Calendar of Events

Starting April 8th, you can ride ArtAVL’s new free ArtsAVL Connect Trolley – connecting the Downtown and River Arts Districts with two overlapping routes. The initiative is a partnership between ArtsAVL and Gray Line Asheville. Beginning April 8th, two chartered Gray Line trolleys will circulate on 20-30 minute intervals from 12-8 pm on every Second Saturday. Riders are welcome to hop on and off anywhere along the trolley routes. The Downtown Trolley connects the main areas of the Central Business District to the River Arts District. The River Arts Trolley loops throughout the River Arts District. Residents and visitors can view stops and current location of trolleys through the interactive trolley map on ArtsAVL’s website and the new ArtsAVL app.

Asheville Outlets will host a Back-to-School Kids Day on Saturday, August 12, 2023, from 12 noon to 4 p.m. The event will feature special Back-to-School sales & promotions, including teacher and student discounts at participating stores. Visitors will enjoy a strolling magician, balloon art, face painting, selfie station, music, booths, displays and more! Additionally, WNC Youth Football & Cheer will have their annual football team season weigh-in on-site. For more information, visit ShopAshevilleOutlets.com.

Take a ride through the Orchard fields and its history every weekend. “Heyrides” last approximately 45 minutes. All ages are welcome (kids under 4 free); $7 per person; wheelchair accessible; well-behaved dogs by consensus. Reservations are not required but sign up as soon as you arrive.

Join a certified forest therapy guide for a relaxing 2.5-hour stroll through the forest on the peaceful Arboretum grounds. Through a series of invitations, you’ll have the opportunity to be present in the moment, deepening your connection with nature and community, and enjoying the many gifts nature has to offer. Your guide will share mindfulness practices designed to connect you more deeply to your inner landscapes, as well as the world around you. Inspired by Shinrin-Yoku, the Japanese art of immersing oneself in a forest environment, a forest bathing walk invites you to spend time in nature in a way that invites healing for ourselves, our fraught ecosystems, and our community. It is true nature therapy!

• Special, discounted rate of $45/person (includes parking!)
• Occurs on select dates each month
• Max group size is 15 for a more intimate experience

Hit the trails and learn more about The North Carolina Arboretum’s botanically diverse forest with a guided trail walk! April through October, this free hiking program is led by trained volunteer guides who take small groups of participants along woodland trails and through a variety of forest types. Depending on the season and each guide’s area of expertise, topics of discussion may include wildflowers, plant and tree identification, natural history and more.

Guided trail walks are limited to 15 people, including the guide, and are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age. Groups depart from the Baker Visitor Center Lobby on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m..

Walks last 1.5 – 2.5 hours, are approximately one to two miles in length. As this program is held rain or shine, all participants should dress appropriately for the weather.

There is no pre-registration; walks are first-come first served and sign up sheets are located in the Baker Visitors Center.

Walks are FREE; however, donations to The North Carolina Arboretum Society are appreciated. Regular parking fees apply. Arboretum Society Members always park free.

Know Before You Go

• Guided Trail Walks are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age.
• Guided Trail Walks are rain or shine and all participants should be dressed comfortably and for the weather.
• Hikes cover 1-2 miles and last 1.5-2 hours.
• Well-behaved leashed pets are welcome to accompany their owners. In the rare case that a pet is disruptive or negatively impacts the experience, the pet and its owner may be asked to excuse themselves from the guided walk.
• COVID-19 Safety: In order to hear the guide and fully participate in the trail walk, participants will be in close proximity to one another for extended periods of time. While face coverings are not required, participants should use their best judgement to keep themselves and others safe while enjoying the trails. Individuals who are experiencing flu-like symptoms or suspect they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should not participate.
• At this time, no more than 6 spaces may be filled by a single family/group through pre-registration for any one Guided Trail Walk. If additional spaces are available on the day of the Walk, additional members of the family/group may participate. We apologize for any inconvenience and look forward to welcoming larger groups in the future.

