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, January 2, 2020
Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland
Jan 2 @ 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Tryon International Equestrian Center

Shadrack's Christmas Wonderland

Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland presented by Ingles
Tryon Resort is thrilled to be the newest location on the Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland circuit. This two-mile journey weaves through hundreds of thousands of animated Christmas lights coordinated to music for an estimated 30 minutes of holiday enchantment. The Wonderland also features giant, custom-built displays of Santa and his pals on vacation in the mountains, hang gliding, rock climbing, ice fishing, lounging around the campfire, and more. This playful portion of the show is sure to please everyone, young to old.

The tour finishes in Tryon Resort’s Winterfest Village filled with more fun for the whole family. The tour is $25 per carload with additional pricing for group vans and buses available. Tickets are available online in advance or at the exhibit entrance, and discount tickets are available at any Ingles location. Tours are self-driven and open from 6pm-10pm seven days a week beginning November 15, 2019 and ending on January 5, 2020.

Spanish Conversation Group
Jan 2 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Pack Memorial Library

Spanish Conversation Group

Looking to practice your Spanish Language skills? Come to the Spanish Conversation Group at Pack! The group meets once a week to practice their language skills and to help each other out when needed. Newcomers are always welcome.

No registration is necessary.

Winter Lights at The North Carolina Arboretum
Jan 2 @ 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
The North Carolina Arboretum

Winter Lights

Experience Asheville’s BRIGHTEST holiday tradition at Winter Lights at The North Carolina Arboretum. Open nightly November 22, 2019 – January 4, 2020, from 6 to 10 p.m. Walk through an outdoor winter wonderland and see the Arboretum’s gardens and landscapes dressed in more than half-a-million holiday lights. Listen to the sounds of your favorite holiday tunes or enjoy a cup of holiday-inspired cocoa, cider or beer.

$18-$8. See website for tickets and specials.

Specials

Friends & Family Discount Night – Tuesdays

Tickets are reduced to $15 for adults and $10 for children. Arboretum members receive an additional $2 off each ticket. (Excludes Christmas Eve & New Year’s Eve.)

Available on Thursdays through Saturdays only, this special ticketed event offers visitors the chance to enjoy a holly, jolly ride from downtown Asheville or Biltmore Village to Winter Lights courtesy of The Trolley Company. Upon arrival, guests will receive a complimentary cup of hot chocolate and access to the Winter Lights. Pick-up is at 6:00 p.m. from the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Asheville and 6:15 p.m. from the DoubleTree Hotel in Biltmore Village. Guests will be dropped back off at 9:00 p.m. Tickets are $29.50 per person (children 4 & under are free) and can be purchased through The Trolley Company’s website here(Note: Arboretum member discounts do not apply for this tour). For additional questions, please call Eva Ritchey at The Trolley Company at 828.606.8606.

Crime and Politics Book Club
Jan 2 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Malaprop’s Bookstore

Join host and Malaprop’s Bookseller Patricia Furnish to discuss a range of books across true crime and public affairs. The club meets the first Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. Click here to learn more about the club, view important news, and find the pick for this month.

 

Event date:
Thursday, January 2, 2020 – 7:00pm
Thursday, February 6, 2020 – 7:00pm
Thursday, March 5, 2020 – 7:00pm
Thursday, April 2, 2020 – 7:00pm
Greenville Swamp Rabbits vs. Norfolk Admirals
Jan 2 @ 7:00 pm
Bon Secours Wellness Arena

Swamp Rabbits Hockey offers fantastic fun for the whole family! The Greenville Swamp Rabbits play in the South Division of the Eastern Conference of the ECHL, the premiere AA hockey league. The Swamp Rabbits play 36 home games (October-April) and offer endless entertainment opportunities! For more information on Swamp Rabbits hockey, visit swamprabbits.com. Proud affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes.

Spamilton: An American Parody
Jan 2 @ 7:30 pm
Peace Center

Brace yourself for a Singing, Dancing, Comedy Revolution that is chock-full of references to the wonderful world of Broadway!

