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.
Join us FRIDAY DECEMBER 20TH from 5PM – 10PM and share the love as we celebrate the season by supporting local non-profits that concentrate on the homeless population and those in crisis throughout our Asheville and WNC community. *Admission is by donation at the door, you choose what you want to give!* Your gift will go a long way to help members of our community have a place to call HOME. ALL proceeds will benefit 5 LOCAL non-profit organizations: Homeward Bound of WNC, Helpmate, BeLoved Asheville, Eliada, & Haywood Street Congregation! We have set our goal to raise $20,000! We are thrilled to have kids’ activities, visiting with Santa & Mrs. Claus, LIVE LOCAL music from LYRIC & Swing Step, photo booth fun, dinner & drinks, silent auction & raffle!
About This Trip
Over 90,000 guests rode THE POLAR EXPRESS™ with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in 2018 and we hope to see you in 2019! The 1¼ hour round-trip excursion comes to life as the train departs the Bryson City depot for a journey through the quiet wilderness for a special visit at the North Pole. Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, guests on board will enjoy warm cocoa and a treat while listening and reading along with the magical story. Children’s faces show the magic of the season when the train arrives at the North Pole to find Santa Claus waiting. Santa will board THE POLAR EXPRESS™, greeting each child and presenting them with a special gift as in the story, their own silver sleigh bell. Christmas carols will be sung as they return back to the Bryson City Depot.
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ begins November 8, 2019, and operates through December 31, 2019.
Giving Challenge Issued: Gifts to Pisgah Legal Services Matched Through Dec. 31
To help meet the needs here in our mountain region, generous donors have created the “Campaign for Justice in WNC” Giving Challenge. All gifts made to Pisgah Legal Services by December 31st will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, up to $150,000.
Giving online is fast, easy and secure at www.pisgahlegal.org/give or contact Development Director Ally Wilson by phone at 828-210-3444 or via email: [email protected].
If you need help, call Pisgah Legal Services at 828-253-0406 or toll free at 800-489-6144 or visit www.pisgahlegal.org.
Across the country, schoolchildren place their hands over their hearts and recite “with liberty and justice for all,” an ideal in the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance professing that justice should be accessible to everyone. In criminal cases, legal assistance is a right. Unfortunately, there is no such right to counsel in civil legal matters, and most low-income Americans are forced to go it alone.
A recent study by The Pew Charitable Trusts shows that about 1 in 3 households in the U.S. faced housing, family or debt issues in 2018, suggesting that Americans could benefit from more assistance with civil legal issues. Those numbers increase dramatically for low-income people. A 2017 study shows that 86 percent of civil legal problems reported by low-income Americans received inadequate or no legal help.
Pisgah Legal Services Stands for Justice for People in Western North Carolina (WNC)
For more than 40 years, nonprofit Pisgah Legal Services (PLS) has provided free civil legal aid to help low-income people seek justice and meet their basic needs.
“Folks who live in low-income households regularly experience problems that can be addressed with a civil legal aid attorney by their side: stopping domestic violence, accessing veterans’ benefits, escaping poor housing conditions, and securing health care for example,” says Pisgah Legal Executive Director Jim Barrett.
He continues, “Lawyers are powerful allies who can tackle the issues that keep people locked into poverty, trapped in abusive situations and living in substandard conditions, but we need support from the community to do so. We hope folks will make a gift to help their neighbors in need by the end of the year, because at Pisgah Legal we believe that justice is for everyone, not just those who can afford it.”
Last year PLS served more than 16,800 people across the mountain region. The nonprofit’s main service area includes eight WNC counties, with offices in Asheville, Brevard, Hendersonville, Marshall, Rutherfordton and Spruce Pine. PLS has 27 attorneys on staff and relies heavily on the pro bono legal services of more than 300 volunteer attorneys.
