Upcoming events and things to do in Asheville, NC. Below is a list of events for festivals, concerts, art exhibitions, group meetups and more.

Interested in adding an event to our calendar? Please click the green “Post Your Event” button below.

Wednesday, May 17, 2023
Biltmore Blooms
May 17 all-day
Biltmore Estate Gardens

Spring at Biltmore, one of the estate’s most glorious seasons, invites you to experience a spring break mountain escape with all the charm of a European retreat. Immerse yourself in thousands of colorful tulips as Biltmore Blooms transforms our gardens and grounds. Explore Italian Renaissance Alive and Ciao! From Italy. Savor our Winery’s award-winning vintages and, of course, the timeless elegance of Biltmore House.

  • Daytime access to 8,000 acres of gardens and grounds, including:
    • 75+ Acres of formal and informal gardens
    • 20+ Miles of hiking, biking, and walking trails
  • Antler Hill Village & Winery
  • Complimentary Wine Tasting
  • Complimentary Parking

Gardens & Grounds admission does NOT include Biltmore House entry.

PUSH Skate Camp Registration Open
May 17 all-day
Asheville Skate Park

Join us this Summer for PUSH Skate Camp at the Asheville Skate Park in downtown Asheville at 50 Cherry St N.

We’re offering 6 weeks of camp, ages 5-15

Monday-Thursday from 9am-12pm.

Skateboarders, sign up for one or more weeks! Dates are as follows:

June 12-15, 19-22,

July 10-13, 17-20,

August 7-10, 14-17.

Rollerskaters, sign up for one or more weeks! Dates are as follows:

June 19-22,

July 17-20,

August 14-17.

Sky Camp at Montgomery Sky Farm Registration Open
May 17 all-day
Montgomery Sky Farm

Montgomery sky farm is incredibly excited to offer our first summer farm camp series. Two sessions, both five-day educational programs unlike any other, for kids to learn what it is like to spend a week on a working farm.

Learn about farm basics, daily animal care, vegetable gardening, how food is grown, simple farm recipes, dirt, bees, pollination and the lifecycle of chickens! Children will get to interact and explore on our 50 acre farm, with the curriculum being taught by an educator and mom herself, Haleigh Lincoln. Sky Camp will be limited to the first 15 enrolled campers. In an effort to maintain quality learning, spaces will be extremely limited.

Daily camp will begin at 9AM with drop off at MSF and will include three hours of educational activities, unique animal encounters and a daily take home craft. We will spend the day in nature, working up close to our animals, learning about where food comes from and the ecosystem of a farm.

*The last day of camp (Friday, July 14 and Friday, August 18th) we will invite campers families and siblings to come meet & greet the animals from 11AM-12PM.

Sky Camp includes:
-5 day educational program with a different curriculum and lesson each day
-unique, animal encounters
-learn about vegetable produce, how to pick produce and basic farm recipes
-1:1 learning in a small, group setting
-Daily take home craft
-Daily snack and beverage provided
-Farm t-shirt
-Farm water bottle

Sky Camp price: $375/week
*Add on option: the Adventure package $125- customized farm backpack, farm bucket hat, carabiner clip, notepad, pencils, bug spray, sunscreen + gardening gloves

All deposits paid at the time of registration are non-refundable. Sky Camp will occur rain or shine, in the event of inclement weather, the day will be conducted in our covered barn.

Tryon Fine Arts Center Summer Art Camps Registration Open
May 17 all-day
Tryon Fine Arts Center
Summer Art Series for Youth (SASY) Camp
Summer Art Series for Youth (SASY) 2023
June 19 – 23
Our Summer Arts Camp is a one-week encounter with visual as well as performing arts. Our campers will be given the flexibility to choose their own art experience. They may want to dabble in the performing arts or take part in the visual arts or perhaps do a bit of both.
Ages 5 – 12 years. Cost: $180 – $225
PacJAM Camp
PacJAM Camp 2023
June 26 -30
Students will experience group lessons, jams, music theory, traditional art, songs, stories, and dancing, with an impressive lineup of regular and guest artists. Scholarships and instrument rentals are available.
Ages 6 year and up. Cost: $150
Theater Camp
Theater Camp 2023
July 31 – August 5
Presented in collaboration with Tryon Little Theater, the annual Summer Theater Camp allows students to put on a fully-staged production in just one week! Students learn about the ins and outs of theater-from auditions Monday morning to a fully-staged public show with lights, sound, sets,
props & costumes on Saturday!
Cost: $180 – $225
Biltmore Estate: Ciao! From Italy Sculptural Postcard Display
May 17 @ 8:30 am
Biltmore Estate

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!

