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, April 26, 2020
2020 ICF Wildwater World Championships CANCELLED
Apr 26 @ 10:00 am
Nantahala Outdoor Center

2020 Wildwater Worlds

Date: April 26- 30, 2020

Time: 10:00 AM

Price: Free Spectator Admission

Nantahala Racing Club and Nantahala Outdoor Center are proud to host the 2020 ICF Wildwater World Championships, bringing over 150 athletes from 30 countries around the world to the Southeastern US. We are thrilled to welcome these athletes, their families, and their teams to our home and are excited to facilitate this competition of top-level athletes in April 2020!

As the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains, Nantahala Gorge, and Appalachian Trail, Bryson City is the ideal location for outdoor recreation and suited for all levels of adventure!

Join the Global Tree Inventory Challenge
Apr 26 @ 10:00 am – 10:00 pm

Image may contain: possible text that says 'TREES CH CHALLENGE 2020 April I- April 30'

In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day and the 25th Anniversary of the GLOBE program, the Buncombe County Library System and NASA are challenging you to make every tree count by using the GLOBE observer app to contribute to a global tree inventory.

Learn more at observer.globe.gov/trees-2020

To join the library team and become a citizen scientist download the free GLOBE observer app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Create an account, go to settings, click on JOIN a GLOBE Team, and type in the referral code: GLIDCTAZ.

You are now part of our Citizen Scientist team, Friends of Treebeard! Follow the directions and head outside!

Happy Earth Day teammate!

Asheville Downtown Eats and Drinks Tour
Apr 26 @ 11:00 am
Taste Carolina Gourmet Food Tours

Downtown Asheville is known for its eclectic arts and culture and a vibrant food and drink scene that celebrates independent restaurants and locally-sourced ingredients. Learn about this gorgeous city on a Taste Carolina walking tour and discover why Asheville was hailed by National Geographic’s Traveler Magazine as one of the top 15 places in the world to “treat your taste buds”!

Asheville Downtown Eats & Drinks Tour – Asheville’s Downtown Eats & Drinks Tour is a spirited and delicious way to explore the city! You’ll enjoy substantial bites and sips on this guided walking tour, sampling savory and sweet favorites, most paired with small drink pairings. This tour visits Asheville’s hidden gems, including eclectic restaurants and bars, and specialty food stores. You’ll also learn about the history of the city, the architecture, and the incredible culinary scene from your tour guide. By the end of this tour, you will feel like a local!

Private and custom tours can be arranged for any day or night of the week for groups.

Wild Walk: WNC Nature Center
Apr 26 @ 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
WNC Nature Center

Have you ever wondered what happens behind the “STAFF ONLY” doors at the Nature Center?

Now’s your chance to find out! Areas visited on the Wild Walk may* include the Small Mammal habitat, the Predator area, and the Animal Kitchen. Don’t miss out on this amazing up-close encounter with some of your favorite wildlife!

Join us for this one of a kind behind-the-scenes tour! Tour lasts from 1:20 to 3:00pm.

Register online, in person at the Friends office, or by calling 828-259-8091.

Monday, April 27, 2020
#AvlQuaranclean with GreenWorks
Apr 27 all-day
Asheville

#AvlQuaranclean

Image

 

1) AGW Office @ 2 Sulphur Spring Road
2) AGW Office @ 318 Riverside Drive
3) The HOP @ 640 Merrimon Ave #103
4) Sutton / Dezio Law @ 70 Mt Pisgah Hwy (on their back porch)

5) Buncombe County Sports Park Entrance @ 58 Apac Drive

Our cleanup events may have been canceled, but there’s still trash to collect as part of Avl Quaranclean!

Our Cleanup Supply Stations have been filled and supplies are ready for pick up if you find yourself wanting to get out of the house & motivated to improve our community.

Each station has been filled with supply packs— in one roll you will find: 2 trash bags, 1 safety vest and 1 pair of gloves. There are further instructions at each station.

Make sure to post videos and pictures and tag #AvlQuaranclean so that we can all see the incredible job you’re doing.

