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.

Wednesday, May 8, 2024
FEAST: School Garden Plant Sales
May 8 @ 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Isaac Dickson Elementary School
Please plan to support our FEAST program and long-term food security through edible education by buying your spring plants at one of these upcoming plant sales!
We empower youth and families to grow, prepare, and enjoy fruits and vegetables through hands-on cooking and garden education. 

FEAST classes focus on:

  • Problem-solving, communication, and teamwork.
  • Increasing fresh, locally grown produce in everyday living.
  • Gaining confidence by exploring different ways to grow and prepare fresh produce.
  • Creating and changing recipes and substituting ingredients.
  • Learning how food and the environment affects the brain and body.
  • Connecting to Core Curriculum and Essential Standards in math, reading, writing, science, health, and nutrition.
SCHOOL BASED PROGRAMS
Native Plants for the Garden Workshop
May 8 @ 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Dr. John Wilson Community Garden

Native Plants for the Garden Workshop

Tickets: Sliding scale $0 to $40 (cash, check, or card at event) *Please pay what feels most appropriate for your financial situation.

Join them to learn about the benefits of native plants for us, our gardens, and the ecosystems we call home.

Adam Bigelow, avid organic gardener, will lead us as we immerse ourselves in the diversity of native plants. We will discuss how natives work to attract beneficial insects, beautify vegetable and flower gardens, and provide nutrition to the dinner plate.

Thursday, May 9, 2024
FEAST: School Garden Plant Sales
May 9 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Francine Delaney Elementary School
 

Please plan to support our FEAST program and long-term food security through edible education by buying your spring plants at one of these upcoming plant sales!
We empower youth and families to grow, prepare, and enjoy fruits and vegetables through hands-on cooking and garden education. 

FEAST classes focus on:

  • Problem-solving, communication, and teamwork.
  • Increasing fresh, locally grown produce in everyday living.
  • Gaining confidence by exploring different ways to grow and prepare fresh produce.
  • Creating and changing recipes and substituting ingredients.
  • Learning how food and the environment affects the brain and body.
  • Connecting to Core Curriculum and Essential Standards in math, reading, writing, science, health, and nutrition.
SCHOOL BASED PROGRAMS
FEAST: School Garden Plant Sales
May 9 @ 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Isaac Dickson Elementary School
Please plan to support our FEAST program and long-term food security through edible education by buying your spring plants at one of these upcoming plant sales!
We empower youth and families to grow, prepare, and enjoy fruits and vegetables through hands-on cooking and garden education. 

FEAST classes focus on:

  • Problem-solving, communication, and teamwork.
  • Increasing fresh, locally grown produce in everyday living.
  • Gaining confidence by exploring different ways to grow and prepare fresh produce.
  • Creating and changing recipes and substituting ingredients.
  • Learning how food and the environment affects the brain and body.
  • Connecting to Core Curriculum and Essential Standards in math, reading, writing, science, health, and nutrition.
SCHOOL BASED PROGRAMS
Friday, May 10, 2024
Mother Runner’s Day Sale
May 10 all-day
Jus' Running

Mother Runner’s Day Sale 25% off

Volunteer: Grace Covenant Community Garden
May 10 all-day
YWCA of Asheville

Spring has sprung, and at the YWCA that means that our talented Nutrition team is cooking up new ways to serve fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables to the children in our Early Learning and Empowerment Child Care programs. We are so grateful to be partnering with the wonderful volunteers who operate Grace Covenant’s Community Garden to receive produce grown specifically for our kitchen! The YWCA has been partnering with Grace Covenant for three years, and we have received over 1000 pounds of healthy, local produce from the garden.

YWCA Nutrition Specialist Melinda Aponte works hard to make the most of the bounty from Grace Covenant, and she also nurtures our own YWCA garden to teach kiddos in our childcare programs healthy habits and get them in the garden. Love the idea of helping to feed children fresh, healthy foods? Volunteer with the YWCA Nutrition team this spring and summer to help out in the YW garden space.

FEAST: School Garden Plant Sales
May 10 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Francine Delaney Elementary School
 

Please plan to support our FEAST program and long-term food security through edible education by buying your spring plants at one of these upcoming plant sales!
We empower youth and families to grow, prepare, and enjoy fruits and vegetables through hands-on cooking and garden education. 

