Upcoming events and things to do in Asheville, NC. Below is a list of events for festivals, concerts, art exhibitions, group meetups and more.

Interested in adding an event to our calendar? Please click the green “Post Your Event” button below.

Wednesday, April 8, 2020
Henderson County Launches Live Streaming Updates for Residents
Apr 8 all-day
Henderson County Govt Online
Henderson County Launches Live Streaming Updates for Residents
Henderson County will host a live-streaming update for residents each Tuesday beginning April 7th for updates and information regarding COVID-19. The live stream will be featured on the County’s webpage (www.hendersoncountync.gov) and the video will be posted to the County’s FaceBook page and YouTube Channel for replay.
Emailed questions will be addressed during the update as time allows. Questions can be submitted to [email protected] by Noon each Monday prior to the udates.
How to Buy Local While Social Distancing: On-Farm Pickups and More
Apr 8 all-day
NC and SC Farms

Many farms across North and South Carolina have added on-farm pickups, home delivery & online pre-orders to accommodate for social distancing in light of the COVID-19 outbreak. Please see the listings below for more information, and check out our interactive Google Map for farm locations near you!

Are you a farmer interested in being listed? Email [email protected]

Please:

  • DO NOT show up at farms without prior permission.
  • Follow specific instructions provided by each farm.
  • Stay home if you are feeling ill.
Join Forces Virtually for the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day
Apr 8 all-day
Online

WNC for the Planet Logo

WNC for the Planet is a proud supporter of Earth Day Network’s effort to build the world’s largest environmental movement to drive transformative change for people and planet. WNC for the Planet will  feature virtual opportunities for environmental education, advocacy and community events for people of all ages. Engagement opportunities will be offered across Western North Carolina well beyond the City of Asheville by Conserving Carolina, MountainTrue, Asheville GreenWorks and other organizations.

Join WNC for the Planet partners to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day! Those interested in learning more about virtual Earth Month opportunities can visit www.WNCforthePlanet.org.

Those involved include:

Asheville GreenWorks

Conserving Carolina

Friends of the Smokies

MountainTrue

RiverLink

Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy


 

Malaprop’s Bookstore Home delivery throughout all Buncombe County
Apr 8 all-day
Malaprop's Bookstore

Thank you so much for your support! To care for you and our staff, Malaprop’s is closed to the public and we have ceased curbside pick up. We have also suspended in-store events and bookclubs until May 15th.  Meanwhile, we are exploring new subscription services, delivery options, and more digital content. Please see the ways we are still serving you below. Stay home and stay safe!

  • As always, you can order online 24/7 at malaprops.com. You can also call us at 828-254-6734 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily to order by phone. Yes, we can make suggestions! All orders will require prepayment. We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express and Paypal.

  • We are now offering home delivery throughout all of Buncombe County! The only requirement is a two-book minimum purchase. Deliveries will be made on Tuesdays and Fridays, with any order placed before 5 pm the previous day.  Orders will safely be left on your doorstep.

  • FREE shipping via media mail is available for orders over $50.00 (before tax) sent to addresses in the continental United States. Other orders ship via Priority Mail or other services with prices listed at checkout.

We want to thank you again for your continued support at this time. If you’re looking for other ways to support our staff, you can donate to Malaprop’s via the icon to your right, contribute the Cafe Barista’s virtual tip jar, or to the Book Industry Charitable Foundation (BINC), which provides grants to booksellers in times of need. To support other local businesses, visit ashevillestrong.com.

Please take care of yourselves!

Mountain BizWorks: Rapid Recovery Loans
Apr 8 all-day
Mountain BizWorks

COVID-19 RAPID RECOVERY LOANS AVAILABLE

Mountain BizWorks and its partners are taking steps to ensure business owners and entrepreneurs have the resources they need to get through the coronavirus crisis.

North Carolina FOOD HELP for children 18 and younger text FOODNC to 877-877 to locate free meal sites
Apr 8 all-day
North Carolina

 

FOUR WAYS TO FIND FREE, HEALTHY MEALS FOR KIDS AGE 18 AND UNDER:

1. Text FOODNC to 877-877 to receive a text with the three drive-thru or pick up sites with meals for kids closest to you.

2. Use the map on website to find drive-thru or pick up site with meals for kids across the state.

3. Visit NoKidHungryNC.org/MealUpdates for information on delivery meals by bus and other updates from school districts and community partners serving meals.

4. Check your local school district’s website, social media, and other communications for the most up-to-date information.

