Designed with an artistic aesthetic, Winter Lights features beautifully lit displays and glowing landscapes nestled along the Arboretum’s woodland edge and garden areas. As part of the show’s redesign, visitors will enjoy several new nature-themed displays, including winter wildlife, colorful butterflies, a special insect lantern exhibit and a giant daisy “garden.” Celebrate the holiday season with the entire family at Winter Lights.
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.
|
Governor Roy Cooper announced on Tuesday, December 8th that North Carolina will begin a Modified Stay at Home Order in response to a rapid increase in North Carolina’s key COVID-19 trends. The Order requires people to stay at home between the hours of 10 pm and 5 am, and takes effect Friday, December 11th. The Order is set to remain in place until January 8, 2021.
The Order requires restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, personal care businesses, and more to close at 10 pm. Travel to and from work, to obtain food, medical care, fuel or social services, or to take care of a family member is exempted from the order. FAQs on the order can be found HERE.
|

Covid-Friendly Clean-Up Stations: #AVLquaranclean
We’ve learned a lot about adapting this year. Back in March, we canceled all of our upcoming events and volunteer opportunities. But it didn’t stop you from working to make Asheville cleaner and safer.
So we amped up our Cleanup Supply Station program, fully stocking existing locations and adding on 2 new stations, for a total of 7 Cleanup Supply Stations throughout Asheville & Buncombe County. We threw in our catchy #AVLquaranclean hashtag on top, and you did the rest!
Since March, 132 volunteers used these stations 36 times to collect over 2,700 pounds of litter from creeks and roads on their own time!! We are also incredibly grateful to Mountain Xpress for donating newspaper stands to be repurposed into these supply stations, the City of Asheville and Buncombe County Government for supporting cleanups, and to Mast General Store and Asheville Sun Soo Martial Arts for hosting our newest stations.
These stations remain stocked and ready for your quarantine pod’s next outing. Remember to sign out supplies, report the trash back to us afterwards, and return supplies for cleaning and reuse! Read more at https://www.ashevillegreenworks.org/latest…/avlquaranclean and contact [email protected] for more information or to schedule supply pick up for larger groups.
Since 2015, GreenWorks has been working to perfect the 24/7 litter capturing device.
Enter… the Trash Trout Jr!
The litter traps on our Trash Trout Jrs work all day, every day to prevent trash from reaching our rivers. The majority of litter is single-use plastic, and most of it is not recyclable. These devices are less expensive to build and easier to maintain that our larger Trash Trouts, and they are perfect for small streams and tributaries — meaning we’re able to capture and remove litter earlier in its “life in the water.” This all means less photodegradation, less exposure to aquatic life, and less negative impact on water quality.
In 2020, we added 3 new Trash Trout Jr locations: Smith Mill Creek, Haw Creek, and Hayes Run Creek (Madison County). We also built 2 others, to be installed in 2021. These devices are checked regularly, especially after large rain events, and are cleaned out by staff, interns, and volunteers.
Wanna be a hero? We’re kicking off our Adopt a Trash Trout program! If you’d like to get more involved in protecting our waterways, and if you love the Trash Trouts (because who doesn’t?!) – find more information and sign up at https://bit.ly/2W2y0iR

Grants from The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina have helped fund our Trash Trout program since 2017, and local sponsors provide support for annual maintenance and cleanouts. Let’s give them all a HUGE thank you:
Smith Mill Creek: Sponsored by New Belgium Brewing and Southern Appalachian Anglers
Town Branch Creek: Sponsored by Sitework Studios and Wedge Brewery
Hayes Run Creek: Sponsored by Ivy River Partners and Sustainable Madison
Hominy Creek: Sponsored by Zen Tubing and Pisgah Plants
Mud Creek: Sponsored by Hendersonville, NC City Government and Pisgah Plants

Update: Funding must be accessed by Dec. 30, 2020.
Attention Buncombe County residents: If you are struggling to pay your rent, mortgage, or utilities, Buncombe County’s COVID Housing Assistance Program may be able to help. The funds must be accessed prior to Dec. 30.
“If you think you may possibly qualify, please call our office at 250-5500 to learn more,” said Economic Services Director Phillip Hardin. “Financial assistance is available immediately to support our community members impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic who need help with rent, mortgage, or utilities, but we have to use these dollars by Dec. 30.”
To qualify to receive relief funds earmarked for the Housing Assistance Program, households must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- The applicant/household lost income due to COVID-19.
- There is a sustainability plan to pay shelter expenses going forward after the County assists with past due bills.
- Income limit of 200% of the federal poverty level ($52,400) for a family of four.
Buncombe County is now accepting inquiries and applications. Please fill out the attached form and return to Buncombe County Health and Human Services or call (828) 250-5500 to be connected with a caseworker to start the application process.