Preschool Story Time: Weaverville Library
May 17 @ 10:30 am – 11:15 am
Weaverville Library

Join us for a story time designed for children ages 3 to 5 years as we share books, songs, rhymes, and activities.

Toddler Story Time: Enka-Candler Library
May 17 @ 10:30 am – 11:45 am
Enka-Candler Library

Join us for a fun and interactive story time designed for children ages 18 months to 3 years. For the safety and enjoyment of everyone, our capacity for storytime is at 40 people. Tickets are available at the front desk.

Asheville Tourists vs. Greensboro Grasshoppers
May 17 @ 11:00 am
McCormick Field

It’s Education Day at McCormick Field with a special 11:05 AM first pitch.

Pre-K Story Craft: Leicester Library
May 17 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Leicester Library

Similar to a Story Time but group discussions inspired by books will be encouraged and connected themes explored. A related craft or activity will be included.

Preschool Story Time: Pack Memorial Library
May 17 @ 3:30 pm – 4:15 pm
Pack Memorial Library

Join us for a story time designed for children ages 3 to 5 years as we share books, songs, rhymes, and activities.

PATIO: STRAWHOUSE, OLD WEATHER AND TAYLOR KNIGHTON
May 17 @ 5:00 pm
The Grey Eagle

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

STRAWHOUSE
A band based out of Asheville, NC that weaves the musicial leanings of Joey Lee Intermingling Folk, Rock, Americana, Country, and Pop writing into a style that catches your ears and sticks with you. Crafting songs starting in the Latter half of 2020, Strawhouse was built upon the prior experience playing in other projects throughout the years. With a thought provoking and soulful vocal style as well as the skillifill guitar playing of Joey Lee , Strawhouse is bringing you our brand of Folk Rock right to you.

OLD WEATHER

Absolved by time, an instinctive design. Inspired by shape and shade, shadow and line; a boy in a world left to the utterly blind.

 

An unknower of truth and seeker of mind, the unsung story of the gracious sublime.TAYLOR KNIGHTON
Singer-songwriter Taylor Knighton grew up on the Gulf Coast but now calls the mountains of Western North Carolina home. Her musical stylings reflect her southern roots, with plenty of twang, a big heartfelt voice, and a sweet pop influence. She likes to incorporate her love of mythology and folk tales into her songwriting, telling timeless stories with a fresh, fun spin.

AN EVENING WITH RIKI RACHTMAN: ONE FOOT IN THE GUTTER
May 17 @ 7:30 pm
The Grey Eagle

– AGES 18+
– FULLY SEATED SHOW
– LIMITED NUMBER OF PREMIUM SEATING TICKETS AVAILABLE

RIKI RACHTMAN

After his hugely successful spoken word show debut in Charlotte, North Carolina in September, Cathouse founder and former host of Headbangers Ball,  Riki Rachtman will take One Foot In The Gutter on the road. An intimate evening of stories, tales and true life fables from Riki himself…from growing up in Hollywood, to all the raunch roll sleaze and debauchery that happened at the Cathouse.  Never before has he shared his experiences of Headbangers Ball in an uncensored spoken word event.

 

In all the “Once In A Lifetime” moments he’s had, and he’s had A LOT, this spoken word show is a personal highlight

 

The former host of MTV’s legendary Headbanger’s Ball as well as the Founder of Hollywood’s most notorious rock club and epicenter of raunch, the infamous party place, the Cathouse, Riki did something he’s never done before:  appeared in front of a very large audience and told his stories…not only some never before shared stories of the early days with some of the biggest names in rock n roll, but he opened up with his tales of drug addiction, jail, bankruptcy and his true rags to riches to rags to riches story.

