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, February 19, 2023
POETRY READING + DISCUSSION W/ GABRIELLE FOREMAN AND GLENIS REDMOND
Feb 19 @ 6:30 pm
Peace Center--Huguenot Loft

Poetry and A Talk with Dr. Gabrielle Foreman, MacArthur Fellow, and Glenis Redmond, Poet Laureate of Greenville about David Drake, the enslaved South Carolina potter and poet. 

 

Gabrielle Foreman and Glenis Redmond will discuss their collaboration on the book, Praise Songs for Dave the Potter, Art and Poetry for David Drake (University of Georgia Press, 2023).

 

David Drake is recognized as one of the United States’ most accomplished nineteenth-century potters. Yet, though his pots—many inscribed with original verse—sit in museums across the nation, he is too often passed over as one of the early progenitors of the African American poetic tradition. Born in South Carolina at the beginning of the nineteenth century, Drake produced hundreds of pieces while under the surveillance of the enslavers who claimed him and his work as their property. As Gabrielle Foreman notes, he is perhaps the only Black person in all of the free or slave states whose literary work was preserved in neither books nor pamphlets nor newspapers. His pots and jars served as pages as well as ceramic vessels.

Monday, February 20, 2023
THE MOTH Presents: Asheville StorySLAM – “Love HURTS”
Feb 20 @ 7:30 pm
The Grey Eagle

– PARTIALLY SEATED SHOW
– GA SEATING IN FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED. 

THE MOTH resumes their recurring monthly Asheville StorySLAM at The Grey Eagle at 7:30pm! This month’s theme is….

LOVE HURTS:  Prepare a five-minute tale about a love that made you go OUCH. The agony of deferred love! The misery of good love, gone bad! The anguish of one-way love! Bring stories of your heart, kicked to the curb by the people or places or things you love…or used to love. Love that “Hurts So Good” also welcome.
Thursday, February 23, 2023
Poetry Open Mic
Feb 23 @ 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Shakedown Kava Lounge, Hendersonville

Poetry Open Mic Hendo is the all-new sister event of Poetry Open Mic Asheville, the longest-running open mic in Western North Carolina, this weekly event welcomes all people and all forms of creative expression at Hendersonville’s only Kava lounge.

Sunday, February 26, 2023
Work trade Opportunity: Organic Growers School 30th Annual Spring Conference
Feb 26 @ 9:30 am – 6:00 pm
Mars Hill University Campus

Organic Growers School is now accepting work trade applications for the 30th Annual Spring Conference & Market!

The OGS Spring Conference will be held at Mars Hill University from February 24-26, 2023.

In exchange for each shift worked you will be compensated for the same day of the Conference. For example; if you work trade on Saturday, you will have access to the Conference on Saturday and will be free to attend workshops throughout the day, as long as they don’t conflict with your shift hours.

Work traders can select two shifts if they would like to attend on Saturday and Sunday, or three shifts, if they would like to participate the whole weekend.

General work trade shifts do not require special skills or backgrounds. They do, however, require timeliness and a friendly demeanor. Classroom Assistants/Moderators require training and classroom experience.

You should expect to be working during some of the class time unless you are approved for a pre-or post-conference shift, or come as a paying participant.

Please review the website for shift descriptions and complete the Work Trade Application if you are interested.

Work Trade at Spring Conference – Organic Growers School

We appreciate your interest in work trading for the 30th Annual Spring Conference & Market. Work traders play a vital role in the success of this event!

Thanks for your support,

Work Trade Deposit:

All volunteers are required to submit a $40 deposit. Please complete one registration and submit only one deposit. You may include any additional interest shifts in the additional notes section of the work trade application. Deposits are refunded once you complete your work trade shift. Once your schedule and duties are confirmed, it is up to you to show up for your shifts on time and to complete your shift as asked. In the unfortunate event that you do not fulfill your shift, we will process your credit card for the deposit amount. If providing a deposit is not possible, please email [email protected] so we may consider other options.

Thursday, March 2, 2023
Poetry Open Mic
Mar 2 @ 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Shakedown Kava Lounge, Hendersonville

Poetry Open Mic Hendo is the all-new sister event of Poetry Open Mic Asheville, the longest-running open mic in Western North Carolina, this weekly event welcomes all people and all forms of creative expression at Hendersonville’s only Kava lounge.

