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.

Thursday, March 12, 2020
Slice of Life Comedy Open Mic
Mar 12 all-day
Pulp Lounge

Thursday night March 12
Slice of Life Comedy Open Mic!
Hosted by Cody Hughes
Doors 8:30p/9:00p show
$7 (+membership)
Professional Features and Newbi comics
Comics get in free (+free membership)
Free snacks from Farm Burger//drink specials
Comics sign up at door or email [email protected]
New comics to venue get 3-5m
Regular comics get as much time as available. Look for light]
Contact Michele at [email protected] for more info/sign up early or request a feature (paid 20m)

Monday, March 16, 2020
This Brilliant Darkness: A Book of Strangers
Mar 16 @ 6:00 pm
Malaprop's

THIS BRILLIANT DARKNESS is a dazzling, genre-defying work, blending memoir with immersion journalism, fusing late-night philosophical musings with an intimacy akin to the work of James Agee and Teju Cole. With radical empathy and striking candor, Sharlet brings attention to lives lived on the margins of society: the elderly, the homeless, the mentally ill, the disabled. Through these illuminating and thought-provoking encounters, Sharlet depicts a society full of suffering and regret—but one which when observed, casts a glimmer of light.

 

This event is free and open to the public. We ask that you purchase the books you want to be signed at our events from Malaprop’s. When you do this you are not only supporting the work it takes to run an events program, you are also telling the publishers that they should keep sending authors here. Can’t make it to the store for the event? Call us or order the book on our website in advance, and we’ll get it signed for you. Make sure you write your preferences in the comments if you purchase online.

Event date:
Monday, March 16, 2020 – 6:00pm
Event address:
Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe
This Brilliant Darkness: A Book of Strangers Cover Image
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
Adam Sandler RESCHEDULED—-TBA
Mar 17 @ 8:00 pm
Bon Secours Wellness Arena

Adam Sandler

Adam Sandler (March 17)  will not take place on the originally scheduled dates, and Arena management is working with event producers to reschedule both performances. Previously purchased tickets will be honored for the rescheduled dates when confirmed.

Wednesday, March 18, 2020
The World Series of Comedy
Mar 18 @ 8:00 pm
The Grey Eagle
Thursday, March 19, 2020
Notorious HBC (History Book Club)
Mar 19 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Malaprop's Bookstore

Join host and Malaprop’s bookseller Patricia Furnish to discuss a range of books across different periods of history. The club tackles challenging subjects, hence “NOTORIOUS.”  Click here to see a full schedule of what the club is reading. Club attendees get 10% off the book at Malaprop’s!

The club meets at Malaprop’s on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 7:00 pm.

Event date:
Thursday, January 16, 2020 – 7:00pm
Thursday, February 20, 2020 – 7:00pm
Thursday, March 19, 2020 – 7:00pm
Thursday, April 16, 2020 – 7:00pm
UNCA Visiting Writers Series – Natanya Ann Pulley
Mar 19 @ 7:00 pm
Karpen Hall Laurel Forum

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natanya Ann Pulley, author of “With Teeth,” a Many Voices Project winner in fiction, will read from and discuss her writing at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 19, in Karpen Hall, Laurel Forum. This event is free and open to everyone with no tickets needed.

 

Saturday, March 21, 2020
Jeff Dunham: Seriously!
Mar 21 @ 5:00 pm
ExploreAsheville.com Arena

America’s favorite ventriloquist has just released his next Netflix Originals Stand-up Special, “Jeff Dunham: Beside Himself”, taped June 21st and 22nd at the American Airlines Center in his hometown of Dallas, TX. In addition to his usual cast of accomplices, Dunham introduces a brand new, never seen-on-TV character who gives his unique take on what it’s like to work at the White House under Trump. Following the success of 2017’s “Jeff Dunham: Relative Disaster,” the new show is Dunham’s second special for Netflix Originals, and the ninth in his impressive string of record-breaking stand up television events.

