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 Authors for Literacy Dinner & Silent Auction featuring Wiley Cash will begin with a cocktail hour and silent auction to include distinctive art and crafts, autographed and rare books, and priceless opportunities to enjoy excursions in Asheville and beyond. Following the cocktail hour, event guests will enjoy a three-course dinner and presentation by a current Literacy Council student. Wiley Cash will then give the keynote presentation and autograph guests’ books. Book sales will be managed by Malaprop’s Bookstore & Café.
For more information about the Spelling Bee, please see our blog post here or contact LuAnn Arena.
New York Times bestselling author Ann Patchett will keynote the Literacy Council’s 10th Annual Authors for Literacy Dinner & Silent Auction at the Renaissance Asheville Hotel.
Every Thursday in May stop by UpCountry Brewing Company in Asheville for live music and a pint to support the Smokies! You’ll get to keep your pint glass with a cool mountain design, and 10% of sales for each night benefits Friends of the Smokies and the park!
The 3rd annual Hats, Horses and Hope event is a Kentucky Derby Party featuring classy hats, a live broadcast of the Kentucky Derby, live music by The Midnight Aces, mint Juleps, cocktails, local beer, catered hors d’oeuvres and an auction.
This year’s benefit will be held at the AC Marriott Hotel in downtown Asheville, on the top floor, 10 Broadway Street. Food will be served from Capella on 9. The occasion kicks off at 4:30PM.
Every Thursday in May stop by UpCountry Brewing Company in Asheville for live music and a pint to support the Smokies! You’ll get to keep your pint glass with a cool mountain design, and 10% of sales for each night benefits Friends of the Smokies and the park!
The Annual AHEPA Mother’s Day Luncheon will be held on Sunday May 13th, 2016 at the Morris Hellenic Cultural Center of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church at 227 Cumberland Avenue, in the Montford area of Asheville from 11 am till 2 pm. It will be cafeteria style with a variety of Greek gourmet dishes like Lamb Kleftiko (slow cooked lamb in aus jus), Pastichio, Spanakopita, Chicken Origanato, Dolmathes with and without meat, etc. and pastries like our famous Baklava, Kourabiethes, Melomakarona, Napoleons, etc.
Prices range from $1 – $12. There will be Greek folk dancing . Carry-outs will be available from 10:30 am to 2 pm. Call the church office at 828-253-3754 between 10 am and 1 pm for more information or to place your order in advance. Or you may call Hellenic Center on the day of the luncheon at 828-254-7424.
Every Thursday in May stop by UpCountry Brewing Company in Asheville for live music and a pint to support the Smokies! You’ll get to keep your pint glass with a cool mountain design, and 10% of sales for each night benefits Friends of the Smokies and the park!
Flat Rock Playhouse presents the return of Mutts Gone Nuts – a comedy dog thrill show that promotes the adoption of rescue animals.
Expect the unexpected as canines and comedy collide in this smash hit performance.
Incredible high flying frisbee dogs, tightwire dogs, dancing dogs, magic dogs and of course, the one and only . . . Sammie the Talking Dog!
From shelters to showbiz, these amazing mutts unleash havoc and hilarity in a breathtaking, action packed, comedy dog spectacular, featuring some of the world’s most talented 4 legged performers.
After a record breaking weekend of performances at Flat Rock Playhouse in 2017, audiences are sure to “howl” with laughter at the return of these talented and endearing pups!
Call the Box Office at 828.693.0731 or visit us online at www.flatrockplayhouse.org to secure your seats!
The Whitewater Bluegrass Company was founded on the banks of the Nantahala River. Their special blend of BLUEGRASS, COUNTRY BALLADS, MOUNTAIN SWING and down-home humor has captivated audiences for over 30 years. The concert begins with the Jere Brittain Band performing his songs of the Mills River.
Join us for a special evening of music and help us raise funds for our current project, The River Heroes of WNC Film Project. AND celebrate our FIFTH ANNIVERSARY in style! Anniversary cake included!
Flat Rock Playhouse presents the return of Mutts Gone Nuts – a comedy dog thrill show that promotes the adoption of rescue animals.
