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.
Looking for a unique, romantic place to spend the day with your sweetheart? The fantastic views at Chimney Rock offer the perfect setting! For Valentine’s Day Weekend, receive one free adult admission, when you purchase one adult admission ticket.
This offer is only available for online ticket purchases and is only valid February 14-16, 2020. We will be posting these tickets on our website starting Thursday, February 13th. Stay tuned.
In February the Park is open weather permitting. Be sure to check our website for weather alerts before you visit.
As part of the Arboretum’s “Love Birds” month-long celebration, the Arboretum will host a “Sweets with Your Sweetie” hot cocoa bar at the Baker Exhibit Center during Valentine’s Day weekend.
Guests can enjoy a free cup of hot chocolate (while supplies last) followed by a free guided hike starting at 1 p.m. Hikes will focus on the natural history of the Arboretum, including some of the region’s more prominent birds, and will be about one- to two- miles in length. Please note: Guided hikes will be on a first-come, first-served basis. The event is free; however, standard parking fees apply for non-members
Failte (Welcome)… to The Asheville Celtic Festival, a Winter Indoor Celtic Festival bringing the Celtic Spirit of the Seven Nations to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, will be held inside of the Davis Center at the WNC Agricultural Center giving us comfortable setting in the winter months.
Feel the Vibes of Early Settlers from the Celtic Nations
Participate in Entertaining Battles and Performances
Learn About Celtic History and Traditions
Listen to LIVE Celtic Music
Explore your Family Background
See Characters in 1700 Period Dress
Shop the Celtic Crafts and Buy a Kilt
Eat Traditional Foods
Drink the Stouts & Ales
Rest by the Fire
Attractions
Live Celtic Music
Traditional Food & Drink
Kilts and Accessories
Scottish Althletes
Scottish Crafts and Gifts
Scottish and Irish Dog Clubs
Armored Sword Fighting at The Castle
Family Heritage Research

Early Bird Yoga
Join us on third Saturdays before the Museum opens for a fun-filled, 45-minute yoga and mindfulness meditation inspired by a visit to an artwork in our galleries. All ages and abilities are welcome; recommended for visitors aged 5+ (children must be accompanied by an adult). Bring your own mat, or borrow one from the Museum (limited quantity available). Preregistration is encouraged; for more information or to register by phone.

Each spring, hundreds of locals 50+ years-old enjoy participating in the Asheville-Buncombe Senior Games and Silver Arts. This year’s program will be held at locations throughout Buncombe County from Tuesday, April 14-Friday, May 15. Registration is $5 before March 9 or $10 after that date. Military veterans may register for free.
To register, fill out a registration form (see documents below) or register online at ncseniorgames.org. Archery and pickleball have registration deadline dates.
Sports include basketball, bocce, croquet, football throw, softball throw, golf, cycling, track and field, archery, cheerleading, bowling, swimming, billiards, badminton, cornhole, horseshoes, pickleball, racquetball, shuffleboard, tennis, and table tennis. Miniature golf, rowing, and team softball and basketball are new this year. Age categories start at 50 and increase at five year intervals.
Silver Arts categories are classified as Heritage (quilting, woodwork, crochet, basket weaving, jewelry, needlework, tole painting, weaving, knitting, pottery, stained glass, woodcarving, and woodturning), Visual (solo, small group, and large group), Performing, Literary (poem, short story, essay, and life experience), and Contemporary. Art pieces will be displayed at Buncombe County Libraries in April and May.
A full schedule can be accessed below as a PDF.
Follow Buncombe County Recreation on Facebook and Instagram.
| File Name | Size | Type | Date & Time Added |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration | 209 KB | 02/04/2020 7:52 AM | |
| Schedule | 45 KB | 02/04/2020 7:52 AM |
|
|
Looking for a unique, romantic place to spend the day with your sweetheart? The fantastic views at Chimney Rock offer the perfect setting! For Valentine’s Day Weekend, receive one free adult admission, when you purchase one adult admission ticket.
