Calendar of Events

A Disney Channel Dreams & 2000s pop throwback Dance Party in Asheville, presented by Le Petite Fete!

Join us for the 1st Annual Earth Day 5K hosted by the nonprofit Green Built Alliance to help reduce our community’s carbon footprint!

Saturday, April 22, 2023

5K Race begins at 8:00 AM

1 Mile Fun Run begins at 8:05 AM

Register by April 1st to be guaranteed a FREE race t-shirt. After that date, t-shirts will only be available in limited sizes and quantities.

Early registration includes a t-shirt, goody bag, and bib with chip-timing services. The top 3 male, female, and overall 5K runners will receive prizes, including a medal and a local tree donated by Asheville Greenworks!

Children 2 and under can join you for free (without registering) for the 1 Mile Fun Run, but kids 3 and up must be registered.

RSVP on Facebook to stay up to date!

All proceeds from event will go towards creating a clean energy future through Green Built Alliance’s carbon offset program, Appalachian Offsets. This is a local carbon offsetting opportunity that allows community members’ offsets to go toward renewable energy projects for Buncombe County schools or other nonprofit organizations. The next Appalachian Offsets project in the works is for the installation of a PV system on the downtown Asheville United Way building.

Help us kick off the 2023 season with our annual Spring Fling Celebration all day on April 22nd! Join us for the Upper Nantahala & Cascades River Release, sales and deals on paddling gear and apparel, giveaways, live entertainment, boat demos, and more!

After you’ve finished your laps, join Pyranha Kayaks and Jackson Kayaks on the NOC beach to try out their newest boats. Chris Hipgrave, Emily Jackson, and the Hargrove family will be riverside to answer all your questions. Astral, NRS, Immersion Research, Kokatat, and our experienced retail and river guides will be there to help with any safety gear and apparel needs.

Schedule of Events:

• 8 am to 6 pm: NOC Outfitter’s Store is open early for river passes and gear
• 10 am to 4 pm: Upper Nantahala/Cascades Release
• 11 am to 12 pm: Kids Activities
• 3 pm to 6 pm: Riverside Kayak Demos
• 3 pm to 6 pm: Live Music by Asheville Junction
• 6 pm: American Whitewater Raffle winner announced!
• Jackson Kayak Group Paddle Sessions- info below! Times coming soon!

Jackson Kayak Clinics:

Jackson Kayak is offering three clinics during Spring Fling! All will be filled on a first come first serve basis and participants will have the chance to register to WIN a Jackson Kayak Gnarvana in December.

•  Ladies Paddle Plus Freestyle Session: Join JR World Champion Abby Holcombe and US Team Member Emily Wade for a down river ladies paddle from Surfing Rapid to the bridge. Ladies who are up for an hour of Freestyle Fun and instruction can continue on downstream for an hour of on-water coaching from two of the country’s best women kayakers! Put in at Surfing Rapid and take out at Play Hole (Or Gravel Bar for those not participating in Freestyle)

• Joy Lap/ River Run: Join Team JK for a Fun Float/ Paddle down the Nantahala- Have anything you want instruction on? Or ways to make the run more exciting?! Team JK can help you break down the river, find each place to play, and make this run a JOY lap for all who join! Put in at Ferebee and take out at Gravel Bar.

• Gnarvana Boat Demos at Cascades: Join Team JK’s Landon Miller, Clay Wright, Boyd Ruppelt and MORE as we demo Gnarvanas on the Cascades. All three sizes will be available to demo on a first come first serve basis. Please don’t be shy to introduce yourself to our team to make sure you lock in your chance to jump in a boat.

Additional details coming soon- stay tuned!

Included with admission

Embark on a scenic journey across George Vanderbilt’s Italy with a large-scale outdoor display that combines brilliant botanical designs with authentic messages written by Vanderbilt himself.

Beautifully handcrafted of natural elements, each sculptural postcard depicts a location or landmark Vanderbilt visited more than a century ago. This captivating complement to Biltmore’s Italian Renaissance Alive exhibition reveals Vanderbilt’s passions for travel, culture, architecture, and art as well as his personal experience of such renowned Italian cities as Milan, Florence, Venice, Pisa, and Vatican City.

