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.

Wednesday, March 17, 2021
‘Walking in the Void’ Interview w/ Philip Baldwin and Monica Guggisberg
Mar 17 all-day
virtual Tour w/ Bender Gallery
Species Novae<br/> varying dimensions
virtual gallery tour along with an interview with Philip and Monica, explaining some of the ideas and thoughts behind the exhibition ‘Walking in the Void’. Presented at Glasmuseet Ebeltoft 16th June 2020 – 11th April 2021, may be found at the bottom of this page. 

 Guggisberg and Baldwin have laid a new avenue. By joining Italian coldworking to the Swedish overlay, they have embarked upon an innovative sequence of experimentation and research not only on surfaces, but also on color and the interplay of color and texture through surface treatment. These explorations have increasingly drawn them to probe the expressive fields of textural elements. Initially soft and tactile, with the new strong angles, facets and deep cuts, the surface itself takes on a kind of fourth dimension, something sculptural that moves beyond the limits set by height, width, and volume.

A quote from Louise Berndt, writing in “Battuto 2002: Philip Baldwin and Monica Guggisberg”

1918 vs. 2020: Epidemics Then + Now in WNC
Mar 17 all-day
Online w/ Western North Carolina Historical Association (WNCHA)

1918 vs. 2020

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.

28th Annual Organic Growers School Spring Conference Online REGISTRATION OPEN
Mar 17 all-day
Online w/ Organic Growers School

March 13-21, 2021 – Online
Kick-off Live Event
March 13, 2021
  • Three Live Keynote Talks
  • Teaser Videos for our 11 Themed Tracks
  • Lunchtime Entertainment
  • A Live Q&A With our Keynote speakers
  • A video social with other attendees
  • Access to our Exhibit Hall
Track Workshops
March 14-19, 2021
View 3 pre-recorded hour long workshops in each of 11 Themed Tracks:
  • Cherokee Foods
  • Cooking
  • Farming
  • Food Systems
  • Gardening
  • Herbs
  • Livestock
  • Mushrooms
  • Permaculture
  • Soils
  • Sustainable Living

Live Panel Discussion Sessions

March 20-21, 2021

Join a live Panel Discussion with each speaker from the Track workshops. Interact directly with panelists during the live Q & A portion!
Community Recreation Grant Applications Now Open
Mar 17 all-day
online w/ Buncombe County Government

Buncombe County has opened the application cycle of the Community Recreation Grants program for projects taking place from July 2021-June 2022. The grants are part of other countywide initiatives that help make Buncombe County a place everyone from infants to retirees has the opportunity to be strong, healthy, and successful. The program is intended to help community nonprofits make immediate improvements and jump-start long-term progress that align with the Buncombe 2025 plan. Grants range in amounts from $500-$6,000, depending on the number of qualifying applicants.

Eligibility

Eligible entities include Buncombe County nonprofits focused on providing equitable access to recreational, fitness, cultural, and wellness activities to the public at no- or low-cost. These funds are intended to be a leveraging tool that promote partnerships between the County and area nonprofits and are not a donation, funding stream, or sponsorship opportunity. Programs applying for funding should align with the Buncombe 2025 plan’s focus areas, as well as embody the spirt of Buncombe County Recreation Services’ mission: Connect Communities. Preserve Culture. Change Lives.

Projects funded in the past have included creative placemaking, increasing safe connections to a wider range of play and wellness activities for underserved residents, supporting access to experiences that preserve regional and international cultures, improvements to public athletic fields and fitness courses, expanding environmental education, building food security through community gardens, and establishing multigenerational outdoor spaces for neighbors to connect with each other and foster community pride.

Want to apply?

Application, guidelines, and a list of 2020 recipients are available online. Questions should be directed to [email protected].

The grant application deadline is 5 p.m. on Fri., Mar. 26, 2021. Late applications will not be accepted.

Flat Rock Playhouse: Rock Solid Campaign and $118,000 Match Gift
Mar 17 all-day
Online w/ Flat Rock Playhouse

Flat Rock Playhouse has launched its capital campaign, Rock Solid, in response to the effects of COVID-19. The campaign aims to preserve the legacy of the Playhouse, ignite the passion for theatre in the community, and revitalize the arts in Henderson County and beyond. The campaign kicks off with a generous match from David Leiman, meaning donors’ contributions will be matched dollar for dollar up to $118,000.

