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.

Thursday, September 28, 2023
Sustainability Symposium
Sep 28 @ 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Pack Square Fire Station

Join us at the Sustainability Symposium sponsored by Lenoir Rhyne University and Mountain True. Participants will engage subject matter experts at five subject stations, defining calls to action in each subject area. The objectives of this event are educating, engaging and activating the community to work individually and cooperatively toward the common goal of a healthier Asheville urban ecosystem. Location: Pack Square Fire Station at 100 Court Plaza Discussion Subjects: Green Incentives Urban Forest Ecology Environmental Justice Plastic reduction General Sustainability

20th Anniversary Dinner at Sunny Point Café
Sep 28 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Sunny Point Café

Join us for our 20th Anniversary Celebration! We are putting together a Pop up dinner with three of our chefs at Sunny Point Cafe. We will have the GM Michelle Alexander, the assistant GM Jeff Knox and our Chef Kyle Hughes coming up with the 6 course dinner to celebrate 20 years of being in business. We will be using local ingredients and fresh garden vegetables harvested out of our own garden. The dinner is $75 tip not included. Only 20 seats available so please make your reservation now.

Open Play Basketball
Sep 28 @ 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center

Open Play

Time scheduled for organized drop-in, pick-up, and open community games at locations around Asheville. For more info, contact [email protected] or (828) 259-5800. All are free unless noted.

Basketball

Open Play

Time scheduled for organized drop-in, pick-up, and open community games

Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center, starts September 5

  • Tuesday and Thursday, 6:30-9 p.m.
  • Sunday, 12-5 p.m.
Spanish Wine Dinner with Avenue M Chef Jennifer Cole
Sep 28 @ 6:30 pm
Avenue M

Chef Jennifer Cole will share her extensive knowledge of Spanish cuisine as she partners with 3 Keys Wine Distributors to feature a five-course Spanish meal paired with wines from Bodegas Bhilar boutique winery.  To reserve a seat, call 828-350-8181 or email Avenue M at [email protected].

Yoga in The Solarium
Sep 28 @ 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
The Restoration Hotel Asheville

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.

Ashevillians Comedy Showcase
Sep 28 @ 7:00 pm
Wrong Way River Lodge

Late Thursday every month is the Ashevillians Comedy Showcase!!!

Modelface Comedy brings you a villainous night of comedy so good it’s bad! Ashevillians Comedy Showcase is a celebration of some of the best comedians in the Mountains! Hosted each month by Ryan Gordon.

Featuring Asheville’s Best

ages 18+

Jazz Jam
Sep 28 @ 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
LEAF Global Arts Center

Our jazz trio with Thommy Knoles on keys, Felix Pastorius on bass, and Paul Gladstone on drums will perform an opening set from about 7-8:15 pm.

An open jam session follows. Drop-ins are welcome and encouraged for a suggested donation of $10.

Jazz Jam will feature a diverse array of music from jazz’s rich history, ranging from 1940s bebop up to 1970s jazz fusion, as well as material from prominent present-day composers. Bring your instruments and jam with us, or just come and enjoy!

LAZOOM Tours: GHOST COMEDY BUS TOUR
Sep 28 @ 7:00 pm
LaZoom Room


GHOST COMEDY BUS TOUR

Grab a local beer, crucifix and a rubber chicken* —You might survive this hour long hilarious haunted ghost tour of Asheville.

  • Guided comedy bus tour of Haunted Asheville
  • 60 minutes; tours run nightly after dark
  • $33 per person (Ages 17+ only)
  • Departs from 76 Biltmore Avenue

*Legal Note: Crucifix not required to board the bus; we do not condone exorcisms, chickens, rubber, or any combination of the three.

