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.
An evening of short sets from some of the many talented Asheville traditional, folk, and country bands!
Maddy and Clarke
The Jaguars
The Grit Lickers
Haakon & Clara
The Asparagals
Carolyn Upchurch and friends
Maddy and Clarke: Traditional fiddle-banjo tunes from a monster duo, Maddie Mullany and Clarke Williams, who have both placed and won in various fiddle and banjo contests across the southeast.
Haakon & Clara: Two Members of The Broken Barrel String Band sing you ballads and country songs in polished harmony with a smattering of fiddle tunes and bad jokes. Haakon and Clara have played and taught music together all around the country in various arrangements and are excited to perform in Asheville as a Duo.
The Jaguars: is a quartet of folk and country music loving friends Emma Rast, Louisa Stancioff, Daniel Ullom and Matt Lohan. They pick and grin, and are constantly swapping instruments. Their repertory includes every kind of music; from Townes and Lucinda, to Bill and Ralph.
The Grit Lickers: New to Asheville! Zeb Gambill and Julie Chiles have both long been fixtures of the AVL scene, playing in bands like The Buck Stops Here, Hot Trail Mix and many more. This will be their hometown debut!
The Asparagals:
Carolyn Upchurch, and Friends: Carolyn Upchurch took up clawhammer banjo under the instruction of David and Ivy Shepard, and has frequented fiddle conventions for almost a decade. During this show, Carolyn will be premiering a set of vibrant folk and country inspired songs. (Songs which are already low-key known and loved among a small group of devotees.)
https://www.facebook.com/events/291414174840682/
Open 5:00 – 10:00 p.m. Advance Tickets Required. Enjoy the wonder of the park dazzlingly lit for the holidays, with a nighttime train and more.
In this class we will make various forms of chocolate. We will use cacao paste and cacao powder to make chocolate medicine balls and a hot chocolate elixir. Each will include a variety of herbs and superfoods, some of which are locally foraged and wildcrafted. We will be making enough for everyone so save some appetite to try these tasty treats. Home-made chocolates make great gifts and treats for the upcoming holiday season!
$20-30 per person, sliding scale.
Scotty studied herbal medicine with the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine and uses his knowledge to make fun herbal concoctions with cacao. He also teaches Nature Connection and primitive skills to children and adults in the Asheville area, working for a nature based homeschool program (http://ontheforestfloor.com/). Scotty is a gardener and permaculture designer and works as a land consultant. He teaches wild foraging, permaculture, natural crafts, nature connection, and more through his business Deep Roots Nature Education, deeprootsnatureeducation.com.
** Please preregister on our website **
https://www.facebook.com/events/285240778972656/
$12 / $15
String Band music like you’ve never heard. Groovy, traditional material and catchy original songs and tunes, riddled with improvisation. You never know what might happen at a Pretty Little Goat show. The band will have just finished the studio work for their next Album, “Let the Sun Shine In.” Come celebrate.
Seated Lounge Show:: Limited Tables Available with a Dinner Reservation :: All Other Seating is First Come First Serve General Admission :: Please Call Venue for Dinner (Table) Reservations
https://www.facebook.com/events/353462058736403/
Candlelight Christmas Evenings*
Saturday, November 3, 2018 – Saturday, January 5, 2019 (Select Dates)
*Check website for availability/dates
*By reservation only.
*Pricing varies by date.
Candlelight, firelight, and live music bring holiday warmth to the extravagant holiday décor of Biltmore House, creating an evening to remember. Evening guests can also take advantage of Antler Hill Village & Winery to enjoy free wine tastings. Advance reservations are required for evening visits.
Learn more about #ChristmasAtBiltmore or plan your visit: biltmore.com/Christmas
https://www.facebook.com/events/1524627331014393/?event_time_id=1524627394347720
The Climbing Wall Instructor Program (CWI) was introduced in 2007 to certify professionals who teach in an indoor or artificial wall environment. It aims to increase the level of professionalism in indoor climbing and to improve the level of climbing wall instruction, to develop a more consistent standard of care for climbing instructors in the US, to evaluate the skills of climbing instructors in the US, and to provide guidance for further professional development. There are two certification levels:
AMGA CWI Top Rope
AMGA CWI Lead
This course addresses the basic technical skills necessary to manage an instructional program at a climbing facility. The course length is a minimum of 20 hours of instruction, skills demonstration, and evaluation, typically run over 2.5 days. CWI Certification lasts for three years. After three years current CWI’s can re-take a one-day reassessment to regain the CWI certification.
