
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.
The Art of Food features works from important postwar artists, like Robert Rauschenberg, Roy Lichtenstein, John Baldessari, Wayne Thiebaud, Ed Ruscha, Andy Warhol, David Hockney, and Jasper Johns, alongside the work of contemporary artists, like Alison Saar, Lorna Simpson, Enrique Chagoya, Rachel Whiteread, and Jenny Holzer, among others.
The Art of Food features more than 100 works in mediums that include drawings, paintings, photographs, prints, sculptures, and ceramics by 37 artists.
Each artist has a unique means of depicting food in their work that, when seen alongside others, creates a nuanced representation of the complex place food holds in everyday life. Cross-historical resonances between artists in the exhibition spark novel meditations on food and its discontents, while speaking to a broad range of audiences.
Included with admission
Back by popular demand, The Vanderbilts at Home and Abroad exhibition offers guests:
- An opportunity to view rarely-seen treasures from the Biltmore collection
- A first-hand look at the Vanderbilts’ lifestyle
- Deeper insights into George, Edith, and Cornelia’s personalities, both at home and on their extensive travels
Access to exhibitions at The Biltmore Legacy is included with Biltmore daytime admission.
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Western North Carolina is important in the history of American glass art. Several artists of the Studio Glass Movement came to the region, including its founder Harvey K. Littleton. Begun in 1962 in Wisconsin, it was a student of Littleton’s that first came to the area in 1965 and set up a glass studio at the Penland School of Craft in Penland, North Carolina. By 1967, Mark Peiser was the first glass artist resident at the school and taught many notable artists, like Jak Brewer in 1968 and Richard Ritter who came to study in 1971. By 1977, Littleton retired from teaching and moved to nearby Spruce Pine, North Carolina and set up a glass studio at his home. Since that time, glass artists like Ken Carder, Rick and Valerie Beck, Shane Fero, and Yaffa Sikorsky and Jeff Todd—to name only a few—have flocked to the area to reside, collaborate, and teach, making it a significant place for experimentation and education in glass. The next generation of artists like Hayden Wilson and Alex Bernstein continue to create here. The Museum is dedicated to collecting American studio glass and within that umbrella, explores the work of Artists connected to Western North Carolina. Exhibitions, including Intersections of American Art, explore glass art in the context of American Art of the 20th and 21st centuries. A variety of techniques and a willingness to push boundaries of the medium can be seen in this selection of works from the Museum’s Collection. |
Gather bathing suits and sunscreen, Buncombe County’s outdoor pools are getting ready to open. The County’s five outdoor pools will open for the 2023 season on May 27. This includes the pools at Cane Creek, Erwin, Hominy Valley, North Buncombe, and Owen.
Outdoor pools will be open on weekends only until area schools are out for the summer. Starting on June 10, Pools will be open seven days a week.
Pool hours are Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Cost for pool entry is $3 per person.
Private lessons at the outdoor pools are available for different age groups from 3-year-olds and up. For more information on lessons or to register for a class, click here.
The pools can also be booked for private parties 14 days in advance and must have a minimum of 50 patrons. Pool bookings are available Monday through Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 6:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Click here for more information on booking pools.
Buncombe County Pool Locations:
- Cane Creek Pool – 590 Lower Brush Creek Road, Fletcher
- Erwin Pool – 58 Lees Creek Road, Asheville
- Hominy Valley Pool – 25 Twin Lakes Road, Candler
- North Buncombe Pool – 734 Clarks Chapel Road, Weaverville
- Owen Pool – 117 Stone Drive, Swannanoa
In addition, lap swimming is available year-round at the Buncombe County Schools Aquatics Center, a 10-lane pool managed by the YMCA of Western North Carolina and Buncombe County Schools.
For more information on outdoor pools, visit the County’s pool website or call (828) 348-4770.

Do you know our staff has a wild side? Join a Park naturalist to meet some of our live Animal Ambassadors and learn about the types of wildlife in the area and their jobs. Some of our best educators have feathers, fur, shells or scales!
