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.
It’s over a century old. It’s a cornucopia of sights and sounds—a treat for all your senses. It’s a carnival and an agriculture show. It’s an art show and a game show. There’s food, music, and rides. It’s pure, unfiltered fair entertainment with that unmistakable Cherokee touch.
General admission is $10 per person at the ticket booth (gate), Tuesday through Saturday. Children ages 6 to 10 are $5 per person. Youth under 6 years old will be admitted for free. Enrolled members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and other federally recognized tribes will receive free admission with their enrollment card.
Tuesday: Parade Day (gates open at 5:30 p.m. and close at 11 p.m.)
Wednesday: Children’s Day (gates open at 9 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. and from noon until closing, youth 17 years old and younger are admitted for free and will get a wristband to enjoy complimentary rides)
Thursday: Elder’s Day (gates open at 9 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. and all Elder’s ages 59 and a half are admitted for free)
Friday: Veterans’ Day (gates open at 9 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. and all Veterans’ are admitted for free)
Saturday: Community Day (gates open at 9 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. and will feature a variety of traditional competitions for the communities to compete against one another for a chance to win cash prizes)
BOY SCOUTS & CUB SCOUTS OF AMERICA TROOP/PACK 17
SPONSOR ANNUAL BAR-B-QUE DINNER FUND-RAISER
The fourth annual Cub Scout Pack 17 and Boy Scout Troop 17 bar-b-que dinner benefit will occur on Saturday, October 12, 2019. The event will be held at the Riceville Fire Department and Community Center, 2251 Riceville Road, Asheville, NC from 4:00pm to 8:00pm. The charge for dinner will be $8.00 for adults, $4.00 for children 12 and under and an all beef hot dog meal for $4.00. Reservations are not required.
Scoutmasters will serve as BBQ pit masters as they work through the night to smoke North Carolina raised Smithfield pork shoulders for 12 hours. Dinners are $8.00 for adults, $4.00 for children under 12 and include a generous portion of BBQ pork, homemade BBQ sauce, baked beans, BBQ slaw, rolls, and non-alcoholic drinks. An All Beef hot dog meal is $4.00 and homemade cakes, pies and desserts are only $1.00 per serving. Take out dinners are available. To further benefit the Scouts a silent auction will be presented.
The Scouts are also offering a large whole pork shoulder with a pint of BBQ sauce for only $40.00.
Supplies are limited so place your order by September 27, 2019 by calling (828) 298-1452 or email [email protected].
“Local Packs and Troops raise funds to provide support for Scouts in their service area,” said Committee Chairman Dan Little. “Funds are used to provide assistance for Scouts from economically challenged communities by sending scouts to summer camp, provide scouting handbooks, uniforms, “Boys Life Magazine” and payment for the national Boy Scouts Of America annual recharter fee. Raised funds are also used to purchase flags for our veterans’ graves.”
On Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day Cub Scout and Boy Scout Troop 17 honor our deceased veterans at Bethel United Methodist Cemetery by placing flags on their graves.
Boy Scouts Serving Others: Since 1910, over 4,000 young men in Western North Carolina have earned the coveted rank of Eagle Scout. Through their Eagle Scout service projects, thousands of community service hours have been conducted to benefit our communities. In addition, other Scouts from local Packs, Troops and Crews also perform thousands of additional service hours on an annual basis. Scouts in Western North Carolina will perform over 40,000 hours of community service in 2019.
The Boy Scout slogan: “It is the mission of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) to serve others by helping to instill values in young people and, in other ways, to prepare them to make ethical choices during their lifetime in achieving their full potential.” Through the advancement program and peer group leadership scouting helps a child develop into a well-rounded young person. The Eagle Scout Award, the highest rank in scouting, is recognized around the world as a mark of excellence.
In Boy Scouts, individual members take responsibility for the activities of the troop. By planning and organizing activities, they develop teamwork and learn to lead as well as follow.
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Media Contact: Dan Little, Committee Chairman (828) 298-1452

