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, March 20, 2021
Victoria: The Forgotten Town Walking Tour
Mar 20 all-day
Online w/ Western North Carolina Historical Association
Contained by its larger growing neighbor (Asheville), the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers, and the Southern Railway line, the Town of Victoria existed from 1887 until 1905, when it was absorbed into Asheville. The community—which included the Smith-McDowell House and Fernihurst mansion—originally incorporated into a town to prevent unwanted development (particularly from the Vanderbilts).
Virtual Arts + Crafts Home Tour
Mar 20 all-day
Online w/ Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County

This year you can join us for the Arts & Crafts Home Tour from the comfort of your home!  Tour Possum Trot and Dogwood Cottages in Albemarle Park and finish with Sondley House in Haw Creek.  Due to location and accessibility, these homes would not normally be included in the tour, so this is a special treat!
Weekly Flea Market Hominy Valley
Mar 20 @ 6:00 am – 3:00 pm
Hominy Valley Wildlife & Sportsmen's Club

Image may contain: plant, tree, house, sky and outdoor

Starting Saturday, August 1, 2020, the Hominy Valley Wildlife Club will begin hosting a weekly flea market. Spaces will be $15.00 each, maximum of two spaces per seller. Grounds will open at 6 am for seller setup.

For more information contact Lane Brown at 828-231-5408, Bruce Whitt at 828-665-2114, Rachel Godwin at 828-273-6911 or email at [email protected]

American Red Cross Be a hero Roll up a Sleeve
Mar 20 @ 7:00 am – 3:00 pm
Asheville Blood Donation Center

March is Red Cross Month, and for more than 130 years, heroic American Red Cross volunteers have provided hope and urgent relief to families in communities across the country.
This March the community is invited to join in the lifesaving mission of the Red Cross and be
someone’s hero by rolling up a sleeve to give blood.
According to the Red Cross, someone in the U.S. needs blood every two seconds to respond to
patient emergencies. Accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients,
and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease may all require blood.
All blood types are needed.
Be a hero in your community by rolling up a sleeve….

To make an appointment or to learn more, download the American Red Cross Blood Donor
App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood
Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device. Completion of a RapidPass® online health history
questionnaire is encouraged to help speed up the donation process. To get started, follow the
instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App. A blood donor card
or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who
are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh
at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High
school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height
and weight requirements.

Arden Seventh Day Adventist Church Mobile Blood Drive
Mar 20 @ 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Arden Seventh Day Adventist Church
Bold Souls Morning Yoga
Mar 20 @ 9:45 am – 10:45 am
Bold Rock Hard Cider (Mills River, NC)

Bring your yoga mats to Bold Rock for a mindful way to begin your Saturday! Get your “ohm” on with a local trainer and yoga instructor as they lead a fun and playful yoga session. This class is open to all levels of yoga experience for a $5 suggested donation!
After yoga, feel free to have a cider or some delicious lunch from the food truck.
Blue Ridge Humane Society provides new Pet Housing Assistance
Mar 20 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Online w/ Blue Ridge Humane Society

 Blue Ridge Humane Society has been awarded a grant by the Community Foundation of Henderson County to provide assistance for pet owners seeking housing. Blue Ridge Humane Society is committed to keeping pets in loving homes through a range of programs and assistance for community pets. The new program adds a needed service to assist in the current pet-friendly housing challenges facing Henderson County residents.

 

The new program will assist pet owners through two avenues—either through assisting with temporary boarding cost while the owner is unable to keep an animal due to relocation or other emergency circumstances; or through assisting with one-time pet deposit for a rental unit.

 

Those needing assistance or interested in learning more about the program can call (828) 393-5832 (you may experience a delay on holidays and weekends).

 

Community Foundation of Henderson County, founded in 1982, supports charitable programs in the greater Henderson County area.