Steve Simon + The Kings of Jazz
Sep 28 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
The DFR Lounge

Steve Simon & The Kings of Jazz are Brevard’s newest and most exciting and entertaining jazz band with a sound that combines the funkiness of George Benson, the soulfulness of Ray Charles and the smoothness of Diana Krall all wrapped together in big Count Basie style arrangements of American and Latin jazz classics. If you are looking for an amazing live jazz experience then check out the hottest jazz band in the coolest city in North Carolina performing every Thursday at The DFR Lounge from 7pm to 9pm

125th Anniversary Celebration Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce
Sep 28 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce
125 Years: Together for Tomorrow - Chamber Celebration

This year, the Asheville Chamber of Commerce is marking our 125th anniversary by celebrating Asheville Through the Looking Glass. A reflection of business prosperity and success and a connection to Asheville’s future progress and growth.

This lively garden party will commemorate 125 years of the Chamber’s accomplishments, ongoing business partnerships, and the impactful nonprofit work conducted in our community. In honor of our very important date, we plan to award twelve $10,000 grants to nonprofits at our event that support our mission of “Building Community Through Business.”  Whether we look backward, forward, or even down a rabbit hole, the Asheville Chamber sees the importance of supporting businesses in our community.

 

All profit from this event will go to support the 125th Anniversary Grants awarded to local nonprofits. A portion of your ticket will be tax-deductible. We also invite you to support non-profit attendance at the event by purchasing an additional Donated Ticket.

ABBY POSNER with AMANDA NEILL AND THE BLUE ROSES
Sep 28 @ 7:30 pm
White Horse Black Mountain

Abby Posner

Abby has been a working musician in Los Angeles for the past 18 years. She is best known for her ability to play nearly any instrument that she can get her hands on, twisting genres, and pushing the boundaries of folk, roots, electronic, and pop music making her “Genre Fluid.” If you have seen Abby perform live, you know she can play a mean lead-blues guitar solo, or throw down a complex Earl Scruggs banjo riff. You also may have spotted her playing drums, mandolin, or bass while using her looping pedal. In addition to her versatility, she puts passion and soul into everything she does.

This CalArts music graduate has composed & produced music for commercials/TV, films, and radio shows all over the globe (including Hulu’s Maggie, The Fosters, This American Life, The Art of More, and Last Tango in Halifax, custom songs for Facebook, Viacom-CBS, and CW’s Kung Fu). She also has music placed in commercials and TV shows all over China, Sweden, The UK, and Australia. Posner appeared in two episodes of GLEE on season four playing banjo and guitar, and the Freeform show Famous In Love playing banjo, as well as performing live several times on KCAL 9 news and Good Day LA.

Posner has also scored the music for multiple films (Across Land Across Sea, Through Their Eyes, award winning short animation Elizabeth Sees, and recently scored the Award-winning Documentary Lady Buds) while playing and touring all over the US. In 2019 Posner played banjo and sang Wagon Wheel as a featured principal role in Bank Of America’s ad campaign for the Ken Burn’s PBS Country Music Documentary.

After signing with Gary Calamar’s licensing company Laurel Canon in 2016, Abby Posner has gained major recognition in the LA music scene. Opening for such iconic acts as PHRANC, Sierra Hull, and Dustbowl Revival. She has released multiple albums under her Name Abby Posner, and Abby & The Myth, and will be releasing two records with Blackbird Music Label in 2023.

In 2020 Abby Posner won the Carl Gage “Give me Shelter in Place” Songwriting Award through the Topanga Folk Festival for her original song Blind Spots, and she received the runner up for her song Emergency Use Only for the 18th Annual International Acoustic Music Awards. She was honored to land an Official Showcase at Folk Alliance International in 2022 after signing with her booking agency Baker Booking.

