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.
|
|
|
Ruminations on Memory contends with the act of remembrance and reflection, featuring a rare presentation of all nine prints from Robert Rauschenberg’s Ruminations portfolio, Judy Chicago’s Retrospective in a Box portfolio, and selections from the Museum’s Collection. Organized by the Asheville Art Museum and curated by Hilary Schroeder, assistant curator, this exhibition will be on view in Appleby Foundation Exhibition Hall at the Museum from November 19, 2021 through March 14, 2022 in conjunction with A Living Language: Cherokee Syllabary and Contemporary Art.
Artworks are vessels for processing, recalling, and reflecting on the past. Artists often draw upon materials from their own pasts and grasp at fleeting moments in time in the creation of an object. For the viewer, observation of an artwork can draw out personal memories.
Artworks in a variety of media explore various ways of remembering, including individual memories that focus on the moments from an artist’s past; generational memory that looks back to one’s ancestors, whether recent or long past; and collective memory, wherein in an image might evoke bygone times that balance between constructed and real. Through these artworks that ruminate upon the past, viewers may discover the stirrings of their own thoughts and recollections prompted by the works before them.
Ruminations on Memory offers a unique opportunity to experience the entirety of a major print portfolio by American painter Robert Rauschenberg (Port Arthur, TX 1925–2008 Captiva, FL). Rauschenberg was a student at Black Mountain College in NC for the 1948–1949 and 1951–1952 academic sessions and for the 1951 and 1952 summers. His Ruminations series consists of nine color photogravures which were printed in 1999 and reflect on Rauschenberg’s early life, his friends and family, and the memories he held dear. The series represents especially significant mature work by Rauschenberg that looks back to his most formative moments as an artist including his time at Black Mountain College and the friendships and ideas formed there.
Also presented in the exhibition is an important series of prints by Judy Chicago (born Chicago, IL 1939). Five decades into her career, Chicago stands as one of the foremost artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, having committed to socially minded work, uplifting in particular experiences salient to her feminine and Jewish identities. Retrospective in a Box consists of seven prints and a portfolio created in collaboration with the master printers at Landfall Press, and provides an overview of her major motifs and ideas, including the print Spring the Dinner, a nod to her seminal 1979 work The Dinner Party.
In addition to the artworks from the Museum’s Collection, visitors will be able to experience Felix Gonzales-Torres’s “Untitled” (L.A.), on loan from the Art Bridges collection. “Untitled” (L.A.) is one of the artist’s iconic interactive candy installations where memories are engaged not only through sight but through sound, touch, taste, and smell as well.
Learn more about Ruminations on Memory and A Living Language: Cherokee Syllabary and Contemporary Art at ashevilleart.org.

