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.

Saturday, December 26, 2020
Guided Hikes: Grandfather Mountain
Dec 26 all-day
Grandfather Mountain

Interpretive Rangers are available to lead guided hikes, bird walks and wildflower walks for families and groups that visit Grandfather Mountain. To see the mountain in this whole new way, you can schedule an appointment by calling the interpretive ranger office at (828) 737-0833 or emailing [email protected].

Please note that walks and hikes are available for all ability levels, but hikes that take you into Grandfather Mountain’s backcountry require careful footwork, proper footwear and the ability to handle heights. All backcountry hikes require participants to traverse ladders and use cables to navigate steep sections of the trail.

Interpretive Rangers are available year-round (weather permitting) to lead guided hikes to:

MacRae Peak ($15 + park admission)
Attic Window ($25 + park admission)
Calloway Peak ($35 + park admission)

Reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance, and a minimum of two participants per hike are required. For more information, please call (828) 737-0833.

Sunday, December 27, 2020
UNC Asheville Courses for Community Residents Great Smokies Writing Program
Dec 27 all-day
Online

The GSWP, now celebrating its 20th year of workshops with some of Western North Carolina’s finest authors, is offering five-week, 10-week and 15-week courses including poetry, prose, feature-writing, editing and revision. These Spring 2021 Semester courses have start dates ranging from late January to mid March. Registration is now open, with course descriptions, instructor bios, cost information and more, available at greatsmokies.unca.edu.

Elizabeth Lutyens teaches a group of students.

Monday, December 28, 2020
UNC Asheville Courses for Community Residents Great Smokies Writing Program
Dec 28 all-day
Online

The GSWP, now celebrating its 20th year of workshops with some of Western North Carolina’s finest authors, is offering five-week, 10-week and 15-week courses including poetry, prose, feature-writing, editing and revision. These Spring 2021 Semester courses have start dates ranging from late January to mid March. Registration is now open, with course descriptions, instructor bios, cost information and more, available at greatsmokies.unca.edu.

Elizabeth Lutyens teaches a group of students.

Tuesday, December 29, 2020
UNC Asheville Courses for Community Residents Great Smokies Writing Program
Dec 29 all-day
Online

The GSWP, now celebrating its 20th year of workshops with some of Western North Carolina’s finest authors, is offering five-week, 10-week and 15-week courses including poetry, prose, feature-writing, editing and revision. These Spring 2021 Semester courses have start dates ranging from late January to mid March. Registration is now open, with course descriptions, instructor bios, cost information and more, available at greatsmokies.unca.edu.

Elizabeth Lutyens teaches a group of students.

Robert’s Totally Rad Trivia
Dec 29 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
French Broad River Brewery

Totally Rad Trivia comes to French Broad River Brewing starting this Tuesday at 6:00PM! The same favorite local Pop Culture Trivia show mixed with the delicious brews of French Broad. Plus Papa Nicks Pizza right next door! Drink and Food Specials will be available.
The show is completely social distanced and we will all be doing everything we can to make it a safe and enjoyable experience, so the only thing you’ll have to worry about is how many times I’ll reference a show you’ve never watched.
Seating is limited due to current pandemic restrictions so message me to reserve a table for you and your team

Wednesday, December 30, 2020
UNC Asheville Courses for Community Residents Great Smokies Writing Program
Dec 30 all-day
Online

The GSWP, now celebrating its 20th year of workshops with some of Western North Carolina’s finest authors, is offering five-week, 10-week and 15-week courses including poetry, prose, feature-writing, editing and revision. These Spring 2021 Semester courses have start dates ranging from late January to mid March. Registration is now open, with course descriptions, instructor bios, cost information and more, available at greatsmokies.unca.edu.

Elizabeth Lutyens teaches a group of students.

Robert’s Totally Rad Trivia
Dec 30 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
12 Bones

Image may contain: drink, text that says 'Totally Rad BEERS, BBQ, & Trivia TRIVIA ALL IN ONE PLACE Every Wednesday At 7PM!!! 12 BONES BREWING'

Totally Rad Trivia invades 12 Bones South every Wednesday evening for two hours of Pop Culture Trivia. Grab a beer, some BBQ and buckle in for some fun and challenging Trivia.

Thursday, December 31, 2020
UNC Asheville Courses for Community Residents Great Smokies Writing Program
Dec 31 all-day
Online

The GSWP, now celebrating its 20th year of workshops with some of Western North Carolina’s finest authors, is offering five-week, 10-week and 15-week courses including poetry, prose, feature-writing, editing and revision. These Spring 2021 Semester courses have start dates ranging from late January to mid March. Registration is now open, with course descriptions, instructor bios, cost information and more, available at greatsmokies.unca.edu.