And, as always, please stay safe and healthy.

ASAP Launches Appalachian Grown Farmer Relief Fund
Apr 27 all-day
ASAP Online

ASAP has launched the Appalachian Grown Farmer Relief Fund to
strategically address the emergency needs of farms during COVID-19 disruptions. Funds will be used for public health preparedness grants to farmers markets, to subsidize essential farm product packaging, and to purchase unsold food for donation to hunger programs. Donations to the Appalachian Grown Farmer Relief Fund can be made online at asapconnections.org or by mail or phone.

FREE Video Course by Wild Abundance: 10 Vegetables that will Really Feed You
Apr 27 all-day
Wild Abundance

Getting started gardening can be exciting, and it can feel daunting.

Your teachers, Natalie Bogwalker and Chloe Lieberman share experience-based, practical instruction for growing their top ten vegetables to really fill your plate, belly, and larder. We put together this class so that you can begin with the crops that are most likely to be successful and rewarding. Or, if you’ve got some experience gardening but want to expand your repertoire, this course will help you do so in a way that makes sense and yields abundantly.

Pollinator Garden Certification Program
Apr 27 all-day
GreenWorks Online
Image

As the growing season ramps up and social isolation continues to define our days, gardening is the perfect way to get outside, ease your mind, and support our local ecosystem – all while maintaining appropriate social distance. Whether you’re nurturing a decade old garden or are using your quarantine time to put plants in the ground for the first time ever, our new program has the tools and certifications for all levels of expertise. Certified gardens receive an official certificate and have the option to purchase one of our Certified Pollinator Habitat signs!

 

Find more information about this program along with tons of resources about pollinators and plants that they love!

Take a virtual tour of our gardens and see what’s beautiful today at The North Carolina Arboretum
Apr 27 all-day
The North Carolina Arboretum On Line

Visit Us Virtually

Spring has sprung and we are excited to share with you all the wonderful blooms and plants that are awakening right now. Take a virtual tour of our gardens and see what’s beautiful today at The North Carolina Arboretum.

2020 ICF Wildwater World Championships CANCELLED
Apr 27 @ 10:00 am
Nantahala Outdoor Center

2020 Wildwater Worlds

Date: April 26- 30, 2020

Time: 10:00 AM

Price: Free Spectator Admission

Nantahala Racing Club and Nantahala Outdoor Center are proud to host the 2020 ICF Wildwater World Championships, bringing over 150 athletes from 30 countries around the world to the Southeastern US. We are thrilled to welcome these athletes, their families, and their teams to our home and are excited to facilitate this competition of top-level athletes in April 2020!

As the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains, Nantahala Gorge, and Appalachian Trail, Bryson City is the ideal location for outdoor recreation and suited for all levels of adventure!

Join the Global Tree Inventory Challenge
Apr 27 @ 10:00 am – 10:00 pm

Image may contain: possible text that says 'TREES CH CHALLENGE 2020 April I- April 30'

In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day and the 25th Anniversary of the GLOBE program, the Buncombe County Library System and NASA are challenging you to make every tree count by using the GLOBE observer app to contribute to a global tree inventory.

Learn more at observer.globe.gov/trees-2020

To join the library team and become a citizen scientist download the free GLOBE observer app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Create an account, go to settings, click on JOIN a GLOBE Team, and type in the referral code: GLIDCTAZ.

You are now part of our Citizen Scientist team, Friends of Treebeard! Follow the directions and head outside!

Happy Earth Day teammate!

Conserving Carolina Volunteer Information Session
Apr 27 @ 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Conserving Carolina 847 Case Street Hendersonville, NC 28792

Want to know more about Conserving Carolina and how you can help? Join us for a Volunteer Information Session at our Polk County Office at 2060 Lynn Rd Suite 1, Columbus, NC. Learn more about our work and how you can make a difference.

We have everything from office opportunities to workdays on the land.

