At our March Gem Show, over 25 vendors will have everything from affordable treasures to the finest gems, minerals & jewelry in the Southeast! We are only a 15-minute drive from Asheville in Swannanoa, NC. Entering the show is always free and this is a fun family-friendly event. Food and drink are available daily.

The Mountain Area Gem & Mineral Association presents:
The M.A.G.M.A. Land of Sky Gem Show

March 15-17, 2024
Gem Show hours:
Friday, March 15: 9 am- 6 pm
Saturday, March 16: 9 am- 6 pm
Sunday, March 17: 10 am- 4 pm

We have something for everyone, from seasoned rockhounds to new collectors and jewelry lovers. Our vendors enjoy sharing their expert knowledge and you’re sure to learn new things and find some great gems, minerals, and fossils.

The M.A.G.M.A. Land of Sky Gem Show happens 4 times a year and this is an event that you can keep coming back to!

The March 2024 M.A.G.M.A. Land of the Sky Gem Show will be the 26th gem show presented by the Mountain Area Gem & Mineral Association. Jacquot and Son Mining and crystal potential are sponsors. For show info and vendor spaces, contact Richard Jacquot at 828-779-4501.

Standup Comedy celebrating St. Patty’s Day at Asheville Pizza & Brewing Company with Ryan Cox Featuring
Jason Webb,
Cheney Goodson & Sarah Love with a comedy open mic. Get dinner drinks and laughs. Tickets at https://www.ashevillebrewing.com/buy-tickets
Contact Michele at [email protected] for more info

Standup Comedy celebrating St. Patty’s Day at Asheville Pizza & Brewing Company with Ryan Cox Featuring
Jason Webb,
Cheney Goodson & Sarah Love with a comedy open mic. Get dinner drinks and laughs. Tickets at https://www.ashevillebrewing.com/buy-tickets

Asheville’s longest running comedy open mic happening every Wednesday night. The show starts at 8:00, and there is no cover. Anyone wanting to perform can sign up starting at 7pm, and will get four minutes on stage. Local and not-so-local, professional and not-so-professional comics perform or just anyone wanting to get up in front of people and try to make them laugh. Always fun. Always free.

The Asheville Files–A Comedy show all about Asheville NC
Brought to you by Slice of Life Comedy
March 22, 2024 at pleb urban winery 289 Lyman Street in the heart of the River District
Hosts: Marlene Thompson & Petey Smith-McDowell
A comedy show about Asheville North Carolina and all the conspiracies that lie within the city.
Features:
James Harrod
Cary Goff
Blaine Perry
Located at 289 Lyman Street, Asheville, NC 28801, plēb urban winery offers the perfect setting for an evening of comedy and wine pairings in the heart of the River Art District. Food options will be available!
Uncork the laughs as Petey Smith McDowell & Marlene Thompson dive into a comedic conspiracy at the plēb urban winery featuring standup comedians Cary Goff, James Harrod and Blaine Perry
Embark on a laughter-filled journey in the heart of the mysterious Blue Ridge Mountains, where unexplained occurrences meet the tumultuous rhythm of Asheville, uncover a city that comedically defies ordinary or sanity.
The truth is out there: DO NOT MISS THIS SHOW
Promo code: AVLCOMEDYFILES $3 off

The Asheville Files–A Comedy show all about Asheville NC
Brought to you by Slice of Life Comedy
March 22, 2024 at pleb urban winery 289 Lyman Street in the heart of the River District
Hosts: Marlene Thompson & Petey Smith-McDowell
A comedy show about Asheville North Carolina and all the conspiracies that lie within the city.
Features:
James Harrod
Cary Goff
Blaine Perry
Located at 289 Lyman Street, Asheville, NC 28801, plēb urban winery offers the perfect setting for an evening of comedy and wine pairings in the heart of the River Art District. Food options will be available!
Uncork the laughs as Petey Smith McDowell & Marlene Thompson dive into a comedic conspiracy at the plēb urban winery featuring standup comedians Cary Goff, James Harrod and Blaine Perry
Embark on a laughter-filled journey in the heart of the mysterious Blue Ridge Mountains, where unexplained occurrences meet the tumultuous rhythm of Asheville, uncover a city that comedically defies ordinary or sanity.
The truth is out there: DO NOT MISS THIS SHOW
Promo code: AVLCOMEDYFILES $3 off

