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.

Saturday, September 30, 2023
Romare Bearden: Ways of Working Exhibition
Sep 30 @ 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum

Romare Bearden (Charlotte, NC 1911–1988 New York, NY), African American writer and artist, is renowned for his collages. He constantly experimented with various techniques to achieve his artistic goals throughout his career. This exhibition highlights works on paper and explores his most frequently used mediums, including screen-printing, lithography, hand-colored etching, collagraph, monotype, relief print, photomontage, and collage.

 

Bearden’s work reflects his improvisational approach to his practice. He considered his process akin to that of jazz and blues composers. Starting with an open mind, he would let an idea evolve spontaneously.

 

Romare Bearden: Ways of Working highlights Bearden’s unique artistic practice and masterful storytelling through art,” says Pamela L. Myers, Executive Director of the Asheville Art Museum. “We are thrilled to collaborate with Jerald Melberg Gallery to present these extraordinary works on paper in conversation with Bearden’s collage Sunset Express, 1984 in the Museum Collection (on view in the Museum’s SECU Collection Hall). This exhibition will also provide a glimpse into the cultural histories and personal interests that influenced his art-making practice, and we hope it encourages introspection and dialogue with our visitors.”

 

Jerald Melberg states, “Romare Bearden’s groundbreaking artistic practice continues to captivate audiences worldwide. With an unparalleled legacy of creativity and innovation, Bearden’s contributions to art remain deeply influential years beyond his life.” We have enjoyed organizing this exhibition with the Asheville Art Museum to showcase his artistic genius and inspire visitors from the Western North Carolina region and beyond.”

 

This exhibition is made possible in part by the Judy Appleton Fund. Many thanks to the Jerald Melberg Gallery for the loan of these important artworks and to Mary and Jerald Melberg for their long-standing support of the arts, artists, and the Asheville Art Museum.

Ross Farm FREE Fall Fest!
Sep 30 @ 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Ross Farm

It’s a celebration!
Join us for the third annual Fall Fest at Ross Farm, taking place at:
91 Holbrook Road, Candler, NC, 28571
September 30, 2023
11:00 AM to 4PM

The greenhouses are overflowing with beautiful Fall goodies, including mums, pumpkins, pansies and more, oh my! Stop by for a huge 25% off greenhouse-wide sale and join in the fun with food, friends, activities for all ages, and of course plants!

Ms. Susie and crew will be there enjoying cozy live music, a hot chocolate bar, and food from Cecilia’s Kitchen, while helping you find the perfect new houseplant or Fall favorite. We’re not forgetting about the kids either…with a scavenger hunt, guessing games, and coloring activities, our Fall Fest has it all.

The Harvest Fall Fest is *FREE* to the public. Parking is available on site but can be limited so it is recommended that groups carpool. This is an outdoor event. We can’t wait to see you!

Sandburg Home Tours
Sep 30 @ 11:00 am
Carl Sandburg Home

Sandburg Home Tours – Thursday to Sunday at 11am, 1pm, 2pm.

*As of April 2022, tours are free until further notice. See rates below if they change before your visit. Online reservations are available at recreation.gov.

The Sandburg Home is a great place to start your visit! The ground floor of the home contains visitor information, exhibits, tour ticket sales, the park store, and you can watch the park video. The main and top level of the home are furnished with the Sandburg family belongings. Visitors may only access the furnished ares of the home on a guided tour.

  • Tour Reservations: Reserving in advance lets you pick your preferred house tour time. Tours fill up quickly. Last-minute, in-person tickets may not be available on the day you visit. Plan ahead and reserve house tour tickets at recreation.gov.
  • Passes: The park does not currently sell the America the Beautiful– National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes.
    *These passes do not waive the house tour fee, but do provide a discount.
    *You can purchase a pass online at 
    America the Beautiful – National Parks & Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass | USGS Store.
  • 30-minute house tours are offered year-round, schedule varies by season. Visit recreation.gov for the current schedule.
  • Visitors may only tour the Sandburg Home on a guided tour.
  • Tours are limited to 6 persons.
  • Strollers are not permitted on the house tour, but there is a place to leave them for storage. Infants and small children should be carried through the house while on tour.

    Sandburg Home Guided Tour Fee
    *Tours are free until further notice, this chart is the rate when fees resume.

