Calendar of Events

Starting April 8th, you can ride ArtAVL’s new free ArtsAVL Connect Trolley – connecting the Downtown and River Arts Districts with two overlapping routes. The initiative is a partnership between ArtsAVL and Gray Line Asheville. Beginning April 8th, two chartered Gray Line trolleys will circulate on 20-30 minute intervals from 12-8 pm on every Second Saturday. Riders are welcome to hop on and off anywhere along the trolley routes. The Downtown Trolley connects the main areas of the Central Business District to the River Arts District. The River Arts Trolley loops throughout the River Arts District. Residents and visitors can view stops and current location of trolleys through the interactive trolley map on ArtsAVL’s website and the new ArtsAVL app.

Franklin School of Innovation Presents:
🌟 InnovationFest: Dreaming What Innovation IS 🌟
What is Innovation? What does it mean to you? What IF?
What IF Innovation is more than just technological?
What IF we made all students feel safe?
What IF we ended systemic racism?
What IF we all have the power to lead the way to the future together?
We believe that Innovation is defined by actions we take to creatively change and progress forward. Let’s build a vision of inclusivity, growth, and educational transformation that involves our wider community. Celebrate 10 years of innovation with us Saturday, October 14th, from 12-4 pm!
We’re not just commemorating a decade; we are building an exciting path ahead!
Embrace inclusivity, spark transformation – be an innovator!
Let’s embark on a collective journey of unity and growth. Let’s build a space where every voice and every story matters. Together, we can craft an environment where all students feel safe, seen and valued. How can we ensure that every student finds a place of belonging?
🎉 Envisioning the Next 10 Years – Together! 🎉
Imagine a future where every student’s dream takes flight, and community members play a pivotal role in nurturing these aspirations. Together, we can re-imagine the essence of education – one that honors our roots, nurtures our present, and illuminates our future.
Event Highlights:
🎙️ Gather wisdom from Dr. Life, a renowned motivational speaker, as they guide us toward an empowered future.
🎵 Let local artists’ Whitney Mongé and Grupo Escolta Activado’s melodies wrap you in joy and unity.
🌍 Enjoy multicultural flavors from diverse food trucks in your own backyard!
🌟Get ready to see new and exciting things as we show you cool programs, groups of people who share interests, and other dope projects that are changing the game.
📢 Hear the voices of our student and community leaders, dreamers who will share their “what ifs” and inspire us all.
🗣 Engage in dynamic conversations that explore the pressing topics that shape our educational journey, impacting us all.
🎛️ Dance to the rhythm with DJ Twan, and other local music that’ll have you moving and grooving.
🎉 Immerse yourself in a cultural celebration, a tribute to the rich student diversity that makes us whole.
Save the date and take a journey with us at InnovationFest!🪁 Let’s join hands and spark a future where every student thrives, and our community’s potential is limitless!
Your presence is a testament to your commitment to a better, brighter Franklin School of Innovation for all who walk its halls, for generations to come.
Together, let’s celebrate, innovate, and weave a tapestry of inclusivity and excellence that resonates through the legacy of Franklin School of Innovation.
Make sure to claim your tickets on eventbrite, and we will see you at InnovationFest! 🎉🌟📚

FREE | All ages, advance registration requested

Dress up those pups and bring them to a treat scavenger hunt with giveaways for canines and their human companions. Dogs must be on a leash. For more info, call 828-507-9003.

Take a ride through the Orchard fields and its history every weekend. “Heyrides” last approximately 45 minutes. All ages are welcome (kids under 4 free); $7 per person; wheelchair accessible; well-behaved dogs by consensus. Reservations are not required but sign up as soon as you arrive.

Burnpile is Burial Beer Co.’s premier Beer and Music Festival. Hosted at Burial’s Forestry Camp facility near Asheville’s Biltmore Village, attendees enjoy a full-day concert by Deer Tick, S.G. Goodman, and MJ Lenderman alongside a tasting experience from a diverse lineup of 50+ of the best breweries in the country, and much more.

Join a certified forest therapy guide for a relaxing 2.5-hour stroll through the forest on the peaceful Arboretum grounds. Through a series of invitations, you’ll have the opportunity to be present in the moment, deepening your connection with nature and community, and enjoying the many gifts nature has to offer. Your guide will share mindfulness practices designed to connect you more deeply to your inner landscapes, as well as the world around you. Inspired by Shinrin-Yoku, the Japanese art of immersing oneself in a forest environment, a forest bathing walk invites you to spend time in nature in a way that invites healing for ourselves, our fraught ecosystems, and our community. It is true nature therapy!

