Calendar of Events

Sixty years ago, a doctor from Greenville, South Carolina saw a need: a need for a community blood center that supported the people who lived, worked, and sought care in the Upstate of South Carolina.  Sixty years later, his vision for that community blood center is the bedrock of The Blood Connection (TBC) – a non-profit community blood center serving hospitals across the Carolinas, Georgia, and Virginia.  While many things have changed in the past sixty years, TBC’s dedication to its hospital partners and to saving local lives has not.

 

Despite the current difficulty to collect blood and blood products, The Blood Connection remains steadfast in continuing its mission for the next sixty years to come.  Without volunteer blood donors and community blood centers like TBC, shelves will be empty when neighbors, family, or friends are in need.  Neighbors like Kristen Odom, a mother from Taylors, South Carolina, who received more than twenty units of blood after the birth of her first daughter.  It is because of community blood donors that blood products were available that day, and she has a full life with her husband and two daughters.

 

“I often think about it in the little things like we celebrate her birthday, it’s a pretty day outside, or we’re at the beach,” said Odom.  “This day I get to enjoy because somebody donated blood. I had this overwhelming sense of gratitude…it just still shocks me to this day…here we are, living a completely normal life…because blood was available and they did what they needed to do right away.”

 

It is estimated roughly 60% of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood, but only 3% does.  While the demand for blood products is constantly increasing, unfortunately, the number of volunteer blood donors is decreasing.  As the core donor base gets older, and the younger generation is not donating blood at the same rate, TBC is noticing emptier blood mobiles, and fewer people signing up to donate blood.

 

“We all play a part in supporting the community’s blood supply,” said Delisa English, President and CEO of The Blood Connection.  “We hope people think about what their part will be, whether that is donating blood for the first time, donating blood more often, or hosting a blood drive.  We all have a responsibility to our community to ensure that blood products are available when our friends, family, and neighbors need it most.”

 

Founded in 1962, The Blood Connection spent the first 16 years of its existence under another name: The Greenville Blood Assurance program.  In 2001, the Board of Trustees adopted the name ‘The Blood Connection’ – designed to better reflect the mission of connecting healthy donors to patients in need. With just a handful of hospital partners when the organization was created in the 1960s, TBC now serves more than 100 hospitals and has expanded from the Upstate of South Carolina to three other states.

 

The world around us looks vastly different now than it did in 1962, but one thing remains the same: blood still cannot be replicated or made in a lab.  Blood must be donated and is a true gift to those who need blood products to maintain their quality of life.

 

The Blood Connection is celebrating it’s 60^th anniversary by thanking the donors who make its mission possible.  All blood donors between October 31 and November 6 will receive a commemorative ‘60^th Anniversary’ pin.  To find a center or mobile location to donate, go to thebloodconnection.org/donate.

Visit Grandad’s for the day and enjoy a variety of family fun activities on a 100-acre family farm and apple orchard located in Hendersonville NC near Asheville.  Select pre-picked apples fresh off the trees daily from our bins or enjoy you-pick on select weekends. Starting in late September, in Grandad’s pumpkin patch you will find pumpkins and jack o’lanterns in every size and shape. At Grandad’s Barn and Country Store, you will find a great selection of fall harvest decorations, apple peelers, apple bakers, and other apple gifts. Come by our bakery where we have hot cider donuts all day along with apple pies, cookies, hot cider, apple cider slushies, and many other apple goodies to eat!

The WNC Farmers Market is the premier destination for buying and selling the region’s best agriculture products directly from farmers & food producers to household & wholesale customers in an environment that celebrates the region’s diverse culture, food & heritage.

House of Operation:

WNC Farmers Market: 24/7, 361 days a year market access for farmers
Office: Monday- Friday, 8am-5pm
Market Shops: 7 days a week, 8 am-5 pm
Wholesale and Truck Sheds: 7 days a week

The Justus Family has been growing delicious NC Apples in Hendersonville for more than Four Generations, our Fifth generation is now an active part of Justus Orchard as well.  At our NC Apple Orchard, you will find U Pick or We Pick Apples, Blackberries, and Pumpkins  Whether you choose to U Pick or We Pick, you can sample, mix and match to make sure go home with your favorite apples for eating or cooking.  Review the apple varieties we grow and sell and their usual ripening times here.

