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.
43 Town Square Blvd.
Asheville, NC 28803
Come join us for Business After Hours at Hilton Asheville – Biltmore Park!
IBN July Evening Social
Date: Monday, July 14
Time: 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Location: 12 Bones Brewing, 2350 Hendersonville Rd., Arden
Why Should You Attend?
Free to Attend: No fees, no dues—just show up and enjoy!
No Membership or Requirements: No obligations, no restrictions—open to everyone!
Inclusive Environment: All industries and businesses are welcome.
Optional Purchases: Grab some food or a drink if you’d like!
What to Expect:
This is your opportunity to connect with local professionals, promote your business, and expand your referral network in a casual, welcoming atmosphere. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, freelancer, or part of a larger company, this event is perfect for making meaningful connections.
Pro Tip:
Bring plenty of business cards, flyers, or promotional materials to share with other attendees. Have a door prize to contribute? Feel free to bring one—it’s optional but always appreciated!
Don’t miss this chance to grow your business and build new relationships in the community. Invite your colleagues, friends, and business contacts to join in on the fun!
We’ll see you there!
Incredible Business Networking is Sponsored by the following fine companies that make it possible for everyone else to attend for free!:
Mr. Rooter Plumbing WNC
One Health Direct Primary Care
PMI Mountain & Main Property Management
Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More
Pisgah Roofing and Restoration
Michael Freas Photography
Get Lifted Auto Sales and Repair
UNC Health Pardee is hosting weekly open house hiring events in Hendersonville!
This event is open to all candidates who are interested in Pardee as a career destination. Candidates may walk in to apply for jobs.
Our recruiting team will be available to you one-on-one to answer any questions, help with applications, and share more about what it’s like to be part of Pardee’s one great team.
UNC Health Pardee is hosting weekly open house hiring events in Hendersonville!
This event is open to all candidates who are interested in Pardee as a career destination. Candidates may walk in to apply for jobs.
Our recruiting team will be available to you one-on-one to answer any questions, help with applications, and share more about what it’s like to be part of Pardee’s one great team.
UNC Health Pardee is hosting weekly open house hiring events in Hendersonville!
This event is open to all candidates who are interested in Pardee as a career destination. Candidates may walk in to apply for jobs.
Our recruiting team will be available to you one-on-one to answer any questions, help with applications, and share more about what it’s like to be part of Pardee’s one great team.
The North Carolina Writers Network and The Brandy Bar + Cocktails present
JENNIFER McGAHA as next in their series “In the Company of Writers”
The program offers a series of personal and conversational dialogues featuring guest writers/poets, followed by an open-mic forum. These inspirational gatherings will both enlighten and entertain those in attendance. The guest author speaks from 7-8 PM with an open mic from 8 -9 PM. The original music of John Longbottom welcomes you, continues during intermission, and closes the evening. Sign-up for the open mic sheet is posted at the entry.
Jennifer McGaha is the author of three works of creative nonfiction, including The Joy Document, a collection of fifty essays celebrating midlife, Flat Broke with Two Goats, a 2018 OverDrive Big Library Read, and Bushwhacking: How to Get Lost in the Woods and Write Your Way Out, a Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award finalist. Her work has also appeared in many magazines and literary journals including Image, The Huffington Post, The New Pioneer, Lumina, PANK, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Brevity, Bitter Southerner, Crab Creek Review, River Teeth, and others. An Appalachian native, Jennifer lives in a wooded North Carolina hollow with her husband, two cats, four unruly dogs, eight relatively tame dairy goats, and an ever-changing number of chickens
Co-sponsored by the North Carolina Writers Network and The Brandy Bar + Cocktails, the program, “In the Company of Writers” is featured the 2nd Wednesday of each month. https://www.facebook.com/events/581466841671943
The first annual Bodhi Fest, a Buddhist Arts and Film Festival at Asheville Community Theatre on August 16th, 2025 will be a day of illumination as we explore the gladdening qualities of the human spirit ranging from sweet solitude to ecstatic joy. The program will consist of Buddhist films + Q&A, shorts, a dance workshop, a songwriting workshop, musical performances and more. Crafts, art and food from Buddhist sanghas, artists and local vendors will be shared in the front lobby during the festival.
