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.
The WNC tradition continues! This show has become a Playhouse favorite with a brand new show every year. Join the merriment of sleigh bells and mistletoe, miracles and Santa Claus, and so much more. Showcasing a cast of Flat Rock favorites, the Flat Rock Playhouse Chorus, and Pat’s School of Dance, this holiday revue promises to leave you feeling merry and bright!
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From 11/15 – 12/31, we’re offering a Holiday Special on our subscriptions! Get tickets at a discounted price, AND get a free ticket voucher for our next play, Native Gardens! Check our website on 11/15 to purchase this limited-time deal!
See Lake Junaluska decorated for the holidays and enjoy carriage rides, music and more during our Christmas at Lake Junaluska weekend coming up December 9-11!
Join us on Saturday, December 10, at 7 p.m. for Lake Junaluska Lessons and Carols at Memorial Chapel. The service will be led by the Rev. Susan Giles with music provided by Hilda Ryan and special guest guitarist Mark Shultz for a candlelit singing of “Silent Night.”
Then on Sunday, December 11, from noon to 3 p.m., board our 4-passenger vis-a-vis carriage or our 8-person wagonette for a leisurely 15-minute ride that offers breathtaking lakeside mountain views and a unique view of the decorated Rose Walk along North Lakeshore Drive. The first ride departs at noon. To participate in this activity, reserve your seat online for the 4-person carriage or 8-person wagonette.
Stop into Junaluska Gifts & Grounds and the Lake Junaluska Golf Course Pro Shop, or visit Christmas Memories in historic Lambuth Inn for your last-minute gifts. During Christmas at Lake Junaluska Weekend (December 9-11), enjoy 30 percent off holiday items and hot beverages from our coffee and smoothie bar at Junaluska Gifts & Grounds, and 25 percent off short-sleeved shirts and free coffee and cider at the Lake Junaluska golf course pro shop!
Lodging guests as well as day visitors are invited to see the decorations on the Lake Junaluska grounds and Walking Trail, which is open to all with no admission charge. With Lake Junaluska’s winter lodging special – three nights for 10% off or four or more nights for 15% off, guests can enjoy a whole weekend of Christmas fun in the mountains and find the perfect Christmas tree right here in Haywood County (the same county where the U.S. Capitol Tree came from!) To book the lodging special, call 800-222-4930.
Christmas is a wonderful time of year to come to the mountains. Check out Holidays at Lake Junaluska to begin planning your trip!
We’ve got so many reasons to give thanks! In each of our program areas, we see ordinary people taking heroic action to protect our home from the pressures of a changing climate.
This year-end, we’re highlighting stories that inspired us and sharing how we’re planting seeds to create a climate-resilient future for all of us.
With our native pollinators, more is more. The more habitat we plant, the more easily our native pollinators can find shelter and food, the more resilient they become to the challenges posed by pesticides and extreme heat—the more stable our entire food ecosystem becomes.
Decorating Your Windows for the Holiday Season? Join the Holiday Windows Walking Tour. Plus Share Holiday Happenings
Downtown businesses: Are you decorating your windows for the Holiday Season? Be sure to let us know and we will include you on our Holiday Windows Walking Tour. This is a self-guided tour for people to follow as the stroll Downtown Asheville throughout the holidays.
Also, are you have a holiday sale, event or promotion? We’re happy to share through our social media, newsletters and press releases.
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Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy
WHAT THEY DO: We permanently protect and steward our region’s most beloved natural areas. When you support local land and water conservation, you ensure our lands, our water, our wildlife and our farms will be there for future generations. SAHC is committed to creating and supporting equitable, healthy and thriving communities for everyone in our region.
Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy
- Donate $25+ and get a day pass to the WNC Nature Center.
- Donate $50+ and get an animal sticker and a day pass.
- Donate $100+ and get an animal tracks necklace, animal sticker, and a day pass.
- Donate $250+ and get a a guided tour of the Nature Center with animal enrichment for two people, plus the necklace, sticker, and day pass. PLUS, you’ll be entered to win a chance to go on habitat with red pandas Leafa and Phoenix in 2023!
Merchants all over Henderson County vie for the honor of best holiday window displays and lighting, Take a drive around the county then vote for your favorite store front online, All displays will be available to view by November 26, but voting is only open December 6 – 17, Find the list of participants and information for online voting.
Homeowners all over Henderson County vie for the honor of having the best holiday decorations, as voted on by you. You are invited to take a drive around the county to look at all the festive holiday displays and then vote online for your favorite. An interactive online Google map with all locations and a printable PDF will be available by Nov. 25, 2022.
