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.

Monday, December 12, 2022
Mystery Book Club
Dec 12 @ 7:00 pm
Malaprops Bookstore

 

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

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

Tuesday, December 13, 2022
World Cup Soccer on the Movie Screen
Dec 13 @ 2:00 pm
Asheville Pizza & Brewing

We will be showing all the USA World Cup games on the largest screens in town

Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award: Brent Martin’s George Masa’s Wild Vision: A Japanese Immigrant Imagines Western North Carolina
Dec 13 @ 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Reuter Center at UNCA and Virtual
George Masa’s Wild Vision
by Brent Martin
The Western North Carolina Historical Association (WNCHA) is pleased to announce Brent Martin’s George Masa’s Wild Vision: A Japanese Immigrant Imagines Western North Carolina as the 67th winner of the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award. The Award has been presented annually by the Western North Carolina Historical Association since 1955 for printed works that focus special attention on Western North Carolina.

Of the work, Catherine Frank, Chair of the selection committee, said:

  • “In ‘George Masa’s Wild Vision: A Japanese Immigrant Imagines Western North Carolina’ Brent Martin brings together Masa’s arresting images and his own reflections on walking in Masa’s footsteps to tell one of our region’s important stories in an innovative way. Masa played a pivotal role in the creation of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and the Appalachian Trail through photographs that allowed viewers to experience places they would never visit. Martin creates a portrait of a man and a region we now know a little better.”

A prize of $2,500 accompanies the engraved Literary Award trophy. Both of which will be presented to the author at the event, which will be held this year in-person and via Zoom on Tuesday, December 13 at 5:00pm. Light refreshments will be served.

Live Stream | Mara Rutherford presents The Poison Season with Kristin Dwyer, Isabel Ibañez, and Rebecca Ross
Dec 13 @ 6:00 pm
online

Image shows text: Virtual. Mara Rutherford with Kristin Dwyer, Isabel Ibañez, and Rebecca Ross. Tuesday, 12/13/22. Next to the text are photos of each author and the front cover of Rutherford's book THE POISON SEASON.

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


Outsiders are always given a choice: the Forest or the lake. Either way, they’re never heard from again.
Leelo has spent her entire life on Endla, coexisting with the bloodthirsty Forest and respecting the poisonous lake that protects her island from outsiders who seek to destroy it. But as much as Leelo cares for her community, she struggles to accept that her younger brother will be exiled by his next birthday, unless he gains the magic of enchanted song so vital to Endla.
When Leelo sees a young outsider on the verge of drowning in the lake, she knows exactly what she’s supposed to do. But in a moment that will change everything, Leelo betrays her family, her best friend, and Endla by making an unthinkable choice.
Discovery could lead to devastating consequences for both Leelo and the outsider, Jaren, but as they grow closer, Leelo realizes that not all danger comes from beyond the lake–and they can only survive if Leelo is willing to question the very fabric of her society, her people, and herself.

Mara Rutherford began her writing career as a journalist but quickly discovered she far preferred fantasy to reality. Originally from California, Mara has since lived all over the world along with her Marine-turned-diplomat husband. A triplet born on Leap Day, Mara holds a Master’s degree in Cultural Studies from the University of London.

Kristin Dwyer is the author of SOME MISTAKES WERE MADE. She grew up under the California sun and still prays every day for a cloudy sky. When she’s not writing books about people kissing Kristin works as a part-time hair model but is full-time TSA PRECHECK. One time a credible news outlet asked for her opinion on K-pop (it was the best day of her life). Please do not talk to her about your fandom, she will try to join.

Isabel Ibañez is the author of Woven in Moonlight, Together We Burn, and Written in Starlight, a finalist for the William C. Morris Award, and is listed among Time Magazine’s 100 Best Fantasy Books Of All Time. She was born in Boca Raton, Florida, and is the proud daughter of two Bolivian immigrants. Isabel has a profound appreciation for history and traveling and loves hosting family and friends around the dinner table. She currently lives in Asheville, North Carolina, with her husband, their adorable dog, and a serious collection of books. Say hi on social media!

