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.

March 2021 Mar 2021
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Monday, March 29, 2021
American Red Cross Be a hero Roll up a Sleeve
Mar 29 @ 11:30 am – 7:30 pm
Asheville Blood Donation Center

March is Red Cross Month, and for more than 130 years, heroic American Red Cross volunteers have provided hope and urgent relief to families in communities across the country.
This March the community is invited to join in the lifesaving mission of the Red Cross and be
someone’s hero by rolling up a sleeve to give blood.
According to the Red Cross, someone in the U.S. needs blood every two seconds to respond to
patient emergencies. Accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients,
and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease may all require blood.
All blood types are needed.
Be a hero in your community by rolling up a sleeve….

To make an appointment or to learn more, download the American Red Cross Blood Donor
App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood
Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device. Completion of a RapidPass® online health history
questionnaire is encouraged to help speed up the donation process. To get started, follow the
instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App. A blood donor card
or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who
are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh
at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High
school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height
and weight requirements.

Read more
Categories: Community Donations Health & Wellness
AniMonday! Anime Games, Music All Day
Mar 29 @ 1:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Asheville Retrocade

May be an image of one or more people and hair

Join us for Animoday! Every Monday all day. Listen to anime music, play anime games, watch anime, and talk anime!

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Categories: Games Music
Drag as Art and Activism
Mar 29 @ 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Online w/ UNCA

Drag as Art and Activism. Four Performances + Audience Discussion with Western North Carolina drag artists. Featuring:

  • Ms. Jasmine Summers, Asheville queen by way of Greensboro. Jasmine has won a host of pageant titles in the Carolinas and is the current reigning Miss Blue Ridge Pride. @msjasminesummers

  • Ms. Natasha Noir Nightly @natashanoirnightly

  • Ms. Beulah Land, The Bee Queen of Asheville. Serving camp, body, face, and a cajun filet biscuit combo with seasoned fries and a large sweet tea! Follow her on Instagram and Twitter @ohmybeulahland for adventures in queer advocacy and art.

  • Ms. Ida Carolina, a drag comedienne, artist, and activist based in Asheville NC. She is a nationally ranked pageant competitor, show producer, and drag mother. You can find the Potato Queen as @IdaCarolina or @GoodQueenIda online.

This event is sponsored by Blue Ridge Pride, Western Carolina University, UNC Asheville’s WGSS program and University Teaching Council.

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Categories: Art & Craft Community
Black Oscars: From Mammy to Minny with Author Dr. Frederick W. Gooding Jr.
Mar 29 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
online w/ Buncombe County Libraries

 

Join us to hear Dr. Frederick W. Gooding Jr. speak about his book, Black Oscars: From Mammy to Minny, What the Academy Awards Tell Us about African Americans. This free program will be presented on Zoom on Monday, March 29 at 7:30pm. Please register here.

Second only to the Super Bowl in audience size and revenue, the Oscars are more than a mere ceremony; they are a phenomenon. Hosted by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, for over ninety years the Oscars have long been considered the pinnacle of fantasy, beauty, romance and high class. They are eagerly anticipated and are heavily discussed. It is only recently that movements such as #OscarsSoWhite have raised awareness around the more complicated legacy of the Oscars and African American participation in film.

Dr. Gooding’s book and presentation draw on American, African American, and film history to reflect on how the Oscars have recognized African-Americans from the award’s inception to the present. Starting in the 1920s, he provides a thorough analysis and overview of any African-American actors nominated for their Hollywood roles during each decade. By cross-referencing historical trends with prior winners, this program will show consistent patterns when it comes to African-American characters in film and discuss whether mainstream race relations has truly changed substantively or only superficially over time.

Dr. Gooding is an Associate Professor of African American Studies within the Honors College at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX. A trained historian, Gooding analyzes contemporary mainstream media with a careful eye for persistent patterns along racial lines that appear benign but indeed have problematic historical roots. His past work includes You Mean, There’s RACE in My Movie? The Complete Guide to Understanding Race in Mainstream Hollywood and American Dream Deferred.

