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.
The Peppermint Bear Scavenger Hunt will take you on a fun-filled bear hunt through downtown Hendersonville looking for Peppermint Bear’s lost bear cubs, who are hiding out in the shops, Get your map at the Visitor Center, then head out to find all of the cubs and get a stamp at each location after you’ve found the bear, return completed entry forms to the Visitor Center to be eligible for great prizes!
FREE | All ages, advance registration required
Good old-fashioned fun with great prizes! Looking for more bingo? Check out additional dates and locations.
Support local + small this holiday season at our 𝑴𝒆𝒓𝒓𝒚 𝑴𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒕!
We’re decking the halls as you shop housewares, vintage pieces, original art, handmade craft, fair trade imports, and more! Free and open to the public. Dogs are welcome! Vendors are setup inside and outside the showroom and runs rain, snow, or shine. Parking is available behind the showroom.
Lace up your skates, hit the big ice, and enjoy the fun at Bon Secours Wellness Arena! The rink is open for all ages to practice skills, skate for fitness, or just enjoy skating while listening to music and socializing with family and friends.
Tickets include access to the ice during scheduled 2 hour windows. Concessions will be available for purchase. Price of admission includes skate rental and ice walkers based on availability as well as complimentary photos with Santa leading into Christmas.
Helmets and safety gear are recommended for beginner skaters, all sessions are skate at your own risk. For your safety and the safety of others please follow the roles outlined on site at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
PARKING:
Free parking is available in the VIP Lot off of Church Street. Entry to public skating is located in our loading dock below the VIP lot.
TICKETS:
Tickets are $15.00 per person. Price of admission includes skate rental. Credit and Debit Cards Only. NO CASH ACCEPTED. Spectators do not need tickets.
SKATE ROLL & STROLL:
We are excited to bring back two free Skate Roll & Stroll session with accommodations for people of all ages with disabilities on 12/19 & 12/27.
Transforming our RAD Beer Garden into a winter wonderland reminiscent of the traditional Christmas markets in Germany and neighboring countries, each shipping container will become a charming stall.December 9 – Ornaments
December 16 – Printing on Stockings
27 Buxton Ave
24 Buxton Ave
144 Coxe Ave
197 Hilliard Ave
🎁Join us for a ‘Last Minute Maker’s Market’ on Saturday, December 16th from 2-6pm
Grab a beer and shop these amazing vendors:
✨Apothepurity
✨Botanical Tortoise Co.
✨Chapter’s Bookstop
✨Gumball Glassworks
✨Macon York Press
✨Mountain Watercolors
From the bounty shores of England comes the Styckes-Upon-Thump Repertory Theatre Company, a stuffy old traveling troupe embarking on their fifteenth annual farewell tour of Dickens’ tale. The company includes Sir Selsdon Piddick, the consummate actor, in the role of Ebenezer Scrooge, with Mrs. Bettina Salisbury, Dame Rowena Middleton-Lewis, Mrs. Cordelia ffoliet-ffolkes ffortescue Woods, Teddy Shub, and Elyot Crummels in multiple supporting roles. On this fateful Christmas Eve night, various forms of mayhem ensue as this professional company scrambles to keep the show going and everything that could go possibly wrong does, with hilarious, ridiculous results!
It’s beginning to look a lot like…you got it! Keep the family tradition going. Same great quality, all new show! Come celebrate the season here on ‘The Rock’ with the always popular A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas! Join in and sing along to some of your favorite holiday tunes like, “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” “Jingle Bells,” “O Holy Night,” and many more. With an incredible cast
featuring dancers from Pat’s School of Dance and the Flat Rock Playhouse Chorus, there is truly no better way to kick off your holiday season!
It’s the holiday season and one of the best ways to get into the spirit is with festive music. Join us for holiday music played on traditional Appalachian mountain dulcimers at the Enka-Candler Library on Saturday, Dec. 16 from 2-3:30 p.m. Under the direction of Mack Johnston, the 17-member Asheville Dulcimer Orchestra will perform a variety of seasonal music for all ages. This free concert is a family-friendly event and no tickets or registration is required.
