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.
Applications are due Feb. 21.
The Asheville Police Department (APD) is now inviting residents to apply for the spring semester of the Citizen’s Police Academy (CPA). Participants in this free course will learn about the daily work and operations of APD, while also giving the department an opportunity to obtain valuable feedback from the community.
The course will begin on March 5. Sessions are held each Thursday from 5:30 to 9 p.m. for 12 weeks. The course is held at the Municipal Building, 100 Court Plaza, in downtown Asheville. Dinner is provided.
The course consists of basic classroom instruction, presentations and demonstrations of topics such as criminal investigations, constitutional and criminal law, use of force, departmental structure and defensive tactics. Participants will also be given the opportunity to ride along with an officer.
Those wishing to participate must apply and be accepted. You can submit an application online at this link. Applications are due Feb. 21.

Each spring, hundreds of locals 50+ years-old enjoy participating in the Asheville-Buncombe Senior Games and Silver Arts. This year’s program will be held at locations throughout Buncombe County from Tuesday, April 14-Friday, May 15. Registration is $5 before March 9 or $10 after that date. Military veterans may register for free.
To register, fill out a registration form (see documents below) or register online at ncseniorgames.org. Archery and pickleball have registration deadline dates.
Sports include basketball, bocce, croquet, football throw, softball throw, golf, cycling, track and field, archery, cheerleading, bowling, swimming, billiards, badminton, cornhole, horseshoes, pickleball, racquetball, shuffleboard, tennis, and table tennis. Miniature golf, rowing, and team softball and basketball are new this year. Age categories start at 50 and increase at five year intervals.
Silver Arts categories are classified as Heritage (quilting, woodwork, crochet, basket weaving, jewelry, needlework, tole painting, weaving, knitting, pottery, stained glass, woodcarving, and woodturning), Visual (solo, small group, and large group), Performing, Literary (poem, short story, essay, and life experience), and Contemporary. Art pieces will be displayed at Buncombe County Libraries in April and May.
A full schedule can be accessed below as a PDF.
Follow Buncombe County Recreation on Facebook and Instagram.
| File Name | Size | Type | Date & Time Added |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration | 209 KB | 02/04/2020 7:52 AM | |
| Schedule | 45 KB | 02/04/2020 7:52 AM |
Environmental Education is crucial to what RiverLink does. We believe that in order for someone to protect their environment, they must first understand it. Our education programs focus on getting students out in the watershed for hands-on experiential learning. We help students foster a love and appreciation for their water resources by allowing them to see, hear and interact with their local waterways. As a result of engaging with our program we hope that students will be inspired to become the next generation of watershed stewards.




The exhibit is on loan from the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and has been supplemented with artifacts from the Smith-McDowell House collection. Entrance to the exhibit is included with Smith-McDowell House admission – and is always free for members – and runs through May 16, 2020.
The exhibit seeks to put the local men and women who served in context with the larger events happening in North Carolina, the United States, and the world. In the exhibit, visitors will find displays and interactive elements telling the stories of just a few of our hometown heroes.

Early Bird Yoga
Join us on third Saturdays before the Museum opens for a fun-filled, 45-minute yoga and mindfulness meditation inspired by a visit to an artwork in our galleries. All ages and abilities are welcome; recommended for visitors aged 5+ (children must be accompanied by an adult). Bring your own mat, or borrow one from the Museum (limited quantity available). Preregistration is encouraged; for more information or to register by phone.
The deadline for applications will be March 6. Applications can be downloaded by visiting this link.
The Asheville Police Department is excited to announce the first offering of a Junior Police Academy. This new program is designed for youth ages 14-19 who have a serious interest in pursuing a career in law enforcement.
Topics will include criminal law, investigations, narcotics, patrol/arrest techniques, and physical training. All classes are designed to incorporate both an academic and hands-on setting.
The Junior Police Academy will be offered at no cost to the participants. The Academy begins on March 30 and runs through April 11. Classes will be held at the Municipal Building, 100 Court Plaza, in downtown Asheville, from 5 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings; and from noon to 3 p.m. two Saturdays. Successful completion of the Junior Police Academy is a requirement for participating in the Asheville Police Department’s Explorer program.
There is limited space available for participants. The first 15 approved applicants will be accepted. Applicants who live within the city limits of Asheville will have priority selection. Applicant requirements include:
- GPA of 2.0 or higher
- Must pass a criminal background check
- Must provide at least three references and have parent/guardian approval
- Must have a full physical completed by a physician

