Upcoming events and things to do in Asheville, NC. Below is a list of events for festivals, concerts, art exhibitions, group meetups and more.

Interested in adding an event to our calendar? Please click the green “Post Your Event” button below.

Monday, October 11, 2021
Matching Gift Challenge! for Asheville Community Theatre
Oct 11 all-day
online

Amazing!

Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor all donations given through Sunday, November 21 will be matched up to $8,500 – turning each donation into a SUPER DONATION! When you donate to ACT, you are assisting with scholarships, helping to keep ticket prices affordable, and so much more!

Help us reach this goal with a gift of any size!

Nominate a Treasured Tree
Oct 11 all-day
online
Garden Helpline Remains Open Through October
Oct 11 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
online

To answer your gardening questions, Extension Master Gardener Volunteers of Buncombe County are working from home to keep the Garden Helpline operational. For the month of October, they are available to respond to voicemails and emails on Fridays only. Send an email or leave a voice message at any time, and a Master Gardener will respond to you the following Friday. When emailing, please include a photo, it helps describe your garden question.

 

Winter Lights at The North Carolina Arboretum
Oct 11 @ 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
The North Carolina Arboretum

Winter Lights returns to the gardens November 19-January 1

Tickets are now sold PER VEHICLE, not per person.

We are thrilled to announce that the 2021 Winter Lights holiday event will welcome members and guests back into the gardens as it returns to the traditional outdoor walk-through open-air show format. The famously tall 50-foot lighted tree and the Quilt Garden will be back, outfitted with new designs in lights, while throughout the gardens, popular arrangements will mingle with ones never seen before.

You can find everything you need to know about Asheville’s Brightest Holiday Tradition at the tabs above, and be sure to secure your tickets now.

We hope you will join us this holiday season!

 

Winter Lights is the Arboretum’s largest annual fundraiser, and supports many parts of its mission driven programming.

Tuesday, October 12, 2021
Every dollar you give will be matched by a generous donor up to $5000! for LITERACY TOGETHER
Oct 12 all-day
online

Help reach our matching gift challenge. We are halfway to our goal.

 

Help Make a Child Smile this Holiday Season!
Oct 12 all-day
Eliada Homes

Eliada works hard to make the holidays a special time for the children in our care. You can help bring a smile to their face by fulfilling their holiday wishes!
Sponsor a Child:
When you sign up to sponsor a child for the holidays, you’ll receive a Wish List that a young person created. Wish Lists include their favorite things, clothing sizes, and most needed and wanted items. The value of a Wish List is around $150. You can divide that cost with friends, or even sponsor several children.
For most of Eliada’s children and youth, the gifts they receive from sponsors are the only gifts they will get during the holiday season.
Sponsor Multiple Children:
We also have Wish Lists which include items that children will need here at Eliada depending on what program they are in.
Cottage wish lists for youth living at Eliada, for example, include toiletries, bedding and towels, books, games, art supplies, suitcases and kitchen utensils. Many children come to Eliada with a few clothes in a garbage bag. Together we can provide them things that every home should have!
Other wish lists are for our Child Development programs, Foster Care program, Farm program, Summer Camp program, and Recreation programs. Our Equine Therapy program also has some needs this holiday season! We never know when we’ll get a call for a child in Foster Care who needs a home immediately. Let’s help Foster Parents provide these children everything they deserve!
Sponsor a last minute wish:
Some youth living at Eliada won’t arrive until right before the holidays! We won’t receive their wish lists until mid-late November. Can you sign up to help one of these teens at the last minute?
If you don’t have time to shop, Eliada will use your donation to purchase gifts for children who may arrive at Eliada very close to Christmas or right after Christmas. It shouldn’t matter when you arrive at Eliada–your wishes should be fulfilled! You can make a donation here. In the comment field, write “holiday wishes.”
Help Our Summer Fundraiser Meet Its Goal!
Oct 12 all-day
online w/ Western North Carolina Historical Association

Despite the pandemic, we’ve continued to find new and innovative ways to fulfill our mission of preserving and promoting the history and legacy of western North Carolina through interpretation, education, collection, and collaboration.
We’re only a few hundred dollars short of our goal!
Donate today to help us continue to offer outstanding adult programs, engaging exhibits, and educational activities for youth by making a donation to our annual fund today!
Join a Greenworks Volunteer Task Force!
Oct 12 all-day
online

Join a Volunteer Task Force!

