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.

Thursday, May 21, 2020
Virtual History w/ The Vance Birthplace
May 21 @ 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
online

 

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Join assistant site director, Lauren May, for this online history lesson as she gives us a glimpse into the life of Leah Erwin, a slave on the Vance Plantation.

Using artifacts, documents, and the historic landscape of the Vance Birthplace, Lauren will discuss Leah’s role as enslaved cook and housekeeper, her struggle to build a family during slavery, and her life after emancipation.

Tucked in the Reems Creek Valley, the Vance Birthplace State Historic Site interprets life on an early 1800s mountain plantation. Utilizing seven historic structures and an extensive artifact collection, interpreters at the site share the stories of the people who lived and worked on the land from 1795-1844.

Join our Zoom meeting at the following link: https://zoom.us/j/91951069891
and enter password: 303320

Enka-Candler Tailgate Market
May 21 @ 3:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Enka-Candler Tailgate Market

Opening day for ECTM at our new location at AB Tech Enka. We will be in the parking lot of the Small Business Center, 1465 Sand Hill Road (across from Ingles, at the traffic light). Please share and invite your friends and family! We know this second season of ECTM is going to be amazing. Thank you for supporting local!

Vendors for 5/7:
Rainbow Ridge Gardens
Myseanica Farm
Bonny Bath natural body products
Whisk bakery
Saturnia Farm and Nursery
Jake’s Farm
Asheville Microgreens
Throwing Copper
Cornerstone Tea
Sustainabillies Nursery and Farm
Sister of Mother Earth herbal products
HeadShrink Farm heritage beef
The Real Molloy Food Truck
Sugar Whirled cotton candy – AB Tech Small Business featured booth.
*Many more vendors as the season goes on! Check out our website for a full list of vendors for the season. https://www.ashevillefarmstead.org/enka-candler-tailgate-market

COVID-19 Precautions:
To start, we will be holding fast to safety precautions listed below. As the CDC and NC governmental regulations soften, we will follow suit. Please know that we are making every effort to keep both our vendors and our community safe and well.

*No-contact payment: Tap’n’Pay , Venmo, Paypal payments only. No cash payments or card swipes will be accepted.
*Handwashing station upon entering Market
*Limited shopper numbers (car queue will be used, if necessary)
*1 customer at vendor table at a time
*Only touch what you are purchasing
*6ft Social Distancing required
*Masks highly encouraged. All vendors and Market staff will wear masks.
*No Music or Kids tent (yet)
*No craft/artisan vendors until non-essential businesses are allowed to open. We are hopeful this will be by June, or earlier.

Pack Library Online Dance Class for Kids
May 21 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
online

No photo description available.

Every Thursday starting May 4, we’ll have free dance class for kids to tune into!

Our instructor Rebecca will be plugging into Zoom to instruct kids of all ages and all experience levels from 4-5 PM. To get into the class, please create a free Zoom account. Follow this meeting information to get logged into class.
Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4527027407
Password: rodance

Thanks to the Friends of the Library for sponsoring this program.
Bookends Used Book Store at Pack Library – Asheville, NC

VIRTUAL: Asheville Community Theatre Daily Happy Hour Stream
May 21 @ 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
online

Asheville Community Theatre is one of many organizations working to provide online content during the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization is requesting video submissions of songs that make us happy. Participants are encouraged to submit videos with the hashtag #ACTHappyHour on Asheville Community Theatre’s Facebook page and look out for themes and other challenges. Then, every day, 5-6 p.m view the videos queued up for the ACT Happy Hour Watch Party.

Craft Beer + Trivia – VIRTUAL
May 21 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
online with Asheville Art Museum

EVENT SPONSORS

Craft Beer & Trivia – VIRTUAL

DATE:
Thursday, May 21, 2020
TIME:
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
COST:
Free

Join us for this fun, free evening! More details and registration information coming soon.

Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont Stay Connected Virtually
May 21 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
online
Mitch’s Totally Rad Trivia
May 21 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
The One Stop at Asheville Music Hall

Scoop: Mitch's Totally Rad TRIVIA

Mitch Fortune brings you an irreverent and nostalgia filled night of pop culture trivia every Thursday night 7-9 pm at the One Stop in Downtown Asheville. A potpourri of movies, music, TV show trivia just for you!

Strathmore Workshop with Rosebud Ben-Oni
May 21 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
online

New registration process for online workshops!

  1. Register for any workshop (except for May 1st, children’s workshops on May 12th and 26th, and our monthly workshop with the Strathmore) by clicking here.
  2. Wait for your registration to be approved, then follow the instructions in your email.
CATS
May 21 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Peace Center

Part of the 2019 – 2020 Broadway Season. Learn more about subscribing: http://bit.ly/2J6KMcs.

CATS, the record-breaking musical spectacular by Andrew Lloyd Webber that has captivated audiences in over 30 countries and 15 languages, is now on tour across North America!

Audiences and critics alike are rediscovering this beloved musical with breathtaking music, including one of the most treasured songs in musical theater—”Memory.” Winner of seven Tony Awards® including Best Musical, CATS tells the story of one magical night when an extraordinary tribe of cats gathers for its annual ball to rejoice and decide which cat will be reborn. The original score by Andrew Lloyd Webber (The Phantom of the Opera, School of Rock, Sunset Boulevard), original scenic and costume design by John Napier (Les Misérables), all-new lighting design by Natasha Katz (Aladdin), all-new sound design by Mick Potter, new choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler (Hamilton) based on the original choreography by Gillian Lynne (Phantom), and direction by Trevor Nunn (Les Misérables) make this production a new CATS for a new generation!

https://www.facebook.com/events/273199736913436/?event_time_id=273199740246769

Face With a Name
May 21 @ 7:30 pm – 8:00 pm
facebook

Face With a Name

New Episodes Thursdays at 7:30 pm
Hosted by Kelly Shanafelt

Episode 1: Get to Know Jill Summers
Episode 2: Get to Know Carina Lopez

Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
May 21 @ 7:30 pm
Peace Center

“The party Broadway’s been looking for!” –TheaterMania

She was a girl from Boston with a voice from heaven, who shot through the stars from gospel choir to dance floor diva. But what the world didn’t know was how Donna Summer risked it all to break through barriers, becoming the icon of an era and the inspiration for every music diva who followed.

With a score featuring more than 20 of Summer’s classic hits including “Love to Love You Baby,” “Bad Girls,” and “Hot Stuff,” this electric experience is a moving tribute to the voice of a generation.

Official Website

Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
May 21 @ 11:30 pm – May 22 @ 1:30 am
Peace Center

Part of the 2019 – 2020 Broadway Season. Learn more about subscribing: http://bit.ly/2J6KMcs.

“The party Broadway’s been looking for!” -TheaterMania

She was a girl from Boston with a voice from heaven, who shot through the stars from gospel choir to dance floor diva. But what the world didn’t know was how Donna Summer risked it all to break through barriers, becoming the icon of an era and the inspiration for every music diva who followed.

With a score featuring more than 20 of Summer’s classic hits including “Love to Love You Baby,” “Bad Girls,” and “Hot Stuff,” this electric experience is a moving tribute to the voice of a generation.

https://www.facebook.com/events/2264958693748287/?event_time_id=2264958703748286

The Lifespan of a FACT
May 21 @ 7:30 pm
NC Stage Company

A determined young fact checker is about to stir up trouble. The demanding editor has given him a big assignment: apply his skill to a groundbreaking piece by the unorthodox author. Together, they take on the high-stakes world of publishing in this new comedy of conflict. The ultimate showdown between fact and fiction is about to begin—with undeniably delicious consequences.

