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.

Sunday, June 16, 2024
YOGA TACO MOSA
Jun 16 @ 10:00 am
The Grey Eagle
-ALL AGES
-FREE / DONATION-BASED
Come join us while we honor one another in practice lead by the ever so lovely, Clare Desmelik. Bring your mat, a water bottle and an open heart.
After Class: The Taqueria will be open for tacos and the bar will be open for drinks. 😉
Father’s Day Yoga
Jun 16 @ 10:30 am – 11:30 am
One World Brewing West

All are welcome, especially dads and kiddos. Kids are free, Dads pay $10

Class is held on the outdoor stage in the backyard of One World Brewing West. Bring a mat and water and prepare for a light hearted, fun class for the whole family!

North Carolina Winery Tour Adventures
Jun 16 @ 10:30 am – 3:30 pm
North Carolina Wineries

Join us for a North Carolina winery tour and celebrate a date night, bachelorette party, retirement, family, or a weekend away while sampling our favorite local beverages along the way. Our standard tour includes visits to three Asheville area vineyards. With safe and reliable transportation provided, you can sit back, relax and just have fun.

Included:

  • Round trip transportation*
  • Three vineyard visits
  • Tastings at two of your three stops. Let’s just say that the pours at the first couple of locations are generous so we like to leave the third-stop beverage choice up to you.
  • Time commitment = up to 5 hours

Want to include specific vineyards on your Asheville wine tours? If you have “must-see” wineries in mind or want to craft a full day catered to your group’s interests, we’re always happy to create a custom experience. Reach out any time!

Art Exhibit: Dusk till Dawn
Jun 16 @ 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Blue Spiral 1 Gallery

May 3 – June 26, 2024 MON – SAT 11 – 6SUN 11 – 5

Artists: Caleb Clark, Bryant Holsenbeck, Bill Killebrew, Inigo Navarro, Isaac Payne, Amy Putansu, Daniel Robbins, Peggy Root, and Deborah Squier.

This group exhibition features paintings, collages, and sculptures that embody the alluring ambiance between sunrise and sunset. Plein air paintings capture the scattered, sleepy light of Dawn; Collaged drawings depict sidewalks blanketed by moonlight; Mixed-media sculptures portray nocturnal animals. Each artist reminds us of the recurrent and striking period of time when the atmosphere is neither totally dark, nor completely lit.

Honoring Nature: Early Southern Appalachian Landscape Painting
Jun 16 @ 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum

In the early 1900s, travel by train and automobile became more accessible in the United States, leading to an increase in tourism and a revitalized interest in landscape painting. The relative ease of transportation, as well as the creation of National Parks, allowed people to experience the breathtaking landscapes of the United States in new ways. Artists traveled along popular routes, recording the terrain they encountered.

This exhibition explores the sublime natural landscapes of the Smokey Mountains of Western North Carolina and Tennessee. While there were several regional schools of painting around this time, this group is largely from the Midwest and many of the artists trained at the Art Institute of Chicago or in New York City. Through their travels, they captured waterfalls, sunsets, thunderstorms, autumn foliage, lush green summers, and snow-covered mountains—elements that were novel for viewers from cities and rural areas. Though some of these paintings include people, they are usually used for scale and painted with little to no detail, highlighting the magnificence of nature.

Rudolph F. Ingerle, Mirrored Mountain, not dated, oil on canvas, 28 × 32 inches. Courtesy of Allen & Barry Huffman, Asheville Art Museum.

Shifting Perceptions: Photographs from the Collection
Jun 16 @ 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum
Shifting Perceptions: Photographs from the Collection, on view through May 17—September 23, 2024. Shifting Perceptions is guest-curated by Katherine Ware, curator of photography at the New Mexico Museum of Art, and continues the Museum’s 75th-anniversary celebration and highlights its expanding Collection.
Featuring over 125 photographs, the exhibition showcases works by 20th-century masters such as Ruth Bernhard, Bruce Davidson, Donna Ferrato, Carrie Mae Weems, and Jerry Uelsmann, alongside contemporary images by Jess T. Dugan, Matthew Pillsbury, and Cara Romero, among others. While some photographs offer a distinct point of view, many invite contemplation of the intersections and contradictions within each category. Recent acquisitions and longtime favorites are presented in new juxtapositions, providing fresh insights into the evolving landscape of photography.
Summer Splash Water Days
Jun 16 @ 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Malvern Hills Park

Dive into a world of water-themed activities and beat the heat with an array of aquatic adventures.

