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.

Saturday, January 2, 2021
LEAF 2021 announces a few key dates
Jan 2 all-day
LEAF

Spring LEAF Retreat May 13-16 at Lake Eden
LEAF Downtown/ Reimagine August 27-28
Fall LEAF Festival October 14-17 at Lake Eden 
(Size TBD*)

These events will be limited in size but will retain all the LEAF Love. LEAF Members will have priority and at times exclusive access to these events. Please note that Spring LEAF Retreat will be members-only and tickets will be made available on January 4th, 2021. Members have kept LEAF Mission alive and at work in this wild year of 2020! Your membership empowered LEAF to maintain our support of LEAF International Culture Keepers in the 10 countries and local LEAF Schools & Streets Artists. When you support culture, artists and teachers you are investing in the community and young people’s future. Interested in becoming a member? Join membership today!

All $250+ memberships will receive the 2021 LEAF Calendar hot off the press and its going to be a great year!

Modelface Comedy Presents The Totally Exhausted Women of Atlanta
Jan 2 @ 9:45 pm – 11:45 pm
LaZoom Tours

Lace Larrabee is back with another group of hilarious atlanta ladies for another weekend stand up comedy!!!
Featuring Shelby Tesio, Karen Felix, Heather Tolley-Bauer, and Karen Waygood
Sponsored by

BRÖÖ Haircare
ages+
Tickets $12, VIP $18
VIP tickets come with a bag of BRÖÖ Craft Beer Hair products worth $15!!!
Sunday, January 3, 2021
LEAF 2021 announces a few key dates
Jan 3 all-day
LEAF

Spring LEAF Retreat May 13-16 at Lake Eden
LEAF Downtown/ Reimagine August 27-28
Fall LEAF Festival October 14-17 at Lake Eden 
(Size TBD*)

These events will be limited in size but will retain all the LEAF Love. LEAF Members will have priority and at times exclusive access to these events. Please note that Spring LEAF Retreat will be members-only and tickets will be made available on January 4th, 2021. Members have kept LEAF Mission alive and at work in this wild year of 2020! Your membership empowered LEAF to maintain our support of LEAF International Culture Keepers in the 10 countries and local LEAF Schools & Streets Artists. When you support culture, artists and teachers you are investing in the community and young people’s future. Interested in becoming a member? Join membership today!

All $250+ memberships will receive the 2021 LEAF Calendar hot off the press and its going to be a great year!

Monday, January 4, 2021
LEAF 2021 announces a few key dates
Jan 4 all-day
LEAF

Spring LEAF Retreat May 13-16 at Lake Eden
LEAF Downtown/ Reimagine August 27-28
Fall LEAF Festival October 14-17 at Lake Eden 
(Size TBD*)

These events will be limited in size but will retain all the LEAF Love. LEAF Members will have priority and at times exclusive access to these events. Please note that Spring LEAF Retreat will be members-only and tickets will be made available on January 4th, 2021. Members have kept LEAF Mission alive and at work in this wild year of 2020! Your membership empowered LEAF to maintain our support of LEAF International Culture Keepers in the 10 countries and local LEAF Schools & Streets Artists. When you support culture, artists and teachers you are investing in the community and young people’s future. Interested in becoming a member? Join membership today!

All $250+ memberships will receive the 2021 LEAF Calendar hot off the press and its going to be a great year!

Thursday, January 7, 2021
2021 Asheville Fringe Festival
Jan 7 @ 8:00 am – 11:30 pm
Online w/ Asheville Fringe Arts Festival
THU JAN 21
Sunday, January 10, 2021
Fringe Preview Party!
Jan 10 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Online w/ Asheville Fringe Arts Festival

Sneak peeks, movie trailers, Festival announcements! Hosted by the one and only America’s Favorite Cartoon Witch, Toybox!
Start getting psyched for the weirdest Asheville Fringe yet, all from the safety of your couch.
7 to 8ish – sneak peeks and trailers
8 to 8:30ish – hang out and let us help you pick which shows you should see.
Fringe Fest schedule and tickets at AshevilleFringe.org
Sunday, January 17, 2021
Asheville Fringe Arts Festival Kick Off Party
Jan 17 @ 7:00 pm
Online w/ Asheville Fringe Arts Festival

Kick off the 19th annual Asheville Fringe Festival with the Fringe fam!
Live comedy with Moira Goree, Fringe Trivia, special guests and a costume party! It’s a bummer we can’t be together in person but it’s still gonna be fun!
Free
Festival schedule and tickets at AshevilleFringe.org
Wednesday, January 20, 2021
Free Fringe: A Turkey is NOT a Rooster
Jan 20 @ 5:00 pm – 5:15 pm
Online w/ Asheville Fringe Arts Festival

A TURKEY IS NOT A ROOSTER: is a one-act play inspired by the Chinese zodiac & a parodic response to anti-Avian sentiment.

