The Sowing Circle Series will hold a free Zoom presentation on identifying and preventing common invasive plants in WNC.  

Non-native invasive plants introduced into North Carolina are causing problems for our native plant and animal species. These plants are taking over our natural areas, parks, forests, urban environments, yards, and gardens. We have invited Barb Harrison, Buncombe County Extension Master Gardener, to teach you how to recognize and identify the most common invasive plants in our area and how to reduce their spread. 

Registration required.  This talk is sponsored by Black Mountain Blooms Seed Lending Library and Buncombe County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers.  Come join our gardening community and grow with us!  

It is with a heavy heart that we must deliver the news that the Dirty Dancing Festival is pressing pause on the 2020 event in September and will resume next year. This decision has not been made lightly and has been considered by all angles. Since the announcement from Governor Roy Cooper on June 24, 2020, stating North Carolina will continue in Phase II of regulations and restrictions due to COVID-19, we are choosing to make the commitment of keeping our community, fans and participants safe and healthy during these uncertain times. The Dirty Dancing Festival will resume live on September 24 & 25, 2021!

The festival requires the year-round dedication of our volunteer committee to plan and execute the two-day movie-inspired entertainment hub for thousands of fans to attend. The mission of the Dirty Dancing Festival is to raise awareness and funds towards the two charities we hold dear to our hearts, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and the Hickory Nut Gorge Chamber of Commerce. This year, we are developing ways for everyone to participate in virtual festival activities throughout 2020. Stay tuned for more information to come!

To the attendees who have already purchased tickets, you will be receiving an email from our team and Eventbrite explaining the options available to you regarding your ticket purchase. To all of you who wish to resume having the time of your life in 2021, tickets will go on sale this fall!

We thank our dedicated fans, annual participants, devoted volunteers and vendors, and loyal supporters for your continuous backing, generosity and passion for the Dirty Dancing Festival to carry on!

COVID-19 Update
At this time the 11th annual Dirty Dancing Festival is still scheduled for September 11-12, 2020 in Lake Lure, NC. The event committee is moving forward with  the planning efforts to successfully host a safe and fun event weekend  and will post news as it becomes available.
We know that there is a lot of uncertainty right now and  hope that everyone is staying safe out there. We are carefully monitoring the situation and keeping up to date with the most recent guidelines set forth as we navigate during the phases of reopening. As new updates are announced and stipulations continue to be put in place, please be aware that  the festival will take place in a modified venue setting.
We are dedicated to providing our fans, small businesses and local communities an environment to bounce back, get outside with love ones, and enjoy an experience together in celebration of our all-time-favorite movie.
We look forward to seeing you all soon!

The Street Dances have been a tradition for over 100 years in Downtown Hendersonville! They began in 1918, at the end of World War I, when the city welcomed home its soldiers from the War by celebrating in the streets, and became nationally known after they were included in the guidebook Blue Ridge Music Trails, Finding A Place In The Circle, written by Fred S. Fussell. The guidebook was winner of the first PRESERVE AMERICA Presidential Award for Heritage Tourism.

The sounds of fiddles and banjos playing at the Street Dances have been a part of Henderson County’s heritage for more than 100 years, calling people of all ages put on their dancing shoes and journey to downtown Hendersonville to enjoy toe-tapping-good mountain music and dance right in front of the main stage. The dances are held every other Monday evening July 27, August 10, 24 & September 14 at the Visitor Center, located at 201 South Main Street.

Hendersonville comes alive with people square dancing and clogging to the traditional mountain and bluegrass music performed by a live band. Plus, special appearances are often made by area clogging teams, make the Street Dances an even more entertaining, foot stomping evening.

Lively instructions are given to the dancers by a local caller. At 6:30pm, our caller, Walt Puckett, will teach audience members some basic square dancing moves used in traditional Appalachian square dancing, such as the Right Hand Across, Open the Garden Gate and the Shoe Fly Swing.

Bring a chair, and sit back, relax and enjoy mountain heritage music and dancing from 7:00-9:00pm. The seating area opens at 5:30pm, and early admission is prohibited. Admission is free. No alcoholic beverages, backpacks or coolers allowed. 

Please leave your pets comfortably at home. A Hendersonville City ordinance allows event organizers to exclude animals from the event space for the health, safety and welfare of the community, dogs, patrons, and vendors and their products.

In case of inclement weather the dance will be postponed until 8:00pm, and if the weather does not cooperate by 8:00pm, the performance will be cancelled.

