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.
Old Kentucky Home -The Thomas Wolfe Memorial
American Novelist Thomas Wolfe (1900-1938)
Considered by many to be one of the giants of 20th-century American literature, Thomas Wolfe immortalized his childhood home in his epic autobiographical novel, Look Homeward, Angel. Wolfe’s colorful portrayal of his family, his hometown of “Altamont” Asheville, North Carolina, and “Dixieland” the Old Kentucky Home boardinghouse, earned the Victorian period house a place as one of American literature’s most famous landmarks.
House tours are offered daily at half past each hour. Last tour leaves at 4:30 pm.
Group tours by reservation.
Adult – $5.00
Student (ages 7-17) – $2.00
Adult Group (10+) – $2.50 each
Student Group – $2.00 each
6 & under – Free
Hours of Operation
The Western North Carolina Historical Association (WNCHA) invites you to join us for the second event in our special four-part Hikes With A Historian series where we explore the stories of several local cemeteries. Register for individual events, or all four at a discount. The first tour, Wednesday, September 14 from 11AM – 12:30PM takes place in Asheville’s Newton Academy and South Asheville cemeteries.
In the early-to-mid 1800s, people enslaved by the Smith and McDowell families began burying their loved ones in what today is known as the South Asheville Cemetery. There were over 2,000 individuals laid to rest in this cemetery, which closed to burials in 1943, though only about 100 graves are marked. Join WNCHA Executive Director Anne Chesky Smith on a tour that begins at the Smith-McDowell House, WNCHA’s facility, to learn about the lives of the people who were forced to work for the family. The tour will then proceed to Fernihurst Mansion to see the original burial site of the Smith matriarch and patriarch before viewing their present-day graves in the nearby Newton Academy Cemetery. The tour will end at South Asheville Cemetery. Chesky Smith will share stories of the emancipated Avery and Bailey families alongside the Smith and McDowell families who enslaved them and speak to how the lives of these families were intertwined long after the end of the Civil War. The tour requires some walking on uneven terrain – less than .5 miles.
Meet: 10:45AM at the Big Ivy Community Center (540 Dillingham Rd, Barnardsville, NC 28709
- We will carpool from the community center to the nearby Absalom Dillingham Cemetery (.75 miles away)
Hike Length: approximately .25 miles (easy difficulty)
What to Bring: Water, snacks, comfortable and sturdy shoes, weather appropriate clothing, any needed medications.
Rain Date: In the event of inclement weather, participants will be notified in advance, no later than 8PM the evening prior if the event is to be rescheduled. The alternate rain date will be rescheduled promptly.
- For single event – $10 for WNCHA members/$20 non-members.
- For Series: $20 WNCHA members/$35 non-members
We also have two no-cost, community-funded tickets available. We want our events to be accessible to as many people as possible. If you are able please consider making a donation along with your ticket purchase. These donations are placed in our Community Fund, which allows us to offer tickets at no cost to those who would not be able to attend otherwise.
Note: Those registering for the series need only register once. You will be manually registered for the remaining events.
Hike Leader:
This outing is led by Trevor Freeman, WNCHA public programs director. He has an MA in American history and is interested in both Appalachian and environmental history. He is also wilderness first aid/CPR certified.
Covid Precautions:
- Please do not attend if you feel unwell or have been exposed to someone with Covid
- Social distancing is recommended when hiking and when the group is stopped
Old Kentucky Home -The Thomas Wolfe Memorial
American Novelist Thomas Wolfe (1900-1938)
Considered by many to be one of the giants of 20th-century American literature, Thomas Wolfe immortalized his childhood home in his epic autobiographical novel, Look Homeward, Angel. Wolfe’s colorful portrayal of his family, his hometown of “Altamont” Asheville, North Carolina, and “Dixieland” the Old Kentucky Home boardinghouse, earned the Victorian period house a place as one of American literature’s most famous landmarks.
House tours are offered daily at half past each hour. Last tour leaves at 4:30 pm.
Group tours by reservation.
