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.
Mike Lebovitz began his comedy career at the age of six with clowning classes at the local JCC. He’s been delighting crowds with his intoxicating brand of wild-eyed humor ever since. Mike’s irreverent bar-stool philosophy careens from topic to topic like a runaway freight train with some dubious couplings. Audiences have described the experience as “spontaneous,” “joyful’ and “slightly terrifying.”
Mike cut his teeth in Chicago (not as painful as it sounds), where he was a regular at Zanies Comedy Club, The Laugh Factory and Comedy Bar Chicago. He co-founded the popular showcase, Comedians You Should Know, which he brought to New York City in 2016. It has since become the weekly go-to spot to see comedy legends and up-and-comers rock the same mic.
Internationally, Mike has offended nostrils in Montreal as a “New Face” of the 2013 Just For Laughs, and he won The Montreux Comedy Festival competition in Switzerland. He’s been featured on NBC’s Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central, and HBO’s The Deuce. Look for his debut album, LEBO, in early 2019 on Stand Up Records.
Tickets $10 advance, $12 day of
Friday: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-mike-lebovitz-friday-tickets-67301682143
Saturday: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-mike-lebovitz-saturday-tickets-67303940899
Community Garden located at the Buncombe County Sports Park.
The mission of Sand HIll Community Garden is to share in garden space, knowledge, and labor with all members of the community. Using organic growing practices we promote community health and wellness by providing fresh produce for garden members and local people in need of food.
The South Carolina Botanical Garden Fall Plant Sale will be 2-6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28. The Friday sale will be open just to members of Friends of the Garden. Memberships are available at gate or skip the line and join online at https://cualumni.clemson.edu/give/scbg. The Saturday sale will be open to the public.
The S.C. Botanical Gardens fall plant sale will be Sept. 27-28. (Click on image to access catalog)
Image Credit: South Carolina Botanical Garden
All sales will be held in the nursery section of the Botanical Garden, located at 154 Lacecap Loop.
Mike Lebovitz began his comedy career at the age of six with clowning classes at the local JCC. He’s been delighting crowds with his intoxicating brand of wild-eyed humor ever since. Mike’s irreverent bar-stool philosophy careens from topic to topic like a runaway freight train with some dubious couplings. Audiences have described the experience as “spontaneous,” “joyful’ and “slightly terrifying.”
Mike cut his teeth in Chicago (not as painful as it sounds), where he was a regular at Zanies Comedy Club, The Laugh Factory and Comedy Bar Chicago. He co-founded the popular showcase, Comedians You Should Know, which he brought to New York City in 2016. It has since become the weekly go-to spot to see comedy legends and up-and-comers rock the same mic.
Internationally, Mike has offended nostrils in Montreal as a “New Face” of the 2013 Just For Laughs, and he won The Montreux Comedy Festival competition in Switzerland. He’s been featured on NBC’s Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central, and HBO’s The Deuce. Look for his debut album, LEBO, in early 2019 on Stand Up Records.
Tickets $10 advance, $12 day of
Friday: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-mike-lebovitz-friday-tickets-67301682143
Saturday: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-mike-lebovitz-saturday-tickets-67303940899
Asheville’s monthly all Queer Comedy Show!
All of the comedians are members of the LGBTQ community but the audience just has to be cool. This month’s headliner is Hayley Ellman from Atlanta!!!
Hayley Ellman is a comedian out of Atlanta, GA. She was inspired to start writing and performing after watching the likes of Bill Cosby, Woody Allen, and Louis CK other talented perverts; she still hasn’t figured out how to tell people who her biggest influences are anymore. The Atlanta Journal Constitution referred to her comedy as “cerebral and sardonic.” She charms audiences with her balance of sincere and silly.
Tickets $7 advance, $10 day of
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/queer-comedy-party-ft-hayley-ellman-tickets-70192223831
Community Garden located at the Buncombe County Sports Park.
The mission of Sand HIll Community Garden is to share in garden space, knowledge, and labor with all members of the community. Using organic growing practices we promote community health and wellness by providing fresh produce for garden members and local people in need of food.
Disclaimer Stand-up Lounge is the longest running comedy open mic in Asheville happening every Wednesday night. The show starts at 9:00, and there is no cover. Anyone wanting to perform needs to sign up by 9pm, and will get five minutes on stage. Local and not-so-local, professional and not-so-professional comics perform or just anyone wanting to get up in front of people and try to make them laugh. Always fun. Always free.
