Live music returns to the Old Rock Cafe with our new music series: Playing for our Partners. Come enjoy an evening of good food and good music on the deck overlooking the Rocky Broad River and support a good cause, too. A percentage of proceeds from each event in the series will benefit one of our local non-profit partners. The September event will feature musician Mike Pauer and support Appalachian Wildlife Refuge.

The early bird gets the worm! Or in this case, the early bird gets the chance to spot more of our feathered friends before the excitement of Flock to the Rock. The early bird walk was designed to start before the Park opens to ensure participants get the best chance to encounter a variety of native and migrating birds. This hike is considered moderate and is the prelude to the our 14th Annual Flock to the Rock event which starts at 11am. Click here to see what birds you might encounter during your hike.

Bring your furry friends for a rooftop {paw}ty benefiting the Asheville Humane Society on Thursday, September 22nd from 5-7pm at the Pack Square Parking Garage off 26 Biltmore Avenue! This free event will include multiple breweries with beer tastings, live music, caricature art, pet portraits and more!

On Saturday, September 24, we will renew our annual walk for a a vision of a community that welcomes and celebrates all.
This walk is open to everyone: individuals, families, friends, neighborhoods, churches, activist groups, social clubs, companies, sports teams.

We believe that the overwhelming majority of people and organizations in western North Carolina aspire to a community that is welcoming. We need to make ourselves seen and heard.

This is not your typical Pride Parade. This is a gathering of ALL in our community who share a vision of inclusivity.

Join us as we walk to Pack Square and into the heart of the festival. Whether you are a business, a group, a congregation, community, family, or a pack of friends join us on this half-mile walk. Let the world know that in WNC, we share a simple ideal: Inclusion, Ya’ll!

How to Participate
One person per team should register to walk. Estimate your number of walkers while registering (you can update later).

Gather your team. Wear your organization’s tee shirts, uniforms, hats, buttons. Create your own posters. Need ideas? Our team is eager to help. ([email protected]).

Bring a sign or banner with your logo or an aspirational message.

Show up at between 9:00 am and 9:30 am at the parking lot across from 23 Grove Street, Asheville

Jubilee showcases excellent local talent in many arts: music, poetry, theater, comedy and more.

Take a 90-plus minute walk along Historic Main Street to learn about Hendersonville’s history and architecture and hear fascinating stories of the past. Be charmed and informed by Hendersonville’s history, architecture, and colorful stories.  Learn how the town got its name, who donated the land, bordellos, the oldest block of buildings, amazing fires, trolley lines … and more. All walks begin at 10am and begin at Hendersonville City Hall, front steps (corner of 5th Ave. East and King Street).

Our partners at Wicked Weed Brewing are teaming up with Hickory Nut Gap Farm (protected by SAHC farmland conservation easement) to host an evening with live music from Rudy Ralis and Daniel Shearin and band, delicious food from HNG Meats and Garage BBQ food truck, cold Wicked Weed beers, and Fairview style fun! Proceeds from the event will benefit Southern Appalachian Highland Conservancy and Project HNG. Come celebrate #Appalachia! MORE DETAILS TBA

Honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month with The MakeHER Market at Reynolds Village

The MakeHER Market returns to Reynolds Village in North Asheville on Saturday, October 22nd in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, an annual campaign to raise awareness about the impacts of breast cancer.

The October 2022 MakeHER Market will feature more than 20 female, independent creatives, makers, and designers and their unique, hand-crafted goods, as well as raise money for a local breast cancer support organization. The Hope Chest for Women is an organization that provides support to women living in all 22 counties of WNC and relieves some of the financial burdens created by breast or gynecological cancer treatment costs. Locally handmade art, accessories, and botanicals, as well as Fair Trade coffee, jewelry, and home décor, will be available to purchase at The MakeHER Market. The event is organized by Pride & Archive, Maadili Collective, and Hello, Gorgeous! Professional Bra Fitting & More, all women-led, local Asheville companies. In addition to shopping for local vendor goods, guests can donate gently used bras to Hello Gorgeous! Bra Drive for HelpMate. This year-round program aims to provide courageous survivors of domestic violence with bra fittings and gently loved, cleaned, and curated bras at no cost to the survivors. The MakeHER Market event aims to honor the empowerment and enterprising ventures of diverse women locally and abroad as well as honor the October observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and promote the mission for every woman to have access to the screenings she needs and the support she deserves.