We invite you to experience picking your own NC Apples, enjoy a day in the beautiful Western North Carolina Mountains, there is something for everyone and all ages.  Tour the orchard picking apples, stop by the pond to see our ducks, visit the farm animals, let the kids take a ride on the Cow Train through the orchard, visit Apple House for pre-picked Apples, Honey, Jams, Jellies and Preserves and other homemade goodies.  Visit the Bakery which offers our famous homemade Fried Apple Pies, Apple Cider Donuts, Apple Cider, Cider Slushies, Caramels, Apple Bread and more! You can also find fresh Mountain Cabbage, Sweet Potatoes and other local fall vegetables.

We look forward to having you visit one of the oldest U Pick or We Pick Apple Orchards in Western NC.  We guarantee fresh apples, delicious baked good, beautiful views and wonderful hospitality!

Currently picking: Gala, Golden Delicious, Early Fuji, Mutsu, and a few Honeycrisp

Sky Top Orchard has been a family-owned & operated farm since 1967 when father and son duo Everette and David Butler planted the first trees on Mt. McAlpine, in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. For almost 60 years, Apple Dave and his wife Lindsey grew Sky Top from a small roadside tent into what it is today.

Built with love, sweat, and a lot of hard work, Sky Top has grown to include our hayride and bee train, the apple cannon, and of course, our famous apple cider doughnuts. But throughout the years, one thing stays the same: tradition. At Sky Top, we believe family and creating long-lasting memories is the most important part. We look forward to being a place for you to bring your families for years to come.

YWCA of Asheville is a nonprofit organization working to bridge gaps in education, health, childcare, and earning power for women and families in the Asheville region. The mission of the YWCA of Asheville is to eliminate racism; empower women; and promote peace,  justice, freedom, and dignity for all.

The YWCA indoor pool hosts a comprehensive Aquatics Program with activities for all ages, abilities, and interests.

Volunteer Roles and Responsibilities 

• Join the fun in the pool as a swim assistant. Help children and adults learn the basics of floating, kicking, breathing, and diving.
• Support the Aquatics Program with behind-the-scenes administrative work or on-the-deck supervising

Time Commitment

• Flexible time commitment

Volunteer Requirements

• Background check

Limited Capacity: 12 Guests per Tour
A truly memorable experience featuring rare photo opportunities, this exclusive guided tour offers a behind-the-scenes look at the design and construction of Biltmore House in areas unavailable on the regular house visit. Imagine yourself a Vanderbilt (or cherished Vanderbilt guest) as you take in stunning views seen only from the house’s rooftop and balconies.

Advance reservation required. Tour includes 250 stairs with no elevator access. Wheelchairs, strollers, and baby backpacks are prohibited. Backpacks are not allowed on any guided tours. Guests are required to leave backpacks in a locker or in their vehicle. To participate in this tour, guest must have a daytime ticket, a Biltmore Annual Pass, or a stay at one of the estate’s splendid overnight properties.

Asheville Gallery of Art presents Judy Rentner’s rich, colorful paintings, during the month of October, in an exhibition titled ‘Nature’s Gems’. The opening reception will be held on Friday, October 7th from 5:00-8:00pm.

Of all of the seasons of the year, fall is the crescendo, the last burst of beauty before nature’s tones soften and become quiet in the winter months. Autumn colors are like precious gems: topaz, sapphires, emeralds, rubies…, an endless sparkling array of brilliance. Although an artist cannot compete with God’s creations, she can capture the awe-inspiring essence of a moment in time to share with her viewers. Judy is such an artist.

