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.

Sunday, May 24, 2020
Downtown Asheville Arts District (DAAD) FEST 2020
May 24 all-day
online

With over 30 members, Downtown Asheville Arts District (DAAD) is comprised of cultural centers, festivals, galleries, museums, retail shops, theatres, and tours — all located within a mile radius of historic downtown Asheville. Our mission is to promote visual and performing arts in all its forms.

We welcome you to our first virtual festival! Please enjoy a holiday weekend full of music, art, and theatre, and get to know the various arts businesses and organizations who bring inspiration to every corner of Asheville.

For more information about DAAD and its members, please visit https://www.downtownavlarts.com/

Monday, May 25, 2020
Buncombe County Tourism Jobs Recovery Fund
May 25 all-day
online
Full program details are currently being finalized and will be posted shortly. We expect online applications will be accepted starting Friday, May 15, and will be due by May 31. Awards will be announced in mid-June.
Downtown Asheville Arts District (DAAD) FEST 2020
May 25 all-day
online

With over 30 members, Downtown Asheville Arts District (DAAD) is comprised of cultural centers, festivals, galleries, museums, retail shops, theatres, and tours — all located within a mile radius of historic downtown Asheville. Our mission is to promote visual and performing arts in all its forms.

We welcome you to our first virtual festival! Please enjoy a holiday weekend full of music, art, and theatre, and get to know the various arts businesses and organizations who bring inspiration to every corner of Asheville.

For more information about DAAD and its members, please visit https://www.downtownavlarts.com/

Sandburg Home: 34th Annual Folk Music Festival Memorial Day
May 25 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Carl Sandburg Home

 

Jamie Laval performs at Sandburg Folk Fest
Jamie Laval Performs at Sandburg Folk Fest 2013

NPS Photo

On Memorial Day folk musicians from across the region will share a day of toe-tapping fun and music. Just as Carl Sandburg’s family enjoyed sitting on the porch while he played a guitar and sang for them, you can experience the joy of music at Connemara. All performances take place in the amphitheater, unless otherwise specified, and signs will direct festival goers.

2020 Performers include:

  • Pretty Little Goat Band
  • Jon Shain
  • Kat Williams
  • Amanda Anne Platt and the Honeycutters
This event is free and open to the public. Snacks will be available for sale in the bookstore and tours of the Sandburg home will be available throughout the day for a small fee.

Parking
Keep in mind that our parking lots fill up quickly. We will run a courtesy shuttle from satellite parking lots at the Flat Rock Playhouse (located across the street) and from the Flat Rock Village Offices (110 Village Center Drive) to the park entrance, throughout the day. It is a short walk from the park entrance to the amphitheater. There will be also be a shuttle operating inside the park to take visitors from the entrance to the amphitheater, Sandburg Home and barn area.

The event will be held at the new amphitheater located near the park entrance. Bench seating is available and visitors are also welcome to bring lawn chairs and blankets as seating is expected to fill quickly. Come prepared for warm weather, with sun protection, water and snacks. Dogs are not permitted in the seating areas for the festival.

Tuesday, May 26, 2020
Buncombe County Tourism Jobs Recovery Fund
May 26 all-day
online
Full program details are currently being finalized and will be posted shortly. We expect online applications will be accepted starting Friday, May 15, and will be due by May 31. Awards will be announced in mid-June.
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
Buncombe County Tourism Jobs Recovery Fund
May 27 all-day
online
Full program details are currently being finalized and will be posted shortly. We expect online applications will be accepted starting Friday, May 15, and will be due by May 31. Awards will be announced in mid-June.
Thursday, May 28, 2020
Buncombe County Tourism Jobs Recovery Fund
May 28 all-day
online
Full program details are currently being finalized and will be posted shortly. We expect online applications will be accepted starting Friday, May 15, and will be due by May 31. Awards will be announced in mid-June.
Friday, May 29, 2020
Buncombe County Tourism Jobs Recovery Fund
May 29 all-day
online
Full program details are currently being finalized and will be posted shortly. We expect online applications will be accepted starting Friday, May 15, and will be due by May 31. Awards will be announced in mid-June.
Cold Mountain Music Festival Rescheduled August 14-15
May 29 all-day
Cold Mountain Music Festival at Lake Logan 25 Wormy Chestnut Lane

A message from the founders of Cold Mountain Music Festival:

To our Cold Mountain Music Festival, Lake Logan, and Camp Henry families,

In recent weeks, we have stood alongside our nationwide cohort of festival organizers to witness the unfolding of the COVID-19 pandemic and assess how it would impact our 2020 event schedule. While we originally hoped the situation would be subdued in time for our June gathering, we have also kept a watchful eye on the trajectory of this outbreak and have learned that the likelihood of this occurrence is slim.

