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.

Tuesday, August 22, 2023
Ping-Pong Tuesday Tournament
Aug 22 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Shakedown Kava Lounge

Players of all skill levels gather at Shakedown Kava Lounge (Hendersonville’s kava
bar) every Tuesday for the kava bar’s weekly Table Tennis Tournament, Games to 11, best of 3, double elimination, paddles
included, winner receives eternal glory and a $25 bar tab, Entry is free.

Friday, August 25, 2023
Pardee Hospital Foundation’s Casino Night
Aug 25 @ 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Burntshirt Vineyards

Mark your calendar for Pardee Hospital Foundation’s first-ever Casino Night,

featuring casino games with live dealers, musical entertainment, delicious food

and locally sourced beer and wine on August 25 at Burntshirt Vineyards. Proceeds from this special event will support UNC Health Pardee’s growing cardiology program.

A limited number of tickets will be available. Don’t miss the fun! Buy your ticket today.

You or your business can also become part of the action by sponsoring one of our game tables or food and beverage tables, or by serving as our prestigious “High Roller” presenting sponsor! Benefits are numerous and include recognition on the Pardee Hospital Foundation website, in media leading up to the event, and in the event program.

Saturday, August 26, 2023
Game Night!
Aug 26 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Hi-Wire Brewing RAD

Game night is back on Saturday nights!!

Come prepared to laugh, make new friends, and most of all have fun!

We will be hosting every other Saturday (or so) at Hi-Wire RAD!

Time is 7:00PM-9:00ish

Now that its SUMMER (woohoo!!!) look for us when you first walk in. We are setup and playing outside. Even if a little rain, it’s mostly covered..

If the weather seems more on the sketchy side we can always move to the tables inside if need be.

Look for us there if you dont see us setup outside.

This is rain or shine—–weather is not a factor😎

We have a mix of games, but you can being your favorites too~~

This will be a public event so feel free to invite friends!

Nature at Night Hike
Aug 26 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park
Cost: Includes Park admission: $25 Adult, $8 Adult Annual Passholder, $15 Youth, $6 Youth Annual Passholder. Advance Registration Required.

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 approximately 3/4 of a mile each direction and is considered a moderate trail. Participants must be able to hike the trail out and back. This trail is not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers.

Sunday, August 27, 2023
Sundays Traditional Game Day
Aug 27 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum

The Perspective Café is kicking off 2023 with a classic bang! Grab your friends and join us each Sunday from 2pm to 5pm in the Perspective Café to play an assortment of board and card games. You can even bring your own favorite games from home to share with new friends.

The Perspective Café will be offering special snacks and cocktails to savor while you play and make a memorable afternoon! Enjoy the galleries and then head up to the rooftop.

Monday, August 28, 2023
7 Wonders Board Game Tournament
Aug 28 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Well Played
Dust off your crown, outshine Babylon & build Rome in a day! Join the 7 Wonders Board Game Tournament on Aug 28th at Well Played.
Hear ye, hear ye! Adventurers of all realms are summoned to the epic 7 Wonders Board Game Tournament at Well Played Board Game Cafe on the 28th of August.
Unearth your strategic prowess, outbuild the Pyramids, outshine Babylon, and prove that Rome wasn’t built in a day, but your victory can be. As you stake your claim on world wonder after world wonder, remember: It’s all fun and games until someone loses a civilization! So don your thinking caps, arm yourself with tactics, and may the best empire builder reign supreme in this thrilling duel of wits and whimsy!
In partnership with Asmodee Games, we’re offering each entrant a glittering token of appreciation – a free promo/discount from Asmodee Games just for playing! All participants will also receive a free game pass for the day.
But for those with an insatiable thirst for glory, grander rewards lie in wait. From the ancient ruins of victory, winners will rise with their hands heavy with awesome prizes. So don’t just sit there. Build an empire!
The game is afoot, the dice are waiting, and glory could be but a play away!
Weekly Ping Pong Tournament
Aug 28 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Sovereign Kava