Shrek the Musical is a Theatre For Young Audiences Version of the show and is rated PG for some potty humor and romance.

Join as at the Weaverville Library for Mermaid Yoga with Ms. Brandon! This program is designed for children ages 4+. Space is limited. Registration is required. Please stop by the Weaverville Library or call (828) 250-6482 to reserve your space!

Hendersonville Theatre (HT) continues its New Works Series (formerly called Staged Reading Series) Saturday, August 12 at 3 p.m. Showcasing the work of area playwrights and performed by local actors, The New Works Series is a FREE public reading of a new play in development. However, donations are welcome to support HT.

HT’s New Works Series offers exciting script-in-hand readings of new plays by emerging local playwrights. The readings are followed by a talk back with the playwright and actors to provide feedback to the playwright.

A short discussion will follow each reading to provide feedback to the playwright about their script. There is no charge to attend or to participate, however donations are welcome and will be used to support HT.

Hendersonville Theatre is committed to exploring and developing new work for American theater, supporting local playwrights with their creative process from concept to production.

Vote for Herbert by Mark Whicker will be read on August 12. In Vote for Herbert, Herbert Granger, 82, decides to run for the of office of State Senator of Ohio,

Mark Whicker was born in Winston-Salem, attended UNC-CH (1973) and worked in NC until 1977. A former newspaper columnist, he began taking playwriting classes after retirement. He has six plays up on New Play Exchange. One of his plays has been performed at Clairemont Act One in San Diego.

Playwrights who would like to submit work for consideration for the New Works Series can follow the submission guidelines posted at here and email questions to [email protected].

Since 1966, Hendersonville Theatre has provided an inviting and nurturing environment for live theatre, as well as high-quality, affordable entertainment for the residents of Hendersonville and surrounding areas. Hendersonville Theatre is wheelchair accessible, with free parking behind and in front of the theater.

Join Black Mountain Yoga and Pisgah Brewing for our outdoor yoga series benefiting Bounty & Soul!

A portion of the proceeds are donated to Bounty & Soul, a community based non-profit organization that provides access to fresh produce and wellness education for everyone. Registration is made through Black Mountain Yoga.

Series Dates: June 10th, July 8th, and August 12th. 3:00-4:00PM

Yoga @ Pisgah Brewing is $15 per person.

This class is outdoors and for all levels of Yogi’s. Bring a mat and any other props you’d like to use. A few mats will be provided if you don’t have one! After class we hope you will enjoy a refreshing beer at our outdoor taproom! Gluten Free and NA options available.

*Please park in the field for the Outdoor Bar and Stage area*

Preseason game.

The Magnetic Theatre presents its 4th Annual One Act
Festival. The festival will take place over two weekends with a Best of the Fest closing show
chosen entirely by the audience.
The process began with an open call for plays. A team of readers poured through hundreds of
submissions to select a group of plays that varied in theme, subject matter, and style. The result?
A two-weekend extravaganza featuring 24 playwrights, 17 directors, and 70+ actors, all working
to bring a kaleidoscope of stories to Asheville!
The featured playwrights are as varied and wonderful as the pieces they submitted, and the group
includes local authors and writers from around the country – and Japan! But that’s not all…for
the first time this year, The Magnetic is partnering with The Moppets (a local company focused
on teen performance and writing) to produce one of this year’s short plays.
One act plays present a unique opportunity and a clear path for developing playwrights to hone
their craft and get their work seen by a larger audience. Past One Act Play Festival participants
have since been inducted into The Magnetic Theatre’s New Play Development Program and/or
taken part in our Main Stage Season.
The Festival will run August 4-13, 2023: Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30pm, Saturdays at 4pm
and 7:30pm, and Sundays at 4pm. There will be two shows, a Show A and a Show B, which will
run from August 4-12, 2023, with the August 13th performance being a Best of the Fest show
featuring audience voted favorites from both Show A and B! Be sure to come out and vote for
your favorites.
To purchase tickets, visit: https://themagnetictheatre.org/2023-mainstage-season. All sales
directly benefit the production and continuation of local theatre and the local artists that make it
possible.

