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.

Wednesday, July 26, 2023
CREATIVE FACILITATOR TRAINING
Jul 26 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Story Parlor

Story Parlor and Inward & Artward present: an interactive 14-week program on how to create and facilitate unique offerings rooted in the intersection of the creative process, personal stories, and the human condition. Tailored for folks interested in starting a new and fulfilling career path, or simply wanting to deepen and/or refresh their approach to holistic creative facilitation.

Guideposts Include:

  • Identifying creative blocks, obstacles, and breakthrough strategies for self and others

  • How to create and conduct creative-based groups, workshops, classes, and retreats

  • Teaching philosophy and ethics

  • The intersection of mindfulness and the creative process, and how to implement into facilitation

  • Nurturing a sustainable creative lifestyle, personally, professionally, and instructionally

  • Tools to excavate personal stories and ways they can be used for healing, transformation, and creative bounty

  • Marketing, business planning, and logistics

  • Two one-on-one creativity coaching sessions

Early Bird pricing through April 30 | $1250
Regular price effective May 1 | $1400

Class dates include Wednesdays from 6:30-8:30pm
5/31, 6/7, 6/14, 6/21, 6/28, 7/5, 7/12, 7/19, 7/26, 8/2, 8/9, 8/16, 8/23, 8/30
Some classes will be conducted over zoom; Final two meetings will go till 9:30pm.

Refund and Covid policies can be found here.

Before registering, prospective participants must first submit the below application. Next steps will be provided thereafter.

Foodie Book Club
Jul 26 @ 7:00 pm
online

Foodie Book Club

A book club for home cooks, foodies, industry folks, and anyone in-between.  We will be focusing on all sorts of food writing. Somethemes will be (but not limited to): food critics, chef memoirs, wine, food history, and food politics.

The Foodie group meets virtually on the last Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. (EST), beginning in June 2022.  Please email [email protected] for the Zoom meeting info.

Friday, July 28, 2023
Intermediate Musical Theatre Dance Camp
Jul 28 @ 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Hendersonville Theatre

Class cost: $180

Min students: 5

Max students: 10

Class Dates: July 24-28

Time: 12 pm-3 pm

Rising 10th-12th grade (14-17 years old)

We do not offer refunds or cancellations for any reason other than medical or family emergencies. If your reason for refund is approved, a $25 cancellation fee will apply.

Class Description
Are you a dancer who wants to get into musical theatre? Then join our Intermediate Dance for Musical Theatre Camp (Rising 10th-12th)! Created for students with an intermediate level of dance training, this camp will teach you how to rock a musical theatre dance call. From an introduction to musical theatre history to popular Broadway dance numbers to tips and tricks for picking up movement fast, this class will prepare you for your first musical theatre audition!

Online Zoom: West Asheville Library Book Discussion. Bewilderment by Richard Powers
Jul 28 @ 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Online Zoom w/ West Asheville Library

West Asheville Library Book Discussion group will discuss Bewilderment by Richard Powers. This is an online Zoom event.

Tuesday, August 1, 2023
Hybrid Book Launch | Under This Forgetful Sky: Lauren Yero in conversation with Megan Shepherd
Aug 1 @ 6:00 pm
Malaprop's Bookstore

This is a hybrid event with limited in-store seating and the option to attend online. The event is free but registration is required for both in-person and virtual attendance.

Please click here to register for the VIRTUAL event. The link required to attend will be emailed to registrants prior to the event.

Please click here to register for the IN-PERSON event. Note the important event details on the RSVP form.

This event includes a book signing. If you would like a signed book but can’t attend in person, you may order a signed copy online below. If you would like to have your book personalized, please order online or call the store at least two hours before the start of the event. When ordering online, use the comments field to provide a name for personalization, e.g. “To Paul.” NOTE: We do our best to get books personalized when requested but personalization is not guaranteed.

Folks who pre-order through Malaprop’s will receive an exclusive sticker design which was made from a custom linocut print of the City of the Sky and the City of the Sea.  Pictured to the left.

If you decide to attend and to purchase books, we ask that you purchase from Malaprop’s. When you do this you make it possible for us to continue hosting author events and you keep more dollars in our community. You may also support our work by purchasing a gift card or making a donation of any amount below. Thank you!


In the spirit of Paolo Bacigalupi and Laini Taylor, this futuristic star-crossed love story follows two teens struggling to find their place in a starkly unequal world.
Sixteen-year-old Rumi Sabzwari has spent his entire life behind the armored walls of St. Iago, which protect citizens of the Union of Upper Cities from the outside world’s environmental devastation. But when rebels infect his father with a fatal virus, Rumi escapes St. Iago, desperate to find a cure.
In the ruined city of Paraíso, Rumi meets fifteen-year-old Paz, who agrees to guide him on his journey. As they travel together, Rumi finds himself drawn to Paz—and behind her tough exterior, she begins to feel the same way. But Paz knows more about Rumi’s father’s illness than she’s saying and has her own agenda. With the powerful forces at play in their cities putting them at odds, can the two learn to trust in each other—enough to imagine a different world?

