Calendar of Events
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.
Explore artist booths in the Folk Art Center auditorium for a variety of gift items including ceramics, jewelry, fiber, apparel, paper, glass, wood, and more for the holidays. This artist market is an opportunity for our member artisans to sell their work at discounted prices, allowing visitors to find great deals on handmade finely crafted items. Join us for the first two Saturdays in December from 10am-4pm for the Holiday Sale! Please note, that this sale does not apply to items in the Allanstand Craft Shop at the Folk Art Center.
Hive Ambition, Blue Ridge Artisan Market and Horse Shoe Farms are partnering up to host THE holiday market of the season, WNC Wonderland – a fundraiser benefitting The Creative Resilience Fund created by Brittany from @blue.ridge.artisan.market 💙
This event will include 20+ makers, artists, and creatives and is the perfect ‘one-stop shop’ for all of your holiday gifts.
The WNC artist community has been hit hard by Hurricane Helene and they need your support more than ever – come spend the day with us and show our creative community some love!
Don’t miss out on a perfect day filled with:
❄️ Supporting local artists and getting all your holiday shopping done!
❄️ Food and food options – including a s’mores station!!
❄️ A holiday themed Photo Booth by the lovely Sami over at @ashevilleflowerwalls – perfect for family photos!
❄️ A chance to win AMAZING raffle baskets from @hiveambition @blue.ridge.artisan.market and @thehorseshoefarm
❄️ A kids play area with a coloring station and fun-filled activities!
❄️ An opportunity to explore the beautiful @thehorseshoefarm property
This is a market you will want to spend the entire day at, so join us from 10am-3pm on December 14 to Shop Local and Support Hope 💝
A HUGE shoutout to the generosity of:
@blue.ridge.artisan.market for curating the artists and makers (and for collaborating to help put this entire market together!!!)
@thehorseshoefarm for donating their beautiful space
@kaleidoscopic.creative for donating their time and talent in our graphic design
@ashevilleflowerwalls for donating what will be an awesome Photo Booth
Saturdays from 10:30 AM – 12 PM
The Sunnyside salvaging process is underway, and despite the loss of some of our favorite pieces, so many resilient treasures survived their mud bath in remarkably good condition.
🛠️ Join us on Dec. 13-14, 11AM–4PM for an “As Is” Sale in the parking lot next to our old building. Pricing will be generous, and 25% of proceeds will go to the RADA Studio Rebuilding Fund.
With your help, we’re turning mud into magic and giving back to the creative community that inspired Sunnyside. 💛
🌟🎁 Step into a festive wonderland at the Boys & Girls Club of Henderson County’s Around the World Christmas Market! Join us on Saturday, December 14th, from 12 PM to 5 PM at the Expo Center for a dazzling day of holiday fun.
🛍️ With over 50 vendors, you’ll find the perfect last-minute gifts for those hard-to-shop-for friends and family members. From unique crafts to artisan goodies, there’s something for everyone!
🍽️ Treat yourself to mouth-watering flavors from four food trucks and enjoy delicious locally sourced baked treats at our concessions.
🎤 Experience the magic with live performances from our talented Club Kids and capture the holiday spirit in every note.
🎅 And don’t miss out on a visit from Santa himself—ready to greet you with a ho-ho-ho and listen to all your Christmas wishes!
🎟️ Tickets: $10 General Admission
🍵 Special Feature: Upgrade your general admission with an Around the World Tea Tasting Package, which includes a tea-tasting experience with a Tea Sommelier, all for just $30.
All proceeds benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Henderson County. Come celebrate the season of giving with us and help spread the Christmas cheer! 🎄✨
Tis the season to be jolly! The tradition continues with the same great holiday cheer to put you in the Christmas spirit. All new renditions of your holiday favorites will help you get those sleigh bells jinglin,’ and chestnuts roasting! There is truly no better way to kick off your holiday season. So, hurry on over with your family, friends, and loved ones to share in the joy and excitement of this seasonal spectacular that will have you feeling merry and bright! Ring-a-ling-a-ding-dong-ding, y’all!
We are lighting up our gorgeous greenhouses and staying open late for all the holiday feels. Please join us for:
-50% off your entire Ross Farm purchase this Saturday December 14th from 2pm-9pm
-free entry, hot cocoa, hot apple cider and cookies,
-…and 30% off Appalachian Standard CBD products!
