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.
Kids ages 5-12 are invited to join YWCA Aquatics for Float with a Flick: A Parents-Night-Out Indoor Pool Party, Friday, December 13th! Doors open at 5, Movie will start at 5:30pm, when movie ends we will have open swim until 8:45pm. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone will be featured!
Cost is $5.00 per child. Families do not need to be members of YWCA to register!

Saturday, Dec. 14 at 2 p.m.
Benedict Cumberbatch as The Grinch? Yes, please! Your holiday season isn’t complete unless you’ve spent time with this beloved curmudgeon. What will happen in this exciting, suspenseful, and, quite possibly, joyful holiday caper? Join us on Saturday, December 14th at 2pm to find out! This free film is rated PG and runs 90 minutes.

Free Holiday Movie Night
Elf
SANTA! OH MY GOD! SANTA’S COMING! I KNOW HIM!
Show: 7pm
Rated PG
FREE
Fully seated
Come to Fleetwood’s for a sneak preview of the action/comedy feature “Killer Raccoons! 2! Dark Christmas in the Dark!” 8pm
On a cold Christmas Eve, former mild-mannered college student Casey Smallwood is released from prison after serving ten years for underage drinking. Eager to get out of town, he plans to meet his longtime pen pal on a train to Washington, D.C., but after the holiday express enters the winter wilderness, it’s hijacked by an angry gang of domestic terrorists and highly-intelligent, government-trained raccoons! Not one to back down from a raccoon fight, Casey joins forces with a porter on the train to fight the terrorists and help bring down a top secret, raccoon-controlled, military laser satellite!
The long awaited sequel to the Overbites Pictures and Troma Entertainment cult classic “Coons! Night of the Bandits of the Night” is finally here! “Killer Raccoons! 2! Dark Christmas in the Dark” is a send up of several bad action movie sequels, using plot elements from “Under Siege 2: Dark Territory,” “Die Hard 2” and “Speed 2: Cruise Control.”
Tickets $10, will be shown as a double feature with a surprise second film. Also meet and greet with the creators after the screening!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sneak-preview-screening-of-killer-raccoons-2-tickets-83112873843

Saturday, Dec. 21 at 1 p.m.
It’s that time of the year…for our annual screening of The Muppet Christmas Carol held in our auditorium! We’ll have treats and beverages. Bring your sleeping bag, blanket, or pillow if you want to sit or lie down in the front to watch. Chairs will be out as well. Program is free, all ages are welcome.

The holidays don’t stop at Aloft! Join us on Thursday, December 26 at 8 p.m. to celebrate most wonderful time of the year by watching a holiday classic: Christmas Vacation. Munch on small bites, sip on cocktails and enjoy complimentary popcorn while indulging in the holidays. We hope to see you there!

