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.

Friday, April 22, 2022
White Squirrel Hiking Challenge 6
Apr 22 all-day
Western North Carolina Mountains

Hiking Challenge 6 is here! In Conserving Carolina’s and WPA’s White Squirrel Hiking Challenge 6, you get to explore the places you’re helping to protect—and they’re amazing! We invite you to take eight hikes on lands that Conserving Carolina has helped to protect, enhance, or open to the public.

This challenge includes two all-new Conserving Carolina trails with gorgeous views! Plus, you can see the highest waterfall east of the Rockies, lakes and waterfalls in DuPont State Recreational Forest, expanded trails in Bracken Mountain Preserve, and a beautiful creek in the Green River Game Lands. There’s also the all-time favorite Bearwallow Mountain with its 360-degree views over the mountains and countryside we’re working to protect.

These hikes will take you to some of our region’s “greatest hits,” as well as hidden gems where you may have the woods to yourself. If you’re into mountain biking, you have the option of biking some of these trails. And if you love to swim, fish, or just be near the water, five of these hikes take you to rivers, lakes, or waterfalls.

And the Hikes Are…

Drumroll please…. Here are the 8 hikes for this new Hiking Challenge! You can find more information and links to the full hike descriptions below. Which one will you do first?

  1. Bearwallow Mountain
  2. Wildcat Rock Trail – Extended
  3. Bracken Preserve
  4. DuPont State Recreational Forest: Fawn Lake and Lake Julia
  5. DuPont State Recreational Forest: Holly Road to Hooker Falls
  6. Green River Game Lands: Green River Cove Trail
  7. Whitewater Falls
  8. Youngs Mountain Trail
  9. LOG YOUR HIKES
    • Log each hike as you complete it. You can check your progress in this roster.
    • You can do the hikes at your own pace. You can take weeks, months, or over a year—whatever works for you.
    • You must complete all your hikes before the start of the next Hiking Challenge. We launch a new challenge about every two years.
    • Only hikes that you’ve done after Oct. 1, 2021 count toward Hiking Challenge 6.
    • You can complete the hikes on your own or as a group.
    • Please share about your hikes with the hashtag #whitesquirrelhikingchallenge (optional)
    • Feel free to share about your hikes and connect with other hikers in our Facebook group, the Conserving Carolina Community.

    The Hiking Challenge is free and open to all, but you must be a Conserving Carolina member to become a Hiking Challenge 6 Champion. If you are a member and you complete all 8 hikes, you will earn your White Squirrel Patch and exclusive perks from local businesses that support conservation, including Appalachian Coffee CompanyLazy Otter OutfittersMurphy’s Naturals, and YAM Yoga and Massage. Most importantly, you get to experience eight great places and deepen your personal connection to land conservation.

Connect Beyond Festival 2022
Apr 22 – Apr 23 all-day
The Orange Peel, Wortham Center for Performing Arts, Asheville Art Museum and more

 Connect Beyond Festival returns to downtown Asheville, N.C. on April 22-23, 2022 for a weekend of performances, panels, film screenings and workshops exploring how the intersection of music, art, film and storytelling can inspire positive change. This year’s festival, dubbed by Ashvegas as “Asheville’s version of SXSW”, will feature the Storytelling For Impact multidisciplinary curated with Sundance Collab, Sundance Institute’s official digital, global community for artists.

The packed lineup features headliners Megan Twohey, Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter for The New York Times and co-author of the bestselling book SHE SAID: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement, and Propaganda, poet, activist, author of Terraform: Building a Better World, and creator and host of the Hood Politics with Prop podcast. More artists will be announced in the coming weeks.

Tickets for the Connect Beyond Festival are on sale now here.

Featured Phase 1 Connect Beyond Festival artists include:

  • Albert Berger – Academy Award-nominated producer
  • Lonnie Holly – Critically acclaimed visual artist and musician

  • Gillian Laub – Photojournalist and 2019 NYSCA/NYFA Photography Fellow

  • Dr. Natalie Hopkinson – Author and Howard University professor of Communications, Culture and Media Studies

  • Marcus Dowling – Award-winning journalist and musician

  • Shana Tucker – Musician, educator and artist in residence at the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts in Asheville (2019-2020)

  • Johnny Irion – Musician and producer

  • Dr. Ben Gilmer  – Author of The Other Dr. Gilmer, Two Men, A Murder, And An Unlikely Fight For Justice

Guests will create their own tailored itineraries, choosing from:

  • Impactful panels, presentations and music-forward showcases and performances at The Orange Peel, Asheville Art Museum and Wortham Center for the Performing Arts

  • A specially curated rotating collection of groundbreaking, culture-shifting films, curated by festival partner Social Construct Films

Lauded as “complete nourishment for the senses” by past attendees, Connect Beyond is perfect for anyone seeking a more dynamic festival experience.

“Think of it as a series of TED Talks meets your favorite podcast meets NPR’s Music’s Tiny Desk concert series meets the Sundance Film Festival,” says Connect Beyond Founder, Jessica Tomasin. “Connect Beyond is so much more than a festival; it’s a tool that uses storytelling as a platform to build an inclusive and supportive community. My hope is that people walk away from the weekend with new connections, new perspectives and new resources to help create the world they want to live in.”

Bob Boilen of NPR’s Tiny Desk Home Concert series and Connect Beyond Festival alum adds, “Connect Beyond Festival is curated with people with different viewpoints on the world. It’s a connecting place and a thoughtful festival.”

EVENT: Connect Beyond Festival 2022
WHEN: April 22-23, 2022
WHERE: The Orange Peel, Wortham Center for Performing Arts, Asheville Art Museum and more
TICKETS: https://venuv.io/v/mailchimp
MORE: ConnectBeyondFestival.com

General Admission ($150) and VIP ($200) festival passes are now on sale at ConnectBeyondFestival.com/tickets. Until March 25, guests can use the code CONNECT at checkout to save up to 20% on tickets. For those unable to attend but still looking to participate, Virtual Passes are available for $125 to digitally attend all panels, workshops and in-person micro-events.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit ConnectBeyondFestival.com. For film inquiries, contact our Film Programmers at [email protected].

Participating Venues

The Orange Peel – website

Wortham Center For The Performing Arts – website

# # #

ABOUT CONNECT BEYOND FESTIVAL

More than just an event, Connect Beyond Festival is a movement that brings together creators from all walks of life and all regions of the world to engage in ways they never have before. With a focus on creative arts, Connect Beyond explores how collaboration creates a narrative that can influence social change. The multi-venue event features three days of cutting-edge music conversations and performances; inspiring speakers; thought-provoking panels; captivating film screenings and insight from documentary filmmakers; plus lasting connections with community members. Tickets are on sale now for the third annual event. Learn more at ConnectBeyondFestival.com.

Audition with The Montford Park Players
Apr 22 @ 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
online

Get in a video audition for your chance to join us ALL SEASON LONG!

There are auditions for THREE of our upcoming shows all going on RIGHT NOW! We want you to be a part of our 50th Season, so we hope you’ll come out and bring us your talent!
Actors should submit initial audition information online through our website at https://www.montfordparkplayers.org/about-us/volunteers-page/ and may do so at any time.
The Montford Park Players is committed to gender-neutral and race-conscious casting. ALL are welcome and invited to participate!
Please note all dates and deadlines:
  • For auditions for The Little Prince, directed by Jason Williams, the submission deadline is midnight Friday, April 8, 2022. Callbacks will be held in person at the amphitheatre on Saturday, April 23. The director will contact each pre-selected actor with specific times. The Little Prince will be performed Fridays through Sundays, June 10 – Saturday, July 9 at 7:30 pm.
  • For auditions for Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Dwight Chiles, the submission deadline is 11:59pm Sunday, April 24, 2022. Callbacks will be held in person at the amphitheatre on Friday and Saturday, April 29 & 30 from 4:30 to 8:30 pm. The director will contact each pre-selected actor with specific times. Much Ado About Nothing will be performed Fridays through Sundays, July 15 – Saturday, August 13 at 7:30 pm.
  • For auditions for The Three Musketeers, directed by Rodney Smith, the submission deadline is midnight Sunday, May 1, 2022. Callbacks will be held in person at the amphitheater on Saturday, May 7, with a rain date of Saturday, May 14. The director will contact each pre-selected actor with specific times. The Three Musketeers will be performed Fridays through Sundays, Aug. 19 – Saturday, Sept. 17 at 7:30 pm.
Submission deadlines for Hamlet will be announced later, through our newsletter and social media.
Specific instructions for audition submissions:
  1. On the website above, click on the link below “Actor Season Audition Form
  2. Sign in to your Google account (required as most information will be shared in Google documents)
  3. Fill out and submit the form – if you have a headshot and/or resume (not required), please upload them as part of your application.
  4. Record a short (90 second) video – you can do so on your phone. For As You Like It, a Shakespearean monologue is preferred. IMPORTANT: please name your video with your name, not the default title; ex. “Smith, John Video”
  5. On the website, click on the link below “Actor Season Video Upload Link” and upload your video.
  6. Directors will review each application and video, and will contact prospective actors for callbacks.
  7. Important: This season, the Montford Park Players will require that all persons involved with any show must be fully vaccinated, or present a request for exemption, stating the reasons. The Executive Director, in consultation with the director, will make the final decision on the selection or non-selection of any person who is not fully vaccinated.
  8. Anyone who is interested in a technical role only (stage management, lights, sound, etc.) should sent an email to [email protected] and include your background, if any. We welcome all volunteers!
Saturday, April 23, 2022
White Squirrel Hiking Challenge 6
Apr 23 all-day
Western North Carolina Mountains