Thursday, March 9, 2023
Poetry Open Mic
Mar 9 @ 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Shakedown Kava Lounge, Hendersonville

Poetry Open Mic Hendo is the all-new sister event of Poetry Open Mic Asheville, the longest-running open mic in Western North Carolina, this weekly event welcomes all people and all forms of creative expression at Hendersonville’s only Kava lounge.

Thursday, March 16, 2023
Poetry Open Mic
Mar 16 @ 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Shakedown Kava Lounge, Hendersonville

Poetry Open Mic Hendo is the all-new sister event of Poetry Open Mic Asheville, the longest-running open mic in Western North Carolina, this weekly event welcomes all people and all forms of creative expression at Hendersonville’s only Kava lounge.

Sunday, March 19, 2023
Choral Evensong
Mar 19 @ 4:00 pm
St John in the Wilderness Episcopal Church

The Episcopal Church of St. John in the Wilderness will offer a traditional and simple service of
Choral Evensong on Sunday, March 19, 2023 at 4pm in the church.
The service will include prayer as set forth in the Book of Common Prayer, and sung by the
clergy, choir and congregation.
“Evensong is one of the great liturgical traditions of Christianity. This service will be similar to
those celebrated in the Church of England and by Anglican churches around the world,” said Fr.
Josh Stephens, the rector of St. John. “We hope it enriches your journey through Lent as we set
aside this sacred time for evening worship.”
Dialogues between Priest and congregation, Anglican Chant Psalm, ancient canticles sung to
plainsong tones, scripture lessons appointed by the lectionary, prayers, choral anthems and
organ music will be a part of this meditative Mid-Lenten Friends of Music offering.
The public is invited to come and worship with the parishioners of St. John for this special
offering.

Solemn Choral Evensong
Mar 19 @ 4:00 pm
St John in the Wilderness Episcopal Church

The service will include prayer as set forth in the Book of Common Prayer, and sung by the
clergy, choir and congregation.
“Evensong is one of the great liturgical traditions of Christianity. This service will be similar to
those celebrated in the Church of England and by Anglican churches around the world,” said Fr.
Josh Stephens, the rector of St. John. “We hope it enriches your journey through Lent as we set
aside this sacred time for evening worship.”
Dialogues between Priest and congregation, Anglican Chant Psalm, ancient canticles sung to
plainsong tones, scripture lessons appointed by the lectionary, prayers, choral anthems and
organ music will be a part of this meditative Mid-Lenten Friends of Music offering.
The public is invited to come and worship with the parishioners of St. John for this special
offering.

Monday, March 20, 2023
THE MOTH Presents: Asheville StorySLAM – “Stakes”
Mar 20 @ 7:30 pm
The Grey Eagle

– PARTIALLY SEATED SHOW
– GA SEATING IN FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED. 

THE MOTH resumes their recurring monthly Asheville StorySLAM at The Grey Eagle at 7:30pm! This month’s theme is….

STAKES:  Prepare a five-minute story about when it was make-or-break, all-or-nothing. When you dug in your heels or rose to the occasion. Packed it up, moved on, or made your claim. Proceed at your own risk…

 

Thursday, March 23, 2023
Poetry Open Mic
Mar 23 @ 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Shakedown Kava Lounge, Hendersonville

Poetry Open Mic Hendo is the all-new sister event of Poetry Open Mic Asheville, the longest-running open mic in Western North Carolina, this weekly event welcomes all people and all forms of creative expression at Hendersonville’s only Kava lounge.

Thursday, March 30, 2023
Poetry Open Mic
Mar 30 @ 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Shakedown Kava Lounge, Hendersonville

Poetry Open Mic Hendo is the all-new sister event of Poetry Open Mic Asheville, the longest-running open mic in Western North Carolina, this weekly event welcomes all people and all forms of creative expression at Hendersonville’s only Kava lounge.

