Calendar of Events
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.
by William Shakespeare Directed by Mandy Bean Opening 5/6/2022 – 6/4/2022
This was the show we were about to produce just as the world went into lockdown. Perhaps it’s appropriate that it’s a comedy about the end of the world. If you haven’t yet had enough of the real end of the world, feel free to join us for some real belly laughs at its expense.
The play brings together Jules, a grad student in marine biology, and Jo, a journalism student, for, supposedly, a casual sexual encounter. Jo soon comes to realize that her planned-on one-night-stand is actually a ruse, perpetrated by Jules, to find an Eve to his Adam after he has discovered a pattern in fish behavior that portends the end of all life on earth. Stuck in Jules’ laboratory, they wait out their impending doom. A third character, Barbara, serves as our guide to the end of civilization as we know it.
Tickets are not on sale yet. Please check back closer to the event date.
Every person is assigned a role. When Jonas turns 12, he is chosen for special training from The Giver — to receive and keep the memories of the community. Now Jonas will learn the truth about life — and the hypocrisy of his utopian world. Through this astonishing and moving adaptation of the Newbery Award-winning book by Lois Lowry, discover what it means to grow up, to grow wise, and to take control of your own destiny.
Please come prepared to wear a mask for the entire performance. Masking requirements may change based on the recommendation of federal and/or state health officials; please check our website for ACT’s most up-to-date masking policy.
All tickets are subject to sales tax and a $3 ticketing system fee. All sales final. No exchanges or returns.
A determined young fact checker is about to stir up trouble.
His demanding editor has given him a big assignment: apply his skill to a groundbreaking piece by an unorthodox author. Together, they take on the high-stakes world of publishing in this new comedy of conflict. The ultimate showdown between fact and fiction is about to begin—with undeniably delicious consequences.
By purchasing tickets to The Lifespan of a Fact, you are agreeing to abide by the current COVID-19 Policies of NC Stage which include: everyone in your party over the age of 2 wearing an appropriate mask or respirator the entire time you are in the theatre, coming prepared to show proof of full COVID vaccination or a lab-conducted negative COVID test taken within 72 hours of the performance FOR EVERYONE IN YOUR PARTY regardless of age, and showing a photo ID for those in your party over the age of 18.
Starbright is the story of Grace, an astrophysicist who lost her daughter Abby nearly a year ago. As Grace’s life spins out of control, Abby appears to her and begins making predictions about the cosmos. Grace must determine if her daughter’s appearance is a sign of her dwindling sanity, or proof that there’s more to the universe than even she understands.
When Grace’s visions from beyond the grave start seeping into her reality, husband Calvin and aunt Margaret must put aside their own struggles and come together to assess Grace’s stability and safety. In light of her family history of mental health issues, can Grace persuade them to trust in her conviction that Abby is speaking to her?
Starbright is Sean David Robinson’s first full-length play. It was selected by the Broadway Bound Theatre Festival in New York City and made its original debut Off-Broadway in 2018. Starbright was named the winner of the 2018 North Carolina New Play Project and the Centre Stage New Play Festival in Greenville, SC. It was also shortlisted as a semi-finalist for the inaugural New Works Festival at the Garry Marshall Theatre in Burbank, CA.
Directed by Ashleigh Goff, Starbright features Courtney DeGennaro Robinson as Grace, Scott Voloshin as Calvin, Ivy Voloshin as Abby, and Janet Oliver as Margaret. Performances run Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 4:00pm. For tickets and more information, visit https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=132323.
The Peace Center’s Songwriters Series returns! Led by accomplished songwriter Maia Sharp, each concert brings a new guest singer-songwriter to the Upstate for a one-of-a-kind listening room experience in Genevieve’s theater lounge.