————————–

Amanda Neill

“”A voice containing all the ragged edge and electricity of a Janis Joplin or Joe Cocker… Joni Mitchell after a lot of nights at the Tom Waits school of late night blues bars… And while those may seem like very broad strokes of comparison, the more you hear Neill sing the more you’ll hear that same world-weary, raspy husk that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up.” ” – – On The Back Edge Of The Beat

Originally from Nashville, Amanda Neill grew up with music deeply embedded in the fabric of her life, singing harmony with her three sisters from a young age. Moving to NYC in her late 20s, she spent 8 years singing and playing in the Brooklyn Americana scene, regularly taking the stage at staple venues such as Rockwood Music Hall and Joe’s Pub, most notably with Jamey Hamm and Ivy Beck & Neill. During this time, Amanda and her husband also owned and operated a small coffee shop in Brooklyn, which stood as a thriving hub for local musicians, artists, writers, and poets. After moving to Marshall, NC, in 2019, Amanda co-founded The Greybirds in 2021, quickly making a splash in and around the Asheville area.

Amanda’s new project retains a lot of the same focus on lyrical songwriting and musical dynamics, while continuing to draw on the influences of American Folk and Rock music from the 1960s and 1970s, as well as more modern singer-songwriter content. The vibe originates from Amanda’s Wurlitzer keyboard and her warm, powerful voice, and the sound is carried forward through vocal harmonies, thoughtful drumming, bass, and an array of guitar tones and sounds, both electric and acoustic. From feel-good rockers to tear-jerking, intimate musical moments, one can always expect melodies that feel familiar, like a visit from an old friend. “I intend to live with heart and conviction, in pursuit of dreams, asking honest questions through lyric, one melody at a time.” -Amanda Neill

City Dance
Sep 28 @ 7:30 pm
Landmark Hal

Beginner’s workshop lesson at 7:30 P.M., then 8-11 P.M. Contra Dance with Country Waltzing at the break and the final dance. This is a partner dance but it’s not necessary to come with a partner. We have different live bands and callers.

Ted Swindley’s Honky Tonk Angels
Sep 28 @ 7:30 pm
Tryon Fine Arts Center

Honky Tonk Angels 

Written by Ted Swindley.
Director Dan Harvey
Music Director Pam McNeil

Yonder Mountain, Railroad Earth, Keller + The Keels
Sep 28 @ 7:30 pm
Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium

Yonder Mountain, Railroad Earth, Keller + The Keels
Sep 28 @ 7:30 pm
Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium

Yonder Mountain String Band will team up with Railroad Earth and Keller & the Keels for a series of six shows in the Southeast this fall. All joint tour dates will include a full set from each band.

The run presented by Relix gets underway at The Refinery in Charleston, South Carolina on September 21. All three bands then hit The Eastern in Atlanta on September 22 before bringing the trek to St. Augustine on September 23 at a venue to be announced soon.

YMSB, RRE and Keller & The Keels continue the tour in Birmingham, Alabama on September 24 and Spartanburg, South Carolina on September 28. The short jaunt is currently slated to conclude with a concert in Roseland, Virginia on September 29. All three acts will then appear at the Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival, which takes place in Annapolis, Maryland on September 30 and October 1.

Poetry Open Mic Hendo
Sep 28 @ 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.

Slice of Life Comedy Open Mic + Feature Comedy at Pulp Lounge
Sep 28 @ 8:00 pm
Pulp Lounge

9.28.23 The Orange Peel’s Comedy Basement PULP
What: Stand up Comedy at The Orange Peel’s Pulp Lounge
When: Thursday September 28, 2023. 8p-10p, doors at 7:30p
Where: The Orange Peel’s Comedy Basement, Pulp Lounge103 Hilliard Ave, Downtown Asheville
Tickets: $15 (available at door or The Orange Peel website)
Cocktails available while you laugh the night away to some of the area’s best Stand Up Comics in a ridiculously fun adult environment!! Free snacks while availability lasts!
Feature comic Julia Macias! An antenna for the unwell, Julia shares all the strange characters who filter through her life. She exploded into the Asheville comedy scene in late 2021 and has touring all over the Southeast. Her view video special will be released later this year.
Guest host for this show is the fantastically loved Ryan Cox! Slice is super happy to have him running the show. Ryan is a comedian’s comedian. He is also a comedian for people who aren’t comedians. Ryan has been performing stand-up around the Southeast since 2016, with jokes ranging from crafted one-liners to twisted parenting tales to the ghost of Kmart.
We feature the area’s best comics, plus a comedy open mic. Open mic comics signup at door get 3-5m. [Free entry for performing comics, free snacks at comics table].
For more info and other standup comedy shows go to sliceoflifecomedy.com or contact Michele at [email protected]

