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, May 14, 2022
LATE: Chris Gethard (Stand-Up Comedy Show)
May 14 @ 9:00 pm
The Grey Eagle

LATE: Chris Gethard (Stand-Up Comedy Show)

Chris Gethard is a comedian, actor and author. He’s the host of the Beautiful/Anonymous podcast, which was recently adapted into a 4-part series streaming on Topic, the former host of The Chris Gethard Show, and wrote and starred in the HBO special Career Suicide. He also hosts the podcast New Jersey Is The World, a celebration of his home state.

In June 2021, Comedy Dynamics released Chris’ new comedy special, Chris Gethard: Half My Life, which is a hybrid tour documentary and stand-up special shot in a variety of DIY spaces and independent venues all over the country in 2019.

Chris has been seen on television shows such as Space Force, The Office, Broad City, Parks and Recreation, and Inside Amy Schumer. He’s also been seen in films such as The Other Guys, The Heat, Ghostbusters, Anchorman 2, and was one of the stars of Mike Birbiglia’s Don’t Think Twice. Chris can most recently be seen in the HBO Max documentary Class Action Park.

Chris is also the author of the books Weird NY, A Bad Idea I’m About to Do, and Lose Well, and and the founder of Planet Scum, an online comedy venue for the country’s best underground comedians.

SOMEWHAT PETTY Asheville’s Tom Petty Tribute
May 14 @ 9:00 pm
The Orange Peel
Sunday, May 15, 2022
“Oh The Places We’ve Been & The Places We’ll Go”
May 15 all-day
Asheville Gallery of Art

Claire Simpson Jones and Donny Luke are the Asheville Gallery of Art’s featured artists for the month of May. Visitors to the gallery will have the entire month to view their outstanding paintings. Their exhibit will run from May 1st-31st.

“This exhibition is a celebration of our individual travels through life,” joyously depicted in the watercolors of Donny Luke and Claire Simpson Jones. Traveling has always played a big part in both Donny and Claire’s world, broadening their awareness and perspective, opening their minds to new experiences, and providing unlimited inspiration.

Both artists have a passion for travel as well as a passion for the challenging, but gratifying, watercolor medium, and this exhibition combines these passions. “There is no better way to immerse yourself into a particular scene than painting. Whether choosing plein-air or painting from travel sketches and references brought back to the studio, all of our senses come to life and that experience is pure joy!” Every painting is an adventure that seems to take on a life of its own, often diverging from the initial design as it develops. Staying open to ‘following’ that direction or literally “going with the flow” of watercolor provides a sense of discovery and adventure that makes the process exciting. Donny and Claire both have a long list of places and techniques they plan to explore in the near future, adding to their repertoire of inspiration and work.

Donny Luke’s travels throughout the US, Canada, and Mexico, have given him many opportunities to take reference photos of some of the most beautiful places and landscapes in North America. He works from these references to create dramatic watercolor paintings. His work also includes many paintings of the breathtaking scenery and architecture in Western North Carolina, especially waterfalls, streams, and old barns.

Donny retired from a thirty-two year career as a professional architect in Asheville, NC and began his watercolor career in 2016. He has studied under nationally known watercolor artists including Michael Reardon, Iain Stewart, Keiko Tenabe, and Antonio Masi. He is a signature member of the Watercolor Society of North Carolina and has had paintings juried into the 2018, 2020, and 2021 WSNC Annual Juried Exhibitions with the 2020 painting ‘Santa Rosalina Relic’ receiving the WSNC Permanent Collection Purchase Award.

Claire Simpson Jones’ sensitive naturalist paintings draw from her many travels, here and abroad, and a lifetime of finding refuge and comfort in the raw beauty of our planet. In the past ten years, she has spent her summers in her favorite destinations’ England, Scotland, Australia, and our beautiful mountains of NC. Equipped with painting supplies, she roams the countryside, setting up to paint whenever inspiration comes her way. “Nature has always fed my soul for as long as I can remember. This connection has been, and continues to be, the primary inspiration for my paintings. I often begin with plein air studies and photos, taking them back to my studio to see where my next painting experience leads me. There is nothing to substitute for painting on location, with all of my senses alive, working quickly to capture the true essence of the scene before me.”

