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.
THRIVE | Coworking provides a purpose-driven, socially engaged environment for freelancers, entrepreneurs and enterprises of all sizes, combining design-forward style and thoughtful amenities with philanthropy and community involvement. It’s a remote workspace for the contemporary, hybrid workforce set in vibrant, walkable neighborhoods and offering a curated culture that features scheduled events, 24/7/365 access, and monthly catered breakfasts, lunches and happy hours. Members have access to all THRIVE locations around the Southeast and Midwest, as well as workspaces around the country and internationally through reciprocal use of LExC coworking spaces. And THRIVE is on track to open 500 locations throughout North America in the next five years.
THRIVE | Coworking, a stylish, community-focused workspace for freelancers, entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes, is celebrating its Grove Arcade Grand Opening! Join in the festivities on August 17th — there will be plenty of food, catered by Huli Sue’s, as well as drinks, including the Grove Tonic, a cocktail created just for THRIVE’s opening in honor of Grove Arcade Founder E.W. Grove and his namesake “Chill Tonic.” You will also be able to tour the space and get a first-hand peek at this hybrid-work operation, which features private offices as well as shared workspaces, and have the opportunity to win some great prizes, too. We are also running a special deal for attendees on membership! THRIVE offers a curated workplace experience for a healthier work/life balance, featuring monthly events and networking opportunities, including monthly catered breakfasts, lunches and happy hours. Come check it out! If you’re tired of a long commute or working from a cramped kitchen table … this is your working solution.
The event is located in suite 280 on the 2nd floor of the Grove Arcade. The elevators are located at the center of the building. Parking is limited to around the Grove Arcade + nearby streets.
Members of YPA are invited to this professional development session to walk through a case study of the recruitment of the Fortune 10 Jet Engine manufacturer, Pratt & Whitney. A panel discussion will give us a closer look at the tranformative $650M investment and innovative jet engine technologies being developed in Asheville and the wages and skills required to staff the 800 new jobs in our region. Discussion will focus on what factors drove the selection of our community and the role of the Chamber, Economic Development Coalition, County and State government and land developers in winning the largest economic development commitment in the history of WNC.
Panelists Include:
Dan Field, Asheville Site Leader, Pratt & Whitney
Tim Love, Buncombe County
Ben Teague, Senior Vice President for Strategic Develoment, Biltmore Farms
Clark Duncan, Senior Vice President for Economic Development
5:30-6:30 – Social Hour (snacks and beverages provided)
6:30-7:30 – PD Session
Please register for this event in order to help us plan accordingly.
The Young Professionals of Asheville (YPA) provides outstanding professional leadership development opportunities through educational seminars, service opportunities and networking for Asheville professionals between the ages of 21 and 40. For more information or to join, please visit Young Professionals
To Celebrate Community Health Center Week and the Official Ribbon Cutting for our New Dale Fell Center, AMCHC is holding a Health Fair on 08/19 from 11AM to 3PM. Please join us for an afternoon of entertainment, education, and food to help introduce our new health center to the Asheville community.
TODAY, Tuesday, August 22nd
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Optimize Your Cash Flow and Cash Management – presented by US Bank
As a business owner your unique vision and passion drives you to set goals to succeed. To fuel your business goals, it’s important to manage your business cash flow.
In this webinar, a panel of experts including a small business specialist and a CPA will share an industry perspective on how to help organizations optimize and improve cash flow and cash management.
In today’s ever-changing marketplace it is a challenge to find the right messaging, branding, and marketing strategy to connect with your target customer.
With the variety of digital marketing options available, it can be confusing to determine which will work the best for your business.
Items to be discussed:
- Clarifying your company’s key message to customers and prospects
- Know exactly what your customer thinks about your brand.
- Discovering what makes you better than the competition to own that market segment.
- Presenting the experience that converts prospects to customers.
- Developing effective lead generation campaigns.
- Social media & content strategies to make you a
thought leader.
- Plus, many FREE, simple, downloadable resources
you can use immediately in your business.
Come meet the region’s government leadership at our 2023 Elected Officials Reception on Thursday, August 24 hosted in the Visitor Center lobby!
Each year, the Chamber brings together the mayors of the region and members of the Asheville City Council and Buncombe County Board of Commissioners to meet and network with Western North Carolina’s business community. Local elected officials from Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Madison and Transylvania counties attend.