Lauren Yero is a Cuban American writer living in the mountains of Western North Carolina. She writes speculative, near-future stories of resistance, adventure, and first love that question the structures our world is built upon. Her debut YA novel, Under This Forgetful Sky, comes out in July 2023 with Atheneum/Simon & Schuster. Born in Florida, she received her BA from Davidson College and her MA in Environmental Literature from the University of Nevada Reno. Her desire to connect more deeply with her Latinx heritage led her to study and work in Spain, Argentina, Cuba, and Chile, where she drew inspiration for her debut novel. In addition to writing, she teaches at a small farm-and-arts school in the beautiful county she calls home. She shares a small homestead with her husband, two kids, two pups, ten chickens, five geese, two ducks, and a couple hundred thousand honeybees.

Hybrid Book Launch- Under This Forgetful Sky: Lauren Yero in conversation with Megan Lucas
Aug 1 @ 6:00 pm
Malaprops

Lauren Yero is a Cuban American writer living in the mountains of Western North Carolina. She writes speculative, near-future stories of resistance, adventure, and first love that question the structures our world is built upon. Her new book, Under This Forgetful Sky, is inspired by the spirit of Paolo Bacigalupi and Laini Taylor in this futuristic star-crossed love story follows two teens struggling to find their place in a starkly unequal world. This is a hybrid event with limited in-store seating and the option to attend online. The event is free but registration is required for both in-person and virtual attendance.

Wednesday, August 2, 2023
Invasive Plant Removal Workday
Aug 2 @ 8:45 am – 12:00 pm
Guion Farm Parking Lot

Join DuPont Management Forester, Jordan Luff and volunteer crew leaders for removal of non native invasive plants in DuPont!

Become part of a crew of volunteers working to combat the spread of NNIPs in our public lands. Expect to learn best practices, some identification, get to work and have fun! This group aims to meet every other Wednesday but repeat attendance is not required to join us on a workday.

Meet us in the Guion Farm Parking Lot at 8:45 for an introduction. We will work the perimeter of the parking lot and Skyland Road, then move across Skyland to Farmhouse Trail. All tools and PPE will be supplied, but if you prefer to bring your own pruners, hand clippers or gloves you are welcome to. All ages are welcome.

Participants should wear a long sleeve shirt, long pants, hat, and sturdy footwear such as hiking boots. Bring water to stay hydrated. PPE that will be provided includes safety glasses, nitrile gloves, and leather gloves.

Any cancellations will be communicated by email by 3pm the day before the event. If you need to cancel after registration, please email [email protected] the day before the event.

Read to Puptart!
Aug 2 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Enka-Candler Library

Puptart is a tail wagging robot dog who sits and stays, pants when listening, and responds to someone talking to and petting it. It will not jump up or run away, plus it’s fur free, so no sneezes and runny noses coming your way!

Every Wednesday afternoon, Puptart will be available for reading practice in the children’s picture book room. Help establish a joy of reading and develop early literacy skills. Sign up at the front desk, pick a book and practice reading for up to 15 minutes.

Live Stream | Always Agnes: Mickey Dubrow in conversation with David Kettlehake
Aug 2 @ 6:00 pm
live stream

This live streamed virtual event is free but registration is required.

Please click here to register. The link required to attend will be emailed to registrants prior to the event.

If you decide to attend and to purchase books, we ask that you purchase from Malaprop’s. When you do this you make it possible for us to continue hosting author events and you keep more dollars in our community. You may also support our work by purchasing a gift card or making a donation of any amount below. Thank you!


Seventeen-year-old Agnes is a genius. Getting her doctorate in physics isn’t challenging enough so she builds a time machine. When her mother, Claudia, dies from an apparent suicide, Agnes blames herself. If Claudia hadn’t had Agnes when she was seventeen, she would have had a better life. Agnes goes back in time to stop Claudia from having sex the night she got pregnant. If Agnes succeeds, she’ll no longer exist, but she’s determined to save her mother. During her journey through time, Agnes learns there are some things you can never change.

For over thirty years, Mickey Dubrow wrote television promos, marketing presentations, and scripts for various clients including Cartoon Network, TNT Latin America, and HGTV. His short stories and essays have appeared in Prime Number Magazine, The Good Men Project, The Signal Mountain Review, Full Grown People, and McSweeney’s Internet Tendency. His first novel, American Judas, was a Finalist for the 2020 Georgia Author of the Year Award in the category of First Novel. He lives in Atlanta with his wife, author Jessica Handler.

