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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, March 16, 2024
Live Music: Mutual Love Club
Mar 16 @ 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Tryon International Equestrian Center

Live on the Legends Plaza Stage: Mutual Love Club. Mutual Love Club is a folk/americana project created by Danny Clayton and Heather Alpine Bech, hailing from Black Mountain, North Carolina. The duo have been collaborating for almost seven years, having toured the Southeastern United States with other local musicians playing at festivals and venues such as The Pour House (Raleigh, NC), Isis (Asheville, NC), Preservation Pub (Knoxville, TN), The Grey Eagle (Asheville, NC), Awendaw Green (Awendaw, SC), Oscar Blues (Brevard, NC), The Station (Carrboro, NC), The Cave (Chapel Hill, NC), and many others.

Rainy Night Theatre presents “The Irish Inquisition”
Mar 16 @ 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Flood Gallery Fine Art Center

Adult comedy night, featuring 10 comics from the Southeast all in one night! $10 suggested donation. 6:30 – 9pm.

Ghosted: Comedy Bus Tour
Mar 16 @ 7:00 pm
LaZoom Room Bar & Gorilla

Explore the dark side of Beer City on LaZoom’s Ghosted Tour!

Duration

1 hour

About

Come enjoy our most popular Asheville tour!

About

Bachelorette/Bachelor Parties are not permitted on this tour. The Fender Bender Bus is bachelorette/bachelor friendly!

Learn about Asheville’s strange, sometimes sordid past from our ghoulish guides. You’ll laugh! You’ll scream! You’ll discover mysteries and chilling tales of scandal and murder on the blood-stained streets of this picturesque town!

Ghosted runs approximately 60 minutes. Beer and wine are welcome onboard, but no open containers, and absolutely no liquor, please! All beer and wine must be purchased from the LaZoom Room. (Passengers must be at least 21 years old to drink on the bus, and must have valid ID.)

Age Restrictions

17 and up. No exceptions.

What’s Included

A bunch of bus seats
History of murders, ghosts and tragedies in the Land of the Sky
Tongue-in-cheek comedy
A live (not dead) tour guide

What’s Not Included

Bathroom breaks (It’s 60 minutes long – plan accordingly!)
Beer or Wine (Purchase at our bar, the LaZoom Room, and take on the bus)
Laughing (we’ll give you the funny, but it’s up to you to laugh)
Gratuity (guides only accept dead president currency)

Waitlist

If your desired time and availability is full, then please give us a call to be added to the waitlist.

Zach Williams A Hundred Highways Tour
Mar 16 @ 7:00 pm
Thomas Wolfe Auditorium

Get ready for a night of unforgettable music and soul-stirring performances as Zach Williams and Riley Clemmons take the stage on the “A Hundred Highways” tour! Zach Williams will blow you away with his powerful vocals, raw talent, and chart-topping hits. From “Chain Breaker” to “Rescue Story,” his music speaks to the heart of what it means to be human, and his electrifying live shows are unlike anything you’ve ever experienced in Christian music. But the excitement doesn’t stop there. Riley Clemmons, a rising star in the industry, will set the stage ablaze with her angelic voice and captivating stage presence. With hits like “Keep on Hoping” and “Fighting for Me,” she is sure to inspire and uplift you with her soulful lyrics and infectious melodies. So come join us for an unforgettable night of music, worship, and community. Get your tickets now and experience the magic of “A Hundred Highways” with Zach Williams and Riley Clemmons!