Maia Sharp has had her songs recorded by The Chicks, Bonnie Raitt, Trisha Yearwood, Keb’ Mo’, Cher, Lisa Loeb, Art Garfunkel and more. Through it all, Sharp has continued to record her own albums, including eight solo releases, one collaboration with Art Garfunkel and Buddy Mondlock and her duo project Roscoe & Etta with Anna Schultz, her writing and production partner. Each release has been embraced by press and radio, leading to extensive touring and appearances on Mountain Stage, World Café, NPR’s “All Things Considered,” and “The Today Show” to name a few. Her latest album Mercy Rising is out now featuring the single “Backburner.”
Will Kimbrough is a singer-songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist from the Gulf Coast. Both a solo artist and bandmember, Kimbrough is well known for his work in the studio as well as performing on stage with Jimmy Buffett, Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, Todd Snider and many others. Most recently, Kimbrough produced and cowrote Shemekia Copeland’s acclaimed Uncivil War album, which was nominated for a Grammy Award this year. The 2004 Americana Music Association’s Instrumentalist of the Year’s latest album Spring Break was written in the downtime of last year and expresses the wistful longing for the road.
The Peace Center’s Songwriters Series returns! Led by accomplished songwriter Maia Sharp, each concert brings a new guest singer-songwriter to the Upstate for a one-of-a-kind listening room experience in Genevieve’s theater lounge.
Maia Sharp has had her songs recorded by The Chicks, Bonnie Raitt, Trisha Yearwood, Keb’ Mo’, Cher, Lisa Loeb, Art Garfunkel and more. Through it all, Sharp has continued to record her own albums, including eight solo releases, one collaboration with Art Garfunkel and Buddy Mondlock and her duo project Roscoe & Etta with Anna Schultz, her writing and production partner. Each release has been embraced by press and radio, leading to extensive touring and appearances on Mountain Stage, World Café, NPR’s “All Things Considered,” and “The Today Show” to name a few. Her latest album Mercy Rising is out now featuring the single “Backburner.”
Will Kimbrough is a singer-songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist from the Gulf Coast. Both a solo artist and bandmember, Kimbrough is well known for his work in the studio as well as performing on stage with Jimmy Buffett, Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, Todd Snider and many others. Most recently, Kimbrough produced and cowrote Shemekia Copeland’s acclaimed Uncivil War album, which was nominated for a Grammy Award this year. The 2004 Americana Music Association’s Instrumentalist of the Year’s latest album Spring Break was written in the downtime of last year and expresses the wistful longing for the road.
This comedy thriller is a classic gem with exciting twists and turns from beginning to end. Overflowing with hilarity, this Broadway whodunit will have you guessing and laughing from start to finish. An advertising man who has brought his bride to the boss’ mountain lodge for a honeymoon calls in the local police to investigate her sudden disappearance. Enter a pretty young girl who insists over his protests that she is the missing wife. A priest backs up her story. A funny little man who owns a delicatessen enters and before you know it there are two murders at the isolated lodge. Can Inspector Levine riddle out the truth? Can you? Join us for a night of mystery and amusement!
“The final 15 minutes will reward you as a murder mystery should.” The New York Times
*This is not the Frank Abagnale Jr. story
Darko Butorac, conductor
Christine Lamprea, cello
18th-century Mozart looks ahead to the Romantic style of the future with his final symphony. 20th-century Prokofiev looks back at the Classical in his first symphony. 19th- century Saint-Saëns breaks with Classical tradition with his first cello concerto. Each composer reflects on and reinvents the most defining era of Western music.
Prokofiev Classical Symphony
Saint-Saëns Cello Concerto No. 1
Mozart Jupiter Symphony
As those who have seen him live can attest, Pierce Edens absorbed the songwriting, storytelling and musical styling of the surrounding Appalachian Mountains, where he spent his childhood. This history takes the form of old time, folk and bluegrass music as well as spoken words of storytellers from his North Carolina home; this has earned him the moniker of “Appalachicana.”
