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.
Half Day Camps ($125)
June 25 -29
July 9-13
July 23-27
July 20-Aug. 3
Every Saturday in July the park stays open late, until 9:00 p.m., so you can make more time for family memories. Enjoy evening train and stage shows, rides at dusk, and fun throughout the park.

Fairy Tales In Clay Clay Camp Ages 4-8 with Cassie Mazur
July 23-27
Monday- Friday, 9am-12pm
What is your favorite fairy tale? Jack and the Beanstalk? The Princess and the Pea? Alice in Wonderland? Maybe one of the new classics, like Trolls! Cassie will be your guide to this exciting world of fantasy where magic and mystery reign. You will learn to sculpt with skill and bring your favorite characters to life.
Phone: (828) 250-4758
Email: [email protected]
Event Type: Story Time for Kids
Age Group: Toddler – (ages 18 mos.-2 yrs.),Preschool – (ages 3-5),School Age – (grades K-5),Family – (children of all ages)
Location: 1404 Sandhill Rd. – Candler
Library: Enka-Candler
Spanish Story Time features rhymes, songs and books in Spanish and English. Children of all ages are invited to join the fun every Monday at 10:30am.

On Your Mark, Get Centered, Throw! Clay Camp Ages 6-10 with Sara Ballek
July 23-27
Monday- Friday, 2-5pm
Your dreams of becoming a Clay DJ will come true in this week full of wheel throwing! Not only will students learn how to use the potter’s wheel, but they will also create fun, funky objects for daily use! After the pots come off the wheel, lively decorating and sculpting will add the finishing touches to their masterpieces!
Get ready to move to the beat with Hip Hop at Highland! Instructor Illysa Hamlin will lead you through an hour-long workout routine that will burn those calories and prepare you for your next music video audition. No previous dance experience is necessary and all are welcome. And, of course, stay around afterward for a cold pint of Highland beer. You’ll have earned it!
$8 per person

Named by USA Today as one of the Top Twenty Festivals in North Carolina, Folkmoot is a ten-day event, held across the mountains of Western North Carolina in Waynesville, Clyde, Lake Junaluska, Maggie Valley, Canton, Cherokee, Franklin, Hickory, Asheville, and Hendersonville. The 2018 festival dates are July 19 – 29 and feature cultural ambassadors/dance performing groups from Ghana, Italy, Czech Republic, Mexico, Venezuela and Northern Cyprus, Thailand and local Appalachian and Cherokee dancers and musicians.
Tickets are now on sale for all performances and can be purchased at Folkmoot.org, in person at the Folkmoot Friendship Center, or by calling 828-452-2997.
For the seventh consecutive year, the Asheville Habitat ReStore at 31 Meadow Road near Biltmore Village is encouraging residents to show off their creativity and talent for a chance to win in the ReStore ReUse Contest. Garden shed, artist studio, chicken coop…tree house, playhouse, tiny house…if you recently built a structure like this using predominantly reused building materials, Habitat wants to know. The contest runs July 1-August 31 and submissions must be sent electronically. Information and entry form will be available on ashevillehabitat.org starting July 1 st . The purpose of the contest is to showcase innovative building projects constructed predominantly of used building materials. “Our customers often tell us about the projects they make using materials purchased at the ReStore. This contest is a great way to showcase their projects and inspire others to reuse, recycle and repurpose usable materials,” said Scott Stetson, ReStore General Manager. Five judges will select winners in the following categories: Furniture, Homesteading, Live and/or Work Space, Home Décor, Youth (age 16 and under), and Best in Show. Winners will be announced in mid-September.
While having school supplies may simply be an item on the ‘to-do’ list for many parents and guardians, for others, the calculator that their child needs, or a backpack without last year’s broken zippers, may not be in the cards.
These parents—and especially their children—should not have to worry about heading into school without the necessary supplies. This is why the United Way has this drive and, by contributing the supplies our students need to succeed, we’re investing in the future of our community. Together we are stronger. United, we make a difference. #BackpacktotheFuture.
This year’s 2018 school supply drive will be July 9th trough July 27th. If you visit www.handsonasheville.org/
BUGS! is a new musical exploring the insect world. Through a series of funny and uplifting vignettes, this immersive spectacle asks us to pause, look closely, and consider the little things.
Public performances are Fridays at 7pm, Saturdays at 1pm and 3:30pm, and Sundays at 1pm, with added performances Sunday July 22 at 3:30pm and Thursday July 26 at 7pm. Visit Asheville Creative Arts’ website for information on tickets: $12 (July 19-22); and $12/students and $23/adults (July 26-29).
Throughout the month of July, you can enjoy a great local craft beverage and help support MANNA’s mission to provide food to families across WNC.
Many of us are busy planning summer vacations, gatherings, and picnics ahead of July. But for over 100,000 Western North Carolina residents busy trying to make ends meet to provide for their most basic needs, that kind of celebration is out of the question.
That is why the nationally recognized WNC beer scene is collaborating again, and raising the stakes, to bring awareness to the issue of hunger in Western North Carolina. Over twenty local breweries are joining forces to help support MANNA FoodBank’s mission to end hunger for thousands of families across WNC through the 2nd annual Hops for Hunger campaign, July 1st – 31st.
Hops for Hunger is made possible through support from Asheville Ale Trail, and MANNA’s annual sponsors: Preserve Communities, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, Anurja Interactive, The Cantina at Historic Biltmore Village, Mast General Store, and Lamar Advertising.
These incredible dogs have delighted audiences nationwide at halftime shows on television. Don’t miss them live at Tweetsie Railroad! Shows at 11:00 a.m., and 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. Saturday evening show at 7:00 p.m.
Half Day Camps ($125)
June 25 -29
July 9-13
July 23-27
July 20-Aug. 3
Every Saturday in July the park stays open late, until 9:00 p.m., so you can make more time for family memories. Enjoy evening train and stage shows, rides at dusk, and fun throughout the park.

