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.
Wortham Presents Karen Morgan — NEW DATE
UPDATE: The Karen Morgan show previously scheduled for September 26, 2024 is rescheduled for April 17, 2025. Tickets already purchased will automatically be transferred to the new date. Ticket holders will be contacted directly with more information about ticketing options, credits or refunds. For more information, please call the box office at 828-257-4530 x1 or email [email protected].
Thursday, April 17, 2025 at 7 p.m.
(Previous date: Thursday, September 26, 2024)
Laugh out loud with stand-up comedian Karen Morgan, who proudly hails from an era when rocks were pets, carpets were shag and bicycle seats were bananas. Stealing the spotlight — for once — from the boomers, zoomers and avocado-loving millennials, this Gen X comedian is here to show her “forgotten generation” some laughter and love, delivering wry observational humor through the perceptive eye of a wife and mother, tempered with a dash of Southern charm.
The Grey Eagle and Worthwhile Sounds Present: THE MOTH Presents: Asheville StorySLAM – “BLOOM”
All Ages
Doors: 6:30pm // Show: 7:30pm
Grey Eagle Music Hall
The Moth StorySLAM is an open-mic storytelling competition in which anyone can share a true, personal, 5-minute story on the night’s theme. Sign up for a chance to tell a story or sit back and enjoy the show! Tonight’s theme is…
BLOOM: Prepare a five-minute story about growth. Rising from the concrete or blossoming late in life tell us about the journey to reach your full potential. From peaking early to flourishing after years of careful nurturing, bring us stories of new beginnings, perseverance, and those moments when everything finally came to fruition. April showers bring May flowers, but the path to blooming is rarely straightforward.
Doors Open: 6:30 PM
Show Starts: 7:30 PM
Unleash your creativity at Bullington Gardens by learning to craft your very own hypertufa open roof planter! This hands-on class will guide you through the process of mixing and molding hypertufa—a lightweight, durable material perfect for garden containers. All materials are provided, so just bring your enthusiasm and get ready to create a unique piece for your garden. Whether you’re looking to add a rustic touch to your outdoor space or simply enjoy a fun afternoon of crafting, this class is perfect for all skill levels. Join us for a memorable experience and take home a beautiful, handcrafted container! April 18th, 2025, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM. $ 45.00. Class limit 10.
Dubbed by Jerry Seinfeld as the “best young up and coming comic,” Mark Normand has quickly become one of the most talked about touring comedians on the scene. Normand’s 2023 one-hour Netflix special, SOUP TO NUTS, was a staple in the streamers’ Top Ten for several weeks. This follows Normand’s self-released special, 2020’s OUT TO LUNCH which amassed over 12 million views on YouTube. He also starred on Netflix’s Season 3 of THE STAND UPS.
Normand’s popularity has also translated to tours internationally to such countries as Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Spain, Norway and Portugal.
An extremely prolific stand-up, the New Orleans born comedian previously had two Comedy Central specials and has made an unparalleled seven appearances on “Conan,” four appearances on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon,” and has also appeared on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” Mark is a frequent guest on “The Joe Rogan Experience,” and hosts his own podcasts “Tuesdays with Stories” and “We Might Be Drunk.”
All About Bluebirds with Joe Sanders.
The recent upsurge in bluebird populations can largely be attributed to a movement of volunteer citizens establishing and monitoring bluebird nest boxes. Joe Sanders has been a bluebird protector for decades. His presentation gives an up close look at life in an active nest box and focuses on threats to the bluebird’s survival. Wear sturdy shoes and appropriate clothing for a walk to various nesting sites on the Arboretum grounds and an outdoor demonstration on how to monitor bluebird nest boxes.
Grand Opening of Asheville’s ONLY professional Obstacle Course Race Training Center! Stop by and try out the new obstacles, enjoy food, fun, games, and giveaways. Great for the whole family!
Enjoy live music and traditional Appalachian performances by local musicians surrounded by the gardens and beautiful mountain vistas!
Performance Schedule
Give back this Earth Day with Buncombe County Parks and Recreation. Volunteers are invited to assist in clean-up and service projects. Volunteers groups are limited in capacity so Volunteer Registration is required. All tools and materials will be provided. More details coming soon!
