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.

Tuesday, January 16, 2024
Online Book Club from the Library: Bookmarked
Jan 16 @ 7:00 pm
online

 

Buncombe County has an online book club called Bookmarked that meets on Zoom on the third Tuesday of each month, September through May, at 7 p.m.

Each month Bookmarked will read a title of popular fiction selected by the club. The online book discussion is hosted by one of our librarians.  Copies of the selected books are available at the Fairview Library and you can request any of the books to be sent to your favorite library for pickup. Most selections can be downloaded as an eBook or audiobook from the North Carolina Digital Library. No need to leave your house on a cold winter day – you can share books with other interested readers in your pajamas from your own couch. Read along with us to discover new titles you may not have bookmarked on your own.

You can join Bookmarked any time by emailing prior to any meeting. This book club (and all library events) are listed on the library calendar.

Upcoming Bookmarked Selections

  • Jan. 16 – Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton
  • Feb. 20 – People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
  • March 19 – The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
  • April 16 – The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb
  • May 21 – We Measure the Earth With Our Bodies by Tsering Yangzoma Lama

Interested in other library book clubs? Join us at Pack Library on Tuesday, Jan. 30 at 6 p.m. for our annual Book Club Fair. This program will feature short presentations from representatives from a dozen local book clubs and some time to chat. Find the book club that best fits your interests and schedule.

Wednesday, January 17, 2024
Ginger Pinholster and Mark Hummel
Jan 17 @ 6:00 pm
Live Stream

This is a dual author event featuring Ginger Pinholster and Mark Hummel. The live streamed virtual event is free but registration is required.

Please click here to register. The link required to attend will be emailed to registrants prior to the event.

If you decide to attend and to purchase books, we ask that you purchase from Malaprop’s. When you do this you make it possible for us to continue hosting author events and you keep more dollars in our community. You may also support our work by purchasing a gift card or making a donation of any amount below. Thank you!


Ginger Pinholster likes to say that turtles find her. A volunteer member of Florida’s Volusia Turtle Patrol, she earned her M.F.A. degree from Queens University of Charlotte and a B.A. from Eckerd College. Her first novel, “City in a Forest,” won a Gold Royal Palm Literary Award from the Florida Writers Association in 2020. A resident of Ponce Inlet, she serves as vice president for communications at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach. Previously, she was the long-time chief communications officer for the American Association for the Advancement of Science, where she became an elected Fellow. Long ago and far away, she was a journalist. To learn more, visit: www.gingerpinholster.com

Mark Hummel is a novelist, editor, and teacher. He is the author of the novel In the Chameleon’s Shadow, the story collection Lost and Found, and, writing as Mark Leichliter, the crime novel The Other Side. His work regularly appears in literary journals including The Bloomsbury ReviewDogwoodFugueTalking River ReviewWeber: The Contemporary West, and Zone 3. He is the editor of the nonfiction magazine bioStories. Mark lives in Bigfork, Montana.

Trivia Night
Jan 17 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Hickory Tavern

Every Wednesday

Trivia Night

BADFISH – A TRIBUTE TO SUBLIME
Jan 17 @ 8:00 pm
The Orange Peel

The phenomenon known as Sublime, arguably the most energetic, original and uniquely eclectic band to emerge from any scene, anywhere, ended with the untimely death of lead singer, guitarist and songwriter Brad Nowell in May of 1996. But encompassing the sense of place and purpose long associated with Sublime’s music, Badfish, a Tribute to Sublime continues to channel the spirit of Sublime with a fury not felt for some time. What separates Badfish from other tribute bands is that they have replicated Sublime’s essence, developing a scene and dedicated following most commonly reserved for label-driven, mainstream acts. Badfish make their mark on the audience by playing with the spirit of Sublime. They perform not as Sublime would have, or did, but as Badfish does!

Thursday, January 18, 2024
Valentine’s Day Take-Home Dinner Preorders
Jan 18 all-day
Red Fiddle Vittles

A special prix fixe dinner for two is now available for preorder online until Feb. 12 or while supplies last. Pickup is 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 14. Orders will be picked up chilled with complete reheating instructions included. The meal features lobster bisque with creme fraiche and brown butter croutons, port wine-braised beef short ribs, truffle risotto, dark chocolate lava cake with blueberry-lavender whipped cream.