Featuring Zachary DePue, violinist
Vienna – the city of music: a world music capital where more famous composers lived than any other city. They came, stayed, and wrote immortal music. From the Musikverein, the State Opera House and the Volksoper to St. Stephen’s Cathedral and Schönbrunn Palace, classical musical is literally in the air.
Lehar – Overture to The Merry Widow
Mozart – Violin Concerto No. 5
Beethoven – Egmont Overture
Brahms – Variations on a Theme of Haydn
Strauss – The Emperor Waltz, Tritsch-Tratsch Polka
GUEST ARTIST ZACHARY DePUE PROUDLY SPONSORED BY KNOX LAW FIRM
SUPPORTING SPONSOR HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS FLAT ROCK
Since giving up his job as a grocery truck driver in 2002, Tim Hawkins has been establishing himself as one of the most in-demand comedians in the country. With 1 million+ social media followers and 100 sold-out concerts every year, his Jackwagon Crew has grown into a revolution of multi-generational proportions. But don’t take it from us…
Tim’s gut-busting comedy show entertains the entire family while doubling down on the funny, a daunting task in an age where the obscene has become routine. His act is 1 part gifted + 2 parts twisted, the only certainty being his on-the-nose observations that expose the ridiculousness of daily life while marveling in its hilarity. The perils of marriage, homeschooling, and growing up in the Midwest may not exemplify the rock star life, but they make for really good punchlines.
Sure he’s funny, but fans are often even more amazed at his singing voice and guitar chops. Tim’s hilarious music videos have brought him viral YouTube fame with fan favorites including Sounds of Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, Yoga Pants, Aging Rockers, Things You Don’t Say to Your Wife, Cletus Take the Reel, A Homeschool Family, and The Government Can. Still, Tim is no rock star: “It’s not like I have a choice. Comedy is my only life skill.”
Tim reminds us that for life’s many difficulties, laughter is always the best medicine- when the medication runs out. He just released his 9th comedy DVD, “Just About Enough”. Tim lives in Missouri with his wife and four crud muffins.
Uber Fan Package includes reserved seating in the first two rows of the theatre, a special concert laminate, a $10 voucher for Tim’s merchandise at the event and a post-show meet and greet with Tim. Space is limited.
Ticket Prices: $30, $38, $45, $65 Uber Fan Package
Burial Beer’s much anticipated Forestry Camp is officially open! This culmination of like-minded makers is a celebration of the best bakers, coffee roasters, distillers, wine makers, artists, musicians, brewers, chefs and so much more. Located at 10 Shady Oak Dr., near Biltmore Village, Forestry Camp showcases these makers and elevates the products into their bar and restaurant. Chef Brian Canipelli (owner of Cucina 24, James Beard nominee) brings his skill and creativity to the kitchen with a seasonal, Appalachian-raised menu inspired by the traditions and spirit of the Basque Country. Check out more here – including the amazing tale of their historical location.
Join the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts for a Sunday afternoon celebration of Hometown Gospel favorites. Featuring Turning Home, the White Sisters, the Dendy Sisters and more.
Ticket Prices: $10 General Admission
Jack of the Wood : Sunday-Irish Session
Sundays
1 till who knows when?
Traditional Irish music is kept alive at Jack of the Wood with our unplugged Sunday session.
Jack of the Wood
95 Patton ave
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 252.5445

Buncombe County Special Olympics’ annual Coffee for Champions fundraiser returns for a third year on October 1. During the month of October, local coffee shops donate up to five cents for each cup of coffee purchased at their establishments to support Special Olympics training and competitions for area youth and adults.
“We are a completely volunteer-driven, donation-funded program focused on inclusionary sporting opportunities for individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities,” said Karla Furnari of Buncombe County Recreation Services, who is also a Buncombe County Special Olympics coach and Local Coordinator. “Coffee for Champions helps build connections between our athletes and the community. It also allows us to move away from labor intensive fundraising campaigns that often pull volunteers from other critical program needs such as coaching and transporting athletes.”
A map on the organization’s website lists participating coffee shops:
- Donating Five Cents Per Cup
- Ivory Road Café & Kitchen (1854 Brevard Road in Arden)
- Mosaic Café & Coffee House (1 Town Square Boulevard in Biltmore Park)
- Trout Lily Market (1297 Charlotte Highway in Fairview)
- Donating One Cent Per Cup
- Dynamite Roasting Company (3198 US Highway 70 in Black Mountain)
- PennyCup Coffee Company West (362 Depot Street in Asheville’s River Arts District)
- PennyCup Coffee Company East (6 Beverly Road in Asheville’s Haw Creek)
- PennyCup Coffee Company North (857 Merrimon Avenue in North Asheville)
- Round Earth Roasters (518 Hendersonville Road in Asheville)
Buncombe County Special Olympics is made possible through funding from donors and support from Buncombe County Government. To donate or volunteer, visit buncombecountyspecialolympics.org.
Special Olympics was founded by Eunice Kennedy in 1968 to celebrate changing attitudes about the talents of people with intellectual disabilities. Buncombe County Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and athletic competition for youth and adults. Sports include alpine skiing and snowboarding, aquatics, athletics, basketball, bocce, bowling, cheerleading, gymnastics, powerlifting, soccer, and tennis. The organization also offers the Adaptive Athlete Program in a partnership with South Slope CrossFit and Buncombe County Recreation Services.
Doors Open: 7:00 PM
· One general admission ticket
· VIP Early venue entry
· Exclusive pre-show meet & greet with Gin Blossoms
· Personal photograph with Gin Blossoms
· Intimate 2-song acoustic performance by Gin Blossoms
· Limited edition tour poster autographed by Gin Blossoms
· Specially designed Gin Blossoms tote bag
· Official meet & greet laminate
· Merchandise shopping before doors open to the general public – Limited availability
· Download card for Gin Blossoms album Mixed Reality
Support:
Great American Canyon Band
Ages 18+
In the late 80’s, Gin Blossoms started to grow a huge following as the #1 local music draw in Phoenix and certainly were the hometown heroes of their favorite hang, Tempe, Arizona.
Gin Blossoms indelible jangle-pop sound was evolving during radio’s diverse mix of hair bands and grunge music superstars. They qualified to perform at the South By Southwest Music Festival in Austin Texas in 1989. That same year College Music Journal dubbed them “The Best Unsigned Band In America” and added an invitation to perform on MTV’s New Music Awards in New York City. Their breakout record New Miserable Experience was where their rise to fame began. This album kept the band on the chart for almost 3 years with singles “Hey Jealousy,” “Allison Road,” Until I Fall Away,” “Mrs. Rita,” and “Found Out About You.” The crossover hits on New Miserable Experience played on 4 radio formats and, to date, have sold over 5 million records.
Ticket price includes applicable sales tax.