From the creator of Forbidden Broadway comes the parody of the most talked about Broadway musical phenomenon of the 21st century. Not simply a send-up of the original, this story is interspersed with outrageous references to Chicago, West Side Story, The King And I, Sweeney Todd, and more! Even the stars of the original cast are comically eviscerated and joined by caricatures of living Broadway legends like Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald, Stephen Sondheim, Stephen Schwartz, Barbra Streisand, and Bernadette Peters.

Whether you’re a Broadway aficionado or just like to laugh, there’s something for everyone in this fresh, new musical parody!

Brad Heller & The Fustics Jangling Sparrows The Modern Strangers
Jan 2 @ 8:00 pm
The Grey Eagle

Brad Heller and The Fustics + Jangling Sparrow + Modern Strangers

Brad Heller & The Fustics/Jangling Sparrows/Modern Strangers: Killer Triple Bill
Jan 2 @ 8:00 pm
The Grey Eagle

Slice Comedy Open Mic
Jan 2 @ 9:00 pm – 11:30 pm
Pulp Lounge

Thursday night Jan. 2nd
Slice of Life Comedy Open Mic!
Hosted by Cody Hughes
Doors 8:30p/9:00p show
$7
Professional and Newbi comics
Comics get in free (+free membership)
Free snacks/drink specials

[Comics sign up at door or email [email protected]
New comics to venue get 3-5m
Regular comics get as much time as available. Look for light]

Contact Michele at [email protected] for more info/sign up early or request a feature (paid 20m)

Slice of Life Comedy Open Mic!
Jan 2 @ 9:00 pm
The Pulp

Ages 21+

Tickets At The Door

RSVP on Facebook

Comics sign up at door or email [email protected]

Regular comics get as much time as available. Look for light

Contact Michele at [email protected] for more info/sign up early or request a feature (paid 20m) spot

Friday, January 3, 2020
Spring LEAF Festival Tickets on Sale Now
Jan 3 all-day
Lake Eden

Spring LEAF Festival Tickets
ON SALE NOW
yayyy!

Ring in the Year with Early Bird Pricing
– & –
Join us in Celebrating 25 Years of
LEAF at the 50th Festival!

MAY 14-17, 2020

Mitch’s Totally Rad Trivia at The One Stop
Jan 3 @ 12:00 am – 2:00 am
The One Stop at Asheville Music Hall

Mitch’s Totally Rad Trivia is a team trivia played in 7 rounds over the course of 2 endlessly entertaining hours. The game covers everything pop culture and is always irreverent by nature. The game is not your average pub quiz as it explores everything from didgeridoo covers of pop songs to bad celebrity tattoos and everything in between. Ever wanted to identify animals by their gonads? Then this is the game for you! Mitch curates a one of a kind trivia smorgasbord of random, unusual, and hilarious subjects. This absurd trivia game is not about historical facts or sports stats, it is all about random movies, unforgettable ear-worms, and the hilariousness of growing up in the 80’s and 90’s. The game starts at 7pm in the cozy One Stop in downtown Asheville. Drink specials include $4 bourbon/$4 Washington Apple Shots and $5 White Russians, and food is available from MOJO Kitchen which offers 1/2 price nachos during the game! Best of all the winning team each week takes home a collection of Totally Rad Prizes including a $35 gift certificate to The One Stop/MOJO Kitchen.

https://www.facebook.com/events/2129604460458895/?event_time_id=2129604577125550

Beautiful – The Carole King Musical
Jan 3 @ 12:30 am – 2:30 am
Peace Center

Part of the 2019 – 2020 Broadway Season. Learn more about subscribing: http://bit.ly/2J6KMcs.

Beautiful – The Carole King Musical tells the inspiring true story of King’s remarkable rise to stardom, from being part of a hit songwriting team with her husband Gerry Goffin, to her relationship with fellow writers and best friends Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in popular music history. Along the way, she made more than beautiful music, she wrote the soundtrack to a generation.

