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, April 12, 2020
Virtual Exhibit: Hillbilly Land Myth and Reality of Appalachian Culture
Apr 12 all-day
Online WNC Historical Society
ABOUT THE EXHIBIT

The hillbilly stereotype is one that is alive and well in American popular culture as a quick survey of the cable dial reveals with such shows as Moonshiners, Appalachian Outlaws, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, and countless others.

Surprisingly, it is one often displayed among educated sorts here in Western North Carolina who would never dream of disparaging any minority or “out group,” but do not hesitate to characterize native Western North Carolinians, as a group, as ignorant, in-bred, hopelessly retrograde, violent, snake-handling, moonshining/meth-making rednecks.

The Hillbillyland Exhibition explores the power, prevalence, and persistence of the hillbilly stereotype from the days of its beginnings in the late 19th century to the present day. The exhibit takes a unique approach by focusing on photography featuring the people of the region, some of them stereotypical images, combined with poetry and short prose pieces that challenge and complicate these stereotypes.

Visit the Virtual Exhibit
Virtual Tour 1918 vs. 2020 Flu Pandemics WNC
Apr 12 all-day
Online Smith-McDowell House

ABOUT THE EXHIBIT

In the midst of the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, we take an in-depth look at the 1918 influenza epidemic in Western North Carolina through newspaper clippings, advertisements, ephemera, photographs, and oral history and place the events of 1918 into context with our present-day response to the coronavirus pandemic.

https://www.wnchistory.org/virtual-exhibits/influenza/?utm_source=Western%20North%20Carolina%20Historical%20Association&utm_campaign=78fa0bbdf8-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_01_23_05_25_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_7424f63c4d-78fa0bbdf8-329482143

Animal Habitats VIP Tours
Apr 12 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Grandfather Mountain

See where the cougars and otters sleep overnight, meet black bears that are not commonly on display, learn the ins and outs of what it takes to care for the animals year-round, observe a training session and find out why the animals call Grandfather Mountain home.

Offered on weekends, April – October.

Monday, April 13, 2020
Get Free Books from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Apr 13 all-day
Imagination Library Online

Children under 5 years old can receive free, age-appropriate books each month until their 5th birthday! Read more and sign up here.
SAHC Education Videos Spiders and Snakes! Oh My! Myth Buster
Apr 13 all-day
Online Videos

We’ve turned some of our youth conservation education programs into videos to share online. Earlier this year, we asked elementary and middle school students what might prevent them from enjoying time outdoors – and many responded “snakes” or “spiders.” So, we developed fun lessons to help dispel myths and fears about snakes and spiders. These video adaptations of our youth education programs include short 5-minute lessons and step-by-step craft activities. Enjoy!

SPIDERS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRWaw6jPeN8&utm_source=SAHC+Default+MC+List&utm_campaign=6b1835d2ec-February_2018_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_4717684d09-6b1835d2ec-144635353&ct=t%28February_2018_COPY_01%29&mc_cid=6b1835d2ec&mc_eid=cccced3ffd

 

SNAKES: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpFcByki9xM&utm_source=SAHC+Default+MC+List&utm_campaign=6b1835d2ec-February_2018_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_4717684d09-6b1835d2ec-144635353&ct=t%28February_2018_COPY_01%29&mc_cid=6b1835d2ec&mc_eid=cccced3ffd

The Party’s On(line)! Week of the Young Child Celebration
Apr 13 – Apr 17 all-day
Online

Each year, the Week of the Young Child spotlights young children, families, and early educators. Buncombe Partnership for Children usually celebrates with a day of outdoor play and performance, but this year, we’re moving the party online!

It is so important to give hope to our children during what are uneasy times. We are excited for a fun-filled week of music, gardening, art, storytime, and family connection. Knowing that circumstances are different for everyone, we will focus on providing experiences you can enjoy wherever you are celebrating. All activities will be live-streamed and/or posted on YouTube.

There’s something special planned for each day of the week! For more information about Music Monday, Tasty Tuesday, Work Together Wednesday, Artsy Thursday, and Family Friday please visit https://www.facebook.com/events/216960056254414/.

Literacy Changing Lives Tour
Apr 13 @ 4:00 pm
Literacy Council

 

Would you like to learn more about how literacy changes our students’ lives?

Please join us for coffee and a one-hour tour of the Literacy Council.