Judy Rentner has been painting the landscapes of Western North Carolina for 23 years and they continue to inspire her. Having lived in 10 different states from coast to coast, she still considers North Carolina one of the most beautiful. Although she has been painting most of her adult life, it was here that she found her creative style. Painting in oils, with a palette knife, enabled her to achieve the essence of a scene in light and color. Everything about the creative process is personal and many viewers find themselves drawn to Judy’s unique, inviting style.

A graduate of Ohio University, Judy Rentner did not pursue art until years later when she took workshops, in watercolor, from various artists. This was a pivotal time of discovery as she learned the skills needed to express her ideas in paint. She then experimented with different mediums producing work that was both realistic and abstract. Moving to North Carolina, she placed her work in galleries and taught classes in watercolor, acrylic, and oil. Currently, her passion lies in painting landscapes, with a palette knife, in oils. This technique has given her freedom of expression, using color to its fullest extent.

Judy’s work is represented in several galleries. Check out her website at www.judyrentner.com and be sure to drop by Asheville Gallery of Art this October to view her outstanding autumn paintings. The gallery is open from 11:00am until 6:00pm Monday through Sunday.

Her Painting Titles and writeup:

1. “Crossing into light”….My daughter, a photographer, went to Duke Gardens to “chase the light”. Normally I paint from my own sketches and photos, but this was so striking a scene, that it inspired me to capture it in oil.

2. “Sun Rise in the Mountains” was a combination of many scenes I have painted in our beautiful Smokey Mountains.

3 “Fall Treasure” This is a scene I captured in the Smokey Mountain National Park. Almost every fall I drive through the mountains of Western North Carolina searching for the right landscape. I do not have to go far as this is a painter’s paradise.

Capacity is limited.
Tasting room by reservation only. Make reservations in-person on the day of your Winery visit.

To participate in this activity, guest must have a daytime ticket, a Biltmore Annual Pass, or a stay at one of the estate’s splendid overnight properties.

Reservations are required for all wine tastings and must be made on the day of your visit. Because our complimentary wine tastings fill up quickly, we recommend you reserve your tasting when you arrive for your visit.

Natural Collector is organized by the Asheville Art Museum. IMAGE: Christian Burchard, Untitled (nesting bowls), 1998, madrone burl, various from 6 × 6 × 6 to ⅜ × ⅜ × ⅜ inches. Gift of Fleur S. Bresler, 2021.76.01.

Natural Collector | Gifts of Fleur S. Bresler features around 15 artworks from the collection of Fleur S. Bresler, which include important examples of modern and contemporary American craft including wood and fiber art, as well as glass and ceramics. These works that were generously donated by contemporary craft collector Bresler to the Asheville Art Museum over the years reflect her strong interest in wood-based art and themes of nature. According to Associate Curator Whitney Richardson, “This exhibition highlights artworks that consider the natural element from which they were created or replicate known flora and fauna in unexpected materials. The selection of objects displayed illustrates how Bresler’s eye for collecting craft not only draws attention to nature and artists’ interest in it, but also accentuates her role as a natural collector with an intuitive ability to identify themes and ideas that speak to one another.” This exhibition presents work from the Collection representing the first generation of American wood turners like Rude Osolnik and Ed Moulthrop, as well as those that came after and learned from them, such as Philip Moulthrop, John Jordan, and local Western North Carolina (WNC) artist Stoney Lamar. Other WNC-based artists in Natural Collector include Anne Lemanski, whose paper sculpture of a snake captures the viewer’s imagination, and Michael Sherrill’s multimedia work that tricks the eye with its similarity to true-to-life berries. Also represented are beadwork and sculpture by Joyce J. Scott and Jack and Linda Fifield.

Wednesday through Monday from 11am to 6pm

Rebel/Re-Belle: Exploring Gender, Agency, and Identity | Selections from the Asheville Art Museum and Rubell Museum combines works, primarily created by women, from two significant collections of contemporary art to explore how artists have innovated, influenced, interrogated, and inspired visual culture in the past 100 years.

