Calendar of Events

The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area (BRNHA) is proud to announce its first-ever craft exhibit: Returning to the Ridge: Blue Ridge Craft Trails Exhibition. This landmark event will bring together the exceptional talents of 33 artists featured on the Blue Ridge Craft Trails (BRCT), showcasing the vibrant artistic landscape of Western North Carolina. Mars Landing Galleries, owned by Miryam Rojas and located at 37 Library Street, Mars Hill, NC 28754, will serve as the venue for this celebration of craft from July 2 to September 28, 2025.

Southern Appalachia’s artistic spirit, deeply rooted in its beautiful natural environment, will be on full display. From the intricate details of pottery to the masterful craftsmanship of woodworking, the exhibition will feature 60 pieces spanning a diverse range of traditional mediums, including fiber art, printmaking, metalworking (including jewelry), and basketry. This celebration of local artistry comes at a crucial time, as Hurricane Helene impacted many artists. Artists participating are from the central and western sections of BRNHA’s 25-county footprint, encompassing the NC mountains and the Qualla Boundary.

The gallery’s regular hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 10 am – 5 pm. Adding to the visitor experience, the exhibition coincides with three First Friday events in Downtown Mars Hill – July 4, August 1, and September 5. On these evenings, the downtown area, including Mars Landing Galleries (open 5 pm – 8 pm, with live music), will offer extended hours, inviting the community to explore local shops, restaurants, galleries and enjoy the lively atmosphere.

Our latest exhibition, Iron and Ink: Prints from America’s Machine Age, focuses on a dynamic era in American history when industrialization and advances in technology transformed urban landscapes and redefined the nature of work and leisure nationwide.

Showcasing Collection prints from 1905 to the 1940s, Iron and Ink explores connections between industrial labor, urbanization, and the growing middle class. The exhibition highlights works by Works Progress Administration artists from the 1930s whose powerful images of machinery, skyscrapers, and daily life—both at work and recreation—capture this transformational era in American society.

This exhibition is organized by the Asheville Art Museum and Robin Klaus, PhD, assistant curator.

The mirror has been a powerful symbol invoked in the arts across centuries and cultures. Mirrors double reality, question the veracity of your perception, open portals to other dimensions, and act as objects of magic and divination. In the series Black Mirror/Espejo Negro (2007, ongoing), Pedro Lasch employs the mirror as an emblem that interrogates the tension between presence and absence, colonial histories, and the politics of visibility. The selections from the series displayed in this installation conceptually bring together canonical works of art from early modern Europe and prominent pre-Columbian sculptural figures, whose superimposed images emerge specter-like through darkened glass. Each work includes an accompanying text the artist produced for that pairing.

For millennia, humans and flowers have enjoyed a rich and intertwined history spanning time and cultures. Fossilized flowers have been found at early human burial sites and flora is used in medicines and remedies. Flowers have also evolved into symbols of love, purity, and rebirth, alongside their enduring role as objects of beauty and ornamentation. Flora Symbolica: The Art of Flowers explores the meanings and messages of flowers in American art of the 20th and 21st centuries, highlighting the timeless connections among art, nature, and human experience.

Gallery hours: Wed-Sat / 11am-5PM

Tracey Morgan Gallery is pleased to present the second part of our third solo exhibition with photographer James Henkel whose exhibition “Cyanosure,” originally installed in the fall of 2024, was disrupted by Helene. We are excited to present this new iteration which includes the addition of a series of new work.

The Asheville Art Museum presents Native America: In Translation, an
exhibition curated by Apsáalooke artist Wendy Red Star, on view from May 22 through November 3,
2025. Featuring work by seven Indigenous photographers and lens-based artists from across North
America, the exhibition explores urgent questions of identity, heritage, land rights, and the ongoing
impact of colonialism.

