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.
Voted “Best Place to Learn” by Outside, NOC Paddling School has taught more paddlers than anyone else, with 50 years of experience going into every class. Our commitment to the sport and to providing the best possible instruction has not waivered. So come and let us be your respected and experienced instructor.
Whitewater Kayaking Instruction
Youth Paddling Programs
Specialty Paddling Programs
Professional Training for Paddlers
Canoe Courses
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Want help to do a little some spring cleaning in your neighborhood?
From April 15-29, 2023, the City of Asheville, North Carolina Department of Transportation, and Asheville GreenWorks are holding the Spring Litter Sweep.
To honor these mountains we call home, we’re encouraging residents to gather family, friends, and neighbors for a litter cleanup of their neighborhoods during these dates.
Volunteers can borrow cleanup supplies from GreenWorks, including safety vests, gloves, trash grabbers, bags, and SHARPs containers.
Full bags will be collected by the City of Asheville and NCDOT.
Register to let us know where we can find them!
Supplies will be available for pickup beginning April 11, 2023 from Asheville GreenWorks at 2 Sulphur Springs Road, Asheville, NC 28806.
Volunteers can also reserve supplies from NCDOT, 11 Old Charlotte Hwy, Asheville, NC 28803, by calling 828-250-3250.
NC State Parks’ Year of the Trail continues with a celebration of how our trails transform each spring. Bring your camera on your next excursion in the park and capture budding wildflowers, spring hikers, or whatever you encounter along the way. You may even win a prize for your efforts!
GREAT PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED TO 3 WINNING ENTRIES
1st Prize: The winning photo will be our Facebook cover photo for two weeks, and the photographer will receive two annual passes to Chimney Rock State Park and lunch for four at the Old Rock Café.
2nd Prize: After the first place photo, the second place photo will be our Facebook cover photo for one week. The photographer will receive one annual pass to Chimney Rock State Park and lunch for two at the Old Rock Café.
3rd Prize: The third place photographer will receive two adult day passes (or one family pack of day passes) to Chimney Rock State Park and lunch for two at the Old Rock Café.
We build strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter.
Welcome to our online volunteer calendar!
Whether sorting donations in the ReStore, hammering on the construction site, or assisting families with critical home repair, we hope you’ll find the volunteer opportunity that is right for you!
- Our construction sites are open! Sign-up to build with us with just your email and first name. No password is required. If you need additional assistance please email Stephanie Wallace.
- Looking to schedule a team build day? We welcome corporate and faith groups year-round. To inquire about sponsorship opportunities please email Zoe Trout.
- Looking for ReStore opportunities? Please email Carrie Burgin.
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Building together for 40 years
Since incorporating on February 11, 1983, thousands of local adults and children have benefitted from AAHH’s affordable Homeownership and Home Repair Programs. Each home build and home repair project has been an exercise in partnership. Volunteers, donors, advocates, homeowners, and ReStore supporters – folks of various religions, ethnicities, socio-economic classes, and political beliefs – unite around a shared vision and build homes, communities, and hope.
We are grateful to all who have been part of the journey thus far. And we invite new partners to our work. There is still much work to be done, and it will take all of us
Buncombe County currently contracts its curbside trash pickup service with Waste Pro for non-municipal county residents. The contract is set to expire on December 31, 2024. The Board of Commissioners, Solid Waste, and County administration are currently looking for input from residents to help guide the decision to either extend the contract for two years, renegotiate with new or different services, or look for bids from other companies. Please take just a couple of minutes to answer a few questions to provide your input.
If you’ll remember last year, we had our Let’s Talk Trash survey. The goal of that survey was to determine whether or not Buncombe County should utilize convenience sites apart from the Transfer Station for more options for trash disposal services for residents. While that survey did take in a lot of input concerning Waste Pro, Buncombe County wanted to dedicate this outreach solely to the Waste Pro contract. The Board of Commissioners is set to decide on the contract with the help of the input from this survey in June 2023.
