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.

Thursday, May 18, 2023
LAZOOM: CITY COMEDY TOUR
May 18 @ 10:00 am
LaZoom Room

Learn Asheville’s history, discover hidden gems, and laugh at LaZoom’s quirky sense of adventure.

  • Guided comedy tour bus of historical Asheville
  • 90-Minutes – tours run daily
  • 15-minute break at Green Man Brewing
  • $39 per person (ages 13+ only)
Online Tenants Rights Workshop
May 18 @ 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
online w/ Just Economics and Pisgah Legal Services

Just Economics and Pisgah Legal Services are co-sponsoring a workshop for renters to learn their rights as tenants in NC. There will be a presentation and question and answer session with Pisgah Legal Services followed by a discussion with Just Economics about the Tenants’ Network. The goal of this workshop is to educate tenants about their rights as renters in North Carolina and begin connecting tenants to resources and to each other.

Through these workshops, Just Economics will facilitate the formation of a local Tenants’ Network. The purpose of having a Tenants Network is to build solidarity among tenants and between renters and the community, to organize mutual aid networks and to empower renters and community supporters to come together for projects to improve our neighborhoods. Additionally, the Tenants Network will be a way for renters to collectively advocate for public policies that favor the interests and rights of tenants and to take collective action to fight back when tenants face injustice.

Ashevillians Comedy Showcase
May 18 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Eurisko

Hops Around Comedy is a rotating show presented by Modelface Comedy that takes place in all your favorite Asheville breweries. This week we are at Eurisko Brewing in the South Slope!!!!

Ashevillians Comedy Showcase is a celebration of some of the best comedians in the Mountains!

Featuring Art Sturtevant, Jess Cooley, Josie Beers, Ryan Cox and more!!

ages 18+

LAZOOM Tours: GHOST COMEDY BUS TOUR
May 18 @ 7:00 pm
LaZoom Room


GHOST COMEDY BUS TOUR

Grab a local beer, crucifix and a rubber chicken* —You might survive this hour long hilarious haunted ghost tour of Asheville.

  • Guided comedy bus tour of Haunted Asheville
  • 60 minutes; tours run nightly after dark
  • $33 per person (Ages 17+ only)
  • Departs from 76 Biltmore Avenue

*Legal Note: Crucifix not required to board the bus; we do not condone exorcisms, chickens, rubber, or any combination of the three.

Friday, May 19, 2023
LAZOOM: CITY COMEDY TOUR
May 19 @ 10:00 am
LaZoom Room

Learn Asheville’s history, discover hidden gems, and laugh at LaZoom’s quirky sense of adventure.

  • Guided comedy tour bus of historical Asheville
  • 90-Minutes – tours run daily
  • 15-minute break at Green Man Brewing
  • $39 per person (ages 13+ only)
Comedy at Catawba: Ryan Brown
May 19 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Catawba Brewing Company - South Slope

Every Sunday evening Modelface Comedy brings you the best comedians from all over the country

Ryan Brown is a comedian and writer raised in North Carolina, where he’s currently based after 8 years of living and performing in NYC. His jokes combine an analytical worldview with child-like curiosity to create something equal parts insightful and ridiculous. In New York, Ryan was a regular at Comic Strip Live, Broadway Comedy Club, Carolines on Broadway and more. He can now be seen performing constantly in the Raleigh area and all over the country. Ryan’s also been featured in numerous festivals including the New York Comedy Festival, Cape Fear Comedy Festival, Laugh Your Asheville Off and Oak City.

 

ages 18+

Early show: doors at 6:30pm, show at 7pm

LAZOOM Tours: GHOST COMEDY BUS TOUR
May 19 @ 7:00 pm
LaZoom Room


GHOST COMEDY BUS TOUR

Grab a local beer, crucifix and a rubber chicken* —You might survive this hour long hilarious haunted ghost tour of Asheville.

  • Guided comedy bus tour of Haunted Asheville
  • 60 minutes; tours run nightly after dark
  • $33 per person (Ages 17+ only)
  • Departs from 76 Biltmore Avenue

*Legal Note: Crucifix not required to board the bus; we do not condone exorcisms, chickens, rubber, or any combination of the three.

Saturday, May 20, 2023
LAZOOM: CITY COMEDY TOUR
May 20 @ 10:00 am
LaZoom Room

Learn Asheville’s history, discover hidden gems, and laugh at LaZoom’s quirky sense of adventure.

