Calendar of Events
Upcoming events and things to do in Asheville, NC. Below is a list of events for festivals, concerts, art exhibitions, group meetups and more.
Interested in adding an event to our calendar? Please click the green “Post Your Event” button below.
Challenges in life and love test the resilience of a mother-daughter relationship in Dan Gordon’s adaptation of Terms of Endearment, based on the book by Pulitzer Prize-winner Larry McMurtry and James L. Brooks’s screenplay of the Oscar-winning film. Though Emma is often exasperated by her highly-opinionated mother, Aurora, they talk daily about their problems, from Aurora finding unexpected love even as she becomes a reluctant grandmother to Emma’s struggle in her troubled marriage. But when they need one another most, will they be able to find courage in each other? This funny and touching story captures the delicate, sometimes fractured bonds between mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, and lovers, both old and new.
Thursday, 5/1 at 7:30 (pay what you can available on 4/17)
Fridays at 7:30
Saturdays at 3 pm
Sundays at 3 pm
Adapted for the stage by Dan Gordon
Produced by special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc. (www.playscripts.com)
May 1-11, 2025
Thursday, 5/1 at 7:30 (pay what you can available on 4/17)
Fridays at 7:30
Saturdays at 3 pm
Sundays at 3 pm
Director: Jonathan Forrester
Approximate Run Time: 2 hours
Rating: PG-13 due to adult language and situations. Depictions of drinking, smoking, drug use, illness and death.
Challenges in life and love test the resilience of a mother-daughter relationship in Dan Gordon’s adaptation of Terms of Endearment, based on the book by Pulitzer Prize-winner Larry McMurtry and James L. Brooks’s screenplay of the Oscar-winning film. Though Emma is often exasperated by her highly-opinionated mother, Aurora, they talk daily about their problems, from Aurora finding unexpected love even as she becomes a reluctant grandmother to Emma’s struggle in her troubled marriage. But when they need one another most, will they be able to find courage in each other? This funny and touching story captures the delicate, sometimes fractured bonds between mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, and lovers, both old and new.
April 25 – May 17
Cancelled last fall due to Hurricane Helene, CATS is back! An extravaganza of fantasy and theatre magic, CATS has enchanted audiences for decades with its fiercely energetic dancing, showbiz razzle-dazzle, and unforgettable lyrics drawn from T.S. Elliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. As one of the most popular Broadway blockbusters of all time and winner of seven Tony Awards, this certified classic has brought cheer to millions of theatre lovers of all ages! Don’t miss this all-new production! You and your family are sure to leave the theatre tapping your toes and ‘feline’ groovy!
Event Times: 2:00 PM & 7:30 PM
Ticket Prices: $60 / $70 / $80
Join us for a family-friendly First Friday at Resurrection Studios Collective, featuring Asheville Artworks Mother’s Day mug painting as well as tons of other shapes to choose from. First Friday celebrations include a fashion show by All Around Artsy, live music, a mocktail bar, visit artists in their studios, and new art debuting in the gallery. Mugs and pottery will be available for pickup the following week before Mother’s Day. RSVP recommended, but walk-ins welcome.
INTO THE WOODS
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim & Book by James Lapine
April 11-May 4, 2025.
Fridays at 7:30 PM, Saturdays & Sundays at 2:30 PM
ABOUT THE SHOW
One of Stephen Sondheim’s most popular works, Into the Woods follows a Baker and his wife, who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King’s Festival; and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk. When the Baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a Witch’s curse, the two set off on a journey to break the curse. Everyone’s wish is granted, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results.
A talkback with the cast & crew of Into The Woods will be held following certain the performance on Sunday, April 13.
Run Time: Two Hours (Approx.). There will be a fifteen minute intermission for this show. Content Awareness: Contains themes that may not be suitable for young audiences.
Join us at the Greenville Convention Center on May 2-4th, 2025 for Jurassic Quest! Jurassic Quest is the world’s largest, most popular Dino event with unique and exciting experiences for the whole family. There’s no better place to make pter-iffic memories playing with adorable baby Dinos, excavating fossils, or even training a raptor while being surrounded by behemoths like sky-scraping Spinosaurus and, the King himself, Tyrannosaurus rex! Get your tickets for Greenville now, before they go EXTINCT!
