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.
Do you know our staff has a wild side? Join a Park naturalist to meet some of our live Animal Ambassadors and learn about the types of wildlife in the area and their jobs. Some of our best educators have feathers, fur, shells or scales!
Join us at the North Asheville Library for a craft event in which we will make s piece of a firefighter costume! This event is part of a series in which you can travel to different buncombe county libraries to make additional unique pieces and complete your own firefighter costume! Registration is required for the North Asheville craft event, so register here or up to two weeks in advance by calling 828-250-4752. Please be aware that this is only the registration for the event at the North Asheville Library.
Here is a schedule for participating libraries:
North Library: Friday, July 21, 3:30-4:30pm
South Buncombe Library: Saturday, August 12, 2:30-4:30pm
PACK: Take and Make helmet craft available in the library.
After completing their unique creations, participants will have the opportunity to showcase their costume at a firefighter fashion show on Saturday August 19th, 3pm at the North Asheville library. It’s a fantastic opportunity for children to proudly display their costumes and strut down the runway in a fun and exciting fashion show. No registration is required to attend the fashion show.
- August 18: Asheville All-Stars with Asheville Rock Academy
- September 15: The Sensational Barnes Brothers with Alex Krug Combo
Artist reception for Paul Saenger: 5-7 p.m., Pink Dog Gallery, 348 Depot St., Asheville. “People, Politics and the Pandemic” by Paul Saenger. On exhibit to Aug. 20.
From the local favorites to new regional acts, all live from the river banks of the Nantahala. Raft, dine, then jam with us with Live Music every Friday and Saturday from 5pm-8pm between Memorial Day and Labor Day!
May 27th 5pm-8pm – Mama and the Ruckus
May 28th 5pm-8pm – The Lefties
June 2nd 5pm-8pm – Christina Chandler Trio
June 3rd 5pm-8pm – Laura Thurston
June 9th 5pm-8pm – Eddie Clayton
June 10th 1pm-4pm – Jacobs Well
June 10th 5pm-8pm – Natti Love Joys
June 16th 5pm-8pm – Rae and the Ragdolls
June 17th 5pm-8pm – Beer and Loathing
June 23rd 5pm-8pm – TBA
June 24th 5pm-8pm – Terry Haughton Trio
June 30th 5pm-8pm – Blue
July 1st 5pm-8pm – Brown Mountain Lightning Bugs
July 7th 5pm-8pm – Bayou Diesel
July 8th 5pm-8pm – Pioneer Chicken Stand
July 14th 5pm-8pm – Wyatt Espalin
July 15th 5pm-8pm – Christina Chandler Duo
July 21st 5pm-8pm – Terry Haughton
July 22nd 5pm-8pm – TG and the Stoned Rangers
July 28th 5pm-8pm – Blue
July 29th 5pm-8pm – Somebody’s Child
August 4th 5pm-8pm – Trial by Fire
August 5th 5pm-8pm – Andy Johnson
August 11th 5pm-8pm – Eddie Clayton Solo
August 12th 5pm-8pm – Eddie Clayton Band
August 18th 5pm-8pm – Big Deal Band
August 19th 1pm-4pm – Mckinney
August 19th 5pm-8pm – Funk N’ Around
August 25th 5pm-8pm – Wyatt Espalin
August 26th 5pm-8pm – Somebody’s Child
September 1st 5pm-8pm – TBA
September 2nd 5pm-8pm – Regatta 69
Sip and stroll through the Arboretum’s gardens in the glow of the golden hour, all while listening to live music from a variety of local and regional artists! ArborEvenings runs Thursdays and most Fridays through September 30, 2022 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m.
There is no additional cost to attend ArborEvenings beyond our standard parking fee. As always, Arboretum Society members and their accompanying guests can enter for FREE (guests must be in member vehicles to receive free entry). Proceeds from ArborEvenings help support the The North Carolina Arboretum Society and further advance the Arboretum’s mission.