Rebecca Ross writes fantasy novels for teens and adults. She lives in the Appalachian foothills of Northeast Georgia with her husband, their lively Australian Shepherd, and an endless pile of books. THE QUEEN’S RISING duology, SISTERS OF SWORD & SONG, and DREAMS LIE BENEATH are her titles for teen readers. A RIVER ENCHANTED and A FIRE ENDLESS are her bestselling novels for adults. When not writing, she can be found reading or in her garden, where she grows wildflowers and story ideas.

Punch Bucket Lit – A West Asheville Reading Series
Dec 13 @ 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Cellarest Beer Project

Punch Bucket Lit, West Asheville’s reading series at Cellarest Beer Project is back for more live readings in our taproom featuring authors Alysia Li Ying Sawchyn and Emily Paige Wilson. While the authors vary month-to-month you can always count on inspiring poetry, moving essays and heartfelt original literary works read aloud in the contemplative company of other lit nerds and creative types alike. We’ll booze, we’ll listen, we’ll feel feelings and we’ll see the world through a different lens for an evening.

Wednesday, December 14, 2022
YWCA Aquatics Volunteer
Dec 14 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
YWCA Asheville

YWCA of Asheville is a nonprofit organization working to bridge gaps in education, health, childcare, and earning power for women and families in the Asheville region. The mission of the YWCA of Asheville is to eliminate racism; empower women; and promote peace,  justice, freedom, and dignity for all.

The YWCA indoor pool hosts a comprehensive Aquatics Program with activities for all ages, abilities, and interests.

Volunteer Roles and Responsibilities 

  • Join the fun in the pool as a swim assistant. Help children and adults learn the basics of floating, kicking, breathing, and diving.
  • Support the Aquatics Program with behind-the-scenes administrative work or on-the-deck supervising

Time Commitment

  • Flexible time commitment

Volunteer Requirements

  • Background check
Discussion Bound Book Club
Dec 14 @ 12:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum

 

Hosted by the Asheville Art Museum, this monthly discussion is a place to exchange ideas about readings that relate to artworks and the art world and to learn from and about each other. Meetings will take place in person at the Art Museum on the second Wednesday of the month at noon. Please click here and scroll to the current month and year to see what the club is reading this month.

Discussion Bound Chasing Me to My Grave: An Artist’s Memoir of the Jim Crow South
Dec 14 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum

registration is not required

Free for Museum Members or included with Museum admission; registration is not required
The author of this memoir, Winfred Rembert, grew up as a field hand on a Georgia plantation. He embraced the Civil Rights Movement, endured political violence, survived a lynching, and spent seven years in prison on a chain gang. Years later, seeking a fresh start at age 52, Rembert discovered his gift and vision as an artist, and using the leather tooling skills he learned in prison, started etching and painting scenes from his youth.

Discussion Bound is a monthly book club where guests may exchange ideas about readings that relate to artworks and the art world, and to learn from and about each other. Books discussed are available at Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café for a 10 percent discount (malaprops.com). To add your name to our Discussion Bound mailing list, call 828.253.3227 x133.

World Cup Soccer on the Movie Screen
Dec 14 @ 2:00 pm
Asheville Pizza & Brewing

We will be showing all the USA World Cup games on the largest screens in town

Writing Out of Pain: Memoirs by WNC Authors Lecture and Book Discussion Series: Forgetting the Former Things, led by West Asheville Branch Librarian Sherry Roane
Dec 14 @ 7:00 pm
West Asheville Public Library


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

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

About the Wilma Dykeman Legacy

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

Greenville Swamp Rabbits vs. Savannah Ghost Pirates
Dec 14 @ 7:05 pm
Bon Secours Wellness Arena

Greenville Swamp Rabbits  vs.  Savannah Ghost Pirates

 

The Greenville Swamp Rabbits are much more than a professional hockey franchise playing in Upstate South Carolina; it is truly Greenville’s hockey team. Formerly known as the Road Warriors, the club rebranded to the Swamp Rabbits on August 26, 2015 in an effort to really ingrain itself in the fabric of the community. The name is inherently Greenville – specific to the city and unique in the sports world.

