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.

Sunday, October 22, 2023
The Journeyperson Program
Oct 22 all-day
Organic Growers School

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 three 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’s scale, viability, and long-term direction while making connections that deepen peer-to-peer support.

Limited spots are available for the full program, and those who want to be eligible for our Savings Incentive Program and the professional development funds must commit to participating in all aspects of the program.

What makes the Journeyperson program unique?

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

  • Enterprise innovation

Monday, October 23, 2023
The Journeyperson Program
Oct 23 all-day
Organic Growers School

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 three 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’s scale, viability, and long-term direction while making connections that deepen peer-to-peer support.

Limited spots are available for the full program, and those who want to be eligible for our Savings Incentive Program and the professional development funds must commit to participating in all aspects of the program.

What makes the Journeyperson program unique?

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

  • Enterprise innovation

Tuesday, October 24, 2023
The Journeyperson Program
Oct 24 all-day
Organic Growers School

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 three 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’s scale, viability, and long-term direction while making connections that deepen peer-to-peer support.

Limited spots are available for the full program, and those who want to be eligible for our Savings Incentive Program and the professional development funds must commit to participating in all aspects of the program.

What makes the Journeyperson program unique?

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

  • Enterprise innovation

Wednesday, October 25, 2023
The Journeyperson Program
Oct 25 all-day
Organic Growers School

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 three 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’s scale, viability, and long-term direction while making connections that deepen peer-to-peer support.

Limited spots are available for the full program, and those who want to be eligible for our Savings Incentive Program and the professional development funds must commit to participating in all aspects of the program.

What makes the Journeyperson program unique?

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

  • Enterprise innovation

Thursday, October 26, 2023
The Journeyperson Program
Oct 26 all-day
Organic Growers School

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 three 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’s scale, viability, and long-term direction while making connections that deepen peer-to-peer support.

Limited spots are available for the full program, and those who want to be eligible for our Savings Incentive Program and the professional development funds must commit to participating in all aspects of the program.

What makes the Journeyperson program unique?

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

  • Enterprise innovation

The Learning Garden presents: Dahlia Series: Dividing and Storing Dahlias
Oct 26 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am
NC Cooperative Extension Buncombe County Center

Join Extension Master Gardener David Bush to Learn how to get even more dahlias for next year with longer, straighter stems; and larger blooms. The way to dig, divide, and store the tubers for next year will be demonstrated.
Portions of this program may be held outside; please dress appropriately for the weather.
The presentation is free, but attendance is limited and registration with is required.

Whole Farm Planning: Choosing a Property, Site Analysis and Concept Design
Oct 26 @ 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
SAHC Community Farm

Join us for an introduction to planning and layout of land for small-scale farming. Our case study will be a property around the corner from the SAHC Community Farm in Alexander, NC.

We will conduct a site analysis of the property’s conditions using a number of land planning tools, with a Permaculture approach. We’ll inventory conditions such as soils, water, wind, aspect and more to create a multi-layered map of the site as a base for decision making. Using this information, together we will draw up a concept for the site, addressing needs and challenges identified in the analysis phase.

This workshop will be particularly appropriate for participants who already own or lease land, as well as those who plan to do so in the future. Our focus will be on growers, and the public is welcome!

Cost: $50 (no one turned away for inability to pay)
Poetry Open Mic Hendo
Oct 26 @ 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Shakedown Lounge

Poetry Open Mic Hendo is the all-new sister event of Poetry Open Mic Asheville, the
longest-running open mic in Western North Carolina, this weekly event welcomes all people and all forms of creative expression at
Hendersonville’s only Kava lounge.

Friday, October 27, 2023
The Journeyperson Program
Oct 27 all-day
Organic Growers School

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 three 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’s scale, viability, and long-term direction while making connections that deepen peer-to-peer support.

Limited spots are available for the full program, and those who want to be eligible for our Savings Incentive Program and the professional development funds must commit to participating in all aspects of the program.

What makes the Journeyperson program unique?