Fairy Tales In Clay Clay Camp Ages 4-8 with Cassie Mazur
July 23-27
Monday- Friday, 9am-12pm
What is your favorite fairy tale? Jack and the Beanstalk? The Princess and the Pea? Alice in Wonderland? Maybe one of the new classics, like Trolls! Cassie will be your guide to this exciting world of fantasy where magic and mystery reign. You will learn to sculpt with skill and bring your favorite characters to life.
Phone: (828) 250-6484
Email: [email protected]
Event Type: Story Time for Kids
Age Group: Baby – (ages 4 mos.-18 mos.)
Location: 1 Taylor Rd. – Fairview
Library: Fairview
Mother Goose Time is a lively language enrichment story time serving our youngest folks–the 4 month-old to 18 month-old set.
Phone: (828) 250-4700
Email: [email protected]
Event Type: Summer Reading Programs
Age Group: Baby – (ages 4 mos.-18 mos.),Toddler – (ages 18 mos.-2 yrs.)
Location: 67 Haywood St. – Asheville
Library: Pack Memorial
Join us for free play time for children ages 0-3. Come for an hour of active play with small climbing toys, manipulatives, tunnels, balls and more! We will have Baby Gym on Tuesdays from 11am-12n.
(Baby Story Time is at 10:30am and Baby Gym will follow that.)
Phone: 828-250-4756
Email: [email protected]
Event Type: Story Time for Kids
Age Group: Baby – (ages 4 mos.-18 mos.)
Location: 105 N. Dougherty St. – Black Mountain
Library: Black Mountain
Mother Goose Time is a lively language enrichment story time serving our youngest folks–the 4 month-old to 18 month-old set.
Phone: (828) 250-4718
Email: [email protected]
Event Type: Arts & Crafts,Family Fun,Informational
Age Group: Teen – (grades 6-12),Family – (children of all ages),Adult
Location: 67 Haywood St. – Asheville
Library: Pack Memorial
This workshop will provide a space to make a mini mending toolkit to take home with you, you can also feel free to bring in a garment to repair or re-work. The instructor will help establish repair plans with participants to suit their practical needs and aesthetic desires, with the hope that these tools will increase the longevity of our garments we love and curb the consumption of more articles of clothing!
Children with parental supervision, teens and adults are welcome. This program is free and sponsored by The Friends of the Library!

