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.

Saturday, August 15, 2020
Carolina Shine Moonshine Experience with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
Aug 15 @ 10:30 am – 3:00 pm
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

“Shine and Dine” on the railway! We cordially invite you to hop on board The Carolina Shine, GSMR’s All-Adult First Class Moonshine Car! We will be proudly serving hand crafted, triple-distilled, craft moonshine. Some of the smoothest tasting moonshine in the Carolinas!

Offered on the Nantahala Gorge excursion, this shine and dine experience begins in a renovated First Class train fleet car, The Carolina Shine. The interior features copper lined walls filled with the history of moonshining in North Carolina. Learn about the proud tradition that the Appalachians established when bootlegging was an acceptable way of life and local home brews were the best in town. Read about Swain County’s very own Major Redmond, the most famous mountain moonshine outlaw of the 19th century.

Once your appetite for knowledge is satisfied, enjoy sample tastings of flavors like Apple Pie, Blackberry, Blueberry, Cherry, Peach, and Strawberry moonshine. If the samples are not enough, there will be plenty of Moonshine infused cocktails like Copper Cola or Moonshiner’s Mimosa available for purchase.

 

GSMR is excited to feature multiple craft NC based distilleries to serve our guests only the best! Each jar is handcrafted and authentically infused with real fruit, the way moonshine was meant to be made.

Passengers will also enjoy a full service All-Adult First Class ride with an attendant serving GSMR’s freshly cooked pulled pork barbeque rubbed with Cajun spices then slow-roasted to perfection served with southern sweet cornbread muffin with honey butter, coleslaw, and cinnamon apples then finish with a delicious piece of Sea Salt Caramel Cheesecake. Riders will also receive their very own Carolina Shine mason drinking jar, refillable with soda beverages and tea throughout the day, and a souvenir GSMR tote bag (1 per couple/party).

Jeter Mountain Farm U-Pick Apple, Hard Cider Taproom + Grand Opening
Aug 15 @ 10:30 am – 3:30 pm
Jeter Mountain Farm

Jeter Mountain Farm is excited to invite the community to their Grand Opening weekend
August 15 & 16. Marking the official start to their U-pick apple season, guests will
quickly find there is more to enjoy during a visit than what one might expect.
Breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains are the backdrop to a variety of
activities that every age can enjoy. In addition to over 23 varieties of apples throughout
the harvest season, a visit to Jeter Mountain Farm offers fresh apple cider donuts, a
children’s play area, fresh slushies and apple cider pressed on-site, a farm market,
wagon rides, and now a brand new hard cider taproom.
The farm is pleased to be partnering with Flat Rock Cider Co. to bring a new hard cider
taproom to Western North Carolina. The taproom will feature six ciders on tap – all
made from local apples – and includes a special Jeter Mountain Farm original blend
made only from Jeter Mountain Farm apples, and available only at the taproom. Guests
will receive a free souvenir pint glass if they participate in a tasting, or they can take a
4-pack home for later.

Storytimes Online with Buncombe Librarians
Aug 15 @ 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Online

Join us a for a fun, socially distanced story time!

A brand new story time video will be posted every day. Keep checking back!

The Salvage Station is Now Open!
Aug 15 @ 12:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Salvage Station

We are open with new rules and safety measures!

Founded in 2016, Salvage Station is Asheville, NC’s favorite riverfront bar, restaurant, concert hall, and special events venue located in the historic River Arts District along the French Broad River. From music shows and festivals, to community and private events, Salvage Station is an excellent place to hang out and have a truly great Asheville experience.

Less than one half mile from downtown, you can find the most spacious and safe place to social distance outside while enjoying refreshing adult beverages and delicious Creole and Southern soul food from Root Down Kitchen.

In an effort to keep our beloved patrons safe (and our doors open), our staff will have their temperatures checked before each shift, they will wear face masks at all times while at work, and will sanitize their hands and work areas often. You can also feel safe knowing that all employees have completed their Count On Me certification.

We also have new rules in place that we require our patrons to adhere to.

*Face masks required at all times unless seated at your table.

*Parties of 6 or fewer only.

*Ages 21+ only (this is temporary and we hope to allow all ages in again very soon).

*Social Distance! Stay 6 feet apart while standing in line and use our hand sanitizing stations often.

*Do not move any furniture under any circumstances. We have strategically placed our tables in a way that we can safely social distance our guests.

