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.

Saturday, October 31, 2020
Take a Woolworth Walk on the Wild Side/Appalachian Wild Art Display
Oct 31 @ 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Woolworth Walk

Image may contain: outdoor, text that says 'Takea on the Wild Side! WOOLWORTH WALK An Art Show and Sale to Benefit APPALACHIAN WILDLIFE WOO LWORTH CO. JeffPitmanArt.com OCTOBER 1-31 25 Haywood Street, downtown Asheville Monday Saturday: 11am- 6pm Sunday: 11am 5pm'

Yet another reason to love fall in WNC! The front window display of Woolworth Walk will come alive with wildlife as imagined by 17 local artists. Mark your calendars and visit Woolworth Walk in October to purchase your favorite, these works are sure to sell out fast! Not only will you go home with a beautiful piece of art, but you will be supporting the wild ones and the mission of Appalachian Wildlife Refuge!

Virtual Tours at Asheville Art Museum
Oct 31 @ 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Online w/ Asheville Art Museum

Virtual Visits for Students

Groups of pre-K–12 students are invited to schedule an interactive Virtual Visit to the Museum! Led by volunteer docents with Museum staff, our inquiry-based, conversational Virtual Visits introduce the Museum’s galleries with a 3D tour and challenge students to hone their observation skills. All pre-K–12 Virtual Visits make connections to the NC Standard Course of Study.

Virtual Visits for pre-K–12 groups are $50 for 5–25 participants from one or multiple devices through Zoom or Google Meet. Virtual Visits are available Monday through Friday from 9am to 4pm, and last 30–45 minutes. At least two weeks’ advanced notice is required.

For more information about Virtual Visits for adults, college, and university students, click here. For Virtual Visits for family and friend groups with children, click here.

CiderFest Tours 2020
Oct 31 @ 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Various Cider Houses

Image may contain: 3 people, people sitting, drink and outdoor

The eighth annual CiderFest NC fundraiser will be held in a brand-new format this fall that offers loyal guests the chance to celebrate, sample and savor cider safely and responsibly.

While the large annual festival will not be offered this fall in light of current health concerns, the event will continue this year through CiderFest Tours: small-group curated tours of three Asheville cideries that are being offered in partnership with local business Leap Frog Tours.

The tours will allow participants to visit three of Asheville’s cideries — Noble Cider, Urban Orchard Cider Company – West and TreeRock Social Cider House & Mead Bar — for intimate, small-group tasting sessions to sample unique takes on the craft beverage on each of the locations. Proceeds will be shared between Leap Frog Tours, the three participating cideries and Green Built Alliance.

To offer the largest number of people the opportunity to participate, the four-hour tours will be offered from 3 to 7 p.m. on every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday in October.

Tours can be reserved for groups of 2 to 14 individuals, and bookings open up today. To prioritize safety in light of COVID-19, all tours will be private without combining reservations from separate parties. (Visit our website or Leap Frog’s booking page for a full list of COVID-19 precautions being taken for the tours.)

The cost is $85 per person. The price includes a tasting at each cidery, a souvenir CiderFest tasting glass, and transportation by Leap Frog Tours from Aloft Hotel in downtown Asheville.

Since the event has sold out in recent years, people are encouraged to book their tours early. For more information and to book a tour, visit www.ciderfestnc.com.

Howl-O-Ween Costume Party Benefitting Charlie’s Angels Animal Rescue
Oct 31 @ 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Aloft Asheville

Image may contain: flower, text that says 'HOWL O-WEENS DOG COSTUME CONTEST DJ MOLLY PARTI AWESOME PRIZES A loft Asheville and Char ie's Angels Animal Rescue invite you and your four-legged friend to join us for this year's Howl-O-Ween, -Ween, dog-centric costume party benefiting Charlie'sAngels Rescue. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31ST 3PM-7PM Splash the outdoor pool deck at Aloft Asheville aloft (wd charlie's angels RESCUEO A.'