    (credit card only)
    $10.00 for Adults 16 and older
    $6.00 for Adults age 62 and older and all interagency pass holders
    Free for Children age 15 and under

Sow + Grow Fest: Celebrating Sustainable Farms + Food
Sep 30 @ 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Smoky Park Supper Club

sow and grow flyer

Sow and Grow Fest is a family-friendly event celebrating Western North Carolina’s vibrant food and farming community. Join Organic Growers School as it celebrates 30 years of inspiring, educating, and supporting people to farm, garden, and live organically.
Come out to the Smoky Park Supper Club to enjoy delicious local food, tasty local beverages, toe-tapping music, a seed and plant share, family activities, and more to benefit and celebrate the programs of the Organic Growers School!
Admission is free, and everyone is welcome!
The Art of Food: From the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation
Sep 30 @ 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum

The Art of Food features works from important postwar artists, like Robert Rauschenberg, Roy Lichtenstein, John Baldessari, Wayne Thiebaud, Ed Ruscha, Andy Warhol, David Hockney, and Jasper Johns, alongside the work of contemporary artists, like Alison Saar, Lorna Simpson, Enrique Chagoya, Rachel Whiteread, and Jenny Holzer, among others.

The Art of Food features more than 100 works in mediums that include drawings, paintings, photographs, prints, sculptures, and ceramics by 37 artists.

Each artist has a unique means of depicting food in their work that, when seen alongside others, creates a nuanced representation of the complex place food holds in everyday life. Cross-historical resonances between artists in the exhibition spark novel meditations on food and its discontents, while speaking to a broad range of audiences.

The Vanderbilts at Home and Abroad
Sep 30 @ 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Biltmore Estate

Included with admission

Back by popular demand, The Vanderbilts at Home and Abroad exhibition offers guests:

  • An opportunity to view rarely-seen treasures from the Biltmore collection
  • A first-hand look at the Vanderbilts’ lifestyle
  • Deeper insights into George, Edith, and Cornelia’s personalities, both at home and on their extensive travels

Access to exhibitions at The Biltmore Legacy is included with Biltmore daytime admission.

Western North Carolina Glass: Selections from the Collection
Sep 30 @ 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum

Western North Carolina is important in the history of American glass art. Several artists of the Studio Glass Movement came to the region, including its founder Harvey K. Littleton. Begun in 1962 in Wisconsin, it was a student of Littleton’s that first came to the area in 1965 and set up a glass studio at the Penland School of Craft in Penland, North Carolina. By 1967, Mark Peiser was the first glass artist resident at the school and taught many notable artists, like Jak Brewer in 1968 and Richard Ritter who came to study in 1971. By 1977, Littleton retired from teaching and moved to nearby Spruce Pine, North Carolina and set up a glass studio at his home.

Since that time, glass artists like Ken Carder, Rick and Valerie Beck, Shane Fero, and Yaffa Sikorsky and Jeff Todd—to name only a few—have flocked to the area to reside, collaborate, and teach, making it a significant place for experimentation and education in glass. The next generation of artists like Hayden Wilson and Alex Bernstein continue to create here. The Museum is dedicated to collecting American studio glass and within that umbrella, explores the work of Artists connected to Western North Carolina. Exhibitions, including Intersections of American Art, explore glass art in the context of American Art of the 20th and 21st centuries. A variety of techniques and a willingness to push boundaries of the medium can be seen in this selection of works from the Museum’s Collection.

Hayrides at The Orchard
Sep 30 @ 12:30 pm
The Orchard at Altapass

Take a ride through the Orchard fields and its history every weekend. “Heyrides” last approximately 45 minutes. All ages are welcome (kids under 4 free); $7 per person; wheelchair accessible; well-behaved dogs by consensus. Reservations are not required but sign up as soon as you arrive.

AVL Fall Clothing Swap
Sep 30 @ 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Hi-Wire Brewing River Arts District

Part social gathering, part fashion, part fundraiser. Come to mingle, find a new favorite outfit, and raise money for reproductive justice.

The swap takes place on Saturday, September 30 from 1-4 at Hi-Wire Brewing River Arts District. All profits from ticket sales and $1 from each flagship beer sale will be donated to Asheville’s Planned Parenthood and Mountain Area Abortion Doula Collective.

Back for fall: VIP Tickets
You loved our VIP tickets this spring, so they’re back! This ticket option is very limited and includes 1-hour early entry to shop the swap.

