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.

Sunday, October 18, 2020
Leave it Better Sweepstake Eno + Explore Brevard
Oct 18 all-day
Online

LEAVE IT BETTER SWEEPSTAKES

Enter to win an ENO Leave No Trace Double Nest hammock and suspension system today! ENO and Explore Brevard are excited to partner in the effort to promote our new Leave It Better campaign. Entering is easy. Simply follow these steps and you’ll be automatically entered into the sweepstakes:

 

STEP 1
Follow ENO Hammocks and Explore Brevard on Instagram or Facebook.

 

Step 2
Post an example of how you Leave No Trace and go the extra step to Leave It Better on your own social media account with the hashtag #ILeaveItBetter

 

Step 3
Watch our social media accounts for winner announcements at the end of August, September and October!

 

Each month will have multiple winners so stay tuned.

See below for official contest rules and alternate form of entry.

Burlesque Brunch
Oct 18 @ 12:00 pm
The Grey Eagle

Burlesque Brunch

Join us on the third Sunday of every month for Burlesque Brunch!
  • 18 +
  • SEATED SHOW
  • 11 AM DOORS/ 12 PM 

Burlesque Brunch is a monthly burlesque and belly dance show with a classic speakeasy feel. Join us every month and relax and enjoy our dancing dames and dandies in an up close and intimate setting. It’s a Sunday afternoon to delight the senses!

Wednesday, October 21, 2020
Outdoor Trivia Night with Bingeable!
Oct 21 @ 7:00 pm
Catawba Brewing Company - South

Image may contain: one or more people, tree, drink, plant, sky, table, outdoor and nature, text that says 'CATAWBA brewing'

Join us and Bingeable Trivia every Wednesday at 7pm for outdoor trivia night!!
-All trivia players must have a seat outside to play. There are a limited amount of tables outside so get here early to claim your seat
-Tables are spread out 6 feet apart for social distancing
-Players will text in their answers instead of turning in sheets
-And masks are required while ordering beers inside

We will have a theme every other week! Trivia is subject to cancellation depending on the weather.

Thursday, October 22, 2020
 Guess Who: A Costume Quest In-person Outdoor
Oct 22 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Asheville Community Theatre

We’re flipping the script on trick or treating this year! Guess Who: A Costume Quest is an outdoor walking tour and interactive game that features costumed actors from past ACT plays and musicals. Guess who’s who, and after you do, there’s a take-home bag of candy and treats for you! This family-friendly night of fun will be held in the parking lots and surrounding grounds of Asheville Community Theatre and the Thomas Wolfe House. Tours will begin at 6:00 pm and start times will be staggered to maintain social distancing.

How will this work? Chanda Calentine explains: “You’ll walk on a path around our building and will encounter 12 different characters along the way. They’ll each share a clue or two about themselves, and you’ll try to guess who they are and which show they’re from. These are recognizable characters from our family friendly shows, and even if you haven’t seen these shows at ACT, we think you’ll still be able to make a good guess! And, at the end of the tour, we’ll have treats for you to take home.

City Dance
Oct 22 @ 7:30 pm
Landmark Hal

Beginner’s workshop lesson at 7:30 P.M., then 8-11 P.M. Contra Dance with Country Waltzing at the break and the final dance. This is a partner dance but it’s not necessary to come with a partner. We have different live bands and callers.

Friday, October 23, 2020
Leave it Better Sweepstake Eno + Explore Brevard
Oct 23 all-day
Online

LEAVE IT BETTER SWEEPSTAKES

Enter to win an ENO Leave No Trace Double Nest hammock and suspension system today! ENO and Explore Brevard are excited to partner in the effort to promote our new Leave It Better campaign. Entering is easy. Simply follow these steps and you’ll be automatically entered into the sweepstakes:

 

STEP 1
Follow ENO Hammocks and Explore Brevard on Instagram or Facebook.

 

Step 2
Post an example of how you Leave No Trace and go the extra step to Leave It Better on your own social media account with the hashtag #ILeaveItBetter

 

Step 3
Watch our social media accounts for winner announcements at the end of August, September and October!

 

Each month will have multiple winners so stay tuned.

See below for official contest rules and alternate form of entry.

