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.

Sunday, May 3, 2020
23rd annual French Broard River Festival
May 3 all-day
Hot Springs Campground & Resort

Kick off spring in the mountains at the 23rd annual French Broad River Festival.  It’s part outdoor adventure, part music festival with whitewater rafting, biking, hiking, kid’s village, camping, great music, and much more.  Painter John, a popular FBRF musician, compares the atmosphere to “a big potluck at your best friend’s house”.  If you’ve been you know . . . what better way to enjoy spring in these mountains?

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The 23rd Annual French Broad River Festival RESCHEDULED Oct 2-4
May 3 all-day
Hot Springs Resort And Spa
23rd FBRF rescheduled
Hello wonderful FBRFers,

With all the cancellations we want to share what we hope you will agree is good news! Our friends at the Hot Springs Campground & Resort have allowed us to move the 23rd annual river fest to the fall, Oct 2-4, 2020. As many of you know we hosted a fall fest or “French Broad Brew Fest” from 2011 to 2015 and it’s a spectacular time of the year to be in this special place down by the river, and we’re really excited to be able to do the full-on 23rd FBRF at that time. Expect lots of great music, kid’s village, whitewater raft race, river cleanup, pumpkins, great weather (usually), and politicians (just kidding we’ll need a break around that time right?).

So . . . if you purchased tickets already you can do nothing and plan on being there Oct. 2-4, 2020 with your purchased ticket . . . or you can go to your Eventbrite account and get a full refund (minus service charges) until April 15th (you will also receive this message with instructions from your Eventbrite account). If you made campground reservations for any nights prior to the spring festival, the campground will allow you to cancel them and/or reschedule (828-622-7676). However, please note, the Hot Springs Resort & Spa is closed for the next two weeks for quarantine. They are happy to get you taken care of as soon as they reopen. If you have questions about refund or anything else email us at [email protected] or message social media and we’ll try to respond as soon as we can.

More details to come about the 23rd French Broad River Festival Oct. 2-4, 2020 as we work to make it the best ever.  Meanwhile check out this short video from the 2012 French Broad Fall Fest.

Stay safe and healthy everyone.  With optimism that comes with the first day of spring, we look forward to seeing you in the fall!

 

The 23rd annual French Broad River Festival will be held May 1-3, 2020 at the beautiful Hot
Springs Campground on the banks of the French Broad River.
FBRF has a loyal following and if you’ve been there, you know. Participate in the river cleanup to kick it off, hike the AT, ride bikes, go fishing, soak in the hot springs, get a massage, go whitewater rafting, check out the vendors, and enjoy the music.
The music is diverse and always on point for such a “small” festival and the setting is incredible.
It’s for a good cause, with over $200,000 donated over 20 years to American Whitewater, Hot Springs Community Learning Center, Homeward Bound, Eliada Home, Mountain Area Child & Family Center, Big Brothers / Big Sisters of WNC, Manna Food bank and more.
The Social Distancing Festival: Visual Arts, Music, Beer Tent
May 3 all-day
The Social Distancing Festival

Welcome to The Social Distancing Festival.

This is a site for celebrating art from all over the world, showcasing amazing talent, and coming together as a community at a time when we need it more than ever.

Social Distancing Festival1.jpg

A NOTE FROM NICK – Thank you so much for checking out The Social Distancing Festival. I can’t believe how quickly this all happened (on so many levels). I am so grateful to have gotten the chance to connect with artists around the world. You have really kept me company during this tough and lonely time.

My small team of AMAZING colleagues and I have been through hundreds of submissions, and are really proud to present you with this collection of art, as well as our ever-growing calendar of live streams from around the world. We’ll keep taking submissions and updating the site, so keep coming back!

I hope that you enjoy the work displayed on this site. I hope that you can get lost in work of all different mediums and styles from artists in all different stages of their careers . I hope you read their stories and feel connected through a shared love of art and creation and life. And I hope that helps to get you through.

That’s really, ultimately, the whole point.

