Calendar of Events

Something extraordinary is coming to Asheville this winter! The North Carolina Arboretum and Explore Asheville are elated to announce the arrival of Trolls: A Field Study. Visiting on their first North American excursion, these twelve interactive troll sculptures will explore the Arboretum, embarking on a curious journey to learn about humankind.

Produced by Imagine in collaboration with Danish artist Thomas Dambo, these friendly and fanciful sculptures evoke a sense of wonder and intrigue as they study our small, intricate and inventive ways of life in Western North Carolina. Standing seven to nine feet tall and lovingly described by the artist as “Baby Trolls”, the creatures are crafted from materials like fallen branches, wooden pallets and twigs.

Through their observations, the trolls reveal a fresh perspective on what makes us human, sparking curiosity and laughter in visitors of all ages.

Only cost is the parking fee. No other admission fees.

Grovewood Gallery proudly presents Artful Living: The Spirit of the Craftsman Style, a group exhibition celebrating the enduring influence of the American Arts and Crafts movement. On view from October 18 through December 31, 2025, this curated showcase brings together the work of four contemporary makers who honor traditional craftsmanship while offering fresh perspectives on timeless forms.

Featured artists include ceramicist Leslie Green Guilbault, a Roycroft Artisan whose pottery blends nature, myth, and metallic luster; blacksmith Paul Garrett, known for his handcrafted metalwork and luminous mica lamps inspired by early 20th-century design; furniture maker Timothy Livingston, whose heirloom-quality pieces reflect a deep reverence for honest materials and joinery; and painter Shawn Krueger, a Roycroft Master Artisan whose landscapes echo the quiet mood and tonal beauty of historic plein air work.

Women of the Pacific Northwest celebrates the voices, visions and material mastery of female artists working today, with roots from this rich and progressive region. Through the execution of disparate media from bronze, steel, glass, tin, plaster, mylar, printmaking, hair nets, cloth, rubber, wax to paint, these artists have achieved inventive, creative practices originating from critical, generative, inquisition of natural, social or subliminal forces. This exhibition highlights a group of female artists working in diverse media creating art that explores connections to place, whether sociological, environmental or spiritual, in a region supportive of equality, ecology and enterprise. These artists are among today’s pioneers, interpreting universality through personal observation and inventing poetic, transcendent works inspiring greater, pluralistic understanding, connecting us to one another and to the world around us.

Featured artists:

Victoria Adams, Drie Chapek, Jaq Chartier, Susan Dory, Betsy Ebys, Ann Gardner, Emily Gherard, Estuko Ichikawa, Lisa Jarrett, Brenda Mallory, Wendy Red Star, Katy Stone, Susan Zoccola, Marie Watt, and Julie Speidel.

What a year. Let’s wrap it up by taking off our anxious hats and putting on our party hats, as we celebrate getting through this strange, shocking, infuriating, frightening, one-of-a-kind year. The resistance is growing, the balance is tipping, and we’ve had some strong wins in 2025. So let’s get together to kick back and relax, as we get ready to hit 2026 strong!

Featuring food, fun, prizes, and your end-of-year chance to schmooze with activist pals. See you there!

Indivisible Asheville/WNC is an independent, grassroots nonprofit organization whose mission is to build a more just, equitable, and representative democracy by organizing locally for advocacy, accountability, and voter engagement.

By Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope, and Jamie Wooten
Presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the Dramatists Play Service collection. (www.dramatists.com)

December 11-21, 2025

Thursday, 12/11 at 7:30 (pay what you can available 11/27)
Fridays at 7:30
Saturday at 3 pm
Sundays at 3 pm

Director: Abigail Dover Thomas

Approximate Run Time: 2 hours, 35 minutes
Rating: PG due to adult content and mild language.