Dunham is also launching his new international tour, “Jeff Dunham: Seriously!.” His wildly successful live performances have been filling arenas across North America and the world, treating fans to more of his delightfully twisted cohorts, Peanut, Walter, José Jalapeño, Bubba J and Achmed the Dead Terrorist.

Dunham has built an entertainment empire over years of non-stop touring and performance innovation. With 10 million followers on Facebook and over 2.1 million YouTube subscribers, amassing well over a billion views, the comedian/ventriloquist has carved out his own unique space in the comedy world. His accomplishments have led to record-breaking viewership with his standup specials on NBC, Netflix and Comedy Central. His astonishing arena-packing power has put him on par with major music acts such as Bruno Mars and Metallica.

A Texas native, after graduating from Baylor University, Dunham moved to Los Angeles and soon became a sensation on the national comedy club circuit. He later conquered the comedy world by becoming a multi-platinum selling DVD artist and achieving record-breaking ratings on both cable and network TV. His 2015 stand-up special, “Unhinged in Hollywood,” debuted on NBC Primetime and ranked as the time period’s top non-sports program on the Big 4 in every key measure. The special was re-broadcast on Comedy Central and was the top rated special of the year for the entire network. Dunham’s previous stand-up specials, “Arguing with Myself,” “Spark of Insanity,” “A Very Special Christmas,” “Controlled Chaos,” “Minding the Monsters,” and “All Over the Map,” have garnered record-breaking numbers by either claiming “most watched” or “highest rated” on Comedy Central.

Dunham has made many cameo appearances across television and film, from the Emmy Award-winning comedy series “30 Rock,” “Angie Tribeca,” and “Dinner for Schmucks,” starring Steve Carrell and Paul Rudd.

His autobiography, “All By My Selves: Walter, Peanut, Achmed and Me,” was on the New York Times’ Best Seller list three weeks in a row. Dunham has also been awarded “Billboard’s Top Comedy Tour” for three years based on box office sales. Dunham is currently on the road through the end of the year and well beyond, with his cast of characters.

Adding to an amazing list of recent accomplishments, Dunham’s contribution to the world of show business and comedy was recognized in 2017 when he received a star on the “Hollywood Walk of Fame,” commemorating over two decades of superstardom.

Sunday, March 22, 2020
Comedy at Fleetwood’s: Jeff Scheen
Mar 22 @ 8:00 pm
Fleetwood's

Jeff Scheen is a stand-up comic hailing from the Michigan woods. His offbeat humor and affable demeanor pairs well with expressive yet stupid face. Jeff has been featured on the FOX TV series Laughs and was a finalist in the Laughing Skull Festival in Atlanta, GA. He’s also been in a number of other comedy festivals including The Bridgetown Comedy Festival, Big Sky Fest, Montreux Switzerland’s Jokenation, and Laugh Your Asheville Off in North Carolina. Jeff has opened for Ryan Hamilton, Chris Gethard, and can be heard on XM radio.

Featuring Cody Daniel Hughes

ages 18+
Tickets $10 advance, $12 day of
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/comedy-at-fleetwoods-jeff-scheen-tickets-89634508227

Thursday, March 26, 2020
An Evening with N. K. Jemisin, author of The City We Became
Mar 26 @ 6:30 pm
UNC Asheville Lipinsky Auditorium

Join us Thursday, March 26 at 6:30 pm when N.K Jemisin presents her new novel, THE CITY WE BECAME (on sale March 24, 2020).

We are pleased to partner with UNC Asheville’s Great Smokies Writing Program and English Department for this event, which will be held at in Lipinsky Auditorium on the UNCA campus.

There are two ticket options:

(1) Ticket includes admission for one person and a copy of THE CITY WE BECAME (hardcover)

(2) Ticket includes admission for two people, a copy of THE CITY WE BECAME (hardcover) and a copy of HOW LONG TIL BLACK FUTURE MONTH (paperback)

N. K. Jemisin will sign books following reading and audience Q&A. Books will be available to pick up at the event.

***Stay tuned for important details about the event and signing. When purchasing your ticket(s), please make sure you provide an email address where you can receive emails from the Brown Paper Tickets automated system.***

ABOUT THE CITY WE BECAME
Five New Yorkers must come together to defend their city from an ancient evil in this stunning new novel by Hugo Award-winner and NYT bestselling author N. K. Jemisin.

