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.
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
Our mission is to bring together, in small, intimate settings, authors, readers of all ages, novice writers, listeners, and learners. We are a festival of readers who appreciate discussing the ideas in literature.
We do not see ourselves as an academic festival, thou
Telling Our Own Story: Cherokee Self-Representation in Contemporary Media
Historically in film, literature, galleries, and textbooks, Native stories have been told by non-Native voices. In this panel, we’ll hear from citizens of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), North Carolina’s only federally recognized tribe, who are contributing to the international movement for Indigenous self-representation in media through writing, podcasting, visual art, and cultural perpetuation.
Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle (Eastern Band Cherokee)
Award-winning Author of Even as We Breathe
Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle (Eastern Band Cherokee) lives in Qualla, NC and is the author of Even As We Breathe. She sits on the Board of Directors for the Museum of the Cherokee Indian and is President of the North Carolina Writers Network. She is also an Appalachian Futures Series editor for the University Press of Kentucky.
Shana Bushyhead Condill (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians)
Museum of the Cherokee Indian Executive Director
Shana Bushyhead Condill (Eastern Band of Cherokee) has worked in the museum and cultural field for over twenty years. As Executive Director of the Museum of the Cherokee Indian, Condill furthers a career-spanning commitment to cultivating Native representation and self-representation in public spaces, advocating for the intentional combining of mainstream best practices with Native best practices in cultural preservation.
Nola Pina (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians)
Museum of the Cherokee Indian Lead Cultural Specialist
Nola Pina (Eastern Band Cherokee) grew up and still currently resides in the on the Qualla Boundary. As a Lead Cultural Specialist at the Museum of the Cherokee Indian, Nola enjoys demonstrating and teaching finger-weaving (she is a first-generation finger weaver herself), as well as storytelling and leading tours through the permanent exhibit.
Rhiannon ‘Skye’ Tafoya (Eastern Band Cherokee and Santa Clara Pueblo)
Visual artist
Rhiannon ‘Skye’ Tafoya (Eastern Band Cherokee and Santa Clara Pueblo) employs printmaking, digital design, and basketry techniques in creating her artist’s books, prints, and paper weavings. Both of her Tribal heritages, cultures, and lineages are manifested in her two- and three-dimensional artworks that range in size from a few inches to a few feet.
Sheyahshe Littledave (Eastern Band Cherokee)
Writer/podcaster
Sheyahshe Littledave (Eastern Band Cherokee) is passionate about storytelling and writing to highlight the Indigenous experience. Her work includes publication in National Geographic, NPR, and writing children’s books. In 2021, she became the co-host of “We are Resilient: An MMIW True Crime Podcast,” dedicated to telling the untold stories of Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women.gh we seek to advance authors of literary quality. Nor are we a book fair in which the primary objective is to sell books.
One of our goals is to raise awareness of works of literary significance from smaller presses. We do focus on regional writers, though not exclusively. But overall, our aspiration is to create a little literary community which is in dialog with readers, aspiring writers, and established authors about craft and ideas of sustaining merit.
Another goal is to make sure our authors are having good time. In the best scenario, authors leave the festival feeling renewed and rededicated to their work. So frequently when an author writes in isolation, it is hard to believe that his/her work is making an impact on people and society. But situating authors and readers together in close quarters, as our festival does, it is possible for authors to hear stories of how their work has influenced people. It’s not just signing a book, it’s making a human connection.
We hope the Carolina Mountains Literary Festival inspires people to read more, write more, and contribute positively to society through the literary arts.
Our Pecularities
No outside vendors have booths at our festival. In fact, we don’t even sell any litfest paraphernalia. In an attempt to support our quaint downtown, attendees are encouraged to buy souvenirs at the many local shops that host readings. Authors are not tied down to a table all day, but are free to roam the town, attend other sessions, or gab with other authors in more sequestered areas. Some authors spend a full two days attending others’ readings. As festival planners, we thoroughly enjoy this contribution. However, some chose to leave after their sessions, which is equally acceptable.
Our events are spread all over our small town— in galleries, small stores, the Town Center, library, nearby churches, and other various venues. Only a few used primarily for workshops are not within walking distance.
Events are scheduled simultaneously. As many as five different events may be occurring at any one time. (We know that it can be difficult to choose, but we make every attempt to have each author present at least twice during the weekend.) We have a festival bookseller (Malaprop’s) who sells all festival author books – authors do not sell their books on their own. (Therefore, if book sales are high on your list of priorities or you enjoy pitching your books, you may not find this event to your liking—and vice versa.)
Authors gather for morning and afternoon-session book-signings as a group. No individual authors will have their own signings. Author presentations are limited to two consecutive years. Exceptions may be made if an author has a new, significant work. At the same time, we welcome past participants as attendees, or to assist us as session moderators or introducers if they wish.
