Calendar of Events

Festival Overview

In early Appalachia, chow chow, a crunchy pickled relish traditionally put up each summer, brought welcome sunshine to dinner plates during cold months. The condiment added color, brightness, nourishment, and a bright piquant zest that transformed the seemingly ordinary. By fermenting the garden’s final summer harvests, chow chow was a creative way to harness the earth’s resources in a jar for future culinary inspiration. Its ingredients were determined by the creative maker filling each crock, no two chow chow recipes quite the same.

Chow Chow: An Asheville Culinary Event, presented by Kimpton Hotel Arras, celebrates the area’s unique community of makers, each adding singular ingredients to the city’s recipe for culinary identity. From nationally recognized chefs to multi-generational farmers to millers, bakers, potters, weavers, and brewers, Chow Chow shines a light on the ancient creative spirit of the region that continues to make the Blue Ridge Mountains a delicious place to taste, to see, to explore and to experience through immersive culinary experiences.

Discover the alluring alchemy of mountain traditions, heirloom ingredients, and urban energy that inspire the James Beard-nominated chefs, sustainable farmers, innovative brewers, artisans, and foragers who commune at Asheville’s collaborative table.

Much like its namesake condiment, this unique festival is far greater than the sum of its parts.

Homework Diners take place weekly (except on school holidays or early release days). Families are invited to the cafeteria of the middle school during the scheduled time each week. No pre-registration is required to attend. Homework Diners currently take place at four area middle schools: Asheville, Enka, Erwin and Owen Middle. All are open to any family with a K-12 student in the surrounding school district with an adult family member in attendance with the participating student.

The 2019-20 Homework Diner schedule:

• Erwin Middle on Monday nights starting September 23, 2019 from 5:30-7:00 p.m.
• Asheville Middle on Tuesday nights starting September 24, 2019 from 5-7:00 p.m.
• Enka Middle on Tuesday nights starting September 24, 2019 from 5:30-7:00 p.m.
• Owen Middle on Thursday nights starting September 26, 2019 from 5:30-7:00 p.m.

The Junior League of Asheville, Inc. (JLA) will hold its third annual Volunteer Expo, on Saturday, February 29, 2020 at the Crowne Plaza Expo Center from 10am to 3pm. Modeled after a job fair, this free event will feature more than 70 local nonprofits looking to fill ongoing and future volunteer needs. Nonprofits in almost every area of community concern will be present at the event: health, poverty, legal aid, environmental stewardship, women’s issues, arts, civic leadership, technology, education and animal welfare.

Excitement for the Volunteer Expo continues to grow, with nonprofit participation growing year over year.  The 2019 event featured over 70 non-profits with attendance at well over 1,000 community members coming to network and sign up to volunteer with nonprofit organizations.

The 2020 Volunteer Expo will be accepting applications starting in September. Due to the increase in interest for booths at the Expo, this year the League plans to review all applications received instead of awarding booths on a first come first serve basis.  They hope this will ensure a good mix of volunteer opportunities in a variety of service areas as well as allow new nonprofits the chance to have a booth at the event.  There will be a silent auction fundraiser, Cheers to Volunteers, the evening before the Volunteer Expo from 6pm to 9pm at the Masonic Temple in downtown Asheville.  All community members are invited to attend both events. If you are a nonprofit interested in participating in the 2020 Volunteer Expo, please email us at [email protected].

Roots + Wings School of Art and Design is 10!!

Flock Together to celebrate 10 years of creating, connecting, playing, building, dreaming, laughing, making, learning, growing + loving! We’re throwing another party with a purpose to raise funds for our Community Outreach Programs in underserved Asheville Communities!
$10 admission: includes 3 tokens for activities, food + beer
$5 general admission: tokens for activities, food + beer for sale a la carte
3 free tokens if you bring in a book for the Colorful Pages Coalition (learn more Colorful Pages Coalition

More at rootsandwingsarts.com/flocktogether

September 13-22

Welcoming Week is all about what the Y does best – helping people
reach their potential and bringing the community together! 

Welcoming Week, an initiative of Y-USA’s national partner Welcoming America, celebrates the growing movement of communities across the U.S. that fully embrace new Americans and their contributions to the social fabric of our country. During Welcoming Week, communities bring together immigrants and U.S.-born residents to promote cross-cultural understanding raise awareness of the benefits of welcoming everyone.

Asheville on Bikes, the Blue Ridge Bicycle Club, and more have worked with representatives of the City of Asheville for almost 10 years to find out how many people are walking and bicycling in various locations around the city. You can help!

This year, in coordination with the National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project, we will count non-motorized users of our streets at a number of specific sites from 5-7 p.m. on one of the following dates:

*Tuesday, September 10th, OR

*Wednesday, September 11th, OR

*Thursday, September 12th.