The AIR Passport is your buy-one-get-one (BOGO)* ticket to some of Buncombe County’s highly acclaimed independent restaurants. Visit an old favorite or try a new member of the area’s vibrant independent restaurant community. AIR Passports make great gifts, but they go fast.
The AIR Passport offers BOGO from 60 area eateries with discounts up to $15 per participating restaurants. All proceeds from the AIR Passport go to benefit the ongoing efforts of AIR to keep Asheville’s food scene eclectic and authentic.
“It is one of our largest fundraisers of the year,” Anderson said. “We are able to use these funds throughout the year for educational classes, events and other opportunities for our members and their staff.”
Participating restaurants in the 2020 AIR Passport:
| 828 Pizzeria North | Ducker Tea Room | Rosabees |
| 828 Pizzeria South | Early Girl DT | Rosetta’s |
| AUX Bar | Early Girl West | Roux |
| Baked Pie North | Early Girl North | Rustic Grape |
| Baked Pie South | Farm Burger | Sante |
| The Barrelhouse | French Broad Choc | Sawhorse |
| Bhramari | The Glass Onion | The Social Lounge |
| The Bier Garden | The Grey Eagle | Strada |
| Black Bear BBQ | Hemingway’s Cuba | Sunny Point |
| The Blackbird | Isa’s Bistro | Tupelo Honey DT |
| Blue Dream Curry | Jack of the Wood | Tupelo Honey South |
| Bouchon | Karen Donatelli | Daphne-Twisted Laurel |
| Button & Co Bagels | The Laughing Seed | Twisted Laurel West |
| Buxton Hall | Little Jumbo | Ultimate Ice Cream N |
| The Cantina | The Lobster Trap | Ultimate Ice Cream E |
| Chai Pani | Luella’s North | Vinnie’s Italian |
| Chestnut | Luella’s South | Well Played |
| Chupacabra | The Native Social | White Labs |
| Collaboratory | Pack’s Tavern | White Duck Taco DT |
| Copper Crown | The Oysterhouse | White Duck Taco RAD |
| The Corner Kitchen | The Red Stag Grill | White Duck Taco South |
| Creekside Taphouse | RendezVous |
- FREE ADMISSION
- TAQUERIA OPEN AT 11AM
- 10AM – 4PM
We’ll have local vendors set up selling handmade goods, arts, and crafts just in time for holiday gift-giving. Be sure to grab a bite from our in-house Taqueria and a drink from the bar as you peruse Asheville’s finest makers. Plus, we’ll set the mood with some classic holiday tunes!
About This Trip
Over 90,000 guests rode THE POLAR EXPRESS™ with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in 2018 and we hope to see you in 2019! The 1¼ hour round-trip excursion comes to life as the train departs the Bryson City depot for a journey through the quiet wilderness for a special visit at the North Pole. Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, guests on board will enjoy warm cocoa and a treat while listening and reading along with the magical story. Children’s faces show the magic of the season when the train arrives at the North Pole to find Santa Claus waiting. Santa will board THE POLAR EXPRESS™, greeting each child and presenting them with a special gift as in the story, their own silver sleigh bell. Christmas carols will be sung as they return back to the Bryson City Depot.
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ begins November 8, 2019, and operates through December 31, 2019.
About This Trip
Over 90,000 guests rode THE POLAR EXPRESS™ with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in 2018 and we hope to see you in 2019! The 1¼ hour round-trip excursion comes to life as the train departs the Bryson City depot for a journey through the quiet wilderness for a special visit at the North Pole. Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, guests on board will enjoy warm cocoa and a treat while listening and reading along with the magical story. Children’s faces show the magic of the season when the train arrives at the North Pole to find Santa Claus waiting. Santa will board THE POLAR EXPRESS™, greeting each child and presenting them with a special gift as in the story, their own silver sleigh bell. Christmas carols will be sung as they return back to the Bryson City Depot.
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ begins November 8, 2019, and operates through December 31, 2019.
Dry Falls is teaming up with Blue Ridge Humane Society and Henderson County Animal Shelters!
