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, July 22, 2020
Nature Connects®: Art with LEGO® Bricks
Jul 22 @ 8:00 am – 9:00 pm
The North Carolina Arboretum

Please note: Nature Connects®: Art with LEGO® Bricks has been postponed until July; however, the exhibit will have an extended schedule and will be open until November 1. We look forward to seeing you!

The Arboretum is excited to welcome back the widely popular traveling exhibit, Nature Connects®: Art with LEGO® Bricks by Sean Kenney. Featuring 14 larger-than-life-size sculptures place created with nearly 500,000 LEGO Bricks, this family-friendly exhibit draws inspiration from the living world and combines art, play and science to create an inspiring intersection of education, entertainment and the environment. New sculptures include a 5-foot tall colorful peacock, giant dragonfly, bonsai tree and more!

 

Environmental Impact II Exhibit
Jul 22 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
The North Carolina Arboretum

This exhibit will reopen on Wednesday, July 1, and will be on display daily through Sunday, August 2. On display daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. inside the Baker Exhibit Center, Environmental Impact II features more than 50 artworks, including paintings, photography, sculptures and film, focused on generating public attention surrounding environmental issues and unintended consequences…

To help protect the safety of our guests and staff, a one-way route will be enforced inside the exhibit hall. All guests ages 11 years and older will be required to wear a face covering while inside the Baker Exhibit Center. Thank you for your cooperation! 

Fairy Trail at Bullington Gardens
Jul 22 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Bullington Gardens

The Fairy trail is open Monday thru Saturday, 9am-4pm. We encourage all visitors to be patient as there will be limits to the number of people allowed on the trail at the same time. While the trail is outdoors, there are some small spaces and we want to ensure our guests and fairies are safe. Please practice appropriate social distancing and bring a mask in case. Masks are not required, but are considerate in a close area. Our restrooms are not open to the public at this time. Please make arrangements prior to visiting.

 

Rules of the trail:

Do not move or rearrange fairy displays. The fairies are very fond of their own decorating.

Do not leave trash on the trail. Fairies do not like litter in their town.

Please ensure children and pets are supervised at all times. Dogs and loud noises can scare the fairies into hiding.

Do not disturb wildlife or vegetation. The fairies depend on the vegetation to build their homes.

The trail is one way only. Please stay on the trail at all times.

 

The Fairies can’t wait to see you all here!

P.S. the Fairies would like us to remind you that we are a non-profit and donations are greatly appreciated. Help us keep the fairies living in the style with which they’ve become accustomed.

Asheville Salt Cave FREE ONLINE : Live Mediation Webinar with Bernie Kozlowski
Jul 22 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
webinar

Learn how to reverse the very real and devastating impact of stress through the SIMPLE practice of instinctive meditation that will profoundly shift your life.

Instinctive meditation means it’s natural and our bodies are wired to do it easily and efficiently. All we need to do is to set up the right conditions and our bodies will eagerly cooperate. Learn the skill set needed to meditate on your own even if you have a racing mind and little spare time.

Dropping into deep relaxation on a regular basis helps you to be calm in the face of overwhelm and urgency, can improve your health, and help you be more responsive and less reactive to challenges.

This will be a live webinar on Zoom. You can attend from anywhere that is comfortable to you. Once you register, you will get instructions on how to log in to the event. You will have the option of having your video on or off. You can also call in using a phone number. Link to zoom class:
https://mailchi.mp/9e1057b0227e/meditation-asheville-salt-cave

We’ll start with the basic principles of this approach. Then you will learn and practice some basic skills. This will be followed by a longer guided meditation where you can incorporate the basic skills. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions during the class.

A weekly Zoom drop-in class in instinctive meditation will run on Wednesdays from 10:00-11:00 am EST starting April 29 and running for 12 weeks.
Drop in as you can. Each class will cover a different technique.

