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.

Friday, December 27, 2024
Winter Lights
Dec 27 @ 6:00 pm
North Carolina Arboretum

Winter Lights is a spectacular open-air walk-through light show made from over one million lights! Located at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, North Carolina, this year’s event features favorites like the famously tall 50-foot lighted tree and the Quilt Garden, along with enchanting new details designed to delight and surprise. All prices are per vehicle. No pets allowed.

Winter Lights features live entertainment nightly and food and beverages from the Bent Creek Bistro, the Cocoa Shack and the Cocoa Cabin! Open nightly from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Saturday, December 28, 2024
Winter Lights
Dec 28 @ 6:00 pm
North Carolina Arboretum

Winter Lights is a spectacular open-air walk-through light show made from over one million lights! Located at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, North Carolina, this year’s event features favorites like the famously tall 50-foot lighted tree and the Quilt Garden, along with enchanting new details designed to delight and surprise. All prices are per vehicle. No pets allowed.

Winter Lights features live entertainment nightly and food and beverages from the Bent Creek Bistro, the Cocoa Shack and the Cocoa Cabin! Open nightly from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Sunday, December 29, 2024
Winter Lights
Dec 29 @ 6:00 pm
North Carolina Arboretum

Winter Lights is a spectacular open-air walk-through light show made from over one million lights! Located at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, North Carolina, this year’s event features favorites like the famously tall 50-foot lighted tree and the Quilt Garden, along with enchanting new details designed to delight and surprise. All prices are per vehicle. No pets allowed.

Winter Lights features live entertainment nightly and food and beverages from the Bent Creek Bistro, the Cocoa Shack and the Cocoa Cabin! Open nightly from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Monday, December 30, 2024
Winter Lights
Dec 30 @ 6:00 pm
North Carolina Arboretum

Winter Lights is a spectacular open-air walk-through light show made from over one million lights! Located at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, North Carolina, this year’s event features favorites like the famously tall 50-foot lighted tree and the Quilt Garden, along with enchanting new details designed to delight and surprise. All prices are per vehicle. No pets allowed.

Winter Lights features live entertainment nightly and food and beverages from the Bent Creek Bistro, the Cocoa Shack and the Cocoa Cabin! Open nightly from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Tuesday, December 31, 2024
Winter Lights
Dec 31 @ 6:00 pm
North Carolina Arboretum

Winter Lights is a spectacular open-air walk-through light show made from over one million lights! Located at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, North Carolina, this year’s event features favorites like the famously tall 50-foot lighted tree and the Quilt Garden, along with enchanting new details designed to delight and surprise. All prices are per vehicle. No pets allowed.

Winter Lights features live entertainment nightly and food and beverages from the Bent Creek Bistro, the Cocoa Shack and the Cocoa Cabin! Open nightly from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Wednesday, January 8, 2025
Brian Regan Live
Jan 8 @ 7:30 pm
Harrah's Cherokee Center Asheville

Critics, fans and fellow comedians agree: Brian Regan is one of the most respected comedians in the country with Vanity Fair calling Brian, “The funniest stand-up alive,” and Entertainment Weekly calling him, “Your favorite comedian’s favorite comedian.”  Having built his 30-plus year career on the strength of his material alone, Brian’s non-stop theater tour continuously fills the most beautiful venues across North America, visiting close to 100 cities each year.

Saturday, January 25, 2025
Fierce Fitness Dance Fundraiser
Jan 25 @ 10:00 am
The Grey Eagle

The Grey Eagle Presents Fierce Fitness Dance Fundraiser.

