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.

Saturday, October 7, 2023
RUNWAY 5K
Oct 7 @ 10:00 am
Asheville Regional Airport
2023 AVL Runway 5K

Ready to run the FLATTEST 5K in the mountains?  And how about a morning with music, local food trucks (think coffee, smoothies, pastries) and better-than-ever plane spotting?

Asheville Regional Airport looks forward to welcoming you to the airfield!  

Our race is the most unique 5K in the mountains – it’s completely FLAT, and hey – it’s on the airfield of the airport.  Racers will run on Taxiway Bravo, beside our active Runway 17-35.  And NEW this year – we’re moving the entire event, including the start and finish line – from the south to the north side of the airfield.  The tents and viewing areas will be much closer to the taxiway and runway (great experience for spectators – bring your good cameras)! Be sure to wave to the passengers in the planes that will be taking off and landing while you run.  What are you waiting for? 

Our race is the most unique 5K in the mountains – it’s completely FLAT, and hey – it’s on the airfield of the airport.  Racers will run on Taxiway Bravo, beside our active Runway 17-35.  Be sure to wave to the passengers in the planes that will be taking off and landing while you run!  What are you waiting for? 

The Runway 5K course is really fun!  It begins on a road near the airfield.  Once you enter Taxiway Bravo (that was our active runway for many years), you will run south to the end, loop around and run north to the other end, and then back again to the finish line.  Just 150 feet to the east is the active runway, where planes will be taking off and landing during the race (so cool!).

People of all ages, ability and motivation are invited to participate!  Please remember, you are running (or walking) on a former runway, directly beside an active runway.  For this reason, we have a few special rules:

Water

Limited water stations will be available on the course.  We must be extra careful about trash or other items that could blow around the airfield.  Racers are allowed to bring water with them, but water must be in reusable containers (no disposable/recyclable bottles), and racers must keep water bottles with them at all times.  We must keep the airfield clear of any debris, so nothing may be discarded while on the airfield!  

Spectators

Only registered racers will be allowed on the airfield.  Others in attendance may view the race (and do their own plane-spotting) at the finish line site, where a music stage and food trucks will be stationed.

Safety

This is a foot-race  No bikes, no in-line skates, no roller skates and no wheeled vehicles (like bikes) will be allowed on the course, other than those used by wheelchair users and those pushing jogging strollers.  For the safety of all, those using wheelchairs or jogging strollers will be asked to start the race in the back of the pack.

Special ear plugs for protection while running will be available on site if needed.

Because the course is within a secure area of the airport, public safety officers will be on hand to ensure the area remains secure, to monitor first aid needs and to direct traffic.  Please follow the direction of all safety officers.

Spruce Pine BBQ + Bluegrass Festival
Oct 7 @ 10:00 am – 6:30 pm
Riverside Park

Admission is still only $5 for 12 and up. Watch our FB page and website for updates, entertainment schedules, etc.

Transylvania Farmers Market
Oct 7 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Transylvania Farmers Market

Policies in effect at our Market:

• Walk-in service with vendors with proper distancing.
Once in the market, please distance from other customers while in line. Only one customer at a booth at one time.

The market will continue the following practices:
• Hand sanitizer will be available for shoppers and vendors throughout the market;
• A hand washing station is available;
• All vendor tents will be spaced to allow for physical distancing;
• Vendors will wear gloves and/or sanitize regularly when will handle open food products for customers;
• Vendors may sample their product but we ask that customers let the vendor provide a single sample and then step to the side, away from others, to try that product;
• No member of Market staff or Market vendors will be allowed to attend the Market if they are experiencing illness;
• If you have any questions or need the Market’s assistance in any way, please email us at  [email protected] and we will help any way we can.

We take the health and wellness of our community very seriously. Fresh local food is an important part of a healthy lifestyle and we want our community to have consistent and safe access to our local produce and products.

Thank you all for your cooperation and for your support of our Market.

DIY Fall Fairy Houses
Oct 7 @ 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Weaverville Public Library
DIY Fall Fairy Houses
  Come join us at the library for a fall fairy house crafting event. Supplies will be provided, but you are encouraged to take a walk to gather extra materials that you might want to use to create your fairy home. Just remember to use only bits of the wilderness that have already fallen down.
Gatherings of Artists + Writers Coffee
Oct 7 @ 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Tryon Fine Arts Center

TFAC invites all artists: painters, sculptors, writers, performers & more — to a casual weekly drop-in gathering on Saturday mornings at 9 AM to share your works in progress, alert others, and chat about art and what’s happening in your community.

