Calendar of Events
Upcoming events and things to do in Asheville, NC. Below is a list of events for festivals, concerts, art exhibitions, group meetups and more.
Interested in adding an event to our calendar? Please click the green “Post Your Event” button below.
Thursday, February
15, 2024
Vertebrate Zoology of the Blue Ridge Part I
Growing Minds Farm to School Mini-Grant
North Carolina Winery Tour Adventures
EcoExplore – Ornithology: Birding for Kids
BLUEGRASS JAM Hosted by Drew Matulich
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ONLINE | Asynchronous Class Open February 15 through April 30, 2024; With course materials and online discussion session.
Instructor: Carlton Burke
$125 Non-member Adult**
(**Arboretum Members receive a 10% discount on all classes.)
BRN – Core (Part 1 of 2; Vertebrate Zoology Parts I and II must be completed to fulfill the core requirement for the certificate program.)
Limit: 50
Asynchronous Series Open February 15 through April 30. Part I consists of six pre-recorded lectures with course materials; Supplemented with an Online Interactive Discussion Session on Tuesday, February 27, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., with Instructor Carlton Burke.
Videos and assignments for Part I will focus on different groups of vertebrate animals – fish, amphibians, and reptiles.
The Southern Appalachian Mountain region is quite diverse in the many different species of vertebrate animals that make their home here. In this series of classes, students will learn the basic identification and natural history of many of our mountain wildlife species. All six lectures of Part I will be released asynchronously – or on demand – on February 15th and will be available through April 30th in 2024. On-demand delivery allows participants to view the lectures at times most convenient for them, to pause and absorb the knowledge from the videos in ways best suited to different learning styles! Then take advantage of interactive opportunities to meet the instructor for an in-person Lunch & Learn discussion or an online Q & A. Continue in March with Vertebrate Zoology of the Blue Ridge II to learn about the region’s birds and mammals.
Carlton Burke is a naturalist and educator who operates Carolina Mountain Naturalists, an educational service which offers wildlife and nature educational programs throughout western North Carolina. He also was on the staff of the western North Carolina Nature Center in Asheville for over 25 years as the Curator of Exhibits. Carlton co-hosts a weekly radio program NATURE NEWS and is also a NC state and federally licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
ASAP’s Growing Minds mini-grants help early childhood education (ECE) centers and K-12 schools throughout the 23 westernmost counties of North Carolina provide children positive experiences with healthy local foods through these components of farm to school: school gardens, farm field trips and farmer classroom visits, and local foods served in meals, snacks, and/or taste tests.
Mini-grant applications are available three times during the 2023-2024 school year. You may apply one time during this cycle. Mini-grants must be used within a year after receiving the funding.
Applications due by:
- November 30, 2023
- January 30, 2024
- March 30, 2024
If you have questions about your eligibility to apply for funding, please email us at [email protected] before submitting your application. We are unable to provide mini-grants to schools located outside of our 23-county service area or to folks who have received a grant from us within the past year. Learn more and apply here!
Join us for a North Carolina winery tour and celebrate a date night, bachelorette party, retirement, family, or a weekend away while sampling our favorite local beverages along the way. Our standard tour includes visits to three Asheville area vineyards. With safe and reliable transportation provided, you can sit back, relax and just have fun.
Included:
- Round trip transportation*
- Three vineyard visits
- Tastings at two of your three stops. Let’s just say that the pours at the first couple of locations are generous so we like to leave the third-stop beverage choice up to you.
- Time commitment = up to 5 hours
Want to include specific vineyards on your Asheville wine tours? If you have “must-see” wineries in mind or want to craft a full day catered to your group’s interests, we’re always happy to create a custom experience. Reach out any time!
| Join us to learn about the EcoExplore Program and the fascinating diversity of BIRDS!! |
BLUEGRASS JAM
Hosted by Drew Matulich
Don’t miss your chance to check out some of the best pickers from all over WNC at our amazing Bluegrass Jam curated by the talented Drew Matulich — every Thursday starting at 7:00 pm! A real show-stopping performance only at Jack of the Wood! Open jam starts at 9:30 pm.
