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.
Comedian Michael Palascak
Live at The Mothlight
Sunday, January 19th
Doors 7pm
Tickets: $15
Michael Palascak was named the 2018 Stand-up of the Year by the Late Nite Last Week podcast for his performance on The Late Late Show with James Corden. He’s also done stand-up on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, CONAN, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Letterman, Comedy Central’s HALF HOUR, was a top 5 Finalist on LAST COMIC STANDING, and this past summer he performed at Montreal’s Just For Laughs Comedy Festival where he taped a set for Kevin Hart’s LOL network. Norm Macdonald said Michael reminds him, “…of a guy that’s just as funny offstage as on, which is like magic.” Michael’s short film You’re Alive was accepted into numerous festivals including the Hollywood Comedy Shorts Festival and was the winner of the Audience Award at the Chicago Comedy Film Festival.
http://www.michaelpalascak.com/
Featuring James Harrod and Kelly Morgan
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.
Jeena Bloom is a transgender comic that SiriusXM once described as “the unicorniest unicorn in New York City.” She brings a wild and profane sense of humor along with bracing honesty to the stage. Jeena has been featured on Comedy Central, Viceland, SiriusXM, Vulture and on the popular podcast Guys We Fucked. She is the winner of the 2018 Harlem Comedy Festival and can now be seen dividing her time between Los Angeles and New York and everywhere in between.
Tickets $7 advance, $10 day of
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/comedy-at-fleetwoods-jeena-bloom-tickets-84782925011
We know special events and festivals have long been employed as powerful tools in supporting business, motivating entrepreneurship, and promoting the arts. Additionally, the City of Asheville is focusing on special events and how they can help build an equitable and inclusive community. But government doesn’t just change on its own. What internal and external efforts are needed to maximize returns? Hear from the City’s Outdoor Special Events office about their collaborations with the City’s Office of Equity & Inclusion. Learn about the confines we’re all working within as community members, and why it takes an inside effort within government to push forward. Where are your opportunities to create and participate in special events that help build an equitable and inclusive community?
Speakers: City of Asheville Outdoor Event Manager Jon Fillman and Business Inclusion Manager Rosanna Mulcahy
Blaire Erskine is a weekend regular at Atlanta’s Laughing Skull Lounge, where she entertains audiences with silly observations and stories inspired by her eccentric family, rural upbringing, and love for cats. When she’s not telling jokes in Atlanta, you can catch her performing at venues all across the Southeast.
Tickets $7 advance, $10 day of
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/comedy-at-fleetwoods-blaire-erskine-tickets-86017437471
Are you ready to be on stage? We’re looking for 10-14 people to be in our next Mainstage play!
This script is adapted from Louisa May Alcott’s novel by Scott Davidson and is directed by Julie Wharton. Copies of the script are available to check out at the ACT Box Office (a $10 deposit is required which will be returned when you bring back the script). The pages you’ll read at the auditions are posted on our website so that you can download and read in advance!
If you’ve never auditioned at ACT before and aren’t sure what to expect, take a look at What to Expect at ACT Auditions!
Are you ready to be on stage? We’re looking for 10-14 people to be in our next Mainstage play!
This script is adapted from Louisa May Alcott’s novel by Scott Davidson and is directed by Julie Wharton. Copies of the script are available to check out at the ACT Box Office (a $10 deposit is required which will be returned when you bring back the script). The pages you’ll read at the auditions are posted on our website so that you can download and read in advance!
If you’ve never auditioned at ACT before and aren’t sure what to expect, take a look at What to Expect at ACT Auditions!
