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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.

Sunday, August 9, 2020
7th Annual Cycle NC Mountain Ride
Aug 9 all-day
Forest City NC
The 2020 Mountain Ride will be held in Forest City, August 7-9! 

Click Here for our COVID-19 statement and info.

The preliminary 2020 Mountain Ride Daily Schedule is now available!  The schedule will be updated as we finalize details, so be sure to check back often!

The Cycle North Carolina Mountain Ride is a perfect weekend getaway for any outdoor enthusiast and their families.  The ride is a 3-day cycling festival featuring a variety of route options each day that focus on showcasing the beautiful landscapes that Western North Carolina has to offer.  The event kicks off on Friday afternoon with a warm-up ride led by our Cycle North Carolina Route Developers.  Once your legs are warmed up, you’ll be all set to spend Saturday and Sunday meandering along the rivers and streams through the Blue Ridge Mountains on one of our various route options ranging from 15 miles to 70 miles.

Anti-Racisim: Resources Literacy Council
Aug 9 all-day
Online

Recognizing and understanding racism, and actively unlearning the everyday, built-in mechanisms of systemic racism is an ongoing effort that must be made by every single one of us. It can be difficult to navigate issues, origins, and solutions surrounding systemic racism, especially with so many different angles portrayed by the media.
There are countless truthful resources to help us find our way to social justice and equity. Here are just a few educational resources and ways to help our Black communities:
Educational reading:
The above photo has an excellent list of books!
Community:
Media:
Follow Black activists and voices on social media! Please reach out to us if you’d like suggestions on whom to follow.
Apply for the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council
Aug 9 all-day
Online

From Justice Services:

The Buncombe County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council aims to prevent youth who are at from becoming delinquent and develop community-based delinquency. The North Carolina Department of Public Safety’s Division of Juvenile Justice partners with Juvenile Crime Prevention Councils in each county to galvanize community leaders, locally and statewide, to reduce and prevent juvenile crime. Juvenile Crime Prevention Council board members are appointed by the county Board of Commissioners and meet bi-monthly in each county. The meetings are open to the public, and all business is considered public information. NC DPS Division of Juvenile Justice allocates approximately $23 million dollars to these councils annually—funding is used to subsidize local programs and services.

The primary intent of the JCPC is to develop community-based alternatives to youth development centers and to provide community-based delinquency, substance abuse, and gang prevention strategies and programs.  The JCPC provides opportunity for noninstitutional dispositional alternatives that will protect the community and the juveniles.
JCPC meets the 3rd Thursday of every other month (August, October, December, February, April, and June) from 8:30 to 10:00am.

We are currently in need of the following members:

  • Two Youth (Ages 16-17)
  • One Substance Abuse Professional
  • One Business Community
  • Two Member-At-Large

How to apply: If you would like to be a part of this council, please apply online by Aug. 14. Click here to apply.

Application are due by Aug. 14, 2020

If you have any questions, please contact Aisha Shepherd at (828) 250-6523 or via email at [email protected].

Artists Collective | Spartanburg 2020 Juried Exhibition Calling Artists
Aug 9 all-day
Online
showtime

Artists Collective | Spartanburg 2020 Juried Exhibition

4 state exhibit – SC, NC, TN, GA

We have struggled with whether to cancel this exhibit or not. We know that artists need this type of exhibit more than ever so we are continuing as planned. The dates are Sept. 15 – Oct. 17. There will not be an awards reception this year, but we will make the awards announcements online at a given time. The exhibit can be viewed during normal business hours. Last year this was a very successful event and prizes totaled $4500. We plan the same this year.

Arts Business Buncombe County, please fill out Survey
Aug 9 all-day
Online
Arts organizations were among the first to have to close their doors, and many have suffered substantial losses. Americans for the Arts Impact Dashboard shows over $5.2 million in lost revenue so far from the 89 arts organizations in Buncombe County that have responded. For perspective, there are (were) almost 500 arts organizations and close to 10,000 creative jobs in Buncombe County before the pandemic.

If you are an arts business in Buncombe County, please take a few minutes to fill out this survey! This data is vital to our advocacy efforts on behalf of the Buncombe County arts sector. Help us, help you!

Brevard Music Center Bach’s Chaconne from Partita No. 2 in d minor
Aug 9 all-day
Online

From our home to yours: students and faculty share new concerts, living room recitals, and masterclasses.