The New Salon: A Contemporary View
Jun 16 @ 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum
Bender Gallery Artists

Featured in

Asheville Art Museum Exhibition

The New Salon: A Contemporary View

The Asheville Art Museum will be opening their exhibit, The New Salon: A Contemporary View, on March 8 and it will run until August 19, 2024. The New Salon offers a modern take on the prestigious tradition of the Parisian Salon with the diversity and innovation of today’s art world. Guest-curated by Gabriel Shaffer, the show will include works from Pop Surrealism, Outsider Art, Street Art, and Graffiti genres.

 

Bender Gallery has been collaborating with the Asheville Art Museum to loan four paintings from three of our artists. The artists are Laine Bachman, Kukula, and Yui Sakamoto. Be sure to check out this special exhibition in downtown Asheville.

Learn More

Kukula, Impossible Voyage, oil on board, 48 x 24 inches

Kukula (b. 1980, Israel)

Nataly Abramovitch, better known in the art world as, Kukula, paints imagined worlds filled with elaborately dressed women in fanciful settings. The artist does extensive research on the layouts of paintings from the Renaissance and Rococo periods. Kukula subverts these images by depicting women characters in place of traditionally male positions and settings. Her characters are powerful, commanding, and have an air of indifference.

Available Work

Yui Sakamoto, Self Portrait, oil on canvas, 63 x 63 inches

Yui Sakamoto (b. 1981, Japan)

Our surrealist artist, Yui Sakamoto, will have two paintings featured including My Soul and Self Portrait. Self Portrait is still available from his recent solo exhibition at Bender Gallery. Standing in front of Self Portrait, one is immersed in the dual-worlds of Sakamoto’s Japanese and Mexican cultures. There is a sense of calm reflected in the repeating rose pattern, mixed with the uneasy realization that the coral, fungi, and otherworldly forms are what makeup the figure.

Available Work

Laine Bachman, Night Bloomers, acrylic on canvas, 18 x 24 inches

Laine Bachman (b. 1974, USA)

Our prolific Magical Realism artist, Laine Bachman, makes a feature in the exhibition with her painting, Night Bloomers. She has been hard at work making 17 new pieces for her solo exhibition at the Canton Art Museum in Canton, Ohio. The Canton show opens on April 28 and continues through to July 28, 2024.

Available Work
The Shape of Water
Jun 16 @ 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Margie Kluska

When one thinks of the necessities of life, one element immediately comes to mind: water. When one thinks of modern abstraction, the dynamic realm of contemporary art where boundaries are blurred and creativity knows no limits, one name shines brightly: Patricia Hargrove.

The Asheville Gallery of Art proudly presents its June exhibit of Hargove’s series that depicts the powers of water to energize, refresh and heal the soul and body. This masterful exhibit runs June 1-30, with an opening reception on Friday, June 7 from 5-7:30pm. Everyone is welcome.

Family Zumba
Jun 16 @ 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Asheville YMCA

Come and join us at the Asheville YMCA for a billigual Zumba class that is open to the whole family!

This event is free and open to everyone.

Burlesque Brunch
Jun 16 @ 12:00 pm
The Grey Eagle
Doors Open: 11:30 AM
-AGES 18+
-SEATED SHOW
-LIMITED VIP TICKETS AVAILABLE

BURLESQUE BRUNCH

Welcome to the most dazzling brunch experience in Asheville! Join award-winning burlesque sensation, Madison Jane and a delectable blend of performers once a month for a Sunday extravaganza of tantalizing tastes and titillating performances. The Haus of Jane’s Burlesque Brunch Showcase is a feast for the senses, where laughter and allure collide, creating a brunch event that’s as unforgettable as the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Please note: While the ticket price covers your entrance into this delicious spectacle, our brunch delights are a separate indulgence. Come hungry for glamour and ready to sip, savor, and be seduced by the artistry of burlesque – where every shimmy tells a story, and every wink is an invitation to revel in the magic. Bring cash to tip your performers and prepare for a Sunday like no other!