Each spring, hundreds of locals 50+ years-old enjoy participating in the Asheville-Buncombe Senior Games and Silver Arts. This year’s program will be held at locations throughout Buncombe County from Tuesday, April 14-Friday, May 15. Registration is $5 before March 9 or $10 after that date. Military veterans may register for free.
To register, fill out a registration form (see documents below) or register online at ncseniorgames.org. Archery and pickleball have registration deadline dates.
Sports include basketball, bocce, croquet, football throw, softball throw, golf, cycling, track and field, archery, cheerleading, bowling, swimming, billiards, badminton, cornhole, horseshoes, pickleball, racquetball, shuffleboard, tennis, and table tennis. Miniature golf, rowing, and team softball and basketball are new this year. Age categories start at 50 and increase at five year intervals.
Silver Arts categories are classified as Heritage (quilting, woodwork, crochet, basket weaving, jewelry, needlework, tole painting, weaving, knitting, pottery, stained glass, woodcarving, and woodturning), Visual (solo, small group, and large group), Performing, Literary (poem, short story, essay, and life experience), and Contemporary. Art pieces will be displayed at Buncombe County Libraries in April and May.
A full schedule can be accessed below as a PDF.
Follow Buncombe County Recreation on Facebook and Instagram.
| File Name | Size | Type | Date & Time Added |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration | 209 KB | 02/04/2020 7:52 AM | |
| Schedule | 45 KB | 02/04/2020 7:52 AM |

Peformances: Feb. 13th-15th at 7:30pm, and Feb. 16th at 3:30pm
Written by: Tennessee Williams
Directed by: Acting for Stage and Screen program director Colin Wasmund
One of the most renowned plays of the American theare, Blanche DuBois, a schoolteacher from Kentucky, arrives in New Orleans and takes a streetcar named “Desire” to the French Quarter, where her sister, Stella, and Stella’s husband, Stanley Kowalski, live barely above squalor. Blanche’s affectations of refinement set her immediately at odds with blue-collar Stanley, who is further incensed when he learns his wife’s aristocratic inheritance—the family estate—has been forfeited to creditors. Believing that Blanche has sold the estate for personal profit and is swindling Stella and Stanley from sharing in the proceeds, Stanley disdains and demeans Blanche, who fights back in the only way she knows: with her genteel femininity. The Kowalski’s Elysian Fields apartment becomes a pressure cooker of sensuality and class tensions, until ultimately erupting in some of the most iconic dramatic moments seen on the modern stage.
in subtle and clinical trauma, this workshop will educate participants about the effects of trauma and stress on the mind and body, along with providing tools for creating relaxation and healing. Each class begins with a lecture of how the nervous system functions in the body including relevant research on the impacts of trauma, moving into how yoga helps us work with trauma through research, and finally learning and practicing some skills that can help anyone to feel more at ease, empowered and in control in any yoga class.About the instructor: Holly Edmonson is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) who currently teaches yoga at YWCA and the Charles George VA Medical Center.
The Releasing Trauma with Yoga series will be held every third Sunday of the month from November through March, 11:15 am – 1:15 pm in YWCA’s upstairs Group Fitness Studio. This workshop is free for YWCA of Asheville Fitness and Aquatics Members and $5 per session for non-members. Participants can register for the entire series or come to an individual session. All attendees must register in advance at YWCA’s Guest Services, online through this link, via email by emailing Fitness Coordinator Marty Edes at [email protected] or by phone by calling Marty at (828) 254-7206 x 213.