Our volunteer task forces work hard behind the scenes diving deep into issues affecting Asheville and Buncombe County. If you’re interested in becoming more involved by partnering up with other passionate community members, this is the place for you!

 

Plastics Reduction Task Force – Meets on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 5:30pm

Join the PRTF

Tree Protection Task Force – Meets on the last Monday of the month at noon. Contact [email protected] to be added to the email list.

Matching Gift Challenge! for Asheville Community Theatre
Oct 12 all-day
online

Amazing!

Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor all donations given through Sunday, November 21 will be matched up to $8,500 – turning each donation into a SUPER DONATION! When you donate to ACT, you are assisting with scholarships, helping to keep ticket prices affordable, and so much more!

Help us reach this goal with a gift of any size!

Nominate a Treasured Tree
Oct 12 all-day
online
Garden Helpline Remains Open Through October
Oct 12 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
online

To answer your gardening questions, Extension Master Gardener Volunteers of Buncombe County are working from home to keep the Garden Helpline operational. For the month of October, they are available to respond to voicemails and emails on Fridays only. Send an email or leave a voice message at any time, and a Master Gardener will respond to you the following Friday. When emailing, please include a photo, it helps describe your garden question.

 

The North Carolina Arboretum: Guided Trail Walk
Oct 12 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
The North Carolina Arboretum

Hit the trails and learn more about The North Carolina Arboretum’s botanically diverse forest with the return of guided trail walks in 2021! From April — October, this free hiking program is led by trained volunteer guides who take small groups of participants along woodland trails and through a variety of forest types. Depending on the season and each guide’s area of expertise, topics of discussion may include wildflowers, plant and tree identification, natural history and more.

Guided trail walks are limited to 10 people, including the guide, and are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age. Groups depart from the Baker Visitor Center Lobby on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m..

Walks last 1.5 – 2.5 hours, are approximately one to two miles in length. As this program is held rain or shine, all participants should dress appropriately for the weather.

Register In Advance

Space is limited and advance registration is encouraged. Pre-registered participants must check in at the Baker Information Desk no later than 10 minutes before the scheduled program to keep their spot. Unclaimed spots will be offered to other guests.

Guests may sign up for trail walks in the following ways:

  • Pre-register online, using the the link below.
  • Sign up in-person at the Baker Information Desk.

 

Walks are FREE; however, donations to The North Carolina Arboretum Society are appreciated. Regular parking fees apply. Arboretum Society Members always park free.

Winter Lights at The North Carolina Arboretum
Oct 12 @ 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
The North Carolina Arboretum

Winter Lights returns to the gardens November 19-January 1

Tickets are now sold PER VEHICLE, not per person.

We are thrilled to announce that the 2021 Winter Lights holiday event will welcome members and guests back into the gardens as it returns to the traditional outdoor walk-through open-air show format. The famously tall 50-foot lighted tree and the Quilt Garden will be back, outfitted with new designs in lights, while throughout the gardens, popular arrangements will mingle with ones never seen before.

You can find everything you need to know about Asheville’s Brightest Holiday Tradition at the tabs above, and be sure to secure your tickets now.

We hope you will join us this holiday season!

 

Winter Lights is the Arboretum’s largest annual fundraiser, and supports many parts of its mission driven programming.