This event is FREE to attend. There is no need to register. We encourage guests to wear their business name badges!
“An entrepreneurial mindset can empower ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things,” according to the Entrepreneurial Learning Initiative (ELI), a leader in entrepreneurial education serving academic, corporate, and non-profit organizations globally. Even if you are already extraordinary in certain arenas, learning to think like an entrepreneur can create possibilities and opportunities that may exist only in your dreams today. What would it be like to empower the entrepreneurial spirit within you that has a passion for building, connecting, and motivating yourself and others?
If this sounds interesting to you, you may want to consider enrolling in this course and becoming an Ice House Entrepreneur. Our 3-part program teaches how to think like an entrepreneur based on the book “Who Owns the Ice House? Eight Life Lessons from an Unlikely Entrepreneur.” This book, and the associated Ice House Entrepreneurship Program (IHEP), are inspired by the life story of Pulitzer Nominee Clifton Taulbert and the influence of his Uncle Cleve, who embodied the entrepreneurial mindset even when success seemed out of reach. “An entrepreneurial mindset exposes opportunity, ignites ambition, and fosters innovation. It shifts everyday thinking into a new framework, empowering people to identify problems, deploy solutions, and make connections using creative and critical thinking, communication, and collaboration,” states the ELI.
If you are a new entrepreneur, thinking about starting a business, or just need a jumpstart – this course is especially for you. It is also for anyone who aspires to improve their performance in any profession. Upgrading your mindset to better recognize and act on opportunities is a key to success in work and in life.
The instructor is Gold Certified Ice House Facilitator Beverly Jurenko, MBA, ACE-certified Executive Coach, and founder of Inside Edge Consulting LLC. She will be leading this course in the IHEP over the span of three Saturdays in August 2023 (8/12 9:30 to 3:30; 8/19 9:30 to 3:30; 8/26 9:30 to 1:30).
Because this is a deep dive course, we are limited to 20 students. The course will take place at AB Tech’s Enka campus. The cost to sign up is $89. This fee includes lunch all three days, and the book Who Owns the Ice House? Reserve your spot at https://www.plrconnectevents.com/ice-house-entrepreneurship-program
This project received support from NC IDEA and the AB Tech Small Business Center.
About the facilitator: Beverly Jurenko is a leadership and career coach based in Asheville, NC and the founder of Inside Edge Consulting LLC. She specializes in supporting diverse talent to embrace their power and realize their potential. She is certified as a coach by the Academy for Coaching Excellence, and a member of the International Coaching Federation. She is also an NC Idea Gold Certified Ice House Entrepreneurial Mindset Facilitator, and serves as an Advisory Board Member for UNC-Asheville Business Department and the Western Carolinas Coaches subchapter of the International Coaching Federation, and as an Advisory Committee member for the Asheville YMCA.
“If you are talented, and ambitious, but feel held back in some way, I want to support you. Together, we can identify and remove invisible barriers that get in your way so you can build your own sense of power and entitlement and pursue your goals with clarity and ease.” ~ Beverly Jurenko, Founder, Inside Edge Consulting LLC
Beverly brings her broad international background in the corporate, non-profit, and startup sectors to her work as a coach. She is a former Vice President for private equity investor BancBoston Capital; a co-founder of HBS Houston Alumni Angels; and the founder of two startups: That’s Math, an EdTech bilingual family math engagement company, and Best Cleaning Services, an award-winning commercial cleaning company she sold for 6.7x capital invested. She is also the former Director of Diversity & Inclusion for Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, and has worked in Latin America, Russia, and Europe in energy for Amoco and Enron, and in financial services for the Prudential Investment Corporation. She is certified in Diversity Equity & Inclusion by eCornell, and is an alum of Yale (double major: BA Economics, Russian/East European Studies) and Harvard (full-time MBA). As a mother, wife, and serial expat, she has first-hand experience with transitions, career-life balance, and multicultural challenges.
The 2023 Chamber Classic Golf Tournament will be held on Tuesday, August 29, at The Omni Grove Park Inn.
This event is always a fun opportunity for members of the business community to connect with colleagues and enjoy a beautiful day out of the office.
