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, May 26, 2023
LAZOOM Tours: BAND AND BEER TOUR
May 26 @ 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
LaZoom Room

Wanna hear the best local music ​and​ drink the best local beers? Hop aboard LaZoom’s Purple Bus and rock out with a local band while we take you on a journey to Asheville’s premiere local breweries.

  • Curated Live Music & Brewery Bus experience
  • 3 Hours long, includes three 30 Minute Local Brewery Stops
  • You Can Drink on the Funky Purple Bus! **Must be purchased at LaZoom or at brewery stop**
Asheville Beer Week: FRIDAY NIGHT MUSIC AND WINE TASTING
May 26 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
BOTANIST AND BARREL TASTING BAR + BOTTLE SHOP  
  • Join us for an evening of live Jazz and our Featured Monthly Wine Tasting!

    Jazz Guitar w/ Chris Norred

    About the musician: Chris Norred is a multifaceted guitarist who received a BA in Jazz Performance from VCU. Originally from Virginia, he now resides in Asheville, NC where he continues to develop a unique solo guitar style. Chris writes his own arrangements of select titles by Japanese composers of popular video games such as The Legend of Zelda and Chrono Trigger amongst others. He performs exciting takes on popular Swing and Bossa songs from the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s. His repertoire is not limited to Jazz as he will also tap into the realm of Appalachian Fiddle Tunes and Folk music.

Asheville Beer Week: LIVE MUSIC W/ CUBEROW
May 26 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Black Mountain Brewing

 

Join us on the back deck for live music w/ local favorite duo Cuberow; soulful Indie featuring Melissa Autumn Raines and Billy Presnell.
Asheville Beer Week: Comedy at Catawba: Ayanna Dookie
May 26 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Catawba Brewing Company South Slope

Every Friday Modelface Comedy brings you the best comedians from all over the country. This week we have Ayanna Dookie from NYC!

Ayanna Dookie is a stand-up comedian, writer, and storyteller. The daughter of immigrants, Ayanna’s humor is reflective of growing up Brown, Black, woman, and first generation American.

She has been featured on HBO’s Pause with Sam Jay, truTV’s Laff Tracks, 2 Dope Queens on WNYC, NPR’s Snap Judgement, Fox’s Laughs, and AXS TV’s Gotham Comedy Live. Her writing can be seen on BET’s 50 Central and MTV’s Wild n’ Out.

 

featuring TBA

ages 18+

Early show doors at 6:30, show at 7pm

Asheville Beer Week: MEADOW MUSIC: LATE SHIFTERS
May 26 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Highland Brewing Company

 

Southern rock meets jam band meets Americana with The Late Shifters, a passion-driven, band of friends, playing back holler rock-n-roll from Asheville, North Carolina.
Comedy at Catawba: Jenny Zigrino (early show)
May 26 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Catawba Brewing Company - South Slope

Every Friday Modelface Comedy brings you the best comedians from all over the country. This week we have Jenny Zigrino from Los Angeles!

With the sweetness of the midwest and the sharp edge of the east coast, Jenny Zigrino brings a powerful comedic performance to any stage. She combines hilarious anecdotes and sharp, witty observations with a cheeky style that challenges social norms and what it means to be human. Her brutal honesty and undeniable charm create a compelling comedic experience you won’t forget.

She made her late night debut on Conan with Conan O’Brien and performed a total of three guest appearances. She was a Just For Laugh’s New Faces in 2016 and since then has been featured on Comedy Central, MTV, TBS, and many others. She starred in films such as Bad Santa 2 along Billy Bob Thornton and in the horror comedy Too Late in 2021. She’s headlined festivals like Moon Tower, New York Comedy Festival, and High Plains Comedy Festival. She’s written and performed several comedy specials including Comedy Central Presents the Half Hours. Her latest appearance on The Late Late Show with James Corden in 2023 was met with rave reviews. Her brand new hour, Jen-Z, is available now on Comedy Central’s

 

featuring Good Cop/ Rad Cop

ages 18+

Early show doors at 6:30, show at 7pm

Late show doors at 9, show at 9:30pm

JACQUELINE NOVAK: GET ON YOUR KNEES
May 26 @ 7:00 pm
The Orange Peel

Ages 18+ FULLY SEATED SHOW

Ostensibly a hilarious stand-up show about the blowjob, Get on Your Knees is also an unexpectedly philosophical, coming-of-age tale of triumph. A break-out hit off-Broadway, audiences returned for repeat viewings across multiple sold out runs in NYC. This New York Times “Critic’s Pick” earned Jacqueline a Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Solo Performance. Jacqueline has since toured the show nationally and internationally. This tour is the very last chance to see Get on Your Knees live.