Get ready to embrace the spirit of Christmas with Elf: The Musical, a heartwarming and hilarious adaptation of the beloved 2003 holiday film. This enchanting musical follows the journey of Buddy, a human raised by elves at the North Pole who embarks on a journey to New York City to find his real father. Through catchy, uplifting songs and zany comedic antics, Elf: The Musical serves a healthy dose of holiday cheer, laughter, and life lessons about identity, family, and the true meaning of Christmas. It’s a magical, festive spectacle guaranteed to light up the holiday season for all ages!
A talkback with the cast & crew of Elf: The Musical will be held following the performances on December 3rd and 10th.
Composed in 1741 by George Frederic Handel, the Messiah and its rousing ‘Hallelujah’ chorus is one of the most famous and identifiable pieces of Baroque choral music in history. It was first performed in Dublin on April 13, 1742 and received its London premiere nearly a year later.
Known as a Scratch, People’s, or Do It Yourself (DIY) Messiah, informal choral performances of Handel’s popular work began in 1749 and has continued for almost 300 years.
So it is with great fanfare that Tryon Fine Arts Center will present DIY Messiah under the direction of Brennan Szafron, with 4 soloists and Beth Child accompanying on piano. Community members will choose their spot as soprano, alto, tenor and bass and sing along with their favorite parts! Scores provided.
A reception will follow after the performance.
This is a free community event and everyone is invited to continue this centuries old tradition of singing and enjoying Handel’s masterpiece.
Lace up your skates, hit the big ice, and enjoy the fun at Bon Secours Wellness Arena! The rink is open for all ages to practice skills, skate for fitness, or just enjoy skating while listening to music and socializing with family and friends.
Tickets include access to the ice during scheduled 2 hour windows. Concessions will be available for purchase. Price of admission includes skate rental and ice walkers based on availability as well as complimentary photos with Santa leading into Christmas.
Helmets and safety gear are recommended for beginner skaters, all sessions are skate at your own risk. For your safety and the safety of others please follow the roles outlined on site at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
PARKING:
Free parking is available in the VIP Lot off of Church Street. Entry to public skating is located in our loading dock below the VIP lot.
TICKETS:
Tickets are $15.00 per person. Price of admission includes skate rental. Credit and Debit Cards Only. NO CASH ACCEPTED. Spectators do not need tickets.
SKATE ROLL & STROLL:
We are excited to bring back two free Skate Roll & Stroll session with accommodations for people of all ages with disabilities on 12/19 & 12/27.
FREE | Ages 50 and over
Calling all adults ages 50 or better: Eat, drink, and be merry in the tackiest holiday sweater you can find. To participate in the gift exchange (not required), bring a new item wrapped or in a gift bag.
Mountain Fresh Orchards will provide holiday train rides on Main Street, hop on the train at the Historic Courthouse where they will have fresh baked and canned goods. Ellaberry Llama Farm will have a photo opportunity with two llamas and holiday cheer.
Holiday events are supported by a grant from the Henderson County Tourism Development Authority.
Fridays-Sundays 5-9pm
Dec 1-17 & 19-23
The biggest holiday icons await you in the Winterfest Village! People of all ages can snap a photo, share a laugh, and make memories with famous Christmas characters. From live music to yummy treats, carousel rides to shops and more, Winterfest Village holds magic around every corner, for all ages. Parents do NOT need a wristband to accompany their children!
Kids’ Wristbands: $10 Fridays & Sundays, $12 Saturdays
Wristbands grant access to:
Smile with Santa presented by Nth Degree Orthodontics
Santa Meet-and-Greet & Photo Booth
Home with the Whos presented by Highland Design & Construction
Meet-and-Greet experience
Little Elves Playground presented by St. Luke’s Hospital
Bounce Houses – including a bouncy obstacle course!
