrive during a busy time and find limited parking, the right decision is to return home and plan to visit another day at another time. If we are busy, expect other public lands, such as state parks and national forests, to also be busy. For up-to-date information about access to state forests in North Carolina, please stay tuned into https://ncforestservice.gov/COVID19.htm and NCFS social media accounts.

Free Lunches at Ferguson YMCA
May 30 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Ferguson Family YMCA

Image may contain: 2 people, people sitting and outdoor, possible text that says 'the MEETING COMMUNITY NEED'

FREE LUNCHES for anyone 18 years of age and under at the Ferguson Family YMCA. Simply drive up to our front door and let us know how many lunches you need, no questions asked.

For additional food for your family, pick up a FREE box of fresh produce at our Mobile Markets. Calendars are online at ymcawnc.org/nutritionprograms.

17th Annual Montford Music and Arts Festival RESCHEDULED
May 30 @ 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Historic Montford District

Great food, artist displays and fun activities while mingling with their neighbors.”

 

Perhaps the most family friendly street festival in western North Carolina, the Montford Music & Arts Festival features a special children’s area for face painting, interactive displays, sidewalk chalk art contest and other fun activities.

 

Located on Montford Ave. between Chestnut and Waneta Streets just down the street from downtown Asheville, the Asheville Visitors Center and Chamber of the Commerce, the all-day event will also feature a music stage with another attractive lineup in 2020.   Comprised solely of local musicians, the performing schedule will be announced shortly.

 

Attendees will also be treated to a wide variety of specialty cuisine, courtesy of food booths and food trucks.  In addition, more than 100 booth vendors will be on hand, with various artists, crafts people and nursery plant purveyors selling their merchandise.

 

Featuring turn-of-the-century “Victorian” homes and several bed-and-breakfast inns, a portion of Montford is proclaimed a National Register Historic District.  Many of today’s Montford historic homes were designed by the same architect hired by the Vanderbilt Family to create the Biltmore Estate.

 

World famous authors Thomas Wolfe and O. Henry are buried in Montford at the nearby Riverside Cemetery, while the community’s rich history also dates back to the once thriving African-American community of Stumptown, which ended in the 1960’s.

 

The very first Montford festival was presented as strictly an arts event in 2004, held inside of Pyper’s Place, which is now Nine Mile Restaurant, and Sweet Heaven Ice Cream Shop, now a real estate office.

 

General Ride Sessions Riveter Outdoor Bike Park
May 30 @ 12:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Riveter

Riveter_SocialAvatar.png

New Protocols

  • Member Ride Session: available Friday-Sunday, members only, 8-11am; member email to follow with more details on membership options.

  • General Ride Sessions: available Friday-Sunday, 12-3pm + 4-7pm.

  • Sessions are 3 hours with breaks between to allow for crew cleaning + clearing of humans between sessions; please exit property 15 min post-session.

  • Sessions are $20 for adults and $18 for humans 15 yo + under.

  • Pre-registration + online payment are required to reserve your spot for activities.

  • All humans, both participants + spectators, must reserve a spot .

  • No refunds.

  • All humans, both participants + spectators, must submit an online waiver via our website .

  • Please use a mask for check-in and crew interactions.

  • Please do not gather in groups of more than 10 humans.

  • Please keep a physical distance of 6 feet or more between yourself + other humans.

  • Access to the building will remain off-limits: Climbing Gym, Yoga Studio, Bathrooms, Lockers, Bar, Retail, + Fitness Studio remain closed.

  • Bring your own gear, water, seating for breaks, + mask for interactions with crew.

  • No rental equipment available.

  • Port-A-Johns available for restroom needs.

  • Hand sanitizer available, use upon entry + often as needed.

  • Libations available to-go [beer, wine, Powerade, Hi-Ball, Dram].

  • No cash accepted for to-go libations; please bring a card for all on-site transactions.

  • Online store available to purchase Riveter gear + apparel; email [email protected] to arrange for pick up on-site.

  • Dress appropriately for weather and trail conditions.

  • Abide by all facility policies + procedures.

  • Abide by Riveter Bike Park rules, read signs, + respect the trails.

  • Always PRE-RIDE, RE-RIDE, + then FREE-RIDE!

