This public star gaze will be held at Grassland Mountain Observatory in Madison County, with a weather backup night of Saturday, 20 May. This event is free and open to everyone — registration is not necessary to attend. A temporary gate code, required for entry, will be provided here on the day of the star gaze by 5:00 p.m. Directions to Grassland Mountain Observatory can be found here. Sunset occurs at 8:31 p.m.

– ALL AGES
– LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED

ABBY POSNER

Abby Posner is a queer, working musician in Los Angeles. Best known for her ability to play any instrument that she can find, twisting genres, and pushing the boundaries of folk, roots, and pop music making her “Genre Fluid.”  From banjo riff to looping pedal she does it all.

Absolutely outstanding! The full package – instrumentation, songwriting, chatter, stage presence. Just an outstanding musician and human being.  Concerts at Our House

The Blue Ridge Mountains are home to a very unique creature that some say resembles a tribe of fairies carrying blue candles through the forest. 

The Blue Ghost Firefly (Phausis reticulata) is a secretive, hard-to-find native insect that calls our area home, and for a very short amount of time in early summer, they inhabit our surrounding woodlands of Transylvania County. 

You’ll experience an educational presentation at our outdoor amphitheater starting at 9:00pm and then use the cover of darkness and special flashlights to go in search of the Blue Ghost fireflies while hiking on a paved trail through the forest. Cradle of Forestry team members will be stationed at key locations around the trail to provide further information about this amazing natural phenomenon. Please feel free to congregate near these areas with your fellow firefly enthusiasts or go explore on your own! We require everyone to stay on the trail to prevent habitat damage, and team members will clear the trail and require everyone to depart by 10:30pm.

Ticket Purchase/Pre-registration is required. This is a light rain or shine, family-friendly event!
In order to maximize our participant experience while minimizing our impact on the resource, we limit each night to 125 participants. 

Killer garage punk bill with The Whiffs (KC) Rocky MTN Roller, Pleasure House (CLT) and Jonny Couch touring down from NYC!

Episcopal Church Women (ECW) will host “The Bazaar at St. John in the Wilderness” on Saturday, May 20, 2023 from 8:30am to 1pm inside the Parish Hall and grounds on the church campus. Fine items, artwork, jewelry, glassware, furniture, linens, silver, plants and more will highlight the fundraiser with proceeds assisting local charities involving women, children and families. Early bird shoppers are welcome at 7:30am with a $10 entry fee. There is no fee to shop inside the Parish Hall from 8:30 until 1pm. The Parish Hall is located across the street from the church at 1905 Greenville Highway. For more information call the church office at 828-693-9783.

Join us this April and May as members of the Blue Ridge Audubon Society guide us on a bird-watching excursion around the Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary! Binoculars are available for checkout at the North Asheville Library, but folks are welcome to bring their own! This event will be held rain or shine.

Included with admission

Embark on a scenic journey across George Vanderbilt’s Italy with a large-scale outdoor display that combines brilliant botanical designs with authentic messages written by Vanderbilt himself.

Beautifully handcrafted of natural elements, each sculptural postcard depicts a location or landmark Vanderbilt visited more than a century ago. This captivating complement to Biltmore’s Italian Renaissance Alive exhibition reveals Vanderbilt’s passions for travel, culture, architecture, and art as well as his personal experience of such renowned Italian cities as Milan, Florence, Venice, Pisa, and Vatican City.

Adding to the charm and visual appeal of Ciao! From Italy—sure to be a hit among kids of all ages—is the G-scale model train that travels in and out of each postcard in this enlightening display!

Debunk some common misconceptions about native snakes you could meet at home or in the schoolyard. Meet one of our ambassador animals and explore outside, looking for evidence of snakes in the wild. Access to The North Carolina Arboretum is free for event participants and family members. Event spaces are limited and pre-registration is required. Each registered ecoEXPLORER will receive 5 points for attending. Questions? Reach out to [email protected]!

Join us in Azalea Park at NOC Roswell for Family River Day!

Address:
203 Azalea Dr
Roswell, GA 30075

Hosted by our partners Color My Outdoors and Together Outdoors, Family River Day invites BIPOC and families from all backgrounds to enjoy the outdoors, meet local organizations, try a new activity, and learn about river safety and protection.

Event Schedule & Activities:

• 11am River craft rentals: Try out a stand-up paddleboard, canoe, sit on top kayak on land or on water! NOC Guides will show you techniques and teach you about river paddling.
• 11am Lawn Games, Community Partners, Raffles, and More!
• 12pm Live Music by BEMI
• 12pm Food Truck opens
• 1pm Stand Up Paddleboard Guided Tour with ACA Certified Instructor & Together Outdoors Coalition Lead Gerry Seavo James
• 2pm Sit on Top Kayak Guided Tour with ACA Certified Instructor & Together Outdoors lead Gerry Seavo James

Meet and chat with community groups like Visit Roswell, Bike Roswell, Chattahoochee River Keeper, Chattahoochee Nature Center, Paddle for Tomorrow, Together Outdoors, and Color My Outdoors. The National Parks Service will even be stopping in by boat!

Special thanks to our vendors and sponsors!