Join us as we celebrate all of our current + past Point Lookout brides from the past 5 years!

From the local favorites to new regional acts, all live from the river banks of the Nantahala. Raft, dine, then jam with us with Live Music every Friday and Saturday from 5pm-8pm between Memorial Day and Labor Day!

Wanna hear the best local music ​and​ drink the best local beers? Hop aboard LaZoom’s Purple Bus and rock out with a local band while we take you on a journey to Asheville’s premiere local breweries.

Promotion: White Jersey Giveaway

Dress Code: Black Tie & Black Formalwear

Join us for:

Gourmet Dinner

Drinks

Live Music

Entertainment

Exclusive Booking Opportunity

From the regional crafters to local guide artisans, set up on the river banks of the Nantahala. Come and meet these vendors and more on the second Saturday of every month, May – September.

If you are interested in joining us as a vendor, please fill out your information here: https://forms.gle/BgqQQpY4XSGqtH6f6

The 57th season of Shindig on the Green, a free event in the heart of downtown Asheville with a stage show and informal jam sessions, takes place on Saturday evenings July 1 through August 26, 2023.

Locals and visitors alike come together at downtown’s Pack Square Park “along about sundown,” or at 7:00 pm for those who wear a watch, and continues until 10:00 pm. Concessions are available! The remaining Shindig on the Green events will be held on July 1, 8, 15, 22 and August 12, 19, 26, 2023.

The stage show takes place on the Bascom Lamar Lunsford stage, named for the founder of the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival. Since the outdoor event’s inception in 1967, hundreds of thousands of individuals from across the region and throughout the world have shared and enjoyed the rich traditional music and dance heritage of the Southern Appalachian Mountains in this outdoor setting.

Shindig on the Green remains a free event due in part to net proceeds from ticket sales to the nation’s longest continually running festival, the granddaddy of all festivals, the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival.

Join us for a beautiful sound healing concert inside the Salt Cave. The concert will be preformed by Billy From @Skinny Beats Sound Shop. Come enjoy the sounds of the handpan, gong, crystal bowls as well as many other various instruments. The music will vibrate through the walls of the salt cave and reach to the deepest part of your soul. These two treatments combined create wonderful space for deep healing.

The 4th installment of the 4-part concert series with The Julie McConnell Quartet returns to The DFR Lounge on Saturday, August 12th, 7-9:30pm! Featuring some fun and interesting new tunes, as well as fan favorites, with the second set featuring jazz harmony duets with Ruth Cooney on 2 songs!

-Julie McConnell, vocals
-Michael Jefry Stevens, piano
-Bryan McConnell, bass
-Bill Berg, drums
*special guest appearance: Ruth Cooney, vocal harmonies

-doors open at 6:00pm
-music starts at 7:00pm
-total of 88 seats

What an inspiring merging of worlds this evening will be as the music of Free Planet Radio converges with the work of master puppeteer Hobey Ford. This will be a very special and magical evening, not to miss!

Free Planet Radio, local Asheville favorites, are a dynamic and genre-defying band that blends elements of jazz, world music, and improvisation into a gorgeous and exciting musical experience. With their rich and textured soundscapes, intricate rhythms, and virtuosic instrumentation, the band takes listeners on a captivating journey across cultural boundaries. Comprising renowned musicians River Guerguerian on percussion, and Chris Rosser on piano and multi-instruments, Free Planet Radio’s performances are a fusion of musical exploration and improvisational brilliance that will wow you!

