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.

Hosted by Jissel Ravelo
Are you looking to feel more present, empowered and purposeful?
About this Event
In this virtual experience, we pave the way to establish more authentic, profound and lasting transformation on the physical, emotional and spiritual levels, through coming together as a community. These ancient practices, teachings and inner journeys are designed to connect you back to nature, open your heart and help understand your potential. Come ready to reflect, visualize, write and share (if comfortable).
Other benefits include:
• Supporting your ability to create positive life changes
• Increasing inner power and confidence
• Expanding your sense of wholeness and well-being
• Promoting a stronger connection to a spiritual source and soul purpose
• Changing limiting or negatives beliefs
• Balancing the mind for clarity and enhanced intuition
• Helping to feeling more present and stable in life
The following is recommended: a quiet and comfortable space, a blanket and pillow, water, and a journal. Optional tools (if available): sage, palo santo, florida water, favorite essential oil, crystals, stones and a candle.
Any donation amount is appreciated, we accept donations up to $30 per group session.
Note: this is a two-day course which takes place on Saturday, July 23, and Sunday, July 24, 9:30AM-5PM each day.
This is a beginners class for students wanting to learn the skills, exercises, and the fundamentals of mediumship. (Students need to bring a pen and notebook. Printed handouts will be also provided.)
Anthony Mikolojeski will be teaching students the foundation and techniques behind mediumship, and all healing aspects. Students will begin to learn various exercises in how to expand their energy to connect with loved one’s in the spirit world. Students will be engaging in exercises with each other while being mentored by Anthony. They will learn the boundaries, the responsibilities and professional ethics surrounding doing this work.
We will be doing a few singing bowl meditations, practice in meeting spirit guides we haven’t met before and learning techniques on how to build your personal power.
(Because of the summer tourist season and increased high traffic, students will be expected to allow extra traveling time so you arrive promptly for class.) We will start at 9:30 am sharp.
I just love what I do and look forward to to working with everyone in class!❤️
Lunch will be provided along with water, coffee, teas, and chilled beverages. (Please indicate if you have any specific dietary restrictions or allergies, please email Anthony at: [email protected].
Anthony has studied with some of the best mediums in the U.S and U.K such as James Van Praagh, Tony Stockwell, Mavis Pitilla, and Sheila French, just to name a few. He has completed a mentorship in mediumship with James Van Praagh and advanced mentorship with Mavis Pitilla. Anthony has also studied at the prestigious Arthur Findlay College in Stansted, England, in advanced mediumship.
Anthony Mikolojeski is known as the Asheville Medium. He has traveled internationally demonstrating mediumship on stage and provided personal readings. You can read more about his background, how he works or to book your next appointment at his website: ashevillemedium.com

French Broad River Park: Go to the parking lot off of Riverview Drive, which is off of Amboy Rd. Find the cobalt blue canopy tent!
We will be as close to as directly across the parking lot as we can, near the water, with the tent (go past the bathrooms and head to the water). So, you should be able to find us pretty easily if it’s your first time).
We’ll enjoy meditations/visualizations, psychic ability empowerment, chakra activations, and lively discussions about how we can participate in the evolution of the new earth… a world where truth and the ethos of love (e.g.: Law of One) are the guiding forces.
All who are interested in spiritual growth and evolution and getting to know others who are “on their wavelength” are welcome.
NOTE: Bring a chair, pillow, or towel to sit on, an open mind, and energies of love, receptivity, and curiosity.
We look forward to meeting you!
Note: this is a two-day course which takes place on Saturday, July 23, and Sunday, July 24, 9:30AM-5PM each day.
This is a beginners class for students wanting to learn the skills, exercises, and the fundamentals of mediumship. (Students need to bring a pen and notebook. Printed handouts will be also provided.)
Anthony Mikolojeski will be teaching students the foundation and techniques behind mediumship, and all healing aspects. Students will begin to learn various exercises in how to expand their energy to connect with loved one’s in the spirit world. Students will be engaging in exercises with each other while being mentored by Anthony. They will learn the boundaries, the responsibilities and professional ethics surrounding doing this work.
We will be doing a few singing bowl meditations, practice in meeting spirit guides we haven’t met before and learning techniques on how to build your personal power.