How To Write A Business Plan- Virtual Seminar
Jul 22 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Online/Zoom
Wednesday, July 22nd | 10 am – Noon | Zoom
A good business plan will provide the platform to take your business to the next level and optimize your results. A plan identifies the strategy, resources, and actions needed to achieve improved success. This seminar will cover the key result areas of a business such as legal structures, the critical importance of having a competitive edge, how to effectively perform market analysis, how to plan and manage cash flow, how to more effectively manage your human resources and much more. This is an exceptional opportunity to re-energize your business. Information will also be provided about the upcoming Chamber’s Business Plan Contest.
July is Customer Appreciation Month Jus’ Running
Jul 22 @ 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Jus' Running
July is Customer Appreciation Month
20% OFF ALL Apparel
Free Jus’ Running Tote Bag With $100 Purchase
Thank You For Your Continued Support
Library Computer Appointments Available
Jul 22 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Buncombe County Libraries
The Perfect Turkey

Buncombe County Public Libraries will begin offering appointments for computer use on July 1. Forty-five minute appointments are available 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays at all library locations except the Oakley/South Asheville branch.

The Year 2020 with Mountain Made Art Gallery
Jul 22 @ 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Mountain Made - Asheville Art Gallery

Image may contain: outdoor

THE YEAR 2020 While we aren’t able to do our live demos so far this year, we have another idea! Nancy Dillingham is one of our local writers and Nancy is a poet. She has written at least 10 books of poetry because we have them at Mountain Made. She has probably written more. “In Fred Chappell’s introduction to Dillingham’s book, Like Headlines: New and Selected Poems, he says: “Poetry is news that stays news” and that, in Dillingham’s poetry, “we wait both for the future to appear and for the past to subside.” Nancy is going to be our feature demo artist for the year and sharing her writing experiences. We are doing a book of poetry or thoughts on “The Year 2020”. They could be funny or serious. So our demo this year is going to be writing. Email it to us, bring it by Mountain Made, or use our demo table to put your thoughts down on paper and leave it with us. We are then, around the middle of Nov., going to put it all together into a book! It won’t be fancy but it will be for sale. We will take donations and it will all go to charity. We haven’t decided if it will be one or several but “The Year 2020” will let us know where it is most needed! We have a lot to think about this year so put it on paper and share your thoughts! Be sure to put your name on it, city and state but if you want to remain anonymous that is fine too.

Voices in the Laurel SummerVoice Music Camp: Be the Change
Jul 22 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
zoom

Voices in the Laurel Youth Choirs is accepting registration for their annual music camp. This
year’s theme is “Be the Change,” with many changes in the format of the activities. Covid 19
has forced many changes in the way things are done all over the world. Recent racial tensions
have inspired a call for change in human relations. In response to these changes in the world,
Rising 6th– 12th graders will have camp July 20 – 24, from 10 am – Noon on Zoom.

Then, Be the Change Camp for rising 1st
– 5th graders will be July 27 – 31 from 10 am – Noon on Zoom.

Buncombe County Outdoor Swimming
Jul 22 @ 10:30 am – 1:30 pm
Buncombe County Pools Various

Child in pool

Buncombe County Recreation Services will open its five outdoor swimming pools. Safety and sanitation measures have been taken to comply with Buncombe County’s Stay Safe, Stay Smart order in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Pool visitors will be required to practice the Three Ws: wear a cloth face covering when entering/exiting the pool and when not in the pool, wait at least six feet apart from and avoid close contact with anyone who does not live in your household, and wash your hands or use hand sanitizer often.
Pool will open for two sessions Monday-Saturday, closing between sessions for a sanitation period that includes wiping down all common touch points. Sunday hours include one session. Admission for each session is $3 per guest. Due to limited capacity, guests are highly encouraged to purchase tickets online. If a pool is unable to open for any reason or is forced to close within the first hour of operation, all guests will receive a raincheck via the email address provided when purchasing the original ticket. Booking are currently available through July 10.
Monday-Friday
10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
2:15-5:15 p.m.
Saturday
11 a.m.-2 p.m.
3-6 p.m.
Sunday
1-6 p.m.
“While this summer is different in nearly every way for local families, we’re happy to safely and responsibly open our pools to the community,” said Josh O’Conner, Director of Buncombe County Recreation Services. “While we are not allowing toys, balls, noodles, dive sticks, and other communal items inside pools, the guest experience should be enhanced as visitors will be able to enjoy pools with a capacity limit of roughly 30% normal occupancy.”
Cane Creek Pool
590 Lower Brush Creek Road
Fletcher, NC 28732
Erwin Pool
58 Lees Creek Road
Asheville, NC 28806
Hominy Valley Pool
25 Twin Lakes Road
Candler, NC 28715
North Buncombe Pool
892 Clarks Chapel Road
Weaverville, NC 28787
Owen Pool
117 Stone Drive
Incredible Business Networking for WNC on ZOOM
Jul 22 @ 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
zoom

Until the social restrictions are lifted, and it’s safe to meet in person in large groups, let’s take it to our computers. Well be meeting every Wednesday at 11:00.

