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.

Sunday, April 18, 2021
WNC Arts Launches New Website + Creative Economies Data
Apr 18 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.

URGENT NEED: Blood Donor Turnout Hits Historic Low
Apr 18 @ 7:00 am – 5:00 pm
The Blood Connection

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Donor Turnout Hits Historic Low

The Blood Connection extends collection hours in response to urgent need

 

 

The Blood Connection, the community blood center, is seeing historically low blood donor turnout and has extended its center hours in response to this urgent need. According to the latest TBC data, local hospitals have consumed twice as much blood as the community has donated. If this trend continues, it could cause a blood rationing event or blood shortage for hospitals in this community. Donation centers are now open earlier and later to accommodate more blood donors.

URGENT NEED: Blood Donor Turnout Hits Historic Low
Apr 18 @ 7:00 am – 5:00 pm
The Blood Connection

Text Description automatically generated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Donor Turnout Hits Historic Low

The Blood Connection extends collection hours in response to urgent need

 

 

The Blood Connection, the community blood center, is seeing historically low blood donor turnout and has extended its center hours in response to this urgent need. According to the latest TBC data, local hospitals have consumed twice as much blood as the community has donated. If this trend continues, it could cause a blood rationing event or blood shortage for hospitals in this community. Donation centers are now open earlier and later to accommodate more blood donors.

Monday, April 19, 2021
8th Annual Business Plan Contest
Apr 19 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.
Grants for printing + distribution: Recycling outreach materials in rural + small communities
Apr 19 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 19 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
Support Our Local Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County
Apr 19 all-day
Online

We need your help today!
As we all look forward to a time when life can get back to normal, the challenges of fundraising through a global pandemic persist.  Our home tours, Griffin Awards and education programming are still virtual and we have made the incredibly difficult decision to cancel our Time Traveling Gala for the second year in a row.  We miss seeing everyone!
Our fundraising has slowed down, but we haven’t!  Every month we send you an update on the work we are doing around the county, from trying to save a freedman’s cabin in Sandy Mush to fighting a demolition threat in Montreat and a whole lot in between, we are busier than ever!
Today we hope you will consider becoming a memberbusiness member or making an additional donation.  As we see demolition threats, large and small, pop up all over the county, we need your support more than ever!
Your support makes what we do possible.
URGENT NEED: Blood Donor Turnout Hits Historic Low
Apr 19 @ 7:00 am – 7:00 pm
The Blood Connection

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Donor Turnout Hits Historic Low

The Blood Connection extends collection hours in response to urgent need

 

The Blood Connection, the community blood center, is seeing historically low blood donor turnout and has extended its center hours in response to this urgent need. According to the latest TBC data, local hospitals have consumed twice as much blood as the community has donated. If this trend continues, it could cause a blood rationing event or blood shortage for hospitals in this community. Donation centers are now open earlier and later to accommodate more blood donors.

URGENT NEED: Blood Donor Turnout Hits Historic Low
Apr 19 @ 7:00 am – 7:00 pm
The Blood Connection

Text Description automatically generated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Donor Turnout Hits Historic Low

The Blood Connection extends collection hours in response to urgent need

 

 

The Blood Connection, the community blood center, is seeing historically low blood donor turnout and has extended its center hours in response to this urgent need. According to the latest TBC data, local hospitals have consumed twice as much blood as the community has donated. If this trend continues, it could cause a blood rationing event or blood shortage for hospitals in this community. Donation centers are now open earlier and later to accommodate more blood donors.

Properly prepare to donate blood and help save lives
Apr 19 @ 10:00 am – 2:30 pm
Henderson County Offices

— Healthy individuals are needed every day to maintain an adequate
blood supply for patients in need. Once a donor has made the commitment to give blood, it is
important to take a few simple steps to prepare and help ensure a good donation experience.
Get a good night’s sleep, drink an extra 16 ounces of water, eat iron-rich foods to maintain a
healthy iron level and consume a low-fat meal before donating.
Donating blood is an easy way to help others and only takes about an hour. The Red Cross
encourages donors to give blood every time they are eligible.