Let’s have fun and stay safe!

Additional Library Curbside Service
Aug 15 @ 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Fairview, Leicester, and Oakley/South Asheville branches

 

Buncombe County Public Libraries will be opening three additional locations for curbside pickup service, the Fairview, Leicester, and Oakley/South Asheville branches. These locations will operate from 1-5 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, in addition to our current curbside pickup service locations at the Black Mountain, North Asheville, South Buncombe, and West Asheville locations. For more information about library curbside pickup service or to place an item on hold for pickup, please call your local library or the Ask-A-Librarian line (828-250-4700) or visit buncombecounty.org/library. We hope to see you soon!

Asheville Wine Market Saturday Afternoon Tastings
Aug 15 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Asheville Wine Market

Taste 3 for Free when you join us in the shop for weekly Saturday Afternoon Tastings.

Image may contain: text that says 'Taste 3 for Free Saturdays, 2-5 PM Saturday Afternoon Tastings'

Make Delicious Vietnamese Dishes
Aug 15 @ 4:00 pm
Asheville Mountain Kitchen

Learn how to make two of the most popular Vietnamese dishes. I guarantee you that once you make these dishes, you will repeat over and over again. Its not as complicated as you may think. It is ultimately-delicious.

Each class has a theme that corresponds w a holiday, a season or a favorite cook book. In each class we learn 3-6 dishes, depending on their complexity and the number of participants. We nibble and taste throughout the class in a very casual atmosphere. At the end of the class we have a meal together. My cooking style is simple, I do not over complicate recipes.

Sunday, August 16, 2020
Anti-Racisim: Resources Literacy Council
Aug 16 all-day
Online

Recognizing and understanding racism, and actively unlearning the everyday, built-in mechanisms of systemic racism is an ongoing effort that must be made by every single one of us. It can be difficult to navigate issues, origins, and solutions surrounding systemic racism, especially with so many different angles portrayed by the media.
There are countless truthful resources to help us find our way to social justice and equity. Here are just a few educational resources and ways to help our Black communities:
Educational reading:
The above photo has an excellent list of books!
Community:
Media:
Follow Black activists and voices on social media! Please reach out to us if you’d like suggestions on whom to follow.
Shop + Dine Henderson County
Aug 16 all-day
Online

COC Shop and Dine

What is Shop & Dine HC?

Shop & Dine HC is a collaborative movement designed to remind the public of the benefits and importance of spending their dollars with our local businesses. Local businesses lay the framework for a strong community and we want Henderson County to shop local, spend local, save local.

Why does shopping locally matter?

When you shop locally:

  • $0.02 of every $1 stays in the community through the Sales Tax. These dollars support county and municipal budgets for schools, law enforcement, infrastructure, and more.
  • you help create and retain jobs for existing businesses as they succeed and grow, and create a successful business community that attracts other businesses and entrepreneurs.
  • those same businesses you are supporting will give back to our community through donations to non-profits, civic clubs, youth programs, and more.

Simply put – our local businesses make our community better.

Want to get involved?

Be part of the conversation!

Join the Shop & Dine Facebook Group

 

Shop to Win!

When shopping in Henderson County:

  • take a selfie, post it to Facebook or Instagram
  • use the #ShopandDineHC
  • tag the Chamber @hendersoncochamber and business visited
  • be entered to win bi-monthly contests.

Contests begin July 1, 2020.

Bluegrass Brunch
Aug 16 @ 10:30 am – 3:00 pm
The One Stop at Asheville Music Hall

Image

Bluegrass Brunch
hosted by Aaron Woody Wood & The Sufi Brothers

Pickin’ on the Porch w/ Chicken Coop Willaye 1030AM
Bald Mountain Boys 11AM – 12:30PM
Sufi Brothers 12:45PM – 3PM

Be sure to check out our Bloody Mary Bar, the BEST selection of pickled products and other additions in Asheville. The MOJO Kitchen will be serving a special Brunch menu until 3PM as well.

Food & music start at 10:30am
ADULT beverages at Noon.