In the interest of public safety, the 4th Annual Cold Mountain Music Festival will be postponed until August 14-15, 2020. While we can not yet reveal the exact lineup details, rest assured that we have been able to preserve the majority of originally scheduled artists. The talent team is working diligently to put the finishing touches on the new bill and will be ready to announce next week.

All previously-reserved tickets will be valid for the new festival date. In the event that you are unable to attend this August, you may contact ([email protected]) to secure a refund on your ticket purchase. All refund requests must be made before May 15.

Cold Mountain Music Festival is proud to announce the lineup for its 4th annual event happening June 5-6, 2020 at the picturesque Lake Logan Conference Center in Canton, NC. GRAMMY-winning newgrass pioneer Sam Bush Band will headline the weekend-long retreat, with additional appearances by fast-rising alt-country sensation Charley Crockett, West Coast folk-rock outfit Blitzen Trapper, critically acclaimed troubadour Amythyst Kiah, plus regional powerhouses Futurebirds, Sierra Ferrell, and more.

With less than half a decade of programming under its belt, Cold Mountain Music Festival has already been recognized as one of the Southeast’s best goldmines for live music, outdoor recreation, and family-oriented activities. Located just outside of Asheville in one of Western North Carolina’s most pristine stretches of land, Cold Mountain utilizes the vibrant Pisgah National Forest as its playground, and encourages exploration throughout the two-day immersive experience. At the heart of the festival site is the glistening Lake Logan, which boasts plenty of swimming, paddle-boarding, and fishing. Paired with performances by some of live music’s leading forces on the scene and plenty of kid-friendly offerings, the upcoming Cold Mountain Music Festival will offer the trifecta of rustic summer experiences.

Weekend passes are on sale now on the Cold Mountain Music website. General admission passes are available for $75, and youth passes for those aged 12-17 can be purchased for $40 apiece. Overnight camping spots and catered breakfast meal tickets are also available for $75 (per site) and $12-$15 (per person), respectively. Group discounts may be applied for parties of 15 or more. Enter the code DioWNC at checkout to purchase each pass (minimum 15) for $60 each. Cold Mountain Music Festival is presented by Ingles Markets, with partners iHeartMedia and Haywood County Tourism Development Authority. For more information, visit www.coldmountainmusic.org. A complete lineup can be found below.

Saturday, May 30, 2020
Buncombe County Tourism Jobs Recovery Fund
May 30 all-day
online
Full program details are currently being finalized and will be posted shortly. We expect online applications will be accepted starting Friday, May 15, and will be due by May 31. Awards will be announced in mid-June.
Cold Mountain Music Festival Rescheduled August 14-15
May 30 all-day
Cold Mountain Music Festival at Lake Logan 25 Wormy Chestnut Lane

A message from the founders of Cold Mountain Music Festival:

To our Cold Mountain Music Festival, Lake Logan, and Camp Henry families,

In recent weeks, we have stood alongside our nationwide cohort of festival organizers to witness the unfolding of the COVID-19 pandemic and assess how it would impact our 2020 event schedule. While we originally hoped the situation would be subdued in time for our June gathering, we have also kept a watchful eye on the trajectory of this outbreak and have learned that the likelihood of this occurrence is slim.

In the interest of public safety, the 4th Annual Cold Mountain Music Festival will be postponed until August 14-15, 2020. While we can not yet reveal the exact lineup details, rest assured that we have been able to preserve the majority of originally scheduled artists. The talent team is working diligently to put the finishing touches on the new bill and will be ready to announce next week.

All previously-reserved tickets will be valid for the new festival date. In the event that you are unable to attend this August, you may contact ([email protected]) to secure a refund on your ticket purchase. All refund requests must be made before May 15.

Cold Mountain Music Festival is proud to announce the lineup for its 4th annual event happening June 5-6, 2020 at the picturesque Lake Logan Conference Center in Canton, NC. GRAMMY-winning newgrass pioneer Sam Bush Band will headline the weekend-long retreat, with additional appearances by fast-rising alt-country sensation Charley Crockett, West Coast folk-rock outfit Blitzen Trapper, critically acclaimed troubadour Amythyst Kiah, plus regional powerhouses Futurebirds, Sierra Ferrell, and more.