Dance Theatre of Harlem 50th Anniversary Tour
Oct 23 @ 11:00 am
Diana Wortham Theatre

Dance Theatre of Harlem, October 23, 2020 at 11AM

Born at the height of the civil rights movement, the Dance Theatre of Harlem conveys a message of empowerment for all through the arts. Leave students in awe with the language of movement in this forward-thinking, impassioned and compelling performance that celebrates African American culture.

Recommended for Grades 3-12

 Guess Who: A Costume Quest In-person Outdoor
Oct 23 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Asheville Community Theatre

We’re flipping the script on trick or treating this year! Guess Who: A Costume Quest is an outdoor walking tour and interactive game that features costumed actors from past ACT plays and musicals. Guess who’s who, and after you do, there’s a take-home bag of candy and treats for you! This family-friendly night of fun will be held in the parking lots and surrounding grounds of Asheville Community Theatre and the Thomas Wolfe House. Tours will begin at 6:00 pm and start times will be staggered to maintain social distancing.

How will this work? Chanda Calentine explains: “You’ll walk on a path around our building and will encounter 12 different characters along the way. They’ll each share a clue or two about themselves, and you’ll try to guess who they are and which show they’re from. These are recognizable characters from our family friendly shows, and even if you haven’t seen these shows at ACT, we think you’ll still be able to make a good guess! And, at the end of the tour, we’ll have treats for you to take home.

Saturday, October 24, 2020
Leave it Better Sweepstake Eno + Explore Brevard
Oct 24 all-day
Online

LEAVE IT BETTER SWEEPSTAKES

Enter to win an ENO Leave No Trace Double Nest hammock and suspension system today! ENO and Explore Brevard are excited to partner in the effort to promote our new Leave It Better campaign. Entering is easy. Simply follow these steps and you’ll be automatically entered into the sweepstakes:

 

STEP 1
Follow ENO Hammocks and Explore Brevard on Instagram or Facebook.

 

Step 2
Post an example of how you Leave No Trace and go the extra step to Leave It Better on your own social media account with the hashtag #ILeaveItBetter

 

Step 3
Watch our social media accounts for winner announcements at the end of August, September and October!

 

Each month will have multiple winners so stay tuned.

See below for official contest rules and alternate form of entry.

 Guess Who: A Costume Quest In-person Outdoor
Oct 24 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Asheville Community Theatre

We’re flipping the script on trick or treating this year! Guess Who: A Costume Quest is an outdoor walking tour and interactive game that features costumed actors from past ACT plays and musicals. Guess who’s who, and after you do, there’s a take-home bag of candy and treats for you! This family-friendly night of fun will be held in the parking lots and surrounding grounds of Asheville Community Theatre and the Thomas Wolfe House. Tours will begin at 6:00 pm and start times will be staggered to maintain social distancing.

How will this work? Chanda Calentine explains: “You’ll walk on a path around our building and will encounter 12 different characters along the way. They’ll each share a clue or two about themselves, and you’ll try to guess who they are and which show they’re from. These are recognizable characters from our family friendly shows, and even if you haven’t seen these shows at ACT, we think you’ll still be able to make a good guess! And, at the end of the tour, we’ll have treats for you to take home.

Dance Theatre of Harlem 50th Anniversary Tour Rescheduled
Oct 24 @ 8:00 pm
Diana Wortham Theatre

Born at the height of the civil rights movement, the Dance Theatre of Harlem conveys a message of empowerment for all through the arts. Leave students in awe with the language of movement in this forward-thinking, impassioned and compelling performance that celebrates African American culture.

Dance Theatre of Harlem, October 23 & 24, 2020 at 8PM

If you had already purchased tickets for the original May 5 & 6, 2020 performances:
1. Do nothing. Your tickets will be automatically transferred to the new dates.
Tickets for Tuesday, May 5, 2020 —> New date: Tuesday, April 27, 2021
Tickets for Wednesday, May 6, 2020 —> New date: Wednesday, April 28, 2021

If you are holding tickets to the Tuesday, May 5, 2020 performance, your tickets will automatically be transferred to the Tuesday, April 27, 2021 performance.  If you are holding tickets to the Wednesday, May 6, 2020 performance, your tickets will automatically be transferred to the Wednesday, April 28, 2021 performance. Tickets can be exchanged between both new dates, based on availability. Exchanging show dates must be confirmed through the box office: [email protected] or 828-257-4530.
2. Can’t make the rescheduled dates? No problem. Convert your tickets into a credit to be used for another performance in the future (good until June 30, 2022).
3. Transform your tickets into a donation to the Wortham Center.
4. Request a refund.