Tuesday, April 20, 2021
Grants for printing + distribution: Recycling outreach materials in rural + small communities
Apr 20 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.
Support Our Local Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County
Apr 20 all-day
Online

We need your help today!
As we all look forward to a time when life can get back to normal, the challenges of fundraising through a global pandemic persist.  Our home tours, Griffin Awards and education programming are still virtual and we have made the incredibly difficult decision to cancel our Time Traveling Gala for the second year in a row.  We miss seeing everyone!
Our fundraising has slowed down, but we haven’t!  Every month we send you an update on the work we are doing around the county, from trying to save a freedman’s cabin in Sandy Mush to fighting a demolition threat in Montreat and a whole lot in between, we are busier than ever!
Today we hope you will consider becoming a memberbusiness member or making an additional donation.  As we see demolition threats, large and small, pop up all over the county, we need your support more than ever!
Your support makes what we do possible.
URGENT NEED: Blood Donor Turnout Hits Historic Low
Apr 20 @ 7:00 am – 7:00 pm
The Blood Connection

Text
          Description automatically generated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Donor Turnout Hits Historic Low

The Blood Connection extends collection hours in response to urgent need

 

The Blood Connection, the community blood center, is seeing historically low blood donor turnout and has extended its center hours in response to this urgent need. According to the latest TBC data, local hospitals have consumed twice as much blood as the community has donated. If this trend continues, it could cause a blood rationing event or blood shortage for hospitals in this community. Donation centers are now open earlier and later to accommodate more blood donors.

URGENT NEED: Blood Donor Turnout Hits Historic Low
Apr 20 @ 7:00 am – 7:00 pm
The Blood Connection

Text Description automatically generated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Donor Turnout Hits Historic Low

The Blood Connection extends collection hours in response to urgent need

 

 

The Blood Connection, the community blood center, is seeing historically low blood donor turnout and has extended its center hours in response to this urgent need. According to the latest TBC data, local hospitals have consumed twice as much blood as the community has donated. If this trend continues, it could cause a blood rationing event or blood shortage for hospitals in this community. Donation centers are now open earlier and later to accommodate more blood donors.

2021 Guide to Marketing + Social Media to Grow your Business
Apr 20 @ 8:30 am – 10:30 am
Online w/ Henderson County Chamber

In this seminar you will learn how to be “Top Of Mind” in your business category and be “Top of Search” on Google making it easier for customers to find your business.

Ribbon Cutting + Grand Opening: Chick-fil-A Spartanburg Highway
Apr 20 @ 9:30 am – 10:15 am
Chick-fil-A

Join us in celebration of the grand opening of Chick-fil-A South!
Chick-fil-A of Hendersonville is ready to serve the Hendersonville community from their new Spartanburg Highway location and invites the membership of the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce to help them celebrate!
Masks will be required for attendees
9:30 am – Guest Arrival
9:45 am – Welcome, Comments, & Official Ribbon Cutting
10:00 am – Networking
10:30 am – First Customers Served
Fees/Admission:
There is no cost to attend but registration is required.
How to Build an Email Marketing Database for Your Business
Apr 20 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Online w/ Blue Ridge Community College

How to Build an Email Marketing Database for Your Business

No cost due to sponsor support

The inbox remains the most direct method for marking online and statistically outperforms every other medium by a landslide! This session is a fresh overview of what email marketing is, and the best practices on how to grow an email database to drive more business.

Attendees will gain a better understanding of:

  • How and where to grow Your email list
  • What methods create the most subscribers to your list
  • What types of emails to send to get the best results
  • What Content Marketing is and how can to best leverage it to grow your list
  • Expanding your reach for every email you send
  • Understanding how connected email & social media are… how to work them together
  • Tips and Secrets to get your emails opened, engaged, and successful.
  • Live Q&A

This webinar may be converted into an in-person seminar, pursuant to state recommendations. Attendees will be notified by email if the class type is changed.