Greenville Swamp Rabbits vs. Toledo Walleye
Mar 16 @ 7:05 pm
Bon Secours Wellness Arena
Greenville Swamp Rabbits vs. Toledo Walleye
Toledo Walleye
Greenville Swamp Rabbits
FREE PLANET RADIO and special guests, Jake Wolf and Reggie Headen
Mar 16 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
AyurPrana Listening Room
An Evening with FREE PLANET RADIO and special guests, Jake Wolf and Reggie Headen, LIVE at AyurPrana Listening Room
Asheville’s acclaimed global-jazz duo, Free Planet Radio, returns to AyurPrana Listening Room in West Asheville, on the evening of March 16th, 2024, joined in this performance by bassist extraordinaire, Jake Wolf, and electrifying jazz-and-soul vocalist, Reggie Headen. Free Planet Radio is a dynamic and genre-defying band that blends elements of jazz, world music, and improvisation into a gorgeous and exciting musical experience. Comprising of world-renowned musicians, River Guerguerian on percussion and Chris Rosser on piano and multi-instruments, they are known for their rich and textured soundscapes, intricate rhythms, and virtuosic instrumentation. Their aim is always to transport listeners on a captivating journey while “exploring the infinite and seamless relationships between musical cultures through the universal language of sound.”
The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical
Mar 16 @ 7:30 pm
HART Theatre
By Joe Tracz, Music by Rob Rokicki
Directed by Shelia Sumpter
Lloyd Main Stage

Unleash the power of the Gods.

The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical is a high-voltage adventure that brings the beloved best-selling novel to life on stage. Join Percy Jackson, the teenage demigod, on an epic quest filled with humor, mythological marvels, and catchy rock-infused songs. With themes of friendship, self-discovery, and embracing uniqueness, this electrifying musical is a must-see for all ages. Mark your calendars now and be prepared to be swept away into a world where legends come to life!

Suitable for all Audiences.

Tuatha Dea
Mar 16 @ 7:30 pm
Hendersonville Theatre

Hendersonville Theatre welcomes back one of the top 10 Celtic bands in the United States, Tuatha Dea, for our Hometown Sound Music Series St. Patrick’s Day Celebration! Don’t miss this unique and unforgettable experience born of a family drum circle that will draw you into the music!

Tuatha Dea is a progressive Americana band with a Rock edge, a Celtic-Appalachian influence, and a fearless attitude for pushing the boundaries of modern roots music. Their music thrives on a perpetual energy backed by expansive vocal ranges, steady, driving percussion, electric instrumentation, and the melodic sounds of acoustic instruments like fiddle, guitar, penny whistle, bagpipes, and even didgeridoo. From Gatlinburg, Tennessee, the band’s eclectic sound blends the tribal vibe of primitive drums with conventional and nonconventional instruments to create a real evolutionary musical crossover that defies category and genre! Combining primal rhythms, melodic and ethereal ballads, and screaming guitar riffs with an Appalachian/Celtic vibe, Tuatha Dea inspires audience participation and has embraced its Celtic heritage and meshed the traditional music of Scotland and Ireland with their bold blend of mainstream rock, mountain drumming, and Appalachian blues to produce a truly unique sound that has a universal appeal.

Named one of the top 10 Celtic bands of 2022 by Marc Gunn’s Irish and Celtic PodCast, Tuatha Dea is one of the 12 artists chosen for the 90th Anniversary Bristol Jubilee Sessions with Dolly Parton, Ritchie Owens, and other great renowned acts.

Dubbed “The Eclectic Partridge Family in Kilts and Corsets” and “The Appalachian Fae,” Tuatha Dea has been featured and headlined at countless venues, festivals, and Highland Games nationwide including Floydfest, Dragoncon, and Comicpalooza. The band has performed on stage with Paul Simon, Alto Reed,  and James Mckinney and has appeared with Brandi Carlisle, Kacey Musgraves,  Jessica Lynn, and Phil Lesh among others.

The band’s members are also a family! Rebecca and Kathy Holman (Vocals), Danny (Damasqhs) Mullikin (Multi-Instrumentalist), Tesea Dawson (Multi-Instrumentalist), Chris Foxfire Bush (Multi-Instrumentalist), Brandon “B” Mullikin (Electric Guitar), Brett Maney (Percussion), Jeremiah Waldon(Bass), and Sarah Faith (Guitar) promise to deliver an unforgettable performance!

Learn more about Tuatha Dea at tuathadea.com.

