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.
Come enjoy our most popular Asheville tour!
Duration
1 hour and 30 minutes
About
Bachelorette/Bachelor Parties are not permitted on this tour. The Fender Bender Bus is bachelorette/bachelor friendly!
Historical and hysterical, The Hey Asheville tour features outrageously entertaining tour guides, outlandish comedy skits complete with special appearances and loads of Asheville information. You’ll get to see the best of downtown Asheville and the rarely seen but stunningly beautiful Montford neighborhood, not to mention the burgeoning River Arts District! You’ve never had a ride like this. It’s like a vaudeville show on wheels!
Find out what makes Asheville so unique on LaZoom’s City Comedy Tour. It’s the perfect mix of history, comedy, and entertainment. Our guides are trained professional actors working with an original script. It’s like a theatre on wheels! The tour highlights downtown Asheville, historic neighborhoods, the South Slope, and the River Arts District.
Age Restrictions
13 and up. No exceptions.
Stops
10 minute beer & bathroom break at Green Man Brewery
What’s Included
Guided tour of Asheville on a Purple Bus
Funny actors, fun bits
Actual History about Asheville
Green Man Brewery Stop
What’s Not Included
Beer/Wine (Must be purchased from LaZoom or the Brewery Stop)
Cash! You’ll want to tip the guides for changing your life for the better.
Join us for a North Carolina winery tour and celebrate a date night, bachelorette party, retirement, family, or a weekend away while sampling our favorite local beverages along the way. Our standard tour includes visits to three Asheville area vineyards. With safe and reliable transportation provided, you can sit back, relax and just have fun.
Included:
- Round trip transportation*
- Three vineyard visits
- Tastings at two of your three stops. Let’s just say that the pours at the first couple of locations are generous so we like to leave the third-stop beverage choice up to you.
- Time commitment = up to 5 hours
Want to include specific vineyards on your Asheville wine tours? If you have “must-see” wineries in mind or want to craft a full day catered to your group’s interests, we’re always happy to create a custom experience. Reach out any time!
 |
| The YMCA Mobile Market will bring fresh and healthy fruits and vegetables to Grovemont Park on Thursday, June 20, from 11 a.m.-12 noon. Stop by to pick up some delicious free food and recipes. The market is open to everyone — no questons asked!
Look for the Mobile Market every month on the 3rd Thursday at 11 a.m. Grovemont Park is located adjacent to the Swannanoa Library, 251 Stonewall Avenue. |
Buncombe County Public Library is thrilled to announce The Hop Ice Cream as a proud supporting partner of this year’s Summer Reading Program to encourage youth literacy in our community. The Hop will provide free ice cream at the Summer Library Fest on Saturday, June 8 from 10 a.m.-noon at East Asheville Library. For added fun, The Hop owner Greg Garrison will collaborate with Secret Agent 23 Skidoo to provide a special dance performance to families in attendance.
Any kid or teen who visits a Buncombe County library to pick up their summer reading activity sheet will also receive a 10 percent off coupon redeemable at any Hop location or at Pop Bubble Tea. Return your completed activity sheet to any branch and receive a bookmark for a free kiddie scoop of ice cream at any Hop location. You must complete 10 or more activities on your sheet to be eligible for ice cream – and you can also select a free book of your choice!
Summer Reading runs from June 1 to August 31 and is open to anyone from birth to age 18. If you have any questions, just contact your friendly neighborhood library.
The Hop Ice Cream OUR LOCATIONS
640 Merrimon Ave
Asheville, NC 28804
per couple
bottle of wine
sunset
Trivia Every Thursday w/ Not Rocket Science
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.
– STANDING ROOM ONLY
– RAIN OR SHINE
in Maui, Will Hartz joined forces with The Midwives, a session band, at Echo Mountain
Recording in Asheville, NC. The band is a collaboration between Zack Page on bass,
Nashville based Herschel VanDyke on drums, Muddy Welles on lead guitar and Jim Aaron on
harmonica. Members of The Midwives have recorded and performed with artists such as
Elizabeth Cook, Casey Kristofferson, Amy Nelson, Krave Amiko and more. Hartz’s debut
album, “Easy”, also features guest appearances from Jamar Woods on Hammond B3 (Sleep
Alone and Heavy Door) and Casey James on pedal steel guitar (Show Me).