Jinna Kim was born in Masan, South Korea and immigrated to the United States as a toddler. Currently she is an award winning interdisciplinary artist who also became a filmmaker during quarantine. She was listed as Charlotte Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 in 2019. Originally trained in classical music, Jinna began her professional career in arts administration, having graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa at the University of Illinois. Jinna then moved to New York City to work at the Public Theater, also known for Shakespeare in Central Park and Joe’s Pub, then at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). While in NYC, Jinna received fellowships from Korea Society and the Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement. After completing her MBA at the University of Virginia, Jinna moved to Charlotte, North Carolina to work at a major bank. Still based in Charlotte, Jinna continues to act, write and produce films and interdisciplinary art projects.

The Asheville FRINGE Arts Festival 2021 ~ “Walking on Spectrum” by Juliana Heng
Jan 20 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Online w/ The Asheville FRINGE Arts Festival

Juliana Heng is the founder of I Laugh KL Comedy Show, one of the founding members of Parti Komedi Rakyat (PKR) – a comedy troupe, and has been doing stand-up comedy since September 2017. They strive to be a comedian who gets real, talking about issues considered taboo in the Asian society. Juliana has performed in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand (Bangkok) & England (London, Nottingham & Manchester). Recently, they emerged as the Finalist of Bangkok International Comedy Competition 2019, KING GONG at The Comedy Store – London (December 2019) & BEAT THE FROG at The Frog & Bucket Comedy Club, Manchester (January 2020).

A one-hour medley show by this Malaysian stand-up comedian, storyteller and poet explores the different ways to tell one’s life story. Even with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), why not live life with spunk?

NOTE: Matured content, mild sexual innuendos, emotionally triggering, graphical depiction of domestic violence & can be too real

Emo Philips with guest Ryan Cox CANCELLED
Jan 20 @ 8:00 pm
The Orange Peel

We regret to inform you that due to circumstances out of our control, this show has been cancelled. Tickets will be refunded at point of purchase. Please allow 2 – 4 weeks for refunds to fully process.

Described by Jay Leno as “the best joke writer in America,” by British comedian Gary Delaney as the best joke writer in the world, and by “Weird Al” Yankovic as one of the funniest people on the planet, Emo Philips has performed over 7000 times throughout the English-speaking world, including a multi-week run at the Playhouse Theater in London’s West End. Since starting out in Chicago in 1976 at the age of twenty, Emo has had award-winning comedy albums, several cable specials (including an hour-long one on HBO), and many appearances on network television, both in America and in the UK. He has appeared in films (most notably, as the table-saw demonstrator in UHF) and has lent his distinctive voice to animated TV shows (such as Slacker Cats, Doctor Katz, Adventure Time, and Home Movies), but his first love, stand-up, remains his true one.

Thursday, January 21, 2021
Free Fringe: A Turkey is NOT a Rooster
Jan 21 @ 5:00 pm – 5:15 pm
Online w/ Asheville Fringe Arts Festival

A TURKEY IS NOT A ROOSTER: is a one-act play inspired by the Chinese zodiac & a parodic response to anti-Avian sentiment.

Jinna Kim was born in Masan, South Korea and immigrated to the United States as a toddler. Currently she is an award winning interdisciplinary artist who also became a filmmaker during quarantine. She was listed as Charlotte Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 in 2019. Originally trained in classical music, Jinna began her professional career in arts administration, having graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa at the University of Illinois. Jinna then moved to New York City to work at the Public Theater, also known for Shakespeare in Central Park and Joe’s Pub, then at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). While in NYC, Jinna received fellowships from Korea Society and the Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement. After completing her MBA at the University of Virginia, Jinna moved to Charlotte, North Carolina to work at a major bank. Still based in Charlotte, Jinna continues to act, write and produce films and interdisciplinary art projects.

