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.

Thursday, April 8, 2021
8th Annual Business Plan Contest
Apr 8 all-day
Online w/ Henderson Chamber of Commerce

The Henderson County Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the 8th Annual Business Plan Contest. A well-written business plan lays the foundation for a financially successful business. A well-prepared and executed business plan will grow sales, employment, and improve the bottom line. The business – start-up or existing – with the winning business plan will receive business services including advertising, tax, legal, and marketing for free, a value of over $7,000!
The 8th Annual Business Plan Contest is open to start-ups as well as existing businesses. You DO NOT have to be a Chamber member to participate. Electronic submissions are due to the Chamber by Monday, April 19, 2020. A panel of judges will select the winner and present the award at a reception hosted during Henderson County’s Small Business Week. The date for the celebration is still to be determined.
Business Broadband Survey
Apr 8 all-day
Online w/ The Henderson County Chamber of Commerce
The Henderson County Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the City of Hendersonville to get feedback from the business community on current broadband uses and anticipated needs. Please take a moment to complete the three-question survey below.

Governor Cooper Signs Three Executive Orders
Apr 8 all-day
North Carolina

Tuesday, Governor Roy Cooper signed three Executive Orders. Executive Order 206 extends North Carolina’s statewide residential eviction moratorium through June 30, 2021, in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s recent extension of the nationwide moratorium through the same date. Executive Order 207 expedites the processing of unemployment insurance claims and is also effective through June 30, 2021. Executive Order 205 extends the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission (ABC Commission)’s authorization to permit the delivery or carry-out of mixed beverages as an alternative to on-site consumption through April 30, 2021.

Grants for printing + distribution: Recycling outreach materials in rural + small communities
Apr 8 all-day
Online w/ Carolina Recycling Association
Funding Available for Rural & Small Community Outreach 
CRA Providing Assistance for Printing & Distribution 
CRA is thrilled to announce we will be offering grants for the printing and distribution of recycling outreach materials in rural and small communities!  Our goal is to help reduce contamination and increase participation in these community recycling programs!  
Over the past few years we have heard from many small communities and haulers that there is a great need for financial assistance to reach their residents with anti-contamination and proper recycling information, and we are answering that call for help. The Carolina Recycling Association (CRA) has been awarded a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to assist rural and small community residential commingled or source separated recycling programs in North and South Carolina. The purpose of this grant is to fund the purchase and distribution of education and outreach materials for these communities in order to help educate citizens on what can be recycled in their respective communities and to combat recycling contamination.  Applicants should carefully read the entire application before completing.
 
Application Due Date:

Applications will be accepted until 5:00 pm on Friday, May 14, 2021.

Eligible Entities:
  • Rural local governments, defined as counties, municipalities, councils of governments and solid waste authorities in North and South Carolina.
  • Private or nonprofit haulers that provide recycling collection services to rural communities.
  • Programs offering residential curbside collection or county convenience center drop-off recycling programs.
  • For the purpose of this grant, a rural community as defined by USDA has a population of 10,000 or less.
Henderson County Chamber: Submissions for the 2021 Business Plan Contest
Apr 8 all-day
Henderson County Chamber of Commerce
The Henderson County Chamber of Commerce is presenting the 8th Annual Business Plan Contest and contest submissions are now being accepted. A well-written business plan lays the foundation for a financially successful business. A well-prepared and executed business plan will grow sales, employment, and improve the bottom line. The business – start-up or existing – with the winning business plan will receive business services including advertising, tax, legal, and marketing for free, a value of over $7,000!
Contest submissions are due by 5:00 pm on Monday, April 19. Submissions are reviewed and graded by the Small Business Committee of the Chamber. The winner will be announced and honored at the Small Business Awards Reception at Southern Appalachian Brewery. The final event date has not been determined at this time and is dependent on COVID restrictions but the tentative plan is to host the reception in May or June.
Submissions should include a cover page featuring the name of the business, name of the owner, and contact information, and information outlining the business idea, competitive advantage, market analysis, cash flow, timeline and action plans, and owner qualifications. Optional elements to include are vision and mission statements, table of contents, and legal structure information. Submissions will be graded on the required elements.
Please email your plan to Hoyle Adams at the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce
204 Kanuga Road, Hendersonville, NC 28739 • [email protected] (828) 692-1413
Professional Networking Group for Veterans
Apr 8 all-day
Online w/ Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce
Professional Networking Group for Veterans
Based on member interest, we are exploring adding a new Professional Networking Group specifically for veterans. Our Professional Networking Groups are dedicated member professionals who gather weekly to develop relationships, learn about each member’s business, and share leads and business ideas. Only one representative per industry is permitted.

