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.

Wednesday, June 18, 2025
UNC Health Pardee Walk-In Wednesdays Hiring Event
Jun 18 @ 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Pardee Human Resources

UNC Health Pardee is hosting weekly open house hiring events at our Human Resources office in Hendersonville!

This event is open to all candidates who are interested in Pardee as a career destination. Candidates may walk in to apply for jobs.

Our recruiting team will be available to you one-on-one to answer any questions, help with applications, and share more about what it’s like to be part of Pardee’s one great team.

Thursday, June 19, 2025
Summer Conference: Loving Our Neighbors as Ourselves
Jun 19 @ 12:00 am – 10:00 am
Kanuga

Nourish your body, mind, and soul by experiencing a variety of offerings to bring balance and peace to your life during these times. Ample free time allows participants to nap, hike around the lake, journal, or explore Kanuga. Led by Chantal McKinney, a life-long seeker of the Divine. She is a writer, speaker, entrepreneur, coach, consultant, practitioner of community development, and former church planter who walks among the two worlds of faith and spirituality.

Friday, June 20, 2025
Hammered Wide Band Rings Workshop at Ignite Jewelry Studios
Jun 20 @ 1:15 pm – 3:30 pm
Ignite Jewelry Studios

Join us in this hands on class where you will make a hammered sterling silver wide band ring. One of Ignite’s talented instructors will take you through the process step by step including soldering, shaping, hammering, and finishing your ring.

These also make great wedding bands!

You’ll leave with a beautiful ring made to size in our downtown Asheville metalsmithing studio.

$120 person *All Materials Included

*Class times and avialbalility are subject to change. SIgn up in advance online to ensure your time and space.

This is a Weekly Recurring Event
Runs from May 23, 2025 to Jun 27, 2025 and happens every:
Fridays: 1:15pm – 3:30pm Timezone: EDT
Saturdays: 1:15pm – 3:30pm Timezone: EDT

Saturday, June 21, 2025
Hammered Wide Band Rings Workshop at Ignite Jewelry Studios
Jun 21 @ 1:15 pm – 3:30 pm
Ignite Jewelry Studios

Join us in this hands on class where you will make a hammered sterling silver wide band ring. One of Ignite’s talented instructors will take you through the process step by step including soldering, shaping, hammering, and finishing your ring.

These also make great wedding bands!

You’ll leave with a beautiful ring made to size in our downtown Asheville metalsmithing studio.

$120 person *All Materials Included

*Class times and avialbalility are subject to change. SIgn up in advance online to ensure your time and space.

This is a Weekly Recurring Event
Runs from May 23, 2025 to Jun 27, 2025 and happens every:
Fridays: 1:15pm – 3:30pm Timezone: EDT
Saturdays: 1:15pm – 3:30pm Timezone: EDT

Wednesday, June 25, 2025
UNC Health Pardee Walk-In Wednesdays Hiring Event
Jun 25 @ 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Pardee Human Resources

UNC Health Pardee is hosting weekly open house hiring events at our Human Resources office in Hendersonville!

This event is open to all candidates who are interested in Pardee as a career destination. Candidates may walk in to apply for jobs.

Our recruiting team will be available to you one-on-one to answer any questions, help with applications, and share more about what it’s like to be part of Pardee’s one great team.

Thursday, June 26, 2025
Elderflower Care Community and Arby’s Foundation Celebrate Grand Reopening
Jun 26 @ 4:00 pm
Elderflower Community

Elderflower Care Community, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to caring for dementia patients and their families, alongside the Arby’s Foundation will celebrate its grand re-opening with the Asheville community on Thursday, June 26. Elderflower will host an official ribbon-cutting ceremony beginning at 4:00 p.m. with food and music for guests to follow.

Learn Evolutionary Astrology with David Heiss
Jun 26 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Energetic Experiences

Learn Evolutionary Astrology: A 2-Hour Workshop

Unlock the deeper meaning of your soul’s journey through Evolutionary Astrology! This immersive 2-hour workshop will guide you through the foundations of this transformative approach, helping you understand past-life influences, karmic lessons, and your soul’s evolutionary path.