• Special, discounted rate of $45/person (includes parking!)
• Occurs on select dates each month
• Max group size is 15 for a more intimate experience

Hit the trails and learn more about The North Carolina Arboretum’s botanically diverse forest with a guided trail walk! April through October, 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 and each guide’s area of expertise, topics of discussion may include wildflowers, plant and tree identification, natural history and more.

Guided trail walks are limited to 15 people, including the guide, and are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age. Groups depart from the Baker Visitor Center Lobby on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m..

Walks last 1.5 – 2.5 hours, are approximately one to two miles in length. As this program is held rain or shine, all participants should dress appropriately for the weather.

There is no pre-registration; walks are first-come first served and sign up sheets are located in the Baker Visitors Center.

Walks are FREE; however, donations to The North Carolina Arboretum Society are appreciated. Regular parking fees apply. Arboretum Society Members always park free.

Know Before You Go

• Guided Trail Walks are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age.
• Guided Trail Walks are rain or shine and all participants should be dressed comfortably and for the weather.
• Hikes cover 1-2 miles and last 1.5-2 hours.
• Well-behaved leashed pets are welcome to accompany their owners. In the rare case that a pet is disruptive or negatively impacts the experience, the pet and its owner may be asked to excuse themselves from the guided walk.
• COVID-19 Safety: In order to hear the guide and fully participate in the trail walk, participants will be in close proximity to one another for extended periods of time. While face coverings are not required, participants should use their best judgement to keep themselves and others safe while enjoying the trails. Individuals who are experiencing flu-like symptoms or suspect they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should not participate.
• At this time, no more than 6 spaces may be filled by a single family/group through pre-registration for any one Guided Trail Walk. If additional spaces are available on the day of the Walk, additional members of the family/group may participate. We apologize for any inconvenience and look forward to welcoming larger groups in the future.

Essentials for Contemporary Puppetry Art:
Keith Shubert of Toybox Theatre draws on more than 20 years of puppetry experience to share with participants tips and tricks to the art from. This workshop will offer a comprehensive examination of the varied styles of puppetry art and their applications in live performance, exhibitions, and film/ television. Participants will experience hands on manipulation, examples of methods of construction, and are welcome to bring ideas or examples of their own projects for advice and development.

About the instructor:

Keith Shubert of Toybox Theatre is a multi award winning Asheville-based professional puppeteer, emcee and toymaker who performs and produces shows and festivals around the country. His hilarious and heartwarming performances have made him a staple in the Asheville performance art scene, where you can find him as a regular in Asheville Vaudeville, the Asheville Fringe Arts Festival, and at LEAF Global Arts Festival. Among his awards include Fan Favorite and Best Performance at The National Puppetry Festival, funding by the Jim Henson Foundation, and an UNIMA Citation for Excellence in The Art of Puppetry (the highest honor given in the field.) He has taught workshops on puppetry arts for all ages, and for levels from beginner to advanced. He is soon to be added as faculty instructor at The Academy for Clown Arts in 2024.

The Great Wagon Road Game is an interactive role-playing version of the “Oregon Trail” game of Mom and Dad’s youth. The Cradle of Forestry has brought the game to life along our Biltmore Campus Trail (1 mile). This interactive walking game takes you around the trail to learn more about the trials and tribulations the first European settlers faced as they traveled the Great Wagon Road and settled our beautiful mountains. This is a great game for families to work together and have fun! Families will travel in “wagon groups”, “purchase” supplies (no real money involved in the game) for the journey and stop to roll the dice of destiny that will choose their cards of fate. 

This is open to all ages and will have a family-friendly atmosphere. Children under 4 are free to come along as long as they don’t distract the other players from having fun. Please dress appropriately for the outdoors, as we will be walking our 1-mile paved, Biltmore Campus Trail. 

General Admission – $8 
Youth – $5 (Ages 4-12) 
America The Beautiful Passholders- General Admission Ages 13 and older-$4 
America The Beautiful Passholders- Youth Ages 4-12- $2.50 
Cradle of Forestry Annual Passholders- General Admission Ages 13 and older-$4 
Cradle of Forestry Annual Passholders- Youth Ages 4-12- $2.50 
*Passholders must present pass in-person during check-in 

Our Black Box series continues as we welcome to the stage the magnificent work of William Shakespeare. Surrender to a haunting story of ambition and its dark consequences, as a military hero and his wife conspire to seize political power. A terrifyingly prophetic tale of revenge, murder, and madness, Macbeth lays bare the fallout when the darkest side of humanity cheats its way into a position of power.  One of Shakespeare’s bloodiest, scariest, and yet, most popular tragedies.

