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.
Swamp Rabbits Hockey offers fantastic fun for the whole family! The Greenville Swamp Rabbits play in the South Division of the Eastern Conference of the ECHL, the premiere AA hockey league. The Swamp Rabbits play 36 home games (October-April) and offer endless entertainment opportunities! For more information on Swamp Rabbits hockey, visit swamprabbits.com. Proud affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes.
WHAT IT IS… An experience unlike anything you have ever dreamed imaginable. Your host will engage your mind with charm and wit, and immerse your heightened senses of taste, smell, hearing and touch, while you sip five types of wine in complete darkness. Wine pours are paired with tasteful snacks, one liners, and hilarious hijinks. OR our beer tasting experience will take you on a journey of humor, tasting of five local beers, fun beer-friendly pairing, sight deprivation and enhancement of all remaining senses. The lights will be off, and this is not considered a meal. Designed for adults only, 21 and up. 50-60 minutes.
Eve Ensler’s Vagina Monologues, is a landmark in women’s empowerment and the movement to end violence against women and girls. Eve first performed the show in 1996 and later used it as the platform for The V-Day Global Activist Movement (vday.org) which supports local organizers through performances of The Vagina Monologues and other plays/events. Today TVM is performed annually all around the world during February to raise money and awareness. Join us for our annual event for Helpmate, one of our amazing local organizations that works in our community to eliminate abuse and fear by providing safety, shelter, and support to people who have been victimized by domestic violence. We thank The Mothlight for hosting our 2020 event!
One of the funniest musicals ever written. Sondheim’s joyous musical romp through Rome has desperate lovers, scheming neighbors and secrets behind every toga. This unforgettable, hysterical musical allows a terrify ensemble of comedic actors to shine!
Described as “the closest to ABBA you’ll ever get,” Abba The Concert brings one of the 20th century’s greatest pop groups back to life with their dazzling performances of all the groundbreaking Swedish act’s greatest hits, including “Mamma Mia,” “S.O.S,” “Waterloo,” “Dancing Queen,” and many more. They’ve sold out venues throughout the U.S. and achieved critical and popular acclaim for their energetic performances.
ABBA The Concert visits Brevard as part of its popular BMC Presents series, which brings a diverse range of non-classical artists to the festival stage. In 2020, the series will also host guitarist Bryan Sutton, folk legend Judy Collins, the bluegrass-inspired sounds of Woody Platt and Shannon Whitworth, and the return of award-winning banjo virtuoso Bela Fleck.
For a complete 2020 summer music festival schedule including dates, times, and locations of all performances and events, please visit brevardmusic.org
The Fantasticks is the longest-running musical in the world and with good reason: it’s a timeless fable of love that manages to be nostalgic and universal at the same time! This musical is punctuated by a series of catchy, memorable songs, many of which have become classics. “Try To Remember” a time when this romantic charmer wasn’t enchanting audiences around the world!
The Fantasticks is directed by Mark Jones with music direction by Rob Blackwell and choreography by Jessica Garland Lowe.
An All New World Premiere! Once again, Bertie finds himself suffering the slings and arrows of misfortune at the hands of his relatives, caught between the magisterial machinations of his fierce Aunt Agatha and the plaintive pleadings of his cousin Egbert. An imperious Sir Roderick Glossop and his daughter add to another priceless predicament calling upon the redoubtable Jeeves to save the day.
This production is sponsored by Jerry McAninch in Loving Memory of Bill McAninch
The Fantasticks is a funny and romantic musical about a boy, a girl, and their two fathers who try to keep them apart. The narrator, El Gallo, asks the audience to use their imagination and follow him into a world of moonlight and magic. The lovers fall in love, grow apart and finally find their way back to each other after realizing the truth in El Gallo’s words that, “without a hurt, the heart is hollow.” The story is punctuated by a series of catchy, memorable songs, many of which have become classics.
The Fantasticks is directed by Mark Jones with music direction by Rob Blackwell and choreography by Jessica Garland Lowe. Coincidentally, Mark appeared onstage in ACT’s 1998 production of The Fantasticks!
“It’s been about 20 years since I played Matt on the ACT stage. I was a young, inexperienced actor, and person, at that time,” Mark said. “But now I am able to revisit the show with much more experience and maturity. I know much more about love, loss and heartbreak than I did at the age of 24.”