“Brilliant…”- The New York Times

“Clearly her masterwork.” – New York Magazine

“An overthinker’s delight… – The New Yorker

“The true subject of Get on Your Knees is language and its beautiful, delusional attempts to make amends for human finitude.” – New York Review of Books, by Andrea Long Chu

“In a moment when the boundaries between high and low culture have all but dissolved, Novak has found one of the few remaining tensions to play with.” – Paris Review

“The jokes are tremendous.” – Natasha Lyonne for Interview Magazine

“It was a staggering show.” – Miranda July

“…as if Andrea Dworkin and Spaulding Gray had a child they made listen to only Moms Mabley and read only Mary Oliver.” – Jeremy O. Harris

“I howled the whole time.” – Amy Sedaris

“Ladies and Gentlemen, I have seen the Muhammad Ali of comedy.” – John Mulaney

LAZOOM Tours: GHOST COMEDY BUS TOUR
May 26 @ 7:00 pm
LaZoom Room


GHOST COMEDY BUS TOUR

Grab a local beer, crucifix and a rubber chicken* —You might survive this hour long hilarious haunted ghost tour of Asheville.

  • Guided comedy bus tour of Haunted Asheville
  • 60 minutes; tours run nightly after dark
  • $33 per person (Ages 17+ only)
  • Departs from 76 Biltmore Avenue

*Legal Note: Crucifix not required to board the bus; we do not condone exorcisms, chickens, rubber, or any combination of the three.

Love Your Mother (Earth) Concert
May 26 @ 7:00 pm
Unitarian Universalist Congregation

Womansong, Asheville’s longest-running women’s community chorus, invites you to join us in our spring concert, “Love Your Mother (Earth)” a tribute to the beauty of our world. Under the direction of Artistic Director Dr. Allison Thorp, along with Assistant Director Claire Lemke and former Director Althea Gonzalez, this concert will focus on songs celebrating, caring for, and advocating for Mother Earth. The first half of our program will highlight music that expresses love for the earth – appreciation, reflection, connection and joy. The second half will feature music that expresses love for the earth in action – doing, moving, and making change. Among the many inspiring songs are Carrie Newcomer’s If Not Now, Joni Mitchell’s Big Yellow Taxi, Elise Witt’s My Salsa Garden, and the world premiere of Lytingale’s call-to-action composition, Together We Can Change the World. From choral anthems to contemporary pop tunes, there’s
something for everyone – music to make you laugh, cry and dance. Accompanying the choir on piano, flute, violin, and percussion will be Lytingale, Georgia Pressman, Jane Snyder, and Sarah Rubin. Womansong concerts are accessible to the hearing impaired through musical sign language interpretation by Shiner Antiorio.
The concert will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, One Edwin Place, Asheville 28801, on Friday, May 26, at 7:30 PM, and Saturday, May 27, at 3:00 PM. Womansong celebrates the unity diversity, and empowerment of women through musical expression as we sing for joy, social justice, and community. Our concerts help fund the operation of our nonprofit organization, including the choir’s New Start Fund, a provider of scholarships and emergency funds to women in need.

Amanda Anne Platt + the Honeycutters
May 26 @ 7:30 pm
Hendersonville Theatre

Hendersonville Theatre proudly presents Asheville Americana band, Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters as May’s intimate Hometown Sound concert. The band’s nuanced music brings insight and wit to the stories Platt tells through songwriting. Lyrically driven, the band’s country roots music often inspires introspection, whether it be about life on the road, heartache or hope. There is an empathetic and charming wit ingrained in Platt’s songwriting. She has a knack for accessing a deep well of emotion and applying it to her story-telling, whether she is writing from her own experiences or immersing herself into the melody of emotions in another person’s life.