Friday, September 29, 2023
2023 Holiday Parade Accepting Applications
Sep 29 all-day
online
Get ready to spread some holiday cheer and showcase your creativity! We’re thrilled to invite individuals, organizations, and groups of all kinds to apply for an entry in the upcoming Holiday Parade set to dazzle Downtown Asheville on Saturday, November 18. This year’s theme is “Snow Globe,” offering the perfect canvas for you to bring your winter wonderland dreams to life. This is your chance to be a part of a cherished community tradition that brings joy to thousands of onlookers. Whether you’ve got a beautifully decorated float, a lively marching band, a troupe of dancers, or a group of spirited volunteers, we want you to join us in making this year’s parade the most memorable one yet. It’s not just a parade; it’s an opportunity to make lasting memories and spread the festive spirit. Apply now, and let’s make this holiday season in Asheville truly magical for all!

You can click here to apply for an entry in the Holiday Parade before Monday, October 2.

Applications open: 2024 Asheville Fringe Arts Festival
Sep 29 all-day
online w/ Asheville Fringe Arts

APPLICATIONS OPEN NOW!

Do you have a boundary-pushing, innovative performance piece, short film or installation that you’re ready to share?

We will open applications for the film portion of the festival in fall 2023. Films must be submitted via FilmFreeway. Our application fee for films is $5.


NOW CONSIDERING WORKS OF ALL KINDS

We accept live performances from 5 to 60 minutes in length, plus installations and films. We’re open to other types of performance as well – let’s talk! Depending on its length, your piece may be grouped with another show, or scheduled as a Random Act of Fringe. RAFs are free and open to the public, and artists receive a stipend for their performance, rather than relying on door sales.

Typically each artist with a ticketed show gets 2 performances. But in 2024, we’re exploring the option of giving a few shows 3 performances, at select venues only. Our venues range from 20-80 person capacity.

1. FRINGE SHOT

A piece that is
5-15 minutes long

May be paired with another performance, or be selected as a free Random Act of Fringe.

2. SHORT FORM

A piece that is
20-40 minutes long

May be paired with another show.

3. FULL-LENGTH

A piece that is
45-60 minutes long

Ticketed theater-style show.

4. INSTALLATION

A piece that is
Site-specific (any length)

May be in an unusual location, or repeated many times. May be seen by as few as one person at a time.

5. FILM

A piece that is
Designed specifically for film.

May be of any genre & length. Could be combined with other films for a showcase or film night.
Submit on Film Freeway Fall 2023

3. THE ASHEVILLE FRINGE ARTS FESTIVAL IS A JURIED FESTIVAL.

We carefully review each and every submission. You’ll know by late October if your piece is selected. Should your piece get selected, there is a $35 participation fee.

ArtsAVL’s: Thomas Wolfe Auditorium FAQ is Now Live
Sep 29 all-day
online

ArtsAVL’s first Town Hall of 2023-24, focused on the current state and future possibilities for Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, drew over 400 attendees. ArtsAVL collected your questions after the event for an FAQ page. This page will continue to be updated as the discussion evolves. Answered questions include possible next steps, details of non-ticketed events that happen in the auditorium, the economic impact of the space’s closure, and much more.

 

Missed the Town Hall? Read our article here, and watch the video here.

 

Immediate Next Steps: City Council will hold a special meeting on Tues, Sept 26 at 3pm

Learn More & Ask Your Questions
Asheville Community Theatre Youth Production Classes
Sep 29 all-day
Asheville Community Theatre

What is a Youth Production?