We are located at 91 Holbrook Road in Candler NC (Just outside of Asheville)
Christmas Spectacular – Featuring the Carolina Concert Choir with Flutes, Oboes, Strings & Organ
Join us as we perform: J. S. Bach: Und es waren Hirten in derselben Gegend [And there were Shepherds in that Same Region], and Brandenburg Concerto No. 2; Sing-along Carols for Choir and orchestra; and Morten Lauridsen: O magnum mysterium.
Friday, December 13 at 7:30pm or Saturday, December 14 at 3:00pm
1245 6th Ave W, Hendersonville, NC 28791, USA
Winter Lights is a spectacular open-air walk-through light show made from over one million lights! Located at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, North Carolina, this year’s event features favorites like the famously tall 50-foot lighted tree and the Quilt Garden, along with enchanting new details designed to delight and surprise. All prices are per vehicle. No pets allowed.
Winter Lights features live entertainment nightly and food and beverages from the Bent Creek Bistro, the Cocoa Shack and the Cocoa Cabin! Open nightly from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Welcome to the Yule Faerie Masquerade Ball by Phoenix Fire Coffee in collaboration with Asheville Fusion!
25% of proceeds are going to nonprofit Beloved for Hurricane Helene Relief.
Come join us for a magical night at Club Eleven On Grove! Get ready to dance the night away, mingle with mystical creatures, and show off your most enchanting masquerade mask. This in-person event promises to be a night full of wonder and delight. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to celebrate the holiday season in a truly fantastical way. Get your tickets now and let the faerie magic begin!
Let’s dance! (And drink if desired!) Our bodies release stress and trauma through movement, so let’s groove! Come dressed in what makes you feel most magical. Use the night to dance, decompress, hang out, snuggle, drink, snack, play games, do tarot. Anything you want! We’re bringing magic back into the holidays.
Tis the season to be jolly! The tradition continues with the same great holiday cheer to put you in the Christmas spirit. All new renditions of your holiday favorites will help you get those sleigh bells jinglin,’ and chestnuts roasting! There is truly no better way to kick off your holiday season. So, hurry on over with your family, friends, and loved ones to share in the joy and excitement of this seasonal spectacular that will have you feeling merry and bright! Ring-a-ling-a-ding-dong-ding, y’all!
Ignite your holiday spirit with the Kruger Brothers, famed for their unique infusion of bluegrass, classical, and folk music. Their heartfelt performances and virtuosic skills will kindle warmth in your heart and imbue you with festive cheer. Don’t miss this unique holiday concert, promising joyous memories.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library impacts the pre-literacy skills and school readiness of children under the age of 5 in Buncombe County. The program mails a new, free, age-appropriate book to registered children each month until they turn five years old. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library creates a home library of up to 60 books and instills a love of books and reading from an early age. If you have any questions about the program, please send an email to [email protected].
A national panel of educators selects the Imagination Library titles, which include: The Little Engine that Could, Last Stop on Market Street, Violet the Pilot, As an Oak Tree Grows, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, Llama Llama Red Pajama, Look Out Kindergarten, here I come, and many more (take a look at all the titles).
Register your child now!
Program Launch and Expansions
Literacy Together became a Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library affiliate in November 2015 with support from the Buncombe Partnership for Children. Through this program, registered children in Buncombe County receive a free book in the mail each month. Their parents also have the opportunity to attend workshops to learn how to build their children’s early literacy skills. Parents in need of literacy assistance are encouraged to receive tutoring through Literacy Together’s adult programming.
The program served 200 children during the 2015/16 fiscal year. The program expanded to serve 400 children in July 2016, and 600 in August 2017. In July 2018, capacity increased to 1,900 thanks to a special allocation in the North Carolina state budget. We’re now serving 4,600 kids in Buncombe County.
Celebrate the Full Moon by immersing yourself with the healing vibrations of a Sound Bath! The full moon offers a boost in healing to our energy field.
Join your host Kristin Hillegas, for a one-hour Serenity Sound Bath and experience a deeply immersive, full-body sound and vibrational experience. A sound bath can cleanse your soul, restore your balance, surround you with peace and tranquility and stimulate healing.
Note: Please bring a yoga mat/pillow/blanket since you will be lying on the floor. Wear warm, comfortable, and flexible clothing.
The Sound Bath will take place upstairs in the Education Building. Choose your space starting at 9:15 AM, doors close promptly at 9:30 AM.