  • Guided comedy tour bus of historical Asheville
  • 90-Minutes – tours run daily
  • 15-minute break at Green Man Brewing
  • $39 per person (ages 13+ only)
LAZOOM Tours: Kids’ Comedy Tour
May 20 @ 11:00 am
LaZoom Room


Kids’ Comedy Tour: 
Wildly funny, this educational and entertaining tour features the perfect blend of Asheville’s history and kid-centric comedy. Geared specifically toward the 5–12 year old crowd, you’ll explore the town with our famously outlandish tour guides leading the way.

  • Perfect for birthday parties
  • Makes for memorable school field trips
  • Tickets are $27 per person
  • Beverages available for purchase at the LaZoom Room
  • Departs from 76 Biltmore Avenue
Magnetic U – Designer Series: Costuming Tips + Tricks
May 20 @ 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
The Magnetic Theatre

Have you ever needed to sew a button, or quickly fix a hem moments before going on stage, or during a performance? Do you ever find yourself wandering through local thrift shops thinking, “this would be the perfect shirt for a show costume,” but when it comes time to put the costume together you’re not so sure it’s the perfect shirt? Or maybe you’ve needed to take a costume from drab to fab (or vice versa) but you weren’t quite sure how to get there. Ashleigh Goff will lead participants in our Costuming Tips & Tricks course through some costume assembly and repair basics, and discuss design practices that she has used to costume shows in the past. She’ll share some costuming techniques, and each student will walk away having practiced some skills they can put to use.

LAZOOM Tours: GHOST COMEDY BUS TOUR
May 20 @ 7:00 pm
LaZoom Room


GHOST COMEDY BUS TOUR

Grab a local beer, crucifix and a rubber chicken* —You might survive this hour long hilarious haunted ghost tour of Asheville.

  • Guided comedy bus tour of Haunted Asheville
  • 60 minutes; tours run nightly after dark
  • $33 per person (Ages 17+ only)
  • Departs from 76 Biltmore Avenue

*Legal Note: Crucifix not required to board the bus; we do not condone exorcisms, chickens, rubber, or any combination of the three.

Sunday, May 21, 2023
Looking Glass Rock Writers Conference
May 21 all-day
Brevard College--Porter Center

 May 18-21. Nationally renowned writers give public readings of their work and lead workshops in fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Begins at 7:30 p.m.

LAZOOM: CITY COMEDY TOUR
May 21 @ 10:00 am
LaZoom Room

Learn Asheville’s history, discover hidden gems, and laugh at LaZoom’s quirky sense of adventure.

  • Guided comedy tour bus of historical Asheville
  • 90-Minutes – tours run daily
  • 15-minute break at Green Man Brewing
  • $39 per person (ages 13+ only)
MOVE an Improv Workshop at Catawba Brewing with Joe Carroll
May 21 @ 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Catawba Brewing

Join us at Catawba Brewing for an afternoon of improv comedy! “Move” workshop is focused on turning off your inner critic and embracing the moment. Joe Carroll will lead exercises that utilize movement and sound to get out of your head. Improv is a great way to build self-confidence, public speaking skills, and to connect with this awesome community. It’s also a lot of fun!

Open to all improv levels

ages 18+

Signup $40*

*sliding scale available

Instructor Bio:

Joe Carroll currently teaches improv Levels 1-4 at the Black Mountain Center for the Arts. He began improvising at Appalachian State University in 2007 and taught workshops and classes at the Asheville Improv Collective. Joe has performed at the Dirty South Improv Festival, NC Comedy Arts Festival, Asheville Yes Fest, AIC Fest, Hell Yes Fest, the Asheville Fringe Festival, the Secret City Festival, and Chicago’s Annoyance Theater. He currently performs in his one man show “JOLO”, the all-star ensemble “The No-See-Ums”, and comedy duo “Mabel’s Baby”.

LAZOOM Tours: GHOST COMEDY BUS TOUR
May 21 @ 7:00 pm
LaZoom Room


GHOST COMEDY BUS TOUR

Grab a local beer, crucifix and a rubber chicken* —You might survive this hour long hilarious haunted ghost tour of Asheville.

