Calendar of Events

Sip and stroll through the Arboretum’s gardens in the glow of the golden hour, all while listening to live music from a variety of local and regional artists! ArborEvenings runs Wednesdays and Thursdays through September 18, 2025 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

**Please note: Outside alcohol is prohibited on the campus of The North Carolina Arboretum.**

There is no additional cost to attend ArborEvenings beyond our standard parking fee. As always, Arboretum Society members and their accompanying guests can enter for FREE (guests must be in member vehicles to receive free entry). Proceeds from ArborEvenings help support the The North Carolina Arboretum Society and further advance the Arboretum’s mission.

Join us Thurs, September 18th – 7:00 – 9:00 PM at The Brandy Bar + Cocktails for an evening of original songs in the natural acoustics and listening room atmosphere of the beautiful and historic Brandy Bar. Located at 504 7th Avenue East in the 7th Avenue Historic Depot District.
Hidyho Neighbors! Another trio of bedazzling songwriters will be sharing their lyrical and musical offerings for our August session at the coolest bar in all Hendo. Rob Lytle, Owen Walsh, and Annie Wenz will charm your inner cobra right out of its basket. Delicious cocktails + handcrafted songs + friendly folks = time well spent. Join us!

WHERE: Third Room
WHEN: Thursday September 18, 2025
DOORS: 9pm SHOW: 10pm
GENRE: house / tech house
TICKETS: $20-$33

PURCHASE: https://tixr.com/e/154647

Gene Farris:
HEAR SOME MUSIC: https://soundcloud.com/genefarris
SEE A VIDEO: http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZfXjkFMIB88&t=1s

Gene Farris is a legendary DJ, producer, and label owner from Chicago, globally recognized as one of the leading figures in house music. Growing up on the South Side of Chicago, he began DJing at just 10 years old, inspired by pioneers like Ron Hardy, Frankie Knuckles, Lil Louis, and Green Velvet.

By the early 1990s, Farris had become a staple of the city’s underground scene, spinning acid house and disco at warehouse parties and securing residencies at iconic venues like The Power House and the Boom Boom Room. He later expanded internationally with a four-year residency in Amsterdam at Jimmy Woo, spreading Chicago’s house sound across Europe.

As a producer, Farris began releasing music in 1994, including early work on Green Velvet’s Relief Records. In 1998, he launched his own label, Farris Wheel Recordings, which has served as a platform for both his own music and rising talents. Over the years, he has collaborated with top artists such as Loco Dice, Jesse Rose, Mihalis Safras, Sub Focus, and Dajae. Notable releases include Welcome To Chicago EP (Defected Records), It’s Time with Sub Focus (EMI), Play (Snatch!), LOL (Relief), and the club anthem Move Your Body.

The Mountain Area Gem & Mineral Association presents: The Fall M.A.G.M.A. Land of Sky Gem Show September 19th – 21st, 2025 Friday and Saturday: 9 am- 6 pm
Sunday: 10 am- 4 pm

FREE Admission – FREE Parking

Come shop for minerals, crystals, and handcrafted jewelry from locally and nationally known vendors. We have something for everyone, from seasoned rockhounds to new collectors and jewelry lovers. Many of our vendors specialize in North Carolina, Southeastern and USA minerals and they enjoy sharing their expert knowledge. You’re sure to learn new things and find some great gems, minerals, fossils, artifacts, lapidary equipment and many more treasures from the earth.

We will have over 40 indoor and outdoor vendors with everything from affordable treasures to the finest gems and minerals in the Southeast! Entering the show is always free and this event is fun for the entire family. We are located only 15-minutes from Asheville in Swannanoa, NC. Excellent food and drink are offered daily with vegan options available.

The M.A.G.M.A. Land of Sky Gem Show happens 4 times a year and this is an event that you can keep coming back to!