Learn about how our hogs are pasture raised from our farm director Asher Wright. He will discuss heritage breeds, health benefits of pasture raised pork and how various inputs on the production side impact the quality of the meat.
MAKE
Make sausages with HNG’s head butchers! Each participant will make their own pork sausage. From grinding to mixing, recipes and proportions, to casings, you’ll learn about it all and do it all too!
EAT
Enjoy a beautiful spread of our in-house made Charcuterie & Sausages and a locally crafted adult beverage of your choice.
TAKE
You’ll take home approximately 5# of pork sausage!

The Feb. 17 presentation will highlight how the design team built on the foundational work from the Haywood and Page Vision Report, their own site research and analysis, and input collected over the past four months to develop draft design concepts for the site. The work-session will be a time for the public to ask questions about the concepts and provide feedback.
The public is encouraged to attend. Online materials and a survey will also be available later in February.
The design team intends to present a conceptual master plan to the City Council in May. The feedback collected from the community during this time period will be used to help create that plan.
Tuesday, Feb. 18 – Drop-in Hours
10 to 11:30 a.m. and
2 to 3:30 p.m.
Free parking will be available for attendees at HomeTrust Bank, 10 Woodfin St. Passes must be printed before and displayed in car windows, click here to print a pass. For more information, please visit this link on the City of Asheville website.
February is “Love Your Body Month” and Epiphany Wellness Center is proud partner with the Western North Carolina Chapter of iadep (International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals) and YAM (Yoga and Massage) to educate the community about positive body image, the dangers of disordered eating, and Health at Every Size. Events will be held throughout the month at YAM, located at 410 South King Street in Hendersonville. Below is a list of open houses and special class offerings that will be by donation only. Proceeds from the first three weeks of February classes will go to support iadep and proceeds from the last week will go to support The Carolina Resource Center for Eating Disorders:
Saturday 2/1 6:00pm (Full Moon) Relax, Reiki, & Restore w/ Bitsy
Wednesday 2/5 3:30pm HOT 26 w/ Marybeth
Thursday 2/6 1:30pm Slow Mindful Flow w/ Denise
Saturday 2/8 4:30-6:30pm OPEN HOUSE
Wednesday 2/12 3:30pm HOT 26 w/ Marybeth
Tuesday 2/18 3:45 Embody Your Body (Gentle Yoga w/ Therapy Balls) w/ Loretta
Wednesday 2/19 3:30pm HOT 26 w/ Marybeth
Wednesday 2/26 3:30pm HOT 26 w/ Marybeth
Thursday 2/27 2:00pm Self-Love/Self-Confidence Flow w/ Lindsay
YAM is a yoga and massage studio that strives to create a safe space for all members of the community to explore how body movement, breathing techniques, positive body awareness, and meditation can manage stress and anxiety and lead to a more balanced way of life.
“We are partnering with Epiphany for ‘Love Your Body Month’ because we wholeheartedly believe in this cause,” states Averee Refshauge, owner and founder of YAM. “It also reinforces our goal of providing a place for nurturing, healing and to just ‘be’. We are grateful to be a part of ‘Love Your Body Month’”.
Epiphany Wellness Center offers outpatient services for those struggling with eating disorders and disordered eating, as well as trauma, anxiety, and depression. In addition, Epiphany offers groups that range from mindfulness and stress reduction to emotional eating, as well as a veterans’ support group.
The deadline for applications will be March 6. Applications can be downloaded by visiting this link.
The Asheville Police Department is excited to announce the first offering of a Junior Police Academy. This new program is designed for youth ages 14-19 who have a serious interest in pursuing a career in law enforcement.
Topics will include criminal law, investigations, narcotics, patrol/arrest techniques, and physical training. All classes are designed to incorporate both an academic and hands-on setting.
The Junior Police Academy will be offered at no cost to the participants. The Academy begins on March 30 and runs through April 11. Classes will be held at the Municipal Building, 100 Court Plaza, in downtown Asheville, from 5 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings; and from noon to 3 p.m. two Saturdays. Successful completion of the Junior Police Academy is a requirement for participating in the Asheville Police Department’s Explorer program.
There is limited space available for participants. The first 15 approved applicants will be accepted. Applicants who live within the city limits of Asheville will have priority selection. Applicant requirements include:
- GPA of 2.0 or higher
- Must pass a criminal background check
- Must provide at least three references and have parent/guardian approval
- Must have a full physical completed by a physician
This lecture is part of the new Creative Sector Talks series.
Nate McGaha, Executive Director of Arts North Carolina, discusses arts education advocacy and the role it plays in public policy and funding for comprehensive arts education. This presentation will include updates on state and federal policy and funding as it relates to the arts and arts education and provide tools and strategies to engage with elected officials to have a positive impact on the creative education of our students. In addition to training about what individuals can do in their own community, this talk will cover basic organization of advocacy campaigns and how to effectively unite behind a singular message of strengthening the arts in our school. Attendees will also learn more about Arts North Carolina, the only arts and arts education advocacy organization in the state, and how they have been instrumental in advancing government policy and investment in the arts for decades.
Arts North Carolina is the statewide advocacy organization for the arts; a 501(c)(3) organization governed by a statewide Board of Directors. ARTS North Carolina calls for equity and access to the arts for all North Carolinians, unifies and connects North Carolina’s arts communities, and fosters arts leadership.

