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, July 7, 2022
Entries for the 30th Annual National Gingerbread House Competition™ are now being accepted!
Jul 7 all-day
online

 

The Omni Grove Park Inn, an award-winning, 513-room resort set in the idyllic Blue Ridge Mountains just minutes from downtown Asheville, N.C., is celebrating The 30th National Gingerbread House Competition™, which is the nation’s largest, hosted at the resort annually. Beginning July 6, 2022 the competition registration is officially now open here through November 14, 2022. The competition will be held and winners will be announced on November 21, 2022.

 

New elements for The 30th National Gingerbread House Competition™ include:

  • Introduction of 10th Judge, Ashleigh Shanti, chef/owner of Good Hot Fish & 2020 James Beard finalist.
  • Addition of six brand-new specialty awards and increased prizes (60% increase to years past) across the four age categories, which include Best Use of Sprinkles, Most Unique Ingredient, Longest Standing Competitor, Best Use of Color, Pop Culture Star, Most Innovative Structure, and Best Use of Spice.
  • All registered competitors will have the opportunity to vote on their favorite piece of the entire competition to determine the winner of the new People’s Choice: Best in Show award.

 

The full press release announcing the official rules and entry forms can be found here and below, and a highlight reel and hi-res imagery from last year’s competition can be found here. Please let me know if you will consider the news on behalf of The Omni Grove Park Inn!

Nominations accepted for the Blue Ridge Business Growth + Rising Star Awards
Jul 7 all-day
online

The Blue Ridge Business Growth Awards (companies in business over 3 years) and Rising Star Awards (companies in business less than 3 years) will be presented to Chamber member businesses that experienced growth in 2020 through quality management, inventiveness, old fashioned hard work and courage. Companies can be recognized for employment growth, revenue growth, or a combination.
Download a nomination form today. Deadline is August 19th
Games, Gifts, + Goodies at First National Bank
Jul 7 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
First National Bank
First National Bank
Join the fun at the Games, Gifts, & Goodies event at First National Bank. Win a $50 gift card to a restaurant in Biltmore Park. Sip on a cold lemonade and challenge your neighbor to a game of cornhole. Meet the community, and learn about a bank that you can trust. Thursday, July 7th & Friday, July 8th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

 

 

Friday, July 8, 2022
Entries for the 30th Annual National Gingerbread House Competition™ are now being accepted!
Jul 8 all-day
online

 

The Omni Grove Park Inn, an award-winning, 513-room resort set in the idyllic Blue Ridge Mountains just minutes from downtown Asheville, N.C., is celebrating The 30th National Gingerbread House Competition™, which is the nation’s largest, hosted at the resort annually. Beginning July 6, 2022 the competition registration is officially now open here through November 14, 2022. The competition will be held and winners will be announced on November 21, 2022.

 

New elements for The 30th National Gingerbread House Competition™ include:

  • Introduction of 10th Judge, Ashleigh Shanti, chef/owner of Good Hot Fish & 2020 James Beard finalist.
  • Addition of six brand-new specialty awards and increased prizes (60% increase to years past) across the four age categories, which include Best Use of Sprinkles, Most Unique Ingredient, Longest Standing Competitor, Best Use of Color, Pop Culture Star, Most Innovative Structure, and Best Use of Spice.
  • All registered competitors will have the opportunity to vote on their favorite piece of the entire competition to determine the winner of the new People’s Choice: Best in Show award.

 

The full press release announcing the official rules and entry forms can be found here and below, and a highlight reel and hi-res imagery from last year’s competition can be found here. Please let me know if you will consider the news on behalf of The Omni Grove Park Inn!

