Calendar of Events
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.
In July 2019, Buncombe County began constructing its first five-year strategic plan. Now, the County looks to build on that momentum with updated focus areas and goals for its next five-year strategic plan, mapping out the path forward through 2030.
Community members are invited to take part in mobile sessions, 30-minute meetings, and focused one-hour sessions. Input gathered during these opportunities will be provided to the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, who will in turn use that input to generate measurable goals. This fall, community members will have an opportunity to provide feedback on draft goals, ensuring the final plan represents the community’s vision for Buncombe County through 2030.
Big Ivy Community Center – Mobile session during food pantry
Come out to Berkeley Park aka ‘The Orchard’ for opening day to watch
the Hendersonville Honeycrisps vs Queen City Corndogs! You are bound to see great plays & big hits while you and your family
make memories and are entertained at the ball park!
The parlour bar features a curated
beer and wine selection, craft cocktails, and a design and vibe inspired by the hotel’s namesake, Zelda Fitzgerald. A small menu of decadent bites will debut later this summer.With a curated beer and wine selection, craft cocktails, and air of sophistication, Wine & Roses offers a peek into the
captivating personality of the hotel’s namesake, Zelda Fitzgerald.
Designed by Hatteras Sky and with interiors by Nashville-based firm, Anderson Design Studio,
Wine & Roses is tucked within a thoughtfully restored turn-of-the-century mansion in Asheville’s
South Slope neighborhood. Wine & Roses is inspired by the clandestine meetings that first
ignited their whirlwind courtship, leaving Zelda wistfully nostalgic and furiously imaginative in her
writing and artistry. The space exudes warmth with golden hues, dim lighting, and lush velvet
accents. Always topped with fresh roses, the eight-seat bar at Wine & Roses sits under
glimmering chandeliers and overlooks a portrait of Zelda herself. Additional seating for up to 21
guests is spread throughout the bar area. A dreamy outdoor patio boasts two roaring fire pits
and 24 additional seats for those who choose to indulge al fresco.
Wine & Roses serves craft cocktails like The Sayre (Monkey 47, lemon, orange blossom, egg
white, and orange bitters), The Fitz (Four Roses, demerara simple syrup, angostura bitters,
orange, and luxardo cherry), and the Gilded Girl (Casamigos Reposado, orange curacao,
apricot juice, and lime juice), and a curated selection of local beers and wines by the glass. A
small menu of decadent bites will debut later this summer.
Wine & Roses is open to guests Sunday through Thursday from 4pm to 8pm, and to the public
Friday and Saturday nights from 4pm to 10pm. For additional information about Wine & Roses,
to book a private event, or to reserve a seat at the bar, call Zelda Dearest at 828.514.2489, visit
zeldadearest.com, or follow @zeldadearest on Instagram.
Join us on May 18, from 4:00 to 6:00, for a truly fun event! We’re having a fundraiser for our casts and crews for our 2024 season! We’ll have food, beer, an auction, and live entertainment! Ever wanted to go to an auction, but can’t afford to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars? Our auction items will start at $5! Everyone can participate! Stay at the theatre for EDWARD III at 7:30!
Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in Asheville. Get your tickets now to discover the music of Coldplay & Imagine Dragons at Asheville Masonic Temple under the gentle glow of candlelight.
General Info
Venue: Asheville Masonic Temple
Dates and times: select your dates/times directly in the ticket selector
Duration: 60 minutes (doors open 45 mins prior to the start time and late entry is not permitted)
Age requirement: 8 years old or older. Anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult
Accessibility: this venue is ADA compliant
View the FAQs for this event here
Seating is assigned on a first come first served basis in each zone
If you would like to book a private concert (min 15+ people), please click here
Check out all the Candlelight concerts in Asheville
To treat your friends and family to a Candlelight gift card, click here
Tentative Program
Coldplay – Clocks
Coldplay – Something Just Like This
Imagine Dragons – Radioactive
Coldplay – Adventure of a Lifetime
Coldplay – Fix You
Imagine Dragons – Natural
Imagine Dragons – Next to Me
Coldplay – The Scientist
Imagine Dragons – Follow You
Imagine Dragons – Bad Liar
Coldplay – Viva la Vida
Imagine Dragons – Believer
Coldplay – Sky Full of Stars
Coldplay – My Universe
Performers
Opal String Quartet
Reviews of Candlelight Concerts
Aleks D. : “Beautiful location and amazingly talented musicians.”