There are also a few sites available from 7-9 a.m. on those days, and a few sites that are counted on Saturday, September 15th from 9-11 a.m. Volunteer hours are extremely valuable in this effort.  A short training is required, but no special skills are needed. Sign up at Bike/Ped Site Registration or if you have questions, email [email protected].

Hot Works 4^th Asheville Fine Art Show, October 26 & 27, 2019 takes place in Pack Square Park, downtown Asheville. This art show is juried by art professionals and brings artists to sell his/her art in all discipline including paintings, sculpture, clay, glass, fiber, jewelry, wood and more. All art is original and personally handmade by the artist who is present at the show. There is something for everyone, in all price ranges. You will see many artists at this show who do not attend other shows in North Carolina or South Carolina.

As part of our commitment to bring art education into the community, a Youth Art Competition for grades K-8 or ages 5-13 is integrated within a 10×20 space at the Asheville Fine Art Show. Sponsored by Institute for the Arts & Education, the associated 501c3 non-profit organization, all students in grades K-8 or ages 5-13 are encouraged to enter his/her original and personally handmade art that will be publicly displayed in the art show the entire weekend. On Sunday, October 27 at 3pm, there is $250 in youth art awards presented. Students are exposed to the rules and entrepreneurship opportunity of doing art shows for a living. The program brings families to the art show and exposes them to great art.

Homework Diners take place weekly (except on school holidays or early release days). Families are invited to the cafeteria of the middle school during the scheduled time each week. No pre-registration is required to attend. Homework Diners currently take place at four area middle schools: Asheville, Enka, Erwin and Owen Middle. All are open to any family with a K-12 student in the surrounding school district with an adult family member in attendance with the participating student.

The 2019-20 Homework Diner schedule:

• Erwin Middle on Monday nights starting September 23, 2019 from 5:30-7:00 p.m.
• Asheville Middle on Tuesday nights starting September 24, 2019 from 5-7:00 p.m.
• Enka Middle on Tuesday nights starting September 24, 2019 from 5:30-7:00 p.m.
• Owen Middle on Thursday nights starting September 26, 2019 from 5:30-7:00 p.m.

The Junior League of Asheville, Inc. (JLA) will hold its third annual Volunteer Expo, on Saturday, February 29, 2020 at the Crowne Plaza Expo Center from 10am to 3pm. Modeled after a job fair, this free event will feature more than 70 local nonprofits looking to fill ongoing and future volunteer needs. Nonprofits in almost every area of community concern will be present at the event: health, poverty, legal aid, environmental stewardship, women’s issues, arts, civic leadership, technology, education and animal welfare.

Excitement for the Volunteer Expo continues to grow, with nonprofit participation growing year over year.  The 2019 event featured over 70 non-profits with attendance at well over 1,000 community members coming to network and sign up to volunteer with nonprofit organizations.

The 2020 Volunteer Expo will be accepting applications starting in September. Due to the increase in interest for booths at the Expo, this year the League plans to review all applications received instead of awarding booths on a first come first serve basis.  They hope this will ensure a good mix of volunteer opportunities in a variety of service areas as well as allow new nonprofits the chance to have a booth at the event.  There will be a silent auction fundraiser, Cheers to Volunteers, the evening before the Volunteer Expo from 6pm to 9pm at the Masonic Temple in downtown Asheville.  All community members are invited to attend both events. If you are a nonprofit interested in participating in the 2020 Volunteer Expo, please email us at [email protected].

September 13-22

Welcoming Week is all about what the Y does best – helping people
reach their potential and bringing the community together! 

Welcoming Week, an initiative of Y-USA’s national partner Welcoming America, celebrates the growing movement of communities across the U.S. that fully embrace new Americans and their contributions to the social fabric of our country. During Welcoming Week, communities bring together immigrants and U.S.-born residents to promote cross-cultural understanding raise awareness of the benefits of welcoming everyone.

Hot Works 4^th Asheville Fine Art Show, October 26 & 27, 2019 takes place in Pack Square Park, downtown Asheville. This art show is juried by art professionals and brings artists to sell his/her art in all discipline including paintings, sculpture, clay, glass, fiber, jewelry, wood and more. All art is original and personally handmade by the artist who is present at the show. There is something for everyone, in all price ranges. You will see many artists at this show who do not attend other shows in North Carolina or South Carolina.

As part of our commitment to bring art education into the community, a Youth Art Competition for grades K-8 or ages 5-13 is integrated within a 10×20 space at the Asheville Fine Art Show. Sponsored by Institute for the Arts & Education, the associated 501c3 non-profit organization, all students in grades K-8 or ages 5-13 are encouraged to enter his/her original and personally handmade art that will be publicly displayed in the art show the entire weekend. On Sunday, October 27 at 3pm, there is $250 in youth art awards presented. Students are exposed to the rules and entrepreneurship opportunity of doing art shows for a living. The program brings families to the art show and exposes them to great art.

