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.

Thursday, October 10, 2024
The Mountaintop
Oct 10 @ 7:30 pm
Flat Rock Playhouse

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. retires to the Lorraine Motel after delivering a history-altering “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech and encounters Camae, a mysterious maid with some surprising news. When Camae reveals her true identity Dr. King must reflect on his legacy and the challenges facing the civil rights movement, which lays bare the leader’s profound humanity.  Hailed as “a thrilling, wild, provocative flight of magical realism…as audacious as it is inventive” by the Associated Press, Katori Hall’s Olivier Award-winning drama reimagines what Dr. King’s last night on Earth could have been.

*Adult language and content. Parental discretion is advised.

Friday, October 11, 2024
NC Arboretum Hiking Trails
Oct 11 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
NC Arboretum

Located within the wildly-popular and botanically beautiful Southern Appalachian Mountains, The North Carolina Arboretum offers more than 10 miles of hiking trails that connect to many other area attractions such as Lake Powhatan, the Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Visitors of all ages and abilities can enjoy their hiking experience at the Arboretum as trail options include easy, moderate, and difficult challenge levels. All trails are dog-friendly and visitors are asked to adhere to the proper waste disposing procedures for pets.

Part of a running group that would like to use the Arboretum as a starting point or parking location? Please review our Running Group Guidance and email [email protected] with any questions.

Lightwire Theater presents DINO-LIGHT: Student Series
Oct 11 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Wortham Center for the Performing Arts

Hugely popular in the 2023/2024 season, Lightwire Theater is back with another glow-in-the-dark adventure using a cutting-edge blend of puppetry, technology and dance.

Recommended for grades 2–6. The Student Series is open to school groups, homeschoolers, community groups and families.

Reservations for individuals (10 people or less): $12 each. Reservations for groups (11 people or more): $11 each

Lightwire Theater presents DINO-LIGHT: Student Series
Oct 11 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Wortham Center for the Performing Arts

Hugely popular in the 2023/2024 season, Lightwire Theater is back with another glow-in-the-dark adventure using a cutting-edge blend of puppetry, technology and dance.

Recommended for grades 2–6. The Student Series is open to school groups, homeschoolers, community groups and families.Reservations for individuals (10 people or less): $12 each. Reservations for groups (11 people or more): $11 each.

Lightwire Theater presents DINO-LIGHT
Oct 11 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Wortham Center for the Performing Arts

In this visually stunning adventure fit for all ages, a friendly dinosaur discovers a wonderful world full of glowing creatures that help him find the true meaning of love. Praised for its cutting-edge blend of puppetry, technology and dance, Lightwire Theater evokes childlike wonder and whimsy through tender-hearted stories that light up the darkness in every sense.

“absolutely incredible” — Rolling Stone

Hamlet
Oct 11 @ 7:30 pm
Attic Salt Theater

The Montford Moppets Youth Shakespeare Company invites audiences to experience William Shakespeare’s Hamlet like never before this October at Attic Salt Theater. Set in the intimate confines of a family living room, this adaptation transforms the sprawling classic tragedy into a deeply personal exploration of kinship, loyalty, betrayal, and fate.

Traditionally set in the royal courts of Denmark, this reimagining of Hamlet tells the story of a family grappling with grief and betrayal within the walls of their own home.

Shakespeare’s Wars of the Roses Richard III
Oct 11 @ 7:30 pm
Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre

The Montford Park Players is pleased to announce auditions for its 52nd  Season: 

Muse of Fire: Shakespeare’s Wars of the Roses

Jason Williams, Artistic Director

5/10/2024 5/24/2024   Edward III, directed by Mandy Bean
5/31/2024 6/23/2024   Richard II, directed by Jason Williams
6/28/2024 7/21/2024   Henry IV Parts 1 & 2, directed by Dr. George Brown, Callista Brown and Elizabeth DeVault
7/26/2024 8/25/2024   Henry V, directed by David Doersch
8/30/2024 9/22/2024  Henry VI Parts 1, 2 & 3, directed by Glenna Grant, Ariel Robinson and Adam Kampouris
9/27/2024 10/27/2024 Richard III, directed by Kristi DeVille

Conveniently located in the heart of the Historic Montford District of Asheville, North Carolina, the Outdoor Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre is easy to get to and accessible from I-240 and I-26. And, it’s just a short drive down Montford Avenue from downtown.

