Calendar of Events

Join the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy at Cataloochee Ranch for a moderate 5-mile roundtrip hike to Hemphill Bald, focusing on Winter Tree Identification. On the hike, we will explore strategies to identify trees in winter — such as examining bark patterns, community types, the form of the tree, and more. This hike is free for SAHC members and $10 for non-members!

Have you spent hours learning how to identify trees by their leaves, only to have them all drift away come winter? Well, lucky for you, the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy will be leading a hike on Saturday, December 18, to Hemphill Bald, focusing on Winter Tree Identification. On the hike, we will explore strategies to identify trees in winter — such as examining bark patterns, community types, the form of the tree, and more.

This moderate 5-mile roundtrip hike with an elevation change of 900 feet begins on a road used for hiking and horseback riding. Expect to see mountain streams and lovely cove hardwood forest mixed at times with hemlock stands and the ever-present rhododendron and mountain laurel. At the top of the ridge, the woods are replaced by open high altitude pastureland, and there is the chance for superb views of four counties and a number of mountain tops, including Cold Mountain, Crabtree Bald, Mt. Pisgah, and many others. The only difficult part of the hike is the last climb to the top. At the top is a stone table, moved there by Tom Alexander, Jr. and placed in the memory of his parents, Tom and Judy Alexander, founders of Cataloochee Ranch.

This hike is currently full. If you would like to be added to the waitlist, please fill out the form below. 

Kick off the new year in Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park during this First Day Hike! A Park Ranger will offer an informative discussion about the Park’s history while the group strolls, hikes or bikes up to the 3.2-mile entrance road. Usually restricted to motor vehicle traffic only, there will be no cars in your way if you show up for this special, early morning hike that’s free to participants!

Meet at the Old Rock Café at 8am. Registration is not required. Please visit North Carolina State Park website for additional information.

Learn audition etiquette and techniques in this low-pressure, four-week program led by Flat Rock Playhouse’s Director of Education, Anna Kimmell. In this class, students will learn how and what material to prepare for auditions, get tips on calming anxiety and nerves, and have the opportunity to get coaching on pre-prepared songs or monologues. Whether you’re a first-time auditionee, stepping back into theatre after some time off, or adding new material to your audition repertoire, this class will get you feeling ready to put your best foot forward! 

Learn audition etiquette and techniques in this low-pressure, four-week program led by Flat Rock Playhouse’s Director of Education, Anna Kimmell. In this class, students will learn how and what material to prepare for auditions, get tips on calming anxiety and nerves, and have the opportunity to get coaching on pre-prepared songs or monologues. Whether you’re a first-time auditionee, stepping back into theatre after some time off, or adding new material to your audition repertoire, this class will get you feeling ready to put your best foot forward! 

What if we gathered at the Botanical Gardens, stared up at the clouds, and danced with plants? Maybe we will tell a joke. Maybe we will draw each other’s portraits. Maybe we will discuss what the clouds look like. Maybe we will share some strawberries. Maybe we will stretch together. Maybe we will write a song together. Maybe we will just look at each other, sharing space, breathing the same air.

Multidisciplinary Performance Artist, Mike Durkin, will lead a participatory mediative performance where audience members will gather, share space, tour the grounds, dance, and find a deeper connection between the variety of environments and worlds we occupy on a day-to-day basis.

The experience, located on the grounds of the Botanical Gardens on UNC Asheville’s campus, will last approximately 75 minutes and will have periods of walking, dancing, and other activities. Plan on wearing hiking attire, clothes you can move in, and complimentary tea will be served during the experience. Audience members can participate in as much or as little as they are comfortable with. All movements and activities require very little exertion.

Email [email protected] for reservations for performances 1/22-1/27
Buy tickets at www.ashevillefringe.org for the Saturday 1/29 and Sunday 1/30 performances, available January 1st.