Over two days, they rehearsed and recorded eight tracks at Echo Mountain Recording in
Asheville, NC with Grammy award winning engineer Julian Dreyer at the board (engineering
and mixing), Autumn Greenfield producing and Kenny Harrington assisting. The album will be
released online and on a limited vinyl run, with digital and vinyl mastering done by Dave Harris
at Studio B Mastering in Charlotte. The songs on the album were tracked live in the studio,
with minimal overdubs, and prerelease reviews of “Easy” have compared this LP to early
Black Crowes more than once.
The album releases digitally worldwide on May 17, 2024 and a limited run of vinyl will be
available for sale at the vinyl release show on June 20, 2024 with Santiago y Los Gatos
opening the evening.
ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) has released a survey to learn more about how people in Western North Carolina shop for food and why they choose the food they do. The survey, part of a three-year project by ASAP’s Local Food Research Center, is for any resident of Western North Carolina over the age of 18, no matter where or how they shop for food. It can be completed online at surveymonkey.com/r/WNCFoodASAP or over the phone by calling ASAP at 828-236-1282. It should take approximately 8 to 12 minutes to complete and will be open through Oct. 31, 2024. Respondents are encouraged to share the survey widely with families, friends, and co-workers.
“By completing this survey, you are helping local farmers understand and connect with consumers,” said Amy Marion, ASAP Associate Director and lead researcher. “The challenges of our food system are constantly evolving. Improving it requires active participation from all community members. With this research we can better understand consumer values and the barriers they face, and help farmers and food producers improve communications with their customers and their communities.”
The survey is part of a three-year research project, “Connections in Direct Markets: Assessing the feedback loop between consumer values and farmers’ marketing strategies,” which will examine and improve communication and alignment between farmers and consumers in Western North Carolina. The research phase will also employ consumer focus groups, farmer interviews and case studies, and more targeted surveying. The broad consumer survey provides an update to the last consumer survey conducted by the Local Food Research Center in 2014. Results from the current research project will be shared in 2025.
ASAP founded the Local Food Research Center in 2011 to study the economic, environmental, and social impacts of localizing food systems. From its inception, ASAP’s programs and services have been grounded in research and evaluation, adjusting based on a strong feedback loop and observation of current conditions in the food system.
This project is supported in part by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2022-38640-37488 through the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under subaward number LS23-382. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider.
Whether you’re just getting into craft beer or we’re on your brewery bucket list, a Mills River tour is for you — so we recommend you reserve a spot! Our interactive tours offer everything from hop handling to nature hikes to — what you really came for — beer sampling.
Space on each tour is limited, and reservations are strongly encouraged. Make yours below. Looking to book a private tour? Fill out the private tour form, and we’ll get it organized. See you soon!
Come enjoy our most popular Asheville tour!
Duration
1 hour and 30 minutes
About
Bachelorette/Bachelor Parties are not permitted on this tour. The Fender Bender Bus is bachelorette/bachelor friendly!
Historical and hysterical, The Hey Asheville tour features outrageously entertaining tour guides, outlandish comedy skits complete with special appearances and loads of Asheville information. You’ll get to see the best of downtown Asheville and the rarely seen but stunningly beautiful Montford neighborhood, not to mention the burgeoning River Arts District! You’ve never had a ride like this. It’s like a vaudeville show on wheels!
Find out what makes Asheville so unique on LaZoom’s City Comedy Tour. It’s the perfect mix of history, comedy, and entertainment. Our guides are trained professional actors working with an original script. It’s like a theatre on wheels! The tour highlights downtown Asheville, historic neighborhoods, the South Slope, and the River Arts District.
Age Restrictions
13 and up. No exceptions.
Stops
10 minute beer & bathroom break at Green Man Brewery
What’s Included
Guided tour of Asheville on a Purple Bus
Funny actors, fun bits
Actual History about Asheville
Green Man Brewery Stop
What’s Not Included
Beer/Wine (Must be purchased from LaZoom or the Brewery Stop)
Cash! You’ll want to tip the guides for changing your life for the better.
