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.
Get ready to go wild at the library for our annual Summer Learning Program. Join us for Tails & Tales – an exploration of wildlife and fantastical folktales. We’ll have an activity sheet with lots of fun adventures for all ages. You can pick up a sheet at any library starting June 1, or download it HERE. Check our calendar to find our most up to date list of programs all summer long.
The 2021 Summer Learning Program is open to young people, preschool through teen, with books and activities for every age. All library programs are free and open to children of all abilities. Come in and see what the library has for you!
Take your business to the next level.
A comprehensive business innovation program designed to assist for profit, not-for-profit and family owned businesses to take them to the next level of success and sustainability.
August 25 – December 15, 2021
Registration for the 2021 Program now open.
Registration accepted through August 23, 2021.
Blue Ridge Community College and the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce have partnered once again to offer the Mission Acceleration Business Accelerator, a five-month, ten-course program.
August 25, 2021
Business Best Practices and KPI (Key Performance Indicators) Checklist by Department Identifying Opportunities for Acceleration
September 8, 2021
Management and Leadership
September 15, 2021
Human Resources, Legal and Insurance
September 29, 2021
Capital and Purchasing
October 13, 2021
Competition and Competitive Advantage
October 27, 2021
Branding, Marketing and Sales
November 10, 2021
Customer Service and Information Technology
November 17, 2021
Business Logistics: Best ways to meet customer needs
December 1, 2021
Accounting and Finance
December 15, 2021
Business Acceleration Plan Presentation and Graduation
Sessions run Wednesdays, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. except 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on August 25 and December 15, 2021.
Mon-Fri from 2-5pm. You have access to high speed internet, work space and HALF-OFF pastries when you present your college ID.
WILD EDIBLES
BASICS
A gentle introduction to the world of foraging
Join us for a walk through the park as we learn how to identify plants & mushrooms around us and gain valuable experience, hands-on, with whatever we find on our adventure together! We will move at a steady pace as to accommodate anyone new to the world of foraging. I am certain you will come away from this experience with valuable skills and lifelong plant allies. We will walk the French Broad River Park with Mason and Enjoy Your Life! He is an experienced forager and wild foods teacher. He will show you what kind of plants and mushrooms are growing around you, if they are edible, what they might teach us, and how they might be connected with the bigger picture of life on this beautiful planet, Earth.
Dress appropriately to walk and move around the park.
Bring a basket or bag and knife if you’d like to harvest some tasty edibles.
FYI we have found a mushroom on every plant walk to date, but there are no guarantees that we will find mushrooms!
Children are definitely welcome and encouraged!
Dogs are okay if well behaved.
I suggest bringing a notepad and pencil.
Having a camera/phone can help you remember what we identify on our walk.
You can take photos and video of plants and we ask that you might share them on the meet-up event page. Ask permission for photos of people.
Bring water if you need it.
Bring any medicine that you may need and bring ANYTHING you will need to TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.
Bring your curiosity and a willingness to learn and eat new things and I’ll see you there!
Get moving in this high-energy virtual dance bootcamp focusing on Broadway-style choreography. Beginning with a traditional jazz warm-up and center exercises, students will learn new vocabulary, hone their dance skills, and practice picking up fun musical theatre choreography! Learn how to fill your movement with meaning and unleash the fun in expressing yourself through dance!
REGISTRATION OPENS APRIL 19
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| The residents of the Smith-McDowell House and grounds were woven in to the fabric of Asheville.
This driving tour begins at the Smith-McDowell House Museum on the campus of A-B Tech and continues through historic sites related to early occupants of the house. |
NOMINATIONS BEING ACCEPTED FOR THE
2021 THOMAS WOLFE MEMORIAL LITERARY AWARD
The Western North Carolina Historical Association is now accepting nominations for the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award. Originated by the Louis Lipinsky family and now supported by Michael Sartisky, PhD, the Award is a partnership between WNCHA and the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Advisory Committee. It has been presented by WNCHA since 1955. The award comes with a $2,500 cash prize.
The deadline for submission of nominated works is July 31, 2021. Anyone with knowledge of an author who meets the qualification criteria may nominate the author for the award. To be considered, an entry must be a published work of fiction, nonfiction, drama or poetry and meet the following criteria:
- It must be a first edition work; revised editions of published works will not be considered for the Award.
