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.

Wednesday, August 24, 2022
Hybrid: Asia Suler presents Mirrors in the Earth: Reflections on Self-Healing from the Living World
Aug 24 @ 6:00 pm
Malaprop's Bookstore
Image shows teal box containing the text: Hybrid. Asia Suler presents MIRRORS IN THE EARTH. Wednesday, 8.24.22. 6 PM ET. A photo of the author and the front cover of the book are shown.

This is a hybrid event, meaning there is an option to attend virtually and a limited number of seats are available to attend the event in-store. Registration is required for both in-person and virtual attendance. 

Please click here to register for the VIRTUAL event. The link required to attend will be emailed to registrants prior to the event.

Please click here to register for the IN-PERSON event. Note the important event details on the RSVP form.

If you decide to attend and to purchase books, we ask that you purchase from Malaprop’s. When you do this you make it possible for us to continue hosting author events and you keep more dollars in our community. You may also support our work by purchasing a gift card or making a donation of any amount below. Thank you!


 In a series of 12 lyrical nature essays, herbalist, writer, and Earth intuitive Asia Suler illuminates the healing power of the living Earth–and gives us permission to nurture self-compassion and empathy as forces for personal and ecological healing.In a time of unprecedented ecological devastation, it’s easy to feel hopeless and disconnected. It’s easier still to mask our inherent goodness–to imagine that our unique and precious gifts simply aren’t enough, or forget the power of our inborn empathy. For those of us who are highly sensitive, innately attuned to the workings and whispers of the natural world, it can be hard to embody the belief that we’re enough as we are–and that can heal the Earth.Here, Suler reveals the opposite: our goodness, our empathy, our intuitive connections, and our capacity for self-compassion are more than personal traits or antidotes to despair: they are, in fact, our most potent vehicles for planetary transformation. And as we learn to more deeply nurture and accept ourselves, we unlock living, healing connections to Earth.Combining poetic nature writing with exercises and reflection prompts at the end of each essay, Mirrors in the Earth coaxes us to come as we are: to discover and tend the inherent brilliance and medicine that lives in each of us. From the manatee-calm springs of wild Florida to the flower-dotted coves of the world’s most biodiverse mountains, Mirrors in the Earth is an invitation and encounter with the benevolence of the living world–and a nature therapy session for the soul.

Asia Suler is a writer, teacher, earth intuitive and ecological philosopher who lives in the folds of the Blue Ridge Mountains. She is the founder of One Willow Apothecaries, an Appalachian-grown company that offers handcrafted herbal medicines and educational experiences in herbalism, animism, ancestral healing and earth-centered personal growth. Asia has guided over 20,000 students in 70+ countries through her immersive online programs. With her writings and teachings, Asia helps people embrace their own unique medicine through a joyful engagement with the natural world. Mirrors in the EarthReflections on Self-Healing from the Living World is her first book.

Hybrid: Asia Suler presents Mirrors in the Earth: Reflections on Self-Healing from the Living World
Aug 24 @ 6:00 pm
Malaprops Bookstore and online
Image shows teal box containing the text: Hybrid. Asia Suler presents MIRRORS IN THE EARTH. Wednesday, 8.24.22. 6 PM ET. A photo of the author and the front cover of the book are shown.

This is a hybrid event, meaning there is an option to attend virtually and a limited number of seats are available to attend the event in-store. Registration is required for both in-person and virtual attendance.

Please click here to register for the VIRTUAL event. The link required to attend will be emailed to registrants prior to the event.

Please click here to register for the IN-PERSON event. Note the important event details on the RSVP form.

If you decide to attend and to purchase books, we ask that you purchase from Malaprop’s. When you do this you make it possible for us to continue hosting author events and you keep more dollars in our community. You may also support our work by purchasing a gift card or making a donation of any amount below. Thank you!