This offer is only available for online ticket purchases and is only valid February 14-16, 2020. We will be posting these tickets on our website starting Thursday, February 13th. Stay tuned.
In February the Park is open weather permitting. Be sure to check our website for weather alerts before you visit.
As part of the Arboretum’s “Love Birds” month-long celebration, the Arboretum will host a “Sweets with Your Sweetie” hot cocoa bar at the Baker Exhibit Center during Valentine’s Day weekend.
Guests can enjoy a free cup of hot chocolate (while supplies last) followed by a free guided hike starting at 1 p.m. Hikes will focus on the natural history of the Arboretum, including some of the region’s more prominent birds, and will be about one- to two- miles in length. Please note: Guided hikes will be on a first-come, first-served basis. The event is free; however, standard parking fees apply for non-members

Kick off spring in the mountains at the 23rd annual French Broad River Festival. It’s part outdoor adventure, part music festival with whitewater rafting, biking, hiking, kid’s village, camping, great music, and much more. Painter John, a popular FBRF musician, compares the atmosphere to “a big potluck at your best friend’s house”. If you’ve been you know . . . what better way to enjoy spring in these mountains?
$120 online by 3/31/20
$125 online by 4/30/20
$140 at gate
$65 Saturday only
$45 whitewater rafting
Connection. A word that by definition means to join together to establish a link, so as to provide access and communication. Connect Beyond Festival has established that link and is using music, film, and storytelling to create connections. More than just an event, Connect Beyond Festival is a movement to develop a network of people inspired by creative mediums and united in the pursuit of equality and social justice. Our goal is to inspire a sense of community and personal engagement.
Lauded as “Asheville’s version of SXSW” (Ashvegas) this event is perfect for those who are looking for a more dynamic festival experience – one that prioritizes exploration and participation just as much as entertainment. If you’re looking to broaden your horizons, to engage with others, and want to leave a festival with more than just a hangover, Connect Beyond Festival is just the place to be.
OLLI, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville will hold an advance care planning (ACP) workshop from 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20 in the Reuter Center, in the Manheimer Room. Free and open to everyone, this workshop is co-sponsored by the Osher Life Long Learning Institute and Mission Health Partners.
This workshop marks the 10th year of these thrice-annual sessions. More than 1,110 people have attended, resulting in 447 Advance Care Plans completed and notarized.
The workshops feature a panel whose members are experienced in addressing end-of-life issues. Discussion will include communicating your treatment wishes to loved ones and to medical personnel, ethical and legal issues, the uses of advance directives, and advice on handling issues like Alzheimer’s disease. Ample time will be reserved for questions. Assistance will be provided for anyone wishing to complete a legally valid advance directive, including the notarization required in North Carolina, using the NC ACP “Short Form.”
Panel members will include:
Jan Buchanan, Chaplain and Advance Care Planning Facilitator at Mission Hospital
Dr. Ellen Kaczmarek MD, Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Individualized Health Care Planner
Meridith Miller, Community and Social Psychologist
Joanne Dykes J.D. Attorney, Dykes Law Firm PLLC
OLLI, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville will hold an advance care planning (ACP) workshop from 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20 in the Reuter Center, in the Manheimer Room. Free and open to everyone, this workshop is co-sponsored by the Osher Life Long Learning Institute and Mission Health Partners.
This workshop marks the 10th year of these thrice-annual sessions. More than 1,110 people have attended, resulting in 447 Advance Care Plans completed and notarized.
The workshops feature a panel whose members are experienced in addressing end-of-life issues. Discussion will include communicating your treatment wishes to loved ones and to medical personnel, ethical and legal issues, the uses of advance directives, and advice on handling issues like Alzheimer’s disease. Ample time will be reserved for questions. Assistance will be provided for anyone wishing to complete a legally valid advance directive, including the notarization required in North Carolina, using the NC ACP “Short Form.”