Hiking Challenge 6 is here! In Conserving Carolina’s and WPA’s White Squirrel Hiking Challenge 6, you get to explore the places you’re helping to protect—and they’re amazing! We invite you to take eight hikes on lands that Conserving Carolina has helped to protect, enhance, or open to the public.

This challenge includes two all-new Conserving Carolina trails with gorgeous views! Plus, you can see the highest waterfall east of the Rockies, lakes and waterfalls in DuPont State Recreational Forest, expanded trails in Bracken Mountain Preserve, and a beautiful creek in the Green River Game Lands. There’s also the all-time favorite Bearwallow Mountain with its 360-degree views over the mountains and countryside we’re working to protect.

These hikes will take you to some of our region’s “greatest hits,” as well as hidden gems where you may have the woods to yourself. If you’re into mountain biking, you have the option of biking some of these trails. And if you love to swim, fish, or just be near the water, five of these hikes take you to rivers, lakes, or waterfalls.

And the Hikes Are…

Drumroll please…. Here are the 8 hikes for this new Hiking Challenge! You can find more information and links to the full hike descriptions below. Which one will you do first?

  1. Bearwallow Mountain
  2. Wildcat Rock Trail – Extended
  3. Bracken Preserve
  4. DuPont State Recreational Forest: Fawn Lake and Lake Julia
  5. DuPont State Recreational Forest: Holly Road to Hooker Falls
  6. Green River Game Lands: Green River Cove Trail
  7. Whitewater Falls
  8. Youngs Mountain Trail
  9. LOG YOUR HIKES
    • Log each hike as you complete it. You can check your progress in this roster.
    • You can do the hikes at your own pace. You can take weeks, months, or over a year—whatever works for you.
    • You must complete all your hikes before the start of the next Hiking Challenge. We launch a new challenge about every two years.
    • Only hikes that you’ve done after Oct. 1, 2021 count toward Hiking Challenge 6.
    • You can complete the hikes on your own or as a group.
    • Please share about your hikes with the hashtag #whitesquirrelhikingchallenge (optional)
    • Feel free to share about your hikes and connect with other hikers in our Facebook group, the Conserving Carolina Community.

    The Hiking Challenge is free and open to all, but you must be a Conserving Carolina member to become a Hiking Challenge 6 Champion. If you are a member and you complete all 8 hikes, you will earn your White Squirrel Patch and exclusive perks from local businesses that support conservation, including Appalachian Coffee CompanyLazy Otter OutfittersMurphy’s Naturals, and YAM Yoga and Massage. Most importantly, you get to experience eight great places and deepen your personal connection to land conservation.

Audition with The Montford Park Players
Apr 23 @ 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
online

Get in a video audition for your chance to join us ALL SEASON LONG!

There are auditions for THREE of our upcoming shows all going on RIGHT NOW! We want you to be a part of our 50th Season, so we hope you’ll come out and bring us your talent!
Actors should submit initial audition information online through our website at https://www.montfordparkplayers.org/about-us/volunteers-page/ and may do so at any time.
The Montford Park Players is committed to gender-neutral and race-conscious casting. ALL are welcome and invited to participate!
Please note all dates and deadlines:
  • For auditions for The Little Prince, directed by Jason Williams, the submission deadline is midnight Friday, April 8, 2022. Callbacks will be held in person at the amphitheatre on Saturday, April 23. The director will contact each pre-selected actor with specific times. The Little Prince will be performed Fridays through Sundays, June 10 – Saturday, July 9 at 7:30 pm.
  • For auditions for Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Dwight Chiles, the submission deadline is 11:59pm Sunday, April 24, 2022. Callbacks will be held in person at the amphitheatre on Friday and Saturday, April 29 & 30 from 4:30 to 8:30 pm. The director will contact each pre-selected actor with specific times. Much Ado About Nothing will be performed Fridays through Sundays, July 15 – Saturday, August 13 at 7:30 pm.
  • For auditions for The Three Musketeers, directed by Rodney Smith, the submission deadline is midnight Sunday, May 1, 2022. Callbacks will be held in person at the amphitheater on Saturday, May 7, with a rain date of Saturday, May 14. The director will contact each pre-selected actor with specific times. The Three Musketeers will be performed Fridays through Sundays, Aug. 19 – Saturday, Sept. 17 at 7:30 pm.
Submission deadlines for Hamlet will be announced later, through our newsletter and social media.
Specific instructions for audition submissions:
  1. On the website above, click on the link below “Actor Season Audition Form
  2. Sign in to your Google account (required as most information will be shared in Google documents)
  3. Fill out and submit the form – if you have a headshot and/or resume (not required), please upload them as part of your application.
  4. Record a short (90 second) video – you can do so on your phone. For As You Like It, a Shakespearean monologue is preferred. IMPORTANT: please name your video with your name, not the default title; ex. “Smith, John Video”
  5. On the website, click on the link below “Actor Season Video Upload Link” and upload your video.
  6. Directors will review each application and video, and will contact prospective actors for callbacks.
  7. Important: This season, the Montford Park Players will require that all persons involved with any show must be fully vaccinated, or present a request for exemption, stating the reasons. The Executive Director, in consultation with the director, will make the final decision on the selection or non-selection of any person who is not fully vaccinated.
  8. Anyone who is interested in a technical role only (stage management, lights, sound, etc.) should sent an email to [email protected] and include your background, if any. We welcome all volunteers!
Asheville Hemp Fest 2022 – 4 Day Festival
Apr 23 @ 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Pack Square Park

Come join us for our second annual Hemp Festival!

Fun for all ages! Located downtown Asheville in front of the court house at Pack Square Park for April

Wed 4/20 – Sat 4/23. We will be hosting a 4-day event with live music on 2 stages.

Pack Square Amphitheater

&

Instant Karma Bus Stage

One of our main goals is to make something accessible and engaging for the whole community.

In honor of the Hemp Plant, we are getting our community together to celebrate and inform about all the wonderful benefits Hemp has to offer!

In collaborating with local hemp farmers, musicians, community activist and educators, including diverse talent from live glassblowing, fire spinning, live painters, visual arts, and so much more.

This is one you dont wanna miss.

For volunteer, Vending, sponsorship, or more information about involvement visit.

AshevilleHempFest.com

STAY TUNED FOR MORE DETAILS

5th Annual Greenville Blues Festival
Apr 23 @ 7:00 pm
Bon Secours Wellness Arena

The 5th Annual Greenville Blues Festival is returning to Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville at 7 p.m. on April 23. The festival is set to feature a blues honor roll of performers and legends alike, including Tucka, Ronnie Bell, Pokey Bear, Nellie Tiger Travis, Lebrado and Calvin Richardson.

The 5th Annual Greenville Blues Festival is presented by North American Entertainment Group Inc., one of the leading independent promoters of entertainment tours and live events in the United States.

ABOUT TUCKA

Tucka James is a songwriter and amazing artist. He’s in a lane of his own coming out of New Iberia, LA. Tucka James hit the scene in 2010 and never looked back. The ladies love his swag and style. Along with the charming voice. Tucka James has set standards that have never been set, he has performed in many states and cities. He has a unique flavor of music. You can never get enough of his hits such as “Candyland,” “Don’t Make Me Beg,” “Country Road,” “Sweet Shop,” “Booty Roll,” and so many more. He has collaborated with many other artists. They don’t call him Tucka for nothing. He’s a force to be reckoned with. There’s no stopping Tucka James.

