Upcoming events and things to do in Asheville, NC. Below is a list of events for festivals, concerts, art exhibitions, group meetups and more.

Interested in adding an event to our calendar? Please click the green “Post Your Event” button below.

Saturday, January 4, 2020
Spamilton: An American Parody
Jan 4 @ 2:00 pm
Peace Center

Brace yourself for a Singing, Dancing, Comedy Revolution that is chock-full of references to the wonderful world of Broadway!

From the creator of Forbidden Broadway comes the parody of the most talked about Broadway musical phenomenon of the 21st century. Not simply a send-up of the original, this story is interspersed with outrageous references to Chicago, West Side Story, The King And I, Sweeney Todd, and more! Even the stars of the original cast are comically eviscerated and joined by caricatures of living Broadway legends like Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald, Stephen Sondheim, Stephen Schwartz, Barbra Streisand, and Bernadette Peters.

Whether you’re a Broadway aficionado or just like to laugh, there’s something for everyone in this fresh, new musical parody!

Opening reception: Ancient Stones Speaking—Petroglyphs & Storytelling—Pastels on paper & mixed media by John Baumann
Jan 4 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Flood Gallery Fine Art Center

John Baumann of Black Mountain will display his natural and native American spiritual artwork, petroglyphs, walking sticks, dream catchers, and nature art. This is a mixed media exhibition with primarily pastels on paper.

John Baumann was a professional rock climber for most of his adult life and has lived in the Black Mountain area for the past 9 years. Baumann traveled and climbed in over 37 states and on 3 continents, and has seen his fair share of ancient rock art. As an artist and creator for the past 25 years, Baumann draws on those encounters to create artwork from Chalk and Paper.

After moving to the Black Mountain area from the Triad in 2011, Baumann has been blessed by this area’s creative culture and energy. The result is evident in the pieces that make up this exhibit. Ancient styles from the Inuit, Pacific NW, the desert South West, and the Eastern North American tribal styles will be represented in the show.

For opening night on Jan. 4, 6-9pm, the gallery will be transformed into a cave & we will have drumming, music, storytelling, food & drink!

Through February 22. Gallery hours are 11am-5pm Mon-Sat; 1-5pm Sun. Call 828-273-3332 to confirm.

Spamilton: An American Parody
Jan 4 @ 8:00 pm
Peace Center

Brace yourself for a Singing, Dancing, Comedy Revolution that is chock-full of references to the wonderful world of Broadway!

From the creator of Forbidden Broadway comes the parody of the most talked about Broadway musical phenomenon of the 21st century. Not simply a send-up of the original, this story is interspersed with outrageous references to Chicago, West Side Story, The King And I, Sweeney Todd, and more! Even the stars of the original cast are comically eviscerated and joined by caricatures of living Broadway legends like Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald, Stephen Sondheim, Stephen Schwartz, Barbra Streisand, and Bernadette Peters.

Whether you’re a Broadway aficionado or just like to laugh, there’s something for everyone in this fresh, new musical parody!

Mindshapefist Aittala: Broad River Nightmare
Jan 4 @ 9:00 pm – 11:30 pm
The Grey Eagle

MindShapeFist + Aittala

Sunday, January 5, 2020
RiverLink’s Art & Poetry Contest Grades PreK-12
Jan 5 all-day
online
Take an Online Course – Free with Lynda
Jan 5 all-day
Free online classes

Online courses

Learning with Lynda

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Dressing for the Occasion: Mid-Century Sandburg as Celebrity and Family Man”
Jan 5 @ 9:30 am – 4:30 pm
Carl Sandburg Home

Sandburg Clothing on Exhibit

“Dressing for the Occasion” offers visitors a window into the style, culture, and feel of mid-century America. The family’s clothing and accessories weave together the roles of Carl Sandburg as a prominent writer, celebrity, father, and husband. This temporary exhibit offers an exciting opportunity for the public to view objects that are normally in storage or in the possession of Sandburg family members. Tours of the Sandburg Home are offered daily from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. Tickets are available first come, first served, each day from the visitor information area in the ground level of the Sandburg Home.

Nearly every room in the historically furnished house museum will be included in the exhibit. Visitors will see the characteristic scarves Carl Sandburg wore as he played his guitar and sang folk songs to entertain his family and guests, the dress Lilian Sandburg wore to meet President Lyndon B. Johnson, and many other mid-century pieces worn by the Sandburgs and their daughters. Historic photographs, paired with the clothing, will provide context.

