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.
Reader’s Theatre Presentation
By Katie Forgette
October 4-5, 2025
Saturday at 3 pm
Sunday at 3 pm
Director: Sofia Carfaro
Approximate Run Time: 2 hours, 15 minutes
Rating: G (ideal for ages 11 and up).
The wit of Oscar Wilde meets the cunning of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle when Wilde brings his dear friend, Lillie Langtry, to Baker Street. Someone has stolen the highly intimate letters Lillie exchanged with the Prince of Wales, and now she is being blackmailed. Only Holmes can solve the case, going so far as to disguise himself as an early version of Lady Bracknell from Wilde’s latest play, The Importance of Being Forthright. At the same time, Watson falls head-over-heels for the Jersey Lily, and a wicked professor attempts to bring the Crown to its knees.
One year after being destroyed by Hurricane Helene in Black Mountain, the Flood Gallery Fine Art Center is reviving its visual art program! With the help of numerous volunteers, Flood Gallery was able to launch the new location by December of 2024, and quickly renewed the True Home Open Mic Thursdays, and then added Flooded Poetry Mondays, and Foreign Film Fridays. Salvaged art went up on the walls for a “Flooded Art” Show. “RAW + unfiltered” kicks off an open, unjuried, exhibition series, that will be dynamic, current and communal. The first 25 artists to submit up to 2 pieces, inspired by the title’s theme, will be in the show, encompassing all perspectives, styles, & media of the local artist community. The art will be for sale, to help support the artists and continue Flood Gallery’s eclectic programs and events.
Like all events at the Flood Gallery, this exhibition is free and open to the public. Light refreshments and food will be available. Flood Gallery Fine Art Center is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, and educates, encourages, challenges and inspires the community through music, film, literary, and contemporary art.
Located off I-240 Exit 8, River Ridge Business Center, Suite 1200, 802 Fairview Rd, Asheville 28803 (behind Hamrick’s and Sun Soo Martial Arts, next to Asheville Dance Theater)
Show runs Oct. 4 – Nov. 7
Flood Gallery plans to hold these open art call exhibitions every couple of months. The next submission drop-off date will be Nov. 8, and opening date will be Nov. 15.
Pumpkin Fest is a fun, family friendly and fantastic artistic event or great date night with 18 beautiful artist-designed lighted carved pumpkin displays on a newly-paved short walking trail. The event includes talented local musicians, food trucks and coffee house, games, storytelling, face painting, white squirrel scavenger hunt, games, dress ups, and the Silvermont historic mansion and second floor museum open for tours.
Admission $7 per person (ages 13 and over), $5 ages 3-12, and 2 and under free. We accept cards, cash or check with ID.
Onsite parking cost is $5 per car (cash preferred). Free parking is available offsite on nearby streets and Comporium and church parking lots 1 block away. Handicap sticker- free parking onsite.
Asheville Plays is eeeek!cited to announce the 13th annual Haunted Trail; Asheville’s only family friendly haunt! This event is ideal for Halloween lovers of all ages, 3-12 being the suggested age range. The Adventure Center of Asheville is the host of this one of a kind live outdoor theatrical experience where guests are promised an entirely immersive and interactive spooky night out while also ensuring no contact. The show is loved by boils and ghouls from all over WNC and is proudly presented by our title sponsor Mellow Mushroom Asheville. The Treetop Adventure Park Aerial Glow Trail is available for purchase for guests 4 years or older to enjoy at this event! Climb on two aerial trails while they are illuminated with thousands of colorful twinkle and laser lights. If you want to enjoy both of these amazing activities, combo passes are available and WILL sell out, so make sure you reserve your tickets early!