Join us for a North Carolina winery tour and celebrate a date night, bachelorette party, retirement, family, or a weekend away while sampling our favorite local beverages along the way. Our standard tour includes visits to three Asheville area vineyards. With safe and reliable transportation provided, you can sit back, relax and just have fun.
Included:
- Round trip transportation*
- Three vineyard visits
- Tastings at two of your three stops. Let’s just say that the pours at the first couple of locations are generous so we like to leave the third-stop beverage choice up to you.
- Time commitment = up to 5 hours
Want to include specific vineyards on your Asheville wine tours? If you have “must-see” wineries in mind or want to craft a full day catered to your group’s interests, we’re always happy to create a custom experience. Reach out any time!
Buncombe County Public Library is thrilled to announce The Hop Ice Cream as a proud supporting partner of this year’s Summer Reading Program to encourage youth literacy in our community. The Hop will provide free ice cream at the Summer Library Fest on Saturday, June 8 from 10 a.m.-noon at East Asheville Library. For added fun, The Hop owner Greg Garrison will collaborate with Secret Agent 23 Skidoo to provide a special dance performance to families in attendance.
Any kid or teen who visits a Buncombe County library to pick up their summer reading activity sheet will also receive a 10 percent off coupon redeemable at any Hop location or at Pop Bubble Tea. Return your completed activity sheet to any branch and receive a bookmark for a free kiddie scoop of ice cream at any Hop location. You must complete 10 or more activities on your sheet to be eligible for ice cream – and you can also select a free book of your choice!
Summer Reading runs from June 1 to August 31 and is open to anyone from birth to age 18. If you have any questions, just contact your friendly neighborhood library.
The Hop Ice Cream OUR LOCATIONS
640 Merrimon Ave
Asheville, NC 28804
Plan to collaborate with other musicians at Sideways Farm & Brewery in Etowah. Bring your instruments and voices and enjoy making music and networking with other artists, while enjoying the beautiful scenery. Food truck is on site and beverages available for purchase from Sideways (small
batch craft beers, hard jun, ciders, wine, and non alcoholic drinks). Family, fans, friends, and leashed dogs are all welcome!
During winter months enjoy playing under the covered, sheltered, heated porch! And during the summer months enjoy
collaborating in the fields, on the stage, or under the patio
Downtown After 5 has become a staple of Asheville’s cultural calendar, offering residents and visitors alike a chance to experience live music in the heart of our vibrant city. This year, each event is centered around highlighting a nonprofit partner with a theme that celebrates diverse musical genres, food and beverage offerings, local makers, and community initiatives. Each Downtown After 5 event draws an enthusiastic crowd of between 5,000 to 6,000 attendees to North Lexington Avenue, transforming it into a vibrant hub of music, dance, and community.
June 21 | Juneteenth
In a special collaboration with the MLK Foundation, we celebrate Juneteenth with the soulful Sierra Green & the Giants headlining and Lyric setting the mood.
July 19 | AVL Fest Kickoff
The official kick-off to AVL Fest, in support of Asheville FM, we’re bringing to the stage Caitlin Krisko & The Broadcast as headliners, with The Greenliners opening.
August 16 | LEAF Downtown
In collaboration with LEAF Global Arts, we’re excited to bring back LEAF Downtown at Downtown After 5. Tito Puente Jr. will be headlining the event, with the LEAF Kono Band opening.
September 20 | Outdoor Rec Fest
Closing out the series is September’s Outdoor Rec Fest with Riverlink. Featuring headliner Oliver Hazard and opener Paul McDonald. Celebrate Asheville’s outdoor lifestyle by engaging with our outdoor recreation partners and vendors.
Downtown After 5 is more than just a concert series; it’s a community staple that celebrates the diversity and creativity of Asheville. Each event is free to the public, thanks to the generous support of our sponsors and partners. Food and beverage vendors will be on-site, with a portion of proceeds supporting the nonprofit partners associated with each event.
Every Friday night in June. Sit back, grab a cider, and relax every Friday night at BOLD Bonfires at Bold Rock
Mills River! Starting at 6pm.