An ACT Youth Production is an immersive performance workshop that is specially tailored for young artists who aspire to learn and grow in the performing arts. This hands-on experience offers a unique opportunity for students to undergo a comprehensive exploration of the theatrical process. Starting with auditions, they are taught how to prepare and present their best selves, and throughout the rehearsal process, students collaborate with the cast in a dynamic and supportive environment. A distinctive feature of this program is the inclusion of choreography and voice training sessions that enable students to discover and improve their vocal prowess and dancing abilities, thus turning them into well-rounded performers. Every aspect is designed to nurture creativity, foster teamwork, and instill a genuine love for theatre. All students are encouraged to participate, regardless of their previous experience or exposure to theatre.

Interested in Technical Theatre classes?

If you’re interested in getting hands-on experience with technical theatre, our Tech & Run Crew class is tailored just for you. Whether you’re a beginner with a budding interest or a seasoned tech enthusiast aiming to sharpen your skills, you will get the opportunity to work on real productions in an education environment.

Asheville Performing Arts Academy Programs 2023-2024 Season
Sep 29 all-day
Asheville Performing Arts Academy

2023-2024 Season

The Asheville Performing Arts Academy facilitates a life-long appreciation and advocacy of the arts by providing a loving community where students discover the tools needed to navigate life on and off the stage.

Mission

The Asheville Performing Arts Academy is a school based on unlimited opportunities for students to explore their interests in music, dance, and drama.  We foster a love and appreciation for the arts through student-teacher relationships, which encourage and help you to excel at your dream. We offer high quality instruction and educational experiences because we are committed to the art of teaching and the teaching of the arts.  It is our hope to build art and awareness in the community and provide a home for families to pursue their dreams.

With classes for students of all ages, the Asheville Performing Arts Academy is your place to discover the love of music, drama, and dance in your life.

Asheville Performing Arts Academy… where the arts come alive!

November 10-12, 2023

An APAA Cabaret (Company)

 

December 8-10, 2023

Oliver, Jr. (Prep)

 

December 15-17, 2023

Oliver, Jr. (Community)

February 2-4, 2024

Mean Girls, Jr.

(Middle School Community)

 

February 9-11, 2024

Mean Girls HS Version

(High School Community)

 

March/April 2024

A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Homeschool Academy)

April 25-28, 2024

Little Shop of Horros (Company)

 

May 10-12, 2024

Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Jr. (Prep)

 

May 17-19, 2024

Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Jr. (Community)

AVL Unpaved Public Survey
Sep 29 all-day
online

Asheville Unpaved

A POLICY & PLAN FRAMEWORK FOR NATURAL SURFACE TRAILS IN THE CITY OF ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA

UPDATE: Your input is needed for our AVL Unpaved Public Survey

The first phase of the AVL Unpaved trails are moving forward, and we are seeking community  input to design trail kiosks and signs that will best support trail users. Take the AVL Unpaved Public Survey at this link to contribute. The survey will be open from September 11th – November 11th.

What are the AVL Unpaved Trails? 

AVL Unpaved

AVL Unpaved Alliance, in partnership with the City of Asheville, hired Elevated Trail Designs to design a series of natural surface trails in the undeveloped forested pockets of Asheville. In 2022, thanks to generous community support and grant funding through Explore Asheville, three initial projects were identified: Bacoate Branch, French Broad River West, and Azalea Park.

Beer City Comic Con
Sep 29 all-day
Harrah's Cherokee Center- Asheville

A Convention Unlike Any Other…

Calling all science nerds, comic fans, cosplay enthusiasts, and those curious about our scene, the inaugural Asheville Beer City Comic Con will exceed your expectations and delight all your senses. This dynamic event will be marvelous thanks to exciting comic book and pop culture vendors, brave local artists, magnificently big brained speakers, and yummylicious beer from Western North Carolina’s best craft breweries. We’re packing into one weekend a super amount of musts, including:

  • Intellectual seminars with renowned brainiacs from comic, academic, and civic circles discussing the Con community’s role in keeping our planet safe from harm!
  • Panel discussions about the psychology of comic book characters and their influence on modern culture!
  • Pop-up dance and costume events with DJs for all you freaks and geeks!
  • Fancy philosophical conversations about the ontological themes of sci-fi, comics, and human nature!
  • Shamazing artwork from locals you won’t find anywhere else!
  • Speciality batch beers made only for BCCC—slurp!