Enjoy an event of immersion in compassionate-wisdom activities that provoke insight and lift the spirit.
🌟 You’re Invited! Experience the Power of BNI Networking 🌟
Looking to grow your business, expand your business referral network, and build long-lasting relationships with local professionals?
Join us at our next BNI Beaucatcher Visitor Event and discover how word-of-mouth marketing can help you take your business to the next level.
🔹 What to Expect:
• A room full of motivated, dynamic business professionals
• Opportunities to share what you do and who you’re looking to connect with
• A proven system for generating quality referrals
• A warm, supportive atmosphere focused on helping each other succeed through business growth
We are currently looking for the following businesses to join us!
Financial Advisor Psychotherapist Property Casualty Insurance
Handyman Estate Attorney Naturopathic Doctor, ND
Real Estate Attorney Marketing Agencies CPA
Whether you’re in finance, marketing, trades, wellness, or any other industry, there’s a seat at the table for you!
🎯 Bring plenty of business cards and be ready to make meaningful connections.
Spaces are limited, so RSVP today!
Rodney Craig, V.P. Beaucatcher Chapter BNI
Call or text: 414-334-9092 Email: [email protected]
Thursday – August 21 – 7-9pm – WNC Songwriter Sessions returns with Karen Cohen, Just Rick, and Todd Hoke. An evening of original songs in the natural acoustics and listening room atmosphere of the beautiful and historic Brandy Bar + Cocktails.
Hidyho Neighbors! Another solid trio of swellegant songwriters will be sharing their lyrical and musical offerings for our August session at the coolest bar in all Hendo. Karen Cohen, Just Rick, and Todd Hoke will entertain you with their tales and tunes. Delicious cocktails + handcrafted songs + friendly folks = time well spent. Join us!
Karen Cohen has honed her own unique finger-style guitar for over 5 decades. Her current passion is writing songs that combine authenticity, emotion, and imagery with beautiful melody. Karen just arrived on the WNC and Upstate SC scene 6 months ago and is generating a lot of excitement at local open mics and songwriter showcases.
Just Rick (aka Rick Reles) is a guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist based in Hendersonville, North Carolina. A lifelong musician and singer-songwriter inspired by the roots of American rock music. He draws from country, blues, bluegrass, rockabilly, and classic rock to craft his growing catalog of original songs. From early bands like Green Steam and Full House to Identity Crisis and IC3, Rick has been a gigging musician. Today he plays solo as well as in Two Step Too and The Right Fit.
Todd Hoke tried therapy but that didn’t work out so he took up the guitar instead and, as of this printing, has remained mostly unincarcerated (a fact his mother loudly boasts about every time her bowling league gathers at the pool hall to play poker and whittle).
With hosts Annie Wenz and Todd Hoke. For more info visit: [email protected]
We all know how to “turn on” our confidence for a big meeting. But what if that power wasn’t just a temporary performance? In this inspiring keynote, TV Host and Fundraising Auctioneer Erin Kienzle shares her powerful framework for “The Switch.”
Learn how to:
-Instantly command any room with a simple 3-step tool.
-Find the courage to stop performing and pivot toward your true purpose.
-Redefine success on your own terms by giving yourself three essential permissions.
Stop just playing a part. It’s time to unlock your authentic influence and realign your life.
WED 8/10/25 – 7-9 PM – The North Carolina Writers Network and The Brandy Bar + Cocktails present as next in their series “In the Company of Writers.” Kate Crawford
The program offers a series of personal and conversational dialogues featuring guest writers/poets, followed by an open mic forum. These inspirational gatherings will elucidate and entertain those attending. The guest author speaks from 7-8 PM with an open mic from 8 -9 PM. The Chicago blues music of “John Longbottom” welcomes you, continues during intermission, and closes the evening. You are welcome to sign up for the open mic with the sign-up sheet at the entrance.