For show information, contact Richard Jacquot at 828-779-4501 or email [email protected]

The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area (BRNHA) is proud to announce its first-ever craft exhibit: Returning to the Ridge: Blue Ridge Craft Trails Exhibition. This landmark event will bring together the exceptional talents of 33 artists featured on the Blue Ridge Craft Trails (BRCT), showcasing the vibrant artistic landscape of Western North Carolina. Mars Landing Galleries, owned by Miryam Rojas and located at 37 Library Street, Mars Hill, NC 28754, will serve as the venue for this celebration of craft from July 2 to September 28, 2025.

Southern Appalachia’s artistic spirit, deeply rooted in its beautiful natural environment, will be on full display. From the intricate details of pottery to the masterful craftsmanship of woodworking, the exhibition will feature 60 pieces spanning a diverse range of traditional mediums, including fiber art, printmaking, metalworking (including jewelry), and basketry. This celebration of local artistry comes at a crucial time, as Hurricane Helene impacted many artists. Artists participating are from the central and western sections of BRNHA’s 25-county footprint, encompassing the NC mountains and the Qualla Boundary.

The gallery’s regular hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 10 am – 5 pm. Adding to the visitor experience, the exhibition coincides with three First Friday events in Downtown Mars Hill – July 4, August 1, and September 5. On these evenings, the downtown area, including Mars Landing Galleries (open 5 pm – 8 pm, with live music), will offer extended hours, inviting the community to explore local shops, restaurants, galleries and enjoy the lively atmosphere.

Our latest exhibition, Iron and Ink: Prints from America’s Machine Age, focuses on a dynamic era in American history when industrialization and advances in technology transformed urban landscapes and redefined the nature of work and leisure nationwide.

Showcasing Collection prints from 1905 to the 1940s, Iron and Ink explores connections between industrial labor, urbanization, and the growing middle class. The exhibition highlights works by Works Progress Administration artists from the 1930s whose powerful images of machinery, skyscrapers, and daily life—both at work and recreation—capture this transformational era in American society.

This exhibition is organized by the Asheville Art Museum and Robin Klaus, PhD, assistant curator.

The Asheville Art Museum presents Native America: In Translation, an
exhibition curated by Apsáalooke artist Wendy Red Star, on view from May 22 through November 3,
2025. Featuring work by seven Indigenous photographers and lens-based artists from across North
America, the exhibition explores urgent questions of identity, heritage, land rights, and the ongoing
impact of colonialism.

Building on Red Star’s role as guest editor of the Fall 2020 issue of Aperture magazine, Native
America: In Translation continues the conversation through personal and often experimental visual
storytelling. Using self-portraits, performance-based imagery, and multimedia assemblages, the
artists offer new perspectives on Native life and representation today.

Asheville, NC — September 19, 2025 — The Western North Carolina Recovery Community Collaborative (WNCRCC) will host the First Annual WNC Recovery Rally: “Pathways to Recovery – One Rally, Many Journeys” on Friday, September 19, 2025, from 1:00–5:00 p.m. at Pack Square Park in Downtown Asheville.

This free, family-friendly event celebrates National Recovery Month, honoring individuals and families impacted by mental health and substance use disorders. The rally aims to break stigma, inspire hope, and connect the community with multiple pathways to recovery.

Event Highlights

Inspirational speakers & personal recovery stories

Live music & entertainment

Food trucks & family-friendly activities

Resource fair featuring 40+ community organizations

“This rally is about showing WNC that we are surrounded by recovery, the hope that’s available, and the many resources ready to walk alongside anyone throughout their journey,” said Jessica Shepherd Joudry, Chair of the Planning Committee.

All Day Darling, the all-day eatery in Asheville’s historic Montford neighborhood, invites the community to enjoy live music from local musicians every Friday and Saturday from 6-9pm on their patio. Guests are encouraged to come for dinner, drinks and good vibes as local musicians set the tone for the weekend.

