Calendar of Events
Upcoming events and things to do in Asheville, NC. Below is a list of events for festivals, concerts, art exhibitions, group meetups and more.
Interested in adding an event to our calendar? Please click the green “Post Your Event” button below.

Growing Wild Forest School is excited to provide a dynamic, nature-based Kids Program at this year’s OGS Spring Conference. Our talented staff educators believe in nurturing kids outdoors to help them grow and reach their full potential. We believe in supporting and engaging the whole child, inside and out. We will offer crafts, science experiments, outdoor activities, and indoor and outdoor play opportunities on the Mars Hill University campus during the conference hours. Children should be dressed to go outside and be comfortable for outdoor play activities. Snacks and water bottles should be brought each day. We will break for lunch from 12:45-1:45 for children to eat with their parents or caregivers.
- March 7th and 8th, 2020, 8:30-5:45 (lunch break, children eat with parents 12:45-1:45)
- Location: Check in and headquarters will be in Spilman Parlor at Mars Hill University, though kids will be out and about exploring the campus throughout the day!
- Cost: $40/day for single day registration, $60 for two day registration
- Ages: potty-trained to 12 years old
Parents, please provide daily snacks and water bottles, along with a change of clothes for younger aged children. Please have children dressed for outdoor play, as we do plan to go outside

Cameron Mackintosh presents the new production of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg’s Tony Award®-winning musical phenomenon, Les Misérables, direct from an acclaimed two-and-a-half-year return to Broadway. With its glorious new staging and dazzlingly reimagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo, this breathtaking new production has left both audiences and critics awestruck, cheering “Les Miz is born again!” (NY1).
Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Misérables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice, and redemption – a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. Featuring the thrilling score and beloved songs “I Dreamed A Dream,” “On My Own,” “Stars,” “Bring Him Home,” “One Day More,” and many more, this epic and uplifting story has become one of the most celebrated musicals in theatrical history.
Seen by more than 120 million people in 52 countries and in 22 languages around the globe, Les Misérables is still the world’s most popular musical, breaking box office records everywhere in its 33rd year.

Registration is open for UNC Asheville’s 2020 Pi(e) Run, an annual fun run that celebrates all things Pi(e). This year’s event will be held on Pi Day, Saturday, March 14, at Pi time, 3:14 p.m. Runners will run 3.14 miles around UNC Asheville’s campus and celebrate with pie at the finish line. The event is open to the public with an early-bird rate of $15 before Feb. 15. Runners who sign up before March 1 will receive a t-shirt and swag bag, and registration continues through March 14 at a cost of $20, with on-site registration and check-in starting at 2 p.m. the day of the race. Visit unca.edu/pi-run to sign up.
The 2020 Pi Day Run will start from UNC Asheville’s Quad and circle University Heights three times, via campus sidewalks, concluding with pie at the finish line. The fun run includes a pie baking contest, judged by Math Leaders from the Marvelous Math Club, with prizes awarded, and this year will feature a raffle. Registration includes a raffle entry for each runner. Registration also is available for the pie contest, without the run, by filling out the interest form at unca.edu/pi-run.
Proceeds from the annual Pi(e) Run will benefit the Asheville Initiative for Math at UNC Asheville and its Marvelous Math Club at Pisgah View Community Center. Marvelous Math Club is a partnership between UNC Asheville, Asheville Housing Authority, and Asheville City Schools. The Club uses math as a catalyst to build leadership skills, create community and provide a space for individualized academic support and social-emotional growth.

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.

Age: All Ages
The Merrell Adventure Dash is all about getting outside and challenging yourself to work hard for your good time. Suitable for families as well as adults, participants will negotiate a series of natural and man-made obstacles along the 5K course, including balance components, climbs and nets, a river-run, and raft crossing. This holiday weekend, enjoy a fun, family-friendly adventure run in the beautiful Nantahala Gorge. Merrell Adventure Dash participants can choose between the 5K dash or a 1K fun run. Kids aged 12 and under race free with a participating adult.
Registraion opens March 1, 2020. Check back for more details.
Onsite Registration is available from 1pm – 3:30pm day of. The race starts promptly at 4PM on 5/23/2020.
Remember to wear anything you don’t mind getting dirty!

Join us at the Hickory Nut Gorge Brewery, right near campus, for some social time and the chance to network with the OGS community. Kick back and relax with your fellow farmers and gardeners with local brews (alcoholic & non-alcoholic options available) and snacks! Keep the conversation flowing and farm inspiration growing.