“stinging relevance to so much of what’s been happening for years now in American social, cultural and political discourse” – The Hollywood Reporter

Discretionary Warning: Adult themes and language

Avl and WNC Go Outside and Howl at 8 Support essential front-line workers
May 21 @ 8:00 pm – 8:15 pm
Online

“Go Outside and Howl at 8” is a national call for communities to recognize all essential front-line workers! Let’s join this call, Asheville! Show people in this community who are putting their lives at risk that we see them, and we love them! Let’s hear y’all howl at 8pm every night!!

Feel free to add pictures and/or videos to the Discussion in this event!

Much love, y’all!

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Drive In Movies at Brevard Music Center Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
May 21 @ 9:00 pm
Brevard Music Center

BMC @ THE MOVIES DRIVE-IN EXPERIENCE

In accordance with phase one of the Governor’s reopening orders, Brevard Music Center (BMC) will begin presenting Drive-In Movies on its campus starting Saturday night, May 30, 2020. The eight-film series is made possible by BMC with lead sponsors, PLATT and the Transylvania County Library FoundationStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is the first featured film in the series. The films will be presented on weekends at 9 PM on a big screen in the parking lot adjacent to BMC’s Whittington-Pfohl Auditorium (WPA) in Brevard.  Ticket sales for this event will begin Tuesday, May 26 at 9 AM.

Future movie titles and and on-sale dates for the weekly film series will be announced soon.

BMC is also collaborating with the following community partners for the Drive-In Movies @ Brevard Music Center series: The Cindy Platt Boys & Girls Club of Transylvania CountyRise and Shine Freedom SchoolSAFEVeterans History Museum of the CarolinasSharing HouseMeals on Wheels, and Bread of Life. Volunteers from these participating non-profit organizations will be giving each car a free bag of popcorn and candy along with literature about their missions in the community. Brevard’s own Co-Ed Cinema is providing the popcorn, and Ingles Markets will provide free candy to patrons.

Drive-in enthusiasts will enjoy featured movies on a 30-foot screen coordinated and constructed by PLATT. Audio will occur via FM transmission to the moviegoer’s car radio. In order to minimize physical interactions, tickets can only be purchased ahead of time via this website, and a limit of 80 cars per showing will be allowed.

Ticket prices for each movie are only $15 per car. All tickets must be purchased in advance – up to 1 hour before show time. No tickets will be sold onsite at BMC, and there will be no box office access during any Drive-In Movies @ Brevard Music Center film presentation.

https://secure.brevardmusic.org/online/default.asp?doWork::WScontent::loadArticle=Load&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::article_id=46747029-392C-4E6C-A362-4F8AF280F582&utm_source=Brevard+Music+Center&utm_campaign=3662c05937-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_1_31_2018_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b154873bc5-3662c05937-131688489

Rotating Local Shuffle
May 21 @ 10:00 pm – May 22 @ 2:00 am
The One Stop at Asheville Music Hall

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Friday, May 22, 2020
Amazing Glaze Workshop Instructor: Gabriel Kline
May 22 all-day
Odyssey ClayWorks

Monday- Friday, 9:30am – 4:30pm
May 18th -22nd, 2020

Do you hate glazing? I mean, do you really HATE glazing? Have you experienced the frustration of making a beautiful piece, then ruining it with a flawed, or perhaps worse, boring glaze? Would you rather spend your time doing just about ANYTHING else, even cleaning your studio? Then this is the workshop for you! Join best-selling author of the book, Amazing Glaze, Gabriel as he demystifies the techniques that will help you learn to love the glazing process, achieve more dynamic results, and get your work noticed. Topics will include under and overglaze decoration, glazing large and delicate work, spraying glazes, and multiple firings. We will also examine the basics of formulating, mixing, or altering a glaze.

Level: Seasoned Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced
Tuition: $595 + $75 Lab Fee, Includes a copy of the book Amazing Glaze.