Stay tuned to buncombecounty.org and Engage Buncombe for more opportunities to provide input and to stay engaged with Buncombe County services.
Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR) recently renovated fitness centers at Linwood Crump Shiloh and Stephens-Lee community centers – and community members can enjoy use of cardio equipment, exercise machines, free weights, open gym time, and more through June 30, 2023. During this time, APR will waive membership and daily pass fees so more people can access the necessities for a regular fitness routine. Locals can sign up online or at either community center to receive a fitness center key fob that can be scanned at either location.
“Our team is committed to creating spaces in which everyone feels welcome,” according to D. Tyrell McGirt, APR Director. “We are in the community building business. The gyms and fitness rooms at these two locations are filled with everything you’d expect from other top-notch fitness facilities and dedicated to body positivity and accessible wellness. By waiving the cost to use them for the first six months of the year, we hope more friends and neighbors will be able to connect with each other and maintain healthy lifestyles.”
Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR) recently renovated fitness centers at Linwood Crump Shiloh and Stephens-Lee community centers – and community members can enjoy use of cardio equipment, exercise machines, free weights, open gym time, and more through June 30, 2023. During this time, APR will waive membership and daily pass fees so more people can access the necessities for a regular fitness routine. Locals can sign up online or at either community center to receive a fitness center key fob that can be scanned at either location.
“Our team is committed to creating spaces in which everyone feels welcome,” according to D. Tyrell McGirt, APR Director. “We are in the community building business. The gyms and fitness rooms at these two locations are filled with everything you’d expect from other top-notch fitness facilities and dedicated to body positivity and accessible wellness. By waiving the cost to use them for the first six months of the year, we hope more friends and neighbors will be able to connect with each other and maintain healthy lifestyles.”
Join us for the 1st Annual Earth Day 5K hosted by the nonprofit Green Built Alliance to help reduce our community’s carbon footprint!
Saturday, April 22, 2023
5K Race begins at 8:00 AM
1 Mile Fun Run begins at 8:05 AM
Register by April 1st to be guaranteed a FREE race t-shirt. After that date, t-shirts will only be available in limited sizes and quantities.
Early registration includes a t-shirt, goody bag, and bib with chip-timing services. The top 3 male, female, and overall 5K runners will receive prizes, including a medal and a local tree donated by Asheville Greenworks!
Children 2 and under can join you for free (without registering) for the 1 Mile Fun Run, but kids 3 and up must be registered.
RSVP on Facebook to stay up to date!
All proceeds from event will go towards creating a clean energy future through Green Built Alliance’s carbon offset program, Appalachian Offsets. This is a local carbon offsetting opportunity that allows community members’ offsets to go toward renewable energy projects for Buncombe County schools or other nonprofit organizations. The next Appalachian Offsets project in the works is for the installation of a PV system on the downtown Asheville United Way building.
Food Scraps Drop Off
The City of Asheville, in partnership with Buncombe County and the Natural Resources Defense Council, is offering a FREE Food Scrap Drop-Off program in two locations for all Buncombe County residents. This organic matter will be collected and turned into good clean compost, keeping it OUT of our landfill and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Register for Food Scraps Drop Off
Need a handy kitchen countertop food scrap bin? Let us know on the registration form! We’ll be having bin giveaways at city and county facilities and would love to give you one.
Locations
Buncombe County Landfill – Convenience Center
85 Panther Branch Road, Alexander
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- Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Saturday, 8 a.m. – 12:30 pm
Murphy Oakley Community Center and Library – “Food Scrap Bin Shelters” on the east side of the parking lot
749 Fairview Road, Asheville
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- Dawn – Dusk
Stephens-Lee Recreation Center “Food Scrap Shed” next to the Community Garden on the North side of the parking lot
30 Washington Carver Avenue, Asheville
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- Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Saturday, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Sunday, 12 – 4 p.m.