How it works
Drop off clothes before Sept 30 at Hi-Wire RAD
Hi-Wire’s hours are below. Drop off your contribution during these times.

Monday–Thursday 3-10pm
Friday & Saturday 12pm-12am
Sunday 12-9pm
Accepted clothing:

Adult clothing and shoes are accepted
Sorry, no kid’s clothing or accessories
Items should be in good, clean condition
Bring 1-20+ items
Items will be organized by feminine and masculine styles, we anticipate receiving more feminine-style clothing based on previous events. The fundraiser is open to people of all genders and sizes.

On the day of the event
Arrive to swap the shop! You can leave with 15(ish) items
We’ll swap until we run out, so come on time for the best selection!
Unswapped clothing will be donated or kept for future swaps/reuse projects

Blue Ghost Oktoberfest Celebration
Sep 30 @ 1:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Blue Ghost Brewing Company
Join us for a 3-day Oktoberfest celebration September 29th through October 1st!
German-inspired brews on tap:
Harvest Festbier – 5.4% ABV, 20 IBUs. Specially brewed for the Harvest season. This beer is a tribute to the Munich way of celebrating Oktoberfest. It features a deep gold color, creamy mouthfeel and hints of toasty bread in the flavor.
Kolsch Ale – 5.2% ABV, 23 IBUs. The Kolsch ale is a beer light in color and malt character. This style’s fermentation process yields a light, larger-like characteristic which is accompanied by a slightly dry, crisp finish.
Hefeweizen – 5.3% ABV, 12 IBUs. Made with a grain bill of mostly malted wheat and fermented with a Hefewiezen ale yeast, this brew feature flavors and aromas of banana, apricot, and a hint of clove.
Food:
Friday & Saturday: The Hungry Ghost will tap into German flavors and be serving a variety of German inspired eats including Pork Schnitzel, Bratwurst with Sauerkraut, Creamy Cucumber Salad, Pretzels & Cheese, & more!
Sunday: Kinfolk will be serving from 1:30-6:30PM
We’ll be playing Oktoberfest inspired tunes all weekend and we strongly encourage y’all to dress in your finest German attire!
The bar will also serve wine, hard cider, seltzer, ginger beer, and will offer a variety of non-alocholic beverages.
Forest Bathing at the NC Arboretum!
Sep 30 @ 1:00 pm
NC Arboretum

Join a certified forest therapy guide for a relaxing 2.5-hour stroll through the forest on the peaceful Arboretum grounds. Through a series of invitations, you’ll have the opportunity to be present in the moment, deepening your connection with nature and community, and enjoying the many gifts nature has to offer. Your guide will share mindfulness practices designed to connect you more deeply to your inner landscapes, as well as the world around you. Inspired by Shinrin-Yoku, the Japanese art of immersing oneself in a forest environment, a forest bathing walk invites you to spend time in nature in a way that invites healing for ourselves, our fraught ecosystems, and our community. It is true nature therapy!

  • Special, discounted rate of $45/person (includes parking!)
  • Occurs on select dates each month
  • Max group size is 15 for a more intimate experience
Guided Trail Walk
Sep 30 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
NC Arboretum

Hit the trails and learn more about The North Carolina Arboretum’s botanically diverse forest with a guided trail walk! April through October, this free hiking program is led by trained volunteer guides who take small groups of participants along woodland trails and through a variety of forest types. Depending on the season and each guide’s area of expertise, topics of discussion may include wildflowers, plant and tree identification, natural history and more.

Guided trail walks are limited to 15 people, including the guide, and are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age. Groups depart from the Baker Visitor Center Lobby on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m..

Walks last 1.5 – 2.5 hours, are approximately one to two miles in length. As this program is held rain or shine, all participants should dress appropriately for the weather.

There is no pre-registration; walks are first-come first served and sign up sheets are located in the Baker Visitors Center.

Walks are FREE; however, donations to The North Carolina Arboretum Society are appreciated. Regular parking fees apply. Arboretum Society Members always park free.

