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.

Friday, February 17, 2023
Native Gardens
Feb 17 @ 7:30 pm
Asheville Community Theatre

Tania, a very pregnant PHD candidate, and Pablo, her high-powered lawyer husband, realize the American dream when they buy a house with a backyard in Washington, DC. Living next door to community stalwarts Virginia and Frank is great – until a disagreement arises over a long-standing fence line between their homes. The conflict spirals into an all-out war of taste, class, privilege, and entitlement. With witty humor and engaging real-life drama, Native Gardens showcases conflict – and the worst and best ways to work it out!

Content Warning: Native Gardens contains mature themes, depictions of smoking, pregnancy/childbirth, microaggressions, and discussions of racism.

Accessibility:

All performances: Accessible wheelchair/scooter seating available.

Saturday, Feb 25, 2023: ASL-Interpreted Performance

The Magnetic Theatre Presents: HappyLand
Feb 17 @ 7:30 pm
The Magnetic Theatre

The Magnetic Theatre is thrilled to kick off its 2023 Mainstage Season with HappyLand, a fun and fantastical new musical by Brayden Dickerson and Zach Knox of Asheville’s blues-fusion band Smooth Goose, featuring live tunes and an exciting ensemble of quirky characters.

This non-stop rock opera tells the tale of a delivery person who doesn’t quite fit into the titular town of HappyLand. Tasked with delivering one last package before the vacation they have been dreaming of, our bicycling box-bearer embarks on an epic journey through the barren Neither, where a host of unsavory characters contrives to stay this courier from their appointed rounds.  Nevertheless, our maudlin messenger is determined to make it to SadLand. But what will they find when they arrive? Could the addressee be the love of their life? What message does the all-important package contain? And can our hero deliver the earth from annihilation?

Directed by Jason Phillips and featuring an ensemble cast with rotating lead actors, HappyLand is a delightful extravaganza of song, silliness, dance, romance, and splendiferous space battles.

THE DARK CITY KINGS
Feb 17 @ 8:00 pm
White Horse Black Mountain

Take your heart and lock it and small chest, hide it in the back of a bank vault, it won’t matter at all. Dark City Kings will steal your heart with their sunny goodness and their dark drunken debauchery, boisterous sing-a-long originals, lovelorn outlaw country, and revved up 80s torch songs.

When Black Mountain’s legendary Dark City Kings are not robbing banks and breaking hearts they are a six-piece band known for their wild weekly showcases at the town brewery, blasting away energetic and debauched originals as well as reinvigorated covers from John Prine’s “Angel of Montgomery” to The Cure’s “Just Like Heaven”.

Comprised of talented members of other area bands such as The Egg Eaters, Band Banker, and Tin Roof Echo, it’s absolutely true that every gang has a face (Rosie – vocals), a smooth-talker (Bayla – bass), a demolitions expert (Joe – acoustic guitar), the muscle (Craig – percussion/harp), the person who actually knows what they’re doing (JR – lead guitar), and the vagabond rogue (Johnny Guitar – rhythm guitar).

Every show this band brings a sense of danger, a truly bad attitude, & raucous laughter, they are total rock stars – and then they’re gone in the morning. The Dark City Kings – now more than ever!

Live Music at Hickory Tavern
Feb 17 @ 9:00 pm – 12:00 am
Hickory Tavern
Velvet Truckstop (Album Release Show) w/ Pyletribe ft Artimus Pyle
Feb 17 @ 9:00 pm
The Grey Eagle

– ALL AGES
– STANDING ROOM ONLY

VELVET TRUCKSTOP
From the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, Velvet Truckstop is a seasoned powerhouse that delivers a high-energy mix of Southern Rock and jam fueled Cosmic Americana  every time they take the stage! VT has recorded / performed live with many notable musicians; including Tom Constanten (  Grateful Dead) , Ike Stubblefield (Frank Zappa, Jerry Garcia Band)  Artimus Pyle (Lynyrd Skynyrd) and John Keane ( Widespread Panic) .

Following the success of their first full-length album, “Sweet Release” (voted No. 5 on WNCW’s Top 20 regional charts), they went on to command stages at top events; including multiple performances at SXSW in Austin, Texas;  the Warren Haynes’ Christmas Jam (2009- 2019 ) and the French Broad River Festival  ( 2019 ) After extensive touring throughout the East Coast,  the band cut their second album, “Southbound and Down” , produced by Johnny Sandlin ( Allman Brothers / Widespread Panic) in Muscle Shoals AL. Velvet Truckstop is happy to announce their third album ” Reckless Abandon ”  will be released in 2022.  Band Members are :  Jamie Dose (guitar / vocals), Josh Gibbs ( Lap steel / Guitar and vocals ) Will Nicholson ( bass ) and  Jor Sutton ( drums ).

PYLETRIBE

Combining the iconic talents of legendary Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer Artimus Pyle, and the infectious vocal and guitar licks of son Chris PylePYLETRIBE pushes the creative boundaries with their percussion influenced style dubbed “southern fried tribal boogie.”

