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.

Friday, September 11, 2020
Buncombe County Extension Office Open to Public
Sep 11 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Buncombe County Extension

On-site staffing is limited. Reservations recommended.

Fairy Trail at Bullington Gardens
Sep 11 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Bullington Gardens

The Fairy trail is open Monday thru Saturday, 9am-4pm. We encourage all visitors to be patient as there will be limits to the number of people allowed on the trail at the same time. While the trail is outdoors, there are some small spaces and we want to ensure our guests and fairies are safe. Please practice appropriate social distancing and bring a mask in case. Masks are not required, but are considerate in a close area. Our restrooms are not open to the public at this time. Please make arrangements prior to visiting.

 

Rules of the trail:

Do not move or rearrange fairy displays. The fairies are very fond of their own decorating.

Do not leave trash on the trail. Fairies do not like litter in their town.

Please ensure children and pets are supervised at all times. Dogs and loud noises can scare the fairies into hiding.

Do not disturb wildlife or vegetation. The fairies depend on the vegetation to build their homes.

The trail is one way only. Please stay on the trail at all times.

 

The Fairies can’t wait to see you all here!

P.S. the Fairies would like us to remind you that we are a non-profit and donations are greatly appreciated. Help us keep the fairies living in the style with which they’ve become accustomed.

7th Annual Harvest Conference is Livestream
Sep 11 @ 9:30 am – 4:30 pm
zoom

The 7th Annual Harvest Conference will be the first major public online gathering held by the organization. The conference is to take place Friday and Saturday, September 11 and 12, 2020 from 9:30AM to 4:30PM (both days) via livestream on the Zoom platform. The Conference features three 2-day workshops with outstanding guest speakers. Recordings of the classes will also be available for purchase, and full scholarships are available for farmers and food activists.

The workshops being offered are as follows:

 

  1. Cherokee Foods with Amy Walker, Mary Crowe and Tyson Sampson

○       Friday 9/11: Gathering & Wildcrafting

○       Saturday 9/12: Cultivating Traditional Crops

  1. Farm Business with Cee Stanley

○       Friday 9/11: The NC Hemp Industry*

○       Saturday 9/12: Brand Your Small Farm for Fundraising Success

*Please note this class sold out in 2019, register early!

  1. Herbal Tonics with Patricia Kyritsi Howell

○       Friday 9/11: Spring & Summer

○       Saturday 9/12: Fall & Winter

The day-long workshops are all independent. Participants can sign up for a workshop with any instructor on Friday and/or Saturday and they receive a discount for registering for both days. The cost for one day only is $70 (either Friday or Saturday) and $125 for both days. Details on the workshops and how to register can be found online.

Saturday, September 12, 2020
An Abundant Time of Year: How-to Food Preservation
Sep 12 all-day
Online article
Learn to make dilly beans, salsa, fruit butter, and more!
Farm Beginnings® Farmer-Led Training Program Virtual for 2020-2021
Sep 12 all-day
Online

Many skills are required to start and expand a successful farm business: passion, clear goals, production experience, financial and marketing know-how, and more. Farm Beginnings® will help you build these skills through one year of farmer-led training, mentoring, and networking. Using a holistic management frame, farmer-led classroom sessions, on-farm tours, and an extensive farmer network, Farm Beginnings® will help you clarify your goals and strengths, establish a strong enterprise plan, and start building a profitable and sustainable operation. Although students do not need to own land, some farming or production experience is required to get the most out of the program. As we know, farming is more critical than ever. Apply to this program and be prepared when crisis hits!

