Included with admission

Embark on a scenic journey across George Vanderbilt’s Italy with a large-scale outdoor display that combines brilliant botanical designs with authentic messages written by Vanderbilt himself.

Beautifully handcrafted of natural elements, each sculptural postcard depicts a location or landmark Vanderbilt visited more than a century ago. This captivating complement to Biltmore’s Italian Renaissance Alive exhibition reveals Vanderbilt’s passions for travel, culture, architecture, and art as well as his personal experience of such renowned Italian cities as Milan, Florence, Venice, Pisa, and Vatican City.

Adding to the charm and visual appeal of Ciao! From Italy—sure to be a hit among kids of all ages—is the G-scale model train that travels in and out of each postcard in this enlightening display!

Little Shredders

Chloe Kemp is an award-winning, best-selling author and intuitive shamanic energy healer. Her inspirational teaching memoir, Wisdom Keeper: My Extraordinary Journey to Unlock the Sacred Within, has won multiple awards, including GOLD WINNER: Memoir by a Female—2022 Living Now Book Awards—Books for Better Living.

Chloe’s intuitive shamanic energy healing sessions last approximately 1-1/2 hours. Available appointments begin at 11 am. She prefers to only do one session per day. Chloe lives in Mexico and will only be offering in-person healing sessions in Asheville on May 6 – May 12.

Once you book your session, Chloe will give you information on how to prepare for it. https://www.chloekempwisdomkeeper.com/healing

HEALING TESTIMONIES

“I can honestly say my life has changed for the better in a blink of an eye. I can not begin to express how grateful I am to you for giving me the tools I’ve been looking for my whole life. My session with you was amazing!”—P.S., San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

You are a true healer. I always feel blessed to be in your presence; you continually remind me of the Divine. I definitely felt a shift during and after our session and there’s no doubt it had something to do with the positive results I received at my doctor’s appointment. Every little touch — from the music, crystals, rattle, feather, and even the cards for affirmations afterwards — created such a safe and sacred place for me. You are a beacon of light and love.”—K.M., USA

“The intense healing I received from Chloe helped to open me up to past life traumas and grief and to clear karma so that my current life can progress without continuing to carry burdens from the past. I feel lighter and free to better continue this life’s journey as a Lightworker. I felt surrounded by a healing golden light. In the days and nights after, I experienced vivid dreams and visions that helped to process past grief and prepare me for the work that is to come. I highly recommend this healing experience for anyone — especially all Lightworkers, Star Seeds and Indigos.”—C.P., Registered Nurse, USA

“Wow! Your ability to tap into my past life and clear the stabbing wound literally feels like you removed a knife from my stomach! I feel like I just had an amazing, empowering energy transformation. Thank you for providing a relaxing and safe environment for my energy soul healing. I am amazed that you could channel such powerful energy. I feel like I can now understand and move past my karmic struggle in that lifetime.” —A.J. USA

IMIJ OF SOUL

ImiJ of Soul (pronounced image) is a celebration of all things Jimi Hendrix! A psychedelic juggernaut playing Jimi with authenticity and reverence. Already noticed by the man who played Jimi’s parts with Billy and Buddy in Band of Gypsys (Andy Aledort) and literally wrote the book on Hendrix, ImiJ brings the Jimi experience live to you.

“ImiJ of Soul play Jimi Hendrix’s music with a truly authentic vibe and attitude, check them out!”  – Andy Aledort…Guitar World Magazine, Band of Gypsys

“Some folks just get it, these guys GET it! ImiJ of Soul bring the music of Jimi Hendrix to life, no impersonations, no tricks just rockin the tunes we all grown to love, if you love Hendrix you need to see ImiJ of Soul”  – Dustin Brayley…Trans Siberian Orchestra‫

Bill Altman …guitar and vocal
Fatty Be …bass guitar and vocal
David Cohen …drums

Enjoy the WNC Nature Center in the evening with a beer or cider in hand!

A summer tradition returns to Pack Square Park, the popular FREE Movies in the Park series produced by Asheville Parks & Recreation.

.: MOVIE SCHEDULE :.
📽️ May 12 – DC League of Super-Pets, begins around 8:10pm
📽️ June 9 – Cruella, begins around 8:30pm
📽️ July 14 – Top Gun: Maverick, begins around 8:30 pm
📽️ August 11 – Little Giants, begins around 8:10pm
👉 Asheville Parks & Recreation Rec n Roll Fun Zone activities start an hour before showtime with games, giveaways, and other activities for kids and teens.