Featuring a stunning array of beloved songs written by Gerry Goffin/Carole King and Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil, including “I Feel The Earth Move,” “One Fine Day,” “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” “You’ve Got A Friend” and the title song, Beautiful has a book by Tony Award®-nominee and Academy Award®-nominated writer Douglas McGrath, direction by Marc Bruni, choreography by Josh Prince, and took home two 2014 Tony Awards and a 2015 Grammy® Award.

https://www.facebook.com/events/360508881207738/?event_time_id=360508891207737

“Dressing for the Occasion: Mid-Century Sandburg as Celebrity and Family Man”
Jan 3 @ 9:30 am – 4:30 pm
Carl Sandburg Home

Sandburg Clothing on Exhibit

“Dressing for the Occasion” offers visitors a window into the style, culture, and feel of mid-century America. The family’s clothing and accessories weave together the roles of Carl Sandburg as a prominent writer, celebrity, father, and husband. This temporary exhibit offers an exciting opportunity for the public to view objects that are normally in storage or in the possession of Sandburg family members. Tours of the Sandburg Home are offered daily from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. Tickets are available first come, first served, each day from the visitor information area in the ground level of the Sandburg Home.

Nearly every room in the historically furnished house museum will be included in the exhibit. Visitors will see the characteristic scarves Carl Sandburg wore as he played his guitar and sang folk songs to entertain his family and guests, the dress Lilian Sandburg wore to meet President Lyndon B. Johnson, and many other mid-century pieces worn by the Sandburgs and their daughters. Historic photographs, paired with the clothing, will provide context.

Deck The Trees
Jan 3 @ 10:00 am – 9:00 pm
The Monte Vista Hotel

Named for two years by Explore Asheville as one of the top 5 events in the Swannanoa Valley at Christmas, you are invited to come experience 25 Christmas trees that bring joy to the whole community. The public is invited to view the trees and then vote with money for their favorite tree. Every cent raised through Deck The Trees goes to the Fuel Fund for Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry. Be a part of creating something beautiful that also gives back to the community.  Prizes are awarded for the tree that raises the most money and for the tree that most represents the theme.

Calendar of Events:
Dec. 6, 2019 – Jan. 6, 2020
Visit Deck The Trees from 10 AM to 9 PM

Dec. 9, 4:30 – 7:00 PM
Photos and a Visit with Santa Claus
$15.00 per photo

Dec. 10, 2:00 to 4:00 PM
Deck The Tree Christmas Tea with Highland Farms

January 6, 2020   6:00 to 8:00
A Final Celebration
-Which tree most represents the theme?
-Which tree raised the most money for the Fuel Fund for Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry?

Half-Price Book Sale Pack Library
Jan 3 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Pack Library

All items in Bookends Used Book Store will be half-price for this one day sale. Proceeds benefit the Friends of the Library.

Happy Campers Holiday Arts Extravaganza
Jan 3 @ 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum

January 2 & 3
Asheville Art Museum

Join us for one or both afternoons of art-filled fun. Students in grades 1–4 spend their time creating art of all kinds. All supplies and a snack are provided. Students are encouraged to wear clothes that can get messy. Preregistration is required; register online now, or call 828.253.3227 x124 for more information or to register by phone.

A Wild Food Stroll at The Grove Park Inn
Jan 3 @ 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
The Grove Park Inn

Ready to go WILD? Join us for a trip “off the eaten path.” You’ll learn how to safely gather edible wild plants, mushrooms, and other “extreme cuisine.” Stay for a stunning view of the sunset and enjoy dinner at Vue 1913 featuring a free appetizer with the edibles you met on your tour. Suitable for all ages and abilities. To register or for more info, see here. Three-hour foraging tours also available, year-round, by arrangement.

Wild food is the ultimate natural food: ultra-local, fresher, more flavorful, 10 to 100 times more nutritious than its garden-variety descendants, AND it’s free! With over 300 wild edibles, Western North Carolina is the richest temperate ecosystem on Earth. For a taste of the wild life, forage ahead and experience the life of a modern hunter-gather firsthand. It’s a unique experience in self-catering, a memorable lesson in high-class survival.

