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.
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Contemporary art, interdisciplinary research communities, and the inspiration of Appalachia converge in Rural Avant-Garde: The Mountain Lake Experience. This exhibition showcases a selection of collaborative creative works that emerged from nearly four decades of the Mountain Lake Workshop series, a program sited in rural southwestern Virginia.
Founded by artist and scholar Ray Kass in 1980 and co-organized with influential art critics Dr. Donald B. Kuspit and Dr. Howard Risatti, as well as the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA), the Mountain Lake Workshops integrated the arts and sciences in a dynamic experimental creative process that pushed past the traditional boundaries of art, dance, and performance.
Community-centered from its inception, the Mountain Lake Workshop demonstrated the relevance of the arts across disciplines, as well as social and participatory learning. This exhibition offers a focused look at art that investigated new conceptual limits, born of the region in southwestern Virginia, just a few hundred miles north of Asheville, NC. Works range from large-scale watercolors and photographic installation to relics of performances and other experimentations in artmaking.
Highlights include composer and conceptual artist John Cage’s New River Rocks and Washes(1990). A significant late-career work by Cage, this rarely exhibited watercolor extends nearly 30 feet in length, produced using methods of chance to trace stones gathered from the workshop’s natural surroundings.
This exhibition was organized by the Longwood Center for the Visual Arts at Longwood University. Generous funding was provided in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Artist Walter B. Stephen (Clinton, IA 1875–1961 Asheville, NC) contributed to Western North Carolina’s identity as a flourishing site for pottery production and craftsmanship in the early 20th century. Walter B. Stephen Pottery: Cameo to Crystalline features art pottery and functional vessels from each stage of Stephen’s career, from his origins discovering the medium alongside his mother Nellie C. Randall Stephen in Shelby County, TN from 1901 through 1910 to his multi-decade production just outside of Asheville. This exhibition will be on view in the Asheville Art Museum’s Debra McClinton Gallery July 28, 2021 through January 17, 2022.
In 1926, Stephen founded his third and last pottery studio, Pisgah Forest, in Arden, NC, which he operated until his death in 1961. It was at this studio that the artist perfected the “cameo” decoration technique for which he became best known. His hand-painted images, achieved with layers of white translucent clay, often feature American folk imagery, from covered wagons and livestock to cabins and spinning wheels. A selection of works from the Museum’s Collection showcase his innovation in form and in decorative surface details, including experimentation with crystalline glazing.
The Friends of the Weaverville Library (FOWL) are excited to announce the opening of their used bookstore in Weaverville on Thursday, July 8. Located in the lower level of the Weaverville Library at 41 N. Main St., the store will be open Thursdays 1-5 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays 11 a.m.-2 p.m., with expanded hours beginning in September. The store is stocked with thousands of books, audiobooks, CDs, DVDs, and more. All adult books are priced at $1.50-$3.00, children and teen books at $1.00-$1.50, audio and video at $2.00.
There is also a bargain-priced area and a collection of special finds that are priced individually. Please feel free to contact us at 828-641-1812 or [email protected]. All proceeds from the store will benefit the Weaverville Library.
Today’s Art Break is led by Alexis Meldrum, curatorial assistant.
ART BREAKS
Drop in to one of our lunchtime Art Breaks! Taking place on selected Fridays at 12pm, these informal gallery talks and presentations both inform and engage you in dialogue with our staff, docents, or special guests.
Preserving & Promoting
Our
Carolina Flying Heritage
MARA Meetings (Medication-Assisted Recovery Anonymous)
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Medication-Assisted Recovery Anonymous is a support group of people who believe in the value of medication as a means to recovery. We understand that our individual needs may not be the same; our backgrounds may not be the same; our futures may not be the same. However, our desire to live a safe lifestyle joins us together. Non-judgement is our code.
About Hope Coalition
Hope Coalition is a grassroots effort initiated by the Henderson County Partnership for Health in 2013 as a community collaborative to educate, evaluate, and implement evidence-based models on substance misuse and underage drinking in Henderson County by building capacity and creating long-term and sustainable plans that are action-oriented and focus on community level change.
