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.

Saturday, January 25, 2020
Registration OPEN: 27th Annual Organic Growers School Spring Conference
Jan 25 all-day
Mars Hill University

Get the Early Registration Discount!

Early-registration prices for the 2020 Spring Conference are available through Friday, January 31, 2020.
RiverLink’s Art & Poetry Contest Grades PreK-12
Jan 25 all-day
online
Seeking Nominations: Griffin Awards
Jan 25 all-day
Buncombe County
Each year, PSABC presents awards to outstanding projects and individuals that further our goals of historic preservation in Asheville and Buncombe County for our Griffin Awards.  Nominations for the 2020 awards to be held on May 28th are now open to 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
Seeking nominees for Neighborhood Hero Award
Jan 25 all-day
City of Asheville

community volunteers photo

 

Many things make a good neighborhood: sidewalks, shady trees and manageable car traffic come to mind. But most of all, it’s the people who take time to know each other, who care about the health, safety and rights of their neighbors, who help and look out for children, elders and others in need. These are the neighbors who show they care by maintaining their homes, gardens and public spaces, who participate and are connected to organizations that focus on neighborhoods.

 

And these are the extraordinary people the City of Asheville wants to honor as the Neighborhood Advisory Committee seeks submissions to recognize individuals or groups who have made a difference in their neighborhood during 2019. The recipient or recipients will be recognized at an Asheville City Council meeting and be featured in the neighborhood news throughout the year.

So help us find that outstanding person or group and nominate them for Asheville’s Neighborhood Hero Award

 

Share with us the good work going on in your neighborhood! Nominate a deserving recipient. The deadline is Jan. 31, 2020.

 

 

Take an Online Course – Free with Lynda
Jan 25 all-day
Free online classes

Online courses

Learning with Lynda

Lynda.com is an online educational site that includes over 3,000 courses (and over 130,000 videos) in popular fields like web design, web development, IT, education/instruction, media production, and business. Normally, using lynda.com requires a paid subscription, but Buncombe County Public Library cardholders can access lynda.com content FREE with their library card number by following these instructions.

How to access lynda.com content with your library card:

Use the lynda.com button to go to the Buncombe County Library lynda.com login page (do not go directly to the Lynda.com homepage). If you are using  a smartphone or tablet, use your device’s browser, not the lynda.com app.

At the login page, enter your library card number and PIN.

lynda.com. You can learn it.Once you are logged in, the next step is to create a personalized account by entering your name and e-mail address. This account can help manage your course history, playlists, bookmarks, and Certificates of Completion.

Be sure to write down your password. If you forget your password, you’ll have to contact lynda.com directly by phone at 1 (888) 335-9632.

Tax Help at Libraries Runs Feb. 1-April 15
Jan 25 all-day
Buncombe County Libraries

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, in cooperation with the I.R.S, N.C. Dept. of Revenue, Buncombe County Library System and Council on Aging, Inc. will again offer free tax Preparations for low and moderate income taxpayers, with special attention to those age 60 and older. Both Federal and N.C. State tax returns will be electronically filed for safe and accurate preparation with faster refunds.

This service will be available from Feb. 1-April 15, at sites listed below. Please note that some locations have different start dates as several libraries will be hosting early voting for the Presidential primaries in February.

Tax help for Weaverville will be held at the Brookstone Baptist Church and tax help for West Asheville will be held at the West Asheville Presbyterian Church. All tax help locations can be found at irs.gov.

American Kennel Club Dog Agility Trial
Jan 25 @ 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Western North Carolina Agricultural Center McGough Arena,

The Blue Ridge Agility Club of Western North Carolina will host an American Kennel Club (AKC) agility trial , Friday & Saturday 8am-4pm, Sunday 8am-12pm.  The event will be held at the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center McGough Arena. The object of agility is for the handler to navigate the dog through a timed obstacle course without the dog making a mistake.  Spectators are welcome to attend and admission is free. Please leave your dog comfortably at home.