Enjoy this special video by BMC guest artist Augustin Hadelich and 13 additional violinists performing Bach’s Chaconne from Partita No. 2 in d minor, BWV 1004. Recorded in April 2020, each violinist performs a section of the work, compiled and edited by Hadelich.

Brevard Music Center Car Raffle
Aug 9 all-day
Online

Our 2020 Raffle is happening now! We are proud to partner with Hunter Automotive Group in Hendersonville, NC, in this year’s raffle! Only 1,500 tickets will be sold, so get yours online today! You may also call 828-862-2138 to order tickets over the phone.

Our winner will have ultimate flexibility in choice of model: ANY New 2020 Volvo or Subaru from Hunter Automotive Group with a MSRP up to $50,000!

Thank you to all raffle purchasers! Your purchase directly supports the Brevard Music Center!

The drawing will take place on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 at 3:00pm EST. All mail, phone, and internet orders must be received by 11:59pm EST on Monday, November 30.

Buncombe County Area Meal Sites
Aug 9 all-day
Buncombe County

Find locations around Buncombe County working hard to feed our community.

FOR STUDENTS: text FOODNC to 877-877 to locate nearby free meal sites. The texting service is also available in Spanish by texting COMIDA to 877-877.

View meal sites by geographical area, day of the week, and/or service type offered.

Cades Cove Loop Lope
Aug 9 all-day
Cades Cove Loop Lope
Carpooling is essential to maximizing participation in this race. Only 100 vehicle passes will be available for purchase for an additional fee when registration opens. Registrants who do not purchase a vehicle pass must either carpool with a passholder they know or utilize the group transportation option which will be provided by Friends of the Smokies.
Event Date: Sunday November 8, 2020
EVENT: VIRTUAL 5K – 10/25/20-11/8/20
Can’t join us in person? Participate virtually! A virtual race can be run (or walked!) anywhere, even indoors on a treadmill, and anytime. This is a great way to support Great Smoky Mountains National Park on a day, time, and place that works for your schedule. All virtual runners will receive a race t-shirt and undated finisher’s medallion via mail.
Price: $75.00 Race Fee + $4.50 SignUp Fee
Calling all local musicians! Get your tunes on the Dig Local Spotify playlist!
Aug 9 all-day
Online

Wow! Thanks to all those who have submitted tunes for the Dig Local Spotify playlist. If you’d like to be considered as an addition to our music compilation, we are still accepting submissions for our Spotify playlist now (check out the playlist here).

There are only three requirements to be considered:

  • You or your group must be regionally based in the Asheville area
  • Your song submissions must be all original compositions
  • The songs must be “family-friendly” (no profanity or obscenity or violence)

If selected, one or two of your songs will be featured in our Spotify playlist. There may also be opportunities to be featured in our Weekly Scoop email and on our social media platforms!

Submit your music by filling out the following info at the link below.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf5LCQovN51Y56SLuo7kB_hmeer33DsNhITEvz7TkF8O9ATqA/viewform?mc_cid=8ce4073971&mc_eid=258ba8532a

Chill with Carolina Hemp Company in the latest #digAVL Video
Aug 9 all-day
Online

Meet Brian Bullman of Carolina Hemp Company. What better way to kick back and relax and help keep your immune system up then with some local hemp. Brian tells us all about the newest additions to their lineup of immunity-boosting and anxiety-reducing hemp. Find out more by checking out the video.

See the video interview here!

While we’ve all had to adjust to the “new normal” (whatever that is), our local business owners and managers each have their own story to tell about how they’ve been affected and what they are doing during these unprecedented times. Dig Local is proud to partner with our friend, Ann Smith, at Leap Frog Tours to interview some of the awesome folks who make Asheville, Asheville.
Completing the Census is Safe, Easy and Important! Make NC Count!
Aug 9 all-day
Online

Completing the survey is quick and easy to do. You can complete your Census questionnaire online, by phone or on paper. By using your phone, tablet or computer, or simply grabbing a pencil or pen, you can complete the questionnaire, spending less than 10 minutes on what can impact your community in the next 10 years.

The process is safe, easy and important and you can respond in one of three ways:

  • Online by visiting my2020census.gov.
  • By phone by calling 1-800-923-8282. For information on language support, click here for a listing of telephone numbers.
  • Via mail

Help Make NC Count! View and download resource materials by clicking on the button below.