David Kettlehake’s fascination with reading began at a very young age. His father was a Lutheran minister and his mother was a social worker but, even though money was tight, his parents never said no to books. He still vividly remembers reading under the covers at night with a flashlight, while listening for the footfalls of his parents telling him (for the last time!) to go to sleep. The first book he ever checked out of a library was Robert A. Heinlein’s  Rocket Ship Galileo, back in elementary school. But as often as not, he could be found reading an Alistair MacClean thriller, or horror short stories from H.P. Lovecraft. Other science fiction and fantasy novels came later, and even now the books he picks up are from genres all across the board. David and his wife live in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. They love traveling here and abroad and seeing the world, which is why his stories tend to gravitate outside of the U.S. His third novel, the YA dystopian thriller, Gray, was released in September of 2020. Black, the sequel to Gray and the second book in the Firebrand Trilogy, was released in October 2021.The Firebrand Trilogy concludes with White, due out this year.

CREATIVE FACILITATOR TRAINING
Aug 2 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Story Parlor

Story Parlor and Inward & Artward present: an interactive 14-week program on how to create and facilitate unique offerings rooted in the intersection of the creative process, personal stories, and the human condition. Tailored for folks interested in starting a new and fulfilling career path, or simply wanting to deepen and/or refresh their approach to holistic creative facilitation.

Guideposts Include:

  • Identifying creative blocks, obstacles, and breakthrough strategies for self and others

  • How to create and conduct creative-based groups, workshops, classes, and retreats

  • Teaching philosophy and ethics

  • The intersection of mindfulness and the creative process, and how to implement into facilitation

  • Nurturing a sustainable creative lifestyle, personally, professionally, and instructionally

  • Tools to excavate personal stories and ways they can be used for healing, transformation, and creative bounty

  • Marketing, business planning, and logistics

  • Two one-on-one creativity coaching sessions

Early Bird pricing through April 30 | $1250
Regular price effective May 1 | $1400

Class dates include Wednesdays from 6:30-8:30pm
5/31, 6/7, 6/14, 6/21, 6/28, 7/5, 7/12, 7/19, 7/26, 8/2, 8/9, 8/16, 8/23, 8/30
Some classes will be conducted over zoom; Final two meetings will go till 9:30pm.

Refund and Covid policies can be found here.

Before registering, prospective participants must first submit the below application. Next steps will be provided thereafter.

Malaprop’s Book Club
Aug 2 @ 7:00 pm
online w/ Malaprop's Bookstore

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]

Thursday, August 3, 2023
Crime and Politics Book Club
Aug 3 @ 4:00 pm
Malaprop's Bookstore

Crime and Politics Book Club

Crime and Politics is a book club for people who want to explore the overlap between true crime and public affairs. We will explore scandals, malfeasance, murder, corruption, and cover-ups. We will alternate months, beginning with a work of true crime, then a book on politics or public affairs. Crime, from the most personal to the global, is the theme. We meet the first Thursday of the month at 4 p.m. Contact [email protected].

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!

Monday, August 7, 2023
Ticketed In-Person | Bring Me Your Midnight: Rachel Griffin in conversation with Kristin Dwyer
Aug 7 @ 6:00 pm
Malaprop's Bookstore

Malaprop’s is thrilled to host Rachel Griffin with her newest book, Bring Me Your Midnight. Rachel with be in conversation with Kristin Dwyer, author of Some Mistakes Were Made. Space is limited and tickets are required.

EVENT TICKET INCLUDES:
~ One (1) signed hardcover copy of Bring Me Your Midnight
 ~ Admission for up to two (2) people. We will check you in by name at the door. No tickets will be mailed.

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS AND EVENT DETAILS.

If you cannot attend the event and would like to purchase signed books, click here to order before August 7.


Bring Me Your Midnight is a lush, romantic, and unforgettable new fantasy full of sea magic, arranged marriages, and the choice between love and duty.

Tana Fairchild’s fate has never been in question. Her life has been planned out since the moment she was born: she is to marry the governor’s son, Landon, and secure an unprecedented alliance between the witches of her island home and the mainlanders who see her very existence as a threat. Tana’s coven has appeased those who fear their power for years by releasing most of their magic into the ocean during the full moon. But when Tana misses the midnight ritual—a fatal mistake—there is no one she can turn to for help until she meets Wolfe.

Wolfe claims he is from a coven that practices dark magic, making him one of the only people who can help her. But he refuses to let Tana’s power rush into the sea, and instead teaches her his forbidden magic. A magic that makes her feel powerful. Alive. As the sea grows more violent, her coven loses control of the currents, a danger that could destroy the alliance as well as her island. Tana will have to choose between love and duty, between loyalty to her people and loyalty to her heart. Marrying Landon would secure peace for her coven but losing Wolfe and his wild magic could cost her everything else.