(Because of the summer tourist season and increased high traffic, students will be expected to allow extra traveling time so you arrive promptly for class.) We will start at 9:30 am sharp.
I just love what I do and look forward to to working with everyone in class!❤️
Lunch will be provided along with water, coffee, teas, and chilled beverages. (Please indicate if you have any specific dietary restrictions or allergies, please email Anthony at: [email protected].
Anthony has studied with some of the best mediums in the U.S and U.K such as James Van Praagh, Tony Stockwell, Mavis Pitilla, and Sheila French, just to name a few. He has completed a mentorship in mediumship with James Van Praagh and advanced mentorship with Mavis Pitilla. Anthony has also studied at the prestigious Arthur Findlay College in Stansted, England, in advanced mediumship.
Anthony Mikolojeski is known as the Asheville Medium. He has traveled internationally demonstrating mediumship on stage and provided personal readings. You can read more about his background, how he works or to book your next appointment at his website: ashevillemedium.com
The final block party is held in conjunction with the Brevard Police Department and Transylvania County Sheriff’s Department’s National Night Out Celebration.
Attendees can expect a lineup of live music, delicious local food and children’s activities, creating a fun community gathering for all. The June events feature LEAF Global Arts and the July and August events feature our beloved Old Time Street Dances. Block parties will be held weekly from 6-8pm on East Main Street. Many downtown retail businesses and restaurants will also be open for the block party.
HOB and LEAF Global Arts invites everyone to experience a world without borders! From dance, to drumming to arts & crafts, LEAF’s performing artists will bring a new lineup of cultural art experiences and live music to the June block parties. Each week will feature a different band and the LEAF Easel Rider, a mobile arts & crafts lab.
LEAF performances will feature an eclectic mix of music that is different each week, ranging from blues and rock toNew Orleans style jazz.
LEAF resident artist Melissa McKinney kicks off the series on June 14th. “We are so excited to bring the energy of LEAF Global to downtown Brevard,” shares McKinney, “connecting community is part of our mission and we believe downtown Brevard holds the same values. Music is the best way to bring people together.”
Old Time Street Dances, a long-time community favorite, returns to the Heart of Brevard at our July 5th block party. The dances offer free, family-friendly fun that celebrates our Appalachian heritage and is sure to move your feet.
Old Time Street Dances in downtown Brevard are an 80-year tradition. This summer, Whitewater Bluegrass Co. returns to the stage as the host band to lead the crowds in a collection of square dance and contra-style dancing. Evenings will include classic songs, a chance for clogging and traditional Appalachian-called dance. Old Time Street Dances are geared toward participation at every age and skill level.
The Tuesday Night Block Parties are free and open to the public. For more information about LEAF, Old Time Street Dances and other upcoming events, follow Heart of Brevard on Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to their newsletter here.
###
Heart of Brevard 501(c)(3) is a North Carolina Main Street Community, designated by the NC Department of Commerce and Main Street & Rural Planning Center. Heart of Brevard is a recognized leading program among the national network of more than 1,200 neighborhoods and communities who share both a commitment to creating high-quality places and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. All Main Street America™ programs meet a set of National Accreditation Standards of Performance as outlined by the National Main Street Center.

Hosted by Jissel Ravelo
Are you looking to feel more present, empowered and purposeful?
About this Event
In this virtual experience, we pave the way to establish more authentic, profound and lasting transformation on the physical, emotional and spiritual levels, through coming together as a community. These ancient practices, teachings and inner journeys are designed to connect you back to nature, open your heart and help understand your potential. Come ready to reflect, visualize, write and share (if comfortable).
Other benefits include:
• Supporting your ability to create positive life changes
• Increasing inner power and confidence
• Expanding your sense of wholeness and well-being
• Promoting a stronger connection to a spiritual source and soul purpose
• Changing limiting or negatives beliefs
• Balancing the mind for clarity and enhanced intuition
• Helping to feeling more present and stable in life
The following is recommended: a quiet and comfortable space, a blanket and pillow, water, and a journal. Optional tools (if available): sage, palo santo, florida water, favorite essential oil, crystals, stones and a candle.
Any donation amount is appreciated, we accept donations up to $30 per group session.
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.


French Broad River Park location: Go to the parking lot off of Riverview Drive, which is off of Amboy Rd. Find the cobalt blue canopy tent!