On line Buncombe County Library Services
Apr 8 all-day
On line Buncombe County Library

Five resources from the virtual library include ebooks, audio books, magazines, movies, and tutorials

Here are five awesome library resources you can use from anywhere.

For any service that asks for a User ID or PIN, your User ID is your library card number (with no spaces) and your PIN is the last four digits of your phone number. If you have a Buncombe County or Asheville City school ID card, your ID is your card number and your PIN is the last four digits of your ID number.

Ebooks and Audio Books:

We have thousands of ebooks and audio books on the North Carolina Digital Library you can download to any device. Get the free Libby app from your app store and you are ready to go. Digital materials automatically return themselves at the end of the loan period, so there are never any overdue fines.

Magazines:

We have a large collection of recent popular magazines on the NCDL. Your User ID and PIN stay the same.

Online Streaming Video:

For streaming video, you can use the North Carolina Digital Library, or Films on Demand on NC Live.

Tutorials and Courses:

Get unlimited access to an online library of high-quality instructional videos taught by industry experts on the latest software tools and skills with LinkedIn Learning. Learn a whole course or just the section you need. Topics include Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Web design, Social Media, Business and Career Skills and much more.

Want to learn another language? Mango Languages is an online language-learning system teaching actual conversation skills for a wide variety of languages. Mango uses real-life situations and actual conversations to more effectively teach a new language.

Local History Buffs:

If you love local history, our North Carolina Room at Pack Library has an extensive collection of materials available online that bring the past to life. The photograph collection documents over 200 years of Buncombe County history.

You can email the library for help with any of these resources at [email protected].

Want to access our online resources but don’t have a library card? While library branches are closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we’re issuing and renewing library cards by email.

  1. Email [email protected] and ask for a library card. You need to be a Buncombe County resident to get a card.
  2. We’ll respond with instructions on how to email a copy or photo of your local ID.
  3. We’ll send you back a library card number and PIN that you can use for all digital resources. The physical card will be mailed to you at a later date.

We’ll issue new cards by email as long as library branches are closed to the public. We can also renew cards by email.

Organic Growers School Videos: How to Grow Potatoes
Apr 8 all-day
Organic Growers School Online
It’s time to plant potatoes! Learn some simple tricks to ensure a good harvest.
Organic Growers School Videos: Seed Starting
Apr 8 all-day
Organic Growers School Online

Learn the best vegetables to direct seed and the best vegetables to transplant.

Organic Growers School Videos: To Seed or Not to Seed?
Apr 8 all-day
Organic Growers School Online
Listen to the pros and cons of selecting seed and growing your own plants from seed as opposed to buying starts.
Raffle: Trip to London or Cash Asheville Community Theatre
Apr 8 – Apr 7 all-day
Asheville Community Theatre

 

Tickets on sale through June 28, 2020

We know how completely odd it seems to be raffling off a trip to London right now. We’re barely leaving our homes for any reason, so jetting off around the world seems flat out bonkers! We’re hopeful that international travel and fun vacations will happen again in the future – and that’s why we extended and amended the raffle prize! If you win, you can choose the trip to London (and you have 18 months to book your travel) OR you can choose to take the cash value of the trip instead ($10,000).

Our raffles have been important fundraisers for ACT over the years, and this one is no different. ACT has lost 85% of our income as an organization, so this raffle is one of the few ways we can continue to bring a little money in the door.

Buying a raffle ticket is a great way to support ACT right now – and it just might be you who gets some really great news from us!

 

SAHC Education Videos Spiders and Snakes! Oh My! Myth Buster
Apr 8 all-day
Online Videos

We’ve turned some of our youth conservation education programs into videos to share online. Earlier this year, we asked elementary and middle school students what might prevent them from enjoying time outdoors – and many responded “snakes” or “spiders.” So, we developed fun lessons to help dispel myths and fears about snakes and spiders. These video adaptations of our youth education programs include short 5-minute lessons and step-by-step craft activities. Enjoy!

SPIDERS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRWaw6jPeN8&utm_source=SAHC+Default+MC+List&utm_campaign=6b1835d2ec-February_2018_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_4717684d09-6b1835d2ec-144635353&ct=t%28February_2018_COPY_01%29&mc_cid=6b1835d2ec&mc_eid=cccced3ffd

 

SNAKES: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpFcByki9xM&utm_source=SAHC+Default+MC+List&utm_campaign=6b1835d2ec-February_2018_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_4717684d09-6b1835d2ec-144635353&ct=t%28February_2018_COPY_01%29&mc_cid=6b1835d2ec&mc_eid=cccced3ffd

