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, August 8, 2021
Victoria: The Forgotten Town Walking Tour
Aug 8 all-day
Online w/ Western North Carolina Historical Association
Contained by its larger growing neighbor (Asheville), the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers, and the Southern Railway line, the Town of Victoria existed from 1887 until 1905, when it was absorbed into Asheville. The community—which included the Smith-McDowell House and Fernihurst mansion—originally incorporated into a town to prevent unwanted development (particularly from the Vanderbilts).
Want to farm? 12-Month, Farmer-Led Training Program
Aug 8 all-day
In person and hybrid

Organic Growers School

The Farm Beginnings® class is a 12-month training session that uses holistic management to help beginning farmers clarify their goals and strengths, establish a strong enterprise plan and start building their operation.
Farm Beginnings will help you build these skills through one year of farmer-led training, mentoring, and networking.
Farm Beginnings is designed for new and prospective farmers who want to plan a profitable farm business. Classes will be hybrid this year, starting in October 24th 2021.
Farm Beginnings will be hybrid for 2021/2022.
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Applications open now, due by September 18th

Farm Beginnings® Farmer Training is approved by the US Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) as an Education Vendor. As a Farm Beginnings® Graduate, your training counts as a year of farm management experience when you apply for a farmland loan through the Farm Service Agency.

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Art on the Farm | “Classic Modernist Workshop”
Aug 8 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
The Gallery at Flat Rock
Art on the Farm | "Classic Modernist Workshop"

In partnership with The Gallery at Flat Rock, join international artist Marsha Hammel for a 3-day workshop hosted by The Horse Shoe Farm.

Imagine a mashup of Modigliani, Matisse and Picasso- that might describe my style of figurative painting. Old School, perhaps, but with an awareness of contemporary techniques this approach has served my studio practice for almost fifty years.

My workshop will focus on the fundamentals; composition, line and gesture, color. We will explore these elements in depth over 3 days of morning and afternoon sessions.

My prejudice is that Big is Better- we will work on canvases no smaller than 24×30 inches. My own canvas will be a 30×40 inches.

Our subject will be a seated or reclining model arranged in a “tableau” with potted plants and/or flowers in a vase or with bowl of fruit. Participants may choose to focus only on the figure or the still life or both.

The result of these three days will produce a finished painting and provide participants with an invigorated perspective of their own approach to canvas painting.

– Marsha Hammel

Daily gourmet lunches and afternoon wine & cheese spread are included

Monday, August 9, 2021
COVID-19 Delta Variant Q+A with Drs. Cindy Gray and David Wohl
Aug 9 all-day
Online
Why is the COVID-19 Delta variant so concerning?
Watch this Q&A with UNC School of Medicine infectious diseases experts Cindy Gay, MD, who leads vaccine clinical trials at UNC for the Moderna and Novavax vaccines, and co-investigator David Wohl, who led the UNC-Chapel Hill vaccine clinic and heads the monoclonal antibody treatment clinic for UNC Health. They answer questions about the COVID-19 Delta variant and vaccine efficacy and safety.
COVID-19 cases in our area as of July 27, 2021.
·     Henderson County – 219 cases
·     Buncombe County – 379 cases
·     Transylvania – 79 cases
·     Haywood County.- 109 cases
The 2021 Summer Learning Program: Tails + Tales – an exploration of wildlife and fantastical folktales
Aug 9 all-day
Online

Illustration of animals reading book.

Get ready to go wild at the library for our annual Summer Learning Program. Join us for Tails & Tales – an exploration of wildlife and fantastical folktales. We’ll have an activity sheet with lots of fun adventures for all ages. You can pick up a sheet at any library starting June 1, or download it HERE. Check our calendar to find our most up to date list of programs all summer long.

 

The 2021 Summer Learning Program is open to young people, preschool through teen, with books and activities for every age. All library programs are free and open to children of all abilities. Come in and see what the library has for you!

Regional Agritourism Seminar
Aug 9 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Haywood County Extension Office
The focus will be on bringing together agritourism operators and tourism leaders to identify and share the stories of Western NC farms.

		2021 Regional Agritourism Seminar image

After spending a year interviewing agritourism operators and stakeholders in our region, the NC State University team for Empowering Mountain Food Systems (EMFS) is ready to disseminate findings and recommendations. They will deliver valuable insights for both agritourism providers and allied partners designed to support this valuable component of our regional tourism economy.

