Calendar of Events

Get in Gear Fest is noon – 5 p.m. at the Adventure Center of Asheville. This free festival showcases the Outdoor Industry Hub of the East with demos, sales, discounts and giveaways. Enjoy local food and beverages. ACA will offer family activities. High adventure activities will also be available at regular price: Asheville Ziplines, Asheville Treetops Adventure Park, KidZip, Kolo Bike Park. All proceeds from the ACA activities will benefit Camp Lakey Gap Autism Programs. For more information and to book a high adventure activity, visit ashevilletreetopsadventurepark.com/get-in-gear-festival.

Grove Arcade In Bloom: A Celebration of Growth

Spring is arriving in full bloom at one of Asheville’s most iconic landmarks! Grove Arcade In Bloom will transform the historic place into an immersive floral wonderland this Spring 2025. Come celebrate with us on Saturday, April 26, from 12 PM to 5 PM!

This event will feature:
🎻 Live Symphony Quartet from Asheville Symphony
🌷 Immersive Floral Installations by Studio Flora Diva, including a flower wall
🛍 Botanical Market by BB Barns and other local vendors with plants and garden treasures.
🎭 Performances & Art Installations
🍹 Aperol Spritz Pop-Up Bar

With support from B.B. Barns, Aperol Spritz, Stewart Owen Dance, Asheville Symphony, Studio Flora Diva, and On the Wing, Grove Arcade In Bloom is set to be a must-visit celebration of springtime, music, and community.

Follow @grovearcade on social media for updates.

For media inquiries, interviews, or questions please contact: [email protected]

Join Blue Ridge Roller Derby for a double header featuring a Blue Ridge Junior Roller Derby match up followed by an adult competitive bout against the Soul City Sirens of Augusta, Georgia.

When: Saturday, April 26, at 3 p.m.
Where: Smoky Mountain Event Center (758 Crabtree Rd, Waynesville, NC 28785)

Event Schedule:
2:00 p.m. Doors Open
3:00 p.m. Juniors Exhibition Bout
5:00 p.m. BRRD vs. the Soul City Sirens

All ages welcome. Admission to this special double header is free but donations will be gladly accepted.

BRRD is a non-profit organization that relies on the support of our community to provide action-packed, family-friendly fun on four wheels.

Come visit The Blood Connection for a blood drive on Thursday, May 1, from 10 am to 3 pm. Look for The Blood Connection mobile unit in front of the hospital at 100 Hospital Drive. Look for The Blood Connection Mobile Donor Unit near the Valet parking lot.
All donors will receive a standard $20 e-gift card, and an additional $20 e-gift card – $40
in rewards! To make an appointment, visit thebloodconnection.org and search for the Sponsor Code
23AC.

Get ready to lace up and represent your business at the 2025 Chamber Challenge 5K! This fun, community-focused event encourages wellness and friendly competition among Asheville-area businesses. Whether you’re walking every step or racing to the finish, we know you’re up for the challenge!

Join us in person on May 2nd or participate virtually.

Important Deadlines & Details:

• Register by April 13th at midnight to receive a short-sleeve shirt with your registration!
• After April 13th, shirts will be available in limited quantities and sizes.
• Registering a large group (25+ participants)? Contact Judi Willard at [email protected] for assistance.

To stay updated—text cc5k to 828-827-5332 to receive event notifications (you can opt out anytime).

She’s Crafty AVL is beyond thrilled to announce the grand opening of AVL Hat Bar—Asheville’s first and
only dedicated hat bar—located in the heart of the vibrant and creative South Slope.

🎩 What Is a Hat Bar?
A hat bar is a fun, hands-on experience where you get to design a hat that’s uniquely you. From choosing
the perfect style and color to adding bands, charms, pins, feathers, burning, branding, and more—you’ll
create a wearable work of art that reflects your personality.

