Upcoming events and things to do in Asheville, NC. Below is a list of events for festivals, concerts, art exhibitions, group meetups and more.

Interested in adding an event to our calendar? Please click the green “Post Your Event” button below.

Saturday, October 18, 2025
Barn Dance with Zydeco Ya Ya
Oct 18 @ 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Hickory Nut Gap Farm

Mon Cher let’s get to it! Most requested faves Zydeco Ya Ya are back in the Big Barn for zydeco, swamp pop, second line, and Cajun swing. These guys always provide a fabulous groove and engaging show that makes you want to hop out onto the floor- or bob and weave from your chair, cold one in hand.

  • HNG will be running a bar with local beers, NA beverage and snack cart.
  • Barn Door Ciderworks will provide some sweet and snappy sips of their legendary cider brewed right here in Fairview.
  • The Garden Foodtruck by chef Simone Jaramillo will be serving seasonal, sustainable, food-as-medicine MAGIC!
  • Pro tip: we have picnic tables, benches & patio sets, but always bring a backup folding chair or picnic blanket JUST in case. It can get packed!

By purchasing your ticket online you will be on our Will Call list, admission will be checked in at the Cabana!

Sunday, October 19, 2025
LEAF- Lake Eden Art Festival
Oct 19 all-day
LEAF

Join us at LEAF Global Arts Festival to connect to the world and each other through cultural exploration, live music, dance, performance arts, healing arts, workshops, nature, and more.

Explore the #1 Kids Festival in Western North Carolina, and one of the best FAMILY festivals in the world. All of LEAF is family friendly with activities spread throughout the magical setting. Family Adventure activities are throughout LEAF and designed to engage and inspire. Watch performances, create, play, and discover whimsical Puppetry shows. Support children’s crafts, hoop and flow, and play boffer games. Immerse into cultural creative arts in Easel Rider with LEAF teaching artists. Swing in the Jelly Dome. Play sports with a global community. Jump, roll, pet, climb, and retreat: life-sized hamster ball, climbing wall, launch rockets! Each festival has different offering and tradition- you. may find Toy Trains on the hill, paper rockets, and Giant slides & bounce houses!

If you have little ones, Elfhaven Childcare in Buckeye Lodge is a world of wonder and time for parents to go play.

BMCA Fall Dance Day!
Oct 19 @ 3:30 pm – 4:45 pm
Black Mountain Center for the Arts

BMCA Fall Dance Day!

Black Mountain Center for the Arts
October 19, 2025
03:30PM – 04:45PM

Celebrate the fall season with movement, creativity, and community at BMCA! Join us for a pay-what-you-can / free event featuring a performance of BMCA’s Dance Troupe’s new fall choreography in our theater, followed by festive activities upstairs in the dance studio. Families and kids can enjoy autumn-themed crafts, games, and activities.

It’s the perfect way to spend an afternoon together—supporting local dancers, exploring the arts, and welcoming fall at BMCA.

Performance: 3:30–4:00 PM Studio Activities: 4:00–4:45 PM

Admission:
Free or Pay-What-You-Can All are welcome!
Thursday, October 23, 2025
Nielsen Big Idea Lecture: Dr. Chenjerai Kumanyika
Oct 23 all-day
Warren Wilson College

Warren Wilson College is honored to welcome Dr. Chenjerai Kumanyika as the featured speaker for their Nielsen Big Idea Lecture in Fall 2025.

Dr. Kumanyika is a celebrated journalist, scholar, and audio storyteller whose work has reshaped how we understand American history and identity. His Peabody Award–winning podcast Uncivil unearthed untold stories of the Civil War, while his groundbreaking series Empire City— named one of the top podcasts of 2024 by The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Atlantic— explores the history and impact of the New York Police Department. He is also widely known for his contributions to the acclaimed podcast Seeing White, which examines the history of race and whiteness in America.

Currently an assistant professor at NYU’s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute, Dr. Kumanyika specializes in historically focused, narrative non-fiction audio journalism. His work challenges deeply rooted American myths, particularly around race, policing, and national identity, inviting audiences to confront history with clarity and courage.