Sunday, October 25, 2020
Leave it Better Sweepstake Eno + Explore Brevard
Oct 25 all-day
Online

LEAVE IT BETTER SWEEPSTAKES

Enter to win an ENO Leave No Trace Double Nest hammock and suspension system today! ENO and Explore Brevard are excited to partner in the effort to promote our new Leave It Better campaign. Entering is easy. Simply follow these steps and you’ll be automatically entered into the sweepstakes:

 

STEP 1
Follow ENO Hammocks and Explore Brevard on Instagram or Facebook.

 

Step 2
Post an example of how you Leave No Trace and go the extra step to Leave It Better on your own social media account with the hashtag #ILeaveItBetter

 

Step 3
Watch our social media accounts for winner announcements at the end of August, September and October!

 

Each month will have multiple winners so stay tuned.

See below for official contest rules and alternate form of entry.

Wednesday, October 28, 2020
D+D with Raj on Zoom
Oct 28 @ 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Online

Teen – (grades 6-12)

Outdoor Trivia Night with Bingeable!
Oct 28 @ 7:00 pm
Catawba Brewing Company - South

Image may contain: one or more people, tree, drink, plant, sky, table, outdoor and nature, text that says 'CATAWBA brewing'

Join us and Bingeable Trivia every Wednesday at 7pm for outdoor trivia night!!
-All trivia players must have a seat outside to play. There are a limited amount of tables outside so get here early to claim your seat
-Tables are spread out 6 feet apart for social distancing
-Players will text in their answers instead of turning in sheets
-And masks are required while ordering beers inside

We will have a theme every other week! Trivia is subject to cancellation depending on the weather.

Thursday, October 29, 2020
Win A Dirty Dancing Festival Weekend Getaway!
Oct 29 all-day
Online
September 24-25, 2021
Experience The Time of Your Life at the 12th annual Dirty Dancing Festival in Lake Lure, NC! Whether you’ve been coming for years, or always wanted to see what the hype is all about, we have a chance for you to win a weekend getaway to the namesake film’s backdrop where It’s all Crazy for Swayze.
DIRTY DANCING FESTIVAL GETAWAY PRIZE PACKAGE
* 2-night standard accommodations  at the 1927 Lake Lure Inn & Spa (Friday, Sept. 24 & Saturday, Sept. 25th, 2021)
* 2/weekend passes to the 12th annual Dirty Dancing Festival.
* 1/free vehicle Parking Pass for Dirty Dancing Festival weekend.
* 2/vouchers to enjoy the Dirty Dancing Festival Food Court.
* 2/tickets to the After Party on the Beach at Lake Lure Saturday night.
* Sunday Breakfast Buffet for 2 at The Veranda Restaurant located inside the Lake Lure Inn.
Dirty Dancing Festival Merchandise (2/shirts, 2/hats, 2/cups, and extra surprises). 

* One-hour pontoon boat cruise for 2 with Lake Lure Tours.
* 2/tickets to visit and explore Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park.

Proceeds benefit the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and festival organizers, The Chamber of Hickory Nut Gorge.

Enter the raffle drawing to win a trip for 2 and stay at the 1927 Lake Lure Inn & Spa where Baby & Johnny’s cabins are located, tickets to all the festivities surrounding the festival weekend, tours of the breathtaking, mountain area, and mementos to take back home with you. Each raffle offered doubles your chances to win, so go ahead and give it a try!

Camp Ton-a-Wandah Field Day
Oct 29 @ 11:30 am – 5:30 pm
Camp Ton-A-Wandah

The Henderson County Chamber of Commerce along with United Community Bank and Pepsi present Camp Field Day hosted by Camp Ton-A-Wandah.
Teams of 4 and individuals will compete in events ranging from archery to kayaking to rock climbing. This is a fun team building opportunity and a chance to learn about the positive economic impact camps have on the local economy. Great food and refreshments will be provided.
Giddy Up Fandango Square Dancin’
Oct 29 @ 3:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Sky Brook Farm

Get your family together for this Wild West Shindig. Admission includes a real cowboy supper, live foot-stompin’ music, hay rides, petting zoo, spectacular fireworks and much, much more! A Family Event you don’t want to miss!

