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

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

Friday, October 11, 2019
BalletX Matinee at Diana Wortham
Oct 11 @ 10:00 am
Diana Wortham Theatre

BalletX, October 11, 2019 at 10AM - Matinee Series

BalletX 
Friday, October 11, 2019 at  10am
Recommended for Grades 5-12

Diana Wortham Theatre
BalletX’s website

Experience a unique mix of original, dynamic choreography from a company whose dancers have been hailed as “among America’s best” by The New York Times. Inspiring for children and adults alike BalletX challenges the boundaries of classical ballet with contemporary works of athleticism, emotion and grace.

Group reservations:
Download the 2019/2020 Matinee Series Order Form + Y.E.S. Fund Application


TICKETS
$10 for Individuals – Call the box office at 828-257-4530.

$9 for Groups of 11 or more – Download the Matinee Series Reservation Form / Y.E.S. Fund Application

For school groups of 11 or more: 1 free teacher ticket per every 10 students. Deposit of $1 per ticket required for groups.
Need-based scholarships available

Visit the Matinee Series page
Visit the Youth Education Scholarship (Y.E.S.) page

Visit the Matinee Series page
Visit the Youth Education Scholarship (Y.E.S.) page
Literacy Changing Lives Tour
Oct 11 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Literacy Council

Please join us for coffee and a one-hour tour of the Literacy Council.

Space is limited. Please RSVP below and click here to use the driving directions from our website.

Saturday, October 12, 2019
Call for art: 13th Annual “Anything Goes…Everything Shows!”
Oct 12 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Flood Gallery Fine Art Center

uncensored free-style mail art show using the postal system as a medium. ALL submissions received by mail WILL be exhibited. ANY medium, size, shape or theme! ANYONE can enter!

Mail artists typically exchange ephemera in the form of illustrated letters; zines; rubberstamped, decorated, or illustrated envelopes; artist trading cards; postcards; artistamps; faux postage; mail-interviews; naked mail; friendship books, decos and three-dimensional objects. Based on Dada and Fluxus art movements, such as by Ray Johnson from Black Mountain College, mail art can range from pop art to found objects to just about any medium. You don’t need to be an artist, just decorate something and put a stamp on it and our address, if it makes it through the post office to us, we will exhibit your work! Don’t put it in a box!!! Don’t hide your art and expression! Let all who touch it experience its journey! Just stamp and mail.

Deadline: Postmark by Oct. 7, 2019

Any medium, size, shape or theme! if you can stamp it, send it!
NON-RETURNABLE. No entry fee. Not for sale. Cannot be hand-delivered.

Mail entry to:
Carlos Steward/Flood Gallery
P.O. Box 9907
Asheville, NC 28815

Opening: Sat, Oct. 12 • 6-9pm
Live Music by The Greenblues (Americana/Blues/Folk)
Flood Gallery Fine Art Center

Sunday, October 13, 2019
Southeast Wise Woman Herbal Conference
Oct 13 all-day
Kanuga Conference & Retreat Center

conferencelogo

The Southeast Wise Women Herbal Conference was inspired by the thriving herbal conferences for women in the Northeast, Northwest, and California, which were founded in the 1990’s. After many years of running Red Moon Herbs and teaching herbal medicine for women, Corinna Wood—student and apprentice of  Wise Woman Herbalist Susun Weed—recognized that the Southeast, too, would be eager for this kind of gathering. From our first annual event in 2005 with 200 women attending, we quickly discovered that the community was more than ready, that this event is filling a deep hunger for the Wise Woman Ways in this region. The conference now has a heart and soul of its own. For many, it has become an annual event—with over a thousand women, the October gathering is a tradition in education, inspiration, and sisterhood.

