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.
The North Carolina Arboretum is going wild for art and nature in 2021 with Wild Art! On view April 1 through September 26, this outdoor sculpture exhibition features works by 17 local and national artists drawing inspiration from the natural environment. Situated throughout the Arboretum’s spacious, open-air gardens, the show offers guests a doorway into the wild world from the comfort and safety of cultivated landscapes transformed by art.
The 18 sculptures on display represent a variety of approaches to the theme of “wild art,” from the literal to the abstract, and are crafted from a diverse array of materials that will delight and inspire. Let your imagination take you on a wild journey into the world of plants and animals near and far with Wild Art at The North Carolina Arboretum.
The exhibit is available to all guests during normal Arboretum hours, and there is no admission cost to view the sculptures beyond our usual parking fee of $16 per personal vehicle.
Included with admission
Our fun-for-all-ages botanical model train displays invite you to experience our grounds in an engaging new way. Located in the Conservatory in the Walled Garden, the displays feature replicas of structures connected with Biltmore and its founder George Vanderbilt. Each beautifully executed piece was handcrafted from such natural elements as leaves, bark, and twigs.
In compliance with state and local mandates related to COVID-19, all guests must enter the Conservatory via the ADA entrance in the back and follow a one-way route.
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Get out your tissues … This June, two of our staff members are following their hearts to be closer to their families. Chanda Calentine will be heading north to Kentucky, and Jerry Crouch will be moving south to South Carolina. Both Chanda and Jerry have shaped ACT in a myriad of ways, and it really is the understatement of the year to say that our theatre will be a very different place without these two. So let’s get together to send them off with love, good wishes, cheers, and a little more love! Please join us on Monday, June 14 from 4:00-6:00 pm at The Boat House at Smoky Park Supper Club. PS – The cash bar will be open! All are welcome! You should come! |
A Monthly Concert Series WE’RE BACK!!! NOTE FROM ROBIN: Because of the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic, all live performances after March of last year had to be cancelled or postponed…including our brand new monthly concert series Carolina Celtic at White Horse Black Mountain. (We did manage to get the first concert, with Al Petteway, in under the wire before the pandemic forced us to cancel all the others – we were off to a great start, too, with a full house and a great show!) Now, with the development of vaccines and the gradual, cautious lifting of restrictions, we’re delighted to be STARTING BACK UP AGAIN as of June 2021. Whatever restrictions are in place in North Carolina at any given time will be in effect at White Horse Black Mountain – as I write this in April 2021, White Horse is open to live audiences at a limited capacity – but all Carolina Celtic concerts will also be livestreamed and archived on www.whitehorseblackmountain.com, as will all future shows at White Horse, so come join us wherever you are! – RB The award-winning Celtic duo of harpist Sue Richards and guitarist Robin Bullock, in partnership with White Horse Black Mountain, are proud to present CAROLINA CELTIC, a monthly concert series in Black Mountain, North Carolina. Carolina Celtic showcases Irish and Scottish musical traditions and explores their commonality with the Appalachian ballads and stories of the Carolina mountains. The concerts take place at White Horse Black Mountain (details and contact info below) the second Monday of every month at 7:30 pm ET. Every month Sue and Robin collaborate with a different guest artist, ensuring that no two Carolina Celtic concerts are the same. The inaugural season’s lineup of world-class musical guests is nothing short of extraordinary.
Gardening in the Mountains Presents:
Creating and Managing Pollinator Habitat
This presentation by Bryan Tompkins, Wildlife Biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service covers specific details about prepping, planting, and maintaining pollinator gardens as complete habitats. It will also discuss different opportunities and methods for implementing other pollinator-habitat components into your area—from assessing and developing a habitat suitable to your site to working with others in your neighborhood to create connected and contiguous habitat components. Bryan takes a deeper look into the elements and factors that are needed to go beyond just creating a nice flower garden. Armed with the information in this talk, you can create a habitat!
The North Carolina Arboretum is going wild for art and nature in 2021 with Wild Art! On view April 1 through September 26, this outdoor sculpture exhibition features works by 17 local and national artists drawing inspiration from the natural environment. Situated throughout the Arboretum’s spacious, open-air gardens, the show offers guests a doorway into the wild world from the comfort and safety of cultivated landscapes transformed by art.