Friday, February
16, 2024
Student Soil + Water Scholarship
Growing Minds Farm to School Mini-Grant
North Carolina Winery Tour Adventures
Acoustic Jam Session
Seasonal Program for Kids – Winter: Nature Reflections
Buncombe County students interested in entering the field of conservation, agriculture or another natural resource program can win a $1,000 scholarship from The Buncombe Soil & Water Conservation District.
The William Hamilton Memorial Scholarship will provide a student with money to go towards their studies. Eligible students must attend or plan to attend an accredited college or university and must submit a proposal for a volunteer conservation project in Buncombe County.
One winner will be selected by a committee of Buncombe Soil & Water Conservation District staff and Supervisors and the funds will be dispersed directly to the institution upon completion of the volunteer project.
Scholarship Timeline:
February 28, 2024 – Deadline to apply
April 11, 2024 – Winning applicant announced
June 30, 2024 – Deadline to complete volunteer project
July 11, 2024 – Presentation to the Board, award dispersed
The winner is also expected to attend a Buncombe County Soil and Water Conservation District Board meeting to present the results of their project and accept their scholarship.
Find the application below. Completed applications and questions can be sent to [email protected].
The application can also be mailed to:
Buncombe Soil & Water Conservation District
Attn: Jen Knight and Rose Wall
49 Mount Carmel Road
Asheville NC, 28806
ASAP’s Growing Minds mini-grants help early childhood education (ECE) centers and K-12 schools throughout the 23 westernmost counties of North Carolina provide children positive experiences with healthy local foods through these components of farm to school: school gardens, farm field trips and farmer classroom visits, and local foods served in meals, snacks, and/or taste tests.
Mini-grant applications are available three times during the 2023-2024 school year. You may apply one time during this cycle. Mini-grants must be used within a year after receiving the funding.
Applications due by:
- November 30, 2023
- January 30, 2024
- March 30, 2024
If you have questions about your eligibility to apply for funding, please email us at [email protected] before submitting your application. We are unable to provide mini-grants to schools located outside of our 23-county service area or to folks who have received a grant from us within the past year. Learn more and apply here!
Join us for a North Carolina winery tour and celebrate a date night, bachelorette party, retirement, family, or a weekend away while sampling our favorite local beverages along the way. Our standard tour includes visits to three Asheville area vineyards. With safe and reliable transportation provided, you can sit back, relax and just have fun.
Included:
- Round trip transportation*
- Three vineyard visits
- Tastings at two of your three stops. Let’s just say that the pours at the first couple of locations are generous so we like to leave the third-stop beverage choice up to you.
- Time commitment = up to 5 hours
Want to include specific vineyards on your Asheville wine tours? If you have “must-see” wineries in mind or want to craft a full day catered to your group’s interests, we’re always happy to create a custom experience. Reach out any time!
Plan to collaborate with other musicians at Sideways Farm & Brewery in Etowah. Bring your instruments and voices and enjoy making music and networking with other artists, while enjoying the beautiful scenery. Food truck is on site and beverages available for purchase from Sideways (small
batch craft beers, hard jun, ciders, wine, and non alcoholic drinks). Family, fans, friends, and leashed dogs are all welcome!
During winter months enjoy playing under the covered, sheltered, heated porch! And during the summer months enjoy
collaborating in the fields, on the stage, or under the patio
| Environmental Educators from Buncombe County Soil and Water Conservation are coming to celebrate the season with stories, songs, and a shelter building activity! |
Saturday, February
17, 2024
Great Backyard Bird Count Day
North Carolina Winery Tour Adventures
Self Defense Training
Beyonce Themed Drag Brunch for Tranzmission
Free Community Meal
Pilates
Exile from Altamont? Race + Belonging in Thomas Wolfe’s Asheville
Home Barista Workshop
Southern Appalachian Undergraduate Philosophy Conference
“Til Death Do We Part” – Interactive Murder Mystery Dinner
the Arboretum will celebrate its Great Backyard Bird Count Day with beginner bird walks, bird crafts and live bird demonstrations available to the public. This is in conjunction with the Great Backyard Bird Count, an international effort to encourage people of all ages to report their observations of birds to help scientists learn about their populations. This program is free; however, standard non-member parking fees apply.
