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, December 16, 2023
Gatherings of Artists + Writers Coffee
Dec 16 @ 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.

Krampus Ball
Dec 16 @ 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Asheville Sports Club

DSSOLVR TAP TAKE OVER + HOST
Come join our Mixed Doubles Pickleball Tournament from 11am-4pm
Sign up ashevillesportsclub.com
We will have a gran prize for the winning team. And of course don’t forget about our half court shot!
Courts open at 11 am for warming up and tournament starts at 12!
Please arrive by 11:30 am for check in!
We will be having an Ugly Sweater Dance Party from 7-10pm at the sports club!
Make sure you have the best ugly sweater for our contest!

Sunday, December 17, 2023
Registration Open for Cooper River Bridge Run
Dec 17 all-day
online

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Washington Capitals
Dec 17 @ 6:00 pm
PNC Arena

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Washington Capitals

Monday, December 18, 2023
Registration Open for Cooper River Bridge Run
Dec 18 all-day
online

Tuesday, December 19, 2023
Registration Open for Cooper River Bridge Run
Dec 19 all-day
online

Dark City Poet’s Society
Dec 19 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Black Mountain Library

Great news for poets and poetry lovers: Dark City Poet’s Society is returning to the Black Mountain Library. DCPS is a completely free poetry group that is open to poets of all ages and experience levels. Join us at the Black Mountain Library from 6-7:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month for our (respectful) critique group. DCPS will meet at BAD Craft from 6-7 p.m. on the third Tuesday for our monthly open mic Poetry Night. Find out more on Instagram @darkcitypoetssociety or contact the Black Mountain Library.

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Vegas Golden Knights
Dec 19 @ 7:00 pm
PNC Arena

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Vegas Golden Knights

Wednesday, December 20, 2023
Registration Open for Cooper River Bridge Run
Dec 20 all-day
online

Greenville Swamp Rabbits vs. Atlanta Gladiators
Dec 20 @ 7:05 pm
Bon Secours Wellness Arena
Atlanta Gladiators
Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Atlanta Gladiators @ Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Thursday, December 21, 2023
Registration Open for Cooper River Bridge Run
Dec 21 all-day
online

Friday, December 22, 2023
Registration Open for Cooper River Bridge Run
Dec 22 all-day
online

Orlando Solar Bears vs. Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Dec 22 @ 7:05 pm
Bon Secours Wellness Arena
Orlando Solar Bears
Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Orlando Solar Bears @ Greenville Swamp Rabbits

 

Saturday, December 23, 2023
Registration Open for Cooper River Bridge Run
Dec 23 all-day
online

Gatherings of Artists + Writers Coffee
Dec 23 @ 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.

Greenville Swamp Rabbits vs. Savannah Ghost Pirates
Dec 23 @ 7:00 pm
Bon Secours Wellness Arena
Savannah Ghost Pirates
Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Savannah Ghost Pirates @ Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Islanders
Dec 23 @ 7:30 pm
PNC Arena

Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Islanders

Sunday, December 24, 2023
Registration Open for Cooper River Bridge Run
Dec 24 all-day
online

Carolina Panthers vs. Green Bay Packers
Dec 24 @ 1:00 pm
Bank of America Stadium

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Monday, December 25, 2023
Registration Open for Cooper River Bridge Run
Dec 25 all-day
online

Tuesday, December 26, 2023
Registration Open for Cooper River Bridge Run
Dec 26 all-day
online

Dark City Poet’s Society
Dec 26 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Black Mountain Library

Great news for poets and poetry lovers: Dark City Poet’s Society is returning to the Black Mountain Library. DCPS is a completely free poetry group that is open to poets of all ages and experience levels. Join us at the Black Mountain Library from 6-7:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month for our (respectful) critique group. DCPS will meet at BAD Craft from 6-7 p.m. on the third Tuesday for our monthly open mic Poetry Night. Find out more on Instagram @darkcitypoetssociety or contact the Black Mountain Library.

Wednesday, December 27, 2023
Registration Open for Cooper River Bridge Run
Dec 27 all-day
online

Christmas Break season Adult tennis camps
Dec 27 @ 11:30 am – 4:00 pm
Hendersonville Racquet Club

HRC is proud to announce both youth tennis camps and an adult tennis camp this Christmas Break season. Kids Camp will be held December 27 and will be 2-5 pm. Campers get tennis training and match play. Tournament junior players camp will be December 28-29 from 2-5 pm.  Adult camp is 11:30-4 on Tuesday December 26th and includes tennis training, match play and lunch!

“We are very excited to be able to continue offering camps during the Christmas break.  We can handle all abilities on our tennis courts and safely have fun off and on the court with all the things available to us at HRC,” stated Director of Winter Camps Cre Still.

Sign up for the kids camp by downloading the form at http://tinyurl.com/HRCHolidayTennisCamp2023.   Sign up for the adults camp by contacting [email protected].  For more info go to www.hvillerc.com or contact 693-0040 or [email protected].

