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 12, 2020
Buy friends and family a tile to our Wall of History at the Swannanoa Valley Museum!
Dec 12 all-day
Online with Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center
Buy friends and family a tile to our Wall of History at the Swannanoa Valley Museum! This special exhibit is comprised of 4 x 4 inch tiles with photographs of families, homes, fond memories, and other heritage images from the Swannanoa Valley. You can contribute your own photograph, or choose one from our museum’s extensive archives. Cost for the tiles is $100 for the first one, $75 for others placed in the same order.
Flat Rock Playhouse: Online Gift Shop Now Open
Dec 12 all-day
Online

SHOP THE ROCK!

Our online gift shop is now open, and just in time for your holiday shopping. T-shirts are available in a variety of colors with Adult and Youth sizing, and we have additional apparel items like sweatshirts, hats, polos, and totes. We have unique gift options like our 50th-anniversary book with a detailed history of Flat Rock Playhouse and prints designed by some of your favorite Vagabonds.

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Homemade Holiday A Gift Guild from Asheville Makers
Dec 12 all-day
Online

Handmade Holidays

Spread some mountain magic and holiday cheer with these unique gifts from Asheville’s artisans and makers. Shop from over 50 local vendors or share your love of Asheville by giving the gift of travel this holiday season.

Keep the Cheer Contest Shop and Dine
Dec 12 all-day
Hendersonville

 COC Shop and Dine

Enter the KEEP THE CHEER HERE Contest hosted with WTZQ!

WTZQ ShopDine Slider

 

What is Shop & Dine HC?

Shop & Dine HC is a collaborative movement designed to remind the public of the benefits and importance of spending their dollars with our local businesses. Local businesses lay the framework for a strong community and we want Henderson County to shop local, spend local, save local.

Why does shopping locally matter?

When you shop locally:

  • $0.02 of every $1 stays in the community through the Sales Tax. These dollars support county and municipal budgets for schools, law enforcement, infrastructure, and more.
  • you help create and retain jobs for existing businesses as they succeed and grow, and create a successful business community that attracts other businesses and entrepreneurs.
  • those same businesses you are supporting will give back to our community through donations to non-profits, civic clubs, youth programs, and more.

Simply put – our local businesses make our community better.

Want to get involved?

Be part of the conversation!

Join the Shop & Dine Facebook Group

join button3

Businesses – Take the #SafeHendo Pledge! 

We celebrate businesses that are committed to the safety of our community in these extraordinary times. Check out the #SafeHendo pledge and let your customers know their safety is your focus.

pledge button2

Shop Local: Consider what it means to shop Amazon
Dec 12 all-day
Online

Consider what it means to shop Amazon
Did you know that Amazon’s net sales for Q4 are expected to be $121 Billion and to grow 38% compared with fourth quarter 2019 numbers? Clearly in this pandemic, they are the big winner. Y’all… there has NEVER been a more critical year to SHOP LOCAL! Please show your love and support of our amazing local business community which truly has all you could ever need- a vintage dress, wall tapestry, piece of pottery, growler of beer or endless gift cards to your favorite Asheville restaurants. Get some ideas here:  shops , restaurants , breweries , and more.
Show and Tell Holiday Pop Up Shop
Dec 12 all-day
Online

WELCOME TO OUR ONLINE POP UP SHOP

The Big Crafty Online
Dec 12 all-day
Online

Our weekend.

For the first time in more than a decade, we won’t be sharing hugs with you all, and we’re really missing it.
But we’ll still be admiring the year’s creative harvest and we hope you will, too!
Our artists have responded to the extraordinary circumstances of this year with creative zeal, and we hope you’ll enjoy checking in with them via our list of artists.
We will also be sharing some of our favorite work and gift ideas via Instagram and Facebook this weekend and throughout the holidays.
Treat yourself. Treat your fam. Know that your support is needed and appreciated.
Also…know that next year we will be hugging you extra tight.
Til then, stay well, keep your fires burning, and take extra good care of one another ❉❊❤❊❉

Smart Start Partnership for Children Host Virtual Book Sale
Dec 12 @ 7:00 am – 10:00 pm
Online

