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.
From the writing team behind last year’s smash sensation The Dixie Swim Club. In this rollicking comedy, four friends have sworn to keep the promise they made on the night of their Senior Prom: to be in each other’s weddings, and hilarity ensues. If you’ve ever elbowed a stranger to catch a bride’s bouquet or have been forced to wear the world’s ugliest bridesmaid dress, this deliriously funny play by Jones Hope Wooten is definitely for you…and your dearly beloved.
Matinees: Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00PM
Evenings: Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30PM. Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00PM
Flat Rock Playhouse Mainstage
2661 Greenville Highway Flat Rock, NC 28731
Students at the Visual Arts Preschool at Roots + Wings School of Art and Design engage with pre-K education fundamentals through a dynamic, arts based curriculum. Literacy, numeracy, social skills, community building, cultural and environmental studies are approached through an art and design thinking lens, as students explore learning concepts experientially across multiple platforms.
The Roots + Wings Visual Arts Preschool ‘Best of 2018’ collection is a cross section of the diverse pre-K education program and includes investigations into art movements, community and culture, storytelling, and creative play.
The Biltmore Estate has been planning the largest exhibition in its historic gardens for almost a decade. And finally, last week, Chihuly at Biltmore opened with a mega installation of glass sculptures from the famous artist Dale Chihuly. Tens of thousands of glass pieces from all around the world reside in 14 locations around the Estate (which is the very first large-scale N.C. Chihuly installation).
The exhibition is up from now until Oct. 7th, free admission with a Biltmore day pass (and free for annual pass holders). Chihuly at Nightis a special, ongoing event where the glass sculptures are lit up, plus live music in the gardens + a wine bar. Tickets are $37.50 for kids + range from $65 – 75 for adults ($10 discount for pass holders).
Three new works were blown just for Biltmore, and 6 new compositions were put together.
Learn about embroidery, quilting, and sewing!
This exhibit showcases the work of three leading fiber artists who explore Western North Carolina’s mountains, meadows and marshes using fabrics and fibers. Their quilted wall art offers a link to familiar images of this region, echoing the Arboretum’s role of connecting people with plants. Through their diverse styles, construction methods and subject matter, artists Mary Stori, Judy Simmons and Kate Weston add a contemporary twist to the area’s rich and storied quilt-making tradition. Their exhibit features pieces of varying sizes, from large focal-point wall hangings to medium-sized wall art to small work suitable for tabletop display. All pieces are for sale, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting The North Carolina Arboretum Society.
About the Artists
Mary Stori
From her home in Clyde, N.C., Mary creates botanical and organic themed art quilts using artisian-made, hand-dyed cotton, linen, silk and rayon fabrics. She also utilizes hand-felted and hand-dyed wool as rich backdrops, offering texture and depth to her work. Bead embellishment is another one of her trademarks. Learn more on her website.
Judy Simmons
Judy creates her own fabric in her Fletcher, N.C. studio using surface design techniques, including fabric marbling, dyeing, color lifting and silk screening. Much of the imagery in her work utilizes her own photography printed on fabric. To learn more about Judy, please click here.
Kate Weston
From her home in Statesville, N.C., Kate focuses on the creation of complex cloth through the application of dye, paint and embellishment, such as fabric overlay or manipulation and the application of non-fiber materials. Coupled with skillful machine quilting, Kate’s works create and stunning interplay of color and texture. Please visit Kate’s website to learn more.
The Asheville Art Museum is excited to present Red Hot in the Blue Ridge, an exhibition being held in conjunction with Western North Carolina’s community-wide Summer of Glass celebration. On view at the Asheville Art Museum On the Slope at 175 Biltmore Avenue May 19 – September 30, 2018, Red Hot in the Blue Ridge celebrates Western North Carolina’s unique place in the history of American Studio Glass. Many other organizations and galleries across WNC are also hosting glass-focused events, programs and exhibitions during the region’s Summer of Glass celebration, which coincides with a new exhibition at Biltmore of multi-media artist Dale Chihuly’s monumental glass sculptures. Visit www.ashevilleart.org for details.