https://www.facebook.com/events/358787162213411/

Sunday, November 1, 2020
Día de los Muertos Art Installation: Catrinas Self-Guided, Physically Distanced Tours
Nov 1 @ 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Wortham Center for Performing Arts

Catrinas by Margarita Figueroa Día de los Muertos Self Guided Tours October 21 through November 2 2020

Wortham Center in collaboration with Hola Community Arts presents
Día de los Muertos Art Installation: Catrinas by Margarita Figueroa
Self-Guided, Physically Distanced Tours

In celebration of Día de los Muertos / Day of the Dead, Hola Community Arts presents the work of renowned Mexican artist Margarita Figueroa at the Wortham Center for Performing Arts October 21 – November 2.

Margarita Figueroa sculpts whimsical, life-size Catrinas in the Alambroide technique, which consists of wire-structured figures covered with papier-mâché and painted with acrylic colors.

Catrina, an elegant, skeletal woman made famous by printmaker José Guadalupe Posada in the early 1900s, is one of the most recognizable figures in the Day of the Dead holiday and still permeates and influences Mexican Folk Art today.

The Día de los Muertos holiday has expanded beyond its roots in Mexico to provide comfort and community to those who have lost loved ones in cultures around the world.

“Día de los Muertos is distinctly different from Halloween in origin, celebration and culture. Día de los Muertos is truly a joyous celebration of life and the beauty of remembering those who have come before us,” says Adriana Chavela, executive director of Hola Community Arts. “During this celebration, the dead sort of become a part of the living world, as families tell stories and reflect on memories of them.”

The Día de los Muertos / Day of the Dead holiday is celebrated on November 1st and 2nd throughout Latin America, but is more closely associated with Mexico, where it originated.

Hola Community ArtsAbout Hola Community Arts 
Hola Community Arts is building bridges between cultures, embracing diversity and creating more economically vibrant communities. We recognize the power of the arts to challenge and shift perceptions, spark creativity and connect people across cultures. HOLA Community Arts is a registered nonprofit organization under section 501(c)(3). Donations are welcome. Learn more at www.holacommunityarts.org.

Virtual Tours at Asheville Art Museum
Nov 1 @ 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Online w/ Asheville Art Museum

Virtual Visits for Students

Groups of pre-K–12 students are invited to schedule an interactive Virtual Visit to the Museum! Led by volunteer docents with Museum staff, our inquiry-based, conversational Virtual Visits introduce the Museum’s galleries with a 3D tour and challenge students to hone their observation skills. All pre-K–12 Virtual Visits make connections to the NC Standard Course of Study.

Virtual Visits for pre-K–12 groups are $50 for 5–25 participants from one or multiple devices through Zoom or Google Meet. Virtual Visits are available Monday through Friday from 9am to 4pm, and last 30–45 minutes. At least two weeks’ advanced notice is required.

For more information about Virtual Visits for adults, college, and university students, click here. For Virtual Visits for family and friend groups with children, click here.

Ghosted: Comedy Walking Tour w/ LaZoom
Nov 1 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
LaZoom Room

GHOSTED: COMEDY WALKING TOUR

COVID has postponed our bus tours, but it won’t stop us from laughing! Our brand new experience is an up tempo theatrical walking tour of haunted Asheville. You and 13 others will depart from the LaZoom Room and follow an undead guide through Asheville’s creepy streets in search of window into the past. Along the way, we’ll encounter real ghosts that will have you jumping out of your skin. Not really! Or really? Take the tour and find out!

Ghosted: Comedy Walking Tour w/ LaZoom
Nov 1 @ 8:30 pm – 9:30 pm
LaZoom Room

GHOSTED: COMEDY WALKING TOUR

COVID has postponed our bus tours, but it won’t stop us from laughing! Our brand new experience is an up tempo theatrical walking tour of haunted Asheville. You and 13 others will depart from the LaZoom Room and follow an undead guide through Asheville’s creepy streets in search of window into the past. Along the way, we’ll encounter real ghosts that will have you jumping out of your skin. Not really! Or really? Take the tour and find out!