Smart Start Partnership for Children will be hosting a virtual book sale the weekend
of December 11th through December 13th, with a special live stream event happening on
December 12th. Santa Clause and a special Holiday Elf will be hosting the live event which
will happen via Face Book live at 10AM. Most books are priced between $2 and $5.
“We are excited to spread the holiday cheer and hopefully help parents and
guardians get last minute gifts.” said Carrie Ann Chandler Communications and
Development Director.
Smart Start has the mission to support, educate, and advocate to build a strong
foundation for young children in our community. With a variety of programs including early
literacy, kindergarten transition, parent support, and quality early childhood education,
Smart Start has been serving the Henderson County community for over twenty years.
Last year Smart Start was able to give $465,390 away in scholarships for young children
to attend quality early childcare. Proceeds from the virtual sale will go to promote all the
work Smart Start does.
To access the live stream and shop the virtual sale visit
www.faceboook.com/SmartStartPFC or www.smartstartpfc.org .
To donate or learn more about this event or the work of Smart Start Partnership
for Children call 828-693-1580. Sponsors for the event include Hunter Subaru, Bryan Byrd
Keller Williams Mountain Partners, Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More, Mail Box and Pack,
Associated Land Surveyors and Planers, PC. , Judy Stroud with State Farm, First Bank,
Carolina Blue Design Group, Lakeview Putt and Play, Southern Elite Coatings, and WNC
Bridge Foundation.

Winter Wonderland at Grove Arcade
Dec 12 @ 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
Grove Arcade

Grove Arcade is thrilled to announce the return of its annual Winter Wonderland holiday celebration.

The Arcade has transformed into a wreath-bedecked showcase for Asheville’s finest local craftspeople and retailers. Smells of pine and holly will greet visitors as they tour—at a proper social distance!—Asheville’s stunning art deco gem to discover one-of-a-kind, handcrafted local gifts, enjoy holiday-themed beverages and dining specials, and winter-y feels within the warm Grove Arcade halls. Specially curated Christmas standards and the most extravagant holiday decorations in town will transport visitors to a truly unforgettable winter paradise.

We will be hosting a local MANNA Food Bank Drive! Drop-off barrels will be placed around several areas of the Arcade to be collected and distributed by MANNA to help during these uncertain times.

For the enjoyment and safety of everyone, Grove Arcade will be taking appropriate COVID-19 precautions during Winter Wonderland. All visitors and employees will be required to follow the CDC’s health recommendations, including social distancing and mask wearing.

Enjoy a safe and jolly visit to Grove Arcade’s Winter Wonderland! And from all of us at Grove Arcade, Happy Holidays!

A Brevard Music Center Gift Certificate!
Dec 12 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 pm
Online w/ A Brevard Music Center

Give your loved ones a gift that will last all summer long –
A Brevard Music Center Gift Certificate!

Gift certificates can be purchased for a minimum of $25 and applied toward subscriptions or tickets to any event, any season. It’s a hassle-free, printable gift solution that will introduce your friends and family to one of the country’s premier summer music festivals, and a very special way to support the next generation of classical musicians.

Brevard Music Center’s 2021 Summer Music Festival will be held from June 25 through August 8. Details will be announced after the first of the year, and we plan for another captivating season of symphony, opera, chamber, pops, bluegrass, and jazz performances.

Purchase your gift certificate online at
brevardmusic.org/giftcertificates
or call (828) 862-2131 to order yours today!

Important Note: At this time, all gift certificates are delivered digitally as PDFs
and are attached to your confirmation emails. Gift certificates are not
actual concert tickets and must be redeemed for individual performances
through the box office once single tickets go on sale. All guest artists,
programs, and dates are subject to change. Give the gift of music today!

Flat Rock Playhouse 2021 calendar!
Dec 12 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Flat Rock Playhouse

2021 year calendar with photo of the Flat Rock Playhouse Mainstage covered in snow.

Start the year off right with a Flat Rock Playhouse 2021 calendar! This beautiful image of our Mainstage was taken by longtime Vagabond and Flat Rock Playhouse favorite, Scott Treadway. Enjoy the view of the Rock all year round in your office, on the kitchen wall, or above your desk. This quality printed calendar is 20″x16″ and supports the arts in North Carolina.

 

UNC Asheville’s Gift Guide
Dec 12 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 pm
Online w/UNCA

The holiday season is upon us, so we wanted to share a few suggestions for gift giving this year, with ways to stay cozy, look forward to summer and cheer on the Bulldogs, wherever you are.
Yule logs: an annual Hop tradition
Dec 12 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
The Hop Ice Creamery

a close up of a piece of chocolate cake on a table: Ice cream Yule logs from The Hop Ice Cream Cafe.Vegan Ice Cream Yule Logs

Pickup is Tuesday 2-8 p.m., Friday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and Saturday 12-6 p.m.

