Upcoming events and things to do in Asheville, NC. Below is a list of events for festivals, concerts, art exhibitions, group meetups and more.
Interested in adding an event to our calendar? Please click the green “Post Your Event” button below.
Friday, October
25, 2019
www.wandsforwildlife.org
Since March of 2017 the
Wands for Wildlife program has grown and spread all over the world! Engaging people of all ages and from all walks of life to take action, help the planet and save wild lives.
One Wander (wand donor) from Poland shared, “I am so happy that good people still exist in the world.”
From a Preschool teacher in Illinois, “I was unsure if my preschoolers would understand conservation and pollution, but starting with taking care of animals was the perfect way to start the unit since it was a more concrete idea and something they had prior knowledge about.”
Link to post that went up announcing the Appalachian Wildlife Refuge ‘Wands for Wildlife’ drive for October has begun….

Restoring and protecting wetland forests in the US South will provide extensive financial, social, and environmental benefits. We hope that you’ll visit the Wetland Forest Priority Maps and explore the information and stories found within.

We’ve highlighted fourteen potential watersheds to prioritize for conservation work in wetland forests, including:
- The Lower Pee Dee Watershed in coastal South Carolina and North Carolina
- The Apalachicola Watershed in the panhandle of Florida and inland Georgia
- The Atchafalaya Watershed in Louisiana
- The Mobile-Bay Tombigbee Watershed in Alabama
These are the watersheds that we may look to when developing relationships with landowners, working with community members on flood resilience, or improving wildlife habitat in the region.
The Wetland Forest Priority Maps identify high priority watersheds based on wildlife, human communities, and threats. Wa

THE FAIR IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER!
Join us for 3 days of fun for the entire family! See spinning, knitting, weaving, felting, sheep, goats and much more! Join a workshop class to improve your skills or just enjoy browsing and shopping the beautiful and unique apparel and wearables.
Saturday, October
26, 2019
The Recycling Partnership announced the public beta launch of DIYSigns, the debut of a free online resource that anyone can use to help people know what to throw into the recycling. Whether at home, at the office, at school, at a sports stadium, or anywhere, education is needed to show what is recyclable and where.
“We know that consumer confusion is one of the top reasons why trash still ends up in recycling bins and carts. Our community partners have asked for our help in creating free and customizable posters, labels and signs and we were happy to deliver. Anything we can do to help public and private sector recycling succeed is a boost for the industry,” said Keefe Harrison, CEO of The Recycling Partnership.
DIYSigns is an online tool with editable templates available in a variety of sizes from a bumper sticker to a poster – to fit just right wherever it’s needed.
Check out DIYSigns!

Now through Nov. 15:
Help Make a Local Family’s Table a Bit Brighter and Donate a Turkey to our
TURKEY DRIVE!
|
|
This holiday season, we are hoping to fill families’ tables across our region with the staples that we all enjoy during a special holiday meal.
Food with Hope and Dignity
One reality of food banking is that food banks commonly receive holiday-specific food donations after a holiday has already occurred, making it difficult for food banks to provide these food items in a timely way to our neighbors seeking food assistance. We want families across our 16 counties to be able to celebrate the holiday with the rest of the community, and with that hope in mind, we are looking for the community to step up and help us eliminate one more worry for families about how they will fill their own holiday tables.
Donate a Turkey for the Holidays
When you are out shopping, we encourage you to pick up an extra frozen turkey to donate to MANNA! We know that hunger is a daily worry for tens of thousands of people across our region, and something as simple as a holiday turkey can truly give the gift of happiness and hope to people living through the daily experience of food insecurity.
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You might have heard about the need to recruit more foster parents in Buncombe County. “We currently have 300 kids in foster care in Buncombe County,” says Heather Hill-Pavone, Buncombe County Licensing Social Worker. “Only some of those kids get to stay in Buncombe County as we only have 100 licensed foster homes with BCHHS.” We need your help to let people in our community know about the upcoming Foster Parent Training Classes happening in 2020!
These courses begin the licensure process for becoming a foster parent. They are offered quarterly, for anyone in Buncombe County, who is interested in becoming a foster parent. While the next round of Foster Parent Training Classes starts on September 11, the classes for 2020 are NOW on the calendar! You can sign up by clicking this link.
2020 Schedule:
- Winter Classes: Jan 16, 2020 through Feb 20, 2020 (Thursdays) at Buncombe County Health and Human Services in Downtown Asheville
- Spring Classes: March 25, 2020 through April 29, 2020 (Wednesdays) at Biltmore Church in Arden, NC
- Summer Classes: June 2, 2020 through July 7, 2020 (Tuesdays) at Biltmore Church in Arden
- Fall Classes: September 14, 2020 through October 19, 2020 (Mondays) at Buncombe County Health and Human Services in Downtown Asheville