 

During the workshop, agritourism operators will identify what aspects of their story make them unique. Concurrently, local tourism and economic development leaders will brainstorm how agritourism can amplify and complement their community’s tourism brands. We’ll bring the two groups together to identify how the agritourism’ stories can align with the regional tourism brands.

KT and her family have developed a dynamic apiary, orchard and value added kitchen operation in Haywood County. After the seminar, come to visit KT and learn about her agritourism programming while sampling the wonderful apple, honey and berry products grown and produced on site.

RSVP required to assure tasting quantities!

 

COLLEGE STUDY HALL
Aug 9 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Grind Coffee House

 Mon-Fri from 2-5pm. You have access to high speed internet, work space and HALF-OFF pastries when you present your college ID.

Recovering Hope Peer Support Group
Aug 9 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
HOPE COALITION

Peer Support

Group meetings: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 2:00 – 3:00 PM

 

Please contact us for individual services at 828.388.7979, Option #2

 

Through the “lived-experience” of our peer support specialists, we will assist, encourage, empower and advocate with others on their journey to finding their own path to recovery. Recovery is possible but is not meant to do alone. We do recover together.

About Hope Coalition

Hope Coalition is a grassroots effort initiated by the Henderson County Partnership for Health in 2013 as a community collaborative to educate, evaluate, and implement evidence-based models on substance misuse and underage drinking in Henderson County by building capacity and creating long-term and sustainable plans that are action-oriented and focus on community level change. 

Stand-Up Comedy Class with Ritch Shydner
Aug 9 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Attic Salt Theatre Company
Long-time, professional comedian Ritch Shydner passes his wisdom to beginners and intermediate hopefuls. The class culminates with a final performance hosted by Shydner himself!
Class Fee: $250 for 5 weeks (10-person maximum)
Dates: Mondays, 7-9pm
August 9, 16, 23, 30
Sept 13
Performance: September 18 at 8pm
Tuesday, August 10, 2021
COVID-19 Delta Variant Q+A with Drs. Cindy Gray and David Wohl
Aug 10 all-day
Online
Why is the COVID-19 Delta variant so concerning?
Watch this Q&A with UNC School of Medicine infectious diseases experts Cindy Gay, MD, who leads vaccine clinical trials at UNC for the Moderna and Novavax vaccines, and co-investigator David Wohl, who led the UNC-Chapel Hill vaccine clinic and heads the monoclonal antibody treatment clinic for UNC Health. They answer questions about the COVID-19 Delta variant and vaccine efficacy and safety.
COVID-19 cases in our area as of July 27, 2021.
·     Henderson County – 219 cases
·     Buncombe County – 379 cases
·     Transylvania – 79 cases
·     Haywood County.- 109 cases
Gardening Video: Selecting WNC Natives and Nativars
Aug 10 all-day
Online
Shelby Jackson, Presenter

Shelby Singleton Jackson, a NC Certified Plant Professional and Horticulturist at Carolina Native Nursery in Burnsville, is passionate about native plants. She will talk about natives, nativars, and hybrids; help you understand the differences and why it matters; and give some suggestions for native plant choices.

Check out the latest gardening video on the Buncombe County Master Gardener website.  Learn the difference between native plants, nativars, and hybrids.  Understand why it matters for gardens designed to support pollinators, biodiversity, and wildlife.

Seed Saving 101
Aug 10 all-day
Online

Sliding Scale $10-30
Register here: https://organicgrowersschool.org/…/2021-seed-saving-aug/

Knowing how to save our own seed is an important and fun skill that anyone can learn how to do, and make part of one’s current garden plans. Seed Saving is an accessible craft that can actually make you a better gardener by helping you understand the full life cycle of plants and botany. Learn why, how, and when to save seeds; with a focus on harvesting and processing for viability, good germination, and storage. This class will include demonstrations on low tech seed processing methods.

The 2021 Summer Learning Program: Tails + Tales – an exploration of wildlife and fantastical folktales
Aug 10 all-day
Online

Illustration of animals reading book.