UPCOMING TOUR DATES for 2020

Friday, January 10 – 9am | Monday, February 10 – 4pm | Friday, March 13 – 9am
Monday, April 13 – 4pm | Friday, May 8 – 9am | Monday, June 8 – 4pm

Digital Info Session – The Franklin School of Innovation
Apr 13 @ 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
The Franklin School of Innovation Online

Image may contain: sky, tree, outdoor and nature

Limited Capacity21 Spots Left
Reserve a spot and confirm details to attend

Prospective parents and students: we are so excited to give you a glimpse of how Franklin is different!

Hosting an information session during our current global situation is not easy, but we also know how important making the decision about next year is for your child too. We hope that we make the process as simple as possible, and we are providing multiple different ways for you to get to know us.

1. You can visit our YouTube channel we have created specifically for prospective families to check out: https://bit.ly/GetToKnowFranklin

2. You can attend a Google Meet digital info session! During our info session, we will meet digitally to give a brief overview of the school and to answer any questions you may have. This will go live at 5:30 this Thursday, April 16. Here is the link to attend: https://bit.ly/FranklinInfoSession

3. You can email [email protected] to set up a one on one information session to get a detailed look at how Franklin is different from area schools.

4. You can visit our website: www.franklinschoolofinnovation.org

Tuesday, April 14, 2020
Blue Ridge Eco-Gardener Certificate of Merit
Apr 14 all-day
NC Arboretum On Line

Blue Ridge Eco-Gardener Certificate of Merit

Ecological gardening is a way of thinking about gardens and landscapes in which gardens are no longer seen as a collection of plants, but a community with complex interdependencies between plants, animals, soils and the environment. This certificate program explores ecological principles for creating and managing a healthy, self-sustaining garden and landscape in a changing climate. Students enrolling in the Certificate of Merit program will work to complete 120 hours in core classes on topics including principles of ecological gardening, seasonal plants and tasks and sustainable landscape design along with electives on hardscape, edibles, seed saving and other subjects of interest to participants. View current class offerings for credit in the Blue Ridge Eco-Gardener program here.

To begin your program, complete an application and return it to the Education Center along with a one-time, non-refundable $55 application fee.

Blue Ridge Naturalist Certificate of Merit
Apr 14 all-day
The North Carolina Arboretum

Join over one hundred students on a quest to deepen understanding of the natural sciences through the Blue Ridge Naturalist Certificate of Merit. The program offers adult learners a comprehensive curriculum of study about the natural world of Western North Carolina. Classes meet year round and students work to complete 240 hours in core courses on ecology, botany, geology and plant identification as well as electives on animals, lichens, insects and more. View current class offerings for credit in the Blue Ridge Naturalist program here. All students must complete and present a final project prior to graduation.

To begin your program complete an application and return it to the Education Center along with a a one-time, non-refundable $55 application fee.

Dragonflies: Activities and Videos with River Link
Apr 14 all-day
River Link On Line

The Otherworldly Mouths of Dragonflies

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHo_9wnnUTE&eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=191b64e9-75b2-483f-909b-c345ee2dc5f9

For some people Dragonflies are one of the most beautiful looking insects on the river. However, before they develop their vibrant colors and delicate wings they start their life in the water as a nymph. In this stage Dragonfly Nymphs act as one of the most effective predators in the river. In order to fill this role they’ve developed certain adaptations to give them an edge over their competition. Their mouths in particular, are straight out of your favorite 80’s sci-fi movie with Sigourney Weaver. PBS’s Closer Look series can tell you more about the incredible hunting methods of these creatures.

 

FREE Video Course by Wild Abundance: 10 Vegetables that will Really Feed You
Apr 14 all-day
Wild Abundance

Getting started gardening can be exciting, and it can feel daunting.

Your teachers, Natalie Bogwalker and Chloe Lieberman share experience-based, practical instruction for growing their top ten vegetables to really fill your plate, belly, and larder. We put together this class so that you can begin with the crops that are most likely to be successful and rewarding. Or, if you’ve got some experience gardening but want to expand your repertoire, this course will help you do so in a way that makes sense and yields abundantly.

Kids ecoExplore BioBlitz with The North Carolina Arboretum
Apr 14 all-day
The North Carolina Arboretum On Line

Get to know the nature near you! This year, as part of the City Nature Challenge, the Arboretum’s ecoEXPLORE program has launched a special BioBlitz Bonus Badge. Children in grades K-8 who complete six “challenges” will earn the BioBlitz Bonus Badge and their adult helpers will also receive a North Carolina BioBlitz patch. ecoEXPLORE is an initiative of The North Carolina Arboretum and is free to all North Carolina residents due to the generous support from the North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation and the Duke Energy Foundation.

