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.

Sunday, July 8, 2018
In the Gallery
Jul 8 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Art in Bloom – Plein Air Paintings

Summer Sizzle
Jul 8 @ 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 8 @ 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.

Monday, July 9, 2018
7TH ANNUAL REUSE CONTEST
Jul 9 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 9 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!

Community Rock Garden
Jul 9 all-day
260 Overlook Rd.

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

Come add some color to our rock garden. July 2-July 13.

Earth Skin by Trish Salmon and Crystal Allen
Jul 9 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!

THE 2018 BREVARD MUSIC CENTER | LEONARD BERNSTEIN FESTIVAL
Jul 9 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 9 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Art in Bloom – Plein Air Paintings

Summer Sizzle
Jul 9 @ 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 9 @ 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 9 @ 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!

Baby Story Time
Jul 9 @ 10:30 am – 11:15 am
260 Overlook Rd.

Phone: (828) 250-6488
Email: [email protected]
Event Type: Story Time for Kids
Age Group: Baby – (ages 4 mos.-18 mos.)
Location: 260 Overlook Rd. – Asheville
Library: Skyland / South Buncombe

Mother Goose Time is a lively language enrichment story time serving our youngest folks–the 4 month-old to 18 month-old set.

Preschool Story Time
Jul 9 @ 10:30 am – 11:15 am
67 Haywood St.

Phone: (828) 250-4700
Email: [email protected]
Event Type: Story Time for Kids
Age Group: Preschool – (ages 3-5)
Location: 67 Haywood St. – Asheville
Library: Pack Memorial

Preschool story times are geared towards 3-5 year-olds and include singing, stretchers, and creative activities.

Spanish Story Time
Jul 9 @ 10:30 am – 11:15 am
1404 Sandhill Rd.

Phone: (828) 250-4758
Email: [email protected]
Event Type: Story Time for Kids
Age Group: Toddler – (ages 18 mos.-2 yrs.),Preschool – (ages 3-5),School Age – (grades K-5),Family – (children of all ages)
Location: 1404 Sandhill Rd. – Candler
Library: Enka-Candler

Spanish Story Time features rhymes, songs and books in Spanish and English. Children of all ages are invited to join the fun every Monday at 10:30am.

Summer Clay Camp 2018 — Slab It Up Clay Camp Ages 6-10
Jul 9 @ 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.

Snakes Alive! With Ron Cromer
Jul 9 @ 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
1 Taylor Rd.

Phone: (828) 250-6484
Email: [email protected]
Event Type: Story Time for Kids
Age Group: Family – (children of all ages)
Location: 1 Taylor Rd. – Fairview
Library: Fairview

Age 5 and up.

LEGO Builders
Jul 9 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
41 N. Main St.

Phone: (828) 250-6482
Email: [email protected]
Event Type: Arts & Crafts,Family Fun
Age Group: School Age – (grades K-5)
Location: 41 N. Main St. – Weaverville
Library: Weaverville

Tuesday, July 10, 2018
7TH ANNUAL REUSE CONTEST
Jul 10 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 10 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!

Earth Skin by Trish Salmon and Crystal Allen
Jul 10 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!

In the Gallery
Jul 10 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Art in Bloom – Plein Air Paintings

Summer Sizzle
Jul 10 @ 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 10 @ 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 10 @ 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!

Baby Story Time
Jul 10 @ 10:30 am – 11:15 am
1030 Merrimon Ave.

Phone: (828) 250-4752
Email: [email protected]
Event Type: Story Time for Kids
Age Group: Baby – (ages 4 mos.-18 mos.)
Location: 1030 Merrimon Ave. – Asheville
Library: North Asheville

Mother Goose Time is a lively language enrichment story time serving our youngest folks–the 4 month-old to 18 month-old set.

Preschool Story Time
Jul 10 @ 11:00 am – 11:45 am
41 N. Main St.

Phone: (828) 250-6482
Email: [email protected]
Event Type: Story Time for Kids
Age Group: Family – (children of all ages)
Location: 41 N. Main St. – Weaverville
Library: Weaverville

Preschool story times are geared towards 3-5 year-olds and include singing, stretchers, and creative activities.

Baby Story Time
Jul 10 @ 11:30 am – 12:15 pm
105 N. Dougherty St.

Phone: 828-250-4756
Email: [email protected]
Event Type: Story Time for Kids
Age Group: Baby – (ages 4 mos.-18 mos.)
Location: 105 N. Dougherty St. – Black Mountain
Library: Black Mountain

Mother Goose Time is a lively language enrichment story time serving our youngest folks–the 4 month-old to 18 month-old set.

Book Club: “The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir” by Jennifer Ryan
Jul 10 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
1561 Alexander Rd.

Phone: (828) 250-6480
Email: [email protected]
Event Type: Book Club
Age Group: Adult
Location: 1561 Alexander Rd. – Leicester
Library: Leicester

Summer Clay Camp 2018 — Slab It Up Clay Camp Ages 6-10
Jul 10 @ 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.