GILBERT LAWAND is a Brooklyn based comedian by way of Atlanta. You can see him performing all over the New York City area at some of the best shows such as Night Train, the Knitting Factory, and Bar Matchless as well as comedy clubs like Caroline’s, Gotham, New York Comedy Club, and the Creek and the Cave. He also produces the annual Red Clay Comedy Festival which takes place in Atlanta every September. Gilbert has performed in several festivals including Bridgetown, High Plains, and the Laughing Skull Festival where he was a finalist in 2015. He’s a frequent opener for Rory Scovel and has also opened for Dave Chappelle.
ages 18+
Tickets $10 advance, $12 day of
FRIDAY: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-gilbert-lawand-friday-tickets-89416522225
SATURDAY: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-gilbert-lawand-saturday-tickets-89418100947
GILBERT LAWAND is a Brooklyn based comedian by way of Atlanta. You can see him performing all over the New York City area at some of the best shows such as Night Train, the Knitting Factory, and Bar Matchless as well as comedy clubs like Caroline’s, Gotham, New York Comedy Club, and the Creek and the Cave. He also produces the annual Red Clay Comedy Festival which takes place in Atlanta every September. Gilbert has performed in several festivals including Bridgetown, High Plains, and the Laughing Skull Festival where he was a finalist in 2015. He’s a frequent opener for Rory Scovel and has also opened for Dave Chappelle.
ages 18+
Tickets $10 advance, $12 day of
FRIDAY: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-gilbert-lawand-friday-tickets-89416522225
SATURDAY: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-gilbert-lawand-saturday-tickets-89418100947
Aaron Naylor is a stand-up comedian from Kansas City, MO. He won the 2014 Kansas City’s Local Comic Standing, the 2017 Funniest Person in Wichita Competition, placed 2nd in the 2016 Cleveland Comedy Festival, and has performed at SF Sketchfest, Blue Whale Comedy Festival, Cape Fear Comedy Festival, Trial by Laughter, Asheville Comedy Festival and many other festivals. He has opened for real people who do this for a living.
Featuring Ryan Trickey
Tickets $7 advance, $10 day of
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/comedy-at-fleetwoods-aaron-naylor-tickets-84685056283
The Comedy Show will see the historic YMI Cultural Center expand its program offerings to include a monthly night of gut-wrenching laughter featuring comedians of color. Presented in partnership with JAWBREAKING.xyz and Modelface Comedy & Events, The Comedy Show will be a night of comedy on the YMI’s main stage, featuring rising comedy stars from all over the country.
February’s show will be hosted by Asheville comic Petey Smith-McDowell and feature Tiffany Anderson, Kourtlyn Wiggins and Comedy Central’s Mia Jackson.
Mia Jackson is a bonafide Georgia peach (that’s Georgian for “native”) and self proclaimed know-it-all. After graduating from the University of Georgia she hit the local comedy scene and has thrilled audiences since day one. To her credit she has appeared on NickMom’s Night Out, Viceland and was a semi-finalist on Season 9 of NBC’s Last Comic Standing. She has appeared on Inside Amy Schumer and the movie Mother’s Day. In 2017, she was named a New Face at the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal and Atlanta’s Creative Loafing named her the city’s Best Stand-Up. Her Comedy Central Half Hour special premiered this past fall. Smart, funny, and versatile, Mia entertains all types of crowds.
ages 18+
Tickets $20 advance, $25 day of
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-comedy-show-tickets-89938018033
Joe Zimmerman grew up in Morgantown, West Virginia, and started his comedy career in North Carolina. While living in the South, his stand-up group the Beards of Comedy landed a record deal with Comedy Central Records. He moved to New York City in 2012, quickly appearing on The Late Late Show and John Oliver’s New York Stand-Up Show, as well as performing at Montreal’s prestigious Just for Laughs festival. His resume has since grown to include The Tonight Show, Conan, Nickelodeon, Last Comic Standing, and his own Comedy Central Half Hour. Joe’s solo album Smiling at Wolves reached number two on the iTunes comedy charts and is played regularly on SiriusXM. (His second, Innocence, is due this summer on Comedy Central Records.) He has also contributed humor pieces to The New York Times.
Joe’s new podcast, “A Great Listening Experience” details his questionable attempts to attain infinite knowledge and power. Among his many podcast & radio appearances, he has recently appeared on 2 Dope Queens, The Dork Forest, Bob & Tom, The Todd Barry Podcast, and The Artie Lange Show. Joe is frequently touring, headlining clubs around the country, and occasionally opening for super stars Brian Regan and Ricky Gervais.
