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.
Small Business Center at Blue Ridge Community College offers FREE Seminars/Workshops to support Small Business
If you’re obsessed with Canva, you’re not alone! This session is for the small business owner who has started using canva, but wants a deeper dive to learn more fun tools you can use to promote your business. In this workshop you will learn advanced techniques on the Canva platform, including creating designs from scratch, uploading your own graphics, Canva Pro features, presentations and much more.
Speaker(s): TenBiz
Co-Sponsor(s): Henderson County Chamber of Commerce, Brevard/Transylvania Chamber of Commerce
Webinar info will be emailed after registration
“Shine and Dine” on the railway! We cordially invite you to hop on board The Carolina Shine, GSMR’s All-Adult First Class Moonshine Car! We will be proudly serving hand crafted, triple-distilled, craft moonshine. Some of the smoothest tasting moonshine in the Carolinas!
Offered on the Nantahala Gorge excursion, this shine and dine experience begins in a renovated First Class train fleet car, The Carolina Shine. The interior features copper lined walls filled with the history of moonshining in North Carolina. Learn about the proud tradition that the Appalachians established when bootlegging was an acceptable way of life and local home brews were the best in town. Read about Swain County’s very own Major Redmond, the most famous mountain moonshine outlaw of the 19th century.
Once your appetite for knowledge is satisfied, enjoy sample tastings of flavors like Apple Pie, Blackberry, Blueberry, Cherry, Peach, and Strawberry moonshine. If the samples are not enough, there will be plenty of Moonshine infused cocktails like Copper Cola or Moonshiner’s Mimosa available for purchase. GSMR is excited to feature multiple craft NC based distilleries to serve our guests only the best! Each jar is handcrafted and authentically infused with real fruit, the way moonshine was meant to be made. Passengers will also enjoy a full service All-Adult First Class ride with an attendant and a specialty boxed lunch. During the month of October. 9am and 2pm departures. 9am will feature the option of a delicious Sausage & Bacon Quiche or Cheesy Ham Hash Brown Casserole. The 2pm departure will be serving the popular BBQ meal.
| Diesel | $109.00 ($114.00 October) | Not Permitted |
| Steam | $119.00 ($126.00 October) | Not Permitted |
| Locomotive | Adult (21+ Only) | Under 21 |
|---|
How to Purchase
You can purchase your tickets online or call our reservations department at (800) 872-4681. Or, you can purchase your tickets the day of in the Bryson City Depot. No matter how you purchase tickets, they’ll be waiting at will call.
Mon-Fri from 2-5pm. You have access to high speed internet, work space and HALF-OFF pastries when you present your college ID.
Peer Support
Group meetings: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 2:00 – 3:00 PM
Please contact us for individual services at 828.388.7979, Option #2
Through the “lived-experience” of our peer support specialists, we will assist, encourage, empower and advocate with others on their journey to finding their own path to recovery. Recovery is possible but is not meant to do alone. We do recover together.
About Hope Coalition
Hope Coalition is a grassroots effort initiated by the Henderson County Partnership for Health in 2013 as a community collaborative to educate, evaluate, and implement evidence-based models on substance misuse and underage drinking in Henderson County by building capacity and creating long-term and sustainable plans that are action-oriented and focus on community level change.
Sponsored by the NC Museum of History, the Smith-McDowell House chapter of the Tar Heel Junior Historians Association is a vital part WNCHA’s youth programing.
Our Chapter (nicknamed SMH over History) is open to school-age students and meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 4:00 pm during the school year. New members are always welcome!
In response to Covid-19, we will meet virtually via Zoom until otherwise noted.
Members receive two magazines per year from the NC Museum of History and there are opportunities in the State Contest program.
The club is open at any time in the year to school-age students (grades 1 – 12). There is a small registration fee of $10 ($5 for each eligible sibling) that helps to defray some costs of programming and supplies. Scholarships are available for students unable to pay the registration fee. Please contact us for more details. Parents generally participate in the meetings and younger siblings are welcome. New members are always welcome to visit for a couple of meetings before making the decision to join.
Members may also join our Facebook group: SMH Tar Heel Junior Historians. It is a private group which means you have to ask to be a member and we only accept our club members.
For more information, email: [email protected].
ACTING (In-Person), K-2nd Grades
Does your little kid have a big imagination and lots of energy? Then this class exploring the fundamentals of theatre is just for them! During this 8-week class, students will explore favorite storybook characters and bring them to life through acting, creative movement, and music! This high-energy class will celebrate your young artist’s creativity, develop skills in improvisation, public speaking, and expression, and release creative energy in a meaningful way. With new material every semester, this class can (and should) be taken multiple times!