We are gearing up for our last Downtown After 5 and are still in need of some volunteers for 2nd shifts.

Contact Meghan

Homework Diners take place weekly (except on school holidays or early release days). Families are invited to the cafeteria of the middle school during the scheduled time each week. No pre-registration is required to attend. Homework Diners currently take place at four area middle schools: Asheville, Enka, Erwin and Owen Middle. All are open to any family with a K-12 student in the surrounding school district with an adult family member in attendance with the participating student.

The 2019-20 Homework Diner schedule:

• Erwin Middle on Monday nights starting September 23, 2019 from 5:30-7:00 p.m.
• Asheville Middle on Tuesday nights starting September 24, 2019 from 5-7:00 p.m.
• Enka Middle on Tuesday nights starting September 24, 2019 from 5:30-7:00 p.m.
• Owen Middle on Thursday nights starting September 26, 2019 from 5:30-7:00 p.m.

The Junior League of Asheville, Inc. (JLA) will hold its third annual Volunteer Expo, on Saturday, February 29, 2020 at the Crowne Plaza Expo Center from 10am to 3pm. Modeled after a job fair, this free event will feature more than 70 local nonprofits looking to fill ongoing and future volunteer needs. Nonprofits in almost every area of community concern will be present at the event: health, poverty, legal aid, environmental stewardship, women’s issues, arts, civic leadership, technology, education and animal welfare.

Excitement for the Volunteer Expo continues to grow, with nonprofit participation growing year over year.  The 2019 event featured over 70 non-profits with attendance at well over 1,000 community members coming to network and sign up to volunteer with nonprofit organizations.

The 2020 Volunteer Expo will be accepting applications starting in September. Due to the increase in interest for booths at the Expo, this year the League plans to review all applications received instead of awarding booths on a first come first serve basis.  They hope this will ensure a good mix of volunteer opportunities in a variety of service areas as well as allow new nonprofits the chance to have a booth at the event.  There will be a silent auction fundraiser, Cheers to Volunteers, the evening before the Volunteer Expo from 6pm to 9pm at the Masonic Temple in downtown Asheville.  All community members are invited to attend both events. If you are a nonprofit interested in participating in the 2020 Volunteer Expo, please email us at [email protected].

September 13-22

Welcoming Week is all about what the Y does best – helping people
reach their potential and bringing the community together! 

Welcoming Week, an initiative of Y-USA’s national partner Welcoming America, celebrates the growing movement of communities across the U.S. that fully embrace new Americans and their contributions to the social fabric of our country. During Welcoming Week, communities bring together immigrants and U.S.-born residents to promote cross-cultural understanding raise awareness of the benefits of welcoming everyone.

Asheville Running Experience’s Super Hero 5K/Super Villain 10K, Sept. 21

Be a Super Hero and volunteer at the four aid stations along both courses of the Super Hero 5K/Super Villain 10K on Saturday, September 21st from 8:30 a.m through 10:30 a.m.  In return..

Asheville Running Experience is making a donation to the Asheville Museum of Science (if the minimum number of volunteers is exceeded).  If you’re 21 or older, join the after party at the Salvage Station and get one free beer ticket at Salvage Station after you’ve completed your volunteer shift.  To sign up for a shift, please fill out this Google Form and contact AMOS Volunteer/Board Member Bryant Korzeniewski at Bryant.Korzeniewski@gmail.com with questions and/or for more details.

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YMI Cultural Center’s Goombay Festival, Sept 20 – Sept. 22
Drum Roll Please! Volunteers are needed for the 39th Annual Goombay Festival September 20th-22nd at Pack Square Park in Downtown Asheville. The YMI Cultural Center’s mission is to help promote intercultural ism and the preservation of cultural identity. For more information and to volunteer please contact Dewana Little
at dlittle@ymiculturalcenter.org

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Asheville Urban Odyssey,  Sept. 22

his urban scavenger hunt will take teams of four around the downtown area via a series of clues to sixteen different locations where they will be required to complete a task before receiving their next clue.  Two volunteers will staff each secret location, checking teams in and out, throughout the day. Contact [email protected] directly if you are interested in assisting with this event or sign up by CLICKING HERE.

8 volunteers from a local nonprofit are requested or 2 groups of 4 volunteers (there is a donation compensation for providing volunteers).