Mon-Fri from 2-5pm. You have access to high speed internet, work space and HALF-OFF pastries when you present your college ID.
Financial Literacy and Lending Opportunities
Guest Presenters: TD Bank and Michael Lane, Director of Lending, Mountain BizWorks
Financials are always one of the biggest hurdles for a business owner. TD Bank and Mountain BizWorks are teaming up to talk about financial literacy, various reports, opportunities to grow and navigating the lending landscape.
Financials are always one of the biggest hurdles for a business owner. What reports are important to look at? What do they mean? How can you know if your business is fiscally sound?
These questions and more will be addressed by John Verreault, Senior Vice President of TD Bank and Mountain BizWorks’ Director of Lending, Michael Lane. TD Bank will talk about financial literacy, various reports, and opportunities to grow. Michael Lane, Director of Lending at Mountain BizWorks will be joining in to discuss lending opportunities that are available for small businesses, how to position yourself to be competitive to receive a loan, and answer those burning questions you have around lending for small businesses.
The Financial Literacy and Lending Opportunities workshop is part of the Craft Your Commerce Workshop Series Beyond the Studio: Financials and Operations.
Peer Support
Group meetings: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 2:00 – 3:00 PM
Please contact us for individual services at 828.388.7979, Option #2
Through the “lived-experience” of our peer support specialists, we will assist, encourage, empower and advocate with others on their journey to finding their own path to recovery. Recovery is possible but is not meant to do alone. We do recover together.
About Hope Coalition
Hope Coalition is a grassroots effort initiated by the Henderson County Partnership for Health in 2013 as a community collaborative to educate, evaluate, and implement evidence-based models on substance misuse and underage drinking in Henderson County by building capacity and creating long-term and sustainable plans that are action-oriented and focus on community level change.
OAKS Afterschool Program
Pre-registration required. FREE for the 2021-2022 school year
September 7-December 17, 2021 | Monday-Friday | 2:30-5:30pm
An inclusive recreation program designed to support rising 1st5th graders and their families. OAKS will provide homework
assistance and opportunities to play through a variety of activities
and field trips. Participants will benefit from lower child to
staff ratios, continuation of scholastic goals (as applicable),
and individualized treatment plans (facilitated by LRT/CTRS
and program staff). Participants who cannot meet eligibility
requirements may attend with a 1:1 worker.
Location: Oakley
Pre-registration required. FREE for the 2021-2022 school year
August 23, 2021-June 3, 2022 | Monday-Friday | 2:45-6pm
K-6th graders.
Does your child enjoy having fun and making new friends? Offering
arts, crafts, special events, homework assistance and more!
Families currently enrolled in the school system’s reduced or free
meal program, please contact your recreation center for discount
fee information.
Locations: Burton, Grant, Montford, Shiloh, Stephens-Lee
Hosted by: the Buddhist Studies Institute
FREE – ONLINE – 30 MINUTES – DAILY
🌺Guided meditation support and community🌺
🌸Stabilization and Liberation:
In order to liberate our minds– we need stable calm.
🌸Consistency & Commitment:
Stabilizing in calm clear presence takes consistent training.
🌸Support & Community:
Daily Meditation is a container and support for your meditation focus.
Expand your meditation circle- join us online any day or every day!
Formerly known as 100 Days of practice to support a Tibetan Yogis tradition to practice 100 days in the winter, this has now been expanded to continue daily. To learn more and register: https://buddhiststudiesinstitute.org/100-days-of-practice/
What we’re about
COVID-19 UPDATE: An email was sent out to Awakening Asheville advising all in-person meetups should be postponed or moved to virtual attendance only. Please contact hosts with any questions. Thank you, and be well! Courtney
We are an LGBTQ+ BIPOC safe spiritual group that enjoys the coming together of community lightworkers sharing our journeys. We offer meditations, healing energy, and many different workshops. Come join us!
Montford Pre-Teen Afterschool Program
Pre-registration required. FREE for the 2021-2022 school year
August 23, 2021 – June 3, 2022 | Monday-Friday | 3:30-6pm
5th-6th graders.