FEAST classes focus on:

  • Problem-solving, communication, and teamwork.
  • Increasing fresh, locally grown produce in everyday living.
  • Gaining confidence by exploring different ways to grow and prepare fresh produce.
  • Creating and changing recipes and substituting ingredients.
  • Learning how food and the environment affects the brain and body.
  • Connecting to Core Curriculum and Essential Standards in math, reading, writing, science, health, and nutrition.
SCHOOL BASED PROGRAMS
FEAST: School Garden Plant Sales
May 10 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Lucy S. Herring Elementary School
Please plan to support our FEAST program and long-term food security through edible education by buying your spring plants at one of these upcoming plant sales!
We empower youth and families to grow, prepare, and enjoy fruits and vegetables through hands-on cooking and garden education. 

FEAST classes focus on:

  • Problem-solving, communication, and teamwork.
  • Increasing fresh, locally grown produce in everyday living.
  • Gaining confidence by exploring different ways to grow and prepare fresh produce.
  • Creating and changing recipes and substituting ingredients.
  • Learning how food and the environment affects the brain and body.
  • Connecting to Core Curriculum and Essential Standards in math, reading, writing, science, health, and nutrition.
SCHOOL BASED PROGRAMS
Take Your Momma to the Greenhouse
May 10 @ 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Ross Farm Nursery and Greenhouses
25% off all plants, Mother’s Day BANANZA! 🌷🥳 Come celebrate your momma at Ross Farm in our beautiful greenhouses on…
-Friday, May 10th from 9-6 pm
-Saturday, May 11th from 9-6 pm
All orders $100+ at the farm get a free, hanging, ceramic, moon-phase pot! Treat yourself, AND momma, to the gift of plant beauty this Mother’s Day!
FEAST: School Garden Plant Sales
May 10 @ 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Isaac Dickson Elementary School
Please plan to support our FEAST program and long-term food security through edible education by buying your spring plants at one of these upcoming plant sales!
We empower youth and families to grow, prepare, and enjoy fruits and vegetables through hands-on cooking and garden education. 

FEAST classes focus on:

  • Problem-solving, communication, and teamwork.
  • Increasing fresh, locally grown produce in everyday living.
  • Gaining confidence by exploring different ways to grow and prepare fresh produce.
  • Creating and changing recipes and substituting ingredients.
  • Learning how food and the environment affects the brain and body.
  • Connecting to Core Curriculum and Essential Standards in math, reading, writing, science, health, and nutrition.
SCHOOL BASED PROGRAMS
Saturday, May 11, 2024
Mother Runner’s Day Sale
May 11 all-day
Jus' Running

Mother Runner’s Day Sale 25% off

Take Your Momma to the Greenhouse
May 11 @ 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Ross Farm Nursery and Greenhouses
25% off all plants, Mother’s Day BANANZA! 🌷🥳 Come celebrate your momma at Ross Farm in our beautiful greenhouses on…
-Friday, May 10th from 9-6 pm
-Saturday, May 11th from 9-6 pm
All orders $100+ at the farm get a free, hanging, ceramic, moon-phase pot! Treat yourself, AND momma, to the gift of plant beauty this Mother’s Day!
Take Your Momma to the Greenhouse
May 11 @ 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Ross Farm

25% off all plants Mother’s Day BANANZA! 🌷🥳

Come celebrate your momma at Ross Farm (91 Holbrook Road) in our beautiful greenhouses on Friday, May 10th and Saturday, May 11th from 9 am-6 pm!

All orders $100+ at the farm get a free hanging, ceramic, moon-phase pot! Treat yourself AND momma to the gift of plant beauty this Mother’s Day!

Composting demonstration site
May 11 @ 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Jesse Israel & Sons Garden Center
Extension Master GardenerSM volunteers maintain a composting demonstration site at the Western NC Farmers Market, at the Jesse Israel & Sons Garden Center. The site will open for public demonstrations, beginning May 11, 2024.

When to Visit?
The site is staffed and provides demonstrations from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. four times during the growing season. The dates for the demos in 2024 are: May 11, June 15, August 10 and September 14.