In this lecture, Dr. Kumanyika will share insights from his podcasting career and research, tracing the legacies of policing in New York City while also reflecting on the power of narrative storytelling to shift public understanding.

Join us for an evening of compelling ideas, bold storytelling, and a vital conversation about how history, myth, and media shape our present. The lecture will be from 7 to 8:30, with a reception to follow. The event is open to the public and all are welcome. No registration is required.

Visitors from off campus should park in the Admissions parking lot located just beyond Orr Cottage, located at 114 Lower College Rd, Swannanoa, NC. For google maps directions, you can use this dropped pin: https://maps.app.goo.gl/4EqWwmK51EtHn5uq8

City Dance
Oct 23 @ 7:30 pm
Landmark Hal

Beginner’s workshop lesson at 7:30 P.M., then 8-11 P.M. Contra Dance with Country Waltzing at the break and the final dance. This is a partner dance but it’s not necessary to come with a partner. We have different live bands and callers.

Thursday, October 30, 2025
AMOS After Hours: Creature Feature
Oct 30 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Asheille Museum of Science

Enter the world of Appalachia’s cryptids, ancient monsters, and weirdest wilds. What separates fact and fiction? What mysteries are still waiting to be solved? What do YOU really want to believe?

Get your tickets this month’s After Hours: CREATURE FEATURE.
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Meet community groups in WNC who are working to make you a true believer! Investigate the phenomena lurking in the darkness of our National Forests. Craft your own urban legend with Asheville’s best story crafters. Explore cryptozoology, animal science, and paleontology to see what myths might have some real teeth to them…

Bloodthirsty for more? Grab a custom-made cocktail and sign up for AMOS’ museum-wide scavenger hunt: The Search for Boojum. Western North Carolina’s most notorious cryptid has stolen a prized gem from our collection. Use a mix of puzzling, science experiments, and gemology to hunt down Boojum and return the stolen gem. But beware- you never know what’s coming to get you!

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Costumes are encouraged but cannot include masks that cover the entire face, weapons, or weapon-like objects. Pre-registration is strongly recommended. Tickets are $30 online or $35 at the door. Must be 21+.

Butoh Dance Festival – Frequency in Motion
Oct 30 @ 7:30 pm
Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center

Audio Visual Butoh Performance: Frequency in Motion
Featuring Atsushi Takenouchi, Hiroko Komiya and Chris H.Lynn.
In conjunction with Asheville Butoh Dance Festival 2025
Thursday, October 30th, 2025 at 7:30 pm
Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center {120 College Street}
TICKETS – $15 General Admission / $10 for BMCM+AC Members + Students w/ ID

Asheville Butoh Festival, in collaboration with Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center and the University of North Carolina at Asheville, presents its 15th annual festival from October 30 – November 2. BMCM+AC will host Frequency in Motion, an audiovisual performance featuring Butoh dancers: Atsushi Takenouchi, Jenni Cockrell, Julie Becton Gillum, and Constance Humphries. Dancers will be accompanied by live sounds, field recordings, and objects by Chris H.Lynn and Hiroko Komiya. Visuals, including Super 8 and digital film, are by Chris H.Lynn.

Saturday, November 1, 2025
STEM Spotlight Saturday
Nov 1 @ 10:00 am
Spartanburg Science Center

This program series is designed for children and young adults who are enthusiastic about STEM. Each month will spotlight a different STEM professional and their career. The students will get to learn about what these professionals do, ask questions, and participate in exciting hands-on activities! Registration is open for one all sessions. Feel free to join us for just one session, a few of them, or all of the sessions!

Children’s Entrepreneur Market
Nov 1 @ 1:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Greenwood Soccer Field at UNC-A

🎉 Calling All Young Entrepreneurs! 🍅
We are so excited to partner with UNC-Asheville Men’s Soccer Game for a day of goals and great ideas!

🌟 Got a kid with a big idea? Whether it’s homemade crafts, baked goods, lemonade stands, or creative services—this is their chance to shine!