With less than half a decade of programming under its belt, Cold Mountain Music Festival has already been recognized as one of the Southeast’s best goldmines for live music, outdoor recreation, and family-oriented activities. Located just outside of Asheville in one of Western North Carolina’s most pristine stretches of land, Cold Mountain utilizes the vibrant Pisgah National Forest as its playground, and encourages exploration throughout the two-day immersive experience. At the heart of the festival site is the glistening Lake Logan, which boasts plenty of swimming, paddle-boarding, and fishing. Paired with performances by some of live music’s leading forces on the scene and plenty of kid-friendly offerings, the upcoming Cold Mountain Music Festival will offer the trifecta of rustic summer experiences.

Weekend passes are on sale now on the Cold Mountain Music website. General admission passes are available for $75, and youth passes for those aged 12-17 can be purchased for $40 apiece. Overnight camping spots and catered breakfast meal tickets are also available for $75 (per site) and $12-$15 (per person), respectively. Group discounts may be applied for parties of 15 or more. Enter the code DioWNC at checkout to purchase each pass (minimum 15) for $60 each. Cold Mountain Music Festival is presented by Ingles Markets, with partners iHeartMedia and Haywood County Tourism Development Authority. For more information, visit www.coldmountainmusic.org. A complete lineup can be found below.

Steeped in Time: Tea and Traditions Exhibit
May 30 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Mountain Gateway Museum & Heritage Center

Mountain Gateway Museum & Heritage Center celebrated the opening of its newest traveling exhibit, “Steeped in Time: Tea and Traditions” on Saturday, January 18, 2020. The exhibit will run through the July 4th weekend at MGM, located at 24 Water Street in Old Fort. Admission is free.

 

17th Annual Montford Music and Arts Festival RESCHEDULED
May 30 @ 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Historic Montford District

Great food, artist displays and fun activities while mingling with their neighbors.”

 

Perhaps the most family friendly street festival in western North Carolina, the Montford Music & Arts Festival features a special children’s area for face painting, interactive displays, sidewalk chalk art contest and other fun activities.

 

Located on Montford Ave. between Chestnut and Waneta Streets just down the street from downtown Asheville, the Asheville Visitors Center and Chamber of the Commerce, the all-day event will also feature a music stage with another attractive lineup in 2020.   Comprised solely of local musicians, the performing schedule will be announced shortly.

 

Attendees will also be treated to a wide variety of specialty cuisine, courtesy of food booths and food trucks.  In addition, more than 100 booth vendors will be on hand, with various artists, crafts people and nursery plant purveyors selling their merchandise.

 

Featuring turn-of-the-century “Victorian” homes and several bed-and-breakfast inns, a portion of Montford is proclaimed a National Register Historic District.  Many of today’s Montford historic homes were designed by the same architect hired by the Vanderbilt Family to create the Biltmore Estate.

 

World famous authors Thomas Wolfe and O. Henry are buried in Montford at the nearby Riverside Cemetery, while the community’s rich history also dates back to the once thriving African-American community of Stumptown, which ended in the 1960’s.

 

The very first Montford festival was presented as strictly an arts event in 2004, held inside of Pyper’s Place, which is now Nine Mile Restaurant, and Sweet Heaven Ice Cream Shop, now a real estate office.

 

Sunday, May 31, 2020
Buncombe County Tourism Jobs Recovery Fund
May 31 all-day
online
Full program details are currently being finalized and will be posted shortly. We expect online applications will be accepted starting Friday, May 15, and will be due by May 31. Awards will be announced in mid-June.
Saturday, June 6, 2020
Steeped in Time: Tea and Traditions Exhibit
Jun 6 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Mountain Gateway Museum & Heritage Center

Mountain Gateway Museum & Heritage Center celebrated the opening of its newest traveling exhibit, “Steeped in Time: Tea and Traditions” on Saturday, January 18, 2020. The exhibit will run through the July 4th weekend at MGM, located at 24 Water Street in Old Fort. Admission is free.