Enjoy fire pits burning, S’mores kits available for purchase, live music from some of your favorite local
acts, & delicious cider available to kick your weekend off right!
Carolina Ciderfest is approaching very quickly! This year we will be hosting the Carolina Ciderfest PRE-PARTY on June 21st because everyone knows Noble can turn up! Free and open to the public, come on in from 6 – 9 pm to get the party started. We will have a food truck, live music, merch raffles, cider flights featuring local cider makers, and much more!
Join Slice of Life Comedy Friday June 21 at pleb urban winery for a fun Asheville Standup Comedy Pageant! We are raising money for 103.3ashevillefm our local community radio station, they produce diverse and eclectic programming that inspires listeners to build connections across our communities and discovers new music and ideas. This comedy show is moderated by your AFM friends at slumberpartyavl Jake Ali & Michele and hosted by the amazing Asheville treasure, Hillary Begley The contestants are the winners of 3 previous contests held at The Orange Peel’s Pulp Jason Webb Ryan Gordon (the third final contest is selected June 13) There will be games, standup and silliness. Delicious Food truck Mean Pies Pizza is available, get your tix early this will sell out!
Whether you’re just getting into craft beer or we’re on your brewery bucket list, a Mills River tour is for you — so we recommend you reserve a spot! Our interactive tours offer everything from hop handling to nature hikes to — what you really came for — beer sampling.
Space on each tour is limited, and reservations are strongly encouraged. Make yours below. Looking to book a private tour? Fill out the private tour form, and we’ll get it organized. See you soon!
Come enjoy our most popular Asheville tour!
Duration
1 hour and 30 minutes
About
Bachelorette/Bachelor Parties are not permitted on this tour. The Fender Bender Bus is bachelorette/bachelor friendly!
Historical and hysterical, The Hey Asheville tour features outrageously entertaining tour guides, outlandish comedy skits complete with special appearances and loads of Asheville information. You’ll get to see the best of downtown Asheville and the rarely seen but stunningly beautiful Montford neighborhood, not to mention the burgeoning River Arts District! You’ve never had a ride like this. It’s like a vaudeville show on wheels!
Find out what makes Asheville so unique on LaZoom’s City Comedy Tour. It’s the perfect mix of history, comedy, and entertainment. Our guides are trained professional actors working with an original script. It’s like a theatre on wheels! The tour highlights downtown Asheville, historic neighborhoods, the South Slope, and the River Arts District.
Age Restrictions
13 and up. No exceptions.
Stops
10 minute beer & bathroom break at Green Man Brewery
What’s Included
Guided tour of Asheville on a Purple Bus
Funny actors, fun bits
Actual History about Asheville
Green Man Brewery Stop
What’s Not Included
Beer/Wine (Must be purchased from LaZoom or the Brewery Stop)
Cash! You’ll want to tip the guides for changing your life for the better.
Join us for a North Carolina winery tour and celebrate a date night, bachelorette party, retirement, family, or a weekend away while sampling our favorite local beverages along the way. Our standard tour includes visits to three Asheville area vineyards. With safe and reliable transportation provided, you can sit back, relax and just have fun.
Included:
- Round trip transportation*
- Three vineyard visits
- Tastings at two of your three stops. Let’s just say that the pours at the first couple of locations are generous so we like to leave the third-stop beverage choice up to you.
- Time commitment = up to 5 hours
Want to include specific vineyards on your Asheville wine tours? If you have “must-see” wineries in mind or want to craft a full day catered to your group’s interests, we’re always happy to create a custom experience. Reach out any time!
Passengers will enjoy a full service All-Adult First Class ride in our First Class cars with a private attendant and plush, well-appointed dining seating. A narrator will accompany the ride to present each pour to guests and share knowledge and history of the wines selected. Passengers on this specialty car will enjoy an exclusive sampling of cheeses and a surf and turf meal prepared fresh. We have carefully selected our wine samples to accompany the meal. All passengers will receive a GSMR souvenir stemless wine glass, four samples of selected wine, and a dessert that’s perfect for the season! Uncorked is offered on the Nantahala Gorge Excursion, departing on select dates. See schedule for departures. Tickets for this specialty experience starts at $169 per person (Adults 21+ only). Due to the exclusivity of this specialty car, tickets will be selling fast, so make sure to reserve your seat today!