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On Wednesdays through October, check out the Etowah Lions Farmers Market, which
showcases local farmers, vendors and artisans and the delicious produce the area is known for, all items sold are made by or
grown by the vendor.

Located in the River Arts District, and surrounded by art galleries and breweries, come find out about Asheville’s favourite mid-week market!
Proudly serving the Weaverville community since 2009

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Puptart is a tail wagging robot dog who sits and stays, pants when listening, and responds to someone talking to and petting it. It will not jump up or run away, plus it’s fur free, so no sneezes and runny noses coming your way! Every Wednesday afternoon, Puptart will be available for reading practice in the children’s picture book room. Help establish a joy of reading and develop early literacy skills. Sign up at the front desk, pick a book and practice reading for up to 15 minutes. |
The YPHC’s Monthly Social offers a chance for those professionals under 40 to meet through a laid-back networking opportunity. Months will rotate with guest speakers and professional development opportunities as well. Join us each month on the 2nd Wednesday from 5:00 – 6:00 pm at Dry Falls Brewing Co.*Participation is limited to those under 40*A big thanks to AdventHealth Hendersonville and Spectrum Reach for presenting this program for the 2023 year!
Dr. Dan Pierce shares the history of the men who worked, and died, to bring the first trains across the Swannanoa Gap and the project recognizing one of the greatest feats of 19th Century construction in our area.
Wednesday Pub Run
Join us every Wednesday at 6:15pm at Archetype Brewing – West off of Haywood, for a fun pub run featuring two different routes! Follow us on social media to stay up to date on when we have special guests, shoe demos, and giveaway nights!
Asheville Tourists vs. Hickory Crawdads
Story Parlor and Inward & Artward present: an interactive 14-week program on how to create and facilitate unique offerings rooted in the intersection of the creative process, personal stories, and the human condition. Tailored for folks interested in starting a new and fulfilling career path, or simply wanting to deepen and/or refresh their approach to holistic creative facilitation.
Guideposts Include:
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Identifying creative blocks, obstacles, and breakthrough strategies for self and others
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How to create and conduct creative-based groups, workshops, classes, and retreats
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Teaching philosophy and ethics
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The intersection of mindfulness and the creative process, and how to implement into facilitation
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Nurturing a sustainable creative lifestyle, personally, professionally, and instructionally
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Tools to excavate personal stories and ways they can be used for healing, transformation, and creative bounty
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Marketing, business planning, and logistics
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Two one-on-one creativity coaching sessions
Early Bird pricing through April 30 | $1250
Regular price effective May 1 | $1400
Class dates include Wednesdays from 6:30-8:30pm
5/31, 6/7, 6/14, 6/21, 6/28, 7/5, 7/12, 7/19, 7/26, 8/2, 8/9, 8/16, 8/23, 8/30
Some classes will be conducted over zoom; Final two meetings will go till 9:30pm.
Refund and Covid policies can be found here.
Before registering, prospective participants must first submit the below application. Next steps will be provided thereafter.

GHOST COMEDY BUS TOUR
Grab a local beer, crucifix and a rubber chicken* —You might survive this hour long hilarious haunted ghost tour of Asheville.
- Guided comedy bus tour of Haunted Asheville
- 60 minutes; tours run nightly after dark
- $33 per person (Ages 17+ only)
- Departs from 76 Biltmore Avenue
*Legal Note: Crucifix not required to board the bus; we do not condone exorcisms, chickens, rubber, or any combination of the three.
Every Wednesday
Trivia Night
Trivia Night at Hickory Tavern
White Horse’s legendary Open Mic takes place each and every Tuesday at 7pm.
You’ll hear a variety of wonderfully talented folks on their way up. You never know what you’ll hear… original songs, covers, guitar, piano….. and often something quite surprising.
Each performer gets 15 minutes or three songs.