Basket Case: A New Musical UnHinged Premiere at Asheville Fringe
Jan 21 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Online w/ Asheville Fringe Arts Festival

Join us for the Unhinged premiere of Basket Case: A New Musical at the Asheville Fringe Arts Festival!
7pm EST Jan 21 & 7pm EST Jan 23
Tickets can be purchased at www.ashevillefringe.org
Duane Bradley arrives in New York City, possessing only a mysterious past & basket. He meets a cast of eccentric characters, drawn to the sexy and strong-willed Sharon. Through a sequence of twisted events, finally revealing the truth: “what’s in the basket?” A dark, romantic, and campy musical based on Frank Henenlotter’s 1980’s cult classic Basket Case.
Tag and share with friends to enjoy the thrills and chills!
Being B.A.D. + MER/made + Picnic in the Time of COVID-27 at Asheville Fringe Arts Festival
Jan 21 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Online w/ Asheville Fringe Arts Festival

Being B.A.D, by activist artist Brittney S. Harris, explores the lengths one woman goes to take that power back after years of physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her family and romantic partner.
MER/made, by spoken word artist Alli Marshall, is a multimedia exploration of sinking and swimming, and water as metaphor for change. The nonlinear narrative is presented through a series of videos that incorporate imagery, spoken word, music, and fantastical characters.
In PICNIC IN THE TIME OF COVID-2, by dance collective Taproot CLT, two friends who can’t gather in person must find each other in an absurd, silent film themed virtual reality picnic that takes place in a future that no longer recognizes the norms of eating real food.
Stoner Morning Show at Asheville Fringe Arts Festival
Jan 21 @ 10:30 pm – 11:30 pm
virtual event

The hosts of this morning talk show have slept in…and they’re totally stoned. Headlines, interviews, human interest stories, and more. Wake and Bake with STONER MORNING SHOW!

Stoner Morning Show w/ The Asheville Fringe Festival
Jan 21 @ 10:30 pm – 11:30 pm
Online w/ Asheville Fringe Arts Festival
👁 RAF // Stoner Morning Show
Friday, January 22, 2021
2021 Asheville Fringe Arts Festival
Jan 22 @ 5:00 pm – 11:30 pm
Online w/ Asheville Fringe Arts Festival
FRI JAN 22
Free Fringe: An Accidental Camping Trip
Jan 22 @ 5:00 pm – 5:15 pm
Online w/ Asheville Fringe Arts Festival
👁 RAF // An Accidental Camping Trip
Saturday, January 23, 2021
2021 Asheville Fringe Festival
Jan 23 @ 8:00 am – 11:30 pm
Online w/ Asheville Fringe Arts Festival
SAT JAN 23
The Asheville FRINGE Arts Festival 2021 ~ “Walking on Spectrum” by Juliana Heng
Jan 23 @ 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Online w/ Asheville Fringe Arts festival

Juliana Heng is the founder of I Laugh KL Comedy Show, one of the founding members of Parti Komedi Rakyat (PKR) – a comedy troupe, and has been doing stand-up comedy since September 2017. They strive to be a comedian who gets real, talking about issues considered taboo in the Asian society. Juliana has performed in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand (Bangkok) & England (London, Nottingham & Manchester). Recently, they emerged as the Finalist of Bangkok International Comedy Competition 2019, KING GONG at The Comedy Store – London (December 2019) & BEAT THE FROG at The Frog & Bucket Comedy Club, Manchester (January 2020).

A one-hour medley show by this Malaysian stand-up comedian, storyteller and poet explores the different ways to tell one’s life story. Even with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), why not live life with spunk?

NOTE: Matured content, mild sexual innuendos, emotionally triggering, graphical depiction of domestic violence & can be too real

Basket Case: A New Musical UnHinged Premiere at Asheville Fringe
Jan 23 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Online w/ Asheville Fringe Arts Festival

Join us for the Unhinged premiere of Basket Case: A New Musical at the Asheville Fringe Arts Festival!
7pm EST Jan 21 & 7pm EST Jan 23
Tickets can be purchased at www.ashevillefringe.org
Duane Bradley arrives in New York City, possessing only a mysterious past & basket. He meets a cast of eccentric characters, drawn to the sexy and strong-willed Sharon. Through a sequence of twisted events, finally revealing the truth: “what’s in the basket?” A dark, romantic, and campy musical based on Frank Henenlotter’s 1980’s cult classic Basket Case.
Tag and share with friends to enjoy the thrills and chills!
Being B.A.D. + MER/made + Picnic in the Time of COVID-27 at Asheville Fringe Arts Festival
Jan 23 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Online w/ Asheville Fringe Arts Festival

