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.
A video-based program that guides aspiring hide tanners through every step of tanning a deer hide.
Natalie Bogwalker
Natalie is a hide tanner, craftswoman, builder, teacher, mom, and gardener. She founded Wild Abundance 10 years ago because of her passion for sharing real, practical skills that get people closer to the Earth. Hide tanning was one of the first earthskills that she learned, and it changed her life profoundly. That was over 15 years ago! Since then she’s tanned uncountable hides, but more importantly, she’s taught hide tanning to hundreds of students.
Natalie knows what usually trips people up who are new to hide tanning. In this online course she shares a thorough, step-by-step guide to hide tanning, including numerous tips and tricks that will help you succeed.
As the growing season ramps up and social isolation continues to define our days, gardening is the perfect way to get outside, ease your mind, and support our local ecosystem – all while maintaining appropriate social distance. Whether you’re nurturing a decade old garden or are using your quarantine time to put plants in the ground for the first time ever, our new program has the tools and certifications for all levels of expertise. Certified gardens receive an official certificate and have the option to purchase one of our Certified Pollinator Habitat signs!
Find more information about this program along with tons of resources about pollinators and plants that they love!
Healthy Rivers equal Healthy Communities. RiverLink’s Watershed Resources program works to improve water quality in the French Broad River and its tributaries. These waterways support critical wildlife habitat for many species, such as the hellbender salamander and rainbow trout. Our local economies thrive on water-based recreational tourism. The French Broad River watershed also provides drinking water for many communities. These things are true only if the water is clean. Our Watershed Resources program uses a combination of initiatives, including on the ground projects and community outreach to improve and protect water quality.
Stream Restorations
Stormwater Control
WaterRICH, Water Conservation Program
Watershed Planning
Name That Creek
Visit Us Virtually
Spring has sprung and we are excited to share with you all the wonderful blooms and plants that are awakening right now. Take a virtual tour of our gardens and see what’s beautiful today at The North Carolina Arboretum.
Engage. Inspire. Enlighten.
Looking for resources that will get your students excited about science? We can help. Duke Energy provides many valuable teaching materials and lesson plans for use inside the classroom – and out. Download helpful fact sheets, lesson plans, experiments and other fun learning tools.
Class activities & lesson plans
https://www.duke-energy.com/energy-education/energy-centers-and-programs/energyexplorium-at-mcguire/teaching-resources
Many of us will be spending more time in our gardens as we shelter in place during the evolving coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Our gardens will continue to grow and we will continue to have gardening questions.
To answer those questions, Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteers of Buncombe County will be working from home to keep the Garden Helpline open to the public. We are available to respond to your phone calls and emails. Send an email or leave a voice message at any time and a Master Gardener will respond during the Helpline hours listed below.
The information we provide is consistent with NC State University horticultural research and an integrated pest management approach which includes cultural, mechanical, biological, and chemical methods.
MONDAY & WEDNESDAY: 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
FRIDAY: 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Open March through October.
2 Ways to Reach Them:
- Call 828-250-4878
- Email [email protected] with your questions and photos.
Join us on a video hike through a protected conservation property to learn about lichens! Do you know the difference between mosses and lichens? AmeriCorps Project Conserve member Shay “Sarge” Sargent leads a virtual adventure to answer this question and more.
With classes and jobs moving online in the wake of COVID-19, the UNC Asheville community is missing being in each other’s company, and we’re missing being on our beautiful campus in the springtime. It’s an especially lovely time of year, and while photos can’t capture the smell of flower blossoms or the warm breeze in the new leaves on the trees, we hope you’ll enjoy this photo tour of our campus in bloom.
https://stories.unca.edu/springtime-on-campus
MEET AT VISITOR CENTER (Outdoor Class)
Join us for an easy, early morning bird walk in the Gardens led by Dr. Andrew Laughlin, longtime birder and UNCA assistant professor and researcher. As we look for, listen to and enjoy the birds, we’ll learn to recognize their songs and calls. Field guides helpful but not required. Bring binoculars if you have them and dress for rain or shine.
Dr. Andrew Laughlin is an assistant professor in the Environmental Studies department at UNC Asheville where he teaches General Ecology, Avian Ecology & Conservation, and Wildlife Ecology & Management. His interest in birds was sparked 20 years ago in Portland, OR, where he saw his first Great Blue Heron rookery at a wildlife reserve just south of the city center. His current research includes a re-survey of the bird communities of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, studying the effects of climate change and Eastern Hemlock decline on bird distribution and abundance in the Park.
Participants must pre-register and pre-pay for classes: 828-252-5190.
Limit 12
See where the cougars and otters sleep overnight, meet black bears that are not commonly on display, learn the ins and outs of what it takes to care for the animals year-round, observe a training session and find out why the animals call Grandfather Mountain home.