Friday: 12-6
Saturday: 9-6
Sunday: 9-5
Event held: Hall 1
Parking: $10 cashless, we accept all credit/debit cards and Apple/ Google Pay.
Parking is located off Exposition Drive.
Wortham Center Student Series Gaspard&Dancers
Friday, May 2, 2025 at 10 a.m.
Grades 6–12 • Show Length: 60 min.
How far can your imagination take you? This renowned dance company, known for its works of haunting beauty and emotional force, dares to find out — and to inspire your students to wonder the same.
Reservations for individuals (9 people or less): $12 each. To reserve, call the box office at 828-257-4530 ext. 1, or email [email protected].
Reservations for groups (10 people or more): $11 each. To reserve, complete the Student Series Reservation Form. Please note that all group reservations require a deposit of $1 per ticket. Please contact the box office if you have questions.
Our latest exhibition, Iron and Ink: Prints from America’s Machine Age, focuses on a dynamic era in American history when industrialization and advances in technology transformed urban landscapes and redefined the nature of work and leisure nationwide.
Showcasing Collection prints from 1905 to the 1940s, Iron and Ink explores connections between industrial labor, urbanization, and the growing middle class. The exhibition highlights works by Works Progress Administration artists from the 1930s whose powerful images of machinery, skyscrapers, and daily life—both at work and recreation—capture this transformational era in American society.
This exhibition is organized by the Asheville Art Museum and Robin Klaus, PhD, assistant curator.
The Asheville Art Museum is proud to present Asheville Strong: Celebrating Art and Community After Hurricane Helene, a poignant and inspiring exhibition on view February 13–May 5, 2025, in the Appleby Foundation Exhibition Hall. This non-juried exhibition
showcases the works of artists from the Helene-affected Appalachia region, celebrating their
resilience, creativity, and strength while highlighting the power of art to inspire and bring communities
together.
The mirror has been a powerful symbol invoked in the arts across centuries and cultures. Mirrors double reality, question the veracity of your perception, open portals to other dimensions, and act as objects of magic and divination. In the series Black Mirror/Espejo Negro (2007, ongoing), Pedro Lasch employs the mirror as an emblem that interrogates the tension between presence and absence, colonial histories, and the politics of visibility. The selections from the series displayed in this installation conceptually bring together canonical works of art from early modern Europe and prominent pre-Columbian sculptural figures, whose superimposed images emerge specter-like through darkened glass. Each work includes an accompanying text the artist produced for that pairing.
For millennia, humans and flowers have enjoyed a rich and intertwined history spanning time and cultures. Fossilized flowers have been found at early human burial sites and flora is used in medicines and remedies. Flowers have also evolved into symbols of love, purity, and rebirth, alongside their enduring role as objects of beauty and ornamentation. Flora Symbolica: The Art of Flowers explores the meanings and messages of flowers in American art of the 20th and 21st centuries, highlighting the timeless connections among art, nature, and human experience.
This exhibition explores how the land, the people, and the built environment of Asheville and its surrounding environs were interpreted through early 20th century vintage postcards. Some images show the sophisticated architecture of the region, including views of downtown Asheville, the Biltmore Estate, and Grove Park Inn. Other images show views of the scenic mountains and landscapes that first drew tourists and outdoor enthusiasts to the region.
The works in Identitas examine culture & heritage through personal narratives, reflecting each included artist’s distinctly unique perspective on self and experience. Paradoxically, the word “identity” comes from the Latin “identitas” meaning “sameness,” a profound reminder that at our core we are more similar than divergent.
viewshed illuminates the enduring impact of Black Mountain College as a crucible of artistic experimentation and exchange, tracing the transmission of ideas across generations and exploring how BMC’s radical pedagogical approaches continue to shape contemporary artistic practice. The exhibition stages a dynamic dialogue between past and present, featuring contemporary artists Richard Garet, Jennie MaryTai Liu, Deanna Sirlin, and Susie Taylor alongside seminal BMC figures such as Dorothea Rockburne, Sewell (Si) Sillman, and Jacob Lawrence. By engaging with transparency, structure, color, collaboration, and expanded forms, viewshed brings into focus the porous boundaries between disciplines, unfolding as a sensorial and conceptual investigation into the shifting terrain of artistic influence. The exhibition highlights works that span painting, textile, sound, and performance, inviting viewers to consider the ways in which artistic methodologies evolve and reverberate across time. At its core, viewshed underscores the ways in which BMC’s experimental ethos continues to inspire artists to challenge, reinterpret, and expand the possibilities of creative expression.