*The Haunted Trail does not sell out, however the entrance closes at 9 pm. Join us in saying BOO! to hunger; Each Ticket purchased to this event raises 4 meals for MANNA foodbank. For younger guests who still aren’t sure about being scared, even for fun, a “Sweet Peek Tour’ is offered nightly at 6:45 pm. The trail is actor free at this time and allows any nervous little monsters to decide if they would like to re enter the line and receive the full show. Don’t miss PIRATES COVE! Featuring a 30 ft Pirate Ship Escape Room, Live Mermaid Encounter with photo opportunity, and free pirate themed activities. In addition to the Haunted & Aerial Glow Trails and Pirates Cove, there will be an entire festival with games, local vendors, food and brews, and new this year: a Cotton Candy Robot! Scare you there! Oct 3-4-10-11-17-18-19-23-24-25-26 6-9 PM
The Blues Is Alright Tour comes to the Bon Secours Wellness Arena with the 7th Annual Greenville Blues Festival on Saturday, October 4 at 7:00 p.m. The Blues is musical storytelling filled with stark emotion and a revolving reality check. It’s authentically raw; transforming tragedy, adversity, and heartache into a visceral and cathartic experience. This special night of emotive lyrics and guitar-driven accompaniment features performances by Tucka, King George, Pokey Bear, Lenny Williams, Theodis Ealey, and J-Wonn
Experience Appalachian music and dancing at this lively community gathering! Enjoy a live old-time string band as a caller leads fun, easy-to-follow dances—no partner or experience needed. Start the evening with a short flatfoot lesson and try your luck in the cake raffle. All ages are welcome!
Plenty of free parking is available at Haw Creek Elementary School (10 Bethesda Rd), just a short walk from the hall. Accessible spots are also available next to the dance hall at Haw Creek Commons.
Admission: $10 per person, $5 for children 12 and under. Pay at the door via cash, Venmo, or Zelle.
Sign up for email updates below!
https://mailchi.mp/39798f75c04a/signup_asheville-community-square-dance
Concert by Anya Hinkle and friends
Friday, October 4th • 7:30pm
Tickets $25
Join Asheville-based songwriter Anya Hinkle for an intimate performance rooted in Appalachian tradition and infused with global influences. Known for her vivid storytelling, rich acoustic sound, and arresting honesty, Anya brings to life songs from her acclaimed new album Oceania (Red Parlor Records), produced by Irish veteran Kevin Moloney and featuring collaborations with Celtic and Americana legends. Her music, described as “melodic with rich traditional instincts” (Americana Highways), has captivated audiences from Japan to France to festivals across the U.S.
With a voice praised for its purity and soul, Anya has become a rising force in the Americana and folk scenes. A winner of the USA Songwriting Competition and MerleFest’s Chris Austin Song Contest, her songs have been spotlighted on No Depression and Folk Alley’s “Best Of” lists. Whether performing solo or with past projects like Dehlia Low and Tellico, Hinkle’s music is a deeply satisfying journey through roots, story, and song.
Voted the Best Haunt in the Carolinas, Known as the premier haunt of the Carolina’s, Lake Hickory Haunts is a one of a kind haunted theme park; featuring a large body of water, surrounded by 13 unique full-scale haunted attractions. Within these attractions, you will discover awe-inspiring immersive environments, multi-dimensional special FX, over 100 live characters, breathtaking scares, and much more!
Happens on the following Dates:
Sep 12, 2025, 7:30pm to 10:00pm Timezone: EDT
Sep 13, 2025, 7:30pm to 10:00pm Timezone: EDT
Sep 19, 2025, 7:30pm to 10:00pm Timezone: EDT
Sep 20, 2025, 7:30pm to 10:00pm Timezone: EDT
Sep 26, 2025, 7:30pm to 10:00pm Timezone: EDT
Sep 27, 2025, 7:30pm to 10:00pm Timezone: EDT
Oct 3, 2025, 7:00pm to 11:00pm Timezone: EDT
Oct 4, 2025, 7:00pm to 11:00pm Timezone: EDT
Oct 10, 2025, 7:00pm to 11:00pm Timezone: EDT
Oct 11, 2025, 7:00pm to 11:00pm Timezone: EDT
Oct 12, 2025, 7:00pm to 11:00pm Timezone: EDT
Oct 17, 2025, 7:00pm to 11:00pm Timezone: EDT
Oct 18, 2025, 7:00pm to 11:00pm Timezone: EDT
Oct 19, 2025, 7:00pm to 11:00pm Timezone: EDT
Oct 23, 2025, 7:00pm to 11:00pm Timezone: EDT
Oct 24, 2025, 7:00pm to 11:00pm Timezone: EDT
Oct 25, 2025, 7:00pm to 11:00pm Timezone: EDT
Oct 26, 2025, 7:00pm to 11:00pm Timezone: EDT
Oct 30, 2025, 7:00pm to 11:00pm Timezone: EDT
Oct 31, 2025, 7:00pm to 11:00pm Timezone: EDT
Nov 1, 2025, 7:00pm to 11:00pm Timezone: EDT
Nov 2, 2025, 7:00pm to 11:00pm Timezone: EDT
She Kills Monsters is a heartfelt and humorous story about Agnes, who discovers her late sister Tilly’s Dungeons & Dragons campaign. As she navigates Tilly’s fantasy world, Agnes uncovers hidden truths about her sister’s life, grief, and their bond, blending fantasy adventure with real-world emotions. Shows are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 7:30 each night by the Montford Park Players. And always FREE! No Sunday performances for the last weekend of each show.