Buncombe County Tourism Jobs Recovery Fund
May 22 all-day
online
Full program details are currently being finalized and will be posted shortly. We expect online applications will be accepted starting Friday, May 15, and will be due by May 31. Awards will be announced in mid-June.
Reopening Resources for the Creative Sector
May 22 all-day
online

Asheville Area Arts Council

In addition to our COVID resources page, AAAC has a new Reopening Resources page to assist the creative sector with the reopening process. We will continue to add to this page as more information becomes available.
Urge Support for H1068 and Arts Funding During COVID-19
May 22 all-day
online

New NC Arts Funding Bill Needs Support

Joint Caucus on Arts and Arts Education Co-Chairs Rep. Becky Carney and Rep. Jeffrey Elmore are joined by Rep. Michele Presnell and Rep. Susan Fisher as primary sponsors of H1068, the new legislation that would allocate $3 million to arts organizations negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic through the NC Arts Council.
YMCA of Western North Carolina Mobile Market Schedule MAY
May 22 all-day
varies

https://ymcawnc.org/sites/default/files/May%202020%20Nutrition%20mobile%20market.pdf

 

Blue Ridge Humane Society announces Digital and Contactless Adoption Procedures
May 22 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Blue Ridge Humane Society online

Digital and Contactless Adoption Procedure:

  1. Check out the available animals online and find that special one!
  2. Fill out the online application.
  3. Our staff will reach out soon during our current regular business hours of 8am-5pm, Tuesday-Sunday to provide adoption counseling and information about the animal, as well more details about our current adoption procedure.
  4. A Meet and Greet may be scheduled for you virtually or contact-free at our Adoption Center (these are only by appointment and following application and adoption counseling). Cats, kittens and puppies in foster will only be available for a virtual Meet and Greets. Adult dogs will have a contactless Meet and Greet on site by appointment.
    Note: Potential adopters will be asked not to come to the Adoption Center if they have experienced any coronavirus symptoms and will be asked to adhere to best hygiene practices. We are not accepting walk-up adoptions or visits at this time due to the safety precautions we are taking in response to COVID-19. All staff at the adoption center will practice social distancing, hand hygiene and will wear a mask. Potential adopters are encouraged to do the same.
  5. Pickup will be arranged and all details shared for a contactless encounter.
  6. Adoption Delivery may be available for Henderson County Residents only if an adoption is confirmed and the animal is currently housed as the Adoption Center (not in foster care).
  7. All adoptions will be processed with credit or debit only.
  8. Have questions? Send us a message or email [email protected]!
Buncombe County’s Stay at Home Order Update Phase 1
May 22 @ 8:00 am – 5:30 pm
online

Buncombe County officials continue to take proactive steps to keep our community safe and healthy during the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic.

To bring our community in closer alignment with Governor Cooper’s Executive Order 138, Buncombe County Public Health has issued a superseding Stay Home, Stay Safe Declaration that will go into effect at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 8, 2020 and will remain in effect until Friday, May 22, 2020 unless otherwise repealed, replaced, or rescinded and transitions to Phase 1 of slowly easing certain COVID-19 restrictions.

This order aligns us with Governor Cooper’s executive order with the sole exception of a continued restriction on Leisure Travel Booking. Buncombe County continues to restrict leisure travel bookings from outside of WNC. Lodging providers can now book rooms for residents of the 828 area code for leisure travel. We will be adopting the Governor’s Order together with his FAQ document specific to Executive Order 138.

If you have any questions about this new order, please reach out to our Ready Team Monday-Friday between 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Call  (828) 419-0095 or email [email protected].

Biltmore Open to Annual Passholders advanced reservations-only basis
May 22 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
The Biltmore

Health and Safety Updates

Opening our 8,000-Acre Estate on a Limited Basis Starting May 9

In accordance with state and local government reopening guidelines, Biltmore will open the estate’s park spaces—our glorious gardens and grounds with more than 20 miles of walking, hiking, and biking trails—beginning Saturday, May 9.

With consideration for county mandates regarding social distancing and mass gatherings, we are opening exclusively for Biltmore Annual Passholders who reside in Western North Carolina on an advanced reservations-only basis.

We will expand the opening of additional guest experiences in alignment with state and local guidelines. We look forward to welcoming more guests to the estate at that time.