Information/Registration Link: https://www.climbmaxnc.com/amga-cwi-course (not active yet); registration is a PDF form, attached to this email
Additional Links: https://amga.com/climbing-wall-instructor/
https://www.facebook.com/events/579355999150431/
The Climbing Wall Instructor Program (CWI) was introduced in 2007 to certify professionals who teach in an indoor or artificial wall environment. It aims to increase the level of professionalism in indoor climbing and to improve the level of climbing wall instruction, to develop a more consistent standard of care for climbing instructors in the US, to evaluate the skills of climbing instructors in the US, and to provide guidance for further professional development. There are two certification levels:
AMGA CWI Top Rope
AMGA CWI Lead
This course addresses the basic technical skills necessary to manage an instructional program at a climbing facility. The course length is a minimum of 20 hours of instruction, skills demonstration, and evaluation, typically run over 2.5 days. CWI Certification lasts for three years. After three years current CWI’s can re-take a one-day reassessment to regain the CWI certification.
Information/Registration Link: https://www.climbmaxnc.com/amga-cwi-course (not active yet); registration is a PDF form, attached to this email
Additional Links: https://amga.com/climbing-wall-instructor/
https://www.facebook.com/events/579355999150431/?event_time_id=579356012483763
Come out and get your picture taken with Santa.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1751613038289126/
Join us on the most Irreverent but hilarious Comedy Show you can imagine. Communion Sunday at Banks Ave.. Bar. Ginger Von Snap, Sylvur Cox, Wilma Holeburn and Margarita Del Encanto will entertain you like you never seen before. Come and get Communion. Disclosure: (If you get easily offended, this is the place for you to be)
https://www.facebook.com/events/375401509900210/
Lake Julian Festival of Lights has become a tradition for many mountain families and visitors. The driving-only tour includes thousands of dazzling lights and displays placed along a magical journey on the road circling Lake Julian Park.
Lake Julian Festival of Lights takes place nightly from December 2-23. Want to experience the show by foot? Lights by the Lake Stroll Night is on Saturday, December 1. Please check our Facebook event page for information on any closings due to winter weather.
Tickets are $10 at the gate ($8 in advance) for a standard passenger car or van. A portion of the proceeds benefit Buncombe County Special Olympics.
https://www.facebook.com/events/260293307959881/?event_time_id=260293331293212
Redleg Husky is a country and bluegrass band from Asheville, North Carolina. Since its inception in 2012, the group has been performing its unique blend of American music in barrooms, theaters, and festivals throughout the Southeast and beyond. The group has released four recordings of original music in that time, including three full-length albums – Carolina in 2014, My Old Heart in 2016, and Don’t Be Bashful in 2018.
https://www.facebook.com/events/507913819727037/
Experience Asheville’s brightest holiday tradition at Winter Lights at The North Carolina Arboretum. Walk through an outdoor winter wonderland and see the Arboretum’s gardens dressed in more than half-a-million holiday lights. Roast s’mores by the fire, listen to your favorite holiday tunes or enjoy a cup of hot cocoa, cider or beer. Proceeds from the event will support the Arboretum’s educational programs, exhibit and facilities year-round.
Tickets range from $8-18 and must be purchased in advance online at www.ncwinterlights.com.
https://www.facebook.com/events/183329605927836/
Experience Asheville’s brightest holiday tradition at Winter Lights at The North Carolina Arboretum. Walk through an outdoor winter wonderland and see the Arboretum’s gardens dressed in more than half-a-million holiday lights. Roast s’mores by the fire, listen to your favorite holiday tunes or enjoy a cup of hot cocoa, cider or beer. Proceeds from the event will support the Arboretum’s educational programs, exhibit and facilities year-round.
Tickets range from $8-18 and must be purchased in advance online at www.ncwinterlights.com.
https://www.facebook.com/events/183329605927836/?event_time_id=183329672594496
We’ll gather at sundown as we honor the longest night of the year and celebrate the coming light.