Adult – $5.00
Student (ages 7-17) – $2.00
Adult Group (10+) – $2.50 each
Student Group – $2.00 each
6 & under – Free
Hours of Operation
Old Kentucky Home -The Thomas Wolfe Memorial
American Novelist Thomas Wolfe (1900-1938)
Considered by many to be one of the giants of 20th-century American literature, Thomas Wolfe immortalized his childhood home in his epic autobiographical novel, Look Homeward, Angel. Wolfe’s colorful portrayal of his family, his hometown of “Altamont” Asheville, North Carolina, and “Dixieland” the Old Kentucky Home boardinghouse, earned the Victorian period house a place as one of American literature’s most famous landmarks.
House tours are offered daily at half past each hour. Last tour leaves at 4:30 pm.
Group tours by reservation.
Adult – $5.00
Student (ages 7-17) – $2.00
Adult Group (10+) – $2.50 each
Student Group – $2.00 each
6 & under – Free
Hours of Operation
 19 farms will participate in ASAP’s 2022 Farm Tour, Sept. 17-18, 12-5 p.m. These farms, including 10 new to the tour in 2022, represent some of the amazing diversity of agriculture happening in our region. Learn about harvesting rice in Western North Carolina, pick your own apples, feed farm animals, explore the process of honey-making, and much more! Farms are organized by cluster to help you plan and maximize your time on the farm.
Learn more about what each farm will offer on the tour and use our Farm Tour map to start planning your weekend. Advance passes ($35, good for all passengers in your vehicle) are on sale now. You can also sign up to volunteer for one day of the tour and tour for free the day you aren’t working.
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Old Kentucky Home -The Thomas Wolfe Memorial
American Novelist Thomas Wolfe (1900-1938)
Considered by many to be one of the giants of 20th-century American literature, Thomas Wolfe immortalized his childhood home in his epic autobiographical novel, Look Homeward, Angel. Wolfe’s colorful portrayal of his family, his hometown of “Altamont” Asheville, North Carolina, and “Dixieland” the Old Kentucky Home boardinghouse, earned the Victorian period house a place as one of American literature’s most famous landmarks.
House tours are offered daily at half past each hour. Last tour leaves at 4:30 pm.
Group tours by reservation.
Adult – $5.00
Student (ages 7-17) – $2.00
Adult Group (10+) – $2.50 each
Student Group – $2.00 each
6 & under – Free
Hours of Operation
Tours of St. John in the Wilderness are sponsored and led by a team of volunteer docents who seek to tell the story of our historic parish. Tours are held every third Saturday of the month at 11:00am and last about one hour.
There is no cost to tour the churchyard. Please wear comfortable shoes, and meet in the Carriage Entrance of the church. Space is limited to 30 people per tour
ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) announced 19 farms participating in the 2022 Farm Tour, Sept. 17–18, noon to 5 p.m. These farms showcase the diversity of agriculture in the region, from vegetables to livestock, orchards to creameries, and are all located within an hour of Asheville. Tourgoers can experience working farms through guided and self-guided tours, demonstrations, interacting with farm animals, u-pick produce and flowers, local food tastings, and more. The tour is appropriate for attendees of all ages and abilities.
The Farm Tour features four geographic clusters to help visitors maximize their time at farms. Tourgoers should select two to four farms to visit each day, spending around an hour at each. Descriptions of each farm’s offerings, plus a map, driving directions, tour tips, are available at asapconnections.org/farmtour. A free printed guide will be available at community locations in mid-August. Ten farms, noted with an asterisk, are new to the tour in 2022.
Haywood Cluster
*KT’s Orchard and Apiary
Sustainabillies/Two Trees Farm
Smoky Mountain Mangalitsa
The Ten Acre Garden
Leicester Cluster
Mount Gilead Farm/French Broad Creamery
*Davis Ranch
Franny’s Farm and The Utopian Seed Project
Addison Farms Vineyard
*Good Wheel Farm
McDowell Cluster
*Camp Grier
*Crow Fly Farms
*Sweet Betsy Farm
*Lee’s One Fortune Farm
Henderson Cluster
Raspberry Fields
*Creasman Farms
*Bee-utiful Farmstead
Holly Spring Farm
Sideways Farm and Brewery
*Jeter Mountain Farm
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Join us for some Dungeons & Dragons at Pack Memorial Library! All players aged 13-17 are eligible |
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19 farms will participate in ASAP’s 2022 Farm Tour, Sept. 17-18, 12-5 p.m. These farms, including 10 new to the tour in 2022, represent some of the amazing diversity of agriculture happening in our region. Learn about harvesting rice in Western North Carolina, pick your own apples, feed farm animals, explore the process of honey-making, and much more! Farms are organized by cluster to help you plan and maximize your time on the farm.
