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.
A Holiday Mystery for All Ages!
In this family-friendly holiday mystery, Sherlock Holmes is asked to discover the identity of a man who lost his hat and goose in a late-night scuffle. At first, Holmes treats the request as only a mild curiosity, but then the countess of Morcar’s rare and valuable blue carbuncle is found stuffed down the goose’s throat. The pursuit of the thief leads Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson from 221B Baker Street to Covent Garden Market and all over the streets of wintery London.
Doors for performances open 30 minutes prior to showtime. Ticket sales end 1 hour prior to showtime, but there may still be tickets available in the office. Tickets purchased in the hour before a show starts in the office are $25. Contact BMCA for availability, and go to BMCA office to buy last-minute tickets.
- Hop on board the Holly Jolly Christmas Trolley for a fun and festive celebration of the season featuring live music!
- This seasonal favorite features an entertaining blend of holiday storytelling and traditional Christmas caroling. Enjoy stories of local lore and holiday traditions, then join-in with our on-board musician singing classic carols and songs of Christmas. And all the while the Holly Jolly Trolley is rolling past festive holiday decorations in downtown Asheville, Biltmore Village and the Montford and Grove Park neighborhoods.
This has all the makings of a jolly good family tradition!
- Recurrence: Recurring weekly on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
- Admission: Adults $29; Children (5-11) $13
- Phone:
- Email:
The Main Stage Theatre at HART
Directed by Erin McCarson
Humorist Jean Shepherd’s memoir of growing up in the midwest in the 1940s follows 9-year-old Ralphie Parker in his quest to get a genuine Red Ryder BB gun under the tree for Christmas. Ralphie pleads his case before his mother, his teacher and even Santa Claus himself at Higbee’s Department Store. The consistent response: “You’ll shoot your eye out!” All the elements from the beloved motion picture are here, including the family’s temperamental exploding furnace; Scut Farkas, the school bully; the boys’ experiment with a wet tongue on a cold lamppost; the Little Orphan Annie decoder pin; Ralphie’s father winning a lamp shaped like a woman’s leg in a net stocking; Ralphie’s fantasy scenarios and more. A Christmas Story is destined to become a theatrical holiday perennial.
CAROLING BY GASLIGHT
Written and Directed by Skyler Goff
Everyone knows the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, the tightfisted old miser. But if you thought he was bad, wait until you get a load of his neighbors. Find out what really happened that fateful night in this hilariously devious retelling of the Charles Dickens’ classic, A Christmas Carol.
Content Warning: Contains explicit sexual content, language, and dialogue. Depicts murder, gore, gun use, conspiracy, prostitution, necrophilia, hallucinogens, psychotic breaks, and other content not suitable for children. Please contact the box office for more information if needed. We do not recommend this show for audiences under 18.
Book by: Thomas Meehan & Bob Martin; Music by: Matthew Sklar; Lyrics by: Chad Beguelin; Directed by: Jeff Catanese
Based on the beloved holiday film, this hilarious fish-out-of-water comedy follows Buddy the Elf in his quest to live joyfully in community as he finds and shares his true identity. Elf The Musical is full of cheer with bright costumes, jolly dancing, and show-stopping songs. This heartwarming holiday tale dazzles and delights all ages!
Accessibility:
All performances: Accessible wheelchair/scooter seating available.
Saturday, Dec 17, 2022: ASL-Interpreted Performance
Book and Lyrics by Jim Christian
Music by Kenneth Plain
Directed by Beth Norris
FIVE CAROLS FOR CHRISTMAS
It’s 1954, and five best friends – all named Carol – as they prepare for their annual holiday performance at the local high school on Christmas Eve. Unfortunately, egos, miscommunication, and a power outage turn their quest for perfection into a madcap misadventure that somehow manages to salvage their camaraderie and the spirit of the holidays. Bursting with wonderful new songs and lush arrangements of Christmas classics, this riotous romp is heartwarming and absolutely hilarious.
JINGLEJACKS
Four Canadian lumberjacks, isolated in a cabin, are living out their dreams of becoming internet sensations with their Christmas webcast featuring favorite holiday songs sung in the style of barbershop, classical, hip-hop, smooth jazz, rap, glee club, rock, and many more. And just like every pop star wannabe, they hold contests, sell merchandise, and send shout outs to their loyal fans, “The Jackals.” Through it all, their warmth, charm, and quirkiness provide a big ol’ holiday bear hug loaded with traditional song favorites and fresh new melodies.