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

  • Enterprise innovation

SAHC Community Farm Tour
Oct 27 @ 2:00 pm
SAHC Community Farm
 

Enjoy a ‘spooky’ twist on our monthly farm tour as we get into the holiday spirit! But don’t let this hike scare you. It will be a moderate 2.5-mile loop across the hills and pastures of the SAHC Community Farm, with plenty of stops along the Discovery Trail to talk about farm production and conservation projects on the property. You’ll learn about our stream restoration efforts, shortleaf pine reforestation project, and more. FREE for SAHC members, $10 for non-members.

Saturday, October 28, 2023
The Journeyperson Program
Oct 28 all-day
Organic Growers School

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 three 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’s scale, viability, and long-term direction while making connections that deepen peer-to-peer support.

Limited spots are available for the full program, and those who want to be eligible for our Savings Incentive Program and the professional development funds must commit to participating in all aspects of the program.

What makes the Journeyperson program unique?

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

  • Enterprise innovation

Sunday, October 29, 2023
The Journeyperson Program
Oct 29 all-day
Organic Growers School

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 three 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’s scale, viability, and long-term direction while making connections that deepen peer-to-peer support.

Limited spots are available for the full program, and those who want to be eligible for our Savings Incentive Program and the professional development funds must commit to participating in all aspects of the program.

What makes the Journeyperson program unique?

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

  • Enterprise innovation

Monday, October 30, 2023
The Journeyperson Program
Oct 30 all-day
Organic Growers School

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 three 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’s scale, viability, and long-term direction while making connections that deepen peer-to-peer support.

Limited spots are available for the full program, and those who want to be eligible for our Savings Incentive Program and the professional development funds must commit to participating in all aspects of the program.

What makes the Journeyperson program unique?

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

  • Enterprise innovation

Tuesday, October 31, 2023
The Journeyperson Program
Oct 31 all-day
Organic Growers School

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 three 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’s scale, viability, and long-term direction while making connections that deepen peer-to-peer support.

Limited spots are available for the full program, and those who want to be eligible for our Savings Incentive Program and the professional development funds must commit to participating in all aspects of the program.

What makes the Journeyperson program unique?

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

  • Enterprise innovation

Thursday, November 2, 2023
Poetry Open Mic Hendo
Nov 2 @ 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Shakedown Lounge

Poetry Open Mic Hendo is the all-new sister event of Poetry Open Mic Asheville, the
longest-running open mic in Western North Carolina, this weekly event welcomes all people and all forms of creative expression at
Hendersonville’s only Kava lounge.

Thursday, November 9, 2023
Poetry Open Mic Hendo
Nov 9 @ 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Shakedown Lounge

Poetry Open Mic Hendo is the all-new sister event of Poetry Open Mic Asheville, the
longest-running open mic in Western North Carolina, this weekly event welcomes all people and all forms of creative expression at
Hendersonville’s only Kava lounge.

Saturday, November 11, 2023
Ross Farm and Appalachian Standard FREE Holiday Farm Fest
Nov 11 @ 11:30 am – 4:00 pm
Ross Farm

Join us for the second Holiday Farm Fest at Ross Farm! 🎄🎁✨
Where: 91 Holbrook Road, Candler, NC, 28571
When: November 11th from 11:30 am to 4 pm
Cost: Free!

Come experience one heck of a unique venue! Our beautiful greenhouses will be transformed into a winter wonderland with unique plants, holiday music, hot beverages, goodies, and three greenhouses full of fantastic vendors ready to complete your holiday shopping list.

Join the holly jolly cheer with a community sing-a-long where Lauren Davis of @fiddyshadesofgreen and the rest of the Farm Fam will sing Christmas classics! This year, we’re singing Wham!’s ‘Last Christmas’ plus another classic.

We’ll be playing all of the holiday hits as you peruse our wonderful line-up of artisan craft and food vendors. Vendors include:
✨Your Mother’s Medicine
✨Cole Klutch Purses
✨Sabai Sabai
✨Mahila
✨New Moon Magic Studio
✨Yarned and Dangerous Crafts LLC
✨Appalachian Clay
✨Black Bear Woodworks
✨Pure Fire Foods
✨Jen Toledo Painting and Drawing
✨True Earth Herbs
✨Stray Cat Goods
✨Autumn & Olive Handmade
✨Mamaws Mudcrafts
✨Appalachian Wyld Botanicals
✨The Botany Garage
✨Early-Zald Photography
✨Max Trainque Glass
✨Machine Creek Studio
✨Fringe and Folly
✨Tree to Table Wood Works
✨Hemp3d
✨Silas Sauce
✨Lucent Heart Designs

Appalachian Standard will be there selling CBD, including our four brand new holiday boxes with exclusive releases in each just in time for the celebration.

