Calendar of Events

Romare Bearden (Charlotte, NC 1911–1988 New York, NY), African American writer and artist, is renowned for his collages. He constantly experimented with various techniques to achieve his artistic goals throughout his career. This exhibition highlights works on paper and explores his most frequently used mediums, including screen-printing, lithography, hand-colored etching, collagraph, monotype, relief print, photomontage, and collage.

Bearden’s work reflects his improvisational approach to his practice. He considered his process akin to that of jazz and blues composers. Starting with an open mind, he would let an idea evolve spontaneously.

“Romare Bearden: Ways of Working highlights Bearden’s unique artistic practice and masterful storytelling through art,” says Pamela L. Myers, Executive Director of the Asheville Art Museum. “We are thrilled to collaborate with Jerald Melberg Gallery to present these extraordinary works on paper in conversation with Bearden’s collage Sunset Express, 1984 in the Museum Collection (on view in the Museum’s SECU Collection Hall). This exhibition will also provide a glimpse into the cultural histories and personal interests that influenced his art-making practice, and we hope it encourages introspection and dialogue with our visitors.”

Jerald Melberg states, “Romare Bearden’s groundbreaking artistic practice continues to captivate audiences worldwide. With an unparalleled legacy of creativity and innovation, Bearden’s contributions to art remain deeply influential years beyond his life.” We have enjoyed organizing this exhibition with the Asheville Art Museum to showcase his artistic genius and inspire visitors from the Western North Carolina region and beyond.”

This exhibition is made possible in part by the Judy Appleton Fund. Many thanks to the Jerald Melberg Gallery for the loan of these important artworks and to Mary and Jerald Melberg for their long-standing support of the arts, artists, and the Asheville Art Museum.

Flow with us at our Rooftop Yoga Series hosted by Asheville Community Yoga! This powerful Vinyasa flow is perfect for yogis of every experience level. Bring your water bottle and your mat to The Solarium on the 6th Floor of The Restoration Hotel and get ready to feel restored.

Sandburg Home Tours – Thursday to Sunday at 11am, 1pm, 2pm.

*As of April 2022, tours are free until further notice. See rates below if they change before your visit. Online reservations are available at recreation.gov.

The Sandburg Home is a great place to start your visit! The ground floor of the home contains visitor information, exhibits, tour ticket sales, the park store, and you can watch the park video. The main and top level of the home are furnished with the Sandburg family belongings. Visitors may only access the furnished ares of the home on a guided tour.

• Tour Reservations: Reserving in advance lets you pick your preferred house tour time. Tours fill up quickly. Last-minute, in-person tickets may not be available on the day you visit. Plan ahead and reserve house tour tickets at recreation.gov.

• Passes: The park does not currently sell the America the Beautiful– National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes.
  *These passes do not waive the house tour fee, but do provide a discount.
  *You can purchase a pass online at America the Beautiful – National Parks & Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass | USGS Store.
• 30-minute house tours are offered year-round, schedule varies by season. Visit recreation.gov for the current schedule.
• Visitors may only tour the Sandburg Home on a guided tour.
• Tours are limited to 6 persons.
• Strollers are not permitted on the house tour, but there is a place to leave them for storage. Infants and small children should be carried through the house while on tour.

  Sandburg Home Guided Tour Fee
  *Tours are free until further notice, this chart is the rate when fees resume.
  (credit card only)
  $10.00 for Adults 16 and older
  $6.00 for Adults age 62 and older and all interagency pass holders
  Free for Children age 15 and under

The Greek Asheville Festival has been offered by Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church for over thirty years. Annually locals and tourists flocked downtown to watch Greek dancing, enjoy Greek food, listen to Greek music and learn about our heritage, customs and faith.

In 2007 Holy Trinity renovated its property and by 2010 moved its festival from downtown to our own location on Cumberland Ave. to share with Asheville the Church and property we have proudly built. Montford itself had become a much more inviting neighborhood by this time as well.

Until 2019 we held festival after festival in the Montford neighborhood. Moving allowed us to open our home to the larger Asheville area sharing our faith through church tours, providing hospitality in our kitchen and event center.

2020-22 we hosted a drive-thru in lieu the regular festival. This was initially a response to Covid-19 and the restrictions imposed to contain the virus and limit its effects. We want to thank everyone who participated during these years as your continued support is allowing us to return to our full festival in 2023!