Program Details: December 2020 – September 2021

2020-2021 Farm Beginnings® Farmer Training is 200+ Hours including:

— Winter Whole-Farm Business Planning Courses – 60 hours (October – March)**
— ASAP’s Business of Farming Conference (February) – 8 hours
— OGS Conferences – 40+ hours
— Mentorship with an experienced Farmer Mentor (March – September) – 15 hours
— Production Training – 45 hours (April – October): WNC CRAFT tours on sustainable farms around WNC & Field Days with regional partners Living Web Farms  and the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy Incubator Farm
— One year WNC CRAFT Farmer Network membership – Membership and mentoring in a regional farmer network

NC Commissioner of Agriculture, Steve Troxler, Inducted: WNC Agricultural Hall of Fame
Sep 12 all-day
Online

Friday, August 21, 2020 at 12 noon WNC Communities held the 30th Western North Carolina Agricultural Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Mountain Horticulture Crops Research and Extension Center in Mills River. North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Steve Troxler, was inducted during a modified awards presentation. Due to current restrictions regarding public gatherings, the scaled-down ceremony was livestreamed and a limited number of attendees were present to substitute for the normal luncheon and gathering of peers, guests and friends. The ceremony can be viewed via the WNC Communities Video YouTube Channel accessible through a link at wnccommunities.org.

NC Forest Service’s Annual Tree Seedling Sale
Sep 12 all-day
Online

a dirt path in a forest

The North Carolina Forest Service is accepting tree seedling orders as part of its annual sale.

Each year, the NCFS Nursery Program produces millions of quality seedlings for nearly 50 species of conifers, hardwoods and native understory plants, including eastern and Carolina hemlock seedlings, as well as an expanded selection of genetically improved third cycle loblolly pine seedlings.

How can you order tree seedlings from the NCFS Nursery Program?

  • Tree seedlings can be ordered from the online seedling store at www.buynctrees.com.
  • Tree seedlings can also be ordered by phone at 1-888-NCTREES (1-888-628-7337).
  • Tree seedlings can be ordered using the order form found in our current catalog. Complete the form and mail to Seedling Coordinator, 762 Claridge Nursery Road, Goldsboro, NC 27530.
  • A user-friendly catalog is available at the “Tree Seedlings & Nursery Program” link located at www.ncforestservice.gov. Catalogs are also available at local NCFS offices located in all 100 North Carolina counties. Inside the catalog, landowners can find information about the types of tree species, quantities and costs to order. Each tree description includes information about ideal planting locations and whether a species is typically used to benefit wildlife, restore habitats or as marketable timber.

Distribution of tree seedlings will occur December through mid-April, depending on weather conditions. Seedling orders can be shipped to one of 12 distribution centers statewide for a small fee or via UPS for a charge. Seedling orders are also available for pickup from the NCFS Claridge Nursery in Goldsboro or the Linville River Nursery, near Crossnore. For information on planting trees, people are encouraged to contact an NCFS county ranger. Contact information for your local NCFS county office and nursery locations is available at www.ncforestservice.gov/contacts.

The 2020 Harvest Conference Organic Growers School
Sep 12 all-day
WNC various locations TBA

The 2020 Harvest Conference will be held September 11 & 12, 2020.

Please mark your calendars and look for details on this webpage in Spring of 2020.

 

The Harvest Conference is an educational event that offers affordable classes on organic growing and sustainable living.

The Botanical Gardens Plant & Rummage Sale
Sep 12 @ 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
The Botanical Gardens

The Botanical Gardens and local plant vendors will offer a wide variety of trees, shrubs, and flowers for fall planting. BGA members get a 10% discount on BGA-grown plants that we sell at the gazebo.  Other plant vendors include Carolina Native Nursery, Colonial Acres Nursery, the Men’s Garden Club of Asheville, Mountain Mist Nursery, Red Root Native Nursery, Sandy Mush Herb Nursery, Saturnia Farm, June Wilbanks, and Wildbud Natives.

Shop the Rummage Sale for books, tools and one-of-a-kind treasures!

As always, this event will take place rain or shine. The Botanical Gardens receives no city, state or federal funds. Instead, we receive our funding exclusively through memberships, donations, gift shop sales and the spring and fall plant sales. Free admission and parking on site or nearby.

