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.

$1 off draft beers every Thursday!
Before you even begin thinking about volunteering, ask yourself – Am I well enough to volunteer?
Your safety and limiting the spread of COVID-19 is everyone’s main priority. We encourage you to review and adhere to the recommendations on the Buncombe County readiness site on how best to avoid COVID-19 and what to do if you think you might have it.
Getting Back to the Basics/Project Lighten Up is a unique summer and afterschool educational opportunity for low-income and minority youth that supports students’ recreational and educational learning. We provide meaningful educational support and develop self-esteem in a positive environment through mentoring and enriching activities.
Project Lighten Up is seeking in-person volunteers to assist students attending the afterschool program during the school year with spelling and reading 1-2 times a week for 1 hour.
Time Commitment:
- Commitment to a 5-week session
- Volunteers are asked to commit to a minimum of 1 shift per week
- Volunteers choose from one, 1-hour session per week OR two, 30-minute sessions per week
- Volunteer shifts are Tuesdays & Thursdays between 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
- Please arrive 15 minutes prior to shift start for health screening and transition time
Requirements/Training:
- Respond above to the opportunity
- Answer all health/safety and opportunity related questions prior to submitting your response
- Phone interview with the program director
- Volunteer application
- Complete a background check
- Attend training by program staff
- Adheres to all CDC guidelines and safety protocols
Skillset:
- Enjoys working with youth in different grade levels
- Enjoys working in a learning environment
- Remains patient and calm with students experiencing technical or learning challenges
- Demonstrates a positive attitude and empathy for students and Lighten Up team
- Non-judgmental, fair, firm, and friendly
- Models excellent verbal and non-verbal communication
Health/Safety:
- Health and safety screening prior to every shift start:
- List of health and safety questions asked
- Temperatures taken
- We are asking volunteers to wear/bring their own face covering (masks available upon request)
- Fabric or disposable face mask
- Asking volunteers to maintain a physical distance of 6 feet or more when possible
- Note: there are times when the volunteer task requires volunteers to engage with students closer than 6 feet. Please do not sign up if you feel uncomfortable.
- Volunteers will be asked to adhere to proper hand hygiene

What goes on behind the curtains? In this course students learn the ins and outs of technical theatre and backstage work, including safety, basic light and sound board operation, and stage management. Students will then put their skills to practice by covering technical and backstage roles during Youth Production Class performances of The Giver. Students will split tech and performance dates so some scheduling conflicts may be accommodated. Tuition will be $225.00 – payment plans and scholarships will both be available.
Classes: Mar 17-May 5, 2022 | Thursdays at 4:30-6:00 PM
Tech Week (Group 1): May 9-12, 2022 | Monday through Thursday| 4:30-6:30 PM
Tech Week (Group 2): May 16-19, 2022 | Monday through Thursday| 4:30-6:30 PM
Performances (Group 1): Saturday, May 14 at 2:30 PM and Sunday, May 15 at 6:30 PM
Performances (Group 2): Saturday, May 21 at 2:30 PM and Sunday, May 22 at 6:30 PM
Registration will begin on Tuesday, February 8, 2022.
Ages 12+