Underwear Comedy Party at GiGi’s Underground
Feb 17 @ 10:30 pm
GiGi's Underground

Modelface Comedy presents AVL Underground Comedy at GiGi’s Underground

Underwear Comedy Party is a stand-up comedy show featuring comedians performing in nothing but their undies. The audience is also encouraged to be in their underwear!!!

Hosted by Alyx Libby

featuring TBA

ages 21+

doors at 10pm, show at 10:30pm

Saturday, February 18, 2023
“For Love of Beer + Mountains” Berryful Release at Highland Brewing Company
Feb 18 all-day
Highland Brewing Company
Join us and our partners at Highland Brewing Company for live music and the release of the new seasonal Berryful fruit ale. It’s like a taste of spring! Highland Brewing Company will donate $1 per pour of Berryful sold at the release party; their donation supports Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy’s ongoing conservation efforts.

Art in the Heart 2523: A Speculative Moment by Artist Briar Coleman
Feb 18 all-day
Pack Square Park

Sculpture on display February 11-26, 2023
Audio visual projection on Saturdays, February 11, 18, & 25; 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Project Type: Sculpture
Project Sponsors and Collaborators: Collaborators include Tiffany De’Bellott and Shuvonda Harper with Center for Participatory Change, Catherine Mitchelle, Executive Director with River Front Development Group; and Brian Randall with Hall Fletcher Elementary
About the Project: Speculative fiction and science fiction are genres that probe into the future with the imagination. They ask “how might we live differently?” Briar’s sculpture will do the same representing a monument commissioned in the year 2523, five hundred years from now. They plan to install a transparent, nine-foot-tall obelisk that will be filled with swirling fog that will slowly disperse into the atmosphere through small holes in the top of the obelisk. Text and images will be projected onto the fog that represent what a monument could possibly be and say in 2523. The text will come from extensive interviews they will do with youth and leaders from the Asheville community. Briar’s project will collectively envision a future Asheville that has gone a long way to heal from its past, one that is not just equitable, but deeply flourishing. With the removal of the Vance monument, Asheville is now at a crossroads in its memorialization and has a unique opportunity to learn, grow, and heal.
About the Artist: Instagram @oikos_umbra

ARTS Day Registration is now open
Feb 18 all-day
Raleigh

Arts Day 2023

DAY 1 – CONFERENCE DAY

9:00-11:00 Registration and Networking
9:30 Advocacy 101 – Nate McGaha, Executive Director, Arts North Carolina
11:00 Welcome – Nate McGaha
11:20 Rissi Palmer
11:40 Performance – Rissi Palmer
12:00 Lunch
12:30 Arts NC State & Federal Updates – Ken Melton, and Nate McGaha
1:00 Alan Brown
2:00 Networking Break
2:20 Update on the NCAC – Jeff Bell
2:50 Lenora Helm Hammonds
3:10 Performance – NCCU Jazz Ensemble
3:30 Networking Break
3:50 Arts NC Organization Updates – Nate McGaha
4:20 Liza Roberts
4:40 A Conversation with Ben Folds
5:00 Performance – Ben Folds
*Schedule subject to change

 

DAY 2 – LEGISLATIVE DAY

8:00 Convene
8:00-1:00 Legislative Appointments
8:30 Advocacy 101 (condensed)  Nate McGaha
9:00 Legislative Kickoff
10:30 – 1:00 Performances – TBA
12:00 Lunch (Included in Ticket Price)
Asheville Outlets to Host Food Is Love Food Donation Drive for MANNA FoodBank
Feb 18 all-day
Asheville Outlets

Asheville Outlets will again team with MANNA FoodBank to hold a Food is Love Food Donation Drive during the month of February 2023. The drive will focus on collecting healthy, nonperishable foods for distribution to those in need in western North Carolina. Items of need include low-sodium canned vegetables, canned tuna and chicken, low salt nuts, no sugar added fruits, shelf stable milk, whole grain pasta, brown rice, oatmeal, canola & olive oil, peanut butter, low sodium soups, canned and dried beans, and low sugar cereals Collection bins will be in the Asheville Outlets food court. Monetary donations can be made at MANNAFoodBank.org. For more information, visit ShopAshevilleOutlets.com.

Beginner Youth Tennis Classes
Feb 18 all-day
Hendersonville Racquet Club

Registration is now open for the next session of youth tennis classes starting March 3rd at Hendersonville Racquet Club.  Kids are put in groups based on age and ability with seven levels available.  The session is six weeks long and is $79 for members or $99 for non-members for one class a week.  Two days a week (12 sessions) is $139/169.

“Our youth tennis program has something for any child who wants to play.  From beginner to high performance player, we put them into situations where they will be challenged and can succeed while having a fun time doing it.” stated HRC Junior Tennis Academy Tennis Pro Cre Still.

The format for this session is having classes once or twice for six weeks. All classes are taught by certified tennis professionals and will be held on HRC’s arena courts.  For more info go to www.hvillerc.com or contact 828-693-0040 or [email protected].

Hendersonville Racquet Club is a six acre complex that includes 6 outdoor tennis courts, 3 arena tennis courts, four racquetball courts, 7 pickleball courts, an outdoor swimming pool, fitness center, group fitness room and outdoor leisure area by Shaw’s Creek and pond.