Adding to the charm and visual appeal of Ciao! From Italy—sure to be a hit among kids of all ages—is the G-scale model train that travels in and out of each postcard in this enlightening display!

Celebrate Earth Day with Hendo Earth Fest

The City of Hendersonville Environmental Sustainability Board encourages you to mark your calendars for April 22nd! The first-ever Hendo Earth Fest is taking place in downtown Hendersonville on Earth Day from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Local organizations and environmental champions will educate, entertain, and raise awareness of the need to protect our planet for future generations.

The festival is sponsored by the Hendersonville Environmental Sustainability Board (ESB) in association with the Blue Ridge EV Club, Team ECCO, Conserving Carolina, Mountain True, Caregivers of Mother Earth, and Earth Caring Ministry of Trinity Presbyterian Church.

What: Hendo Earth Fest

When: Saturday, April 22, 2023 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm

Where: Main Street between 4th and 6th Avenues and 5th Avenue between N. Wall Street and King Street

The ESB has coordinated exhibits that educate and inform residents and visitors about our natural environment in a fun, festive atmosphere.

The Aquarium and Shark Lab by Team ECCO exhibits located on the 500 block of Main Street will focus on education, enrichment, and exploration of the ocean world.

The ESB exhibits located on the 400 block will provide hands-on activities and demonstrations designed to educate, renew and expand action to protect our Western North Carolina environment and natural resources.

The Blue Ridge EV Club vehicles and exhibits on Fifth Avenue will highlight electric transportation and systems. 2023 is the year of the Electric Vehicle!

Come join your friends and neighbors to celebrate Earth Day at the very first Hendo Earth Fest!

FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND UPDATES ON THE EVENT WEBPAGE!

Join a certified forest therapy guide for a relaxing 2.5-hour stroll through the forest on the peaceful Arboretum grounds. Through a series of invitations, you’ll have the opportunity to be present in the moment, deepening your connection with nature and community, and enjoying the many gifts nature has to offer. Your guide will share mindfulness practices designed to connect you more deeply to your inner landscapes, as well as the world around you. Inspired by Shinrin-Yoku, the Japanese art of immersing oneself in a forest environment, a forest bathing walk invites you to spend time in nature in a way that invites healing for ourselves, our fraught ecosystems, and our community. It is true nature therapy!

• Special, discounted rate of $45/person (includes parking!)
• Occurs on select dates each month
• Max group size is 15 for a more intimate experience

Hit the trails and learn more about The North Carolina Arboretum’s botanically diverse forest with a guided trail walk! April through October, this free hiking program is led by trained volunteer guides who take small groups of participants along woodland trails and through a variety of forest types. Depending on the season and each guide’s area of expertise, topics of discussion may include wildflowers, plant and tree identification, natural history and more.

Guided trail walks are limited to 15 people, including the guide, and are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age. Groups depart from the Baker Visitor Center Lobby on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m..

Walks last 1.5 – 2.5 hours, are approximately one to two miles in length. As this program is held rain or shine, all participants should dress appropriately for the weather.

There is no pre-registration; walks are first-come first served and sign up sheets are located in the Baker Visitors Center.

Walks are FREE; however, donations to The North Carolina Arboretum Society are appreciated. Regular parking fees apply. Arboretum Society Members always park free.

Know Before You Go

• Guided Trail Walks are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age.
• Guided Trail Walks are rain or shine and all participants should be dressed comfortably and for the weather.
• Hikes cover 1-2 miles and last 1.5-2 hours.
• Well-behaved leashed pets are welcome to accompany their owners. In the rare case that a pet is disruptive or negatively impacts the experience, the pet and its owner may be asked to excuse themselves from the guided walk.
• COVID-19 Safety: In order to hear the guide and fully participate in the trail walk, participants will be in close proximity to one another for extended periods of time. While face coverings are not required, participants should use their best judgement to keep themselves and others safe while enjoying the trails. Individuals who are experiencing flu-like symptoms or suspect they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should not participate.
• At this time, no more than 6 spaces may be filled by a single family/group through pre-registration for any one Guided Trail Walk. If additional spaces are available on the day of the Walk, additional members of the family/group may participate. We apologize for any inconvenience and look forward to welcoming larger groups in the future.