Learn more about what each farm will offer on the tour and use our Farm Tour map to start planning your weekend. Advance passes ($35, good for all passengers in your vehicle) are on sale now. You can also sign up to volunteer for one day of the tour and tour for free the day you aren’t working.
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ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) announced 19 farms participating in the 2022 Farm Tour, Sept. 17–18, noon to 5 p.m. These farms showcase the diversity of agriculture in the region, from vegetables to livestock, orchards to creameries, and are all located within an hour of Asheville. Tourgoers can experience working farms through guided and self-guided tours, demonstrations, interacting with farm animals, u-pick produce and flowers, local food tastings, and more. The tour is appropriate for attendees of all ages and abilities.
The Farm Tour features four geographic clusters to help visitors maximize their time at farms. Tourgoers should select two to four farms to visit each day, spending around an hour at each. Descriptions of each farm’s offerings, plus a map, driving directions, tour tips, are available at asapconnections.org/farmtour. A free printed guide will be available at community locations in mid-August. Ten farms, noted with an asterisk, are new to the tour in 2022.
Haywood Cluster
*KT’s Orchard and Apiary
Sustainabillies/Two Trees Farm
Smoky Mountain Mangalitsa
The Ten Acre Garden
Leicester Cluster
Mount Gilead Farm/French Broad Creamery
*Davis Ranch
Franny’s Farm and The Utopian Seed Project
Addison Farms Vineyard
*Good Wheel Farm
McDowell Cluster
*Camp Grier
*Crow Fly Farms
*Sweet Betsy Farm
*Lee’s One Fortune Farm
Henderson Cluster
Raspberry Fields
*Creasman Farms
*Bee-utiful Farmstead
Holly Spring Farm
Sideways Farm and Brewery
*Jeter Mountain Farm
Join us every Monday night for Singo (Musical Bingo)!
Singo will run from 7-8:15 pm.
No reservations needed, just get ready for a good time and a chance to win some Down Dog prizes!
Old Kentucky Home -The Thomas Wolfe Memorial
American Novelist Thomas Wolfe (1900-1938)
Considered by many to be one of the giants of 20th-century American literature, Thomas Wolfe immortalized his childhood home in his epic autobiographical novel, Look Homeward, Angel. Wolfe’s colorful portrayal of his family, his hometown of “Altamont” Asheville, North Carolina, and “Dixieland” the Old Kentucky Home boardinghouse, earned the Victorian period house a place as one of American literature’s most famous landmarks.
House tours are offered daily at half past each hour. Last tour leaves at 4:30 pm.
Group tours by reservation.
Adult – $5.00
Student (ages 7-17) – $2.00
Adult Group (10+) – $2.50 each
Student Group – $2.00 each
6 & under – Free
Hours of Operation
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Come down the Pack Memorial Library and play with LEGOs! Please leave your personal LEGOs at home, because we’ve got plenty. |
Old Kentucky Home -The Thomas Wolfe Memorial
American Novelist Thomas Wolfe (1900-1938)
Considered by many to be one of the giants of 20th-century American literature, Thomas Wolfe immortalized his childhood home in his epic autobiographical novel, Look Homeward, Angel. Wolfe’s colorful portrayal of his family, his hometown of “Altamont” Asheville, North Carolina, and “Dixieland” the Old Kentucky Home boardinghouse, earned the Victorian period house a place as one of American literature’s most famous landmarks.
House tours are offered daily at half past each hour. Last tour leaves at 4:30 pm.
Group tours by reservation.
Adult – $5.00
Student (ages 7-17) – $2.00
Adult Group (10+) – $2.50 each
Student Group – $2.00 each
6 & under – Free
Hours of Operation
The Western North Carolina Historical Association (WNCHA) invites you to join us for the third event in our special four-part Hikes With A Historian series where we explore the stories of several local cemeteries. This tour, Wednesday, September 21 from 10AM – 12:30PM takes place in various cemeteries in Hot Springs, North Carolina.