SCHEDULE

Age 4-7 (RED) Beginners meet Fridays 4:15-5, Saturdays 12:15-1:00pm, Sunday 3:15-4pm

Age 7-10 (ORANGE) Beginners meet Fri 5-6, Sat 1-2, Sun 4-5

Age 9-15 (GREEN) Beginners meet Fri 6-7, Sat 2-3, Sun 5-6

Age 9-15 (YELLOW) Intermediates meet Sat 2-3, Sun 5-6

HRC Youth Performance Elite (HYPE) Intermediates and Advanced ages 8-18 meet Monday through Thursday 4-7pm

· Classes for all ages and ability!  Open to the public. Call for advanced and tournament/elite class session times.  All classes taught by certified tennis professionals

· Six class (session) package – One day/week – $79 members/$99 for non-members.

· Two days/week $139 /$169.  Drop-In (single) class – $15 for members, $20 for
non-members.  Private lessons may be purchased separately.

Celebrate Black Legacy Month
Feb 18 all-day
Buncombe County Libraires

Join us throughout February as we celebrate Black Legacy Month with programs and events for all ages! In addition to the programs listed below, we will have special story times and exhibits at most of our libraries.

  • Bright Star Touring Theatre: African Folktales – February 1 at 4pm at the Weaverville Library (for children ages 3 and up)
  • Book Club: Jazz by Toni Morrison – Thursday, February 2 a 3pm at the Weaverville Library
  • Book Club: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett – Tuesday, February 7 at 6pm
  • Book Club: The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict Tuesday, February 14 at 1pm at the Leicester Library
  • Book Club: Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina by Misty Copeland – February 16 at 2:30pm at the Skyland/South Buncombe Library
  • Book Club: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett – February 21 at 7pm at the Fairview Library
  • Black Experience Book Club: The Furrows by Namwali Serpell – February 23 at 6:30pm at the Noir Collective, co-sponsored by the East Asheville library

Drop by your local library and check us out. Email or call if you have any questions.

Our librarians have also put together a Black Legacy Month reading list for all ages.

Black Legacy Month Reading List 2023

Books for Adults

Adult Fiction

  • Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
  • On Girlhood: 15 Stories from the Well-Read Black Girl Library edited by Glory Edim
  • What the Fireflies Knew by Kai Harries
  • Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James
  • The Love Songs of W.E.B. Dubois by Honoree Fannone Jeffers
  • How Long ‘Til Black Future Month? by N.K. Jemison
  • Deacon King Kong by James McBride
  • Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
  • Black Bottom Saints by Alice Randall
  • The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb
  • Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead
  • Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
  • Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson

Adult nonfiction

  • Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man by Emmanuel Acho
  • Carefree Black Girls: A Celebration of Black women in Popular Culture by Zeba Blay
  • The 1619 Project edited by Nikole Hannah-Jones
  • Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey
  • Wow, No Thank You by Samantha Irby*
  • The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee
  • All That She Carried by Tiya Miles
  • Please Don’t Sit On My Bed In Your Outside Clothes by Phoebe Robinson*
  • You’ll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey by Amber Ruffin*
  • Counting Descent by Clint Smith
  • The Body Is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor
  • Here For It by R. Eric Thomas*
  • Koshersoul: the faith and food journey of an African American Jew by Michael W. Twitty

*especially good on audio because the authors read their work!

Picture books for families to share

  • My Heart Flies Open by Omileye Achikeobi-Lewis
  • Only the Best: The Exceptional Life and Fashion of Ann Lowe by Kate Messner
  • My N.C. From A to Z by Michelle Lanier
  • Shhh! The Baby’s Asleep by JaNay Brown-Wood
  • Curls by Ruth Forman
  • Fly by Brittany J. Thurman
  • Opal Lee and What it Means to be Free: The True Story of the Grandmother of Juneteenth by Alice Faye Duncan
  • Build a House by Rhiannon Giddens
  • Bright Brown Baby, A Treasury by Andrea Davis Pinkney
  • Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renee Watson

Chapter books for older kids

  • Isaiah Dunn is My Hero by Kelly J. BaptistBlended by Sharon Draper
  • Ikenga by Nnedi Okorafor
  • Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
  • Tristan Strong Trilogy (Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, Tristan Strong Destroys the World, and Tristan Strong Keeps Punching) by Kwame Mbalia
  • From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks
  • Black Boy Joy: 17 Stories Celebrating Black Boyhood edited by Kwame Mbalia
  • Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson
  • Operation Sisterhood by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich
  • The Door of No Return by Alexander Kwame

Books for teens

  • Quincredible by Rodney Barnes
  • The Legendborn Cycle (Legendborn and Bloodmarked) by Tracy Deonn
  • All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
  • You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
  • Survive the Dome by Kosoko Jackson
  • Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther’s Promise to the People by Kekla Magoon
  • Ain’t Burned All the Bright by Jason Reynolds
  • Bitter by Akwaeke Emezi
  • On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
  • Okoye to the People by Ibi Zoboi
City of Asheville survey Fiscal Year 2023-24 Budget development
Feb 18 all-day
online

The City of Asheville wants to hear from you! We are kicking off our Fiscal Year 2023-24 (FY24, which runs July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024) budget development process by seeking feedback from the community.

