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, September 16, 2021
Teen Leadership Program
Sep 16 @ 3:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Asheville Area

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

Youth Studio at Asheville Art Museum: Art After School (Grades K–2)
Sep 16 @ 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum

Registration deadline: September 9

Spend your afternoons creating in the bright and spacious studio at the Museum! Explore a range of artistic processes using artwork on view from the Museum’s Collection and special exhibitions for inspiration.

Please note:

  • Youth Studio is held indoors in the Museum’s Education Center.
  • Space is limited to small groups of students; face coverings and social distancing are required.

YOUTH STUDIO

Youth Studio is the Museum’s studio art program for children and teens! Students experiment and explore a variety of media and techniques through classes and workshops led by visiting artists and Museum educators. Classes meet 2–4 weeks and are designed for a deeper exploration of a specific media; workshops meet 3–5 hours and introduce a new medium or process. All materials are provided by the Museum.

The Museum is committed to making our programs accessible to everyone, regardless of economic means. With support from the Walnut Cove Members Association, we are able to provide a limited amount of financial aid to help students who could not otherwise afford to enroll in our programs. Email Sharon McRorie, education programs manager, or call 828.253.3227 x124 to inquire.

Asheville Fit Tribe Group: 60 minute of strength training
Sep 16 @ 4:15 pm – 5:15 pm
Carrier Park

Join the Asheville Fit Tribe Group for a 60 minute of strength training. You will get personalized training with the power of the group to positively motivate you. Get ready to get a full body workout in for all fitness levels. So, no matter where you are at from beginner to collegiate athlete Trainer Preston will make sure you get a phenomenal workout. For Strength day we focus on slow controlled weight lifting. Learning how to become more aware of our bodies. We hope you give us a shot and see what we are all about!! For any question shoot Preston a text/call (984)204-0591.

Studio 52 MUSIC THEATRE (Virtual), 1st-4th Grades
Sep 16 @ 4:30 pm – 5:15 pm
Online
Young girl dancing in
                    bedroom

MUSIC THEATRE (Virtual), 1st-4th Grades

Sing, dance, and act your way through a Broadway musical! This high-energy, low-pressure virtual class explores the plot and characters of a musical as young actors learn songs and dances from the show. With fun activities and games emphasizing creative play, movement, voice, and improvisation, this process-based class will build theatre skills and allow a fun outlet for your bite-sized Broadway actor. No experience is necessary.

Instructor: Anna Kimmell
*Need-based scholarships are available upon application.
Learn more below about payment plans and multi-student discounts.

Theatre Dance and Movement Ages 9-12
Sep 16 @ 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Asheville Community Theatre

And a 5-6-7-8! Have you ever wanted to feel confident in a dance audition or learn awesome choreography to your favorite musical numbers? In this class students will learn basic dance styles used in musical theatre and how to act through their dancing. This course will help dancers prepare to ace an audition and pick up choreography quickly and efficiently.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP

Please do not purchase registration prior to applying for a scholarship. Applications must be received by 2:00pm on Thursday, August 26th for consideration.

Youth Play-Write! Theatre Class Ages 10-14
Sep 16 @ 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Asheville Community Theatre

with Janice Schreiber

Student Ages: 10-14

Schedule: Sep 2-Oct 21 | Thursdays at 4:30-6:00 PM

If you like storytelling, then this theatre class is right for you! In this 8 week class, students will experience the explorative journey of creating and bringing a story to life as a play. Creators will practice exploring and planning out their ideas, using their voices, and telling stories they are passionate about.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP

Please do not purchase registration prior to applying for a scholarship. Applications must be received by 2:00pm on Thursday, August 26th for consideration.

Asheville Fit Tribe Group: 60 minute of strength training
Sep 16 @ 5:15 pm – 6:15 pm
Carrier Park

Join the Asheville Fit Tribe Group for a 60 minute of strength training. You will get personalized training with the power of the group to positively motivate you. Get ready to get a full body workout in for all fitness levels. So, no matter where you are at from beginner to collegiate athlete Trainer Preston will make sure you get a phenomenal workout. For Strength day we focus on slow controlled weight lifting. Learning how to become more aware of our bodies. We hope you give us a shot and see what we are all about!! For any question shoot Preston a text/call (984)204-0591.