Hot Springs (formerly Warm Springs), North Carolina lies along the route of the former Buncombe Turnpike and later became a popular tourist resort as well. Its cemeteries contain travelers, early settlers from the 1800s, enslaved and free African Americans, and German POWs who were later reinterred. These stories and more intertwine in the cemeteries we will tour on this outing exploring local history in a mountain town.
Meet: 9:45AM at the Dorland Presbyterian Church (64 Bridge St, Hot Springs, NC 28743)
- Park in the shared parking lot behind the church. We will carpool to various cemeteries within a two mile radius.
Hike Length: approximately .5 miles (easy difficulty)
What to Bring: Water, snacks, comfortable and sturdy shoes, weather appropriate clothing, any needed medications.
Rain Date: In the event of inclement weather, participants will be notified in advance, no later than 8PM the evening prior if the event is to be rescheduled. The alternate rain date will be rescheduled promptly.
Tickets: $10 WNCHA members/$20 general admission. We also have two no-cost, community-funded tickets available. We want our events to be accessible to as many people as possible. If you are able please consider making a donation along with your ticket purchase. These donations are placed in our Community Fund, which allows us to offer tickets at no cost to those who would not be able to attend otherwise.
Hike Leader:
This outing is led by Taylor Barnhill. Taylor is a native North Carolinian and has lived in Madison County for forty-four years. Taylor currently enjoys wearing several hats ~ one as an architect, one as a consultant for non-profit organizations, and one for the Appalachian Barn Alliance documenting the historic barns of Madison County. His early architecture practice began as a way to serve disadvantaged communities and evolved to provide an integrated approach to sustainable design and community development. In his non-profit professional capacity, he has served as executive director with several regional conservation organizations. He spends his free time with friends and kids soaking up the local culture and hiking the region’s forests.
Old Kentucky Home -The Thomas Wolfe Memorial
American Novelist Thomas Wolfe (1900-1938)
Considered by many to be one of the giants of 20th-century American literature, Thomas Wolfe immortalized his childhood home in his epic autobiographical novel, Look Homeward, Angel. Wolfe’s colorful portrayal of his family, his hometown of “Altamont” Asheville, North Carolina, and “Dixieland” the Old Kentucky Home boardinghouse, earned the Victorian period house a place as one of American literature’s most famous landmarks.
House tours are offered daily at half past each hour. Last tour leaves at 4:30 pm.
Group tours by reservation.
Adult – $5.00
Student (ages 7-17) – $2.00
Adult Group (10+) – $2.50 each
Student Group – $2.00 each
6 & under – Free
Hours of Operation
Old Kentucky Home -The Thomas Wolfe Memorial
American Novelist Thomas Wolfe (1900-1938)
Considered by many to be one of the giants of 20th-century American literature, Thomas Wolfe immortalized his childhood home in his epic autobiographical novel, Look Homeward, Angel. Wolfe’s colorful portrayal of his family, his hometown of “Altamont” Asheville, North Carolina, and “Dixieland” the Old Kentucky Home boardinghouse, earned the Victorian period house a place as one of American literature’s most famous landmarks.
House tours are offered daily at half past each hour. Last tour leaves at 4:30 pm.
Group tours by reservation.
Adult – $5.00
Student (ages 7-17) – $2.00
Adult Group (10+) – $2.50 each
Student Group – $2.00 each
6 & under – Free
Hours of Operation
Learn the history of Black Mountain and the Swannanoa Valley on this walking tour! Museum staff will lead attendees through historic State Street, Cherry Street and Black Mountain Avenue, relaying the history of several buildings and discussing topics including the building of the Swannanoa Tunnel and the disastrous downtown fire of 1912.
Location: Attendees will meet at the Swannanoa Valley Museum (223 West State Street, Black Mountain, NC 28711)
Timing: Tours take place once a month on Saturdays, beginning at 1:00pm, and last approximately 1.5 hours
Cost: FREE to museum members with promo code, $10 for general admission (some fees apply). Museum members can email [email protected] to receive their promo code.
Tour Dates: March 19, April 23, May 21, June 25, July 23, August 27, Sept 24, October 29, November 12, December 17
Registration: Find tour dates on our events calendar, and register.
