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.

Thursday, May 14, 2020
Lamar Alexander Rocky Fork State Park + Water Shed
May 14 @ 8:45 am – 2:30 pm
Lamar Alexander Rocky Fork State Park

OBSERVING mitigation hiking guidelines we will meet at the trailhead, however, if you decide to carpool I suggest you wear masks and bring hand wipes to wipe down door handles…surfaces. Post where you plan to meet.

HIKE DESCRIPTION: We will begin hiking the Flint Creek River Trail return taking a ridgline loop spur, pick up the White Cliffs spur trail plus an optional trail. The trails are mostly under forest hardwoods, Flint Creek Trail follows the winding creek trail which snakes through the gorge fed by small streams and waterfalls. There are 10 log bridge-over-creek crossing plus a few smaller step-over streams. Like the Smoky Mountains National Park, Rocky Fork State Park has one of the most Biological diverse floras in the country. The trails are flat to rolling with moderate and steep climbing sections.
Elevation Gain Estimate.? 2,100-2,400′ (Level 7)**

PACE: See below*

DOGS: Friendly dogs are welcome and must remain close to their owners. Water is continuously available along the creek trail.

IF YOU SIGN UP THEN CHANGE YOUR MIND CHANGE YOUR RSVP TO “NOT ATTENDING” TO CLEAR A SPOT FOR ANOTHER HIKER

TRAIL HEAD DIRECTIONS:
I-26 West 31 miles and take Exit 50 toward Flag Pond Rd. Proceed for approx. 0.4 miles to a “T”. Turn left onto Upper Higgins Creek Rd for 0.6 mile. Turn right onto Old Asheville Hwy for 2.3 mile. Turn left on to Rocky Fork Rd for 1 mile to the Rocky Fork State Park Main Entrance Gate. Gravel road following Flint Creek for 1/4 mile with Parking on the right.

501 Rocky Fork Rd.
Flag Pond Tennessee.

OPTIONAL: Please post if you prefer to meet me just off the Flag Pond Exit (gravel pullover, or the road shoulder on left, Upper Higgins Creek rd. @ 9:30.

*ALL FITNESS HIKES ARE FAST PACED. HIKES HIKE LEVELS are based only on the total elevation gain for each hike while distances vary as described. Lower levels hikes focus on endurance conditioning and higher level hikes add increasing cardio challenges. Pace is adjusted for steepness of grade, and ruggedness of the trail.. Scout hikes are hikes where the trail is partially or completely unexplored by the hike leader (s).

HIKE LEVELS:
Hike Level (1) Up to 600 feet of elevation gain.
Level (2) 600′- 900′; Level (3) 900′ – 1200′; Level (4) 1200′ – 1500′; Level (5) 1,500′ – 1,800′; Level (6)*1,800′ – 2,100′; Level (7)* 2,100′ – 2,400′; Level (8) 2,400′ – 2700′; Level (9) 2700′ – 3000′ Level (10) 3000′ – 4000′;

ULTIMATE HIKES are hike > 4,000′ elevation gain; WE POST 3-4 of these hike challenges a year.

Pineapple Cider Pick-Up Party
May 14 @ 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Pick Up Only Bold Rock Cider

Join Bold Rock Hard Cider in celebrating a #BOLDSUMMER with our brand new seasonal cider – PINEAPPLE CIDER! Be one of the first to experience this tasty new seasonal during a 3-day Pick-Up Party hosted at both our Nellysford, VA and Mills River, NC Cidery locations, May 14-16!

Beginning Monday, May 11 at 10 AM, pre-orders for Pineapple 6-packs and 24-pack cases may be placed online for pick-up at either our Nellysford, VA or Mills River, NC Cidery locations. You may schedule your preferred pick-up time for a seamless curbside experience – Thursday, May 14 – Saturday, May 16, 11 AM – 5 PM.

You are **strongly encouraged** to place a pre-order at least 24 hours prior to your preferred pick-up time to ensure the best and fastest possible pick-up experience. However, we will also accommodate day-of onsite orders. Additional cider selections may be added to orders. Unfortunately, all guests must depart the property following pick-up of their order to prevent any guest assembly that exceeds our capacity to provide a safe environment.

A notice will be posted within this event when Pineapple Cider is live on our online ordering platform for pre-order, linked here: https://boldrocktogo.square.site

Make sure you properly select your pick-up location – either our Nellysford, VA Cidery or Mills River, NC Cidery!

Additional Important Notes:

**Pineapple Cider will not be an option for online ordering prior to May 11 so don’t be alarmed if you do not immediately see an order option listed on our portal prior to May 11.

