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.
November 16 through December 24, 2019
11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Saturday, Sundays, 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. and Christmas Eve, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. inside Food Court
FREE Santa Photos are back! From November 16th through December 24th, every family who visits Santa will receive two FREE 4”x6” Santa photo prints and a digital download of a single image. Additional photos and Christmas merchandise are available for purchase. FREE Santa Photo is located inside the Food Court and is sponsored by N.C. Arboretum Winter Lights.
Join us at Open Hearts Art Center for our Holiday Pop-Up Market! Shop local at the opening party on November 30th from noon to 5PM, and enjoy Hi-Wire Brewing beer, treats, and live music, along with make ‘n take ornaments. If you can’t make it for our opening day, the market will run through December 20th from 10AM to 4PM, and we’ll feature ceramics, cards, gifts, original art, and a 50% off sale on selected items each day. Give the gift of original, local art this holiday season! Open Hearts Art Center is a supportive studio and gallery dedicated to representing and empowering adults with varied abilities to connect to and reach their full potential through the arts. Our website: www.openheartsartcenter.orgarts.people.empowerment
Looking for gifts this holiday season and you want to support local women-owned businesses? Great! We have created a holiday market just for you!
You will find hand-crafted aromatic products for restorative self-care, handmade jewelry that sparkles with the spirit of Asheville, unique handmade fabric & crochet gifts for the unique person on your list, responsibly-sourced clean makeup and body care products, and fun & colorful nail art.
Featured business:
Aromatic Origins with Aimee Williams
Hand-crafted Restorative Self-Care Products: We use only pure essential oils, herbs, natural salts, and other plant medicines in Aromatic Origins’ Restorative Self-Care Products. Our organically grown and/or wildcrafted ingredients are selected with care & purpose from ethical companies who share our values in sustainability. The vibrancy of our ingredients arouses the senses & promotes self-care practices.
Inspired by nature and the metaphysical world, I am a mixed media Art Jeweler using epoxy and uv resin as my main medium. Finding fun and creative ways to mix color, sparkle and art into gorgeous unique jewelry.
Sunflowers and Bluebirds with Jess Beck
Sunflowers & Bluebirds is known for the quirky, whimsical mismatched patterns & colors in their items! It brings a touch of uniqeness to the product! Find a gift for each person on your list, including yourself! Enjoy giving lavender rice bags, fabric gift bags, cotton burp cloths, crochet dishcloths & scrubbies, and so much more!
Beauty Counter with Erin Taverniti
Beautycounter is more than a brand, we are a movement! We put people and the planet first! We are creating high performing personal care products for the whole family that do not compromise your health or safety. We ban intentionally, screen rigorously, learn constantly, source responsibly and share transparently. Come see how you can join the movement by switching to safer skincare, body and beauty products!
Color Street with Leigh Coghlan-Pickering
What is ColorStreet? What if I told you that you could easily give yourself a professional looking manicure at home in 10 minutes? What if there was No drying time and was a fraction of the salon mani and pedi cost? Well….that’s what ColorStreet is. 100% nail polish strips that you can apply anywhere! Take them off with regular nail polish remover. No vinyl. No heat. Healthy for your nails. They will last about 2 weeks….are you excited yet? There’s tons of colors, designs, and even a French line. All colors and designs are buy 3 get 1 free and French is buy 1 get 1 free!
Conveniently located near the intersection of Sweeten Creek Rd, Hendersonville Rd, & Airport Rd ~ just 5 miles south of the Blue Ridge Parkway!
Voted WNC’s favorite art event for the past decade, The Big Crafty returns for a day of hand-to-heart artful craft on Saturday & Sunday December 7 & 8 from 12-6pm at Asheville’s US Cellular Center.
Join us for a tour of the creative landscape, with 150 creative venturers and total art stars, craft-infused good times, hugs and high fives.
The Holiday Tour of Historic Inns and Cookie Caper is a self-guided tour of several of the area’s inns decorated for the holidays, where at the end of each inn tour, participants are given a delicious Christmas treat. Tickets sold at the Hendersonville Visitor Center. Inns TBD, check the website closer to the date for more info!
