Calendar of Events
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.
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.
Free Write to a Free Life
This online group is open to everyone, regardless of whether or not you consider yourself a writer. The writing technique we will be practicing sparks great creativity, and it can help you discover new things about yourself and create exciting possibilities for your writing and your life outside the group. It’s also a fantastic way to connect with other creatives and build community.
Here’s how the group is structured: I will give the group writing prompts, and we will all spend 7 to 10 minutes writing as fast as possible without editing. After that, you can share what you wrote or not; it’s entirely up to you. The group will then have a chance to comment on your work — if anyone so chooses. The only rule is that the comments should all be positive — this is not a writing critique group and negative comments erode the sense of safety we’re all aiming for. After doing this type of writing for close to 30 years, I can say with certainty that what you learn from the group’s feedback can be priceless — you will feel heard and supported in ways you would have never imagined, and often what you thought was terrible writing actually inspires someone.
Trigger warning: I do not believe in censoring people’s self-expression. We are using stream of consciousness where anything can pop up to the surface. Sometimes people write about their experiences with sexuality, substances abuse, etc. Sometimes we write about very mundane things, like the best coffee you ever had. You just never know. If you feel this type of sharing will be too triggering, you might think twice about joining the group.
Why join this group?
· You want to connect with others in a safe way. First, you never have to read your work aloud; you can share parts of your piece, give a general summary, or say nothing. Be aware that while reading your unedited work out loud can feel terrifying to some, I pride myself on creating an environment where it’s safe to share literally anything.
I promise you, in this group, we will not judge you. Neither on your writing nor on anything else. It’s in the sharing that magical and enduring connections are born. As people share their work, you can learn what makes them tick and what inspires and challenges them, so it’s easy to form authentic relationships.
· Your inner demons are getting unruly. This type of writing provides access to your subconscious mind, where you can find fresh insights on issues you’ve found vexing. I’ve been doing free writing for almost 30 years now, mostly because I find it very therapeutic, and at the risk of sounding melodramatic, I believe it has actually saved my life. You don’t always have access to a therapist right when you need one, but you always have access to your inner healer, and I find my way to this underappreciated-but-wise source through free writing. I’m not alone in this either. The NIH says that journaling is good for those suffering from PTSD (and I would say many other sources of angst as well). I have a psychology background and have worked in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. I’ve worked in hospice too, and I am a trained life coach who often uses therapeutic writing with my clients.
**In my current work I have found that it is often writing, not talking, that leads to the most significant breakthroughs.**
· You want to slay your inner critic. Stream-of-consciousness writing allows you to bypass the inner critic, that dastardly bastard that blocks your creativity, stymies your healing-and often stops you from writing or doing much of anything.
Please note that due to the nature of the group, the doors close promptly at 7:10. If you have any questions or concerns, or if you would rather have a private writing and/or coaching session with me than do this work in a group setting, I give a substantial discount to Meetup members, so don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at: [email protected].
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.
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.
Saturdays from 10:30 AM – 12 PM
A new documentary film shines a light on four behind-
the-scenes L.A. musicians who were responsible for helping make much of the
era’s best music. A special January 8 screening of Immediate Family is the latest
entry in the popular Music Movie Mondays series hosted by author and music
journalist at Grail Moviehouse.
In the early 1970s music scene of Southern California, you couldn’t get a better bunch
of players than the four musicians who wold come to be known collectively as The
Section. Together and on their own, guitarists Danny “Kootch” Kortchmar and Waddy
Wachtel, bassist Leland Sklar and drummer extraordinaire Russ Kunkel played on a
staggering number of recordings made in that era. And an astounding number of those
songs would become hits.
Playing for and with the likes of Carole King, James Taylor, Stevie Nicks, Don
Henley, Keith Richards, Linda Ronstadt, Stevie Nicks and other well-known names,
that tightly-knit group of musicians would be responsible for the sound of an era. And today those four are the core of a popular
recording and performing unit, the Immediate Family.
Filmmaker Denny Tedesco (The Wrecking Crew) has dug into the collective history of these important musicians, and the result
is a new motion picture documentary, Immediate Family. Drawing from archival footage and contemporary interview with the
musicians (and the artists for whom they provided their expertise), Immediate Family fills in the blanks of an important – yet
often overlooked part of American popular music history.
And a post-screening discussion led by author and music journalist Bill Kopp provides an opportunity to share thoughts and
insight on the film.
As part of the Music Movie Mondays series, Grail Movie House in Asheville hosts a special one-night-only showing of the
film. Presented by Asheville-based speaker, author and music journalist Bill Kopp, the evening will include a screening of the
film followed by an interactive discussion.
“The End of the Affair” is a poignant and passionate drama film released in 1999, directed by Neil Jordan. Set in London during and after World War II, the film explores the complex and intense love affair between Maurice Bendrix (played by Ralph Fiennes), a writer, and Sarah Miles (played by Julianne Moore), the wife of a civil servant.
Join Lauren Harr, co-founder of Gold Leaf Literary Services, to ask burning questions about the book world, author events, and the business of writing.
This event is scheduled to occur monthly at the dates and times listed above.
To join, email [email protected] with the subject “I have a question!” and you’ll receive the Zoom link for the upcoming event.
Founded by two long-time booksellers in 2016, Gold Leaf Literary Services is dedicated to educating and assisting authors in various stages of their careers. For more, visit www.goldleafliterary.com.
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.
“The End of the Affair” is a poignant and passionate drama film released in 1999, directed by Neil Jordan. Set in London during and after World War II, the film explores the complex and intense love affair between Maurice Bendrix (played by Ralph Fiennes), a writer, and Sarah Miles (played by Julianne Moore), the wife of a civil servant.