**The earliest opportunity to pick-up auto populates when ordering, you can adjust when you wish to pick-up at the ‘Store Pickup’ stage during check out by selecting ‘Schedule For Later’ and adjusting date/time.

**Pineapple Cider and other cider styles will only be available via 6-pack and 24-pack cases during May 14-16 and we **will not** be offering pints, crowlers or growler fills during the launch weekend. Be on the lookout for crowlers shortly and pints/growler fills later this summer.

**Neither our Nellysford or Mills River properties will be open for on-site enjoyment. Following pick-up, you must depart our property. However, please tag #BOLDSUMMER at home to show how you are enjoying Pineapple Cider and to let us know what you think of this tasty new seasonal!

The Reel Molloy’s at Enka Candler Tailgate Market
May 14 @ 3:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Enka-Candler Tailgate Market

Image may contain: 1 person, standing

Fish and Chips during the market form 3:30 to 6:30. Order online or at the Truck. www.thereelmolloysavl.com

Mitch’s Totally Rad Trivia
May 14 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
The One Stop at Asheville Music Hall

Scoop: Mitch's Totally Rad TRIVIA

Mitch Fortune brings you an irreverent and nostalgia filled night of pop culture trivia every Thursday night 7-9 pm at the One Stop in Downtown Asheville. A potpourri of movies, music, TV show trivia just for you!

Friday, May 15, 2020
New Takeout | Delivery Website Asheville Independent Restaurants
May 15 all-day
Asheville Independent Restaurants Online

New Takeout | Delivery Website

Enjoy your favorite dishes from Asheville’s independent restaurants from the comfort of home! Check out AIR’s new website, www.foodinasheville.com for the incredible local restaurants offering take-out or delivery. This website is updated daily, so make sure to check back for what’s new. 

Thank you for supporting local, independent restaurants!

Visit New Website!
The 2020 James Beard Awards Nominees Chief Awards Online Interactive Map
May 15 all-day
online

The 2020 James Beard Awards Nominees

The OpenTable team

The 2020 James Beard Awards nominees are here, marking the arrival of the short list of who could win one of the food world’s most prestigious honors.

2020 James Beard Awards Nominees

YMCA of Western North Carolina Mobile Market Schedule MAY
May 15 all-day
varies

https://ymcawnc.org/sites/default/files/May%202020%20Nutrition%20mobile%20market.pdf

 

Mountains-to-Sea Trail Highway 25 toward Bent Creek
May 15 @ 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Blue Ridge Parkway

This hike follows along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Most of the time we do an in and out instead of a shuttle. We start from the side of the road near the exit to Highway 25 (Hendersonville Road) on the Blue Ridge Parkway. You can park along either side of the road. The dirt has eroded so the drop is kind of deep, so you’ll want to be careful with your car.

Mountains-to-Sea-Trail hikes are designed for fitness and community among already experienced hikers. We do the same trail on Monday and Friday and tend to repeat that same hike every five weeks so that, over time, we enjoy the beauty of each trail. We limit our hikes to two hours because many of us work and have to be somewhere else by 11:15 or so. Thus, it’s not possible to wait for slower hikers.

Hikers who are new to hiking will likely be more comfortable on another meet up hike designed for people who are just beginning hiking or trying to get into shape for hiking. You might consider “WNC Easy Hikers Group,” for instance.

Free Lunches at Ferguson YMCA
May 15 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Ferguson Family YMCA

Image may contain: 2 people, people sitting and outdoor, possible text that says 'the MEETING COMMUNITY NEED'

FREE LUNCHES for anyone 18 years of age and under at the Ferguson Family YMCA. Simply drive up to our front door and let us know how many lunches you need, no questions asked.

For additional food for your family, pick up a FREE box of fresh produce at our Mobile Markets. Calendars are online at ymcawnc.org/nutritionprograms.

Offering meal pick-ups to those in need in our community: H&F Burger Asheville
May 15 @ 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
H&F Burger Asheville

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 11am-2pm, we are offering meal pick-ups to those in need in our community. 200 meals will be provided on a first come, first serve basis.

Image may contain: one or more people and food, possible text that says 'FOOD connection. CHEF MEA MEAL DONATIONS for Disaster Relief'

Pineapple Cider Pick-Up Party
May 15 @ 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Pick Up Only Bold Rock Cider

Join Bold Rock Hard Cider in celebrating a #BOLDSUMMER with our brand new seasonal cider – PINEAPPLE CIDER! Be one of the first to experience this tasty new seasonal during a 3-day Pick-Up Party hosted at both our Nellysford, VA and Mills River, NC Cidery locations, May 14-16!