What You’ll Learn:

The philosophy behind Evolutionary Astrology
The significance of Pluto and the Lunar Nodes in your birth chart
How to interpret your soul’s purpose and karmic patterns
Practical techniques for self-discovery and personal growth
Perfect for astrology enthusiasts and beginners alike, this workshop will provide insightful tools to deepen your self-awareness and align with your higher path.

Join us and explore the wisdom of the cosmos!

Energy Exchange for this event: $33

Friday, June 27, 2025
Hammered Wide Band Rings Workshop at Ignite Jewelry Studios
Jun 27 @ 1:15 pm – 3:30 pm
Ignite Jewelry Studios

Join us in this hands on class where you will make a hammered sterling silver wide band ring. One of Ignite’s talented instructors will take you through the process step by step including soldering, shaping, hammering, and finishing your ring.

These also make great wedding bands!

You’ll leave with a beautiful ring made to size in our downtown Asheville metalsmithing studio.

$120 person *All Materials Included

*Class times and avialbalility are subject to change. SIgn up in advance online to ensure your time and space.

This is a Weekly Recurring Event
Runs from May 23, 2025 to Jun 27, 2025 and happens every:
Fridays: 1:15pm – 3:30pm Timezone: EDT
Saturdays: 1:15pm – 3:30pm Timezone: EDT

Saturday, June 28, 2025
Pathways to Public Leadership- Igniting Community Change-Makers
Jun 28 @ 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
ABIPA Life's Center

Are you ready to build power, change systems, and lead your community with purpose?

We’re calling YOU — neighbors, organizers, artists, students, educators, Tribal Leaders, tourists, healers, and dreamers — to join us for a transformative one-day training that will ignite your leadership journey. The Campaign School at Yale University will travel to Asheville for a one day training on how to run for public office, how to lead a successful campaign, and or ways to connect to voters.

Monday, June 30, 2025
LCCA Job Fair on June 30
Jun 30 @ 10:30 am – 3:00 pm
The Draftsman Bar & Lounge

The LightEn Center of Consciousness & Action (LCCA) is hiring!
Please join us for our Job Fair on June 30 at the Draftsman in the Restoration Hotel in Asheville from 10:30am-3pm!

Our team is collectively working to deliver on an ambitious and world-changing mission, providing a world-class culture through a purpose-driven lens and we are hiring 30-40 new team members in advance of our launch in Fall 2025.

Roles we are recruiting for include: Administrative staff, Cooks, Drivers, Gardeners, Maintenance Workers, Porters, Security Guards, Servers, Spa Attendants.

Join us on June 30 to learn more, meet the team, and enjoy some light bites, a few games and the chance to win a tee shirt!

The LightEn Center of Consciousness & Action (LCCA) is a new 489-acre retreat center in Marshall, NC (~30 minutes north of Asheville) set to open in September 2025. LCCA will serve as a soul-focused sanctuary and learning center for individual and collective growth. The Center will host current and emerging leaders to cultivate and deepen the inner work needed to be more effective change agents in the world. The center will feature five teaching spaces, an 8,000+ sq ft spa, fitness center, auditorium, event hall, dining hall, reception building, administrative building, horticultural complex, and 76 guest cabins. Find more at https://www.light-en.org

Use this link to pre-register or share your info with us if you are interested but unable to attend so we can stay in touch: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=i7eBBV-TQEGnpzWJJD_6CE4EqLhX-t5OgUlv-VfffpdURVRSRzhROEVHMTZXOVFCS0VSNlRXNkNNRC4u&route

Feel free to email us with any questions!

Wednesday, July 2, 2025
UNC Health Pardee Walk-In Wednesdays Hiring Event
Jul 2 @ 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Pardee Hospital

UNC Health Pardee is hosting weekly open house hiring events in Hendersonville!

This event is open to all candidates who are interested in Pardee as a career destination. Candidates may walk in to apply for jobs.

Our recruiting team will be available to you one-on-one to answer any questions, help with applications, and share more about what it’s like to be part of Pardee’s one great team.