Witch
Mar 16 @ 7:30 pm
North Carolina Stage Company

Directed by Angie Flynn-McIver

 

RIVETING | THOUGHT-PROVOKING | DARK COMEDY

A charming devil arrives in the quiet village of Edmonton to bargain for the souls of its residents in exchange for their darkest wishes. Elizabeth should be his easiest target, having been labeled a “witch” and cast out by the town, but her soul is not so readily bought. As the devil returns –and returns again– to convince her, unexpected passions flare, alliances are formed, and the village is forever changed.

 

Content advisory: strong language, staged violence

Yaniv Attar and Hector Del Curto: The French Connection
Mar 16 @ 7:30 pm
Peace Concert Hall

Yaniv Attar, conductor
Hector Del Curto, bandoneón
Lili Boulanger: D’un matin de printemps
Astor Piazzolla: Concerto for bandoneón
Modest Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition

D’un matin de Printemps (Of a spring morning) was the last piece Lili Boulanger ever wrote. On the list of composers like Schubert and Mozart who died too young, Lili succumbed to tuberculosis in 1918 at just 24 years old. While the composer was physically frail, this piece demonstrates her inner strength and transcends pain with its vitality and joy. Fly, Lili, fly.
Tango revolutionary Astor Piazzolla was just nine years old when his family gave him a beautifully wrapped gift box that he hoped would contain a toy. He was thoroughly disappointed when he opened it and found a bandoneón inside. Lucky for us, he took to it after all and wrote Concerto for Bandoneón in 1979. Many say it is his very best work. An expert in tango and the work of Piazzolla, GRAMMY-winner Hector Del Curto has traveled the world as a soloist.
The most recognizable tune from Modest Mussorgsky’s Pictures is by far “The Great Gate of Kiev.” If you’re like us, you wonder: what is this gate? Are there pictures? And the answer is no. The gate is a figment of dear Modest’s fertile imagination, which doesn’t make it any less majestic and arresting, of course. Maybe more. And especially when you consider he wrote this, one of the most performed orchestral works of all time in just three weeks. Come hear why the greats like Mussorgsky are great for a reason.

 

CLICK TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CONDUCTOR & GUEST ARTIST

Cathy Ladman
Mar 16 @ 8:00 pm
Diana Wortham Theatre

Laugh out loud with one of the country’s top comedians, whose sharp wit, clever observations and relatable humor have earned her numerous accolades and multiple guest appearances on TV and film, including 10 sets on The Tonight Show alone. Sharing hilarious and personal stories that focus on family, growing up, relationships and more, Cathy delivers a performance that is both side-splittingly funny and thought provoking.

THE BREAKFAST CLUB
Mar 16 @ 8:00 pm
The Orange Peel

America’s Favorite 1980’s Tribute Band

 Show: 8pm | Doors: 7pm
 $12 – $15
Ages 18+
Yoga Nidr
Mar 16 @ 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Asheville Salt Cave

Within this space, a dream will be induced taking you into a state of consciousness that can bring about immense healing in your conscious, subconscious, and unconscious mind. The cave will transform into a “Nidra Nest” with zero gravity chairs, blankets, and bolsters to fully support you, whether sitting or lying down, for the entire experience. Release stuck emotions, rest, and rejuvenate! Join Reiki Master Teacher and Yoga Nidra Facilitator, Kate Wargo of Woven Light LLC in a soothing Yoga Nidra (Yogic Sleep) practice guiding you into the “in between”; that space between being awake and being asleep.
$56 per person
This is a pre-purchased ticket to an event, your ticket is not refundable once purchased. *Please be mindful of your volume as you move about our entire space, as others are in healing sessions.

https://ashevillesaltcave.com/event/yoga-nidra/

Yoga Nidra – AVl Salt Cave
Mar 16 @ 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Asheville Salt Cave

Yoga Nidra brings you into a deeply restorative healing state that will release tension, enhance your vital life source, and leave you with a greater sense of peace and wellbeing.

Within this space, a dream will be induced taking you into a state of consciousness that can bring about immense healing in your conscious, subconscious, and unconscious mind. The cave will transform into a “Nidra Nest” with zero gravity chairs, blankets, and bolsters to fully support you, whether sitting or lying down, for the entire experience. Release stuck emotions, rest, and rejuvenate! Join Reiki Master Teacher and Yoga Nidra Facilitator, Kate Wargo of Woven Light LLC in a soothing Yoga Nidra (Yogic Sleep) practice guiding you into the “in between”; that space between being awake and being asleep.