A man lost in his life drives across the American West with his stepdaughter-a young woman at the beginning of hers. He’s trying to make peace with the ghosts of his past; she’s just trying to survive.

Cameron Mackintosh presents the new production of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg’s Tony Award®-winning musical phenomenon, Les Misérables, direct from an acclaimed two-and-a-half-year return to Broadway. With its glorious new staging and dazzlingly reimagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo, this breathtaking new production has left both audiences and critics awestruck, cheering “Les Miz is born again!” (NY1).
Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Misérables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice, and redemption – a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. Featuring the thrilling score and beloved songs “I Dreamed A Dream,” “On My Own,” “Stars,” “Bring Him Home,” “One Day More,” and many more, this epic and uplifting story has become one of the most celebrated musicals in theatrical history.
Seen by more than 120 million people in 52 countries and in 22 languages around the globe, Les Misérables is still the world’s most popular musical, breaking box office records everywhere in its 33rd year.
Flat Rock Playhouse and The Supporting Players are excited to announce they are welcoming volunteers who will participate in various programs that take you behind-the-scenes at the State Theatre of North Carolina.
“The Supporting Players of Flat Rock Playhouse is a great way to meet and work with people that are like-minded and have a desire to come alongside the staff to help secure the future of performing arts in western North Carolina, “ remarks Karolyn Killian, President of Supporting Players. “It is a pleasure and a joy to volunteer my time and talent for such a wonderful group of people that are dedicated to excellence in live theatre and our community!”
The Supporting Players are a unique way to get an inside look into life on the Rock while making an impact on our community. If you are interested in joining this passionate collective of volunteers and becoming part of the Flat Rock Playhouse family, make sure to tune into WTZQ on March 10th at 8:00 am to hear from some of the Supporting Players. Additionally, you can visit flatrockplayhouse.org/volunteer or email [email protected] to learn more!

Growing Wild Forest School is excited to provide a dynamic, nature-based Kids Program at this year’s OGS Spring Conference. Our talented staff educators believe in nurturing kids outdoors to help them grow and reach their full potential. We believe in supporting and engaging the whole child, inside and out. We will offer crafts, science experiments, outdoor activities, and indoor and outdoor play opportunities on the Mars Hill University campus during the conference hours. Children should be dressed to go outside and be comfortable for outdoor play activities. Snacks and water bottles should be brought each day. We will break for lunch from 12:45-1:45 for children to eat with their parents or caregivers.
- March 7th and 8th, 2020, 8:30-5:45 (lunch break, children eat with parents 12:45-1:45)
- Location: Check in and headquarters will be in Spilman Parlor at Mars Hill University, though kids will be out and about exploring the campus throughout the day!
- Cost: $40/day for single day registration, $60 for two day registration
- Ages: potty-trained to 12 years old
Parents, please provide daily snacks and water bottles, along with a change of clothes for younger aged children. Please have children dressed for outdoor play, as we do plan to go outside

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.

Cameron Mackintosh presents the new production of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg’s Tony Award®-winning musical phenomenon, Les Misérables, direct from an acclaimed two-and-a-half-year return to Broadway. With its glorious new staging and dazzlingly reimagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo, this breathtaking new production has left both audiences and critics awestruck, cheering “Les Miz is born again!” (NY1).
Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Misérables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice, and redemption – a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. Featuring the thrilling score and beloved songs “I Dreamed A Dream,” “On My Own,” “Stars,” “Bring Him Home,” “One Day More,” and many more, this epic and uplifting story has become one of the most celebrated musicals in theatrical history.
Seen by more than 120 million people in 52 countries and in 22 languages around the globe, Les Misérables is still the world’s most popular musical, breaking box office records everywhere in its 33rd year.