West Asheville Library – “Food Scrap Bin Shelters” on the south side of the building
942 Haywood Road, Asheville
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- Library open hours
Food Scraps Drop Off
The City of Asheville, in partnership with Buncombe County and the Natural Resources Defense Council, is offering a FREE Food Scrap Drop-Off program in
two locations for all Buncombe County residents. This organic matter will be collected and turned into good clean compost, keeping it OUT of our landfill and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Register for Food Scraps Drop Off
Need a handy kitchen countertop food scrap bin? Let us know on the registration form! We’ll be having bin giveaways at city and county facilities and would love to give you one.
Locations
Stephens-Lee Recreation Center “Food Scrap Shed” next to the Community Garden on the North side of the parking lot
30 Washington Carver Avenue, Asheville
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- Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Saturday, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Sunday, 12 – 4 p.m.
Murphy Oakley Community Center and Library – “Food Scrap Bin Shelters” on the east side of the parking lot
749 Fairview Road, Asheville
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- Dawn – Dusk
West Asheville Library – “Food Scrap Bin Shelters” on the south side of the building
942 Haywood Road, Asheville
Library open hours
Buncombe County Landfill – Convenience Center85 Panther Branch Road, Alexander
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- Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Saturday, 8 a.m. – 12:30 pm
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Help us kick off the 2023 season with our annual Spring Fling Celebration all day on April 22nd! Join us for the Upper Nantahala & Cascades River Release, sales and deals on paddling gear and apparel, giveaways, live entertainment, boat demos, and more!
After you’ve finished your laps, join Pyranha Kayaks and Jackson Kayaks on the NOC beach to try out their newest boats. Chris Hipgrave, Emily Jackson, and the Hargrove family will be riverside to answer all your questions. Astral, NRS, Immersion Research, Kokatat, and our experienced retail and river guides will be there to help with any safety gear and apparel needs.
Schedule of Events:
- 8 am to 6 pm: NOC Outfitter’s Store is open early for river passes and gear
- 10 am to 4 pm: Upper Nantahala/Cascades Release
- 11 am to 12 pm: Kids Activities
- 3 pm to 6 pm: Riverside Kayak Demos
- 3 pm to 6 pm: Live Music by Asheville Junction
- 6 pm: American Whitewater Raffle winner announced!
- Jackson Kayak Group Paddle Sessions- info below! Times coming soon!
Jackson Kayak Clinics:
Jackson Kayak is offering three clinics during Spring Fling! All will be filled on a first come first serve basis and participants will have the chance to register to WIN a Jackson Kayak Gnarvana in December.
- Ladies Paddle Plus Freestyle Session: Join JR World Champion Abby Holcombe and US Team Member Emily Wade for a down river ladies paddle from Surfing Rapid to the bridge. Ladies who are up for an hour of Freestyle Fun and instruction can continue on downstream for an hour of on-water coaching from two of the country’s best women kayakers! Put in at Surfing Rapid and take out at Play Hole (Or Gravel Bar for those not participating in Freestyle)
- Joy Lap/ River Run: Join Team JK for a Fun Float/ Paddle down the Nantahala- Have anything you want instruction on? Or ways to make the run more exciting?! Team JK can help you break down the river, find each place to play, and make this run a JOY lap for all who join! Put in at Ferebee and take out at Gravel Bar.
- Gnarvana Boat Demos at Cascades: Join Team JK’s Landon Miller, Clay Wright, Boyd Ruppelt and MORE as we demo Gnarvanas on the Cascades. All three sizes will be available to demo on a first come first serve basis. Please don’t be shy to introduce yourself to our team to make sure you lock in your chance to jump in a boat.
Additional details coming soon- stay tuned!
Included with admission
Embark on a scenic journey across George Vanderbilt’s Italy with a large-scale outdoor display that combines brilliant botanical designs with authentic messages written by Vanderbilt himself.