 In a series of 12 lyrical nature essays, herbalist, writer, and Earth intuitive Asia Suler illuminates the healing power of the living Earth–and gives us permission to nurture self-compassion and empathy as forces for personal and ecological healing.In a time of unprecedented ecological devastation, it’s easy to feel hopeless and disconnected. It’s easier still to mask our inherent goodness–to imagine that our unique and precious gifts simply aren’t enough, or forget the power of our inborn empathy. For those of us who are highly sensitive, innately attuned to the workings and whispers of the natural world, it can be hard to embody the belief that we’re enough as we are–and that can heal the Earth.Here, Suler reveals the opposite: our goodness, our empathy, our intuitive connections, and our capacity for self-compassion are more than personal traits or antidotes to despair: they are, in fact, our most potent vehicles for planetary transformation. And as we learn to more deeply nurture and accept ourselves, we unlock living, healing connections to Earth.Combining poetic nature writing with exercises and reflection prompts at the end of each essay, Mirrors in the Earth coaxes us to come as we are: to discover and tend the inherent brilliance and medicine that lives in each of us. From the manatee-calm springs of wild Florida to the flower-dotted coves of the world’s most biodiverse mountains, Mirrors in the Earth is an invitation and encounter with the benevolence of the living world–and a nature therapy session for the soul.

Asia Suler is a writer, teacher, earth intuitive and ecological philosopher who lives in the folds of the Blue Ridge Mountains. She is the founder of One Willow Apothecaries, an Appalachian-grown company that offers handcrafted herbal medicines and educational experiences in herbalism, animism, ancestral healing and earth-centered personal growth. Asia has guided over 20,000 students in 70+ countries through her immersive online programs. With her writings and teachings, Asia helps people embrace their own unique medicine through a joyful engagement with the natural world. Mirrors in the EarthReflections on Self-Healing from the Living World is her first book.

Thursday, August 25, 2022
Virtual Story Time with author and illustrator Ashley Belote
Aug 25 @ 10:00 am
online w/ Malaprop's Bookstore
Image contains the text Virtual Story Time with author and illustrator Ashley Belot Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022. 10 AM ET. Next to the text are a photo of the participant and the cover of the featured book.

Join us for a special Storytime event featuring Ashley Belote!

This is a free event, but registration is required. Click here to register. The link required to attend will be emailed to registrants prior to the event.

If you decide to attend and to purchase books, we ask that you purchase from Malaprop’s. When you do this you make it possible for us to continue hosting author events and you keep more dollars in our community. You may also support our work by purchasing a gift card or making a donation of any amount below. Thank you!

An overly excited elephant learns to listen with a little help from her new friends in Listen Up, Louella, an adorably humorous new picture book from Ashley Belote, the illustrator of Frankenslime. Louella is VERY excited to be at Roar Scout Camp. There’s so many fun things for her to do! But Louella is so busy having fun that she doesn’t stop to listen to anyone else… Or to realize that maybe her new friends aren’t having quite as much fun as she is. When Louella misses an important invitation, it’s up to Tarantula and the rest of their friends to help Louella learn to listen and play together.

Ashley Belote is the illustrator of Frankenslime and the author-illustrator of Listen Up, Louella . She studied traditional animation under the direction of Don Bluth. Ashley earned her BA from Alderson Broaddus University and her MA in Arts Administration from the University of Kentucky. Her graduate study included a children’s literature and illustration course through Simmons College. Ashley lives and works in North Carolina where she creates artwork that she hopes brings lots of laughs to others.

The Beat Goes On: Lake Julian Park Drum Circle
Aug 25 @ 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Lake Julian Park

We are shamelessly drumming up attention for our exciting new program at Lake Julian Park. Starting Thursday, March 31, Buncombe County Recreation Services is hosting a drum circle on the last Thursday of every month from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The only thing you need to bring is yourself and a drum, and then just let the rhythm and beautiful scenery do the work as you enjoy the beat and comradery of fellow percussionists.

