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.

Sunday, December 18, 2022
The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley
Dec 18 @ 3:00 pm
Be Be Theatre
Welcome back…to Pemberley!

For one weekend only, we’ll be remounting last year’s production of Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley! Set two years after Pride & Prejudice, this story centers bookish middle sister Mary as the heroine. As members of the family gather to celebrate Christmas together at Pemberley Estate, a newcomer sparks Mary’s hopes for independence, an intellectual match, and possibly even love.

While Miss Bennet depicts the Darcys’ Christmas gathering on the ground floor of Pemberley, The Wickhams takes audiences to the downstairs servants’ quarters for that same celebration. Mrs. Reynolds, a no-nonsense housekeeper; Cassie, an eager new maid; and Brian, an inventive footman, are bustling with preparations for holiday guests. But their work is interrupted by the midnight arrival of an unexpected (and uninvited) guest who creates tension in the household, both upstairs and down. The Wickhams is a charming holiday tale that explores the confines of class and the generosity of forgiveness.

Onstage we have Trinity Smith-Keel, Hanni Muerdter, Emily Tucker, Lauren Otis, Mandy Bean, Zak Hamrick, Jason Williams, Aaron Ybarra, Dana Gillihan, Gabby Bailey, and Desmond Williams.

PLEASE NOTE:

ALL PATRONS must wear an N95 or comparable type face mask that covers nose and mouth at all times when inside the theater, except when actively drinking a beverage. Due to the size of the space, social distancing while seated will not be possible, so mask wearing will be strictly enforced.

Slice of Life Comedy Open Mic + Feature Comedy at Asheville Pizza
Dec 18 @ 6:30 pm
Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co

12/18 Asheville Pizza & Brewing
What: Asheville’s Premier Standup Feature & Open Mic comedy
When: Sunday, December 18, 6:30pm
Where: Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co., Theater 2
675 Merrimon Avenue in North Asheville (onsite parking)
Tickets: $14
Comedy open mic. [signup at the door to get 3-5m. Free entry for performing comics, free pizza at comics table]
Hosted by Mario Trevizo featuring Moira Goree, Art Sturtevant and Jason Webb

A.R. Gurney’s “Ancestral Voices: A Family Story”
Dec 18 @ 7:00 pm
Weaverville Community Center

The Artisan Players present A.R. Gurney’s “Ancestral Voices: A Family Story.” This bittersweet story takes place in the 40’s, following a family through decades of war and social upheaval. Directed by Janice Vertucci Schreiber.

A Christmas Memory
Dec 18 @ 7:30 pm
St. John in the Wilderness

A Christmas Memory takes place during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Until
he was ten years old, Truman Capote lived with elderly relatives in a small town in

rural Alabama. The story is a frankly autobiographical account of those years,
especially of his relationship with one of the elderly cousins, Miss Sook Faulk.

The greatest examples of Capote’s skillfulness as a writer are found among the
stories inspired by his early childhood and the relationships he forged growing up
in the rural South.
A Christmas Memory first appeared in Mademoiselle Magazine in the late 1950s,
when Capote was 27 years old, and has since become one of his most beloved and
bestselling works.
Mr. Capote was a flamboyant figure in both literary and cultural circles.
Controversial, colorful and complex, he was a writer of uncommon grace. His
best-known works include Breakfast at Tiffany’s, In Cold Blood, Other Voices Other
Rooms, and The Grass Harp. Mr. Capote died in 1984 at the age of 59.
Earle Ross (E.R.) Haire, Jr. PhD is a native of North Carolina. His professional
achievements combine acting and theology. In Los Angeles, he worked as an actor
and at Paramount Studios. Theater credits in Los Angeles include The Foreigner,
You Can’t Take It With You, Hamlet, Henry V, Richard III, The Importance of Being
Earnest, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, and the comedy spoof Riffs of Shakespeare.
Dr. Haire is also a member of the Screen Actors Guild.
Dr. Haire earned a Master of Sacred Theology degree from Yale University Divinity
School, focusing on drama and worship. In 2017 he earned a PhD. In Theology and
Ethics from the University of the Edinburgh in Scotland.