NC Census Outreach & Engagement Toolkit

 

diverse group of people holding hands together in the park

COVID-19 Business Resources
Aug 9 all-day
Online

As our community responds to COVID-19, our staff are monitoring the situation and working to bring you information and resources. Please watch this page for news updates and emerging resources.

COVID-19 Testing in Buncombe County
Aug 9 all-day
Online

COVID-19 Testing in Buncombe County

COVID-19 testing is suggested for people experiencing symptoms, those who have been identified as a close contact to a confirmed case regardless of symptoms, and for those who work in congregate living settings with concerns of a potential outbreak.

Testing is widely available at urgent cares, federally qualified health centers, and through some primary care providers for those who need it however, it remains important to focus on the prevention of COVID first and foremost to keep the virus from spreading further into the community and to loved ones.

FIND TESTING NEAR YOU:

If you DO NOT HAVE a healthcare provider who offers testing for COVID-19 and you need to get tested, there are several ways to find testing near you.

  1. Visit the Find My Testing Place website to find a clinic or pop up testing site near you.
  2. People in Buncombe County can access testing by completing the Buncombe County Self-Checker online to set up an appointment at one of the county’s open-air, drive-through sites. People can also call the Ready Team at (828) 419-0095 from 8:30 am – 5:00 pm., Monday – Friday to be pre-screened for testing at these sites.
  3. You can call the Buncombe County nurse line at (828) 250-5300 to find out where you can get tested (Press OPTION #1 to speak with a nurse) from 8 am to 5:30 pm.
Craft Your Commerce Online Summer Workshop Series
Aug 9 all-day
Online

Craft Your Commerce is a Mountain BizWorks entrepreneurial program designed to connect, elevate and advance creative and craft-centered companies through a series of business training workshops and classes designed by makers for makers. The program is offered in partnership with Center for Craft, UNC Asheville, and area creative entrepreneurs.

The 2020 Summer Workshop Series: Creative Shifts will focus on adapting your craft business to thrive in a drastically changed market.

We will start with a speaker panel of leading WNC based craft business entrepreneurs to hear how they’ve adjusted their business model and operations to meet the challenges of COVID-19. We will then learn from a Portland-based craft manufacturing entrepreneur about the innovative techniques and leadership strategies that have helped him to successfully scale his business and continue to weather these challenging market conditions. Finally, we will open a window into the realm of commercial projects and buyers, which is a customer and revenue segment that remains untapped for many craft entrepreneurs.

Throughout the series, an integrative cohort-based learning program will help weave together lessons from the workshops and guide entrepreneurs in developing their own goals and actionable plans.

Deciphering the Riddle of Bach
Aug 9 all-day
Online

Great Performances:
Violinist Scott Yoo discovers a riddle in Bach’s portrait, with discoveries and performances along the way.

Digital BMC: BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 5 IV. Allegro
Aug 9 all-day
Online

BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 5
IV. Allegro
Brevard Music Center Orchestra
Keith Lockhart, conductor
Recorded on June 23, 2017,
at the Whittington-Pfohl Auditorium in Brevard, NC

Selected past performances by BMC orchestras, faculty, and guest artists on YouTube, SoundCloud, and Open Air Brevard.

Don’t Waste Durham: Reduce Waste Survey
Aug 9 all-day
Online
Customer Survey about Takeout “Extras”
This survey is 17 questions long and should take approximately 5 minutes to complete. Responses will be recorded anonymously unless contact information is provided following completion.

WHY ARE WE DOING THIS? Don’t Waste Durham thanks you VERY much for taking this survey. Your responses are important to understanding whether and how much people are using the takeout “extras” (plastic forks, paper napkins, etc) that restaurants give you with your takeout/delivery. THANK YOU!

Donate Masks to the School of Your Choice
Aug 9 all-day
Online

https://masks.com/pages/the-great-american-mask-drive-by-masks-com?fbclid=IwAR0AR-vhz0_JXmFMEKFZS-3sNE1PldWPahS7LK-uPP4QtvyIXAvJzuEvOB8

school_supplies_2.jpg

The Great American Mask Drive by Masks.com

Donate 100% cotton reusable & washable Hanes® masks to any school for just $1.50 per mask. We’ll send the masks directly to the school.

