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.
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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!
Enjoy a 2-mile round trip hike along an easy/moderate trail to a
mountaintop with stunning views, Once there, enjoy an hour of yoga for all levels at the summit and take in the unbeatable,
panoramic views and soak up the wide-open space, Mats provided.
Learn Asheville’s history, discover hidden gems, and laugh at LaZoom’s quirky sense of adventure.
- Guided comedy tour bus of historical Asheville
- 90-Minutes – tours run daily
- 15-minute break at Green Man Brewing
- $39 per person (ages 13+ only)
Go on an epic adventure with us as we perform a made-for-Moppets adaptation of the original road trip gone wrong story!
Sandburg Home Tours – Thursday to Sunday at 11am, 1pm, 2pm.
*As of April 2022, tours are free until further notice. See rates below if they change before your visit. Online reservations are available at recreation.gov.
The Sandburg Home is a great place to start your visit! The ground floor of the home contains visitor information, exhibits, tour ticket sales, the park store, and you can watch the park video. The main and top level of the home are furnished with the Sandburg family belongings. Visitors may only access the furnished ares of the home on a guided tour.
- Tour Reservations: Reserving in advance lets you pick your preferred house tour time. Tours fill up quickly. Last-minute, in-person tickets may not be available on the day you visit. Plan ahead and reserve house tour tickets at recreation.gov.
- Passes: The park does not currently sell the America the Beautiful– National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes.
*These passes do not waive the house tour fee, but do provide a discount.
*You can purchase a pass online at America the Beautiful – National Parks & Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass | USGS Store. - 30-minute house tours are offered year-round, schedule varies by season. Visit recreation.gov for the current schedule.
- Visitors may only tour the Sandburg Home on a guided tour.
- Tours are limited to 6 persons.
- Strollers are not permitted on the house tour, but there is a place to leave them for storage. Infants and small children should be carried through the house while on tour.
Sandburg Home Guided Tour Fee
*Tours are free until further notice, this chart is the rate when fees resume.
(credit card only)
$10.00 for Adults 16 and older
$6.00 for Adults age 62 and older and all interagency pass holders
Free for Children age 15 and under
Included with admission
Back by popular demand, The Vanderbilts at Home and Abroad exhibition offers guests:
- An opportunity to view rarely-seen treasures from the Biltmore collection
- A first-hand look at the Vanderbilts’ lifestyle
- Deeper insights into George, Edith, and Cornelia’s personalities, both at home and on their extensive travels
Access to exhibitions at The Biltmore Legacy is included with Biltmore daytime admission.
Gather bathing suits and sunscreen, Buncombe County’s outdoor pools are getting ready to open. The County’s five outdoor pools will open for the 2023 season on May 27. This includes the pools at Cane Creek, Erwin, Hominy Valley, North Buncombe, and Owen.
Outdoor pools will be open on weekends only until area schools are out for the summer. Starting on June 10, Pools will be open seven days a week.
Pool hours are Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Cost for pool entry is $3 per person.
Private lessons at the outdoor pools are available for different age groups from 3-year-olds and up. For more information on lessons or to register for a class, click here.
The pools can also be booked for private parties 14 days in advance and must have a minimum of 50 patrons. Pool bookings are available Monday through Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 6:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Click here for more information on booking pools.
Buncombe County Pool Locations:
- Cane Creek Pool – 590 Lower Brush Creek Road, Fletcher
- Erwin Pool – 58 Lees Creek Road, Asheville
- Hominy Valley Pool – 25 Twin Lakes Road, Candler
- North Buncombe Pool – 734 Clarks Chapel Road, Weaverville
- Owen Pool – 117 Stone Drive, Swannanoa
In addition, lap swimming is available year-round at the Buncombe County Schools Aquatics Center, a 10-lane pool managed by the YMCA of Western North Carolina and Buncombe County Schools.
For more information on outdoor pools, visit the County’s pool website or call (828) 348-4770.
Post Game Kids Run the Bases presented by Ingles.
Join us for a relaxing ride through quiet countryside on your way to small town life in western North Carolina on the Tuckasegee River Excursion. Departing from Bryson City, this 4 hour excursion travels 32 miles round-trip to Dillsboro and back to the Bryson City Depot. Pass by the famous movie set of The Fugitive starring Harrison Ford!
The Tuckasegee (tuck-uh-SEE-jee) River Excursion includes an 1 hour and 20 minute layover in the historic town of Dillsboro, where you’ll find more than 50 shops, restaurants, a brewery, and country inns. There is time to shop, snack, and visit the many unique shops before returning to Bryson City.
Here’s what we plan on doing. Refer to this train’s schedule for departures times.
| 30m before departure | Boarding begins at Bryson City Depot |
| See schedule for departure time | Depart Bryson City, NC |
| 1h 30m | Arrive at Dillsboro, NC |
| 1h 30m—2h 50m | Layover |
| 2h 50m | Depart Dillsboro, NC |
| 4h 00m | Arrive at Bryson City Depot |
| Time from Departure | Activity |
|---|
Given the nature of railroading, durations are approximate and subject to change without notice.
The Perspective Café is kicking off 2023 with a classic bang! Grab your friends and join us each Sunday from 2pm to 5pm in the Perspective Café to play an assortment of board and card games. You can even bring your own favorite games from home to share with new friends.
The Perspective Café will be offering special snacks and cocktails to savor while you play and make a memorable afternoon! Enjoy the galleries and then head up to the rooftop.
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GHOST COMEDY BUS TOUR
Grab a local beer, crucifix and a rubber chicken* —You might survive this hour long hilarious haunted ghost tour of Asheville.
- Guided comedy bus tour of Haunted Asheville
- 60 minutes; tours run nightly after dark
- $33 per person (Ages 17+ only)
- Departs from 76 Biltmore Avenue
*Legal Note: Crucifix not required to board the bus; we do not condone exorcisms, chickens, rubber, or any combination of the three.
Come to Orchard Lake Campground for a fireworks display that benefits the
Saluda Volunteer Fire Department, Guests are encouraged to arrive by 8pm and are welcome to pay for a day pass to arrive
before 7pm and experience all the fun the campground has to offer, Free but donations accepted ($8 per person for day passes),

FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2023
7 p.m. | Blue Ridge Big Band Concert Lakeside White Tent

SATURDAY, JULY 1, 2023
6:30-9 a.m. | Terrace Hotel Buffet Breakfast
9-11 a.m. | Round Robin Tennis Tournament Outfitters Tennis Courts (Register online.)
9:15-9:45 p.m. | Floating Wish Lanterns on the Lake

SUNDAY, JULY 2, 2023
6:30-9 a.m. | Terrace Hotel Buffet Breakfast
9 a.m. | Summer Worship Lakeside White Tent
7 p.m. | Concert with Darren Nicholson Band and Unspoken Tradition (Buy tickets online.) Stuart Auditorium

MONDAY, JULY 3, 2023
6:30-9 a.m. | Terrace Hotel Buffet Breakfast
7 a.m.-7 p.m. | Closest to the Pin Golf Competition Lake Junaluska Golf Course
8:30 a.m. | Morning Devotion by the Lake Harrell Center Porch
11 a.m. | Decorated Kayak/Canoe/Paddleboard Flotilla Contest (Register to participate.) Colonnade
12 p.m. | Judging for Decorated Porches Contest (Register to enter.)
7 p.m. | Reading of the Declaration of Independence by Ashley Calhoun followed by Singing Soldiers Concert Lakeside white tent
9:30 p.m. | Fireworks (Book the Fireworks Lake Cruise.)