Beginning Monday, May 11 at 10 AM, pre-orders for Pineapple 6-packs and 24-pack cases may be placed online for pick-up at either our Nellysford, VA or Mills River, NC Cidery locations. You may schedule your preferred pick-up time for a seamless curbside experience – Thursday, May 14 – Saturday, May 16, 11 AM – 5 PM.

You are **strongly encouraged** to place a pre-order at least 24 hours prior to your preferred pick-up time to ensure the best and fastest possible pick-up experience. However, we will also accommodate day-of onsite orders. Additional cider selections may be added to orders. Unfortunately, all guests must depart the property following pick-up of their order to prevent any guest assembly that exceeds our capacity to provide a safe environment.

A notice will be posted within this event when Pineapple Cider is live on our online ordering platform for pre-order, linked here: https://boldrocktogo.square.site

Make sure you properly select your pick-up location – either our Nellysford, VA Cidery or Mills River, NC Cidery!

Additional Important Notes:

**Pineapple Cider will not be an option for online ordering prior to May 11 so don’t be alarmed if you do not immediately see an order option listed on our portal prior to May 11.

**The earliest opportunity to pick-up auto populates when ordering, you can adjust when you wish to pick-up at the ‘Store Pickup’ stage during check out by selecting ‘Schedule For Later’ and adjusting date/time.

**Pineapple Cider and other cider styles will only be available via 6-pack and 24-pack cases during May 14-16 and we **will not** be offering pints, crowlers or growler fills during the launch weekend. Be on the lookout for crowlers shortly and pints/growler fills later this summer.

**Neither our Nellysford or Mills River properties will be open for on-site enjoyment. Following pick-up, you must depart our property. However, please tag #BOLDSUMMER at home to show how you are enjoying Pineapple Cider and to let us know what you think of this tasty new seasonal!

Hot Sauce Battle 2020 Finals
May 15 @ 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
online

Image may contain: possible text that says 'HOT SAUCE SPICY BATTLE Don't lie lol'

Welcome to the first AVL Hot Sauce Battle!

Beer by Hi Wire Brewing, Wicked Weed Brewing, and Bhramari Brewing in association with The Asheville Radio Group

Our local judges will be tasting 32 sauces from a ton of great folks from around AVL, in a bracket style faceoff for the best hot sauce in town! We will be streaming each match via Iamavl!

Sponsored by the good folks at Wicked Weed Brewing Co, Hi Wire Brewing Co and Bhramari Brewing Co. During each stream we will be talking about some of the great tasty beers these breweries have for delivery & curbside pick up to get everyone thru COVID -19

Invite your friends and get ready for the heat!

Watch the matched via Iamavl!

Website
www.iamavl.com

Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/Iamavl/
YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/iamavl

 

Qtr Final
8 Sauces – 4 matches May 15th 5pm

Semi Final 4 sauces -2 matches May 16th 5pm
Final 2 sauces – 1 WINNER
3rd Place – 2 sauces 1 match

Weekly Zoom Guided Beer Tastings w/ The Whale AVL
May 15 @ 5:00 pm
online

Friday Happy Hour at 5PM w/ the Whale Asheville. Join us for guided beer tastings. Check out our Facebook for the Zoom code. https://www.facebook.com/TheWhaleAVL/

Free Dead Fridays
May 15 @ 5:30 pm
The One Stop at Asheville Music Hall

Join us at The One Stop at Asheville Music Hall every Friday at 5:30PM for our FREE Acoustic Grateful Dead series Featuring members of Phuncle Sam and great drink and food specials.

Image

Saturday, May 16, 2020
New Takeout | Delivery Website Asheville Independent Restaurants
May 16 all-day
Asheville Independent Restaurants Online

New Takeout | Delivery Website

Enjoy your favorite dishes from Asheville’s independent restaurants from the comfort of home! Check out AIR’s new website, www.foodinasheville.com for the incredible local restaurants offering take-out or delivery. This website is updated daily, so make sure to check back for what’s new. 

Thank you for supporting local, independent restaurants!

Visit New Website!
The 2020 James Beard Awards Nominees Chief Awards Online Interactive Map
May 16 all-day
online

The 2020 James Beard Awards Nominees

The OpenTable team

The 2020 James Beard Awards nominees are here, marking the arrival of the short list of who could win one of the food world’s most prestigious honors.