Find a school and donate masks.  Thanks for your support!

Farm Beginnings® Farmer-Led Training Program Virtual for 2020-2021
Aug 9 all-day
Online

Many skills are required to start and expand a successful farm business: passion, clear goals, production experience, financial and marketing know-how, and more. Farm Beginnings® will help you build these skills through one year of farmer-led training, mentoring, and networking. Using a holistic management frame, farmer-led classroom sessions, on-farm tours, and an extensive farmer network, Farm Beginnings® will help you clarify your goals and strengths, establish a strong enterprise plan, and start building a profitable and sustainable operation. Although students do not need to own land, some farming or production experience is required to get the most out of the program. As we know, farming is more critical than ever. Apply to this program and be prepared when crisis hits!

Program Details: December 2020 – September 2021

2020-2021 Farm Beginnings® Farmer Training is 200+ Hours including:

— Winter Whole-Farm Business Planning Courses – 60 hours (October – March)**
— ASAP’s Business of Farming Conference (February) – 8 hours
— OGS Conferences – 40+ hours
— Mentorship with an experienced Farmer Mentor (March – September) – 15 hours
— Production Training – 45 hours (April – October): WNC CRAFT tours on sustainable farms around WNC & Field Days with regional partners Living Web Farms  and the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy Incubator Farm
— One year WNC CRAFT Farmer Network membership – Membership and mentoring in a regional farmer network

Free WIFI Hotspots Available Outside Buncombe Libraries
Aug 9 all-day
Buncombe County Libraries

Buncombe County Public Libraries have free wifi hotspots available outside any library building. To use the wifi, look for the LibraryGuest network and use the password readmore. The wifi is available all day every day, whether the library is open or not. Please observe all Buncombe County social distancing and gathering requirements while using the wifi. Questions? Call (828) 250-4700 or email [email protected].

Gardening Video: Sun to Shade—Changing Light Patterns in Your Garden
Aug 9 all-day
Online

Presenter: Kay Green, Extension Master GardenerSM Volunteer

The amount of sun or shade in your garden will change as the sun moves across the sky during the day and with the seasons.  By knowing how much sun the garden gets, you can better plan where your plants will thrive.  In this video, Kay shows you how to create a “Sun Map” and a “Sun Chart” to record the sun and shade patterns in your garden.  Using these simple tools will help you make better plant selections and reward you with better results.

Video access:
To access these videos on the Buncombe County Master Gardener website, click on the link below:
Sun to Shade—Changing Light Patterns in Your Garden 

Or go to www.buncombemastergardener.org, click on the ‘Resources’ tab at the top of the page, and select ‘Gardening Videos’ from the drop down menu.

Grants and Funding of the Haywood County Arts Council
Aug 9 all-day
Online

As an advocate for the arts in our community, Haywood County Arts Council develops partnerships with schools, other nonprofits, county governments, schools, city revitalization boards, economic development councils, chambers of commerce, and tourism bureaus. These partnerships are often the catalyst for sustainable economic and community development using the arts and can lead to programs that connect diverse parts of the county through shared arts experiences.

With the assistance and support of the North Carolina Arts Council, the Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC) has an important role in sustaining, growing, and advocating for the arts in Haywood County. The HCAC is a Designated County Partner (DCP) for the North Carolina Arts Council, and administers the Grassroots Arts Program subgrant process as well as the Artist Support Grant for Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Polk, Rutherford, and Transylvania Counties.

Grounding and Centering Morning Meditation
Aug 9 all-day
Online

Enjoy a relaxing 20 minute guided meditation with didgeridoo from Robin and Corey, recorded live from their home in Asheville.

Grove Arcade Makers Market Accepting Vendor Applications
Aug 9 all-day
Online

The Battery Park end of the Grove Arcade is home to the Makers Market, an outdoor bazaar with a dozen stalls filled by artisans selling their craft directly to the public. The market is now accepting vendor applications for local artist to sell their wares, and the application fee is currently waived due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Learn more about the process and vendor regulations, as well as how to apply, here.

Jane Goodall Narrates For An Animated Poem of Hope
Aug 9 all-day
Online

Anthropologist Dr. Jane Goodall narrates this story of hope as we emerge from COVID-19 lockdown.