| Time | Activity | Location |
| 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. | Indoor Exhibitors | Education Center Lobby |
| 10:00 a.m. | Introduction to eBird | Education Center Classrooms |
| 10:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. | Bird Crafts | Education Center Lobby |
| 10:00 a.m. through 3:00 p.m. | Bird Mist Netting Demonstration | Bird-Friendly Garden |
| 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. | Live Streaming Mist Netting Demonstration | Bird-Friendly Garden |
| 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. | Beginning Bird Walk 1, Arboretum Staff | Starting at Education Center Lobby |
| 3:00 p.m. | Live Raptor Demonstration | Education Center Classrooms |
| 1:00 p.m. | Beginning Bird Walk 2, Ventures Birdwatching Tours | Starting at Education Center Lobby |
Join us for a North Carolina winery tour and celebrate a date night, bachelorette party, retirement, family, or a weekend away while sampling our favorite local beverages along the way. Our standard tour includes visits to three Asheville area vineyards. With safe and reliable transportation provided, you can sit back, relax and just have fun.
Included:
- Round trip transportation*
- Three vineyard visits
- Tastings at two of your three stops. Let’s just say that the pours at the first couple of locations are generous so we like to leave the third-stop beverage choice up to you.
- Time commitment = up to 5 hours
Want to include specific vineyards on your Asheville wine tours? If you have “must-see” wineries in mind or want to craft a full day catered to your group’s interests, we’re always happy to create a custom experience. Reach out any time!
Join us for this monthly workshop in which you will learn self-defense! The class will be structured so that people of all ages and abilities can learn self-defense techniques that will help build skills to keep you safer.
This event is free and open to everyone
Ring the Alarm – it’s time to get in Formation! Put on your Freakum Dress and join us on Saturday, February 17th at 11:00am and 1:00pm at Katarina’s Saturday Cabaret at Banks Ave. Bar. Your $25 ticket
includes admission, a delicious brunch by Biscuit Head, donation, and a professional drag show. All proceeds support the non-profit organization Tranzmission. Tickets are available at www.AshevilleDragBrunch.com. Let us see your Halo!
Join the downtown community for a free meal in a warm and safe space. Charge your phone, use the restroom, watch videos, eat popcorn, play cards and games, engage in conversation. Come feel the love.
Begun on a Code Purple day in January of 2009, this warming shelter and fellowship afternoon has been running in some capacity during Asheville’s cold months ever since. Visitors and volunteers can expect a warm meal, a non-judgemental, safe space, movies, card games, conversation and grace. In order to allow for this to happen in an organized, safe manner, a team of at least 20 volunteers is needed every weekend. The vision of Saturday Sanctuary is to be a place of welcome for all who enter. This hospitality extends to our unhoused neighbors, for whom this ministry was begun, as well as anyone else who seeks fellowship and a warm meal.
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Join Alexis from Cisco Pilates Asheville for a free Pilates mat class! The class is beginner friendly. This will be offered in-person at Pack Library or from the comfort of your own home. You choose! To register for these classes, please go to: www.ciscopilates.com… These classes are offered to the public free of charge. We will have some yoga mats on hand for the in-person participants, but feel free to bring your own equipment and water bottle! If you have any questions, please call Jen at 828-250-4700 or email [email protected]. |
Join the Buncombe County Special Collections and our partners from the Thomas Wolfe Memorial and Vance Birthplace State Historic Sites for a mini-symposium examining issues of race in Thomas Wolfe’s Asheville and how those themes continue to impact our community in the present.