River Arts District 2nd Saturday Gallery Stroll
Dec 12 @ 9:30 am – 5:00 pm
River Arts District

Second Saturdays

On the Second Saturday of each month, the River Arts District holds gallery walks with demonstrations, workshops, live music, wine tastings, delicious food, and more! Meander the mile-long district and discover all that the “RAD” has to offer.

COVID-19 Update

Most studios are now open while some have reduced hours. Please refer to our new, updated open hours page. Please check our event listings for more in-person and virtual event details.

Most studios are open while others have reduced hours.  The hours on this page were updated October 2020, but do not represent all of the artists you may find open on any given day.

Please check our event listings for more event details.

Masks and social distancing are required in all studios.

Holiday Open Air Market
Dec 12 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Gateway Church
Come sip some hot cocoa while you shop at our festive holiday market supporting local artists! We will be outside under Gateway Church’s large pavilion to provide a safe, open-air shopping experience. If weather conditions demand, we will safely provide for shoppers inside Gateway’s spacious facility.
Expect to see a variety of crafters, potters, coffee roasters, and bakers as well as a SILENT AUCTION benefiting the renovation of Gateway Church’s soon coming Discipleship Home.
This is a BYOBag market.
Market will be open!
Friday, 12/11 from 4pm-8pm
Saturday, 12/12 10am-2pm
Holiday Sale Odyssey ClayWorks
Dec 12 @ 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Odyssey ClayWorks

Join us for a holiday Sale and Celebration here at Odyssey ClayWorks! We will have an outdoor Seconds Sale- so bundle up, wear a mask, and come shop with us! Seconds sale, special deals, surprises and more! See you soon

North Asheville Tailgate Market/The Holiday Bazaar
Dec 12 @ 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
North Asheville Tailgate Market

Even though it’s getting colder, you can still find fresh, local food at area farmers tailgate markets. Several markets in Buncombe County will offer holiday markets or extended seasons in November and December. In addition to seasonal produce, meats, cheeses, and bread, these markets feature local artists and handmade goods, such as wreaths, pottery, jewelry, and more.

Smart Start Partnership for Children Virtual Book Sale Santa and Elf Visit Live Stream
Dec 12 @ 10:00 am
Online with Facebook Live

Smart Start Partnership for Children will be hosting a virtual book sale the weekend
of December 11th through December 13th, with a special live stream event happening on
December 12th. Santa Clause and a special Holiday Elf will be hosting the live event which
will happen via Face Book live at 10AM. Most books are priced between $2 and $5.
“We are excited to spread the holiday cheer and hopefully help parents and
guardians get last minute gifts.” said Carrie Ann Chandler Communications and
Development Director.
Smart Start has the mission to support, educate, and advocate to build a strong
foundation for young children in our community. With a variety of programs including early
literacy, kindergarten transition, parent support, and quality early childhood education,
Smart Start has been serving the Henderson County community for over twenty years.
Last year Smart Start was able to give $465,390 away in scholarships for young children
to attend quality early childcare. Proceeds from the virtual sale will go to promote all the
work Smart Start does.
To access the live stream and shop the virtual sale visit
www.faceboook.com/SmartStartPFC or www.smartstartpfc.org .
To donate or learn more about this event or the work of Smart Start Partnership
for Children call 828-693-1580. Sponsors for the event include Hunter Subaru, Bryan Byrd
Keller Williams Mountain Partners, Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More, Mail Box and Pack,
Associated Land Surveyors and Planers, PC. , Judy Stroud with State Farm, First Bank,
Carolina Blue Design Group, Lakeview Putt and Play, Southern Elite Coatings, and WNC
Bridge Foundation.

Mingle + Jingle: Holiday Craft Market
Dec 12 @ 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
The Grey Eagle

Mingle & Jingle: Holiday Craft Market

Join us for our 4rd annual Holiday Mingle & Jingle: Holiday Craft Market at The Grey Eagle in Asheville, NC!
  • FREE ADMISSION
  • OUTDOOR EVENT
  • 11AM – 4PM

We’ll have local vendors set up selling handmade goods, arts, and crafts just in time for holiday gift-giving. Be sure to grab a bite from our in-house Taqueria and a drink from the bar as you peruse Asheville’s finest makers. Plus, we’ll set the mood with some classic holiday tunes!

Interested in becoming a vendor? Please send an email to [email protected].