Panel members will include:
Jan Buchanan, Chaplain and Advance Care Planning Facilitator at Mission Hospital
Dr. Ellen Kaczmarek MD, Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Individualized Health Care Planner
Meridith Miller, Community and Social Psychologist
Joanne Dykes J.D. Attorney, Dykes Law Firm PLLC
Preparation for you to do before the workshop: Talk to your possible “power of attorney for healthcare”, the person who would make health care decisions if you are unable. Click here for a video of a sample conversation.and click here to access a copy of the ACP Short form. Please print the form, study it, and bring it to the workshop along with any questions you might have for the panel.
If you have never been admitted to Mission Hospital, but want your advanced directives added into the Mission Medical Record, click here for an “Advance Directive Permission form” to fill out. Also, if you have existing advance directives, you may mail the “Permission Form” along with a copy of your existing Advance Directive to Mission for addition to the Mission medical record (or you can get help doing this at the next ACP workshop). For more information, call OLLI, 828.251.6140 or email [email protected]. Click here to view an event flier.
This class will explain how Medicare works, the enrollment process, how to avoid penalties, and ways to save money. People who are new to Medicare, caregivers, and others who help senior citizens with their Medicare insurance should consider attending this informative class. The information presented is unbiased and accurate. No products are sold, recommended, or endorsed.

Each spring, hundreds of locals 50+ years-old enjoy participating in the Asheville-Buncombe Senior Games and Silver Arts. This year’s program will be held at locations throughout Buncombe County from Tuesday, April 14-Friday, May 15. Registration is $5 before March 9 or $10 after that date. Military veterans may register for free.
To register, fill out a registration form (see documents below) or register online at ncseniorgames.org. Archery and pickleball have registration deadline dates.
Sports include basketball, bocce, croquet, football throw, softball throw, golf, cycling, track and field, archery, cheerleading, bowling, swimming, billiards, badminton, cornhole, horseshoes, pickleball, racquetball, shuffleboard, tennis, and table tennis. Miniature golf, rowing, and team softball and basketball are new this year. Age categories start at 50 and increase at five year intervals.
Silver Arts categories are classified as Heritage (quilting, woodwork, crochet, basket weaving, jewelry, needlework, tole painting, weaving, knitting, pottery, stained glass, woodcarving, and woodturning), Visual (solo, small group, and large group), Performing, Literary (poem, short story, essay, and life experience), and Contemporary. Art pieces will be displayed at Buncombe County Libraries in April and May.
A full schedule can be accessed below as a PDF.
Follow Buncombe County Recreation on Facebook and Instagram.
| File Name | Size | Type | Date & Time Added |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration | 209 KB | 02/04/2020 7:52 AM | |
| Schedule | 45 KB | 02/04/2020 7:52 AM |

Kick off spring in the mountains at the 23rd annual French Broad River Festival. It’s part outdoor adventure, part music festival with whitewater rafting, biking, hiking, kid’s village, camping, great music, and much more. Painter John, a popular FBRF musician, compares the atmosphere to “a big potluck at your best friend’s house”. If you’ve been you know . . . what better way to enjoy spring in these mountains?
$120 online by 3/31/20
$125 online by 4/30/20
$140 at gate
$65 Saturday only
$45 whitewater rafting
Connection. A word that by definition means to join together to establish a link, so as to provide access and communication. Connect Beyond Festival has established that link and is using music, film, and storytelling to create connections. More than just an event, Connect Beyond Festival is a movement to develop a network of people inspired by creative mediums and united in the pursuit of equality and social justice. Our goal is to inspire a sense of community and personal engagement.
Lauded as “Asheville’s version of SXSW” (Ashvegas) this event is perfect for those who are looking for a more dynamic festival experience – one that prioritizes exploration and participation just as much as entertainment. If you’re looking to broaden your horizons, to engage with others, and want to leave a festival with more than just a hangover, Connect Beyond Festival is just the place to be.
|
|

UPDATED INFO:
To make the transition from this year to the 2021 event as seamless and exciting as possible, we have already worked with our artists, our brewers, and our vendors to make sure that we are able to carry over this year’s lineup and infrastructure to next year’s festival date. In addition, we are also in conversation with Eventbrite regarding the best options we can offer you when it comes to making a choice about how your ticket investment plays out.
