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, December 23, 2021
The Holly Jolly Christmas Trolley Tour
Dec 23 @ 7:00 pm – 8:15 pm
Departs From: Olde World Christmas Shoppe

  • FACE COVERINGS REQUIRED ONBOARD AT ALL TIMES.

    Highlights

    • Hop on board the Holly Jolly Christmas Trolley for a fun and festive celebration of the season featuring the sights and sounds of the holidays!
    • 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!

    Good to Know

    • Haven’t been caroling in a while?  Not to worry! Songbooks will be provided for use during the tour.
    • Please note, you will see Christmas lights on this tour, however, it is not a “lights tour.” Caroling and storytelling take center stage on the Holly Jolly Trolley.
    • Trolleys are heated and enclosed with clear vinyl roll-down curtains.

    Exclusions

     

    • Gratuities
City Dance
Dec 23 @ 7:30 pm
Landmark Hal

Beginner’s workshop lesson at 7:30 P.M., then 8-11 P.M. Contra Dance with Country Waltzing at the break and the final dance. This is a partner dance but it’s not necessary to come with a partner. We have different live bands and callers.

Peter Mayer Ring Out The Bells – A Stars + Promises
Dec 23 @ 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Crest Center and Pavilion

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Peter Mayer, singer, songwriter and guitarist is set to embark on the 22nd anniversary of his widely acclaimed Christmas tour “Stars and Promises.” Mayer has released 25 of his own albums, toured internationally with his own band, and has been lead guitarist for Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer band for three decades.

PINK BEDS + FRIENDS: THE NAUGHTY LIST THROWDOWN
Dec 23 @ 8:00 pm
The Grey Eagle

Pink Beds & Friends: The Naughty List Throwdown

PINK BEDS

“What started out as a casual jam to entertain a keg party has morphed itself into one of the most intriguing new musical acts in Western North Carolina.

Aiken, a Brevard native, now fronts an Asheville group that stands at the intersection of indie rock, psychedelic folk and cerebral pop. It’s a seamless blend, more so a vibrant flow, that harkens back to the sounds of early 2000s indie icons The Strokes and Keane, with a thick thread leading to the melodic camps of Tame Impala and Snow Patrol.”

— Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone Contributing Writer

 

BILLINGSLEY

Billingsley is a Rock and Roll power trio from Asheville, North Carolina. The band is made up of brothers Wilson, Grant, and Bennett and features elements of Funk, R&B, Jazz, and Rock. The band’s music emphasizes a fundamental balance between catchy hooks, seamless vocal harmonies, and seasoned musicianship.

 

Billingsley’s signature sound has been likened to the sounds you would get if you took the music of The Eagles, Coldplay, Sublime, and Foo Fighters and threw them all in a blender at full-blast. There’s a lot of broken machinery, some screaming, and a little blood.

 

Guitar, Vocals / Wilson Billingsley

Bass, Vocals / Grant Billingsley

Drums, Vocals / Bennett Billingsley

POCKET STRANGE

A cosmic adventure into deep pockets. Rummaging through keys, change and all things weird. Searching for the coin that turns the meter. Exploring untrodden terrain to shed light on the hidden parts of the soul.

 

So sit back and relax, it’s gonna get strange.

A Jazz Piano Christmas with the Bill Bares Trio + Special Guests
Dec 23 @ 8:30 pm
Isis Music Hall--The Main Stage

What better way to get you in the mood for Christmas Eve than selections from Vince Guaraldi’s “A Charlie Brown Christmas” played live by consummate pros Dr. Bill Bares (piano), Zack Page (bass) and Alan Hall (drums).  Special guests and other seasonal favorites will round out an event full of goodwill and holiday cheer.

Weekly 30 Minute Meditation for Moms
Dec 23 @ 9:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Online w/ Awakening Asheville

Hosted by Sahaja Yoga Meditation DFW
Join this FREE evening session for Meditation, specifically for Moms.

About this Event
We are creating this Meditation space for moms 💟 that can help
🤲 create a supportive community of moms who can come together and meditate
🤲 build a meditation routine
🤲 implement self-care, and take pause in hectic lives
🤲 bring calmness and balance that can reflect on kids and household
🤲 share experiences and learn to grow in this journey together

Join this FREE evening session for Meditation, specifically for Moms. Meditation is a simple way to de-stress, and it can help bring peace and balance, especially in these hectic times.

What we’re about

COVID-19 UPDATE: An email was sent out to Awakening Asheville advising all in-person meetups should be postponed or moved to virtual attendance only. Please contact hosts with any questions. Thank you, and be well! Courtney

We are an LGBTQ+ BIPOC safe spiritual group that enjoys the coming together of community lightworkers sharing our journeys. We offer meditations, healing energy, and many different workshops. Come join us!