Expect the unexpected as canines and comedy collide in this smash hit performance.
Incredible high flying frisbee dogs, tightwire dogs, dancing dogs, magic dogs and of course, the one and only . . . Sammie the Talking Dog!
From shelters to showbiz, these amazing mutts unleash havoc and hilarity in a breathtaking, action packed, comedy dog spectacular, featuring some of the world’s most talented 4 legged performers.
After a record breaking weekend of performances at Flat Rock Playhouse in 2017, audiences are sure to “howl” with laughter at the return of these talented and endearing pups!
Call the Box Office at 828.693.0731 or visit us online at www.flatrockplayhouse.org to secure your seats!
The Habitat ReStore at 31 Meadow Road will thank the community for its ongoing support by offering 25% off storewide from 9am until 6pm on Saturday, May 19 th . All ReStore merchandise – including furniture,
housewares, appliances, building materials, music, art, antiques and more – will be 25%
percent off! 98.1 The River will be onsite from 9-11am, and free hot dogs and soft drinks
will be served between noon and 2pm.
Flat Rock Playhouse presents the return of Mutts Gone Nuts – a comedy dog thrill show that promotes the adoption of rescue animals.
Expect the unexpected as canines and comedy collide in this smash hit performance.
Incredible high flying frisbee dogs, tightwire dogs, dancing dogs, magic dogs and of course, the one and only . . . Sammie the Talking Dog!
From shelters to showbiz, these amazing mutts unleash havoc and hilarity in a breathtaking, action packed, comedy dog spectacular, featuring some of the world’s most talented 4 legged performers.
After a record breaking weekend of performances at Flat Rock Playhouse in 2017, audiences are sure to “howl” with laughter at the return of these talented and endearing pups!
Call the Box Office at 828.693.0731 or visit us online at www.flatrockplayhouse.org to secure your seats!
Every Thursday in May stop by UpCountry Brewing Company in Asheville for live music and a pint to support the Smokies! You’ll get to keep your pint glass with a cool mountain design, and 10% of sales for each night benefits Friends of the Smokies and the park!
Join us for a Smokies Social at The Wine & Oyster in Asheville! The evening is a benefit for Friends of the Smokies and 15% of sales will support projects and programs in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
MusicWorks Asheville and the African Percussion Ensemble from the Asheville Symphony Youth Orchestra and Mars Hill University will present “Sounds of Unity,” a fundraising concert on Friday, May 25 at 6 PM at Trinity United Methodist Church (587 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC). Students will perform a variety of music, including music by Dvorak, Vince Gassi, and music from The Greatest Showman.
Free admission: Donations encouraged
Every Thursday in May stop by UpCountry Brewing Company in Asheville for live music and a pint to support the Smokies! You’ll get to keep your pint glass with a cool mountain design, and 10% of sales for each night benefits Friends of the Smokies and the park!
Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe presents Mike Gunter, Jr. author of “Tales of EcoTourist,” which combines humor and memorable anecdotes from five famous ecotourist destinations that offer a breathtaking backdrop to better understanding climate change. Held at The Collider, doors open at 5:30pm, and the book talk will begin at 6:00pm, following by a short Q&A. Free & open to the public.
Crossing the far corners of the globe, Tales of an Ecotourist showcases travel, from the hot and humid Amazon jungle to the frozen but dry Antarctic, as a simple yet spellbinding lens to better understand the complex issue of climate change. At its core, climate change is an issue few truly understand, in large part due to its dizzying array of scientific, economic, cultural, social, and political variables.
Mike Gunter Jr. is a Cornell Distinguished Faculty member and Arthur Vining Davis Fellow at Rollins College where he serves as Professor and Chair of the Political Science department and Director of International Affairs in the Holt School. He is the author of Building the Next Ark: How NGOs Work to Protect Biodiversity.
In honor of Noah McFall, a local child who needs a liver and possibly double-lung transplant. Learn more at COTAforNoahGM.com. BBQ and “fixins” $10 for adults, $5 for children 12 and under. Silent auction will feature crafts, art, tickets to local attractions, and more!