Beautifully handcrafted of natural elements, each sculptural postcard depicts a location or landmark Vanderbilt visited more than a century ago. This captivating complement to Biltmore’s Italian Renaissance Alive exhibition reveals Vanderbilt’s passions for travel, culture, architecture, and art as well as his personal experience of such renowned Italian cities as Milan, Florence, Venice, Pisa, and Vatican City.
Adding to the charm and visual appeal of Ciao! From Italy—sure to be a hit among kids of all ages—is the G-scale model train that travels in and out of each postcard in this enlightening display!
CELEBRATING POLLINATORS ON EARTH DAY IN 2023!
This year, the French Broad River Garden Club will host 20 local vendors, in addition to the French Broad’s Members Gardens and Greenhouse. Browse the amazing selection of unique pollinators, specialty plants, trees, shrubs, vegetable seedlings, herbs, ground covers, organic fertilizer, functional garden art, botanical gifts, planters, and ‘previously loved’ garden decor. These local growers and artisans are experts in their respective fields and we encourage you to ask questions and learn. Here’s some of what to expect:
-Rare specialty plants, boxwoods, and conifers;
-Planted containers, unique floral designs, and various plant materials;
-Japanese maples, and unusual landscape plants;
-Evergreens, edibles, grasses, and groundcovers;
-Appalachian herbaceous perennials and ferns grown from seed;
-Trees and shrubs for conservation and ecological applications;
-Vegetable starts and herbs (traditional and medicinal);
-Botanical gifts;
-Hypertufa pots and planters;
-Wrought iron garden accessories;
-Unique pollinators from our members’ gardens and the French Broad greenhouse;
-‘Previously loved’ garden treasures;
-And More!
Shop for a great cause — 100% of Club proceeds supports LOCAL horticultural and conservation scholarships!
URLs:
Facebook: https://go.evvnt.com/1587975-2?pid=10412
Instagram: https://go.evvnt.com/1587975-3?pid=10412
Artists / Speakers: Appeldoorn Landscape Nursery, Blazing Star, Blue Briar Gardens, Bunny’s Brew, DP HyperTufa, Equilibria Botanica, Fisher Branch Farm, Flat Creek Plant Farm, French Broad Garden Treasures, French Broad Member’s Gardens and Greenhouse, High Country Nursery, Maples N More Nursery, Natural Selections, Newfound Forge, Orchids by Graham Ramsey, Red Root Native Nursery, Sandy Mush Herbs, Saturnia Farms, Wildbud Natives, Wildwood Nursery, Woodwise Botanicals
What better way to celebrate Earth Day than to help Buncombe County beautify its parks? The 2023 Earth Day cleanup is a volunteer day for community members, schools, clubs, organizations, businesses, etc to engage in a hands-on way to clean up various parks throughout Buncombe County in preparation for increased use as warm weather amps up. This will include Lake Julian Park, Charles D Owen Park, Buncombe County Sports Park, Ledges Whitewater Park, and Alexander River Park.
The event is Saturday, April 22 (Earth Day) from 9 a.m.-noon. The tasks volunteers can help with include litter pickup and landscaping. The litter pickup would include cleaning up trash and debris from along roadways, walking paths, entrances to parks, and wooded areas. The landscaping opportunities include:
- Trimming limbs and shrubs
- Planting flower plugs and other small plants and bushes along buildings and picnic shelters, park entrances, in garden areas and on embankments
- Rejuvenating garden areas with wildflower seeds and plugs, and watering plants, clearing brush
- Removing fallen limbs, overgrowth from pathways planted areas,
- Removing invasive species from choking out native species in some areas.
Volunteer groups are limited in capacity by location and volunteers can choose which park and task they would like to be involved with. Volunteers will be provided materials such as gloves, litter pickers, trash bags, loppers, shovels, shears, watering cans, seedlings, bulbs, shrubs, flowers, safety vests, etc. Registration is available on Simpletix and is set to be active March 15-April 15.
Join us for the 2023 Annual Convention of the Buncombe Democrats!
We’ll meet to elect officers at the county level, select members to represent us at the state executive committee, discuss resolutions, hear updates from elected officials, and a lot more.