For More Information, www.mikedurkin.info

Follow him on Instagram: @MikeDurkinProjects

What if we gathered at the Botanical Gardens, stared up at the clouds, and danced with plants? Maybe we will tell a joke. Maybe we will draw each other’s portraits. Maybe we will discuss what the clouds look like. Maybe we will share some strawberries. Maybe we will stretch together. Maybe we will write a song together. Maybe we will just look at each other, sharing space, breathing the same air.

Multidisciplinary Performance Artist, Mike Durkin, will lead a participatory mediative performance where audience members will gather, share space, tour the grounds, dance, and find a deeper connection between the variety of environments and worlds we occupy on a day-to-day basis.

The experience, located on the grounds of the Botanical Gardens on UNC Asheville’s campus, will last approximately 75 minutes and will have periods of walking, dancing, and other activities. Plan on wearing hiking attire, clothes you can move in, and complimentary tea will be served during the experience. Audience members can participate in as much or as little as they are comfortable with. All movements and activities require very little exertion.

A special zoom performance will be held on Saturday 1/22 for individuals to gather, share space, and dance with plants across the interwebs. Performances on Saturday 1/29 and Sunday 1/30 at 3pm are part of the Asheville Fringe Festival.

Email [email protected] for reservations for performances 1/22-1/27
Buy tickets at www.ashevillefringe.org for the Saturday 1/29 and Sunday 1/30 performances, available January 1st.

For More Information, www.mikedurkin.info

Follow him on Instagram: @MikeDurkinProjects

What if we gathered at the Botanical Gardens, stared up at the clouds, and danced with plants? Maybe we will tell a joke. Maybe we will draw each other’s portraits. Maybe we will discuss what the clouds look like. Maybe we will share some strawberries. Maybe we will stretch together. Maybe we will write a song together. Maybe we will just look at each other, sharing space, breathing the same air.

Multidisciplinary Performance Artist, Mike Durkin, will lead a participatory mediative performance where audience members will gather, share space, tour the grounds, dance, and find a deeper connection between the variety of environments and worlds we occupy on a day-to-day basis.

The experience, located on the grounds of the Botanical Gardens on UNC Asheville’s campus, will last approximately 75 minutes and will have periods of walking, dancing, and other activities. Plan on wearing hiking attire, clothes you can move in, and complimentary tea will be served during the experience. Audience members can participate in as much or as little as they are comfortable with. All movements and activities require very little exertion.

Email [email protected] for reservations for performances 1/22-1/27
Buy tickets at www.ashevillefringe.org for the Saturday 1/29 and Sunday 1/30 performances, available January 1st.

For More Information, www.mikedurkin.info

Follow him on Instagram: @MikeDurkinProjects

What if we gathered at the Botanical Gardens, stared up at the clouds, and danced with plants? Maybe we will tell a joke. Maybe we will draw each other’s portraits. Maybe we will discuss what the clouds look like. Maybe we will share some strawberries. Maybe we will stretch together. Maybe we will write a song together. Maybe we will just look at each other, sharing space, breathing the same air.

Multidisciplinary Performance Artist, Mike Durkin, will lead a participatory mediative performance where audience members will gather, share space, tour the grounds, dance, and find a deeper connection between the variety of environments and worlds we occupy on a day-to-day basis.

The experience, located on the grounds of the Botanical Gardens on UNC Asheville’s campus, will last approximately 75 minutes and will have periods of walking, dancing, and other activities. Plan on wearing hiking attire, clothes you can move in, and complimentary tea will be served during the experience. Audience members can participate in as much or as little as they are comfortable with. All movements and activities require very little exertion.

Email [email protected] for reservations for performances 1/22-1/27
Buy tickets at www.ashevillefringe.org for the Saturday 1/29 and Sunday 1/30 performances, available January 1st.

For More Information, www.mikedurkin.info

Follow him on Instagram: @MikeDurkinProjects

Learn audition etiquette and techniques in this low-pressure, four-week program led by Flat Rock Playhouse’s Director of Education, Anna Kimmell. In this class, students will learn how and what material to prepare for auditions, get tips on calming anxiety and nerves, and have the opportunity to get coaching on pre-prepared songs or monologues. Whether you’re a first-time auditionee, stepping back into theatre after some time off, or adding new material to your audition repertoire, this class will get you feeling ready to put your best foot forward! 