The first weekly Coffee is Saturday, August 20 at 9 am.

No RSVP needed, just drop by!

Free parking available on Melrose Avenue, behind and alongside TFAC.

Beyond the Lens: Photorealist Perspectives on Looking, Seeing, and Painting
Oct 7 @ 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum

Throughout the history of painting from the mid-19th century forward, artists have used an

endless variety of approaches to record their world. Beyond the Lens: Photorealist Perspectives on Looking, Seeing, and Painting continues this thread, offering an opportunity to explore a singular and still forceful aspect of American art. Photorealism shares many of the approaches of historical and modernist realism, with a twist. The use of the camera as a basic tool for organizing visual information in advance of painterly expression is now quite common, but Photorealists embraced the camera as the focal point in their creative process.

Beyond the Lens presents key works from the collection of Louis K. and Susan Pear Meisel,

bringing together paintings and works on paper dating from the 1970s to the present to focus on this profoundly influential art movement. The exhibition includes work by highly acclaimed formative artists of the movement such as Charles Bell, Robert Bechtle, Tom Blackwell, Richard Estes, Audrey Flack, and Ralph Goings as well as paintings by the successive generations of Photorealist artists Anthony Brunelli, Davis Cone, Bertrand Meniel, Rod Penner, and Raphaella Spence. Featured artworks in the exhibition include diverse subject matters, but the primary focus is on the common and every day: urban scenes, “portraits” of cars, trucks, and motorcycles, still life compositions using toys, food, candy wrappers, and salt and pepper shakers. All provide opportunities for virtuoso studies in how light, reflection, and the camera as intermediary shapes our perception of the material world.

This multigenerational survey demonstrates how the 35-mm camera, and later technological

advances in digital image-making, informed and impacted the painterly gesture. Taken together, the paintings and works on paper in Beyond the Lens show how simply spellbinding these virtuosic works of art can be.

Beyond the Lens offers a fascinating look into the Photorealism movement and delves into the profound connection between the artists’ observation and creative process,” says Pamela L. Myers, Executive Director of Asheville Art Museum. “We are delighted to present this curated collection of artworks encapsulating the creative vision and technical precision that defines this artistic genre.”

Photorealism found its roots in the late 1960s in California and New York, coexisting with an explosion of new ideas in art-making that included Conceptual, Pop, Minimalism, Land and Performance Art. At first, representational realism coexisted with the thematic and conceptual explosion but was eventually relegated to the margins regarding critical and curatorial attention. Often misunderstood and sometimes negatively criticized or lampooned as a betrayal of modernism’s commitment to abstraction, the artists involved in Photorealism remained committed explorers of the trail they had blazed. In the decades of the late twentieth century and early twenty-first century, realistic and symbolic painting experienced a renaissance, as contemporary artists are increasingly drawn to narrative and storytelling. Concurrently, using a camera as a preparatory tool equally legitimate and valuable as pencils and pens has made the rubric of Photorealism increasingly relevant.

This exhibition is organized by the Asheville Art Museum and guest curated by Terrie Sultan.

This exhibition is sponsored in part by Jim and Julia Calkins Peterson.

GRAND PRIX LUNCH
Oct 7 @ 11:00 am
Tryon International Equestrian Center
TICKET PRICES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE
LEGENDS CLUB SEAT – ADULT: $95.00
LEGENDS CLUB TABLE – 6: $550.00
LEGENDS CLUB TABLE – 8: $750.00

TICKET SALE DATES
LEGENDS CLUB SEAT – ADULT / LEGENDS CLUB TABLE – 6 / LEGENDS CLUB TABLE – 8 Public Onsale: October 2, 2023 4:30 PM to October 7, 2023 11:00 AM

PERFORMANCE DESCRIPTION

Reserve a table in the Legends Club for an elevated dining & hospitality experience. Featuring a diverse dinner buffet, open bar and a perfect view of the Tryon Stadium, indulge in excellence in the Legends Club.

Legends Club seating is available in six or eight-top tables or individually.

Hayrides @ Hickory Nut Gap Farm
Oct 7 @ 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Hickory Nut Gap Farm

HAYRIDES – Brought to you by Project HNG our sister nonprofit! Proceeds go to Project HNG. Suitable for all ages, babies in arms are free, 16 people per ride.