Over the last ten years, Edens has been drawing on those roots and blending them with the grungy rock and roll sounds that took him in his teenage years. The result is a haunting and fiery mixture that is notoriously hard to pin down. Allmusic.com classifies Edens as both “Folk-Rock” and “psychedelic-grunge,” and No Depression writer Bill Kopp says “[He] could just as easily- and accurately- be tagged with the singer/songwriter label; He’s a gritty troubadour who takes what he needs from each style, blending and bending it to suit the needs of his songs.”
Through relentless touring, independently producing 4 albums (with one on the way), one full length concert film, and sharing the stage with musical heroes such as: Jim Lauderdale, Todd Snider, Will Kimbrough, and Sturgill Simpson, Edens has garnered a dedicated following of fans across the nation. And as Fred Mills of Blurt magazine says… “Edens is the R.F.D. (Real effin’ Deal), and when he and his band have their collective back against the wall, there’s trouble in store.”
With her 2017 debut Shame, Americana songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Rachel Baiman emerged as a fearless voice of the American female experience. “Shame” was featured on NPR’s “Songs We Love”, called a “Rootsy Wake-up Call” by Folk Alley, and described by Vice’s “Noisey” as “flipping off authority one song at a time.” On her new full-length album Cycles, Baiman has found a grittier musical medium for her signature unabashed and defiant songwriting, employing a majority-female team including co-producer Olivia Hally, known as the front woman of Indie-pop band Oh Pep!
Cycles is a collection of songs encompassing the many ways that we destroy and rebuild as people, as families, and as a country. Songs about the cycle of life inspired by the birth of a nephew and the loss of a grandmother, songs about internal mental cycles of ambition and self-doubt, the cycle of progress and regression in our country’s political journey, and the cycles of growth and reinvention that relationships take on. At times heartbreaking, at times celebratory, the album is a reflection of a lot of life experienced in a relatively short amount of time, a desire to hold fast to the people we love in the wake of so much uncertainty, and an exploration of the immense and unique strength of women in the face of adversity.
Originally from Chicago, Baiman moved to Nashville at eighteen, and has spent the last decade working as a musician in a wide variety of roles, from session musician (Molly Tuttle, Kelsey Waldon, Caroline Spence), to live sidewoman (Kacey Musgraves, Amy Ray), to bandmate and producer. Fiddle music was her first love, and she is known in the bluegrass and old time world for her work with progressive acoustic duo 10 String Symphony with fiddle player Christian Sedelmyer. Her first solo album Shame, was produced by Andrew Marlin of Mandolin Orange, and established her role as part of a new generation of political songwriters. Since 2017, Baiman has toured her solo project internationally with appearances at the Kilkenny Roots Festival in Ireland, the Mullum Music Festival in Australia, and the Kennedy Center Millenium Stage in Washington, DC. She has also released a variety of small scale projects; her 2018 Free Dirt EP Thanksgiving, which read as a sort of epilogue to Shame, a duet project with singer Mike Wheeler, which is a more stripped down nod to her acoustic roots, and a 2020 single, Wrong Way Round, which shows more sonic experimentation and hints at musical direction of Cycles.
Inspired by the burgeoning grunge rock scene in Melbourne, Cycles was recorded in Australia in the glorified storage unit known as Purple Wayne Studios (Big Smoke) with engineer Alex O’Gorman (Angie McMahon). In addition to Hally on bass, piano and guitar, and Baiman on guitar, strings and banjo, other musicians include Melbourne drummer Bree Hartley, guitar players Cy Winstanley (Brandy Clarke) and Josh Oliver (Mandolin Orange), and guest vocalists Dan Parsons, Dan Watkins and Maggie Rigby (The Maes). The album was mixed by GRAMMY winning engineer Shani Gandhi, who is based in Nashville but originally from Australia as well.
Claire Simpson Jones and Donny Luke are the Asheville Gallery of Art’s featured artists for the month of May. Visitors to the gallery will have the entire month to view their outstanding paintings. Their exhibit will run from May 1st-31st.