This not-to-be-missed sale will feature a wide array of children’s clothing, equipment, toys, books, and maternity clothes. Proceeds will go to support Shalom Children’s Center scholarships. So please stop by to find great deals, and help other families!
Join us to celebrate the launch of Asheville’s first Community Bill of Rights. Stand with us in taking back our power, asserting our rights for local self-governance and building a world where People and Planet come before Profits.
The Community Bill of Rights is our first step towards building a more sustainable community. Asheville’s first Community Bill of Rights will:
* enable citizens to prohibit the activities of corporations that pollute our water, air and soil,
* allow us to make ongoing decisions about where we live, without interference from the State and
* accelerate the equitable transition to 100% renewable energy.
Join us for great music, food, drinks, silent auction and information about how you can get involved in this grassroots movement.
$20 suggested donation at the door. Everyone welcome.
#takebackourcommunity
#istandwithcommunityroots
#communitybillofrights
Center for Honeybee Research has its Annual Black Jar Honey Tasting & Cocktail Event fundraiser on June 5, 5:30-7:30 at the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Asheville (on Woodfin St.). Two ticket levels: Everyone gets to taste the 30 finalist honey entries from all over the world, enjoy appetizers, full bar, music, a silent auction, a raffle and more, surrounded by views from the top floor of the setting sun and the rooftop hives maintained by CHBR; VIP ticketholders also get to vote for the People’s Choice award. Tickets and info available at http://honeybeeresearch.org.
Please join The North Carolina Arboretum for a fabulous and festive celebration of our newest exhibit, Making Scents: The Art and Passion of Fragrance. This special ticketed event will include:
-Live music
-“Sense Stations”
-Heavy hors d’oeuvres
-Beverages, including an aromatic cocktail
-Silent auction
Tickets are $100 for Arboretum Society members and $125 for non-members.You can purchase tickets online at https://www.ncarboretum.org/joingive/membership/events/ All proceeds from the event will benefit Youth Education at The North Carolina Arboretum.
Join thousands of animal lovers for a celebration of compassionate living in one of the top vegan-friendly cities in the country: Asheville, NC! Brother Wolf Animal Rescue’s 4th annual Asheville VeganFest, will take place June 8-10th. This year’s tagline “save the animals, save the earth” will focus on animal agriculture as the #1 cause of climate change, mass species extinction, and animal cruelty.
On Friday and Saturday, speakers from around the country will tackle the latest vegan issues at The Orange Peel. Speakers include Jane Velez-Mitchell (of Jane Unchained), Dr. Garth Davis (featured in Forks Over Knives, and medical director of Mission Hospital Weight Management Center), Sailesh Rao (co-producer of Cowspiracy), Earthling Ed (co-founder and co-director of Surge, a creative grassroots animal rights organization), and more!
This year during VeganFest weekend, Brother Wolf will also be hosting two nights of entertainment at The Orange Peel, featuring comedian Lee Camp on Friday and afrobeat musical guests Antibalas on Saturday. Tickets, starting at $14, can be purchased at www.theorangepeel.net. All proceeds will benefit the Brother Wolf Animal Sanctuary and the work Brother Wolf is doing to save thousands of animals each year.
On Sunday, enjoy an outdoor festival at Pack Square with over 75 vendors showcasing vegan food, beer, lifestyle products, educational speakers, and more!
Asheville VeganFest events are free and open to the public, except for ticketed benefit shows on Friday and Saturday nights.
All proceeds from Asheville VeganFest will benefit Brother Wolf Animal Rescue’s tireless work to promote Uncompromised Compassion and build No-Kill communities.
Visit www.veganfest.bwar.org for a full schedule of the weekend’s events, speakers, and vendors.
WLOS News 13, Carolina Furniture Concepts, and Two Men & a Truck are hosting the sixth annual Break the Hunger food drive to help keep kids from going hungry during summer break. The station is asking viewers
to bring non-perishable food items on Friday, June 8 to Carolina Furniture Concepts at 100 Airport Road between 4:30AM to 7PM and in Waynesville from 9AM to 7PM.