🏀March Madness: Jock Jams🏀

📣Y’all ready for this?📣

Jock jams, 90s dance bops, and forgotten pep rally bangers with DJ Lil Meow Meow

🏅Saturday 3.23🏅

🏆10pm-1am🏆

⛹️‍♀️Costumes encouraged⛹️‍♀️

See you at Little Jumbo 🍸

Come get lifted and lost in dance with DJ Lil Meow Meow’s monthly dance party at Asheville’s newest venue, Eulogy, in the South Slope area downtown. Come ready to sweat.

Slice of Life Standup Comedy Contest at The Orange Peel’s Pulp
When: Thursday April 4, 2024.
7p-9p, doors at 6:30p
Where:
The Orange Peel’s Comedy Basement, Pulp Lounge, 103 Hilliard Ave, Downtown Asheville
Tickets: $15 (available at door or The Orange Peel website https://tinyurl.com/2abjkft4)
Cocktails available while you laugh the night away to some of the area’s best Stand Up Comics in a ridiculously fun adult environment!!
Free snacks while availability lasts!
Hosted by Hilliary Begley, featuring professional comics.
Comedy open mic is 3-5m each, comics get in free with free snacks!
The show’s Headliner will be selected by audience in an anonymous ballet after comics perform their sets.
They will write down their favorite top comic of the evening who will be paid & brought back to headline the end of the show with a closing 10-15m set!
.
Contact Michele at [email protected] for details
Host Hilliary Begley-
Hilliary will make you cry with laughter. With her larger that life personality!! Voted repeatedly Asheville’s Favorite comic in the Mountain Xpress. Film debut in the Netflix original Dumplin’ as Aunt Lucy, or “Jennifer Anniston’s fat sister,” In Austin Film Festival winning movie When We Last Spoke with Cloris Leachman, now streaming on Amazon Prime. https ://youtu.be/legRwEg4j-o

after/glow is excited to have Miami-based DJ Dean Walker in the house. They suggest guests start warming up their feet because Dean Walker will be in the cage with just the vibes the crowd needs this Friday, April 19th. He brings a new sound of Afro House together with Latin & Tech house elements.

SC Arms Collectors Association Gun & Knife Show – Hall 1 – Parking off Exposition Drive

Rezonance & Slice of Life Comedy present **Canna Comic Cuisine —4.20 Infused Dinner Comedy Show**! Get ready for a night of laughter, delicious food, and a touch of cannabis-infused fun. Join us on **Sat Apr 20 2024** at **7:30 PM** for a unique experience that combines comedy with a gourmet dinner featuring cannabis-infused dishes. Our talented comedians will keep you entertained throughout the evening, while our chefs prepare a mouthwatering meal that will tantalize your taste buds. Don’t miss out on this one-of-a-kind event that promises to be a memorable and hilarious night out!
Saturday 4.20.24
Held at a secret location in downtown Asheville, 21+
Your $42 ticket includes infused vegetarian dinner and a canned drink. Location given out with ticket purchase. Tickets are very limited so book this date now.
Standup Comedy Hosted by Hilliary Begley (netflix Amazon Prime, Votedt Avl Best Comic 5+) featuring Cayla Clark, Miranda Allison & Cody Hughes
Your Comedy Host Hilliary Begley-
Hilliary will make you cry with laughter with her larger than life personality!! Voted repeatedly Asheville’s Favorite comic in the Mountain Xpress, Hilliary’s reach goes well beyond the city to all over the country. Film debut in the Netflix original Dumplin’ as Aunt Lucy, or “Jennifer Anniston’s fat sister,” and in Austin Film Festival winning movie When We Last Spoke with Cloris Leachman, now streaming on Amazon Prime. https ://youtu.be/legRwEg4j-o
Featuring Cayla Clark-
a California native (through no fault of her own), moved to Asheville three years ago and quickly fell in love with the local comedy scene. She created and co-produces Blind Date Live, a quarterly comedic dating show, Bad Date Mic, and several other dating-related events around town. She is also a playwright, and has had original works in the Fringe Festival for the past three years.
Feature Cody Hughes-
Cody is a comedian from Asheville NC. He’s lived in a few different big cities and a lot of comedians like him and a lot of other comedians have heard good things about him from the comedians who like him. A few comedians don’t like him and he can’t do anything about that. Oh well. He has opened for Lewis Black, John Oliver, Maria Bamford, and many others
Feature Miranda Allison-
Sweet but sassy, Miranda Allison is an up and coming stand up comedian with a timid, yet audacious sense of humor. From right here in Asheville, NC, Miranda is quickly becoming a fan favorite in the comedy scene. You can find her co-hosting The Hot Seat on Mondays and at other comedy shows in the area.

