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.
Could you be a Voice for a Child?
A Guardian ad Litem (GAL) advocate is a trained community volunteer who is appointed, along with a Guardian ad Litem attorney, by a district court judge to investigate and determine the needs of abused and neglected children petitioned into the court system by the Department of Social Services. Their role is mandated by North Carolina General Statute 7B-601. Throughout North Carolina, the Guardian ad Litem Program seeks to serve the best interests of thousands of children who find themselves the subjects of court cases by assigning them Guardian ad Litem volunteers. Our program exists in every county throughout the state, and with the help of more than 5,300 volunteers, we serve more than 18,000 children a year.
The GAL volunteer’s primary responsibilities include:
Digging for details in the case
Collaborating with other participants in the case
Recommending what’s best for a child by writing court reports
Empowering the child’s voice
Staying vigilant by constantly monitoring the case
Keeping all information confidential
The main qualification for becoming a GAL is to have a sincere concern for the well-being of children. There are no education or experience requirements.
Submit your application today at: volunteerforgal.org.
Join us throughout February as we celebrate Black Legacy Month with programs and events for all ages! In addition to the programs listed below, we will have special story times and exhibits at most of our libraries.
- Bright Star Touring Theatre: African Folktales – February 1 at 4pm at the Weaverville Library (for children ages 3 and up)
- Book Club: Jazz by Toni Morrison – Thursday, February 2 a 3pm at the Weaverville Library
- Book Club: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett – Tuesday, February 7 at 6pm
- Book Club: The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict Tuesday, February 14 at 1pm at the Leicester Library
- Book Club: Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina by Misty Copeland – February 16 at 2:30pm at the Skyland/South Buncombe Library
- Book Club: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett – February 21 at 7pm at the Fairview Library
- Black Experience Book Club: The Furrows by Namwali Serpell – February 23 at 6:30pm at the Noir Collective, co-sponsored by the East Asheville library
Drop by your local library and check us out. Email or call if you have any questions.
Our librarians have also put together a Black Legacy Month reading list for all ages.
Black Legacy Month Reading List 2023
Books for Adults
Adult Fiction
- Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
- On Girlhood: 15 Stories from the Well-Read Black Girl Library edited by Glory Edim
- What the Fireflies Knew by Kai Harries
- Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James
- The Love Songs of W.E.B. Dubois by Honoree Fannone Jeffers
- How Long ‘Til Black Future Month? by N.K. Jemison
- Deacon King Kong by James McBride
- Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
- Black Bottom Saints by Alice Randall
- The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb
- Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead
- Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
- Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson
Adult nonfiction
- Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man by Emmanuel Acho
- Carefree Black Girls: A Celebration of Black women in Popular Culture by Zeba Blay
- The 1619 Project edited by Nikole Hannah-Jones
- Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey
- Wow, No Thank You by Samantha Irby*
- The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee
- All That She Carried by Tiya Miles
- Please Don’t Sit On My Bed In Your Outside Clothes by Phoebe Robinson*
- You’ll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey by Amber Ruffin*
- Counting Descent by Clint Smith
- The Body Is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor
- Here For It by R. Eric Thomas*
- Koshersoul: the faith and food journey of an African American Jew by Michael W. Twitty
*especially good on audio because the authors read their work!
Picture books for families to share
- My Heart Flies Open by Omileye Achikeobi-Lewis
- Only the Best: The Exceptional Life and Fashion of Ann Lowe by Kate Messner
- My N.C. From A to Z by Michelle Lanier
- Shhh! The Baby’s Asleep by JaNay Brown-Wood
- Curls by Ruth Forman
- Fly by Brittany J. Thurman
- Opal Lee and What it Means to be Free: The True Story of the Grandmother of Juneteenth by Alice Faye Duncan
- Build a House by Rhiannon Giddens
- Bright Brown Baby, A Treasury by Andrea Davis Pinkney
- Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renee Watson
Chapter books for older kids
- Isaiah Dunn is My Hero by Kelly J. BaptistBlended by Sharon Draper
- Ikenga by Nnedi Okorafor
- Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
- Tristan Strong Trilogy (Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, Tristan Strong Destroys the World, and Tristan Strong Keeps Punching) by Kwame Mbalia
- From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks
- Black Boy Joy: 17 Stories Celebrating Black Boyhood edited by Kwame Mbalia
- Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson
- Operation Sisterhood by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich
- The Door of No Return by Alexander Kwame
Books for teens
- Quincredible by Rodney Barnes
- The Legendborn Cycle (Legendborn and Bloodmarked) by Tracy Deonn
- All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
- You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
- Survive the Dome by Kosoko Jackson
- Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther’s Promise to the People by Kekla Magoon
- Ain’t Burned All the Bright by Jason Reynolds
- Bitter by Akwaeke Emezi
- On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
- Okoye to the People by Ibi Zoboi
Science Fiction Book Club
Join host and former Malaprop’s Bookseller Allison to dive into the wreck of the wily and wonderful world of science fiction, fantasy, weird fiction, speculative fiction, and literary horror with a healthy mix of underappreciated classic and contemporary books. Meets the last Monday of every month at 7pm on Zoom. Also meets the second Monday of every month at 7pm to discuss the film adaptations of the books we read. To learn more or join the club, email [email protected].