We’ll also have a scavenger hunt for the kids and a few other surprises! Parking is available onsite but can be limited so we recommend that you carpool. This is an indoor event.

Stop by the farm for some holiday cheer!

Thursday, November 16, 2023
THE MOTH Presents: Asheville StorySLAM – “Give and Take”
Nov 16 @ 7:30 pm
The Grey Eagle
Doors Open: 6:30 PM
– PARTIALLY SEATED SHOW
– GA SEATING IN FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED. 

THE MOTH resumes their recurring monthly Asheville StorySLAM at The Grey Eagle at 7:30pm! This month’s theme is….


GIVE AND TAKE:  Prepare a five minute story about the push and pull, an eye for an eye, a quid pro quo. The art of compromise-or lack thereof. Finding balance or disrupting the system. A tit for tat, giving in, or seizing the crown for yourself. What do you bring to the table?
Poetry Open Mic Hendo
Nov 16 @ 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Shakedown Lounge

Poetry Open Mic Hendo is the all-new sister event of Poetry Open Mic Asheville, the
longest-running open mic in Western North Carolina, this weekly event welcomes all people and all forms of creative expression at
Hendersonville’s only Kava lounge.

Saturday, November 18, 2023
Free Kudzu + River Cane Workshop
Nov 18 @ 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
RiverLink

Join RiverLink and Kudzu Culture for a hands-on workshop where participants will learn how to protect river cane, harvest kudzu, and make a kudzu vine wreath to take home! Please complete this form to RSVP (maximum of 15 participants for this workshop). Registration is required.

Monday, November 20, 2023
The Moth’s Asheville GrandSLAM
Nov 20 @ 8:00 pm
Diana Wortham Theatre

The ultimate storytelling competition, The Moth GrandSLAM invites 10 StorySLAM winners back to the stage to battle for the title of Asheville storytelling champion.

Hosted by Ray Christian, Produced by Stevent Foy

About the Moth: Hailed as “New York’s hottest and hippest literary ticket” by The Wall Street Journal, The Moth is an acclaimed not-for-profit organization dedicated to the art and craft of storytelling. Through live and virtual shows, storytelling workshops, a podcast, Peabody Award-winning Radio Hour, and New Your Times Best Selling books, The Moth brings the the power of personal storytelling to millions of people each year – creating community and building empathy around the world.

 

Thursday, November 23, 2023
Poetry Open Mic Hendo
Nov 23 @ 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Shakedown Lounge

Poetry Open Mic Hendo is the all-new sister event of Poetry Open Mic Asheville, the
longest-running open mic in Western North Carolina, this weekly event welcomes all people and all forms of creative expression at
Hendersonville’s only Kava lounge.

Tuesday, November 28, 2023
Value-Added Products and SAHC’s Community Kitchen
Nov 28 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
SAHC Community Farm

During this workshop, we will meet in SAHC’s certified, commercial-grade kitchen. The kitchen provides a resource for farmers in our Farmer Incubator Program and community members to prepare a variety of value-added products. Not sure what you want to produce? The SAHC V.A.K. (Value Added Kitchen) is an affordable option if you want to test products as well!

By offering value-added products, farmers improve their economic productivity and extend their market season through the entire year. Community Farm Manager Chris Link will lead the workshop, explaining the elements of the kitchen at SAHC’s Community Farm, steps involved in creating a value-added product, and how to get started producing.

Just after this workshop, participants will have the option to stay afterward for the Food Safety and Kitchen Sanitation Class, the first step in accessing the kitchen for your own production.

Cost: Workshop is FREE, and the food safety class costs just $30.
Wednesday, November 29, 2023
Fairview Poetry Festival
Nov 29 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Fairview Library

Join us after hours for this gala event featuring six award-winning poets: Keith Flynn, Kathy Ackerman, Caleb Beissert, Greg Lobas,  Pat Riviere-Seel and Lee Stockdale. Books will be available for purchase. Refreshments will be served.