Saturday, February 17, 2024, 2:30 pm, Lord Auditorium Dr. Darin Waters (Deputy Secretary of Archives and History for North Carolina) and Dr. Kevin Young (Appalachian State University) will present short lectures on Thomas Wolfe’s examination of race in his works Welcome to Our City and Child By Tiger followed by a facilitated Q&A.
Light refreshments will be provided courtesy of the Mountain History and Culture Group.
A 2 hour hands-on experience with a Barista learning about espresso on a pro espresso machine. Anyone who has a home espresso machine and wants to learn their way around the machine, make better espresso, steam latte better, or is looking to get a machine would enjoy taking this workshop and learn a lot! We use only locally roasted beans in all our offerings. 4 people per class. $125 a person.
The Department of Philosophy will host a two-day annual symposium, the Southern Appalachian Undergraduate Philosophy Conference, in the Laurel Forum at UNC Asheville.
The opening reception is February 16 at 4 p.m. and the program will continue from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on February 17. Twelve students from around the region as well as UNC Asheville will present papers, the top three of which will be awarded cash prizes. Two guest judges, Helga Varden from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and Emily McRae from the University of New Mexico, will attend and present lectures.
Step into the enigmatic world of “Til Death Do We Part” – an enthralling Interactive Murder Mystery Dinner, presented by SKYLARANNA in collaboration with JJ Brown Productions
Whether you yearn for an unforgettable evening of dinner alone or desire the full immersive experience, including an overnight stay, the choice is yours to make.
Price: From $349 to $449 Per Couple (Excludes tax and gratuity)
For any inquiries, call (828) 919 – 7777
TIL DEATH DO WE PART Valentine Weekend Package:
Continental Breakfast
Lodging for 2 guests
Cocktail Reception
Five-Course Dinner
Interactive Murder Mystery Show
Bonfire and S’mores Kit
Date: February 17 – February 18, 2024
SKYLARANNA Resort and SPA
February 17 – Hotel check-in @3pm, Cocktail Reception @5pm, Dinner + Show @6pm, Bonfire @9pm.
February 18 – Breakfast between 9am-11am, Hotel check-out @11am.
Reserve your spot now for a weekend that will linger in your memory!
Act fast, as our exclusive packages are selling out quickly!
Secure your spot now before it’s too late!
Sunday, February
18, 2024
The 37th National Arts and Crafts Conference + Shows
North Carolina Winery Tour Adventures
Burlesque Brunch
Jack’s Bluegrass Brunch
Worlds Apart: Musical Instruments from Secular to Sacred
Frostbite 5k, 10k + 1 Mile
FROSTBITE RACES – 10K, 5K + 1-Mile Fun Run
TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC SESSION
Comedy at Catawba: Laura Merli
Karaoke Nights in The Draftsman
There are a number of ways to participate in our annual Arts and Crafts celebration at the Grove Park Inn in February:
1. Reserve an Arts and Crafts Weekend Package at the Grove Park Inn
The cost of registration is included in the Grove Park Inn package so you won’t need to worry about purchasing an additional conference events pass with the office if you’ve got the package.
The package includes the following:
- Lodging Friday and Saturday nights at the Omni Grove Park Inn*;
- The Conference Events Pass which covers all of the seminars, discussion groups, demonstrations, Grove Park Inn tours, and special exhibits for all three days;
- Entry to all three exhibitor shows on Friday, Saturday and Sunday;
- Continental breakfast Saturday and Sunday mornings;
- Dessert and coffee social hour Friday and Saturday nights;
- Use of the Grove Park Inn Sports Center;
- Conference tote bag, a calendar, and The Conference Catalog.
Call (800) 438-5800 to place a deposit for your room reservation today!
2. Purchase individual Conference Events Passes only
If you’d like to register for the conference and attend the shows, but you won’t be staying at the Grove Park Inn, then you will need to purchase Conference Events Passes from our office. The Conference Events Pass includes admission to the Exhibitor Shows. You can call the office at (828) 628-1915.