The Last Wide Open
Oct 11 @ 7:30 pm
NC Stage Company

Late one night after closing the restaurant where they both work, Lina and Roberto unexpectedly find themselves in conversation. This exquisite play with music renders the near hits and misses that are the reality of life for this waitress and immigrant dishwasher as we watch three alternate realities unfold over the course of the night. 

A love song in three movements. Performances of The Last Wide Open will be held on the days and times listed below. The lobby and concessions area will open one hour prior to showtime. Concessions may be taken into the theatre during the performance.

October 10 – November 3, 2024

Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 7:30

Sundays at 2pm

Friday 10/11 and 10/18 at 7:30pm

Friday 10/25 and 11/1 at 2pm

The Mountaintop
Oct 11 @ 7:30 pm
Flat Rock Playhouse

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. retires to the Lorraine Motel after delivering a history-altering “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech and encounters Camae, a mysterious maid with some surprising news. When Camae reveals her true identity Dr. King must reflect on his legacy and the challenges facing the civil rights movement, which lays bare the leader’s profound humanity.  Hailed as “a thrilling, wild, provocative flight of magical realism…as audacious as it is inventive” by the Associated Press, Katori Hall’s Olivier Award-winning drama reimagines what Dr. King’s last night on Earth could have been.

*Adult language and content. Parental discretion is advised.

Saturday, October 12, 2024
The Mountaintop
Oct 12 – Oct 13 all-day
Flat Rock Playhouse

Flat Rock Playhouse is proud to present The Mountaintop by Katori Hall October 4 – 13 as part of the Black Box Series. Winner of the Olivier Award for Best New Play, 2010.

The night before his assassination, Martin Luther King, Jr. returns to the Lorraine Hotel after delivering his last impassioned speech, I’ve been to the Mountaintop. A mysterious maid delivers his room service, though she seems to have more on her agenda than a simple meal. As their conversation progresses, true intentions come to light in a story written to humanize Dr. King, to help us understand that you don’t have to be superhuman to be a hero.

Don’t miss The Mountaintop, running October 4 – 13 only. *Adult language and content. This performance may contain smoking of tobacco-free cigarettes. Parental discretion is advised.

NC Arboretum Hiking Trails
Oct 12 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
NC Arboretum

Located within the wildly-popular and botanically beautiful Southern Appalachian Mountains, The North Carolina Arboretum offers more than 10 miles of hiking trails that connect to many other area attractions such as Lake Powhatan, the Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Visitors of all ages and abilities can enjoy their hiking experience at the Arboretum as trail options include easy, moderate, and difficult challenge levels. All trails are dog-friendly and visitors are asked to adhere to the proper waste disposing procedures for pets.

Part of a running group that would like to use the Arboretum as a starting point or parking location? Please review our Running Group Guidance and email [email protected] with any questions.

Guided Trail Walk
Oct 12 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
NC Arboretum

Hit the trails and learn more about The North Carolina Arboretum’s botanically diverse forest with a guided trail walk! April through October, this free hiking program is led by trained volunteer guides who take small groups of participants along woodland trails and through a variety of forest types. Depending on the season and each guide’s area of expertise, topics of discussion may include wildflowers, plant and tree identification, natural history and more.

Guided trail walks are limited to 15 people, including the guide, and are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age. Groups depart from the Baker Visitor Center Lobby on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m..

Walks last 1.5 – 2.5 hours, are approximately one to two miles in length. As this program is held rain or shine, all participants should dress appropriately for the weather.

There is no pre-registration; walks are first-come first served and sign up sheets are located in the Baker Visitors Center.

Walks are FREE; however, donations to The North Carolina Arboretum Society are appreciated. Regular parking fees apply. Arboretum Society Members always park free.

Know Before You Go

  • Guided Trail Walks are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age.
  • Guided Trail Walks are rain or shine and all participants should be dressed comfortably and for the weather.
  • Hikes cover 1-2 miles and last 1.5-2 hours.
  • Well-behaved leashed pets are welcome to accompany their owners. In the rare case that a pet is disruptive or negatively impacts the experience, the pet and its owner may be asked to excuse themselves from the guided walk.
The Mountaintop
Oct 12 @ 2:00 pm
Flat Rock Playhouse

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. retires to the Lorraine Motel after delivering a history-altering “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech and encounters Camae, a mysterious maid with some surprising news. When Camae reveals her true identity Dr. King must reflect on his legacy and the challenges facing the civil rights movement, which lays bare the leader’s profound humanity.  Hailed as “a thrilling, wild, provocative flight of magical realism…as audacious as it is inventive” by the Associated Press, Katori Hall’s Olivier Award-winning drama reimagines what Dr. King’s last night on Earth could have been.

