The SPARC Foundation empowers marginalized people with individualized support; increasing self-sufficiency, family health and community safety. Our mission is to keep residents of Western North Carolina out of institutional care. SPARC’s programs focus on: – keeping adults out of prisons and mental health facilities – keeping children out of foster care or group homes – re-educating domestic abusers; teaching them new methods of interacting with intimate partners and family members – supervising and facilitating DSS court-ordered family visits and coaching parents as they learn new parenting skills – ensuring access to nutritious, free food for low income residents living in designated “food desserts” – offering Family Centered Treatment; in-home therapy designed to support reuniting families – assisting former inmates with employment, education and housing opportunities to increase their chances of success upon re-entering society and decrease recidivism www.thesparcfoundation.org
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.
Saturday, September
28, 2019
Awakening The Dreamer Symposium
Monarch Butterfly Day at Arboretum
Meet the Creator of Denton the Dragon!
Hendersonville Oktoberfest
Nuts as Staple Foods Workshop
Art opening at Flood Gallery: “Minimalia: The Commonwealth of Sentiments.” Photography & Poetry by Oğuz Erdur
The Ramble Fall Concert Biltmore Forest
Pride. Karaoke. Love.
The Awakening the Dreamer Symposium is a 3.5-hour transformative workshop that explores the challenges facing humanity at this critical moment in time—and the opportunities we as a human family have to create a new future.
The Symposium has been delivered by skilled volunteer Facilitators to hundreds of thousands of participants in over 80 countries since 2005.
A Transformative Personal Journey
In the Symposium, you’ll look squarely at the state of the world—where we are and how we got here—and then explore what role you can play in bringing forth an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling, socially just human presence on this planet.
The Symposium consists of presentation segments, short high-quality videos, and experiential exercises. There will be an optional 30-minute discussion following the main presentation on opportunities and resources for meaningful local engagement.
The event is free of charge.
Known for their stately colors and elegant wings, millions of monarch butterflies travel more than 2,000 miles from across North America to Mexico each fall, where they cluster in about a dozen small areas. Unfortunately, the monarch population has declined from 556 million in 2004 to a historic low of 33.5 million in 2014. This is due to the butterflies’ dramatic loss of habitat and food sources, including the milkweed plant.
As part of a national effort to stave off the decline of monarch butterflies, The North Carolina Arboretum will host its fifth annual Monarch Butterfly Day on Saturday, September 28, inside the Arboretum’s Education Center and throughout its gardens. As part of this free event, participants will learn ways to help monarch butterflies, have the opportunity to purchase milkweed, create make-and-take butterfly crafts and witness monarch butterfly releases.
Bring the kids and have a fun afternoon with face painting, children’s books and a dragon puppet! Jeff will be signing copies of “The Last Dragon and Other Tales” for purchase.
Celebrate Oktoberfest in Hendersonville with games, food, music, and of course great beer! Things to do for all ages. Small entrance fee at gate. You don’t want to miss this event!
Nut based agroforestry offers a huge potential to increase the ecosystem functions of human habitats. Osker Brown, of Glorious Forest, will discuss all aspects of harvest, storage, processing, and culinary use of acorns, hazelnuts, chestnuts, hickories, and black walnuts. We will show and tell tools and methods for processing, and sample some treats. We will also cover tending wild habitats for these crops, as well as cultivation of them in managed landscapes, and integration with livestock and annual cropping systems.
“Minimalia: The Commonwealth of Sentiments.”
Photography & Poetry by Oğuz Erdur
Also showing:
Sculptural & Functional Ceramics by Joey Sheehan
Opening reception – Sept. 28 • 6-9 pm
Exhibit through Dec. 30
“Minimalia: The Commonwealth of Sentiments.” is a new photographic exhibit of dream-like, surreal experimentations and poetry by Oğuz Erdur, assistant professor of anthropology at UNC Asheville, from Istanbul, Turkey. The collection of micro-photography images were made with a lensbaby lens. Lensbaby is a line of camera lenses for SLR cameras that combine a simple lens with a bellows or ball and socket mechanism for use in special-effect photography, often used in selective focus photography and bokeh effects. Featuring a hybrid collection of poems, photographic close-ups and prose reflections, the exhibition centers on themes of existential angst and the quest for meaning. Erdur will also be reading his poetry at the exhibit opening.