 

With the pandemic and government mandates still impacting live event venues, the Playhouse remains dark for the safety of patrons and artists. With performances on hold, the Playhouse has announced a capital campaign, Rock Solid, to preserve the viability of the State Theatre of North Carolina. Donations to this campaign will help to sustain the Playhouse through the following:

  • Maintain and build back the staff as the Playhouse carefully returns to producing;

  • Upgrades to technology;

  • Management of the historic facilities and grounds;

  • Ongoing operational needs; and

  • A “rock solid” infrastructure for long-term sustainability.

  • The Rock Solid campaign will be led not only by Playhouse leadership but also by a committee of community members committed to preserving professional performing arts, theatre arts education, and the history of the Playhouse. Dr. Pete and Jan Richards are co-chairing the Campaign Committee. These community members will be sharing their stories about the importance of the arts and their connection to the Playhouse throughout the duration of the campaign.
Free Wildlife Activities Book for Kids
Mar 17 all-day
Online w/ Appalachian Wildlife Refuge

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RESCUE

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REHAB

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RELEASE

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RELATE

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Appalachian Wildlife Refuge is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that coordinates wildlife rehabilitation efforts in Western North Carolina by providing care for injured and orphaned wildlife, supporting the wildlife rehabilitation network, and offering conservation education to the community.
Get Your Go Local Card
Mar 17 all-day
Online w/ Asheville Grown

Supporting Local Schools

Half of your purchase price of the 2021 Go Local Card will go to a public school to enhance programming, purchase much-needed teacher supplies and support local kids.

Buy yours TODAY!

Each year, as we add more businesses and cardholders to the program, the local movement grows stronger.

Photo courtesy of Mountain Xpress

Griffin Award Nominations Open Preservation Society of Asheville + Buncombe County
Mar 17 all-day
Online w/ Preservation Society of Asheville & Buncombe County
Griffin Award Nominations Open
Each year, PSABC presents awards to outstanding projects and individuals that further our goals of historic preservation in Asheville and Buncombe County.  Nominations for the 2021 Virtual Griffin Awards are open until March 19th for individuals, companies and organizations in the following categories:
  • Restoration
  • Rehabilitation
  • Adaptive Re-use
  • In-fill Construction in Historic and Traditional Neighborhoods
  • Research, Publication and Education
  • Stewardship
  • Preservation
Help Save Wild Baby Orphan Animals
Mar 17 all-day
Online w/ Appalachian Wildlife Refuge

Appalachian Wild provides injured and orphaned wild animals a place to go for care and treatment to give them a second chance at life in the wild. Help the wild ones today!
Henderson County Chamber: Submissions for the 2021 Business Plan Contest
Mar 17 all-day
Henderson County Chamber of Commerce
The Henderson County Chamber of Commerce is presenting the 8th Annual Business Plan Contest and contest submissions are now being accepted. A well-written business plan lays the foundation for a financially successful business. A well-prepared and executed business plan will grow sales, employment, and improve the bottom line. The business – start-up or existing – with the winning business plan will receive business services including advertising, tax, legal, and marketing for free, a value of over $7,000!
Contest submissions are due by 5:00 pm on Monday, April 19. Submissions are reviewed and graded by the Small Business Committee of the Chamber. The winner will be announced and honored at the Small Business Awards Reception at Southern Appalachian Brewery. The final event date has not been determined at this time and is dependent on COVID restrictions but the tentative plan is to host the reception in May or June.
Submissions should include a cover page featuring the name of the business, name of the owner, and contact information, and information outlining the business idea, competitive advantage, market analysis, cash flow, timeline and action plans, and owner qualifications. Optional elements to include are vision and mission statements, table of contents, and legal structure information. Submissions will be graded on the required elements.
Please email your plan to Hoyle Adams at the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce
204 Kanuga Road, Hendersonville, NC 28739 • [email protected] (828) 692-1413
High-Risk Medical Conditions Group 4: Eligible COVID-19 Vaccine Beginning March 17
Mar 17 all-day
Online w/ NC Department of Health and Human Services
Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. announced beginning on March 17, people in Group 4 who have a medical condition that puts them at higher risk of serious illness and people who live in certain congregate settings will be eligible for vaccination. The rest of Group 4, which includes other essential workers will become eligible April 7. (See Deeper Dive)
The state was able to update its timeline today based on provider feedback and expected supply. As with previous eligibility changes, some vaccine providers may not be ready to open to Group 4 on March 17 if they are still experiencing high demand for vaccines in Groups 1 through 3.
Hillbillyland: Myth + Reality of Appalachian Culture
Mar 17 all-day
Online w/ Western North Carolina Historical Association (WNCHA)
Listen to This episodes from 2020!
Mar 17 all-day
Online w/ Asheville Community Theatre

ACT Rewind: 3 Fave Episodes!

