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, June 20, 2021
Virtual Library
Jun 20 all-day
Online

Virtual Library

Fix a car, study for the GRE, learn a new language, write a grant, research your own history — you can do it all with Buncombe County Public Libraries.

Accessing Online Resources

You may need your Buncombe County library card number to log in to some of these databases. If the database asks for a password, call the Reference Desk at 250-4741 or email [email protected] and we will be happy to provide you with the necessary information. There is no charge for access to any of these databases.

Can’t find what you’re looking for?

Browse hundreds of additional databases and resources on NCLive.org. NC LIVE offers free electronic access to resources for all ages on topics ranging from careers, business, and investing, to health, history, and genealogy. Ebooks, audiobooks, videos, magazines, newspapers, journals, language-learning tools, and other online materials available through NC LIVE are designed for at-home use, and are available from any Internet connection via library websites, and through NCLIVE.org. All North Carolinians may use NC LIVE resources through local public libraries, community colleges, or college and university libraries.

Wild Art Sculpture Showcase
Jun 20 @ 8:00 am – 9:00 pm
NC Arboretum

The North Carolina Arboretum is going wild for art and nature in 2021 with Wild Art! On view April 1 through September 26, this outdoor sculpture exhibition features works by 17 local and national artists drawing inspiration from the natural environment. Situated throughout the Arboretum’s spacious, open-air gardens, the show offers guests a doorway into the wild world from the comfort and safety of cultivated landscapes transformed by art.

The 18 sculptures on display represent a variety of approaches to the theme of “wild art,” from the literal to the abstract, and are crafted from a diverse array of materials that will delight and inspire. Let your imagination take you on a wild journey into the world of plants and animals near and far with Wild Art at The North Carolina Arboretum.

The exhibit is available to all guests during normal Arboretum hours, and there is no admission cost to view the sculptures beyond our usual parking fee of $16 per personal vehicle.

Grab Brunch at River’s End
Jun 20 @ 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
River’s End Restaurant

River's End Restaurant exterior

River’s End Restaurant is an iconic spot for locals and visitors to Bryson City. Enjoy spectacular views of the gorge, with paddlers passing through as they complete their Nantahala River Rafting trip. Stop in for year-round lunch and dinner, with weekend brunch during the summer season, and choose from a wide range of appetizing entrees, burgers, salads, pizza, and sandwiches. Hang out for a while and enjoy a large selection of signature cocktails, wine, and beer, including local favorites.

In River’s End Restaurant, every seat has a view of the river! Enjoy music by the river and views of paddlers passing through as they complete their Nantahala River Rafting trip. Join our waitlist online to reserve a table or order online and grab your meal to go, for a sunny lunch right by the river!

Biltmore Gardens Railway
Jun 20 @ 9:30 am – 6:00 pm
Biltmore

Included with admission

Our fun-for-all-ages botanical model train displays invite you to experience our grounds in an engaging new way. Located in the Conservatory in the Walled Garden, the displays feature replicas of structures connected with Biltmore and its founder George Vanderbilt. Each beautifully executed piece was handcrafted from such natural elements as leaves, bark, and twigs.

In compliance with state and local mandates related to COVID-19, all guests must enter the Conservatory via the ADA entrance in the back and follow a one-way route.

Free Admission Western North Carolina Air Museum
Jun 20 @ 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Western North Carolina Air Museum

The Western North Carolina Air Museum is a center of living history in the popular Hendersonville – Flat Rock region of the state. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to remember flying the way it used to be. Bring your kids, your camera, and your leather jacket. You can view the airplanes in an hour or so, or spend the afternoon hanger-flying with our friendly, informative staff. We can’t guarantee fine weather, but our hangar doors are open rain and shine. And we can’t guarantee that we’ll be flying on the day you visit, but we do promise to propel your imagination back to the golden age of general aviation. Come for the airplanes. Stay for the memories. There’s plenty of both right here at the Western North Carolina Air Museum.

Preserving & Promoting

Our

Carolina Flying Heritage

Rocky Cove Railroad Exhibit
Jun 20 @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
NC Arboretum

On exhibit Saturdays and Sundays through October from 12 to 4 p.m. (weather permitting), Rocky Cove Railroad is a G-Scale (garden scale) model train that demonstrates the coming of trains to western North Carolina at the turn of the 20th century. The exhibit is located below the Grand Garden Promenade.

Asheville Tourists vs. Aberdeen IronBirds
Jun 20 @ 1:05 pm
McCormick Field

Asheville Tourists Logo   vs.       