Wednesday, October 13, 2021
Every dollar you give will be matched by a generous donor up to $5000! for LITERACY TOGETHER
Oct 13 all-day
online

Help reach our matching gift challenge. We are halfway to our goal.

 

Help Our Summer Fundraiser Meet Its Goal!
Oct 13 all-day
online w/ Western North Carolina Historical Association

Despite the pandemic, we’ve continued to find new and innovative ways to fulfill our mission of preserving and promoting the history and legacy of western North Carolina through interpretation, education, collection, and collaboration.
We’re only a few hundred dollars short of our goal!
Donate today to help us continue to offer outstanding adult programs, engaging exhibits, and educational activities for youth by making a donation to our annual fund today!
Matching Gift Challenge! for Asheville Community Theatre
Oct 13 all-day
online

Amazing!

Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor all donations given through Sunday, November 21 will be matched up to $8,500 – turning each donation into a SUPER DONATION! When you donate to ACT, you are assisting with scholarships, helping to keep ticket prices affordable, and so much more!

Help us reach this goal with a gift of any size!

Garden Helpline Remains Open Through October
Oct 13 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
online

To answer your gardening questions, Extension Master Gardener Volunteers of Buncombe County are working from home to keep the Garden Helpline operational. For the month of October, they are available to respond to voicemails and emails on Fridays only. Send an email or leave a voice message at any time, and a Master Gardener will respond to you the following Friday. When emailing, please include a photo, it helps describe your garden question.

 

MANNA FoodBank Turkey Drive Drop off 9am–noon, and 1–3pm
Oct 13 @ 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
MANNA’s Volunteer Center

MANNA is continuing to serve more people than we were prior to the pandemic. For the enjoyment of the holiday season, it is important that those families are able to celebrate the holidays like everyone else. Since food is a centerpiece of every holiday, it is our hope that our community will come together to help fill as many plates of food over the holidays as we can throughout WNC.
MANNA hopes to collect hundreds of turkeys this year, and invites the community to join the effort by supporting the Turkey Drive. The community can give in two ways:
1. Donate a frozen turkey, ham or other holiday table entrée to MANNA. Donations will be accepted at MANNA’s Volunteer Center (627 Swannanoa River Road, in East Asheville) Monday – Friday, between the hours of 9am–noon, and 1–3pm.
2. Support our efforts to purchase additional holiday turkeys and hams through our virtual food drive option.
Hops for Hunger
Oct 13 @ 4:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Hi-Wire Brewing
This October, Hi-Wire Brewing is participating in Hops for Hunger!
For every pour of their Pink Lemonade at their Asheville taprooms, they will be donating $1 to MANNA.
Be sure to visit one of their Asheville locations and enjoy a Pink Lemonade sometime this month.
LIFELONG GARDENING: A Seminar on Gardening with Limited Mobility
Oct 13 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
WNC Regional Livestock Center

A love for gardening does not have to end when mobility and other issues arise. This program is open to gardeners of all ages and abilities who want to learn more about smart gardening techniques so they can continue to pursue their passion for gardening for years to come!
You will learn:
• How to adapt existing tools for more efficient use around the garden
• Proper body mechanics to use while working in the garden
• Garden design
The program is a 2-hour session where you will actively participate in your “learning by doing.” Instructors will be Extension Master Gardener Volunteers of Wisconsin.
:
Sand Hill Community Garden Workdays
Oct 13 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Buncombe County Sports Park

Volunteers at Sand Hill Community Garden

Looking to get involved, stay active, and meet some new friends? Sand Hill Community Garden workdays take place on Wednesdays (6-8 p.m.) and Saturdays (10 a.m.-noon) from Feb. 27-Oct. 30, 2021, at Buncombe County Sports Park. The garden is located on 16 Apac Dr. in West Asheville/Enka-Candler.

Join friends and neighbors as they come together on common ground to raise fresh, organic vegetables and fruits for the Enka community.

