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.
Help us Light Up State Street and fill our beautiful downtown with Halloween Cheer with this community pumpkin carving contest! All ages are invited to participate. Children (under 15) are $5 to register, and adults (15 or older) are $10. Pumpkins must be dropped off at BMCA on Tuesday, October 27 or Wednesday, October 28. BMCA will display and illuminate the pumpkins on State Street Thursday, October 29 through Saturday, October 31st. Winners will be chosen in both age groups for 4 different categories: scariest (must be family friendly), funniest, most creative, and art(ist) inspired. Participants must procure their own pumpkin.
Taught by Amanda Klinikowski
6 week class meets on Tuesdays.
Have you ever wanted to use your voice, body, and imagination to say something you believe in?! Then this is the class for you! Each day we will warm up our bodies, voices, and imagination and work together to create an original skit with movement based on one of Aesop’s Fables! Our final class session will be recorded and shared with friends and families. This class is taught using ZOOM video conferencing.
| Lights, camera, action! Students develop their skills in vocal technique, acting though song, and movement. The semester ends in a one-of-a-kind movie revue. |
Lights, camera, action! “Let’s go to the movies” in this fun class celebrating
Weekly Zoom class, one 20-minute private coaching
Instructors: Anna Kimmell, Matthew Glover
Tuesdays from 4:30 – 5:30 PM
Lights, camera, action! “Let’s go to the movies” in this fun class celebrating songs of the silver screen! In a combination of weekly Zoom sessions and one private coaching, young actors will work with Studio 52 faculty to develop their skills in vocal technique, acting through song, and movement. The semester culminates in a one-of-a-kind movie musical revue, presented in a final virtual screening!
Hone your ability to create honest characters, feel confident connecting and collaborating with others, and discover freedom and playfulness. In this class for high school actors (both beginners and experienced performers), students will explore performance technique in the development of monologues (which can be used for future auditions), as well as digging deep into character objectives and tactics. At the end of the semester, share your newfound skills in a final virtual showcase.
Tuesdays from 6 – 7 PM
Sep. 22 – Nov. 17
9th – 12th Grades
Weekly Zoom class
Instructors: Betsy Bisson, Lisa K. Bryant
Magnetic in the Smoky Park – Outdoor Show
Live Outdoor Show
Join us every Tuesday night in October (and maybe beyond) as The Magnetic Theatre teams up with the wizards at Smoky Park Supper Club to host a live, outdoor variety show.
Starting October 6th, we’ll be filling Smoky Park’s gorgeous, riverside outdoor space with comedy, theatre, music and so much more. Smoky Park’s kitchen will be closed but their full bar will be open for business. This will be a BYOC event (Bring-Your-Own-Chair) and shows will strictly follow all safety guidelines; with mask and social distancing protocols enforced. There will also be temperature checks at the gate and plenty of hand sanitation stations on the property. Restrooms will be available.
If you buy a ticket, you must bring your own chair and purchase one ticket per person attending. You will be required to wear a mask throughout the event.
TheatreUNCA will bring Sophocles’ ancient Greek tragedy Antigone to life as a radio drama podcast with an online debut set for 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18 on the UNC Asheville Department of Drama’s Vimeo channel. Visit drama.unca.edu/engage/theatreunca to register for this free event and receive a password-protected link to listen to the show between Oct 18 and 25.
This all-student performance will be directed by senior Bri Stewart, and will feature a new translation and adaptation by UNC Asheville students working under Sophie Mills, professor of classics. The play chronicles Antigone’s decision to bury her deceased brother – a former ruler killed in battle against a rival for the throne – despite a decree by the new king that he be neither mourned nor buried.
This production has challenged UNC Asheville’s students to adapt not just the language and themes of the ancient drama, but every aspect of logistics and performance to remain physically distanced while rehearsing and recording.
The cast includes Mack Moseley, Lindsey Wheeler, Thomas Townsend, Maycen Ellis, Brian Badesco, Jada Smith, Sam Pate, Sam McIntosh, Lilly Huebner and Ria Mark.
Calling all spoken word artists 15 years or older
ABOUT WORDplay©
WORDplay© is a twelve month slam poetry competition featuring Spoken Word Poets from all over Western North Carolina. Each month ten to twelve Poets will be selected via video submissions, for the chance to compete for Different Strokes Performing Arts Collective’s WORDplay© championship and a $1,000.00 cash prize. The monthly online competition, hosted by local Poets Barbie Angell and Shanita Jackson, is open to regional Poets who are at least 15 years of age. One Poet from each month’s competition will be selected to compete in front of a live audience in the October and November 2021 Semi-Finals. Two remaining Poets will vie for the WORDplay© championship in December 2021. The second place Poet will receive $500.00. Each Semi-Finalist will receive $100.00.