Monday, June 21, 2021
Nantahala River Rafting Fully Guided
Jun 21 all-day
Nantahala Outdoor Center

guests rafting on the Nantahala River Raft & Duck Rentals in North Carolina trip

A guided whitewater rafting trip is one of the best ways to experience the Nantahala Gorge. The crystal-clear Nantahala River is the perfect family-friendly river where experienced river guides will help you navigate through splashy Class II-III rapids and bouncy waves, with occasional calmer waters where you can enjoy the spectacular mountain scenery. The fully guided rafting trip the most popular adventure at NOC, with thousands of families returning year after year.

POLLINATOR PHOTO CONTEST… WITH PRIZES!
Jun 21 all-day
Online

Alternate text

POLLINATOR PHOTO CONTEST… WITH PRIZES!

Now until June 27

 

Break out your smartphones and cameras this Week and start snapping pics of WNC’s native pollinators!

 

Enter your best photos in our contest for a chance to win incredible prizes, like a $100 gift card to Reems Creek Nursery, and an Asheville Bee Charmer gift basket!

 

While you’re out taking photos, consider also participating in our BioBlitz.

The 2021 Summer Learning Program: Tails + Tales – an exploration of wildlife and fantastical folktales
Jun 21 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!

Virtual Library
Jun 21 all-day
Online

Virtual Library

Fix a car, study for the GRE, learn a new language, write a grant, research your own history — you can do it all with Buncombe County Public Libraries.

Accessing Online Resources

You may need your Buncombe County library card number to log in to some of these databases. If the database asks for a password, call the Reference Desk at 250-4741 or email [email protected] and we will be happy to provide you with the necessary information. There is no charge for access to any of these databases.

Can’t find what you’re looking for?

Browse hundreds of additional databases and resources on NCLive.org. NC LIVE offers free electronic access to resources for all ages on topics ranging from careers, business, and investing, to health, history, and genealogy. Ebooks, audiobooks, videos, magazines, newspapers, journals, language-learning tools, and other online materials available through NC LIVE are designed for at-home use, and are available from any Internet connection via library websites, and through NCLIVE.org. All North Carolinians may use NC LIVE resources through local public libraries, community colleges, or college and university libraries.

Wild Art Sculpture Showcase
Jun 21 @ 8:00 am – 9:00 pm
NC Arboretum

The North Carolina Arboretum is going wild for art and nature in 2021 with Wild Art! On view April 1 through September 26, this outdoor sculpture exhibition features works by 17 local and national artists drawing inspiration from the natural environment. Situated throughout the Arboretum’s spacious, open-air gardens, the show offers guests a doorway into the wild world from the comfort and safety of cultivated landscapes transformed by art.

The 18 sculptures on display represent a variety of approaches to the theme of “wild art,” from the literal to the abstract, and are crafted from a diverse array of materials that will delight and inspire. Let your imagination take you on a wild journey into the world of plants and animals near and far with Wild Art at The North Carolina Arboretum.

The exhibit is available to all guests during normal Arboretum hours, and there is no admission cost to view the sculptures beyond our usual parking fee of $16 per personal vehicle.

Biltmore Gardens Railway
Jun 21 @ 9:30 am – 6:00 pm
Biltmore

Included with admission

Our fun-for-all-ages botanical model train displays invite you to experience our grounds in an engaging new way. Located in the Conservatory in the Walled Garden, the displays feature replicas of structures connected with Biltmore and its founder George Vanderbilt. Each beautifully executed piece was handcrafted from such natural elements as leaves, bark, and twigs.

In compliance with state and local mandates related to COVID-19, all guests must enter the Conservatory via the ADA entrance in the back and follow a one-way route.

Free Admission Western North Carolina Air Museum
Jun 21 @ 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Western North Carolina Air Museum

The Western North Carolina Air Museum is a center of living history in the popular Hendersonville – Flat Rock region of the state. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to remember flying the way it used to be. Bring your kids, your camera, and your leather jacket. You can view the airplanes in an hour or so, or spend the afternoon hanger-flying with our friendly, informative staff. We can’t guarantee fine weather, but our hangar doors are open rain and shine. And we can’t guarantee that we’ll be flying on the day you visit, but we do promise to propel your imagination back to the golden age of general aviation. Come for the airplanes. Stay for the memories. There’s plenty of both right here at the Western North Carolina Air Museum.

Preserving & Promoting

Our

Carolina Flying Heritage

Tar Heel Junior Historian Club
Jun 21 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Online w/ Western North Carolina Historical Association (WNCHA)
Sponsored by the NC Museum of History, the Smith-McDowell House chapter of the Tar Heel Junior Historians Association is a vital part WNCHA’s youth programing.