On Your Plate
- Starters
- Enjoy a sampling of Cheddar, Pepper Jack & Swiss
- First Course
- Fresh Baby Spinach topped with Chef’s choice of dressing.
- Vegetarian option: Spinach Salad with Lemon Poppyseed Vinaigrette.
- Main Course
- Surf n’ Turf seasonally prepared at Chefs’ discretion accompanied by a selection of vegetables and roasted potatoes.
- Vegetarian option: Quinoa and grilled Tofu with seasonal vegetables and a sweet chili sauce.
- Dessert
- Chef choice
-
Asheville’s premier cider festival is back, Carolina CiderFest!Join us for ample tastings of hard cider, mead, apple wine, and seltzers along with artisanal food, live music, and more this year on South Slope, while McCormick Field gets a facelift. Shay & Company is partnering with the North Carolina Cider Association to host our annual cider festival on June 22nd from 12:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with VIP hours starting at 11:30 a.m. The 2024 event is expected to draw another sell-out crowd to sample sips from a diverse mix of local and national cideries. In addition to tasting cider and mead, attendees can enjoy food vendors and local makers! Bottles and cans of cider for takeaway will also be for sale. With more than 20 plus Cidermakers, Food Vendors, and Makers. VIP tickets will be available again this year, offering early entry and a VIP Area with Snacks. VIP ticket holders will have the opportunity to sample specialty, small-batch, or limited-release ciders and meads that won’t be available during the regular event.
Buncombe County Public Library is thrilled to announce The Hop Ice Cream as a proud supporting partner of this year’s Summer Reading Program to encourage youth literacy in our community. The Hop will provide free ice cream at the Summer Library Fest on Saturday, June 8 from 10 a.m.-noon at East Asheville Library. For added fun, The Hop owner Greg Garrison will collaborate with Secret Agent 23 Skidoo to provide a special dance performance to families in attendance.
Any kid or teen who visits a Buncombe County library to pick up their summer reading activity sheet will also receive a 10 percent off coupon redeemable at any Hop location or at Pop Bubble Tea. Return your completed activity sheet to any branch and receive a bookmark for a free kiddie scoop of ice cream at any Hop location. You must complete 10 or more activities on your sheet to be eligible for ice cream – and you can also select a free book of your choice!
Summer Reading runs from June 1 to August 31 and is open to anyone from birth to age 18. If you have any questions, just contact your friendly neighborhood library.
The Hop Ice Cream OUR LOCATIONS
640 Merrimon Ave
Asheville, NC 28804
Ciderfest is a great way to meet cider makers from all over North Carolina, try lot’s of cider, and celebrate everything that cider has to offer. A portion of the proceeds from this festival will directly benefit the NC Cider Association.
Agenda
16:00 – 18:00
*REQUIRED Check In*
16:00 – 22:00
Bar Crawl With Drink Specials
22:00 – 23:59
After Party*
🌈✨ Join Us For The Ultimate Celebration – The Official Pride Bar Crawl! ✨🌈
Hey there, fabulous Asheville crawlers!
Crawl With US is thrilled to invite you to The 7th Annual Pride Bar Crawl!
Celebrate Diversity, Be Bold, Be Colorful: Dress in vibrant attire and express your true self in a safe, welcoming space. This event is more than just a pub crawl; it’s a celebration of love, diversity, and inclusion. Meet new friends and be part of a community that celebrates you!
Give Back With Every Ticket: Crawl With US is not just about having a good time; we’re about making a difference. A portion of every ticket sold goes directly to Pride Non-Profit Organizations nationwide, supporting those in the LGBTQIA+ community! Come be a part of our pub crawl and support a company that is dedicated to creating positive change in Asheville.
In 2022 we were able to donate $22,653 to the Trevor Project!
In 2023 we were able to donate $14,905 to local Pride Organizations around the country and to the Trevor Project!
We hope to donate even more with your help in 2024!