Every great city has a soul. Some are as ancient as myths, and others are as new and destructive as children. New York City? Shes got six.

But every city also has a dark side. A roiling, ancient evil stirs in the halls of power, threatening to destroy the city and her six newborn avatars unless they can come together and stop it once and for all.

In a starred review, Kirkus calls THE CITY WE BECAME “Fierce, poetic, uncompromising.”

N.K. Jemisin: The City We Became
Mar 26 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Lipinsky Auditorium

 

N.K. Jemisin will present her new book, The City We Became, just two days after its public release. This ticketed event takes place at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 26, in Lipinsky Auditorium, presented in partnership by Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café, and UNC Asheville’s Great Smokies Writing Program and Department of English.

This is a ticketed event with different ticketing/book purchase options, with online ordering at: https://www.malaprops.com/event/ticketed-nk-jemisin-presents-city-we-became-unca

Free tickets (which do not include the book) are available for UNC Asheville students and employees – contact Lilly Augspurger, 828.251.6099 or [email protected].

Living and writing her speculative fiction in Brooklyn, Jemisin’s new novel features five New Yorkers who must come together to defend their city from ancient evil. She is the only author to win three Best Novel Hugo awards in a row, which she did for her Broken Earth trilogy. Jemisin also has won a Nebula Award and two Locus Awards among the many honors for her eight novels, a novella, and two short story collections. A former counseling psychologist and educator, she also covered science fiction for three years for the New York Times Book Review. For more information about Jemisin, her books and this event, visit the Malaprop’s website.

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. Campus map is here – use menu bars to find parking lot locations.

Building accessibility information is available here.

Accessibility Contact: Highsmith Student Union, [email protected] or 828.251.6990.

Works in Translation Book Club
Mar 26 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Malaprop's Bookstore

Join host and Malaprop’s Bookstore Manager Justin Souther to discuss writers — and their literature — in translation and the cultural, political and artistic influences that mold them. Click here to see a list of the monthly selections. Attendees receive 10% off the club’s current selection at Malaprop’s!

The club usually meets the last Thursday of every month at Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe.

Event date:
Thursday, January 30, 2020 – 7:00pm
Thursday, February 27, 2020 – 7:00pm
Thursday, March 26, 2020 – 7:00pm
Thursday, April 30, 2020 – 7:00pm
Monday, March 30, 2020
Science Fiction Book Club
Mar 30 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Malaprop's Bookstore

Join host and Malaprop’s Bookseller Allison Beatty to dive into the wreck of the wily and wonderful world of sci-fi, weird fiction, speculative fiction, literary horror, and disturbing fiction with a healthy mix of underappreciated classic and contemporary books. Click here to see a full schedule of what the club is reading. Club attendees get 10% off the book at Malaprop’s!

The club meets the at Malaprop’s on the last Monday of every month at 7:00pm.

 

Event date:
Monday, December 30, 2019 – 7:00pm
Monday, January 27, 2020 – 7:00pm
Monday, February 24, 2020 – 7:00pm
Monday, March 30, 2020 – 7:00pm
Thursday, April 2, 2020
Crime and Politics Book Club
Apr 2 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Malaprop’s Bookstore

Join host and Malaprop’s Bookseller Patricia Furnish to discuss a range of books across true crime and public affairs. The club meets the first Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. Click here to learn more about the club, view important news, and find the pick for this month.

