YWCA of Asheville is a nonprofit organization working to bridge gaps in education, health, childcare, and earning power for women and families in the Asheville region. The mission of the YWCA of Asheville is to eliminate racism; empower women; and promote peace,  justice, freedom, and dignity for all.

The YWCA indoor pool hosts a comprehensive Aquatics Program with activities for all ages, abilities, and interests.

Volunteer Roles and Responsibilities 

• Join the fun in the pool as a swim assistant. Help children and adults learn the basics of floating, kicking, breathing, and diving.
• Support the Aquatics Program with behind-the-scenes administrative work or on-the-deck supervising

Time Commitment

• Flexible time commitment

Volunteer Requirements

• Background check

Limited Capacity: 12 Guests per Tour
A truly memorable experience featuring rare photo opportunities, this exclusive guided tour offers a behind-the-scenes look at the design and construction of Biltmore House in areas unavailable on the regular house visit. Imagine yourself a Vanderbilt (or cherished Vanderbilt guest) as you take in stunning views seen only from the house’s rooftop and balconies.

Advance reservation required. Tour includes 250 stairs with no elevator access. Wheelchairs, strollers, and baby backpacks are prohibited. Backpacks are not allowed on any guided tours. Guests are required to leave backpacks in a locker or in their vehicle. To participate in this tour, guest must have a daytime ticket, a Biltmore Annual Pass, or a stay at one of the estate’s splendid overnight properties.

Asheville Gallery of Art presents Judy Rentner’s rich, colorful paintings, during the month of October, in an exhibition titled ‘Nature’s Gems’. The opening reception will be held on Friday, October 7th from 5:00-8:00pm.

Of all of the seasons of the year, fall is the crescendo, the last burst of beauty before nature’s tones soften and become quiet in the winter months. Autumn colors are like precious gems: topaz, sapphires, emeralds, rubies…, an endless sparkling array of brilliance. Although an artist cannot compete with God’s creations, she can capture the awe-inspiring essence of a moment in time to share with her viewers. Judy is such an artist.

Judy Rentner has been painting the landscapes of Western North Carolina for 23 years and they continue to inspire her. Having lived in 10 different states from coast to coast, she still considers North Carolina one of the most beautiful. Although she has been painting most of her adult life, it was here that she found her creative style. Painting in oils, with a palette knife, enabled her to achieve the essence of a scene in light and color. Everything about the creative process is personal and many viewers find themselves drawn to Judy’s unique, inviting style.

A graduate of Ohio University, Judy Rentner did not pursue art until years later when she took workshops, in watercolor, from various artists. This was a pivotal time of discovery as she learned the skills needed to express her ideas in paint. She then experimented with different mediums producing work that was both realistic and abstract. Moving to North Carolina, she placed her work in galleries and taught classes in watercolor, acrylic, and oil. Currently, her passion lies in painting landscapes, with a palette knife, in oils. This technique has given her freedom of expression, using color to its fullest extent.

Judy’s work is represented in several galleries. Check out her website at www.judyrentner.com and be sure to drop by Asheville Gallery of Art this October to view her outstanding autumn paintings. The gallery is open from 11:00am until 6:00pm Monday through Sunday.

Her Painting Titles and writeup:

1. “Crossing into light”….My daughter, a photographer, went to Duke Gardens to “chase the light”. Normally I paint from my own sketches and photos, but this was so striking a scene, that it inspired me to capture it in oil.

2. “Sun Rise in the Mountains” was a combination of many scenes I have painted in our beautiful Smokey Mountains.

3 “Fall Treasure” This is a scene I captured in the Smokey Mountain National Park. Almost every fall I drive through the mountains of Western North Carolina searching for the right landscape. I do not have to go far as this is a painter’s paradise.

Capacity is limited.
Tasting room by reservation only. Make reservations in-person on the day of your Winery visit.

To participate in this activity, guest must have a daytime ticket, a Biltmore Annual Pass, or a stay at one of the estate’s splendid overnight properties.

Reservations are required for all wine tastings and must be made on the day of your visit. Because our complimentary wine tastings fill up quickly, we recommend you reserve your tasting when you arrive for your visit.