Virtual LEAF Festival on the weekend of: May 15-17, 2020
May 3 all-day
LEAF Online
V-LEAF Brings Joy! Save the Date!
LEAF is in the process of creating a virtual LEAF Festival on the weekend of:

May 15-17, 2020

We didn’t know if we had the capacity to create a virtual festival with our core staff on reduced time, but then we really started missing our LEAF friends and said “Let’s give it a go!”. We’ve embraced that “V-LEAF” will be old school creative, authentic, and fun. The CONNECTION and #LEAFLove is the essential ingredient.

The creation phase is happening and YOU are welcome to be apart of this new journey. Have time? We want to hear from you if you’d like to volunteer website or social media support, lead a workshop, zoom w/ LEAF friends or if you have LEAF stories and ideas. Dance, connect, pull out costumes, decorate, camp in the yard – let’s get LEAFy.

CONTEST ALERT! Looking for ways to share your art with the world? V-LEAF may be your moment! Show us how you express your #LEAFLove. Any age, any experience – we are looking for artwork to add to the digital experience. The artwork must embody the spirit of LEAF and feature the LEAF logo. Any “artists” whose graphic is used will win an awesome Vintage LEAF Style packet!

Reach out & share ASAP with [email protected]

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

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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.

Meals for Non-Contact Pick Up or Delivery #AVLTakeout #Ashevilletakeout
May 3 @ 11:00 am – 9:30 pm
Strada
Strada will be closed for dine-in service until further notice. For curbside carryout please call the restaurant at
(828) 348-8448. For delivery, please visit takeoutcentral.com
Margaret & Maxwell retail wine store is open
May 3 @ 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Margaret & Maxwell

Scoop: Open For Business

Grassroots Aid Partnership (GAP) plans to serve free, plant-based food every Friday – Sunday from 4 -7 p.m.
May 3 @ 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Asheville

Grassroots Aid Partnership (GAP) plans to serve free, plant-based food every Friday through Sunday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 1022 Haywood Road.

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Monday, May 4, 2020
New Takeout | Delivery Website Asheville Independent Restaurants
May 4 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!
Offering meal pick-ups to those in need in our community: H&F Burger Asheville
May 4 @ 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'

Tuesday, May 5, 2020
New Takeout | Delivery Website Asheville Independent Restaurants
May 5 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!
Empower Hour CANCELLED
May 5 @ 11:30 am
YWCA of Asheville

Join us for Empower Hour, a one-hour program and facility tour where you will experience firsthand the YWCA’s work to bridge gaps in earning power, education, health & wellness and access to childcare.

Empower Hours take place twice a month on the first and third Tuesday at 11:30 am.
Lunch is served as part of our Empower Hour, so reservations are required.

To make a reservation: contact Elizabeth Alvandi, Advancement Assistant, at (828) 254-7206 ext. 103 or [email protected].

No Man’s Land Film Festival with MountainTrue as a fundraiser
May 5 @ 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Virtual

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http://nomanslandfilmfestival.org/full-tour/2020/5/5/virtual-no-mans-land-film-festival-asheville-nc?fbclid=IwAR2H14y6s-z0saGg-8Fb-ovgJUsfgig03B2gexrCmfIHU8rcEXY_ctHkRhk

 

We are excited to host a screening of No Man’s Land Film Festival again this year in partnership with MountainTrue as a fundraiser to support our programs protecting clean waters, resilient forests, and healthy communities across Western North Carolina. As an environmental advocacy nonprofit, MountainTrue believes that its mission is aligned with No Man’s Land as a film festival that exclusively features gender identified women athletes, outdoor recreationists, and environmental conservationists. We all hope that everyone who loves to play outside will take the extra step to advocate for the protection of our public lands and wild places. Thanks in advance for your support and enjoy the show! This event starts at 6:00 p.m. and ends at 11:00 p.m. EDT. This is a free online screening with a suggested donation. We hope to “see” you there!