3 Full days of workshops, intensives, gatherings and more.

For a complete schedule visit: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1HcEve8IzhO29Qt_ZFRQXF3jcXtsffDk31v5HEbUNm_A/edit#gid=2075348263

Friday, October 18, 2019
80s vs 90s Dance Party
Oct 18 @ 9:00 pm
The Orange Peel
Sunday, October 20, 2019
49th Annual LEAF Festival
Oct 20 all-day
Lake Eden

Image result for leaf festival asheville nc

Fall-leaf-lineup-2019

LEAF Festival sits below Mt. Mitchell with mountain lakes and rolling hills with 600 stunning acres featuring rustic cabins, large camping fields with mountain views, hiking trails,  barns, streams, and lakes for canoeing, swimming, and the zooming zipline. This enchanting land offers lots of outdoors adventures for the whole family!

The 1st LEAF Festival premiered Fall 1996, and has become a tradition twice a year, May and October. The name Lake Eden Arts Festival (LEAF) was chosen to honor the lake and the former Lake Eden Inn & Resort. “Arts” embraces a broad creative palate and of course it was to be a “festival”. In envisioning LEAF, we sought to embrace world cultures, reflect the creativity of the Asheville area, and to complement the stunning landscape. The location and size, attendance is limited to 6,000  people on site per day, makes LEAF Festival one of the best small festivals in the world. The right place, the right size.

Thursday, October 24, 2019
City Dance
Oct 24 @ 7:30 pm
Landmark Hal

Beginner’s workshop lesson at 7:30 P.M., then 8-11 P.M. Contra Dance with Country Waltzing at the break and the final dance. This is a partner dance but it’s not necessary to come with a partner. We have different live bands and callers.

Friday, October 25, 2019
Friday The 25th w/ Dj Audio + Brent Brown
Oct 25 @ 9:00 pm – Oct 26 @ 2:00 am
Ole Shakeys Getaway

On Friday OCT the 25th, DJ AUDIO + Brent Brown are coming to Ole Shakey’s to kill everything! Get ready to dance that ass off to big beats under the most amazing light show ever . Music Powered by the Hottest Dj’s in the city. NO COVER. 21+. RSVP NOW & Tag a friend!

Saturday, October 26, 2019
HAUNTED GROVE HOUSE INFERNO 2019
Oct 26 all-day
The Grove House

#1 HALLOWEEN DANCE PARTY IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA

3-DANCE FLOORS ~ 4-DJ’s ~ 5-BARS

THREE VENUES / ONE PRICE

$1,000 COSTUME CONTEST

The GROVE HOUSE Entertainment Complex is famous for the scariest and BEST annual Halloween costume and dance party in WNC! This year will be the most frightening and fun to-date!

You’ll be terrified by monsters lurking around every corner…beware as you walk through each themed-area dripping with creepy décor. You will succumb to your fears as you migrate throughout the HAUNTED GROVE HOUSE INFERNO’s three levels – themed to Dante’s Nine Circles of Hell.

Enchanted Forest

Descent

Disembodied Heretics

Spider Chasm

Psychedelic Passage

Limbo

Lost Souls

Abyss

THREE LEVELS OF DANCING

4-DJ’s playing a variety of music genres

REMEMBER!!! – $1,000 IN CASH COSTUME CONTEST…so deck-out in your most terrifying best (or worst), and you may end the night with a fist-full of cash! Gates open at 9pm and ONE price gives you access to the ENTIRE complex (Club Eleven On Grove, Scandals Nightclub, and BOILER ROOM.)

Gates open at 9pm (18 & over)

Contest registration/pre-judging from 9:30pm-12:30am

Contest on main stage at 1am

Closing is at 3am

CommUnity Square Dance
Oct 26 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
old Webster School

Everyone is welcome at the CommUnity Square Dance. Caller Kyle Johnston will teach and call all dances to old-time music led by Lillian and Sara Nell Chase. No experience necessary!

Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Karaoke
Oct 30 all-day
Alley Cat Social Club

Anything Goes Karaoke on Wednesdays. Its so much fun and it gets a little wild. Come out and party with us Sign ups start at 8pm music shortly after.