Old Kentucky Home -The Thomas Wolfe Memorial
American Novelist Thomas Wolfe (1900-1938)
Considered by many to be one of the giants of 20th-century American literature, Thomas Wolfe immortalized his childhood home in his epic autobiographical novel, Look Homeward, Angel. Wolfe’s colorful portrayal of his family, his hometown of “Altamont” Asheville, North Carolina, and “Dixieland” the Old Kentucky Home boardinghouse, earned the Victorian period house a place as one of American literature’s most famous landmarks.
House tours are offered daily at half past each hour. Last tour leaves at 4:30 pm.
Group tours by reservation.
Adult – $5.00
Student (ages 7-17) – $2.00
Adult Group (10+) – $2.50 each
Student Group – $2.00 each
6 & under – Free
Hours of Operation
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General Activities
Festival Activities – Discover all our vendors for this year including the juried arts and crafts show, food vendors, and local non-profit organizations. There are over 120 vendors with thousands of unique items to choose from.
Kids Activities – Family fun for all ages! Take a wagon ride, learn traditional crafts, try your hand at old-time mountain skills, learn new dances and more. Be sure to stop by the Children’s Tent for activities.
Cherokee Games – One of the most important elements of Mountain Heritage Day is the influence and culture of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The annual stickball demonstration is a highly ritualized contest you won’t want to miss.
Andy Shaw Ford Classic Car Show – They just don’t make them like they used to! Showcase your classic automobile (25 years or older) in Mountain Heritage Day’s Andy Shaw Ford Classic Car Show. Visitors can stroll amongst the beautiful machines and cast votes for their favorites.
Music – Bluegrass, Acoustic, Old-Time, Roots, Country, Mountain Swing, and Gospel, just to name a few. With two stages and dozens of performers, you’ll want to dance the day away.
5K Race – The 5k Race is organized and hosted by the students at Western Carolina University Sport Management program. The money that is raised will go to help fund the Sport Management Association Scholarship.
McNeely’s Chainsaw Competition – Try your hand at this activity! The competition will be carried out in four categories: Homeowner, Box Stock, Stock Appearing, and Open. There will be ten classes of saws:
- Class “E”
- Class “D”
- Class “C”
- Class “B”
- Class “A”
- Class “AA”
- “Hot Saw”
- AA Modified Motorcycle Parts
- Cross Cut Saw (two person teams)
- One-man Bucking Saw
There is a fee for each entry. Find rules here.
Mountain Heritage Skills, Crafts and Historical Demonstrations
- Ramona Lossiah, Cherokee basketry
- Jeff Gottlieb, Kudzu Crafts and Baskets
- Louise, Butch, and George Edward Goings, Cherokee Basketry, Woodcarving, Flint Knapping
- Brock Martin, Blacksmith
- Nora Mosrie, Cornshuck Crafts
- William Rogers, Coppersmith
- Dede Styles, Natural Dyeing
- Nate Darnell, Tractor Rides
- Nathan Woods and Ethan Fortner: Horse and Mule Demonstrations
- Richard Tichich Quilt Making
- Kevin Fountain, Corn Grinding and Hit and Miss Engines
Stages, Tents & Stickball
Harrah’s Blue Ridge Stage
10:00 AM – Summer Brooke and Brayden
11:00 AM – Whitewater Bluegrass Company
12:00 PM – Apple Blossom Cloggers
12:15 PM – Mountain Heritage Award presentation
12:45 PM – The Queen Family
1:30 PM – Phil and Gaye Johnson
2:15 PM – The Grascals
3:30 PM – The Bailey Mountain Cloggers
3:45 PM – The Merle Monroe Band
Children’s Tent
10:30 AM – Pressley Girls
11:30 AM – Phil and Gaye Johnson
12:00 PM – Blue Ridge Junior Appalachian Musicians
12:30 PM – Bailey Mountain Cloggers
1:00 PM – Dietz Family
1:30 PM – Apple Blossom Cloggers
2:00 PM – Uncle Ted White and Whitewater Bluegrass Co.