Performing along with Platt, The Honeycutters are Matt Smith (pedal steel and electric guitars), Kevin Williams (keys/vocals), Rick Cooper (bass/vocals), and Evan Martin (drums/vocals). The band is currently on tour supporting their sixth studio album – “The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea” – released 2/25/2022 on Organic Records.

Big Fish
May 26 @ 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm
HART Theatre
By Andrew Lippa and John August
On the Steve Lloyd Stage
Directed by Candice Dickinson

What tall tales will we tell to be the hero of our own stories? 

When Will finds out his father is dying of cancer, he is on a mission to find the truth behind the tall tales his father has always told him. Audiences will be in awe as they travel back and forth from Will and Edward’s stark reality to the beautiful and larger than life fantasies of Edward Bloom’s past. This charming, warm hug of a musical features Southern-fried music from Andrew Lippa and is based on the 1998 novel by Daniel Wallace that also inspired the 2003 big-screen adaptation directed by Tim Burton. A musical for dreamers, this show has sweeping melodies, gorgeous dance numbers, and celebrates the imagination, culminating in a thrilling theatrical experience. Full of giants, witches, mermaids, and, of course, an exceptionally large fish, Big Fish is about what’s real and what’s fantastic, what’s true and what’s not true, what’s partially true and how, in the end, it’s all true.

Suitable for all audiences.

Lonesome Station: PALMYRA W/ EARLEINE + ANDY FERRELL
May 26 @ 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Story Parlor

Established in the Shenandoah Valley, Palmyra explores the fusion of traditional folk string instruments, three part harmonies and foot percussion. In 2022, Palmyra made their Newport Folk Festival debut, were named the FloydFest 2022 On The Rise Winner, and performed over 200 tour dates on acclaimed stages up and down the East Coast.  The trio captures the collective spirit of three Virginia natives, Teddy (he/him), Manoa (he/him), and Sasha (they/them). Palmyra’s songs are intimate and contemplative, with arrangements that allow them to create the illusion of a full, larger-than-three ensemble. The trio’s sound is a nod to Appalachia and Midwestern Americana, apparent through their stirring craftsmanship and dedication to a folk-driven, innovative experience throughout each live performance.

Earleine (Ashley Wright) is a native of Nashville, TN. Her most recent singles and self-titled EP were released on Carrboro, NC-based Sleepy Cat Records. She has been making a home in Durham, NC and playing shows all around the Southeast.

Andy Ferrell is an Asheville based musician and songwriter playing music inspired by the southern Appalachians he calls home.   Folk, blues, bluegrass, country and old time music all collide to make up a body of true Americana sounds that he loves to share with listeners across the region.

Montford Park Players: Wendy + Peter – A Peter Pan Story
May 26 @ 7:30 pm
Montford Park Players

All shows will be at the Hazel Robinson Amphitheater in the Montford District of Asheville, and all will be presented absolutely FREE of charge!
Written and Directed by Skyler Goff
This World Premiere was penned by local playwright Skyler Goff and tells of the continuing adventures of our favorite Lost Boy. A fantastical way to kick off our season!

All shows will run Fridays through Sundays and all will be presented at 7:30pm and prime seats can be reserved.

Montford Park Players has been bringing some of theater’s greatest works to Western North Carolina for over 50 years. Montford Park Players continues its mission of bring free theater to the community. The summer season allows everyone to come spend an evening under the stars, seeing some of the best live performances presented in Asheville.

Montford Park Players allows patrons to bring their favorite food and beverages to their shows and sells beer, wine and concessions at the shows. If you’ve never been to the Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre for a Montford show, there’s no better season than this one. If you have been, you know why you should come back and catch everything we have to offer!

The Revolutionists (produced by Immediate Theatre Project)
May 26 @ 7:30 pm
NC Stage Company

By Lauren Gunderson

Produced by Immediate Theatre Project

Four badass women lose their heads in this irreverent, girl-powered comedy set during the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror. Playwright Olympe de Gouges, assassin Charlotte Corday, former queen (and fan of ribbons) Marie Antoinette, and Haitian rebel Marianne Angelle hang out, murder Marat, and try to beat back the extremist insanity in 1793 Paris. It’s a true story. Or total fiction. Or a play about a play. Or a raucous resurrection…that ends in a song and a scaffold.