Amber B. : “This was a beautiful event with wonderfully talented musicians. Would go again and would recommend to anyone!”
Angel S. : “Excellent concert…. they are masters…. We will be back again!!!!”
Fever Seating
Murder Mystery for Hire, in Association with Hendersonville Theatre, presents
by POPULAR DEMAND!!!WINNER of the 2022 CHICAGO POST READERS CHOICE AWARD!!!
Get ready to meet their wacky relatives, complete with a four-course, Gourmet Italian dinner and…
as the doors to the banquet hall open …
MURDER is on the MENU!Can you figure out who dunnit?
YOU BE THE DETECTIVE!!! YOU SOLVE THE CRIME!
Great Food, Singing, and Prizes and FUN!!!
Award-winning Broadway Actor and Director Jimmy Ferraro produces one of the longest-running Musical Comedy Murder Mystery dinner shows in the country. You won’t want to miss this interactive, immersive musical dinner theatre experience!
You’ll die laughing!
Performing to critical acclaim for over 20 years and over 3000 shows, Dark Star Orchestra continues the Grateful Dead live concert experience. Their shows are built off the Dead’s extensive catalog and the talent of these seven fine musicians. On any given night, the band will perform a show based on a set list from the Grateful Dead’s 30 years of extensive touring or use their catalog to program a unique set list for the show. This allows fans both young and old to share in the experience. By recreating set lists from the past, and by developing their own sets of Dead songs, Dark Star Orchestra offers a continually evolving artistic outlet within this musical canon. Honoring both the band and the fans, Dark Star Orchestra’s members seek out the unique style and sound of each era while simultaneously offering their own informed improvisations.
Dark Star Orchestra offers much more than the sound of the Grateful Dead, they truly encapsulate the energy and the experience. It’s about a sense of familiarity. It’s about a feeling that grabs listeners and takes over. It’s about that contagious energy…in short, it’s about the complete experience and consistent quality show that the fan receives when attending a Dark Star Orchestra show.
Dark Star Orchestra has performed throughout the entire United States, including a sold out debut at Colorado’s Red Rocks Park & Amphitheater, plus shows in Europe and the Caribbean with the band touching down in seven different countries. DSO continues to grow its fan base by playing at larger venues for two and even three-night stands, as well as performing at major music festivals including Bonnaroo, Milwaukee’s SummerFest, The Peach Music Festival, Jam Cruise, Wanee Festival, SweetWater 420 Festival, Mountain Jam, and many more.
In addition to appearing at some of the nation’s top festival, Dark Star Orchestra hosts its own annual music festival and campaign gathering, titled the “Dark Star Jubilee”, currently in its eighth year where DSO headline all three nights and are joined by a mix of established and up and coming national touring acts. Beyond the shores of the United States, DSO has taken its internationally-acclaimed Grateful Dead tribute to the beaches of Jamaica in the dead of winter for the past six years, with their event appropriately titled ‘Jam in the Sand’. Featuring an ocean-side stage, DSO sets up camp to perform shows for four nights along the tropical sands of an all-inclusive resort, selling out the event each year for hundreds of lucky attendees.
Fans and critics haven’t been the only people caught up in the spirit of a Dark Star show. The band has featured guest performances from six original Grateful Dead members Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, Bill Kreutzmann, Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, Vince Welnick, Tom Constanten and even toured with longtime Dead soundman, Dan Healy. Other notable guests have included Mike Gordon and Jon Fishman of Phish, Keller Williams, Warren Haynes, Steve Kimock, Peter Rowan, Ramblin’ Jack Elliot and many more.
