Calendar of Events

Barn Door Ciderworks is partnering with Amber Amara, head honcho and chef of Bistro Betty Food Truck, for a delicious dinner event on Friday, April 25, 2025, at 6pm at Barn Door Ciderworks. Guests will enjoy cider paired with a delectable four-course meal inspired by rustic Italian traditions. The menu can be adapted to vegetarians upon request.
The evening’s four-course menu begins with happy hour snacks using local cheeses, stuffed olives and focaccia. The first course will be potato & ricotta gnocchi, sun-dried tomato basil gremolata, and seared wild shrimp, followed by a second course of Chicken or eggplant parmigiana, served with Tuscan arugula salad. No rustic meal would be complete without dessert and Amara has orange & cinnamon tiramisu planned.
The pairing ciders will include exclusive Barn Door offerings not yet available to the public. We’ll share tastes from special bottles that we’ll open just for this event. All ciders are barrel-aged to dryness and only use local apples in the production. We never add sugar, sweeteners, other fruits or flavorings.
Visit our website for more information and to get your tickets.

The wait is over! The Radical is bringing back the favorite game night to after/glow. Hosted by none other than Miss Blue Ridge Pride, Alexis Black, this event promises rad performances, nonstop music and cocktails that keep the party going. No RSVP necessary.

Already play bridge? Want to up your game? Come learn Duplicate Bridge – the smarter, more social way to play! Join us for a two-week introduction designed for bridge players who want to level up their game by learning Duplicate Bridge.

Step into summer with the Asheville Symphony as we herald the return of the Asheville Amadeus Festival! We’re launching this year’s festival at Appalachian Mountain Brewery’s lively Mills River taproom, where we’re unveiling our festival-exclusive brew — Fables & Folklore Hazy IPA. This enchanting creation weaves together bright pineapple and orange notes in a tropical profile that’s as enticing as a tale passed down through generations — perfect easy drinking for an early- summer festival.

We will be joined by Amadeus Festival co-headliners Time for Three, Ranaan Meyer, Nick Kendall and Charles Yang. Don’t miss this chance to meet the artists and toast the start of 11 glorious days of Amadeus festivities with a pour of our specially crafted beer, delicious fare from Appalachian Mountain Brewery’s kitchen, and live music!

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2025
6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., with 1756 Society entry beginning at 5:00 p.m.

APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN BREWING
46 N Mills River Road, Mills River

Come join us at the Bridge & Tunnel Coffee Cafe at the Coman Center at A-B Tech for a wonderful day filled with good food and good people. We are so excited to have a bunch of local vegan vendors get together and show you what they’ve got. You can stop by and get some treats to go or, even better, hang out with us for a while. There will be plenty of seating for eating and socializing. Find out more on Instagram and Facebook @vgnmkt

The event is indoors and is Rain or Shine. There will be some food trucks right out front.

Hours are 11:00 – 4:00.

Admission is free and everyone is welcome. It’s a vegan party & you’re invited!

Join us for our monthly poetry reading, hosted by Mildred Barya. This month’s Poet Quartet features Brit Washburn, Ed Falco, Lesley Wheeler and Jen Karetnick reading from their newest collections.

🍻 Na Zdrowie! Join us May 2-4, 2025 for our 3rd Annual Polish Fest: polka, piwo (beer) and pierogi, need we share more? 😛 Festivities will include live performances from local favorites Wasted Wine and Foothills Oompah Band, as well as Atlanta Polish folk dance group Mazury Folk Dance Ensemble. Remember to keep your pets at home, yet definitely bring your ID, dancing shoes — and your appetite!

Entertainment Schedule:

🍺 Friday, May 2 (5-10 p.m.)

🎶 Wasted Wine 6-9 p.m.

🍺 Saturday, May 3 (11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.):

🎶 Foothills Oompah Band (12:30-3:30 p.m.)

🎶 Mazury Folk Dance Ensemble (4-4:30 p.m. & 5:30-6 p.m.)

🍺 Sunday, May 4 (11:30 a.m.-8 p.m.)

🎶 Wasted Wine 2-5 p.m.

🌭 Fireforge’s festy food and beverage menu will include house-brewed “Polka Party” Lager and “Cendrowski” Grodziskie Wheat Ale; pork kielbasa from Asheville’s Chop Shop Butchery made with Fireforge beer and served on a bun with sauerkraut and horseradish beer mustard; potato and cheese pierogies from Polish American sister-owned Jaju Pierogi served with housemade sour cream, caramelized onions and chives; kabanos snacking sausage from Upstate Polish Market, house-made borscht (chilled beet soup) as well as other Polish cuisine-inspired sides and sweets!

This month’s book is As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner.