Buncombe County Special Olympics’ annual Coffee for Champions fundraiser returns for a third year on October 1. During the month of October, local coffee shops donate up to five cents for each cup of coffee purchased at their establishments to support Special Olympics training and competitions for area youth and adults.
“We are a completely volunteer-driven, donation-funded program focused on inclusionary sporting opportunities for individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities,” said Karla Furnari of Buncombe County Recreation Services, who is also a Buncombe County Special Olympics coach and Local Coordinator. “Coffee for Champions helps build connections between our athletes and the community. It also allows us to move away from labor intensive fundraising campaigns that often pull volunteers from other critical program needs such as coaching and transporting athletes.”
A map on the organization’s website lists participating coffee shops:
- Donating Five Cents Per Cup
- Ivory Road Café & Kitchen (1854 Brevard Road in Arden)
- Mosaic Café & Coffee House (1 Town Square Boulevard in Biltmore Park)
- Trout Lily Market (1297 Charlotte Highway in Fairview)
- Donating One Cent Per Cup
- Dynamite Roasting Company (3198 US Highway 70 in Black Mountain)
- PennyCup Coffee Company West (362 Depot Street in Asheville’s River Arts District)
- PennyCup Coffee Company East (6 Beverly Road in Asheville’s Haw Creek)
- PennyCup Coffee Company North (857 Merrimon Avenue in North Asheville)
- Round Earth Roasters (518 Hendersonville Road in Asheville)
Buncombe County Special Olympics is made possible through funding from donors and support from Buncombe County Government. To donate or volunteer, visit buncombecountyspecialolympics.org.
Special Olympics was founded by Eunice Kennedy in 1968 to celebrate changing attitudes about the talents of people with intellectual disabilities. Buncombe County Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and athletic competition for youth and adults. Sports include alpine skiing and snowboarding, aquatics, athletics, basketball, bocce, bowling, cheerleading, gymnastics, powerlifting, soccer, and tennis. The organization also offers the Adaptive Athlete Program in a partnership with South Slope CrossFit and Buncombe County Recreation Services.
Select a wine on draft and fill a plēb urban winery 500mL or 1L growler for a reduced price (see menu for availability and pricing). Growler purchase is separate. Carry out only.
https://www.facebook.com/events/859748727719594/?event_time_id=859748867719580
Every Wednesday and Thursday (weather permitting) we will be featuring local bands on the Isis Lawn. Music starts at 6pm and ends at 8pm. It’s an evening of community. Bring a chair or blanket or grab one of ours that we offer.

Gate 7 opens Thursday. 8AM to 5 PM rain or shine
Adult Admission $8 a day or $20 for 3 days includes ACAETA pulls
Children under 12 free with paid adult.
Unreserved selling spaces $40, free admission to qualified exhibitors,
limited 2 people per registration; 3rd and above pay admission.
– Pulls –
Farm Tractors 1964 & earlier on Saturday at 10:00 am
Tractor Pulls will be under the covered arena – enter through Gate 7.
Every Wednesday and Thursday (weather permitting) we will be featuring local bands on the Isis Lawn. Music starts at 6pm and ends at 8pm. It’s an evening of community. Bring a chair or blanket or grab one of ours that we offer.