Games, Gifts, + Goodies at First National Bank
Jul 8 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
First National Bank
First National Bank
Join the fun at the Games, Gifts, & Goodies event at First National Bank. Win a $50 gift card to a restaurant in Biltmore Park. Sip on a cold lemonade and challenge your neighbor to a game of cornhole. Meet the community, and learn about a bank that you can trust. Thursday, July 7th & Friday, July 8th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

 

 

Saturday, July 9, 2022
Appalachian Energy Summit 2022
Jul 9 all-day
Appalachian State University

Since 2012, the Appalachian Energy Summit (AES) — a three-day, annual event envisioned and hosted by App State — has gathered faculty, staff and students from colleges and universities, energy managers and visionaries, and government and industry leaders to share ideas and put into action ecological, financial and social processes designed to improve energy efficiency across the UNC System, the state and beyond. Support from sponsors and private donors has allowed participants to attend free of charge.

Throughout the year, working groups sponsored and supported by the summit continue to advance energy saving initiatives.

Listen to notable AES speakers

  • Amory Lovins, Rocky Mountain Institute co-founder and chief scientist; 2013 AES.
  • Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a world-recognized environmentalist and energy policy expert; 2015 AES.
  • Bill McKibben, a best-selling author and environmental activist; 2016 AES.
  • McKibben and Lovins, an armchair discussion at the 2016 AES.
  • Leith Sharp, director of executive education for sustainability leadership, Harvard University; 2017 AES.
  • Michael Regan, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality; 2017 AES.
  • David Orr, environmentalist, activist and the Paul Sears Distinguished Professor of Environmental Studies and Politics Emeritus at Oberlin College; 2017 AES.
Entries for the 30th Annual National Gingerbread House Competition™ are now being accepted!
Jul 9 all-day
online

 

The Omni Grove Park Inn, an award-winning, 513-room resort set in the idyllic Blue Ridge Mountains just minutes from downtown Asheville, N.C., is celebrating The 30th National Gingerbread House Competition™, which is the nation’s largest, hosted at the resort annually. Beginning July 6, 2022 the competition registration is officially now open here through November 14, 2022. The competition will be held and winners will be announced on November 21, 2022.

 

New elements for The 30th National Gingerbread House Competition™ include:

  • Introduction of 10th Judge, Ashleigh Shanti, chef/owner of Good Hot Fish & 2020 James Beard finalist.
  • Addition of six brand-new specialty awards and increased prizes (60% increase to years past) across the four age categories, which include Best Use of Sprinkles, Most Unique Ingredient, Longest Standing Competitor, Best Use of Color, Pop Culture Star, Most Innovative Structure, and Best Use of Spice.
  • All registered competitors will have the opportunity to vote on their favorite piece of the entire competition to determine the winner of the new People’s Choice: Best in Show award.

 

The full press release announcing the official rules and entry forms can be found here and below, and a highlight reel and hi-res imagery from last year’s competition can be found here. Please let me know if you will consider the news on behalf of The Omni Grove Park Inn!

Sunday, July 10, 2022
Appalachian Energy Summit 2022
Jul 10 all-day
Appalachian State University

Since 2012, the Appalachian Energy Summit (AES) — a three-day, annual event envisioned and hosted by App State — has gathered faculty, staff and students from colleges and universities, energy managers and visionaries, and government and industry leaders to share ideas and put into action ecological, financial and social processes designed to improve energy efficiency across the UNC System, the state and beyond. Support from sponsors and private donors has allowed participants to attend free of charge.

Throughout the year, working groups sponsored and supported by the summit continue to advance energy saving initiatives.

Listen to notable AES speakers

  • Amory Lovins, Rocky Mountain Institute co-founder and chief scientist; 2013 AES.
  • Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a world-recognized environmentalist and energy policy expert; 2015 AES.
  • Bill McKibben, a best-selling author and environmental activist; 2016 AES.
  • McKibben and Lovins, an armchair discussion at the 2016 AES.
  • Leith Sharp, director of executive education for sustainability leadership, Harvard University; 2017 AES.
  • Michael Regan, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality; 2017 AES.
  • David Orr, environmentalist, activist and the Paul Sears Distinguished Professor of Environmental Studies and Politics Emeritus at Oberlin College; 2017 AES.
Entries for the 30th Annual National Gingerbread House Competition™ are now being accepted!
Jul 10 all-day
online

 

The Omni Grove Park Inn, an award-winning, 513-room resort set in the idyllic Blue Ridge Mountains just minutes from downtown Asheville, N.C., is celebrating The 30th National Gingerbread House Competition™, which is the nation’s largest, hosted at the resort annually. Beginning July 6, 2022 the competition registration is officially now open here through November 14, 2022. The competition will be held and winners will be announced on November 21, 2022.