After working in graphic design, illustration, and a long career in teaching high school art, Claire has shifted her focus back to full time painting. She holds a BFA from Florida Atlantic University and has studied art at Ontario College of Art and California College of Art. She has also studied with nationally known watercolor artists including atelier workshops with the world renown watercolorist, Mary Whyte. Claire is a signature member of the Watercolor Society of North Carolina, earning awards, the most recent 2020 Best of Region Award.

Visitors to the Asheville Gallery of Art will be able to view Claire and Donny’s show from May1st through May 31st. They will be present for a special “Meet the Artist” event on First Friday, May 6th, from 5pm-8pm in the gallery at 82 Patton Avenue.

2022 RiverLink Annual Fund
May 15 all-day
online w/ River Link

What makes a place idyllic?

Start with an emerald river that flows from ancient mountains. Add an abundance of living creatures that co-evolved over millennia. Bring in humans who honor their place in the interconnected web. And rebuild a vital stream that supports us all.

Your support and engagement helps ensure the health of this watershed for the ages! We can’t do it without you.

Apple Festival Races Volunteers Needed
May 15 all-day
Pardee Hospital Parking 800 N Justice St, Hendersonville, NC
And for the Kids? They’ll love the Chick-fil-A Mini Moo Mile!
This fun run starts just after the 8K & 5K and each child will receive a finisher’s prize.

A race is only as good as the volunteers and you’re a good one! Let us know if you can help!

Apply for a Preservation Grant Today!
May 15 all-day
online w/Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County
The Preservation Society of Asheville & Buncombe County
  Grants from $500 – $5000 will be offered to the public in three categories:
  1. Bricks-And-Mortar
Rehabilitation, restoration and repair of structures that are 50 years of age or older
  1. Public Education
Development of educational materials and programs that advance knowledge of our shared history
  1. Planning, Survey and Designation
Planning and design for building rehabilitation and restoration projects, historic resource surveys and local or national designations
Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity
May 15 all-day
Various Locations in Asheville Area

Asheville Habitat for Humanity

Volunteer with Us

Volunteers are the heart of our organization and support every aspect of our work. In 2021, 955 volunteers contributed 37,053 hours of service, helping us to carry out our vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Whether sorting donations in the ReStore, hammering nails on the construction site, or assisting in the administrative office, we hope you’ll find the volunteer opportunity that is right for you.

 

Asheville Art Museum: Online Auction and Raffle Now Open!
May 15 all-day
Online w/ Asheville Art Museum

Online Auction and Raffle Now Open!
The Museum’s online auction leading up to our annual Gala is now live and open to the public! Funds raised through the auction provide invaluable support to the Asheville Art Museum. Browse a fabulous array of paintings, sculptures, prints, jewelry, experiences, and more. Place your bids through May 18!
Asheville Regional Airport: New art exhibit highlighting local artists
May 15 all-day
Asheville Regional Airport

Journey, the newest exhibit showing in the airport art gallery, is open to the public now through June 26, 2022. The local art is unique, vibrant and engaging, and is displayed for the enjoyment of passengers and other visitors to the airport.
The local artists’ work featured in this exhibit focus on two different mediums. Hannah Hall’s pieces show a unique method of fiber artistry that captures a variety of outdoor landscapes. Cathleen Klibanoff uses mixed media by incorporating found objects, resin casts, acrylic and more to create vibrant seasonal expressions and a study of equine forms.
“The airport is a gateway to western North Carolina and it is wonderful to be able to introduce travelers to our region to a glimpse of local art culture,” said Alexandra Ingle, Brand and Experience Designer at AVL and curator of the gallery.
Artwork can be purchased from the gallery by emailing [email protected]. Details about the program and how to apply can be found on the airport’s website at flyavl.com.
Bearfootin’ Public Art Walk + Auction
May 15 all-day
Hendersonville nc

ince 2003, the Bearfootin’ Art Walk has helped raise funding for Downtown Hendersonville and a variety of local non-profits. In addition to raising funds, the bears offer a window into good work being done by community organizations in Henderson County.

