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.

Saturday, December 7, 2019
Carolina Christmas Show
Dec 7 @ 2:30 pm
Colonial Theater

Share the joy & magic of the Christmas season with your friends & families at the Carolina Christmas Show, a dazzling production of live music, dance, & comedy! This heartwarming Broadway-style show features the finest performers from Western NC & special guest artists presenting sacred and secular Christmas favorites, including Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, O Holy Night, Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree, and Go Tell it On the Mountain. Relax, unplug, & experience the Carolina Christmas Show, a celebration of the true spirit of Christmas that’s sure to become an annual tradition!

One weekend only:  December 6 at 7:30 PM and December 7 at 2:30 PM & 7:30 PM.

Miracle on 34th Street
Dec 7 @ 2:30 pm
Asheville Community Theatre

Kris Kringle, an old man living in a retirement home, gets a job working as Santa for Macy’s where he surprises employees and customers by claiming to be the real Santa Claus. Seen as deluded by Macy’s vocational counselor, he’s thrown into a court case to determine his mental health and, more importantly, his authenticity. Especially at stake is one little girl’s belief in Santa. The whole family will enjoy this funny, poignant and faithful adaptation of the classic 1947 film.

A Slice of Life: An Evening of Stories with Connie Regan Blake
Dec 7 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Black Mountain Center for the Arts

oin nationally celebrated storyteller, Connie Regan-Blake, as she transforms a packed theater into an intimate circle of friends with old-timey charm, wisdom, and humor. We’ll also welcome to the stage, her workshop participants, Catherine Yael Serota, Steve Tate, Rick Bowers, Jane O. Cunningham, Christine Westfeldt, and Pepper Ellis-Hagebak. This event is in our intimate theatre, and usually sells out so get yours tickets ahead of time!

And look for the next “Slice of Life” series with Connie’s storytelling students in the Spring of 2020.

Handle With Care
Dec 7 @ 7:30 pm
North Carolina Stage Company

“In this bilingual romantic comedy, circumstances both hilarious and tragic bring together a young Israeli woman, who has little command of English, and a young American man, who has little command of romance. Is their inevitable love an accident … or is it destiny, generations in the making?”

“a hilarious and heartwarming romantic comedy” – The New York Times

The 10th Annual Bernstein Family Christmas Spectacular
Dec 7 @ 7:30 pm
The Magnetic Theatre

An Asheville Holiday staple!

Special Event – Join the Bernsteins for their final year of the raucous holiday fun.

The Bernsteins have thrilled and cracked up Asheville audiences with their antics for a decade. With an all-star cast of local acting talent, the show features Best of WNC Award Winner Tracey Johnston-Crum, well-known Lazoom personality Glenn Reed, Erik Moellering, Sarah Felmet, and Darren Marshall, who has played both Santa Claus and Baby Jesus for all ten years of the Spectacular. Directed by Lucia Del Vecchio, the show is sure to be a rollicking comedy romp, that is most certainly not suitable for all audiences.

December 5 – 21, 2019
Thursdays & Fridays at 7:30 p.m.
Saturdays at 7:30pm & 10 p.m.

Note: Groupons are not accepted for The 10th Annual Bernstein Family Christmas Spectacular.

The Nutcracker and the Mouse King
Dec 7 @ 7:30 pm
Diana Wortham Theatre

Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre presents
The Nutcracker and the Mouse King
ACDT’s Website

A new unique version of a seasonal delight. The Nutcracker and the Mouse King is a story full of adventure, courage and loyalty all performed in a colorful fast-paced dance theatre production.

A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas
Dec 7 @ 8:00 pm
Flat Rock Playhouse

Image

Wednesdays and Thursdays 2:00PM and 7:30PM
Fridays 8:00PM
Saturdays 2:00PM and 8:00PM
Sundays 2:00PM

 

A family tradition has come home for the holidays. An all-new production. Sure to delight and entertain.  Join us for the celebration

A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas
Dec 7 @ 8:00 pm
Flat Rock Playhouse

Image

Wednesdays and Thursdays 2:00PM and 7:30PM
Fridays 8:00PM
Saturdays 2:00PM and 8:00PM
Sundays 2:00PM

 

A family tradition has come home for the holidays. An all-new production. Sure to delight and entertain.  Join us for the celebration

The 10th Annual Bernstein Family Christmas Spectacular
Dec 7 @ 10:00 pm
The Magnetic Theatre

An Asheville Holiday staple!