Asheville Hot Chocolate Races
Jan 25 @ 8:30 am – 11:00 am
Isaac Dickson Elementary School

Participate in one of the Asheville Hot Chocolate Races and enjoy a steaming cup of cocoa from French Broad Chocolates after completing your race, 5k and 10k are chip timed, 1K Kids Hill Climb and Marshmallow Dash are untimed fun runs for ages 12 and under.

Snowflake Hike
Jan 25 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Carvers Gap

Location: Carvers Gap
Difficulty: Moderate (5-6) with an elevation gain of 650′ and snow
Distance: 4~ miles out and back
Cost: FREE but Pre-Registration is Required!
In 1885, a self educated farmer Wilson A. Bently attached a microscope to his bellows camera and became the first person to photograph a snowflake. After photographing over 5000 snowflakes, he found that no two snowflakes are alike and come in all sorts of shapes and patterns. Join SAHC in our own snowflake observations as we trek through the gorgeous, high elevation winter wonderland of Carvers Gap. If weather permits, we will collect snowflakes on cardboard sheets and examine their delicate and unique patterns through hand lenses and magnifying glasses.
NOTICE: Please bring your own magnifying glass or hand lens (5x-10x should be fine). We have a limited number of magnification tools for individuals to use.
Steeped in Time: Tea and Traditions Exhibit
Jan 25 @ 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.

 

Wings for Autism®
Jan 25 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Asheville Regional Airport

The fifth annual Wings for Autism© at Asheville Regional Airport is Saturday, January 25, 2020 from 9am to noon. The free event provides an immersive, simulated airport experience for people on the autism spectrum and their families or caregivers. Participants will arrive at the airport, check in for their “flight” at the ticket counter, go through airport security, wait at the gate, enjoy a meal, and board the plane for their pretend trip.
Travel is a wonderful experience for many; however, for our autistic friends, the air travel experience can be unfamiliar, potentially stressful, and feel out of reach. We are pleased to partner with The Arc of Buncombe County, Allegiant, Worldwide Flight Service, the Transportation Security Administration and Bojangles’ of WNC to provide a practice airport experience to help our autistic friends and neighbors become more comfortable with the airport and airplane environments.
Farm Beginnings Year Long Farmer Training
Jan 25 @ 3:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Creekside Farm at Walnut Cove

Looking to launch or expand your farming business?
Join this 200+ hour Farm Beginnings® Farmer Training Program!
www.organicgrowersschool.org/farm-beginnings

Many skills are required to start a successful farm: passion, clear goals, production experience, financial and marketing know-how, and more. The Farm Beginnings® class is a 12-month training session that helps beginning farmers clarify their goals and strengths, establish a strong enterprise plan and start building their operation. The course uses a mix of farmer-led classroom sessions, on-farm tours, and an extensive farmer network. Farm Beginnings® is designed for new and prospective farmers who want to plan a profitable farm business. Students do not need to currently own land, but some farming or production experience is helpful to get the most out of the class.

2019-2020 Farm Beginnings® Farmer Training is 200+ Hours including:
— Winter Whole-Farm Business Planning Courses – 60 hours (October – March)**
— ASAP’s Business of Farming Conference (February) – 8 hours
— OGS Conferences – 40+ hours
— Mentorship with an experienced Farmer Mentor (March – September) – 15 hours
— Production Training – 45 hours (April – October): WNC CRAFT tours on sustainable farms around WNC & Field Days at the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy Incubator Farm and Living Web Farms
— One year WNC CRAFT Farmer Network membership – Membership and mentoring in a regional farmer network
**Location of Winter Sessions: Creekside Farm and Education Center at Walnut Cove at 339 Avery Creek Rd, Arden, NC 28704

https://www.facebook.com/events/624408214665085/?event_time_id=624408251331748

Into the Blue: Artist Invitational 2020 at Blue Spiral
Jan 25 @ 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Blue Spiral

Blue Spiral 1’s most diverse annual exhibition presents artists who have never previously shown in the gallery. This year’s show features nine artists working in a range of media, including painting, ceramics, textiles, mixed media, photography, and wood.