Meet Kanuga’s local animal ambassadors, catch critters in the stream, sow native seeds, and learn in our mini-ecology classes.
Post Helene, nurturing and repairing our relationship with and to Nature is vital for our children and our community. Gather with us at Kanuga to celebrate the wonders of Mother Earth! The fun begins at 3:30 p.m. Come meet our local animal ambassadors, catch critters in the stream, sow native seeds, and learn in our mini-ecology classes.
Support our organic garden by purchasing native plants.
We can’t wait to welcome you and your family to Kanuga!
Geology of the Blue Ridge II with Anton DuMars
Wednesday, April 23 | 12 – 4 pm
The second class of this two-part Geology course builds on fundamentals from the first class, Geology I. We progress to a model of Southern Appalachian Mountain building and include an overview of geologic processes such as earthquakes, mass movements, and floods. We wrap up with a summary of the Spruce Pine Mining District and the Sparta, NC Earthquake of 2020
Wortham Center Student Series The Magic of Jeki Yoo
Thursday, April 24, 2025 at 10 a.m.*
Grades 1–12 • Show Length: 60 min.
*Please note: The 10 a.m. Student Series performance has limited availability; however, there is availability for the $20 Jeki Yoo Family Show at 7 p.m. on April 24.
Students of all ages will be amazed by the originality and engaging showmanship of this America’s Got Talent superstar, who wows audiences around the globe with close-up and quick-change magic.
Reservations for individuals (9 people or less): $12 each. To reserve, call the box office at 828-257-4530 ext. 1, or email [email protected].
Reservations for groups (10 people or more): $11 each. To reserve, complete the Student Series Reservation Form. Please note that all group reservations require a deposit of $1 per ticket. Please contact the box office if you have questions.
iNaturalist: An Amazing Tool for Identification in Your Pocket with Lauren Lampley.
Thursday, April 24 | 2:30 – 4 pm
BRN + BREG – Elective
Learn how a smartphone app, iNaturalist, can both be a very useful identification tool and a way to participate in Community Science! Submitting observations to iNaturalist helps scientists learn more about species by crowd-sourcing information from users all over the world. During this class we will look at the different versions of the app and website as well as take some time outside to practice submitting your own using your own smartphone. The City Nature Challenge will take place from April 25-28 and is a great way to submit iNaturalist observations in a global effort as well as earn a Bioblitz patch from Science Across North Carolina! https://scienceacrossnc.org/
This program takes place in the classroom and outdoors. Please come prepared to walk on gentle, yet uneven terrain, and dress appropriately for the weather.
Wortham Presents The Magic of Jeki Yoo
Thursday, April 24, 2025 at 7 p.m.
See the world-renowned illusionist that social media collectively crowned “the cutest magician of all time” — who left notorious critic Simon Cowell stunned in a 2017 appearance on America’s Got Talent.
Phil Hanley Spellbound Tour
Ages 18+
FULLY SEATED SHOW
In collaboration with Pardee Hospital Foundation and Hunter Subaru, we are thrilled to present the 2nd Annual She Slays 5K. This event is all about celebrating the strength, courage, and fierce determination of women fighting cancer. Whether you walk or run, you’re making a difference for those who are in the midst of this battle. This event aims to empower people to take charge of their health and well-being, while also raising funds for Hendersonville women who are fighting cancer.
While this event supports women with cancer, everyone is welcome to participate!
Ages 5+
Suitable for Beginners to Advanced Birders
This outing takes place at Lake Julian Park from 8:30-11:30 am. Get to know the birds of Lake Julian, one of Buncombe County’s birding hotspots! We will start with a walk along the shore of Lake Julian and ends with birding on the lake from Lake Julian’s pontoon boat. Free, Registration Required. Binoculars are available upon request but supplies are limited. Dress for the weather!
Registration opens 30 days prior to activity.
For more information email [email protected] or call 828-250-4260.