Availability: every Saturday & Sunday starting September 2nd through November 11th. 11am-4pm, last ride goes out at 3:30pm. May be cancelled due to tremendous weather conditions.

Hike and Sip Tour at Souther Williams Vineyard
Oct 7 @ 11:00 am – 12:15 pm
Souther Williams Vineyard

Every Friday from April through November (weather permitting),
check out the Hike and Sip Tour at Souther Williams Vineyard, a unique opportunity to hike our scenic rolling vineyards and enjoy
five different wines along the way, led by a private tour guide who will share the history of the farm and while you hike through the
vines, This educational experience will delight as you live the life of grape throughout its annual pilgrimage to the glass, This 1
hour tour requires moderate walking through hillside vineyards and appropriate farm/field attire, and can accommodate up to 12
people and reservations are required 2 days in advance, $50 per person, Souther Williams Vineyard, Hendersonville,

Horse rides @ Hickory Nut Gap Farm
Oct 7 @ 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Hickory Nut Gap Farm

PONY RIDES – Brought to you by Project HNG our sister nonprofit! Proceeds go to Project HNG. Suitable for young children, supervision and helmets provided. If you’re interested in riding lessons or trail rides please reach out to [email protected]

Availability: every Saturday & Sunday starting September 2nd through November 11th. 11am-3pm. May be cancelled due to tremendous weather conditions

LAZOOM Tours: Kids’ Comedy Tour
Oct 7 @ 11:00 am
LaZoom Room


Kids’ Comedy Tour: 
Wildly funny, this educational and entertaining tour features the perfect blend of Asheville’s history and kid-centric comedy. Geared specifically toward the 5–12 year old crowd, you’ll explore the town with our famously outlandish tour guides leading the way.

  • Perfect for birthday parties
  • Makes for memorable school field trips
  • Tickets are $27 per person
  • Beverages available for purchase at the LaZoom Room
  • Departs from 76 Biltmore Avenue
Romare Bearden: Ways of Working Exhibition
Oct 7 @ 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum

Romare Bearden (Charlotte, NC 1911–1988 New York, NY), African American writer and artist, is renowned for his collages. He constantly experimented with various techniques to achieve his artistic goals throughout his career. This exhibition highlights works on paper and explores his most frequently used mediums, including screen-printing, lithography, hand-colored etching, collagraph, monotype, relief print, photomontage, and collage.

 

Bearden’s work reflects his improvisational approach to his practice. He considered his process akin to that of jazz and blues composers. Starting with an open mind, he would let an idea evolve spontaneously.

 

Romare Bearden: Ways of Working highlights Bearden’s unique artistic practice and masterful storytelling through art,” says Pamela L. Myers, Executive Director of the Asheville Art Museum. “We are thrilled to collaborate with Jerald Melberg Gallery to present these extraordinary works on paper in conversation with Bearden’s collage Sunset Express, 1984 in the Museum Collection (on view in the Museum’s SECU Collection Hall). This exhibition will also provide a glimpse into the cultural histories and personal interests that influenced his art-making practice, and we hope it encourages introspection and dialogue with our visitors.”

 

Jerald Melberg states, “Romare Bearden’s groundbreaking artistic practice continues to captivate audiences worldwide. With an unparalleled legacy of creativity and innovation, Bearden’s contributions to art remain deeply influential years beyond his life.” We have enjoyed organizing this exhibition with the Asheville Art Museum to showcase his artistic genius and inspire visitors from the Western North Carolina region and beyond.”

 

This exhibition is made possible in part by the Judy Appleton Fund. Many thanks to the Jerald Melberg Gallery for the loan of these important artworks and to Mary and Jerald Melberg for their long-standing support of the arts, artists, and the Asheville Art Museum.

Sandburg Home Tours
Oct 7 @ 11:00 am
Carl Sandburg Home

Sandburg Home Tours – Thursday to Sunday at 11am, 1pm, 2pm.

*As of April 2022, tours are free until further notice. See rates below if they change before your visit. Online reservations are available at recreation.gov.

The Sandburg Home is a great place to start your visit! The ground floor of the home contains visitor information, exhibits, tour ticket sales, the park store, and you can watch the park video. The main and top level of the home are furnished with the Sandburg family belongings. Visitors may only access the furnished ares of the home on a guided tour.