Monday, November 2, 2020
Día de los Muertos Art Installation: Catrinas Self-Guided, Physically Distanced Tours
Nov 2 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Wortham Center for Performing Arts

Catrinas by Margarita Figueroa Día de los Muertos Self Guided Tours October 21 through November 2 2020

Wortham Center in collaboration with Hola Community Arts presents
Día de los Muertos Art Installation: Catrinas by Margarita Figueroa
Self-Guided, Physically Distanced Tours

In celebration of Día de los Muertos / Day of the Dead, Hola Community Arts presents the work of renowned Mexican artist Margarita Figueroa at the Wortham Center for Performing Arts October 21 – November 2.  

Margarita Figueroa sculpts whimsical, life-size Catrinas in the Alambroide technique, which consists of wire-structured figures covered with papier-mâché and painted with acrylic colors.

Catrina, an elegant, skeletal woman made famous by printmaker José Guadalupe Posada in the early 1900s, is one of the most recognizable figures in the Day of the Dead holiday and still permeates and influences Mexican Folk Art today.

The Día de los Muertos holiday has expanded beyond its roots in Mexico to provide comfort and community to those who have lost loved ones in cultures around the world.

“Día de los Muertos is distinctly different from Halloween in origin, celebration and culture. Día de los Muertos is truly a joyous celebration of life and the beauty of remembering those who have come before us,” says Adriana Chavela, executive director of Hola Community Arts. “During this celebration, the dead sort of become a part of the living world, as families tell stories and reflect on memories of them.”

The Día de los Muertos / Day of the Dead holiday is celebrated on November 1st and 2nd throughout Latin America, but is more closely associated with Mexico, where it originated.

Hola Community ArtsAbout Hola Community Arts 
Hola Community Arts is building bridges between cultures, embracing diversity and creating more economically vibrant communities. We recognize the power of the arts to challenge and shift perceptions, spark creativity and connect people across cultures. HOLA Community Arts is a registered nonprofit organization under section 501(c)(3). Donations are welcome. Learn more at www.holacommunityarts.org.

Virtual Tours at Asheville Art Museum
Nov 2 @ 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Online w/ Asheville Art Museum

Virtual Visits for Students

Groups of pre-K–12 students are invited to schedule an interactive Virtual Visit to the Museum! Led by volunteer docents with Museum staff, our inquiry-based, conversational Virtual Visits introduce the Museum’s galleries with a 3D tour and challenge students to hone their observation skills. All pre-K–12 Virtual Visits make connections to the NC Standard Course of Study.

Virtual Visits for pre-K–12 groups are $50 for 5–25 participants from one or multiple devices through Zoom or Google Meet. Virtual Visits are available Monday through Friday from 9am to 4pm, and last 30–45 minutes. At least two weeks’ advanced notice is required.

For more information about Virtual Visits for adults, college, and university students, click here. For Virtual Visits for family and friend groups with children, click here.

Tuesday, November 3, 2020
Self Guided WNC Tours Online
Nov 3 all-day
Online
Western North Carolina is defined as much by the various chains and valleys within the Appalachian Mountains as it is by the various people here. The region contains large swaths of national forest lands and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It contains old rivers and old folkways, along with an increasingly large stream of transplants and temporary visitors. This virtual tour gives a broad overview of our region.
Wednesday, November 4, 2020
Self Guided WNC Tours Online
Nov 4 all-day
Online
Western North Carolina is defined as much by the various chains and valleys within the Appalachian Mountains as it is by the various people here. The region contains large swaths of national forest lands and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It contains old rivers and old folkways, along with an increasingly large stream of transplants and temporary visitors. This virtual tour gives a broad overview of our region.
Smith-McDowell House Museum Open for Reserved Tours
Nov 4 @ 10:30 am – 3:30 pm
Smith-McDowell House Museum
VISIT US! To ensure the safety of our visitors, staff, and volunteers, we will reopen for timed, private, self-guided, pre-booked tours of the historic Smith-McDowell House and Western North Carolina exhibit rooms.