We will be as close to directly across from the parking lot as we can, near the water, with the tent (go past the bathrooms and head to the water). So, you should be able to find us pretty easily if it’s your first time).
NOTE: Bring a chair, pillow, or towel to sit on, an open mind, and energies of love, receptivity, and curiosity.
Activation is 2 hours together: The 1st hour is a discussion and sharing (OPEN conversation with a topic we choose from a container that all participate in), a sharing from a group member or members, and then the last hour is a chakra detox/tune up via meditations/guided visualizations, or a psychic ability empowerment session led by the hosts Natalie and Adriane.
This is how we participate TOGETHER in the evolution of “New Earth” energies moving into a world where truth and the ethos of love-light (e.g.: Law of One ideation) are the guiding forces.
All who are interested in spiritual growth, OPEN-MINDED conversations that include the light and dark of our planet, evolution, and the desire to co-create and get to know others who are like-hearted (not just like-minded) are welcome!
We look forward to meeting you!
Dress up in threads from your favorite decade at a dance party to remember! The playlist will begin with classic hits from the 1940s and end with top hits from the 2000s.
Enjoy drinks, refreshments, photo booths, raffles, and prize giveaways!
FREE | Saturday | 7/30 | 7-9pm
Stephens-Lee Community Center Gym
Ages 16 and up
Come be in community with other members of the Psychedelic Society of Asheville. This will be our second monthly meeting. We will be gathering at Carrier Park again and we now have two pop-up canopies to protect from rain if needed.
Please bring a chair or blanket to sit on.
A formal agenda will be added to the description soon.
The Street Dances have been a tradition for over 100 years in Downtown Hendersonville! They began in 1918, at the end of World War I, when the city welcomed home its soldiers from the War by celebrating in the streets. The Street Dances feature bluegrass music, square dancing and demonstrations of clogging, a traditional southern Appalachian style of dance.
Enjoy the fresh air, bring a chair and delight in the one-of-a-kind experience you’ll get from this fun event!
This week, enjoy the music of Hightop Mountain Harmony, a four-piece band that plays a mix of bluegrass, country and gospel music. This week’s clogging performance will be the Southern Connection Cloggers!
In case of inclement weather, the concert will be postponed until 8pm. If the weather does not improve by 8 pm the performance will be canceled.
This Concert Series is sponsored by Burger King, Kathy Watkins of Preferred Realty, Firehouse Subs, Blue Ridge Hospitality and Mast General. This event is hosted by the Henderson County Tourism Development Authority.
The final block party is held in conjunction with the Brevard Police Department and Transylvania County Sheriff’s Department’s National Night Out Celebration.
Attendees can expect a lineup of live music, delicious local food and children’s activities, creating a fun community gathering for all. The June events feature LEAF Global Arts and the July and August events feature our beloved Old Time Street Dances. Block parties will be held weekly from 6-8pm on East Main Street. Many downtown retail businesses and restaurants will also be open for the block party.
HOB and LEAF Global Arts invites everyone to experience a world without borders! From dance, to drumming to arts & crafts, LEAF’s performing artists will bring a new lineup of cultural art experiences and live music to the June block parties. Each week will feature a different band and the LEAF Easel Rider, a mobile arts & crafts lab.
LEAF performances will feature an eclectic mix of music that is different each week, ranging from blues and rock toNew Orleans style jazz.
LEAF resident artist Melissa McKinney kicks off the series on June 14th. “We are so excited to bring the energy of LEAF Global to downtown Brevard,” shares McKinney, “connecting community is part of our mission and we believe downtown Brevard holds the same values. Music is the best way to bring people together.”
Old Time Street Dances, a long-time community favorite, returns to the Heart of Brevard at our July 5th block party. The dances offer free, family-friendly fun that celebrates our Appalachian heritage and is sure to move your feet.
Old Time Street Dances in downtown Brevard are an 80-year tradition. This summer, Whitewater Bluegrass Co. returns to the stage as the host band to lead the crowds in a collection of square dance and contra-style dancing. Evenings will include classic songs, a chance for clogging and traditional Appalachian-called dance. Old Time Street Dances are geared toward participation at every age and skill level.
The Tuesday Night Block Parties are free and open to the public. For more information about LEAF, Old Time Street Dances and other upcoming events, follow Heart of Brevard on Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to their newsletter here.