Artists: Anna Buckner, Mark Flowers, David Knox, Hiromi Moneyhun, Kris Rehring, Ben Strear, Gregor Turk

Into the Blue_ Artist Invitational 2020

Kid Hop Hooray! Indoor Dance Party
Jan 25 @ 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
The Orange Peel

Doors and Event begin at 10:00am to 1:00pm – Open Floor Dance Party for Kids with a Live DJ Oso Rey! Drop in anytime.

Playing Child-Appropriate FUN dance music from the Jackson 5’s “ABC” to “Shake it Off” to old-school hip hop tracks, favorites from 23 Skidoo, and much more!

There will be FREE Glow accessories for your little dancers, plenty of room to run, dance, and get their sillies out while it’s cold outside, and snacks for purchase from Asheville Pizza Co and the Hop Ice Creamery! And of course, The Orange Peel bar will be open for mom and dad’s refreshments (and/or kids’ juice boxes)

Padded area available for crawlers and new walkers to play and explore.

The music will be especially chosen to appeal to kids from ages 2 to 12, but the whole family is more than welcome! 12 and under are only $3 (under 2 years old are free) and everyone else is $5.

2 private rooms available for rent for birthday parties after the dance party ends! Bring decorations and a cake and let the Orange Peel & the Hop help you create a fun and unique birthday experience for your child and their buddies after they dance their booties off! Contact [email protected] for more information and party reservations.

Pilates with Puppies Asheville Humane Society
Jan 25 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Asheville Humane Society

Please join us for a fundraiser for the Asheville Humane Society. Pilates with Puppies will be a basic Pilates class, with puppies provided by AHS. Please BYO yoga or Pilates mat and a small towel. Please do not bring your own puppy! $15. Pre-registration required. 

Public Roadside Cleanup
Jan 25 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
175 Bingham Road

Image

Join our Water Quality Coordinator, Laura Anderson, on a public roadside cleanup! This 2hr event will focus around picking up litter along one of Asheville’s heavily trashed roads.

Bingham Road is a frequently trafficked and polluted road within the Asheville City Limits. As it rains, water sweeps this man-made debris into drains that lead directly into our streams — polluting our land and water. Keeping these areas free from litter is important to us as a community, so lets work together to protect the areas we love!

We will meet in the Buncombe County School’s parking lot, look for the Asheville GreenWorks truck.

All supplies will be provided, including: gloves, grabbers, yellow safety vests and trash bags. Just bring yourself dressed in warm clothes that can get dirty!

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Jan 25 @ 10:00 am
South Carolina Children's Theatre

What begins as an innocent exploration of an old home, winds up taking siblings Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter far beyond their wildest imaginations, as they step through a huge wardrobe, into a land where an evil witch has taken control and misery reigns. They soon realize they haven’t arrived in Narnia by chance, but have been brought here to play a very important part in restoring natural order and keeping the peace in this magical land.

By demonstrating love, keeping faith and showing courage, the children find they have the power triumph over evil and return Narnia to its rightful leader. Children and adults alike will be enthralled by this classic C.S. Lewis story.


From the story by C.S. Lewis; Dramatized by Joseph Robinette; Produced by special arrangement with THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY of Woodstock, Illinois


Most enjoyed by children, ages 5 and up.
Visit scchildrenstheatre.org for further details.

Upstate SC Boat Show
Jan 25 @ 10:00 am – 9:00 pm
Greenville Convention Center

The 50th Annual Upstate SC Boat Show is coming to the Greenville Convention Center on January 23-26, 2020!

 

The show will host the latest models of boats including:
Fishing, Pontoon, Speed, Ski, Cruisers, and Personal Watercraft.  Additionally, you’ll find boating accessories and everything that you need to start the season off right!