Thursday, October 31, 2019
Spooktacular Soiree
Oct 31 @ 6:00 pm – Nov 1 @ 1:00 am
Haiku I Do

Halloween night at Haiku I Do!
Two dance floors powered up by some of Asheville’s finest
?️DJ Bowie
?️DJ Brett Rock
?️Cpt. Hyperdrive
?️DJ Cotton Kandy
?️Trillium Dance Company
Come in costume and get a discount at the door!

Spooktacular Soiree
Oct 31 @ 9:00 pm – 1:00 am
Haiku I Do
Costume dance party on Halloween night! Join us on Halloween night for a fun night of dancing at Haiku I Do!

About this Event

Come in costume and get a discount at the door!

Two dance floors powered by some of Asheville finest DJs.

DJ Bowie

DJ Brett Rock

Cpt. Hyperdrive

With special guest Cotton Kandy joining the line up from Charlotte.

Saturday, November 2, 2019
Russian Ballet Theatre presents “Swan Lake”
Nov 2 @ 7:30 pm
U.S. Cellular Center Asheville

Swan Lake, which has mesmerized audiences for over a century, is based on a German fairy tale. Tchaikovsky’s score tells the tragic love story of Prince Siegfried and Swan Princess, Odette, who is cursed to be a swan by day but a young woman at night. The Russian Ballet Theatre’s new production will captivate audiences with time-honored Russian traditions while adding new choreography, hand painted sets, radiant hand sewn costumes, artistic hair designs and special effects makeup.

The production’s hand-painted sets and more than 150 hand-sewn costumes were created in the tradition of the great masters by young, accomplished designer Sergei Novikov (Mariinksy Theatre, Omsk State Music Theatre, St. Petersburg State Music Hall). The SFX makeup is done by Award-winning Irina Strukova (Crazy Rich Asians, Netflix, HBO) and will make ballet devotees feel as though they are seeing the beautiful Swan Lake for the first time!

Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Open Mic at Vintage Kava every Tuesday
Nov 5 @ 9:00 pm – 11:45 pm
Vintage Kava

Open Mic at Vintage Kava

Come share your talent with the community! All acts welcome (music, jokes, dancing, poetry, storytelling, etc)

Stop by to sign up for your slot!

Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Open Mic at Vintage Kava every Tuesday
Nov 12 @ 9:00 pm – 11:45 pm
Vintage Kava

Open Mic at Vintage Kava

Come share your talent with the community! All acts welcome (music, jokes, dancing, poetry, storytelling, etc)

Stop by to sign up for your slot!

Friday, November 15, 2019
Live Music Honey Music Collective
Nov 15 @ 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Alley Cat Social Club

Amazing night of live music and dance at Alley Cat Social Club.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Open Mic at Vintage Kava every Tuesday
Nov 19 @ 9:00 pm – 11:45 pm
Vintage Kava

Open Mic at Vintage Kava

Come share your talent with the community! All acts welcome (music, jokes, dancing, poetry, storytelling, etc)

Stop by to sign up for your slot!

Friday, November 22, 2019
Petra Ballet Company Presents: REBORN
Nov 22 @ 7:00 pm
Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts

Petra Ballet Company is a non-profit organization that desires to give Jesus Christ the highest praise with their talents. Their mission is to exalt His name through dance, revive hearts through worship, and make Him known through excellence in the arts. With Jesus as the foundation of the company, they are committed to share their passion for Him nationally as well as global. You are invited to join Petra Ballet Company as they present their signature Christmas dance piece, REBORN, to celebrate the Holiday Season.