Rezonance & Slice of Life Comedy present **Canna Comic Cuisine —4.20 Infused Dessert Comedy Show**! Get ready for a night of laughter, delicious food, and a touch of cannabis-infused fun. Join us on **Sat Apr 20 2024** at **9:30 PM** for a unique experience that combines comedy with a gourmet dinner featuring cannabis-infused dishes. Our talented comedians will keep you entertained throughout the evening, while our chefs prepare a mouthwatering dessert that will tantalize your taste buds. Don’t miss out on this one-of-a-kind event that promises to be a memorable and hilarious night out!

Saturday 4.20.24

Held at a secret location in downtown Asheville, 21+

Your $42 ticket includes infused dessert and a canned drink. Location given out with ticket purchase. Tickets are very limited so book this date now.

Standup Comedy Hosted by Hilliary Begley (netflix Amazon Prime, Votedt Avl Best Comic 5+) featuring Cayla Clark, Miranda Allison & Cody Hughes

Your Comedy Host Hilliary Begley-

Hilliary will make you cry with laughter with her larger than life personality!! Voted repeatedly Asheville’s Favorite comic in the Mountain Xpress, Hilliary’s reach goes well beyond the city to all over the country. Film debut in the Netflix original Dumplin’ as Aunt Lucy, or “Jennifer Anniston’s fat sister,” and in Austin Film Festival winning movie When We Last Spoke with Cloris Leachman, now streaming on Amazon Prime. https ://youtu.be/legRwEg4j-o

Featuring Cayla Clark-

a California native (through no fault of her own), moved to Asheville three years ago and quickly fell in love with the local comedy scene. She created and co-produces Blind Date Live, a quarterly comedic dating show, Bad Date Mic, and several other dating-related events around town. She is also a playwright, and has had original works in the Fringe Festival for the past three years.

Feature Cody Hughes-

Cody is a comedian from Asheville NC. He’s lived in a few different big cities and a lot of comedians like him and a lot of other comedians have heard good things about him from the comedians who like him. A few comedians don’t like him and he can’t do anything about that. Oh well. He has opened for Lewis Black, John Oliver, Maria Bamford, and many others

Feature Miranda Allison-

Sweet but sassy, Miranda Allison is an up and coming stand up comedian with a timid, yet audacious sense of humor. From right here in Asheville, NC, Miranda is quickly becoming a fan favorite in the comedy scene. You can find her co-hosting The Hot Seat on Mondays and at other comedy shows in the area.

SC Arms Collectors Association Gun & Knife Show – Hall 1 – Parking off Exposition Drive

Citron Gallery presents an art exhibition that harmoniously weaves together the distinctive styles of two artists, each navigating the delicate balance between spontaneity and control in their unique mediums. In this captivating showcase, the ethereal paintings of fabric and mixed media artist, Lauren Betty, and the textured wonders of oil, cold wax, and mixed media by Rand Kramer converge to create an immersive experience.

