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Grab a local beer, crucifix and a rubber chicken* —You might survive this hour long hilarious haunted ghost tour of Asheville.
Guided comedy bus tour of Haunted Asheville
60 minutes; tours run nightly after dark
$33 per person (Ages 17+ only)
Departs from 76 Biltmore Avenue
*Legal Note:Crucifix not required to board the bus; we do not condone exorcisms, chickens, rubber, or any combination of the three.
Malaprop’s Book Club
Aug 2 @ 7:00 pm
online w/ Malaprop's Bookstore
The Malaprop’s Book Club, hosted by Jay Jacoby, explores a diverse selection of fiction and nonfiction books determined by member suggestion. Click here to see a full schedule of what the club is reading. Club attendees get 10% off the book at Malaprop’s!
The club meets the first Wednesday of every month at 7:00 PM. The club will meet virtually until further notice. To join the club, please email [email protected]
Music to Your Ears” Discussion Series – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ GREATEST HITS
Aug 2 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Asheville Guitar Bar
the topic will be Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ GREATEST HITS, released 30 years ago this year. My special guest will be DAMON GOLDMAN, singer-and guitarist with popular Asheville-based tribute group Somewhat Petty. We’ll discuss the album, play key tracks from the record, and Damon will even sing and play a few Tom Petty classics.
ABOUT THE DISCUSSION SERIES
Music to Your Ears is Bill Kopp’s monthly discussion series hosted by Asheville Guitar Bar and co-sponsored by AshevilleFM. On the first Wednesday of each month, music enthusiasts gather to discuss an important album, artist or musical movement. An interactive evening, Music to Your Ears isn’t a lecture; it’s a discussion led by experts and designed to enrich the listening experience. The character of each session is defined by the participants (that’s you). The conversation goes where the attendees take it: the person seated next to you might have attended Woodstock or seen The Beatles in concert. The insights of everyone in the room are what make each and every Music to Your Ears a unique experience.
ABOUT BILL KOPP
With over 500 bylines in Western North Carolina publications (Mountain Xpress, Bold Life, WNC Magazine and more), Asheville-based author and music journalist is an acknowledged expert on popular music. Author of two books – Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon and Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave – Bill Kopp writes for publications across the country and abroad. A contributing editor at Goldmine Magazine and contributing writer at GRAMMY.com, he has authored more than 30 album liner note essays and conducted more than 1000 interviews. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance, and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts.
Music to Your Ears” Discussion Series – Tom Petty + the Heartbreakers’ Greatest Hits
Aug 2 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Asheville Guitar Bar
“Music to Your Ears” discussion series at Asheville Guitar Bar. Led by Asheville-based author and music journalist Bill Kopp (that’s me), Music to Your Ears explores significant albums, artists,personalities and movements in popular music. The event is held at the Asheville Guitar Bar in the River Arts District on the first Wednesday of each month.
The next installment is Wednesday, August 2, and the topic will be Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers’ GREATEST HITS, released 30 years ago this year. My special guest/co-host will be DAMON GOLDMAN, leader, singer and guitairst in Asheville-based Tom Petty tribute band Somewhat Petty. We’ll discuss the album and play key recordings from it. And Damon has agreed to sing and play a few Tom Petty songs live and in person.
Trivia Night
Aug 2 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Hickory Tavern
Every Wednesday
Trivia Night
Trivia Night at Hickory Tavern
Aug 2 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Hickory Tavern
Trivia Night at Hickory Tavern
A Chorus Line
Aug 2 @ 7:30 pm
Flat Rock Playhouse
The “One Singular Sensation,” A Chorus Line, is coming to Flat Rock Playhouse for the first time and we are thrilled to share this award-winning musical with everyone! A Chorus Line is a celebration of those unsung heroes of the American Musical Theatre: the chorus dancers. The show follows 17 would-be dancers in their quest to make the cut for a new Broadway Musical. One by one, the dancers come forward to share the stories of their lives, giving it their all and putting themselves on the line to make the cut. Only eight will remain. Capturing the spirit, tension, and hope of an audition, A Chorus Line is the musical for everyone who’s ever had a dream and put it all out there to make it come true!