Friday and Saturday at 2:30 PM in 35below & Sunday at 2:30 PM at the OLLI Center
By Sam and Bella Spewack
Directed by Ellen Pappas
Production Assistant: Terry Darakjy
It is 104° on Christmas Eve in French Guiana, and three convicts are charged with mending the roof of a French colonial shopkeeper. But surprises abound in this delightful, captivating comedy as Jules, Joseph, and Alfred descend from the rooftop to the living room and begin to meddle in the Ducotel family’s household affairs.
Get ready to lace up and represent your business at the 2025 Chamber Challenge 5K! This fun, community-focused event encourages wellness and friendly competition among Asheville-area businesses. Whether you’re walking every step or racing to the finish, we know you’re up for the challenge!
Join us in person on May 2nd or participate virtually.
Important Deadlines & Details:
- Register by April 13th at midnight to receive a short-sleeve shirt with your registration!
- After April 13th, shirts will be available in limited quantities and sizes.
- Registering a large group (25+ participants)? Contact Judi Willard at [email protected] for assistance.
To stay updated—text cc5k to 828-827-5332 to receive event notifications (you can opt out anytime).
Inaugural Program of the Four-Part Series “What Can Become of Us?”
Co-presented by Stanford Institute for Advancing Just Societies, Zócalo Public Square, and Asheville Art Museum
Moderated by Tomás Jiménez, Founding Faculty Co-Director, Stanford Institute for Advancing Just Societies
As people move to and around the U.S., they transform communities, perhaps nowhere as strikingly as in fast-growing North Carolina. As the long-established Native, Black, and white citizens of the state welcome Latino and Asian newcomers into this “new Southern immigrant gateway,” once-separated groups are building new futures together—and understanding themselves anew through the eyes of their neighbors.
5:30 PM Check-in and Art Viewing
6:00 PM Artist Talk
6:30 PM Panel Conversation
7:30 PM Reception
She’s Crafty AVL is beyond thrilled to announce the grand opening of AVL Hat Bar—Asheville’s first and
only dedicated hat bar—located in the heart of the vibrant and creative South Slope.
🎩 What Is a Hat Bar?
A hat bar is a fun, hands-on experience where you get to design a hat that’s uniquely you. From choosing
the perfect style and color to adding bands, charms, pins, feathers, burning, branding, and more—you’ll
create a wearable work of art that reflects your personality.
💫 What to Expect:
● A stunning collection of customizable and ready-to-wear hats plus handmade size inclusive gold
and sterling jewelry
● A warm, welcoming vibe that celebrates creativity and community
● Light refreshments, and all the good vibes
● First dibs on exclusive designs and grand opening specials
Bring your friends, your style, and your curiosity—and come be part of something truly special. AVL Hat
Bar is ready to become your go-to destination for all things hats, where every piece is a statement and
every visit is an experience.
Head on out to the ballgame at Fluor Field. Greenville is taking on Asheville Tourist. Game starts at 6:45pm.
Our 25th Anniversary Season Finale, part of the Asheville Symphony Orchestra’s bi-annual festival: “The Art of Storytelling” spans genres of jazz and classical in a highly collaborative program. Two exciting works by Leonard Bernstein – Prelude, Fugue, and Riffs and Symphonic Dances from West Side Story – will bookend a beautiful, lyrical piece for jazz quartet and orchestra, Mom by Asheville-based composer Richard Shulman. The program concludes with the glorious Beethoven Symphony No. 6, “Pastoral.”
BRO’s Season Finale is generously sponsored by Ingles Markets.