Available as Video on Demand thru March 31, 2021!

Hit rewind and watch (or re-watch!) three of the best Listen to This episodes from 2020! Each episode clocks in between 60-80 minutes.

Here’s how it works: you purchase a ticket for the show of your choice and you’ll be sent a unique link to watch. Once you click the “start watching” button, you’ll have 48 hours to complete your view – so feel free to stop and start – or watch the whole thing in one sitting!

We’re featuring:

  • Theme Park Theme: True Amusement Park Tales Meant to Amuse
    • Featuring stories by Bryan Morrisey, Alison Fields, Delina Hensley, and Karen Stobbe, plus songs by Kim Richardson – Originally aired July 30, 2020
  • Surprise and Shine: True Tales of Unexpected Events
    • Featuring stories by Tessa Fontaine, Corr de Joch, Shelagh Ratner, and Rod Murphy, plus songs by Silas Durocher – Originally aired October 1, 2020
  • When a Story Calls: True Tales of In-house Horrors
    • Featuring stories by David Novak, Andy Corren, Waylon Wood, and Rebecca Morris, plus songs by Rebecca O’Quinn – Originally aired October 29, 2020
Need to Appeal Your Tax Value?
Mar 17 all-day
online w/ Buncombe County Government

No matter how thorough and fair a reappraisal may be, there are still instances when only the property owner has all the information necessary for an accurate appraisal. Informal appeals for the tax year 2021 can be filed anytime between Jan. 1-April 28, 2021. Additionally, anyone receiving a change of value notice after April 1, 2021 has thirty days from that notice date to file an appeal.

Open Auditions for “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
Mar 17 all-day
Online w/ Montford Park Players
Open Auditions for A Midsummer Night’s Dream!
The Montford Park Players announces open auditions for A Midsummer Night’s Dream, directed by Hannah Williams. Rehearsal will begin in mid-April, and the show will run Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings from May 28 to June 19. Roles are NOT paid positions.
Seeking a diverse group of performers. Please submit a reading or monologue (two minutes or less in length) that allows you to express yourself authentically. Perfection not required. Submit for the role you most want to play and/or feel most aligns with your identity. Looking for actors of every gender, size, race, type, ability, and experience.
Prospective actors and technicians should review the COVID-19 protocols which can be found at https://www.montfordparkplayers.org/…/MPP-ACTOR-SAFETY…. Actors and technicians recruited for this production will be required to abide by all safety protocols as contained in the document.
To audition:
1) fill out and submit this audition form: https://forms.gle/36VBKUfD1vEfvF5w6
2) Record an audition video (you can do so on your phone) of no longer
than 2 minutes (Shakespearean monologue preferred), and upload it here: https://driveuploader.com/upload/6XaW3rROQN/
3) Audition materials MUST be submitted by midnight, March 31, 2021.
Callbacks will be held at the director’s discretion at the Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre. Callbacks will be appropriately socially-distanced.

For more information email [email protected]

Southeastern Student Sustainability Conference
Mar 17 all-day
Online

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This annual conference brings together student EcoReps, sustainability interns, and faculty and staff advisers from around the region for a weekend of peer leadership training and collaboration. This conference is a great opportunity to learn from your peers, share your successes (and get constructive feedback), and get inspiration you can bring back to your own campus.

Key topics in 2021 will include:

• Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion in our work
• Effective Student Leadership/ Peer 2 Peer education
• Zero Waste initiatives
• Educational initiatives & events
• Adapting to COVID-19
• Translating student visions into institutional action

This conference will be held VIRTUALLY due to the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic.

Register
There is no fee to attend, however, you must register to participate in the virtual sessions. The registration deadline is Friday, March 19 at midnight.

Spring Flower Bulb Fundraiser Appalachian Wildlife Refuge
Mar 17 all-day
Online w/ Appalachian Wildlife Refuge

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Show your love for wildlife and support life-saving wildlife rehabilitation efforts! Appalachian Wildlife Refuge is a registered non-profit rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing orphaned and injured wildlife. Brighten your world with guaranteed to bloom bulbs and seeds while saving wild lives at the same time! Learn more about our mission at www.AppalachianWild.org.