Katherine Scott Crawford is the award-winning author of The Miniaturist’s Assistant and Keowee Valley. A former backpacking guide, adjunct professor, and recovering academic, her newspaper column appeared weekly across the country and abroad, including in USA Today, The Detroit Free Press, The Herald Scotland, and more. Winner of a North Carolina Arts Award in fiction, she holds an MFA in Writing from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. She’d rather be in the woods with her dog than anywhere else, enjoys curious people, adventure, and snow, and believes historical fiction the best way to time travel. An eleventh-generation Southerner, she directs writing retreats at a remote mountain lodge near Brevard, North Carolina, where she lives with her family.
For more info visit: https://www.facebook.com/TheBrandyBar/events
Asheville, NC — September 19, 2025 — The Western North Carolina Recovery Community Collaborative (WNCRCC) will host the First Annual WNC Recovery Rally: “Pathways to Recovery – One Rally, Many Journeys” on Friday, September 19, 2025, from 1:00–5:00 p.m. at Pack Square Park in Downtown Asheville.
This free, family-friendly event celebrates National Recovery Month, honoring individuals and families impacted by mental health and substance use disorders. The rally aims to break stigma, inspire hope, and connect the community with multiple pathways to recovery.
Event Highlights
Inspirational speakers & personal recovery stories
Live music & entertainment
Food trucks & family-friendly activities
Resource fair featuring 40+ community organizations
“This rally is about showing WNC that we are surrounded by recovery, the hope that’s available, and the many resources ready to walk alongside anyone throughout their journey,” said Jessica Shepherd Joudry, Chair of the Planning Committee.
The Asheville Business Summit
Tues, Sept 23 2025 • 9 am – 4 pm
Forge the Future TOGETHER
This summit is more than an event—it’s a catalyst.
A place where entrepreneurs, innovators, and change-makers gather to learn, grow, and lead with purpose.
Together, we’ll rise to meet challenges, rebuild stronger post-crisis, and shape the future of business in our mountain region and beyond.
This October, elected officials from city, county, and state government, campaign strategists, nonprofit leaders, and political science experts from Western Carolina University will join Asheville’s young professionals for 828 Lead, a new civic leadership bootcamp created and hosted by Asheville’s Young Professionals (AYPROS).
The three-day intensive runs October 3 – 5 at Hatchworks Coworking and brings together 30 up-and-coming leaders who want to run for office, serve on boards and commissions, or just figure out how campaigns actually work. They’ll sit in on Government 101, dive into a campaign-building workshop, and even practice delivering stump speeches. By Sunday, participants walk out not only with a recognition of participation signed by elected officials, but also a mentor connection and a clearer path into Asheville’s civic life.
Coverage opportunities:
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Friday, Oct 3 (5:30–7:30 PM): Kickoff social with elected officials, hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine, and n/a drinks
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Saturday, Oct 4: Live campaign-building sessions, panels with elected leaders, and strategy coaching
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Sunday, Oct 5: Stump speech coaching and a closing ceremony
This is the first program of its kind in Asheville, pairing current elected leaders with the region’s rising talent. It’s a timely story about how our city is preparing its civic pipeline, and a visual one with speeches, panels, and live training.
We’d love to see you there and can coordinate interviews with participating officials or cohort members.
Dark City LIT! A Literary Festival at the Black Mountain Public Library
105 N. Dougherty St. Black Mountain NC 28711
Saturday, November 8
Join us for the inaugural Dark City LIT! Literary Festival!
Write Local, Read Local Author Fair is back for its fourth year! 20 local authors will be handselling books from 9-11 a.m. and reading from their works from Noon to 1 p.m.
Free Workshops Follow:
1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
The Fun, Fascinating, and Fabulous World of Research with Dr. Susan Eischeid
In this engaging workshop, you’ll learn practical strategies for harnessing research—whether historical, personal, or primary sources—to elevate your fiction and non-fiction writing with vivid detail and universal resonance.