Shop, sip, and groove on The Restoration Asheville rooftop at our first-ever Solarium Autumn Market! Browse and buy from local artisans, sip on fresh cocktails from The Observatory, and listen to AVL.XLR dropping beats until the sun sets. The perfect start to fall in Asheville.

Hendersonville Theatre (HT) continues its New Works Series (formerly called Staged Reading Series) Saturday, October 14 at 3 p.m. Showcasing the work of area playwrights and performed by local actors, The New Works Series is a FREE public reading of a new play in development. However, donations are welcome to support HT.

HT’s New Works Series offers exciting script-in-hand readings of new plays by emerging local playwrights. The readings are followed by a talk back with the playwright and actors to provide feedback to the playwright.

A short discussion will follow each reading to provide feedback to the playwright about their script. There is no charge to attend or to participate, however donations are welcome and will be used to support HT.

Hendersonville Theatre is committed to exploring and developing new work for American theater, supporting local playwrights with their creative process from concept to production.

Oy Vey Y’all! by Erica McGee will be read on October 14. Oy Vey Y’all! is the story of Ester, a Jewish woman from upstate New York, and Lynn Louise, a Christian woman from Savannah. They meet at a retirement community in Charlotte where both of their children live. Dislike turns to appreciation when they discover they have more similarities than differences. Oy Vey Y’all! is a comedy that exploring prejudices.

Erica McGee is an actress, vocalist, playwright and teacher. She is also the Dramatist Guild Ambassador for North Carolina. She says, “the character Lynn Louise is based on my own mother, who passed away a few years ago. It is, in fact, a love letter to her that offers a unique perspective on aging and faith within our relationships and ourselves.”

Playwrights who would like to submit work for consideration for the New Works Series can follow the submission guidelines posted at here and email questions to [email protected].

Since 1966, Hendersonville Theatre has provided an inviting and nurturing environment for live theatre, as well as high-quality, affordable entertainment for the residents of Hendersonville and surrounding areas. Hendersonville Theatre is wheelchair accessible, with free parking behind and in front of the theater.

Join us for an outdoor Campus Centennial Concert Celebration, with music presented by Shane & Shane, with special guest speakers, Willie and Korie Robertson. Dinner will be available for purchase. Rain or Shine event.

Autumn Amble leaf tours are back, and they’re better than ever! As the leaves begin to don their vibrant hues and the crisp autumn air fills the atmosphere, the Highlands Nature Center invites you on an enchanting journey through the beauty of the season.

Every Friday and Saturday in October at 4:00 p.m., join the Nature Center for FREE guided leaf tours open to the public. It’s the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the breathtaking transformation of nature while exploring the captivating colors of fall foliage.

Weather dependent.

Wanna hear the best local music ​and​ drink the best local beers? Hop aboard LaZoom’s Purple Bus and rock out with a local band while we take you on a journey to Asheville’s premiere local breweries.

Asheville Plays is excited to present the 11th annual Haunted Trail, Asheville’s only family friendly haunt! This event is ideal for Halloween lovers of all ages, 3-12 being the suggested age range. The Adventure Center of Asheville will host this one of a kind live outdoor theatrical experience where guests are promised an entirely immersive and interactive spooky night out while also ensuring no contact. Asheville Plays creates a show with a unique perspective on Halloween fun with 15 live action scenes for guests to watch and enjoy. For younger guests who still aren’t sure about being scared, even for fun, a “Sweet Peek Tour’ is offered nightly at 6:45 pm. The trail is actor free at this time so that littles and parents can take a guided tour of the scenes to decide if they would like to re enter the line and receive the full show. The Treetop Adventure Park Aerial Glow Trail is available for guests 4 years or older to enjoy at this event! Climb on two aerial trails while they are illuminated with thousands of colorful twinkle and laser lights. If you want to enjoy both of these amazing activities, combo passes are available and WILL sell out, so make sure you reserve your tickets early! *The Haunted Trail does not sell out, however the entrance closes at 9 pm. Don’t miss PIRATES COVE! Featuring a 30 ft Pirate Ship Escape Room- Test ‘yer wit mateys! 10 voyages available nightly for purchase (groups of up to 6 per voyage) Live Mermaid Encounter with photo opportunity. Free Pirate activities for kids of all ages are located in Pirates Cove. Mellow Mushroom pizza is available on site as well as local beers and non alcoholic beverage options. There is something for every member of your family at 85 expo drive this Halloween season!