The Conference Events Pass will get your entry into all seminars, small group discussions, shows demonstrations, access to the educational exhibits, and free access to the Arts and Crafts Shows. You will also receive two continental breakfasts during the weekend and the pre-seminar dessert socials.
3. Buy general admission the day of if you’re just interested in viewing the Arts & Crafts Shows
If you just want to shop the dealer shows at the Grove Park Inn, you can purchase general admission at the door the day that you want to come to the shows! Included in the shows are access to the educational displays, two demonstrations, the silent auction, and the chance to enter a special drawing!
General admission is $10.00 and covers admittance for all three days.
Here’s what’s included in the shows:
– Discover vintage antiques as well as handcrafted contemporary items in the Arts & Crafts style including new and antique jewelry, rugs, furniture, pottery and tiles, artwork, furniture, and metalware, showcasing hand craftsmanship and simple yet elegant designs.
– View our three educational displays within the shows.
– Demonstrations on the Wooden (electric) Lamps of Charles Limbert AND the Cuerda-Seca method of ceramic motifs in Art Pottery;
– Access to our annual silent auction – bid on gently used items from collections from across the country;
– Authors will be on hand to sign their books in the 8th floor of the Vanderbilt wing;
– and a Free drawing to win a special collector’s item (to be shown at the shows).
4. You can separately register for special fundraiser events happening throughout the weekend – the Pre-Conference Workshops, the Craftsman Reception, the Historic House Tours, and the Asheville Art Museum lecture without registering for the conference!
Pre-Conference Workshops – Learn from Roycroft Renaissance Master Artisans
The Craftsman Reception – hosted by the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms
The annual Historic Homes Tour – hosted by the Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County
Go Behind the Scenes with The Asheville Art Museum!
Join us for a North Carolina winery tour and celebrate a date night, bachelorette party, retirement, family, or a weekend away while sampling our favorite local beverages along the way. Our standard tour includes visits to three Asheville area vineyards. With safe and reliable transportation provided, you can sit back, relax and just have fun.
Included:
- Round trip transportation*
- Three vineyard visits
- Tastings at two of your three stops. Let’s just say that the pours at the first couple of locations are generous so we like to leave the third-stop beverage choice up to you.
- Time commitment = up to 5 hours
Want to include specific vineyards on your Asheville wine tours? If you have “must-see” wineries in mind or want to craft a full day catered to your group’s interests, we’re always happy to create a custom experience. Reach out any time!
Doors Open: 11:00 AM
-AGES 18+
-SEATED SHOW
-LIMITED VIP TICKETS AVAILABLE
-SEATED SHOW
-LIMITED VIP TICKETS AVAILABLE
Welcome to the most dazzling brunch experience in Asheville! Join award-winning burlesque sensation, Madison Jane and a delectable blend of performers once a month for a Sunday extravaganza of tantalizing tastes and titillating performances. The Haus of Jane’s Burlesque Brunch Showcase is a feast for the senses, where laughter and allure collide, creating a brunch event that’s as unforgettable as the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Please note: While the ticket price covers your entrance into this delicious spectacle, our brunch delights are a separate indulgence. Come hungry for glamour and ready to sip, savor, and be seduced by the artistry of burlesque – where every shimmy tells a story, and every wink is an invitation to revel in the magic. Bring cash to tip your performers and prepare for a Sunday like no other!
Jack’s Bluegrass Brunch kicks off every Sunday at 12 noon — with lively bluegrass tunes courtesy of The Jack of the Wood Bluegrass Brunch Boys from 1-3pm. Sip a Bloody Mary or Mimosa or a warm Irish coffee. Tasty brunch specials alongside our regular menu and 18 taps of rotating craft brews! Sláinte, y’all!
