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.

Friday, March 20, 2020
EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems: food and farm help/resources in WNC
Mar 20 all-day
WNC

The Center for Environmental Farming Systems is a partnership of North Carolina State University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

 

CANCELLED: Advocacy and Hearing Loss
Mar 20 @ 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
OLLI at UNC Asheville Campus (Reuter Center) Room 206

Monthly support group meeting of the Hearing Loss Association of America – Asheville Chapter on Friday, March 20th from 4:30-6 pm. Topic is “Advocacy and Hearing Loss” presented by Susan Sacco, Asheville Regional Center – Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. New Location is OLLI at UNC Asheville Campus (Reuter Center), One University Heights, Room 206. CART and ASL Interpretation will be available. No parking permit required. Call 828-276-2206 for more information.

Saturday, March 21, 2020
Early Bird tickets: 23rd annual French Broard River Festival
Mar 21 all-day
Hot Springs Campground & Spa

INTRO-IMAGE_1024px

Kick off spring in the mountains at the 23rd annual French Broad River Festival.  It’s part outdoor adventure, part music festival with whitewater rafting, biking, hiking, kid’s village, camping, great music, and much more.  Painter John, a popular FBRF musician, compares the atmosphere to “a big potluck at your best friend’s house”.  If you’ve been you know . . . what better way to enjoy spring in these mountains?

Weekend passes include camping

$120 online by 3/31/20
$125 online by 4/30/20
$140 at gate
$65 Saturday only
$45 whitewater rafting

EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems: food and farm help/resources in WNC
Mar 21 all-day
WNC

The Center for Environmental Farming Systems is a partnership of North Carolina State University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

 

Guided Hikes: Grandfather Mountain
Mar 21 all-day
Grandfather Mountain

Interpretive Rangers are available to lead guided hikes, bird walks and wildflower walks for families and groups that visit Grandfather Mountain. To see the mountain in this whole new way, you can schedule an appointment by calling the interpretive ranger office at (828) 737-0833 or emailing [email protected].

Please note that walks and hikes are available for all ability levels, but hikes that take you into Grandfather Mountain’s backcountry require careful footwork, proper footwear and the ability to handle heights. All backcountry hikes require participants to traverse ladders and use cables to navigate steep sections of the trail.

Interpretive Rangers are available year-round (weather permitting) to lead guided hikes to:

MacRae Peak ($15 + park admission)
Attic Window ($25 + park admission)
Calloway Peak ($35 + park admission)

Reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance, and a minimum of two participants per hike are required. For more information, please call (828) 737-0833.

Redesigning Our Future: National Environmental Summit for High School Students
Mar 21 all-day
Catawba College
Keeper For A Day at Grandfather Mountain
Mar 21 @ 8:00 am – 11:00 am
Grandfather Mountain

Keeper For A Day

Learn how to interact with the animals, clean up, prepare food and provide enrichments. Observe various training sessions, animal behavior and the inner workings of the animal habitats.

Requirements:

Limited to two persons per day. No pets allowed in habitat area. Keepers for a Day must:

— be 12 years of age or older
— be capable of walking up and down steep, rough terrain
— sign a waiver of liability

Expected Daily Schedule:

Arrive at 8 a.m., meet the keepers, and go to work! Assist as we let out the animals, feed them and clean their habitats. You may be asked to lift and carry animal food, tools or other items. Learn about training and providing enrichments. End your exciting shift at 11 a.m.

What to Wear:

You will get dirty! Please wear appropriate, closed-toe hiking or work boots and no loose jewelry. Coats, jackets, gloves and hats are recommended for cooler weather. Please bring sunscreen.

Weather:

Keeper for a Day will continue on schedule regardless of weather conditions. In the event that weather conditions could affect the opening of the habitats, you will be contacted.

The weather on Grandfather Mountain can change at a moment’s notice. Temperatures are commonly 5 to 10 degrees colder than what they are at the bottom of the mountain in Linville. It is recommended that you dress in layers and be prepared for any weather condition.

2019 Keeper for a Day Dates

Month Days Time Number
April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 8 a.m.-11 a.m. limited to two people per day
May 7, 14, 21, 28 8 a.m.-11 a.m. limited to two people per day
June 4, 11, 18, 25 8 a.m.-11 a.m. limited to two people per day
July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 8 a.m.-11 a.m. limited to two people per day
August 6, 13, 20, 27 8 a.m.-11 a.m. limited to two people per day
September 3, 10, 17, 24 8 a.m.-11 a.m. limited to two people per day
October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 8 a.m.-11 a.m. limited to two people per day

Reservations:

Keeper for a Day must be booked at least one week in advance by calling (828) 733-8715. Please allow 24 hours for a response.