Stay Informed. Be Buncombe Ready. Sign up for BC Alerts
Mar 17 all-day
online w/ Buncombe County Government

News article image

Buncombe County will be using our emergency notification system to let people know when COVID vaccine appointments are available.

BCAlerts

If there’s one thing the pandemic has taught us, it’s to be ready… Buncombe Ready. But what’s the best way to stay up to date about available vaccines, natural disasters, public health emergencies, and more? Sign up for BC Alerts, and you’ll get that information sent directly to you in real time.

Text BCAlert  to 99411 or click here to sign up and pick the types of alerts you’d like to receive. You’ll also be able to choose from preferred languages. Need TTY? No problem, that option is also available.

If you’ve already signed up for BC Alerts in the past, you’ll need to re-register due to a change in emergency alert providers.

Stay Buncombe Ready and sign up for BC Alerts today.

Follow the County on our social media pages  at facebook.com/buncombegov or facebook.com/bchhs, on Twitter at twitter.com/buncombeGov and on Instagram at instagram.com/buncombecounty.

You may also sign up for Buncombe County’s COVID-19 newsletter at buncombeready.org and click the sign up button.

Summer 2021 Animal Care Interns
Mar 17 all-day
Online w/ Appalachian Wildlife Refuge
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​Animal Care interns help in all aspects of operations including the full rehabilitation process, answering phone calls and emails about wildlife interactions, the daily care of injured and orphaned wildlife and their enclosures, assisting with transport, and communications with the wildlife rehabilitation network in western NC. Interns assist in facility upkeep and maintenance as needed and are provided the opportunity to experience all aspects of the non-profit if there is interest.

No two days in wildlife rehabilitation are the same. Interns must be flexible, dedicated, dependable, and comfortable working in a team setting with other volunteers and communicating with the public.

Summer Interns are required to commit to the internship period of May thru August, and will carry out a weekly set schedule that they are accountable for during the entirety of their internship. Summer 2021 Interns must be able to dedicate 30 hours per week within our animal care facilities operating hours. 

The Episcopal Church of St. John in the Wilderness presents a virtual concert
Mar 17 all-day
Online w/ Episcopal Church of St. John in the Wilderness

Three musicians from the String Division of Furman University with Dewitt Tipton, Organist and Music Director of St. John in the Wilderness, recorded the concert of chamber music in late February.  

Andrew Carlson, violin, Anna Barbrey Joiner, viola, and Christopher Hutton, cello, play music by Bach, Saint-Saëns, Massenet, Bloch, Villa-Lobos and Mozart, and a unique offering of fiddle tunes by the fire. 

Filming took place at several locations on church property.

The online concert is free to view on YouTube anytime.  

The link is https://youtu.be/-Bc0LMMO1NI

Traveling Trunks – Bring the Museum to your Classroom!
Mar 17 all-day
Online w/ Western North Carolina Historical Association

Traveling Trunks and Kits are an economical way to bring the Museum to YOU! Rental fee is a refundable deposit of $15 per trunk. Trunks include many artifacts and a week of lessons.

Trunk deposits are always refundable, but if you choose to donate your deposit, these funds are used to assist students with economic needs to be able to come on field trips or to Living History Days.

Call 828-253-9231 or email [email protected] for information or to schedule your program.

Another way to bring the Museum to YOU is with an In-School Presentation!

A trained museum volunteer or staff person will present any of the above topics in your school. Programs may be presented to as many as 50 students per presentation (some are more hands-on and 25 students would be more appropriate).

Cost is $3 per student.

Choose a program, traveling trunk/kit, or suggest a custom program. Craft topics may include an extra supply fee.

UNC Asheville Opens On-Campus Vaccine Clinic in Partnership with MAHEC
Mar 17 all-day
UNC Asheville Reuter Center
TIME AND DATES VARY
Nearly a year into the coronavirus pandemic, UNC Asheville has a new role to play in combating COVID-19, expanding the campus’ commitment of care and compassion beyond the classrooms and into the community, as the Reuter Center has been transformed into a COVID-19 immunization site in partnership with the Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC).

“MAHEC and UNCA are eager to urgently vaccinate as many people as possible every week until COVID is no longer present in Western North Carolina,” commented MAHEC’s CEO Jeff Heck. “UNCA is a great partner and together we will work to bring the vaccine to as many residents as possible.”