New program designed to meet the needs of your pre-teen.
Providing time dedicated to school assignments, life skills, arts,
communication, leadership, fitness, nutrition, and loads of fun.
Location: Montford
Teen Leadership Program
Pre-registration required. FREE for the 2021-2022 school year
August 23, 2021-June 3, 2022 | Monday-Friday | 3:30-6pm
6th-9th graders.
Looking for a cool and enriching alternative for your Teen to attend
this school year? We offer creative activities, diverse projects,
field trips, and more.
Locations: Grant, Shiloh, Stephens-Lee
UNC Asheville’s renovated Owen Hall re-opened at the start of the fall 2021 semester, and the Department of Art and Art History and Department of New Media will host an Open House on Friday, Sept. 17 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The event is open to the Asheville community.
The Open House will feature faculty exhibits from both departments. New Media will feature a data driven animation of US COVID-19 infections, vaccines and deaths; a machine learning animation concerning climate change; networked performance art; a virtual reality project that takes you back to 17th century Salem Massachusetts; creative fabrication work utilizing UNC Asheville’s STEAM studio; the Virtual Lincoln Project led by faculty and student researchers at UNC Asheville; and more.
“The Department of New Media is pleased to present its first faculty and staff exhibition at UNC Asheville. Our new facility in Owen Hall provides us the opportunity to showcase faculty research that engage cross-disciplinary collaborations and cutting-edge technologies in a dedicated gallery space. This exhibition features work in a variety of digital and traditional media, including video, interactivity, animation, print, digital fabrication and electroformed glass. We look forward to seeing you at the opening or during the installation period,” said Acting Chair and Professor of New Media Lei Han.
“The Department of Art & Art History is thrilled to return to the newly renovated Owen Hall, presenting the first faculty exhibition in five years in the expanded S. Tucker Cooke Gallery,” said Department Chair and Professor of Art Tamie Beldue, who will exhibit three works that were made during the renovation of Owen Hall. Each one depicts the skeletal structure of the building. “The exhibition features work from all current faculty and Professor Emeriti and highlights concentration areas within the department including Painting, Drawing, Photography, Printmaking, Ceramics, and Sculpture…. The Department of Art & Art History is eager to share not only their work but the student work in progress during the faculty-led tours through the department studios.”
Guided building tours will be available, gallery spaces will be open, and refreshments will be served outdoors with room for social distancing. Masks will be required at all times in indoor spaces and capacity inside the building will be closely monitored in accordance with COVID guidelines.
Asheville All Stars
The All Stars show has quickly become a favorite of the season, featuring some of AVL’s best artists making music together. Curated by local musician and producer, Josh Blake, the All Stars offer a little something for everyone – from rock to hiphop, originals to covers.
LEAF Schools & Streets Young Artist Superstars
Check out the next generation of AVL All Stars from the LEAF Global Arts Schools & Streets program is a collaborative outreach program matching performing artists into schools, educational centers and housing communities.
Each summer the Asheville Downtown Association partners with five local nonprofits to sell wristbands at the event. The ADA has given more than $225,000 to area nonprofits through this program. 2021 partners are: Asheville Brewers Alliance, Asheville Mardi Gras, Asheville Music School, Blue Ridge Pride, LEAF Global Arts and Open Hearts Art Center.
Lots of local beers, ciders and seltzers on tap, as well as beverages from around Western North Carolina and regional and national brands. Wine, soda and water is also available for purchase.
We’re serving up plenty of local yumminess with food vendors: Cecelia’s Kitchen, Gypsy Queen Cuisine, Kernel Mike’s Kettle Corn, Sunshine Sammies and Tin Can Pizzaria
Sip and stroll through the Arboretum’s gardens and experience our Wild Art outdoor sculpture showcase in the glow of the golden hour, all while listening to live music from a variety of local and regional artists! ArborEvenings runs Thursdays and most Fridays through October 1, 2021, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. ArborEvenings are not scheduled on the following Fridays: July 9, August 6, September 3 and 10.