Rachel Griffin is the New York Times bestselling author of The Nature of Witches and Wild is the Witch. When she isn’t writing, you can find her wandering the Pacific Northwest, reading by the fire, or drinking copious amounts of coffee and tea. She lives in the Seattle area with her husband, dog, and growing collection of houseplants. Visit her online at rachelgriffinbooks.com or say hi on Instagram @TimesNewRachel.

Kristin Dwyer grew up under the California sun and prayed every day for a cloudy sky. Now Kristin and her spouse are currently raising their mischief-makers in the hills of North Carolina, where there is just the right amount of clouds. She is the author of Some Mistakes Were Made. When she’s not writing books about people kissing, Kristin is a part-time hair model and full-time TSA PreCheck. One time a credible news outlet asked for her opinion on K-pop (it was the best day of her life). Please do not talk to her about your fandom; she will try to join.

Wednesday, August 9, 2023
Pack Library Book Club
Aug 9 @ 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Pack Memorial Library
  The Pack Library Book Club is a book discussion group that meets the second Wednesday of each month at 10:30AM at the library.
Read to Puptart!
Aug 9 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Enka-Candler Library

Puptart is a tail wagging robot dog who sits and stays, pants when listening, and responds to someone talking to and petting it. It will not jump up or run away, plus it’s fur free, so no sneezes and runny noses coming your way!

Every Wednesday afternoon, Puptart will be available for reading practice in the children’s picture book room. Help establish a joy of reading and develop early literacy skills. Sign up at the front desk, pick a book and practice reading for up to 15 minutes.

CREATIVE FACILITATOR TRAINING
Aug 9 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Story Parlor

Story Parlor and Inward & Artward present: an interactive 14-week program on how to create and facilitate unique offerings rooted in the intersection of the creative process, personal stories, and the human condition. Tailored for folks interested in starting a new and fulfilling career path, or simply wanting to deepen and/or refresh their approach to holistic creative facilitation.

Guideposts Include:

  • Identifying creative blocks, obstacles, and breakthrough strategies for self and others

  • How to create and conduct creative-based groups, workshops, classes, and retreats

  • Teaching philosophy and ethics

  • The intersection of mindfulness and the creative process, and how to implement into facilitation

  • Nurturing a sustainable creative lifestyle, personally, professionally, and instructionally

  • Tools to excavate personal stories and ways they can be used for healing, transformation, and creative bounty

  • Marketing, business planning, and logistics

  • Two one-on-one creativity coaching sessions

Early Bird pricing through April 30 | $1250
Regular price effective May 1 | $1400

Class dates include Wednesdays from 6:30-8:30pm
5/31, 6/7, 6/14, 6/21, 6/28, 7/5, 7/12, 7/19, 7/26, 8/2, 8/9, 8/16, 8/23, 8/30
Some classes will be conducted over zoom; Final two meetings will go till 9:30pm.

Refund and Covid policies can be found here.

Before registering, prospective participants must first submit the below application. Next steps will be provided thereafter.

Thursday, August 10, 2023
Swannanoa Valley Book Club: Rosie’s Sweat Box: Marking Time Till Home by David Rozzell
Aug 10 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Black Mountain Public Library

Grady Rozzell at age 19 was a B-17 pilot in the 401st Bomb Group operating out of Deenethorpe Army Air Base. On Friday, May 30, 1944, Grady and his crew made their first combat mission. Their target was an airplane factory in Oschersleben, Germany. Highlights from his diary tell this story. This is his first diary entry: “10:26 . . . Over to the left front, a patch of sky is literally filled with black crust; that’s flack, my first sight of the dreaded flack I’ve heard so much about. 11:30 . . . We’ve just been attacked by enemy fighters. Those babies came within a few hundred feet of our plane and not one of my gunners shot at the fighters. Too excited to do anything but gape—and gape they did. The fighters got the ship directly behind me. I looked back in time to see the big bird go into a vertical climb and spin-off on one wing. I saw two chutes pop and stretch out their lazy canopies. There’s eight more men in that plane. Off to the left and lower is a crippled B-17 trying to fight its way home. . . . There’s about five fighters making swift passes at the ship, trying to knock it down. They look like vultures gathering around, ready for the kill.”

This book is available to purchase for $20 at the Swannanoa Valley Museum. SVM members get a 10% discount. Stop by during our open hours (Wed-Saturday, 10am-5pm) to make your purchase.

Saturday, August 12, 2023
1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Program Launch Party
Aug 12 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
East Asheville Library

1000 books before kindergarten banner

Share the love of reading with your child! Visit any Buncombe County Public Library to start participating in our 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Program launching Aug. 12.