Tours are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis:

Wednesday – Saturday
10:30 AM
12:00 PM
1:30 PM
3:30 PM

Tour reservations last for 1 hour to allow time for cleaning between groups.

All visitors, staff, and volunteers are required to wear masks while inside the building.

Tuckasegee River Excursion with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
Nov 4 @ 10:30 am – 2:30 pm
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

Join us for a relaxing ride through quiet countryside on your way to small town life in western North Carolina on the Tuckasegee River Excursion. Departing from Bryson City, this 4 hour excursion travels 32 miles round-trip to Dillsboro and back to the Bryson City Depot. Pass by the famous movie set of The Fugitive starring Harrison Ford!

The Tuckasegee (tuck-uh-SEE-jee) River Excursion includes an 1½ hour layover in the historic town of Dillsboro, where you’ll find more than 50 shops, restaurants, bed and breakfasts and country inns. There is time to shop, snack, and visit the many unique shops before returning to Bryson City.

Virtual Tours at Asheville Art Museum
Nov 4 @ 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Online w/ Asheville Art Museum

Virtual Visits for Students

Groups of pre-K–12 students are invited to schedule an interactive Virtual Visit to the Museum! Led by volunteer docents with Museum staff, our inquiry-based, conversational Virtual Visits introduce the Museum’s galleries with a 3D tour and challenge students to hone their observation skills. All pre-K–12 Virtual Visits make connections to the NC Standard Course of Study.

Virtual Visits for pre-K–12 groups are $50 for 5–25 participants from one or multiple devices through Zoom or Google Meet. Virtual Visits are available Monday through Friday from 9am to 4pm, and last 30–45 minutes. At least two weeks’ advanced notice is required.

For more information about Virtual Visits for adults, college, and university students, click here. For Virtual Visits for family and friend groups with children, click here.

Thursday, November 5, 2020
Self Guided WNC Tours Online
Nov 5 all-day
Online
Western North Carolina is defined as much by the various chains and valleys within the Appalachian Mountains as it is by the various people here. The region contains large swaths of national forest lands and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It contains old rivers and old folkways, along with an increasingly large stream of transplants and temporary visitors. This virtual tour gives a broad overview of our region.
Fall at Biltmore
Nov 5 @ 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Biltmore

Image may contain: sky, cloud, tree, twilight, outdoor and nature

Immerse yourself in a kaleidoscope of color as George Vanderbilt’s magnificent estate and the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains are beautifully transformed by autumn’s touch. The arrival of cool weather, an abundance of outdoor activities, plus special harvest-themed dining and Winery offerings make for a truly unique and exceptional fall getaway.

Smith-McDowell House Museum Open for Reserved Tours
Nov 5 @ 10:30 am – 3:30 pm
Smith-McDowell House Museum
VISIT US! To ensure the safety of our visitors, staff, and volunteers, we will reopen for timed, private, self-guided, pre-booked tours of the historic Smith-McDowell House and Western North Carolina exhibit rooms.

Tours are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis:

Wednesday – Saturday
10:30 AM
12:00 PM
1:30 PM
3:30 PM

Tour reservations last for 1 hour to allow time for cleaning between groups.

All visitors, staff, and volunteers are required to wear masks while inside the building.

Tuckasegee River Excursion with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
Nov 5 @ 10:30 am – 2:30 pm
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

Join us for a relaxing ride through quiet countryside on your way to small town life in western North Carolina on the Tuckasegee River Excursion. Departing from Bryson City, this 4 hour excursion travels 32 miles round-trip to Dillsboro and back to the Bryson City Depot. Pass by the famous movie set of The Fugitive starring Harrison Ford!

The Tuckasegee (tuck-uh-SEE-jee) River Excursion includes an 1½ hour layover in the historic town of Dillsboro, where you’ll find more than 50 shops, restaurants, bed and breakfasts and country inns. There is time to shop, snack, and visit the many unique shops before returning to Bryson City.