We thank you for your continued support, we look forward to offering you the same great food as we have been known for. Your patience is very appreciated. We have organized a team that is excited to bring back the full festival everyone remembers. In order to make this a success we need you, we need volunteers, sponsors, vendors and festival goers. We hope you will join us on this venture.

Γεια σου! – Be Happy!

The Art of Food features works from important postwar artists, like Robert Rauschenberg, Roy Lichtenstein, John Baldessari, Wayne Thiebaud, Ed Ruscha, Andy Warhol, David Hockney, and Jasper Johns, alongside the work of contemporary artists, like Alison Saar, Lorna Simpson, Enrique Chagoya, Rachel Whiteread, and Jenny Holzer, among others. The Art of Food features more than 100 works in mediums that include drawings, paintings, photographs, prints, sculptures, and ceramics by 37 artists. Each artist has a unique means of depicting food in their work that, when seen alongside others, creates a nuanced representation of the complex place food holds in everyday life. Cross-historical resonances between artists in the exhibition spark novel meditations on food and its discontents, while speaking to a broad range of audiences.

Included with admission

Back by popular demand, The Vanderbilts at Home and Abroad exhibition offers guests:

• An opportunity to view rarely-seen treasures from the Biltmore collection
• A first-hand look at the Vanderbilts’ lifestyle
• Deeper insights into George, Edith, and Cornelia’s personalities, both at home and on their extensive travels

Access to exhibitions at The Biltmore Legacy is included with Biltmore daytime admission.

ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) announced 22 farms participating in the 2023 Farm Tour on Sept. 23–24, noon to 5 p.m. These farms showcase the diversity of agriculture in the region, from vegetables to livestock, orchards to homesteads, and are all located within an hour of Asheville. Tourgoers can experience working farms through guided and self-guided tours, demonstrations, interacting with farm animals, u-pick fruit and flowers, local food tastings, and more. The tour is appropriate for attendees of all ages and abilities.

The Farm Tour features four geographic clusters to help visitors maximize their time at farms. Tourgoers should select two to four farms to visit each day, spending around an hour at each. Descriptions of each farm’s offerings, plus a map, driving directions, and tour tips, are available at asapconnections.org/farmtour. A free printed guide will be available at community locations in mid-August. Nine farms, noted with an asterisk, are new to the tour in 2023.

Leicester Cluster

Franny’s Farm and The Utopian Seed Project

*Montgomery Sky Farm

Good Wheel Farm

*Alta Vista Farm and CrossCreek Farm

Two Trees Farm (Sustainabillies)

Barnardsville Cluster

Big Ivy Little Farm

Burley Stick Farm

Good Fibrations Angora Goats & Fine Yarns

Fairview Cluster

*Root Cause Farm

Flying Cloud Farm

Hickory Nut Gap Farm

McDowell Cluster

*TendWell Farm

*Wild East Farm

Crow Fly Farms

*Tomas C. Farms

Lee’s One Fortune Farm

Henderson Cluster

Bee-utiful Farm and Garden

*Stump Farms

*Marked Tree Vineyard

*Pilot Mountain Pears

Justus Orchard

Advance passes are on sale now for $35 at asapconnections.org/farmtour. One pass admits a carload of visitors to all farms both days. Pending availability, passes purchased the weekend of the tour will be $45. ASAP is also seeking volunteers to help staff the tour. In exchange for working one day of the tour, volunteers may attend for free on the other day. Sign up at asapconnections.org/farmtour.

This year, RiverLink will be leading a cleanup of Nasty Branch, a small urban stream that enters the French Broad in the River Arts District. We will meet at 12pm at the Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Center at 285 Livingston St., Asheville, NC 28801.

We will be in the water for this event and we have a limited amount of waders participants may use. We recommend wearing tall, waterproof boots if available, but if not, it will also be an option to walk the banks of the stream if you would prefer not to get wet. The stream is fairly small, but could potentially have deeper pools.

We will end the cleanup by 2:30pm and invite you all to join us, and the other organizations and volunteers involved in Big Sweep, for the after party! This will be from 3-5pm at Zen Tubing’s RAD location at 608 Riverside Dr., Asheville, NC 28801. 

