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

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

Saturday, February 22, 2020
Natural Impressions: Prints from the Asheville Printmakers CANCELLED
Feb 22 @ 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.

Into the Blue: Artist Invitational 2020 at Blue Spiral
Feb 22 @ 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Blue Spiral

Blue Spiral 1’s most diverse annual exhibition presents artists who have never previously shown in the gallery. This year’s show features nine artists working in a range of media, including painting, ceramics, textiles, mixed media, photography, and wood.

Artists: Anna Buckner, Mark Flowers, David Knox, Hiromi Moneyhun, Kris Rehring, Ben Strear, Gregor Turk

Into the Blue_ Artist Invitational 2020

Shapeshifters: Center for Craft
Feb 22 @ 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Center for Craft

Shapeshifters, the newest exhibition in the John Cram Partner Gallery. Shapeshifters brings together the works of two acclaimed regional artists, Cherokee-based Joshua Adams and Atlanta-based Jiha Moon, who use masks and other objects to explore culture, material, and representation, particularly in the contemporary American South.

Asheville Art Museum Acquires 15 Works from Appalachia Now! Artists
Feb 22 @ 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum

View all works acquired from the Appalachia Now! exhibition here.

The Asheville Art Museum is pleased to share that seven artists from the opening exhibition Appalachia Now! An Interdisciplinary Survey of Contemporary Art in Southern Appalachia have entered the Museum’s Collection of American Art of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Appalachia Now! was the inaugural exhibition of the newly renovated Museum that celebrated contemporary artists living and working in Southern Appalachia.

Considering available funds, the Museum’s curatorial team selected a range of works that reflect the diversity of Appalachia Now! These works were then presented to the Collectors’ Circle who voted to acquire them.

“It’s such an honor to be a part of the Asheville Art Museum’s expansion into new media,” says Lei Han, who is an associate professor and director of new media at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. “My collaborators and I are grateful for this recognition and we look forward to future collaborations with the Museum.”

“The Museum looks forward to following the careers of all the Appalachia Now! artists,” says Asheville Art Museum Executive Director Pamela Myers. “We are also very thankful for the Collectors’ Circle—for their generosity and ongoing support of the Museum, and their dedication to building the Museum’s important Collection for the enjoyment of all of our visitors.”

Furman Men’s Basketball vs. Wofford
Feb 22 @ 12:00 pm
Bon Secours Wellness Arena

The Paladins host perennial Southern Conference rival Wofford College on Saturday, February 22, at 12:00 p.m. at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena.

Purchase the four-game pack here to secure your ticket to the game.

For more information, please visit Furman’s Weekends at the Well!

MakerSpace: Watercolors! Asheville Art Museum
Feb 22 @ 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum

Thornton Dial, Lady Holds the Bird While the Bird Spreads His Wings, 1991, watercolor and charcoal on paper, 22¼ × 30 inches. Museum purchase with funds provided by 2008 Collectors’ Circle with additional funds provided by David Moltke-Hansen & Patricia Poteat and Nat & Anne Burkhardt, 2008.36.01.20.

Visit a chosen artwork in the galleries for inspiration, then head to the studio to create. This week’s theme: Watercolors!

All ages and abilities are welcome (children must be accompanied by an adult); no reservations are required. For more information, email Kelly Baisley, school & family programs manager, or call 828.253.3227 x133.

Merrimack vs Michigan State Double Header Baseball
Feb 22 @ 1:00 pm
Fluor Field

Image

YWCA Free Community Family Swim CANCELLED
Feb 22 @ 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
YWCA
Community Family Swim
Every Saturday, YWCA of Asheville, in partnership with City of Asheville Parks and Recreation, is offering free Community Open Swim to the public. Winter/Spring 2020 hours are: Saturdays 1:30-3:30 pm through May 16th, 2020. Join us in our solar-heated, indoor pool and bring a friend! You do not need to RSVP or be a member of the YWCA to enjoy community open swim.
UNC Asheville’s 2020 Pi(e) Run
Feb 22 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
UNCA starting on the Main Quad