1,000 Books Before Kindergarten is a nationwide initiative that encourages grown-ups to read 1,000 books with their young child (ages birth-five) before they enter kindergarten.

Studies show, a child’s brain develops rapidly in the first three years of their life. Reading with a child early on can help them develop pre-reading skills that will make it easier for them to read independently in school. Families who read to their children from a young age can help their child build early literacy skills such as letter recognition and building vocabulary.

Beginning Aug. 12, families with a child between the ages of birth to five can pick up a 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten booklet at any Library location. Caregivers record the titles of the books read to their child in the booklet. Early literacy tips are found at the top of each page for caregivers to model to their child. When you reach the “500 books read” milestone, return to any BCPL location with your booklet to receive a free canvas tote bag and continue your reading journey. When you reach the “1,000 books read” milestone, you’ve completed the program. Return to the Library for your completion certificate. Children have until they enter kindergarten to complete the program.

Launch party

On Saturday, Aug. 12, join the Library for a 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten launch party. Children’s music band Big, Bang, Boom! will headline. Enjoy games, crafts, puppets and so much more! Refreshments will be served. Families with children under five can pick up a reading log booklet to get started. This free event.

Wednesday, August 16, 2023
Enka History Book Club
Aug 16 @ 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Enka-Candler Library

The Enka History Book Club reads historical fiction and non-fiction.
We’ll be discussing, River of the Gods: Genius, Courage, and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile by Candice Millard.
Books are available for pick up at the library in large print and regular print.

The group meets in the community room and newcomers are always welcome.
In the case of inclement weather and winter storms, we will post canceled on this page, on our Facebook page, and on our Instagram page. Follow: @enkacandlerlibrary

Read to Puptart!
Aug 16 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Enka-Candler Library

Puptart is a tail wagging robot dog who sits and stays, pants when listening, and responds to someone talking to and petting it. It will not jump up or run away, plus it’s fur free, so no sneezes and runny noses coming your way!

Every Wednesday afternoon, Puptart will be available for reading practice in the children’s picture book room. Help establish a joy of reading and develop early literacy skills. Sign up at the front desk, pick a book and practice reading for up to 15 minutes.

CREATIVE FACILITATOR TRAINING
Aug 16 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Story Parlor

Story Parlor and Inward & Artward present: an interactive 14-week program on how to create and facilitate unique offerings rooted in the intersection of the creative process, personal stories, and the human condition. Tailored for folks interested in starting a new and fulfilling career path, or simply wanting to deepen and/or refresh their approach to holistic creative facilitation.

Guideposts Include:

  • Identifying creative blocks, obstacles, and breakthrough strategies for self and others

  • How to create and conduct creative-based groups, workshops, classes, and retreats

  • Teaching philosophy and ethics

  • The intersection of mindfulness and the creative process, and how to implement into facilitation

  • Nurturing a sustainable creative lifestyle, personally, professionally, and instructionally

  • Tools to excavate personal stories and ways they can be used for healing, transformation, and creative bounty

  • Marketing, business planning, and logistics

  • Two one-on-one creativity coaching sessions

Early Bird pricing through April 30 | $1250
Regular price effective May 1 | $1400

Class dates include Wednesdays from 6:30-8:30pm
5/31, 6/7, 6/14, 6/21, 6/28, 7/5, 7/12, 7/19, 7/26, 8/2, 8/9, 8/16, 8/23, 8/30
Some classes will be conducted over zoom; Final two meetings will go till 9:30pm.

Refund and Covid policies can be found here.

Before registering, prospective participants must first submit the below application. Next steps will be provided thereafter.

Thursday, August 17, 2023
Friends of the South Buncombe Library Book Club: Daybreak by Belva Plain
Aug 17 @ 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm
South Buncombe Library

Join us for a book discussion hosted by the Friends of the Skyland/South Buncombe Library!

This month we will be reading Daybreak by Belva Plain.  The book is available in both physical and digital editions through Buncombe County Public Libraries, and we will also have a few extra copies to borrow at the South Buncombe branch that you can stop by and sign out.

From the publisher:

The doctor’s office is cool, white, sterile. But the doctor’s words are searing: blood tests prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that Margaret and Arthur Crawfield’s beloved, dying son is not their child. Now they must face Peter’s death and the shock of having a son they have never met. Grieving, yet compelled, they begin a search that will tear two families apart.

Laura and “Bud” Rice share an elegant home and two children, brilliant, handsome Tom, and cherished, chronically ill eleven-year-old Timmy. But after nineteen years of marriage, Laura’s respectable husband is a stranger—and the reason for Tom’s escalating involvement with a group of campus bigots. Suddenly the Crawfields enter their lives and shatter their fragile world. As the Rices’ quiet Southern town explodes with hate and violence, the two familes must embrace—or be destroyed by—the shattering truth.