Staff and volunteers from News 13 and Children First/Communities In Schools (CIS) will collect canned goods, rice, pasta formula, macaroni and cheese and other non-perishables. Other essential items like diapers, toothpaste, and toilet paper will also be accepted. All of the items donated will go to Children First/Communities In Schools of Buncombe County, who will then distribute the food and items to the children and families they serve. A full shopping list of food pantry staples is on the Children First/CIS website at www.childrenfirstcisbc.org. Staff from Two Men & a Truck will load the boxes of donated goods onto their truck and deliver to the non-profit’s food pantry in the Emma Community.
Get involved: donate, advocate and volunteer. Go to www.childrenfirstcisbc.org
Camp Bow Wow, the Premier Doggy Day and Overnight Camp franchise and an Entrepreneur Franchise 500 company, is proud to announce the Grand Opening of its brand new location in in Asheville, North Carolina at 5 Airport Road. To celebrate, all members of the surrounding community are invited to the Camp’s Grand Opening Adoption Event on Saturday, June 9th from 12:00pm – 4:00pm for a fun-filled day of food, music, activities, and the chance to discover the premium pet care services that Camp Bow Wow is known for nationwide. All members of the community and media are welcome to attend. Those in attendance will have the opportunity to meet with adorable and adoptable dogs from shelters and rescues including Yancey County Humane Society, Blue Ridge Humane Society, Rusty’s Legacy and Foothills Humane Society, as well as join the on-site activities, including Jenga, Cornhole, and an inflatable water slide. Camp owner, Avery Griffin will be available for on-site interviews, photos/videos, Camp tours, etc. and our pet experts are also available to offer tips/insights on a number of pet topics, from the benefits of adoption to lifestyle tips and more. Come out to support local shelters and maybe even find your fur-ever friend!
Bounty & Soul is a nonprofit hunger relief organization that serves Buncombe and McDowell counties, providing fresh, healthy foods, nutrition education and Health & Wellness resources to individuals and families in need through five weekly mobile markets.
Bounty & Soul will be hosting their third annual VegOut fundraiser at Pisgah Brewing Company, presented by Native Kitchen and Social Pub, on Saturday, June 9 from 1:00 – 6:00 pm to celebrate healthy food access and community partnership. This family-friendly event is an opportunity for the community to enjoy live local music, a silent auction, and local food and beverages while supporting Bounty & Soul in their fight against food insecurity and promotion of health education. Featured bands include The Paper Crowns, Chalwa, and The Campfire Reverends. There will also be a variety of kids activities including the LEAF Easel Rider, face-painting, a bounce house and yoga provided by The Yoga Service Movement.
Pisgah Brewing Company will be donating funds from “Pisgah Pints” and guests will have the opportunity to join a brewery tour throughout the afternoon with a portion of the proceeds going to Bounty & Soul.
Farm to Fender food truck will be onsite providing locally sourced foods with a portion of the proceeds going to Bounty & Soul.
Tickets are $10 at the door with no cost for kids 12 & under.
Looking forward to “Veggin Out” with You!
Annual Benefit Gala is just two weeks away on June 9, 2018 at the Renaissance Asheville Hotel! This year’s theme is Glitz & Glam, and it will be a dazzling evening featuring delicious food and beverages, great company, and a live auction of fine art and exciting vacation packages. Visit www.ashevilleart.org/glitz for all the details.
Mama Maisha and King Daddy’s Chicken and Waffles are teaming up to raise funds to promote healthy, safe pregnancies on June 21. From 3PM until 10PM, 20% of all proceeds from food and beverage purchases will be donated to Mama Maisha.
Asheville physicians Dr. Reta Graham and Dr. Jeff Graham, in affiliation with local and regional non-governmental services, founded Mama Maisha, the first Safe Motherhood Intervention Project in the Mara region of Tanzania. Mama Maisha works at the village level, providing essential prenatal care and delivery services, as well as education and resources to empower women to make wise decision regarding family planning, healthy pregnancies, and safe delivery for every child.
Learn more about Mama Maisha at http://mamamaisha.org.