Know Before You Go

  • Guided Trail Walks are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age.
  • Guided Trail Walks are rain or shine and all participants should be dressed comfortably and for the weather.
  • Hikes cover 1-2 miles and last 1.5-2 hours.
  • Well-behaved leashed pets are welcome to accompany their owners. In the rare case that a pet is disruptive or negatively impacts the experience, the pet and its owner may be asked to excuse themselves from the guided walk.
  • COVID-19 Safety: In order to hear the guide and fully participate in the trail walk, participants will be in close proximity to one another for extended periods of time. While face coverings are not required, participants should use their best judgement to keep themselves and others safe while enjoying the trails. Individuals who are experiencing flu-like symptoms or suspect they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should not participate.
  • At this time, no more than 6 spaces may be filled by a single family/group through pre-registration for any one Guided Trail Walk. If additional spaces are available on the day of the Walk, additional members of the family/group may participate. We apologize for any inconvenience and look forward to welcoming larger groups in the future.
Games for Teens
Sep 30 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Weaverville Library
  Join us for a fun afternoon relaxing and playing games at the Weaverville Library. This program is for tweens/teens ages 12-18. We will have plenty of games available but please feel free to bring one from your personal collection to teach to others!
Infinite Abundance Light Code Activation with Adora
Sep 30 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Crystal Visions

Are you ready to fully receive? A life of plenty and great abundance in every aspect of life is your birthright.

In this program, Adora will guide you through the mystical practices of manifestation with 3-6-9 and how to harness ancient alchemical practices in a modern day world. You will then be able to use this knowing daily to open and receive in more harmonious and abundant ways.

Fee includes a crystal and an aromatic abundance formula crafted by Adora to anchor your sacred intentions.

About Adora: Modern Alchemist & Founder of The Soul Institute

Adora Winquist is a distinguished Modern Alchemist, author, visionary Founder of The Soul Institute, and co-author of “Detox Nourish Activate: Plant & Vibrational Medicine for Energy, Mood, and Love”. Having over two decades of experience as a facilitator, educator, formulator, and entrepreneur, she holds certifications in vibrational medicine and aromatherapy from the renowned Barbara Brennan School for Healing and Rutgers University. She is a true authority in plant and vibrational medicine. Her expertise in essential oil formulation, combined with her deep understanding of esoteric philosophy and energy medicine, has made her a sought-after authority in the field. With a passion for education and transformation, Adora continues to empower individuals on their journey to holistic well-being and self-discovery.

Infinite and Abundance
Sep 30 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Crystal Visions

Are you ready to fully receive? A life of plenty and great abundance in every aspect of life is your birthright. In this program, Adora will guide you through the mystical practices of manifestation with 3 6 9 and how to harness ancient alchemical practices in a modern-day world. You will then be able to use this knowledge daily to open and receive in more harmonious and abundant ways. You will experience rare and sacred aromatics, crystal healing, and vibrational attunement to open, clear and activate your frequence and elevate your magnetic point of attraction with the universe.

Krafthouse 2023: Forest of the New Trees
Sep 30 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
The Center for Craft
Center for Craft’s immersive installation asks:
What will Appalachia be in a post-major event future?
– The Center for Craft is thrilled to announce Krafthouse, a new immersive art installation, made for and by the community, that will evolve and change each year in their historic building at 67 Broadway in downtown Asheville.Local artist Jeannie Regan leads the inaugural year as Creative Director with the vision for Krafthouse 2023: Forest of the New Trees. Between September 28 and October 13, the curious will be rewarded with a ticketed installation that changes nightly, as artist and audience participation weave a story of radical collaboration in Appalachia in the aftermath of a mysterious, world-changing event.

In the spirit of immersive performances, events, and installations like Meow Wolf, Punchdrunk’s Sleep No More, and Burning Man, Krafthouse 2023: Forest of the New Trees invites self-guided exploration of a strange, new landscape and its imagined ecologies and societies, including cultures, customs, and micro currencies. Return visits will reward guests with new perspectives and illuminate new paths through the experience.

Selected local artists working with Center staff and Regan will each interpret the theme in their own way. The end result will be the creation of a small, self-sustaining community that has made itself anew. A night market atmosphere will welcome visitors, who will be able to make, gift, and trade goods with the artists and each other, with the opportunity to take home keepsakes – as well as leave their own imprint on the space.

The installation asks visitors to participate and collaborate to the extent they wish. Guests are invited to come in costume to share their own interpretation of the post-major event, and to bring any of their own offerings for the space. Costumes and materials will also be available onsite for people who would like to step into this new reality more fully when they arrive.