Native Azalea Day
April 26, 2025
Visit the gardens this spring for Native Azalea Day, an invitation to celebrate and experience azaleas through the eyes of plant enthusiasts, botanists, and artists. In partnership with the Mountain Science Exposition, Native Azalea Day plans to bring even more excitement in its third year! For one day only, visitors can observe as plein air artists capture the scene in paint and pen, learn about the garden and its collection on a walking tour, and participate in hands-on activities for children and adults.
A shuttle to the Collection will be available between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., departing to and from the Baker Visitor Center throughout the event. Visitors are also welcome to walk to the Native Azalea Collection from the Gatehouse Parking Lot using Old Mill Road to Bent Creek Road, or can park at the Baker Visitor Center and walk down Running Cedar Road to Bent Creek Road. Walkers should be prepared to travel one mile over unpaved roads and paths.
Schedule
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Shuttles running continuously between Baker and Azalea Collection for public
8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.: Pre-registered bird netting activity with Wild Bird Research Group meets
10:00 a.m.: Event begins with ongoing walk-up features: tabling, activity booklet, scavenger hunt, and cyanotype activity
10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.: Pre-registered walking tour with curator (45 minute)
11:30 p.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Pre-registered walking tour with volunteer docent (30 minute)
12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.: Cyanotype demonstration with Calissa Lawn
1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.: Pre-registered walking tour with volunteer docent (30 minute)
2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Pre-registered walking tour with volunteer docent (30 minute)
3:00 p.m.: Event ends, last shuttle
Celebrate the Outdoor Industry Hub of the East and connect with local outdoor companies, products, and experiences at the free 10th Annual Get In Gear Fest.
Join us with friends and family as we celebrate Earth Day and the spring season! Games, pontoon boat tours, Earth Day crafts and education, kayak demos from waterways, and more. Make your own mini greenhouse and visit with community partners. This free event is open to all ages, and no registration is required.
For more information email [email protected] or call 828-250-4260.
Join us as we celebrate Earth Day and spring! More details coming soon
Join Kanuga for an enchanting evening under the stars, sponsored by Yoga and Massage (Y.A.M.) and Roper Mountain. This event combines the calming practice of astrological yoga, the peacefulness of a guided labyrinth walk, and the magic of star and Lyrid meteor shower gazing.
Optional: dinner in the dining hall before the event
6:00 p.m. – Meet at the labyrinth for astrological yoga with Katie
7:30 p.m. – Facilitated labyrinth walk with Aimee
8:30 p.m. – Stargazing in Pinky Elliot Field
Get ready to lace up and represent your business at the 2025 Chamber Challenge 5K! This fun, community-focused event encourages wellness and friendly competition among Asheville-area businesses. Whether you’re walking every step or racing to the finish, we know you’re up for the challenge!
Join us in person on May 2nd or participate virtually.
Important Deadlines & Details:
- Register by April 13th at midnight to receive a short-sleeve shirt with your registration!
- After April 13th, shirts will be available in limited quantities and sizes.
- Registering a large group (25+ participants)? Contact Judi Willard at [email protected] for assistance.
To stay updated—text cc5k to 828-827-5332 to receive event notifications (you can opt out anytime).
with Asheville Wellness Tours.
Celebrate the ephemeral beauty of flowers during this immersive morning nature retreat! In Japan, the birthplace of forest bathing (Shinrin Yoku), they celebrate the annual cherry blossom bloom (Sakura) with a practice known as Hanami, which translates to “contemplate the flowers.” This experience gently invites us to cultivate our attention and sensory awareness, while noticing the evanescent nature of flowering, both within and around us. Together, we will explore our relationships with native wildflowers, ourselves, each-other, and the more-than-human-world.
Your guide will lead you on a colorful journey through the blossoming spring forest, weaving mindfulness, breathwork, forest bathing and nature therapy together for a restorative morning on some of the trails less traveled at the North Carolina Arboretum. We’ll celebrate the experience in community, enjoying a wild-foraged tea ceremony and snacks. Bring an open mind and an open heart. All are welcome. Presented through Adult & Continuing Education Programs in collaboration with Asheville Wellness Tours.
This program will take place outside and will follow easy trails and paved walkways. Dress for the weather and prepare to be outside for the entire program time.
