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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
Helpful Resources: Parents Educating kids at home
May 29 all-day
online
The Virtual 44th Clean Streams Day GreenWorks+ Mountain True
May 29 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
VOTE for The Literacy Council of Buncombe County
May 29 all-day
Online
Readers Are Leaders

Vote for us every day until May 29!

We are excited to announce that we have been selected as a finalist in the Kudzu Brands Brand New Start 10k Brand Giveaway! This means we are eligible to win a complete brand development to help our organization pivot, adjust, and succeed, but we need YOUR VOTE to win. To vote for us, simply go to www.kudzubrands.com/brand-new-start-giveaway-voting and select our business as your choice for the most deserving of this amazing opportunity. Also, you can vote for us EVERY DAY. The deadline for votes is May 29, so please VOTE and SHARE!
Youth Education Video – Our Mountains
May 29 all-day
online

Youth Education Video – Our Mountains

Click Here to View Our Mountains Video
Have you ever wondered how the southern Appalachian mountains were formed, or how the underlying geology affects the biodiversity we work to protect? Check out this short 5-minute lesson, followed by a fun craft for all ages.
View More SAHC Videos on YouTube
Mystery Hill + Tomahawk Hill Now Open Daily
May 29 @ 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Mystery Hill

Mystery Hill Now Open Daily 9am-6pm

Under the guidelines of North Carolina’s Phase 2 opening plan, Mystery Hill is now open at limited capacity. We are taking every precaution to ensure that social distancing is observed and will continue our strenuous sanitizing efforts. We also want to make sure you know about our EXTENDED VORTEX PASS discount! Save $20 on the VORTEX PASS and get FREE VISITS through December 31, 2021

Mystery Hill + Tomahawk Hill Reopening
May 29 @ 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Mystery Hill

Mystery Hill and our rowdy neighbor, Tomahawk Hill, will be reopening from 9 am to 6 pm only on Fridays, Sat-
urdays, and Sundays, starting May 15th. As part of the Covid 19 Phase One business openings instituted in North

Carolina, we will abide by the safe distancing rules, and will have limited, time-slotted tickets. We encourage
visitors to buy tickets in advance on our website to avoid wait times outside. All attractions will be operating with
some operational changes to help with social distancing and ramped up sanitation procedures. Front Porch Eats
will operate for take out only but the onsite picnic areas have been setup for social distancing and will be open.
We are going to extend the expiration date on all current Vortex Pass Memberships to December 31, 2021 and for the
rest of May any vortex passes purchased or renewed will get $20 off and will also be valid until December 31, 2021.
Here are just some of the precautions we are taking:
• Separate entrance and exit doors to limit cross traffic
• 6 ft separation in ticketing queue line
• Plastic barriers separating staff and guests in ticketing line
• Staff will wear a mask and maintain social distance
• Anomaly tours will start every 30 min and will be private for only one group traveling
together

• Access to the Museums, Tomahawk Hill and Gift Shops will be limited by occupancy to help with social dis-
tancing

• The Old Time Photo Parlour will not be open yet so for tickets that include photos guest can choose to either
have a souvenir photo done in the Mystery House, Platform, Bubblerama, or Tomahawk Hill or they can get a
voucher to use for the Old Time Photo when it reopens
• Front Porch Eats will operate for takeout only but guests can use our picnic tables which have been spread
out to maintain social distancing
• We are adding hand sanitizing stations at the entrance to each of our exhibit areas and asking the guest to
sanitize before they enter
• We are increasing our daily housekeeping cleaning of fixtures, exhibits, and handrails to several times per day

Janet’s Planet Online Astronaut Academy
May 29 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am
online

Every week day, Janet’s Planet gives children a daily dose of science and space topics from around the world.

This is for ages 7-16!

Come and join us! See the Event Brite link below to register. Parents must register for their children.

Once I get your confirmation of your invite, I will personally send you the link to the class.
This is a measure to keep you safe. You can also email me at [email protected] for any questions.
Am hopefully going to get you all a calendar soon of all the talks. More astronauts to come!
Storytimes Online with Buncombe Librarians
May 29 @ 10:30 am – 11:00 am
Buncombe Librarians Online

Image may contain: 5 people, people sitting, child and indoor

Every day we’ll be featuring a video recording or a live Zoom storytime or song by your favorite Buncombe County librarians!

Information to access the storytime on Zoom will be posted in the discussion section of this page. To get notifications for Zoom codes and to know when new videos are posted, follow this event page!