 

New elements for The 30th National Gingerbread House Competition™ include:

  • Introduction of 10th Judge, Ashleigh Shanti, chef/owner of Good Hot Fish & 2020 James Beard finalist.
  • Addition of six brand-new specialty awards and increased prizes (60% increase to years past) across the four age categories, which include Best Use of Sprinkles, Most Unique Ingredient, Longest Standing Competitor, Best Use of Color, Pop Culture Star, Most Innovative Structure, and Best Use of Spice.
  • All registered competitors will have the opportunity to vote on their favorite piece of the entire competition to determine the winner of the new People’s Choice: Best in Show award.

 

The full press release announcing the official rules and entry forms can be found here and below, and a highlight reel and hi-res imagery from last year’s competition can be found here. Please let me know if you will consider the news on behalf of The Omni Grove Park Inn!

Tuesday, July 12, 2022
Nominations accepted for the Blue Ridge Business Growth + Rising Star Awards
Jul 12 all-day
online

The Blue Ridge Business Growth Awards (companies in business over 3 years) and Rising Star Awards (companies in business less than 3 years) will be presented to Chamber member businesses that experienced growth in 2020 through quality management, inventiveness, old fashioned hard work and courage. Companies can be recognized for employment growth, revenue growth, or a combination.
Download a nomination form today. Deadline is August 19th
Ribbon Cutting: Blue Ridge Community College NEW facility
Jul 12 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Blue Ridge Community College

After two years of renovation and construction, a new learning facility will be unveiled at Blue Ridge Community College. Following the outdoor ribbon cutting event, guests will be welcome to enter and tour the building. The public and media are invited to attend.
The $23.4M Patton Building project was funded by the Henderson County Board of Commissioners and features 78,739 square feet of new and renovated modern educational space. The facility’s carefully designed learning environments and technological features will engage and support the students of Blue Ridge Community College while positioning the institution as a strong economic development and industry recruitment partner for Henderson County.
Please park in Lot A near the West Entrance. In case of inclement weather, we will celebrate inside the Patton lobby.
Wednesday, July 13, 2022
Nominations accepted for the Blue Ridge Business Growth + Rising Star Awards
Jul 13 all-day
online

The Blue Ridge Business Growth Awards (companies in business over 3 years) and Rising Star Awards (companies in business less than 3 years) will be presented to Chamber member businesses that experienced growth in 2020 through quality management, inventiveness, old fashioned hard work and courage. Companies can be recognized for employment growth, revenue growth, or a combination.
Download a nomination form today. Deadline is August 19th
Business Morning Update
Jul 13 @ 8:00 am – 9:00 am
The Elk's Lodge

 

This monthly event is co-sponsored with Blue Ridge Community College’s Small Business Center, the City of Hendersonville Main Street program, and the Hendersonville Merchants & Business Association features several speakers on timely community events and issues affecting our business community.
This month’s speakers are:
Lauren Wilkie – Executive Director of Safelight
Angela Prodick – Executive Director of Blue Ridge Humane Society
Sheriff Lowell Griffin – Henderson County Sheriff’s Department
Virtual business networking meeting
Jul 13 @ 8:30 am – 10:00 am
onlinew/ Asheville Business Referral Networking Meetup Group

Virtual business networking meeting

Join our virtual team of business professionals with the goal of growing your business. We meet every Wednesday via Teams video conferencing at 8:30 for 90 minutes. No fees, just participation and consistency required. Make new connections and generate business in a professional environment

Young Professionals Monthly Social
Jul 13 @ 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Jackson Park