This group is dedicated to the growing number of people interested in Awakening to their True Nature. We explore the experience of simply Being through:
| Self-Inquiry | Presence | Surrender | Gratitude | Meditation |
• Transcend egoic mind patterns
• See the gift in challenging situations
• Live your Life’s Purpose
• Find lasting Inner Peace
Group meetings consist of Meditation, Video Satsang (watching videos of spiritual teachers) and a Sharing Circle (optional).
Donations of any amount are welcomed. No one will be turned away due to lack of funds. (Donate online at https://tinyurl.com/awakeningsupport)
About the Facilitator:
Trey Carland, author of “A Seeker’s Guide to Inner Peace: Notes to Self,” has been hosting Awakening group meetings since 2007. “My passion is sharing the gift of Awakening with the World.”
Comments:
“Trey Carland embodies perfectly the quote, “still waters run deep.” I happened upon Trey several years ago through his spiritual awakening group. From this experience, Trey appeared to me as a wise Sage. Trey is accepting and patient with people. His demeanor is calm and loving. For me, it was evident that the stillness of Trey’s soul, is like a shimmering river that runs endlessly, with much depth. With celebration, I am blessed for having him as a friend. ” ~ John K.
(Read More at http://www.treycarland.com)
Meet and greet at 6pm, Pondering starts at 6:30.
Please enter the church through the front door. There is ample parking on the street in front of the church. There will be a $2 per person offering for the use of the church facilities and I think this is very fair. This is in addition to any donation you may wish to give for the expenses of the meetup itself. Feel free to bring any reasonable food or drink for yourself or to share.
RSVPs go live every Friday at 5pm.
Retreatants will be invited to pause, to stop running, to stop ‘doing’, to calm minds and bodies and be at ease. During this retreat, the focus is on reconciliation, transformation, healing and how to bring quantitative change in one’s life by the mindfulness practices of walking, eating and sitting meditation, connecting with ancestors, deep listening, loving speech and the practice of touching the earth. A retreat is an opportunity to let go of worry and anxiety about the past and the future, rest, and begin to be present for what is happening in the present moment.
The retreat is being led by Sister True Moon of Clear Grace, a resident nun at Heartwood who received her novice ordination in the Plum Village Vietnamese Zen tradition headed by the Venerable Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. Sister Clear Grace shares that, “the practice of mindfulness has been the greatest source of insight and transformation to heal from injustices of all kinds. It has helped me to learn truths and unlearn deeply embedded beliefs that have kept me away from the liberation of such sufferings in my daily life.”
This retreat is suitable for both beginning and experienced mindfulness practitioners. Participants may register to stay at Heartwood or sign up for the commuter option. More information, registration and other retreats at www.heartwoodrefuge.org.
Sister Clear Grace is a member of the Care Taking Council for the Earth Holder Community, a mindful Earth/Social justice initiative in the Plum Village Community of Engaged Buddhism. She is a Core member for ARISE Sangha (Awakening through Race, Intersectionality, and Social Equity), a community of mindfulness practitioners and monastics who come together to heal the wounds of racial injustice and social inequity, beginning with looking deeply within oneself and using energy of compassion, understanding, and love in action.
Heartwood Refuge and Retreat Center, located in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, provides interfaith meditation and wellness retreat. Heartwood is neither defined by a single lineage, nor confined by any single sect or practice. Heartwood hosts teachers from all faiths and wisdom traditions to share teachings and activities that promote compassion and clarity, whether through traditional wisdom or new thought.

Each year, we honor the history of Asheville and of Martin Luther King Jr. by spending a morning in service and in community together in the historic East End/ Valley Street neighborhood. Prior to the cleanup we will be joined Renee‘White, President of the East End Valley Street Neighborhood Association, who will speak about the history and importance of the neighborhood.
MLK Jr Park

This group is dedicated to the growing number of people interested in Awakening to their True Nature. We explore the experience of simply Being through:
| Self-Inquiry | Presence | Surrender | Gratitude | Meditation |
• Transcend egoic mind patterns
• See the gift in challenging situations
• Live your Life’s Purpose
• Find lasting Inner Peace
Group meetings consist of Meditation, Video Satsang (watching videos of spiritual teachers) and a Sharing Circle (optional).
Donations of any amount are welcomed. No one will be turned away due to lack of funds. (Donate online at https://tinyurl.com/awakeningsupport)
About the Facilitator:
Trey Carland, author of “A Seeker’s Guide to Inner Peace: Notes to Self,” has been hosting Awakening group meetings since 2007. “My passion is sharing the gift of Awakening with the World.”
Comments:
“Trey Carland embodies perfectly the quote, “still waters run deep.” I happened upon Trey several years ago through his spiritual awakening group. From this experience, Trey appeared to me as a wise Sage. Trey is accepting and patient with people. His demeanor is calm and loving. For me, it was evident that the stillness of Trey’s soul, is like a shimmering river that runs endlessly, with much depth. With celebration, I am blessed for having him as a friend. ” ~ John K.
(Read More at http://www.treycarland.com)
Wednesday, Jan. 22 – Documentary Film on the History of Lynching in America
- Always in Season – This 2019 film, produced and directed by Jacqueline Olive, won the Special Jury Prize for Moral Urgency at the Sundance Film Festival. Reporting on four American communities where descendants of victims and perpetrators are working together to heal, the film explores the lingering impact of more than a century of lynching African Americans and connects this form of historic racial terrorism to racial violence today – 7 p.m., Highsmith Student Union Grotto.