If you’d like to stream multiple videos in a row, visit the Buncombe County Government YouTube page and find “At Home with the Library.” All of our recorded videos are available at:
https://www.youtube.com/user/bcgovtv/search?query=at+home+with+the+library

We miss you at the libraries! We hope you’re well.

Greenville Zoo Keeper Check-In
May 29 @ 2:30 pm – 2:45 pm
via Facebook

Image may contain: outdoor, possible text that says 'A greenvillezoo SOUTHCAROLINA faceboo live TUES-THURS AT 10:30 AM (EST): LIVE EDUCATIONAL ENCOUNTERS MON-FRI AT 2:30 PM (EST): LIVE KEEPER CHECK IN'

Join us daily, at 2:30pm, for a Keeper Check-In. We’ll visit with a different keeper every day for an exciting encounter with one of our amazing animals!

Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont Stay Connected Virtually
May 29 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
online
Saturday, May 30, 2020
12-Month, Farmer-Led Training Program Organic Growers School
May 30 all-day
 Southwestern Community College

Want to farm?

12-Month, Farmer-Led Training Program

Many skills are required to start and expand a successful farm business: passion, clear goals, production experience, financial and marketing know-how, and more. Farm Beginnings® will help you build these skills through one year of farmer-led training, mentoring, and networking. Using a holistic management frame, farmer-led classroom sessions, on-farm tours, and an extensive farmer network, Farm Beginnings® will help you clarify your goals and strengths, establish a strong enterprise plan, and start building a profitable and sustainable operation. Although students do not need to own land, some farming or production experience is required to get the most out of the program. As we know, farming is more critical than ever. Apply to this program and be prepared when crisis hits!

200+ Hours of Training


Curriculum & Schedule

Farm Beginnings® Course Schedule & Descriptions 2020-2021


Location of Winter Whole-Farm Business Planning Courses 2020-2021

The locations for the 2020-2021 class will be at the Small Business Center at We will keep our website updated if we shift to online classes.

 

Application Open for Farm Beginnings 2020/2021
May 30 all-day
Organic growers School

 

Organic Growers School’s Farm Beginnings® Farmer Training is entering its sixth year offering a year long farmer training. Organic Growers School has graduated 61 farmers in the last 5 years and will graduate 76  by September 2020.  Farm Beginnings® is a 12-month training that uses a mix of farmer-led classroom sessions, on-farm tours, mentorship, and an extensive farmer network, tapping into the  knowledge of the most innovative & skilled farmers in Western NC. During this current pandemic, the role of farmers and how food gets to our tables has been more at the forefront of conversations. Many individuals right now are expressing interest in growing their own food and developing more self sufficiency and land based skills. If you want to farm, it has never been easy and if you want to get into farming now, it is time to do so with the right support and training on how to be adaptive and resilient, like our Farm Beginnings training.

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)

GreenWorks: Plant of the Month is Sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus)
May 30 all-day
online

Plant of the Month

Our plant of the month is Sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus), a beautiful, native shrub that can reach 6-9 feet in height. Sweetshrub is also known as Spicebush and Carolina Allspice, due to its fragrant leaves, twigs and flowers. This beautiful shrub is a good choice for planting along stream banks that are prone to erosion. The roots help keep soil in place and the characteristics of the plant make it well suited to most soil types, as well as partial shade to full sun. Sweetshrub is in bloom right now in our area, so keep your eyes out for these stunning, sweet smelling flowers!

Helpful Resources: Parents Educating kids at home
May 30 all-day
online
Redesigning Our Future: National Environmental Summit for High School Students
May 30 all-day
Catawba College
Summer Reading Program 2020: Imagine Your Story
May 30 all-day
Online

Libraries are currently closed to the public but your local librarians are working hard to provide resources and programs to keep you entertained from home.

Check out the BCPL Summer Reading Program website for virtual programs, activities you can do from home, links to get you started with e-books, e-audiobooks, and more. Be sure to keep checking back throughout the summer. We are coming up with new ideas every day!

We would love to see what you are up to this summer. Tell us about the books you’ve been reading or share pictures of the projects and activities you are doing from home! Tag Buncombe libraries on Facebook or Instagram using our hashtag #yourstorymatters. You can also email photos and stories to [email protected]. We miss you and look forward to seeing your faces and hearing your stories when we reopen. In the meantime, be safe, be kind, and keep reading!