Jack’s Bluegrass Brunch
Jun 16 @ 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Jack of the Wood

Jack’s Bluegrass Brunch kicks off every Sunday at 12 noon — with lively bluegrass tunes courtesy of The Jack of the Wood Bluegrass Brunch Boys from 1-3pm. Sip a Bloody Mary or Mimosa or a warm Irish coffee. Tasty brunch specials alongside our regular menu and 18 taps of rotating craft brews! Sláinte, y’all!

Live Music Saturdays
Jun 16 @ 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Grove Arcade
Enjoy live music from local singer-songwriters in the Atrium of the Grove Arcade each Saturday from 12-3pm!
Stop by to kick your weekend off with shopping from local merchants and tunes from local musicians.
Southside Community Farmers Market
Jun 16 @ 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Southside Community Farmers Market

Listing

About Southside Community Farmers Market

Buncombe County will continue to offer ASAP’s Double SNAP for Fruits and Vegetables and Farm Fresh Produce Prescription.

Southside Community Farm hosts a farmers market featuring all BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) vendors on the first Sunday of every month, May-Oct. from 12-3 PM. The market is EBT accessible. Come enjoy delicious patties, hot sauces, veggies, fruit, flowers, medicines, crafts and more!

Summer Reading Program: Books + Free Ice Cream
Jun 16 @ 12:00 pm – 9:00 pm
The Hop Ice Cream 

Buncombe County Public Library is thrilled to announce The Hop Ice Cream as a proud supporting partner of this year’s Summer Reading Program to encourage youth literacy in our community. The Hop will provide free ice cream at the Summer Library Fest on Saturday, June 8 from 10 a.m.-noon at East Asheville Library. For added fun, The Hop owner Greg Garrison will collaborate with Secret Agent 23 Skidoo to provide a special dance performance to families in attendance.

Any kid or teen who visits a Buncombe County library to pick up their summer reading activity sheet will also receive a 10 percent off coupon redeemable at any Hop location or at Pop Bubble Tea. Return your completed activity sheet to any branch and receive a bookmark for a free kiddie scoop of ice cream at any Hop location. You must complete 10 or more activities on your sheet to be eligible for ice cream – and you can also select a free book of your choice!

Summer Reading runs from June 1 to  August 31 and is open to anyone from birth to age 18.  If you have any questions, just contact your friendly neighborhood library.

The Hop Ice Cream  OUR LOCATIONS


North Asheville

640 Merrimon Ave
Asheville, NC 28804

828.254.2224

More Info »


West Asheville

721 Haywood Rd
Asheville, NC 28806

828.252.5155

More Info »


Downtown Asheville

56 Patton Ave
Asheville, NC 28801

Inside the S&W Building

More Info »


Black Mountain

114 Cherry Street
Black Mountain, NC 28711

828.357.5461

More Info »


The Creamery

167 Haywood Road
Asheville, NC 28806

828.774.5058

More Info »

Pop Bubble Tea

640 Merrimon Ave
Asheville, NC 28804

More Info »

Asheville Junior Theater presents- Frozen JR.
Jun 16 @ 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Wortham Center for the Performing Arts

A story of true love and acceptance between sisters, Frozen JR. expands upon the emotional relationship and journey between Princesses Anna and Elsa. When faced with danger, the two discover their hidden potential and the powerful bond of sisterhood. With a cast of beloved characters and loaded with magic, adventure, and plenty of humor, Frozen JR. is sure to thaw even the coldest heart!

Frozen JR. is a 60 minute version of the Broadway hit, perfect for audiences of all ages.