Incredible Business Networking for WNC on ZOOM
Jul 22 @ 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Online

Incredible Business Networking is on Zoom until we can meet in person again. Well be meeting every Wednesday at 11:00. Join us!

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEpdOGtqDMqHteNTQ0SRyU3C_R42Gj7m4wN

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Join Incredible Business Networking – Asheville, Hendersonville, and all of WNC on Facebook to keep up with your Incredible Business Networking connections, and to keep up with our ZOOM meetings

Thanks to our Sponsors! College Nannies, Sitters + Tutors of Asheville, Charlotte Sheppard, Real Estate Professional, Keller Williams Mtn Partners, The Super Signguy, Radius Chiropractic, and City Publications!

Strolling through History Online Tour
Jul 22 @ 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Online

Image may contain: one or more people, people standing, sky and outdoor

This year, we weren’t able to host our “Strolling through History” series of walking tours, but thanks to some awesome work by interns we hosted from UNC Asheville this spring, they will be partially available virtually!

Enjoy “Scrolling” through history from your couch, or grab your tablet or smartphone and follow the tour in real life. (Make sure to follow local safety guidelines!)

The tours will be posted as links in this event discussion. Leave a comment and let us know what you think!

This Week’s Food Truck Schedule at Highland Brewery
Jul 22 @ 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Highland Brewing Company
Used and Clearance Kayaks Sales Event
Jul 22 @ 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Waterways North Carolina

Image may contain: one or more people, people standing and outdoor, text that says 'WATERWAYS WEST ASHEVILLE MOKEN2.5 SUMMER 2020 DEMO & USED KAYAK SALES EVENT! Ainnhra'

We’ve got a variety of kayaks on sales from high end fishing kayaks to fun in the sun recreational models – no matter the budget, we’ve got something for you!

Here are just a few samples of kayaks we have but hurry in, this list changes daily and supplies are limited!

• Seastream Angler
• Seastream Backwater
• 3 Waters Kayaks Big Fish 108
• 3 Waters Kayaks Big Fish 120
• Feelfree Lure 13.5 v1
• Feelfree Dorado
• Aventura 140
• And much more!

All demo, used and clearance kayak sales available in person at our shop in Asheville, North Carolina:

We are open on a limited basis Tuesday – Saturday 12pm-5pm. We are doing everything we can to keep our employees safe due the COVID-19 situation so are following county, state and city guidelines. Prefer to shop curbside? We do that too! Just let us know when you want to stop by.

*All sales final. No warranty services and returns available on these kayaks. First come first serve basis, supplies, options and colors are limited.

Introduction to Botanical Dyeing
Jul 22 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Online

The Learning Garden presents:

Introduction to Botanical Dyeing

Location: Virtual attendance via Zoom video and audio internet connection

Presenters: Pat Strang and Joyce Tromba, Extension Master GardenerSM Volunteers

Program Description: Learn how you can use plants you probably have in your garden to dye wool or cloth. Pat and Joyce will give a quick tour of the history of natural dyeing and introduce you to some easy plants to grow for a variety of colors. Using common household equipment, they will show you how to prepare your fabric or wool to achieve deep and long-lasting color from these plants. Pat and Joyce will demonstrate the dyeing technique and reveal the finished product at the end.

Registration: The talk is free, but participation is limited and registration is required. Please click on the link below to register. If you encounter problems registering or if you have questions, call 828-255-5522.

Zoom seminar access: After registration, you will receive an email with instructions and a link to join this online live broadcast via Zoom. The ability to access Zoom through a computer, tablet, or smartphone with a reliable internet connection is necessary to attend.