 

Safest Yard Sale EVER! at The Burger Bar
Jun 6 @ 12:00 pm – 7:00 pm
The Burger Bar

Image may contain: text

We are unloading all of our unwanted goods. Its probably trash but maybe someone wants it? We will be practicing all the COVID guidelines. This is a parking lot sale so no drinks allowed on premise. Masks required, social distancing enforced, sanitizer provided, etc. We will do our best to disinfect goods sold — they have not been touched in 2.5 months though so they’re probably cool!

Friday, June 12, 2020
Asheville Outlets Hosts American Red Cross Blood Donation Drive
Jun 12 @ 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Asheville outlets

The need for blood donations continues! Asheville Outlets will host a blood donation drive in partnership with the American Red Cross, Friday, June 12, from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm between Famous Footwear and VF Factory Outlet.

Donors are asked to register in advance, by visiting RedCrossBlood.org/give and entering the sponsor code Ashevilleoutlets. The American Red Cross will establish additional safety guidelines to ensure all donors are socially distanced.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stated that the coronavirus (COVID-19) does not pose any known risk to blood donors during the donation process or from attending blood drives.

For more information visit ShopAshevilleOutlets.com.

Saturday, June 13, 2020
Steeped in Time: Tea and Traditions Exhibit
Jun 13 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Mountain Gateway Museum & Heritage Center

Mountain Gateway Museum & Heritage Center celebrated the opening of its newest traveling exhibit, “Steeped in Time: Tea and Traditions” on Saturday, January 18, 2020. The exhibit will run through the July 4th weekend at MGM, located at 24 Water Street in Old Fort. Admission is free.

 

Friday, June 19, 2020
2nd Annual Asheville Tattoo Arts Convention
Jun 19 @ 2:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Harrahs Cherokee Center Asheville

2nd Annual Asheville Tattoo Arts Convention

$20 Day / $40 3-Day Pass

Children under 12 are free

Show Times

Ticket at door ONLY

Friday 2 PM – 11 PM
Saturday 11 AM – 11 PM
Sunday 11 AM – 8 PM

The Magnetic Theatre presents The Virtual One-Act Play Festival
Jun 19 @ 7:30 pm
live stream

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In light of the current challenges to this highly collaborative and collective art, The Magnetic Theatre is proud to present their first annual One Act Play Festival as an online theatrical experience.  Bringing together (virtually) seven teams of artists to present seven original short plays, the One Act Play Festival offerings range from comedy to drama, satire to thinkpieces, providing a little something for everyone.

Determined to keep creating while preserving the health and safety of all involved, the playwrights, directors, actors, and technicians have adapted these scripts from their original stage-bound forms into a wide variety of different styles.  The One Act Play Festival has evolved into such diverse formats as audio drama, animation, and short live-action film, as well as more traditional live theatrical performance streamed over digital media.

Audiences can join with other viewers for a live-streamed watch party on Friday, June 19th at 7:30pm, or may choose to watch later through a link sent out to ticket holders.  Tickets are Pay-What-You-Can, but registration is required to receive the link.  Find more information, and sign up to see the show at www.themagnetictheatre.org.

Synopsis:  In the age of social distancing, The Magnetic Theatre One Act Play Festival presents a variety of original short plays adapted to an online platform, as audio drama, animation, short film, and live-streamed performances.  Audiences can join the others for a live-streamed watch party or receive a link to view the finished collection at their leisure.

Featuring:

“Hamlet’s Dead” written by Dennis Bohr & directed by Rodney Smith

“Mackerel Sky” written by Andrew Gallant & directed by Julia Christgau

“Pick Up” written by Jonathan Wickremasinghe-Kuhn & directed by Carin Metzger

“Person Meditating upon Madness” written by David Brendan Hopes & directed by Tippin

“Rosa & Leo” written by Adam Szudrich & directed by John Baldwin

“The Opposite of Entropy” written by Terran Wanderer & directed by Jessica Johnson

“Windowless White Vans” written by Bret Murphy & directed by Daniel Moore

Saturday, June 20, 2020
Steeped in Time: Tea and Traditions Exhibit
Jun 20 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Mountain Gateway Museum & Heritage Center

Mountain Gateway Museum & Heritage Center celebrated the opening of its newest traveling exhibit, “Steeped in Time: Tea and Traditions” on Saturday, January 18, 2020. The exhibit will run through the July 4th weekend at MGM, located at 24 Water Street in Old Fort. Admission is free.