From the songbook of Johnny Cash comes this unique musical about love and faith, struggle and success, rowdiness and redemption, and the healing power of home and family. More than two dozen classic hits including “I Walk The Line,” “A Boy Named Sue,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” and, of course, “Ring of Fire.” Performed by a multi-talented cast, Ring of Fire paints a musical portrait of ‘The Man in Black’ that promises to be a foot-stompin’, crowd-pleasin’ salute to a unique musical legend!

From the songbook of Johnny Cash comes this unique musical about love and faith, struggle and success, rowdiness and redemption, and the healing power of home and family. More than two dozen classic hits including “I Walk the Line,” “A Boy Named Sue,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” and, of course, “Ring of Fire.” Performed by a multi-talented cast.

Director Ben Hope adds “Having spent many years working on various productions of Ring of Fire (this production will be my personal 10th!), The most extraordinary thing I keep finding about Mr. Cash is how unanimously loved he is, even now, 20 years since his death. No other project seems to attract such a varied and enthusiastic crowd as the music of Johnny Cash. I think it’s because he wrote for the ordinary. His words and music are authentic and simple, and he speaks plainly about things we all connect with. He was fallible, with personal demons and shortcomings. He makes us feel like our own imperfections are normal and mundane, and he teaches us that there’s beauty and hope, even in despair. I love Johnny Cash, and I know Flat Rock audiences are going to love Ring of Fire’.”

Don’t miss this inspiring story, all the great music, and an evening of iconic Johnny Cash!

Ring of Fire is presented by WHKP and Carolina Ace Hardware. Flat Rock Playhouse’s 2023 Season is supported by Charlotte & Bob Otto, Optimum, WHKP, and WTZQ as well as the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. www.NCArts.org

For a complete lineup with show descriptions and to purchase tickets, visit www.flatrockplayhouse.org.

Wanna hear the best local music ​and​ drink the best local beers? Hop aboard LaZoom’s Purple Bus and rock out with a local band while we take you on a journey to Asheville’s premiere local breweries.

Promotion: Tyler’s Amazing Balancing Act

We have been looking up to him from the beginning . . . the lanky 6’ 7’’ man of the mountains, who came bearing old-world gifts that have enriched modern lives beyond measure.  Connie Regan-Blake first met Ray Hicks on October 14, 1973 in Jonesborough, Tennessee. It was an afternoon that changed her life . . . and the course of storytelling in the United States. The setting was the first National Storytelling Festival. Come listen to stories of how Ray became the face of traditional Appalachian Mountain storytelling along with reflections on Connie’s long friendship with the Hicks family and her own personal storytelling journey.

Connie Regan-Blake is one of America’s most celebrated storytellers. She has captivated the hearts and imaginations of children and adults all across the globe with her powerful performances and workshops. Entertaining audiences in 47 states, 18 countries, and 6 continents, Connie brings the wisdom, humor and drama of stories to main stage concert halls, schools, festivals, libraries and into the corporate world.

Doors open at 6:30pm for the 7pm performance. Seating is general admission. Online ticket sales end 1 hour prior to performance time. There may still be tickets available for purchase in the office after online sales have ended. Contact BMCA for information – 828.669.0930.

From the songbook of Johnny Cash comes this unique musical about love and faith, struggle and success, rowdiness and redemption, and the healing power of home and family. More than two dozen classic hits including “I Walk The Line,” “A Boy Named Sue,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” and, of course, “Ring of Fire.” Performed by a multi-talented cast, Ring of Fire paints a musical portrait of ‘The Man in Black’ that promises to be a foot-stompin’, crowd-pleasin’ salute to a unique musical legend!

To attend a Tret Fure concert is to be drawn into warmth, to family, to shared humanity. Tret sings from the depth of our collective experience with vision for a world that could be and gratitude for the simple gifts of the world as it is. Not only a prolific songwriter, Tret Fure is a poet, artist and storyteller whose career spans five decades. An icon of the women’s and folk music scenes, Fure is preparing to release her 18th album, “The Language of Love.

La Sylphide (translated to “The Sylph”) is a magical morality tale about the pitfalls of temptation.  Set in Scotland, the ballet tells of James, his fiancé Effie, and a beautiful Sylph who first appears as a dream, ultimately luring James into the woods, abandoning friends and his bride.  La Sylphide features exquisite classical technique, intriguing characters, and leaves questions for the audience to ponder about the choices we make. La Sylphide is one of the oldest full length classical ballets still in repertoires of major ballet companies across the globe.