Hobey Ford is a renowned puppeteer known for his exceptional craftsmanship and captivating performances. With a career spanning over four decades, Hobey has delighted audiences worldwide with his unique blend of artistry, storytelling, and puppetry. He is particularly recognized for his expertise in the art of shadow puppetry, creating intricate and expressive puppets that come to life on stage. Through his shows, workshops, and educational programs, Hobey Ford continues to inspire and enchant audiences of all ages with his imaginative puppet creations and the magic they bring to the world of theater.

All ages welcome. Tickets are $30 online advance and $35 day of show.

Written by Honor Moor
Directed by David Doersch
The second World Premiere of the season, Treasure Island is a new take on Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale of buccaneers and buried gold, from local playwright Honor Moor. Fun for the whole family!

All shows will be at the Hazel Robinson Amphitheater in the Montford District of Asheville, and all will be presented absolutely FREE of charge!

All shows will run Fridays through Sundays and all will be presented at 7:30pm and prime seats can be reserved.

Montford Park Players has been bringing some of theater’s greatest works to Western North Carolina for over 50 years. Montford Park Players continues its mission of bring free theater to the community. The summer season allows everyone to come spend an evening under the stars, seeing some of the best live performances presented in Asheville.

AN EVENING WITH THE KINGSMENS QUARTET, ONE OF AMERICA’S TOP 5 !

The Magnetic Theatre presents its 4th Annual One Act
Festival. The festival will take place over two weekends with a Best of the Fest closing show
chosen entirely by the audience.
The process began with an open call for plays. A team of readers poured through hundreds of
submissions to select a group of plays that varied in theme, subject matter, and style. The result?
A two-weekend extravaganza featuring 24 playwrights, 17 directors, and 70+ actors, all working
to bring a kaleidoscope of stories to Asheville!
The featured playwrights are as varied and wonderful as the pieces they submitted, and the group
includes local authors and writers from around the country – and Japan! But that’s not all…for
the first time this year, The Magnetic is partnering with The Moppets (a local company focused
on teen performance and writing) to produce one of this year’s short plays.
One act plays present a unique opportunity and a clear path for developing playwrights to hone
their craft and get their work seen by a larger audience. Past One Act Play Festival participants
have since been inducted into The Magnetic Theatre’s New Play Development Program and/or
taken part in our Main Stage Season.
The Festival will run August 4-13, 2023: Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30pm, Saturdays at 4pm
and 7:30pm, and Sundays at 4pm. There will be two shows, a Show A and a Show B, which will
run from August 4-12, 2023, with the August 13th performance being a Best of the Fest show
featuring audience voted favorites from both Show A and B! Be sure to come out and vote for
your favorites.
To purchase tickets, visit: https://themagnetictheatre.org/2023-mainstage-season. All sales
directly benefit the production and continuation of local theatre and the local artists that make it
possible.

The South Carolina New Play Festival is proud to present a posthumous staged reading of Essential Alice with music and lyrics by the late Broadway composer Michael Friedman (Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson) and book by Annie Weissman (Physical on Hulu), directed by 2-time TONY-winner Des McAnuff (Jersey Boys, Ain’t Too Proud, Tommy, Big River). The musical, which has never had a production, will present its first public showing on August 12 in Greenville, South Carolina.

Essential Alice combines the two books of Alice in Wonderland with Lewis Carroll narrating the story to the Liddell family on a rowboat in 19^th century England. It is a beautiful unheard musical by Michael Friedman and Annie Weissman. Michael was a brilliant composer and lyricist, and a person who was as dazzlingly talented as he was abundantly kind.

Cast Members

• Derrick Baskin – Broadway: Ain’t Too Proud, Little Mermaid, Memphis
• Drew Gehling – Broadway: Waitress, Almost Famous, On a Clear Day
• Grace McClean – Broadway: Bad Cinderella, Great Comet
• Nick Blaemire – Broadway: Glory Days, Godspell, CryBaby
• Kim Blanck – Off-Broadway: Octet
• Molly Wareham – Recent Fine Arts Center graduate