Pumpkin Fest is a fun, family friendly and fantastic artistic event or great date night with 18 beautiful artist-designed lighted carved pumpkin displays on a newly-paved short walking trail. The event includes talented local musicians, food trucks and coffee house, games, storytelling, face painting, white squirrel scavenger hunt, games, dress ups, and the Silvermont historic mansion and second floor museum open for tours. New exhibits from 2022 (“Syd’s Silvermont Adventure”) and 2021 (the spectacular “White Squirrel Circus”) are returning, as well as 16 other lighted pumpkin displays such as Butterfly Garden, Pirates Cove, Under the Sea, Witches Garden, Ghost Circle, Totem Garden, and more.
A new 2023 exhibit has been developed by Friends of Silvermont’s Pumpkin-teers: “Land of Waterfalls”, featuring the unique places and features that make Transylvania County so beautiful and special for locals and tourists alike. A new social media photo-op site with a Silvermont Pumpkin Fest background will also be set up between the dress up and face painting areas near the tennis courts. There will be lots of activities for young and old alike- with fun for all ages! Silvermont Park has a newly paved 1/3-mile trail that works much better for strollers, walkers and wheelchairs.
Pumpkin Fest is a Fundraiser for Friends of Silvermont to help maintain and improve the Silvermont Park and the 106-year-old historic mansion, which houses the county senior center and a history museum. Friends of Silvermont was in 1981 to help save the mansion and has continued to make significant financial contributions to both the mansion and park each year.
Location- Silvermont Park 364 E. Main St. Brevard, NC 28712.
Admission $7 per person (ages 13 and over), $5 ages 3-12, and under 3 is free. We accept cards, cash or check with ID. Volunteers receive free admission. Contact [email protected] if interested in volunteering for event nights or setup/teardown starting Sept. 23 thru Nov 3.
Onsite parking cost is $5 cash per car. Free parking is available offsite on nearby streets and at churches and the Comporium and church parking lots 1 block away. Handicap sticker- free parking onsite.
Music and Food Schedule:
Date Time Music Schedule Food Trucks plus Cup and Saucer
Oct. 6 Friday 6-9 pm Two Step Too Feta Flav, Jenny’s Mini Donuts
Oct. 7 Saturday 6-9 pm Big Eyed Rabbit Southern Hawg BarBQue, Jenny’s Mini Donuts
Oct. 13 Friday 6-9 pm Nikki Talley and Jason Sharpe Feta Flav, Jenny’s Mini Donuts
Oct. 14 Saturday 6-9 pm Andrew Thelston and Carrie Morrison Haus Heidelberg
Oct. 20 Friday 6-9 pm Nikki Talley and Jason Sharpe Toasted Cuban, Jenny’s Mini Donuts
Oct. 21 Saturday 6-9 pm Unpaid Bill and the Bad Czechs Feta Flav
Oct. 27 Friday 6-9 pm McIntosh and the Lionhearts BBQ Shed, Jenny’s Mini Donuts
Oct. 28 Saturday 6-9 pm McIntosh and the Lionhearts Toasted Cuban, Feta Flav
Website: Pumpkin Fest | Friends of Silvermont https://silvermont.org/pumpkinfest/ Facebook: SilvermontPark: https://www.facebook.com/silvermontpark/

A groundbreaking reimagining of William Shakespeare’s beloved tragedy, “Romeo and Juliet: In Memoriam” is poised to make its debut on Friday, October 13, 2023, in Asheville.

The adaptation is written by Elias Hamilton and Ronnie Z. Nielsen of Asheville. Their unique vision transports audiences to the solemn and emotional setting of the star-crossed lovers’ funeral, infusing new life into Shakespeare’s iconic play and exploring themes of love, loss and reconciliation in a fresh way.

Don’t miss your chance to witness this exceptional adaptation of “Romeo and Juliet,” where young visionaries take center stage, breaking boundaries and proving that age is no barrier to artistic excellence.

“Romeo and Juliet: In Memoriam” premieres on Friday, October 13, 2023, at Attic Salt Theater and runs through Sunday, October 21.