Musical performance…carols, mantras, hymns from diverse world traditions.
Group participation encouraged and optional.
A few choice poems, gentle stretching throughout. Hot tea and Prasad (sweets)…
Cozy and bright!
https://www.facebook.com/events/251850845687848/
Tour Gatlinburg’s most dazzling light displays by hopping aboard the Gatlinburg Trolley Ride of Lights! This popular winter tradition is the perfect way to see our mountain town in all its Winter Magic splendor. Get your tickets today!
https://www.facebook.com/events/726348577700947/?event_time_id=726348627700942
Additional tickets will be released in the coming days and weeks. Those interested in securing tickets should continue to visit peacecenter.org to check availability. Patrons are reminded that the only official seller of tickets for the Peace Center is the Peace Center Box Office. Tickets may be purchased in person, by phone at 864.467.3000 or online at peacecenter.org.
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#Ham4Ham Lottery Details
Forty tickets for each #HamiltonGreenville performance will be sold for $10 via a digital lottery. Lotteries open 2 days prior to the performance. Use the official Hamilton app or the link below to enter.
Learn more: hamiltonmusical.com/lottery
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HAMILTON is the story of America’s Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington’s right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and was the new nation’s first Treasury Secretary. Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B, and Broadway, Hamilton is the story of America then, as told by America now.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1903439976543424/
Please feel free to meet at the shop so that we can work out car pooling arrangements, if needed. Otherwise, if you live closer to the theater we can meet you there after leaving the comic shop. We will take off from the store at 6:45pm so that everyone has plenty of time to get settled in at the theater.
Afterwards, we will be heading back to the Nerd Sanctuary. Everyone is welcome to gather there to have pizza together (bring some beers, if you would like) and discuss what we all thought of the film.
RATING: PG (for frenetic sequences of animated action violence, thematic elements, and mild language)
Several of us are bringing our little ones– so bring along the family!
The Carolina Cinemark Asheville
1640 Hendersonville Rd
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 274-8811
https://www.facebook.com/events/2048460248778638/
An exceptional Christmas Concert with Queen Bee and the Honeylovers that raises money to help keep people warm this winter.
Enjoy some classic swing with Christmas tunes thrown in. Howard Hanger and Paula Hanke will be sitting in with the band.
THE BAND:
Queen Bee and the Honeylovers are an Asheville, North Carolina based swing band. They write original jazz tunes using tidbits of Asheville history. Upbeat and nostalgic, their unabashedly joyous repertoire also includes classic swing standards. Vocal-driven with an infectious groove, their goal is to put a grin on your face and a tap in your toes.
http://www.queenbeeswing.com/
THE PROCEEDS:
Jubilee! gives out $1000 in $10 increments each winter and asks people to increase that money through a “Talent Project”. All funds that are returned go o keep people warm this winter. Some of that money goes to paying people in need’s heating bills, agencies focused on homelessness, and other ways to make sure people aren’t left out in the cold as the temperatures drop.
This year Whitney Moore is offering her band and their amazing gifts of music as one of the talent projects. We a feeling super lucky.
So come out. Enjoy some amazing music. Give a donation (larger or small) and do your part to help people stay warm this winter.
Dec 16, 6:30 – 8:30
at Jubilee Community (46 Wall Street)
By Donation
https://www.facebook.com/events/501689753677482/
A Swannanoa Solstice — Sunday, December 16, 2018, 2:00 & 7:00 p.m.