This group is dedicated to the growing number of people interested in Awakening to their True Nature. We explore the experience of simply Being through:
| Self-Inquiry | Presence | Surrender | Gratitude | Meditation |
• Transcend egoic mind patterns
• See the gift in challenging situations
• Live your Life’s Purpose
• Find lasting Inner Peace
Group meetings consist of Meditation, Video Satsang (watching videos of spiritual teachers) and a Sharing Circle (optional).
Donations of any amount are welcomed. No one will be turned away due to lack of funds. (Donate online at https://tinyurl.com/awakeningsupport)
About the Facilitator:
Trey Carland, author of “A Seeker’s Guide to Inner Peace: Notes to Self,” has been hosting Awakening group meetings since 2007. “My passion is sharing the gift of Awakening with the World.”
Comments:
“Trey Carland embodies perfectly the quote, “still waters run deep.” I happened upon Trey several years ago through his spiritual awakening group. From this experience, Trey appeared to me as a wise Sage. Trey is accepting and patient with people. His demeanor is calm and loving. For me, it was evident that the stillness of Trey’s soul, is like a shimmering river that runs endlessly, with much depth. With celebration, I am blessed for having him as a friend. ” ~ John K.
(Read More at http://www.treycarland.com)
Connection. A word that by definition means to join together to establish a link, so as to provide access and communication. Connect Beyond Festival has established that link and is using music, film, and storytelling to create connections. More than just an event, Connect Beyond Festival is a movement to develop a network of people inspired by creative mediums and united in the pursuit of equality and social justice. Our goal is to inspire a sense of community and personal engagement.
Lauded as “Asheville’s version of SXSW” (Ashvegas) this event is perfect for those who are looking for a more dynamic festival experience – one that prioritizes exploration and participation just as much as entertainment. If you’re looking to broaden your horizons, to engage with others, and want to leave a festival with more than just a hangover, Connect Beyond Festival is just the place to be.

This group is dedicated to the growing number of people interested in Awakening to their True Nature. We explore the experience of simply Being through:
| Self-Inquiry | Presence | Surrender | Gratitude | Meditation |
• Transcend egoic mind patterns
• See the gift in challenging situations
• Live your Life’s Purpose
• Find lasting Inner Peace
Group meetings consist of Meditation, Video Satsang (watching videos of spiritual teachers) and a Sharing Circle (optional).
Donations of any amount are welcomed. No one will be turned away due to lack of funds. (Donate online at https://tinyurl.com/awakeningsupport)
About the Facilitator:
Trey Carland, author of “A Seeker’s Guide to Inner Peace: Notes to Self,” has been hosting Awakening group meetings since 2007. “My passion is sharing the gift of Awakening with the World.”
Comments:
“Trey Carland embodies perfectly the quote, “still waters run deep.” I happened upon Trey several years ago through his spiritual awakening group. From this experience, Trey appeared to me as a wise Sage. Trey is accepting and patient with people. His demeanor is calm and loving. For me, it was evident that the stillness of Trey’s soul, is like a shimmering river that runs endlessly, with much depth. With celebration, I am blessed for having him as a friend. ” ~ John K.
(Read More at http://www.treycarland.com)
Connection. A word that by definition means to join together to establish a link, so as to provide access and communication. Connect Beyond Festival has established that link and is using music, film, and storytelling to create connections. More than just an event, Connect Beyond Festival is a movement to develop a network of people inspired by creative mediums and united in the pursuit of equality and social justice. Our goal is to inspire a sense of community and personal engagement.
Lauded as “Asheville’s version of SXSW” (Ashvegas) this event is perfect for those who are looking for a more dynamic festival experience – one that prioritizes exploration and participation just as much as entertainment. If you’re looking to broaden your horizons, to engage with others, and want to leave a festival with more than just a hangover, Connect Beyond Festival is just the place to be.
Connection. A word that by definition means to join together to establish a link, so as to provide access and communication. Connect Beyond Festival has established that link and is using music, film, and storytelling to create connections. More than just an event, Connect Beyond Festival is a movement to develop a network of people inspired by creative mediums and united in the pursuit of equality and social justice. Our goal is to inspire a sense of community and personal engagement.
Lauded as “Asheville’s version of SXSW” (Ashvegas) this event is perfect for those who are looking for a more dynamic festival experience – one that prioritizes exploration and participation just as much as entertainment. If you’re looking to broaden your horizons, to engage with others, and want to leave a festival with more than just a hangover, Connect Beyond Festival is just the place to be.