West Side Story POSTPONED to 2021 Season
Jul 22 @ 2:00 pm
Flat Rock Playhouse
Buncombe County Outdoor Swimming
Jul 22 @ 2:15 pm – 5:15 pm
Buncombe County Pools Various

Child in pool

Buncombe County Recreation Services will open its five outdoor swimming pools. Safety and sanitation measures have been taken to comply with Buncombe County’s Stay Safe, Stay Smart order in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Pool visitors will be required to practice the Three Ws: wear a cloth face covering when entering/exiting the pool and when not in the pool, wait at least six feet apart from and avoid close contact with anyone who does not live in your household, and wash your hands or use hand sanitizer often.
Pool will open for two sessions Monday-Saturday, closing between sessions for a sanitation period that includes wiping down all common touch points. Sunday hours include one session. Admission for each session is $3 per guest. Due to limited capacity, guests are highly encouraged to purchase tickets online. If a pool is unable to open for any reason or is forced to close within the first hour of operation, all guests will receive a raincheck via the email address provided when purchasing the original ticket. Booking are currently available through July 10.
Monday-Friday
10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
2:15-5:15 p.m.
Saturday
11 a.m.-2 p.m.
3-6 p.m.
Sunday
1-6 p.m.
“While this summer is different in nearly every way for local families, we’re happy to safely and responsibly open our pools to the community,” said Josh O’Conner, Director of Buncombe County Recreation Services. “While we are not allowing toys, balls, noodles, dive sticks, and other communal items inside pools, the guest experience should be enhanced as visitors will be able to enjoy pools with a capacity limit of roughly 30% normal occupancy.”
Cane Creek Pool
590 Lower Brush Creek Road
Fletcher, NC 28732
Erwin Pool
58 Lees Creek Road
Asheville, NC 28806
Hominy Valley Pool
25 Twin Lakes Road
Candler, NC 28715
North Buncombe Pool
892 Clarks Chapel Road
Weaverville, NC 28787
Owen Pool
117 Stone Drive
Swannanoa, NC 28778
Live Marbling
Jul 22 @ 3:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Online

VIRTUAL: Live Marbling

Virtually enjoy the process of marbling, the antique process of floating paint on a thickened water surface. Watch as Pam Granger Gale drops paint onto the surface and each drop expands. More and more paint drops push others around without mixing. Then combs and rakes are used to create both historical and freeform patterns. Paper is placed on the surface and captures this monoprint forever.

River Arts District Farmers Market
Jul 22 @ 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Pleb Urban Winery

Emergency Action Plan (EAP) / COVID-19
  • No token sales at this time. Unfortunately, this means no EBT sales. Please understand that this is in the best interest of safety to our staff.
  • No vendors are allowed to sample at this time.
  • Face masks are not required, however, all staff & vendors of the RAD Farmers Market are required to wear face masks during operating hours.
  • All vendors have hand sanitizer at their booths, & sanitize their hands between customers & transactions.
  • Please allow the vendor to select your produce for you.
  • Pre-orders are appreciated, as always, however, all vendors also bring goods for sale at market.
  • We love your dogs, but also appreciate if you can leave them home for your safety. It’s hard not to pet the pups, but it’s hard to social distance and do that!
  • If you do bring cash, please bring smaller bills so that you will have an easier time with the exact change policy most vendors have at this time.
  • Be understanding! We miss spoiling you so much!
Great Beer and Live music at Sweeten Creek Brewery
Jul 22 @ 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Sweeten Creek brewery

Great beer..   Great pizza and live music!! Come try our expanded menu and sip some tasty beverages..   plenty of room to roam.

Image may contain: tree, sky and outdoor

Wednesday Night Date Night! UpCountry Brewing Company
Jul 22 @ 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
UpCountry Brewing Company

Image may contain: pizza, text and food

We’re starting something new for you all: Wednesday Night Date Night! Join us for dinner from 5-9PM every Wednesday for a fun evening with a great deal.

For $27, you’ll get your choice of two small salads or one large salad, one appetizer, and one pizza (specialty or a 3-topping BYO) from Grata Pizzeria. Add two UpCountry beers for a total of $37.

See you here!

Buncombe County Teen Democrats Online Meeting
Jul 22 @ 5:30 pm
Online

Our second meeting is next Wednesday, July 22nd, at 5:30pm!! We will be having Jeff Rose, Buncombe County Democratic Party Chair, come speak to us!Hope to see you there 🙂. Zoom link TBA.

Image may contain: text

Craftivism 101- Virtual Workshop
Jul 22 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Online

Shannon Downey—a leader in the modern craftivism movement. She introduces her global project and teaches you how to embroider in just minutes so you can join in the fun and the movement.