Being B.A.D, by activist artist Brittney S. Harris, explores the lengths one woman goes to take that power back after years of physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her family and romantic partner.
MER/made, by spoken word artist Alli Marshall, is a multimedia exploration of sinking and swimming, and water as metaphor for change. The nonlinear narrative is presented through a series of videos that incorporate imagery, spoken word, music, and fantastical characters.
In PICNIC IN THE TIME OF COVID-2, by dance collective Taproot CLT, two friends who can’t gather in person must find each other in an absurd, silent film themed virtual reality picnic that takes place in a future that no longer recognizes the norms of eating real food.
Another Comedy Showcase
Jan 23 @ 9:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Girl And Goblin

Another Comedy Showcase

This is a badass comedy showcase featuring the best local and surrounding area comics at a badass tattoo shop venue! This is a FREE show! And it’s also BYOB! It’s a perfect Saturday night good time!

What we’re about

A great place to find live Asheville’s live comedy performances and other local comedy fans!

We’ll be posting all the Asheville-area stand-up comedy shows in the area (assuming I know about them). We’ve met several of you already, and we’d love to meet more of you!

Asheville has a lot of great comedy. There’s touring comics performing in larger venues. Asheville is also home to a thriving local scene with great local comics performing in smaller venues and opening for touring comics. There is also a great selection of open mics, so if you ever have the itch to try something out, you’ll have plenty of opportunities.

Sunday, January 24, 2021
2021 Asheville Fringe Arts Festival
Jan 24 @ 8:00 am – 7:00 pm
Online w/ Asheville Fringe Arts Festival
SUN JAN 24
Sunday, February 7, 2021
Virtually Assembled: An *Assembly Required Experience
Feb 7 @ 1:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Virtually Assembled: An *Assembly Required Experience

*Assembly Required, the premiere Southeast destination for designer, bootleg and art toy artists and collectors is going VIRTUAL, with their event Virtually Assembled: An *Assembly Required Experience. Streaming live February 6-7, 2021 on www.assembly-required.net, the event will include interviews with artists, studio tours, artist exclusives, surprises from Toybox, America’s Favorite Cartoon Witch, and much, much more!

With molding, and production techniques, designer toy artists echo the production methods of traditional toy manufacturers. Refining inspiration from a variety of underground and subcultural elements, *Assembly Required honors this true to form, turn of the century avant-garde/pop surrealistic art movement. 2021 will be *Assembly Required’s third year celebrating this melting pot of artistic expression.

Saturday, February 13, 2021
Black History Brunch
Feb 13 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
The YMI Cultural Center

The YMI Cultural Center hosted Black History Brunch. Speeches, poems, songs, and performances will also be apart of the brunch. A selection of catered meals will also be provided for the people attending. This event’s primary purpose is to open Black History Month and know local black performers in Asheville. It is an event where people could get entertained but also educated on Black History. Join us at the YMI Cultural Center on Feb. 13th from 10 am – 2 pm. Hope to see you there!

YMI CUltural Center – Black History Brunch
Feb 13 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
The YMI Cultural Center

You are invited to the YMI’s Black History Brunch!

On Feb. 13th, from 10 am – 2 pm, the YMI Cultural Center will host the YMI Black History Brunch. Speeches, poems, songs, and performances will be given. A selection of catered meals by our Cooking with Comedy alumnus, Clarence Robinson, will also be provided for the people attending. This event Is to open Black history month up and get to know some local black performers in Asheville. Join us in getting a crash course lesson in Black history and support your local talent. We’ll see you there!

*Pre-order your meals ahead of the event to reserve your spot*

Nate Bargatze: Good Problem to Have
Feb 13 @ 7:00 pm
Peace Center

Hailing from Old Hickory, Tennessee, rising stand-up star Nate Bargatze’s comedy is both clean and relatable. He has been featured as one of Esquire’s “Best New Comedians” by Jim Gaffigan, Rolling Stone’s “Comedians to Watch” by Marc Maron, Variety’s “10 Comics to Watch” for 2015, and as #1 on Vulture‘s “50 Comedians You Should Know” in 2015.

Following the showbiz footsteps of his dad, a former clown turned world-class magician, Bargatze’s debut TV special, Full Time Magic, and debut album, Yelled at By a Clown, came out in 2015. The album reached #1 on the iTunes Comedy Charts and remained on Billboard’s Top Ten Comedy Charts for weeks. His first half-hour Netflix special, The Standups, premiered in 2017, and his first solo one-hour Netflix special, The Tennessee Kid, came out this year. He currently has a deal with 20th Century Fox to develop his own TV show.