Small Business Administration: Economic Injury Disaster Loans
Apr 8 all-day
U.S. Small Business Administration Online
Economic Injury Disaster Loans
The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to North Carolina small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the COVID-19, SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza announced today. SBA acted under its own authority, as provided by the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act that was recently signed by the President, to declare a disaster following a request received from Gov. Roy Cooper on March 17, 2020.
Eligibility for Economic Injury Disaster Loans is based on the financial impact of the COVID-19. The interest rate is 3.75 percent for small businesses. The interest rate for private non-profit organizations is 2.75 percent. SBA offers loans with long-term repayments in order to keep payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years and are available to entities without the financial ability to offset the adverse impact without hardship.ed for COVID-19. These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. The deadline to apply for assistance is December 18, 2020.
Sofa Cinema Grail Moviehouse: Sorry We Missed You
Apr 8 all-day
Grail Moviehouse Online

SORRY WE MISSED YOU - Streaming Release

Synopsis:
The British working class is once again the empathetic subject of Ken Loach’s SORRY WE MISSED YOU, a wrenching, intimate family drama that exposes the dark side of the so-called “gig economy”.
Ricky, a former laborer, and his home-attendant wife Abby—who lost their home in the 2008 financial crash—are desperate to get out of their financial distress. When an opportunity comes up for Ricky to work as his own boss as a delivery driver, they sell their only asset, Abby’s car, to trade it in for a shiny new white van and the dream that Ricky can work his way up to someday owning his own delivery franchise.
But the couple find their lives are quickly pushed further to the edge by an unrelenting work schedule, a ruthless supervisor and the needs of their two teenage children.  Capturing the sacred moments that make a family as well as the acts of desperation they need to undertake to make it through each day, this universal story is skillfully and indelibly told with unforgettable performances and a searing script by Loach’s long-time collaborator Paul Laverty.
Director: Ken Loach
Cast: Kris Kitchen, Debbie Honeywood, Rhys Stone, Katie Proctor, Ross Brewster
Heavily Accented English with English Subtitles
100 min.

Vagabond Videos with Flat Rock Playhouse
Apr 8 all-day
Flat Rock Playhouse Online

As you know, Flat Rock Playhouse has gone “dark” at this time as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. While we continue our work behind-the-scenes, we are closed to the public. We would like to use this time to spread positivity and entertainment for our patrons.

We have invited Vagabonds from all over to submit videos for our Facebook page. Our Vagabond Videos are already underway, and you can see Scott Treadway reprise his role as Arles from the Tuna series, Bill Muñoz and his family perform a songErin Rubico and her husband Matt Ban teach you how to make a special Elvis-inspired recipe, and more! Tune in to our Facebook page Monday – Friday over the next few weeks for the one-of-a-kind videos by your FRP favorites.

https://www.facebook.com/pg/FRPlayhouse/videos/?ref=page_internal
Video Short:  Woman Arranging Flowers by Myron G. Barlow
Apr 8 all-day
Online
In this short video, UNC-Asheville Lecturer in Art Rob Anderson talks color and takes an up-close look at Collection favorite Woman Arranging Flowers by Myron G. Barlow.
Virtual Exhibit: Hillbilly Land Myth and Reality of Appalachian Culture
Apr 8 all-day
Online WNC Historical Society
ABOUT THE EXHIBIT

The hillbilly stereotype is one that is alive and well in American popular culture as a quick survey of the cable dial reveals with such shows as Moonshiners, Appalachian Outlaws, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, and countless others.

Surprisingly, it is one often displayed among educated sorts here in Western North Carolina who would never dream of disparaging any minority or “out group,” but do not hesitate to characterize native Western North Carolinians, as a group, as ignorant, in-bred, hopelessly retrograde, violent, snake-handling, moonshining/meth-making rednecks.

The Hillbillyland Exhibition explores the power, prevalence, and persistence of the hillbilly stereotype from the days of its beginnings in the late 19th century to the present day. The exhibit takes a unique approach by focusing on photography featuring the people of the region, some of them stereotypical images, combined with poetry and short prose pieces that challenge and complicate these stereotypes.