###
Heart of Brevard 501(c)(3) is a North Carolina Main Street Community, designated by the NC Department of Commerce and Main Street & Rural Planning Center. Heart of Brevard is a recognized leading program among the national network of more than 1,200 neighborhoods and communities who share both a commitment to creating high-quality places and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. All Main Street America™ programs meet a set of National Accreditation Standards of Performance as outlined by the National Main Street Center.

Hosted by Jissel Ravelo
Are you looking to feel more present, empowered and purposeful?
About this Event
In this virtual experience, we pave the way to establish more authentic, profound and lasting transformation on the physical, emotional and spiritual levels, through coming together as a community. These ancient practices, teachings and inner journeys are designed to connect you back to nature, open your heart and help understand your potential. Come ready to reflect, visualize, write and share (if comfortable).
Other benefits include:
• Supporting your ability to create positive life changes
• Increasing inner power and confidence
• Expanding your sense of wholeness and well-being
• Promoting a stronger connection to a spiritual source and soul purpose
• Changing limiting or negatives beliefs
• Balancing the mind for clarity and enhanced intuition
• Helping to feeling more present and stable in life
The following is recommended: a quiet and comfortable space, a blanket and pillow, water, and a journal. Optional tools (if available): sage, palo santo, florida water, favorite essential oil, crystals, stones and a candle.
Any donation amount is appreciated, we accept donations up to $30 per group session.
Come check out for yourself the popular West Coast Swing dance style that can be done to a
wide variety of music, including pop, country, blues, and contemporary music, come at 7pm for a group classes: intermediate
classes with Pflumm and Alain Rogozhin and beginner classes with Rachel Harris and Tola Sun, Followed by a social dance at
8pm, Dress is casual and no partner is needed, BYO wine or beer,
COME HOME TO YOURSELF. FIND WHOLENESS THROUGH EXPLORATION AND DEEP PLAY.
Through process painting, breathwork journeys, circles, and embodied experiences, we will dive into our inner worlds to let our Souls’ Wisdom speak.
You are a powerful, creative being worthy of expression. Within you lies a boundless world of images, symbols, and forms unique to your Soul. Too often, so many of us have had to squelch or dampen our own inner creative fire out of fear of criticism, rejection, or from past discouragement. But no more. Your creativity is your power. It is a portal for accessing what is within and giving it a space in which to be seen, heard, and fully witnessed.
As part of this retreat, we will use the basic tools of tempera paint, brushes and paper to tap and express from the life force energy that is inherent within each one of us. Imagine having the materials and encouragement for your inner child to come out and play with vibrant color, lines, and form without any critique or criticism, but simply to play and revel in joyous bliss, Soul-nourishment, and deep surrender.
With loving support, you will be guided to reconnect with your inner self and wholeness using painting as a tool for self-discovery. Process painting is about the experience of showing up to ourselves, not about the finished painting. No prior art experience necessary. All materials will be provided.
DEEPEN INTO YOUR OWN EMBODIED WISDOM AND EXPRESS YOUR SOUL’S TRUTH.
Each day we will be in gentle-yet-potent self-exploration, ceremonies, and personal practices that will create space for deepened wholeness that will surely be felt long after our time together.
This retreat is a safe space to be all that you are. We wholeheartedly welcome adults of all ages, genders, gender expressions, sexual orientations, races, nationalities, and backgrounds.
We will gather in a group between 10 to 20 people.
Facilitated by the creators of Wisdom of the Shadow and Wisdom of the Divine Feminine: Jessica Ricchetti (Author, Priestess, Energy Alchemist) and Jenny Hahn (Artist and Workshop Facilitator). Transformational experiences are a key element of our own lives as well as our work… and this retreat is an expression of what we honor most deeply.
Join us, Wise one…

Are you ready to be part of the 95th Mountain Dance and Folk Festival®? On August 4, 5, 6, 2022, a different show will be presented live on stage each evening allowing you to appreciate the talent and dedication of the hundreds of musicians, dancers, and storytellers who are preserving the traditions of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. These traditions involve not only the hand-clapping, toe-tapping rhythms of Bluegrass, the style and stories of century-old ballads, the high energy of clogging, the elegance of Big Circle Mountain Smooth Dance, the fun and entertainment of storytelling, but also include an awareness of the hardships and trials that have brought us to this place and time.