This program is sponsored by Buncombe County Public Libraries and the YMI Cultural Center, with support from the Friends of the Buncombe County Public Libraries. Register here.

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Categories: Community Education
Tuesday, March 30, 2021
2021 World Water Day Celebrating Video Kunchu Community Borehole Solarization
Mar 30 all-day
Online w/ Improving Lives Initiative
Water has often been rightly described as the integral ingredient of life and at Davis and Shirtliff, all efforts have been made to improving the quality and management of this precious resource. Through the #ImprovingLives Initiative launched in 2020, the company and its partners have implemented 295 water projects across the region, improving 658,000 lives in the process. The availability of clean water is known to transform societies in terms of health, education, and economic prosperity and for this reason, World Water Day is observed annually by the UN in order to highlight the importance of sustainably managed freshwater. In commemoration of World Water Day 2021, the D&S #ImprovingLives initiative has solarized a water project in Kunchu community, Kajiado County that will benefit over 1,800 community members and particularly women who previously had to walk 34kms to access safe water for their daily use. The handing over of the water project was celebrated in a colorful ceremony, captured on video and available to view.

What does water mean to you? To Davis & Shirtliff, water is an integral ingredient for life. To commemorate World Water Day 2021, we upgraded the Kunchu Community borehole to a hybrid solar system. The 1,800 member community used to rely on a diesel generator to pump water, using over 70 litres of fuel a week. With the new solar powered system they no longer need to spend money on diesel and instead can harness the power of the sun for free. At Davis and Shirtliff, we dedicate our efforts to improving the quality and management of this priceless resource. Through its #ImprovingLives​ Initiative, Davis and Shirtliff has implemented 295 water projects, improving 658,000 lives.

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Categories: Community Health & Wellness
8th Annual Business Plan Contest
Mar 30 all-day
Online w/ Henderson Chamber of Commerce

The Henderson County Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the 8th Annual Business Plan Contest. A well-written business plan lays the foundation for a financially successful business. A well-prepared and executed business plan will grow sales, employment, and improve the bottom line. The business – start-up or existing – with the winning business plan will receive business services including advertising, tax, legal, and marketing for free, a value of over $7,000!
The 8th Annual Business Plan Contest is open to start-ups as well as existing businesses. You DO NOT have to be a Chamber member to participate. Electronic submissions are due to the Chamber by Monday, April 19, 2020. A panel of judges will select the winner and present the award at a reception hosted during Henderson County’s Small Business Week. The date for the celebration is still to be determined.
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Categories: Business and Networking Community
Analyzing how Recent Stimulus Affects your Operations
Mar 30 all-day
Online
CBIZ recently shared resources they created to help navigate specific takeaways of the federal relief. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 contains several provisions that may be of interest to both financial and operational strategies. It builds on past stimulus relief and offers targeted support for functions and businesses that have been particularly hard-hit by the repercussions of COVID-19.
The complied resources include :
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Categories: Business and Networking Community
Engage in the City of Asheville budget process: Survey now open, meetings to come
Mar 30 all-day
Online w/ The City of Asheville
The City of Asheville wants to hear from you!  City staff have approached the budget process differently this year by reviewing existing services with a focus on members of our community that experience inequity.

Through our internal department work, and from what heard through Reimagining Public Safety several opportunities for improvements emerged: Economic Opportunity, Access to Government, Increased Community Engagement, Increased Budget Transparency.

We want to know from you whether these potential changes are worth pursuing, and if you have other ideas about how we can improve.

Click here to take the survey and let us know. 

In addition to the survey, we are holding virtual discussion sessions as another way to gather information from you.  The questions in the survey will be leading the  first round of discussions.  There will be new topics for Round Two in April.   To register to be a part of the discussions visit the Equity Focused Budget Engagement Page or click  on the dates below.