Artist Walter B. Stephen (Clinton, IA 1875–1961 Asheville, NC) contributed to Western North Carolina’s identity as a flourishing site for pottery production and craftsmanship in the early 20th century. Walter B. Stephen Pottery: Cameo to Crystalline features art pottery and functional vessels from each stage of Stephen’s career, from his origins discovering the medium alongside his mother Nellie C. Randall Stephen in Shelby County, TN from 1901 through 1910 to his multi-decade production just outside of Asheville. This exhibition will be on view in the Asheville Art Museum’s Debra McClinton Gallery July 28, 2021 through January 17, 2022.
In 1926, Stephen founded his third and last pottery studio, Pisgah Forest, in Arden, NC, which he operated until his death in 1961. It was at this studio that the artist perfected the “cameo” decoration technique for which he became best known. His hand-painted images, achieved with layers of white translucent clay, often feature American folk imagery, from covered wagons and livestock to cabins and spinning wheels. A selection of works from the Museum’s Collection showcase his innovation in form and in decorative surface details, including experimentation with crystalline glazing.
It’s the Year of the Tree in North Carolina State Parks, and we are encouraging guests to celebrate trees all year long! Start off in the winter months while branches are bare and capture some unique tree shapes or the beauty of frosty evergreens. You may win a prize for your efforts!
GREAT PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED TO 3 WINNING ENTRIES
1st Prize: The winning photo will be our Facebook cover photo for two weeks, and the photographer will receive two annual passes to Chimney Rock State Park, two boat tour tickets from Lake Lure Tours, and dinner for two at the Old Rock Café.
2nd Prize: After the first place photo, the second place photo will be our Facebook cover photo for one week. The photographer will receive two annual passes to Chimney Rock State Park and dinner for two at the Old Rock Café.
3rd Prize: The third place photographer will receive two adult day passes (or one family pack of day passes) to Chimney Rock State Park and dinner for two at the Old Rock Café.
CONTEST RULES:
- There is no fee to enter the contest. All photographs must be taken of Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park only in areas accessible to guests between January 1, 2022 – February 28, 2022.
The contest is open to amateur and professional photographers. - Up to three photos per person can be submitted via any of the following ways to be eligible to win:
- Facebook: First, like the Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park page. Next, send us a private message including your contact information specified in rule #3.
- E-mail: If you don’t have access to social media, you may email your digital photo with your contact information specified in rule #3 to [email protected].
- Every entry should be clearly labeled with the photographer’s name, city & state, a brief photo caption, an email address and the best phone number to reach you.
- Photos should be available at a minimum resolution of 1200 x 1600 pixels (1 MB minimum) to be eligible to win. Photos taken via smart phones, tablets and other mobile devices are welcome if they meet minimum requirements.
- For entries showing human faces, you must list their name(s) and have written permission from any photographed person(s) to use their image.
- Entries should reflect the photographer’s interpretation of the theme. Emphasis will be placed on quality, composition and creativity. All entries may be used in promotions of Chimney Rock and park-related activities.
- Digital images can be optimized but not dramatically altered with photo editing software. Black and white photographs are welcome.
- Finalists will be chosen by Chimney Rock staff and the winner will be voted on by the public. Decisions regarding winners are final.
Winners will be notified personally and announced on Chimney Rock’s social media. For more information, call 1-828-625-9611, ext. 1812 or email us at [email protected].
Did you know our staff had a wild side? Join a Park naturalist to meet some of our live Animal Ambassadors and learn what kind of wildlife inhabits the Park and their important roles in the ecosystem. Some of our best teachers have feathers, fur, shells or scales!
BE ONE OF THE FIRST IN WNC TO SEE IT!
THE MOST ANTICIPATED MOVIE OF THE YEAR!
For the first time in the cinematic history of Spider-Man, our friendly neighborhood hero is unmasked and no longer able to separate his normal life from the high-stakes of being a Superhero. When he asks for help from Doctor Strange, the stakes become even more dangerous, forcing him to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man. (Running Time = 2 hours 30 minutes)

Or do ya just say “screw it, let’s keep partying!”
Either way come join us on Saturday, January 1st for the first big hot jazz party of the year.
Russ Wilson is hosting his fifth annual
NEW YEAR’S DAY HANGOVER PARTY at Continuum Art (147c 1st Ave E, Hendersonville, NC 28792).
Russ Wilson and His Famous Orchestra will be providing the entertainment for the evening, featuring Wendy Jones!
And, YOU’RE invited!! Lots of great music and plenty of room for dancing with two large wood floors!
Everyone is encouraged to wear black & white and a party mask to hide their bloodshot eyes and there will be a contest for Best Hangover Mask!
Dance lesson is at 6:30 and music starts at 7:00.
Start the new year off right –
WITH A SWINGIN’ HEADACHE!
YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS!!!
Winter Lights returns to the gardens November 19-January 1
Tickets are now sold PER VEHICLE, not per person.
We are thrilled to announce that the 2021 Winter Lights holiday event will welcome members and guests back into the gardens as it returns to the traditional outdoor walk-through open-air show format. The famously tall 50-foot lighted tree and the Quilt Garden will be back, outfitted with new designs in lights, while throughout the gardens, popular arrangements will mingle with ones never seen before.
You can find everything you need to know about Asheville’s Brightest Holiday Tradition at the tabs above, and be sure to secure your tickets now.
We hope you will join us this holiday season!
Winter Lights is the Arboretum’s largest annual fundraiser, and supports many parts of its mission driven programming.
Join us in our new monthly social swing event on the 1st Saturdays of every month! The music,
open vintage space and wood floors and is guaranteed to have you dancing East Coast and/or
Lindy all night long! A free lesson is offered to kick things off and will include a different
combination of moves each time. No partner or rhythm needed and dress is casual!
7:00-7:30 Beginner Swing Lesson by Ian Fleming and Tola Sun
7:30-9:30 Live Swing Band (new ones every month)
9:30-11:00 DJ (mixture of vintage and modern music)
$12 (cash, card, Venmo, PayPal accepted) on the day of the event

Dance in the New Year! Zydeco Ya Ya – Red-hot rhythms fire up your feet with hard-driving two-steps & waltzes. “Laissez les bon temps rouler!” It’s always a zydeco party with the Ya Yas in the house – 8:00
$8.00 cover at the door.
Vaccine Proof (or negative Covid test within 72 hours) and mask required.