TUESDAY, JULY 4, 2023
6:30-9 a.m. | Terrace Hotel Buffet Breakfast
11 a.m. | Parade (Register to enter.) North Lakeshore Drive
12-2 p.m. | Food Trucks & Family Fun on the Fourth
Picnic, Whitewater Bluegrass (live music), Family Square Dance & More Kid-Friendly Fun
Open-Air Nanci Weldon Memorial Gym
LEAF SUMMER CAMPS
IN FULL SWING!LEAF Schools & Streets invites your students to join us at LEAF Global Arts for summer camp. We are offering multiple camps which will run 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at LEAF Global Arts at 19 Eagle Street in Downtown Asheville.
Scholarships are available! Qualifications include:
- Students who qualify for free or reduced lunch
- Two of more siblings attending the same week of camp
- Students registering for 4+ LEAF Summer Camps in 2023 (must pay in full)
To inquire about scholarships, email [email protected].
Snacks will be provided, and students should bring a peanut free bagged lunch and a water bottle to camp each day, and wear clothes and shoes they can move in.
In addition to the main focus of the camp, each week will explore elements of theater art, music, and dance from around the world.
Cost: $230 per week. Extended Day: $60 per week.
• July 10th – 14th: Hip-Hop (FULL)
• July 24th – 28th: A LEAF International Experience
• August 7th – 11th: Songwriting & Recording
• August 14th – 18th: West African Drumming (ALMOST FULL)
• August 21st – 25th: Songs for Peace
Register for Summer Camps
Day camp is one of the joys of summer — a chance to learn new skills while making new friends in a fun and supportive atmosphere. LEAF Global Arts Summer Camp registration is live on our website. The week-long camps take place Monday-Friday, June 12-Aug. 25.
This summer, students will dive into music, art, theatre, and dance from around the world and in our community. Camp themes include celebrating diversity, songs for peace, black history, hip-hop culture, West African drumming, and more. Each camp will culminate in a Friday performance for friends and families, in addition to original recordings made in our ONEmic studio! LEAF’s ONEmic studio is funded by the Bed Gradison Memorial Fund and generous support of LEAF members
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!
Learn Asheville’s history, discover hidden gems, and laugh at LaZoom’s quirky sense of adventure.
- Guided comedy tour bus of historical Asheville
- 90-Minutes – tours run daily
- 15-minute break at Green Man Brewing
- $39 per person (ages 13+ only)
Included with admission
Back by popular demand, The Vanderbilts at Home and Abroad exhibition offers guests:
- An opportunity to view rarely-seen treasures from the Biltmore collection
- A first-hand look at the Vanderbilts’ lifestyle
- Deeper insights into George, Edith, and Cornelia’s personalities, both at home and on their extensive travels
Access to exhibitions at The Biltmore Legacy is included with Biltmore daytime admission.
Gather bathing suits and sunscreen, Buncombe County’s outdoor pools are getting ready to open. The County’s five outdoor pools will open for the 2023 season on May 27. This includes the pools at Cane Creek, Erwin, Hominy Valley, North Buncombe, and Owen.
Outdoor pools will be open on weekends only until area schools are out for the summer. Starting on June 10, Pools will be open seven days a week.
Pool hours are Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Cost for pool entry is $3 per person.
Private lessons at the outdoor pools are available for different age groups from 3-year-olds and up. For more information on lessons or to register for a class, click here.
The pools can also be booked for private parties 14 days in advance and must have a minimum of 50 patrons. Pool bookings are available Monday through Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 6:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Click here for more information on booking pools.
Buncombe County Pool Locations:
- Cane Creek Pool – 590 Lower Brush Creek Road, Fletcher
- Erwin Pool – 58 Lees Creek Road, Asheville
- Hominy Valley Pool – 25 Twin Lakes Road, Candler
- North Buncombe Pool – 734 Clarks Chapel Road, Weaverville
- Owen Pool – 117 Stone Drive, Swannanoa
In addition, lap swimming is available year-round at the Buncombe County Schools Aquatics Center, a 10-lane pool managed by the YMCA of Western North Carolina and Buncombe County Schools.
For more information on outdoor pools, visit the County’s pool website or call (828) 348-4770.
Join us for a relaxing ride through quiet countryside on your way to small town life in western North Carolina on the Tuckasegee River Excursion. Departing from Bryson City, this 4 hour excursion travels 32 miles round-trip to Dillsboro and back to the Bryson City Depot. Pass by the famous movie set of The Fugitive starring Harrison Ford!
The Tuckasegee (tuck-uh-SEE-jee) River Excursion includes an 1 hour and 20 minute layover in the historic town of Dillsboro, where you’ll find more than 50 shops, restaurants, a brewery, and country inns. There is time to shop, snack, and visit the many unique shops before returning to Bryson City.
Here’s what we plan on doing. Refer to this train’s schedule for departures times.
| 30m before departure | Boarding begins at Bryson City Depot |
| See schedule for departure time | Depart Bryson City, NC |
| 1h 30m | Arrive at Dillsboro, NC |
| 1h 30m—2h 50m | Layover |
| 2h 50m | Depart Dillsboro, NC |
| 4h 00m | Arrive at Bryson City Depot |
| Time from Departure | Activity |
|---|
Given the nature of railroading, durations are approximate and subject to change without notice.
Do you know our staff has a wild side? Join a Park naturalist to meet some of our live Animal Ambassadors and learn about the types of wildlife in the area and their jobs. Some of our best educators have feathers, fur, shells or scales!
Post Game Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks Show presented by Raumedic!

