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.

Sunday, May 31, 2020
Henderson County Parks & Recreation Updates
May 31 all-day
Henderson County Parks

  • Parks and Recreation Indoor Facilities are Closed until further notice.
  • Park Playgrounds are Closed until further notice.
  • Park Restrooms will reopen on Friday May 8th at 5:00pm.
  • Outdoor Tennis and Pickleball Courts will reopen on Friday May 8th at 5:00pm.
    • If you are waiting to use a court please wait outside of the fence or in your vehicle.
    • If others are waiting to use a court please keep your playing time to 60 minutes.
  • Outdoor Parks remain Open.
  • Fields and shelters are Open, however groups must kept to 25 people or less.  If you are waiting to use a field or shelter please do not wait in the immediate area; please wait outside of the field or shelter in an open area or in your vehicle.

If you choose to utilize Henderson County Parks please be respectful of other users, keep your group to 25 or less and provide others with appropriate social distancing.  PLEASE NOTE that the trails at Hickory Nut Gorge are controlled by Conserving Carolina and they have closed them until further notice.

 

It’s Mind Your Plastic May! Go Plastic Free
May 31 all-day
GreenWorks Online

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It’s May 1st, and you know what that means! That’s right, a whole month of mindfulness aimed at reducing plastic usage in our lives. For years, Asheville GreenWorks has worked at #goingplasticfree, and this year will be no different. Starting Monday, May 4th, we’ll be releasing daily blog posts from our staff, members of the Plastic Reduction Task Force, and other zero waste advocates in Buncombe County. There will be repurposing and upcycling challenges, a special screening of The Story of Plastic, and a Trivia Night testing your knowledge of the topics we cover throughout the month.

Daily posts can be found on our website, as well as on our Going Plastic Free Facebook Page. And, in case you miss a post, we will send out a weekly digest to keep you up to date on the week’s happenings. And we’re including a calendar in today’s newsletter to give you a sneak preview of the month’s events.

Now, more than ever, we are challenged to find the fine balance between safety, cleanliness, and waste reduction. Thank you for your commitment to Asheville GreenWorks; we can’t wait to share another amazing Mind Your Plastic May with you.

Mountain BizWorks: $5 Million Emergency Grant Fund; Opens May 15 Ends May 31
May 31 all-day
online
Mountain BizWorks Set to Administer $5 Million Emergency Grant Fund; Application Period Opens May 15, with Awards Announced in Mid-June

The $5 million Buncombe County Tourism Jobs Recovery Fund was enabled Monday for local tourism-related small businesses and nonprofit organizations impacted by the COVID-19 public health crisis, thanks to legislation introduced by Sen. Chuck Edwards with support of the Buncombe County delegation, and signed into law on Monday by N.C. Governor Roy Cooper.

Senate Bill 704 allows the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority to establish the fund for emergency grants of up to $50,000, available for businesses that provide a direct visitor experience, including restaurants, retail establishments, studios and galleries, attractions, tours and activities, entertainment and event venues, and breweries, wineries, cideries and distilleries, among others.

Paycheck Protection Program for Small Businesses
May 31 all-day
Small Business Association Online
Paycheck Protection Program
The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. This program is for any small business with less than 500 employees (including sole proprietorship, independent contractors and self-employed persons), private non-profit organization or 501(c)(19) veterans organizations affected by COVID-19.
SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities.
The Paycheck Protection Program will be available through June 30, 2020.
Reopening Guidance for Businesses in the Age of COVID-19
May 31 all-day
online
As more businesses move to reopen in the new normal of COVID-19, the Chamber has complied guidelines from several sources outlining the steps businesses should take to reopen safely and within the recommendations of the State Health Department and the CDC. While the guide is extensive, it is not exhaustive. For full details and recommendations, or for information specific to your business, please refer to official communication channels and the advisement of your legal representative.
Reopening the Arts in North Carolina Guideline
May 31 all-day
online

Last Monday, Arts NC and the North Carolina Arts Council shared a new reopening guide for the arts in NC. The purpose of this document is to provide recommendations for arts organizations as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and develop plans for reopening to the public. A webinar (recording above) was also held on Wednesday to go over the document and address questions.

Share Your Feedback on Possible Uses of Public Space: The City of Asheville
May 31 all-day
The City of Asheville

 

Share Your Feedback on Possible Uses of Public Space

The City of Asheville has been working on ways to alter public space usage to assist businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today they announced designated curbside pickup locations throughout downtown and along Haywood Road in West Asheville, as well as expanded uses of private space.

 

Initiatives being considered include expanded use of public space (sidewalks, on-street parking) and the creation of temporary shared spaces.