Pi symbol, event basic information with running track in the background

Registration is open for UNC Asheville’s 2020 Pi(e) Run, an annual fun run that celebrates all things Pi(e). This year’s event will be held on Pi Day, Saturday, March 14, at Pi time, 3:14 p.m. Runners will run 3.14 miles around UNC Asheville’s campus and celebrate with pie at the finish line. The event is open to the public with an early-bird rate of $15 before Feb. 15. Runners who sign up before March 1 will receive a t-shirt and swag bag, and registration continues through March 14 at a cost of $20, with on-site registration and check-in starting at 2 p.m. the day of the race. Visit unca.edu/pi-run to sign up.

The 2020 Pi Day Run will start from UNC Asheville’s Quad and circle University Heights three times, via campus sidewalks, concluding with pie at the finish line. The fun run includes a pie baking contest, judged by Math Leaders from the Marvelous Math Club, with prizes awarded, and this year will feature a raffle. Registration includes a raffle entry for each runner. Registration also is available for the pie contest, without the run, by filling out the interest form at unca.edu/pi-run.

Proceeds from the annual Pi(e) Run will benefit the Asheville Initiative for Math at UNC Asheville and its Marvelous Math Club at Pisgah View Community Center. Marvelous Math Club is a partnership between UNC Asheville, Asheville Housing Authority, and Asheville City Schools. The Club uses math as a catalyst to build leadership skills, create community and provide a space for individualized academic support and social-emotional growth.

 

Asheville, Tourism, and the Arts & Crafts Movement
Feb 22 @ 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum

Asheville is brimming with tourists, but it is not a new phenomenon. In 1880, just before the arrival of the Southern Railroad, Asheville’s population was 2600; in 1900, it had increased to 14,600; and by 1930, it had exploded to over 50,000. Many of these newcomers had first been tourists drawn to the area by the temperate climate, scenery, and wealth of tourist amenities. Where were these folks staying and dining? What souvenirs and postcards did they take home? And what did they buy for their new homes in this booming town? Join panelists Lynne Poirier-Wilson, Whitney Richardson, and Terry Taylor for a discussion of Asheville during the Arts & Crafts Movement and beyond.

Join us early to explore the new Asheville Art Museum! Our newly reopened and expanded landmark building on Pack Square features the best of American art of the 20th and 21st centuries, with a special look at art of Western North Carolina and Southern Appalachia.

Space is limited; register by February 17. To register now, click

Mystical Night Market
Feb 22 @ 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
The Violet Owl

Mystical Night Market presented by The Guild of Sacred Arts. Join us for a celebration of the mind, body, and spirit. Local readers, healers, and makers will be offering: astrological readings, intuitive/psychic/medium readings, Akashic Records and animal communication readings, Reiki/energy healings, transformational coaching, local art, Reiki-infused jewelry, fairy hair, natural soaps, apothecary items, and more.

No entry fees! Raffle prizes! Come join us for a night of fun!

Charlotte Hornets vs. Brooklyn Nets Basketball
Feb 22 @ 7:00 pm
Spectrum Center
Greenville Swamp Rabbits vs. Worcester Railers
Feb 22 @ 7:00 pm
Bon Secours Wellness Arena

Swamp Rabbits Hockey offers fantastic fun for the whole family! The Greenville Swamp Rabbits play in the South Division of the Eastern Conference of the ECHL, the premiere AA hockey league. The Swamp Rabbits play 36 home games (October-April) and offer endless entertainment opportunities! For more information on Swamp Rabbits hockey, visit swamprabbits.com. Proud affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes.

Sunday, February 23, 2020
Adult Kickball Returns Wednesdays
Feb 23 all-day
Charles D. Owen Park

Adult kickball players from spring
                                                          2019

Draft your co-workers, BFFs, and neighborhood pals in your quest for kickball stardom! Registration for Buncombe County Recreation Services’ (BCRS) popular Adult Kickball League has opened. All games will be played on Wednesday evenings  from April 8-May 20 at Charles D. Owen Park (875 Warren Wilson Road in Swannanoa). Staggered matches will start at 6 p.m., 7 p.m., and 8 p.m.