Join us for a day of Democratic organizing in the Ferguson Auditorium of AB Tech. Doors and registration will open at 9:30am. Agenda and additional documentation coming soon.
The beginning of the year is a great time for Ashevillians of all ages to explore, connect, and discover. Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR)’s new winter-spring program guide is filled with registration dates, information, and listings for hundreds of fitness and active living offerings, sports and clubs, arts and culture programs, out-of-school time activities, outdoor recreation, special events, parks and facilities’ hours of operation, and more.
The free guide is available at all APR community centers and online as a PDF or enhanced digital flipbook. Community members may also download the APR app for iPhone or search programs on avlREC.com.
Winter-Spring 2023 Guide Highlights
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Exercise at fitness centers with a free membership (through June 30, 2023).
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Walk, roll, or run your way to 50 miles in February and March during the Fit 50 Challenge for a free T-shirt.
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Celebrate Black Legacy Month with food, art, and festivals throughout the city in February.
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Meet neighbors over cards, board games, bingo, trivia contests, and community meals.
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Get an up-close look at big trucks, small trucks, transit buses, construction rigs, rescue vehicles, and public works equipment during Truck City AVL on April 15.
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Experience the fun, fellowship, fitness, arts, and competition of Asheville-Buncombe Senior Games and Silver Arts Classic for local adults over 50..
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Flex creativity at art, painting, writing, scrapbooking, and crafting classes.
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Connect with neighbors over sports such as basketball, flag football, volleyball, pickleball, tennis, and archery for kids, teens, and adults.
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Enjoy the honor of dirty hands with community garden workdays and Green Thumbs Garden Club at Grove Street Community Center’s greenhouse.
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Witness the power of gravity at the Montford Pinewood Derby in May.
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Refine square, tap, line, and West African dance skills at multiple locations.
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And so much more!
Food Scraps Drop Off
The City of Asheville, in partnership with Buncombe County and the Natural Resources Defense Council, is offering a FREE Food Scrap Drop-Off program in
two locations for all Buncombe County residents. This organic matter will be collected and turned into good clean compost, keeping it OUT of our landfill and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Register for Food Scraps Drop Off
Need a handy kitchen countertop food scrap bin? Let us know on the registration form! We’ll be having bin giveaways at city and county facilities and would love to give you one.
Locations
West Asheville Library – “Food Scrap Bin Shelters” on the south side of the building
942 Haywood Road, Asheville
Library open hours
Stephens-Lee Recreation Center “Food Scrap Shed” next to the Community Garden on the North side of the parking lot
30 Washington Carver Avenue, Asheville
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- Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Saturday, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Sunday, 12 – 4 p.m.
Murphy Oakley Community Center and Library – “Food Scrap Bin Shelters” on the east side of the parking lot
749 Fairview Road, Asheville
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- Dawn – Dusk
Buncombe County Landfill – Convenience Center85 Panther Branch Road, Alexander
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- Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Saturday, 8 a.m. – 12:30 pm
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Celebrate Earth Day with Hendo Earth Fest
The City of Hendersonville Environmental Sustainability Board encourages you to mark your calendars for April 22nd! The first-ever Hendo Earth Fest is taking place in downtown Hendersonville on Earth Day from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Local organizations and environmental champions will educate, entertain, and raise awareness of the need to protect our planet for future generations.
The festival is sponsored by the Hendersonville Environmental Sustainability Board (ESB) in association with the Blue Ridge EV Club, Team ECCO, Conserving Carolina, Mountain True, Caregivers of Mother Earth, and Earth Caring Ministry of Trinity Presbyterian Church.
What: Hendo Earth Fest
When: Saturday, April 22, 2023 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Where: Main Street between 4th and 6th Avenues and 5th Avenue between N. Wall Street and King Street
The ESB has coordinated exhibits that educate and inform residents and visitors about our natural environment in a fun, festive atmosphere.