💫 What to Expect:
● A stunning collection of customizable and ready-to-wear hats plus handmade size inclusive gold
and sterling jewelry
● A warm, welcoming vibe that celebrates creativity and community
● Light refreshments, and all the good vibes
● First dibs on exclusive designs and grand opening specials

Bring your friends, your style, and your curiosity—and come be part of something truly special. AVL Hat
Bar is ready to become your go-to destination for all things hats, where every piece is a statement and
every visit is an experience.

Gratitude is more than a feeling, it is a frequency! Gratitude can help you shift your perspective and find the silver lining in challenging situations, further raising your vibrational frequency. When we vibrate at the frequency of gratitude, we align ourselves with the energy of abundance.

As we meditate on the theme of gratitude, we allow the frequencies of the instruments to raise our vibrations.

Join your host Kristin Hillegas, for a one-hour Serenity Sound Bath and experience a deeply immersive, full-body sound and vibrational experience. A sound bath can cleanse your soul, restore your balance, surround you with peace and tranquility and stimulate healing.

Note: Please bring a yoga mat/pillow/blanket since you will be lying on the floor. Wear warm, comfortable, and flexible clothing.

The Sound Bath will take place upstairs in the Education Building. Choose your space starting at 12:45 PM, doors close promptly at 1:00 PM.

This service is being offered on a Love Offering basis. Donations allow us to continue to provide these immersive experiences. (Retail Value $25)

Accessible parking is available in the Center for Spiritual Living Asheville upper parking lot. The entrance to the upper parking lot is off of S. Bear Creek Rd between Science of Mind Way and Sand Hill Rd.
There is a boardwalk from the upper parking lot to the building entrance.

Advance your marketing mind.

This is a group where marketers and entrepreneurs can share marketing insight without feeling like you’re in a work meeting.

Marketing is fun, so why do your friends’ eyes glaze over every time you start ranting about a marketing tactic? That doesn’t happen here. If you have any concerns, just ask the guy in this Meetup cover photo. We have 3.5 stars on Walmart.com – wow!

Share and gain perspectives, and resources to help your marketing.
Advance your career or business with a network of marketers.
Enjoy the fun parts of marketing, like creativity and new tools, and pretend you outsource all the boring tasks.

Located at Focus Coworking, 11 Richland St, Asheville

Based on the popular comic strip by Harold Gray, Annie has become a worldwide
phenomenon and was the winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The
beloved book and score by Tony Award winners, Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and
Martin Charnin, features some of the greatest musical theatre hits ever written,
including “Tomorrow.”

With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone’s
hearts despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. She is determined to
find the parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of a New York City
Orphanage that is run by the cruel, embittered Miss Hannigan. With the help of the
other girls in the Orphanage, Annie escapes to the wondrous world of NYC. In adventure
after fun-filled adventure, Annie foils Miss Hannigan’s evil machinations… and even
befriends President Franklin Delano Roosevelt! She finds a new home and family in
billionaire, Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary, Grace Farrell, and a lovable
mutt named Sandy.

Spring into all things health and wellness at Biltmore Park’s Wildflowers and Wellness event! Enjoy free fitness classes, health and wellness activities, a festive photo booth, and beautiful flowers from local farmers. An event for all ages, Wildflowers and Wellness offers the perfect mix of fun, fitness, and fresh air to start out spring. Visit biltmorepark.com for more information.

Celebrate Mother’s Day with this special brunch event! Join us for a delicious meal surrounded by beautiful scenery. Treat your mom to a day she won’t forget with a variety of dishes to choose from. Show your appreciation for all that she does with a lovely meal in a charming setting. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to make her day extra special!

Bring your littles to the front steps of M. Judson for our bi-weekly story time! Enjoy some wonderful picture books read aloud to the crowd by our very own booksellers, and children will even get a sweet treat to go.

Kids, join us for an educational program with the North Carolina Arboretum to learn all about the many different Herptiles that call Western North Carolina their home! What’s a Herptile you ask? Herptiles are reptiles and amphibians! We’ll answer all of our biggest questions about Herptiles, like “Why are some amphibians slimy?” and “Where do Herptiles go in the winter?” Come ready to hear about the ecoEXPLORE program, find out what distinguishes Herptiles from other animals, where they live, what they eat, how they breathe, plus much more! Located at the Black Mountain Library.