The first way to engage is to participate in our budget priorities survey. This short survey should take less than ten minutes to complete and will ask residents to rank between City services and categories of capital investment to help guide Council and Staff as they make decisions about what to prioritize in the FY24 budget.

The survey is available in EnglishSpanishUkrainian and Russian starting on Monday February 6, 2023 and will close on Friday, March 3, 2023 at 11:59 pm.

The second way to engage is through a public comment session to be held during the regular meeting of the Asheville City Council on Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at 5:00 pm. Similar to other public comment sessions, residents may comment at the Council meeting in person, by voicemail or by email. Voicemail and email information will be released when the agenda for the February 28 meeting is published on Friday, February 24.  You will be able to find more information on the Virtual Engagement Hub when the agenda is released.

Feedback received during the public comment session and from the survey will be compiled, analyzed, and presented to City Council during their budget work session on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. Staff will also share results with the community, as well as updates on how community priorities are reflected in the FY24 budget when it is proposed in May.

Free Tax Help at the Library
Feb 18 all-day
various Buncombe County Libraries

 

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, in cooperation with the IRS, NC Department of Revenue, Buncombe County Library System, and Council on Aging, Inc. will offer free tax preparations for taxpayers of low and moderate income, with special attention to those aged 60 and older.

You will need an appointment to speak with a tax help aide. At your appointment, you can drop off your tax documents and you’ll be given another appointment in about 2 weeks to pick up your paperwork and completed tax form.

How it works

  1. Pick up a tax record envelope and instructions at Black Mountain, West Asheville, Weaverville, or Pack Library during library hours.
  2. Complete the Intake/Interview Booklet in your envelope by answering all questions. Then sign and date the last 3 pages.  Place all your tax forms and any information relating to your tax return in your envelope.
  3. Make an appointment to drop off your Tax Record Envelope and meet with a Tax-Aide volunteer.

Schedule and appointments

Black Mountain Library

Mondays and Thursdays, appointments are available between 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

To make an appointment, either email [email protected] with your name and telephone number, or call (828) 669-8610 between 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday. An AARP volunteer will contact you to set up your appointment. You can pick up a tax packet at the library. At your appointment, a tax volunteer will check all documents and give you a follow-up appointment to pick up your completed tax return and documents.

Pack Memorial Library

Wednesdays, appointments are available between 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

To make an appointment on Wednesday at Pack Library, email [email protected] with your name and phone number. An AARP volunteer will contact you to set up your appointment. If you don’t have access to email, the staff at the library can email AARP for you. You can pick up your tax packet at the library. At your appointment, a tax volunteer will check all documents and give you a follow-up appointment to pick up your completed tax return and documents.

Saturdays, appointments are available between 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

To make an appointment for Saturday tax help at Pack Library, email [email protected]. At your appointment, a tax volunteer will check all documents and give you a follow-up appointment to pick up your completed tax return and documents. This tax help is provided by UNCA. Saturday tax help ends on April 1 and there will be no tax help on February 18.

Weaverville Library and Weaverville First Baptist Church

Thursdays, appointments are available between 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

To make an appointment for tax help at the Weaverville First Baptist Church email [email protected] with your name and telephone number OR call the Weaverville Library at 828-250-6482 with questions. If you don’t have access to email, the staff at the library can email AARP for you.  An AARP volunteer will contact you to set up your appointment at the Weaverville First Baptist Church. You can pick up your tax packet at the library. At your appointment, a tax volunteer will check all documents and give you a follow-up appointment to pick up your completed tax return and documents.

West Asheville Library

Tuesdays, appointments are available between 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

To make an appointment at the West Asheville Library email [email protected] with your name and telephone number. An AARP volunteer will contact you to set up your appointment. If you don’t have access to email, the staff at the library can email AARP for you. You can pick up your tax packet at the library. At your appointment, a tax volunteer will check all documents and give you a follow-up appointment to pick up your completed tax return and documents in 1 or 2 weeks.

Tax help will start on Feb. 1 and end on April 15.

Bring the following documents and tax forms to your tax help appointment. Photocopies are recommended:

  • Photo ID / Driver License for Taxpayer and Spouse
  • Social Security Cards for Taxpayer, Spouse and ALL dependents
  • Prior year Federal and State tax return
  • W-2 (Wages), W-2G (Gambling winnings)
  • Amounts of Stimulus Payments you received (EIP-3, IRS Letter 6475)
  • Amounts of Child Tax Credit Payment you received (IRS Letter 6419)
  • SSA-1099 (Social Security Benefit Statement)
  • 1099-R (Retirement), 1099-RRB (Railroad Retirement Benefits)
  • 1099-Interest, 1099-Dividend, 1099-OID
  • 1099-B (Brokerage Statement, Sale of Stocks and Bonds), 1099-Ks
  • 1099-G (Unemployment and State refunds)
  • 1099-NEC (Self-Employment), 1099-MISC, PLUS itemized list of expenses
  • 1099-S (Sale of Home), 1099-C (Forgiveness of Credit Card Debt)
  • 1098- Home Mortgage Interest and Real Estate Taxes
  • 1099-T (Education Credits) PLUS Student Account Statement
  • 1098-E (Student Loan Interest)
  • 1099-SA and/or 5498-SA (HSA = Health Savings Account) PLUS itemized list of expenses
  • 1095-A (Health Insurance – Affordable Care Act, Health Insurance Marketplace)
  • Schedule K-1 (Form 1065)
  • Any other documents or information relevant to preparation of the tax return
  • Voided check for direct deposit of any refund to your checking / savings account
Gardening Video: Cool Cover Crops
Feb 18 all-day
online