Special Event – Join the Bernsteins for their final year of the raucous holiday fun.

The Bernsteins have thrilled and cracked up Asheville audiences with their antics for a decade. With an all-star cast of local acting talent, the show features Best of WNC Award Winner Tracey Johnston-Crum, well-known Lazoom personality Glenn Reed, Erik Moellering, Sarah Felmet, and Darren Marshall, who has played both Santa Claus and Baby Jesus for all ten years of the Spectacular. Directed by Lucia Del Vecchio, the show is sure to be a rollicking comedy romp, that is most certainly not suitable for all audiences.

December 5 – 21, 2019
Thursdays & Fridays at 7:30 p.m.
Saturdays at 7:30pm & 10 p.m.

Note: Groupons are not accepted for The 10th Annual Bernstein Family Christmas Spectacular.

Sunday, December 8, 2019
Fringe Activates Asheville in 2020! Fringe Freak Passes
Dec 8 all-day
Fringe Feast

Join us January 19 – 26, 2020, as we celebrate our 18th year as the fearless, boundary pushing performing arts festival. We are returning bigger and bolder than ever, beginning a little early, with a free preview party, 7 pm, January 11th at Fleetwood’s in West Asheville. Enjoy art installations from ZedAVL and Geneva Bierce Wilson, be delighted by everyone’s favorite site-specific dance troupe The Accidentals, and grab a newly printed guide so you can start planning your festival!

Fringe Freak Passes go on Sale December 6!

Buy a Freak Pass now to pick from 25 different ticketed shows, which run Thursday, January 23 through Sunday, January 26. The Freak Pass is only $65. Freak Passholders are given priority with reserved seats. There are a limited number available, when they are gone, they’re gone! Price goes up to $75 on January 1st.

As well as over 100 ticketed show times from local, national and international artists, we have FREE Random Acts of Fringe popping up all over town, all week long, and lots of parties!  The Kickoff party returns to the Lazy Diamond at 7 pm, co-hosted by the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority, from 6-9pm, on Sunday, January 19th. Check out the new Artist Wine Party, hosted by Zapow Gallery, 7 pm, Tuesday, January 21st. Free after-parties return, starting at 10 pm, Thursday at Sly Grog, Friday at Mothlight and Saturday at The Block Off Biltmore, There you can enjoy more Random Acts of Fringe, meet the artists and chat about your favorite shows! See AshevilleFringe.org for all the details.

Individual tickets for each show are $14-$19 and go on sale January 1. See www.AshevilleFringe.org individual show descriptions and ticketing links.

Nature Center Raffle Fundraiser
Dec 8 all-day
Buncombe County NC
That’s A Wrap! Gift Wrapping at Asheville Outlets
Dec 8 @ 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Asheville Outlets

Wrap your gifts at Asheville Outlets (ShopAshevilleOutlets.com) for a good cause! Guests are invited to bring their purchases and visit the gift-wrapping station in the Food Court this holiday season. $5 minimum donation suggested. Donations to benefit Enka Marching Band Program. Located inside Food Court.

Gift Wrapping Hours:
December 6-8, 13-15 and 19-22, 2019 – 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Sundays, 12 noon to 6 p.m.

Hendersonville Pub Crawl Benefiting Blue Ridge Humane Society
Dec 8 @ 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Dry Falls Brewing Co.

Join us for a fun day out on the town, visiting all the best breweries Hendo has to offer! We’ll be starting at Dry Falls at 1 PM, then the lineup is as follows (all times approximate):

1 PM – 1:45 PM Dry Falls Brewing Co.
walk

2 PM – 2:45 PM Sanctuary Brewing Company
walk

3:00 – 3:45 Triskelion Brewing Company
walk

4:00 – 4:45 Guidon Brewing Co.
walk

5 PM – ?? Southern Appalachian Brewery

Tickets: $5 at the door (cash, check, and card accepted with cash preferred). No kids or pets please! All proceeds plus a percentage of sales are donated to Blue Ridge Humane Society! Event is organized by the Historic Hendersonville Pub Crawl. Please utilize free parking options near Dry Falls as their parking is limited and we don’t want to use all their parking after we’ve left!