This Captain’s Choice tournament begins with a shotgun start at 8:30 am (one flight only). Sponsors will engage golfers with fun interaction and branded prizes at select holes on the course.
Entry fee includes breakfast provided by Bojangles of WNC, a delicious, hearty lunch catered by Bear’s Smokehouse Asheville. Two beverage stations will be set up on the course, with beer provided by Highland Brewing Company and soft drinks from Pepsi-Cola.
Registration fee is $225 per individual or $900 for a team of four players.
Every great event needs volunteers!
Anyone interested in volunteering to help with this tournament may contact Judi Willard at [email protected]
Chamber Event Refund Policy: The Chamber requires payment in advance for admission to all Chamber events, due to commitments to our vendors. Chamber event fees (regardless of attendance) are refundable only if a cancellation notice is received at least one week prior to the event.
Ribbon Cutting:
Terra Bella Hendersonville
Archetype Brewing is proud to open a third location in the South Slope, offering an
elevated dining experience with world inspired cuisine. Enjoy food and cocktails with a
full bar alongside its complex and mindfully crafted Belgian & American inspired brews.
The open-concept space welcomes all individuals, with roll-up street facing doors, an
intimate mezzanine and a rooftop patio, all adorned in modern decor while highlighting
its historical attributes, dating back to the 1920’s.
The event is free to the public and will include music, food, drink specials, and a
giveaway! Come celebrate with drinks or food prior to the Tourists’ Industry Night
ballgame at McCormick Field. Bring your ticket in before or after the game to show your
server and receive 20% off any one full priced food item. We look forward to seeing you!
See the full MENU HERE: https://archetypebrewing.com/abk-food-menu/
Start-up Basics: This introductory workshop focuses on the basics of testing your business idea and identifying the key factors that influence start-up success.
Start-up Basics provides you with an overview of the skills and tools you need when deciding to start a business.
In this session, you learn about: the advantages and disadvantages of owning a business, the most profitable form for your business, and the fundamentals of formation, organization, marketing, cash flow and funding sources.
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Enjoy a more productive day by meeting prospective customers at the start of your day. You may find a strong referral source, a new vendor, the perfect client, or simply get a foot in the door for connecting again later at another Chamber event. AM Power Hour is great if you are an early-bird or can’t make our after-hours networking events.
Friday, September 8th
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Hendersonville Outfitters
144 3rd Ave West, Hendersonville
Virtual via Zoom
Description: There’s been talk of a looming recession, and seemingly much to fear: inflation, interest rates, bank failures. But do you need to panic? In short: no. Recessions are a normal part of the economic cycle, and they can actually open doors both for investing and for growing your small business. But it’s important to address the scary parts, and know how to mitigate them. Join me for an empowering class on shoring up your personal finances to stay protected during an economic downturn, and to learn ways that you can position your business for surviving and even thriving in a recession.
We’ll cover:
- emergency savings
- personal finance basics
- inflation
- adjusting your quarterly tax payments
- investing: how not to panic
- hidden opportunities
- why feelings matter
- the opportunities hiding in a recession
BIO:
Hannah Cole is a tax expert who serves small creative businesses and mission-driven solopreneurs. A long-time working artist with a high-level exhibition history, the financial challenges of freelancers and small creative businesses are both relevant and personal to Hannah. Her specialty is communicating complex tax issues in a clear, creative-centered, empowering way, through teaching, writing, and the Sunlight podcast. She founded her company, Sunlight Tax, to serve visionary people who are self-employed, with relevant tax and financial education, so you can bring your unique vision to the world.
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Obtaining a loan for property, equipment or growth can be a complex process. In this session, we will break down the steps involved in securing a loan, including evaluating your financial readiness, preparing loan documentation, understanding loan options, and navigating the application process. You will gain practical tips and strategies to increase your chances of success when deciding to apply for a loan. We will also have an open conversation with creatives who have secured loans to grow their business, we will discuss the challenges, the growth they experienced and other thoughts about getting business loans from people who have done it!
Before you put in your notice at your current job, there are important things you should know about job offers.
Special guests:
- Dan Harpole, Operations Manager for Hollywood Bed
- Souwan Kiengkham, Human Resources Business Partner for the City of Salisbury
In this workshop, you’ll learn the fundamentals of bookkeeping, creating profit and loss statements, and organizing your finances to make informed decisions for your business’s next steps.
