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.

Are you ready to be part of the 95th Mountain Dance and Folk Festival®? On August 4, 5, 6, 2022, a different show will be presented live on stage each evening allowing you to appreciate the talent and dedication of the hundreds of musicians, dancers, and storytellers who are preserving the traditions of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. These traditions involve not only the hand-clapping, toe-tapping rhythms of Bluegrass, the style and stories of century-old ballads, the high energy of clogging, the elegance of Big Circle Mountain Smooth Dance, the fun and entertainment of storytelling, but also include an awareness of the hardships and trials that have brought us to this place and time.
This 95th Mountain Dance and Folk Festival® has been made possible through the generosity of our music community volunteering their time and talent to preserve and promote the Southern Appalachian music, dance and storytelling heritage.
A listing of performers who volunteer their time and talent to make our events possible can be found on Our Performers page. Please visit their websites and support their generosity by purchasing music, merchandise, making a contribution to virtual tip jars where available or just to tell them you enjoyed their performance. Our artists especially need our support during these difficult times.
The Mountain Dance and Folk Festival was founded by Bascom Lamar Lunsford as a means for people to share and understand the beauty and dignity of the Southern Appalachian music and dance traditions that have been handed down through generations in western North Carolina. He saw the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival grow to be the oldest gathering of its kind in the nation and it continues in this way, a platform for the talented of the high country lying between the Great Smoky and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Since 1928, the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival has served a crucial role in raising awareness and understanding of the vitality and importance of Southern Appalachian culture throughout the region, nation and world. Bascom Lunsford’s mission was to present the finest of the Appalachian ballad singers, string bands and square dance teams for education and entertainment. The songs and dances shared at this event echo centuries of Scottish, English, Irish, Cherokee and African heritage found in the valleys and coves between the Great Smokies and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Lunsford’s was the first dubbed a folk festival, and he later consulted with many communities across the country interested in organizing similar festivals.



Are you ready to be part of the 95th Mountain Dance and Folk Festival®? On August 4, 5, 6, 2022, a different show will be presented live on stage each evening allowing you to appreciate the talent and dedication of the hundreds of musicians, dancers, and storytellers who are preserving the traditions of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. These traditions involve not only the hand-clapping, toe-tapping rhythms of Bluegrass, the style and stories of century-old ballads, the high energy of clogging, the elegance of Big Circle Mountain Smooth Dance, the fun and entertainment of storytelling, but also include an awareness of the hardships and trials that have brought us to this place and time.
This 95th Mountain Dance and Folk Festival® has been made possible through the generosity of our music community volunteering their time and talent to preserve and promote the Southern Appalachian music, dance and storytelling heritage.
A listing of performers who volunteer their time and talent to make our events possible can be found on Our Performers page. Please visit their websites and support their generosity by purchasing music, merchandise, making a contribution to virtual tip jars where available or just to tell them you enjoyed their performance. Our artists especially need our support during these difficult times.
The Mountain Dance and Folk Festival was founded by Bascom Lamar Lunsford as a means for people to share and understand the beauty and dignity of the Southern Appalachian music and dance traditions that have been handed down through generations in western North Carolina. He saw the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival grow to be the oldest gathering of its kind in the nation and it continues in this way, a platform for the talented of the high country lying between the Great Smoky and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Since 1928, the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival has served a crucial role in raising awareness and understanding of the vitality and importance of Southern Appalachian culture throughout the region, nation and world. Bascom Lunsford’s mission was to present the finest of the Appalachian ballad singers, string bands and square dance teams for education and entertainment. The songs and dances shared at this event echo centuries of Scottish, English, Irish, Cherokee and African heritage found in the valleys and coves between the Great Smokies and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Lunsford’s was the first dubbed a folk festival, and he later consulted with many communities across the country interested in organizing similar festivals.
Join us in our new monthly social swing event on the 1st Saturdays of every month, The
music, open vintage space and wood floors and is guaranteed to have you dancing East Coast and/or Lindy all night long, A free
lesson is offered to kick things off and will include a different combination of moves each time, No partner or rhythm needed and
dress is casual, $10 for lesson and/or social dance.
Downtown Asheville invites you to a night of Karaoke & great drinks until 2am every Tuesday! Hosted by Glam DJ Ganymede, the night is always hilarious and fun… oh and she WILL sing along with you so come prepared to have a great time and laugh a lot!
The club opens at 7pm, Karaoke starts at 9pm, a little later when it follows Drag Bingo on certain nights. Full bar, comfy chairs & booth, and there is no cover charge.
No cover 21+

Are you ready to get down with your StarTribe…and Mikaya playing live on the 22 speaker StarTribe sound system…and at the coolest venue in the southeast?
Hooray for such a rare opportunity to do what we love most…and right here at the premier location in Asheville!
- Be at Pack Square by 6:30PM for the opening ceremony!
- StarTribe dances are drug and alcohol free.
- Free attendance for kids 12 & under.
- Bring water!
- And reserve your space early!
Bio:
Mikaya Swabb, founder of Dance Church Maui, uses a spectrum of musical genres to deepen somatic embodiment through movement, breath and presence. He’s also a well-known sound healer that plays the gong, Tibetan singing bowl, Native American flute, N’goni, hand drum, and other sacred sound healing instruments.
The StarTribe Vision:
For thousands of years, countless cultures all over the world have danced for the purpose of community and self improvement, making dance of this kind an invaluable part of life.
The StarTribe ecstatic dances, with musicians like Mikaya, fulfill a passion for dance within the natural outdoor elements and a tight-knit community. StarTribe believes that dance within this energetic, high-minded container is among the most consciousness enhancing activities we can do for ourselves.
In much of the Western world, however, the scope of dance has become narrow and limited with the theme often being of noisy, unnatural nightclubs and bars which may not exactly be empowering, relative to what’s possible.
But there’s a revival of late towards more meaningful dance – dance that takes place in special outdoor settings and within a real sense of community, much like it was for millennia. This is where to find your tribe – StarTribe.
Thousands of people have participated in StarTribe, and for the real spirit of dance. There’s something especially moving and powerful about an entire community of people coming together for this experience, and YOU are warmly invited.
StarTribe is a 501c3 non-profit dedicated to community transformation. That includes YOU.
The Street Dances have been a tradition for over 100 years in Downtown Hendersonville! They began in 1918, at the end of World War I, when the city welcomed home its soldiers from the War by celebrating in the streets. The Street Dances feature bluegrass music, square dancing and demonstrations of clogging, a traditional southern Appalachian style of dance.
Enjoy the fresh air, bring a chair and delight in the one-of-a-kind experience you’ll get from this fun event!
This week, enjoy the music of Hightop Mountain Harmony, a four-piece band that plays a mix of bluegrass, country and gospel music. This week’s clogging performance will be the Southern Connection Cloggers!
In case of inclement weather, the concert will be postponed until 8pm. If the weather does not improve by 8 pm the performance will be canceled.
This Concert Series is sponsored by Burger King, Kathy Watkins of Preferred Realty, Firehouse Subs, Blue Ridge Hospitality and Mast General. This event is hosted by the Henderson County Tourism Development Authority.
Stand Up Comedy is back in the Asheville Pizza Gameroom with the hottest comics in town. Hosted by Cody Hughes, featuring Petey Smith McDowell, Mario T & Jess Cooley
Comedy Open Mic sign up at door, free entry & pizza 3-5m
Contact Michele at [email protected] for more info
Stand Up Comedy is back in the Asheville Pizza Gameroom with the hottest comics in town. Hosted by Cody Hughes, featuring Petey Smith McDowell, Mario T & Jess Cooley
8p, $13
Comedy Open Mic sign up at door, performers get free entry & pizza 3-5m
contact Michele at [email protected] for more info
Beginner’s workshop lesson at 7:30 P.M., then 8-11 P.M. Contra Dance with Country Waltzing at the break and the final dance. This is a partner dance but it’s not necessary to come with a partner. We have different live bands and callers.

The Hot Girls’ End of Summer Report
Friday August 26
The Orange Peel
101 Biltmore Ave, Downtown Asheville
8p, doors at 7p • fully seated show
Standup Comedy Show
Featuring the HOTTEST and FUNNIEST female identifying comedians from around the region!
Hosted by Morgan Bost
Featuring Lace Larrabee who was recently on NBC’s America’s Got Talent with yesses from all the judges. This actress, comedian and podcaster is best known for “Queen America,” “Punchline” and “Flophouse.” with Hilliary Begley, fresh off her European tour, best known for Dumplin’ on Netflix and Amazon Prime. plus Moira Goree, Becca Steinhoff and more great regional comedians
Show: 8pm | Doors: 7pm
$17 – $20
The Hot Girls’ End of Summer Report
Friday August 26 at The Orange Peel
101 Biltmore Ave, in Downtown Asheville
8p, doors at 7p • fully seated show
You wont want to miss this Standup Comedy Show as the HOTTEST and FUNNIEST comedians from around the region get back in town to give us their Hot Girl End off Summer report!
Featuring Lace Larrabee who was recently on NBC’s America’s Got Talent with yesses from all the judges. This actress, comedian and podcaster is best known for “Queen America,” “Punchline” and “Flophouse.” with Hilliary Begley, fresh off her European tour, best known for Dumplin’ on Netflix and Amazon Prime.
plus Moira Goree, Becca Steinhoff and more great regional comedians you don’t want to miss this HOT evening out!!
Hosted by the amazing Morgan Bost
Free Line Dance class at 5:30 | Concert from 6:30–8:30pm, From May through
October, enjoy a free biweekly concert at Firehouse Subs complete with dancing and a car show from Carolina Mountain Car
Club, No smoking, coolers or pets, On raining evenings call for cancelation info, Free, Firehouse Subs, Hendersonville, 828-697-
8344

For Beginners to Advanced Dancers
The Asheville Performing Arts Academy partners with the Carpenter Academy of Irish Dance. Classes range from beginners to competition dancers.
We have a few important changes to our schedule this year (2022). Please note that your dancer’s class section must be approved by Ms. Heather. In order to keep class sizes small, we are dividing up classes by the following levels:
FALL SEMESTER DATES
- Start: Monday, September 12th
- End: Wednesday, December 14th
- No Classes: December 5th & 7th
- Workshops: October 1st & 2nd,
November 5th & 6th
BEGINNERS
- Beginner Class: Monday – 5:00pm to 5:45pm
- Advanced Beginner/New Novice Soft Shoe: Monday – 5:45pm to 7:00pm
- Advanced Beginner/New Novice Hard Shoe: Wednesday – 5:45pm to 7:00pm
INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED
- Monday – 6:00pm to 7:30pm
- Wednesday – 6:00pm to 7:30pm
OIREACHTAS/COMPETITIVE
- Dancers will be asked to stay late some class periods for extra time on their dances
ADULT
- Please contact the studio for more information
9.01. 22 The Orange Peel’s Comedy Basement PULPWhat: Stand up Comedy at The Orange Peel’s Pulp Lounge
When: Thursday 9.01.22.
8p-11p, doors at 7:30p
Where: The Orange Peel’s Comedy Basement, Pulp Lounge
103 Hilliard Ave, Downtown Asheville
Tickets: $13 (available at door or https://theorangepeel.net/…/slice-of-life-comedy-open…/e)
Cocktails, taps & menu available while you laugh the night away to some of the area’s best Stand Up Comics in a ridiculously fun adult environment!! .
Open mic comics signup at door get 3-5m. [Free entry for performing comics, free snacks at comics table]
[Music before show provided by Buzz Radio Asheville, “All Asheville Music & Comedy, All the Time.”]
Stand up comedy featuring Mario Trevzo with special guest James Harrod. Hosted by Cody Hughes
Mario Trevizo
Originally from the suburbs of Maryland, Mario has made a home for himself with stand up comedy in Asheville, North Carolina. His style focuses on the awkward moments that come with being a non Spanish speaking Mexican living in the south. Beyond hosting various events around town, he is mainly known for his animated performances, quirky faces, and crying randomly at movies.
James Harrod
James is a stand up comedian originally from Raleigh now living in Asheville, North Carolina. In addition to hosting the Comedy Freakshow every Tuesday night at The Odditorium, he also performs around the east coast opening for comedians like Sean Patton, Yedoye Travis, Michael Palascak, Brandie Posey and many more. Out of all the comics in his scene he was voted most needy and desperate for compliments.
Host Cody Hughes
Cody is a comedian who cut his teeth in Chicago and Atlanta. He is now based out of West North Carolina and tours the Southeast. He has opened for Lewis Black, John Oliver and Maria Bamford among others and hosts the regular Slice of Life Comedy shows at The Orange Peel’s Pulp Lounge
We will also be signing people up for the Sweet Sweepstakes for Jubilee Alternative Shelter for Women, please donate items or tix ar sliceoflifecomedy.com or get tix at: https://go.eventgroovefundraising.com/jams/

For Beginners to Advanced Dancers
The Asheville Performing Arts Academy partners with the Carpenter Academy of Irish Dance. Classes range from beginners to competition dancers.
We have a few important changes to our schedule this year (2022). Please note that your dancer’s class section must be approved by Ms. Heather. In order to keep class sizes small, we are dividing up classes by the following levels:
FALL SEMESTER DATES
- Start: Monday, September 12th
- End: Wednesday, December 14th
- No Classes: December 5th & 7th
- Workshops: October 1st & 2nd,
November 5th & 6th
BEGINNERS
- Beginner Class: Monday – 5:00pm to 5:45pm
- Advanced Beginner/New Novice Soft Shoe: Monday – 5:45pm to 7:00pm
- Advanced Beginner/New Novice Hard Shoe: Wednesday – 5:45pm to 7:00pm
INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED
- Monday – 6:00pm to 7:30pm
- Wednesday – 6:00pm to 7:30pm
OIREACHTAS/COMPETITIVE
- Dancers will be asked to stay late some class periods for extra time on their dances
ADULT
- Please contact the studio for more information

Celebration and education of Blue Ridge Mountain culture, arts, & nature.
jacksonartsmarket.com for more information

For Beginners to Advanced Dancers
The Asheville Performing Arts Academy partners with the Carpenter Academy of Irish Dance. Classes range from beginners to competition dancers.
We have a few important changes to our schedule this year (2022). Please note that your dancer’s class section must be approved by Ms. Heather. In order to keep class sizes small, we are dividing up classes by the following levels:
FALL SEMESTER DATES
- Start: Monday, September 12th
- End: Wednesday, December 14th
- No Classes: December 5th & 7th
- Workshops: October 1st & 2nd,
November 5th & 6th
BEGINNERS
- Beginner Class: Monday – 5:00pm to 5:45pm
- Advanced Beginner/New Novice Soft Shoe: Monday – 5:45pm to 7:00pm
- Advanced Beginner/New Novice Hard Shoe: Wednesday – 5:45pm to 7:00pm
INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED
- Monday – 6:00pm to 7:30pm
- Wednesday – 6:00pm to 7:30pm
OIREACHTAS/COMPETITIVE
- Dancers will be asked to stay late some class periods for extra time on their dances
ADULT
- Please contact the studio for more information
A night of music and art! Experimental collage artist & accomplished guitarist Tom Johanson will exhibit repurposed & altered collages and mandalas; Tom will then play music influenced by folk flamenco jazz rock and psychedelic surf rock pop!
Taumi Johanson “paints” with paper, combining imagery and messages from print media into intricate mystical and personal compositions. As of late, he’s been channeling themes like Utopian landscapes and fairy realms, real world scenes with odd characters, the mystical woman, alien goddesses, as well as Dystopian and Paleolithic themes due to the regressive politics of the moment, and heroic themes of good, struggling with darkness. Most of his materials and frames have been found, recovered, or “thrift-stored”.
Johanson has written and recorded 100 songs on his Apple computer and created 500 unique collage album covers for them, and some 50 colored ink covers as well.
Johanson began his musical career in the early 60s playing guitar with Jimi Hendrix, Paul Butterfield, Jose Feliciano, Richie Havens, and many other inhabitants of the East Village in NYC. His band, The Fugitives, was the first rock band signed to Columbia Records, and they had several hits on the charts in NY in the 1960s.
