Calendar of Events

Garden and Adventure Photography Basics

with Cami Calnan

Friday, August 29  |  10 am – 1 pm

Elevate your photography from the level you are currently working from. In this immersive workshop, we will explore the technical aspects of the camera you photograph with. Bring your phone, your slr or point and shoot digital or film camera, and we will explore the concepts behind taking the kinds of photos you are hoping to capture.

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.

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.

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.

Gardening in a Changing Climate

with Laura Lengnick

Wednesday, September 10  |  1 – 3pm

The changing weather patterns caused by climate change create new challenges for gardeners in Western NC and beyond. More variable and extreme temperatures and rainfall, a longer growing season and warmer winters disrupt the growth and development of plants and animals common to our region. This course provides an overview of the practices, both old and new, that gardeners can use to cultivate a climate-resilient garden. Learn how to evaluate climate risk, anticipate the arrival of new pests and diseases, and track local changes in weather patterns to improve your ability to adjust seasonal work plans, select well-adapted plant species/cultivars, and manage landscapes to promote climate resilience.

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.

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.

Forest Bathing: A Harvest Season Retreat

with Asheville Wellness Tours

Saturday, September 13  |  10 – 1pm

Celebrate abundance, balance and equilibrium during this immersive morning nature connection retreat. During this seasonal transition, we’ll mark the threshold between summer and fall, honoring the Earth’s bountiful harvest while slowing our pace, awakening our senses, and practicing embodied acts of gratitude. Honoring this liminal fifth season, connecting with ourselves, each other, and the more-than-human-world, nourishing the relationships that sustain and connect us.

Your guide, Christa Hebal, will lead you on a gentle journey through the 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 with a community Earth offering, followed by 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.

The 16th West Asheville Garden Stroll is Saturday, September 13 from 11 AM to 4 PM. It features 13 diverse gardens in the Falconhurst neighborhood, north of Haywood Road between Mitchell Avenue and Louisiana. Stroll Guides with a map and garden descriptions will be available from 11:00 until 3:30 at the parking lot across from West Asheville Baptist Church, 926 Haywood Road. (Note to regular attendees: there’s no kickoff program this year.)

The Garden Stroll is free, and all are welcome to join in this community event, rain or shine. However, leave your four-footed friends at home — dogs are not allowed in the gardens.
In keeping with our “stroll” concept, we encourage you to park at one of the WAGS-designated lots on Haywood Road and walk or bike the 2.5 mile route.
This year’s gardens include a permaculture “grass to food” yard with all kinds of edibles; formal designs and eclectic ones that have evolved over time; a “photographer’s paradise;” a large Bountiful Cities community garden hidden among residential streets; whimsical yard art; and of course, chickens. You’ll see new and mature gardens as well as works-in-progress, all offering the chance to chat with friendly and enthusiastic gardeners.
Our theme, Entwined, was inspired by the amazing interconnectedness of nature. In a healthy garden the plants, insects, birds, fungi and soil bacteria form an interdependent community that allows them all to thrive. The same is true in a healthy neighborhood. After Helene, the Falconhurst community — like many neighborhoods in WNC — grew even more entwined, as neighbors gathered around the well at the small farm to collect water and share necessities, information, and good vibes. Let’s all work to make our communities and our gardens more “entwined!”

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.

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.

ASAP’s 2025 Farm Tour will take place Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 20-21, noon to 5 p.m. Participating farms will be announced in late June or early July. One pass is good for all passengers in a single vehicle at all farms, both days. Passes are $35 before Sept. 20 and $45 on Sept 20-21.

ASAP’s annual Farm Tour is a chance to experience how food is grown and raised through guided tours, demonstrations, and tastings. The Farm Tour showcases the diversity of working farms in Western North Carolina, including vegetables, livestock, vineyards, orchards, flowers, fiber, and more! This is a family-friendly event and a great outing for visitors of all ages, abilities, and interests. All are welcome.

ASAP’s 2025 Farm Tour is a critical prices of hurricane recovery as it helps the local food economy rebound, strengthens the relationships between farmers and consumers, and encourages tourism from outside of Asheville. Join ASAP in sustaining our farming community.

Fancy & The Gentlemen- self described as ‘Gothy-Tonk’ and we think that fits! These guys are a lyrical story-telling band with beautiful, haunting and sometimes humorous vocals, songs that stick in your head, and melodies that feel like home. Sit back and soak up the picture they paint, or bop out onto the floor in your good boots- lets git to it!