Visit the Virtual Exhibit
Virtual Tour 1918 vs. 2020 Flu Pandemics WNC
Apr 8 all-day
Online Smith-McDowell House

ABOUT THE EXHIBIT

In the midst of the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, we take an in-depth look at the 1918 influenza epidemic in Western North Carolina through newspaper clippings, advertisements, ephemera, photographs, and oral history and place the events of 1918 into context with our present-day response to the coronavirus pandemic.

https://www.wnchistory.org/virtual-exhibits/influenza/?utm_source=Western%20North%20Carolina%20Historical%20Association&utm_campaign=78fa0bbdf8-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_01_23_05_25_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_7424f63c4d-78fa0bbdf8-329482143

VIRTUAL: 8th Annual Face Jug Show
Apr 8 all-day
American Folk Art and Framing ONLINE

2020 8th Annual Face Jug Show

Every April, American Folk Art honors a wild pottery tradition that began regionally in the early 1800’s. No one knows for sure when the first face jug was created, but around the mountain region of North Carolina, face jugs began to be created for the storage of moonshine around 1810. The faces, snakes and other foreboding additions were added to the clay jugs to scare the children, so they would not drink the contents. In the unadorned world of the 1800’s, the face jug was remarkable and the tradition allowed for much creativity and fun amongst potters. Face jugs continue to be created in the same fashion as of old, which includes hand digging and mixing regional soils to make the clay, using regional materials to make the glazes, in many cases using broken plates for the teeth, and wood-firing the jugs to 2300 degrees. They are still in use, holding moonshine, but not necessarily scaring the kids.

Where to Purchase Plant Starts Asheville Area
Apr 8 all-day
Organic Growers School

With the Asheville Spring Herb Festival and many other such events being cancelled, you may be wondering where to buy starts.
Many farmers are sharing their products through
Asheville Online Farmers Market Facebook Group
Red Wing Farm is offering delivery in Buncombe County
and has several drop off locations in other areas.
Ingles Special Shopping Hours, Delivery Options for Vulnerable Populations
Apr 8 @ 7:00 am – 8:00 am
Ingles Grocery Stores

Starting on Tuesday, March 24, Ingles will dedicate the first shopping hour from 7 – 8 am on Tuesdays and Wednesdays to senior shoppers and those with compromised immune systems.

 

Publix Markets: Special Shopping Hours, Delivery Options for Vulnerable Populations
Apr 8 @ 7:00 am – 8:00 am
Publix Markets

Publix Markets reserves 7-8 a.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for customers age 65 and older. Home delivery is available through Instacart.

WNC Farmers Market Open 7am-6pm daily
Apr 8 @ 7:00 am – 6:00 pm
 WNC Farmers Market
• The WNC Farmers Market (570 Brevard Rd.) is open for business daily from 7 a.m.- 6 p.m. Find fruits + veggies, plus other staples like meats, cheese, beans, preserves, salsas, honey + condiments.

In a continued effort to provide our community with fresh, locally grown produce, meats and cheeses from area farmers, the market will remain open and operate under normal business hours. The market will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

While most of the market will remain open as usual, there are some exceptions:

Additional updates to vendor schedules will be posted as soon as possible. For specific vendors not listed above, we encourage you to reach out to them directly before coming to the market.

Visitors are encouraged to follow CDC recommendations when visiting the market. A complete list of tips and best practices can be found here.

COVID-19 is not a food-borne illness. It is extremely unlikely that someone will catch it through eating. The virus is most likely to cause illness through respiratory transmission. The routes to be concerned about include being in very close proximity to many people, or coming in contact with high touch surfaces.

Thank you for your continued support during these unprecedented times!

Free Online West African Drumming & Dance for Kids Hosted by LEAF
Apr 8 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am
LEAF Global Arts Online

Image may contain: 3 people, people sitting, people standing and outdoor

We invite young LEAFers to join LEAF Resident Teaching Artist Adama Dembele for a virtual drumming and dance class for elementary age kids. Adama is a master djembefola (djembe player) from the Ivory Coast, West Africa, and has been a part of LEAF since 2005. He currently teaches year round after school classes with LEAF Schools & Streets, and he is excited to offer video classes in which students can take a journey to explore the sounds, rhythms and movements of West African culture right from their own home!

https://www.facebook.com/events/199994081418039/

Natural Impressions: Prints from the Asheville Printmakers CANCELLED
Apr 8 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
The North Carolina Arboretum

On display daily January 18 – April 19, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the upstairs gallery of the Education Center, the Asheville Printmakers’ newest exhibit, Natural Impressions, will feature a variety of two- and three-dimensional print pieces utilizing numerous printmaking processes. Works will inspire visitors to think about the beauty and fragility of plants and the natural world through various perspectives and printmaking techniques. All pieces are available for purchase and a portion of the sales will benefit The North Carolina Arboretum Society.

Founded in 2013, the Asheville Printmakers is an energetic group of artists dedicated to expressing ideas and imagery through the medium of print. The group encompasses a wide range of processes and content, including traditional methods, such as lithography, woodcut and screen printing, and contemporary photographic printing processes, such as carbon printing, platinum-palladium and photopolymer etching. 

