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.

Thursday, February 13, 2020
Asheville Police Department: New Junior Police Academy
Feb 13 all-day
Municipal Building

The deadline for applications will be March 6. Applications can be downloaded by visiting this link.

The Asheville Police Department is excited to announce the first offering of a Junior Police Academy. This new program is designed for youth ages 14-19 who have a serious interest in pursuing a career in law enforcement.

 

Topics will include criminal law, investigations, narcotics, patrol/arrest techniques, and physical training. All classes are designed to incorporate both an academic and hands-on setting.

 

The Junior Police Academy will be offered at no cost to the participants. The Academy begins on March 30 and runs through April 11. Classes will be held at the Municipal Building, 100 Court Plaza, in downtown Asheville, from 5 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings; and from noon to 3 p.m. two Saturdays. Successful completion of the Junior Police Academy is a requirement for participating in the Asheville Police Department’s Explorer program.

 

There is limited space available for participants. The first 15 approved applicants will be accepted. Applicants who live within the city limits of Asheville will have priority selection. Applicant requirements include:

  • GPA of 2.0 or higher
  • Must pass a criminal background check
  • Must provide at least three references and have parent/guardian approval
  • Must have a full physical completed by a physician

 

 

 

Friday, February 14, 2020
LEAF 50th Festival Line Up and Tickets
Feb 14 all-day
Lake Eden Arts Festival
Make & Mingle
Feb 14 all-day
Asheville Museum of Science

This 21+ event from 7-9 PM welcomes all to experience the museum after hours, explore our new exhibits, get creative, and enjoy an evening out. Activities and demonstrations will include the science of love, scavenger hunts, valentine making, and more! Participants will also explore the sweet, sour, and bitter “tastes of love” thanks to drinks, snacks, and sweet treats. Be sure to get your tickets

North Carolina in the Great War Exhibit
Feb 14 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Smith-McDowell House

The exhibit is on loan from the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and has been supplemented with artifacts from the Smith-McDowell House collection. Entrance to the exhibit is included with Smith-McDowell House admission – and is always free for members – and runs through May 16, 2020.

The exhibit seeks to put the local men and women who served in context with the larger events happening in North Carolina, the United States, and the world. In the exhibit, visitors will find displays and interactive elements telling the stories of just a few of our hometown heroes.

Saturday, February 15, 2020
Asheville Police Department: New Junior Police Academy
Feb 15 all-day
Municipal Building

The deadline for applications will be March 6. Applications can be downloaded by visiting this link.

The Asheville Police Department is excited to announce the first offering of a Junior Police Academy. This new program is designed for youth ages 14-19 who have a serious interest in pursuing a career in law enforcement.

 

Topics will include criminal law, investigations, narcotics, patrol/arrest techniques, and physical training. All classes are designed to incorporate both an academic and hands-on setting.

 

The Junior Police Academy will be offered at no cost to the participants. The Academy begins on March 30 and runs through April 11. Classes will be held at the Municipal Building, 100 Court Plaza, in downtown Asheville, from 5 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings; and from noon to 3 p.m. two Saturdays. Successful completion of the Junior Police Academy is a requirement for participating in the Asheville Police Department’s Explorer program.

 

There is limited space available for participants. The first 15 approved applicants will be accepted. Applicants who live within the city limits of Asheville will have priority selection. Applicant requirements include:

  • GPA of 2.0 or higher
  • Must pass a criminal background check
  • Must provide at least three references and have parent/guardian approval
  • Must have a full physical completed by a physician

 

 

 

Citizen’s Police Academy (CPA) 12 week course
Feb 15 all-day
City Municipal Building

Police-Hat

Applications are due Feb. 21.

The Asheville Police Department (APD) is now inviting residents to apply for the spring semester of the Citizen’s Police Academy (CPA). Participants in this free course will learn about the daily work and operations of APD, while also giving the department an opportunity to obtain valuable feedback from the community.

 

The course will begin on March 5. Sessions are held each Thursday from 5:30 to 9 p.m. for 12 weeks. The course is held at the Municipal Building, 100 Court Plaza, in downtown Asheville. Dinner is provided.

 

The course consists of basic classroom instruction, presentations and demonstrations of topics such as criminal investigations, constitutional and criminal law, use of force, departmental structure and defensive tactics. Participants will also be given the opportunity to ride along with an officer.