Friday, December 24, 2021
 Give!Local: Literacy Together
Dec 24 all-day
online
2022 Season Hendersonville Theatre on sale Now!
Dec 24 all-day
Hendersonville Theatre

ON SALE NOVEMBER 26, 2021

Because we know that everyone’s schedules are different, Hendersonville Theatre offers four excellent Season Ticket packages that will get you the best seats in the house and save you money.

SHOWS INCLUDED IN THIS PACKAGE:

Nunsense Jamboree
Red, White & Tuna
25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
The Haunting of Hill House
Five Carols for Christmas & JingleJacks

Asheville Art Museum From Home
Dec 24 all-day
online
WORK OF THE WEEK
Jeff Koons’s One Ball Total Equilibrium Tank (Spalding Dr. J Silver Series) is currently on view in the Museum’s Artistic Tribute: Representation of the Athlete exhibition. Keira Ezzo, summer 2021 communications – multimedia storytelling intern, shares her take on this work for our Work of the Week. Read more about this work on the blog.

ENGAGE WITH THE MUSEUM FROM HOME

Check back often for new content that provides inspiration, calm, comfort, and yes, even some fun during this unprecedented time.

Asheville Art Museum Holiday Gift Guide 2021
Dec 24 all-day
Online w/ Asheville Art Museum

The holiday shopping season has begun and we’re here to help with gift ideas! From kids and students, to teachers, art lovers, bookworms, and that person who has everything, you’re sure to find something unique at the Museum for those on your list. Scroll down for a selection of our favorite ideas!

 

Asheville Gallery of Art’s December Exhibit, Joyful Light
Dec 24 all-day
Asheville Gallery of Art

Asheville Gallery of Art

December 2021 Exhibit

“Joyful Light”

Each of us would benefit by having more joy and light into our lives and our world, after the last two difficult years. The December exhibit at the Asheville Gallery of Art focuses on visual images that remind us to welcome the joy and light of the season into our hearts and homes.

“Joyful Light” runs from December 1-31 during gallery hours, 11am-6pm, and features works by numerous artists in a variety of mediums. A gathering to meet the artists will be held on First Friday, December 3 from 5-8pm at the gallery at 82 Patton Avenue. Please join us during this special time of year to view the wonderful medley of offerings!

Patricia Veatch – “Merry Berry”, Oil
“Christmas has always been my favorite time of year. I love Christmas most of all for the opportunity to be with family and share our traditions. After a very isolated zoom Christmas last year, our family is going to celebrate with gusto!”

Sally Lordeon – “Sunlight Thru the Trees”, Acrylic

“As the days shorten, we are reminded of nature’s eternal gift of gleaming sunlight that shines through the thickest forest and brings us the joy of another beautiful day.”

Raquel Egosi – “Terpsichore”, Acrylic

“While mostly abstract, this painting is inspired by the dynamic flow of the joy of dance, the exuberance of life, and the creativity of performance and stage lights.”

Robin Altman – “Mountain Sunflower”, Acrylic
“This little painting is a reminder to get up each day with the intent to shine a light on the world in some way. Just as nothing stops nature, we must stand up and be counted.”

The Asheville Gallery of Art is open 7 days a week. For more information about this show, contact the gallery at (828) 251-5796, visit the gallery website at www.ashevillegallery-of-art.com, or go to the gallery’s Facebook page.

Be an Arts Ally Raffle
Dec 24 all-day
online

Be an Arts Ally

Join or renew your arts council membership between now and December 31st for your chance to win this raffle package, including a Wheel Thrown Shape vase from East Fork, truffles from Chocolate Fetish, a card set from Noir Collective, and two bottles wine from Marked Tree vineyard.

Bob Moog Foundation And Moogseum Membership Programs
Dec 24 all-day
online

A wide range of Membership Program packages are available, offering benefits and perks including one-time or unlimited admission to the Moogseum for a year, guest passes, gift membership packages, access to virtual archival galleries and live streamed events, free or discounted admission to in-person and virtual events, and even private Moogseum tours. Membership packages are offered at price points from $25 – $500 per year.

Become a member of the Bob Moog Foundation and the Moogseum, which allows you access to tangible, members-only benefits and allows you to be an advocate in support of Bob’s legacy and contributions that revolutionized music!

Your membership provides invaluable resources and funding to support our mission to innovate, inspire, and ignite creativity.