Joey Sheehan began his study in clay over 14 years ago when he received a BFA in ceramics from Virginia Tech. He completed a 2 year residency at the Odyssey Center and another year there as the studio technician, and has been making pots in Western North Carolina ever since. Sheehan is extremely interested in classical shapes and forms but with a contemporary look at surface. He works to build a relationship between the shape, function, and surface of each piece while also telling a story of the firing process. His work has been shown all over the eastern US and he is a member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild and the Piedmont Craftsman.
Join Aloft Asheville Downtown on Saturday, September 28 from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. for a night of fun, laughs and karaoke! Hosted by local comedian Betsy Puckett, Pride. Karaoke. Love. is an event you won’t want to miss.
And, all weekend long, Aloft Asheville Downtown will be hosting an information desk to answer all your questions. Stop by and be sure to check out these other awesome events happening all weekend long!
Movies & Mixers – Thursday, September 26
Catch a movie at the Fine Arts Theater then head over to Aloft for a fun-filled mixer! Tickets are $20 and include a complimentary drink.
DJ at W xyz Lounge – Friday, September 27
Enjoy an evening of music and fun at w xyz Lounge.
Blue Ridge Pride Festival – Saturday, September 28
Stop by the information booth during the Blue Ridge Pride festival with all your questions! Even better, there will be w xyz gift cards up for grabs!
Green Man Brewing IPA Special – Thursday, September 26 – Sunday, September 29
Stop by for a refreshing glass of Green Man Brewing Luv All Brut IPA. Receive a complimentary Green Man Brewery pint glass and Green Man Pride sticker for every 16oz Luv All Brut IPA purchased. The best part? All sales go to Blue Ridge Partner Fund!
Call (828)232-2838 for more details. We hope to see you there!
Sunday, September
29, 2019
Asheville Quilt Show
Youth Art Competition Application Deadline October 1, 2019
Longhorne Slim and The Lost at Last Band
Jack of the Wood : Sunday-Irish Session
The New Mastersounds
The 37th Asheville Quilt Show includes Demonstrations, Gift shop, Silent Auction, Special Exhibits, Kids Sewing, Quilts for Sale, Opportunity Quilt and food on site. Over 300 quilts from across the country will be exhibited.
Hot Works 4th Asheville Fine Art Show, October 26 & 27, 2019 takes place in Pack Square Park, downtown Asheville. This art show is juried by art professionals and brings artists to sell his/her art in all discipline including paintings, sculpture, clay, glass, fiber, jewelry, wood and more. All art is original and personally handmade by the artist who is present at the show. There is something for everyone, in all price ranges. You will see many artists at this show who do not attend other shows in North Carolina or South Carolina.
As part of our commitment to bring art education into the community, a Youth Art Competition for grades K-8 or ages 5-13 is integrated within a 10×20 space at the Asheville Fine Art Show. Sponsored by Institute for the Arts & Education, the associated 501c3 non-profit organization, all students in grades K-8 or ages 5-13 are encouraged to enter his/her original and personally handmade art that will be publicly displayed in the art show the entire weekend. On Sunday, October 27 at 3pm, there is $250 in youth art awards presented. Students are exposed to the rules and entrepreneurship opportunity of doing art shows for a living. The program brings families to the art show and exposes them to great art.
Please join us for an afternoon of live music, beer, food and comradery! This event is a fundraiser for Fernleaf Community Charter School. 50% of ticket sales will go to directly serve the schools mission which can be found here http://www.fernleafccs.org. Children 12 and under are free and do not require a ticket.
Schedule
1:00 PM- Gates Open
2:00 PM- Hayley Jane
3:15 PM- The David Mayfield Parade
4:30 PM – Jill Andrews
6:00 PM- Langhorne Slim and The Lost at Last Band
Jack of the Wood : Sunday-Irish Session
Sundays
1 till who knows when?
Traditional Irish music is kept alive at Jack of the Wood with our unplugged Sunday session.
Jack of the Wood
95 Patton ave
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 252.5445
Touting the release of their new album, “Shake It,” and celebrating an epic 20-year-run
Monday, September
30, 2019
Youth Art Competition Application Deadline October 1, 2019
Hot Works 4th Asheville Fine Art Show, October 26 & 27, 2019 takes place in Pack Square Park, downtown Asheville. This art show is juried by art professionals and brings artists to sell his/her art in all discipline including paintings, sculpture, clay, glass, fiber, jewelry, wood and more. All art is original and personally handmade by the artist who is present at the show. There is something for everyone, in all price ranges. You will see many artists at this show who do not attend other shows in North Carolina or South Carolina.