To RSVP or for more information email [email protected] or call Natalie at 828-697-5777 ext. 211

Forest Plan Info Session: Water Quality Mountains True
Apr 27 @ 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
online

On April 28, MountainTrue will host a webinar during which Callie Moore, MountainTrue’s Western Regional Director, will present the organization’s analysis of specific water-related issues in the draft management plan for the Nantahala-Pisgah National Forests. Register to receive access to the webinar:
https://mountaintrue.org/event/forest-plan-info-session-water-quality/

Those who register before Monday 4/27 will receive Callie’s presentation slides in advance and have the opportunity to submit questions before the presentation. We will also have about 15 minutes for live Q&A at the end of the presentation.

This event is a Zoom Webinar, which is a little different from a regular Zoom meeting. When you join the event, you will be muted and your video will be turned off.

Tuesday, April 28, 2020
#AvlQuaranclean with GreenWorks
Apr 28 all-day
Asheville

#AvlQuaranclean

Image

 

1) AGW Office @ 2 Sulphur Spring Road
2) AGW Office @ 318 Riverside Drive
3) The HOP @ 640 Merrimon Ave #103
4) Sutton / Dezio Law @ 70 Mt Pisgah Hwy (on their back porch)

5) Buncombe County Sports Park Entrance @ 58 Apac Drive

Our cleanup events may have been canceled, but there’s still trash to collect as part of Avl Quaranclean!

Our Cleanup Supply Stations have been filled and supplies are ready for pick up if you find yourself wanting to get out of the house & motivated to improve our community.

Each station has been filled with supply packs— in one roll you will find: 2 trash bags, 1 safety vest and 1 pair of gloves. There are further instructions at each station.

Make sure to post videos and pictures and tag #AvlQuaranclean so that we can all see the incredible job you’re doing.

And, as always, please stay safe and healthy.

ASAP Launches Appalachian Grown Farmer Relief Fund
Apr 28 all-day
ASAP Online

ASAP has launched the Appalachian Grown Farmer Relief Fund to
strategically address the emergency needs of farms during COVID-19 disruptions. Funds will be used for public health preparedness grants to farmers markets, to subsidize essential farm product packaging, and to purchase unsold food for donation to hunger programs. Donations to the Appalachian Grown Farmer Relief Fund can be made online at asapconnections.org or by mail or phone.

Blue Ridge Naturalist Certificate of Merit
Apr 28 all-day
The North Carolina Arboretum

Join over one hundred students on a quest to deepen understanding of the natural sciences through the Blue Ridge Naturalist Certificate of Merit. The program offers adult learners a comprehensive curriculum of study about the natural world of Western North Carolina. Classes meet year round and students work to complete 240 hours in core courses on ecology, botany, geology and plant identification as well as electives on animals, lichens, insects and more. View current class offerings for credit in the Blue Ridge Naturalist program here. All students must complete and present a final project prior to graduation.

To begin your program complete an application and return it to the Education Center along with a a one-time, non-refundable $55 application fee.

FREE Video Course by Wild Abundance: 10 Vegetables that will Really Feed You
Apr 28 all-day
Wild Abundance

Getting started gardening can be exciting, and it can feel daunting.

Your teachers, Natalie Bogwalker and Chloe Lieberman share experience-based, practical instruction for growing their top ten vegetables to really fill your plate, belly, and larder. We put together this class so that you can begin with the crops that are most likely to be successful and rewarding. Or, if you’ve got some experience gardening but want to expand your repertoire, this course will help you do so in a way that makes sense and yields abundantly.

Pollinator Garden Certification Program
Apr 28 all-day
GreenWorks Online
Image

As the growing season ramps up and social isolation continues to define our days, gardening is the perfect way to get outside, ease your mind, and support our local ecosystem – all while maintaining appropriate social distance. Whether you’re nurturing a decade old garden or are using your quarantine time to put plants in the ground for the first time ever, our new program has the tools and certifications for all levels of expertise. Certified gardens receive an official certificate and have the option to purchase one of our Certified Pollinator Habitat signs!

 

Find more information about this program along with tons of resources about pollinators and plants that they love!