Four days before Christmas in Tinsel, Texas, a colorful parade of eccentric guests arrive at the Snowflake Inn and deck the halls with holiday hilarity. Trina, the harried yet upbeat innkeeper of this B&B, has more than she can handle coping with these nuttier-than-a-fruitcake lodgers. Hoyt and his sister, Donna Jo, make the mistake of trying to end a thirty-year feud between their curmudgeonly aunts, Ennis and Della, with sidesplitting results. Ainsley and Lenora, self-involved actors from a lower-than-low-budget touring production of A Christmas Carol, descend on the Inn to fulfill a promise, leaving comedic chaos in their wake. Add to this Yuletide mayhem an ill-advised romantic rendezvous between Mrs. Claus and one of Santa’s elves. This demanding guest refuses to leave, not to mention a tipsy housekeeper, and it will take more than a kiss under the mistletoe to keep Trina’s spirits merry and bright. But a spur-of-the-moment Christmas Eve wedding that brings together the fabulous Futrelle sisters—Honey Raye, Twink, Frankie, and Rhonda Lynn—and their best friend, Raynerd, takes a surprising and delightful turn that leads to a laugh-’till-your-sides-ache climax, changing all their lives forever.

Join us for our Annual Holiday Concert, a celebration of the season filled with choral harmonies, candlelight, and joy. Listening to choral music by candlelight is an experience that feels suspended between sound and silence, light and shadow. The soft flicker of candles transforms the space. The usual sharpness of electric light is gone, replaced by something softer and timeless.

Join us for our performance of Vivaldi’s Gloria and beautiful carols, a celebration of the season filled with choral harmonies, candlelight, and joy. Listening to choral music by candlelight is an experience that feels suspended between sound and silence, light and shadow. The soft flicker of candles transforms the space. The usual sharpness of electric light is gone, replaced by something softer and timeless.

Something extraordinary is coming to Asheville this winter! The North Carolina Arboretum and Explore Asheville are elated to announce the arrival of Trolls: A Field Study. Visiting on their first North American excursion, these twelve interactive troll sculptures will explore the Arboretum, embarking on a curious journey to learn about humankind.

Produced by Imagine in collaboration with Danish artist Thomas Dambo, these friendly and fanciful sculptures evoke a sense of wonder and intrigue as they study our small, intricate and inventive ways of life in Western North Carolina. Standing seven to nine feet tall and lovingly described by the artist as “Baby Trolls”, the creatures are crafted from materials like fallen branches, wooden pallets and twigs.

Through their observations, the trolls reveal a fresh perspective on what makes us human, sparking curiosity and laughter in visitors of all ages.

Only cost is the parking fee. No other admission fees.

Grovewood Gallery proudly presents Artful Living: The Spirit of the Craftsman Style, a group exhibition celebrating the enduring influence of the American Arts and Crafts movement. On view from October 18 through December 31, 2025, this curated showcase brings together the work of four contemporary makers who honor traditional craftsmanship while offering fresh perspectives on timeless forms.

Featured artists include ceramicist Leslie Green Guilbault, a Roycroft Artisan whose pottery blends nature, myth, and metallic luster; blacksmith Paul Garrett, known for his handcrafted metalwork and luminous mica lamps inspired by early 20th-century design; furniture maker Timothy Livingston, whose heirloom-quality pieces reflect a deep reverence for honest materials and joinery; and painter Shawn Krueger, a Roycroft Master Artisan whose landscapes echo the quiet mood and tonal beauty of historic plein air work.

Women of the Pacific Northwest celebrates the voices, visions and material mastery of female artists working today, with roots from this rich and progressive region. Through the execution of disparate media from bronze, steel, glass, tin, plaster, mylar, printmaking, hair nets, cloth, rubber, wax to paint, these artists have achieved inventive, creative practices originating from critical, generative, inquisition of natural, social or subliminal forces. This exhibition highlights a group of female artists working in diverse media creating art that explores connections to place, whether sociological, environmental or spiritual, in a region supportive of equality, ecology and enterprise. These artists are among today’s pioneers, interpreting universality through personal observation and inventing poetic, transcendent works inspiring greater, pluralistic understanding, connecting us to one another and to the world around us.