The site continues to call individuals as vaccine shipments arrive. Schedule updates and frequently asked questions will be posted at https://coronavirus.unca.edu/faq/covid-19-vaccine/, and individuals will be contacted directly with their appointment details.

Vaccine Update Buncombe County Group 3 Waitlist Opening March 10
Mar 17 all-day
online w/ Buncombe County Government

Frontline Essential Workers group 3

To get more information on vaccine distribution for Group 3 and beyond, text BCAlert to 99411. Read more about the frontline essential workers in Group 3 at the NCDHHS website.

Video: Gardening with EarthBoxes
Mar 17 all-day
Buncombe County Master Gardener

Check out the latest gardening video on the Buncombe County Master Gardener website. Learn how EarthBoxes® can help solve problems of limited space and poor growing conditions for your homegrown veggies, herbs, and flowers.

Virtual Exhibit: Douglas Ellington
Mar 17 all-day
Online w/ Western North Carolina Historical Association

Asheville’s economic and building boom of the 1920s created a rarified atmosphere unique within Western North Carolina.  Douglas Ellington is known as the architect who changed Asheville into an Art Deco showplace. With his ability to combine architectural styles he produced a series of one of a kind buildings—buildings which changed the face of Asheville—the City Building, Asheville High School, First Baptist Church and S&W Cafeteria. Douglas Ellington: Asheville’s Boomtown Architect presents a look at his iconic Asheville creations along with other buildings he completed throughout his career in other cities.

 

 

WINNER of a 2014 Griffin Award for Excellence in Education from the Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County

Visit Our Gardens This Spring at Flat Rock Playhouse
Mar 17 all-day
Flat Rock Playhouse
Pink flower blooming near
                    wishing well.

Visit Our Gardens This Spring

The Playhouse Gardens are open and just in time for spring! Whether you’re going for a stroll, staying for a picnic, or learning about the different flora using the QR codes in each flower bed, we hope you’ll join us at the Playhouse Gardens. Stay tuned for upcoming events and learn about all the hard work that our volunteers do by following them on Instagram.

Voices of the River: Art + Poetry Contest
Mar 17 all-day
Online w/ RiverLink

Show Us What the River Means to You!

Art & Poetry contest winner

Every spring we host our Voices of the River: Art & Poetry Contest. We ask kids to use the river as a source of inspiration to showcase their creativity. Each year we are so amazed by the talent of these young artists, poets, and performers. Submissions can include 2D and 3D works in various mediums, poems and creative writings, and video compositions of songs, dances, or skits. Winners are selected by a council of judges made up of local artists, writers, and community leaders. Many generous businesses also donate prizes for winners from each age group and category.

This year we want you to show us “How has the river helped you during this time of isolation?”

All entries are due by Thursday April 22nd

We’re Offering Free 1-Year Memberships to Downtown Businesses
Mar 17 all-day
Asheville Downtown Association

We know how difficult the Covid-19 pandemic has been on downtown businesses. This is a gesture of support we can offer to help businesses as they rebuild and recover.

Complimentary memberships will be available from March 1 – 31 and will be for one year.

Membership benefits include a business profile and the ability to add events and news on ashevilledowntown.org, advertising space in the ADA’s bi-weekly newsletter to 2,000+ subscribers, and cross promotion of members through ADA social media channels. A full list of membership benefits can be found here.

This offer is restricted to businesses in the downtown area, as defined by the Central Business District. Other restrictions may apply. Interested businesses can email [email protected] to determine eligibility.

We also extended memberships for our current members. To check to see if you’re a member, visit our online directory.

Wild and Furry Animals Book Donates to Help Wildlife
Mar 17 all-day
Online w/ Appalachian Wildlife Refuge

Appalachian Wildlife Refuge is a registered non-profit rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing orphaned and injured wildlife, and serving 18 counties across WNC. They provide conservation education to the community, support the wildlife rehabilitation network, and offer a Wildlife Emergency Hotline to the public.  For help with wildlife in need, call 828-633-6364 ext 1 and leave a message or email [email protected], and a member of the hotline team will reach out right away. To learn more and support their cause, visit www.appalachianwild.org

WNC Farmers Market Open Daily
Mar 17 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
WNC Farmers Market

NCDA&CS - Marketing Division - Western North Carolina Farmers Market

With the convenience of being open year-round, 7 days a week, the WNC Farmers Market offers a selection of farm-fresh produce at the lowest prices in Western N.C. Our popular retail buildings, providing a selection of non-perishables, fruits, vegetables, crafts and more, are open daily.