All experience levels are welcome, and registration is not required. If you have any questions, please contact Park Ranger Zach Hickok at (828) 684-0376.

 

: Every Last Thursday until -Sept. 29 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Park shelter number 2, Lake Julian Park, 26 Lake Julian R

Black Experience Book Club: The Fire Next Time, by James Baldwin
Aug 25 @ 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Noir Collective AVL

Black Experience Book Club

Join us at Join us at Noir Collective AVL, 39 S. Market St. in downtown Asheville,, for our discussion of this month’s book pick, The Fire Next Time, by James Baldwin.
WHERE TO FIND THE BOOK
AT THE LIBRARY
Call your local Buncombe County Public Library or visit buncombecounty.org/library to reserve your copy online.
NOIR COLLECTIVE AT THE YMI
Stop by the Noir Collective during open hours, call 828-257-4540, or email [email protected] to check availability.

City Dance
Aug 25 @ 7:30 pm
Landmark Hal

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, August 26, 2022
North Asheville Book Club
Aug 26 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
North Asheville Public Library

North Asheville Book Club

Join us to discuss this month’s book: Facing the Mountain by Daniel James Brown

This is a hybrid in-person/virtual meeting. Participants may come in person to the North Asheville Library or participate via Zoom.

Registration is required for the Zoom link.

The North Asheville Book Club meets on the 3rd Tuesday of every month.

Skate Nights at Carrier Park FREE
Aug 26 @ 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Carrier Park

Skate Night image

Bring your own skates and roll bounce with us to your favorite soundtrack.

Saturday, August 27, 2022
Ready to Try Hiking? Join Parks + Recreation for the Sampler Hike Series
Aug 27 @ 8:30 am – 11:30 am
Bent Creek Park
a group of people on a hike

Have a yen to try a local hike, but don’t know where to begin? Join Buncombe County Parks & Recreation for scenic hikes close to home this summer and fall. The Sampler Hike Series is a free four-pack of popular treks lead by Parks and Recreation staff on Saturday mornings.

Explorers of all skill levels are invited to experience the fun of one hike, all four, or somewhere in between. Space is limited to 12 hikers and advanced registration is necessary.

Up first is the Lake Powhatan hike. We will begin our hike at Bent Creek River Park and take the Mountains to Sea Trail until we hop onto NC Arboretum property to join the Old Mill Trail and Bent Creek Road Trail that takes us into the Pisgah National Forest on our way to Lake Powhatan.

This hike follows a multi-use gravel path for most of the journey with some dirt paths here and there. The grade is flat and is considered a very easy hike. The overall distance that we will be traveling is 6.5 miles and it will take around 2.5 hours.

Stayed tuned to buncombecounty.org/parks for details on September’s hike.

What to Bring Hiking

  • Daypack or backpack
  • Weather-appropriate clothing (The temperature and wind can change with elevation, so moisture-wicking shirts and layers are recommended.)
  • Hiking boots or shoes
  • Water
  • Trail snacks
  • Sunscreen
  • Insect repellant
  • Sunglasses (optional)
  • Hat or bandana (optional)
  • Binoculars (optional)
  • Camera (optional)
  • Trekking poles (optional)
  • Compass (optional)
  • Whistle (optional)
  • Knife or multi-tool (optional)
  • First aid kit (optional)

Follow Parks & Recreation on Facebook and Instagram.

Nature at Night Hike
Aug 27 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Chimney Rock State Park

Image result for Chimney Rock Park

Join a Park naturalist on the Hickory Nut Falls trail, and watch as the Park comes alive under the shadow of darkness. Do you know whether that’s a frog or a toad calling from the undergrowth? What birds and mammals prefer the dark to the daylight? Get ready to learn more about the Park’s rarely-seen residents.