Service Industry Heroes Complimentary Meal w/ Food Connection
May 30 @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
The Asheville Masonic Temple · Asheville, North Carolina

Image may contain: possible text that says 'SERVICE INDUSTRY HEROES complimentary meal by WICKED WEED BREWING'

To our friends who’ve lost their jobs including those in the service industry and hospitality workers: Please join Food Connection for a free “to go” meal lovingly prepared by Wicked Weed Brewing’s Cultura thanks to a generous gift from an anonymous donor! We will be setting up in the parking lot against the Asheville Masonic Temple. We will be offering curbside service distributing meals from 12:00 pm until 2:00 pm or until they run out.

For the safety of our beautiful community:
* If you come by car, please stay in your car at all times.
*There is 1 Entrance In By AMT and you will drive through and exit at the back of the lot.
• If you come by foot, please keep a social distance of at least 6 feet.
* Wear a mask if you have one
Thanks, y’all! We hope to see you Saturday!

Swannanoa Valley Complimentary Meal w/ Food Connection
May 30 @ 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
In front of the office of Symmetry Financial

Food Connection will be giving out free chef prepared meals from Wicked Weed Brewing‘s Cultura restaurant in Swannanoa on Saturdays beginning May 2nd from 3-4PM or until all meals are given out. Times are tough for many of us. Please know there are no requirements for receiving the meals. If you need a meal or meals for your family, PLEASE come join us. :) Meals will be served curbside “to go” style in front of the Symmetry Financial Group offices at 204 Whitson Avenue in Swannanoa (next door to the Native Kitchen.) Look for the Food Connection van. Our volunteers will be practicing extreme safety. We hope to see you this Saturday and each Saturday that you may need a delicious ready-to-eat meal. Please help us spread the word by sharing this post!

Sunday, May 31, 2020
Reopening Resources for the Creative Sector
May 31 all-day
online

Asheville Area Arts Council

In addition to our COVID resources page, AAAC has a new Reopening Resources page to assist the creative sector with the reopening process. We will continue to add to this page as more information becomes available.
Urge Support for H1068 and Arts Funding During COVID-19
May 31 all-day
online

New NC Arts Funding Bill Needs Support

Joint Caucus on Arts and Arts Education Co-Chairs Rep. Becky Carney and Rep. Jeffrey Elmore are joined by Rep. Michele Presnell and Rep. Susan Fisher as primary sponsors of H1068, the new legislation that would allocate $3 million to arts organizations negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic through the NC Arts Council.
Virtual Asheville Beer Week 2020
May 31 all-day
online

WE’RE GOING VIRTUAL and Bringing AVL Beer Week to You!

Events added daily at: http://avlbeerweek.com/events

In light of current circumstances, we are unable to host AVL Beer Week in its traditional capacity. We have tentatively scheduled dates for a Fall AVL Beer Week, but will only proceed with planning and executing a physical beer week once we are 100% certain it is safe and practical to do so.

With that said, We’re excited to announce Virtual AVL Beer Week 2020: Friday, May 22-Sunday, May 31!

AVL Beer Week aims to promote all of the awesome stuff our local breweries are doing to keep us engaged, learning, having fun, and of course, enjoying local craft beverages during these uncertain times!

Join us on Facebook Live, Zoom and curbside to enjoy trivia, yoga, happy hours, to-go beer dinners, educational offerings, beer releases, beer specials and more!

AVL Beer Week relies on the vital support of participants to sustain, and with our culinary and beverage industries facing an uncertain future, we will be looking for new ways to gain that support by making AVL Beer Week donation based in order to make it open and accessible to all participating businesses. LOOK FOR OUR FUNDRAISER LAUNCH SOON!

Thank you for supporting WNC breweries and small businesses! Until we can once again gather in large numbers, we can band together in spirit over our various networks to bring the best of Asheville’s craft beverage scene into our homes.

YMCA of Western North Carolina Mobile Market Schedule MAY
May 31 all-day
varies

https://ymcawnc.org/sites/default/files/May%202020%20Nutrition%20mobile%20market.pdf

 

Animal Habitats VIP Tours
May 31 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Grandfather Mountain

See where the cougars and otters sleep overnight, meet black bears that are not commonly on display, learn the ins and outs of what it takes to care for the animals year-round, observe a training session and find out why the animals call Grandfather Mountain home.

Offered on weekends, April – October.