Because this decision affects you as much as it does us, we will offer full refunds of all ticket purchases to any of you who would prefer that option. We understand the inconvenience that this change might cause you, and we ask that you offer us your patience while we organize that process. As another option, we would also like to offer you the opportunity to retain your ticket purchase and to roll it over into next year’s attendance. Any ticket that has already been purchased for 2020 will be honored at our 2021 festival in lieu of a refund. That is a choice we are allowing you to make, and we will be delighted to have you back as our guests then!
Please check back with us often as we continue to plan for the 2021 (“unofficial 10th Anniversary”) North Carolina Brewers and Music Festival. Again, thank you for your patience and understanding, but mostly for your continued support at the festival. We couldn’t keep putting on this event without you, and we continue to be thankful year after year.
Along with a rich Americana lineup, North Carolina Brewers and Music Festival also shines a spotlight on local brewers and their contribution to North Carolina’s vibrant culinary scene. Over 50 breweries offering a selection of craft beers will be featured on-site throughout the weekend. Tasting tickets, which include access to beer samples plus a commemorative sampling glass, are available for purchase for $50 ($39 for early birds).
North Carolina Brewers and Music Festival began as a fundraising effort to preserve the historic site of Rural Hill. The site, which boasts extensive hiking trails, is a beloved landmark in the Central NC region and is home to many educational field trips and events. Since its inception, the North Carolina Brewers and Music Festival has continued to support the awareness of Rural Hill and attract diverse crowds from all over the country.
Friday music-only passes with sets from Acoustic Syndicate and Fireside Collective are $15. Saturday music-only passes with sets from the Steep Canyon Rangers and Hayes Carll are $22 for early birds. For attendees who would like to sample an unlimited assortment of celebrated North Carolina brews on Saturday, Tasting Tickets (which include daily entrance to the festival for music happenings) are available at the Early Bird price of $39. Camping options are available for attendees who would like to make the most of their weekend. Two-Day weekend tent camping, premium tent camping, and RV/Camper camping with hook-ups are available for $45, $65, and $85 respectively. North Carolina Brewers and Music Festival is a family-friendly event. Children 4 and under are free. A Children’s Ticket is available for kids 5 – 15 for $8.
Mystical Night Market presented by The Guild of Sacred Arts. Join us for a celebration of the mind, body, and spirit. Local readers, healers, and makers will be offering: astrological readings, intuitive/psychic/medium readings, Akashic Records and animal communication readings, Reiki/energy healings, transformational coaching, local art, Reiki-infused jewelry, fairy hair, natural soaps, apothecary items, and more.
No entry fees! Raffle prizes! Come join us for a night of fun!
25th Annual Bluegrass First Class February 21st-23rd 2020.

Each spring, hundreds of locals 50+ years-old enjoy participating in the Asheville-Buncombe Senior Games and Silver Arts. This year’s program will be held at locations throughout Buncombe County from Tuesday, April 14-Friday, May 15. Registration is $5 before March 9 or $10 after that date. Military veterans may register for free.
To register, fill out a registration form (see documents below) or register online at ncseniorgames.org. Archery and pickleball have registration deadline dates.
Sports include basketball, bocce, croquet, football throw, softball throw, golf, cycling, track and field, archery, cheerleading, bowling, swimming, billiards, badminton, cornhole, horseshoes, pickleball, racquetball, shuffleboard, tennis, and table tennis. Miniature golf, rowing, and team softball and basketball are new this year. Age categories start at 50 and increase at five year intervals.
Silver Arts categories are classified as Heritage (quilting, woodwork, crochet, basket weaving, jewelry, needlework, tole painting, weaving, knitting, pottery, stained glass, woodcarving, and woodturning), Visual (solo, small group, and large group), Performing, Literary (poem, short story, essay, and life experience), and Contemporary. Art pieces will be displayed at Buncombe County Libraries in April and May.