 

It’s vital that the City hear your feedback as downtown businesses on how these options may benefit or impact your operations. View more information here and share your thoughts by emailing [email protected].

 

Smart Restart Toolkit from the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce
May 31 all-day
The City of Asheville
 

The Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce released a Smart Restart Toolkit with information on sanitizing and cleanliness best practices, how to’s on reopening safely and bringing employees back to the workplace, and information on basic operations. It’s divided by industry sector and includes links to professional organizations that can provide more details by type of business.

 
South Arts Sustainability Grants Arts Organizations
May 31 all-day
online

In response to COVID-19, grants between $5,000 and $20,000 are available to statewide or regional arts and cultural service organizations.

Important Dates & Deadlines

  • Applications must be submitted on or before June 10, 2020.
  • Applicants will be notified by email within three weeks of the deadline.
  • Funded expenses must occur between July 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021.
Summer Reading Program 2020: Imagine Your Story
May 31 all-day
Online

Libraries are currently closed to the public but your local librarians are working hard to provide resources and programs to keep you entertained from home.

Check out the BCPL Summer Reading Program website for virtual programs, activities you can do from home, links to get you started with e-books, e-audiobooks, and more. Be sure to keep checking back throughout the summer. We are coming up with new ideas every day!

We would love to see what you are up to this summer. Tell us about the books you’ve been reading or share pictures of the projects and activities you are doing from home! Tag Buncombe libraries on Facebook or Instagram using our hashtag #yourstorymatters. You can also email photos and stories to [email protected]. We miss you and look forward to seeing your faces and hearing your stories when we reopen. In the meantime, be safe, be kind, and keep reading!

Take a Virtual Hike for the Smokies!
May 31 all-day
Virtual Smoky Mountains National Park
Alum Cave At-Home Adventure is a Virtual Fundraising Hike on one of Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s most iconic trails. Although the trail will look different for everyone, we’re all going the distance together – 4.6 miles for a roundtrip hike to Alum Cave or 10 miles up to the top of Mount Le Conte and down via Alum Cave Trail. Find your own trail. It could be your yard, your neighborhood or a treadmill in your basement. If a hike isn’t your thing, just choose the Park Bench option! Anyone can join us in solidarity to raise funds for Great Smoky Mountains National Park from the comfort and safety of your own home.
Here’s how it works:
1. Register to virtually hike at AlumCaveAtHome.org, and personalize your fundraising page.
2. Ask your family, friends, and coworkers to support you by making a tax-deductible donation to Friends of the Smokies through your personal fundraising page.
3. You have until June 6, 2020 to fundraise and complete your virtual hike, then you will receive your hike swag, including a t-shirt and finishers medal, in the mail!
Over the last few weeks, we’ve become pros at staying home and practicing social distancing. As we take care of ourselves and each other, we hope you’ll also help us take care of the Smokies. The park is closed for the safety of visitors and staff, but critical conservation projects still need funding. It’s up to us to preserve the park for generations to come so we hope you’ll join us.
The ‘Asheville Cares’ Stay Safe Pledge Supports the Safety of the Local Community
May 31 all-day
City of Asheville
The Gallery at Flat Rock Offers Porch Portraits
May 31 all-day
varies

Suzanne has generously donated a portion of the session fee to Flat Rock Playhouse and she has a goal of raising $15,000 before the end of the year! She has currently raised $2,015, so help Suzanne reach her goal and capture some memories along the way. Check out some of her portraits above and click the link below to schedule your session today!

Inspired by the national trend of porch portraits, Suzanne of The Gallery at Flat Rock, will be offering portrait sessions and donating a portion of the session cost to Flat Rock Playhouse. 

 A fifteen-minute porch portrait session is $65 (cash or check) of which $15 will be donated to the Flat Rock Playhouse, a friend and neighbor to the gallery which made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 season. 

The Literacy Council’s Plan to Move Forward Tutoring Online
May 31 all-day
Online

As this pandemic has given us all a difficult path to predict and navigate, all orientations, tours, and tutor trainings continue to be on hold until we can ensure, to the best of our ability, the safety of everyone we serve.
We will continue to monitor Buncombe County’s progress and outcomes regarding reopening and update our reopening plan based on those outcomes. Our first priority will always be the safety of our students, volunteers, and staff.
Many of our tutors and students have continued their regular classes digitally with great success. Our program directors are also working to revise tutor training courses in order to transition as many components as possible to an online platform.
We will continue to keep you updated regarding reopening and what that looks like. Please reach out to us anytime with questions or concerns by calling our office at 828-254-3442 or by emailing us at [email protected].
Updated Covid-19 Buncombe County Testing Sites
May 31 all-day
Buncombe County

COVID-19 testing is available for people who think that they may have COVID-19. The Buncombe Ready COVID-19 Self Checker can help you assess whether or not you need to be tested for COVID-19.