Slice of Life Comedy Open Mic + Feature Comedy at Pulp Lounge
Dec 18 @ 8:00 pm
Pulp Lounge

12.01 PULP Featuring Katie Hughes plus Comedy Open Mic
What: Stand up Comedy at The Orange Peel’s Pulp Lounge
When: Thursday 12.01.22. 8p-10p, doors at 7:30p
Where: The Orange Peel’s Comedy Basement, Pulp Lounge103 Hilliard Ave, Downtown Asheville
Tickets: $15 (available at door or The Orange Peel Website)
Katie Hughes is an Atlanta-based comedian and writer who Creative Loafing Atlanta named Critics’ Choice Best Comedian & Readers’ Choice Best Celebrity of 2019. Her album “Queen of the Castle” debuted at #1 on iTunes. Katie can be heard frequently on SiriusXM and seen on HBOmax and [adult swim].
Comedy open mic. [signup at the door to get 3-5m. Free entry for performing comics, free snacks at comics table]
Hosted by Cody Hughes.
Katie Hughes Videos:


FB EVENT: https://fb.me/e/22QEIpORh

Monday, December 19, 2022
Asheville Community Theatre Holiday Special Subscription
Dec 19 all-day
online

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!

The Magnetic Theatre 2023 Mainstage Season
Dec 19 all-day
Magnetic Theatre

The Magnetic Theatre announces its 2023 Mainstage Season of new plays with tickets on sale beginning January 1st, and begins scheduling auditions and interviews for actors and technicians.

The Magnetic Theatre’s Mainstage Season begins with HappyLand, a new rock opera by Brayden Dickerson and Zach Knox of Smooth Goose.  The musical tells the tale of a delivery person who doesn’t quite fit into the titular town of HappyLand. Forced to make one last delivery before the vacation they have been dreaming of, our hero embarks on an epic journey to SadLand, falls in love, and maybe even saves the world.  Full of toe-tappin’ tunes and fantastic adventure, HappyLand launches February 10th and runs through February 25th.

Beginning April 14th and running through April 29th, join us for the regional premiere of Fish, by Cyndi Williams.  When two characters connect unexpectedly in a lonely bar, they wind up playing a dangerous game. Who will survive, and how can they forgive themselves in the process?  Shifting timelines and unearthing skeletons, Fish is a fever dream twisting through memory, fantasy, and the present.

Next up, June 2nd through 17th, take your seats and pay attention to Da Classroom Ain’t Enuf, by Charles Payne.  This choreopoem, inspired by the work of Ntozake Shange, is an exploration of the intersection of Black and Brown communities, particularly in and around the American educational system. The play features an ensemble of four actors who play teachers, students, and their families and is a mix of poetry, prose, and music, with original tracks by composer Richard Jones.

Then, August 4th through 13th, The Magnetic Theatre’s One Act Play Festival returns for its fourth year of short plays.  Featuring a variety of stories, emerging and seasoned playwrights, local directors, and incredible performers, there’s sure to be something for everyone!  Playwrights may submit one act scripts for consideration throughout the month of February.

Ushering in the spooky season, October 6th through 21st brings The Splatter Play by Abby Auman.  It’s the day of the open house for Tina’s childhood home, which also happens to be her deceased mother’s evil laboratory. Determined to turn the terrors of the lab into selling points, Tina and her optimistic realtor parade a cast of unsavory potential buyers through the home, tormented all the while by the resident creepies and crawlies who aren’t quite as ready to move on as Tina would hope. *Note: there will be blood, so much blood.

Finally, as 2023 comes to a close, The Magnetic Theatre proudly presents New Queer’s Eve. December 1st through 16th, join us for a look at the year’s last holiday through a new lens. New Queer’s Eve takes place in one location over multiple New Year’s Eve celebrations and provides a glimpse into the LGBTQIA+ experience through time. Through interconnected stories told by a collaboration of queer writers, New Queer’s Eve invites audiences to share in the joys and struggles of queer life through the decades.