Our Open Mic has been so popular that we typically have more folks wanting to perform than we’ve had room for. After consulting with some of our regular attendees and participants we want to make sure that everyone has a fair chance to perform on stage.
So we are trying out a new process and it seems to be very popular.
First: We’ve expanded the number of available performance slots to 10 per night. Note: There are actually 12 spots on the list each night. . The host of Open Mic is spot 1, and the owner of White Horse (Bob Hinkle) is spot 3. That leaves 10 available spots to be drawn from the hat.
Second: In place having folks lineup in advance for the signup list, we now pull names out of a hat.
When you arrive, please check in with the bartender and she will give you a piece of paper where you will write your name.
Sometime before 7, the bartender will announce that the names are being drawn. All other names populate the list in the order they are picked out of the hat.
Any names left in the hat that do not make the list, are automatically put first on the list for the following week. PLUS…. they get a free bottle of beer or soft drink “on the house” as a thank you for their patience and support of fellow musicians.
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We view our Open Mic as a service to the community, providing performance opportunities for musicians who rarely get to play on a nice stage. We also like to provide opportunities for community members of limited financial resources to come enjoy live music for FREE.
So much happened before Dorothy dropped in.
WICKED, the Broadway sensation, looks at what happened in the Land of Oz…but from a different angle. Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another young woman, born with emerald-green skin—smart, fiery, misunderstood, and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships…until the world decides to call one “good” and the other one “wicked.”
From the first electrifying note to the final breathtaking moment, WICKED—the untold true story of the Witches of Oz—transfixes audiences with its wildly inventive story that USA Today cheers is “a complete triumph! An original musical that will make you laugh, cry, and think.”
The 15th Annual Asheville Comedy festival! Featuring comedians from all over the country. No two shows are the same. Every show features a different lineup of the countries fastest rising stars in the comedy world.
Wednesday, August 9th @ 8PM
Featuring: Adam Muller, Holly Ballantine, Lanny Farmer, Lee Tillman, Nathan Luft, Ngozi, Reggie Kush, and Yoni Heisler
Thursday, August 10th @ 8PM
Featuring: Annelise Dekker-Hernandez, Brandon Jarrell, Farzin Moradi, Gabe Davis, Lukas Arnold, Maria Palombi, Ryan Brown, and Tony Sykowski
Friday, August 11th @ 8PM
Featuring: EricB Owens, Gus Tate, Hayden Arrington, Jessica Rosas, Julia Stone, Lee Paul, Leonard Smith Jr., Raj Suresh, and Sasha von Didkovsky
Saturday, August 11th @ 8PM
Featuring: Austin Kress, Drew Morgan, FreddyG, Ian Aber, Jackie Pirico, Jordan Cerminara, Meka Mo, and Tyler Groce

In April 2023 the City began a Missing Middle Housing study to identify barriers that negatively impact the production of housing supply in Asheville. The term “missing middle” is meant to describe a range of house-scale buildings with multiple units that are compatible in scale and form with detached single-family homes, including such examples as duplexes, cottage courts, and fourplexes.
As part of the study, the team is conducting a Renter’s Survey to better understand housing preferences and needs from the perspective of Asheville’s renting population. Anyone wishing to participate in the anonymous survey can access it at the project website or directly by clicking the following link: Renter’s Survey. This survey will be accessible until Friday, August 11, 2023.
APPLICATIONS OPEN NOW!
Do you have a boundary-pushing, innovative performance piece, short film or installation that you’re ready to share?
We will open applications for the film portion of the festival in fall 2023. Films must be submitted via FilmFreeway. Our application fee for films is $5.
NOW CONSIDERING WORKS OF ALL KINDS
We accept live performances from 5 to 60 minutes in length, plus installations and films. We’re open to other types of performance as well – let’s talk! Depending on its length, your piece may be grouped with another show, or scheduled as a Random Act of Fringe. RAFs are free and open to the public, and artists receive a stipend for their performance, rather than relying on door sales.