Round two budget sessions:

April 20 – 6 to 7:30 p.m.

April 22 – 6 to 7:30 p.m.

April 23 – 10 to 11:30 a.m.

To follow along the budget process visit the Equity Focused Budget Engagement webpage.

Here is the upcoming City Council budget schedule:

  • April 13: Budget work session #3

  • May 25: City Manager’s Proposed Budget goes to City Council

  • June 8: Budget public hearing at City Council meeting

  • June 22: City Council to vote on budget adoption

We encourage all residents to watch the budget work sessions and keep up with the budget process and participate in this engagement. For any questions, contact Beth Bechel 828-259-5598 or [email protected].

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Categories: Community
Get Your Go Local Card
Mar 30 all-day
Online w/ Asheville Grown

Supporting Local Schools

Half of your purchase price of the 2021 Go Local Card will go to a public school to enhance programming, purchase much-needed teacher supplies and support local kids.

Buy yours TODAY!

Each year, as we add more businesses and cardholders to the program, the local movement grows stronger.

Photo courtesy of Mountain Xpress

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Categories: Community Education
Growing Minds Farm to School Program Spring Garden Bingo
Mar 30 all-day
Online w/ ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project)

Spring Garden Bingp

This spring garden bingo card comes from our Growing Minds Farm to School Program, but anyone can play! Get a printable version of the card here or find more spring learning resources for kids here.

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Categories: Education Family Fun Games Garden Garden Events
High-Risk Medical Conditions Group 4: Eligible COVID-19 Vaccine Beginning March 17
Mar 30 all-day
Online w/ NC Department of Health and Human Services
Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. announced beginning on March 17, people in Group 4 who have a medical condition that puts them at higher risk of serious illness and people who live in certain congregate settings will be eligible for vaccination. The rest of Group 4, which includes other essential workers will become eligible April 7. (See Deeper Dive)
The state was able to update its timeline today based on provider feedback and expected supply. As with previous eligibility changes, some vaccine providers may not be ready to open to Group 4 on March 17 if they are still experiencing high demand for vaccines in Groups 1 through 3.
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Categories: Community Health & Wellness
Higher Risk Individuals in Group 4 are Now Eligible for COVID Vaccines
Mar 30 all-day
North Carolina
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services released information on the addition of high-risk, group 4 individuals to those eligible for vaccines. According to their release, people in Group 4 who have a medical condition that puts them at higher risk of severe COVID-19 illness and those who live in certain congregate settings are now eligible for vaccination. You can find a COVID-19 vaccination site near you at MySpot.nc.gov.
North Carolina follows the recommendations of the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as to who is at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. That includes adults of any age with conditions, such as asthma, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, sickle cell disease, obesity, or smoking.
In addition, those who are eligible starting March 17 includes anyone who is living in higher-risk congregate or close group living settings who is not already vaccinated.
The rest of Group 4, which includes other essential workers, will become eligible April 7. Previously eligible groups – health care workers, long-term care staff and residents, people 65 and older, and frontline essential workers – will continue to be prioritized.
Some vaccine providers may not be ready to open to people with a medical condition on March 17 if they are still experiencing high demand for vaccines in Groups 1, 2 and 3.
Visit YourShotYourSpot.nc.gov (English) or Vacunate.nc.gov (Spanish) for more information about the vaccines, including answers to frequently asked questions..
Not sure what vaccine group you’re in? Visit FindMyGroup.nc.gov. You can also contact the COVID-19 Vaccine Help Center toll-free at 1-888-675-4567.
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Categories: Community Health & Wellness
MLK Youth Scholarship
Mar 30 all-day
online w/ Buncombe County Government

Did you know Buncombe County is actively involved in an important initiative aimed at more accurately reflecting the history of racial and economic injustice? The Buncombe County Remembrance Project is a part of the Equal Justice Initiative’s nationwide effort to work with counties to raise more awareness about individuals lynched in our County. Further, the project is working to bring about community healing concerning Jim Crow-era discrimination, mass incarceration, state-sanctioned violence, contemporary racial trauma and violence, and other important issues.

