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, July 30, 2025
Christine D. Page launches All Hallows’ Eve
Jul 30 @ 6:00 pm
Malaprop's Bookstore

Wednesday, July 30, 2025 – 6:00pm

Join us in store for the launch of local author Christine D. Page’s new book All Hallows’ Eve, including a conversation with illustrator Dana Irwin, and a reading from the book’s main character Adelaide. 

The event is free but registration is required to reserve your seat.


All Hallows’ Eve can be spooky, especially for Asheville kids who venture into the cemetery this night! A witch, a pirate, a werewolf, and a vampire play hide-and-seek among the gravestones as they visit the graves of some well-known Ashevillians. Come join the fun and learn a bit of local history along the way. As the four children find, if you are quiet—and if you listen long enough—the generations who have gone before us have stories to tell. When the kids wander through the darkening cemetery, they “meet” the angel in Thomas Wolfe’s famous novel. They are guided by the spirit of Isaac Dickson to do well in school, and they are inspired by George Masa’s photographs. They are told a story of true love when they visit O. Henry’s gravesite. They watch ghostly images of Zelda Fitzgerald and the Pink Lady drift past the clouds, and through the mist they might hear the faint sound of drums of Civil War soldiers. Come with us on an eerie adventure through the mystical world of Riverside Cemetery…if you dare!

 

Sunday, August 3, 2025
Poet Quartet: Chris Arvidson, Andy Young, Caroline M. Mar, Paul Jones
Aug 3 @ 4:30 pm
Malaprop's Bookstore

Poet Quartet: Chris Arvidson, Andy Young, Caroline M. Mar, Paul Jones

Sunday, August 3, 2025 – 4:30pm

Join us for our monthly poetry reading, curated by Mildred Barya. This month’s Poet Quartet features Chris Arvidson, Andy Young, Caroline M. Mar, and Paul Jones reading from their newest collections.

The event is free but registration is required to reserve your seat.

 

Thursday, August 28, 2025
The Black Experience Book Club
Aug 28 @ 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
YMI Cultural Center

Join us for The Black Experience Book Club, a monthly gathering held every fourth Thursday at either the YMI Cultural Center’s Art Gallery or just around the corner at Noir Collective AVL. This community-centered series is hosted by alexandria ravenel, YMI’s Director of Community Engagement, and is designed to explore literature that centers the voices, histories, and futures of the African Diaspora.

For location details or to RSVP, please contact alexandria ravenel directly at [email protected].

Wednesday, September 10, 2025
NC Writers Network & The Brandy Bar host “In the Company of Writers”
Sep 10 all-day
The Brandy Bar + Cocktails

WED 8/10/25 – 7-9 PM – The North Carolina Writers Network and The Brandy Bar + Cocktails present as next in their series “In the Company of Writers.” Kate Crawford
The program offers a series of personal and conversational dialogues featuring guest writers/poets, followed by an open mic forum. These inspirational gatherings will elucidate and entertain those attending. The guest author speaks from 7-8 PM with an open mic from 8 -9 PM. The Chicago blues music of “John Longbottom” welcomes you, continues during intermission, and closes the evening. You are welcome to sign up for the open mic with the sign-up sheet at the entrance.

Katherine Scott Crawford is the award-winning author of The Miniaturist’s Assistant and Keowee Valley. A former backpacking guide, adjunct professor, and recovering academic, her newspaper column appeared weekly across the country and abroad, including in USA Today, The Detroit Free Press, The Herald Scotland, and more. Winner of a North Carolina Arts Award in fiction, she holds an MFA in Writing from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. She’d rather be in the woods with her dog than anywhere else, enjoys curious people, adventure, and snow, and believes historical fiction the best way to time travel. An eleventh-generation Southerner, she directs writing retreats at a remote mountain lodge near Brevard, North Carolina, where she lives with her family.

For more info visit: https://www.facebook.com/TheBrandyBar/events

Tuesday, September 23, 2025
Listen & Reconnect 
Sep 23 @ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Henderson County Public Library

Reconnecting through Hard Times & Listening Circle

Join Resources for Resilience™ for an afternoon of learning and community connection. During this two-hour event, you’ll gain practical tools to manage stress and support friends and neighbors through hard times. – LEARN how challenges affect us all differently – DISCOVER what to say and do for others after a crisis – SHARE difficulties and lean on one another – PRACTICE stress-reducing tools and strategies to turn good intentions into real support. Thanks to our generous partners, we are able to offer complimentary attendance and refreshments for WNC residents.

