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.
Spend an hour hiking one of the Parks’ six trails with a naturalist. Discover the fall flora and fauna of the Park on this educational excursion. You may even learn some of the Parks’ history as well. Meet in front of Cliff Dwellers Gifts.
Spend an hour hiking one of the Parks’ six trails with a naturalist. Discover the fall flora and fauna of the Park on this educational excursion. You may even learn some of the Parks’ history as well. Meet in front of Cliff Dwellers Gifts.
Black Balsam Knob and Tennent Mountain feature expansive views of Shining Rock Wilderness. With sunset at 5:20p, we will begin the hike at 4p to reach the summit of Tennent Mountain in time to watch the sun dip below the horizon.
We will be doing this loop counterclockwise, which is the more challenging way. This is for safety – the latter portion of the hike will be in the dark, so going this direction means we will only have to navigate Ivestor Gap, an old Jeep road, after the sun goes down, rather than more technical trails.
This hike is 4.3 mi with just under 700 ft elevation gain. We will be doing most of the climbing in the first half. We will only have one hour to hike about 2 miles to Tennent Mountain summit. This is an easy pace on flat ground, but not with the elevation. If you are not accustomed to hiking like this, please join for a different hike (more will be planned).
I’m normally not a stickler for rules, but for this event, there are a few :-/
- We will depart the trailhead at 4pm sharp. If you are not there, we will be leaving without you. I can’t guarantee phone service, so I may not see messages letting me know you’ll be late. And since the sunset is the goal, we don’t want the group to miss it by waiting for someone who is late. The trailhead is about an hour from Asheville, so please account for that, traffic, and time to find a parking spot. I’ll be there around 3:45.
- Bring enough water for you (and your dog if you are bringing one).
- Dogs are welcome if they are leashed (6 ft or shorter), well behaved, and socialized with other dogs and humans. I will be bringing my pup.
- Bring a headlamp! We will be hiking in the dark.
- Wear appropriate/supportive shoes – the trail is rocky.
- Bring layers. It will be very windy at the summit, and up to 20 degrees colder than in Asheville.
- Feel free to bring snacks. The goal is to chill and watch the sunset so we will have some time to rest.
- You are responsible for you (and your dog, if applicable). I am not a trained guide and I am not trained in wilderness first aid. By RSVPing “yes” to this event, you are acknowledging that I will not be held responsible for any injuries you may sustain on this hike.
Okay, now that that unpleasant part is done, I’ve got some fun links below! I have not done this hike yet, but the links below are where I gathered my info! Please read :-)
Thanks! Can’t wait to see you there!
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/north-carolina/ivestor-gap-trail-to-tennent-mountain-and-black-balsam-knob-trail
The trails of Chimney Rock in the fall are amazing, but a guided hike off-the-beaten-path can lead you to places you never knew existed. Join a naturalist and learn what fall brings to Hickory Nut Gorge. You’ll discover seasonal changes along your trek that will introduce you to a whole new perspective of the Park.
Enjoy a guided tour on our beautiful Community Farm and see all the terrific projects we have in the works. Participants will hike The Discovery Trail in a 2-mile loop, returning to our education and event center. You are welcome to bring a packed lunch to enjoy there while overlooking the entire farm and surrounding mountains
Spend an hour hiking one of the Parks’ six trails with a naturalist. Discover the fall flora and fauna of the Park on this educational excursion. You may even learn some of the Parks’ history as well. Meet in front of Cliff Dwellers Gifts.
Spend an hour hiking one of the Parks’ six trails with a naturalist. Discover the fall flora and fauna of the Park on this educational excursion. You may even learn some of the Parks’ history as well. Meet in front of Cliff Dwellers Gifts.
This announcement is revised from the original Dec 15th to Dec 22nd.
John Muir didn’t like the word ‘hike’. “We ought to saunter through them reverently, not ‘hike’ through them.”
I am going to scout the Stone Mtn Tr in DuPont; A few of you are welcome to join me.
Hike Distance: 4.0 Total (optional) ascent: 675 ft
Pace: 1.5mph – because I’m an ol’ Codger.