Tommy Simpson has worked in nearly every medium including woodworking, painting, printmaking, ceramics, bookmaking, jewelry, and writing. Whether it’s a painting or sculptural object, each of Simpson’s works possesses an identifiable style that puzzles together the artist’s personal and cultural references into a signature blend of joyfulness and subtle commentary. Edward S. Cooke, Jr. (Yale University) wrote, “Simpson is simply a maker who deftly blends utility, memory, irony, and spirituality in his accomplishments. Fundamental to his life has been a conviction that ‘art can be meaningful and still give joy.’”
The collection presented at Momentum spans the past 30 years, focusing on Simpson’s sculptural furniture including cabinets, clocks, and benches, paintings, whimsical wood sculptures, pottery, and works on paper. Tommy Simpson’s work is included in numerous public collections including the Renwick Gallery and the American Art Museum at the Smithsonian Institute, DC; and the Museum of Art and Design, NY.
“The ultimate goal is to bring the artwork to life, so that the viewer can identify the human spirit behind the work, and experience its poetry.”
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— Tommy Simpson
Cook teams of 4-6 individuals are invited to bring ingredients and prepare meals onsite or bring meals that have been prepared elsewhere. To meet our dietary standards, we ask that each meal provides a meat, vegetable and starch.
Requirements:
- Background Check
- Brief orientation prior to service
- Ability to Multi-Task
- Friendly Demeanor
Health & Safety:
- We are asking volunteers to wear/bring their own face mask if you have not been fully vaccinated
- Temperatures will be checked and a COVID-19 disclosure will be signed at the volunteer entrance
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Before you even begin thinking about volunteering, ask yourself – Am I well enough to volunteer?
Your safety and limiting the spread of COVID-19 is everyone’s main priority. We encourage you to review and adhere to the recommendations on the Buncombe County readiness site on how best to avoid COVID-19 and what to do if you think you might have it.
ABCCM Transformation Village provides up to 100 beds of transitional housing and will provide emergency shelter beds, post Covid-19. Transforming lives is through four developmental phases called Steps to Success including stabilization, life skills, education and reintegration. We are honored to report that 8 out of 10 leave us with a living wage job and permanent housing.
Transformation Village gives hope, healing, health and a home to single women, mothers with children, and female Veterans experiencing homelessness. We provide residents a fresh start and a place to heal surrounded and supported by Christian love, trust, education and companionship.
We are seeking energetic volunteers to prepare and serve meals for our residents for lunch and dinner. This opportunity provides you with the chance to prepare meals in our commercial kitchen alongside our trained staff while serving the women and children of Transformation Village.

Are you looking for a way to develop your Spanish language skills or a way to keep your skills fresh? Join this friendly and welcoming Spanish Language Practice Group organized by Pack Library. Newcomers are always welcome on the first Thursday of each month at 5 p.m. This group meets online and is focused on providing an intermediate level, immersive discussion experience. This event is free, but you do need to register. Please visit the library web page and use the link on the calendar for this program to sign up.
We are so excited to share the news that New York Times bestselling author of Where the Crawdads Sing, Delia Owens, will keynote Literacy Together’s 13th Annual Authors for Literacy Dinner & Auction on Thursday October 28, 2021 at the Crowne Plaza Resort Expo Center.
Where the Crawdads Sing is her first novel, with more than 11 million copies sold worldwide and over 2 ½ years on the New York Times Bestseller List, it is soon to be a major motion picture.
Proceeds from the Authors for Literacy Dinner & Auction will benefit Literacy Together’s programs to help people rise out of poverty and get better-paying jobs to support their families. Currently, Literacy Together supports more than 250 students and over 4,300 book recipients in Buncombe County.
The Authors for Literacy Dinner & Auction begins with a cocktail hour for general admission guests while our Platinum Corporate Partners and other VIP pass-holders join the featured author for a private reception. During the reception, the author will be available to answer questions, take photographs, and personally inscribe books. Next, all guests enjoy a three-course dinner, a presentation by a Literacy Together student, and a keynote presentation by the featured author. The evening will close with a book signing for the general admission guests managed by Malaprop’s Bookstore.