1-Month Free and No Join Fee*
Our YWCA Health and Wellness Center is so much more than just a gym and pool. We welcome all people who want to belong to a fitness community that values diversity and dignity, body-positivity, promotes health, wellness, and nurtures children. Where being a member means you are part of a community whose mission is to eliminate racism and empower women.
This winter season we are offering incentives for members who join before January 8, 2022, including a fitness center orientation that will help you make the most of your membership, and an entry for a chance to win a no-cost one-year membership. Additionally, every new member who chooses an annual commitment plan will receive the 13th month free, and enrollment fees are waived.
Check out our YWCA rate chart for more information, or give us a call at (828) 254-7206 today to learn more.
ON SALE NOVEMBER 26, 2021
Because we know that everyone’s schedules are different, Hendersonville Theatre offers four excellent Season Ticket packages that will get you the best seats in the house and save you money.
SHOWS INCLUDED IN THIS PACKAGE:
Nunsense Jamboree
Red, White & Tuna
25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
The Haunting of Hill House
Five Carols for Christmas & JingleJacks
WORK OF THE WEEK
Jeff Koons’s One Ball Total Equilibrium Tank (Spalding Dr. J Silver Series) is currently on view in the Museum’s Artistic Tribute: Representation of the Athlete exhibition. Keira Ezzo, summer 2021 communications – multimedia storytelling intern, shares her take on this work for our Work of the Week. Read more about this work on the blog.ENGAGE WITH THE MUSEUM FROM HOME
- Explore the Collection and exhibitions virtually on our website.
- Get to know our staff and volunteers, take deeper dives into artwork with our Works of the Week, and more on the Museum blog.
- Catch up on past virtual programs, check out artist interviews, and learn about the history of Pack Square on our YouTube channel.
- Play “I Spy” with your kids using artwork from our Collection.
- Color our Collection (kids and adults) with downloadable coloring sheets and note cards.
- Follow us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
Check back often for new content that provides inspiration, calm, comfort, and yes, even some fun during this unprecedented time.

A wide range of Membership Program packages are available, offering benefits and perks including one-time or unlimited admission to the Moogseum for a year, guest passes, gift membership packages, access to virtual archival galleries and live streamed events, free or discounted admission to in-person and virtual events, and even private Moogseum tours. Membership packages are offered at price points from $25 – $500 per year.
Become a member of the Bob Moog Foundation and the Moogseum, which allows you access to tangible, members-only benefits and allows you to be an advocate in support of Bob’s legacy and contributions that revolutionized music!
Your membership provides invaluable resources and funding to support our mission to innovate, inspire, and ignite creativity.
Review the Membership Packages below and choose the one that best suits you!*
All packages include the Members-only “Synth-Insider” newsletter, sent quarterly,
and a 10% discount on Bob Moog Foundation Merchandise.
The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners has extended the county-wide face covering requirement for all indoor public spaces through Jan. 3, 2022. The indoor mask requirement also extends to Asheville, Biltmore Forest, Black Mountain, Montreat, Weaverville, and Woodfin.
In Buncombe County, COVID-19 case rates continue to be high, and per the CDC definition, the County remains an area of high transmission. The percent positivity remains in the moderate category, and the death rate remains in the substantial category.“Unfortunately, COVID-19 cases continue to increase after a high level plateau. The percent positivity is now consistently above 5% again, and we are likely to see a further increase after the Thanksgiving holiday,” said Public Health Director Stacie Saunders. “Transitioning to living with COVID-19 means doing what we can now to reduce transmission and burden of new infections. Our goal is to dampen as much as possible any surge we may see during this holiday season with the hope of achieving decreasing case rate and spread as we enter the new year.”
| Get in the Local Food Guide! |
Every year, ASAP calls more than 1,400 businesses to update our Local Food Guide and CSA guide so that we get the most accurate information about connecting with local food and farms. We’ve started making calls for 2022!Want to get a head start on updating your listing? You can give us a call (828-236-1282) or do it yourself online (click login in the upper right of appalachiangrown.org). The deadline to be included in the print Local Food Guide is Jan. 31 (or Dec. 31 for CSA farms).
Have a new farm, restaurant, retail outlet, or other locally sourcing food business that you want to be listed? Go to appalachiangrown.org and click Get in the Guide. An online listing is completely free.
|
November 5, 2021 – January 9, 2022: 47th Annual Christmas at Biltmore
Holidays arrive at America’s largest home in style. More than a century ago, George Vanderbilt chose the holiday season as the time to unveil his new home to family and friends. This year’s Christmas at Biltmore promises another extravagant celebration, complete with dozens of Christmas trees, miles of ribbon, garland and lights. Festive menus in estate restaurants and holiday wine tastings make for a memorable visit.