 

Blue Ridge Humane Society, Inc., is a 501(c)3 animal welfare organization started in 1950 dedicated to ensuring the highest quality of life for animals in Henderson County and our neighboring communities. BRHS cares for pets awaiting adoption and in foster homes; offers low-cost vaccine clinics, animal education programs, pet training classes, and youth education and projects; coordinates community pet food assistance, emergency vet assistance, and the Spay Neuter Incentive Program (SNIP), which is a collaboration with Henderson County, the City of Hendersonville, and the Henderson County Animal Services Center.

 

If you believe in our cause, consider making a donation or learning how to volunteer by visiting the Blue Ridge Humane Society’s website at www.blueridgehumane.org or call (828) 692-2639.

Pack Memorial Library Opens at 50 Percent Capacity for Grab and Go Service
Mar 20 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Pack Memorial Library

 

Beginning Tuesday, Jan. 19, Pack Memorial Library will reopen to the public with limited hours and services. See below for schedule information for most other Buncombe County Public Libraries.

The Pack library schedule will be:

  • Tuesday-Thursday, 1-6 p.m.
  • Friday & Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
  • Sunday & Monday, Closed
Sand Hill Community Garden Workdays
Mar 20 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
 Buncombe County Sports Park

Volunteers at Sand Hill Community Garden

Looking to get involved, stay active, and meet some new friends? Sand Hill Community Garden workdays take place on Wednesdays (6-8 p.m.) and Saturdays (10 a.m.-noon) from Feb. 27-Oct. 30, 2021, at Buncombe County Sports Park. The garden is located on 16 Apac Dr. in West Asheville/Enka-Candler.

Join friends and neighbors as they come together on common ground to raise fresh, organic vegetables and fruits for the Enka community.

Expect to wear a mask and maintain social distance throughout. Tools and hand sanitizer are available, but any gloves, loppers, pruners, or gardening tools you can bring will decrease the amount of contact between volunteers. Please wear work clothes to get dirty and closed-toe shoes. Sunscreen, water, and a hat are also handy items to have on hand.

Sand Hill Community Garden has been growing fresh produce since 2011 and raised over 1,200 lbs. of organic produce last year.

NOTE: Community workdays are weather dependent. Please join the community garden email list (send your info to [email protected]) to stay up on workday tasks and other garden news.

To receive the I Heart Parks monthly newsletter, sign up online. Follow Buncombe County Recreation on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.

Smith-McDowell House Museum Open for private, pre-booked tours
Mar 20 @ 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Smith-McDowell House Museum

We are OPEN Fridays and Saturdays
for private, pre-booked tours at:
10:30 AM
12:00 PM
1:30 PM
3:00 PM

Free Tax Help: Pack Library
Mar 20 @ 10:30 am – 2:00 pm
Pack Memorial Library
  • Because of the Covid-19 restrictions, our Library Tax-Aide program is changing the way you can get help with your taxes in 2021. Tax assistance is available now through April 8.

    You will need an appointment this year to speak with a tax help aide at the library. At your appointment, you can drop off your tax documents and you’ll be given another appointment in about two weeks to pick up your paperwork and completed tax form.