The Bearfootin’ Bears arrive as blank slates before local artists transform each in a spectacular fashion, with creative themes ranging from Mona Lisa to Blue Ridge Mountain scenery. After the “Reveal” event in early May, the bears then take up residence in downtown Hendersonville for the duration of the summer and fall, up until auction. Participants bid during the auction to raise funds for local non-profits and Downtown Hendersonville. Winning bids up to $3,000 are split evenly between the downtown program and the nonprofit chosen by the sponsor, while bid amounts exceeding $3,000 are directed entirely to the non-profit. In 2021, the Bears raised more than $100,000, and in 2022 we hope to continue the tradition of giving.

 

County Voting Absentee in the 2022 Primary Elections
May 15 all-day
online

News article image

Think you might need to use an absentee ballot for the Primary Election on May 17? Here’s what you need to know so you can make sure your vote counts.

How to Request an Absentee Ballot

Absentee ballots will be mailed out beginning on March 28. The deadline to submit an Absentee Ballot Request Form is May 10 at 5:00 p.m. for the 2022 Primary Election. Any North Carolina registered voter may request, receive, and vote a mail-in absentee ballot. No special circumstance or reason is needed. Registered voters in North Carolina must request an absentee ballot with an official N.C. Absentee Ballot Request Form. There are two ways to access and submit the form:

  1. Online – Request an Absentee Ballot at the N.C. Absentee Ballot Portal.
  2. On paper – print the English N.C. Absentee Ballot Request Form for 2022 or the Spanish N.C. Absentee Ballot Request Form for 2022 (not available online currently).

For active-duty military, their family members, and U.S. citizens living abroad, click here. If you have questions about that process, you can call us at (828) 250-4200 or visit buncombecounty.org/vote.

No Printer? You may complete an absentee ballot request form at the Election Services office at 59 Woodfin Place, Asheville, 28801, or call (828) 250-4200 and one will be mailed to you. You may return the request in one of the following ways:

Mail it to:

P.O. Box 7468, Asheville, NC 28802

Hand deliver it to our office:

59 Woodfin Place, Asheville, 28801

Note: The Absentee Ballot Request Form may not be emailed or faxed. Request forms that are hand delivered to the office must be returned only by the voter or the voter’s near relative

How to Return an Absentee Ballot

The deadline to return the completed Absentee Ballot is Tuesday, May 17, 2022, at 5:00 p.m., however, voters are encouraged to return the ballot as early as possible. You may return it to us in one of the following ways:

By mail: Absentee ballots may be mailed to P.O. Box 7468 Asheville, NC 28802. Ballots must be postmarked on or before Tuesday, May 17, 2022 and received by Friday, May 20.

At an Early Voting site: Absentee ballots may be returned to an early voting site during the early voting period, but not at a polling location on the day of the Primary Election. Ballots returned at an early voting site must be delivered to the election official at the check-in station.

In person: Absentee ballots may be returned in person to our office at 59 Woodfin Place between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Absentee ballots may be returned only by the voter or the voter’s near relative.

For more information about absentee voting, visit the North Carolina Board of Elections website. Or call us at (828) 250-4200. You can also email your questions to [email protected].

 

Farmer-to-Farmer Training: WNC Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CRAFT)
May 15 all-day
Organic Growers School
CRAFT-Main-Header

Farmer-to-Farmer Training

WNC Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CRAFT) is a farmer-led effort to bring established farmers, farm apprentices, and aspiring farmers together for year-long training in the art and science of sustainable agriculture, straight from the hearts, mouths, and fields of seasoned local farmers in Western North Carolina (WNC).

 

Why join CRAFT?