Swannanoa Library Book Club
Aug 17 @ 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Swannanoa Library
  Join us for a discussion of the NY Times bestselling book “Circe” by Madeline Miller.

Light refreshments will be served.

Flat Rock Book Club
Aug 17 @ 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
The 2nd Act

Please join us at The 2nd Act in Hendersonville, NC for our first monthly book club meeting that strives to read books that create a closer knit and more inclusive community! We will meet virtually and in person monthly to discuss a book, so read the book and then join in the discussion in person or online every third Thursday. All are welcome! At the end of each meeting we will vote on the next book! The virtual club meeting will be in Zoom format and will meet 2.5 hours after the in-person meeting (8:00pm EST). After the meeting there is live acoustic music so stay and enjoy the vibe with your new friends! Put us down on your calendar for every third Third Thursday!

The first book is going to be called Disability Visibility.

Synopsis from the back cover: One in five people in the United States lives with a disability. Some disabilities are visible, others less apparent—but all are underrepresented in media and popular culture. Now, just in time for the thirtieth anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, activist Alice Wong brings together this urgent, galvanizing collection of contemporary essays by disabled people.

From Harriet McBryde Johnson’s account of her debate with Peter Singer over her own personhood to original pieces by authors like Keah Brown and Haben Girma; from blog posts, manifestos, and eulogies to Congressional testimonies, and beyond: this anthology gives a glimpse into the rich complexity of the disabled experience, highlighting the passions, talents, and everyday lives of this community. It invites readers to question their own understandings. It celebrates and documents disability culture in the now. It looks to the future and the past with hope and love. Preview:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51456746-disability-visibility
Message me for the Zoom link to the online meetup. Thanks!

Hendo Book Club Meetup
Aug 17 @ 5:30 pm
Guidon Brewing Company

ATTENTION! We will be meeting on August 17th at 5:30 AT A NEW VENUE! We are meeting at Guidon Brewing, 415 8th Ave. E. Hendersonville, NC 28792. It has free parking that is plentiful and it is quiet on Thursday in the early evening. https://guidonbrewing.com/

We’ll be discussing Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver.

Thank you to all who attended July 20 meeting! It was great to meet so many newcomers. Thank you to Mike and Debbie who graciously offered to help me with some admin stuff. They will help add emails to the spreadsheet so that communication will become better via email.

Saturday, August 19, 2023
“Write Your Values” – A Free Writing Workshop For Teens And Adults Hosted By Author Misha Lazzara
Aug 19 @ 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Firestorm Books

Local author Misha Lazzara, known for her novel Manmade Constellations, is offering a free writing workshop for teens and adults titled “Write Your Values.” The workshop is scheduled for August 19th at 3pm at Firestorm Books in Asheville, NC.

In this practical workshop, participants will explore their personal values and learn how to incorporate them into their writing. From spiritual beliefs to environmental concerns, attendees will discover how to infuse their stories with deeper meaning. The workshop is designed for writers of all levels who seek to add depth and significance to their work. Attendees will gain practical insights into integrating their beliefs and passions into their writing, enhancing their storytelling abilities.

This workshop is offered as a part of Misha Lazzara’s current book tour surrounding the paperback launch of Manmade Constellations. This debut novel is a modern-day love story that explores childhood trauma, the boundaries between idealism and self-righteousness, and the heartaches we must confront in order to chart our courses forward. Published by Blackstone Publishing, the novel was originally released on August 9, 2022, and will be launched in paperback on August 10, 2023.

Celebrate the release of Donna Glee’s new book, “The Night Field”
Aug 19 @ 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Barnes and Noble
 August 19th from 3:00-4:00 p.m., Barnes & Noble welcomes local science fiction and fantasy writer, Donna Glee Williams and local musician, Lynn Rosser, to celebrate the release of Donna Glee’s new book, “The Night Field.” Get your signed copy of the book while listening to music inspired by the novel. 
Sunday, August 20, 2023
Club de Lectura en Español
Aug 20 @ 6:00 pm
tba
Sunday, July 16, 2023 – 6:00pm
Sunday, August 20, 2023 – 6:00pm
Sunday, September 17, 2023 – 6:00pm
Sunday, October 15, 2023 – 6:00pm

Join the Club de Lectura and read novels written by Central and South American authors. The club meets at a restaurant or cafe with food related to the monthly pick. The main goal is to connect with each other, enjoy a good read, and ask each other questions. Everyone is welcome! Please CLICK HERE to view the Club’s main page for the pick of the month, and be sure to email: [email protected] for the location of the meeting!