We are accepting submissions for January and February rounds now through November 23, 2020. Selected Poets will be notified by December 23, 2020.
SHOP THE ROCK!
Our online gift shop is now open, and just in time for your holiday shopping. T-shirts are available in a variety of colors with Adult and Youth sizing, and we have additional apparel items like sweatshirts, hats, polos, and totes. We have unique gift options like our 50th-anniversary book with a detailed history of Flat Rock Playhouse and prints designed by some of your favorite Vagabonds.
Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre is a professional theatre company in residence at the historic Owen Theatre on the campus of Mars Hill University. Since its founding in 1975 by visionary director and theatre educator Jim Thomas, SART has produced scores of plays, musicals, and original works, many portraying the rich culture and heritage of Southern Appalachia. After operating for many years as a program of MHU, SART became an independent nonprofit organization in 2003 and is governed by a volunteer board of directors. In recognition of its artistic excellence and cultural importance to the community, SART has received major funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, North Carolina Arts Council, Madison County Arts Council, and the Shubert Foundation. SART also receives major support from Mars Hill University, along with donations and sponsorships from many generous individuals and business owners.
All payments for the silent auction will be made upon the conclusion of item bidding. We will reach out to our top bidders to arrange individual payments. Pick-up of all items will be held at the SART box office, by appointment only. Bidders will be responsible for shipping costs, if needed. Once we conclude the silent auction we will then schedule pickups with the winning bidders.
THANK YOU for your participation!
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.
About 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.
Help us Light Up State Street and fill our beautiful downtown with Halloween Cheer with this community pumpkin carving contest! All ages are invited to participate. Children (under 15) are $5 to register, and adults (15 or older) are $10. Pumpkins must be dropped off at BMCA on Tuesday, October 27 or Wednesday, October 28. BMCA will display and illuminate the pumpkins on State Street Thursday, October 29 through Saturday, October 31st. Winners will be chosen in both age groups for 4 different categories: scariest (must be family friendly), funniest, most creative, and art(ist) inspired. Participants must procure their own pumpkin.
We are looking for a handful of folks to help us straighten up our outdoor spaces! If you like to weed, sweep up pinecones, and just do some general light grounds work, we’d love to have you join us on Wednesday, October 21 from 3:00-5:00.
This online course is offered as a primer in the craft of scripted performance, exploring the steps to submitting audition tapes, sustaining connected scene work through a screen, and creating three-dimensional characters on a two-dimensional medium. Learn how people see you and what you convey when you are on stage, and now on screen. Armed with that awareness, learn how to best choose and deliver the monologue to land you the parts that are perfect for you. If given material to audition with, learn how to break down the sides, how to discover the beats of the scene, and how to offer varied options. And when you land the part, learn how to attack the script, build the arc of your character, and establish the thoughts behind the lines. This course will culminate with a streamed showcase of the best work created in the class.
6 Week Session
TheatreUNCA will bring Sophocles’ ancient Greek tragedy Antigone to life as a radio drama podcast with an online debut set for 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18 on the UNC Asheville Department of Drama’s Vimeo channel. Visit drama.unca.edu/engage/theatreunca to register for this free event and receive a password-protected link to listen to the show between Oct 18 and 25.
This all-student performance will be directed by senior Bri Stewart, and will feature a new translation and adaptation by UNC Asheville students working under Sophie Mills, professor of classics. The play chronicles Antigone’s decision to bury her deceased brother – a former ruler killed in battle against a rival for the throne – despite a decree by the new king that he be neither mourned nor buried.
This production has challenged UNC Asheville’s students to adapt not just the language and themes of the ancient drama, but every aspect of logistics and performance to remain physically distanced while rehearsing and recording.
The cast includes Mack Moseley, Lindsey Wheeler, Thomas Townsend, Maycen Ellis, Brian Badesco, Jada Smith, Sam Pate, Sam McIntosh, Lilly Huebner and Ria Mark.
Calling all spoken word artists 15 years or older
ABOUT WORDplay©
WORDplay© is a twelve month slam poetry competition featuring Spoken Word Poets from all over Western North Carolina. Each month ten to twelve Poets will be selected via video submissions, for the chance to compete for Different Strokes Performing Arts Collective’s WORDplay© championship and a $1,000.00 cash prize. The monthly online competition, hosted by local Poets Barbie Angell and Shanita Jackson, is open to regional Poets who are at least 15 years of age. One Poet from each month’s competition will be selected to compete in front of a live audience in the October and November 2021 Semi-Finals. Two remaining Poets will vie for the WORDplay© championship in December 2021. The second place Poet will receive $500.00. Each Semi-Finalist will receive $100.00.
