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.

Friday, July 13, 2018
Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star
Jul 13 – Jul 15 all-day
Tweetsie Railroad

Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? SpongeBob SquarePants… and now he’s on land for you to see! Join SpongeBob and his best pal Patrick Star for a meet and greet that’s oceans above the rest! Appearances at 11 am, 1 pm & 3 pm.

Process
Jul 13 all-day
NC

Process is a collaborative exhibit by Erica Stankwytch Bailey, Asheville Makers, The Bright Angle with special guest artist Emily Rogstad.
This exhibition offers insight into the working worlds of creative collaborations and independent makers. Artifacts demonstrating inception of idea, design and making will be shown alongside finished pieces to illustrate the inherent value of the creative process.
“The creative process is not just iterative; it’s also recursive. It plays out “in the large” and “in the small”—in defining the broadest goals and concepts and refining the smallest details. It branches like a tree, and each choice has ramifications, which may not be known in advance.” -Dubberly Design Office
Erica Stankwytch Bailey is a Metalsmith and small business owner who designs and makes handmade artisan jewelry. Many of her pieces are inspired by an intense fascination with the building blocks of our world, most specifically molecular and crystalline structures.
The Bright Angle is a modern design company focused on showcasing the process and story behind the makers and products. At The Bright  Angle we emphasize practical utility and technology to offer handmade lifestyle goods through carefully curated designer-maker collaborations.
Emily Rogstad graduated in 2013 with a BFA in Metalsmithing + Jewelry from Maine College of Art. After some traveling she moved to Penland School of Crafts for two years for the Core Fellowship. Now a resident of Asheville, North Carolina she spends her time maintaining an inquisitive studio practice, and enjoying the mountains. She is currently the new Design Resident with The Bright Angle.
Asheville Makers is a makerspace in the Asheville area. They are a community of tinkerers, makers, engineers, educators, scientists, artists, hackers, geeks, etc. Anyone who is, aspires to be, or just wants to hang around with local smart, creative, friendly mad scientist folk is welcome!
Process will be open in the Front Gallery of the Refinery Creator Space from June 1 – July 27, 2018 with an opening reception on Friday, June 1 from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm.

Red Hot in the Blue Ridge
Jul 13 all-day
175 Biltmore Avenue

The Asheville Art Museum is excited to present Red Hot in the Blue Ridge, an exhibition being held in conjunction with Western North Carolina’s community-wide Summer of Glass celebration. On view at the Asheville Art Museum On the Slope at 175 Biltmore Avenue May 19 – September 30, 2018Red Hot in the Blue Ridge celebrates Western North Carolina’s unique place in the history of American Studio Glass. Many other organizations and galleries across WNC are also hosting glass-focused events, programs and exhibitions during the region’s Summer of Glass celebration, which coincides with a new exhibition at Biltmore of multi-media artist Dale Chihuly’s monumental glass sculptures.  Visit www.ashevilleart.org for details.

ReStore ReUse Contest
Jul 13 all-day
Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity
ReStore ReUse Contest @ Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity | Asheville | North Carolina | United States

If you’ve recently built a structure from predominantly reused building materials, the Asheville Habitat ReStore wants to know. Projects can include garden sheds, artist studios, benches, chicken coops, playhouses and much more. Share your projects with the Habitat ReStore to help showcase innovative building projects made with reused materials and show off your creativity and talent for your chance to win in the 7th annual ReStore ReUse Contest. The contest runs July 1st through August 31st. For information and submission guidelines, visit ashevillehabitat.org

Shared History
Jul 13 all-day
56 Broadway

2018 marks the 25th anniversary of the founding of Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center. As the last exhibition to be held in our 56 Broadway gallery before we move to 120 College Street on Pack Square Park in downtown Asheville, Shared History highlights not just the museum’s origins, collection, programs, and exhibitions but also the many ways that this organization has created a space for connection and experimentation. This fulfills our early promise to BMC alumni to be not merely a museum memorializing the past, but a center geared towards building community and fostering forward-thinking creativity in the present. An Opening Reception will be held on June 1st from 5:30PM – 8PM, with a Gallery Talk by Exhibition Curator, Erin Dickey, at 6:30PM. We welcome all who have been a part of our history, and hope that new audiences will gain insight into the scope of BMCM+AC’s reach, both locally and around the globe. This event is FREE and Open to the Public