Celebrate the season with the holiday tradition A Swannanoa Solstice, featuring award-winning recording artists and multi-instrumentalists Al Petteway, Amy White, Robin Bullock, and Grammy-winning special guest David Holt, along with Phil Jamison and Ellie Grace, E.J. Jones and his band, and host Doug Orr. Sunday, December 16, 2018, 2:00 & 7:00 p.m. at Diana Wortham Theatre in downtown Asheville. Tickets: Regular $48; Student $43; Child $20; Student Rush Day-of-Show (with valid I.D.) $10. Box Office: 828-257-4530 or www.dwtheatre.com.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1745368208910768/
TBA
https://www.facebook.com/events/2174700779453278/
Sale Dates and Times:
Public Onsale : Fri, 6 Apr 2018 at 10:00 AM
Ticketmaster Presale : Tue, 3 Apr 2018 at 10:00 AM
Venue Presale : Wed, 4 Apr 2018 at 10:00 AM
Christmas is coming and so is the one and only Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker. Presenting world class Russian artists, hand-painted sets, Russian Snow Maidens, and jubilant Nesting Dolls – Great Russian Nutcracker brings the Christmas spirit to life for all ages. “Kids wide-eyed with delight!” says the New York Times. Experience the Dove of Peace Tour, spreading goodwill in over 100 cities across North America. Get seats now for the whole family and make memories for a lifetime at Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker! www.nutcracker.com
https://www.facebook.com/events/1628175333928177/
We are full of holiday cheer! Let us entertain you and come party with us!
This is not your average student show! Be prepared to be wowed, enchanted, mesmerized and possibly seduced by what our students have been working so hard on! Pole dancing, chair dancing, bellydance, twerk, Soul Sweat and special holiday treats!!
Two shows:
5:00 and 7:30 PM
$12
These shows have sold out in the past and we have limited seating!
Please purchase your ticket ahead of time with the link below.
Or stop by the studio to pay with cash.
https://www.facebook.com/events/599991187104916/
Zak Toscani is a writer and stand-up comedian living in Los Angeles. Originally from Ohio, Zak’s comedy career was born in Portland, Oregon and has taken him across the U.S. and even into Canada once. As a stand-up comedian, he has performed multiple times on the Bumbershoot Music & Arts Festival as well as the Bridgetown Comedy Festival.
With a focus on originality and vulnerability, Zak’s comedy has been highlighted by Splitsider, Paste, and The Portland Mercury. Zak can be seen at comedy clubs, alternative rooms, and really any kind of space with a stage. He is a regular at Helium Comedy Club, Go Bananas, and the various UCBs.
As a writer, Zak’s work has been featured by the Washington Post, BBC, Buzzfeed, and Vice. Newsweek on Zak’s writing specifically cites “his concise writing style and ability to ramp up the action in his narration.”
18+
Tickets $7 advance, $10 door
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/comedy-at-fleetwoods-zak-toscani-tickets-50203621383
https://www.facebook.com/events/239364410262196/
Come out this Sunday night for synth-pop and indie folk Austin, TX locals Tyler Jordan and The Negative Space & Paige Renée Berry on our heated, enclosed patio.
9PM
Tyler Jordan & the Negative Space
https://tylerjordanandthenegativespace.bandcamp.com/
Paige Renée Berry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hs_zN0oifQQ
https://www.facebook.com/events/589003241520818/
All Aboard THE POLAR EXPRESS! This memorable journey will take you on an incredible journey! Believe the magic this Holiday season!
Over 88,000 guests rode THE POLAR EXPRESS with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in 2017 and we hope to see you in 2018! The 1¼ hour round-trip excursion comes to life as the train departs the Bryson City depot for a journey through the quiet wilderness for a special visit at the North Pole. Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, guests on board will enjoy warm cocoa and a treat while listening and reading along with the magical story. Children’s faces show the magic of the season when the train arrives at the North Pole to find Santa Claus waiting. Santa will board THE POLAR EXPRESS, greeting each child and presenting them with a special gift as in the story, their own silver sleigh bell. Christmas carols will be sung as they return back to the Bryson City Depot.
THE POLAR EXPRESS begins November 9, 2018, and operates through December 31, 2018.
Reclaimed Creations is a unique sculpture exhibit created by renowned artist Sayaka Ganz. Utilizing reclaimed plastic objects, such as discarded utensils, Ganz creates amazing sculptures that visually appear unified at a distance, but are in fact separated when examined up close. Described as using a “3D impressionistic” style, Ganz’s exhibit includes installations of animals in motion, which are in rich in color and energy, to create an illusion of form.
About the Artist
Born in Yokohama, Japan, Sayaka Ganz grew up living in Japan, Brazil and Hong Kong. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Indiana University, Bloomington, and a Master of Fine Arts degree in sculpture from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. A lecturer and teacher, Ganz’s work has been displayed at various institutions around the globe, including the Hermann Geiger Foundation in Cecina, Italy, the Isle Gallery in Isle of Man, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California.