Saturday, November 23, 2019
The Fantasticks Musical Auditions
Nov 23 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
ACT

THE FANTASTICKS

MUSICAL

Music by Harvey Schmidt, with Lyrics by Tom Jones

Directed by Mark Jones; Music Direction by Rob Blackwell; Choreography by Jessica Garland

AUDITIONS: November 23-24, 2019
Saturday, November 23: 6:00-9:00 pm
Sunday, November 24: 12:00-3:00 pm

PRODUCTION DATES: February 7 – March 1, 2020; Performances Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 2:30 pm; Additional Thursday night performances February 20 and 27 at 7:30 pm; Cast must plan to arrive at least 1 hour prior to show time.

REHEARSALS: December 15 – February 6, 2020; Rehearsals generally held Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday nights from 6:30-9:30 pm. All actors will not necessarily be needed for every rehearsal or for the entire rehearsal. Full rehearsal calendar available at auditions – you are able to list any conflicts you have with the rehearsal schedule at this time.

DIRECTOR SEEKS: 6-7 men, 1-2 women (Read character descriptions here!) All roles open to actors of any race or ethnicities.

Sunday, November 24, 2019
The Fantasticks Musical Auditions
Nov 24 @ 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
ACT

THE FANTASTICKS

MUSICAL

Music by Harvey Schmidt, with Lyrics by Tom Jones

Directed by Mark Jones; Music Direction by Rob Blackwell; Choreography by Jessica Garland

AUDITIONS: November 23-24, 2019
Saturday, November 23: 6:00-9:00 pm
Sunday, November 24: 12:00-3:00 pm

PRODUCTION DATES: February 7 – March 1, 2020; Performances Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 2:30 pm; Additional Thursday night performances February 20 and 27 at 7:30 pm; Cast must plan to arrive at least 1 hour prior to show time.

REHEARSALS: December 15 – February 6, 2020; Rehearsals generally held Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday nights from 6:30-9:30 pm. All actors will not necessarily be needed for every rehearsal or for the entire rehearsal. Full rehearsal calendar available at auditions – you are able to list any conflicts you have with the rehearsal schedule at this time.

DIRECTOR SEEKS: 6-7 men, 1-2 women (Read character descriptions here!) All roles open to actors of any race or ethnicities.

Guided Walk in Historic Oakdale Cemetery “Look Homeward Angel”
Nov 24 @ 2:15 pm – 3:45 pm
Oakdale Cemetery

Join me along the pathways of Hendersonville’s Historic Oakdale Cemetery where the “Look Homeward Angel” statue is located. Grave markers throughout this place tell interesting stories and whisper secrets from the past … so come along to discover illustrious and notorious characters of long ago. These 90-minute walks occur rain or shine.
Meeting place: Oakdale Cemetery, U.S. 64 W. at Valley St.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Open Mic at Vintage Kava every Tuesday
Nov 26 @ 9:00 pm – 11:45 pm
Vintage Kava

Open Mic at Vintage Kava

Come share your talent with the community! All acts welcome (music, jokes, dancing, poetry, storytelling, etc)

Stop by to sign up for your slot!

Thursday, November 28, 2019
City Dance
Nov 28 @ 7:30 pm
Landmark Hal

Beginner’s workshop lesson at 7:30 P.M., then 8-11 P.M. Contra Dance with Country Waltzing at the break and the final dance. This is a partner dance but it’s not necessary to come with a partner. We have different live bands and callers.

Friday, November 29, 2019
Black Friday: Holiday Dance Party Orange Peel
Nov 29 @ 8:00 pm
Orange Peel

Ages 18+

8pm – Doors x Networking x Face Painting
9pm – ( Guest Dj )
10pm – Dj Brent Brown (Throwbacks x Hip Hop)
11pm – Dj Audio (Hip Hop/ R&B x Twerk

After Party: Room 9 | Midnight – 2am**

A % of Profits will go to supporting the YMICC + Brother Wolf**

Saturday, November 30, 2019
Kid Hop Hooray! Indoor Dance Party
Nov 30 @ 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
The Orange Peel

Finally, on Saturday November 30th after Thanksgiving, we’re excited that it’s Kid Hop time again! Kid Hop Hooray (our awesome indoor family dance party that happens monthly all winter long) is back. This event is for kids of all ages, with family-appropriate music from DJ Oso! Drop in anytime – it goes from 10am til 1pm. There will be FREE Glow accessories for little dancers while they last, plenty of room to run, dance, and get their sillies out while it’s cold outside, and snacks for purchase from Asheville Pizza Co and the Hop Ice Creamery, as well as popcorn and juice boxes! And of course, The Orange Peel bar will be open for mom and dad’s refreshments.

