Calendar of Events

Don’t miss the 4th Annual Ugly Sweater Run 5K and 10K presented by Hunter Subaru! The race is set for Saturday, December 2nd at the Riveter in Fletcher, NC! Ugly Sweaters and holiday cheer are strongly encouraged!

Join iDaph Events for a festive 5K and 10K hosted by the Riveter, the nation’s premier indoor climbing gym, bike park, and wellness arena. The courses start at the Riveter and run along scenic and rural paved and farm roads, and return to the Riveter for even more merriment. There’ll be delicious food, drinks, and refreshments (including adult beverages and coffee), and plenty of activities including a premier bike park and a climbing wall.

The races include something for everyone! A 5k, and a 10k (double loop)! Everyone receives a free, cozy, ugly sweater shirt until the deadline, a Hunter Subaru swag bag, and a finisher Christmas ornament! All levels and abilities are welcome! Run a relaxed pace and take selfies, OR run your heart out and try to get a personal best!

WEDNESDAY HIKE
Asheville urban hike 5+ miles

Please join us for a brisk downtown hike! The planned route will include neighborhoods, wooded trail, and views of the city from the ridge. We planned this route with the lovely views and fall foliage in mind. 🍁🍂

Please remember to bring or wear a headlamp, bright colors, and reflective gear if you have it. Keep in mind that we will be walking on some roads without sidewalks however, they are not heavily trafficked. 🦺

We will start and end the hike at White Labs where we can enjoy food and drinks after.

• ONSITE | Thursday, December 21, 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. | $24 Adult Non-Member (Arboretum member discount applies!) Pre-registration Required.

  Celebrate the Solstice on an afternoon “awe” walk through the Arboretum forest. Photographer Susan Patrice and writer Rebecca Caldwell invite you to listen to the land, take in the light and share a poetry of place. Participants will be encouraged to pause along the way to discover and photograph the beauty in the winter landscape guided by Susan. A selection of poetry read by Rebecca will encourage reflecting on this season of transition and dormancy. Yet, for many of us, this landscape inspires a generative opening in the year’s cycles. We begin to make room for the creative work we’ve put on hold for too long. Like the poet Mary Oliver’s white-eyed wind bird, we feel a stirring and a restlessness when we might otherwise want to sleep: “He has an idea, and slowly it unfolds …” Come see what ideas are awaiting an invitation. All levels of experience are welcome. Bring yourself and a phone or any kind of photographic equipment if you like. Included is a set of prompts you can take for further wintertime journal writing and imaging.

  Pre-register for this small-group experience through the form linked below and staff will  be in touch to finalize registration and payment.

The longest night of the year happens at the time of the winter solstice. This event is for all our
friends, neighbors and visitors to the community who may be experiencing sadness or grieving a loss, and struggling to find comfort
and joy during the Advent and Christmas seasons. The Longest Night service offers a reflective, sacred space, holding out healing
and hope.

Join Conserving Carolina on December 21 at 7:00 pm to celebrate the longest night of the year with a winter solstice walk to Hooker Falls in DuPont State Recreational Forest.

The stroll will be along a quarter-mile trail to the base of Hooker Falls. In the dark of night we will create soft moonlight by shining flashlights upon the falls…and enjoy a quiet moment to celebrate the return of the sun to the northern hemisphere.

Pre-registration is required. Please RSVP at conservingcarolina.org/calendar. There is no charge for this event.

Spend time on the trails walked by Carl Sandburg. Walk around a lake, past his home, by the goat barn, and over the rock where Sandburg often wrote his poetry. Then walk a short distance to visit the quaint shops of the village of Flat Rock. Go by the rock for which the village is named and past the Flat Rock Playhouse (the official NC State Playhouse).

This is a hilly walk; many will want walking poles. A portion of the trail has roots and other tripping hazards. Tennis shoes will be fine for most; if it has rained that day there is one slick place, so be sure your shoes have good tread. Bring a protein snack and water bottle.

The group will gather in the main parking lot at the entrance to the Sandburg property. There are restrooms near the beginning of the walk and near the Sandburg house.