 

A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas
Dec 8 @ 2:00 pm
Leiman Mainstage at Flat Rock Playhouse

Image

Wednesdays and Thursdays 2:00PM and 7:30PM
Fridays 8:00PM
Saturdays 2:00PM and 8:00PM
Sundays 2:00PM

2661 Greenville Hwy Flat Rock, NC 28731

A family tradition has come home for the holidays. An all-new production. Sure to delight and entertain.  Join us for the celebration

A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas
Dec 8 @ 2:00 pm
Leiman Mainstage at Flat Rock Playhouse
Handle With Care
Dec 8 @ 2:00 pm
North Carolina Stage Company

“In this bilingual romantic comedy, circumstances both hilarious and tragic bring together a young Israeli woman, who has little command of English, and a young American man, who has little command of romance. Is their inevitable love an accident … or is it destiny, generations in the making?”

“a hilarious and heartwarming romantic comedy” – The New York Times

Let it be, Christmas
Dec 8 @ 2:30 pm
Event Center at Biltmore United Methodist Church

All proceeds benefit Eliada Homes, a local non-profit supporting the children of WNC.

Experience this contemporary rendition of the beloved Nativity story beautifully told through the gospel according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, George and Ringo. Travel with Mary and Joseph down the “Long and Winding Road” to Bethlehem while savoring dozens of classic Beatles hits. This entertaining Christmas event profoundly reminds us – “All you need is Love”.

Miracle on 34th Street
Dec 8 @ 2:30 pm
Asheville Community Theatre

Kris Kringle, an old man living in a retirement home, gets a job working as Santa for Macy’s where he surprises employees and customers by claiming to be the real Santa Claus. Seen as deluded by Macy’s vocational counselor, he’s thrown into a court case to determine his mental health and, more importantly, his authenticity. Especially at stake is one little girl’s belief in Santa. The whole family will enjoy this funny, poignant and faithful adaptation of the classic 1947 film.

Pan Harmonia: Community Benefit Concert
Dec 8 @ 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
St Mary's Episcopal Church

Flutist Kate Steinbeck performs with early music masters, Gail Ann Schroeder, viola da gamba, and Barbara Weiss, harpsichord. Music of JS Bach, GP Telemann and Wilhelmine von Bayreuth, older sister of Frederick the Great, Emperor of Prussia. Wilhelmine, also known as Princess of Prussia, lived from 1709 until 1758, was a gifted composer and lutenist.

Free admission: Donations encouraged!

Proceeds to benefit Beloved Asheville and Bountiful Baroque

Pan Harmonia: Community Benefit Concert
Dec 8 @ 4:00 pm
St. Mary’s Episcopal

Flutist Kate Steinbeck performs with early music masters, Gail Ann Schroeder, viola da gamba, and Barbara Weiss, harpsichord. Music of JS Bach, GP Telemann and Wilhelmine von Bayreuth, older sister of Frederick the Great, Emperor of Prussia. Wilhelmine, also known as Princess of Prussia, lived from 1709 until 1758, was a gifted composer and lutenist.

Free admission: Donations encouraged!

Proceeds to benefit Beloved Asheville and Bountiful Baroque

BELOVED ASHEVILLE creates innovative solutions to some of the toughest challenges we face as a community. They try to put love into action daily through these solutions to make our community better.

https://belovedasheville.com/

A Child’s Christmas in Wales
Dec 8 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Black Mountain Center for the Arts

James Nave eventbrite.png

We welcome back personality and poet James Navé as he again presents the classic story “A Child’s Christmas in Wales” by Dylan Thomas. Navé transports us to another time and another place where the season was packed with delights for all our senses, when children believed and villagers created a special time in that special place. As a gift to the community, Navé has been presenting the rich language of Thomas’s evocative holiday classic poem since 1988. Join us for an afternoon and leave renewed.

Monday, December 9, 2019
Nature Center Raffle Fundraiser
Dec 9 all-day
Buncombe County NC
NAT ZEGREE Flat Rock Playhouse
Dec 9 @ 7:30 pm
Flat Rock Playhouse

Join Flat Rock Playhouse dynamo Nat Zegree as he whisks you away on a musical journey celebrating the best holiday music from around the world!!! All proceeds for this special fundraiser performance will benefit the arts at Flat Rock Playhouse.

Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Nature Center Raffle Fundraiser
Dec 10 all-day
Buncombe County NC
ADDED SHOW: Nat Zegree in Feliz Nat-Vidad!
Dec 10 @ 7:30 pm
Flat Rock Playhouse

Due to popular demand, we’re bringing you a SECOND NIGHT of Nat Zegree in Feliz-Natviad! 

 Join us as dynamo Nat Zegree whisks you away on a musical journey celebrating the best holiday music from around the world!!!

Wednesday, December 11, 2019
Giving Challenge: Gifts to Pisgah Legal Services Matched Through Dec. 31
Dec 11 all-day
Pisgah Legal Services

 

Giving Challenge Issued: Gifts to Pisgah Legal Services Matched Through Dec. 31

To help meet the needs here in our mountain region, generous donors have created the “Campaign for Justice in WNC” Giving Challenge. All gifts made to Pisgah Legal Services by December 31st will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, up to $150,000.

 

Giving online is fast, easy and secure at www.pisgahlegal.org/give or contact Development Director Ally Wilson by phone at 828-210-3444 or via email: [email protected].

 

If you need help, call Pisgah Legal Services at 828-253-0406 or toll free at 800-489-6144 or visit www.pisgahlegal.org.

Across the country, schoolchildren place their hands over their hearts and recite “with liberty and justice for all,” an ideal in the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance professing that justice should be accessible to everyone. In criminal cases, legal assistance is a right. Unfortunately, there is no such right to counsel in civil legal matters, and most low-income Americans are forced to go it alone.

 

A recent study by The Pew Charitable Trusts shows that about 1 in 3 households in the U.S. faced housing, family or debt issues in 2018, suggesting that Americans could benefit from more assistance with civil legal issues. Those numbers increase dramatically for low-income people. A 2017 study shows that 86 percent of civil legal problems reported by low-income Americans received inadequate or no legal help.

 

Pisgah Legal Services Stands for Justice for People in Western North Carolina (WNC)

For more than 40 years, nonprofit Pisgah Legal Services (PLS) has provided free civil legal aid to help low-income people seek justice and meet their basic needs. 

 

“Folks who live in low-income households regularly experience problems that can be addressed with a civil legal aid attorney by their side: stopping domestic violence, accessing veterans’ benefits, escaping poor housing conditions, and securing health care for example,” says Pisgah Legal Executive Director Jim Barrett.

 

He continues, “Lawyers are powerful allies who can tackle the issues that keep people locked into poverty, trapped in abusive situations and living in substandard conditions, but we need support from the community to do so. We hope folks will make a gift to help their neighbors in need by the end of the year, because at Pisgah Legal we believe that justice is for everyone, not just those who can afford it.”

 

Last year PLS served more than 16,800 people across the mountain region. The nonprofit’s main service area includes eight WNC counties, with offices in Asheville, Brevard, Hendersonville, Marshall, Rutherfordton and Spruce Pine. PLS has 27 attorneys on staff and relies heavily on the pro bono legal services of more than 300 volunteer attorneys.

Nature Center Raffle Fundraiser
Dec 11 all-day
Buncombe County NC
A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas
Dec 11 @ 2:00 pm
Leiman Mainstage at Flat Rock Playhouse

Image

Wednesdays and Thursdays 2:00PM and 7:30PM
Fridays 8:00PM
Saturdays 2:00PM and 8:00PM
Sundays 2:00PM

2661 Greenville Hwy Flat Rock, NC 28731

A family tradition has come home for the holidays. An all-new production. Sure to delight and entertain.  Join us for the celebration

A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas
Dec 11 @ 2:00 pm
Leiman Mainstage at Flat Rock Playhouse
A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas
Dec 11 @ 7:30 pm
Flat Rock Playhouse

Image

Wednesdays and Thursdays 2:00PM and 7:30PM
Fridays 8:00PM
Saturdays 2:00PM and 8:00PM
Sundays 2:00PM

 

A family tradition has come home for the holidays. An all-new production. Sure to delight and entertain.  Join us for the celebration