Building on Red Star’s role as guest editor of the Fall 2020 issue of Aperture magazine, Native
America: In Translation continues the conversation through personal and often experimental visual
storytelling. Using self-portraits, performance-based imagery, and multimedia assemblages, the
artists offer new perspectives on Native life and representation today.

viewshed illuminates the enduring impact of Black Mountain College as a crucible of artistic experimentation and exchange, tracing the transmission of ideas across generations and exploring how BMC’s radical pedagogical approaches continue to shape contemporary artistic practice. The exhibition stages a dynamic dialogue between past and present, featuring contemporary artists Richard Garet, Jennie MaryTai Liu, Deanna Sirlin, and Susie Taylor alongside seminal BMC figures such as Dorothea Rockburne, Sewell (Si) Sillman, and Jacob Lawrence. By engaging with transparency, structure, color, collaboration, and expanded forms, viewshed brings into focus the porous boundaries between disciplines, unfolding as a sensorial and conceptual investigation into the shifting terrain of artistic influence. The exhibition highlights works that span painting, textile, sound, and performance, inviting viewers to consider the ways in which artistic methodologies evolve and reverberate across time. At its core, viewshed underscores the ways in which BMC’s experimental ethos continues to inspire artists to challenge, reinterpret, and expand the possibilities of creative expression.

Biltmore Park’s Farmers Market features fresh seasonal produce, delicious homemade pastries, premium meats and seafood, beautiful vibrant flowers, and more. There’s always something to take home with you! It’s the perfect way to support local small businesses and celebrate community this summer. Visit biltmorepark.com for more information.

Sip and stroll through the Arboretum’s gardens in the glow of the golden hour, all while listening to live music from a variety of local and regional artists! ArborEvenings runs Wednesdays and Thursdays through September 18, 2025 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

**Please note: Outside alcohol is prohibited on the campus of The North Carolina Arboretum.**

There is no additional cost to attend ArborEvenings beyond our standard parking fee. As always, Arboretum Society members and their accompanying guests can enter for FREE (guests must be in member vehicles to receive free entry). Proceeds from ArborEvenings help support the The North Carolina Arboretum Society and further advance the Arboretum’s mission.

Sacred Qi Gong with Genie

Thursdays in July | 6:00–7:30 PM at Energetic Experiences

Join us for a weekly QiGong class that blends gentle movement, breath, and awareness to restore your body’s natural balance and vitality.
QiGong (pronounced “chee-gong”) is an ancient practice that cultivates Qi, or life force energy, through intentional movement and meditative focus. With consistent practice, QiGong can support emotional well-being, physical resilience, and spiritual clarity.

Each class is guided by Genie Hardee, a longtime practitioner known for her grounded, heart-centered approach. Expect a welcoming atmosphere, accessible practices, and guidance rooted in decades of experience.

✨ All levels welcome – beginners encouraged
✨ No special attire or equipment needed
✨ Come as you are, ready to breathe and move

Pricing:
$20 per class
4-class pack: $17 per class

Whether you’re exploring QiGong for healing, relaxation, or personal transformation, this is a beautiful place to begin or deepen your journey.

Sacred Qi Gong with Genie

Thursdays in July | 6:00–7:30 PM at Energetic Experiences

Join us for a weekly QiGong class that blends gentle movement, breath, and awareness to restore your body’s natural balance and vitality.
QiGong (pronounced “chee-gong”) is an ancient practice that cultivates Qi, or life force energy, through intentional movement and meditative focus. With consistent practice, QiGong can support emotional well-being, physical resilience, and spiritual clarity.

Each class is guided by Genie Hardee, a longtime practitioner known for her grounded, heart-centered approach. Expect a welcoming atmosphere, accessible practices, and guidance rooted in decades of experience.

✨ All levels welcome – beginners encouraged
✨ No special attire or equipment needed
✨ Come as you are, ready to breathe and move

Pricing:
$20 per class
4-class pack: $17 per class

Whether you’re exploring QiGong for healing, relaxation, or personal transformation, this is a beautiful place to begin or deepen your journey.

Head on out to the ballgame at Fluor Field. Greenville is taking on Asheville. Game starts at 6:45pm.