FOR WORKSHOPS: 2023 Schedule – cmlitfest.org
For 61 years enthusiasts have been gathering at
Roan Mountain during the first weekend after Labor
Day to celebrate the natural world during the Fall
Roan Mountain Naturalists Rally. This event and all
of the Friends of Roan Mountain events would not
be possible without our volunteer field trip leaders,
the support of Roan Mountain State Park and the
Friends of Roan membership.
Consider joining the Friends of Roan Mountain, if
you are not a member. Members get free admission
to all Naturalists Rally events and our newsletter
which is published twice a year.
Evening and lunch programs will take place in Roan
Mountain State Park’s Conference Center. Field
trips will leave from the field on the left beside the
entrance to the park cabins.
Gary Barrigar and Larry McDaniel- Co-Directors
FRIDAY EVENING PROGRAM: “Discovering the Wonders of Parks Through
Interpretation
”
Meg Guy has served Tennessee State Parks first as
Seasonal Interpretive Ranger, then Park Ranger then
Park Manager of Roan Mountain State Park. Now
she supports 19 parks across East Tennessee as the
Regional Interpretive Specialist. She holds a B.S. in
Plant & Soil Sciences from the University of
Tennessee and an M.A. in Appalachian
Studies from East Tennessee State University. Meg
also holds two professional certifications from the
National Association for Interpretation (NAI):
Certified Interpretive Guide and Certified
Interpretive Trainer.
Presentation Description:
The mission statement of Tennessee State Parks
reads:
“To preserve and protect, in perpetuity,
unique examples of natural, cultural, and scenic
areas and to provide a variety of safe, quality
outdoor experiences through a well
-planned and
professionally managed system of state parks.”
Visitors to parks are provided opportunities to
connect intellectually and emotionally with unique
resources through a communication process known
as interpretation. Guided hikes and tours, museum
exhibits, living history demonstrations, and
wayfinding signage are all examples of state park
resource interpretation efforts.
In this presentation, Tennessee State Parks’
Regional Interpretive Specialist Meg Guy will draw
upon her own experience working in parks to consider
the importance of interpretation to the
achievement of the agency mission… specifically, how
interpretation enhances a park visit and inspires park
visitors to become stewards of natural and cultural
resources.
SATURDAY AFTER LUNCH PROGRAM
:
“Insects & Traditional Medicine
”
ETSU undergraduate researcher Cade Campbell will
discuss his studies with the Whitaker Lab. He has been
working to document the interactions of native insects
and Appalachian medicinal plants compared to species
unused in the folk tradition.
SATURDAY EVENING PROGRAM
:
“Fall Migration: A Fascinating Annual Display of
Nature
”
Ron Hoff moved to Knoxville in October 1973. He
joined the Knoxville chapter of the Tennessee
Ornithological Society in January, 1978. He has
volunteered over the years in many positions for both
the local and state TOS organization, culminating as
TOS president in 2013
-2015. He continues as state TOS
bird count compiler, a position he has held for over 20
years.
Ron met his wife, Dollyann Myers, through the TOS
state bird meetings and eventually got married in 1995.
Ron’s first birding trip was to the Big Bend National
Park in Texas in June 1983. He and Dollyann found that
they shared a huge passion for international birding and
they both have now birded in just over 100 countries.
His life list now stands at 8698 species seen.
Ron has also been interested in photography for many
years and this carried over to birding. He has always
wanted to give programs about birds to audiences to
share the beauty and wonderment of birds, in the hopes
that it may, in some small way, help with bird
conservation. Preferring to use his own slides for his
presentations, he has slowly built up his library of bird
photos and has now photographed 5362 species of birds,
nearly half of all the birds in the world.
Presentation Description:
Fall migration is a vast and complicated annual event.
This program will present some grand statistics, minute
details, and current research that will help make sense of
this movement.
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!
Our mission is to bring together, in small, intimate settings, authors, readers of all ages, novice writers, listeners, and learners. We are a festival of readers who appreciate discussing the ideas in literature.
We do not see ourselves as an academic festival, thou
Telling Our Own Story: Cherokee Self-Representation in Contemporary Media
Historically in film, literature, galleries, and textbooks, Native stories have been told by non-Native voices. In this panel, we’ll hear from citizens of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), North Carolina’s only federally recognized tribe, who are contributing to the international movement for Indigenous self-representation in media through writing, podcasting, visual art, and cultural perpetuation.
Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle (Eastern Band Cherokee)
Award-winning Author of Even as We Breathe
Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle (Eastern Band Cherokee) lives in Qualla, NC and is the author of Even As We Breathe. She sits on the Board of Directors for the Museum of the Cherokee Indian and is President of the North Carolina Writers Network. She is also an Appalachian Futures Series editor for the University Press of Kentucky.