There is no additional cost to attend ArborEvenings beyond our standard parking fee. As always, Arboretum Society members and their accompanying guests can enter for FREE (guests must be in member vehicles to receive free entry). Proceeds from ArborEvenings help support the The North Carolina Arboretum Society and further advance the Arboretum’s mission.
Please note: ArborEvenings will not be held in the event of rain. Please check the website or Facebook page by 3 p.m. for any cancellation announcements prior to attending.
Beverage Service
Beer, Wine, and soft drinks will be for sale onsite at the Green Gardener’s Shed from 5:30 to 8:15 p.m. each night of the event. Outside alcohol is strictly prohibited, but guests are welcome to bring in water or a favorite non-alcoholic beverage.
Food Available for Pre-Order, Picnics Welcome
Although the Bent Creek Bistro will not be open during the event, we are pleased to share that they will be offering their delicious dining options at ArborEvenings via pre-order this year! Simply place your online order — including alcoholic beverages — up until 11 a.m. on the date you plan to attend, then pick up your order at the Baker Information Desk between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. (In the event of rain cancellation, pre-orders will be fully refunded.)
Guests are welcome to bring in outside food and non-alcoholic beverages. However, outside alcohol is strictly prohibited.
Musician Schedule
Please note, scheduled performances are subject to change.
- Thursday 7/8 – Juan Holiday (R&B/Soul) will play from 5:30 – 6:45 p.m. & Jackson Grimm (Folk/Bluegrass) will play from 7:15 – 8:30 p.m.
- Friday 7/9 – No Event
- Thursday 7/15 – Liz & Elizabeth (Folk/Americana) will play from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
- Friday 7/16 – Kevin Williams (Country/Americana) will play from 5:30 – 6:45 p.m. & Steve Newbrough (Classical/Fingerstyle Guitar) will play from 7:15 – 8:30 p.m.Click here for the full schedule.
Know Before You Go
- Parking fees will be collected at the gate upon arrival, and members must present valid card for free entry. Pre-registration is not required.
- Restroom access will be available during ArborEvenings inside the Baker Visitor Center.
- Guests are invited to explore A Life in the Wild, a breathtaking exhibition of photographs from Thomas D. Mangelsen; however, food and drink are not permitted inside the Exhibit Hall.
- Leashed dogs are welcome at ArborEvenings, but are not permitted inside of buildings.
- To protect our lawn, blankets are not permitted at the event; however, guests are welcome to bring lawn chairs to set up in front of the musicians.
- Due to existing event bookings, ArborEvenings will not take place on the following Fridays: July 9, August 6 and September 3 and 10.
#BlakeSheltonGVL
Country music superstar Blake Shelton will make his long-anticipated return to the road alongside his friends and heroes this fall. The boot-stomping, hit-making, arena-selling entertainer will stop at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena on September 17. “Friends and Heroes 2021” will welcome very special guest Lindsay Ell, with special appearances by Martina McBride, Tracy Byrd and Trace Adkins.
Click here for our standard arena policies and our most frequently asked questions.
“Jesse Terry is a gentle soul with a formidable songwriting talent and a clear artistic vision”
— John Platt – WFUV – NYC
The stage had been Jesse’s home for a decade. He plays around 150 shows a year, from Bonnaroo to the Philadelphia Folk Festival, the 30A Songwriters Festival to AmericanaFest. When the pandemic canceled concerts and delayed the album’s release, he pivoted to performing online and found a strong new connection to his fans, who had helped fund his albums all along. “My musical tribe has always been there for me,” he says with gratitude.
Best known for his work as singer, guitarist and chief songwriter for St. Petersburg Florida art-pop band The Ditchflowers, Ed Woltil’s music has been featured on NPR and in Performing Songwriter magazine. He has shared the stage with music industry legends like Richard Thompson, Alex Chilton, Procol Harum, Graham Parker and Chris Isaak. Woltil has garnered numerous national awards, including First Prize in the USA Songwriting Competition, Gospel category; and First Runner-Up in the John Lennon Songwriting Competition, Folk category. Creative Loafing has called Woltil’s music “exquisite…sweet, timeless pop” while Popmatters has said that “every song exhibits supreme musicianship and an insightful yet earthy lyricism.”