🍅 Visit kids markets.com

Sign up your child’s booth 🌽
Explore upcoming children’s markets 🎨
Support young local entrepreneurs 💼

Come support the Bulldogs on the field and young entrepreneurs on the sidelines as kids run their very own businesses—selling everything from handcrafted goods to tasty snacks.
It’s a fun, family-friendly event that celebrates local talent and community spirit!

Saturday, November 8, 2025
Write Local, Read Local Author and Illustrator Fair
Nov 8 @ 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Black Mountain Library

The Black Mountain Public Library is excited to announce that registration is now open for the fourth annual “Write Local Read Local Author & Illustrator Fair” taking place Saturday, November 8, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
This beloved community event brings together authors, illustrators, and book lovers from across the Swannanoa Valley for a morning of conversation, connection, and creativity. Participants will have the opportunity to meet the public face-to-face, hand-sell their books, and share their stories in a welcoming, literary atmosphere.
The fair is more than just a book signing—it’s a celebration of the incredible talent in our valley and an invitation for our neighbors to discover and support it.
Each registered participant will receive table space for the drop-in event at no cost. Whether you’re an emerging author, an established illustrator, or somewhere in between, this is your chance to be part of the vibrant Swannanoa Valley literary community. (If you participated in the 2024 event, we ask you to wait until next year unless you have published work since 11/2024. We appreciate your understanding.)

Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Swan Lake
Nov 11 @ 7:00 pm
Diana Wortham Theatre

Grand Kyiv Ballet presents: Swan Lake

November 11, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.

Swan Lake is a ballet masterpiece that tells the story of a prince who falls in love with a beautiful swan princess under a spell. The ballet is renowned for its stunning choreography, intricate set design, and Tchaikovsky’s captivating music. Its themes of love, sacrifice, and redemption continue to resonate with audiences of all ages and backgrounds, making it a timeless classic that has endured for more than a century.

This timeless tale of love and magic will be brought to life by the finest dancers of the Grand Kyiv Ballet. The graceful movements of the world’s best dancers from Ukraine, Italy, Spain, the USA and Japan will give you unforgettable emotions. And colorful costumes and decorations will transport audiences to a world of enchantment and wonder.

Wednesday, November 12, 2025
The Snow Queen
Nov 12 @ 7:00 pm
Diana Wortham Theatre

Grand Kyiv Ballet presents: The Snow Queen

November 12, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.

Join the Grand Kyiv Ballet for the WORLD Premiere of the new Ballet, The Snow Queen.  The Snow Queen is a powerful and cold-hearted ruler who travels the world with the snow, bringing winter wherever she goes.  The tale tells the adventures of a young girl named Gerda and her quest to rescue her friend Kai from the clutches of the Snow Queen.

It is a classic fairytale ballet about love and friendship, and about how the warmth of a friend’s devoted heart removes the spell of the wicked Queen. A colorful journey full of dangers and obstacles, shown through the beauty and aesthetics of the ballet will bring festive delight to the stage this winter.

The performance is interpreted by Alexander Adbdukarimov and Arshak Galumyan, a successful choreographic duet. Former artists of the best European theaters now collaborating with them as choreographers, bearers of the traditional classical school and founders of the Berlin Ballet Company. Fabulous orchestral music combined with live effects, colorful pictures, and unique choreography will bring pure joy.

Thursday, November 13, 2025
When We Were Queens… Murielle Elizéon and Shana Tucker
Nov 13 @ 7:00 pm
Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center

When We Were Queens…
A Performance by Murielle Elizéon and Shana Tucker
November 13, 2025, at 7PM
Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center {120 College Street}
TICKETS – $15 General Admission / $10 for BMCM+AC members 

Acclaimed Durham-based cellist Shana Tucker and Saxapahaw-based French choreographer Murielle Elizéon (co-creator of Culture Mill) present When We were Queens…, a powerful multidisciplinary performance presented as a diptych—two solos in conversation.

Friday, November 14, 2025
Cirque Kalabanté: Afrique en Cirque
Nov 14 @ 7:00 pm
Wortham Center for the Performing Arts

Fri, Nov 14 • 7 pm

In bursts of vivid color, acrobats expertly execute gravity-defying moves to the exhilarating beat of live music—somersaulting in sync with the percussive rhythms of Afro-Jazz. Truly a circus experience like no other, this production vibrates with energy—showcasing the strength, agility, youth and artistry of African culture.