Started in March 2019, the MakeHER Market began as a way to highlight and create connections between the talented community of Asheville female entrepreneurs, as well as establish a local event to celebrate International Women’s Day. Since its inception, the MakeHER Market has evolved to include a focus on women’s social and health-related issues and partner with local organizations in efforts to fundraise and raise awareness of various causes.

Event hours are 11 am to 5 pm, admission is free and families are welcome.

Come out in a family friendly costume with your well behaved dog (costumes highly encouraged) and help raise funds for Eblen Charities work! All dogs will receive a treat, and all humans will be entered into raffles for prizes. All funds raised go to our work to keep people housed, with working utilities and other essential needs. Register by October 7th to be guaranteed a tshirt.

Take a 90-plus minute walk along Historic Main Street to learn about Hendersonville’s history and architecture and hear fascinating stories of the past. Be charmed and informed by Hendersonville’s history, architecture, and colorful stories.  Learn how the town got its name, who donated the land, bordellos, the oldest block of buildings, amazing fires, trolley lines … and more. All walks begin at 10am and begin at Hendersonville City Hall, front steps (corner of 5th Ave. East and King Street).

Be one of Santa’s Important People with the fun new way to participate in the 42nd annual SMOKY MOUNTAIN TOY RUN!

SIP participants will have reserved parking at Kearfott, a specially designed commemorative Toy Run hoodie sweatshirt, rocker and patch. Additionally the SIP participants will lead the way to Downtown Asheville!

$75.00 per single rider or $100.00 per couple on a bike also includes event entrance fee.

Gates opens at 10:00 am and the SIP’s will lead the ride to downtown Asheville at 1:00 pm.

The Smoky Mountain Toy Run is the oldest running Toy Run in North Carolina!

Celebrating 42 years of insuring a Merry Christmas to children in need!

In an effort to guarantee shirts are available for all SIP participants we ask that you please pre-register before October 30!

Additional 2022 tee shirts and hoodies available at the event, as well as, a limited selection of vintage designs.

Come be a part of this wonderful community event that helps children of our community have a brighter holiday!

ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT

EBLEN CHARITIES

SAINT NICHOLAS PROJECT

You can be one of Santa’s Important People!

is almost here, and you can still be one of Santa’s Important People. Visit this link to learn more and sign up.

All funds and toys collected will go to support our St. Nicholas Project store, now in its 12th year. Last year we helped more than 1,350 families with holiday gifts for their children. We’re grateful to the Smoky Mountain Toy Run folks and all who help us make this a magical holiday season for kids, regardless of their family’s financial situation.

The Buncombe Partnership for Children and Mosaic Community Lifestyle Realty invite you to an evening for BPFC’s Reach Out and Read partnership, bringing books to children and families. Bid on great silent auction items including art, gift baskets, classes, fine food and drinks, and gift certificates. Donations are also gratefully accepted. Help meet the ambitious goal of $9,000 raised for early literacy.

Together with French Broad Pediatrics and Our Family Doctor, BPFC gives over 3,100 books per year to children ages birth to 5 at their doctors’ visits. Pediatricians use books in these appointments to encourage families to read, sing, and talk with their kids. Then each child takes a book home. For some families, these books are the only ones they have in their homes.Parents in the program are 2.5 times more likely to read with their infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. And children’s language development is improved by a whole 3-6 months by the age of 5!

Inspired by nature and following the self-published released of How to Heal the Planet from Wherever You Are, Cortina Jenelle introduces Oshanna Church of Spiritual Activism, with Oshanna debuting as a dynamic experience rooted in ceremony and inviting nature as a co-facilitator through theater, art and spoken word. After each production, all ticket proceeds are donated to a mission partner who is doing work in service to Mother Earth while also furthering truth, healing and reconciliation across race, gender and class.

Black Starseed: Immaculate Conception is the second installment of the Black Starseed series, which goes back in time as a prelude to Black Starseed: Revolutionary Reimagination (2020) – a debut partnership between adé PROJECT and PechaKucha Asheville co-creating a storytelling experience in voice of Black women at the intersection of creativity x spirituality. In this prelude, the life story of Cortina Jenelle becomes a moving memoir and an embodiment of a shared story from the matriarchs of Black, indigenous descent in a world where femininity, Blackness, sovereignty and indigeneity were not just criminal, but a threat to society. Black Starseed: Immaculate Conception may appear to just tell the story of one, yet is actually one version of the same story that constantly loops through time. Do you know how purposeful, brilliant and divine you already are, Starseed? This is heart song of the black sheep generation + millennials, and those born torn between ancestral remembrance and playing the game of life to win. Join us in a gathering of art, theater, ceremony (with a bonus book signing post-show) and storytelling and leave reminded of how to heal the planet from wherever you are.