What Will You See?
There are five different composting methods on display at the site. There is a single bin unit, a tumbling composter, a wood pallet bin and a classic 3-bin system — we also usually bring an example of vermiculture on each demo day.  The site is stocked with informational pamphlets on the how-to and why of composting and they complement the information available in the composting video on this website. Click here to view the video: Making and Using Compost at Home.

An additional Composting demonstration area is located at The Learning Garden at the Extension Office, 49 Mount Carmel Road, Asheville, NC 28806. Master Gardener volunteers are present in the garden on Wednesday mornings during the growing season.  Stop by the site any Wednesday morning, May – October to observe their work and ask questions.  The Rose, Cottage, and Dye Gardens have workdays on Monday mornings.  Click here for details about The Learning Garden’s in-person programs for 2024.

Mother’s Day Market
May 11 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Historic Johnson Farm

Historic Johnson Farm will host the fourth annual Mother’s Day Market on Saturday, May 11th from 10 AM-4 PM, rain or shine. This outdoor craft fair will showcase over 25 local vendors. A diverse array of crafts will be available, including jewelry, ceramics, leather items, wooden décor, baked goods and more.

The event will take place outdoors at the farm. Hot dogs (donated by Hot Dog World), chips, and drinks will be available for purchase to support the farm’s operating fund. Stop by the farm table to purchase a plant from the Johnson Farm gardeners or a farm logo item like a mug or magnet. The Heritage Weavers & Fiber Artists will have their gift shop open with plenty of fiber gifts for purchase. In addition to the numerous crafters, the historic farmhouse will be open for self-guided tours including the Johnson’s 1924 Model T that was recently returned to the farm.

Parking will be available across the street at Rugby Middle School, and volunteers from the Sheriff’s Office will help visitors cross the street. Handicapped parking is available at the farm.

Historic Johnson Farm is located at 3346 Haywood Road, Hendersonville, NC 28791. It features 15 acres of forest, fields, and streams, 10 historic structures, animals and picnic tables. The farm was a gift to schoolchildren and the community by the late Vernon and Leander Johnson.

For more information, call 828-891-6585 or visit www.historicjohnsonfarm.org or
www.facebook.com/HistoricJohnsonFarm/.

Saturday Seminar at The Learning Garden presents: Planning a Four Season Garden
May 11 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am
NC Cooperative Extension, Buncombe County Center

Enjoying the garden throughout the year is one benefit of living in western North Carolina. Come and explore the Four Seasons Garden at the Buncombe County Extension Center. This year-round garden has been designed to give color, blooms and interest through all four seasons.

Join Alison Arnold as she talks about the shrubs and small trees used as foundation plants to create this garden. We will examine their characteristics and interesting features that provide something to appreciate in spring, summer, fall, and winter.
The first part of the program will be held inside. We will then have the opportunity to go outside and see the many plants this garden has to offer.

Saturday Seminar: Planning A Four Season Garden
May 11 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Buncombe County Extension Center

IN-PERSON DEMONSTRATION

Location: NC Cooperative Extension , Buncombe County Center, 49 Mount Carmel Road , Asheville, NC 28806

Presenters: Alison Arnold, Buncombe County Extension Agent

Enjoying the garden throughout the year is one benefit of living in western North Carolina. Come and explore the Four Seasons Garden at the Buncombe County Extension Center. This year-round garden has been designed to give color, blooms and interest through all four seasons.

Join Alison Arnold as she will talk about the shrubs and small trees used as foundation plants to create this garden. We will examine their characteristics and interesting features that provide something to appreciate in spring, summer, fall and winter.

The first part of the program will be held inside. We will then have the opportunity to go outside and see the many plants this garden has to offer.

Please dress appropriately for being outside in the garden.

Registration: The talk is free, but seating is limited and registration is required. Please click on the link below to register. If you encounter problems registering or if you have questions, call 828-255-5522.

Mother’s Day Tea Party
May 11 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
The Omni Grove Park Inn

Whether you’re a daughter expressing gratitude, a partner recognizing the mother of your children, or a friend honoring the matriarchs in your life, our Mother’s Day Tea Party is the perfect way to say thank you. Our Mother’s Day Tea Party is a lavish affair designed to pamper and honor the special women in your life.