Notes: To ensure increased ventilation, this class will be held outside whenever possible. If rain forces the program indoors, all students and staff will be required to wear masks. Thank you for understanding as we work to keep our community safe. Read more about our Covid Safety Guidelines here.
Learn more below about payment plans and multi-student discounts.
In this eight-week semester, young artists will learn to create dynamic relationships through theatre games, improvisation, and scene work. With an emphasis on ensemble storytelling, character creation, physicality, and voice and speech, students will leave feeling more collaborative, creative, and confident making bold choices on stage and in life. Apply your skills in an informal showcase for friends and family. No prior experience is necessary, only an open mind! With new material every semester, this class can (and should) be taken multiple times.
Instructor: Tania Battista
Notes: To ensure increased ventilation, this class will be held outside whenever possible. If rain forces the program indoors, all students and staff will be required to wear masks. Thank you for understanding as we work to keep our community safe. Read more about our Covid Safety Guidelines here.
*Need-based scholarships are available upon application.
Learn more below about payment plans and multi-student discounts.
Join us every MONDAY for our 2021 Summer Bike Night Series with special musical guest Contagious rocking our stage. Fresh catered BBQ Plates will be available for sale. Hop on your bike and come on down for bike nights in the Swannanoa Valley!
Just a friendly reminder, the State of NC requires a MEMBERSHIP to enjoy our venue.
Join ethnobiologist Marc Williams for his one-hour talk from 7-8 p.m. in the Blue Ridge Room to hear about many of the positive interconnections between people, plants, mushrooms, and microbes while learning to employ botanicals and other life forms sustainably for food, medicine, and beauty.
Come early to Reed Plaza from 6-7 p.m. to enjoy a pre-reception with educational tables, local snacks, and live music from the UNC Asheville Bluegrass Ensemble.
Livestream Available
The keynote will also be livestreamed here.
More Greenfest Events
Learn more about UNC Asheville’s biannual Greenfest and see the full schedule of events on the Sustainability website.
Accessibility
Find accessibility information for campus buildings at maps.unca.edu. For accessibility questions or to request event accommodations, please contact [email protected] or 828.250.3832.
Visitor Parking
Visitors must have a permit to park on campus — please visit the Transportation website to register.
Learn the ins and outs of sketch comedy in this eight-week course for adults led by Flat Rock Playhouse’s favorite comedic actor, Scott Treadway! Dive into the history of two-person comedy, learn about the straight man vs character actor and how to break down comedic beats and jokes in a script. Hone your skills in delivery, timing, and physicality as you pair up and perform a comedic scene, coached and directed by Scott. Laugh, learn and level up your comedy skills in this low-pressure, highly-humorous class.
*** All participating students must be fully vaccinated with proof of vaccination presented on the first day of class.
Masks are optional at this time.
Space is limited.
No previous experience is necessary.
Instructor: Scott Treadway
-AGES 18+
-SEATED SHOW
-LIMITED NUMBER OF PREMIUM SEATING TICKETS AVAILABLE
COVID-19 POLICY UPDATE: The Grey Eagle requires all patrons attending performances to provide proof of vaccination or negative test within 48 hours prior to the event. Currently Buncombe Co. mandates that masks be worn indoors. THIS MEANS YOU NEED TO MASK UP. Patrons will need to provide physical or digital documentation of COVID-19 vaccination or negative test. Professional negative test results must be dated no more than 48 hours prior to the event. At-home testing will not be accepted.
43 percent of adults who have low literacy skills live in poverty, and 72 percent of children of low-literate adults read below grade level. What does this say about the cycle of poverty? The mission of Literacy Together is to break that cycle of generational poverty.
In recognition of Adult Education and Family Literacy Week, Literacy Together would like to ask you to join forces with us to accomplish our mission to transform lives and communities through literacy. I invite you to learn more about how you can help with the literacy crisis by visiting the Literacy Together website or calling our office at 828-254-3442. Even if you have visited our website before, I encourage you to check the website again to see the life-changing programs that Literacy Together has been providing during the pandemic. You can also learn more about our recent camp and the other ways we are tackling this literacy crisis head-on. I truly believe that we can make a difference in our community and change lives together through the power of literacy.
| Just in time for NC Arts Education Week, the Asheville Area Arts Council (AAAC) is proud to announce a new partnership with the Asheville City Schools Foundation (ACSF) and Buncombe County Schools (BCS) to expand the Teaching Artists Presenting in Asheville Schools (TAPAS) program into county classrooms.