Note: If  you would like to donate garden tools, books or other interesting items to be sold in the rummage sale, bring them by the Visitor Center 10 am to 4 pm, Monday-Friday and 12-4 on Sundays once the Visitor Center is open for the season. You’ll get a gold star in our book.

7th Annual Harvest Conference is Livestream
Sep 12 @ 9:30 am – 4:30 pm
zoom

The 7th Annual Harvest Conference will be the first major public online gathering held by the organization. The conference is to take place Friday and Saturday, September 11 and 12, 2020 from 9:30AM to 4:30PM (both days) via livestream on the Zoom platform. The Conference features three 2-day workshops with outstanding guest speakers. Recordings of the classes will also be available for purchase, and full scholarships are available for farmers and food activists.

The workshops being offered are as follows:

 

  1. Cherokee Foods with Amy Walker, Mary Crowe and Tyson Sampson

○       Friday 9/11: Gathering & Wildcrafting

○       Saturday 9/12: Cultivating Traditional Crops

  1. Farm Business with Cee Stanley

○       Friday 9/11: The NC Hemp Industry*

○       Saturday 9/12: Brand Your Small Farm for Fundraising Success

*Please note this class sold out in 2019, register early!

  1. Herbal Tonics with Patricia Kyritsi Howell

○       Friday 9/11: Spring & Summer

○       Saturday 9/12: Fall & Winter

The day-long workshops are all independent. Participants can sign up for a workshop with any instructor on Friday and/or Saturday and they receive a discount for registering for both days. The cost for one day only is $70 (either Friday or Saturday) and $125 for both days. Details on the workshops and how to register can be found online.

Common Invasive Plants of WNC ~ ID and Prevention
Sep 12 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Black Mountain Library

The Sowing Circle Series will hold a free Zoom presentation on identifying and preventing common invasive plants in WNC.  

Non-native invasive plants introduced into North Carolina are causing problems for our native plant and animal species. These plants are taking over our natural areas, parks, forests, urban environments, yards, and gardens. We have invited Barb Harrison, Buncombe County Extension Master Gardener, to teach you how to recognize and identify the most common invasive plants in our area and how to reduce their spread. 

Registration required.  This talk is sponsored by Black Mountain Blooms Seed Lending Library and Buncombe County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers.  Come join our gardening community and grow with us!  

Sowing Circle Presents: Common Invasive Plants
Sep 12 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Online

Sowing Circle Presents:  Common Invasive Plants

Non-native invasive plants introduced into North Carolina are causing problems for our native plant and animal species. These plants are taking over our natural areas, parks, forests, urban environments, yards, and gardens. Barb Harrison, Extension Master Gardener Volunteer, will teach you how to recognize and identify the most common invasive plants in our area and how to reduce their spread.

Sunday, September 13, 2020
An Abundant Time of Year: How-to Food Preservation
Sep 13 all-day
Online article
Learn to make dilly beans, salsa, fruit butter, and more!
Farm Beginnings® Farmer-Led Training Program Virtual for 2020-2021
Sep 13 all-day
Online

Many skills are required to start and expand a successful farm business: passion, clear goals, production experience, financial and marketing know-how, and more. Farm Beginnings® will help you build these skills through one year of farmer-led training, mentoring, and networking. Using a holistic management frame, farmer-led classroom sessions, on-farm tours, and an extensive farmer network, Farm Beginnings® will help you clarify your goals and strengths, establish a strong enterprise plan, and start building a profitable and sustainable operation. Although students do not need to own land, some farming or production experience is required to get the most out of the program. As we know, farming is more critical than ever. Apply to this program and be prepared when crisis hits!