Key Workshop Topics:
- Good Bookkeeping Practices: Learn the basics of bookkeeping, including proper record-keeping, categorizing expenses, and tracking income.
- Profitability Analysis: Discover how to create a profit and loss statement, analyze financial data, and make strategic decisions to enhance profitability.
- Financial Organization: Gain insights into organizing your finances efficiently, including creating a budget, managing cash flow, and implementing effective systems.
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Standup Comedy at plēb urban winery
Join us for a night filled with laughter and good vibes at plēb urban winery! Get ready to have great night of standup comedy by some of the best comedians in the region. This in-person event is on tap for Fri Sept 22 2023 at7p-9p! Featuring Moira Goree, Petey Smith McDowell, Jess Cooley & Jason Webb. Hosted by Morgan Marie.
Foodtruck will be available for the whole show!
What: Standup Comedy at plēb urban winery in the River Arts District
When: September 22, 7-9p
Where: Located at 289 Lyman Street, Asheville, NC 28801, plēb urban winery offers the perfect setting for an evening of comedy!
Tickets: $20
Get $4 off with promo code: WINECOMEDYONTAP
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/710423163807?aff=oddtdtcreator
HOST Morgan Marie is an Asheville based comic capturing the playful and often painful parallels between adolescence and “almost-adulthood.” Vibrant yet vulnerable; her high-energy storytelling is influenced by her background as an improviser. She writes a monthly beloved humor column, “Best Medicine with Morgan Marie,” for the Mountain Xpress.
Peter Smith-McDowell has been traveling around the country telling jokes since 2009. Besides his standup comedy, Petey is Asheville native and known for his hysterical Asheville memes on Instagram : instagram.com/peteysmithmcdowell
Jess Cooley is a writer and stand up comic from Upstate South Carolina, where he learned how to walk, and talk, and eat food like a real boy. Currently based in Asheville, NC, his comedy involves personal subjects like Autism, religion, and the loss of his favorite sex toy during a home invasion. His unique and colorful perspective brings his stories to life, and his demons to the spotlight.
Moira Goree is from Asheville,Nc she’s a transgender woman who is darkly funny and authentic in her delivery. Her mix of storytelling and humor will mesmerize you while crying laughing,
Jason Webb is Co-Creator and Co-Host of Follow That! at The Comedy Store on Sunset.Festivals: Bridgetown Comedy Festival, San Francisco Sketchfest, Laughing Skull Comedy Festival (Best of the Fest) !0,000 Laughs Comedy Festival (Best of the Fest), Orlando Indie Comedy Festival, Bird City Comedy Festival, Blue Whale Comedy Festival, Big Pine Comedy Festival, Orlando Indie Comedy Festival.
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Presenter(s): Chris Grasinger + Panelists
Virtual via Zoom
Transitioning out of your business or selling a part of your business can be a complex process. This session will provide guidance on preparing your business for sale, including valuation methods, legal considerations, and marketing strategies. We will also address succession planning, exploring options such as transferring ownership to family members, employee owned, or seeking external buyers. Gain insights into maximizing the value of your business and ensuring a smooth transition for all stakeholders.
Succession Planning and Business Continuity
- Identifying potential successors and planning for leadership transitions
- Establishing a comprehensive succession plan and exit strategy
- Ensuring business continuity and preserving company values
Get ready to spread some holiday cheer and showcase your creativity! We’re thrilled to invite individuals, organizations, and groups of all kinds to apply for an entry in the upcoming Holiday Parade set to dazzle Downtown Asheville on Saturday, November 18. This year’s theme is “Snow Globe,” offering the perfect canvas for you to bring your winter wonderland dreams to life. This is your chance to be a part of a cherished community tradition that brings joy to thousands of onlookers. Whether you’ve got a beautifully decorated float, a lively marching band, a troupe of dancers, or a group of spirited volunteers, we want you to join us in making this year’s parade the most memorable one yet. It’s not just a parade; it’s an opportunity to make lasting memories and spread the festive spirit. Apply now, and let’s make this holiday season in Asheville truly magical for all!
You can click here to apply for an entry in the Holiday Parade before Monday, October 2.