For this group, participants would be a business that is veteran-owned or someone in a management position attending who is a veteran.

If interested, please contact Member Development Specialist Jessica Kanupp at [email protected] for more information. 

Voices of the River: Art + Poetry Contest
Apr 8 all-day
online w/ RiverLink

Create a river-inspired work of art for our Voices of the River: Art & Poetry Contest. You can make 2D or 3D creations, write poems, haikus or short stories, or even record a dance, skit or song that you create. Winners will receive a variety of prizes donated by local businesses and organizations.

Show Us What the River Means to You!

Every spring we host our Voices of the River: Art & Poetry Contest. We ask kids to use the river as a source of inspiration to showcase their creativity. Each year we are so amazed by the talent of these young artists, poets, and performers. Submissions can include 2D and 3D works in various mediums, poems and creative writings, and video compositions of songs, dances, or skits. Winners are selected by a council of judges made up of local artists, writers, and community leaders. Many generous businesses also donate prizes for winners from each age group and category.

This year we want you to show us “How has the river helped you during this time of isolation?”

All entries are due by Thursday April 22nd

Celebrate National Poetry Month at the Library Black Out Poetry Kits
Apr 8 @ 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
All Buncombe County Libraries

Photo of typewriter

 

April is National Poetry Month and we invite all poets, would be poets and poetry fans to celebrate with Buncombe County Public Libraries.  We’ll be hosting the following free events at libraries all over the county.  For more information on any of these programs, contact your friendly neighborhood library.

Black Out Poetry Kits Available at the Library
All Month Long
Every Library

Come to any library and pick up a free kit to create a black out poetry masterpiece. Black out poetry doesn’t start with a blank page, it starts with a page of words taken from an old book. Poets will eliminate words to create a poem composed of the words left on the page. Visit any branch of Buncombe County Public Libraries in April to pick up your very own black out poetry kit featuring markers, inspiration and pages of print to begin your creation. When you’re finished, photograph your creation and upload it to facebook or instagram. Tag your library’s account and we’ll feature it as a post! You can also drop your poem by the library and we’ll post it for you. Kits are available while supplies last.

Crafting Resilience: Education and Community Engagement
Apr 8 @ 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Online w/ UNC Asheville

Center for Craft, in partnership with UNC Asheville, will host Crafting Resilience, a virtual program series exploring how craft can cultivate strength and sustainability in individuals, spaces, and communities in the face of adverse conditions from March 11 to April 20. The program will bring together interdisciplinary and intersectional voices, and will animate dialogue and reflections on collective memory, healing, and social justice in the study and practice of craft.

Education and Community Engagement | April 8, 2021, 5 p.m.

Moderator: Andres Payan Estrada, Craft Contemporary; Speakers: Tanya Aguiñiga, Artist; Celia Lesh, NIAD Center; Cristina Tufiño, Artist

Live stream Reader Meet Writer: Whisper Down the Lane with Clay McLeod Chapman
Apr 8 @ 7:00 pm
Online w/ Malaprop's

We’re pleased to be part of the Reader Meet Writer series of online events hosted by the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance.

This event is free but registration is required . Prior to the event we will send an email with the link required to complete your registration and attend on Zoom.