 

Tuesday, June 23, 2020
2020 Blue Ridge Pride Festival Cancelled 
Jun 23 all-day

2020 Blue Ridge Pride Festival Cancelled 

We are sad to announce the suspension of all previously planned summer and fall events.  This includes:

  • Blue Ridge Pride Festival
  • Welcoming WNC Procession
  • Mx Pride Pageant
  • Movies & Mixer Series
  • LGBTQ Story Slam
  • We are looking into alternative events – both virtual and face-to-face.
Wednesday, June 24, 2020
2020 Blue Ridge Pride Festival Cancelled 
Jun 24 all-day

2020 Blue Ridge Pride Festival Cancelled 

We are sad to announce the suspension of all previously planned summer and fall events.  This includes:

  • Blue Ridge Pride Festival
  • Welcoming WNC Procession
  • Mx Pride Pageant
  • Movies & Mixer Series
  • LGBTQ Story Slam
  • We are looking into alternative events – both virtual and face-to-face.
Thursday, June 25, 2020
2020 Blue Ridge Pride Festival Cancelled 
Jun 25 all-day

2020 Blue Ridge Pride Festival Cancelled 

We are sad to announce the suspension of all previously planned summer and fall events.  This includes:

  • Blue Ridge Pride Festival
  • Welcoming WNC Procession
  • Mx Pride Pageant
  • Movies & Mixer Series
  • LGBTQ Story Slam
  • We are looking into alternative events – both virtual and face-to-face.
Ponderers Café OnLine – The Fifth Agreement
Jun 25 @ 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Online

Meet and greet at 6pm, Pondering starts at 6:30. Please log into the meeting no later than 6:20, so we can start on time!

We’re now VIRTUAL, for the foreseeable future. Sign up here as usual and make sure I have your email. Meetups will be restricted to 25 people per night.

RSVPs go live every Friday at 5pm.

Friday, June 26, 2020
2020 Blue Ridge Pride Festival Cancelled 
Jun 26 all-day

2020 Blue Ridge Pride Festival Cancelled 

We are sad to announce the suspension of all previously planned summer and fall events.  This includes:

  • Blue Ridge Pride Festival
  • Welcoming WNC Procession
  • Mx Pride Pageant
  • Movies & Mixer Series
  • LGBTQ Story Slam
  • We are looking into alternative events – both virtual and face-to-face.
Saturday, June 27, 2020
2020 Blue Ridge Pride Festival Cancelled 
Jun 27 all-day

2020 Blue Ridge Pride Festival Cancelled 

We are sad to announce the suspension of all previously planned summer and fall events.  This includes:

  • Blue Ridge Pride Festival
  • Welcoming WNC Procession
  • Mx Pride Pageant
  • Movies & Mixer Series
  • LGBTQ Story Slam
  • We are looking into alternative events – both virtual and face-to-face.
Steeped in Time: Tea and Traditions Exhibit
Jun 27 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Mountain Gateway Museum & Heritage Center

Mountain Gateway Museum & Heritage Center celebrated the opening of its newest traveling exhibit, “Steeped in Time: Tea and Traditions” on Saturday, January 18, 2020. The exhibit will run through the July 4th weekend at MGM, located at 24 Water Street in Old Fort. Admission is free.

 

Sunday, June 28, 2020
2020 Blue Ridge Pride Festival Cancelled 
Jun 28 all-day

2020 Blue Ridge Pride Festival Cancelled 

We are sad to announce the suspension of all previously planned summer and fall events.  This includes:

  • Blue Ridge Pride Festival
  • Welcoming WNC Procession
  • Mx Pride Pageant
  • Movies & Mixer Series
  • LGBTQ Story Slam
  • We are looking into alternative events – both virtual and face-to-face.
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
Jun 28 @ 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit open the 36th season of An Appalachian Summer Festival on Sunday, June 28 at 8pm at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts. The summer stop is part of the highly anticipated national tour behind the group’s newest album, Reunions (to be released May 15). As such, the festival is included in the tour announcement and is opening up sales ahead of the rest of the festival in support of the tour. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit is A Schaefer Popular Series Event.

Tickets:
$60 adults, $50 students. *Limit 4 tickets per transaction*

MONDAY, MARCH 2 at 9AM – LOCAL/WALK-UP PRESALE – Maximum 500 tickets available for purchase in person only at the Schaefer Center Box Office, 733 Rivers Street, Boone, NC. No phone/online sales.

Beginning TUESDAY, MARCH 3 at 9AM – Online, in person, or by phone at www.appsummer.org, 800-841-2787 or 828-262-4046.