Price:

The cost is $75 per participant ($60 each for Bridge Club members). Admission to the park is included.

GREEN RIVER Gamelands Hike
Mar 21 @ 10:00 am – 5:30 pm
GREEN RIVER Gamelands

  Mostlly Pullium Creek Trail, plus some Green River Cove trail. Moderate with some easy level of difficulty. Approx 6 miles R.T. on this there & back trail with elevation gain of 900 ft. It’s a beautiful trail that ends at the Green River just below the narrows, with rapids moving through large boulders. On the way there, there’s a tedious creek crossing with wiggly step-stones, requiring good footwear & maybe hiking poles. Plan to learn about the beautiful early-blooming wildflowers there, and a few trees. NOTE: Sorry, no doggies this trip due to Pullium Creek crossing. This hike is for experienced hikers, or one can contact the hike leader with questions/concerns.

Level: Moderate

Signup Instructions: All hikers please RSVP to hike leader Lisa McWherter

 

Early Bird Yoga Asheville Art Museum
Mar 21 @ 10:15 am – 11:00 am
Asheville Art Museum

Early Bird Yoga

Join us on third Saturdays before the Museum opens for a fun-filled, 45-minute yoga and mindfulness meditation inspired by a visit to an artwork in our galleries. All ages and abilities are welcome; recommended for visitors aged 5+ (children must be accompanied by an adult). Bring your own mat, or borrow one from the Museum (limited quantity available). Preregistration is encouraged; for more information or to register by phone.

The Merrell Adventure Dash CANCELLED
Mar 21 @ 4:00 pm
Nantahala Outdoor Center

Age: All Ages

The Merrell Adventure Dash is all about getting outside and challenging yourself to work hard for your good time. Suitable for families as well as adults, participants will negotiate a series of natural and man-made obstacles along the 5K course, including balance components, climbs and nets, a river-run, and raft crossing. This holiday weekend, enjoy a fun, family-friendly adventure run in the beautiful Nantahala Gorge. Merrell Adventure Dash participants can choose between the 5K dash or a 1K fun run. Kids aged 12 and under race free with a participating adult.

Registraion opens March 1, 2020. Check back for more details.
Onsite Registration is available from 1pm – 3:30pm day of. The race starts promptly at 4PM on 5/23/2020.

Remember to wear anything you don’t mind getting dirty!

Spring Equinox Stargazing
Mar 21 @ 8:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Hickory Nut Gap Farm
purple stars night sky stargazing

 

Join us to welcome in the stars of spring! During this time of equal night and equal day we’ll discuss some of the seasonal changes happening at this time in the sky as well as the myths of some of the spring constellations and anything else astronomical.  All ages are welcome and no background in astronomy or science is required.

Sunday, March 22, 2020
Asheville Marathon & Half at Biltmore Estate
Mar 22 all-day
Biltmore Estate

The nationally recognized, 8th Annual Asheville Marathon and Half marathon, will return to Asheville’s Biltmore Estate on March 21 & 22, 2020. The Asheville Marathon and Half events are ’boutique style’ events with limited entries available of 1,525 runners per day.

In 2018, the Asheville Marathon was named by Outside Online as one of the Top 9 vacation-worthy marathons and The Top Ten Best Spring/Summer Marathons to Run by MapMyRun. We were also listed as one of the 70 American Road Races every runner should finish by Runner’s World Magazine.

In 2017, the Asheville Marathon was named Top 25 Must-Do American Marathons by Competitor Magazine. In addition, the Asheville Half Marathon at Biltmore was honored to also be selected in the “Best Of” category in the 100 Half Marathons Club.

Run in America’s largest backyard at Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina at the 8th Annual Asheville Half Marathon 3/21 & AVL Marathon & Half Marathon on 3/22/20 OR DO BOTH DAYS and complete one of our Challenges! Details can be found on our website at www.ashevillemarathon.com.

The Merrell Adventure Dash CANCELLED
Mar 22 @ 4:00 pm
Nantahala Outdoor Center

Age: All Ages

The Merrell Adventure Dash is all about getting outside and challenging yourself to work hard for your good time. Suitable for families as well as adults, participants will negotiate a series of natural and man-made obstacles along the 5K course, including balance components, climbs and nets, a river-run, and raft crossing. This holiday weekend, enjoy a fun, family-friendly adventure run in the beautiful Nantahala Gorge. Merrell Adventure Dash participants can choose between the 5K dash or a 1K fun run. Kids aged 12 and under race free with a participating adult.