The Buncombe County Remembrance Project is a partnership with multiple local organizations that all recognize the need to publicly acknowledge and educate the public about racial issues. This work ties into the County’s 2025 Strategic Plan which is focused on equity defined as: Systems, policies, and practices that support equity for all people and an organizational culture that embraces diversity and inclusion. To learn more about the Buncombe County Remembrance Project, click here.

 MLK Youth Scholarship

Martin Luther King Junior’s work to advance equal rights was pivotal in helping shape today’s landscape. There is much work still to be done, but his legacy continues to inspire generations. Buncombe County strives to be a place where Dr. King’s vision is realized by prioritizing equity and being intentional about highlighting racial injustice through initiatives such as the Buncombe County Remembrance Project, our Racial Equity Action Plan, and other efforts.

To further honor Martin Luther King Junior’s legacy, Buncombe County wants to ensure students are aware of the MLK Youth Scholarship for Buncombe County residents. Applications are due April 15, learn more here.

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Categories: Community Education Family Fun
Need to Appeal Your Tax Value?
Mar 30 all-day
online w/ Buncombe County Government

No matter how thorough and fair a reappraisal may be, there are still instances when only the property owner has all the information necessary for an accurate appraisal. Informal appeals for the tax year 2021 can be filed anytime between Jan. 1-April 28, 2021. Additionally, anyone receiving a change of value notice after April 1, 2021 has thirty days from that notice date to file an appeal.

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Categories: Community Education
North Carolina to Further Relax COVID-19 Restrictions
Mar 30 all-day
North Carolina
Governor Cooper announced Tuesday that North Carolina will continue to ease some COVID-19 restrictions. Executive Order 204 will take effect Friday, March 26 at 5 pm and is set to expire April 30th at 5 pm. The general mask mandate will remain in effect.
Executive Order 204 has three general categories of occupancy restrictions: up to 100% capacity, 75% capacity, and 50% capacity. All businesses must continue to maintain 6 feet of distance between patrons and implement safety protocols as they expand capacity.
The Executive Order also increases the mass gathering limits. The number of people who may gather indoors will increase to 50 and the number of people who may gather outdoors will increase to 100. The Order also lifts the restrictions on the late-night sale and service of alcoholic beverages on bars, restaurants, and other establishments.
Indoors and Outdoors up to 100% Capacity, Subject to Masks and 6 ft. Social Distancing
  • Museums and Aquariums
  • Retail Businesses
  • Salons, personal care and grooming businesses, tattoo parlors
Indoors up to 75% and Outdoors up to 100% Capacity, Subject to Masks and 6 ft. Social Distancing
  • Restaurants
  • Breweries, Wineries, and Distilleries
  • Recreation (e.g., bowling, skating, rock climbing)
  • Fitness and Physical Activity Facilities (e.g., gyms, yoga studios, fitness centers)
  • Pools
  • Amusement Parks
Indoors and Outdoors up to 50% Capacity, Subject to Masks and 6 ft. Social Distancing
  • Bars
  • Movie Theaters*
  • Gaming Facilities*
  • Meeting, Reception, and Conference Spaces
  • Lounges (including tobacco) and Night Clubs
  • Auditoriums, Arenas, and other venues for live performances
  • Sports Arenas and Fields (includes professional, collegiate, and amateur
*Movie theaters and gaming facilities may operate at up to 75% capacity outdoors.
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Categories: Community Health & Wellness
Online Education Series: “The Story of a Cemetery, The Story of Asheville”
Mar 30 all-day
Online
Don’t miss our last installment of videos
on the South Asheville Cemetery:
Anne Chesky Smith, Executive Director of the Western North Carolina Historical Association, continues the story of the South Asheville cemetery. Located in the Kenilworth neighborhood, the cemetery was originally a place to bury enslaved people and following the Civil War continued as a burial site for African Americans until the 1940s. This final video in the series gives a broad overview of the site history. It covers stories from the first non-native settlers through the 20th century.
and in case you missed it…
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Categories: Community Education
Photo Contest Buncombe County Parks: Theme for April is Game On
Mar 30 all-day
Buncombe County Parks
Backpack, water bottles, stickers, and other I Heart Parks items