Shana Bushyhead Condill (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians)
Museum of the Cherokee Indian Executive Director
Shana Bushyhead Condill (Eastern Band of Cherokee) has worked in the museum and cultural field for over twenty years. As Executive Director of the Museum of the Cherokee Indian, Condill furthers a career-spanning commitment to cultivating Native representation and self-representation in public spaces, advocating for the intentional combining of mainstream best practices with Native best practices in cultural preservation.
Nola Pina (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians)
Museum of the Cherokee Indian Lead Cultural Specialist
Nola Pina (Eastern Band Cherokee) grew up and still currently resides in the on the Qualla Boundary. As a Lead Cultural Specialist at the Museum of the Cherokee Indian, Nola enjoys demonstrating and teaching finger-weaving (she is a first-generation finger weaver herself), as well as storytelling and leading tours through the permanent exhibit.
Rhiannon ‘Skye’ Tafoya (Eastern Band Cherokee and Santa Clara Pueblo)
Visual artist
Rhiannon ‘Skye’ Tafoya (Eastern Band Cherokee and Santa Clara Pueblo) employs printmaking, digital design, and basketry techniques in creating her artist’s books, prints, and paper weavings. Both of her Tribal heritages, cultures, and lineages are manifested in her two- and three-dimensional artworks that range in size from a few inches to a few feet.
Sheyahshe Littledave (Eastern Band Cherokee)
Writer/podcaster
Sheyahshe Littledave (Eastern Band Cherokee) is passionate about storytelling and writing to highlight the Indigenous experience. Her work includes publication in National Geographic, NPR, and writing children’s books. In 2021, she became the co-host of “We are Resilient: An MMIW True Crime Podcast,” dedicated to telling the untold stories of Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women.gh we seek to advance authors of literary quality. Nor are we a book fair in which the primary objective is to sell books.
One of our goals is to raise awareness of works of literary significance from smaller presses. We do focus on regional writers, though not exclusively. But overall, our aspiration is to create a little literary community which is in dialog with readers, aspiring writers, and established authors about craft and ideas of sustaining merit.
Another goal is to make sure our authors are having good time. In the best scenario, authors leave the festival feeling renewed and rededicated to their work. So frequently when an author writes in isolation, it is hard to believe that his/her work is making an impact on people and society. But situating authors and readers together in close quarters, as our festival does, it is possible for authors to hear stories of how their work has influenced people. It’s not just signing a book, it’s making a human connection.
We hope the Carolina Mountains Literary Festival inspires people to read more, write more, and contribute positively to society through the literary arts.
Our Pecularities
No outside vendors have booths at our festival. In fact, we don’t even sell any litfest paraphernalia. In an attempt to support our quaint downtown, attendees are encouraged to buy souvenirs at the many local shops that host readings. Authors are not tied down to a table all day, but are free to roam the town, attend other sessions, or gab with other authors in more sequestered areas. Some authors spend a full two days attending others’ readings. As festival planners, we thoroughly enjoy this contribution. However, some chose to leave after their sessions, which is equally acceptable.
Our events are spread all over our small town— in galleries, small stores, the Town Center, library, nearby churches, and other various venues. Only a few used primarily for workshops are not within walking distance.
Events are scheduled simultaneously. As many as five different events may be occurring at any one time. (We know that it can be difficult to choose, but we make every attempt to have each author present at least twice during the weekend.) We have a festival bookseller (Malaprop’s) who sells all festival author books – authors do not sell their books on their own. (Therefore, if book sales are high on your list of priorities or you enjoy pitching your books, you may not find this event to your liking—and vice versa.)
Authors gather for morning and afternoon-session book-signings as a group. No individual authors will have their own signings. Author presentations are limited to two consecutive years. Exceptions may be made if an author has a new, significant work. At the same time, we welcome past participants as attendees, or to assist us as session moderators or introducers if they wish.
FOR WORKSHOPS: 2023 Schedule – cmlitfest.org
The brilliant colors of traditional costumes and the songs and folkloric dance of Mexico by local, talented youth will fill The White Horse Black Mountain on Friday, September 8. Ballet Folklórico Raíces, a program of Raíces Emma-Erwin, a local Latine cultural arts organization, will share the stage with musician David LaMotte and the Indigenous Mä hñäkihu musical group.
Ballet Folklórico Raíces was organized just last fall by Latine teens, some of whom had been dancing with Raíces Emma Erwin programs for almost 10 years. They applied for and received grant funding to hire professional folklorico dancer, Daniel Vega Vazquez, as their instructor and creative director. He is the founder of Ballet Folklorico Asheville. Verner Learning Center in Emma provides space for their weekly and intensive rehearsals and they have performed six times in the last year including at the Hola Carolina festival in downtown Asheville.