    How it works

    1. Pick-up a Tax Record Envelope and instructions at Black Mountain, West Asheville or Pack Library during library hours.
    2. Complete the Intake/Interview Booklet in your envelope by answering all questions. Then sign and date the last 3 pages.  Place all your tax forms and any information relating to your tax return in your envelope.
    3. Make an appointment to drop off your Tax Record Envelope and meet with a Tax-Aide volunteer.
  • Saturdays, appointments available between 10:30am and 2pm
    • To make an appointment for Saturday tax help at Pack Library, email [email protected] with your name and telephone number. A volunteer will contact you to set up your appointment. At your appointment, a tax volunteer will check all documents and give you a follow-up appointment to pick up your completed tax return and documents in 1 or 2 weeks. This tax help is provided by UNCA.
    • Bring the following documents and tax forms to your tax help appointment (photocopies are recommended):
      • Photo ID / Driver License for Taxpayer and Spouse
      • Social Security Cards for Taxpayer, Spouse and ALL dependents
      • Prior year (2019) Federal and State tax returns
      • W-2 Wages, W-2G (Gambling winnings)
      • SSA-1099 Social Security Benefit Statement
      • 1099-R Retirement, 1099-RRB (Railroad Retirement Benefits)
      • 1099-Interest, 1099-Dividend, 1099-OID
      • 1099-B Brokerage Statement, Sale of Stocks and Bonds, 1099-Ks
      • 1099-G Unemployment and State refunds
      • 1099-NEC Self-Employment, 1099-MISC
      • 1099-C Sale of Home, Forgiveness of Credit Card Debt
      • 1098- Home Mortgage Interest and Real Estate Taxes
      • 1099-T Education Credits PLUS Student Account Statement
      • 1098-E Student Loan Interest
      • 1099-SA and/or 5498-SA (HSA = Health Savings Account)
      • 1095-A Health Insurance – Affordable Care Act, Health Insurance Marketplace
      • Schedule K-1 (Forms 1065, 1120S or 1041)
      • Any other documents or information relevant to preparation of the tax return
      • Voided check for direct deposit of any refund to your checking / savings account
Mobile Blood Drive Skyland Exchange Apartment Homes
Mar 20 @ 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Skyland Exchange Apartment Homes

TBC Rewards

The Blood Connection’s (TBC) local blood supply is low because the wintry weather has caused consecutive days of low donor turnout. In order to best serve local hospital patients who rely on blood donors, TBC needs a stable blood supply.

Mobile Blood Drive: Forest at Biltmore Park Apartments
Mar 20 @ 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Forest at Biltmore Park Apartments

TBC Rewards

The Blood Connection’s (TBC) local blood supply is low because the wintry weather has caused consecutive days of low donor turnout. In order to best serve local hospital patients who rely on blood donors, TBC needs a stable blood supply.

 

Outdoor Stage: Natti Love Joys
Mar 20 @ 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Salvage Station

Natti Love Joys

Join us on Sunday as the Natti Love Joys take the stage from 5-9pm for live outdoor reggae jamming on the French Broad River. Root Down Kitchen will be serving food and the bar will be open from 4pm-10pm. Masks & Social Distancing required. Show is rain or shine (we have plenty of covered outdoor seating to keep you happy and dry).

 

THE NATTI LOVE JOYS HAVE BEEN ROCKING THE CROWD WITH THEIR FUN REGGAE AND WORLD MUSIC VIBE FOR YEARS AND HAVE OPENED SHOWS FOR JOAN JETT, THREE DOG NIGHT, THE BAND, THE CLASH, THE RAMONES, PSYCHEDELIC FURS, DEBBIE GIBSON, JIMMY CLIFF, AND MANY MORE. NATTI LOVE JOYS OPENED FOR TOOTS & THE MAYTALS AT SALVAGE STATION IN 2019.

Pleasure Chest: Outdoor Stage
Mar 20 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Salvage Station

Pleasure Chest

Pleasure Chest is a high energy Blues, Soul, Rock and Roll band hailing from Asheville NC. With the humor of Bo Diddley and Screamin’ Jay Hawkins to the swampy, dirty grit of Slim Harpo and Elmore James they’re guaranteed to please and get your bootie shaking! Members include – KIP VENO – vocals / harmonica ERICH HUBNER – vocals / guitar WILL TOCABEN – bass TIM NYLANDER – drums KYLE SNUFFER – trombone ALEX BRADLEY – trumpet BEN COLVIN – saxophone

PRESENTING LIVE MUSIC ON OUR OUTDOOR STAGE ON THE FRENCH BROAD RIVER FROM 6-9PM. FULL BAR, AMAZING MENU BY ROOT DOWN KITCHEN! PLENTY OF SPACE TO SOCIAL DISTANCE IN STYLE WITH YOUR POD OF FRIENDS.