A Chorus Line once held the record as the longest running show on Broadway with over 6000 performances, and heralds nine Tony® Awards including Best Musical, Best Director and Best Choreographer, as well as the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Conceived and Originally Directed and Choreographed by Michael Bennett. Book by James Kirkwood & Nicholas Dante, Music by Marvin Hamlisch, Lyrics by Edward Kleban. Co-Choreographed by Bob Avian. Original Broadway production produced by the New York Shakespeare Festival, Joseph Papp, Producer, in association with Plum Productions, Inc.
BMC Artist Faculty: Schubert String Quintet
Aug 2 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Parker Concert Hall at Brevard Music Center
Franz Schubert’s final chamber work is known as the “Cello Quintet,” as it is scored for two violins, one viola, and two cellos. Completed just two months before the composer’s death, the C major String Quintet did not receive its first performance for over two decades. This sublime work is widely regarded as one of the crowning achievements of chamber music writing. Roberto Díaz, BMC alumnus and President of Philadelphia’s Curtis Institute, joins BMC Artist Faculty in this performance.
PERFORMANCE & ARTIST DETAILS
Auditorium seating is reserved.
WICKED
Aug 2 @ 7:30 pm
Peace Concert Hall
So much happened before Dorothy dropped in.
WICKED, the Broadway sensation, looks at what happened in the Land of Oz…but from a different angle. Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another young woman, born with emerald-green skin—smart, fiery, misunderstood, and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships…until the world decides to call one “good” and the other one “wicked.”
From the first electrifying note to the final breathtaking moment, WICKED—the untold true story of the Witches of Oz—transfixes audiences with its wildly inventive story that USA Today cheers is “a complete triumph! An original musical that will make you laugh, cry, and think.”
Yoga in The Solarium
Aug 2 @ 7:45 pm – 8:45 pm
The Restoration Asheville
Flow with us at our Rooftop Yoga Series hosted by Asheville Community Yoga! This powerful Vinyasa flow is perfect for yogis of every experience level. Bring your water bottle and your mat to The Solarium on the 6th Floor of The Restoration Hotel and get ready to feel restored.
Local examples of Missing Middle Housing including an accessory dwelling unit (left), small apartment house (center), and townhomes (right)
In April 2023 the City began a Missing Middle Housing study to identify barriers that negatively impact the production of housing supply in Asheville. The term “missing middle” is meant to describe a range of house-scale buildings with multiple units that are compatible in scale and form with detached single-family homes, including such examples as duplexes, cottage courts, and fourplexes.
As part of the study, the team is conducting a Renter’s Survey to better understand housing preferences and needs from the perspective of Asheville’s renting population. Anyone wishing to participate in the anonymous survey can access it at the project website or directly by clicking the following link: Renter’s Survey. This survey will be accessible until Friday, August 11, 2023.
Applications open: 2024 Asheville Fringe Arts Festival
Aug 3 all-day
online w/ Asheville Fringe Arts
APPLICATIONS OPEN NOW!
Do you have a boundary-pushing, innovative performance piece, short film or installation that you’re ready to share?
We will open applications for the film portion of the festival in fall 2023. Films must be submitted via FilmFreeway. Our application fee for films is $5.
NOW CONSIDERING WORKS OF ALL KINDS
We accept live performances from 5 to 60 minutes in length, plus installations and films. We’re open to other types of performance as well – let’s talk! Depending on its length, your piece may be grouped with another show, or scheduled as a Random Act of Fringe. RAFs are free and open to the public, and artists receive a stipend for their performance, rather than relying on door sales.
Typically each artist with a ticketed show gets 2 performances. But in 2024, we’re exploring the option of giving a few shows 3 performances, at select venues only. Our venues range from 20-80 person capacity.