Spring LEAF Retreat May 13-16 at Lake Eden
LEAF Downtown/ Reimagine August 27-28
Fall LEAF Festival October 14-17 at Lake Eden (Size TBD*)
These events will be limited in size but will retain all the LEAF Love. LEAF Members will have priority and at times exclusive access to these events. Please note that Spring LEAF Retreat will be members-only and tickets will be made available on January 4th, 2021. Members have kept LEAF Mission alive and at work in this wild year of 2020! Your membership empowered LEAF to maintain our support of LEAF International Culture Keepers in the 10 countries and local LEAF Schools & Streets Artists. When you support culture, artists and teachers you are investing in the community and young people’s future. Interested in becoming a member? Join membership today!
All $250+ memberships will receive the 2021 LEAF Calendar hot off the press and its going to be a great year!
As we move toward the Holiday season, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has released guidance for fall-related events. The guidance was developed with the goal of safer holiday breaks for college students and private social gatherings.

- People who have symptoms of COVID-19.
- Click here for a Coronavirus Self-Checker
- People who have had close contact (link to help you determine your risk) (within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or more) with someone with confirmed COVID-19.
- People who have been asked or referred to get testing by their healthcare provider, links to local or state health departments.
January is National Mentoring Month, and this year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina is celebrating it by recruiting more adult and high school volunteers, as well as children and youth who need an extra someone on their side.
“One truth I know,” said Lelia Duncan, Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North
Carolina, “is that we are all called to take care of one another, to encourage, to uplift, to hold a space for
others to be listened to and valued. There is nothing more important, nothing closer to the divine, than
to be present and to take a moment to nurture those around us, especially children and youth.”
Big Brothers Big Sisters of WNC is especially effective in helping young people feel valued and heard.
Surveys of school personnel in the 2018-2019 school year show that, among BBBSWNC Littles in
community- and school/site-based programs
National Mentoring Month is the time of year where engagement from community members interested
in becoming a mentor is highest. This year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina is
encouraging the public to go beyond just digital engagement – and become involved in real life.
Mentoring relationships are at their best when connections are made between a caring adult and a
young person who knows that someone is there to help guide them through real-life decisions.
To learn more about becoming a Big Brother or a Big Sister in Henderson County, contact Program
Coordinator Morgan Harris at (828) 507-6644 or email [email protected]. You can learn more
about serving across the 18 county region by visiting www.bbbswnc.org.

Sunday Fun Day at Kolo
Kolo Bike Park access is just $10 for the entire day every Sunday
Testing Site Locations in Buncombe County: Appointment required at these sites
A-B Tech, Genevieve Circle, Asheville (Allied Health Parking Lot)
Every Sunday
1:30-5:30 p.m.
Will be serving food at WNC Ministry
Let’s Help Feed Those in Need
To put action steps to the desire to help others. Anyone who is interested in helping those who are food insecure. We will organize a way to offer a meal once weekly to those in need.

Watch the world transform from dusk to night while climbing in the trees at our Asheville Treetops Adventure Park. Trails will be illuminated to give climbing the obstacles a new perspective. Over 15,000 colored lights, plus colorful lasers sparkling on thousands of leaves, cables, rope, and platforms throughout the park will create a mystical tree climbing experience like you can’t imagine. For ages 4 and over. Reservations are suggested: www.adventureavl.com or 877.547.5539
Thanksgiving in the Treetops Nov 28 at 4:30
Holidays in the Treetops Dec 27 at 4:30
Rates: $49/person
Winter Lights at The N.C. Arboretum
November 20, 2020 – January 10, 2021
5:30 – 10:30 p.m. Nightly
Experience Asheville’s BRIGHTEST holiday tradition at Winter Lights at The North Carolina Arboretum. This year, guests are invited to take a dreamy ride through the Arboretum’s enchanted forest and attend Winter Lights safely within their own vehicles. In light of COVID-19, the Arboretum has converted its popular event into a drive-thru show, allowing guests to navigate through a one-mile stretch of the Arboretum’s campus and see unique exhibits covered in thousands of holiday lights. As the Arboretum’s largest fundraising event of the year, proceeds generated from Winter Lights will directly support the Arboretum’s mission-driven programming.
|
Governor Roy Cooper announced on Tuesday, December 8th that North Carolina will begin a Modified Stay at Home Order in response to a rapid increase in North Carolina’s key COVID-19 trends. The Order requires people to stay at home between the hours of 10 pm and 5 am, and takes effect Friday, December 11th. The Order is set to remain in place until January 8, 2021.
The Order requires restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, personal care businesses, and more to close at 10 pm. Travel to and from work, to obtain food, medical care, fuel or social services, or to take care of a family member is exempted from the order. FAQs on the order can be found HERE.
|