Typically each artist with a ticketed show gets 2 performances. But in 2024, we’re exploring the option of giving a few shows 3 performances, at select venues only. Our venues range from 20-80 person capacity.
1. FRINGE SHOT
A piece that is
5-15 minutes long
May be paired with another performance, or be selected as a free Random Act of Fringe.
2. SHORT FORM
A piece that is
20-40 minutes long
May be paired with another show.
3. FULL-LENGTH
A piece that is
45-60 minutes long
Ticketed theater-style show.
4. INSTALLATION
A piece that is
Site-specific (any length)
May be in an unusual location, or repeated many times. May be seen by as few as one person at a time.
5. FILM
A piece that is
Designed specifically for film.
May be of any genre & length. Could be combined with other films for a showcase or film night.
Submit on Film Freeway Fall 2023
3. THE ASHEVILLE FRINGE ARTS FESTIVAL IS A JURIED FESTIVAL.
We carefully review each and every submission. You’ll know by late October if your piece is selected. Should your piece get selected, there is a $35 participation fee.
Closed | Opening August 7
The North Carolina Arts Council Artist Support Grant is a regional grant program to support individual artists in all phases of their career. The program funds professional and artistic development for emerging or established artists to create work, improve their business operations, or bring their work to new audiences. This grant is intended to support a broad range of talented artists in the genres of visual arts, performing arts, literary arts, music composition, choreography, and interdisciplinary arts. Grants range from $500 to $3,000
The ASG program is funded by the N.C. Arts Council to provide the opportunity for regional consortia of local arts councils to award project grants to artists in their regions. Region 17 is led by Haywood County Arts Council and support artists in Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Polk, Rutherford, and Transylvania counties.
The deadline to apply is September 5, 2023 at 11:59 pm.
Asheville Merchandise Guide
All the wearable merch in Asheville in one place.
We love a souvenir T-shirt
So much so that we were inspired to create this guide, first published in May 2023. We’ll be updating it a few times a year, and we encourage you to check in with the businesses listed in the guide about availability. Often merch sells out quickly or is a limited edition.
While these items aren’t strictly secondhand, we love supporting local businesses and know firsthand how lovely it is to hold on to a memory of a special place you visited on a trip.
If you know of some merch we’re missing or have feedback or questions, fill out the form below to let us know!
2023-2024 SeasonThe Asheville Performing Arts Academy facilitates a life-long appreciation and advocacy of the arts by providing a loving community where students discover the tools needed to navigate life on and off the stage. MissionThe Asheville Performing Arts Academy is a school based on unlimited opportunities for students to explore their interests in music, dance, and drama. We foster a love and appreciation for the arts through student-teacher relationships, which encourage and help you to excel at your dream. We offer high quality instruction and educational experiences because we are committed to the art of teaching and the teaching of the arts. It is our hope to build art and awareness in the community and provide a home for families to pursue their dreams. With classes for students of all ages, the Asheville Performing Arts Academy is your place to discover the love of music, drama, and dance in your life. Asheville Performing Arts Academy… where the arts come alive! |
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February 2-4, 2024 Mean Girls, Jr.
February 9-11, 2024 Mean Girls HS Version
March/April 2024 A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Homeschool Academy) |
Do you live and rent in the City of Asheville?
Do you want an opportunity to share your experience as a renter?
The City wants to hear from you!
Our Community and Economic Development staff is addressing housing in Asheville by looking at what we call “missing middle housing”. “Missing middle housing” refers to housing types, such as duplexes, triplexes, or townhomes, that can be said to have largely been missing from the residential housing market over the last 70 years. You can describe middle residential as housing types that live in the middle of two common and well-known housing options: Single-family homes and large-scale multi-family housing apartment buildings.

Join the discussion in 2 ways!
Take our survey: Renter’s Survey.