ABOUT RONNIE BELL
Ronnie “RnB” Bell grew up in the small town of Walker, Louisiana. Since the age of five years old he sang in his church choir at Gloryland Church of God in Christ in Walker. RnB quickly became popular due to his extraordinary vocal ability at such a young age. At the age of fifteen he began to sing alongside his mother, uncles, and his late Great Uncle George Perkins as a member of “George Perkins and the Voices of Harmony”, a gospel-recording group based in Hammond, Louisisana. A year later after growing restless of quartet singing, he joined Kenneth Mitchell and the Voices of Praise. In college, he became a member of the world-renowned Southern University Concert Choir directed by the great Charles Lloyd, Jr. While under the instruction of the Legendary Dr. Issac Greggs and Mr. Lawrence Jackson, RnB performed at the Bayou Classic Battle of the Bands in the New Orleans Super dome in 2004, 2006, 2008, & 2011 as a guest soloist with the Southern University Marching Band. At Southern University, RnB opened for Juvenile and 112 while performing at the annual homecoming 2006 in both the halftime show and the annual concert. In 2008, RnB opened for Erykah Badu and Bun B in the Spring Fest at Southern University. Currently Ronnie Bell has transformed himself into a new genre of music with two Hit Singles: “Cotton Candy” and “I’ll Pay The Shipping Cost.” Both at one point number one Blues/Southern Soul/Swing Out songs in Louisiana, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama and sweeping over the Southern Region. Ronnie’s new label R.E.E.L. Entertainment Group has joined forces with Worldbeat Entertainment to take the Blues/Southern Soul/Swing Out genre by storm with his highly anticipated debut album “Ronnie Bell 365” released on May 5, 2020. But he has not forgotten his true love and genre of R&B and Soul. He plans to release a series of EP’s showcasing his talents so all the fans can experience his flavor of music.

ABOUT POKEY BEAR

Wardell “Pokey Bear” Brown was born on February 2, 1970 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He is known for his soulful sound of music in the Blues/Southern Soul genre; however he did not start out that way. Pokey Bear began his career as a rap music artist, but after doing it for a while decided to try other styles. His venture off into other styles of music would lead him to be the soulful singer that he is today. He was first recognized in music for his first two projects produced by Beat Flippa. Particularly his songs entitled “They Call me Pokey” and “Side Piece,” The song “Side Piece” happened as a result of a hook that was written by Heavy in which he asked Pokey to write lyrics to. He has worked with artists such as Tyree Neal, Adrian Bagher, Ms. Pat, Veronica Raelle, and Cupid.

ABOUT NELLIE TIGER TRAVIS

Nellie Tiger Travis couldn’t be more destined to sing the blues. Born deep in the delta in Mound Bayou, Mississippi, Nellie grew up singing gospel music. During the mid-eighties, Nellie was lead vocalist for the Mississippi based group “SSIPP,” opening for acts from Dee Dee Warwick to Ray Charles. Since relocating to Chicago in 1992 Nellie has been an undeniable force in the Chicago Blues Community. Koko Taylor was a major influence, mentor and friend to Nellie. Koko took Nellie under her wing after she witnessed an extremely emotional performance immediately after Nellie’s mother had passed away. Nellie has headlined at the Chicago Blues Festival and performed at numerous national and international festivals and clubs. Nellie has performed in Japan, Greece, Italy, Germany, Brazil, as well as her hometown in Mississippi. She has shared the stage with such greats as Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Koko Taylor, Glady’s Knight, Ronnie Baker Brooks to name a few. Nellie’s latest release “I’m Going Out Tonight” was released on March 18, 2011 with a star-studded release party at Buddy Guy’s Legends.

 

ABOUT LEBRADO

Lebrado Wilson first broke out into the music industry with his guest vocal appearance on his older brothers’, K-Ci and Jo Jo’s single entitled “Suicide” from their year 2000 album “X.” Continuing and expanding on his brother’s legacy, Lebrado’s released his debut album, Try Me, in 2006, which included his first hit single “Missing You, Babe.” His highly anticipated sophomore LP entitled Fire was subsequently released in 2009; its popular single “Fire” featuring his brother K-CI.

ABOUT CALVIN RICHARDSON

Born and raised in Monroe, North Carolina, Calvin Richardson is the fifth of nine children and the son of a Gospel singer. His life as a performer goes back to childhood: as a kid, Calvin’s mother led a Gospel act called The Willing Wonders and Calvin was the group’s youngest member. His first solo album, Country Boy, was released in 1999 by Universal Records and featured the singles “True Love” (featuring Chico DeBarge) and “I’ll Take Her” (featuring K-Ci Hailey). After being dropped by Universal, Calvin eventually rebounded and landed another record deal, this time with Hollywood Records. In September 2003, he released his second album, 2:35 PM.

The album, which was named after the time that his son Souljah was born, featured the Grammy-nominated hit “More Than A Woman,” featuring Angie Stone. Other singles from the album were “You’ve Got Me High” (featuring Slum Village) and “Keep On Pushin’.” Most recently, Calvin signed with Shanachie Records. His first Shanachie album, When Love Comes came out May 27, 2008. It was followed by the Grammy-nominated Bobby Womack tribute album Facts of Life in 2009 and an all-new album, America’s Most Wanted, in 2010.

Sunday, April 24, 2022
Audition with The Montford Park Players
Apr 24 @ 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
online

Get in a video audition for your chance to join us ALL SEASON LONG!

There are auditions for THREE of our upcoming shows all going on RIGHT NOW! We want you to be a part of our 50th Season, so we hope you’ll come out and bring us your talent!
Actors should submit initial audition information online through our website at https://www.montfordparkplayers.org/about-us/volunteers-page/ and may do so at any time.
The Montford Park Players is committed to gender-neutral and race-conscious casting. ALL are welcome and invited to participate!
Please note all dates and deadlines:
  • For auditions for The Little Prince, directed by Jason Williams, the submission deadline is midnight Friday, April 8, 2022. Callbacks will be held in person at the amphitheatre on Saturday, April 23. The director will contact each pre-selected actor with specific times. The Little Prince will be performed Fridays through Sundays, June 10 – Saturday, July 9 at 7:30 pm.
  • For auditions for Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Dwight Chiles, the submission deadline is 11:59pm Sunday, April 24, 2022. Callbacks will be held in person at the amphitheatre on Friday and Saturday, April 29 & 30 from 4:30 to 8:30 pm. The director will contact each pre-selected actor with specific times. Much Ado About Nothing will be performed Fridays through Sundays, July 15 – Saturday, August 13 at 7:30 pm.
  • For auditions for The Three Musketeers, directed by Rodney Smith, the submission deadline is midnight Sunday, May 1, 2022. Callbacks will be held in person at the amphitheater on Saturday, May 7, with a rain date of Saturday, May 14. The director will contact each pre-selected actor with specific times. The Three Musketeers will be performed Fridays through Sundays, Aug. 19 – Saturday, Sept. 17 at 7:30 pm.
Submission deadlines for Hamlet will be announced later, through our newsletter and social media.
Specific instructions for audition submissions:
  1. On the website above, click on the link below “Actor Season Audition Form
  2. Sign in to your Google account (required as most information will be shared in Google documents)
  3. Fill out and submit the form – if you have a headshot and/or resume (not required), please upload them as part of your application.
  4. Record a short (90 second) video – you can do so on your phone. For As You Like It, a Shakespearean monologue is preferred. IMPORTANT: please name your video with your name, not the default title; ex. “Smith, John Video”
  5. On the website, click on the link below “Actor Season Video Upload Link” and upload your video.
  6. Directors will review each application and video, and will contact prospective actors for callbacks.
  7. Important: This season, the Montford Park Players will require that all persons involved with any show must be fully vaccinated, or present a request for exemption, stating the reasons. The Executive Director, in consultation with the director, will make the final decision on the selection or non-selection of any person who is not fully vaccinated.
  8. Anyone who is interested in a technical role only (stage management, lights, sound, etc.) should sent an email to [email protected] and include your background, if any. We welcome all volunteers!
Earth Day Kids Festival
Apr 24 @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Rabbit Rabbit

In WNC we are so lucky to have a bounty of incredible natural spaces surrounding us. These ancestral lands of the Cherokee Indian are full of life, beauty, and magic that deserves to be experienced by everyone. This Earth Day we want to celebrate our planet and natural resources with you and your family!

Join RiverLink and a host of local environmental organizations to learn about: plants and animals, mountains and streams, composting and recycling, and so much more. Every participating organization will have fun games and activities, interactive displays, arts and crafts, etc for kids to engage with. We hope that these future stewards will have a chance to connect deeper with their environment and learn about what these groups are doing to protect it.