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
Youth Education Video – Our Mountains
May 30 all-day
online

Youth Education Video – Our Mountains

Click Here to View Our Mountains Video
Have you ever wondered how the southern Appalachian mountains were formed, or how the underlying geology affects the biodiversity we work to protect? Check out this short 5-minute lesson, followed by a fun craft for all ages.
View More SAHC Videos on YouTube
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.

ASAP Farmers Markets: AB Tech’s Main Campus
May 30 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
AB Tech's Main Campus

ASAP Farmers Market map

Saturdays, from 9 a.m. to noon, beginning March 21.

The market will operate for as long as necessary, possibly expanding to other locations and days of the week as opportunity and demand allows.

Market Rules

  • No customers or vendors exhibiting symptoms may enter the market.
  • Maintain 6 feet of social distance at all times.
  • One customer at a time for each vendor table.
  • Only handle product you are purchasing. Products will be pre-packaged or bunched.
  • Children, if they must attend with adult shoppers, must be closely supervised.

Anyone failing to comply with these conditions will be directed to leave the market.

Mystery Hill + Tomahawk Hill Now Open Daily
May 30 @ 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Mystery Hill

Mystery Hill Now Open Daily 9am-6pm

Under the guidelines of North Carolina’s Phase 2 opening plan, Mystery Hill is now open at limited capacity. We are taking every precaution to ensure that social distancing is observed and will continue our strenuous sanitizing efforts. We also want to make sure you know about our EXTENDED VORTEX PASS discount! Save $20 on the VORTEX PASS and get FREE VISITS through December 31, 2021

Mystery Hill + Tomahawk Hill Reopening
May 30 @ 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Mystery Hill

Mystery Hill and our rowdy neighbor, Tomahawk Hill, will be reopening from 9 am to 6 pm only on Fridays, Sat-
urdays, and Sundays, starting May 15th. As part of the Covid 19 Phase One business openings instituted in North

Carolina, we will abide by the safe distancing rules, and will have limited, time-slotted tickets. We encourage
visitors to buy tickets in advance on our website to avoid wait times outside. All attractions will be operating with
some operational changes to help with social distancing and ramped up sanitation procedures. Front Porch Eats
will operate for take out only but the onsite picnic areas have been setup for social distancing and will be open.
We are going to extend the expiration date on all current Vortex Pass Memberships to December 31, 2021 and for the
rest of May any vortex passes purchased or renewed will get $20 off and will also be valid until December 31, 2021.
Here are just some of the precautions we are taking:
• Separate entrance and exit doors to limit cross traffic
• 6 ft separation in ticketing queue line
• Plastic barriers separating staff and guests in ticketing line
• Staff will wear a mask and maintain social distance
• Anomaly tours will start every 30 min and will be private for only one group traveling
together

• Access to the Museums, Tomahawk Hill and Gift Shops will be limited by occupancy to help with social dis-
tancing

• The Old Time Photo Parlour will not be open yet so for tickets that include photos guest can choose to either
have a souvenir photo done in the Mystery House, Platform, Bubblerama, or Tomahawk Hill or they can get a
voucher to use for the Old Time Photo when it reopens
• Front Porch Eats will operate for takeout only but guests can use our picnic tables which have been spread
out to maintain social distancing
• We are adding hand sanitizing stations at the entrance to each of our exhibit areas and asking the guest to
sanitize before they enter
• We are increasing our daily housekeeping cleaning of fixtures, exhibits, and handrails to several times per day

Steeped in Time: Tea and Traditions Exhibit
May 30 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Mountain Gateway Museum & Heritage Center

Mountain Gateway Museum & Heritage Center celebrated the opening of its newest traveling exhibit, “Steeped in Time: Tea and Traditions” on Saturday, January 18, 2020. The exhibit will run through the July 4th weekend at MGM, located at 24 Water Street in Old Fort. Admission is free.

 

Get Outside! w/ Girl Scouts Virtual
May 30 @ 11:00 am – 11:15 am
online

Join us Live Saturday Mornings at 11 AM for 10-15 minutes of Outdoor Fun and Enrichment!

Share, interact and invite your friends to tune in!

Everyone is invited to join us on Facebook for fun activities! We’ll be offering programs Monday-Friday 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Videos will also be available at www.youtube.com/girlscoutsp2p.

You can also register for virtual badge workshops and Journey jumpstarts! More info can be found at www.girlscoutsp2p.org/en/about-girl-scouts/our-program/VirtualGirlScouts.html

Curbside Hold Pick Up Now Available at the Library
May 30 @ 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Buncombe County Libraries

Curbside hold pickup is now available at the library. You can pick up your holds on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 1-5 p.m. at the North Asheville Library, West Asheville Library, South Buncombe/Skyland Library, and the Black Mountain Library. Park in the library parking lot, have your library card handy, and call the phone number on the sign posted at your parking space. A librarian will bring your books out to the hold table and leave them for you to pick up. Your books will be checked out to you and ready to go.