ArborEvenings
Sep 16 @ 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm
The North Carolina Arboretum

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.

ORDER AHEAD

Musician Schedule

Please note, scheduled performances are subject to change.

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.
Rhythm + Brews: Mike and the Moonpies
Sep 16 @ 5:30 pm
Main Street, Hendersonville

 

The Rhythm & Brews concerts series brings together live music, a variety of food trucks, and locally crafted beer, wine and cider! These free concerts close part of South Main Street to make room for all the fun, as well as a children’s area with games and activities. Tickets and wristbands, for the purchase of beer, wine and hard cider, will be located at the Downtown Hendersonville tent.

The Rhythm & Brews musical line-up includes established acts as well as up-and-coming artists from around the nation playing a wide range of tunes from southern rock, soul to R&B.

The concerts begin with an opener at 5:30 pm followed by the headlining performance at 7:30 pm,on the third Thursday of each month from May – September (2021 the concerts will run July – October) on Main Street between Allen & Caswell Streets.

The Inclement Weather Policy is to delay each act by 30 minutes before moving onto the next act. If headline act is unable to perform by 8:00 pm the show will be canceled.  Follow the weather decisions on Facebook page.

Please leave your pets comfortably at home. A Hendersonville City ordinance allows event organizers to exclude animals from the event space for the health, safety and welfare of the community, dogs, patrons, and vendors and their products.

Studio 52: SCRIPT WRITING + PERFORMANCE (Virtual), 5th-7th Grades
Sep 16 @ 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Online

In this eight-week virtual class, young artists will combine creative writing, improvisation, and acting skills as they write and perform original theatrical scenes. With engaging games and exercises that stretch the imagination and encourage collaboration, students will explore the foundational principles of storytelling as they follow the writing process from the first draft to the first read-thru! No previous writing or acting experience is required.  

Instructor: TJ Simba-Medel

*Need-based scholarships are available upon application.
Learn more below about payment plans and multi-student discounts.

Free Yoga – The Park at Flat Rock
Sep 16 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Flat Rock Playhouse

Group of people with arms outstretched doing yoga in a park.

Hendersonville yoga studio, YAM, is offering free outdoor yoga at The Park at Flat Rock on Thursdays and Saturdays. Get outside and get moving with these fun and refreshing classes. Click to learn more about YAM’s community yoga.

FREE Youth Basketball Training! 10yrs. and older
Sep 16 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Shiloh Community Center
Gluten-Free Comedy, open mic at Ginger’s Revenge
Sep 16 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Ginger's Revenge
Live Stream: Andrew Aydin and L. Fury present RUN: Book One
Sep 16 @ 6:00 pm
online w/ Malaprop's Bookstore and Cafe'

From the #1 bestselling, award-winning team behind March comes the first book in their new, groundbreaking graphic novel series, Run: Book One. This event is co-sponsored by FORUSA and moderated by Ethan Vesely-Flad.

Like most of our events, this event is free, but registration is required. Click here to RSVP for this event. Prior to the event the link required to attend will be emailed to registrants.

If you decide to attend and purchase the authors’ books, we ask that you purchase from Malaprop’s. When you do this you make it possible for us to continue hosting author events and you keep more dollars in our community. You may also support our work by purchasing a gift card or making a donation of any amount below. Thank you!

To John Lewis, the civil rights movement came to an end with the signing of the Voting Rights Act in 1965. But that was after more than five years as one of the preeminent figures of the movement, leading sit-in protests and fighting segregation on interstate busways as an original Freedom Rider. It was after becoming chairman of SNCC (the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) and being the youngest speaker at the March on Washington. It was after helping organize the Mississippi Freedom Summer and the ensuing delegate challenge at the 1964 Democratic National Convention. And after co-leading the march from Selma to Montgomery on what became known as “Bloody Sunday.” All too often, the depiction of history ends with a great victory. But John Lewis knew that victories are just the beginning. In Run: Book One, John Lewis and longtime collaborator Andrew Aydin reteam with Nate Powell–the award-winning illustrator of the March trilogy–and are joined by L. Fury–making an astonishing graphic novel debut–to tell this often overlooked chapter of civil rights history.

