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.

Saturday, November 4, 2023
Gatherings of Artists + Writers Coffee
Nov 4 @ 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Tryon Fine Arts Center

TFAC invites all artists: painters, sculptors, writers, performers & more — to a casual weekly drop-in gathering on Saturday mornings at 9 AM to share your works in progress, alert others, and chat about art and what’s happening in your community.

The first weekly Coffee is Saturday, August 20 at 9 am.

No RSVP needed, just drop by!

Free parking available on Melrose Avenue, behind and alongside TFAC.

DESIGNER SERIES: QLAB + AUDACITY BASICS
Nov 4 @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
The Magnetic Theatre

Have you ever wanted to try your hand at building audio or video files for a production? Magnetic’s Tech Director Abby Auman can help you get started! Join us for this engaging workshop, where you’ll learn how to use Audacity for audio file editing, and QLab, a powerful macOS program for designing and playing back sound, video, light, and show control cues (we’ll be focused on sound for this session).
*Note, you will be expected to download the free version of Audacity and the free version of QLab if you plan to bring your own macOS computer; for those who don’t have a macOS computer, you can still participate!

About the instructor: Abby is the Technical Director of The Magnetic Theatre. She also works as a lighting designer in theaters all over WNC.

MAGNETIC U – DESIGNER SERIES: QLab + Audacity Basics
Nov 4 @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
The Magnetic Theatre

Taught by Abby Auman

Have you ever wanted to try your hand at building audio or video files for a production? Magnetic’s Tech Director Abby Auman can help you get started! Join us for this engaging workshop, where you’ll learn how to use Audacity for audio file editing, and QLab, a powerful macOS program for designing and playing back sound, video, light, and show control cues (we’ll be focused on sound for this session).
*Note, you will be expected to download the free version of Audacity and the free version of QLab if you plan to bring your own macOS computer; for those who don’t have a macOS computer, you can still participate!

 

About the instructor:

Abby is the Technical Director of The Magnetic Theatre. She also works as a lighting designer in theaters all over WNC.

Come Write In! for NaNoWriMo!
Nov 4 @ 2:00 pm
West Asheville Library

National Novel Writing Month is here and West Asheville Library has you covered!
We’ve set aside a quiet space for all our aspiring novelists to come work towards their word count goals. So come spend an hour or two with us and get into the creative flow.

Sunday, November 5, 2023
Learn Cherokee language for free with your library card
Nov 5 all-day
Pack Memorial Library and Online

Did you know you could take a course in the Cherokee language for free with your library card?

Buncombe County Public Libraries offers access to Transparent Languages for online language instruction from home computers, laptops and mobile devices. To log in, your ID is your library card number and your PIN is the last four digits of your phone number.

Transparent Languages partners with 7,000 Languages, a nonprofit organization working to empower communities around the world to sustain their endangered languages. As a result of this collaboration, the library can offer free instructional courses for over 25 indigenous languages, including Cherokee.

Cherokee is spoken by about 2,000 people mainly in Western North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. 7,000 Languages partnered with the Cherokee PINS Project Foundation to create two beginner Cherokee courses. The Cherokee Alphabet Course teaches the shapes, names, and pronunciation of the Cherokee syllabary. The Cherokee Beginner Course introduces learners to a common, practical language that they can hear, write, and speak throughout the course. Language learners can practice their listening and speaking skills with voice recognition software guided by native speakers.

Both of these courses, along with hundreds of other language courses, are available free with your library card. If you have any questions, let us know.

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)
Nov 5 all-day
Buncombe County Libraries

It’s November again and that can only mean one thing: National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)!

NaNoWriMo began in 1999 as a daunting but straightforward challenge: to write 50,000 words of a novel during the thirty days of November.  Now, each year on November 1, hundreds of thousands of people around the world begin to write, determined to end the month with 50,000 words of a brand-new novel.