Could you be a Voice for a Child?
A Guardian ad Litem (GAL) advocate is a trained community volunteer who is appointed, along with a Guardian ad Litem attorney, by a district court judge to investigate and determine the needs of abused and neglected children petitioned into the court system by the Department of Social Services. Their role is mandated by North Carolina General Statute 7B-601. Throughout North Carolina, the Guardian ad Litem Program seeks to serve the best interests of thousands of children who find themselves the subjects of court cases by assigning them Guardian ad Litem volunteers. Our program exists in every county throughout the state, and with the help of more than 5,300 volunteers, we serve more than 18,000 children a year.
The GAL volunteer’s primary responsibilities include:
Digging for details in the case
Collaborating with other participants in the case
Recommending what’s best for a child by writing court reports
Empowering the child’s voice
Staying vigilant by constantly monitoring the case
Keeping all information confidential
The main qualification for becoming a GAL is to have a sincere concern for the well-being of children. There are no education or experience requirements.
Submit your application today at: volunteerforgal.org.
Join us throughout February as we celebrate Black Legacy Month with programs and events for all ages! In addition to the programs listed below, we will have special story times and exhibits at most of our libraries.
- Bright Star Touring Theatre: African Folktales – February 1 at 4pm at the Weaverville Library (for children ages 3 and up)
- Book Club: Jazz by Toni Morrison – Thursday, February 2 a 3pm at the Weaverville Library
- Book Club: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett – Tuesday, February 7 at 6pm
- Book Club: The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict Tuesday, February 14 at 1pm at the Leicester Library
- Book Club: Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina by Misty Copeland – February 16 at 2:30pm at the Skyland/South Buncombe Library
- Book Club: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett – February 21 at 7pm at the Fairview Library
- Black Experience Book Club: The Furrows by Namwali Serpell – February 23 at 6:30pm at the Noir Collective, co-sponsored by the East Asheville library
Drop by your local library and check us out. Email or call if you have any questions.
Our librarians have also put together a Black Legacy Month reading list for all ages.
Black Legacy Month Reading List 2023
Books for Adults
Adult Fiction
- Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
- On Girlhood: 15 Stories from the Well-Read Black Girl Library edited by Glory Edim
- What the Fireflies Knew by Kai Harries
- Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James
- The Love Songs of W.E.B. Dubois by Honoree Fannone Jeffers
- How Long ‘Til Black Future Month? by N.K. Jemison
- Deacon King Kong by James McBride
- Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
- Black Bottom Saints by Alice Randall
- The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb
- Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead
- Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
- Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson
Adult nonfiction
- Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man by Emmanuel Acho
- Carefree Black Girls: A Celebration of Black women in Popular Culture by Zeba Blay
- The 1619 Project edited by Nikole Hannah-Jones
- Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey
- Wow, No Thank You by Samantha Irby*
- The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee
- All That She Carried by Tiya Miles
- Please Don’t Sit On My Bed In Your Outside Clothes by Phoebe Robinson*
- You’ll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey by Amber Ruffin*
- Counting Descent by Clint Smith
- The Body Is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor
- Here For It by R. Eric Thomas*
- Koshersoul: the faith and food journey of an African American Jew by Michael W. Twitty
*especially good on audio because the authors read their work!