*Adult language and content. Parental discretion is advised.

Capitol Fools
Oct 12 @ 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Wortham Center for the Performing Arts

Providing much-needed comic relief from election season mania, this cathartic political lampoon leaves no politician safe from its witty antics, with rapid-fire comedy that puts the “mock” in democracy. This season’s hilarious new production stems from the same comedic masterminds that created the past-season fan-favorite Capitol Steps, founded by a group of Senate staffers to satirize the very people and places that employed them.

Hamlet
Oct 12 @ 7:30 pm
Attic Salt Theater

The Montford Moppets Youth Shakespeare Company invites audiences to experience William Shakespeare’s Hamlet like never before this October at Attic Salt Theater. Set in the intimate confines of a family living room, this adaptation transforms the sprawling classic tragedy into a deeply personal exploration of kinship, loyalty, betrayal, and fate.

Traditionally set in the royal courts of Denmark, this reimagining of Hamlet tells the story of a family grappling with grief and betrayal within the walls of their own home.

Shakespeare’s Wars of the Roses Richard III
Oct 12 @ 7:30 pm
Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre

The Montford Park Players is pleased to announce auditions for its 52nd  Season: 

Muse of Fire: Shakespeare’s Wars of the Roses

Jason Williams, Artistic Director

5/10/2024 5/24/2024   Edward III, directed by Mandy Bean
5/31/2024 6/23/2024   Richard II, directed by Jason Williams
6/28/2024 7/21/2024   Henry IV Parts 1 & 2, directed by Dr. George Brown, Callista Brown and Elizabeth DeVault
7/26/2024 8/25/2024   Henry V, directed by David Doersch
8/30/2024 9/22/2024  Henry VI Parts 1, 2 & 3, directed by Glenna Grant, Ariel Robinson and Adam Kampouris
9/27/2024 10/27/2024 Richard III, directed by Kristi DeVille

Conveniently located in the heart of the Historic Montford District of Asheville, North Carolina, the Outdoor Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre is easy to get to and accessible from I-240 and I-26. And, it’s just a short drive down Montford Avenue from downtown.

The Last Wide Open
Oct 12 @ 7:30 pm
NC Stage Company

Late one night after closing the restaurant where they both work, Lina and Roberto unexpectedly find themselves in conversation. This exquisite play with music renders the near hits and misses that are the reality of life for this waitress and immigrant dishwasher as we watch three alternate realities unfold over the course of the night. 

A love song in three movements. Performances of The Last Wide Open will be held on the days and times listed below. The lobby and concessions area will open one hour prior to showtime. Concessions may be taken into the theatre during the performance.

October 10 – November 3, 2024

Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 7:30

Sundays at 2pm

Friday 10/11 and 10/18 at 7:30pm

Friday 10/25 and 11/1 at 2pm

The Mountaintop
Oct 12 @ 7:30 pm
Flat Rock Playhouse

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. retires to the Lorraine Motel after delivering a history-altering “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech and encounters Camae, a mysterious maid with some surprising news. When Camae reveals her true identity Dr. King must reflect on his legacy and the challenges facing the civil rights movement, which lays bare the leader’s profound humanity.  Hailed as “a thrilling, wild, provocative flight of magical realism…as audacious as it is inventive” by the Associated Press, Katori Hall’s Olivier Award-winning drama reimagines what Dr. King’s last night on Earth could have been.

*Adult language and content. Parental discretion is advised.

Capitol Fools
Oct 12 @ 8:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Wortham Center for the Performing Arts

Providing much-needed comic relief from election season mania, this cathartic political lampoon leaves no politician safe from its witty antics, with rapid-fire comedy that puts the “mock” in democracy. This season’s hilarious new production stems from the same comedic masterminds that created the past-season fan-favorite Capitol Steps, founded by a group of Senate staffers to satirize the very people and places that employed them.