This group is dedicated to the growing number of people interested in Awakening to their True Nature. We explore the experience of simply Being through:
| Self-Inquiry | Presence | Surrender | Gratitude | Meditation |
• Transcend egoic mind patterns
• See the gift in challenging situations
• Live your Life’s Purpose
• Find lasting Inner Peace
Group meetings consist of Meditation, Video Satsang (watching videos of spiritual teachers) and a Sharing Circle (optional).
Donations of any amount are welcomed. No one will be turned away due to lack of funds. (Donate online at https://tinyurl.com/awakeningsupport)
About the Facilitator:
Trey Carland, author of “A Seeker’s Guide to Inner Peace: Notes to Self,” has been hosting Awakening group meetings since 2007. “My passion is sharing the gift of Awakening with the World.”
Comments:
“Trey Carland embodies perfectly the quote, “still waters run deep.” I happened upon Trey several years ago through his spiritual awakening group. From this experience, Trey appeared to me as a wise Sage. Trey is accepting and patient with people. His demeanor is calm and loving. For me, it was evident that the stillness of Trey’s soul, is like a shimmering river that runs endlessly, with much depth. With celebration, I am blessed for having him as a friend. ” ~ John K.
(Read More at http://www.treycarland.com)
Connection. A word that by definition means to join together to establish a link, so as to provide access and communication. Connect Beyond Festival has established that link and is using music, film, and storytelling to create connections. More than just an event, Connect Beyond Festival is a movement to develop a network of people inspired by creative mediums and united in the pursuit of equality and social justice. Our goal is to inspire a sense of community and personal engagement.
Lauded as “Asheville’s version of SXSW” (Ashvegas) this event is perfect for those who are looking for a more dynamic festival experience – one that prioritizes exploration and participation just as much as entertainment. If you’re looking to broaden your horizons, to engage with others, and want to leave a festival with more than just a hangover, Connect Beyond Festival is just the place to be.
We hold space for the discovery of inner peace and stillness through the full embodiment of experience. When we accept and allow all of our thoughts, emotions, and sensations, and hold those with stillness, the elements merge and become something new. This healing practice embraces all of you- your anger, jealousy, desire, joy, and self loathing- – and cultivates a deeper integration towards wholeness. Our offerings have a strong focus on integrating the practice into daily living through exploring movement, song, dance, eating, loving, etc. Join Keli and Karin for an introduction to this healing practice of Embodying It All.
This free event has a cap of 8 people. Please register to reserve your spot. https://forms.gle/utLKcfCEeowzP2i48
Connection. A word that by definition means to join together to establish a link, so as to provide access and communication. Connect Beyond Festival has established that link and is using music, film, and storytelling to create connections. More than just an event, Connect Beyond Festival is a movement to develop a network of people inspired by creative mediums and united in the pursuit of equality and social justice. Our goal is to inspire a sense of community and personal engagement.
Lauded as “Asheville’s version of SXSW” (Ashvegas) this event is perfect for those who are looking for a more dynamic festival experience – one that prioritizes exploration and participation just as much as entertainment. If you’re looking to broaden your horizons, to engage with others, and want to leave a festival with more than just a hangover, Connect Beyond Festival is just the place to be.

