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.

Sunday, April 5, 2020
Organic Growers School Videos: How to Grow Potatoes
Apr 5 all-day
Organic Growers School Online
It’s time to plant potatoes! Learn some simple tricks to ensure a good harvest.
Organic Growers School Videos: Seed Starting
Apr 5 all-day
Organic Growers School Online

Learn the best vegetables to direct seed and the best vegetables to transplant.

Organic Growers School Videos: To Seed or Not to Seed?
Apr 5 all-day
Organic Growers School Online
Listen to the pros and cons of selecting seed and growing your own plants from seed as opposed to buying starts.
The Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests Shut down Trailheads
Apr 5 all-day
NC National Forests
National forests COVID-19
FILE image- Pisgah National Forest signage (Photo credit: WLOS Staff)
In a press release, National Forests in North Carolina said the decision aligns with state and local measures to contain the COVID-19 outbreak, and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The following popular access sites are affected by these changes:

  • Wayah Bald – Nantahala National Forest
  • Cheoah Bald – Nantahala National Forest
  • Hampton and Dennis Cove Trailheads (Laurel Falls) – Cherokee National Forest
  • Osborne Farm – Cherokee National Forest
  • Max Patch – Cherokee and Pisgah National Forests
  • Roan Mountain/Carvers Gap – Cherokee and Pisgah National Forests
  • Lovers Leap – Pisgah National Forest

For a complete list of access sites affected by these changes visit: fs.usda.gov/goto/currentclosures

Guidelines for health and safety, recommended by the CDC, are available at: cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention.html

See the Cherokee National Forest website for the latest recreation information here: fs.usda.gov/cherokee

For the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests visit www.fs.usda.gov/nfsnc, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/nfsnc, and on Twitter at twitter.com/NFsNCarolina.

Where to Purchase Plant Starts Asheville Area
Apr 5 all-day
Organic Growers School

With the Asheville Spring Herb Festival and many other such events being cancelled, you may be wondering where to buy starts.
Many farmers are sharing their products through
Asheville Online Farmers Market Facebook Group
Red Wing Farm is offering delivery in Buncombe County
and has several drop off locations in other areas.
WNC Farmers Market Open 7am-6pm daily
Apr 5 @ 7:00 am – 6:00 pm
 WNC Farmers Market
• The WNC Farmers Market (570 Brevard Rd.) is open for business daily from 7 a.m.- 6 p.m. Find fruits + veggies, plus other staples like meats, cheese, beans, preserves, salsas, honey + condiments.

In a continued effort to provide our community with fresh, locally grown produce, meats and cheeses from area farmers, the market will remain open and operate under normal business hours. The market will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

While most of the market will remain open as usual, there are some exceptions:

Additional updates to vendor schedules will be posted as soon as possible. For specific vendors not listed above, we encourage you to reach out to them directly before coming to the market.

Visitors are encouraged to follow CDC recommendations when visiting the market. A complete list of tips and best practices can be found here.

COVID-19 is not a food-borne illness. It is extremely unlikely that someone will catch it through eating. The virus is most likely to cause illness through respiratory transmission. The routes to be concerned about include being in very close proximity to many people, or coming in contact with high touch surfaces.

Thank you for your continued support during these unprecedented times!

Animal Habitats VIP Tours
Apr 5 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Grandfather Mountain

See where the cougars and otters sleep overnight, meet black bears that are not commonly on display, learn the ins and outs of what it takes to care for the animals year-round, observe a training session and find out why the animals call Grandfather Mountain home.

Offered on weekends, April – October.

Natural Impressions: Prints from the Asheville Printmakers CANCELLED
Apr 5 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
The North Carolina Arboretum

On display daily January 18 – April 19, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the upstairs gallery of the Education Center, the Asheville Printmakers’ newest exhibit, Natural Impressions, will feature a variety of two- and three-dimensional print pieces utilizing numerous printmaking processes. Works will inspire visitors to think about the beauty and fragility of plants and the natural world through various perspectives and printmaking techniques. All pieces are available for purchase and a portion of the sales will benefit The North Carolina Arboretum Society.

Founded in 2013, the Asheville Printmakers is an energetic group of artists dedicated to expressing ideas and imagery through the medium of print. The group encompasses a wide range of processes and content, including traditional methods, such as lithography, woodcut and screen printing, and contemporary photographic printing processes, such as carbon printing, platinum-palladium and photopolymer etching. 

Parking Fees

  • Members: Free
  • Personal Vehicles: $14
  • Motorhomes / Vehicles (21’ or larger): $50
  • Buses: $100

There are no other admission charges required for visitors to access the Arboretum’s grounds and facilities during the day beyond the standard parking fees listed above.