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Join local writing coach, Cornelia Dolian at the Weaverville Library for this three part Memoir Writing Mini Series. Space is limited. Call 828-250-6482 to reserve a spot today! Session One: Memoir Basics & Beginnings Session Two: Memoir Structure and Outline Session Three: Memoir Writing Marathon First Miles Huge thanks to the Friends of the Weaverville Library for sponsoring this series! |
Join local writing coach, Cornelia Dolian at the Weaverville Library for this three part Memoir Writing Mini Series. Space is limited. Call 828-250-6482 to reserve a spot today!
Session One: Memoir Basics & Beginnings
Thursday, January 11th 2:00-3:30
Session Two: Memoir Structure and Outline
Thursday, January 18th 2:00-3:30
Session Three: Memoir Writing Marathon First Miles
Thursday, January 25th 2:00-3:30
Huge thanks to the Friends of the Weaverville Library for sponsoring this series!
We are pleased to announce the return of the Asheville 5Point Adventure Film Festival, where art, adventure, film, storytelling, and community come together.
We’ll gather at New Belgium for films on Saturday night. Doors open at 6, films begin at 7. You’ll want to get there early since we will have a super amazing gear giveaway benefitting the G5 Trail Collective, with a chance to win big prizes from our partners and have a beer with your fellow community members.
But wait, there’s more!
The 2024 5Point Asheville includes a full day of programming.
Saturdays from 10:30 AM – 12 PM
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.
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Join local writing coach, Cornelia Dolian at the Weaverville Library for this three part Memoir Writing Mini Series. Space is limited. Call 828-250-6482 to reserve a spot today! Session One: Memoir Basics & Beginnings Session Two: Memoir Structure and Outline Session Three: Memoir Writing Marathon First Miles Huge thanks to the Friends of the Weaverville Library for sponsoring this series! |
Join local writing coach, Cornelia Dolian at the Weaverville Library for this three part Memoir Writing Mini Series. Space is limited. Call 828-250-6482 to reserve a spot today!
Session One: Memoir Basics & Beginnings
Thursday, January 11th 2:00-3:30
Session Two: Memoir Structure and Outline
Thursday, January 18th 2:00-3:30
Session Three: Memoir Writing Marathon First Miles
Thursday, January 25th 2:00-3:30
Saturdays from 10:30 AM – 12 PM
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.
Join writers and poets from across the country each month for a virtual writing workshop. A link will be added to their name when more details and sign-up information becomes available. These workshops are geared towards amateur writers, ages 16 and older recommended. Follow us on Facebook for notifications too.
2024 Virtual Writers Workshops
February 26 – Ruba Ahmed
March – Amber Rose Crowtree
2023 Workshop Writers : Angela Evans, Tom Tenbrunsel, Robert Edward Miss, Kenneth Chamblee, Yasmin Mays, Shannon Yong, Jennifer McGaha, Erica Reid, Raymond McNally, Jane Waldrop, Francis Pearce, Eric Nelson, Darren Todd.
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Join Buncombe County Special Collections and Blurry Pictures for a screening of the new award-winning documentary, ᏓᏗᏬᏂᏏ / We Will Speak. With only 1500 fluent speakers left, this film follows a small group of activists racing to save the Cherokee language from extinction. A Q&A with the filmmakers will follow. The screening will be held in the Lord Auditorium at Pack Memorial Library beginning at 5:30 pm Wednesday January 24, 2024. |
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Join local writing coach, Cornelia Dolian at the Weaverville Library for this three part Memoir Writing Mini Series. Space is limited. Call 828-250-6482 to reserve a spot today! Session One: Memoir Basics & Beginnings Session Two: Memoir Structure and Outline Session Three: Memoir Writing Marathon First Miles Huge thanks to the Friends of the Weaverville Library for sponsoring this series! |
Join local writing coach, Cornelia Dolian at the Weaverville Library for this three part Memoir Writing Mini Series. Space is limited. Call 828-250-6482 to reserve a spot today!
Session One: Memoir Basics & Beginnings
Thursday, January 11th 2:00-3:30
Session Two: Memoir Structure and Outline
Thursday, January 18th 2:00-3:30
Session Three: Memoir Writing Marathon First Miles
Thursday, January 25th 2:00-3:30
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Join local writing coach, Cornelia Dolian at the Weaverville Library for this three part Memoir Writing Mini Series. Space is limited. Call 828-250-6482 to reserve a spot today! Session One: Memoir Basics & Beginnings Session Two: Memoir Structure and Outline Session Three: Memoir Writing Marathon First Miles Huge thanks to the Friends of the Weaverville Library for sponsoring this series! |
Join us at 6:30pm for this free hybrid event. When storytelling, native wisdom and nature’s intelligence converge, something beautiful can arise. That’s the theme of the new film Nature’s Wisdom Thru Native Eyes by award-winning documentary filmmaker David Weintraub and the Center for Cultural Preservation. Weintraub will be joined by Cherokee elders Davy Arch and Mary Thompson for a screening Thursday, January 25 co-sponsored by Asheville Museum of History and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at UNCA. There will be time for audience questions at the conclusion of the film.
More information and tickets: https://www.simpletix.com/e/history-hour-natures-wisdom-thru-native-ey-tickets-153780
Saturdays from 10:30 AM – 12 PM
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.
In celebration of Black History Month this February, you can join a free virtual screening of “The Right to Read” on February 1st. The film will be available for 24 hours, so mark your calendars! Register here.
Saturdays from 10:30 AM – 12 PM
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.