- The publication date must be between July 1, 2020 and July 1, 2021.
- The author must be a native of western North Carolina or a resident of western North Carolina for at least twelve months prior to the closing date for the Award.
- An author may also qualify if the work submitted has a focus on or setting in western North Carolina.
Western North Carolina includes the Qualla Boundary and the following 25 counties: Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, Yadkin, and Yancey.
The Award Panel this year consists of: Catherine Frank, Chair, Director, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville; Dee James, retired Director of the First-Year Writing Program at UNC Asheville; Tom Muir, Historic Site Manager, Thomas Wolfe Memorial; Gordon McKinney, PhD, former president, Appalachian Studies Association; Terry Roberts, PhD, Director, National Paideia Center; Jim Stokely, President, Wilma Dykeman Legacy.
Nomination letters must specify the following eligibility criteria:
- date of publication
- birthplace or residence of author
- setting of work
Nominators should submit a cover letter along with three copies of the work postmarked no later than July 31, 2021 to:
Wolfe Award Committee
℅ Anne Chesky Smith
WNC Historical Association
283 Victoria Road
Asheville, NC 28801
An awards ceremony and reception, in honor of the finalists and 2021 Award recipient, will be held in early December 2021.
The Association presented the first Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award to Wilma Dykeman in 1955 for The French Broad. The Award has continued to be funded, in part, by Mrs. E. Frank Edwin, a member of the Lipinsky family and for the last three years by WNCHA, and the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Advisory Board, both with support from Michael Sartisky, PhD. Other recipients of this prestigious Award include Robert Morgan, Gail Godwin, John Ehle, Robert Brunk, Michael McFee, Lee Smith, Ron Rash, Wayne Caldwell, and Terry Roberts. Sandra Muse Isaacs was the recipient of the 2020 Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award for her book: Eastern Cherokee Stories: A Living Oral Tradition and Its Cultural Continuance.
A year-long program
Individualized to meet you where you are
in your farm business journey
Starting a farm is a formidable challenge, but keeping a farm business going, growing and thriving is even harder! The Journeyperson Program is designed for farmers who have been independently farming for 3 or more years, and are serious about operating farm businesses in the Southern Appalachian region. This program will give you the space and time to work on your business while making connections that deepen your peer-to-peer support.
This 12-month program starts in November 2021 and ends in October 2022.
What is unique about this program?
Participants can use this program as a tangible step toward achieving their farm goals, and make significant contributions to the agricultural community and economy. This program is designed to give tailored guidance and support for your farm business to answer questions of: scale, market access, land access, risk management, understanding cash flow, and enterprise innovation. You will leave this program with a responsive, adaptable business plan to help your farm achieve long-term farm viability and resilience.
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(In a Post Pandemic World)
Take Five and Earn a Certificate!
Online “Live” Instruction Offered each Spring and Fall
Each workshop offers 5.5 SHRM Recertification Credits
Certificate: $625
$159 to $199 per Workshop
Everything from managing remote employees to living in a world where the line has become blurred between what happens online and offline, means what worked last year could be ineffective in the coming years. Managers and supervisors need to learn how to adapt to a compromised economy and an up-and-coming workforce that’s progressively challenging the “status quo” for work ethics and work habits.
Western North Carolina has a rich assortment of county historical societies, archives, and museums. The Western North Carolina Historical Association seeks to help researchers, historians, genealogists, and the general public take full advantage of these resources.
If there’s one thing the pandemic has taught us, it’s to be ready…
Sign up for BC Alerts, and you’ll get emergency information sent directly to you in real time.
Buncombe County residents have a new, customizable solution for receiving notification and emergency alerts. Buncombe County Government is in the initial phase of migrating to the CodeRED community notification system to send important alerts and time-sensitive messages to staff members and residents. Along with emergency and critical messages, the CodeRED notification system will also enhance community engagement via the release of important but non-emergency information such as vaccine site notifications, inclement weather closures and schedule changes, and other county service information.
Sign up for BC Alerts by texting BCAlert (not case sensitive) to 99411 or visit buncombecounty.org/codered to sign up for the new system.
Notice: If residents have previously signed up for BC Alerts, they will need to re-register in order to continue receiving notifications after June. If you have Spectrum as your wireless provider please select Other from the provider list, and scroll down for more frequently asked questions.