If you are doing NaNoWriMo this year, the Buncombe County Public Libraries are here to help! Several branches will be hosting “Write-ins” throughout the month of November, offering quiet spaces for writers to come chip away at their word count. Each Write-in will have its own unique spin (snacks, ambient music, writing prompts, local author hosts, etc.), so please check the library event calendar for specific details.

In addition to the Write-Ins, a NaNoWriMo Wrap Party will be held at rEvolve Mercantile on Wednesday, December 6th from 6pm – 8pm. All NaNoWriMo participants are invited to join us for food, activities, prize raffles , and “micro mic” readings that will give each writer a chance to share a paragraph or two from their novel.

Any questions? Let us know.

Monarchs and Milkweed: A Story of Survival
Nov 5 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
NC Arboretum

Join us on a journey into the world of butterflies and plants, and see the complex relationship between monarchs and milkweed. “Monarchs and Milkweed” explores how very survival of these majestic creatures has been shaped over time by one another, traveling through the seasons of a calendar year and revealing how both insect and plant grow and interact, culminating in a massive migration that crosses a continent.

Audition Workshop for Children
Nov 5 @ 2:00 pm
Hendersonville Theatre

Class cost: $30

Min students: 5

Max students: 14

Class Dates: Sunday, November 5, 2023

Time: 2 pm to 4 pm

Ages: 8-12 (grades 3-7)

The last day to receive a full refund is October 5, 2023. After October 5, 2023, no refund will be issued.

Advance registration is required. Registration deadline is Friday, November 3 at 5 pm.

Need-based scholarships are available upon application.

Class Description:
This audition workshop is designed for young actors who want to learn to audition or improve their auditioning skills. This workshop will take participants step-by-step through most theatre’s audition process and give young actors pointers to make the whole experience more relaxing and familiar. The workshop will cover techniques for better auditioning, including theatre etiquette, what to bring to an audition, how to make a great and memorable impression, cold reading skills, and how to find acting opportunities in our area. All actors, regardless of experience, ages 8 to 12, are eligible to attend.

Participants will have multiple opportunities to get up and perform short scenes during the workshop, as well as break off into groups. Actors need to come prepared for a high-energy, action-filled afternoon.

Monday, November 6, 2023
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)
Nov 6 all-day
Buncombe County Libraries

It’s November again and that can only mean one thing: National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)!

NaNoWriMo began in 1999 as a daunting but straightforward challenge: to write 50,000 words of a novel during the thirty days of November.  Now, each year on November 1, hundreds of thousands of people around the world begin to write, determined to end the month with 50,000 words of a brand-new novel.

If you are doing NaNoWriMo this year, the Buncombe County Public Libraries are here to help! Several branches will be hosting “Write-ins” throughout the month of November, offering quiet spaces for writers to come chip away at their word count. Each Write-in will have its own unique spin (snacks, ambient music, writing prompts, local author hosts, etc.), so please check the library event calendar for specific details.

In addition to the Write-Ins, a NaNoWriMo Wrap Party will be held at rEvolve Mercantile on Wednesday, December 6th from 6pm – 8pm. All NaNoWriMo participants are invited to join us for food, activities, prize raffles , and “micro mic” readings that will give each writer a chance to share a paragraph or two from their novel.

Any questions? Let us know.

Monarchs and Milkweed: A Story of Survival
Nov 6 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
NC Arboretum

Join us on a journey into the world of butterflies and plants, and see the complex relationship between monarchs and milkweed. “Monarchs and Milkweed” explores how very survival of these majestic creatures has been shaped over time by one another, traveling through the seasons of a calendar year and revealing how both insect and plant grow and interact, culminating in a massive migration that crosses a continent.

Celebrate early childhood education, literacy, and community!
Nov 6 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Ginger's Revenge

Join Children First/Community in Schools, Literacy Together, Verner Center for Early Learning, and Buncombe Partnership for Children for a social gathering, fundraising, and the possibility of winning door prizes from Blossoms Creative Florist, Ginger’s Revenge, Asheville Pizza and Brewing, and more. Thanks!

Enjoy delicious beverages, camaraderie, and win!