Featured artists:

Victoria Adams, Drie Chapek, Jaq Chartier, Susan Dory, Betsy Ebys, Ann Gardner, Emily Gherard, Estuko Ichikawa, Lisa Jarrett, Brenda Mallory, Wendy Red Star, Katy Stone, Susan Zoccola, Marie Watt, and Julie Speidel.

Tree Lighting: 6:00 pm, The Weaverville Tree on Main Street

Storytelling, Music, Gifts, Kids Crafts, and a Shuttle Service to Town: The Community Center and The Dry Ridge Museum offer a full night of festivities, AND a ride from Lake Louise to Main Street.

Scavenger Hunt: Holiday characters are hidden throughout Main Street!

Santa: As usual, Santa is hosted by Keller Williams Realty!

Cops 4 Kids: Donation jars are dispersed along Main Street.

Festive Singing and Caroling: Details to come as we get closer to our event!

🎄 Second Annual Christmas Spectacular! 🎄

Step into a Winter Wonderland and experience the magic of the season at our Second Annual Christmas Spectacular— a joyful holiday showcase filled with music, dance, and festive fun for the whole family!

This year’s show features an Enchanted Forest theme, complete with festive holiday songs, tap and jazz dancing, and breathtaking aerial silks performances. You’ll also enjoy reimagined Christmas classics and a show-stopping hip-hop Nutcracker number that’s sure to bring the house down!

Enjoy performances by our 1-Year Choir students, Chamber Choir, and Performance Media Crew (dance troupe), plus a special preview number from our upcoming production of The Lion King Jr. at Wortham Center for the Arts (Jan. 10 & 11).

✨ 3 Showtimes:

Friday, December 12 – 5:00 PM & 7:00 PM
Saturday, December 13 – 2:00 PM
📍 Location:
174 Bradley Branch, Unit 4/5, 28704
(Please enter from the front side of the building.)

☕ Refreshments will be available for sale, with all proceeds benefiting AJT.

❄️ Expect an indoor snowstorm and plenty of sparkle and surprises along the way!

🎫 Seating is general admission (first come, first served).

🌟 Tickets will sell out quickly! Last year’s two shows completely sold out — so this year we’ve added a third performance to make room for everyone. Don’t wait — grab your tickets early and join us for this heartwarming, high-energy holiday celebration!

🎟️ Purchase your seats today for a truly spectacular Christmas experience!

Winter Lights is excited to provide an all-new premium trolley experience, in partnership with Biltmore Park Town Square and Gray Line Trolley Tours! Skip the lines and ride the Winter Lights Trolley!

Enjoy dinner and shopping at Biltmore Park Town Square before hopping on the Winter Lights Trolley to experience Winter Lights!

Ride the Winter Lights Trolley Friday November 28 and select Fridays and Saturdays in December. Trolleys depart from Biltmore Park Town Square every half hour, beginning at 5:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $50 per-person and available select dates only.

Celebrate the magic of the season at the 5th Annual Winter Wonder Walk—an enchanting outdoor story experience where live theater meets a whimsical walk through the woods! Created by Asheville Plays and hosted by the Adventure Center of Asheville, this immersive journey guides guests through the Kingdom of Winterland, where each page of the story comes to life with delightful characters and heartwarming surprises. This family-friendly event has been created with everyone in minde, no matter your age or what you may celebrate during the winter holiday season. Winter Wonder Walk includes the outdoor storywalk, a heated holiday tent featuring a local vendor market, a kids’ play area, and several tasty concession and beverage options. Guests ages 4+ can also enjoy the Treetops Adventure Park Glow Trail, aglow with thousands of twinkling lights. Every ticket purchased helps spread joy even further—each one supports MANNA FoodBank and their mission to feed our community.Kids 12 and younger can earn a free general admission ticket by participating in our “S’Mitten With Books” reading program! Bundle up and bring the whole family—it’s the perfect way to make magical memories and give back this holiday season!
2025 Dates: November 29 & 30 and December 6, 7, 13, 14
Festivities begin at 6 PM | Winter Wonder Walk opens at 6:30 PM
Tickets & FAQs at www.winterwonderwalk.com

By Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope, and Jamie Wooten
Presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the Dramatists Play Service collection. (www.dramatists.com)

December 11-21, 2025

Thursday, 12/11 at 7:30 (pay what you can available 11/27)
Fridays at 7:30
Saturday at 3 pm
Sundays at 3 pm

Director: Abigail Dover Thomas

Approximate Run Time: 2 hours, 35 minutes
Rating: PG due to adult content and mild language.

Four days before Christmas in Tinsel, Texas, a colorful parade of eccentric guests arrive at the Snowflake Inn and deck the halls with holiday hilarity. Trina, the harried yet upbeat innkeeper of this B&B, has more than she can handle coping with these nuttier-than-a-fruitcake lodgers. Hoyt and his sister, Donna Jo, make the mistake of trying to end a thirty-year feud between their curmudgeonly aunts, Ennis and Della, with sidesplitting results. Ainsley and Lenora, self-involved actors from a lower-than-low-budget touring production of A Christmas Carol, descend on the Inn to fulfill a promise, leaving comedic chaos in their wake. Add to this Yuletide mayhem an ill-advised romantic rendezvous between Mrs. Claus and one of Santa’s elves. This demanding guest refuses to leave, not to mention a tipsy housekeeper, and it will take more than a kiss under the mistletoe to keep Trina’s spirits merry and bright. But a spur-of-the-moment Christmas Eve wedding that brings together the fabulous Futrelle sisters—Honey Raye, Twink, Frankie, and Rhonda Lynn—and their best friend, Raynerd, takes a surprising and delightful turn that leads to a laugh-’till-your-sides-ache climax, changing all their lives forever.

An exciting and critically acclaimed tribute to Linda Ronstadt, Paula Hanke and Peggy Ratusz belt out her hits in perfect harmony while adding personal stories of her impressive career. A must see concert, featuring Kelly Jones on guitar and vocals, Taylor Pierson on keys/piano, Ryan Kijanka on bass with James Kylen on drums.

Paula Hanke and Peggy Ratusz and their superlative 4-piece backing band shift effortlessly between genres with ease & control. These two lead and backing vocalists, have been mesmerizing audiences together & separately for over 45 years. Hanke, hailing from Wisconsin and Ratusz from Ohio, they have performed professionally in various shows together for 15 years.

Ronstadt was the voice of a generation, & both of these fervent, adaptive singers are natural catalysts for these iconic, nostalgic tunes. Their bandmates are exceptional artists in their own rights and bring their strong suits to these genre-hopping songs with panache and dedication.

WHERE: Third Room
WHEN: Friday December 12, 2025
DOORS: 9pm SHOW: 10pm
GENRE: dubstep
TICKETS: $20-$33

Distinct Motive is a Canadian producer/DJ creating explorative, visceral bass music for the masses. He quickly made a name for himself with his dark and minimal production style. Paying homage to the early aesthetic of dubstep while building a sound unique unto himself, he has put his respective hometown of Toronto on the map in international bass music circles, advocating for the original, dub-influenced side of dubstep to elated audiences across North America and Europe.

Originally from the Middle East, Don Jamal has made a name for himself in the West Coast Dub Scene. Notable shows include, support for Of The Trees, Skream, Mr. Carmack, all being sold out shows. Notable Label releases include: Deep Dark and Dangerous, Space Yacht and Phuture Collective. His sets aim to take you on a journey and include many genres with his own twist. Being from Jordan, a place where the bass scene is non-existent, he aims to encourage any talent from there to pursue the same journey.