  • Guided comedy bus tour of Haunted Asheville
  • 60 minutes; tours run nightly after dark
  • $33 per person (Ages 17+ only)
  • Departs from 76 Biltmore Avenue

*Legal Note: Crucifix not required to board the bus; we do not condone exorcisms, chickens, rubber, or any combination of the three.

Monday, May 22, 2023
LAZOOM: CITY COMEDY TOUR
May 22 @ 10:00 am
LaZoom Room

Learn Asheville’s history, discover hidden gems, and laugh at LaZoom’s quirky sense of adventure.

  • Guided comedy tour bus of historical Asheville
  • 90-Minutes – tours run daily
  • 15-minute break at Green Man Brewing
  • $39 per person (ages 13+ only)
LAZOOM Tours: GHOST COMEDY BUS TOUR
May 22 @ 7:00 pm
LaZoom Room


GHOST COMEDY BUS TOUR

Grab a local beer, crucifix and a rubber chicken* —You might survive this hour long hilarious haunted ghost tour of Asheville.

  • Guided comedy bus tour of Haunted Asheville
  • 60 minutes; tours run nightly after dark
  • $33 per person (Ages 17+ only)
  • Departs from 76 Biltmore Avenue

*Legal Note: Crucifix not required to board the bus; we do not condone exorcisms, chickens, rubber, or any combination of the three.

Tuesday, May 23, 2023
LAZOOM: CITY COMEDY TOUR
May 23 @ 10:00 am
LaZoom Room

Learn Asheville’s history, discover hidden gems, and laugh at LaZoom’s quirky sense of adventure.

  • Guided comedy tour bus of historical Asheville
  • 90-Minutes – tours run daily
  • 15-minute break at Green Man Brewing
  • $39 per person (ages 13+ only)
LAZOOM Tours: GHOST COMEDY BUS TOUR
May 23 @ 7:00 pm
LaZoom Room


GHOST COMEDY BUS TOUR

Grab a local beer, crucifix and a rubber chicken* —You might survive this hour long hilarious haunted ghost tour of Asheville.

  • Guided comedy bus tour of Haunted Asheville
  • 60 minutes; tours run nightly after dark
  • $33 per person (Ages 17+ only)
  • Departs from 76 Biltmore Avenue

*Legal Note: Crucifix not required to board the bus; we do not condone exorcisms, chickens, rubber, or any combination of the three.

Wednesday, May 24, 2023
LAZOOM: CITY COMEDY TOUR
May 24 @ 10:00 am
LaZoom Room

Learn Asheville’s history, discover hidden gems, and laugh at LaZoom’s quirky sense of adventure.

  • Guided comedy tour bus of historical Asheville
  • 90-Minutes – tours run daily
  • 15-minute break at Green Man Brewing
  • $39 per person (ages 13+ only)
LAZOOM Tours: GHOST COMEDY BUS TOUR
May 24 @ 7:00 pm
LaZoom Room


GHOST COMEDY BUS TOUR

Grab a local beer, crucifix and a rubber chicken* —You might survive this hour long hilarious haunted ghost tour of Asheville.

  • Guided comedy bus tour of Haunted Asheville
  • 60 minutes; tours run nightly after dark
  • $33 per person (Ages 17+ only)
  • Departs from 76 Biltmore Avenue

*Legal Note: Crucifix not required to board the bus; we do not condone exorcisms, chickens, rubber, or any combination of the three.

Tom Tenbrunsel Virtual Writers Workshop: Poetry on my Mind
May 24 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
online w/ Carl Sandburg Home

You will find Tom Tenbrunsel a delightfully refreshing poet with a wide variety of subject matter and a style somewhere between Sandburg, Frost and the late Appalachian poet James Wright. Tom challenges one’s whit with a refreshing array of non-conforming rhyme, structure, rhythm and oft made-up words and hidden meanings. Uniquely Tom includes a photo and Author’s Notes with each poem. Join us in May to engage the spirit and myth of poetry with Tom’s “Poetry on my Mind”

Casual Poetry/Poetry on my Mind. Tom will read a couple poems for fun. He will ask guests to write a
short poem from a prompt with feedback from the group. Tom would like guests to feel free to bring short
poems to read and discuss. He encourages questions about writing poetry, about a poem of his or his
journey as a poet or his Self Help Series. So familiarize yourself with his works by scanning his website,
tenbrunsel.com Comments or questions are welcomed. Or feel free to email him in advance at
[email protected].  Check out his website tenbrunsel.com before the workshop. Send in one of your
poems to be commented on by Tom.