  • Tour Reservations: Reserving in advance lets you pick your preferred house tour time. Tours fill up quickly. Last-minute, in-person tickets may not be available on the day you visit. Plan ahead and reserve house tour tickets at recreation.gov.
  • Passes: The park does not currently sell the America the Beautiful– National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes.
    *These passes do not waive the house tour fee, but do provide a discount.
    *You can purchase a pass online at 
    America the Beautiful – National Parks & Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass | USGS Store.
  • 30-minute house tours are offered year-round, schedule varies by season. Visit recreation.gov for the current schedule.
  • Visitors may only tour the Sandburg Home on a guided tour.
  • Tours are limited to 6 persons.
  • Strollers are not permitted on the house tour, but there is a place to leave them for storage. Infants and small children should be carried through the house while on tour.

    Sandburg Home Guided Tour Fee
    *Tours are free until further notice, this chart is the rate when fees resume.

    (credit card only)
    $10.00 for Adults 16 and older
    $6.00 for Adults age 62 and older and all interagency pass holders
    Free for Children age 15 and under

The Art of Food: From the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation
Oct 7 @ 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum

The Art of Food features works from important postwar artists, like Robert Rauschenberg, Roy Lichtenstein, John Baldessari, Wayne Thiebaud, Ed Ruscha, Andy Warhol, David Hockney, and Jasper Johns, alongside the work of contemporary artists, like Alison Saar, Lorna Simpson, Enrique Chagoya, Rachel Whiteread, and Jenny Holzer, among others.

The Art of Food features more than 100 works in mediums that include drawings, paintings, photographs, prints, sculptures, and ceramics by 37 artists.

Each artist has a unique means of depicting food in their work that, when seen alongside others, creates a nuanced representation of the complex place food holds in everyday life. Cross-historical resonances between artists in the exhibition spark novel meditations on food and its discontents, while speaking to a broad range of audiences.

The Vanderbilts at Home and Abroad
Oct 7 @ 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Biltmore Estate

Included with admission

Back by popular demand, The Vanderbilts at Home and Abroad exhibition offers guests:

  • An opportunity to view rarely-seen treasures from the Biltmore collection
  • A first-hand look at the Vanderbilts’ lifestyle
  • Deeper insights into George, Edith, and Cornelia’s personalities, both at home and on their extensive travels

Access to exhibitions at The Biltmore Legacy is included with Biltmore daytime admission.

Western North Carolina Glass: Selections from the Collection
Oct 7 @ 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum

Western North Carolina is important in the history of American glass art. Several artists of the Studio Glass Movement came to the region, including its founder Harvey K. Littleton. Begun in 1962 in Wisconsin, it was a student of Littleton’s that first came to the area in 1965 and set up a glass studio at the Penland School of Craft in Penland, North Carolina. By 1967, Mark Peiser was the first glass artist resident at the school and taught many notable artists, like Jak Brewer in 1968 and Richard Ritter who came to study in 1971. By 1977, Littleton retired from teaching and moved to nearby Spruce Pine, North Carolina and set up a glass studio at his home.

Since that time, glass artists like Ken Carder, Rick and Valerie Beck, Shane Fero, and Yaffa Sikorsky and Jeff Todd—to name only a few—have flocked to the area to reside, collaborate, and teach, making it a significant place for experimentation and education in glass. The next generation of artists like Hayden Wilson and Alex Bernstein continue to create here. The Museum is dedicated to collecting American studio glass and within that umbrella, explores the work of Artists connected to Western North Carolina. Exhibitions, including Intersections of American Art, explore glass art in the context of American Art of the 20th and 21st centuries. A variety of techniques and a willingness to push boundaries of the medium can be seen in this selection of works from the Museum’s Collection.

WNC Parade of Homes
Oct 7 @ 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tour in Asheville Area

Experience the beauty of Western North Carolina’s finest homes during the Parade of Homes, taking place on October 7-8 and 14-15 from 11AM to 5PM. This two-weekend event offers a complimentary, self-guided tour of newly constructed homes and complete remodels, providing a wealth of inspiration and resources for your dream home or future projects.

Immerse yourself in the world of quality craftsmanship and the latest home design trends while connecting with Asheville’s talented building professionals. Discover innovative building technologies and explore the cutting-edge homes that Asheville has to offer. Rest assured, this event will not disappoint!