Macbeth & Pericles – Sept. 3 – Oct. 17
by W. Shakespeare
One of the most-popular plays ever written, this classic tale of murder and madness appears just in time for students to ask their English teachers for some extra credit. Presented in repertory
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MAINSTAGETHE SPARROW AND THE WHIPPOORWILL: A BLUEGRASS MUSICALBy Tom Godleski
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With an earnest ability to create a delicate balance of harmony, melody, deep emotion and subtlety, Lee DeWyze’s depth as a songwriter call to mind some of his earliest influences like Simon and Garfunkel, Yusef Islam (Cat Stevens) and Johnny Cash.
D’Arcy is a new alternative act based out of NYC. Her first single “Crush” was released in October 2020 followed by “Bad Girls” in December and “Bad Girls” remix by Morgothbeatz (Juice WRLD, Lil Xan). D’Arcy is the first musical act launched from DRØME, a media company that previously published a multi-issue print magazine featuring Billie Eilish, Sofi Tukker, LPX, OSHUN, Girlpool, Nakaya and more. D’Arcy’s influences range from Fiona Apple to Nine Inch Nails.
Lee DeWyze · 8:30pm
With an earnest ability to create a delicate balance of harmony, melody, deep emotion and subtlety, Lee DeWyze’s depth as a songwriter call to mind some of his earliest influences like Simon and Garfunkel, Yusef Islam (Cat Stevens) and Johnny Cash.
His last 4 releases Victims Of The Night (April 2020), and the EP Castles (Oct 2019), have garnered over 1M streams, while his latest 2 singles, Weeds (Oct 2020) is currently highlighted on the largest folk playlist Chill Folk, streaming 3500x per day, and Horizon (Apr 2021) was featured in the motion picture The Secret: Dare To Dream starring Katie Holmes and Josh Lucas.
Over the last 10 years, Lee has released five albums, including his critically
lauded Frames (Vanguard Records, 2013), which included the top 40 Billboard Hot AC hit “Fight.” In 2014, his song “Blackbird Song” (20M streams + ) was placed in the show “The Walking Dead.” After signing with Shanachie Records in 2016, Lee released the album Oil and Water, which hit Number One on the iTunes folk and singer/songwriter chart, followed
by Paranoia (2018), which hit Number One on the Alternative chart. As the winner of American Idol Season 9 in 2010, he made his major label debut with Live It Up (RCA).
Lee’s songs have appeared in over 70 movies, TV shows, and commercials.
His latest synch was for his song Castles, which highlighted the season finale of Station 19 (#1 show on ABC). His video for Castles won 11 awards world-wide (Los Angeles, NY, and London) for best animated video with TIFF (The International Film Festival).
Lee is embarking on a summer/fall 2021 US tour called Ghost Stories.
With an earnest ability to create a delicate balance of harmony, melody, deep emotion and subtlety, Lee DeWyze’s depth as a songwriter call to mind some of his earliest influences like Simon and Garfunkel, Yusef Islam (Cat Stevens) and Johnny Cash.
D’Arcy is a new alternative act based out of NYC. Her first single “Crush” was released in October 2020 followed by “Bad Girls” in December and “Bad Girls” remix by Morgothbeatz (Juice WRLD, Lil Xan). D’Arcy is the first musical act launched from DRØME, a media company that previously published a multi-issue print magazine featuring Billie Eilish, Sofi Tukker, LPX, OSHUN, Girlpool, Nakaya and more. D’Arcy’s influences range from Fiona Apple to Nine Inch Nails.
Lee DeWyze · 8:30pm
With an earnest ability to create a delicate balance of harmony, melody, deep emotion and subtlety, Lee DeWyze’s depth as a songwriter call to mind some of his earliest influences like Simon and Garfunkel, Yusef Islam (Cat Stevens) and Johnny Cash.
His last 4 releases Victims Of The Night (April 2020), and the EP Castles (Oct 2019), have garnered over 1M streams, while his latest 2 singles, Weeds (Oct 2020) is currently highlighted on the largest folk playlist Chill Folk, streaming 3500x per day, and Horizon (Apr 2021) was featured in the motion picture The Secret: Dare To Dream starring Katie Holmes and Josh Lucas.