1. FRINGE SHOT
A piece that is
5-15 minutes long
May be paired with another performance, or be selected as a free Random Act of Fringe.
2. SHORT FORM
A piece that is 20-40 minutes long
May be paired with another show.
3. FULL-LENGTH
A piece that is 45-60 minutes long
Ticketed theater-style show.
4. INSTALLATION
A piece that is Site-specific (any length)
May be in an unusual location, or repeated many times. May be seen by as few as one person at a time.
5. FILM
A piece that is Designed specifically for film.
May be of any genre & length. Could be combined with other films for a showcase or film night.
Submit on Film Freeway Fall 2023
3. THE ASHEVILLE FRINGE ARTS FESTIVAL IS A JURIED FESTIVAL.
We carefully review each and every submission. You’ll know by late October if your piece is selected. Should your piece get selected, there is a $35 participation fee.
Asheville Community Theatre Raffle: Trip to NYC 2023
Aug 3 all-day
online
Raffle: Trip to NYC 2023
Enter to win a fabulous trip for two to New York!
Raffle tickets on sale through Sunday, August 6, 2023!
Tickets are $50 and only 500 will be sold.
Travel package for Thanksgiving 2023, with check-in on Wednesday, November 22, 2023 and check-out on Sunday, November 26, 2023.
Prize includes:
Two round-trip Business Class tickets to New York from Asheville Regional Airport
Transfers to and from the airport to your hotel
Accomodations for four nights in Midtown at The Lotte New York Palace, with a choice of one king bed or two double beds
VIP Macy’s Parade Day experience, including brunch and complimentary drinks, access to indoor and outdoor VIP viewing areas, and access to the Inflation Celebration of parade balloons on Wednesday afternoon
Orchestra seating tickets to the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular
Tickets to a Broadway show
Up to $500 to spend on guided tours or additional theatre tickets
Personal consultation with Foothills Travel to customize your trip
On-site concierge provided through MyBucketListEvents
The drawing will take place the week of August 7, 2023. Winner will be notified by phone call and email.
Asheville Merchandise Guide
Aug 3 all-day
online
Asheville Merchandise Guide
All the wearable merch in Asheville in one place.
We love a souvenir T-shirt
So much so that we were inspired to create this guide, first published in May 2023. We’ll be updating it a few times a year, and we encourage you to check in with the businesses listed in the guide about availability. Often merch sells out quickly or is a limited edition.
While these items aren’t strictly secondhand, we love supporting local businesses and know firsthand how lovely it is to hold on to a memory of a special place you visited on a trip.
If you know of some merch we’re missing or have feedback or questions, fill out the form below to let us know!
Asheville Performing Arts Academy Programs 2023-2024 Season
Aug 3 all-day
Asheville Performing Arts Academy
2023-2024 Season
The Asheville Performing Arts Academy facilitates a life-long appreciation and advocacy of the arts by providing a loving community where students discover the tools needed to navigate life on and off the stage.
Mission
The Asheville Performing Arts Academy is a school based on unlimited opportunities for students to explore their interests in music, dance, and drama. We foster a love and appreciation for the arts through student-teacher relationships, which encourage and help you to excel at your dream. We offer high quality instruction and educational experiences because we are committed to the art of teaching and the teaching of the arts. It is our hope to build art and awareness in the community and provide a home for families to pursue their dreams.
With classes for students of all ages, the Asheville Performing Arts Academy is your place to discover the love of music, drama, and dance in your life.
Asheville Performing Arts Academy… where the arts come alive!
Do you want an opportunity to share your experience as a renter?
The City wants to hear from you!
Our Community and Economic Development staff is addressing housing in Asheville by looking at what we call “missing middle housing”. “Missing middle housing” refers to housing types, such as duplexes, triplexes, or townhomes, that can be said to have largely been missing from the residential housing market over the last 70 years. You can describe middle residential as housing types that live in the middle of two common and well-known housing options: Single-family homes and large-scale multi-family housing apartment buildings.