“Upon evaluating our previous notification system and other available options, we chose CodeRED for its innovative features, user-friendly platform, and wide-spread adoption rates across the country,” said Communications and Public Engagement Director Lillian Govus. “Their company-owned redundant data centers help ensure every resident’s data is safe and that messages are delivered quickly and reliably to thousands of individuals within minutes. We’re excited to expand our communication channels with residents to include text, phone, email, and social media platforms, providing the information they need to know to make better informed decisions during an emergency.”
CodeRED Key Benefits
CodeRED will deliver several benefits for residents and enable staff to more efficiently manage and distribute notifications before, during, and after emergency and non-emergency events:
- Registration for this notification service is customized, allowing residents to choose which alerts they’d like to receive, as well as their preferred channel.
- Residents can select several different methods including landline, cell phone, email, text message, TTY, or even a combination. These alerts can be specific to streets, neighborhoods or regions, so individuals within affected areas are sure to receive relevant information.
- Residents and visitors can keep track of alerts in Buncombe County with the CodeRED Mobile App, which notifies smartphone holders of real-time alerts in the area. Similar to the online registration, users choose which notifications they’d like to receive via the app.
- Staff members can also use the system to communicate emergency information with one another. This will help us ensure our emergency response and daily operations are even more efficient.
All residents are encouraged to visit buncombecounty.org/codered or text BCAlert to 99411 to enroll in the CodeRED system. For more information on the CodeRED notification system or registration, please contact [email protected]. or call CodeRED support at 1-866-939-0911.
About CodeRED from OnSolve
OnSolve is a leading global provider of SaaS-based critical communication solutions for enterprise, SMB, and government customers. The company’s CodeRED™ solution provides high-speed notification services capable of reaching millions of people in minutes and has applied its mission-critical capabilities to government, commercial, healthcare and other end markets. More information can be found on the company’s website at www.onsolve.com.
Get ready to go wild at the library for our annual Summer Learning Program. Join us for Tails & Tales – an exploration of wildlife and fantastical folktales. We’ll have an activity sheet with lots of fun adventures for all ages. You can pick up a sheet at any library starting June 1, or download it HERE. Check our calendar to find our most up to date list of programs all summer long.
The 2021 Summer Learning Program is open to young people, preschool through teen, with books and activities for every age. All library programs are free and open to children of all abilities. Come in and see what the library has for you!
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| Contained by its larger growing neighbor (Asheville), the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers, and the Southern Railway line, the Town of Victoria existed from 1887 until 1905, when it was absorbed into Asheville. The community—which included the Smith-McDowell House and Fernihurst mansion—originally incorporated into a town to prevent unwanted development (particularly from the Vanderbilts). |
Asheville’s economic and building boom of the 1920s created a rarified atmosphere unique within Western North Carolina. Douglas Ellington is known as the architect who changed Asheville into an Art Deco showplace. With his ability to combine architectural styles he produced a series of one of a kind buildings—buildings which changed the face of Asheville—the City Building, Asheville High School, First Baptist Church and S&W Cafeteria. Douglas Ellington: Asheville’s Boomtown Architect presents a look at his iconic Asheville creations along with other buildings he completed throughout his career in other cities.
WINNER of a 2014 Griffin Award for Excellence in Education from the Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County
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Take your business to the next level.
A comprehensive business innovation program designed to assist for profit, not-for-profit and family owned businesses to take them to the next level of success and sustainability.
August 25 – December 15, 2021
Registration for the 2021 Program now open.
Registration accepted through August 23, 2021.
Blue Ridge Community College and the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce have partnered once again to offer the Mission Acceleration Business Accelerator, a five-month, ten-course program.
August 25, 2021
Business Best Practices and KPI (Key Performance Indicators) Checklist by Department Identifying Opportunities for Acceleration
September 8, 2021
Management and Leadership
September 15, 2021
Human Resources, Legal and Insurance
September 29, 2021
Capital and Purchasing
October 13, 2021
Competition and Competitive Advantage
October 27, 2021
Branding, Marketing and Sales
November 10, 2021
Customer Service and Information Technology
November 17, 2021
Business Logistics: Best ways to meet customer needs
December 1, 2021
Accounting and Finance
December 15, 2021
Business Acceleration Plan Presentation and Graduation
Sessions run Wednesdays, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. except 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on August 25 and December 15, 2021.