Give Local for Early Education
Nov 6 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Ginger's Revenge Craft Brewery & Tasting Room

Support young children and their families! Join us for a celebration of early education, early literacy, and community. We’re collecting donations through MountainXpress’s Give!Local campaign. We’ll be at Ginger’s Revenge with door prizes, camaraderie, and delicious beverages

Tuesday, November 7, 2023
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)
Nov 7 all-day
Buncombe County Libraries

It’s November again and that can only mean one thing: National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)!

NaNoWriMo began in 1999 as a daunting but straightforward challenge: to write 50,000 words of a novel during the thirty days of November.  Now, each year on November 1, hundreds of thousands of people around the world begin to write, determined to end the month with 50,000 words of a brand-new novel.

If you are doing NaNoWriMo this year, the Buncombe County Public Libraries are here to help! Several branches will be hosting “Write-ins” throughout the month of November, offering quiet spaces for writers to come chip away at their word count. Each Write-in will have its own unique spin (snacks, ambient music, writing prompts, local author hosts, etc.), so please check the library event calendar for specific details.

In addition to the Write-Ins, a NaNoWriMo Wrap Party will be held at rEvolve Mercantile on Wednesday, December 6th from 6pm – 8pm. All NaNoWriMo participants are invited to join us for food, activities, prize raffles , and “micro mic” readings that will give each writer a chance to share a paragraph or two from their novel.

Any questions? Let us know.

Monarchs and Milkweed: A Story of Survival
Nov 7 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
NC Arboretum

Join us on a journey into the world of butterflies and plants, and see the complex relationship between monarchs and milkweed. “Monarchs and Milkweed” explores how very survival of these majestic creatures has been shaped over time by one another, traveling through the seasons of a calendar year and revealing how both insect and plant grow and interact, culminating in a massive migration that crosses a continent.

NANOWRIMO Come Write-In!
Nov 7 @ 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
North Asheville Library

National Novel Writing Month is here and North Asheville Library has you covered!
We’ve set aside a quiet space for all our aspiring novelists to come work towards their word count goals. So come spend an hour or two with us and get into the creative flow. Refreshments provided

Dark City Poet’s Society
Nov 7 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Black Mountain Library

Great news for poets and poetry lovers: Dark City Poet’s Society is returning to the Black Mountain Library. DCPS is a completely free poetry group that is open to poets of all ages and experience levels. Join us at the Black Mountain Library from 6-7:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month for our (respectful) critique group. DCPS will meet at BAD Craft from 6-7 p.m. on the third Tuesday for our monthly open mic Poetry Night. Find out more on Instagram @darkcitypoetssociety or contact the Black Mountain Library.

Litercy Together Online Orientation Meeting
Nov 7 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
online
134 people have attended our online volunteer orientation meeting in 2023 so far. We’ve modified the format of our online orientation meeting to be more inclusive. Everyone is welcome to join us, from prospective volunteer tutors to community members to local business owners and nonprofits wanting to learn more about Literacy Together’s work. This is what one participant said after the orientation meeting:
The facts and statistics were new and interesting. I enjoyed learning about all the different programs offered by Literacy Together, and I’m looking forward to helping others and growing myself!
People can sign up online to attend or send an email to [email protected].
Upcoming Online Orientation Meetings
Tuesday, November 7th, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Thursday,  November 9th, 10:00 am – 11:00 am

Wednesday, November 8, 2023
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)
Nov 8 all-day
Buncombe County Libraries

It’s November again and that can only mean one thing: National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)!

NaNoWriMo began in 1999 as a daunting but straightforward challenge: to write 50,000 words of a novel during the thirty days of November.  Now, each year on November 1, hundreds of thousands of people around the world begin to write, determined to end the month with 50,000 words of a brand-new novel.

If you are doing NaNoWriMo this year, the Buncombe County Public Libraries are here to help! Several branches will be hosting “Write-ins” throughout the month of November, offering quiet spaces for writers to come chip away at their word count. Each Write-in will have its own unique spin (snacks, ambient music, writing prompts, local author hosts, etc.), so please check the library event calendar for specific details.