  • Network with beginning and experienced farmers to exchange your ideas and knowledge and build community in the region.
  • Expand your training opportunities beyond your farm to bolster the robustness of your apprenticeship offerings.
  • Attract aspiring farmers to your apprenticeship positions to cultivate success and improve the future of our region’s agriculture.
GreenWorks Silent Auction Virtual
May 15 all-day
online

GreenWorks Silent Auction

May 13-29

Virtual

History @ Home – Virtual Exhibits w/ The Western North Carolina Historical Association (WNCHA)
May 15 all-day
online
Stories from the House is a virtual tour of our 1840s-era brick mansion as seen through the eyes of many of the people who walked these same hallways over a century ago and whose stories represent a microcosm of the history of western North Carolina.
In 1918 vs. 2020, we took an in-depth look at the 1918 influenza epidemic in Western North Carolina through newspaper clippings, advertisements, ephemera, photographs, and oral history and place the events of 1918 into context with our present-day response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Old Shiloh was one of Asheville’s first communities established by emancipated people. The community moved to its present-day location – New Shiloh – after George Vanderbilt, in an effort to expand his land holdings as he planned to build his Biltmore Estate, purchased the land and buildings and agreed to relocate the Shiloh church and cemetery.

Home GREEN Home Silent Auction
May 15 all-day
online w/ GreenWorks
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You live in a beautiful place, and you want to keep it that way.

Us too.

So we put together a fun way to help protect our home — now and for the future. 

 

We’ve reached out to our community, and collected items from some of the most fun, most delicious, most unique local businesses, including:

 

Eats and treats from some of Asheville’s most popular restaurants

Yoga experiences

Beer tastings and tours

Local art

Outdoor adventures

 

We’re so excited to WOW you all!

 

Some of these items and experiences you can’t find anywhere else…and some of them were created especially for you.

 

And they’re finally ready for bid in our Home GREEN Home Silent Auction.

This is your chance to enjoy some only-in-Asheville treats and unique experiences while supporting GreenWorks’ efforts to improve our local climate resilience.

 

This year’s silent auction is just one of the ways you can contribute to our Spring Campaign. By shopping our incredible array of uniquely Asheville items and experiences, you’ll be building a greener future for all of us.

 

All proceeds from the auction will go directly to programs that strengthen our local climate resilience. To protect our homes and health from the effects of extreme weather and a rising tide of plastic pollution, GreenWorks engages with thousands of volunteers like you to complete more than 200 projects each year. Your support will plant trees, protect native pollinators, clean up our rivers and roads, and inspire even more residents to work for a greener tomorrow for ourselves, our families, and our community.

 

All of us, together, are building our future with the choices we make today.

Will you join us to make Asheville a unique, beautiful, and resilient place to live now and in the future (and have a little fun while you’re at it?)

Home Green Home Silent Auction w/ GreenWorks
May 15 all-day
online w/ Gr

Bid on a Greener Future

Our Silent Auction Features Only-in-Asheville Treats & Unique Experiences to Fund Asheville’s Climate Resilience

May 13-29

Bidding Ends May 29 at 8pm

 

You live in a beautiful, healthy place, and you want to keep it that way.

Us too.

So we put together a fun way to help protect our home — now and for the future.

 

We’ve reached out to our community, and collected items from some of the most fun, most delicious, and most unique Asheville businesses. The auction goes live May 13.

Lights Out! Asheville
May 15 all-day
Asheville Area
Lights Out! Asheville is a program that can benefit birds and also save energy and money. Mayor Manheimer recently signed a proclamation that designates March-May and September-November as “Migratory Bird Awareness Months,” and has entrusted the Blue Ridge Audubon Chapter and the Coalition for a Bird-Friendly Asheville to create a Lights Out program that is supported by the Asheville residential and business community.

The Coalition for a Bird-Friendly Asheville, in partnership with the Blue Ridge Audubon Chapter, and many local environmental organizations, is asking you to participate in Lights Out! Asheville. By doing so, you will reduce light pollution that disrupts bird migration and negatively impacts human and non-human animal health while also reducing your energy consumption.

What you can do:

From Midnight-6AM, March-May and September-November,

 Turn off exterior decorative lighting
 Extinguish spot and flood-lights
 Substitute strobe lighting where possible
 Reduce lobby and atrium lighting where possible
 Turn off interior lighting, especially on upper floors
 Substitute task and area lighting for workers staying late
 Down-shield exterior lighting or limit to ground level

By pledging to participate in Asheville’s Lights Out! program, you will be joining a national Lights Out network comprised of over 40 cities! Together, we can help provide safe passage for our avian migratory friends.