Underwear Comedy Party is a night of nearly nude laughs. All the comedians will be performing in their underwear and we encourage the audience to strip down too!
doors at 8pm, show at 9pm
Tickets $10
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/underwear-comedy-party-avl-tickets-70332354967
Underwear Comedy Party is a night of nearly nude laughs. All the comedians will be performing in their underwear and we encourage the audience to strip down too! doors at 8pm, show at 9pm.
Asheville Improv Collective presents
AICFest 2019
October 4, 2019 • 5 PM, 7 PM & 9 PM
Tina McGuire Theatre
Asheville Improv Collective Website
This event takes place in the Tina McGuire Theatre at the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts.
5 PM Block
The lineup, in order of appearance: Harriet (Lexington, KY), Mabel’s Baby (Asheville), Syndication (Greenville, SC)
Seated show, 18+
Price: $15
7 PM Block
Headliner: Messing With A Friend
Opening (in order of appearance): Hardy Boys + Sichuan Pepper Daddies + Abraham
Seated show, 18+
Price: $25
Show info:
AIC is very proud to present, and Western North Carolina is very lucky to host, the legendary Susan Messing as she, plus a special guest, perform the critically-acclaimed Messing with a Friend. See below for more background info on Susan Messing.
Susan Messing wrote and performed in two mainstage revues at the legendary Second City, and directed their National Touring Company. Messing is a founding member of the infamous Annoyance Theatre where she has created roles in over thirty original productions, including “Co-Ed Prison Sluts”, “The Miss Vagina Pageant”, and “Your Butt”. In addition, she conceived, co-adapted (with Mary Scruggs) and directed the critically acclaimed “What Every Girl Should Know…An Ode to Judy Blume” for the Annoyance stage, where she also continues to teach.
You can see Messing’s critically-acclaimed show, “Messing with a Friend” every Thursday night at The Annoyance. Messing has been an adjunct professor for Loyola University, DePaul University’s Theatre School, and The University of Chicago, and The School of Steppenwolf. Her standup act with her puppet, Jolly, has been featured at the HBO/US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, and on Comedy Central’s Premium Blend and NBC’s Late Fridays. You can hear her voice on radio and tv ads. Susan has been cut from several blockbuster films, but her recent movie role in “Let’s Go to Prison!” as a bad stripper in a halo brace, made her very happy. Her daughter, Sofia Mia, is very twelve, very ridiculous, and very awesome.
Opening will be San Diego’s Hardy Boys, Washington, DC’s Sichuan Pepper Daddies and Greenville, SC’s Abraham!
9 PM Block
Headliner: Mamas Boy
Opening (in order of appearance): Soggy Naan + Co-Workers + Aftermath
Seated show, 18+
Price: $25
Show info:
AIC is very proud to present Mama’s Boy, the all-female improv super-group featuring the overwhelmingly talented Maribeth Monroe, Jaime Moyer, Stephanie Courtney and Celeste Pechous! Here’s some more background info on each performer:
Jaime Moyer is an alum of the University of Detroit-Mercy, The Second City-Detroit, and is a current member of the acting unions SAG-AFTRA and AEA. She is also a former Artistic Director of Planet Ant and current Home Team member. Jaime was awarded the sole prize of Maestro at The Out of Bounds Comedy Festival in Austin, Texas in 2011. She has appeared on Parks and Recreation, 2 Broke Girls, Jennifer Falls, and has a recurring role on Disney’s KC Undercover. Jaime is the creator of the viral hit “Fancy Catz” which can be seen on YouTube at the Second City Network, and has appeared in several short and feature length films. She can be seen performing weekly at The Second City Hollywood and iO WEST in Los Angeles, California.
Stephanie Courtney is an actress and improviser and a long time performer at The Groundlings Theater in Los Angeles. Her TV credits include recurring roles on The Goldbergs, Nobodies, You’re The Worst, Mad Men, and The Comeback. On the film side she can be seen opposite Bob Odenkirk in the Netflix feature Girlfriend’s Day, and other credits include The Heartbreak Kid, Christopher Guest’s For Your Consideration, and Melvin Goes to Dinner directed by Bob Odenkirk. She also appeared opposite Nathan Fillion and Adam Tudyk on the popular web-series Con Man. Stephanie is well known for playing “Flo” in the Progressive Insurance commercials. Ad Age recently named her one of the top female ad icons of all time, on a list that included Rosie the Riveter and Betty Crocker.