 

Event date:
Thursday, January 2, 2020 – 7:00pm
Thursday, February 6, 2020 – 7:00pm
Thursday, March 5, 2020 – 7:00pm
Thursday, April 2, 2020 – 7:00pm
Sunday, April 5, 2020
Get Free Books from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Apr 5 all-day
Imagination Library Online

Children under 5 years old can receive free, age-appropriate books each month until their 5th birthday! Read more and sign up here.
Brunch of Jokers Comdey Show
Apr 5 @ 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
The Grey Eagle

Brunch Of Jokers Comedy Show

Monday, April 6, 2020
Get Free Books from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Apr 6 all-day
Imagination Library Online

Children under 5 years old can receive free, age-appropriate books each month until their 5th birthday! Read more and sign up here.
LGBTQ Book Club
Apr 6 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Malaprop’s Bookstore

Join host Alex Ruiz to discuss a wide-ranging selection of fiction and non-fiction focused on the LGBTQ community.  Click here to see a full schedule of what the club is reading. Club attendees get 10% off the book at Malaprop’s!

The club meets at Malaprop’s the first Monday of every month at 7:00 pm.

Event date:
Monday, January 6, 2020 – 7:00pm
Monday, February 3, 2020 – 7:00pm
Monday, March 2, 2020 – 7:00pm
Monday, April 6, 2020 – 7:00pm
Tuesday, April 7, 2020
WILD (Women in Lively Discussion) Book Club
Apr 7 @ 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Battery Park Book Exchange

Join former Malaprop’s General Manager Linda-Marie Barrett for this woman-only book club that seeks to have fun by reading books (fiction & non) by women writers. Click here to see a full schedule of what the club is reading. Club attendees get 10% off the book at Malaprop’s!

The club meets at 6:30 P.M. on the first Tuesday of the month at the Battery Park Book Exchange.

Event date:
Tuesday, January 7, 2020 – 6:30pm
Tuesday, February 4, 2020 – 6:30pm
Tuesday, March 3, 2020 – 6:30pm
Tuesday, April 7, 2020 – 6:30pm
Virtual Parks and Rec Trivia
Apr 7 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
https://www.facebook.com/events/212712373398361/

We’re back with virtual trivia with Parks and Rec. We’ll have four rounds of trivia and will have a prize for 1st place. Gather your quarantine crew & order some beer to be delivered, then stay home and stay safe with virtual trivia!

https://www.facebook.com/events/212712373398361/

Wednesday, April 8, 2020
Get Free Books from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Apr 8 all-day
Imagination Library Online

Children under 5 years old can receive free, age-appropriate books each month until their 5th birthday! Read more and sign up here.
Malaprop’s Bookstore Home delivery throughout all Buncombe County
Apr 8 all-day
Malaprop's Bookstore

Thank you so much for your support! To care for you and our staff, Malaprop’s is closed to the public and we have ceased curbside pick up. We have also suspended in-store events and bookclubs until May 15th.  Meanwhile, we are exploring new subscription services, delivery options, and more digital content. Please see the ways we are still serving you below. Stay home and stay safe!

  • As always, you can order online 24/7 at malaprops.com. You can also call us at 828-254-6734 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily to order by phone. Yes, we can make suggestions! All orders will require prepayment. We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express and Paypal.

  • We are now offering home delivery throughout all of Buncombe County! The only requirement is a two-book minimum purchase. Deliveries will be made on Tuesdays and Fridays, with any order placed before 5 pm the previous day.  Orders will safely be left on your doorstep.

  • FREE shipping via media mail is available for orders over $50.00 (before tax) sent to addresses in the continental United States. Other orders ship via Priority Mail or other services with prices listed at checkout.

We want to thank you again for your continued support at this time. If you’re looking for other ways to support our staff, you can donate to Malaprop’s via the icon to your right, contribute the Cafe Barista’s virtual tip jar, or to the Book Industry Charitable Foundation (BINC), which provides grants to booksellers in times of need. To support other local businesses, visit ashevillestrong.com.

Please take care of yourselves!