Expect to wear a mask and maintain social distance throughout. Tools and hand sanitizer are available, but any gloves, loppers, pruners, or gardening tools you can bring will decrease the amount of contact between volunteers. Please wear work clothes to get dirty and closed-toe shoes. Sunscreen, water, and a hat are also handy items to have on hand.

Sand Hill Community Garden has been growing fresh produce since 2011 and raised over 1,200 lbs. of organic produce last year.

NOTE: Community workdays are weather dependent. Please join the community garden email list (send your info to [email protected]) to stay up on workday tasks and other garden news.

To receive the I Heart Parks monthly newsletter, sign up online. Follow Buncombe County Recreation on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.

Winter Lights at The North Carolina Arboretum
Oct 13 @ 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
The North Carolina Arboretum

Winter Lights returns to the gardens November 19-January 1

Tickets are now sold PER VEHICLE, not per person.

We are thrilled to announce that the 2021 Winter Lights holiday event will welcome members and guests back into the gardens as it returns to the traditional outdoor walk-through open-air show format. The famously tall 50-foot lighted tree and the Quilt Garden will be back, outfitted with new designs in lights, while throughout the gardens, popular arrangements will mingle with ones never seen before.

You can find everything you need to know about Asheville’s Brightest Holiday Tradition at the tabs above, and be sure to secure your tickets now.

We hope you will join us this holiday season!

 

Winter Lights is the Arboretum’s largest annual fundraiser, and supports many parts of its mission driven programming.

Thursday, October 14, 2021
Every dollar you give will be matched by a generous donor up to $5000! for LITERACY TOGETHER
Oct 14 all-day
online

Help reach our matching gift challenge. We are halfway to our goal.

 

Help Make a Child Smile this Holiday Season!
Oct 14 all-day
Eliada Homes

Eliada works hard to make the holidays a special time for the children in our care. You can help bring a smile to their face by fulfilling their holiday wishes!
Sponsor a Child:
When you sign up to sponsor a child for the holidays, you’ll receive a Wish List that a young person created. Wish Lists include their favorite things, clothing sizes, and most needed and wanted items. The value of a Wish List is around $150. You can divide that cost with friends, or even sponsor several children.
For most of Eliada’s children and youth, the gifts they receive from sponsors are the only gifts they will get during the holiday season.
Sponsor Multiple Children:
We also have Wish Lists which include items that children will need here at Eliada depending on what program they are in.
Cottage wish lists for youth living at Eliada, for example, include toiletries, bedding and towels, books, games, art supplies, suitcases and kitchen utensils. Many children come to Eliada with a few clothes in a garbage bag. Together we can provide them things that every home should have!
Other wish lists are for our Child Development programs, Foster Care program, Farm program, Summer Camp program, and Recreation programs. Our Equine Therapy program also has some needs this holiday season! We never know when we’ll get a call for a child in Foster Care who needs a home immediately. Let’s help Foster Parents provide these children everything they deserve!
Sponsor a last minute wish:
Some youth living at Eliada won’t arrive until right before the holidays! We won’t receive their wish lists until mid-late November. Can you sign up to help one of these teens at the last minute?
If you don’t have time to shop, Eliada will use your donation to purchase gifts for children who may arrive at Eliada very close to Christmas or right after Christmas. It shouldn’t matter when you arrive at Eliada–your wishes should be fulfilled! You can make a donation here. In the comment field, write “holiday wishes.”
Help Our Summer Fundraiser Meet Its Goal!
Oct 14 all-day
online w/ Western North Carolina Historical Association

Despite the pandemic, we’ve continued to find new and innovative ways to fulfill our mission of preserving and promoting the history and legacy of western North Carolina through interpretation, education, collection, and collaboration.
We’re only a few hundred dollars short of our goal!
Donate today to help us continue to offer outstanding adult programs, engaging exhibits, and educational activities for youth by making a donation to our annual fund today!
Matching Gift Challenge! for Asheville Community Theatre
Oct 14 all-day
online

Amazing!

Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor all donations given through Sunday, November 21 will be matched up to $8,500 – turning each donation into a SUPER DONATION! When you donate to ACT, you are assisting with scholarships, helping to keep ticket prices affordable, and so much more!

Help us reach this goal with a gift of any size!

The wild ones need your help this fall!
Oct 14 all-day
online

Help save the wild ones this fall

The beautiful display of autumn color has begun to patchwork the mountains around us. As the leaves fall, the danger for wildlife is on the rise. Our native wildlife is out and about foraging for food to prepare for the coming winter, increasing their risk for injury.
Appalachian Wildlife Refuge needs your support to keep our doors open to orphaned and injured wildlife during this critical time!
Your financial gift will provide a much-needed resource to our community, fund life-saving medical care, and give orphaned and injured animals a second chance at life back out in the wild!
WCCA Wins Grant to Save Tebeau Children’s Center more help needed
Oct 14 all-day
online

A recent grant award by the Perry N. Rudnick Endowment Fund to help renovate and save the Tebeau Children’s Center. In addition to bringing Head Start, Early Head Start and NC Pre-K education programs to Henderson County’s underprivileged children under 5 years old, the renovation project will restore a community landmark that has provided childcare since the mid-1970’s!

WCCA is trying to raise the necessary funding to renovate the old daycare center and turn it into a modern early childhood education center.

WCCA has been awarded a $25,000 grant by the Perry N. Rudnick Endowment Fund of
the Community Foundation of Henderson County. The funds will be used to help
renovate and save the 70-year old Tebeau Children’s Center in Hendersonville, NC.
● The old daycare center which is located near Pardee Hospital off 9th Avenue between
Hendersonville Elementary and Middle School has been around since the mid-70’s. It
was called Stay ‘n Play, then Lovin’ & Learning, and Hendersonville School for Little
Folks. Generations of Henderson County families have relied on the center for childcare.
● After it closed in early 2020, WCCA bought the Tebeau Drive property. WCCA is in the
process of renovating and remodeling the facility to make it a modern early childhood
education center to serve nearly 100 children and families.
● David White, CEO for WCCA said “We’re grateful to partner with a group like the Perry
N. Rudnick Endowment Fund and the Henderson County Community Foundation to
save a piece of Henderson County’s past. Their support is an investment in future
generations of our children!”
● WCCA has raised just over $402,000 of the $850,000 needed to renovate the Tebeau
Center in time for its opening in April 2022. If you would like to help support this
worthwhile effort, please visit WCCA.org and donate!

Garden Helpline Remains Open Through October
Oct 14 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
online

To answer your gardening questions, Extension Master Gardener Volunteers of Buncombe County are working from home to keep the Garden Helpline operational. For the month of October, they are available to respond to voicemails and emails on Fridays only. Send an email or leave a voice message at any time, and a Master Gardener will respond to you the following Friday. When emailing, please include a photo, it helps describe your garden question.

 

MANNA FoodBank Turkey Drive Drop off 9am–noon, and 1–3pm
Oct 14 @ 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
MANNA’s Volunteer Center

MANNA is continuing to serve more people than we were prior to the pandemic. For the enjoyment of the holiday season, it is important that those families are able to celebrate the holidays like everyone else. Since food is a centerpiece of every holiday, it is our hope that our community will come together to help fill as many plates of food over the holidays as we can throughout WNC.
MANNA hopes to collect hundreds of turkeys this year, and invites the community to join the effort by supporting the Turkey Drive. The community can give in two ways:
1. Donate a frozen turkey, ham or other holiday table entrée to MANNA. Donations will be accepted at MANNA’s Volunteer Center (627 Swannanoa River Road, in East Asheville) Monday – Friday, between the hours of 9am–noon, and 1–3pm.
2. Support our efforts to purchase additional holiday turkeys and hams through our virtual food drive option.