Difficulty: Well established Tr. No water Xings.
Optional Climb to Stone Mtn is 600 ft ascent in 1 mile.
(I, and the more leisurely of us, will skip this part. ;-)
Drive time: 25 min/14 mi 1-way
Hey everyone, let’s go see the Christmas lights at the Arboretum!
I’m going to reserve a spot for one car, but if more than one car-load show interest I can always buy another.
Tickets for next Thursday night are $55 per car so we’ll divide that up by the number of people in the car. If someone’s willing to sit in the middle we can get 5 in my car.
We’ll meet at the Ingles up the road on 191 (863 Brevard Road) and head over from there. We should plan on leaving the parking lot at 6:45(tickets are for 7pm entry).
Kick off the new year in Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park during this First Day Hike! Start your morning bright and early with a stroll, hike or bike ride up to the 3.2-mile Park road. Usually restricted to motor vehicle traffic only, there will be no cars in your way if you show up for this special, early morning hike that’s free to participants! Bicyclists are allowed to use the road also on this special morning to climb and descend the steep park road under controlled speed. Helmets are required.
Meet at the Old Rock Café at 8am. Registration is not required.
Our first passholder-exclusive event of the year! Join a naturalist for an intimate hike with fellow passholders in an area of the Park not typically open to the public. This moderate hike traverses our own old growth forest and gives you the opportunity to learn what makes this ecosystem unique. This event is exclusively for Annual Passholders.
ASAP’s Annual Business of Farming Conference brings together professional farmers from across the Southeast region to network and share resources to grow their farm businesses. Farmers learn about marketing, business planning, and financial management from regional experts and innovative peers. The conference is designed for beginning and established farmers as well as those seriously considering farming as a profession. Scholarships are available for BIPOC and limited-resource farmers. Find out more and apply.
Interested in sponsoring the conference? Sponsorships are a great way to get your product or services in front of farmers and establish you as a leader of the local food movement. Contact Nora Scheff for details.
Interested in being an exhibitor at the conference? Exhibitors can connect directly with more than 200 farmers and agricultural professionals. Fill out an exhibitor application.
Workshops for Beginning and Established Farmers
Choose from workshops on business planning, farm financials, marketing, branding, legal considerations, and much more, led by regional business and marketing professionals and innovative farmers. Workshops are rotated regularly with some new workshops offered each year. See a preview of 2023 workshops here (additional workshops and speakers will be added).
Grower-Buyer Meeting
Meet with restaurant owners, chefs, distributors, and grocers to discuss sourcing and possible matches between what you produce and what each buyer needs. (It’s like speed dating for local sourcing!) Many farmers have made connections with participating buyers, and many more have improved their ability to serve wholesale accounts. Find out more.
Farmers Market Summit
The summit brings together farmers market managers from across the Appalachian Grown region for peer-sharing, technical assistance support, and annual planning. The summit is free for market leadership, but does require pre-registration. Each market may send two representatives to the summit. Contact Mike McCreary to learn more.
Networking and 1:1 Consulting
Attendees have the opportunity to meet, connect, and form supportive relationships. Experts are available to provide your farm with individual support on a variety of business, legal, marketing, and management topics.
Exhibitors Hall
Connect with representatives from a variety of regional agricultural and business services in our exhibitor hall.
Organic Growers School is now accepting work trade applications for the 30th Annual Spring Conference & Market!
The OGS Spring Conference will be held at Mars Hill University from February 24-26, 2023.
In exchange for each shift worked you will be compensated for the same day of the Conference. For example; if you work trade on Saturday, you will have access to the Conference on Saturday and will be free to attend workshops throughout the day, as long as they don’t conflict with your shift hours.
Work traders can select two shifts if they would like to attend on Saturday and Sunday, or three shifts, if they would like to participate the whole weekend.
General work trade shifts do not require special skills or backgrounds. They do, however, require timeliness and a friendly demeanor. Classroom Assistants/Moderators require training and classroom experience.
You should expect to be working during some of the class time unless you are approved for a pre-or post-conference shift, or come as a paying participant.