 

“One Foot In The Gutter,” is Riki’s very first speaking tour, the first time he’s discussed with an audience his career and past, how he helped define metal culture, and beyond.  Riki is uncensored, unapologetic and not at a loss for words.  What was it really like hanging with some of the biggest rock stars on the planet when the cameras weren’t on?  What really happened on MTV with Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Ozzy and others?

 

Riki explains, “In my entire career, there is nothing that I am more proud of than this show. Walking out on stage was surreal for me. I was not introducing another band as I had done for decades. I was the opener and headliner. It was bizarre for me to realize that the packed house was there for me. The show was far more than a behind the scenes Headbanger’s Ball tell all. The show was not just the description of the raunch that happened at my club Cathouse.

 

I opened up about my battles with drugs, my arrests, bankruptcy and a lot of bad choices. To know that some found inspiration in this show is the highest form of flattery.”

 

“With one show done I am ready to do it again and again and again. I will incorporate multimedia more and deliver an experience with highs and low’s. The idea of taking OFITG on tour truly is not only a dream come true, but the highlight of my career”.

HARI KONDABOLU
May 17 @ 8:00 pm
The Orange Peel
Ages 18+

FULLY SEATED SHOW

Hari Kondabolu is a comedian, writer and podcaster based in Brooklyn. The NY Times called him “one of the most exciting political comics in stand-up today” and described his 2018 Netflix special Warn Your Relatives as “an incisively funny and formally adventurous hour that reveals a comic in command of his powers.” The special was named on many “Best of” lists, including for TimePaste MagazineCosmopolitan, E! Online, and Mashable. He was also named one of 2018’s “Comics To Watch” by Variety. Hari currently hosts the new Netflix food competition series Snack vs Chef along with Megan Stalter.

In 2017, his truTV documentary The Problem with Apu was released to critical acclaim and spurred a global conversation about race and representation. The Nation called it “a devastating critique of the ultimate comedic sacred cow: The Simpsons.” It is now used in high school, college and grad school curriculums around the US.

Hari has also released two comedy albums, Waiting for 2042 & Mainstream American Comic with legendary indie rock label Kill Rock Stars. Additionally, he has performed on such shows as ConanJimmy Kimmel Live, and The Late Show with David Letterman among many others. He is also a former writer & correspondent on the much loved, Chris Rock produced FX show Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell.

A regular on the public radio, Hari is a panelist on the NPR game show Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me. As a podcaster, he co-hosted the popular Politically Reactive with dear friend W. Kamau Bell. Additionally, he also co-hosts what he politely describes as a “pop up podcast,” The Untitled Kondabolu Brothers Podcast with his younger brother Ashok (“Dap” from HBO’s Chillin’ Island and defunct rap group Das Racist.)

Hari attended both Bowdoin College and Wesleyan University, graduating from the former institution with a B.A. in Comparative Politics. A former immigrant rights organizer in Seattle who worked under the leadership of now-Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, Hari also earned a Masters in Human Rights from the London School of Economics in 2008. He was the “Artist In Residence” at NYU’s APA Institute for the 2014-2015 Academic Year and at Shangri La Museum in Honolulu in 2018.

Blue Ghost Firefly Twilight Tour
May 17 @ 9:00 pm – 10:30 pm
Cradle of Forestry in America

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. 

Puppet Playtime: East Asheville Library
May 17 @ 10:00 pm – 11:30 pm
East Asheville Library

Join us each week for imaginative playtime with puppets! Puppet play has the potential to improve language skills, creativity, social awareness, and more. Perfect for ages 0-5. Children must be supervised at all times.

Preschool Story Time: Black Mountain Library
May 17 @ 10:30 pm – 11:15 pm
Black Mountain Library

Join us for a story time designed for children ages 3 to 5 years as we share books, songs, rhymes, and activities.