Exclusive Perks: Enjoy Drag Shows ($15 Without Ticket), handpicked inclusive bars, exclusive drink specials, and freebies that are available only to our Pride Bar Crawl participants.
🎟️ Grab your tickets now and let’s paint the town in every color of the rainbow! 🏳️🌈
Your love is revolutionary, and united, we can enact positive change.
_______________________________________
Click ✅ GOING ✅ On The Facebook Event ⬇️ So You Don’t Miss Updates
https://www.facebook.com/events/1100160411004460/
_______________________________________
What You Get:
🍻 2-3 Complimentary Drinks Or Shots Included!
💃 Free Cover To Our Drag Show! ($15 Without Ticket)
🥤 Crawl With US Stadium Party Cup! (First 400 Check Ins)
📿 Crawl With US Keychain Lanyard With Bottle Opener! (First 400 Check Ins)
🍸 Exclusive Drink Specials!
😋 Food Specials At Partner Venues!
🏰 Waived Cover At All Venues ($5-$15 at Some Venues Without Ticket)
📸 Professional Photographers!
🔥 Awesome After Party!
🌆 Access To Our Asheville Crawl Map!
🌈 Custom Pride Badge With Vouchers
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🌈 Our 2023 Venues🌈
BANKS AVE
CATAWBA BREWING COMPANY
DADDY MAC’S
DALTON DISTILLERY
ONE WORLD BREWING
TWIN LEAF BREWERY
SCANDALS NIGHTCLUB
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🌈 CHECK IN TIME 4PM – 6PM @ CATAWBA BREWING COMPANY 🌈
🌈 CRAWL TIME 4PM – 10PM 🌈
2024 Venues Will Be Posted As We Get Closer To The Crawl
🌈 DRAG SHOW TIME 7PM-9PM 🌈
🌈 AFTER PARTY TIME 10PM – 12AM 🌈
_______________________________________
🎟️ FREE TICKETS 🎟️
Earn 2 Free Tickets by inviting your Facebook friends to the Asheville Bar Crawl*.
Message us for details: https://www.messenger.com/t/CrawlWithUs
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㉑ ATTENDEES MUST BE 21+ ㉑
Due to the nature of our events, all attendees must be 21+ with a valid government issued ID.
_______________________________________
🚫 DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE 🚫
We Highly Suggest Using Uber or Lyft To And From The Bar Crawl!
_______________________________________
✔️ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ✔️
https://www.crawlwith.us/faq
_______________________________________
100% CANCELLATION REFUND GUARANTEE
👌We’ve done this event for the past 6 years and are excited to do it again for the 7th year! However, if the event is cancelled for any reason all tickets will be refunded in full! No vouchers, no credits, just your money back in your bank! Guaranteed!
STEPHEN EVANS & THE TRUE GRITS
After many years of vacillating between being a professional musician and building a nest in Asheville, NC, Stephen Evans finally asked his friends, Brian Shoemaker (bass), Sam Hess (drums), and Woodstock (mandolin), to form the True Grits and make some music together in 2014.
The very next year, Stephen Evans & the True Grits released their first LP “Something to Bleed”. Inspired to release more music, they followed two years later with their EP “Under the Bridge.” Both records received local and regional praise for their passion and creativity.
Stephen’s strong melodic songwriting style is a blend of vivid imagery, darkness, and hopeful optimism. There’s no denying the feeling that shines through with his evocative vocals and lyrics. Songs like ‘Ghost Among the Trees’, ‘The Garden’, ‘Cherokee Hills’, ‘Shining Star’, and ‘Buzz of Bees’ are beacons of his folk rock song craft. With radio play on Western North Carolina radio stations, as well as shows around the region, Stephen Evans & the True Grits are becoming a local favorite.
“Buzz of Bees” is their latest album, released in December of 2022, of folk rock with some songs dipping their toes into other styles like Americana, Latin Folk, and Vaudeville. Singles from the LP, ‘Ghost Among the Trees’, ‘Winning the Day’, and ‘Estefania’, are already receiving radioplay on local stations as well as national online radio and music podcasts. Look for Stephen Evans & the True Grits playing fun live shows all around the area to support this beautiful album.