 Guess Who: A Costume Quest In-person Outdoor
Oct 29 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Asheville Community Theatre

We’re flipping the script on trick or treating this year! Guess Who: A Costume Quest is an outdoor walking tour and interactive game that features costumed actors from past ACT plays and musicals. Guess who’s who, and after you do, there’s a take-home bag of candy and treats for you! This family-friendly night of fun will be held in the parking lots and surrounding grounds of Asheville Community Theatre and the Thomas Wolfe House. Tours will begin at 6:00 pm and start times will be staggered to maintain social distancing.

How will this work? Chanda Calentine explains: “You’ll walk on a path around our building and will encounter 12 different characters along the way. They’ll each share a clue or two about themselves, and you’ll try to guess who they are and which show they’re from. These are recognizable characters from our family friendly shows, and even if you haven’t seen these shows at ACT, we think you’ll still be able to make a good guess! And, at the end of the tour, we’ll have treats for you to take home.

Friday, October 30, 2020
Win A Dirty Dancing Festival Weekend Getaway!
Oct 30 all-day
Online
September 24-25, 2021
Experience The Time of Your Life at the 12th annual Dirty Dancing Festival in Lake Lure, NC! Whether you’ve been coming for years, or always wanted to see what the hype is all about, we have a chance for you to win a weekend getaway to the namesake film’s backdrop where It’s all Crazy for Swayze.
DIRTY DANCING FESTIVAL GETAWAY PRIZE PACKAGE
* 2-night standard accommodations  at the 1927 Lake Lure Inn & Spa (Friday, Sept. 24 & Saturday, Sept. 25th, 2021)
* 2/weekend passes to the 12th annual Dirty Dancing Festival.
* 1/free vehicle Parking Pass for Dirty Dancing Festival weekend.
* 2/vouchers to enjoy the Dirty Dancing Festival Food Court.
* 2/tickets to the After Party on the Beach at Lake Lure Saturday night.
* Sunday Breakfast Buffet for 2 at The Veranda Restaurant located inside the Lake Lure Inn.
Dirty Dancing Festival Merchandise (2/shirts, 2/hats, 2/cups, and extra surprises). 

* One-hour pontoon boat cruise for 2 with Lake Lure Tours.
* 2/tickets to visit and explore Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park.

Proceeds benefit the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and festival organizers, The Chamber of Hickory Nut Gorge.

Enter the raffle drawing to win a trip for 2 and stay at the 1927 Lake Lure Inn & Spa where Baby & Johnny’s cabins are located, tickets to all the festivities surrounding the festival weekend, tours of the breathtaking, mountain area, and mementos to take back home with you. Each raffle offered doubles your chances to win, so go ahead and give it a try!

 Guess Who: A Costume Quest In-person Outdoor
Oct 30 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Asheville Community Theatre

We’re flipping the script on trick or treating this year! Guess Who: A Costume Quest is an outdoor walking tour and interactive game that features costumed actors from past ACT plays and musicals. Guess who’s who, and after you do, there’s a take-home bag of candy and treats for you! This family-friendly night of fun will be held in the parking lots and surrounding grounds of Asheville Community Theatre and the Thomas Wolfe House. Tours will begin at 6:00 pm and start times will be staggered to maintain social distancing.

How will this work? Chanda Calentine explains: “You’ll walk on a path around our building and will encounter 12 different characters along the way. They’ll each share a clue or two about themselves, and you’ll try to guess who they are and which show they’re from. These are recognizable characters from our family friendly shows, and even if you haven’t seen these shows at ACT, we think you’ll still be able to make a good guess! And, at the end of the tour, we’ll have treats for you to take home.

The Asheville Ballet presents Danse Macabre
Oct 30 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre

We are happy to be able to present live dance in 2020, two nights in a row! Danse Macabre is a one act Halloween-themed story ballet featuring the artists of the Asheville Ballet.

Audience capacity is capped at 100.

Reserved seating only. Each section purchase will safely fit TWO people per social distancing guidelines. If your party is larger than two please purchase an adjacent section and combine. 

Come and join our artists on Friday and Saturday, October 30th and 31st, at 7:00pm, for an hour long presentation of classical and modern dance and theatre featuring the music of, among others, Camille Saint-Saëns, Ben E. King, Aretha Franklin, and The Misfits!

No refund on tickets. Rain date will be Sunday November 1st at 7pm.

