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 18, 2019
The Flat Rock Playhouse Smoke on the Mountain
Oct 18 @ 8:00 pm
Flat Rock Playhouse

Take a break from the frenzy of everyday life and enjoy Smoke on the Mountain, a wholesome celebration of faith, community, and Appalachian Music. Set in Mount Pleasant, North Carolina around 1938, Smoke on the Mountain brings to life a small-town musical revival featuring the traveling Sanders Family as they play the best of bluegrass, gospel, and hymns. Audiences will recognize beloved songs such as “Rock of Ages”, “The Church in the Wildwood”, “A Wonderful Time Up There,” and more as they are performed by talented actor-musicians. Running October 4th – 19th, Smoke on the Mountain, showcases the power of music to bring us all together and will have audiences singing along.

 

Director, Amy Jones, describes the experience as, “an entertaining and inspirational evening full of rousing gospel music played by the cast while also getting to know the unique dynamics of the Sanders family through their witnessing. The music is beautiful and heartfelt, and the characters are fleshed out in a very real and relatable way.”

LaZoom Comedy: Jono Zalay (friday)
Oct 18 @ 9:30 pm
LaZoom Room

Jono Zalay began his standup career in Boston, while simultaneously earning his Doctorate in Neuroscience (he gave cocaine to rats). Since dropping his science hobby to pursue comedy full time, Jono has been named one of Comedy Central’s ‘Comics to Watch,’ and earned international press for his pranks on the DMV. Jono now lives in Los Angeles where he has written comedy for Fox, Amazon, and Comedy Central. He has been featured in over 30 comedy festivals around the country including Bridgetown, Big Sky, Limestone, and New York Comedy Festival.

Tickets $10 advance, $12 day of
FRIDAY: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-jono-zalay-friday-tickets-70462791105

SATURDAY: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-jono-zalay-saturday-tickets-70463025807

Saturday, October 19, 2019
Fall Harvest Days Antique Engine and Tractor Show
Oct 19 @ 7:00 am – 5:00 pm
WNC Agricultural Center

Gate 7 opens Thursday.   8AM to 5 PM rain or shine

Adult Admission $8 a day or $20 for 3 days includes ACAETA pulls
Children under 12 free with paid adult.
Unreserved selling spaces $40, free admission to qualified exhibitors,
limited 2 people per registration; 3rd and above pay admission.

– Pulls –
Farm Tractors 1964 & earlier on Saturday at 10:00 am
Tractor Pulls will be under the covered arena – enter through Gate 7.

Farm Game Challenge
Oct 19 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
WNC AG Center
The Antique Engine & Tractor Club will host “The Farm Game Challenge” set for Saturday October 19th at the Western North Carolina Ag Center.
Teams of four to five Teen’s are encouraged to participate in the Farm Games, which will include but not be limited to Straw/Hay Bale Stacking Timed Event , Corn Shucking Timed Event, Corn On the Cob Eating Timed Event, Sheath Toss, and other games.  The Teams will compete against each other with an elimination challenge.  Small Children will get to “Find the Prize” in the Straw/Hay Stack.
All Four Henderson County High Schools have been notified of the games and are encouraged to submit teams to the Farm Game Challenge.  Teams within each school will compete to see which Team will represent it against the other High Schools, Winning teams from each school will compete against each other to claim First Prize in the Farm Games.
To sign up for the Farm Games, please e mail [email protected] with name of team, and  team members.  Teams may be all male, all female, or Co-ed. Teams are limited to Four to Five Members.
The 34th Fall Harvest Days run from October 17-19,2019.  Antique Engines, Tractors, Crafts, Food and Kids activities will be available.  Antique Tractor Pull, Saturday.
For more information contact the web site www.applecountry.org
Eliada Corn Maze
Oct 19 @ 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
Eliada Homes