Tryon Minis Reindeer Training Stable presented by Tryon Horse & Home
Meet-and-Greet experience
Carousel Rides presented by Tryon Cares
FREE to Access:
Holly Jolly Stage presented by Marthaler Jewelers
Live Music – Legends Plaza
Rockin’ Around the Ring with WTZQ
Live Music – Tryon Stadium Stage
Light up the Night presented by Duke Energy
Giant Ornament Photo Op in Tryon Stadium
Coffee & Cocoa presented by Van Winkle Law Firm
Concession Trailer in Tryon Stadium
Tryon Legends Christmas Tree presented by Pavillon
Photo Op in Legends Plaza
Unwrap the Holidays presented by Tryon International Promenade
Giant Present Photo Op in Tryon Stadium
Hobby Horse Play Area presented by Young Rider
Christmas Bar in Tryon Stadium
Strolling Character Performances
Shopping Booths
Winter Wonder Walk is a live action storybook walk, and a memorable winter festival. Guests will walk through an outdoor trail while our actors bring the pages of the giant book to life. Guests set out on a quest through the kingdom of Winterland and try to find Jack Frost while meeting several wonderful characters along the way.
Before or after the trail itself, there is a large festival tent featuring a holiday market, Mrs.Claus meet and greet, a kids play area, cozy cups of hot chocolate and warm eats. Winter Wonder Walk is also the home of Asheville’s largest snowball fight with our friendly and silly ‘Snow Sprites.’ In addition to all of this, the Adventure Center runs their two aerial glow treetops courses.
Every ticket to this event will raise 4 meals for Manna foodbank, it is not only a wonderful holiday experience, it also supports our entire community. This event demonstrates the magic of reading and inspires children to pick up a book. Any child that participates in our reading program and reads 10 books will receive entry to the Winter Wonder Walk. Glow Trail admission is only available with a combo pass. Tickets available online or at the door. www.winterwonderwalk.com 4 and under FREE
Festival of Lights offers two different experiences for attendees: a drive-thru and a walk-thru. The walk-thru dates will take place on Dec. 2 and Dec. 3 from 6-8 p.m. and the drive-thru will be taking place nightly from Dec. 4 – Dec. 23 from 6-9 p.m.
The walk-thru nights (Dec. 2 and 3) will consist of fun holiday crafts, kettlecorn, hot chocolate and the spectacular light show. Admission to the walk-thru nights is only $5 for adults, and children 16 and under get in free, making it an affordable and joyful outing for families to celebrate the holiday season together. Please note that parking for the walk-thru nights will be available at Charles T. Koontz Intermediate School. This is only a short walk from Lake Julian Park. Cars will not be permitted to enter the park unless they have a need for ADA accessible parking. Guests are encouraged to wear comfortable shoes and to dress warmly.
The drive-thru nights (Dec. 4 – Dec. 23) allow you to stay in the comfort of your own car while oooh-ing and ah-ing at the beautiful lights around Lake Julian Park. As participants drive throughout the park, they can tune into their favorite seasonal music on the radio. Admission is $10 per car for personal vehicles, $25 for sprinter vans, trailblazers, and conversion vans, and $50 for busses and motorcoaches. Purchased tickets will be valid for one-time use on any night of the festival; tickets are not date specific.
December 16th: 6-9:30 PM
$30 per eventMake your own snow, festive slime, and dissolving candy canes!
From the bounty shores of England comes the Styckes-Upon-Thump Repertory Theatre Company, a stuffy old traveling troupe embarking on their fifteenth annual farewell tour of Dickens’ tale. The company includes Sir Selsdon Piddick, the consummate actor, in the role of Ebenezer Scrooge, with Mrs. Bettina Salisbury, Dame Rowena Middleton-Lewis, Mrs. Cordelia ffoliet-ffolkes ffortescue Woods, Teddy Shub, and Elyot Crummels in multiple supporting roles. On this fateful Christmas Eve night, various forms of mayhem ensue as this professional company scrambles to keep the show going and everything that could go possibly wrong does, with hilarious, ridiculous results!