Read with J.R. the Therapy Dog!
Jan 3 @ 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Skyland/South Buncombe Library

Read with J.R. the Therapy Dog!

The Skyland Library will host J.R. the Therapy Dog on the 1st Friday of each month. Kids are invited to stop by between 2:30-3:30 pm to practice their reading skills with a gentle, patient and adorable canine friend. J.R. is a certified therapy dog and he can’t wait to meet you! 

Mark Powell presents Firebird
Jan 3 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Malaprop's Bookstore

Firebird Cover Image

In this stunning new literary thriller, a U.S. arms deal gone south takes you into the underground world of political operatives, Ivy League criminals, and a hedge fund billionaire with eyes on the presidency.

Mark Powell has been called the ” best Appalachian novelist of his generation” by Ron Rash, and a writer “on the verge of greatness” by Pat Conroy. He is the author of six novels, including Small Treasons (Simon & Schuster) and The Sheltering (Story River). Powell has received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Breadloaf and Sewanee Writers’ Conferences, and in 2014 was a Fulbright Fellow to Slovakia. In 2009 he received the Chaffin Award for contributions to Appalachian literature. He holds degrees from Yale Divinity School, the University of South Carolina, and the Citadel. He lives in the mountains of North Carolina where he teaches at Appalachian State University.

This event is free and open to the public. We ask that you purchase the books you want to be signed at our events from Malaprop’s. When you do this you are not only supporting the work it takes to run an events program, you are also telling the publishers that they should keep sending authors here. Can’t make it to the store for the event? Call us or order the book on our website in advance, and we’ll get it signed for you. Make sure you write your preferences in the comments if you purchase online.

Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland
Jan 3 @ 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Tryon International Equestrian Center

Shadrack's Christmas Wonderland

Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland presented by Ingles
Tryon Resort is thrilled to be the newest location on the Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland circuit. This two-mile journey weaves through hundreds of thousands of animated Christmas lights coordinated to music for an estimated 30 minutes of holiday enchantment. The Wonderland also features giant, custom-built displays of Santa and his pals on vacation in the mountains, hang gliding, rock climbing, ice fishing, lounging around the campfire, and more. This playful portion of the show is sure to please everyone, young to old.

The tour finishes in Tryon Resort’s Winterfest Village filled with more fun for the whole family. The tour is $25 per carload with additional pricing for group vans and buses available. Tickets are available online in advance or at the exhibit entrance, and discount tickets are available at any Ingles location. Tours are self-driven and open from 6pm-10pm seven days a week beginning November 15, 2019 and ending on January 5, 2020.

Winter Lights at The North Carolina Arboretum
Jan 3 @ 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
The North Carolina Arboretum

Winter Lights

Experience Asheville’s BRIGHTEST holiday tradition at Winter Lights at The North Carolina Arboretum. Open nightly November 22, 2019 – January 4, 2020, from 6 to 10 p.m. Walk through an outdoor winter wonderland and see the Arboretum’s gardens and landscapes dressed in more than half-a-million holiday lights. Listen to the sounds of your favorite holiday tunes or enjoy a cup of holiday-inspired cocoa, cider or beer.

$18-$8. See website for tickets and specials.

Specials

Friends & Family Discount Night – Tuesdays

Tickets are reduced to $15 for adults and $10 for children. Arboretum members receive an additional $2 off each ticket. (Excludes Christmas Eve & New Year’s Eve.)

Available on Thursdays through Saturdays only, this special ticketed event offers visitors the chance to enjoy a holly, jolly ride from downtown Asheville or Biltmore Village to Winter Lights courtesy of The Trolley Company. Upon arrival, guests will receive a complimentary cup of hot chocolate and access to the Winter Lights. Pick-up is at 6:00 p.m. from the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Asheville and 6:15 p.m. from the DoubleTree Hotel in Biltmore Village. Guests will be dropped back off at 9:00 p.m. Tickets are $29.50 per person (children 4 & under are free) and can be purchased through The Trolley Company’s website here(Note: Arboretum member discounts do not apply for this tour). For additional questions, please call Eva Ritchey at The Trolley Company at 828.606.8606.