Bargatze has made multiple appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Conan, and @midnight. Off-screen, he performed as part of Fallon’s Clean Cut Comedy Tour and Chris Rock’s Total Blackout Tour, along with live shows for the troops in Iraq and Kuwait. He regularly appears at Bonnaroo, SXSW, Oddball Comedy Festival, Sasquatch, Clusterfest, and the Just For Laughs Montreal Comedy Festival.

Official Website

Sunday, February 28, 2021
Modelface Comedy Presents The Totally Exhausted Women of Atlanta
Feb 28 @ 8:00 pm – 9:30 pm
LaZoom

Lace Larrabee is back with another group of hilarious atlanta ladies for another weekend stand up comedy!!!
Featuring Shelby Tesio, Karen Felix, Heather Tolley-Bauer, and Karen Waygood

Sponsored by

BRÖÖ Haircare
ages+
Tickets $12, VIP $18
VIP tickets come with a bag of BRÖÖ Craft Beer Hair products worth $15!!!
Friday, March 5, 2021
WitchCon Online 2021: A Livestream Magical Conference
Mar 5 all-day
Livestream w/ WitchCon

Hosted by WitchCon
Join the largest online magical conference in the world, devoted to Witchcraft, Conjure, and Rootwork.

About this Event
March 5th to 7th, 2021, Brian Cain, Christian Day and the HEX Education Network present WitchCon Online, featuring over a hundred classes by over a hundred Witches and Conjurers from across the globe ready to share their time-honored wisdom and witchery.

WitchCon Online presenters are the preeminent masters of the magical arts and hail from across a rainbow spectrum of occult and spiritual practices. Their classes are personally designed to help beginners, novices, and experts alike draw upon the power of magic!

WitchCon Online 2021 registration includes admittance to all livestream video classes, rituals, and performances, each personally designed to help beginners, novices, and experts alike draw upon the power of magic. It also grants access to watch every class after the event has ended via our on-demand library so you don’t have to miss a magical moment!

The conference is livestreamed by the Hex Education Network on Crowdcast, a web-based platform with no need to download an app!
WitchCon Online attendees will love shopping live with our magical presenters, each showcasing powerful ritual tools, signed books, exquisite jewelry, and spellcrafts handmade by true practitioners in half-hour Live Sales. You don’t have to travel to the ends of the Earth to scour the witch markets: you can buy from enchanting artisans and score amazing tools and talismans from the comfort of your own home. Our Virtual Vendors’ Hall is free to the public as well!

The WitchCon Online Virtual Meet and Greet lets you meet and interact live on Zoom with WitchCon presenters and its hosts Brian Cain and Christian Day. This is a great way to get to know your favorite teachers and what’s even better is that it’s free and open to the public!

Saturday, March 6, 2021
WitchCon Online 2021: A Livestream Magical Conference
Mar 6 all-day
Livestream w/ WitchCon

Hosted by WitchCon
Join the largest online magical conference in the world, devoted to Witchcraft, Conjure, and Rootwork.

About this Event
March 5th to 7th, 2021, Brian Cain, Christian Day and the HEX Education Network present WitchCon Online, featuring over a hundred classes by over a hundred Witches and Conjurers from across the globe ready to share their time-honored wisdom and witchery.

WitchCon Online presenters are the preeminent masters of the magical arts and hail from across a rainbow spectrum of occult and spiritual practices. Their classes are personally designed to help beginners, novices, and experts alike draw upon the power of magic!

WitchCon Online 2021 registration includes admittance to all livestream video classes, rituals, and performances, each personally designed to help beginners, novices, and experts alike draw upon the power of magic. It also grants access to watch every class after the event has ended via our on-demand library so you don’t have to miss a magical moment!

The conference is livestreamed by the Hex Education Network on Crowdcast, a web-based platform with no need to download an app!
WitchCon Online attendees will love shopping live with our magical presenters, each showcasing powerful ritual tools, signed books, exquisite jewelry, and spellcrafts handmade by true practitioners in half-hour Live Sales. You don’t have to travel to the ends of the Earth to scour the witch markets: you can buy from enchanting artisans and score amazing tools and talismans from the comfort of your own home. Our Virtual Vendors’ Hall is free to the public as well!

The WitchCon Online Virtual Meet and Greet lets you meet and interact live on Zoom with WitchCon presenters and its hosts Brian Cain and Christian Day. This is a great way to get to know your favorite teachers and what’s even better is that it’s free and open to the public!