Start your celebration off with a BANG and support Western North Carolina!
Join us for an exciting family-friendly 5K event in the heart of beautiful downtown Asheville! Our scenic route begins and ends at Pack Square, the vibrant center of the city, taking participants through the charming streets of downtown.
This is truly a community event designed for participants of all ages and fitness levels. Whether you’re a seasoned runner looking for a fun local race or a family wanting to enjoy some active time together for the holiday, this event is perfect for you. We’re excited to be partnering with Food Connection as our nonprofit partner for the 3rd year in a row.
We encourage bringing your family and friends to make it a memorable group experience. Register four or more people at the same time and receive a 15% discount. Strollers and dogs are welcome but are asked to start at the back of the pack. Walkers are welcome but we ask that you plan on finishing within an hour and 15 minutes. The race is capped at 500 runners.

The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area (BRNHA) is proud to announce its first-ever craft exhibit: Returning to the Ridge: Blue Ridge Craft Trails Exhibition. This landmark event will bring together the exceptional talents of 33 artists featured on the Blue Ridge Craft Trails (BRCT), showcasing the vibrant artistic landscape of Western North Carolina. Mars Landing Galleries, owned by Miryam Rojas and located at 37 Library Street, Mars Hill, NC 28754, will serve as the venue for this celebration of craft from July 2 to September 28, 2025.

Southern Appalachia’s artistic spirit, deeply rooted in its beautiful natural environment, will be on full display. From the intricate details of pottery to the masterful craftsmanship of woodworking, the exhibition will feature 60 pieces spanning a diverse range of traditional mediums, including fiber art, printmaking, metalworking (including jewelry), and basketry. This celebration of local artistry comes at a crucial time, as Hurricane Helene impacted many artists. Artists participating are from the central and western sections of BRNHA’s 25-county footprint, encompassing the NC mountains and the Qualla Boundary.

The gallery’s regular hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 10 am – 5 pm. Adding to the visitor experience, the exhibition coincides with three First Friday events in Downtown Mars Hill – July 4, August 1, and September 5. On these evenings, the downtown area, including Mars Landing Galleries (open 5 pm – 8 pm, with live music), will offer extended hours, inviting the community to explore local shops, restaurants, galleries and enjoy the lively atmosphere.

Our latest exhibition, Iron and Ink: Prints from America’s Machine Age, focuses on a dynamic era in American history when industrialization and advances in technology transformed urban landscapes and redefined the nature of work and leisure nationwide.

Showcasing Collection prints from 1905 to the 1940s, Iron and Ink explores connections between industrial labor, urbanization, and the growing middle class. The exhibition highlights works by Works Progress Administration artists from the 1930s whose powerful images of machinery, skyscrapers, and daily life—both at work and recreation—capture this transformational era in American society.

This exhibition is organized by the Asheville Art Museum and Robin Klaus, PhD, assistant curator.

The mirror has been a powerful symbol invoked in the arts across centuries and cultures. Mirrors double reality, question the veracity of your perception, open portals to other dimensions, and act as objects of magic and divination. In the series Black Mirror/Espejo Negro (2007, ongoing), Pedro Lasch employs the mirror as an emblem that interrogates the tension between presence and absence, colonial histories, and the politics of visibility. The selections from the series displayed in this installation conceptually bring together canonical works of art from early modern Europe and prominent pre-Columbian sculptural figures, whose superimposed images emerge specter-like through darkened glass. Each work includes an accompanying text the artist produced for that pairing.

For millennia, humans and flowers have enjoyed a rich and intertwined history spanning time and cultures. Fossilized flowers have been found at early human burial sites and flora is used in medicines and remedies. Flowers have also evolved into symbols of love, purity, and rebirth, alongside their enduring role as objects of beauty and ornamentation. Flora Symbolica: The Art of Flowers explores the meanings and messages of flowers in American art of the 20th and 21st centuries, highlighting the timeless connections among art, nature, and human experience.