3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Publishing as Collective Practice with Andrew Mack of Loblolly Press
Discover how vibrant communities and collaborative efforts—from writers’ groups to small presses—are reviving literature today and leave with your own personalized “community map” to sustain your creative journey.
Followed by An Evening with Tessa Fontaine!
5:00 – 6:30 p.m.
Author of The Electric Woman: A Memoir in Death-Defying Acts and The Red Grove, longlisted for the Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize. Tessa will be reading from her work and signing copies of her books.
The North Carolina Writers Network and The Brandy Bar + Cocktails present VIVIAN I BIKULEDGE & MICHAEL HETTICH as next in their series “In the Company of Writers”
The program offers a series of personal and conversational dialogues featuring guest writers/poets followed by an open mic forum. These inspirational gatherings will elucidate and entertain those attending. The guest authors speak from 7-8 PM with an open mic from 8 -9 PM. The original music of Bob Sherrill welcomes you, continues during intermission, and closes the evening. Sign-ups for the open mic sheet are posted at the entry.
Vivian I. Bikulege is a poet and essayist. Her work has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and has appeared in the North Carolina Literary Review, The Fourth River, and Broad River Review. A semi-finalist for the 2023 James Applewhite Prize, she also earned honorable mention in the 2022 Randall Jarrell Poetry Competition. Vivian was the 2022 Gilbert-Chappell emerging adult poet for western North Carolina under the mentorship of Ken Chamlee.
192 Haywood Street
Asheville, NC 28801
Making connections is key to meeting business goals and building brand awareness. Mega Networking lets you do just that in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. You’ll meet business contacts from a variety of industries, gain exposure for your company and learn about other local businesses.
Held just twice a year, Mega Networking’s structured, “round robin” approach allows you to make valuable connections in a small group. Each person has a chance to share about their business, and a table leader moderates to put you at ease and keep the group on track. As you rotate from table to table, you’ll interact with most of the attendees, allowing you to make numerous connections in just one morning.
You’ll leave with great leads, great ideas and positive energy to keep your business moving forward.
Helpful tips:
- * Practice your “elevator speech” ahead of time so you can share your most important information in one minute.
- * Bring a little something to help others remember you and your business (something visual yet simple, AND your business card).
- * Stay “portable” — you’ll be moving from table to table throughout the morning.
- * If you’re a newcomer to this event, arrive a little early so you can settle in comfortably at your first table and learn the flow of the event without being rushed.
- * Schedule time now on your calendar to follow up soon with those you meet.
Cost is $50 per Chamber member, $85 for other attendees.
The 44th annual Western North Carolina Parade of Homes, happening October 11-12 and 18-19, is a free, self-guided tour of new and remodeled homes by top builders throughout Asheville, Hendersonville, Black Mountain, Fairview, and beyond. Visitors can explore a wide variety of homes in person or take advantage of virtual tours. Whether you’re dreaming, designing, or actively building, the Parade offers inspiration at every price point. Sponsored by the Builders Association of the Blue Ridge Mountains. For more information, visit wncparadeofhomes.com.
The 44th annual Western North Carolina Parade of Homes, happening October 11-12 and 18-19, is a free, self-guided tour of new and remodeled homes by top builders throughout Asheville, Hendersonville, Black Mountain, Fairview, and beyond. Visitors can explore a wide variety of homes in person or take advantage of virtual tours. Whether you’re dreaming, designing, or actively building, the Parade offers inspiration at every price point. Sponsored by the Builders Association of the Blue Ridge Mountains. For more information, visit wncparadeofhomes.com.
43 Town Square Blvd.
Asheville, NC 28803
Marking Progress, Envisioning the Future: A Conversation with County Leaders
Hear from Buncombe County Commission Chair Amanda Edwards and Buncombe County Manager Avril Pinder at this re-envisioned Legislative Update event. You’ll gain insights on Buncombe County’s progress towards rebuilding and recovery along with envisioning the future. In this intimate conversation moderated by Chamber VP of Public Policy Casey Gilbert, our panelists will discuss how planning initiatives underway (such as parks, small area plans, infrastructure, childcare, housing and economic mobility) intertwine to build back a stronger, more resilient community.