In this week-long, half-day summer theatre camp, students will explore the joys of acting and theatre arts! With a fun combination of training, rehearsal, and performance, young artists will learn the foundations of theatre through engaging acting, voice, movement, and art activities. With a focus on imagination, improvisation, characterization, and collaboration, students will discover new tools for expression and apply these skills in a short performance presented at the end of the week for a small audience. This week is perfectly suited for imaginative students who are excited to collaborate with peers and professionals and interested in expanding their theatre skill set. No previous experience required. Space is limited.
REGISTRATION OPENS APRIL 19
Outside In: Bring the outside in! Students explore art and artists inspired by nature and their surroundings. From birds and bugs to sculptures and paintings, students observe and create art of their own.
Please note:
- Summer Art Camp is held primarily indoors in the Museum’s John & Robyn Horn Education Center.
- Space is limited to small groups of students; face coverings, social distancing, and frequent hand-washing/sanitization are required.
Join the Museum for Summer Art Camp in our bright and spacious studio! Camp is offered to rising kindergarten through 12th-grade students. All classes are age-appropriate. Sessions include drawing, painting, mixed-media, and more. Enrollment is limited, and pre-registration is required.
Maud Gatewood, From the Lowgrounds, 1983, acrylic on canvas, 31 3/4 × 35 5/8 inches. Gift of Drs. Robert & Priscilla Bleke, 2011.09.24. © Estate of Maud Gatewood.
Tanglewood Summer Camp
Tanglewood Youth Theatre has long been a successful and inspirational part of children’s creative education in Western North Carolina. Our theatre camp has been extremely popular and is well-suited for any young person interested in exploring the exciting world of theatre. Our faculty represents some of the finest talent in the area, and we are thrilled to have them at Tanglewood.
For each session, classes include acting, music, movement, film, and design. Each session ends with a showcase for family and friends!
For ages 8-13:
All camp sessions will meet 9:00 am – 3:00 pm. Each session will enroll up to 30 students total split into 3 groups of 10 students. Masks will be required. This summer, there will not be a final showcase for an audience of family and friends. Tuition: $275 / Scholarships available.
Placement audition video may be required to assess student’s experience. Contact Program Director Kylie Irvin at [email protected]
Separate workshops for students in grades 1-3 and grades 4-9
9-3pm Monday-Friday and Friday performance at the end of camp $300
Early and late care available for an additional fee of $50 (7:45am drop off and 5pm pick up)
This is a circus theme/movie musical of “The Greatest Showman.” Do you have any hidden talents? Can you bend yourself in half? Do you like learning skills such as balancing, juggling, singing, dancing, clowning, or miming? Maybe you love to do makeup?
Clowning around is SERIOUS business. Come to this week of camp and you won’t be disappointed; there is something for everybody! Learn musical numbers from the show and create a real circus of a good time.
As part of the YWCA’s commitment to eliminating racism, we have launched a weekly virtual Social Justice Hangout Hour hosted by Tre Williams, YWCA Racial Justice Advocate + RJC Member. These Friday gatherings, from noon to 1 pm, serve as a space to discuss relevant topics, raise awareness around racial equity and justice, engage with community members, meet local leaders in the freedom struggle, and just vibe.
Click the button below to attend on Fridays between noon and 1 pm or join via Facebook. ATTEND THE HANGOUT
Let’s Build: Grab your tools and get ready to build! Students create three-dimensional sculptures big and small using a range of materials such as foam, paint, wood, recyclables, and Model Magic to create a range of unique artworks inspired by artists in the Museum’s Collection.
Please note:
- Summer Art Camp is held primarily indoors in the Museum’s John & Robyn Horn Education Center.
- Space is limited to small groups of students; face coverings, social distancing, and frequent hand-washing/sanitization are required.
Join the Museum for Summer Art Camp in our bright and spacious studio! Camp is offered to rising kindergarten through 12th-grade students. All classes are age-appropriate. Sessions include drawing, painting, mixed-media, and more. Enrollment is limited, and pre-registration is required.