Fellowship program supporting emerging craft curators to explore and test new ideas about craft.
Details
- Award Amount:
- Up to $5,000
- Grant Period:
- Through 2023
Timeline
- Applications Open:
- Nov 16, 2021
- Orientation:
- January 14, 2022
- Deadline:
- Feb 14, 2022
- Notification:
- Apr 2022
- Grant Period begins:
- May 2022
- Grant Period ends:
- Through 2023
Come experience the charm of Black Mountain and get in the Christmas spirit. You will discover 35 (and possibly more) beautifully decorated Christmas trees situated at the Monte Vista Hotel and in stores and businesses throughout Black Mountain and the Swannanoa Valley area. Each tree, uniquely decorated around the theme: A Black Mountain Christmas, will be created by businesses, organizations, or individuals to help raise funds for the Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry Fuel Fund. Come join us! Share in the Christmas spirit and support your favorite tree by donating with cash, check, or on-line at svcmblackmountain.org.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library puts books into the hands and hearts of children across the world. The Imagination Library creates a home library of up to 60 books and instills a love of books and reading from an early age. DPIL is now mailing a free book each month to over 4,400 registered children in Buncombe County. Here is the online registration form.

Growing Minds has announced a new Jumpstart Grant for farm to school projects. Pre-K through 12 schools, homeschool groups, teacher and nutrition education programs, and community organizations serving children and families within the 23 westernmost counties of North Carolina may apply for $500-$1,000 to provide children with positive local food and agriculture experiences. Eligible projects include edible school gardens, farm field trips, local food taste tests, or meals. In addition to funding, grantees may request supplemental training and/or technical assistance from the Growing Minds staff to help implement their project.
Grant applications are due Jan. 15, 2022.
![]() |
|
Deep Dive into Archives is a living exhibit shining a light on the individuals who were once enslaved at the Smith-McDowell House through primary documentation.
|
|
|
|
We are excited to announce that all of our 2022 adventures are open to book! Grab your calendar, find the perfect whitewater, zip line, or biking adventure, and book the trip before the perfect day slips by you.
Plan your next adventure with Nantahala Outdoor Center! NOC offers more than 100 itineraries that you can sort by Whitewater Rafting, Zip Lining, Mountain Biking, and more! Filter by location, experience level, or activity type. Mix and match your favorites or book one of our packages for a full-day of fun! Planning your next adventure has never been easier.
BOOK EARLY & WIN!
We love when you plan ahead!
Book by December 31st, 2021 and
be entered to win a sweet limited edition 50th MERCH PRIZE PACK including a t-shirt, insulated mugs, Nalgene, magnets, sticker pack and a $50 Gift Card to use at our stores, on a meal or on an adventure! A $120 Value!
|
Various times
His masterworks have been displayed around the world for over a century… but never like this. Described as “an unforgettable multi-sensory experience,” Van Gogh Alive is a powerful and vibrant symphony of light, color, sound, and scent that compels you to leave the world behind and immerse yourself in Van Gogh’s paintings. Simultaneously enchanting, entertaining, and educational, Van Gogh Alive stimulates all the senses and opens the mind.

Artist Michael Fowler creates evocative abstract landscape paintings by incorporating vibrant colors with subtle, complex details. His semi-large-scale approach invites viewers to step into his work and build a sense of wonder and contemplation surrounding the natural world. Fowler’s artistic response in contemplating nature is to capture something of a landscape’s pleasantness, which is often unexpected harmonies of color and shape. In his latest exhibit, Arbor Huescapes, Fowler highlights the distinctive vegetation – primarily trees – and topography of North and South Carolina’s midlands and piedmont regions.
Fowler received his Bachelor of Arts from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas with a focus in Advertising Design. He then attended the University of Nebraska where he received a Master’s degree in Fine Arts in Painting and Drawing with a minor in Art History. From there, he attended the University of Memphis where he earned a Doctorate in Higher Education. Based in North Augusta, South Carolina, Fowler is currently an associate professor of design and computer graphics and serves as the Mary Durban Toole Chair of Art at the University of South Carolina in Aiken. His paintings are in a number of public and private collections nationally, and he actively exhibits in regional and national shows.
Please note: Arbor Huescapes has been rescheduled due to the COVID-19 crisis and will now open in fall 2021. The exhibit is on display daily September 18, 2021 – January 9, 2022, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. inside the Baker Exhibit Center. All works are available for purchase and a portion of sales will be donated to The North Carolina Arboretum Society.
Get Started
Dance can be life-changing. We want to show you how. Come try two weeks of classes for just $29.99