Join us for an event to initiate the novice and challenge the veteran crafter and embellisher! The AMAZING, creative projects you work on at this THREE-DAY event will teach you incredible techniques and ideas you can use, regardless of what kind of machine you own! Discover techniques for transforming any plain garment or home decor item into an artistically embellished masterpiece that is your OWN creation! Learn the importance of proper stabilization on any type of fabric with Floriani’s incredible products.
You doughnut want to miss this event!
This Thursday, Allegiant is celebrating eight hole years of service in beautiful Asheville, flying more than 1.3 million passengers through the area!
But we’ve only just glazed the surface—
To celebrate, we’re inviting you to join us this Thursday, September 6th from 7 AM to 10 AM at HOLE – Hot Doughnuts and Fresh Coffee for FREE doughnuts and the chance to win round-trip airfare! How sweet is that?!
It’s just our way of saying, “Thank you, Asheville! We adough you!”
We’ll see you there!
https://www.facebook.com/events/298546647395422/
It’s hard not to crack a smile while enjoying amazing views of Lake Lure and the Hickory Nut Gorge from on top of the Chimney. Capture photos of your family and friends enjoying the Park and enter them into our Smiles of Spring Photo Contest for a chance to win fabulous prizes. We’ll use the winning entries on our website and Facebook album, and you’ll win some fun prizes. Photos must be taken within the Chimney Rock section of the Park.
GREAT PRIZES FOR THE WINNERS:
First Place – An overnight getaway to Hickory Nut Gorge with a stay at the historic 1927 Lake Lure Inn & Spa, two passes to Chimney Rock, brunch for two at the 1927 Lake Lure Inn & Spa, and two tickets for a tour with Lake Lure Boat Tours
Second Place – A Chimney Rock prize package including two passes to Chimney Rock, lunch for two at the Old Rock Café and two tickets for a tour with Lake Lure Boat Tours.
People’s Choice – Selected by our Facebook fans, the winning photo will be featured as the cover photo of our Facebook page for two weeks and the cover of our Pinterest board of winning photos. Prize includes two Park admission tickets, lunch for two at the Old Rock Café and a $20 gift certificate for Old Time Photo in Chimney Rock Village.
CONTEST RULES:
There is no fee to enter the contest. All photographs must be taken inside Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park only in areas accessible to guests between June 21, 2018- Sept. 21, 2018. 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 and share our photo contest post on your wall. Then post your photo to our wall with the photographer’s name and a brief caption (25-75 words) through your personal Facebook account. Next, send us a private message including your contact information specified in rule #3.
Pinterest: First, re-pin our photo contest pin to one of your boards and follow our 2017 The Different Seasons of Chimney Rock Spring Photo Contest Board so we can easily contact you. Then pin your photo with the hashtags #chimneyrock AND #photocontest with your personal account, and include the photographer’s name and a brief caption (25-75 words).
Twitter: First, follow Chimney Rock Park and retweet our tweet about the photo contest. Then tweet your photo to @ChimneyRockPark with the photographer’s name and the hashtag #photocontest. Next, send us private messages with your brief photo caption.
E-mail: If you don’t have access to any social media sites listed above, you may email your digital photo with your contact information specified in rule #3 to [email protected].
Snail Mail: Send your print photo with the clearly marked photographer’s name, city & state, a brief typed photo caption and a phone number to: Photo Contest, Chimney Rock Management LLC, PO Box 39, Chimney Rock, NC 28720.
Every entry should be clearly labeled with the photographer’s name, city & state, a brief photo caption your photo of the Seasons of Chimney Rock, 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 a face of Chimney Rock. 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.
Decisions of the judges are final.
Winners will be notified and announced at chimneyrockpark.com and on Chimney Rock’s social media channels.
For more information, call 1-800-277-9611 or email us at [email protected].
The most important meal of the year!
Rise & Shine is Arts For Life’s annual breakfast benefit gathering, featuring speakers who know Arts For Life best (our staff and families from the hospital) and can tell the story of how the arts have made a real difference in their healthcare experience.
We’ll share a meal together, meet friends old and new, show you some of our patients’ artwork, and provide an opportunity for you to support our program at Mission Children’s Hospital. Breakfast is complimentary.