Sigal Music Museum’s current special exhibition, Worlds Apart: Musical Instruments from Secular to Sacred, highlights items from the JoAnn and Frank Edwinn Collection, which hails from all over the world. Showing November 2023 – May 2024, Worlds Apart uses a diverse range of historical instruments, objects, and visuals to bring together musical narratives from seemingly disparate parts of the globe.
Worlds Apart: Musical Instruments from Secular to Sacred aims to increase public access to historical instruments from around the world and improve visitors’ understanding of musical traditions at the global level. Expanding beyond the typical parameters of the Western musical canon, Worlds Apart seeks to expose audiences to musical instruments and customs that are often overlooked or exotified. The instruments and other exhibit materials will offer visitors new perspectives on global music and a chance to consider how music is used for prayer and leisure in cultures around the world. By celebrating these stories, the museum intends to further its mission to collect and preserve historical musical instruments, objects, and information, which engage and enrich people of all ages through exhibits, performances, and experiential programs.
Displaying various objects from the JoAnn and Frank Edwinn Collection, Worlds Apart: Musical Instruments from Secular to Sacred focuses on international musical instruments and cultures, celebrating rites and traditions with ancient histories and contemporary legacies. Frank Edwinn, a successful basso in the mid-20th century, studied and toured internationally, eventually settling in North Carolina, where he taught music at the University of North Carolina Asheville. Throughout his life, he purchased various objects from around the world, aiming to expose students, and himself, to the wide and wonderful world of musical instruments. This impressive collection occupies a unique position for educating audiences unfamiliar with the vast scope of global music.
And, UNCA’s Ramsey Library Special Collections is now processing the Edwinn’s papers and a few recordings that will be accessible next semester!
Want to avoid the winter blues? Get motivated with the 32nd Annual Frostbite Races presented by Hunter Subaru!
Join the largest winter footrace in Henderson County for a fun-filled afternoon of running and family-friendly activities. Choose from a 10K, 5K run/walk, or a flat and fast 1-mile un-timed Fun Run – perfect for runners of all ages and abilities. Join us at the Lelia Patterson Center in Fletcher, NC for a day of fitness, fun, and frosty festivities. Register now and gear up for the coolest race of the year!
An Exhilarating Winter Tradition that Elevates Personal Wellness
February 18, 2024
For over 31 years, the Frostbite Races have motivated runners and walkers to stay active throughout the colder winter months. Participants brave the chilly temperatures to compete in a series of races, including a challenging 10K, a scenic 5K, or 1-mile fun run. Flurry the Penguin is always encouraging runners and walkers with high fives. The Family Fun Day and Wellness Expo add to the excitement with local vendors, wellness services, live music, and kid’s activities. The Frostbite Races have become a beloved tradition in Fletcher, NC, bringing the community together for a day of fitness and fun.
Jack’s long-running Traditional Irish Music Session is the perfect way to enjoy the Celtic-influenced sounds of talented pluckers from all over WNC & further afield! Stop in to enjoy a pint or afternoon Irish coffee with the music! Sláinte!
Every Sunday Modelface Comedy brings you the best stand up comedians from all over the country! This week we have Laura Merli from NYC!
Laura Merli is an NYC-based standup, actress, and writer. She amassed over 2 million likes on TikTok, appeared in the New York Comedy festival, the Women in Comedy Festival, and was the first runner up in The Ladies of Laughter stand up competition. Every Wednesday, she hosts a stand up show (Good Girl) at one of the hottest alt-comedy spots in Brooklyn, Friends & Lovers. She’s also performed at top-tier venues across the city including The Bell House, Littlefield, Caveat, and more. You can find her on Insta/TikTok @passiveabrasive or on youtube.com/LauraMerliComedy
Featuring FreddyG
ages 18+
doors at 6pm, show at 6:30pm
“Sing your heart out every Sunday with Lyric Jones at our laidback basement bar. Whether you’re a classic crooner or want to relive your glam metal glory days, find your moment to shine between 8pm and 11pm. Remember: what happens at karaoke night, stays at karaoke night.
People in the biz get half off select appetizers and burgers all night!”