Weekly Sound Therapy Meditations Skinny Beats Drum Shop
Dec 12 @ 11:00 am – 11:45 am
Skinny Beats Drum Shop

Weekly sound healing sessions are held here at Skinny Beats Sound Shop (4 Eagle St – Asheville, NC) every Saturday and Sunday at 11:00 AM. We lay yoga mats on the floor and lower the blinds to create a meditative space that helps you clear your mind and relax to our unique soundscape of crystal singing bowls, expansive gongs, handpans, didgeridoos, rainsticks, and more. We are currently limiting public sessions to 10 people. Please call for info regarding private sessions.

Sand Hill Artists Collective Virtual Holiday Gallery Tours!
Dec 12 @ 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Online with The Sand Hill Artists Collective

Ten Asheville area art galleries. A new gallery experience online daily from 5-6 pm each weekday beginning December 2nd through December 15th.

Sunday, December 13, 2020
Bullington Gardens Holiday Greenery Sale
Dec 13 all-day
Online with Bullington Gardens

The online Holiday Craft Sale features nature-themed, handcrafted items, including ornaments, jewelry, textiles, quilts and holiday decor. Wreaths and swags enhanced with botanicals gathered on the Bullington Garden grounds and created by volunteers are ready for your home. Our delightful holiday garden gnome, standing 30 inches tall, adds a whimsical touch to your front porch. Locally-grown premium amaryllis, poinsettias, cyclamens and Christmas cactus plants are also available.

Bullington’s “Buzzington” bee products are offered including BeeKind ornaments, bee-themed gift items and beeswax candles.

The Holiday Greenery Sale features premium, freshly-cut Fraser fir trees ranging in height from five to eight feet. These native trees come from the Western North Carolina mountains and are wrapped for protection during transport. Also available are premium garlands in a 25-foot length, plus unadorned 12-inch wreaths. Holiday greenery must be ordered by Tuesday, Nov. 24.

Bullington Gardens is a proud supporter of our veterans, and believes all service members should be honored for their sacrifice. In partnership with local veterans and volunteers, Bullington Gardens offers Veteran’s Wreaths. Your $17 donation to honor a fallen veteran provides a 12-inch wreath, decorated with a hand tied red bow, and placed on a gravesite at the State Veteran’s Cemetery in Black Mountain, NC.

Shop our Bullington Gardens store online at www.bullingtongardens.org and fill your virtual cart with unique gift items and greenery. You can also place your order by phone at 828-698-6104 or in person at Bullington Gardens. Shipping or delivery is not available.

Bullington Gardens is located at 95 Upper Red Oak Trail in Hendersonville. For more information, call Bullington Gardens at 828-698-6104 or visit www.bullingtongardens.org.

Buy a brick or granite brick Be part of the Swannanoa Valley’s geography and history!
Dec 13 all-day
Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center

Buy a brick or granite paver to honor a friend or family member, and make their name a part of the Swannanoa Valley’s geography and history! The pavers will form a mosaic which will show the north and south ridgelines of the Swannanoa Valley and the locations within the Valley which trace the settlement and the evolution of the Valley to the vibrant community it is today.

The Valley in the Alley exhibit is located, fittingly, in the alley owned by the Museum between the Museum and the Dripolator Coffee House, just off West State Street in Black Mountain.

The exhibit is based on the sale of engraved brick pavers, but with an approach distinct from the usual random placement of pavers. Purchasers of all engraved bricks within the alley will have the same opportunity to honor or memorialize friends and recognize special achievements as in other paver programs. However, through the purchase of a variety of special granite pavers, individuals, families and businesses will be owning “a piece of history” by forming the geographic outline of the Valley and locating major points of special interest in the Valley, such as communities, dwellings, or landscape features.

The result will be a mosaic which will show the north and south ridgelines of the Swannanoa Valley, the major geographic features on, and within, the ridgelines and the locations within the Valley which trace the settlement and the evolution of the Valley to the vibrant community it is today.

When the Valley in the Alley is complete, it will be a primer for children, acquainting them with the geography and history of the Swannanoa Valley; it will quickly orient visitors to what they are seeing around them; it will allow generations of families to recall and tell of their place in the Valley’s history; and it will be an aesthetically pleasing walkway, complimenting both the Museum building and Black Mountain’s Historic Downtown. The Museum will also provide permanent seating in the alleyway for use by the community.


Pricing

Regular 4″x8″ brick pavers holding three lines of text are $100. Engraved granite pavers will form the special features of the mosaic. They start at $200 for one 4″x8″ paver with three lines of text and increase in cost and available text depending on the size of paver chosen. Approximately 4,000 pavers make up the Alley, of which nearly 600 will form the outline of the Valley. Along the outline and within the Valley, over 100 sites are available for special recognitions or dedications.