2020 James Beard Awards Nominees

YMCA of Western North Carolina Mobile Market Schedule MAY
May 16 all-day
varies

https://ymcawnc.org/sites/default/files/May%202020%20Nutrition%20mobile%20market.pdf

 

Hendersonville Art and Architecture Walking Tours
May 16 @ 9:00 am – 10:30 am
Center for Art & Inspiration

The popular FREE Art and Architecture Walking Tours offered by the Arts Council of Henderson County return for 2020. The 90-minute tour of Downtown Hendersonville gathers at 9:00 am in front of the Center for Art & Inspiration. Tours are led by Doug Gelbert who has created over 400 architectural tours in towns across the United States and Canada.  All tours are free of charge and no pre-registration is required. Just show up ready to walk. As always, dogs are welcome to accompany their well-behaved owners on the Art and Architectural Walking Tours. Named “One of the 10 Best Things You Can Do in North Carolina at 9:00 on a Saturday morning”

Free Lunches at Ferguson YMCA
May 16 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Ferguson Family YMCA

Image may contain: 2 people, people sitting and outdoor, possible text that says 'the MEETING COMMUNITY NEED'

FREE LUNCHES for anyone 18 years of age and under at the Ferguson Family YMCA. Simply drive up to our front door and let us know how many lunches you need, no questions asked.

For additional food for your family, pick up a FREE box of fresh produce at our Mobile Markets. Calendars are online at ymcawnc.org/nutritionprograms.

Pineapple Cider Pick-Up Party
May 16 @ 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Pick Up Only Bold Rock Cider

Join Bold Rock Hard Cider in celebrating a #BOLDSUMMER with our brand new seasonal cider – PINEAPPLE CIDER! Be one of the first to experience this tasty new seasonal during a 3-day Pick-Up Party hosted at both our Nellysford, VA and Mills River, NC Cidery locations, May 14-16!

Beginning Monday, May 11 at 10 AM, pre-orders for Pineapple 6-packs and 24-pack cases may be placed online for pick-up at either our Nellysford, VA or Mills River, NC Cidery locations. You may schedule your preferred pick-up time for a seamless curbside experience – Thursday, May 14 – Saturday, May 16, 11 AM – 5 PM.

You are **strongly encouraged** to place a pre-order at least 24 hours prior to your preferred pick-up time to ensure the best and fastest possible pick-up experience. However, we will also accommodate day-of onsite orders. Additional cider selections may be added to orders. Unfortunately, all guests must depart the property following pick-up of their order to prevent any guest assembly that exceeds our capacity to provide a safe environment.

A notice will be posted within this event when Pineapple Cider is live on our online ordering platform for pre-order, linked here: https://boldrocktogo.square.site

Make sure you properly select your pick-up location – either our Nellysford, VA Cidery or Mills River, NC Cidery!

Additional Important Notes:

**Pineapple Cider will not be an option for online ordering prior to May 11 so don’t be alarmed if you do not immediately see an order option listed on our portal prior to May 11.

**The earliest opportunity to pick-up auto populates when ordering, you can adjust when you wish to pick-up at the ‘Store Pickup’ stage during check out by selecting ‘Schedule For Later’ and adjusting date/time.

**Pineapple Cider and other cider styles will only be available via 6-pack and 24-pack cases during May 14-16 and we **will not** be offering pints, crowlers or growler fills during the launch weekend. Be on the lookout for crowlers shortly and pints/growler fills later this summer.

**Neither our Nellysford or Mills River properties will be open for on-site enjoyment. Following pick-up, you must depart our property. However, please tag #BOLDSUMMER at home to show how you are enjoying Pineapple Cider and to let us know what you think of this tasty new seasonal!

Service Industry Heroes Complimentary Meal w/ Food Connection
May 16 @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
The Asheville Masonic Temple · Asheville, North Carolina

Image may contain: possible text that says 'SERVICE INDUSTRY HEROES complimentary meal by WICKED WEED BREWING'

To our friends who’ve lost their jobs including those in the service industry and hospitality workers: Please join Food Connection for a free “to go” meal lovingly prepared by Wicked Weed Brewing’s Cultura thanks to a generous gift from an anonymous donor! We will be setting up in the parking lot against the Asheville Masonic Temple. We will be offering curbside service distributing meals from 12:00 pm until 2:00 pm or until they run out.

For the safety of our beautiful community:
* If you come by car, please stay in your car at all times.
*There is 1 Entrance In By AMT and you will drive through and exit at the back of the lot.
• If you come by foot, please keep a social distance of at least 6 feet.
* Wear a mask if you have one
Thanks, y’all! We hope to see you Saturday!