Darko Butorac, conductor
Asheville Symphony Chorus
In this concert, inspired by North Carolina’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail, we begin in the Appalachians with Copland’s vision of spring, and end with a majestic ode to the Sea by the great English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams.
Program:
Copland: Appalachian Spring
Vaughan Williams: A Sea Symphony
And like The Band, the members of Railroad Earth aren’t losing sleep about what “kind” of music they play – they just play it. When they started out in 2001, they were a bunch of guys interested in playing acoustic instruments together. As Railroad Earth violin/vocalist Tim Carbone recalls, “All of us had been playing in various projects for years, and many of us had played together in different projects. But this time, we found ourselves all available at the same time.”
The first show of the Playhouse’s 2020 season is sure to rock your world with Music on the Rock® The Music of Queen. Dustin Brayley and Ryan Guerra join forces with Nat Zegree for the first time on the Leiman Mainstage along with Music on the Rock® favorites Eric Anthony, Paul Babelay, and Ryan Dunn. The Music of Queen will feature all your favorite hits from the legendary rock group like “We Will Rock You,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Another One Bites The Dust,” and more!
Joe Zimmerman grew up in Morgantown, West Virginia, and started his comedy career in North Carolina. While living in the South, his stand-up group the Beards of Comedy landed a record deal with Comedy Central Records. He moved to New York City in 2012, quickly appearing on The Late Late Show and John Oliver’s New York Stand-Up Show, as well as performing at Montreal’s prestigious Just for Laughs festival. His resume has since grown to include The Tonight Show, Conan, Nickelodeon, Last Comic Standing, and his own Comedy Central Half Hour. Joe’s solo album Smiling at Wolves reached number two on the iTunes comedy charts and is played regularly on SiriusXM. (His second, Innocence, is due this summer on Comedy Central Records.) He has also contributed humor pieces to The New York Times.
Joe’s new podcast, “A Great Listening Experience” details his questionable attempts to attain infinite knowledge and power. Among his many podcast & radio appearances, he has recently appeared on 2 Dope Queens, The Dork Forest, Bob & Tom, The Todd Barry Podcast, and The Artie Lange Show. Joe is frequently touring, headlining clubs around the country, and occasionally opening for super stars Brian Regan and Ricky Gervais.
“The combination of Joe’s calming vocalization and inventive writing is a thing of magic. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more enjoyable show.”
-Buzzfeed
ages 18+
Tickets $12 advance, $15 day of
Friday: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-joe-zimmerman-friday-tickets-87501546481
Saturday: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-joe-zimmerman-saturday-tickets-87502748075
Tickets: $49.50 – $89.50 (plus applicable fees)
Doors: 7:00 PM / Show: 8:00 PM
On the heels of releasing his latest album Sound & Fury, and accompanying anime film of the same name released simultaneously via Netflix, Simpson hit the road for a brief six-date club tour, donating 100% of the proceeds from these shows to the Special Forces Foundation a nonprofit organization that provides immediate and ongoing support to the Special Forces community and their families. $1 from each ticket sold for the Sturgill Simpson: A Good Look’n Tour will also be donated to benefit the Special Forces Foundation. Simpson’s live performances and album have been met with fan and critical praise alike.
Tickets on sale 11/8 at 10:00 AM.
25th Annual Bluegrass First Class February 21st-23rd 2020.
Draft your co-workers, BFFs, and neighborhood pals in your quest for kickball stardom! Registration for Buncombe County Recreation Services’ (BCRS) popular Adult Kickball League has opened. All games will be played on Wednesday evenings from April 8-May 20 at Charles D. Owen Park (875 Warren Wilson Road in Swannanoa). Staggered matches will start at 6 p.m., 7 p.m., and 8 p.m.
“We host low-cost adult sport and recreation leagues throughout the year including dodgeball and volleyball, but kickball is our most popular. It always sells out since it’s easy to learn for any skill level,” said Mac Stanley, BCRS Program Coordinator. “The league offers a low-stress, fun atmosphere in which to stay active and connect with others. The move to Charles D. Owen Park allows us to play multiple games at the same time which means we can start later in the evening for those folks busy with work, school, or parenting. Plus the mountain views can’t be beat!”