Tuesday, July 8, 2025
🌑Uranus moves into Gemini♊ Why is this a big deal?
Jul 8 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Energetic Experiences

A rare celestial alchemy unfolds On July 7th, 2025, Uranus—planet of awakening, disruption, and liberation—enters the air sign of Gemini, initiating a seven-year cycle of radical change in how we think, communicate, learn, and connect. This workshop is an invitation to explore the deeper meaning of this transit: a collective rewiring of the mental field, a shake-up of outdated narratives, and a call to innovate the ways we exchange information and truth. When Uranus makes its move, hold on to your hats and glasses, this will be a fast ride into the future. Lets talk about it, and prepare for success.

Together, we’ll delve into how this transit may stir revolution in education, technology, media, and consciousness—and how to align personally with the frequency of curious rebellion and conscious speech. Expect insights, chart examples, and space to vision your role in the coming wave of mental and social evolution.

Backdrop
Why is Uranus ingress into Gemini a big deal?
Pluto set the tone, Neptune and Saturn set the stage, now Uranus speeds it up
Uranus is the last outer planet to make its move into the New Age of Aquarius

Wednesday, July 9, 2025
UNC Health Pardee Walk-In Wednesdays Hiring Event
Jul 9 @ 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Pardee Hospital

UNC Health Pardee is hosting weekly open house hiring events in Hendersonville!

This event is open to all candidates who are interested in Pardee as a career destination. Candidates may walk in to apply for jobs.

Our recruiting team will be available to you one-on-one to answer any questions, help with applications, and share more about what it’s like to be part of Pardee’s one great team.

Business Mastermind for Spiritual Practitioners
Jul 9 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Energetic Experiences

Calling all spiritual practitioners! Join Marian for an insightful and empowering session where you’ll learn essential best practices for running your spiritual business with confidence and clarity.

In the Business Mastermind for Spiritual Practitioners workshop, Marian will guide you through key tips and strategies to elevate your operations and marketing.

This is a safe and welcoming space to ask questions, share experiences, and learn alongside like-minded peers. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your approach, this event offers valuable insights tailored to spiritual entrepreneurs.

🤝 Networking Opportunity: Connect with fellow practitioners and expand your professional circle. Don’t forget to bring your business cards!

📍 Details:

Cost: Free (Donations accepted to support the venue)
What to Bring: Your questions, a notebook or laptop, and your business cards.
Take this opportunity to grow your skills and your network in a supportive and inspiring environment. We can’t wait to see you there!

Should you be interested in one-on-one coaching from Marian, feel free to book a Business Best Practices for Spiritual Practitioners session with her here: https://energeticexperiences.as.me/?appointmentType=74750284

Thursday, July 10, 2025
Business After Hours
Jul 10 @ 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park
 
Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park
43 Town Square Blvd.
Asheville, NC 28803

Come join us for Business After Hours at Hilton Asheville – Biltmore Park!

Friday, July 11, 2025
Light Language Playshop with Lauren Rosenzweig
Jul 11 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Energetic Experiences

During our time we will explore vocal exercises and sounds to activate your light language. The vocal exercises are great for clearing and moving energy throughout your body, while easing your nervous system. This creates space to allow more energetic flow through your whole being.

Following this interactive session, you then will lay down and receive sound and energy healing to integrate your process. We all have the ability to access light language and if you have been called or intrigued, please reach out!

This is a non-judgement, safe container for free expression and play.

When: Friday, July 11th
Time: 6:30pm-8pm
Sliding Scale: $25-40

Monday, July 14, 2025
July IBN Evening Social
Jul 14 @ 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
12 Bones Brewing

IBN July Evening Social

Date: Monday, July 14
Time: 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Location: 12 Bones Brewing, 2350 Hendersonville Rd., Arden

Why Should You Attend?
Free to Attend: No fees, no dues—just show up and enjoy!
No Membership or Requirements: No obligations, no restrictions—open to everyone!
Inclusive Environment: All industries and businesses are welcome.
Optional Purchases: Grab some food or a drink if you’d like!

What to Expect:
This is your opportunity to connect with local professionals, promote your business, and expand your referral network in a casual, welcoming atmosphere. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, freelancer, or part of a larger company, this event is perfect for making meaningful connections.