Printed copies of maps will also be at the Hendersonville Welcome Center at that time. Online voting opens in December.
Santa and Mrs. Clause will be there to see the children! Hot chocolate and cookies will be served for everyone. All aboard!
Purchase tickets on the day of the event. Reservations recommended — seating is limited!
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Help Us Meet the Need This Holiday Season
Round Up Campaigns & Community Events
We are so grateful to all of our partners who are helping us during this critical time by providing various ways for people to get involved and help provide meals for neighbors this holiday season. Read through the list below to find out ways you can get involved. - Food Lions Feeds (11/9 – 12/12): Food Lion stores will be hosting Food Lion Feeds, which is an in-store food drive program where customers have the opportunity to purchase and donate a Food Lion Feeds for the Holidays box of food that will be donated to MANNA FoodBank.
Downtown Hendersonville
Peppermint Bear takes you on a fun-filled bear hunt in downtown Hendersonville in search of her lost cubs. Hint: the cubs are hiding in downtown businesses.
Once you have found a lost cub in at least 12 of 26 participating businesses and the shopkeeper has punched your brochure, you are eligible to win scavenger hunt prizes. Complete the entry form in the brochure and drop it in Peppermint’s mailbox in front of the Welcome Center, by Dec. 23.
For more details about the Scavenger Hunt, watch this video or stop by the Welcome Center at 201 South Main Street. Peppermint Bear Scavenger Hunt brochures are available at the Hendersonville Welcome Center.
Make A Wish Come True This Holiday Season
Ready the hot cocoa and pull out your decorations; it’s time for another holiday season. As you begin your holiday preparation traditions, remember to visit the Buncombe County Wish Trees! This year we are offering two opportunities to spread cheer throughout the community:
Foster Care Wish Tree
Each year children in foster care and young adults participating in Extended Foster Care in Buncombe County submit a list of wishes they would like for the holidays. Signing up to sponsor a child or young adult is easy! Just follow the link below and select the child or young adult you would like to sponsor. After signing up, you will receive email confirmation that provides a copy of the wish list and all the instructions for drop off. We are taking extra precautions due to COVID-19 so be sure to read the follow up email in its entirety.
Direct Questions to Amber Cook
[email protected]
(828) 250-5824
The Wish Tree- Fulfilling Wishes of Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities
There are a lot of Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities in Buncombe County in need of connection this holiday season. Show a Older Adult and or Adult with Disabilities how much you care by sponsoring them this holiday season. Signing up to sponsor a Older Adult and or Adult with Disabilities is easy. Just follow the link below, select the Older Adult and or Adult with Disabilities you would like to sponsor, and check your email for confirmation, a reminder of what your Older Adult and or Adult with Disabilities would like this holiday season, and drop off instructions. We are taking extra precautions due to COVID-19 so be sure to read the follow up email in its entirety.
CLICK HERE TO SPONSOR AN OLDER ADULT OR AN ADULT WITH DISABILITIES
A note from HHS
The holidays can be hard for a lot of people, children in foster care, older adults, and adults with disabilities in particular. Holidays are a time when family and friends gather together, show support for one another, and shower each other with love, kindness, and generosity. Each year, we have an opportunity to deliver the holiday spirit to children in foster care, older adults, and adults with disabilities through our wish tree gift drives. The expressions of joy and excitement on our clients faces as we deliver their gifts reminds us of the true meaning of the holiday season, connection. Yes, the gifts are nice. But the real gift is knowing that someone loves and cares. That is what we deliver to our clients. Thank you in advance for your generous sponsorship.
Our Virtual Angel tree is up for this holiday season. This gift tree provides our broader YWCA community a path to join us as we aim to support our program participants and their families with a holiday season full of love and support.
If you would like to adopt a family this holiday season please click here or email Taleese Morrill in our Programs team to get the details of how you can fulfill a family’s holiday wish.
If you prefer please select a gift from our Amazon wish list by December 1st, 2022. Gifts from the list will be mailed directly to our building and will be sorted and distributed by our YWCA elves. All items on the list have been selected by the families and are items they are wishing for or are in need of this holiday season.
All gifts must be ordered by December 1.
Programs Served by the Angel Tree
MotherLove
YWCA’s MotherLove program supports pregnant and parenting teens throughout Buncombe County. Our goals are to help young parents to stay in school and graduate, access higher education and vocational training, develop the skills and knowledge needed to become strong parents, and delay another teen pregnancy.