Downtown Asheville Treasure Hunt – Walking Team Scavenger Hunt
Jun 16 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Dssolvr

Guests will meet at Dssolvr Asheville (63 N. Lexington Ave, Asheville, NC 28801) and then depart with their treasure map on a walking team scavenger hunt where they will use their minds and feet to follow clues, solve puzzles, and crack codes to find and unlock the treasure chest for a grand prize!

The hunt involves walking a distance of up to 2.0 miles in total and will take place rain or shine, so long as the weather does not become dangerous. The hunt typically takes about 60 minutes to complete.

Children under 10 years old are welcome to participate for free with the purchase of an Adult ticket.

Frozen JR.
Jun 16 @ 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Wortham Center for the Performing Arts

Asheville Junior Theater Presents Frozen JR. at Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, Asheville, NC
A story of true love and acceptance between sisters, Frozen JR. expands upon the emotional relationship and journey between Princesses Anna and Elsa. When faced with danger, the two discover their hidden potential and the powerful bond of sisterhood. With a cast of beloved characters and loaded with magic, adventure, and plenty of humor, Frozen JR. is sure to thaw even the coldest heart!

Frozen JR. is a 60 minute version of the Broadway hit, perfect for audiences of all ages.

Event Details:
- Title: Frozen JR.
- Date: June 15th & 16th 2024
- Time: 2pm and 6pm
- Venue: Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, Asheville, North Carolina

For ticket information and more details visit https://www.worthamarts.org/events/frozen-jr/

The Shawshank Redemption
Jun 16 @ 2:00 pm
Flat Rock Playhouse

Embark on an unforgettable journey of resilience, friendship, and the triumph of the human spirit as the Playhouse proudly presents The Shawshank Redemption. Based on Steven King’s novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, and its subsequent 1994 film adaptation, this captivating story has enthralled audiences around the world. Prepare to be riveted, moved, and inspired by this timeless tale of hope and reclamation as it comes to life on the Playhouse stage!

*Adult language and content. Parental discretion is advised.

LITTLE WOMEN
Jun 16 @ 2:30 pm
Parkway Playhouse

by Kate Hamill

Directed by Erika Tyner

Based on the literary classic, this play explores what it means to be a woman, a daughter, a sister, and a friend. We follow the story of Jo March and her reckoning with society, growing older, and finding her way as a writer with her sisters by her side. Each one exploring similar but different struggles and wins. Set to a backdrop of the Civil War, this play is a reflection of the waves of change that bookmarked author Louisa May Alcott’s life.

Shirley Valentine
Jun 16 @ 2:30 pm
35 Below

Shirley Valentine

Produced by Third Eye Productions

About The Show

Third Eye Productions brings you a Tony Award winning comedy written by Willy Russell. Shirley Valentine is a tour de force role performed by Madison Brightwell and directed by Marc Cameron. Celebrate the incredible journey of life with Shirley Valentine – an off-beat journey of self reflection, the challenges of middle age, and the possibilities of finding happiness and love once more.

Family Dance
Jun 16 @ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Harvest House Community Center

Old Farmer’s Ball hosts family dances and waltzes at the Harvest House Community Center.

Mission & Vision

Our mission is to bring joy to our community by cultivating folk and social dance and music traditions.

Our vision is of people coming together to experience the joy of dance and music.

Values

  • Welcoming – A safe and inviting space for dancers, musicians, and callers.
  • Community – We value respect, inclusiveness, diversity, consent, and multigenerational interaction.
  • Ownership – Volunteer investment in the organization.
  • Joy/Smiles – Presence in the moment.
  • Development – Artistic growth and skill of callers, musicians, and dancers.
Shakespeare & Friends Presents The Last 5 Years
Jun 16 @ 3:00 pm
Tryon Fine Arts Center
Rental Partner Shakespeare & Friends Presents
The Last 5 Years
Directed by Catherine Gillet
June 13-16
Thursday, Friday & Saturday @ 7:30 pm,
Sunday @ 3 pm
TFAC Pavilion Stage
Catch a Star! Finishing up their National Broadway Tour of Pretty Woman, Bethany McDonald and local favorite Chase Wolfe lead the next production from Shakespeare & Friends — the much-loved and popular musical The Last Five Years.
The Last 5 Years
Jun 16 @ 3:00 pm
Tryon Fine Arts Center
 Musical Production Presented by Shakespeare & Friends – Directed by Catherine Gillet

Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm, and Sunday at 3:00 pm, June 13-16 at Tryon Fine Arts Center Pavilion.