Deck The Trees
Jan 5 @ 10:00 am – 9:00 pm
The Monte Vista Hotel

Named for two years by Explore Asheville as one of the top 5 events in the Swannanoa Valley at Christmas, you are invited to come experience 25 Christmas trees that bring joy to the whole community. The public is invited to view the trees and then vote with money for their favorite tree. Every cent raised through Deck The Trees goes to the Fuel Fund for Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry. Be a part of creating something beautiful that also gives back to the community.  Prizes are awarded for the tree that raises the most money and for the tree that most represents the theme.

Calendar of Events:
Dec. 6, 2019 – Jan. 6, 2020
Visit Deck The Trees from 10 AM to 9 PM

Dec. 9, 4:30 – 7:00 PM
Photos and a Visit with Santa Claus
$15.00 per photo

Dec. 10, 2:00 to 4:00 PM
Deck The Tree Christmas Tea with Highland Farms

January 6, 2020   6:00 to 8:00
A Final Celebration
-Which tree most represents the theme?
-Which tree raised the most money for the Fuel Fund for Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry?

Spamilton: An American Parody
Jan 5 @ 1:00 pm
Peace Center

Brace yourself for a Singing, Dancing, Comedy Revolution that is chock-full of references to the wonderful world of Broadway!

From the creator of Forbidden Broadway comes the parody of the most talked about Broadway musical phenomenon of the 21st century. Not simply a send-up of the original, this story is interspersed with outrageous references to Chicago, West Side Story, The King And I, Sweeney Todd, and more! Even the stars of the original cast are comically eviscerated and joined by caricatures of living Broadway legends like Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald, Stephen Sondheim, Stephen Schwartz, Barbra Streisand, and Bernadette Peters.

Whether you’re a Broadway aficionado or just like to laugh, there’s something for everyone in this fresh, new musical parody!

Jack of the Wood : Sunday-Irish Session
Jan 5 @ 3:00 pm
Jack of the Wood

 

Jack of the Wood : Sunday-Irish Session 

Sundays

1 till who knows when?

Traditional Irish music is kept alive at Jack of the Wood with our unplugged Sunday session.

Jack of the Wood

95 Patton ave

Asheville, NC 28801

(828) 252.5445

http://www.jackofthewood.com/

Spamilton: An American Parody
Jan 5 @ 6:30 pm
Peace Center

Brace yourself for a Singing, Dancing, Comedy Revolution that is chock-full of references to the wonderful world of Broadway!

From the creator of Forbidden Broadway comes the parody of the most talked about Broadway musical phenomenon of the 21st century. Not simply a send-up of the original, this story is interspersed with outrageous references to Chicago, West Side Story, The King And I, Sweeney Todd, and more! Even the stars of the original cast are comically eviscerated and joined by caricatures of living Broadway legends like Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald, Stephen Sondheim, Stephen Schwartz, Barbra Streisand, and Bernadette Peters.

Whether you’re a Broadway aficionado or just like to laugh, there’s something for everyone in this fresh, new musical parody!

Nightrain – A Guns N’ Roses Tribute Experience
Jan 5 @ 8:00 pm – 11:45 pm
The Grey Eagle

Nightrain - A Guns N' Roses Tribute Experience

Monday, January 6, 2020
“Dressing for the Occasion: Mid-Century Sandburg as Celebrity and Family Man”
Jan 6 @ 9:30 am – 4:30 pm
Carl Sandburg Home

Sandburg Clothing on Exhibit

“Dressing for the Occasion” offers visitors a window into the style, culture, and feel of mid-century America. The family’s clothing and accessories weave together the roles of Carl Sandburg as a prominent writer, celebrity, father, and husband. This temporary exhibit offers an exciting opportunity for the public to view objects that are normally in storage or in the possession of Sandburg family members. Tours of the Sandburg Home are offered daily from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. Tickets are available first come, first served, each day from the visitor information area in the ground level of the Sandburg Home.

Nearly every room in the historically furnished house museum will be included in the exhibit. Visitors will see the characteristic scarves Carl Sandburg wore as he played his guitar and sang folk songs to entertain his family and guests, the dress Lilian Sandburg wore to meet President Lyndon B. Johnson, and many other mid-century pieces worn by the Sandburgs and their daughters. Historic photographs, paired with the clothing, will provide context.

Deck The Trees
Jan 6 @ 10:00 am – 9:00 pm
The Monte Vista Hotel

Named for two years by Explore Asheville as one of the top 5 events in the Swannanoa Valley at Christmas, you are invited to come experience 25 Christmas trees that bring joy to the whole community. The public is invited to view the trees and then vote with money for their favorite tree. Every cent raised through Deck The Trees goes to the Fuel Fund for Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry. Be a part of creating something beautiful that also gives back to the community.  Prizes are awarded for the tree that raises the most money and for the tree that most represents the theme.