A Monster Maze and a Monstrously Good Time
 All money raised from the 6-week event benefits Eliada’s vast continuum of care for children and youth 0-25 years old.
This year, Eliada will maintain some beloved attractions including the tractor ride, which now drives all the way around, and partially through, the Corn Maze, the jumping pillow, the corn kernel sand box, the spider web climber, the tube slides, and the corn cannons.
New This Year:
This year, Eliada’s featuring fun monsters in the maze design. To accompany this theme, a new game has been added to the event. This monster mystery will take you through the maze, where you follow clues, and find monsters hidden throughout the cornfield. You can be a monster mystery detective!
Like last year, Eliada is pleased to announce that the corn planted in the field is Non-GMO, and that Eliada used all natural fertilizers to help the corn grow. Eliada is committed to sustaining our land and the health of our campus through sustainable farming methods. Since we made this shift in practice last year, our neighboring farmers have already let us know that their bee populations have returned. We are proud to be impacting the great community through our farming practices.
Beer and Cider:
This year, Eliada is pleased to offer beer and cider to guests during select weekend hours.
  • Friday: 5-8pm
  • Saturday: 11am-8pm
  • Sunday: 11am-6pm
Ticket Pricing:
  • $10 ticket price for all ages.
  • Like every year prior, children 3 and under may still enter the event FREE.
  • $8 per person for groups of 12 or more. We suggest you book ahead [email protected].
Special Events:We offer field trip, birthday party, and corporate night experiences. Contact Chris Rainwater at [email protected] to schedule your event.
Volunteer:Volunteers may work 3 hours shifts at one of our many attractions. Volunteers receive 2 FREE tickets to the Corn Maze for every shift served. More information at EliadaCornMaze.com.
Touch-A-Truck Family Festival
Oct 19 @ 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Asheville Outlets

Quiet Hour*: 11-Noon * No Sirens or Horns
Asheville Outlets (Parking lot next to Field and Stream on the south side of the building off of Ridgefield Blvd.)

Touch-A-Truck is a community wide event where both kids and kids at heart have the opportunity to see, touch, climb and learn about vehicles of all types, including public service, emergency, utility, construction, garbage, transportation, and delivery—all in one place! Children will even get to sound the horns and meet the drivers and people who operate these vehicles. Children can also truck-or-treat throughout the festival—costumes are encouraged but not required.

Additional activities on-site will be food and beverage stations; not-for profit organizations, activity/educational tents; and several other special attractions. Parental supervision is required and cameras are highly recommended to capture the day’s adventures

Bears Bees + Brews
Oct 19 @ 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
New Belgium Brewing

We’re celebrating and learning about human-wildlife coexistence and conservation from trusted organizations, while enjoying lively, family-friendly entertainment, sweet+savory bites, and tasty brews, all in one place.

Join our guest list and spread the word.

We’ll see you there! ???

PEANUTS™ The Great Pumpkin Patch Express Railroad Smokey Mountains
Oct 19 @ 12:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Bryson City Depot

About This Trip

Guests will hear a narration of Schulz’s “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” as the train travels to the Pumpkin Patch. Upon arrival, passengers will be greeted and have a photo opportunity with Charlie Brown, Lucy, and Snoopy. During your 1 hour and 30 minute layover, your activities to enjoy at The Great Pumpkin Patch will include:

  • campfire marshmallows
  • coloring station
  • temporary tattoos
  • trick or treating
  • bouncy house (weather permitting)
  • wagon rides

And kids, don’t forget to wear your Halloween costumes! There will be plenty of PEANUTS™ merchandise at the GSMR Gift Store and Train Museum! Each child will also select their own pumpkin from The Great Pumpkin Patch to take home.

The Flat Rock Playhouse Smoke on the Mountain
Oct 19 @ 2:00 pm
Leiman Mainstage

Take a break from the frenzy of everyday life and enjoy Smoke on the Mountain, a wholesome celebration of faith, community, and Appalachian Music. Set in Mount Pleasant, North Carolina around 1938, Smoke on the Mountain brings to life a small-town musical revival featuring the traveling Sanders Family as they play the best of bluegrass, gospel, and hymns. Audiences will recognize beloved songs such as “Rock of Ages”, “The Church in the Wildwood”, “A Wonderful Time Up There,” and more as they are performed by talented actor-musicians. Running October 4th – 19th, Smoke on the Mountain, showcases the power of music to bring us all together and will have audiences singing along.

 

Director, Amy Jones, describes the experience as, “an entertaining and inspirational evening full of rousing gospel music played by the cast while also getting to know the unique dynamics of the Sanders family through their witnessing. The music is beautiful and heartfelt, and the characters are fleshed out in a very real and relatable way.”

PEANUTS™ The Great Pumpkin Patch Express Railroad Smokey Mountains
Oct 19 @ 3:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Bryson City Depot

 

Guests will hear a narration of Schulz’s “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” as the train travels to the Pumpkin Patch. Upon arrival, passengers will be greeted and have a photo opportunity with Charlie Brown, Lucy, and Snoopy. During your 1 hour and 30 minute layover, your activities to enjoy at The Great Pumpkin Patch will include:

  • campfire marshmallows
  • coloring station
  • temporary tattoos
  • trick or treating
  • bouncy house (weather permitting)
  • wagon rides

And kids, don’t forget to wear your Halloween costumes! There will be plenty of PEANUTS™ merchandise at the GSMR Gift Store and Train Museum! Each child will also select their own pumpkin from The Great Pumpkin Patch to take home.