“The combination of Joe’s calming vocalization and inventive writing is a thing of magic. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more enjoyable show.”
-Buzzfeed
ages 18+
Tickets $12 advance, $15 day of
Friday: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-joe-zimmerman-friday-tickets-87501546481
Saturday: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-joe-zimmerman-saturday-tickets-87502748075
Joe Zimmerman grew up in Morgantown, West Virginia, and started his comedy career in North Carolina. While living in the South, his stand-up group the Beards of Comedy landed a record deal with Comedy Central Records. He moved to New York City in 2012, quickly appearing on The Late Late Show and John Oliver’s New York Stand-Up Show, as well as performing at Montreal’s prestigious Just for Laughs festival. His resume has since grown to include The Tonight Show, Conan, Nickelodeon, Last Comic Standing, and his own Comedy Central Half Hour. Joe’s solo album Smiling at Wolves reached number two on the iTunes comedy charts and is played regularly on SiriusXM. (His second, Innocence, is due this summer on Comedy Central Records.) He has also contributed humor pieces to The New York Times.
Joe’s new podcast, “A Great Listening Experience” details his questionable attempts to attain infinite knowledge and power. Among his many podcast & radio appearances, he has recently appeared on 2 Dope Queens, The Dork Forest, Bob & Tom, The Todd Barry Podcast, and The Artie Lange Show. Joe is frequently touring, headlining clubs around the country, and occasionally opening for super stars Brian Regan and Ricky Gervais.
“The combination of Joe’s calming vocalization and inventive writing is a thing of magic. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more enjoyable show.”
-Buzzfeed
ages 18+
Tickets $12 advance, $15 day of
Friday: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-joe-zimmerman-friday-tickets-87501546481
Saturday: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-joe-zimmerman-saturday-tickets-87502748075
This month’s Queer Comedy Party stars Kendall Farrell!
Kendall Farrell is a New York City based standup comedian from Vermont. He was named a ‘Comic To Watch’ at the 2019 New York Comedy Festival and will headline Caroline’s as part of their Breakout Artist series in 2020. His work has been heard on SiriusXM as well as seen in web content for Adult Swim and at comedy festivals across the country including the Brooklyn Comedy Festival, the Red Clay Comedy Festival, the Women in Comedy Festival, the 10,000 Laughs Festival, the Rogue Island Comedy Festival, and the Cream City Comedy Festival, among others.
ages 18+
Tickets $10
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/queer-comedy-party-ft-kendall-farrell-tickets-88758018623
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.
Lace Larrabee is back with another group of hilarious atlanta ladies for another weekend stand up comedy!!!
Featuring Shelby Tesio, Karen Felix, Heather Tolley-Bauer, and Karen Waygood
Sponsored by BRÖÖ Haircare
ages+
Tickets $12, VIP $18
FRIDAY 2/28
GA: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-totally-exhausted-women-friday-tickets-87848750979
VIP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vip-lazoom-comedy-totally-exhausted-women-friday-vip-tickets-87849198317
SATURDAY 2/29
GA: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-totally-exhausted-women-saturday-tickets-87849711853
VIP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-totally-exhausted-women-saturday-vip-tickets-87849878351
VIP tickets come with a bag of BRÖÖ Craft Beer Hair products worth $15!!!
Lace Larrabee is back with another group of hilarious atlanta ladies for another weekend stand up comedy!!!
Featuring Shelby Tesio, Karen Felix, Heather Tolley-Bauer, and Karen Waygood
Sponsored by BRÖÖ Haircare
ages+
Tickets $12, VIP $18
FRIDAY 2/28
GA: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-totally-exhausted-women-friday-tickets-87848750979
VIP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vip-lazoom-comedy-totally-exhausted-women-friday-vip-tickets-87849198317
SATURDAY 2/29
GA: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-totally-exhausted-women-saturday-tickets-87849711853
VIP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-totally-exhausted-women-saturday-vip-tickets-87849878351
VIP tickets come with a bag of BRÖÖ Craft Beer Hair products worth $15!!!