Kristin Harmel Virtual Author Event
Apr 8 @ 6:00 pm
Virtual Event

TICKETS:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/virtual-event-with-kristin-harmel-tickets-100459611402?aff=odeieiconstantcontact&ctct_id=ec632d0a-4852-42d3-ad6b-2afc96796287_p2&ctct_c=n7-eWakqJPl5z1Mof6u_VRDyx04SH8ALwb3E1yQDZ7haN7jT0a_DIQ==

Interesting times require creativity, so join us for our 1st-ever virtual author event with international bestselling author Kristin Harmel!
About this Event
Your $30 event ticket will give you access to a live online book talk with bestselling author Kristin Harmel, the ability to view a 48-hour replay in case you miss the live event, AND you’ll get an (unsigned) paperback copy of her latest release, The Winemaker’s Wife, shipped directly to you*. You’ll also have the chance to type in questions to be answered during the event Q&A session.
So, buy a bottle of champagne to have on hand and we’ll all toast to Kristin, The Winemaker’s Wife, social distancing, and to resilience in times of crisis!
*BONUS offer!: The author has offered to mail out signed bookplates to all attendees due to the current circumstances. If you do not want us to share your shipping address with the author, please let us know, and we will exclude you from that mailing. In addition, the author will be surprising one lucky attendee with a FREE signed copy of her first book, The Room on Rue Amélie!
Access to the Event
The talk will be hosted at https://www.crowdcast.io/. You can watch through your browser and are not required to download any software (though mobile apps are also available). Once ticket sales cut off 48 hours before the event, we will send you an email with the link to the specific event URL.
Cincinnati Comedy takeover on Instagram Live
Apr 8 @ 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Asheville Comedy Fans

A group of Cincinnati’s best are taking over the Modelface Comedy & Events Instagram for a live comedy show!

Live streaming on Instagram on @ModelfaceComedy
The show is free but tips are appreciated and will be divided among all the comics on the show.

Featuring Andrew Rudick, Anna Mazza, Chris Siemer, Kelly Collette, Lee Michael Kimbrell, Ran Barnaclo and Wayne Memmott

Again this show will be on Instagram Live

Thursday, April 9, 2020
Malaprop’s Bookstore Home delivery throughout all Buncombe County
Apr 9 all-day
Malaprop's Bookstore

Thank you so much for your support! To care for you and our staff, Malaprop’s is closed to the public and we have ceased curbside pick up. We have also suspended in-store events and bookclubs until May 15th.  Meanwhile, we are exploring new subscription services, delivery options, and more digital content. Please see the ways we are still serving you below. Stay home and stay safe!

  • As always, you can order online 24/7 at malaprops.com. You can also call us at 828-254-6734 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily to order by phone. Yes, we can make suggestions! All orders will require prepayment. We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express and Paypal.

  • We are now offering home delivery throughout all of Buncombe County! The only requirement is a two-book minimum purchase. Deliveries will be made on Tuesdays and Fridays, with any order placed before 5 pm the previous day.  Orders will safely be left on your doorstep.

  • FREE shipping via media mail is available for orders over $50.00 (before tax) sent to addresses in the continental United States. Other orders ship via Priority Mail or other services with prices listed at checkout.

We want to thank you again for your continued support at this time. If you’re looking for other ways to support our staff, you can donate to Malaprop’s via the icon to your right, contribute the Cafe Barista’s virtual tip jar, or to the Book Industry Charitable Foundation (BINC), which provides grants to booksellers in times of need. To support other local businesses, visit ashevillestrong.com.

Please take care of yourselves!

Friday, April 10, 2020
Get Free Books from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Apr 10 all-day
Imagination Library Online

Children under 5 years old can receive free, age-appropriate books each month until their 5th birthday! Read more and sign up here.
Malaprop’s Bookstore Home delivery throughout all Buncombe County
Apr 10 all-day
Malaprop's Bookstore

Thank you so much for your support! To care for you and our staff, Malaprop’s is closed to the public and we have ceased curbside pick up. We have also suspended in-store events and bookclubs until May 15th.  Meanwhile, we are exploring new subscription services, delivery options, and more digital content. Please see the ways we are still serving you below. Stay home and stay safe!

