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.

Friday, February 14, 2020
Shapeshifters: Center for Craft
Feb 14 @ 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Center for Craft

Shapeshifters, the newest exhibition in the John Cram Partner Gallery. Shapeshifters brings together the works of two acclaimed regional artists, Cherokee-based Joshua Adams and Atlanta-based Jiha Moon, who use masks and other objects to explore culture, material, and representation, particularly in the contemporary American South.

2020 WNC Regional Scholastic Art Awards
Feb 14 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum

The Museum, with the assistance of its volunteer docents and support from the Asheville Area Section of the American Institute of Architects, is proud to sponsor the WNC Regional Scholastic Art Awards. Students in grades 7–12 from across our region are invited to submit work for this special juried competition. The Museum works with the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers to facilitate regional judging of student artwork and recognition of our community’s burgeoning artistic talent.

In early spring each year, award winners are featured in an exhibition, and are honored at a ceremony. Regional Gold Key recipients’ work is sent to the National Scholastic Art Awards hosted by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers.

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Asheville Outlets Vineyard Vines Presents ‘Whale You Be My Valentine’?
Feb 14 @ 2:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Vinyard Vines at Asheville Outlets

Celebrate Valentine’s Day this Friday, February 14th from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Vineyard Vines at Asheville Outlets. Enjoy complimentary sips + snacks while you shop, along with DIY Valentine’s day cards to color in-store or take home! Visit ShopAshevilleOutlets.com for more information. Free and open to the public.

LEAF Global Arts Grand Opening​
Feb 14 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Club Del Cardo

We invite you to an evening of music & dance with powerful performances from Free Planet Radio & members of Toubab Krewe, featured music by Nex Millen & Adama Dembele, hip hop dance showcases by Otto Aquaboogy Vazquez & Goldilocks, and special surprises from New Orleans Legends, Dirty Dozen Brass Band! Join us for an exploration of this new bridge from our community to the world!
Tickets $75 (includes drinks & light dinner)

The Great American Strip-Off: Valentine’s Day Edition
Feb 14 @ 7:00 pm
The Magnetic Theatre

Sideshow Special Event

Featuring TWO back-to-back burlesque/pole dancing/improv shows conceived and directed by the sensationally talented Boo Velvet and co-hosted with acclaimed improvisor and performer, George Awad.

Boo Velvet, alter ego Kathleen Hahn, owner of Danceclub Asheville, is a seasoned dancer and comedic burlesque performer in love with improv and exciting an audience. She will tease and tantalize as she shows off her beautiful and talented cast. George Awad can be found on many stages in the Asheville area performing improv and sketch comedy.

It’s burlesque! It’s improv! It’s loads of laughs! It’s fierce competition! It’s sexy, ridiculousness like you’ve never seen before. It’s The Great American Strip-Off: Valentine’s Day Edition!

Friday, February 14th, 7pm and 10:00pm shows

LaZoom Comedy: Gilbert Lawand (FRIDAY)
Feb 14 @ 9:00 pm
LaZoom Room

GILBERT LAWAND is a Brooklyn based comedian by way of Atlanta. You can see him performing all over the New York City area at some of the best shows such as Night Train, the Knitting Factory, and Bar Matchless as well as comedy clubs like Caroline’s, Gotham, New York Comedy Club, and the Creek and the Cave. He also produces the annual Red Clay Comedy Festival which takes place in Atlanta every September. Gilbert has performed in several festivals including Bridgetown, High Plains, and the Laughing Skull Festival where he was a finalist in 2015. He’s a frequent opener for Rory Scovel and has also opened for Dave Chappelle.

ages 18+
Tickets $10 advance, $12 day of
FRIDAY: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-gilbert-lawand-friday-tickets-89416522225
SATURDAY: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-gilbert-lawand-saturday-tickets-89418100947

The Great American Strip-Off: Valentine’s Day Edition
Feb 14 @ 10:00 pm
The Magnetic Theatre

Sideshow Special Event

Featuring TWO back-to-back burlesque/pole dancing/improv shows conceived and directed by the sensationally talented Boo Velvet and co-hosted with acclaimed improvisor and performer, George Awad.

Boo Velvet, alter ego Kathleen Hahn, owner of Danceclub Asheville, is a seasoned dancer and comedic burlesque performer in love with improv and exciting an audience. She will tease and tantalize as she shows off her beautiful and talented cast. George Awad can be found on many stages in the Asheville area performing improv and sketch comedy.