Cherith Fuller is a writer and comedian in Atlanta, GA. She performs regularly at clubs across the country like the Laughing Skull Lounge and The Comedy Attic, and has opened for everyone from Big Jay Oakerson to Moshe Kasher to Janeane Garofalo. She has written for Reductress and been featured on Audible. She has also performed at the Limestone Comedy Festival, the Laughing Skull Comedy festival, and Gilda’s Laughfest among others.
Tickets $7 advance, $10 day of
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/comedy-at-fleetwoods-cherith-fuller-tickets-86022259895
Ramon Rivas is a laid back, largely unemotional stand up comedian, writer, actor, independent artist & eminent latino from Lorain, OH. Ramon resonates a low-fi swag with the finest taste in jokes, juices & dope experiences one can have while immaculately navigating as an ambiguously brown man in America.
Initially making a name for himself by building up the Cleveland comedy scene through ACCIDENTAL COMEDY productions while traveling around the country to cities like Chicago, New York, Los Angeles & more, Ramon eventually started garnering respect around the country for his comedic chops & sandwich acumen, being recognized by COMEDY CENTRAL as a COMIC TO WATCH in 2015 and by most bodega bois across the country.
He founded his own festival, ACCIDENTAL COMEDY FEST in 2011. The festival has grown to be one of the countries best kept secrets, and garners industry attendees & out of state visitors to Cleveland. His work and the overall growth of the Cleveland scene was featured in the documentary film MAKE FUN (2013) available now to stream on AMAZON PRIME.
Rivas made his television debut in 2016, when he was one of 17 artists selected to record THE HALF HOUR with COMEDY CENTRAL. An outlier from the middle of the country, without a manager or an agent getting that sort of opportunity gave the streets hope.
Rivas also has a burgeoning career sounding like he just woke up from a nap on TV shows, with appearances as a contestant on @MIDNIGHT twice, as a cannabis shaman on numerous segments on VICELAND & began acting seriously on S4E3 of BROAD CITY and followed that up with an appearance on S2E7 of HBO’s CRASHING. His stand up was also featured on HBO Latino’s stand up special ENTRE NOS.
You can catch Ramon touring the country or highly chatting with people in these streets or highly eating snacks on COOKING ON HIGH on Netflix or listen to his dulcet tones every week on PREBAKED, where he uses his cannabis sommelier skills to pair a specific strain to match every guests characteristics. He’s a regular at some of the countries most respected comedy institutions.
ages 18+
Tickets $10 advance, $12 day of
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-ramon-rivas-tickets-89426062761
Yedoye Travis is a stand up comedian, actor, and writer from Atlanta, GA. He is the creator and host of the Dark Tank podcast, which AV Club called “one of the most deliciously daring shows of the moment.” He was named a New Face at the Montreal Just For Laughs festival in 2017 and has since headlined festivals around the country and appeared on Comedy Central, TBS, CBS, and Netflix and written for MTV, IFC, Viceland, Crunchyroll, and Frederator. His debut album, OK, produced by Comedy Dynamics, was released January 2018.
ages 18+
Tickets $10 advance, $14 day of
FRIDAY Doors at 7:30, show at 8pm: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-yedoye-travis-friday-tickets-90845544469
SATURDAY doors at 9, show at 9:30: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-yedoye-travis-saturday-tickets-90847568523
In celebration of International Women’s Day, the 3rd MakeHERs Market will be held at the Mothlight in West Asheville Saturday, March 7th. 10-3.
This all female market showcases over 20 of Asheville’s finest creatives, independent designers, makers and women entrepreneurs.
Fair Trade coffee, jewelry and home décor, as well as locally made art, woodwork, craft and botanicals will be featured. International Women’s Day is an event that is celebrated worldwide to honor the invaluable contributions women make in every day life. Join us to honor the strength and talent of women – locally and abroad! Women’s Work Empowers the World!