The 18 sculptures on display represent a variety of approaches to the theme of “wild art,” from the literal to the abstract, and are crafted from a diverse array of materials that will delight and inspire. Let your imagination take you on a wild journey into the world of plants and animals near and far with Wild Art at The North Carolina Arboretum.
The exhibit is available to all guests during normal Arboretum hours, and there is no admission cost to view the sculptures beyond our usual parking fee of $16 per personal vehicle.
Included with admission
Our fun-for-all-ages botanical model train displays invite you to experience our grounds in an engaging new way. Located in the Conservatory in the Walled Garden, the displays feature replicas of structures connected with Biltmore and its founder George Vanderbilt. Each beautifully executed piece was handcrafted from such natural elements as leaves, bark, and twigs.
In compliance with state and local mandates related to COVID-19, all guests must enter the Conservatory via the ADA entrance in the back and follow a one-way route.
Every other Tuesday we gather at one of several local establishments for some tacos and conversation. The restaurant of choice will be posted each week.
What we’re about
Common Blue Ridge Mountain activities with old and new friends through public and private events. Giving to and celebrating life in positive ways…Share what nourishes us socially, spiritually, physically or emotionally. You will find a variety of activities…
Volunteering, Hiking, Camping, Mtn Bike Rides, Motorcycle Riders, Fishing, Game Nights, Campfires, Karaoke, Visits to Local Establishment of all types (Food, Activities, Concerts, and much more).
OUTDOOR SHOW
Join us on Tuesday nights for Magnetic’s signature variety show. There will be an exciting mix of comedy, music, theatre, dance, magic and more! Smoky Park Supper Club is offering us their beautiful outdoor venue, and will be selling food and drinks. The event is BYOC (bring your own chair), and we will, of course, be following strict Covid safety protocols. We can’t wait to see you there!
Join us Tuesday nights, beginning April 13th, as The Magnetic Theatre teams up with the wizards at Smoky Park Supper Club to host a live, outdoor variety show. We’ll be filling Smoky Park’s gorgeous, riverside outdoor space with comedy, theatre, music and so much more.
There will be food and beverages available for purchase.
- This is a BYOC (Bring-Your-Own-Chair) event.
- In accordance with safety guidelines this show will be staged outdoors, with mask and social distancing protocols enforced. There will also be temperature checks and COVID waivers that need to be signed by each attendee at the gate.
- Please arrive at least 15 minutes before the 7pm showtime.
- We do require that masks be worn at all times unless you are actively eating or drinking.
Gardening in the Mountains Presents:
Creating and Managing Pollinator Habitat
This presentation by Bryan Tompkins, Wildlife Biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service covers specific details about prepping, planting, and maintaining pollinator gardens as complete habitats. It will also discuss different opportunities and methods for implementing other pollinator-habitat components into your area—from assessing and developing a habitat suitable to your site to working with others in your neighborhood to create connected and contiguous habitat components. Bryan takes a deeper look into the elements and factors that are needed to go beyond just creating a nice flower garden. Armed with the information in this talk, you can create a habitat!
The North Carolina Arboretum is going wild for art and nature in 2021 with Wild Art! On view April 1 through September 26, this outdoor sculpture exhibition features works by 17 local and national artists drawing inspiration from the natural environment. Situated throughout the Arboretum’s spacious, open-air gardens, the show offers guests a doorway into the wild world from the comfort and safety of cultivated landscapes transformed by art.
The 18 sculptures on display represent a variety of approaches to the theme of “wild art,” from the literal to the abstract, and are crafted from a diverse array of materials that will delight and inspire. Let your imagination take you on a wild journey into the world of plants and animals near and far with Wild Art at The North Carolina Arboretum.
The exhibit is available to all guests during normal Arboretum hours, and there is no admission cost to view the sculptures beyond our usual parking fee of $16 per personal vehicle.
Included with admission
Our fun-for-all-ages botanical model train displays invite you to experience our grounds in an engaging new way. Located in the Conservatory in the Walled Garden, the displays feature replicas of structures connected with Biltmore and its founder George Vanderbilt. Each beautifully executed piece was handcrafted from such natural elements as leaves, bark, and twigs.
In compliance with state and local mandates related to COVID-19, all guests must enter the Conservatory via the ADA entrance in the back and follow a one-way route.
“Shine and Dine” on the railway! We cordially invite you to hop on board The Carolina Shine, GSMR’s All-Adult First Class Moonshine Car! We will be proudly serving hand crafted, triple-distilled, craft moonshine. Some of the smoothest tasting moonshine in the Carolinas!