Tracey Morgan Gallery is pleased to present Uncharted, a joint exhibition by multiple-disciplinary artists Georgia Deal and Tom Ashcraft. Incorporating both individual and collaborative works, the exhibition will in-clude wooden and cast bronze boat sculptures, prints on hand-made paper, and photographs, all centered around ideas of physical and psychological transitions.

The isolation of the pandemic and the ensuing global geo-political tumult compelled Deal and Ashcraft to re-examine their studio practices. The individual and collaborative works in this exhibition reference a liminal space, that transitional point between “what was” and “what’s next.”

For Deal, the pandemic afforded time to examine ideas of solitude and anticipation and her work echoes the imagery brought on by that period of stasis. Ashcraft’s sculptures, selected versions from his collection of 200+ handmade wooden boats, gather ideas of migration, observation, scale, and object-making. Their col-laborative piece, Uncharted, undertakes these overlapping themes, dealing with both the psychic and antici-patory nature of movement, especially when that movement is only possible through imagination

Deal and Ashcraft each conduct significant individual studio practices and have been committed to the ethic of collaborative art for over 35 years. They are core members of Workingman Collective, founded in 2005 as a cooperative group of artists and other professionals whose membership and objectives evolve to fit each new project. They are interested in process, invention, chance, and the public.

Georgia Deal is Professor Emeritus and former Chair of the Printmaking and Papermaking Program at the Corcoran School of Art & Design of George Washington University in Washington DC. Her work is in multiple collections including the Philadelphia Museum, the Library of Congress, the Corcoran Gallery of Art, and Yale University Library. She currently lives in Asheville, NC and is proprietor of the papermaking studio, Swannanoa Paper.

Tom Ashcraft’s diverse practice is rooted in object-making, public and participatory artwork. He and Work-ingman Collective have exhibited and produced work in the U.S., Europe, the Caribbean and Africa. Awards include a National Endowment for the Arts Design Grant and a Ford Foundation Fellowship, among others. He recently completed a student / artist collaborative work “Public Practice” which was a three-year course focused on creating two permanent artworks for the US Embassy in Niamey, Niger, commissioned by Art in Embassies, US Department of State. Ashcraft is currently based in Asheville, North Carolina and is the MFA Director and Distinguished Professor at the School of Art + Design, Western Carolina University.

Wednesday through Monday from 11am to 6pm

Rebel/Re-Belle: Exploring Gender, Agency, and Identity | Selections from the Asheville Art Museum and Rubell Museum combines works, primarily created by women, from two significant collections of contemporary art to explore how artists have innovated, influenced, interrogated, and inspired visual culture in the past 100 years.

Useful and Beautiful: Silvercraft by William Waldo Dodge features a selection of functional silver works by Dodge drawn from the Museum’s Collection. Organized by the Asheville Art Museum and curated by Whitney Richardson, associate curator, this exhibition will be on view in the Debra McClinton Gallery at the Museum from February 23 through October 17, 2022.

William Waldo Dodge Jr. (Washington, DC 1895–1971 Asheville, NC) moved to Asheville in 1924 as a trained architect and a newly skilled silversmith. When he opened for business promoting his handwrought silver tableware, including plates, candlesticks, flatware (spoons, forks, and knives), and serving dishes, he did so in a true Arts and Crafts tradition. The aesthetics of the style were dictated by its philosophy: an artist’s handmade creation should reflect their hard work and skill, and the resulting artwork should highlight the material from which it was made. Dodge’s silver often displayed his hammer marks and inventive techniques, revealing the beauty of these useful household goods.

The Arts and Crafts style of England became popular in the United States in the early 1900s. Asheville was an early adopter of the movement because of the popularity and abundance of Arts and Crafts architecture in neighborhoods like Biltmore Forest, Biltmore Village, and the area around The Grove Park Inn. The title of this exhibition was taken from the famous quotation by one of the founding members of the English Arts and Crafts Movement, William Morris, who said, “have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” Not only did Dodge follow this suggestion; he contributed to American Arts and Crafts silver’s relevancy persisting almost halfway into the 20th century.

“It has been over 15 years since the Museum exhibited its collection of William Waldo Dodge silver and I am looking forward to displaying it in the new space with some new acquisitions added,” said Whitney Richardson, associate curator. Learn more at ashevilleart.org.