Registration is open through March 20 and cost $35 per player. Players can sign up as an individual, small group, or full team. Individuals and small groups will be placed together to form full teams.
Teams are co-ed and consist of 9-16 players, with at least three players of the opposite sex. (If a team is majority female, there must be at least three male players. If a team is majority male, there must be at least three female players.) Registration fees include a team shirt and help offset the cost of referees and field maintenance.
Follow Buncombe County Recreation on Facebook and Instagram.
We are SO excited to announce our 75th Mainstage season! Tickets and subscriptions will go on sale later in the spring, but we wanted you to have the first look at what’s coming up next!
We’ll also be announcing Mainstage directors and audition dates, student matinees, 35below shows, the Readers Theatre Showcase season and more a little later – so keep your eyes peeled for all the ways you can plug in at Asheville Community Theatre!
VISIT: http://ashevilletheatre.org/announcing-our-75th-mainstage-season/
- Bricks-And-Mortar
- Public Education
- Planning, Survey and Designation
Every year, PSABC is proud to offer a home tour as part of the National Arts & Crafts Conference at the Omni Grove Park Inn. This conference draws Arts & Crafts enthusiasts from all over the country for a weekend of seminars, group discussions, demonstrations, selling shows and our home tour.
The Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County is pleased to offer five or more unique historic homes for the February 2020 National Arts & Crafts Conference Home Tour. All homes are located in National Register listed Norwood Park which offers an eclectic mix of houses mostly built between 1912 and the 1930s. Docents will be available in each home to answer questions. Participants should be able to walk several city blocks and negotiate stairs & public walkways. Tour will happen rain or shine, please bring a raincoat or umbrella as needed. There are no paper tickets for this event.
The deadline for applications will be March 6. Applications can be downloaded by visiting this link.
The Asheville Police Department is excited to announce the first offering of a Junior Police Academy. This new program is designed for youth ages 14-19 who have a serious interest in pursuing a career in law enforcement.
Topics will include criminal law, investigations, narcotics, patrol/arrest techniques, and physical training. All classes are designed to incorporate both an academic and hands-on setting.
The Junior Police Academy will be offered at no cost to the participants. The Academy begins on March 30 and runs through April 11. Classes will be held at the Municipal Building, 100 Court Plaza, in downtown Asheville, from 5 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings; and from noon to 3 p.m. two Saturdays. Successful completion of the Junior Police Academy is a requirement for participating in the Asheville Police Department’s Explorer program.
There is limited space available for participants. The first 15 approved applicants will be accepted. Applicants who live within the city limits of Asheville will have priority selection. Applicant requirements include:
- GPA of 2.0 or higher
- Must pass a criminal background check
- Must provide at least three references and have parent/guardian approval
- Must have a full physical completed by a physician
the Tourists have officially released the 2020 baseball season schedule. Asheville plays 140 games with 70 of them coming at McCormick Field.
- Asheville’s home Opening Day is Thursday, April 16th vs. the Columbia Fireflies
- The Tourists host the Lexington Legends on Independence Day – Saturday, July 4th
- The Tourists also host the Lexington Legends on Memorial Day – Monday, May 25th
- Asheville plays host to the Charleston RiverDogs on Labor Day – Monday, September 7th
- McCormick Field will have 12 Thirsty Thursday games in 2020
- Asheville plays 10 Friday home games next year
- The Tourists are at home for 12 Saturday contests during the 2020 season
- Asheville opens the 2020 season on the road, April 9th at Delmarva
- Game Times and the Promotional Calendar will be released at a later date
The Bob Moog Foundation is thrilled to announce its 2020 Minimoog Raffle, featuring a vintage, iconic Minimoog Model D synthesizer, signed by legendary keyboardist Herbie Hancock. The synthesizer is valued at $5,000. Hancock signed the back of the Minimoog, serial number 1549, and drew a musical staff and added the inscription “(Hey Bob!)” on either side. The raffle begins on Monday, February 10, 2020, and ends on Tuesday March 10, 2020 or when all tickets have sold. Tickets are $25 each, five for $100, 12 for $200, or 35 for $500. Only 4,500 tickets will be available. All proceeds from the raffle support the Foundation’s educational project, Dr. Bob’s SoundSchool, and its newly opened Moogseum, located in Asheville, NC. Tickets can be purchased at http://bit.ly/HHMinimoogRaffle.
