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.
The City of Hendersonville is seeking community input to develop the planning document that would create a more pedestrian-friendly and walkable City for all. Your input will be used to envision and build a pedestrian plan for Hendersonville and, once reviewed, will be used to develop policies, determine how projects are constructed and guide the creation of future pedestrian-oriented programs and events. Anyone can share their thoughts about walking and moving throughout our City in an online survey to collect comments and opinions that will run throughout the month of August and is being led by Asheville-based transportation consulting firm, Traffic Planning & Design. The Walk Hendo project was made possible with a grant from the North Carolina Department of Transportation and a financial match from the Blue Ridge Bicycle Club.
Homelessness has increased in Asheville since the Covid-19 pandemic, with recent numbers showing a 21% increase in unsheltered people in our community. The City of Asheville, Buncombe County and the Dogwood Health Trust partnered to bring in a consultant from the National Alliance to End Homelessness.
The project has two phases:
Phase One – a comprehensive needs assessment to understand the increase in unsheltered homelessness.
Phase Two – using the findings of Phase One to develop a set of actionable strategies and recommendations to improve our community’s response to unsheltered homelessness.
The National Alliance to End Homelessness is seeing input from he community through an anonymous survey. This survey for people residing in or conducting business in the Asheville community. It asks about your experience, thoughts, and impressions on homelessness in Asheville. The survey will be open through August 19, please take time to share your thoughts.
- The Council on Aging of Buncombe County was formed in 1964 to address the needs of seniors in our community
- We provide essential support to people over 60 who need assistance with food, heat or a/c, and health care
- Our volunteers make this work possible– consider joining us today!
Our Mission Statement: Promote the Independence, dignity, and well-being of adults through service, education, and advocacy
We are looking for volunteers to work with low-income Medicare recipients as an unbiased, knowledgeable guide, providing education and assistance with navigating through the application process to help them receive much-needed assistance with the following programs:
- Medicare Part D Extra Help/Low-Income Subsidy (LIS)
- Medicare Savings Programs
- Medicaid
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP – formerly known as Food Stamps)
- Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)
The safety of our clients is our highest priority. Here’s what’s required for this role:
- Clear criminal background check and driving record.
- Minimum $100,000/300,000 in auto liability coverage.
- Orientation and training with the Council on Aging.
- A reliable vehicle that will pass NC safety inspection.
Additionally, we are very flexible and will work with your schedule.
Who would make a strong candidate for this volunteer role?
- You care about seniors and want to support those who need help most
- A resident of Buncombe County, NC, or a nearby town.
- Someone willing to learn basic education about the Benefits Enrollment Center (BEC) and what benefits are available for lower-income Seniors.
- Someone willing to receive education about outreach, what larger events entail, and how to assist with these events.
- Someone willing to travel around Buncombe County and set up a table at outreach events, educating the community on the services offered at Council on Aging and the Benefits Enrollment Center.
- Someone able to assist clients with benefits applications and maintain awareness of changes to income guidelines.
If you want to help make a difference in the lives of real people right here in western North Carolina, we would love to welcome you on board as a volunteer.
- Workshop Presenter – Delivering presentations to either in-person or online audiences on topics that will help them grow their businesses
Want to take your hiking trip to the next level? Interested in getting a closer look at our local wildlife? The North Asheville Library now has binoculars available for check out!
Being an artist can be a lonely endeavor. RAD Collabs seeks to inspire artists to leave behind solitary work habits, encourage new friendships and inspire imaginative art.
We put the word out to Asheville-area artists earlier this year and had an overwhelming response from painters, potters, metalsmiths, woodworkers and others who expressed an interest in working with glassblowers.
The work exhibited in this show will shine the light on these new partnerships. Come see the show and watch glassblowers in action all at the same time!
Pictured is a collaboration between Joe Nicholson and Vanessa Tsumura.
Join us for a fun and interactive story time designed for children ages 18 months to 3 years.
Join us at Eliada Home’s campus for a small group guided walking Farm Tour. Tours last approximately 1 hour. Participants will learn about outdoor and greenhouse growing practices, aquaponics, hydroponics, market gardening, corn maze production, and learn about our Animal Therapy program.
We will be meeting at the PARC building and walking to the different greenhouses, garden site, and a visit with our animals. Reservations required, tickets are $10 each visitor (to be collected at the time of the tour).