Those wishing to participate must apply and be accepted. You can submit an application online at this link. Applications are due Feb. 21.

 

Early Bird tickets: 23rd annual French Broard River Festival
Feb 15 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

Early Bird Tickets: Connect Beyond Festival
Feb 15 all-day

Connection. A word that by definition means to join together to establish a link, so as to provide access and communication. Connect Beyond Festival has established that link and is using music, film, and storytelling to create connections. More than just an event, Connect Beyond Festival is a movement to develop a network of people inspired by creative mediums and united in the pursuit of equality and social justice. Our goal is to inspire a sense of community and personal engagement.

Lauded as “Asheville’s version of SXSW” (Ashvegas) this event is perfect for those who are looking for a more dynamic festival experience – one that prioritizes exploration and participation just as much as entertainment. If you’re looking to broaden your horizons, to engage with others, and want to leave a festival with more than just a hangover, Connect Beyond Festival is just the place to be.

Environmental Education: RiverLink Summer Camps
Feb 15 all-day
Buncombe County NC

Environmental Education is crucial to what RiverLink does. We believe that in order for someone to protect their environment, they must first understand it. Our education programs focus on getting students out in the watershed for hands-on experiential learning. We help students foster a love and appreciation for their water resources by allowing them to see, hear and interact with their local waterways. As a result of engaging with our program we hope that students will be inspired to become the next generation of watershed stewards.

RiverRATS Education Program

Farmer Incubator Program – Apply Now!
Feb 15 all-day
SAHC

Farmer Incubator Program – Apply Now!

Farming = a long-term game. Traditionally, farming was a lifelong+ learning process, with families passing along experience, knowledge, and land accrued by multiple generations. Today, your experience in farming may be different. This program is part of a collaborative support system to help “incubate” farm businesses as they grow.

Farming is a business… What’s your business plan?

Do you have a farm business idea? Make it a reality! You are invited to join Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy’s Farmer Incubator Program, a “business incubator” for farm operations.

LEAF 50th Festival Line Up and Tickets
Feb 15 all-day
Lake Eden Arts Festival
NC Brewers and Music Festival CANCELLED
Feb 15 all-day
Historic Rural Hill

UPDATED INFO:

To make the transition from this year to the 2021 event as seamless and exciting as possible, we have already worked with our artists, our brewers, and our vendors to make sure that we are able to carry over this year’s lineup and infrastructure to next year’s festival date. In addition, we are also in conversation with Eventbrite regarding the best options we can offer you when it comes to making a choice about how your ticket investment plays out. 

Because this decision affects you as much as it does us, we will offer full refunds of all ticket purchases to any of you who would prefer that option. We understand the inconvenience that this change might cause you, and we ask that you offer us your patience while we organize that process. As another option, we would also like to offer you the opportunity to retain your ticket purchase and to roll it over into next year’s attendance. Any ticket that has already been purchased for 2020 will be honored at our 2021 festival in lieu of a refund. That is a choice we are allowing you to make, and we will be delighted to have you back as our guests then! 

Please check back with us often as we continue to plan for the 2021 (“unofficial 10th Anniversary”) North Carolina Brewers and Music Festival. Again, thank you for your patience and understanding, but mostly for your continued support at the festival. We couldn’t keep putting on this event without you, and we continue to be thankful year after year. 

 

Along with a rich Americana lineup, North Carolina Brewers and Music Festival also shines a spotlight on local brewers and their contribution to North Carolina’s vibrant culinary scene. Over 50 breweries offering a selection of craft beers will be featured on-site throughout the weekend. Tasting tickets, which include access to beer samples plus a commemorative sampling glass, are available for purchase for $50 ($39 for early birds).

North Carolina Brewers and Music Festival began as a fundraising effort to preserve the historic site of Rural Hill. The site, which boasts extensive hiking trails, is a beloved landmark in the Central NC region and is home to many educational field trips and events. Since its inception, the North Carolina Brewers and Music Festival has continued to support the awareness of Rural Hill and attract diverse crowds from all over the country.

Friday music-only passes with sets from Acoustic Syndicate and Fireside Collective are $15. Saturday music-only passes with sets from the Steep Canyon Rangers and Hayes Carll are $22 for early birds. For attendees who would like to sample an unlimited assortment of celebrated North Carolina brews on Saturday, Tasting Tickets (which include daily entrance to the festival for music happenings) are available at the Early Bird price of $39. Camping options are available for attendees who would like to make the most of their weekend. Two-Day weekend tent camping, premium tent camping, and RV/Camper camping with hook-ups are available for $45, $65, and $85 respectively. North Carolina Brewers and Music Festival is a family-friendly event. Children 4 and under are free. A Children’s Ticket is available for kids 5 – 15 for $8.