We know you love Buncombe County parks! We get tagged in lots of pics on Facebook and Instagram. Why not get a sweet reward for your photo skills?

Each month, we’ll announce a theme. Post your favorite photos to Instagram or Facebook showing the theme in one of our parks. Make sure to tag @BuncombeRecreation and use the hashtag #IHeartBCParks. Be sure your photo is set to “public” and use the hashtag or we won’t be able to find it. (Full rules below.)

Our theme for April is… (drumroll, please) Game On! You play soccer, disc golf, volleyball, kickball, gaga, horse shoes, fishing, bocce, lacrosse, softball, baseball, and more in Buncombe County parks. Post your best pics by Apr. 30; you can submit an unlimited number of photos. Be creative and think outside the box.

The winning photo will receive:

  • Cool I Heart Parks swag: rope bag cross body sling, water bottle, compass, first aid kit, pen, and stickers
  • Picture set as the cover photo for Buncombe County Recreation Service’s Facebook page for a month
  • Bragging rights

Want to get a jump on the competition? Future themes include kids, pets, autumn views, and Leave No Trace.

#IHeartBCParks Photo Contest Rules and Guidelines

  1. Photos MUST be taken at a Buncombe County park. Tag or identify your location in your post.
  2. You do not need to be a Buncombe County resident to enter. Everyone is eligible to submit an entry*.
  3. Photos must be posted on Facebook or Instagram.
  4. Entry participants must be a follower of Buncombe County Recreation Services on Facebook or Instagram. Non-followers are not eligible.
  5. To enter, post your photo on Facebook or Instagram tagging @BuncombeRecreation on Facebook or Instagram. Use the hashtag #IHeartBCParks. (If you do not use this hashtag we won’t be able to find your photo.)
  6. Make sure your photo is set to “public” so we can see it.
  7. By submitting your photo, you warrant that your entry is an original work of authorship. You understand and agree that Buncombe County Recreation Services can re-post your photo and credit your name/username in any future promotions hereafter.
  8. All photos must be posted within the time frame to be eligible.
  9. Individuals may submit an unlimited number of photos.
  10. Prizes cannot be substituted, transferred, or returned for cash. No purchase necessary to enter or win. A purchase does not increase the chances of winning.
  11. This contest is not sponsored, administered, or endorsed by Facebook or Instagram.
  12. Be creative and think outside the box. Get out and enjoy your Buncombe County parks, pools, and open spaces!

*Entries must be submitted by individuals ages 18 or older. Employees of Buncombe County, the contest’s participating sponsors, and members of the immediate family of any such persons are not eligible to participate and win. The term “immediate family” includes spouses, siblings, parents, children, grandparents, and grandchildren, whether it is “in-laws,” or by current or past marriage(s), remarriage(s), adoption, co-habitation or other family extension, and any other persons residing at the same household whether or not related.

To receive the I Heart Parks monthly newsletter, sign up online.

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Categories: Art & Craft Community
Racial Justice Essay Contest grades 9-12
Mar 30 all-day
online w/ Buncombe County Government

Did you know Buncombe County is actively involved in an important initiative aimed at more accurately reflecting the history of racial and economic injustice? The Buncombe County Remembrance Project is a part of the Equal Justice Initiative’s nationwide effort to work with counties to raise more awareness about individuals lynched in our County. Further, the project is working to bring about community healing concerning Jim Crow-era discrimination, mass incarceration, state-sanctioned violence, contemporary racial trauma and violence, and other important issues.