Celeste Pechous (SAG/AFTRA) has improvised around the world with some of the most distinguished improv theaters. An alumna of the Second City Chicago, Pechous has trained and performed at the Second City Chicago/LA, iO Chicago/LA, and The Annoyance Theater. She was honored Best Actress for her work in The Clan at the Midwest Film Festival and received a Best Actress nominee from the Downtown LA Film Festival and was awarded the Outstanding Performance from The SNAFF Film Festival for her work in the dark-comedy short, Past Due, based on her short story. TV credits include HBO’s Sharp Objects, NBC’s The Kenan Show, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, USA’s Pearsons, Amazon’s Upload, Showtime’s Masters of Sex, Netflix’s One Day at a Time, Epix’s Get Shorty, Comedy Central’s Workaholics,Review and TV Land’s Hot in Cleveland. She appeared in Work in Progress, which debuted to accolades at Sundance 2019. See her next in the feature film Against All Enemies. You can also see her improvise at Second City LA and on tv in one of her many national commercial spots. Pechous teaches Improv at Second City Hollywood and for UCLA’s Extension Studies. She is the founder of Dosage Improv Workshops in Los Angeles.
Opening will be Charlotte’s Soggy Naan, Dallas’s Co-Workers and Asheville’s very own, Aftermath!
The parents are out of town and the kids (local comedians) are running the show!
Come out to LaZoom for a night of comedy from Asheville’s best comics.
Tickets $10 advance, $12 day of
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/moms-out-tonight-local-comedy-showcase-tickets-71017628639
Community Garden located at the Buncombe County Sports Park.
The mission of Sand HIll Community Garden is to share in garden space, knowledge, and labor with all members of the community. Using organic growing practices we promote community health and wellness by providing fresh produce for garden members and local people in need of food.
The Friends of the Black Mountain/Tyson Library present a conversation and tea with number one WSJ and NYT bestselling author, Jan Karon. Jan is the author of the Mitford series, featuring Father Tim and the fictional village of Mitford.
Jan will not be signing books at the event, but guests may reserve a signed hardback copy of her latest book, Bathed in Prayer in advance. Visit SassafrasOnSutton.com no later than September 20 to reserve your copy. Books will be waiting for you at the event.
Tickets are not refundable. Seating is limited to 135.
Community Garden located at the Buncombe County Sports Park.
The mission of Sand HIll Community Garden is to share in garden space, knowledge, and labor with all members of the community. Using organic growing practices we promote community health and wellness by providing fresh produce for garden members and local people in need of food.
William Frederic Burr is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and podcaster. Outside of stand-up, he is known for playing Patrick Kuby in the AMC crime drama series Breaking Bad, creating and starring in the Netflix animated sitcom F Is for Family, and co-founding the All Things Comedy network. He has hosted the bi-weekly comedy podcast, Monday Morning Podcast, since May 2007.
William Frederic Burr is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and podcaster. Outside of stand-up, he is known for playing Patrick Kuby in the AMC crime drama series Breaking Bad, creating and starring in the Netflix animated sitcom F Is for Family, and co-founding the All Things Comedy network. He has hosted the bi-weekly comedy podcast, Monday Morning Podcast, since May 2007.
Lace Larrabee is back this October for two nights! She is bringing a whole new crew of very exhausted women from Atlanta!!!
Sponsored by BRÖÖ Craft Beer Hair*
Tickets $12 General Admission, $18 VIP
FRIDAY NIGHT
~General Admission: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-totally-exhausted-women-friday-tickets-70459096053
~VIP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vip-lazoom-comedy-totally-exhausted-women-friday-vip-tickets-70459250515
SATURDAY NIGHT
~General Admission: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-totally-exhausted-women-saturday-tickets-70459996747
~VIP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vip-lazoom-comedy-totally-exhausted-women-saturday-vip-tickets-70460263545
*VIP tickets include VIP seating and a bag of BRÖÖ products valued at $15
The North Carolina Arboretum’s 24th annual Carolina Bonsai Expo will be held on Saturday, October 12, and Sunday, October 13, 2019, in the Arboretum’s Bonsai Exhibition Garden, Baker Exhibit Center and Education Center.
This nationally known event features juried displays by bonsai enthusiasts hailing from a multi-state region. Visitors will have the opportunity to view the displays, watch free demonstrations and purchase bonsai plants and supplies. Also featured are an invitational show and sale of the work of bonsai potters and a display of floral art by members of the Asheville Chapter of Ikebana International. As the premier annual bonsai event of the Southeast, the Carolina Bonsai Expo offers programs for both the bonsai community and general public.