Getting Ahead In a Just Getting By World
YWCA’s Getting Ahead program aims to provide financial empowerment for low-income women of all ages and backgrounds to make choices that positively impact themselves, their families, and their community.
Early Learning Program
YWCA’s Early Learning Program provides 5-star childcare for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. Our experienced and compassionate teachers not only provide exceptional care for little ones, but also prepare young children to succeed cognitively, physically, socially, and emotionally. We prioritize families using childcare vouchers or caring for children in the foster care system.
Empowerment Childcare
The YWCA provides up to 12 hours of free childcare per week for parents who are in transition, continuing their education, accessing social services, or looking for employment. ECC works closely with the Family Justice Center, Buncombe County Health and Human Services, A-B Tech, Green Opportunities, and Mary Benson House.
SOCK IT TO ME SANTA 5K IN ASHEVILLE, NC
FUNDRAISER FOR THE ASHEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND PROGRAMS
REGISTRATION FOR THE 2022 RACE OPENS ON MAY 1ST!
RACE SCHEDULE
Early Packet Pick Up – Friday, Dec 9 4:30-6pm, Jus’ Running, 523 Merrimon Ave
Saturday
Event location ~Asheville Middle School, 211 S French Broad Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
7:30 am – Packet Pick Up opens at Asheville Middle School gymnasium
8:30 am – Snowflake Chaser 1M fun run begins
9:00 am – 5k Starts (chip timed)
10:00 am – Awards (tentative)
Join Santa’s elves for a festive breakfast and see what’s on the menu every morning at the North Pole! The elves will be serving up very special holiday pancakes for kids and kids-at-heart, and classic breakfast favorites will round out the menu. Warm up with a cup of coffee, then head to the Park and watch Santa prepare for Christmas Eve by rappelling down the 315-foot Chimney Rock!
Immerse yourself in a Winter Wonderland with Santa and his elves and of course, Santa’s reindeer at Carolina Ace Hardware. Bring the whole family and take your Christmas pictures in the magical Christmas display in the Garden Center. Free to the public. Bring your cameras.
The 30th Annual National Gingerbread House Competition will be held in-person at The Omni Grove Park Inn on Monday, November 21, 2022 with an Awards Ceremony following in the Grand Ballroom. Competition judging will be conducted in-person and is closed to the public. The competition’s esteemed panel of judges, including Chef Carla Hall, will announce a winner on November 21st at the Resort. All entries will be on display at The Omni Grove Park Inn (290 Macon Ave., Asheville) throughout the holiday season.
The official 2022 Gingerbread display begins on Monday, November 28, 2022 and will continue through Monday, January 2, 2023. Guests not staying at the Resort are invited to view the display after 6:00 p.m. on Sundays or anytime Monday through Thursday, based on parking availability and excluding holidays and the following dates: December 23, 24, 25, 30, 31 and January 1. All Fridays and Saturdays are reserved for registered resort guests and those that have confirmed dining reservations. Display access is subject to hotel capacity, including pedestrian traffic. Please note that only Registered Resort Pets will be permitted. No outside pets will be allowed.
HOLIDAY PARKING PROGRAM
Since the inception of the Holiday Parking Partner program in 2013, we have been honored to contribute over $680,000 to not-for-profit partners in Western North Carolina. During the Fall & Holiday season, there is no complimentary parking on property. Starting Saturday, October 1st, guests can drive up to the main entrance at The Omni Grove Park Inn and be assisted by a valet for $35 for day guests and $30 for overnight guests. Self-parking for day guests is $25 and $20 for overnight guests. A portion of the parking proceeds is donated to the community in support of local not-for-profit organizations.
The Mills River Fire Department, in partnership with the Mills
River Parks and Recreation Department and the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, is bringing
Santa Claus to Mills River neighborhoods on Saturday, December 10, 2022, at 9:00 a.m.
Santa will be traveling through town on a big red fire truck bringing Holiday cheer to the boys
and girls of Mills River. The Santa ride along begins at 9:00 a.m. and Santa will return to the
North Pole by 5 p.m. Due to Mills River’s size and mountainous roads, the fire truck will not be
able to travel up each road in town but will pass through the Town’s main roadways and as
many neighborhoods as possible.
For those not along Santa’s Route, you can catch a glimpse of the jolly old elf at one of the
designated “Santa Stops.” Santa’s helpers will be on hand to give out candy canes to any
children they see along the way.