Virtual Tours at Asheville Art Museum
Nov 5 @ 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Online w/ Asheville Art Museum

Virtual Visits for Students

Groups of pre-K–12 students are invited to schedule an interactive Virtual Visit to the Museum! Led by volunteer docents with Museum staff, our inquiry-based, conversational Virtual Visits introduce the Museum’s galleries with a 3D tour and challenge students to hone their observation skills. All pre-K–12 Virtual Visits make connections to the NC Standard Course of Study.

Virtual Visits for pre-K–12 groups are $50 for 5–25 participants from one or multiple devices through Zoom or Google Meet. Virtual Visits are available Monday through Friday from 9am to 4pm, and last 30–45 minutes. At least two weeks’ advanced notice is required.

For more information about Virtual Visits for adults, college, and university students, click here. For Virtual Visits for family and friend groups with children, click here.

Riverlink Bus Tours 2020
Nov 5 @ 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm
New Belgium Brewery

Because of the Covid-19 situation, we will book tours on an individual basis. Please contact our office at 828-246-6777 or [email protected]. We will not mix groups with people who do not know each other.

Join us as we explore the history of the French Broad River and its seminal place in the development of Asheville–from the time when Native Americans lived along its banks to the Buncombe Turnpike, the railroad, and industries of yesteryear. On the tour you’ll hear about:

    • How the river has changed since the days of George Vanderbilt, Thomas Wolfe, and when NASCAR greats Richard Petty and Junior Johnson raced cars in the area.
    • The 1950s when Wilma Dykeman asked, “Who poisoned the river?” in her groundbreaking book, “The French Broad.”
    • The current-day thriving River Arts District, the beautiful chain of parks along the riverfront greenway, and the recreational opportunities that abound.
    • The great work of the RiverLink and our many partners (government, corporations, civic, non-profit conservation groups, and individuals) that have worked together to protect, preserve, and enhance the riverfront area so that locals and visitors alike can enjoy its beauty and grandeur.

If you like history and you appreciate environmental sustainability, this tour is for you.

Friday, November 6, 2020
Self Guided WNC Tours Online
Nov 6 all-day
Online
Western North Carolina is defined as much by the various chains and valleys within the Appalachian Mountains as it is by the various people here. The region contains large swaths of national forest lands and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It contains old rivers and old folkways, along with an increasingly large stream of transplants and temporary visitors. This virtual tour gives a broad overview of our region.
Smith-McDowell House Museum Open for Reserved Tours
Nov 6 @ 10:30 am – 3:30 pm
Smith-McDowell House Museum
VISIT US! To ensure the safety of our visitors, staff, and volunteers, we will reopen for timed, private, self-guided, pre-booked tours of the historic Smith-McDowell House and Western North Carolina exhibit rooms.

Tours are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis:

Wednesday – Saturday
10:30 AM
12:00 PM
1:30 PM
3:30 PM

Tour reservations last for 1 hour to allow time for cleaning between groups.

All visitors, staff, and volunteers are required to wear masks while inside the building.

Tuckasegee River Excursion with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
Nov 6 @ 10:30 am – 2:30 pm
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

Join us for a relaxing ride through quiet countryside on your way to small town life in western North Carolina on the Tuckasegee River Excursion. Departing from Bryson City, this 4 hour excursion travels 32 miles round-trip to Dillsboro and back to the Bryson City Depot. Pass by the famous movie set of The Fugitive starring Harrison Ford!

The Tuckasegee (tuck-uh-SEE-jee) River Excursion includes an 1½ hour layover in the historic town of Dillsboro, where you’ll find more than 50 shops, restaurants, bed and breakfasts and country inns. There is time to shop, snack, and visit the many unique shops before returning to Bryson City.

Virtual Tours at Asheville Art Museum
Nov 6 @ 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Online w/ Asheville Art Museum

Virtual Visits for Students

Groups of pre-K–12 students are invited to schedule an interactive Virtual Visit to the Museum! Led by volunteer docents with Museum staff, our inquiry-based, conversational Virtual Visits introduce the Museum’s galleries with a 3D tour and challenge students to hone their observation skills. All pre-K–12 Virtual Visits make connections to the NC Standard Course of Study.