Yoga Nodra
Mar 16 @ 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm
ASHEVILLE SALT CAVE

Yoga Nidra brings you into a deeply restorative healing state that will release tension, enhance your vital life source, and leave you with a greater sense of peace and wellbeing.

LOVING W/ FOG LAKE
Mar 16 @ 9:00 pm
The Grey Eagle

– ALL AGES
– STANDING ROOM ONLY

LOVING
Loving is the musical collaboration of David Parry, Lucas Henderson and Jesse Henderson. The band formed by way of a long-distance recording project (Victoria – Toronto) that resulted in the creation of their debut self-titled EP. After the unexpected embrace of this work, the band reconvened in Victoria, BC to begin playing live shows and work on new material.

Following in the path of their debut EP, If l am only my thoughts was home recorded and represents a deeper exploration of the band’s creative process – a process marked by an appreciation for the generative limitations of recording to tape. The resulting album constructs a warm and dreamy sonic landscape kept adrift by existentially oriented lyrics and an unspecified all-encompassing sense of nostalgia.

At present, their live performances showcase the talents of Evan Cheadle (guitar), Justin Devries (drums), and Patrick Rendell (bass+backup vocals). Previous touring members include Bren Davidson of Subject (RIP), and Keenan Mittag-Degala of Elan Noon. LOVING is currently working on a new LP to follow up their 2020 release, If I Am Only My Thoughts.

FOG LAKE

Fog Lake is the solo project of Newfoundland, Canada artist Aaron Powell. Over the last ten years, his lo-fi recordings, described as “harrowing nostalgia,” have explored the dark valleys where everything has settled and must be understood. On his new album, Tragedy Reel, he reflects on small-town alienation and loss spanning his years living in rural Newfoundland.

 

Lost friends, lost love, addiction and vignettes of high school disillusionment are interwoven in Powell’s somber yet hopeful melodies, which combine the soaring highs of nostalgia with the sinking feelings of disappointment and regret. The album was recorded in the summer of 2020 during a 3-month stint in his hometown (population: about 2,000.) Powell combines downtrodden acoustic guitars with muffled pianos, and enveloping synth work by Warren Hildebrand of Foxes in Fiction, who also mixed the record. Across these songs, Powell uses music as a vehicle for healing, repentance and forgiveness in order to craft something deeply personal and therapeutic for himself, and hopefully in turn for others.

Sunday, March 17, 2024
2024 Drive For A Cause Car Raffle
Mar 17 all-day
online

TAKE THE WHEEL & WIN BIG

Mosaic Realty and United Way invite you to take the wheel
and win big while doing good in the 2024 Drive For A Cause Car Raffle

 

AAAOne lucky winner will walk away with the keys to a new 2024 Volkswagen Electric ID.4 (or its cash equivalent). Your purchase is both transactional and transformative with each ticket purchase going to support the work of 15 high-impact local nonprofits.

Don’t miss this opportunity to fuel community change! Purchase your ticket today (or come back and purchase additional tickets, you can purchase as many as you want up until the date of the drawing).

AAA

Benefiting Nonprofits

 

Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity

Asheville Art Museum

Asheville on Bikes

Asheville City Schools Foundation

Asheville Humane Society

Beloved Asheville

Blue Ridge Orchestra

Bountiful Cities

LEAF Global Arts

MANNA Food Bank

Mountain Housing Opportunities

Sparc Foundation

Thrive Asheville

United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County

YMI Cultural Center

 

AAA

The drawing for the winner of the Volkswagen Electric ID.4 (or its cash equivalent) will be held at Mosaic Realty’s Art Walk & Benefit event on Thursday, May 2, 2024, at the Asheville Art Museum at 9:00 PM. Raffle ticket purchasers do not have to be present to win. For more information about the Art Walk & Benefit, visit Mosaic Realty’s event page.