Citizen Vinyl and art collective Porcelain Beach joyously announce the critically acclaimed MINDFUL MINDLESSNESS: A CERAMIC HISTORY OF ROCK AND ROLL will be opening at Citizen Vinyl on Saturday, October 14, with a top shelf celebration from 7-11pm.

Featuring live music, ROCK! themed refreshments, a cash bar and free entry(!), this stellar event is destined for ROCK’N’ROLL GREATNESS!

The exhibit will remain on view through the holidays.

From the show notes: Rock on!!! Just as the Greeks inscribed heroes and mythologies on their pottery, in this project we document the adventures of our own culture’s demigods – Actors, Politicians, Athletes, and perhaps most satisfying of all, ROCKSTARS, who seem to roam the earth for our amusement and edification. Their agonies and ecstasies echo our own tendency to bounce between transcendent oneness and relentless self-destruction. This series of twelve lekythoi (Greek olive oil containers) tries to reconcile the same core issues humans have struggled with since the time of the Greeks and well before. Sex, Excess, and Death play lead roles in this lighthearted retelling of some of Rock’s (and Rap, Punk, Jazz, and Techno’s) most amazing myths and legends.

The nation’s largest comedy club network is back! After a popular run last season, this hilarious collective returns to bring top-notch comedians for four weekends of side-splitting laughter. Some of the hottest stand-up comedians of today — seen in specials on Comedy Central, HBO Comedy, Netflix, Hulu and more — deliver witty one-liners, preposterous punchlines and hysterical anecdotes that will keep you laughing all night long. Contains adult content.

Headliner Leonard Ouzts

At 26 years old, Leonard Ouzts is a distinct rising voice in the world of stand-up comedy. A native of Virginia, his southern upbringing shaped his down to earth, observational comedic style. Leonard can most recently be seen in a breakout role of the producer Lawrence in season two of the Netflix series MASTER OF NONE. He has performed stand-up on CONAN, ADAM DEVINE’S HOUSE PARTY, and AXS’ GOTHAM COMEDY LIVE. He can also be seen in multiple episodes of TruTV’s COMEDY KNOCKOUT, MTV’s JOKING OFF, upcoming episodes of the MTV series WILD N OUT. Leonard was selected as a NEW FACE at the prestigious Montreal Just For Laughs Festival and was most recently named by RollingStone.com as a Top Ten Comic To Watch. Leonard can currently be seen playing James on the NBC comedy Abby’s opposite Natalie Morales.

The Sublime Theater presents the world premiere of David Brendan Hopes’ “Ben & Angela,” starring Scott Fisher & Kirby Gibson, directed by Steven Samuels. “No matter how long people have been doing it, marriage remains a mystery. In “Ben & Angela,” a young couple follow the twisty, sometimes hilarious, road from first infatuation through the kinks and perils of living life together for the long haul. They each know the other’s weakness. They each know each other’s strength. They know what it will look like when it is perfect.”

Written by Samuel D. Hunter

Keith, a mortgage broker and Ryan, a yogurt plant worker, are two men who, at first glance, have nothing in common. Their meeting, in Keith’s cubicle, evolves from a business discussion to a thoughtful exploration of parenthood, financial insecurity, and empathy. Both intimate and expansive, Samuel D. Hunter’s heartbreaking new play argues for hope even in the face of extreme disappointment as two men with seemingly very different lives grow to care for one another.

Content advisory: strong language

Our Black Box series continues as we welcome to the stage the magnificent work of William Shakespeare. Surrender to a haunting story of ambition and its dark consequences, as a military hero and his wife conspire to seize political power. A terrifyingly prophetic tale of revenge, murder, and madness, Macbeth lays bare the fallout when the darkest side of humanity cheats its way into a position of power.  One of Shakespeare’s bloodiest, scariest, and yet, most popular tragedies.

Written by Will Storrs
Directed by Deanna Braine Smith
Just in time for Halloween, local playwright Will Storrs brings us this World Premiere reimagining Alice and the characters of Lewis Carroll’s story in a seasonally-appropriate way. Sure to be a horribly good time!
 
All shows will run Fridays through Sundays and all will be presented at 7:30pm and prime seats can be reserved.

Montford Park Players has been bringing some of theater’s greatest works to Western North Carolina for over 50 years. Montford Park Players continues its mission of bring free theater to the community. The summer season allows everyone to come spend an evening under the stars, seeing some of the best live performances presented in Asheville.