Schedule of Events
Saturday, October 12
9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Arboretum’s bonsai on display in the Bonsai Exhibition Garden; main bonsai exhibit open in the Education Center, 1st floor; ikebana exhibit open in the Education Center, 2nd floor; vendors market open in the Baker Exhibit Center, 1st and 2nd floors; food service available in the Education Center, 1st floor
11 a.m. – Noon Free ikebana educational program (More information to come) in the classrooms of the Education Center, 1st floor
1 p.m. – 5 p.m. 2019 Carolina Bonsai Expo Main Event presentation: “The Art of Bonsai Pottery,” featuring bonsai pottery artist Ron Lang, illustrated lecture program in the classrooms of the Education Center, 1st floor (Pre-registration required; fee charged for this program. Registration is not yet open.)
Sunday, October 13
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Arboretum’s bonsai on display in the Bonsai Exhibition Garden; main bonsai exhibit open in the Education Center, 1st floor; ikebana exhibit open in the Education Center, 2nd floor; vendors market open in the Baker Exhibit Center, 1st and 2nd floors; food service available in the Education Center, 1st floor
1 a.m – Noon Free bonsai educational program, (More information to come), in the classrooms of the Education Center, 1st floor
2:30 – 3:30 p.m. Live auction of bonsai and bonsai-related items, in the classrooms of the Education Center, 1st floor (Register onsite Expo weekend; $1 fee charged for this event.)
3:30 p.m. Raffle drawing, presentation of “People’s Choice” award, and closing remarks in the classrooms of the Education Center, 1st floor
Community Garden located at the Buncombe County Sports Park.
The mission of Sand HIll Community Garden is to share in garden space, knowledge, and labor with all members of the community. Using organic growing practices we promote community health and wellness by providing fresh produce for garden members and local people in need of food.
Lace Larrabee is back this October for two nights! She is bringing a whole new crew of very exhausted women from Atlanta!!!
Sponsored by BRÖÖ Craft Beer Hair*
Tickets $12 General Admission, $18 VIP
FRIDAY NIGHT
~General Admission: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-totally-exhausted-women-friday-tickets-70459096053
~VIP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vip-lazoom-comedy-totally-exhausted-women-friday-vip-tickets-70459250515
SATURDAY NIGHT
~General Admission: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-totally-exhausted-women-saturday-tickets-70459996747
~VIP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vip-lazoom-comedy-totally-exhausted-women-saturday-vip-tickets-70460263545
*VIP tickets include VIP seating and a bag of BRÖÖ products valued at $15
The Southeast Wise Women Herbal Conference was inspired by the thriving herbal conferences for women in the Northeast, Northwest, and California, which were founded in the 1990’s. After many years of running Red Moon Herbs and teaching herbal medicine for women, Corinna Wood—student and apprentice of Wise Woman Herbalist Susun Weed—recognized that the Southeast, too, would be eager for this kind of gathering. From our first annual event in 2005 with 200 women attending, we quickly discovered that the community was more than ready, that this event is filling a deep hunger for the Wise Woman Ways in this region. The conference now has a heart and soul of its own. For many, it has become an annual event—with over a thousand women, the October gathering is a tradition in education, inspiration, and sisterhood.
3 Full days of workshops, intensives, gatherings and more.
For a complete schedule visit: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1HcEve8IzhO29Qt_ZFRQXF3jcXtsffDk31v5HEbUNm_A/edit#gid=2075348263
The North Carolina Arboretum’s 24th annual Carolina Bonsai Expo will be held on Saturday, October 12, and Sunday, October 13, 2019, in the Arboretum’s Bonsai Exhibition Garden, Baker Exhibit Center and Education Center.
This nationally known event features juried displays by bonsai enthusiasts hailing from a multi-state region. Visitors will have the opportunity to view the displays, watch free demonstrations and purchase bonsai plants and supplies. Also featured are an invitational show and sale of the work of bonsai potters and a display of floral art by members of the Asheville Chapter of Ikebana International. As the premier annual bonsai event of the Southeast, the Carolina Bonsai Expo offers programs for both the bonsai community and general public.
Schedule of Events
Saturday, October 12
9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Arboretum’s bonsai on display in the Bonsai Exhibition Garden; main bonsai exhibit open in the Education Center, 1st floor; ikebana exhibit open in the Education Center, 2nd floor; vendors market open in the Baker Exhibit Center, 1st and 2nd floors; food service available in the Education Center, 1st floor
11 a.m. – Noon Free ikebana educational program (More information to come) in the classrooms of the Education Center, 1st floor
1 p.m. – 5 p.m. 2019 Carolina Bonsai Expo Main Event presentation: “The Art of Bonsai Pottery,” featuring bonsai pottery artist Ron Lang, illustrated lecture program in the classrooms of the Education Center, 1st floor (Pre-registration required; fee charged for this program. Registration is not yet open.)