Tuesday, April 4, 2023
Speed Connecting for Women Entrepreneurs
Apr 4 @ 5:30 pm
TBD

When women entrepreneurs come together, more knowledge is shared, doors opened, and power multiplied.
Please join us for this welcoming and fun event where you get to connect with other go-getting women.
(1 beverage is included with your ticket)

Sunday, April 9, 2023
Sunrise Service
Apr 9 @ 6:30 am
Point Lookout Vineyards
The Holy Week w/ St John in the Wilderness Episcopal Church
Apr 9 @ 8:45 am – 5:00 pm
St John in the Wilderness Episcopal Church

The Holy Week schedule begins April 2. Here is a list of all services:
Palm Sunday, April 2
8:45 and 11:00 a.m. Rite I Eucharists
Maundy Thursday, April 6
7:00 p.m. Service with Foot Washing and Stripping of the Altar
Good Friday, April 7
11:00 a.m. Stations of the Cross – meet in the parking lot of the Parish Hall
12:00 p.m. Good Friday Service (No Eucharist)
1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Veneration of the Cross in the church
5:30 p.m. Good Friday Service (No Eucharist)
Easter Sunday, April 8
8:45 a.m. Easter Service – Rite II Eucharist
10:00 a.m. Easter Egg Hunt in the Rector's Garden and Parish Hall Lawn
11:00 a.m. Easter Service – Rite II Eucharist

Easter at St. John in the Wilderness
Apr 9 @ 10:00 am
Episcopal Church of St. John in the Wilderness

The Episcopal Church of St. John in the Wilderness welcomes children of all ages to participate in an
Easter Egg Hunt at 10am on Easter Sunday, April 9th. The annual event is hosted by St. John's Young
Family Ministry.
Participants are encouraged to join the fun in the Rector’s Garden and Parish Hall lawn next to the Parish
Hall across Rutledge Drive from the church. Parking is available.
“We invite neighbors, friends, and visitors to join us for Easter at St. John in the Wilderness this year,”
said Fr. Josh Stephens, Rector. “We are excited to offer the Easter Egg Hunt for the community, as well
as the beautiful worship with a warm welcome as we celebrate Christ’s resurrection.”

Monday, April 24, 2023
THE MOTH Presents: Asheville StorySLAM – “Clean”
Apr 24 @ 7:30 pm
The Grey Eagle

– PARTIALLY SEATED SHOW
– GA SEATING IN FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED. 

THE MOTH resumes their recurring monthly Asheville StorySLAM at The Grey Eagle at 7:30pm! This month’s theme is….


CLEAN:  
Prepare a five-minute story about spotlessness. Leaving your vices behind, purity through virtue, or coming out unscathed. Germaphobes or slobs. Colossal messes or confessions. The tidy and the untainted. Mr. Clean in the house!

Public Onsale Begins:

Monday, April 3, 2023 3:00 PM

Thursday, April 27, 2023
West Asheville Library Book Discussion–in person. Bring a poem to share. 
Apr 27 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
West Asheville Public Library
  In celebration of National Poetry Month, bring a poem that you have liked, and share with the group. Please email [email protected] if you have questions!
Friday, April 28, 2023
THE DEAD POETS WITH GLENIS REDMOND AND ALLAN WOLF
Apr 28 @ 7:30 pm
Genevieve's

Experience poetry unlike you’ve heard before with this collective of performance poets. The Dead Poets take center stage resurrecting classic words of the likes of Shakespeare, Hughes and Frost with expert musicianship and whit. Then be swept by the literary prowess of Redmond and entertained by Wolf.

Each with their own performance style and acclaimed in their own right,  have spent nearly 30 years performing regionally and nationally, educating through the power of verse.

Sunday, April 30, 2023
Charles Davidson: Foster’s Pie Pan Book Launch @ Calvary Presbyterian Church
Apr 30 @ 3:00 pm
Calvary Presbyterian Church ((SA), Asheville

Charles Davidson, minister and author of Foster’s Pie Pan: Stories of Grace Abounding in a Fallen World, will read from his new book and sign copies for purchase at Calvary Presbyterian Church. Profits from the event benefit Homeward Bound of Western North Carolina. Jim Lowder will speak briefly about the work of Homeward Bound.