Celebrate the holiday season as Tweetsie Railroad transforms into a winter wonderland for Tweetsie Christmas on November 24, 25, 26, December 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, & 30!

Closed Thanksgiving Eve, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve.

Tweetsie Christmas offers holiday activities the whole family will love, including a 20-minute nighttime train ride in an open-air car behind one of the park’s historic steam locomotives on a three-mile route lined with over 1 million Christmas lights, a heartwarming, toe-tapping, live Christmas variety show, kid-friendly amusement rides, meetings with Santa in his Gingerbread House filled with candied furnishings, and roasting s’mores over an outdoor fire.

“The Commissioning” featuring

Christian Hip Hop Artist KB “Kevin Burgess”

This. Will. Be. Transformative! Come and experience a Jesus Movement that will impact the upstate in a historic way. This event exists to gather, mobilize, and empower our generation into their purpose! We believe this monumental event coming Jan 27th of 2024 will be a catalyst to reach not only the upstate but the world with the gospel. No matter where you’re in life, we want you here!

If you’re reading this, we want you to know that this event is not just a one-night moment. We’re inviting your generation into an extraordinary journey that we think will surprise you and compel you. People from all around the upstate and the world will be attending this night for many reasons.

– KB, Evangelist Jacob Ebersole, World Harvest Inc, Jesus Youth, and many other ministries, churches, missions organizations will be represented here. This is a collaboration and a gathering to respond to the need of the Upstate, the Nation, and the World.

– We believe thousands will literally be set on mission right there at the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium. Not simply because this will be an amazing event, but because of what we will be offering you after. Young people and old will have an opportunity to partner with us on a global scale. Get your tickets fast!

– After the event in the lobby, you will have an opportunity to meet the leaders of this initiative. More importantly there will be a team present to greet you, speak with you about details, what your heart cry is, and to pray with you. Right there in the lobby you will have the opportunity to partner with World Harvest initiatives going on not just in the Upstate, but globally.

About World Harvest Inc.

World Harvest is a global missions movement set to reach every continent with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Founded by Evangelist Jacob Ebersole, who is actually from the upstate of SC – World Harvest has witnessed hundreds of thousands attend their crusades around the world. A few years ago the Herald Journey did a full story on Ebersole’s ministry which ended up on the front page of Sunday’s paper. This year, due to the impact of their campaigns, the story continues and his crusades have went viral on CBN, Christian Post, Charisma, and many more. Jacob’s heart cry has never been about social media, but about global impact. With that said, people are beginning to hear and wonder how they can be a part of this Jesus Movement as this is just the beginning.

About KB

KB for His Glory Alone! “To me, resistance carries with it a certain posture,” KB says. “The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.”Three studio releases in and KB is at his creative zenith. For years, the Tampa native has been something of an outlier in hip-hop, firmly placing a thumb print on the game while invoking the power of spiritual conviction. His lyricism is impassioned and astute, and he won’t be bent against his will. Given his commanding presence and consistent output, it comes as no surprise that the world has taken notice. The track “100” from the EP of the same name, took home the Dove Award for Rap/Hip-Hop Song of the Year in 2014. And his last LP, 2015’s Tomorrow We Live, garnered both critical and commercial acclaim, earning a Stellar Award nomination for Rap/Hip-Hop Gospel CD of the Year and debuting on the Billboard charts as the No.1 Christian Album and the No. 4 Rap Album overall.

Now — with the world in a social and political frenzy—KB is redefining what rebellion truly means. Today We Rebel, his third full-length album with Reach Records, is an exercise in zeal and imagination. No-frills, no filler. Just raw, uncut transparency through and through. KB follows his artistic impulses to great effect, lending his take on terms that are dominating the cultural conversation.

About Jesus Youth

From small beginnings, Jesus Youth has been focused on building an army! Established in 2022, many of the youth in Spartanburg came together to be the youth of this generation! Joining forces, putting aside differences, and uniting  under the name of Jesus, with strategic development, counsel, and leadership, what has been built up, will forever continue to affect the youth and generations to come!! What we see here is a move of God that cannot be stopped, the transformation of lives that cannot be denied, and the call to Christ that sounds to every age, race, and ethnicity. With Love in the center, Jesus Youth is pressing forward to win many souls for the kingdom of God! Not only do we focus on saving the lost, a revival is needed for the saved! Come join us for this night of being commissioned into the harvest that has been worked on for so long!

