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.

Monday, December 28, 2020
Blue Ridge Orchestra Revels 2020
Dec 28 all-day
Online

BRO REVELS! 2020

String Orchestra in the Diana Wortham Theatre (Wortham Center for the Performing Arts)

The holidays are a precious time of connection: a time to share joy among friends, family, and community. Where the coronavirus pandemic imposes barriers to physical reunion, music allows us to gather in spirit wherever we are. In October 2020, a small subset of musicians from the Blue Ridge Orchestra spaced out their stands, put on their masks, and gathered at the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts to record holiday favorites for a concert that can unite loved ones near and far.

Programmed by John Gordon Ross, this unique concert will feature secular and sacred favorites performed by a variety of musical ensembles: a woodwind quintet, a brass octet, a 13-piece string orchestra, a solo soprano with piano, and a string quartet.

The final recording will be available here from December 11-31!

Blue Ridge Orchestra: Beyond the Concert Hall
Dec 28 all-day
Online

BRO: Beyond the Concert Hall explores the ways the members of the Blue Ridge Orchestra are playing, practicing, and enjoying music during the 2020 pandemic. New videos will be added weekly so check back to see more musicians!

LEAF 2021 announces a few key dates
Dec 28 all-day
LEAF

Spring LEAF Retreat May 13-16 at Lake Eden
LEAF Downtown/ Reimagine August 27-28
Fall LEAF Festival October 14-17 at Lake Eden 
(Size TBD*)

These events will be limited in size but will retain all the LEAF Love. LEAF Members will have priority and at times exclusive access to these events. Please note that Spring LEAF Retreat will be members-only and tickets will be made available on January 4th, 2021. Members have kept LEAF Mission alive and at work in this wild year of 2020! Your membership empowered LEAF to maintain our support of LEAF International Culture Keepers in the 10 countries and local LEAF Schools & Streets Artists. When you support culture, artists and teachers you are investing in the community and young people’s future. Interested in becoming a member? Join membership today!

All $250+ memberships will receive the 2021 LEAF Calendar hot off the press and its going to be a great year!

Candlelight Christmas at Biltmore
Dec 28 @ 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Biltmore

Marilynn will be playing Christmas music in various locations in Biltmore House over the next several weeks. If you’re planning on coming to Biltmore for Candlelight Christmas, try to come on one of the evenings that I will be playing. Hope to see you there!

Tuesday, December 29, 2020
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s first-ever online season
Dec 29 all-day
Online w/ Brevard Music Center

Brevard Music Center Around The Web

Live-streamed performances, resources, and activities we love from around the web, updated regularly.

Alvin Ailey: Ailey Forward
Enjoy Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s first-ever online season. Available to stream from December 2-31, this incredible series of premieres, collaborations, behind-the-scenes talkbacks, and unique Alvin Ailey highlights from the past 60 years will leave you inspired and wanting more. All events are family friendly, and free to enjoy with no registration required.

Blue Ridge Orchestra Revels 2020
Dec 29 all-day
Online

BRO REVELS! 2020

String Orchestra in the Diana Wortham Theatre (Wortham Center for the Performing Arts)

The holidays are a precious time of connection: a time to share joy among friends, family, and community. Where the coronavirus pandemic imposes barriers to physical reunion, music allows us to gather in spirit wherever we are. In October 2020, a small subset of musicians from the Blue Ridge Orchestra spaced out their stands, put on their masks, and gathered at the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts to record holiday favorites for a concert that can unite loved ones near and far.

Programmed by John Gordon Ross, this unique concert will feature secular and sacred favorites performed by a variety of musical ensembles: a woodwind quintet, a brass octet, a 13-piece string orchestra, a solo soprano with piano, and a string quartet.

The final recording will be available here from December 11-31!

Blue Ridge Orchestra: Beyond the Concert Hall
Dec 29 all-day
Online

BRO: Beyond the Concert Hall explores the ways the members of the Blue Ridge Orchestra are playing, practicing, and enjoying music during the 2020 pandemic. New videos will be added weekly so check back to see more musicians!