We are accepting submissions for January and February rounds now through November 23, 2020. Selected Poets will be notified by December 23, 2020.
Flat Rock Playhouse is proud to partner with The Breath Project to create an archive of 8 minute and 46 second works of live theater from multidisciplinary theater artists of color who are responding to this moment in history. All submissions that meet the Breath Project guidelines will be featured in the archive, and as partners in the project, CJ Barnwell will be the curator from our theater who will help select pieces from the archive to feature in a virtual festival in Fall 2020. For those who do not have access to video recording equipment, the Playhouse is able to offer the use of the Mainstage and video recording support. If you are interested in recording on the Mainstage, please email [email protected].
To be considered for the Fall 2020 virtual festival, please submit your piece by Sept. 14, 2020. For more information on the submission process, the mission of the Breath Project and other partner theaters, visit www.thebreathproject2020.com.
SHOP THE ROCK!
Our online gift shop is now open, and just in time for your holiday shopping. T-shirts are available in a variety of colors with Adult and Youth sizing, and we have additional apparel items like sweatshirts, hats, polos, and totes. We have unique gift options like our 50th-anniversary book with a detailed history of Flat Rock Playhouse and prints designed by some of your favorite Vagabonds.
Pandemic Arts is a series “where performing artists from various genres discuss how the global pandemic is affecting their careers, their creativity, their finances, and their plans for the future.” The FRP episode is live and features a candid interview with Lisa K. Bryant about the history of the Playhouse and the challenges of running a theatre during the COVID-19 pandemic. You’ll also see performances by beloved Vagabonds Matthew Glover, Bill Muñoz, and Scott Treadway. Click here to watch the video!
Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre is a professional theatre company in residence at the historic Owen Theatre on the campus of Mars Hill University. Since its founding in 1975 by visionary director and theatre educator Jim Thomas, SART has produced scores of plays, musicals, and original works, many portraying the rich culture and heritage of Southern Appalachia. After operating for many years as a program of MHU, SART became an independent nonprofit organization in 2003 and is governed by a volunteer board of directors. In recognition of its artistic excellence and cultural importance to the community, SART has received major funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, North Carolina Arts Council, Madison County Arts Council, and the Shubert Foundation. SART also receives major support from Mars Hill University, along with donations and sponsorships from many generous individuals and business owners.
All payments for the silent auction will be made upon the conclusion of item bidding. We will reach out to our top bidders to arrange individual payments. Pick-up of all items will be held at the SART box office, by appointment only. Bidders will be responsible for shipping costs, if needed. Once we conclude the silent auction we will then schedule pickups with the winning bidders.
THANK YOU for your participation!
Use Your Voice – Support The Arts
This May, we made the difficult decision to cancel our 2020 season due to COVID-19. The entire industry of live entertainment has been severely impacted by the pandemic, and your support is needed now more than ever by asking your representatives to support the Save Our Stages Act. Click here to easily contact your congressional representatives.
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.
About 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.
Help us Light Up State Street and fill our beautiful downtown with Halloween Cheer with this community pumpkin carving contest! All ages are invited to participate. Children (under 15) are $5 to register, and adults (15 or older) are $10. Pumpkins must be dropped off at BMCA on Tuesday, October 27 or Wednesday, October 28. BMCA will display and illuminate the pumpkins on State Street Thursday, October 29 through Saturday, October 31st. Winners will be chosen in both age groups for 4 different categories: scariest (must be family friendly), funniest, most creative, and art(ist) inspired. Participants must procure their own pumpkin.
Make ‘em laugh in a musical comedy class combining silliness and song! This virtual class integrates acting, singing, improv, and movement as actors use their voices, bodies, and imaginations to develop hilarious Broadway repertoire. At the end of the semester, students will share their uproarious musical revue in a one-of-a-kind virtual showcase.
Sep. 24 – Nov. 19
3rd – 5th Grades
Weekly Zoom class, one 20-minute private lesson
Instructors: Anna Kimmell, Matthew Glover
Thursdays from 5:30 – 6:30 PM
Sep. 24 – Nov. 19
9th – 12th Grades
Weekly Zoom class, one 20-minute private coaching
Instructors: Anna Kimmell, Matthew Glover
The Haunted Farm is Back! This year we are celebrating #10YearsOfTerror! Opening Night is Friday, October 9th, 2020! Are you ready for a night of terrifying Fun and Excitement you won’t soon forget?! Come see what The 2020 Haunted Farm has in store for our Biggest and Best year yet! ARE YOU PREPARED TO BE SCARED?!