May Day Hosted Weekend with Celebrity Chef Chadwick Boyd at Half-Mile Farm
May 15 all-day
Half-Mile Farm

We’re excited to welcome Celebrity Chef & Author Chadwick Boyd for a celebration of spring.

About Chadwick Boyd
Chadwick Boyd is a food media entrepreneur who began cooking as a child on his family farm and has been cooking along with some of the biggest names, such as Art Smith, Carla Hall, and Tyler Florence for almost 30 years. Today, Boyd’s company, Chadwick Boyd Lifestyle, is a multi-media enterprise that collaborates with magazines, television networks, publishing houses, and consumer brands.

Friday & Saturday, May 13 & 14
Social Hour from 5 – 6 pm | Enjoy recipes from Chadwick Boyd’s Lovely & Delicious platform.
*Complimentary for Half-Mile Farm guests only.

Saturday, May 14
Biscuit-making demonstration, conversation and tasting with Chadwick and Kyle Jones Co-Founder and Media Director of Bitter Southerner in the Woodland View Room from 4 – 5 pm.
*Complimentary for Half-Mile Farm guests only.

Sunday, April 15
May Day Celebration Dinner with Celebrity Chef Chadwick Boyd from 5 pm at The Farm at Old Edwards. Playful Spring Attire is encouraged!

Price: Hosted events are for Half-Mile Farm guests only.
To attend these complimentary events at Half-Mile Farm from Sunday, May 13 – 15, book your stay today.

Book Online: https://www.oldedwardshospitality.com/half-mile-farm#/booking/step-1

May Special Facial Offer Sensibilities Day Spa
May 15 all-day
Sensibilities Day Spa
Need Help With Water Bills? New Water Assistance Program Could Offer Help.
May 15 all-day
online

If you’re behind on your water bill or afraid your water might get cut off, a new resource might be able to help you. On Jan. 4, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners approved more than $450,000 in federal funding for the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP). The initiative is aimed at preventing water disconnections and helping reconnect drinking and wastewater services.

The LIHWAP will be administered by Buncombe County-based Eblen Charities. The nonprofit will make payments directly to utilities on behalf of qualifying households. The program is slated to run through Sept. 30, 2023 or until funds are exhausted.

Eligibility requirements

Households that currently receive Food and Nutrition Services (FNS), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Work First services, or those that received Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) services from Oct. 1, 2020-Sept. 30, 2021, are automatically eligible to receive this benefit if their water services have been cut off or are in danger of being cut off.

For additional eligibility information or to apply, please contact Eblen Charities at (828) 255-3066.

Outpace Hunger Feed People and Your Passion
May 15 all-day
Online w/ Manna FoodBank

OUTPACE HUNGER

FEED PEOPLE AND YOUR PASSION!

What Is Outpace Hunger?

Looking for a way to make a real impact this spring and summer? Feed people while pursuing your passion through Outpace Hunger, an action-based fundraising campaign that turns a favorite activity into meals!

For decades, MANNA FoodBank has been working to outpace hunger and food insecurity all across 16 counties of Western North Carolina, including the Qualla Boundary. The 2022 campaign runs May 1 through September 30, and we invite you join the growing community of folks who are Outpacing Hunger alongside of us!

How It Works

Participating in Outpace Hunger is easy!

You decide your level of commitment, so every participant can create their own path to helping provide food to our community. Participants also decide how, when, and where they complete their goal, any time now through the campaign end on September 30.

Outpace Hunger participants:

(1) Register to be a part of MANNA’s Outpace Hunger community. The $20 registration fee includes a t-shirt for you and provides 80 MEALS for neighbors facing food insecurity in WNC.

(2) Choose a favorite activity (run, walk, roll, stroll, hike, bike, paddle, climb, float, skate, golf, and everything in between!) to complete individually, or as a family/group/team.

(3) Set a goal to reach. This can be an activity-related goal, a fundraising goal, or both.

(4) Invite friends and family to support your fundraising efforts through your own, personalized Outpace Hunger webpage.