The YPHC’s Pop-Ups offers a chance for young professionals to meet through a laid-back networking opportunity. Join us each month on the 2nd Wednesday from 5:00 – 6:00 pm in Henderson County.
This July, we are meeting at Henderson County’s Jackson Park for a friendly game of disc golf! We will meet at near the HC Parks and Rec Office/Hola Carolina house around 5:00. Bring your own disc!
*Participation is limited to those under 40*
A big thanks to AdventHealth Hendersonville and Spectrum Reach for presenting this program for the 2022 year!
Thursday, July 14, 2022
Nominations accepted for the Blue Ridge Business Growth + Rising Star Awards
Jul 14 all-day
online

The Blue Ridge Business Growth Awards (companies in business over 3 years) and Rising Star Awards (companies in business less than 3 years) will be presented to Chamber member businesses that experienced growth in 2020 through quality management, inventiveness, old fashioned hard work and courage. Companies can be recognized for employment growth, revenue growth, or a combination.
Download a nomination form today. Deadline is August 19th
WomanUP Virtual Workshop: Building Diverse + Equitable Culture
Jul 14 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am
online

WomanUP Workshop: Building Diverse & Equitable Culture

We all know how hard it is to build a business right now – especially now with all the taxes, regulations etc.  We all want to build that business that is diverse and has equity – that draws expert employees and attracts our customers, too.  Is there a secret sauce to do this in today’s world and meet all the expectations and protocols for a diverse and equitable culture?  These women are doing it the tenBiz Way. Join us for a conversation with Tonya Wilson Snider and Sharon Oxendine to hear how they continue to create and build the culture of the future.

 

This virtual workshop will allow participants to engage with this real-life example of building a diverse and equitable culture and consider what they can do in their own businesses.

 

About our speakers

 

Tonya Wilson Snider, MBA, is founder and CEO of tenBiz, Inc., a firm of business professionals that provides training, consulting and project management services to small businesses. She has 25 years of experience in business development and consulting, with expertise in commercial lending, leadership development and entrepreneurship. Her philosophy in creating tenBiz was to build a “one-stop-shop” for business owners and leaders by having a team of vetted experts who are well-established in their respective fields.  tenBiz operates on the belief that every company is different, just like every company’s growth looks different- therefore, helping clients choose the right strategy and tools to tackle each situation is critical.  She and her team have spent the last two years researching the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on US small businesses, and developing programs to assist their clients navigate through these challenging times.  One such program was quickly picked up across the entire state of NC and has served as a resource to hundreds of small businesses.  When Tonya isn’t running tenBiz, she teaches in the College of Business as a Professor at Western Carolina University.

 

Sharon Oxendine is a Business Development Associate with tenBiz, Inc. with over thirty years of non-profit management experience and almost twenty years alongside the Small Business Administration in business lending, development and program management.  Her education and experience include business, financials and a BS in Human Resources Management.  Sharon received the 2008 “SBA Women’s Business Champion for the State of NC” recognition and in 2018 was awarded the “Advocate of the Year Award from the SBA for the State of NC”.  She was also awarded the only “Community and Small Business Leadership Award” ever given by Carolina Small Business Development Fund for her work with small businesses.  Sharon started her own business in 2020 – Bow and Arrow Consulting Services.  Sharon currently focuses on consulting small businesses and non-profits, creating platforms to elevate small business and building programs that create business communities.  She is a proud First Nations woman from the Lumbee Tribe in NC.  Sharon considers herself a Tribe Builder and is always advocating for women and people of color in the small business landscape.

Business After Hours
Jul 14 @ 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
HomeSource Design Center

July Business After Hours

Tim Alexander & The HomeSource brand have served Asheville and Western North Carolina for nearly three decades with exceptional custom home building and remodeling. They also offer a full range of high-performing, industry-leading finishes, materials, and colors for your home from HomeSource Design Center, regardless of your budget. The design center showroom is open to the public and builders alike, and our experienced kitchen and bath designers will work together with you and your builder to help bring your dream home to life.

This networking opportunity is perfect for members to tour HomeSource’s showroom, build industry partnerships and meet other Chamber Members and leaders in the Asheville-Buncombe County Community. Feel free to bring a door prize gift to be given away near the close of the event. Bring your business cards for networking and to have a chance to win door prizes. Get ready to eat, drink and mingle!