Padded area available for crawlers and new walkers to play and explore.

Tuesday, December 3, 2019
Open Mic at Vintage Kava every Tuesday
Dec 3 @ 9:00 pm – 11:45 pm
Vintage Kava

Open Mic at Vintage Kava

Come share your talent with the community! All acts welcome (music, jokes, dancing, poetry, storytelling, etc)

Stop by to sign up for your slot!

Friday, December 6, 2019
Carolina Christmas Show
Dec 6 all-day
Colonial Theater

Share the joy & magic of the Christmas season with your friends & families at the Carolina Christmas Show, a dazzling production of live music, dance, & comedy! This heartwarming Broadway-style show features the finest performers from Western NC & special guest artists presenting sacred and secular Christmas favorites, including Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, O Holy Night, Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree, and Go Tell it On the Mountain. Relax, unplug, & experience the Carolina Christmas Show, a celebration of the true spirit of Christmas that’s sure to become an annual tradition! One weekend only, Dec. 6th & 7th at the Colonial Theater in Canton, just west of Asheville!

Saturday, December 7, 2019
Carolina Christmas Show
Dec 7 all-day
Colonial Theater

Share the joy & magic of the Christmas season with your friends & families at the Carolina Christmas Show, a dazzling production of live music, dance, & comedy! This heartwarming Broadway-style show features the finest performers from Western NC & special guest artists presenting sacred and secular Christmas favorites, including Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, O Holy Night, Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree, and Go Tell it On the Mountain. Relax, unplug, & experience the Carolina Christmas Show, a celebration of the true spirit of Christmas that’s sure to become an annual tradition! One weekend only, Dec. 6th & 7th at the Colonial Theater in Canton, just west of Asheville!

Fringe Activates Asheville in 2020! Fringe Freak Passes
Dec 7 all-day
Fringe Feast

Join us January 19 – 26, 2020, as we celebrate our 18th year as the fearless, boundary pushing performing arts festival. We are returning bigger and bolder than ever, beginning a little early, with a free preview party, 7 pm, January 11th at Fleetwood’s in West Asheville. Enjoy art installations from ZedAVL and Geneva Bierce Wilson, be delighted by everyone’s favorite site-specific dance troupe The Accidentals, and grab a newly printed guide so you can start planning your festival!

Fringe Freak Passes go on Sale December 6!

Buy a Freak Pass now to pick from 25 different ticketed shows, which run Thursday, January 23 through Sunday, January 26. The Freak Pass is only $65. Freak Passholders are given priority with reserved seats. There are a limited number available, when they are gone, they’re gone! Price goes up to $75 on January 1st.

As well as over 100 ticketed show times from local, national and international artists, we have FREE Random Acts of Fringe popping up all over town, all week long, and lots of parties!  The Kickoff party returns to the Lazy Diamond at 7 pm, co-hosted by the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority, from 6-9pm, on Sunday, January 19th. Check out the new Artist Wine Party, hosted by Zapow Gallery, 7 pm, Tuesday, January 21st. Free after-parties return, starting at 10 pm, Thursday at Sly Grog, Friday at Mothlight and Saturday at The Block Off Biltmore, There you can enjoy more Random Acts of Fringe, meet the artists and chat about your favorite shows! See AshevilleFringe.org for all the details.

Individual tickets for each show are $14-$19 and go on sale January 1. See www.AshevilleFringe.org individual show descriptions and ticketing links.