In her exploration of the theme, Regan researched the centuries-old craft traditions of Appalachia, including their relationship to Indigenous wisdom, hillfolks’ lore, and the ancient wildness of the Blue Ridge Mountains. An undercurrent of the installation is the generational resilience of local peoples facing their own “post-major events” and collaborating radically to survive – and thrive – in their aftermath.

The varied lived experiences of people during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, when a multitude of realities existed simultaneously, also informed the theme. “There was no united experience in that major event that happened, because we all experienced it very differently,” Regan shares. But it was also a world where, she notes, “multiple realities intersected and radical community collaboration was the only way to survive.”

She continues, “Craft plays into all of that, because what we make says so much about us as individuals. What we make says something about what we want the future to be.”

Past, Present, Future Honoring the Legacy of Dr. Thomas Joiner
Sep 30 @ 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Blue Ridge Community College

For over two decades, Thomas Joiner led the Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra. We’ll celebrate his legacy, welcome old friends, and highlight the next chapter of HSO. Concert will feature Douglas Weeks, piano; Dianna Joiner, violin; and Ron Whittemore, narrator. Selections include Beethoven Piano Concerto no 3 in c minor, Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet, and John Williams, Schindler’s List.

After today’s concert, everyone is welcome to join the Orchestra, Conductor Concklin and our Special Guests for a Post Concert Reception, honoring Thomas Joiner at Marked Tree Vineyard, 623 Deep Gap Rd, Flat Rock.  Thanks to the generous support of Matt and Rebecca Aldrich.

Ted Swindley’s Honky Tonk Angels
Sep 30 @ 3:00 pm
Tryon Fine Arts Center

Honky Tonk Angels 

Written by Ted Swindley.
Director Dan Harvey
Music Director Pam McNeil

The Glenn Miller Orchestra
Sep 30 @ 3:00 pm
Diana Wortham Theatre

In the mood for big band music? The most popular and sought after big band of all time returns to Asheville at the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts for one night only! On September 30, The World-Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra will perform their greatest hits, including “In The Mood”, “Chattanooga Choo Choo”, “American Patrol”, “A String Of Pearls”, “Little Brown Jug”, “Pennsylvania 6-5000”, Tuxedo Junction”, and of course their theme song “Moonlight Serenade” as they continue their national tour.

Touring continuously since 1956, The Glenn Miller Orchestra is featured in over 200 concerts and dances per year. Each performance includes the timeless classics that made them famous the world over in a show that has moved audiences for generations.

Wee Wine + Dahlias
Sep 30 @ 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Bullington Gardens
Bullington Gardens invites you to experience the epitome of exclusivity with their new and exciting offering – twilight parties in the enchanting gardens. Now accepting reservations, this is your chance to indulge in a truly magical evening with your own private group of eight. From August 15 to October 14, 2023, Tuesday through Saturday, 4:30-6:30p.m., immerse yourself in nature’s wonders while delighting your palate with locally-sourced wines and cider, all in the company of the resplendent Dahlias in full bloom.

Picture this: you and your closest companions, relishing the serenity of the gardens, sipping on delectable beverages, and taking leisurely strolls amidst the breathtaking flora. To ensure an intimate experience, each group of up to eight will have their own private party. Whether you prefer the charming pavilion or the festive tents, the choice is yours. And fear not, for even if the rain tries to dampen the mood, the horticultural therapy greenhouse is ready to shelter you.

With only two groups accommodated each evening, you’ll have the pleasure of enjoying your own secluded space. Each group’s table will be beautifully set in separate venues, adorned with fresh floral arrangements that you can take home as a keepsake. As the host, you have the opportunity to curate a culinary masterpiece by bringing your own hors d’oeuvres or even an entire meal. Imagine the delight of savoring delicious food amidst an unparalleled view, creating an unforgettable private party.

The cost for a table of eight is $300 per group, ensuring an intimate and personalized experience. If you’re interested in elevating your involvement, consider a sponsorship level of $500. By participating in this extraordinary event, you will not only create cherished memories but also support the Educational and Horticultural Therapy programs dedicated to children and adults with special needs.

To secure your spot for the Wee Wine & Dahlias evening of your dreams, reserve below or give us a call at 828-698-6104. Remember, availability is limited, so make sure to secure your reservation early. Get ready to immerse yourself in an evening of enchantment at Bullington Gardens!

August 15th through October 14th, 2023. Tuesday-Saturday, 4:30pm-6:30pm.