Sunday, October 13
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Arboretum’s bonsai on display in the Bonsai Exhibition Garden; main bonsai exhibit open in the Education Center, 1st floor; ikebana exhibit open in the Education Center, 2nd floor; vendors market open in the Baker Exhibit Center, 1st and 2nd floors; food service available in the Education Center, 1st floor
1 a.m – Noon Free bonsai educational program, (More information to come), in the classrooms of the Education Center, 1st floor
2:30 – 3:30 p.m. Live auction of bonsai and bonsai-related items, in the classrooms of the Education Center, 1st floor (Register onsite Expo weekend; $1 fee charged for this event.)
3:30 p.m. Raffle drawing, presentation of “People’s Choice” award, and closing remarks in the classrooms of the Education Center, 1st floor
Take home a native tree for your home!
With an even keeled delivery belying blistering takes, Norlex Belma has become one of the hottest comics working in New York City. Norlex got his start in one of the nation’s fastest growing comedy scenes, Pittsburgh, after attending Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Music. Norlex now resides back home in his native Brooklyn and has performed at clubs and colleges around the country including UCB NYC, Carolines on Broadway, The Stand, New York Comedy Club, Broadway Comedy Club, The Comedy Studio in Boston, Pittsburgh Improv, The Grisly Pear, Zanies, The Blue Note, University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, SUNY Oswego, and NYU. Norlex has opened for national headliners such as Gary Gulman, Emma Willmann, Jessica Kirson, Sam Tallent, Marina Franklin, Jermaine Fowler, The Lucas Brothers, Liza Treyger, and Rob Schneider.
In 2016, he was featured in the PBS documentary, The Comedy Confluence, detailing the rise of the Pittsburgh comedy scene.
Since then, he has been a part of the New York Comedy Festival, Red Clay Comedy Festival in Atlanta, Pittsburgh Comedy Festival, Oak City Comedy Festival in Raleigh, WDVE Comedy Festival, and the Orlando Indie Comedy Festival. In the summer of 2018, Norlex headlined Carolines on Broadway as a part of the Breakout Artist Series.
Tickets $10 advance, $12 day of
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-norlex-belma-tickets-71312622975
Kevin O’Brien is Brooklyn based comedian, DJ, writer, and overall expressionist. A regular at clubs and colleges across the country he has opened for some of the biggest names in comedy from Dave Chappelle to Irene from “The Real World.” He has been featured on Viceland, the A.V. Club, and NPR. His comedy has been described as, “Very funny, very depressing” by Youtube commenter Ssgt Griggs. He has also appeared at a number of festivals including TruTv’s High Plains Comedy Festival, Laughing Devil Comedy Festival, and Fest in Gainesville.
Tickets $10 advance, $12 day of
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-kevin-obrien-tickets-70194548785
Jono Zalay began his standup career in Boston, while simultaneously earning his Doctorate in Neuroscience (he gave cocaine to rats). Since dropping his science hobby to pursue comedy full time, Jono has been named one of Comedy Central’s ‘Comics to Watch,’ and earned international press for his pranks on the DMV. Jono now lives in Los Angeles where he has written comedy for Fox, Amazon, and Comedy Central. He has been featured in over 30 comedy festivals around the country including Bridgetown, Big Sky, Limestone, and New York Comedy Festival.
Tickets $10 advance, $12 day of
FRIDAY: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-jono-zalay-friday-tickets-70462791105
SATURDAY: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-jono-zalay-saturday-tickets-70463025807
Jono Zalay began his standup career in Boston, while simultaneously earning his Doctorate in Neuroscience (he gave cocaine to rats). Since dropping his science hobby to pursue comedy full time, Jono has been named one of Comedy Central’s ‘Comics to Watch,’ and earned international press for his pranks on the DMV. Jono now lives in Los Angeles where he has written comedy for Fox, Amazon, and Comedy Central. He has been featured in over 30 comedy festivals around the country including Bridgetown, Big Sky, Limestone, and New York Comedy Festival.
Tickets $10 advance, $12 day of
FRIDAY: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-jono-zalay-friday-tickets-70462791105
SATURDAY: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-jono-zalay-saturday-tickets-70463025807
The cemetery is of historic significance, with graves of men and women whose names are
written in the history books of South Carolina and the United States. First Families of the early
years of our country, descendants of signers of the Declaration of Independence, influential
politicians of the 19th century, military leaders and others of note are buried in the churchyard.
The tour will last about an hour, Please wear comfortable shoes.