THE GIVER

NON-MUSICAL

Adapted by Eric Coble from the Newbery Award-winning book by Lois Lowry

Co-directed by Robert Dale Walker and Shari Azar

AUDITION DATES: Monday, February 7 and Tuesday, February 8, 2021; 5:30-7:30 pm

PRODUCTION DATES: April 22-May 15, 2022; Performances Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 2:30 pm; Cast must plan to arrive at least 1 hour prior to show time.

REHEARSALS: Full rehearsal calendar available at auditions – you are able to list any conflicts you have with the rehearsal schedule at this time.

DIRECTOR SEEKS: Actors of any gender identity, race or ethnicity will be considered for any desired role indicated on their audition sheet. All roles will be presented as they are gendered in the script.

THE GIVER

NON-MUSICAL

Adapted by Eric Coble from the Newbery Award-winning book by Lois Lowry

Co-directed by Robert Dale Walker and Shari Azar

AUDITION DATES: Monday, February 7 and Tuesday, February 8, 2021; 5:30-7:30 pm

PRODUCTION DATES: April 22-May 15, 2022; Performances Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 2:30 pm; Cast must plan to arrive at least 1 hour prior to show time.

REHEARSALS: Full rehearsal calendar available at auditions – you are able to list any conflicts you have with the rehearsal schedule at this time.

DIRECTOR SEEKS: Actors of any gender identity, race or ethnicity will be considered for any desired role indicated on their audition sheet. All roles will be presented as they are gendered in the script.

Learn audition etiquette and techniques in this low-pressure, four-week program led by Flat Rock Playhouse’s Director of Education, Anna Kimmell. In this class, students will learn how and what material to prepare for auditions, get tips on calming anxiety and nerves, and have the opportunity to get coaching on pre-prepared songs or monologues. Whether you’re a first-time auditionee, stepping back into theatre after some time off, or adding new material to your audition repertoire, this class will get you feeling ready to put your best foot forward! 

Do you need a little inspiration to get moving after the holiday season? Well, lucky for you, our Annual Virtual Hiking Challenge is back!

The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy Virtual Hiking Challenge sets a goal for you to complete 60 miles in 60 days at your own pace. Those can be miles you’ve walked, run, or hiked – in your neighborhood, on a flat walking track, up a rugged mountain trail, or meandering in fields and forests. Whatever works for your comfort and skill level, all you have to do is move 60 miles within the 60-day challenge period, running from January 1 to March 1. Sign up before January 1 to have more time to complete the Challenge. Registration is open now and ends on February 1.

Registration is $25 and all participants will receive informative emails with details on some of our favorite places to hike across the mountains of NC and TN. This special email series will include recommendations to areas SAHC has protected and some of our other favorite trails and excursions. We all know that some of our favorite hiking places are experiencing overuse and suffering impacts from their popularity. We will try to share tidbits about some of the lesser-known trails and areas to enjoy the great outdoors, so you can help alleviate stress on fragile trail ecosystems. All participants will receive a Hiking Challenge patch, coupons and will be entered into a raffle to win a certificate good for two to either cave, climb, or raft through USA Raft (after March 1).  The registration fee will give participants access to the portal throughout the Challenge.

Time spent outdoors and in nature can help with both mental and physical health. We hope this Challenge will inspire folks to explore places you may not have hiked before and rediscover the joy of nature in your own neighborhood. Please note, you DO NOT have to pay to hike public trails.

Are you a little unsure about hiking in winter? Read our helpful Winter Hiking Tips so you can feel more confident hiking during the cold winter months.