Come to Asheville. Let’s get WEIRDER and WISER! We’ll have the best of the comic con community in a city that is welcoming and celebrates its own distinct uniqueness. This con will only be one once. (Imagine how great the t-shirts will look wrapped in polyethylene one day!)

Buncombe County Special Collections call for proposals
Sep 29 all-day
online

Buncombe County Special Collections is excited to announce a call for proposals for the third year of its creative residency program.

This is an annual opportunity for artists in Buncombe County to create new, research-driven creative work using BCSC’s historic resources as source material and/or inspiration, and to present their work in the Carolina Record Shop, a dedicated exhibition space in the BCSC reading room. Artists age 18 and up, based in Buncombe County, working in any creative discipline are invited to apply.

Buncombe County Special Collections is looking for projects that will:

  • Offer new, diverse perspectives on our shared history
  • Identify and address gaps and/or amplify narratives that are historically underrepresented in the collection
  • Educate and inspire non-traditional users of archives and special collections to engage with the collection in new ways.

More information (including the PDF of the call for proposals) is available at here. The 2024 Creative Residency is made possible in part by the Trust Fund for Buncombe County Public Libraries.

You can also visit Buncombe County Special Collections in the lower level of Pack Memorial to view the current exhibition in the Carolina Record Shop, “Belonging & Non-Belonging: The History and Future of Zines in Western North Carolina,” curated by 2023 resident Miles Lamberson.

College / Patton at City Council
Sep 29 all-day
online

The future of the College / Patton Complete Street Project will be determined at the October 10th City Council meeting. It’s critical that supporters of safer downtown streets show to support the project as Council remains divided on continued investment in downtown complete streets. If you’re interested in attending or supporting the advocacy efforts on this project, please complete the College / Patton Advocacy Form and an AoB representative will follow up with details

College Street Parking Deck Applications
Sep 29 all-day
online

Do you work in downtown Asheville? If so, Buncombe County’s expanded affordable parking program could save you hundreds of your hard-earned dollars. The program already includes 150 spots at the Coxe Avenue parking deck (located at 11 Sears Alley) for a discounted price of $40 per month. After research and public input, the County is excited to offer an additional 50 spots at the College Street parking deck (located at 164 College Street, across from the judicial complex) for $40 per month. This initiative, focused on service industry and retail workers, is now taking applications.

The expansion of the Affordable Parking Program comes after nearly 800 survey respondents shared their support and echoed the need for the program. To help meet that demand, the County is now offering a total of 200 discounted spots for downtown workers. “We’ve heard a lot of positive feedback, and it’s helping a lot of people. Behind housing, transportation is next highest expense for many people… so providing people in the workforce with an affordable way to get close to where they work is really very valuable,” said Commission Chair Brownie Newman.

To be eligible, you need to work in Downtown Asheville and make 80% area median income (AMI), which is less than $22.88 per hour or $3,967 per month. Applications are now open for the program, and it offers 75 spots at Coxe Avenue and 50 at College Street. If you think you’re eligible, then please go ahead and apply.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library: International Literacy Month
Sep 29 all-day
online
We are currently celebrating Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library gifting 200 million books globally since 1995. In honor of this milestone, seven magical Dolly bookmarks will be hidden in Imagination Library books for enrolled children and families during September’s International Literacy Month.
Lucky recipients who discover the bookmarks will have the chance to receive a video chat, a personalized letter, autographed photo from Dolly, and four Dollywood Theme Park tickets. Additionally, the Dollywood Foundation will donate $2000 on behalf of each chosen child to their local Imagination Library partner, recognizing them as the true heroes of the program.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library impacts the pre­-literacy skills and school readiness of children under the age of 5 in Buncombe County. The program mails a new, free, age-appropriate book to registered children each month until they turn five years old. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library creates a home library of up to 60 books and instills a love of books and reading from an early age. If you have any questions about the program, please send an email to [email protected].