Program Details: December 2020 – September 2021

2020-2021 Farm Beginnings® Farmer Training is 200+ Hours including:

— Winter Whole-Farm Business Planning Courses – 60 hours (October – March)**
— ASAP’s Business of Farming Conference (February) – 8 hours
— OGS Conferences – 40+ hours
— Mentorship with an experienced Farmer Mentor (March – September) – 15 hours
— Production Training – 45 hours (April – October): WNC CRAFT tours on sustainable farms around WNC & Field Days with regional partners Living Web Farms  and the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy Incubator Farm
— One year WNC CRAFT Farmer Network membership – Membership and mentoring in a regional farmer network

NC Commissioner of Agriculture, Steve Troxler, Inducted: WNC Agricultural Hall of Fame
Sep 13 all-day
Online

Friday, August 21, 2020 at 12 noon WNC Communities held the 30th Western North Carolina Agricultural Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Mountain Horticulture Crops Research and Extension Center in Mills River. North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Steve Troxler, was inducted during a modified awards presentation. Due to current restrictions regarding public gatherings, the scaled-down ceremony was livestreamed and a limited number of attendees were present to substitute for the normal luncheon and gathering of peers, guests and friends. The ceremony can be viewed via the WNC Communities Video YouTube Channel accessible through a link at wnccommunities.org.

NC Forest Service’s Annual Tree Seedling Sale
Sep 13 all-day
Online

a dirt path in a forest

The North Carolina Forest Service is accepting tree seedling orders as part of its annual sale.

Each year, the NCFS Nursery Program produces millions of quality seedlings for nearly 50 species of conifers, hardwoods and native understory plants, including eastern and Carolina hemlock seedlings, as well as an expanded selection of genetically improved third cycle loblolly pine seedlings.

How can you order tree seedlings from the NCFS Nursery Program?

  • Tree seedlings can be ordered from the online seedling store at www.buynctrees.com.
  • Tree seedlings can also be ordered by phone at 1-888-NCTREES (1-888-628-7337).
  • Tree seedlings can be ordered using the order form found in our current catalog. Complete the form and mail to Seedling Coordinator, 762 Claridge Nursery Road, Goldsboro, NC 27530.
  • A user-friendly catalog is available at the “Tree Seedlings & Nursery Program” link located at www.ncforestservice.gov. Catalogs are also available at local NCFS offices located in all 100 North Carolina counties. Inside the catalog, landowners can find information about the types of tree species, quantities and costs to order. Each tree description includes information about ideal planting locations and whether a species is typically used to benefit wildlife, restore habitats or as marketable timber.

Distribution of tree seedlings will occur December through mid-April, depending on weather conditions. Seedling orders can be shipped to one of 12 distribution centers statewide for a small fee or via UPS for a charge. Seedling orders are also available for pickup from the NCFS Claridge Nursery in Goldsboro or the Linville River Nursery, near Crossnore. For information on planting trees, people are encouraged to contact an NCFS county ranger. Contact information for your local NCFS county office and nursery locations is available at www.ncforestservice.gov/contacts.

Monday, September 14, 2020
Buncombe County Extension Office Open to Public
Sep 14 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Buncombe County Extension

On-site staffing is limited. Reservations recommended.

Fairy Trail at Bullington Gardens
Sep 14 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Bullington Gardens

The Fairy trail is open Monday thru Saturday, 9am-4pm. We encourage all visitors to be patient as there will be limits to the number of people allowed on the trail at the same time. While the trail is outdoors, there are some small spaces and we want to ensure our guests and fairies are safe. Please practice appropriate social distancing and bring a mask in case. Masks are not required, but are considerate in a close area. Our restrooms are not open to the public at this time. Please make arrangements prior to visiting.

 

Rules of the trail:

Do not move or rearrange fairy displays. The fairies are very fond of their own decorating.

Do not leave trash on the trail. Fairies do not like litter in their town.

Please ensure children and pets are supervised at all times. Dogs and loud noises can scare the fairies into hiding.

Do not disturb wildlife or vegetation. The fairies depend on the vegetation to build their homes.

The trail is one way only. Please stay on the trail at all times.

 

The Fairies can’t wait to see you all here!

P.S. the Fairies would like us to remind you that we are a non-profit and donations are greatly appreciated. Help us keep the fairies living in the style with which they’ve become accustomed.