Catch a Star! Finishing up their National Broadway Tour of Pretty Woman, Bethany McDonald and local favorite Chase Wolfe lead the next production from Shakespeare & Friends — the much-loved and popular musical The Last Five Years.

 

The Last Five Years, a recipient of a Drama Desk, Lucille Lortel and Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Musical, explores a five-year relationship between Jamie Wellerstein, a rising novelist, and Cathy Hiatt, a struggling actress.

An emotionally powerful and intimate musical about two young New Yorkers who fall in and out of love over the course of five years, the show’s unconventional structure consists of Cathy, the woman, telling her story backwards while Jamie, the man, tells his story chronologically.

The inventive musical style draws on a number of musical genres, including pop, jazz, classical, Klezmer, Latin, Blues, Rock, and Folk.

Greenville Drive vs. Asheville Tourists
Jun 16 @ 3:05 pm
Flour Field

Greenville Drive vs. Asheville Tourists

TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC SESSION
Jun 16 @ 3:30 pm
Jack of the Wood

Jack’s long-running Traditional Irish Music Session is the perfect way to enjoy the Celtic-influenced sounds of talented pluckers from all over WNC & further afield! Stop in to enjoy a pint or afternoon Irish coffee with the music! Sláinte!

Will Kimbrough | Sundays on the River Series
Jun 16 @ 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Olivette Riverside Pavilion

Musician’s-musician Will Kimbrough brings his mix of roots and rock to Asheville’s Olivette Riverside Pavilion by the French Broad River!

Will Kimbrough has enjoyed a long and winding career as a song writer, performer, recording artist, and producer. Recognized as a young musician by John Prine, Will went on to tour with Todd Snider, Rodney Crowell, and Emmylou Harris. His songs have been recorded by Jimmy Buffett, Radney Foster, Gretchen Peters, Shemekia Copeland and Kim Richey. Let’s just say… he’s a musician’s-musician.

Kimbrough’s eighth solo album “For The Life of Me” is a hopeful expression of love. Be the first to hear his newest songs L-I-V-E in Asheville on June 16 at the Olivette Riverside Pavilion.

The JLloyd MashUp: A Tribute to Paul Simon
Jun 16 @ 6:30 pm
The Grey Eagle
Doors Open: 5:30 PM
ALL AGES
STANDING ROOM ONLY

J LLOYD MASHUP PRESENTS A TRIBUTE TO PAUL SIMON

On Sunday, June 16th,  The JLloyd MashUp is paying tribute to Paul Simon with a full orchestration of his songs from various points in his career. Ben Falcon will be leading the Vocals along with Debrissa McKinney and Pam Jones. This 12 piece band consists of some of Asheville’s top musicians in the scene boasting a full rhythm section, horn section and vocal choir! Asheville’s JP & Peggy kick things off!
The full band for the night consists of:
Ben Falcon – Vocals (The Lumpy Heads)
Debrissa McKinney – Vocals (Empire Strikes Brass)
Pam Jones – Vocals (Dirty Logic)
Jonathan Lloyd – Vocals/Trombone (The JLloyd MashUp)
Vic Stafford – Drums (Toubab Krewe/Donna The Buffalo)
Duane Simpson – Guitar (Dirty Logic/Pimps of Pompe)
Jonathan Pearlman – Guitar (Alien Music Club)
Thommy Knoles – Keys (The Fritz/Felix Pastorius)
Ben Bjorlie – Bass (Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band)
Tyler Housholder – Percussion (The Broadcast)
Jonathan Cole – Saxophone (Dirty Logic/Electrolust)
Justin Ray – Trumpet (Michael Bublé)
The JLloyd MashUp explores different genres of music including Acid Jazz, Funk, Soul, Afro Beat, Reggae, Break Beat, Latin and world music. Led and curated by Jonathan Lloyd (Dubconscious/Cadillac Jones), the band is made up of some of Asheville’s busiest and hardest working musicians on the scene. The group features special guests with different material every show.