All Ages
Saturday, January 25
Doors: 9am // Show: 10am
$29.25
Uphora Dance Fitness is hosting an epic dance fitness fundraiser featuring Fierce Fitness Ty, renowned hip hop and fitness instructor from Orlando. Ty is joined by a stellar line up of dance fitness instructors from all over the region for 90 minutes of nonstop dancing to the latest songs with fierce moves and lit energy. 100% of proceeds from this event will be donated to WNC Hurricane Recovery through Operation Dance, Uphora’s charitable initiative. Get your ticket and invite your friends–don’t miss this opportunity to dance it out, feel empowered, and
Thursday, January 30, 2025
No Man’s Land Film Festival coming to French Broad River Academy
Jan 30 @ 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm
French Broad River Academy-North Campus

French Broad River Academy (FBRA) invites you to a screening of the No Man’s Land Film Festival (NMLFF), a curated selection of adventure-based short films that celebrate the power, strength, and determination of women in the great outdoors. The films highlight inspiring stories of female adventurers from around the world, and are tailored for student and family viewing. The event is open to the public.

The evening starts at 5:30 pm with a panel discussion by Asheville-area community outdoor adventure enthusiasts, followed by screening of the short films at 6 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m.

Tickets are $15 per person, available for purchase in advance at https://www.fbra-avl.org/no-mans-land/ or at the door. All proceeds from ticket sales benefit FBRA and the school’s outdoor programming for students.

ABOUT NMLFF: Founded in 2015 in response to the lack of women-representation in the broader outdoor media, the No Man’s Land Film Festival (NMLFF) has grown to become the premier adventure film festival for women and gender non-conforming athletes, storytellers, and filmmakers. Learn more: https://nomanslandfilmfestival.org/

ABOUT FBRA: French Broad River Academy (FBRA) is an independent middle school (grades 6-8) in Asheville, NC, with dual riverfront programs for boys and girls. We integrate rigorous academics with outdoor adventure, service learning, and international travel to help our students become confident, compassionate leaders, ready to take on the world. Learn more about FBRA: fbra-avl.org

Sunday, February 2, 2025
Stars Servin’ Up Love
Feb 2 @ 10:00 am
Harrah's Cherokee Center Asheville

Stars Servin’ Up Love will welcome Andre AgassiAndy RoddickJessica PegulaEmma NavarroMichael KostaPete WentzJeff Probst, Esai Morales, and others to the Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville, N.C. for its celebrity tennis Hurricane Helene benefit for Western North Carolina on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. 100% of net proceeds from the charity event (including direct donations from the event’s online auction and other opportunities) will be donated to local nonprofits including Always Asheville Fund, Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity, and Asheville Tennis Association. Featured sponsors include Ingles Markets, Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos, and Ticketmaster. Presales through the United States Tennis Association and participating outlets begin on Monday, December 16 at 10:00 am ET, and public on-sale begins on Thursday, December 19 at 10:00 am ET. Tickets can be purchased at StarsServinUpLove.com.

Thursday, February 6, 2025
Billy Strings
Feb 6 @ 7:30 pm
Harrah's Cherokee Center Asheville

Billy Strings returns to ExploreAsheville.com at Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville on February 6-8 & 14-16, 2025.

A percentage of every ticket sold will benefit Bounty & Soul, United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County, MANNA Food Bank and American Red Cross Western North Carolina Chapter.

Friday, February 7, 2025
Billy Strings
Feb 7 @ 7:30 pm
Harrah's Cherokee Center Asheville

Billy Strings returns to ExploreAsheville.com at Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville on February 6-8 & 14-16, 2025.

A percentage of every ticket sold will benefit Bounty & Soul, United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County, MANNA Food Bank and American Red Cross Western North Carolina Chapter.

Saturday, February 8, 2025
Bike Love ’25 @ Eulogy
Feb 8 all-day
Eulogy

Bike Love ’25 @ Eulogy is Asheville on Bikes’ annual fundraiser.

Whether you ride or just love a great party, Bike Love ’25 is where music, community, and high-energy vibes come together. Bring your crew, hit the dance floor, and celebrate the joy of movement—on and off the bike!

Billy Strings
Feb 8 @ 7:30 pm
Harrah's Cherokee Center Asheville

Billy Strings returns to ExploreAsheville.com at Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville on February 6-8 & 14-16, 2025.

A percentage of every ticket sold will benefit Bounty & Soul, United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County, MANNA Food Bank and American Red Cross Western North Carolina Chapter.

Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Joy Oladokun: The Blackbird Tour
Feb 12 @ 8:00 pm
The Orange Peel
A Benefit for the North Carolina Community Foundation. Joy is donating 100% of the proceeds from this performance to NCCF’s Disaster Relief Fund to help rebuild after the disastrous effects of Hurricane Helene across Appalachia.

The North Carolina Community Foundation Disaster Relief Fund will support long-term recovery and unmet needs in western North Carolina communities affected by Hurricane Helene in the months to come.

With the money from the fund, NCCF will provide grants in the months and years ahead to eligible organizations in affected communities. Fundraising began immediately after the storm and the first grants will be awarded in early 2025.

Donations can be made at nccommunityfoundation.org/DisasterFund or by mailing a check to NCCF at 3737 Glenwood Ave., Suite 460, Raleigh, NC 27612. Write “Disaster Relief” on the memo line of your check. Ages 18+

Friday, February 14, 2025
Tyger Tyger Pop-Up Art Auction for BeLoved Asheville
Feb 14 @ 5:00 pm
8 London Road

This Valentine’s Day, show your love for Asheville and bid on art recovered from Hurricane Helene.

Tyger Tyger Gallery is hosting a special silent auction on Valentine’s Day of flood-damaged, salvaged and new art by our gallery artists who have generously donated their work to benefit BeLoved Asheville.

Join us on February 14th in Biltmore Village at 8 London Road for a magical evening of connection and community, and collect original art for a cause. We invite you to bring a new sweetie or longtime beloved and support BeLoved Asheville for a memorable date night… or come solo and meet like-minded art lovers! Take home a piece of history and be a part of Asheville’s recovery.

Music by local duo DJ XO SARII. Drinks donated by our friends at Burial Beer Co.

Free street parking.

Billy Strings
Feb 14 @ 7:30 pm
Harrah's Cherokee Center Asheville

Billy Strings returns to ExploreAsheville.com at Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville on February 6-8 & 14-16, 2025.

A percentage of every ticket sold will benefit Bounty & Soul, United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County, MANNA Food Bank and American Red Cross Western North Carolina Chapter.

Saturday, February 15, 2025
Billy Strings
Feb 15 @ 7:30 pm
Harrah's Cherokee Center Asheville

Billy Strings returns to ExploreAsheville.com at Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville on February 6-8 & 14-16, 2025.

A percentage of every ticket sold will benefit Bounty & Soul, United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County, MANNA Food Bank and American Red Cross Western North Carolina Chapter.

Sunday, February 16, 2025
Billy Strings
Feb 16 @ 7:30 pm
Harrah's Cherokee Center Asheville

Billy Strings returns to ExploreAsheville.com at Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville on February 6-8 & 14-16, 2025.

A percentage of every ticket sold will benefit Bounty & Soul, United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County, MANNA Food Bank and American Red Cross Western North Carolina Chapter.

Sunday, February 23, 2025
Wee Trade Children’s Consignment Sale
Feb 23 all-day
NC Agriculture Center

Kiddos are expensive! Their stuff doesn’t have to be! Shop for your entire season’s worth of clothing and toys all in one place with Wee Trade! You are certain to find exactly what your are looking for!

Thursday, February 27, 2025
Valuation Day at Brunk Auction House!
Feb 27 @ 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Brunk Auctions

Thursday, February 27 from 9am-3pm

Food Connection and Loving Food Resources are collaborating to bring you a one-of-a-kind fundraiser! Brunk Auction House will be offering their appraisal services for $15/item or $40 for 3 items!

Choose the hour time slot that works best for you and bring in family heirlooms, high-valued finds, and other antiques to be appraised by the professionals! All proceeds from tickets sales go to Food Connection and Loving Food Resources and participants may have the option to consign their items through the auction house and make some money themselves!

BRUNK AUCTIONS – 117 Tunnel Rd, Asheville

Brunk is a private auction house specializing in the sale of fine art, jewelry, Asian art, antique furniture, coins, and countless other areas of collecting – ranging from Contemporary Art to Antiquities. Excellence in connoisseurship is the hallmark of our specialist staff. Consistent and thoughtful client service is the foundation of our 40 years in business.