Asheville’s best ping-pong players join Asheville’s worst table-tennis players at Sovereign Kava every Thursday at 7 p.m. to battle for glory and a $50 bar tab. No charge.
Whether you learned to play in the basement as a kid, or in a prison as a young adult, or in a rehab facility as an older adult, this is the tournament for you.
Located just down the hill on the Asheville-side of Mission Hospital, we are convenient walking distance to medical help after you get your heart broken on our Butterfly table.
Bring your paddle or borrow one of ours. Open to all skill levels and clothing styles. Beginners welcome. Hell, we’re ALL rusty after not playing during the Pandemic so don’t let that stop you.
Our table-tennis table is open for play 7 days a week, noon to 11 p.m. unless there’s a music event.
Here’s a link to a video from our 2019 table tennis tourney:
https://youtu.be/w_1EFEzx9sA

Tuesday, August 29, 2023
Ping-Pong Tuesday Tournament
Aug 29 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Shakedown Kava Lounge

Players of all skill levels gather at Shakedown Kava Lounge (Hendersonville’s kava
bar) every Tuesday for the kava bar’s weekly Table Tennis Tournament, Games to 11, best of 3, double elimination, paddles
included, winner receives eternal glory and a $25 bar tab, Entry is free.

Saturday, September 2, 2023
Teen Dungeons + Dragons with Raj
Sep 2 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Pack Memorial Library
 

Calling all adventurous teens! Join us for Dungeons & Dragons at Pack Memorial Library!

All players aged 13-17 are eligible.

This program is free, but you do need to register.

Email Raj at [email protected] to sign up.

Sunday, September 3, 2023
Sundays Traditional Game Day
Sep 3 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum

The Perspective Café is kicking off 2023 with a classic bang! Grab your friends and join us each Sunday from 2pm to 5pm in the Perspective Café to play an assortment of board and card games. You can even bring your own favorite games from home to share with new friends.

The Perspective Café will be offering special snacks and cocktails to savor while you play and make a memorable afternoon! Enjoy the galleries and then head up to the rooftop.

Monday, September 4, 2023
Weekly Ping Pong Tournament
Sep 4 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Sovereign Kava

Asheville’s best ping-pong players join Asheville’s worst table-tennis players at Sovereign Kava every Thursday at 7 p.m. to battle for glory and a $50 bar tab. No charge.
Whether you learned to play in the basement as a kid, or in a prison as a young adult, or in a rehab facility as an older adult, this is the tournament for you.
Located just down the hill on the Asheville-side of Mission Hospital, we are convenient walking distance to medical help after you get your heart broken on our Butterfly table.
Bring your paddle or borrow one of ours. Open to all skill levels and clothing styles. Beginners welcome. Hell, we’re ALL rusty after not playing during the Pandemic so don’t let that stop you.
Our table-tennis table is open for play 7 days a week, noon to 11 p.m. unless there’s a music event.
Here’s a link to a video from our 2019 table tennis tourney:
https://youtu.be/w_1EFEzx9sA

Tuesday, September 5, 2023
Ping-Pong Tuesday Tournament
Sep 5 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Shakedown Kava Lounge

Players of all skill levels gather at Shakedown Kava Lounge (Hendersonville’s kava
bar) every Tuesday for the kava bar’s weekly Table Tennis Tournament, Games to 11, best of 3, double elimination, paddles
included, winner receives eternal glory and a $25 bar tab, Entry is free.

Thursday, September 7, 2023
Waterfalls and Blue Ridge Parkway Hiking Tours
Sep 7 @ 8:30 am
Asheville Hiking Tours

Join a local naturalist on this waterfall hiking tour and enjoy the best scenery near Asheville. This intimate group tour offers 2-3 stunning waterfalls, local history, wildlife, and edible plants. Transportation included from Asheville! Call us now to book or make a reservation on our website!