Be an ecoEXPLORER!

Are you a group or classroom? Choose the “Group” option on the signup form.

How it works:

  1. Sign up to be an ecoEXPLORER using the form on this page. Then have your parent check their email for an email where they can click a link to give permission for your participation.
  2. Go outside in your own backyard or at a designated ecoEXPLORE HotSpot to find wildlife species, including plants, reptiles, amphibians, insects and birds.
  3. Use your own device — or check out an iPod Touch at any LoanSpot location — and photograph your wildlife observation, noting the data, location, time, size, and species observed.
  4. Login to your ecoEXPLORE profile online and submit your observation.
  5. Arboretum staff will then review your observation and submit all approved submissions to the iNaturalist Network , which is used by real scientists!
NEW! North Carolina BioBlitz Patch for Adults
Apr 14 all-day
The North Carolina Arboretum

NEW! North Carolina BioBlitz Patch

For adults looking for an extra challenge this spring, the Arboretum has created the North Carolina BioBlitz patch in conjunction with the 2020 City Nature Challenge (April 24 – 27). To earn the patch, participants will need to create a free iNaturalist account; attend the “Intro to iNaturalist” class on April 9 (or watch the recorded version later); make 50 nature observations during the City Nature Challenge; and help identify 50 species during the Challenge’s “identifying” stage (April 28 – May 3). Students in the Arboretum’s Blue Ridge Naturalist and Blue Ridge Eco-Gardener certificate programs can earn three elective credits if they complete the North Carolina BioBlitz program and one credit if they only take the “Into to iNaturalist” class.

Online Gardening School Wild Abundance
Apr 14 all-day
Wild Abundance

closeup of shovel digging into garden

Online Gardening School

Are you ready to grow some serious food? This six-month online video course will give you the skills and tools you need to be able to grow a garden for yourself, from the ground up. Begins EARTH DAY April 22, 2020!

Online Hide Tanning Course Return to Ancestral Ways
Apr 14 all-day
Wild Abundance

A video-based program that guides aspiring hide tanners through every step of tanning a deer hide.

Natalie Bogwalker

Natalie is a hide tanner, craftswoman, builder, teacher, mom, and gardener. She founded Wild Abundance 10 years ago because of her passion for sharing real, practical skills that get people closer to the Earth. Hide tanning was one of the first earthskills that she learned, and it changed her life profoundly. That was over 15 years ago! Since then she’s tanned uncountable hides, but more importantly, she’s taught hide tanning to hundreds of students.

Natalie knows what usually trips people up who are new to hide tanning. In this online course she shares a thorough, step-by-step guide to hide tanning, including numerous tips and tricks that will help you succeed.

 

SAHC Education Videos Spiders and Snakes! Oh My! Myth Buster
Apr 14 all-day
Online Videos

We’ve turned some of our youth conservation education programs into videos to share online. Earlier this year, we asked elementary and middle school students what might prevent them from enjoying time outdoors – and many responded “snakes” or “spiders.” So, we developed fun lessons to help dispel myths and fears about snakes and spiders. These video adaptations of our youth education programs include short 5-minute lessons and step-by-step craft activities. Enjoy!

SPIDERS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRWaw6jPeN8&utm_source=SAHC+Default+MC+List&utm_campaign=6b1835d2ec-February_2018_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_4717684d09-6b1835d2ec-144635353&ct=t%28February_2018_COPY_01%29&mc_cid=6b1835d2ec&mc_eid=cccced3ffd

 

SNAKES: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpFcByki9xM&utm_source=SAHC+Default+MC+List&utm_campaign=6b1835d2ec-February_2018_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_4717684d09-6b1835d2ec-144635353&ct=t%28February_2018_COPY_01%29&mc_cid=6b1835d2ec&mc_eid=cccced3ffd

Science Take-Out with Research Triangle Nanotechnology Network
Apr 14 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
All shows will be posted on FB Live at Research Triangle Nanotechnology Network.

No photo description available.

Our friends from the Reasearch Triangle Nanotechnology Network are hosting a new online program!

Science Take-Out is a weekly microscopy program for your quarantined viewing pleasure. Science Take-out will begin Tuesday, March 31st. Each week, Dr. Holly Leddy will explore a different theme using both a light microscope, a portable scanning electron microscope, and the support of RTNN technical staff. They’ll broadcast all sessions live and answer your questions. All shows will be posted on FB Live at Research Triangle Nanotechnology Network.