Friday, July 15, 2022
Ag products: Marketing your Product and Marketing You
Jul 15 all-day
webinar online

Entries for the 30th Annual National Gingerbread House Competition™ are now being accepted!
Jul 15 all-day
online

 

The Omni Grove Park Inn, an award-winning, 513-room resort set in the idyllic Blue Ridge Mountains just minutes from downtown Asheville, N.C., is celebrating The 30th National Gingerbread House Competition™, which is the nation’s largest, hosted at the resort annually. Beginning July 6, 2022 the competition registration is officially now open here through November 14, 2022. The competition will be held and winners will be announced on November 21, 2022.

 

New elements for The 30th National Gingerbread House Competition™ include:

  • Introduction of 10th Judge, Ashleigh Shanti, chef/owner of Good Hot Fish & 2020 James Beard finalist.
  • Addition of six brand-new specialty awards and increased prizes (60% increase to years past) across the four age categories, which include Best Use of Sprinkles, Most Unique Ingredient, Longest Standing Competitor, Best Use of Color, Pop Culture Star, Most Innovative Structure, and Best Use of Spice.
  • All registered competitors will have the opportunity to vote on their favorite piece of the entire competition to determine the winner of the new People’s Choice: Best in Show award.

 

The full press release announcing the official rules and entry forms can be found here and below, and a highlight reel and hi-res imagery from last year’s competition can be found here. Please let me know if you will consider the news on behalf of The Omni Grove Park Inn!

Saturday, July 16, 2022
Ag products: Marketing your Product and Marketing You
Jul 16 all-day
webinar online

Entries for the 30th Annual National Gingerbread House Competition™ are now being accepted!
Jul 16 all-day
online

 

The Omni Grove Park Inn, an award-winning, 513-room resort set in the idyllic Blue Ridge Mountains just minutes from downtown Asheville, N.C., is celebrating The 30th National Gingerbread House Competition™, which is the nation’s largest, hosted at the resort annually. Beginning July 6, 2022 the competition registration is officially now open here through November 14, 2022. The competition will be held and winners will be announced on November 21, 2022.

 

New elements for The 30th National Gingerbread House Competition™ include:

  • Introduction of 10th Judge, Ashleigh Shanti, chef/owner of Good Hot Fish & 2020 James Beard finalist.
  • Addition of six brand-new specialty awards and increased prizes (60% increase to years past) across the four age categories, which include Best Use of Sprinkles, Most Unique Ingredient, Longest Standing Competitor, Best Use of Color, Pop Culture Star, Most Innovative Structure, and Best Use of Spice.
  • All registered competitors will have the opportunity to vote on their favorite piece of the entire competition to determine the winner of the new People’s Choice: Best in Show award.

 

The full press release announcing the official rules and entry forms can be found here and below, and a highlight reel and hi-res imagery from last year’s competition can be found here. Please let me know if you will consider the news on behalf of The Omni Grove Park Inn!

Como Funciona el Dinero
Jul 16 @ 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Western Women’s Business Center AB Tech Enka Campus - Room 1040

Como Funciona el Dinero

Aprenda los conceptos básicos de la educación financiera del libro de finanzas más vendido en Estados Unidos, HowMoneyWorks.

El dinero es la herramienta más poderosa que tenemos para navegar en el mundo complejo que hemos creado, comprender cómo funciona realmente es fundamental. Aprenda los conceptos básicos de la educación financiera del libro de finanzas personales más vendido en Estados Unidos en 2020-21, HowMoneyWorks: Stop Being a Sucker con más de 500,000 copias impresas. ENTERPRISE es una clase GRATUITA de educación financiera de una hora y media. Cubre conceptos financieros clave y proporciona una guía para ayudarlo a lograr laseguridad e independencia financiera.