Lauren transforms delicate fabrics into ethereal paintings that seem to defy gravity. Using spontaneous gestures, she allows the fabric to take on a life of its own, capturing the fluidity of emotions in each piece. The work emerges as she delicately arranges and manipulates the fabric, creating an otherworldly tapestry that invites viewers to explore the boundaries between reality and the sublime.

Rand’s controlled technique involves layering and scraping, building up a rich textures that exude both depth and mystery. This deliberate process reflects an artful balance between spontaneity and control, inviting viewers to witness the evolution of his creations.

This will also be Mosaic Realty’s 2nd annual Art Walk & Benefit night! We are one of the 14 participating galleries on the Art Walk. This free community fundraiser, open to the public, will be hosted by Mosaic Realty, and each gallery highlights a different local nonprofit. Our gallery will be supporting the work of Blue Ridge Orchestra. There will be the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets to win exciting prizes, with all raffle basket proceeds going to the highlighted organization.

DAVY KNOWLES
Whether playing acoustic, mandolin, national steel, or screaming electric guitar, Davy Knowles has an unmistakable style.

Knowles has several top-5 Billboard Blues charting albums under his belt, high profile TV appearances (Jimmy Kimmel Live and CBS Good Morning America among others), and has been praised with high accolades from heroes and press alike – but it’s not just the music industry who has taken note. Knowles was also the very first artist in history to perform live to the International Space Station directly from mission control in Houston TX, and has had his music taken to the Space Station by two astronauts, Nicole Stott and Ron Garan, on their respective missions orbiting Earth.

Never one to be satisfied or to sit still, Knowles has explored multiple genres and styles, from the hard-hitting 70’s classic rock influenced album ‘Three Miles From Avalon’, to the haunting acoustic delta blues of ‘1932’, and the sweet, soul-searching folk of 2023’s ‘If I Should Wander’.

Whether spending an evening onstage armed with just an acoustic guitar, or wielding his well worn and trusty Telecaster while fronting his blues/rock trio – and at any point in between the two – Davy Knowles is one of the most versatile and formidable songwriters, vocalists and musicians in the world today. A true artist in every sense of the word.

JEFFREY GAINES

Jeffrey Gaines has been heralded for his soul-searching lyrics and his powerful live performances. With only his voice and a guitar for accompaniment, Gaines has earned a reputation as a captivating performer, entertaining his audiences worldwide.

Throughout his three-decade recording career, Gaines has maintained an impressive standard for soul-searching, introspective lyrics and catchy, uplifting melodies. Since bursting on the scene with his self-titled 1992 debut album, the charismatic singer-songwriter-guitarist has built a beloved body of recordings that’s won him a large and deeply devoted international fan base.

Gaines has been pursuing musical transcendence for much of his life. Raised in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, by soul-music-loving parents, he began his musical life playing guitar in local cover combos, before his songwriting muse became too insistent to ignore. He soon landed his first record deal shortly after graduating from high school, and in 1992 released his widely acclaimed debut album Jeffrey Gaines. The eponymous disc won massive amounts of critical and audience acclaim, spawning the hit “Hero in Me.” Somewhat Slightly Dazed (1994) and Galore (1998) further expanded his audience. Interview magazine described Gaines’ work as “soul-searching” and “refreshingly free of jargon, sentiment or cliché.”

With more than a quarter-century of recording and performing under his belt, Jeffrey Gaines is enjoying life and music more than ever. “Nowadays, I know what the job is about so there’s nothing to stress about, he says. “I know that there’s people out there who want it, so I have the opportunity to extend their experience. I guess I could lay my albums all out and see that they tell a story, but personally I prefer to keep looking forward.”

When someone asks if you want to hear a fun fact, is your response “Heck yeah”? Congratulations, nerd! There’s an event just for you! Join us at The River Arts District Brewing Company for a night of outrageously fun facts and tasty beverages.

Nerd Nite is a monthly event held in 100+ cities around the world featuring fun-yet-informative presentations across a variety of subjects.