21 plus

Chuck Brodsky
Mar 20 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Isis Music Hall

Chuck Brodsky is a storyteller, songwriter, troubadour, modern day bard. His wit & irony, down-to-earth warmth, & quirky, rootsy, finely crafted songs, tell stories of oddball & underdog characters. His songs celebrate the goodness in people, the eccentric, the holy, the courageous, the inspiring, the beautiful. They poke fun at what needs poking & are sworn to tell the truth.

Come enjoy an evening of live music, food and drinks at the Isis Music Hall. Reservations are highly recommended.

Tickets on Sale now – Please Call the Venue

This concert will also be Live Streamed from the Isis Music Hall Facebook Page

OWEDA | The One Stop at Asheville Music Hall
Mar 20 @ 7:30 pm – 11:00 pm
The One Stop at Asheville Music Hall
Sunday, March 21, 2021
1918 vs. 2020: Epidemics Then + Now in WNC
Mar 21 all-day
Online w/ Western North Carolina Historical Association (WNCHA)

1918 vs. 2020

In the midst of the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, we take an in-depth look at the 1918 influenza epidemic in Western North Carolina through newspaper clippings, advertisements, ephemera, photographs, and oral history and place the events of 1918 into context with our present-day response to the coronavirus pandemic.

American nonstop flights in JUNE from AVL to Boston, Chicago and Washington DC
Mar 21 all-day
Asheville Regional Airport (AVL)
merican Airlines and Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) are growing together again!  In anticipation of increasing interest in travel to the Asheville area, American is launching new daily nonstop service to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) as well as new Saturday service to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) in time for summer.
Service to DCA begins June 3 and will operate through Sept. 7. Flights to BOS and ORD both begin June 5, and will operate through Nov. 6 and Sept. 4, respectively. All flights will be operated on regional aircraft equipped with 76 seats in a two-cabin configuration.
With the addition of these new routes, American will operate a record of 12 peak day flights at AVL.
“American continues to show significant commitment to the western North Carolina market,” said Lew Bleiweis, A.A.E., Executive Director of the Greater Asheville Regional Airport Authority. “It is exciting to welcome these new routes this summer, which are great new options for travelers. The connectivity American offers is very important to the quality air service available at AVL, and I thank them for their amazing partnership.”
“As more customers look for opportunities to get away and explore the great outdoors, American is eager to expand travel options to the Asheville region,” said Brian Znotins, Vice President of Network Schedule and Planning for American. “In-airport and on board, our team has taken every effort to ensure the well-being of customers throughout their travels while offering more flexibility and choice than ever before.”
NEW ROUTE SCHEDULES
ROUTE
DCA > AVL
AVL > DCA
ORD > AVL
AVL > ORD
BOS > AVL
AVL > BOS
DATES OF OPERATION
June 3 – September 7, 2021
(Daily)
June 5 – September 4, 2021
(Saturdays)
June 5 – November 6, 2021
(Saturdays)
FLIGHT TIMES
Dep DCA: 2:45pm | Arr AVL: 4:20pm
Dep AVL: 5:00pm | Arr DCA: 6:35pm
Dep ORD: 1:20pm | Arr AVL: 4:14pm
Dep AVL: 6:00pm | Arr ORD: 7:12pm
Dep BOS: 10:05am | Arr AVL: 1:00pm
Dep AVL: 1:40pm | Arr BOS: 4:30pm
American offers nonstop flights from AVL to:  Charlotte, N.C. (5-7 daily departures), Chicago, Ill. (Saturdays, summer seasonal), Dallas-Fort Worth, Tx. (twice daily), and Washington, D.C. (daily, summer-early fall).  Flights can be booked at www.aa.com.
Community Recreation Grant Applications Now Open
Mar 21 all-day
online w/ Buncombe County Government

Buncombe County has opened the application cycle of the Community Recreation Grants program for projects taking place from July 2021-June 2022. The grants are part of other countywide initiatives that help make Buncombe County a place everyone from infants to retirees has the opportunity to be strong, healthy, and successful. The program is intended to help community nonprofits make immediate improvements and jump-start long-term progress that align with the Buncombe 2025 plan. Grants range in amounts from $500-$6,000, depending on the number of qualifying applicants.