In April 2023 the City began a Missing Middle Housing Study to identify barriers that negatively impact the production of housing supply in Asheville. The term “missing middle” is meant to describe a range of house-scale buildings with multiple units that are compatible in scale and form with detached single-family homes, including such examples as duplexes, cottage courts, and fourplexes.
As part of the study, the team is conducting a Renter’s Survey to better understand housing preferences and needs from the perspective of Asheville’s renting population. Anyone wishing to participate in the anonymous survey can access it at the project website or directly by clicking the following link: Renter’s Survey. This survey will be accessible until Friday, August 11, 2023.
Attend a workshop : August 4, 2023
Another approaching engagement opportunity will be a public workshop to be held next month. The free workshop will be an open-house format where attendees can drop in anytime between 4 – 7 p.m. on August 4th at the Harrah’s Cherokee Center’s Banquet Hall (87 Haywood Street, Asheville, NC 28801). Attendees will learn more about missing middle housing and how it can help to expand housing choice, increase entry-level home ownership opportunities, help homeowners to build generational wealth and passive income, and enable local ownership and neighborhood-driven investment.
The workshop is a family-friendly event that will include a series of stations for participants to learn and discuss specific housing-related topics. At each station there will be an opportunity to give feedback that will help guide the final Missing Middle Housing report. This report will ultimately make recommendations to help Asheville prioritize next steps for regulatory changes and strategies that support more housing choices in Asheville. Topics that will be highlighted at the workshop include:
- Project Overview: Timeline, engagement opportunities, and next steps
- Asheville’s Housing Needs: What are the most significant housing challenges facing Asheville?
- Missing Middle Housing Outcomes: What are the benefits of missing middle housing and how have other cities implemented these housing strategies?
- MMH Building Types: What are the types of housing included in the study and which missing middle housing types would fit into your neighborhood?
- What We’ve Heard So Far: What are the concerns and barriers that exist in Asheville today?
For those who cannot attend the in-person event, all workshop materials and accompanying surveys will be available on the City’s project website.

Your voice matters about how the 2024 Primary Election’s Early Voting will be shaped. We want your feedback on the proposed times and locations for Early Voting via our six-question survey. The Buncombe County Board of Elections will take feedback into consideration when determining the locations and weekend hours for Early Voting.
For additional information about the proposed Early Voting dates, times, and locations, read below. And please take the survey here. Thank you for your input, we appreciate your feedback. The Board of Elections will meet on Tuesday, Sep. 12 to discuss public input of the Early Voting plan for the primary election and adopt it at the Oct. 17 meeting. After that, Buncombe County will publicize the finalized locations and hours on our website, through media partners, social media, and other platforms.
Proposed Early Voting information
Early Voting Period:
Feb. 15- March 2
Proposed locations
Black Mountain Library – 105 N. Dougherty St, Black Mountain 28711
East Asheville Library – 3 Avon Rd, Asheville 28805
Enka-Candler Library – 1404 Sand Hill Rd, Candler 28715
Fairview Library – 1 Taylor Rd, Fairview 28730
Leicester Community Center – 2979 New Leicester Hwy, Leicester 28748
North Asheville Location – TBD
South Buncombe Library – 260 Overlook Rd, Asheville 28803
2nd South Asheville Location – TBD
Weaverville Community Center – 60 Lakeshore Dr, Weaverville 28787
Wesley Grant Southside Center (in lieu of BOE) – 285 Livingston St, Asheville 28801
West Asheville Library – 942 Haywood Rd, Asheville 28806
Proposed hours
Please note that voting hours are 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Monday – Friday, and on the last Saturday (March 2) hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.,as mandated by state law. The Board of Elections can set weekend hours and determine the number of early voting sites.
Proposed weekend hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday, February 17
Saturday, February 24
Sunday, February 25
Announcing 8 weeks of Fall Musical Theatre/Theatre Camps for rising K-12th Graders and Adults!
With new content for every program,
returning students will always have the chance to dive into fresh material.
Share what you have learned with a performance at the end of the semester!