Krafthouse 2023: Forest of the New Trees–immersive art installation
Sep 30 @ 5:00 pm
Center for Craft

Krafthouse 2023: Forest of the New Trees

an immersive art installation made by Asheville

creative direction by Jeannie Regan

Visit the Center for Craft at 67 Broadway in downtown Asheville, North Carolina, to discover an imagined post-major event Appalachia. You will descend into the basement to enter a world imagined by artists where craft is the only way to survive and thrive.

‍Guests will abide by the rules of the forest – to learn to trade without currency – and see, hear, touch, and wear what artists have crafted as a way to ensure our collective future. Each experience is unrepeatable, creating an impulse to return to explore the world anew.

Special thanks to Jeannie Regan, Creative Director and Futures Bright, Graphic Design.

General admission tickets are $15 and provide guests with a self-guided tour of the immersive installation that runs for approximately 3 weeks between September 28 – October 13 on Thursdays and Fridays from 5 – 8 pm, and on Saturdays from 2 – 4 pm and 6 – 9 pm.

Ticketed tours depart every 10 minutes, and the experience takes approximately 30 minutes. After the experience, guests will be invited to mingle and grab a beverage or snack.

Reservation Start Time indicates the time your group will be escorted from the main level down to the Krafthouse installation experience.

Please plan to arrive at the Center for Craft main entrance at 67 Broadway Street at least 15 minutes prior to your reservation start time.

Opening reception: Eden Revisited
Sep 30 @ 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Bender Gallery
Eve

acrylic on canvas

16 x 12 inches

LAINE BACHMAN

Eden Revisited

September 30 – October 30

Bender Gallery is excited to present Eden Revisited, a solo exhibition of thirty-plus lush, botanical paintings by popular artist Laine Bachman featuring real and imaginary creatures and goddess-like women with a deep connection to the natural world. Often inspired by myths, folklore, and nature, Bachman infuses the colorful worlds she creates with verdant foliage, archetypal imagery, underlying themes, exotic fauna, and meticulous detail. The exhibition opens Saturday, September 30, and runs through October 30.

LAZOOM Tours: BAND AND BEER TOUR
Sep 30 @ 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
LaZoom Room

Wanna hear the best local music ​and​ drink the best local beers? Hop aboard LaZoom’s Purple Bus and rock out with a local band while we take you on a journey to Asheville’s premiere local breweries.

  • Curated Live Music & Brewery Bus experience
  • 3 Hours long, includes three 30 Minute Local Brewery Stops
  • You Can Drink on the Funky Purple Bus! **Must be purchased at LaZoom or at brewery stop**
Krafthouse 2023: Forest of the New Trees
Sep 30 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
The Center for Craft
Center for Craft’s immersive installation asks:
What will Appalachia be in a post-major event future?

– The Center for Craft is thrilled to announce Krafthouse, a new immersive art installation, made for and by the community, that will evolve and change each year in their historic building at 67 Broadway in downtown Asheville.Local artist Jeannie Regan leads the inaugural year as Creative Director with the vision for Krafthouse 2023: Forest of the New Trees. Between September 28 and October 13, the curious will be rewarded with a ticketed installation that changes nightly, as artist and audience participation weave a story of radical collaboration in Appalachia in the aftermath of a mysterious, world-changing event.

In the spirit of immersive performances, events, and installations like Meow Wolf, Punchdrunk’s Sleep No More, and Burning Man, Krafthouse 2023: Forest of the New Trees invites self-guided exploration of a strange, new landscape and its imagined ecologies and societies, including cultures, customs, and micro currencies. Return visits will reward guests with new perspectives and illuminate new paths through the experience.

Selected local artists working with Center staff and Regan will each interpret the theme in their own way. The end result will be the creation of a small, self-sustaining community that has made itself anew. A night market atmosphere will welcome visitors, who will be able to make, gift, and trade goods with the artists and each other, with the opportunity to take home keepsakes – as well as leave their own imprint on the space.

The installation asks visitors to participate and collaborate to the extent they wish. Guests are invited to come in costume to share their own interpretation of the post-major event, and to bring any of their own offerings for the space. Costumes and materials will also be available onsite for people who would like to step into this new reality more fully when they arrive.

In her exploration of the theme, Regan researched the centuries-old craft traditions of Appalachia, including their relationship to Indigenous wisdom, hillfolks’ lore, and the ancient wildness of the Blue Ridge Mountains. An undercurrent of the installation is the generational resilience of local peoples facing their own “post-major events” and collaborating radically to survive – and thrive – in their aftermath.