Sunday, October 13, 2024
NC Arboretum Hiking Trails
Oct 13 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
NC Arboretum

Located within the wildly-popular and botanically beautiful Southern Appalachian Mountains, The North Carolina Arboretum offers more than 10 miles of hiking trails that connect to many other area attractions such as Lake Powhatan, the Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Visitors of all ages and abilities can enjoy their hiking experience at the Arboretum as trail options include easy, moderate, and difficult challenge levels. All trails are dog-friendly and visitors are asked to adhere to the proper waste disposing procedures for pets.

Part of a running group that would like to use the Arboretum as a starting point or parking location? Please review our Running Group Guidance and email [email protected] with any questions.

Hamlet
Oct 13 @ 1:00 pm
Attic Salt Theater

The Montford Moppets Youth Shakespeare Company invites audiences to experience William Shakespeare’s Hamlet like never before this October at Attic Salt Theater. Set in the intimate confines of a family living room, this adaptation transforms the sprawling classic tragedy into a deeply personal exploration of kinship, loyalty, betrayal, and fate.

Traditionally set in the royal courts of Denmark, this reimagining of Hamlet tells the story of a family grappling with grief and betrayal within the walls of their own home.

The Last Wide Open
Oct 13 @ 2:00 pm
NC Stage Company

Late one night after closing the restaurant where they both work, Lina and Roberto unexpectedly find themselves in conversation. This exquisite play with music renders the near hits and misses that are the reality of life for this waitress and immigrant dishwasher as we watch three alternate realities unfold over the course of the night. 

A love song in three movements. Performances of The Last Wide Open will be held on the days and times listed below. The lobby and concessions area will open one hour prior to showtime. Concessions may be taken into the theatre during the performance.

October 10 – November 3, 2024

Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 7:30

Sundays at 2pm

Friday 10/11 and 10/18 at 7:30pm

Friday 10/25 and 11/1 at 2pm

The Mountaintop
Oct 13 @ 2:00 pm
Flat Rock Playhouse

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. retires to the Lorraine Motel after delivering a history-altering “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech and encounters Camae, a mysterious maid with some surprising news. When Camae reveals her true identity Dr. King must reflect on his legacy and the challenges facing the civil rights movement, which lays bare the leader’s profound humanity.  Hailed as “a thrilling, wild, provocative flight of magical realism…as audacious as it is inventive” by the Associated Press, Katori Hall’s Olivier Award-winning drama reimagines what Dr. King’s last night on Earth could have been.

*Adult language and content. Parental discretion is advised.

Shakespeare’s Wars of the Roses Richard III
Oct 13 @ 7:30 pm
Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre

The Montford Park Players is pleased to announce auditions for its 52nd  Season: 

Muse of Fire: Shakespeare’s Wars of the Roses

Jason Williams, Artistic Director

5/10/2024 5/24/2024   Edward III, directed by Mandy Bean
5/31/2024 6/23/2024   Richard II, directed by Jason Williams
6/28/2024 7/21/2024   Henry IV Parts 1 & 2, directed by Dr. George Brown, Callista Brown and Elizabeth DeVault
7/26/2024 8/25/2024   Henry V, directed by David Doersch
8/30/2024 9/22/2024  Henry VI Parts 1, 2 & 3, directed by Glenna Grant, Ariel Robinson and Adam Kampouris
9/27/2024 10/27/2024 Richard III, directed by Kristi DeVille

Conveniently located in the heart of the Historic Montford District of Asheville, North Carolina, the Outdoor Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre is easy to get to and accessible from I-240 and I-26. And, it’s just a short drive down Montford Avenue from downtown.

Monday, October 14, 2024
NC Arboretum Hiking Trails
Oct 14 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
NC Arboretum

Located within the wildly-popular and botanically beautiful Southern Appalachian Mountains, The North Carolina Arboretum offers more than 10 miles of hiking trails that connect to many other area attractions such as Lake Powhatan, the Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Visitors of all ages and abilities can enjoy their hiking experience at the Arboretum as trail options include easy, moderate, and difficult challenge levels. All trails are dog-friendly and visitors are asked to adhere to the proper waste disposing procedures for pets.

Part of a running group that would like to use the Arboretum as a starting point or parking location? Please review our Running Group Guidance and email [email protected] with any questions.