In addition to the Write-Ins, a NaNoWriMo Wrap Party will be held at rEvolve Mercantile on Wednesday, December 6th from 6pm – 8pm. All NaNoWriMo participants are invited to join us for food, activities, prize raffles , and “micro mic” readings that will give each writer a chance to share a paragraph or two from their novel.

Any questions? Let us know.

Monarchs and Milkweed: A Story of Survival
Nov 8 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
NC Arboretum

Join us on a journey into the world of butterflies and plants, and see the complex relationship between monarchs and milkweed. “Monarchs and Milkweed” explores how very survival of these majestic creatures has been shaped over time by one another, traveling through the seasons of a calendar year and revealing how both insect and plant grow and interact, culminating in a massive migration that crosses a continent.

Thursday, November 9, 2023
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)
Nov 9 all-day
Buncombe County Libraries

It’s November again and that can only mean one thing: National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)!

NaNoWriMo began in 1999 as a daunting but straightforward challenge: to write 50,000 words of a novel during the thirty days of November.  Now, each year on November 1, hundreds of thousands of people around the world begin to write, determined to end the month with 50,000 words of a brand-new novel.

If you are doing NaNoWriMo this year, the Buncombe County Public Libraries are here to help! Several branches will be hosting “Write-ins” throughout the month of November, offering quiet spaces for writers to come chip away at their word count. Each Write-in will have its own unique spin (snacks, ambient music, writing prompts, local author hosts, etc.), so please check the library event calendar for specific details.

In addition to the Write-Ins, a NaNoWriMo Wrap Party will be held at rEvolve Mercantile on Wednesday, December 6th from 6pm – 8pm. All NaNoWriMo participants are invited to join us for food, activities, prize raffles , and “micro mic” readings that will give each writer a chance to share a paragraph or two from their novel.

Any questions? Let us know.

NC Farm Bureau Going Local Grants
Nov 9 all-day
online

North Carolina Farm Bureau is happy to provide agricultural outreach grants to NC teachers through their Ag in the Classroom Going Local program. These grants value up to $500. Going Local Grants help educators provide pre-K through collegiate-level students with valuable, real-world education and experiences directly related to the agricultural industry and the NC Standard Course of Study. Teachers practicing in private and public North Carolina schools, colleges, and universities are encouraged to apply. Learn more here.

Growing Minds Farm to School Mini-Grant
Nov 9 @ 6:30 am
online
ASAP’s Growing Minds mini-grants help early childhood education (ECE) centers and K-12 schools throughout the 23 westernmost counties of North Carolina provide children positive experiences with healthy local foods through these components of farm to school: school gardens, farm field trips and farmer classroom visits, and local foods served in meals, snacks, and/or taste tests.

Mini-grant applications are available three times during the 2023-2024 school year. You may apply one time during this cycle. Mini-grants must be used within a year after receiving the funding. 

Applications due by:

  • November 30, 2023
  • January 30, 2024
  • March 30, 2024

If you have questions about your eligibility to apply for funding, please email us at [email protected] before submitting your application. We are unable to provide mini-grants to schools located outside of our 23-county service area or to folks who have received a grant from us within the past year. Learn more and apply here!

Monarchs and Milkweed: A Story of Survival
Nov 9 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
NC Arboretum

Join us on a journey into the world of butterflies and plants, and see the complex relationship between monarchs and milkweed. “Monarchs and Milkweed” explores how very survival of these majestic creatures has been shaped over time by one another, traveling through the seasons of a calendar year and revealing how both insect and plant grow and interact, culminating in a massive migration that crosses a continent.

Come Write In! for NaNoWriMo!
Nov 9 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
West Asheville Library

National Novel Writing Month is here and West Asheville Library has you covered!
We’ve set aside a quiet space for all our aspiring novelists to come work towards their word count goals. So come spend an hour or two with us and get into the creative flow.