Once the initial cost for acquiring and placing pavers is recovered, all proceeds from the Valley in the Alley purchases will be devoted to completion of the renovation and the operations of the Swannanoa Valley Museum including exhibits, on-and off-site programming, outreach to schools, preservation, and research.

Participants in the Valley in the Alley program will be contributing their own piece of history to our community.
For more information:

Brick Locations

Buy friends and family a tile to our Wall of History at the Swannanoa Valley Museum!
Dec 13 all-day
Online with Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center
Buy friends and family a tile to our Wall of History at the Swannanoa Valley Museum! This special exhibit is comprised of 4 x 4 inch tiles with photographs of families, homes, fond memories, and other heritage images from the Swannanoa Valley. You can contribute your own photograph, or choose one from our museum’s extensive archives. Cost for the tiles is $100 for the first one, $75 for others placed in the same order.
Flat Rock Playhouse: Online Gift Shop Now Open
Dec 13 all-day
Online

SHOP THE ROCK!

Our online gift shop is now open, and just in time for your holiday shopping. T-shirts are available in a variety of colors with Adult and Youth sizing, and we have additional apparel items like sweatshirts, hats, polos, and totes. We have unique gift options like our 50th-anniversary book with a detailed history of Flat Rock Playhouse and prints designed by some of your favorite Vagabonds.

Image

Homemade Holiday A Gift Guild from Asheville Makers
Dec 13 all-day
Online

Handmade Holidays

Spread some mountain magic and holiday cheer with these unique gifts from Asheville’s artisans and makers. Shop from over 50 local vendors or share your love of Asheville by giving the gift of travel this holiday season.

Keep the Cheer Contest Shop and Dine
Dec 13 all-day
Hendersonville

 COC Shop and Dine

Enter the KEEP THE CHEER HERE Contest hosted with WTZQ!

WTZQ ShopDine Slider

 

What is Shop & Dine HC?

Shop & Dine HC is a collaborative movement designed to remind the public of the benefits and importance of spending their dollars with our local businesses. Local businesses lay the framework for a strong community and we want Henderson County to shop local, spend local, save local.

Why does shopping locally matter?

When you shop locally:

  • $0.02 of every $1 stays in the community through the Sales Tax. These dollars support county and municipal budgets for schools, law enforcement, infrastructure, and more.
  • you help create and retain jobs for existing businesses as they succeed and grow, and create a successful business community that attracts other businesses and entrepreneurs.
  • those same businesses you are supporting will give back to our community through donations to non-profits, civic clubs, youth programs, and more.

Simply put – our local businesses make our community better.

Want to get involved?

Be part of the conversation!

Join the Shop & Dine Facebook Group

join button3

Businesses – Take the #SafeHendo Pledge! 

We celebrate businesses that are committed to the safety of our community in these extraordinary times. Check out the #SafeHendo pledge and let your customers know their safety is your focus.

pledge button2

Shop Local: Consider what it means to shop Amazon
Dec 13 all-day
Online

Consider what it means to shop Amazon
Did you know that Amazon’s net sales for Q4 are expected to be $121 Billion and to grow 38% compared with fourth quarter 2019 numbers? Clearly in this pandemic, they are the big winner. Y’all… there has NEVER been a more critical year to SHOP LOCAL! Please show your love and support of our amazing local business community which truly has all you could ever need- a vintage dress, wall tapestry, piece of pottery, growler of beer or endless gift cards to your favorite Asheville restaurants. Get some ideas here:  shops , restaurants , breweries , and more.
Show and Tell Holiday Pop Up Shop
Dec 13 all-day
Online

WELCOME TO OUR ONLINE POP UP SHOP

The Big Crafty Online
Dec 13 all-day
Online

Our weekend.

For the first time in more than a decade, we won’t be sharing hugs with you all, and we’re really missing it.
But we’ll still be admiring the year’s creative harvest and we hope you will, too!
Our artists have responded to the extraordinary circumstances of this year with creative zeal, and we hope you’ll enjoy checking in with them via our list of artists.
We will also be sharing some of our favorite work and gift ideas via Instagram and Facebook this weekend and throughout the holidays.
Treat yourself. Treat your fam. Know that your support is needed and appreciated.
Also…know that next year we will be hugging you extra tight.
Til then, stay well, keep your fires burning, and take extra good care of one another ❉❊❤❊❉