JP & PEGGY

Peggy “Chanteuse” Ratusz & Jonathan “JP” Pearlman have been performing together for 15+ years in various configurations and productions. It’s apparent from the get-go that their musical chemistry is fluid and fun. Their playlist is a mashup of Jazz and Blues Standards, Swing, Pop, Roots, Classic Country and originals.
JP’s talents as guitarist, vocalist, arranger, producer and composer have made him a sought after musician. Asheville has fallen in love with his self-produced shows via his production house Alien Music Club, paying tribute to Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen and The Doors. His original show, “And Now for Something Completely Different” is scheduled to debut in 2024 and is made up of some of the best players on the scene including his son Jaron on drums. He is an avid Paul Simon fan, and has performed material by his hero since childhood.  He continues to pay homage by doing his best to capture the essence of these quintessential tunes.
The “ruby throated” Ratusz is a seasoned, emotive and powerful vocalist and songwriter who has won numerous awards and accolades from The Mountain Xpress, Citizen-Times and The Blues Foundation. Co-producer of many popular and consistent sell-out shows through her Women Who Made Music History LLC, she honors icons Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Etta James, Emmy Lou Harris, Lucinda Williams and Rosanne Cash.
OLD GODS OF APPALACHIA
Jun 16 @ 7:00 pm
Gunter Theatre

Old Gods of Appalachia is an award-winning and critically-acclaimed audio drama podcast produced by Asheville, NC based DeepNerd Media. Old Gods of Appalachia was the first professional podcast nominated for a World Fantasy Award in 2022, has received numerous Audioverse Awards, and won Best Overall Podcast in the 2021 DiscoverPod Awards. The podcast boasts over 19 million unique downloads since its launch in late 2019. In 2022, OGoA collaborated with legendary game developer Monte Cook Games to create the Old Gods of Appalachia Tabletop Roleplaying Game, which met its Kickstarter funding goal of $50k within 10 minutes and raised over two million dollars.

About the Show

Old Gods of Appalachia is an eldritch horror fiction podcast set in an Alternate Appalachia, a world where these mountains were never meant to be inhabited. This world feels eerily similar to the hills and hollers we’ve grown up with, but there are some tell-tale differences. Names of towns and counties may be altered. Historical events slide forward or backward in time. And then, of course, there are the monsters. Our live show includes a staged storytelling performance similar to an old time radio play, featuring show creators Steve Shell and Cam Collins, a rotating cast of professional actors, and live musical performances.

Shakespeare’s Wars of the Roses Richard II
Jun 16 @ 7:30 pm
Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre

The Montford Park Players is pleased to announce auditions for its 52nd  Season: 

Muse of Fire: Shakespeare’s Wars of the Roses

Jason Williams, Artistic Director

5/10/2024 5/24/2024   Edward III, directed by Mandy Bean
5/31/2024 6/23/2024   Richard II, directed by Jason Williams
6/28/2024 7/21/2024   Henry IV Parts 1 & 2, directed by Dr. George Brown, Callista Brown and Elizabeth DeVault
7/26/2024 8/25/2024   Henry V, directed by David Doersch
8/30/2024 9/22/2024  Henry VI Parts 1, 2 & 3, directed by Glenna Grant, Ariel Robinson and Adam Kampouris
9/27/2024 10/27/2024 Richard III, directed by Kristi DeVille

Conveniently located in the heart of the Historic Montford District of Asheville, North Carolina, the Outdoor Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre is easy to get to and accessible from I-240 and I-26. And, it’s just a short drive down Montford Avenue from downtown.