If your primary care provider does not offer COVID-19 testing, they can refer you to an option that works for you. Please go online or call ahead to schedule a visit and to confirm the location of the testing site.

Testing guidance for COVID-19 has expanded to encourage the following individuals to get tested for COVID-19 at one of the locations listed below or at a community testing site.

The new guidance recommends that clinicians test any patient in whom COVID-19 is suspected.

  • Anyone with symptoms suggestive of COVID-19
  • Close contacts of known positive cases, regardless of symptoms
  • Persons who live in or have regular contact with high-risk settings (e.g., long-term care facility, homeless shelter, correctional facility, migrant farmworker camp)
  • Persons who are at high risk of severe illness (e.g., people over 65 years of age, people of any age with underlying health conditions)
  • Persons who come from historically marginalized populations
  • Health care workers or first responders (e.g. EMS, law enforcement, fire department, military)
  • Front-line and essential workers (grocery store clerks, gas station attendants, etc.) in settings where social distancing is difficult to maintain

Paying for COVID-19 Testing:

If you have private insurance, payment should be covered by your insurance company. If you are uninsured, please ask about the CARES Act which may cover the cost of the medical provider assessment and testing for COVID-19. Some providers offer charity care assistance or sliding scale options for payment. Check with your provider about these details.

COVID-19 Testing Providers

MAHEC Family Health Center 

  • Please call the MAHEC Family Health Center for a telemedicine visit before you arrive.
  • MAHEC Family Health Center
  • Call (828) 257-4730
  • Sliding Scale may apply.

Mercy Urgent Care

  • Visit www.mercyurgentcare.org to schedule a telemedicine appointment or a safe visit at one of our eight WNC locations.

Mission My Care Now

  • Mission Health’s Virtual Clinic at www.missionhealth.org/virtualclinic can direct you to COVID-19 testing
  • Most insurance plans will reimburse the costs
  • $25 virtual visit fee
  • Additional lab fee (if tested)

Range Urgent Care

Voting in the June 23 Second Primary Election: What You Need to Know
May 31 all-day
Buncombe County

The upcoming Second Primary Election is on Tuesday, June 23. Buncombe County Election Services wants to make sure you have all the information you need. Below is information about Early Voting, absentee ballots, finding out if you’re registered, sample ballots, and more. If you have additional questions, contact Election Services at (828) 250-4200.

White Horse Black Mountain Live Stream Music
May 31 all-day
Online

Are you as tired as I am of hearing about viruses, social distancing, face masks and the like? Unfortunately, I’m forced to the reality that we’re going to be dealing with this thing for a while. It’s a real menace we ignore at our own peril. So…what’s a live music venue to do?
Well, to begin with, it’s a self-answering question. White Horse, as a listening venue with audience, is closed for at least a little while longer. We miss it terribly.
Our answer has been the high quality live stream, White Horse Live. Not that we’re the only ones streaming, far from it. But our endeavor is to up the quality ante as much as we can. Clear sound, professional grade picture, five camera shots and a truly personal look at some of White Horse’s favorite artists.
In the process I think we’ve discovered something. Live streaming is really its own sub-genre of entertainment. Nothing else is quite like it, especially if the quality envelope is constantly being pushed. They’re incredibly musical. The viewer learns more about the artists since a stream is often more revealing. And I think one tends to go away with more insight into what’s been in the artist’s process, his or her heart. Not to mention you can take all this in on your couch.
We look forward to getting back in to the live-with-audience groove but we’re very happy indeed to have discovered for ourselves the intimacy and musicality of the stream. In fact, we plan to keep doing them even when we’re able to return to business as usual (you notice I avoided the  work “normal”). And who knows what may transpire in the stream department? We have ideas.
White House Launches Opening America Website
May 31 all-day
website
The White House has unveiled Guidelines for Opening Up America Again, a three-phased approach based on the advice of public health experts. Employers are encouraged to adhere to the following at all phases:
  • Develop and implement appropriate policies, in accordance with Federal, State, and local regulations and guidance, and informed by industry best practices, regarding:
  • Social distancing and protective equipment
  • Temperature checks
  • Sanitation
  • Use and disinfection of common and high-traffic areas
  • Business travel
  • Monitor workforce for indicative symptoms. Do not allow symptomatic people to physically return to work until cleared by a medical provider.
  • Develop and implement policies and procedures for workforce contact tracing following employee COVID+ test.
The full guidelines can be found at www.whitehouse.gov/openingamerica.
YMCA Opens indoor + outdoor pools, outdoor group exercise + summer day camp June 1
May 31 all-day
YMCA various locations
While the doors of our wellness centers remain closed, other doors are opening even wider. Beginning June 1:
  • We are excited to welcome you back to pool season. Indoor pools will reopen at the Asheville YMCA, Black Mountain YMCA, Corpening Memorial YMCA, Hendersonville Family YMCA, and the Reuter Family YMCA. We will also open Patton Pool in Hendersonville.
  • We are excited to kick off a series of outdoor group exercise classes while continuing to provide virtual classes you can enjoy at home.
  • Summer day camp will return to give children ages 5-12 fun and adventure.
Please check ymcawnc.org, the YMCA of WNC mobile app, and social media for updates on hours, schedules, and safety measures.
We know that for a while longer, visits to restaurants, stores, and even our Y will feel a bit different. We’ve worked with health experts and our local health department to prepare our facilities for your safe return. We’re grateful for your understanding and for the concern you’ve shared for our staff who are stepping up during this pandemic to feed our community, provide emergency child care, make wellness calls to seniors feeling isolated, help people stay healthy at home, and organize blood and supply drives. We remain grateful to our members and donors for continuing to #StayWithUs as we continue to serve our neighbors when they need us most.
Youth Education Video – Our Mountains
May 31 all-day
online