The Buncombe County Remembrance Project is a partnership with multiple local organizations that all recognize the need to publicly acknowledge and educate the public about racial issues. This work ties into the County’s 2025 Strategic Plan which is focused on equity defined as: Systems, policies, and practices that support equity for all people and an organizational culture that embraces diversity and inclusion. To learn more about the Buncombe County Remembrance Project, click here.

Racial Justice Essay Contest

The Equal Justice Initiative in partnership with the Buncombe Community Remembrance Project is pleased to announce an upcoming scholarship contest open to 9th – 12th grade students attending public high school in Buncombe County, North Carolina where prizes totaling at least $5,000 will be awarded to winning participants.

Students are asked to examine the history of a topic of racial injustice and to discuss its legacy today. Essays should explain the chosen topic using a specific historical event(s), explore how the injustice persists, and imagine solutions for a future free from racial injustice. Students are encouraged to reflect on how the topic impacts their own lives and communities.

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Categories: Community Family Fun
Registration Open for Senior Games + Silver Arts 2021
Mar 30 all-day
Buncombe County Parks

Each spring, hundreds of locals 50+ years-old enjoy participating in the Asheville-Buncombe Senior Games and Silver Arts. This year’s program will be held at locations throughout Buncombe County from the week of Apr. 19 through May 19 (tentative). There is no registration fee this year.

To register, fill out a registration form (see documents below) or register online at ncseniorgames.org.

Sports include bowling, croquet, football throw, softball throw, golf, putt-putt, cycling, track and field, archery, cheerleading, swimming, billiards, badminton, cornhole, horseshoes, pickleball, racquetball, shuffleboard, tennis, and table tennis. Age categories start at 50 and increase at five year intervals.

Silver Arts categories are classified as Heritage (quilting, woodwork, crochet, basket weaving, jewelry, needlework, tole painting, weaving, knitting, pottery, stained glass, woodcarving, and woodturning), Visual (solo, small group, and large group), Performing, Literary (poem, short story, essay, and life experience), and Contemporary. Art pieces will be displayed online.

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Categories: Community Health & Wellness Parks & Recreation Sports
Share Your Story Campaign: Support Asheville Art Museum as Finalist in The National Medal
Mar 30 all-day
Online w/ Asheville Art Museum

The Asheville Art Museum is the only museum in North Carolina to be selected as a finalist for this award. Chapel Hill Public Library is the only library to be selected in North Carolina.

The National Medal is the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries that demonstrate significant impact in their communities. For more than 25 years, the award has honored institutions that demonstrate excellence in service to their communities.

To celebrate this honor, IMLS is encouraging the Asheville Art Museum’s community members to share stories, memories, pictures, and videos on social media as part of the Share Your Story Campaign, using the #IMLSmedals hashtag, and engage with IMLS on Facebook and Twitter. For more information, please visit the IMLS website. The Asheville Art Museum will be featured on IMLS’s social media accounts on Tuesday, March 30, and we invite all to also share the content with the community.

National Medal winners will be announced in late spring. Representatives from winning institutions will be honored for their extraordinary contributions during a virtual National Medal Ceremony this summer.

To see the full list of finalists and learn more about the National Medal, visit the IMLS website.

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Categories: Art & Craft Community
Stay Informed. Be Buncombe Ready. Sign up for BC Alerts
Mar 30 all-day
online w/ Buncombe County Government

News article image

Buncombe County will be using our emergency notification system to let people know when COVID vaccine appointments are available.

BCAlerts

If there’s one thing the pandemic has taught us, it’s to be ready… Buncombe Ready. But what’s the best way to stay up to date about available vaccines, natural disasters, public health emergencies, and more? Sign up for BC Alerts, and you’ll get that information sent directly to you in real time.

Text BCAlert  to 99411 or click here to sign up and pick the types of alerts you’d like to receive. You’ll also be able to choose from preferred languages. Need TTY? No problem, that option is also available.