My Adopted Aunts: Eleanor Vance, Charlotte Yale, and Biltmore Industries” w/ local author Bruce Johnson
Jan 18 @ 5:30 pm
First Congregational Church
–  “My Adopted Aunts: Eleanor Vance, Charlotte Yale, and Biltmore Industries” with local author Bruce Johnson at First Congregational Church
BLUEGRASS JAM Hosted by Drew Matulich
Jan 18 @ 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Jack of the Wood

BLUEGRASS JAM

Hosted by Drew Matulich


Don’t miss your chance to check out some of the best pickers from all over WNC at our amazing Bluegrass Jam curated by the talented Drew Matulich — every Thursday starting at 7:00 pm! A real show-stopping performance only at Jack of the Wood! Open jam starts at 9:30 pm.

DOSS CHURCH + THE UNHOLY NOISE
Jan 18 @ 8:00 pm
The Pulp

Support:
Steven Brett

Ages 18+

Friday, January 19, 2024
Valentine’s Day Take-Home Dinner Preorders
Jan 19 all-day
Red Fiddle Vittles

A special prix fixe dinner for two is now available for preorder online until Feb. 12 or while supplies last. Pickup is 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 14. Orders will be picked up chilled with complete reheating instructions included. The meal features lobster bisque with creme fraiche and brown butter croutons, port wine-braised beef short ribs, truffle risotto, dark chocolate lava cake with blueberry-lavender whipped cream.

Interactive Murder Mystery
Jan 19 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Ginger's Revenge - South Slope Lounge

Date: January 19th

📍 Venue: Ginger’s Revenge, Asheville, NC

💃🍸 Join us in the heart of Prohibition-era Chicago, where the rumblings of a mob war between the South Side Gangsters and the Northern Chicago Mob Outfit echo through the streets. Hal Sapone and Beanie O’Dannon, the ruthless crime leaders, have struck an unprecedented agreement, pooling resources for a joint criminal enterprise.

🔍🌃 Under the surface of this fragile alliance lies a tension thick enough to slice with a blade. Recent sightings of gangsters from both factions at speakeasies across Chicago hint at a delicate peace. But in this world of clandestine dealings, alliances are as fragile as glass, and danger lurks in the shadows.

🕵️‍♀️👞 You are not merely an attendee—you are a character in this gripping tale. Assigned a role in advance, prepare to step into the shoes of a flapper or a gangster. Your attire will be your emblem in this intricate web of deception, secrets, and alliances.

🎭 The Grand Gatsby Speakeasy sets the stage for a pivotal meeting between these rival factions. Will this clandestine gathering resolve differences, or will it reignite the flames of an all-out war? Your presence at this fateful event marks the beginning of a new chapter in this thrilling story.

🌟✨ Unravel the mystery, forge alliances, or play your cards close to your chest. Every interaction, every whispered conversation shapes the fate of these notorious gangs. As tensions escalate, the power lies in your hands.

🎷🍾 Live the glamour, the danger, and the thrill of a bygone era. Prepare to navigate the intricate dance of alliances and betrayals, where every decision could be a matter of life or death.

Saturday, January 20, 2024
Valentine’s Day Take-Home Dinner Preorders
Jan 20 all-day
Red Fiddle Vittles

A special prix fixe dinner for two is now available for preorder online until Feb. 12 or while supplies last. Pickup is 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 14. Orders will be picked up chilled with complete reheating instructions included. The meal features lobster bisque with creme fraiche and brown butter croutons, port wine-braised beef short ribs, truffle risotto, dark chocolate lava cake with blueberry-lavender whipped cream.

Hot Cocoa Creation Bar
Jan 20 @ 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum

Make your own hot cocoa creation in Perspective Café

Every weekend in December 

 

Unlock the joy and creative spirit of the holidays while also supporting the Museum’s mission! Start your winter cocoa creation by choosing between traditional or white hot chocolate as your base. Next, decorate your creation with all kinds of toppings, including crushed peppermints, butterscotches, caramel syrup, mini marshmallows, candy canes, sprinkles, and more.