 

2024 Flex Passes Parkway Playhouse
Mar 17 all-day
online w/ Parkway Playhouse
Accepting Nominations for Clean Air Excellence Awards
Mar 17 all-day
online

The Asheville-Buncombe Air Quality Agency (AB Air Quality) is now accepting nominations for our twentieth annual air quality awards program. The goal of the Clean Air Excellence Awards is to recognize businesses and organizations that have truly gone above and beyond regulatory requirements to improve air quality for the residents of our area. Past years’ award recipients have included Dynamite Roasting Company, Eaton Corporation, and Western North Carolina Veterans Affairs Health Care System; each initiated voluntary efforts that improved air quality in the Asheville-Buncombe County Area.

Award guidelines explain the criteria for the awards and different categories of awards apply to different types of permitted facilities, organizations, and individuals that would like to nominate themselves or another entity for consideration.

To submit a nomination for a Clean Air Excellence Award, please download the application form online and include a brief summary describing what was done to improve air quality for Buncombe County.  Examples of voluntary pollution prevention measures include:  significant energy efficiency upgrades, switching to more environmentally friendly and lower-emitting solvents and cleaners, installing renewable energy systems, and upgrading fleet vehicles to more fuel-efficient or lower-emitting models. We ask that nominations be submitted to our Agency by April 12, 2024. We encourage you to submit any and all efforts your company (or another company or organization) has undertaken to reduce emissions. Agency staff are available to assist with emissions-related questions.

More information and the application form are available at abairquality.org. Please contact Ashley Featherstone at 828-250-6777 or [email protected] with questions.

Adult Classes at the Wortham Center
Mar 17 all-day
Diana Wortham Theatre

Classes at the Wortham

Prioritize your health and wellness with a revolving series of ongoing classes for lifelong learners in yoga, dance, theatre, and more.

Classes are held in the Henry LaBrun Studio at the Wortham Center at 18 Biltmore Ave. Please access the front courtyard from the breezeway by White Duck Taco. Signs will then direct you to the studio door to the left. Parking information can be found here.

2024 Classes

Gentle Yoga - Open Level
Open Level Contemporary with Stewart/Owen Dance. Wednesdays, January 10–April 24, 8:15–9:30 a.m.
Intermediate Contemporary with Stewart/Owen Dance. Wednesdays, January 10–April 24, 6–7:30 p.m.
Art Walk + Benefit RAFFLE
Mar 17 all-day
online

TAKE THE WHEEL & WIN BIG

Mosaic Realty and United Way invite you to take the wheel
and win big while doing good in the 2024 Drive For A Cause Car Raffle

 

AAAOne lucky winner will walk away with the keys to a new 2024 Volkswagen Electric ID.4 (or its cash equivalent). Your purchase is both transactional and transformative with each ticket purchase going to support the work of 15 high-impact local nonprofits.

Don’t miss this opportunity to fuel community change! Purchase your ticket today (or come back and purchase additional tickets, you can purchase as many as you want up until the date of the drawing).

AAA

Benefiting Nonprofits

 

Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity

Asheville Art Museum

Asheville on Bikes

Asheville City Schools Foundation

Asheville Humane Society

Beloved Asheville

Blue Ridge Orchestra

Bountiful Cities

LEAF Global Arts

MANNA Food Bank

Mountain Housing Opportunities

Sparc Foundation

Thrive Asheville

United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County

YMI Cultural Center

 

AAA

The drawing for the winner of the Volkswagen Electric ID.4 (or its cash equivalent) will be held at Mosaic Realty’s Art Walk & Benefit event on Thursday, May 2, 2024, at the Asheville Art Museum at 9:00 PM. Raffle ticket purchasers do not have to be present to win. For more information about the Art Walk & Benefit, visit Mosaic Realty’s event page.