“For us it’s a chance to recreate some of the magic that was created for us over the years,” keyboardist and vocalist Rob Barraco explains. “We offer a sort of a historical perspective at what it might have been like to go to a show in 1985, 1978 or whenever. Even for Deadheads
who can say they’ve been to a hundred shows in the 90s, we offer something they never got to see live.”
Dive under the sea and into the magical world of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid Jr.”! Follow the adventurous mermaid princess Ariel as she dreams of a life above the waves and falls in love with the handsome human prince, Eric. With toe-tapping songs, colorful costumes, and unforgettable characters like Sebastian the crab and Flounder the fish, this junior adaptation of the beloved Disney classic brings all the enchantment of the original to the stage. Join Ariel on her journey of self-discovery, friendship, and true love in this heartwarming musical extravaganza perfect for audiences of all ages. Get ready to be swept away on a wave of fun and fantasy in “The Little Mermaid Jr.”!
Modelface Comedy brings you the best comedians from all over the country and all your local favorites!
This Saturday we have Gluten-Free Comedy at Ginger’s Revenge
Featuring amazing comedians from Asheville and beyond!!!
ages 18+
doors at 6:30, show at 7pm
The sleepy town of Popcorn Falls is forced into bankruptcy when a neighboring town threatens to turn them into a sewage treatment plant. Their only hope – open a theater! Two actors play over twenty roles in a world of farce, love, and desperation, proving once and for all that art can save the world.
Gates open at 5:30pm
All Ages – not recommended for children under 4
RAIN OR SHINE
CLEAR BAGS ONLY
Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in Asheville. Get your tickets now to discover the music of Classic Rock on Strings at Asheville Masonic Temple under the gentle glow of candlelight.
General Info Venue: Asheville Masonic Temple Dates and times: select your dates/times directly in the ticket selector Duration: 60 minutes (doors open 45 mins prior to the start time and late entry is not permitted) Age requirement: 8 years old or older. Anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult Accessibility: this venue is ADA compliant View the FAQs for this event here
Tentative Program
Jefferson Airplane – “White Rabbit”
The Rolling Stones – “Paint It, Black”
David Bowie – “Life on Mars?”
Kansas – “Carry On Wayward Son”
Lynyrd Skynyrd – “Sweet Home Alabama”
Bon Jovi – “Livin on a Prayer”
Guns n’ Roses – “Sweet Child o’ Mine”
Blondie – “Call Me”
Cream – “Sunshine of Your Love”
Aerosmith – “Dream On”
The Who – “See Me, Feel Me” / “Pinball Wizard”
Boston – “More Than a Feeling”
Led Zeppelin – “Stairway to Heaven”
Performers
Opal String Quartet
Reviews of Candlelight Concerts Aleks D. : “Beautiful location and amazingly talented musicians.” Amber B. : “This was a beautiful event with wonderfully talented musicians. Would go again and would recommend to anyone!” Angel S. : “Excellent concert…. they are masters…. We will be back again!!!!”
Fever Seating
Imprisoned on the Isle of the Lost – home of the most infamous villains who ever lived – the teenaged children of Maleficent, the Evil Queen, Jafar, and Cruella De Vil have never ventured off the island… until now. When the four troublemakers are sent to attend prep school alongside the children of beloved Disney heroes, they have a difficult choice to make: should they follow in their parents’ wicked footsteps or learn to be good? Based on the popular Disney Channel Original Movies, Disney’s Descendants: The Musical is jam-packed with comedy, adventure, Disney characters, and hit songs from the films!
“The Four Seasons story still hits all the high notes!” Experience the Unforgettable Music and Untold Story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons with Jersey Boys. This Tony Award-winning musical, filled with chart-topping hits, captivating storytelling, and electrifying performances, will have audiences singing and dancing in their seats. Featuring iconic songs like “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like a Man,” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” this musical is a celebration of the timeless music that defined a generation. Don’t miss your chance to experience the magic, the music, the story of Jersey Boys.