Please review the website for shift descriptions and complete the Work Trade Application if you are interested.
Work Trade at Spring Conference – Organic Growers School
We appreciate your interest in work trading for the 30th Annual Spring Conference & Market. Work traders play a vital role in the success of this event!
Thanks for your support,
Work Trade Deposit:
All volunteers are required to submit a $40 deposit. Please complete one registration and submit only one deposit. You may include any additional interest shifts in the additional notes section of the work trade application. Deposits are refunded once you complete your work trade shift. Once your schedule and duties are confirmed, it is up to you to show up for your shifts on time and to complete your shift as asked. In the unfortunate event that you do not fulfill your shift, we will process your credit card for the deposit amount. If providing a deposit is not possible, please email [email protected] so we may consider other options.
Along the Chattooga River, the states of NC, SC, and GA intersect. From conflicts between Cherokees and white settlers, to the Walton War between Georgia and North Carolina over their boundaries, this area has seen its share of strife and political challenges. Surveyor Andrew Ellicott initially settled the conflict and placed a marker along the bank of the river in 1811. But eventually his work was challenged by the more precise “Governor’s Rock” a few years afterward. As late as the 1970s though, NC and GA once again disputed the precise location. Join us as we hike through three states and explore the history of this contested boundary.
Accessible gardens such as raised beds offer a chance for wheelchair bound and individuals with physical limitations grow vegetables and enjoy gardening. Join Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Alan Wagner and other members of the EMGV team in The Learning Garden for this program covering all the significant points on how to build an ADA compliant raised bed, including height, dimensions, and the materials to use.
Portions of this program may be held outside; please dress appropriately for the weather.
The presentation is free, but attendance is limited and registration is required.
As spring migratory species make their return journey from their sunny winter hideaways, see how many you can spot from our location on the NC Birding Trail. Bring your binoculars to get a better look at numerous species traveling north through the Park. Just how many will you add to your list?
Join Ali McGhee and Tara Eschenroeder for this special Earth Day adventure!
About the adventure…
Earth my body, water my blood, air my breath, and fire my spirit!
We are surrounded by so much beauty that we so often overlook as we are distracted by so many things to do and tasks to accomplish. We forget that we are human beings (not human doings) grounded in place and inherent, effortless purpose.
This hike will excite our senses and our minds as we gather deep wisdom about area plants and discover their powerful potential. On our journey up the mountain, we’ll meet several of our local and native plant species and learn their medicinal and magical uses, from healers that help us reconnect with the land – and ourselves – to a few storied (and poisonous) allies.
At the top of the majestic Bearwallow bald, we will share a meditation on the land and flow together in asana, then celebrate with fresh herbal tea brewed from plants we’ve met. Not only will we interact and commune with nature, but we will also come together as a beautiful community celebrating new friends and old.
This adventure is limited to 20 participants.
We can’t wait to share this experience with you!
Sign up here!
3rd Annual Spring Fling with over 20 craft artists, live music & food truck. 22 Living Greenhouses full of exotic plants, annuals, perennials, veggie starts, bushes and trees. Our very own Appalachian Standard CBD products for purchase.
Raffle with proceeds benefiting Asheville’s very own Dementia Partners!
Our annual Spring Fling! is just a few weeks away (April 29th). We’ve got a great line up of performers and local vendors…and of course there will be loads and loads of plants!
Things kick off at 11am with the puppet show and will wind down sometime around 5 pm. As always, plants are available on sliding scale honor system – and all proceeds go to support our free CSA and youth programs.
We are delighted to welcome Andrew Wakefield to Bloom WNC Outdoor Summer Concert Series!
Andrew Wakefield is a guitarist, songwriter and singer based in Asheville, NC. He has an extensive and eclectic catalogue of compositions ranging from guitar-driven bluegrass to folk, old-time, newgrass, rock, american, and more!
2023 SPRING FLING PLANT SALE, sponsored by the Extension Master Gardener Volunteers of Buncombe County, the Asheville-Blue Ridge Rose Society, and The Men’s Garden Club of Asheville.