Santa Clause returns to Mountain Made this Sunday, December 8th from 1-4pm!
Have a special gift that you want for the holidays? Now is your chance to ask the man himself!
This event is FREE to attend.
Mountain Made is located in the historic Grove Arcade in the heart of downtown Asheville.
“In this bilingual romantic comedy, circumstances both hilarious and tragic bring together a young Israeli woman, who has little command of English, and a young American man, who has little command of romance. Is their inevitable love an accident … or is it destiny, generations in the making?”
“a hilarious and heartwarming romantic comedy” – The New York Times
All proceeds benefit Eliada Homes, a local non-profit supporting the children of WNC.
Experience this contemporary rendition of the beloved Nativity story beautifully told through the gospel according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, George and Ringo. Travel with Mary and Joseph down the “Long and Winding Road” to Bethlehem while savoring dozens of classic Beatles hits. This entertaining Christmas event profoundly reminds us – “All you need is Love”.
Kris Kringle, an old man living in a retirement home, gets a job working as Santa for Macy’s where he surprises employees and customers by claiming to be the real Santa Claus. Seen as deluded by Macy’s vocational counselor, he’s thrown into a court case to determine his mental health and, more importantly, his authenticity. Especially at stake is one little girl’s belief in Santa. The whole family will enjoy this funny, poignant and faithful adaptation of the classic 1947 film.
The Holidays have never felt so magical! Get on Asheville’s homegrown purple bus tour and experience a sightseeing history tour injected with enough seasonal cheer to make your belly laugh like a bowl full of jelly. We explore Downtown, the South Slope, Historic Montford, and the River Arts District. This 90 minute holiday extravaganza only happens in December. Get your tickets now!
Come join us as we empower change in our generation though music and art. This time, we will have 2 stages, one main Stage and one late night silent disco stage.
Music
Meditation
Flow arts
Yoga
Food
Arts & Crafts
Flow Arts
Workshops will be focusing on:
Embodiment
Permaculture
Mediation
Healing
Sustainability
Achievement
Outreach
The Blue Ridge Orchestra’s hallmark holiday concert series returns, again marrying the beloved and the unexpected for a boisterous wintertime treat that rings in the holiday season! With classical repertoire, pops favorites, and the soaring voice of soprano Megan McConnell, this year’s Revels! is sure to be a holiday treat.
Program
A selection of holiday favorites, including carols, classical music, and pops tunes, performed by the entire Blue Ridge Orchestra, with Megan McConnell, soprano.
Snow Contingency
If this concert is canceled due to snow, one performance of BRO Revels! 2019 will be held at 3pm on Saturday, December 14, in Lipinsky Auditorium. All tickets will be honored at that performance.
About This Trip
Over 90,000 guests rode THE POLAR EXPRESS™ with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in 2018 and we hope to see you in 2019! The 1¼ hour round-trip excursion comes to life as the train departs the Bryson City depot for a journey through the quiet wilderness for a special visit at the North Pole. Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, guests on board will enjoy warm cocoa and a treat while listening and reading along with the magical story. Children’s faces show the magic of the season when the train arrives at the North Pole to find Santa Claus waiting. Santa will board THE POLAR EXPRESS™, greeting each child and presenting them with a special gift as in the story, their own silver sleigh bell. Christmas carols will be sung as they return back to the Bryson City Depot.
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ begins November 8, 2019, and operates through December 31, 2019.
This concert honors the many “sheroes” in our world: well-known public figures such as Malala, Pauli Murray, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg who have changed history, along with everyday women who rise above life’s challenges to lead with love. The concert theme comes from our own Lytingale’s rousing new song, which encourages everyone to “Speak out your truth, let your story be told. You’ve got the power, be brave!” The concert features Annie Lennox’s anthem “Sing” and a medley of Aretha Franklin classics like “Respect”. There’s something for everyone — music to make you laugh, cry, dance, and of course, sing along.
Directed by Althea Gonzalez with Assistant Director, Katie Cilluffo, Womansong celebrates the unity, diversity, and empowerment of women through musical expression. Concerts are accessible to the hearing impaired through music sign language interpretation by Shiner Antiorio.