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Do you ever wonder what goes on in the park after dark? Join a guide on the Hickory Nut Falls Trail and learn who comes out in the park when the sun comes down. This moderate hike is the perfect time to learn more about some of the park’s rarely seen residents.
The Montford Park Players is pleased to announce auditions for its 52nd Season:
Muse of Fire: Shakespeare’s Wars of the Roses
Jason Williams, Artistic Director
5/10/2024 5/24/2024 Edward III, directed by Mandy Bean
5/31/2024 6/23/2024 Richard II, directed by Jason Williams
6/28/2024 7/21/2024 Henry IV Parts 1 & 2, directed by Dr. George Brown, Callista Brown and Elizabeth DeVault
7/26/2024 8/25/2024 Henry V, directed by David Doersch
8/30/2024 9/22/2024 Henry VI Parts 1, 2 & 3, directed by Glenna Grant, Ariel Robinson and Adam Kampouris
9/27/2024 10/27/2024 Richard III, directed by Kristi DeVille
Conveniently located in the heart of the Historic Montford District of Asheville, North Carolina, the Outdoor Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre is easy to get to and accessible from I-240 and I-26. And, it’s just a short drive down Montford Avenue from downtown.
Directed by Philip Kershaw
CAPTIVATING | HISTORICAL | BIODRAMA
From his landmark victory in Brown v. Board of Education to becoming the first African American to serve on the Supreme Court—Thurgood Marshall devoted his life to the pursuit of a more just world. This captivating one-man play explores his work and life with riveting and inspiring storytelling.
“All bio dramas should be as vivid and entertaining as THURGOOD. A story rich in history, humanity and humor.”
–New York Daily News
Content advisory: strong language, use of racial slurs, and descriptions of violence
Partially seated show
Stunning audiences last season with imaginative and impassioned performances, Wortham’s resident dance company returns to share their latest creation, which draws on themes of passion, intimacy and playfulness. With an exciting collection of contemporary choreography that’s as “sensual” (Washington Post) as it is “humorous, elegant and wild” (Seattle Dances), this award-winning company, founded by a husband-and-wife duo, crafts intricate movements that offer a glimpse into the depths of the human spirit.
ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) has released a survey to learn more about how people in Western North Carolina shop for food and why they choose the food they do. The survey, part of a three-year project by ASAP’s Local Food Research Center, is for any resident of Western North Carolina over the age of 18, no matter where or how they shop for food. It can be completed online at surveymonkey.com/r/WNCFoodASAP or over the phone by calling ASAP at 828-236-1282. It should take approximately 8 to 12 minutes to complete and will be open through Oct. 31, 2024. Respondents are encouraged to share the survey widely with families, friends, and co-workers.
“By completing this survey, you are helping local farmers understand and connect with consumers,” said Amy Marion, ASAP Associate Director and lead researcher. “The challenges of our food system are constantly evolving. Improving it requires active participation from all community members. With this research we can better understand consumer values and the barriers they face, and help farmers and food producers improve communications with their customers and their communities.”
The survey is part of a three-year research project, “Connections in Direct Markets: Assessing the feedback loop between consumer values and farmers’ marketing strategies,” which will examine and improve communication and alignment between farmers and consumers in Western North Carolina. The research phase will also employ consumer focus groups, farmer interviews and case studies, and more targeted surveying. The broad consumer survey provides an update to the last consumer survey conducted by the Local Food Research Center in 2014. Results from the current research project will be shared in 2025.
ASAP founded the Local Food Research Center in 2011 to study the economic, environmental, and social impacts of localizing food systems. From its inception, ASAP’s programs and services have been grounded in research and evaluation, adjusting based on a strong feedback loop and observation of current conditions in the food system.
This project is supported in part by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2022-38640-37488 through the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under subaward number LS23-382. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider.