 

 

Flowering Buckwheat

 

Gardening in the Mountains presents:
Cool Cover Crops

Presenter: John Bowen, Extension Master Gardener VolunteerSM

Master Gardener and long time cover cropper John Bowen will help you pick a cover to match your needs, space and schedule.  He will discuss the pros and cons of several crop choices for WNC gardens and help you make a plan to maximize the benefits of creative cover crops.

Video access:
To access this video on the Buncombe County Master Gardener website, click on the link below:

                                                                           Cool Cover Crops

Or go to www.buncombemastergardener.org , click on the ‘Gardening Videos’ tab at the top of the page, and select the video from the list provided.

Gardening Video: Garden Conifers and Evergreens
Feb 18 all-day
online

Presenter: Bruce Appeldoorn – Appeldoorn Landscape Nursery

Bruce Appeldoorn, a life-long nurseryman and the owner of Appeldoorn Landscape Nursery, will share with us some of the best conifers for Western North Carolina gardens. You will see his favorite low-maintenance, long-lived choices based on his 45 years of nursery experience.

Get Your Go Local Card
Feb 18 all-day
online

The Go Local Card celebrates the interdependence of our businesses to each other, public education and to the youth in our community.

Our community values equitable educational opportunities for everyone and the Go Local Card is an annual fundraiser for Asheville’s city public schools.

Since inception, we have raised nearly $220,000 for our schools. This program connects 4,000 children and their families to a healthy local economy and locally owned businesses that support their school.

… and cards are available for purchase at any one of these businesses through Aug. 2023

Inline Hockey at Carrier Park Registration
Feb 18 all-day
Carrier Park

Inline Hockey at Carrier Park Spring registration is open. Practices start 2/27. New to skating or been playing for a while, check out Asheville Inline Hockey!
Ages 6-16 – Coed – noncontact.
www.ashevillehockey.org

Journeyperson Program NOW FREE! 12-Month Farm Support Cohort
Feb 18 all-day
Organic Growers School

The upcoming Journeyperson course is now available AT NO COST! Due to some timely grant funding, we can offer this in-depth farmer training for farmers in years 3-7 with no associated tuition fee! The course consists of monthly cohort meet-ups and 2-3 in-depth workshops, plus mentorship!

 

In addition, a select number of participants will also receive matched FUNDS for your farm savings account (Savings Incentive Program) and money to spend on a professional development opportunity of your choosing! Want to attend a workshop on livestock management? OGS will contribute towards that fee! Are you saving money for a farm asset? OGS will contribute up to a certain amount to that investment.

 

The Journeyperson Program is for farmers who have been independently farming for three or more years and are serious about operating farm businesses in the Southern Appalachian region.

Join the Journeyperson Info Session on Zoom!

November 15th at 7:00 pm

Sign up here

Need Help With Water Bills? New Water Assistance Program Could Offer Help.
Feb 18 all-day
online

If you’re behind on your water bill or afraid your water might get cut off, a new resource might be able to help you. On Jan. 4, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners approved more than $450,000 in federal funding for the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP). The initiative is aimed at preventing water disconnections and helping reconnect drinking and wastewater services.

The LIHWAP will be administered by Buncombe County-based Eblen Charities. The nonprofit will make payments directly to utilities on behalf of qualifying households. The program is slated to run through Sept. 30, 2023 or until funds are exhausted.

Eligibility requirements

Households that currently receive Food and Nutrition Services (FNS), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Work First services, or those that received Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) services from Oct. 1, 2020-Sept. 30, 2021, are automatically eligible to receive this benefit if their water services have been cut off or are in danger of being cut off.

For additional eligibility information or to apply, please contact Eblen Charities at (828) 255-3066.

PRESERVATION GRANTS
Feb 18 all-day
online

The addition of preservation grants to our existing efforts in advocacy, technical support, preservation easements, and education, will allow us to reach a new and diverse audience.  This program will allow us to support both large and small projects from downtown Asheville to our rural and under-served communities.

Click here for the Grant Application

We look forward to helping with emergency stabilization projects and restorations of important places, to helping neighborhoods receive designations such as recognition on the National Register of Historic Places and to encouraging and supporting new and unique education and research opportunities.  We want to be surprised and humbled by the projects our community asks us to support!

As our city faces the inevitable challenges of growth, PSABC’s voice and reach must expand.  The important addition of this Preservation Grant Program comes in response to the needs of our community.