LEAF 2021 announces a few key dates
Dec 29 all-day
LEAF

Spring LEAF Retreat May 13-16 at Lake Eden
LEAF Downtown/ Reimagine August 27-28
Fall LEAF Festival October 14-17 at Lake Eden 
(Size TBD*)

These events will be limited in size but will retain all the LEAF Love. LEAF Members will have priority and at times exclusive access to these events. Please note that Spring LEAF Retreat will be members-only and tickets will be made available on January 4th, 2021. Members have kept LEAF Mission alive and at work in this wild year of 2020! Your membership empowered LEAF to maintain our support of LEAF International Culture Keepers in the 10 countries and local LEAF Schools & Streets Artists. When you support culture, artists and teachers you are investing in the community and young people’s future. Interested in becoming a member? Join membership today!

All $250+ memberships will receive the 2021 LEAF Calendar hot off the press and its going to be a great year!

The Pressure’s Mountain Boys
Dec 29 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Isis Music Hall

Nick DauphinaisDerek Vaden, and Matt Wright established and new material in the traditional style of bluegrass music.

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

Special Pre-Broadway Engagement! 1776
Dec 29 @ 7:30 pm
Peace Center

show

They knew they would make history, but not what history would make of them.

Fed up with living under the tyranny of British rule, John Adams attempts to persuade his fellow members of the Continental Congress to vote in favor of American Independence and sign the Declaration. But how much is he willing to compromise in the pursuit of freedom? And to whom does that freedom belong?

Direct from the American Repertory Theater at Harvard University, visionary director Diane Paulus (Jagged Little PillWaitressPippin) reexamines a pivotal moment in American history in a re-imagining of the Tony Award®-winning musical 1776 prior to its Broadway engagement at Roundabout Theatre Company.

Not recommended for children under 10 years of age. Parental discretion is advised.

Tuesday Early Jam
Dec 29 @ 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
The One Stop at Asheville Music Hall
Tuesday Night Funk Jam
Dec 29 @ 10:00 pm – Dec 30 @ 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, December 30, 2020
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s first-ever online season
Dec 30 all-day
Online w/ Brevard Music Center

Brevard Music Center Around The Web

Live-streamed performances, resources, and activities we love from around the web, updated regularly.

Alvin Ailey: Ailey Forward
Enjoy Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s first-ever online season. Available to stream from December 2-31, this incredible series of premieres, collaborations, behind-the-scenes talkbacks, and unique Alvin Ailey highlights from the past 60 years will leave you inspired and wanting more. All events are family friendly, and free to enjoy with no registration required.

Blue Ridge Orchestra Revels 2020
Dec 30 all-day
Online

BRO REVELS! 2020

String Orchestra in the Diana Wortham Theatre (Wortham Center for the Performing Arts)

The holidays are a precious time of connection: a time to share joy among friends, family, and community. Where the coronavirus pandemic imposes barriers to physical reunion, music allows us to gather in spirit wherever we are. In October 2020, a small subset of musicians from the Blue Ridge Orchestra spaced out their stands, put on their masks, and gathered at the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts to record holiday favorites for a concert that can unite loved ones near and far.

Programmed by John Gordon Ross, this unique concert will feature secular and sacred favorites performed by a variety of musical ensembles: a woodwind quintet, a brass octet, a 13-piece string orchestra, a solo soprano with piano, and a string quartet.

The final recording will be available here from December 11-31!

Blue Ridge Orchestra: Beyond the Concert Hall
Dec 30 all-day
Online

BRO: Beyond the Concert Hall explores the ways the members of the Blue Ridge Orchestra are playing, practicing, and enjoying music during the 2020 pandemic. New videos will be added weekly so check back to see more musicians!