.: MAKE A PLAN :.
📍 All movies are free and begin at dusk in Pack Square Park on 80 Court Plaza in downtown Asheville. Approximate showtimes are listed, but plan to arrive at least 15 minutes prior. Bring blankets and folding chairs for comfort.
📍 Asheville Parks & Recreation Rec n Roll Fun Zone activities start an hour before showtime.
📍 Bring money for food and treats from local vendors. Smokee’s Pizza is scheduled for opening night on May 12 while Tin Can Pizzeria is scheduled for the remaining dates. Kona Ice of Asheville and Kernel Mike’s World Famous Kettle Corn will be available at all dates.
📍 Free parking is available in marked spaces on city streets and in city-owned lots on Marjorie Street after 6pm.
📍 Pets, smoking, and alcohol are prohibited.
📍 Have fun! Dress up as your favorite characters, invite friends, and celebrate cool summer nights.

Movies in the Park allows people to enjoy blockbusters on the big screen with a spectacular backdrop – Asheville City Hall’s art decor exterior flanked by the rising mountains and a night sky full of stars. As Asheville’s town square, Pack Square Park’s central location allows community members in nearby neighborhoods including East End, Montford, South French Broad, and Southside to easily walk, bike, or ride to the show. Free parking in downtown after 6pm makes it a low-cost night out for those traveling from further away.

An endurance running event like none other, the third annual Jump Off Rock Half Marathon presented by Hunter Subaru, will be one of the fastest half marathon races in the south and will run “downhill to downtown.”

The point-to-point, half marathon begins at Jump off Rock, a national landmark and the Town of Laurel Park’s highest peak, and finishes in the heart of downtown Hendersonville on Main Street. This gently downhill and scenic 13.1 mile course is not only fast, it also has breathtaking views. Half Marathoners will wind their way downhill through the beautiful back-roads of Laurel Park then on historic city streets and around Hendersonville’s Osceola Lake before heading into downtown Hendersonville. The point-to-point race and the scenic course are sure to bring PRs and mountain memories to last a lifetime.

10k runners will start their race at the base of the Town of Laurel Park at the YMCA of Hendersonville. They will join in on the half marathon route at about the half-way point with half marathoners. The 10k route is moderately flat with a couple gentle rollers. The 10k runners will run on historic city streets, around the Hendersonville’s Osceola Lake and back to downtown Hendersonville.

Both races will finish at the same location in Historic Downtown Hendersonville on Main Street.

Join the Blue Ridge Audubon, a chapter of the National Audubon Society for their monthly bird walk at Jackson Park, a renowned
birding location. On the 2nd Saturday of each month, meet at the Administration Building parking lot, located on Glover Street,
and join the group to see the many wonderful birds found at Jackson Park, Hendersonville’s largest park.8-10:00am.
828-684-0812. Free.

Included with admission

Embark on a scenic journey across George Vanderbilt’s Italy with a large-scale outdoor display that combines brilliant botanical designs with authentic messages written by Vanderbilt himself.

Beautifully handcrafted of natural elements, each sculptural postcard depicts a location or landmark Vanderbilt visited more than a century ago. This captivating complement to Biltmore’s Italian Renaissance Alive exhibition reveals Vanderbilt’s passions for travel, culture, architecture, and art as well as his personal experience of such renowned Italian cities as Milan, Florence, Venice, Pisa, and Vatican City.

Adding to the charm and visual appeal of Ciao! From Italy—sure to be a hit among kids of all ages—is the G-scale model train that travels in and out of each postcard in this enlightening display!

When violence affects one, it affects us all. Come together to make a difference. Join the Asheville Dream Center and Mothers LOVe (Life Over Violence Everyday) for a free family event and community walk to stop the violence.

Several organizations are coming together for food, fun, and unity on Saturday, May 13 at Pack Square Park in downtown Asheville. The event kicks off at 11 a.m. and will run into 2 p.m. After the community walk there will be entertainment, giveaways, food trucks, face painting for the kids, diapers, and more.

“Gun violence does not discriminate and in some way or another we have or will all be affected by it,” says Buncombe Community Safety and Violence Prevention Coordinator Will Baxter. “This is our County, our community, and we all need to come together and support the efforts of those working tirelessly to see a decrease in violence. This must be our priority in order to provide safety within our communities and more importantly hope for our young people to have a future.”

Join a certified forest therapy guide for a relaxing 2.5-hour stroll through the forest on the peaceful Arboretum grounds. Through a series of invitations, you’ll have the opportunity to be present in the moment, deepening your connection with nature and community, and enjoying the many gifts nature has to offer. Your guide will share mindfulness practices designed to connect you more deeply to your inner landscapes, as well as the world around you. Inspired by Shinrin-Yoku, the Japanese art of immersing oneself in a forest environment, a forest bathing walk invites you to spend time in nature in a way that invites healing for ourselves, our fraught ecosystems, and our community. It is true nature therapy!

• Special, discounted rate of $45/person (includes parking!)
• Occurs on select dates each month
• Max group size is 15 for a more intimate experience

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.

From the regional crafters to local guide artisans, set up on the river banks of the Nantahala. Come and meet these vendors and more on the second Saturday of every month, May – September.

If you are interested in joining us as a vendor, please fill out your information here: https://forms.gle/BgqQQpY4XSGqtH6f6

Darko Butorac, conductor

Kishi Bashi, soloist