Beverage Service
Beer, Wine, and soft drinks will be for sale onsite at the Green Gardener’s Shed from 5:30 to 8:15 p.m. each night of the event. Outside alcohol is strictly prohibited, but guests are welcome to bring in water or a favorite non-alcoholic beverage.
Food Available for Pre-Order, Picnics Welcome
Although the Bent Creek Bistro will not be open during the event, they will be offering their delicious dining options at ArborEvenings via pre-order! Simply place your online order — including alcoholic beverages — up until 11 a.m. on the date you plan to attend, then pick up your order at the Baker Information Desk between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. (In the event of rain cancellation, pre-orders will be fully refunded.)
Guests are welcome to bring in outside food and non-alcoholic beverages. However, outside alcohol is strictly prohibited.
Find more information here.
We are delighted to welcome Craig Carothers to Bloom WNC’s Outdoor Concert Series! Craig is one of my favorite singer/songwriters from my beloved hometown of Portland Oregon. You will be absolutely delighted by this concert. I am incredibly grateful that Craig has agreed to sing in our little valley and welcome him to our flower farm.
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The beats of the Friday Night Drum Circle have been rocking Pritchard Park for decades and the circle has become so popular that it is featured in magazines and TV commercials.
Greensky Bluegrass will be performing LIVE on the Outdoor Stage at Salvage Station on Friday July 21st and Saturday, July 22nd , 2023 with Big Something! Doors open at 5:30PM and the music starts at 6:30PM. This is a General Admission, 12+ only event.
Root Down will be serving their delicious twist on Southern Soul food, along with a couple of other amazing local food trucks on-site (and, of course, we’ll have several full bars open for you to enjoy)!
Stand up comedy at a historic Asheville dive bar.
Lineup:
Miranda Allison
Ryan Gordon
Roman Fraden
Art Sturtevant
Hosted by Larry Griffin.
No cover but donate $5 or so if you can – it all goes toward our comics.
Not for kids. Doors at 6:30, show at 7.
Grab your blanket or chair and join us under the stars for a free movie in the park, This
week’s movie is the film Hotel Transylvania: Transformania, Food truck opens at 7pm and movie begins at nightfall (approx.
8pm),
The Friday Night Music series will present the familiar 50’s and 60’s
classic rock and beach music from a host of different bands. Food vendors like Babbles Ice
Cream, Blue Ridge Hospitality and Eggs Up Grill will provide a some spice. The Carolina
Mountain Car Club will participate as in years past.
Friday Night Concerts
Super 60’s June 9
Gotcha Groove June 16
It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere June 23
Marsha Morgan June 30
Shades of Gray July 7
Thomas Brown July 14
Emporium July 21
Johnnie Blackwell Band July 28
Rock and Roll Reunion August 4
208 Army Band August 11
Night Moves Band August 18
World-renowned pianist Jeremy Denk makes his long-awaited Brevard debut in Johannes Brahms’s towering Piano Concerto No. 2. Symphonic in nature and scale, the work represents a culmination of the composer’s lifelong appreciation for the depths and intricacies of pianistic technique. At times passionate, at times playful, the soul of the concerto lies in the sublime second movement, marked by a lyrical duet between the solo piano and principal cello. Maestro Lockhart opens the concert with Richard Strauss’s Suite from his opera Der Rosenkavalier, filled with delicious waltzes, lush tunes, and virtuoso writing for every section. An opulent orchestral showpiece.
PERFORMANCE & ARTIST DETAILS
Brevard Sinfonia
Keith Lockhart, conductor
Jeremy Denk, piano
RICHARD STRAUSS Suite from Der Rosenkavalier
JOHANNES BRAHMS Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 83
Auditorium seating is reserved. Lawn seating is general admission.
All shows will be at the Hazel Robinson Amphitheater in the Montford District of Asheville, and all will be presented absolutely FREE of charge!
Written by William Shakespeare
Directed by Fable Wilde Day
Always an audience favorite, Twelfth Night returns to the MPP stage with all of the mistaken identity, love triangles and general wackiness you may already know and love!
All shows will run Fridays through Sundays and all will be presented at 7:30pm and prime seats can be reserved.