At the festival we will also be showcasing entries and announcing the winners for RiverLink’s Voices of the River: Art and Poetry contest. Our mountains and rivers are an incredible source of creative inspiration and artistic exploration. These talented young artists and writers have created beautiful works that honor our rivers and Mother Earth herself.

We hope you’ll join us for a day of fun, education, and creativity as we celebrate everything that our planet does for us.

Thursday, April 28, 2022
White Squirrel Hiking Challenge 6
Apr 28 all-day
Western North Carolina Mountains

Hiking Challenge 6 is here! In Conserving Carolina’s and WPA’s White Squirrel Hiking Challenge 6, you get to explore the places you’re helping to protect—and they’re amazing! We invite you to take eight hikes on lands that Conserving Carolina has helped to protect, enhance, or open to the public.

This challenge includes two all-new Conserving Carolina trails with gorgeous views! Plus, you can see the highest waterfall east of the Rockies, lakes and waterfalls in DuPont State Recreational Forest, expanded trails in Bracken Mountain Preserve, and a beautiful creek in the Green River Game Lands. There’s also the all-time favorite Bearwallow Mountain with its 360-degree views over the mountains and countryside we’re working to protect.

These hikes will take you to some of our region’s “greatest hits,” as well as hidden gems where you may have the woods to yourself. If you’re into mountain biking, you have the option of biking some of these trails. And if you love to swim, fish, or just be near the water, five of these hikes take you to rivers, lakes, or waterfalls.

And the Hikes Are…

Drumroll please…. Here are the 8 hikes for this new Hiking Challenge! You can find more information and links to the full hike descriptions below. Which one will you do first?

  1. Bearwallow Mountain
  2. Wildcat Rock Trail – Extended
  3. Bracken Preserve
  4. DuPont State Recreational Forest: Fawn Lake and Lake Julia
  5. DuPont State Recreational Forest: Holly Road to Hooker Falls
  6. Green River Game Lands: Green River Cove Trail
  7. Whitewater Falls
  8. Youngs Mountain Trail
  9. LOG YOUR HIKES
    • Log each hike as you complete it. You can check your progress in this roster.
    • You can do the hikes at your own pace. You can take weeks, months, or over a year—whatever works for you.
    • You must complete all your hikes before the start of the next Hiking Challenge. We launch a new challenge about every two years.
    • Only hikes that you’ve done after Oct. 1, 2021 count toward Hiking Challenge 6.
    • You can complete the hikes on your own or as a group.
    • Please share about your hikes with the hashtag #whitesquirrelhikingchallenge (optional)
    • Feel free to share about your hikes and connect with other hikers in our Facebook group, the Conserving Carolina Community.

    The Hiking Challenge is free and open to all, but you must be a Conserving Carolina member to become a Hiking Challenge 6 Champion. If you are a member and you complete all 8 hikes, you will earn your White Squirrel Patch and exclusive perks from local businesses that support conservation, including Appalachian Coffee CompanyLazy Otter OutfittersMurphy’s Naturals, and YAM Yoga and Massage. Most importantly, you get to experience eight great places and deepen your personal connection to land conservation.

Friday, April 29, 2022
White Squirrel Hiking Challenge 6
Apr 29 all-day
Western North Carolina Mountains

Hiking Challenge 6 is here! In Conserving Carolina’s and WPA’s White Squirrel Hiking Challenge 6, you get to explore the places you’re helping to protect—and they’re amazing! We invite you to take eight hikes on lands that Conserving Carolina has helped to protect, enhance, or open to the public.

This challenge includes two all-new Conserving Carolina trails with gorgeous views! Plus, you can see the highest waterfall east of the Rockies, lakes and waterfalls in DuPont State Recreational Forest, expanded trails in Bracken Mountain Preserve, and a beautiful creek in the Green River Game Lands. There’s also the all-time favorite Bearwallow Mountain with its 360-degree views over the mountains and countryside we’re working to protect.

These hikes will take you to some of our region’s “greatest hits,” as well as hidden gems where you may have the woods to yourself. If you’re into mountain biking, you have the option of biking some of these trails. And if you love to swim, fish, or just be near the water, five of these hikes take you to rivers, lakes, or waterfalls.

And the Hikes Are…

Drumroll please…. Here are the 8 hikes for this new Hiking Challenge! You can find more information and links to the full hike descriptions below. Which one will you do first?

  1. Bearwallow Mountain
  2. Wildcat Rock Trail – Extended
  3. Bracken Preserve
  4. DuPont State Recreational Forest: Fawn Lake and Lake Julia
  5. DuPont State Recreational Forest: Holly Road to Hooker Falls
  6. Green River Game Lands: Green River Cove Trail
  7. Whitewater Falls
  8. Youngs Mountain Trail
  9. LOG YOUR HIKES
    • Log each hike as you complete it. You can check your progress in this roster.
    • You can do the hikes at your own pace. You can take weeks, months, or over a year—whatever works for you.
    • You must complete all your hikes before the start of the next Hiking Challenge. We launch a new challenge about every two years.
    • Only hikes that you’ve done after Oct. 1, 2021 count toward Hiking Challenge 6.
    • You can complete the hikes on your own or as a group.
    • Please share about your hikes with the hashtag #whitesquirrelhikingchallenge (optional)
    • Feel free to share about your hikes and connect with other hikers in our Facebook group, the Conserving Carolina Community.

    The Hiking Challenge is free and open to all, but you must be a Conserving Carolina member to become a Hiking Challenge 6 Champion. If you are a member and you complete all 8 hikes, you will earn your White Squirrel Patch and exclusive perks from local businesses that support conservation, including Appalachian Coffee CompanyLazy Otter OutfittersMurphy’s Naturals, and YAM Yoga and Massage. Most importantly, you get to experience eight great places and deepen your personal connection to land conservation.

Saturday, April 30, 2022
White Squirrel Hiking Challenge 6
Apr 30 all-day
Western North Carolina Mountains

Hiking Challenge 6 is here! In Conserving Carolina’s and WPA’s White Squirrel Hiking Challenge 6, you get to explore the places you’re helping to protect—and they’re amazing! We invite you to take eight hikes on lands that Conserving Carolina has helped to protect, enhance, or open to the public.

This challenge includes two all-new Conserving Carolina trails with gorgeous views! Plus, you can see the highest waterfall east of the Rockies, lakes and waterfalls in DuPont State Recreational Forest, expanded trails in Bracken Mountain Preserve, and a beautiful creek in the Green River Game Lands. There’s also the all-time favorite Bearwallow Mountain with its 360-degree views over the mountains and countryside we’re working to protect.

These hikes will take you to some of our region’s “greatest hits,” as well as hidden gems where you may have the woods to yourself. If you’re into mountain biking, you have the option of biking some of these trails. And if you love to swim, fish, or just be near the water, five of these hikes take you to rivers, lakes, or waterfalls.

And the Hikes Are…

Drumroll please…. Here are the 8 hikes for this new Hiking Challenge! You can find more information and links to the full hike descriptions below. Which one will you do first?

  1. Bearwallow Mountain
  2. Wildcat Rock Trail – Extended
  3. Bracken Preserve
  4. DuPont State Recreational Forest: Fawn Lake and Lake Julia
  5. DuPont State Recreational Forest: Holly Road to Hooker Falls
  6. Green River Game Lands: Green River Cove Trail
  7. Whitewater Falls
  8. Youngs Mountain Trail
  9. LOG YOUR HIKES
    • Log each hike as you complete it. You can check your progress in this roster.
    • You can do the hikes at your own pace. You can take weeks, months, or over a year—whatever works for you.
    • You must complete all your hikes before the start of the next Hiking Challenge. We launch a new challenge about every two years.
    • Only hikes that you’ve done after Oct. 1, 2021 count toward Hiking Challenge 6.
    • You can complete the hikes on your own or as a group.
    • Please share about your hikes with the hashtag #whitesquirrelhikingchallenge (optional)
    • Feel free to share about your hikes and connect with other hikers in our Facebook group, the Conserving Carolina Community.

    The Hiking Challenge is free and open to all, but you must be a Conserving Carolina member to become a Hiking Challenge 6 Champion. If you are a member and you complete all 8 hikes, you will earn your White Squirrel Patch and exclusive perks from local businesses that support conservation, including Appalachian Coffee CompanyLazy Otter OutfittersMurphy’s Naturals, and YAM Yoga and Massage. Most importantly, you get to experience eight great places and deepen your personal connection to land conservation.

WNCHA Hidden History Hikes – Ellicott’s Rock
Apr 30 @ 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Ellicott’s and Governor’s rocks along the Chattooga River.