“This exhibition is a celebration of our individual travels through life,” joyously depicted in the watercolors of Donny Luke and Claire Simpson Jones. Traveling has always played a big part in both Donny and Claire’s world, broadening their awareness and perspective, opening their minds to new experiences, and providing unlimited inspiration.
Both artists have a passion for travel as well as a passion for the challenging, but gratifying, watercolor medium, and this exhibition combines these passions. “There is no better way to immerse yourself into a particular scene than painting. Whether choosing plein-air or painting from travel sketches and references brought back to the studio, all of our senses come to life and that experience is pure joy!” Every painting is an adventure that seems to take on a life of its own, often diverging from the initial design as it develops. Staying open to ‘following’ that direction or literally “going with the flow” of watercolor provides a sense of discovery and adventure that makes the process exciting. Donny and Claire both have a long list of places and techniques they plan to explore in the near future, adding to their repertoire of inspiration and work.
Donny Luke’s travels throughout the US, Canada, and Mexico, have given him many opportunities to take reference photos of some of the most beautiful places and landscapes in North America. He works from these references to create dramatic watercolor paintings. His work also includes many paintings of the breathtaking scenery and architecture in Western North Carolina, especially waterfalls, streams, and old barns.
Donny retired from a thirty-two year career as a professional architect in Asheville, NC and began his watercolor career in 2016. He has studied under nationally known watercolor artists including Michael Reardon, Iain Stewart, Keiko Tenabe, and Antonio Masi. He is a signature member of the Watercolor Society of North Carolina and has had paintings juried into the 2018, 2020, and 2021 WSNC Annual Juried Exhibitions with the 2020 painting ‘Santa Rosalina Relic’ receiving the WSNC Permanent Collection Purchase Award.
Claire Simpson Jones’ sensitive naturalist paintings draw from her many travels, here and abroad, and a lifetime of finding refuge and comfort in the raw beauty of our planet. In the past ten years, she has spent her summers in her favorite destinations’ England, Scotland, Australia, and our beautiful mountains of NC. Equipped with painting supplies, she roams the countryside, setting up to paint whenever inspiration comes her way. “Nature has always fed my soul for as long as I can remember. This connection has been, and continues to be, the primary inspiration for my paintings. I often begin with plein air studies and photos, taking them back to my studio to see where my next painting experience leads me. There is nothing to substitute for painting on location, with all of my senses alive, working quickly to capture the true essence of the scene before me.”
After working in graphic design, illustration, and a long career in teaching high school art, Claire has shifted her focus back to full time painting. She holds a BFA from Florida Atlantic University and has studied art at Ontario College of Art and California College of Art. She has also studied with nationally known watercolor artists including atelier workshops with the world renown watercolorist, Mary Whyte. Claire is a signature member of the Watercolor Society of North Carolina, earning awards, the most recent 2020 Best of Region Award.
Visitors to the Asheville Gallery of Art will be able to view Claire and Donny’s show from May1st through May 31st. They will be present for a special “Meet the Artist” event on First Friday, May 6th, from 5pm-8pm in the gallery at 82 Patton Avenue.
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A race is only as good as the volunteers and you’re a good one! Let us know if you can help!
- Bricks-And-Mortar
- Public Education
- Planning, Survey and Designation
Volunteer with Us
Volunteers are the heart of our organization and support every aspect of our work. In 2021, 955 volunteers contributed 37,053 hours of service, helping us to carry out our vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Whether sorting donations in the ReStore, hammering nails on the construction site, or assisting in the administrative office, we hope you’ll find the volunteer opportunity that is right for you.
ince 2003, the Bearfootin’ Art Walk has helped raise funding for Downtown Hendersonville and a variety of local non-profits. In addition to raising funds, the bears offer a window into good work being done by community organizations in Henderson County.