Please join us to celebrate how far we’ve come – and to hear how the community’s feedback is shaping where we go from here.
Pisgah Legal’s Justice Forum will be held at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium in downtown Asheville on Thursday, October 23rd. There will be a ticketed, pre-event reception at 5:30 pm followed by the free Justice Forum at 7:00 pm. There will be an option for live-streaming for those that prefer to join virtually and there will be several Regional Watch Parties in communities across WNC. Ticket sales and registration will be available August 13, 2025.
Award-winning garden blogger, Lisa Wagner, encourages creative ways to plan, record, and reflect on your journeys through the seasons in your garden and landscape.
This event is open to all candidates who are interested in Pardee as a career destination. Candidates may walk in to apply for jobs.
Our recruiting team will be available to you one-on-one to answer any questions, help with applications, and share more about what it’s like to be part of Pardee’s one great team.
Parking is available in the garage next to the main entrance
Saturday | Doors Open at 9:00 AM
Join us for the inaugural Dark City LIT!, a celebration of local literary talent. The day kicks off with the Write Local, Read Local Author Fair, featuring 20 local authors hand-selling their books.
🕛 Noon – 1:00 PM: Enjoy a dynamic Rapid-Read Hour, where authors share quick readings from their latest works.
📝 Afternoon Workshops: Dive into writing workshops designed to inspire and elevate your craft.
🌟 Featured Author Tessa Fontaine closes the day with a powerful reading and book signing.
📍 Don’t miss this vibrant day of storytelling, creativity, and community!
The Black Mountain Public Library is excited to announce that registration is now open for the fourth annual “Write Local Read Local Author & Illustrator Fair” taking place Saturday, November 8, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
This beloved community event brings together authors, illustrators, and book lovers from across the Swannanoa Valley for a morning of conversation, connection, and creativity. Participants will have the opportunity to meet the public face-to-face, hand-sell their books, and share their stories in a welcoming, literary atmosphere.
The fair is more than just a book signing—it’s a celebration of the incredible talent in our valley and an invitation for our neighbors to discover and support it.
Each registered participant will receive table space for the drop-in event at no cost. Whether you’re an emerging author, an established illustrator, or somewhere in between, this is your chance to be part of the vibrant Swannanoa Valley literary community. (If you participated in the 2024 event, we ask you to wait until next year unless you have published work since 11/2024. We appreciate your understanding.)
While pain is an unpleasant and universal part of the human experience, it can be a profound gateway to deeper connection, understanding, and empowerment. With this understanding, workshop facilitator, Emily Marjean Coolbeth, will lead participants through mindfulness and creative writing exercises designed to tap into both areas of joy and woundedness in order to help transform our places of hurt into areas of strength.
Join medicinal herb farmers, buyers, and celebrate the season at the 10th Annual NC Medicinal Herb Grower Buyer Event in Mills River, NC!
WNC Songwriter Sessions return with Tret Fure, Old Sap and Annie Wenz. Join us for an evening of original songs in the natural acoustics and listening room atmosphere of the beautiful and historic Brandy Bar.
Hidy ho Neighbors! Another trio of wonderfilled songwriters will be sharing their lyrical and musical offerings for our November session at the coolest bar in all Hendo. Tret Fure, Old Sap, and Annie Wenz will knock the stuffing right out of your Butterball. Delicious cocktails + handcrafted songs + friendly folks = time well spent. Join us!
With hosts Annie Wenz and Todd Hoke. For information contact [email protected]
This event is open to all candidates who are interested in Pardee as a career destination. Candidates may walk in to apply for jobs.
Our recruiting team will be available to you one-on-one to answer any questions, help with applications, and share more about what it’s like to be part of Pardee’s one great team.
Parking is available in the garage next to the main entrance