Saturday, October 4, 2025
All Hallows’ Eve: Local Asheville Children’s Book Event
Oct 4 @ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Barnes & Noble Asheville Mall

All Hallows’ Eve is a new Asheville children’s book about kids who dress in costume on Halloween and visit Riverside Cemetery to tell ghost stories and visit the graves of Asheville’s most prominent residents, including Thomas Wolfe, Isaac Dickson, George Masa, and O. Henry. Up in the clouds, they see the ghosts of Zelda Fitzgerald and the Pink Lady. Please join Dana and Chris at 3 pm, with special guest and main character: Adelaide the Witch, for a special reading of the story. Also, Constance Lombardo will be presenting her new children’s monster book, itty bitty Betty Blob Makes a Splash!
Kids love stories that are a little spooky. Come with us on an eerie adventure through Riverside Cemetery… if you dare!

Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Dark City LIT! Literary Festival
Oct 8 @ 9:00 am – 6:30 pm
Black Mountain Library

Dark City LIT! A Literary Festival at the Black Mountain Public Library
105 N. Dougherty St. Black Mountain NC 28711

Saturday, November 8

Join us for the inaugural Dark City LIT! Literary Festival!

Write Local, Read Local Author Fair is back for its fourth year! 20 local authors will be handselling books from 9-11 a.m. and reading from their works from Noon to 1 p.m.

Free Workshops Follow:
1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
The Fun, Fascinating, and Fabulous World of Research with Dr. Susan Eischeid
In this engaging workshop, you’ll learn practical strategies for harnessing research—whether historical, personal, or primary sources—to elevate your fiction and non-fiction writing with vivid detail and universal resonance.

3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Publishing as Collective Practice with Andrew Mack of Loblolly Press
Discover how vibrant communities and collaborative efforts—from writers’ groups to small presses—are reviving literature today and leave with your own personalized “community map” to sustain your creative journey.

Followed by An Evening with Tessa Fontaine!
5:00 – 6:30 p.m.
Author of The Electric Woman: A Memoir in Death-Defying Acts and The Red Grove, longlisted for the Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize. Tessa will be reading from her work and signing copies of her books.

NC Writers Network & The Brandy Bar host “In the Company of Writers” series
Oct 8 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
The Brandy Bar + Cocktails

The North Carolina Writers Network and The Brandy Bar + Cocktails present VIVIAN I BIKULEDGE & MICHAEL HETTICH as next in their series “In the Company of Writers”
The program offers a series of personal and conversational dialogues featuring guest writers/poets followed by an open mic forum. These inspirational gatherings will elucidate and entertain those attending. The guest authors speak from 7-8 PM with an open mic from 8 -9 PM. The original music of Bob Sherrill welcomes you, continues during intermission, and closes the evening. Sign-ups for the open mic sheet are posted at the entry.
Vivian I. Bikulege is a poet and essayist. Her work has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and has appeared in the North Carolina Literary Review, The Fourth River, and Broad River Review. A semi-finalist for the 2023 James Applewhite Prize, she also earned honorable mention in the 2022 Randall Jarrell Poetry Competition. Vivian was the 2022 Gilbert-Chappell emerging adult poet for western North Carolina under the mentorship of Ken Chamlee.

Thursday, November 6, 2025
How I Got You Your Ounce, with Marilyn Ball
Nov 6 @ 6:00 pm
Malaprop's Bookstore/Cafe

Jimmy X & Nan K. Chase launch How I Got You Your Ounce, with Marilyn Ball

Join us in store or live online when Jimmy X and Nan K. Chase launch their new book How I Got You Your Ounce, joined in conversation by Marilyn Ball.

This is a free hybrid event with the option to attend in-store or online.

Saturday, November 8, 2025
Write Local, Read Local Author and Illustrator Fair
Nov 8 @ 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Black Mountain Library

The Black Mountain Public Library is excited to announce that registration is now open for the fourth annual “Write Local Read Local Author & Illustrator Fair” taking place Saturday, November 8, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
This beloved community event brings together authors, illustrators, and book lovers from across the Swannanoa Valley for a morning of conversation, connection, and creativity. Participants will have the opportunity to meet the public face-to-face, hand-sell their books, and share their stories in a welcoming, literary atmosphere.
The fair is more than just a book signing—it’s a celebration of the incredible talent in our valley and an invitation for our neighbors to discover and support it.
Each registered participant will receive table space for the drop-in event at no cost. Whether you’re an emerging author, an established illustrator, or somewhere in between, this is your chance to be part of the vibrant Swannanoa Valley literary community. (If you participated in the 2024 event, we ask you to wait until next year unless you have published work since 11/2024. We appreciate your understanding.)