Tuesday, December 20, 2022
Asheville Community Theatre Holiday Special Subscription
Dec 20 all-day
online

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!

NUTCRACKER! Magic of Christmas Ballet
Dec 20 @ 4:00 pm
Thomas Wolfe Auditorium

Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet

This Christmas, bring the whole family back to a simpler time with NUTCRACKER! Magic of Christmas Ballet! The acclaimed holiday tradition is LIVE in theaters for the 30th Anniversary tour. Gather friends and family to re-live your fondest childhood dreams, overflowing with larger-than-life puppets, breath-taking acrobatics and dazzling costumes. Experience the exquisite artistry of the international cast, featuring stars of Ukraine ballet, performing at the highest level of classical technique. Share in the message of Peace and Harmony and get tickets now at nutcracker.com!

Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas
Dec 20 @ 7:30 pm
Flat Rock Playhouse
A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas.
                Nov. 25 - Dec. 22

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!

NUTCRACKER! Magic of Christmas Ballet
Dec 20 @ 8:00 pm
Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
Nutcracker! Magic of Christmas Ballet
Dec 20 @ 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Thomas Wolfe Auditorium at Harrah's Cherokee Casino

This Christmas, bring the whole family back to a simpler time with “NUTCRACKER! Magic of Christmas Ballet!” The acclaimed holiday tradition is LIVE in theaters for the 30th Anniversary tour. Gather friends and family to relive your fondest childhood dreams, overflowing with larger-than-life puppets, breath-taking acrobatics and dazzling costumes. Experience the exquisite artistry of the international cast, featuring stars of Ukraine ballet, performing at the highest level of classical technique. Share in the message of Peace and Harmony and get tickets now at Nutcracker.com!

Wednesday, December 21, 2022
Asheville Community Theatre Holiday Special Subscription
Dec 21 all-day
online

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!

Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas
Dec 21 @ 7:30 pm
Flat Rock Playhouse
A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas.
                Nov. 25 - Dec. 22

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!

Thursday, December 22, 2022
Asheville Community Theatre Holiday Special Subscription
Dec 22 all-day
online

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!

Vienna Light Orchestra Christmas Concert
Dec 22 all-day
The AMT Theater

With over two thousand flickering candles illuminating the performers, The VIENNA LIGHT ORCHESTRA will feature some of the worlds most beloved Christmas favorites, played by world-class musicians over the course of 60 mesmerizing minutes.
VIENNA LIGHT ORCHESTRA — CHRISTMAS —
Whether you’re looking for a beautiful and unique Asheville Christmas event or a nostalgic candlelit experience, the timeless seasonal music is an evening at the Theatre you and your family will not soon forget. VLO’s awe inspiring performance is a positive interruption from the noise of the world — while elevating audiences into an atmosphere of seasonal favorites. You don’t need to know all things orchestral music to enjoy this evening of magical ambiance, simply unplug and savor the music you’ll hear.

Held in specially selected venues in comfortable idyllic settings so you can immerse yourself with Christmas music in a relaxed but awe inspiring atmosphere bathed by the flicker of over two thousand candlelights. Prepare to soar into the clouds! This concert series is coming to The AMT Theatre, a historical venue of purpose and elegance located in Downtown Asheville.

Performances by The VIENNA LIGHT ORCHESTRA
After traveling around the world—to cities like Edinburgh, London, Kotor, Montenegro, Durres Albania and Calagary, BC—the experience of Vienna Light Orchestra has finally made its way to Asheville! Vienna Light Orchestra features world-class musicians from around the world and is named after what is often heralded as the “capital of orchestral music.” You don’t have to know everything about the genre of orchestral music to discover the joys of immersing you and your family into the dramatic symphonic sounds.

Note: For the safety of our audience, all of the candlelight ambiance is provided through flameless, unscented candles.