All shows are designed with K-12 audiences in mind and are open to everyone.

Join them for some take-out science as they explore the world at a much smaller scale. (And don’t forget your take-out lunch!)

https://www.rtnn.ncsu.edu/science-take-out/

Digital Info Session – The Franklin School of Innovation
Apr 14 @ 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
The Franklin School of Innovation Online

Image may contain: sky, tree, outdoor and nature

Limited Capacity21 Spots Left
Reserve a spot and confirm details to attend

Prospective parents and students: we are so excited to give you a glimpse of how Franklin is different!

Hosting an information session during our current global situation is not easy, but we also know how important making the decision about next year is for your child too. We hope that we make the process as simple as possible, and we are providing multiple different ways for you to get to know us.

1. You can visit our YouTube channel we have created specifically for prospective families to check out: https://bit.ly/GetToKnowFranklin

2. You can attend a Google Meet digital info session! During our info session, we will meet digitally to give a brief overview of the school and to answer any questions you may have. This will go live at 5:30 this Thursday, April 16. Here is the link to attend: https://bit.ly/FranklinInfoSession

3. You can email [email protected] to set up a one on one information session to get a detailed look at how Franklin is different from area schools.

4. You can visit our website: www.franklinschoolofinnovation.org

Thomas Edison & Nikola Tesla | Chautauqua Talk CANCELLED
Apr 14 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Hughes Main Library

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

Join an audience that loves talking back to history to discuss Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla and the turn of the century War of the Currents – with Erik Vedeler, retired NASA Langley Research Center head of the electromagnetics and sensors branch and popular OLLI teacher at UNC Asheville.

In the late 19th century, the world battled over which electricity system—direct current (DC- Edison) or alternating current (AC – Tesla) – would become standard. Erik Vedeler will “enlighten” you.

This event is a discussion NOT a costumed performance. In the Chautauqua History Comes Alive Festival June 12 – 21, Edison will be performed by Hank Fincken from Illinois and Tesla will be performed by Ian Ruskin from Los Angeles.

Wednesday, April 15, 2020
Dragonflies: Activities and Videos with River Link
Apr 15 all-day
River Link On Line

The Otherworldly Mouths of Dragonflies

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHo_9wnnUTE&eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=191b64e9-75b2-483f-909b-c345ee2dc5f9

For some people Dragonflies are one of the most beautiful looking insects on the river. However, before they develop their vibrant colors and delicate wings they start their life in the water as a nymph. In this stage Dragonfly Nymphs act as one of the most effective predators in the river. In order to fill this role they’ve developed certain adaptations to give them an edge over their competition. Their mouths in particular, are straight out of your favorite 80’s sci-fi movie with Sigourney Weaver. PBS’s Closer Look series can tell you more about the incredible hunting methods of these creatures.

 

FREE Video Course by Wild Abundance: 10 Vegetables that will Really Feed You
Apr 15 all-day
Wild Abundance

Getting started gardening can be exciting, and it can feel daunting.

Your teachers, Natalie Bogwalker and Chloe Lieberman share experience-based, practical instruction for growing their top ten vegetables to really fill your plate, belly, and larder. We put together this class so that you can begin with the crops that are most likely to be successful and rewarding. Or, if you’ve got some experience gardening but want to expand your repertoire, this course will help you do so in a way that makes sense and yields abundantly.

Get Free Books from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Apr 15 all-day
Imagination Library Online

Children under 5 years old can receive free, age-appropriate books each month until their 5th birthday! Read more and sign up here.
Kids ecoExplore BioBlitz with The North Carolina Arboretum
Apr 15 all-day
The North Carolina Arboretum On Line

Get to know the nature near you! This year, as part of the City Nature Challenge, the Arboretum’s ecoEXPLORE program has launched a special BioBlitz Bonus Badge. Children in grades K-8 who complete six “challenges” will earn the BioBlitz Bonus Badge and their adult helpers will also receive a North Carolina BioBlitz patch. ecoEXPLORE is an initiative of The North Carolina Arboretum and is free to all North Carolina residents due to the generous support from the North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation and the Duke Energy Foundation.

Be an ecoEXPLORER!

Are you a group or classroom? Choose the “Group” option on the signup form.