This service is being offered on a Love Offering basis. Donations allow us to continue to provide these immersive experiences. (Retail value $25)
Accessible parking is available in the Center for Spiritual Living Asheville upper parking lot. The entrance to the upper parking lot is off of S. Bear Creek Rd between Science of Mind Way and Sand Hill Rd.
There is a boardwalk walk-way from the upper parking lot to the building entrance.
The Asheville Nativity exhibit entitled “Oh Tidings of Comfort and Joy: Christmas Crèches from Around the World” returns to First Baptist Church of Asheville December 6-15, 2024. The eighth annual Asheville Nativity exhibit is a gift to the community coordinated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and First Baptist Church of Asheville. Nativity displays may be viewed in the dining room at First Baptist Church of Asheville beginning Friday, December 6 through Sunday, December 15. The exhibit will be open to the public weekdays 5-8PM, Saturdays 10AM-8PM, and Sundays 12PM-8PM.
School groups, retirement communities, or special press visits can be arranged by emailing [email protected]. The complete schedule can be found at www.ashevillenativity.org. Over 250 Nativity scenes from around the world will be on display. This family-friendly event includes a life-size stable with costumes.
A crèche, often called a Nativity scene, is an artistic representation of the birth of Jesus Christ. While focusing on the central figures of the mother Mary and Christ Child, crèche artists often telescope time and place to bring together a host of earthly and heavenly participants—shepherds, animals, wise men, angels, and commoners.
For centuries, the crèche as an art form has flourished in homes and churches worldwide. Whether the crèche depicts 19th-century Italian villagers dressed in silks and jewels or contemporary African animal herders crafted from clay, each representation reflects the unique talents, circumstances and culture of the artist.
This exhibit is an ecumenical effort to highlight the cultural diversity of each crèche on display, while honoring and celebrating the common theme that runs throughout—the birth of Jesus.
Past events have included participation from seven different Asheville area churches and displayed over 250 unique Nativity sets from seventy countries around the world. Thousands of people attend the exhibit each year. Guest comments included: “Awesome!” “Wonderful!” “Lovely!” “Words cannot express the beauty.” “Impressive and beautifully done.”
The event is free to the public. Donations are welcome. Tax-deductible donations can be made by visiting ashevillenativity.org. More information is available on the website or by emailing [email protected]. First Baptist Church of Asheville is located at 5 Oak Street in downtown Asheville.
“Oh Tidings of Comfort and Joy: Christmas Crèches from Around the World”
First Baptist Church of Asheville, 5 Oak St, downtown Asheville
Free Admission
Weekdays: 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Saturdays: 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Sundays: 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Jack’s Bluegrass Brunch kicks off every Sunday at 12 noon — with lively bluegrass tunes courtesy of The Jack of the Wood Bluegrass Brunch Boys from 1-3pm. Sip a Bloody Mary or Mimosa or a warm Irish coffee. Tasty brunch specials alongside our regular menu and 18 taps of rotating craft brews! Sláinte, y’all!
Tis the season to be jolly! The tradition continues with the same great holiday cheer to put you in the Christmas spirit. All new renditions of your holiday favorites will help you get those sleigh bells jinglin,’ and chestnuts roasting! There is truly no better way to kick off your holiday season. So, hurry on over with your family, friends, and loved ones to share in the joy and excitement of this seasonal spectacular that will have you feeling merry and bright! Ring-a-ling-a-ding-dong-ding, y’all!
Old Farmer’s Ball hosts family dances and waltzes at the Harvest House Community Center.
Jack’s long-running Traditional Irish Music Session is the perfect way to enjoy the Celtic-influenced sounds of talented pluckers from all over WNC & further afield! Stop in to enjoy a pint or afternoon Irish coffee with the music! Sláinte!
Winter Lights is a spectacular open-air walk-through light show made from over one million lights! Located at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, North Carolina, this year’s event features favorites like the famously tall 50-foot lighted tree and the Quilt Garden, along with enchanting new details designed to delight and surprise. All prices are per vehicle. No pets allowed.
Winter Lights features live entertainment nightly and food and beverages from the Bent Creek Bistro, the Cocoa Shack and the Cocoa Cabin! Open nightly from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Winter Lights is a spectacular open-air walk-through light show made from over one million lights! Located at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, North Carolina, this year’s event features favorites like the famously tall 50-foot lighted tree and the Quilt Garden, along with enchanting new details designed to delight and surprise. All prices are per vehicle. No pets allowed.