Nate McGaha, Executive Director of Arts North Carolina, discusses arts education advocacy and the role it plays in public policy and funding for comprehensive arts education. This presentation will include updates on state and federal policy and funding as it relates to the arts and arts education and provide tools and strategies to engage with elected officials to have a positive impact on the creative education of our students. In addition to training about what individuals can do in their own community, this talk will cover basic organization of advocacy campaigns and how to effectively unite behind a singular message of strengthening the arts in our school. Attendees will also learn more about Arts North Carolina, the only arts and arts education advocacy organization in the state, and how they have been instrumental in advancing government policy and investment in the arts for decades.
Speaker: Nate McGaha, Executive Director of Art NC
Arts North Carolina is the statewide advocacy organization for the arts; a 501(c)(3) organization governed by a statewide Board of Directors. ARTS North Carolina calls for equity and access to the arts for all North Carolinians, unifies and connects North Carolina’s arts communities, and fosters arts leadership.
Free event and parking. More Info: HistoryComesAlive.org or 864-244-1499
Join an audience that loves talking back to history to discuss Hedy Lamarr – with Kevin Treu, PhD, Chair of the Computer Science Department at Furman University, longtime Upstate actor, director and playwright and advocate for women in STEM fields.
Who would have believed that “The Most Beautiful Woman in the World,” Hollywood star Hedy Lamarr, was a genuine celling crasher scientist whose groundbreaking invention revolutionized modern communication, and made your cell phone, GPS, and Wi-Fi possible? But there’s no law that says an inventor can’t be beautiful. – Let’s talk about it.
This event is NOT a costumed performance. Hedy Lamarr will be performed by Judith Kalaora in the Chautauqua History Comes Alive Festival (June 12 – 21.)
February is “Love Your Body Month” and Epiphany Wellness Center is proud partner with the Western North Carolina Chapter of iadep (International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals) and YAM (Yoga and Massage) to educate the community about positive body image, the dangers of disordered eating, and Health at Every Size. Events will be held throughout the month at YAM, located at 410 South King Street in Hendersonville. Below is a list of open houses and special class offerings that will be by donation only. Proceeds from the first three weeks of February classes will go to support iadep and proceeds from the last week will go to support The Carolina Resource Center for Eating Disorders:
Saturday 2/1 6:00pm (Full Moon) Relax, Reiki, & Restore w/ Bitsy
Wednesday 2/5 3:30pm HOT 26 w/ Marybeth
Thursday 2/6 1:30pm Slow Mindful Flow w/ Denise
Saturday 2/8 4:30-6:30pm OPEN HOUSE
Wednesday 2/12 3:30pm HOT 26 w/ Marybeth
Tuesday 2/18 3:45 Embody Your Body (Gentle Yoga w/ Therapy Balls) w/ Loretta
Wednesday 2/19 3:30pm HOT 26 w/ Marybeth
Wednesday 2/26 3:30pm HOT 26 w/ Marybeth
Thursday 2/27 2:00pm Self-Love/Self-Confidence Flow w/ Lindsay
YAM is a yoga and massage studio that strives to create a safe space for all members of the community to explore how body movement, breathing techniques, positive body awareness, and meditation can manage stress and anxiety and lead to a more balanced way of life.
“We are partnering with Epiphany for ‘Love Your Body Month’ because we wholeheartedly believe in this cause,” states Averee Refshauge, owner and founder of YAM. “It also reinforces our goal of providing a place for nurturing, healing and to just ‘be’. We are grateful to be a part of ‘Love Your Body Month’”.
Epiphany Wellness Center offers outpatient services for those struggling with eating disorders and disordered eating, as well as trauma, anxiety, and depression. In addition, Epiphany offers groups that range from mindfulness and stress reduction to emotional eating, as well as a veterans’ support group.