This event is open to everyone, and we encourage you to bring a friend as we connect as a community and share the joy of arts in the hospital. RSVP and save your seat today!
*NEW TIME* this year!
8:30AM // Check-in Opens & Breakfast is Served
9:15AM // Program Starts
10:00AM // Program Ends & Have a Wonderful Day
Interested in being a table host or a sponsor? More info at www.artsforlifenc.org/riseandshineAVL
https://www.facebook.com/events/230349680885528/
Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/democracy-in-our-hands-a-redistricting-tour-asheville-stop-tickets-49178287582?aff=ebapi
The Democracy in Our Hands tour is an opportunity for community members interested in shaping our democracy through redistricting reform to learn and discuss the spectrum of ways that we can integrate our values of political independence, transparency, and racial equity in a NC-specific redistricting reform proposal. We are lucky to be joined by NC and national experts in redistricting and a delegation from the California Citizens Redistricting Commission who will discuss the path and challenges to achieving independence, transparency, and equity in reform.
We look forward to learning and sharing with you.
Childcare and interpretation available upon request.
Event is co-sponsored by Democracy North Carolina, Common Cause NC, League of Women Voters of North Carolina, Friends of the Earth U.S.
AGENDA
9:30-10am Breakfast & registration
10-10:30am Welcome & opening session
10:30-11am Redistricting 101
11am-12pm Political independence: How do we achieve independence from partisan politics in redistricting?
12-12:45pm Lunch (provided on site)
12:45-1:45pm Lifting the curtain: What does transparency in redistricting look like? How can we ensure the community is informed and involved in drawing district lines?
1:45-2:45pm Defining ourselves for equity: How do we ensure equitable outcomes in redistricting reform? What does it look like when we define our communities for ourselves?
2:45-3pm Closing & next steps
https://www.facebook.com/events/2161143597432304/
Amazing Glaze with Gabriel Kline
Fridays 10am-12:30pm
August 31- October 5
Do you hate glazing? I mean, do you really HATE glazing? Have you experienced the frustration of making a beautiful piece, then ruining it with a flawed, or perhaps worse, boring glaze? Would you rather spend your time doing just about ANYTHING else, even cleaning your studio? Then this is the class for you! Join Gabriel each Friday as he demystifies the techniques that will help you learn to love the glazing process, achieve more dynamic results, and get your work noticed. Topics will include under and overglaze decoration, glazing large and delicate work, spraying glazes, and multiple firings. We will also examine the basics of formulating, mixing, or altering a glaze.
Level: Seasoned Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced
Tuition: $255 + $35 Lab Fee
When reflecting on the current state of the environment, it seems that we have entered into times of seismic sorrows. Carbon emissions, water pollution, fracking, and changing climate patterns all point to a troubling reality with serious consequences for human and non-human populations. Through weavings, installations, sculpture, and print, artists Rena Detrixhe and Tali Weinberg (Tulsa, OK) explore the complex relationship between humans and the planet, offering insights, expressing grief, and creating space for resilience and change.
In Time of Seismic Sorrows is curated by Marilyn Zapf and organized by the Center for Craft. The Center for Craft is supported in part by the N.C. Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
Learn about the history of Asheville’s riverfront & the mission of RiverLink. If you like history and you appreciate environmental sustainability, this tour is for you! Along the way, we’ll make a stop at a brewery and a restaurant for a bite to eat if you choose. A portion of the ticket price is donated to RiverLink to support their efforts to protect and enhance the French Broad River. $45 per person.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1746323645416079/?event_time_id=1746323655416078
Pack your bags, it’s time to be Spiritaneous. On September 6th, we’re giving away round-trip tickets for two to sunny Tampa, Florida. To win:
Pack your bags ?
Come to the Asheville Regional Airport on Sept. 6th, from 11am to 12pm
Head to the Spirit ticket counter ?
If selected, you and a loved one fly out immediately to Tampa, Florida! ✈️
Your hotel is on us – 3 nights ?️
The relaxation is free, too ?