Richard doesn’t have a past. For him, there is only the present: a new marriage to Tamara, a first chance at fatherhood to her son Elijah, and a quiet but pleasant life as an art teacher at Elijah’s elementary school in Danvers, Virginia. Then the body of a rabbit, ritualistically murdered, appears on the school grounds with a birthday card for Richard tucked beneath it. Richard doesn’t have a birthday—but Sean does…

Sean is a five-year-old boy who has just moved to Greenfield, Virginia, with his mother. Like most mothers of the 1980s, she’s worried about bills, childcare, putting food on the table…and an encroaching threat to American life that can take the face of anyone: a politician, a friendly neighbor, or even a teacher. When Sean’s school sends a letter to the parents revealing that Sean’s favorite teacher is under investigation, a white lie from Sean lights a fire that engulfs the entire nation—and Sean and his mother are left holding the match.

Now, thirty years later, someone is here to remind Richard that they remember what Sean did. And though Sean doesn’t exist anymore, someone needs to pay the price for his lies.

Clay McLeod Chapman writes novels, comic books, and children’s books, as well as for film and TV. He is the author of the horror novels The Remaking and Whisper Down the Lane. Visit him at claymcleodchapman.com.

Event date:
Friday, April 9, 2021
8th Annual Business Plan Contest
Apr 9 all-day
Online w/ Henderson Chamber of Commerce

The Henderson County Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the 8th Annual Business Plan Contest. A well-written business plan lays the foundation for a financially successful business. A well-prepared and executed business plan will grow sales, employment, and improve the bottom line. The business – start-up or existing – with the winning business plan will receive business services including advertising, tax, legal, and marketing for free, a value of over $7,000!
The 8th Annual Business Plan Contest is open to start-ups as well as existing businesses. You DO NOT have to be a Chamber member to participate. Electronic submissions are due to the Chamber by Monday, April 19, 2020. A panel of judges will select the winner and present the award at a reception hosted during Henderson County’s Small Business Week. The date for the celebration is still to be determined.
Business Broadband Survey
Apr 9 all-day
Online w/ The Henderson County Chamber of Commerce
The Henderson County Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the City of Hendersonville to get feedback from the business community on current broadband uses and anticipated needs. Please take a moment to complete the three-question survey below.

Governor Cooper Signs Three Executive Orders
Apr 9 all-day
North Carolina

Tuesday, Governor Roy Cooper signed three Executive Orders. Executive Order 206 extends North Carolina’s statewide residential eviction moratorium through June 30, 2021, in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s recent extension of the nationwide moratorium through the same date. Executive Order 207 expedites the processing of unemployment insurance claims and is also effective through June 30, 2021. Executive Order 205 extends the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission (ABC Commission)’s authorization to permit the delivery or carry-out of mixed beverages as an alternative to on-site consumption through April 30, 2021.

Grants for printing + distribution: Recycling outreach materials in rural + small communities
Apr 9 all-day
Online w/ Carolina Recycling Association
Funding Available for Rural & Small Community Outreach 
CRA Providing Assistance for Printing & Distribution 
CRA is thrilled to announce we will be offering grants for the printing and distribution of recycling outreach materials in rural and small communities!  Our goal is to help reduce contamination and increase participation in these community recycling programs!  
Over the past few years we have heard from many small communities and haulers that there is a great need for financial assistance to reach their residents with anti-contamination and proper recycling information, and we are answering that call for help. The Carolina Recycling Association (CRA) has been awarded a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to assist rural and small community residential commingled or source separated recycling programs in North and South Carolina. The purpose of this grant is to fund the purchase and distribution of education and outreach materials for these communities in order to help educate citizens on what can be recycled in their respective communities and to combat recycling contamination.  Applicants should carefully read the entire application before completing.
 
Application Due Date:

Applications will be accepted until 5:00 pm on Friday, May 14, 2021.