Becky Robinson: She Gone Tour — POSTPONED, NEW DATE
UPDATE: The Becky Robinson show previously scheduled for September 29, 2024 is rescheduled for May 4, 2025 at 7 p.m. Tickets already purchased will automatically be transferred to the new date.
Originally from Portland, Oregon, Becky Robinson is an LA-based comedian, writer, actor and voice-over star. Becky’s explosively unique character antics and viral videos now make her one of the youngest headliners on the circuit. In 2018, Becky was named a JFL Montreal New Face of Comedy where her stand out performance landed her a sketch show development deal and a number of voiceover jobs with DreamWorks and Netflix. In 2016, Becky was cast on MTV’s Wild ‘N Out with Nick Cannon where she also put out a Wild ‘N Out Stand Up Special.
Most known for her wide range of physical characters on stage and screen, Becky’s many alter ego’s have been featured in Hulu’s Coming to the Stage, MTV’s Acting Out, ABC’s The Bachelor and Kevin Hart’s sketch series Writer’s Room. Becky has written for Comedy Central’s Not Safe, Snoop Dogg’s Joker’s Wild and FunnyOrDie.
This class offers a creative, hands-on experience perfect for all skill levels! Participants will decorate terracotta pots using vibrant paints to transform each one into a heartfelt gift just in time for Mother’s Day. Feel free to get creative with your design! Everyone will get seeds to take home with them to plant in the pot once the paint is dry, creating a thoughtful and lasting token of appreciation for Mother’s Day.
Tuesday May 6th, 2:00 – 4:00. $20/$15 for Friends of Bullington Gardens.
Insect Pollinators of the Blue Ridge
with Shane Myers
Friday, May 9 | 1 – 3 pm
BRN – Elective | BREG – Core
Our plants in the Blue Ridge are pollinated by more insects than just Honey Bees. In this course, we will look at common and some less obvious pollinators of the region and discuss their life cycles, the benefits they provide the world, and how to attract them. We will also go outside to look for pollinators doing their work around the Arboretum grounds.
This program takes place in the classroom and outdoors. Please come prepared to walk on gentle, yet uneven terrain, and dress appropriately for the weather.
We are beyond excited to announce that The Asheville Improv Festival has been rescheduled to May 7-10, 2025!
As everyone knows, last fall the Western North Carolina region suffered the most devastating flooding in a century. The beautiful place we call home was forever scarred and changed. But true to form, this region had each other’s backs and staged quite an incredible comeback. While some areas are still damaged, we by all means welcome the world back to the Appalachian mountains you know and we love!
Everything you were excited about in October 2024 will be back this time around including:
4 NIGHTS, 4 VENUES, 11 SHOWS, 6 HEADLINERS, 11 WORKSHOPS, 40+ IMPROV COMEDY TEAMS FROM AROUND THE USA!
Garden photography workshop with Camilla Calnan.
Do you want to take better photos in the gardens? Join us for a hands-on workshop where we use whatever camera you are working with to learn tips, tricks, and techniques to take the photos you are hoping to capture. Working from whatever level you are currently and using your phone, point and shoot camera, or SLR camera, we will discover new ways to think about photography to help you grow in your photography.
This program takes place in the classroom and outdoors. Please come prepared to walk on gentle, yet uneven terrain, and dress appropriately for the weather.
Adult comedy with a heart! Featuring comics from both Carolinas at the new Flood Gallery!
Come enjoy a hilarious night of laughs, show your support for our headliner Chris “Hillbilly” Pritchett who needs a new heart, and celebrate the reopening of Flood Gallery after Hurricane Helene! Our tentative comedian line-up includes:
1. Brendan From Long Island (Host)
2. Austin Arney
3. Jason Henson
4. Joseph Thompson
5. Kim H. Falls
6. Reggie Massey
7. Paul Ain’t Right (DJ)
8. Geo. Wagner
9. Nate Bechtel
10. Bob Maier
11. Superdad Jones
12. Hillbilly (Headliner)
Food and drinks available, $10 suggested donation. Doors open at 6:30. Produced by Brendan C. Ahern of “Rainy Night Theatre”.