The Asheville Marathon began 8 years ago with only a marathon option, which sold out quickly in its first year, and again the next year. A nationwide interest in half marathons was becoming popular, so for the 3rd year a half marathon option was added. In the 4th year, the event expanded to two days of races and a half marathon on each day. To add a twist in the 5th year the Backyard to Vineyard Challenge was created, where participants race in the Saturday half and Sunday full. The challenge was very popular and for the 6th anniversary, Backyard to Backyard Challenge was added, where participants run both the Saturday half and the Sunday half. Now in its 8th year both days of races, including the challenges, are expected to be sold out, with 3,100 participants.
The Asheville Marathon & Half at Biltmore Estate is held on and run entirely on the grounds of the Biltmore Estate, where runners will wind through paved and packed dirt roads to see hardwood forest, meadows, gardens, and extraordinary views of the Biltmore House and Estate. This is the original Asheville Marathon and first race of its kind to come to Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina; don’t miss out on being part of history at Biltmore Estate.
For more information about the Asheville Marathon & Half at Biltmore Estate, visit
https://ashevillemarathon.com/. Follow the race on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
This Fall outdoor market will feature over 25 local artists and small businesses. Watercolor paintings, wire bonsai tree art, jewelry, organic clothing, natural home cleaning products, locally sourced seasonings and herbs, leather goods, home décor, Hemp/CBD Products and much more!
October 26th 10am-4pm
www.wandsforwildlife.org
Since March of 2017 the
Wands for Wildlife program has grown and spread all over the world! Engaging people of all ages and from all walks of life to take action, help the planet and save wild lives.
One Wander (wand donor) from Poland shared, “I am so happy that good people still exist in the world.”
From a Preschool teacher in Illinois, “I was unsure if my preschoolers would understand conservation and pollution, but starting with taking care of animals was the perfect way to start the unit since it was a more concrete idea and something they had prior knowledge about.”
Link to post that went up announcing the Appalachian Wildlife Refuge ‘Wands for Wildlife’ drive for October has begun….
You adult child won’t speak to you? Find support through our weekly meetings, every Saturday, Sept. 7 – Nov. 9, 2019, 8:30 am to 9:45 am, at First Congregational Church Library, 1735 Fifth Avenue West. It’s not about who’s right or wrong. It’s about getting on with life.

Costumes are welcomed and encouraged for a fall doubles tennis tournament at Aston Park Tennis Center, 336 Hilliard Ave., Oct. 26-27.
The cost for tournament participants is $20/person for one event or $30/person for two events. Spectators are free!
Schedule of events – Two Divisions per day, 3.5 and below, 4.0 and above
- Oct. 26, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. – Men’s and Women’s Doubles
- Oct. 27, 1 – 5 p.m. – Mixed Doubles
Prizes will be given for best team costume!
Registration deadline is October 24. Use this form. For more information, call Aston Park Tennis Center at 828-251-4074.

THE FAIR IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER!
Join us for 3 days of fun for the entire family! See spinning, knitting, weaving, felting, sheep, goats and much more! Join a workshop class to improve your skills or just enjoy browsing and shopping the beautiful and unique apparel and wearables.

Our annual Halloween family festival offers spooky arts & crafts, games and face painting, a hay maze, and educational animal encounters throughout the day. Don’t forget to dress in your best costume for the costume contests at 12:30pm and 4pm!
Join us for a free watercolor class with local artist Joan Doyle. Class limited to 10 participants – teens over 15 and adults. No group sign ups please. All materials provided.
September 20-21, 27-28, October 4-5, 11-12, 18-19, 25-26
Open 7:30 – 11:30 p.m. Advance Tickets Required.
It’s safe, scary fun for the whole family! Kids will enjoy the Halloween shows and trick-or-treating. And take a chilling journey into the night on the Ghost Train—if you dare!
Sunday, October
27, 2019
The Asheville Community Band opens our 2019-2020 season with something very special: our 40th Anniversary Celebration Concert! That’s right, 40 years of community-based musical excellence, serving players and listeners in the Asheville area!
The Asheville Community Band is a community-based symphonic winds band for musicians of all ages and professions. Now composed of over ninety musicians (with more than a dozen new players in Fall 2019!), the band truly represents Western North Carolina with members representing six counties. The all-volunteer band ranges in age from high school to octogenarian. Our 40th Anniversary Celebration Concert will celebrate three things: Great conductors, great music, and great community-based musicianship. Tickets are $12, students and children with paying adults are free.
The Recycling Partnership announced the public beta launch of DIYSigns, the debut of a free online resource that anyone can use to help people know what to throw into the recycling. Whether at home, at the office, at school, at a sports stadium, or anywhere, education is needed to show what is recyclable and where.
“We know that consumer confusion is one of the top reasons why trash still ends up in recycling bins and carts. Our community partners have asked for our help in creating free and customizable posters, labels and signs and we were happy to deliver. Anything we can do to help public and private sector recycling succeed is a boost for the industry,” said Keefe Harrison, CEO of The Recycling Partnership.
DIYSigns is an online tool with editable templates available in a variety of sizes from a bumper sticker to a poster – to fit just right wherever it’s needed.
Check out DIYSigns!