Set to beautiful artwork created by Tom’s sister, Bee Rivett-Carnac, a noted illustrator with two decades’ experience, the poem conjures an inspiring vision of the renewed, nature-rich world that’s waiting for us as we emerge from isolation.

A former Buddhist monk, Tom has spent the last 20 years working on climate change. He is known as one of the architects of the landmark Paris Agreement, signed by 195 countries in 2015, having served as the chief political strategist at the UN.

Lincoln Center Presents Carousel
Aug 9 all-day
Online

Don’t miss this performance of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel, streaming now on YouTube.

NC Forest Service’s Annual Tree Seedling Sale
Aug 9 all-day
Online

a dirt path in a forest

The North Carolina Forest Service is accepting tree seedling orders as part of its annual sale.

Each year, the NCFS Nursery Program produces millions of quality seedlings for nearly 50 species of conifers, hardwoods and native understory plants, including eastern and Carolina hemlock seedlings, as well as an expanded selection of genetically improved third cycle loblolly pine seedlings.

How can you order tree seedlings from the NCFS Nursery Program?

  • Tree seedlings can be ordered from the online seedling store at www.buynctrees.com.
  • Tree seedlings can also be ordered by phone at 1-888-NCTREES (1-888-628-7337).
  • Tree seedlings can be ordered using the order form found in our current catalog. Complete the form and mail to Seedling Coordinator, 762 Claridge Nursery Road, Goldsboro, NC 27530.
  • A user-friendly catalog is available at the “Tree Seedlings & Nursery Program” link located at www.ncforestservice.gov. Catalogs are also available at local NCFS offices located in all 100 North Carolina counties. Inside the catalog, landowners can find information about the types of tree species, quantities and costs to order. Each tree description includes information about ideal planting locations and whether a species is typically used to benefit wildlife, restore habitats or as marketable timber.

Distribution of tree seedlings will occur December through mid-April, depending on weather conditions. Seedling orders can be shipped to one of 12 distribution centers statewide for a small fee or via UPS for a charge. Seedling orders are also available for pickup from the NCFS Claridge Nursery in Goldsboro or the Linville River Nursery, near Crossnore. For information on planting trees, people are encouraged to contact an NCFS county ranger. Contact information for your local NCFS county office and nursery locations is available at www.ncforestservice.gov/contacts.

North Carolina COVID-19 Resources for Renters Facing Eviction
Aug 9 all-day
Online

From NCDHHS

If you are a renter in North Carolina facing eviction due to COVID-19 economic impacts, there may be resources available to you.

Rental and Utility Assistance

If you were unable to pay your rent and/or utilities due to COVID-19 or its economic impacts, you may qualify for assistance. Call NC 2-1-1 to learn of resources in your community for emergency needs, including rental and utility assistance.

Notice of Public Comment Period: Hellbender Regional Trail Plan
Aug 9 all-day
Online
The French Broad River MPO has been working with local governments and community stakeholders in the region over the last year to develop a plan for a regional trail network, the Hellbender Regional trail. This plan connects the various bicycle, pedestrian, and greenway plans developed locally in Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, and Transylvania counties to illustrate existing and planned trails that may someday connect to form a regional network for bicycle and pedestrian travel.
Unlike highway and roads, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure is primarily the responsibility of the various local governments in our region so the Hellbender Regional Trail Plan does not intend to usurp local brands or mandate designs, but intends to make the various sections of planned and existing networks greater than the sum of its parts through increased coordination and partnerships. This plan focuses on regional connections, but does not deprioritize more locally-focused infrastructure. It is primarily focused on multi-use paths (paved trails, greenways, rail-to-trails, sidepaths, etc.) but may include some sections with on-street and other connections where constraints may require exceptions to a typical off-road path. This is also a long-range plan. At more than 150 miles, the full build-out of this network would reflect a nearly ten-fold increase in the miles of multi-use paths in the region- a task that will likely take a considerable amount of time at current funding levels. At this point, organizers are inviting the public to comment on the Draft Hellbender Regional Trail Plan that reflects the work of the work group and stakeholders as well as the countless hours put into developing the local plans in our region on which the Hellbender Regional Trail Plan is based.
The Draft Hellbender Regional Trail Plan is available on the MPO’s website and comments bay be sent in by Friday, August 21st via the google doc form available on the website or by emailing [email protected].