Friday, May 2nd, 2025, 7:00 pm
Sunday, May 4th, 2025, 3:00 pm
Tickets:
General Admission: $20
Friends of the Orchestra: $15
Students: $5
Children 6 and under: Free
Info:https://blueridgeorchestra.org/may-25th-anniversary-season-finale-25 or call 828-782-3354.
Much like the famous composer himself, the ensemble considers the string quartet as its “playground to impact the world we live in and inspire others through the art of collaboration and play” — and since its inception, the quartet has worked tirelessly to revisit, rediscover and reinvigorate the classical repertory.
PROGRAM
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: String Quartet in C major, K. 465, “Dissonance”
Erwin Schulhoff: Five Pieces for String Quartet
Antonin Dvorak: String Quartet No. 13 in G major, Op. 106, B. 192
Date and Time: On Fri, 02 May 2025 19:30 – Fri, 02 May 2025 22:00
Category: Live Music | Classical
Prices:
General Admission: USD 48.00,
Students 25 and younger: USD 0.00
Artist: Isidore String Quartet
Different Strokes! Performing Arts Collective presents Juked – RESCHEDULED
PLEASE NOTE: Performances of DS!PAC’s JUKED originally scheduled for February 6–23, 2025 have been rescheduled to May 1-18, 2025. Ticket holders will be contacted with more information.
Thursday – Saturday, May 1 – 17, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 18, 2025 at 3:00 p.m.
WORLD PREMIERE written by Mildred Inez Lewis
Juked is a retelling of Sophocles’ tragedy Electra. This version is set in 1950s Asheville and the “kingdom” is a chain of drink houses (private homes offering illegal alcohol) owned by the well-off, African-American Memnon family. Juked examines the relationship between Electra, her mother, and her sister, and asks what happens after tragedy. How do we recover? Juked is part of the Emerging Black Playwrights New Play Series and first debuted in its development phase, as a staged reading in November 2023.
“King” LeBron James’s years playing in Cleveland bring promise to a city in desperate need. His tenure also unites Shawn and Matt in an unlikely bond forged by fandom. Over twelve years the men navigate their turbulent friendship through their shared love of basketball—and the endless amiable arguments that erupt from that love.
Performances of King James will be held on the days and times listed below. The lobby and concessions area will open one hour prior to showtime. Concessions may be taken into the theatre during the performance.
April 24 – May 18, 2025
Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 7:30
Sundays at 2pm
Friday 4/25 and 5/2 at 7:30pm
Friday 5/9 and 5/16 at 2pm
Challenges in life and love test the resilience of a mother-daughter relationship in Dan Gordon’s adaptation of Terms of Endearment, based on the book by Pulitzer Prize-winner Larry McMurtry and James L. Brooks’s screenplay of the Oscar-winning film. Though Emma is often exasperated by her highly-opinionated mother, Aurora, they talk daily about their problems, from Aurora finding unexpected love even as she becomes a reluctant grandmother to Emma’s struggle in her troubled marriage. But when they need one another most, will they be able to find courage in each other? This funny and touching story captures the delicate, sometimes fractured bonds between mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, and lovers, both old and new.
Thursday, 5/1 at 7:30 (pay what you can available on 4/17)
Fridays at 7:30
Saturdays at 3 pm
Sundays at 3 pm
Adapted for the stage by Dan Gordon
Produced by special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc. (www.playscripts.com)
May 1-11, 2025
Thursday, 5/1 at 7:30 (pay what you can available on 4/17)
Fridays at 7:30
Saturdays at 3 pm
Sundays at 3 pm
Director: Jonathan Forrester
Approximate Run Time: 2 hours
Rating: PG-13 due to adult language and situations. Depictions of drinking, smoking, drug use, illness and death.
Challenges in life and love test the resilience of a mother-daughter relationship in Dan Gordon’s adaptation of Terms of Endearment, based on the book by Pulitzer Prize-winner Larry McMurtry and James L. Brooks’s screenplay of the Oscar-winning film. Though Emma is often exasperated by her highly-opinionated mother, Aurora, they talk daily about their problems, from Aurora finding unexpected love even as she becomes a reluctant grandmother to Emma’s struggle in her troubled marriage. But when they need one another most, will they be able to find courage in each other? This funny and touching story captures the delicate, sometimes fractured bonds between mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, and lovers, both old and new.