RiverLink will provide all necessary tools and equipment. Closed-toed shoes are required. We also recommend everyone bring a water bottle.

Take a ride through the Orchard fields and its history every weekend. “Heyrides” last approximately 45 minutes. All ages are welcome (kids under 4 free); $7 per person; wheelchair accessible; well-behaved dogs by consensus. Reservations are not required but sign up as soon as you arrive.

Join a certified forest therapy guide for a relaxing 2.5-hour stroll through the forest on the peaceful Arboretum grounds. Through a series of invitations, you’ll have the opportunity to be present in the moment, deepening your connection with nature and community, and enjoying the many gifts nature has to offer. Your guide will share mindfulness practices designed to connect you more deeply to your inner landscapes, as well as the world around you. Inspired by Shinrin-Yoku, the Japanese art of immersing oneself in a forest environment, a forest bathing walk invites you to spend time in nature in a way that invites healing for ourselves, our fraught ecosystems, and our community. It is true nature therapy!

• Special, discounted rate of $45/person (includes parking!)
• Occurs on select dates each month
• Max group size is 15 for a more intimate experience

Hit the trails and learn more about The North Carolina Arboretum’s botanically diverse forest with a guided trail walk! April through October, this free hiking program is led by trained volunteer guides who take small groups of participants along woodland trails and through a variety of forest types. Depending on the season and each guide’s area of expertise, topics of discussion may include wildflowers, plant and tree identification, natural history and more.

Guided trail walks are limited to 15 people, including the guide, and are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age. Groups depart from the Baker Visitor Center Lobby on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m..

Walks last 1.5 – 2.5 hours, are approximately one to two miles in length. As this program is held rain or shine, all participants should dress appropriately for the weather.

There is no pre-registration; walks are first-come first served and sign up sheets are located in the Baker Visitors Center.

Walks are FREE; however, donations to The North Carolina Arboretum Society are appreciated. Regular parking fees apply. Arboretum Society Members always park free.

Know Before You Go

• Guided Trail Walks are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age.
• Guided Trail Walks are rain or shine and all participants should be dressed comfortably and for the weather.
• Hikes cover 1-2 miles and last 1.5-2 hours.
• Well-behaved leashed pets are welcome to accompany their owners. In the rare case that a pet is disruptive or negatively impacts the experience, the pet and its owner may be asked to excuse themselves from the guided walk.
• COVID-19 Safety: In order to hear the guide and fully participate in the trail walk, participants will be in close proximity to one another for extended periods of time. While face coverings are not required, participants should use their best judgement to keep themselves and others safe while enjoying the trails. Individuals who are experiencing flu-like symptoms or suspect they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should not participate.
• At this time, no more than 6 spaces may be filled by a single family/group through pre-registration for any one Guided Trail Walk. If additional spaces are available on the day of the Walk, additional members of the family/group may participate. We apologize for any inconvenience and look forward to welcoming larger groups in the future.

Learn the history of Black Mountain and the Swannanoa Valley on this walking tour! Museum staff will lead attendees through historic State Street, Cherry Street and Black Mountain Avenue, relaying the history of several buildings and discussing topics including the building of the Swannanoa Tunnel and the disastrous downtown fire of 1912.

Location: Attendees will meet at the Swannanoa Valley Museum (223 West State Street, Black Mountain, NC 28711)

Timing: Tours take place once a month on Saturdays, with a break in October, beginning at 1:00pm. Tours last approximately 1.5 hours.

Cost: FREE to museum members with promo code, $10 for general admission (some fees apply). Museum members can email [email protected] to receive their promo code.

Join the Asheville Symphony at First Baptist Church of Asheville for Masterworks 1: Out of the Shadows.
Darko Butorac, conductor
Sterling Elliott, cello

“To follow in Beethoven’s footsteps,” Brahms once said, “transcends one’s strength.” And yet, with his final symphony, Beethoven’s successor steps out from the shadow of his greatest inspiration and reaches new depths of drama and tragedy. Composed during his summer retreat to the Austrian countryside, the Fourth “is like a dark well, the longer we look into it, the more brightly the stars shine back.” Coupled with Brahms’s darkest symphony is Beethoven’s Leonore Overture — which sets the stage for his heroine to rescue her love — and Elgar’s stunning Cello Concerto, a poignant response to the tragic cost of World War I.