The Dolly Llama Grand Opening
Jan 20 @ 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
The Dolly Llama

The Dolly Llama Waffles Master, combining ice cream and waffles since 2017, opens tomorrow, Jan 20th, at Biltmore Park Town Square! With roots in LA, their newest location here at The Park is the first one in North Carolina! Serving up both traditional and vegan dairy-free ice cream, there is ice cream and waffles for everyone who comes through and greets Dolly!

The Dolly Llama has its unique take on the Bubble Waffle, in addition to Dolly Llama Shakes, Waffle Sticks, and OG Liege Waffles, and continues to prove that all waffles don’t need syrup.

Event: Jan 20th, 12-5 pm

  • First 50 guests get a free giveaway bag
  • Enter to Win opportunities all day
    • Stop by and get a pic with real llamas from 1-3PM
P U R R T H D A Y P A W T Y
Jan 20 @ 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Ginger's Revenge - South Slope Lounge

Benefitting TrapKing Humane Cat Solutions
Fundraiser & Silent Auction, Music
Performances, Cat Clicker-Training, & More!
Join us for the purrfect, cat-filled evening!

2024 Vote Blue Kickoff
Jan 20 @ 6:00 pm – 9:30 pm
A-B Tech Conference Center

Join us for our 2024 Kickoff! We will be gathering to celebrate the beginning of the 2024 election season with live music, good food, friends & fellowship!

Get Tickets

Whether you sponsor or buy one ticket to this fun evening event, your generosity will help ensure our success at the polls and safeguard the future of our democracy. BCDP volunteers are the grassroots organizing power behind every Democratic victory, and your support allows us to pay for printing, canvassing and Get Out The Vote materials, as well as access to our data software. It also helps us maintain our headquarters, which is already bustling with activity! Sponsors will receive special recognition during the event and candidate sponsors will have the option of having their information included in our presentation (email [email protected] for details).

With your ticket or sponsorship, you will enjoy a buffet dinner from Mamacita’s Taqueria — a locally-owned family business, serving up fresh, made-from-scratch Mexican cuisine. You’ll also receive a free drink ticket for beer or wine (additional tickets will be available for purchase).

Discounted tickets are available for those under 35 years old, as well as our dedicated teachers and first responders. If you aren’t able to pay the full or discounted amount for a ticket to this event, please contact BCDP Chair Kathie Kline at [email protected].

Who should attend: Democrats and left-leaning unaffiliated voters in Buncombe and surrounding counties.

Playground Stage 5 Year Anniversary Celebration
Jan 20 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Highlands Brewery Event Center

Attire: Dress to impress in your favorite sparkly and colorful party clothes!

What’s Happening: A performance at 6:30pm with appearances from current and former PGS students and staff.

Other Details: A performance, activities for kids, drinks and snacks will be provided. Adult Beverages from Highlands Brewery will be available for purchase. All children must be accompanied by an adult for the evening.

Sunday, January 21, 2024
Valentine’s Day Take-Home Dinner Preorders
Jan 21 all-day
Red Fiddle Vittles

A special prix fixe dinner for two is now available for preorder online until Feb. 12 or while supplies last. Pickup is 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 14. Orders will be picked up chilled with complete reheating instructions included. The meal features lobster bisque with creme fraiche and brown butter croutons, port wine-braised beef short ribs, truffle risotto, dark chocolate lava cake with blueberry-lavender whipped cream.

Hot Cocoa Creation Bar
Jan 21 @ 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum

Make your own hot cocoa creation in Perspective Café

Every weekend in December 

 

Unlock the joy and creative spirit of the holidays while also supporting the Museum’s mission! Start your winter cocoa creation by choosing between traditional or white hot chocolate as your base. Next, decorate your creation with all kinds of toppings, including crushed peppermints, butterscotches, caramel syrup, mini marshmallows, candy canes, sprinkles, and more.

Dani Shapiro in conversation with Maia Toll
Jan 21 @ 11:30 am – 2:00 pm
location will be provided to ticket holders

HappyWomenDinners invites you to an exclusive brunch, booksigning, and discussion with NY Times Bestselling Author Dani Shapiro in Conversation with Author Maia Toll.

