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.
The 37th Asheville Quilt Show includes Demonstrations, Gift shop, Silent Auction, Special Exhibits, Kids Sewing, Quilts for Sale, Opportunity Quilt and food on site. Over 300 quilts from across the country will be exhibited.

Buncombe County Recreation Services has opened the 2019-2020 cycle of Community Recreation Grants. The grants focus on supplemental funding for qualified organizations to promote innovative, inclusive, and sustainable recreational, fitness, and health and wellness initiatives within Buncombe County as well as community-based activities and capital improvements that increase recreational opportunities for the communities served. Grants may range in amount from $500-$6,000, depending on funding available and the number of qualifying applicants.
Eligible entities include Buncombe County non-profits focused on recreational, fitness, and health and wellness activities. These funds are intended to be a leveraging tool that promote partnerships between the County and area non-profits and are not a donation, funding stream, or sponsorship opportunity. Programs applying for funding should assist Buncombe County Recreation Services in achieving its mission and are required to provide clear timelines and explanations regarding funding requests. The objective of the grants is to extend the reach of the County in its recreation focus areas; grant applicants are required to articulate the estimated impact the grants will have on the community.
Want to Apply?
The grant application deadline is Friday, October 18, 2019. Late applications will be rejected. The Community Recreation Grant Committee will review applications in October and November with all organizations receiving an email notification no later than November 15, 2019.
The Junior League of Asheville, Inc. (JLA) will hold its third annual Volunteer Expo, on Saturday, February 29, 2020 at the Crowne Plaza Expo Center from 10am to 3pm. Modeled after a job fair, this free event will feature more than 70 local nonprofits looking to fill ongoing and future volunteer needs. Nonprofits in almost every area of community concern will be present at the event: health, poverty, legal aid, environmental stewardship, women’s issues, arts, civic leadership, technology, education and animal welfare.
Excitement for the Volunteer Expo continues to grow, with nonprofit participation growing year over year. The 2019 event featured over 70 non-profits with attendance at well over 1,000 community members coming to network and sign up to volunteer with nonprofit organizations.
The 2020 Volunteer Expo will be accepting applications starting in September. Due to the increase in interest for booths at the Expo, this year the League plans to review all applications received instead of awarding booths on a first come first serve basis. They hope this will ensure a good mix of volunteer opportunities in a variety of service areas as well as allow new nonprofits the chance to have a booth at the event. There will be a silent auction fundraiser, Cheers to Volunteers, the evening before the Volunteer Expo from 6pm to 9pm at the Masonic Temple in downtown Asheville. All community members are invited to attend both events. If you are a nonprofit interested in participating in the 2020 Volunteer Expo, please email us at [email protected].
Asheville’s hospitality industry is proving sweet dreams can truly turn into full plates.
This September, over 45 hotels are coming together for the third annual Sweet Dreams, Full Plates campaign – a major collaboration aimed at connecting Asheville area’s thriving tourism industry to local hunger relief issues.
The idea is simple. Hotel guests, during the month of September, are given the opportunity to forgo stayover services by hanging a door hanger on their room door. The door hanger says, “We Fed A Family,” and for every room that chooses to participate, the hotel makes a $2 donation on their behalf.
With each $2 donation, MANNA FoodBank is able to provide enough food for seven meals.
- AC Hotel
- Aloft Asheville Downtown
- Best Western Tunnel Road
- Country Inn & Suites
- Country Inn & Suites By Carlson, Asheville Westgate
- Courtyard Marriott
- Crowne Plaza Tennis and Golf Resort – Asheville
- Doubletree by Hilton Asheville – Biltmore
- Four Points by Sheraton – Asheville Downtown
- Hampton Inn – Tunnel Road
- Hampton Inn & Suites – Asheville South
- Hampton Inn & Suites Biltmore Area
- Hampton Inn & Suites Asheville – Biltmore Village
- Haywood Park Hotel
- Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park
- Hilton Garden Inn – Asheville Downtown
- Holiday Inn – Biltmore West
- Holiday Inn Express and Suites (Donation Only)
- Homewood Suites by Hilton Asheville
- Hotel Indigo – Asheville Downtown
- Hyatt Place Asheville Downtown
- Quality Inn and Suites – Biltmore East (Donation Only)
- Renaissance Asheville Hotel (Donation only)
- Residence Inn Biltmore
- Springhill Suites Marriott
- THE WINDSOR – Boutique Hotel
- Cambria Hotel & Suites Downtown
- POSH
- Country Inn & Suites Tunnel Road
- Comfort Inn – Tunnel Road
Hot Works 4th Asheville Fine Art Show, October 26 & 27, 2019 takes place in Pack Square Park, downtown Asheville. This art show is juried by art professionals and brings artists to sell his/her art in all discipline including paintings, sculpture, clay, glass, fiber, jewelry, wood and more. All art is original and personally handmade by the artist who is present at the show. There is something for everyone, in all price ranges. You will see many artists at this show who do not attend other shows in North Carolina or South Carolina.
As part of our commitment to bring art education into the community, a Youth Art Competition for grades K-8 or ages 5-13 is integrated within a 10×20 space at the Asheville Fine Art Show. Sponsored by Institute for the Arts & Education, the associated 501c3 non-profit organization, all students in grades K-8 or ages 5-13 are encouraged to enter his/her original and personally handmade art that will be publicly displayed in the art show the entire weekend. On Sunday, October 27 at 3pm, there is $250 in youth art awards presented. Students are exposed to the rules and entrepreneurship opportunity of doing art shows for a living. The program brings families to the art show and exposes them to great art.
Shake what yo momma gave ya, every Saturday 11pm-2am. Dance Party. No cover. Do it.
https://www.facebook.com/events/341354513259016/?event_time_id=341354636592337
Never been camping? Afraid of the dark? You’re not alone. Join a park ranger and take this rare opportunity to camp in Chimney Rock State Park. A ranger will be available at 5:30 pm to help set up camp and build a campfire for a fun filled night under the stars!
You must bring your own camping gear and dinner. No camping gear or food is provided for this event.
There is no fee for camping, but participants must pre-register with the office at 828-625-9611. Space is limited.
https://www.facebook.com/events/271772143533228/?event_time_id=271772160199893
You know what it is – our biggest festival of the year! Come join us by the river for music, food, deals, fun & adventure as we say thank you for hanging out with us!
https://www.facebook.com/events/1320327611466098/
Capture photos of your friends and family members enjoying the vivid hues of fall and enter them into our photo contest. We’ll use the winning entries on our website and Facebook album, and you’ll win some fun prizes. Photos must be taken within the Chimney Rock section of the Park.
No additional costs to enter.
The first-place winner will receive an overnight getaway to Hickory Nut Gorge with a stay at the Historic 1927 Lake Lure Inn & Spa, two passes to the Park, brunch for two at the Historic 1927 Lake Lure Inn & Spa and two tickets for a tour with Lake Lure Boat Tours.
The contest’s second-place winner will receive two passes to the Park, lunch for two at the Old Rock Cafe and two tickets for a tour with Lake Lure Boat Tours.
Chimney Rock’s Facebook followers will select the People’s Choice Award winner. Followers will have a week to like and share their favorite photo from an album of Winter Photo Contest entries posted on the Park’s Facebook page at facebook.com/chimneyrockparknc. The People’s Choice Award Winner will receive two passes to the Park, lunch for two at Old Rock Cafe and their photo will be featured on the Park’s Facebook page.
Shutterbugs interested in capturing Mother Nature’s wintry beauty can do so by entering Friday through Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the Park’s winter hours.
All entries must be submitted to [email protected] or to the Parks’ Facebook page through Facebook messenger.
https://www.facebook.com/events/453143675217439/?event_time_id=453143701884103
Asheville is officially taking part in the world’s largest charitable motorcycle event for owners of classic and vintage styled bikes on Sunday September 29th, 2019.
This year’s Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride will bring together over 120,000 well dressed gentlefolk in 700+ cities on stunning motorcycles for men’s health across 110+ countries.
The goal for 2019 is to raise awareness and $7m USD for prostate cancer research and men’s mental health on behalf of charity partner the Movember Foundation.
Important Facts:
– Registration will officially open on 1st August.
– All participating riders must be registered upon The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride website to view local ride details.
– Ride details are to remain confidential
– Start fundraising to be in the running for amazing prizes and rewards.
Keep updated and register at www.gentlemansride.com
https://www.facebook.com/events/606416776515554/