Together we are hosting an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party for you and your pup!
We will have prizes for the best dressed Pair/family.
We are asking for donations. We need blankets, toys, food, towels, treats etc for the shelter. Or a present for a pup to open on Christmas Morning. Or better yet give a dog the ultimate present – a forever home.
Photos will be posted of the dogs that are needing homes.
Hope Griffin will be singing from 2-4pm!
Join us for tail wagging time!
About This Trip
Over 90,000 guests rode THE POLAR EXPRESS™ with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in 2018 and we hope to see you in 2019! The 1¼ hour round-trip excursion comes to life as the train departs the Bryson City depot for a journey through the quiet wilderness for a special visit at the North Pole. Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, guests on board will enjoy warm cocoa and a treat while listening and reading along with the magical story. Children’s faces show the magic of the season when the train arrives at the North Pole to find Santa Claus waiting. Santa will board THE POLAR EXPRESS™, greeting each child and presenting them with a special gift as in the story, their own silver sleigh bell. Christmas carols will be sung as they return back to the Bryson City Depot.
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ begins November 8, 2019, and operates through December 31, 2019.
About This Trip
Over 90,000 guests rode THE POLAR EXPRESS™ with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in 2018 and we hope to see you in 2019! The 1¼ hour round-trip excursion comes to life as the train departs the Bryson City depot for a journey through the quiet wilderness for a special visit at the North Pole. Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, guests on board will enjoy warm cocoa and a treat while listening and reading along with the magical story. Children’s faces show the magic of the season when the train arrives at the North Pole to find Santa Claus waiting. Santa will board THE POLAR EXPRESS™, greeting each child and presenting them with a special gift as in the story, their own silver sleigh bell. Christmas carols will be sung as they return back to the Bryson City Depot.
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ begins November 8, 2019, and operates through December 31, 2019.
Giving Challenge Issued: Gifts to Pisgah Legal Services Matched Through Dec. 31
To help meet the needs here in our mountain region, generous donors have created the “Campaign for Justice in WNC” Giving Challenge. All gifts made to Pisgah Legal Services by December 31st will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, up to $150,000.
Giving online is fast, easy and secure at www.pisgahlegal.org/give or contact Development Director Ally Wilson by phone at 828-210-3444 or via email: [email protected].
If you need help, call Pisgah Legal Services at 828-253-0406 or toll free at 800-489-6144 or visit www.pisgahlegal.org.
Across the country, schoolchildren place their hands over their hearts and recite “with liberty and justice for all,” an ideal in the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance professing that justice should be accessible to everyone. In criminal cases, legal assistance is a right. Unfortunately, there is no such right to counsel in civil legal matters, and most low-income Americans are forced to go it alone.
A recent study by The Pew Charitable Trusts shows that about 1 in 3 households in the U.S. faced housing, family or debt issues in 2018, suggesting that Americans could benefit from more assistance with civil legal issues. Those numbers increase dramatically for low-income people. A 2017 study shows that 86 percent of civil legal problems reported by low-income Americans received inadequate or no legal help.
Pisgah Legal Services Stands for Justice for People in Western North Carolina (WNC)
For more than 40 years, nonprofit Pisgah Legal Services (PLS) has provided free civil legal aid to help low-income people seek justice and meet their basic needs.
“Folks who live in low-income households regularly experience problems that can be addressed with a civil legal aid attorney by their side: stopping domestic violence, accessing veterans’ benefits, escaping poor housing conditions, and securing health care for example,” says Pisgah Legal Executive Director Jim Barrett.
He continues, “Lawyers are powerful allies who can tackle the issues that keep people locked into poverty, trapped in abusive situations and living in substandard conditions, but we need support from the community to do so. We hope folks will make a gift to help their neighbors in need by the end of the year, because at Pisgah Legal we believe that justice is for everyone, not just those who can afford it.”