A full schedule can be accessed below as a PDF.
Follow Buncombe County Recreation on Facebook and Instagram.
| File Name | Size | Type | Date & Time Added |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration | 209 KB | 02/04/2020 7:52 AM | |
| Schedule | 45 KB | 02/04/2020 7:52 AM |
We will be holding our next gathering at the Center for Art and Spirit at the St. George Episcopal Church in West Asheville from 4-5:20 p.m. on Sunday, February 23. St. George Episcopal is at 1 School Road, Asheville, NC 28806.
This gathering will be open to 50 participants and will feature a Sonic Moving Meditation. Nancy Jurek will take people on a journey that will include meditation, movement, and relaxation. River Guerguerian will be providing a live soundtrack using an array of global percussion instruments.
The meditation will be preceded by a brief presentation about the
LivingPulse, and the gathering will conclude with a group discussion about the experience. After you register and before this free event occurs, we will email you a short paper describing a few of the ideas behind the LivingPulse organization, which may help prepare your mindset for the activity and succeeding discussion.
This will be the second of what we hope will be monthly LivingPulse gatherings. We hope to see you soon!

Kick off spring in the mountains at the 23rd annual French Broad River Festival. It’s part outdoor adventure, part music festival with whitewater rafting, biking, hiking, kid’s village, camping, great music, and much more. Painter John, a popular FBRF musician, compares the atmosphere to “a big potluck at your best friend’s house”. If you’ve been you know . . . what better way to enjoy spring in these mountains?
$120 online by 3/31/20
$125 online by 4/30/20
$140 at gate
$65 Saturday only
$45 whitewater rafting
Connection. A word that by definition means to join together to establish a link, so as to provide access and communication. Connect Beyond Festival has established that link and is using music, film, and storytelling to create connections. More than just an event, Connect Beyond Festival is a movement to develop a network of people inspired by creative mediums and united in the pursuit of equality and social justice. Our goal is to inspire a sense of community and personal engagement.
Lauded as “Asheville’s version of SXSW” (Ashvegas) this event is perfect for those who are looking for a more dynamic festival experience – one that prioritizes exploration and participation just as much as entertainment. If you’re looking to broaden your horizons, to engage with others, and want to leave a festival with more than just a hangover, Connect Beyond Festival is just the place to be.
Free event: Tour, meet, and try it out! Refreshments!!!!
Thursday, February 27th
Noon – 4:00 pm (check-in begins at 11:15 am)
Friday, February 28th
8:45 am – 4:30 pm (check-in begins at 7:45 am)
HEAL presents professional development and networking opportunities as well as education for the general public.
Our conference addresses disordered eating and eating disorders recovery by presenting experts from various sectors of the industry.
Awareness helps with prevention, treatment, and support and our hope is to reach many, with approachable education and (10 possible) CEs. Take a look at this year’s schedule, speakers, and topics… and register now! Seating is limited and we will sell out.
Anita Johnston, Ph.D., CEDS-S author of “Eating in the Light of the Moon” will be here with us on Thursday, February 27, 2020 for a 4-hour, afternoon session. Her talk, “Body Talk: Using Storytelling & Metaphor to Understand and Treat Body Image Distress” is part of Carolina Resource Center for Eating Disorders 13th Annual HEAL Conference. You can register for this session separately at https://heal2020.bpt.me/
Visit crcfored.com for more information
Thursday, February 27th
Noon – 4:00 pm (check-in begins at 11:15 am)
Friday, February 28th
8:45 am – 4:30 pm (check-in begins at 7:45 am)
HEAL presents professional development and networking opportunities as well as education for the general public.
Our conference addresses disordered eating and eating disorders recovery by presenting experts from various sectors of the industry.
Awareness helps with prevention, treatment, and support and our hope is to reach many, with approachable education and (10 possible) CEs. Take a look at this year’s schedule, speakers, and topics… and register now! Seating is limited and we will sell out.