A national panel of educators selects the Imagination Library titles, which include: The Little Engine that Could, Last Stop on Market Street, Violet the Pilot, As an Oak Tree Grows, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, Llama Llama Red Pajama, Look Out Kindergarten, here I come, and many more (take a look at all the titles).

Register your child now!

Program Launch and Expansions

Literacy Together became a Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library affiliate in November 2015 with support from the Buncombe Partnership for Children. Through this program, registered children in Buncombe County receive a free book in the mail each month. Their parents also have the opportunity to attend workshops to learn how to build their children’s early literacy skills. Parents in need of literacy assistance are encouraged to receive tutoring through Literacy Together’s adult programming.

The program served 200 children during the 2015/16 fiscal year. The program expanded to serve 400 children in July 2016, and 600 in August 2017. In July 2018, capacity increased to 1,900 thanks to a special allocation in the North Carolina state budget. We’re now serving 4,600 kids in Buncombe County.  

Employer Registration Open for WNC Career Expo
Sep 29 all-day
WNC Ag. Center

Plan to join us Wednesday, October 25, 2023 from 11 AM – 4 PM at the Davis Event Center at the WNC Agricultural Center, located at 761 Boylston Highway in Fletcher.

Presented by the Mountain Area Workforce Board and the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce.

Western North Carolina businesses and organizations are ready to promote career opportunities for job seekers in advanced manufacturing, technology, health care, tourism, professional services, and other high-growth industries. All job seekers are encouraged to attend this one-stop opportunity to meet directly with representatives from companies hiring now.

 

 

Thank you to our Sponsors!

A-B Tech • Bojangles • iHeart Media • FASTSIGNS of Asheville  • Advanced Business Equipment

Food Drive for MANNA FoodBank
Sep 29 all-day
Buncombe County Public Libraries

 

Did you know MANNA FoodBank provides more than 58,000 meals a day in Western North Carolina? MANNA works in partnership with the Buncombe County Community Connectors to provide much-needed food to 12 locations in under-resourced areas throughout our community. Donations will be collected for two weeks at area libraries and select public-facing County buildings beginning September 25 and ending on October 7.

MANNA served over 155,000 people in June 2023, which was another alarming high in a months-long trend of tens of thousands of people across the mountains needing food support each week. March 2023 marked the end of the pandemic-era SNAP benefit expansion, resulting in a new peak that has since continued to climb.

Buncombe County is asking the community to pitch in to help meet this need by dropping food items by one of our 12 Buncombe County Public Libraries or public-facing buildings.

You can drop off donations at the following locations around Buncombe County (look for the collection bins and signs):

  • Public libraries
    • Black Mountain
    • East Asheville
    • Enka Candler
    • Fairview
    • Leicester
    • North Asheville
    • Oakley/South Asheville
    • Pack Memorial
    • Skyland/South Buncombe
    • Swannanoa
    • Weaverville
    • West Asheville
  • Register of Deeds at 205 College St.
  • Tax at 94 Cox Ave.
  • HHS building at 40 Coxe Ave.
  • Elections at 59 Woodfin
  • Family Justice Center at 35 Woodfin
  • Permits and Inspections at 30 Valley St.
  • County administration building at 200 College St.

MANNA’s most-needed items include: 

  • Canned meats (beef, chicken, tuna)
  • Peanut butter (plastic jars only)
  • Dried/canned beans (pork and beans, pinto, kidney, black)
  • Hearty soups (pop-top cans preferred)
  • Meals in a box or can (beef stew, chili, mac & cheese)
  • Canned fruit (fruit cocktail, raisins, apple sauce)
  • Canned vegetables (green beans, carrots, greens)
  • Cereals and grains (rice, pasta, cereal in a box or bag)
  • Fruit and vegetable juices
  • Dry milk (instant non-fat)

Thank you to everyone for helping us with this initiative to support children and families throughout our community.