“I think it’s something beautiful,” Yoltzin Alviter Hernandez, 16, says. She started folklorico dancing in the first grade and loves how it allows her to embrace her culture and share it with other people. “All the colors and each dance has a meaning behind it.”
David LaMotte is a big fan of Ballet Folklórico Raíces and traditional cultural art, dance and music. He proposed the event to create awareness about the youth dance group, to support their funding needs, and to have fun. He is contributing his talent to the evening–including a song in Spanish– and a portion of ticket proceeds will benefit the program. Mä hñäkihu, the namesake of a language and cultural preservation project based in Emma, is composed mostly of Hñähñu musicians who are Indigenous to the Mezquital Valley in Mexico.
DJ JAZE & DJ ERIK MATTOX
Ages 18+ (under 18 must be accompanied by a parent)
For 61 years enthusiasts have been gathering at
Roan Mountain during the first weekend after Labor
Day to celebrate the natural world during the Fall
Roan Mountain Naturalists Rally. This event and all
of the Friends of Roan Mountain events would not
be possible without our volunteer field trip leaders,
the support of Roan Mountain State Park and the
Friends of Roan membership.
Consider joining the Friends of Roan Mountain, if
you are not a member. Members get free admission
to all Naturalists Rally events and our newsletter
which is published twice a year.
Evening and lunch programs will take place in Roan
Mountain State Park’s Conference Center. Field
trips will leave from the field on the left beside the
entrance to the park cabins.
Gary Barrigar and Larry McDaniel- Co-Directors
FRIDAY EVENING PROGRAM: “Discovering the Wonders of Parks Through
Interpretation
”
Meg Guy has served Tennessee State Parks first as
Seasonal Interpretive Ranger, then Park Ranger then
Park Manager of Roan Mountain State Park. Now
she supports 19 parks across East Tennessee as the
Regional Interpretive Specialist. She holds a B.S. in
Plant & Soil Sciences from the University of
Tennessee and an M.A. in Appalachian
Studies from East Tennessee State University. Meg
also holds two professional certifications from the
National Association for Interpretation (NAI):
Certified Interpretive Guide and Certified
Interpretive Trainer.
Presentation Description:
The mission statement of Tennessee State Parks
reads:
“To preserve and protect, in perpetuity,
unique examples of natural, cultural, and scenic
areas and to provide a variety of safe, quality
outdoor experiences through a well
-planned and
professionally managed system of state parks.”
Visitors to parks are provided opportunities to
connect intellectually and emotionally with unique
resources through a communication process known
as interpretation. Guided hikes and tours, museum
exhibits, living history demonstrations, and
wayfinding signage are all examples of state park
resource interpretation efforts.
In this presentation, Tennessee State Parks’
Regional Interpretive Specialist Meg Guy will draw
upon her own experience working in parks to consider
the importance of interpretation to the
achievement of the agency mission… specifically, how
interpretation enhances a park visit and inspires park
visitors to become stewards of natural and cultural
resources.
SATURDAY AFTER LUNCH PROGRAM
:
“Insects & Traditional Medicine
”
ETSU undergraduate researcher Cade Campbell will
discuss his studies with the Whitaker Lab. He has been
working to document the interactions of native insects
and Appalachian medicinal plants compared to species
unused in the folk tradition.
SATURDAY EVENING PROGRAM
:
“Fall Migration: A Fascinating Annual Display of
Nature
”
Ron Hoff moved to Knoxville in October 1973. He
joined the Knoxville chapter of the Tennessee
Ornithological Society in January, 1978. He has
volunteered over the years in many positions for both
the local and state TOS organization, culminating as
TOS president in 2013
-2015. He continues as state TOS
bird count compiler, a position he has held for over 20
years.
Ron met his wife, Dollyann Myers, through the TOS
state bird meetings and eventually got married in 1995.
Ron’s first birding trip was to the Big Bend National
Park in Texas in June 1983. He and Dollyann found that
they shared a huge passion for international birding and
they both have now birded in just over 100 countries.
His life list now stands at 8698 species seen.
Ron has also been interested in photography for many
years and this carried over to birding. He has always
wanted to give programs about birds to audiences to
share the beauty and wonderment of birds, in the hopes
that it may, in some small way, help with bird
conservation. Preferring to use his own slides for his
presentations, he has slowly built up his library of bird
photos and has now photographed 5362 species of birds,
nearly half of all the birds in the world.
Presentation Description:
Fall migration is a vast and complicated annual event.
This program will present some grand statistics, minute
details, and current research that will help make sense of
this movement.
Our mission is to bring together, in small, intimate settings, authors, readers of all ages, novice writers, listeners, and learners. We are a festival of readers who appreciate discussing the ideas in literature.