Local examples of Missing Middle Housing including an accessory dwelling unit (left), small apartment house (center), and townhomes (right)
In April 2023 the City began a Missing Middle Housing Study to identify barriers that negatively impact the production of housing supply in Asheville. The term “missing middle” is meant to describe a range of house-scale buildings with multiple units that are compatible in scale and form with detached single-family homes, including such examples as duplexes, cottage courts, and fourplexes.
As part of the study, the team is conducting a Renter’s Survey to better understand housing preferences and needs from the perspective of Asheville’s renting population. Anyone wishing to participate in the anonymous survey can access it at the project website or directly by clicking the following link: Renter’s Survey. This survey will be accessible until Friday, August 11, 2023.
Attend a workshop : August 4, 2023
Another approaching engagement opportunity will be a public workshop to be held next month. The free workshop will be an open-house format where attendees can drop in anytime between 4 – 7 p.m. on August 4th at the Harrah’s Cherokee Center’s Banquet Hall (87 Haywood Street, Asheville, NC 28801). Attendees will learn more about missing middle housing and how it can help to expand housing choice, increase entry-level home ownership opportunities, help homeowners to build generational wealth and passive income, and enable local ownership and neighborhood-driven investment.
The workshop is a family-friendly event that will include a series of stations for participants to learn and discuss specific housing-related topics. At each station there will be an opportunity to give feedback that will help guide the final Missing Middle Housing report. This report will ultimately make recommendations to help Asheville prioritize next steps for regulatory changes and strategies that support more housing choices in Asheville. Topics that will be highlighted at the workshop include:
Project Overview: Timeline, engagement opportunities, and next steps
Asheville’s Housing Needs: What are the most significant housing challenges facing Asheville?
Missing Middle Housing Outcomes: What are the benefits of missing middle housing and how have other cities implemented these housing strategies?
MMH Building Types: What are the types of housing included in the study and which missing middle housing types would fit into your neighborhood?
What We’ve Heard So Far: What are the concerns and barriers that exist in Asheville today?
For those who cannot attend the in-person event, all workshop materials and accompanying surveys will be available on the City’s project website.
City of Asheville implements changes to leaf bag collection beginning August 1
Aug 3 all-day
City of Asheville
The City of Asheville is committed to promoting environmental sustainability and reducing plastic waste.
As part of these efforts, the City will be implementing a new ordinance, effective August 1, 2023, that prohibits the use of plastic bags for brush and leaf collection.
This regulation is in accordance with the Asheville Code of Ordinances, Chapter 15 §38(h). To assist with this transition, the City has provided paper yard waste bags for residents to sample. These are available at multiple locations. Reusable containers marked yard waste are also possible options. For more information regarding the change, visit the City’s website.
The City has provided information on alternative disposal methods on its website. One of the simplest and most efficient ways to manage loose leaves is through composting. Residents can use a mulching mower to run over the leaves, allowing them to compost directly into the lawn. Another option is to rake the leaves into a compost pile, which will decompose over time and serve as a beneficial soil additive for gardening purposes. Get more info on leaf composting here, or general composting options.
The City of Asheville remains dedicated to promoting sustainable practices and protecting the environment. By implementing this plastic bag prohibition for brush and leaf collection, the City is taking another step towards building a cleaner and greener community while having efficient and safe conditions for workers.
Food Scraps Drop Off: Oakley Community Center
Aug 3 all-day
Murphy Oakley Community Center and Library
Food Scraps Drop Off
The City of Asheville, in partnership with Buncombe County and the Natural Resources Defense Council, is offering a FREE Food Scrap Drop-Off program in two locations for all Buncombe County residents. This organic matter will be collected and turned into good clean compost, keeping it OUT of our landfill and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Need a handy kitchen countertop food scrap bin? Let us know on the registration form! We’ll be having bin giveaways at city and county facilities and would love to give you one.