This workshop is open to writers of all skill levels and is a fun way to find inspiration from a new prompt or revise current work. It is hosted by the Friends of Carl Sandburg at Connemara and will use Microsoft Teams for the virtual connection. Sign up to attend the workshop here!

A writer and a poet, Dr. Tenbrunsel enjoyed a long successful career in Clinical Psychology. Born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, Tom graduated from Bellarmine University, obtained his doctorate from St Louis University in 1969. He taught, published and was in administration at Michigan State University and was VP for Advancement at the University of Alabama at Huntsville. He and his wife reside in the Appalachians of Western North Carolina. They have three successful children and eight grand grandchildren. Dr T. enjoys photography, gardening, cycling, hiking, camping and stalking the elusive trout. His writings and publications speak for themselves. He has published numerous books including:  Casual Gardening,  Poetry on My Mind, The Fund Raising Resource Manual,  The Fund Raising Handbook, Fund-Raising and Grantsmanship:  Getting Money from the Community for the Community, The Lansing Area Doctors Directory, 1&2,   Dissertation “A Group Coupon Economy Program in Treating Mental Illness:  An Experiment in Social Innovation”,   A Wrinkle in My Time: My Memoirs (a work in progress)

Thursday, May 25, 2023
LAZOOM: CITY COMEDY TOUR
May 25 @ 10:00 am
LaZoom Room

Learn Asheville’s history, discover hidden gems, and laugh at LaZoom’s quirky sense of adventure.

  • Guided comedy tour bus of historical Asheville
  • 90-Minutes – tours run daily
  • 15-minute break at Green Man Brewing
  • $39 per person (ages 13+ only)
LAZOOM Tours: GHOST COMEDY BUS TOUR
May 25 @ 7:00 pm
LaZoom Room


GHOST COMEDY BUS TOUR

Grab a local beer, crucifix and a rubber chicken* —You might survive this hour long hilarious haunted ghost tour of Asheville.

  • Guided comedy bus tour of Haunted Asheville
  • 60 minutes; tours run nightly after dark
  • $33 per person (Ages 17+ only)
  • Departs from 76 Biltmore Avenue

*Legal Note: Crucifix not required to board the bus; we do not condone exorcisms, chickens, rubber, or any combination of the three.

Slice of Life Comedy Open Mic + Feature Comedy at Pulp Lounge
May 25 @ 8:00 pm
Pulp Lounge

5.25.23 The Orange Peel’s Comedy Basement PULP
What: Stand up Comedy at The Orange Peel’s Pulp Lounge
When: Thursday 5.25.2023. 8p-10p, doors at 7:30p
Where: The Orange Peel’s Comedy Basement, Pulp Lounge103 Hilliard Ave, Downtown Asheville
Tickets: $14 (available at door or The Orange Peel website)
Cocktails available while you laugh the night away to some of the area’s best Stand Up Comics in a ridiculously fun adult environment!! .
Open mic comics signup at door get 3-5m. [Free entry for performing comics, free snacks at comics table]
Feature TBA
Host Cody Hughes: Cody is a comedian who cut his teeth in Chicago and Atlanta. He is now based out of West North Carolina and tours the Southeast. He has opened for Lewis Black, John Oliver and Maria Bamford among others and hosts the regular Slice of Life Comedy shows at The Orange Peel’s Pulp Lounge.
About Pulp: The speakeasy inspired hideaway offers a cozy space for show-goers to relax and enjoy a beverage during the concert. Boasting over 200 different Bourbons and Whiskeys, alongside a myriad of other spirits, it is a must-visit for cocktail lovers and Bourbon sippers alike. Pulp will also open various other nights to feature local artists and “Slice of Life” open-mic comedy nights. To stay informed with the happenings at Pulp, visit the Orange Peel’s website, and follow @pulp_avl on Instagram.

Friday, May 26, 2023
LAZOOM: CITY COMEDY TOUR
May 26 @ 10:00 am
LaZoom Room

Learn Asheville’s history, discover hidden gems, and laugh at LaZoom’s quirky sense of adventure.