We do not see ourselves as an academic festival, thou
Telling Our Own Story: Cherokee Self-Representation in Contemporary Media
Historically in film, literature, galleries, and textbooks, Native stories have been told by non-Native voices. In this panel, we’ll hear from citizens of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), North Carolina’s only federally recognized tribe, who are contributing to the international movement for Indigenous self-representation in media through writing, podcasting, visual art, and cultural perpetuation.
Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle (Eastern Band Cherokee)
Award-winning Author of Even as We Breathe
Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle (Eastern Band Cherokee) lives in Qualla, NC and is the author of Even As We Breathe. She sits on the Board of Directors for the Museum of the Cherokee Indian and is President of the North Carolina Writers Network. She is also an Appalachian Futures Series editor for the University Press of Kentucky.
Shana Bushyhead Condill (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians)
Museum of the Cherokee Indian Executive Director
Shana Bushyhead Condill (Eastern Band of Cherokee) has worked in the museum and cultural field for over twenty years. As Executive Director of the Museum of the Cherokee Indian, Condill furthers a career-spanning commitment to cultivating Native representation and self-representation in public spaces, advocating for the intentional combining of mainstream best practices with Native best practices in cultural preservation.
Nola Pina (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians)
Museum of the Cherokee Indian Lead Cultural Specialist
Nola Pina (Eastern Band Cherokee) grew up and still currently resides in the on the Qualla Boundary. As a Lead Cultural Specialist at the Museum of the Cherokee Indian, Nola enjoys demonstrating and teaching finger-weaving (she is a first-generation finger weaver herself), as well as storytelling and leading tours through the permanent exhibit.
Rhiannon ‘Skye’ Tafoya (Eastern Band Cherokee and Santa Clara Pueblo)
Visual artist
Rhiannon ‘Skye’ Tafoya (Eastern Band Cherokee and Santa Clara Pueblo) employs printmaking, digital design, and basketry techniques in creating her artist’s books, prints, and paper weavings. Both of her Tribal heritages, cultures, and lineages are manifested in her two- and three-dimensional artworks that range in size from a few inches to a few feet.
Sheyahshe Littledave (Eastern Band Cherokee)
Writer/podcaster
Sheyahshe Littledave (Eastern Band Cherokee) is passionate about storytelling and writing to highlight the Indigenous experience. Her work includes publication in National Geographic, NPR, and writing children’s books. In 2021, she became the co-host of “We are Resilient: An MMIW True Crime Podcast,” dedicated to telling the untold stories of Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women.gh we seek to advance authors of literary quality. Nor are we a book fair in which the primary objective is to sell books.
One of our goals is to raise awareness of works of literary significance from smaller presses. We do focus on regional writers, though not exclusively. But overall, our aspiration is to create a little literary community which is in dialog with readers, aspiring writers, and established authors about craft and ideas of sustaining merit.
Another goal is to make sure our authors are having good time. In the best scenario, authors leave the festival feeling renewed and rededicated to their work. So frequently when an author writes in isolation, it is hard to believe that his/her work is making an impact on people and society. But situating authors and readers together in close quarters, as our festival does, it is possible for authors to hear stories of how their work has influenced people. It’s not just signing a book, it’s making a human connection.
We hope the Carolina Mountains Literary Festival inspires people to read more, write more, and contribute positively to society through the literary arts.
Our Pecularities
No outside vendors have booths at our festival. In fact, we don’t even sell any litfest paraphernalia. In an attempt to support our quaint downtown, attendees are encouraged to buy souvenirs at the many local shops that host readings. Authors are not tied down to a table all day, but are free to roam the town, attend other sessions, or gab with other authors in more sequestered areas. Some authors spend a full two days attending others’ readings. As festival planners, we thoroughly enjoy this contribution. However, some chose to leave after their sessions, which is equally acceptable.
Our events are spread all over our small town— in galleries, small stores, the Town Center, library, nearby churches, and other various venues. Only a few used primarily for workshops are not within walking distance.
Events are scheduled simultaneously. As many as five different events may be occurring at any one time. (We know that it can be difficult to choose, but we make every attempt to have each author present at least twice during the weekend.) We have a festival bookseller (Malaprop’s) who sells all festival author books – authors do not sell their books on their own. (Therefore, if book sales are high on your list of priorities or you enjoy pitching your books, you may not find this event to your liking—and vice versa.)
Authors gather for morning and afternoon-session book-signings as a group. No individual authors will have their own signings. Author presentations are limited to two consecutive years. Exceptions may be made if an author has a new, significant work. At the same time, we welcome past participants as attendees, or to assist us as session moderators or introducers if they wish.