Locations
Murphy Oakley Community Center and Library – “Food Scrap Bin Shelters” on the east side of the parking lot
Grovewood Gallery will present Inqwiry, an outdoor exhibition of wire animal sculptures by Bakersville, NC, artist Josh Coté. This event is open to the public and free to attend. Inqwiry will remain on view through August 13, 2023.
Need Help With Water Bills? New Water Assistance Program Could Offer Help.
Aug 3 all-day
online
If you’re behind on your water bill or afraid your water might get cut off, a new resource might be able to help you. On Jan. 4, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners approved more than $450,000 in federal funding for the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP). The initiative is aimed at preventing water disconnections and helping reconnect drinking and wastewater services.
The LIHWAP will be administered by Buncombe County-based Eblen Charities. The nonprofit will make payments directly to utilities on behalf of qualifying households. The program is slated to run through Sept. 30, 2023 or until funds are exhausted.
Eligibility requirements
Households that currently receive Food and Nutrition Services (FNS), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Work First services, or those that received Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) services from Oct. 1, 2020-Sept. 30, 2021, are automatically eligible to receive this benefit if their water services have been cut off or are in danger of being cut off.
For additional eligibility information or to apply, please contact Eblen Charities at (828) 255-3066.
Preservation Grant
Aug 3 all-day
online w/ Preservation Society of Asheville & Buncombe County
The addition of preservation grants to our existing efforts in advocacy, technical support, preservation easements, and education, will allow us to reach a new and diverse audience. This program will allow us to support both large and small projects from downtown Asheville to our rural and under-served communities.
We look forward to helping with emergency stabilization projects and restorations of important places, to helping neighborhoods receive designations such as recognition on the National Register of Historic Places and to encouraging and supporting new and unique education and research opportunities. We want to be surprised and humbled by the projects our community asks us to support!
As our city faces the inevitable challenges of growth, PSABC’s voice and reach must expand. The important addition of this Preservation Grant Program comes in response to the needs of our community.
*Deadline to apply for the current grant round is Friday August 11th*
Preservation grants from $500 – $5000 will be offered to the public in three categories:
Bricks-And-Mortar
Rehabilitation, restoration and repair of structures that are 50 years of age or older
Some examples: Windows and doors • Exterior painting • Porches • Roofs and gutters • Electrical and plumbing • Hardscaping • Foundation • Original exterior or interior details
Public Education
Development of educational materials and programs that advance knowledge of our shared history
Some examples: Research and documentation • Oral histories • Installations specific to buildings, place history, and culture • Exhibitions • K–12 educational publications • Seminars and lectures • Documentary films
Planning, Survey and Designation
Planning and design for building rehabilitation and restoration projects, historic resource surveys and local or national designations
Some examples: Historic building condition reports • Engineering and rehabilitation plans • Feasibility studies • Historic resource surveys • Updates of previous surveys • Local and national historic designations
In partnership with Riding In Color WNC, who create intersectional affinity spaces for BIPOC of all genders, body sizes, and abilities to build skills and community within cycling in WNC, we’re co-hosting a BIPOC Affinity Summer Cycle experience as well as our traditional event in an effort to create a more inclusive space for people to enjoy riding in their community. Preview the schedule below because there are many moving parts to Summer Cycle ‘23.
Support the Summer Cycle experience by volunteering to support the AoB kiosk, host the bike park, pedal patrol the routes, and/or breakdown or set up.
Summer Cycle Schedule
Riding in Color: BIPOC Affinity Schedule
10:00 AM:
Summer Cycle Check In
10:30 AM:
Summer Cycle Begins
11:30 AM:
Summer Cycle Returns
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM:
Pop-Up Bike Park
Asheville on Bikes: Open Afternoon Schedule
2:00 PM – 7:00 PM:
Pop-Up Bicycle Park
3:00 PM:
Summer Cycle Check In
3:30 PM:
Summer Cycle Begins
4:30 PM – 7:00 PM:
Post Ride Silliness & Pop-Up Bicycle Park
*The morning affinity program is for individuals and families that identify as Black, Indigenous, or people of color.