The Asheville Performing Arts Academy
Presents
The Prom
The Asheville Performing Arts Academy is excited to produce our first full-length summer production The Prom. Rehearsals will take place over the summer with the show going up in September. All students in rising 8-12 are invited to audition to be part of the cast and crew.
2024 Performances
- Friday, September 27 at 7:00pm
- Saturday, September 28 at 7:00pm
- Saturday, September 28 at 2:00pm
- Sunday, September 29 at 2:00pm
Summary
- Rehearsals: Mondays & Thursdays 6-8pm (Starts June 17, 2024) (and Saturdays in September)
- Performances: September 27-29, 2024
- Audition Videos Due: June 1, 2024
- Callbacks: June 8, 2024
- Cast list Announced: June 15, 2024
- Ages: Rising 8th grade and High School Only
- Price: $450
- Audition Material: Any song and monologue from a musical allowed.
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GRANT SELECTION PANELS
ArtsAVL seeks reliable community members knowledgeable about Buncombe County’s arts and cultural organizations, local arts resources, and arts needs to volunteer to serve on ArtsAVL grant review panels.
ArtsAVL has 5 grant programs each fiscal year (July 1-June 30), with grant panels occurring throughout the year. Participating as a grant review panelist is a 2-4 week commitment depending on the number of applications submitted in the grant category. Applications vary based on grant program, and can range from 20-50 applications.
Panelists work with ArtsAVL staff and other panelists to evaluate grant applications, ensuring an equitable, transparent, and thorough review and ranking process. Panelists are offered a modest honorarium for their service and will be provided with detailed instructions and guidelines for review and scoring. Sufficient time is allocated for application review and scoring prior to a panelist meeting (either virtual or in person) to review scoring with ArtsAVL staff and make final recommendations.
Please note: All panelists will be required to disclose any connections to applicants and will have to recuse themselves from decisions around grant funding to those applicants. However, this does not prevent panelists from reviewing other applicants. Panelists must be 18+ and live or work in Buncombe County.
Artist Qualification Application
Explore Asheville, River Front Development Group, and the Asheville Black Cultural Heritage Trail (BCHT) Advisory Committee seek artists to submit qualifications for consideration for public art enhancements of the Asheville Black Cultural Heritage Trail. Public art is art utilizing any media such as murals or sculptures in public spaces that are free and open to the public.
Project Background
In 2018 Explore Asheville, powered by the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority, supported the creation of the Asheville Black Cultural Heritage trail in partnership with River Front Development Group through a Tourism Product Development Fund Grant. The process included community engagement, the creation of an advisory committee, research, design, installation, and the creation of a digital version of the trail.
Twenty-one signs at 14 sites throughout downtown, Southside, and the River Area in Asheville were installed December 2023. The content of the trail informs the physical path that the trail takes through the historically Black neighborhoods that surround and include downtown Asheville. The four interpretive goals for this project are:
- Share the accomplishments and contributions of the Black community in Asheville.
- Celebrate individuals and groups that supported the community.
- Highlight Black people’s agency and the capacity to express individual power.
- Combat or correct misconceptions and preserve history for future generations.
Phase II of the project will include enhancement and placemaking through public art.
Artist Eligibility
Explore Asheville invites applications from professional artists or designers aged 18 or older who are eligible to work in the United States. Qualified artists should have experience working within communities in or around Buncombe County and/or a proven record of accomplishment using materials and methods appropriate for large format outdoor art installations. Explore Asheville encourages artists who only have one qualification to partner with an artist or maker who can fulfill the other qualifications. New artists and/or collaboration are encouraged. This call for qualifications is open to all, regardless of experience or size of portfolio.
ASAP’s Local Food Guide, the annual free publication for finding local food and farms, is updated for the 2024–25 season. This definitive resource lists hundreds of Appalachian GrownTM certified farms, farmers markets, restaurants, groceries, artisan producers, and more throughout Western North Carolina and surrounding counties in Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina. A digital version of the print Guide may be viewed at asapconnections.org/guide.