We recommend bringing the following: comfortable shoes for walking on pavement and grass, hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. This tour is not handicap accessible and will require participants to climb stairs and walk on uneven ground.
We will begin out tour promptly at the starting time, so please arrive 5-10 min early to allow for parking and check-in. If you are running late or cannot make your tour, please email [email protected] or call #828-348-2287.
All proceeds from ticket sales from your farm tour go directly back to helping the Campus Farm Program grow more food for the children of Eliada!
Click above photo to sign up for a time slot and number of people in your group. Payment for tour will be collected when you arrive. Cards accepted.
This tour is best suited for school age children ages 10+ and adults.
Visiting Asheville soon and looking for a fun way to fill your Friday night? The Asheville Drum Circle is a tradition unique to the area. While locals usually begin the beating of drums, tourists are welcome to join, dance, or simply take in the incredible atmosphere at any point.
If you’re looking for things to do in the area during your stay, this is a must! Here’s everything you should know about the Drum Circle.
The Asheville Drum Circle is a free event that’s open to all.
Bring your own skates and roll bounce with us to your favorite soundtrack.
The Asheville Tourists in conjunction with the Western NC Black Business Expo are proud to announce Black Business Nights Presented by UScellular.
During five designated nights during the 2022 season five local Black-owned Businesses will be able to showcase their products or professional services on the concourse during Asheville Tourists Games. The first featured game is this Saturday, May 28. The remaining four games are scheduled for June 15, June 29, July 26, and August 12.
This Saturday’s game at McCormick Field will feature the following local Black-owned Businesses: HOTWORX, The Plug Chiropractic, Makeba Loving Hands, Rita Lee & Associates, and Upstate Essential Solutions, LLC.
The initiative is part of Minor League Baseballs “The Nine” outreach platform. Prior to the 2022 season Minor League Baseball launched “The Nine,” a new, Black-community focused outreach platform specifically designed to honor and celebrate the historic impact numerous Black baseball pioneers made on the sport, provide new opportunities for youth baseball and softball participation, further diversify the business of baseball, and embrace millions of passionate fans throughout MiLB’s 120 communities nationwide.
It is named for the number Jackie Robinson wore during his only season playing in MiLB with the Triple-A Montreal Royals in 1946
The Western NC Black Business Expo is a creation of the Western NC Minority Business Association. The WNCMBA is a non-profit organization created to advocate and promote the development of minority-owned businesses in Western North Carolina through networking events, workshops, and annual business expos.
Tickets for this Saturday’s game are on sale at TouristsTickets.com and will feature the ZOOperstars entertainment.
Music on Main is the annual Friday evening summer concert series at the Hendersonville Visitor Center. Each week, bring a chair, sit back and enjoy free live music! Every concert showcases a different band performing diverse line-up ranging from pop, oldies, rock, to contemporary music. The family-friendly event offers concessions such as hot dogs, ice cream, pretzels and lemonade for sale. Every Friday evening, the Carolina Mountain Car Club hosts a classic car show in conjunction with Music on Main. The car shows are located in front of the Wells Fargo between Barnwell and Caswell Streets, which will be closed to traffic.
A comprehensive plan is used by local governments as a broad, long-range planning tool for the community. This plan will focus on the next 20-year period and will look at the relationships between land uses, infrastructure, and key community services and amenities. A comprehensive plan is not limited to studying land use components – it can include other areas of focus such as safety, public health, affordability, multi-generational needs, equity and more. Learn more about the plan and weigh in here.
The Phase 3 poll focuses on what policies and strategies the County should employ to reach the priorities identified in earlier polls.
Are you interested in earning money while helping support the democratic process? If so, Buncombe County Election Services is looking for poll workers to help with Early Voting (Oct.20-Nov.5) and Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 8. It’s a rewarding way to help our community while supplementing your income. If this sound interesting, read on to learn more about the perks of working the polls, eligibility requirements, pay scales, and more.
Perks of Working the Polls:
- Meaningful work
- No prior experience needed
- Option to work one full day or shifts for two weeks
- Earn extra money
- Great team atmosphere
- Build highly transferrable skills
- Doesn’t impact unemployment benefits (Per Session Law 2020-71, any person that is receiving unemployment may work as a poll worker without any effect on their unemployment benefits)
- Opportunities for students, people looking for supplemental incomes, and retirees with flexible schedules
“Our poll workers are the backbone of safe and fair elections,” said Corinne Duncan, Director of Elections. “Without them, we wouldn’t be able to offer our Buncombe County voters the best experience at the polls, regardless of if they vote early or on Election Day.”