Whether running a 5K, walking your neighborhood, hiking the Mountains to Sea trail, or paddling the French Broad River, Outpace Hunger participants play a vital part in ensuring our WNC neighbors have access to healthy food

READY TO OUTPACE HUNGER WITH US?

REGISTER NOW!

ALREADY AN OUTPACE HUNGER PARTICIPANT?

VISIT YOUR PAGE

 NEED MORE INFORMATION?

OUTPACE HUNGER HOW-TO GUIDE

Race2Reduce this Mind Your Plastic May
May 15 all-day
online

It’s almost Mind Your Plastic May, and this year we’re challenging you to meet your plastic waste face-to-face. Join the Race2Reduce by pledging to decrease your plastic use for the entire month of May. Sign up to receive plastic tips, volunteer opportunities, and educational materials featuring local Asheville businesses.

 

How it works: Earn points to win a $75, $50, or $25 gift certificate to Ware, a local sustainability and refill shop in downtown Asheville.

5pts: Like or share a MYPM Instagram or Facebook post

10pts: Post (and tag us) or email us a video/photo of you using one of our plastic tips

15pts: Answer our Friday Trivia question

20pts: Post (and tag us) or email us a video/photo of you using one of our plastic tips

25pts: Lead your own trash cleanup with GreenWorks’ supplies

Last time we ran this contest, over 400 people stepped up, and in 30 days we were able to divert an estimated 6,750 lbs of trash from the landfill

Race2Reduce: 30-Day Plastic Reduction Challenge
May 15 all-day
online w/ GreenWorks

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Once you start seeing all the plastics you use, you can’t unsee it.

You reach for your chips, your tube of toothpaste, or your plastic sandwich bags, and feel guilty that all that packaging will spend the rest of time in the landfill.

 

Us too.

Plastic is super light, but the average person throws away more than 110 lbs of it each year  – the equivalent of almost 9,100 plastic soda bottles.

It’s too much. And we decided it doesn’t have to be that way.

We just have to get creative.

 

When we first started tracking our plastic waste, we challenged ourselves:

How little could we use?

 

Replacing plastic drink bottles with a reusable bottle was simple.

Keeping reusable shopping bags in the car to grab on the way into the store was also easy.

 

What’s the next level?

 

Join our Race2Reduce to find out!

Race2Reduce is your pledge to decrease your plastic use for the entire month of May.

Once you sign up HERE we will send you plastic tips, volunteer opportunities, and educational materials featuring local Asheville businesses!

 

But you won’t do it alone.

You’re joining a whole community of action takers opening their minds and kitchen pantries to plastic alternatives.

 

Plus there’s a little friendly competition…

 

How it works: Earn points to win a $75, $50, or $25 gift certificate to Ware, a local sustainability and refill shop in downtown Asheville.

5pts: Like or share a MYPM Instagram or Facebook post

10pts: Post (and tag us) or email us a video/photo of you using one of our plastic tips

15pts: Answer our Friday Trivia question

20pts: Post (and tag us) or email us a video/photo of you using one of our plastic tips

25pts: Lead your own trash clean up with GreenWorks’ supplies

Enter to win by pledging to reduce your plastic here. 

(*Be sure to check the box that asks if you want to be in the running for prizes.) 

Lots of plastics aren’t recyclable, and when we throw them “away,” they only go as far as the Buncombe County landfill off Panther Branch Road in Alexander.

 

So here’s the thing:

If you want to get in shape, no one else can do your push-ups for you.

If you want to feel awesome, no one else can choose your car dance song for you.

And if you want to protect your home and health from plastic pollution, no one else can choose to consume less plastic for you.

 

But we CAN do it together.

 

Over 400 residents participated in the last Mind Your Plastic May plastic reduction challenge – and together we diverted 6,750 lbs of trash from the landfill in just 30 days.

Will you help us break that record this year? Join here.

 

We’re proud that so many of our fellow Ashevillians are working to end their reliance on plastic! Many thanks to the businesses and restaurants who supported this effort, and are working hard to reduce their own plastic waste. Mind Your Plastic May 2022 is presented for the residents of the City of Asheville in partnership with the City of Asheville. #goingplasticfree.