Solo Exhibition of Contemporary Paintings by Michael Francis Reagan
Jul 13 all-day

Falling, a solo exhibition of contemporary paintings by Michael
Francis Reagan, opens at Grovewood Gallery in Asheville on Saturday, June 9, with an artist’s reception
from 2-5pm (free and open to the public). This show will feature acrylic paintings on canvas from
Reagan’s popular Falling Series, inspired by a haunting memory of a childhood encounter with a
mourning dove that had fallen from the sky. This exhibition will remain on view through Sunday, July 15,
2018.

THE 2018 BREVARD MUSIC CENTER | LEONARD BERNSTEIN FESTIVAL
Jul 13 all-day
Brevard Music Center

By highlighting these and other works, Brevard Music Center is presenting some of Bernstein’s greatest output and showing a wonderful variety of his music that is at the core of American classical music experience. We spend so much time celebrating the works of European masters like Beethoven, Mozart, Mahler, and Dvôrak. And those works all deserve to be celebrated. But they must stand alongside Bernstein, Copland, and Gershwin—these masters gave American classical music its voice.

It’s wonderful for Brevard to be joining in with orchestras and institutions all around the world in celebrating the birth of one of the most compelling musicians of our time…or any other time.

THE 2018 BREVARD MUSIC CENTER   LEONARD BERNSTEIN FESTIVAL
Sun., June 24Beloved Bernstein
Mon., July 9Bernstein & Friends
Thurs., July 12: Leonard Bernstein/An American Icon (free lecture/details to come)
Fri., July 13: A Bernstein Celebration
Sat., July 14West Side Story (movie + live symphony)
Sun., July 15: Bernstein the Educator
Thurs., July 26 & Sat., July 28Candide (opera with English supertitles)
Sun., August 5: Season Finale: Bernstein’s Mass

WWW.BREVARDMUSIC.ORG/BERNSTEIN

In the Gallery
Jul 13 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Art in Bloom – Plein Air Paintings

Summer Sizzle
Jul 13 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Half Day Camps ($125)
June 25 -29
July 9-13
July 23-27
July 20-Aug. 3

Cool Summer Nights at Tweetsie Railroad
Jul 13 @ 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Tweetsie Railroad

Every Saturday in July the park stays open late, until 9:00 p.m., so you can make more time for family memories. Enjoy evening train and stage shows, rides at dusk, and fun throughout the park.

Summer Clay Camp 2018 — What’s Cookin’? Clay Camp Ages 8-12
Jul 13 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Odyssey ClayWorks
Summer Clay Camp 2018 --  What’s Cookin’? Clay Camp Ages 8-12 @ Odyssey ClayWorks   | Asheville | North Carolina | United States

What’s Cookin’? Clay Camp Ages 8-12 with Sara Ballek

July 9-13
Monday- Friday, 9am-12pm

Learning about the foods and tools in your kitchen can be exciting, but what if you had the chance to make some of your own? In this class, students will cook up ideas to create playful, sculptural objects from the kitchen. We will be focusing on using the wheel and hand building to create fun, functional objects for everyday use or play!

Skyland Library Book Sale
Jul 13 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
260 Overlook Rd.

Phone: (828) 250-6488
Email: [email protected]
Event Type: Book Sale
Age Group: Family – (children of all ages),Adult
Location: 260 Overlook Rd. – Asheville
Library: Skyland / South Buncombe

  • Friday, July 13 at 10am-4pm, from 10-11 am Friends Preview Sale
  • Saturday  July 14,  11 am- 4 pm Public Sale
  • Monday July 16, 10 am – 4 pm, from  2 pm – 4 pm Bag Sale

Most hardbacks are $1 and paperbacks are 50 cents. Proceeds benefit the library.