2020 ICF Wildwater World Championships CANCELLED
Apr 28 @ 10:00 am
Nantahala Outdoor Center

2020 Wildwater Worlds

Date: April 26- 30, 2020

Time: 10:00 AM

Price: Free Spectator Admission

Nantahala Racing Club and Nantahala Outdoor Center are proud to host the 2020 ICF Wildwater World Championships, bringing over 150 athletes from 30 countries around the world to the Southeastern US. We are thrilled to welcome these athletes, their families, and their teams to our home and are excited to facilitate this competition of top-level athletes in April 2020!

As the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains, Nantahala Gorge, and Appalachian Trail, Bryson City is the ideal location for outdoor recreation and suited for all levels of adventure!

Join the Global Tree Inventory Challenge
Apr 28 @ 10:00 am – 10:00 pm

Image may contain: possible text that says 'TREES CH CHALLENGE 2020 April I- April 30'

In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day and the 25th Anniversary of the GLOBE program, the Buncombe County Library System and NASA are challenging you to make every tree count by using the GLOBE observer app to contribute to a global tree inventory.

Learn more at observer.globe.gov/trees-2020

To join the library team and become a citizen scientist download the free GLOBE observer app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Create an account, go to settings, click on JOIN a GLOBE Team, and type in the referral code: GLIDCTAZ.

You are now part of our Citizen Scientist team, Friends of Treebeard! Follow the directions and head outside!

Happy Earth Day teammate!

ZOOM with the NC Room! Pack Memorial Library
Apr 28 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Pack Memorial Library online

 

Join NC Room collections manager, Katherine, for a fun and informative series of virtual events aimed to help you learn about our digital resources, develop new skills, and keep you connected to research and the North Carolina Collection at Pack Memorial Library.

Check the event discussion for upcoming programs and to post about what you’d like to see next!

*~*~*~Meeting Login Info~*~*~*

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://zoom.us/j/99506863846
Dial by your location:
+1 301 715 8592 US
Meeting ID: 995 0686 3846
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/as0H6cCKF

Forest Plan Info Session: Water Quality Mountains True
Apr 28 @ 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
online

On April 28, MountainTrue will host a webinar during which Callie Moore, MountainTrue’s Western Regional Director, will present the organization’s analysis of specific water-related issues in the draft management plan for the Nantahala-Pisgah National Forests. Register to receive access to the webinar:
https://mountaintrue.org/event/forest-plan-info-session-water-quality/

Those who register before Monday 4/27 will receive Callie’s presentation slides in advance and have the opportunity to submit questions before the presentation. We will also have about 15 minutes for live Q&A at the end of the presentation.

This event is a Zoom Webinar, which is a little different from a regular Zoom meeting. When you join the event, you will be muted and your video will be turned off.

Basic Tree Workshops: Benefits of Trees
Apr 28 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Greenworks vis Zoom

Please join Asheville GreenWorks FREE Public Tree Workshops. This series of four educational tree workshops will be taking place on Tuesdays from 6-8 pm. Come learn all about trees from local experts! We will be covering topics such as tree planting, tree pruning, basic tree biology, managing trees during construction, and more!

 

The work is being performed for the residents of the City of Asheville in partnership with the City of Asheville.

 

April 28: Benefits of Trees
May 5: Trees 101
May 12: Tree Establishment, Planting, and Maintenance
May 19: Tree Protection and Risk Management

Conserving Carolina Speaker Series: Creating a Native Pocket Meadow
Apr 28 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Landrum Library

 

Speaker: Plant ecologist, Lisa Wagner

“Pocket” meadows of native plants provide an attractive, low-maintenance, and wildlife-friendly alternative to traditional perennial plantings. Unlike larger meadow plantings, small, informal, and simply managed pocket borders can be tucked into a variety of spaces in your landscape, providing habitat and sustenance for pollinators and other insects, as well as being attractive landscape additions. Lisa will share her experiences with a variety of small meadow plantings using native Southeastern wildflowers and grasses and talk about how to manage them for four-season interest. She’ll also provide suggestions for native plants best suited for combining in informal meadow plantings in the western Carolina’s.