REGISTER HERE

“We host low-cost adult sport and recreation leagues throughout the year including dodgeball and volleyball, but kickball is our most popular. It always sells out since it’s easy to learn for any skill level,” said Mac Stanley, BCRS Program Coordinator. “The league offers a low-stress, fun atmosphere in which to stay active and connect with others. The move to Charles D. Owen Park allows us to play multiple games at the same time which means we can start later in the evening for those folks busy with work, school, or parenting. Plus the mountain views can’t be beat!”

Registration is open through March 20 and cost $35 per player. Players can sign up as an individual, small group, or full team. Individuals and small groups will be placed together to form full teams.

Teams are co-ed and consist of 9-16 players, with at least three players of the opposite sex. (If a team is majority female, there must be at least three male players. If a team is majority male, there must be at least three female players.) Registration fees include a team shirt and help offset the cost of referees and field maintenance.

 

Follow Buncombe County Recreation on Facebook and Instagram.

Apply for a Preservation Grant Today!
Feb 23 all-day
Preservation Society of Asheville & Buncombe County
We are accepting grant applications until March 6th.  Grants from $500 – $5000 will be offered to the public in three categories:
  1. Bricks-And-Mortar
Rehabilitation, restoration and repair of structures that are 50 years of age or older
  1. Public Education
Development of educational materials and programs that advance knowledge of our shared history
  1. Planning, Survey and Designation
Planning and design for building rehabilitation and restoration projects, historic resource surveys and local or national designations
Asheville Tourists Baseball 2020 Season
Feb 23 all-day
McCormmic Field

the Tourists have officially released the 2020 baseball season schedule. Asheville plays 140 games with 70 of them coming at McCormick Field.

  • Asheville’s home Opening Day is Thursday, April 16th vs. the Columbia Fireflies
  • The Tourists host the Lexington Legends on Independence Day – Saturday, July 4th
  • The Tourists also host the Lexington Legends on Memorial Day – Monday, May 25th
  • Asheville plays host to the Charleston RiverDogs on Labor Day – Monday, September 7th
  • McCormick Field will have 12 Thirsty Thursday games in 2020
  • Asheville plays 10 Friday home games next year
  • The Tourists are at home for 12 Saturday contests during the 2020 season
  • Asheville opens the 2020 season on the road, April 9th at Delmarva
  • Game Times and the Promotional Calendar will be released at a later date

VIEW THE OFFICIAL 2020 TOURISTS SCHEDULE

Early Bird Registration Open for Senior Games and Silver Arts 2020
Feb 23 all-day
Buncombe County NC

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 Tuesday, April 14-Friday, May 15. Registration is $5 before March 9 or $10 after that date. Military veterans may register for free.

To register, fill out a registration form (see documents below) or register online at ncseniorgames.org. Archery and pickleball have registration deadline dates.

Sports include basketball, bocce, croquet, football throw, softball throw, golf, cycling, track and field, archery, cheerleading, bowling, swimming, billiards, badminton, cornhole, horseshoes, pickleball, racquetball, shuffleboard, tennis, and table tennis. Miniature golf, rowing, and team softball and basketball are new this year. 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 at Buncombe County Libraries in April and May.

A full schedule can be accessed below as a PDF.

Follow Buncombe County Recreation on Facebook and Instagram.

Table: News Item Documents
File Name Size Type Date & Time Added
Registration 209 KB 02/04/2020 7:52 AM
Schedule 45 KB 02/04/2020 7:52 AM
Music of the Grateful Dead for Kids
Feb 23 all-day
Grey Eagle

The Rock and Roll Playhouse is excited to bring the Music of the Grateful Dead for Kids to the Grey Eagle on 2/23/2020.

The Rock and Roll Playhouse is a children’s concert series that allows kids to “move, play and sing while listening to works from the classic-rock canon” (NY Times). The Playhouse offers its core audience of children aged 10 and under games, movement, stories, and an opportunity to rock out in a sensory-friendly environment while playing songs from musical icons such as Grateful Dead, David Bowie, The Beatles, and more. Founded in 2013 in New York City, the Playhouse has now expanded to over thirty venues and cities across the United States.