As part of our commitment to bring art education into the community, a Youth Art Competition for grades K-8 or ages 5-13 is integrated within a 10×20 space at the Asheville Fine Art Show. Sponsored by Institute for the Arts & Education, the associated 501c3 non-profit organization, all students in grades K-8 or ages 5-13 are encouraged to enter his/her original and personally handmade art that will be publicly displayed in the art show the entire weekend. On Sunday, October 27 at 3pm, there is $250 in youth art awards presented. Students are exposed to the rules and entrepreneurship opportunity of doing art shows for a living. The program brings families to the art show and exposes them to great art.
Tuesday, October
1, 2019
Council on Aging Offers Free Medicare Classes August-September
Motionless In White: The Trick ‘R Treat Tour
The Council on Aging of Buncombe County in conjunction with the N.C. Department of Insurance’s Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) announces its classes “Introduction to Medicare – Understanding the Puzzle” for August – September 2019. The classes will explain how Medicare works, the enrollment process, how to avoid penalties, and ways to save money.
The classes are free and open to the public.
Residents who are new to Medicare, caregivers, and others who help senior citizens with their Medicare insurance should consider attending this informative class. The information presented is unbiased and accurate. No products are sold, recommended, or endorsed.
Medicare Classes: August – September 2019
- Aug. 21, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. PM Blue Ridge Health, 2579 Chimney Rock Rd, Hendersonville
- Aug. 23, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Goodwill, 1616 Patton Ave, Asheville
- Aug. 28, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 150 Brian Berg Dr, Brevard
- Sept. 5, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Reuter YMCA, 3 Town Square Blvd, Asheville
- Sept. 13, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. OLLI/Reuter Center, UNCA, One University Heights, Asheville
- Sept. 17, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Woodfin YMCA, 40 N Merrimon Ave #101, Asheville
- Sept. 20, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Goodwill, 1616 Patton Ave, Asheville
- Sept. 25, 2 p.m.- 4 p.m. Black Mountain YMCA, 25 Jane Jacobs Rd, Black Mountain
- Oct. 1, 2 p.m.- 4 p.m. Ferguson YMCA, 31 Westridge Market Pl, Candler
Support:
We Came As Romans
After The Burial
Twiztid
An industrial city situated in Northeastern Pennsylvania, you could say Scranton quietly prides itself on a tried-and-true Rust Belt blue-collar work ethic.
For their fourth full-length album and first for Roadrunner Records Graveyard Shift, Motionless In White-Chris Motionless [Vocals], Ricky Horror [Guitar], Ryan Sitkowski [Guitar], Ghost [Bass], and Vinny Mauro [Drums]-dug into the roots of their hometown’s pervasive attitude.
“We’re a band that came out of the small town blue-collar spirit,” affirms Chris. “We put ten years into growing this and working hard to do what we love the most. We look forward to putting in another ten. Both the area we come from and the fan base brought us to this point. Graveyard Shift is all about that work ethic. It’s been instilled in us. Early on, we realized if you give the time and effort to chase a dream, it’s possible to achieve it by the sheer amount of drive and passion you have.”
Since 2006, that ethos has fueled Motionless In White’s rise to the upper echelon of modern rock. Albums such as 2010’s Creatures and Infamous in 2012 would galvanize a rabid fan base around the quintet. During 2014, Reincarnate reached new heights, bowing at #9 on the Billboard Top 200 and claiming #1 on Billboard’s Top Rock Albums Chart. The title track and lead single turned into a Top 20 Active Rock smash and notched 13.2 million YouTube views and 9.8 million Spotify streams. Simultaneously, they have shared stages alongside everyone from Slipknot, Korn, and Breaking Benjamin to A Day To Remember and Marilyn Manson in addition to making arresting festival appearances at Warped Tour, Aftershock, Rock On The Range, Rock Allegiance, and beyond.
Ticket price includes applicable sales tax.
Wednesday, October
2, 2019
Stephen St. Claire’s “Wild Places” Opening Reception
Storytime & Art
Catch the Wave Celebration
Join AC Hotel Asheville to celebrate the arrival of Stephen St. Claire’s art series, “Wild Places.” Enjoy an exclusive look at his captivating paintings, conversation with the artist, light bites and cocktails. A percentage of all sales will go to support Children’s Welfare League. RSVP to [email protected]
Come join in the fun with stories and songs, then make a hands-on art project just for the little ones! The Education Department staff is visiting public libraries for preschool storytime at locations near your neighborhood.
Storytime & Art takes place at North Asheville Library on First Wednesdays.
Our program for preschool-aged students accompanied by an adult is at a library near you! During the school year, come join in the fun with stories and songs, then make a hands-on art project just for the little ones.