Andrew Aydin is an award-winning writer and Artist-in-Residence at the Creative Media Industries Institute (CMII) at Georgia State University. He was the Digital Director and Policy Advisor to the late Georgia congressman John Lewis, and his co-author for March and Run. Visit andrewaydin.com for more information.

  1. Furyis a lifelong resident of Houston, Texas with a BFA in animation from Sam Houston State University. She dove into comics full time in 2015 with the humor webcomic Bastard Comics before shifting her sights to long-form comics, illustrating the unreleased Double Barrel Shogun. Run is Fury’s first graphic novel. Visit L-Fury.com for more information.
Public Tour at Asheville Art Museum: Rural Avant-Garde
Sep 16 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum

Today’s public tour is led by a Hank Bovee, touring docent.

PUBLIC TOURS

Join docents for tours of the Museum’s Collection and special exhibitions. No reservations are required.

Support RiverLink at the Preservation Through Art: Sale and Exhibition
Sep 16 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Wedge at Foundation

Event: “Preservation Through Art: Along the French Broad” Fall Art Sale and Exhibition

Dates: September 16th – October 27th, 2021

 

Artist Reception Dates:

  • September 16th –  6-8 pm
  • September 29th – 6-8 pm
  • October 13th – 6-8 pm

Meet the Artists Q&A:

  • September 22nd –  6-8 pm
  • October 6th – 6-8 pm
  • October 20th – 6-8 pm

 

If you are unable to attend one of our scheduled events, we invite you to contact us at 828-628-0006 or 828-273-5383 to schedule a showing. This will give you an extra opportunity to see the artwork and/or purchase a piece to support our conservation efforts. The Wedge at Foundation is open seven days a week, but viewing availability is limited, so call us and we will gladly set a personal showing for you.

There are 3 collections of artwork, with each collection on display for a two-week period.

Sept 16 – Sept 29 (Collection 1): Featuring Chimney Rock, Lovers Leap in Hot Springs, Scenes on the French Broad, Pisgah View from Biltmore

Sept 30 – Oct 13 (Collection 2): Featuring The Smoky Mountains, Farm on the French Broad, Paint Rock, Long View of Lovers Leap, Ferry Site on the French Broad, Portrait of Harry Fenn

October 14 – 27 (Collection 3): Featuring Mountain Island, The French Broad, Old Mill at Reems Creek, Team on the French Broad

Preserving A Picturesque America (PAPA) will hold its annual Fall art sale and exhibition “Preservation Through Art — The French Broad” from Sept. 16 through Oct. 27 in the Cloud Room at the Wedge at Foundation. Many local artists have contributed art works in a variety of mediums, depicting scenes along the French Broad River from the original 1870s publication “Picturesque America.”

This art sale and exhibition is PAPA’s major fundraiser. Proceeds from the sale of artwork will not only support PAPA with its ongoing mission but will also contribute to the conservation efforts of such organizations as Riverlink, Asheville Greenworks, MountainTrue, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Friends of Pisgah National Forest, and Friends of Chimney Rock State Park.

WNC Fall Ball 8U Division ages 7 + 8 years old
Sep 16 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Ray Kisiah Park

This division is Machine Pitch for kids ages 7 & 8 years old. Age is determined their age as of December 31, 2019.
A league age 6yr old or 9yr old may be permitted by league approval.
For more information contact Maria Young at 251-4026 or Kim Turner 232-4526.

WNC Fall Ball Coach Pitch League
Sep 16 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Ray Kisiah Park

For ages 6 to 18.  Divisions include T-ball and coach pitch through junior and Senior leagues.  Registration is open now through July 27.  Practices begin August 16 and games start September 7

Asheville Fit Tribe Group: 60 minute of strength training
Sep 16 @ 6:15 pm – 7:15 pm
Carrier Park

Join the Asheville Fit Tribe Group for a 60 minute of strength training. You will get personalized training with the power of the group to positively motivate you. Get ready to get a full body workout in for all fitness levels. So, no matter where you are at from beginner to collegiate athlete Trainer Preston will make sure you get a phenomenal workout. For Strength day we focus on slow controlled weight lifting. Learning how to become more aware of our bodies. We hope you give us a shot and see what we are all about!! For any question shoot Preston a text/call (984)204-0591.

