Calendar of Events

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.

Join us for Rooftop for Relief, a special community fundraiser supporting Beloved Asheville and honoring the 1-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene. This meaningful evening will bring together friends, neighbors, and local supporters to celebrate resilience, community, and giving back.

Enjoy a night of:

– $2 donation with every pizza sold to support Beloved Asheville

– $5 donation from every Cultivated Cocktail sold to support Beloved Asheville

– Live jazz music with B. Bares Jazz Trio

– Raffle prizes with 100% of the proceeds supporting Beloved Asheville

– Cocktails and local brews from our partners: Cultivated Cocktails and New Belgium Brewing

Come for the views, stay for the cause, and help make a positive impact in Asheville.

Tickets:

No entry fee. This event is open to all! our presence and support make a difference!

Dig into Bullington Gardens’ Fall Plant Sale! Grab trees, shrubs, perennials, natives, and seasonal plants to spruce up your yard. Don’t let your garden be the only one on the block still growing last year’s weeds—join us this fall September 12-13, 9am-4pm.

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.

20th Annual WNC Run.Walk for Autism. Competitive and non-competitive 5K and 1 mile Fun Run/Walk. Registration fee includes a t-shirt. All funds go to support autism programs in Western NC.

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.

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.

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.

Now is the moment we’ve been waiting for. With new treatments emerging in the fight against Alzheimer’s, now is the time for hope. Now is the time for action. Help us keep the momentum going in your community at the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s® – Asheville and Henderson County. For more information or to register, visit http://act.alz.org/Asheville or http://act.alz.org/Hendersoncounty.

Join us on October 3, 2025, 6:00-8:30 pm, for an unforgettable outdoor experience on Tryon Arts & Crafts School’s (TACS) west campus, commemorating the anniversary of Hurricane Helene with a celebration of Appalachian tradition. Ticket sales to TACS’ Hearth & Anvil fundraiser will support the school, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, allowing us to continue providing opportunities such as the Helene Relief Artist in Residency Program. While fortunate compared to some, TACS and neighboring Harmon Field were significantly impacted by the storm with property damage, temporary closure, and cancellation of key events and programs. Hearth & Anvil is an opportunity to reflect on the past year and support the school, while enjoying traditional open-flame cooking and interactive art demonstrations alongside our new Terra Flora sculpture. The sculpture was constructed using natural and found materials from the aftermath of the hurricane.

Asheville locals look forward to the annual Scouting America Scout Troop 17 barbecue dinner fundraiser. The event, set for Saturday, October 11, 2025, offers tender, juicy Western North Carolina smoked BBQ dinners with all the fixin’s. Take out dinners will be served behind the Riceville Fire Department and Community Center, 2251 Riceville Road, Asheville, NC, 11:00AM – 4:00PM or while supplies last. Outside Creekside picnic tables are available for dining.

Pitmasters smoke premium North Carolina pork shoulders throughout the night prior to the event. Dinners include a generous portion of tender, juicy BBQ pork, homemade BBQ sauce, home baked beans, North Carolina BBQ slaw and a southern roll.

The charge for BBQ dinner plates will be $12.00. Reservations are not required. Creekside Picnic Tables available for all. Additional donations to benefit the Scouts are always appreciated.

Asheville Music School and The Mule have teamed up for a silent auction fundraiser to benefit Asheville Music School’s scholarship and outreach programs through the Paul Thorpe Music Education Fund. Up for bidding will be luxury regional experiences, vacation getaways, wine tasting events, fine art, pampering packages, restaurant and wellness gift certificates, concert tickets and more. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door. Patrons can hit the cash bar serving wine, local beer, cocktails, and NA beverages, and dine on regional food by local chefs. The evening will also feature live music showcase performances by AMS students.
The funds we’re raising through this auction are going to help fund the Paul Thorpe Music Education Fund, which provides need-based scholarships for music lessons and instruments, as well as music-based community outreach.