Youth Education Video – Our Mountains

Click Here to View Our Mountains Video
Have you ever wondered how the southern Appalachian mountains were formed, or how the underlying geology affects the biodiversity we work to protect? Check out this short 5-minute lesson, followed by a fun craft for all ages.
View More SAHC Videos on YouTube
Monday, June 1, 2020
Absentee Ballot Information: June 23 Second Primary Election
Jun 1 all-day
Buncombe County

The second primary election will take place on Tuesday, June 23. Eligible voters include:

  • Registered Republicans
  • Unaffiliated voters that voted Republican in March
  • Unaffiliated voters that did not vote in March

Absentee by-mail voting is taking place now.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and response the North Carolina State Board is reminding North Carolinians that all voters can vote by mail during every election, casting a ballot without leaving the comfort of home. No excuse is necessary. The State Board Office and Task Force are discussing ways to make voting by mail easier, while making sure that the 100 county boards of elections stand ready to process an expected increase in mail-in ballots. If you, or someone you know, will be unavailable to vote in person, there is information you need to know to ensure your vote is counted.

For active duty military, their family members, and U.S. citizens living abroad:

You will need to go to FVAP.gov or ncsbe.gov/voting-options/military-overseas-voting and follow the absentee ballot instructions to receive an absentee ballot. If you have questions about that process, you can call us at (828) 250-4222.

For all others wishing to receive an absentee ballot:

Anyone else wishing to request an absentee ballot may do so for any reason as long as they complete a 2020 North Carolina Absentee Ballot Request Form and return it one of the following ways:

  • Mail it to: P.O. Box 7468, Asheville, NC 28802
  • Hand deliver it to the dropbox located in the entryway of our office at 77 McDowell St., Asheville, 28801

Special Note: Military and overseas voters may email to [email protected] or fax (828) 250-6262 a signed copy of this form.

Deadline to return the completed Absentee Ballot Request Form is Tuesday, June 16, at 5 p.m.

Once your N.C. Absentee Ballot Request Form has been received, an absentee ballot will be sent out. Absentee ballots must be postmarked on or before Tuesday, June 23, 2020, and received by Friday, June 26, at 5 p.m. They may also be returned in person to our office (by 5 p.m. on June 23) but only by the voter or a near relative. For more information about absentee voting, visit the North Carolina Board of Elections website.

Near relative exceptions

From June 17 to June 22, a voter’s near relative may come into the office to fill out an absentee request form for a voter who is sick or disabled who did not previously request an absentee ballot. The request will be processed immediately and the ballot handed to the near relative to take to the voter.  These ballots have the same deadlines as stated above.

The following qualify as a near relative: spouse, brother, sister, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, in-laws, stepparent, stepchild, or verifiable legal guardian.

Session Law 2019-239 made several changes to the absentee voting process. Changes include:

  • An absentee request form is now valid only if returned to the county board of elections by the voter, the voter’s near relative or legal guardian, or a Multi-partisan Assistance Team (MAT).
  • The absentee request form must be mailed or delivered in person to the voter’s county board of elections. Unlike past elections, request forms may not be emailed or faxed.
  • If a voter needs help completing the request form due to blindness, disability, or inability to read or write, and a near relative or legal guardian is not available, the voter may get help from another person, who must list their name and address on the form.