The new expanded program is called Teaching Artists Presenting in Asheville Area Schools, and the Fall 2021 TAPAAS catalog is now available online through both the ACSF and AAAC websites. Teachers in Asheville City Schools should continue to apply directly to ASCF for residencies. Teachers in Buncombe County Schools should apply through the arts council.
For more information visit: ashevillearts.com or acsf.org.
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September is National Preparedness Month and this year’s theme is Prepare to Protect. In 2020, North Carolina experienced 247 flood events and 609 severe thunderstorms with damaging wind and hail. Weather events, the global pandemic, and even a 5.1 earthquake, are stark reminders that disasters can happen quickly. “Emergencies and disasters can happen at any time and we want individuals, families and our entire community to be Buncombe Ready,” says Buncombe County Public Health Preparedness Director, Fletcher Tove. “The recent flash flooding events serve as a reminder that families and individuals need to have a plan in place for unexpected disasters.”
Each week in September, the national campaign will be highlighting different aspects of preparedness planning to encourage residents and communities to consider their options in the event of an emergency.
COVID-19 Vaccination
The most important thing you can do to protect yourself and your family is to get the COVID-19 vaccine if you have not already been vaccinated. COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective, and are our best chance to defeat the virus. The COVID-19 vaccine may not keep you from getting the virus, but it is highly effective at reducing severe illness, hospitalizations, and death in vaccinated individuals. Additionally, as more people get vaccinated, the virus loses the opportunity to evolve into new variants. Getting the vaccine is vital to the safety of our community and ensures that you and your family are taking the most important step in being prepared for this real, disaster-level virus.
Click here, to find a vaccine provider near you.
Week 1 September 1-4: Make A Plan
Active communication with your loved ones is crucial before, during, and after a disaster or emergency. Discuss a shelter plan, an evacuation route, a family communication plan and review the items in your emergency preparedness kit when composing a plan with your household. You should also establish a family meeting place that is familiar and easily accessible in case you are not together when disaster strikes.
Click here, for a guide to developing a household preparedness plan.
Week 2 September 5-11: Build A Kit
There is a chance that you and your family may have to stay put in a designated area for several hours or days in the event of an emergency or disaster. It is important to have a kit ready with food, water and other supplies that can last your entire household at least three to seven days. You need to compile all supplies in an easy to carry container before an emergency so that it is ready at a moment’s notice. Consider unique needs of family members and pets when putting together your kit and make sure that all of the members of your household are aware of its location.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, make sure to include extra protective face masks, soap, hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes in your kit.
Click here, for a comprehensive list of supplies to include in your emergency kit.
Week 3 September 12-18: Low-Cost, No-Cost Preparedness
Learn more about the risk of disasters in your area in order to limit their impacts on you and your family. Residents of Buncombe County can sign up to receive time-sensitive emergency alerts with the Buncombe Alerts emergency notification system. You can choose one or more options for receiving notifications, including landline, cellphone, text message, email, TTY, and the CodeRED mobile app.
Click here, to sign up for Buncombe Alerts.
Week 4 September 19-25: Teach Youth About Preparedness
Household members of all ages can and should get involved in making a preparedness plan and putting together an emergency kit. Getting kids involved in planning can ensure that they know what to do in the event of an emergency or disaster, especially if you are separated at first.
Click here, to find out more about how to involve youth in different aspects of preparedness planning.
The bottom line is that simple steps such as making a family disaster plan, creating an emergency supply kit, and signing up for your county’s emergency notification system are smart, cheap, and easy to do. Additionally, www.ReadyNC.org is a great resource for disaster preparedness in North Carolina. The site features resources and videos in multiple languages including American Sign Language. Prepare to Protect by taking these simple steps today!
What is the 21 Day Racial Equity & Social Justice Challenge?
Many people are becoming newly aware of how systemic racism and violence are impacting people of color. Even if you are new to the conversation, that is OK. Our 21 Day Challenge is designed to create dedicated time and space to build more effective social justice habits, particularly those dealing with issues of race, power, privilege, and leadership. Participants who sign up for the Challenge will receive daily tasks via email to help foster their understanding and awareness, with activities such as reading an article, listening to a podcast, or reflecting on personal experience. If you’ve already completed this version of the challenge (released in March of this year) with us in the past please know that our challenge is designed to be taken multiple times by selecting different daily challenges in order to expand what you have previously learned.
Our next challenge starts on Monday, September 6th, and continues (Monday –Friday) through October 1st.
All throughout September, guests are invited to join the mountain’s naturalists as they count and celebrate the annual spectacle of the fall raptor migration. Participants can meet daily across the Mile High Swinging Bridge on Linville Peak, weather permitting.
Visit The Learning Garden! The gardens are in full summer mode with ripening tomatoes, blooming roses, giant sunflowers, and many other perennials and plants of interest.