FOR WORKSHOPS: 2023 Schedule – cmlitfest.org
Class cost: $150
Min students: 6
Max students: 12
Class Dates: Saturdays, July 22 – September 9 (8 weeks)
Time: 1 pm to 2 pm
Must be 18+ to attend
The last day to receive a full refund is June 22, 2023. After June 22, 2023, no refund will be issued.
Class Description:
Does tap dancing seem a little daunting? Is it something you always wanted to try but didn’t have the time to commit to months of classes at a time? Whether you are preparing for a show that has tap involved or you are just interested in a new skill for fun, this class is for you. Allison Starling will break down the basics of tap into easy to catch on to moves that build the foundation of any tap number. This 8 week class is a comprehensive basics course that you don’t want to miss!
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!
For 61 years enthusiasts have been gathering at
Roan Mountain during the first weekend after Labor
Day to celebrate the natural world during the Fall
Roan Mountain Naturalists Rally. This event and all
of the Friends of Roan Mountain events would not
be possible without our volunteer field trip leaders,
the support of Roan Mountain State Park and the
Friends of Roan membership.
Consider joining the Friends of Roan Mountain, if
you are not a member. Members get free admission
to all Naturalists Rally events and our newsletter
which is published twice a year.
Evening and lunch programs will take place in Roan
Mountain State Park’s Conference Center. Field
trips will leave from the field on the left beside the
entrance to the park cabins.
Gary Barrigar and Larry McDaniel- Co-Directors
FRIDAY EVENING PROGRAM: “Discovering the Wonders of Parks Through
Interpretation
”
Meg Guy has served Tennessee State Parks first as
Seasonal Interpretive Ranger, then Park Ranger then
Park Manager of Roan Mountain State Park. Now
she supports 19 parks across East Tennessee as the
Regional Interpretive Specialist. She holds a B.S. in
Plant & Soil Sciences from the University of
Tennessee and an M.A. in Appalachian
Studies from East Tennessee State University. Meg
also holds two professional certifications from the
National Association for Interpretation (NAI):
Certified Interpretive Guide and Certified
Interpretive Trainer.
Presentation Description:
The mission statement of Tennessee State Parks
reads:
“To preserve and protect, in perpetuity,
unique examples of natural, cultural, and scenic
areas and to provide a variety of safe, quality
outdoor experiences through a well
-planned and
professionally managed system of state parks.”
Visitors to parks are provided opportunities to
connect intellectually and emotionally with unique
resources through a communication process known
as interpretation. Guided hikes and tours, museum
exhibits, living history demonstrations, and
wayfinding signage are all examples of state park
resource interpretation efforts.
In this presentation, Tennessee State Parks’
Regional Interpretive Specialist Meg Guy will draw
upon her own experience working in parks to consider
the importance of interpretation to the
achievement of the agency mission… specifically, how
interpretation enhances a park visit and inspires park
visitors to become stewards of natural and cultural
resources.
SATURDAY AFTER LUNCH PROGRAM
:
“Insects & Traditional Medicine
”
ETSU undergraduate researcher Cade Campbell will
discuss his studies with the Whitaker Lab. He has been
working to document the interactions of native insects
and Appalachian medicinal plants compared to species
unused in the folk tradition.
SATURDAY EVENING PROGRAM
:
“Fall Migration: A Fascinating Annual Display of
Nature
”
Ron Hoff moved to Knoxville in October 1973. He
joined the Knoxville chapter of the Tennessee
Ornithological Society in January, 1978. He has
volunteered over the years in many positions for both
the local and state TOS organization, culminating as
TOS president in 2013
-2015. He continues as state TOS
bird count compiler, a position he has held for over 20
years.
Ron met his wife, Dollyann Myers, through the TOS
state bird meetings and eventually got married in 1995.
Ron’s first birding trip was to the Big Bend National
Park in Texas in June 1983. He and Dollyann found that
they shared a huge passion for international birding and
they both have now birded in just over 100 countries.
His life list now stands at 8698 species seen.
Ron has also been interested in photography for many
years and this carried over to birding. He has always
wanted to give programs about birds to audiences to
share the beauty and wonderment of birds, in the hopes
that it may, in some small way, help with bird
conservation. Preferring to use his own slides for his
presentations, he has slowly built up his library of bird
photos and has now photographed 5362 species of birds,
nearly half of all the birds in the world.
Presentation Description:
Fall migration is a vast and complicated annual event.
This program will present some grand statistics, minute
details, and current research that will help make sense of
this movement.
Let us help you create a meaningful retirement that matches your values and priorities at the Paths to Creative Retirement (Paths) workshop. This highly interactive three-day workshop helps you achieve your desired personal goals in retirement. With guidance and support from facilitators and other participants, you will discover your values, identity and long-deferred dreams. In the process, you will gain valuable insights and inspiration to create tangible next steps.