Greenville Swamp Rabbits vs. Norfolk Admirals
Jan 3 @ 7:00 pm
Bon Secours Wellness Arena

Swamp Rabbits Hockey offers fantastic fun for the whole family! The Greenville Swamp Rabbits play in the South Division of the Eastern Conference of the ECHL, the premiere AA hockey league. The Swamp Rabbits play 36 home games (October-April) and offer endless entertainment opportunities! For more information on Swamp Rabbits hockey, visit swamprabbits.com. Proud affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes.

Washington Capitals at Carolina Hurricanes
Jan 3 @ 7:30 pm
PNC Arena
Queer Fam Circus Jam!
Jan 3 @ 7:45 pm – 9:00 pm
Empyrean Arts

Join us every first Friday of the month for this 75 minute donation-based workshop from 7:45-9pm. $1-$10 sliding scale donations encouraged, all proceeds go directly to the instructor. Arrive a little early for your first visit to the studio (7:30pm) to find parking & sign your waiver. No sign-up required, read more below…

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Empyrean Arts instructor Maddy Battles invites our LGBTQIA+ friends and their friends to an evening of aerial fundamentals and playtime jam. Expect light instruction & guided exploration of the aerial arts. Open to all queer, trans, & non-binary humans ages 14+ as well as 1 friend. Attendees under the age of 18 must be dropped off by a legal guardian for their first visit to the studio. No sign-up required – just bring your fab self and a friend every first Friday of the month at 7:30pm for a fun & affordable 75 minute circus workshop / safe space. $1-$10 sliding scale donation for the instructor’s time.

https://www.facebook.com/events/225698498357332/?event_time_id=225698538357328

Jeff Santiago & Los Gatos
Jan 3 @ 8:00 pm
The Pulp

Tickets at the door.

Life Like Water Black Sea Beat Society
Jan 3 @ 8:00 pm
The Grey Eagle

Life Like Water (Album Release Show)

Spamilton: An American Parody
Jan 3 @ 8:00 pm
Peace Center

Brace yourself for a Singing, Dancing, Comedy Revolution that is chock-full of references to the wonderful world of Broadway!

From the creator of Forbidden Broadway comes the parody of the most talked about Broadway musical phenomenon of the 21st century. Not simply a send-up of the original, this story is interspersed with outrageous references to Chicago, West Side Story, The King And I, Sweeney Todd, and more! Even the stars of the original cast are comically eviscerated and joined by caricatures of living Broadway legends like Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald, Stephen Sondheim, Stephen Schwartz, Barbra Streisand, and Bernadette Peters.

Whether you’re a Broadway aficionado or just like to laugh, there’s something for everyone in this fresh, new musical parody!

Saturday, January 4, 2020
Registration OPEN: 27th Annual Organic Growers School Spring Conference
Jan 4 all-day
Mars Hill University

Get the Early Registration Discount!

Early-registration prices for the 2020 Spring Conference are available through Friday, January 31, 2020.
Beautiful – The Carole King Musical
Jan 4 @ 1:00 am – 3:00 am
Peace Center

Part of the 2019 – 2020 Broadway Season. Learn more about subscribing: http://bit.ly/2J6KMcs.

Beautiful – The Carole King Musical tells the inspiring true story of King’s remarkable rise to stardom, from being part of a hit songwriting team with her husband Gerry Goffin, to her relationship with fellow writers and best friends Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in popular music history. Along the way, she made more than beautiful music, she wrote the soundtrack to a generation.

Featuring a stunning array of beloved songs written by Gerry Goffin/Carole King and Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil, including “I Feel The Earth Move,” “One Fine Day,” “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” “You’ve Got A Friend” and the title song, Beautiful has a book by Tony Award®-nominee and Academy Award®-nominated writer Douglas McGrath, direction by Marc Bruni, choreography by Josh Prince, and took home two 2014 Tony Awards and a 2015 Grammy® Award.

https://www.facebook.com/events/360508881207738/?event_time_id=360508897874403