Parking Fees

  • Members: Free
  • Personal Vehicles: $14
  • Motorhomes / Vehicles (21’ or larger): $50
  • Buses: $100

There are no other admission charges required for visitors to access the Arboretum’s grounds and facilities during the day beyond the standard parking fees listed above.

Baby Boogie Dance Party LIVE!
Apr 8 @ 10:00 am – 10:45 am
Baby Steps Dance Asheville

Join me on Wednesday mornings at 10:00am (EST) through the month of April for “Baby Boogie Dance Party LIVE!” These fun and interactive Facebook Live dance parties will air from the Baby Steps Dance Asheville page (not from within this event page). I will post previous videos in the comment section of this event page so you can access them at your convenience! Be sure to follow Baby Steps Dance Asheville on Facebook to stay connected and interact with me during live videos! Spread the word to your friends- community and connection is what we all need these days, and I am happy to bring some movement and joy to your families!
Virtual Tip Jar (thank you for your support!):
https://paypal.me/babystepsdanceavl?locale.x=en_US

ABOUT BABY BOOGIE DANCE PARTY LIVE!
Together we’ll connect and get our wiggles out through fun action songs, movement games, sing-a-longs and skill building! Activities are focused towards toddlers and young children, but older children and caregivers are encouraged to join in on the dancing! I’ll see you on the virtual dance floor!

Free Pet Food for Buncombe County Residents
Apr 8 @ 10:00 am – 6:30 pm
ASPCA

Distribution is BY APPOINTMENT ONLY, so please call the ASPCA hotline at 800-738-9437 between 8am and 8pm to request an appointment. Responding to this event page does not qualify as an appointment.❗️❗️

As part of the ASPCA’s Relief and Recovery Initiative, we’re offering free dog and cat food for Buncombe County residents impacted by COVID-19. Supplies are being provided by appointment, subject to eligibility and availability.

CLIENT INFORMATION:

– Open to residents of Buncombe County.
– Order pick up is drive-thru: You will stay in your car with the windows up while your food order is put into your trunk.
– However, if your vehicle’s trunk does not open, you’ll be asked to load the order into your car yourself.
– You’ll be required to provide your appointment time, name, and zip code at order pickup.
– Please bring a photo ID.
– No same-day appointments.
– Transport is not provided.
– Do not bring pets.
– Do not arrive early.
– Call the hotline if you are running late.
– Please do not come if you are symptomatic. You may send a different family member in your place.

Join the Global Tree Inventory Challenge
Apr 8 @ 10:00 am – 10:00 pm

Image may contain: possible text that says 'TREES CH CHALLENGE 2020 April I- April 30'

In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day and the 25th Anniversary of the GLOBE program, the Buncombe County Library System and NASA are challenging you to make every tree count by using the GLOBE observer app to contribute to a global tree inventory.

Learn more at observer.globe.gov/trees-2020

To join the library team and become a citizen scientist download the free GLOBE observer app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Create an account, go to settings, click on JOIN a GLOBE Team, and type in the referral code: GLIDCTAZ.

You are now part of our Citizen Scientist team, Friends of Treebeard! Follow the directions and head outside!

Happy Earth Day teammate!

North Carolina in the Great War Exhibit
Apr 8 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Smith-McDowell House

The exhibit is on loan from the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and has been supplemented with artifacts from the Smith-McDowell House collection. Entrance to the exhibit is included with Smith-McDowell House admission – and is always free for members – and runs through May 16, 2020.

The exhibit seeks to put the local men and women who served in context with the larger events happening in North Carolina, the United States, and the world. In the exhibit, visitors will find displays and interactive elements telling the stories of just a few of our hometown heroes.

Incredible Business Networking on ZOOM
Apr 8 @ 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Meet Up Group

If you’re like us, you are missing the connection of our Incredible Business Networking meetings. Miss everyone no more. Until the social restrictions are lifted, and it’s safe to meet in person, let’s take it to our computers. Well be meeting every Wednesday at 11:00.

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us04web.zoom.us/meeting/register/uZ0pfu2qpjMrnFegJCIctAzJ2TkzCP-BuQ

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Join Incredible Business Networking – Asheville, Hendersonville, and all of WNC to keep up with your Incredible Business Networking connections, and to keep up with our ZOOM meetings

Thanks to our Sponsors! College Nannies, Sitters + Tutors of Asheville, Charlotte Sheppard, Real Estate Professional, Keller Williams Mtn Partners, The Super Signguy, and Radius Chiropractic!