The Adventure Center of Asheville is excited to be the 2020 venue for the 8th Annual The Haunted Trail presented by Mellow Mushroom. The no-touch no-contact outdoor Haunted Trail is the only Halloween event in Asheville that is ideal for children ages 3-12 years old. Experience a family-friendly heart pumping walk with live actors (at a distance), spooky sounds, and spectacular props. The younger ghouls can enjoy the (actor-free) “Sweet Peek Tour” of the Trail at 6:30pm before it gets dark.
This year The Treetops Adventure Park Aerial Glow Trail will also be available for ages 4 and over. Climb on one family-friendly aerial trail while it is illuminated with thousands of colored twinkle and laser lights.
In addition to the Trails, there will also be spooky live entertainment, no touch activities while in line, and food and beverages available including hot chocolate. It is a perfect way to celebrate the Halloween season with the family.
As the Haunted Trail and the Adventure Center are committed to safety, Social Distancing and Wearing Face Masks (for ages 4 years old and over) are required. The Haunted Trail Scenes will have barriers and at least a 10-foot space between guests and the performers. Guests lining up for both activities will be separated into Family Groups.
TheatreUNCA will bring Sophocles’ ancient Greek tragedy Antigone to life as a radio drama podcast with an online debut set for 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18 on the UNC Asheville Department of Drama’s Vimeo channel. Visit drama.unca.edu/engage/theatreunca to register for this free event and receive a password-protected link to listen to the show between Oct 18 and 25.
This all-student performance will be directed by senior Bri Stewart, and will feature a new translation and adaptation by UNC Asheville students working under Sophie Mills, professor of classics. The play chronicles Antigone’s decision to bury her deceased brother – a former ruler killed in battle against a rival for the throne – despite a decree by the new king that he be neither mourned nor buried.
This production has challenged UNC Asheville’s students to adapt not just the language and themes of the ancient drama, but every aspect of logistics and performance to remain physically distanced while rehearsing and recording.
The cast includes Mack Moseley, Lindsey Wheeler, Thomas Townsend, Maycen Ellis, Brian Badesco, Jada Smith, Sam Pate, Sam McIntosh, Lilly Huebner and Ria Mark.
The decision to cancel the parade was based on North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper’s September 30th announcement moving North Carolina into Phase 3. Phase 3 continues to limit outdoor gatherings to 50 people and provides capacity limits for outdoor spaces. The uncertainty of COVID-19 conditions and public safety protocols in effect at the time of the parade drove the decision.
There are thousands of people in the parade and as many as 20,000 have come to watch in previous years, so it’s just not responsible to move forward in the midst of a public health crisis.
The Asheville Downtown Association took over production of the Asheville Holiday Parade in 2008. The parade first marched, danced and rolled through downtown Asheville in 1946, meaning 2020 would have marked the 74th annual parade.
The Asheville Downtown Association is planning to host free photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus on Saturday, November 21 at Rabbit Rabbit in downtown Asheville. Families will register for a time slot to maintain social distancing, and children and families will also remain distanced from Santa and Mrs. Claus for photos.
The Asheville Downtown Association will also continue to host its annual Downtown Holiday Windows Contest. More information on both of the above opportunities to come.
Calling all spoken word artists 15 years or older
ABOUT WORDplay©
WORDplay© is a twelve month slam poetry competition featuring Spoken Word Poets from all over Western North Carolina. Each month ten to twelve Poets will be selected via video submissions, for the chance to compete for Different Strokes Performing Arts Collective’s WORDplay© championship and a $1,000.00 cash prize. The monthly online competition, hosted by local Poets Barbie Angell and Shanita Jackson, is open to regional Poets who are at least 15 years of age. One Poet from each month’s competition will be selected to compete in front of a live audience in the October and November 2021 Semi-Finals. Two remaining Poets will vie for the WORDplay© championship in December 2021. The second place Poet will receive $500.00. Each Semi-Finalist will receive $100.00.
We are accepting submissions for January and February rounds now through November 23, 2020. Selected Poets will be notified by December 23, 2020.
Flat Rock Playhouse is proud to partner with The Breath Project to create an archive of 8 minute and 46 second works of live theater from multidisciplinary theater artists of color who are responding to this moment in history. All submissions that meet the Breath Project guidelines will be featured in the archive, and as partners in the project, CJ Barnwell will be the curator from our theater who will help select pieces from the archive to feature in a virtual festival in Fall 2020. For those who do not have access to video recording equipment, the Playhouse is able to offer the use of the Mainstage and video recording support. If you are interested in recording on the Mainstage, please email [email protected].
To be considered for the Fall 2020 virtual festival, please submit your piece by Sept. 14, 2020. For more information on the submission process, the mission of the Breath Project and other partner theaters, visit www.thebreathproject2020.com.