Extension Master Gardener volunteers will offer a huge selection of plants for any garden spot. Choose among perennials, ground covers, native plants, vegetable starts, herbs, shrubs. Garden art, books and some hard goods will also be available. Master Gardeners will help you select the right plant for the right place and answer your gardening questions.
The Asheville Blue Ridge Rose Society will sell many varieties of roses, including own-root, fragrant, and miniature roses. Expert rosarians will be on hand to help you choose the perfect rose and to give practical advice on growing and caring for roses.
The Men’s Garden Club of Asheville will be selling popular annual flowering plants in a wide variety of colors including Sunpatiens, impatiens, geraniums, marigolds, begonias, non-flowering sweet potato vines, and several others.
A planting activity for children will be offered. Parental supervision required.
Rain or shine, we’ll see you there! Don’t forget to bring your wagon.
While the county mask mandate has been lifted, participants for all events and activities are welcome to wear a mask to feel more comfortable.
Watch as the Park comes alive under the shadow of darkness on this guided evening excursion with a Park naturalist. Do you know which animals come out along the Hickory Nut Falls trail when the sun goes down? Get ready to learn more about the Park’s rarely-seen residents.
Black Mountain Garden Sale, one of the most popular gardening sales in WNC, will be held on Friday, May 19, 4-8pm and Saturday, May 20, 9am-4pm at the Town Square Parking Lot at the corner of E. State St. and Richardson Blvd.
Hosted by Black Mountain Beautification Committee the sale will feature annuals, carnivorous plants, cut flowers, edible shrubs, herbs, native plants, perennials, shrubs, trees, and vegetable starts from specialty plant vendors. Plus garden décor including bee cabins, garden art and containers, wood carvings, and other specialty items.
The popular Members’ Market will have personal services and baked goods for sale. Purchase raffle tickets to take a chance to win plants. Proceeds help support the Seed Money Award, Community Improvement Award, and to keep the town beautiful!
Additional information at blackmountainbeautification.org. Let us help you create the garden of your dreams!
Black Mountain Garden Sale, one of the most popular gardening sales in WNC, will be held on Friday, May 19, 4-8pm and Saturday, May 20, 9am-4pm at the Town Square Parking Lot at the corner of E. State St. and Richardson Blvd.
Hosted by Black Mountain Beautification Committee the sale will feature annuals, carnivorous plants, cut flowers, edible shrubs, herbs, native plants, perennials, shrubs, trees, and vegetable starts from specialty plant vendors. Plus garden décor including bee cabins, garden art and containers, wood carvings, and other specialty items.
The popular Members’ Market will have personal services and baked goods for sale. Purchase raffle tickets to take a chance to win plants. Proceeds help support the Seed Money Award, Community Improvement Award, and to keep the town beautiful!
Additional information at blackmountainbeautification.org. Let us help you create the garden of your dreams!
Watch as the Park comes alive under the shadow of darkness on this guided evening excursion with a Park naturalist. Do you know which animals come out along the Hickory Nut Falls trail when the sun goes down? Get ready to learn more about the Park’s rarely-seen residents. NOTE: The Hickory Nut Falls Trail is considered a moderate trail. Attendees must be able to hike the trail 3/4 of a mile each direction.
Stop by and learn about composting at home. See five different composting methods on display, including a single bin unit, a tumbling composter, a wood pallet bin, a classic 3-bin system and an example of vermiculture on demo day.
NC State Parks is celebrating Juneteenth. Throughout the week, explore our Juneteenth Story Walk on the Great Woodland Adventure trail to learn more about this national holiday and its history.
NC State Parks is celebrating Juneteenth. Throughout the week, explore our Juneteenth Story Walk on the Great Woodland Adventure trail to learn more about this national holiday and its history.
Join entomologist Matt Bertone, NC State Director, Plant Disease and Insect Clinic as he shares his expertise and teaches us how to encourage the many beneficial organisms in our gardens and landscapes. Some of these lesser-known organisms have vital roles in healthy garden ecosystems, providing organic waste reduction and natural pest control services.