Registraion opens March 1, 2020. Check back for more details.
Onsite Registration is available from 1pm – 3:30pm day of. The race starts promptly at 4PM on 5/23/2020.

Remember to wear anything you don’t mind getting dirty!

Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Awakening Support Group
Mar 24 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Appalachia School of Holistic Herbalism

This group is dedicated to the growing number of people interested in Awakening to their True Nature. We explore the experience of simply Being through:

| Self-Inquiry | Presence | Surrender | Gratitude | Meditation |

• Transcend egoic mind patterns
• See the gift in challenging situations
• Live your Life’s Purpose
• Find lasting Inner Peace

Group meetings consist of Meditation, Video Satsang (watching videos of spiritual teachers) and a Sharing Circle (optional).

Donations of any amount are welcomed. No one will be turned away due to lack of funds. (Donate online at https://tinyurl.com/awakeningsupport)

About the Facilitator:

Trey Carland, author of “A Seeker’s Guide to Inner Peace: Notes to Self,” has been hosting Awakening group meetings since 2007. “My passion is sharing the gift of Awakening with the World.”

Comments:

“Trey Carland embodies perfectly the quote, “still waters run deep.” I happened upon Trey several years ago through his spiritual awakening group. From this experience, Trey appeared to me as a wise Sage. Trey is accepting and patient with people. His demeanor is calm and loving. For me, it was evident that the stillness of Trey’s soul, is like a shimmering river that runs endlessly, with much depth. With celebration, I am blessed for having him as a friend. ” ~ John K.

(Read More at http://www.treycarland.com)

Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Early Bird tickets: 23rd annual French Broard River Festival
Mar 25 all-day
Hot Springs Campground & Spa

INTRO-IMAGE_1024px

Kick off spring in the mountains at the 23rd annual French Broad River Festival.  It’s part outdoor adventure, part music festival with whitewater rafting, biking, hiking, kid’s village, camping, great music, and much more.  Painter John, a popular FBRF musician, compares the atmosphere to “a big potluck at your best friend’s house”.  If you’ve been you know . . . what better way to enjoy spring in these mountains?

Weekend passes include camping

$120 online by 3/31/20
$125 online by 4/30/20
$140 at gate
$65 Saturday only
$45 whitewater rafting

Living Web Farms: Online Videos and Audios
Mar 25 all-day
On line Video

Video Table of Contents

Audio Table of Contents

Ingles Special Shopping Hours, Delivery Options for Vulnerable Populations
Mar 25 @ 7:00 am – 8:00 am
Ingles Grocery Stores

Starting on Tuesday, March 24, Ingles will dedicate the first shopping hour from 7 – 8 am on Tuesdays and Wednesdays to senior shoppers and those with compromised immune systems.

 

Publix Markets: Special Shopping Hours, Delivery Options for Vulnerable Populations
Mar 25 @ 7:00 am – 8:00 am
Publix Markets

Publix Markets reserves 7-8 a.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for customers age 65 and older. Home delivery is available through Instacart.

Live Morning Didgeridoo Meditation
Mar 25 @ 7:30 am – 8:00 am
online

Tune in with me on Facebook Live each morning at 7:30am for a 20 minute live meditation with didgeridoo. I’ll be guiding you through simple and effective ways that will help you to:

  • Calm your nervous system
  • Become more resilient to stress
  • Get you ready for the day and evening

The intention is for you to learn this simple skillset quickly and use it right now to stay centered, balanced and show up for yourself, your family, and your community.

The more of us that can do that, the better! I hope to see you soon.  

Warmly, 

Corey Costanzo

ps If you miss the live meditation, check our website later in the day. We will be uploading all recordings. 

“Faith, Power, and Privilege” – Talk by Yavilah McCoy, Leader for Equity and Inclusion of Jewish People of Color
Mar 25 @ 7:00 pm
UNC Asheville Highsmith Student Union, Blue Ridge Room

Yavilah McCoy, who founded Ayecha, an organization dedicated to Jewish people of color, and who continues work on equity and inclusion as CEO of Dimensions Educational Consulting, will present a talk, “Faith, Power, and Privilege,” at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 25, in UNC Asheville’s Highsmith Student Union, Blue Ridge Room. This event, sponsored by the University’s Center for Jewish Studies, and Department of Religious Studies, along with Carolina Jews for Justice, is free and open to everyone.