Upcoming performance schedule:
Friday, August 29 – Leo Johnson (jazz trio)
Saturday, August 30 – Brent Riddle
Friday, September 5 – Leo Johnson (jazz trio)
Saturday, September 6 – Ryan Furstenberg
Friday, September 12 – Dinah’s Daydream (jazz trio)
Saturday, September 13 – Adam Rose (jazz trio)
Friday, September 19 – Leo Johnson (jazz trio)
Friday, September 26 – Dinah’s Daydream (jazz trio)
Saturday, September 27 – Adam Rose (jazz trio)

The rotating dinner menu features crave‑worthy offerings like the Thunderbird fried‑chicken sandwich with Harissa aioli and fermented vegetables, the Darling Burger with chop‑shop beef and house aioli, hearty salads and bowls, and seasonal specials – all served in a warm and laid‑back atmosphere.

Admission is free – no tickets or reservations required to enjoy Asheville’s live‑music scene alongside thoughtful, market‑driven fare.

Doors open at 6pm. Come on down for a hilarious night.

King Lear is a tragic tale of a king who divides his kingdom between his daughters, sparking betrayal, madness, and ruin. As Lear grapples with his decisions, he is betrayed by two of his daughters, while the loyalty of his youngest, Cordelia, leads to heartbreak and tragedy. Shows are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 7:30 each night by the Montford Park Players. And always FREE! No Sunday performances for the last weekend of each show.

Voted the Best Haunt in the Carolinas, Known as the premier haunt of the Carolina’s, Lake Hickory Haunts is a one of a kind haunted theme park; featuring a large body of water, surrounded by 13 unique full-scale haunted attractions. Within these attractions, you will discover awe-inspiring immersive environments, multi-dimensional special FX, over 100 live characters, breathtaking scares, and much more!

Happens on the following Dates:
Sep 12, 2025, 7:30pm to 10:00pm Timezone: EDT
Sep 13, 2025, 7:30pm to 10:00pm Timezone: EDT
Sep 19, 2025, 7:30pm to 10:00pm Timezone: EDT
Sep 20, 2025, 7:30pm to 10:00pm Timezone: EDT
Sep 26, 2025, 7:30pm to 10:00pm Timezone: EDT
Sep 27, 2025, 7:30pm to 10:00pm Timezone: EDT
Oct 3, 2025, 7:00pm to 11:00pm Timezone: EDT
Oct 4, 2025, 7:00pm to 11:00pm Timezone: EDT
Oct 10, 2025, 7:00pm to 11:00pm Timezone: EDT
Oct 11, 2025, 7:00pm to 11:00pm Timezone: EDT
Oct 12, 2025, 7:00pm to 11:00pm Timezone: EDT
Oct 17, 2025, 7:00pm to 11:00pm Timezone: EDT
Oct 18, 2025, 7:00pm to 11:00pm Timezone: EDT
Oct 19, 2025, 7:00pm to 11:00pm Timezone: EDT
Oct 23, 2025, 7:00pm to 11:00pm Timezone: EDT
Oct 24, 2025, 7:00pm to 11:00pm Timezone: EDT
Oct 25, 2025, 7:00pm to 11:00pm Timezone: EDT
Oct 26, 2025, 7:00pm to 11:00pm Timezone: EDT
Oct 30, 2025, 7:00pm to 11:00pm Timezone: EDT
Oct 31, 2025, 7:00pm to 11:00pm Timezone: EDT
Nov 1, 2025, 7:00pm to 11:00pm Timezone: EDT
Nov 2, 2025, 7:00pm to 11:00pm Timezone: EDT

Embark on an extraordinary journey into the heart of anime euphoria at the #WeTouchGrass Asheville Anime Rave on Friday, September 19!

This spectacle promises an unforgettable night filled with electrifying anime vibes that will leave you craving more. Dance to the beats of your beloved anime tunes and experience the enchantment of #WeTouchGrass’ renowned Anime Raves, celebrated across North America and Europe by over 70 000 people.

Come shop at the farm’s every other year yard sale! Treasures abound-everything from books, DVDs, houseware, kitchen items, furniture, jewelry, and more all at cheap prices. 100% of the proceeds benefit Historic Johnson Farm. Cash and card accepted.