Picture books for families to share
- My Heart Flies Open by Omileye Achikeobi-Lewis
- Only the Best: The Exceptional Life and Fashion of Ann Lowe by Kate Messner
- My N.C. From A to Z by Michelle Lanier
- Shhh! The Baby’s Asleep by JaNay Brown-Wood
- Curls by Ruth Forman
- Fly by Brittany J. Thurman
- Opal Lee and What it Means to be Free: The True Story of the Grandmother of Juneteenth by Alice Faye Duncan
- Build a House by Rhiannon Giddens
- Bright Brown Baby, A Treasury by Andrea Davis Pinkney
- Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renee Watson
Chapter books for older kids
- Isaiah Dunn is My Hero by Kelly J. BaptistBlended by Sharon Draper
- Ikenga by Nnedi Okorafor
- Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
- Tristan Strong Trilogy (Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, Tristan Strong Destroys the World, and Tristan Strong Keeps Punching) by Kwame Mbalia
- From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks
- Black Boy Joy: 17 Stories Celebrating Black Boyhood edited by Kwame Mbalia
- Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson
- Operation Sisterhood by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich
- The Door of No Return by Alexander Kwame
Books for teens
- Quincredible by Rodney Barnes
- The Legendborn Cycle (Legendborn and Bloodmarked) by Tracy Deonn
- All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
- You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
- Survive the Dome by Kosoko Jackson
- Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther’s Promise to the People by Kekla Magoon
- Ain’t Burned All the Bright by Jason Reynolds
- Bitter by Akwaeke Emezi
- On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
- Okoye to the People by Ibi Zoboi
We are seeking volunteers to assist us in our small after school program for children in West Asheville in low-income housing. We provide a safe and nourishing environment, healthy snacks, and creative activities. Our program currently meets during the school year on most Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 3:00-5:00pm. You may volunteer for one or two days a week.
Volunteer Responsibilities:
- Assist with serving snacks
- Interact with children during activity time
- Supervise games and outdoor free time
- For people with background in education, there is also an opportunity to assist with curriculum development and program planning and administration
Requirements:
- Background check
- Orientation booklets will be provided
- Masks are required if unvaccinated
The club will meet virtually for now.
Meetings will take place at 7:00 PM ET on the last Tuesday of each month via Zoom. Please visit the Romance Bookclub page for the monthly selection, and email Samantha at [email protected] for the link to join.
Romance Book Club is a space to celebrate love in literature. Whether it’s set in early 1800s London, a distant planet years into the future, a fantasy world of magic, or our own contemporary universe, we are here for the stories that end with a happily-ever-after (or at least a happily-for-now).
Meetings will take place at 7:00 PM ET on the last Tuesday of each month via Zoom. Please visit the Romance Bookclub page for the monthly selection, and email Samantha at [email protected] for the link to join.
The Malaprop’s Book Club, hosted by Jay Jacoby, explores a diverse selection of fiction and nonfiction books determined by member suggestion. Click here to see a full schedule of what the club is reading. Club attendees get 10% off the book at Malaprop’s!
The club meets the first Wednesday of every month at 7:00 PM. The club will meet virtually until further notice. To join the club, please email [email protected]
We are seeking volunteers to assist us in our small after school program for children in West Asheville in low-income housing. We provide a safe and nourishing environment, healthy snacks, and creative activities. Our program currently meets during the school year on most Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 3:00-5:00pm. You may volunteer for one or two days a week.
Volunteer Responsibilities:
- Assist with serving snacks
- Interact with children during activity time
- Supervise games and outdoor free time
- For people with background in education, there is also an opportunity to assist with curriculum development and program planning and administration
Requirements:
- Background check
- Orientation booklets will be provided
- Masks are required if unvaccinated
Crime and Politics Book Club
Join host and Malaprop’s Bookseller Patricia Furnish to discuss a range of books across true crime and public affairs. The club meets in Asheville and offsite, usually at a restaurant, on the first Thursday of the month at 4 p.m. Please email [email protected] for info and instructions to attend. See the list of upcoming dates above and click here to learn more about the club, view important news, and find the pick for this month!