Sunday, July 17, 2022
Ag products: Marketing your Product and Marketing You
Jul 17 all-day
webinar online

Entries for the 30th Annual National Gingerbread House Competition™ are now being accepted!
Jul 17 all-day
online

 

The Omni Grove Park Inn, an award-winning, 513-room resort set in the idyllic Blue Ridge Mountains just minutes from downtown Asheville, N.C., is celebrating The 30th National Gingerbread House Competition™, which is the nation’s largest, hosted at the resort annually. Beginning July 6, 2022 the competition registration is officially now open here through November 14, 2022. The competition will be held and winners will be announced on November 21, 2022.

 

New elements for The 30th National Gingerbread House Competition™ include:

  • Introduction of 10th Judge, Ashleigh Shanti, chef/owner of Good Hot Fish & 2020 James Beard finalist.
  • Addition of six brand-new specialty awards and increased prizes (60% increase to years past) across the four age categories, which include Best Use of Sprinkles, Most Unique Ingredient, Longest Standing Competitor, Best Use of Color, Pop Culture Star, Most Innovative Structure, and Best Use of Spice.
  • All registered competitors will have the opportunity to vote on their favorite piece of the entire competition to determine the winner of the new People’s Choice: Best in Show award.

 

The full press release announcing the official rules and entry forms can be found here and below, and a highlight reel and hi-res imagery from last year’s competition can be found here. Please let me know if you will consider the news on behalf of The Omni Grove Park Inn!

Tuesday, July 19, 2022
Nominations accepted for the Blue Ridge Business Growth + Rising Star Awards
Jul 19 all-day
online

The Blue Ridge Business Growth Awards (companies in business over 3 years) and Rising Star Awards (companies in business less than 3 years) will be presented to Chamber member businesses that experienced growth in 2020 through quality management, inventiveness, old fashioned hard work and courage. Companies can be recognized for employment growth, revenue growth, or a combination.
Download a nomination form today. Deadline is August 19th
Retirement Industry Group July Meeting
Jul 19 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Hendersonville Chamber of Commerce

The quarterly luncheon will feature a presentation on “How to Hire and Retain the Right Employees in 2022”. The focus will be on building a workplace culture that
attracts talent and enhances retention. The presenter is Gary Heisey, he is the Executive Director of Vision Henderson County (Leadership Program) and the Mission Accelerator Program (Business Growth Program). Gary is also the owner 0f The Brand Door, a business consulting and marketing company. Gary formerly directed the Small Business Center at Blue Ridge Community College where he garnered numerous awards and accolades. Lunch will be provided by The Hulsey Media  Group!

BONUS Business After Hours
Jul 19 @ 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
AdventHealth Medical Group

Come join us for Business After Hours at AdventHealth!

AdventHealth invites you to a special Business After Hours at its new medical office in Candler. In addition to networking and great food, this event will also offer you an opportunity to learn more about AdventHealth’s application to build a new hospital in Buncombe County and share your input about the project. We are excited to have you join us at AdventHealth Medical Group Multispecialty at Candler, which is located near the proposed location for the new hospital in Enka-Candler off Smokey Park Highway and Sand Hill Road.

 

Feel free to bring a door prize gift to be given away near the close of the event. Bring your business cards for networking and to have a chance to win door prizes.

 

This event is offered as a benefit for Chamber membership. We welcome you to come and check us out! Please contact Jessica Kanupp, our Member Development Specialist, at [email protected] if you’re considering a Chamber membership.

Wednesday, July 20, 2022
Nominations accepted for the Blue Ridge Business Growth + Rising Star Awards
Jul 20 all-day
online

The Blue Ridge Business Growth Awards (companies in business over 3 years) and Rising Star Awards (companies in business less than 3 years) will be presented to Chamber member businesses that experienced growth in 2020 through quality management, inventiveness, old fashioned hard work and courage. Companies can be recognized for employment growth, revenue growth, or a combination.
Download a nomination form today. Deadline is August 19th
Virtual business networking meeting
Jul 20 @ 8:30 am – 10:00 am
onlinew/ Asheville Business Referral Networking Meetup Group

Virtual business networking meeting

Join our virtual team of business professionals with the goal of growing your business. We meet every Wednesday via Teams video conferencing at 8:30 for 90 minutes. No fees, just participation and consistency required. Make new connections and generate business in a professional environment