For more information and all other general inquiries about this event, please follow the link below to contact a member of World Harvest Inc.

WORLD HARVEST

World Harvest Global Inc. is an international Christian mission organization focused on fulfilling the Great Commission. We do this through large scale, city wide Gospel campaigns that have resulted in hundreds of thousands of people responding to Jesus Christ.

We are embarking on something important, historic, and thrilling – and you are seeing it right from the beginning. God is transforming the lives of people across the globe and entire city populations are encountering the Gospel through our events. Right now, the Holy Spirit has revealed a plan and infrastructure to take the gospel to every continent at large scale.

Want to avoid the winter blues? Get motivated with the 32nd Annual Frostbite Races presented by Hunter Subaru!

Join the largest winter footrace in Henderson County for a fun-filled afternoon of running and family-friendly activities. Choose from a 10K, 5K run/walk, or a flat and fast 1-mile un-timed Fun Run – perfect for runners of all ages and abilities. Join us at the Lelia Patterson Center in Fletcher, NC for a day of fitness, fun, and frosty festivities. Register now and gear up for the coolest race of the year!

GriefShare is a Christ-centered support group for all people
experiencing grief and loss of a loved one. The next session is scheduled to start Tuesday
afternoons beginning March 5th from 12:00 (noon) to 2:00 PM for 13-weeks and offered by
Living Savior Lutheran Church & Preschool in Asheville. No fees are required. Interested parties
can join this forum at any time through May 28th
.
GriefShare features nationally recognized experts on grief recovery topics. Seminar sessions
include “Is This Normal?” “The Challenges of Grief,” “Grief and Your Relationships,” “Why?”
and “Guilt and Anger.” Meetings will be held at 301 Overlook Road location in South Asheville
– off of Long Shoals Road.
For more information, email us at [email protected]. Brochures are available to distribute
in your organization.
# # #
About Living Savior Lutheran Church:
Living Savior Lutheran Church’s mission is to share the good news of Jesus Christ with all
people. Started in 1977 with two families meeting in their homes, Living Savior has grown from
a location in Hendersonville to 301 Overlook Road in South Asheville and now a second location
is planned in Hendersonville on 200 Upward Road. Living Savior serves as an important
member in the community, serving those around with camps, study, events, weddings, funerals,
baptisms and worship all centered on the love of God in Jesus Christ our Savior. He and his Word
as written are the focus of all that we do. Through our national church body – WELS, Wisconsin
Evangelical Lutheran Synod, we are able to reach people all over the world. We represent over
370,000 men, women, and children in nearly 1300 congregations in North America alone

• ONSITE | 

  Instructor: Alexandra Holland

  $35 Adult Non-Member

   (**Arboretum Members receive a 10% discount on all classes.)

  BRN – Elective, 2 hours | BREG – Elective, 2 hours | NCEE – Criteria II, 2 hours

  Limit: 15

  Spring is here, and the natural world is waking from its winter rest! Naturalist and botanist Alexandra Holland leads this wildflower walk at the Arboretum, pointing out the array of spring wildflowers emerging and in bloom. Learn some basics of wildflower ecology and identification while taking in the beauty of spring.

  Alexandra Holland graduated from Duke University and earned her Master’s degree in botany from the University of Texas at Austin. She was in the first class of students to be certified as Blue Ridge Naturalists. Alexandra managed the UTEX Culture Collection of Algae at UT Austin and spent many hours working with education programs at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.  She has taught botany for over a decade and leads nature hikes in Western North Carolina for groups of all ages.

Instructor: Susan Patrice

$24 Non-member Adult**

 (**Arboretum Members receive a 10% discount on all classes.)