Now through Nov. 15:
Help Make a Local Family’s Table a Bit Brighter and Donate a Turkey to our
TURKEY DRIVE!
|
|
This holiday season, we are hoping to fill families’ tables across our region with the staples that we all enjoy during a special holiday meal.
Food with Hope and Dignity
One reality of food banking is that food banks commonly receive holiday-specific food donations after a holiday has already occurred, making it difficult for food banks to provide these food items in a timely way to our neighbors seeking food assistance. We want families across our 16 counties to be able to celebrate the holiday with the rest of the community, and with that hope in mind, we are looking for the community to step up and help us eliminate one more worry for families about how they will fill their own holiday tables.
Donate a Turkey for the Holidays
When you are out shopping, we encourage you to pick up an extra frozen turkey to donate to MANNA! We know that hunger is a daily worry for tens of thousands of people across our region, and something as simple as a holiday turkey can truly give the gift of happiness and hope to people living through the daily experience of food insecurity.
|
|
www.wandsforwildlife.org
Since March of 2017 the
Wands for Wildlife program has grown and spread all over the world! Engaging people of all ages and from all walks of life to take action, help the planet and save wild lives.
One Wander (wand donor) from Poland shared, “I am so happy that good people still exist in the world.”
From a Preschool teacher in Illinois, “I was unsure if my preschoolers would understand conservation and pollution, but starting with taking care of animals was the perfect way to start the unit since it was a more concrete idea and something they had prior knowledge about.”
Link to post that went up announcing the Appalachian Wildlife Refuge ‘Wands for Wildlife’ drive for October has begun….

THE FAIR IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER!
Join us for 3 days of fun for the entire family! See spinning, knitting, weaving, felting, sheep, goats and much more! Join a workshop class to improve your skills or just enjoy browsing and shopping the beautiful and unique apparel and wearables.
It’s our favorite time of year again! (Who are we kidding? We love to celebrate Geekiness ALL times of the year!)
We are happy to invite all of our Nerd Sanctuary family & friends to ComicFest 2019 Morgan’s Comics style! FREE Comics, Candy, Locally Baked Treats, Costume Contest, Local Artists & two musical Performances.
The Costume Contest is at 6:30- tell your friends!
**We have hundreds of limited edition, rare & Chase POPS! instock.
***We have many different prizes & promotions going for that day! Games & Contests- please message us or come by for details.

Costumes are welcomed and encouraged for a fall doubles tennis tournament at Aston Park Tennis Center, 336 Hilliard Ave., Oct. 26-27.
The cost for tournament participants is $20/person for one event or $30/person for two events. Spectators are free!
Schedule of events – Two Divisions per day, 3.5 and below, 4.0 and above
- Oct. 26, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. – Men’s and Women’s Doubles
- Oct. 27, 1 – 5 p.m. – Mixed Doubles
Prizes will be given for best team costume!
Registration deadline is October 24. Use this form. For more information, call Aston Park Tennis Center at 828-251-4074.
Monday, October
28, 2019

Now through Nov. 15:
Help Make a Local Family’s Table a Bit Brighter and Donate a Turkey to our
TURKEY DRIVE!
|
|
This holiday season, we are hoping to fill families’ tables across our region with the staples that we all enjoy during a special holiday meal.
Food with Hope and Dignity
One reality of food banking is that food banks commonly receive holiday-specific food donations after a holiday has already occurred, making it difficult for food banks to provide these food items in a timely way to our neighbors seeking food assistance. We want families across our 16 counties to be able to celebrate the holiday with the rest of the community, and with that hope in mind, we are looking for the community to step up and help us eliminate one more worry for families about how they will fill their own holiday tables.
Donate a Turkey for the Holidays
When you are out shopping, we encourage you to pick up an extra frozen turkey to donate to MANNA! We know that hunger is a daily worry for tens of thousands of people across our region, and something as simple as a holiday turkey can truly give the gift of happiness and hope to people living through the daily experience of food insecurity.
|
|
www.wandsforwildlife.org
Since March of 2017 the
Wands for Wildlife program has grown and spread all over the world! Engaging people of all ages and from all walks of life to take action, help the planet and save wild lives.
One Wander (wand donor) from Poland shared, “I am so happy that good people still exist in the world.”
From a Preschool teacher in Illinois, “I was unsure if my preschoolers would understand conservation and pollution, but starting with taking care of animals was the perfect way to start the unit since it was a more concrete idea and something they had prior knowledge about.”
Link to post that went up announcing the Appalachian Wildlife Refuge ‘Wands for Wildlife’ drive for October has begun….
Tuesday, October
29, 2019