Registration required, space is limited. Visit: https://bit.ly/2Yxk7eh
Click the blue sign up button. Once you are signed up, you’ll receive a pop-up prompt and automatic email with the link and password to attend the program. Need help? Call 250-4700 for registration assistance.

You can hack with anything you have at home, but if you can and want to purchase materials, this is the “ideal” list of what you’ll need.
Embroidery Hoop
Floss (like 3-5 skeins per person)
Fabric (each of these can be cut into 4) –
1 water soluble pen per person –
Scissors

Bio:
Shannon Downey better known as Badass Cross Stitch, is a community organizer disguised as a fiber artist and craftivist. She blends her politics, activism, and art into projects that are designed to inspire others to take action, think, discuss, engage with democracy and their community, and find some digital/analog balance.
She is the instigator behind #RitasQuilt and @BadassHerstory and is on a quest to teach 1 million people to embroider and invite society to rethink how we categorize and value craft and art.
Her life motto is: Make Art. Smash Systems.
For more information visit her website: www.badasscrossstitch.com

New Pop Up 5K at Fletcher Park
Jul 22 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Fletcher Park or Online

iDaph Events has a new event series: Pop-up 5k in the Park! This is our newest, creative and
socially distant event. No frills – just running! Our iDaph Team will be at Fletcher Park every 2nd
and 4th Wednesday from July through September to offer participants a bib and a chip timed 5K
event for $10. Sign up for all 6 races for just $50 to receive a super comfy, awesome t-shirt and
a commemorative series medal, and to be included in our series scoring and win prizes.

Location:  (Bill Moore Park is formerly known as Fletcher Park and is located at 85
Howard Gap Road in Fletcher, NC). Virtual option can be run anywhere.
Start Time: 6-8pm Show up anytime

Ponderers Cafe’ OnLine – Would You Rater Be Good or Lucky?
Jul 22 @ 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Online

Details

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

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

RSVPs go live every Friday at 5pm.

Fringe Digital Summer Vol. 2
Jul 22 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Online

It’s the Fringe Digital Summer Night, volume 2! Do you have your reservations yet? This show will happen on zoom and you NEED a link to find it. Get your tickets here (sliding scale $0 to $25)
https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=115442 

Join these Fringe favorites:

> Cooper Bates (spoken word/ storytelling, Los Angeles CA)
> Edwin Salas (puppetry/ dance, Asheville NC)
> Taproot CLT (dance, Charlotte, NC)
> Kathleen Leiner (Dance/ contemplative, Asheville NC)
> Cookie Tongue (music/ puppetry/ animation/ experimental, Brooklyn NY)
> Justin Evans (spoken word/ poetry/ experimental Asheville NC)
> Constance Humphries (Butoh, Asheville NC)

Hosted by Dylan Suter (Asheville NC)

Fringe Announcements, community connection!

Tickets are pay what you can, but you do need a ticket in order to receive the link to this Zoom based event.
Reserve your spot now: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=115442

Donate at http://www.ashevillefringe.org/donate

West Side Story POSTPONED until 2021 Season
Jul 22 @ 7:30 pm
Flat Rock Playhouse
Thursday, July 23, 2020
Artists Collective | Spartanburg 2020 Juried Exhibition Calling Artists
Jul 23 all-day
Online
showtime

Artists Collective | Spartanburg 2020 Juried Exhibition

4 state exhibit – SC, NC, TN, GA

We have struggled with whether to cancel this exhibit or not. We know that artists need this type of exhibit more than ever so we are continuing as planned. The dates are Sept. 15 – Oct. 17. There will not be an awards reception this year, but we will make the awards announcements online at a given time. The exhibit can be viewed during normal business hours. Last year this was a very successful event and prizes totaled $4500. We plan the same this year.

Asheville Artists: Mural Artwork Opportunity
Jul 23 all-day
Online

How To Enter:

Send in your submissions to [email protected]

Contest Timeline:

 

  • Submissions will be accepted June 15, 2020 through July 31, 2020.
  • Top 10 designs will be selected July 31, 2020 – August 31, 2020 on Facebook.
  • We will select the winning artist based on portfolio/resume submissions to be announced on Labor Day Weekend.

 

A Note to the Artists Regarding the Final Mural:

Once the final artist has been selected, the mural artwork will need to include 2 of the following elements: The Toyota brand symbol, Fred Anderson Toyota of Asheville logo, OR 1 Toyota vehicle.