It’s the electrifying energy and unstoppable passion of Swamp Rabbits fans inside The Well combined with the award-winning game presentation that make attending a Swamp Rabbits game the BEST fan experience in the ECHL! From the moment you step inside the arena, you’ll find FREE concourse activities for the whole family, including sign-making, temporary tattoos, interactive games, music and there’s always a good chance you’ll run into the Swamp Rabbits mascot Stomper! Throughout the season, fans can also expect a lineup of special theme nights and exciting giveaways.

Thursday, December 15, 2022
World Cup Soccer on the Movie Screen
Dec 15 @ 2:00 pm
Asheville Pizza & Brewing

We will be showing all the USA World Cup games on the largest screens in town

Book club: ” The Matrix” by Lauren Groff
Dec 15 @ 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Citizen Vinyl

The Book for December is “The Matrix” by: Lauren Groff
Lauren Groff returns with her exhilarating first new novel since the groundbreaking Fates and Furies.

Cast out of the royal court by Eleanor of Aquitaine, deemed too coarse and rough-hewn for marriage or courtly life, 17-year-old Marie de France is sent to England to be the new prioress of an impoverished abbey, its nuns on the brink of starvation and beset by disease.

At first taken aback by the severity of her new life, Marie finds focus and love in collective life with her singular and mercurial sisters. In this crucible, Marie steadily supplants her desire for family, for her homeland, for the passions of her youth with something new to her: devotion to her sisters, and a conviction in her own divine visions. Marie, born the last in a long line of women warriors and crusaders, is determined to chart a bold new course for the women she now leads and protects. But in a world that is shifting and corroding in frightening ways, one that can never reconcile itself with her existence, will the sheer force of Marie’s vision be bulwark enough?

Equally alive to the sacred and the profane, Matrix gathers currents of violence, sensuality, and religious ecstasy in a mesmerizing portrait of consuming passion, aberrant faith, and a woman that history moves both through and around. Lauren Groff’s new novel, her first since Fates and Furies, is a defiant and timely exploration of the raw power of female creativity in a corrupted world.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/31/books/review/matrix-lauren-groff.html

December book: ” The Matrix” by Lauren Groff
Dec 15 @ 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Citizen Vinyl

The Book for December is “The Matrix” by: Lauren Groff
Lauren Groff returns with her exhilarating first new novel since the groundbreaking Fates and Furies.

Cast out of the royal court by Eleanor of Aquitaine, deemed too coarse and rough-hewn for marriage or courtly life, 17-year-old Marie de France is sent to England to be the new prioress of an impoverished abbey, its nuns on the brink of starvation and beset by disease.

At first taken aback by the severity of her new life, Marie finds focus and love in collective life with her singular and mercurial sisters. In this crucible, Marie steadily supplants her desire for family, for her homeland, for the passions of her youth with something new to her: devotion to her sisters, and a conviction in her own divine visions. Marie, born the last in a long line of women warriors and crusaders, is determined to chart a bold new course for the women she now leads and protects. But in a world that is shifting and corroding in frightening ways, one that can never reconcile itself with her existence, will the sheer force of Marie’s vision be bulwark enough?

Equally alive to the sacred and the profane, Matrix gathers currents of violence, sensuality, and religious ecstasy in a mesmerizing portrait of consuming passion, aberrant faith, and a woman that history moves both through and around. Lauren Groff’s new novel, her first since Fates and Furies, is a defiant and timely exploration of the raw power of female creativity in a corrupted world.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/31/books/review/matrix-lauren-groff.html

Flat Rock Book Club
Dec 15 @ 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
The 2nd Act

Please join us at The 2nd Act in Hendersonville, NC for our first monthly book club meeting that strives to read books that create a closer knit and more inclusive community! We will meet virtually and in person monthly to discuss a book, so read the book and then join in the discussion in person or online every third Thursday. All are welcome! At the end of each meeting we will vote on the next book! The virtual club meeting will be in Zoom format and will meet 2.5 hours after the in-person meeting (8:00pm EST). After the meeting there is live acoustic music so stay and enjoy the vibe with your new friends! Put us down on your calendar for every third Third Thursday!