Discover the Hendersonville Farmers Market, Locally Grown, Community Strong
A vibrant weekly gathering at the Historic Train Depot in downtown Hendersonville. Running every Saturday from May 3rd to October 25th, rain or shine, the market showcases over 30 local vendors within a 60-mile radius. From farm-fresh produce and meats to baked goods, crafts, and live entertainment, there’s something for everyone. Join us from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for a celebration of food, farms, and family in a lively community atmosphere.

20th Annual WNC Run.Walk for Autism. Competitive and non-competitive 5K and 1 mile Fun Run/Walk. Registration fee includes a t-shirt. All funds go to support autism programs in Western NC.

The Mountain Area Gem & Mineral Association presents: The Fall M.A.G.M.A. Land of Sky Gem Show September 19th – 21st, 2025 Friday and Saturday: 9 am- 6 pm
Sunday: 10 am- 4 pm

FREE Admission – FREE Parking

Come shop for minerals, crystals, and handcrafted jewelry from locally and nationally known vendors. We have something for everyone, from seasoned rockhounds to new collectors and jewelry lovers. Many of our vendors specialize in North Carolina, Southeastern and USA minerals and they enjoy sharing their expert knowledge. You’re sure to learn new things and find some great gems, minerals, fossils, artifacts, lapidary equipment and many more treasures from the earth.

We will have over 40 indoor and outdoor vendors with everything from affordable treasures to the finest gems and minerals in the Southeast! Entering the show is always free and this event is fun for the entire family. We are located only 15-minutes from Asheville in Swannanoa, NC. Excellent food and drink are offered daily with vegan options available.

The M.A.G.M.A. Land of Sky Gem Show happens 4 times a year and this is an event that you can keep coming back to!

For show information, contact Richard Jacquot at 828-779-4501 or email [email protected]

This will be our 18th annual Art in Autumn Outdoor Arts and Crafts Festival. This much loved event is held on Main Street in downtown Weaverville, North Carolina, located in Buncombe county 7 miles from downtown Asheville.

The event features over 100 juried artists and craftspeople, and live music performed by beloved local artists.

Every year, we invite a Judge from the local Art scene to join us. Our guest judge for 2025 is Rebecca Lynch.

During the show, artists are juried by our esteemed Judge to receive awards of $1000 for best of show, $500 for second place, and $250 for third, as well as 4 $50 honorable mentions.

Papermaking with Invasive Species

with Alyssa Sacora

Saturday, September 20  |  10 am – 4 pm

Plants are all around us and some can be problematic in the landscape. What if instead of seeing these plants as a burden, we look at them through the lens of craft and make some materials for our artwork?

In this one day workshop, we will go through the process of turning Japanese Stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) into paper. Working with dried plant material removed from the Arboretum’s landscape, we will cut, cook, and pulp these plant fibers, mix them with cotton, and pull sheets of paper that can be used for writing, drawing, and paper arts.

Participants will get hands-on with each step of the process and make enough paper to take a small stack home. Reference materials will be provided for future papermaking explorations.

The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area (BRNHA) is proud to announce its first-ever craft exhibit: Returning to the Ridge: Blue Ridge Craft Trails Exhibition. This landmark event will bring together the exceptional talents of 33 artists featured on the Blue Ridge Craft Trails (BRCT), showcasing the vibrant artistic landscape of Western North Carolina. Mars Landing Galleries, owned by Miryam Rojas and located at 37 Library Street, Mars Hill, NC 28754, will serve as the venue for this celebration of craft from July 2 to September 28, 2025.

Southern Appalachia’s artistic spirit, deeply rooted in its beautiful natural environment, will be on full display. From the intricate details of pottery to the masterful craftsmanship of woodworking, the exhibition will feature 60 pieces spanning a diverse range of traditional mediums, including fiber art, printmaking, metalworking (including jewelry), and basketry. This celebration of local artistry comes at a crucial time, as Hurricane Helene impacted many artists. Artists participating are from the central and western sections of BRNHA’s 25-county footprint, encompassing the NC mountains and the Qualla Boundary.