This 95th Mountain Dance and Folk Festival® has been made possible through the generosity of our music community volunteering their time and talent to preserve and promote the Southern Appalachian music, dance and storytelling heritage.
A listing of performers who volunteer their time and talent to make our events possible can be found on Our Performers page. Please visit their websites and support their generosity by purchasing music, merchandise, making a contribution to virtual tip jars where available or just to tell them you enjoyed their performance. Our artists especially need our support during these difficult times.
The Mountain Dance and Folk Festival was founded by Bascom Lamar Lunsford as a means for people to share and understand the beauty and dignity of the Southern Appalachian music and dance traditions that have been handed down through generations in western North Carolina. He saw the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival grow to be the oldest gathering of its kind in the nation and it continues in this way, a platform for the talented of the high country lying between the Great Smoky and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Since 1928, the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival has served a crucial role in raising awareness and understanding of the vitality and importance of Southern Appalachian culture throughout the region, nation and world. Bascom Lunsford’s mission was to present the finest of the Appalachian ballad singers, string bands and square dance teams for education and entertainment. The songs and dances shared at this event echo centuries of Scottish, English, Irish, Cherokee and African heritage found in the valleys and coves between the Great Smokies and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Lunsford’s was the first dubbed a folk festival, and he later consulted with many communities across the country interested in organizing similar festivals.
COME HOME TO YOURSELF. FIND WHOLENESS THROUGH EXPLORATION AND DEEP PLAY.
Through process painting, breathwork journeys, circles, and embodied experiences, we will dive into our inner worlds to let our Souls’ Wisdom speak.
You are a powerful, creative being worthy of expression. Within you lies a boundless world of images, symbols, and forms unique to your Soul. Too often, so many of us have had to squelch or dampen our own inner creative fire out of fear of criticism, rejection, or from past discouragement. But no more. Your creativity is your power. It is a portal for accessing what is within and giving it a space in which to be seen, heard, and fully witnessed.
As part of this retreat, we will use the basic tools of tempera paint, brushes and paper to tap and express from the life force energy that is inherent within each one of us. Imagine having the materials and encouragement for your inner child to come out and play with vibrant color, lines, and form without any critique or criticism, but simply to play and revel in joyous bliss, Soul-nourishment, and deep surrender.
With loving support, you will be guided to reconnect with your inner self and wholeness using painting as a tool for self-discovery. Process painting is about the experience of showing up to ourselves, not about the finished painting. No prior art experience necessary. All materials will be provided.
DEEPEN INTO YOUR OWN EMBODIED WISDOM AND EXPRESS YOUR SOUL’S TRUTH.
Each day we will be in gentle-yet-potent self-exploration, ceremonies, and personal practices that will create space for deepened wholeness that will surely be felt long after our time together.
This retreat is a safe space to be all that you are. We wholeheartedly welcome adults of all ages, genders, gender expressions, sexual orientations, races, nationalities, and backgrounds.
We will gather in a group between 10 to 20 people.
Facilitated by the creators of Wisdom of the Shadow and Wisdom of the Divine Feminine: Jessica Ricchetti (Author, Priestess, Energy Alchemist) and Jenny Hahn (Artist and Workshop Facilitator). Transformational experiences are a key element of our own lives as well as our work… and this retreat is an expression of what we honor most deeply.
Join us, Wise one…

Are you ready to be part of the 95th Mountain Dance and Folk Festival®? On August 4, 5, 6, 2022, a different show will be presented live on stage each evening allowing you to appreciate the talent and dedication of the hundreds of musicians, dancers, and storytellers who are preserving the traditions of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. These traditions involve not only the hand-clapping, toe-tapping rhythms of Bluegrass, the style and stories of century-old ballads, the high energy of clogging, the elegance of Big Circle Mountain Smooth Dance, the fun and entertainment of storytelling, but also include an awareness of the hardships and trials that have brought us to this place and time.
This 95th Mountain Dance and Folk Festival® has been made possible through the generosity of our music community volunteering their time and talent to preserve and promote the Southern Appalachian music, dance and storytelling heritage.