From the people who brought you Silent Sky comes this grand and dream-tweaked comedy about violence and legacy, art and activism, feminism and terrorism, compatriots and chosen sisters, and how we actually go about changing the world.

 

Discretionary Content: Adult themes and badass ladies

Womansong: Love Your Mother!
May 26 @ 7:30 pm
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville

Our spring theme is   Love Your Mother (Earth)!

​The beginning of our program will highlight music that expresses love for the earth in our hearts – appreciation, reflection, connection, joy.  The second half will feature music that expresses our love for the earth in action – doing, moving, making change. ​
Womansong, Asheville’s longest-running women’s community chorus, invites   you   to our spring concert, “Love Your Mother!”
Under the direction of  Artistic Director Dr. Allison Thorpe, along with Assistant Director Claire Lemke and  former Director Althea Gonzalez, this concert will focus on songs celebrating and caring for  Mother Earth.We are embracing the beauty of our world in this concert with tributes to our planet, including the songs,   Mini Wiconi   (Water is Life) and   What a Wonderful World;   fun songs (you know we always have fun):   Compost   and   My Salsa Garden; and songs that call us to action: most notably, a  beautiful new arrangement of Carrie Newcomer‘s   If Not Now,   and  the world premiere of Lytingale’s inspiring composition,Together We Can Change the World   (which will later be performed by a mass choir at   Sister Singers Network Festival    in Cleveland.)  Composers include     Joni Mitchell, Elise Witt,  Vida,   and many others.  You definitely will  want to be in the room for this concert. 

Lytingale, Georgia Pressman, Jane Snyder, and Sarah Rubin   will accompany the choir on piano, flute, violin, and a variety of percussion instruments.   And  for this concert, we welcome several new singers to our village. (Come   sing with us !)

​From choral anthems to contemporary pop tunes, there’s something for everyone — music to make you laugh, cry, and dance.

 

Forest Bathing with Fireflies
May 26 @ 7:45 pm – 10:45 pm
tba
This magical Firefly Forest Bathing experience takes place in a peaceful forest about 1 hr from downtown Asheville. To protect this fragile environment and the elusive fireflies we hope to visit, we release the exact location to registered guests 3 days in advance of the walk.

Immerse yourself in the magic of twilight and experience the wonders of nighttime in the Blue Ridge Mountains. From sunset and starry skies to fireflies, we’ll marvel at Mother Nature’s light show as we explore the forest, hoping to encounter the elusive Blue Ghost firefly species!

 

This is a unique opportunity to unplug in a peaceful setting with a series of invitations led by a certified forest therapy guide that invite you to connect more deeply to the environment around you. Quiet your mind and awaken your senses as we sink into the heightened awareness of this special evening experience. Together, we’ll deepen our relationship with nature, community and ourselves. The best part: there’s no right or wrong way to forest bathe; just bring an open heart, adventurous spirit and be yourself. All is welcome in the forest.

 

This special offering takes place on only 4 evenings in 2023 with group sizes limited to 12 for a more intimate experience.

FAQ & Important Info:

?? Secret Location: This magical Firefly Forest Bathing experience takes place in a peaceful forest about 1 hr from downtown Asheville. To protect this fragile environment and the elusive fireflies we hope to visit, we release the exact location to registered guests 3 days in advance of the walk.

????? Are firefly sightings guaranteed? Sadly, nope, we cannot guarantee that the fireflies will show themselves. It’s all up to Mother Nature and the Fireflies themselves!

?? Make it private! Schedule an exclusive walk for your group & get the fireflies all to yourselves. Private walks are available daily May 25 – June 4 (with the exception of Fri/Sat evenings). If the date you’re hoping for isn’t listed on our website calendar, call us! We’ll always accommodate if we can.

?? Is this experience family friendly? This tour lasts until approximately 10:30pm. If this isn’t too late for your littles, we welcome children 12+ for both public and private firefly tours. The Blue Ghost habitat is very fragile so children won’t be able to roam freely & will need to stick closely to the group. Please keep this in mind when deciding if this tour is right for your family.