Speaker(s): Aaron Wesley Means

Co-Sponsor(s): Henderson County Chamber of Commerce, Brevard/Transylvania Chamber of Commerce

Webinar info will be emailed after registration.

Finalizing Your Plan to Polish + Pitch
Apr 20 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Online w/ Blue Ridge Community College

No cost due to sponsor support

Put the final pieces together and compile your executive summary. Write your letter of transmittal (cover letter). Finally, prepare for your in-person pitch by creating a clear picture of the market and how your venture solves a problem while generating a profit.


Speaker(s): TenBiz

Co-Sponsor(s): Henderson County Chamber of Commerce, Brevard/Transylvania Chamber of Commerce

Webinar info will be emailed after registration

Crafting Resilience: Activism and Overcoming Obstacles
Apr 20 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Online w/ UNC Asheville

Roberto Lugo, All Hail Stacey Abrams, 2021. Courtesy of the artist.

Activism and Overcoming Obstacles:

Speakers: Roberto Lugo, Ceramic Artist; Michelle Millar Fisher, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

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.

 

30 Minute Meditation for Moms
Apr 20 @ 9:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Online w/ Awakening Asheville

Hosted by Sahaja Yoga Meditation DFW
Join this FREE evening session for Meditation, specifically for Moms.

About this Event
We are creating this Meditation space for moms 💟 that can help
🤲 create a supportive community of moms who can come together and meditate
🤲 build a meditation routine
🤲 implement self-care, and take pause in hectic lives
🤲 bring calmness and balance that can reflect on kids and household
🤲 share experiences and learn to grow in this journey together

Join this FREE evening session for Meditation, specifically for Moms. Meditation is a simple way to de-stress, and it can help bring peace and balance, especially in these hectic times.

Led by experienced instructors, this 30 min guided meditation session will help you feel the much needed calmness

What we’re about

COVID-19 UPDATE: An email was sent out to Awakening Asheville advising all in-person meetups should be postponed or moved to virtual attendance only. Please contact hosts with any questions. Thank you, and be well! Courtney

We are an LGBTQ+ BIPOC safe spiritual group that enjoys the coming together of community lightworkers sharing our journeys. We offer meditations, healing energy, and many different workshops. Come join us!

We welcome everyone and encourage all to share their expertise and offerings. If you have an event or gathering you wish to share, please contact the group organizer for postings. There is no charge to post, but in exchange for being able to promote for free, we encourage event hosts to offer something at no cost at some point, so the knowledge and spiritual expansion of this group can be available to all regardless of their finances.

Wednesday, April 21, 2021
Grants for printing + distribution: Recycling outreach materials in rural + small communities
Apr 21 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.
Support Our Local Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County
Apr 21 all-day
Online

We need your help today!
As we all look forward to a time when life can get back to normal, the challenges of fundraising through a global pandemic persist.  Our home tours, Griffin Awards and education programming are still virtual and we have made the incredibly difficult decision to cancel our Time Traveling Gala for the second year in a row.  We miss seeing everyone!
Our fundraising has slowed down, but we haven’t!  Every month we send you an update on the work we are doing around the county, from trying to save a freedman’s cabin in Sandy Mush to fighting a demolition threat in Montreat and a whole lot in between, we are busier than ever!
Today we hope you will consider becoming a memberbusiness member or making an additional donation.  As we see demolition threats, large and small, pop up all over the county, we need your support more than ever!
Your support makes what we do possible.
UNC Asheville Day of Giving
Apr 21 – Apr 22 all-day
Online w/ UNC Asheville

The first 400 donors will unlock a $50,000 challenge gift from the Prather family. Give now to amplify your impact.

As we near the end of the academic year, we’re asking the UNC Asheville community to come together to ensure our students can finish the semester strong. Starting at noon on April 21, join us for the first-ever UNC Asheville Day of Giving, a 24 hours giving event. 