Over the last 10 years, Lee has released five albums, including his critically
lauded Frames (Vanguard Records, 2013), which included the top 40 Billboard Hot AC hit “Fight.” In 2014, his song “Blackbird Song” (20M streams + ) was placed in the show “The Walking Dead.” After signing with Shanachie Records in 2016, Lee released the album Oil and Water, which hit Number One on the iTunes folk and singer/songwriter chart, followed
by Paranoia (2018), which hit Number One on the Alternative chart. As the winner of American Idol Season 9 in 2010, he made his major label debut with Live It Up (RCA).
Lee’s songs have appeared in over 70 movies, TV shows, and commercials.
His latest synch was for his song Castles, which highlighted the season finale of Station 19 (#1 show on ABC). His video for Castles won 11 awards world-wide (Los Angeles, NY, and London) for best animated video with TIFF (The International Film Festival).
Lee is embarking on a summer/fall 2021 US tour called Ghost Stories.
DJ Dance Party with Meseret & Zati 
Every Friday Nigh it’s you, it’s dark house and the dance floor. NO COVER 21+
In the spring of 2020, the City of Asheville launched several temporary initiatives to support safe business operations and customer access to goods and services during COVID-19. These “AVL Shares Space” initiatives enabled businesses and organizations to quickly expand outdoors, generally into adjacent public spaces and parking lots, with the primary goal of supporting the local economy while facilitating alignment with public health guidance. To date, over 100 businesses have been authorized to expand outdoors. More information, including other guiding principles and goals of the program can be found here.
The City would like to collect public feedback on the successes and impacts of each initiative in order to assess possibilities for longer-term programs.
Please let us know how you’ve interacted with any or all of these initiatives, and provide feedback on your experience.
The Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity ReStore is hosting the 10th annual ReUse Contest to showcase innovative building projects constructed predominantly of used building materials.
Winners will be selected in the following categories:
- Furniture: $200 ReStore gift card
- Homesteading (i.e. chicken coop, raised bed): $200 ReStore gift card
- Live and/or work space: $200 ReStore gift card
- Art: $200 ReStore gift card
- Home Decor: $200 ReStore gift card
- Vans & Vehicle (NEW!): $200 ReStore gift card
- Best in Show: $500 ReStore gift card
Winners will be announced in a press release, on Asheville Habitat’s website and social media pages, and featured in the Asheville Habitat ReStore.
The purpose of this annual contest is to showcase innovative building and DIY projects
constructed predominantly of reused building materials. A large number of ReStore shoppers
purchase items intended to be repurposed or reused in unique and creative ways; the ReStore
Reuse contest is a great way to showcase their projects and inspire others to reuse, recycle
and repurpose usable materials.
The creativity of this community never ceases to amaze. Past projects have included a fence
fashioned from doors, a potting bench built from pallets, a chair crafted from an oil drum, yard
art made from old tools, and so much more. To see photos from the 2020 contest, click here.
A panel of five judges will select winners in the following categories: Furniture, Homesteading,
Live and/or Work Space, Art, Home Décor, Vans and Vehicles (NEW!), and Best in Show.
Winners will be announced in mid-October.
Grab your binoculars and get ready for our annual feathered frenzy. This event was designed so birders of all skillsets can enjoy one of the country’s fastest-growing hobbies – bird watching! Live bird demos, guided walks, activities for kids and our annual hawk watch are just a few of the reasons this event is perfect for the whole family.
Official 2021 Raffle Rules
PROCEEDS
This raffle is a fundraising event, and all net proceeds benefit the Brevard Music Center (BMC). Brevard Music Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. EIN# 56-0729350
DRAWING
The drawing will take place on Monday, November 15, 2021 at 3:00pm EDT. All mail, phone, and internet orders must be received by 11:59pm EDT on Sunday, November 14, 2021.
TICKETS
The cost to purchase a single entry (“Ticket”) for the Raffle is $125 (U.S. Funds only) and is not tax deductible.