??‍??Though we’ll walk less than a mile along a gentle, easy path, you’ll be navigating the trail at night and will need heightened awareness of roots, uneven terrain, and obstacles. Because of these parameters, this walk is not appropriate for anyone with mobility issues, medical concerns, or injuries.

Asheville Beer Week: Crisp Comedy, live in Leicester
May 26 @ 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Noble Cider & Mead Taproom

Crisp Comedy takes place once a month in Leicester, NC at Noble Cider and hosted by Leicesters own Clay Jones! A fresh batch of comics each month so no two shows are the same!

ages 21+ (must have ID with you)

Free show with a suggested $12 donation

JAGGED LITTLE PILL the musical
May 26 @ 8:00 pm
Peace Concert Hall

SOME SHOWS YOU SEE. THIS SHOW YOU FEEL.

Joy, love, heartache, strength, wisdom, catharsis, LIFE—everything we’ve been waiting to see in a Broadway show— is here in the exhilarating, fearless new musical based on Alanis Morissette’s world-changing music.

Directed by Tony Award® winner Diane Paulus (Waitress, Pippin, upcoming 1776) with a Tony-winning book by Diablo Cody (Juno) and Grammy-winning score, this electrifying production about a perfectly imperfect American family “vaults the audience to its collective feet” (The Guardian). “Redemptive, rousing and real, JAGGED LITTLE PILL stands alongside the original musicals that have sustained the best hopes of Broadway” (The New York Times).

You live, you learn, you remember what it’s like to feel truly human… at JAGGED LITTLE PILL.

Please note there is no Sunday evening performance of Jagged Little Pill.
Beginning mid-July, Sunday evening subscribers will be placed into the best available seats in alternate performances of Jagged Little Pill based on preference. 
QUEEN BEE and THE HONEYLOVERS
May 26 @ 8:00 pm
White Horse Black Mountain

Classic Swing, Blues, Latin Music…. and more !!!

Vocal-driven with an infectious groove, the Honeylovers are guaranteed to put a grin on your face and a tap in your toes.  

Queen Bee and the Honeylovers is an Asheville, NC based band that performs classic swing, blues and Latin music. They have been voted best in Jazz 2020/21/22 in the Mountain Xpress “Best Of” poll.

“Asheville now has a soundtrack. A debut release by Queen Bee and the Honeylovers features original songs with a vivacious and nostalgic sound, and lyrics that celebrate the city’s past and present.” -The Laurel of Asheville

Their debut album, ‘Asheville’, celebrated their hometown’s history and won them #41 on WNCW’s listener-voted poll of Best Albums of 2019 as well as features on The State of Things with Frank Stasio and PBS Woodsongs. Their video for “Beacham’s Curve” won Best Soundtack at the 2019 Music Video Asheville Awards.

Queen Bee is:

Whitney Moore, vocals and drums

The Honeylovers are:

Mark Wells, piano

Trevor Stoia, upright bass

Matt Fattal, trumpet

Mattick Frick, guitar

Steel Magnolias
May 26 @ 8:00 pm
Flat Rock Playhouse

“Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion.” Written in just 10 days as a tribute to his sister Susan by playwright Robert Harling, Steel Magnolias explores the relationships between a tight-knit group of Louisiana southern ladies who gather in Truvy’s small-town beauty parlor, celebrating the milestones in each other’s lives. Filled with hilarious repartee and humorously acerbic verbal lacerations, the play deepens when the spunky Shelby (who is diabetic) contradicts her doctor’s advice and risks pregnancy. Steel Magnolias exemplifies the universal and unconditional strengths of sisterhood, resilience, and love.

Blue Ghost Firefly Twilight Tour
May 26 @ 9:00 pm – 10:30 pm
Cradle of Forestry in America

The Blue Ridge Mountains are home to a very unique creature that some say resembles a tribe of fairies carrying blue candles through the forest. 

The Blue Ghost Firefly (Phausis reticulata) is a secretive, hard-to-find native insect that calls our area home, and for a very short amount of time in early summer, they inhabit our surrounding woodlands of Transylvania County. 