Eligibility

Eligible entities include Buncombe County nonprofits focused on providing equitable access to recreational, fitness, cultural, and wellness activities to the public at no- or low-cost. These funds are intended to be a leveraging tool that promote partnerships between the County and area nonprofits and are not a donation, funding stream, or sponsorship opportunity. Programs applying for funding should align with the Buncombe 2025 plan’s focus areas, as well as embody the spirt of Buncombe County Recreation Services’ mission: Connect Communities. Preserve Culture. Change Lives.

Projects funded in the past have included creative placemaking, increasing safe connections to a wider range of play and wellness activities for underserved residents, supporting access to experiences that preserve regional and international cultures, improvements to public athletic fields and fitness courses, expanding environmental education, building food security through community gardens, and establishing multigenerational outdoor spaces for neighbors to connect with each other and foster community pride.

Want to apply?

Application, guidelines, and a list of 2020 recipients are available online. Questions should be directed to [email protected].

The grant application deadline is 5 p.m. on Fri., Mar. 26, 2021. Late applications will not be accepted.

Driving Tour with Smith-McDowell House
Mar 21 all-day
Online w/ Western North Carolina Historical Association
The residents of the Smith-McDowell House and grounds were woven in to the fabric of Asheville.

This driving tour begins at the Smith-McDowell House Museum on the campus of A-B Tech and continues through historic sites related to early occupants of the house.

Get Your Go Local Card
Mar 21 all-day
Online w/ Asheville Grown

Supporting Local Schools

Half of your purchase price of the 2021 Go Local Card will go to a public school to enhance programming, purchase much-needed teacher supplies and support local kids.

Buy yours TODAY!

Each year, as we add more businesses and cardholders to the program, the local movement grows stronger.

Photo courtesy of Mountain Xpress

Help Save Wild Baby Orphan Animals
Mar 21 all-day
Online w/ Appalachian Wildlife Refuge

Appalachian Wild provides injured and orphaned wild animals a place to go for care and treatment to give them a second chance at life in the wild. Help the wild ones today!
High-Risk Medical Conditions Group 4: Eligible COVID-19 Vaccine Beginning March 17
Mar 21 all-day
Online w/ NC Department of Health and Human Services
Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. announced beginning on March 17, people in Group 4 who have a medical condition that puts them at higher risk of serious illness and people who live in certain congregate settings will be eligible for vaccination. The rest of Group 4, which includes other essential workers will become eligible April 7. (See Deeper Dive)
The state was able to update its timeline today based on provider feedback and expected supply. As with previous eligibility changes, some vaccine providers may not be ready to open to Group 4 on March 17 if they are still experiencing high demand for vaccines in Groups 1 through 3.
Higher Risk Individuals in Group 4 are Now Eligible for COVID Vaccines
Mar 21 all-day
North Carolina
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services released information on the addition of high-risk, group 4 individuals to those eligible for vaccines. According to their release, people in Group 4 who have a medical condition that puts them at higher risk of severe COVID-19 illness and those who live in certain congregate settings are now eligible for vaccination. You can find a COVID-19 vaccination site near you at MySpot.nc.gov.
North Carolina follows the recommendations of the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as to who is at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. That includes adults of any age with conditions, such as asthma, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, sickle cell disease, obesity, or smoking.
In addition, those who are eligible starting March 17 includes anyone who is living in higher-risk congregate or close group living settings who is not already vaccinated.
The rest of Group 4, which includes other essential workers, will become eligible April 7. Previously eligible groups – health care workers, long-term care staff and residents, people 65 and older, and frontline essential workers – will continue to be prioritized.
Some vaccine providers may not be ready to open to people with a medical condition on March 17 if they are still experiencing high demand for vaccines in Groups 1, 2 and 3.
Visit YourShotYourSpot.nc.gov (English) or Vacunate.nc.gov (Spanish) for more information about the vaccines, including answers to frequently asked questions..
Not sure what vaccine group you’re in? Visit FindMyGroup.nc.gov. You can also contact the COVID-19 Vaccine Help Center toll-free at 1-888-675-4567.
Hillbillyland: Myth + Reality of Appalachian Culture
Mar 21 all-day
Online w/ Western North Carolina Historical Association (WNCHA)
RAIL: The Railroad and Incarcerated Laborer Memorial Project
Mar 21 all-day
Online w/ Western North Carolina Historical Association (WNCHA)