Western North Carolina Orchid Society 22nd annual Asheville Orchid Festival
Apr 5 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
The North Carolina Arboretum

The Western North Carolina Orchid Society will host its 22nd annual Asheville Orchid Festival, Saturday, April 4, and Sunday, April 5, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. inside the Arboretum’s Education Center. Featuring hundreds of carefully crafted orchid displays, experts will be on-site to provide educational programs for both novice and advanced orchid growers. Visitors will also have the opportunity to purchase cutting-edge orchid hybrids and varieties from vendors from across the United States and Ecuador.

Please note, admittance to the main orchid exhibit at The North Carolina Arboretum is $5 per person (collected at the door). Children 12 and under are free. All fees will support the Western North Carolina Orchid Society’s non-profit organization and future orchid events. Standard Arboretum parking fees still apply.

Saturday Program Schedule


10:00 a.m. | A Walk through the World of Orchids”
By Marc Burchette Orchid Extraordinaire
A guided tour through the fabulous orchid exhibits
Meet in the Auditorium

11:30 a.m. | “Mini-Cattleyas for Everyone”
By Mark Reinke of Marble Branch Farms
Located in the upstairs Library upstairs

1:00 p.m. | “The Enchanting Orchids of Ecuador”
By Dayaneth Loja Portilla of Ecuagenera Orchids, Ecuador
Discover the wonderful orchid species from Ecuador
Located in the Library upstairs

2:15 p.m. | Repotting Clinic
By Graham Ramsey
Repotting your orchid with Orchid Bark, Sphagnum Moss and Tree Fern (Hands-on demonstration)
Located in the Library upstairs

Sunday Program Schedule


10:00 a.m. | “A Walk through the World of Orchids”
By Marc Burchette Orchid Extraordinaire
A guided tour through the fabulous orchid exhibits
Meet in the Auditorium

11:30 a.m. | “Bulbophyllum species, and hybrids”
By Sara Gallis of The Orchid Trail
Learn how easy it is to grow Bulbophyllums
Located in the Library upstairs

1:00 p.m. | “Native Orchid Species of Western NC”
By Scott Dean Naturalist/Photographer
Come learn about the native orchids of Western North Carolina
Located in the Library upstairs

2:15 p.m. | Repotting Clinic
By Graham Ramsey
Repotting your orchid with Orchid Bark, Sphagnum Moss and Tree Fern (Hands-on demonstration)
Located in the Library upstairs

Annual Spring Wildflower Walk The Botanical Gardens
Apr 5 @ 9:30 am – 11:30 am
The Botanical Gardens
Plant grouping

Annual Spring Wildflower Walk

with David Clarke

MEET AT VISITOR CENTER (Outdoor Class)

A professor in the UNCA Biology Department, Dr. David Clark is regarded as one of the premier botanists of South American floras. He has discovered dozens of new plant species while leading more than 20 rainforest plant collecting expeditions sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution and the National Geographic Society.   His research interests include the flora of the southern Appalachians. David possesses an unpretentious wit and an infectious style of sharing his vast knowledge of plants. Join him for an informative walk enjoying spring wildflowers in the Gardens – rain or shine!

Participants must pre-register and pre-pay for classes: 828-252-5190.

Limit 16

Monday, April 6, 2020
#EarthMonth2020 #BackyardChallenge with SAHC
Apr 6 all-day
Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy

Keep it fun while following social (physical) distancing recommendations! Join us in taking the #BackyardChallenge to celebrate #EarthMonth2020 in your own backyard. How have you been enjoying time outdoors? Check out the gallery below to see ways SAHC staff have been getting fresh air while sticking close to home. Share your own and tag us on social media. #BackyardChallenge #EarthMonth2020 #MyAppalachia #SAHC
COVID-19 Relief Funds Available to Farmers
Apr 6 all-day
Carolina Farm Stewardship Association

COVID-19 Relief Funds

Available to Farmers

starting April 3rd

is part of the massive economic rescue package passed by Congress last week to address urgent needs created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Incorporated businesses, sole proprietors, single-member LLCs, self-employed individuals, and nonprofits are all eligible to apply for this relief.
Apply Here

Organic Growers School

Organic Growers School Videos: How to Grow Potatoes
Apr 6 all-day
Organic Growers School Online
It’s time to plant potatoes! Learn some simple tricks to ensure a good harvest.
Organic Growers School Videos: Seed Starting
Apr 6 all-day
Organic Growers School Online

Learn the best vegetables to direct seed and the best vegetables to transplant.