It’s burlesque! It’s improv! It’s loads of laughs! It’s fierce competition! It’s sexy, ridiculousness like you’ve never seen before. It’s The Great American Strip-Off: Valentine’s Day Edition!

Friday, February 14th, 7pm and 10:00pm shows

Saturday, February 15, 2020
Apply for a Preservation Grant Today!
Feb 15 all-day
Preservation Society of Asheville & Buncombe County
We are accepting grant applications until March 6th.  Grants from $500 – $5000 will be offered to the public in three categories:
  1. Bricks-And-Mortar
Rehabilitation, restoration and repair of structures that are 50 years of age or older
  1. Public Education
Development of educational materials and programs that advance knowledge of our shared history
  1. Planning, Survey and Designation
Planning and design for building rehabilitation and restoration projects, historic resource surveys and local or national designations
Artist Opportunities: Asheville Area Arts Council
Feb 15 all-day
Asheville NC

Artist Opportunities

The Asheville Area Arts Council is pleased to share the following opportunities for artists that have recently been submitted to us. If you have any questions about an opportunity, please contact the listed organization.

The Asheville Area Arts Council does not endorse or recommend any specific opportunities, but provides this list for information only. We encourage artists to research each opportunity thoroughly before applying.

Call for Artists: NRCC Art Society

The North Ridge Country Club Art Society wishes to promote art and area artists, while also developing increased art appreciation within its membership. The NRCC Art Society continues to expand the permanent art collection in the clubhouse for members …

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January 3, 2020 – January 19, 2020

Call for Musicians: Chamber Music Raleigh

ANNOUNCING THE FOLLOWING OPPORTUNITY FOR NC-BASED MUSICIANS   Performance Venue: North Carolina Museum of Art, SECU Auditorium Dates: Sunday, February 28, 2021 at 2pm or Sunday, April 18, 2021 at 2pm Artists Fee: up to $2500   Submission Instructions:  …

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January 2, 2020 – January 24, 2020

Call for Artists: Shenandoah National Park

The Shenandoah National Park Artist-in-Residence program offers professional artists focused time to creatively explore the natural and cultural resources of this astounding landscape. It also allows artists the opportunity to share their work through …

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November 25, 2019 – January 31, 2020

Call for Artists: Zapow Juried Show

ZaPow Gallery, the premier Illustration and Narrative Art Gallery in the Southeast, will be hosting its Second Annual Juried Open Show March 2020. If you are an Illustrator or Narrative artist living in the WNC area this is your chance to show your wor …

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December 9, 2019 – February 1, 2020

Call for Artists: Magnetic Theater

SPECIAL EVENT – ONE ACT PLAY FESTIVAL Script Submission Guidelines:   – The submission deadline is Saturday, February 1st at 11:59pm. – Plays should be between 10 and 30 minutes long, though there is a bit of wiggle room. – No more than 10 roles (prefe …

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January 3, 2020 – February 1, 2020

Call for Artists: Chilkoot Trail Residency

The Yukon Arts Centre, the US National Park Service, Parks Canada and the Skagway Arts Council are calling for submissions for the 2021 Chilkoot Trail Artist Residency Program. Participants will combine their artistic abilities with a love of the outdo …

December 9, 2019 – February 11, 2020

Call for Artists: International Artist Residency

Open Call for 2020-21 International Artist Residencies at Farm Studio in Rajasthan, India The deadline for applications is 20th February, 2020. Residencies will take place October, November, December 2020 and January, February 2021. All residency infor …

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Early Bird Registration Open for Senior Games and Silver Arts 2020
Feb 15 all-day
Buncombe County NC

Each spring, hundreds of locals 50+ years-old enjoy participating in the Asheville-Buncombe Senior Games and Silver Arts. This year’s program will be held at locations throughout Buncombe County from Tuesday, April 14-Friday, May 15. Registration is $5 before March 9 or $10 after that date. Military veterans may register for free.

To register, fill out a registration form (see documents below) or register online at ncseniorgames.org. Archery and pickleball have registration deadline dates.

Sports include basketball, bocce, croquet, football throw, softball throw, golf, cycling, track and field, archery, cheerleading, bowling, swimming, billiards, badminton, cornhole, horseshoes, pickleball, racquetball, shuffleboard, tennis, and table tennis. Miniature golf, rowing, and team softball and basketball are new this year. Age categories start at 50 and increase at five year intervals.