Registration is open for UNC Asheville’s 2020 Pi(e) Run, an annual fun run that celebrates all things Pi(e). This year’s event will be held on Pi Day, Saturday, March 14, at Pi time, 3:14 p.m. Runners will run 3.14 miles around UNC Asheville’s campus and celebrate with pie at the finish line. The event is open to the public with an early-bird rate of $15 before Feb. 15. Runners who sign up before March 1 will receive a t-shirt and swag bag, and registration continues through March 14 at a cost of $20, with on-site registration and check-in starting at 2 p.m. the day of the race. Visit unca.edu/pi-run to sign up.
The 2020 Pi Day Run will start from UNC Asheville’s Quad and circle University Heights three times, via campus sidewalks, concluding with pie at the finish line. The fun run includes a pie baking contest, judged by Math Leaders from the Marvelous Math Club, with prizes awarded, and this year will feature a raffle. Registration includes a raffle entry for each runner. Registration also is available for the pie contest, without the run, by filling out the interest form at unca.edu/pi-run.
Proceeds from the annual Pi(e) Run will benefit the Asheville Initiative for Math at UNC Asheville and its Marvelous Math Club at Pisgah View Community Center. Marvelous Math Club is a partnership between UNC Asheville, Asheville Housing Authority, and Asheville City Schools. The Club uses math as a catalyst to build leadership skills, create community and provide a space for individualized academic support and social-emotional growth.

A man lost in his life drives across the American West with his stepdaughter-a young woman at the beginning of hers. He’s trying to make peace with the ghosts of his past; she’s just trying to survive.

Age: All Ages
The Merrell Adventure Dash is all about getting outside and challenging yourself to work hard for your good time. Suitable for families as well as adults, participants will negotiate a series of natural and man-made obstacles along the 5K course, including balance components, climbs and nets, a river-run, and raft crossing. This holiday weekend, enjoy a fun, family-friendly adventure run in the beautiful Nantahala Gorge. Merrell Adventure Dash participants can choose between the 5K dash or a 1K fun run. Kids aged 12 and under race free with a participating adult.
Registraion opens March 1, 2020. Check back for more details.
Onsite Registration is available from 1pm – 3:30pm day of. The race starts promptly at 4PM on 5/23/2020.
Remember to wear anything you don’t mind getting dirty!

Cameron Mackintosh presents the new production of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg’s Tony Award®-winning musical phenomenon, Les Misérables, direct from an acclaimed two-and-a-half-year return to Broadway. With its glorious new staging and dazzlingly reimagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo, this breathtaking new production has left both audiences and critics awestruck, cheering “Les Miz is born again!” (NY1).
Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Misérables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice, and redemption – a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. Featuring the thrilling score and beloved songs “I Dreamed A Dream,” “On My Own,” “Stars,” “Bring Him Home,” “One Day More,” and many more, this epic and uplifting story has become one of the most celebrated musicals in theatrical history.
Seen by more than 120 million people in 52 countries and in 22 languages around the globe, Les Misérables is still the world’s most popular musical, breaking box office records everywhere in its 33rd year.
Flat Rock Playhouse and The Supporting Players are excited to announce they are welcoming volunteers who will participate in various programs that take you behind-the-scenes at the State Theatre of North Carolina.
“The Supporting Players of Flat Rock Playhouse is a great way to meet and work with people that are like-minded and have a desire to come alongside the staff to help secure the future of performing arts in western North Carolina, “ remarks Karolyn Killian, President of Supporting Players. “It is a pleasure and a joy to volunteer my time and talent for such a wonderful group of people that are dedicated to excellence in live theatre and our community!”
The Supporting Players are a unique way to get an inside look into life on the Rock while making an impact on our community. If you are interested in joining this passionate collective of volunteers and becoming part of the Flat Rock Playhouse family, make sure to tune into WTZQ on March 10th at 8:00 am to hear from some of the Supporting Players. Additionally, you can visit flatrockplayhouse.org/volunteer or email [email protected] to learn more!

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?
$120 online by 3/31/20
$125 online by 4/30/20
$140 at gate
$65 Saturday only
$45 whitewater rafting
Oscar Wilde’s brilliant and wicked comic-masterpiece defines wit and style. The comedy is blissfully silly and outrageously shrewd. Over 120 years after its first performance, The Importance of Being Earnest continues to delight audiences with its playful language, charming character and biting look at society.
The Importance of Being Earnest is the story of two bachelors, John “Jack” Worthing and Algernon “Algy” Moncrieff, who create alter egos named Ernest to escape their tiresome lives. They attempt to win the hearts of two women who, conveniently, claim to only love men called Ernest. The pair struggle to keep up with their own stories and become tangled in a tale of deception, disguise and misadventure. The elaborate plot ridicules Victorian sensibilities with some of the best loved, and indeed bizarre, characters to be found on the modern stage. Presented in a reader’s theater format, actors don’t memorize scripts but read them to the audience while using their voices and upper bodies to convey the roles they are playing.
Reader’s theatre actors don’t memorize scripts but read them to the audience while using their voices and upper bodies to convey the roles they are playing. Actors also use vocal and facial expressions, as well as hand and arm movements.
The cast of The Importance of Being Earnest features Natalie Broadway as Cecily, Rachel Crisp as the Reader, Rowan Duncan as Jack, Bruce Jayne as Lane and Merriman, Alexandra McPherson as Miss Prism, Regina Palian as Gwendolen, Terry Terranova as Dr. Chasuble, Matt Wade as Algernon and Katie Winkler as Lady Bracknell.
The Importance of Being Earnest’s artistic team includes director John Baldwin and stage manager Sara Hassinger.
John Baldwin began directing 10 years ago at Broadway West in Fremont, CA. His directing credits include Run For Your Wife, Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some), Coney Island Christmas, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, A Very Modern Marriage, and has directed for play festivals for The Magnetic Theatre and Calliope Stage in Silva.
The show is rated PG due to mild adult situations. Showtimes are 3 pm and 7:30 pm on Saturday, March 11. Running time is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes with one 15 minute intermission. Hendersonville Theater has made masks optional for patrons, and no proof of vaccination is required to attend a performance.