The Grey Eagle and Worthwhile Sounds Present:
Pile
Doors: 7pm // Show: 8pm
STANDING ROOM ONLY
WHERE: Third Room
WHEN: Saturday October 4, 2025
DOORS: 8pm SHOW: 8:30pm
GENRE: future breaks / edm
TICKETS: $25 early bird / $30 adv. / $35 d.o.s.
Getting in the spotlight at the young age of just 16 with brutally unique multi-genre music, IMANU has developed a presence on the bass music scene as one of the greatest producers of the new generation. Now in his twenties, he already released on top notch labels such as Deadbeats, UKF and Vision, and remixed the likes of Apashe, T OKiMONST A and What So Not & Skrillex, as well as delivering collaborations with artists like Noisia, KUČKA, The Glitch Mob, Flowdan, Pham and Josh Pan.
Wed-Sun September 24th – October 12th
Wednesdays, Thursdays, & Saturdays: 7:30pm
Fridays & Sundays: 2:00pm
The first summer blockbuster movie, Jaws, is being filmed—but no one working on the film would know it. Dive deep into the tumultuous, murky waters of the making of a major motion picture with testy, feuding costars, unpredictable weather, and a shark prop whose constant breakdowns are looking like an omen for the future of the movie. In this comedy co-written by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon, the short tempers of Jaws stars Robert Shaw (father of co-writer Ian), Richard Dreyfuss, and Roy Scheider take center stage as they bond, argue, drink, gamble, and pray for an end to the shoot, not knowing it will change their lives forever.
Regular Adult Tickets: $24-$48 (depending on chosen seat)
Student Tickets: $10 (18 and under/ college and graduate students with student ID)
This October, elected officials from city, county, and state government, campaign strategists, nonprofit leaders, and political science experts from Western Carolina University will join Asheville’s young professionals for 828 Lead, a new civic leadership bootcamp created and hosted by Asheville’s Young Professionals (AYPROS).
The three-day intensive runs October 3 – 5 at Hatchworks Coworking and brings together 30 up-and-coming leaders who want to run for office, serve on boards and commissions, or just figure out how campaigns actually work. They’ll sit in on Government 101, dive into a campaign-building workshop, and even practice delivering stump speeches. By Sunday, participants walk out not only with a recognition of participation signed by elected officials, but also a mentor connection and a clearer path into Asheville’s civic life.
Coverage opportunities:
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Friday, Oct 3 (5:30–7:30 PM): Kickoff social with elected officials, hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine, and n/a drinks
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Saturday, Oct 4: Live campaign-building sessions, panels with elected leaders, and strategy coaching
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Sunday, Oct 5: Stump speech coaching and a closing ceremony
This is the first program of its kind in Asheville, pairing current elected leaders with the region’s rising talent. It’s a timely story about how our city is preparing its civic pipeline, and a visual one with speeches, panels, and live training.
We’d love to see you there and can coordinate interviews with participating officials or cohort members.
Grease
September 19 – October 12, 2025
Thursdays & Fridays at 7:30 PM and Saturdays & Sundays at 2:30 PM
Book, Music, and Lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey
Sponsored by: HomeTrust Bank
Bursting with high-octane fun and unforgettable songs like “Summer Nights,” “Greased Lightnin’,” and “You’re the One That I Want,” Grease is the ultimate rock-and-roll celebration. Step back into the 1950s as Rydell High’s senior class navigates the ups and downs of love, identity, and teenage rebellion. One of the most popular musicals of all time, Grease is a rollicking good time.
Supported by a live five-piece band!
Adesto Theatre presents Improvised Jane Austen, a completely improvised play performed in the style of Jane Austen. The play is made up on the spot by a cast of trained actors who take an audience suggestion to build an entire world in front of your eyes! You have no idea what will happen and neither do they! You won’t believe there is no script.