If you’ve already signed up for BC Alerts in the past, you’ll need to re-register due to a change in emergency alert providers.

Stay Buncombe Ready and sign up for BC Alerts today.

Follow the County on our social media pages  at facebook.com/buncombegov or facebook.com/bchhs, on Twitter at twitter.com/buncombeGov and on Instagram at instagram.com/buncombecounty.

You may also sign up for Buncombe County’s COVID-19 newsletter at buncombeready.org and click the sign up button.

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Categories: Community
The Partner Agency Map: Who is your nearest food partner?
Mar 30 all-day
Online w/ Manna Food Bank
The Partner Agency Map:
Who is your nearest food partner?
Do you know your nearest local resource for free food?
Take a moment from your day and view the Partner Agency Map to learn more about your local resources are for free food. Whether you are looking for supplemental food yourself or know someone who may be, this information is great to know and share.
To create a food secure WNC we need to make sure we’re aware of the resources we have available for ourselves and the people in our personal networks.

FIND A FREE FOOD DISTRIBUTION NEAR YOU

The MANNA Partner Network of over 200 nonprofit pantries, meal sites, and other community-based organizations help residents to access free food across 16 western North Carolina counties. Use the map below to find MANNA partners close to you, or search the up-to-date listing of food partners (by county).

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Categories: Community Health & Wellness
UNC Asheville Opens On-Campus Vaccine Clinic in Partnership with MAHEC
Mar 30 all-day
UNC Asheville Reuter Center
TIME AND DATES VARY
Nearly a year into the coronavirus pandemic, UNC Asheville has a new role to play in combating COVID-19, expanding the campus’ commitment of care and compassion beyond the classrooms and into the community, as the Reuter Center has been transformed into a COVID-19 immunization site in partnership with the Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC).

“MAHEC and UNCA are eager to urgently vaccinate as many people as possible every week until COVID is no longer present in Western North Carolina,” commented MAHEC’s CEO Jeff Heck. “UNCA is a great partner and together we will work to bring the vaccine to as many residents as possible.”

The site continues to call individuals as vaccine shipments arrive. Schedule updates and frequently asked questions will be posted at https://coronavirus.unca.edu/faq/covid-19-vaccine/, and individuals will be contacted directly with their appointment details.
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Categories: Community Health & Wellness
Women’s History Month As Told By Buncombe Women
Mar 30 all-day
online w/ Buncombe County Government

As we celebrate Women’s History Month, the Communications and Public Engagement Team wants to share insight on what the month means to some of the women in our organization. Below you will find insights from our County Manager, three of our Commissioners, and members of our Women’s Commission.

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Categories: Community
American Red Cross Be a hero Roll up a Sleeve
Mar 30 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Asheville Blood Donation Center

March is Red Cross Month, and for more than 130 years, heroic American Red Cross volunteers have provided hope and urgent relief to families in communities across the country.
This March the community is invited to join in the lifesaving mission of the Red Cross and be
someone’s hero by rolling up a sleeve to give blood.
According to the Red Cross, someone in the U.S. needs blood every two seconds to respond to
patient emergencies. Accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients,
and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease may all require blood.
All blood types are needed.
Be a hero in your community by rolling up a sleeve….

To make an appointment or to learn more, download the American Red Cross Blood Donor
App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood
Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device. Completion of a RapidPass® online health history
questionnaire is encouraged to help speed up the donation process. To get started, follow the
instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App. A blood donor card
or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who
are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh
at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High
school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height
and weight requirements.