Bryant Holsenbeck, Bird Nest Basket, 1999, mixed media, 6 × 11 1/2 × 10 inches. Gift of Billie Ruth Sudduth, 2010.10.02.58. © Bryant Holsenbeck.
Mon-Fri from 2-5pm. You have access to high speed internet, work space and HALF-OFF pastries when you present your college ID.
Peer Support
Group meetings: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 2:00 – 3:00 PM
Please contact us for individual services at 828.388.7979, Option #2
Through the “lived-experience” of our peer support specialists, we will assist, encourage, empower and advocate with others on their journey to finding their own path to recovery. Recovery is possible but is not meant to do alone. We do recover together.
About Hope Coalition
Hope Coalition is a grassroots effort initiated by the Henderson County Partnership for Health in 2013 as a community collaborative to educate, evaluate, and implement evidence-based models on substance misuse and underage drinking in Henderson County by building capacity and creating long-term and sustainable plans that are action-oriented and focus on community level change.
Appalachian Forest Plants & Trees on the Mountains 2 Sea trail
A gentle introduction to the world of foraging
Join us for a walk through an Appalachian Oak Hickory Forest as we learn how to identify plants & tree around us and gain valuable experience, hands-on, with whatever we find on our adventure together! We will move at a steady pace & I am certain you will come away from this experience with valuable skills and lifelong plant allies.
Learn more about Mason Oak at http://www.friendofplants.com
DIRECTIONS TO LOCATION
From Asheville-
drive up the BRParkway until the BullGap Exit & sign for weaverville, turn left onto Elk Mountain scenic parkway. You will see cars off the road at the first switchback. Park here.
From Weaverville-
take Reems creek to right turn on ox creek, drive 4 miles up to the BRP. Once you make it to Elk MTN Scenic Parkway, turn left through the open gate towards the BRParkway. After the first switchback, you should see cars parked on the roadside – park here. If you get to the parkway you went too far.
EVENT DETAILS – please read!!
We will walk the Mountains to Sea (MTS) with Mason and Enjoy Your Life! He is an experienced forager and wild foods teacher. He will show you what kind of plants, trees & mushrooms are growing around you, if they are edible or medicinal, what they might teach us, and how they might be connected with the bigger picture of life on this beautiful planet, Earth.
Dress appropriately to walk and move around the forest.
Bring a basket or bag and knife if you’d like to harvest some tasty edibles.
Children are definitely welcome and encouraged!
Dogs are okay if well behaved.
I suggest bringing a notepad and pencil.
Having a camera/phone can help you remember what we identify on our walk.
You can take photos and video of plants and we ask that you might share them on the meet-up event page. Ask permission for photos of people.
Bring water if you need it.
Bring any medicine that you may need and bring ANYTHING you will need to TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.
Bring your curiosity, an open mind and a willingness to learn – I’ll see you there!
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
A FREE book mailed to your child, every month!
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library mails an age-appropriate book monthly to enrolled children ages 0-5. Do you live in Henderson County and have a child younger than 5? Register today and your child can receive a free book in the mail each month until his/her fifth birthday!
How Do I Enroll My Child?
Enrolling your child is easy! You can register your child electronically (click for online registration) or call us at 828-693-1580 and we will mail you a hard copy of the registration form to complete and return to us.
When does the first book arrive?
If you enroll your child in person, we will give your child his/her first book. If not, your child will begin receiving books through the U.S. Postal Services six-eight weeks after the registration form has been received. If you move, please contact Smart Start at 828-693-1580 to notify us of your change in address so your child can continue receiving books.
Is there ever a cost to me?
NO! Through the generous support of the NC General Assembly and donations and grants from individuals and businesses in our community, this is a FREE program.
Annual Survey
Annually, some parents will be asked to complete a short survey. The survey will only take a few minutes to complete. Results will be used to make sure the program is getting results for families. If asked, please consider completing the short questionnaire. Thank you!
Do you have questions about Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Henderson County? Check out the Frequently Asked Questions here. If you still have questions, feel free to contact Smart Start Partnership for Children using the contact information below.
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| The residents of the Smith-McDowell House and grounds were woven in to the fabric of Asheville.
This driving tour begins at the Smith-McDowell House Museum on the campus of A-B Tech and continues through historic sites related to early occupants of the house. |