Saturday, October 31, 2020
5 Factor 5K Fundraiser to Prevent Child Abuse
Oct 31 all-day
Online

Welcome to Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina’s first-ever 5 Factors (virtual) 5k! Because we cannot safely gather in-person this year, we are expanding our annual, one-day event to AN ENTIRE RACE WEEK (Oct. 24-31), packed with all the family-friendly activities we typically host on race day. That means you get to choose when and where you complete your 5k, AND you will have access to an entire week of fun, virtual activities designed for all ages!

When you register below, you will have access to our race week calendar of activities that will run October 24th through October 31st. We are so excited to feature mini events focused on mental and physical health, education, and family entertainment scheduled at different times throughout the week.

Your VIP Race Week includes:

  1. Access to more than 20 family-friendly virtual activities (live and pre-recorded) focused on exercise, entertainment, and education
  1. Pop-up drawings for free swag
  1. Discounts on featured merchandise
  1. Printable customized bib
  1. Printable customized certificate of completion – there is an option for you to submit your time!

VIP Race Week is jam-packed with family fun, all for the low price of $35. We may be physically distant, but we are TOGETHER in preventing child abuse and neglect.

Leave it Better Sweepstake Eno + Explore Brevard
Oct 31 all-day
Online

LEAVE IT BETTER SWEEPSTAKES

Enter to win an ENO Leave No Trace Double Nest hammock and suspension system today! ENO and Explore Brevard are excited to partner in the effort to promote our new Leave It Better campaign. Entering is easy. Simply follow these steps and you’ll be automatically entered into the sweepstakes:

 

STEP 1
Follow ENO Hammocks and Explore Brevard on Instagram or Facebook.

 

Step 2
Post an example of how you Leave No Trace and go the extra step to Leave It Better on your own social media account with the hashtag #ILeaveItBetter

 

Step 3
Watch our social media accounts for winner announcements at the end of August, September and October!

 

Each month will have multiple winners so stay tuned.

See below for official contest rules and alternate form of entry.

 Guess Who: A Costume Quest In-person Outdoor
Oct 31 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Asheville Community Theatre

We’re flipping the script on trick or treating this year! Guess Who: A Costume Quest is an outdoor walking tour and interactive game that features costumed actors from past ACT plays and musicals. Guess who’s who, and after you do, there’s a take-home bag of candy and treats for you! This family-friendly night of fun will be held in the parking lots and surrounding grounds of Asheville Community Theatre and the Thomas Wolfe House. Tours will begin at 6:00 pm and start times will be staggered to maintain social distancing.

How will this work? Chanda Calentine explains: “You’ll walk on a path around our building and will encounter 12 different characters along the way. They’ll each share a clue or two about themselves, and you’ll try to guess who they are and which show they’re from. These are recognizable characters from our family friendly shows, and even if you haven’t seen these shows at ACT, we think you’ll still be able to make a good guess! And, at the end of the tour, we’ll have treats for you to take home.

The Asheville Ballet presents Danse Macabre
Oct 31 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre

We are happy to be able to present live dance in 2020, two nights in a row! Danse Macabre is a one act Halloween-themed story ballet featuring the artists of the Asheville Ballet.

Audience capacity is capped at 100.

Reserved seating only. Each section purchase will safely fit TWO people per social distancing guidelines. If your party is larger than two please purchase an adjacent section and combine. 

Come and join our artists on Friday and Saturday, October 30th and 31st, at 7:00pm, for an hour long presentation of classical and modern dance and theatre featuring the music of, among others, Camille Saint-Saëns, Ben E. King, Aretha Franklin, and The Misfits!

No refund on tickets. Rain date will be Sunday November 1st at 7pm.

27 Club Asheville Halloween Dance Party
Oct 31 @ 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
27 Club Asheville

No photo description available.

No-Frills Halloween Dance Party!

We all know: this year is different. So, this is the deal and it’s not fancy:

We have no DJ; it’s a play list with some of our favorite dance music.

You have to dance outside in our parking lot. And, wear a mask. And, dance six feet apart from people you don’t know. And, don’t take candy from strangers. Just joking. But, it’s a good rule in general.

We’ll probably have a costume contest but guess what the prize is. Nothing. Simply the honor of winning. Which is something.

If you’re out, stop by. We’d be honored to be a part of your celebration because it’s our most favoritest time of year.