Covid-Friendly Clean-Up Stations: #AVLquaranclean
We’ve learned a lot about adapting this year. Back in March, we canceled all of our upcoming events and volunteer opportunities. But it didn’t stop you from working to make Asheville cleaner and safer.
So we amped up our Cleanup Supply Station program, fully stocking existing locations and adding on 2 new stations, for a total of 7 Cleanup Supply Stations throughout Asheville & Buncombe County. We threw in our catchy #AVLquaranclean hashtag on top, and you did the rest!
Since March, 132 volunteers used these stations 36 times to collect over 2,700 pounds of litter from creeks and roads on their own time!! We are also incredibly grateful to Mountain Xpress for donating newspaper stands to be repurposed into these supply stations, the City of Asheville and Buncombe County Government for supporting cleanups, and to Mast General Store and Asheville Sun Soo Martial Arts for hosting our newest stations.
These stations remain stocked and ready for your quarantine pod’s next outing. Remember to sign out supplies, report the trash back to us afterwards, and return supplies for cleaning and reuse! Read more at https://www.ashevillegreenworks.org/latest…/avlquaranclean and contact [email protected] for more information or to schedule supply pick up for larger groups.
Since 2015, GreenWorks has been working to perfect the 24/7 litter capturing device.
Enter… the Trash Trout Jr!
The litter traps on our Trash Trout Jrs work all day, every day to prevent trash from reaching our rivers. The majority of litter is single-use plastic, and most of it is not recyclable. These devices are less expensive to build and easier to maintain that our larger Trash Trouts, and they are perfect for small streams and tributaries — meaning we’re able to capture and remove litter earlier in its “life in the water.” This all means less photodegradation, less exposure to aquatic life, and less negative impact on water quality.
In 2020, we added 3 new Trash Trout Jr locations: Smith Mill Creek, Haw Creek, and Hayes Run Creek (Madison County). We also built 2 others, to be installed in 2021. These devices are checked regularly, especially after large rain events, and are cleaned out by staff, interns, and volunteers.
Wanna be a hero? We’re kicking off our Adopt a Trash Trout program! If you’d like to get more involved in protecting our waterways, and if you love the Trash Trouts (because who doesn’t?!) – find more information and sign up at https://bit.ly/2W2y0iR

Grants from The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina have helped fund our Trash Trout program since 2017, and local sponsors provide support for annual maintenance and cleanouts. Let’s give them all a HUGE thank you:
Smith Mill Creek: Sponsored by New Belgium Brewing and Southern Appalachian Anglers
Town Branch Creek: Sponsored by Sitework Studios and Wedge Brewery
Hayes Run Creek: Sponsored by Ivy River Partners and Sustainable Madison
Hominy Creek: Sponsored by Zen Tubing and Pisgah Plants
Mud Creek: Sponsored by Hendersonville, NC City Government and Pisgah Plants

Update: Funding must be accessed by Dec. 30, 2020.
Attention Buncombe County residents: If you are struggling to pay your rent, mortgage, or utilities, Buncombe County’s COVID Housing Assistance Program may be able to help. The funds must be accessed prior to Dec. 30.
“If you think you may possibly qualify, please call our office at 250-5500 to learn more,” said Economic Services Director Phillip Hardin. “Financial assistance is available immediately to support our community members impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic who need help with rent, mortgage, or utilities, but we have to use these dollars by Dec. 30.”
To qualify to receive relief funds earmarked for the Housing Assistance Program, households must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- The applicant/household lost income due to COVID-19.
- There is a sustainability plan to pay shelter expenses going forward after the County assists with past due bills.
- Income limit of 200% of the federal poverty level ($52,400) for a family of four.
Buncombe County is now accepting inquiries and applications. Please fill out the attached form and return to Buncombe County Health and Human Services or call (828) 250-5500 to be connected with a caseworker to start the application process.