Offered on weekends, April – October.
Saturdays, from 9 a.m. to noon, beginning March 21.
The market will operate for as long as necessary, possibly expanding to other locations and days of the week as opportunity and demand allows.
Market Rules
- No customers or vendors exhibiting symptoms may enter the market.
- Maintain 6 feet of social distance at all times.
- One customer at a time for each vendor table.
- Only handle product you are purchasing. Products will be pre-packaged or bunched.
- Children, if they must attend with adult shoppers, must be closely supervised.
Anyone failing to comply with these conditions will be directed to leave the market.
Due to ongoing Covid-19 concerns and for the safety of all our visitors, Bullington Gardens will not be holding our annual Spring Plant Sale on the scheduled dates. We are accepting plant orders for pick-up. Please look over the available plant list and fill out the reservation form. We we will call you to confirm your order, collect payment and schedule a pick up time. Thank you for your patience and support during this time.
Plant Availability List 4/3/2020
The N.C. Arboretum is excited to host the 9th annual Mountain Science Expo on Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Part of the state-wide North Carolina Science Festival, this family-friendly event features hands-on science demonstrations, guided programs and more than 20 exhibitors from the region. This year’s theme, “Anyone with a Question IS a Scientist” encourages children and adults to find their own “inner scientist” by uncovering common question they may encounter in their everyday lives. During the festival, visitors are encouraged to participate in the City Nature Challenge, a global citizen-science competition held April 24 – 27. The Arboretum is a co-leader for the Western North Carolina team and will host iNaturalist training, nature walks and bioblitzes throughout the day.
The exhibit is on loan from the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and has been supplemented with artifacts from the Smith-McDowell House collection. Entrance to the exhibit is included with Smith-McDowell House admission – and is always free for members – and runs through May 16, 2020.
The exhibit seeks to put the local men and women who served in context with the larger events happening in North Carolina, the United States, and the world. In the exhibit, visitors will find displays and interactive elements telling the stories of just a few of our hometown heroes.
Are you and your child interested in seeing the Nature Center like never before? Join us on a Junior Wild Walk: A Behind the Scenes Tour for Kids!
Junior Wild Walk participants will get to have a close up encounter with an animal, check out how meals are made, and even get to help feed an animal! There’s no other opportunity like this at the Nature Center. Don’t miss out on this amazing experience with some of your favorite wildlife! While this tour is geared towards younger children, adults will still enjoy this experience as well. All children must be accompanied by at least one parent or guardian.
Tour lasts from 12 pm to 1 pm.
Register online, in person at the Friends office, or by calling 828-259-8091. Spaces are limited, so sign up soon! Junior Wild Walk tickets also include admission into the Nature Center for the day.
This four-part class led by Learning & Engagement Assistant Paige Taylor explores natural and artificial lighting approaches using digital photography. Through a series of weekly assignments, hone your observation skills, and capture landscapes, portraits, and more in a variety of lighting situations. Use images from the Museum’s Collection and other sources for inspiration. Class time includes instruction, group shares, and discussions; individual preparation between classes includes responding to weekly photo prompts, short readings, and journaling. This virtual class is designed with beginners, hobbyists, and those with some photography experience in mind.MAY 6, 13, 20, & 27—Wednesdays, 6–8pm
Registration deadline: May 5
ASAP has launched the Appalachian Grown Farmer Relief Fund to
strategically address the emergency needs of farms during COVID-19 disruptions. Funds will be used for public health preparedness grants to farmers markets, to subsidize essential farm product packaging, and to purchase unsold food for donation to hunger programs. Donations to the Appalachian Grown Farmer Relief Fund can be made online at asapconnections.org or by mail or phone.
Blue Ridge Eco-Gardener Certificate of Merit
Ecological gardening is a way of thinking about gardens and landscapes in which gardens are no longer seen as a collection of plants, but a community with complex interdependencies between plants, animals, soils and the environment. This certificate program explores ecological principles for creating and managing a healthy, self-sustaining garden and landscape in a changing climate. Students enrolling in the Certificate of Merit program will work to complete 120 hours in core classes on topics including principles of ecological gardening, seasonal plants and tasks and sustainable landscape design along with electives on hardscape, edibles, seed saving and other subjects of interest to participants. View current class offerings for credit in the Blue Ridge Eco-Gardener program here.
To begin your program, complete an application and return it to the Education Center along with a one-time, non-refundable $55 application fee.
Join over one hundred students on a quest to deepen understanding of the natural sciences through the Blue Ridge Naturalist Certificate of Merit. The program offers adult learners a comprehensive curriculum of study about the natural world of Western North Carolina. Classes meet year round and students work to complete 240 hours in core courses on ecology, botany, geology and plant identification as well as electives on animals, lichens, insects and more. View current class offerings for credit in the Blue Ridge Naturalist program here. All students must complete and present a final project prior to graduation.