 

Tryon Resort’s “Saturday Night Lights”
Oct 19 @ 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Tryon International Equestrian Center

Join us for “Saturday Night Lights,” a family-friendly event at Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, NC, happening every Saturday evening May through October featuring FREE carousel rides, pony rides, bounce house, face painting, entertainers and live music, plus horse show competition. General admission and parking are also free and open to the public. With onsite dining options, concessions, shopping, and lodging, come for the night or for a vacation getaway! Learn more at Tryon.com/SNL.

Phone: 828-863-1000

Email: [email protected]

Insta-FRIGHT-night Haunted Trail
Oct 19 @ 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Pisgah Brewing Company

ONE NIGHT ONLY IMMERSIVE PHOTO BOOTH EXPERIENCE!

The Haunted Trail opens early for one night for an Instagram-centric photo booth experience where one can immerse themselves in the magic of the Haunted Trail scene installations.

The highly Instagrammable scenes have been designed for optimal lighting and staged with props, costumes and ring lights to help you capture the spirit of Halloween. The interactive exhibits will include 10 exhibits, all primed for photo opps.

Proof of purchase to this event rewards you with 50% off admission to the Haunted Trail.

Vendardos Circus
Oct 19 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Asheville Outlets

Venardos Circus 2019

Family Fun Broadway Style Circus!

Hamlet presented by The Montford Moppets
Oct 19 @ 7:00 pm
Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre
The Wizard of Oz
Oct 19 @ 7:30 pm
Asheville Community Theatre

It’s not too early to make your plans to travel down the yellow brick road to the merry old land of Oz! We’re deep into the rehearsal process, are building the sets and the costumes, and are hearing LOTS of super cool ideas from the artistic team!

  • Opening Weekend and Thursday night tickets are cheaper than other performances ($26 for adults vs $30)
  • Tickets for children 17 and under are $15 for any Wizard of Oz performance!
  • Keep up with what’s happening in rehearsals with the “We’re Off to See the Wizard” blog series written by our Cowardly Lion, John O’Neil!
Fall Stargazing and Cosmic Storytelling Hickory Nut Gap Farm
Oct 19 @ 8:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Hickory Nut Gap Farm

Join local astronomer and author Stephan Martin on a tour of the stars and constellations of the fall night sky above the farm. We’ll discuss some of the myths of the constellations along with the seasonal changes in the sky at this time as well as some of the latest discoveries in astronomy and theories of the universe. All ages are welcome and no background in astronomy or science is required.

It Didn’t Happen by Judy Calabrese
Oct 19 @ 8:00 pm
Diana Wortham Theatre

“It Didn’t Happen” by Judy Calabrese
Ages 18+

October 18-19, 2019 • 8 PM 
October 25-26, 2019 • 8 PM
Tina McGuire Theatre

This performance contains nudity and artistic representations of adult themes. Individuals under the age of 18 are not permitted.

This raw, darkly comedic exploration of shame and desire takes us on a rollercoaster ride through Judy’s secret sexual relationships with women over a lifetime.

The Flat Rock Playhouse Smoke on the Mountain
Oct 19 @ 8:00 pm
Flat Rock Playhouse

Take a break from the frenzy of everyday life and enjoy Smoke on the Mountain, a wholesome celebration of faith, community, and Appalachian Music. Set in Mount Pleasant, North Carolina around 1938, Smoke on the Mountain brings to life a small-town musical revival featuring the traveling Sanders Family as they play the best of bluegrass, gospel, and hymns. Audiences will recognize beloved songs such as “Rock of Ages”, “The Church in the Wildwood”, “A Wonderful Time Up There,” and more as they are performed by talented actor-musicians. Running October 4th – 19th, Smoke on the Mountain, showcases the power of music to bring us all together and will have audiences singing along.

 

Director, Amy Jones, describes the experience as, “an entertaining and inspirational evening full of rousing gospel music played by the cast while also getting to know the unique dynamics of the Sanders family through their witnessing. The music is beautiful and heartfelt, and the characters are fleshed out in a very real and relatable way.”

Fall Stargazing and Cosmic Storytelling
Oct 19 @ 9:00 pm – 10:30 pm
Hickory Nut Gap Farm

Join local astronomer and author Stephan Martin on a tour of the stars and constellations of the fall night sky above the farm. We’ll discuss some of the myths of the constellations along with the seasonal changes in the sky at this time as well as some of the latest discoveries in astronomy and theories of the universe. All ages are welcome and no background in astronomy or science is required.