Hendersonville Racquet Club is a six acre complex that includes 6 outdoor tennis courts, 3 indoor tennis courts, five pickleball courts, four racquetball courts, an outdoor swimming pool, fitness center, group fitness classes, and outdoor leisure area by Shaw’s Creek and pond. More information can be found at www.hendersonvilleracquetclub.com, calling 828-693-0040 or emailing [email protected].

Christmas Break season Kids tennis camp
Dec 27 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Hendersonville Racquet Club

HRC is proud to announce both youth tennis camps and an adult tennis camp this Christmas Break season. Kids Camp will be held December 27 and will be 2-5 pm. Campers get tennis training and match play. Tournament junior players camp will be December 28-29 from 2-5 pm.  Adult camp is 11:30-4 on Tuesday December 26th and includes tennis training, match play and lunch!

“We are very excited to be able to continue offering camps during the Christmas break.  We can handle all abilities on our tennis courts and safely have fun off and on the court with all the things available to us at HRC,” stated Director of Winter Camps Cre Still.

Sign up for the kids camp by downloading the form at http://tinyurl.com/HRCHolidayTennisCamp2023.   Sign up for the adults camp by contacting [email protected].  For more info go to www.hvillerc.com or contact 693-0040 or [email protected].

Hendersonville Racquet Club is a six acre complex that includes 6 outdoor tennis courts, 3 indoor tennis courts, five pickleball courts, four racquetball courts, an outdoor swimming pool, fitness center, group fitness classes, and outdoor leisure area by Shaw’s Creek and pond. More information can be found at www.hendersonvilleracquetclub.com, calling 828-693-0040 or emailing [email protected].

Thursday, December 28, 2023
Registration Open for Cooper River Bridge Run
Dec 28 all-day
online

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Montreal Canadiens
Dec 28 @ 7:00 pm
PNC Arena

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Montreal Canadiens

Friday, December 29, 2023
Registration Open for Cooper River Bridge Run
Dec 29 all-day
online

Free Write to a Free Life
Dec 29 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
online

Free Write to a Free Life
This online group is open to everyone, regardless of whether or not you consider yourself a writer. The writing technique we will be practicing sparks great creativity, and it can help you discover new things about yourself and create exciting possibilities for your writing and your life outside the group. It’s also a fantastic way to connect with other creatives and build community.

Here’s how the group is structured: I will give the group writing prompts, and we will all spend 7 to 10 minutes writing as fast as possible without editing. After that, you can share what you wrote or not; it’s entirely up to you. The group will then have a chance to comment on your work — if anyone so chooses. The only rule is that the comments should all be positive — this is not a writing critique group and negative comments erode the sense of safety we’re all aiming for. After doing this type of writing for close to 30 years, I can say with certainty that what you learn from the group’s feedback can be priceless — you will feel heard and supported in ways you would have never imagined, and often what you thought was terrible writing actually inspires someone.

Trigger warning: I do not believe in censoring people’s self-expression. We are using stream of consciousness where anything can pop up to the surface. Sometimes people write about their experiences with sexuality, substances abuse, etc. Sometimes we write about very mundane things, like the best coffee you ever had. You just never know. If you feel this type of sharing will be too triggering, you might think twice about joining the group.

Why join this group?

· You want to connect with others in a safe way. First, you never have to read your work aloud; you can share parts of your piece, give a general summary, or say nothing. Be aware that while reading your unedited work out loud can feel terrifying to some, I pride myself on creating an environment where it’s safe to share literally anything.

I promise you, in this group, we will not judge you. Neither on your writing nor on anything else. It’s in the sharing that magical and enduring connections are born. As people share their work, you can learn what makes them tick and what inspires and challenges them, so it’s easy to form authentic relationships.

· Your inner demons are getting unruly. This type of writing provides access to your subconscious mind, where you can find fresh insights on issues you’ve found vexing. I’ve been doing free writing for almost 30 years now, mostly because I find it very therapeutic, and at the risk of sounding melodramatic, I believe it has actually saved my life. You don’t always have access to a therapist right when you need one, but you always have access to your inner healer, and I find my way to this underappreciated-but-wise source through free writing. I’m not alone in this either. The NIH says that journaling is good for those suffering from PTSD (and I would say many other sources of angst as well). I have a psychology background and have worked in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. I’ve worked in hospice too, and I am a trained life coach who often uses therapeutic writing with my clients.
**In my current work I have found that it is often writing, not talking, that leads to the most significant breakthroughs.**

· You want to slay your inner critic. Stream-of-consciousness writing allows you to bypass the inner critic, that dastardly bastard that blocks your creativity, stymies your healing-and often stops you from writing or doing much of anything.

Please note that due to the nature of the group, the doors close promptly at 7:10. If you have any questions or concerns, or if you would rather have a private writing and/or coaching session with me than do this work in a group setting, I give a substantial discount to Meetup members, so don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at: [email protected].

Saturday, December 30, 2023
Registration Open for Cooper River Bridge Run
Dec 30 all-day
online