 

Join the Western North Carolina Historical Association (WNCHA) Saturday, April 30 at 9AM as we hike to Ellicott’s and Governor’s rocks along the Chattooga River.

Along the Chattooga River, the states of NC, SC, and GA intersect. From conflicts between Cherokees and white settlers, to the Walton War between Georgia and North Carolina over their boundaries, this area has seen its share of strife and political challenges. Surveyor Andrew Ellicott initially settled the conflict and placed a marker along the bank of the river in 1811. But eventually his work was challenged by the more precise “Governor’s Rock” a few years afterward. As late as the 1970s though, NC and GA once again disputed the precise location. Join us as we hike through three states and explore the history of this contested boundary.

*This is a backcountry hike. Please do not attempt if you are unsure of your ability*

*With a small trailhead parking area, we are limited to 5 vehicles. We will need a few volunteers to shuttle others in their vehicles. Please let us know if you are willing to do this when you sign the waiver form*

*Participants may wish to carpool to the initial meeting location at Ingles in Cashiers, NC. You will be asked about your preference upon registration, and those interested will be put in contact with one another*

Details:

Meet:  We will depart at 9AM from the Ingles in Cashiers (US Hwy 64E, Cashiers, NC, 28717). We will carpool 10 miles to the trailhead (Bull Pen Rd, Cashiers, NC 28717). More information regarding parking and the trailhead will be sent to registrants the day prior to the outing.
Return to Ingles: Approximately 3PM
Hike Length: 6.5 miles total, out and back.
Elevation Gain: 1,220 Feet
Hike Difficulty: Moderately strenuous (using National Park Service metric)

What to Bring:

  • Backpack
  • Plenty of water (2+ liters)
  • Bagged lunch and snacks
  • Hiking boots or comfortable trail shoes
  • Weather-appropriate clothing (preferably no cotton)
  • Sunscreen
  • Hiking poles (recommended)
  • Hat (recommended)
  • Any needed medications.

Rain Date: In the event of inclement weather, participants will be notified in advance, no later than 8PM the evening prior if the event is to be rescheduled.

Tickets: $20 for WNCHA members/$30 non-members. We also have two no-cost, community-funded tickets available. We want our events to be accessible to as many people as possible. If you are able please consider making a donation along with your ticket purchase. These donations are placed in our Community Fund, which allows us to offer tickets at no cost to those who would not be able to attend otherwise.

Ross Farm’s Spring Fling Fest with Appalachian Standard
Apr 30 @ 11:30 am – 4:00 pm
Ross Farm

Join us for the Spring Fling Farm Fest, taking place at 91 Holbrook Road, Candler, NC, 28571 on April 30th, 2022 from 11:30 AM to 4 PM. In addition to the beautiful greenhouses being open, guests are invited to enjoy live music, food trucks, curated vendors selling art, craft, CBD products, and much more in one of Asheville’s most remarkable locales.

Spring is in the air and we are ready to celebrate with the community!
We are thrilled to announce a vibe session meet and greet with Lauren Davis of @fiddyshadesofgreen from 12 PM to 1 PM, with photo opts available.

We will also have an amazing line-up of local musicians, including Joker’s Trade, Istari, John Kirby and the New Seniors, and Appalachian Standard’s very own Substandards. Bear’s Bar-B-Que will be on site with incredible food, as well as kettle corn.

We’ll have a fun mechanical bull and several artisans in our greenhouse selling their beautiful wares, including Honey Creek Pottery! And, of course, our greenhouse will be bursting with a few new and glamorous plants.

The Spring Fling Farm Fest is free to the public. Parking is available on site, however can be limited so it is
recommended that groups carpool. This is an outdoor event.

The first 100 people to join us will receive a goodie bag!

Appalachian Standard is a veteran-owned, craft hemp farm and greenhouse nestled in the Appalachian Mountains of Asheville, North Carolina. Our hemp is greenhouse, field, and indoor grown in small batches year-round by a team of experienced growers. Come experience music in one heck of a unique venue!

Sunday, May 1, 2022
Asheville Spring Herb Festival
May 1 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
WNC Agricultural Center Expo Building

ASHEVILLE SPRING HERB FESTIVAL

Friday, April 29: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 30: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 1: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
 
Where: Expo Building


Enter Gate #7 or Gate #5 for parking. Expo Building has a blue roof, located behind the Davis Event Center.

<div “=””>In 2022, the festival will be at our new home in the Exhibition Hall at the WNC Agricultural Center. You’ll find the Ag Center on Boylston Highway/Airport Road, just south of the Asheville Airport — the festival will run from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April 30; and from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 1.

Website: www.AshevilleHerbFestival.org

Contact 828-301-8968 or 828-301-3010 for additional information.

Tuesday, May 3, 2022
Auditions for The Heiress
May 3 @ 10:30 am – 2:30 pm
Asheville Community Theatre

READERS THEATRE SHOWCASE

All performances at 2:30 pm. Friday and Saturday performances are held at Asheville Community Theatre; Sunday performances are held at the Reuter Center on the campus of UNCA in conjunction with OLLI Asheville.

The Heiress

By Ruth and Augustus Goetz; Directed by Anita Chapman

About the show

AUDITION DATE: Tuesday, May 3, 2022; 10:30 am-2:30 pm

PERFORMANCE DATES: May 19-20 and 22, 2022; 2:30 pm * This show will have performances Thursday and Friday at Asheville Community Theatre and Sunday at the Reuter Center on the campus of UNCA (in conjunction with OLLI Asheville).

REHEARSAL DATES: May 5, 10, 12, 17, 18, 2022; 10:30 am -2:30 pm

DIRECTOR SEEKS: Cast of 9 including 6 women and 3 men * Note: To attend a face-to-face program at OLLI Asheville, you must be vaccinated for COVID-19. Since the Sunday matinee performance is at OLLI, all actors will need to be vaccinated.

Thursday, May 5, 2022
White Squirrel Hiking Challenge 6
May 5 all-day
Western North Carolina Mountains

Hiking Challenge 6 is here! In Conserving Carolina’s and WPA’s White Squirrel Hiking Challenge 6, you get to explore the places you’re helping to protect—and they’re amazing! We invite you to take eight hikes on lands that Conserving Carolina has helped to protect, enhance, or open to the public.

This challenge includes two all-new Conserving Carolina trails with gorgeous views! Plus, you can see the highest waterfall east of the Rockies, lakes and waterfalls in DuPont State Recreational Forest, expanded trails in Bracken Mountain Preserve, and a beautiful creek in the Green River Game Lands. There’s also the all-time favorite Bearwallow Mountain with its 360-degree views over the mountains and countryside we’re working to protect.

These hikes will take you to some of our region’s “greatest hits,” as well as hidden gems where you may have the woods to yourself. If you’re into mountain biking, you have the option of biking some of these trails. And if you love to swim, fish, or just be near the water, five of these hikes take you to rivers, lakes, or waterfalls.

And the Hikes Are…

Drumroll please…. Here are the 8 hikes for this new Hiking Challenge! You can find more information and links to the full hike descriptions below. Which one will you do first?

  1. Bearwallow Mountain
  2. Wildcat Rock Trail – Extended
  3. Bracken Preserve
  4. DuPont State Recreational Forest: Fawn Lake and Lake Julia
  5. DuPont State Recreational Forest: Holly Road to Hooker Falls
  6. Green River Game Lands: Green River Cove Trail
  7. Whitewater Falls
  8. Youngs Mountain Trail
  9. LOG YOUR HIKES
    • Log each hike as you complete it. You can check your progress in this roster.
    • You can do the hikes at your own pace. You can take weeks, months, or over a year—whatever works for you.
    • You must complete all your hikes before the start of the next Hiking Challenge. We launch a new challenge about every two years.
    • Only hikes that you’ve done after Oct. 1, 2021 count toward Hiking Challenge 6.
    • You can complete the hikes on your own or as a group.
    • Please share about your hikes with the hashtag #whitesquirrelhikingchallenge (optional)
    • Feel free to share about your hikes and connect with other hikers in our Facebook group, the Conserving Carolina Community.

    The Hiking Challenge is free and open to all, but you must be a Conserving Carolina member to become a Hiking Challenge 6 Champion. If you are a member and you complete all 8 hikes, you will earn your White Squirrel Patch and exclusive perks from local businesses that support conservation, including Appalachian Coffee CompanyLazy Otter OutfittersMurphy’s Naturals, and YAM Yoga and Massage. Most importantly, you get to experience eight great places and deepen your personal connection to land conservation.