Calendar of Events:
Dec. 6, 2019 – Jan. 6, 2020
Visit Deck The Trees from 10 AM to 9 PM

Dec. 9, 4:30 – 7:00 PM
Photos and a Visit with Santa Claus
$15.00 per photo

Dec. 10, 2:00 to 4:00 PM
Deck The Tree Christmas Tea with Highland Farms

January 6, 2020   6:00 to 8:00
A Final Celebration
-Which tree most represents the theme?
-Which tree raised the most money for the Fuel Fund for Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry?

Carl Sandburg Story Slam
Jan 6 @ 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Main Library Kaplan Auditorium

Storytellers from across the region will share true five-minute stories reflecting the theme of “movement” with a live audience. If you would like to tell your own story, arrive by 4:30 pm to register, names will be placed in a hat at check-in and picked randomly to determine order, for up to 12 storytellers. A panel of judges will rate the stories and monetary prizes will be awarded.

Remembering Mikey: WSP Live At Oak Mountain Viewing Party
Jan 6 @ 7:00 pm
The Grey Eagle
Tuesday, January 7, 2020
Spinning Yarns knitting and crochet drop in group
Jan 7 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Skyland/South Buncombe Library

Beginners can learn a basic pattern. Those with experience are welcome to work on a project and share your knowledge. Supplies will be available for beginners. Come “spin some yarn” at the library! 

Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio
Jan 7 @ 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
The Grey Eagle

Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio

72nd & Central
Jan 7 @ 9:00 pm
The Pulp

tickets at the door

Wednesday, January 8, 2020
Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven
Jan 8 @ 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
The Grey Eagle

Cracker + Camper Van Beethoven

The Justin Ray Big Band CD Release
Jan 8 @ 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Isis Restaurant & Music Hall

On holiday break from a 100-city world tour, Justin Ray is home in Asheville for the release of his first big band recording. Join us for this live performance from Justin & his 18-piece orchestra!

The Justin Ray Big Band plays original music deeply rooted in the swing of Ellington and Basie, with lyrical themes that are both current and timeless.

Justin Ray started his musical career as a bebop trumpet player, performing in venues all over the country. In 2003, he began to tour the world with the Michael Bublé band as the trumpet soloist. While with Bublé, Justin was given the opportunity to perform the works of some of the great composers/arrangers of the big band genre (Nelson Riddle, Quincy Jones, etc.), and he began working for Bublé in that capacity as well, becoming the primary orchestrator for the band in 2008. In 2015, Justin founded Elephant Sword Studios. The studio’s initial focus was to produce and record original big band arrangements of the standard American songbook repertoire, but that focus changed in 2017. Elephant Sword is now dedicated to original music for big band. Style and swing are still at the center, but no musical or lyrical influence is out of bounds. This is big band music for the millennium.

DirtyBoys, 10 Cellphones, Kill Marqo, Lil Connie
Jan 8 @ 9:00 pm
The Pulp

Tickets at the door.

Thursday, January 9, 2020
DIY Sausage & Beer
Jan 9 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
The Chop Shop Butchery

What ingredients go into making sausage? How do you grind, mix, and stuff a sausage by hand? What’s the difference between an Italian sausage and a bratwurst?

Learn about these topics and more in one of our most popular classes: DIY Sausage & Beer!

WHAT TO EXPECT

  • MIX & MINGLE: Before the sausage-making begins, we’ll give you an overview of the process while you sample local and house-made charcuterie and sip on beer from a local brewery (TBA) or a glass of wine. You’ll also get to mingle and chat with other students in the class.
  • MIX, GRIND & STUFF: Next, we’ll head into our cut room. (Dress warmly! It’s chilly in there!) You’ll learn about the ingredients and spices that go into different kinds of sausages. Then, our butchers will show you how to mix, grind, and stuff sausages. This is a hands-on class and you’ll get to make your own sausages from start to finish.
  • LEARN: During the class, we’ll explain how to cook sausages and pair them with other foods and beverages. Questions are not only welcome, but encouraged!
  • TAKE IT HOME: Take home the sausage you make, plus PDF notes and recipes from the class.

Where does our pork come from?

We source our pork from two local, North Carolina farms: Warren Wilson Farm and Hickory Nut Gap.

An Evening with Patrick Davis & His Midnight Choir
Jan 9 @ 7:00 pm
The Peace Center

Patrick Davis is a Tennessee-born, South Carolina-raised, Nashville-based singer-songwriter who has had quite the musical run over the past decade. His musical prowess grew from modest beginnings inside his father’s Camden, SC, guitar shop to establishing a name for himself on Nashville’s Music Row. A prolific and versatile songwriter, Davis has penned songs recorded by an array of major artists including Lady Antebellum, Jimmy Buffett, Guy Clark, Jewel, Imelda May, Robert Randolph, Darius Rucker, and many others. After a decade of writing for other voices, he found his own sound and style with the 11-piece band he formed and dubbed his Midnight Choir. The group is currently recording a debut album and will be on the road in 2020 bringing their musical message to the masses.