Monday, August 29, 2022
Science Fiction Book Club
Aug 29 @ 7:00 pm
online

Join host and Malaprop’s Bookseller Allison to dive into the wreck of the wily and wonderful world of science fiction, fantasy, weird fiction, speculative fiction, and literary horror with a healthy mix of underappreciated classic and contemporary books. Meets the last Monday of every month at 7 pm on Zoom. Also meets on the second Monday of every month at 7 pm to discuss the film adaptations of the books we read.  Click here to see a full schedule of what the club is reading and contact the club host to join. Club attendees get 10% off the book at Malaprop’s!

Tuesday, August 30, 2022
Romance Book Club
Aug 30 @ 7:00 pm
zoom

Romance Book Club is a space to celebrate love in literature. Whether it’s set in early 1800s London, a distant planet years into the future, a fantasy world of magic, or our own contemporary universe, we are here for the stories that end with a happily-ever-after (or at least a happily-for-now).

Meetings will take place at 7:00 PM ET on the last Tuesday of each month via Zoom. Please visit the Romance Bookclub page for the monthly selection, and email Samantha at [email protected] for the link to join.

Visiting Writers Series: The Katherine Min Memorial Reading with UNC Asheville Alumna Sarah Addison Allen
Aug 30 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Highsmith Student Union Blue Ridge Room

Join UNC Asheville Alumna and New York Times Bestselling novelist Sarah Addison Allen for the launch of her latest novel, Other Birds.

With millions of books now in print and translated into more than 30 languages, Sarah continues to serve heaping helpings of the fantastic and the familiar in fiction she describes as “”Southern-fried magic realism.”” Her books to date are: Garden Spells, The Sugar Queen, The Girl Who Chased the Moon, The Peach Keeper, Lost Lake, First Frost, and now, Other Birds. This annual reading by a graduate of UNC Asheville is held in honor of Katherine Min, the late writer and faculty member who was a mentor to many budding writers at UNC Asheville. She died in March 2019 after a long battle with cancer.

This is the first of five events in the 2022-23 Visiting Writers Series presented by the UNC Asheville English Department. Additional events in 2022 include an evening with poet torrin a. greathouse on Thursday, Oct. 20; and an evening with award-winning essayist John Jeremiah Sullivan on Tuesday, Nov. 8. In 2023, UNC Asheville welcomes U.S. poet laureate Ada Limón on Monday, Mar. 20 and fiction writer Jamel Brinkley on Thursday, Apr. 6.

Co-sponsored by Malaprops Bookstore/Cafe.

Wednesday, August 31, 2022
Foodie Book Club
Aug 31 @ 7:00 pm
online

The Foodie Book Club is a club about food writing. The club meets on the last Wednesday of every month at 7:00 PM.  Click here for details and monthly picks!

Wednesday, October 26, 2022 – 7:00pm
Wednesday, November 30, 2022 – 7:00pm
Wednesday, December 28, 2022 – 7:00pm
Thursday, September 1, 2022
The Beat Goes On: Lake Julian Park Drum Circle
Sep 1 @ 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Lake Julian Park

We are shamelessly drumming up attention for our exciting new program at Lake Julian Park. Starting Thursday, March 31, Buncombe County Recreation Services is hosting a drum circle on the last Thursday of every month from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The only thing you need to bring is yourself and a drum, and then just let the rhythm and beautiful scenery do the work as you enjoy the beat and comradery of fellow percussionists.

All experience levels are welcome, and registration is not required. If you have any questions, please contact Park Ranger Zach Hickok at (828) 684-0376.

 

: Every Last Thursday until -Sept. 29 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Park shelter number 2, Lake Julian Park, 26 Lake Julian R

Crime and Politics Book Club
Sep 1 @ 7:00 pm
online

Join host and Malaprop’s Bookseller Patricia Furnish to discuss a range of books across true crime and public affairs. The club meets the first Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. Click here to learn more about the club, view important news, and find the pick for this month.