Friday, September 8, 2023
Waterfalls and Blue Ridge Parkway Hiking Tours
Sep 8 @ 8:30 am
Asheville Hiking Tours

Join a local naturalist on this waterfall hiking tour and enjoy the best scenery near Asheville. This intimate group tour offers 2-3 stunning waterfalls, local history, wildlife, and edible plants. Transportation included from Asheville! Call us now to book or make a reservation on our website!

Snowball Mountain, 2023 Year of the Trail Hike
Sep 8 @ 10:30 am – 3:30 pm
Snowball Mountain off the Blue Ridge Parkway near Craggy Gardens Picnic Area

Where: Snowball Mountain off the Blue Ridge Parkway near Craggy Gardens Picnic Area

Distance: 3 miles

Difficulty: Moderately strenuous (7/10)

Join Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy for a hike to the protected Snowball Mountain. This hike will celebrate the 2023 Year of the Trail to help interested residents, visitors and trails enthusiasts in the area (and across the state) find and attend events, connect with others, and learn more about advocating for trails in NC.

This moderate 3-mile hike will take hikers along a high elevation ridgeline with remarkable views. We will start out on the Mountains-to-Sea trail and split off to climb Snowball Mountain. Next, we will continue North to Hawkbill Rock where we will look back onto the property and into the Woodfin Watershed— another SAHC-protected landmark. Hikers should be prepared for a short trip, but steep elevation changes along the way. Snowball Mountain was one of the marquee parcels that pushed SAHC past the 50,000-acre milestone mark at the end of 2011.

Come and enjoy this beautiful property and learn about SAHC’s projects in this spectacular area of the Black Mountain range. In 2012, the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy purchased 90 acres on Snowball Mountain in Buncombe County, permanently preserving scenic views for recreational visitors, clean water sources for area residents, and habitat for native species. Nestled in the beautiful Craggy Mountains, this tract is highly visible from the Blue Ridge Parkway and national forest land, and it adjoins the publicly accessible Snowball Mountain Trail and Camp Sequoyah Trail.

SAHC’s Snowball Mountain tract joins a significant swath of state and federal protected land, contributing another piece to a vast network of over 125,000 acres of contiguous protected forestlands.  The trail overlooks national forest land and the Woodfin Watershed, which SAHC protects with a conservation easement.

What To Bring: hiking shoes, lunch, water, jacket/rain gear, camera, and please dress in layers.

Dogs: Dogs are allowed.

If you have any questions, please reach out to [email protected].

Cost – $10 or Free to Members. Pre-registration is required.

Saturday, September 9, 2023
Waterfalls and Blue Ridge Parkway Hiking Tour
Sep 9 @ 3:00 pm
Asheville Hiking Tours

Join a local naturalist on this waterfall hiking tour and enjoy the best scenery near Asheville. This intimate group tour offers 2-3 stunning waterfalls, local history, wildlife, and edible plants. Transportation included from Asheville! Call us now to book or make a reservation on our website!

Sunday, September 10, 2023
Sundays Traditional Game Day
Sep 10 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum

The Perspective Café is kicking off 2023 with a classic bang! Grab your friends and join us each Sunday from 2pm to 5pm in the Perspective Café to play an assortment of board and card games. You can even bring your own favorite games from home to share with new friends.

The Perspective Café will be offering special snacks and cocktails to savor while you play and make a memorable afternoon! Enjoy the galleries and then head up to the rooftop.