Now through Nov. 15:
Help Make a Local Family’s Table a Bit Brighter and Donate a Turkey to our
TURKEY DRIVE!
|
|
This holiday season, we are hoping to fill families’ tables across our region with the staples that we all enjoy during a special holiday meal.
Food with Hope and Dignity
One reality of food banking is that food banks commonly receive holiday-specific food donations after a holiday has already occurred, making it difficult for food banks to provide these food items in a timely way to our neighbors seeking food assistance. We want families across our 16 counties to be able to celebrate the holiday with the rest of the community, and with that hope in mind, we are looking for the community to step up and help us eliminate one more worry for families about how they will fill their own holiday tables.
Donate a Turkey for the Holidays
When you are out shopping, we encourage you to pick up an extra frozen turkey to donate to MANNA! We know that hunger is a daily worry for tens of thousands of people across our region, and something as simple as a holiday turkey can truly give the gift of happiness and hope to people living through the daily experience of food insecurity.
|
|
www.wandsforwildlife.org
Since March of 2017 the
Wands for Wildlife program has grown and spread all over the world! Engaging people of all ages and from all walks of life to take action, help the planet and save wild lives.
One Wander (wand donor) from Poland shared, “I am so happy that good people still exist in the world.”
From a Preschool teacher in Illinois, “I was unsure if my preschoolers would understand conservation and pollution, but starting with taking care of animals was the perfect way to start the unit since it was a more concrete idea and something they had prior knowledge about.”
Link to post that went up announcing the Appalachian Wildlife Refuge ‘Wands for Wildlife’ drive for October has begun….
The Buncombe County library system is trying to get into the Asheville Holiday Parade this year and we need your help! We’re building large format puppet hands and small props to support our theme and we need all of the creative help we can get. We’ll be having creator’s workshops on Tuesday evenings beginning September 24 at Pack Memorial Library. We’ll also have stations at branches starting in October for origami bird making. All of the birds made will be a big part of our holiday parade! If you like to work in teams, get your hands dirty, and get crafty come join us, everyone is welcome! Open workshops, drop in and help when you can on posted dates
Wednesday, October
30, 2019

Now through Nov. 15:
Help Make a Local Family’s Table a Bit Brighter and Donate a Turkey to our
TURKEY DRIVE!
|
|
This holiday season, we are hoping to fill families’ tables across our region with the staples that we all enjoy during a special holiday meal.
Food with Hope and Dignity
One reality of food banking is that food banks commonly receive holiday-specific food donations after a holiday has already occurred, making it difficult for food banks to provide these food items in a timely way to our neighbors seeking food assistance. We want families across our 16 counties to be able to celebrate the holiday with the rest of the community, and with that hope in mind, we are looking for the community to step up and help us eliminate one more worry for families about how they will fill their own holiday tables.
Donate a Turkey for the Holidays
When you are out shopping, we encourage you to pick up an extra frozen turkey to donate to MANNA! We know that hunger is a daily worry for tens of thousands of people across our region, and something as simple as a holiday turkey can truly give the gift of happiness and hope to people living through the daily experience of food insecurity.
|
|
www.wandsforwildlife.org
Since March of 2017 the
Wands for Wildlife program has grown and spread all over the world! Engaging people of all ages and from all walks of life to take action, help the planet and save wild lives.
One Wander (wand donor) from Poland shared, “I am so happy that good people still exist in the world.”
From a Preschool teacher in Illinois, “I was unsure if my preschoolers would understand conservation and pollution, but starting with taking care of animals was the perfect way to start the unit since it was a more concrete idea and something they had prior knowledge about.”
Link to post that went up announcing the Appalachian Wildlife Refuge ‘Wands for Wildlife’ drive for October has begun….
Join the Friends of the North Carolina Room and researcher Benjamin Porter as he shares information about long-time Asheville-based photographer Herbert Pelton, famous for his panoramic shots of the city in a time of rapid change and modernization.