Beethoven Leonore Overture No. 3

Elgar Cello Concerto

Brahms Symphony No. 4

The music. The moves. The icon. Now, the unparalleled artistry of the greatest entertainer of all time comes to Greenville as MJ, the multi Tony Award^® -winning new musical centered around the making of the 1992 Dangerous World Tour, begins a tour of its own. Created by Tony Award®-winning Director/Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, MJ goes beyond the singular moves and signature sound of the star, offering a rare look at the creative mind and collaborative spirit that catapulted Michael Jackson into legendary status. MJ is startin’ somethin’ as it makes its Greenville, SC premiere at the Peace Center.

It’s Pirate Day in Adventure Bay and Ryder will need all paws on deck as he and the PAW Patrol discover a secret treasure map while on a mission to rescue Cap’n Turbot from a mysterious cavern.  It’s up to Chase, Marshall, Skye and all their heroic pirate pup friends to save the day and find the pirate treasure before Mayor Humdinger finds it first!

Purchase a VIP Package and become a VIP- Very Important Pup! The VIP package includes a premium seat and exclusive Photo Op with PAW Patrol characters after the show. Each adult & child (age 1 & up) in a group must have a VIP ticket.

Come join the Swannanoa Library Anime Club at our first meeting: Saturday, March 25th at 2:00 pm! We’ll meet the 4th Saturday of every month to watch anime, discuss manga, create crafts, and even try some fun snacks!

“Nobody puts Baby in a corner.” Get ready for the time of your life with The Music of Dirty Dancing! This musical tribute to the film shot, in part, at Henderson County’s own Lake Lure is sure to feature all the hip-shaking guilty pleasure the world came to love in the 1987 blockbuster. The sizzling soundtrack comes to life on ‘The Rock’ with vocals and dancing that will dazzle you.  Feel free to sing and dance along to tunes like “Be My Baby,” “Hungry Eyes,” “She’s Like the Wind,”  the Academy Award winning “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life,” and so many more!

Come on out to Foothills Grange to grab a beer and a bite to eat while you learn the fascinating history of North Carolina craft beverages at this presentation and tasting hosted by the Swannanoa Valley Museum in partnership with the North Carolina Craft Beverage Museum! Kimberly Puryear will be presenting on the history of NC craft beverages from 3:00-4:00pm, followed by a 45 minute break, then Jeffrey “Puff” Irvin will conduct a tasting of several products from local vendors.

The NC Craft Beverage Museum is dedicated to preserving and interpreting our state’s craft beverage story and celebrates its role in building and defining our local, state, and national community. As one of the most recognized and respected hubs of the craft beer industry, the home of Pepsi and Cheerwine, and the once self-proclaimed “Moonshine Capital of the World,” museum staff Kimberly Puryear and Jeff “Puff” Irvin will share insight into this history and vibrant culture. Utilizing stories of the past and present, Kimberly and Puff will highlight our state’s oldest beverages to present day including, beer, wine, soda, cider, spirits, tea, and even sake and kombucha. We are excited to share the power of the craft beverage to build community and its important role as an ongoing culture and social influence.

You must be 21+ to attend. Please bring a valid form of ID for check-in. You will not be allowed to attend if you do not provide ID.

We’re back you green-freaks! Last year we proved that Shrek is alive and beloved! So prepare your bodies for 𝐒𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐊𝐓𝐎𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝟐: Once Upon a Stein! A BIGGER, BADDER, SHREXIER Shrektoberfest!! On Saturday September 23rd starting at 3pm we return to the swamp!

Featuring such hits as
Farquaad’s Onion Toss,
“All Star” Musical Chairs
“Can’t we settle this over a pint?” Steinhold Competition
Shrexy Costume Contest
“Puss in Boots” Medallion Hunt
“Do The Roar” Competition
Dance Party with the Ogrelord DJ Bridal Parti Burcarti
Shrekstravagant Feast with Chef Bugher

So peel back your layers, ye lil’ onions, and celebrate with us.

