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.

Saturday, October 25, 2025
Trick or Trail 5k & 1 Mile
Oct 25 @ 10:00 am
Nelon's Feed

We’re back in the heart of Hendersonville and we’re bringing some spirited fun—with an awesome new race shirt and shiny finisher medal for every participant. Costumes? Highly encouraged. FOMO? Guaranteed if you skip it. Run or walk through the Historic 7th Avenue District with a crowd of costumed runners, then keep the party going at the Fall Festival just steps from the finish line!

Sunday, October 26, 2025
Southeastern Animal Fiber Festival
Oct 26 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
WNC Ag Center

Be sure and mark your calendars for SAFF 2025!

There are classes on Thursday. No shopping, no selling.  We are setting up.

Friday, October 24- (9 am – 5 pm)
Saturday, October 25 – (9 am – 5 pm)
Sunday, October 26- (9 am – 4 pm)

The event is located at the WNC Agricultural Center, in Fletcher, NC, across Hwy 280 from the Asheville Regional Airport. (Exit 40 off I-26).

Admission will be $5/person per day. $10 pass for 3 days. Youth under 13 yrs. old will be free. Bring cash! Only at gate..no early ticket sales

Animal Haven of Asheville Annual Fall Fundraiser
Oct 26 @ 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Animal Haven of Asheville

Animal Haven of Asheville Annual Fall Fundraiser

📅 Sunday, October 26 | 2–6 PM 📍 65 Lower Grassy Branch Rd, Asheville, NC

Celebrate compassion and community at our annual fundraiser! Enjoy a full vegan buffet, drinks, live music by Southern Style Band, a silent auction, and interactive animal stations. All proceeds support our animals and help build a memorial barn honoring co-founder Barb Bellows.

🎟️ Early-bird tickets: $37.50 (until Oct 19) | $45 after 👧 Kids under 12 attend free 🚐 Parking and shuttle service provided

Ticket URL: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/fall-fundraiser-5

Reserve your spot and help us raise the barn!\

Saturday, November 1, 2025
Blue Ridge Roller Derby Meet & Greet at The Hop
Nov 1 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
The Hop Ice Cream Cafe and Pop Bubble Tea

Blue Ridge Roller Derby Greet & Sweet at The Hop
Date: Saturday, November 1
Time: 2:00–4:00 p.m.
Location: The Hop Ice Cream Café and Pop Bubble Team, 640 Merrimon Avenue, Asheville, NC
Admission: Free

Join Blue Ridge Roller Derby skaters for a fun afternoon at The Hop! Meet members from all three home teams and travel teams while enjoying delicious ice cream treats. Learn more about roller derby, watch some cool skate demos, and pick up official BRRD merchandise.

There will also be a raffle for free merch and tickets to an upcoming bout. Families are welcome—come learn about both junior and adult roller derby programs, and sign up to skate, volunteer, or just get involved with the BRRD community.

Don’t miss it—see you at The Hop this Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m.!

I9PA Release Party + Benefit Bike Bash!
Nov 1 @ 3:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Asheville Yards

I9PA Release Party (10 Year Anniversary Edition)

Roll down to the Asheville Yards on Saturday, Nov. 1st for a day of bicycle fun in support of Asheville on Bikes and the AVL Unpaved project.

3-6pm: Bring the kids and your bikes for AoB’s pop-up bike park and the Maro inflatable obstacle course! Recyclery will be here to teach bike maintenance skills!

6pm: I9 raffle winners announced! We’re raffling off Industry Nine Custom Hydra2 Alloy Wheel Raffle in support of AVL Unpaved.

6:30-7:30pm: Newspaper challenge! Bring your bike and complete our newspaper delivery obstacle challenge.

The dance, bike, and beer release party goes until 9pm!

Sunday, November 9, 2025
Blue Ridge Roller Derby Home Team Throwdown
Nov 9 @ 2:00 pm
Smoky Mountain Event Center

Get ready for another Blue Ridge Roller Derby Home Team Throwdown! The league’s three home teams — The Black Balsam Batties 🦇 The Swarm 🐝 and the Copperhead Outlaws 🐍 — will face off in a series of three thrilling 30-minute bouts on Sunday, November 9, at the Smoky Mountain Event Center in Waynesville.

Event details:

Doors open: 2 p.m.

First bout: 3 p.m.

Tickets: $10 (kids 11 and under get in free)

Location: Smoky Mountain Event Center, Waynesville, NC

This family-friendly event features halftime games, local food and drink vendors, and plenty of roller derby excitement — all just a 30-minute drive from Asheville.

Roller Derby Home Team Throwdown
Nov 9 @ 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Smoky Mountain Event Center

Time for another Blue Ridge Roller Derby Home Team THROWWWDOWWWN! Our three home teams will be facing off again to see who can take the win in three thrilling 30 minute bouts at 3pm on Sunday, NOVEMBER 9TH, at Smoky Mountain vent Center.