May Lineup:

– A Seasonal Tale of Honey Bee Foragers (Knox Petrucci)

– Help wanted! Seeing Plant Stress from the Sky (Douglas Yuhan Rao)

– Cultural References in Disney’s Moana (Tavi–featuring a live fire performance, weather permitting!)

Plus your host Von’s mini feature: SAVE LOWER DECKS!

Pre-sale tickets available now! https://events.humanitix.com/nerd-nite-asheville-may

Read full descriptions of this month’s presentations on our website, asheville.nerdnite.com

Doors 6pm, show 7pm sharp. Early arrival strongly recommended. Pre-sale tickets $10, door $15. 21+. RAD Brewing Co. 13 Mystery St, Asheville, NC 28801

Food truck, freshly brewed drinks, and free popcorn! Be there and be square!

(lineup subject to change)

Slice of Life Standup Comedy Contest
When: Wensday May 15, 2024.
7p-9p, doors at 6:30p
Where:
The Orange Peel’s Comedy Basement, Pulp Lounge, 103 Hilliard Ave, Downtown Asheville
Tickets: $15 (available at door or The Orange Peel website
https://theorangepeel.net/…/slice-of-life-comedy…/pulp/
Cocktails available while you laugh the night away to some of the area’s best Stand Up Comics in a ridiculously fun adult environment!!
Free snacks while availability lasts!
Hosted by Jason Webb, featuring professional comics competing to win your love!
Comedy open mic is 3-5m each, comics get in free with free snacks! Spots for comics are set aside for pre signup and at door. You may contact Slice to see how to get on show!
How it Works: The show’s Headliner will be selected by the paid audience in an anonymous ballet after all comics perform their sets.
They will write down their favorite top comic of the evening who will be paid & brought back to headline the end of the show with a closing 10-12m set! The will automatically be entered into a Feature headlining show to battle for Asheville title!
Host Jason Webb was Winner for last month’s contest and is automatically entered to battle the top 3 contestants in a future show! His standup is a viral sensation on TikTok!
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRQo21rN/
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRQomXME/
A southern Preacher’s son with a dark twist, Jason has been entertaining audiences all over the country with his unique brand of adorably hateful insights. Jason expertly mixes high and low energy to bring the audience to a comfortable place to talk about uncomfortable subjects. Jason was the Co-Creator and Co-Host of Follow That! at The Comedy Store on Sunset Blvd..

Amelia Day and Blue Cactus take Eulogy’s stage on May 15th (tickets are $12 plus fees)! Amelia Day is a folk rock powerhouse entering the conversation with mainstays like Brandi Carlile, the Indigo Girls, and Tracy Chapman. Underscoring her carefree melodies with gritty, confessional lyricism and raw, heartfelt delivery, she performs with an intimacy that makes even new listeners feel familiar. Amelia mixes elements of her adolescent Seattle mixtapes of folk, rock, and jazz in music that plays freely with genre, while still being undeniably “Amelia Day”. Without a label, manager, or agent, Amelia has headlined Nashville classics like Exit/In, sold out venues like Seattle’s iconic The Triple Door, been featured on popular stations like KEXP and 107.7 The End, opened for pop crooner Stephen Sanchez, and independently amassed over 1M streams and 70K monthly listeners on Spotify. Amelia Day just released her sophomore EP “Little One” in early November, which has already been met with rave reviews from publications like The UW Daily and Outwrite.

Brandon Rainwater at The Bier Garden
Come join us for a night of laughter with the hilarious Brandon Rainwater! Get ready for a comedy show that will have you rolling in your seats. This in person event will be held at The Bier Garden, so grab your friends and get ready for a night of fun. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to see Brandon Rainwater perform live! Featuring Dante’ Quitman, guest Zlata Cass. Hosted by Ryan Cox! Full menu options! Largest beer selections in Asheville.