Sunday, November 9, 2025
Book Signing & Meet & Greet
Nov 9 all-day
More To Love Plus
More To Love Plus-Size Consignment will be hosting Maggie Weber, best known as Refashioned Hippie — a comedic fashion commentator with over 2 million cross-platform followers.
Maggie is a writer, entertainer, voice actor, clothing reseller, and mom who built her platform from the ground up, fueled by authenticity, humor, and creative storytelling, turning her voice into a thriving multi-platform brand.
Join us for her Book Signing & Meet & Greet at More To Love, where you can chat with Maggie about how she got started, what it’s really like to grow an online following, and how she balances business, creativity, and real life.
While you’re here, enjoy snacks and refreshments, shop the latest arrivals, and show Maggie your new favorite finds! Plus — the first 40 guests will receive scratch-off discount cards offering at least 15% off or more on their purchase!
If you’re an entrepreneur, creator, or a creative who wants to learn, network, and connect — you won’t want to miss this one!
Bring your copy of her book, Why I Hate Everything: Reflections on a Decade in Retail, to have it signed — or purchase a copy in-store if you’d like to grab one that day. The book is also available on Amazon here: Why I Hate Everything: Reflections on a Decade in Retail
Buy Now: https://www.amazon.com/Why-Hate…/dp/B0971SNTQ9…
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Guests will also receive exclusive scratch-off coupons for a chance to win special in-store discounts during their visit.
And because it wouldn’t be Asheville without a little creative flair — wear your favorite look, whatever that means for you! Whether it’s your go-to dress, a fun costume, or something fabulous you found at More to Love, let’s show Maggie what makes our unique Asheville fashion vibe so special.
📍 More To Love Plus-Size Consignment, Asheville NC
🎟️ Free to attend | Book signing • Special discounts • Gift card giveaway
Then, don’t miss our Live Sale Events on Whatnot (virtual):
Saturday, November 8th | 6–8 PM
Sunday, November 9th | 10 AM–6 PM
Tune in to shop, save, and join the fun from anywhere!
Leicester, North Carolina
Asheville Poetry Reading & Book Signing
Nov 9 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
 5th Generation Pilates

Alabama Poets Garrett Ashley & Salaam Green to Headline Asheville Poetry Reading & Book Signing with Holiday Artisan Market

Loblolly Press and Good Printed Things invite the public to Alabama Poets Garrett Ashley & Salaam Green: Poetry Reading & Book Signing on Sunday, November 9, 2025, from 6:00–7:30 PM at 5th Generation Pilates, 1145 Tunnel Rd, Asheville, NC 28805.
This evening highlights two powerful voices in Southern literature:
  • Garrett Ashley – Author of A Field Guide to North American Trees (Good Printed Things / Loblolly Press, 2025) and Habitats (Loblolly Press, 2026). His limited-run chapbook features poems named after Southeastern trees, weaving ecological awareness with human transformation.
  • Salaam Green – Birmingham’s first Poet Laureate (2024–2026), storyteller, and teaching artist. Her forthcoming collection The Other Revival (Pulley Press, Juneteenth 2025) excavates generational memory from the Wallace Plantation, uniting descendants of enslaved people and slaveholders through poetry as a tool for racial healing.
The program includes readings, conversation, and a book signing where you can meet the authors, all followed by a holiday artisan market with local makers offering handmade crafts.
Admission: Free (RSVP on Eventbrite)
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
What’s the Big Idea: 30 Great Concept Albums, with Patricia Furnish
Nov 18 @ 6:00 pm
Malaprop's Bookstore

Tuesday, Nov. 18 @ 6pm ET

Join us in person at MALAPROP’S BOOKSTORE or streaming live online when Asheville-based writer Bill Kopp presents his new book, What’s the Big Idea: 30 Great Concept Albumsin conversation with Malaprop’s bookseller Patricia Furnish.

This is a free hybrid event with the option to attend in-store or online.
Copies of What’s the Big Idea will be available for purchase, and Bill Kopp will be on hand to sign them.

 

Thursday, December 18, 2025
Deck the Trees
Dec 18 2025 – Jan 5 2026 all-day
Peri Social House

Mark your calendars — December 5, 2025, through January 5, 2026 — the beloved Deck the Trees holiday tradition is back, bigger and brighter than ever!

Now celebrating 15 years, Deck the Trees will once again bring holiday wonder to Black Mountain and Swannanoa, all for a great cause. This cherished fundraiser benefits the Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry (SVCM) Fuel Fund, which helps neighbors in need to keep their homes warm during winter.

This year’s theme, “Christmas in Music & Song,” will inspire more than 50 beautifully decorated trees across town. You’ll find many of them at Peri Social House, Tyson Furniture Company, and White Horse Black Mountain, plus dozens of other local businesses decked out for the season.

How It Works:
From December 5 to January 5, you can vote for your favorite tree(s) by donating $1 per vote. Vote as many times as you’d like. Every dollar goes directly to the SVCM Fuel Fund. Voting is easy:

-Scan the QR code at each tree to donate online
-Or drop cash or checks in the donation box next to the tree
(Online donations encouraged.)

Can’t Visit in Person?
A full list of locations — plus photos of every tree — will be posted soon on the SVCM Deck the Trees website so you can vote from anywhere.

Follow the Festivities:
Stay updated on this year’s dazzling displays and special moments by following SVCM on Facebook (facebook.com/svcmcares) and Instagram (@svcmwnc).

This holiday season, let your heart and your votes warm homes across our valley!