Summer Clay Camp 2018 — Slab It Up Clay Camp Ages 6-10
Jul 13 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Odyssey ClayWorks
Summer Clay Camp 2018 -- Slab It Up Clay Camp Ages 6-10 @ Odyssey ClayWorks   | Asheville | North Carolina | United States

Slab It Up Clay Camp Ages 6-10 with Kelsey Sickmeyer

July 9-13
Monday- Friday, 2-5pm

We’re going to try all sorts of different techniques to turn flat slabs of clay into gorgeous works of art! 3-dimensional portraits, puzzles, boxes, and classic cups, plates and bowls. This camp is PERFECT for folks who LOVE to focus on decorative techniques. We’ll transform the surfaces of your work into fabulous designs that will look great anywhere.

Fandom Friday Cosplay Club
Jul 13 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
1404 Sandhill Rd.

Phone: (828) 250-4758
Email: [email protected]
Event Type: Arts & Crafts
Age Group: Teen – (grades 6-12)
Location: 1404 Sandhill Rd. – Candler
Library: Enka-Candler

Cosplay club for ages 12 and up.

Ready, Set, Throw! One Night Pottery Classes with Kelsey Sickmeyer & Cayce Kolstad
Jul 13 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Odyssey ClayWorks
Ready, Set, Throw! One Night Pottery Classes with Kelsey Sickmeyer & Cayce Kolstad @ Odyssey ClayWorks   |  |  |

One Night Pottery Classes

#9 Friday, July 13
#10 Friday, August 3

Ever wanted to try your hand at the pottery wheel? Have you always wanted to learn to throw but you’re not sure if you want to commit to an 8-week class? Or maybe you and some friends are just looking for something different to do in Asheville on a Friday night. Well, look no further. Ready, Set, Throw is here!

Even if you’ve never touched clay before, our highly skilled staff will guide you through the entire process. It’s the perfect opportunity to get creative and have fun! All ages and skill levels are welcome.

Level: All Levels, Beginners Welcome
Tuition: $55 Per person, per night

Twilight in the Garden
Jul 13 @ 7:00 pm
Riverbanks Zoo
Enjoy a few Friday evenings with family at Riverbanks Botanical Garden this summer! Cool off in the Splash Zone at Waterfall Junction from 6:00pm until dusk. Then roll out a blanket on the grassy lawn and catch a movie at the Garden’s amphitheater.

Admission: $3 Riverbanks members and $5 general public.

Saturday, July 14, 2018
$5 Felines or Fee-Waived
Jul 14 all-day

 

$5 Kittens and Fee-Waived Cats!

Adoption Fees for Kittens are $5!

NOW – Saturday, July 12 – 14

10:oo AM – 6:00 PM

(Animal rooms are closed daily from 1-2 PM for naptime)

 Fees are still WAIVED for all pets age 6 months & upuntil further notice!

Our Adoption Center has become Purrassic World… a kingdom fallen into the tiny paws of dozens and dozens of cats and kittens!!! Now through Saturdayat Asheville Humane Society, fees for all kittens will be $5 and fees for all cats over 6 months old are waived! Please spread the word to help our purr-monsters find new families!

(Psst! All dogs over 6 months old continue to be fee-waived, too!)

Can’t adopt? PleasFOSTER to provide a temporary home for animals in need! Or DONATE to help us provide food, supplies and medical care to the animals who are still too young or sick to go home.

Although the love of a pet is priceless, the $5 and waived adoption fees represent an exceptional value. All adoptions include spay/neuter, all up-to-date vaccines, microchip and free 1-year registration, and an optional month of free pet health insurance.