Herbie Hancock joins a long list of renowned musicians supporting the Foundation’s efforts. Recent raffles have featured vintage synthesizers signed by Stevie Wonder, Dr. Fink of Prince and the Revolution, Jan Hammer, and Rick Wakeman. Hancock, whose illustrious career spans five decades and 14 Grammy awards, helped pioneer the use of synthesizers in jazz, and has been at the forefront of using technology to make music. He is known for his ever-probing jazz sensibilities, his willingness to explore music across all genres, and is considered to be among the most elite and influential players of his time.
Hancock, who turns 80 this year, continues to make new music and tour worldwide. For more information about Herbie Hancock, visit https://www.herbiehancock.com/
Each spring, hundreds of locals 50+ years-old enjoy participating in the Asheville-Buncombe Senior Games and Silver Arts. This year’s program will be held at locations throughout Buncombe County from Tuesday, April 14-Friday, May 15. Registration is $5 before March 9 or $10 after that date. Military veterans may register for free.
To register, fill out a registration form (see documents below) or register online at ncseniorgames.org. Archery and pickleball have registration deadline dates.
Sports include basketball, bocce, croquet, football throw, softball throw, golf, cycling, track and field, archery, cheerleading, bowling, swimming, billiards, badminton, cornhole, horseshoes, pickleball, racquetball, shuffleboard, tennis, and table tennis. Miniature golf, rowing, and team softball and basketball are new this year. Age categories start at 50 and increase at five year intervals.
Silver Arts categories are classified as Heritage (quilting, woodwork, crochet, basket weaving, jewelry, needlework, tole painting, weaving, knitting, pottery, stained glass, woodcarving, and woodturning), Visual (solo, small group, and large group), Performing, Literary (poem, short story, essay, and life experience), and Contemporary. Art pieces will be displayed at Buncombe County Libraries in April and May.
A full schedule can be accessed below as a PDF.
Follow Buncombe County Recreation on Facebook and Instagram.
| File Name | Size | Type | Date & Time Added |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration | 209 KB | 02/04/2020 7:52 AM | |
| Schedule | 45 KB | 02/04/2020 7:52 AM |
Visit BREVARDMUSIC.ORG for details.
- INAUGURAL SEASON IN THE NEW PARKER CONCERT HALL: Be among the first to experience the exquisite beauty, intimate setting, and superb acoustics in our new $6 million, 400-seat Parker Concert
Hall – the future home of BMC’s chamber and piano programming and our first-ever year-round performance venue. - BEETHOVEN@250 FESTIVAL: BMC joins the world-wide celebration of the composer’s milestone birthday with symphony, chamber, piano and even opera as we present our spectacular Season Finale: Fidelio in Concert with hundreds of artists on the Whittington-Pfohl Auditorium stage. #BeethovenLives
- WORLD-CLASS ARTISTS: Be inspired by Keith Lockhart, Garrick Ohlsson, Ray Chen, Johannes Moser, The Shanghai Quartet, Gil Shaham, Bryan Sutton, Judy Collins, Béla Fleck, Jane Monheit, and others!
- OPERA, MOVIE NIGHT, POPS & MORE: Enjoy fully-staged opera productions of Carmen, Abduction from the Seraglio, and Man of La Mancha, plus Disney in Concert: The Lion King (Live Action), Patriotic Pops, and symphony masterpieces like Tchaikovsky’s Suite from Sleeping Beauty and Mahler No. 7.
Buy early for the best seats at the best prices to these Brevard Music Center summer festival highlights…and many more! BECOME A DONOR at the $75 and above level for priority access to prime seats beginning February 3 and before season ticket renewals and purchases begin on February 25.
Flat Rock Playhouse and The Supporting Players are excited to announce they are welcoming volunteers who will participate in various programs that take you behind-the-scenes at the State Theatre of North Carolina.