Eligible Entities:
  • Rural local governments, defined as counties, municipalities, councils of governments and solid waste authorities in North and South Carolina.
  • Private or nonprofit haulers that provide recycling collection services to rural communities.
  • Programs offering residential curbside collection or county convenience center drop-off recycling programs.
  • For the purpose of this grant, a rural community as defined by USDA has a population of 10,000 or less.
Henderson County Chamber: Submissions for the 2021 Business Plan Contest
Apr 9 all-day
Henderson County Chamber of Commerce
The Henderson County Chamber of Commerce is presenting the 8th Annual Business Plan Contest and contest submissions are now being accepted. A well-written business plan lays the foundation for a financially successful business. A well-prepared and executed business plan will grow sales, employment, and improve the bottom line. The business – start-up or existing – with the winning business plan will receive business services including advertising, tax, legal, and marketing for free, a value of over $7,000!
Contest submissions are due by 5:00 pm on Monday, April 19. Submissions are reviewed and graded by the Small Business Committee of the Chamber. The winner will be announced and honored at the Small Business Awards Reception at Southern Appalachian Brewery. The final event date has not been determined at this time and is dependent on COVID restrictions but the tentative plan is to host the reception in May or June.
Submissions should include a cover page featuring the name of the business, name of the owner, and contact information, and information outlining the business idea, competitive advantage, market analysis, cash flow, timeline and action plans, and owner qualifications. Optional elements to include are vision and mission statements, table of contents, and legal structure information. Submissions will be graded on the required elements.
Please email your plan to Hoyle Adams at the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce
204 Kanuga Road, Hendersonville, NC 28739 • [email protected] (828) 692-1413
Professional Networking Group for Veterans
Apr 9 all-day
Online w/ Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce
Professional Networking Group for Veterans
Based on member interest, we are exploring adding a new Professional Networking Group specifically for veterans. Our Professional Networking Groups are dedicated member professionals who gather weekly to develop relationships, learn about each member’s business, and share leads and business ideas. Only one representative per industry is permitted.

For this group, participants would be a business that is veteran-owned or someone in a management position attending who is a veteran.

If interested, please contact Member Development Specialist Jessica Kanupp at [email protected] for more information. 

Voices of the River: Art + Poetry Contest
Apr 9 all-day
online w/ RiverLink

Create a river-inspired work of art for our Voices of the River: Art & Poetry Contest. You can make 2D or 3D creations, write poems, haikus or short stories, or even record a dance, skit or song that you create. Winners will receive a variety of prizes donated by local businesses and organizations.

Show Us What the River Means to You!

Every spring we host our Voices of the River: Art & Poetry Contest. We ask kids to use the river as a source of inspiration to showcase their creativity. Each year we are so amazed by the talent of these young artists, poets, and performers. Submissions can include 2D and 3D works in various mediums, poems and creative writings, and video compositions of songs, dances, or skits. Winners are selected by a council of judges made up of local artists, writers, and community leaders. Many generous businesses also donate prizes for winners from each age group and category.

This year we want you to show us “How has the river helped you during this time of isolation?”

All entries are due by Thursday April 22nd

WNC Arts Launches New Website + Creative Economies Data
Apr 9 all-day
Online w/ WNC Arts

The Western Arts Agencies of North Carolina (WNC Arts) was established in 1980s as a peer support group for arts councils and agencies in WNC. This group is now working to expand their advocacy support for the arts in WNC.

Celebrate National Poetry Month at the Library Black Out Poetry Kits
Apr 9 @ 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
All Buncombe County Libraries

Photo of typewriter

 

April is National Poetry Month and we invite all poets, would be poets and poetry fans to celebrate with Buncombe County Public Libraries.  We’ll be hosting the following free events at libraries all over the county.  For more information on any of these programs, contact your friendly neighborhood library.

Black Out Poetry Kits Available at the Library
All Month Long
Every Library

Come to any library and pick up a free kit to create a black out poetry masterpiece. Black out poetry doesn’t start with a blank page, it starts with a page of words taken from an old book. Poets will eliminate words to create a poem composed of the words left on the page. Visit any branch of Buncombe County Public Libraries in April to pick up your very own black out poetry kit featuring markers, inspiration and pages of print to begin your creation. When you’re finished, photograph your creation and upload it to facebook or instagram. Tag your library’s account and we’ll feature it as a post! You can also drop your poem by the library and we’ll post it for you. Kits are available while supplies last.