Buncombe County Special Olympics’ annual Coffee for Champions fundraiser returns for a third year on October 1. During the month of October, local coffee shops donate up to five cents for each cup of coffee purchased at their establishments to support Special Olympics training and competitions for area youth and adults.
“We are a completely volunteer-driven, donation-funded program focused on inclusionary sporting opportunities for individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities,” said Karla Furnari of Buncombe County Recreation Services, who is also a Buncombe County Special Olympics coach and Local Coordinator. “Coffee for Champions helps build connections between our athletes and the community. It also allows us to move away from labor intensive fundraising campaigns that often pull volunteers from other critical program needs such as coaching and transporting athletes.”
A map on the organization’s website lists participating coffee shops:
- Donating Five Cents Per Cup
- Ivory Road Café & Kitchen (1854 Brevard Road in Arden)
- Mosaic Café & Coffee House (1 Town Square Boulevard in Biltmore Park)
- Trout Lily Market (1297 Charlotte Highway in Fairview)
- Donating One Cent Per Cup
- Dynamite Roasting Company (3198 US Highway 70 in Black Mountain)
- PennyCup Coffee Company West (362 Depot Street in Asheville’s River Arts District)
- PennyCup Coffee Company East (6 Beverly Road in Asheville’s Haw Creek)
- PennyCup Coffee Company North (857 Merrimon Avenue in North Asheville)
- Round Earth Roasters (518 Hendersonville Road in Asheville)
Buncombe County Special Olympics is made possible through funding from donors and support from Buncombe County Government. To donate or volunteer, visit buncombecountyspecialolympics.org.
Special Olympics was founded by Eunice Kennedy in 1968 to celebrate changing attitudes about the talents of people with intellectual disabilities. Buncombe County Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and athletic competition for youth and adults. Sports include alpine skiing and snowboarding, aquatics, athletics, basketball, bocce, bowling, cheerleading, gymnastics, powerlifting, soccer, and tennis. The organization also offers the Adaptive Athlete Program in a partnership with South Slope CrossFit and Buncombe County Recreation Services.

Gate 7 opens Thursday. 8AM to 5 PM rain or shine
Adult Admission $8 a day or $20 for 3 days includes ACAETA pulls
Children under 12 free with paid adult.
Unreserved selling spaces $40, free admission to qualified exhibitors,
limited 2 people per registration; 3rd and above pay admission.
– Pulls –
Farm Tractors 1964 & earlier on Saturday at 10:00 am
Tractor Pulls will be under the covered arena – enter through Gate 7.
If you’re keen to explore Asheville but don’t know where to go, then don’t miss Diamond Brand Outdoors Local Adventure Pop-Up Shop at Aloft Asheville Downtown’s Wxyz Bar. We’ll have our local experts there to share their favorite hikes, gear essentials, and uniquely Asheville souvenir suggestions.

Live music, family fun, and delicious food!
Zydeco Ya Ya, a powerhouse band from the Piedmont area of the Carolinas, and Georgia, delivers a zydeco groove guaranteed to let the good times roll.
About our Food:
During the show we serve a complete spread of delicious farm-to-fork dinner options using our own pasture raised meats and locally sourced produce. Meals are prepared fresh by our in-house culinary team and are available for an additional cost along with alcoholic (beer/wine) and non-alcoholic beverage options. The menu typically consists of 3 meats and 4 sides. The full menu will be advertised on the event Facebook page a few days in advance of the concert. Be sure to follow us online for the latest updates!

Gate 7 opens Thursday. 8AM to 5 PM rain or shine
Adult Admission $8 a day or $20 for 3 days includes ACAETA pulls
Children under 12 free with paid adult.
Unreserved selling spaces $40, free admission to qualified exhibitors,
limited 2 people per registration; 3rd and above pay admission.
– Pulls –
Farm Tractors 1964 & earlier on Saturday at 10:00 am
Tractor Pulls will be under the covered arena – enter through Gate 7.
We’re celebrating and learning about human-wildlife coexistence and conservation from trusted organizations, while enjoying lively, family-friendly entertainment, sweet+savory bites, and tasty brews, all in one place.
Join our guest list and spread the word.
We’ll see you there! ???
How well do you think you know your wines? Can you spot the differences between reds? What about all whites? Join them for a fun, educational blind wine tasting. Blind tastings can be one of the best ways to become more familiar with the different varietals. Share the last Saturday in September with them for an interactive yet informative tasting. Before they’re done, they’ll throw some local and imported cheeses in the mix to explore how cheese can change the experience of each wine. A twice a month ‘themed’ wine and cheese tasting in celebration of local goods and global wines.