 

Lisa Wagner was the Director of Education at the South Carolina Botanical Garden, Clemson University for over 20 years. A plant ecologist by background (Ph.D. in Botany, UC Berkeley), she’s interested in native plants, sustainable gardening, public education, and promoting habitat restoration, as well as being a passionate gardener. She now does frequent presentations and classes as a volunteer, on a variety of topics. Her blog, Natural Gardening (www.naturalgardening.blogspot.com) reflects her observations about gardening and the natural world.

This Conserving Carolina Speaker Series event is made possible thanks to the Landrum Library.

Wednesday, April 29, 2020
#AvlQuaranclean with GreenWorks
Apr 29 all-day
Asheville

#AvlQuaranclean

Image

 

1) AGW Office @ 2 Sulphur Spring Road
2) AGW Office @ 318 Riverside Drive
3) The HOP @ 640 Merrimon Ave #103
4) Sutton / Dezio Law @ 70 Mt Pisgah Hwy (on their back porch)

5) Buncombe County Sports Park Entrance @ 58 Apac Drive

Our cleanup events may have been canceled, but there’s still trash to collect as part of Avl Quaranclean!

Our Cleanup Supply Stations have been filled and supplies are ready for pick up if you find yourself wanting to get out of the house & motivated to improve our community.

Each station has been filled with supply packs— in one roll you will find: 2 trash bags, 1 safety vest and 1 pair of gloves. There are further instructions at each station.

Make sure to post videos and pictures and tag #AvlQuaranclean so that we can all see the incredible job you’re doing.

And, as always, please stay safe and healthy.

ASAP Launches Appalachian Grown Farmer Relief Fund
Apr 29 all-day
ASAP Online

ASAP has launched the Appalachian Grown Farmer Relief Fund to
strategically address the emergency needs of farms during COVID-19 disruptions. Funds will be used for public health preparedness grants to farmers markets, to subsidize essential farm product packaging, and to purchase unsold food for donation to hunger programs. Donations to the Appalachian Grown Farmer Relief Fund can be made online at asapconnections.org or by mail or phone.

Community Conservation Connecting People with Place
Apr 29 all-day
River Link On Line

If you are reading this, you are most likely a landowner in western North Carolina who is concerned about the future of your land along the French Broad River or one of its tributaries. Perhaps you have a farm or cattle ranch that has been in your family for generations, or maybe you recently purchased your second home in an idyllic rural area. Whatever your situation, many North Carolina landowners face the same dilemma: how do you ensure that the land you love looks the way that it does forever?

Conserving Land

Protected Properties

Parks, Greenways & Blueways

FREE Video Course by Wild Abundance: 10 Vegetables that will Really Feed You
Apr 29 all-day
Wild Abundance

Getting started gardening can be exciting, and it can feel daunting.

Your teachers, Natalie Bogwalker and Chloe Lieberman share experience-based, practical instruction for growing their top ten vegetables to really fill your plate, belly, and larder. We put together this class so that you can begin with the crops that are most likely to be successful and rewarding. Or, if you’ve got some experience gardening but want to expand your repertoire, this course will help you do so in a way that makes sense and yields abundantly.

Grandfather Mountain CLOSED to all activity
Apr 29 all-day
Grandfather Mountain

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus), Grandfather Mountain will close until further notice, effective Sunday, March 15. The closure means the park will prohibit public access, including from the main entrance gate and hiking trails.

In addition, all special events and programs scheduled through Memorial Day have been canceled or postponed.

How to Buy Local While Social Distancing: On-Farm Pickups and More
Apr 29 all-day
NC and SC Farms

Many farms across North and South Carolina have added on-farm pickups, home delivery & online pre-orders to accommodate for social distancing in light of the COVID-19 outbreak. Please see the listings below for more information, and check out our interactive Google Map for farm locations near you!

Are you a farmer interested in being listed? Email [email protected]

Please:

  • DO NOT show up at farms without prior permission.
  • Follow specific instructions provided by each farm.
  • Stay home if you are feeling ill.