The Blue Ridge Agility Club of Western North Carolina will host an American Kennel Club (AKC) agility trial during the Memorial Day weekend, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, May 24 – 27, 2023.  The event will be held at the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center McGough Arena in Fletcher from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm Friday-Sunday and 8:00 am-1:00 pm on Monday. Spectators are welcome to attend and admission is free. Please leave your dog comfortably at home.

Over 300 purebred dogs, from throughout the southeast, will compete at various levels of difficulty, against each other and the clock. There will be approximately 70 AKC-registered breeds competing.

Agility is a competitive team sport that involves a handler and his or her dog.  The object of agility is for the handler to navigate the dog through a timed obstacle course without the dog making a mistake. The agility course is comprised of jumps; weave poles, tunnels and climbing apparatuses. Agility rules focus on safety for the dog. The sport of agility combines control, training and drive into a challenging game for both the handler and the dog. Agility training heightens the bond between dog and handler and provides fun exercise for both. Agility is one of the fastest-growing dog sports in the USA.

The FAST (Fifteen and Send Time) class will be offered Friday through Sunday. The FAST class is an additional test of strategy, accuracy, speed, timing and distance handling, to demonstrate a dog’s athletic ability. The distance challenge must be completed correctly for a qualifying run; it can be attempted anytime during the run.

Time 2 Beat (T2B) will be offered each day. Each dog has the chance to set the “Time to Beat” for each jump height. This class is the most interactive class with the most accurate and fastest dog setting the pace.  Dogs from the novice, open and excellent classes compete against each other on the same course.

AKC’s exciting Premier classes will be offered all four days. Premier courses are designed to challenge dogs and their handlers at an increased skill and speed level. The courses are set above the Master class with varied approach angles, spacing and discrimination obstacles.

The American Kennel Club was founded in 1884 and is the nation’s leading not-for-profit organization devoted to the study, breeding, exhibiting and advancement of purebred dogs.

 For more information about the trial or the Blue Ridge Agility Club, visit www.blueridgeagilityclub.com

The Blue Ridge Agility Club of Western North Carolina will host an American Kennel Club (AKC) agility trial during the Memorial Day weekend, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, May 24 – 27, 2023.  The event will be held at the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center McGough Arena in Fletcher from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm Friday-Sunday and 8:00 am-1:00 pm on Monday. Spectators are welcome to attend and admission is free. Please leave your dog comfortably at home.

Over 300 purebred dogs, from throughout the southeast, will compete at various levels of difficulty, against each other and the clock. There will be approximately 70 AKC-registered breeds competing.

Agility is a competitive team sport that involves a handler and his or her dog.  The object of agility is for the handler to navigate the dog through a timed obstacle course without the dog making a mistake. The agility course is comprised of jumps; weave poles, tunnels and climbing apparatuses. Agility rules focus on safety for the dog. The sport of agility combines control, training and drive into a challenging game for both the handler and the dog. Agility training heightens the bond between dog and handler and provides fun exercise for both. Agility is one of the fastest-growing dog sports in the USA.

The FAST (Fifteen and Send Time) class will be offered Friday through Sunday. The FAST class is an additional test of strategy, accuracy, speed, timing and distance handling, to demonstrate a dog’s athletic ability. The distance challenge must be completed correctly for a qualifying run; it can be attempted anytime during the run.

Time 2 Beat (T2B) will be offered each day. Each dog has the chance to set the “Time to Beat” for each jump height. This class is the most interactive class with the most accurate and fastest dog setting the pace.  Dogs from the novice, open and excellent classes compete against each other on the same course.

AKC’s exciting Premier classes will be offered all four days. Premier courses are designed to challenge dogs and their handlers at an increased skill and speed level. The courses are set above the Master class with varied approach angles, spacing and discrimination obstacles.

The American Kennel Club was founded in 1884 and is the nation’s leading not-for-profit organization devoted to the study, breeding, exhibiting and advancement of purebred dogs.