Through the Student Assistant Program, students who will be at least 17 years old by Election Day (Nov. 8) can work as assistants. Use the Student Election Assistant Application.
To be eligible you must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be a registered voter of Buncombe County (Unaffiliated voters will be considered)
- Be comfortable and confident using a laptop
- Be able to sit or stand for long periods of time while working with voters
- Be able to put aside all political activity and conversation on social media and in person for a two-week period over early voting and election day.
- Be able to lift 25 pounds
Early Voting
During Early Voting (Oct.20-Nov.5), each location is staffed with a Captain and a team of workers. Captains make $14/hour and workers make $12/hour. Working during Early Voting requires a minimum commitment of 17 days, including weekend shifts and mandatory paid training. The captain carries the most responsibility with duties including voting location access, task delegation, reconciliation, equipment troubleshooting, and voting process/election law familiarity.
For more information about working Early Voting, contact Gretchen Kull at (828) 250-4213.
Election Day
Each of our 80 precincts is staffed with three judges and a number of assistants. Election Day workers receive a lump sum payment (see below) which includes payment to attend the mandatory four-hour training session. Everyone is required to work the entirety of Election Day on Nov. 8, which typically runs from 6 a.m-9 p.m. Precincts are located throughout the county, and we do our best to assign you to a precinct near your home.
Chief Judge – $300
Party Judge – $225
Assistant – $200
For more information about working on Election Day, contact Karen Rae at (828) 250-4224.
COVID-19 Protocols
Buncombe County will follow the latest public health guidance to ensure everyone can participate in a safe and secure election.
Ethno is JM International’s program for folk, world and traditional music. Founded in 1990, it is aimed at young musicians (up to the age of 30) with a mission to revive and keep alive global cultural heritage.
Present today in over 40 countries and on all 6 continents, Ethno engages young people through a series of annual international music camps as well as workshops, concerts and tours, working together with schools, conservatories and other groups of youth to promote peace, tolerance and understanding.
Applications are open for the second edition of Ethno USA, from October 11-23 in beautiful Black Mountain, NC. We are so excited to be back there, and we hope you’ll join us.
We expect to welcome up to 40 musicians. Will you be one of them? Apply now!!
The artistic mentors are:
Anh Phung — Flute, Vocal (Canada)
Dal’Suhu Not-Afraid — Voice, Guitar, Drums(Hopi Nation, USA)
Helen Forsythe — Accordion, Banjo (USA)
Justin Golden — Guitar, Voice (USA)
Fifth mentor TBA!
Sign up! Applications are approved on a rolling basis!
If you’re behind on your water bill or afraid your water might get cut off, a new resource might be able to help you. On Jan. 4, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners approved more than $450,000 in federal funding for the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP). The initiative is aimed at preventing water disconnections and helping reconnect drinking and wastewater services.
The LIHWAP will be administered by Buncombe County-based Eblen Charities. The nonprofit will make payments directly to utilities on behalf of qualifying households. The program is slated to run through Sept. 30, 2023 or until funds are exhausted.
Eligibility requirements
Households that currently receive Food and Nutrition Services (FNS), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Work First services, or those that received Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) services from Oct. 1, 2020-Sept. 30, 2021, are automatically eligible to receive this benefit if their water services have been cut off or are in danger of being cut off.
For additional eligibility information or to apply, please contact Eblen Charities at (828) 255-3066.
OUTPACE HUNGER
FEED PEOPLE AND YOUR PASSION!
What Is Outpace Hunger?
Looking for a way to make a real impact this spring and summer? Feed people while pursuing your passion through Outpace Hunger, an action-based fundraising campaign that turns a favorite activity into meals!
For decades, MANNA FoodBank has been working to outpace hunger and food insecurity all across 16 counties of Western North Carolina, including the Qualla Boundary. The 2022 campaign runs May 1 through September 30, and we invite you join the growing community of folks who are Outpacing Hunger alongside of us!
How It Works
Participating in Outpace Hunger is easy!
You decide your level of commitment, so every participant can create their own path to helping provide food to our community. Participants also decide how, when, and where they complete their goal, any time now through the campaign end on September 30.