Balsam/Circle Tent
10:00 AM – Ann Woodford: African American history and stories
11:00 AM – Deitz Family
12:00 PM – Roots and Branches Circle with Kristin Scott Benson, Daniel Grindstaff, Adam Haynes, Brayden McMahan and Phil Jamison
1:00 PM – Sparky Rucker: Mountain Voices storytelling
2:00 PM – Suffering and Hope Circle with the Deitz Family, Jeanette Schrock and Mark Queen, Tim Raybon and Phil Jamison
3:00 PM – Roots and Branches
4:00 PM – Community Square Dance
Shape Note Tent
10:30 AM – Shape Note Singing with Will Peebles
12:15 PM – Calliope Shorts Ethel Brown: A Singer Needs a Song
12:30 PM – Calliope Shorts Moonshine and a Grey Duck
1:00 PM – Shape Note Singing with Will Peebles
Stickball Field
11:00 AM – “Kolanvyi” Big Cove Indian Ball Team
2:00 PM – “Kolanvyi” Big Cove Indian Ball Team
McNeely’s Chainsaw Competition
9:00 – 10:00 AM – Registration (after 10:00 AM, a penalty will occur)
10:00 AM – Until all registered contestants have participated
10:00 AM – Homeowner Class Competition Begins
Andy Shaw Ford Classic Car Show
9:00 – 10:00 AM – Registration
10:00 AM –12:00 PM – Encouraging participation from the public to vote for their favorite car; collect ballots; engage with participants
12:00 PM – Voting closes
2:00 PM – Awards Announced (People’s Choice, Top 3)
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Join us for some Dungeons & Dragons at Pack Memorial Library! All players aged 13-17 are eligible |
Empower Yourself and Your Community at the YWCA!
The YWCA is back to offering in-person Empower Hour Tours! Experience firsthand the YWCA’s work through a tour of our building including stories that highlight how we are engaging nearly 3,000 community members annually in programs that advance racial justice, empower women, promote health, and nurture children.
After your Empower Hour Tour we hope you will be informed, inspired and ready to get involved!
Empower Hours take place 3 times per month on Tuesdays from 12:00-1:00pm. In person tours include a light vegetarian lunch. Below are the dates, times, and information on how to join upcoming tours. We look forward to connecting with you!
Richard Misrach, Wall, Jacumba, California, 2009, pigment print, image: 60 × 80 inches, framed: 61 × 81 × 2 inches. Courtesy the Artist. © Richard Misrach, courtesy Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco.
This tour will be offered in Spanish or English depending on needs of participants.
PUBLIC TOURS
Join docents for tours of the Museum’s Collection and special exhibitions. No reservations are required.
Join us every Monday night for Singo (Musical Bingo)!
Singo will run from 7-8:15 pm.
No reservations needed, just get ready for a good time and a chance to win some Down Dog prizes!
Old Kentucky Home -The Thomas Wolfe Memorial
American Novelist Thomas Wolfe (1900-1938)
Considered by many to be one of the giants of 20th-century American literature, Thomas Wolfe immortalized his childhood home in his epic autobiographical novel, Look Homeward, Angel. Wolfe’s colorful portrayal of his family, his hometown of “Altamont” Asheville, North Carolina, and “Dixieland” the Old Kentucky Home boardinghouse, earned the Victorian period house a place as one of American literature’s most famous landmarks.
House tours are offered daily at half past each hour. Last tour leaves at 4:30 pm.
Group tours by reservation.
Adult – $5.00
Student (ages 7-17) – $2.00
Adult Group (10+) – $2.50 each
Student Group – $2.00 each
6 & under – Free
Hours of Operation
Empower Yourself and Your Community at the YWCA!
The YWCA is back to offering in-person Empower Hour Tours! Experience firsthand the YWCA’s work through a tour of our building including stories that highlight how we are engaging nearly 3,000 community members annually in programs that advance racial justice, empower women, promote health, and nurture children.
After your Empower Hour Tour we hope you will be informed, inspired and ready to get involved!
Empower Hours take place 3 times per month on Tuesdays from 12:00-1:00pm. In person tours include a light vegetarian lunch. Below are the dates, times, and information on how to join upcoming tours. We look forward to connecting with you!
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Come down the Pack Memorial Library and play with LEGOs! Please leave your personal LEGOs at home, because we’ve got plenty. |