Yedoye Travis is a stand up comedian, actor, and writer from Atlanta, GA. He is the creator and host of the Dark Tank podcast, which AV Club called “one of the most deliciously daring shows of the moment.” He was named a New Face at the Montreal Just For Laughs festival in 2017 and has since headlined festivals around the country and appeared on Comedy Central, TBS, CBS, and Netflix and written for MTV, IFC, Viceland, Crunchyroll, and Frederator. His debut album, OK, produced by Comedy Dynamics, was released January 2018.
ages 18+
Tickets $10 advance, $14 day of
FRIDAY Doors at 7:30, show at 8pm: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-yedoye-travis-friday-tickets-90845544469
SATURDAY doors at 9, show at 9:30: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-yedoye-travis-saturday-tickets-90847568523
AUDITIONS: March 10, 2020, 10:30 am-2:30 pm
PRODUCTION DATES: March 27-29, 2020
REHEARSALS: September 12, 17, 19, 24, and 26, 2020 from 10:30-2:30
Join Dr. Neal Barnard on Mon., Mar. 16, 2020 at The Collider in Asheville to celebrate the release of his new book, Your Body in Balance: The New Science of Food, Hormones, and Health. Guests will hear remarks from Dr. Barnard about food’s effects on hormones and health.
Books will be available for purchase, and Dr. Barnard will be available to sign books.
Space is limited for this free event—reserve your spot now!
Nation Anthem auditions are taking place Saturday, March 21st, from 10am-Noon at McCormick Field. Registration will begin no earlier than 9:45am. Individuals must attend the March 21 audition in order to be considered to perform the anthem on a gameday.
Bands, choirs, groups, and individuals should report to the seating bowl upon arrival to sign up. Auditions will take place on the field behind home plate. Each rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner is to last no longer than one minute and thirty seconds.
“Each game the National Anthem sets the tone for a great night at McCormick Field,” said Tourists Assistant General Manager Sam Fischer. “We are excited to select our National Anthem performers from the March 21st auditions.”
Singers who have performed the National Anthem at an Asheville Tourists game in the past will need to re-audition. Those selected to perform will be contacted at a later date. Any questions regarding the anthem tryouts should be directed to [email protected] with “National Anthem Auditions” in the subject line.
Jeff Scheen is a stand-up comic hailing from the Michigan woods. His offbeat humor and affable demeanor pairs well with expressive yet stupid face. Jeff has been featured on the FOX TV series Laughs and was a finalist in the Laughing Skull Festival in Atlanta, GA. He’s also been in a number of other comedy festivals including The Bridgetown Comedy Festival, Big Sky Fest, Montreux Switzerland’s Jokenation, and Laugh Your Asheville Off in North Carolina. Jeff has opened for Ryan Hamilton, Chris Gethard, and can be heard on XM radio.
Featuring Cody Daniel Hughes
ages 18+
Tickets $10 advance, $12 day of
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/comedy-at-fleetwoods-jeff-scheen-tickets-89634508227
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.
PRODUCTION DATES: June 5-28, 2020; Performances Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 2:30 pm; Additional Thursday night performances June 18 and June 25 at 7:30 pm; Cast must plan to arrive at least 1 hour prior to show time.
REHEARSALS: April 12 – June 4, 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: Large cast; high school age (should be believable as college/graduate students) and up; all roles open to people of all races and ethnicities.
AUDITIONS: April 7, 2020, 10:30 am-2:30 pm
PRODUCTION DATES: April 24-26, 2020
REHEARSALS: April 9, 14, 16, 21, and 23, 2020 from 10:30-2:30
Join us for Empower Hour, a one-hour program and facility tour where you will experience firsthand the YWCA’s work to bridge gaps in earning power, education, health & wellness and access to childcare.
Empower Hours take place twice a month on the first and third Tuesday at 11:30 am.
Lunch is served as part of our Empower Hour, so reservations are required.
To make a reservation: contact Elizabeth Alvandi, Advancement Assistant, at (828) 254-7206 ext. 103 or [email protected].