Pro Tip:
Bring plenty of business cards, flyers, or promotional materials to share with other attendees. Have a door prize to contribute? Feel free to bring one—it’s optional but always appreciated!

Don’t miss this chance to grow your business and build new relationships in the community. Invite your colleagues, friends, and business contacts to join in on the fun!

We’ll see you there!

Incredible Business Networking is Sponsored by the following fine companies that make it possible for everyone else to attend for free!:

Mr. Rooter Plumbing WNC
One Health Direct Primary Care
PMI Mountain & Main Property Management
Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More
Pisgah Roofing and Restoration
Michael Freas Photography
Get Lifted Auto Sales and Repair

Wednesday, July 16, 2025
UNC Health Pardee Walk-In Wednesdays Hiring Event
Jul 16 @ 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Pardee Hospital

UNC Health Pardee is hosting weekly open house hiring events in Hendersonville!

This event is open to all candidates who are interested in Pardee as a career destination. Candidates may walk in to apply for jobs.

Our recruiting team will be available to you one-on-one to answer any questions, help with applications, and share more about what it’s like to be part of Pardee’s one great team.

Saturday, July 19, 2025
Turning the Page on Helene -Altered Book Workshop
Jul 19 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Swannanoa Library Meeting Room

Learn how to make altered books and make a page for one of the volumes of Turning the Page on Helene. All supplies are provided free of charge. No previous art experience is necessary, and it’s family friendly!

Turning the Page on Helene is a community-based art project that is using the transformative power of altered books to tell our communities’ stories of Hurricane Helene through the visual arts. The goal is to create a safe space for community members to share experiences of the hurricane as well as their hopes for rebuilding a better and brighter future.

Wednesday, July 23, 2025
UNC Health Pardee Walk-In Wednesdays Hiring Event
Jul 23 @ 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Pardee Hospital

UNC Health Pardee is hosting weekly open house hiring events in Hendersonville!

This event is open to all candidates who are interested in Pardee as a career destination. Candidates may walk in to apply for jobs.

Our recruiting team will be available to you one-on-one to answer any questions, help with applications, and share more about what it’s like to be part of Pardee’s one great team.

Tuesday, July 29, 2025
Embodied Awakening Asheville
Jul 29 @ 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm
The Studio AVL

Join us for The HEAL Collective’s one-of-a-kind Summer Tour!

📅 Tuesday, July 29, 2025
🕔 5:00–7:30pm (doors open at 4:45)
📍 The Studio AVL — 34 Wall Street, Asheville, NC 28801

You’ve done the inner work.
You know how to name your patterns, ride the emotional waves, maybe even hold space for others.

But…
You still crave something deeper.
A place where your body can exhale.
Where healing doesn’t feel like a solo mission.
Where you can be held, celebrated, and activated alongside others who get it.

This is that space.

We’re Carissa & Eric—partners in love and in the wild vision of a more embodied, relational world.
We’ve walked through burnout, heartbreak, anxiety, and the kind of disconnection that healing work alone couldn’t quite touch.

This event is a call to come back into the body.
Into connection.
Into playful, powerful presence.

✨ What You’ll Experience:

❤️‍🔥 Grounding breathwork + guided meditation
❤️‍🔥 Somatic practices for regulation and joy
❤️‍🔥 Authentic relating & vulnerable connection
❤️‍🔥 Dance, movement, and community magic

🌟 You’ll Leave With:

💫 Practices to anchor yourself when the world feels chaotic
💫 Soul-nourishing connections with conscious humans
💫 A felt sense of possibility—in your body, your life, and your relationships

We believe healing is a path we must each walk ourselves, but we don’t need to walk it alone.
Healing can be embodied. It can be communal. It can be alive.

This isn’t just an event.
It’s the revolution.
A gathering of people who are ready to feel more free—together.

🎟️ Tickets
$44 – Individual
$77 – Bring a friend, partner, or fellow seeker and receive a discount

🍇 Light refreshments provided.
🌸 Space is intimate—reserve your spot early.

Come as you are. Leave more fully expressed.
We can’t wait to heal with you.