Saturday, April 10, 2021
Governor Cooper Signs Three Executive Orders
Apr 10 all-day
North Carolina

Tuesday, Governor Roy Cooper signed three Executive Orders. Executive Order 206 extends North Carolina’s statewide residential eviction moratorium through June 30, 2021, in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s recent extension of the nationwide moratorium through the same date. Executive Order 207 expedites the processing of unemployment insurance claims and is also effective through June 30, 2021. Executive Order 205 extends the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission (ABC Commission)’s authorization to permit the delivery or carry-out of mixed beverages as an alternative to on-site consumption through April 30, 2021.

Professional Networking Group for Veterans
Apr 10 all-day
Online w/ Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce
Professional Networking Group for Veterans
Based on member interest, we are exploring adding a new Professional Networking Group specifically for veterans. Our Professional Networking Groups are dedicated member professionals who gather weekly to develop relationships, learn about each member’s business, and share leads and business ideas. Only one representative per industry is permitted.

For this group, participants would be a business that is veteran-owned or someone in a management position attending who is a veteran.

If interested, please contact Member Development Specialist Jessica Kanupp at [email protected] for more information. 

Voices of the River: Art + Poetry Contest
Apr 10 all-day
online w/ RiverLink

Create a river-inspired work of art for our Voices of the River: Art & Poetry Contest. You can make 2D or 3D creations, write poems, haikus or short stories, or even record a dance, skit or song that you create. Winners will receive a variety of prizes donated by local businesses and organizations.

Show Us What the River Means to You!

Every spring we host our Voices of the River: Art & Poetry Contest. We ask kids to use the river as a source of inspiration to showcase their creativity. Each year we are so amazed by the talent of these young artists, poets, and performers. Submissions can include 2D and 3D works in various mediums, poems and creative writings, and video compositions of songs, dances, or skits. Winners are selected by a council of judges made up of local artists, writers, and community leaders. Many generous businesses also donate prizes for winners from each age group and category.

This year we want you to show us “How has the river helped you during this time of isolation?”

All entries are due by Thursday April 22nd

WNC Arts Launches New Website + Creative Economies Data
Apr 10 all-day
Online w/ WNC Arts

The Western Arts Agencies of North Carolina (WNC Arts) was established in 1980s as a peer support group for arts councils and agencies in WNC. This group is now working to expand their advocacy support for the arts in WNC.

Seasonal Job Fair w/ The Asheville Tourists
Apr 10 @ 9:00 am – 11:00 am
The Asheville Tourists

The Asheville Tourists are hosting two more seasonal employment Job Fairs for those interested in working at the ballpark. The two Job Fairs are scheduled for Tuesday, April 6 from 5:00pm – 7:00pm and Saturday, April 10 from 9:00am – 11:00am.

Interviews will take place at McCormick Field in a safe and socially distanced setting. Masks are required at all times while at the ballpark.

Openings in our Food and Beverage department feature: Cashiers, Cooks, Mobile Food Runners, Concession Stand Leads, and General Concessions Positions.

The Tourists are interviewing for additional openings in Customer Service and Fan Experience, such as Ushers, Bag Checkers, Restroom Attendants and Safety Ambassadors. Positions are also available in the Merchandise StoreGroundskeeping Department, and Parking Attendants.

Job descriptions and detailed information on all available positions can be accessed via the Seasonal Job Fair page on the Tourists website. Applications may be downloaded online or filled out at the ballpark upon arrival. Join the Tourists team by coming out to McCormick Field for the 2021 Seasonal Job Fairs.

Celebrate National Poetry Month at the Library Black Out Poetry Kits
Apr 10 @ 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
All Buncombe County Libraries

Photo of typewriter

 

April is National Poetry Month and we invite all poets, would be poets and poetry fans to celebrate with Buncombe County Public Libraries.  We’ll be hosting the following free events at libraries all over the county.  For more information on any of these programs, contact your friendly neighborhood library.