We are hopeful that by May, we will be able to host what we believe will be our largest event yet – and it will coincide with the release of the full-length movie Where the Crawdads Sing in June!
If you have already purchased tickets, we ask you to please mark your calendar for Thursday, May 5, 2022. If you can attend the new date, you may do so with your current tickets and requested seating arrangements. Nothing will need to be done on your part.
If you cannot attend the new date, you may contact LuAnn Arena, 828-254-3442 ext. 206 or email [email protected] with your preferences to either:
Donate the cost of the ticket, which will be a fully tax-deductible gift
– OR –
Request a refund which will be processed promptly and credited to your account within 10-14 business days.
– New York Times bestselling author Delia Owens will keynote Literacy
Together’s 13th Annual Authors for Literacy Dinner & Auction on October 28, 2021.
Delia Owens lived in some of the most remote areas of Africa for twenty-three years while she conductedscientific research on lions, elephants, and others. Based on these expeditions and adventures, sheco-authored three internationally bestselling nonfiction books about her life as a wildlife scientist.
She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in zoology from the University of Georgia and a Ph.D. in
Animal Behavior from the University of California in Davis. She has won the John Burroughs Award for Nature Writing and has been published in Nature, Journal of Mammalogy, The African Journal ofEcology, and International Wildlife, among many others.
Where the Crawdads Sing is her first novel, with more than 11 million copies sold worldwide and over 2½ years on the New York Times Bestseller List, it is soon to be a major motion picture.
The Authors for Literacy Dinner & Auction featuring Delia Owens will begin with a cocktail hour
followed by a three-course dinner and presentation by a current Literacy Together student. Delia Owens will then give the keynote presentation and autograph guests’ books. Malaprop’s Bookstore & Café will
manage book sales.
Event guests may upgrade tickets to attend a VIP reception just before the event with Delia Owens. This reception will include the opportunity to spend one-on-one time taking pictures and talking with the author and enjoy hors d’oeuvres. There are a limited number of VIP tickets available.
Proceeds from the Authors for Literacy Dinner benefit Literacy Together’s programs, which provide
comprehensive literacy and English language skills to 300 students and over 4,300 book recipients in Buncombe County annually. Literacy Together transforms lives and communities through the power of literacy. Literacy and English language skills are tools that help people rise out of poverty, get better-paying jobs to support their families, and read to their children. Improved literacy skills benefit the struggling reader and everyone in our community regardless of age, race, gender, or background.

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6:00pm – 8:00pm
Open mic comedy every Thursday from 6-8pm at Ginger’s Revenge Tasting Room.
Rotating hosts each week Clay Jones, James Burks and Katy Hudson
No cover
Signup starts at 5:30, and signup order will not necessarily be show order. Each comic gets 5 mins of stage time
We are a group of women who love to sing a cappella harmony in a variety of styles. We are seeking Leads but welcome other parts too—Baritone, Bass, Tenor.
Because we care about quality, we require user -friendly auditions.
We meet weekly.
Check us out!
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An eclectic mix of music in TFAC’s popular Peterson Amphitheater awaits you this spring! From energetic folk to blends of country and rock, TFAC’s lineup of 90-minute, outdoor concerts will fill the air with music and have you singing & dancing.
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Join other literature lovers to discuss your favorite books at the library! This month’s pick is My Mistress’ Eyes are Raven Black, by local author Terry Roberts. Mr. Roberts will be joining our discussion in person, so bring any questions you want to ask the author! |

Pisgah Brewing welcomes Funk’n Around
FUNK’N AROUND
NEW ORLEANS FUNK WITH A LITTLE MOUNTAIN SAUCE.
Funk’n Around is Asheville’s newest band featuring King Garfield on Trombone, Lenny Pettinelli on keys, Kayla Lynn on bass, Nik Hope on drums, Datrian Johnson on vocals, Alex Bazeman on guitar, and a rotating cast of Asheville’s finest.
When Garfield Brogan moved to Asheville from New Orleans to take a job with LEAF Global, he immediately started searching for his new band. He found them pretty quickly and started putting together an all-star lineup. Inspired by New Orleans funk, Funk’N Around is bringing a fresh sound to Asheville with an energy you can’t compete with.
Food Truck: Kinfolk
Join host and Malaprop’s Bookseller Patricia Furnish to discuss a range of books across true crime and public affairs. The club meets the first Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. Click here to learn more about the club, view important news, and find the pick for this month.