Jeter Mountain Farm U-Pick Apple, Hard Cider Taproom + Grand Opening
Aug 16 @ 10:30 am – 3:30 pm
Jeter Mountain Farm

Jeter Mountain Farm is excited to invite the community to their Grand Opening weekend
August 15 & 16. Marking the official start to their U-pick apple season, guests will
quickly find there is more to enjoy during a visit than what one might expect.
Breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains are the backdrop to a variety of
activities that every age can enjoy. In addition to over 23 varieties of apples throughout
the harvest season, a visit to Jeter Mountain Farm offers fresh apple cider donuts, a
children’s play area, fresh slushies and apple cider pressed on-site, a farm market,
wagon rides, and now a brand new hard cider taproom.
The farm is pleased to be partnering with Flat Rock Cider Co. to bring a new hard cider
taproom to Western North Carolina. The taproom will feature six ciders on tap – all
made from local apples – and includes a special Jeter Mountain Farm original blend
made only from Jeter Mountain Farm apples, and available only at the taproom. Guests
will receive a free souvenir pint glass if they participate in a tasting, or they can take a
4-pack home for later.

Storytimes Online with Buncombe Librarians
Aug 16 @ 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Online

Join us a for a fun, socially distanced story time!

A brand new story time video will be posted every day. Keep checking back!

Burlesque Brunch
Aug 16 @ 12:00 pm
The Grey Eagle

Burlesque Brunch

Join us on the third Sunday of every month for Burlesque Brunch!
  • 18 +
  • SEATED SHOW
  • 11 AM DOORS/ 12 PM 

Burlesque Brunch is a monthly burlesque and belly dance show with a classic speakeasy feel. Join us every month and relax and enjoy our dancing dames and dandies in an up close and intimate setting. It’s a Sunday afternoon to delight the senses!

The Salvage Station is Now Open!
Aug 16 @ 12:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Salvage Station

We are open with new rules and safety measures!

Founded in 2016, Salvage Station is Asheville, NC’s favorite riverfront bar, restaurant, concert hall, and special events venue located in the historic River Arts District along the French Broad River. From music shows and festivals, to community and private events, Salvage Station is an excellent place to hang out and have a truly great Asheville experience.

Less than one half mile from downtown, you can find the most spacious and safe place to social distance outside while enjoying refreshing adult beverages and delicious Creole and Southern soul food from Root Down Kitchen.

In an effort to keep our beloved patrons safe (and our doors open), our staff will have their temperatures checked before each shift, they will wear face masks at all times while at work, and will sanitize their hands and work areas often. You can also feel safe knowing that all employees have completed their Count On Me certification.

We also have new rules in place that we require our patrons to adhere to.

*Face masks required at all times unless seated at your table.

*Parties of 6 or fewer only.

*Ages 21+ only (this is temporary and we hope to allow all ages in again very soon).

*Social Distance! Stay 6 feet apart while standing in line and use our hand sanitizing stations often.

*Do not move any furniture under any circumstances. We have strategically placed our tables in a way that we can safely social distance our guests.

Let’s have fun and stay safe!

Highland Brewing Company‎ Reggae Sundays in the Meadow with Chalwa
Aug 16 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Highland Brewing Company‎

No photo description available.

Join us for Reggae Sundays every week in the Meadow for a cold beer and the sounds of the island with our friends from Chalwa.

Reggae Sundays are dependent on weather and will only occur outdoors in the Meadow.

Jam on, friends!

Join New Yorkers that live in Asheville: Reggae at Highland Brewery
Aug 16 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Highland Brewery

Listen to reggae at the Highland Brewery. They have a lawn that we could sit on at 6 feet apart. Its o the right side of the brewery. Buy beer, listen to music and meet great New Yorker (tri-state)! Please bring a folding chair.

Shakedown Sundays
Aug 16 @ 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
The One Stop at Asheville Music Hall

Image

Every Sunday Except First of Month.

Lawn Concert w/ The Richard Shulman Trio (jazz)
Aug 16 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Isis Music Hall & Kitchen 743

 

Lawn Concert with Dinner on the patio and on the lawn – reservations highly recommended. Call the venue at 828-575-2737 for tickets and reservations

Compelling and delightful original jazz from The Richard Shulman Trio with Zack Page – bass, Rick Dilling – drums and Shulman – piano. Featuring CDs “Waltzing out of Town” & upcoming “Seasons” CD.