Early Admission Open for Popular Fall 2020 Programs! AB Tech
May 22 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
AB Tech

Popular A-B Tech programs in Brewing, Cosmetology, EMS and Allied Health are now accepting applicants for the Fall 2020 Semester. Apply now because these programs are capped and will fill quickly. Financial aid is available. Learn more at abtech.edu/register or call 828.398.7900.

The programs include:
Brewing, Distillation and Fermentation
Cosmetology and Cosmetology Instructor
EMS
Medical Assisting
Pharmacy Tech
Phlebotomy
More information also can be found at www.abtech.edu/selective-limited-programs

Garden Jubilee 2020 Nurseries and Orchard Tour
May 22 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
varies

This year Garden Jubilee 2020 Nurseries & Orchard Tour be sending the public out to the local nurseries and orchards throughout Henderson County to prevent the gathering of the usual large crowds experienced on Main Street. The Garden Jubilee 2020 Nurseries & Orchard Tour will run from May 22 – 25, Friday through Monday of Memorial Day Weekend, from 9 am – 5 pm daily, to spread the public out over several days to avoid large crowds. The modifications to the Garden Jubilee 2020 Nurseries & Orchard Tour will follow federal and state mandated guidelines for cleaning, social distancing and limiting crowd size.

Local and nurseries will be selling annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs and hard-to-find plants. The orchards will be offering produce, jams, jellies, honey, cider and baked goods. As an added feature some of the nurseries and orchards will host a couple of craft or other garden related themed vendors at their location

A brochure will be created with a map and listing the participating Henderson County nurseries and orchards. The information will be featured on the HCTDA web site, including a downloadable version of the brochure, for easy navigation. Check the web site often for updates of businesses participating.

Go online for additional information about Garden Jubilee 2020 Nurseries & Orchard Tour, or call the Henderson County Tourism Development Authority at 828-693-9708 or 800-828-4244.

Sponsors – Henderson County Tourism Development Authority

Garden Jubilee Tour
May 22 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Henderson County

A New Twist on Garden Jubilee: a county-wide tour instead of Main St crowds.
We will NOT participate as a group, but you may participate with your level of conscientious caution. (smile).

The brochure/map, that is mentioned, is the following links:
https://www.visithendersonvillenc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020-Garden-Jubilee-NurseriesOrchard-Tour.pdf
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1oJcvwJQXxO-5pnjpIAVQQLLKn5LJEhgp&ll=35.31185148226706%2C-82.49178584999999&z=12

The Garden Jubilee 2020 Nurseries & Orchard Tour will run from May 22 – 25, Friday through Monday of Memorial Day Weekend. This year’s Garden Jubilee Nurseries & Orchard Tour will be sending the public out to the local nurseries and orchards throughout Henderson County to prevent the gathering of the usual large crowds experienced on Main Street. Gardening is one of America’s favorite pastimes and the Blue Ridge Mountains provide a healthy environment for growing a vast variety of flowers and plants.
For detailed info; Goto:
https://www.visithendersonvillenc.org/garden-jubilee

Mystery Hill + Tomahawk Hill Reopening
May 22 @ 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Mystery Hill

Mystery Hill and our rowdy neighbor, Tomahawk Hill, will be reopening from 9 am to 6 pm only on Fridays, Sat-
urdays, and Sundays, starting May 15th. As part of the Covid 19 Phase One business openings instituted in North

Carolina, we will abide by the safe distancing rules, and will have limited, time-slotted tickets. We encourage
visitors to buy tickets in advance on our website to avoid wait times outside. All attractions will be operating with
some operational changes to help with social distancing and ramped up sanitation procedures. Front Porch Eats
will operate for take out only but the onsite picnic areas have been setup for social distancing and will be open.
We are going to extend the expiration date on all current Vortex Pass Memberships to December 31, 2021 and for the
rest of May any vortex passes purchased or renewed will get $20 off and will also be valid until December 31, 2021.
Here are just some of the precautions we are taking:
• Separate entrance and exit doors to limit cross traffic
• 6 ft separation in ticketing queue line
• Plastic barriers separating staff and guests in ticketing line
• Staff will wear a mask and maintain social distance
• Anomaly tours will start every 30 min and will be private for only one group traveling
together