LEAF 2021 announces a few key dates
Dec 30 all-day
LEAF

Spring LEAF Retreat May 13-16 at Lake Eden
LEAF Downtown/ Reimagine August 27-28
Fall LEAF Festival October 14-17 at Lake Eden 
(Size TBD*)

These events will be limited in size but will retain all the LEAF Love. LEAF Members will have priority and at times exclusive access to these events. Please note that Spring LEAF Retreat will be members-only and tickets will be made available on January 4th, 2021. Members have kept LEAF Mission alive and at work in this wild year of 2020! Your membership empowered LEAF to maintain our support of LEAF International Culture Keepers in the 10 countries and local LEAF Schools & Streets Artists. When you support culture, artists and teachers you are investing in the community and young people’s future. Interested in becoming a member? Join membership today!

All $250+ memberships will receive the 2021 LEAF Calendar hot off the press and its going to be a great year!

Mountain Music Jam Every Wednesday at Oklawaha Brewing
Dec 30 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Oklawaha Brewing

A Wednesday tradition at Oklawaha Brewing Company

The French Broad Valley Music Association: FBVMA jam session is focused on regional fiddle tunes and songs. Carol Rifkin and John Mitchell cohost weekly, bring an instrument to play or just enjoy the music, its free, kid friendly, donations encouraged.

Key Players are intermediate to advanced but beginners are most welcome and encouraged to attend to listen, learn/quietly play along. More experienced players sit in the inner circle and take turns choosing fiddle tunes or songs. Guests, families and kids are invited to listen and often sing along. This style of community play has been used to entertain and pass down music to kids for generations.

The French Broad Valley Music Association is a 501c3 non-profit organization formed to celebrate local musical heritage. “Our community. Our music. Our sense of place.”

Jesse Harman at Jack of the Wood
Dec 30 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Jack of the Wood

Local artist Jesse Harman fires up your Wednesday night with live tunes on the pub stage at 7pm. Come for the music, good food, and Irish whiskey! Get a hot toddie today!

Open Mic With Thomas Yon
Dec 30 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Twin Leaf Brewery

Music, poetry, comedy – we’d love for you to share or just come be entertained, sip some great brews, and eat some hot boiled peanuts while supporting your local scene. See you at 7 pm tonight! Sign up starts at 6:30 pm

The Lazybirds
Dec 30 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Isis Music Hall

Lazybirds is a classic American roots band from the mountains of North Carolina. Specializing in good time music that is just about impossible not to move to, there is also a depth to the band that faithful fans have treasured over the years. According to the legendary Doc Watson, “Lazybirds play a good variety of blues, jazz, and that good old ragtime sound, and you will hear the flavor of that in anything they play.” The ‘Birds cover a lot of musical ground, from early American stringband music to Dylan classics, as well as classic sounding originals, but deep roots are what hold all of these sounds together.
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Come enjoy an evening of live music, food and drinks at the Isis Music Hall. Reservations are highly recommended.
Here’s the scoop on our Fall and Winter Concerts!!
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 concerts, these will be a dinner and a concert format – We have to follow strict distancing rules right now until things return to normal.
There will be tables throughout the music hall and on the balcony – 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
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!!
Please give a call with any other questions or to reserve a table!! 828-575-2737
Special Pre-Broadway Engagement! 1776
Dec 30 @ 7:30 pm
Peace Center

show

They knew they would make history, but not what history would make of them.

Fed up with living under the tyranny of British rule, John Adams attempts to persuade his fellow members of the Continental Congress to vote in favor of American Independence and sign the Declaration. But how much is he willing to compromise in the pursuit of freedom? And to whom does that freedom belong?

Direct from the American Repertory Theater at Harvard University, visionary director Diane Paulus (Jagged Little PillWaitressPippin) reexamines a pivotal moment in American history in a re-imagining of the Tony Award®-winning musical 1776 prior to its Broadway engagement at Roundabout Theatre Company.

Not recommended for children under 10 years of age. Parental discretion is advised.

Thursday, December 31, 2020
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s first-ever online season
Dec 31 all-day
Online w/ Brevard Music Center

Brevard Music Center Around The Web

Live-streamed performances, resources, and activities we love from around the web, updated regularly.