Limit: 12

Take a fresh look at the objects, moments and vistas that surround you during this “awe walk” led by documentary photographer Susan Patrice. The contemplative practices she teaches help you experience place through new and loving eyes, to see beauty and wonder in your surroundings. Bring cameras or phones to capture what calls to you in the enveloping landscape. Participants will be sent meeting instructions for this small-group class that will take a slow intentional walk through parts of the Arboretum forest and forest meadow. This walk is a precursor to the generative writing and contemplative photography workshops to be held the following weekend.

Susan Patrice is a documentary photographer, community artist, and founder of Makers Circle. She recently launched Kinship Photography Collective, a global community of practice designed to create rich visual conversations that explore the intimate connections between nature, culture and belonging. Susan’s own photography and public installations focus primarily on the Southern Landscape and its people and feature intimate images that touch deeply into the questions of place, gender, and belonging.

Looking to be challenged physically and spiritually?… join us for the 2024 Carry Your Cross 5K, 1K Kid’s Run, and Little Kid’s (Ages 2-5) Fun Run – Saturday, March 30, 2024.  – 5K participants carry a 4ft length of 2×4 lumber across your back for the final 2/10 of a mile – uphill! Come join us for a run that you won’t soon forget. * 5K AWARDS & AGE GROUPS Special Commemorative Awards to: * Top 3 Male/Female Overall * Top 3 Male/Female Masters [40+] * Top 3 Male/Female in the following Age Groups: * 12+ under, 13-15, 16-18, 19-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70 + KIDS 1K AWARDS to the Top 3 Male/Female Overall  Schedule Saturday – March 30th * 7:00 – 8:45    Packet Pick Up and Onsite Registration in the Family Life Center (gym). * 9:00              5K START * 9:45 +/-         Little Kids Fun Run START * 10:00 +/-       Kids 1K START * 10:30            5K Awards Ceremony

The Episcopal Church of St. John in the Wilderness welcomes children
of all ages to participate in an Easter Egg Hunt at 10:00am on Easter Sunday, March 31. The
annual event is hosted by St. John's Young Family Ministry. Participants are encouraged to
join the fun in the Rector’s Garden and Parish Hall lawn at 1905 Greenville Highway, across
Rutledge Drive from the church. Parking is available.

"Since our founding, St. John in the Wilderness has been at the heart of fellowship and
community in Flat Rock and beyond,” said Fr. Josh Stephens, Rector. “We invite our friends
and neighbors to join us for Holy Week as we make our journey toward the cross and for
Easter Sunday as we discover that Christ is risen. We also invite children to our Easter Egg
Hunt between our worship services on Easter Sunday. We are so blessed to have such
wonderful neighbors and a beautiful place to live. It will truly be a gift to come together at
this sacred time.

Holy Week begins March 24 with Palm Sunday services at 8:45 and 11:00 a.m. A special
foot washing service is scheduled at 7:00pm on Maundy Thursday, March 28. Good Friday,
March 29 outside and leading to the church, Stations of the Cross begins at 11:00am with
Good Friday Services inside the church at 12:00pm and 5:30pm.
On Easter Sunday, March 31, services will be held at 8:45am and 11am with the Easter Egg
Hunt in between.

Discover the beauty of the 4th annual Jump off Rock Half Marathon & 10k presented by Hunter Subaru and UNC Health Pardee, an endurance running event unlike any other! Experience the thrill of one of the most scenic and fastest half marathon races in the south, running “downhill to downtown.” The Half has garnered a reputation as the most breathtaking and picturesque downhill half marathon in the Southeast, and it’s no wonder why!

Starting at Jump off Rock, a national landmark and the highest peak of the Town of Laurel Park, endurance runners will be captivated by the stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the colorful blooms and blossoms of spring. Then, continue on the gently downhill and picturesque 13.1 mile route that leads straight to the heart of downtown Hendersonville at Main Street.

The 10k race is fast and fun, commencing at the base of the Town of Laurel Park at the Hendersonville Family YMCA. Runners can join in with the half marathoners along the route and enjoy the beauty of the Town of Hendersonville that surrounds them. The 10k route is moderately flat and has a couple of gentle rollers throughout.

Finish line festivities await all participants at the same location in Historic Downtown Hendersonville on Main Street, creating a vibrant atmosphere of celebration and camaraderie!