 

Questions?  Give us a shout at: [email protected]

 

 

P.S. It’s Mind Your Plastic May, which means we’re taking action to reduce plastic all month long!

Check out all our events and activities here: ashevillegreenworks.org/mind-your-plastic-may

YWCA VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY THIS SPRING
May 15 all-day
YWCA of Asheville

The YW is seeking volunteers to help maintain and ensure a thriving YW Garden. Plants in the YW Garden will be transformed into delicious meals for the children in our care by our nutrition team, used to introduce students to new vegetables and herbs, and leveraged by our teachers as curriculum in our childcare allowing the children to watch as plants grow from seed, to sprout, to thriving plant! To become a volunteer at the YWCA of Asheville, email [email protected].

Spring Photo Contest – “Trees in Bloom”
May 15 @ 12:00 am – 12:45 pm
Chimney Rock State Park

Image result for Chimney Rock Park

NC State Parks’ Year of the Tree continues with a celebration of spring trees. Break out your camera and capture the transformation of trees from winter to spring as they show off their gorgeous blooms throughout the next few months. You may even win a prize for your efforts!

GREAT PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED TO 3 WINNING ENTRIES

1st Prize: The winning photo will be our Facebook cover photo for two weeks, and the photographer will receive two annual passes to Chimney Rock State Park, two boat tour tickets from Lake Lure Tours, and dinner for two at the Old Rock Café.

2nd Prize: After the first place photo, the second place photo will be our Facebook cover photo for one week. The photographer will receive two annual passes to Chimney Rock State Park and dinner for two at the Old Rock Café.

3rd Prize: The third place photographer will receive two adult day passes (or one family pack of day passes) to Chimney Rock State Park and dinner for two at the Old Rock Café.

CONTEST RULES:

  1. There is no fee to enter the contest. All photographs must be taken of Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park only in areas accessible to guests between April 1, 2022 – May 31, 2022.
    The contest is open to amateur and professional photographers.
  2. Up to three photos per person can be submitted via any of the following ways to be eligible to win:
    • Facebook: First, like the Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park page. Next, send us a private message including your contact information specified in rule #3.
    • E-mail: If you don’t have access to social media, you may email your digital photo with your contact information specified in rule #3 to [email protected].
  3. Every entry should be clearly labeled with the photographer’s name, city & state, a brief photo caption, an email address and the best phone number to reach you.
  4. Photos should be available at a minimum resolution of 1200 x 1600 pixels (1 MB minimum) to be eligible to win. Photos taken via smart phones, tablets and other mobile devices are welcome if they meet minimum requirements.
  5. For entries showing human faces, you must list their name(s) and have written permission from any photographed person(s) to use their image.
  6. Entries should reflect the photographer’s interpretation of the theme. Emphasis will be placed on quality, composition and creativity. All entries may be used in promotions of Chimney Rock and park-related activities.
  7. Digital images can be optimized but not dramatically altered with photo editing software. Black and white photographs are welcome.
  8. Finalists will be chosen by Chimney Rock staff and the winner will be voted on by the public. Decisions regarding winners are final.

Winners will be notified personally and announced on Chimney Rock’s social media. For more information, call 1-828-625-9611, ext. 1812 or email us at [email protected].

Buncombe County Opens Its First Dog Park
May 15 @ 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Buncombe County Sports Park

It can be ruff out there for our canine companions, but we have pawsitively great news. Buncombe County’s first-ever dog park is now open at our Sports Park in Candler. While this is a soft open, the park features two fenced-in play areas; one for large dogs and one for smaller pups. “We do have plans to add other amenities and water fountains,” exclaims Recreation Services Program Coordinator Mac Stanley. “People are very excited about this new opportunity. Since it was announced, we have gotten letters of support as well as many emails questioning when will the project be completed.”

So join us in a round of apaws as we celebrate the opening of this new venue for hot dogs and cool people. “It’s an amazing place to bring your dog to run free without a leash and interact with other dogs,” says Stanley. “One of my favorite aspects of this new dog park is being able to cultivate a community. Hopefully, this dog park will be instrumental in connecting dogs as well as people within the community.” Paw-yeah, sounds great.