“…overall, I highly recommend this album for those who enjoy folk rock, poetic lyricism, and an engaging sense of fun. The album is a journey through different stages of life, confusion, heartbreak, revelation, and acceptance.” – Alison Price of WNC Original Music Podcast
The BRO Chamber Ensemble hails the arrival of summer with an enchanted evening of music at Souther Williams Vineyard.
The Blue Ridge Orchestra presents Solstice Soirée, an alfresco chamber concert (with a WNC twist), at 6:00 pm on Saturday, June 22nd, in the beautiful Souther Williams vineyard on Hoopers Creek Road in Fletcher, NC.
Stepping outside classical confines, Music Director Milton Crotts incorporates the popular music of local artists into an eclectic program anchored by the BRO Chamber Ensemble. Mozart, Vivaldi, and Albinoni are all represented, but not necessarily in expected ways.
Fancy Marie and Craig Kellberg contribute the honky tonk, southern gothic vibes of Fancy and the Gentlemen. The Walker Family Trio shares the traditional, old-time, Celtic sounds of The Walker Family Band.
Trombonists extraordinaire, Rienette Davis and Emily Songster perform vibrant and unexpected arrangements of classical and popular works.
Table seating in the pavilion is accompanied by Souther Williams wine and Daphne’s Catering by Twisted Laurel. Seating on the vineyard lawn is available come rain or come shine — bring your own blanket, lawn chair, and umbrella. (No outside alcohol is permitted.)
Sean of the South
A multi-instrumentalist, he started playing mandolin when he was seven, guitar at age eight, and played piano in church at age nine.
Having lived through enough heartache, joy, embarrassment, love, and renewal for several lifetimes, Sean condenses our human failures and triumphs into stories that make the Southern heart resound.
His wildly popular blog and musical podcast, “Sean of the South,” is suited for anyone with red clay on their car and sand in their shoes. His work has appeared in Newsweek, Reader’s Digest, Southern Living, Garden and Gun, and he has authored fifteen books.
His one-man shows have earned him a cult-like following in the southeastern United States and among closeted accordion players worldwide. Sean is a master storyteller in the tradition of Will Rogers, Mark Twain, and Lewis Grizzard. His brutally candid, laugh-out-loud, and sometimes painful tales remind us that we are not alone in our human experience. His tales of covered-dish suppers, camp meeting sing-alongs, funerals gone awry, and hounds that have crossed the Rainbow Bridge have audiences drying their eyes one minute and slapping their knees the next.
The concert begins at 6:30 PM. Beverages will be available for purchase.
ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) has released a survey to learn more about how people in Western North Carolina shop for food and why they choose the food they do. The survey, part of a three-year project by ASAP’s Local Food Research Center, is for any resident of Western North Carolina over the age of 18, no matter where or how they shop for food. It can be completed online at surveymonkey.com/r/WNCFoodASAP or over the phone by calling ASAP at 828-236-1282. It should take approximately 8 to 12 minutes to complete and will be open through Oct. 31, 2024. Respondents are encouraged to share the survey widely with families, friends, and co-workers.
“By completing this survey, you are helping local farmers understand and connect with consumers,” said Amy Marion, ASAP Associate Director and lead researcher. “The challenges of our food system are constantly evolving. Improving it requires active participation from all community members. With this research we can better understand consumer values and the barriers they face, and help farmers and food producers improve communications with their customers and their communities.”
The survey is part of a three-year research project, “Connections in Direct Markets: Assessing the feedback loop between consumer values and farmers’ marketing strategies,” which will examine and improve communication and alignment between farmers and consumers in Western North Carolina. The research phase will also employ consumer focus groups, farmer interviews and case studies, and more targeted surveying. The broad consumer survey provides an update to the last consumer survey conducted by the Local Food Research Center in 2014. Results from the current research project will be shared in 2025.
ASAP founded the Local Food Research Center in 2011 to study the economic, environmental, and social impacts of localizing food systems. From its inception, ASAP’s programs and services have been grounded in research and evaluation, adjusting based on a strong feedback loop and observation of current conditions in the food system.
This project is supported in part by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2022-38640-37488 through the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under subaward number LS23-382. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider.