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.
The exhibit features thought-provoking photos taken by students, faculty, and staff while traveling abroad.
Accessibility
Find accessibility information for campus buildings at maps.unca.edu. For accessibility questions or to request event accommodations, please contact [email protected] or 828.250.3832.
Visitor Parking
Visitors must have a permit to park on campus — please visit the Transportation website to register.
| Lights Out! Asheville is a program that can benefit birds and also save energy and money. Mayor Manheimer recently signed a proclamation that designates March-May and September-November as “Migratory Bird Awareness Months,” and has entrusted the Blue Ridge Audubon Chapter and the Coalition for a Bird-Friendly Asheville to create a Lights Out program that is supported by the Asheville residential and business community.
The Coalition for a Bird-Friendly Asheville, in partnership with the Blue Ridge Audubon Chapter, and many local environmental organizations, is asking you to participate in Lights Out! Asheville. By doing so, you will reduce light pollution that disrupts bird migration and negatively impacts human and non-human animal health while also reducing your energy consumption. What you can do: From Midnight-6AM, March-May and September-November, Turn off exterior decorative lighting By pledging to participate in Asheville’s Lights Out! program, you will be joining a national Lights Out network comprised of over 40 cities! Together, we can help provide safe passage for our avian migratory friends. |
If you’re behind on your water bill or afraid your water might get cut off, a new resource might be able to help you. On Jan. 4, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners approved more than $450,000 in federal funding for the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP). The initiative is aimed at preventing water disconnections and helping reconnect drinking and wastewater services.
The LIHWAP will be administered by Buncombe County-based Eblen Charities. The nonprofit will make payments directly to utilities on behalf of qualifying households. The program is slated to run through Sept. 30, 2023 or until funds are exhausted.
Eligibility requirements
Households that currently receive Food and Nutrition Services (FNS), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Work First services, or those that received Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) services from Oct. 1, 2020-Sept. 30, 2021, are automatically eligible to receive this benefit if their water services have been cut off or are in danger of being cut off.
For additional eligibility information or to apply, please contact Eblen Charities at (828) 255-3066.
OUTPACE HUNGER
FEED PEOPLE AND YOUR PASSION!
What Is Outpace Hunger?
Looking for a way to make a real impact this spring and summer? Feed people while pursuing your passion through Outpace Hunger, an action-based fundraising campaign that turns a favorite activity into meals!
For decades, MANNA FoodBank has been working to outpace hunger and food insecurity all across 16 counties of Western North Carolina, including the Qualla Boundary. The 2022 campaign runs May 1 through September 30, and we invite you join the growing community of folks who are Outpacing Hunger alongside of us!
How It Works
Participating in Outpace Hunger is easy!
You decide your level of commitment, so every participant can create their own path to helping provide food to our community. Participants also decide how, when, and where they complete their goal, any time now through the campaign end on September 30.
Outpace Hunger participants:
(1) Register to be a part of MANNA’s Outpace Hunger community. The $20 registration fee includes a t-shirt for you and provides 80 MEALS for neighbors facing food insecurity in WNC.
(2) Choose a favorite activity (run, walk, roll, stroll, hike, bike, paddle, climb, float, skate, golf, and everything in between!) to complete individually, or as a family/group/team.
(3) Set a goal to reach. This can be an activity-related goal, a fundraising goal, or both.
(4) Invite friends and family to support your fundraising efforts through your own, personalized Outpace Hunger webpage.
Whether running a 5K, walking your neighborhood, hiking the Mountains to Sea trail, or paddling the French Broad River, Outpace Hunger participants play a vital part in ensuring our WNC neighbors have access to healthy food.
READY TO OUTPACE HUNGER WITH US?
ALREADY AN OUTPACE HUNGER PARTICIPANT?
NEED MORE INFORMATION?
It’s almost Mind Your Plastic May, and this year we’re challenging you to meet your plastic waste face-to-face. Join the Race2Reduce by pledging to decrease your plastic use for the entire month of May. Sign up to receive plastic tips, volunteer opportunities, and educational materials featuring local Asheville businesses.
How it works: Earn points to win a $75, $50, or $25 gift certificate to Ware, a local sustainability and refill shop in downtown Asheville.
5pts: Like or share a MYPM Instagram or Facebook post
10pts: Post (and tag us) or email us a video/photo of you using one of our plastic tips
15pts: Answer our Friday Trivia question
20pts: Post (and tag us) or email us a video/photo of you using one of our plastic tips
25pts: Lead your own trash cleanup with GreenWorks’ supplies
Last time we ran this contest, over 400 people stepped up, and in 30 days we were able to divert an estimated 6,750 lbs of trash from the landfill
Once you start seeing all the plastics you use, you can’t unsee it.
You reach for your chips, your tube of toothpaste, or your plastic sandwich bags, and feel guilty that all that packaging will spend the rest of time in the landfill.
Us too.
Plastic is super light, but the average person throws away more than 110 lbs of it each year – the equivalent of almost 9,100 plastic soda bottles.
It’s too much. And we decided it doesn’t have to be that way.
We just have to get creative.
When we first started tracking our plastic waste, we challenged ourselves:
How little could we use?
Replacing plastic drink bottles with a reusable bottle was simple.
Keeping reusable shopping bags in the car to grab on the way into the store was also easy.
What’s the next level?
Join our Race2Reduce to find out!
Race2Reduce is your pledge to decrease your plastic use for the entire month of May.
Once you sign up HERE we will send you plastic tips, volunteer opportunities, and educational materials featuring local Asheville businesses!
But you won’t do it alone.
You’re joining a whole community of action takers opening their minds and kitchen pantries to plastic alternatives.
Plus there’s a little friendly competition…
How it works: Earn points to win a $75, $50, or $25 gift certificate to Ware, a local sustainability and refill shop in downtown Asheville.
5pts: Like or share a MYPM Instagram or Facebook post
10pts: Post (and tag us) or email us a video/photo of you using one of our plastic tips
15pts: Answer our Friday Trivia question
20pts: Post (and tag us) or email us a video/photo of you using one of our plastic tips
25pts: Lead your own trash clean up with GreenWorks’ supplies
Enter to win by pledging to reduce your plastic here.
(*Be sure to check the box that asks if you want to be in the running for prizes.)
Lots of plastics aren’t recyclable, and when we throw them “away,” they only go as far as the Buncombe County landfill off Panther Branch Road in Alexander.
So here’s the thing:
If you want to get in shape, no one else can do your push-ups for you.
If you want to feel awesome, no one else can choose your car dance song for you.
And if you want to protect your home and health from plastic pollution, no one else can choose to consume less plastic for you.
But we CAN do it together.
Over 400 residents participated in the last Mind Your Plastic May plastic reduction challenge – and together we diverted 6,750 lbs of trash from the landfill in just 30 days.
Will you help us break that record this year? Join here.
We’re proud that so many of our fellow Ashevillians are working to end their reliance on plastic! Many thanks to the businesses and restaurants who supported this effort, and are working hard to reduce their own plastic waste. Mind Your Plastic May 2022 is presented for the residents of the City of Asheville in partnership with the City of Asheville. #goingplasticfree.
Questions? Give us a shout at: [email protected]
P.S. It’s Mind Your Plastic May, which means we’re taking action to reduce plastic all month long!
Check out all our events and activities here: ashevillegreenworks.org/mind-your-plastic-may
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FITZ & THE TANTRUMS To celebrate the long weekend we’re offering tickets for $15 off to our next big outdoor show! Use code RABBITMDW during checkout to take advantage of this offer. Offer runs until Monday, May 30 at 5pm. |
NC State Parks’ Year of the Tree continues with a celebration of spring trees. Break out your camera and capture the transformation of trees from winter to spring as they show off their gorgeous blooms throughout the next few months. You may even win a prize for your efforts!
GREAT PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED TO 3 WINNING ENTRIES
1st Prize: The winning photo will be our Facebook cover photo for two weeks, and the photographer will receive two annual passes to Chimney Rock State Park, two boat tour tickets from Lake Lure Tours, and dinner for two at the Old Rock Café.
2nd Prize: After the first place photo, the second place photo will be our Facebook cover photo for one week. The photographer will receive two annual passes to Chimney Rock State Park and dinner for two at the Old Rock Café.
3rd Prize: The third place photographer will receive two adult day passes (or one family pack of day passes) to Chimney Rock State Park and dinner for two at the Old Rock Café.
CONTEST RULES:
- There is no fee to enter the contest. All photographs must be taken of Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park only in areas accessible to guests between April 1, 2022 – May 31, 2022.
The contest is open to amateur and professional photographers. - Up to three photos per person can be submitted via any of the following ways to be eligible to win:
- Facebook: First, like the Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park page. Next, send us a private message including your contact information specified in rule #3.
- E-mail: If you don’t have access to social media, you may email your digital photo with your contact information specified in rule #3 to [email protected].
- Every entry should be clearly labeled with the photographer’s name, city & state, a brief photo caption, an email address and the best phone number to reach you.
- Photos should be available at a minimum resolution of 1200 x 1600 pixels (1 MB minimum) to be eligible to win. Photos taken via smart phones, tablets and other mobile devices are welcome if they meet minimum requirements.
- For entries showing human faces, you must list their name(s) and have written permission from any photographed person(s) to use their image.
- Entries should reflect the photographer’s interpretation of the theme. Emphasis will be placed on quality, composition and creativity. All entries may be used in promotions of Chimney Rock and park-related activities.
- Digital images can be optimized but not dramatically altered with photo editing software. Black and white photographs are welcome.
- Finalists will be chosen by Chimney Rock staff and the winner will be voted on by the public. Decisions regarding winners are final.
Winners will be notified personally and announced on Chimney Rock’s social media. For more information, call 1-828-625-9611, ext. 1812 or email us at [email protected].
The blood from BERC Network blood banks is being sent to South Texas Blood and Tissue, the steward of the local blood supply in that part of Texas. TBC has more blood in reserve to send if called upon again. In order to help other communities, the local blood supply must be stable. It’s important to have an available day-to-day blood supply on the shelves in the event of any emergencies – locally or BERC-assisted – when blood and time are critical. The community is urged to donate blood now at any TBC center or bloodmobile.
It can be ruff out there for our canine companions, but we have pawsitively great news. Buncombe County’s first-ever dog park is now open at our Sports Park in Candler. While this is a soft open, the park features two fenced-in play areas; one for large dogs and one for smaller pups. “We do have plans to add other amenities and water fountains,” exclaims Recreation Services Program Coordinator Mac Stanley. “People are very excited about this new opportunity. Since it was announced, we have gotten letters of support as well as many emails questioning when will the project be completed.”
So join us in a round of apaws as we celebrate the opening of this new venue for hot dogs and cool people. “It’s an amazing place to bring your dog to run free without a leash and interact with other dogs,” says Stanley. “One of my favorite aspects of this new dog park is being able to cultivate a community. Hopefully, this dog park will be instrumental in connecting dogs as well as people within the community.” Paw-yeah, sounds great.
Location: Buncombe County Sports Park, 58 Apac Circle
Hours of operation: Monday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. (same as the Sports Park)
Dog park drools rules
Dogs must be:
- On a leash at all times until safely in the fenced-in dog park area
- Vaccinated, licensed, and in good health
- At least four months old to enter
- Wearing a collar with ID tags
- Under voice control of their human and not aggressive
Humans must:
- Be with dogs at all times
- Remove dogs at first sign of aggression
- Pick up poop and dispose of it in receptacles provided
- Be liable for any and all injuries caused by their dogs
Not Allowed:
- Pronged, spike or choke collars
- Aggressive dogs, aggressive humans, or dogs in heat
- Unsupervised children 12 years of age or younger
The WNC Farmers Market is the premier destination for buying and selling the region’s best agriculture products directly from farmers & food producers to household & wholesale customers in an environment that celebrates the region’s diverse culture, food & heritage.
House of Operation:
WNC Farmers Market: 24/7, 361 days a year market access for farmers
Office: Monday- Friday, 8am-5pm
Market Shops: 7 days a week, 8 am-5 pm
Wholesale and Truck Sheds: 7 days a week
Roses will be on display from Western North Carolina’s top rosarians, along with collections from local gardens including: the Biltmore Estate, the Buncombe County Cooperative Extension Rose Garden, and the Red Cross Rose Garden.
For more information visit the Asheville Blue Ridge Rose Society website or contact Dianne Sneath, ABRRS Rose Exhibit Chairperson, at [email protected]
Asheville Blue Ridge Rose Society
The Asheville Blue Ridge Rose Society is part of the Carolina District of the American Rose Society. We are an educational, non-profit organization dedicated to the cultivation of roses in the Asheville area and Southeastern United States. The Asheville Blue Ridge Rose Society has kept rose culture alive by its intent of growing and showing the best of the best roses for the enjoyment of the Asheville Community. This year we are thrilled to celebrate the 130th Anniversary of The American Rose Society, by offering this rose exhibition to the public.
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Buncombe County’s newly consolidated 911 Call Center is looking to complete membership of its Communications Steering Committee (CSC) with a community member at-large. As part of the agreement of the consolidation, the CSC will meet at least quarterly to review performance and compliance data and to consider and resolve questions, issues, and disputes relating to 911 call center operations.
The CSC membership includes:
- Buncombe County Director for 911 Communications
- Sheriff or designee
- Chief of Asheville Police Department or designee
- Asheville Fire Chief or designee
- Buncombe County Management designee
- A representative from among other municipalities’ law enforcement agencies dispatched through the 911 Call Center
- A representative from among other municipal and County fire departments dispatched through the 911 Call Center
- One community member at-large.
If you would like to be considered for the community member at-large position on the CSC, please answer the below questions and follow the instructions for submitting them.
Application Questions
Name:
Contact Information (phone and/or email):
1) Briefly, explain why you want to be a part of the Communications Steering Committee.
2) How will your life experience and unique perspective help us in regard to performance and compliance data and resolving questions, issues, and disputes relating to 911 call center operations? Please note if you are bilingual.
3) What do you consider the most pressing challenge for public safety communications (911)?
4) Where do you live?
- Asheville City
- South Buncombe (such as Arden/Avery’s Creek/Royal Pines)
- North Buncombe (such as Woodfin/Weaverville/Barnardsville)
- East Buncombe (such as Swannanoa/Black Mountain/Montreat)
- West Buncombe (such as Candler/Leicester)
5) Have you lived in Buncombe County for 1 year or more? Yes or No
Submit your application questions by email or in person to Jennifer Aviles by May 31, 2022, to [email protected] or 200 College St., Third Floor, Asheville NC 28801. If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Aviles at (828) 250-4089.
We recently wrapped up our 21-Day Stand Against Racism Challenge in April. The conversation moves forward with continuing the challenge because the work is far from over! As we became aware of the leaked Supreme Court draft opinion to overturn Roe v. Wade, it is again evident that the systems in place that already harm young women of color the most can be regressed even more by those with power today. In these crucial moments and always, knowledge is a way to take back power.
WE CHALLENGE YOU TO…
2 mins
Watch Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice shares The History of Reproductive Justice (RJ), a powerful video clearly communicating the definition of RJ, watch here.
10 mins
Check out Planned Parenthood’s article, Roe v. Wade at Risk: Nationwide Legal Abortion May Be a Thing of the Past. Access the article here.
13 mins
Consider this from NPR, which featured an article titled, Roe’s Legal Fate is Unclear. But Studies already Show Who’d Likely Be Hit the Hardest, read here.
42 mins
Listen. Parenting and Politics host Monica Simpson, a North Carolina Native and Executive Director of Sister Song. Sister Song is a Southern-based, national membership organization; our purpose is to build an effective network of individuals and organizations to improve institutional policies and systems that impact the reproductive lives of marginalized communities. Listen to the podcast here.
For more Continuing the Challenge resources click below:
What is the Stand Against Racism Challenge?
Many people are becoming newly aware of how systemic racism and violence are impacting people of color. Even if you are new to the conversation, that is OK. Our STand against racism challenge, formerly the 21 Day Challenge is designed to create dedicated time and space to build more effective social justice habits, particularly those dealing with issues of race, power, privilege, and leadership. Participants who sign up for the Challenge will receive daily tasks via email to help foster their understanding and awareness, with activities such as reading an article, listening to a podcast, or reflecting on personal experience. If you’ve already completed this challenge with us in the past please know that our challenge is designed to be taken multiple times by selecting different daily challenges in order to expand what you have previously learned. Follow this link for the resources.
Kick off you summer at the annual Garden Jubilee, Western North Carolina’s premiere lawn and garden show! This year, the show returns to Main Street, where craft and garden vendors will sell their wares from 9am-5pm each day. Plus, enjoy a day-long series of gardening presentations on Saturday, May 28th. Learn more about this event at https://visithendersonvillenc.org/garden-jubilee
Grindfest is BACK!
GrindFest is a free, 4-day festival that celebrates Black Business and entrepreneurship.
Grindfest is BACK! It is a free, 4-day event that celebrates the success of Black entrepreneurs + business owners in Asheville. A block-party style event will take place on 8 Rivers Arts Place! This includes a weekend full of music, games, live performance, food, local vendors + learning, employment and partnership opportunities. The goal of the festival is to highlight the progress made by people of color while also connecting folks in the community. A long weekend of fun and excitement
Over 30 sponsors will join together to celebrate this amazingly diverse and entertaining event. This year’s GRINDfest will showcase: ● World-renowned Slutty Vegan (Black, woman-owned vegan food truck recently featured in Essence Magazine) ● Curated Beer Garden by Highland Brewing ● Opportunity Tent featuring incentives, career development programs, grants, scholarships, and funding resources for businesses ● Food Trucks ● DJ Battle ● Poetry Slam ● Drag Show ● Outdoor Games ● Greater Asheville Cookoff (wings, chili, and BBQ categories); card games, and so much more!
The goal of the festival is to highlight the progress made by people of color while also connecting folks in the community. We will see you there! Let’s make HISTORY together!
South Asheville’s best yoga option! Dosha based yoga from an Ayurveda Health Counselor and Ayurveda Yoga Specialist!
Come as you are and bring a mat and a mask
About Kristin:
Kristin received her first 200-hour from Bodhi Yoga in Long Island, NY, and her second 200-hour from Yoga Madre in Sierra Madre, CA. She is currently working on her 300-hour program with Yoga Madre and also studying ParaYoga.
Kristin also runs a marketing and design studio that specializing in helping yoga teachers, coaches, healers, and solopreneurs create personal brands and websites that stand out in the crowd.
Off the mat you can find Kristin hiking with her husband, cooking amazing plant-based meals, and spending time with friends and family.
Fiber maven Lin Oglesby will be demonstrating both knitting and crocheting techniques she uses to create fiber wearables such as jackets, hats, and scarves. Lin will be on the front porch of the Moses Cone Manor. Visitors are encouraged to watch and ask questions while the demonstrators work and talk about their creative process!
Call ahead in the event of changes (828) 295-2049, or check our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/shcgmosescone for updates.
Featured Artists: Jude Stuecker (fiber) Erica Bailey (jewelry) Mary Dashiell (clay) Steve Miller (wood) Rex Redd (clay)
Floralia
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From April 29 through June 20, 2022, North Carolina Glass Center will present Floralia, an exhibition to celebrate the birth of Spring. In ancient Rome, the celebration of Flora, the goddess of flowering plants, included games and festivities. Our seasonal show will capture the beauty of new beginnings with glass vessels, botanical sculpture and mixed media, all with a nature theme.
All displayed art is for sale. The purchase of art from Floralia will support local artists and the nonprofit North Carolina Glass Center.
Open daily 10am-5pm. Closed Tuesdays. Free admission.
The Lake Lure Arts & Crafts Festival offers 90+ artisans, multiple food vendors, continuous entertainment and kids activities in Downtown Lake Lure.
Flat Rock Playhouse believes in the power of collaboration, community, and connection. Over the years, volunteers have made it possible for our production seasons to thrive and grow.
Volunteers are deeply valued team members that support the arts at Flat Rock Playhouse on a powerful and poignant level by:
Maintaining and developing our beautiful gardens and grounds
Welcoming or sending off actors at the airport
Guiding guests and supporting FRP staff members as parkers
Preparing food for college-age apprentices
Attending to patrons as ushers at each performance
As we return to a full season of live productions, we want YOU to be a part of the magic.
Volunteers support the arts at Flat Rock Playhouse through gifts of time and resources, and they have the incredible opportunity to peek behind-the-scenes, learn more about how our hand-crafted productions come together, and connect with artists, staff members, and fellow volunteers. We hope you’ll join the team at Flat Rock Playhouse this season as a part of our volunteer community, Supporting Players!
Know someone who might be interested? Feel free to forward this email to your friends and family!
To learn more about how to get involved, visit our website or contact us at [email protected].
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4th annual beer release Honig Gottin to raise funds for Pink Boots Society and women in beer.
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| Draped and Veiled: 20×24 Polaroid Photographs by Joyce Tenneson showcases Joyce Tenneson’s Transformations series, which she began in 1985 and engaged with through 2005. Transformations features partially or fully nude figures poetically presented; Tenneson’s photographs have always been interested in the magic of the human figure, contained within bodies of all ages and emotions in a broad range that are both vulnerable and bold. This exhibition features 12 large Polaroids from the poetic series. Draped and Veiled will be on view May 25–October 10, 2022. |
During the month of May, buy one entrée and get a free dessert at Brixx Wood Fired Pizza in Biltmore Park. Mention that you saw this offer in the Town Square Reminder email newsletter and enjoy warm, friendly service over scratch made wood fired fare either in the dining room or on the spacious patio.