Spotlight on Cirque Kalabanté:

Founded by Yamoussa Bangoura, former Cirque du Soleil and Cavalia performer
Rooted in the Nyamakala circus tradition of West Africa
Features performers from Guinea, Canada, and Bangoura’s own extended family
Stars in Circus Without Borders, an award-winning documentary on art as activism
Created a Montreal-based school teaching African dance, cirque, and drumming

Thursday, November 27, 2025
City Dance
Nov 27 @ 7:30 pm
Landmark Hal

Beginner’s workshop lesson at 7:30 P.M., then 8-11 P.M. Contra Dance with Country Waltzing at the break and the final dance. This is a partner dance but it’s not necessary to come with a partner. We have different live bands and callers.

Saturday, December 6, 2025
The Nutcracker and The Mouse King
Dec 6 @ 10:00 am – 7:30 pm
Wortham Center for the Performing Arts

Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre presents

The Nutcracker and the Mouse King

Friday, Dec 5 2025 • 7:30 pm
Saturday, Dec 6 2025 • 2 pm & 7:30 pm

School Show! – Friday, Dec 5 • 10:00 am
Call the box office for tickets: 828-257-4530, ext. 1.

A wonderful way to kick off the holiday season!

Expect the brilliantly unexpected from Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre’s 13th annual performance of The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. ACDT has surprised audiences over the years with their original production of the Nutcracker. Though the Nutcracker is one of the world’s most famous ballets, when performed by ACDT you can guarantee it is something you haven’t seen before. Their version couldn’t be further from Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet. It is based on the the original story written in 1816 by German author E.T.A. Hoffman.

“I always want to go back to the original story,” artistic co-director Collard says. “The characters and the story are always so much more interesting. Take, for example the King and Queen of Sausages, who have surprised and delighted audiences with their humor, and the party guests wrapped in gorgeous costumes dancing a wild and wonderful polka. And then there is the famous Mouse King with his lovely wife and their numerous children creating havoc all over the ballet, and the wild, psychedelic ride that is the World of Sweets.”

PLEASE NOTE: Wortham Center for the Performing Arts’ Box Office is the ONLY official ticketing provider for events at the Wortham Center’s venues: Diana Wortham Theatre, Tina McGuire Theatre and Henry LaBrun Studio. Beware of third-party ticketing scams.

Children’s Entrepreneur Market
Dec 6 @ 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Adventure Center-Winter Wonder Walk

Join us at the Winter Wonder Walk where the season is brought to life like never before. Wander an outdoor trail and literally step inside the pages of a magical winter story. It’s a one-of-a-kind winter adventure you won’t want to miss being a part of.

Come support young entrepreneurs (ages 5–17) as they showcase their talents, sell their products, and learn the ropes of business firsthand at the Winter Wonder Walk! As part of the Winter Wonder Walk you will be transported into the magical world of Winterland, where the pages will come to life with live-action immersive story-walk on an outdoor trail.

📣 Interested in participating?
Young entrepreneurs can register at: https://kidsmarkets.com/
Follow us on Facebook @ChildrenEntrepreneursNorthCarolina for updates, sneak peeks, and more!
✨ Why You’ll Love It:
💡 Educational & Inspiring – Kids learn valuable skills in leadership, creativity, money management, and marketing.
🎨 Hands-On Fun –Family-Friendly Fun
🛍️ One-of-a-Kind Shopping – Support the next generation of business leaders and take home unique, kid-made treasures.
🛡️ Safe & Supervised – A welcoming, secure environment for kids and families.

Children’s Entrepreneur Market
Dec 6 @ 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Adventure Center

🎉 Calling All Young Entrepreneurs! 🍅
We’re thrilled to join with the Winter Wonder Walk for a one-of-a-kind Children’s Entrepreneur Market!
🌟 Got a kid with a big idea? Whether it’s homemade crafts, baked goods, lemonade stands, or creative services—this is their chance to shine!