The varied lived experiences of people during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, when a multitude of realities existed simultaneously, also informed the theme. “There was no united experience in that major event that happened, because we all experienced it very differently,” Regan shares. But it was also a world where, she notes, “multiple realities intersected and radical community collaboration was the only way to survive.”

She continues, “Craft plays into all of that, because what we make says so much about us as individuals. What we make says something about what we want the future to be.”

Live Music at Oak + Grist
Sep 30 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Oak and Grist Distilling Company

We are having so much fun with our Friday nights that we’re bringing live music & food trucks to Saturday too! Every Friday & Saturday at Oak & Grist, we host live music from talented local musicians & artists. Plus, we’re hosting a rotating selection of food trucks to keep the party going longer! View our upcoming schedule below:

SEPTEMBER 2023

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29TH: NO LIVE MUSIC OR FOOD TRUCK

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30TH: Clara Hathaway // NO FOOD TRUCK

OCTOBER 2023

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6TH: Jacob Donham // Mothers Pizza (5-8pm)

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7TH: NO MUSIC OR FOOD TRUCK

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13TH: Handpan Jam with Josh Rivera // Mother’s Pizza (5-8pm)

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14TH: Emily Martin & The Innocent Mischief // NO FOOD TRUCK

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20TH: Jacob Donham // TBA

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21ST: Josh Humphries // TBA

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27TH: Handpan Jam with Josh Rivera // TBA

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28TH: Color Machine Music // TBA

Phuncle Sam
Sep 30 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Pisgah Brewing Company

Phuncle Sam is back for a Saturday night summer series!

Outdoor taproom is opens at 2PM. Music from 6-9PM.

Since their formation in October 2004, Asheville North Caroline based, Phuncle Sam has been firmly rooted in musical exploration. Phuncle Sam is Asheville’s own improv/Americana, Dead/Centric jam band. Over five years of intense jamming and rehearsing finds Phuncle Sam with an ever-expanding body of original music. The band will also serve up quintessential interpretations of Jerry Garcia, Grateful Dead, and many others.

Creatures of the Night and Bonfire Delight
Sep 30 @ 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Grandfather Mountain
A barred owl at Grandfather Mountain

Embrace your nocturnal side at Grandfather Mountain through Creatures of the Night & Bonfire Delight, the park’s after-hours program where guests enjoy rare after-dark tours, fireside tales and a chance to meet the park’s nighttime residents.

The evening begins around the glow of a bonfire at the Woods Walk Picnic Area as night falls. Guests will then have the opportunity to partake in three unique experiences as the group splits up and alternates between the different parts of the mountain. These activities include a trek (via shuttle) to atop the mountain at the Mile High Swinging Bridge, as well as a visit to the Mildred the Bear Animal Habitats for a behind-the-scenes tour in which guests get to experience the mountain in a similar fashion as its nocturnal critters. The tour is conducted using red-light flashlights, with an emphasis placed on the guests’ sensory experience while getting up close with the park’s bears, otters, elk and cougars. An educational focus is also placed on how the animals may use their senses of smell or eyesight to navigate or hunt at night.

Groups will then descend back to the Woods Walk Picnic Area to gather around the fire, roast s’mores and hear folktales from one of the mountain’s naturalists or educators.

Hours are 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The event is open to 48 participants, and tickets are $40 for general admission or $34 for Bridge Club members. Tickets go on sale on this page on August 31.

RAIN DATE: This event has a rain date of Oct 7 if needed. So the event could happen September 30 or Oct 7. There will be no refunds given if we move the event to the rain date.

Participants should be prepared for a variety of the mountain’s weather conditions. It is recommended that they bring a rain jacket, gloves and additional layers of clothing. Guests should also wear appropriate shoes or hiking boots in order to be comfortable while exploring the mountain’s rugged terrain.

Red-light flashlights are given out, but guests are also welcome to bring their own. Participants must bring their own s’more-making ingredients. S’more-making sticks are provided, in addition to light refreshments, such as apple cider and hot chocolate.