Unplug, unwind, and reconnect with yourself as you relax into the wisdom and beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Unplug, unwind, and reconnect with yourself as you relax into the wisdom and beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Unplug, unwind, and reconnect with yourself as you relax into the wisdom and beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

All performances at 2:30 pm. Friday and Saturday performances are held at Asheville Community Theatre; Sunday performances are held at the Reuter Center on the campus of UNCA in conjunction with OLLI Asheville.

An Inspector Calls

By J.B. Priestley; Directed by Margaret Crowell

About the show

AUDITION DATE: Tuesday, March 1, 2022; 10:30 am-2:30 pm

PERFORMANCE DATES: March 18-20, 2022; 2:30 pm

REHEARSAL DATES: March 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 2022; 10:30 am -2:30 pm

DIRECTOR SEEKS: 4 men, 3 women * Note: To attend a face-to-face program at OLLI Asheville, you must be vaccinated for COVID-19. Since the Sunday matinee performance is at OLLI, all actors will need to be vaccinated.

Are you an adult interested in theatre who is available during the day? Hendersonville Theatre has created Act2 Players just for you.

HT’s Act2 Players is dedicated to producing short works in a reader’s theatre setting. Adults interested in acting and available for daytime rehearsals during the week are invited to audition on Saturday, March 5 at 10 am at the theatre, 229 S. Washington Street, Hendersonville. Auditions will consist of cold readings from various potential scripts to be produced as a public performance on April 1-3. No experience is necessary. Additional information can be found at www.hendersonvilletheatre.org.

The health and safety is a priority to HT, and all participants in Act2 Players and theatre staff must be vaccinated. During auditions, HT is limiting the number of people inside the theatre. After arrival and check-in, actors may be asked to wait in their vehicle or outside. Mask-wearing is required in the theatre.

In April, selected plays will be performed on book with limited staging. The proposed time commitment will be 3 weeks, allowing for several directed rehearsals and 2-3 performances.

Reader’s theatre is a legitimate form of drama with actors using their voices and upper bodies to convey various roles in a script through reading to an audience. It differs from a play in that parts or roles are read rather than memorized. Actors usually stand or sit behind lecterns or music stands and use techniques such as vocal and facial expressions, as well as hand and arm movements. Small hand props may be used as well.

Since 1966, Hendersonville Theatre has provided an inviting and nurturing environment for live theatre, as well as high-quality, affordable entertainment for the residents of Hendersonville and surrounding areas.

Spend an hour hiking one of the Parks’ six trails with a naturalist. Watch the transformation from winter to spring on this educational excursion. You may even learn some of the Parks’ history as well. Meet in front of Cliff Dwellers Gifts.

Spend an hour hiking one of the Parks’ six trails with a naturalist. Watch the transformation from winter to spring on this educational excursion. You may even learn some of the Parks’ history as well. Meet in front of Cliff Dwellers Gifts.

Time: Starting at 10 am

Where: Clyde, NC

Distance: 2.3 miles

Difficulty: Moderate. 530 ft of elevation gain in 1.15 miles.

Cost: $10 for non-members, Free for SAHC Members

Join the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy and Highland Brewing Company on Saturday, March 19 for a hike celebrating the release of Highland’s Peachful Ale. Participants will travel across two SAHC owned properties in the Crabtree Community of Haywood County. These properties account for 292 acres of land and over 15,000 linear feet of stream corridor protected forever.

Both properties combine productive agricultural land with valuable wildlife habitats and breathtaking scenic views. Hikers will have a short, but steep, climb to the top where one of the best views on all SAHC owned properties awaits us. Along the way, we will be discussing the importance of our farmland protection program.

If you have any questions, please reach out to [email protected]

Spend an hour hiking one of the Parks’ six trails with a naturalist. Watch the transformation from winter to spring on this educational excursion. You may even learn some of the Parks’ history as well. Meet in front of Cliff Dwellers Gifts.

Spend an hour hiking one of the Parks’ six trails with a naturalist. Watch the transformation from winter to spring on this educational excursion. You may even learn some of the Parks’ history as well. Meet in front of Cliff Dwellers Gifts.