Christmas Disco Party at the South Slope Lounge
Dec 22 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Ginger's Revenge South Slope Lounge

Come party with us Dec. 22nd from 6-9pm at the South Slope Lounge. Corndog is back in Asheville for the holidays for a spicy disco dance party at Ginger’s Revenge! Kevin “Corndog” O’Brien is a New York City based DJ. Combining the glam of disco and the energy of punk rock, Corndog spins genre bending sets of boogie tunes across the country. The self proclaimed Johnny Appleseed of Partying’s infectious exuberance will be sure to have you groovin’. No cover charge.

City Dance
Dec 22 @ 7:30 pm
Landmark Hal

Beginner’s workshop lesson at 7:30 P.M., then 8-11 P.M. Contra Dance with Country Waltzing at the break and the final dance. This is a partner dance but it’s not necessary to come with a partner. We have different live bands and callers.

Listen to This: “Away in a Manger” true tales of holiday celebrations in odd locations
Dec 22 @ 7:30 pm
Story Parlor

Featuring stories by Ali McGhee (of AshevilleFM’s Slumber Party), Heather Maloy (of Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance), Lindsay Lee (of Highland Brew tours), and George Awad (of Appa-Laffin Mountain Review)
Plus songs by Carpal Tullar
Hosted by Tom “Pass the Suntan Lotion, Santa” Chalmers

Friday, December 23, 2022
Asheville Community Theatre Holiday Special Subscription
Dec 23 all-day
online

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!

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians ​
Dec 23 @ 7:30 pm
Attic Salt Theatre

A battle so epic, it could only be shown in the dumbest way possible!

Acclaimed local playwright and director Rodney Smith has offered to take the usual holiday fare and turn it on its head by adapting this campy and (unintentionally) funny film from the 1960s for our stage. I’d explain the plot, but there’s not much to it outside the title.

Whether you’re a fan of the movie or just looking for an alternative to Christmas schmaltz, you’re going to laugh and cheer at the bumbling Kinmar, Voldar, Dropo and the sexy Mrs. Candi Clause. And isn’t that what the holidays are all about?

Saturday, December 24, 2022
Asheville Community Theatre Holiday Special Subscription
Dec 24 all-day
online

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!

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
Dec 24 @ 2:30 pm
Attic Salt Theatre

A battle so epic, it could only be shown in the dumbest way possible!

Acclaimed local playwright and director Rodney Smith has offered to take the usual holiday fare and turn it on its head by adapting this campy and (unintentionally) funny film from the 1960s for our stage. I’d explain the plot, but there’s not much to it outside the title.

Whether you’re a fan of the movie or just looking for an alternative to Christmas schmaltz, you’re going to laugh and cheer at the bumbling Kinmar, Voldar, Dropo and the sexy Mrs. Candi Clause. And isn’t that what the holidays are all about?

Sunday, December 25, 2022
Asheville Community Theatre Holiday Special Subscription
Dec 25 all-day
online

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!

Monday, December 26, 2022
Asheville Community Theatre Holiday Special Subscription
Dec 26 all-day
online

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!

Tuesday, December 27, 2022
Asheville Community Theatre Holiday Special Subscription
Dec 27 all-day
online

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!

Wednesday, December 28, 2022
Asheville Community Theatre Holiday Special Subscription
Dec 28 all-day
online

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!