Ticket proceeds benefit cleanup of the French Broad River with our mission partner for this show, Asheville Greenworks.

Kick off the new year in Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park during this First Day Hike! Start your morning bright and early with a stroll, hike or bike ride up to the 3.2-mile Park road. Usually restricted to motor vehicle traffic only, there will be no cars in your way if you show up for this special, early morning hike that’s free to participants! Bicyclists are allowed to use the road also on this special morning to climb and descend the steep park road under controlled speed. Helmets are required.

Meet at the Old Rock Café at 8am. Registration is not required.

– STANDING ROOM ONLY

BENEFIT CONCERT FOR EVERGREEN COMMUNITY CHARTER SCHOOL 
Evergreen Community Charter School is a K-8 learning community committed to the pursuit of excellence in the holistic education of mind, body, and spirit. We prepare students for successful lifelong learning, social responsibility, environmental stewardship, and service. We value the voice of every member of our community.

Featuring….

THE LATE SHIFTERS

Southern rock meets jam band meets Americana with The Late Shifters, a necessity-born, passion-driven, local band, playing back holler, Asheville rock.

With a nod to their Southern rock and Appalachian roots, The Late Shifters have found a way to express their love for the region and its rich environment and culture through amplified and warm electric sound. Three guitars and three vocalists weave texture and melodic layers through their catchy original tunes that’ll have you singing along before the night is through.

In 2023, the band will be releasing their debut album featuring crowd-favorite originals like Highway 191 and Letting Go.  They have an enthusiastic following around town and have plans to take their show on the road regionally this spring. These five, hardworking, hard-playing family men have brought together their individual talents from both southern corners of Buncombe County.  The Late Shifters have been playing around the corner and around the campfire for years, and chances are, you probably know at least one of them.  Bring your families and boogie shoes for a soul-warming, bootie shaking, rocking good time.

BLUSHIN’ ROULETTES

The Blushin’ Roulettes deliver sultry, smoky, swingin’ twang.  “Their songs are stripped down, sexy little jewel boxes stuffed with ancient mountain magic,” says the San Francisco Free Folk Festival. Guitaress and songwriter Angie Heimann belts her stirring songs of damsels in their bliss and distress in a clarion vibrato often likened to Iris Dement. Cas Sochacki thumps the double bass and interlaces bright dobro stylings amid the rich lyrics of the Roulettes’ more serious songs, and rings in vocally with his molasses baritone on the occasional cheeky duet.  The Roulettes have newly expanded their North Carolina lineup to include the prominent Asheville players Cynthia McDermott (mandolin and vocals,) Jay Brown (guitar and vocals) and James T. Browne (drums.)

The Blushin’ Roulettes’ appearances include performances at the Kate Wolf Memorial Music Festival, San Francisco Free Folk Festival, North Bay Hootennany and the Humboldt Folklife Festival, as well as shared stages with the Wailin’ Jennies, Wayne the Train Hancock, Big Sandy and His Fly Right Boys, and The Devil Makes 3, and poet John Trudell.  Angie has won songwriting awards in KZFR/Sierra Nevada’s Celebration of the Song, Woody Guthrie Songwriting Contest, Artists for Literacy SIBL Songwriting Contest, and South Florida Folk Festival.

JUAN HOLLADAY
Hailing from the desert southwest, Juan Holladay is a quiet storm, down tempo, lo-fi crooner.

Kate Steinbeck flute and Dewitt Tipton piano
Music of JS Bach, Wilhelm Peterson-Berger, Claude Debussy, Albert Roussel and Katherine Hoover

Read more about Adventure Armenia here: https://panharmonia.org/2023/01/02/adventure-armenia/

We are committed to ensuring that programs remain accessible to all members of the community. In the spirit of inclusivity and equity, PAN HARMONIA offers donation-based, pay-as-you-can community concerts. All are welcome.
Those planning to attend are expected to be fully vaccinated for the safety of our community. Advanced reservations are encouraged.