7TH ANNUAL REUSE CONTEST
Jul 14 all-day

For the seventh consecutive year, the Asheville Habitat ReStore at 31 Meadow Road near Biltmore Village is encouraging residents to show off their creativity and talent for a chance to win in the ReStore ReUse Contest. Garden shed, artist studio, chicken coop…tree house, playhouse, tiny house…if you recently built a structure like this using predominantly reused building materials, Habitat wants to know. The contest runs July 1-August 31 and submissions must be sent electronically. Information and entry form will be available on ashevillehabitat.org starting July 1 st . The purpose of the contest is to showcase innovative building projects constructed predominantly of used building materials. “Our customers often tell us about the projects they make using materials purchased at the ReStore. This contest is a great way to showcase their projects and inspire others to reuse, recycle and repurpose usable materials,” said Scott Stetson, ReStore General Manager. Five judges will select winners in the following categories: Furniture, Homesteading, Live and/or Work Space, Home Décor, Youth (age 16 and under), and Best in Show. Winners will be announced in mid-September.

Backpack to the Future – 2018 School Supply Drive
Jul 14 all-day
United Way

While having school supplies may simply be an item on the ‘to-do’ list for many parents and guardians, for others, the calculator that their child needs, or a backpack without last year’s broken zippers, may not be in the cards. 2018 SSD logoThese parents—and especially their children—should not have to worry about heading into school without the necessary supplies. This is why the United Way has this drive and, by contributing the supplies our students need to succeed, we’re investing in the future of our community. Together we are stronger. United, we make a difference. #BackpacktotheFuture.   

This year’s 2018 school supply drive will be July 9th trough July 27th.  If you visit www.handsonasheville.org/schoolsupplydrive, you will see that there are links for that online shopping avenue, a downloadable supply list for going to the store yourself, a downloadable “toolkit” should you decide to hold your own drive, and if you would simply like to donate, in general, to the School Supply Drive’s efforts, there is an option for that as well. Any and all options and the donations we receive help us invest in our future!

Best of 2018 by Roots + Wings Visual Arts Preschool
Jul 14 all-day
NC

Students at the Visual Arts Preschool at Roots + Wings School of Art and Design engage with pre-K education fundamentals through a dynamic, arts based curriculum. Literacy, numeracy, social skills, community building, cultural and environmental studies are approached through an art and design thinking lens, as students explore learning concepts experientially across multiple platforms.

The Roots + Wings Visual Arts Preschool ‘Best of 2018’ collection is a cross section of the diverse pre-K education program and includes investigations into art movements, community and culture, storytelling, and creative play.

Chihuly at Biltmore
Jul 14 all-day
Biltmore House

The Biltmore Estate has been planning the largest exhibition in its historic gardens for almost a decade. And finally, last week, Chihuly at Biltmore opened with a mega installation of glass sculptures from the famous artist Dale Chihuly. Tens of thousands of glass pieces from all around the world reside in 14 locations around the Estate (which is the very first large-scale N.C. Chihuly installation).

The exhibition is up from now until Oct. 7th, free admission with a Biltmore day pass (and free for annual pass holders)Chihuly at Nightis a special, ongoing event where the glass sculptures are lit up, plus live music in the gardens + a wine bar. Tickets are $37.50 for kids + range from $65 – 75 for adults ($10 discount for pass holders).

Three new works
 were blown just for Biltmore, and 6 new compositions were put together.

Contemplative Art in an Age of Distraction
Jul 14 all-day
NC

The Asheville Area Arts Council is excited to announce Contemplative Art in an Age of Distraction, a new exhibit curated by local photographer Susanna Euston.

Contemplative Art in an Age of Distraction will consist of large, fine art photographs paired with three-dimensional works to create a unified whole—an artistic gestalt.  Euston aims to provide a meditative and contemplative atmosphere to transport the viewer from today’s turmoil to a place of peace. Seating will be made available in the large gallery to allow viewers to sit and meditate on the scenes before them.

Participating artists include four photographers—Susanna Euston, Matthew Kraus, Bonnie Cooper and Rick Daley—joined by potter, Steven Forbes-deSoule; Ikebana artist Lynn Forbes; glass artist, Rob Levin; and fiber artist, Paige Houghton.
Join them on Friday, July 6, 2018, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Asheville Area Arts Council’s Thom Robinson and Ray Griffin Exhibition Space to celebrate the opening of the exhibit. Artist talk will begin at 6:30 pm.