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6th Annual Under the Stars Event at Highland Brewing, Sept. 26

AMOS is seeking volunteers to help out during this event from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Thursday, September 26th.  For volunteering at “Under The Stars”, you get a FREE TICKET to the “Under The Stars” INCLUDING 1 FREE beer token (21+ only), FREE food, and a FREE Daily Family Pass to AMOS.  Additionally, you get a FREE TICKET to the Sirius.B Show that begins after the conclusion of “Under The Stars” at 9 p.m.  To sign up for a volunteer shift, please use this Google Spreadsheet and contact AMOS’ Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@ashevillescience.org with any questions.

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Blue Ridge Pride Festival, September 28

Give us 2-4 hours. Enjoy a day of music and memories — and the knowledge that you helped to bring a community together! You’ll also get a little swag: a 11th Annual Festival Tee Shirt, snacks, a drink ticket, and our new Blue Ridge Pride Center buttons and stickers. Volunteer roles include: setup and breakdown, selling wristbands, beverages or merchandise, and assisting with volunteer check-in or VIP. Learn more and sign up here.

Hot Works 4^th Asheville Fine Art Show, October 26 & 27, 2019 takes place in Pack Square Park, downtown Asheville. This art show is juried by art professionals and brings artists to sell his/her art in all discipline including paintings, sculpture, clay, glass, fiber, jewelry, wood and more. All art is original and personally handmade by the artist who is present at the show. There is something for everyone, in all price ranges. You will see many artists at this show who do not attend other shows in North Carolina or South Carolina.

As part of our commitment to bring art education into the community, a Youth Art Competition for grades K-8 or ages 5-13 is integrated within a 10×20 space at the Asheville Fine Art Show. Sponsored by Institute for the Arts & Education, the associated 501c3 non-profit organization, all students in grades K-8 or ages 5-13 are encouraged to enter his/her original and personally handmade art that will be publicly displayed in the art show the entire weekend. On Sunday, October 27 at 3pm, there is $250 in youth art awards presented. Students are exposed to the rules and entrepreneurship opportunity of doing art shows for a living. The program brings families to the art show and exposes them to great art.

Call for Volunteers!! We are grateful that the Bookwalter Binge Gran Fondo supports conservation of land and water resources — and we need YOUR help to make it happen. Binge volunteers enjoy fun and camaraderie while helping in a variety of ways, from course marshals to Binge party hosting.

We are gearing up for our last Downtown After 5 and are still in need of some volunteers for 2nd shifts.

Contact Meghan

Homework Diners take place weekly (except on school holidays or early release days). Families are invited to the cafeteria of the middle school during the scheduled time each week. No pre-registration is required to attend. Homework Diners currently take place at four area middle schools: Asheville, Enka, Erwin and Owen Middle. All are open to any family with a K-12 student in the surrounding school district with an adult family member in attendance with the participating student.

The 2019-20 Homework Diner schedule:

• Erwin Middle on Monday nights starting September 23, 2019 from 5:30-7:00 p.m.
• Asheville Middle on Tuesday nights starting September 24, 2019 from 5-7:00 p.m.
• Enka Middle on Tuesday nights starting September 24, 2019 from 5:30-7:00 p.m.
• Owen Middle on Thursday nights starting September 26, 2019 from 5:30-7:00 p.m.

The Junior League of Asheville, Inc. (JLA) will hold its third annual Volunteer Expo, on Saturday, February 29, 2020 at the Crowne Plaza Expo Center from 10am to 3pm. Modeled after a job fair, this free event will feature more than 70 local nonprofits looking to fill ongoing and future volunteer needs. Nonprofits in almost every area of community concern will be present at the event: health, poverty, legal aid, environmental stewardship, women’s issues, arts, civic leadership, technology, education and animal welfare.

Excitement for the Volunteer Expo continues to grow, with nonprofit participation growing year over year.  The 2019 event featured over 70 non-profits with attendance at well over 1,000 community members coming to network and sign up to volunteer with nonprofit organizations.

The 2020 Volunteer Expo will be accepting applications starting in September. Due to the increase in interest for booths at the Expo, this year the League plans to review all applications received instead of awarding booths on a first come first serve basis.  They hope this will ensure a good mix of volunteer opportunities in a variety of service areas as well as allow new nonprofits the chance to have a booth at the event.  There will be a silent auction fundraiser, Cheers to Volunteers, the evening before the Volunteer Expo from 6pm to 9pm at the Masonic Temple in downtown Asheville.  All community members are invited to attend both events. If you are a nonprofit interested in participating in the 2020 Volunteer Expo, please email us at [email protected].

September 13-22

Welcoming Week is all about what the Y does best – helping people
reach their potential and bringing the community together! 

Welcoming Week, an initiative of Y-USA’s national partner Welcoming America, celebrates the growing movement of communities across the U.S. that fully embrace new Americans and their contributions to the social fabric of our country. During Welcoming Week, communities bring together immigrants and U.S.-born residents to promote cross-cultural understanding raise awareness of the benefits of welcoming everyone.