Outpace Hunger participants:
(1) Register to be a part of MANNA’s Outpace Hunger community. The $20 registration fee includes a t-shirt for you and provides 80 MEALS for neighbors facing food insecurity in WNC.
(2) Choose a favorite activity (run, walk, roll, stroll, hike, bike, paddle, climb, float, skate, golf, and everything in between!) to complete individually, or as a family/group/team.
(3) Set a goal to reach. This can be an activity-related goal, a fundraising goal, or both.
(4) Invite friends and family to support your fundraising efforts through your own, personalized Outpace Hunger webpage.
Whether running a 5K, walking your neighborhood, hiking the Mountains to Sea trail, or paddling the French Broad River, Outpace Hunger participants play a vital part in ensuring our WNC neighbors have access to healthy food.
READY TO OUTPACE HUNGER WITH US?
ALREADY AN OUTPACE HUNGER PARTICIPANT?
NEED MORE INFORMATION?
The City of Hendersonville is seeking community input to develop the planning document that would create a more pedestrian-friendly and walkable City for all. Your input will be used to envision and build a pedestrian plan for Hendersonville and, once reviewed, will be used to develop policies, determine how projects are constructed and guide the creation of future pedestrian-oriented programs and events. Anyone can share their thoughts about walking and moving throughout our City in an online survey to collect comments and opinions that will run throughout the month of August and is being led by Asheville-based transportation consulting firm, Traffic Planning & Design. The Walk Hendo project was made possible with a grant from the North Carolina Department of Transportation and a financial match from the Blue Ridge Bicycle Club.
Homelessness has increased in Asheville since the Covid-19 pandemic, with recent numbers showing a 21% increase in unsheltered people in our community. The City of Asheville, Buncombe County and the Dogwood Health Trust partnered to bring in a consultant from the National Alliance to End Homelessness.
The project has two phases:
Phase One – a comprehensive needs assessment to understand the increase in unsheltered homelessness.
Phase Two – using the findings of Phase One to develop a set of actionable strategies and recommendations to improve our community’s response to unsheltered homelessness.
The National Alliance to End Homelessness is seeing input from he community through an anonymous survey. This survey for people residing in or conducting business in the Asheville community. It asks about your experience, thoughts, and impressions on homelessness in Asheville. The survey will be open through August 19, please take time to share your thoughts.
Asheville Outlets presents a special weekend of savings, promotions and excitement to prepare for Back-to-School 2022! The Back-to-School Savings Event will be held Saturday, August 13 and Sunday, August 14, 2022, and will feature a wide array of sales & promotions at many participating retailers.
On Saturday, August 13, WNC Youth Football and Cheer will host their annual weigh-ins at Asheville Outlets, with close to a thousand football players and cheerleaders from across western North Carolina. Plus, iHeart Radio will be broadcasting live from the center. Visitors will enjoy free entertainment, swag and giveaways. Special savings for the weekend will be available at many retailers, including: Under Armour Factory House, vineyard vines Outlet, American Eagle, J. Crew Factory Store, Merrell and more! For more information, visit ShopAshevilleOutlets.com.
Extension Master GardenerSM volunteers maintain a composting demonstration site at the Western NC Farmers Market, at the Jesse Israel & Sons Garden Center. After a two-year hiatus, due to Covid, the site is reinstituting public demonstrations, beginning April 9, 2022.
When to Visit?
The site is staffed and provides demonstrations from 10:00am to 1:00pm on the second Saturday each month, April through September.
What Will You See?
There are five different composting methods on display at the site. There is a single bin unit, a tumbling composter, a wood pallet bin and a classic 3-bin system — we also usually bring an example of vermiculture on each demo day. The site is stocked with informational pamphlets on the how-to and why of composting and they complement the information available in the composting video on this website. Click here to view the video: Making and Using Compost at Home.
An additional Composting demonstration area is located at The Learning Garden at the Extension Office, 49 Mount Carmel Road, Asheville, NC 28806. Click here for details about The Learning Garden.
Children’s books: 2 for $1
Fiction: a bag full for $5
Want to take your hiking trip to the next level? Interested in getting a closer look at our local wildlife? The North Asheville Library now has binoculars available for check out!
Being an artist can be a lonely endeavor. RAD Collabs seeks to inspire artists to leave behind solitary work habits, encourage new friendships and inspire imaginative art.