In addition to listing content, the 2024–25 edition features stories that highlight the variety of farming across the region. Delia Jovel Dubón of Tierra Fértil Coop (pictured on the cover) talks about creating a sense of belonging for the Hispanic immigrant community in Henderson County. Lyric and Noah East of Wild East Farm in McDowell County detail the journey through their first full year of farming and how they’ve arrived at “a rough draft that’s working.” Kaci Nidiffer of The Liar’s Table in Avery County shares how scaling up and opening several retail spaces have created stronger connections with customers and community. Rounding out the issue are recipes from farmers at Two Trees Farm (Sustainabillies), Lee’s One Fortune Farm, Two Stones Farm + Mill, Carringer Farms, and Terra Lingua Growers.
“The Local Food Guide is such a beautiful way to share the stories of this place,” said Sarah Hart, ASAP’s Communications and Engagement Director. “To emphasize that sense of place, listings in this year’s Guide are organized into nine subregions with a short intro on what makes local farms in each area unique.”
Look for the Guide at farmers markets, visitors centers, libraries, groceries, restaurants, and other partner businesses throughout the region. Copies of the Guide are also available to pick up in the lobby of ASAP’s office in Asheville at 306 W. Haywood St., Tuesday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Contact ASAP if you need help locating a copy in your area or if you are interested in distributing Guides at your business.
In addition to the print Guide, ASAP maintains the online Local Food Guide at appalachiangrown.org. This database, with more than 1,400 listings, is updated throughout the year and is searchable by products, location, activities, and more.
Funding for the Local Food Guide was made possible in part by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Agricultural Marketing Service, National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Beginning Farmer Rancher Development Program, Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program, and Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program. Support was also provided by Dogwood Health Trust, the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, and Asheville Regional Airport.
Whenever you want!
Supplies available at
2 Sulphur Springs Road
If you need to request supplies for the same or next day, please call 828-254-1776.
Organizing a litter cleanup with your friends, neighbors, co-workers, or other community members is easier than you may think! Asheville GreenWorks provides cleanup supplies and safety information, and will coordinate trash pick up as needed. Available supplies include safety vests, gloves, trash grabbers, trash bags, and SHARPs containers (upon request).
Review the attached guides for instructions and safety information.
Need to know
Please review the attached documents and contact [email protected] with any questions. Your supplies will be available for pickup on the date you’ve requested at Asheville GreenWorks’ office at 2 Sulphur Springs Road, Asheville, NC 28806.
All cleanups should be reported using the online form and supplies should be returned after your cleanup.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library impacts the pre-literacy skills and school readiness of children under the age of 5 in Buncombe County. The program mails a new, free, age-appropriate book to registered children each month until they turn five years old. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library creates a home library of up to 60 books and instills a love of books and reading from an early age. If you have any questions about the program, please send an email to [email protected].
A national panel of educators selects the Imagination Library titles, which include: The Little Engine that Could, Last Stop on Market Street, Violet the Pilot, As an Oak Tree Grows, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, Llama Llama Red Pajama, Look Out Kindergarten, here I come, and many more (take a look at all the titles).
Register your child now!
Program Launch and Expansions
Literacy Together became a Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library affiliate in November 2015 with support from the Buncombe Partnership for Children. Through this program, registered children in Buncombe County receive a free book in the mail each month. Their parents also have the opportunity to attend workshops to learn how to build their children’s early literacy skills. Parents in need of literacy assistance are encouraged to receive tutoring through Literacy Together’s adult programming.
The program served 200 children during the 2015/16 fiscal year. The program expanded to serve 400 children in July 2016, and 600 in August 2017. In July 2018, capacity increased to 1,900 thanks to a special allocation in the North Carolina state budget. We’re now serving 4,600 kids in Buncombe County.
We want to hear from you about what classes & workshops
you’d be interested in!
We would greatly appreciate if you took a minute out of your day to fill out this quick survey so we can best serve our community through our educational programming.