Location: Buncombe County Sports Park, 58 Apac Circle

Hours of operation: Monday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. (same as the Sports Park)

Dog park drools rules
Dogs must be:

  • On a leash at all times until safely in the fenced-in dog park area
  • Vaccinated, licensed, and in good health
  • At least four months old to enter
  • Wearing a collar with ID tags
  • Under voice control of their human and not aggressive

Humans must:

  • Be with dogs at all times
  • Remove dogs at first sign of aggression
  • Pick up poop and dispose of it in receptacles provided
  • Be liable for any and all injuries caused by their dogs

Not Allowed:

  • Pronged, spike or choke collars
  • Aggressive dogs, aggressive humans, or dogs in heat
  • Unsupervised children 12 years of age or younger
Spring Ornithology Hike
May 15 @ 8:00 am – 11:00 am
SAHC Community Farm
Birders looking for birds on farm pasture in late winter

Enjoy an ornithology-focused walk on the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy Community Farm. Led by Simon Thompson, participants will hike the farm’s Discovery Trail searching to identify bird species. Simon is the owner and operator of Ventures Birding and has led birding trips all over the world. We are extremely excited to have him lead us on the hike. Diverse habitats across the farm lead to a great variety of bird species present.

WNC Farmers Market
May 15 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
WNC Farmers Market

NCDA&CS - Marketing Division - Western North Carolina Farmers Market

The WNC Farmers Market is the premier destination for buying and selling the region’s best agriculture products directly from farmers & food producers to household & wholesale customers in an environment that celebrates the region’s diverse culture, food & heritage.

House of Operation:

WNC Farmers Market: 24/7, 361 days a year market access for farmers
Office: Monday- Friday, 8am-5pm
Market Shops: 7 days a week, 8 am-5 pm
Wholesale and Truck Sheds: 7 days a week

WNC Fiber Handweavers Guild | Main Gallery Exhibition
May 15 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Folk Art Center

Featured Artists: Guild Members from the WNC Fiber Handweavers Guild

Buncombe County Seeks Community Member for Communications Steering Committee
May 15 @ 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Online w/ Buncombe County Government

Buncombe County’s newly consolidated 911 Call Center is looking to complete membership of its Communications Steering Committee (CSC) with a community member at-large. As part of the agreement of the consolidation, the CSC will meet at least quarterly to review performance and compliance data and to consider and resolve questions, issues, and disputes relating to 911 call center operations.

The CSC membership includes:

  1. Buncombe County Director for 911 Communications
  2. Sheriff or designee
  3. Chief of Asheville Police Department or designee
  4. Asheville Fire Chief or designee
  5. Buncombe County Management designee
  6. A representative from among other municipalities’ law enforcement agencies dispatched through the 911 Call Center
  7. A representative from among other municipal and County fire departments dispatched through the 911 Call Center
  8. One community member at-large.

If you would like to be considered for the community member at-large position on the CSC, please answer the below questions and follow the instructions for submitting them.

Application Questions

Name:

Contact Information (phone and/or email):

1) Briefly, explain why you want to be a part of the Communications Steering Committee.

2) How will your life experience and unique perspective help us in regard to performance and compliance data and resolving questions, issues, and disputes relating to 911 call center operations? Please note if you are bilingual.

3) What do you consider the most pressing challenge for public safety communications (911)?

4) Where do you live?

  • Asheville City
  • South Buncombe (such as Arden/Avery’s Creek/Royal Pines)
  • North Buncombe (such as Woodfin/Weaverville/Barnardsville)
  • East Buncombe (such as Swannanoa/Black Mountain/Montreat)
  • West Buncombe (such as Candler/Leicester)

5) Have you lived in Buncombe County for 1 year or more? Yes or No

Submit your application questions by email or in person to Jennifer Aviles by May 31, 2022, to [email protected] or 200 College St., Third Floor, Asheville NC 28801. If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Aviles at (828) 250-4089.