21+

Tuesday, November 3, 2020
History at Home: Play the Butter Bean Game!
Nov 3 all-day
Online

This is a variation on the tradition Cherokee Butterbean Game. It can be played by several individual players or several teams. Traditionally, this game uses three butterbeans that have been split in half. More…

From the Museum of the Cherokee Indian: Cherokee people began growing a form of corn two thousand years ago. By about a thousand years ago, or 1000 AD, they were growing corn and beans, as we know them today. Corn, beans, and squash was always grown together and was known as the “Three Sisters.” Beans restore nitrogen to the soil while corn depletes nitrogen. The vines of the beans and squash twined up the cornstalks. When corn and beans are eaten together, they provide complete proteins and amino acids for our diet.

Corn was so important to the Cherokee that they had important celebrations and ceremonies called “Green Corn Festivals.” The first of these was held in August, before the sweet corn was ready to eat. The last was held in October or November, when the
field corn was ready to be picked. At these ceremonies, people purified themselves physically and spiritually before feasting together. At this time, people got married and divorced. All old scores were settled and everyone started a new year together.

Wednesday, November 4, 2020
History at Home: Play the Butter Bean Game!
Nov 4 all-day
Online

This is a variation on the tradition Cherokee Butterbean Game. It can be played by several individual players or several teams. Traditionally, this game uses three butterbeans that have been split in half. More…

From the Museum of the Cherokee Indian: Cherokee people began growing a form of corn two thousand years ago. By about a thousand years ago, or 1000 AD, they were growing corn and beans, as we know them today. Corn, beans, and squash was always grown together and was known as the “Three Sisters.” Beans restore nitrogen to the soil while corn depletes nitrogen. The vines of the beans and squash twined up the cornstalks. When corn and beans are eaten together, they provide complete proteins and amino acids for our diet.

Corn was so important to the Cherokee that they had important celebrations and ceremonies called “Green Corn Festivals.” The first of these was held in August, before the sweet corn was ready to eat. The last was held in October or November, when the
field corn was ready to be picked. At these ceremonies, people purified themselves physically and spiritually before feasting together. At this time, people got married and divorced. All old scores were settled and everyone started a new year together.

Thursday, November 5, 2020
History at Home: Play the Butter Bean Game!
Nov 5 all-day
Online

This is a variation on the tradition Cherokee Butterbean Game. It can be played by several individual players or several teams. Traditionally, this game uses three butterbeans that have been split in half. More…

From the Museum of the Cherokee Indian: Cherokee people began growing a form of corn two thousand years ago. By about a thousand years ago, or 1000 AD, they were growing corn and beans, as we know them today. Corn, beans, and squash was always grown together and was known as the “Three Sisters.” Beans restore nitrogen to the soil while corn depletes nitrogen. The vines of the beans and squash twined up the cornstalks. When corn and beans are eaten together, they provide complete proteins and amino acids for our diet.

Corn was so important to the Cherokee that they had important celebrations and ceremonies called “Green Corn Festivals.” The first of these was held in August, before the sweet corn was ready to eat. The last was held in October or November, when the
field corn was ready to be picked. At these ceremonies, people purified themselves physically and spiritually before feasting together. At this time, people got married and divorced. All old scores were settled and everyone started a new year together.

Friday, November 6, 2020
History at Home: Play the Butter Bean Game!
Nov 6 all-day
Online

This is a variation on the tradition Cherokee Butterbean Game. It can be played by several individual players or several teams. Traditionally, this game uses three butterbeans that have been split in half. More…

From the Museum of the Cherokee Indian: Cherokee people began growing a form of corn two thousand years ago. By about a thousand years ago, or 1000 AD, they were growing corn and beans, as we know them today. Corn, beans, and squash was always grown together and was known as the “Three Sisters.” Beans restore nitrogen to the soil while corn depletes nitrogen. The vines of the beans and squash twined up the cornstalks. When corn and beans are eaten together, they provide complete proteins and amino acids for our diet.

Corn was so important to the Cherokee that they had important celebrations and ceremonies called “Green Corn Festivals.” The first of these was held in August, before the sweet corn was ready to eat. The last was held in October or November, when the
field corn was ready to be picked. At these ceremonies, people purified themselves physically and spiritually before feasting together. At this time, people got married and divorced. All old scores were settled and everyone started a new year together.