Monday, September 11, 2023
Weekly Ping Pong Tournament
Sep 11 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Sovereign Kava

Asheville’s best ping-pong players join Asheville’s worst table-tennis players at Sovereign Kava every Thursday at 7 p.m. to battle for glory and a $50 bar tab. No charge.
Whether you learned to play in the basement as a kid, or in a prison as a young adult, or in a rehab facility as an older adult, this is the tournament for you.
Located just down the hill on the Asheville-side of Mission Hospital, we are convenient walking distance to medical help after you get your heart broken on our Butterfly table.
Bring your paddle or borrow one of ours. Open to all skill levels and clothing styles. Beginners welcome. Hell, we’re ALL rusty after not playing during the Pandemic so don’t let that stop you.
Our table-tennis table is open for play 7 days a week, noon to 11 p.m. unless there’s a music event.
Here’s a link to a video from our 2019 table tennis tourney:
https://youtu.be/w_1EFEzx9sA

Tuesday, September 12, 2023
Ping-Pong Tuesday Tournament
Sep 12 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Shakedown Kava Lounge

Players of all skill levels gather at Shakedown Kava Lounge (Hendersonville’s kava
bar) every Tuesday for the kava bar’s weekly Table Tennis Tournament, Games to 11, best of 3, double elimination, paddles
included, winner receives eternal glory and a $25 bar tab, Entry is free.

Wednesday, September 13, 2023
Woodland Wonder Walks: Free Guided Hiking Tours: Collier Cove Trail
Sep 13 @ 10:30 am – 12:30 pm
Collier Cove Nature Preserve

Get ready to explore the natural beauty of Buncombe County’s great outdoors like never before! We are thrilled to announce Woodland Wonder Walks, a series of guided hiking tours, designed for both nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers. These immersive tours will take you through some of the area’s most stunning trails, offering a unique opportunity to connect with nature, learn about local ecosystems and plants, get some steps in, and create new friendships.

Hike Details: 

1. Collier Cove Trail: Beginning at the Collier Cove parking area, the trail offers an adventure through the beautiful wooded scenery and provides the perfect getaway into nature. From seasonal wildflowers to a variety of fungi and beautiful tree canopies, this adventure is a treat to the senses.

Difficulty level: Due to steep portions, this hike is recommended for intermediate to advanced hikers.

Length: 1.5-2 miles

Elevation gain: 800 feet.

Date: Wednesday, September 13 at 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Registration will end on Tuesday, September 12.

“Wednesday Bowling” Come have fun and be LEBOWSKI
Sep 13 @ 6:30 pm – 10:00 pm
AMF STAR BOWLING LANES

$8.00 for 3 games and shoes and 20% off on food.

Come socialize and get to know your group members. We will be enjoying our lives. “To enjoy is to be happy, To be happy is doing what makes you smile/laugh.” Come have fun. Please be on time so we all can have fun and enjoy our lives.

My EYLA Family, it about time to give back to our community. the temperature is changing, and nights are getting colder. If you have any old coats, sweaters, hoodies, and winter hats please bring them to this Wednesday’s Event. We will have time and date where some members may want to volunteer and hand out coats or any articles of clothing to homeless people downtown Asheville. Thank YOU!!

Sunday, September 17, 2023
Sundays Traditional Game Day
Sep 17 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum

The Perspective Café is kicking off 2023 with a classic bang! Grab your friends and join us each Sunday from 2pm to 5pm in the Perspective Café to play an assortment of board and card games. You can even bring your own favorite games from home to share with new friends.

The Perspective Café will be offering special snacks and cocktails to savor while you play and make a memorable afternoon! Enjoy the galleries and then head up to the rooftop.

Monday, September 18, 2023
Weekly Ping Pong Tournament
Sep 18 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Sovereign Kava

Asheville’s best ping-pong players join Asheville’s worst table-tennis players at Sovereign Kava every Thursday at 7 p.m. to battle for glory and a $50 bar tab. No charge.
Whether you learned to play in the basement as a kid, or in a prison as a young adult, or in a rehab facility as an older adult, this is the tournament for you.
Located just down the hill on the Asheville-side of Mission Hospital, we are convenient walking distance to medical help after you get your heart broken on our Butterfly table.
Bring your paddle or borrow one of ours. Open to all skill levels and clothing styles. Beginners welcome. Hell, we’re ALL rusty after not playing during the Pandemic so don’t let that stop you.
Our table-tennis table is open for play 7 days a week, noon to 11 p.m. unless there’s a music event.
Here’s a link to a video from our 2019 table tennis tourney:
https://youtu.be/w_1EFEzx9sA

Tuesday, September 19, 2023
Ping-Pong Tuesday Tournament
Sep 19 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Shakedown Kava Lounge

Players of all skill levels gather at Shakedown Kava Lounge (Hendersonville’s kava
bar) every Tuesday for the kava bar’s weekly Table Tennis Tournament, Games to 11, best of 3, double elimination, paddles
included, winner receives eternal glory and a $25 bar tab, Entry is free.