Join us on Saturday, May 10th, from 1-5 pm for a multi-artist pop-up and shopping event, just in time for Mother’s Day! Garden Party, Ross Pottery, and Melissa Weiss Pottery will host Knook Ceramics, Maggie Boyd Ceramics, Kreh Mellick, Good Goodies, Of June, Crocodile Wine, and Camille Cogswell Baked Goods at Garden Party’s shop in West Asheville. Don’t miss this incredible gathering of artists and shops as we celebrate springtime and all the mothers in our lives!

Golden Hour invites moms and their families to join them for a special feel-good brunch. Bring the whole crew and make some golden memories with Mom.

Celebrate Mother’s Day with this special brunch event! Join us for a delicious meal surrounded by beautiful scenery. Treat your mom to a day she won’t forget with a variety of dishes to choose from. Show your appreciation for all that she does with a lovely meal in a charming setting. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to make her day extra special!

Bring your littles to the front steps of M. Judson for our bi-weekly story time! Enjoy some wonderful picture books read aloud to the crowd by our very own booksellers, and children will even get a sweet treat to go.

The North Carolina Writers Network & The Brandy Bar + Cocktails present ANNE GREEN and NICOLE FARMER as next in their series “In the Company of Writers.”
The program offers a series of personal and conversational dialogues featuring guest writers/poets followed by an open mic forum. These inspirational gatherings will elucidate and entertain those attending. The guest author speaks from 7-8 PM with an open mic from 8 -9 PM. The Chicago blues music of “Hollywood Johnny Cosgrove” (accompanied by Charlie Wilkinson) welcomes you, continues during intermission, and closes the evening. Sign-ups for the open mic are available at the door.
Anne Waters Green, who now lives in Savannah, Georgia, was a resident of Hendersonville from 2005 to 2021.

The Slice of Life Comedy Asheville Spring Standup Contest Series: ROUND 2

Thursday May 14, 7:30p-9:30p, doors at 6:30p

The Orange Peel’s Comedy Basement, Pulp Lounge
103 Hilliard Ave, Downtown Asheville
Tickets: $17 (available at door or The Orange Peel website)

These shows sellout!
Hosted by Hilliary Begley from Netflix & Amazon Prime!
Cocktails available while you laugh the night away to some of the area’s best Stand Up Comics in a ridiculously fun adult environment!!
Free snacks while availability lasts! You may bring your own food in (no drinks)!
How it Works:
Comics on the show will do 3-1/2 minutes of comedy. Audience votes for their favorites of the night thru ballot voting. Comics are separated in 3 groups of 7 contestants. This show’s 3 top comics from each category will be paid and be brought back with other show winners to compete in our pageant finale, date TBA.

Comics on the show:
Aiden Lamb, Andy Frampton,
Art Sturtevant, Austin Elfers,
Becca Steinhoff, Ben Jennings,
Clay Jones, Cloud Hudson,
Evelyn Pekarek,
Foster, Issac Truman, James Burks,
Jason Reel, Jordan Ballard, Julia Macias,
Justin Blackburn, Makenzie Manent,
Roman Fraden, Sam Arrowood, Sully

Public libraries are such a staple of American communities, but how did this system come to be? Celebrate (and investigate) the history of our public libraries! Join us for a screening + community-driven conversation of @IndependentLens’ Free for All: The Public Library at the Black Mountain Public Library. This one-hour documentary explores the transformative power of public libraries in America—from their pioneering origins to their enduring role as sanctuaries in the face of modern challenges like closures and book bans.

A Q&A session follows with Buncombe County Public Library Director Jason Hyatt and members of the Trust Fund for Buncombe County Public Libraries. Together, they’ll explore the issues raised in the film and discuss their relevance to libraries in our local community.

Bring your littles to the front steps of M. Judson for our bi-weekly story time! Enjoy some wonderful picture books read aloud to the crowd by our very own booksellers, and children will even get a sweet treat to go.

A hands-on workshop celebrating the art of pâté-making—craft classic styles with Butcher Todd Graham, learn about sustainable pork and poultry from our farmers, enjoy charcuterie and drinks during class & take home your own pâté.

Storytelling is not just entertainment: it’s a fundamental part of being human. Ales & Tales is a live storytelling open mic, akin to The Moth, but without the competitive aspect. Tellers take the mic to share personal stories, true-as-remembered, in six minutes or less with no notes. There are few rules: beyond the time limit and truth requirement, stories must follow the night’s theme, which is typically a one- to two-word prompt with LOTS of flexibility (like Dirt, Winter, Sunshine or Rigid).