The exhibit is on loan from the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and has been supplemented with artifacts from the Smith-McDowell House collection. Entrance to the exhibit is included with Smith-McDowell House admission – and is always free for members – and runs through May 16, 2020.
The exhibit seeks to put the local men and women who served in context with the larger events happening in North Carolina, the United States, and the world. In the exhibit, visitors will find displays and interactive elements telling the stories of just a few of our hometown heroes.
Maxime Lamoureux-St-Hilaire is visiting assistant professor in archaeology in the Anthropology Department of Davidson College. He received his Ph.D. from Tulane University (2018), his M.A. from Trent University (2011), and B.Sc. from Université de Montréal (2008). Lamoureux-St-Hilaire has a keen interest for cross-cultural comparisons in archaeology and is most fascinated by how ancient governments worked. Specifically, he studies the structure of Classic Maya royal courts as evidenced by their regal palaces. Most recently, he has excavated the regal palace of La Corona, Guatemala, although his archaeological path has also led him to work in Belize, Mexico, Honduras, and Québec.
This lecture is co-sponsored by UNC Asheville’s Department of Classics and Western North Carolina Chapter of the Archaeological Institute of America. For more information, contact UNC Asheville Lecturer in Art and Classics Laurel Taylor, [email protected] or 828.251.6290.
Visitor Parking on the UNC Asheville Campus – Visitors may park in faculty/staff and non-resident lots from 5:00 p.m. until 7:30 a.m., Monday through Friday, and on weekends, holidays, and campus breaks. Visitors are not permitted to park in resident student lots at any time.
The deadline for applications will be March 6. Applications can be downloaded by visiting this link.
The Asheville Police Department is excited to announce the first offering of a Junior Police Academy. This new program is designed for youth ages 14-19 who have a serious interest in pursuing a career in law enforcement.
Topics will include criminal law, investigations, narcotics, patrol/arrest techniques, and physical training. All classes are designed to incorporate both an academic and hands-on setting.
The Junior Police Academy will be offered at no cost to the participants. The Academy begins on March 30 and runs through April 11. Classes will be held at the Municipal Building, 100 Court Plaza, in downtown Asheville, from 5 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings; and from noon to 3 p.m. two Saturdays. Successful completion of the Junior Police Academy is a requirement for participating in the Asheville Police Department’s Explorer program.
There is limited space available for participants. The first 15 approved applicants will be accepted. Applicants who live within the city limits of Asheville will have priority selection. Applicant requirements include:
- GPA of 2.0 or higher
- Must pass a criminal background check
- Must provide at least three references and have parent/guardian approval
- Must have a full physical completed by a physician