Email [email protected] or call the office at (828) 254-7123, if you have questions.
panharmonia.org

The Cabaret, sponsored by the Asheville Symphony Guild, is a lively variety show highlighting local singing, dancing, instrumental and comedic talent. Music from the 20s to the present, from Broadway to Appalachia, will have you tapping your feet and singing along. Come, bring your friends, be entertained and see your neighbors perform. All proceeds support the Asheville Symphony

Hit the trails and learn more about The North Carolina Arboretum’s botanically diverse forest with a guided trail walk! April through October, this free hiking program is led by trained volunteer guides who take small groups of participants along woodland trails and through a variety of forest types. Depending on the season and each guide’s area of expertise, topics of discussion may include wildflowers, plant and tree identification, natural history and more.

Guided trail walks are limited to 15 people, including the guide, and are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age. Groups depart from the Baker Visitor Center Lobby on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m..

Walks last 1.5 – 2.5 hours, are approximately one to two miles in length. As this program is held rain or shine, all participants should dress appropriately for the weather.

There is no pre-registration; walks are first-come first served and sign up sheets are located in the Baker Visitors Center.

Walks are FREE; however, donations to The North Carolina Arboretum Society are appreciated. Regular parking fees apply. Arboretum Society Members always park free.

Know Before You Go

• Guided Trail Walks are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age.
• Guided Trail Walks are rain or shine and all participants should be dressed comfortably and for the weather.
• Hikes cover 1-2 miles and last 1.5-2 hours.
• Well-behaved leashed pets are welcome to accompany their owners. In the rare case that a pet is disruptive or negatively impacts the experience, the pet and its owner may be asked to excuse themselves from the guided walk.
• COVID-19 Safety: In order to hear the guide and fully participate in the trail walk, participants will be in close proximity to one another for extended periods of time. While face coverings are not required, participants should use their best judgement to keep themselves and others safe while enjoying the trails. Individuals who are experiencing flu-like symptoms or suspect they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should not participate.
• At this time, no more than 6 spaces may be filled by a single family/group through pre-registration for any one Guided Trail Walk. If additional spaces are available on the day of the Walk, additional members of the family/group may participate. We apologize for any inconvenience and look forward to welcoming larger groups in the future.

Hit the trails and learn more about The North Carolina Arboretum’s botanically diverse forest with a guided trail walk! April through October, this free hiking program is led by trained volunteer guides who take small groups of participants along woodland trails and through a variety of forest types. Depending on the season and each guide’s area of expertise, topics of discussion may include wildflowers, plant and tree identification, natural history and more.

Guided trail walks are limited to 15 people, including the guide, and are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age. Groups depart from the Baker Visitor Center Lobby on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m..

Walks last 1.5 – 2.5 hours, are approximately one to two miles in length. As this program is held rain or shine, all participants should dress appropriately for the weather.

There is no pre-registration; walks are first-come first served and sign up sheets are located in the Baker Visitors Center.

Walks are FREE; however, donations to The North Carolina Arboretum Society are appreciated. Regular parking fees apply. Arboretum Society Members always park free.

Know Before You Go

• Guided Trail Walks are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age.
• Guided Trail Walks are rain or shine and all participants should be dressed comfortably and for the weather.
• Hikes cover 1-2 miles and last 1.5-2 hours.
• Well-behaved leashed pets are welcome to accompany their owners. In the rare case that a pet is disruptive or negatively impacts the experience, the pet and its owner may be asked to excuse themselves from the guided walk.
• COVID-19 Safety: In order to hear the guide and fully participate in the trail walk, participants will be in close proximity to one another for extended periods of time. While face coverings are not required, participants should use their best judgement to keep themselves and others safe while enjoying the trails. Individuals who are experiencing flu-like symptoms or suspect they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should not participate.
• At this time, no more than 6 spaces may be filled by a single family/group through pre-registration for any one Guided Trail Walk. If additional spaces are available on the day of the Walk, additional members of the family/group may participate. We apologize for any inconvenience and look forward to welcoming larger groups in the future.

Come watch as teams from across the Carolinas compete in a double-elimination bracket to pull two fire trucks in a race for the best time. Then stick around for a live concert. A portion of proceeds will go to the N.C. Firefighters’ Burned Children Fund.

Admission: $15.00 pre-event, $20.00 on-site

For more information, please visit: www.wnccharityfiretruckpull.com.
Contact: 828-606-6467 or [email protected]