• HNG will be running a bar with local beers and NA beverage and snack cart.
• Barn Door Ciderworks will provide some sweet and snappy sips of their legendary cider brewed right here in Fairview.
• Root Down Farm food truck brings their signature farm-to-table eats featuring HNG meats and local fresh farmed seasonal veg, often from their home farm! Root Down tastes like hard work paying off, savor it.
• Pro tip: we have picnic tables, benches & patio sets, but always bring a backup folding chair or picnic blanket JUST in case. It can get packed!

ASAP’s 2025 Farm Tour will take place Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 20-21, noon to 5 p.m. Participating farms will be announced in late June or early July. One pass is good for all passengers in a single vehicle at all farms, both days. Passes are $35 before Sept. 20 and $45 on Sept 20-21.

ASAP’s annual Farm Tour is a chance to experience how food is grown and raised through guided tours, demonstrations, and tastings. The Farm Tour showcases the diversity of working farms in Western North Carolina, including vegetables, livestock, vineyards, orchards, flowers, fiber, and more! This is a family-friendly event and a great outing for visitors of all ages, abilities, and interests. All are welcome.

ASAP’s 2025 Farm Tour is a critical prices of hurricane recovery as it helps the local food economy rebound, strengthens the relationships between farmers and consumers, and encourages tourism from outside of Asheville. Join ASAP in sustaining our farming community.

Tours on the last Wednesday of the month, May through October: May 28, June 25, July 30, August 27, September 24, October 29
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

This is an in-person program, held at The Learning Garden. Visit and Learn!

Visit informally Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (no docents or tours)

Docents and Presenters: Extension Master Gardener volunteers working in the garden.
Program Description: On the last Wednesday of the month from May to October you can join a more formal tour and be led through the gardens by a master gardener docent as you watch the other gardeners caring for the plants. See beautiful and interesting plants, delicious vegetables, native plants for beauty and pollinator interest.
The tours start at 10:00 a.m. and should last approximately an hour. The tours will begin outside the front door of the Buncombe County Extension Office.

Wear appropriate attire (hat, sunglasses and sturdy shoes and bring some water) as this event will be held outside. In the event of steady rain in West Asheville, the workday and the tour will be canceled.

The tour is free and registration is not necessary.
If you have questions, call 828-255-5522.

NOTE: The Learning Garden is open for informal visits Monday through Friday throughout the year, but if you visit on a Wednesday, during the growing season, you can meet the Master Gardeners working in the gardens and ask questions about the plants and their care. We invite you to visit often, observe the gardens, and ask questions as the Master Gardeners tend the gardens through the growing season. If you have questions, call 828-255-5522.

This is an in-person program, held at The Learning Garden

Program: Worm Composting in Buckets
Presenter: John Bowen, Extension Master Gardener Volunteer
Program Description: Want worms to eat your garbage without the mess?
Interested in getting rich compost for your garden but don’t want to deal with the hassle of traditional worm bins? Master Gardener John Bowen will show you an easy, low-maintenance way to compost with worms using 5-gallon buckets buried outside—no mess, no fuss, and it works all year long. Simple, clean, and surprisingly effective!
Wear appropriate attire as some of this presentation may be held outside.

The talk is free, but seating is limited and registration is required. Please click on the link to register on Eventbrite.

If you encounter problems registering or if you have questions, call 828-255-5522.

Beginner’s workshop lesson at 7:30 P.M., then 8-11 P.M. Contra Dance with Country Waltzing at the break and the final dance. This is a partner dance but it’s not necessary to come with a partner. We have different live bands and callers.

Friday, September 26 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Saturday, Sept 27 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

At each Plant Clinic, Master Gardener volunteers will be available to answer all of your gardening questions and address your related concerns. Feel free to bring plant or insect samples for identification and/or problem resolution. You can pick-up soil test kits and receive information about in-person programs and activities at The Learning Garden and the Gardening in the Mountains online seminars. Please stop by and learn more!

For more information on the plant sale, please refer to the WNC Arboretum website at ncarboretum.org

NOTE: The Arboretum’s standard $20 parking fee applies to all non-members.

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

Wortham Center Student Series Pilobolus

Fri & Sat, Oct 10 & 11 • 8 pm

Journey into an astonishing universe where Pilobolus transverses the landscape of the human experience with heart-stopping grace, acrobatic power, and breathtaking artistry. Explore the human condition as they fuse sensuality, humor, and physical prowess in a spellbinding performance.