 

Review the Membership Packages below and choose the one that best suits you!*

All packages include the Members-only “Synth-Insider” newsletter, sent quarterly,

and a 10% discount on Bob Moog Foundation Merchandise.

Bullington Gardens Virtual Holiday Sale
Dec 24 all-day
online

Join us for our virtual holiday sale. Trees, wreaths, holiday decor, ornaments and so much more! Easy ordering and contactless pick up.

Buncombe County Extends Indoor Mask Mandate to Jan. 4, 2022
Dec 24 all-day
Buncombe County
The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners has extended the county-wide face covering requirement for all indoor public spaces through Jan. 3, 2022. The indoor mask requirement also extends to Asheville, Biltmore Forest, Black Mountain, Montreat, Weaverville, and Woodfin.
In Buncombe County, COVID-19 case rates continue to be high, and per the CDC definition, the County remains an area of high transmission. The percent positivity remains in the moderate category, and the death rate remains in the substantial category.

“Unfortunately, COVID-19 cases continue to increase after a high level plateau. The percent positivity is now consistently above 5% again, and we are likely to see a further increase after the Thanksgiving holiday,” said Public Health Director Stacie Saunders. “Transitioning to living with COVID-19 means doing what we can now to reduce transmission and burden of new infections. Our goal is to dampen as much as possible any surge we may see during this holiday season with the hope of achieving decreasing case rate and spread as we enter the new year.”

Businesses Get in the Local Food Guide!
Dec 24 all-day
online w/ ASAP
Get in the Local Food Guide!
2021 Local Food Guide and Full Share: A CSA GuideEvery year, ASAP calls more than 1,400 businesses to update our Local Food Guide and CSA guide so that we get the most accurate information about connecting with local food and farms. We’ve started making calls for 2022!
Want to get a head start on updating your listing? You can give us a call (828-236-1282) or do it yourself online (click login in the upper right of appalachiangrown.org). The deadline to be included in the print Local Food Guide is Jan. 31 (or Dec. 31 for CSA farms).⁣
Have a new farm, restaurant, retail outlet, or other locally sourcing food business that you want to be listed? Go to appalachiangrown.org and click Get in the Guide.⁣ An online listing is completely free.
Christmas at Biltmore
Dec 24 all-day
Biltmore

November 5, 2021 – January 9, 2022: 47th Annual Christmas at Biltmore

Holidays arrive at America’s largest home in style. More than a century ago, George Vanderbilt chose the holiday season as the time to unveil his new home to family and friends. This year’s Christmas at Biltmore promises another extravagant celebration, complete with dozens of Christmas trees, miles of ribbon, garland and lights. Festive menus in estate restaurants and holiday wine tastings make for a memorable visit.

Curatorial Fellowship
Dec 24 all-day
online with Center for Craft

Fellowship program supporting emerging craft curators to explore and test new ideas about craft.

Details

  • Award Amount:
  • Up to $5,000
  • Grant Period:
  • Through 2023

Timeline

  • Applications Open:
  • Nov 16, 2021
  • Orientation:
  • January 14, 2022
  • Deadline:
  • Feb 14, 2022
  • Notification:
  • Apr 2022
  • Grant Period begins:
  • May 2022
  • Grant Period ends:
  • Through 2023
Deck The Trees
Dec 24 all-day
Monte Vista Hotel

Come experience the charm of Black Mountain and get in the Christmas spirit. You will discover 35 (and possibly more) beautifully decorated Christmas trees situated at the Monte Vista Hotel and in stores and businesses throughout Black Mountain and the Swannanoa Valley area. Each tree, uniquely decorated around the theme: A Black Mountain Christmas, will be created by businesses, organizations, or individuals to help raise funds for the Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry Fuel Fund. Come join us! Share in the Christmas spirit and support your favorite tree by donating with cash, check, or on-line at svcmblackmountain.org.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Dec 24 all-day
online

Driving Tour with Smith-McDowell House
Dec 24 all-day
Online w/ Western North Carolina Historical Association
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.

Farm to School Jumpstart Grants from Growing Minds
Dec 24 all-day
online

Growing Minds has announced a new Jumpstart Grant for farm to school projects. Pre-K through 12 schools, homeschool groups, teacher and nutrition education programs, and community organizations serving children and families within the 23 westernmost counties of North Carolina may apply for $500-$1,000 to provide children with positive local food and agriculture experiences. Eligible projects include edible school gardens, farm field trips, local food taste tests, or meals. In addition to funding, grantees may request supplemental training and/or technical assistance from the Growing Minds staff to help implement their project.

Grant applications are due Jan. 15, 2022.