Join us for a night of celebration and fun October 2nd for our second annual Catch the Wave event hosted by RiverLink! We’ll have live music provided by The Barsters, awesome raffles, food, refreshments, and informational sessions providing updates on the project.
All proceeds from the event will help build the Greenway & Blueway so grab your friends and get ready for a good time!
For more information and tickets please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/woodfin-greenway-blueway-2nd-annual-catch-the-wave-celebration-tickets-69998580639
Special thanks to our amazing co-hosts: Asheville GreenWorks, MountainTrue, Connect Buncombe, and French Broad River Academy
RiverLink is the proud fundraising partner of the Town of Woodfin and Buncombe County Greenways.
__________________________________________________________________
AWESOME RAFFLE PRIZES
Grand Prize Items:
Homeslice Whitewater Kayak from Liquidlogic Kayaks
Raft, Zipline, Yurt Package from Wildwater Ltd.
Bike from Motion Makers Bicycle Shop
Jackson Cruise FlexDrive Fishing Kayak from Southern Raft Supply
Alloy Rim Wheelset and stem by Industry Nine
There will also be a dozen additional runner-up prizes
There will be a separate drawings for each. Raffle participants will put their ticket(s) toward whichever item(s) they wish.
**** YOU NEED NOT BE PRESENT TO WIN**** For those unable to attend the event, tickets for the raffle may be purchased online, and we’ll enter them for you. Winners will be notified by email.
__________________________________________________________________
*Children 12 and under may attend at no charge.
Learn more about the project at https://riverlink.org/
Thursday, October
3, 2019
Protect Your Employees & Business Through Insurance Assessment Seminar
Baa’d to the Bone Shakedown Dinner 2019
Beef Butchering Class
Isis Music Hall Free Music Lawn Series
SPARC After Dark
The Gina Furtado Project Isis Music Hall
Nobuntu
The Reflection Tour with Sarah Clanton & Carrie Welling and special guest Andy Beckey
Joseph
Event Description:
Join Jared Bellmund and Mike Alessi to assess your small business insurance.
Mike will focus on health Insurance plus explore combining health, life, dental and other ancillary benefits. Updates on association health plans (AHP) that is currently in legislation.
Jared specializes in protecting businesses with the following commercial insurances: business liability, worker’s compensation, property, business auto, umbrella, errors and omissions, employment practices liability and directors/officers liability.
Mike will focus on health Insurance plus explore combining health, life, dental and other ancillary benefits. Updates on association health plans (AHP) that is currently in legislation.
Jared specializes in protecting businesses with the following commercial insurances: business liability, worker’s compensation, property, business auto, umbrella, errors and omissions, employment practices liability and directors/officers liability.
Mike Alessi is an independent health insurance agent who represents multiple carriers and plan options. Exclusively offering health insurance has positioned the agency to be very knowledgeable in the field and up to date with the constant changes in this product offering.
Jared Bellmund is with All Choice Insurance and his goal is to help others grow and prosper. His passion for helping others translates into work as an insurance agent and he wants to protect the things that matter most to his clients.
Baa’d To The Bone Shakedown Dinner 2019 -to benefit those living with blood cancers. Come enjoy the greatest tunes of several generations with The Rewind Band, enjoy some of the tastiest beverages from the famous taps of Highland Brewing Company, and fill up with the “baa’d”est of burritos from Baa’d Sheep Burritos Food Truck on October 3, 2019 at the Meadow at Highland Brewing in Asheville, North Carolina AND help those living with blood cancers! This fun, family-friendly event will be the first of many.
Watch and learn as our Head Butcher breaks down an entire front quarter of dry-aged Apple Brandy beef. In this class – Watch our head butcher completes a live demonstration of breaking down the front quarter of a steer. Learn about different beef cuts, including Denver, Chuck-Eye, Rib-Eye, Skirt Steak, and more! Discover the differences between often-confused names of popular cuts and learn about cuts you’ve probably never heard of-Learn the cooking techniques for different cuts of beef (and as you’ll discover, we’ll teach you how to maximize the meals you can cook from this section of a beef.) Enjoy local and house made charcuterie and cheeses. Sip beer from a local brewery, or enjoy a glass (or two) or our favorite wines. Take home a nice cut of beef just in time for the weekend! Take home PDF notes and recipes from the class. Early Bird Tickets – $100. Class Tickets: $110 VIP Tickets: $140 (Take home a pound of Chop Shop Bacon and your choice of a Chop Shop t-shirt or hat.)
Every Wednesday and Thursday (weather permitting) we will be featuring local bands on the Isis Lawn. Music starts at 6pm and ends at 8pm. It’s an evening of community. Bring a chair or blanket or grab one of ours that we offer.