“If we think we know what’s going to happen at a Pilobolus concert, we’d be wrong.” —Dance Magazine

“The men and women of Pilobolus have no interest in playing by the dance world’s rules” —Huffington Post

Connect with the artists in a dance masterclass and preshow discussions.

Spotlight on Pilobolus:

Founded in 1971 at Dartmouth College; now hailed as an “Irreplaceable Dance Treasure”
Performed on Broadway, at The Oscars, and the Olympic Games
Famous for the Hyundai “human car” TV commercial
120+ works performed across 65 countries with 100M+ social media views
Known for daring athleticism, inventive storytelling, and playful artistry

Fri & Sat, Oct 10 & 11 • 8 pm

Journey into an astonishing universe where Pilobolus transverses the landscape of the human experience with heart-stopping grace, acrobatic power, and breathtaking artistry. Explore the human condition as they fuse sensuality, humor, and physical prowess in a spellbinding performance.

“If we think we know what’s going to happen at a Pilobolus concert, we’d be wrong.” —Dance Magazine

“The men and women of Pilobolus have no interest in playing by the dance world’s rules” —Huffington Post

Connect with the artists in a dance masterclass and preshow discussions.

Spotlight on Pilobolus:

Founded in 1971 at Dartmouth College; now hailed as an “Irreplaceable Dance Treasure”
Performed on Broadway, at The Oscars, and the Olympic Games
Famous for the Hyundai “human car” TV commercial
120+ works performed across 65 countries with 100M+ social media views
Known for daring athleticism, inventive storytelling, and playful artistry

Performances on both Tuesday, October 14th AND Wednesday, October 15th.

Aphorisms is a tribute to composer and Black Mountain College student Ursula Mamlok, inspired by her life, art, and triumph over persecution and oppression. The performance is choreographed by Miro Magloire and performed by the Momenta Quartet, flutist Roberta Michel, and the New Chamber Ballet. Presented here as a new performance iteration created especially for Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center, this event integrates live chamber music and dance to celebrate Mamlok’s work and legacy. BMCM+AC will present two evening performances (Oct. 14th and Oct. 15th) in the museum’s main level gallery, in conjunction with the exhibition Points in Space: Performance at Black Mountain College.

About the Performances:

Aphorisms presents six works by Ursula Mamlok, performed live, enriched by Miro Magloire’s contemporary ballet choreography. Magloire, a former composition student of Mauricio Kagel and the founder of the New York City-based New Chamber Ballet, has pioneered a captivating new form of music-and-dance collaboration: ‘unplugged’, without stage sets or theatrical lights, and with the audience seated around the stage and up close to the performers.

Fri, Oct 17 • 7 pm

In this visually stunning adventure for all ages, a friendly dinosaur discovers a glowing world and the true meaning of love. Lightwire Theater blends puppetry, technology and dance to tell tender-hearted stories that spark childlike wonder and (literally) light up the darkness.

“What you see looks like magic” —CBS Sunday Morning

“absolutely incredible” —Rolling Stone

Spotlight on Lightwire Theater:

Semi-finalists on America’s Got Talent and winners of truTV’s Fake Off
Recipient of the Jim Henson Foundation Grant for DINO-LIGHT
Each puppet is hand-built from recycled materials like skateboards, dryer ducts, and fishing poles
Characters glow with electroluminescent (EL) wire, taking 200+ hours to create

Come get down to some spooky, groovy, and funky disco house tunes!

Feat. a stellar lineup of local talent:

– Sketchy Decks
– Earl Grae
– Interstellar Noise
– Double Helix

$10 entry. Don’t miss this one!

Mon Cher let’s get to it! Most requested faves Zydeco Ya Ya are back in the Big Barn for zydeco, swamp pop, second line, and Cajun swing. These guys always provide a fabulous groove and engaging show that makes you want to hop out onto the floor- or bob and weave from your chair, cold one in hand.

• HNG will be running a bar with local beers, NA beverage and snack cart.
• Barn Door Ciderworks will provide some sweet and snappy sips of their legendary cider brewed right here in Fairview.
• The Garden Foodtruck by chef Simone Jaramillo will be serving seasonal, sustainable, food-as-medicine MAGIC!
• Pro tip: we have picnic tables, benches & patio sets, but always bring a backup folding chair or picnic blanket JUST in case. It can get packed!

By purchasing your ticket online you will be on our Will Call list, admission will be checked in at the Cabana!