Tuesday Early Jam
May 5 @ 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
The One Stop at Asheville Music Hall
Tuesday Night Funk Jam
May 5 @ 10:00 pm – May 6 @ 6:00 pm
The One Stop at Asheville Music Hall

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EVERY Tuesday at Asheville Music Hall! Tuesday Night Funk Jam has been a huge part of Asheville’s vibrant music scene since 2008 and is #Asheville’s hottest weekly concert. Tuesday Night Funk Jam is programmed and orchestrated by an evolved Legendary House Band with trombonist Derrick Lee Johnson at the helm. At 10PM sharp, the Legendary House Band kicks off the night

Wednesday, May 6, 2020
New Takeout | Delivery Website Asheville Independent Restaurants
May 6 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!
Offering meal pick-ups to those in need in our community: H&F Burger Asheville
May 6 @ 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'

JetStream Music Festival
May 6 @ 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Facebook Live

For one night only, 23 airports across North America will come together for the JetStream Music Festival, an online celebration of local music. Hosted by Austin-Bergstrom International Airport from the “Live Music Capital of the World” in Austin, Texas, the free, multi-hour livestream will take place at 6 p.m. EDT on May 6 on participating airports’ Facebook Live. Each airport will feature a musician local to their city in support of the creative community during the COVID-19 crisis.
The lineup features a diverse range of acts, representing each city’s unique music culture. The full lineup for the Festival will be released later this week. Austin’s Latin pop songstress, Gina Chavez, will perform and host the event.
Festival viewers will be able to tip musicians throughout the performance and learn about organizations assisting the communities in each city. Viewers can also join in the celebration using the hashtag #JetStreamFest.
Asheville Regional Airport will feature a local artist who is part of their “Music on the Fly” pop-up concert series, presented by Ashvegas.com.
“We’re all looking forward to the day when our airport is busy with travelers again, and our unique passenger amenities can also be reinstated,” said Lew Bleiweis, Executive Director.  “We love welcoming local musicians to the airport to share their talents, which helps shine a spotlight on the vibrant music scene in western North Carolina. So, in the meantime, we hope you’ll tune in and enjoy this virtual “airport” concert featuring talented musicians across North America.”
Thursday, May 7, 2020
New Takeout | Delivery Website Asheville Independent Restaurants
May 7 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 7 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

Virtual LEAF Festival on the weekend of: May 15-17, 2020
May 7 all-day
LEAF Online
V-LEAF Brings Joy! Save the Date!
LEAF is in the process of creating a virtual LEAF Festival on the weekend of:

May 15-17, 2020

We didn’t know if we had the capacity to create a virtual festival with our core staff on reduced time, but then we really started missing our LEAF friends and said “Let’s give it a go!”. We’ve embraced that “V-LEAF” will be old school creative, authentic, and fun. The CONNECTION and #LEAFLove is the essential ingredient.

The creation phase is happening and YOU are welcome to be apart of this new journey. Have time? We want to hear from you if you’d like to volunteer website or social media support, lead a workshop, zoom w/ LEAF friends or if you have LEAF stories and ideas. Dance, connect, pull out costumes, decorate, camp in the yard – let’s get LEAFy.

CONTEST ALERT! Looking for ways to share your art with the world? V-LEAF may be your moment! Show us how you express your #LEAFLove. Any age, any experience – we are looking for artwork to add to the digital experience. The artwork must embody the spirit of LEAF and feature the LEAF logo. Any “artists” whose graphic is used will win an awesome Vintage LEAF Style packet!