A listing of performers who volunteer their time and talent to make our events possible can be found on Our Performers page. Please visit their websites and support their generosity by purchasing music, merchandise, making a contribution to virtual tip jars where available or just to tell them you enjoyed their performance. Our artists especially need our support during these difficult times.
The Mountain Dance and Folk Festival was founded by Bascom Lamar Lunsford as a means for people to share and understand the beauty and dignity of the Southern Appalachian music and dance traditions that have been handed down through generations in western North Carolina. He saw the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival grow to be the oldest gathering of its kind in the nation and it continues in this way, a platform for the talented of the high country lying between the Great Smoky and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Since 1928, the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival has served a crucial role in raising awareness and understanding of the vitality and importance of Southern Appalachian culture throughout the region, nation and world. Bascom Lunsford’s mission was to present the finest of the Appalachian ballad singers, string bands and square dance teams for education and entertainment. The songs and dances shared at this event echo centuries of Scottish, English, Irish, Cherokee and African heritage found in the valleys and coves between the Great Smokies and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Lunsford’s was the first dubbed a folk festival, and he later consulted with many communities across the country interested in organizing similar festivals.


COME HOME TO YOURSELF. FIND WHOLENESS THROUGH EXPLORATION AND DEEP PLAY.
Through process painting, breathwork journeys, circles, and embodied experiences, we will dive into our inner worlds to let our Souls’ Wisdom speak.
You are a powerful, creative being worthy of expression. Within you lies a boundless world of images, symbols, and forms unique to your Soul. Too often, so many of us have had to squelch or dampen our own inner creative fire out of fear of criticism, rejection, or from past discouragement. But no more. Your creativity is your power. It is a portal for accessing what is within and giving it a space in which to be seen, heard, and fully witnessed.
As part of this retreat, we will use the basic tools of tempera paint, brushes and paper to tap and express from the life force energy that is inherent within each one of us. Imagine having the materials and encouragement for your inner child to come out and play with vibrant color, lines, and form without any critique or criticism, but simply to play and revel in joyous bliss, Soul-nourishment, and deep surrender.
With loving support, you will be guided to reconnect with your inner self and wholeness using painting as a tool for self-discovery. Process painting is about the experience of showing up to ourselves, not about the finished painting. No prior art experience necessary. All materials will be provided.
DEEPEN INTO YOUR OWN EMBODIED WISDOM AND EXPRESS YOUR SOUL’S TRUTH.
Each day we will be in gentle-yet-potent self-exploration, ceremonies, and personal practices that will create space for deepened wholeness that will surely be felt long after our time together.
This retreat is a safe space to be all that you are. We wholeheartedly welcome adults of all ages, genders, gender expressions, sexual orientations, races, nationalities, and backgrounds.
We will gather in a group between 10 to 20 people.
Facilitated by the creators of Wisdom of the Shadow and Wisdom of the Divine Feminine: Jessica Ricchetti (Author, Priestess, Energy Alchemist) and Jenny Hahn (Artist and Workshop Facilitator). Transformational experiences are a key element of our own lives as well as our work… and this retreat is an expression of what we honor most deeply.
Join us, Wise one…

Are you ready to be part of the 95th Mountain Dance and Folk Festival®? On August 4, 5, 6, 2022, a different show will be presented live on stage each evening allowing you to appreciate the talent and dedication of the hundreds of musicians, dancers, and storytellers who are preserving the traditions of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. These traditions involve not only the hand-clapping, toe-tapping rhythms of Bluegrass, the style and stories of century-old ballads, the high energy of clogging, the elegance of Big Circle Mountain Smooth Dance, the fun and entertainment of storytelling, but also include an awareness of the hardships and trials that have brought us to this place and time.
This 95th Mountain Dance and Folk Festival® has been made possible through the generosity of our music community volunteering their time and talent to preserve and promote the Southern Appalachian music, dance and storytelling heritage.
A listing of performers who volunteer their time and talent to make our events possible can be found on Our Performers page. Please visit their websites and support their generosity by purchasing music, merchandise, making a contribution to virtual tip jars where available or just to tell them you enjoyed their performance. Our artists especially need our support during these difficult times.