Doors open at 2pm

The first bout begins at 3pm

Tickets are $10 (kids 11 and under get FREE admission) – link in bio in our Linktree or scan the QR code

Our bouts are FAMILY FRIENDLY with fun half time games, great food and drinks from local vendors, and in a beautiful setting at Smoky Mountain Event Center in Waynesville, just a 30 minute drive from Asheville.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BEING A VENDOR at this bout or our December game, please email [email protected]

We look forward to seeing you on the 9th!!!

Saturday, November 15, 2025
Blackhawk Bolt 5k & 1 Mile Fun Run
Nov 15 all-day
North Buncombe High School

The 4th annual Blackhawk Bolt 5k and 1 Mile Fun Run is a unique road-to-trail race fully located on the North Buncombe High School campus to benefit the NBHS PTSO.

Thursday, November 27, 2025
South Asheville Turkey Trot
Nov 27 @ 9:00 am
Biltmore Park Town Square

This is how South Asheville does Turkey Day! Kick off Thanksgiving morning with a relaxed 5K through the beautiful Biltmore Park neighborhood – where the vibes are festive, the shirts are vintage-cool, and the finisher medals are worth the effort! Whether you’re running, walking, or just trotting it out for the pie, this event is for everyone. Awards for festive costumes and top finishers in each age group!

South Asheville Turkey Trott
Nov 27 @ 9:00 am – 10:30 am
Biltmore Park

This is how South Asheville does Turkey Day! Kick off Thanksgiving morning with a relaxed 5K through the beautiful Biltmore Park neighborhood – where the vibes are festive, the shirts are vintage-cool, and the finisher medals are worth the effort! Whether you’re running, walking, or just trotting it out for the pie, this event is for everyone. Awards for festive costumes and top finishers in each age group!

Sunday, December 7, 2025
Roller Derby Reindeer Games: Home Team Finale
Dec 7 @ 3:00 pm
Smoky Mountain Event Center

Join Blue Ridge Roller Derby on December 7 for a lively, holiday-spirited finale to the home team season.

Ring in the holiday season with Blue Ridge Roller Derby as they present their spirited Reindeer Games Home Team Finale on Saturday, December 7, at the Smoky Mountain Event Center in Waynesville. Doors open at 2 p.m., and the first of three action-packed 30-minute bouts hits the track at 3 p.m.

This holiday-themed showdown brings all the cheer—with none of the quiet. Fans can expect fast skating, big hits, and the high-energy competition that defines roller derby, all wrapped in seasonal fun. The event is family-friendly and will feature festive halftime games along with delicious food and drinks from local vendors. The Smoky Mountain Event Center provides a beautiful backdrop for an afternoon of wintertime excitement, just a short 30-minute drive from Asheville.

Tickets are $10, and children 11 and under enjoy free admission. Online ticket sales close the day of the event, but tickets will also be available at the door.

Local businesses and artisans interested in being vendors are invited to contact [email protected].

Tickets: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/blue-ridge-roller-derbys-december-7-home-team-games

Saturday, December 20, 2025
Ingles Great Smoky Mountain Grapple 2025
Dec 20 all-day
Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville

This two-day wrestling tournament will field teams across the region competing on eight mats on the floor of the Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville in Downtown Asheville. This is an individual tournament, double elimination format with wrestle backs to 6th place. This event is hosted by the Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville and the Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission in conjunction with our local high schools.

We will have a Girls Invitational Division this year. Because this is a new division, it is important to get the girls registered early. We are excited about this new division and the promotion of girls wrestling.

Thursday, December 25, 2025
Magic of Lights at Hollywild Animal Preserve
Dec 25 2025 – Jan 3 2026 all-day
Hollywild Animal Preserve

Magic of Lights is a dazzling, drive-through holiday lights experience featuring favorite holiday scenes and characters of the season using the latest LED technology and digital animations. Experience Magic of Lights from the comfort and safety of your own car as you wind through the sparkling path of Greenville’s best holiday tradition. Be sure to stop by Santa’s Village and the Enchanted Deer Forest for extra holiday magic! Kids 2 and under are free!

Step into the magic of Santa’s Village, where holiday cheer meets hands-on fun for the whole family. Feed and interact with gentle miniature horses, camels, Watusi cattle, pigs, sheep, alpacas, goats, waterfowl, antelope, and more—and don’t forget to purchase animal food to treat the many residents. Cuddle with bunnies, have your photo taken with a baby kangaroo, snap pictures with Santa in his animal barn, and visit the Grinch at his festive Grinch House.

Savor fresh coffee and pastries at Santa’s Sweet Delights, or enjoy hot cocoa, drinks, snacks, and food from our concession stand. Visit the souvenir shop for fun, colorful, and festive items, and leave your mark on the “feel good” graffiti board. Warm up by a crackling fire pit or the grand bonfire, roast marshmallows and s’mores, and steal a kiss under the mistletoe tree. Pose inside the giant lighted present, then find a picnic table to relax and take it all in.

Santa’s Village is more than a visit, it’s a memory in the making.

Saturday, March 21, 2026
Harlem Globetrotters The 100 Year Tour
Mar 21 @ 5:00 pm
Harrah's Cherokee Center Asheville

The Harlem Globetrotters’ 100 Year Tour is coming to the ExploreAsheville.com Arena at Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville on March 21, 2026.