Actor/Comedian/Writer Tom Segura is one of the biggest names in the comedy business. He recently performed to sold-out audiences on his 100 city TAKE IT DOWN TOUR. He is best known for his Netflix specials, Ball Hog (2020), Disgraceful (2018), Mostly Stories (2016), and Completely Normal (2014). Paste Magazine described him as, “…having a natural and capable storytelling ability, one that lifts his narratives out of average anecdote fare and plants them firmly in hilarious ground.” Additionally, his hit Podcasts Your Mom’s House which he co- hosts with his wife, comedian Christina Pazsitzky, and 2 Bears 1 Cave which he co-hosts with Bert Kreischer have rapidly grown to two of the biggest comedy podcasts today.
Segura can be seen in the STX FILM COUNTDOWN opposite Elizabeth Lail. He also broke through with a big role in the Paramount Pictures feature film INSTANT FAMILY opposite Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne. Segura’s television credits include The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Conan, Workaholics, Happy Endings, The Late Late Show, Comedy Central Presents: Tom Segura, Mash Up, and How To Be A Grown Up.
Segura has an increasing social media following (@seguratom on IG) and also regularly appears on radio shows like the Bennington Show and some of the most downloaded podcasts in the world of comedy such as The Joe Rogan Experience and WTF With Marc Maron among others. His fourth hour-long stand up album Mostly Stories sat atop the iTunes and Billboard Comedy charts for consecutive weeks and his first two albums Thrilled and White Girls with Cornrows debuted at number 1 and continue to play heavily on satellite radio and streaming music platforms. When he isn’t performing on stage or recording a podcast he’s watching College Football or waiting for College Football to come back.
Segura is originally from Cincinnati, Ohio and currently lives in Los Angeles.
This comedy thriller is a classic gem with exciting twists and turns from beginning to end. Overflowing with hilarity, this Broadway whodunit will have you guessing and laughing from start to finish. An advertising man who has brought his bride to the boss’ mountain lodge for a honeymoon calls in the local police to investigate her sudden disappearance. Enter a pretty young girl who insists over his protests that she is the missing wife. A priest backs up her story. A funny little man who owns a delicatessen enters and before you know it there are two murders at the isolated lodge. Can Inspector Levine riddle out the truth? Can you? Join us for a night of mystery and amusement!
“The final 15 minutes will reward you as a murder mystery should.” The New York Times
*This is not the Frank Abagnale Jr. stor
Slice of Life Comedy Open Mic and Feature Comedy at Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co Game Room Comedy Show (must be 18+)
Cocktails, taps & menu available while you laugh the night away to some of the areas best Standup Comics in a ridiculously fun adult environment!! Comedy Open Mic plus at least Three Professional featured performers.
Open mic comics signup at door get 3-5m. [Free entry for performing comics, free pizza at comics table]
For more info contact Michele at [email protected]
Thursdays in May 2022 7:30p-till, 18+, $12Doors 6:30p: [Music before show provided by Buzz Radio Asheville, “All Asheville Music & Comedy, All the Time.”]
5/5 Hosted by Morgan BostComedy Open Mic Featuring Cody Hughes, Jess Cooley, John Hawley & Julia Carmelita Macias

A determined young fact checker is about to stir up trouble.
His demanding editor has given him a big assignment: apply his skill to a groundbreaking piece by an unorthodox author. Together, they take on the high-stakes world of publishing in this new comedy of conflict. The ultimate showdown between fact and fiction is about to begin—with undeniably delicious consequences.
By purchasing tickets to The Lifespan of a Fact, you are agreeing to abide by the current COVID-19 Policies of NC Stage which include: everyone in your party over the age of 2 wearing an appropriate mask or respirator the entire time you are in the theatre, coming prepared to show proof of full COVID vaccination or a lab-conducted negative COVID test taken within 72 hours of the performance FOR EVERYONE IN YOUR PARTY regardless of age, and showing a photo ID for those in your party over the age of 18.