To begin your program complete an application and return it to the Education Center along with a a one-time, non-refundable $55 application fee.
If you are reading this, you are most likely a landowner in western North Carolina who is concerned about the future of your land along the French Broad River or one of its tributaries. Perhaps you have a farm or cattle ranch that has been in your family for generations, or maybe you recently purchased your second home in an idyllic rural area. Whatever your situation, many North Carolina landowners face the same dilemma: how do you ensure that the land you love looks the way that it does forever?
Conserving Land
Protected Properties
Parks, Greenways & Blueways
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FREE Video Course by Wild Abundance
Discover delicacies growing right outside your door.
Your guide through this course is seasoned Wild Abundance instructor Luke Cannon, who has practiced wild food foraging for over two decades. More than a botanist, Luke is a long-time pursuer and teacher of the magic and medicine of plants. An avid naturalist, Luke draws from a diverse pool of knowledge, combining his natural history studies with his life experience in organic farming, natural building, permaculture, nature-based mentoring, and rural homesteading.
Getting started gardening can be exciting, and it can feel daunting.
Your teachers, Natalie Bogwalker and Chloe Lieberman share experience-based, practical instruction for growing their top ten vegetables to really fill your plate, belly, and larder. We put together this class so that you can begin with the crops that are most likely to be successful and rewarding. Or, if you’ve got some experience gardening but want to expand your repertoire, this course will help you do so in a way that makes sense and yields abundantly.
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Many farms across North and South Carolina have added on-farm pickups, home delivery & online pre-orders to accommodate for social distancing in light of the COVID-19 outbreak. Please see the listings below for more information, and check out our interactive Google Map for farm locations near you!
Are you a farmer interested in being listed? Email [email protected]
Please:
- DO NOT show up at farms without prior permission.
- Follow specific instructions provided by each farm.
- Stay home if you are feeling ill.
Get to know the nature near you! This year, as part of the City Nature Challenge, the Arboretum’s ecoEXPLORE program has launched a special BioBlitz Bonus Badge. Children in grades K-8 who complete six “challenges” will earn the BioBlitz Bonus Badge and their adult helpers will also receive a North Carolina BioBlitz patch. ecoEXPLORE is an initiative of The North Carolina Arboretum and is free to all North Carolina residents due to the generous support from the North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation and the Duke Energy Foundation.
Be an ecoEXPLORER!
Are you a group or classroom? Choose the “Group” option on the signup form.
How it works:
- Sign up to be an ecoEXPLORER using the form on this page. Then have your parent check their email for an email where they can click a link to give permission for your participation.
- Go outside in your own backyard or at a designated ecoEXPLORE HotSpot to find wildlife species, including plants, reptiles, amphibians, insects and birds.
- Use your own device — or check out an iPod Touch at any LoanSpot location — and photograph your wildlife observation, noting the data, location, time, size, and species observed.
- Login to your ecoEXPLORE profile online and submit your observation.
- Arboretum staff will then review your observation and submit all approved submissions to the iNaturalist Network , which is used by real scientists!
NEW! North Carolina BioBlitz Patch
For adults looking for an extra challenge this spring, the Arboretum has created the North Carolina BioBlitz patch in conjunction with the 2020 City Nature Challenge (April 24 – 27). To earn the patch, participants will need to create a free iNaturalist account; attend the “Intro to iNaturalist” class on April 9 (or watch the recorded version later); make 50 nature observations during the City Nature Challenge; and help identify 50 species during the Challenge’s “identifying” stage (April 28 – May 3). Students in the Arboretum’s Blue Ridge Naturalist and Blue Ridge Eco-Gardener certificate programs can earn three elective credits if they complete the North Carolina BioBlitz program and one credit if they only take the “Into to iNaturalist” class.
As the growing season ramps up and social isolation continues to define our days, gardening is the perfect way to get outside, ease your mind, and support our local ecosystem – all while maintaining appropriate social distance. Whether you’re nurturing a decade old garden or are using your quarantine time to put plants in the ground for the first time ever, our new program has the tools and certifications for all levels of expertise. Certified gardens receive an official certificate and have the option to purchase one of our Certified Pollinator Habitat signs!
Find more information about this program along with tons of resources about pollinators and plants that they love!
Healthy Rivers equal Healthy Communities. RiverLink’s Watershed Resources program works to improve water quality in the French Broad River and its tributaries. These waterways support critical wildlife habitat for many species, such as the hellbender salamander and rainbow trout. Our local economies thrive on water-based recreational tourism. The French Broad River watershed also provides drinking water for many communities. These things are true only if the water is clean. Our Watershed Resources program uses a combination of initiatives, including on the ground projects and community outreach to improve and protect water quality.