Swannanoa Valley Complimentary Meal w/ Food Connection
May 16 @ 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
In front of the office of Symmetry Financial

Food Connection will be giving out free chef prepared meals from Wicked Weed Brewing‘s Cultura restaurant in Swannanoa on Saturdays beginning May 2nd from 3-4PM or until all meals are given out. Times are tough for many of us. Please know there are no requirements for receiving the meals. If you need a meal or meals for your family, PLEASE come join us. :) Meals will be served curbside “to go” style in front of the Symmetry Financial Group offices at 204 Whitson Avenue in Swannanoa (next door to the Native Kitchen.) Look for the Food Connection van. Our volunteers will be practicing extreme safety. We hope to see you this Saturday and each Saturday that you may need a delicious ready-to-eat meal. Please help us spread the word by sharing this post!

Hot Sauce Battle 2020 Finals
May 16 @ 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
online

Image may contain: possible text that says 'HOT SAUCE SPICY BATTLE Don't lie lol'

Welcome to the first AVL Hot Sauce Battle!

Beer by Hi Wire Brewing, Wicked Weed Brewing, and Bhramari Brewing in association with The Asheville Radio Group

Our local judges will be tasting 32 sauces from a ton of great folks from around AVL, in a bracket style faceoff for the best hot sauce in town! We will be streaming each match via Iamavl!

Sponsored by the good folks at Wicked Weed Brewing Co, Hi Wire Brewing Co and Bhramari Brewing Co. During each stream we will be talking about some of the great tasty beers these breweries have for delivery & curbside pick up to get everyone thru COVID -19

Invite your friends and get ready for the heat!

Watch the matched via Iamavl!

Website
www.iamavl.com

Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/Iamavl/
YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/iamavl

 

Qtr Final
8 Sauces – 4 matches May 15th 5pm

Semi Final 4 sauces -2 matches May 16th 5pm
Final 2 sauces – 1 WINNER
3rd Place – 2 sauces 1 match

Sunday, May 17, 2020
New Takeout | Delivery Website Asheville Independent Restaurants
May 17 all-day
Asheville Independent Restaurants Online

New Takeout | Delivery Website

Enjoy your favorite dishes from Asheville’s independent restaurants from the comfort of home! Check out AIR’s new website, www.foodinasheville.com for the incredible local restaurants offering take-out or delivery. This website is updated daily, so make sure to check back for what’s new. 

Thank you for supporting local, independent restaurants!

Visit New Website!
The 2020 James Beard Awards Nominees Chief Awards Online Interactive Map
May 17 all-day
online

The 2020 James Beard Awards Nominees

The OpenTable team

The 2020 James Beard Awards nominees are here, marking the arrival of the short list of who could win one of the food world’s most prestigious honors.

2020 James Beard Awards Nominees

YMCA of Western North Carolina Mobile Market Schedule MAY
May 17 all-day
varies

https://ymcawnc.org/sites/default/files/May%202020%20Nutrition%20mobile%20market.pdf

 

Middle Prong Wilderness Loop Hike
May 17 @ 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Rough Butt Bald Overlook

Let’s celebrate the Parkway reopening by hiking a remote loop in the Middle Prong Wilderness. I haven’t hiked this recently so I’m calling it a scout hike, bring a spirit of adventure!
Distance: 9 miles, Climb: 1,600′, Rating: strenuous, Pace: 2.5 mph
Some steep sections, poles recommended. Hopefully we will see some nice wildflowers. Lunch at streamside.
We will practice social distancing. No dogs or children.

Bluegrass Brunch
May 17 @ 10:30 am – 3:00 pm
The One Stop at Asheville Music Hall

Image

Bluegrass Brunch
hosted by Aaron Woody Wood & The Sufi Brothers

Pickin’ on the Porch w/ Chicken Coop Willaye 1030AM
Bald Mountain Boys 11AM – 12:30PM
Sufi Brothers 12:45PM – 3PM

Be sure to check out our Bloody Mary Bar, the BEST selection of pickled products and other additions in Asheville. The MOJO Kitchen will be serving a special Brunch menu until 3PM as well.

Food & music start at 10:30am
ADULT beverages at Noon.

Burlesque Brunch
May 17 @ 12:00 pm
The Grey Eagle

Burlesque Brunch

Join us on the third Sunday of every month for Burlesque Brunch!
  • 18 +
  • SEATED SHOW
  • 11 AM DOORS/ 12 PM 

Burlesque Brunch is a monthly burlesque and belly dance show with a classic speakeasy feel. Join us every month and relax and enjoy our dancing dames and dandies in an up close and intimate setting. It’s a Sunday afternoon to delight the senses!

Shakedown Sundays
May 17 @ 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
The One Stop at Asheville Music Hall

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Every Sunday Except First of Month.