Book and Lyrics by Jim Christian
Music by Kenneth Plain
DIRECTED BY CHANDLER SMITH
FIVE CAROLS FOR CHRISTMAS
It’s 1954, and five best friends – all named Carol – as they prepare for their annual holiday performance at the local high school on Christmas Eve. Unfortunately, egos, miscommunication, and a power outage turn their quest for perfection into a madcap misadventure that somehow manages to salvage their camaraderie and the spirit of the holidays. Bursting with wonderful new songs and lush arrangements of Christmas classics, this riotous romp is heartwarming and absolutely hilarious.
JINGLEJACKS
Four Canadian lumberjacks, isolated in a cabin, are living out their dreams of becoming internet sensations with their Christmas webcast featuring favorite holiday songs sung in the style of barbershop, classical, hip-hop, smooth jazz, rap, glee club, rock, and many more. And just like every pop star wannabe, they hold contests, sell merchandise, and send shout outs to their loyal fans, “The Jackals.” Through it all, their warmth, charm, and quirkiness provide a big ol’ holiday bear hug loaded with traditional song favorites and fresh new melodies.
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?
North Carolina’s oldest professional non-profit ballet company presents the full-length classical holiday tradition, with stars, story, and sugarplums.
We’ve got TWO shows for you this holiday season!
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.
The WNC tradition continues! This show has become a Playhouse favorite with a brand new show every year. Join the merriment of sleigh bells and mistletoe, miracles and Santa Claus, and so much more. Showcasing a cast of Flat Rock favorites, the Flat Rock Playhouse Chorus, and Pat’s School of Dance, this holiday revue promises to leave you feeling merry and bright!
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From 11/15 – 12/31, we’re offering a Holiday Special on our subscriptions! Get tickets at a discounted price, AND get a free ticket voucher for our next play, Native Gardens! Check our website on 11/15 to purchase this limited-time deal!
See Lake Junaluska decorated for the holidays and enjoy carriage rides, music and more during our Christmas at Lake Junaluska weekend coming up December 9-11!
Join us on Saturday, December 10, at 7 p.m. for Lake Junaluska Lessons and Carols at Memorial Chapel. The service will be led by the Rev. Susan Giles with music provided by Hilda Ryan and special guest guitarist Mark Shultz for a candlelit singing of “Silent Night.”
Then on Sunday, December 11, from noon to 3 p.m., board our 4-passenger vis-a-vis carriage or our 8-person wagonette for a leisurely 15-minute ride that offers breathtaking lakeside mountain views and a unique view of the decorated Rose Walk along North Lakeshore Drive. The first ride departs at noon. To participate in this activity, reserve your seat online for the 4-person carriage or 8-person wagonette.
Stop into Junaluska Gifts & Grounds and the Lake Junaluska Golf Course Pro Shop, or visit Christmas Memories in historic Lambuth Inn for your last-minute gifts. During Christmas at Lake Junaluska Weekend (December 9-11), enjoy 30 percent off holiday items and hot beverages from our coffee and smoothie bar at Junaluska Gifts & Grounds, and 25 percent off short-sleeved shirts and free coffee and cider at the Lake Junaluska golf course pro shop!
Lodging guests as well as day visitors are invited to see the decorations on the Lake Junaluska grounds and Walking Trail, which is open to all with no admission charge. With Lake Junaluska’s winter lodging special – three nights for 10% off or four or more nights for 15% off, guests can enjoy a whole weekend of Christmas fun in the mountains and find the perfect Christmas tree right here in Haywood County (the same county where the U.S. Capitol Tree came from!) To book the lodging special, call 800-222-4930.
Christmas is a wonderful time of year to come to the mountains. Check out Holidays at Lake Junaluska to begin planning your trip!
We’ve got so many reasons to give thanks! In each of our program areas, we see ordinary people taking heroic action to protect our home from the pressures of a changing climate.
This year-end, we’re highlighting stories that inspired us and sharing how we’re planting seeds to create a climate-resilient future for all of us.