Reach out & share ASAP with [email protected]

Celebrity Parking Lot Pick Up: Michele D’Aprix
May 7 @ 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Metro Wines Asheville

Buy a case of wine by Michele and she delivers to our car in the parking lot @MetroWines! https://metrowinesasheville.com/wine-blogs/blog/entry/celebrity-parking-lot-pick-up-michele-d-aprix

Image may contain: 1 person

Foraging the Wild Weeds
May 7 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
French Broad Coop

Image may contain: flower, plant, text and nature

May 7, 2020 Thursday 6-8pm
Foraging the Wild Weeds

Spring is here and we will take a short city walk to discover the abundance of common plants available almost everywhere. Nettles, plantain, violets, dandelion, burdock, and others are abundant and available to most of us, even in the city. We will discuss good wildcrafting practices, tools to make your gathering easy, and how to work with these wonderful weeds. Take home recipes to begin bringing a little wild back into your kitchen and your life!

Registration: http://frenchbroadfood.coop/apothecary/

NC Arboretum’s “Arbor Evenings”
May 7 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
The North Carolina Arboretum

Relax and unwind at the Arboretum’s “ArborEvenings” after hours series. Held every Thursday, June – October, from 6 to 9 p.m., visitors will sip and stroll through the Arboretum’s beautiful gardens while enjoying live music amongst flowers and friends. Local beverages, including beer and wine, are available for purchase along with light food options.

Admission to ArborEvenings is free; however, standard parking fees apply to non-members.

Coloring & Cocktails – VIRTUAL w/ Asheville Art Museum
May 7 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum Online

Thursday, May 7, 2020
TIME:
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
COST:
Free

This event takes place via Zoom.

Spend your Thursday evening with the Museum and the Asheville Symphony for some creative fun! Associate Curator Cindy Buckner interviews artist Adonna Khare about using animals to tell fantastical tales in A Telling Instinct and her recently published coloring book. Following the interview, sit back, relax, and color selected pages from Khare’s book while listening to animal-themed music selected by the Symphony, introduced by Music Director Darko Butorac. Bartender Chad McRorie of the Grove Park Inn’s The Edison serves up creature-inspired cocktails, while Food Experience delights our taste buds with Perspective Café at home.

Space is limited; to register, email Kristen Boddy, membership & Museum events manager, or call 828.253.3227 x117. Coloring pages and Zoom login information emailed in advance to participants.

Presented in conjunction with A Telling Instinct: John James Audubon and Contemporary Art, in partnership with the Asheville Symphony and Perspective Café by Food Experience.

 

Mitch’s Totally Rad Trivia
May 7 @ 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 8, 2020
Cold Mountain Music Festival Rescheduled August 14-15
May 8 all-day
Cold Mountain Music Festival at Lake Logan 25 Wormy Chestnut Lane

A message from the founders of Cold Mountain Music Festival:

To our Cold Mountain Music Festival, Lake Logan, and Camp Henry families,

In recent weeks, we have stood alongside our nationwide cohort of festival organizers to witness the unfolding of the COVID-19 pandemic and assess how it would impact our 2020 event schedule. While we originally hoped the situation would be subdued in time for our June gathering, we have also kept a watchful eye on the trajectory of this outbreak and have learned that the likelihood of this occurrence is slim.

In the interest of public safety, the 4th Annual Cold Mountain Music Festival will be postponed until August 14-15, 2020. While we can not yet reveal the exact lineup details, rest assured that we have been able to preserve the majority of originally scheduled artists. The talent team is working diligently to put the finishing touches on the new bill and will be ready to announce next week.

All previously-reserved tickets will be valid for the new festival date. In the event that you are unable to attend this August, you may contact ([email protected]) to secure a refund on your ticket purchase. All refund requests must be made before May 15.

Cold Mountain Music Festival is proud to announce the lineup for its 4th annual event happening June 5-6, 2020 at the picturesque Lake Logan Conference Center in Canton, NC. GRAMMY-winning newgrass pioneer Sam Bush Band will headline the weekend-long retreat, with additional appearances by fast-rising alt-country sensation Charley Crockett, West Coast folk-rock outfit Blitzen Trapper, critically acclaimed troubadour Amythyst Kiah, plus regional powerhouses Futurebirds, Sierra Ferrell, and more.