Join a certified forest therapy guide for a relaxing 2.5-hour stroll through the forest on the peaceful Arboretum grounds. Through a series of invitations, you’ll have the opportunity to be present in the moment, deepening your connection with nature and community, and enjoying the many gifts nature has to offer. Your guide will share mindfulness practices designed to connect you more deeply to your inner landscapes, as well as the world around you. Inspired by Shinrin-Yoku, the Japanese art of immersing oneself in a forest environment, a forest bathing walk invites you to spend time in nature in a way that invites healing for ourselves, our fraught ecosystems, and our community. It is true nature therapy!

• Special, discounted rate of $45/person (includes parking!)
• Occurs on select dates each month
• Max group size is 15 for a more intimate experience

Hit the trails and learn more about The North Carolina Arboretum’s botanically diverse forest with a guided trail walk! April through October, this free hiking program is led by trained volunteer guides who take small groups of participants along woodland trails and through a variety of forest types. Depending on the season and each guide’s area of expertise, topics of discussion may include wildflowers, plant and tree identification, natural history and more.

Guided trail walks are limited to 15 people, including the guide, and are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age. Groups depart from the Baker Visitor Center Lobby on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m..

Walks last 1.5 – 2.5 hours, are approximately one to two miles in length. As this program is held rain or shine, all participants should dress appropriately for the weather.

There is no pre-registration; walks are first-come first served and sign up sheets are located in the Baker Visitors Center.

Walks are FREE; however, donations to The North Carolina Arboretum Society are appreciated. Regular parking fees apply. Arboretum Society Members always park free.

Know Before You Go

• Guided Trail Walks are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age.
• Guided Trail Walks are rain or shine and all participants should be dressed comfortably and for the weather.
• Hikes cover 1-2 miles and last 1.5-2 hours.
• Well-behaved leashed pets are welcome to accompany their owners. In the rare case that a pet is disruptive or negatively impacts the experience, the pet and its owner may be asked to excuse themselves from the guided walk.
• COVID-19 Safety: In order to hear the guide and fully participate in the trail walk, participants will be in close proximity to one another for extended periods of time. While face coverings are not required, participants should use their best judgement to keep themselves and others safe while enjoying the trails. Individuals who are experiencing flu-like symptoms or suspect they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should not participate.
• At this time, no more than 6 spaces may be filled by a single family/group through pre-registration for any one Guided Trail Walk. If additional spaces are available on the day of the Walk, additional members of the family/group may participate. We apologize for any inconvenience and look forward to welcoming larger groups in the future.

Join us for a rooftop party on the top of the Pack Square Parking Garage off Biltmore Avenue on May 20th from 2pm-5pm at Bluegrass & Brews! Enjoy listening to three different bluegrass bands, sipping local beers, eating pretzels and more! The music lineup for this free event includes Cast Iron Bluegrass at 2pm, Bear Creek String Bandits at 3pm and Blue Ridge Tradition at 4pm.

A Special Community Concert generously sponsored by the First Congregational Church
introducing Womansong to Hendersonville:

​

Citron Gallery presents REFLECTIONS, a group exhibition featuring new works by a diverse range of national and international artists. Consisting of both literal and metaphorical meanings, reflections can appear in many different forms. The physical nature of light alters appearances and can reveal unexpected sensations. Reflections can also be internal; emotional, spiritual or cerebral, revealing distant memories. These artists have created works that aim to portray an inner dialogue for the viewer. Join us for an evening of art, music, light refreshments, and conversation.

Exhibiting artists include: Allison B. Cooke, Anna Carll, Dorothy Ganek, Eric Abrecht, Kieta Jackson, Kento Saisho, Lauren Betty, and Rand Kramer

Additional works by: Cliff Warner, Joshua Meyer

Opening Reception: Saturday, May 20th, 2023 | 5 PM – 8 PM
On View: May 20, 2023 – August 31, 2023
Location: 60 Biltmore Ave., #002 Lower Level, Asheville, NC 28801

Homeplace Beer Company and the Yancey Chamber of Commerce invite you to celebrate Yancey County, NC and all the amazing outdoor recreations in our “backyard” Saturday, May 20, 2023. NC High Peaks Trail Association lead a group hike to Phillips Knob from Homeplace Beer Company, starting at 9 am. At 5 pm, vendors from the following organizations will be set up with information, ready to chat about all the work being done to connect folks to our wonderful natural landscapes: Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation Yancey Humane Society – Tails to Trails NC High Peaks/Mount Mitchell State Park NC Outdoor Adventure Mountain BizWorks Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy The Conservancy Fund Blue Ridge Conservancy Hog Hollow Wood Fired Pizza will be serving delicious fare all night and the Homeplace Beer Co. taps will be flowing. Crystal Fountains Bluegrass will perform live on the Homeplace stage starting at 6:30 pm.

Wanna hear the best local music ​and​ drink the best local beers? Hop aboard LaZoom’s Purple Bus and rock out with a local band while we take you on a journey to Asheville’s premiere local breweries.

Asheville Tourists vs. Greensboro Grasshoppers

Come enjoy this FREE show, Saturday May 20th at French Broad Outfitters – Hominy Creek with live music 6-9PM. Pet and Family Friendly!
The Goldfish Party is celebrating their debut EP with special guests Perfumery, and KMRKLS + DJ Chrome C. Come enjoy the party!

From the regional crafters to local guide artisans, set up on the river banks of the Nantahala. Come and meet these vendors and more on the second Saturday of every month, May – September.

If you are interested in joining us as a vendor, please fill out your information here: https://forms.gle/BgqQQpY4XSGqtH6f6