The Black Out Diaries
Dec 28 @ 8:00 pm
Pulp

12/28 The Blackout Diaries is BACK!
What: The Blackout Blackout Diaries
When: December 28, 2022 show starts at 8p, doors at 7:30p
Where: The Orange Peel’s Comedy Basement, Pulp Lounge 103 Hilliard Ave, Downtown Asheville
Age 21+
Tickets: $17 (available at door ot The Orange Peel website)
During this year’s holiday break, forget all the craziness and bring the whole (drinking age) family & friends out to hear tales of triumph (but mostly hilarious tragedy) while drinking heavily. Starting its roots in Chicago, and hosted by the hilarious Alex Joyce, The Blackout Diaries is an interactive comedy show were standup comedians, plus ‘regular’ people (cops, firefighters, teachers, etc) tell true drinking stories with photos from the events. Then you, the audience, can ask questions.
The Blackout Diaries has been selected as ‘Critics’ Choice in The Chicago Reader, Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun Times and more. Segments from the show have appeared on Comedy Central, NPR, Sirius Radio and more. A review once described the show as “a reverse AA meeting”. We still don’t know if that was a positive review or not, but we feel it sums the show up well.
Hosted by Alex Joyce. Alex has been performing stand up comedy for 12 years. After graduating from The University of Alabama he moved to Chicago where he studied at the Second City Training Center for Sketch Writing. He is co producer and performer in The Blackout Diaries, a weekly show at The Lincoln Lodge Theater where comedians tell wild drinking stories and the audience gets to ask questions. Joyce returns to Asheville regularly to visit family and perform. Joyce lives in Chicago.
The speakeasy inspired hideaway offers a cozy space for show-goers to relax and enjoy a beverage during the concert. Boasting over 200 different Bourbons and Whiskeys, alongside a myriad of other spirits, it is a must-visit for cocktail lovers and Bourbon sippers alike. Pulp will also open various other nights to feature local artists and “Slice of Life” open-mic comedy nights. To stay informed with the happenings at Pulp, visit the Orange Peel’s website, and follow @pulp_avl on Instagram.
For more info about this show contact Michele [email protected]
BlackOut Diaries Videos:

FB: https://fb.me/e/33BCJ3rg

The Blackout Diaries Comedy Show at The Pulp
Dec 28 @ 8:00 pm
Pulp Lounge

12/28 The Blackout Diaries Comedy Show
What: The Blackout Blackout Diaries
When: December 28, 2022 show starts at 8p, doors at 7:30p
Where: The Orange Peel’s Comedy Basement, Pulp Lounge 103 Hilliard Ave, Downtown Asheville
Age 21+
Tickets: $17 (available at door ot The Orange Peel website)
During this year’s holiday break, forget all the craziness and bring the whole (drinking age) family & friends out to hear tales of triumph (but mostly hilarious tragedy) while drinking heavily. Starting its roots in Chicago, and hosted by the hilarious Alex Joyce, The Blackout Diaries is an interactive comedy show were standup comedians, plus ‘regular’ people (cops, firefighters, teachers, etc) tell true drinking stories with photos from the events. Then you, the audience, can ask questions.
The Blackout Diaries has been selected as ‘Critics’ Choice in The Chicago Reader, Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun Times and more. Segments from the show have appeared on Comedy Central, NPR, Sirius Radio and more. A review once described the show as “a reverse AA meeting”. We still don’t know if that was a positive review or not, but we feel it sums the show up well.
Hosted by Alex Joyce. Alex has been performing stand up comedy for 12 years. After graduating from The University of Alabama he moved to Chicago where he studied at the Second City Training Center for Sketch Writing. He is co producer and performer in The Blackout Diaries, a weekly show at The Lincoln Lodge Theater where comedians tell wild drinking stories and the audience gets to ask questions. Joyce returns to Asheville regularly to visit family and perform. Joyce lives in Chicago.
The speakeasy inspired hideaway offers a cozy space for show-goers to relax and enjoy a beverage during the concert. Boasting over 200 different Bourbons and Whiskeys, alongside a myriad of other spirits, it is a must-visit for cocktail lovers and Bourbon sippers alike. Pulp will also open various other nights to feature local artists and “Slice of Life” open-mic comedy nights. To stay informed with the happenings at Pulp, visit the Orange Peel’s website, and follow @pulp_avl on Instagram.
For more info about this show contact Michele [email protected]
BlackOut Diaries Videos:

FB: https://fb.me/e/33BCJ3rg

Thursday, December 29, 2022
Asheville Community Theatre Holiday Special Subscription
Dec 29 all-day
online

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!