Dates
- September 8-10, 2023
If you are unable to attend the upcoming offering of Paths but would like to be informed of future workshop dates and details, please complete the Future Paths Interest Form.
About the Paths Workshop
Paths focuses on the non-financial aspects of life’s second half; decision-making exercises and thought-provoking discussions reveal stimulating opportunities. Transform anxieties about your next chapter of life into a reassuring learning process—Paths is truly a unique retirement workshop.
We invite you to consider questions such as:
- When should I retire?
- How will I spend my time after I stop or reduce my work?
- How will I find purpose and meaning after I retire?
- How will my identity change in retirement?
- How will retirement affect my relationships with family and friends?
- How do I investigate work and volunteer opportunities?
The oldest and most common advice poets hear is “show don’t tell.” But what does that mean, exactly? What is the difference between showing and telling? Why is “showing” better? Most of us write poems to tell readers something, to share our ideas. Many poets—from as far back as John Donne to as recent as Stephen Dunn–do a lot of telling in their poems. So why are we always advised not to tell? In this workshop we will discuss these questions. In the process, we will look at a few well-known poems to see how–or if—they show rather than tell, and we will do some writing exercises that may help us arrive at some conclusions about this persistent advice.
This workshop is open to writers of all skill levels and is a fun way to find inspiration from a new prompt or revise current work. It is hosted by the Friends of Carl Sandburg at Connemara and will use Microsoft Teams for the virtual connection. Sign up to attend the workshop at workshop link
Eric Nelson’s most recent poetry collection, Horse Not Zebra, won both a Da Vinci Eye Award for cover art and an Honorable Mention in Poetry from the 2023 Eric Hoffer Book Awarda. His poems have appeared in many journals, including Poetry, The Sun, The Oxford American, and The Missouri Review. Among his awards are the 2014 Gival Press Poetry Book Award for Some Wonder; the 2004 X.J. Kennedy Poetry Award for Terrestrials, chosen by Maxine Kumin; the Arkansas Poetry Award for The Interpretation of Waking Life (1991); the Split Oak Press Chapbook Award for The Twins (2009); the Georgia Author of the Year Award (2005), and fellowships to the Hambidge Center for the Arts and the Virginia Center for Creative Arts. He taught writing and literature courses at Georgia Southern University for twenty-six years before retiring in 2015 and moving to Asheville, where he lives with his wife, Stephanie Tames, and teaches in the Great Smokies Writing Program. www.ericnelsonpoet.com.
DJ SPENCE & DJ CAMARO
Virgos get in free
Ages 18+ (under 18 must be accompanied by a parent)
LIVE MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT
We are lining up some GREAT entertainment for 2023!
Look forward to 3 LIVE Bands AND a guest appearance by Franke Previte and Lisa Sherman!
ASHEVILLE BALLET
Festival favorites, Asheville Ballet will be teaching all your favorite dance moves and adding some new twists.
AND, they’ll be performing on stage and encouraging you to get on your feet, too!
REFRESHMENTS
Come hungry and enjoy the tasty food trucks coming this year – your stomach will thank you.
And, we always have the best local beer, wine, cider, and mead of any festival around!
ARTISAN VILLAGE
This year’s “Village” will be a blend of handcrafted and quality items you just can’t live without. Added bonus: they will serve as fond reminders of your Lake Lure Dance Festival experience!
Since 1985, the Music in the Mountains Folk Festival has showcased local and regional traditional music. With your support in the way of donations and the purchase of limited-edition t-shirts, we can continue to honor performers and promoters like Sheila K. Adams and past honorees Don Pedi, Wayne Ledford, Rhonda Gouge, Bob Lominac, Bobby McMillon, Bruce Greene, Bob “Happy Feet” Aldridge, and Bill and Judy Carson.
The 2023 Music In the Mountains Festival is coming right up!
Mark your calendars for September 16th, at Homeplace Beer Company & Hog Hollow Pizza for an afternoon of workshops, traditional craft vendors and an evening filled with Appalachian music.
The 2023 festival honorees are Joyce Johnson and Denise Cook in appreciation for their dedication to the Music In the Mountains Festival since its earliest days. We’re grateful to them for bringing local, traditional mountain music to the forefront of the event and helping to create a wonderful way to celebrate and promote this important part of our regional cultural heritage.
We’ll kick off this year’s event with afternoon workshops from 2:30-3:30. These intimate workshops, taught by Appalachian legends, will give the participants an introduction to Ballad Singing, Flatfooting or Mountain Dulcimer. The workshop fee is $30/person. Space is limited so be sure to register online to reserve your spot.
- Ballad Singing with Donna Ray Norton – Register here.
- Flatfooting with Phil Jamison – Register here.