The construction of the Mountain Division of the Western North Carolina Railroad is widely considered one of the greatest human accomplishments in regards to both engineering and construction ever undertaken at the time it occurred. The project took place over a period of several years in the late 1800s. Many people are aware that the railroad provided the first dependable access to and from much of Western North Carolina for the rest of the state as well as much of the nation. Many also know the names of some of those who were instrumental in seeing through the completion of this ambitious project. Names such as Colonel Alexander Boyd Andrews, of Andrews’ Geyser fame. However, what most people are unaware of is that at least 95% of the labor which built the railroad across the Blue Ridge Escarpment was completed by inmates from the North Carolina State Penitentiary… and approximately 98% of those inmates were African American men… the majority of whom were unjustly imprisoned…

This project was created to share the true story behind this human endeavor and to honor the memory of those who labored and those who died here.

Regional Resources: Historical Research
Mar 21 all-day
Online w/ Western North Carolina Historical Association (WNCHA)

Western North Carolina has a rich assortment of county historical societies, archives, and museums. The Western North Carolina Historical Association seeks to help researchers, historians, genealogists, and the general public take full advantage of these resources.

 

Share Your Story Campaign: Support Asheville Art Museum as Finalist in The National Medal
Mar 21 all-day
Online w/ Asheville Art Museum

The Asheville Art Museum is the only museum in North Carolina to be selected as a finalist for this award. Chapel Hill Public Library is the only library to be selected in North Carolina.

The National Medal is the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries that demonstrate significant impact in their communities. For more than 25 years, the award has honored institutions that demonstrate excellence in service to their communities.

To celebrate this honor, IMLS is encouraging the Asheville Art Museum’s community members to share stories, memories, pictures, and videos on social media as part of the Share Your Story Campaign, using the #IMLSmedals hashtag, and engage with IMLS on Facebook and Twitter. For more information, please visit the IMLS website. The Asheville Art Museum will be featured on IMLS’s social media accounts on Tuesday, March 30, and we invite all to also share the content with the community.

National Medal winners will be announced in late spring. Representatives from winning institutions will be honored for their extraordinary contributions during a virtual National Medal Ceremony this summer.

To see the full list of finalists and learn more about the National Medal, visit the IMLS website.

Stay Informed. Be Buncombe Ready. Sign up for BC Alerts
Mar 21 all-day
online w/ Buncombe County Government

News article image

Buncombe County will be using our emergency notification system to let people know when COVID vaccine appointments are available.

BCAlerts

If there’s one thing the pandemic has taught us, it’s to be ready… Buncombe Ready. But what’s the best way to stay up to date about available vaccines, natural disasters, public health emergencies, and more? Sign up for BC Alerts, and you’ll get that information sent directly to you in real time.

Text BCAlert  to 99411 or click here to sign up and pick the types of alerts you’d like to receive. You’ll also be able to choose from preferred languages. Need TTY? No problem, that option is also available.

If you’ve already signed up for BC Alerts in the past, you’ll need to re-register due to a change in emergency alert providers.

Stay Buncombe Ready and sign up for BC Alerts today.

Follow the County on our social media pages  at facebook.com/buncombegov or facebook.com/bchhs, on Twitter at twitter.com/buncombeGov and on Instagram at instagram.com/buncombecounty.

You may also sign up for Buncombe County’s COVID-19 newsletter at buncombeready.org and click the sign up button.