  • As always, you can order online 24/7 at malaprops.com. You can also call us at 828-254-6734 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily to order by phone. Yes, we can make suggestions! All orders will require prepayment. We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express and Paypal.

  • We are now offering home delivery throughout all of Buncombe County! The only requirement is a two-book minimum purchase. Deliveries will be made on Tuesdays and Fridays, with any order placed before 5 pm the previous day.  Orders will safely be left on your doorstep.

  • FREE shipping via media mail is available for orders over $50.00 (before tax) sent to addresses in the continental United States. Other orders ship via Priority Mail or other services with prices listed at checkout.

We want to thank you again for your continued support at this time. If you’re looking for other ways to support our staff, you can donate to Malaprop’s via the icon to your right, contribute the Cafe Barista’s virtual tip jar, or to the Book Industry Charitable Foundation (BINC), which provides grants to booksellers in times of need. To support other local businesses, visit ashevillestrong.com.

Please take care of yourselves!

The Garden Helpline Is OPEN Extension Master Gardeners
Apr 10 all-day
Extension Master Gardeners Online

Many of us will be spending more time in our gardens as we shelter in place during the evolving coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Our gardens will continue to grow and we will continue to have gardening questions.

To answer those questions, Extension Master Gardener℠  Volunteers of Buncombe County will be working from home to keep the Garden Helpline open to the public. We are available to respond to your phone calls and emails. Send an email or leave a voice message at any time and a Master Gardener will respond during the Helpline hours listed below.

The information we provide is consistent with NC State University horticultural research and an integrated pest management approach which includes cultural, mechanical, biological, and chemical methods.

MONDAY & WEDNESDAY: 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
FRIDAY: 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Open March through October.


2 Ways to Reach Them:

Formal Friday, a fancy online comedy show
Apr 10 @ 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Online

 

Image may contain: possible text that says 'Modelface Comedy Presents Formal Friday Instagram Live 8pm EST @ModelfaceComedy Venmo @modelface-comed comedy All donations will be shared Join a group of the best dressed comedians for a fancy night of high-clas -class laughs'

A fancy formal live comedy show on the internet featuring 10 very well dressed comedians!

Live streaming on Instagram on @ModelfaceComedy
The show is free but tips are appreciated and will be divided among all the comics on the show.
Paypal [email protected]
Venmo @modelface-comedy

Saturday, April 11, 2020
Get Free Books from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Apr 11 all-day
Imagination Library Online

Children under 5 years old can receive free, age-appropriate books each month until their 5th birthday! Read more and sign up here.
Malaprop’s Bookstore Home delivery throughout all Buncombe County
Apr 11 all-day
Malaprop's Bookstore

Thank you so much for your support! To care for you and our staff, Malaprop’s is closed to the public and we have ceased curbside pick up. We have also suspended in-store events and bookclubs until May 15th.  Meanwhile, we are exploring new subscription services, delivery options, and more digital content. Please see the ways we are still serving you below. Stay home and stay safe!

  • As always, you can order online 24/7 at malaprops.com. You can also call us at 828-254-6734 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily to order by phone. Yes, we can make suggestions! All orders will require prepayment. We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express and Paypal.

  • We are now offering home delivery throughout all of Buncombe County! The only requirement is a two-book minimum purchase. Deliveries will be made on Tuesdays and Fridays, with any order placed before 5 pm the previous day.  Orders will safely be left on your doorstep.

  • FREE shipping via media mail is available for orders over $50.00 (before tax) sent to addresses in the continental United States. Other orders ship via Priority Mail or other services with prices listed at checkout.

We want to thank you again for your continued support at this time. If you’re looking for other ways to support our staff, you can donate to Malaprop’s via the icon to your right, contribute the Cafe Barista’s virtual tip jar, or to the Book Industry Charitable Foundation (BINC), which provides grants to booksellers in times of need. To support other local businesses, visit ashevillestrong.com.

Please take care of yourselves!