Thursday, Oct 3rd :: 6:00PM :: Matt Fassas Trio
Wednesday, Oct 9th :: 6:00PM :: Upland Drive
Thursday, Oct 10th :: 6:00PM :: Pimps of Pompe
Wednesday, Oct 16th :: 6:00PM :: Queen Bee and the Honeylovers
Thursday, Oct 17th :: 6:00PM :: Fwuit!
Let your little light shine for The SPARC Foundation as we sparkle and glow (feel free to wear your boldest and brightest) along the French Broad River! Hosted by Asheville Affiliates, SPARC After Dark will light up the night to raise funds for programs working to keep people out of institutional care. Modern Strangers will fill the autumn air with high-energy music… and the event will overflow with tasty local food and drinks from Urban Orchard, Roots Hummus, Catabaw Brewing, Mellow Mushroom, and more. Expect spectacular raffle packages and local prizes.
The SPARC Foundation
Venue: Lounge
Genre: Acoustic, Bluegrass, Jazz, Swing
Nobuntu — Thursday, October 3, 2019, 8 p.m. The five voices of Nobuntu echo with power and intensity, emanating pure joy while embodying the spirit of the artists’ Zimbabwe home. An all-female a cappella vocal quintet, Nobuntu draws international acclaim for its inventive performances that are accompanied by minimalistic percussion, traditional instruments and organic, authentic dance movements
Venue: The Main Stage
Genre: Blues, Folk Rock, Pop/Rock
October 3, 2019 9:00 PM
Doors Open: 8:00 PM
Doors Open: 8:00 PM
Meet Jo package includes:
-One general admission ticket with early entry to see Joseph live
-Meet & greet / photo opportunity with Joseph
-Invitation to a special pre-show experience, featuring:
-Private 2-song performance
-Q&A session with Joseph
-Access to a cash bar*
-An autographed merchandise gift custom designed by the band
-Early merchandise shopping opportunity before general doors
*Local liquor laws apply
-One general admission ticket with early entry to see Joseph live
-Meet & greet / photo opportunity with Joseph
-Invitation to a special pre-show experience, featuring:
-Private 2-song performance
-Q&A session with Joseph
-Access to a cash bar*
-An autographed merchandise gift custom designed by the band
-Early merchandise shopping opportunity before general doors
*Local liquor laws apply
Support:
THAD
Ages 18+
There is nothing like the sound of siblings singing together. Whether it’s the Beach Boys or the Everly Brothers-or, more recently, First Aid Kit-absorbing the same breathing rhythms and speech patterns adds an element to vocal harmonies that can be pure magic. With the release of I’m Alone, No You’re Not, the mesmerizing, hypnotic sound of the trio known as Joseph-made up of sisters Allison, Meegan, and Natalie Closner-joins this elite company.
“It’s just second nature, like a fifth limb that’s already on you,” says first-born Natalie. “There’s an ability to anticipate what’s going to happen and blend with it. When Meegan and Allison sing, they know exactly what I’m going to do and when.”
But the Closners didn’t actually start singing together when they were growing up in Oregon, the children of artistic parents (their dad was a jazz singer and drummer, their mom a theater teacher). Natalie was the performer-“the older sister who stood on the edge of the fireplace and told everyone, ‘Watch me!,'” she says. Twins Meegan and Allison stayed out of her lane, joining in for their mother’s musical theater productions but otherwise avoiding the spotlight.
Ticket price includes applicable sales tax.
Friday, October
4, 2019
‘Mountain Top Polka Band’ Oktoberfest Tour Dates
RETR3AT Cybersecurity Conference
August 23, Appalachian Ridge Hard Cidery in Hendersonville
August 24, HiWire Brewing Company at the Big Top
Sept. 22, UpCountry Brewing on Haywood Road
Sept. 28, Southern Appalachian Brewery in Hendersonville
Oct. 4, Garden Deli in Burnsville
Oct. 6, Emmanuel Lutheran Church and School in West Asheville
Oct. 10, Highland Brewing Company and
Oct. 20, Saint Paul Mountain Vineyard in Hendersonville
On October 4, 2019, Montreat College’s Center for Cybersecurity Education and Leadership will host RETR3AT, a conference designed to engage, educate, and raise awareness about cybersecurity in Western North Carolina and beyond. In its fifth year, RETR3AT goes beyond the “1s and 0s” approach to cybersecurity training, challenging attendees to think about how to lead in protecting their organization’s information within an ethical framework.