Friday, May 6, 2022
White Squirrel Hiking Challenge 6
May 6 all-day
Western North Carolina Mountains

Hiking Challenge 6 is here! In Conserving Carolina’s and WPA’s White Squirrel Hiking Challenge 6, you get to explore the places you’re helping to protect—and they’re amazing! We invite you to take eight hikes on lands that Conserving Carolina has helped to protect, enhance, or open to the public.

This challenge includes two all-new Conserving Carolina trails with gorgeous views! Plus, you can see the highest waterfall east of the Rockies, lakes and waterfalls in DuPont State Recreational Forest, expanded trails in Bracken Mountain Preserve, and a beautiful creek in the Green River Game Lands. There’s also the all-time favorite Bearwallow Mountain with its 360-degree views over the mountains and countryside we’re working to protect.

These hikes will take you to some of our region’s “greatest hits,” as well as hidden gems where you may have the woods to yourself. If you’re into mountain biking, you have the option of biking some of these trails. And if you love to swim, fish, or just be near the water, five of these hikes take you to rivers, lakes, or waterfalls.

And the Hikes Are…

Drumroll please…. Here are the 8 hikes for this new Hiking Challenge! You can find more information and links to the full hike descriptions below. Which one will you do first?

  1. Bearwallow Mountain
  2. Wildcat Rock Trail – Extended
  3. Bracken Preserve
  4. DuPont State Recreational Forest: Fawn Lake and Lake Julia
  5. DuPont State Recreational Forest: Holly Road to Hooker Falls
  6. Green River Game Lands: Green River Cove Trail
  7. Whitewater Falls
  8. Youngs Mountain Trail
  9. LOG YOUR HIKES
    • Log each hike as you complete it. You can check your progress in this roster.
    • You can do the hikes at your own pace. You can take weeks, months, or over a year—whatever works for you.
    • You must complete all your hikes before the start of the next Hiking Challenge. We launch a new challenge about every two years.
    • Only hikes that you’ve done after Oct. 1, 2021 count toward Hiking Challenge 6.
    • You can complete the hikes on your own or as a group.
    • Please share about your hikes with the hashtag #whitesquirrelhikingchallenge (optional)
    • Feel free to share about your hikes and connect with other hikers in our Facebook group, the Conserving Carolina Community.

    The Hiking Challenge is free and open to all, but you must be a Conserving Carolina member to become a Hiking Challenge 6 Champion. If you are a member and you complete all 8 hikes, you will earn your White Squirrel Patch and exclusive perks from local businesses that support conservation, including Appalachian Coffee CompanyLazy Otter OutfittersMurphy’s Naturals, and YAM Yoga and Massage. Most importantly, you get to experience eight great places and deepen your personal connection to land conservation.

Saturday, May 7, 2022
White Squirrel Hiking Challenge 6
May 7 all-day
Western North Carolina Mountains

Hiking Challenge 6 is here! In Conserving Carolina’s and WPA’s White Squirrel Hiking Challenge 6, you get to explore the places you’re helping to protect—and they’re amazing! We invite you to take eight hikes on lands that Conserving Carolina has helped to protect, enhance, or open to the public.

This challenge includes two all-new Conserving Carolina trails with gorgeous views! Plus, you can see the highest waterfall east of the Rockies, lakes and waterfalls in DuPont State Recreational Forest, expanded trails in Bracken Mountain Preserve, and a beautiful creek in the Green River Game Lands. There’s also the all-time favorite Bearwallow Mountain with its 360-degree views over the mountains and countryside we’re working to protect.

These hikes will take you to some of our region’s “greatest hits,” as well as hidden gems where you may have the woods to yourself. If you’re into mountain biking, you have the option of biking some of these trails. And if you love to swim, fish, or just be near the water, five of these hikes take you to rivers, lakes, or waterfalls.

And the Hikes Are…

Drumroll please…. Here are the 8 hikes for this new Hiking Challenge! You can find more information and links to the full hike descriptions below. Which one will you do first?

  1. Bearwallow Mountain
  2. Wildcat Rock Trail – Extended
  3. Bracken Preserve
  4. DuPont State Recreational Forest: Fawn Lake and Lake Julia
  5. DuPont State Recreational Forest: Holly Road to Hooker Falls
  6. Green River Game Lands: Green River Cove Trail
  7. Whitewater Falls
  8. Youngs Mountain Trail
  9. LOG YOUR HIKES
    • Log each hike as you complete it. You can check your progress in this roster.
    • You can do the hikes at your own pace. You can take weeks, months, or over a year—whatever works for you.
    • You must complete all your hikes before the start of the next Hiking Challenge. We launch a new challenge about every two years.
    • Only hikes that you’ve done after Oct. 1, 2021 count toward Hiking Challenge 6.
    • You can complete the hikes on your own or as a group.
    • Please share about your hikes with the hashtag #whitesquirrelhikingchallenge (optional)
    • Feel free to share about your hikes and connect with other hikers in our Facebook group, the Conserving Carolina Community.

    The Hiking Challenge is free and open to all, but you must be a Conserving Carolina member to become a Hiking Challenge 6 Champion. If you are a member and you complete all 8 hikes, you will earn your White Squirrel Patch and exclusive perks from local businesses that support conservation, including Appalachian Coffee CompanyLazy Otter OutfittersMurphy’s Naturals, and YAM Yoga and Massage. Most importantly, you get to experience eight great places and deepen your personal connection to land conservation.

Maker Faire Asheville
May 7 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Mission Health/AB Tech Conference Center

Part science fair, part county fair, and part something entirely new, Maker Faire is an all-ages gathering of tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers, science clubs, authors, artists, students, and commercial exhibitors. All of these “makers” come to Maker Faire to show what they have made and to share what they have learned. With an emphasis on interactive, hands-on exhibits, people of all ages will leave inspired to make something of their own! Get your FREE tickets today!

WNCHA Hidden History Hikes and Tours: Rumbling Bald Hike
May 7 @ 10:00 am – 12:30 pm

Join the Western North Carolina Historical Association (WNCHA) Saturday, May 7 at 10AM as we hike below “Rumbling Bald” Mountain in the Hickory Nut Gorge.

In February, 1874, the mountains at the eastern edge of the Hickory Nut Gorge began to tremble, shake, and emit plumes of dust, the day after a local preacher delivered a fire and brimstone sermon. Many local residents feared a volcano was set to erupt and a geologist was called in to investigate as tremors continued into May. His investigation and newspaper coverage of the events reveal surprising insights into the environmental and cultural history of the area. Join us as we loop along the southern side of “Rumbling Bald” Mountain and sort fact from fiction while enjoying the natural environment along the way.

*During the hike, participants also have the option of exploring a fissure cave with the guidance of a Chimney Rock State Park ranger. The trail is a moderate 0.5-mile hike will lead visitors to the base of Rumbling Bald Mountain.  From there visitors will have a strenuous scramble approximately 200 yards up and across a boulder field consisting of various sizes boulders.  Then visitors will squeeze through a 2-foot opening and into a large room. Once in the room a ranger will be available to talk about the ecology/geology of the cave.  All participants must follow white nose bat syndrome protocol which call for decontamination once exiting the cave.*

 

Details:

Meet:  10am at Chimney Rock State Park – Rumbling Bald Access (827 Boys Camp Rd, Lake Lure, NC 28746) by the restrooms. Please arrive prior to the starting time.

Depart: 12:30PM

Hike Length: 1.6-mile loop. See map: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/north-carolina/rumbling-bald-loop-trail?ref=result-card

Elevation Gain: 341 feet

Hike Difficulty: Easiest (using National Park Service metric)

What to Bring:

  • Backpack
  • Water (1 liter)
  • Bagged lunch or snacks (restaurants in nearby Chimney Rock will be open as well)
  • Hiking boots or comfortable trail shoes
  • Weather-appropriate clothing
  • Sunscreen
  • Hiking poles (optional)
  • Any needed medications.

 

Rain Date: In the event of inclement weather, participants will be notified in advance, no later than 8PM the evening prior if the event is to be rescheduled. The alternate rain date will be the following Friday, May 13.

 

Tickets: $10 for WNCHA members/$20 non-members. We also have two no-cost, community-funded tickets available. We want our events to be accessible to as many people as possible. If you are able please consider making a donation along with your ticket purchase. These donations are placed in our Community Fund, which allows us to offer tickets at no cost to those who would not be able to attend otherwise.