Asheville Performing Arts Academy Summer Musical Theatre Camps: Registration Open
Mar 17 all-day
Asheville Performing Arts Academy

We’re offering TWO grade levels this summer for our workshops:

  • Younger Ages (Rising 1st – 3rd Grade)
  • Older Ages (Rising 4th – 10th Grade)

Camps run Monday-Friday, 9am-3pm

Finding Nemo Workshop

June 17-21, 2024

July 8-12, 2024

July 29- Aug 2, 2024

Moana Workshop

June 24-28, 2024

July 15-19, 2024

August 5-9, 2024

Pirate Palooza Workshop

July 1-5, 2024

The Little Mermaid Workshop

July 22-26, 2024

Our Musical Theatre Workshop camps center around favorite stage musicals, where students will learn musical numbers and perform a shortened production at the end of each week. Campers will not only perform in many dance numbers and scenes but will work on the technical aspects that all productions need, like sets, props, and costumes.

Brevard Music Center’s 2024 Summer Festival Subscriptions
Mar 17 all-day
online

2024 Subscription Packages

One of America’s premier music festivals, Brevard Music Center’s 2024 summer lineup features a diverse offering of symphony, opera, chamber, jazz, bluegrass, and Broadway performances. The season will be highlighted by Legendary Artist Wynton Marsalis, who will appear with The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra in three extraordinary concerts in late June. Additional festival highlights include classical masterpieces Prokofiev 5Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in FStrauss’s Ein Heldenleben, and world premiere concertos by two of today’s top composers; Janiec Opera Company productions of The Threepenny OperaFlightLa Bohème, and An Evening of Jerome Kern and Friends; a family-friendly film with live orchestra presentation of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back™ in Concertand BMC Presents lighter concert fare featuring Bryan SuttonDavid SanbornAoife O’Donovan, and Béla Fleck.

Led by Artistic Director Keith Lockhart, Brevard’s hallmark is the powerful sense of community that re-emerges every June as faculty and students work together to present over 100 performances and events to more than 40,000 enthusiastic fans from across the country. Primary BMC performance venues include the 1800-seat, open-air Whittington-Pfohl Auditorium and the 400-seat Parker Concert Hall.

Package List

  • Golden Ticket (Thursday)

    Description: Receive one ticket to all performances included in the Symphony Series, Opera Lovers Series (Thursday), and the Parker Concert Hall Summer Series. Also includes Opening Night and Season Finale.

    Save 25% on single ticket prices.

    BMC Presents and Legendary Artists Series are not included.

  • Golden Ticket (Saturday)

    Description: Receive one ticket to all performances included in the Symphony Series, Opera Lovers Series (Saturday), and the Parker Concert Hall Summer Series. Also includes Opening Night and Season Finale.

    Save 25% on single ticket prices.

    BMC Presents and Legendary Artists Series are not included.

  • Symphony Series

    Description: Receive all sixteen (16) symphony events at Whittington-Pfohl Auditorium.

    Save 20% on single ticket prices.

    BMC Presents and Legendary Artists Series are not included.

  • Compose Your Own

    Description: Purchase at least eight (8) eligible* events from our summer season.

    Save 15% on single ticket prices.

    *Opening Night, Season Finale, BMC Presents, and Legendary Artists Series are not eligible for inclusion.

  • Opera Lovers (Thursday)

    Description: Receive one (1) ticket to each of the following Thursday night events: FlightLa BohèmeThe Threepenny Opera, and An Evening of Jerome Kern & Friends.

    Save 10% on single ticket prices.

    Please note that seating assignments for An Evening of Jerome Kern & Friends are on a first-come, first-served basis.

  • Opera Lovers (Saturday)

    Description: Receive one (1) ticket to each of the following Saturday afternoon events: FlightLa BohèmeThe Threepenny Opera. Includes one (1) ticket to the following Thursday evening event: An Evening of Jerome Kern & Friends.

    Save 10% on single ticket prices.

    Please note that seating assignments for An Evening of Jerome Kern & Friends are on a first-come, first-served basis.

  • Parker Concert Hall Summer Series

    Description: Receive all twelve (12) Parker Concert Hall Summer Series events.

    Save 15% on single ticket prices.

    BMC Presents and Legendary Artists Series are not included.

  • Flex

    Description: Purchase at least three (3) eligible* events, and receive a 5% discount off single ticket prices.

    Flex tickets cannot be purchased during the subscription renewal/purchase phase and will be available during the donor presale to qualifying purchasers.