Intro to Ukulele
Nov 9 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
LEAF Global Arts

Students will receive a solid foundation in beginner Ukulele skills for vocalists. Chords, Rhythm patterns, and basic theory will be introduced through songs with an uplifting message. Students will also learn to play the song that the Songwriting Class will be writing and get to record it in the One Mic Studio.

Queer Music Exploration
Nov 9 @ 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
LEAF Global Arts

Queer Music Exploration – Students will explore guitar, bass, drums, singing and piano with a focus on learning music by artists from the LGBTQ+ community. Students will have the chance to interact with their peers and share their experiences through music.

Preserving the Interiors of Biltmore House
Nov 9 @ 5:30 pm
The Cathedral of All Souls
Biltmore House is a unique example of private preservation on a massive scale and the result of many decades of collaboration supporting intensive preservation and restoration work.
Join members of Biltmore’s curatorial and conservation teams to explore George Vanderbilt’s vison for the decoration of Biltmore House, the research methods used today to determine a room’s original design intent, and the in-depth restoration processes that bring historic interiors to life – as well as the surprise that occur along the way.
Human Sacrifice in Greek Antiquity: Between Myth, Image, and Reality
Nov 9 @ 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm
French Broad Room of Highsmith Student Union

Michael Fowler, art historian and archaeologist, will give a lecture “Human Sacrifice in Greek Antiquity: Between Myth, Image, and Reality” on November 9 at 7:30 p.m. in the French Broad Room of Highsmith Student Union.

Fowler will look at the visual and anthropological evidence for human sacrifice in the ancient Greek world, focusing on topics related to material religion, iconography, gender, and violence (and their intersections). The event is co-sponsored by the Department of Art and Art History and the Archaeological Institute of America.

Contact Laurel Taylor at [email protected] with any questions.

Friday, November 10, 2023
Learn Cherokee language for free with your library card
Nov 10 all-day
Pack Memorial Library and Online

Did you know you could take a course in the Cherokee language for free with your library card?

Buncombe County Public Libraries offers access to Transparent Languages for online language instruction from home computers, laptops and mobile devices. To log in, your ID is your library card number and your PIN is the last four digits of your phone number.

Transparent Languages partners with 7,000 Languages, a nonprofit organization working to empower communities around the world to sustain their endangered languages. As a result of this collaboration, the library can offer free instructional courses for over 25 indigenous languages, including Cherokee.

Cherokee is spoken by about 2,000 people mainly in Western North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. 7,000 Languages partnered with the Cherokee PINS Project Foundation to create two beginner Cherokee courses. The Cherokee Alphabet Course teaches the shapes, names, and pronunciation of the Cherokee syllabary. The Cherokee Beginner Course introduces learners to a common, practical language that they can hear, write, and speak throughout the course. Language learners can practice their listening and speaking skills with voice recognition software guided by native speakers.

Both of these courses, along with hundreds of other language courses, are available free with your library card. If you have any questions, let us know.

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)
Nov 10 all-day
Buncombe County Libraries

It’s November again and that can only mean one thing: National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)!

NaNoWriMo began in 1999 as a daunting but straightforward challenge: to write 50,000 words of a novel during the thirty days of November.  Now, each year on November 1, hundreds of thousands of people around the world begin to write, determined to end the month with 50,000 words of a brand-new novel.

If you are doing NaNoWriMo this year, the Buncombe County Public Libraries are here to help! Several branches will be hosting “Write-ins” throughout the month of November, offering quiet spaces for writers to come chip away at their word count. Each Write-in will have its own unique spin (snacks, ambient music, writing prompts, local author hosts, etc.), so please check the library event calendar for specific details.

In addition to the Write-Ins, a NaNoWriMo Wrap Party will be held at rEvolve Mercantile on Wednesday, December 6th from 6pm – 8pm. All NaNoWriMo participants are invited to join us for food, activities, prize raffles , and “micro mic” readings that will give each writer a chance to share a paragraph or two from their novel.

Any questions? Let us know.