Offered on the Nantahala Gorge excursion, this shine and dine experience begins in a renovated First Class train fleet car, The Carolina Shine. The interior features copper lined walls filled with the history of moonshining in North Carolina. Learn about the proud tradition that the Appalachians established when bootlegging was an acceptable way of life and local home brews were the best in town. Read about Swain County’s very own Major Redmond, the most famous mountain moonshine outlaw of the 19th century.
Once your appetite for knowledge is satisfied, enjoy sample tastings of flavors like Apple Pie, Blackberry, Blueberry, Cherry, Peach, and Strawberry moonshine. If the samples are not enough, there will be plenty of Moonshine infused cocktails like Copper Cola or Moonshiner’s Mimosa available for purchase. GSMR is excited to feature multiple craft NC based distilleries to serve our guests only the best! Each jar is handcrafted and authentically infused with real fruit, the way moonshine was meant to be made. Passengers will also enjoy a full service All-Adult First Class ride with an attendant and a specialty boxed lunch. During the month of October. 9am and 2pm departures. 9am will feature the option of a delicious Sausage & Bacon Quiche or Cheesy Ham Hash Brown Casserole. The 2pm departure will be serving the popular BBQ meal.
| Diesel | $109.00 ($114.00 October) | Not Permitted |
| Steam | $119.00 ($126.00 October) | Not Permitted |
| Locomotive | Adult (21+ Only) | Under 21 |
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How to Purchase
You can purchase your tickets online or call our reservations department at (800) 872-4681. Or, you can purchase your tickets the day of in the Bryson City Depot. No matter how you purchase tickets, they’ll be waiting at will call.
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For the past year, a team of artists and archivists collaborated to transform the Buncombe County Special Collections into a space that is welcoming, accessible, and encourages our community to engage with history. After months of work, BCSC, Engaging Collections, and Different Wrld are proud to present Honey Simone’s Carolina Record Shop. The Record Shop is an installation of images, stories, oral histories, and other materials from BCSC’s collections, including the Black Asheville History Collection and Andrea Clark’s image collection, among others. This lunch and learn style event will feature a panel discussion including Honey Simone (Different Wrld), Katherine Calhoun Cutshall (Buncombe County Special Collections), and Lydia See (Engaging Collections). Jefferson Ellison (JAWBREAKING) will moderate. Join us to learn more about the process of creating the Carolina Record Shop, transforming the Buncombe County Special Collections, and how everyone in our community can be an archivist. Lunch is provided, and capacity is limited to the first 20 registrants. |
The Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SSARE) program will be offering a free webinar this summer discussing its Producer Grants program.
“Testing Sustainable Ag Ideas on the Farm” is designed for farmers, ranchers and farmer groups in the Southern region interested in sustainable agriculture research to learn more about SSARE’s Producer Grants. These grants are a funding opportunity for farmers in the Southern region to test sustainable agriculture ideas on their farm by conducting research projects.
The 60-minute Power Point webinar session, including a Q&A, will be held on two dates: June 16 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. EST, and August 18 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. EST.
Farmers may register for either webinar session at the following link: https://forms.gle/uWengWwQfzaAdSHb6
While the Producer Grants are strictly for farmers/ranchers and farmer groups, ag professionals and other interested individuals/groups may also attend to learn more about the Producer Grant process and share the information with their audiences.
Registrants will receive a Zoom invite via email. The webinar will be recorded and posted to the Southern SARE website at a later date for those who are unable to attend.
The webinar will cover the following topics:
- An overview of the SSARE program (who we are and what we do);
- Basic information on Producer Grants (qualification requirements and selecting a research topic);
- Details of the Call for Proposals covering each section of the Call, including setting up a research project, budgets and outreach;
- How a proposal is reviewed and why proposals are rejected;
- Tips for writing a strong proposal; and
- Step-by-step instructions for submitting a proposal to SSARE’s online submission system.
Recognizing the value and importance of on-the-farm, producer experience in developing solutions to agricultural production challenges, the SSARE Producer Grant program was established in 1994 to give farmers the opportunity to conduct their own research projects. The goal of the grant program is for farmers/ranchers to conduct sustainable ag projects to solve challenges and problems they face, and develop information on what works and doesn’t work so that other farmers and ranchers facing those same problems can benefit from the results of the funded project.