His influences stretch out from the fifties, Little Richard, Elvis, Moody Blues, Beatles, Pink Floyd, The Doors, Santana, Van Halen, and many more. Also jazz and blues artists, like Coltrane, The Blues Project, Charlie Mingus, Paul Butterfield, and dozens of others since, like Jason Mraz.
Johanson lives in Scenic Resorts in East Asheville with his wife Hannah and his cat Lucky.
Doors open at 5:30. Open donation. Exhibits through Sept. 30
Join us in our new monthly social swing event on the 1st Saturdays of every month, The
music, open vintage space and wood floors and is guaranteed to have you dancing East Coast and/or Lindy all night long, A free
lesson is offered to kick things off and will include a different combination of moves each time, No partner or rhythm needed and
dress is casual, $10 for lesson and/or social dance.

For Beginners to Advanced Dancers
The Asheville Performing Arts Academy partners with the Carpenter Academy of Irish Dance. Classes range from beginners to competition dancers.
We have a few important changes to our schedule this year (2022). Please note that your dancer’s class section must be approved by Ms. Heather. In order to keep class sizes small, we are dividing up classes by the following levels:
FALL SEMESTER DATES
- Start: Monday, September 12th
- End: Wednesday, December 14th
- No Classes: December 5th & 7th
- Workshops: October 1st & 2nd,
November 5th & 6th
BEGINNERS
- Beginner Class: Monday – 5:00pm to 5:45pm
- Advanced Beginner/New Novice Soft Shoe: Monday – 5:45pm to 7:00pm
- Advanced Beginner/New Novice Hard Shoe: Wednesday – 5:45pm to 7:00pm
INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED
- Monday – 6:00pm to 7:30pm
- Wednesday – 6:00pm to 7:30pm
OIREACHTAS/COMPETITIVE
- Dancers will be asked to stay late some class periods for extra time on their dances
ADULT
- Please contact the studio for more information

Asheville’s Static Age Records will host Shared Walls ATX along with local bands: The Discs and John Kirby and the New Seniors. Shared Walls, Austin based garage band will be touring the southeast from 8/18 to 9/9 to promote their new album. The band is set to release new music by August 2022. Listeners can find music, merch, and more information through Shared Walls Spotify or the RIP Records Bandcamp (Tallahassee).

For Beginners to Advanced Dancers
The Asheville Performing Arts Academy partners with the Carpenter Academy of Irish Dance. Classes range from beginners to competition dancers.
We have a few important changes to our schedule this year (2022). Please note that your dancer’s class section must be approved by Ms. Heather. In order to keep class sizes small, we are dividing up classes by the following levels:
FALL SEMESTER DATES
- Start: Monday, September 12th
- End: Wednesday, December 14th
- No Classes: December 5th & 7th
- Workshops: October 1st & 2nd,
November 5th & 6th
BEGINNERS
- Beginner Class: Monday – 5:00pm to 5:45pm
- Advanced Beginner/New Novice Soft Shoe: Monday – 5:45pm to 7:00pm
- Advanced Beginner/New Novice Hard Shoe: Wednesday – 5:45pm to 7:00pm
INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED
- Monday – 6:00pm to 7:30pm
- Wednesday – 6:00pm to 7:30pm
OIREACHTAS/COMPETITIVE
- Dancers will be asked to stay late some class periods for extra time on their dances
ADULT
- Please contact the studio for more information

For Beginners to Advanced Dancers
The Asheville Performing Arts Academy partners with the Carpenter Academy of Irish Dance. Classes range from beginners to competition dancers.
We have a few important changes to our schedule this year (2022). Please note that your dancer’s class section must be approved by Ms. Heather. In order to keep class sizes small, we are dividing up classes by the following levels:
FALL SEMESTER DATES
- Start: Monday, September 12th
- End: Wednesday, December 14th
- No Classes: December 5th & 7th
- Workshops: October 1st & 2nd,
November 5th & 6th
BEGINNERS
- Beginner Class: Monday – 5:00pm to 5:45pm
- Advanced Beginner/New Novice Soft Shoe: Monday – 5:45pm to 7:00pm
- Advanced Beginner/New Novice Hard Shoe: Wednesday – 5:45pm to 7:00pm
INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED
- Monday – 6:00pm to 7:30pm
- Wednesday – 6:00pm to 7:30pm
OIREACHTAS/COMPETITIVE
- Dancers will be asked to stay late some class periods for extra time on their dances
ADULT
- Please contact the studio for more information

For Beginners to Advanced Dancers
The Asheville Performing Arts Academy partners with the Carpenter Academy of Irish Dance. Classes range from beginners to competition dancers.
We have a few important changes to our schedule this year (2022). Please note that your dancer’s class section must be approved by Ms. Heather. In order to keep class sizes small, we are dividing up classes by the following levels:
FALL SEMESTER DATES
- Start: Monday, September 12th
- End: Wednesday, December 14th
- No Classes: December 5th & 7th
- Workshops: October 1st & 2nd,
November 5th & 6th
BEGINNERS
- Beginner Class: Monday – 5:00pm to 5:45pm
- Advanced Beginner/New Novice Soft Shoe: Monday – 5:45pm to 7:00pm
- Advanced Beginner/New Novice Hard Shoe: Wednesday – 5:45pm to 7:00pm
INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED
- Monday – 6:00pm to 7:30pm
- Wednesday – 6:00pm to 7:30pm
OIREACHTAS/COMPETITIVE
- Dancers will be asked to stay late some class periods for extra time on their dances
ADULT
- Please contact the studio for more information
Come check out for yourself the popular West Coast Swing dance style that can be done to a
wide variety of music, including pop, country, blues, and contemporary music, come at 7pm for a group classes: intermediate
classes with Pflumm and Alain Rogozhin and beginner classes with Rachel Harris and Tola Sun, Followed by a social dance at
8pm, Dress is casual and no partner is needed, BYO wine or beer,

For Beginners to Advanced Dancers
The Asheville Performing Arts Academy partners with the Carpenter Academy of Irish Dance. Classes range from beginners to competition dancers.
We have a few important changes to our schedule this year (2022). Please note that your dancer’s class section must be approved by Ms. Heather. In order to keep class sizes small, we are dividing up classes by the following levels:
FALL SEMESTER DATES
- Start: Monday, September 12th
- End: Wednesday, December 14th
- No Classes: December 5th & 7th
- Workshops: October 1st & 2nd,
November 5th & 6th
BEGINNERS
- Beginner Class: Monday – 5:00pm to 5:45pm
- Advanced Beginner/New Novice Soft Shoe: Monday – 5:45pm to 7:00pm
- Advanced Beginner/New Novice Hard Shoe: Wednesday – 5:45pm to 7:00pm
INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED
- Monday – 6:00pm to 7:30pm
- Wednesday – 6:00pm to 7:30pm
OIREACHTAS/COMPETITIVE
- Dancers will be asked to stay late some class periods for extra time on their dances
ADULT
- Please contact the studio for more information