Elizabeth Lutyens teaches a group of students.

Mitch’s Totally Rad Trivia
Dec 31 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
The One Stop at Asheville Music Hall

Scoop: Mitch's Totally Rad TRIVIA

Mitch Fortune brings you an irreverent and nostalgia filled night of pop culture trivia every Thursday night 7-9 pm at the One Stop in Downtown Asheville. A potpourri of movies, music, TV show trivia just for you!

Friday, January 1, 2021
UNC Asheville Courses for Community Residents Great Smokies Writing Program
Jan 1 all-day
Online

The GSWP, now celebrating its 20th year of workshops with some of Western North Carolina’s finest authors, is offering five-week, 10-week and 15-week courses including poetry, prose, feature-writing, editing and revision. These Spring 2021 Semester courses have start dates ranging from late January to mid March. Registration is now open, with course descriptions, instructor bios, cost information and more, available at greatsmokies.unca.edu.

Elizabeth Lutyens teaches a group of students.

Saturday, January 2, 2021
UNC Asheville Courses for Community Residents Great Smokies Writing Program
Jan 2 all-day
Online

The GSWP, now celebrating its 20th year of workshops with some of Western North Carolina’s finest authors, is offering five-week, 10-week and 15-week courses including poetry, prose, feature-writing, editing and revision. These Spring 2021 Semester courses have start dates ranging from late January to mid March. Registration is now open, with course descriptions, instructor bios, cost information and more, available at greatsmokies.unca.edu.

Elizabeth Lutyens teaches a group of students.

Sunday, January 3, 2021
UNC Asheville Courses for Community Residents Great Smokies Writing Program
Jan 3 all-day
Online

The GSWP, now celebrating its 20th year of workshops with some of Western North Carolina’s finest authors, is offering five-week, 10-week and 15-week courses including poetry, prose, feature-writing, editing and revision. These Spring 2021 Semester courses have start dates ranging from late January to mid March. Registration is now open, with course descriptions, instructor bios, cost information and more, available at greatsmokies.unca.edu.

Elizabeth Lutyens teaches a group of students.

Saturday, January 9, 2021
UNC Asheville Courses for Community Residents Great Smokies Writing Program
Jan 9 all-day
Online

The GSWP, now celebrating its 20th year of workshops with some of Western North Carolina’s finest authors, is offering five-week, 10-week and 15-week courses including poetry, prose, feature-writing, editing and revision. These Spring 2021 Semester courses have start dates ranging from late January to mid March. Registration is now open, with course descriptions, instructor bios, cost information and more, available at greatsmokies.unca.edu.

Elizabeth Lutyens teaches a group of students.

Exploratory hike Pump Gap
Jan 9 @ 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Ingles Weaverville · Weaverville, NC

I’ve done part of this hike and it’s nice but I haven’t done the Pump Gap section. So I don’t know what this part of the trail is like other than it will be downhill and probably rocky. It should be about 3.5 miles one way but could be more.

This is a car shuttle hike meaning we leave cars at each end of the trail head. The hike is located in the Hot Springs so we could possibly have a meal after (but would be based upon COVID restrictions).

Let’s meet at the Ingles in Weaverville (the one across the street from Publix) at 9:45 with a departure at 10 a.m. Park near the gas station, road side. I have a white Hyundai. Suggested car pool donation is $5 each. If you carpool please wear a mask in the car and bring hand sanitizer.

We will drive out to the trailhead in Hot Springs, leave a car and then drive back up to the other trailhead. This part will involve carpooling so please make sure you are ok with that.

Once hiking, we immediately start uphill and this is one of the hardest parts of the hike but it’s short. We will travel along the AT with a gentle uphill most of the way, but it is scenic.

Eventually we will come to the intersection with the Pump Gap trail and take it back down to the trail head. Who knows what the trail holds? It’s about 1 mile down this section.

Please wear proper hiking shoes, hiking poles are recommended. We won’t be stopping for lunch so bring a snack if you want. Don’t forget the water.

I don’t put attendee limits on my hikes so you don’t have to worry about having a spot. Therefore, you can sign up a day before the hike.