Spend some time with your family detoxing naturally in the Salt Cave. Adults $25, 4-12 years old $15, 3 and younger are free.

- Friday: 5-8pm
- Saturday: 11am-8pm
- Sunday: 11am-6pm
-
Special Events: We offer field trip, birthday party, and corporate night experiences. Contact Chris Rainwater at [email protected] to schedule your event.Volunteer:Volunteers may work 3 hours shifts at one of our many attractions. Volunteers receive 2 FREE tickets to the Corn Maze for every shift served. More information at EliadaCornMaze.com.
?Special PRIDE edition FUNdraiser!
Offering two ticketing timeframes! 11am & 1pm
Sept. 29th brunch tickets are now on sale! Hosted by Banks Ave. with food by AUX Bar. www.AshevilleDragBrunch.com.
? Perfect for celebrations
? A wonderful gift idea
? Professional drag queens
? Fabulously fun hosts
? High energy show
? Delicious food
? Reserve online 24/7 at www.AshevilleDragBrunch.com
☎️ Call or text 828-333-7247
? [email protected]
#ADB #ashevilledragbrunch #asheville #828 #828isgreat #avl #dragbrunch #dragshow #dragqueen #lgbtqia #drag #brunch #supportlocaldrag #sundaybrunch #visitasheville #ashevillenc #beercity
#avldrag #AvlDB #AVLtoday
https://www.facebook.com/events/2054349634873797/