Winter Lights features live entertainment nightly and food and beverages from the Bent Creek Bistro, the Cocoa Shack and the Cocoa Cabin! Open nightly from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Susan is a native of the coal mining village of Shady Spring, West Virginia. As a child, she watched her mother, Mae Alice Taylor, weave functional baskets. In 2002, after back surgery limited Mae’s mobility, it was time for mother to pass to daughter her precious knowledge of the art of basket weaving. Susan describes that time as “finally coming home”. The combination of fibers and artistry had opened a new avenue of self-discovery for her. Susan’s baskets are known for their quality, attention to detail, and visual excitement. A ‘natural’ in 3-dimensional arts, Susan also enjoys pottery, gourd projects, jewelry making, beadwork, wood turning, and felting wool.
Join us every Tuesday for some sweet sweet deals as a way for us to thank you and all of our fellow service industry friends!
Winter Lights is a spectacular open-air walk-through light show made from over one million lights! Located at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, North Carolina, this year’s event features favorites like the famously tall 50-foot lighted tree and the Quilt Garden, along with enchanting new details designed to delight and surprise. All prices are per vehicle. No pets allowed.
Winter Lights features live entertainment nightly and food and beverages from the Bent Creek Bistro, the Cocoa Shack and the Cocoa Cabin! Open nightly from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Tis the season to be jolly! The tradition continues with the same great holiday cheer to put you in the Christmas spirit. All new renditions of your holiday favorites will help you get those sleigh bells jinglin,’ and chestnuts roasting! There is truly no better way to kick off your holiday season. So, hurry on over with your family, friends, and loved ones to share in the joy and excitement of this seasonal spectacular that will have you feeling merry and bright! Ring-a-ling-a-ding-dong-ding, y’all!
Grab some dinner and a pint while enjoying our long-running Old-Time jam! Featuring many talented musicians from the local WNC area, our traditional Appalachian mountain music jam runs from 5-9pm every Wednesday night at Jack of the Wood!
Winter Lights is a spectacular open-air walk-through light show made from over one million lights! Located at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, North Carolina, this year’s event features favorites like the famously tall 50-foot lighted tree and the Quilt Garden, along with enchanting new details designed to delight and surprise. All prices are per vehicle. No pets allowed.
Winter Lights features live entertainment nightly and food and beverages from the Bent Creek Bistro, the Cocoa Shack and the Cocoa Cabin! Open nightly from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Tis the season to be jolly! The tradition continues with the same great holiday cheer to put you in the Christmas spirit. All new renditions of your holiday favorites will help you get those sleigh bells jinglin,’ and chestnuts roasting! There is truly no better way to kick off your holiday season. So, hurry on over with your family, friends, and loved ones to share in the joy and excitement of this seasonal spectacular that will have you feeling merry and bright! Ring-a-ling-a-ding-dong-ding, y’all!
Winter Lights is a spectacular open-air walk-through light show made from over one million lights! Located at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, North Carolina, this year’s event features favorites like the famously tall 50-foot lighted tree and the Quilt Garden, along with enchanting new details designed to delight and surprise. All prices are per vehicle. No pets allowed.
Winter Lights features live entertainment nightly and food and beverages from the Bent Creek Bistro, the Cocoa Shack and the Cocoa Cabin! Open nightly from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in Asheville. Get your tickets now to discover the music of Christmas Carols on Strings at Asheville Masonic Temple under the gentle glow of candlelight.
General Info
Venue: Asheville Masonic Temple
Dates and times: select your dates/times directly in the ticket selector
Duration: 60 minutes (doors open 45 mins prior to the start time and late entry is not permitted)
Age requirement: 8 years old or older. Anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult
Accessibility: this venue is ADA compliant
View the FAQs for this event here
Seating is assigned on a first come first served basis in each zone
If you would like to book a private concert or buy regular tickets for a large group (+30 people), click here
Check out all the Candlelight concerts in Asheville
To treat your friends and family to a Candlelight gift card, click here
Tentative Program
12 Days of Christmas
Angels from the Realms of Glory
Angels We Have Heard On High
Away in a Manger
Carol of the Bells
Deck the Halls
Ding Dong! Merrily on High
Do You Hear What I Hear
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Good King Wenceslas
Greensleeves (What Child Is This)
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
In the Bleak Mid-Winter
Joy to the World
O Christmas Tree (O Tannenbaum)
O Come All Ye Faithful
O Holy Night
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Silent Night
The First Noël
Performers
Opal String Quartet
Seating Map