Saturday, May 6, 2023
Roundtable Session for Women Entrepreneurs
May 6 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Downtown Asheville

In a collaborative and supportive environment, each attendee will have a chance in the hot seat where all the brainpower at the table is focused on solving your problem, issue, or question.
Roundtable sessions allow us to not only connect, but to harness our collective experience to apply to each other’s pain points. Imagine being able to tap into the knowledge of women with a variety of skill sets, talents, and backgrounds! This is really a great opportunity to level-up your business or figure out how to implement your dream. So whether you need a sounding board for your ideas or some advice on marketing, these sessions will help you tremendously.
Come join other women with vision and energy and let’s work on making your dream a success.
Tickets and more information available at plrconnectevents.com

Friday, May 12, 2023
ASHEVILLE: Wanderful’s 10th Birthday Extravaganza
May 12 @ 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Crave Dessert Bar

Celebrate Wanderful’s 10th birthday by getting together with your girlfriends, celebrate sisterhood, and talk all things travel, of course.

Because it’s Wanderful’s 10th birthday, we’ve decided to invite everyone to this event for free. Stop by and say “hi” at our Asheville, NC meet up on Friday, May 12 from 5-7 p.m. at Crave Dessert Bar.

Network with incredible travel-loving women in your local community and maybe even win a fun giveaway (including a Wanderful membership). Attendees will also have access to incredible membership discounts.

Members, to thank you for your friendship (and because we love you all so, so much), you can expect to receive a little something extra at the event.

Non-members, please RSVP to attend, only 50 spots are available: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wanderfuls-10th-birthday-extravaganza-tickets-587803836097

Monday, May 15, 2023
THE MOTH PRESENTS: ASHEVILLE STORYSLAM – “GOSSIP”
May 15 @ 7:30 pm
The Grey Eagle

– PARTIALLY SEATED SHOW
– GA SEATING IN FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED. 

THE MOTH resumes their recurring monthly Asheville StorySLAM at The Grey Eagle at 7:30pm! This month’s theme is….


GOSSIP:  Delicious or malicious, chatty or bratty. Blatantly false or modestly exaggerated. Prepare a five-minute story about a rumor that raised eyebrows, dropped jaws, lowered the boom, rattled your cage or earned you a nasty or fabulous rep. In the office, the aisles of church or temple, in the family or in the streets. Tell us stories of the unfounded, the un-fact checked and the fabulously fabricated. Did you hear?

 

Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Tom Tenbrunsel Virtual Writers Workshop: Poetry on my Mind
May 24 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
online w/ Carl Sandburg Home

You will find Tom Tenbrunsel a delightfully refreshing poet with a wide variety of subject matter and a style somewhere between Sandburg, Frost and the late Appalachian poet James Wright. Tom challenges one’s whit with a refreshing array of non-conforming rhyme, structure, rhythm and oft made-up words and hidden meanings. Uniquely Tom includes a photo and Author’s Notes with each poem. Join us in May to engage the spirit and myth of poetry with Tom’s “Poetry on my Mind”

Casual Poetry/Poetry on my Mind. Tom will read a couple poems for fun. He will ask guests to write a
short poem from a prompt with feedback from the group. Tom would like guests to feel free to bring short
poems to read and discuss. He encourages questions about writing poetry, about a poem of his or his
journey as a poet or his Self Help Series. So familiarize yourself with his works by scanning his website,
tenbrunsel.com Comments or questions are welcomed. Or feel free to email him in advance at
[email protected].  Check out his website tenbrunsel.com before the workshop. Send in one of your
poems to be commented on by Tom.

This workshop is open to writers of all skill levels and is a fun way to find inspiration from a new prompt or revise current work. It is hosted by the Friends of Carl Sandburg at Connemara and will use Microsoft Teams for the virtual connection. Sign up to attend the workshop here!