Our Chapter (nicknamed SMH over History) is open to school-age students and meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 4:00 pm during the school year. New members are always welcome!

In response to Covid-19, we will meet virtually via Zoom until otherwise noted.

Members receive two magazines per year from the NC Museum of History and there are opportunities in the State Contest program.

The club is open at any time in the year to school-age students (grades 1 – 12). There is a small registration fee of $10 ($5 for each eligible sibling) that helps to defray some costs of programming and supplies. Scholarships are available for students unable to pay the registration fee. Please contact us for more details. Parents generally participate in the meetings and younger siblings are welcome.  New members are always welcome to visit for a couple of meetings before making the decision to join.

Members may also join our Facebook group: SMH Tar Heel Junior Historians. It is a private group which means you have to ask to be a member and we only accept our club members.

For more information, email: [email protected].

TANGLED
Jun 21 @ 7:00 pm
Rabbit Rabbit
Tuesday, June 22, 2021
Nantahala River Rafting Fully Guided
Jun 22 all-day
Nantahala Outdoor Center

guests rafting on the Nantahala River Raft & Duck Rentals in North Carolina trip

A guided whitewater rafting trip is one of the best ways to experience the Nantahala Gorge. The crystal-clear Nantahala River is the perfect family-friendly river where experienced river guides will help you navigate through splashy Class II-III rapids and bouncy waves, with occasional calmer waters where you can enjoy the spectacular mountain scenery. The fully guided rafting trip the most popular adventure at NOC, with thousands of families returning year after year.

POLLINATOR PHOTO CONTEST… WITH PRIZES!
Jun 22 all-day
Online

Alternate text

POLLINATOR PHOTO CONTEST… WITH PRIZES!

Now until June 27

 

Break out your smartphones and cameras this Week and start snapping pics of WNC’s native pollinators!

 

Enter your best photos in our contest for a chance to win incredible prizes, like a $100 gift card to Reems Creek Nursery, and an Asheville Bee Charmer gift basket!

 

While you’re out taking photos, consider also participating in our BioBlitz.

The 2021 Summer Learning Program: Tails + Tales – an exploration of wildlife and fantastical folktales
Jun 22 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!

Virtual Library
Jun 22 all-day
Online

Virtual Library

Fix a car, study for the GRE, learn a new language, write a grant, research your own history — you can do it all with Buncombe County Public Libraries.

Accessing Online Resources

You may need your Buncombe County library card number to log in to some of these databases. If the database asks for a password, call the Reference Desk at 250-4741 or email [email protected] and we will be happy to provide you with the necessary information. There is no charge for access to any of these databases.

Can’t find what you’re looking for?

Browse hundreds of additional databases and resources on NCLive.org. NC LIVE offers free electronic access to resources for all ages on topics ranging from careers, business, and investing, to health, history, and genealogy. Ebooks, audiobooks, videos, magazines, newspapers, journals, language-learning tools, and other online materials available through NC LIVE are designed for at-home use, and are available from any Internet connection via library websites, and through NCLIVE.org. All North Carolinians may use NC LIVE resources through local public libraries, community colleges, or college and university libraries.

Wild Art Sculpture Showcase
Jun 22 @ 8:00 am – 9:00 pm
NC Arboretum

The North Carolina Arboretum is going wild for art and nature in 2021 with Wild Art! On view April 1 through September 26, this outdoor sculpture exhibition features works by 17 local and national artists drawing inspiration from the natural environment. Situated throughout the Arboretum’s spacious, open-air gardens, the show offers guests a doorway into the wild world from the comfort and safety of cultivated landscapes transformed by art.

The 18 sculptures on display represent a variety of approaches to the theme of “wild art,” from the literal to the abstract, and are crafted from a diverse array of materials that will delight and inspire. Let your imagination take you on a wild journey into the world of plants and animals near and far with Wild Art at The North Carolina Arboretum.

The exhibit is available to all guests during normal Arboretum hours, and there is no admission cost to view the sculptures beyond our usual parking fee of $16 per personal vehicle.

Biltmore Gardens Railway
Jun 22 @ 9:30 am – 6:00 pm
Biltmore

Included with admission

Our fun-for-all-ages botanical model train displays invite you to experience our grounds in an engaging new way. Located in the Conservatory in the Walled Garden, the displays feature replicas of structures connected with Biltmore and its founder George Vanderbilt. Each beautifully executed piece was handcrafted from such natural elements as leaves, bark, and twigs.

In compliance with state and local mandates related to COVID-19, all guests must enter the Conservatory via the ADA entrance in the back and follow a one-way route.