Silver Arts categories are classified as Heritage (quilting, woodwork, crochet, basket weaving, jewelry, needlework, tole painting, weaving, knitting, pottery, stained glass, woodcarving, and woodturning), Visual (solo, small group, and large group), Performing, Literary (poem, short story, essay, and life experience), and Contemporary. Art pieces will be displayed at Buncombe County Libraries in April and May.

A full schedule can be accessed below as a PDF.

Follow Buncombe County Recreation on Facebook and Instagram.

Table: News Item Documents
File Name Size Type Date & Time Added
Registration 209 KB 02/04/2020 7:52 AM
Schedule 45 KB 02/04/2020 7:52 AM
LEAF 50th Festival Line Up and Tickets
Feb 15 all-day
Lake Eden Arts Festival
RiverLink’s Art & Poetry Contest Grades PreK-12
Feb 15 all-day
online
Asheville Celtic Festival
Feb 15 @ 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
Western North Carolina Agricultural Center -

Asheville Celtic Festival

Failte (Welcome)… to The Asheville Celtic Festival, a Winter Indoor Celtic Festival bringing the Celtic Spirit of the Seven Nations to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, will be held inside of the Davis Center at the WNC Agricultural Center giving us comfortable setting in the winter months.

Feel the Vibes of Early Settlers from the Celtic Nations

Participate in Entertaining Battles and Performances

Learn About Celtic History and Traditions

Listen to LIVE Celtic Music

Explore your Family Background

See Characters in 1700 Period Dress

Shop the Celtic Crafts and Buy a Kilt

Eat Traditional Foods

Drink the Stouts & Ales

Rest by the Fire

Attractions

Live Celtic Music

Traditional Food & Drink

Kilts and Accessories

Scottish Althletes

Scottish Crafts and Gifts

Scottish and Irish Dog Clubs

Armored Sword Fighting at The Castle

Family Heritage Research

Into the Blue: Artist Invitational 2020 at Blue Spiral
Feb 15 @ 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Blue Spiral

Blue Spiral 1’s most diverse annual exhibition presents artists who have never previously shown in the gallery. This year’s show features nine artists working in a range of media, including painting, ceramics, textiles, mixed media, photography, and wood.

Artists: Anna Buckner, Mark Flowers, David Knox, Hiromi Moneyhun, Kris Rehring, Ben Strear, Gregor Turk

Into the Blue_ Artist Invitational 2020

Shapeshifters: Center for Craft
Feb 15 @ 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Center for Craft

Shapeshifters, the newest exhibition in the John Cram Partner Gallery. Shapeshifters brings together the works of two acclaimed regional artists, Cherokee-based Joshua Adams and Atlanta-based Jiha Moon, who use masks and other objects to explore culture, material, and representation, particularly in the contemporary American South.

Asheville Art Museum Acquires 15 Works from Appalachia Now! Artists
Feb 15 @ 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum

View all works acquired from the Appalachia Now! exhibition here.

The Asheville Art Museum is pleased to share that seven artists from the opening exhibition Appalachia Now! An Interdisciplinary Survey of Contemporary Art in Southern Appalachia have entered the Museum’s Collection of American Art of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Appalachia Now! was the inaugural exhibition of the newly renovated Museum that celebrated contemporary artists living and working in Southern Appalachia.

Considering available funds, the Museum’s curatorial team selected a range of works that reflect the diversity of Appalachia Now! These works were then presented to the Collectors’ Circle who voted to acquire them.

“It’s such an honor to be a part of the Asheville Art Museum’s expansion into new media,” says Lei Han, who is an associate professor and director of new media at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. “My collaborators and I are grateful for this recognition and we look forward to future collaborations with the Museum.”

“The Museum looks forward to following the careers of all the Appalachia Now! artists,” says Asheville Art Museum Executive Director Pamela Myers. “We are also very thankful for the Collectors’ Circle—for their generosity and ongoing support of the Museum, and their dedication to building the Museum’s important Collection for the enjoyment of all of our visitors.”

Assembly Required: Asheville Designer Toy Expo
Feb 15 @ 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Highland Brewing, Co

*Assembly Required is the premiere Southeast destination for designer, bootleg and art toy artists and collectors. With molding, and production techniques, designer toy artists echo the production methods of traditional toy manufacturers. Refining inspiration from a variety of underground and subcultural elements, *Assembly Required honors this pop surrealistic art movement, as the melting pot of artistic expression that it is. 2020 will be *Assembly Required’s second year celebrating this avant-garde culture, at Highland Brewing.