Montford Park Players has been bringing some of theater’s greatest works to Western North Carolina for over 50 years. Montford Park Players continues its mission of bring free theater to the community. The summer season allows everyone to come spend an evening under the stars, seeing some of the best live performances presented in Asheville.
Montford Park Players allows patrons to bring their favorite food and beverages to their shows and sells beer, wine and concessions at the shows. If you’ve never been to the Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre for a Montford show, there’s no better season than this one. If you have been, you know why you should come back and catch everything we have to offer!
Explore Grandfather Mountain after hours with your own personal guides. You’ll discover some of the park’s nighttime wonders, while stopping at its most significant sites. Watch a stunning Grandfather sunset, and experience the mountain as never before!
Meet at entrance gate at 8 PM. In-park transportation is provided. Next stop is atop Grandfather Mountain and its world-famous Mile High Swinging Bridge, where you explore and observe sunset from a mile high. Meanwhile, park educators will be on hand to discuss the unique flora and crepuscular (active during twilight) fauna that call Grandfather home.
Next stop is a visit lower on the mountain to take a brief, guided night hike. Encounter and learn about such nocturnal creatures as owls, salamanders, fireflies and more. Limited to 24 participants.
This event costs $50 for general admission and $42 for members of Grandfather Mountain’s Bridge Club – plus tax. Registration opens here on June 14, 2023. If sold out: Email [email protected] with name, email and phone number to be placed on the waiting list.
This event is accessible for those in a wheelchair. Grandfather Mountain’s vehicle fleet includes a 12–seat shuttle that has a 1,000 lb. Braun Lift and accommodates an additional two people in wheelchairs. After purchasing a ticket for this event, please reach out to the Grandfather Mountain Admin. Office (828-733-2013) to let us know if anyone you purchased a ticket for has any accessibility needs and so the proper transportation can be arranged.
What to Bring?
Much of your time will be spent outdoors and all programs are held rain, snow or shine. You should be prepared for a variety of mountain weather conditions and temperatures. Appropriate clothing, equipment, and footwear are very important. You’ll need a jacket on many summer evenings!
APPLICATIONS OPEN NOW!
Do you have a boundary-pushing, innovative performance piece, short film or installation that you’re ready to share?
We will open applications for the film portion of the festival in fall 2023. Films must be submitted via FilmFreeway. Our application fee for films is $5.
NOW CONSIDERING WORKS OF ALL KINDS
We accept live performances from 5 to 60 minutes in length, plus installations and films. We’re open to other types of performance as well – let’s talk! Depending on its length, your piece may be grouped with another show, or scheduled as a Random Act of Fringe. RAFs are free and open to the public, and artists receive a stipend for their performance, rather than relying on door sales.
Typically each artist with a ticketed show gets 2 performances. But in 2024, we’re exploring the option of giving a few shows 3 performances, at select venues only. Our venues range from 20-80 person capacity.
1. FRINGE SHOT
A piece that is
5-15 minutes long
May be paired with another performance, or be selected as a free Random Act of Fringe.
2. SHORT FORM
A piece that is
20-40 minutes long
May be paired with another show.
3. FULL-LENGTH
A piece that is
45-60 minutes long
Ticketed theater-style show.
4. INSTALLATION
A piece that is
Site-specific (any length)
May be in an unusual location, or repeated many times. May be seen by as few as one person at a time.
5. FILM
A piece that is
Designed specifically for film.
May be of any genre & length. Could be combined with other films for a showcase or film night.
Submit on Film Freeway Fall 2023
3. THE ASHEVILLE FRINGE ARTS FESTIVAL IS A JURIED FESTIVAL.
We carefully review each and every submission. You’ll know by late October if your piece is selected. Should your piece get selected, there is a $35 participation fee.
Budget cuts, increased testing requirements, and narrowing of curricula have significantly impacted school districts’ ability to provide inclusive, high-quality visual and performing arts experiences. And, while some families are able to subsidize children’s exposure to performing, visual, and fine arts experiences, students living in poverty face numerous systemic barriers which make such access nearly, if not entirely, impossible.