Davis is also the founder of Songwriters In Paradise, a uniquely crafted singer-songwriter festival designed to bring together the world’s top songwriting and performing talent in the world’s most exclusive and awe-inspiring destinations. Additionally, he is a co-founder of Whiskey Jam Whiskey with South Carolina’s world-renowned Firefly Distillery.

Gorges State Park at 20 years: how it was saved
Jan 9 @ 7:00 pm
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville

Photo of Bill Thomas in front of waterfall

Beautiful Gorges State Park near Cashiers was narrowly spared from hydroelectric projects planned to create pumped storage for use by Duke Energy. Bill Thomas, former Chair of the North Carolina Chapter of Sierra Club, is widely credited with leading the successful campaign to halt the projects. He was also essential in the creation of Dupont State Forest and the Horsepasture Scenic River. Come see his beautiful photos of the wonders in Gorges, learn how it was preserved and help us recognize a true environmental hero.

Bill will be introduced by Will Harlan, editor of Blue Ridge Outdoors, and by Dan Dewitt, author of “How Gorges was Saved” in the August edition.

Gorges State Park and Bill are also honored in the current issue of The Laurel of Asheville.

JessLee
Jan 9 @ 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
The Grey Eagle

JessLee

Friday, January 10, 2020
Gypsy & Me at Triskelion Brewing Co.
Jan 10 all-day
Triskelion Brewing Co.

Gypsy & Me is comprised of Carolina-based duo, Mike Moore and Kyzandrha Zarate. Together, they bring us original Americana | Folk | Country | Acoustic music. They celebrate the release of their album Get Busy Livin’ with a tour through the Carolinas, Florida, Louisiana, Alabama, & Tennessee. Catch this duo on Friday, January 10th at Triskelion Brewing Co. from 7-9PM. Show is FREE!

Literacy Changing Lives Tour
Jan 10 @ 9:00 am
Literacy Council

 

Would you like to learn more about how literacy changes our students’ lives?

Please join us for coffee and a one-hour tour of the Literacy Council.

UPCOMING TOUR DATES for 2020

Friday, January 10 – 9am | Monday, February 10 – 4pm | Friday, March 13 – 9am
Monday, April 13 – 4pm | Friday, May 8 – 9am | Monday, June 8 – 4pm

 

A Wild Food Stroll at The Grove Park Inn
Jan 10 @ 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
The Grove Park Inn

Ready to go WILD? Join us for a trip “off the eaten path.” You’ll learn how to safely gather edible wild plants, mushrooms, and other “extreme cuisine.” Stay for a stunning view of the sunset and enjoy dinner at Vue 1913 featuring a free appetizer with the edibles you met on your tour. Suitable for all ages and abilities. To register or for more info, see here. Three-hour foraging tours also available, year-round, by arrangement.

Wild food is the ultimate natural food: ultra-local, fresher, more flavorful, 10 to 100 times more nutritious than its garden-variety descendants, AND it’s free! With over 300 wild edibles, Western North Carolina is the richest temperate ecosystem on Earth. For a taste of the wild life, forage ahead and experience the life of a modern hunter-gather firsthand. It’s a unique experience in self-catering, a memorable lesson in high-class survival.

Craft Conversation Series Warren Wilson College
Jan 10 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Center for Craft

Join the MA in Critical Craft Studies for public conversations about research and projects connected to craft studies.

Craft Conversations is a five-part series organized by the MA in Critical Craft Studies, Warren Wilson College, and hosted at the Center for Craft in the heart of downtown Asheville.

These are not formal lectures. Instead, we invite you into the evening classroom of the MA in Critical and Historical Craft Studies, Warren Wilson College, where you can hear how people conduct, analyze, share, and discuss their work on craft history and theory. Each presenter shares their work for 30 minutes each, followed by a discussion between presenters, MA students, and the audience for 60 minutes.

Programs begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. and end at 8:30 p.m. Programs are free and open to the public; reservations requested.

Monday, January 6 – Yasmeen Siddiqui and Shannon Stratton

Friday, January 10 – Student Pecha Kucha

Saturday, January 11 – Jen Delos Reyes and Namita Wiggers

Monday, January 13 – Sarah Khan and Ben Lignel

Friday, January 17 – Marilyn Zapf and Alicia Ory DeNicola