Wednesday, July 30, 2025
UNC Health Pardee Walk-In Wednesdays Hiring Event
Jul 30 @ 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Pardee Hospital

UNC Health Pardee is hosting weekly open house hiring events in Hendersonville!

This event is open to all candidates who are interested in Pardee as a career destination. Candidates may walk in to apply for jobs.

Our recruiting team will be available to you one-on-one to answer any questions, help with applications, and share more about what it’s like to be part of Pardee’s one great team.

Saturday, August 16, 2025
Bodhi Fest
Aug 16 all-day
Asheville Community Theater

The first annual Bodhi Fest, a Buddhist Arts and Film Festival at Asheville Community Theatre on August 16th, 2025 will be a day of illumination as we explore the gladdening qualities of the human spirit ranging from sweet solitude to ecstatic joy. The program will consist of Buddhist films + Q&A, shorts, a dance workshop, a songwriting workshop, musical performances and more. Crafts, art and food from Buddhist sanghas, artists and local vendors will be shared in the front lobby during the festival.

Enjoy an event of immersion in compassionate-wisdom activities that provoke insight and lift the spirit.

Tuesday, August 19, 2025
BNI Beaucatcher Chapter Visitor Day
Aug 19 all-day
Congregation Beth Israel (Meeting Room)

🌟 You’re Invited! Experience the Power of BNI Networking 🌟

Looking to grow your business, expand your business referral network, and build long-lasting relationships with local professionals?

Join us at our next BNI Beaucatcher Visitor Event and discover how word-of-mouth marketing can help you take your business to the next level.

🔹 What to Expect:
• A room full of motivated, dynamic business professionals
• Opportunities to share what you do and who you’re looking to connect with
• A proven system for generating quality referrals
• A warm, supportive atmosphere focused on helping each other succeed through business growth

We are currently looking for the following businesses to join us!
Financial Advisor Psychotherapist Property Casualty Insurance
Handyman Estate Attorney Naturopathic Doctor, ND
Real Estate Attorney Marketing Agencies CPA

Whether you’re in finance, marketing, trades, wellness, or any other industry, there’s a seat at the table for you!

🎯 Bring plenty of business cards and be ready to make meaningful connections.

Spaces are limited, so RSVP today!
Rodney Craig, V.P. Beaucatcher Chapter BNI
Call or text: 414-334-9092 Email: [email protected]

Thursday, August 28, 2025
WomanUP
Aug 28 @ 8:00 am – 10:30 am
A-B Tech Conference Center
The Switch: Activate Your Authentic Influence and Unlock Your Next Chapter

We all know how to “turn on” our confidence for a big meeting. But what if that power wasn’t just a temporary performance? In this inspiring keynote, TV Host and Fundraising Auctioneer Erin Kienzle shares her powerful framework for “The Switch.”
Learn how to:

-Instantly command any room with a simple 3-step tool.

-Find the courage to stop performing and pivot toward your true purpose.

-Redefine success on your own terms by giving yourself three essential permissions.

Stop just playing a part. It’s time to unlock your authentic influence and realign your life.

 

ART PARTY ON THE ROOF AT THE RADICAL HOTEL
Aug 28 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
The Radical Hotel

ART PARTY ON THE ROOF AT THE RADICAL HOTEL

Thursday, August 28, 2025

7-9pm

The Roof

The Radical Hotel

95 Roberts Street

Asheville, NC 28801

You are invited to an unforgettable evening of creativity and community with Miranda Wildman and friends on The Roof at The Radical Hotel!

This August evening we will play with a plethora of colors and shapes to create your very own tabletop lantern to set the mood for your summer soirees.

No experience? No problem! This is all about fun, self-expression, and connecting with others through art. Let the local DJ’s inspired beats set the mood as you create alongside new and old friends.

Come as you are—bring your curiosity. Art is for everyone, and this art party is too!

$25

all materials included

N.O.T.A.F.L.O.F.