Passion begets passion, beauty begets beauty…..this is thought that is in professional photographer, Monica Stevenson’s, mind every moment she spends
at Red Bell Run. The photographs for this exhibition are inspired by Mary Adams, the owner of Red Bell Run, affection for and dedication to the animals and plants that thrive at her equine sanctuary.  As with much of Monica’s work, she leans heavily on her own collaborative spirit and the generous nature of her artistic partners–Preston Wainwright, floral designer, Thomas Ignatius and Sean Smith, both illustrative designers, to support some of the exhibit’s featured works. The resulting pictures included in this show, photographed with a large format digital camera and hand printed,  display an abundance of beautiful details– flowers, leaves, illustrations, textures, colors, dogs, cats, horses, donkeys, expressions, shapes, movement, fur, teeth, limbs–all the things that make up the natural world that is Red Bell Run.

Join Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy on October 14th for a hike at Scott’s Ridge, a recently-protected 139-acre tract adjoining Pisgah National Forest. Participants will hike a moderately strenuous 3 mile loop through a heavily forested area. This loop will give participants a chance to marvel at the beautiful fall foliage while walking through a series of moderately sloped trails throughout the property.

Cost – $10 or Free to Members. Pre-registration is required.

If you have any questions, please reach out to [email protected].

Thank you for taking interest in our outing with Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy!

I am sorry to say that our outing is currently full and we cannot accept any more attendees at this time. However, if you are still interested in the hike, please contact me at [email protected] and your name and email will be put on a wait-list. I will contact you if a spot becomes available.  If you have any questions, you can contact me at emily@appalachian.org. 

Thank you for your interest in hiking with SAHC!

Hosted by: The Buddhist Studies Institute

FREE – ONLINE – 30 MINUTES – DAILY
🌺Guided meditation support and community🌺

🌸Stabilization and Liberation:
In order to liberate our minds– we need stable calm.

🌸Consistency & Commitment:
Stabilizing in calm clear presence takes consistent training.

🌸Support & Community:
Daily Meditation is a container and support for your meditation focus.

Expand your meditation circle- join us online any day or every day!

Formerly known as 100 Days of practice to support a Tibetan Yogis tradition to practice 100 days in the winter, this has now been expanded to continue daily. To learn more and register: https://buddhiststudiesinstitute.org/daily-meditation/

This relaxing, easy-paced adventure takes you along the French Broad River and the estate’s lush agricultural fields. Your three-to five-mile spin over a combination of flat paved trails, gravel-packed roads, and dirt trails includes occasional stops where your guide will share intriguing tidbits about the Vanderbilts, their guests, and the estate’s natural history.

Advance reservations are required. To make reservations for this activity, guest must have a daytime ticket, a Biltmore Annual Pass, or an overnight stay booked at Village Hotel, The Inn, or Cottages on Biltmore Estate.

Mountain & Comfort Bikes are available. A limited number of trailers and tag-alongs are available for younger children.

Enjoy an exclusive evening at Bullington Gardens while you sip delicious, locally sourced wine and stroll through the spectacular Dahlias in full bloom. Groups of up to 8 are invited for a twilight party in either the pavilion, tents, or (in case of rain) the horticultural therapy greenhouse. The cost is $300 and will include 2 bottles of wine, 1 bottle of cider and water. Tables will be adorned with fresh floral arrangements that are yours to take home. Bring your own hors d’oeuvres or an entire meal to host an amazing private dinner party with an unrivaled view.

$300 per group per evening. Sponsors are welcome! $500 per sponsor will get your name on all of our social media accounts, plus honorable mention on our website and newsletter. Two areas will be available on a first-come/first-serve basis. Enjoy the evening under the shady pavilion or get an up close view of the dahlias under a tent.

“Your Dog Here” is back! After all the fun and success of last year, we are happy to announce the return of our favorite pupper themed fundraiser.

Every night we’ll have a raffle with great prizes, a doggy photo booth, and of course DSSOLVR beer!

For a donation of $30 to @ashevillehumane you can guarantee your pup’s spot on a DSSOLVR beer label and support your local animals.