A writer and a poet, Dr. Tenbrunsel enjoyed a long successful career in Clinical Psychology. Born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, Tom graduated from Bellarmine University, obtained his doctorate from St Louis University in 1969. He taught, published and was in administration at Michigan State University and was VP for Advancement at the University of Alabama at Huntsville. He and his wife reside in the Appalachians of Western North Carolina. They have three successful children and eight grand grandchildren. Dr T. enjoys photography, gardening, cycling, hiking, camping and stalking the elusive trout. His writings and publications speak for themselves. He has published numerous books including:  Casual Gardening,  Poetry on My Mind, The Fund Raising Resource Manual,  The Fund Raising Handbook, Fund-Raising and Grantsmanship:  Getting Money from the Community for the Community, The Lansing Area Doctors Directory, 1&2,   Dissertation “A Group Coupon Economy Program in Treating Mental Illness:  An Experiment in Social Innovation”,   A Wrinkle in My Time: My Memoirs (a work in progress)

Saturday, June 10, 2023
Roundtable Sessions for Women Entrepreneurs
Jun 10 @ 10:00 am
Adler Building

Join us in this inclusive and supportive environment as we all take turns in the “hot seat” where the focus is on getting insight and solving problems.

Not only will your challenge be addressed, but you get to learn from what others are bringing to the table too. And it’s a great way to meet other entrepreneurs who are on a similar journey.

Thursday, June 15, 2023
Poetry Open Mic Hendo
Jun 15 @ 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Shakedown Lounge

Poetry Open Mic Hendo is the all-new sister event of Poetry Open Mic Asheville, the
longest-running open mic in Western North Carolina, this weekly event welcomes all people and all forms of creative expression at
Hendersonville’s only Kava lounge.

Friday, June 16, 2023
poetry + storytelling open mic night
Jun 16 @ 10:00 pm
The Magnetic Theatre

POETRY & STORYTELLING OPEN MIC NIGHT

Following a performance of Da Classroom Ain’t Enuf

Are you a poet or storyteller? We’d love to hear your work! Come out on Friday, June 16th, at 10pm, following the performance of Da Classroom Ain’t Enuf. We are offering up to 5 minute slots per person and you can sign up that night.

Don’t want to perform but would love to come watch? Please do! Audience tickets are pay what you can, first come, first serve. If you see the performance of Da Classroom Ain’t Enuf that night, you can stay for the Poetry Open Mic for free.

Come help us celebrate the uniquely human gifts of writing, performing and sharing this work in community!

Pay What You Can **Note: Attendees of the June 16th performance of Da Classroom Ain’t Enuf can stay for free!

 

Monday, June 19, 2023
THE MOTH Presents: Asheville StorySLAM – “Pride”
Jun 19 @ 7:30 pm
The Grey Eagle
– PARTIALLY SEATED SHOW
– GA SEATING IN FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED. 

THE MOTH resumes their recurring monthly Asheville StorySLAM at The Grey Eagle at 7:30pm! This month’s theme is….


PRIDE:  Prepare a five minute story about being proud. The confidence and glory of owning your talents, embracing your identity or, perhaps, flying too close to the sun. Lion-hearted valiance for a job well-done or the stubborn sting of unburied hatchets or unspoken apologies. Staying faithful to values, swallowing pride or admitting you ain’t too proud to beg.
Tuesday, June 20, 2023
Biz + Bites: Boomers to Gen Z: Closing the Generational Divide
Jun 20 @ 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Focal Point Coworking

Focal Point Coworking and Biz Radio.US are proud to present Biz & Bites, a monthly event series!

Join us each month for a short talk with some of Asheville’s leading business thinkers, to meet and socialize with other local professionals, and to enjoy some of the tastiest treats Asheville has to offer!

June: Boomers to Gen Z: Closing the Generational Divide

Generational stereotypes run deep. Join us for an impactful panel discussion hosted by Biz Radio Host, Hank Elder, as we explore how Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z conduct business differently and find ways to come together as one.

Location

Focal Point Coworking is located at 125 S Lexington Avenue, Suite 101. The entrance is on Hilliard Avenue, across from the Bhramari parking lot. Street parking is available in the surrounding neighborhood.

Cost: $5 per person

Free for Focal Point Co-Working Members

Please pre-register to reserve your seat!

Thursday, June 22, 2023
Poetry Open Mic Hendo
Jun 22 @ 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Shakedown Lounge

Poetry Open Mic Hendo is the all-new sister event of Poetry Open Mic Asheville, the
longest-running open mic in Western North Carolina, this weekly event welcomes all people and all forms of creative expression at
Hendersonville’s only Kava lounge.