Give the gift of live theatre with Flat Rock Playhouse gift certificates
Dec 24 all-day
online with Flat Rock Playhouse
Give the gift of live theatre at
              Flat Rock Playhouse!

Gift Certificates Available!

Looking for a great stocking stuffer or holiday gift?

Why not give the gift of live theatre?

The 2022 season will be announced on January 10th, and an experience is an unforgettable gift.

Contact the Box Office at (828)693-0731 to purchase.

Gift certificates purchased after Friday, December 17th, 2021 at 5:00pm will be mailed on Tuesday, January 4th, 2022 when Flat Rock Playhouse reopens from the Holiday’s.

Give the Gift of Theatre!
Dec 24 all-day
online
Flat Rock Playhouse Gift
                Certificate sits on a decorated Christmas tree

If you are looking for a great stocking stuffer or Hanukkah gift, why not give the gift of live theatre? The 2022 season will be announced soon and an experience is an unforgettable gift. Contact the Box Office at 828.693.0731 to purchase.

Also, consider making a donation designated to underwrite the cost of tickets which will be offered to first responders in the area. For the person who doesn’t need anything, but loves the arts, this could be a very special gift you give in their honor. Contact the Development Office for more information. 828.693.0403 x220.

GivingTuesday with Homeward Bound
Dec 24 all-day
online
Image

 

Giving Tuesday 2021 is only two weeks away. This year, every dollar you donate on Giving Tuesday will be matched up to $50,000.

Let me tell you about Zach.

When Zach was 23 he was involved in a horrific car crash. He sustained a traumatic brain injury, severed his spinal cord, and was paralyzed from the neck down. Along with tremendous pain came addiction to prescription pain-killers, depression and anxiety. Eventually Zach lost his job, his marriage, and soon after he was homeless.

$27 a day will provide housing and case management support for one person for a year. Your Giving Tuesday donation to Homeward Bound will help folks like Zach get into their own homes this holiday season.

Here’s how you can best prepare to help folks like Zach this year:

 

Mark your calendar. Giving Tuesday is two weeks from today, on November 30, 2021.

 

Give! Now through December 31, 2021, your gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $50,000 as part of our Creating Hope and Homes Matching Gift Challenge! 

 

Spread the word! Encourage friends, family, and colleagues to join you in Giving Tuesday 2021. Share on social media what our mission means to you, and tag us on Facebook [@homewardboundwnc] or Instagram [@homeward_bound_wnc] so we can share it!

History @ Home – Visit Virtually Western North Carolina Historical Association
Dec 24 all-day
online w/ Western North Carolina Historical Association
Deep Dive into Archives is a living exhibit shining a light on the individuals who were once enslaved at the Smith-McDowell House through primary documentation.

 

 

 

Douglas Ellington: Asheville’s Boomtown Architect presents a look at Ellington’s iconic Asheville creations along with other buildings he completed throughout his career in other cities.
HillBilly Land explores the power, prevalence, and persistence of the hillbilly stereotype from the days of its beginnings in the late 19th century to the present day.
In 1918 vs 2020, we take an in-depth look at the 1918 influenza epidemic in Western North Carolina through newspaper clippings, advertisements, ephemera, photographs, and oral history and place the events of 1918 into context with our present-day response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Regional Resources: Historical Research
Dec 24 all-day
Online w/ Western North Carolina Historical Association (WNCHA)

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.

 

Season Pass for 2022 Magnetic Theatre
Dec 24 all-day
online

Each year, our Mainstage Season offers audiences the opportunity to experience new work by writers whose stories could only be told onstage. These productions are thoughtful, relevant, unfiltered, and boundary-pushing excursions that reflect world we live in and help us see it in new, surprising ways. Since our establishment in 2009, we have produced a wide variety of styles and genres.

Click here to buy a 2022 season pass.
Note: Single tickets go on sale 1/1/2022.

It's the Most _____ Time of the Year

IT’S THE MOST _____ TIME OF THE YEAR: Oil on Canvas
It’s Thanksgiving Eve, and Jean and Doug couldn’t be more excited about the holiday season. The halls are decked, the trees are up, and the kids, Rosemary and Bing, will be arriving any minute. Son-in-law Mike and new grandbaby Suzie round out the family gathering, and loving tolerance and charity abounds. But Jean has arranged a surprise for them all that makes them question her sanity, and as Thanksgiving Day dawns, the family must decide: How far will they go to make Jean’s ultimate Christmas wish come true?