Wednesday, August 23, 2023
The Love Frequency Immersion: Alchemy for Sacred Connection
Aug 23 all-day
Bend of Ivy Lodge

“The Love Frequency invites you to come into a deeper state of heart-centered living where your heart becomes your true North, your source of creation and liberation, and a commanding presence of leadership in your life.” – Adora Winquist, Modern Alchemist & Founder of The Soul Institute

Hi, I’m Adora, the creator of The Love Frequency. Like many, I’ve walked a path where I faced negative emotions, disappointment, and self-doubt. I understand how it feels to be stuck, overwhelmed, confused, and in lack.
I rarely felt free to be my true self. I could not hear my inner voice. I was unsure of my true purpose in life. But somewhere within me I knew that there was a different way. A sense that there was something more. Can you relate?

Are You Ready to Feel Fully Free and Embrace Your True Self?

When was the last time you felt fully free?

Maybe you have had moments where you felt free enough to let your heart open, letting your inner light shine and allowing you to embrace that ‘natural state of elation’ that comes when you know you’re in the right place at the right time. For most, however, those moments are often fleeting.

I used to glimpse those moments sporadically, that clarity and feeling of goodness, openness and receptivity. Thankfully, now, through decades of soul work, they have become my way of being. I hope you will come to this retreat where I can guide you to bring that freedom into your life, too.

Join me and other like-hearted people to do this work together. We will support each other to discover the transformative power of The Love Frequency, where you will embark on a soul-nurturing journey to embrace your true self, experience joyous liberation, and awaken to a thriving life. Your Path to Self-Mastery Starts Here

Connect with nature in a whole new way. Discover the elevated life of a modern alchemist.
Nature, the earth, all of creation, is our greatest teacher. Mother earth transmits profound wisdom that you won’t find in history books, medical journals, news articles, or the rabbit hole of social media.

Our modern construct of society has effectively disconnected us from the true source of abundance that the earth has to offer, leaving us grasping for more in every facet of life.

Going back to the basics of all of life: water, earth, fire, air, spirit, brings us home to the life of co-creation we were born to live.
When we live in communion with the earth, not only do our physical lives become more conscious and sustainable, but so do our emotional and spiritual lives.
The Love Frequency Retreat is not just an event—it’s a transformative journey toward self-mastery. You will be immersed in the alchemy of the 5 elements air, fire, water, earth and akasha to accelerate your ability to embody The Love Frequency.
Through guided practices such as transmission meditation, fire ceremony, consecration immersions, and labyrinth walks, you will tap into the depths of your being, activate your intentions, and anchor your new patterns of self-mastery into the earth.

Your experiences will include:
Somatic healing and sound frequency meditation to ignite inspiration and unify mind with heart and body

Fire ceremony to transmute past patterns and activate your intention for soul level alignment
Consecration immersion of water in the Bend of Ivy river to bless and open to a greater expression of your authentic self.

A labyrinth walk to return to your center and anchor your new desired pattern of self mastery into the earth

Transmission meditation to harness your unique alchemical formula and align with the highest inspiration of your mind, heart and soul
Your love can heal, transform and create everything you authentically desire.

What is Modern Alchemy?
Traditional alchemy is considered to focus on transmuting base metals to gold. But true alchemy is actually the journey of the spiritual seeker.

When I first began exploring plant medicine, I was introduced to the concept of synergy, where the sum of the parts or ingredients are more effective than the singular aspect or isolate. This concept has evolved from my perspective and practice over the last 30 years as a healer, teacher and author in the field of complementary medicine.
Modern Alchemy is the hero’s and heroine’s journey to Know Thyself and in that journey to transform the places of limitation, pain and suffering from our soul to our cells into life affirming, creation expressions of thriving. That is our true birthright.
It is a synergy of 4 pillars that anchor the universal truth and the creative potential of the universe: esoteric philosophy, psycho-spiritual dynamics, essential oils and vibrational medicine. These core philosophies are then intertwined to form modern interventions for ancient remedies that create greater health and harmony within the mind-body and soul connection and allows us to transmute the patterns of limitation we carry from soul soul to our cells: personal, ancestral and collective to rise beyond the third dimensional reality.
In our collective longing to evolve, we have the desire to open and access the ancient wisdom and divine knowledge within ourselves in manners that are both practical, accessible and yet profound.

The path of a Modern Alchemist transforms you from a spiritual seeker to a sacred leader of your most authentic and abundant life.
Awakening
Activation
Integration
Service

As a modern alchemist, when you connect with the infinite nature of love held with you, the potent alchemy of the natural world, you become the change you wish to see in the world. This Love Frequency Retreat is your first step on your path as a modern alchemist.
Are you a Modern Alchemist?