Last year PLS served more than 16,800 people across the mountain region. The nonprofit’s main service area includes eight WNC counties, with offices in Asheville, Brevard, Hendersonville, Marshall, Rutherfordton and Spruce Pine. PLS has 27 attorneys on staff and relies heavily on the pro bono legal services of more than 300 volunteer attorneys.
The AIR Passport is your buy-one-get-one (BOGO)* ticket to some of Buncombe County’s highly acclaimed independent restaurants. Visit an old favorite or try a new member of the area’s vibrant independent restaurant community. AIR Passports make great gifts, but they go fast.
The AIR Passport offers BOGO from 60 area eateries with discounts up to $15 per participating restaurants. All proceeds from the AIR Passport go to benefit the ongoing efforts of AIR to keep Asheville’s food scene eclectic and authentic.
“It is one of our largest fundraisers of the year,” Anderson said. “We are able to use these funds throughout the year for educational classes, events and other opportunities for our members and their staff.”
Participating restaurants in the 2020 AIR Passport:
| 828 Pizzeria North | Ducker Tea Room | Rosabees |
| 828 Pizzeria South | Early Girl DT | Rosetta’s |
| AUX Bar | Early Girl West | Roux |
| Baked Pie North | Early Girl North | Rustic Grape |
| Baked Pie South | Farm Burger | Sante |
| The Barrelhouse | French Broad Choc | Sawhorse |
| Bhramari | The Glass Onion | The Social Lounge |
| The Bier Garden | The Grey Eagle | Strada |
| Black Bear BBQ | Hemingway’s Cuba | Sunny Point |
| The Blackbird | Isa’s Bistro | Tupelo Honey DT |
| Blue Dream Curry | Jack of the Wood | Tupelo Honey South |
| Bouchon | Karen Donatelli | Daphne-Twisted Laurel |
| Button & Co Bagels | The Laughing Seed | Twisted Laurel West |
| Buxton Hall | Little Jumbo | Ultimate Ice Cream N |
| The Cantina | The Lobster Trap | Ultimate Ice Cream E |
| Chai Pani | Luella’s North | Vinnie’s Italian |
| Chestnut | Luella’s South | Well Played |
| Chupacabra | The Native Social | White Labs |
| Collaboratory | Pack’s Tavern | White Duck Taco DT |
| Copper Crown | The Oysterhouse | White Duck Taco RAD |
| The Corner Kitchen | The Red Stag Grill | White Duck Taco South |
| Creekside Taphouse | RendezVous |
Wrap your gifts at Asheville Outlets (ShopAshevilleOutlets.com) for a good cause! Guests are invited to bring their purchases and visit the gift-wrapping station in the Food Court this holiday season. $5 minimum donation suggested. Donations to benefit Enka Marching Band Program. Located inside Food Court.
Gift Wrapping Hours:
December 6-8, 13-15 and 19-22, 2019 – 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Sundays, 12 noon to 6 p.m.
About This Trip
Over 90,000 guests rode THE POLAR EXPRESS™ with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in 2018 and we hope to see you in 2019! The 1¼ hour round-trip excursion comes to life as the train departs the Bryson City depot for a journey through the quiet wilderness for a special visit at the North Pole. Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, guests on board will enjoy warm cocoa and a treat while listening and reading along with the magical story. Children’s faces show the magic of the season when the train arrives at the North Pole to find Santa Claus waiting. Santa will board THE POLAR EXPRESS™, greeting each child and presenting them with a special gift as in the story, their own silver sleigh bell. Christmas carols will be sung as they return back to the Bryson City Depot.
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ begins November 8, 2019, and operates through December 31, 2019.
Stop in for the pub’s long running Traditional Irish Session each Sunday afternoon beginning around 3pm. Many talented local musicians come from WNC to jam away into the night – all on our pub stage! Come see why Jack of the Wood is Asheville’s favorite neighborhood pub!