Tuesday, September 15, 2020
Buncombe County Extension Office Open to Public
Sep 15 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Buncombe County Extension

On-site staffing is limited. Reservations recommended.

Fairy Trail at Bullington Gardens
Sep 15 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Bullington Gardens

The Fairy trail is open Monday thru Saturday, 9am-4pm. We encourage all visitors to be patient as there will be limits to the number of people allowed on the trail at the same time. While the trail is outdoors, there are some small spaces and we want to ensure our guests and fairies are safe. Please practice appropriate social distancing and bring a mask in case. Masks are not required, but are considerate in a close area. Our restrooms are not open to the public at this time. Please make arrangements prior to visiting.

 

Rules of the trail:

Do not move or rearrange fairy displays. The fairies are very fond of their own decorating.

Do not leave trash on the trail. Fairies do not like litter in their town.

Please ensure children and pets are supervised at all times. Dogs and loud noises can scare the fairies into hiding.

Do not disturb wildlife or vegetation. The fairies depend on the vegetation to build their homes.

The trail is one way only. Please stay on the trail at all times.

 

The Fairies can’t wait to see you all here!

P.S. the Fairies would like us to remind you that we are a non-profit and donations are greatly appreciated. Help us keep the fairies living in the style with which they’ve become accustomed.

NC Arboretum Protecting Pollinators in Peril
Sep 15 @ 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
zoom

Alternate text

There are hundreds of thousands of species of pollinators that make our planet so botanically diverse. They are responsible for the reproduction of nearly 90% of the world’s flowering plants, including more than two-thirds of the world’s crop species, and they are vital to sustaining birds and other animals. Nevertheless, in 2016 the United Nations reported that forty percent of insect pollinator species are at risk of extinction. During this online class, learn how the Xerces Society’s Bee City USA program, through local policy and broad-based educational efforts, is empowering individuals and communities to take action to reverse pollinator decline. Presented by Asheville GreenWorks board member Phyllis Styles.

Wednesday, September 16, 2020
An Abundant Time of Year: How-to Food Preservation
Sep 16 all-day
Online article
Learn to make dilly beans, salsa, fruit butter, and more!
Buncombe County Extension Office Open to Public
Sep 16 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Buncombe County Extension

On-site staffing is limited. Reservations recommended.

Fairy Trail at Bullington Gardens
Sep 16 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Bullington Gardens

The Fairy trail is open Monday thru Saturday, 9am-4pm. We encourage all visitors to be patient as there will be limits to the number of people allowed on the trail at the same time. While the trail is outdoors, there are some small spaces and we want to ensure our guests and fairies are safe. Please practice appropriate social distancing and bring a mask in case. Masks are not required, but are considerate in a close area. Our restrooms are not open to the public at this time. Please make arrangements prior to visiting.

 

Rules of the trail:

Do not move or rearrange fairy displays. The fairies are very fond of their own decorating.

Do not leave trash on the trail. Fairies do not like litter in their town.

Please ensure children and pets are supervised at all times. Dogs and loud noises can scare the fairies into hiding.

Do not disturb wildlife or vegetation. The fairies depend on the vegetation to build their homes.

The trail is one way only. Please stay on the trail at all times.

 

The Fairies can’t wait to see you all here!

P.S. the Fairies would like us to remind you that we are a non-profit and donations are greatly appreciated. Help us keep the fairies living in the style with which they’ve become accustomed.

Thursday, September 17, 2020
Buncombe County Extension Office Open to Public
Sep 17 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Buncombe County Extension

On-site staffing is limited. Reservations recommended.

Fairy Trail at Bullington Gardens
Sep 17 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Bullington Gardens

The Fairy trail is open Monday thru Saturday, 9am-4pm. We encourage all visitors to be patient as there will be limits to the number of people allowed on the trail at the same time. While the trail is outdoors, there are some small spaces and we want to ensure our guests and fairies are safe. Please practice appropriate social distancing and bring a mask in case. Masks are not required, but are considerate in a close area. Our restrooms are not open to the public at this time. Please make arrangements prior to visiting.