Stories don’t have to be funny, but they can be. Stories should have an arc – a beginning, middle, and end – and perhaps a lesson snuck in there, too. Food and drinks, including alcohol, will be available for purchase; and the crowd is always friendly. Come relate to strangers, and turn them into pals!

Bring your littles to the front steps of M. Judson for our bi-weekly story time! Enjoy some wonderful picture books read aloud to the crowd by our very own booksellers, and children will even get a sweet treat to go.

Join us for Hi-Wire Brewing’s RAD Beer Garden Grand Reopening Bash on Saturday, May 24 from 12 to 9pm at 284 Lyman Street in Asheville’s River Arts District.

After nearly eight months closed following Hurricane Helene, we’re reopening our RAD Beer Garden with a full day of music, food, art, and community celebration. We’ve missed this space, this neighborhood, and all of you. Now it’s time to bring it all back to life, one cold beer at a time.

What to expect:

Live Music
* The Log Noggins | 12 to 2pm
* The Brue | 3 to 5pm
* Fully Processed | 6 to 8pm

Food Trucks (12 to 8pm)
* Tin Can Pizzeria
* Happy Belly
* Blunt Pretzels

Plus
* Roaming circus performers
* Local vendor market
* RAD Rising photo booth
* Hi-Wire beer on draft, in cans, and ready to toast
* Specialty cocktails and slushies, plus non-alcoholic options

This isn’t just a reopening. It’s a celebration of a community that never gave up. Come raise a glass with us on May 24th!

Guys & Dolls Dinner Theater + Casino Night
Experience a fabulous night out with Guys and Dolls, the iconic Broadway musical that brings the glitz, glam, and charm of 1950s New York City to life! Enjoy a full evening of entertainment with a professionally catered dinner, welcome reception with hors d’oeuvres, and a decadent dessert grazing table.

After the show, try your luck at our lively Casino Night fundraiser—with blackjack, roulette, and more fun (just for play—no real gambling). It’s the perfect mix of theater, fine dining, and Vegas-style flair—all in support of Asheville Junior Theater!

Ideal for adults and mature kids who can enjoy a show with themes of love and chance. Nothing scary—just great songs, great food, and great fun.

🍽️ Dinner included: Two-course plated meal + hors d’oeuvres + dessert
🎰 Casino Night fundraiser after the show
📍 174 Bradley Branch Rd, Arden, NC 28704
🕠 Doors open at 5:30 PM | Show at 6:30 PM

Tickets must be purchased online – sales close 24 hours before each show. No door sales.

This Memorial Day Weekend, guests and locals can flock to The Silo Cookhouse at The Horse Shoe Farm on Sunday, May 25 for a festive cookout featuring live music, lawn games, and a backyard summer grill menu. Highlights include American classics like burgers, hot dogs, and BBQ chicken, plus grilled shrimp skewers, grilled squash, couscous salad, and even ice cream brownie bars and homemade popsicles to end the night on a sweet note. Tickets start at $80/adult and $50/kid.

Spring Bloom Gala: Gather & Grow
A Benefit for Asheville Waldorf School
May 29, 2025 | 5–9 PM
Treska’s on Highland Lake, Flat Rock, NC

Join us for Asheville Waldorf School’s Annual Spring Bloom Gala—an evening devoted to connection, nourishment, and collective flourishing.

In collaboration with Mother Earth Food and Heidi Zellie of Appalachian Watershed Alliance, this year’s gala celebrates the sacred work of raising children, feeding communities, and healing the land. Together, we honor the sanctity of childhood and cultivate a future rooted in food sovereignty, resilience, and hope.

Offerings:
Farm-to-table dinner featuring locally sourced ingredients
Musical performances
Curated silent auction with local art, experiences, and handmade goods
Inspiring keynote speakers: Andrea DuVall, CEO & Founder of Mother Earth Food, Ines Kinchen, Founder, Emerald Ark School & Sanctuary, Grandmaster Tony Morris, Founder, Asheville Sun Soo Martial Arts

All proceeds support Asheville Waldorf School, furthering our mission to nurture head, heart, and hands through holistic education.

Join us for the 16th annual Authors for Literacy Fundraiser featuring New York Times bestselling author, David Baldacci. The evening will feature testimonials from the students and staff at Literacy Together, as well as a keynote address from David Baldacci. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. for mixing and mingling and heavy hors d’oeuvres. You’ll have an opportunity to hear from our team about the work we do to support more than 7,200 individuals throughout Buncombe County. Our seated program begins promptly at 6:30 p.m., and we’ll close the evening with a book signing managed by Malaprop’s Bookstore.
Tickets are on sale now!

Bring your littles to the front steps of M. Judson for our bi-weekly story time! Enjoy some wonderful picture books read aloud to the crowd by our very own booksellers, and children will even get a sweet treat to go.