Picture you and your loved ones welcomed by the soft melodies of local live music. Savor the moment as you indulge in a delectable selection of hors d’oeuvres from delicate finger sandwiches to decadent pastries, expertly crafted to elevate your culinary experience. But the magic doesn’t stop there—tap into your internal artist and create pressed flower lanterns and personalized friendship bracelets to take home and savor the memories.

Join us in raising a teacup and purchase your ticket for this enchanting event, where we invite you to revel in the beauty of connection and create timeless memories that will be cherished for years to come.

*Tickets are non-refundable. Parking, accommodations and other amenities are not included with tickets purchased on Eventbrite. Cash bar will be available.

Looking for overnight accommodations? Click here to book the Mother’s Day Made Easy Package which includes accommodations, parking, admission to the Mother’s Day Tea Party, sparkling wine amenity, and late check out.

Sunday, May 12, 2024
Mother Runner’s Day Sale
May 12 all-day
Jus' Running

Mother Runner’s Day Sale 25% off

Mother’s Day Spring Birding
May 12 @ 8:00 am – 11:00 am
Hickory Nut Gap Farm

Explore the Farm and surrounding forest with birder Clifton Avery of Venture Birding Tours(@bigbaldbirder on IG) to spot the various species of birds that can be found in WNC!
Edge habitat birding, learn how planned grazing benefits the local avian population.
We will be hiking in uneven and sometimes steep terrain, so please wear sturdy shoes and be dressed for the weather.
Learn about our Holistic Land Management from Farm Director Virginia, and how this practice works in tandem with the local flora and fauna.
Spotted on the farm by our farm crew, staff & neighbors: bluebirds, a rainbow of finches, downy & hairy woodpeckers, vultures, cardinals, wood doves, robins, red-shouldered hawks, northern goshawks, swifts, egrets, blue herons, hermit thrush, golden-winged warblers and this last year we’ve had a resident Bald Eagle!
Attendees will break for an included biscuit brunch* from butcher Brian’s kitchen, as birding is hungry work. When attending classes, you will receive a 5% discount in the Farm Store & Butchery!
A portion of the proceeds for this event support our activities as a Savory Hub, and further the reach of regenerative agriculture.

Mother’s Day Native Plant Swap and Sale
May 12 @ 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
39 Courtland Ave #39, Asheville, NC 28801, USA

 

Parking: On the street, or at the North Star Academy corner of Montford & Courtland

On May 12, we’ll hold our annual Native Plant Swap at Charlotte Caplan’s house on Courtland Avenue, in the Montford neighborhood of Asheville. This is our main fundraiser for the year, so come out to have fun choosing plants for your garden and support BRNN.

Our emphasis is on plants that are native to the Southern Appalachians. We’ll have foamflower, wild ginger, bloodroot, green and gold, bee-balm, mountain mint, joe-pye weed, sweetshrub, pawpaw, and many others. But we’ll accept non-natives too, even houseplants and vegetable starts, as long as they are not considered invasive in NC – see list on https://www.inaturalist.org/guides/2455 . Just a note—vegetable starts can only be swapped for vegetable starts.

No pots? Just save plastic containers from the recycling bin. Medium-sized yoghurt, cottage cheese, and sour cream pots are ideal. Poke a few holes in the bottom and voila! You can cut up a pot up to make labels, too.

No plants to contribute? No problem. We’ll have a large stock for sale at a modest $4 each.

QUESTIONS? Contact Charlotte at [email protected]

 

Mother’s Day Tea Party
May 12 @ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum

Tabletops of 2–6 only

This afternoon tea party features local indulgences from Asheville Tea Company, as well as fresh tea sandwiches, scones, fruit, and house-made pastries.

The afternoon also includes the opportunity to design and create your own Fascinator Hat and take a stroll through the galleries. Limited seating remains, so reserve your spot before it’s too late!