This is a private event in Asheville, open to a limited number of guests. Click here for more information and to register via email to [email protected].
The registration deadline is January 7th. The location will be provided to ticket holders.
Tickets are $125 and include:
~ Entry to the event
~ Brunch
~ A signed copy of Signal Fires, by Dani Shapiro. 

Malaprop’s will be on hand with previous books by Dani Shapiro available for purchase.


Signal Fires cuts a gleaming window into our alternate lives so meticulously and gloriously that it is quite nearly a primer on how to not only live in the present, but in the past and future as well. Shapiro has crafted a stunning future classic.” – Lisa Taddeo, author of Three Women

“A haunting, moving, and propulsive exploration of family secrets.” —Meg Wolitzer

Dani Shapiro is the author of eleven books, and the host and creator of the hit podcast Family Secrets. Her most recent novel, Signal Fires, was named a best book of 2022 by Time MagazineWashington Post, and others, and is a national bestseller. Her most recent memoir, Inheritance, was an instant New York Times Bestseller, and named a best book of 2019 by Elle, Vanity Fair, Wired, and Real Simple. Dani’s work has been published in fourteen languages and she’s currently developing Signal Fires for its television adaptation. Dani’s book on the process and craft of writing, Still Writing, is being reissued on the occasion of its tenth anniversary in 2023. She occasionally teaches workshops and retreats, and is the co-founder of the Sirenland Writers Conference in Positano, Italy.

Maia Toll is the author of Letting Magic InThe Night School, and the Wild Wisdom series, which includes The Illustrated Herbiary, The Illustrated Bestiary, The Illustrated Crystallary, and Maia Toll’s Wild Wisdom Companion. After earning degrees at the University of Michigan and New York University, Toll apprenticed with a traditional healer in Ireland, where she spent extensive time studying the growing cycles of plants, the alchemy of medicine making, and the psycho-spiritual aspects of healing. She is the co-owner of the retail store Herbiary, with locations in Asheville, NC and Philadelphia, PA. You can find her online at maiatoll.com.
Kate O’Hara is the illustrator of the Wild Wisdom series, and a freelance illustrator based in Reno, Nevada. She received a BFA in Illustration from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Her work combines intricate nature drawings with decorative hand-lettering and rich color schemes. She can be found online at kate-ohara.com.

Event address:
In Person-Location TBA
BURLESQUE BRUNCH
Jan 21 @ 12:00 pm
The Grey Eagle
-AGES 18+
-SEATED SHOW
-LIMITED VIP TICKETS AVAILABLEBURLESQUE BRUNCH

Welcome to the most dazzling brunch experience in Asheville! Join award-winning burlesque sensation, Madison Jane and a delectable blend of performers once a month for a Sunday extravaganza of tantalizing tastes and titillating performances. The Haus of Jane’s Burlesque Brunch Showcase is a feast for the senses, where laughter and allure collide, creating a brunch event that’s as unforgettable as the Blue Ridge Mountains.

 

Please note: While the ticket price covers your entrance into this delicious spectacle, our brunch delights are a separate indulgence. Come hungry for glamour and ready to sip, savor, and be seduced by the artistry of burlesque – where every shimmy tells a story, and every wink is an invitation to revel in the magic. Bring cash to tip your performers and prepare for a Sunday like no other!

Jack’s Bluegrass Brunch
Jan 21 @ 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Jack of the Wood

Jack’s Bluegrass Brunch kicks off every Sunday at 12 noon — with lively bluegrass tunes courtesy of The Jack of the Wood Bluegrass Brunch Boys from 1-3pm. Sip a Bloody Mary or Mimosa or a warm Irish coffee. Tasty brunch specials alongside our regular menu and 18 taps of rotating craft brews! Sláinte, y’all!

TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC SESSION
Jan 21 @ 3:30 pm
Jack of the Wood

Jack’s long-running Traditional Irish Music Session is the perfect way to enjoy the Celtic-influenced sounds of talented pluckers from all over WNC & further afield! Stop in to enjoy a pint or afternoon Irish coffee with the music! Sláinte!