Don’t miss your chance to experience the inspiring beauty of the Jump off Rock Half Marathon & 10k, an event that promises to inspire and captivate you like no other!

EXCITING NEWS: Both races are now USATF Sanctioned AND Certified!

Join us for this Memorial Day 5K Run for Life event to remember those who gave their all for our country and to help support Open Arms Pregnancy Center. This will be a run/walk-timed event to be held at Bill Moore Community Park in Fletcher (AKA: “Fletcher Park”) located at 85 Howard Gap Road, Fletcher, NC US 28732 on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27th with a start time of 8:00 AM. A Fun Run will start at 9:00 AM.
Runners should register by April 20th to secure a T-shirt for the race.
Sign up at https://runsignup.com/Race/NC/Fletcher/Run4for5k
Those interested in sponsoring the event should contact Open Arms Pregnancy Center to learn more. (Marlies Zerressen at [email protected] or call 828.676.4510)
Open Arms provides a safe place for women facing unplanned pregnancies, those
needing material goods for their baby, or those who need emotional support. We serve
each mom throughout her pregnancy and continue supporting her and the baby to 18 months of age. All services are free and confidential.

Kids Camp is a free event for children who have completed kindergarten-completed 5th grade. Each evening, the kiddos will have a time in music, games, crafts, missions, and Bible. Dinner and snacks are provided with sign-up. Camp will take place on-campus Mon-Thurs with a pool party on Friday. Individual children must be registered to attend.

Guests will meet at Dssolvr Asheville (63 N. Lexington Ave, Asheville, NC 28801) and then depart with their treasure map on a walking team scavenger hunt where they will use their minds and feet to follow clues, solve puzzles, and crack codes to find and unlock the treasure chest for a grand prize!

The hunt involves walking a distance of up to 2.0 miles in total and will take place rain or shine, so long as the weather does not become dangerous. The hunt typically takes about 60 minutes to complete.

Children under 10 years old are welcome to participate for free with the purchase of an Adult ticket.

Guests will meet at Dssolvr Asheville (63 N. Lexington Ave, Asheville, NC 28801) and then depart with their treasure map on a walking team scavenger hunt where they will use their minds and feet to follow clues, solve puzzles, and crack codes to find and unlock the treasure chest for a grand prize!

The hunt involves walking a distance of up to 2.0 miles in total and will take place rain or shine, so long as the weather does not become dangerous. The hunt typically takes about 60 minutes to complete.

Children under 10 years old are welcome to participate for free with the purchase of an Adult ticket.

The Light Up the Night 5K is a fundraising, glow-in-the-dark, night-time, walk or run and will be timed by Finish Well Timing. This will be Western Carolina Rescue Ministries’ 6th annual Light Up the Night 5k race to raise funds and spread awareness of the ministry’s community impact. This event will take place on Friday August 2, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. in Asheville’s Carrier Park, and all proceeds from this event will directly benefit WCRM.

Last year, your support gave a second chance to 26 moms and 46 babies in our Abba’s House Recovery Program. The success of these moms would not be possible without your valuable contribution.

As we embark on another year of service and outreach, we are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. This year, we want to include you in playing an even greater role in our ministry. We will be pursuing funding for the need of life transformation across all our programs.

This event is one of the Ministry’s most significant opportunities to raise funds in support of our community and these funds will be directly used to break the cycles of homelessness and addiction in our region. For the past 43 years, WCRM has been serving the homeless community of Asheville providing rescue, recovery, and restoration to people in crisis. We care for our clients with dignity, providing help, hope, and opportunity for our ministry participants to reengage in society. Whether it’s a hot meal, a warm shelter, or recovery from addiction, our compassion shines on everyone we meet.

We are delighted to invite you to a special gathering designed exclusively for the women of our community—Reflect: A Ladies-Only Event at Elevation Church AVL Watch Party! Join us on 9/13 at 7 PM (10 Genevieve Circle, Asheville, NC 28801) for an evening dedicated to reflection, renewal, and connection.

This event is sure to uplift and inspire each lady as we reflect on our personal journeys and celebrate our shared faith. Your presence will add a unique and cherished dimension to our gathering.