Our concerts and raffles help fund the operation of our nonprofit organization including the choir’s New Start Program, which provides scholarships and emergency funds to local women in need.
Concert tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children (12 and younger). Tickets go live on October 7th and are available from Womansong members and online at www.womansong.org. Raffle tickets are $25 for Wine and $10 for Chocolate and are available online and at the door.
Make this terrific, old-fashioned sing-along part of your family’s holiday tradition! Join us in singing along to some of the world’s most classic carols in this FREE event on December 8th. The whole family can enjoy this community experience of carols and holiday songs in the warmth of our theater.
About This Trip
Over 90,000 guests rode THE POLAR EXPRESS™ with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in 2018 and we hope to see you in 2019! The 1¼ hour round-trip excursion comes to life as the train departs the Bryson City depot for a journey through the quiet wilderness for a special visit at the North Pole. Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, guests on board will enjoy warm cocoa and a treat while listening and reading along with the magical story. Children’s faces show the magic of the season when the train arrives at the North Pole to find Santa Claus waiting. Santa will board THE POLAR EXPRESS™, greeting each child and presenting them with a special gift as in the story, their own silver sleigh bell. Christmas carols will be sung as they return back to the Bryson City Depot.
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ begins November 8, 2019, and operates through December 31, 2019.
Tickets are $1 each. Tickets are non-refundable.
Bouncy House: 1 ticket per session
Bucking Horse: 3 tickets per ride
Carriage Rides: 5 tickets/child (15 or younger) or 10 tickets per adult
Carousel Rides: FREE!
Face Painting: 3 tickets per painting
Petting Zoo Admission: 1 ticket; Pet Food: 2 tickets
Pony Rides: 5 tickets per ride
S’mores: 4 tickets per kit
The Grinch’s Whoville Village: 1 ticket per person
SANTA’S HOUSE: Free Admission
5 tickets/digital photo or 10 tickets/print framed photo
(cash/debit/credit also accepted at Santa House)
ALL ACCESS NIGHT PASS: $20 per person
Good for unlimited ticketed activities from 5pm-10pm good for one Winterfest night; does not include Santa’s House photo
Click here to see EVERYTHING happening at Tryon Resort this holiday season!
We welcome back personality and poet James Navé as he again presents the classic story “A Child’s Christmas in Wales” by Dylan Thomas. Navé transports us to another time and another place where the season was packed with delights for all our senses, when children believed and villagers created a special time in that special place. As a gift to the community, Navé has been presenting the rich language of Thomas’s evocative holiday classic poem since 1988. Join us for an afternoon and leave renewed.
We are thrilled to bring “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” to life at Tryon Resort this holiday season!
Kids will have the opportunity to interact with Whoville characters and the Grinch himself at the Grinch’s Whoville Village. Located in the Legends Plaza, guests can enjoy multiple photo-ops with Whoville props and characters, as well as a meet-and-greet with the Grinch! You don’t want to miss this holiday fun.
COST:
1 ticket/person to visit The Grinch and Whoville. Tickets are $1 each and can be purchased from 5pm-9:30pm in the ticketing booth in Legends Plaza near the carousel.
Come enjoy the holiday lights at Lake Julian Park.
Bring your furry friend to meet Santa at Asheville Outlets (ShopAshevilleOutlets.com) Sundays, December 1, 8 & 15, 2019 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and capture the moment with a FREE photo package, courtesy of Asheville Outlets. Brother Wolf Animal Rescue will be on-site to share information on fostering, adopting, or volunteering this holiday season. Located inside Food Court. All pets must be on a leash or in a carrier.
Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland presented by Ingles
Tryon Resort is thrilled to be the newest location on the Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland circuit. This two-mile journey weaves through hundreds of thousands of animated Christmas lights coordinated to music for an estimated 30 minutes of holiday enchantment. The Wonderland also features giant, custom-built displays of Santa and his pals on vacation in the mountains, hang gliding, rock climbing, ice fishing, lounging around the campfire, and more. This playful portion of the show is sure to please everyone, young to old.