You’ll experience an educational presentation at our outdoor amphitheater starting at 9:00pm and then use the cover of darkness and special flashlights to go in search of the Blue Ghost fireflies while hiking on a paved trail through the forest. Cradle of Forestry team members will be stationed at key locations around the trail to provide further information about this amazing natural phenomenon. Please feel free to congregate near these areas with your fellow firefly enthusiasts or go explore on your own! We require everyone to stay on the trail to prevent habitat damage, and team members will clear the trail and require everyone to depart by 10:30pm.

Ticket Purchase/Pre-registration is required. This is a light rain or shine, family-friendly event!
In order to maximize our participant experience while minimizing our impact on the resource, we limit each night to 125 participants. 

Summer Vacation: A Stand Up Comedy Adventure
May 26 @ 9:30 pm – 11:30 pm
Catawba Brewing Company South Slope

t’s memorial day weekend aka the first weekend of summer! Join Modelface Comedy for some late night laughs at Catawba Brewing.

It might get a little weird, but yeah we’re all on vacation!!!

Stand Up, Music and surprise guests!

Featuring Amber Chandler, Cody Hughes, Ryan Darling, Dave Hannah, and surprise guests!

ages 18+

Saturday, May 27, 2023
Applications Accepted: Extension Master GardenerSM Training
May 27 all-day
online

The Extension Master GardenerSM volunteer program in Buncombe County is now accepting applications for initial training this fall. We are looking for individuals who want to serve their community, expand and share their gardening knowledge, and work in a team environment.

To become a certified Extension Master GardenerSM volunteer, individuals accepted into the program are required to complete the 40-hour initial training program, pass an examination, and complete an internship of 40 hours of volunteer service. Additional continuing education (15 hours) and volunteer service to the community (30 hours) are required for annual recertification.

Training will be held in-person, during the day Tuesdays, August through November.

The application deadline is June 1, 2023. Completed applications should be emailed or printed and mailed or delivered to the Cooperative Extension Office at 49 Mount Carmel Road, Suite 102, Asheville, NC 28806.

A training fee of $150 is due upon acceptance into the training program. Scholarships are available, please inquire.

More information on the Master Gardener program in Buncombe County, including Frequently Asked Questions and Activities to Fulfill Your Volunteer Requirements, is available on the Buncombe County Extension website.  Click here: Buncombe County Extension website

Download and print an application: 2023 EMG Application and Certification Agreement

 

Helping Gardeners Put Knowledge to Work
ASAP’s 2023 Local Food Guide
May 27 all-day
online

The free, definitive resource for finding local food and farms also features farm stories and recipes.

 

The 2023 Local Food Guide, ASAP’s annual free publication for finding local food and farms, hits newsstands this week. This definitive resource lists hundreds of Appalachian Grown certified farms, farmers markets, restaurants, groceries, travel destinations, and more throughout Western North Carolina and surrounding counties in Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina. A digital version of the print Guide may be viewed at asapconnections.org/guide.

 

In addition to the listing content, the 2023 edition features stories that highlight the variety of farming across the region. Jake Puckett, of Crow Fly Farms in Marion, NC, details his passion for holistic animal management. Malcolm Banks, of Yellow Mountain Gardens in Franklin, NC, describes his mission to teach his neighbors—and the world—to grow their own food. Gwen and Jay Englebach, of Black Trumpet Farm in Leicester, NC, talk about building a business and customer relationships. Rounding out the issue are seasonal recipes from chefs at Cultura, Little Chango, The Montford, and Red Fiddle Vittles.

 

Find Local Food Guide copies at farmers markets, visitors centers, libraries, community centers, groceries, restaurants, and other partner businesses throughout the region. They are also available to pick up in the lobby of ASAP’s office in Asheville at 306 W. Haywood St., Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Contact ASAP if you need help locating a copy in your area.

 

In addition to the print Guide, ASAP maintains the online Local Food Guide at appalachiangrown.org. This database, with more than 1,400 listings, is updated throughout the year and is searchable by products, locations, activities, and more.

 

The 2023 Local Food Guide is made possible in part with support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Agricultural Marketing Service and Beginning Farmer Rancher Development Fund, as well as the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina and Asheville Regional Airport.

Asheville Art Museum 75th Anniversary Spring Annual Fund
May 27 all-day
online w/ Asheville Art Museum

Celebrate with us by contributing to the future of the arts in Western North Carolina.