 

The IdentoGo TSA PreCheck® Mobile truck will be coming to Asheville Regional Airport from Monday, October 31 through Monday, November 11, 2022. The Mobile Enrollment Center will be located in the Cell Phone Lot across the street from the terminal. TSA PreCheck® is an expedited screening program that enables identified low-risk air travelers to enjoy a smart and efficient screening experience. For TSA PreCheck® travelers, there is no need to remove shoes, 3-1-1 liquids, laptops, light outerwear or belts. Today, TSA PreCheck® is at 200+ U.S. airports. The TSA PreCheck® application program allows U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to directly apply for TSA PreCheck®. Once approved, travelers will receive a “Known Traveler Number” (which can be added to a traveler’s airline profile and reservations) and will have the opportunity to utilize TSA PreCheck® lanes at select security checkpoints when flying on over 80 airlines that currently participate in TSA PreCheck®. To participate in this local enrollment event, visit flyavl.com/precheck for instructions. Pre-registration is required, as appointments are limited and are on a first-come, first-served basis. IMPORTANT!  To complete the application process, you will need to bring documentation proving identity and citizenship status. If you have a valid U.S. passport, that is all you need for ID. You will finish the process onsite by providing your fingerprints for a background check. The application fee is $85 and can be paid by credit card, money order, company check, or certified/cashier’s check. Cash and personal checks are not accepted.

Before you even begin thinking about volunteering, ask yourself – Am I well enough to volunteer?

Your safety and limiting the spread of COVID-19 is everyone’s main priority. We encourage you to review and adhere to the recommendations on the Buncombe County readiness site on how best to avoid COVID-19 and what to do if you think you might have it.

Bounty & Soul is a community-based non-profit with a mission to connect people to food, education and each other. 

Like to get creative and crafty? Enjoy preparing fun educational games for children? We invite you to be a part of this small, sweet, and  intentional shift that directly supports our Kids Programming. We are looking to have 1-2 folks join us Mondays from 1:30-3:30pm at the Bounty & Soul office. We’re talking bubbles, meditation pin wheels, produce fortune tellers, mini-cook books, exercise games and more!

Requirements: 

• Must agree to adhere to all safety measures implemented at the site
• A positive attitude to bring to the group
• A passion for sharing information on children’s health and wellbeing
• Excellent customer service and communication skills

Health/Safety:

• We are asking volunteers to wear/bring their own face covering when delivering items
  • Cloth covering nose and mouth
  • Fabric or disposable face mask
• Asking volunteers to maintain physical distance of 6 feet or more when possible
  • Note: there are times when the volunteer task requires volunteers to engage closer than 6 feet. Please do not sign up if you feel uncomfortable.

Hosted by: The Buddhist Studies Institute

FREE – ONLINE – 30 MINUTES – DAILY
🌺Guided meditation support and community🌺

🌸Stabilization and Liberation:
In order to liberate our minds– we need stable calm.

🌸Consistency & Commitment:
Stabilizing in calm clear presence takes consistent training.

🌸Support & Community:
Daily Meditation is a container and support for your meditation focus.

Expand your meditation circle- join us online any day or every day!

Formerly known as 100 Days of practice to support a Tibetan Yogis tradition to practice 100 days in the winter, this has now been expanded to continue daily. To learn more and register: https://buddhiststudiesinstitute.org/daily-meditation/

This relaxing, easy-paced adventure takes you along the French Broad River and the estate’s lush agricultural fields. Your three-to five-mile spin over a combination of flat paved trails, gravel-packed roads, and dirt trails includes occasional stops where your guide will share intriguing tidbits about the Vanderbilts, their guests, and the estate’s natural history.

Advance reservations are required. To make reservations for this activity, guest must have a daytime ticket, a Biltmore Annual Pass, or an overnight stay booked at Village Hotel, The Inn, or Cottages on Biltmore Estate.

Mountain & Comfort Bikes are available. A limited number of trailers and tag-alongs are available for younger children.

Walk through and experience a haunted greenhouse where the plants come alive at night. Each participant will receive a plant goodie bag. Refreshments will be provided. This event is open to the public and free of charge.