SSARE’s Producer Grant Call for Proposals opens in September 2021 with proposals selected for funding in February 2022.
Join us EVERY Wednesday night for Kid’s Night! Children receive a free four-count kid’s meal with the purchase of an adult meal. See you on Wednesdays!
Looking to get involved, stay active, and meet some new friends? Sand Hill Community Garden workdays take place on Wednesdays (6-8 p.m.) and Saturdays (10 a.m.-noon) from Feb. 27-Oct. 30, 2021, at Buncombe County Sports Park. The garden is located on 16 Apac Dr. in West Asheville/Enka-Candler.
Join friends and neighbors as they come together on common ground to raise fresh, organic vegetables and fruits for the Enka community.
Expect to wear a mask and maintain social distance throughout. Tools and hand sanitizer are available, but any gloves, loppers, pruners, or gardening tools you can bring will decrease the amount of contact between volunteers. Please wear work clothes to get dirty and closed-toe shoes. Sunscreen, water, and a hat are also handy items to have on hand.
Sand Hill Community Garden has been growing fresh produce since 2011 and raised over 1,200 lbs. of organic produce last year.
NOTE: Community workdays are weather dependent. Please join the community garden email list (send your info to [email protected]) to stay up on workday tasks and other garden news.
To receive the I Heart Parks monthly newsletter, sign up online. Follow Buncombe County Recreation on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.
Head full of useless knowledge? Now’s your time to shine! Join us every Wednesday starting at 6:30pm for a night of interactive trivia perfect for all skill levels. Live scoring, music rounds, photo rounds and even themed categories!
Gardening in the Mountains Presents:
Creating and Managing Pollinator Habitat
This presentation by Bryan Tompkins, Wildlife Biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service covers specific details about prepping, planting, and maintaining pollinator gardens as complete habitats. It will also discuss different opportunities and methods for implementing other pollinator-habitat components into your area—from assessing and developing a habitat suitable to your site to working with others in your neighborhood to create connected and contiguous habitat components. Bryan takes a deeper look into the elements and factors that are needed to go beyond just creating a nice flower garden. Armed with the information in this talk, you can create a habitat!
The North Carolina Arboretum is going wild for art and nature in 2021 with Wild Art! On view April 1 through September 26, this outdoor sculpture exhibition features works by 17 local and national artists drawing inspiration from the natural environment. Situated throughout the Arboretum’s spacious, open-air gardens, the show offers guests a doorway into the wild world from the comfort and safety of cultivated landscapes transformed by art.
The 18 sculptures on display represent a variety of approaches to the theme of “wild art,” from the literal to the abstract, and are crafted from a diverse array of materials that will delight and inspire. Let your imagination take you on a wild journey into the world of plants and animals near and far with Wild Art at The North Carolina Arboretum.
The exhibit is available to all guests during normal Arboretum hours, and there is no admission cost to view the sculptures beyond our usual parking fee of $16 per personal vehicle.
Included with admission
Our fun-for-all-ages botanical model train displays invite you to experience our grounds in an engaging new way. Located in the Conservatory in the Walled Garden, the displays feature replicas of structures connected with Biltmore and its founder George Vanderbilt. Each beautifully executed piece was handcrafted from such natural elements as leaves, bark, and twigs.
In compliance with state and local mandates related to COVID-19, all guests must enter the Conservatory via the ADA entrance in the back and follow a one-way route.
Virtual attendance via Zoom video and audio internet connection
Presenter: Phil Roudebush, Extension Master GardenerSM Volunteer
This presentation outlines the use of natural and organic pesticides including soaps and oils, botanicals, minerals, and biopesticides (microbials). Pests are any unwanted living organism found in your home, garden, or landscape. While a good pest management plan will start with preventative, cultural, and other non-chemical methods, a pesticide may also be considered. Selection guidelines, proper use, and reasons for pesticide failures will be discussed.
Registration: The talk is free but registration is required. Please click on the link below to register. If you encounter problems registering or if you have questions, call 828-255-5522.
“Shine and Dine” on the railway! We cordially invite you to hop on board The Carolina Shine, GSMR’s All-Adult First Class Moonshine Car! We will be proudly serving hand crafted, triple-distilled, craft moonshine. Some of the smoothest tasting moonshine in the Carolinas!
