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.
Post Helene, nurturing and repairing our relationship with and to Nature is vital for our children and our community. Gather with us at Kanuga to celebrate the wonders of Mother Earth! The fun begins at 3:30 p.m. Come meet our local animal ambassadors, catch critters in the stream, sow native seeds, and learn in our mini-ecology classes.
Support our organic garden by purchasing native plants.
We can’t wait to welcome you and your family to Kanuga!
Head on out to the ballgame at McCormick Field. Asheville is taking on Hudson Valley. Game starts at 6:35pm.
Geology of the Blue Ridge II with Anton DuMars
Wednesday, April 23 | 12 – 4 pm
The second class of this two-part Geology course builds on fundamentals from the first class, Geology I. We progress to a model of Southern Appalachian Mountain building and include an overview of geologic processes such as earthquakes, mass movements, and floods. We wrap up with a summary of the Spruce Pine Mining District and the Sparta, NC Earthquake of 2020
Head on out to the ballgame at McCormick Field. Asheville is taking on Hudson Valley. Game starts at 6:35pm.
iNaturalist: An Amazing Tool for Identification in Your Pocket with Lauren Lampley.
Thursday, April 24 | 2:30 – 4 pm
BRN + BREG – Elective
Learn how a smartphone app, iNaturalist, can both be a very useful identification tool and a way to participate in Community Science! Submitting observations to iNaturalist helps scientists learn more about species by crowd-sourcing information from users all over the world. During this class we will look at the different versions of the app and website as well as take some time outside to practice submitting your own using your own smartphone. The City Nature Challenge will take place from April 25-28 and is a great way to submit iNaturalist observations in a global effort as well as earn a Bioblitz patch from Science Across North Carolina! https://scienceacrossnc.org/
This program takes place in the classroom and outdoors. Please come prepared to walk on gentle, yet uneven terrain, and dress appropriately for the weather.
Head on out to the ballgame at McCormick Field. Asheville is taking on Hudson Valley. Game starts at 6:35pm.
Head on out to the ballgame at McCormick Field. Asheville is taking on Hudson Valley. Game starts at 6:35pm.
In collaboration with Pardee Hospital Foundation and Hunter Subaru, we are thrilled to present the 2nd Annual She Slays 5K. This event is all about celebrating the strength, courage, and fierce determination of women fighting cancer. Whether you walk or run, you’re making a difference for those who are in the midst of this battle. This event aims to empower people to take charge of their health and well-being, while also raising funds for Hendersonville women who are fighting cancer.
While this event supports women with cancer, everyone is welcome to participate!
Ages 5+
Suitable for Beginners to Advanced Birders
This outing takes place at Lake Julian Park from 8:30-11:30 am. Get to know the birds of Lake Julian, one of Buncombe County’s birding hotspots! We will start with a walk along the shore of Lake Julian and ends with birding on the lake from Lake Julian’s pontoon boat. Free, Registration Required. Binoculars are available upon request but supplies are limited. Dress for the weather!
Registration opens 30 days prior to activity.
For more information email [email protected] or call 828-250-4260.
Native Azalea Day
April 26, 2025
Visit the gardens this spring for Native Azalea Day, an invitation to celebrate and experience azaleas through the eyes of plant enthusiasts, botanists, and artists. In partnership with the Mountain Science Exposition, Native Azalea Day plans to bring even more excitement in its third year! For one day only, visitors can observe as plein air artists capture the scene in paint and pen, learn about the garden and its collection on a walking tour, and participate in hands-on activities for children and adults.
A shuttle to the Collection will be available between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., departing to and from the Baker Visitor Center throughout the event. Visitors are also welcome to walk to the Native Azalea Collection from the Gatehouse Parking Lot using Old Mill Road to Bent Creek Road, or can park at the Baker Visitor Center and walk down Running Cedar Road to Bent Creek Road. Walkers should be prepared to travel one mile over unpaved roads and paths.
Schedule
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Shuttles running continuously between Baker and Azalea Collection for public
8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.: Pre-registered bird netting activity with Wild Bird Research Group meets
10:00 a.m.: Event begins with ongoing walk-up features: tabling, activity booklet, scavenger hunt, and cyanotype activity
10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.: Pre-registered walking tour with curator (45 minute)
11:30 p.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Pre-registered walking tour with volunteer docent (30 minute)
12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.: Cyanotype demonstration with Calissa Lawn
1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.: Pre-registered walking tour with volunteer docent (30 minute)
2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Pre-registered walking tour with volunteer docent (30 minute)
3:00 p.m.: Event ends, last shuttle
Celebrate the Outdoor Industry Hub of the East and connect with local outdoor companies, products, and experiences at the free 10th Annual Get In Gear Fest.