FREE | All ages (under 14 must be with adult)

Experience a haunted greenhouse where the plants come alive at night. Each participant also receives a plant goodie bag and light bites.

This fun and high-energy class combines the three fundamentals of musical theatre which include acting,
singing, and dance! With a focus on singing, musicality, movement, and storytelling, students will learn new
skills and make new friends. A sharing will take place at the end of the session. No prior experience is
necessary

Asheville Outlets will host their Annual Boo Bash Halloween event on Monday, October 31, 2022, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Free Trick-or-Treating will be enjoyed throughout the center, as well as a live remote with iHeart Radio. Children are encouraged to dress in costume and bring a goodie bag to fill, as they visit various Asheville Outlets’ retailers for candy. TapSnap Phototainment will also be onsite with a festive photo booth, where guests can receive one free 4” by 6” photo and digital download of a single image (while supplies last). For more information, visit ShopAshevilleOutlets.com.

In this eight-week semester, young artists will learn to create dynamic relationships through theatre games,
improvisation, scene work, music, and dance. With an emphasis on ensemble storytelling, character creation,
physicality, and voice and speech, students will leave feeling more collaborative, creative, and confident
making bold choices on stage and in life. Apply your skills in an informal showcase for friends and family at the
end of the session. No prior experience is necessary, only an open mind!

FREE | All ages (under 14 must be with adult)

Put on your costume, make memories, and take pics while receiving treats!

GRAMMY Award Winning Billy Strings is performing for 3 nights at ExploreAsheville.com Arena in Asheville, NC on October 29, 30, and 31.

Out now via Rounder Records, Renewal was produced by Jonathan Wilson and solidifies Strings’ position as a singular artist—one who honors the history of the music that inspires him, while continually pushing it forward. With the record’s sixteen tracks, Strings shares a more personal and honest perspective through his songwriting, while incorporating his wide range of influences with elements of bluegrass, classic rock, metal, psychedelic music and more.

“A premier bluegrass mind for this post-everything era…he has zigged and zagged between the form’s antediluvian traditions and rapid-fire improvisations that hit like hard bop, all within songs with hooks so sharp that he seems poised for crossover stardom.” —The New York Times

“In addition to some dazzling picking from Strings and his bandmates, there’s a heaviness to the chord progressions and lyrics that speaks to his love of metal.”—Rolling Stone

“Strings’ high level of musicianship and lyrical sincerity are the kind that defies the boundaries of time and genre.”—Spin

Join us every Monday night for Singo (Musical Bingo)!

Singo will run from 7-8:15 pm.

No reservations needed, just get ready for a good time and a chance to win some Down Dog prizes!

Join host and Malaprop’s Bookseller Allison to dive into the wreck of the wily and wonderful world of science fiction, fantasy, weird fiction, speculative fiction, and literary horror with a healthy mix of underappreciated classic and contemporary books. Meets the last Monday of every month at 7 pm on Zoom. Also meets on the second Monday of every month at 7 pm to discuss the film adaptations of the books we read.  Click here to see a full schedule of what the club is reading and contact the club host to join. Club attendees get 10% off the book at Malaprop’s!

HAUNT SEASON IS COMING!

2022 will be our 12th Season providing Thrills, Scares, and Terrifying Fun for our guests and fans of all ages, and we love it year after year! Please join us for our The 2022 Haunted Farm! Be Prepared to Be Scared!

Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and our other social media channels for a chance to participate in our FREE TICKET GIVEAWAYS, and for up-to-the-minute updates on schedule-changes related to inclement weather conditions.

The Myers Haunted House a self guided, old school haunt featuring Hollywood horror film characters Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, Leatherface & more. The haunt is located in East Flat Rock, NC.

On Monday, October 31st, Hickory Tavern Asheville will host an adult Halloween Party! Come dressed in your best costume for a chance to win special prizes. Enjoy live music with Commodore Fox, drink specials, and ghoulish fun! Event kicks off at 8 p.m.