The exhibit is on loan from the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and has been supplemented with artifacts from the Smith-McDowell House collection. Entrance to the exhibit is included with Smith-McDowell House admission – and is always free for members – and runs through May 16, 2020.
The exhibit seeks to put the local men and women who served in context with the larger events happening in North Carolina, the United States, and the world. In the exhibit, visitors will find displays and interactive elements telling the stories of just a few of our hometown heroes.
We are proud to present, in partnership with The Collider; February’s Science Pub –Climate Change and Your Health.
WNC Climate and Health Workgroup is a local collaborative of scientists, clinicians and public health leaders who engage with the public and policymakers around the region regarding impacts of climate change on human health, providing potential solutions and co-benefits of resilience planning.
This month come explore the ways in which climate change and weather are already impacting our nation’s health and what health impacts residents in WNC might expect in the future.
The presentation will end showcasing ways in which attendees can get involved in local climate action efforts and be part of the larger conversation. The talk will equip you with a more comprehensive view in support of when we protect the plant, we protect our health and the health of future generations.
Join us on Thursday, February 20, from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
*Doors will open at 5:30 pm (presentation begins at 6:00 pm)
OLLI, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville will hold an advance care planning (ACP) workshop from 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20 in the Reuter Center, in the Manheimer Room. Free and open to everyone, this workshop is co-sponsored by the Osher Life Long Learning Institute and Mission Health Partners.
This workshop marks the 10th year of these thrice-annual sessions. More than 1,110 people have attended, resulting in 447 Advance Care Plans completed and notarized.
The workshops feature a panel whose members are experienced in addressing end-of-life issues. Discussion will include communicating your treatment wishes to loved ones and to medical personnel, ethical and legal issues, the uses of advance directives, and advice on handling issues like Alzheimer’s disease. Ample time will be reserved for questions. Assistance will be provided for anyone wishing to complete a legally valid advance directive, including the notarization required in North Carolina, using the NC ACP “Short Form.”
Panel members will include:
Jan Buchanan, Chaplain and Advance Care Planning Facilitator at Mission Hospital
Dr. Ellen Kaczmarek MD, Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Individualized Health Care Planner
Meridith Miller, Community and Social Psychologist
Joanne Dykes J.D. Attorney, Dykes Law Firm PLLC
OLLI, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville will hold an advance care planning (ACP) workshop from 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20 in the Reuter Center, in the Manheimer Room. Free and open to everyone, this workshop is co-sponsored by the Osher Life Long Learning Institute and Mission Health Partners.
This workshop marks the 10th year of these thrice-annual sessions. More than 1,110 people have attended, resulting in 447 Advance Care Plans completed and notarized.
The workshops feature a panel whose members are experienced in addressing end-of-life issues. Discussion will include communicating your treatment wishes to loved ones and to medical personnel, ethical and legal issues, the uses of advance directives, and advice on handling issues like Alzheimer’s disease. Ample time will be reserved for questions. Assistance will be provided for anyone wishing to complete a legally valid advance directive, including the notarization required in North Carolina, using the NC ACP “Short Form.”
Panel members will include:
Jan Buchanan, Chaplain and Advance Care Planning Facilitator at Mission Hospital
Dr. Ellen Kaczmarek MD, Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Individualized Health Care Planner
Meridith Miller, Community and Social Psychologist
Joanne Dykes J.D. Attorney, Dykes Law Firm PLLC
Preparation for you to do before the workshop: Talk to your possible “power of attorney for healthcare”, the person who would make health care decisions if you are unable. Click here for a video of a sample conversation.and click here to access a copy of the ACP Short form. Please print the form, study it, and bring it to the workshop along with any questions you might have for the panel.
If you have never been admitted to Mission Hospital, but want your advanced directives added into the Mission Medical Record, click here for an “Advance Directive Permission form” to fill out. Also, if you have existing advance directives, you may mail the “Permission Form” along with a copy of your existing Advance Directive to Mission for addition to the Mission medical record (or you can get help doing this at the next ACP workshop). For more information, call OLLI, 828.251.6140 or email [email protected]. Click here to view an event flier.

The exhibit is on loan from the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and has been supplemented with artifacts from the Smith-McDowell House collection. Entrance to the exhibit is included with Smith-McDowell House admission – and is always free for members – and runs through May 16, 2020.
The exhibit seeks to put the local men and women who served in context with the larger events happening in North Carolina, the United States, and the world. In the exhibit, visitors will find displays and interactive elements telling the stories of just a few of our hometown heroes.