The tour finishes in Tryon Resort’s Winterfest Village filled with more fun for the whole family. The tour is $25 per carload with additional pricing for group vans and buses available. Tickets are available online in advance or at the exhibit entrance, and discount tickets are available at any Ingles location. Tours are self-driven and open from 6pm-10pm seven days a week beginning November 15, 2019 and ending on January 5, 2020.
Experience Asheville’s BRIGHTEST holiday tradition at Winter Lights at The North Carolina Arboretum. Open nightly November 22, 2019 – January 4, 2020, from 6 to 10 p.m. Walk through an outdoor winter wonderland and see the Arboretum’s gardens and landscapes dressed in more than half-a-million holiday lights. Listen to the sounds of your favorite holiday tunes or enjoy a cup of holiday-inspired cocoa, cider or beer.
$18-$8. See website for tickets and specials.
Specials
Friends & Family Discount Night – Tuesdays
Tickets are reduced to $15 for adults and $10 for children. Arboretum members receive an additional $2 off each ticket. (Excludes Christmas Eve & New Year’s Eve.)
Available on Thursdays through Saturdays only, this special ticketed event offers visitors the chance to enjoy a holly, jolly ride from downtown Asheville or Biltmore Village to Winter Lights courtesy of The Trolley Company. Upon arrival, guests will receive a complimentary cup of hot chocolate and access to the Winter Lights. Pick-up is at 6:00 p.m. from the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Asheville and 6:15 p.m. from the DoubleTree Hotel in Biltmore Village. Guests will be dropped back off at 9:00 p.m. Tickets are $29.50 per person (children 4 & under are free) and can be purchased through The Trolley Company’s website here. (Note: Arboretum member discounts do not apply for this tour). For additional questions, please call Eva Ritchey at The Trolley Company at 828.606.8606.
About This Trip
Over 90,000 guests rode THE POLAR EXPRESS™ with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in 2018 and we hope to see you in 2019! The 1¼ hour round-trip excursion comes to life as the train departs the Bryson City depot for a journey through the quiet wilderness for a special visit at the North Pole. Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, guests on board will enjoy warm cocoa and a treat while listening and reading along with the magical story. Children’s faces show the magic of the season when the train arrives at the North Pole to find Santa Claus waiting. Santa will board THE POLAR EXPRESS™, greeting each child and presenting them with a special gift as in the story, their own silver sleigh bell. Christmas carols will be sung as they return back to the Bryson City Depot.
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ begins November 8, 2019, and operates through December 31, 2019.
Queen Bee and the Honeylovers
https://www.queenbeeswing.com/
Queen Bee and the Honeylovers is an unabashedly joyful swing band that performs all-original compositions with a dedicated ‘nod’ to the small-jazz-combo and ‘hot club’ legends who first defined the genre. The Honeylovers hail from Asheville, North Carolina; a Historic township where tradition collides with contemporary innovation to create *brand new* art and culture. Their arrangements are upbeat and nostalgic – with enough ‘sweetness’ for the whole hive. Vocal-driven with an infectious groove, the Honeylovers are guaranteed to put a grin on your face and a tap in your toes.
All proceeds benefit Eliada Homes, a local non-profit supporting the children of WNC.
Experience this contemporary rendition of the beloved Nativity story beautifully told through the gospel according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, George and Ringo. Travel with Mary and Joseph down the “Long and Winding Road” to Bethlehem while savoring dozens of classic Beatles hits. This entertaining Christmas event profoundly reminds us – “All you need is Love”.