Bring your littles to the front steps of M. Judson for our bi-weekly story time! Enjoy some wonderful picture books read aloud to the crowd by our very own booksellers, and children will even get a sweet treat to go.

UNC Health Pardee is hosting weekly open house hiring events at our Human Resources office in Hendersonville!

This event is open to all candidates who are interested in Pardee as a career destination. Candidates may walk in to apply for jobs.

Our recruiting team will be available to you one-on-one to answer any questions, help with applications, and share more about what it’s like to be part of Pardee’s one great team.

Eager to reset your inner being to peace and tranquility? It’s time for Humpday Harmony with a soothing Sound Bath!
Join your host Kristin Hillegas, for a one-hour Serenity Sound Bath and experience a deeply immersive, full-body sound and vibrational experience. A sound bath can cleanse your soul, restore your balance, surround you with peace and tranquility and stimulate healing.

Note: Please bring a yoga mat/pillow/blanket since you will be lying on the floor. Wear warm, comfortable, and flexible clothing.

The Sound Bath will take place upstairs in the Education Building. Choose your space starting at 6:15 PM, doors close promptly at 6:30 PM.

This service is being offered on a Love Offering basis. Donations allow us to continue to provide these immersive experiences. (Retail Value $25)

Accessible parking is available in the Center for Spiritual Living Asheville upper parking lot. The entrance to the upper parking lot is off of S. Bear Creek Rd between Science of Mind Way and Sand Hill Rd.
There is a boardwalk from the upper parking lot to the building entrance.

Bring your littles to the front steps of M. Judson for our bi-weekly story time! Enjoy some wonderful picture books read aloud to the crowd by our very own booksellers, and children will even get a sweet treat to go.

Catch an afternoon FULL of high-level ROLLER DERBY!

This family-friendly derby-filled afternoon will include TWO Travel Season bouts. First, the Y’All Stars will face River City Riot from Richmond, Virginia in an A-level sanctioned game. Then, the Retrogrades will take on the River City River Rats in a B-level sanctioned game. Both games’ final scores will impact BRRD and River City’s INTERNATIONAL WFTDA rankings.
Tickets available online or at the door.

2:00 Doors Open
3:00 BRRD Y’AllStars vs. River City Riot
5:00 BRRD Retrogrades vs. River City River Rats

Tickets are $10 for ages 12 and up. Kids 11 and under are FREE. All ages are welcome.

Delish Food Truck and Budgies Bake Shop will provide a great menu of refreshments and snacks, including plant-based options.

BRRD is a non-profit organization that relies on the support of our community to provide action-packed, family-friendly fun on four wheels.

This annual run/walk timed event raises funds to support Open Arms Pregnancy Center. Open Arms supports women facing unplanned pregnancies by providing free, confidential ultrasounds and maternity supplies. Mothers receive monthly diapers, clothing and other items once their babies are born up to the child’s 18th month.
The 5k and Fun Run will be held at Bill Moore Community Park, 85 Howard Gap Road in Fletcher, NC at 8:30AM.
Runners should register now (by May 9) at https://runsignup.com/Race/NC/Fletcher/Run4for5k for early bird pricing and to be guaranteed a T-shirt.
Businesses/Individuals interested in being a race sponsor can contact us via email at [email protected] or by phone at 828.676.4510.

Boost your athletic edge with this reformer-based Pilates class designed specifically for runners, cyclists, and multi-disciplined athletes. This targeted workout focuses on core strength, alignment, mobility, and recovery—key elements to prevent injury and enhance endurance. Whether you’re logging miles, climbing hills, or cross-training, adding Pilates for Performance to your routine will help you move better, recover faster, and perform at your peak.

UNC Health Pardee is hosting weekly open house hiring events at our Human Resources office in Hendersonville!

This event is open to all candidates who are interested in Pardee as a career destination. Candidates may walk in to apply for jobs.

Our recruiting team will be available to you one-on-one to answer any questions, help with applications, and share more about what it’s like to be part of Pardee’s one great team.