Tuesday, September 6, 2022
WILD (Women in Lively Discussion) Book Club
Sep 6 @ 6:30 pm
Battery Park Book Exchange

Join former Malaprop’s General Manager Linda-Marie Barrett for this woman-only book club that seeks to have fun by reading books (fiction & non) by women writers. Click here to see a full schedule of what the club is reading. Club attendees get 10% off the book at Malaprop’s!

The club meets at 6:30 P.M. on the first Tuesday of the month at the Battery Park Book Exchange. It will be held virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ONLINE- Enka-Candler Library Evening Book Club
Sep 6 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
online

ONLINE- Enka-Candler Library Evening Book Club

Chat with other book lovers about this month’s book selection.

Interested in reading ahead? Here’s what we have coming up in the next few months!
– November- “Once Upon A River” Diane Setterfield
– December- “Dutch House” Ann Patchett
– January- “Mexican Gothic” Silvia Moreno-Garcia
– February- “The Rose Code” Kate Quinn

To reserve your copy of the book, visit buncombe.nccardinal.org or swing by the library to pick one up from the book clubs holds shelf.

To join the book club email [email protected] or call us at 250-4758.

Thursday, September 8, 2022
The Beat Goes On: Lake Julian Park Drum Circle
Sep 8 @ 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Lake Julian Park

We are shamelessly drumming up attention for our exciting new program at Lake Julian Park. Starting Thursday, March 31, Buncombe County Recreation Services is hosting a drum circle on the last Thursday of every month from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The only thing you need to bring is yourself and a drum, and then just let the rhythm and beautiful scenery do the work as you enjoy the beat and comradery of fellow percussionists.

All experience levels are welcome, and registration is not required. If you have any questions, please contact Park Ranger Zach Hickok at (828) 684-0376.

 

: Every Last Thursday until -Sept. 29 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Park shelter number 2, Lake Julian Park, 26 Lake Julian R

Writing Out of Pain: Memoirs by WNC Authors Lecture and Book Discussion Series: Talk by Nancy Sehested about her memoir Marked for Life: A Prison Chaplain’s Story
Sep 8 @ 7:00 pm
West Asheville Public Library


Some of our greatest art has come in response to the pain of this world: war, accident, crime and punishment, physical and mental illness, racial and class-based inequities. As Asheville resident Nancy Sehested has written, “The deeply human questions of forgiveness, redemption, and mercy emerge from the ruins of broken lives…Pain is not the last word.”

On eight evenings from September to December, the Wilma Dykeman Legacy and the West Asheville Library will celebrate four memoirs of resilience and hope from the mountains of Western North Carolina. All events are free and will be at the West Asheville Library, except for the digital event on December 8.

Saturday, September 10, 2022
Ride On: Pedal Over to Parks + Recreation’s Bike Rodeo + Safety Day
Sep 10 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Buncombe County Training Facility

child's feet on pedals with graphics on screen

Buckle up your helmets and get ready to ride bikes! Buncombe County Parks & Recreation is excited to announce our first annual Bike Rodeo & Safety Day on Saturday, Sept. 10. This fun, free family event is open to all ages and tailored to children and youth with lots of fun activities designed to set young riders up for safety. We’ll be serving up free hotdogs, and the first 100 children and youth ages 5–15 yrs. will receive a FREE bicycle helmet.

“We are so excited to host this event,” says Parks & Recreation’s Lynn Pegg. “Thanks to our community partners, we’ve got a super fun day lined up with activities and safety and maintenance tips that will help young riders pedal with confidence. Kids can bring their own bike or we will have a select few to borrow to ride the skills course.”

Marshall from Paw Patrol will be assisting the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigators with Kid ID Kits and Fingerprints, and K9 Deputy Kora will stop by for a visit. Thanks to the Weaverville Fire Department there will be a huge Ladder Truck on site demonstrating a water feature, and you might even get wet. WNC Safe Kids will be there to share bike safety information, and kids will have the opportunity to learn bicycle maintenance tips with Daily Cycle AVL. We hope to see you there.