    *Opening Night, Season Finale, BMC Presents, Legendary Artist Series are ineligible for this discount package.

    This discount will activate automatically once you add the required number of eligible events to your cart.
BRING ON SPRING w/ Nantahala Outdoor Center
Mar 17 all-day
Nantahala Outdoor Center

 

Code Purple: Emergency Weather Program
Mar 17 all-day
Asheville
Code Purple illustration
code purple

As cold weather moves into the region, many in our community turn their thoughts to the unhoused population and the additional hardships they face during winter months.

One of the most immediately responsive assets is the Code Purple program.

Driven by community organizations, this effort provides emergency shelter to people experiencing homelessness during freezing weather.

 

The Code Purple program kicks off this year on October 15, 2023 and runs through April 30, 2024. During that time members of the Homeless Coalition will determine when a Code Purple will go into effect. You can find details about the program in the Code Purple Manual

 

Exciting news about the expansion of services this year.

 

When a Code Purple Can be called. 

Code Purple emergency shelters and services are typically available at 32 degrees or below. A Code Purple may also be enacted this year when temperatures are 33-40 degrees with precipitation.

 

Additional Beds

ABCCM has 75 beds available between their Veterans Restoration Quarters and Transformation Village sites.

The Salvation Army will also participate this year, adding 16 new Code Purple beds for  people who are unhoused to seek shelter in extreme weather

A recorded message will be available at 828.398.6011 confirming that Code Purple is operational and providing information about shelter locations.

How is the City continuing to support this community-driven initiative?

  • The City of Asheville, once again, agreed to fund 50-thousand dollars of the Code Purple from this year in their annual budget.
  • ART buses will continue to over free rides to shelters for those in needs
  • Community Responders will assist in the transport of individuals on an “as needed” basis
  • The marquee at the Harrah’s Cherokee Center will post messaging indicating when a Code Purple will be or is in effect.

 

Stay Connected

To join the Homeless Coalition’s distribution list to receive notifications about when Code Purple is called, email [email protected].

Community Recreation Grants
Mar 17 all-day
online

Buncombe County Parks & Recreation will open its Community Recreation Grants application on February 5, 2024. The application window will remain open until March 29, 2024. The project application and supporting guidelines will be posted on the Buncombe County Grants webpage, located at www.buncombecounty.org/grants.

Eligible projects must:

  • Belong to a nonprofit organization.
  • Improve the quality of life within our community through the promotion of recreational initiatives that emphasize health and wellness, outdoor recreation, environmental education, athletics, and/or cultural experiences.
  • Operate in Buncombe County serving primarily Buncombe residents.

Preferred applications will:

  • Foster an atmosphere of inclusivity by extending recreation opportunities to underserved or underrepresented populations such as BIPOC and rural communities.
  • Promote goals highlighted within the Buncombe County Strategic Plan.
  • Promote recreational opportunities that emphasize health and wellness, outdoor recreation, environmental education, athletics, and/or cultural experiences.

For any questions, email [email protected].

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Free Books for Children ages 0-5
Mar 17 all-day
online w/ Literacy Together

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library impacts the pre­-literacy skills and school readiness of children under the age of 5 in Buncombe County. The program mails a new, free, age-appropriate book to registered children each month until they turn five years old. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library creates a home library of up to 60 books and instills a love of books and reading from an early age. If you have any questions about the program, please send an email to [email protected].

A national panel of educators selects the Imagination Library titles, which include: The Little Engine that Could, Last Stop on Market Street, Violet the Pilot, As an Oak Tree Grows, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, Llama Llama Red Pajama, Look Out Kindergarten, here I come, and many more (take a look at all the titles).

Register your child now!

Program Launch and Expansions

Literacy Together became a Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library affiliate in November 2015 with support from the Buncombe Partnership for Children. Through this program, registered children in Buncombe County receive a free book in the mail each month. Their parents also have the opportunity to attend workshops to learn how to build their children’s early literacy skills. Parents in need of literacy assistance are encouraged to receive tutoring through Literacy Together’s adult programming.