The swamp comes alive on 9/23! Beers will be flowin’ and Smash Mouth shall be bumpin!
𝓘 𝓬𝓪𝓶𝓮 𝓲𝓷 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮 𝓪 𝓼𝓱𝓻𝓮𝓴𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓫𝓪𝓵𝓵

An afternoon of Live Grateful Dead Music with VA based band Dead Reckoning

“The Dead Reckoning is a collaborative of seasoned players hailing from the Blue Ridge region of VA. Having many varied backgrounds, they come together to celebrate the music, legacy, eras and iterations of the most prolific band in history, The Grateful Dead. With a Jerry Garcia Band tune thrown in here and there for good measure. The band features members of regional favorites The Floorboards, Mad Iguanas, Electric Chameleon, Ripejive, Sol Creech Band, Nicholson Brothers, and others. TDR strives for accuracy, and to capture the vibe and energy of a live Dead performance. They play with devotion and love in their hearts, as the music means as much to them as it does to you. Come dance and shake your bones.”

Wanna hear the best local music ​and​ drink the best local beers? Hop aboard LaZoom’s Purple Bus and rock out with a local band while we take you on a journey to Asheville’s premiere local breweries.

We will have a will-call list at the Admission Cabana, the purchaser will be the name on the ticket. If you buy multiple tickets the tickets will be under the same name. Please check in together if possible! When you check out you will see “FARM STORE PICKUP” please ignore for admission purchases.

It’s time to stretch your legs, put on some leather Cuban heels and Rhumba! Or, you know, just have a beer and watch some great music. We welcome for the first time the ILIANA ROSE TRIO to the Big Barn here at Hickory Nut Gap Farm in gorgeous Fairview, NC! Come out from 6pm-9pm to to enjoy some fabulous Cuban Jazz from piano prodigy Iliana Rose and her jazz trio of talented musicians. Iliana’s infectious energy, multi-talented band and traditional takes on new classics will keep you entertained and delighted.

You’re gonna need fuel for the fire- we have DIRTY GERTIE’s TACO STAND food truck! These tacos are not to be believed! Headed by Walker Aderholder, his philosophy is “Inhale tacos, exhale negativity”, and that is easy to do for these dirty and delish tacos made from simple ingredients and humble hands.

Hickory Nut Gap will have a bar serving local beers, ciders, seltzers and non-alcoholic beverages to slake your thirst between sets. This is truly a rare treat for the farm, so y’all come on out and soak up these Cuban rhythms!

PET POLICY: While we normally allow leashed pets on the grounds, we ask you leave your furry friends at home for the Barn Dances.

Learn more about the Band & their music HERE

Learn more about the Food Truck & their food HERE

Looking for tickets to the Krafthouse 2023 opening Benefit Preview reception?

Krafthouse 2023 will kick off on Saturday, September 23, 6-9 pm, with an opening Benefit Preview. Guests will have first access to the installations and be treated to drinks, hors d’oeuvres, a photo booth, DJ vibes, and more.

Join us as we kick off this addition to the Center for Craft’s calendar and celebrate the future of making!

To purchase tickets to the Benefit Preview, please visit our Krafthouse 2023 Benefit Preview page.

Benefit Preview tickets are $80/ticket or $150/pair.

Each Benefit Preview ticket includes entry to the September 23 reception and a sneak peak/first access to the Krafthouse installations.

In 1926, radium was a miracle cure, Madame Curie an international celebrity, and luminous watches the latest rage—until the girls who painted them began to fall ill with a mysterious disease. Inspired by a true story, Radium Girls traces the efforts of Grace Fryer, a dial painter, as she fights for her day in court. Her chief adversary is her former employer, Arthur Roeder, an idealistic man who cannot bring himself to believe that the same element that shrinks tumors could have anything to do with the terrifying rash of illnesses among his employees. As the case goes on, however, Grace finds herself battling not just with the U.S. Radium Corporation but also with her own family and friends, who fear that her campaign for justice will backfire.

Doors open 30 minutes prior to showtime. Online ticket sales end 1 hour prior to showtime. There may still be tickets available in the BMCA office if online sales have ended. Call 828.669.0930 or visit the office to find out more.

Kick off the season with an immersive, one-of-a-kind arts experience that combines all modes of artistic expression on one stage. Described as “Picasso meets Blue Man Group” by The Chicago Tribune, Artrageous brings multi-talented visual artists together with world-class musicians and highly trained dancers to create stunning works of art in real time, leaving audiences singing, dancing and clapping along to this fascinating frenzy of movement and color.

Glow before the show!

Arrive early for a black light dance party and photo booth for all ages.