Books to Action: Racial Justice Book Discussion + Hood Huggers Walking Tour
Sep 10 @ 10:30 am – 2:00 pm
Stephens-Lee Center

Books to Action: Racial Justice Book Discussion + Hood Huggers Walking Tour

Buncombe County Public Libraries is hosting a new book club beginning in September.

Books to Action is an issue-focused book club that will explore books centered on topics facing our community. Each book discussion will take place in conjunction with a community service project, educational field trip, or presentations from local experts active in these key issues. This book club is open to anyone over age 16 and hopes to spotlight the work of community organizations and provide an engaging opportunity to get involved on a local level.

On Sept. 10, the Book To Action club will meet at 10:30 am at the Stephens-Lee Center to discuss Ibram X. Kendi’s How to be Antiracist. After the book discussion, we will walk to Eagle Street to begin our Hood Huggers tour.

Hood Hugger walking tours explore the past, present, and future of African Americans in Asheville

Our tour will include: the East End Valley Street in downtown Asheville, home to shops and galleries featuring African American artisans and artists; the YMI Cultural Center; the Stephens Lee Community Center; The Block, and significant African American architecture in this vibrant historic neighborhood.

This event is free, but you do need to register. Please visit the library web page and use the link on the calendar for this program to sign up.

Future meetings will include book discussions and volunteer activities with Habitat for Humanity, the Family Justice Center, and Asheville Greenworks. Check the library calendar for updates on coming books and community projects.

Monday, September 12, 2022
Mystery Book Club
Sep 12 @ 7:00 pm
Malaprops Bookstore

 

Join host Tena Frank for Malaprop’s Mystery Book Club! Click here to see a full schedule of what the club is reading. Club attendees get 10% off the book at Malaprop’s!

The club meets at Malaprop’s on the second Monday of every month at 7:00 pm.

Tuesday, September 13, 2022
Explore, connect, and discover with Asheville Parks + Recreation this fall
Sep 13 all-day
various locations in Asheville
photo collage of young people sitting on a wall, young girl holding fish, dog in pumpkin costume

Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR), like the community it serves, is constantly changing and evolving. In alignment with Asheville City Council’s 2036 Vision and current strategic priorities, the department is focused on Improving Core Core Services, Neighborhood Resilience, and Improving Public Safety. APR’s fall program guide reflects the department’s direction with a strong concentration on neighborhood-level, community-focused recreation experiences with listings for fitness and active living opportunities, sports and clubs, arts and culture programs, outdoor recreation, parks and facilities’ hours of operation, and more.

graphic in yellows and blues of mountain and sun that says explore connect discoverThe free guide is available at all City community centers and online as a PDF or enhanced digital flipbook. Community members may also download the APR app for iPhone or search programs on avlREC.com.

 

Wednesday, September 14, 2022
Explore, connect, and discover with Asheville Parks + Recreation this fall
Sep 14 all-day
various locations in Asheville
photo collage of young people sitting on a wall, young girl holding fish, dog in pumpkin costume

Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR), like the community it serves, is constantly changing and evolving. In alignment with Asheville City Council’s 2036 Vision and current strategic priorities, the department is focused on Improving Core Core Services, Neighborhood Resilience, and Improving Public Safety. APR’s fall program guide reflects the department’s direction with a strong concentration on neighborhood-level, community-focused recreation experiences with listings for fitness and active living opportunities, sports and clubs, arts and culture programs, outdoor recreation, parks and facilities’ hours of operation, and more.

graphic in yellows and blues of mountain and sun that says explore connect discoverThe free guide is available at all City community centers and online as a PDF or enhanced digital flipbook. Community members may also download the APR app for iPhone or search programs on avlREC.com.