Spring LEAF Retreat May 13-16 at Lake Eden
LEAF Downtown/ Reimagine August 27-28
Fall LEAF Festival October 14-17 at Lake Eden (Size TBD*)
These events will be limited in size but will retain all the LEAF Love. LEAF Members will have priority and at times exclusive access to these events. Please note that Spring LEAF Retreat will be members-only and tickets will be made available on January 4th, 2021. Members have kept LEAF Mission alive and at work in this wild year of 2020! Your membership empowered LEAF to maintain our support of LEAF International Culture Keepers in the 10 countries and local LEAF Schools & Streets Artists. When you support culture, artists and teachers you are investing in the community and young people’s future. Interested in becoming a member? Join membership today!
All $250+ memberships will receive the 2021 LEAF Calendar hot off the press and its going to be a great year!
As we move toward the Holiday season, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has released guidance for fall-related events. The guidance was developed with the goal of safer holiday breaks for college students and private social gatherings.

- People who have symptoms of COVID-19.
- Click here for a Coronavirus Self-Checker
- People who have had close contact (link to help you determine your risk) (within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or more) with someone with confirmed COVID-19.
- People who have been asked or referred to get testing by their healthcare provider, links to local or state health departments.
January is National Mentoring Month, and this year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina is celebrating it by recruiting more adult and high school volunteers, as well as children and youth who need an extra someone on their side.
“One truth I know,” said Lelia Duncan, Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North
Carolina, “is that we are all called to take care of one another, to encourage, to uplift, to hold a space for
others to be listened to and valued. There is nothing more important, nothing closer to the divine, than
to be present and to take a moment to nurture those around us, especially children and youth.”
Big Brothers Big Sisters of WNC is especially effective in helping young people feel valued and heard.
Surveys of school personnel in the 2018-2019 school year show that, among BBBSWNC Littles in
community- and school/site-based programs
National Mentoring Month is the time of year where engagement from community members interested
in becoming a mentor is highest. This year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina is
encouraging the public to go beyond just digital engagement – and become involved in real life.
Mentoring relationships are at their best when connections are made between a caring adult and a
young person who knows that someone is there to help guide them through real-life decisions.
To learn more about becoming a Big Brother or a Big Sister in Henderson County, contact Program
Coordinator Morgan Harris at (828) 507-6644 or email [email protected]. You can learn more
about serving across the 18 county region by visiting www.bbbswnc.org.
Winter Lights at The N.C. Arboretum
November 20, 2020 – January 10, 2021
5:30 – 10:30 p.m. Nightly
Experience Asheville’s BRIGHTEST holiday tradition at Winter Lights at The North Carolina Arboretum. This year, guests are invited to take a dreamy ride through the Arboretum’s enchanted forest and attend Winter Lights safely within their own vehicles. In light of COVID-19, the Arboretum has converted its popular event into a drive-thru show, allowing guests to navigate through a one-mile stretch of the Arboretum’s campus and see unique exhibits covered in thousands of holiday lights. As the Arboretum’s largest fundraising event of the year, proceeds generated from Winter Lights will directly support the Arboretum’s mission-driven programming.
Designed with an artistic aesthetic, Winter Lights features beautifully lit displays and glowing landscapes nestled along the Arboretum’s woodland edge and garden areas. As part of the show’s redesign, visitors will enjoy several new nature-themed displays, including winter wildlife, colorful butterflies, a special insect lantern exhibit and a giant daisy “garden.” Celebrate the holiday season with the entire family at Winter Lights.
|
Governor Roy Cooper announced on Tuesday, December 8th that North Carolina will begin a Modified Stay at Home Order in response to a rapid increase in North Carolina’s key COVID-19 trends. The Order requires people to stay at home between the hours of 10 pm and 5 am, and takes effect Friday, December 11th. The Order is set to remain in place until January 8, 2021.
The Order requires restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, personal care businesses, and more to close at 10 pm. Travel to and from work, to obtain food, medical care, fuel or social services, or to take care of a family member is exempted from the order. FAQs on the order can be found HERE.
|