Doors at 12:00 PM // Show from 12:30 – 1:30PM

RiverLink’s Art & Poetry Contest Grades PreK-12
Feb 23 all-day
online
The Smoky Mountain Relay
Feb 23 all-day
Western North Carolina

ABOUT THE SMOKY MOUNTAIN RELAY

Registration is capped at:

60 ~ 200-mile teams (36 transitions)

&

40 ~ 135-mile teams (24 transitions)

A scenic, wild, team adventure in the mountains of Western North Carolina, the Smoky Mountain Relay is an adventure that is not to be missed.

This course will challenge you and your friends with tough legs and reward you with stories to last a lifetime.

Choose from the original 200-mile course or the 135-mile course.

The 200-mile course begins at the Pink Beds Trail Loop picnic area just outside of Brevard, NC in the Pisgah National Forest.

Teams of 12 or “ultra” teams of 6 make their way through 36 legs and finish at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in Bryson City, NC.

The 135-mile course begins at the Jackson Country Recreation Complex in Cullowhee, NC. Teams of 8 or “ultra” teams of 4 make their way through 24 legs and also finish at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in Bryson City, NC in the heart of the Nantahala National Forest.

Each relay team member runs between 3 and 6 legs (depending on the course chosen and the number of team members running) of varying lengths and difficulty and will cover an average total distance of 18-20 miles (for the 200 mile race).

Natural Impressions: Prints from the Asheville Printmakers CANCELLED
Feb 23 @ 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.

Shapeshifters: Center for Craft
Feb 23 @ 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Center for Craft

Shapeshifters, the newest exhibition in the John Cram Partner Gallery. Shapeshifters brings together the works of two acclaimed regional artists, Cherokee-based Joshua Adams and Atlanta-based Jiha Moon, who use masks and other objects to explore culture, material, and representation, particularly in the contemporary American South.

Asheville Art Museum Acquires 15 Works from Appalachia Now! Artists
Feb 23 @ 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum

View all works acquired from the Appalachia Now! exhibition here.

The Asheville Art Museum is pleased to share that seven artists from the opening exhibition Appalachia Now! An Interdisciplinary Survey of Contemporary Art in Southern Appalachia have entered the Museum’s Collection of American Art of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Appalachia Now! was the inaugural exhibition of the newly renovated Museum that celebrated contemporary artists living and working in Southern Appalachia.

Considering available funds, the Museum’s curatorial team selected a range of works that reflect the diversity of Appalachia Now! These works were then presented to the Collectors’ Circle who voted to acquire them.

“It’s such an honor to be a part of the Asheville Art Museum’s expansion into new media,” says Lei Han, who is an associate professor and director of new media at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. “My collaborators and I are grateful for this recognition and we look forward to future collaborations with the Museum.”

“The Museum looks forward to following the careers of all the Appalachia Now! artists,” says Asheville Art Museum Executive Director Pamela Myers. “We are also very thankful for the Collectors’ Circle—for their generosity and ongoing support of the Museum, and their dedication to building the Museum’s important Collection for the enjoyment of all of our visitors.”

Into the Blue: Artist Invitational 2020 at Blue Spiral
Feb 23 @ 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Blue Spiral

Into the Blue_ Artist Invitational 2020

Blue Spiral 1’s most diverse annual exhibition presents artists who have never previously shown in the gallery. This year’s show features nine artists working in a range of media, including painting, ceramics, textiles, mixed media, photography, and wood.