The program served 200 children during the 2015/16 fiscal year. The program expanded to serve 400 children in July 2016, and 600 in August 2017. In July 2018, capacity increased to 1,900 thanks to a special allocation in the North Carolina state budget. We’re now serving 4,600 kids in Buncombe County.  

Farmers: Appalachian Grown Cost Share Available
Mar 17 all-day
online

ASAP, through support from the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission, has funds available for Appalachian Grown certified farms and farm groups in North Carolina to promote locally grown food in 2024. These funds can be used for design and production of labels, packaging, or promotional materials featuring the Appalachian Grown logo. The promotion must reach the public and support farmers within one or more of the Appalachian Grown counties in North Carolina. Appalachian Grown Cost Share operates on a reimbursement basis, for up to 75% of total project costs. Find out more about project eligibility and guidelines and apply.

Growing Minds Farm to School Mini-Grant
Mar 17 all-day
online

Farm to School Funding

Growing Minds Farm to School Funding Opportunities

We want to help fund your farm to school project in Western North Carolina! Mini-grants are available for schools to engage children in the following farm to school experiences:

  • Local food taste tests & cooking demonstrations
  • Incorporating local food into meals or snacks
  • Farm field trips or farmer visits to preschools and classrooms
  • Growing edible gardens

Funding can be used to start new projects, or to expand upon existing activities.

Pre-k through 12 schools and homeschool groups are eligible to apply. Schools must be located throughout our 23 westernmost counties of North Carolina. 

  • Smoky Mountains, NC: Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain
  • Southern Mountains, NC: Henderson, Polk, Transylvania
  • Central Mountains, NC: Buncombe, Madison, Yancey
  • Foothills, NC: Burke, Caldwell, McDowell, Rutherford
  • High Country, NC: Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes

Growing Minds 2023-24 Farm to School / Preschool Funding

Applications are due by: March 31, 2024 and recipients will be selected by April 15, 2024.       

ASAP’s Growing Minds mini-grants help early childhood education (ECE) centers and K-12 schools provide children positive experiences with healthy local foods through these components of farm to school: school gardens, farm field trips and farmer classroom visits, and local foods served in meals, snacks, and/or taste tests.

Mini-grant applications are available three times during the 2023-2024 school year. You may apply one time during this cycle. Receive up to $500! The amount awarded will be based on availability of funding, number of applicants, and the scope of your project. Mini-grants must be used within a year after receiving the funding.

If you have questions about your eligibility to apply for funding, please email us at [email protected] before submitting your application. We are unable to provide mini-grants to schools located outside of our 23-county service area or to folks who have received a grant from us within the past year. 

Hey Asheville: City Comedy Tour • Ages 13+ Only
Mar 17 all-day
LaZoom Room Bar & Gorilla

Come enjoy our most popular Asheville tour!

Duration

1 hour and 30 minutes

About

Bachelorette/Bachelor Parties are not permitted on this tour. The Fender Bender Bus is bachelorette/bachelor friendly!

Historical and hysterical, The Hey Asheville tour features outrageously entertaining tour guides, outlandish comedy skits complete with special appearances and loads of Asheville information. You’ll get to see the best of downtown Asheville and the rarely seen but stunningly beautiful Montford neighborhood, not to mention the burgeoning River Arts District! You’ve never had a ride like this. It’s like a vaudeville show on wheels!

Find out what makes Asheville so unique on LaZoom’s City Comedy Tour. It’s the perfect mix of history, comedy, and entertainment. Our guides are trained professional actors working with an original script. It’s like a theatre on wheels! The tour highlights downtown Asheville, historic neighborhoods, the South Slope, and the River Arts District.

Age Restrictions

13 and up. No exceptions.

Stops

10 minute beer & bathroom break at Green Man Brewery

What’s Included

Guided tour of Asheville on a Purple Bus
Funny actors, fun bits
Actual History about Asheville
Green Man Brewery Stop

What’s Not Included

Beer/Wine (Must be purchased from LaZoom or the Brewery Stop)
Cash! You’ll want to tip the guides for changing your life for the better.