 

Show Hours

 

Thursday & Friday: 12pm – 9pm
Saturday: 10am – 9pm
Sunday: 12pm – 6pm

WNC Affordable Housing Fair
Jan 25 @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Pack Library

The Buncombe County Public Library System introduces our first ever WNC Affordable Housing Fair. The fair will be held from noon – 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020, in Lord Auditorium on the lower level of Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood Street, downtown Asheville. Thirteen area agencies will be available to provide information about emergency shelter, rentals, and home ownership for area residents with different types of housing needs, from those experiencing homelessness to renters and individuals who qualify for home ownership assistance programs. Participating agencies include ABCCM, Asheville Housing Authority, BeLoved, Blair H. Clark Respite Center, Council on Aging, Eblen Charities, Givens Gerber Park , Habitat for Humanity, Helpmate Homeward Bound, Justice Resource Center, Mountain Housing Opportunities, and The Real Asheville Initiative.

Skating On The Big Ice
Jan 25 @ 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Bon Secours Wellness Arena

 

Grab your friends, lace up your skates and shake up your weekly routine at The Well! Bon Secours Wellness Arena offers a friendly atmosphere where you can enjoy ice skating while listening to music and socializing with family and friends. Get a free skate rental when you donate! Bring 5 canned goods or a case of water to assist our STAGE partners, Loaves and Fishes and Habitat for Humanity.

Ice walkers are free and available first come, first served. Free parking is available in the VIP lot off of Church Street. Free ADA parking is available in the loading dock parking lot off of Academy Street.

Adults: $8 (age 7 and older)
Children: $6 (age 6 and under)
Skate Rental: $3

Group Rate (groups of 15 or more):
Adults and Children: $6
Skate Rental: $3

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Jan 25 @ 1:30 pm
South Carolina Children's Theatre

What begins as an innocent exploration of an old home, winds up taking siblings Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter far beyond their wildest imaginations, as they step through a huge wardrobe, into a land where an evil witch has taken control and misery reigns. They soon realize they haven’t arrived in Narnia by chance, but have been brought here to play a very important part in restoring natural order and keeping the peace in this magical land.

By demonstrating love, keeping faith and showing courage, the children find they have the power triumph over evil and return Narnia to its rightful leader. Children and adults alike will be enthralled by this classic C.S. Lewis story.


From the story by C.S. Lewis; Dramatized by Joseph Robinette; Produced by special arrangement with THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY of Woodstock, Illinois


Most enjoyed by children, ages 5 and up.

Family Fringe Fest: Flying Catastrophe Circus
Jan 25 @ 5:00 pm
Empyrean Arts

It’s the “Flying Catastrophe Circus“! Aerial arts! Juggling! Cats on roller skates! Tap dancing contortion! Nine circus artists bring you a show overflowing with laughter, thrill and imagination. 25-minutes of non-stop fun and child-like wonder. 2 FREE shows at Empyrean Arts, Friday, Jan. 24 at 7 pm, Saturday, Jan. 25 at 5 pm.

Family Fringe Fest: URIKUBU: Language without Frontiers
Jan 25 @ 5:00 pm
Magnetic Theater.

La Gaviota Teatro brings their multidisciplinary theatre work “URIKUBU: Language without Frontiers” from Mexico City to the Magnetic Theater. Have you ever seen a dragon being born or met the God of Time? Through puppetry, live music, dance and a language made up just for this show, experience the magic. 3 shows: Thursday, Jan. 23, 7 pm, Friday, Jan. 24 at 5 pm, Saturday, Jan. 25 at 5 pm.

Le Vine Nior/Le Beir Noir (Tasting in the DARK!)
Jan 25 @ 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Conundrum

WHAT IT IS… An experience unlike anything you have ever dreamed imaginable. Your host will engage your mind with charm and wit, and immerse your heightened senses of taste, smell, hearing and touch, while you sip five types of wine in complete darkness. Wine pours are paired with tasteful snacks, one liners, and hilarious hijinks. OR our beer tasting experience will take you on a journey of humor, tasting of five local beers, fun beer-friendly pairing, sight deprivation and enhancement of all remaining senses. The lights will be off, and this is not considered a meal. Designed for adults only, 21 and up. 50-60 minutes.