Grovewood Gallery Opening Reception: Asheville Native Bryan Koontz
Feb 15 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Grovewood Village

 

Grovewood Gallery in Asheville will present Life Along the Blue Ridge, featuring landscape oil paintings by Bryan Koontz, on view from February 15 through April 5, 2020. The gallery will host an opening reception with the artist in attendance on Saturday, February 15 from 2-5pm.

LaZoom Comedy: Gilbert Lawand (SATURDAY)
Feb 15 @ 9:00 pm
LaZoom Room

GILBERT LAWAND is a Brooklyn based comedian by way of Atlanta. You can see him performing all over the New York City area at some of the best shows such as Night Train, the Knitting Factory, and Bar Matchless as well as comedy clubs like Caroline’s, Gotham, New York Comedy Club, and the Creek and the Cave. He also produces the annual Red Clay Comedy Festival which takes place in Atlanta every September. Gilbert has performed in several festivals including Bridgetown, High Plains, and the Laughing Skull Festival where he was a finalist in 2015. He’s a frequent opener for Rory Scovel and has also opened for Dave Chappelle.

ages 18+
Tickets $10 advance, $12 day of
FRIDAY: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-gilbert-lawand-friday-tickets-89416522225
SATURDAY: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-gilbert-lawand-saturday-tickets-89418100947

Sunday, February 16, 2020
Apply for a Preservation Grant Today!
Feb 16 all-day
Preservation Society of Asheville & Buncombe County
We are accepting grant applications until March 6th.  Grants from $500 – $5000 will be offered to the public in three categories:
  1. Bricks-And-Mortar
Rehabilitation, restoration and repair of structures that are 50 years of age or older
  1. Public Education
Development of educational materials and programs that advance knowledge of our shared history
  1. Planning, Survey and Designation
Planning and design for building rehabilitation and restoration projects, historic resource surveys and local or national designations
Early Bird Registration Open for Senior Games and Silver Arts 2020
Feb 16 all-day
Buncombe County NC

Each spring, hundreds of locals 50+ years-old enjoy participating in the Asheville-Buncombe Senior Games and Silver Arts. This year’s program will be held at locations throughout Buncombe County from Tuesday, April 14-Friday, May 15. Registration is $5 before March 9 or $10 after that date. Military veterans may register for free.

To register, fill out a registration form (see documents below) or register online at ncseniorgames.org. Archery and pickleball have registration deadline dates.

Sports include basketball, bocce, croquet, football throw, softball throw, golf, cycling, track and field, archery, cheerleading, bowling, swimming, billiards, badminton, cornhole, horseshoes, pickleball, racquetball, shuffleboard, tennis, and table tennis. Miniature golf, rowing, and team softball and basketball are new this year. Age categories start at 50 and increase at five year intervals.

Silver Arts categories are classified as Heritage (quilting, woodwork, crochet, basket weaving, jewelry, needlework, tole painting, weaving, knitting, pottery, stained glass, woodcarving, and woodturning), Visual (solo, small group, and large group), Performing, Literary (poem, short story, essay, and life experience), and Contemporary. Art pieces will be displayed at Buncombe County Libraries in April and May.

A full schedule can be accessed below as a PDF.

Follow Buncombe County Recreation on Facebook and Instagram.

Table: News Item Documents
File Name Size Type Date & Time Added
Registration 209 KB 02/04/2020 7:52 AM
Schedule 45 KB 02/04/2020 7:52 AM
RiverLink’s Art & Poetry Contest Grades PreK-12
Feb 16 all-day
online
Twisted Circus: Odd World Danger Show
Feb 16 all-day
The Odditorium

Join our traveling danger show as we burn, slice and electrocute our way across America. We have a lot to give, and we’re practically dying to show it to you. Get ready for an evening of knife throwing, sword swallowing, tap dancing, whip cracking and tassel twirling fun at Odd World Danger Show!

With performances by
Romeo the Dapper Daredevil
Kita St Cyr
La Reine The Thrill
Graham Cracker Stockdale

$10 general admission | Advance tickets on at BlackRabbitSociety.org

Photos allowed, but please no flash photography. Tag us @TwistedCircusNY on instagram.