Organized by the Builders Association of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the tour will consist of dozens of homes across the region. Tickets aren’t required for this event, but follow the link for directions to each home and to sign up for reminders. Living Stone Design + Build will be showcasing two must-see homes for in-person tours and an additional two homes for virtual tours.

A great place to start off your tour in Fletcher, NC. at the Living Stone home Moody Mountain Modern, perched on top of Couch Mtn. Next, be sure to check out the nearby Brush Creek English Modern – another of the premier builder’s custom homes. For a curated list of the homes with a recommended route, contact [email protected] or follow the link below for more info.

Rep. Alma Adams’ 28th Annual Mad Hatter’s Celebration
Oct 7 @ 11:30 am – 2:00 pm
La Meridien Hotel

Join Congresswoman Alma Adams and special guests for her Annual Mad Hatter’s Celebration.

You can expect celebrity appearances, live entertainment, and – of course – hats!

Be sure to wear your favorite hat and prepare for a hat auction with signed celebrity hats as we celebrate the work Alma is doing to Build Back Better!

Please RSVP by September 15th.

The Great Pumpkin Pop-Up
Oct 7 @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
The Grove Arcade
It’s the Great Pumpkin Pop-Up, Asheville! 🎃
Grab your costumes and join us at Grove Arcade on Saturday, October 7 from 12-4pm for this family-friendly fall event.
There will be a free pumpkin decorating class, entertainment from local life size puppetry collective Street Creatures, live music, candy, pop-ups, and plenty of pumpkins.
We can’t wait to kick off spooky season together.
Tour de Fat
Oct 7 @ 12:00 pm – 7:00 pm
New Belgium Brewing
Tour de Fat returns to Asheville at New Belgium Brewing on Saturday, October 7th. This year’s event features a variety of Asheville grown performers including Toybox and Hustle Souls. The annual event is a celebration of bicycles, merriment, music, and beer. Proceeds from the Tour de Fat support the mission and work of Asheville on Bikes. The event is free and open to the public. AoB provides bike parking.

Over 65 volunteers are needed to support this fundraiser! Reserve 2 hours of your day to support the work and mission of AoB by hosting the Tour de Fat. There are a variety of volunteer opportunities from working the bike pit, to selling merch, to pouring beer.

Sign up to volunteer »
  • Schedule:

    12:00 PM Brewery doors open

    1:00 PM Welcome and Fashion Show

    1:30 PM Hustle Souls

    2:15 PM Marz Hooligan (on the Patio Stage)

    2:30 PM Slow Ride Competition

    2:50 PM Toybox Theatre

    3:15 PM Dale Hollow

    4:15 PM Night Owl Circus

    4:35 PM Dance Contest

    5:00 PM Pimps of Joytime

    7:00 PM So long and farewell until 2024

Hayrides at The Orchard
Oct 7 @ 12:30 pm
The Orchard at Altapass

Take a ride through the Orchard fields and its history every weekend. “Heyrides” last approximately 45 minutes. All ages are welcome (kids under 4 free); $7 per person; wheelchair accessible; well-behaved dogs by consensus. Reservations are not required but sign up as soon as you arrive.

Forest Bathing at the NC Arboretum!
Oct 7 @ 1:00 pm
NC Arboretum

Join a certified forest therapy guide for a relaxing 2.5-hour stroll through the forest on the peaceful Arboretum grounds. Through a series of invitations, you’ll have the opportunity to be present in the moment, deepening your connection with nature and community, and enjoying the many gifts nature has to offer. Your guide will share mindfulness practices designed to connect you more deeply to your inner landscapes, as well as the world around you. Inspired by Shinrin-Yoku, the Japanese art of immersing oneself in a forest environment, a forest bathing walk invites you to spend time in nature in a way that invites healing for ourselves, our fraught ecosystems, and our community. It is true nature therapy!

  • Special, discounted rate of $45/person (includes parking!)
  • Occurs on select dates each month
  • Max group size is 15 for a more intimate experience
Guided Trail Walk
Oct 7 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
NC Arboretum

Hit the trails and learn more about The North Carolina Arboretum’s botanically diverse forest with a guided trail walk! April through October, 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 and each guide’s area of expertise, topics of discussion may include wildflowers, plant and tree identification, natural history and more.

Guided trail walks are limited to 15 people, including the guide, and are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age. Groups depart from the Baker Visitor Center Lobby on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m..