A teacher, writer, editor and diversity consultant, McCoy was born and raised in an orthodox Jewish home in Brooklyn, N.Y. Her grandparents converted to Judaism, and she continues the traditions handed to her over three generations as part of her African American Jewish family. In her talk, McCoy will discuss the practice of holding multiple identities within efforts to build greater equity and justice in the changing political and social climate of 2020. She will address the challenges of diversity and inclusion in religious communities, as well as opportunities that these communities can engage toward becoming deeper allies and stronger advocates in working together toward social justice.

McCoy is a certified trainer for the Anti-Defamation League’s World of Difference Institute, the National Conference for Community and Justice, and the National Coalition Building Institute, and a certified coach for the Auburn Theological Seminary Pastoral Training Program. She also co-authored and performed The Colors of Water, a 2009 theater piece sharing the history of the generations of her family.

McCoy was a leader of the Jewish delegation to the 2017 Women’s March, and two years later, was placed in the spotlight as one of three Jewish leaders added to the Women’s March steering committee after accusations of anti-Semitism had been lodged against march organizers.

“People will need to recover their deepest sense of their humanity in relationships,” she told Jewish Boston about her work in the Women’s March leadership. “All of my work is based in relationship-building. And the first thing I ask people to do is to agree to be proximate to one another.”

She also told Jewish Boston that she takes a similar approach in addressing racism and sexism she has encountered in the Jewish community. “In contrast to demanding that our leaders be denounced for the racism and sexism they have exhibited, I and many other Jewish activists that I respect have figured out strategies to engage in ‘teachable moments’ where leaders can listen, learn and change their behavior in accountability to the people and communities they have been empowered to serve,” said McCoy.

Thursday, March 26, 2020
Living Web Farms: Online Videos and Audios
Mar 26 all-day
On line Video

Video Table of Contents

Audio Table of Contents

Harris Teeter: Special Shopping Hours, Delivery Options for Vulnerable Populations
Mar 26 @ 6:00 am – 7:00 am
Harris Teeter

 

Harris Teeter reserves 6-7am on Mondays and Thursdays for in-store shoppers age 60 and older. ExpressLane Online Shopping pickup times from 9am-2pm on Thursdays are reserved for these shoppers with the $4.95 fee waived (use code: SD60). Home delivery is also offered for seniors during these times for $5 (used code: SDDEL).

WNC Farmers Market Open 7am-6pm daily
Mar 26 @ 7:00 am – 6:00 pm
 WNC Farmers Market
• The WNC Farmers Market (570 Brevard Rd.) is open for business daily from 7 a.m.- 6 p.m. Find fruits + veggies, plus other staples like meats, cheese, beans, preserves, salsas, honey + condiments.

In a continued effort to provide our community with fresh, locally grown produce, meats and cheeses from area farmers, the market will remain open and operate under normal business hours. The market will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

While most of the market will remain open as usual, there are some exceptions:

Additional updates to vendor schedules will be posted as soon as possible. For specific vendors not listed above, we encourage you to reach out to them directly before coming to the market.

Visitors are encouraged to follow CDC recommendations when visiting the market. A complete list of tips and best practices can be found here.

COVID-19 is not a food-borne illness. It is extremely unlikely that someone will catch it through eating. The virus is most likely to cause illness through respiratory transmission. The routes to be concerned about include being in very close proximity to many people, or coming in contact with high touch surfaces.

Thank you for your continued support during these unprecedented times!

Live Morning Didgeridoo Meditation
Mar 26 @ 7:30 am – 8:00 am
online

Tune in with me on Facebook Live each morning at 7:30am for a 20 minute live meditation with didgeridoo. I’ll be guiding you through simple and effective ways that will help you to:

  • Calm your nervous system
  • Become more resilient to stress
  • Get you ready for the day and evening

The intention is for you to learn this simple skillset quickly and use it right now to stay centered, balanced and show up for yourself, your family, and your community.

The more of us that can do that, the better! I hope to see you soon.  

Warmly, 

Corey Costanzo

ps If you miss the live meditation, check our website later in the day. We will be uploading all recordings. 

An Evening with N. K. Jemisin, author of The City We Became
Mar 26 @ 6:30 pm
UNC Asheville Lipinsky Auditorium

Join us Thursday, March 26 at 6:30 pm when N.K Jemisin presents her new novel, THE CITY WE BECAME (on sale March 24, 2020).

We are pleased to partner with UNC Asheville’s Great Smokies Writing Program and English Department for this event, which will be held at in Lipinsky Auditorium on the UNCA campus.