Slice of Life Comedy Open Mic
Jan 21 @ 6:30 pm
Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co

A Charlotte Comic Takeover!!!
It’s Another Great Comedy Show at Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co, Theater 2! Jan 21, 6:30p, 18+, Get Dinner, Drinks & Laughs with the areas best standup comics. Featured and Open Mic Comedy. [Performing comics get 3-5m, FREE entry and pizza. ]
Morgan Marie is guest hosting, in from Charlotte with some great comic features in tow!! Get Your Tickets Now! https://www.ashevillebrewing.com/buy-tickets/

Slice of Life Comedy Open Mic + Feature Comedy
Jan 21 @ 6:30 pm
Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co

A Charlotte Comic Takeover!!!
It’s Another Great Comedy Show at Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co, Theater 2! Jan 21, 6:30p, 18+, Get Dinner, Drinks & Laughs with the areas best standup comics. Featured and Open Mic Comedy. [Performing comics get 3-5m, FREE entry and pizza. ]
Morgan Marie is guest hosting, in from Charlotte with some great comic features in tow, Matt Hammy, Thomas Heynan & Christine McLennan!! Get Your Tickets Now!!

Karaoke Nights in The Draftsman
Jan 21 @ 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
The Draftsman Bar + Lounge

“Sing your heart out every Sunday with Lyric Jones at our laidback basement bar. Whether you’re a classic crooner or want to relive your glam metal glory days, find your moment to shine between 8pm and 11pm. Remember: what happens at karaoke night, stays at karaoke night.

People in the biz get half off select appetizers and burgers all night!”

Monday, January 22, 2024
Asheville Restaurant Week
Jan 22 all-day
Asheville Area Restaurants

For many, the delicious culinary creations of local restaurants are a big part of what makes Asheville special. Asheville Restaurant Week celebrates Asheville’s great food scene. This year, more than 40 participating restaurants are serving up great food with menu specials. Show your favorite restaurants some love or try someplace new!

Asheville Restaurant Week Participating Restaurants: Asheville Restaurant Week – Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce (ashevillechamber.org)

Quick Links

BOGO Treats at Jeremiah’s Ice!
Jan 22 all-day
Jeremiah's Italian Ice

It’s Monday and you know what that means – Buy One Flavorite, Get One FREE!

Choose your Italian ice flavor (or flavors), your Soft Ice Cream, AND your favorite decadent Layer-In! The options are endless and it’s all about YOU!!

*Offer valid on Small and Medium Flavorites on Mondays in January. In-store only. Offer includes Build-Your-Own Flavorites and pre-built Frog Squad Flavorites.

Valentine’s Day Take-Home Dinner Preorders
Jan 22 all-day
Red Fiddle Vittles

A special prix fixe dinner for two is now available for preorder online until Feb. 12 or while supplies last. Pickup is 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 14. Orders will be picked up chilled with complete reheating instructions included. The meal features lobster bisque with creme fraiche and brown butter croutons, port wine-braised beef short ribs, truffle risotto, dark chocolate lava cake with blueberry-lavender whipped cream.

Micro Monday program
Jan 22 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Ginger's Revenge - South Slope Lounge
Join us in January and February for our weekly Micro Monday program! Come in and get a Micro Monday passport to try all eight of our exclusive small batch beverages and earn prizes!
✨Here’s the fine print: Micro Monday participants will recieve a passport punch card with the opportunity to try a different beverage each week for eight weeks. To earn a punch on your passport, you must order a full pour or 32 oz growler of the beverage of the week. We strive to have enough product to last all week, so if you can’t come on a Monday, that’s ok!
Participants who get 5 punches will receive an exclusive complimentary “I’m With the Band” 16oz glass, and those who join for all 8 weeks will also recieve a branded stainless steel water bottle, and entry into our grand prize drawing, worth $100!
🤫(hint: join us at our Kick-off Party on January 1st to get an extra entry into the grand prize drawing!)
QUIZZO PUB TRIVIA Hosted by Jason Mencer
Jan 22 @ 7:30 pm
Jack of the Wood


Hosted by the witty & sagacious Jason Mencer, our epic pub trivia night runs every Monday from 7:30-9:30pm! Plus $5.00 well drinks all night!

Come test your brain power with tasty pub fare, an adult beverage or two — and a team of your smartest friends! Win prizes each round and crow a little about what a smarty-pants you are!