You can place holds online using the library catalog link on the library webpage. You can also call (828) 250-4700 or email [email protected] for assistance placing or transferring holds.

Bookdrops are open

All library book drops are open. You may return your materials to any library book drop.  No fines will be charged while the library is closed.

If you need a library card, email [email protected].

We look forward to seeing you at the library!

While library programs are on hold, our Children’s Librarians are hosting online storytimes for kids of all ages on all library Facebook pages and YouTube. We also have a collection of stories you can listen to anytime on our StoryLine. Just call (828) 250-KIDS (5437) and hear a story read by your favorite librarian.

Since you can’t come to us while the libraries are closed, we are bringing some of our programs to you using Facebook live and ZOOM broadcasts.

Buncombe County Public Libraries have free wifi hotspots available outside any library building. To use the wifi, look for the LibraryGuest network and use the password readmore.

While the libraries are closed, you can call Ask-A-Librarian at 828-250-4700 with any questions you may have about library materials, digital services, or reference assistance. Librarians will be staffing the phones Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. to connect you with all the resources we have available.

Sunday, May 31, 2020
All branches Madison County Libraries Reopen June 8.
May 31 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Madison County Libraries
All branches of the Madison County Library are scheduled to reopen June 8. New procedures, including acrylic shields and social distancing markers, will be in place at every circulation desk. Library staff will be wearing masks when not behind the shields and will undergo temperature checks twice-a-day, according to Kim Bellofatto, director of the Madison County Library. While patrons will be encouraged to follow guidelines from the Center for Disease Control regarding the wearing of face masks when in public, they will not be forced to do so.

a store front at day: Named the Best Small Library in America by Library Journal in 2018, the Madison County Public Library is one of just six in North Carolina to offer some services during the first weeks of the coronavirus pandemic.

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.

Mystery Hill + Tomahawk Hill Now Open Daily
May 31 @ 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Mystery Hill

Mystery Hill Now Open Daily 9am-6pm

Under the guidelines of North Carolina’s Phase 2 opening plan, Mystery Hill is now open at limited capacity. We are taking every precaution to ensure that social distancing is observed and will continue our strenuous sanitizing efforts. We also want to make sure you know about our EXTENDED VORTEX PASS discount! Save $20 on the VORTEX PASS and get FREE VISITS through December 31, 2021

Mystery Hill + Tomahawk Hill Reopening
May 31 @ 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Mystery Hill

Mystery Hill and our rowdy neighbor, Tomahawk Hill, will be reopening from 9 am to 6 pm only on Fridays, Sat-
urdays, and Sundays, starting May 15th. As part of the Covid 19 Phase One business openings instituted in North

Carolina, we will abide by the safe distancing rules, and will have limited, time-slotted tickets. We encourage
visitors to buy tickets in advance on our website to avoid wait times outside. All attractions will be operating with
some operational changes to help with social distancing and ramped up sanitation procedures. Front Porch Eats
will operate for take out only but the onsite picnic areas have been setup for social distancing and will be open.
We are going to extend the expiration date on all current Vortex Pass Memberships to December 31, 2021 and for the
rest of May any vortex passes purchased or renewed will get $20 off and will also be valid until December 31, 2021.
Here are just some of the precautions we are taking:
• Separate entrance and exit doors to limit cross traffic
• 6 ft separation in ticketing queue line
• Plastic barriers separating staff and guests in ticketing line
• Staff will wear a mask and maintain social distance
• Anomaly tours will start every 30 min and will be private for only one group traveling
together

• Access to the Museums, Tomahawk Hill and Gift Shops will be limited by occupancy to help with social dis-
tancing

• The Old Time Photo Parlour will not be open yet so for tickets that include photos guest can choose to either
have a souvenir photo done in the Mystery House, Platform, Bubblerama, or Tomahawk Hill or they can get a
voucher to use for the Old Time Photo when it reopens
• Front Porch Eats will operate for takeout only but guests can use our picnic tables which have been spread
out to maintain social distancing
• We are adding hand sanitizing stations at the entrance to each of our exhibit areas and asking the guest to
sanitize before they enter
• We are increasing our daily housekeeping cleaning of fixtures, exhibits, and handrails to several times per day