Thursday, May 18, 2023
Biltmore Blooms
May 18 all-day
Biltmore Estate Gardens

Spring at Biltmore, one of the estate’s most glorious seasons, invites you to experience a spring break mountain escape with all the charm of a European retreat. Immerse yourself in thousands of colorful tulips as Biltmore Blooms transforms our gardens and grounds. Explore Italian Renaissance Alive and Ciao! From Italy. Savor our Winery’s award-winning vintages and, of course, the timeless elegance of Biltmore House.

  • Daytime access to 8,000 acres of gardens and grounds, including:
    • 75+ Acres of formal and informal gardens
    • 20+ Miles of hiking, biking, and walking trails
  • Antler Hill Village & Winery
  • Complimentary Wine Tasting
  • Complimentary Parking

Gardens & Grounds admission does NOT include Biltmore House entry.

Cinderella Magic Package
May 18 all-day
online w/ Flat Rock Playhouse

We are excited to bring this special package to you and your loved ones. It’s super easy!

  1. Pick your show date – June 14, 17, 21, 24 (Evening only)
  2. Choose 2 Adult Seats and 2 Student Seats
  3. At Checkout, discount will be applied

Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo!

Your wish is granted!

TICKETS + INFO

If you have any problems, our Box Office is happy to help!

828.693.0731

PUSH Skate Camp Registration Open
May 18 all-day
Asheville Skate Park

Join us this Summer for PUSH Skate Camp at the Asheville Skate Park in downtown Asheville at 50 Cherry St N.

We’re offering 6 weeks of camp, ages 5-15

Monday-Thursday from 9am-12pm.

Skateboarders, sign up for one or more weeks! Dates are as follows:

June 12-15, 19-22,

July 10-13, 17-20,

August 7-10, 14-17.

Rollerskaters, sign up for one or more weeks! Dates are as follows:

June 19-22,

July 17-20,

August 14-17.

Sky Camp at Montgomery Sky Farm Registration Open
May 18 all-day
Montgomery Sky Farm

Montgomery sky farm is incredibly excited to offer our first summer farm camp series. Two sessions, both five-day educational programs unlike any other, for kids to learn what it is like to spend a week on a working farm.

Learn about farm basics, daily animal care, vegetable gardening, how food is grown, simple farm recipes, dirt, bees, pollination and the lifecycle of chickens! Children will get to interact and explore on our 50 acre farm, with the curriculum being taught by an educator and mom herself, Haleigh Lincoln. Sky Camp will be limited to the first 15 enrolled campers. In an effort to maintain quality learning, spaces will be extremely limited.

Daily camp will begin at 9AM with drop off at MSF and will include three hours of educational activities, unique animal encounters and a daily take home craft. We will spend the day in nature, working up close to our animals, learning about where food comes from and the ecosystem of a farm.

*The last day of camp (Friday, July 14 and Friday, August 18th) we will invite campers families and siblings to come meet & greet the animals from 11AM-12PM.

Sky Camp includes:
-5 day educational program with a different curriculum and lesson each day
-unique, animal encounters
-learn about vegetable produce, how to pick produce and basic farm recipes
-1:1 learning in a small, group setting
-Daily take home craft
-Daily snack and beverage provided
-Farm t-shirt
-Farm water bottle

Sky Camp price: $375/week
*Add on option: the Adventure package $125- customized farm backpack, farm bucket hat, carabiner clip, notepad, pencils, bug spray, sunscreen + gardening gloves

All deposits paid at the time of registration are non-refundable. Sky Camp will occur rain or shine, in the event of inclement weather, the day will be conducted in our covered barn.

Summer Camps at Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute-PARI
May 18 all-day
PARI

Camps for all passions and interests

Summer STEM & Astronomy, and Space Exploration Camps

Residential summer camps for kids in grades 6th-12th on topics like astronomy, robotics, cryptography, and 3D modeling and printing, and more. Including our premiere camp experience, Above and Beyond.

25" Optical telescope observing at night

Weekend STEM & Astronomy, and Space Exploration Camps

Curriculum or astronomical event based camps for educators and scout leaders.

Don Cline making presentation

Tailored Camps

Build your own camping experience according to your interest.