🍅 Visit kids markets.com

Sign up your child’s booth 🌽
Explore upcoming children’s markets 🎨
Support young local entrepreneurs 💼

Join us at the Winter Wonder Walk where the season is brought to life like never before. Wander an outdoor trail and literally step inside the pages of a magical winter story. It’s a one-of-a-kind winter adventure you won’t want to miss being a part of.

Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Nutcracker! Magical Christmas
Dec 9 @ 7:00 pm
Harrah's Cherokee Center Asheville

NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet is returning to the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium at Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville on December 9, 2025.

Friday, December 12, 2025
AJT’s Christmas Spectacular
Dec 12 @ 5:00 pm – Dec 13 @ 2:00 pm
AJT Studio

🎄 Second Annual Christmas Spectacular! 🎄

Step into a Winter Wonderland and experience the magic of the season at our Second Annual Christmas Spectacular— a joyful holiday showcase filled with music, dance, and festive fun for the whole family!

This year’s show features an Enchanted Forest theme, complete with festive holiday songs, tap and jazz dancing, and breathtaking aerial silks performances. You’ll also enjoy reimagined Christmas classics and a show-stopping hip-hop Nutcracker number that’s sure to bring the house down!

Enjoy performances by our 1-Year Choir students, Chamber Choir, and Performance Media Crew (dance troupe), plus a special preview number from our upcoming production of The Lion King Jr. at Wortham Center for the Arts (Jan. 10 & 11).

✨ 3 Showtimes:

Friday, December 12 – 5:00 PM & 7:00 PM
Saturday, December 13 – 2:00 PM
📍 Location:
174 Bradley Branch, Unit 4/5, 28704
(Please enter from the front side of the building.)

☕ Refreshments will be available for sale, with all proceeds benefiting AJT.

❄️ Expect an indoor snowstorm and plenty of sparkle and surprises along the way!

🎫 Seating is general admission (first come, first served).

🌟 Tickets will sell out quickly! Last year’s two shows completely sold out — so this year we’ve added a third performance to make room for everyone. Don’t wait — grab your tickets early and join us for this heartwarming, high-energy holiday celebration!

🎟️ Purchase your seats today for a truly spectacular Christmas experience!

Saturday, December 13, 2025
Emberfrost: A Fae Masquerade @ Fae Nectar Tavern
Dec 13 @ 7:00 pm
Fae Nectar Meadery

Once again, the magic of the Fae will fill our Great Hall with whimsy and elegance, illuminating the night in a spectacle of music, dance, and shared revelry to warm the winter’s chill. The sylvan sounds of Holler & Crow will grace the stage as we waltz through the evening, and in the witching hours DJ Jaime ignites the dance floor with enchanted rhythms that turn our royal court into pure revelry.

Don’t forget to attire yourself, and your entourage, in your finest regalia! A masque is required, and our Costume Contest will reward the most resplendent creations with generous prizes during our grand on-stage finale.

Join us on Saturday, December 13th, for an unforgettable night of enchantment and revelry at the next incredible Fae Masquerade!

The first 50 tickets are available at Early-Bird prices!
🌙 Indoor event | Ages 18+
🏰 Great Hall doors open at 7 PM
💃 Formal festivities begin at 8 PM

Monday, December 15, 2025
Johnny Loves Johann – Music and Dance
Dec 15 @ 7:00 pm
Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center

PERFORMANCE: Johnny Loves Johann – Music and Dance
With violinist Johnny Gandelsman and choreographers Melissa Toogood and John Heginbotham
Monday, December 15, 2025 at 7PM
Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center {120 College Street}
TICKETS – $15 General Admission / $10 for BMCM+AC members + Students w/ID

Join us Monday, December 15 at BMCM+AC for a one-night-only performance featuring world-renowned violinist Johnny Gandelsman and internationally acclaimed choreographer/dancers John Heginbotham and Melissa Toogood.