Organic Growers School Videos: To Seed or Not to Seed?
Apr 6 all-day
Organic Growers School Online
Listen to the pros and cons of selecting seed and growing your own plants from seed as opposed to buying starts.
Where to Purchase Plant Starts Asheville Area
Apr 6 all-day
Organic Growers School

With the Asheville Spring Herb Festival and many other such events being cancelled, you may be wondering where to buy starts.
Many farmers are sharing their products through
Asheville Online Farmers Market Facebook Group
Red Wing Farm is offering delivery in Buncombe County
and has several drop off locations in other areas.
WNC Farmers Market Open 7am-6pm daily
Apr 6 @ 7:00 am – 6:00 pm
 WNC Farmers Market
• The WNC Farmers Market (570 Brevard Rd.) is open for business daily from 7 a.m.- 6 p.m. Find fruits + veggies, plus other staples like meats, cheese, beans, preserves, salsas, honey + condiments.

In a continued effort to provide our community with fresh, locally grown produce, meats and cheeses from area farmers, the market will remain open and operate under normal business hours. The market will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

While most of the market will remain open as usual, there are some exceptions:

Additional updates to vendor schedules will be posted as soon as possible. For specific vendors not listed above, we encourage you to reach out to them directly before coming to the market.

Visitors are encouraged to follow CDC recommendations when visiting the market. A complete list of tips and best practices can be found here.

COVID-19 is not a food-borne illness. It is extremely unlikely that someone will catch it through eating. The virus is most likely to cause illness through respiratory transmission. The routes to be concerned about include being in very close proximity to many people, or coming in contact with high touch surfaces.

Thank you for your continued support during these unprecedented times!

Conserving Carolina “Kudzu Warriors” at Norman Wilder Forest
Apr 6 @ 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Norman Wilder Forest parking area/trailhead off of Hwy 176,

Join the Conserving Carolina “Kudzu Warriors” as they continue the fight against Kudzu, a non-native and invasive vine, at the Conserving Carolina owned Norman Wilder Forest off of Hwy 176.

The Kudzu Warriors, named for their hard work eradicating Kudzu on Little Warrior Mountain, have been defending the Conserving Carolina nature preserve from Kudzu (and other exotic species) since 2011 and have made a tremendous impact on the property. Areas that were once a mat of Kudzu vines are now lush with native vegetation! But the fight is not over, and we need your help!

Join us Monday from 9:00-11:00 a.m. at the Norman Wilder Forest parking area/trailhead off of Hwy 176, between Tryon and Saluda. GPS points (35.22458, -82.27428)

We will supply tools and gloves, but please bring water and a snack for yourself, dress appropriately and bring your own work gloves if you’d like.

To RSVP or for more information call Pam at 828-697-5777, ext 300 or email [email protected].

Natural Impressions: Prints from the Asheville Printmakers CANCELLED
Apr 6 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
The North Carolina Arboretum

On display daily January 18 – April 19, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the upstairs gallery of the Education Center, the Asheville Printmakers’ newest exhibit, Natural Impressions, will feature a variety of two- and three-dimensional print pieces utilizing numerous printmaking processes. Works will inspire visitors to think about the beauty and fragility of plants and the natural world through various perspectives and printmaking techniques. All pieces are available for purchase and a portion of the sales will benefit The North Carolina Arboretum Society.

Founded in 2013, the Asheville Printmakers is an energetic group of artists dedicated to expressing ideas and imagery through the medium of print. The group encompasses a wide range of processes and content, including traditional methods, such as lithography, woodcut and screen printing, and contemporary photographic printing processes, such as carbon printing, platinum-palladium and photopolymer etching. 

Parking Fees

  • Members: Free
  • Personal Vehicles: $14
  • Motorhomes / Vehicles (21’ or larger): $50
  • Buses: $100

There are no other admission charges required for visitors to access the Arboretum’s grounds and facilities during the day beyond the standard parking fees listed above.

Tuesday, April 7, 2020
#EarthMonth2020 #BackyardChallenge with SAHC
Apr 7 all-day
Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy

Keep it fun while following social (physical) distancing recommendations! Join us in taking the #BackyardChallenge to celebrate #EarthMonth2020 in your own backyard. How have you been enjoying time outdoors? Check out the gallery below to see ways SAHC staff have been getting fresh air while sticking close to home. Share your own and tag us on social media. #BackyardChallenge #EarthMonth2020 #MyAppalachia #SAHC
COVID-19 Relief Funds Available to Farmers
Apr 7 all-day
Carolina Farm Stewardship Association

COVID-19 Relief Funds

Available to Farmers

starting April 3rd

is part of the massive economic rescue package passed by Congress last week to address urgent needs created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Incorporated businesses, sole proprietors, single-member LLCs, self-employed individuals, and nonprofits are all eligible to apply for this relief.
Apply Here

Organic Growers School

Grandfather Mountain CLOSED to all activity
Apr 7 all-day
Grandfather Mountain

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus), Grandfather Mountain will close until further notice, effective Sunday, March 15. The closure means the park will prohibit public access, including from the main entrance gate and hiking trails.