To find out when Santa will be in your neighborhood visit www.millsriver.org/santa. On
Saturday, December 10 beginning at 9:00 a.m., you will be able to track Santa live via GPS on
the Town’s website and on the new “Mills River Parks & Recreation” Facebook page. Please
remember that all times are estimates and we cannot guarantee arrival times. The best way to
know Santa is coming is to use the live tracker and listen for the holiday music and sirens and
to look for the flashing lights coming down the street!
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Looking bling up your jingle this holiday season? Still trying to find that perfect piece for the person who’s impeccably accessorized? Just in need of some good old fashioned shiny retail therapy? Then Come All Ye Shoppers to The Magnetic Theatre on Saturday, December 10th!
Grab some hot cocoa or mulled cider and browse a glittering array of gently used jewelry and accessories, donated by friends of The Magnetic to support its mission of connecting Asheville audiences to original, artist-driven theatre. From necklaces, bracelets, and earrings to bowties, hatpins, and brooches, all sorts of treasures and trinkets are just waiting to lend festive flair or add the finishing touch to your favorite outfit.
The Magnetic Theatre’s Sip & Shop Fundraising Sale will run one day only, from 9am to 5pm on Saturday, December 10th. Don’t miss your chance to grab some unique goodies or some hot-off-the-press Magnetic merch!
Located at 375 Depot St in the River Arts District, The Magnetic Theatre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. It has been a home for live performance in Asheville for over a decade, producing original works, experimental theatre, variety shows, comedy, late night shows, and more.
Each tree, uniquely decorated around the theme: A Black Mountain Christmas, will be created by businesses, organizations, or individuals to help raise funds for the Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry Fuel Fund. Come join us! Share in the Christmas spirit and support your favorite tree by donating with cash, check, or on-line at svcmblackmountain.org.
Check out used books, jigsaw, puzzles, and more at this special event at the Black Mountain Library. On Saturday, Dec. 10 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., the Friends of the Black Mountain Library will be having a special holiday pop-up book sale. We’ll have plenty of great gifts for readers including fiction, nonfiction, children’s, and vintage books. You can get a bag of books for $5, and children’s books will be 2 for $1. We’ll also be selling gift baskets and jigsaw puzzles!
The Friends of the Library preview sale will start at 9:30 a.m. and you can join the Friends on the spot for $15. Come by and shop locally to help the Black Mountain Library.
On the Second Saturday of each month, the River Arts District holds gallery walks with demonstrations, workshops, live music, wine tastings, delicious food, and more! We also have multiple artists now hosting online livestream events for those who wish to join us from home.
If you’re coming to the district you can meander the mile-long district and discover all that the “RAD” has to offer. There are more than 250 artists in the 23 buildings throughout the district. Most of them will be on hand to describe or show you their techniques and share their inspirations.
Most studios and galleries open 10am – 5 pm. Special events and Livestream/Online events listing on our website! Click through for the full events schedule and save the district map to your phone!
$5 adult admission (good for both days)
Chimney Rock has become Santa’s favorite place to train for his big night of deliveries. After a long summer, what better place to prepare and stay in shape than on one of the world’s largest chimneys at Chimney Rock State Park? Write a letter to Santa, enjoy live holiday music, hot cocoa, cookies, photo ops with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and meet live Park animal ambassadors.
eggnog, music, 50-80% off, kids activities and more!
Join us for the first-ever Holiday Bazaar, taking place at:
91 Holbrook Road, Candler, NC, 28571
December 10, 2022
11:00 AM to 4PM.
Our beautiful greenhouses will be transformed into a winter wonderland, full of unique plants, live music, hot beverages, goodies, and 2 greenhouses full of fantastic vendors, ready to complete your Christmas List!
Come experience one heck of a unique venue!
Join in the Holly Jolly cheer with a community Sing-A-Long, where Lauren Davis of @fiddyshadesofgreen and the rest of the Farm Fam will get together to sing Christmas classics! Mr. Boujee Bear may make an appearance and we’ll also have that 4:20 Burndown at 2:40 that the Hurricane cancelled.
Almost Madi will be joining us to play gentle tunes as you peruse our wonderful line-up of craft vendors, which will include artisan food vendors like Brew Naturals (y’all…that elderberry is amazing) and Planet Kitchen, as well as beautiful jewelry, amazing art, glass blowers, ceramics, and of course a wide selection (and maybe even a few special drops) of green goodness from Appalachian Standard!
The Holiday Bazaar is *FREE* to the public. Parking is available on site but can be limited so it is recommended that groups carpool. This is an indoor event.The first 100 people to join us will receive a goodie bag! See less
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