The Aquarium and Shark Lab by Team ECCO exhibits located on the 500 block of Main Street will focus on education, enrichment, and exploration of the ocean world.
The ESB exhibits located on the 400 block will provide hands-on activities and demonstrations designed to educate, renew and expand action to protect our Western North Carolina environment and natural resources.
The Blue Ridge EV Club vehicles and exhibits on Fifth Avenue will highlight electric transportation and systems. 2023 is the year of the Electric Vehicle!
Come join your friends and neighbors to celebrate Earth Day at the very first Hendo Earth Fest!
Join the Asheville Museum of History on Earth Day, Saturday, April 22 at 10am for our first in-person event of the year! We invite you to join us in person at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNCA. This hybrid event also airs via Zoom if you cannot attend. It will be recorded and available for later viewing.
Western North Carolina has a human history dating at least 10,000 years, and every generation has interacted with or shaped the mountainous landscape in some way. Many of the interactions have been harmonious, while at other times, humans have altered or damaged the land. As a result, several individuals and organizations have also fervently worked to conserve or protect the resources and revered places in this area we call home. It is impossible to discuss all of these trends and events in one program, but we are proud to present an (incomplete) environmental history of WNC with a great lineup of knowledgeable experts and stewards.
Tickets: $5 for AMoH/OLLI members/ $10 for General Admission. We also have no-cost, community-funded tickets available. We want our events to be accessible to as many people as possible. If you are able please consider making a donation along with your ticket purchase. These donations are placed in our Community Fund, which allows us to offer tickets at no cost to those who would not be able to attend otherwise.
Viewing: In-Person attendees will receive a confirmation email and all attendees will receive a Zoom link with which to view the program. The recording will be available on our website.
About the Speakers:
John Ross is the author of more than a dozen books focusing on environmental history, including Through The Mountains: The French Broad River and Time.
Ross’ presentation will discuss the French Broad region and some of its specific environmental challenges and successes.
Donald Edward Davis, PhD., is an independent scholar and environmental historian. He has authored or edited seven books, including The American Chestnut: An Environmental History and Where There Are Mountains: An Environmental History of the Southern Appalachians.
Davis’ presentation is entitled Mountains of Resilience: Revisioning Environmental History in the Southern Appalachians.
Danny Bernstein is a hike leader for the Carolina Mountain Club, Friends of the Smokies, and the Asheville Camino group. She’s written several outdoor books including DuPont Forest: A History.
Bernstein will present the history of the Carolina Mountain Club.
Join the Western North Carolina Historical Association on Earth Day, Saturday, April 22 at 10am for our first in-person event of the year! We invite you to join us in person at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNCA. This hybrid event also airs via Zoom if you cannot attend. It will be recorded and available for later viewing.
Western North Carolina has a human history dating at least 10,000 years, and every generation has interacted with or shaped the mountainous landscape in some way. Many of the interactions have been harmonious, while at other times, humans have altered or damaged the land. As a result, several individuals and organizations have also fervently worked to conserve or protect the resources and revered places in this area we call home. It is impossible to discuss all of these trends and events in one program, but we are proud to present an (incomplete) environmental history of WNC with a great lineup of knowledgeable experts and stewards.
Viewing: In-Person attendees will receive a confirmation email and all attendees will receive a Zoom link with which to view the program. The recording will be available on our website.
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.
French Broad River Park: Go to the parking lot off of Riverview Drive, which is off of Amboy Rd. Find the cobalt blue canopy tent!
We will be as close to as directly across the parking lot as we can, near the water, with the tent (go past the bathrooms and head to the water). So, you should be able to find us pretty easily if it’s your first time).
We’ll enjoy meditations/visualizations, psychic ability empowerment, chakra activations, and lively discussions about how we can participate in the evolution of the new earth… a world where truth and the ethos of love (e.g.: Law of One) are the guiding forces.
All who are interested in spiritual growth and evolution and getting to know others who are “on their wavelength” are welcome.