In addition, all special events and programs scheduled through Memorial Day have been canceled or postponed.

Where to Purchase Plant Starts Asheville Area
Apr 7 all-day
Organic Growers School

With the Asheville Spring Herb Festival and many other such events being cancelled, you may be wondering where to buy starts.
Many farmers are sharing their products through
Asheville Online Farmers Market Facebook Group
Red Wing Farm is offering delivery in Buncombe County
and has several drop off locations in other areas.
WNC Farmers Market Open 7am-6pm daily
Apr 7 @ 7:00 am – 6:00 pm
 WNC Farmers Market
• The WNC Farmers Market (570 Brevard Rd.) is open for business daily from 7 a.m.- 6 p.m. Find fruits + veggies, plus other staples like meats, cheese, beans, preserves, salsas, honey + condiments.

In a continued effort to provide our community with fresh, locally grown produce, meats and cheeses from area farmers, the market will remain open and operate under normal business hours. The market will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

While most of the market will remain open as usual, there are some exceptions:

Additional updates to vendor schedules will be posted as soon as possible. For specific vendors not listed above, we encourage you to reach out to them directly before coming to the market.

Visitors are encouraged to follow CDC recommendations when visiting the market. A complete list of tips and best practices can be found here.

COVID-19 is not a food-borne illness. It is extremely unlikely that someone will catch it through eating. The virus is most likely to cause illness through respiratory transmission. The routes to be concerned about include being in very close proximity to many people, or coming in contact with high touch surfaces.

Thank you for your continued support during these unprecedented times!

Natural Impressions: Prints from the Asheville Printmakers CANCELLED
Apr 7 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
The North Carolina Arboretum

On display daily January 18 – April 19, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the upstairs gallery of the Education Center, the Asheville Printmakers’ newest exhibit, Natural Impressions, will feature a variety of two- and three-dimensional print pieces utilizing numerous printmaking processes. Works will inspire visitors to think about the beauty and fragility of plants and the natural world through various perspectives and printmaking techniques. All pieces are available for purchase and a portion of the sales will benefit The North Carolina Arboretum Society.

Founded in 2013, the Asheville Printmakers is an energetic group of artists dedicated to expressing ideas and imagery through the medium of print. The group encompasses a wide range of processes and content, including traditional methods, such as lithography, woodcut and screen printing, and contemporary photographic printing processes, such as carbon printing, platinum-palladium and photopolymer etching. 

Parking Fees

  • Members: Free
  • Personal Vehicles: $14
  • Motorhomes / Vehicles (21’ or larger): $50
  • Buses: $100

There are no other admission charges required for visitors to access the Arboretum’s grounds and facilities during the day beyond the standard parking fees listed above.

Growing and Propagating Dahlias Cancelled
Apr 7 @ 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Bullington Gardens

 

Brian Killingsworth, Bullington’s Dahlia guru, will discuss and demonstrate how to grow these spectacular plants  in your garden. Bring last season’s clumps of tubers to see how to divide into individual tubers.

Wednesday, April 8, 2020
#EarthMonth2020 #BackyardChallenge with SAHC
Apr 8 all-day
Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy

Keep it fun while following social (physical) distancing recommendations! Join us in taking the #BackyardChallenge to celebrate #EarthMonth2020 in your own backyard. How have you been enjoying time outdoors? Check out the gallery below to see ways SAHC staff have been getting fresh air while sticking close to home. Share your own and tag us on social media. #BackyardChallenge #EarthMonth2020 #MyAppalachia #SAHC
COVID-19 Relief Funds Available to Farmers
Apr 8 all-day
Carolina Farm Stewardship Association

COVID-19 Relief Funds

Available to Farmers

starting April 3rd

is part of the massive economic rescue package passed by Congress last week to address urgent needs created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Incorporated businesses, sole proprietors, single-member LLCs, self-employed individuals, and nonprofits are all eligible to apply for this relief.
Apply Here

Organic Growers School

Grandfather Mountain CLOSED to all activity
Apr 8 all-day
Grandfather Mountain

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus), Grandfather Mountain will close until further notice, effective Sunday, March 15. The closure means the park will prohibit public access, including from the main entrance gate and hiking trails.

In addition, all special events and programs scheduled through Memorial Day have been canceled or postponed.

How to Buy Local While Social Distancing: On-Farm Pickups and More
Apr 8 all-day
NC and SC Farms

Many farms across North and South Carolina have added on-farm pickups, home delivery & online pre-orders to accommodate for social distancing in light of the COVID-19 outbreak. Please see the listings below for more information, and check out our interactive Google Map for farm locations near you!

Are you a farmer interested in being listed? Email [email protected]

Please:

  • DO NOT show up at farms without prior permission.
  • Follow specific instructions provided by each farm.
  • Stay home if you are feeling ill.