For additional information call the Henderson County Tourism Development Authority at 828-693-9708. The Street Dances are coordinated, produced, and sponsored by Henderson County Tourism Development Authority

Presenter:  Nina Shippen, Landscape Designer and Owner, Hidden Road Landscape Design

Designing a landscape is like creating a sculpture that we walk through.  We are shaping space.  What does the design of that space contribute to a satisfying experience in the garden?  On the other hand, what detracts from it?

During this talk, we will explore design fundamentals such as scale, balance, coherence, context, texture, and color.  We will review the landscape design process, starting with the all-important site assessment.  Insights gleaned from both successes and failures will be salted throughout the presentation.

Come join us and find your landscaping answers.

 Registration:  The talk is free but registration is required.  Please click on the link below to register.  If you encounter problems registering or if you have questions, call 828-255-5522.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gardening-in-the-mountains-key-principles-to-landscaping-dos-and-donts-registration-94440081827

Opening day for ECTM at our new location at AB Tech Enka. We will be in the parking lot of the Small Business Center, 1465 Sand Hill Road (across from Ingles, at the traffic light). Please share and invite your friends and family! We know this second season of ECTM is going to be amazing. Thank you for supporting local!

Vendors for 5/7:
Rainbow Ridge Gardens
Myseanica Farm
Bonny Bath natural body products
Whisk bakery
Saturnia Farm and Nursery
Jake’s Farm
Asheville Microgreens
Throwing Copper
Cornerstone Tea
Sustainabillies Nursery and Farm
Sister of Mother Earth herbal products
HeadShrink Farm heritage beef
The Real Molloy Food Truck
Sugar Whirled cotton candy – AB Tech Small Business featured booth.
*Many more vendors as the season goes on! Check out our website for a full list of vendors for the season. https://www.ashevillefarmstead.org/enka-candler-tailgate-market

COVID-19 Precautions:
To start, we will be holding fast to safety precautions listed below. As the CDC and NC governmental regulations soften, we will follow suit. Please know that we are making every effort to keep both our vendors and our community safe and well.

*No-contact payment: Tap’n’Pay , Venmo, Paypal payments only. No cash payments or card swipes will be accepted.
*Handwashing station upon entering Market
*Limited shopper numbers (car queue will be used, if necessary)
*1 customer at vendor table at a time
*Only touch what you are purchasing
*6ft Social Distancing required
*Masks highly encouraged. All vendors and Market staff will wear masks.
*No Music or Kids tent (yet)
*No craft/artisan vendors until non-essential businesses are allowed to open. We are hopeful this will be by June, or earlier.

. Whether you’re looking to grow your garden or add some greenery to your home, there will be many types of plants available. There will also be arts, crafts and a silent auction. Join us at the Playhouse Gardens for two days of flora and fun!

Opening day for ECTM at our new location at AB Tech Enka. We will be in the parking lot of the Small Business Center, 1465 Sand Hill Road (across from Ingles, at the traffic light). Please share and invite your friends and family! We know this second season of ECTM is going to be amazing. Thank you for supporting local!

Vendors for 5/7:
Rainbow Ridge Gardens
Myseanica Farm
Bonny Bath natural body products
Whisk bakery
Saturnia Farm and Nursery
Jake’s Farm
Asheville Microgreens
Throwing Copper
Cornerstone Tea
Sustainabillies Nursery and Farm
Sister of Mother Earth herbal products
HeadShrink Farm heritage beef
The Real Molloy Food Truck
Sugar Whirled cotton candy – AB Tech Small Business featured booth.
*Many more vendors as the season goes on! Check out our website for a full list of vendors for the season. https://www.ashevillefarmstead.org/enka-candler-tailgate-market

COVID-19 Precautions:
To start, we will be holding fast to safety precautions listed below. As the CDC and NC governmental regulations soften, we will follow suit. Please know that we are making every effort to keep both our vendors and our community safe and well.

*No-contact payment: Tap’n’Pay , Venmo, Paypal payments only. No cash payments or card swipes will be accepted.
*Handwashing station upon entering Market
*Limited shopper numbers (car queue will be used, if necessary)
*1 customer at vendor table at a time
*Only touch what you are purchasing
*6ft Social Distancing required
*Masks highly encouraged. All vendors and Market staff will wear masks.
*No Music or Kids tent (yet)
*No craft/artisan vendors until non-essential businesses are allowed to open. We are hopeful this will be by June, or earlier.

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.

Art in Bloom pairs art that has been created in a range of media with creative floral displays inspired by the artwork, and idea that came from the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.  On the remaining dates, Saturday, September 26 & Sunday, September 27, this event is free and open to view during the Gallery at Flat Rock’s normal operating hours.