How it works:

  1. Sign up to be an ecoEXPLORER using the form on this page. Then have your parent check their email for an email where they can click a link to give permission for your participation.
  2. Go outside in your own backyard or at a designated ecoEXPLORE HotSpot to find wildlife species, including plants, reptiles, amphibians, insects and birds.
  3. Use your own device — or check out an iPod Touch at any LoanSpot location — and photograph your wildlife observation, noting the data, location, time, size, and species observed.
  4. Login to your ecoEXPLORE profile online and submit your observation.
  5. Arboretum staff will then review your observation and submit all approved submissions to the iNaturalist Network , which is used by real scientists!
NEW! North Carolina BioBlitz Patch for Adults
Apr 15 all-day
The North Carolina Arboretum

NEW! North Carolina BioBlitz Patch

For adults looking for an extra challenge this spring, the Arboretum has created the North Carolina BioBlitz patch in conjunction with the 2020 City Nature Challenge (April 24 – 27). To earn the patch, participants will need to create a free iNaturalist account; attend the “Intro to iNaturalist” class on April 9 (or watch the recorded version later); make 50 nature observations during the City Nature Challenge; and help identify 50 species during the Challenge’s “identifying” stage (April 28 – May 3). Students in the Arboretum’s Blue Ridge Naturalist and Blue Ridge Eco-Gardener certificate programs can earn three elective credits if they complete the North Carolina BioBlitz program and one credit if they only take the “Into to iNaturalist” class.

Online Gardening School Wild Abundance
Apr 15 all-day
Wild Abundance

closeup of shovel digging into garden

Online Gardening School

Are you ready to grow some serious food? This six-month online video course will give you the skills and tools you need to be able to grow a garden for yourself, from the ground up. Begins EARTH DAY April 22, 2020!

SAHC Education Videos Spiders and Snakes! Oh My! Myth Buster
Apr 15 all-day
Online Videos

We’ve turned some of our youth conservation education programs into videos to share online. Earlier this year, we asked elementary and middle school students what might prevent them from enjoying time outdoors – and many responded “snakes” or “spiders.” So, we developed fun lessons to help dispel myths and fears about snakes and spiders. These video adaptations of our youth education programs include short 5-minute lessons and step-by-step craft activities. Enjoy!

SPIDERS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRWaw6jPeN8&utm_source=SAHC+Default+MC+List&utm_campaign=6b1835d2ec-February_2018_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_4717684d09-6b1835d2ec-144635353&ct=t%28February_2018_COPY_01%29&mc_cid=6b1835d2ec&mc_eid=cccced3ffd

 

SNAKES: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpFcByki9xM&utm_source=SAHC+Default+MC+List&utm_campaign=6b1835d2ec-February_2018_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_4717684d09-6b1835d2ec-144635353&ct=t%28February_2018_COPY_01%29&mc_cid=6b1835d2ec&mc_eid=cccced3ffd

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

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

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

Digital Info Session – The Franklin School of Innovation
Apr 15 @ 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
The Franklin School of Innovation Online

Image may contain: sky, tree, outdoor and nature

Limited Capacity21 Spots Left
Reserve a spot and confirm details to attend

Prospective parents and students: we are so excited to give you a glimpse of how Franklin is different!

Hosting an information session during our current global situation is not easy, but we also know how important making the decision about next year is for your child too. We hope that we make the process as simple as possible, and we are providing multiple different ways for you to get to know us.

1. You can visit our YouTube channel we have created specifically for prospective families to check out: https://bit.ly/GetToKnowFranklin

2. You can attend a Google Meet digital info session! During our info session, we will meet digitally to give a brief overview of the school and to answer any questions you may have. This will go live at 5:30 this Thursday, April 16. Here is the link to attend: https://bit.ly/FranklinInfoSession

3. You can email [email protected] to set up a one on one information session to get a detailed look at how Franklin is different from area schools.

4. You can visit our website: www.franklinschoolofinnovation.org

Thursday, April 16, 2020
Blue Ridge Eco-Gardener Certificate of Merit
Apr 16 all-day
NC Arboretum On Line

Blue Ridge Eco-Gardener Certificate of Merit

Ecological gardening is a way of thinking about gardens and landscapes in which gardens are no longer seen as a collection of plants, but a community with complex interdependencies between plants, animals, soils and the environment. This certificate program explores ecological principles for creating and managing a healthy, self-sustaining garden and landscape in a changing climate. Students enrolling in the Certificate of Merit program will work to complete 120 hours in core classes on topics including principles of ecological gardening, seasonal plants and tasks and sustainable landscape design along with electives on hardscape, edibles, seed saving and other subjects of interest to participants. View current class offerings for credit in the Blue Ridge Eco-Gardener program here.

To begin your program, complete an application and return it to the Education Center along with a one-time, non-refundable $55 application fee.