Gallery hours: Wed-Sat / 11am-5PM

Tracey Morgan Gallery is pleased to present the second part of our third solo exhibition with photographer James Henkel whose exhibition “Cyanosure,” originally installed in the fall of 2024, was disrupted by Helene. We are excited to present this new iteration which includes the addition of a series of new work.

viewshed illuminates the enduring impact of Black Mountain College as a crucible of artistic experimentation and exchange, tracing the transmission of ideas across generations and exploring how BMC’s radical pedagogical approaches continue to shape contemporary artistic practice. The exhibition stages a dynamic dialogue between past and present, featuring contemporary artists Richard Garet, Jennie MaryTai Liu, Deanna Sirlin, and Susie Taylor alongside seminal BMC figures such as Dorothea Rockburne, Sewell (Si) Sillman, and Jacob Lawrence. By engaging with transparency, structure, color, collaboration, and expanded forms, viewshed brings into focus the porous boundaries between disciplines, unfolding as a sensorial and conceptual investigation into the shifting terrain of artistic influence. The exhibition highlights works that span painting, textile, sound, and performance, inviting viewers to consider the ways in which artistic methodologies evolve and reverberate across time. At its core, viewshed underscores the ways in which BMC’s experimental ethos continues to inspire artists to challenge, reinterpret, and expand the possibilities of creative expression.

This free festival promises fun for the whole family, featuring the incredible Amazing Air Dogs and a host of other family-friendly activities throughout the day.

As the sun sets, get ready for an evening of free live music featuring headliner The Pink Stones, accompanied by delicious food and beverage vendors serving up tasty treats. And of course, no Independence Day would be complete without a spectacular fireworks extravaganza lighting up the night sky, bringing our festivities to a memorable close. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable celebration of freedom and community!

This free festival promises fun for the whole family, featuring the incredible Amazing Air Dogs and a host of other family-friendly activities throughout the day.

As the sun sets, get ready for an evening of free live music featuring headliner The Pink Stones, accompanied by delicious food and beverage vendors serving up tasty treats. And of course, no Independence Day would be complete without a spectacular fireworks extravaganza lighting up the night sky, bringing our festivities to a memorable close. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable celebration of freedom and community!

It’s time to pledge allegiance to the glam at Blue Ridge Drag Bingo – Asheville’s most star-spangled way to give back! The first ball drops at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, July 4th at the Hilltop Event Center. Tickets start at $20, include bingo cards, and are available at https://BeardedLadyProductions.org. This event is for ages 21 and up.

This month, Blue Ridge Bingo salutes sparkle and serves up sass with a Red, White, and Blue bash designed to unleash everyone’s inner patriot. Guests can expect six rounds of firework-worthy bingo, fabulous prizes, and tunes hotter than a midsummer night’s sequin. Leading this affair is the one and only Divine, the Bearded Lady – a hostess with unmatched flair and star-spangled sparkle. Attendees are encouraged to dress to impress in their boldest red, whitest whites, and bravest blues.

Proceeds from this month’s Bingo will go to OurVOICE, whose mission is to inspire hope and healing while ending sexual violence and human trafficking in the community through education, counseling, and advocacy. They provide support for survivors of sexual violence ages 13+ in Buncombe County, as well as survivors of human trafficking ages 13+ in Buncombe, McDowell, and Transylvania Counties. Learn more at: https://www.ourvoicenc.org/.

Price:
General Admission: USD 20.00

Head on out to the ballgame at McCormick Field. Asheville is taking on Greenville Drive. Game starts at 6:35pm.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream weaves a magical tale of love, mischief, and mistaken identities. Set in a mystical forest, fairies interfere with the romantic entanglements of four young lovers and a group of actors, creating chaos and comedy as they navigate love’s enchantments and illusions.

Shows are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 7:30 each night.

And always FREE!

No Sunday performances for the last weekend of each show.

Your continuous, generous donations help keep our ticket price as pay-what-you-can.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream weaves a magical tale of love, mischief, and mistaken identities. Set in a mystical forest, fairies interfere with the romantic entanglements of four young lovers and a group of actors, creating chaos and comedy as they navigate love’s enchantments and illusions. Shows are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 7:30 each night. And always FREE! No Sunday performances for the last weekend of each show