Pianist/composer Richard Shulman studied jazz with Chuck Mangione at Rochester NY’s Eastman School of music and was fortunate to attend biweekly master classes there with Marian McPartland when she would come to town for six week stints. “There was a moment in our improv class when Chuck pulled out his horn, and standing right next to the piano, demonstrated directly the focussed concentration necessary to master the music. This and other lessons in groove and honoring musical style has stood me in good stead throughout my musical career.” “Marian helped us learn to play standards such as ‘All the Things you Are.’ I still have a copy of her arrangement of ‘Here’s That Rainy Day.’”

Come enjoy an evening of live music, food and drinks at the Isis patio and lawn. Reservations are highly recommended.

Here’s the scoop on our Lawn Concert!!

Things are going to be a little different due to the “new norm” / COVID19 regulations. So we ask that y’all just bear with us!!

Unlike our previous lawn shows there will not be open free lawn seating (ie blankets, bring your own chairs, etc) – We have to follow strict distancing rules right now – When things get back to normal, we promise we’ll also get back to our usual lawn series vibe.

There will be tables throughout the patio and lawn – these tables will be specifically spaced to meet distancing regulations.

These tables will be the ONLY seating.

The tables are available for DINING only – unfortunately with the limited seating we can not offer tables to those that are only enjoying a beverage.

Seating is limited so we recommend calling and making dinner
We will be adding a musicians’ fee per person in order to help support the musicians and sound engineer..

Our same delicious food will be back on the menu in a more limited selection until we can get things up and running steadily again.

We hope that you understand and support these changes as we all are working through how to navigate these times!! We’re so excited to back open for live music and to see some familiar faces!!

Monday, August 17, 2020
Storytimes Online with Buncombe Librarians
Aug 17 @ 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Online

Join us a for a fun, socially distanced story time!

A brand new story time video will be posted every day. Keep checking back!

MANNA Food Distribution
Aug 17 @ 2:30 pm
Leicester Community Center

Community members in need of food. Free food distribution by MANNA!

Tuesday, August 18, 2020
Storytimes Online with Buncombe Librarians
Aug 18 @ 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Online

Join us a for a fun, socially distanced story time!

A brand new story time video will be posted every day. Keep checking back!

Additional Library Curbside Service
Aug 18 @ 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Fairview, Leicester, and Oakley/South Asheville branches

 

Buncombe County Public Libraries will be opening three additional locations for curbside pickup service, the Fairview, Leicester, and Oakley/South Asheville branches. These locations will operate from 1-5 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, in addition to our current curbside pickup service locations at the Black Mountain, North Asheville, South Buncombe, and West Asheville locations. For more information about library curbside pickup service or to place an item on hold for pickup, please call your local library or the Ask-A-Librarian line (828-250-4700) or visit buncombecounty.org/library. We hope to see you soon!

Live Stream: David Joy launches When These Mountains Burn
Aug 18 @ 6:00 pm
Online

We’re thrilled to host the virtual launch event for David Joy’s new novel! This event is free but registration is required. Please click here to register. Registrants will receive an email on the day of the event with the event link required to attend on Zoom.

Order below to get a signed or personalized copy of When These Mountains Burn! Use the oder comments field to make your personalization request and provide the name to which the book should be authographed. Signed copies will be shipped or available for pickup after August 18.

When These Mountains Burn (available 8/18/20)

When his addict son gets in deep with his dealer, it takes everything Raymond Mathis has to bail him out of trouble one last time. Frustrated by the slow pace and limitations of the law, Raymond decides to take matters into his own hands.

After a workplace accident left him out of a job and in pain, Denny Rattler has spent years chasing his next high. He supports his habit through careful theft, following strict rules that keep him under the radar and out of jail. But when faced with opportunities too easy to resist, Denny makes two choices that change everything.

For months, the DEA has been chasing the drug supply in the mountains to no avail, when a lead–just one word–sets one agent on a path to crack the case wide open . . . but he’ll need help from the most unexpected quarter.
As chance brings together these men from different sides of a relentless epidemic, each may come to find that his opportunity for redemption lies with the others.

David Joy is the author of The Line That Held Us (winner of the 2018 SIBA Book Prize), The Weight of This World, and Where All Light Tends to Go (Edgar finalist for Best First Novel). His stories and creative nonfiction have appeared in a number of publications, and he is the author of the memoir Growing Gills: A Fly Fisherman’s Journey and a co-editor for Gather at the River: Twenty-Five Authors on Fishing. Joy lives in Tuckasegee, North Carolina.


If you decide to attend and to purchase the author’s book(s), we ask that you purchase from Malalprop’s. When you do this you are supporting our work and keeping more dollars in our community. Thank you!