At least 7 Fairytale Princesses and Santa Clause will take the stage for a Mini Concert, Dance Party, Christmas Storytime, Karaoke, Crafts, and Memories that will last a lifetime.
2 Professional Photos: Each child will receive a Professional Photos with the Princesses by award winning and nationally recognized photographer Ivana Desancic Photoart as well as a Professional Photo with Santa by another on of our favorite and award winning photographers, 10th Moon Photoagraphy.
Other festivities included with VIP ticket are: Visit Santa, 2019 Christmas Ornament making to commemorate your day, Build-Your-Own Snoman, other Crafts, and 2 FREE ‘Princess Vouchers’ good toward your choice of Princess Makeovers, Glitter Tattoos, or Balloon Wands.
Every attendee needs a ticket. Children 1 and under are free.
Beverages, Beer and Wine will be available for purchase through the Crowne Plaza. Songs Sealed Delivered does not profit from these offerings. There will be refreshments served in the Green Room before the Show from 4-5pm.
SCHEDULE
- Check-in is at 3:30 Doors open at 3:45
- 3:45-4:30Portraits with the Princesses
- 3:45-4:45 Crafts, and Vouchure Activities
- 4-4:30 Karaoke with Rapunzel(Sign-up sheet by stage)
- 4:30-5 Mini-Concert hosted by MC Punz: featuring our Frosted Sister, Our Island Warrior and a few of their fairytale friends. Santa may even pop in for a song!
- 5-5:45 Princess Christmas Dance Party, and Visits with Santa
- 5:45 Santa reads a Night Before Christmas
- Farewells and Christmas Wishes: a poem by the princesses
We are pleasesd to announce we will also have a quiet room designated for breast-feeding mothers, and children with sensory issues during the show. Additionally we will have light refreshments available before the show.
Proceeds for this event support our ‘Be the Good’ Fund and our continued efforts to spinkle a little extra magic, joy, and kindness into our community through our volunteer work.
About This Trip
Over 90,000 guests rode THE POLAR EXPRESS™ with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in 2018 and we hope to see you in 2019! The 1¼ hour round-trip excursion comes to life as the train departs the Bryson City depot for a journey through the quiet wilderness for a special visit at the North Pole. Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, guests on board will enjoy warm cocoa and a treat while listening and reading along with the magical story. Children’s faces show the magic of the season when the train arrives at the North Pole to find Santa Claus waiting. Santa will board THE POLAR EXPRESS™, greeting each child and presenting them with a special gift as in the story, their own silver sleigh bell. Christmas carols will be sung as they return back to the Bryson City Depot.
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ begins November 8, 2019, and operates through December 31, 2019.
About This Trip
Over 90,000 guests rode THE POLAR EXPRESS™ with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in 2018 and we hope to see you in 2019! The 1¼ hour round-trip excursion comes to life as the train departs the Bryson City depot for a journey through the quiet wilderness for a special visit at the North Pole. Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, guests on board will enjoy warm cocoa and a treat while listening and reading along with the magical story. Children’s faces show the magic of the season when the train arrives at the North Pole to find Santa Claus waiting. Santa will board THE POLAR EXPRESS™, greeting each child and presenting them with a special gift as in the story, their own silver sleigh bell. Christmas carols will be sung as they return back to the Bryson City Depot.
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ begins November 8, 2019, and operates through December 31, 2019.
This months Queer Comedy Party is getting festive! Join all your favorite local queer comics for a very queer holiday recital.
Standup, sketch and song all in one show
Tickets $10, VIP $15
General admission: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/queer-comedy-party-a-very-queer-holiday-recital-tickets-84689188643
VIP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vip-queer-comedy-party-a-very-queer-holiday-recital-vip-tickets-84689802479
About This Trip
Over 90,000 guests rode THE POLAR EXPRESS™ with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in 2018 and we hope to see you in 2019! The 1¼ hour round-trip excursion comes to life as the train departs the Bryson City depot for a journey through the quiet wilderness for a special visit at the North Pole. Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, guests on board will enjoy warm cocoa and a treat while listening and reading along with the magical story. Children’s faces show the magic of the season when the train arrives at the North Pole to find Santa Claus waiting. Santa will board THE POLAR EXPRESS™, greeting each child and presenting them with a special gift as in the story, their own silver sleigh bell. Christmas carols will be sung as they return back to the Bryson City Depot.