The cast of Terms of Endearment:
Tate Albert – Garrett Breedlove
Mark Hodgdon* – Rudyard/Dr. Maise
Victoria Lamberth – Aurora Greenway
Lauren Otis – Emma Greenway
Jered Shults – Flap Horton
Mary Weisberger – Patsy/Doris/Nurse
*Making their Hendersonville Theatre debut
How far can your imagination take you? This renowned company, known for its works of haunting beauty and emotional force, dares to find out in one of many pieces planned for its Asheville program. The company’s founder, Haitian-born former Pilobolus dancer Gaspard Louis, has earned international acclaim for his versatile and inventive choreography, drawing inspiration from — among many other sources — the idea of believing in magic, the search for self-acceptance and the spiritual practices of his home country.
Connect with the art and artists in a dance master class and pre-show discussions.
“The depth and breadth of Gaspard Louis’ choreography, the number of accomplished dancers and collaborations with artists in other fields reaches a new level.” – The Herald-Sun
The performances by Gaspard&Dancers are funded in part by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the North Carolina Arts Council.
April 25 – May 17
Cancelled last fall due to Hurricane Helene, CATS is back! An extravaganza of fantasy and theatre magic, CATS has enchanted audiences for decades with its fiercely energetic dancing, showbiz razzle-dazzle, and unforgettable lyrics drawn from T.S. Elliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. As one of the most popular Broadway blockbusters of all time and winner of seven Tony Awards, this certified classic has brought cheer to millions of theatre lovers of all ages! Don’t miss this all-new production! You and your family are sure to leave the theatre tapping your toes and ‘feline’ groovy!
Event Times: 2:00 PM & 7:30 PM
Ticket Prices: $60 / $70 / $80
INTO THE WOODS
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim & Book by James Lapine
April 11-May 4, 2025.
Fridays at 7:30 PM, Saturdays & Sundays at 2:30 PM
ABOUT THE SHOW
One of Stephen Sondheim’s most popular works, Into the Woods follows a Baker and his wife, who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King’s Festival; and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk. When the Baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a Witch’s curse, the two set off on a journey to break the curse. Everyone’s wish is granted, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results.
A talkback with the cast & crew of Into The Woods will be held following certain the performance on Sunday, April 13.
Run Time: Two Hours (Approx.). There will be a fifteen minute intermission for this show. Content Awareness: Contains themes that may not be suitable for young audiences.
Join us at the Greenville Convention Center on May 2-4th, 2025 for Jurassic Quest! Jurassic Quest is the world’s largest, most popular Dino event with unique and exciting experiences for the whole family. There’s no better place to make pter-iffic memories playing with adorable baby Dinos, excavating fossils, or even training a raptor while being surrounded by behemoths like sky-scraping Spinosaurus and, the King himself, Tyrannosaurus rex! Get your tickets for Greenville now, before they go EXTINCT!
Friday: 12-6
Saturday: 9-6
Sunday: 9-5
Event held: Hall 1
Parking: $10 cashless, we accept all credit/debit cards and Apple/ Google Pay.
Parking is located off Exposition Drive.
The Spring Festival of the season!!! 🎉 Craft fair, Smashville Food Truck, LIVE music, mechanical bull and ALL the plant shopping you could ever want!
Ross Farm and Appalachian Standard’s 4th Annual Spring Fling Plant Festival is happening Saturday, May 3rd from 12-4 p.m! 🌷 🌱 Here’s what’s in store…
🌼 22 greenhouses filled with a spectacular variety of plants for every gardening enthusiast
🌸 An impressive selection of mixed patio planters, hanging baskets, perennials, indoor houseplants, shrubs, plant starts, & more
The festival features much more than just plants!
🎶 LIVE music throughout the day
🍔 Delicious food options from Smashville Food Truck
🛍️ Craft fair featuring artisan jewelry, home goods, & more
🎈 Kid-friendly activities (Scavenger hunt & potting station)
🤠 Mechanical bull riding for the adventurous
🍃 Appalachian Standard will have their hemp/CBD products available
With attendance typically reaching 600-900 visitors, carpooling is strongly encouraged to help with parking availability.