Shapeshifters: Center for Craft
Feb 16 @ 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Center for Craft

Shapeshifters, the newest exhibition in the John Cram Partner Gallery. Shapeshifters brings together the works of two acclaimed regional artists, Cherokee-based Joshua Adams and Atlanta-based Jiha Moon, who use masks and other objects to explore culture, material, and representation, particularly in the contemporary American South.

Asheville Art Museum Acquires 15 Works from Appalachia Now! Artists
Feb 16 @ 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum

View all works acquired from the Appalachia Now! exhibition here.

The Asheville Art Museum is pleased to share that seven artists from the opening exhibition Appalachia Now! An Interdisciplinary Survey of Contemporary Art in Southern Appalachia have entered the Museum’s Collection of American Art of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Appalachia Now! was the inaugural exhibition of the newly renovated Museum that celebrated contemporary artists living and working in Southern Appalachia.

Considering available funds, the Museum’s curatorial team selected a range of works that reflect the diversity of Appalachia Now! These works were then presented to the Collectors’ Circle who voted to acquire them.

“It’s such an honor to be a part of the Asheville Art Museum’s expansion into new media,” says Lei Han, who is an associate professor and director of new media at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. “My collaborators and I are grateful for this recognition and we look forward to future collaborations with the Museum.”

“The Museum looks forward to following the careers of all the Appalachia Now! artists,” says Asheville Art Museum Executive Director Pamela Myers. “We are also very thankful for the Collectors’ Circle—for their generosity and ongoing support of the Museum, and their dedication to building the Museum’s important Collection for the enjoyment of all of our visitors.”

Assembly Required: Asheville Designer Toy Expo
Feb 16 @ 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Highland Brewing, Co

*Assembly Required is the premiere Southeast destination for designer, bootleg and art toy artists and collectors. With molding, and production techniques, designer toy artists echo the production methods of traditional toy manufacturers. Refining inspiration from a variety of underground and subcultural elements, *Assembly Required honors this pop surrealistic art movement, as the melting pot of artistic expression that it is. 2020 will be *Assembly Required’s second year celebrating this avant-garde culture, at Highland Brewing.

Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/Assembly-Required-Asheville-Designer-Toy-Expo-2164491960480939

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/_assemblyrequired_

WEBSITE: https://assembly-required.net

PURCHASE TIX: https://assembly-required.net/purchase-tickets

Into the Blue: Artist Invitational 2020 at Blue Spiral
Feb 16 @ 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Blue Spiral

Into the Blue_ Artist Invitational 2020

Blue Spiral 1’s most diverse annual exhibition presents artists who have never previously shown in the gallery. This year’s show features nine artists working in a range of media, including painting, ceramics, textiles, mixed media, photography, and wood.

Artists: Anna Buckner, Mark Flowers, David Knox, Hiromi Moneyhun, Kris Rehring, Ben Strear, Gregor Turk

Comedy at Fleetwood’s: Aaron Naylor
Feb 16 @ 8:00 pm
Fleetwood's

Aaron Naylor is a stand-up comedian from Kansas City, MO. He won the 2014 Kansas City’s Local Comic Standing, the 2017 Funniest Person in Wichita Competition, placed 2nd in the 2016 Cleveland Comedy Festival, and has performed at SF Sketchfest, Blue Whale Comedy Festival, Cape Fear Comedy Festival, Trial by Laughter, Asheville Comedy Festival and many other festivals. He has opened for real people who do this for a living.

Featuring Ryan Trickey

Tickets $7 advance, $10 day of
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/comedy-at-fleetwoods-aaron-naylor-tickets-84685056283

Monday, February 17, 2020
Into the Blue: Artist Invitational 2020 at Blue Spiral
Feb 17 @ 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Blue Spiral

Blue Spiral 1’s most diverse annual exhibition presents artists who have never previously shown in the gallery. This year’s show features nine artists working in a range of media, including painting, ceramics, textiles, mixed media, photography, and wood.

Artists: Anna Buckner, Mark Flowers, David Knox, Hiromi Moneyhun, Kris Rehring, Ben Strear, Gregor Turk

Into the Blue_ Artist Invitational 2020

Itch to Stitch Weaverville Library CANCELLED
Feb 17 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Weaverville Library

Itch to Stitch

Bring your current needle project and work while socializing with other like-minded crafters