Covid-Friendly Clean-Up Stations: #AVLquaranclean
We’ve learned a lot about adapting this year. Back in March, we canceled all of our upcoming events and volunteer opportunities. But it didn’t stop you from working to make Asheville cleaner and safer.
So we amped up our Cleanup Supply Station program, fully stocking existing locations and adding on 2 new stations, for a total of 7 Cleanup Supply Stations throughout Asheville & Buncombe County. We threw in our catchy #AVLquaranclean hashtag on top, and you did the rest!
Since March, 132 volunteers used these stations 36 times to collect over 2,700 pounds of litter from creeks and roads on their own time!! We are also incredibly grateful to Mountain Xpress for donating newspaper stands to be repurposed into these supply stations, the City of Asheville and Buncombe County Government for supporting cleanups, and to Mast General Store and Asheville Sun Soo Martial Arts for hosting our newest stations.
These stations remain stocked and ready for your quarantine pod’s next outing. Remember to sign out supplies, report the trash back to us afterwards, and return supplies for cleaning and reuse! Read more at https://www.ashevillegreenworks.org/latest…/avlquaranclean and contact [email protected] for more information or to schedule supply pick up for larger groups.
Since 2015, GreenWorks has been working to perfect the 24/7 litter capturing device.
Enter… the Trash Trout Jr!
The litter traps on our Trash Trout Jrs work all day, every day to prevent trash from reaching our rivers. The majority of litter is single-use plastic, and most of it is not recyclable. These devices are less expensive to build and easier to maintain that our larger Trash Trouts, and they are perfect for small streams and tributaries — meaning we’re able to capture and remove litter earlier in its “life in the water.” This all means less photodegradation, less exposure to aquatic life, and less negative impact on water quality.
In 2020, we added 3 new Trash Trout Jr locations: Smith Mill Creek, Haw Creek, and Hayes Run Creek (Madison County). We also built 2 others, to be installed in 2021. These devices are checked regularly, especially after large rain events, and are cleaned out by staff, interns, and volunteers.
Wanna be a hero? We’re kicking off our Adopt a Trash Trout program! If you’d like to get more involved in protecting our waterways, and if you love the Trash Trouts (because who doesn’t?!) – find more information and sign up at https://bit.ly/2W2y0iR

Grants from The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina have helped fund our Trash Trout program since 2017, and local sponsors provide support for annual maintenance and cleanouts. Let’s give them all a HUGE thank you:
Smith Mill Creek: Sponsored by New Belgium Brewing and Southern Appalachian Anglers
Town Branch Creek: Sponsored by Sitework Studios and Wedge Brewery
Hayes Run Creek: Sponsored by Ivy River Partners and Sustainable Madison
Hominy Creek: Sponsored by Zen Tubing and Pisgah Plants
Mud Creek: Sponsored by Hendersonville, NC City Government and Pisgah Plants

Update: Funding must be accessed by Dec. 30, 2020.
Attention Buncombe County residents: If you are struggling to pay your rent, mortgage, or utilities, Buncombe County’s COVID Housing Assistance Program may be able to help. The funds must be accessed prior to Dec. 30.
“If you think you may possibly qualify, please call our office at 250-5500 to learn more,” said Economic Services Director Phillip Hardin. “Financial assistance is available immediately to support our community members impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic who need help with rent, mortgage, or utilities, but we have to use these dollars by Dec. 30.”
To qualify to receive relief funds earmarked for the Housing Assistance Program, households must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- The applicant/household lost income due to COVID-19.
- There is a sustainability plan to pay shelter expenses going forward after the County assists with past due bills.
- Income limit of 200% of the federal poverty level ($52,400) for a family of four.
Buncombe County is now accepting inquiries and applications. Please fill out the attached form and return to Buncombe County Health and Human Services or call (828) 250-5500 to be connected with a caseworker to start the application process.

Spring LEAF Retreat May 13-16 at Lake Eden
LEAF Downtown/ Reimagine August 27-28
Fall LEAF Festival October 14-17 at Lake Eden (Size TBD*)
These events will be limited in size but will retain all the LEAF Love. LEAF Members will have priority and at times exclusive access to these events. Please note that Spring LEAF Retreat will be members-only and tickets will be made available on January 4th, 2021. Members have kept LEAF Mission alive and at work in this wild year of 2020! Your membership empowered LEAF to maintain our support of LEAF International Culture Keepers in the 10 countries and local LEAF Schools & Streets Artists. When you support culture, artists and teachers you are investing in the community and young people’s future. Interested in becoming a member? Join membership today!
All $250+ memberships will receive the 2021 LEAF Calendar hot off the press and its going to be a great year!
As we move toward the Holiday season, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has released guidance for fall-related events. The guidance was developed with the goal of safer holiday breaks for college students and private social gatherings.

- People who have symptoms of COVID-19.
- Click here for a Coronavirus Self-Checker
- People who have had close contact (link to help you determine your risk) (within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or more) with someone with confirmed COVID-19.
- People who have been asked or referred to get testing by their healthcare provider, links to local or state health departments.