Registrants must fill out the emergency contact form in advance: https://forms.gle/VUbqBJAfgvZqjDmJ9

Thursday, May 12, 2022
White Squirrel Hiking Challenge 6
May 12 all-day
Western North Carolina Mountains

Hiking Challenge 6 is here! In Conserving Carolina’s and WPA’s White Squirrel Hiking Challenge 6, you get to explore the places you’re helping to protect—and they’re amazing! We invite you to take eight hikes on lands that Conserving Carolina has helped to protect, enhance, or open to the public.

This challenge includes two all-new Conserving Carolina trails with gorgeous views! Plus, you can see the highest waterfall east of the Rockies, lakes and waterfalls in DuPont State Recreational Forest, expanded trails in Bracken Mountain Preserve, and a beautiful creek in the Green River Game Lands. There’s also the all-time favorite Bearwallow Mountain with its 360-degree views over the mountains and countryside we’re working to protect.

These hikes will take you to some of our region’s “greatest hits,” as well as hidden gems where you may have the woods to yourself. If you’re into mountain biking, you have the option of biking some of these trails. And if you love to swim, fish, or just be near the water, five of these hikes take you to rivers, lakes, or waterfalls.

And the Hikes Are…

Drumroll please…. Here are the 8 hikes for this new Hiking Challenge! You can find more information and links to the full hike descriptions below. Which one will you do first?

  1. Bearwallow Mountain
  2. Wildcat Rock Trail – Extended
  3. Bracken Preserve
  4. DuPont State Recreational Forest: Fawn Lake and Lake Julia
  5. DuPont State Recreational Forest: Holly Road to Hooker Falls
  6. Green River Game Lands: Green River Cove Trail
  7. Whitewater Falls
  8. Youngs Mountain Trail
  9. LOG YOUR HIKES
    • Log each hike as you complete it. You can check your progress in this roster.
    • You can do the hikes at your own pace. You can take weeks, months, or over a year—whatever works for you.
    • You must complete all your hikes before the start of the next Hiking Challenge. We launch a new challenge about every two years.
    • Only hikes that you’ve done after Oct. 1, 2021 count toward Hiking Challenge 6.
    • You can complete the hikes on your own or as a group.
    • Please share about your hikes with the hashtag #whitesquirrelhikingchallenge (optional)
    • Feel free to share about your hikes and connect with other hikers in our Facebook group, the Conserving Carolina Community.

    The Hiking Challenge is free and open to all, but you must be a Conserving Carolina member to become a Hiking Challenge 6 Champion. If you are a member and you complete all 8 hikes, you will earn your White Squirrel Patch and exclusive perks from local businesses that support conservation, including Appalachian Coffee CompanyLazy Otter OutfittersMurphy’s Naturals, and YAM Yoga and Massage. Most importantly, you get to experience eight great places and deepen your personal connection to land conservation.

Friday, May 13, 2022
White Squirrel Hiking Challenge 6
May 13 all-day
Western North Carolina Mountains

Hiking Challenge 6 is here! In Conserving Carolina’s and WPA’s White Squirrel Hiking Challenge 6, you get to explore the places you’re helping to protect—and they’re amazing! We invite you to take eight hikes on lands that Conserving Carolina has helped to protect, enhance, or open to the public.

This challenge includes two all-new Conserving Carolina trails with gorgeous views! Plus, you can see the highest waterfall east of the Rockies, lakes and waterfalls in DuPont State Recreational Forest, expanded trails in Bracken Mountain Preserve, and a beautiful creek in the Green River Game Lands. There’s also the all-time favorite Bearwallow Mountain with its 360-degree views over the mountains and countryside we’re working to protect.

These hikes will take you to some of our region’s “greatest hits,” as well as hidden gems where you may have the woods to yourself. If you’re into mountain biking, you have the option of biking some of these trails. And if you love to swim, fish, or just be near the water, five of these hikes take you to rivers, lakes, or waterfalls.

And the Hikes Are…

Drumroll please…. Here are the 8 hikes for this new Hiking Challenge! You can find more information and links to the full hike descriptions below. Which one will you do first?

  1. Bearwallow Mountain
  2. Wildcat Rock Trail – Extended
  3. Bracken Preserve
  4. DuPont State Recreational Forest: Fawn Lake and Lake Julia
  5. DuPont State Recreational Forest: Holly Road to Hooker Falls
  6. Green River Game Lands: Green River Cove Trail
  7. Whitewater Falls
  8. Youngs Mountain Trail
  9. LOG YOUR HIKES
    • Log each hike as you complete it. You can check your progress in this roster.
    • You can do the hikes at your own pace. You can take weeks, months, or over a year—whatever works for you.
    • You must complete all your hikes before the start of the next Hiking Challenge. We launch a new challenge about every two years.
    • Only hikes that you’ve done after Oct. 1, 2021 count toward Hiking Challenge 6.
    • You can complete the hikes on your own or as a group.
    • Please share about your hikes with the hashtag #whitesquirrelhikingchallenge (optional)
    • Feel free to share about your hikes and connect with other hikers in our Facebook group, the Conserving Carolina Community.

    The Hiking Challenge is free and open to all, but you must be a Conserving Carolina member to become a Hiking Challenge 6 Champion. If you are a member and you complete all 8 hikes, you will earn your White Squirrel Patch and exclusive perks from local businesses that support conservation, including Appalachian Coffee CompanyLazy Otter OutfittersMurphy’s Naturals, and YAM Yoga and Massage. Most importantly, you get to experience eight great places and deepen your personal connection to land conservation.

Saturday, May 14, 2022
White Squirrel Hiking Challenge 6
May 14 all-day
Western North Carolina Mountains

Hiking Challenge 6 is here! In Conserving Carolina’s and WPA’s White Squirrel Hiking Challenge 6, you get to explore the places you’re helping to protect—and they’re amazing! We invite you to take eight hikes on lands that Conserving Carolina has helped to protect, enhance, or open to the public.

This challenge includes two all-new Conserving Carolina trails with gorgeous views! Plus, you can see the highest waterfall east of the Rockies, lakes and waterfalls in DuPont State Recreational Forest, expanded trails in Bracken Mountain Preserve, and a beautiful creek in the Green River Game Lands. There’s also the all-time favorite Bearwallow Mountain with its 360-degree views over the mountains and countryside we’re working to protect.

These hikes will take you to some of our region’s “greatest hits,” as well as hidden gems where you may have the woods to yourself. If you’re into mountain biking, you have the option of biking some of these trails. And if you love to swim, fish, or just be near the water, five of these hikes take you to rivers, lakes, or waterfalls.

And the Hikes Are…

Drumroll please…. Here are the 8 hikes for this new Hiking Challenge! You can find more information and links to the full hike descriptions below. Which one will you do first?

  1. Bearwallow Mountain
  2. Wildcat Rock Trail – Extended
  3. Bracken Preserve
  4. DuPont State Recreational Forest: Fawn Lake and Lake Julia
  5. DuPont State Recreational Forest: Holly Road to Hooker Falls
  6. Green River Game Lands: Green River Cove Trail
  7. Whitewater Falls
  8. Youngs Mountain Trail
  9. LOG YOUR HIKES
    • Log each hike as you complete it. You can check your progress in this roster.
    • You can do the hikes at your own pace. You can take weeks, months, or over a year—whatever works for you.
    • You must complete all your hikes before the start of the next Hiking Challenge. We launch a new challenge about every two years.
    • Only hikes that you’ve done after Oct. 1, 2021 count toward Hiking Challenge 6.
    • You can complete the hikes on your own or as a group.
    • Please share about your hikes with the hashtag #whitesquirrelhikingchallenge (optional)
    • Feel free to share about your hikes and connect with other hikers in our Facebook group, the Conserving Carolina Community.

    The Hiking Challenge is free and open to all, but you must be a Conserving Carolina member to become a Hiking Challenge 6 Champion. If you are a member and you complete all 8 hikes, you will earn your White Squirrel Patch and exclusive perks from local businesses that support conservation, including Appalachian Coffee CompanyLazy Otter OutfittersMurphy’s Naturals, and YAM Yoga and Massage. Most importantly, you get to experience eight great places and deepen your personal connection to land conservation.

Sunday, May 15, 2022
Spring Ornithology Hike
May 15 @ 8:00 am – 11:00 am
SAHC Community Farm
Birders looking for birds on farm pasture in late winter

Enjoy an ornithology-focused walk on the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy Community Farm. Led by Simon Thompson, participants will hike the farm’s Discovery Trail searching to identify bird species. Simon is the owner and operator of Ventures Birding and has led birding trips all over the world. We are extremely excited to have him lead us on the hike. Diverse habitats across the farm lead to a great variety of bird species present.