 

Make your 75th Anniversary Spring Annual Fund donation today!

! The Diamond Anniversary is a time to honor our rich heritage and—more importantly—envision our future as the premier visual arts organization in this vibrant, creative region.

 

Founded in 1948 by a group of local artists to showcase the scope and depth of creativity in Western North Carolina (WNC), the Museum brings art of international significance to the region and encourages lively, diverse dialogue.

 

The Museum’s original home was a modest, unheated, three-room building on Charlotte Street in the former sales office of Dr. E.W. Grove. The building was designed by Richard Sharp Smith and provided to the Museum by the City of Asheville. Exhibitions by local painters and sculptors could only be staged in warmer weather, and Sunday afternoon receptions gave the community an opportunity to view original art and to listen to artists talk about their work. By the 1950s, the Museum had become an invaluable part of Asheville’s cultural life. It also began acquiring artworks for its Collection.

 

Three quarters of a century later, the Museum has evolved into the preeminent cultural and educational hub for WNC—welcoming tens of thousands of visitors annually, hosting several major exhibitions each year, holding scores of special programs, and housing its Collection of more than 7,500 works in its state-of-the-art Pack Square location. From its humble beginnings on Charlotte Street to its breathtaking permanent home in the heart of downtown Asheville, the Museum has remained dedicated to Its mission to engage, enlighten, and inspire individuals and enrich the community through dynamic experiences in American art of the 20th and 21st centuries.

 

The Asheville Art Museum was built, cherished, and supported by the community throughout the past 75 years. Our anniversary celebration will give back through community partnerships and special programs, and by creating new reasons to visit or become a Member. We hope you’ll join us at one (or all) of our Diamond Anniversary special events: the 2023 Gala on June 17th, the 75th Anniversary Community Day Celebration in August, and the 75th Anniversary Dance Party in November!

 

Asheville Community Theatre Raffle: Trip to NYC 2023
May 27 all-day
online

Raffle: Trip to NYC 2023

 

 

Enter to win a fabulous trip for two to New York!

Raffle tickets on sale through Sunday, August 6, 2023!


Tickets are $50 and only 500 will be sold.

Travel package for Thanksgiving 2023, with check-in on Wednesday, November 22, 2023 and check-out on Sunday, November 26, 2023.

Prize includes:

  • Two round-trip Business Class tickets to New York from Asheville Regional Airport
  • Transfers to and from the airport to your hotel
  • Accomodations for four nights in Midtown at The Lotte New York Palace, with a choice of one king bed or two double beds
  • VIP Macy’s Parade Day experience, including brunch and complimentary drinks, access to indoor and outdoor VIP viewing areas, and access to the Inflation Celebration of parade balloons on Wednesday afternoon
  • Orchestra seating tickets to the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular
  • Tickets to a Broadway show
  • Up to $500 to spend on guided tours or additional theatre tickets
  • Personal consultation with Foothills Travel to customize your trip
  • On-site concierge provided through MyBucketListEvents

The drawing will take place the week of August 7, 2023. Winner will be notified by phone call and email.

Asheville Merchandise Guide
May 27 all-day
online

Asheville Merchandise Guide

All the wearable merch in Asheville in one place.

We love a souvenir T-shirt

So much so that we were inspired to create this guide, first published in May 2023. We’ll be updating it a few times a year, and we encourage you to check in with the businesses listed in the guide about availability. Often merch sells out quickly or is a limited edition. 

While these items aren’t strictly secondhand, we love supporting local businesses and know firsthand how lovely it is to hold on to a memory of a special place you visited on a trip. 

If you know of some merch we’re missing or have feedback or questions, fill out the form below to let us know! 

Asheville Performing Arts Academy Summer Theatre Workshops Registration Open
May 27 all-day
Asheville Performing Arts Academy

APAA Summer Camp Banner (Facebook Post (Square)) (560 × 373 px)

We’re offering TWO grade levels this summer for our workshops:

  • Younger Ages (Rising First – Third Grade) and
  • Older Ages (Rising Fourth – Tenth Grade)

Pricing

First Student: $350 per week
Sibling & Multiple Week Camp Discounts are available

APAA Summer Camp Banner (Facebook Post (Square)) (1)

Madagascar Workshop

June 12-16 & July 17-21

 

Get read to MOVE IT, MOVE IT!