(no one turned away for lack of funds)

Thursday, September 4, 2025
Our Global Table
Sep 4 @ 7:25 pm – 8:25 pm
Cooperative Coffee
 Want to enjoy tasty foods with international flair and support a great cause at the same time?
On Saturday, September 13th, “Our Global Table” will showcase a variety of food and drink as a fundraiser for nonprofit Pisgah Legal Services’ Justice For All Program, which provides free legal aid to improve the lives of immigrants in 18 Western North Carolina (WNC) counties.
The event takes place at Cooperative Coffee, 210 Haywood Road in West Asheville from 3-6:00 p.m. Guests will sample a passport’s worth of international flavor, provided by talented community neighbors including: Gypsy Queen, J Chong Eats, Luis Martinez, Master BBQ, Olga Jimenez of Short Street Cakes, and more.
Tickets are $35/person in advance on Cooperative Coffee’s website; $40 at the door on the day of the event. Kids ages 8 and under are free.
Nonprofit Pisgah Legal Services (PLS) provides a broad array of free, civil legal aid, anti-poverty advocacy and access to health care assistance in the 18-county WNC region. Last year, Pisgah Legal served more than 25,000 people, many of whom were recovering from Hurricane Helene.
Friday, September 5, 2025
Riveting Sterling Ring
Sep 5 @ 1:15 pm – 3:15 pm
Ignite Jewelry Studios

Come make this textured and riveted sterling silver ring in a hands on workshop at Ignite Jewelry Studios. A qualified instructor will safely take you through the steps until your piece is complete. You’ll use a variety of common metalsmithing tools including a torch, rolling mill, and more!

Choose from 4 textures: Hammered/ Striped/Boho/Smooth

All materials included! Make it to your size.

Also makes a unique wedding band, fabulous bachelorette event, or team building!

Sunday, September 14, 2025
Metalsmithing 101: The Basics Intensive SEPT 13th and 14th
Sep 14 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Ignite Jewelry Studios

Want to learn to make jewelry? This beginner friendly introductory metalsmithing course teaches the basics skills involved in making your own jewelry. Learn to use a variety of tools and equipment common in a jewelry studio.

This Intensive 16 hour 2 day workshop will teach many techniques including sawing, filing, polishing, soldering, bezel setting, textures, and more! $499 plus a $55 materials fee (paid separate at class)

Class Times: Saturday Sept 13th 9-5 and Sunday Sept 14th 9-5

Students will also have access to 4 Open Studio sessions through the following 4 weeks to practice their skills. A knowledgeable instructor is present during these sessions for questions and safety. Wednesdays 10-4pm (These are only valid the 4 weeks following the class and do not carry over)

Please know this will be a substantial amount of information over the two days and the intensity may not be ideal for everyone. Some jewelry making knowledge may be beneficial, but is not required. The course is designed to teach the skills through a series of jewelry pieces.

The course is designed to teach techniques and skills rather than completing actual aesthetically pleasing pieces, but the goal is that everyone can complete 2-3 pieces of finished jewelry or more. Attending some or all Open Studios will absolutely ensure this and likely many more pieces.

Wednesday, September 17, 2025
Simplify Your Move: A Comprehensive Workshop for Seniors and Their Families
Sep 17 @ 10:30 am – 12:30 pm
East Asheville Public Library

Planning for the future can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Join us for a FREE WORKSHOP designed to help seniors and their families navigate the often-complex process of downsizing, relocating, and preparing for what’s next.

This event, held at the East Asheville Public Library, will provide guidance from professionals on a variety of topics to help make your next transition smooth and stress-free.

Refreshments will be provided!

Workshop Highlights
Financial Guidance from a Lender: Learn how lenders utilize a combination of your retirement income and assets to qualify you for a mortgage.

Legal Planning with an Estate Attorney: Get expert advice on key legal issues, including how to organize assets, taxes, and your beneficiary structure, as well as ensure the instructions for your death or medical circumstance are followed.

Practical Moving Tips from a Realtor: You are not alone! See how a Realtor can act as your personal “project manager” to make the transition stress-free.

Don’t miss this opportunity to get your questions answered by experts in the field. There will be a time for Q & A at the end! If you have questions that you would like addressed, include them in the appropriate area as your register.

This event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. Register to secure your spot.