The preview party will be structured for social distancing, with limits on the number of people inside the gallery at any one time at this event and during the open viewing hours on Saturday & Sunday.

This performance has been rescheduled in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously purchased tickets will be honored for the rescheduled date. 

Flesh & Conflict is a modern dance portrayal of the scarring effects that societal norms can have on people facing different major adversities. From depression of body image and Sexual Orientation to domestic violence and suicide, Flesh & Conflict is created to initiate positive, productive, and constructive conversations to create a community of understanding and support! We are stronger together than we are separate!

Eduardo de Rosamaria is a Raleigh, NC based Canadian guitarist. His virtuosity extends throughout the Classical Spanish, Flamenco, and Flamenco Fusion genres. He has performed throughout North America as a soloist, a member of the North Carolina Guitar Quartet and the Paco Band. His numerous return engagements with the North Carolina Symphony, Raleigh Symphony, North Carolina Theater, North Carolina Bach Festival and concert series at universities and colleges in the southeast, have established him as one of the region’s most sought after performers. His versatility is reflected in his discography: Kypoyka – Ukrainian Children’s Songs and Stories, Winter Branches – North Carolina Guitar Quartet (Liscio Recordings) (1997), Ino Live – Ed Stephenson and the Paco Band (Liscio Recordings) (2011), Esencia – Ed Stephenson and the Paco Band (Alanna Records) (2012), A Paco Band Christmas – Ed Stephenson (2013), & Rosamaria – Ed Stephenson and the Paco Band (Alanna Records) (2015). The Classical Voice of North Carolina praised his Esencia album saying, “It has all the characteristics and virtuosity of traditional flamenco guitar but falls outside – or perhaps expands upon – the limited traditional flamenco harmonies and structure. You find influences such as bossa nova or Latin, rock, jazz, swing and salsa, and others.” His most recent CD Rosamaria was recently completed with the Paco Band and was released in April 2015 under the Alanna Records label.

Limited Tables Available with a Dinner Reservation :: All Other Seating is First Come First Serve General Admission :: Please Call Venue for Dinner (Table) Reservations

This performance has been rescheduled in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously purchased tickets will be honored for the rescheduled date.

Dancing With The Local Stars is an annual fundraising event that pairs Asheville community
leaders with professional dancers for an evening of performances benefiting local non – profit
organizations. In 2020, we are pleased to partner with Mountain Child Advocacy Center in their
effort to identify, advocate, and respond to child abuse and neglect in Buncombe County.

This year’s cast of Star performers include:

Ingrid Allstaedt, WLOS
Guadalupe Chavarria II, Studio Chavarria
Murphy Funkhouser Capps, Kudzu Brands
Dr. Tim & Betsy Gillespie, Gillespie Dental Associates
Jacqueline Grant, Roberts-Stevens Attorneys At Law
Benjamin Hamrick, Johnson Price Sprinkle PA
Amy Hanks, Beverly-Hanks Realtors & Associates
Dr. William Hathaway, Mission / NC Division HCA Healthcare
Meridith Elliott Powell, Business Strategist & Author
Oscar Wong, Highland Brewing Company

All net proceeds from this event will go directly to Mountain Child Advocacy Center.

For this 50th anniversary celebration, Pilobolus questions its own “givens,” turns its traditions sideways, and brings its past into the future — in a thoroughly engaging new way. As fresh and vibrant as ever, Pilobolus — that feisty arts organism — puts the ‘Oh!’ in BIG FIVE-OH!, and continues to morph its way thrillingly into audiences’ hearts and minds.

The celebration includes the vintage classic, Untitled, the high-voltage Megawatt, signature shadow works, and a few concepts that have never been seen before!

For this 50th anniversary celebration, Pilobolus questions its own “givens,” turns its traditions sideways, and brings its past into the future — in a thoroughly engaging new way. As fresh and vibrant as ever, Pilobolus — that feisty arts organism — puts the ‘Oh!’ in BIG FIVE-OH!, and continues to morph its way thrillingly into audiences’ hearts and minds.

The celebration includes the vintage classic, Untitled, the high-voltage Megawatt, signature shadow works, and a few concepts that have never been seen before!

For this 50th anniversary celebration, Pilobolus questions its own “givens,” turns its traditions sideways, and brings its past into the future — in a thoroughly engaging new way. As fresh and vibrant as ever, Pilobolus — that feisty arts organism — puts the ‘Oh!’ in BIG FIVE-OH!, and continues to morph its way thrillingly into audiences’ hearts and minds.

The celebration includes the vintage classic, Untitled, the high-voltage Megawatt, signature shadow works, and a few concepts that have never been seen before!