  • Guided comedy tour bus of historical Asheville
  • 90-Minutes – tours run daily
  • 15-minute break at Green Man Brewing
  • $39 per person (ages 13+ only)
Asheville Beer Week: Comedy at Catawba: Ayanna Dookie
May 26 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Catawba Brewing Company South Slope

Every Friday Modelface Comedy brings you the best comedians from all over the country. This week we have Ayanna Dookie from NYC!

Ayanna Dookie is a stand-up comedian, writer, and storyteller. The daughter of immigrants, Ayanna’s humor is reflective of growing up Brown, Black, woman, and first generation American.

She has been featured on HBO’s Pause with Sam Jay, truTV’s Laff Tracks, 2 Dope Queens on WNYC, NPR’s Snap Judgement, Fox’s Laughs, and AXS TV’s Gotham Comedy Live. Her writing can be seen on BET’s 50 Central and MTV’s Wild n’ Out.

 

featuring TBA

ages 18+

Early show doors at 6:30, show at 7pm

Comedy at Catawba: Jenny Zigrino (early show)
May 26 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Catawba Brewing Company - South Slope

Every Friday Modelface Comedy brings you the best comedians from all over the country. This week we have Jenny Zigrino from Los Angeles!

With the sweetness of the midwest and the sharp edge of the east coast, Jenny Zigrino brings a powerful comedic performance to any stage. She combines hilarious anecdotes and sharp, witty observations with a cheeky style that challenges social norms and what it means to be human. Her brutal honesty and undeniable charm create a compelling comedic experience you won’t forget.

She made her late night debut on Conan with Conan O’Brien and performed a total of three guest appearances. She was a Just For Laugh’s New Faces in 2016 and since then has been featured on Comedy Central, MTV, TBS, and many others. She starred in films such as Bad Santa 2 along Billy Bob Thornton and in the horror comedy Too Late in 2021. She’s headlined festivals like Moon Tower, New York Comedy Festival, and High Plains Comedy Festival. She’s written and performed several comedy specials including Comedy Central Presents the Half Hours. Her latest appearance on The Late Late Show with James Corden in 2023 was met with rave reviews. Her brand new hour, Jen-Z, is available now on Comedy Central’s

 

featuring Good Cop/ Rad Cop

ages 18+

Early show doors at 6:30, show at 7pm

Late show doors at 9, show at 9:30pm

JACQUELINE NOVAK: GET ON YOUR KNEES
May 26 @ 7:00 pm
The Orange Peel

Ages 18+ FULLY SEATED SHOW

Ostensibly a hilarious stand-up show about the blowjob, Get on Your Knees is also an unexpectedly philosophical, coming-of-age tale of triumph. A break-out hit off-Broadway, audiences returned for repeat viewings across multiple sold out runs in NYC. This New York Times “Critic’s Pick” earned Jacqueline a Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Solo Performance. Jacqueline has since toured the show nationally and internationally. This tour is the very last chance to see Get on Your Knees live.

“Brilliant…”- The New York Times

“Clearly her masterwork.” – New York Magazine

“An overthinker’s delight… – The New Yorker

“The true subject of Get on Your Knees is language and its beautiful, delusional attempts to make amends for human finitude.” – New York Review of Books, by Andrea Long Chu

“In a moment when the boundaries between high and low culture have all but dissolved, Novak has found one of the few remaining tensions to play with.” – Paris Review

“The jokes are tremendous.” – Natasha Lyonne for Interview Magazine

“It was a staggering show.” – Miranda July

“…as if Andrea Dworkin and Spaulding Gray had a child they made listen to only Moms Mabley and read only Mary Oliver.” – Jeremy O. Harris

“I howled the whole time.” – Amy Sedaris

“Ladies and Gentlemen, I have seen the Muhammad Ali of comedy.” – John Mulaney

LAZOOM Tours: GHOST COMEDY BUS TOUR
May 26 @ 7:00 pm
LaZoom Room


GHOST COMEDY BUS TOUR

Grab a local beer, crucifix and a rubber chicken* —You might survive this hour long hilarious haunted ghost tour of Asheville.

  • Guided comedy bus tour of Haunted Asheville
  • 60 minutes; tours run nightly after dark
  • $33 per person (Ages 17+ only)
  • Departs from 76 Biltmore Avenue

*Legal Note: Crucifix not required to board the bus; we do not condone exorcisms, chickens, rubber, or any combination of the three.