- Mountain Dulcimer with Don Pedi – Register here.
From 4-8 you are invited to shop with local artists in our traditional craft market.
On the stage from 5-8 you will be treated to some fantastic tunes. With our MC Phil Jamison behind the mic, the line-up includes emerging musicians Newfound Gap, Ballad Singer Donna Ray Norton, Old Time musicians Roger Howell & Jerry Sutton, and Carolina Bluegrass Style.
Suggested donation for attending is $15.
Imagine this: it’s 2001 and you’re seeing No Doubt’s video for Hella Good for the first time. Maybe you’re sitting on a carpeted floor eating pop tarts and watching cable TV when it happens. Your aesthetic ideals have shifted since the matrix came out a couple years back and you find yourself wondering what it takes to become a badass. Quickly you determine that it has a lot to do with motorcycles, jet skis, wet looking hair and wearing black. You don’t even know about Evenescence yet but pop music is about to take some real dips into heavy riffs and darker themes. You’re for it—it makes you feel alive. Let’s run that one back, shall we?
⚡️Saturday, September 16th⚡️
☠️10pm-1am☠️
🏍️DJ Lil Meow Meow🏍️
⛓️at @littlejumbobar ⛓️
♥️$5 suggested donation♥️
Obtaining a loan for property, equipment or growth can be a complex process. In this session, we will break down the steps involved in securing a loan, including evaluating your financial readiness, preparing loan documentation, understanding loan options, and navigating the application process. You will gain practical tips and strategies to increase your chances of success when deciding to apply for a loan. We will also have an open conversation with creatives who have secured loans to grow their business, we will discuss the challenges, the growth they experienced and other thoughts about getting business loans from people who have done it!
This life-saving, two-hour
workshop is open to everyone in
our WNC community, free of
charge. Wednesday, September
20, 11am – 1pm (over lunch).
We’ll provide the pizza to all
participants.
If you are an employer please talk to your employees
about attending. If you are and employee, please talk to
your supervisor about attending. Suicide, while
disproportionately affects our Veteran population, the
entire country is in crisis.
Just like CPR, QPR is an emergency response to someone in
crisis
TRAINING WILL COVER
• How to Question, Persuade, and Refer someone who
may be suicidal
• How to get help for yourself or learn more about
preventing suicide
• The common causes of suicidal behavior
• The warning signs of suicide
• How to get help for someone in crisis
QPR is the most widely taught Gatekeeper training in the
world.
In this workshop, you’ll learn the fundamentals of bookkeeping, creating profit and loss statements, and organizing your finances to make informed decisions for your business’s next steps.
Key Workshop Topics:
- Good Bookkeeping Practices: Learn the basics of bookkeeping, including proper record-keeping, categorizing expenses, and tracking income.
- Profitability Analysis: Discover how to create a profit and loss statement, analyze financial data, and make strategic decisions to enhance profitability.
- Financial Organization: Gain insights into organizing your finances efficiently, including creating a budget, managing cash flow, and implementing effective systems.
The practice of qigong comes from many traditions, ranging from Chinese martial arts and Chinese religions to Chinese medicine. Common to each of these orientations is the use of qigong for the promotion of healing and wellness, with the belief that regular practice will enhance longevity and vibrancy. While all traditions have specific emphases and demands, they all share the key elements inherent in the practice of qigong — breath, postures, and mental concentration. This workshop explores gentle-to-rigorous qigong exercises historically associated with Chang Sheng (longevity) and how these techniques can be applied to one’s wellness.
This class is taught by Master Jeffrey Yuen who is one of the most sought-after teachers of Classical Chinese medicine in the world.
Presenter(s): Chris Grasinger + Panelists
Virtual via Zoom
Transitioning out of your business or selling a part of your business can be a complex process. This session will provide guidance on preparing your business for sale, including valuation methods, legal considerations, and marketing strategies. We will also address succession planning, exploring options such as transferring ownership to family members, employee owned, or seeking external buyers. Gain insights into maximizing the value of your business and ensuring a smooth transition for all stakeholders.
Succession Planning and Business Continuity
- Identifying potential successors and planning for leadership transitions
- Establishing a comprehensive succession plan and exit strategy
- Ensuring business continuity and preserving company values
Chef Corso will host a premiere of his new show, Outdoor Eats TV, at 7:30 p.m. on September 27th at WNC Outdoor Collective in Black Mountain, NC. The show takes viewers on adventures following a professionally trained chef as he whips up actually good meals for backpacking with items from your local market. Enjoy the episode and a backcountry cooking workshop following.
Beginner’s workshop lesson at 7:30 P.M., then 8-11 P.M. Contra Dance with Country Waltzing at the break and the final dance. This is a partner dance but it’s not necessary to come with a partner. We have different live bands and callers.