Free Admission Western North Carolina Air Museum
Jun 22 @ 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Western North Carolina Air Museum

The Western North Carolina Air Museum is a center of living history in the popular Hendersonville – Flat Rock region of the state. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to remember flying the way it used to be. Bring your kids, your camera, and your leather jacket. You can view the airplanes in an hour or so, or spend the afternoon hanger-flying with our friendly, informative staff. We can’t guarantee fine weather, but our hangar doors are open rain and shine. And we can’t guarantee that we’ll be flying on the day you visit, but we do promise to propel your imagination back to the golden age of general aviation. Come for the airplanes. Stay for the memories. There’s plenty of both right here at the Western North Carolina Air Museum.

Preserving & Promoting

Our

Carolina Flying Heritage

Broadway Dance Bootcamp In-Person Rising 6th – 12th Grades
Jun 22 @ 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Studio 52/ Flat Rock Playhouse

Picture

BROADWAY DANCE BOOTCAMP (In-Person)  
Rising 6th – 12th Grades

Get moving in this high-energy dance bootcamp focusing on Broadway-style choreography. Beginning with a traditional jazz warm-up and center exercises, students will learn new vocabulary, hone their dance skills, and practice picking up fun musical theatre choreography! Learn how to fill your movement with meaning and unleash the fun in expressing yourself through dance!

Grades: Rising 6th – 12th
​(2021 high school graduates are welcome)

Asheville Tourists vs. Winston-Salem Dash
Jun 22 @ 6:35 pm
McCormick Field

Asheville Tourists Logo   vs.     Winston-Salem Dash Logo

Wednesday, June 23, 2021
Nantahala River Rafting Fully Guided
Jun 23 all-day
Nantahala Outdoor Center

guests rafting on the Nantahala River Raft & Duck Rentals in North Carolina trip

A guided whitewater rafting trip is one of the best ways to experience the Nantahala Gorge. The crystal-clear Nantahala River is the perfect family-friendly river where experienced river guides will help you navigate through splashy Class II-III rapids and bouncy waves, with occasional calmer waters where you can enjoy the spectacular mountain scenery. The fully guided rafting trip the most popular adventure at NOC, with thousands of families returning year after year.

POLLINATOR PHOTO CONTEST… WITH PRIZES!
Jun 23 all-day
Online

Alternate text

POLLINATOR PHOTO CONTEST… WITH PRIZES!

Now until June 27

 

Break out your smartphones and cameras this Week and start snapping pics of WNC’s native pollinators!

 

Enter your best photos in our contest for a chance to win incredible prizes, like a $100 gift card to Reems Creek Nursery, and an Asheville Bee Charmer gift basket!

 

While you’re out taking photos, consider also participating in our BioBlitz.

The 2021 Summer Learning Program: Tails + Tales – an exploration of wildlife and fantastical folktales
Jun 23 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!

Virtual Library
Jun 23 all-day
Online

Virtual Library

Fix a car, study for the GRE, learn a new language, write a grant, research your own history — you can do it all with Buncombe County Public Libraries.

Accessing Online Resources

You may need your Buncombe County library card number to log in to some of these databases. If the database asks for a password, call the Reference Desk at 250-4741 or email [email protected] and we will be happy to provide you with the necessary information. There is no charge for access to any of these databases.

Can’t find what you’re looking for?

Browse hundreds of additional databases and resources on NCLive.org. NC LIVE offers free electronic access to resources for all ages on topics ranging from careers, business, and investing, to health, history, and genealogy. Ebooks, audiobooks, videos, magazines, newspapers, journals, language-learning tools, and other online materials available through NC LIVE are designed for at-home use, and are available from any Internet connection via library websites, and through NCLIVE.org. All North Carolinians may use NC LIVE resources through local public libraries, community colleges, or college and university libraries.

Wild Art Sculpture Showcase
Jun 23 @ 8:00 am – 9:00 pm
NC Arboretum

The North Carolina Arboretum is going wild for art and nature in 2021 with Wild Art! On view April 1 through September 26, this outdoor sculpture exhibition features works by 17 local and national artists drawing inspiration from the natural environment. Situated throughout the Arboretum’s spacious, open-air gardens, the show offers guests a doorway into the wild world from the comfort and safety of cultivated landscapes transformed by art.

The 18 sculptures on display represent a variety of approaches to the theme of “wild art,” from the literal to the abstract, and are crafted from a diverse array of materials that will delight and inspire. Let your imagination take you on a wild journey into the world of plants and animals near and far with Wild Art at The North Carolina Arboretum.

The exhibit is available to all guests during normal Arboretum hours, and there is no admission cost to view the sculptures beyond our usual parking fee of $16 per personal vehicle.