We put the word out to Asheville-area artists earlier this year and had an overwhelming response from painters, potters, metalsmiths, woodworkers and others who expressed an interest in working with glassblowers.
The work exhibited in this show will shine the light on these new partnerships. Come see the show and watch glassblowers in action all at the same time!
Pictured is a collaboration between Joe Nicholson and Vanessa Tsumura.
Come enjoy the Sourwood Festival and visit the museum’s 2nd Annual Classic Car Show at the same time! The show will take place on Saturday, August 13 from 10am to 2pm at 304 Black Mountain Avenue. Last year we hosted over 100 beautiful cars, and we hope to host event more this year
The purpose of Coffee and Conversation is to have productive talk and dialogue that build communities, foster ideas of growth, solidarity, and networking. In essence, no matter what we do in our daily living, our mission with “Enjoy Your Life”, is to promote others through positive action and empowerment. There are mothers out there who need our support. As we meet during regular coffee and conversation meetings, we want to continue bringing our communities together by giving back. During this event, we want to encourage each of you to join us by donating towards the Maternal Giving Back Initiative. On the last Saturday of the month, we will conclude with packaging all essential items. Our primary goal is to assemble five baby baskets a month. Afterwards, will then deliver each basket to local hospitals for mothers in need.
Maternal giving back initiative
We understand there is serious need for mothers who exit the hospital with newborn babies. Our approach is to ensure that these mothers have a few basics essentials as they depart the hospital and settle in. Our goal is not to spend an exorbitant amount of money. However, we want to provide practical things that are thoughtful and meaningful. We think a heartfelt survivor kit would be awesome.
Some Examples are:
• Baby Books
• Travel diapers bags with changing pads
• Pacifier
• Nursing cover
• Receiving blanket
• Bibs
• Bottles and nipples
• Milk storage Bag
• Bottle warmer
• Bottle brush
• Wipes
• Diapers
• Swaddle blanket
• One piece of outfit
• Pajamas
• wicker basket to place items
Bring your instruments, families, friends, lawn chairs and blankets and join us for good times at the Bascom Lamar Lunsford Stage. In 2022 Shindig on the Green, which features a stage show and informal jam sessions around the park, continues at its original location — formerly known as City County Plaza, now transformed into the new Pack Square Park. Locals and visitors alike come together downtown “along about sundown,” or at 7:00pm for those who wear a watch, until 10:00p.m. Concessions are available. Come experience the beautiful music and dance traditions of Southern Appalachia on a summer evening in the mountains.
Eats and Treats: Concessions are provided by The Hop Ice Cream Cafe, and there are plenty of other establishments nearby for food and drinks.
Parking: Parking is available in marked and metered spaces throughout downtown Asheville (free after 6pm) and the city’s municipal decks (evening rates vary). Very convenient to Shindig, Buncombe County’s Charlotte Street Parking Deck is directly across College Street from Pack Square Park and the Buncombe County Courthouse. Parking for buses is available at the Asheville Public Works Building parking lot at 161 S. Charlotte Street. This lot is vacant on Saturday nights. It is recommended that passengers unload at Pack Square Park before the bus is parked in the lot.
Dogs or Other Pets: Please leave your pets at home (unless it’s a service animal). The City of Asheville restricts pets from being present at outdoor special events. Pets, even the best behaved ones, are not allowed at Pack Square Park during Shindig.
Public Transit: There is a major transfer point on College St. for public transit. Check www.ridetheart.com for maps and schedules.. Route E1 provides Saturday evening service to and from the ART Station.
Join us to celebrate the power of collective healing through culture and connection. A showcase of Umoja’s youth and programs in Asheville, NC.
Featuring:
- The Hypnotic Band,
- The Free Flow Band,
- Cooking with Comedy,
- Beer City Sisters Silent Auction
- Urban Arts Institute Eternity Dance Group Reunion
- performances from the H.O.P.E. 4 the Future youth & more
Main Event Ticket: $50
- Hors d’ouvres provided by Chef Clarence Robinson of Cooking with Comedy and dessert provided by Brandy Mills of Smallcakes
VIP Event Ticket: $100
- 6:00 PM VIP Networking Event
- Exclusives prior to the main event include dinner by Chef Clarence Robinson & an exclusive musical performance by David LaMotte plus admittance to the Main Event.
Dress in all white for the Midsummer Night White Party!