Preservation grants from $500 – $5000 will be offered to the public in three categories:

  1. Bricks-And-Mortar

Rehabilitation, restoration and repair of structures that are 50 years of age or older

Some examples: Windows and doors • Exterior painting • Porches • Roofs and gutters • Electrical and plumbing • Hardscaping • Foundation • Original exterior or interior details

  1. Public Education

Development of educational materials and programs that advance knowledge of our shared history

Some examples: Research and documentation • Oral histories • Installations specific to buildings, place history, and culture • Exhibitions • K–12 educational publications • Seminars and lectures • Documentary films

  1. Planning, Survey and Designation

Planning and design for building rehabilitation and restoration projects, historic resource surveys and local or national designations

Some examples: Historic building condition reports • Engineering and rehabilitation plans • Feasibility studies • Historic resource surveys • Updates of previous surveys • Local and national historic designations

Read about our past winners here!

Register open for Cuba Agroecology w/ Organic Grower School
Feb 18 all-day
online
Cuba product logo

Register for our Cuba Agroecology Tour!
April 4-13, 2023

Want to learn from farmers and food activists about Cuba’s transition to agroecological farming practices and its national policies that prioritize sustainable farming and hunger remediation?

This is your opportunity to join our 9-day tour of Cuba’s sustainable farms! On our tour, we visit with farmers, NGOs, policymakers, and experts to learn about the history of Cuba, their transition to organic agriculture, and ongoing initiatives to support farmers and expand agroecological practices.

Sliding Scale Pricing for Spring Conference 2023
Feb 18 all-day
online

Screen Shot 2023-01-19 at 2.09.44 PM

For the past 30 years, the Organic Growers School Spring Conference has served as a gathering place for growers in Appalachia to connect, learn from one another, and deepen connections to land and community. The Spring Conference began as an entirely volunteer-run and free event and has expanded to support an organization of ten staff with year-round programming. As we have grown, we have experimented with different approaches to keeping the event affordable and accessible while also working on compensation for our speakers and supporting our growing staff. We encourage you to check out our recent blog post exploring this in more depth. This year, we are excited to be experimenting with sliding scale ticket pricing for the first time, and we wanted to take some time to explain how this works and why we decided to implement it this year.

Looking beyond scholarships

Over the past several years, we have started implementing different scholarship options. We have set aside around $3000 in our internal budget for scholarships, and we have increased our outreach to other groups in the area who have funding to support individuals to attend conferences. We also offer work-trade opportunities for people who are interested in helping out with our event in exchange for attendance. We have around 100 work-traders access the conference each year through these opportunities, but we have never used up our entire scholarship fund for the event. We know that there are many individuals in our community that we are not reaching through our scholarship opportunities. We began to wonder if scholarship applications were creating a barrier to participation and started researching other options, landing eventually on sliding scale as our preferred model.

How alternative pricing models address accessibility

The sliding scale model, which offers the opportunity for participants to select a price to pay for their ticket, meets several of the parameters we were looking for in an accessible pricing model. Most importantly, it is a seamless way for attendees to access the price that meets their needs. So many things are means-tested in our society, and it can be exhausting to justify why one needs a more affordable price point. While many of our community members need financial support, there are also members of this community who have more than enough to share and are excited about supporting their fellow co-learners. These attendees can select the higher end of the sliding scale, which will be set at a price to offset the lower price paid by other attendees. We trust our attendees to select the option that best works for them while also considering how their selection would affect the ability of other participants to access a lower price point.

Accessibility is a priority for OGS, and implementing it is a risk for us as a small non-profit, given that we rely on our large events like the Spring Conference to support our year-round programming and staff salaries. This will certainly be an experimental year, and if we are not able to secure enough income through sliding-scale registrations, we will have to rethink our approach to pricing. We trust that our community will be thoughtful in thinking about the value that this conference has to them and about what they are able to pay for at this time. Thank you for being on this journey of discovery with us!

 

The Flying Squirrel Ten Miler Registration Open
Feb 18 all-day
online
Registration for Asheville’s premier ten mile road running race is now open. We hope you can join us on June 3, 2023 for another day of fun on our hilly and beautiful ten mile course. Our non-profit beneficiary is once again the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy.
Please click here to register
Please click here for more information

Event Current Price New Price Current Price Valid Until
The Flying Squirrel Ten Miler $55 $65 March 1, 2023 at 11:59pm EST

Experience some of the best road running in Asheville with The Flying Squirrel Ten Miler, Asheville’s premier 10 Mile road race. Enjoy the ease and convenience of a road race with the spectacular views and seclusion of a mountain race. The race starts and finishes just blocks from downtown Asheville and then promptly takes runners on the winding roads of Town Mountain. Participants will enjoy shaded mountain roads typically only used by locals, such as the beautiful Sunset Drive and Patton Mountain Road. One thing about The Flying Squirrel Ten Miler is sure: you’ve got to “earn” those views. The Southern Appalachians are hilly and so is The Flying Squirrel Ten Miler.

Course

The course features five miles of gradual uphill and five miles of gradual downhill with a bit of flat at the beginning and end. Runners will gain over 1,400′ and lose over 1,400′ throughout the 10 mile long course. Check out our Course Description for a course map, elevation profile, and turn-by-turn instructions.

Start

The race will Start at 8:00AM on Saturday June 3, 2022. The race also Finishes at this same location. Click here for map.