Monday, May 16, 2022
Auditions for Hamlet
May 16 @ 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
online w/ MONTFORD PARK PLAYERS
Through June 25, 2022
The Montford Park Players is pleased to announce auditions for Hamlet, directed by Glenna Grant.
Actors will submit initial audition information online through our website at https://www.montfordparkplayers.org/abou…/volunteers-page/ and may do so at any time.
The Montford Park Players is committed to gender-neutral and race-conscious casting. ALL are welcome and invited to participate! Community theatre is at its best when it fully embraces and engages its FULL community, not just one portion.
BIPOC actors, we need you.
LGBTQIA+ actors, we need you.
Actors with disabilities, we need you.
Actors of all ages, we need you.
For auditions for Hamlet, the submission deadline is 11:59pm Saturday, June 25th, 2022. Callbacks will be held in person on Saturday & Sunday, July 2nd and 3rd, from 10am to 4pm. Callback location is TBD. The director will contact each pre-selected actor with specific times.
Hamlet will be performed Fridays through Sundays, September 23rd – October 22nd at 7:30 pm.
Specific instructions for audition submissions:
On the website above, click on the link below “Actor Season Audition Form”
Sign in to your Google account (required as most information will be shared in Google documents)
Fill out and submit the form – if you have a headshot and/or resume (not required), please upload them as part of your application.
FILMING INSTRUCTIONS
Please audition for whatever character you are most interested in! Record a 90-second video of yourself reading a Shakespeare monologue that fits the characters you’d like to be considered for – you can do so on your phone.
If possible, please film in Landscape mode, framing yourself from the waist up if able, with a neutral background. Make sure you’re well lit so that we can see your lovely face! (These are not hard and fast rules, just ideal circumstances.)
Please name your video with your name, not the default title; ex. “Smith, John Video”
On the website, click on the link below “Actor Season Video Upload Link” and upload your video.
The director will review each application and video, and will contact prospective actors for callbacks.
Important: This season, the Montford Park Players will require that all persons involved with any show must be fully vaccinated, or present a request for exemption, stating the reasons. The Executive Director, in consultation with the director, will make the final decision on the selection or non-selection of any person who is not fully vaccinated.
Anyone who is interested in a technical role only (stage management, lights, sound, etc.) should send an email to [email protected] and include your background, if any. We welcome all volunteers!
Auditions for [title of show]
May 16 @ 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Asheville Community Theatre

 

[title of show]

MUSICAL

Music and lyrics by Jeff Bowen; Book by Hunter Bell

Directed by Mark Jones; Music Direction by Rob Blackwell
About the show

AUDITION DATES: Monday, May 16 and Tuesday, May 17, 2022; 5:30-7:30 pm

PRODUCTION DATES: July 15 – August 7, 2022; Performances Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 2:30 pm; Cast must plan to arrive at least 1 hour prior to show time.

REHEARSALS: Full rehearsal calendar available at auditions – you are able to list any conflicts you have with the rehearsal schedule at this time.

DIRECTOR SEEKS: Cast of 4 including 2 men and 2 women. Actors of any gender identity, race or ethnicity will be considered for any desired role indicated on their audition sheet. All roles will be presented as they are gendered in the script.

Tuesday, May 17, 2022
Auditions for Hamlet
May 17 @ 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
online w/ MONTFORD PARK PLAYERS
Through June 25, 2022
The Montford Park Players is pleased to announce auditions for Hamlet, directed by Glenna Grant.
Actors will submit initial audition information online through our website at https://www.montfordparkplayers.org/abou…/volunteers-page/ and may do so at any time.
The Montford Park Players is committed to gender-neutral and race-conscious casting. ALL are welcome and invited to participate! Community theatre is at its best when it fully embraces and engages its FULL community, not just one portion.
BIPOC actors, we need you.
LGBTQIA+ actors, we need you.
Actors with disabilities, we need you.
Actors of all ages, we need you.
For auditions for Hamlet, the submission deadline is 11:59pm Saturday, June 25th, 2022. Callbacks will be held in person on Saturday & Sunday, July 2nd and 3rd, from 10am to 4pm. Callback location is TBD. The director will contact each pre-selected actor with specific times.
Hamlet will be performed Fridays through Sundays, September 23rd – October 22nd at 7:30 pm.
Specific instructions for audition submissions:
On the website above, click on the link below “Actor Season Audition Form”
Sign in to your Google account (required as most information will be shared in Google documents)
Fill out and submit the form – if you have a headshot and/or resume (not required), please upload them as part of your application.
FILMING INSTRUCTIONS
Please audition for whatever character you are most interested in! Record a 90-second video of yourself reading a Shakespeare monologue that fits the characters you’d like to be considered for – you can do so on your phone.
If possible, please film in Landscape mode, framing yourself from the waist up if able, with a neutral background. Make sure you’re well lit so that we can see your lovely face! (These are not hard and fast rules, just ideal circumstances.)
Please name your video with your name, not the default title; ex. “Smith, John Video”
On the website, click on the link below “Actor Season Video Upload Link” and upload your video.
The director will review each application and video, and will contact prospective actors for callbacks.
Important: This season, the Montford Park Players will require that all persons involved with any show must be fully vaccinated, or present a request for exemption, stating the reasons. The Executive Director, in consultation with the director, will make the final decision on the selection or non-selection of any person who is not fully vaccinated.
Anyone who is interested in a technical role only (stage management, lights, sound, etc.) should send an email to [email protected] and include your background, if any. We welcome all volunteers!
Auditions for [title of show]
May 17 @ 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Asheville Community Theatre

 

[title of show]

MUSICAL

Music and lyrics by Jeff Bowen; Book by Hunter Bell

Directed by Mark Jones; Music Direction by Rob Blackwell
About the show

AUDITION DATES: Monday, May 16 and Tuesday, May 17, 2022; 5:30-7:30 pm

PRODUCTION DATES: July 15 – August 7, 2022; Performances Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 2:30 pm; Cast must plan to arrive at least 1 hour prior to show time.

REHEARSALS: Full rehearsal calendar available at auditions – you are able to list any conflicts you have with the rehearsal schedule at this time.

DIRECTOR SEEKS: Cast of 4 including 2 men and 2 women. Actors of any gender identity, race or ethnicity will be considered for any desired role indicated on their audition sheet. All roles will be presented as they are gendered in the script.

Wednesday, May 18, 2022
Auditions for Hamlet
May 18 @ 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
online w/ MONTFORD PARK PLAYERS
Through June 25, 2022
The Montford Park Players is pleased to announce auditions for Hamlet, directed by Glenna Grant.
Actors will submit initial audition information online through our website at https://www.montfordparkplayers.org/abou…/volunteers-page/ and may do so at any time.
The Montford Park Players is committed to gender-neutral and race-conscious casting. ALL are welcome and invited to participate! Community theatre is at its best when it fully embraces and engages its FULL community, not just one portion.
BIPOC actors, we need you.
LGBTQIA+ actors, we need you.
Actors with disabilities, we need you.
Actors of all ages, we need you.
For auditions for Hamlet, the submission deadline is 11:59pm Saturday, June 25th, 2022. Callbacks will be held in person on Saturday & Sunday, July 2nd and 3rd, from 10am to 4pm. Callback location is TBD. The director will contact each pre-selected actor with specific times.
Hamlet will be performed Fridays through Sundays, September 23rd – October 22nd at 7:30 pm.
Specific instructions for audition submissions:
On the website above, click on the link below “Actor Season Audition Form”
Sign in to your Google account (required as most information will be shared in Google documents)
Fill out and submit the form – if you have a headshot and/or resume (not required), please upload them as part of your application.
FILMING INSTRUCTIONS
Please audition for whatever character you are most interested in! Record a 90-second video of yourself reading a Shakespeare monologue that fits the characters you’d like to be considered for – you can do so on your phone.
If possible, please film in Landscape mode, framing yourself from the waist up if able, with a neutral background. Make sure you’re well lit so that we can see your lovely face! (These are not hard and fast rules, just ideal circumstances.)
Please name your video with your name, not the default title; ex. “Smith, John Video”
On the website, click on the link below “Actor Season Video Upload Link” and upload your video.
The director will review each application and video, and will contact prospective actors for callbacks.
Important: This season, the Montford Park Players will require that all persons involved with any show must be fully vaccinated, or present a request for exemption, stating the reasons. The Executive Director, in consultation with the director, will make the final decision on the selection or non-selection of any person who is not fully vaccinated.
Anyone who is interested in a technical role only (stage management, lights, sound, etc.) should send an email to [email protected] and include your background, if any. We welcome all volunteers!