 

Rules of the trail:

Do not move or rearrange fairy displays. The fairies are very fond of their own decorating.

Do not leave trash on the trail. Fairies do not like litter in their town.

Please ensure children and pets are supervised at all times. Dogs and loud noises can scare the fairies into hiding.

Do not disturb wildlife or vegetation. The fairies depend on the vegetation to build their homes.

The trail is one way only. Please stay on the trail at all times.

 

The Fairies can’t wait to see you all here!

P.S. the Fairies would like us to remind you that we are a non-profit and donations are greatly appreciated. Help us keep the fairies living in the style with which they’ve become accustomed.

NC Arboretum’s “Arbor Evenings”
Sep 17 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
The North Carolina Arboretum

Relax and unwind at the Arboretum’s “ArborEvenings” after hours series. Held every Thursday, June – October, from 6 to 9 p.m., visitors will sip and stroll through the Arboretum’s beautiful gardens while enjoying live music amongst flowers and friends. Local beverages, including beer and wine, are available for purchase along with light food options.

Admission to ArborEvenings is free; however, standard parking fees apply to non-members.

Friday, September 18, 2020
Farm Beginnings® Farmer-Led Training Program Virtual for 2020-2021
Sep 18 all-day
Online

Many skills are required to start and expand a successful farm business: passion, clear goals, production experience, financial and marketing know-how, and more. Farm Beginnings® will help you build these skills through one year of farmer-led training, mentoring, and networking. Using a holistic management frame, farmer-led classroom sessions, on-farm tours, and an extensive farmer network, Farm Beginnings® will help you clarify your goals and strengths, establish a strong enterprise plan, and start building a profitable and sustainable operation. Although students do not need to own land, some farming or production experience is required to get the most out of the program. As we know, farming is more critical than ever. Apply to this program and be prepared when crisis hits!

Program Details: December 2020 – September 2021

2020-2021 Farm Beginnings® Farmer Training is 200+ Hours including:

— Winter Whole-Farm Business Planning Courses – 60 hours (October – March)**
— ASAP’s Business of Farming Conference (February) – 8 hours
— OGS Conferences – 40+ hours
— Mentorship with an experienced Farmer Mentor (March – September) – 15 hours
— Production Training – 45 hours (April – October): WNC CRAFT tours on sustainable farms around WNC & Field Days with regional partners Living Web Farms  and the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy Incubator Farm
— One year WNC CRAFT Farmer Network membership – Membership and mentoring in a regional farmer network

Buncombe County Extension Office Open to Public
Sep 18 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Buncombe County Extension

On-site staffing is limited. Reservations recommended.

Fairy Trail at Bullington Gardens
Sep 18 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Bullington Gardens

The Fairy trail is open Monday thru Saturday, 9am-4pm. We encourage all visitors to be patient as there will be limits to the number of people allowed on the trail at the same time. While the trail is outdoors, there are some small spaces and we want to ensure our guests and fairies are safe. Please practice appropriate social distancing and bring a mask in case. Masks are not required, but are considerate in a close area. Our restrooms are not open to the public at this time. Please make arrangements prior to visiting.

 

Rules of the trail:

Do not move or rearrange fairy displays. The fairies are very fond of their own decorating.

Do not leave trash on the trail. Fairies do not like litter in their town.

Please ensure children and pets are supervised at all times. Dogs and loud noises can scare the fairies into hiding.

Do not disturb wildlife or vegetation. The fairies depend on the vegetation to build their homes.

The trail is one way only. Please stay on the trail at all times.

 

The Fairies can’t wait to see you all here!

P.S. the Fairies would like us to remind you that we are a non-profit and donations are greatly appreciated. Help us keep the fairies living in the style with which they’ve become accustomed.