A Rivertree Christmas continues to be a treasured holiday tradition for music lovers in Greenville. This award winning choir delights audiences with their tonal beauty, clarity and passionate singing.
For over a decade, this most popular concert has captivated audiences with its engaging and heartwarming messages of Christmas joy and hope. This debut concert in Gunther Hall will feature carols old and new and holiday favorites sure to lift your spirits!
In keeping with their mission of inspiring young singers, Rivertree Singers has invited the Christ Church High School Choir to open the concert and join them for several seasonal songs.
Come experience the enchanting ambiance of our sparkling downtown to enjoy good cheer and festive music this holiday season.
Order early to reserve the best seats for a joyful holiday celebration with family and friends!
Truman Capote’s beloved short story, A Christmas Memory, will once again be performed as a one-man show by actor and theologian Dr. E.R. Haire, Jr. at the Episcopal Church of St. John in the Wilderness.
Performances will be held in the Wilderness Room on the following dates:
- Friday, December 15, at 7:30pm
- Saturday, December 16, at 7:30pm
- Sunday, December 17, at 2:00pm
- Sunday, December 17, at 7:30pm
The show is free to the public, but attendance is limited to 55 people per performance. RSVP is required. If the performance you would like to see is full, please consider a different performance, and/or add your name to the waitlist. Face masks are optional.
A Christmas Memory takes place during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Until he was ten years old, Truman Capote lived with elderly relatives in a small town in rural Alabama. The story is a frankly autobiographical account of those years, especially of his relationship with one of the elderly cousins, Miss Sook Faulk. This is the 21st year Dr. Haire has performed the story, from Los Angeles to Edinburgh, Scotland, with many stops in between.
It’s beginning to look a lot like…you got it! Keep the family tradition going. Same great quality, all new show! Come celebrate the season here on ‘The Rock’ with the always popular A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas! Join in and sing along to some of your favorite holiday tunes like, “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” “Jingle Bells,” “O Holy Night,” and many more. With an incredible cast
featuring dancers from Pat’s School of Dance and the Flat Rock Playhouse Chorus, there is truly no better way to kick off your holiday season!
Buddy, a young orphan, mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole. The would-be elf is raised, unaware that he is actually a human, until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity.
By: Michael Carleton, Jim FitzGerald, and John K. Alvarez
Produced by special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc.
(www.playscripts.com)
Director: Jonathan Forrester
Approximate Run Time: 2 hours
Rating: PG due to mild language and the truth about Santa
Instead of performing Charles Dickens’ beloved holiday classic for the umpteenth time, three actors decide to perform every Christmas story ever told – plus Christmas traditions from around the world, seasonal icons from ancient times to topical pop-culture, and every carol ever sung. Part vaudeville and part Complete Works of William Shakespeare…Abridged, Every Christmas Story Ever Told is a fast, furious, and slightly irreverent look at holiday traditions. Santa Claus, Rudolph, the Grinch, and just about every other seasonal character, make an appearance in this racy comedy that will have you laughing all the way to the New Year!
Edvard Tchivzhel, conductor
You’ll be brimming with holiday cheer when you leave this annual seasonal celebration! Gather your family and friends for Greenville’s favorite Christmas spectacular, which always features your favorites combined with fresh, new themes. Whether you’re carrying on a yuletide tradition or feeling inspired to start a new one, this concert is the perfect way to get into the spirit of the holidays.
NEW QUEER’S EVE
Developed by a Collaboration of Queer Writers
Directed by Dwight Chiles
Maybe it’s much too early in the game, but I thought I’d ask you just the same, what are you doing New Year’s? Join us for a look at this holiday through a new lens. New Queer’s Eve takes place in one location over multiple New Year’s Eve celebrations and provides a glimpse into the LGBTQIA+ experience through time. Through interconnected stories told by a collaboration of queer writers, New Queer’s Eve invites audiences to share in the joys and struggles of queer life through the decades.