LET’S BUILD THIS COMMUNITY!
Please join us every last Sunday of the month for our Local BARK Market, hosted by our friends at pleb Urban Winery. We will be featuring an array of locally made goods, rotating food trucks, delicious wine, donation based training booth, and of course some adoptable PUPS! A percentage of the proceeds will go directly towards helping the animals in our care.
We are still accepting new Vendors, so if you are interested in posting up, spending the day with like minded community, and are hoping to support our Woof Meow Rescue mission please reach out to [email protected]. More details on participating vendors coming soon.
We are looking forward to spending the day with you!
https://www.facebook.com/events/385303688727104/?event_time_id=385303695393770
Our Vintner’s Table Food Truck is here for the season! Buy salads, cheese boards, BRAND NEW lobster rolls and more to enjoy with Burntshirt Vineyards wine!
Saturday Hours: 12pm to 6pm
Sunday Hours: 12pm to 5pm
https://www.facebook.com/events/430291697703807/?event_time_id=430291757703801

VIP tickets are $55 and include a slider from each challenger (12 burgers), complimentary beer provided by Upcountry Brewing, hard sparking water from Bold Rock Cider, and a special VIP area.
The Challengers
The following restaurants will be competing for the title:
Rankin Vault Cocktail Lounge
Foothills Local Meats
Salvage Station
The Real Smokehouse BBQ
Mountainview BBQ and Deli
Kitchen 743 at Isis
Biltmore Stable Cafe
The Barrelhouse
Asheville Burger and Mugshakes
White Labs Kitchen & Tap
The Grey Eagle Taqueria
Southern Porch
Zack of All Trades
Sandhill Kitchen
The Bands
Boogi Therapi
DownTown Abby and the Echoes
Please join us for an afternoon of live music, beer, food and comradery! This event is a fundraiser for Fernleaf Community Charter School. 50% of ticket sales will go to directly serve the schools mission which can be found here http://www.fernleafccs.org. Children 12 and under are free and do not require a ticket.
Schedule
1:00 PM- Gates Open
2:00 PM- Hayley Jane
3:15 PM- The David Mayfield Parade
4:30 PM – Jill Andrews
6:00 PM- Langhorne Slim and The Lost at Last Band
About the show: A renowned writer has it all, fortune, fame, women and adoration, when one excruciating miscalculation causes him to lose everything. As penance he hides away in a small New England town where he runs a bookstore in a shambling farmhouse. Then comes a knock on his door. Can the lost be found? Can the sinner gain redemption?
This September marks Asheville Humane Society’s 35th Anniversary, and they want to thank our animal-loving community for making their lifesaving work possible! Come cheers to 35 years on Sunday, September 29 from 3 – 7 PM at The Meadow, Highland Brewing’s outdoor space. Pack your fold-up chair or blanket and bring the whole family (pets included!) for a fun-filled day, including:
• Live performances by Ben Phan and the Jim Arrendell Dance Band
• Vegetarian & vegan fare from Gypsy Queen Cuisine, Papa John’s & The Hop Ice Cream will be available for purchase
• Contests and games for you and your pet including Most Talented Pet and Pet/Person Look-alike Contest
• Kid-friendly activities
• Raffle items with proceeds benefiting AHS
• Craft beer will be available for purchase from Highland Brewing
All well-behaved, leashed (or safely contained) pets are welcome!
Jack of the Wood : Sunday-Irish Session
Sundays
1 till who knows when?
Traditional Irish music is kept alive at Jack of the Wood with our unplugged Sunday session.
Jack of the Wood
95 Patton ave
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 252.5445
Bywater Bluegrass Jam Every Sunday from 4-7pm and hosted by Drew Matulich! Come out and enjoy some Bluegrass Music on the French Broad River and bring a friend!
https://www.facebook.com/events/256311128567439/?event_time_id=256311138567438
The Blind Pig Supper Club returns late Summer 2019 with a collaborative pop up dinner concept ‘Stranger Things’.
The Blind Pig Supper Club returns to the Asheville underground late Summer 2019 with a collaborative pop up concept ‘Stranger Things’. Join us as we align some of the best chefs in Asheville and Durham, NC cooking a deliciously different menu loosely based on the Sci-Fi thriller series by the Duffer Brothers. The Blind Pig welcomes chefs Steve McRae , Kyle Mcknight, Dan Silo, JT DeBrie, Kenneth Blalock, and Mike Moore. Location is undisclosed. Menu is undisclosed. As always, this event supports our community with a charitable donation from all ticket sales. This event is not BYO. Limited Seating.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1386779368142547/
A new way to play trivia!
Feud Time is a survey-based trivia game with up to 6 players per team & 4 rounds of fun.
https://www.facebook.com/events/316757909191222/?event_time_id=316758012524545