Get ready to go wild at the library for our annual Summer Learning Program. Join us for Tails & Tales – an exploration of wildlife and fantastical folktales. We’ll have an activity sheet with lots of fun adventures for all ages. You can pick up a sheet at any library starting June 1, or download it HERE. Check our calendar to find our most up to date list of programs all summer long.

 

The 2021 Summer Learning Program is open to young people, preschool through teen, with books and activities for every age. All library programs are free and open to children of all abilities. Come in and see what the library has for you!

Come to the Lake: An On-Site Art-Making Event
Aug 10 – Aug 11 all-day
Lake Logan Conference Center

Lake Logan Conference Center and Camp Henry, Inc

Artists of all disciplines are invited to participate in this 3-day plein air art-making event hosted at Lake Logan by two of North Carolina’s celebrated artists and educators: painting, drawing, and other media artist Norma Hendrix and fine art photographer Barbara Tyroler. Whether one’s medium is painting, drawing, photography, or a fusion of approaches, this is a chance to retreat and make art in community of other artists.

 

 

Participants will stay in Lake Logan’s charming cabins and spend the days creating in a landscape replete with natural features including the scenic lake, the lily pond, the Pigeon River, secluded wooded areas, streams and waterfalls.

 

 

Artists will work independently in their selected locations and may participate in optional group sessions are offered by Hendrix and Tyroler during the 3 days.  Tuesday evening, Lake Logan will host an informal exhibition of the participants’ “on-site” works. The evening will begin with a wine reception for attending artists and Lake Logan’s invited friends and supporters. Artists are encouraged to donate a small work for the silent auction to benefit Lake Logan, a non-profit organization. Guest musicians Eric Hendrix and Friend and Red Nucleus will provide evening entertainment.

 

 

Guided Trail Walk
Aug 10 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
NC Arboretum

Hit the trails and learn more about the Arboretum’s botanically diverse forest with the return of guided trail walks in 2021! In response to COVID-19, new safety measures have been put in place to protect our guests, members, volunteers and staff: Walks will be limited to 10 people, including the guide, and all participants will be required to wear face coverings for the duration of the walk.

This free hiking program is led by trained volunteer guides who take small groups of participants along woodland trails and through a variety of forest types. Depending on the season, topics of discussion may include wildflowers, plant and tree identification, natural history and more.

Guided trail walks depart from the Baker Exhibit Center Lobby every Tuesday and Saturday at 1 p.m. through the month of October. Walks last 1.5- 2.5 hours and are approximately one to two miles in length, and as such are recommended for guests 14 years or older. Walks are held rain or shine, so all participants should dress appropriately for the weather.

Register In Advance

Space is limited and advance registration is encouraged. Pre-registered participants must check in at the Baker Information Desk no later than 10 minutes before the scheduled program to keep their spot. Unclaimed spots will be offered to other guests.

Guests may sign up for trail walks in the following ways:

  • Pre-register online
  • Sign up in-person at the Baker Information Desk.
COLLEGE STUDY HALL
Aug 10 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Grind Coffee House

 Mon-Fri from 2-5pm. You have access to high speed internet, work space and HALF-OFF pastries when you present your college ID.

Yoga: Where you Are
Aug 10 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Leicester Library

Learn about yoga through this short presentation by Devika, a Leicester resident and long time yoga practitioner and teacher of the yogic traditions of India. Devika will talk about the underlying meaning of practicing Yoga for those new to the practice and provide a demonstration. The presentation will be followed by traditional Indian snacks and Chai. All are welcome.

Wednesday, August 11, 2021
COVID-19 Delta Variant Q+A with Drs. Cindy Gray and David Wohl
Aug 11 all-day
Online
Why is the COVID-19 Delta variant so concerning?
Watch this Q&A with UNC School of Medicine infectious diseases experts Cindy Gay, MD, who leads vaccine clinical trials at UNC for the Moderna and Novavax vaccines, and co-investigator David Wohl, who led the UNC-Chapel Hill vaccine clinic and heads the monoclonal antibody treatment clinic for UNC Health. They answer questions about the COVID-19 Delta variant and vaccine efficacy and safety.
COVID-19 cases in our area as of July 27, 2021.
·     Henderson County – 219 cases
·     Buncombe County – 379 cases
·     Transylvania – 79 cases
·     Haywood County.- 109 cases
Gardening Video: Selecting WNC Natives and Nativars
Aug 11 all-day
Online
Shelby Jackson, Presenter

Shelby Singleton Jackson, a NC Certified Plant Professional and Horticulturist at Carolina Native Nursery in Burnsville, is passionate about native plants. She will talk about natives, nativars, and hybrids; help you understand the differences and why it matters; and give some suggestions for native plant choices.