Traits of a modern alchemist include:
realizing there is more to life than meets the eye, and the matrix
understanding you are a co-creator in your reality, and a vast spiritual being that has chosen life in physical form.
knowing you are multidimensional in nature
You have a gift and light within you that can change the world, first by healing yourself.
You are capable of creating so much more in the course of your life than you are taught and led to believe.
You are being called back into connection and harmony with the Earth, yourself and each other.
You are invited to remember that there are alternative ways to source great balance, wellbeing and vitality in your lives.

What is The Love Frequency™?
The Love Frequency is a spiritual accelerator for the modern alchemist. Being in this frequency guides us to remember that the greatest power within us is held within our hearts.
The Love Frequency draws us inward, to the journey of the sacred human heart, the source of all creation, to remind us that WE ARE THE ONES WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR.

What is The Love Frequency™ Retreat?
The Love Frequency Retreat is a three day immersion in the alchemy of nature, rare aromatics and crystal medicine, transmission meditations and rituals to draw you deeper into the sacred light and wisdom held within you as a modern alchemist.
Adora will guide and support you through this experiential journey that activates the greater strength, inspiration and empowerment you are ready to rise and bring forth.

What awaits you at The Love Frequency™ Retreat?
Rest and Revitalize: Immerse yourself in the healing power of nature and find solace in a community of like-minded souls.
Liberate Your Mind, Heart, and Soul: Release past limitations and create a life of abundance, harmony, and fulfillment.
Access Ancient Wisdom: Discover the infinite power and unique gifts within your soul, tapping into your true potential.
Ignite Your Passion and Purpose: Align with your true self, uncover your meaningful purpose, and reignite your passion for life.
Is this transformational getaway for you?

Are you eager to release the limiting beliefs, thoughts, and emotions that no longer serve you?

Are you ready to open your mind, heart, and soul to live life beyond limitations?

Are you seeking a new, elevated relationship dynamic, especially regarding your communication, boundaries, and attachment styles?

Are you committed to taking a personal, inward journey of transformational self-healing to manifest the life of your dreams and desires?

Do you enjoy the beauty of nature as a healing force?

Experience the Alchemy of Nature and Sacred Wisdom in the Appalachian Mountains
Located at the beautiful Bend of Ivy Retreat Center, just outside Asheville, North Carolina, this sacred community offers you the space to rest, heal, and reconnect with your true essence. Immerse yourself in the healing power of nature, rare aromatics, crystal medicine, and ancient wisdom that reside within you.

The Bend of Ivy Retreat Center is a beautiful eco sanctuary nestled on 63 acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains, part of the Appalachians, near Asheville, NC. Rejuvenate your mind, body, and spirit in this quiet, secluded space that is infused with the magic of nature, nurture and energy. Come and experience the restful zen gardens, the shimmering ponds, beautiful views, and friendly goats.

Enjoy locally-sourced organic cuisine and herbal teas. Unwind in the seclusion of the surrounding hillsides and experience the atmosphere of deep healing and sacred tranquility.
Registration Options:

Full Retreat Package with Lodging: Discount Code $300 off LOVE300
2 night stay at the tranquil Bend of Ivy Retreat Center
Free Parking
Organic Meals (7), snacks, and tea
Self-care goody bag

Local Asheville Commuter Retreat Package without Lodging: For more info email
[email protected]
Free Parking
Organic Meals (5), snacks, and tea
Self-care goody bag
*Self-Care Bonus Goody Bag

All attendees will receive a curated self care bag with the tool of a modern alchemist, including Adora’s exquisitely crafted essential oil formulas, carefully selected crystals to align the energy of your journey, a lovely journal to capture your reflections, organic herbal tea to nourish your body, and other goodies.

USE CODE LOVE300 for $300 discount

Meet Your Facilitator: Adora Winquist
Alchemical Healing Expert; Founder of The Soul Institute; Author of Detox, Nourish, Activate.
Author and expert in the fields of aromatherapy and vibrational medicine, Adora is a visionary in the dawning arena of Quantum Alchemy, a transformative evolutionary path for self-mastery that facilitates healing at the DNA level. She intertwines the divine knowledge and ancient wisdom of essential oils, esoteric philosophy, psycho-spiritual dynamics, and energy medicine through her 25+ years as a facilitator, educator, formulator, and entrepreneur. Adora lives with her two daughters and her partner in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

Read to Puptart!
Aug 23 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Enka-Candler Library

Puptart is a tail wagging robot dog who sits and stays, pants when listening, and responds to someone talking to and petting it. It will not jump up or run away, plus it’s fur free, so no sneezes and runny noses coming your way!

Every Wednesday afternoon, Puptart will be available for reading practice in the children’s picture book room. Help establish a joy of reading and develop early literacy skills. Sign up at the front desk, pick a book and practice reading for up to 15 minutes.