Thursday, March 20, 2025
Kiss Country Guitar Jam Benefiting Valley Strong Disaster Relief
Mar 20 @ 8:00 pm
The Orange Peel
Kiss Country Guitar Jam Benefiting Valley Strong Disaster Relief

Craig Campbell
Kelsey Hart
Bryce Leatherwood
Dylan Schneider
Meghan Patrick

Show: 8pm | Doors: 6:30pm
The Orange Peel
All Ages
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Neighborhood Breakfast
Mar 25 @ 7:30 am
Memorial United Methodist Church

Join us for breakfast and table discussions about Greer Relief. Each year we invite neighbors to come together in a common goal to eliminate poverty and equip our neighbors to overcome barriers to success.

You will learn: who we are, what we do, and how YOU can get involved.

You must RSVP.

 

 

Saturday, March 29, 2025
Blue Ridge Roller Derby Roller N’ Holler Fundraiser Event
Mar 29 all-day
Smoky Mountain Event Center

Support the Western North Carolina community while watching an afternoon full of ROLLER DERBY!
This derby-filled afternoon will start with an exhibition scrimmage from our Junior league, Blue Ridge Junior Roller Derby. Then, our B-Travel-Team, the Retrogrades, will take on the Gainesville Roller Rebels. Finally, we will have our open-gender mix-up bout featuring many of our own skaters as well as skaters from all over!

Proceeds from this event will benefit families in the Haywood County area affected by Hurricane Helene.

Doors open at 1:00 PM for an afternoon full of LIVE ROLLER DERBY at SMEC!
Online or At-The-Door Tickets: $10.00

1:00 Doors Open
2:00 Juniors Exhibition Bout
3:00 Retrogrades vs. GRR
5:00 Roller n Holler mixup bout

All ages welcome, kids 11 and under are FREE. We will have a great menu of concessions, including plant-based options!

BRRD is a non-profit organization that relies on the support of our community to provide action-packed, family-friendly fun on four wheels.

Sunday, March 30, 2025
Tyger Tyger Online Art Auction
Mar 30 all-day
Tyger Tyger Gallery

Bid from anywhere! Last chance to collect original artwork salvaged from Tyger Tyger Gallery, which was destroyed in the Hurricane Helene flood. All of the artists who generously donated these pieces were paid for their damaged artworks through the gallery’s art insurance.

We will be donating 20% of proceeds from this online auction to The Center for Craft, who showed up with several volunteers in the aftermath of the flood to help us move artwork, materials and supplies out of the gallery and even offered to store it for us until we could come get it. The Center for Craft has given tens of thousands of dollars to craft artists affected by Hurricane Helene, and we value the array of offerings they bring to the community with programming, residencies, grants, and work spaces.

1st ANNUAL CHORDS FOR CALLUM
Mar 30 @ 1:00 pm
Grey Eagle

The Grey Eagle Presents: 1st ANNUAL CHORDS FOR CALLUM (Benefit Concert for Callum Stickley)

Doors: 12pm // Show: 1pm
$12.30 to $44.70

Hatch Ampitheater
ALL AGES
STANDING ROOM ONLY
(VERY) KID FRIENDLY!  FREE ENTRY FOR KIDS UNDER 5.
1ST ANNUAL CHORDS FOR CALLUM! @ GREY EAGLE HATCH AMPHITHEATER – 45 South French Broad
A benefit concert for Callum Stickley to raise money to pay for intensive physical occupational and speech therapy Callum has a rare genetic condition called STXBP1, and needs these therapies to help him thrive!
The Prom Dress Exchange
Mar 30 @ 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Groce United Methodist Church

Now in its fourth year, The Prom Dress Exchange is continuing to help anyone feel fancy and fabulous for free! 1,600 formal and semi formal dresses size 00-4XL, as well as women’s suits and separates, shoes, jewelry and all the accessories are available at no charge. I also have a limited number of tuxedos, as well as men’s suits, slacks, shirts, vests and accessories to offer. Whether you are going to the prom or another spring dance, wedding, or anywhere you need special attire, “The Prom Dress Exchange” has got what you need to make the occasion magical!