There are two ticket options:

(1) Ticket includes admission for one person and a copy of THE CITY WE BECAME (hardcover)

(2) Ticket includes admission for two people, a copy of THE CITY WE BECAME (hardcover) and a copy of HOW LONG TIL BLACK FUTURE MONTH (paperback)

N. K. Jemisin will sign books following reading and audience Q&A. Books will be available to pick up at the event.

***Stay tuned for important details about the event and signing. When purchasing your ticket(s), please make sure you provide an email address where you can receive emails from the Brown Paper Tickets automated system.***

ABOUT THE CITY WE BECAME
Five New Yorkers must come together to defend their city from an ancient evil in this stunning new novel by Hugo Award-winner and NYT bestselling author N. K. Jemisin.

Every great city has a soul. Some are as ancient as myths, and others are as new and destructive as children. New York City? Shes got six.

But every city also has a dark side. A roiling, ancient evil stirs in the halls of power, threatening to destroy the city and her six newborn avatars unless they can come together and stop it once and for all.

In a starred review, Kirkus calls THE CITY WE BECAME “Fierce, poetic, uncompromising.”

N.K. Jemisin: The City We Became
Mar 26 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Lipinsky Auditorium

 

N.K. Jemisin will present her new book, The City We Became, just two days after its public release. This ticketed event takes place at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 26, in Lipinsky Auditorium, presented in partnership by Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café, and UNC Asheville’s Great Smokies Writing Program and Department of English.

This is a ticketed event with different ticketing/book purchase options, with online ordering at: https://www.malaprops.com/event/ticketed-nk-jemisin-presents-city-we-became-unca

Free tickets (which do not include the book) are available for UNC Asheville students and employees – contact Lilly Augspurger, 828.251.6099 or [email protected].

Living and writing her speculative fiction in Brooklyn, Jemisin’s new novel features five New Yorkers who must come together to defend their city from ancient evil. She is the only author to win three Best Novel Hugo awards in a row, which she did for her Broken Earth trilogy. Jemisin also has won a Nebula Award and two Locus Awards among the many honors for her eight novels, a novella, and two short story collections. A former counseling psychologist and educator, she also covered science fiction for three years for the New York Times Book Review. For more information about Jemisin, her books and this event, visit the Malaprop’s website.

Visitor Parking on the UNC Asheville Campus – Visitors may park in faculty/staff and non-resident lots from 5:00 p.m. until 7:30 a.m., Monday through Friday, and on weekends, holidays, and campus breaks. Visitors are not permitted to park in resident student lots at any time. Campus map is here – use menu bars to find parking lot locations.

Building accessibility information is available here.

Accessibility Contact: Highsmith Student Union, [email protected] or 828.251.6990.

Works in Translation Book Club
Mar 26 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Malaprop's Bookstore

Join host and Malaprop’s Bookstore Manager Justin Souther to discuss writers — and their literature — in translation and the cultural, political and artistic influences that mold them. Click here to see a list of the monthly selections. Attendees receive 10% off the club’s current selection at Malaprop’s!

The club usually meets the last Thursday of every month at Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe.

Event date:
Thursday, January 30, 2020 – 7:00pm
Thursday, February 27, 2020 – 7:00pm
Thursday, March 26, 2020 – 7:00pm
Thursday, April 30, 2020 – 7:00pm
Friday, March 27, 2020
EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems: food and farm help/resources in WNC
Mar 27 all-day
WNC

The Center for Environmental Farming Systems is a partnership of North Carolina State University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

 

Living Web Farms: Online Videos and Audios
Mar 27 all-day
On line Video

Video Table of Contents

Audio Table of Contents

WNC Farmers Market Open 7am-6pm daily
Mar 27 @ 7:00 am – 6:00 pm
 WNC Farmers Market
• The WNC Farmers Market (570 Brevard Rd.) is open for business daily from 7 a.m.- 6 p.m. Find fruits + veggies, plus other staples like meats, cheese, beans, preserves, salsas, honey + condiments.

In a continued effort to provide our community with fresh, locally grown produce, meats and cheeses from area farmers, the market will remain open and operate under normal business hours. The market will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

While most of the market will remain open as usual, there are some exceptions:

Additional updates to vendor schedules will be posted as soon as possible. For specific vendors not listed above, we encourage you to reach out to them directly before coming to the market.

Visitors are encouraged to follow CDC recommendations when visiting the market. A complete list of tips and best practices can be found here.

COVID-19 is not a food-borne illness. It is extremely unlikely that someone will catch it through eating. The virus is most likely to cause illness through respiratory transmission. The routes to be concerned about include being in very close proximity to many people, or coming in contact with high touch surfaces.

Thank you for your continued support during these unprecedented times!