Check out the latest gardening video on the Buncombe County Master Gardener website.  Learn the difference between native plants, nativars, and hybrids.  Understand why it matters for gardens designed to support pollinators, biodiversity, and wildlife.

The 2021 Summer Learning Program: Tails + Tales – an exploration of wildlife and fantastical folktales
Aug 11 all-day
Online

Illustration of animals reading book.

Get ready to go wild at the library for our annual Summer Learning Program. Join us for Tails & Tales – an exploration of wildlife and fantastical folktales. We’ll have an activity sheet with lots of fun adventures for all ages. You can pick up a sheet at any library starting June 1, or download it HERE. Check our calendar to find our most up to date list of programs all summer long.

 

The 2021 Summer Learning Program is open to young people, preschool through teen, with books and activities for every age. All library programs are free and open to children of all abilities. Come in and see what the library has for you!

YW Wellness and Learning Lab: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Aug 11 all-day
YWCA Asheville

YW WELLNESS AND LEARNING LAB

YW Wellness and Learning Lab

At the YWCA of Asheville, we eliminate racism and empower women by providing programs and advocacy for over 3,000 community members annually in Western North Carolina with services that support families, promote holistic wellness, and advance racial justice.

We are seeking dedicated volunteers for our new YW Wellness and Learning Lab beginning on September 8th. Volunteers will assist school-age children with their homework, administer the Read to Succeed curriculum, and build meaningful relationships with students while their parents take time for their health and well-being.

Volunteer Responsibilities:

Time Commitment:

  • Shifts are 4:30–7:30 PM on Monday and Wednesday at the YWCA of Asheville
  • Must commit to one shift per week

Volunteer Requirements:

  • 18 years or older
  • Able to work patiently with students of various ages
  • Previous teaching or tutoring experience a plus
  • Must pass a background check
  • Commitment to the YWCA’s mission of eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all

Training

  • The YWCA will offer training in racial justice, Read to Succeed curriculum, and trauma-informed, equity-focused education. Volunteers must complete orientation and training before working with students.
  • Training will take place on Saturday, August 21st from 10 AM–1 PM at the YWCA

Health and Safety:

  • Masks must be worn at all times when interacting with students
  • Masks and hand sanitizer will be available
Business Morning Update
Aug 11 @ 8:00 am – 9:00 am
Online w/ Henderson County Chamber of Commerce
Summer Animal Encounters
Aug 11 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Chimney Rock State Park

Join a Park Naturalist to meet some of our resident Animal Ambassadors.  Participants will learn what kind of wildlife inhabits the Park and their important role in the ecosystem.  You might even leave with a newfound appreciation for critters you once misunderstood.

Time: Weekdays only at 11am
Cost: Included with Park admission.
COLLEGE STUDY HALL
Aug 11 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Grind Coffee House

 Mon-Fri from 2-5pm. You have access to high speed internet, work space and HALF-OFF pastries when you present your college ID.

Recovering Hope Peer Support Group
Aug 11 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
HOPE COALITION

Peer Support

Group meetings: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 2:00 – 3:00 PM

 

Please contact us for individual services at 828.388.7979, Option #2

 

Through the “lived-experience” of our peer support specialists, we will assist, encourage, empower and advocate with others on their journey to finding their own path to recovery. Recovery is possible but is not meant to do alone. We do recover together.

About Hope Coalition

Hope Coalition is a grassroots effort initiated by the Henderson County Partnership for Health in 2013 as a community collaborative to educate, evaluate, and implement evidence-based models on substance misuse and underage drinking in Henderson County by building capacity and creating long-term and sustainable plans that are action-oriented and focus on community level change. 