The Pride of Pripyat: tales from the Chernobyl disaster (premier)
Jan 25 @ 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
the BLOCK off Biltmore

The Perspective Collective presents the world premier of The Pride of Pripyat: tales from the Chernobyl disaster, an opera exploring the lives of everyday people living in the shadow of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. With a score by Sunny Knable and libretto by Jim Knable, singers Erin Brittain, Rachael Basescu, and Grant Mech bring multiple characters to life in a series of scenes accompanied by pianist Patrick Fink. Presented as part of the Asheville Fringe Arts Festival as a double feature with Biophilia Asheville

Asheville Sister Cities Burns Night Supper
Jan 25 @ 5:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Country Club of Asheville

A Robert Burns 261st Birthday Celebration Dinner will be held on Saturday, January 25, 2020, at the Country Club of Asheville. The event is sponsored by the Dunkeld and Birnam Committee of Asheville Sister Cities, Inc. (a 501c3 non-profit) which will benefit from the net proceeds of the dinner, optional whisky tasting, and charity raffle & auction.
A formal Robert Burns Dinner Ceremony beginning at 5:30 pm will include a three course meal with Haggis, a piper, poets, dancers and other entertainment. Scottish attire is recommended. Cocktails and other refreshments will be available from a credit card bar. An optional Scotch Whisky Blind Tasting of five single malts will be conducted with a $50 entry fee. Guests may also buy raffle tickets for an assortment of Scottish themed gifts and bid on auction items.
Tickets for the dinner ($100 per person) may be purchased on Eventbrite.com, downloading a registration form from ashevillesistercities.org/burns/, or by sending a check payable to the Asheville Sister Cities, Inc. to 994 Clovertop Lane, Arden, NC 28704. You will receive a follow up letter with additional information.

Exploring Expressive Painting with Soft Pastel
Jan 25 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum

FEBRUARY 3, 10, 17, & 24 (make-up, if needed: MARCH 2)—Mondays, 6–8 pm
Registration deadline: January 27

Soft pastel is the purest medium for painting vibrant colors. In this four-part class, explore color, texture, and design to create beautiful finished artworks. Practice blending, layering, and a variety of strokes and techniques, in addition to color theory, design, and individual expression.

Instructor Terrilynn Dubreuil has over 30 years’ experience encouraging people of all ages and abilities to realize they can be creative with helpful techniques and energy. With an undergraduate degree and graduate studies in fine art, she teaches most media through approaches that help newbies to more experienced artists, and everyone in between.

Student supply list

Adult Studio

The Museum’s studio program for adults offers a core curriculum in drawing, painting, printmaking, and three-dimensional media, and also explores the intersections between them. Local and visiting artists help students of all levels and abilities develop skills in media that reflect techniques and themes featured in the Museum’s Collection and special exhibitions. Classes meet for 3–12 weeks, and are designed for anyone interested in exploring specific media in depth; daylong workshops introduce new media or processes. To add your name to our Adult Studio mailing list, email Kristi McMillan, adult programs manager, or call 828.253.3227 x122.

11th Annual Django Reinardt Birthday Celebration
Jan 25 @ 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm
The Grey Eagle

11th Annual Django Reinhardt Birthday Celebration

Family Fringe Fest: The Miraculously Inventive Machine of Charlie Mean
Jan 25 @ 7:00 pm
Wortham Center

The Miraculously Inventive Machine of Charlie Mean” created by puppeteer and toy maker Toybox Theatre, AKA Keith Shubert, is coming to the Wortham Center. Poor Charlie. He is getting bullied everywhere. At school, at home, on the streets, everywhere! It is time for him to plot his revenge! He’s going to invent a new machine to make them rue the day they even messed with Charlie Mean!  Funny and full of whimsy for all ages. 2 shows: Saturday, Jan. 25 at 7 pm, Sunday, Jan. 26 at 6 pm

Game Night at the Achetype
Jan 25 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Achetype

Enjoy Your Life GAME NIGHT at the ARCHETYPE
Come join us for a Game Night! Bring your favorite game (board game, cards, dominoes, etc.) and your favorite snack. There are also restaurants nearby where you can purchase food and bring it over.