Sept 26 and 27 2025 • 7 pm
Sept 28 2025 • 3 pm
Oct 2, 3 and 4 2025 • 7 pm
Oct 5 2025 • 3 pm
Program
Miklós Rózsa: Parade of the Charioteers from Ben Hur
Max Steiner: Suite from Casablanca
Elmer Bernstein: Music from The Magnificent Seven
Bernard Herrmann: Psycho – A Short Suite for String Orchestra
John Williams:
Shark Theme from Jaws
Adventures on Earth from E.T.
Duel of the Fates from Star Wars: Phantom Menace Suite (Episode I)
Hedwig’s Theme from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Alan Silvestri: Music from Back to the Future
John Barry: Music from Dances with Wolves
Alan Menken: Music from Beauty and the Beast
Michael Giacchino: Music from Star Trek: Into Darkness
Step into the glamour of Hollywood and celebrate the opening of the GSO’s “American Season” with Opening Night: Hollywood Retrospective! Music Director Lee Mills takes the stage with iconic music from legendary films, including Ben Hur, Casablanca, Star Wars, Beauty and the Beast, and more. Enhanced by the rich voices of the Clemson University Singers, this red-carpet event promises an unforgettable evening of cinematic splendor, community pride, and timeless music. Join us at Peace Concert Hall and let the magic of the movies come alive!
What do you do when the dream comes true? You take it on the road and share it with the world! Venardos Circus is thrilled to announce the launch of a SECOND Touring Company and an All-New Production “FAR BEYOND.” The show will play at Tanger Outlets in Asheville, October 2 – 19, 2025. Tickets are on sale now!
The show will feature Singing Ringmaster Julia Swann, the Reyes Brothers’ Juggling Perch Pole, the Mind-Bending Contortion of Nordic Beauty Sno Bunta, Slapstick Sensation Sam Ferlo, Duo Dadiva’s Astonishing Aerial Acrobatics, the Ridiculous Rob Lok, Priscilla & Jonathan’s Diabolical Daggers, and the Wicked Wheel of Wonder! All this and more are woven together with Venardos’ unique theatrical musical production style. This production explores what happens when a dream comes true, what we discover about ourselves, and ultimately the responsibility we all share to keep reaching “FAR BEYOND.”
“This has been a dream in the making for a very long time” said Producer, Kevin Venardos. “Everyone knows bringing a dream to fruition is no simple task and to create an entirely different touring company that mirrors the same talent, values, and level of professionalism we bring to our audiences is truly a labor of love. We cannot wait to visit more cities and introduce The Little Circus that Could to even more people.”
The magical experience that is the signature of Venardos Circus from the moment you enter the tent remains but with new acts, music, and a different dream to share. The show schedule will be as follows:
• Thursday, October 2 – 7 p.m. OPENING NIGHT
• Friday, October 3 – 7 p.m.
• Saturday, October 4 – 2 p.m., 5 p.m.
• Sunday, October 5 – 2 p.m., 5 p.m.
• Wednesday, October 8 – 7 p.m.
• Thursday, October 9 – 7 p.m.
• Friday, October 10 – 7 p.m.
• Saturday, October 11 – 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m.
• Sunday, October 12 – 2 p.m., 5 p.m.
• Wednesday, October 15 – 7 p.m.
• Thursday, October 16 – 7 p.m.
• Friday, October 17 – 7 p.m.
• Saturday, October 18 – 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m.
• Sunday, October 19 – 2 p.m., 5 p.m.
Tickets: Kid’s (under 12) tickets start at $19 and $31.33 for adults. Prices include taxes and fees. One baby in arms is admitted free with each paying adult. (Two years old or younger per paying adult seated on a lap). Premier Gallery and VIP Experience Reserved seating is available. In the new, larger tent, fans will still enjoy the intimate feel and proximity to the performers but with enhanced views of aerial acts due to the taller design of the tent. The VIP Experience will offer assigned seating closest to the stage with guests escorted to their positions and other special experiences. Premier Gallery seating will occupy a multi-tier riser to provide greater visibility.
The circus performers are also the crew on this traveling tour, much like the original circus tradition. There are no animals in Venardos Circus.
Parking: Doors open an hour prior to showtime. Concessions are available when doors open. Classic circus treats like fresh popcorn, cotton candy, house-made all-natural pink lemonade, packaged candy, and more are available for presale online or in the tent. The complete show schedule is available at www.VenardosCircus.com.