We can’t wait to share this special evening with you and experience the joy and renewal that comes from coming together in faith.

The 15th West Asheville Garden Stroll is Saturday, September 14th from 11 AM to 4 PM, with a family-friendly kickoff program at 10:30. It features 15 diverse gardens in the Horney Heights neighborhood, on both sides of Sulphur Springs Road from Lucy Herring School westward. Stroll Guides with a map and garden descriptions will be available at the school from 11:00 until 3:30. Local organizations will be on hand in the morning with resources for gardeners and possibly some items for sale.

The Garden Stroll is FREE, and all are welcome to join in this community event, rain or shine. However, leave your four-footed friends at home — dogs are not allowed in the gardens.
While there is street parking throughout the neighborhood, we encourage you to park at the school or at Abernethy United Methodist Church (1418 Patton Ave) and walk or bike the 3 mile route. (Regardless of where you park, come by the school first to pick up a Stroll Guide.)

This year’s gardens showcase many alternatives to conventional lawns as well as all kinds of edibles, ornamentals, medicinal plants, permaculture designs, and a wide variety of native plants. Water features, eclectic art, trellises, and quirky garden sheds provide focal points. You’ll see new and mature gardens as well as works-in-progress, all offering the chance to chat with friendly and enthusiastic gardeners.

With the theme “If You Grow It, They Will Come,” we encourage stroll-goers to observe how these gardens provide safety, nourishment, & love for birds, bees, and so many others of nature’s families.

Flat Rock, N.C. – The Episcopal Church of St. John in the Wilderness will offer a “Blessing of the Animals” on Sunday, October 6, at 4pm in the back parking lot located behind the Parish Hall at 1905 Greenville Highway in Flat Rock.

Furry and feathered companions are invited to this special service to receive a blessing. Cats,
dogs, snakes, chickens, horses, birds, goats, in fact all domestic animals, are welcome! As an option, a stuffed animal or pet photo may be presented to receive a blessing. Our outdoor meeting space will create a lively Eucharist for all creatures involved.

“The more time I spend in Creation, the more I feel connected to the plants and animals that surround us and the God who made it all,” said Rev. Josh Stephens, the Rector of the parish. “We know your pets and farm animals are members of your family so please come out for this special service that honors your animals and asks for God to bless and care for them as they bless and care for you.”

The service comes a few days after the annual Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, a man with a true
spirit of love and peace that could have only come from God. He turned the cerebral,
inward-leaning theology and scholasticism of the Middle Ages, on its head by his radical
commitment to living a life of poverty and service in the pattern of Jesus of Nazareth.

Those who encountered St. Francis were drawn into the peaceable Kingdom of God to know
more fully the Prince of Peace. Even animals, it is said, were attracted to his Christ-like
gentleness. In one story he preaches to a flock of birds. In another he makes peace with a wolf that had been terrorizing a village calling the creature “Brother Wolf” and reconciling him to the village.

As we thank God for the animals in our lives we pray that the reconciling work of Jesus Christ might extend beyond our relationship with God to include all creation. We hope you will join us with your animal companions for this fun outdoor worship service. In the event of rain, the service will be relocated inside the Parish Hall.

For more information call the church office at 828-693-9783 or visit www.stjohnflatrock.org.

Winter Lights is a spectacular open-air walk-through light show made from over one million lights! Located at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, North Carolina, this year’s event features favorites like the famously tall 50-foot lighted tree and the Quilt Garden, along with enchanting new details designed to delight and surprise. All prices are per vehicle. No pets allowed.

Winter Lights features live entertainment nightly and food and beverages from the Bent Creek Bistro, the Cocoa Shack and the Cocoa Cabin! Open nightly from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Winter Lights is a spectacular open-air walk-through light show made from over one million lights! Located at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, North Carolina, this year’s event features favorites like the famously tall 50-foot lighted tree and the Quilt Garden, along with enchanting new details designed to delight and surprise. All prices are per vehicle. No pets allowed.

Winter Lights features live entertainment nightly and food and beverages from the Bent Creek Bistro, the Cocoa Shack and the Cocoa Cabin! Open nightly from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m.