The Learning Garden is a dedicated, on-site teaching garden at the Buncombe Extension Center located at 49 Mt. Carmel Road, Asheville. It is managed and cared for by the Extension Master GardenerSM volunteers (EMGVs) of Buncombe County.
Everyone is welcome to visit the gardens Monday and Wednesday mornings from 9 to 12 when temperatures are cool and Master Gardeners are working in the gardens. Or come visit on your own Monday through Friday, 8 to 5.
The Learning Garden (TLG) surrounds the Extension building, includes 8 distinct gardens, and a composting demonstration site. Each garden offers plants that grow well in our region. You will gather new ideas and learn successful horticultural practices that lead to beautiful, healthy gardens.
Look for plant labels in the garden. Find more information and brochures at the kiosk near the building and in the garden mailboxes.
GARDENERS ARE IN THE GARDEN.
This is where your love for the stage can begin!
In our pre-school to early elementary class, we will be exploring every part of the stage including prop-building, dancing, singing, and acting. Whether you have a young performer destined for Broadway or just a little theatre enthusiast, we will help grow their love of theatre with new friends and explore the joys of storytelling!
All teachers are vaccinated. Open Warehouse space and new HVAC system.
“Shine and Dine” on the railway! We cordially invite you to hop on board The Carolina Shine, GSMR’s All-Adult First Class Moonshine Car! We will be proudly serving hand crafted, triple-distilled, craft moonshine. Some of the smoothest tasting moonshine in the Carolinas!
Offered on the Nantahala Gorge excursion, this shine and dine experience begins in a renovated First Class train fleet car, The Carolina Shine. The interior features copper lined walls filled with the history of moonshining in North Carolina. Learn about the proud tradition that the Appalachians established when bootlegging was an acceptable way of life and local home brews were the best in town. Read about Swain County’s very own Major Redmond, the most famous mountain moonshine outlaw of the 19th century.
Once your appetite for knowledge is satisfied, enjoy sample tastings of flavors like Apple Pie, Blackberry, Blueberry, Cherry, Peach, and Strawberry moonshine. If the samples are not enough, there will be plenty of Moonshine infused cocktails like Copper Cola or Moonshiner’s Mimosa available for purchase. GSMR is excited to feature multiple craft NC based distilleries to serve our guests only the best! Each jar is handcrafted and authentically infused with real fruit, the way moonshine was meant to be made. Passengers will also enjoy a full service All-Adult First Class ride with an attendant and a specialty boxed lunch. During the month of October. 9am and 2pm departures. 9am will feature the option of a delicious Sausage & Bacon Quiche or Cheesy Ham Hash Brown Casserole. The 2pm departure will be serving the popular BBQ meal.
| Diesel | $109.00 ($114.00 October) | Not Permitted |
| Steam | $119.00 ($126.00 October) | Not Permitted |
| Locomotive | Adult (21+ Only) | Under 21 |
|---|
How to Purchase
You can purchase your tickets online or call our reservations department at (800) 872-4681. Or, you can purchase your tickets the day of in the Bryson City Depot. No matter how you purchase tickets, they’ll be waiting at will call.
The Friends of the Henderson County Public Library knows how important books are to children and their parents. They are offering a special discount on children’s books at their bookstore in Hendersonville.
From Sept. 18 to Oct. 2, a box of children’s books is only $10. The Friends provides the boxes which are large enough to hold a lot of books.
For more than half a century, the Friends has been raising money to support the library system. They purchase books and equipment and sponsor programs.
The FOL bookstore is at 1940 Spartanburg Hwy (next to Dollar General) and is open Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 12 noon to 4 p.m. Thousands of books, DVDs, and CDs are for sale, and knowledgeable volunteers are there to help. (The entrance is in the back).
Members of the Friends get a 10 percent discount on all purchases. (You can join the Friends at the bookstore). Anyone can donate books, CDs, and DVDs during the hours the store is open.
Everything is in excellent condition. Books are shelved by author or subject and are easy to find, and they are restocked throughout the week. The half-price table at the front of the store offers great bargains on books.
Hit the trails and learn more about the Arboretum’s botanically diverse forest with the return of guided trail walks in 2021! In response to COVID-19, new safety measures have been put in place to protect our guests, members, volunteers and staff: Walks will be limited to 10 people, including the guide, and all participants will be required to wear face coverings for the duration of the walk.
This free hiking program is led by trained volunteer guides who take small groups of participants along woodland trails and through a variety of forest types. Depending on the season, topics of discussion may include wildflowers, plant and tree identification, natural history and more.