With our native pollinators, more is more. The more habitat we plant, the more easily our native pollinators can find shelter and food, the more resilient they become to the challenges posed by pesticides and extreme heat—the more stable our entire food ecosystem becomes.
Decorating Your Windows for the Holiday Season? Join the Holiday Windows Walking Tour. Plus Share Holiday Happenings
Downtown businesses: Are you decorating your windows for the Holiday Season? Be sure to let us know and we will include you on our Holiday Windows Walking Tour. This is a self-guided tour for people to follow as the stroll Downtown Asheville throughout the holidays.
Also, are you have a holiday sale, event or promotion? We’re happy to share through our social media, newsletters and press releases.
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Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy
WHAT THEY DO: We permanently protect and steward our region’s most beloved natural areas. When you support local land and water conservation, you ensure our lands, our water, our wildlife and our farms will be there for future generations. SAHC is committed to creating and supporting equitable, healthy and thriving communities for everyone in our region.
Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy
- Donate $25+ and get a day pass to the WNC Nature Center.
- Donate $50+ and get an animal sticker and a day pass.
- Donate $100+ and get an animal tracks necklace, animal sticker, and a day pass.
- Donate $250+ and get a a guided tour of the Nature Center with animal enrichment for two people, plus the necklace, sticker, and day pass. PLUS, you’ll be entered to win a chance to go on habitat with red pandas Leafa and Phoenix in 2023!
Merchants all over Henderson County vie for the honor of best holiday window displays and lighting, Take a drive around the county then vote for your favorite store front online, All displays will be available to view by November 26, but voting is only open December 6 – 17, Find the list of participants and information for online voting.
Homeowners all over Henderson County vie for the honor of having the best holiday decorations, as voted on by you. You are invited to take a drive around the county to look at all the festive holiday displays and then vote online for your favorite. An interactive online Google map with all locations and a printable PDF will be available by Nov. 25, 2022.
Printed copies of maps will also be at the Hendersonville Welcome Center at that time. Online voting opens in December.
Santa and Mrs. Clause will be there to see the children! Hot chocolate and cookies will be served for everyone. All aboard!
Purchase tickets on the day of the event. Reservations recommended — seating is limited!
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Help Us Meet the Need This Holiday Season
Round Up Campaigns & Community Events
We are so grateful to all of our partners who are helping us during this critical time by providing various ways for people to get involved and help provide meals for neighbors this holiday season. Read through the list below to find out ways you can get involved. - Food Lions Feeds (11/9 – 12/12): Food Lion stores will be hosting Food Lion Feeds, which is an in-store food drive program where customers have the opportunity to purchase and donate a Food Lion Feeds for the Holidays box of food that will be donated to MANNA FoodBank.
Downtown Hendersonville
Peppermint Bear takes you on a fun-filled bear hunt in downtown Hendersonville in search of her lost cubs. Hint: the cubs are hiding in downtown businesses.
Once you have found a lost cub in at least 12 of 26 participating businesses and the shopkeeper has punched your brochure, you are eligible to win scavenger hunt prizes. Complete the entry form in the brochure and drop it in Peppermint’s mailbox in front of the Welcome Center, by Dec. 23.
For more details about the Scavenger Hunt, watch this video or stop by the Welcome Center at 201 South Main Street. Peppermint Bear Scavenger Hunt brochures are available at the Hendersonville Welcome Center.
Make A Wish Come True This Holiday Season
Ready the hot cocoa and pull out your decorations; it’s time for another holiday season. As you begin your holiday preparation traditions, remember to visit the Buncombe County Wish Trees! This year we are offering two opportunities to spread cheer throughout the community:
Foster Care Wish Tree
Each year children in foster care and young adults participating in Extended Foster Care in Buncombe County submit a list of wishes they would like for the holidays. Signing up to sponsor a child or young adult is easy! Just follow the link below and select the child or young adult you would like to sponsor. After signing up, you will receive email confirmation that provides a copy of the wish list and all the instructions for drop off. We are taking extra precautions due to COVID-19 so be sure to read the follow up email in its entirety.