SoulCollage®: Build Your Practice at Home (Online Workshop)
May 31 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
online

Instructor: Marcia Gleason, LCSW

Skill Level: All

Materials & Tools Needed: To make this workshops accessible to women under stay-at-home orders, students will use materials commonly available at home: three pieces of 8” x 5” paper (the heavier, the better; cardstock, cardboard, and matboard are ideal, but regular paper will work), magazines or books with lots of images (that you’re willing to cut up!), scissors (small, sharp scissors are ideal, but any regular scissors will work), and glue (rubber cement or glue sticks are ideal, but any glue will work). If students have SoulCollage® materials, they are encouraged to bring them to the class.

During this period of sheltering, we are offering a unique opportunity to tap into your creativity to inspire and guide your personal journey. Uncertain times invite us to slow down and use our intuition and creativity to explore our lives.

SoulCollage® was developed by Seena Frost, M. Div., M.A., in the 1980’s as a way to learn about oneself through the collage process. Cards are made by tearing or cutting pictures from magazines or old picture books. The process itself is simple, yet engaging, and the results are oftentimes profound.

In this workshop, SoulCollage® facilitator, Marcia Gleason, LCSW, will explain (or review if you already have a SoulCollage® practice) the fundamental principles of Soul Collage® and, then, show you how to create and access wisdom through your own deck of cards.

No artistic experience necessary!

Already have a SoulCollage® practice? Please consider joining us as well for some focused creative time—and a new perspective on your cards! You’ll continue gaining insights at each workshop!

For more information about SoulCollage®, visit Marcia’s SoulCollage® website and the official SoulCollage® website.

​​Note: These workshops will be conducted using Zoom, an online meeting tool. You must have access to a computer, tablet, smart phone, or other internet-accessible device, as well as the internet. Instructions for accessing the workshop will be provided after registration.​

Bluegrass Brunch
May 31 @ 10:30 am – 3:00 pm
The One Stop at Asheville Music Hall

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Bluegrass Brunch
hosted by Aaron Woody Wood & The Sufi Brothers

Pickin’ on the Porch w/ Chicken Coop Willaye 1030AM
Bald Mountain Boys 11AM – 12:30PM
Sufi Brothers 12:45PM – 3PM

Be sure to check out our Bloody Mary Bar, the BEST selection of pickled products and other additions in Asheville. The MOJO Kitchen will be serving a special Brunch menu until 3PM as well.

Food & music start at 10:30am
ADULT beverages at Noon.

General Ride Sessions Riveter Outdoor Bike Park
May 31 @ 12:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Riveter

Riveter_SocialAvatar.png

New Protocols

  • Member Ride Session: available Friday-Sunday, members only, 8-11am; member email to follow with more details on membership options.

  • General Ride Sessions: available Friday-Sunday, 12-3pm + 4-7pm.

  • Sessions are 3 hours with breaks between to allow for crew cleaning + clearing of humans between sessions; please exit property 15 min post-session.

  • Sessions are $20 for adults and $18 for humans 15 yo + under.

  • Pre-registration + online payment are required to reserve your spot for activities.

  • All humans, both participants + spectators, must reserve a spot .

  • No refunds.

  • All humans, both participants + spectators, must submit an online waiver via our website .

  • Please use a mask for check-in and crew interactions.

  • Please do not gather in groups of more than 10 humans.

  • Please keep a physical distance of 6 feet or more between yourself + other humans.

  • Access to the building will remain off-limits: Climbing Gym, Yoga Studio, Bathrooms, Lockers, Bar, Retail, + Fitness Studio remain closed.

  • Bring your own gear, water, seating for breaks, + mask for interactions with crew.

  • No rental equipment available.

  • Port-A-Johns available for restroom needs.

  • Hand sanitizer available, use upon entry + often as needed.

  • Libations available to-go [beer, wine, Powerade, Hi-Ball, Dram].

  • No cash accepted for to-go libations; please bring a card for all on-site transactions.

  • Online store available to purchase Riveter gear + apparel; email [email protected] to arrange for pick up on-site.

  • Dress appropriately for weather and trail conditions.

  • Abide by all facility policies + procedures.

  • Abide by Riveter Bike Park rules, read signs, + respect the trails.

  • Always PRE-RIDE, RE-RIDE, + then FREE-RIDE!

Shakedown Sundays
May 31 @ 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
The One Stop at Asheville Music Hall

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Every Sunday Except First of Month.