Summer Counselor Application
6/1 – 7/31
Ages 17 years 6 months – 99
$0.00
REGISTER
Counselor in Training Application – Full Summer Session
6/11 2 PM – 7/27 10 AM
Ages 16 years 6 months – 18 years 6 mont
$0.00
REGISTER
Counselor in Training Application – Mini Session 1
6/11 2 PM – 6/30 10 AM
Ages 16 years 6 months – 18 years 6 mont
$0.00
REGISTER
Exoplanet Exploration
6/11 4 PM – 6/22 10 AM
Grades 8th – 12th
$3,960.00
REGISTER
Secrets of a Spy Station
6/25 4 PM – 6/30 10 AM
Grades 6th – 8th
$1,700.00
REGISTER
Counselor in Training Application – Mini Session 2
7/2 2 PM – 7/27 10 AM
Ages 16 years 6 months – 18 years 6 mont
$0.00
REGISTER
Above & Beyond
7/2 4 PM – 7/13 10 AM
Grades 9th – 12th
$3,960.00
REGISTER
Milky Way Trailblazers
7/16 4 PM – 7/27 10 AM
Grades 9th – 12th
$3,960.00
REGISTER
Tryon Fine Arts Center Summer Art Camps Registration Open
May 18 all-day
Tryon Fine Arts Center
Summer Art Series for Youth (SASY) Camp
Summer Art Series for Youth (SASY) 2023
June 19 – 23
Our Summer Arts Camp is a one-week encounter with visual as well as performing arts. Our campers will be given the flexibility to choose their own art experience. They may want to dabble in the performing arts or take part in the visual arts or perhaps do a bit of both.
Ages 5 – 12 years. Cost: $180 – $225
PacJAM Camp
PacJAM Camp 2023
June 26 -30
Students will experience group lessons, jams, music theory, traditional art, songs, stories, and dancing, with an impressive lineup of regular and guest artists. Scholarships and instrument rentals are available.
Ages 6 year and up. Cost: $150
Theater Camp
Theater Camp 2023
July 31 – August 5
Presented in collaboration with Tryon Little Theater, the annual Summer Theater Camp allows students to put on a fully-staged production in just one week! Students learn about the ins and outs of theater-from auditions Monday morning to a fully-staged public show with lights, sound, sets,
props & costumes on Saturday!
Cost: $180 – $225
Wild West Adventure Trips w/ Nantahala Outdoor Center
May 18 all-day
various locations
Biltmore Estate: Ciao! From Italy Sculptural Postcard Display
May 18 @ 8:30 am
Biltmore Estate

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!

Preschool Story Time: Swannanoa Library
May 18 @ 10:30 am – 11:15 am
Swannanoa Library

Join us for a story time designed for children ages 3 to 5 years as we share books, songs, rhymes, and activities.

Toddler Story Time: Fairview Library
May 18 @ 10:30 am – 11:15 am
Fairview Library

Join us for a fun and interactive story time designed for children ages 18 months to 3 years.

Toddler Story Time: Leicester Library
May 18 @ 10:30 am – 11:15 am
Leicester Library

Join us for a fun and interactive story time designed for children ages 18 months to 3 years.

Sklyand Library LEGO HOUR
May 18 @ 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Skyland/South Buncombe Library

Join us for free-form LEGO building every other Thursday afternoon, at 3:30pm!  All ages 5 and up are welcome, but anyone under 10 years old will need to be accompanied by a caregiver.

LEGO is provided.  Please leave your personal bricks at home.

Herpetology Season
May 18 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Leicester Library

Join us for an educational program with the North Carolina Arboretum to learn all about the many different Herptiles that call Western North Carolina their home! What’s a Herptile you ask? Herptiles are reptiles and amphibians! Come ready to hear about the ecoEXPLORE program, find out what distinguishes Herptiles from other animals, where different Herptiles live, what they eat, how they breathe, plus much more!

 

Story Explorers: Spring into Gardening for Kids!
May 18 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Pack Memorial Library
4 – 5pmSign Up
Location: Pack Memorial Library – 67 Haywood St. – Asheville
  Join the Buncombe County Extension Master Gardeners for fun activities and stories all about spring plants and seeds.

Explore a new topic each month through stories and hands-on S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) activities. Grades K-5.