Wildlife

Asheville is home to an amazing diversity of wildlife, including white squirrels, black bears, and fox. Yes, there are white squirrels that live on the course that sometimes make an appearance. A portion of race proceeds to go towards conserving the endangered Carolina Flying Squirrel.

About Us

Brought to you by the same race organizers that bring you the Asheville Turkey Trot (now in its 20+ year) and the Shut-In Ridge Trail Run (now in its 40+ year), The Flying Squirrel Ten Miler is committed to providing the absolute BEST experience for each and every participant!

Aid Stations

Our Aid Stations will have water. Cross the finish line and you will be greeted by spectators and a bunch of other runners.

Finish Zone

Post-Race: Once you catch your breath you’ll enjoy post-race refreshments.

There are several great places to grab a late breakfast or early lunch within a short walk of the Finish Zone including Liberty Coffee (fresh and healthy seasonal plates and full coffee bar – all Ten Mile participants get one free coffee!), City Bakery (classic Asheville bakery and cafe serving up sandwiches and soups), and Pulp + Sprout (juice bar and vegan cafe).

What’s Included With Your Registration?

Registrants are guaranteed the following:

  • Custom Flying Squirrel Ten Miler Shirt
  • Legit Post Race Food
  • Post Race Food
  • Coupons/Giveaways from our sponsors
  • Custom Race Bib
  • Professionally Timed Chip Time
  • Spectacular Views of Asheville (weather permitting)

 

RACE BENEFICIARY
 

 

The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) permanently protects and stewards our region’s most beloved natural areas. Since 1974, over 80,000 acres of unique plant and animal habitat, clean water sources, farmland, scenic beauty, and places for people to enjoy outdoor recreation have been permanently protected in the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee. SAHC is committed to creating and supporting equitable, healthy and thriving communities for everyone in our region.

We value our local Western North Carolina community and are committed to giving back. A portion of our race proceeds go towards our charity partner for that year. For the inaugural Flying Squirrel Ten Miler we are proud to be supporting a Western North Carolina based non-profit who is helping to conserve the endangered Carolina Flying Squirrel. The Carolina Flying Squirrel is a subspecies of the Northern Flying Squirrel and requires high elevation habitat to thrive. Read more about the Carolina Flying Squirrel here: https://www.fws.gov/southeast/wildlife/mammals/carolina-northern-flying-squirrel/

The Southern Studies Fellowship in Arts and Letters: Culture of the American South
Feb 18 all-day
online
South
The Southern Studies Fellowship in Arts and Letters is a first-of-its-kind and immersive fellowship focused on the culture of the American South. We’ve officially opened applications for year three of the program starting this summer!

This first-of-its-kind program brings one early-career artist and one early-career writer to Spartanburg, South Carolina, for a nine-month fellowship of research, creativity, teaching, and travel, culminating in a collaborative project informed by the region. This program is perfect for those looking to immerse themselves in the culture of the American South.

In addition to focusing on their own creative projects, the Southern Studies Fellows will have opportunities and requirements for educational community service in Spartanburg County; these will include college and high school classroom visits/lectures, readings, open studios, workshops, and projects affiliated with the host organizations. The fellows will be expected to contribute up to 20 hours per week in the following areas: community service, artist-writer collaboration, and out-of-town travel for project research.

A key component of this unique fellowship is the opportunity to interact with leading scholars, artists, and writers throughout the South. Each fellow will have opportunities to travel in the Southern region to conduct research at cultural and educational institutions, which will inform their work and will be critical in the development of their ideas for a collaborative project that expands the understanding of the modern South.

VOTE in the first annual UScellular Black History Month Art Competition
Feb 18 all-day
online

Members of Boys & Girls Club of Henderson County created original pieces of artwork and the finalists drawings that you will find attached were chosen by Club staff.  The finalists’ artwork will be digitally displayed at UScellular’s Hendersonville location at 1900 Hendersonville Blvd.

The winners will be announced in March and prizes include gift cards in the following amounts:

  • $250 for 1st Place
  • $150 for 2nd Place
  • $100 for 3rd Place

The public can vote for their favorite artwork by going to newsroom.uscellular.com

Wilderness Medicine + Survival Skills at Nantahala Outdoor Center
Feb 18 all-day
Nantahala Outdoor Center

LEARN MORE THIS YEAR

Brush up on your wilderness medicine or learn new survival skills! SOLO Southeast & NOC are offering over 200 courses in 2023 and classes in locations across the southeast.

  • Atlanta, GA
  • Bryson City, NC
  • Chattanooga, TN
  • Collegedale, TN
  • Greenville, SC

Find your next course with SOLO Southeast and be prepared for the unexpected!

Asheville Upcycle Celebration – Name Your Price
Feb 18 @ 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
202 S French Broad Ave, Asheville, NC 28801, USA
Asheville Upcycle Celebration – Name Your Price
STARTING 1PM – 5PM FRIDAY 2/17 and 8AM – 4PM SATURDAY 2/18
Remember Seven-Star, once America’s largest green event producers and sponsors of Asheville Green Drinks?