This group is dedicated to the growing number of people interested in Awakening to their True Nature. We explore the experience of simply Being through:
| Self-Inquiry | Presence | Surrender | Gratitude | Meditation |
• Transcend egoic mind patterns
• See the gift in challenging situations
• Live your Life’s Purpose
• Find lasting Inner Peace
Group meetings consist of Meditation, Video Satsang (watching videos of spiritual teachers) and a Sharing Circle (optional).
Donations of any amount are welcomed. No one will be turned away due to lack of funds. (Donate online at https://tinyurl.com/awakeningsupport)
About the Facilitator:
Trey Carland, author of “A Seeker’s Guide to Inner Peace: Notes to Self,” has been hosting Awakening group meetings since 2007. “My passion is sharing the gift of Awakening with the World.”
Comments:
“Trey Carland embodies perfectly the quote, “still waters run deep.” I happened upon Trey several years ago through his spiritual awakening group. From this experience, Trey appeared to me as a wise Sage. Trey is accepting and patient with people. His demeanor is calm and loving. For me, it was evident that the stillness of Trey’s soul, is like a shimmering river that runs endlessly, with much depth. With celebration, I am blessed for having him as a friend. ” ~ John K.
(Read More at http://www.treycarland.com)
Connection. A word that by definition means to join together to establish a link, so as to provide access and communication. Connect Beyond Festival has established that link and is using music, film, and storytelling to create connections. More than just an event, Connect Beyond Festival is a movement to develop a network of people inspired by creative mediums and united in the pursuit of equality and social justice. Our goal is to inspire a sense of community and personal engagement.
Lauded as “Asheville’s version of SXSW” (Ashvegas) this event is perfect for those who are looking for a more dynamic festival experience – one that prioritizes exploration and participation just as much as entertainment. If you’re looking to broaden your horizons, to engage with others, and want to leave a festival with more than just a hangover, Connect Beyond Festival is just the place to be.
You’re invited to The Collider’s Monthly Movie Night! For our first movie night, we’re excited to partner with Dogwood Alliance to bring you the award-winning documentary, Burned: Are Trees the New Coal?, an exposé of the biomass electric power industry. Come ready to learn about the threats forests across the South are facing from the biomass industry, and the people and policies responsible for its greenwashing. We’ll have snacks, drinks, and a Q+A with Dogwood Alliance’s Conservation Scientist, Sam Davis.
A life-long treehugger, Sam earned a Ph.D. in Environmental Science in 2015 at Wright State University and completed a postdoc at University of California Merced before leaving academia for greener forests. They are thrilled to be translating science into action with Dogwood Alliance.
The award-winning documentary tells the story of the accelerating destruction of our forests for fuel and probes the policy loopholes, huge subsidies, and blatant green washing of the biomass power industry. A dedicated group of forest activists, ecologists, climate scientists, and concerned citizens fight to establish the enormous value of our forests, protect their communities, debunk this false solution to climate change, and alter energy policy both in the US and abroad.
This film is more relevant to North Carolinians than ever before, with Enviva — the world’s largest wood pellet manufacturer — rapidly expanding its polluting, forest-destroying facilities across the state.
Connection. A word that by definition means to join together to establish a link, so as to provide access and communication. Connect Beyond Festival has established that link and is using music, film, and storytelling to create connections. More than just an event, Connect Beyond Festival is a movement to develop a network of people inspired by creative mediums and united in the pursuit of equality and social justice. Our goal is to inspire a sense of community and personal engagement.
Lauded as “Asheville’s version of SXSW” (Ashvegas) this event is perfect for those who are looking for a more dynamic festival experience – one that prioritizes exploration and participation just as much as entertainment. If you’re looking to broaden your horizons, to engage with others, and want to leave a festival with more than just a hangover, Connect Beyond Festival is just the place to be.
Mystical Night Market presented by The Guild of Sacred Arts. Join us for a celebration of the mind, body, and spirit. Local readers, healers, and makers will be offering: astrological readings, intuitive/psychic/medium readings, Akashic Records and animal communication readings, Reiki/energy healings, transformational coaching, local art, Reiki-infused jewelry, fairy hair, natural soaps, apothecary items, and more.
No entry fees! Raffle prizes! Come join us for a night of fun!
A screening of the 2018 documentary “Power to Heal: Medicare and the Civil Rights Revolution,” followed by a group discussion.

This group is dedicated to the growing number of people interested in Awakening to their True Nature. We explore the experience of simply Being through:
| Self-Inquiry | Presence | Surrender | Gratitude | Meditation |
• Transcend egoic mind patterns
• See the gift in challenging situations
• Live your Life’s Purpose
• Find lasting Inner Peace
Group meetings consist of Meditation, Video Satsang (watching videos of spiritual teachers) and a Sharing Circle (optional).
Donations of any amount are welcomed. No one will be turned away due to lack of funds. (Donate online at https://tinyurl.com/awakeningsupport)
About the Facilitator:
Trey Carland, author of “A Seeker’s Guide to Inner Peace: Notes to Self,” has been hosting Awakening group meetings since 2007. “My passion is sharing the gift of Awakening with the World.”
Comments:
“Trey Carland embodies perfectly the quote, “still waters run deep.” I happened upon Trey several years ago through his spiritual awakening group. From this experience, Trey appeared to me as a wise Sage. Trey is accepting and patient with people. His demeanor is calm and loving. For me, it was evident that the stillness of Trey’s soul, is like a shimmering river that runs endlessly, with much depth. With celebration, I am blessed for having him as a friend. ” ~ John K.
(Read More at http://www.treycarland.com)
This poetic film—shown in 3D—traces choreographer Merce Cunningham’s artistic evolution over three decades of risk and discovery (1944–1972), from his early years as a struggling dancer in post-WWII New York to his emergence as one of the most visionary and influential choreographers worldwide. Introduction and Q&A with Hilary Schroeder, assistant curator.
“What Kovgan’s utterly transporting film does, through a thoughtful and dynamic combination of curated material and new performances, is radiate the rapturous power of dance.”
—The Hollywood Reporter