“The Supporting Players of Flat Rock Playhouse is a great way to meet and work with people that are like-minded and have a desire to come alongside the staff to help secure the future of performing arts in western North Carolina, “ remarks Karolyn Killian, President of Supporting Players. “It is a pleasure and a joy to volunteer my time and talent for such a wonderful group of people that are dedicated to excellence in live theatre and our community!”
The Supporting Players are a unique way to get an inside look into life on the Rock while making an impact on our community. If you are interested in joining this passionate collective of volunteers and becoming part of the Flat Rock Playhouse family, make sure to tune into WTZQ on March 10th at 8:00 am to hear from some of the Supporting Players. Additionally, you can visit flatrockplayhouse.org/volunteer or email [email protected] to learn more!
The Rock and Roll Playhouse is excited to bring the Music of the Grateful Dead for Kids to the Grey Eagle on 2/23/2020.
The Rock and Roll Playhouse is a children’s concert series that allows kids to “move, play and sing while listening to works from the classic-rock canon” (NY Times). The Playhouse offers its core audience of children aged 10 and under games, movement, stories, and an opportunity to rock out in a sensory-friendly environment while playing songs from musical icons such as Grateful Dead, David Bowie, The Beatles, and more. Founded in 2013 in New York City, the Playhouse has now expanded to over thirty venues and cities across the United States.
Doors at 12:00 PM // Show from 12:30 – 1:30PM
Chris Abell, flute and whistles; Michael Garner, fiddle; Bruce Nemerov, guitar with Rosalind Buda, Scottish smallpipes
Beginning in the 1600’s and reaching full bloom in the mid-1700s, music in Scotland took on new forms. Its social dance tunes, strathspeys, slow airs and ballad tunes display a character unique to Scotland. The Tune Shepherds have sifted this repertoire, given the tunes modern arrangements and, with amusing and informative introductions, present the peculiar music that illuminates the culture and history of a special place.
 |
Tickets on sale through June 28, 2020We know how completely odd it seems to be raffling off a trip to London right now. We’re barely leaving our homes for any reason, so jetting off around the world seems flat out bonkers! We’re hopeful that international travel and fun vacations will happen again in the future – and that’s why we extended and amended the raffle prize! If you win, you can choose the trip to London (and you have 18 months to book your travel) OR you can choose to take the cash value of the trip instead ($10,000). Our raffles have been important fundraisers for ACT over the years, and this one is no different. ACT has lost 85% of our income as an organization, so this raffle is one of the few ways we can continue to bring a little money in the door. Buying a raffle ticket is a great way to support ACT right now – and it just might be you who gets some really great news from us! |
The Breakfast Club returns to rock the Abbeville Opera House once again.
Dress up in your 80s gear and come to party with America’s favorite 80’s tribute band, The Breakfast Club. The last two times The Breakfast Club played in Greenville, they packed the place, so make your plans to join us
Join Mike Elis for a totally awesome 80s party!
Tickets on sale soon! :)
https://www.facebook.com/events/385008888768084/
Part of the 2019 – 2020 Broadway Season. Learn more about subscribing: http://bit.ly/2J6KMcs.
Discover a whole new world at Disney’s Aladdin, the hit Broadway musical.
From the producer of The Lion King comes the timeless story of Aladdin, a thrilling new production filled with unforgettable beauty, magic, comedy, and breathtaking spectacle. It’s an extraordinary theatrical event where one lamp and three wishes make the possibilities infinite.
Hailed by USA Today as “Pure Genie-Us,” Aladdin features all your favorite songs from the film as well as new music written by Tony® and Academy Award® winner Alan Menken (Newsies) with lyrics penned by the legendary Howard Ashman (Beauty and the Beast), Tony Award winner Tim Rice (The Lion King, Aida), and book writer Chad Beguelin (The Wedding Singer).
Directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon, Something Rotten!), this “Fabulous” and “Extravagant” (The New York Times) new musical boasts an incomparable design team, with sets, costumes, and lighting from Tony Award winners Bob Crowley (Mary Poppins), Gregg Barnes (Kinky Boots), and Natasha Katz (An American in Paris). See why audiences and critics agree, Aladdin is “Exactly What You Wish For!” (NBC-TV).
https://www.facebook.com/events/421128418693166/?event_time_id=421128472026494