The Arts for Schools grant helps nonprofit arts organizations and qualified teaching artists in Buncombe County provide arts focused performances, workshops, residencies, and field trips for students attending K-12 public schools in Buncombe County. Priority is given to proposals benefiting economically disadvantaged schools and/or underserved communities, ensuring that students from all demographics receive the benefits of these programs. Multicultural programs will also receive priority. Grants range from $500-$1,000.
Sponsored by
Interested in supporting these amazing programs? Click here to learn more.
he Center for Craft is excited to announce an innovative partnership with the University of North Carolina Asheville’s UNC Gillings Master of Public Health (MPH) program, to explore the community vitality impacts of engaging with craft. Six awarded artists, artist collectives, or art organizations will be selected for $2,200 grants to use craft to engage with regional communities in Western North Carolina.
Center for Craft Executive Director Stephanie Moore conveys “Craft contributes significantly to the vitality of community by fostering creativity, preserving cultural heritage, and promoting social connections.” Through the practice of traditional and contemporary crafts individuals develop skills, express their artistic abilities, and find a sense of purpose and fulfillment. Craft also plays a crucial role in preserving cultural traditions and strengthening identity, passing down knowledge from one generation to the next. Craft activities bring people together for social interactions and collaboration that create a sense of belonging. This collaboration is an opportunity to better understand the ways in which craft acts as an indicator of and pathway to a healthy, resilient future.
Proposals from artists, collectives, and organizations in Western North Carolina are encouraged to submit a letter of interest to be selected for the pilot program. Proposed projects should take place between September – November 2023, and engage the community with craft in some way. Each selected project will be paired with a UNC Asheville MPH student who will use methods they are learning in their coursework, taught by UNC Asheville faculty member and MPH co-director Dr. Ameena Batada, to explore and measure impacts of each project.
https://www.centerforcraft.org/event/2023-craft-and-community-vitality-virtual-information-session
virtual session July 7, 3-4pm
Grovewood Gallery will present Inqwiry, an outdoor exhibition of wire animal sculptures by Bakersville, NC, artist Josh Coté. This event is open to the public and free to attend. Inqwiry will remain on view through August 13, 2023.
Voted “Best Place to Learn” by Outside, NOC Paddling School has taught more paddlers than anyone else, with 50 years of experience going into every class. Our commitment to the sport and to providing the best possible instruction has not waivered. So come and let us be your respected and experienced instructor.
Whitewater Kayaking Instruction
Youth Paddling Programs
Specialty Paddling Programs
Professional Training for Paddlers
Canoe Courses
Shop, sip, and groove on The Restoration Asheville rooftop at our first-ever Solarium Summer Market!
Browse and buy from local artisans, sip on fresh cocktails from The Observatory, and listen to AVL.XLR dropping beats until the sun sets. A peak summer activity.
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Jackson Park Bird Outing, 8am-10am, Join the Blue Ridge Audubon Society for their monthly
bird walk at Jackson Park, meet at the Administration Building parking lot, located on Glover Street, and join the group to see the
many wonderful birds found at Hendersonville’s largest park
Included with admission
Embark on a scenic journey across George Vanderbilt’s Italy with a large-scale outdoor display that combines brilliant botanical designs with authentic messages written by Vanderbilt himself.
Beautifully handcrafted of natural elements, each sculptural postcard depicts a location or landmark Vanderbilt visited more than a century ago. This captivating complement to Biltmore’s Italian Renaissance Alive exhibition reveals Vanderbilt’s passions for travel, culture, architecture, and art as well as his personal experience of such renowned Italian cities as Milan, Florence, Venice, Pisa, and Vatican City.
Adding to the charm and visual appeal of Ciao! From Italy—sure to be a hit among kids of all ages—is the G-scale model train that travels in and out of each postcard in this enlightening display!