The gallery’s regular hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 10 am – 5 pm. Adding to the visitor experience, the exhibition coincides with three First Friday events in Downtown Mars Hill – July 4, August 1, and September 5. On these evenings, the downtown area, including Mars Landing Galleries (open 5 pm – 8 pm, with live music), will offer extended hours, inviting the community to explore local shops, restaurants, galleries and enjoy the lively atmosphere.

Join us as we welcome Fall and explore portions of Riverside Cemetery, piecing together fact and fiction by highlighting many of the folks that inspired various characters in Wolfe’s works, as well as other notable Ashevillians.
The tour will begin at the front gate of Riverside Cemetery. Parking is available along Birch Street and near the gate. Plan for a two-hour leisurely paced tour!
Tickets are $10/person and must be purchased in advance online:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/buried-lives-a-thomas-wolfe-riverside-cemetery-tour

Join us as we welcome Fall and explore portions of Riverside Cemetery, piecing together fact and fiction by highlighting many of the folks that inspired various characters in Wolfe’s works, as well as other notable Ashevillians.
The tour will begin at the front gate of Riverside Cemetery. Parking is available along Birch Street and near the gate. Plan for a two-hour leisurely paced tour!
Tickets are $10/person and must be purchased in advance online: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/buried-lives-a-thomas-wolfe-riverside-cemetery-tour

Our latest exhibition, Iron and Ink: Prints from America’s Machine Age, focuses on a dynamic era in American history when industrialization and advances in technology transformed urban landscapes and redefined the nature of work and leisure nationwide.

Showcasing Collection prints from 1905 to the 1940s, Iron and Ink explores connections between industrial labor, urbanization, and the growing middle class. The exhibition highlights works by Works Progress Administration artists from the 1930s whose powerful images of machinery, skyscrapers, and daily life—both at work and recreation—capture this transformational era in American society.

This exhibition is organized by the Asheville Art Museum and Robin Klaus, PhD, assistant curator.

Wilderness Muse is a creative community hub just south-east of Asheville in Fletcher. This consignment store is a repurposed car wash that boasts the work and products of over 50 local artisans
Asheville Community Plant Market’s pop up event will be part of a larger celebration of Wilderness Muse’s first anniversary of opening
We have many local vendors, selling houseplants and garden plants, plus crafts and more

The Asheville Art Museum presents Native America: In Translation, an
exhibition curated by Apsáalooke artist Wendy Red Star, on view from May 22 through November 3,
2025. Featuring work by seven Indigenous photographers and lens-based artists from across North
America, the exhibition explores urgent questions of identity, heritage, land rights, and the ongoing
impact of colonialism.

Building on Red Star’s role as guest editor of the Fall 2020 issue of Aperture magazine, Native
America: In Translation continues the conversation through personal and often experimental visual
storytelling. Using self-portraits, performance-based imagery, and multimedia assemblages, the
artists offer new perspectives on Native life and representation today.

ASAP’s 2025 Farm Tour will take place Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 20-21, noon to 5 p.m. Participating farms will be announced in late June or early July. One pass is good for all passengers in a single vehicle at all farms, both days. Passes are $35 before Sept. 20 and $45 on Sept 20-21.

ASAP’s annual Farm Tour is a chance to experience how food is grown and raised through guided tours, demonstrations, and tastings. The Farm Tour showcases the diversity of working farms in Western North Carolina, including vegetables, livestock, vineyards, orchards, flowers, fiber, and more! This is a family-friendly event and a great outing for visitors of all ages, abilities, and interests. All are welcome.

ASAP’s 2025 Farm Tour is a critical prices of hurricane recovery as it helps the local food economy rebound, strengthens the relationships between farmers and consumers, and encourages tourism from outside of Asheville. Join ASAP in sustaining our farming community.