- Fri Dec 6th 7:30pm Opening night / Reception following
November 29
Downtown Street Lighting & Santa’s Arrival
5:00pm
The lighting of downtown holiday lights and Santa’s arrival kick off the holiday season in Downtown Hendersonville. The evening features entertainment, sing-along, hot chocolate and a visit from Santa Claus at the Historic Courthouse on Main Street. Click for more information Downtown Hendersonville
November 8 – 17
Flat Rock Playhouse presents: “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe”
Four kids travel through a wardrobe to the land of Narnia and learn of their destiny to free it with the guidance of a mystical lion! The play was based on the novel by C. S. Lewis. 828-693-0731 Click for tickets Flat Rock Playhouse
November 29 – December 23
Peppermint the Bear Scavenger Hunt
Free
Peppermint Bear will take you on a fun-filled bear hunt through downtown Hendersonville looking for her cubs. As you search for the cubs, visit at least 12 of the 22 downtown participating businesses to be eligible for prizes. Complete the entry form in the brochure and drop it in Peppermint’s mailbox, located in front of the Visitor Center, by December 23rd. For more details about the Scavenger Hunt, stop by the Visitor Center at 201 South Main Street.
December 7
Hendersonville Christmas Parade
10:00am
A traditional hometown Christmas parade travels along Main Street from Five
Points to Caswell Street. Sponsored by the Hendersonville Merchants & Business Association. This year’s theme is the “The Magic of Christmas”. Visit the Hendersonville Merchants & Business Association web site to download a Parade application. 828-692-4179
November 29 – December 22
Flat Rock Playhouse Mainstage presents: “A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas”
An all-new Christmas production follows up last year’s smash holiday hit. This original musical revue performed by your favorite Flat Rock Playhouse singers and dancers is filled with holiday cheer. Celebrate the holidays Vagabonds style! Click for tickets Flat Rock Playhouse
December 6
Olde Fashioned Hendersonville Christmas
Main Street / 5pm – 8pm
The Downtown merchants open their doors and invite holiday shoppers in with a festive window displays, decorations, caroling, music, and refreshments. 828-697-2232.
December 8
Holiday Tour of Historic Inns and Cookie Caper
1pm-4pm
$20
The Holiday Tour of Historic Inns and Cookie Caper is a self-guided tour of several inns and the Cookie Caper part of the tour is a delicious Christmas treat at each inn. The inns on tour include the 1898 Waverly Inn, Charleston Inn, Mill House Lodge, Echo Mountain Inn and Brightwaters Guesthouse. 828-697-3010
December 18 – January 1
Iceless Skating Rink
Regular Hours 11am-6pm, EXCEPT Christmas Eve 11am-3pm, Christmas Day Closed, New Year’s Eve 11am-3pm, and New Year’s Day from 1pm-6pm
Admission: $10, Children 10 & under $5 (payment by cash or check only)
Enjoy ice-skating in Downtown Hendersonville this holiday season. The iceless rink is located at the Visitor Center on South Main Street. The synthetic surface is made from special polymers that does not require liquid, so it can be enjoyed year-round in any temperature. A curling lane is also available. Curling involves players sliding stones on the ice towards a target. Play a variety of free games while you wait your turn on the ice. Skate rental included in admission price. Admission: $10, Children $5 for ages 10 & under, with group rates available for groups of 10 or more, but must call to reserve a time for groups, $5 for for 30 minutes of curling. Regular Hours 11am-6pm, EXCEPT Christmas Eve 11am-3pm, Christmas Day Closed, New Year’s Eve 11am-3pm, and New Year’s Day from 1pm-6pm. Operates weather permitting. Benefits the Henderson County America In Bloom Program, 828-768-4413 To learn more go to: Henderson County America in Bloom
December 20 – 22
Main Street Holiday Hayrides
5pm – 8pm
Free
Take a magical hayride through Historic Downtown Hendersonville among its twinkling lights and festive decorations. Board the tractor-drawn wagon ride at the Visitor Center, located at 201 South Main Street. Reservations are not accepted, first-come, first-served basis.
Peppermint the Bear is a special friend of Santa and she needs your help finding her missing cubs! They were sent out to get holiday decorations and a tree, and have not come home. Find Peppermint at the Visitor Center, and then head out to shops along Main Street to look for her cubs. If you help her find 12 of her cubs, you will be eligible to win a prize. The scavenger hunt is available from 11/29-12/23, so that the bears will be home in time for Christmas!
More information can be found at the Visitor Center.
This year’s Christmas display theme is “Winter Wonderland.” Come take your family photos at this magical display. Santa will be available on special dates, contact store for more details! Display also open when Santa is not there.