Have you ever wondered exactly which varieties of fern line your path as you explore the Park? What role do they play among other plant species in Hickory Nut Gorge? Join a naturalist and hike to Hickory Nut Falls through a fern-filled forest, then learn more about our famous waterfall itself.
Join Mattie Decker, a certified forest therapy guide, for a relaxing two to 2.5 hour stroll through the forest at our stunning Grandfather Mountain. Through a series of invitations, you will have an opportunity to focus on being present in the moment, deepening your connection with nature and community, and enjoying the many gifts nature has to offer.
“Forest bathing” is a walk in nature during which your guide will share mindfulness practices and invitations designed to connect you more deeply to your inner landscapes as well as the world around you. Inspired by shinrin-yoku, (literally ‘forest bath’) the Japanese art of immersing oneself in a forest environment, forest bathing walks invite guests to spend time in nature in a way that invites healing for us, as well as our fraught ecosystems, and our community. Dr. Mattie Decker, a certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT).
Mattie is also a mindfulness teacher, a Zen practitioner, an Episcopal oblate, and a retired professor of education. She is also certified in wilderness medicine and first aid. Mattie’s says, “The forest is the therapist. The guide opens the doors.” As a guide she assists us in opening the doors of the senses, to deepen our relationship with nature, which is our own true nature.
Program Itinerary (10 a.m. until 1 p.m.)
10:00: Meet at the Woods Walk Picnic Area
Located about a third of a mile from the Grandfather Mountain Entrance Gate along the park road. We begin with an Introduction to Forest Bathing, the watershed and history of the ancestral lands of the walk.
10:15: Experience the forest and trails along the loop, with a variety of “invitations” to explore our relationship with the forest and “more than human world” of nature, and we will end with a tea ceremony with tea made from plants of Grandfather Mountain.
Registration
This Adult Field Course costs $40 for general admission and $34 for members of Grandfather Mountain’s Bridge Club, plus tax. Attendance is limited to 20 participants. Registration opens on this page on May 22 at 9 a.m.
Your program cost includes admission into the park, field instruction, and transportation during your program (you may drive your own vehicle to visit sites on the mountain if you would prefer). It does not include meals or lodging. Bringing a bagged lunch is recommended for most field courses, although Mildred’s Grill will be open to attendees. Tips are not accepted for field courses. However, donations to the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation are accepted if you would like to recognize a program.
General Clothing List
Much of your time will be spent outdoors and all programs are held rain, snow or shine. You should be prepared for a variety of mountain weather conditions and temperatures. Appropriate clothing, equipment, and footwear are very important.
Equipment
- Daypack with enough room to carry extra clothing, water, lunch, camera, etc.
- Water Bottle
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Hiking boots
- Binoculars
Equipment Specific to this Course
- Sturdy hiking boots or closed-toed shoes are required
- Long pants and preferably long sleeved shirts are strongly encouraged
- Any snacks or items needed for personal care (there is a public restroom at the Woods Walk Picnic Area)
- A sit-pad will be provided
Refunds/Cancellations
Adult Field Courses generally sell out and have a waiting list associated with the event. If you cannot attend the field course that you are registered for, a full refund will be granted within a 5-day notice of the day of the field course. This allows time for individuals on the waiting list to make accommodations to attend the event. We ask that individuals who are sick with any illness to stay home to ensure the health and safety of other participants, our staff, and the field course instructors – refunds will be granted to these individuals.
More about Field Courses
We at Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation are excited to share the unique wonders of the mountain with you. Since 2008, GMSF has aimed at creating educational programming that deepens understanding through in-depth study and field research. Our goal is to provide you with a rich experience in a particular field of study, and to also provide a safe and memorable trip to Grandfather Mountain. Read more about Field Courses.
Second-generation broom maker, Marlow Gates will be demonstrating traditional Appalachian broom-tying in the lobby of the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
With a creative community of juried members spanning over nine states, the Southern Highland Craft Guild fosters opportunities for makers to build, market, and maintain their creative livelihood through continuing education, retail outlets, and mentorship. We are invested in helping members achieve their goals and providing them with the resources to refine and sell their craft.