Thursday, November 30, 2023
Poetry Open Mic Hendo
Nov 30 @ 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Shakedown Lounge

Poetry Open Mic Hendo is the all-new sister event of Poetry Open Mic Asheville, the
longest-running open mic in Western North Carolina, this weekly event welcomes all people and all forms of creative expression at
Hendersonville’s only Kava lounge.

Thursday, December 7, 2023
Mischief Moon Gala
Dec 7 @ 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Asheville Masonic Temple

Invoke your imagination and dawn your most creaturely costumes at the Mischief Moon Gala! This evening of ceremony, interactive art, empowered movement, and connection is coming Thursday, December 7th, to the Asheville Masonic Temple. Head to https://www.fireflygathering.org/event/mischief-moon-gala for tickets, and see below for more details!

The Mischief Moon Gala: Thursday, December 7th from 5 – 11 pm at the Asheville Masonic Temple

Join us as we celebrate the power of creativity and community with live music from beloved artists like Holy River, Sarah Louise, and Wild Roots Rising; a community waltz with a live band (waltz class beforehand!); traditional Cherokee foods from Bigwitch Wisdom Initiative, and an entire evening of beautifully bizarre performances, installations, and offerings.

This year, we are delving into the wide world of weird, with an emphasis on the bizarre iterations of creation. Start creating your most captivating costumes as you, The Wanderer, have many adventures into the underworld and beyond soon to come!

Begin your journey in The Underworld, where we’ve curated an assortment of oddities to entertain you, including the Fae Cleaning Crew and the FerryMan. When you need to revive your spirits, journey up the Haunted Staircase to sojourn in the Realm of the Fae, where ethereal music, poetry and the Otherworldly Art Gallery & Cantina await you.

All proceeds for the Gala go toward supporting artists and fundraise for Firefly Gathering’s year-round work to empower the people of the Southeast through earthskills workshops, the Annual Firefly Gathering, and community-building events.

Poetry Open Mic Hendo
Dec 7 @ 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Shakedown Lounge

Poetry Open Mic Hendo is the all-new sister event of Poetry Open Mic Asheville, the
longest-running open mic in Western North Carolina, this weekly event welcomes all people and all forms of creative expression at
Hendersonville’s only Kava lounge.

Sunday, December 10, 2023
Poetry Slam Night
Dec 10 @ 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Art Garden AVL

 

Calling all poetry lovers! We’re now hosting a monthly Poetry Slam Night with The Pot Stirred in The Canopy.

Test out your poetry skills or come to just listen and vibe. Come be a part of Poetry Slam Night every second Sunday of the month starting at 6:30 pm.

$5 to listen, $10 to slam – Pay at door.

Tuesday, January 9, 2024
Mountain Mushrooms
Jan 9 @ 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Bullington Gardens

Learn about how to grow mushrooms at home, basic fungal biology, and the top wild mushrooms to collect in the forest. Presented by Steve Pettis, Henderson County Commercial and Consumer Horticulture Agent and host of the Gardening in the Mountains Radio Show,

Friday, January 12, 2024
2024 Carl Sandburg Poetry Contest is open with a theme of “Memory”
Jan 12 all-day
online w/ Carl Sandburg Home

Carl Sandburg wrote countless words in an array of different genres, including poetry, children’s stories, journal articles, as well as a biography and autobiography! He wrote of love and nature, dreams and struggles. This year’s theme of “Memory” is echoed in much of his works. ““Under the summer roses, when the flagrant crimson, lurks in the dusk, Of the wild red leaves, Love, with little hands, comes and touches you with a thousand memories, and asks you beautiful, unanswerable questions.” Carl Sandburg

Poems submitted for the 2024 contest should reflect the theme of “Memory.” By definition, “the process or power of recallling something learned or experienced from the past” Note: Poems do NOT need to be titled Memory, as long as the poem itself relates to the theme.

Students are invited to submit a poem to Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site’s annual Student Poetry Contest. The contest encourages youth to explore writing their own poetry and is open to students nationwide!

  • Submissions are accepted from grades 3-12 and must be submitted by email by Monday March 4, 2024. See below for submission rules.
  • Winners will be notified by April 7, 2024, and will be invited to participate in a virtual celebration program on Sunday, April 28.