LaZoom Comedy: Jono Zalay (saturday)
Oct 19 @ 9:30 pm – 11:30 pm
LaZoom Room

Jono Zalay began his standup career in Boston, while simultaneously earning his Doctorate in Neuroscience (he gave cocaine to rats). Since dropping his science hobby to pursue comedy full time, Jono has been named one of Comedy Central’s ‘Comics to Watch,’ and earned international press for his pranks on the DMV. Jono now lives in Los Angeles where he has written comedy for Fox, Amazon, and Comedy Central. He has been featured in over 30 comedy festivals around the country including Bridgetown, Big Sky, Limestone, and New York Comedy Festival.

Tickets $10 advance, $12 day of
FRIDAY: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-jono-zalay-friday-tickets-70462791105

SATURDAY: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-jono-zalay-saturday-tickets-70463025807

Sunday, October 20, 2019
?Fall LEAF Festival Lineup Release! ?
Oct 20 all-day
Lake Eden
49th Annual LEAF Festival
Oct 20 all-day
Lake Eden

Image result for leaf festival asheville nc

Fall-leaf-lineup-2019

LEAF Festival sits below Mt. Mitchell with mountain lakes and rolling hills with 600 stunning acres featuring rustic cabins, large camping fields with mountain views, hiking trails,  barns, streams, and lakes for canoeing, swimming, and the zooming zipline. This enchanting land offers lots of outdoors adventures for the whole family!

The 1st LEAF Festival premiered Fall 1996, and has become a tradition twice a year, May and October. The name Lake Eden Arts Festival (LEAF) was chosen to honor the lake and the former Lake Eden Inn & Resort. “Arts” embraces a broad creative palate and of course it was to be a “festival”. In envisioning LEAF, we sought to embrace world cultures, reflect the creativity of the Asheville area, and to complement the stunning landscape. The location and size, attendance is limited to 6,000  people on site per day, makes LEAF Festival one of the best small festivals in the world. The right place, the right size.

Kids Quiet Play Session Inside the Salt Cave
Oct 20 @ 9:00 am – 9:45 am
Asheville's Therapeutic Salt Cave and Spa

Spend some time with your family detoxing naturally in the Salt Cave. Adults $25, 4-12 years old $15, 3 and younger are free.

Eliada Corn Maze
Oct 20 @ 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Eliada Homes

A Monster Maze and a Monstrously Good Time
 All money raised from the 6-week event benefits Eliada’s vast continuum of care for children and youth 0-25 years old.
This year, Eliada will maintain some beloved attractions including the tractor ride, which now drives all the way around, and partially through, the Corn Maze, the jumping pillow, the corn kernel sand box, the spider web climber, the tube slides, and the corn cannons.
New This Year:
This year, Eliada’s featuring fun monsters in the maze design. To accompany this theme, a new game has been added to the event. This monster mystery will take you through the maze, where you follow clues, and find monsters hidden throughout the cornfield. You can be a monster mystery detective!
Like last year, Eliada is pleased to announce that the corn planted in the field is Non-GMO, and that Eliada used all natural fertilizers to help the corn grow. Eliada is committed to sustaining our land and the health of our campus through sustainable farming methods. Since we made this shift in practice last year, our neighboring farmers have already let us know that their bee populations have returned. We are proud to be impacting the great community through our farming practices.
Beer and Cider:
This year, Eliada is pleased to offer beer and cider to guests during select weekend hours.
  • Friday: 5-8pm
  • Saturday: 11am-8pm
  • Sunday: 11am-6pm
  • Special Events: We offer field trip, birthday party, and corporate night experiences. Contact Chris Rainwater at [email protected] to schedule your event.
    Volunteer:Volunteers may work 3 hours shifts at one of our many attractions. Volunteers receive 2 FREE tickets to the Corn Maze for every shift served. More information at EliadaCornMaze.com.
PEANUTS™ The Great Pumpkin Patch Express Railroad Smokey Mountains
Oct 20 @ 12:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Bryson City Depot

About This Trip

Guests will hear a narration of Schulz’s “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” as the train travels to the Pumpkin Patch. Upon arrival, passengers will be greeted and have a photo opportunity with Charlie Brown, Lucy, and Snoopy. During your 1 hour and 30 minute layover, your activities to enjoy at The Great Pumpkin Patch will include:

  • campfire marshmallows
  • coloring station
  • temporary tattoos
  • trick or treating
  • bouncy house (weather permitting)
  • wagon rides

And kids, don’t forget to wear your Halloween costumes! There will be plenty of PEANUTS™ merchandise at the GSMR Gift Store and Train Museum! Each child will also select their own pumpkin from The Great Pumpkin Patch to take home.