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ begins November 8, 2019, and operates through December 31, 2019.
About This Trip
Over 90,000 guests rode THE POLAR EXPRESS™ with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in 2018 and we hope to see you in 2019! The 1¼ hour round-trip excursion comes to life as the train departs the Bryson City depot for a journey through the quiet wilderness for a special visit at the North Pole. Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, guests on board will enjoy warm cocoa and a treat while listening and reading along with the magical story. Children’s faces show the magic of the season when the train arrives at the North Pole to find Santa Claus waiting. Santa will board THE POLAR EXPRESS™, greeting each child and presenting them with a special gift as in the story, their own silver sleigh bell. Christmas carols will be sung as they return back to the Bryson City Depot.
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ begins November 8, 2019, and operates through December 31, 2019.
About This Trip
Over 90,000 guests rode THE POLAR EXPRESS™ with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in 2018 and we hope to see you in 2019! The 1¼ hour round-trip excursion comes to life as the train departs the Bryson City depot for a journey through the quiet wilderness for a special visit at the North Pole. Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, guests on board will enjoy warm cocoa and a treat while listening and reading along with the magical story. Children’s faces show the magic of the season when the train arrives at the North Pole to find Santa Claus waiting. Santa will board THE POLAR EXPRESS™, greeting each child and presenting them with a special gift as in the story, their own silver sleigh bell. Christmas carols will be sung as they return back to the Bryson City Depot.
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ begins November 8, 2019, and operates through December 31, 2019.
About This Trip
Over 90,000 guests rode THE POLAR EXPRESS™ with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in 2018 and we hope to see you in 2019! The 1¼ hour round-trip excursion comes to life as the train departs the Bryson City depot for a journey through the quiet wilderness for a special visit at the North Pole. Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, guests on board will enjoy warm cocoa and a treat while listening and reading along with the magical story. Children’s faces show the magic of the season when the train arrives at the North Pole to find Santa Claus waiting. Santa will board THE POLAR EXPRESS™, greeting each child and presenting them with a special gift as in the story, their own silver sleigh bell. Christmas carols will be sung as they return back to the Bryson City Depot.
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ begins November 8, 2019, and operates through December 31, 2019.
About This Trip
Over 90,000 guests rode THE POLAR EXPRESS™ with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in 2018 and we hope to see you in 2019! The 1¼ hour round-trip excursion comes to life as the train departs the Bryson City depot for a journey through the quiet wilderness for a special visit at the North Pole. Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, guests on board will enjoy warm cocoa and a treat while listening and reading along with the magical story. Children’s faces show the magic of the season when the train arrives at the North Pole to find Santa Claus waiting. Santa will board THE POLAR EXPRESS™, greeting each child and presenting them with a special gift as in the story, their own silver sleigh bell. Christmas carols will be sung as they return back to the Bryson City Depot.
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ begins November 8, 2019, and operates through December 31, 2019.
Hillman Beer’s Trivia Night is on Tuesdays from 7pm-9pm! Get ready to drink some beer, test your wit, and have some fun!
Details:
– Please arrive at 6:30pm
– Max 6 people per team
– First place gets a $50 Hillman Beer Gift Card!