December 3 – 18, 2021
Thursdays – Saturdays at 7:30pm
Sundays at 4pm


2022 MAINSTAGE SEASON

Court of the Grandchildren

COURT OF THE GRANDCHILDREN
By Michael Muntisov
Directed by Jason Williams

The year is 2051. Artificial Intelligence has become so ubiquitous that the young people are starting to rebel. The older generation that accelerated climate change is being brought to trial. And climate activist Lily thinks she has it all figured out. Until she meets her great uncle, David, who changes her perspective completely. He’s a man from today. She’s a woman from tomorrow. How will she judge him?”

April 8 – 23, 2022
Thursdays, Fridays, & Saturdays at 7:30pm
Sundays at 4pm


STARBRIGHT
By Sean David Robinson
Directed by Ashleigh Millett-Goff

Grace, an astronomer with a Ph.D. in astrophysics, is reeling from the death of her daughter, Abigail. When Abigail appears to Grace and begins to make predictions about events in the cosmos, Grace must choose between her memories and her sanity.

May 6 – 21, 2022
Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30pm
Sundays at 4pm


RECYCLED NUTS
By Travis Lowe
Directed by Tippin

Almond farmer Jerry wants to change the negative public perception of his nuts. Alma and Felix are there to report on it. Tressa and Effie want to claim the ranch for themselves, since farm wife Adelaide defaulted on the mortgage. Officers Kemp and Ren are there just to keep the peace. When Alma dies of a nut allergy and returns as a ghost, it sets off a series of comically fatal accidents. As each character expires and the farmhouse slowly fills with spirits, cameraman and reluctant medium Felix must manage the living and the dead, while maintaining both his life and sanity.

July 8 – 23, 2022
Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30pm
Sundays at 4pm


BEAUTIFUL CAGES
By Jamie Knox
Directed by Katie Jones

Patricia, a mother who has always kept a safe emotional distance from her daughter, Amanda, is suddenly compelled to tell the truth about her past, and the secret she’s been hiding for decades. Set simultaneously in the 1960s and today, this is a story about love, paying debts and what it means to set yourself free.

September 9 – 24, 2022
Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30pm
Sundays at 4pm


THE FRANKENSTEIN RUBRICS
By David Hopes
Directed by Doug Savitt

The scientist. The monster. The tale of a creation suffering at the hands of his maker. It’s a story we all know – but what if the creation takes on a life of its own? What if the relationship between them was more complicated than we ever realized, and what if, by the act of making the monster, the scientist was changed as well?

October 7 – 22, 2022
Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30pm
Sundays at 4pm


SHIMMERA AND THE THREE MAGI
A Collaboration with Pagans & Androids

Shimmera and the Three Magi is a rock opera dreamed up by local performance group Pagans & Androids, and will feature a fascinating juxtaposition of woodsy whimsy and the magic of digitization. Based on the myth of the three magi, Shimmera is a birthing of three different, seemingly oppositional states, asking us whether we can live as three creatures simultaneously.

December 2 – 17, 2022
Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30pm
Sundays at 4pm

Southern Appalachian Growers Alliance (SAGA) Memberships
Dec 24 all-day
Organic Growers School

We’re GAGA for SAGA!

Southern Appalachian Growers Alliance (SAGA) is a network for home & community growers at all scales and levels to connect and learn from each other year round. The network will be centered around a listserv, through which home growers can ask for advice, make joint orders for materials, and organize gatherings and meet-ups. SAGA members also receive discounts on select home grower programs, including Homegrown Dreams and the Gardening Series. Over time, we hope that it will branch out to include OGS-organized events such as the Living on the Land Series and Homegrown Tours.

Membership Cost: Flat fee of $20/year

We want SAGA to be accessible to all who wish to join. Please contact [email protected] if the membership cost is a barrier for you.

Sustainability Consulting Organic Growers School
Dec 24 all-day
Organic Growers School

Need help with your farm, garden, or homestead? We offer a wide variety of one-on-one consulting services— hourly follow-up support and reduced fees available.

Contact us for a free 20 minute call helping you to identify your needs and goals and assess which service might be right for you. We offer a wide variety of consulting services—with hourly follow-up support and reduced fees available—including:

  • Assessment of land that you own or want to purchase.
  • Sustainability systems on your farm, garden, or homestead.
  • Guidance for your land-based project.

How the process works:

Step 1: We talk on the phone to identify your goals and needs.
Step 2: We select a service and price that best meets your needs.
Step 3: We set up a time for an in-person site visit or video call
Step 4: We coach you through a self-assessment process.
Step 5: We have our virtual or in-person site visit.
Step 6: We invoice you.
Step 7: We followup with you with next steps, referrals, report, etc.