Refunds/Cancelations
The majority of Grandfather Mountain events generally sell out and have a waiting list. If you cannot attend the event that you registered for please let us know. Full refunds will be given to individuals who reach out to us at least five days before the event. (The deadline to cancel and receive a refund for this event is 11:59 p.m. September 26.) This allows time for individuals on the waiting list to make accommodations to attend the event. To cancel your registration please call 828-733-8715. We ask that individuals who are feeling ill stay home to ensure the health and safety of other participants and Grandfather Mountain staff. Refunds will be granted to these individuals.

Dinner and Good Ol’ Girls Musical
Sep 30 @ 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
HART Theatre
By Paul Ferguson with music by Matraca Berg and Marshall Chapman
In the Daniel & Belle Fangmeyer Theatre
Directed by Shelia Sumpter

There’s a Good Ol’ Girl in all of us. Let yours out.

Join us at HART for a night of good eats, live music, and southern women! Two of Nashville’s leading singer/songwriters redefine the modern Southern woman in Good ‘Ol Girls, a musical about love, loss and laughter. Through the language of five unique southerners, Good ‘Ol Girls celebrates childhood through old age with big hair and bigger hearts. This new musical is based on the stories of two prominent Southern authors, Lee Smith and Jill McCorkle, with songs by Nashville hit-makers Matraca Berg (Reba McEntire, Dixie Chicks, Faith Hill) and Marshall Chapman (Jimmy Buffett, Wynonna, Olivia Newton-John). This will be a one of a kind dinner theatre experience to provide you with an unforgettable night out at HART!

Suitable for all audiences. Dinner prices will be separate from ticket prices.

Dinner Schedule:
All dinner costs are SEPARATE and OPTIONAL

Desserts, regular concession items, wine by the glass or bottle, beer by the glass or pitcher available at the HART concessions window

Fri, Sept 22: Woof Street Food Truck (outside) 6:15-7:30
Sat, Sept 23: Woof Street Food Truck (outside) 6:15-7:30
Sun, Sept 24: Woof Street Food Truck (outside) 12:45-2:00

Fri, Sept 29: Hit the Pit BBQ (inside @ concession window) 6:30-7:30
Sat, Sept 30: Hit the Pit BBQ (inside @ concession window) 6:30-7:30
Sun, Oct 1: Hit the Pit BBQ (inside @ concession window) 12:45-2:00

Thurs, Oct 5: Woof Street Food Truck (outside) 6:15-7:30
Fri, Oct 6: Hit the Pit BBQ (inside @ concession window) 6:30-7:30
Sat, Oct 7: Hit the Pit BBQ (inside @ concession window) 6:30-7:30
Sun, Oct 8: Woof Street Food Truck (outside) 12:45-2:00

“Radium Girls” by D.W. Gregory
Sep 30 @ 7:00 pm
Black Mountain Center for the Arts

In 1926, radium was a miracle cure, Madame Curie an international celebrity, and luminous watches the latest rage—until the girls who painted them began to fall ill with a mysterious disease. Inspired by a true story, Radium Girls traces the efforts of Grace Fryer, a dial painter, as she fights for her day in court. Her chief adversary is her former employer, Arthur Roeder, an idealistic man who cannot bring himself to believe that the same element that shrinks tumors could have anything to do with the terrifying rash of illnesses among his employees. As the case goes on, however, Grace finds herself battling not just with the U.S. Radium Corporation but also with her own family and friends, who fear that her campaign for justice will backfire.

Doors open 30 minutes prior to showtime. Online ticket sales end 1 hour prior to showtime. There may still be tickets available in the BMCA office if online sales have ended. Call 828.669.0930 or visit the office to find out more.

6th Annual Greenville Blues Festival
Sep 30 @ 7:00 pm
Bon Secours Wellness Arena

THE 6TH ANNUAL GREENVILLE BLUES FESTIVAL RETURNS TO BON SECOURS WELLNESS ARENA ON SEPTEMBER 30 WITH KING GEORGE, CALVIN RICHARDSON, TUCKA, POKEY BEAR, RONNIE BELL AND J-WONN

The Blues Is Alright Tour returns to Greenville and Bon Secours Wellness Arena for The 6th Annual Greenville Blues Festival on Saturday, September 30 at 7 p.m. The Blues is musical storytelling filled with stark emotion and a revolving reality check. It’s authentically raw; transforming tragedy, adversity and heartache into a visceral and cathartic experience. This special night of emotive lyrics and guitar-driven accompaniment features performances by King George, Calvin Richardson, Tucka, Pokey Bear, Ronnie Bell and J-Wonn.