Select a wine on draft and fill a plēb urban winery 500mL or 1L growler for a reduced price (see menu for availability and pricing). Growler purchase is separate. Carry out only.
https://www.facebook.com/events/859748727719594/?event_time_id=859748907719576
About This Trip
Over 90,000 guests rode THE POLAR EXPRESS™ with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in 2018 and we hope to see you in 2019! The 1¼ hour round-trip excursion comes to life as the train departs the Bryson City depot for a journey through the quiet wilderness for a special visit at the North Pole. Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, guests on board will enjoy warm cocoa and a treat while listening and reading along with the magical story. Children’s faces show the magic of the season when the train arrives at the North Pole to find Santa Claus waiting. Santa will board THE POLAR EXPRESS™, greeting each child and presenting them with a special gift as in the story, their own silver sleigh bell. Christmas carols will be sung as they return back to the Bryson City Depot.
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ begins November 8, 2019, and operates through December 31, 2019.
About This Trip
Over 90,000 guests rode THE POLAR EXPRESS™ with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in 2018 and we hope to see you in 2019! The 1¼ hour round-trip excursion comes to life as the train departs the Bryson City depot for a journey through the quiet wilderness for a special visit at the North Pole. Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, guests on board will enjoy warm cocoa and a treat while listening and reading along with the magical story. Children’s faces show the magic of the season when the train arrives at the North Pole to find Santa Claus waiting. Santa will board THE POLAR EXPRESS™, greeting each child and presenting them with a special gift as in the story, their own silver sleigh bell. Christmas carols will be sung as they return back to the Bryson City Depot.
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ begins November 8, 2019, and operates through December 31, 2019.
The holidays don’t stop at Aloft! Join us on Thursday, December 26 at 8 p.m. to celebrate most wonderful time of the year by watching a holiday classic: Christmas Vacation. Munch on small bites, sip on cocktails and enjoy complimentary popcorn while indulging in the holidays. We hope to see you there!
Giving Challenge Issued: Gifts to Pisgah Legal Services Matched Through Dec. 31
To help meet the needs here in our mountain region, generous donors have created the “Campaign for Justice in WNC” Giving Challenge. All gifts made to Pisgah Legal Services by December 31st will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, up to $150,000.
Giving online is fast, easy and secure at www.pisgahlegal.org/give or contact Development Director Ally Wilson by phone at 828-210-3444 or via email: [email protected].
If you need help, call Pisgah Legal Services at 828-253-0406 or toll free at 800-489-6144 or visit www.pisgahlegal.org.
Across the country, schoolchildren place their hands over their hearts and recite “with liberty and justice for all,” an ideal in the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance professing that justice should be accessible to everyone. In criminal cases, legal assistance is a right. Unfortunately, there is no such right to counsel in civil legal matters, and most low-income Americans are forced to go it alone.
A recent study by The Pew Charitable Trusts shows that about 1 in 3 households in the U.S. faced housing, family or debt issues in 2018, suggesting that Americans could benefit from more assistance with civil legal issues. Those numbers increase dramatically for low-income people. A 2017 study shows that 86 percent of civil legal problems reported by low-income Americans received inadequate or no legal help.
Pisgah Legal Services Stands for Justice for People in Western North Carolina (WNC)
For more than 40 years, nonprofit Pisgah Legal Services (PLS) has provided free civil legal aid to help low-income people seek justice and meet their basic needs.
“Folks who live in low-income households regularly experience problems that can be addressed with a civil legal aid attorney by their side: stopping domestic violence, accessing veterans’ benefits, escaping poor housing conditions, and securing health care for example,” says Pisgah Legal Executive Director Jim Barrett.
He continues, “Lawyers are powerful allies who can tackle the issues that keep people locked into poverty, trapped in abusive situations and living in substandard conditions, but we need support from the community to do so. We hope folks will make a gift to help their neighbors in need by the end of the year, because at Pisgah Legal we believe that justice is for everyone, not just those who can afford it.”
Last year PLS served more than 16,800 people across the mountain region. The nonprofit’s main service area includes eight WNC counties, with offices in Asheville, Brevard, Hendersonville, Marshall, Rutherfordton and Spruce Pine. PLS has 27 attorneys on staff and relies heavily on the pro bono legal services of more than 300 volunteer attorneys.