10/7 @thewhaleavl from 5:00 – 8:00
10/14 @downdogavl from 5:00 – 8:00
10/16 @dssolvr_taproom from 2:00 – 6:00

See you and your pups soon!

Announcing youth auditions for Flat Rock Playhouse and Studio 52’s upcoming holiday productions of
A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS, an adaptation of the 1965 animated television special based on the comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz, and A FLAT ROCK PLAYHOUSE CHRISTMAS.

All cast members must be fully vaccinated, along with the production team and all Flat Rock Playhouse staff. Proof of vaccination will be required upon being cast.

Auditions will be held by appointment on Wednesday, September 14, and Thursday, September 15, between 5 – 8 PM with invited callbacks on Saturday, September 17 from 10AM – 1PM. Actors who are invited to callbacks will receive an email invitation on Friday, September 16.

Auditioning young actors will be asked to sing a minute (16 – 32 bars) of a Broadway song or their favorite holiday song. Actors can sing a cappella or bring sheet music. An accompanist will be provided. We also ask that actors bring a recent photo of themselves and a resume or list of experience, if possible. Please be prepared to list any conflicts at your audition. (Again, Studio 52 classes will not be considered a conflict for casting.)

Flat Rock Playhouse seeks a small Youth Ensemble ages 10-18 for A FLAT ROCK PLAYHOUSE CHRISTMAS, with rehearsals beginning November 13 and the production running November 25 through December 22.

Studio 52 seeks a diverse company of young actors and singers, ages 10 –  18, for the following roles in A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS:

CHARLIE BROWN

SNOOPY

LUCY VAN PELT

LINUS VAN PELT

PIG PEN

FRIEDA

SCHROEDER

VIOLET

SALLY BROWN

PATTY

SHERMY

WOODSTOCK

ENSEMBLE (will also understudy named roles)

Visiting Asheville soon and looking for a fun way to fill your Friday night? The Asheville Drum Circle is a tradition unique to the area. While locals usually begin the beating of drums, tourists are welcome to join, dance, or simply take in the incredible atmosphere at any point.

If you’re looking for things to do in the area during your stay, this is a must! Here’s everything you should know about the Drum Circle.

The Asheville Drum Circle is a free event that’s open to all.

– FREE / $10 SUGGESTED DONATION AT DOOR

12Eleven

12Eleven is a collaborative project that was formed in the Southeast United States in the spring of 2019. Originally music students, Daniel Alvarado (Guitar) Eric McCauley (E-Macc, Lead vocals/Sax) Denver Wallace (Bass) & Pierce Gilmore (Drums) began performing together at local venues in their college town of Troy, Alabama.

That summer, 12Eleven was introduced to the Florida panhandle as it began to expand out of central Alabama. The soulful R&B and Pop was a refreshing take for an area used to a different style. After gaining experience playing a high-volume schedule in the panhandle, 12Eleven began self-prod

Chloe lived in Asheville for 12 years and is now residing in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Much of her book takes place in Asheville. Chloe’s spiritual memoir reveals the Divine pathway to a more peaceful, happy, fulfilled, and healthy life. Come meet Chloe and find out why her book is changing lives.

GOLD WINNER Memoir by a female—2022 Living Now Book Awards — Books for Better Living

FINALIST New Age Nonfiction: 2022 International Book Awards

ASHEVILLE YOGA CENTER hosting Author Event: Friday, OCT. 14, @ 6 pm
211 S. Liberty St — arrive early; space for 50 people

🌻 Book Discussion 🌻 Reading Excerpts from the book 🌻 Q & A session 🌻 Autographed English & Spanish books available to purchase

For more information about Chloe and her WISDOM KEEPER spiritual memoir: www.ChloeKempWisdomKeeper.com