My work is about perceiving harmony, even in situations that appear chaotic from the inside. When observing my sculptures up close, one might see gaps, holes and items being held on only by small points; step away, however, and the sculptures reveal the harmony created when the objects are aligned to the same general (but not identical) direction. Similarly, it is important to gain perspective by stepping back from current problems and look at the larger picture. Then one can perceive the beauty and patterns that exist.”
Christmas at Biltmore Daytime Celebration*
Saturday, November 3, 2018 – Sunday, January 6, 2019 (daily)
*Included with estate admission.
*Does not include “Candlelight Christmas Evenings”
Experience the holidays wreathed with the wonder of Biltmore. Our celebration presents Christmas on a grand scale with more than 55 trees decorated by our talented staff, accented with miles of ribbon, garlands, and lights. Festive menus in our restaurants and holiday wine tastings make for a memorable visit.
Learn more about #ChristmasAtBiltmore or plan your visit: biltmore.com/Christmas
https://www.facebook.com/events/104655743803303/?event_time_id=104655797136631
Sanctuary Brewing Company, Looking Glass Realty, and RE/MAX RESULTS are teaming up offering haircuts, resume building, job skills, a hot meal, and clothing drive! The event starts at 10 AM on Monday December 17th and goes to 1 PM.
Donations can be made any time at Sanctuary Brewing Company for the following: Makeup (new), clothing (business), non-perishable food, hygiene items, and basic office supplies (pens, notebooks, etc.)
All Donations are appreciated, however items most in need are outerwear, pants, sweaters, etc.
We are also in need of 1-3 volunteers that can help transport folks from PBJ, Rescue Mission, and Safelight.
https://www.facebook.com/events/2249190058670856/
When reflecting on the current state of the environment, it seems that we have entered into times of seismic sorrows. Carbon emissions, water pollution, fracking, and changing climate patterns all point to a troubling reality with serious consequences for human and non-human populations. Through weavings, installations, sculpture, and print, artists Rena Detrixhe and Tali Weinberg (Tulsa, OK) explore the complex relationship between humans and the planet, offering insights, expressing grief, and creating space for resilience and change.
In Time of Seismic Sorrows is curated by Marilyn Zapf and organized by the Center for Craft. The Center for Craft is supported in part by the N.C. Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
The South has always been home to a blend of cultures — from Native Americans here by 14,000 years ago to Europeans 500 years ago, followed by Africans forced to migrate. By 1500, cultures in the South included Creek, Cherokee, Catawba, Choctaw, Chitimacha, and Coushatta, from Europe English, Scottish, Irish, and German, and Africans from Senegal to Congo. Baskets were integral in daily life, as agricultural equipment for gathering, sifting, storing, and serving the finished product or as receptacles for tools, clothes, sacred objects, and even infants.
Initially each culture had its own preferred basket material and method of manufacture — twilled rivercane for Native Americans, plaited oak for Europeans, and coiled grasses for Africans. Interaction between groups spurred adaptations to changing circumstances, such as the use of white oak by the Cherokee in the 1800s, as rivercane stands were decimated by European settlements. Native Americans also adopted the European picnic, flower, egg, and market baskets to sell in the 20th-century art market. Native and European Americans wove honeysuckle into baskets after 1854, when introduced from Japan. By the 17th century African Americans discovered bulrush along the coasts, coiling it into large, round “fanners” to winnow rice. Later bulrush was one medium among sweetgrass, pine needles, and palmetto, giving rise to the name “sweetgrass baskets” along the coast.
Baskets were woven not only for use in the fields and homes or for sale in art galleries but also as a connection to ancestors and spirits, as designs were said to come from inside one’s head, from memories of one’s mother’s motifs, or from the Creator. Indeed, working with one’s hands in nature to gather materials and to form them into a basket was considered spiritually and physically healthy, becoming a part of the practice of occupational therapy around World War I.
Today, basketweavers in the South from all three traditions are teaching the next generation to continue this art. Artists from across the region work with old and new materials in old and new forms, innovating for their legacy, for art’s sake, and for political causes, as embodied in the varied vessels in this gallery and epitomized in the virtuosic miniature examples in the case at right.