International Ballet’s La Sylphide will feature Greenville Native Ekaterina Nechayeva as the Sylph.

Hendersonville Theatre proudly presents Asheville’s progressive ensemble, the Jon Stickley Trio, as April’s intimate Hometown Sound concert. The Jon Stickley Trio is rooted in bluegrass, but also incorporates Gypsy jazz, grunge, folk-punk and jam-band styles. This genre-defying and cinematic instrumental trio, who’s deep grooves, innovative flatpicking, and sultry-spacy violin moves heads, hearts, and feets “…churns out a mixture of bluegrass, Chuck Berry, metal, prog, grunge, and assorted other genres—all thoroughly integrated into a personal style,” writes Guitar Player Magazine. With inspiration ranging from Green Day to Duran Duran to to Nirvana and the Grateful Dead, the Trio has released several albums on the Organic Label and is currently touring nationally.

Jon Stickley plays flat-pick guitar; Lyndsay Pruett plays violin; Hunter Deacon plays drums. The trio began as a group of friends in Asheville, North Carolina.

Stickley is known for his rapid-fire flat-picking and his ability to blend different musical elements from across the board to create a sound that is all his own. The Durham native has been with various bands throughout the years, including Colorado’s legendary Broke Mountain.

Pruett is an extremely diverse fiddle player whose influences include bluegrass, swing, classical, Latin styles, country, and hip hop. Lyndsay has a BM in Commercial Violin Performance from Belmont University in Nashville, TN.

Deacon, who is both classically trained and boasts heavy jazz influences, joined the trio in 2018. From Knoxville, Hunter studied with drummer Keith Brown and received a BM in Studio Music and Jazz from the University of Tennessee.

From the songbook of Johnny Cash comes this unique musical about love and faith, struggle and success, rowdiness and redemption, and the healing power of home and family. More than two dozen classic hits including “I Walk the Line,” “A Boy Named Sue,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” and, of course, “Ring of Fire.” Performed by a multi-talented cast.

Director Ben Hope adds “Having spent many years working on various productions of Ring of Fire (this production will be my personal 10th!), The most extraordinary thing I keep finding about Mr. Cash is how unanimously loved he is, even now, 20 years since his death. No other project seems to attract such a varied and enthusiastic crowd as the music of Johnny Cash. I think it’s because he wrote for the ordinary. His words and music are authentic and simple, and he speaks plainly about things we all connect with. He was fallible, with personal demons and shortcomings. He makes us feel like our own imperfections are normal and mundane, and he teaches us that there’s beauty and hope, even in despair. I love Johnny Cash, and I know Flat Rock audiences are going to love Ring of Fire’.”

Don’t miss this inspiring story, all the great music, and an evening of iconic Johnny Cash!

Ring of Fire is presented by WHKP and Carolina Ace Hardware. Flat Rock Playhouse’s 2023 Season is supported by Charlotte & Bob Otto, Optimum, WHKP, and WTZQ as well as the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. www.NCArts.org

For a complete lineup with show descriptions and to purchase tickets, visit www.flatrockplayhouse.org.

– ALL AGES
– STANDING ROOM ONLY
– LIMITED NUMBER OF VIP MEET AND GREET PACKAGES AVAILABLE, INCLUDING: 
– One (1) general admission ticket to see Copeland live
– Early Entry
– 3 song pre-show acoustic performance and Q&A Session
– Meet and Greet / Photo with Copeland
– One (1) exclusive poster, signed by Copeland
– Crowd-free merchandise shopping

COPELAND
Longevity in music comes through pushing yourself and expanding the possibilities of your sound. This has never been more true for Copeland on their latest effort Blushing, a collection of 11 new tracks that advance and evolve everything the trio of musicians has done up until now. The band,
which originally formed in Lakeland, Florida in 2001, has unveiled six albums, spanning from their 2003’s debut Beneath Medicine Tree to 2016’s Ixora. While they began as a rock band, Copeland’s music has explored multiple genres and pulled in various stylistic influences like electronic and symphonic. In the past the musicians have aptly melded these styles, creating a unique amalgam of sounds. This time they wanted to take each sound and style and push it to its logical extreme.

all ages