GHOST COMEDY BUS TOUR
Grab a local beer, crucifix and a rubber chicken* —You might survive this hour long hilarious haunted ghost tour of Asheville.
- Guided comedy bus tour of Haunted Asheville
- 60 minutes; tours run nightly after dark
- $33 per person (Ages 17+ only)
- Departs from 76 Biltmore Avenue
*Legal Note: Crucifix not required to board the bus; we do not condone exorcisms, chickens, rubber, or any combination of the three.

Silverado’s, located between Swannanoa and Black Mountain at 2898 U.S. 70, is hosting Family Movie Night under the stars every Monday night through August 21. Tickets are $5 per person, and are only available for purchase on the day of the movie. All movie nights are dependent on weather.
Bring your friends and family, and enjoy a blockbuster outdoor movie on a 24 foot screen. Concessions will be available for purchase. For more info, check the Events tab on the Silverado’s Facebook page.

FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2023
7 p.m. | Blue Ridge Big Band Concert Lakeside White Tent

SATURDAY, JULY 1, 2023
6:30-9 a.m. | Terrace Hotel Buffet Breakfast
9-11 a.m. | Round Robin Tennis Tournament Outfitters Tennis Courts (Register online.)
9:15-9:45 p.m. | Floating Wish Lanterns on the Lake

SUNDAY, JULY 2, 2023
6:30-9 a.m. | Terrace Hotel Buffet Breakfast
9 a.m. | Summer Worship Lakeside White Tent
7 p.m. | Concert with Darren Nicholson Band and Unspoken Tradition (Buy tickets online.) Stuart Auditorium

MONDAY, JULY 3, 2023
6:30-9 a.m. | Terrace Hotel Buffet Breakfast
7 a.m.-7 p.m. | Closest to the Pin Golf Competition Lake Junaluska Golf Course
8:30 a.m. | Morning Devotion by the Lake Harrell Center Porch
11 a.m. | Decorated Kayak/Canoe/Paddleboard Flotilla Contest (Register to participate.) Colonnade
12 p.m. | Judging for Decorated Porches Contest (Register to enter.)
7 p.m. | Reading of the Declaration of Independence by Ashley Calhoun followed by Singing Soldiers Concert Lakeside white tent
9:30 p.m. | Fireworks (Book the Fireworks Lake Cruise.)

TUESDAY, JULY 4, 2023
6:30-9 a.m. | Terrace Hotel Buffet Breakfast
11 a.m. | Parade (Register to enter.) North Lakeshore Drive
12-2 p.m. | Food Trucks & Family Fun on the Fourth
Picnic, Whitewater Bluegrass (live music), Family Square Dance & More Kid-Friendly Fun
Open-Air Nanci Weldon Memorial Gym
LEAF SUMMER CAMPS
IN FULL SWING!LEAF Schools & Streets invites your students to join us at LEAF Global Arts for summer camp. We are offering multiple camps which will run 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at LEAF Global Arts at 19 Eagle Street in Downtown Asheville.
Scholarships are available! Qualifications include:
- Students who qualify for free or reduced lunch
- Two of more siblings attending the same week of camp
- Students registering for 4+ LEAF Summer Camps in 2023 (must pay in full)
To inquire about scholarships, email [email protected].
Snacks will be provided, and students should bring a peanut free bagged lunch and a water bottle to camp each day, and wear clothes and shoes they can move in.
In addition to the main focus of the camp, each week will explore elements of theater art, music, and dance from around the world.
Cost: $230 per week. Extended Day: $60 per week.
• July 10th – 14th: Hip-Hop (FULL)
• July 24th – 28th: A LEAF International Experience
• August 7th – 11th: Songwriting & Recording
• August 14th – 18th: West African Drumming (ALMOST FULL)
• August 21st – 25th: Songs for Peace
Register for Summer Camps
Day camp is one of the joys of summer — a chance to learn new skills while making new friends in a fun and supportive atmosphere. LEAF Global Arts Summer Camp registration is live on our website. The week-long camps take place Monday-Friday, June 12-Aug. 25.
This summer, students will dive into music, art, theatre, and dance from around the world and in our community. Camp themes include celebrating diversity, songs for peace, black history, hip-hop culture, West African drumming, and more. Each camp will culminate in a Friday performance for friends and families, in addition to original recordings made in our ONEmic studio! LEAF’s ONEmic studio is funded by the Bed Gradison Memorial Fund and generous support of LEAF members