We’re putting our build crew back together and we’d love to have you join us. Every 2 weeks, we’ll meet at 9 am for hands-on set construction! Whether your talents are building, painting, or you just want to learn, come out and join us every other Saturday for some creative fun. Tools and work gloves are helpful but not required
Join in kudzu removal initiatives along the Reed Creek Greenway. The first workshop of 2023 is “Weaving Birdhouses With Kudzu Vines” Learn to identify kudzu vines when the leaves are dormant; Harvest old-growth vines and runner vines for bird houses, basketry, woven fencing, and wreath making; hot kudzu root tea samples will be served.
## What problems does kudzu cause?
An invasive plant as fast-growing as kudzu outcompetes everything from native grasses to fully mature trees by shading them from the sunlight they need to photosynthesize. This loss of native plants harms other plants, insects and animals that adapted alongside them, leading to cascading effects throughout an ecosystem.
Over time, these effects of habitat loss can lead to species extinctions and a loss of overall biodiversity.
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Do you have a love for art and creativity? Do you have some time on your hands? Are you interested in getting to know a terrific group of talented artists? Volunteering at the Artists Collective | Spartanburg may be the right move for you. Come see what all the buzz is about and expand your circle of influence! We are actively seeking people to volunteer at the Collective in the retail role.
Now is the time to make a change and get out there! We will be happy to have you aboard. |
We are seeking volunteers to assist us in our small after school program for children in West Asheville in low-income housing. We provide a safe and nourishing environment, healthy snacks, and creative activities. Our program currently meets during the school year on most Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 3:00-5:00pm. You may volunteer for one or two days a week.
Volunteer Responsibilities:
- Assist with serving snacks
- Interact with children during activity time
- Supervise games and outdoor free time
- For people with background in education, there is also an opportunity to assist with curriculum development and program planning and administration
Requirements:
- Background check
- Orientation booklets will be provided
- Masks are required if unvaccinated
Literacy Together has a determined group of students waiting for volunteer tutors so they can move forward on their goals for a better future. We’re offering in-person and remote volunteer opportunities. We have programs teaching English to immigrants, adult literacy for folks working on a GED, and youth literacy for kids struggling to learn to read. In addition, we welcome everyone -even if they are not ready to volunteer- to attend to learn about the literacy challenges we face in Buncombe County. Thank you!
WILD (Women in Lively Discussion) Book Club
Join former Malaprop’s General Manager Linda-Marie Barrett for this woman-only book club that seeks to have fun by reading books (fiction & non) by women writers. Click here to see a full schedule of what the club is reading. Club attendees get 10% off the book at Malaprop’s!
The club meets at 6:30 P.M. on the first Tuesday of the month.
Please RSVP to the moderator at [email protected] for location and details.
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Do you have a love for art and creativity? Do you have some time on your hands? Are you interested in getting to know a terrific group of talented artists? Volunteering at the Artists Collective | Spartanburg may be the right move for you. Come see what all the buzz is about and expand your circle of influence! We are actively seeking people to volunteer at the Collective in the retail role.
Now is the time to make a change and get out there! We will be happy to have you aboard. |
|
Do you have a love for art and creativity? Do you have some time on your hands? Are you interested in getting to know a terrific group of talented artists? Volunteering at the Artists Collective | Spartanburg may be the right move for you. Come see what all the buzz is about and expand your circle of influence! We are actively seeking people to volunteer at the Collective in the retail role.
Now is the time to make a change and get out there! We will be happy to have you aboard. |
Literacy Together has a determined group of students waiting for volunteer tutors so they can move forward on their goals for a better future. We’re offering in-person and remote volunteer opportunities. We have programs teaching English to immigrants, adult literacy for folks working on a GED, and youth literacy for kids struggling to learn to read. In addition, we welcome everyone -even if they are not ready to volunteer- to attend to learn about the literacy challenges we face in Buncombe County. Thank you!
We are seeking volunteers to assist us in our small after school program for children in West Asheville in low-income housing. We provide a safe and nourishing environment, healthy snacks, and creative activities. Our program currently meets during the school year on most Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 3:00-5:00pm. You may volunteer for one or two days a week.
Volunteer Responsibilities:
- Assist with serving snacks
- Interact with children during activity time
- Supervise games and outdoor free time
- For people with background in education, there is also an opportunity to assist with curriculum development and program planning and administration
Requirements:
- Background check
- Orientation booklets will be provided
- Masks are required if unvaccinated
Thomas Wolfe Short Story Discussions are a partnership between the Wilma Dykeman Legacy and the Thomas Wolfe Memorial State Historic Site. Our text is The Complete Short Stories of Thomas Wolfe, edited by Francis E. Skipp with a Foreword by James Dickey (New York: Scribner’s, 1987).