For any additional information or questions contact us at (828) 250-4200.

Be an Election Worker. Make Extra Cash and Serve Your Community.
Jun 1 all-day
Buncombe County

Election workers are essential to ensuring that elections are a success. With each election, millions of Americans dedicate themselves to sustaining the backbone of democracy, our election process.

Buncombe County Election Services is now recruiting poll workers for the second primary which will take place on Tuesday, June 23. The contest is between Republicans Lynda Bennett and Madison Cawthorn, who are vying for the GOP nomination for U.S. House District 11.

BMC Artistic Director Keith Lockhart: Collaborating with Ilana Davidson
Jun 1 all-day
online

BMC Artistic Director Keith Lockhart discusses his deep connection with the music of Mahler and collaborating with his dear friend Ilana Davidson. Listen to a performance of the fourth movement with Lockhart, Davidson, and the Brevard Music Center Orchestra from July 25, 2014.

BMC@Home: Tribute to Cellist Lynn Harrell
Jun 1 all-day
online
BMC favorite Johannes Moser shares a personal tribute to cellist Lynn Harrell, who passed away in April 2020. Featured soloist collaborators are Yo-Yo Ma, Gautier Capuçon, Amanda Forsyth, Zlatomir Fung, Alban Gerhardt, Mischa Maisky, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Johannes Moser, Daniel Müller-Schott, Christian Poltéra, Jan Vogler, and Alisa Weilerstein.

BRCC Small Business Center Online Resources
Jun 1 all-day
BRCC Small Business Center Online

Welcome to the Small Business Center (SBC) located at Blue Ridge Community College, part of the Small Business Center Network (SBCN). Blue Ridge Community College Campuses and the SBC are located in Flat Rock and Brevard, North Carolina.

SBCN is comprised of 58 Small Business Centers throughout North Carolina, that supports the development of new businesses and the growth of existing businesses by being a community-based provider of local training, counseling, and resource information.

Local SBC training, confidential counseling, and resource information is offered at no cost due to funding from the State of North Carolina.
Services provided by the Small Business Center can be customized to suit your specific business needs.

Each week we offer a program on starting and growing a business to answer all your question about requirements and resources offered  through the federal, state, region, county, and local cities. 

Brevard Music Center: Around The Web Live-streamed updated weekly
Jun 1 all-day
online

Around The Web

Live-streamed performances, resources, and activities we love from around the web, updated weekly.

Coronavirus Phase 2 Public Health Materials for Local Businesses
Jun 1 all-day
online

As we ease into the Stay Home, Stay Safe Phase 2, Buncombe County Public Health has provided public health messaging and guidance for industry and local businesses to use in their operations. Please click the links below to download printable files.

For more information, Buncombe County and the City of Asheville are operating the Ready Team call center. The Ready Team can assist with business and general questions about COVID-19 and Buncombe County’s Stay Safe, Stay Home Order. To ensure that there are options for Spanish, Russian, and multiple other languages, the Ready Team is working with United Way’s call center. The Ready Team call center operates Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Call (828) 419-0095 or email [email protected].

Count on Me NC Provides Free Online Training to Protect Customers and Employees
Jun 1 all-day
online
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, NC State Extension, NC Restaurant & Lodging Association, and VisitNC.com have partnered to develop free training resources to help restaurants, hotels, and other businesses learn the best ways to protect customers and employees from COVID-19.
So far, over 3,500 businesses have completed Count on Me NC training. Participating businesses will receive printable certificates to display in their establishments to show they completed the training.
Digital BMC: TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 4 in F minor
Jun 1 all-day
online

Selected past performances by BMC orchestras, faculty, and guest artists on YouTube, SoundCloud, and Open Air Brevard.

TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36
IV. Finale. Allegro con fuoco
Brevard Music Center Orchestra • JoAnn Falletta, conductor
Recorded live on July 27, 2018,
at the Whittington-Pfohl Auditorium in Brevard, NC.

Leap Then Look Collaboration Instagram
Jun 1 all-day
Online

Instagram Collaboration June 1st – 10th
@leap_then_look

How can we think, act, and make like we were all at Black Mountain? How can we use the approaches and principles of this amazing community to expand our creative resources and ways of working together?

UK-based innovative participatory artists Leap Then Look are working with BMCM+AC to delve into the archive and create a participatory project and workshop based on the BMCM+AC permanent collection.

Follow Leap Then Look on Instagram for instructions on how to take part and share your creations!