Since the release of her first, career-defining solo album Little Earthquakes in 1992, Tori Amos has been one of the music industry’s most enduring and ingenious artists. From her depiction of sexual assault in “Me and a Gun” to her post-9/11 album Scarlet’s Walk to her decidedly feminist stage musical The Light Princess in 2013, her work has never shied away from intermingling the personal with the political. Her fifteenth and most recent studio album, Native Inlander (2017), was formed out of her desire to prove that “we can out-create the destructiveness that is all around us,” and that same message became the foundation of her second New York Times bestseller, 2020’s Resistance: A Songwriter’s Story of Hope, Change, and Courage as a potent antidote to our current inter/national trauma.
A pioneer across multiple platforms, Amos was the first major label artist to offer a single for download. Nominated for multiple Grammy Awards and achieving nine top 10 US Albums, she has had her songs turned into graphic novels and has produced ground-breaking videos throughout her career. In late 2016 she released the title song “Flicker” to the acclaimed Netflix documentary Audrie and Daisy, addressing issues of high school rape. A noted humanitarian, Tori was the first spokesperson for RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network), which is the United States’ largest anti-sexual assault organization and continues to be on their National Leadership Council today.

Applications are open now for a Sustainability Coordinator, an 11-month AmeriCorps position running September 1, 2022 – July 31, 2023.
This AmeriCorps member will take a leadership role in all our waste reduction programs and education efforts.
The Sustainability Coordinator will raise public awareness about conserving our natural resources, and lead education programs about waste reduction, recycling, and composting in organizations, and at community gatherings and schools.
Know a leader who cares deeply about reducing our waste? Applications due May 9.
Claire Simpson Jones and Donny Luke are the Asheville Gallery of Art’s featured artists for the month of May. Visitors to the gallery will have the entire month to view their outstanding paintings. Their exhibit will run from May 1st-31st.
“This exhibition is a celebration of our individual travels through life,” joyously depicted in the watercolors of Donny Luke and Claire Simpson Jones. Traveling has always played a big part in both Donny and Claire’s world, broadening their awareness and perspective, opening their minds to new experiences, and providing unlimited inspiration.
Both artists have a passion for travel as well as a passion for the challenging, but gratifying, watercolor medium, and this exhibition combines these passions. “There is no better way to immerse yourself into a particular scene than painting. Whether choosing plein-air or painting from travel sketches and references brought back to the studio, all of our senses come to life and that experience is pure joy!” Every painting is an adventure that seems to take on a life of its own, often diverging from the initial design as it develops. Staying open to ‘following’ that direction or literally “going with the flow” of watercolor provides a sense of discovery and adventure that makes the process exciting. Donny and Claire both have a long list of places and techniques they plan to explore in the near future, adding to their repertoire of inspiration and work.
Donny Luke’s travels throughout the US, Canada, and Mexico, have given him many opportunities to take reference photos of some of the most beautiful places and landscapes in North America. He works from these references to create dramatic watercolor paintings. His work also includes many paintings of the breathtaking scenery and architecture in Western North Carolina, especially waterfalls, streams, and old barns.
Donny retired from a thirty-two year career as a professional architect in Asheville, NC and began his watercolor career in 2016. He has studied under nationally known watercolor artists including Michael Reardon, Iain Stewart, Keiko Tenabe, and Antonio Masi. He is a signature member of the Watercolor Society of North Carolina and has had paintings juried into the 2018, 2020, and 2021 WSNC Annual Juried Exhibitions with the 2020 painting ‘Santa Rosalina Relic’ receiving the WSNC Permanent Collection Purchase Award.
Claire Simpson Jones’ sensitive naturalist paintings draw from her many travels, here and abroad, and a lifetime of finding refuge and comfort in the raw beauty of our planet. In the past ten years, she has spent her summers in her favorite destinations’ England, Scotland, Australia, and our beautiful mountains of NC. Equipped with painting supplies, she roams the countryside, setting up to paint whenever inspiration comes her way. “Nature has always fed my soul for as long as I can remember. This connection has been, and continues to be, the primary inspiration for my paintings. I often begin with plein air studies and photos, taking them back to my studio to see where my next painting experience leads me. There is nothing to substitute for painting on location, with all of my senses alive, working quickly to capture the true essence of the scene before me.”
After working in graphic design, illustration, and a long career in teaching high school art, Claire has shifted her focus back to full time painting. She holds a BFA from Florida Atlantic University and has studied art at Ontario College of Art and California College of Art. She has also studied with nationally known watercolor artists including atelier workshops with the world renown watercolorist, Mary Whyte. Claire is a signature member of the Watercolor Society of North Carolina, earning awards, the most recent 2020 Best of Region Award.
Visitors to the Asheville Gallery of Art will be able to view Claire and Donny’s show from May1st through May 31st. They will be present for a special “Meet the Artist” event on First Friday, May 6th, from 5pm-8pm in the gallery at 82 Patton Avenue.