Disney’s Aladdin JR.
Jul 14 all-day
Flat Rock Playhouse Downtown

Based on the iconic animated film, with an Academy Award-winning score by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, Disney’s Aladdin Jr. is sure to send audiences soaring on a flying carpet ride filled with romance and adventure.

Showtimes are Thursdays at 3:00PM, Fridays at 1:00PM and 4:00PM, Saturdays at 1:00PM and 4:00PM, and Sundays at 3:00PM.

 

Playhouse Downtown 125 S. Main St. Hendersonville, NC 28792

Earth Skin by Trish Salmon and Crystal Allen
Jul 14 all-day
NC Arboretum

arth Skin is based upon the forms and textures of the earth using inspiration from aerial photography of Western North Carolina and topographical maps of local areas, including Pisgah National Forest and Balsam Range. Created by ceramic artists Trish Salmon and Crystal Allen, Earth Skin includes wall structures and pieces designed for mantles, shelves and tables. All works are available for purchase and a portion of the sales will be donated to The North Carolina Arboretum Society.

About the Artists

Trish Salmon

Trish has been studying clay for many years through the various classes available to her when she lived in the Atlanta area. Taking classes at Penland was a life changing experience and a turning point in her desire to become a studio ceramicist. She and her husband moved to Western North Carolina in 2007, and she has pursued her claywork full time after her career as a kitchen designer. Immediately after retirement, she enrolled in Haywood Community College’s Professional Crafts Program in clay where she received her Associate’s Degree in 2014. She currently is a member of the Odyssey Coop Gallery in the River Arts District in Asheville, NC. She is also a founding member of Artisans on Main in downtown Weaverville where her studio is and where her work is primarily displayed.

Crystal Allen

Before discovering ceramics, Crystal earned a degree in Graphic Art and Design. She has also taught calligraphy, dabbled in watercolors and and learned how to felt, dye and spin natural fibers from her own llamas and sheep. Most recently, Crystal completed the Professional Crafts: Clay Associates degree at Haywood Community College.  Her pottery is primarily functional, with altered or hand built additions. Her pieces are produced in her studio, one of her favorite places on earth!

Group Glass Exhibition, REFLECTIONS, Momentum Gallery
Jul 14 all-day
Momentum Gallery
Group Glass Exhibition, REFLECTIONS, Momentum Gallery @ Momentum Gallery | Asheville | North Carolina | United States

Asheville, NC—Momentum Gallery in downtown Asheville is pleased to participate in the Summer of Glass, a WNC celebration of glass art in conjunction with the Dale Chihuly exhibition at the Biltmore Estate, May-October 2018. The gallery exhibition, Reflections (July 1-August 25) nods to the Gilded Age, a period during the late 19th Century when the Biltmore Estate was conceived and constructed by railway tycoon George Vanderbilt. This curated exhibition features recent work by some of the country’s top contemporary glass artists with many of the works in the collection speaking to Vanderbilt’s aesthetic of opulence, grandeur, and beauty. Other conceptual pieces examine concepts of memory and history, referencing the “downstairs” or “behind the scenes” of the palatial mansion as well. Sophisticated sculptures and stylish wall pieces incorporate a variety of glass techniques and explore the intricate detailing, ornamentation, and drama indicative of the Gilded Age. This Exhibit is free and open to the public.

Reflections includes works by: Thor & Jennifer Bueno, Amber Cowan, Jennifer Halvorson, Alli Hoag, Joanna Manousis, Andy Paiko, Kit Paulson, Pablo Soto, and Tim Tate.