Join us with friends and family as we celebrate Earth Day and the spring season! Games, pontoon boat tours, Earth Day crafts and education, kayak demos from waterways, and more. Make your own mini greenhouse and visit with community partners. This free event is open to all ages, and no registration is required.
For more information email [email protected] or call 828-250-4260.
Join us as we celebrate Earth Day and spring! More details coming soon
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.
Head on out to the ballgame at McCormick Field. Asheville is taking on Hudson Valley. Game starts at 6:05pm.
Join Kanuga for an enchanting evening under the stars, sponsored by Yoga and Massage (Y.A.M.) and Roper Mountain. This event combines the calming practice of astrological yoga, the peacefulness of a guided labyrinth walk, and the magic of star and Lyrid meteor shower gazing.
Optional: dinner in the dining hall before the event
6:00 p.m. – Meet at the labyrinth for astrological yoga with Katie
7:30 p.m. – Facilitated labyrinth walk with Aimee
8:30 p.m. – Stargazing in Pinky Elliot Field
Head on out to the ballgame at McCormick Field. Asheville is taking on Hudson Valley. Game starts at 1:05pm.
Head on out to the ballgame at Fluor Field. Greenville is taking on Asheville Tourist. Game starts at 6:45pm.
Head on out to the ballgame at Fluor Field. Greenville is taking on Asheville Tourist. Game starts at 6:45pm.
Head on out to the ballgame at Fluor Field. Greenville is taking on Asheville Tourist. Game starts at 6:45pm.
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).
Head on out to the ballgame at Fluor Field. Greenville is taking on Asheville Tourist. Game starts at 6:45pm.
with Asheville Wellness Tours.
Celebrate the ephemeral beauty of flowers during this immersive morning nature retreat! In Japan, the birthplace of forest bathing (Shinrin Yoku), they celebrate the annual cherry blossom bloom (Sakura) with a practice known as Hanami, which translates to “contemplate the flowers.” This experience gently invites us to cultivate our attention and sensory awareness, while noticing the evanescent nature of flowering, both within and around us. Together, we will explore our relationships with native wildflowers, ourselves, each-other, and the more-than-human-world.
Your guide will lead you on a colorful journey through the blossoming spring forest, weaving mindfulness, breathwork, forest bathing and nature therapy together for a restorative morning on some of the trails less traveled at the North Carolina Arboretum. We’ll celebrate the experience in community, enjoying a wild-foraged tea ceremony and snacks. Bring an open mind and an open heart. All are welcome. Presented through Adult & Continuing Education Programs in collaboration with Asheville Wellness Tours.
This program will take place outside and will follow easy trails and paved walkways. Dress for the weather and prepare to be outside for the entire program time.
Head on out to the ballgame at Fluor Field. Greenville is taking on Asheville Tourist. Game starts at 6:45pm.
Head on out to the ballgame at Fluor Field. Greenville is taking on Asheville Tourist. Game starts at 3:05pm.
This class offers a creative, hands-on experience perfect for all skill levels! Participants will decorate terracotta pots using vibrant paints to transform each one into a heartfelt gift just in time for Mother’s Day. Feel free to get creative with your design! Everyone will get seeds to take home with them to plant in the pot once the paint is dry, creating a thoughtful and lasting token of appreciation for Mother’s Day.
Tuesday May 6th, 2:00 – 4:00. $20/$15 for Friends of Bullington Gardens.
Head on out to the ballgame at McCormick Field. Asheville is taking on Brooklyn. Game starts at 6:35pm.
Head on out to the ballgame at McCormick Field. Asheville is taking on Brooklyn. Game starts at 11:05am.
Head on out to the ballgame at McCormick Field. Asheville is taking on Brooklyn. Game starts at 6:35pm.
Insect Pollinators of the Blue Ridge
with Shane Myers
Friday, May 9 | 1 – 3 pm
BRN – Elective | BREG – Core
Our plants in the Blue Ridge are pollinated by more insects than just Honey Bees. In this course, we will look at common and some less obvious pollinators of the region and discuss their life cycles, the benefits they provide the world, and how to attract them. We will also go outside to look for pollinators doing their work around the Arboretum grounds.
This program takes place in the classroom and outdoors. Please come prepared to walk on gentle, yet uneven terrain, and dress appropriately for the weather.