When you make a gift of $10 or more by April 22, we will send you an exclusive UNC Asheville mask! Supplies are limited, so don’t wait to get your exclusive mask! To receive a mask, please be sure to complete the “incentive” field on the giving form.

When 400 donors support UNC Asheville Day of Giving, we will unlock $50,000 in support of the Diversity Engagement Scholarship. This generous challenge gift from the Prather family will fully endow the scholarship, so it will continue to support traditionally underrepresented students attending UNC Asheville for generations to come.

A gift of any size to any designation will help us unlock this challenge gift!

URGENT NEED: Blood Donor Turnout Hits Historic Low
Apr 21 @ 7:00 am – 7:00 pm
The Blood Connection

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Donor Turnout Hits Historic Low

The Blood Connection extends collection hours in response to urgent need

 

The Blood Connection, the community blood center, is seeing historically low blood donor turnout and has extended its center hours in response to this urgent need. According to the latest TBC data, local hospitals have consumed twice as much blood as the community has donated. If this trend continues, it could cause a blood rationing event or blood shortage for hospitals in this community. Donation centers are now open earlier and later to accommodate more blood donors.

URGENT NEED: Blood Donor Turnout Hits Historic Low
Apr 21 @ 7:00 am – 7:00 pm
The Blood Connection

Text Description automatically generated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Donor Turnout Hits Historic Low

The Blood Connection extends collection hours in response to urgent need

 

 

The Blood Connection, the community blood center, is seeing historically low blood donor turnout and has extended its center hours in response to this urgent need. According to the latest TBC data, local hospitals have consumed twice as much blood as the community has donated. If this trend continues, it could cause a blood rationing event or blood shortage for hospitals in this community. Donation centers are now open earlier and later to accommodate more blood donors.

Thursday, April 22, 2021
 April is Earth Month: virtual 5k/10k with the Bend Marathon! 
Apr 22 all-day
Online w/ Sierra Club

We have 15 entries for free registration for the first 15 people to raise $150. Your virtual race can be completed between April 12 – May 25, plus you can earn other fun prizes:

We’ve set a goal to raise $150k for Earth Month to advance climate solutions, ensure clean air and water for all, and make the outdoors an accessible and safe place for everyone. 2021 is a crucial year for us to come together for the future health of our planet and generations to come.

If you’re interested in learning more about other ways to get involved in Earth Month, we’ll be releasing our schedule of activities later this week, or you can make a $39 donation to get the Marine Layer Earth Day T-shirt.

Grants for printing + distribution: Recycling outreach materials in rural + small communities
Apr 22 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.
Professional Networking Group for Veterans
Apr 22 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. 

Spring Annual Fund Campaign!
Apr 22 all-day
Asheville Art Museum

SUPPORT THE MUSEUM
We’re kicking off our Spring Annual Fund Campaign! With your help, we’ve been able to do some amazing things this past year, from hosting major traveling exhibitions like Across the Atlantic to delivering 1,600 Art Kits for Kids to local students and fostering in-depth conversations about art and artists through virtual programs. Your gift to the Annual Fund supports all of this and more.
Support Our Local Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County
Apr 22 all-day
Online

We need your help today!
As we all look forward to a time when life can get back to normal, the challenges of fundraising through a global pandemic persist.  Our home tours, Griffin Awards and education programming are still virtual and we have made the incredibly difficult decision to cancel our Time Traveling Gala for the second year in a row.  We miss seeing everyone!
Our fundraising has slowed down, but we haven’t!  Every month we send you an update on the work we are doing around the county, from trying to save a freedman’s cabin in Sandy Mush to fighting a demolition threat in Montreat and a whole lot in between, we are busier than ever!
Today we hope you will consider becoming a memberbusiness member or making an additional donation.  As we see demolition threats, large and small, pop up all over the county, we need your support more than ever!
Your support makes what we do possible.