Black Out Poetry Kits Available at the Library
All Month Long
Every Library

Come to any library and pick up a free kit to create a black out poetry masterpiece. Black out poetry doesn’t start with a blank page, it starts with a page of words taken from an old book. Poets will eliminate words to create a poem composed of the words left on the page. Visit any branch of Buncombe County Public Libraries in April to pick up your very own black out poetry kit featuring markers, inspiration and pages of print to begin your creation. When you’re finished, photograph your creation and upload it to facebook or instagram. Tag your library’s account and we’ll feature it as a post! You can also drop your poem by the library and we’ll post it for you. Kits are available while supplies last.

Sunday, April 11, 2021
Governor Cooper Signs Three Executive Orders
Apr 11 all-day
North Carolina

Tuesday, Governor Roy Cooper signed three Executive Orders. Executive Order 206 extends North Carolina’s statewide residential eviction moratorium through June 30, 2021, in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s recent extension of the nationwide moratorium through the same date. Executive Order 207 expedites the processing of unemployment insurance claims and is also effective through June 30, 2021. Executive Order 205 extends the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission (ABC Commission)’s authorization to permit the delivery or carry-out of mixed beverages as an alternative to on-site consumption through April 30, 2021.

Voices of the River: Art + Poetry Contest
Apr 11 all-day
online w/ RiverLink

Create a river-inspired work of art for our Voices of the River: Art & Poetry Contest. You can make 2D or 3D creations, write poems, haikus or short stories, or even record a dance, skit or song that you create. Winners will receive a variety of prizes donated by local businesses and organizations.

Show Us What the River Means to You!

Every spring we host our Voices of the River: Art & Poetry Contest. We ask kids to use the river as a source of inspiration to showcase their creativity. Each year we are so amazed by the talent of these young artists, poets, and performers. Submissions can include 2D and 3D works in various mediums, poems and creative writings, and video compositions of songs, dances, or skits. Winners are selected by a council of judges made up of local artists, writers, and community leaders. Many generous businesses also donate prizes for winners from each age group and category.

This year we want you to show us “How has the river helped you during this time of isolation?”

All entries are due by Thursday April 22nd

WNC Arts Launches New Website + Creative Economies Data
Apr 11 all-day
Online w/ WNC Arts

The Western Arts Agencies of North Carolina (WNC Arts) was established in 1980s as a peer support group for arts councils and agencies in WNC. This group is now working to expand their advocacy support for the arts in WNC.

Asheville Art in Action to benefit Pisgah Legal Services
Apr 11 @ 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
Online w/ Pisgah Legal Services

Asheville Art in Action is a curated collection of local artists who donate 50% of their sales to local nonprofits. From April 11 through April 25th, they will split proceeds 50/50 between the artist and Pisgah Legal.

Below are the artworks available for sale. If there is a piece that you would like to purchase, please contact the artist directly to find out if the piece is still available and to purchase the piece. Each piece has the artist’s name, dimension and description. Click on the artist’s name under each individual artwork to send an email or from their their contact information listed above their artworks.

Celebrate National Poetry Month at the Library Black Out Poetry Kits
Apr 11 @ 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
All Buncombe County Libraries

Photo of typewriter

 

April is National Poetry Month and we invite all poets, would be poets and poetry fans to celebrate with Buncombe County Public Libraries.  We’ll be hosting the following free events at libraries all over the county.  For more information on any of these programs, contact your friendly neighborhood library.

Black Out Poetry Kits Available at the Library
All Month Long
Every Library

Come to any library and pick up a free kit to create a black out poetry masterpiece. Black out poetry doesn’t start with a blank page, it starts with a page of words taken from an old book. Poets will eliminate words to create a poem composed of the words left on the page. Visit any branch of Buncombe County Public Libraries in April to pick up your very own black out poetry kit featuring markers, inspiration and pages of print to begin your creation. When you’re finished, photograph your creation and upload it to facebook or instagram. Tag your library’s account and we’ll feature it as a post! You can also drop your poem by the library and we’ll post it for you. Kits are available while supplies last.