 For more information about the trial or the Blue Ridge Agility Club, visit www.blueridgeagilityclub.com

The Blue Ridge Agility Club of Western North Carolina will host an American Kennel Club (AKC) agility trial during the Memorial Day weekend, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, May 24 – 27, 2023.  The event will be held at the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center McGough Arena in Fletcher from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm Friday-Sunday and 8:00 am-1:00 pm on Monday. Spectators are welcome to attend and admission is free. Please leave your dog comfortably at home.

Over 300 purebred dogs, from throughout the southeast, will compete at various levels of difficulty, against each other and the clock. There will be approximately 70 AKC-registered breeds competing.

Agility is a competitive team sport that involves a handler and his or her dog.  The object of agility is for the handler to navigate the dog through a timed obstacle course without the dog making a mistake. The agility course is comprised of jumps; weave poles, tunnels and climbing apparatuses. Agility rules focus on safety for the dog. The sport of agility combines control, training and drive into a challenging game for both the handler and the dog. Agility training heightens the bond between dog and handler and provides fun exercise for both. Agility is one of the fastest-growing dog sports in the USA.

The FAST (Fifteen and Send Time) class will be offered Friday through Sunday. The FAST class is an additional test of strategy, accuracy, speed, timing and distance handling, to demonstrate a dog’s athletic ability. The distance challenge must be completed correctly for a qualifying run; it can be attempted anytime during the run.

Time 2 Beat (T2B) will be offered each day. Each dog has the chance to set the “Time to Beat” for each jump height. This class is the most interactive class with the most accurate and fastest dog setting the pace.  Dogs from the novice, open and excellent classes compete against each other on the same course.

AKC’s exciting Premier classes will be offered all four days. Premier courses are designed to challenge dogs and their handlers at an increased skill and speed level. The courses are set above the Master class with varied approach angles, spacing and discrimination obstacles.

The American Kennel Club was founded in 1884 and is the nation’s leading not-for-profit organization devoted to the study, breeding, exhibiting and advancement of purebred dogs.

 For more information about the trial or the Blue Ridge Agility Club, visit www.blueridgeagilityclub.com

The Blue Ridge Agility Club of Western North Carolina will host an American Kennel Club (AKC) agility trial during the Memorial Day weekend, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, May 24 – 27, 2023.  The event will be held at the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center McGough Arena in Fletcher from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm Friday-Sunday and 8:00 am-1:00 pm on Monday. Spectators are welcome to attend and admission is free. Please leave your dog comfortably at home.

Over 300 purebred dogs, from throughout the southeast, will compete at various levels of difficulty, against each other and the clock. There will be approximately 70 AKC-registered breeds competing.

Agility is a competitive team sport that involves a handler and his or her dog.  The object of agility is for the handler to navigate the dog through a timed obstacle course without the dog making a mistake. The agility course is comprised of jumps; weave poles, tunnels and climbing apparatuses. Agility rules focus on safety for the dog. The sport of agility combines control, training and drive into a challenging game for both the handler and the dog. Agility training heightens the bond between dog and handler and provides fun exercise for both. Agility is one of the fastest-growing dog sports in the USA.

The FAST (Fifteen and Send Time) class will be offered Friday through Sunday. The FAST class is an additional test of strategy, accuracy, speed, timing and distance handling, to demonstrate a dog’s athletic ability. The distance challenge must be completed correctly for a qualifying run; it can be attempted anytime during the run.

Time 2 Beat (T2B) will be offered each day. Each dog has the chance to set the “Time to Beat” for each jump height. This class is the most interactive class with the most accurate and fastest dog setting the pace.  Dogs from the novice, open and excellent classes compete against each other on the same course.

AKC’s exciting Premier classes will be offered all four days. Premier courses are designed to challenge dogs and their handlers at an increased skill and speed level. The courses are set above the Master class with varied approach angles, spacing and discrimination obstacles.

The American Kennel Club was founded in 1884 and is the nation’s leading not-for-profit organization devoted to the study, breeding, exhibiting and advancement of purebred dogs.

 For more information about the trial or the Blue Ridge Agility Club, visit www.blueridgeagilityclub.com