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.

CHURCH BASEMENT LADIES, a musical comedy about the women who work in the church kitchen, cooking meals for church events. The musical is inspired by the book Growing Up Lutheran by Janet Letnes Martin and Suzann Nelson. Characters range from an elderly matriarch to a young bride-to-be as they handle Christmas Dinner, a close-to-home funeral, a Hawaiian fundraiser, and hot July wedding. Our first thought about a church community may be that it is run by the male clergy, but this musical shows us that behind every strong church is a stronger group of women.
Hello Flat Rock Playhouse Patrons, Donors, Friends, and all-around ‘Peeps!’
Please take a few minutes to take the survey and help us as we begin planning for the 2021 season and beyond. We’ve listed a pretty large range of shows because we want to know what you’re interested in seeing on the stage. Please choose your TOP 10 favorites in each category; Musicals and Plays. You will also have the opportunity to write in a title or author that may not otherwise be listed. Please only choose ten of each so we can narrow down your preferences.
As an added note, we endeavor to give you exactly what your heart most desires. That said, there are many factors that go into selecting shows. Are the rights available? Can we afford to produce it properly? Does it align with our Union obligations? These questions and many more are all part of the process and influence what productions we select. It’s important to everyone at Flat Rock Playhouse that we deliver as much of what the audience desires as we can whenever we can.
Thank you for taking a few minutes to share your preferences with us. We are hugely grateful for the insight!
Sincerely,
The Artistic Team
Flat Rock Playhouse

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.

CHURCH BASEMENT LADIES, a musical comedy about the women who work in the church kitchen, cooking meals for church events. The musical is inspired by the book Growing Up Lutheran by Janet Letnes Martin and Suzann Nelson. Characters range from an elderly matriarch to a young bride-to-be as they handle Christmas Dinner, a close-to-home funeral, a Hawaiian fundraiser, and hot July wedding. Our first thought about a church community may be that it is run by the male clergy, but this musical shows us that behind every strong church is a stronger group of women.

A man lost in his life drives across the American West with his stepdaughter-a young woman at the beginning of hers. He’s trying to make peace with the ghosts of his past; she’s just trying to survive.
This modern adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People follows the fate of a small suburb and its newly opened charter school. The science teacher, Dr. Stock, discovers issues on the school grounds and takes on a mission to inform the public. Both hilarious and heartbreaking, this play addresses themes of truth, greed and denial, while serving as a mirror for our outrageous political reality.

Wilbur, an irresistible young pig, who desperately wants to avoid becoming “pork chops,” meets an extraordinary spider who proves to be “a true friend and a good writer.” Based on E.B. White’s classic American children’s book, this treasured tale of endearing farm animals and the people who surround them explores bravery, selfless love, and the true meaning of friendship. Featuring a cast of local students and parents, Charlotte’s Web is a charming production fit for the whole family.
In adherence to the latest North Carolina state government restrictions of public gatherings, addressing the spread of COVID-19, Flat Rock Playhouse will be suspending all programming from March 16 – April 23.
If you purchased tickets for a performance that is being canceled, please contact the Box Office beginning 10 am on Monday, March 16 to arrange receipt of a gift certificate for the value of your ticket. We also ask that you consider making a gift of your ticket. Theatre is a community that is built on the opportunity to come together to share stories and in this unprecedented circumstance, when coming together is not possible, we need your support more than ever.