Now, after more than 20 years, things collected, saved and stored must go. Please share with friends. Looking forward to seeing you. Check out our electric bikes! – Many blessings Alan, Georgia, and Joseph

MOVING SALE… STARTING 1PM – 5PM FRIDAY 2/17 and 8AM – 4PM SATURDAY 2/18
Bargains, Fantastic Finds and Free Stuff
EVERYTHING MUST GO
Make an Offer Pricing

202 South French Broad Ave.
front and backyard

1930s – 1970s Hand tools and Electric tools
100+ year old 5 ft long saw blade
1930s Life size statue of St.Anthony de Padua from cast metal
1950s –  1980s Record albums (over 100)
Art frames
Art supplies
Jeweler’s flex shaft and tumbler
New in box SHC 4-gallon electric mini tank water heater
Electric lawn mower
New in box 3-light track light
Amplifier Marshall model 5205 reverb 12
SHURE Unidyne B Microphone
Pair of Swanson recording microphones
Yamaha mixing console MG06
8-channel Tapco stereo mixer
Professional light set for photography
EZ Up Pop-up tents 10ft x 10ft
Complete sets of curtains rods
Ridged Professional 16-gal. Shop vac
New in box 10” chain saw RYOBI
New in box Miracle Pro Green Machine Juicer
Retro stainless steel table fans
New in box Arrow Professional electric staple gun
Electric indoor compost machine
1950s-60s kitchen tools
New in box reciprocating saw
Crates filled with boxes of bolts, screws, nuts, washers, etc
House Painting supplies and tools
Stainless steel heavy duty 6ft x 48in bakers rack shelving units
Stainless steel work tables on wheels
Geodes, fossils, petrified wood
Sewing machine
Marble slabs
Garden and landscaping tools
1950s Vintage Olympic typewriter
Heavyweight 4ft, 6ft & 8ft folding table
Heavy duty folding chairs
New in box Solar panels and inverter
Exterior doors with glass
Vintage Chinese lacquered pedestal stand
Collapsible dog crate
Ice crampons
Military style rucksacks
Electrical extension cords
Box filled with new electrical hardware
Portable massage chair Dolphin 2 with carrying bag
Schwin electric bike
Digger Dirt Dawg scooter
Liberty electric bike
Charger electric bike
Dragonfly kite with 10ft wingspan
Rowena Precision valet steamer 1550w
New in box Kobalt Quiet Tech air compressor 125 max PSI
And yes, there is so much more….

It must all go, so come for the deal you can’t pass!

Food Scraps Drop Off: Buncombe County Landfill
Feb 18 @ 8:00 am – 12:30 pm
Buncombe County Landfill – Convenience Center

Food Scraps Drop Off

The City of Asheville, in partnership with Buncombe County and the Natural Resources Defense Council, is offering a FREE Food Scrap Drop-Off program in two locations for all Buncombe County residents.  This organic matter will be collected and turned into good clean compost, keeping it OUT of our landfill and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

 

Register for Food Scraps Drop Off

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Need a handy kitchen countertop food scrap bin?  Let us know on the registration form! We’ll be having bin giveaways at city and county facilities and would love to give you one.

 

Locations

Buncombe County Landfill – Convenience Center

85 Panther Branch Road, Alexander

    • Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
    • Saturday, 8 a.m. – 12:30 pm

Murphy Oakley Community Center and Library – “Food Scrap Bin Shelters” on the east side of the parking lot

749 Fairview Road, Asheville

    • Dawn – Dusk

Stephens-Lee Recreation Center “Food Scrap Shed” next to the Community Garden on the North side of the parking lot

30 Washington Carver Avenue, Asheville

    • Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
    • Saturday, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
    • Sunday, 12 – 4 p.m.

West Asheville Library – “Food Scrap Bin Shelters” on the south side of the building

942 Haywood Road, Asheville

    • Library open hours
Food Scraps Drop Off: Stephens-Lee Recreation Center
Feb 18 @ 8:00 am – 2:00 pm
Stephens-Lee Recreation Center

Food Scraps Drop Off

The City of Asheville, in partnership with Buncombe County and the Natural Resources Defense Council, is offering a FREE Food Scrap Drop-Off program in

two locations for all Buncombe County residents.  This organic matter will be collected and turned into good clean compost, keeping it OUT of our landfill and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

 

Register for Food Scraps Drop Off

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Need a handy kitchen countertop food scrap bin?  Let us know on the registration form! We’ll be having bin giveaways at city and county facilities and would love to give you one.

 

Locations

Stephens-Lee Recreation Center “Food Scrap Shed” next to the Community Garden on the North side of the parking lot

30 Washington Carver Avenue, Asheville

    • Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
    • Saturday, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
    • Sunday, 12 – 4 p.m.

Murphy Oakley Community Center and Library – “Food Scrap Bin Shelters” on the east side of the parking lot

749 Fairview Road, Asheville

    • Dawn – Dusk

West Asheville Library – “Food Scrap Bin Shelters” on the south side of the building

942 Haywood Road, Asheville

Library open hours

 

Buncombe County Landfill – Convenience Center85 Panther Branch Road, Alexander

        • Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
        • Saturday, 8 a.m. – 12:30 pm