Virtual Visits for pre-K–12 groups are $50 for 5–25 participants from one or multiple devices through Zoom or Google Meet. Virtual Visits are available Monday through Friday from 9am to 4pm, and last 30–45 minutes. At least two weeks’ advanced notice is required.

For more information about Virtual Visits for adults, college, and university students, click here. For Virtual Visits for family and friend groups with children, click here.

Saturday, November 7, 2020
Self Guided WNC Tours Online
Nov 7 all-day
Online
Western North Carolina is defined as much by the various chains and valleys within the Appalachian Mountains as it is by the various people here. The region contains large swaths of national forest lands and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It contains old rivers and old folkways, along with an increasingly large stream of transplants and temporary visitors. This virtual tour gives a broad overview of our region.
Historic North Fork Valley Tour of the Asheville Watershed – West
Nov 7 @ 9:00 am – 2:30 pm
Black Mountain Savings Bank

Join us on this exclusive historic driving tour of the west side of the Burnett Reservoir to explore part of the once thriving North Fork Valley community. The caravan will stop for participants to view the impressive chimney that was once part of a large boarding house where travelers on their way to Mt. Mitchell would stay before they began the ascent to the highest peak in eastern North America. The tour will also stop at the former entrance to Governor Zebulon Vance’s estate, Gombroon, as well as the Gombroon wall. Following that, we will pass the Left Hand Fork Intake and head to the Dan Burnett Place. The tour will end with the ruins of Gombroon – to include the foundation, heart-shaped pool, the spring house, and the McGinnis Cabin.

Difficulty: Moderate; There will be some walking on rough terrain. Wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather.

Pricing: $200 per vehicle. The vehicle may carry as few or as many passengers as the registrant wishes to bring. Only family members or people who are in the same “social pod” should travel in a vehicle together. Drivers who cannot bring a family member or someone in their social pod must drive themselves.

Drivers – Your vehicle must get clearance from our trip leader prior to registering as a driver. Please contact us at [email protected] to get clearance.

COVID Policy

  • Only family members or people who are in the same “social pod” may travel in a vehicle together. Drivers who cannot bring a family member or someone in their social pod must drive themselves.
  • All attendees, volunteers and hike leaders are required to bring masks and social distancing must be observed. Attendees and hike leaders must wear masks during talks outside the vehicles.
  • The sign-in for the event will be conducted outdoors, at the parking lot of the Black Mountain Savings Bank.
2020 Smoky Mountain Toy Run Drop Off
Nov 7 @ 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Kearfott Corp.
Smith-McDowell House Museum Open for Reserved Tours
Nov 7 @ 10:30 am – 3:30 pm
Smith-McDowell House Museum
VISIT US! To ensure the safety of our visitors, staff, and volunteers, we will reopen for timed, private, self-guided, pre-booked tours of the historic Smith-McDowell House and Western North Carolina exhibit rooms.

Tours are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis:

Wednesday – Saturday
10:30 AM
12:00 PM
1:30 PM
3:30 PM

Tour reservations last for 1 hour to allow time for cleaning between groups.

All visitors, staff, and volunteers are required to wear masks while inside the building.

Tuckasegee River Excursion with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
Nov 7 @ 10:30 am – 2:30 pm
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

Join us for a relaxing ride through quiet countryside on your way to small town life in western North Carolina on the Tuckasegee River Excursion. Departing from Bryson City, this 4 hour excursion travels 32 miles round-trip to Dillsboro and back to the Bryson City Depot. Pass by the famous movie set of The Fugitive starring Harrison Ford!

The Tuckasegee (tuck-uh-SEE-jee) River Excursion includes an 1½ hour layover in the historic town of Dillsboro, where you’ll find more than 50 shops, restaurants, bed and breakfasts and country inns. There is time to shop, snack, and visit the many unique shops before returning to Bryson City.