Asheville Outlets Presents Monthly Cruise ‘In Car Show
Oct 20 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Asheville Outlets

Do you love cars? If so, then join us at Asheville Outlets (ShopAshevilleOutlets.com) for Cruise ‘In, a monthly car show featuring an exciting display of cars, trucks, motorcycles and special interest vehicles behind the Food Court on Sundays, May 19, June 16, July 21, August 18, September 15, October 20 and November 17, 2019 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Cruise ‘In is free to car owners and spectators.

Howl-O-Ween Dog Costume Party
Oct 20 @ 2:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Aloft Asheville Downtown

Join Aloft and Charlie’s Angels for a howling good time at our Howl-O-Ween Dog Costume Party on Sunday, October 20! From 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., party with your pooches and compete in our costume contests to win fun prizes. Lounge around w xyz Bar for drink specials and tasty treats for humans and dogs alike.

Does your pup have what it takes to strut their stuff? Check-in for the dog parade and costume contest begins at 4:30 p.m. followed by the parade and costume contest at 5:00 p.m. Furry friends can be registered based on small, medium or large breeds and the top three winners will receive a prize! All dogs who enter the contest will receive a treat and owners will receive a $5 voucher to w xyz Bar.

Are you and your pup a package deal? Enter in our dog and family costume contest for the change to take home the first-place prize! Check-in begins at 5:30 p.m. and the contest will begin at 6:00 p.m.

A minimum $5 donation is required for entry. Call 828-232-2838 for more details and be sure to RSVP on Facebook. We’ll see you there!

The Wizard of Oz
Oct 20 @ 2:30 pm
Asheville Community Theatre

It’s not too early to make your plans to travel down the yellow brick road to the merry old land of Oz! We’re deep into the rehearsal process, are building the sets and the costumes, and are hearing LOTS of super cool ideas from the artistic team!

  • Opening Weekend and Thursday night tickets are cheaper than other performances ($26 for adults vs $30)
  • Tickets for children 17 and under are $15 for any Wizard of Oz performance!
  • Keep up with what’s happening in rehearsals with the “We’re Off to See the Wizard” blog series written by our Cowardly Lion, John O’Neil!
PEANUTS™ The Great Pumpkin Patch Express Railroad Smokey Mountains
Oct 20 @ 3:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Bryson City Depot

 

Guests will hear a narration of Schulz’s “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” as the train travels to the Pumpkin Patch. Upon arrival, passengers will be greeted and have a photo opportunity with Charlie Brown, Lucy, and Snoopy. During your 1 hour and 30 minute layover, your activities to enjoy at The Great Pumpkin Patch will include:

  • campfire marshmallows
  • coloring station
  • temporary tattoos
  • trick or treating
  • bouncy house (weather permitting)
  • wagon rides

And kids, don’t forget to wear your Halloween costumes! There will be plenty of PEANUTS™ merchandise at the GSMR Gift Store and Train Museum! Each child will also select their own pumpkin from The Great Pumpkin Patch to take home.

 

Bold Move Productions presents NAUGHTY with Bold Mama Elle
Oct 20 @ 6:00 pm
Diana Wortham Theatre

Bold Move Productions presents NAUGHTY with Bold Mama Elle

This performance takes place in the Tina McGuire Theatre at the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts.

With every breath and step of the NAUGHTY World Premier, Bold Mama Elle prods the edge of personal and collective freedom. It’s a spell-binding one woman show that meets at an imagined intersection of humanity and Divinity. Critics have called her ability to captivate and delight, through deep vulnerability, “exquisite.” She is an insightful teacher and entertainer who personifies life without fear. The show blends soul-filled singing, dance and storytelling effortlessly, inspiring the audience to re-imagine what it means to be free.

Bold Mama Elle is a spiritual medium who channels “textured” music and movement. Her activated lyrics deeply awaken inner power.  On stage, she tells riveting stories fearlessly with her body and songs. Her “other-worldly” wisdom is  both radical and inspiring. The sound of her voice permeates the performance space creating tangible possibility for all. As the sole songwriter, director, choreographer and vocalist for NAUGHTY, Bold Mama Elle personifies what’s possible when we allow ourselves to truly be free!

VIP Tickets ($38 plus tax and fees): Include VIP floor ticket plus Naughty gift bag and guaranteed entry to post-performance reception.
 
General Admission Souvenir Tickets ($28 plus tax and fees): Include general admission performance ticket plus a show souvenir. 
 
General Admission Tickets ($18 plus tax and fees)