Monday, May 13, 2024
Volunteer: Grace Covenant Community Garden
May 13 all-day
YWCA of Asheville

Spring has sprung, and at the YWCA that means that our talented Nutrition team is cooking up new ways to serve fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables to the children in our Early Learning and Empowerment Child Care programs. We are so grateful to be partnering with the wonderful volunteers who operate Grace Covenant’s Community Garden to receive produce grown specifically for our kitchen! The YWCA has been partnering with Grace Covenant for three years, and we have received over 1000 pounds of healthy, local produce from the garden.

YWCA Nutrition Specialist Melinda Aponte works hard to make the most of the bounty from Grace Covenant, and she also nurtures our own YWCA garden to teach kiddos in our childcare programs healthy habits and get them in the garden. Love the idea of helping to feed children fresh, healthy foods? Volunteer with the YWCA Nutrition team this spring and summer to help out in the YW garden space.

Tuesday, May 14, 2024
Memorial Day Weekend Outdoor Adventures
May 14 all-day
Nantahala Outdoor Center
Sand Hill Nursery Workday
May 14 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Sand Hill Nursery at the Buncombe County Sports Park

Join us for weekly workdays in the Sand Hill native tree nursery. Tasks vary and often include repotting, weeding, mulching, and other special projects to improve infrastructure and function.

Need to know

Please come dressed in work clothes with close toed shoes. Bring water and sun protection. All other gear and supplies are provided.

Promote Your Local Pollinators with Bee City
May 14 @ 6:00 pm
Skyland/South Buncombe Library

This winter and spring join us for an introduction to pollinators presented by Bee City USA Asheville. Pollinators are under threat, but there’s plenty we can do to help right in our backyards.

We’ll talk about:

  • What is pollination
  • The importance of pollination
  • Pollinators & their identification
  • The importance of pollinator habitat

The presenter for this program will be Athena Rayne Anderson who holds PhD in Ecology with a focus on native pollinators. Athena is also a Certified Pollinator Steward through the Pollinator Partnership and works with Bee City USA Asheville to promote the value of native pollinator plants.

 

These programs are free and everyone is invited.

Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Memorial Day Weekend Outdoor Adventures
May 15 all-day
Nantahala Outdoor Center
Volunteer: Grace Covenant Community Garden
May 15 all-day
YWCA of Asheville

Spring has sprung, and at the YWCA that means that our talented Nutrition team is cooking up new ways to serve fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables to the children in our Early Learning and Empowerment Child Care programs. We are so grateful to be partnering with the wonderful volunteers who operate Grace Covenant’s Community Garden to receive produce grown specifically for our kitchen! The YWCA has been partnering with Grace Covenant for three years, and we have received over 1000 pounds of healthy, local produce from the garden.

YWCA Nutrition Specialist Melinda Aponte works hard to make the most of the bounty from Grace Covenant, and she also nurtures our own YWCA garden to teach kiddos in our childcare programs healthy habits and get them in the garden. Love the idea of helping to feed children fresh, healthy foods? Volunteer with the YWCA Nutrition team this spring and summer to help out in the YW garden space.

Kids Deserve Justice RESCHEDULED May 21
May 15 @ 4:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Rabbit Rabbit

Make a difference in the lives of local children! Join Pisgah Legal Services at Rabbit Rabbit in downtown Asheville for an evening of live music, featuring Jane Kramer and the band Rooster. Take part in family-friendly fun, a silent auction and more at this outdoor event for all ages. By participating, you contribute to our Children’s Law Program which provides crucial support to kids in our communities.

Pisgah Legal Services is a nonprofit providing free civil legal aid, anti-poverty advocacy, and access to health care to people with low incomes in Western North Carolina. Kids Deserve Justice supports our Children’s Law Program, which helps disadvantaged children avoid unsafe housing conditions and homelessness, access essential services such as medical care, and escape abuse. Legal intervention can stop an immediate crisis and improve local children’s long-term futures.

In 2023, we served over 23,000 people—more than 7,000 of them children—across the WNC mountain region.

Tickets are $25/person in advance, $30 at the door. Kids age 12 and under get in FREE. Tickets include event admission and 1 complimentary drink ticket.

Thursday, May 16, 2024
Memorial Day Weekend Outdoor Adventures
May 16 all-day
Nantahala Outdoor Center