 

Discussion Bound: The Art Prophets by Richard Polsky
Sep 14 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum

The Art Prophets: The Artists, Dealers, and Tastemakers Who Shook the Art World by Richard Polsky introduces readers to influential late twentieth-century dealers and tastemakers in the art world. These risk takers opened doors for artists, identified new movements, and resurrected art forms that had fallen into obscurity. In this distinctive tour, Polsky offers an insightful and engaging dialogue between artists and the visionaries who paved their way.

Moderators: AAM Docents, Barbara Pressman and Hope Warshaw

DISCUSSION BOUND

This monthly discussion is a place to exchange ideas about readings that relate to artworks and the art world, and to learn from and about each other. Books are available at Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café for a 10% discount. To add your name to our Discussion Bound mailing list, click here or call 828.253.3227 x133.

Thursday, September 15, 2022
Explore, connect, and discover with Asheville Parks + Recreation this fall
Sep 15 all-day
various locations in Asheville
photo collage of young people sitting on a wall, young girl holding fish, dog in pumpkin costume

Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR), like the community it serves, is constantly changing and evolving. In alignment with Asheville City Council’s 2036 Vision and current strategic priorities, the department is focused on Improving Core Core Services, Neighborhood Resilience, and Improving Public Safety. APR’s fall program guide reflects the department’s direction with a strong concentration on neighborhood-level, community-focused recreation experiences with listings for fitness and active living opportunities, sports and clubs, arts and culture programs, outdoor recreation, parks and facilities’ hours of operation, and more.

graphic in yellows and blues of mountain and sun that says explore connect discoverThe free guide is available at all City community centers and online as a PDF or enhanced digital flipbook. Community members may also download the APR app for iPhone or search programs on avlREC.com.

 

The Beat Goes On: Lake Julian Park Drum Circle
Sep 15 @ 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Lake Julian Park

We are shamelessly drumming up attention for our exciting new program at Lake Julian Park. Starting Thursday, March 31, Buncombe County Recreation Services is hosting a drum circle on the last Thursday of every month from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The only thing you need to bring is yourself and a drum, and then just let the rhythm and beautiful scenery do the work as you enjoy the beat and comradery of fellow percussionists.

All experience levels are welcome, and registration is not required. If you have any questions, please contact Park Ranger Zach Hickok at (828) 684-0376.

 

: Every Last Thursday until -Sept. 29 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Park shelter number 2, Lake Julian Park, 26 Lake Julian R

Notorious HBC (History Book Club)
Sep 15 @ 7:00 pm
online

This club meets in-person and virtually. If you are interested in attending, please email [email protected] for more info and instructions! 

Join host and Malaprop’s bookseller Patricia Furnish to discuss a range of books across different periods of history. The club tackles challenging subjects, hence “NOTORIOUS.”  Click here to see a full schedule of what the club is reading. Club attendees get 10% off the book at Malaprop’s!

The club meets at Malaprop’s on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 7:00 pm.

Writing Out of Pain: Memoirs by WNC Authors Lecture and Book Discussion Series: Marked for Life, led by West Asheville Branch Librarian Sherry Roane.
Sep 15 @ 7:00 pm
West Asheville Public Library


Some of our greatest art has come in response to the pain of this world: war, accident, crime and punishment, physical and mental illness, racial and class-based inequities. As Asheville resident Nancy Sehested has written, “The deeply human questions of forgiveness, redemption, and mercy emerge from the ruins of broken lives…Pain is not the last word.”

On eight evenings from September to December, the Wilma Dykeman Legacy and the West Asheville Library will celebrate four memoirs of resilience and hope from the mountains of Western North Carolina. All events are free and will be at the West Asheville Library, except for the digital event on December 8.

About the Wilma Dykeman Legacy

The Wilma Dykeman Legacy is a tax-exempt non-profit organization founded in 2012 to sustain and promote Wilma Dykeman’s values by sponsoring diverse workshops, events, and other programs.  The core values of this extraordinary woman from Buncombe County included environmental integrity, social justice, and the power of the written and spoken word.  For more information, visit www.wilmadykemanlegacy.org.