Artists: Anna Buckner, Mark Flowers, David Knox, Hiromi Moneyhun, Kris Rehring, Ben Strear, Gregor Turk

Merrimack vs Michigan State Baseball
Feb 23 @ 1:00 pm
Fluor Field

Image

UNC Asheville’s 2020 Pi(e) Run
Feb 23 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
UNCA starting on the Main Quad

Pi symbol, event basic information with running track in the background

Registration is open for UNC Asheville’s 2020 Pi(e) Run, an annual fun run that celebrates all things Pi(e). This year’s event will be held on Pi Day, Saturday, March 14, at Pi time, 3:14 p.m. Runners will run 3.14 miles around UNC Asheville’s campus and celebrate with pie at the finish line. The event is open to the public with an early-bird rate of $15 before Feb. 15. Runners who sign up before March 1 will receive a t-shirt and swag bag, and registration continues through March 14 at a cost of $20, with on-site registration and check-in starting at 2 p.m. the day of the race. Visit unca.edu/pi-run to sign up.

The 2020 Pi Day Run will start from UNC Asheville’s Quad and circle University Heights three times, via campus sidewalks, concluding with pie at the finish line. The fun run includes a pie baking contest, judged by Math Leaders from the Marvelous Math Club, with prizes awarded, and this year will feature a raffle. Registration includes a raffle entry for each runner. Registration also is available for the pie contest, without the run, by filling out the interest form at unca.edu/pi-run.

Proceeds from the annual Pi(e) Run will benefit the Asheville Initiative for Math at UNC Asheville and its Marvelous Math Club at Pisgah View Community Center. Marvelous Math Club is a partnership between UNC Asheville, Asheville Housing Authority, and Asheville City Schools. The Club uses math as a catalyst to build leadership skills, create community and provide a space for individualized academic support and social-emotional growth.

 

Crafty Hour: Dried Wreaths Workshop
Feb 23 @ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
The North Carolina Arboretum

Grab a glass and get hands-on at the Arboretum’s new “Crafty Hour” social series. Led by Melissa Thomas of Flora living boutique, each workshop features a new project design that enables participants to craft their own personalized botanical masterpiece while enjoying an afternoon at the Arboretum with friends.

Dried Wreaths Workshop

Make a beautiful dried wreath to keep your spirits up while we wait for those spring blooms! Event includes a complimentary beverage, light food, personalized instructions and supplies, and full day parking access to the Arboretum.

Location: Education Center

Free Funday Dodgeball Pickup Games
Feb 23 @ 3:45 pm – 6:00 pm
Stephens Lee Recreation Center

Want to learn about Stonewall Sports, stay active during winter, and meet new people? Dodge, duck, dip, and dive (best described as a party on the dodgeball court) at Stephens Lee Recreation Center in downtown Asheville. Your rise to dodgeball superstardom begins on Sundays through March 15 (except February 2). Come as an individual, small group, or full team of 12-15 dodgers. Join every week or only when you can!

Remember the hard rubber you got pummeled with during recess? We don’t use those. We use soft-centered balls to keep the hard impacts and injuries to a minimum. Balls start flying at 3:45 p.m. Sweat bands encouraged!

There is no charge for this community event that is open to all adults 21 and older. Stonewall Sports is a low-cost, high FUN adult recreational and philanthropic nonprofit organization for members of the LGBTQAI+ community and allies.

Free Sonic Moving Meditation
Feb 23 @ 4:30 pm – 4:30 pm
St. George Episcopal Church

We will be holding our next gathering at the Center for Art and Spirit at the St. George Episcopal Church in West Asheville from 4-5:20 p.m. on Sunday, February 23. St. George Episcopal is at 1 School Road, Asheville, NC 28806.

This gathering will be open to 50 participants and will feature a Sonic Moving Meditation. Nancy Jurek will take people on a journey that will include meditation, movement, and relaxation. River Guerguerian will be providing a live soundtrack using an array of global percussion instruments.

The meditation will be preceded by a brief presentation about the
LivingPulse, and the gathering will conclude with a group discussion about the experience. After you register and before this free event occurs, we will email you a short paper describing a few of the ideas behind the LivingPulse organization, which may help prepare your mindset for the activity and succeeding discussion.

This will be the second of what we hope will be monthly LivingPulse gatherings. We hope to see you soon!

Monday, February 24, 2020
Natural Impressions: Prints from the Asheville Printmakers CANCELLED
Feb 24 @ 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.