What to expect on site:
• The parking area is flat so there is easy handicap access between the lot and the tent.
• Concessions are available but we encourage guests to order online when purchasing tickets. Contactless payment options available.
• The main event lasts approximately 90 minutes, with a brief intermission.
About Venardos Circus:
The Venardos Circus, a unique Broadway-Style Circus performance, has been touring the U.S. since its debut at the L.A. County Fair in 2014. It is reinventing the American Circus tradition for a new generation with Broadway-style flair, bringing joy to people across the U.S. Theatre lovers and nostalgic circus fans alike will appreciate the intimate experience and sentimental way the show pays homage to circus traditions through the lens of high-quality entertainment for a modern family audience.
For more information, please visit www.venardoscircus.com
Grey Eagle Events Presents
Yoga Taco Mosa
Donation-based yoga
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.
Apple picking at our family orchard! Smokees AVL pizza food truck on site, our fresh pressed cider and homemade apple baked goods for sale. Come enjoy our farm with your family! Open 12-5pm. No admission fee and free parking as well.
From Oct. 4 through 12, guests enjoy short, guided nature walks that highlight Grandfather Mountain’s fall colors. The Fall Color Rambles take place daily, weather permitting, and are included in your admission ticket. The short excursions begin at 1 p.m. and typically last for 30 minutes. Rambles will start outside the entrance of the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery.
Grandfather Mountain is home to myriad species of plants and hardwood trees that range from pumpkin-colored beech trees to blood-red sourwoods and rusty red oaks. During the daily rambles, guests learn all about the mountain’s unique biodiversity and the science behind the changing of the leaves.
Participants can become familiar with tree identification, as the mountain’s talented and knowledgeable educators and interpretive park guides venture out with guests to some of the most colorful destinations on the mountain.
Blue Ridge Roller Derby is kicking off our Home Team Season with a TRIPLE HEADER you don’t want to miss! Join us for an action-packed afternoon of hard hits, fast skates, and friendly rivalry as our three home teams take the track:
🦇 Black Balsam Batties
🐝 The Swarm
🐍 Copperhead Outlaws
Each team will face off in a series of 30-minute mini-bouts (Bats vs. Bees, Bees vs. Snakes, Snakes vs. Bats), bringing you 90 minutes of wild, family-friendly roller derby fun!
Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to the sport, our Home Team Season is a great chance to see new skaters shine and seasoned skaters throw down in the name of bragging rights and team spirit.
💖 Giving Back: A portion of the proceeds will benefit Cornbread & Roses, a 2SLGBTQIA+-led nonprofit supporting rural Western NC through therapy services, a food pantry, and educational programs. Learn more: www.cbrcounseling.org
🎉 Expect halftime games, tasty eats from local vendors, and a fun-filled afternoon of roller derby just 30 minutes from Asheville!
HOURS: ADMISSION:
Corporate Nights, Field Trips, and Birthday Party reservations are also available
: 2 Compton Drive, Asheville 28806
Learn more and purchase your tickets HERE: https://eliadacornmaze.mazeplay.com/
Lecture Demonstration Series for the Curious, the New, and the Devotee
Sun Oct 5 • 3 pm | 60 minutes
Louis and Duke were there at the beginning—and their influence echoes through every note that comes after. Louis taught the world to swing with joyful individuality. Duke, America’s greatest composer, gave us music that is sophisticated, soulful, and gloriously open. Between them, they laid the foundation—unshakably cool and warmly welcoming.
Jazz Is for Everyone is a series of five one-hour sessions exploring jazz music. Come to one or join them all—each session stands on its own and welcomes listeners at any level.
What You’ll Experience:
Guided listening
Live music demonstrations
Stories that connect the music to people, places, and intent
A space for questions, curiosity, and shared discovery
Jeremy Walker launched Jazz Is for Everyone in 2004 at his Brilliant Corners Jazz Club, with Wynton Marsalis serving as Artistic Advisor. The program was developed as an Educational Affiliate with Jazz at Lincoln Center. Since then, Walker’s been writing, composing, performing, producing, and speaking about why this music still matters.
Reader’s Theatre Presentation
By Katie Forgette
October 4-5, 2025
Saturday at 3 pm
Sunday at 3 pm
Director: Sofia Carfaro
Approximate Run Time: 2 hours, 15 minutes
Rating: G (ideal for ages 11 and up).