Wednesday, September 20, 2023
Hikes With a Historian: Ray Mica Mine Hike
Sep 20 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Ray Mica Mine

Join the Asheville Museum of History (AMoH) Wednesday, September 20 at 9AM as we hike to a former mica mine near Burnsville, North Carolina. This event is free but registration is required. Carpooling is necessary as parking is limited.

Join us as we explore the geologic and human history of mining in the Spruce Pine region. We are led by Dr. William Miller, a geologist, and Trevor Freeman, public programs director for the Asheville Museum of History. Local resident John Bennett may join us to discuss some his family history and more about the local mines nearby.

 

The Mine

The Ray Mine is located in one of scores of igneous rock bodies in the Spruce Pine mining district which began as magmas that were injected into an existing bedrock formation known as the Ashe Metamorphic Suite 375-400 million years ago. The intrusion is made of coarsely crystalline granodiorite which is composed of feldspar, quartz, and muscovite mica, plus lesser amounts of other minerals, including tourmaline, beryl, and apatite.

 

The Ray was sporadically mined mainly for high quality muscovite from about 1867 until the 1940s. Compared to its sister intrusions currently being mined for high purity quartz and feldspar in Spruce Pine, the Ray is rather puny but one of few designated mineral collecting localities in the National Forest where visitors are allowed to take home the minerals they find on the ground surface and can easily carry.

 

Nine small shafts/cuts occur at the mine, but they are either partially fenced off and filled with rubble or overgrown with vegetation. The mine site now looks like most other nearby hills but with mineral and rock specimens strewn about.

 

 

Details:

Meet:  We will carpool from the Roses parking lot in the center of Burnsville, departing at 9:00 AM at the SE corner of US 19E and Reservoir Road intersection. Parking is very limited at the trailhead.

Return to Roses: Approximately 12noon

Hike Length: Approximately 1 mile total, out and back.

Hike Difficulty: Moderate (using National Park Service metric) but rocky

*This is a backcountry hike in a remote area. Please do not attempt if you are unsure of your ability.*

*With a small trailhead parking area, we are limited to 5 vehicles. Please let us know if you prefer to be a driver or passenger when you sign the waiver form*

*Participants may wish to carpool to the initial meeting location at Roses in Burnsville, NC. You will be asked about your preference upon registration, and those interested will be put in contact with one another*

 

What to Bring:

  • Backpack
  • Plenty of water (1 liter)
  • Bagged lunch or snacks
  • Hiking boots or comfortable trail shoes
  • Weather-appropriate clothing (preferably no cotton)
  • Sunscreen
  • Hiking poles (optional)
  • Hat (recommended)
  • Any needed medications.
  • You may collect some mineral and rock specimens but only as much as you can carry in your pockets.
  • If you bring and use a rock hammer, always wear safety glasses and do not break rocks when other, unprotected people are nearby.

Rain Date: In the event of inclement weather, participants will be notified in advance, no later than 8PM the evening prior if the event is to be rescheduled.

 

Tickets: This is a free event but registration and emergency contact waiver is required.

*Waiver and Emergency Contact: Registrants must fill out the emergency contact form in advance: https://forms.gle/iQpZAg3Q1RdcCZ1a8

 

Hike Leaders:

Dr. William Miller is a licensed professional geologist and a professor emeritus at UNC Asheville where he was a professor of environmental studies. Miller focuses on metals, ores, and the geology of the Blue Ridge. He has served on several state and professional boards relating to mining and geology. He has also led several hikes to the Ray Mine.