Touting the release of their new album, “Shake It,” and celebrating an epic 20-year-run
Asheville’s monthly all Queer Comedy Show!
All of the comedians are members of the LGBTQ community but the audience just has to be cool. This month’s headliner is Hayley Ellman from Atlanta!!!
Hayley Ellman is a comedian out of Atlanta, GA. She was inspired to start writing and performing after watching the likes of Bill Cosby, Woody Allen, and Louis CK other talented perverts; she still hasn’t figured out how to tell people who her biggest influences are anymore. The Atlanta Journal Constitution referred to her comedy as “cerebral and sardonic.” She charms audiences with her balance of sincere and silly.
Tickets $7 advance, $10 day of
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/queer-comedy-party-ft-hayley-ellman-tickets-70192223831

Buncombe County Recreation Services has opened the 2019-2020 cycle of Community Recreation Grants. The grants focus on supplemental funding for qualified organizations to promote innovative, inclusive, and sustainable recreational, fitness, and health and wellness initiatives within Buncombe County as well as community-based activities and capital improvements that increase recreational opportunities for the communities served. Grants may range in amount from $500-$6,000, depending on funding available and the number of qualifying applicants.
Eligible entities include Buncombe County non-profits focused on recreational, fitness, and health and wellness activities. These funds are intended to be a leveraging tool that promote partnerships between the County and area non-profits and are not a donation, funding stream, or sponsorship opportunity. Programs applying for funding should assist Buncombe County Recreation Services in achieving its mission and are required to provide clear timelines and explanations regarding funding requests. The objective of the grants is to extend the reach of the County in its recreation focus areas; grant applicants are required to articulate the estimated impact the grants will have on the community.
Want to Apply?
The grant application deadline is Friday, October 18, 2019. Late applications will be rejected. The Community Recreation Grant Committee will review applications in October and November with all organizations receiving an email notification no later than November 15, 2019.
The Junior League of Asheville, Inc. (JLA) will hold its third annual Volunteer Expo, on Saturday, February 29, 2020 at the Crowne Plaza Expo Center from 10am to 3pm. Modeled after a job fair, this free event will feature more than 70 local nonprofits looking to fill ongoing and future volunteer needs. Nonprofits in almost every area of community concern will be present at the event: health, poverty, legal aid, environmental stewardship, women’s issues, arts, civic leadership, technology, education and animal welfare.
Excitement for the Volunteer Expo continues to grow, with nonprofit participation growing year over year. The 2019 event featured over 70 non-profits with attendance at well over 1,000 community members coming to network and sign up to volunteer with nonprofit organizations.
The 2020 Volunteer Expo will be accepting applications starting in September. Due to the increase in interest for booths at the Expo, this year the League plans to review all applications received instead of awarding booths on a first come first serve basis. They hope this will ensure a good mix of volunteer opportunities in a variety of service areas as well as allow new nonprofits the chance to have a booth at the event. There will be a silent auction fundraiser, Cheers to Volunteers, the evening before the Volunteer Expo from 6pm to 9pm at the Masonic Temple in downtown Asheville. All community members are invited to attend both events. If you are a nonprofit interested in participating in the 2020 Volunteer Expo, please email us at [email protected].
TICKETS ON SALE :: FRIDAY MAY 17TH :: 10AM
8PM SHOWTIME
$20 ADVANCE // $25 DAY OF SHOW
STANDING SHOW
The New Mastersounds have been delighting audiences with their infectious brand of funky soul-jazz since they formed in Leeds, UK, in 1999. Though they have collaborated over the years with such musical luminaries as Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, Corinne Bailey Rae, Art Neville, Quantic, and Lou Donaldson, they are at their best on stage as a tightly-packed quartet – bass, drums, guitar and Hammond organ – firing scorching funk grooves off each other and feeding off the energy of the joyful dancers in the front row.
https://www.facebook.com/events/313689532862026/
Come to Aux Bar for Pizza Karaoke Sunday Nights 10pm-2am, there is even free pizza when you sing!
https://www.facebook.com/events/382756985684012/?event_time_id=382757045684006