The Mountain Dance and Folk Festival was founded by Bascom Lamar Lunsford as a means for people to share and understand the beauty and dignity of the Southern Appalachian music and dance traditions that have been handed down through generations in western North Carolina. He saw the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival grow to be the oldest gathering of its kind in the nation and it continues in this way, a platform for the talented of the high country lying between the Great Smoky and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Since 1928, the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival has served a crucial role in raising awareness and understanding of the vitality and importance of Southern Appalachian culture throughout the region, nation and world. Bascom Lunsford’s mission was to present the finest of the Appalachian ballad singers, string bands and square dance teams for education and entertainment. The songs and dances shared at this event echo centuries of Scottish, English, Irish, Cherokee and African heritage found in the valleys and coves between the Great Smokies and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Lunsford’s was the first dubbed a folk festival, and he later consulted with many communities across the country interested in organizing similar festivals.
Join us in our new monthly social swing event on the 1st Saturdays of every month, The
music, open vintage space and wood floors and is guaranteed to have you dancing East Coast and/or Lindy all night long, A free
lesson is offered to kick things off and will include a different combination of moves each time, No partner or rhythm needed and
dress is casual, $10 for lesson and/or social dance.
COME HOME TO YOURSELF. FIND WHOLENESS THROUGH EXPLORATION AND DEEP PLAY.
Through process painting, breathwork journeys, circles, and embodied experiences, we will dive into our inner worlds to let our Souls’ Wisdom speak.
You are a powerful, creative being worthy of expression. Within you lies a boundless world of images, symbols, and forms unique to your Soul. Too often, so many of us have had to squelch or dampen our own inner creative fire out of fear of criticism, rejection, or from past discouragement. But no more. Your creativity is your power. It is a portal for accessing what is within and giving it a space in which to be seen, heard, and fully witnessed.
As part of this retreat, we will use the basic tools of tempera paint, brushes and paper to tap and express from the life force energy that is inherent within each one of us. Imagine having the materials and encouragement for your inner child to come out and play with vibrant color, lines, and form without any critique or criticism, but simply to play and revel in joyous bliss, Soul-nourishment, and deep surrender.
With loving support, you will be guided to reconnect with your inner self and wholeness using painting as a tool for self-discovery. Process painting is about the experience of showing up to ourselves, not about the finished painting. No prior art experience necessary. All materials will be provided.
DEEPEN INTO YOUR OWN EMBODIED WISDOM AND EXPRESS YOUR SOUL’S TRUTH.
Each day we will be in gentle-yet-potent self-exploration, ceremonies, and personal practices that will create space for deepened wholeness that will surely be felt long after our time together.
This retreat is a safe space to be all that you are. We wholeheartedly welcome adults of all ages, genders, gender expressions, sexual orientations, races, nationalities, and backgrounds.
We will gather in a group between 10 to 20 people.
Facilitated by the creators of Wisdom of the Shadow and Wisdom of the Divine Feminine: Jessica Ricchetti (Author, Priestess, Energy Alchemist) and Jenny Hahn (Artist and Workshop Facilitator). Transformational experiences are a key element of our own lives as well as our work… and this retreat is an expression of what we honor most deeply.
Join us, Wise one…

Hosted by Jissel Ravelo
Are you looking to feel more present, empowered and purposeful?
About this Event
In this virtual experience, we pave the way to establish more authentic, profound and lasting transformation on the physical, emotional and spiritual levels, through coming together as a community. These ancient practices, teachings and inner journeys are designed to connect you back to nature, open your heart and help understand your potential. Come ready to reflect, visualize, write and share (if comfortable).
Other benefits include:
• Supporting your ability to create positive life changes
• Increasing inner power and confidence
• Expanding your sense of wholeness and well-being
• Promoting a stronger connection to a spiritual source and soul purpose
• Changing limiting or negatives beliefs
• Balancing the mind for clarity and enhanced intuition
• Helping to feeling more present and stable in life
The following is recommended: a quiet and comfortable space, a blanket and pillow, water, and a journal. Optional tools (if available): sage, palo santo, florida water, favorite essential oil, crystals, stones and a candle.
Any donation amount is appreciated, we accept donations up to $30 per group session.

Are you ready to get down with your StarTribe…and Mikaya playing live on the 22 speaker StarTribe sound system…and at the coolest venue in the southeast?
Hooray for such a rare opportunity to do what we love most…and right here at the premier location in Asheville!