The wit of Oscar Wilde meets the cunning of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle when Wilde brings his dear friend, Lillie Langtry, to Baker Street. Someone has stolen the highly intimate letters Lillie exchanged with the Prince of Wales, and now she is being blackmailed. Only Holmes can solve the case, going so far as to disguise himself as an early version of Lady Bracknell from Wilde’s latest play, The Importance of Being Forthright. At the same time, Watson falls head-over-heels for the Jersey Lily, and a wicked professor attempts to bring the Crown to its knees.
Fellow Pynins is an award winning contemporary transatlantic folk duo with a keen and bucolic sense of vocal harmony and song craft. The live performance is a whimsically emotional escapade through the chasms of our, yes, feelings. Dashed with spontaneous and clever banter, mirth and woe, you will probably cry and quite possibly laugh, a lot. Wielding claw-hammer banjo, Irish bouzouki, mandolin, and acoustic guitar the duo sings predominantly original music as well as reworked traditional ballads gathered from their travels.
“Folk Music with a hefty touch of whimsy” – Bob Boilen (NPR)
Only Nashville could give birth to a band like the SteelDrivers: a group of seasoned veterans –each distinguished in his or her own right, each valued in the town’s commercial community – who are seizing an opportunity to follow their hearts to their souls’ reward. In doing so, they are braiding their bluegrass roots with new threads of their own design, bringing together country, soul, blues, and other contemporary influences to create an unapologetic hybrid that is old as the hills but fresh as the morning dew. This is new music with the old feeling. SteelDrivers fan Vince Gill describes the band’s fusion as simply “an incredible combination.”
She Kills Monsters is a heartfelt and humorous story about Agnes, who discovers her late sister Tilly’s Dungeons & Dragons campaign. As she navigates Tilly’s fantasy world, Agnes uncovers hidden truths about her sister’s life, grief, and their bond, blending fantasy adventure with real-world emotions. Shows are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 7:30 each night by the Montford Park Players. And always FREE! No Sunday performances for the last weekend of each show.
From Oct. 4 through 12, guests enjoy short, guided nature walks that highlight Grandfather Mountain’s fall colors. The Fall Color Rambles take place daily, weather permitting, and are included in your admission ticket. The short excursions begin at 1 p.m. and typically last for 30 minutes. Rambles will start outside the entrance of the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery.
Grandfather Mountain is home to myriad species of plants and hardwood trees that range from pumpkin-colored beech trees to blood-red sourwoods and rusty red oaks. During the daily rambles, guests learn all about the mountain’s unique biodiversity and the science behind the changing of the leaves.
Participants can become familiar with tree identification, as the mountain’s talented and knowledgeable educators and interpretive park guides venture out with guests to some of the most colorful destinations on the mountain.
ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence calls on teens to confront gun violence by creating new works of theatre that will spark critical conversations and inspire meaningful action in communities across the country. Founded in 2019 by director Michael Cotey, ENOUGH!’s mission is to promote playwriting as a tool for self-expression and social change, harnessing this generation’s spirit of activism and providing a platform for America’s playwrights of tomorrow to discover and develop their voices today.
Now in its fourth year, ENOUGH! has received more than 700 short plays by teen writers tackling gun violence. More than 140 organizations across 41 states have participated in ENOUGH!’s three previous Nationwide Readings in 2020, 2022, and 2023, involving nearly 3,000 artists and reaching more than 14,000 people. ENOUGH! is the recipient of the 2024 Theater for Young Audiences Community Impact Award and 2023 Goldin Foundation Exemplary Project Award. Enoughplays.com
This Year’s Plays
- Title, Playwright, Home State
- Holding Space by Abby Dougherty (Georgia)
- Oh Look, Another School Shooting! by Matias Finley (Wisconsin)
- Nobody Cares About Death by Ian Hodges (Florida)
- The Perfect Victim by Payton Aurora Jones (California)
- We Didn’t Have to Meet Here by Pace Rundlett (Mississippi)
- Under Wraps by Olivia Stanley (Texas)
- Plays address many angles and lenses: school shootings, officer-involved shootings, suicide, unintentional shootings, and domestic violence.
- Selected by a committee that included award-winning playwrights Kate Hamill, James Ijames, and Karen Zacarías, Broadway dramaturg Ken Cerniglia, New York Times-bestselling author Jason Reynolds, and Congresswoman Gabby Giffords.