Walks last 1.5 – 2.5 hours, are approximately one to two miles in length. As this program is held rain or shine, all participants should dress appropriately for the weather.

There is no pre-registration; walks are first-come first served and sign up sheets are located in the Baker Visitors Center.

Walks are FREE; however, donations to The North Carolina Arboretum Society are appreciated. Regular parking fees apply. Arboretum Society Members always park free.

Know Before You Go

  • Guided Trail Walks are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age.
  • Guided Trail Walks are rain or shine and all participants should be dressed comfortably and for the weather.
  • Hikes cover 1-2 miles and last 1.5-2 hours.
  • Well-behaved leashed pets are welcome to accompany their owners. In the rare case that a pet is disruptive or negatively impacts the experience, the pet and its owner may be asked to excuse themselves from the guided walk.
  • COVID-19 Safety: In order to hear the guide and fully participate in the trail walk, participants will be in close proximity to one another for extended periods of time. While face coverings are not required, participants should use their best judgement to keep themselves and others safe while enjoying the trails. Individuals who are experiencing flu-like symptoms or suspect they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should not participate.
  • At this time, no more than 6 spaces may be filled by a single family/group through pre-registration for any one Guided Trail Walk. If additional spaces are available on the day of the Walk, additional members of the family/group may participate. We apologize for any inconvenience and look forward to welcoming larger groups in the future.
Oktoberfest
Oct 7 @ 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Pack Square Park
Oktoberfest

A spin off of the German Oktoberfest, the Asheville Oktoberfest will feature 15+ breweries and craft beverage makers. There will also be a festival games section, hosted by Asheville Sports and Social Club, local food vendors, and music by Lagerhosen!

Presale tickets on sale August 1st, with vendors to be announced in waves.

General Admission tickets to be on sale August 8th.

VIP tickets will include early access to festival (1pm-2pm), VIP tent with food and full pints, and even more!

Krafthouse 2023: Forest of the New Trees
Oct 7 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
The Center for Craft
Center for Craft’s immersive installation asks:
What will Appalachia be in a post-major event future?
– The Center for Craft is thrilled to announce Krafthouse, a new immersive art installation, made for and by the community, that will evolve and change each year in their historic building at 67 Broadway in downtown Asheville.Local artist Jeannie Regan leads the inaugural year as Creative Director with the vision for Krafthouse 2023: Forest of the New Trees. Between September 28 and October 13, the curious will be rewarded with a ticketed installation that changes nightly, as artist and audience participation weave a story of radical collaboration in Appalachia in the aftermath of a mysterious, world-changing event.

In the spirit of immersive performances, events, and installations like Meow Wolf, Punchdrunk’s Sleep No More, and Burning Man, Krafthouse 2023: Forest of the New Trees invites self-guided exploration of a strange, new landscape and its imagined ecologies and societies, including cultures, customs, and micro currencies. Return visits will reward guests with new perspectives and illuminate new paths through the experience.

Selected local artists working with Center staff and Regan will each interpret the theme in their own way. The end result will be the creation of a small, self-sustaining community that has made itself anew. A night market atmosphere will welcome visitors, who will be able to make, gift, and trade goods with the artists and each other, with the opportunity to take home keepsakes – as well as leave their own imprint on the space.

The installation asks visitors to participate and collaborate to the extent they wish. Guests are invited to come in costume to share their own interpretation of the post-major event, and to bring any of their own offerings for the space. Costumes and materials will also be available onsite for people who would like to step into this new reality more fully when they arrive.

In her exploration of the theme, Regan researched the centuries-old craft traditions of Appalachia, including their relationship to Indigenous wisdom, hillfolks’ lore, and the ancient wildness of the Blue Ridge Mountains. An undercurrent of the installation is the generational resilience of local peoples facing their own “post-major events” and collaborating radically to survive – and thrive – in their aftermath.

The varied lived experiences of people during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, when a multitude of realities existed simultaneously, also informed the theme. “There was no united experience in that major event that happened, because we all experienced it very differently,” Regan shares. But it was also a world where, she notes, “multiple realities intersected and radical community collaboration was the only way to survive.”

She continues, “Craft plays into all of that, because what we make says so much about us as individuals. What we make says something about what we want the future to be.”