Fall ’21 Men’s Softball League
Sep 16 @ 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Martin Luther King Park

Fall ’21 Men’s Softball League – aa21030201

Fall ’21 Men’s Softball League Individual Player Registration – Find your team and sign up with them prior to the start of your season!

Non-resident of Asheville fee and free agent (looking for a team) – $25
Game Day Information – M/Th, starting at 6:30pm, regular season & postseason tournament
3 Divisions; Upper, Middle, and Lower (divisions could be combined based on team registrations)

Questions, contact Mikkel Patterson @ [email protected] | 828.707.2376

Men’s Softball Lower
Sep 16 @ 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Shiloh Ballfields

Non-resident of Asheville fee and free agent (looking for a team) – $25
Game Day Information – M/Th, starting at 6:30pm, regular season & postseason tournament
3 Divisions; Upper, Middle, and Lower (divisions could be combined based on team registrations)

Questions, contact Mikkel Patterson @ [email protected] | 828.707.2376

Sunset Rooftop Comedy Show
Sep 16 @ 6:30 pm
Rabbit Rabbit

Slice of Life Comedy & Disclaimer Lounge present: Sunset Rooftop Standup Comedy by Local Professional Comics Every Thursday at Rabbit Rabbit

Come grab dinner and a show at Rabbit Rabbit, in Downtown Asheville Outside Theatre Space:
**Great Craft Rabbit-themed cocktails available
**AVL Pizza truck on-site & AVL Pizza full menu available
**Rooftop-seating, depending on weather
**Sanitized Headphones provided so you don’t miss a joke while getting your food & drinks, works anywhere around the venue

Hosted by: Cody Hughes
Featuring: Petey Smith McDowell, Hilliary Begely, Cary Goff, Morgan Bost, Blaine Perry, Marlene Thompson, Ben Sia Hian

 

 

Studio 52: VIRTUAL THEATRE 8th – 12th Grades (Virtual)
Sep 16 @ 6:45 pm – 7:45 pm
Online

Picture

Instructor: TJ Simba-Medel

“You are confined only by the walls you build yourself.” In this class, teen artists will discover how to create theatrical work in any environment. Using devising philosophies that inspire installation and site-specific performances, students from across the country will explore a series of creative prompts that awaken their imaginations and empower their own unique artistic voice. We invite artists of all mediums (writers, dancers, filmmakers, visual artists, designers, musicians, and more) to connect and collaborate in this explorative online course. Journalling and sharing will be fundamental to the process.

*Need-based scholarships are available upon application.
Learn more about payment plans and multi-student discounts below.

Coming Home to Yourself the Wise Woman Way
Sep 16 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Corinna Wood

3 keys to reconnecting with your heart and embodying your inner guidance. In this free live online workshop with Corinna Wood, you’ll learn the little known truths of how to get yourself unstuck so you can finally love and accept yourself for who you are. See real life examples of healing yourself from the inside out that you too can do––and where to get started, from an earth-based, woman-centered perspective.

Film at Asheville Art Museum: Jade Doskow: Photographer of Lost Utopias
Sep 16 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum

Architectural works from past world’s fairs are aspirational visions. Most of these fantastical structures were meant to be temporary, but dozens of examples still remain. Some legacies from past fairs have lasted more than a century, like the iconic Eiffel Tower, while others have descended into neglect and ruin in a few decades. Yet, all of them represent the remnants of a fictional future that has been redefined by more pragmatic needs.

In Jade Doskow: Photographer of Lost Utopias, filmmaker Philip Shane follows architectural landscape photographer Jade Doskow on her 10-year quest to capture the monumental world’s fair echoes that remain worldwide. Lugging around her bulky, 4 × 5 large-format film camera, she travels to cities across the globe such as Paris, New York, Brussels, Montreal, Seville, Chicago, and Seattle. Rather than focus strictly on the subjects of her photos, Shane provides an insider’s look into the artist’s painstaking process of setting up precise vantage points for each building—taking a handful of frames at each location—then spending weeks or months on the digital-editing process, ever careful to highlight subtle shadings and color patterns to create the perfect, immaculate print. Jade Doskow: Photographer of Lost Utopias takes the viewer on a journey through the mind of an artist struggling to navigate between the practical demands of her personal life and the hyperidealistic relics of a future never fully realized.