- Be at Pack Square by 6:30PM for the opening ceremony!
- StarTribe dances are drug and alcohol free.
- Free attendance for kids 12 & under.
- Bring water!
- And reserve your space early!
Bio:
Mikaya Swabb, founder of Dance Church Maui, uses a spectrum of musical genres to deepen somatic embodiment through movement, breath and presence. He’s also a well-known sound healer that plays the gong, Tibetan singing bowl, Native American flute, N’goni, hand drum, and other sacred sound healing instruments.
The StarTribe Vision:
For thousands of years, countless cultures all over the world have danced for the purpose of community and self improvement, making dance of this kind an invaluable part of life.
The StarTribe ecstatic dances, with musicians like Mikaya, fulfill a passion for dance within the natural outdoor elements and a tight-knit community. StarTribe believes that dance within this energetic, high-minded container is among the most consciousness enhancing activities we can do for ourselves.
In much of the Western world, however, the scope of dance has become narrow and limited with the theme often being of noisy, unnatural nightclubs and bars which may not exactly be empowering, relative to what’s possible.
But there’s a revival of late towards more meaningful dance – dance that takes place in special outdoor settings and within a real sense of community, much like it was for millennia. This is where to find your tribe – StarTribe.
Thousands of people have participated in StarTribe, and for the real spirit of dance. There’s something especially moving and powerful about an entire community of people coming together for this experience, and YOU are warmly invited.
StarTribe is a 501c3 non-profit dedicated to community transformation. That includes YOU.
The Street Dances have been a tradition for over 100 years in Downtown Hendersonville! They began in 1918, at the end of World War I, when the city welcomed home its soldiers from the War by celebrating in the streets. The Street Dances feature bluegrass music, square dancing and demonstrations of clogging, a traditional southern Appalachian style of dance.
Enjoy the fresh air, bring a chair and delight in the one-of-a-kind experience you’ll get from this fun event!
This week, enjoy the music of Hightop Mountain Harmony, a four-piece band that plays a mix of bluegrass, country and gospel music. This week’s clogging performance will be the Southern Connection Cloggers!
In case of inclement weather, the concert will be postponed until 8pm. If the weather does not improve by 8 pm the performance will be canceled.
This Concert Series is sponsored by Burger King, Kathy Watkins of Preferred Realty, Firehouse Subs, Blue Ridge Hospitality and Mast General. This event is hosted by the Henderson County Tourism Development Authority.

Hosted by Jissel Ravelo
Are you looking to feel more present, empowered and purposeful?
About this Event
In this virtual experience, we pave the way to establish more authentic, profound and lasting transformation on the physical, emotional and spiritual levels, through coming together as a community. These ancient practices, teachings and inner journeys are designed to connect you back to nature, open your heart and help understand your potential. Come ready to reflect, visualize, write and share (if comfortable).
Other benefits include:
• Supporting your ability to create positive life changes
• Increasing inner power and confidence
• Expanding your sense of wholeness and well-being
• Promoting a stronger connection to a spiritual source and soul purpose
• Changing limiting or negatives beliefs
• Balancing the mind for clarity and enhanced intuition
• Helping to feeling more present and stable in life
The following is recommended: a quiet and comfortable space, a blanket and pillow, water, and a journal. Optional tools (if available): sage, palo santo, florida water, favorite essential oil, crystals, stones and a candle.
Any donation amount is appreciated, we accept donations up to $30 per group session.

Cedar Bear has been trained in the lineage of Richard Rudis who created the original “Gong Bath™”. Cedar’s Gong Bath’s and concerts include elements from Nada Yoga, DJ mixing, drumming, Tibetan Buddhism, Tantric Hinduism, sacred geometry, and Reiki. This creates a meditative experience in which each participant is acoustically guided via harmonic overtones, into realms of physical & mental/emotional well-being as well as cellular healing. Carefully designed vibrational constructs are used to further entice the brain into Alpha/Theta/Delta wave-scapes of clarity, peace, and wholeness which promotes physIcal, mental, and spiritual awakening, wisdom, and healing.
:: How to Prepare/What to Bring ::
-yoga mat or something soft to lie on and or a pillow.
-we have chairs and back jacks for sitting
-avoid wearing any heavy scents or oils
For more info visit: www.torencollective.com/sound-healing