NOTE: Bring a chair, pillow, or towel to sit on, an open mind, and energies of love, receptivity, and curiosity.
We look forward to meeting you!
Join a certified forest therapy guide for a relaxing 2.5-hour stroll through the forest on the peaceful Arboretum grounds. Through a series of invitations, you’ll have the opportunity to be present in the moment, deepening your connection with nature and community, and enjoying the many gifts nature has to offer. Your guide will share mindfulness practices designed to connect you more deeply to your inner landscapes, as well as the world around you. Inspired by Shinrin-Yoku, the Japanese art of immersing oneself in a forest environment, a forest bathing walk invites you to spend time in nature in a way that invites healing for ourselves, our fraught ecosystems, and our community. It is true nature therapy!
- Special, discounted rate of $45/person (includes parking!)
- Occurs on select dates each month
- Max group size is 15 for a more intimate experience
Hit the trails and learn more about The North Carolina Arboretum’s botanically diverse forest with a guided trail walk! April through October, this free hiking program is led by trained volunteer guides who take small groups of participants along woodland trails and through a variety of forest types. Depending on the season and each guide’s area of expertise, topics of discussion may include wildflowers, plant and tree identification, natural history and more.
Guided trail walks are limited to 15 people, including the guide, and are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age. Groups depart from the Baker Visitor Center Lobby on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m..
Walks last 1.5 – 2.5 hours, are approximately one to two miles in length. As this program is held rain or shine, all participants should dress appropriately for the weather.
There is no pre-registration; walks are first-come first served and sign up sheets are located in the Baker Visitors Center.
Walks are FREE; however, donations to The North Carolina Arboretum Society are appreciated. Regular parking fees apply. Arboretum Society Members always park free.
Know Before You Go
- Guided Trail Walks are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age.
- Guided Trail Walks are rain or shine and all participants should be dressed comfortably and for the weather.
- Hikes cover 1-2 miles and last 1.5-2 hours.
- Well-behaved leashed pets are welcome to accompany their owners. In the rare case that a pet is disruptive or negatively impacts the experience, the pet and its owner may be asked to excuse themselves from the guided walk.
- COVID-19 Safety: In order to hear the guide and fully participate in the trail walk, participants will be in close proximity to one another for extended periods of time. While face coverings are not required, participants should use their best judgement to keep themselves and others safe while enjoying the trails. Individuals who are experiencing flu-like symptoms or suspect they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should not participate.
- At this time, no more than 6 spaces may be filled by a single family/group through pre-registration for any one Guided Trail Walk. If additional spaces are available on the day of the Walk, additional members of the family/group may participate. We apologize for any inconvenience and look forward to welcoming larger groups in the future.
Come join the Swannanoa Library Anime Club at our first meeting: Saturday, March 25th at 2:00 pm! We’ll meet the 4th Saturday of every month to watch anime, discuss manga, create crafts, and even try some fun snacks!
– LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED
THE LOUDES
The Loudes formed in 2018 as a 3 piece acoustic-electric punk-folk band, digging in with an aggressive all original format. Over the next few years Sam Barker and Tony Preston expanded the band to a five piece. From the deep archival talents of lead guitarist Glen Case they added many cover tunes to their song list with Kaiya Pelletier’s soulful, sassy vocal skills completing the circle.Gritty original and cover material are their hallmark, ever transmitting the great fun and joy of performing for live audiences. They have been playing professionally around the greater Asheville area for the past few years, pausing only briefly for Covid Cloud to pass by.
Come see Tyler’s Amazing Balancing Act as he turns McCormick Field into a balancing playground!
To attend a Tret Fure concert is to be drawn into warmth, to family, to shared humanity. Tret sings from the depth of our collective experience with vision for a world that could be and gratitude for the simple gifts of the world as it is. Not only a prolific songwriter, Tret Fure is a poet, artist and storyteller whose career spans five decades. An icon of the women’s and folk music scenes, Fure is preparing to release her 18th album, “The Language of Love.