Wilderness Medicine + Survival Skills at Nantahala Outdoor Center
Aug 3 all-day
Nantahala Outdoor Center
LEARN MORE THIS YEAR
Brush up on your wilderness medicine or learn new survival skills! SOLO Southeast & NOC are offering over 200 courses in 2023 and classes in locations across the southeast.
Atlanta, GA
Bryson City, NC
Chattanooga, TN
Collegedale, TN
Greenville, SC
Find your next course with SOLO Southeast and be prepared for the unexpected!
Food Scraps Drop Off: Stephens-Lee Recreation Center
Aug 3 @ 7:00 am – 6:00 pm
Stephens-Lee Recreation Center
Food Scraps Drop Off
The City of Asheville, in partnership with Buncombe County and the Natural Resources Defense Council, is offering a FREE Food Scrap Drop-Off program in
two locations for all Buncombe County residents. This organic matter will be collected and turned into good clean compost, keeping it OUT of our landfill and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Need a handy kitchen countertop food scrap bin? Let us know on the registration form! We’ll be having bin giveaways at city and county facilities and would love to give you one.
Locations
Stephens-Lee Recreation Center “Food Scrap Shed” next to the Community Garden on the North side of the parking lot
The City of Asheville, in partnership with Buncombe County and the Natural Resources Defense Council, is offering a FREE Food Scrap Drop-Off program in two locations for all Buncombe County residents. This organic matter will be collected and turned into good clean compost, keeping it OUT of our landfill and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Need a handy kitchen countertop food scrap bin? Let us know on the registration form! We’ll be having bin giveaways at city and county facilities and would love to give you one.
The Journeyperson Program is designed for farmers who have been independently farming for three or more years and are serious about operating farm businesses in the Southern Appalachian region. This program will give you the space and time to work on your business’s scale, viability, and long-term direction while making connections that deepen peer-to-peer support.
Limited spots are available for the full program, and those who want to be eligible for our Savings Incentive Program and the professional development funds must commit to participating in all aspects of the program.
Participants can use this program as a tangible step toward achieving their farm goals, and make significant contributions to the agricultural community and economy.
This program is designed to give tailored guidance and support for your farm business to answer questions of:
Scale
Market access
Land access
Risk management
Understanding cash flow
Enterprise innovation
WNC Farmers Market
Aug 3 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
WNC Farmers Market
The WNC Farmers Market is the premier destination for buying and selling the region’s best agriculture products directly from farmers & food producers to household & wholesale customers in an environment that celebrates the region’s diverse culture, food & heritage.
House of Operation:
WNC Farmers Market: 24/7, 361 days a year market access for farmers
Office: Monday- Friday, 8am-5pm
Market Shops: 7 days a week, 8 am-5 pm
Wholesale and Truck Sheds: 7 days a week
Biltmore Estate: Ciao! From Italy Sculptural Postcard Display
Aug 3 @ 8:30 am
Biltmore Estate
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!
Disbudding Dahlias for Better Blooms
Aug 3 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am
NC Cooperative Extension Buncombe County Center
Presenter: Dave Bush, Extension Master GardenerSM Volunteer
Disbudding is the first step of pruning dahlias. Learn all the steps of pruning in order to get the best blooms from your plants. We will also introduce the American Dahlia Society’s classification system.
This will be an in-person program at the Extension office at the address above. Portions of this program may be held outside; please dress appropriately for the weather. The classroom size is limited so register to reserve your seat!
Registration: The talk is free, but seating is limited and registration is required. Please click on the link below to register. If you encounter problems registering or if you have questions, call 828-255-5522.