Offered on the Nantahala Gorge excursion, this shine and dine experience begins in a renovated First Class train fleet car, The Carolina Shine. The interior features copper lined walls filled with the history of moonshining in North Carolina. Learn about the proud tradition that the Appalachians established when bootlegging was an acceptable way of life and local home brews were the best in town. Read about Swain County’s very own Major Redmond, the most famous mountain moonshine outlaw of the 19th century.
Once your appetite for knowledge is satisfied, enjoy sample tastings of flavors like Apple Pie, Blackberry, Blueberry, Cherry, Peach, and Strawberry moonshine. If the samples are not enough, there will be plenty of Moonshine infused cocktails like Copper Cola or Moonshiner’s Mimosa available for purchase. GSMR is excited to feature multiple craft NC based distilleries to serve our guests only the best! Each jar is handcrafted and authentically infused with real fruit, the way moonshine was meant to be made. Passengers will also enjoy a full service All-Adult First Class ride with an attendant and a specialty boxed lunch. During the month of October. 9am and 2pm departures. 9am will feature the option of a delicious Sausage & Bacon Quiche or Cheesy Ham Hash Brown Casserole. The 2pm departure will be serving the popular BBQ meal.
| Diesel | $109.00 ($114.00 October) | Not Permitted |
| Steam | $119.00 ($126.00 October) | Not Permitted |
| Locomotive | Adult (21+ Only) | Under 21 |
|---|
How to Purchase
You can purchase your tickets online or call our reservations department at (800) 872-4681. Or, you can purchase your tickets the day of in the Bryson City Depot. No matter how you purchase tickets, they’ll be waiting at will call.
The Annual Meeting is the crowning event of our Chamber year, and we invite you to join us for dinner and a celebration of achievement and inspiration on the Biltmore Estate.
Presented by First Citizens Bank, The Van Winkle Law Firm, AdventHealth, and Pratt & Whitney, this event will be hosted in three venues: Deerpark, Lioncrest and Amherst at Deerpark. All guests will be able to view the program and award presentations.
Guests should arrive by 5:00 pm; to be seated for dinner by 5:15 pm. Enjoy classic hits from past decades by the Jim Arrendell Duo while you greet other guests.
The Chamber recognizes that individuals and businesses alike are in various stages of returning to “normal” while adhering to health restrictions. Thanks to the support of our members who provide audio/visual technology, we will be able to have guests join us virtually for the program and awards. While the ticket price for virtual guests does not include the dinner, it does help to defray our costs for offering this option.
Menu
Salad: Strawberry Parmesan, Artisan Greens, Marcona Almonds, White Balsamic Vinaigrette
Entree: Cola Braised Beef Short Rib with Seasonal Vegetable and Potato
Dessert: Double Chocolate Cheesecake
Awards to be presented at the Annual Meeting:
- Excellence in Public Service Award – presented by First Bank
- Small Business Leader of the Year – presented by HomeTrust Bank
- President’s Award – presented by Roberts & Stevens
- Family Business Award – presented by UNC Asheville Family Business Forum
Gardening in the Mountains Presents:
Creating and Managing Pollinator Habitat
This presentation by Bryan Tompkins, Wildlife Biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service covers specific details about prepping, planting, and maintaining pollinator gardens as complete habitats. It will also discuss different opportunities and methods for implementing other pollinator-habitat components into your area—from assessing and developing a habitat suitable to your site to working with others in your neighborhood to create connected and contiguous habitat components. Bryan takes a deeper look into the elements and factors that are needed to go beyond just creating a nice flower garden. Armed with the information in this talk, you can create a habitat!
The North Carolina Arboretum is going wild for art and nature in 2021 with Wild Art! On view April 1 through September 26, this outdoor sculpture exhibition features works by 17 local and national artists drawing inspiration from the natural environment. Situated throughout the Arboretum’s spacious, open-air gardens, the show offers guests a doorway into the wild world from the comfort and safety of cultivated landscapes transformed by art.
The 18 sculptures on display represent a variety of approaches to the theme of “wild art,” from the literal to the abstract, and are crafted from a diverse array of materials that will delight and inspire. Let your imagination take you on a wild journey into the world of plants and animals near and far with Wild Art at The North Carolina Arboretum.
The exhibit is available to all guests during normal Arboretum hours, and there is no admission cost to view the sculptures beyond our usual parking fee of $16 per personal vehicle.