Join Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the hip hip Hippo and, of course, those hilarious, plotting penguins in this crack-a-lackin’ adventure from New York City to Madagascar.

Matilda Workshop

June 19-23 & July 24-28

 

It’s time to act like REVOLTIN’ CHILDREN!

Matilda is a little girl with astonishing wit, intelligence and psychokinetic powers. Matilda’s school life isn’t completely smooth sailing, however – the school’s mean headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, hates children and just loves thinking up new punishments for those who don’t abide by her rules. But Matilda has courage and cleverness in equal amounts, and could be the school pupils’ saving grace!

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Shrek Workshop

June 26-30 & July 31-August 4

 

Come and let your FREAK FLAG FLY!

It’s a “big bright beautiful world” as everyone’s favorite ogre, Shrek, leads a cast of fairytale misfits on an adventure to rescue a princess and find true acceptance. When Shrek sets off with a wisecracking donkey to confront Farquaad, he’s handed a task — if he rescues feisty princess Fiona, his swamp will be righted. Shrek tries to win Fiona’s love and vanquish Lord Farquaad, but a fairytale wouldn’t be complete without a few twists and turns along the way.

The Little Mermaid Workshop

July 10-14 & August 7-11

 

Discover what it means to be PART OF YOUR WORLD!

In a magical underwater kingdom, the beautiful young mermaid, Ariel, longs to leave her ocean home — and her fins — behind and live in the world above. But first, she’ll have to defy her father, King Triton, make a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, and convince the handsome Prince Eric that she’s the girl whose enchanting voice he’s been seeking.

APAA Summer Camp Banner (Facebook Post (Square))
Asheville Regional Airport: art exhibit highlighting local artists
May 27 all-day
Asheville Regional Airport (AVL)

Edge, the newest exhibit showing in the airport art gallery, is open to the public now through July 21, 2022. The local art is unique, bold and is sure to capture the imaginations of its viewers.

The local artists’ work featured in this exhibit consist of many different mediums. Diane Bronstein creates complex and mesmerizing pieces with photographs, embroidery floss and other materials. Susan Devitt uses bold colors and vivid details to capture the beauty and possibilities of nature with her acrylic paintings. Jen Pacicci crafts peaceful and majestic collages of landscapes using watercolor and torn paper. Kurt Ross designs clay vessels of varying materials and glazes that are each unique in their thoughtful and clean design. Paul Silverman presents ceramic figures of various tools and vintage items that trick the eye in their realistic appearance and awe with their attention to detail.

 

“The Edge exhibit welcomes travelers and residents to Asheville with a vibrant and unique display this spring at AVL,” said Alexandra Ingle, Brand and Experience Designer at AVL and curator of the gallery. “We are excited at each gallery opening to bring a fresh taste of our talented WNC art community into the airport.”

 

Artwork can be purchased from the gallery by emailing [email protected]. Details about the program and how to apply can be found on the airport’s website at flyavl.com.

AVL’s Arts Build Community Grant
May 27 all-day
online

Since 2018, the Arts Build Community grant supports innovative, arts-based projects that inspire diverse groups of participants to be more active, involved, and civically-engaged by creating together. Grants range from $1,000-2,500.

Arts and culture are a fundamental part of our community. They help us connect with one another and better understand history, people, and new ideas. When people become involved in the design, creation, and upkeep of places, they develop a vested interest in using and maintaining these spaces. When neighbors have a true sense of “ownership” or connection to the places they frequent, the community becomes a better place to live, work, and visit.

Description & Eligibility

Organizations must have been in operation for at least one year and be physically located in Buncombe County. Priority is given to projects based in low-income neighborhoods and communities in need.

The arts must be centered in the proposed project. Funds may be used to cover expenses such as art supplies, professional artists’ fees and travel, space rental, advertising, marketing and publicity, website and electronic media, scripts, costumes, sets, props, music and equipment rental.

Funds are for projects taking place from July 1, 2023- June 30, 2024. This can be a reimbursement for projects occurring during this funding period that have already taken place or for projects that have not yet occurred. Projects must be completed by June 30, 2024.