Redesigning Our Future: National Environmental Summit for High School Students
Feb 15 all-day
Catawba College
RiverLink’s Art & Poetry Contest Grades PreK-12
Feb 15 all-day
online
Asheville Celtic Festival
Feb 15 @ 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
Western North Carolina Agricultural Center -

Asheville Celtic Festival

Failte (Welcome)… to The Asheville Celtic Festival, a Winter Indoor Celtic Festival bringing the Celtic Spirit of the Seven Nations to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, will be held inside of the Davis Center at the WNC Agricultural Center giving us comfortable setting in the winter months.

Feel the Vibes of Early Settlers from the Celtic Nations

Participate in Entertaining Battles and Performances

Learn About Celtic History and Traditions

Listen to LIVE Celtic Music

Explore your Family Background

See Characters in 1700 Period Dress

Shop the Celtic Crafts and Buy a Kilt

Eat Traditional Foods

Drink the Stouts & Ales

Rest by the Fire

Attractions

Live Celtic Music

Traditional Food & Drink

Kilts and Accessories

Scottish Althletes

Scottish Crafts and Gifts

Scottish and Irish Dog Clubs

Armored Sword Fighting at The Castle

Family Heritage Research

North Carolina in the Great War Exhibit
Feb 15 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Smith-McDowell House

The exhibit is on loan from the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and has been supplemented with artifacts from the Smith-McDowell House collection. Entrance to the exhibit is included with Smith-McDowell House admission – and is always free for members – and runs through May 16, 2020.

The exhibit seeks to put the local men and women who served in context with the larger events happening in North Carolina, the United States, and the world. In the exhibit, visitors will find displays and interactive elements telling the stories of just a few of our hometown heroes.

Sunday, February 16, 2020
Asheville Police Department: New Junior Police Academy
Feb 16 all-day
Municipal Building

The deadline for applications will be March 6. Applications can be downloaded by visiting this link.

The Asheville Police Department is excited to announce the first offering of a Junior Police Academy. This new program is designed for youth ages 14-19 who have a serious interest in pursuing a career in law enforcement.

 

Topics will include criminal law, investigations, narcotics, patrol/arrest techniques, and physical training. All classes are designed to incorporate both an academic and hands-on setting.

 

The Junior Police Academy will be offered at no cost to the participants. The Academy begins on March 30 and runs through April 11. Classes will be held at the Municipal Building, 100 Court Plaza, in downtown Asheville, from 5 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings; and from noon to 3 p.m. two Saturdays. Successful completion of the Junior Police Academy is a requirement for participating in the Asheville Police Department’s Explorer program.

 

There is limited space available for participants. The first 15 approved applicants will be accepted. Applicants who live within the city limits of Asheville will have priority selection. Applicant requirements include:

  • GPA of 2.0 or higher
  • Must pass a criminal background check
  • Must provide at least three references and have parent/guardian approval
  • Must have a full physical completed by a physician

 

 

 

LEAF Volunteers is now LEAF WeX
Feb 16 all-day
LEAF
We’ve opted to shift the name and give some different benefits.
WHAT is changing? The name, WeX Star Crew benefit, & Festival HQ
– Regular Volunteers are now WeX. Work 10 hours in exchange for Weekend (Fri to Sun) Ticket
– Plus Volunteers are now WeX Plus. Work 15 hours in exchange for a Weekend Plus (Thu to Sun) Ticket
– Star Volunteers are now WeX Star. Work 20 hours in exchange for a Weekend Plus (Thu to Sun) Ticket AND a Culinary Passport -OR- a Star Guest Pass Ticket (Thu to Sun). Guest passes are LIMITED.

We’ll update our Auto-Reply as well as make a note on the website when the guest pass is no longer an available option. Those who have submitted completed applications prior to the cut off will have the guest pass option.

WeX Headquarters (HQ) will now be located under the Ship with a designated lounging area for WeXs. Make sure to come by and say hello!! You’ll pick up official schedule cards and culinary passes here as well.