Introduction and Q&A with Philip Shane, filmmaker, and Jade Doskow, photographer. Presented in conjunction with Intersections in American Art; sponsored by Tracey Morgan Gallery.

WATCH THE TRAILER

Live Stream: Reader Meet Writer with Margaret Renkl
Sep 16 @ 7:00 pm
online w/ Malaprop's Bookstore and Cafe'
Image shows event title, date, time, and photos of featured author and book cover.

We’re pleased to be part of the Reader Meet Writer series of online events hosted by the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance. This event features the book, Graceland, At Last: Notes on Hope and Heartache from the American South, and author Margaret Renkl.

This event is free but registration is required. Click here to RSVP. Prior to the event we will send an email with the link required to complete your registration and attend on Zoom.

Signed copies of Graceland, At Last are available from Malaprop’s while supplies last. Pre-order below and use the comments field to request a signed copy.


For the past four years, Margaret Renkl’s columns have offered readers of The New York Times a weekly dose of natural beauty, human decency, and persistent hope from her home in Nashville. Now more than sixty of those pieces have been brought together in this sparkling new collection.

“People have often asked me how it feels to be the ‘voice of the South,’” writes Renkl in her introduction. “But I’m not the voice of the South, and no one else is, either.” There are many Souths—red and blue, rural and urban, mountain and coast, Black and white and brown—and no one writer could possibly represent all of them. In Graceland, At Last, Renkl writes instead from her own experience about the complexities of her homeland, demonstrating along the way how much more there is to this tangled region than many people understand.

In a patchwork quilt of personal and reported essays, Renkl also highlights some other voices of the South, people who are fighting for a better future for the region. A group of teenagers who organized a youth march for Black Lives Matter. An urban shepherd whose sheep remove invasive vegetation. Church parishioners sheltering the homeless. Throughout, readers will find the generosity of spirit and deep attention to the world, human and nonhuman, that keep readers returning to her columns each Monday morning.

Margaret Renkl is the author of Graceland, At Last and Late Migrations, which was a Read with Jenna/TODAY Show book club selection. She is a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times, where her essays appear weekly. Her work has also appeared in Guernica, Literary Hub, Proximity, and River Teeth, among others. She was the founding editor of Chapter 16, the daily literary publication of Humanities Tennessee, and is a graduate of Auburn University and the University of South Carolina. She lives in Nashville.

MASTERS OF SOUL
Sep 16 @ 7:00 pm
Diana Wortham Theatre

Celebrate the start of a brand-new season with the legendary songs and performers that defined Motown and soul music. In this opening night performance, you’re invited to sing and dance along to hits from Gladys Knight and The Pips, Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, The Four Tops, Diana Ross and the Supremes, James Brown and many more. Backed by a four-piece band of seasoned musicians, these incredible vocalists channel the masters of soul themselves, emulating the timeless harmonies and smooth moves of all the iconic duos and trios of the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s. Treat yourself to this perfect party as we welcome live events back to the Wortham.

Master of Soul’s website

Tickets on sale August 26 at 10 a.m.

Open mic Come sing, play, and support fellow artists
Sep 16 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
White Horse Black Mountain
Chow Chow Culinary Festival: FARMERS MARKET COOK-ALONG
Sep 16 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Online

A fun virtual cook-along event! Join Chef J Chong of J. Chong Eats for a live Cantonese
cooking demonstration. You will receive a market-inspired recipe and shopping list in
advance. Shop at your local farmers market and have your ingredients ready to cook.

The SuperHappy Trivia Challenge
Sep 16 @ 7:30 pm
Attic Salt Theatre Company

A two-year layoff has been just too much for host Adam Arthur and his idiot contestants. But they are back for three months of lukewarm competition and semi-sweet rivalries. Once a staple of the Asheville comedy scene, the return of this pseudo game show will be most welcome.