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Categories: Community Donations Health & Wellness
Celebrate National Doctors’ Day w/ a Blood Donation $5 to Doctors Without Boarders
Mar 30 @ 9:00 am – 7:00 pm
The Blood Connection

In honor of National Doctors’ Day, The Blood Connection (TBC) is donating five dollars to Doctors Without Borders USA for every blood donation given on Tuesday, March 30th at a TBC center or blood mobile. Donors will also receive a $20 gift card (e-gift card at centers) as a thank you. TBC is doing this promotion to recognize the relentless work of local doctors and nurses. Especially in a year marked by a worldwide pandemic, their dedication to the community has been instrumental to our healing. As noted in the facts below, almost 293,000 blood products were sent to local hospitals in 2020 to help patients who rely on blood donations. On the other side of every one of those units sent is a doctor who administered that treatment, ultimately affecting the patient’s family, friends, coworkers, etc.

To Schedule a donation for Platelets or Automated procedures, please call 864-751-1168

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Categories: Community Donations Health & Wellness
Connecting Community: Free Resources for Parents of Young Children
Mar 30 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Buncombe County
Buncombe Partnership for Children

Buncombe Partnership for Children is on a mission to strengthen the capacity of educators, families, and the community to build a strong foundation for children’s learning and development beginning at birth. We are excited to partner with the incredible nonprofit to share some of their programming for parents of pre-kindergarten little ones.

  1. Circle of Security Parenting Program: 8-week parenting class conducted by trained facilitators to meet other parents, strengthen relationship with your child, recognize your child’s needs, behavior & more.
  2. Kaleidoscope Play & Learn Online: Adult-child online groups for 0-5 year olds and their families/caregivers. All you need is an email address to join for activities, stories, music, learning, and fun. Enrollment is ongoing.
  3. It’s Time for Kindergarten Events: Virtual discussion about what skills and experiences are most important for children to develop in the year before starting school. This is a great opportunity to look at different types of learning experiences, development, and time to get questions you may have answered. Please email [email protected] with questions.
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Categories: Community
Council on Aging of Buncombe County seeking Volunteers
Mar 30 @ 9:00 am – 4:30 pm
Council on Aging of Buncombe County
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Categories: Community Volunteers
Free Energy Upgrades for Qualifying Homeowners
Mar 30 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Online w /Buncombe County

 

Income-qualifying households in Buncombe County are eligible for free energy-saving weatherization upgrades to their homes through the Energy Saver’s Network (ESN). The ESN sends volunteers to local homes to install many types of upgrades depending on the needs of the home. The work can take anywhere between one and three hours, and includes:

  • weather stripping
  • air register and duct sealant
  • water pipe insulation
  • low-flow water fixtures
  • light bulb replacement
  • custom interior storm windows
  • repairing minor air leaks
  • smoke alarm installation, and more.

In 2019, the ESN completed 200 projects, clocked 1,879 volunteer hours, and installed upgrades to homes resulting in 2,341 less tons of CO2 and over 108,000 total kWh savings per year for all of its clients. ESN’s goal is to provide upgrades to 200 homes per year.

ESN is a nonprofit organization founded on a dual mission: to help people and combat climate change. The organization envisions a sustainable future where communities are free from the worst impacts of fossil fuel history. If you want to know if you qualify, are looking to volunteer, or want more information, you can visit energysaversnetwork.org, send them a message on their Facebook/Instagram page, or call Hannah Egan at 828-585-4492.

The Energy Saver’s Network is made up from a partnership with Asheville’s Green Built Alliance, Sierra Club, Buncombe County Government, and the City of Asheville. This also includes partner organizations that help find people to serve or for volunteers, like the Blue Horizon Project, Mountain Housing Opportunities, and Eblen Charities. Make a phone call today to see if you quality for free upgrades to your home.

Sponsor Logos

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Categories: Community
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment
Mar 30 @ 9:00 am – 4:30 pm
The Council on Aging of Buncombe County
Medicare Advantage
Open Enrollment Period
ends March 31.
Each year, if you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can switch to a different Medicare Advantage Plan or switch to Original Medicare (and join a separate Medicare drug plan) once during this time.
Our Medicare counselors are available to work with you individually to provide unbiased information about your Medicare insurance options.
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Categories: Community Education Health & Wellness