The Bearfootin’ Bears arrive as blank slates before local artists transform each in a spectacular fashion, with creative themes ranging from Mona Lisa to Blue Ridge Mountain scenery. After the “Reveal” event in early May, the bears then take up residence in downtown Hendersonville for the duration of the summer and fall, up until auction. Participants bid during the auction to raise funds for local non-profits and Downtown Hendersonville. Winning bids up to $3,000 are split evenly between the downtown program and the nonprofit chosen by the sponsor, while bid amounts exceeding $3,000 are directed entirely to the non-profit. In 2021, the Bears raised more than $100,000, and in 2022 we hope to continue the tradition of giving.
Step Into the heart of Rwanda With Culture Keeper David Kwizera + the LEAF International Rwanda Jr. Troupe! This spring documentary is exactly what you need!
This event is open for kids and adults, or just adults. Come spend quality time with your kiddos.
Pasta making class designed especially for kids and adults to work together.
We will make ravioli, fettuccini and two different sauces; marinara and Alfredo. We will also make quick but ultimately delicious croissants.
We provide drinks, aprons and appetizers. Come join us for a fun afternoon.
Think you might need to use an absentee ballot for the Primary Election on May 17? Here’s what you need to know so you can make sure your vote counts.
How to Request an Absentee Ballot
Absentee ballots will be mailed out beginning on March 28. The deadline to submit an Absentee Ballot Request Form is May 10 at 5:00 p.m. for the 2022 Primary Election. Any North Carolina registered voter may request, receive, and vote a mail-in absentee ballot. No special circumstance or reason is needed. Registered voters in North Carolina must request an absentee ballot with an official N.C. Absentee Ballot Request Form. There are two ways to access and submit the form:
- Online – Request an Absentee Ballot at the N.C. Absentee Ballot Portal.
- On paper – print the English N.C. Absentee Ballot Request Form for 2022 or the Spanish N.C. Absentee Ballot Request Form for 2022 (not available online currently).
For active-duty military, their family members, and U.S. citizens living abroad, click here. If you have questions about that process, you can call us at (828) 250-4200 or visit buncombecounty.org/vote.
No Printer? You may complete an absentee ballot request form at the Election Services office at 59 Woodfin Place, Asheville, 28801, or call (828) 250-4200 and one will be mailed to you. You may return the request in one of the following ways:
Mail it to:
P.O. Box 7468, Asheville, NC 28802
Hand deliver it to our office:
59 Woodfin Place, Asheville, 28801
Note: The Absentee Ballot Request Form may not be emailed or faxed. Request forms that are hand delivered to the office must be returned only by the voter or the voter’s near relative
How to Return an Absentee Ballot
The deadline to return the completed Absentee Ballot is Tuesday, May 17, 2022, at 5:00 p.m., however, voters are encouraged to return the ballot as early as possible. You may return it to us in one of the following ways:
By mail: Absentee ballots may be mailed to P.O. Box 7468 Asheville, NC 28802. Ballots must be postmarked on or before Tuesday, May 17, 2022 and received by Friday, May 20.
At an Early Voting site: Absentee ballots may be returned to an early voting site during the early voting period, but not at a polling location on the day of the Primary Election. Ballots returned at an early voting site must be delivered to the election official at the check-in station.
In person: Absentee ballots may be returned in person to our office at 59 Woodfin Place between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Absentee ballots may be returned only by the voter or the voter’s near relative.
For more information about absentee voting, visit the North Carolina Board of Elections website. Or call us at (828) 250-4200. You can also email your questions to [email protected].
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Farmer-to-Farmer Training
WNC Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CRAFT) is a farmer-led effort to bring established farmers, farm apprentices, and aspiring farmers together for year-long training in the art and science of sustainable agriculture, straight from the hearts, mouths, and fields of seasoned local farmers in Western North Carolina (WNC).
Why join CRAFT?
- Network with beginning and experienced farmers to exchange your ideas and knowledge and build community in the region.
- Expand your training opportunities beyond your farm to bolster the robustness of your apprenticeship offerings.
- Attract aspiring farmers to your apprenticeship positions to cultivate success and improve the future of our region’s agriculture.