On Your Mark, Get Centered, Throw! Clay Camp Ages 6-10 with Sara Ballek
July 23-27
Monday- Friday, 2-5pm
Your dreams of becoming a Clay DJ will come true in this week full of wheel throwing! Not only will students learn how to use the potter’s wheel, but they will also create fun, funky objects for daily use! After the pots come off the wheel, lively decorating and sculpting will add the finishing touches to their masterpieces!
Phone: (828) 250-4752
Email: [email protected]
Event Type: Book Club,Summer Reading Programs
Age Group: School Age – (grades K-5)
Location: 1030 Merrimon Ave. – Asheville
Library: North Asheville
Come join the Homeschool Book Club! Meet new people while having snacks and discussing an awesome book! Come by the North Asheville Library to sign up and check out a copy of our book of the month. Age 9 to 12. No groups please.
Phone: (828) 250-4717
Email: [email protected]
Event Type: Classes
Age Group: Adult
Location: 67 Haywood St. – Asheville
Library: Pack Memorial
Every Tuesday at 6 PM, we’ll be having basic computer skills classes in our computer lab downstairs. Come and improve your email skills in a patient and understanding environment.
All library events are free. No registration is required for the class, all are
welcome. Computers may be limited based on capacity.
Contact Sam at [email protected] for more information or call 250-4717
Phone: (828) 250-6486
Email: [email protected]
Event Type: Performance,Summer Reading Programs
Age Group: Family – (children of all ages),Adult
Location: 101 W. Charleston Ave. – Swannanoa
Library: Swannanoa
Come to Grovemont Park for great local bands, good music, fun and great food. Bring camp chairs and picnic blankets to enjoy the free concert. We’ll have a half-price book sale each day starting at 5 PM.
TONIGHT: The Wonderful Nobodies – a Nashville-based group all hailing from the Appalachian region of Virginia and NC. A unique blend of bluegrass, pop, soul & country.
Phone: (828) 250-6488
Email: [email protected]
Event Type: Arts & Crafts
Age Group: Teen – (grades 6-12),Adult
Location: 260 Overlook Rd. – Asheville
Library: Skyland / South Buncombe
Enhance rocks with colorful designs. Sign up at circulation desk or call 828-250-6488. Class limited to 10 participants. Adults and teens welcome.
Phone: (828) 250-6480
Email: [email protected]
Event Type: Classes
Age Group: Adult
Location: 1561 Alexander Rd. – Leicester
Library: Leicester
Join us for an evening with children’s book editor, Joy Neaves. Explore elements that make up great stories and learn ways to get your own story ideas onto the page. We’ll look at strategies for developing strong characters, engaging action, and compelling ideas. Learn how using a storyboard can help you develop the framework for a picture book text or a longer work of fiction.
Joy Neaves is a freelance editor of children’s books at namelos who gained experience as an editor of children’s picture books, poetry, middle grade, and young adult fiction at Front Street Books, an award-winning imprint of books for children. Joy is passionate in her approach to talking about both children’s literature and the craft of writing for children, and enjoys helping writers hone their craft, with an eye toward publication. This workshop is designed for adults and older teens. Advance registration preferred. Please call 250-6480 to register.
Hillman Beer is hosting Tuesday Trivia Night from 7pm-9pm! Get ready to drink some beer, test your wit, and have some fun!
Details:
– Please arrive at 6:30pm
– Max 6 people per team
– First place gets a $50 Hillman Beer Gift Card and other fun chances to win

Named by USA Today as one of the Top Twenty Festivals in North Carolina, Folkmoot is a ten-day event, held across the mountains of Western North Carolina in Waynesville, Clyde, Lake Junaluska, Maggie Valley, Canton, Cherokee, Franklin, Hickory, Asheville, and Hendersonville. The 2018 festival dates are July 19 – 29 and feature cultural ambassadors/dance performing groups from Ghana, Italy, Czech Republic, Mexico, Venezuela and Northern Cyprus, Thailand and local Appalachian and Cherokee dancers and musicians.
Tickets are now on sale for all performances and can be purchased at Folkmoot.org, in person at the Folkmoot Friendship Center, or by calling 828-452-2997.
For the seventh consecutive year, the Asheville Habitat ReStore at 31 Meadow Road near Biltmore Village is encouraging residents to show off their creativity and talent for a chance to win in the ReStore ReUse Contest. Garden shed, artist studio, chicken coop…tree house, playhouse, tiny house…if you recently built a structure like this using predominantly reused building materials, Habitat wants to know. The contest runs July 1-August 31 and submissions must be sent electronically. Information and entry form will be available on ashevillehabitat.org starting July 1 st . The purpose of the contest is to showcase innovative building projects constructed predominantly of used building materials. “Our customers often tell us about the projects they make using materials purchased at the ReStore. This contest is a great way to showcase their projects and inspire others to reuse, recycle and repurpose usable materials,” said Scott Stetson, ReStore General Manager. Five judges will select winners in the following categories: Furniture, Homesteading, Live and/or Work Space, Home Décor, Youth (age 16 and under), and Best in Show. Winners will be announced in mid-September.
While having school supplies may simply be an item on the ‘to-do’ list for many parents and guardians, for others, the calculator that their child needs, or a backpack without last year’s broken zippers, may not be in the cards.
These parents—and especially their children—should not have to worry about heading into school without the necessary supplies. This is why the United Way has this drive and, by contributing the supplies our students need to succeed, we’re investing in the future of our community. Together we are stronger. United, we make a difference. #BackpacktotheFuture.
This year’s 2018 school supply drive will be July 9th trough July 27th. If you visit www.handsonasheville.org/
BUGS! is a new musical exploring the insect world. Through a series of funny and uplifting vignettes, this immersive spectacle asks us to pause, look closely, and consider the little things.
Public performances are Fridays at 7pm, Saturdays at 1pm and 3:30pm, and Sundays at 1pm, with added performances Sunday July 22 at 3:30pm and Thursday July 26 at 7pm. Visit Asheville Creative Arts’ website for information on tickets: $12 (July 19-22); and $12/students and $23/adults (July 26-29).