 

Tuesday Early Jam
Aug 18 @ 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
The One Stop at Asheville Music Hall
Tuesday Night Funk Jam
Aug 18 @ 10:00 pm – Aug 19 @ 6:00 pm
The One Stop at Asheville Music Hall

Image

EVERY Tuesday at Asheville Music Hall! Tuesday Night Funk Jam has been a huge part of Asheville’s vibrant music scene since 2008 and is #Asheville’s hottest weekly concert. Tuesday Night Funk Jam is programmed and orchestrated by an evolved Legendary House Band with trombonist Derrick Lee Johnson at the helm. At 10PM sharp, the Legendary House Band kicks off the night

Wednesday, August 19, 2020
Hickory Nut Gap Farm Grassfed Beef Sale
Aug 19 all-day
Hickory Nut Gap Farm

100% grassfed ground beef. Balanced at a perfect 80% lean, 20% fat blend, every bite of this ground beef is delicious and flavorful. Whether you’re spending the day out at the grill, or perfecting your signature spaghetti sauce recipe, Hickory Nut Gap Farm’s ground beef provides an exceptional and nutritious staple to your cooking adventures.

Always 100% grassfed, always 100% hormone and antibiotic free.

Ground Beef is cryovac packed and frozen. If kept frozen, maintains a 12 month shelf life from pack date.

Library Computer Appointments Available
Aug 19 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Buncombe County Libraries
The Perfect Turkey

Buncombe County Public Libraries will begin offering appointments for computer use on July 1. Forty-five minute appointments are available 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays at all library locations except the Oakley/South Asheville branch.

Miss Malaprop’s Storytime LIVE STREAM
Aug 19 @ 10:00 am
Live Stream

Due to Covid-19, we are live streaming Storytime in lieu of an in-store event. Join us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/malapropsbookstore/ to tune into Miss Malaprop’s Storytime from your home.

Join us with your wee ones every week on Wednesdays at 10 am for classic and contemporary stories sure to enchant and entertain. Together, we’ll introduce children to the wonderful world of books! Recommended for ages 3-9.

Event date:
Wednesday, July 29, 2020 – 10:00am
Wednesday, August 5, 2020 – 10:00am
Wednesday, August 12, 2020 – 10:00am
Wednesday, August 19, 2020 – 10:00am
Event address:
Carolina Shine Moonshine Experience with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
Aug 19 @ 10:30 am – 3:00 pm
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

“Shine and Dine” on the railway! We cordially invite you to hop on board The Carolina Shine, GSMR’s All-Adult First Class Moonshine Car! We will be proudly serving hand crafted, triple-distilled, craft moonshine. Some of the smoothest tasting moonshine in the Carolinas!

Offered on the Nantahala Gorge excursion, this shine and dine experience begins in a renovated First Class train fleet car, The Carolina Shine. The interior features copper lined walls filled with the history of moonshining in North Carolina. Learn about the proud tradition that the Appalachians established when bootlegging was an acceptable way of life and local home brews were the best in town. Read about Swain County’s very own Major Redmond, the most famous mountain moonshine outlaw of the 19th century.

Once your appetite for knowledge is satisfied, enjoy sample tastings of flavors like Apple Pie, Blackberry, Blueberry, Cherry, Peach, and Strawberry moonshine. If the samples are not enough, there will be plenty of Moonshine infused cocktails like Copper Cola or Moonshiner’s Mimosa available for purchase.

 

GSMR is excited to feature multiple craft NC based distilleries to serve our guests only the best! Each jar is handcrafted and authentically infused with real fruit, the way moonshine was meant to be made.

Passengers will also enjoy a full service All-Adult First Class ride with an attendant serving GSMR’s freshly cooked pulled pork barbeque rubbed with Cajun spices then slow-roasted to perfection served with southern sweet cornbread muffin with honey butter, coleslaw, and cinnamon apples then finish with a delicious piece of Sea Salt Caramel Cheesecake. Riders will also receive their very own Carolina Shine mason drinking jar, refillable with soda beverages and tea throughout the day, and a souvenir GSMR tote bag (1 per couple/party).

Storytimes Online with Buncombe Librarians
Aug 19 @ 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Online

Join us a for a fun, socially distanced story time!

A brand new story time video will be posted every day. Keep checking back!