Let the vacation begin.
https://www.facebook.com/events/710602272626892/
Chihuly at Biltmore represents the first art exhibition in Biltmore’s historic gardens, and the first garden exhibition of Dale Chihuly’s works in North Carolina. The world-renowned American artist’s work is included in more than 200 museum collections worldwide, and now, for a limited time only, they can be seen at Biltmore.
We invite you to immerse yourself in this unique visual experience, an absolute must-see presentation of unparalleled artistic expression.
Dazzling in daylight, the exhibition takes on an entirely new dimension when viewed after nightfall; experience the brilliance and beauty of these awe-inspiring marvels of color, form, and light.
Have you ever wanted to scale up the size of your work, but weren’t sure how? The sky is the limit in this class, so let’s go big! Join Mac McCusker as you learn to make large, freestanding floor vases with slabs and coils. You can then theme your piece by adding imagery to the leather hard clay. Demonstrations will include experimenting with carving, additive methods, surface design, sgraffito, underglazes, and the use of decals to achieve a visually stunning finished piece. All skill levels are welcome.
Level: All Levels
Tuition: $255 + $35 Lab Fee
Visitors to Grovewood Village will have the opportunity to learn the story of Biltmore Industries on a guided history tour, offered Wednesday – Saturday at 1pm during April – November. The tour includes a visit to Biltmore Industries’ production facility (aka Dye House), where guests can peek into the past and view the original looms, carding machines, spinning mule and dye vats used to make the famed Biltmore Handwoven Homespun.
The tours last approximately 45 minutes and operate on a first-come, first-served basis, open to 25 people. There is no charge to take the tour, but donations are appreciated. Tours begin at the Homespun Museum in Grovewood Village, where a docent will give a detailed overview of Biltmore Industries’ historic importance before leading guests into the 100-year-old Dye House (usually closed to the public).
Private group tours are also offered for a fee and should be scheduled at least one week in advance.
Oak and Grist Distilling Company is celebrating the release of their first bottling of whiskey at their Black Mountain Distillery. This will be the first in a series of issuances over the next two years. No release in the series will exceed 2,500 bottles. Each whiskey in this series was brewed, fermented, distilled, and aged at the distillery, using 100% malted barley from Riverbend Malt House in Asheville. Each release will have a unique aroma and flavor, as they will be from varying cask types and barrel treatments. The series from Oak and Grist will showcase and share how their spirits interact with the barrels over time.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1164594653709646/
Beginner Wheel Throwing with Cayce Kolstad
Tuesdays 3-5:30pm
August 28- October 2
With an emphasis on ceramic tableware, this class is a perfect introduction to throwing on the potter’s wheel. We will explore the fundamental forms of functional pottery and work towards altering them to make cups, mugs, bowls and more. We will also cover the basics of glazing in order to create food safe pots you can use at home.
Level: Beginner and Seasoned Beginner
Tuition: $235 + $35 Lab Fee
1st and 3rd Thursdays of the Month through November; 3:30pm-7pm
Love local, seasonal and sustainably produced products? So do we. Join us in supporting local farmers we trust and come by the Earth Market for some awesome produce and goods.
https://www.facebook.com/events/304557683412407/?event_time_id=304557686745740
Another delicious German-style beer to celebrate the Oktoberfest season!
https://www.facebook.com/events/256071038365706/
Come get your cheese on! We’ll be hosted Sweet Cheesus, a food truck specializing in Raclette, a delicious cheese that is melted and served over various items. Gluten Free and Vegan items available!
https://www.facebook.com/events/1020111398150998/
Join us for the 10th Annual Ladies High Tea Party, benefiting the Boys and Girls Club of Henderson County. On Thursday, September 6, hundreds of women from throughout the community will gather at the 1304 Ashe Street in Hendersonville for High Tea, all in support of the children in our community who need us the most. This year’s theme, The Mane Event, will feature a silent auction, hat contest, and community connection celebrating the Club’s vibrant culture of women’s philanthropy.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1862358747394118/
Gin & Tonic- A simple and classic drink perfect for novice drinkers as well as seasoned veterans. Clean, crisp and refreshing, Gin and Tonic is everything you could ask for in a cocktail, so much so we are devoting a whole theme to it. On Thursdays we offer Tonic Thursday’s. We’ll introduce you to a whole new way of drinking G & T with a rotating special each week: A different tonic, a different gin, and so many different garnishes to choose from we’ll just keep searching for that perfect combination and include you in the process.