GreenWorks Silent Auction
May 13-29
Virtual
Old Shiloh was one of Asheville’s first communities established by emancipated people. The community moved to its present-day location – New Shiloh – after George Vanderbilt, in an effort to expand his land holdings as he planned to build his Biltmore Estate, purchased the land and buildings and agreed to relocate the Shiloh church and cemetery.
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Bid on a Greener Future Our Silent Auction Features Only-in-Asheville Treats & Unique Experiences to Fund Asheville’s Climate Resilience |
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May 13-29 Bidding Ends May 29 at 8pm
You live in a beautiful, healthy place, and you want to keep it that way. Us too. So we put together a fun way to help protect our home — now and for the future.
We’ve reached out to our community, and collected items from some of the most fun, most delicious, and most unique Asheville businesses. The auction goes live May 13. |
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| Lights Out! Asheville is a program that can benefit birds and also save energy and money. Mayor Manheimer recently signed a proclamation that designates March-May and September-November as “Migratory Bird Awareness Months,” and has entrusted the Blue Ridge Audubon Chapter and the Coalition for a Bird-Friendly Asheville to create a Lights Out program that is supported by the Asheville residential and business community.
The Coalition for a Bird-Friendly Asheville, in partnership with the Blue Ridge Audubon Chapter, and many local environmental organizations, is asking you to participate in Lights Out! Asheville. By doing so, you will reduce light pollution that disrupts bird migration and negatively impacts human and non-human animal health while also reducing your energy consumption. What you can do: From Midnight-6AM, March-May and September-November, Turn off exterior decorative lighting By pledging to participate in Asheville’s Lights Out! program, you will be joining a national Lights Out network comprised of over 40 cities! Together, we can help provide safe passage for our avian migratory friends. |
We’re excited to welcome Celebrity Chef & Author Chadwick Boyd for a celebration of spring.
About Chadwick Boyd
Chadwick Boyd is a food media entrepreneur who began cooking as a child on his family farm and has been cooking along with some of the biggest names, such as Art Smith, Carla Hall, and Tyler Florence for almost 30 years. Today, Boyd’s company, Chadwick Boyd Lifestyle, is a multi-media enterprise that collaborates with magazines, television networks, publishing houses, and consumer brands.
Friday & Saturday, May 13 & 14
Social Hour from 5 – 6 pm | Enjoy recipes from Chadwick Boyd’s Lovely & Delicious platform.
*Complimentary for Half-Mile Farm guests only.
Saturday, May 14
Biscuit-making demonstration, conversation and tasting with Chadwick and Kyle Jones Co-Founder and Media Director of Bitter Southerner in the Woodland View Room from 4 – 5 pm.
*Complimentary for Half-Mile Farm guests only.
Sunday, April 15
May Day Celebration Dinner with Celebrity Chef Chadwick Boyd from 5 pm at The Farm at Old Edwards. Playful Spring Attire is encouraged!
Price: Hosted events are for Half-Mile Farm guests only.
To attend these complimentary events at Half-Mile Farm from Sunday, May 13 – 15, book your stay today.
Book Online: https://www.oldedwardshospitality.com/half-mile-farm#/booking/step-1
If you’re behind on your water bill or afraid your water might get cut off, a new resource might be able to help you. On Jan. 4, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners approved more than $450,000 in federal funding for the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP). The initiative is aimed at preventing water disconnections and helping reconnect drinking and wastewater services.
The LIHWAP will be administered by Buncombe County-based Eblen Charities. The nonprofit will make payments directly to utilities on behalf of qualifying households. The program is slated to run through Sept. 30, 2023 or until funds are exhausted.
Eligibility requirements
Households that currently receive Food and Nutrition Services (FNS), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Work First services, or those that received Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) services from Oct. 1, 2020-Sept. 30, 2021, are automatically eligible to receive this benefit if their water services have been cut off or are in danger of being cut off.
For additional eligibility information or to apply, please contact Eblen Charities at (828) 255-3066.