• Access to the Museums, Tomahawk Hill and Gift Shops will be limited by occupancy to help with social dis-
tancing

• The Old Time Photo Parlour will not be open yet so for tickets that include photos guest can choose to either
have a souvenir photo done in the Mystery House, Platform, Bubblerama, or Tomahawk Hill or they can get a
voucher to use for the Old Time Photo when it reopens
• Front Porch Eats will operate for takeout only but guests can use our picnic tables which have been spread
out to maintain social distancing
• We are adding hand sanitizing stations at the entrance to each of our exhibit areas and asking the guest to
sanitize before they enter
• We are increasing our daily housekeeping cleaning of fixtures, exhibits, and handrails to several times per day

Adventure Center of Asheville Kolo Bike Park has reopened
May 22 @ 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Adventure Center of Asheville

Kolo Bike Park has reopened with amended attendance and safety precautions. The current operating days and hours will be Thursday to Sunday weekly with 2 riding sessions daily at 10:00-2:00 and 2:00-6:00. We have received notification from the Buncombe County Health & Human Services Department that our bike trails can operate with certain conditions.

Currently, the aerial activities are closed. May 13, we are planning to open the Asheville Treetops Adventure Park. Then we plan to open the Ziplines soon after that.

If you are interested in riding at Kolo Bike Park, please check out our current safety rules and regulations. We highly recommend reservations, payment and waivers to be completed prior to arrival.

Looking Forward or #ashevillelookingforward, we are building new Bike Trails, starting a Kolo Bike Program for younger kids, and have added a new intermediate trail on the Treetops Park. And we have a fun Halloween surprise in store for our younger guests.

As a locally owned family business, we look to the future…….

1. Keep your plans and reservations in place. We are only planning to be closed as long as we have to keep our Guests and employees safe. If your activity date happens at a time when we are closed, we will contact you.

2. If we need to cancel your upcoming activity, consider a credit vs. refund. That allows us to keep the facility and team ready to go when we do reopen. We continue to have expenses even while we are closed including preparing the gear/facility for the season and paying our leadership team. Your support will help us keep this great family facility alive and strong for the next 10 years.

3. Book reservations for May 13 or later for the Treetops Park or May 20 or later for the Zipline.

4. Buy gift certificates today for you, friends, or family. They don’t expire and they are great gifts all year long. That continuance of cashflow will help us all keep the economy going.

5. Keep planning for summer camps. We are planning a great summer with four different day camp options. We have returning camp counselors, new trails for bikes and a new aerial trail in the Treetops Park. And announcing our 2 new Kolo Advanced Shred Summer Sessions for ages 13-17 to develop their fundamental skills by advanced pro level riders. Call our office or book online (fees apply when booking online.) 828.225.2921

6. Group sales is still taking reservations for the future at [email protected]. A group adventure in the Trees (Zipping or Climbing the Treetops Park) or on the ground (team building or mountain bike riding) will be a great way to reconnect with co-workers, students, families and youth groups.

7. Check out our Blog with updated ACA information

We greatly appreciate the thousands of families, groups of friends, couples, young adults, schools, businesses, churches, camps and so many more that are part of our adventure family. We are where we were yesterday and where we will be a month from now because of you. Your support allows our team to do what we love to do while helping you do the same. We look forward to getting back to normal again. Stay safe and well!

Jeff Greiner
Adventure Center of Asheville
www.advavl.com

Buncombe County Parks open: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
May 22 @ 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Buncombe County Parks

Parks open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

  • Buncombe County Sports Park on 58 Apac Circle in Asheville
  • Charles D. Owen Park on 875 Warren Wilson Wilson Road in Swannanoa
  • Lake Julian Park on 406 Overlook Extension in Arden