RiverLink’s Art & Poetry Contest Grades PreK-12
Feb 16 all-day
online
Western Carolina University School of Stage and Screen’s Production of “A Streetcar Named Desire”
Feb 16 all-day
Hoey Auditorium

Peformances: Feb. 13th-15th at 7:30pm, and Feb. 16th at 3:30pm

Written by: Tennessee Williams

Directed by: Acting for Stage and Screen program director Colin Wasmund

One of the most renowned plays of the American theare, Blanche DuBois, a schoolteacher from Kentucky, arrives in New Orleans and takes a streetcar named “Desire” to the French Quarter, where her sister, Stella, and Stella’s husband, Stanley Kowalski, live barely above squalor. Blanche’s affectations of refinement set her immediately at odds with blue-collar Stanley, who is further incensed when he learns his wife’s aristocratic inheritance—the family estate—has been forfeited to creditors. Believing that Blanche has sold the estate for personal profit and is swindling Stella and Stanley from sharing in the proceeds, Stanley disdains and demeans Blanche, who fights back in the only way she knows: with her genteel femininity. The Kowalski’s Elysian Fields apartment becomes a pressure cooker of sensuality and class tensions, until ultimately erupting in some of the most iconic dramatic moments seen on the modern stage.

Monday, February 17, 2020
Butchery Master Class: DIY Sausage Making
Feb 17 @ 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Hickory Nut Gap Farm

Learn about how our hogs are pasture raised from our farm director Asher Wright.  He will discuss heritage breeds, health benefits of pasture raised pork and how various inputs on the production side impact the quality of the meat.

MAKE

Make sausages with HNG’s head butchers! Each participant will make their own pork sausage. From grinding to mixing, recipes and proportions, to casings, you’ll learn about it all and do it all too!

EAT

Enjoy a beautiful spread of our in-house made Charcuterie & Sausages and a locally crafted adult beverage of your choice.

TAKE

You’ll take home approximately 5# of pork sausage!

Community invited: View Haywood and Page Avenue Design Concepts
Feb 17 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Center for Craft

haywood street panorama view

The Feb. 17 presentation will highlight how the design team built on the foundational work from the Haywood and Page Vision Report, their own site research and analysis, and input collected over the past four months to develop draft design concepts for the site. The work-session will be a time for the public to ask questions about the concepts and provide feedback.

The public is encouraged to attend. Online materials and a survey will also be available later in February.

The design team intends to present a conceptual master plan to the City Council in May. The feedback collected from the community during this time period will be used to help create that plan.

Tuesday, Feb. 18 – Drop-in Hours

10 to 11:30 a.m. and

2 to 3:30 p.m.

 

 

Free parking will be available for attendees at HomeTrust Bank, 10 Woodfin St. Passes must be printed before and displayed in car windows, click here to  print a pass. For more information, please visit this link on the City of Asheville website.

 

Tuesday, February 18, 2020
Asheville Police Department: New Junior Police Academy
Feb 18 all-day
Municipal Building

The deadline for applications will be March 6. Applications can be downloaded by visiting this link.

The Asheville Police Department is excited to announce the first offering of a Junior Police Academy. This new program is designed for youth ages 14-19 who have a serious interest in pursuing a career in law enforcement.

 

Topics will include criminal law, investigations, narcotics, patrol/arrest techniques, and physical training. All classes are designed to incorporate both an academic and hands-on setting.

 

The Junior Police Academy will be offered at no cost to the participants. The Academy begins on March 30 and runs through April 11. Classes will be held at the Municipal Building, 100 Court Plaza, in downtown Asheville, from 5 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings; and from noon to 3 p.m. two Saturdays. Successful completion of the Junior Police Academy is a requirement for participating in the Asheville Police Department’s Explorer program.

 

There is limited space available for participants. The first 15 approved applicants will be accepted. Applicants who live within the city limits of Asheville will have priority selection. Applicant requirements include:

  • GPA of 2.0 or higher
  • Must pass a criminal background check
  • Must provide at least three references and have parent/guardian approval
  • Must have a full physical completed by a physician

 

 

 

Cooking with Chef Steve
Feb 18 @ 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Hendersonville Country Club, Inc.

11:00am Cooking Class | 1:00pm Lunch
Spend your Tuesday in the HCC Kitchen taking part in an interactive cooking class with Chef Steve. This class will be open to a maximum of 10 participants. After the food is prepared, guests may join us at 1:00pm to enjoy the food prepared.