Sunday, January 10, 2021
UNC Asheville Courses for Community Residents Great Smokies Writing Program
Jan 10 all-day
Online

The GSWP, now celebrating its 20th year of workshops with some of Western North Carolina’s finest authors, is offering five-week, 10-week and 15-week courses including poetry, prose, feature-writing, editing and revision. These Spring 2021 Semester courses have start dates ranging from late January to mid March. Registration is now open, with course descriptions, instructor bios, cost information and more, available at greatsmokies.unca.edu.

Elizabeth Lutyens teaches a group of students.

Saturday, January 16, 2021
UNC Asheville Courses for Community Residents Great Smokies Writing Program
Jan 16 all-day
Online

The GSWP, now celebrating its 20th year of workshops with some of Western North Carolina’s finest authors, is offering five-week, 10-week and 15-week courses including poetry, prose, feature-writing, editing and revision. These Spring 2021 Semester courses have start dates ranging from late January to mid March. Registration is now open, with course descriptions, instructor bios, cost information and more, available at greatsmokies.unca.edu.

Elizabeth Lutyens teaches a group of students.

Sunday, January 17, 2021
FREE Random Acts of Fringe: Flying Solo Workshop Writing
Jan 17 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Online w/ The Asheville Fringe Festival

Flying-Solo-sq.jpg

One of the most unique things about The Asheville Fringe Arts Festival is our Random Acts of Fringe. These short, site-specific performances are mostly free and open to the public. This year, most of our RAFs are happening on social media, so be sure to follow us there for more information about these shows.

Writers at Home
Jan 17 @ 3:00 pm
Online w/ Malaprop's

The Writers at Home reading series features work from UNCA’s Great Smokies Writing Program and The Great Smokies Review.  RSVP here to receive an email on the day of the event with the link you’ll need to attend.

Like most of our events, this event is free. If you decide to attend and to purchase the authors’ books, we ask that you purchase from Malaprop’s. When you do this you are supporting our work and keeping more dollars in our community. If you would like to support us without purchasing a book, you may purchase a gift card or make a donation of any amount. Thank you!

Wednesday, January 20, 2021
Schitt’s Creek Themed Trivia Night!
Jan 20 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Catawba Brewing Company - South Slope
Join us for Schitt’s Creek Trivia night!
Just a reminder, all of our tables are 6 feet apart and sanitized after use. Masks are required. And the garage doors will be open for proper airflow so bring a jacket in case it’s a little chilly! You will text in your answers to avoid contact with our hosts! See you there 🙂
Sunday, January 24, 2021
FREE Random Acts of Fringe: Flying Solo Workshop Performance
Jan 24 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Online w/ Asheville Fringe Arts Festival

Flying-Solo-sq.jpg

One of the most unique things about The Asheville Fringe Arts Festival is our Random Acts of Fringe. These short, site-specific performances are mostly free and open to the public. This year, most of our RAFs are happening on social media, so be sure to follow us there for more information about these shows.

Wednesday, February 3, 2021
Robert’s Totally Rad Trivia
Feb 3 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
12 Bones Brewing

Totally Rad Trivia invades 12 Bones South every Wednesday evening for two hours of Pop Culture Trivia. Grab a beer, some BBQ and buckle in for some fun and challenging Trivia.
Wednesday, February 10, 2021
Robert’s Totally Rad Trivia
Feb 10 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
12 Bones Brewing

Totally Rad Trivia invades 12 Bones South every Wednesday evening for two hours of Pop Culture Trivia. Grab a beer, some BBQ and buckle in for some fun and challenging Trivia.
Wednesday, February 17, 2021
Robert’s Totally Rad Trivia
Feb 17 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
12 Bones Brewing

Totally Rad Trivia invades 12 Bones South every Wednesday evening for two hours of Pop Culture Trivia. Grab a beer, some BBQ and buckle in for some fun and challenging Trivia.
Wednesday, February 24, 2021
Robert’s Totally Rad Trivia
Feb 24 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
12 Bones Brewing

Totally Rad Trivia invades 12 Bones South every Wednesday evening for two hours of Pop Culture Trivia. Grab a beer, some BBQ and buckle in for some fun and challenging Trivia.
UNCA Visiting Writers Series Claudia Rankine
Feb 24 @ 7:00 pm
Online

Each year, the Department of English brings visiting writers across genres for readings and master classes with students, hosted by our Writer-in-Residence, Wiley Cash. In recent years, the department has hosted several award-winning writers, including Ben Fountain, Camille Dungy, David Ebershoff, Chrystal Hana Kim, Frank X Walker, and many others.