The first book is going to be called Disability Visibility.

Synopsis from the back cover: One in five people in the United States lives with a disability. Some disabilities are visible, others less apparent—but all are underrepresented in media and popular culture. Now, just in time for the thirtieth anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, activist Alice Wong brings together this urgent, galvanizing collection of contemporary essays by disabled people.

From Harriet McBryde Johnson’s account of her debate with Peter Singer over her own personhood to original pieces by authors like Keah Brown and Haben Girma; from blog posts, manifestos, and eulogies to Congressional testimonies, and beyond: this anthology gives a glimpse into the rich complexity of the disabled experience, highlighting the passions, talents, and everyday lives of this community. It invites readers to question their own understandings. It celebrates and documents disability culture in the now. It looks to the future and the past with hope and love. Preview:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51456746-disability-visibility
Message me for the Zoom link to the online meetup. Thanks!

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Seattle Kraken
Dec 15 @ 7:00 pm
PNC Arena

See the source image

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

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

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

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

Friday, December 16, 2022
YWCA Aquatics Volunteer
Dec 16 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
YWCA Asheville

YWCA of Asheville is a nonprofit organization working to bridge gaps in education, health, childcare, and earning power for women and families in the Asheville region. The mission of the YWCA of Asheville is to eliminate racism; empower women; and promote peace,  justice, freedom, and dignity for all.

The YWCA indoor pool hosts a comprehensive Aquatics Program with activities for all ages, abilities, and interests.

Volunteer Roles and Responsibilities 

  • Join the fun in the pool as a swim assistant. Help children and adults learn the basics of floating, kicking, breathing, and diving.
  • Support the Aquatics Program with behind-the-scenes administrative work or on-the-deck supervising

Time Commitment

  • Flexible time commitment

Volunteer Requirements

  • Background check
World Cup Soccer on the Movie Screen
Dec 16 @ 2:00 pm
Asheville Pizza & Brewing

We will be showing all the USA World Cup games on the largest screens in town

Saturday, December 17, 2022
Greenville Winter Invitational
Dec 17 all-day
Bon Secours Wellness Arena

Watch your favorite teams play at the Greenville Winter Invitational, a multiple-team basketball showcase taking place at The Well on Saturday, December 17th.

The one-day, six-team event will feature matchups between the men’s basketball teams from Clemson University, Furman University, the University of South Carolina, East Carolina University, Stephen F. Austin State University, and University of Richmond.

Game Schedule:
• 2:00PM University of South Carolina vs. East Carolina
• 4:30PM Furman University vs. Stephen F. Austin State University
• 7:00PM Clemson University vs. University of Richmond

Several ticket options are available. These include premium courtside seats, Wicked Weed Lounge, Courtside seating, and group packages. Visit the Bon Secours Wellness Arena website for more information on the tournament and to purchase tickets. One ticket gets allows you entrance into all three matchups this day.

Second Gear’s December Non-Profit: Western Carolina Ministries
Dec 17 @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Second Gear

WCRM-2022-nonprofit-December-large(1)

Western Carolina Rescue Ministries (WCRM) exists to serve the homeless, poor, and addicted populations of Western North Carolina. As a nondenominational ministry, we meet people in crisis, focus on helping them at the point of their need, invest in their future, and help them until they can move forward.

Currently our Rescue services for men, women and children include providing meals, food boxes, overnight shelter, showers and clothing. We provide restoration services for men and women that include life counseling, job training and assistance with transitional services.

On Saturday, December 17 • 12–4 pm, come to the store and learn more about the great work they do for our community. As part of our Non-Profit of the month program, Second Gear will donate 1% of sales all month to Western Carolina Ministries.