In this intimate, museum-scale version of Johnny Loves Johann, Gandelsman will perform Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1 with new choreography by Melissa Toogood and Cello Suite No. 4 with new choreography by John Heginbotham. This unique program offers a powerful glimpse into the larger evening-length work, bringing together music and dance in fresh, unexpected ways. With Gandelsman’s folk- and dance-inspired interpretation at its core, Toogood and Heginbotham infuse Bach’s timeless compositions with humanity, curiosity, and contemporary movement—transforming them into a vibrant celebration of connection and community.
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About the Program

At its heart, Johnny Loves Johann is a tribute to community – both among the artists themselves and with the audience members who join them on this journey. By inviting these remarkable choreographers to bring their personal and cultural narratives to Bach’s music, the project creates a tapestry of voices and perspectives that reflect the shared human experience.

Bach’s music is often put in the context of order and notions of perfection. While we can enjoy hearing it this way, it can also limit our experience of this music as the celebration of humanity and beautiful opportunity for connection that it is.

Gandelsman’s interpretation of Bach’s Cello Suites is special in its folk music- and dance-like qualities. Building upon that, the Johnny Loves Johann collaborators—each known for visceral, big-hearted art-making—re-visit the suites by leading with their humanity and curiosity.

Thursday, December 18, 2025
Tutankhamun: His Tomb and His Treasures
Dec 18 2025 – Jan 4 2026 all-day
Biltmore Estate

Biltmore’s next exhibition is an unforgettable exploration of the culture of ancient Egypt, the time of Tutankhamun, the search for and thrilling discovery of his tomb, and the treasures found within.

The event hailed as the world’s most complete Tutankhamun exhibition becomes all the more fascinating in its Biltmore presentation—this is the only experience that reveals the historical connections between the monumental discovery and the Vanderbilt-Cecil family.

This once-in-a-lifetime exhibition premieres March 21 in Amherst at Deerpark®. Reserve your admission tickets and special admission-inclusive overnight packages today.

Thursday, December 25, 2025
City Dance
Dec 25 @ 7:30 pm
Landmark Hal

Beginner’s workshop lesson at 7:30 P.M., then 8-11 P.M. Contra Dance with Country Waltzing at the break and the final dance. This is a partner dance but it’s not necessary to come with a partner. We have different live bands and callers.

Wednesday, January 7, 2026
PERFORMANCE AND FILM SCREENING: Suite for Two (1958)
Jan 7 @ 7:00 pm
Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center

Join us at BMCM+AC on Wednesday, January 7th, 2026 for a live performance of Merce Cunningham’s Suite for Two (1958) and a screening of the dance film Beach Birds.
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About the Performance

Suite for Two (1958) is an arrangement of three solos and one duet from the dance Suite for Five (1956). Cunningham made this arrangement for Carolyn Brown and himself for a concert at the University of Pittsburgh in 1958. Suite for Two was subsequently performed on two European tours made by Cunningham, Brown, John Cage, and David Tudor in 1958 and 1960. Chalvar Monteiro dances two solos entitled “At Random” and “Stillness.” Jacquelin Harris dances “A Meander,” a new solo made for Carolyn Brown for the 1958 arrangement. The dance concludes with a duet entitled “Extended Moment.” Renowned pianist Adam Tendler plays John Cage’s Music for Piano.

Saturday, January 10, 2026
The Lion King JR
Jan 10 @ 2:00 pm – Jan 11 @ 6:00 pm
Wortham Center for the Arts

ASHEVILLE JUNIOR THEATER PRESENTS
The Lion King JR.

Saturday & Sunday, Jan 10 & 11 • 2 pm & 6 pm

From the company that brought you Frozen JR., Shrek JR., and The Wizard of Oz: Bluegrass Style! comes our most breathtaking production yet—The Lion King JR.!

Join us on an unforgettable journey to the PrideLands in this professional-caliber musical event that’s perfect for audiences of all ages. With soaring vocals, eye-popping costumes, and powerful performances, this show will wow audiences of all ages.

Follow Simba’s epic adventure as he discovers his courage, faces his destiny, and rises to become king—all set to the timeless songs you know and love, including “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King,” “He Lives in You,” and “Hakuna Matata.” Along the way, you’ll meet beloved characters like wise Rafiki, brave Nala, the hilarious Timon and Pumbaa, and the villainous Scar in a heartwarming and action-packed story about friendship, responsibility, identity, and the enduring power of the Circle of Life.