This hike is co-led by Trevor Freeman, AMoH public programs director. He has an MA in American history and is interested in both Appalachian and environmental history. He is also wilderness first aid/CPR certified.

 

 

For questions, please contact Trevor Freeman at [email protected]

(Image: UNCA students on a hike to the Ray Mine with Dr. Miller; An unidentified mica mine in North Carolina, courtesy Forest History Society)

 

Saturday, September 23, 2023
National Public Lands Day Sunset Hike
Sep 23 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park
Cost: Free. Advance Registration Required.
Sunday, September 24, 2023
7th Annual Filthy Franklin Mud Run
Sep 24 all-day
The Franklin School of Innovation

Yes, the Mud Run is back on! With the modulars now gone we have a huge open field to make this race bigger, better and muddier than ever!

Get your old(est) running shoes out and prepare to get seriously muddy! The Filthy Franklin Mud Run happens Sunday, Sept. 24th. Our course is guaranteed to steal at least a few shoes before the day is done!

The races will be a timed trial start and there will be crazy obstacles and lots of mud!! Teen and adult races are approximately 2 miles, children 10 and under run just under a mile. Of course, the army crawl and mud trench will be part of this again, as well as other various challenging obstacles!

The Mud Run raises funds for Bolts Athletics. It helps fund equipment, uniforms and facilities. It is planned and created by Community Council members and student-athletes. OH YEAHHH!

You must register by Sept. 8th to receive a free t-shirt. After the deadline, T-shirts can be purchased the day of the event for $20. Limited quantities will be available.

You can register and purchase tickets at: https://franklinschoolofinnovation.networkforgood.com/events/57309-7th-annual-filthy-franklin-mud-run

Join the event on our Facebook here – https://fb.me/e/2LRlwcEPl

We will have race day registration as well!

Kids Race at 2:30pm

Adult Race at 3:00pm

Teen Race at 3:30pm

The event is free to attend, but to race registration is $25 for Kids and $40 for Adults & Teens.

Sundays Traditional Game Day
Sep 24 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum

The Perspective Café is kicking off 2023 with a classic bang! Grab your friends and join us each Sunday from 2pm to 5pm in the Perspective Café to play an assortment of board and card games. You can even bring your own favorite games from home to share with new friends.

The Perspective Café will be offering special snacks and cocktails to savor while you play and make a memorable afternoon! Enjoy the galleries and then head up to the rooftop.

Monday, September 25, 2023
Weekly Ping Pong Tournament
Sep 25 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Sovereign Kava

Asheville’s best ping-pong players join Asheville’s worst table-tennis players at Sovereign Kava every Thursday at 7 p.m. to battle for glory and a $50 bar tab. No charge.
Whether you learned to play in the basement as a kid, or in a prison as a young adult, or in a rehab facility as an older adult, this is the tournament for you.
Located just down the hill on the Asheville-side of Mission Hospital, we are convenient walking distance to medical help after you get your heart broken on our Butterfly table.
Bring your paddle or borrow one of ours. Open to all skill levels and clothing styles. Beginners welcome. Hell, we’re ALL rusty after not playing during the Pandemic so don’t let that stop you.
Our table-tennis table is open for play 7 days a week, noon to 11 p.m. unless there’s a music event.
Here’s a link to a video from our 2019 table tennis tourney:
https://youtu.be/w_1EFEzx9sA

Tuesday, September 26, 2023
Ping-Pong Tuesday Tournament
Sep 26 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Shakedown Kava Lounge

Players of all skill levels gather at Shakedown Kava Lounge (Hendersonville’s kava
bar) every Tuesday for the kava bar’s weekly Table Tennis Tournament, Games to 11, best of 3, double elimination, paddles
included, winner receives eternal glory and a $25 bar tab, Entry is free.