Fall/Winter Schedule 2021/2022
Additional Information
ATTD New Fall 2021-2022 Class Schedule – August 22, 2021- May 27, 2022
*Note that ages serve only as a guideline. Below represents our Curriculum based ballet programs. Look for additional class offerings of Int/Adv Tap, Jazz & Hip- Hop TBA. Combo I – Elementary II placement is based on age. Level 1 and above are skill based placement. All schedules are subject to change.
Combo I : Pre- Ballet/Pre- Tap Curriculum (Age 3-4 )
Monday 4:00-5:00
OR
Wednesday 5:00-6:00
OR
Saturday 9:45-10:45
OR
Saturday11:00-12:00
Combo II : Ballet/Tap Curriculum Age (5-6)
Monday 4:00-5:00
OR
Wednesday 5:00-6:00
OR
Saturday 9:45-10:45
OR
Saturday 11:00-12:00
Elementary I : Introduction to Classical Technique w/Tap & Jazz (Age 6-7)
Monday 5:00-5:45 Ballet: Section A
5:45-6:30 Tap & Jazz : Section A
Wednesday 5:00-5:45 Ballet: Section B
5:45-6:30 Tap & Jazz : Section B
Elementary II: Introduction to Classical Technique w/ Tap, Jazz & Repertoire(Age 7-8)
Monday 5:00-5:45 Ballet:
5:45-6:30 Tap / Jazz
Thursday 5:00-6:15 Ballet
6:15-7:00 Repertoire
Boys Class:
Wednesday 6:00-6:45 w/Mr. Merz Elementary I- Level II
Level I : Classical Ballet Technique, with Repertoire and one enrichment class (Age 8-10 placement required)
Tuesday 4:30-5:30 Conditioning w/ Jazz Contemporary
5:30-6:30 Ballet Technique
Thursday 5:00-6:15 Ballet
6:15-7:00 Repertoire
Level II : Classical Ballet Technique, w/ Repertoire and 2 enrichment classes (Age 9-11 placement required)
Tuesday 4:30-5:30 Conditioning w/ Jazz Contemporary
5:30-6:30 Ballet Technique
Thursday 5:00-6:15 Ballet
Friday 4:00-5:30 Ballet Technique
5:30-6:30 Repertoire
Level III : Classical Ballet Technique w/Repertoire, pre-pointe, conditioning, specialty classes (Age 10-12 placement required)
Monday 5:00-6:30 Ballet Technique
6:30-7:15 Pre- Pointe/Variations
Tuesday 4:30-5:30 Conditioning w/ Jazz Contemporary
5:30-6:30 Ballet Technique
Friday 4:30-5:30 Ballet Technique
5:30-6:15 Repertoire
Level IV/V : Classical Ballet Technique w/ Repertoire, pointe, conditioning, specialty classes ( Placement required)
Monday 4:30-6:00 Ballet Technique
6:00-7:00 Repertoire
Tuesday 4:30-6:00 Ballet Technique
6:00-7:00 Modern
Wednesday 4:30-6:00 Ballet Technique
6:00-7:00 Pointe/Conditioning
Thursday 4:30-6:00 Ballet Technique
6:00-6:45 Pointe
*Saturday 11:00-12:15 Warm-up Technique **ONLY WHEN CALLED**
12:30-2pm Rehearsal **ONLY WHEN CALLED**
PreProfessional Day Program : Vocational Ballet Training ( Age 14- audition required)
Monday: 2:00-3:30 Ballet Technique
3:30-4:30 Pointe-Conditioning/Pointe
4:30-6:00 2nd Technique barre en pointe
Tuesday 2:00-3:30 Ballet Technique center en pointe
3:30-4:30 Modern
4:30-6:00 2nd Technique barre en pointe
Wednesday 2:00-3:30 Ballet Technique
3:30-4:30 Pointe/Repertoire
4:30-6:00 2nd Technique
Thursday 2:00-3:30 Ballet Technique
3:30-4:30 Pointe Variations
4:30-6:00 2nd Technique
Friday 2:00-3:30 Ballet Technique
3:30-4:30 Pas de Deux
*Saturday 11:00-12:15 Warm-up Technique
12:30-2pm Rehearsal
The tastiest ticket in town returns with BOGO (buy-one-get-one) deals from 50 independently owned restaurants in Buncombe County.
The 2022 AIR Passport is the perfect way to visit an old favorite with a friend or dine and discover new restaurants in our area’s vibrant independent eateries. All proceeds from the AIR Passport go to benefit the ongoing efforts of AIR to keep Asheville’s food scene eclectic and authentic.
Limited supply available and they go fast!