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Do you have a love for art and creativity? Do you have some time on your hands? Are you interested in getting to know a terrific group of talented artists? Volunteering at the Artists Collective | Spartanburg may be the right move for you. Come see what all the buzz is about and expand your circle of influence! We are actively seeking people to volunteer at the Collective in the retail role.
Now is the time to make a change and get out there! We will be happy to have you aboard. |
|
Do you have a love for art and creativity? Do you have some time on your hands? Are you interested in getting to know a terrific group of talented artists? Volunteering at the Artists Collective | Spartanburg may be the right move for you. Come see what all the buzz is about and expand your circle of influence! We are actively seeking people to volunteer at the Collective in the retail role.
Now is the time to make a change and get out there! We will be happy to have you aboard. |
|
Do you have a love for art and creativity? Do you have some time on your hands? Are you interested in getting to know a terrific group of talented artists? Volunteering at the Artists Collective | Spartanburg may be the right move for you. Come see what all the buzz is about and expand your circle of influence! We are actively seeking people to volunteer at the Collective in the retail role.
Now is the time to make a change and get out there! We will be happy to have you aboard. |
We are seeking volunteers to assist us in our small after school program for children in West Asheville in low-income housing. We provide a safe and nourishing environment, healthy snacks, and creative activities. Our program currently meets during the school year on most Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 3:00-5:00pm. You may volunteer for one or two days a week.
Volunteer Responsibilities:
- Assist with serving snacks
- Interact with children during activity time
- Supervise games and outdoor free time
- For people with background in education, there is also an opportunity to assist with curriculum development and program planning and administration
Requirements:
- Background check
- Orientation booklets will be provided
- Masks are required if unvaccinated
|
Do you have a love for art and creativity? Do you have some time on your hands? Are you interested in getting to know a terrific group of talented artists? Volunteering at the Artists Collective | Spartanburg may be the right move for you. Come see what all the buzz is about and expand your circle of influence! We are actively seeking people to volunteer at the Collective in the retail role.
Now is the time to make a change and get out there! We will be happy to have you aboard. |
Laura Jones, associate professor of Health & Wellness and Athletics Mental Health Coordinator at UNC Asheville will present “Mental Health Behind Bars: The Role of Mental Health in the U.S. Legal System,” at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 15 at UNC Asheville’s Reuter Center in the Manheimer Room.
Jones’ lecture is part of the Common Word Community Read, curated by New York Times Bestselling author and UNC Asheville alumnus, Wiley Cash ’00. This program brings the UNC Asheville community together to engage in a collective educational experience. Each semester, one book will serve as the focus of numerous virtual and in-person lectures and discussions that will allow participants to delve deeper into the text. Over the course of the academic year, participants will read one book each semester, gaining insights and sharing ideas in a welcoming and respectful environment. Spring 2023’s selection is “The Other Dr. Gilmer: Two Men, a Murder, and an Unlikely Fight for Justice.”
For more information and to register, visit: giving.unca.edu/alumni/the-common-word-community-read/
This event is the second of three events for the Spring 2023 Common Word Community Read series. Additional events include a conversation between Wiley Cash and Benjamin Gilmer.
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Do you have a love for art and creativity? Do you have some time on your hands? Are you interested in getting to know a terrific group of talented artists? Volunteering at the Artists Collective | Spartanburg may be the right move for you. Come see what all the buzz is about and expand your circle of influence! We are actively seeking people to volunteer at the Collective in the retail role.
Now is the time to make a change and get out there! We will be happy to have you aboard. |
We are seeking volunteers to assist us in our small after school program for children in West Asheville in low-income housing. We provide a safe and nourishing environment, healthy snacks, and creative activities. Our program currently meets during the school year on most Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 3:00-5:00pm. You may volunteer for one or two days a week.
Volunteer Responsibilities:
- Assist with serving snacks
- Interact with children during activity time
- Supervise games and outdoor free time
- For people with background in education, there is also an opportunity to assist with curriculum development and program planning and administration
Requirements:
- Background check
- Orientation booklets will be provided
- Masks are required if unvaccinated