- Bricks-And-Mortar
- Public Education
- Planning, Survey and Designation

Volunteer with Us
Volunteers are the heart of our organization and support every aspect of our work. In 2021, 955 volunteers contributed 37,053 hours of service, helping us to carry out our vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Whether sorting donations in the ReStore, hammering nails on the construction site, or assisting in the administrative office, we hope you’ll find the volunteer opportunity that is right for you.


ince 2003, the Bearfootin’ Art Walk has helped raise funding for Downtown Hendersonville and a variety of local non-profits. In addition to raising funds, the bears offer a window into good work being done by community organizations in Henderson County.
The Bearfootin’ Bears arrive as blank slates before local artists transform each in a spectacular fashion, with creative themes ranging from Mona Lisa to Blue Ridge Mountain scenery. After the “Reveal” event in early May, the bears then take up residence in downtown Hendersonville for the duration of the summer and fall, up until auction. Participants bid during the auction to raise funds for local non-profits and Downtown Hendersonville. Winning bids up to $3,000 are split evenly between the downtown program and the nonprofit chosen by the sponsor, while bid amounts exceeding $3,000 are directed entirely to the non-profit. In 2021, the Bears raised more than $100,000, and in 2022 we hope to continue the tradition of giving.
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Buncombe County Organizations Can Apply For Free Hotspots and Service As Part of $13 Million Dollar Pledge From UScellular

Access to reliable internet connectivity causes a divide between Asheville area youth who have access and those who do not. Millions of children nationwide and many right here in our area rely on public Wi-Fi to study when away from school. We are thrilled to announce that UScellular is providing $13 million dollars in free mobile hotspots and service to bridge this issue knows as the “homework gap”.
We encourage nonprofits working with youth in afterschool programs to apply and use this resource to enhance the important work they are already doing. Nonprofit organizations that meet the following criteria are encouraged to apply:
– Certified 501c3 nonprofit organizations
– Operate within UScellular’s service area
– Focused on kindergarten through 12th grade
– Not a school or government entity
To apply, click here.
If you’re not currently set up as an applicant on Grants Connect, you will need to set up an applicant profile first. Once you’ve set up your profile, click the above link or refresh your page to be taken to the After School Access Project landing page. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].
Students across Western North Carolina deserve the tools and resources they need to succeed. Hotspots are stand-alone Wi-Fi networks that can connect several devices at once wirelessly and have proven to be a vital tool for youth to access the internet, study and complete homework. In 2021, UScellular donated 2,800 hotspots and service to 33 Boys & Girls Clubs across the country, a $2.6 million investment. Clubs have used them to boost their connectivity on site and loaned the devices out to youth and their families to support reliable access at home. Now more organizations have the opportunity to apply.