Arts Education Advocacy 101
Feb 18 @ 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Center for Craft

This lecture is part of the new Creative Sector Talks series.

Nate McGaha, Executive Director of Arts North Carolina, discusses arts education advocacy and the role it plays in public policy and funding for comprehensive arts education. This presentation will include updates on state and federal policy and funding as it relates to the arts and arts education and provide tools and strategies to engage with elected officials to have a positive impact on the creative education of our students. In addition to training about what individuals can do in their own community, this talk will cover basic organization of advocacy campaigns and how to effectively unite behind a singular message of strengthening the arts in our school. Attendees will also learn more about Arts North Carolina, the only arts and arts education advocacy organization in the state, and how they have been instrumental in advancing government policy and investment in the arts for decades.

Arts North Carolina is the statewide advocacy organization for the arts; a 501(c)(3) organization governed by a statewide Board of Directors. ARTS North Carolina calls for equity and access to the arts for all North Carolinians, unifies and connects North Carolina’s arts communities, and fosters arts leadership.

Creative Sector Talk: Arts Education Advocacy 101
Feb 18 @ 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Center for Crafts

Creative Sector Talk: Arts Education Advocacy 101

Nate McGaha, Executive Director of Arts North Carolina, discusses arts education advocacy and the role it plays in public policy and funding for comprehensive arts education. This presentation will include updates on state and federal policy and funding as it relates to the arts and arts education and provide tools and strategies to engage with elected officials to have a positive impact on the creative education of our students. In addition to training about what individuals can do in their own community, this talk will cover basic organization of advocacy campaigns and how to effectively unite behind a singular message of strengthening the arts in our school. Attendees will also learn more about Arts North Carolina, the only arts and arts education advocacy organization in the state, and how they have been instrumental in advancing government policy and investment in the arts for decades.

Speaker: Nate McGaha, Executive Director of Art NC

Arts North Carolina is the statewide advocacy organization for the arts; a 501(c)(3) organization governed by a statewide Board of Directors. ARTS North Carolina calls for equity and access to the arts for all North Carolinians, unifies and connects North Carolina’s arts communities, and fosters arts leadership.

 

Hedy Lamarr | Chautauqua Talk
Feb 18 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Hughes Main Library

Free event and parking. More Info: HistoryComesAlive.org or 864-244-1499

Join an audience that loves talking back to history to discuss Hedy Lamarr – with Kevin Treu, PhD, Chair of the Computer Science Department at Furman University, longtime Upstate actor, director and playwright and advocate for women in STEM fields.

Who would have believed that “The Most Beautiful Woman in the World,” Hollywood star Hedy Lamarr, was a genuine celling crasher scientist whose groundbreaking invention revolutionized modern communication, and made your cell phone, GPS, and Wi-Fi possible? But there’s no law that says an inventor can’t be beautiful. – Let’s talk about it.

This event is NOT a costumed performance. Hedy Lamarr will be performed by Judith Kalaora in the Chautauqua History Comes Alive Festival (June 12 – 21.)

Wednesday, February 19, 2020
Early Bird tickets: 23rd annual French Broard River Festival
Feb 19 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

Early Bird Tickets: Connect Beyond Festival
Feb 19 all-day

Connection. A word that by definition means to join together to establish a link, so as to provide access and communication. Connect Beyond Festival has established that link and is using music, film, and storytelling to create connections. More than just an event, Connect Beyond Festival is a movement to develop a network of people inspired by creative mediums and united in the pursuit of equality and social justice. Our goal is to inspire a sense of community and personal engagement.

Lauded as “Asheville’s version of SXSW” (Ashvegas) this event is perfect for those who are looking for a more dynamic festival experience – one that prioritizes exploration and participation just as much as entertainment. If you’re looking to broaden your horizons, to engage with others, and want to leave a festival with more than just a hangover, Connect Beyond Festival is just the place to be.

North Carolina in the Great War Exhibit
Feb 19 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Smith-McDowell House

The exhibit is on loan from the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and has been supplemented with artifacts from the Smith-McDowell House collection. Entrance to the exhibit is included with Smith-McDowell House admission – and is always free for members – and runs through May 16, 2020.

The exhibit seeks to put the local men and women who served in context with the larger events happening in North Carolina, the United States, and the world. In the exhibit, visitors will find displays and interactive elements telling the stories of just a few of our hometown heroes.