Thursday, August 12, 2021
COVID-19 Delta Variant Q+A with Drs. Cindy Gray and David Wohl
Aug 12 all-day
Online
Why is the COVID-19 Delta variant so concerning?
Watch this Q&A with UNC School of Medicine infectious diseases experts Cindy Gay, MD, who leads vaccine clinical trials at UNC for the Moderna and Novavax vaccines, and co-investigator David Wohl, who led the UNC-Chapel Hill vaccine clinic and heads the monoclonal antibody treatment clinic for UNC Health. They answer questions about the COVID-19 Delta variant and vaccine efficacy and safety.
COVID-19 cases in our area as of July 27, 2021.
·     Henderson County – 219 cases
·     Buncombe County – 379 cases
·     Transylvania – 79 cases
·     Haywood County.- 109 cases
Gardening Video: Selecting WNC Natives and Nativars
Aug 12 all-day
Online
Shelby Jackson, Presenter

Shelby Singleton Jackson, a NC Certified Plant Professional and Horticulturist at Carolina Native Nursery in Burnsville, is passionate about native plants. She will talk about natives, nativars, and hybrids; help you understand the differences and why it matters; and give some suggestions for native plant choices.

Check out the latest gardening video on the Buncombe County Master Gardener website.  Learn the difference between native plants, nativars, and hybrids.  Understand why it matters for gardens designed to support pollinators, biodiversity, and wildlife.

The 2021 Summer Learning Program: Tails + Tales – an exploration of wildlife and fantastical folktales
Aug 12 all-day
Online

Illustration of animals reading book.

Get ready to go wild at the library for our annual Summer Learning Program. Join us for Tails & Tales – an exploration of wildlife and fantastical folktales. We’ll have an activity sheet with lots of fun adventures for all ages. You can pick up a sheet at any library starting June 1, or download it HERE. Check our calendar to find our most up to date list of programs all summer long.

 

The 2021 Summer Learning Program is open to young people, preschool through teen, with books and activities for every age. All library programs are free and open to children of all abilities. Come in and see what the library has for you!

YW Wellness and Learning Lab: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Aug 12 all-day
YWCA Asheville

YW WELLNESS AND LEARNING LAB

YW Wellness and Learning Lab

At the YWCA of Asheville, we eliminate racism and empower women by providing programs and advocacy for over 3,000 community members annually in Western North Carolina with services that support families, promote holistic wellness, and advance racial justice.

We are seeking dedicated volunteers for our new YW Wellness and Learning Lab beginning on September 8th. Volunteers will assist school-age children with their homework, administer the Read to Succeed curriculum, and build meaningful relationships with students while their parents take time for their health and well-being.

Volunteer Responsibilities:

Time Commitment:

  • Shifts are 4:30–7:30 PM on Monday and Wednesday at the YWCA of Asheville
  • Must commit to one shift per week

Volunteer Requirements:

  • 18 years or older
  • Able to work patiently with students of various ages
  • Previous teaching or tutoring experience a plus
  • Must pass a background check
  • Commitment to the YWCA’s mission of eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all

Training

  • The YWCA will offer training in racial justice, Read to Succeed curriculum, and trauma-informed, equity-focused education. Volunteers must complete orientation and training before working with students.
  • Training will take place on Saturday, August 21st from 10 AM–1 PM at the YWCA

Health and Safety:

  • Masks must be worn at all times when interacting with students
  • Masks and hand sanitizer will be available
The Learning Garden Opens to the Public
Aug 12 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Buncombe Extension Center
The Learning Garden at Buncombe Extension Center
Vegetable gardening at The Learning Garden

Visit The Learning Garden! The gardens are in full summer mode with ripening tomatoes, blooming roses, giant sunflowers, and many other perennials and plants of interest.

The Learning Garden is a dedicated, on-site teaching garden at the Buncombe Extension Center located at 49 Mt. Carmel Road, Asheville. It is managed and cared for by the Extension Master GardenerSM volunteers (EMGVs) of Buncombe County.

Everyone is welcome to visit the gardens Monday and Wednesday mornings from 9 to 12 when temperatures are cool and Master Gardeners are working in the gardens. Or come visit on your own Monday through Friday, 8 to 5.

The Learning Garden (TLG) surrounds the Extension building, includes 8 distinct gardens, and a composting demonstration site. Each garden offers plants that grow well in our region. You will gather new ideas and learn successful horticultural practices that lead to beautiful, healthy gardens.

Look for plant labels in the garden. Find more information and brochures at the kiosk near the building and in the garden mailboxes.

GARDENERS ARE IN THE GARDEN.