The Adventure Center of Asheville is excited to host the 10th annual Haunted Trail, Asheville’s only family friendly haunt! This event is ideal for Halloween lovers of all ages, 3-12 being the suggested age range. This is the third year in a row the Adventure Center has hosted this one of a kind live outdoor theatrical experience where guests are promised an entirely immersive and interactive spooky night out while also ensuring no contact. Every year the show is loved by boils and ghouls from all over WNC and we hope to see you there! For younger guests who still aren’t sure about being scared, even for fun, a “Sweet Peek Tour’ is offered nightly at 6:45 pm. The trail is actor free at this time and they can decide if they would like to re enter the line and receive the full show. The Treetop Adventure Park Aerial Glow Trail is also available for guests 4 years or older to enjoy at this event! Climb on two of our aerial trails while they are illuminated with thousands of colorful twinkle and laser lights. If you want to enjoy both of these amazing activities, combo passes are available and WILL sell out, so make sure you reserve your tickets early! *The Haunted Trail does not sell out, however the entrance closes at 9 pm. Don’t miss PIRATES COVE! Featuring a 30 ft Pirate Ship Escape Room- Test ‘yer wit mateys! 10 voyages available nightly for purchase (groups of up to 6 per voyage) Live Mermaid Encounter with photo opportunity. Pirate activities including a walk the plank obstacle course and shark feeding In addition to the Haunted & Aerial Glow Trails and Pirates Cove, there will be a giant festival tent with several local vendors, delicious Mellow Mushroom Pizza and more! Ticket sales to this event raise meals for MANNA food bank, come have fun and help us say BOO! to hunger!

Don’t miss out on the chance to meet your BUNCOMBE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION CANDIDATE

Join us for an evening of UNFORUM! At this event, you’ll have the chance to get to know your candidates in a relaxed setting where EVERYONE is welcome!

🎤 MC/Hosted by: Equity Over Everything | Aisha Johnson Adams

🕡 Date & Time: October 14th, Friday 6:30PM – 8:30PM

📍 Location: Black Wall Street AVL Building, 8 River Arts Place, Asheville

It’s going to be an excellent time for all! WE’LL SEE YOU THERE!

With Special Guests ayokay & Arden Jones

Hot Brass featuring Debbie Pierce is a high energy, interactive 10-piece band featuring the music from the Super-groups- Chicago and Earth Wind and Fire. This High Energy show takes its inspiration from the 2004 Heart and Soul Tour. This tour, featuring the combined members of Chicago/ Earth Wind and Fire performing hit after hit, brought such excitement and joy Hot Brass had to recreate the experience. Join audiences everywhere as they get up and Groove to funky songs like “September” and “Boogie Wonderland,” Rock out to “25 or 6 to 4” and “Make Me Smile” and take a trip down memory lane with “Colour My World” and “You’re my Inspiration.” Leader Debbie Pierce is multi-instrumentalist- Sax/Vocal/Flute- who has been performing all over the US and Caribbean for more than 20 years. Dynamic vocals and a sizzling horn section make this a “Must See” show. The band is comprised of some of the best musicians around- members have toured and recorded with some of the biggest names in the Music business including J Lo, Gloria Estefan, Phil Collins, Jon Secada, and George Benson. Hot Brass consistently delivers not just great music, but fantastic showmanship and thrilling entertainment too!

Scary stories for the Halloween Season! Stories will be suitable for children over 10, so bring the family. Presented by Jill Tottman, Debbie Gurriere, Lulu Edmonds, & Sherry Lovett

HAUNT SEASON IS COMING!

2022 will be our 12th Season providing Thrills, Scares, and Terrifying Fun for our guests and fans of all ages, and we love it year after year! Please join us for our The 2022 Haunted Farm! Be Prepared to Be Scared!

Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and our other social media channels for a chance to participate in our FREE TICKET GIVEAWAYS, and for up-to-the-minute updates on schedule-changes related to inclement weather conditions.

The Myers Haunted House a self guided, old school haunt featuring Hollywood horror film characters Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, Leatherface & more. The haunt is located in East Flat Rock, NC.

Directed by Mark Jones

In this multiple Tony Award-winning theatrical tour-de-force, Assassins explores the lives of nine men and women who either killed (or tried to kill) one of the Presidents of the United States. Stephen Sondheim’s intelligently, stunning lyrics and beautiful music effortlessly combine with a bold, disturbing and alarmingly funny book by John Wiedman. Assassins is a journey into the dark side of the American Dream, looking at our nation’s culture of celebrity and the violent means some will use to obtain it. 

Mature audiences only, not suitable for all ages.