Alvin Ailey: Ailey Forward
Enjoy Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s first-ever online season. Available to stream from December 2-31, this incredible series of premieres, collaborations, behind-the-scenes talkbacks, and unique Alvin Ailey highlights from the past 60 years will leave you inspired and wanting more. All events are family friendly, and free to enjoy with no registration required.

Blue Ridge Orchestra Revels 2020
Dec 31 all-day
Online

BRO REVELS! 2020

String Orchestra in the Diana Wortham Theatre (Wortham Center for the Performing Arts)

The holidays are a precious time of connection: a time to share joy among friends, family, and community. Where the coronavirus pandemic imposes barriers to physical reunion, music allows us to gather in spirit wherever we are. In October 2020, a small subset of musicians from the Blue Ridge Orchestra spaced out their stands, put on their masks, and gathered at the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts to record holiday favorites for a concert that can unite loved ones near and far.

Programmed by John Gordon Ross, this unique concert will feature secular and sacred favorites performed by a variety of musical ensembles: a woodwind quintet, a brass octet, a 13-piece string orchestra, a solo soprano with piano, and a string quartet.

The final recording will be available here from December 11-31!

Blue Ridge Orchestra: Beyond the Concert Hall
Dec 31 all-day
Online

BRO: Beyond the Concert Hall explores the ways the members of the Blue Ridge Orchestra are playing, practicing, and enjoying music during the 2020 pandemic. New videos will be added weekly so check back to see more musicians!

LEAF 2021 announces a few key dates
Dec 31 all-day
LEAF

Spring LEAF Retreat May 13-16 at Lake Eden
LEAF Downtown/ Reimagine August 27-28
Fall LEAF Festival October 14-17 at Lake Eden 
(Size TBD*)

These events will be limited in size but will retain all the LEAF Love. LEAF Members will have priority and at times exclusive access to these events. Please note that Spring LEAF Retreat will be members-only and tickets will be made available on January 4th, 2021. Members have kept LEAF Mission alive and at work in this wild year of 2020! Your membership empowered LEAF to maintain our support of LEAF International Culture Keepers in the 10 countries and local LEAF Schools & Streets Artists. When you support culture, artists and teachers you are investing in the community and young people’s future. Interested in becoming a member? Join membership today!

All $250+ memberships will receive the 2021 LEAF Calendar hot off the press and its going to be a great year!

Live Music – Jon Cox Band
Dec 31 @ 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Catawba Brewing Company - South Slope

Join us on NYE for some live music and food from Deli Llammma! The Jon Cox Band will have you boot scooting and bugging to all your favorite country and Southern rock covers.
Free Admission!
NYE with Dirty Dead at Asheville Music Hall
Dec 31 @ 5:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Asheville Music Hall

THIS IS A SEATED SHOW // LIMITED CAPACITY SHOW to ring in 2021 with Dirty Dead!
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Each ticket comes with two raffle tickets and champagne toast!
– – – –
TICKETS ON SALE NOW – tickets must be purchased BY TABLE (2-6 top tables available)
Rockin’ New Years Eve with Judaculla Blue
Dec 31 @ 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Sweeten Creek Brewing

Come kick this crazy year out with a bang! Judaculla Blue will be here jammin from 5-8! And we’ve got some crazy good food from Breedloves food truck! Oh yeah we’ve got some damn good beer too!

A Party Foul New Years Eve at The Odditorium
Dec 31 @ 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
The Odditorium

Thursday December 31 Outside at The Odditorium
**Weather Permitting** If cancelled, tickets will be refunded.
Party Foul Drag!!!
Doors 6 PM // Show 7 PM
Seated. Social Distant. Masks Required
$10
Note: No physical tickets will be mailed. Your name will be added to a list.
Candlelight Christmas at Biltmore
Dec 31 @ 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Biltmore

Marilynn will be playing Christmas music in various locations in Biltmore House over the next several weeks. If you’re planning on coming to Biltmore for Candlelight Christmas, try to come on one of the evenings that I will be playing. Hope to see you there!