The event is March 28-30 at Groce United Methodist Church 954 Tunnel Rd Asheville NC, 28805, Friday 2-6, Saturday 10-6, Sunday 1-5.

Donations accepted – volunteers welcome – sewist needed
Contact Marsha van Rijssen (828)545-3133 [email protected]

Tuesday, April 1, 2025
TEDxYouthFSI Presents “What If?”, a thoughtful conference at NC Stage
Apr 1 @ 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
North Carolina Stage Company

FSI’s TEDxYouth organization has organized an upcoming TEDx conference at the NC Stage on April 1st at 6pm. Seats are first come first served! The overarching theme of the 2025 conference is “What If?
” With the theme “What If,” we invite speakers to reimagine what particular systems, or their lives could look like if they had made a different choice.

Topics for talks will range from personal to global, exploring themes in the past, present, or future. There will be a main focus on decisions and the butterfly effect, and we hope to leave audience members with a sense of possibility.

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to ideas worth spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 30 years ago, the organization has grown to support its mission through multiple initiatives and independently organized events. The Franklin School of Innovation’s TEDxYouthFSI chapter is the only youth chapter of TEDx in the Asheville area. This event is organized entirely by students.

Find more information at https://www.tedxyouthfsi.com/

The house opens at 5:25 PM
Seats are first come, first served. Tickets available online or $15 at the door.
This is not one to miss, these TEDxYouth events are so good!

Friday, April 4, 2025
Color Me Asheville
Apr 4 @ 6:00 pm
The Orange Peel

Color Me Asheville by Goodwill – A Celebration of Healing and Community

A Benefit for Beloved Asheville

Show: 7pm | Doors: 6pm

*Partially Seated Event*
SEATED TICKETS SOLD OUT
STANDING ROOM ONLY TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE

Celebrate and support the resilience of Asheville’s creative community with this runway show featuring seven local design teams presenting collections using repurposed materials found at Goodwill. Proceeds from ticket sales benefit BeLoved Asheville. More information at www.ColorMeAsheville.org.

Saturday, April 12, 2025
CODA Music Festival 2025
Apr 12 @ 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Pulliam Stadium
The CODA Music Festival 2025 is a benefit for local
artists affected by Hurricane Helene. Our headliner duo is Darin and Brooke
Aldridge, IBMA award winners. The festival will also feature performances
from Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road, Dasher, Lindy Bryson, Jangling Sparrows,
and Grady Schafhauser. If you love Bluegrass, Americana, and Folk style
music, you will love this festival!
CODA is a music festival and concert series the Montreat College Music Business Program hosts each year to expand the local and cultural
opportunities for businesses, artists, and Montreat students. We aim to
celebrate our community, our resilience, and our love for music despite what
we have gone through, and we would love to have you join us!
Sunday, April 13, 2025
Blue Ridge Humane Society Paws for a Purpose Weekend
Apr 13 all-day
varies

A Community Fundraising Event Benefiting Blue Ridge Humane Society

Support Local, Save Local Animals

Join Blue Ridge Humane Society (BRHS) for Paws for a Purpose, a signature fundraising weekend dedicated to raising awareness and funds to support our mission of ensuring the highest quality of life for animals in Henderson County and surrounding communities.

Throughout the weekend, local businesses and individuals host fundraisers, helping animals in need while strengthening our community. By supporting small, locally owned businesses during this event, you contribute directly to the well-being of pets in our neighborhoods. In 2024, over 50 companies participated. We can’t wait to see who signs up this year!

Get Involved
We invite local businesses to participate by hosting fundraisers or special events. Whether it’s a percentage-of-sales donation, a themed event, or a pet-friendly gathering, every contribution makes a difference! Check out our Business Sign Up Page for more info or to sign up!

To find out more information, email [email protected] for more details.