This performance is free of charge and requires a ticket for admission. Tickets may be reserved online, at the Wortham Center Box Office, or by phone at 828-257-4530 .
The Jazz Ambassadors is the official touring big band of the United States Army. Formed in 1969, this 19-member ensemble has received great acclaim at home and abroad performing America’s greatest original art form, jazz.
Concerts by the Jazz Ambassadors are programmed to entertain all types of audiences. The band’s diverse repertoire includes big band swing, bebop, Latin, contemporary jazz, standards, popular tunes, Dixieland, vocals, and patriotic selections, many of which are written or arranged by members of the Jazz Ambassadors.
The Jazz Ambassadors has appeared in all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, Japan, India, and throughout Europe. Recent notable performances include concerts at the Toronto Jazz Festival, the Richmond Jazz Festival at Maymont, the Kennedy Center Honors, the Jazz Education Network Conference, and an appearance on the Colbert Report. Gordon Goodwin, Bobby Shew, Ernie Watts, and the Dave Brubeck All-Star Quintet are just a few of the outstanding jazz artists who have shared the stage with the Jazz Ambassadors. The band has been featured in joint concerts with Marvin Hamlisch and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, the Seattle Symphony Pops, the Colorado Pops Orchestra, and the New York Pops at Carnegie Hall. The Jazz Ambassadors’s rigorous touring schedule and reputation for excellence has earned it the title “America’s Big Band.”
Ticketholders should be seated by 3:45 PM
Unclaimed seats will be released to non-ticketholders at 3:50 PM
MA based Folk troubadours Mark Mandeville & Raianne Richards will perform Friday October 19 at 7 pm at Isis Music Hall. Mandeville & Richards offer some new material and songs from their CD “Live in Manitoba” featuring original songs and stories recorded live during a two week tour of house concerts throughout the province of Manitoba, Canada.
The duo were invited by the organization Home Routes to complete a route during their fall 2017 season. Home Routes/Chemin Chez Nous was initiated by the founders of the Winnipeg Folk Festival and the West End Cultural Centre, (Mitch Podolak and Ava Kobrinsky in collaboration with Tim Osmond) to create new performance opportunities for French and English speaking musicians and audiences in rural, remote and urban, communities across Canada, hosted by volunteers in their homes and other community venues.
Mark Mandeville & Raianne Richards have just completed their 10th Annual walking tour of Massachusetts. Each summer since 2010 they have organized the “Massachusetts Walking Tour” where they hike the roads and trails of the Commonwealth, more than 100 miles in less than two weeks, in support of the arts in local communities along the way. Each evening they stop over in yet another Massachusetts town, putting on a free concert there, along with local performers and fellow artists who accompany them on their journey. These annual two-week treks also raise awareness of the trails and greenways in Massachusetts, using music to make important connections. In the fall of 2017 Mandeville and Richards received official recognition before congress and were added to the congressional record by Senator Ed Markey for their efforts in the community through the Massachusetts Walking Tour.
After 8 years together, DEPARTURE has become the most respected Journey tribute band in the nation. DEPARTURE replicates the look, sound and feel of the original 80’s rock super group. The five band members are from the original line-up and have been together from the very beginning. These veteran musicians have developed an amazing on-stage chemistry and pride themselves on giving their audience an incredible high-energy, qualitative stage show from start to finish. DEPARTURE plays all the hit songs that everyone knows and loves and was voted “Best Local Entertainer” for 2011, 2012 and 2014 by Gwinnett Magazine. Performing approximately one-hundred shows annually, DEPARTURE brings the very best of Journey to audiences of all ages.
Ticket Prices: $18, $20

Desert Dwellers is the convergence of music producers Amani Friend and Treavor Moontribe, who honed their individual skills in the mystical deserts of New Mexico and California, long before electronic music reached the mainstream. Amani and Treavor combine the raw sounds of the natural world, wrapped in dance-floor and chill-out productions; blending deep bass, earthy percussion, etheric voices, and cross-cultural instrumentation into a sonic incense for the mind and body. Desert Dwellers’ unique global sounds are a bridge between worlds, and their label Desert Trax has become a platform to spotlight similar alchemical artists.
Ticket price includes applicable sales tax.