This is not just a junior theater production—it’s a full-scale theatrical experience.
Our shows are unparalleled in Asheville. With jaw-dropping costumes, professional staging, and the kind of heart you can only find at Asheville Junior Theater, The Lion King JR. is a must-see.

Tickets WILL sell out.
Don’t miss your chance to see why Asheville families return to our shows again and again.

The Circle of Life is calling—get your tickets today and experience the magic! Run time is approximately 75 minutes.

Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Spirited Improv New Year’s group Series
Jan 13 @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Homewood

Spirited Improv is a 5-week expressive arts and spiritual development experience that invites you to play, heal, and reconnect with your creative essence. Unlike traditional improv, this series isn’t about comedy or performance techniques, it’s about presence, expression, and connection.

Guided by creator Jessica Chilton, a seasoned performer, expressive arts therapist, and spiritual practitioner, you’ll step into a welcoming space where vulnerability is met with love, creativity is encouraged, and every emotion has room to breathe. You’ll explore spontaneous movement, sound, character work, song, storytelling, ritual, and group co-creation. Each session includes grounding meditation, heart-centered intention, and spacious improvisational activities that awaken joy, courage, and curiosity.

Throughout the series, you practice releasing control and trusting the unknown, an experience participants often call “both liberating and deeply healing.” As the group’s trust and connection deepen, a final performance is created. It’s not scripted or rehearsed; instead, it emerges from the collective heart and the spiritual aliveness of the moment.
The closing performance becomes a celebration of everything you’ve reclaimed: your voice, your playfulness, your presence, your courage, and your connection to community.

Thursday, January 22, 2026
City Dance
Jan 22 @ 7:30 pm
Landmark Hal

Beginner’s workshop lesson at 7:30 P.M., then 8-11 P.M. Contra Dance with Country Waltzing at the break and the final dance. This is a partner dance but it’s not necessary to come with a partner. We have different live bands and callers.

Friday, January 30, 2026
A Taste Of Ireland – The Irish Music & Dance Sensation
Jan 30 @ 7:30 pm
Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium

Direct from Off-Broadway and London’s West End, the internationally acclaimed A Taste of Ireland Company returns with its flagship production —‘A Taste of Ireland—The Irish Music & Dance Sensation’— touring the USA in 2026. Laugh, cry, and jig into the night with a production that is Celtic, for this generation.
Performed by former World Irish dance champions, and featuring dancers from Lord of the Dance, Riverdance, and the recent West End cast of Éireann, ‘A Taste of Ireland’ brings the spirit and energy of modern Ireland to life with a pint of Irish wit. Watch world-class performers blend melodic folk mash-ups, live jaw-dropping acapella tap battles, and heartfelt storytelling in a live celebration of Irish music and dance.
**Please note: musical instruments are subject to change from performance to performance

Monday, February 2, 2026
Serial Killers with Dr. Scott Bonn
Feb 2 @ 7:30 pm
Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium
THE CURIOUS APPEAL OF THE WORLD’S MOST TERRIFYING MURDERERS
Hear Doc Bonn’s unique, chilling insights from examining:
  • Dennis Rader (BTK Strangler)
  • David Berkowitz (Son of Sam)
  • Rex Heuermann (Alleged Long Island Serial Killer)
  • Jeffery Dahmer and more…

Spend a deliciously chilling evening with renowned criminologist and serial killer expert, Dr.
Scott Bonn, as he takes you inside the minds of the world’s most savage and prolific
murderers.

In this thrilling 90-minute show, Dr. Bonn reveals the insatiable, psychological hungers
that drive the likes of Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer to kill repeatedly with impunity and
no remorse. He explains why the majority of serial killers are either psychopaths or
sociopaths, how the two differ, and he reveals that every serial killer is compelled to
murder by a unique fantasy need. He also explains how/why serial killers are able to
successfully avoid apprehension, blend into a crowd and become invisible.

Finally, you can ask anything you ever wanted to know about serial killers in a dynamic,
live Q&A session with Dr. Bonn. Don’t miss out on this exciting event.

*Due to the nature of the topic and material, this show might not be appropriate for children. We
recommend adults only