Direct Questions to Amber Cook
[email protected]
(828) 250-5824
The Wish Tree- Fulfilling Wishes of Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities
There are a lot of Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities in Buncombe County in need of connection this holiday season. Show a Older Adult and or Adult with Disabilities how much you care by sponsoring them this holiday season. Signing up to sponsor a Older Adult and or Adult with Disabilities is easy. Just follow the link below, select the Older Adult and or Adult with Disabilities you would like to sponsor, and check your email for confirmation, a reminder of what your Older Adult and or Adult with Disabilities would like this holiday season, and drop off instructions. We are taking extra precautions due to COVID-19 so be sure to read the follow up email in its entirety.
CLICK HERE TO SPONSOR AN OLDER ADULT OR AN ADULT WITH DISABILITIES
A note from HHS
The holidays can be hard for a lot of people, children in foster care, older adults, and adults with disabilities in particular. Holidays are a time when family and friends gather together, show support for one another, and shower each other with love, kindness, and generosity. Each year, we have an opportunity to deliver the holiday spirit to children in foster care, older adults, and adults with disabilities through our wish tree gift drives. The expressions of joy and excitement on our clients faces as we deliver their gifts reminds us of the true meaning of the holiday season, connection. Yes, the gifts are nice. But the real gift is knowing that someone loves and cares. That is what we deliver to our clients. Thank you in advance for your generous sponsorship.
Our Virtual Angel tree is up for this holiday season. This gift tree provides our broader YWCA community a path to join us as we aim to support our program participants and their families with a holiday season full of love and support.
If you would like to adopt a family this holiday season please click here or email Taleese Morrill in our Programs team to get the details of how you can fulfill a family’s holiday wish.
If you prefer please select a gift from our Amazon wish list by December 1st, 2022. Gifts from the list will be mailed directly to our building and will be sorted and distributed by our YWCA elves. All items on the list have been selected by the families and are items they are wishing for or are in need of this holiday season.
All gifts must be ordered by December 1.
Programs Served by the Angel Tree
MotherLove
YWCA’s MotherLove program supports pregnant and parenting teens throughout Buncombe County. Our goals are to help young parents to stay in school and graduate, access higher education and vocational training, develop the skills and knowledge needed to become strong parents, and delay another teen pregnancy.
Getting Ahead In a Just Getting By World
YWCA’s Getting Ahead program aims to provide financial empowerment for low-income women of all ages and backgrounds to make choices that positively impact themselves, their families, and their community.
Early Learning Program
YWCA’s Early Learning Program provides 5-star childcare for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. Our experienced and compassionate teachers not only provide exceptional care for little ones, but also prepare young children to succeed cognitively, physically, socially, and emotionally. We prioritize families using childcare vouchers or caring for children in the foster care system.
Empowerment Childcare
The YWCA provides up to 12 hours of free childcare per week for parents who are in transition, continuing their education, accessing social services, or looking for employment. ECC works closely with the Family Justice Center, Buncombe County Health and Human Services, A-B Tech, Green Opportunities, and Mary Benson House.
SOCK IT TO ME SANTA 5K IN ASHEVILLE, NC
FUNDRAISER FOR THE ASHEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND PROGRAMS
REGISTRATION FOR THE 2022 RACE OPENS ON MAY 1ST!
RACE SCHEDULE
Early Packet Pick Up – Friday, Dec 9 4:30-6pm, Jus’ Running, 523 Merrimon Ave
Saturday
Event location ~Asheville Middle School, 211 S French Broad Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
7:30 am – Packet Pick Up opens at Asheville Middle School gymnasium
8:30 am – Snowflake Chaser 1M fun run begins
9:00 am – 5k Starts (chip timed)
10:00 am – Awards (tentative)
Join Santa’s elves for a festive breakfast and see what’s on the menu every morning at the North Pole! The elves will be serving up very special holiday pancakes for kids and kids-at-heart, and classic breakfast favorites will round out the menu. Warm up with a cup of coffee, then head to the Park and watch Santa prepare for Christmas Eve by rappelling down the 315-foot Chimney Rock!
Immerse yourself in a Winter Wonderland with Santa and his elves and of course, Santa’s reindeer at Carolina Ace Hardware. Bring the whole family and take your Christmas pictures in the magical Christmas display in the Garden Center. Free to the public. Bring your cameras.