Greenville Winter Invitational D1 Collegiate Men’s Basketball
Dec 17 @ 2:00 pm
Bon Secours Wellness Arena

Bon Secours Wellness Arena, in partnership with Furman University and VisitGreenvilleSC, is delighted to announce the inaugural Greenville Winter Invitational, a multiple-team basketball showcase taking place at The Well on Saturday, December 17th. The one-day, six-team event will feature matchups between the men’s basketball teams from Clemson University, Furman University, the University of South Carolina, East Carolina University, Stephen F. Austin State University, and University of Richmond.

Game Schedule – No reentry.

2:00PM University of South Carolina vs. East Carolina

4:30PM Furman University vs. Stephen F. Austin State University

7:00PM Clemson University vs. University of Richmond

All Inclusive Premium Seating Packages

A limited availability of all inclusive packages are available for purchase via the BSWA premium services team. Please contact [email protected] 

Wicked Weed Starting Lineup: This package includes five (5) table tickets in the Wicked Weed Lounge. Food and beverage* is included. The package price is $775.

Wicked Weed Bench: This package includes a seat in the front row of the Wicked Weed Lounge along with food and beverage*. Minimum of two (2) tickets must be purchased for this package. Tickets are $155 per seat.

Group Ticket Discount

Groups of 10 or more are eligible for a discounted rate in the General Admission seating section. An account executive from our Marketing department will facilitate your request and talk you though pricing options. Please contact [email protected]

World Cup Soccer on the Movie Screen
Dec 17 @ 2:00 pm
Asheville Pizza & Brewing

We will be showing all the USA World Cup games on the largest screens in town

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Dallas Stars
Dec 17 @ 7:00 pm
PNC Arena

See the source image

Greenville Swamp Rabbits vs. Atlanta Gladiators
Dec 17 @ 7:05 pm
Bon Secours Wellness Arena

Greenville Swamp Rabbits  vs.    Atlanta Gladiators

 

The Greenville Swamp Rabbits are much more than a professional hockey franchise playing in Upstate South Carolina; it is truly Greenville’s hockey team. Formerly known as the Road Warriors, the club rebranded to the Swamp Rabbits on August 26, 2015 in an effort to really ingrain itself in the fabric of the community. The name is inherently Greenville – specific to the city and unique in the sports world.

It’s the electrifying energy and unstoppable passion of Swamp Rabbits fans inside The Well combined with the award-winning game presentation that make attending a Swamp Rabbits game the BEST fan experience in the ECHL! From the moment you step inside the arena, you’ll find FREE concourse activities for the whole family, including sign-making, temporary tattoos, interactive games, music and there’s always a good chance you’ll run into the Swamp Rabbits mascot Stomper! Throughout the season, fans can also expect a lineup of special theme nights and exciting giveaways.

Sunday, December 18, 2022
Carolina Panthers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Dec 18 @ 1:00 pm
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC

See the source image

World Cup Soccer on the Movie Screen
Dec 18 @ 2:00 pm
Asheville Pizza & Brewing

We will be showing all the USA World Cup games on the largest screens in town

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Dec 18 @ 5:00 pm
PNC Arena

See the source image

Monday, December 19, 2022
YWCA Aquatics Volunteer
Dec 19 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
YWCA Asheville

YWCA of Asheville is a nonprofit organization working to bridge gaps in education, health, childcare, and earning power for women and families in the Asheville region. The mission of the YWCA of Asheville is to eliminate racism; empower women; and promote peace,  justice, freedom, and dignity for all.

The YWCA indoor pool hosts a comprehensive Aquatics Program with activities for all ages, abilities, and interests.

Volunteer Roles and Responsibilities 

  • Join the fun in the pool as a swim assistant. Help children and adults learn the basics of floating, kicking, breathing, and diving.
  • Support the Aquatics Program with behind-the-scenes administrative work or on-the-deck supervising

Time Commitment

  • Flexible time commitment

Volunteer Requirements

  • Background check
Tuesday, December 20, 2022
Carolina Hurricanes vs. New Jersey Devils
Dec 20 @ 7:00 pm
PNC Arena

All images