Tuesday, October 15, 2024
NC Arboretum Hiking Trails
Oct 15 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
NC Arboretum

Located within the wildly-popular and botanically beautiful Southern Appalachian Mountains, The North Carolina Arboretum offers more than 10 miles of hiking trails that connect to many other area attractions such as Lake Powhatan, the Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Visitors of all ages and abilities can enjoy their hiking experience at the Arboretum as trail options include easy, moderate, and difficult challenge levels. All trails are dog-friendly and visitors are asked to adhere to the proper waste disposing procedures for pets.

Part of a running group that would like to use the Arboretum as a starting point or parking location? Please review our Running Group Guidance and email [email protected] with any questions.

Guided Trail Walk
Oct 15 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
NC Arboretum

Hit the trails and learn more about The North Carolina Arboretum’s botanically diverse forest with a guided trail walk! April through October, this free hiking program is led by trained volunteer guides who take small groups of participants along woodland trails and through a variety of forest types. Depending on the season and each guide’s area of expertise, topics of discussion may include wildflowers, plant and tree identification, natural history and more.

Guided trail walks are limited to 15 people, including the guide, and are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age. Groups depart from the Baker Visitor Center Lobby on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m..

Walks last 1.5 – 2.5 hours, are approximately one to two miles in length. As this program is held rain or shine, all participants should dress appropriately for the weather.

There is no pre-registration; walks are first-come first served and sign up sheets are located in the Baker Visitors Center.

Walks are FREE; however, donations to The North Carolina Arboretum Society are appreciated. Regular parking fees apply. Arboretum Society Members always park free.

Know Before You Go

  • Guided Trail Walks are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age.
  • Guided Trail Walks are rain or shine and all participants should be dressed comfortably and for the weather.
  • Hikes cover 1-2 miles and last 1.5-2 hours.
  • Well-behaved leashed pets are welcome to accompany their owners. In the rare case that a pet is disruptive or negatively impacts the experience, the pet and its owner may be asked to excuse themselves from the guided walk.
& Juliet
Oct 15 @ 7:30 pm
Peace Center

Created by the Emmy®-winning writer from “Schitt’s Creek,” this hilarious new musical flips the script on the greatest love story ever told. & Juliet asks: what would happen next if Juliet didn’t end it all over Romeo? Get whisked away on a fabulous journey as she ditches her famous ending for a fresh beginning and a second chance at life and love—her way.

Juliet’s new story bursts to life through a playlist of pop anthems as iconic as her name, including “Since U Been Gone‚” “Roar,” “Baby One More Time,” “Larger Than Life‚” “That’s The Way It Is,“ and “Can’t Stop the Feeling!”—all from the genius songwriter/producer behind more #1 hits than any other artist this century. Break free of the balcony scene and get into this romantic comedy that proves there’s life after Romeo. The only thing tragic would be missing it.

&JULIET is recommended for ages 8+ and contains adult language, flashing and strobe lights, loud noises, confetti cannons, and pyrotechnics.

Wednesday, October 16, 2024
NC Arboretum Hiking Trails
Oct 16 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
NC Arboretum

Located within the wildly-popular and botanically beautiful Southern Appalachian Mountains, The North Carolina Arboretum offers more than 10 miles of hiking trails that connect to many other area attractions such as Lake Powhatan, the Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Visitors of all ages and abilities can enjoy their hiking experience at the Arboretum as trail options include easy, moderate, and difficult challenge levels. All trails are dog-friendly and visitors are asked to adhere to the proper waste disposing procedures for pets.

Part of a running group that would like to use the Arboretum as a starting point or parking location? Please review our Running Group Guidance and email [email protected] with any questions.

& Juliet
Oct 16 @ 7:30 pm
Peace Center

Created by the Emmy®-winning writer from “Schitt’s Creek,” this hilarious new musical flips the script on the greatest love story ever told. & Juliet asks: what would happen next if Juliet didn’t end it all over Romeo? Get whisked away on a fabulous journey as she ditches her famous ending for a fresh beginning and a second chance at life and love—her way.

Juliet’s new story bursts to life through a playlist of pop anthems as iconic as her name, including “Since U Been Gone‚” “Roar,” “Baby One More Time,” “Larger Than Life‚” “That’s The Way It Is,“ and “Can’t Stop the Feeling!”—all from the genius songwriter/producer behind more #1 hits than any other artist this century. Break free of the balcony scene and get into this romantic comedy that proves there’s life after Romeo. The only thing tragic would be missing it.

&JULIET is recommended for ages 8+ and contains adult language, flashing and strobe lights, loud noises, confetti cannons, and pyrotechnics.