This Weeks Feature- Basil & Jalapeño Gin & Tonic. Hendricks Gin, Fresh Basil leaves, Jalapeño slices, Fever Tree Indian Tonic Water.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1854973347921154/
Join us on September 6th from 5:00 to 6:30 in the Lipinsky Auditorium on the UNCA campus for our 2nd Annual Community Seed Swap! Please drop in anytime from 5:00 to 6:30 with seeds and stories to trade, and ask any of the seed savers on hand whatever seed and garden questions you might have! Seed saving equipment, demonstrations, and stories about old seed varieties will be happening throughout the event.
Seed saving is a culturally and ecologically important practice that requires much work and care. We want to honor the hard work of seed savers by being mindful and respectful of their craft. This is not an open seed giveaway. The event will be designed to allow for varying participation, including monetary donations in exchange for seeds as well as direct seed exchanges. There will be space for folks who want to bring their own seeds to swap and share.
Following the Seed Swap, please join us for a free public lecture at Lipinsky Auditorium on “Culinary Justice: Defining a Theory of Gastronomic Sovereignty” by Michael Twitty, a culinary historian, living history interpreter, and Judaics teacher from the Washington D.C. area. Twitty is the creator of Afroculinaria, the first blog devoted to African American historic foodways and their legacy. His 2017 book, The Cooking Gene, was recently honored with *two* James Beard Foundation awards for writing and for Book of the Year.
(https://www.facebook.com/events/972221552936669/)
https://www.facebook.com/events/862185567320324/
The Asheville Coworking Crawl is the best kind of road trip, equipped with; short rides, cool friends, big ideas, and local beer! Here you’ll join 70 other local innovators, distruptors, and entrepreneurs during Entrepreneurship Week as we tour 4 of Asheville’s top Coworking spaces;
– 5:00 Meet at Hatch AVL
– 5:15 – 5:45 The Collider
– 6:00 – 6:30 MojoCoworking
– 6:45 – 7:15 Focal Point Coworking
– 7:30 – 8:00 Hatch AVL & Hatchworks Coworking Asheville
THE PLAN:
You can park your car at the Hatch AVL Foundation, located at 45 S French Broad Ave. Asheville, NC 28801, then hop on our GreyLine Trolley at 5:00 PM. We will spend 30 minutes at each of the four locations, where you’ll have the chance to meet other Entrepreneurs, connect with Coworking Leadership, learn more about Member Benefits, and just have a damn good time!
The final stop will be back at Hatch AVL where there will be more food, beer, and the team of Hatch Mentors on-hand to connect with. Bring your business cards, best ideas, and a sense of adventure.
Tickets are $10, must be 21 years old to attend, seating is extremely limited.
PRESENTED BY:
Hatch AVL and Hatchworks Coworking Asheville, in partnership with The Collider, MojoCoworking, and Focal Point Coworking
https://www.facebook.com/events/1953497331384141/
Carpooling is encouraged!
Ladies only.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1786820098101915/
A boutique food truck serving up gourmet comfort food.
www.olivecateringcompany.com
https://www.facebook.com/events/280992522727023/
Come join us for Business After Hours — an evening of networking and “tasty bites” from the in-house restaurant, The Woodfire Bar & Grille. There will be an open bar serving craft beer and wine. A cash bar will serve a variety of Well Drinks. Don’t forget your business cards to enter the drawing for door prizes from Chamber member businesses and:
$50 gift certificate to Woodfire Bar & Grille
$25 gift certificate to Woodfire Bar & Grille
One-night stay at the Holiday Inn Biltmore East
Complimentary self-parking is available on-site, but may be limited. Please use the main entrance to enter the hotel. Registration/check-in will be in the lobby.
This event is offered as a benefit for Chamber membership and no registration is necessary. If you’re considering Chamber membership and would like to attend this event we welcome you to come and check us out! Please contact Canio Costanzo at [email protected]
https://www.facebook.com/events/892494574288683/