Process
Jul 14 all-day
NC

Process is a collaborative exhibit by Erica Stankwytch Bailey, Asheville Makers, The Bright Angle with special guest artist Emily Rogstad.
This exhibition offers insight into the working worlds of creative collaborations and independent makers. Artifacts demonstrating inception of idea, design and making will be shown alongside finished pieces to illustrate the inherent value of the creative process.
“The creative process is not just iterative; it’s also recursive. It plays out “in the large” and “in the small”—in defining the broadest goals and concepts and refining the smallest details. It branches like a tree, and each choice has ramifications, which may not be known in advance.” -Dubberly Design Office
Erica Stankwytch Bailey is a Metalsmith and small business owner who designs and makes handmade artisan jewelry. Many of her pieces are inspired by an intense fascination with the building blocks of our world, most specifically molecular and crystalline structures.
The Bright Angle is a modern design company focused on showcasing the process and story behind the makers and products. At The Bright  Angle we emphasize practical utility and technology to offer handmade lifestyle goods through carefully curated designer-maker collaborations.
Emily Rogstad graduated in 2013 with a BFA in Metalsmithing + Jewelry from Maine College of Art. After some traveling she moved to Penland School of Crafts for two years for the Core Fellowship. Now a resident of Asheville, North Carolina she spends her time maintaining an inquisitive studio practice, and enjoying the mountains. She is currently the new Design Resident with The Bright Angle.
Asheville Makers is a makerspace in the Asheville area. They are a community of tinkerers, makers, engineers, educators, scientists, artists, hackers, geeks, etc. Anyone who is, aspires to be, or just wants to hang around with local smart, creative, friendly mad scientist folk is welcome!
Process will be open in the Front Gallery of the Refinery Creator Space from June 1 – July 27, 2018 with an opening reception on Friday, June 1 from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm.

Red Hot in the Blue Ridge
Jul 14 all-day
175 Biltmore Avenue

The Asheville Art Museum is excited to present Red Hot in the Blue Ridge, an exhibition being held in conjunction with Western North Carolina’s community-wide Summer of Glass celebration. On view at the Asheville Art Museum On the Slope at 175 Biltmore Avenue May 19 – September 30, 2018Red Hot in the Blue Ridge celebrates Western North Carolina’s unique place in the history of American Studio Glass. Many other organizations and galleries across WNC are also hosting glass-focused events, programs and exhibitions during the region’s Summer of Glass celebration, which coincides with a new exhibition at Biltmore of multi-media artist Dale Chihuly’s monumental glass sculptures.  Visit www.ashevilleart.org for details.

ReStore ReUse Contest
Jul 14 all-day
Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity
ReStore ReUse Contest @ Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity | Asheville | North Carolina | United States

If you’ve recently built a structure from predominantly reused building materials, the Asheville Habitat ReStore wants to know. Projects can include garden sheds, artist studios, benches, chicken coops, playhouses and much more. Share your projects with the Habitat ReStore to help showcase innovative building projects made with reused materials and show off your creativity and talent for your chance to win in the 7th annual ReStore ReUse Contest. The contest runs July 1st through August 31st. For information and submission guidelines, visit ashevillehabitat.org

Shared History
Jul 14 all-day
56 Broadway

2018 marks the 25th anniversary of the founding of Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center. As the last exhibition to be held in our 56 Broadway gallery before we move to 120 College Street on Pack Square Park in downtown Asheville, Shared History highlights not just the museum’s origins, collection, programs, and exhibitions but also the many ways that this organization has created a space for connection and experimentation. This fulfills our early promise to BMC alumni to be not merely a museum memorializing the past, but a center geared towards building community and fostering forward-thinking creativity in the present. An Opening Reception will be held on June 1st from 5:30PM – 8PM, with a Gallery Talk by Exhibition Curator, Erin Dickey, at 6:30PM. We welcome all who have been a part of our history, and hope that new audiences will gain insight into the scope of BMCM+AC’s reach, both locally and around the globe. This event is FREE and Open to the Public

Solo Exhibition of Contemporary Paintings by Michael Francis Reagan
Jul 14 all-day

Falling, a solo exhibition of contemporary paintings by Michael
Francis Reagan, opens at Grovewood Gallery in Asheville on Saturday, June 9, with an artist’s reception
from 2-5pm (free and open to the public). This show will feature acrylic paintings on canvas from
Reagan’s popular Falling Series, inspired by a haunting memory of a childhood encounter with a
mourning dove that had fallen from the sky. This exhibition will remain on view through Sunday, July 15,
2018.