MacBeth
Oct 7 @ 2:00 pm
Flat Rock Playhouse

Our Black Box series continues as we welcome to the stage the magnificent work of William Shakespeare. Surrender to a haunting story of ambition and its dark consequences, as a military hero and his wife conspire to seize political power. A terrifyingly prophetic tale of revenge, murder, and madness, Macbeth lays bare the fallout when the darkest side of humanity cheats its way into a position of power.  One of Shakespeare’s bloodiest, scariest, and yet, most popular tragedies.

Art Break with Silver Iocovozzi
Oct 7 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum

Join Silver Iocovozzi, chef-owner of Asheville’s vibrant Filipinx restaurant Neng Jr.’s, for this month’s Art Break as he leads an informal gallery talk about the works in the exhibition, The Art of Food: From the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation.

Silver Iocovozzi is the child of a Filipino immigrant, born in South Carolina and raised in the cross-section of the American South and the Philippines. As a lifelong Southerner, Iocovozzi continues to nurture a deep love for the histories and foodways of live-fire cooking and its application globally. Dedication to the culinary cosmos is indebted to the experience of their Filipino mother, Neneng, as a first-generation immigrant landing on Parris Island, SC, in 1986. The lessons taught through this connection have deeply affected their calling to the diffusion of Filipino traditional cuisine and its heritage.

Asheville Baroque Concerts: The Return of Zephyrus
Oct 7 @ 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
St. Mary's Episcopal Church

Asheville Baroque Concerts: The Return of Zephyrus
Molly Quinn, soprano; Daniel Swenberg, lute and theorbo; Gail Ann Schroeder, viola da gamba
Works by Tromboncino, Dowland, Caccini, Clerambault

Asheville Baroque Concerts presenting early music on original instruments

We are committed to ensuring that programs remain accessible to all members of the community. In the spirit of inclusivity and equity, PAN HARMONIA offers donation-based, pay-as-you-can community concerts. All are welcome.

Autumn Amble Leaf Tours
Oct 7 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Highlands Nature Center

Autumn Amble leaf tours are back, and they’re better than ever! As the leaves begin to don their vibrant hues and the crisp autumn air fills the atmosphere, the Highlands Nature Center invites you on an enchanting journey through the beauty of the season.

Every Friday and Saturday in October at 4:00 p.m., join the Nature Center for FREE guided leaf tours open to the public. It’s the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the breathtaking transformation of nature while exploring the captivating colors of fall foliage.

Weather dependent.

Wee Wine + Dahlias
Oct 7 @ 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Bullington Gardens
Bullington Gardens invites you to experience the epitome of exclusivity with their new and exciting offering – twilight parties in the enchanting gardens. Now accepting reservations, this is your chance to indulge in a truly magical evening with your own private group of eight. From August 15 to October 14, 2023, Tuesday through Saturday, 4:30-6:30p.m., immerse yourself in nature’s wonders while delighting your palate with locally-sourced wines and cider, all in the company of the resplendent Dahlias in full bloom.

Picture this: you and your closest companions, relishing the serenity of the gardens, sipping on delectable beverages, and taking leisurely strolls amidst the breathtaking flora. To ensure an intimate experience, each group of up to eight will have their own private party. Whether you prefer the charming pavilion or the festive tents, the choice is yours. And fear not, for even if the rain tries to dampen the mood, the horticultural therapy greenhouse is ready to shelter you.

With only two groups accommodated each evening, you’ll have the pleasure of enjoying your own secluded space. Each group’s table will be beautifully set in separate venues, adorned with fresh floral arrangements that you can take home as a keepsake. As the host, you have the opportunity to curate a culinary masterpiece by bringing your own hors d’oeuvres or even an entire meal. Imagine the delight of savoring delicious food amidst an unparalleled view, creating an unforgettable private party.

The cost for a table of eight is $300 per group, ensuring an intimate and personalized experience. If you’re interested in elevating your involvement, consider a sponsorship level of $500. By participating in this extraordinary event, you will not only create cherished memories but also support the Educational and Horticultural Therapy programs dedicated to children and adults with special needs.

To secure your spot for the Wee Wine & Dahlias evening of your dreams, reserve below or give us a call at 828-698-6104. Remember, availability is limited, so make sure to secure your reservation early. Get ready to immerse yourself in an evening of enchantment at Bullington Gardens!

August 15th through October 14th, 2023. Tuesday-Saturday, 4:30pm-6:30pm.