http://claudiarankine.com/

Acclaimed poet, essayist and Guggenheim Fellow, Claudia Rankine, will present a reading and talk via zoom on Wednesday, February 24th at 7:00 PM. One of the most prominent voices in literary and critical race studies, Rankine is the author of Just Us: An American Conversation (2020), and six collections of poetry, including Citizen: An American Lyric and Don’t Let Me Be Lonely; three plays including HELP, which premiered in March of 2020 at The Shed, NYC, The White Card, which premiered in February 2018 (ArtsEmerson/American Repertory Theater) and published by Graywolf Press in 2019, and Provenance of Beauty: A South Bronx Travelogue; as well as numerous video collaborations. She is also the co-editor of several anthologies including The Racial Imaginary: Writers on Race in the Life of the Mind (FENCE, 2015). In 2016, she co-founded The Racial Imaginary Institute (TRII).

Saturday, February 27, 2021
A stroll through Warren Wilson
Feb 27 @ 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Ingles on Tunnel Road

We will meet at the Ingles on Tunnel Road. I’m not that familiar with this Ingles, but if there is a gas station at this Ingles please park over by it. I have a white Hyundai and will stand outside the car. Suggested car pool donation will be $2-$3 each as this is not a far drive to the trailhead.
Meeting time is 9:45 with a departure of 10 a.m.
We will then drive out to Warren Wilson to the trailhead which is in a parking area for one of the living areas. Parking is at a minimum so car pool if you can. If carpooling, please wear a mask in your driver’s car and sanitize your hands.

Once we arrive at the trailhead we will meander through the woods. I haven’t done this trail for probably 4 years so I hope it will all come back. But you might want to plan on a few mishaps and a retracing of steps.

We start out gradually uphill, will past through a dark forest with trees planted in rows, find the trail that goes down hill for a least half a mile, turn left and head towards Swannanoa River, walk up to a man made lake, retrace our steps, head towards the agricultural area of WW, turn right, crawl through the fence and pick the trail back up, now going uphill and re-intersect the trail we started out on.

This trail isn’t hard but it does have it’s ups and downs.
Bring a snack if you like but we won’t be stopping for a meal.
As usual wear shoes with a good tread, bring water, and a hiking pole if needed. There are no creek crossings.

What we’re about

For those who love to hike with a destination and photography in mind. Hikes will be categorized by slow (turtle hikes), moderate, and adventurous.
This group is intended for those whom like photography combined with hiking in nature.

Monday, March 1, 2021
Hike with a Naturalist
Mar 1 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Chimney Rock State Park

Spend an hour hiking one of our six different trails with a naturalist. This is educational excursion will give you a better understanding of the flora and fauna that can be found in the Park. You may even learn some of the Park’s history as well.

Wednesday, March 3, 2021
Robert’s Totally Rad Trivia
Mar 3 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
12 Bones Brewing

Totally Rad Trivia invades 12 Bones South every Wednesday evening for two hours of Pop Culture Trivia. Grab a beer, some BBQ and buckle in for some fun and challenging Trivia.
Thursday, March 4, 2021
Virtual Trivia Series: “Scales and Slime”
Mar 4 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Online w/ WNC Nature Center

Put your critter knowledge to the test with our virtual trivia series! Join two educators from the Friends of the WNC Nature Center for the month of March as we host four virtual trivia nights.

Every Thursday night, we’ll be giving away a prize to the participant with the highest score. We’ll also offer a grand prize for the participant with the highest score over all four nights, so be sure to study hard and join us for the whole month of March!

If you register for all four trivia nights, you’ll also be entered in a raffle to win a prize package valued at $200! Raffle winner will be announced on March 4.

After registering, you’ll receive an email from us with more information. The night of each virtual event, you’ll be emailed a Zoom link to participate. You must register by 6pm the evening of the event in order to participate.

  • March 4: “Scales and Slime” – Everything cold blooded! Test your knowledge as we explore snakes, turtles, frogs, and more.
  • March 11: “Who’s Got Hair?” – Mammals do! Let’s see how much you really know about furry friends!
  • March 18: “Feathered Friends” – It’s a good thing to have a bird brain during this trivia night! Hopefully you’ll fly through the questions!
  • March 25: “All About Appalachia” – Here, anything goes! We’ll be asking trivia questions ranging from plant life to the history of our beloved mountains. We’ll also be announcing the grand prize winner of the series at the end of this round!
Monday, March 8, 2021
Hike with a Naturalist
Mar 8 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Chimney Rock State Park

Spend an hour hiking one of our six different trails with a naturalist. This is educational excursion will give you a better understanding of the flora and fauna that can be found in the Park. You may even learn some of the Park’s history as well.