With less than half a decade of programming under its belt, Cold Mountain Music Festival has already been recognized as one of the Southeast’s best goldmines for live music, outdoor recreation, and family-oriented activities. Located just outside of Asheville in one of Western North Carolina’s most pristine stretches of land, Cold Mountain utilizes the vibrant Pisgah National Forest as its playground, and encourages exploration throughout the two-day immersive experience. At the heart of the festival site is the glistening Lake Logan, which boasts plenty of swimming, paddle-boarding, and fishing. Paired with performances by some of live music’s leading forces on the scene and plenty of kid-friendly offerings, the upcoming Cold Mountain Music Festival will offer the trifecta of rustic summer experiences.

Weekend passes are on sale now on the Cold Mountain Music website. General admission passes are available for $75, and youth passes for those aged 12-17 can be purchased for $40 apiece. Overnight camping spots and catered breakfast meal tickets are also available for $75 (per site) and $12-$15 (per person), respectively. Group discounts may be applied for parties of 15 or more. Enter the code DioWNC at checkout to purchase each pass (minimum 15) for $60 each. Cold Mountain Music Festival is presented by Ingles Markets, with partners iHeartMedia and Haywood County Tourism Development Authority. For more information, visit www.coldmountainmusic.org. A complete lineup can be found below.

NC Brewers and Music Festival CANCELLED
May 8 all-day
Historic Rural Hill

UPDATED INFO:

To make the transition from this year to the 2021 event as seamless and exciting as possible, we have already worked with our artists, our brewers, and our vendors to make sure that we are able to carry over this year’s lineup and infrastructure to next year’s festival date. In addition, we are also in conversation with Eventbrite regarding the best options we can offer you when it comes to making a choice about how your ticket investment plays out. 

Because this decision affects you as much as it does us, we will offer full refunds of all ticket purchases to any of you who would prefer that option. We understand the inconvenience that this change might cause you, and we ask that you offer us your patience while we organize that process. As another option, we would also like to offer you the opportunity to retain your ticket purchase and to roll it over into next year’s attendance. Any ticket that has already been purchased for 2020 will be honored at our 2021 festival in lieu of a refund. That is a choice we are allowing you to make, and we will be delighted to have you back as our guests then! 

Please check back with us often as we continue to plan for the 2021 (“unofficial 10th Anniversary”) North Carolina Brewers and Music Festival. Again, thank you for your patience and understanding, but mostly for your continued support at the festival. We couldn’t keep putting on this event without you, and we continue to be thankful year after year. 

 

Along with a rich Americana lineup, North Carolina Brewers and Music Festival also shines a spotlight on local brewers and their contribution to North Carolina’s vibrant culinary scene. Over 50 breweries offering a selection of craft beers will be featured on-site throughout the weekend. Tasting tickets, which include access to beer samples plus a commemorative sampling glass, are available for purchase for $50 ($39 for early birds).

North Carolina Brewers and Music Festival began as a fundraising effort to preserve the historic site of Rural Hill. The site, which boasts extensive hiking trails, is a beloved landmark in the Central NC region and is home to many educational field trips and events. Since its inception, the North Carolina Brewers and Music Festival has continued to support the awareness of Rural Hill and attract diverse crowds from all over the country.

Friday music-only passes with sets from Acoustic Syndicate and Fireside Collective are $15. Saturday music-only passes with sets from the Steep Canyon Rangers and Hayes Carll are $22 for early birds. For attendees who would like to sample an unlimited assortment of celebrated North Carolina brews on Saturday, Tasting Tickets (which include daily entrance to the festival for music happenings) are available at the Early Bird price of $39. Camping options are available for attendees who would like to make the most of their weekend. Two-Day weekend tent camping, premium tent camping, and RV/Camper camping with hook-ups are available for $45, $65, and $85 respectively. North Carolina Brewers and Music Festival is a family-friendly event. Children 4 and under are free. A Children’s Ticket is available for kids 5 – 15 for $8.

New Takeout | Delivery Website Asheville Independent Restaurants
May 8 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 8 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