Guided trail walks depart from the Baker Exhibit Center Lobby every Tuesday and Saturday at 1 p.m. through the month of October. Walks last 1.5- 2.5 hours and are approximately one to two miles in length, and as such are recommended for guests 14 years or older. Walks are held rain or shine, so all participants should dress appropriately for the weather.
Register In Advance
Space is limited and advance registration is encouraged. Pre-registered participants must check in at the Baker Information Desk no later than 10 minutes before the scheduled program to keep their spot. Unclaimed spots will be offered to other guests.
Guests may sign up for trail walks in the following ways:
- Pre-register online
- Sign up in-person at the Baker Information Desk.
Mon-Fri from 2-5pm. You have access to high speed internet, work space and HALF-OFF pastries when you present your college ID.
Taught by Janice Schreiber
Ages 5-7
Aug 31-Oct 19, 2021 | Tuesdays at 4:00-5:00 PM
Join us on our way to imaginationland! Students will learn the basics of performance technique, explore exciting characterizations, and use their bodies, voices, and imaginations to bring stories and characters to life. Some of our favorite cartoon and real life characters just might make an appearance!
MUSIC THEATRE (In-Person), K-2nd Grades
Notes: To ensure increased ventilation, this class will be held outside whenever possible. If rain forces the program indoors, all students and staff will be required to wear masks. Thank you for understanding as we work to keep our community safe. Read more about our Covid Safety Guidelines here.
Instructor: Anna Kimmell
This fun and high-energy class combines the three fundamentals of musical theatre, acting, singing, and dance, in an accessible and exciting way! With a focus on singing technique, musicality, movement, and storytelling, students will learn new skills and make friends as they develop songs from Broadway musicals. No prior experience is necessary. With new material every semester, this class can (and should) be taken multiple times!
*Need-based scholarships are available upon application.
Learn more below about payment plans and multi-student discounts.
Instructor: Tania Battista
This class is designed for curious young performers eager to explore the “FUN”-damentals of acting. Through high-energy theatre games, improvisation, pantomime, storytelling, & ensemble-based activities, students will hone their theatre skills, build meaningful connections with other young artists, and discover their creative potential! In the final class, showcase what you learned in an informal performance for friends and family. With new material every semester, this class can (and should) be taken multiple times.
*Need-based scholarships are available upon application.
Learn more below about payment plans and multi-student discounts.
Learn how to bring scripts to life! During this class, students will explore short scenes and learn to analyze scripts, make strong acting choices, and create compelling characters. Students pick their favorite scenes for a showcase during the final class.
CLICK HERE TO APPLY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP
Please do not purchase registration prior to applying for a scholarship. Applications must be received by 2:00pm on Tuesday, August 24th for consideration.
Notes: This class will be held indoors in our dance studio. Masks will be required for all staff and students.
Get moving in this fun, high-energy dance class focusing on Broadway-style choreography. Lay the foundation of jazz technique through warm ups and across the floor, and practice picking up steps and style in theatre dance combinations inspired by a variety of musicals. Join us to get a weekly workout, learn how to fill your movement with character, and step into your next dance audition feeling confident. Masks are required.
Instructor: Anna Kimmell
*Need-based scholarships are available upon application.
Learn more below about payment plans and multi-student discounts.
Registration deadline: September 1
In this six-week, small-group/in-person class, explore an expanded arsenal of drawing methods and materials to discover the limitless potential of drawing! Weekly assignments challenge students to encounter aspects of drawing that are fundamental to visual and critical thinking. Projects are aimed to develop drawings that stand alone or serve as part of a whole. Students are encouraged to discover and develop the means and abilities to conceive and build advanced projects as the class investigates the historical and contemporary significance of drawing.
Instructor David Shurbutt is an art and museum worker. He holds an undergraduate degree in studio art and graduate degrees in media arts and fine art. His creative output is interdisciplinary in the metamodern tradition.
Please note:
- This Adult Studio is held indoors in the Museum’s John & Robyn Horn Education Center.
- Space is limited to small groups of students.
- Students follow the Museum’s temporary COVID-19 safety precautions; click here for more information.
ADULT STUDIO
The Museum’s studio program for adults offers a core curriculum in drawing, painting, printmaking, and three-dimensional media, and also explores the intersections between them. Local and visiting artists help students of all levels and abilities develop skills in media that reflect techniques and themes featured in the Museum’s Collection and special exhibitions. Classes meet for 3–12 weeks, and are designed for anyone interested in exploring specific media in depth; daylong workshops introduce new media or processes. To add your name to our Adult Studio mailing list, email Kristi McMillan, director of learning & engagement, or call 828.253.3227 x122.