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, May 14, 2022
Cooking Class: Pasta and Croissants
May 14 all-day
Asheville Mountain Kitchen

This event is open for kids and adults, or just adults. Come spend quality time with your kiddos.
Pasta making class designed especially for kids and adults to work together.

We will make ravioli, fettuccini and two different sauces; marinara and Alfredo. We will also make quick but ultimately delicious croissants.

We provide drinks, aprons and appetizers. Come join us for a fun afternoon.

County Voting Absentee in the 2022 Primary Elections
May 14 all-day
online

News article image

Think you might need to use an absentee ballot for the Primary Election on May 17? Here’s what you need to know so you can make sure your vote counts.

How to Request an Absentee Ballot

Absentee ballots will be mailed out beginning on March 28. The deadline to submit an Absentee Ballot Request Form is May 10 at 5:00 p.m. for the 2022 Primary Election. Any North Carolina registered voter may request, receive, and vote a mail-in absentee ballot. No special circumstance or reason is needed. Registered voters in North Carolina must request an absentee ballot with an official N.C. Absentee Ballot Request Form. There are two ways to access and submit the form:

  1. Online – Request an Absentee Ballot at the N.C. Absentee Ballot Portal.
  2. On paper – print the English N.C. Absentee Ballot Request Form for 2022 or the Spanish N.C. Absentee Ballot Request Form for 2022 (not available online currently).

For active-duty military, their family members, and U.S. citizens living abroad, click here. If you have questions about that process, you can call us at (828) 250-4200 or visit buncombecounty.org/vote.

No Printer? You may complete an absentee ballot request form at the Election Services office at 59 Woodfin Place, Asheville, 28801, or call (828) 250-4200 and one will be mailed to you. You may return the request in one of the following ways:

Mail it to:

P.O. Box 7468, Asheville, NC 28802

Hand deliver it to our office:

59 Woodfin Place, Asheville, 28801

Note: The Absentee Ballot Request Form may not be emailed or faxed. Request forms that are hand delivered to the office must be returned only by the voter or the voter’s near relative

How to Return an Absentee Ballot

The deadline to return the completed Absentee Ballot is Tuesday, May 17, 2022, at 5:00 p.m., however, voters are encouraged to return the ballot as early as possible. You may return it to us in one of the following ways:

By mail: Absentee ballots may be mailed to P.O. Box 7468 Asheville, NC 28802. Ballots must be postmarked on or before Tuesday, May 17, 2022 and received by Friday, May 20.

At an Early Voting site: Absentee ballots may be returned to an early voting site during the early voting period, but not at a polling location on the day of the Primary Election. Ballots returned at an early voting site must be delivered to the election official at the check-in station.

In person: Absentee ballots may be returned in person to our office at 59 Woodfin Place between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Absentee ballots may be returned only by the voter or the voter’s near relative.

For more information about absentee voting, visit the North Carolina Board of Elections website. Or call us at (828) 250-4200. You can also email your questions to [email protected].

 

Farmer-to-Farmer Training: WNC Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CRAFT)
May 14 all-day
Organic Growers School
CRAFT-Main-Header

Farmer-to-Farmer Training

WNC Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CRAFT) is a farmer-led effort to bring established farmers, farm apprentices, and aspiring farmers together for year-long training in the art and science of sustainable agriculture, straight from the hearts, mouths, and fields of seasoned local farmers in Western North Carolina (WNC).

 

Why join CRAFT?

  • Network with beginning and experienced farmers to exchange your ideas and knowledge and build community in the region.
  • Expand your training opportunities beyond your farm to bolster the robustness of your apprenticeship offerings.
  • Attract aspiring farmers to your apprenticeship positions to cultivate success and improve the future of our region’s agriculture.
GreenWorks Silent Auction Virtual
May 14 all-day
online

GreenWorks Silent Auction

May 13-29

Virtual

History @ Home – Virtual Exhibits w/ The Western North Carolina Historical Association (WNCHA)
May 14 all-day
online
Stories from the House is a virtual tour of our 1840s-era brick mansion as seen through the eyes of many of the people who walked these same hallways over a century ago and whose stories represent a microcosm of the history of western North Carolina.
In 1918 vs. 2020, we took an in-depth look at the 1918 influenza epidemic in Western North Carolina through newspaper clippings, advertisements, ephemera, photographs, and oral history and place the events of 1918 into context with our present-day response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Old Shiloh was one of Asheville’s first communities established by emancipated people. The community moved to its present-day location – New Shiloh – after George Vanderbilt, in an effort to expand his land holdings as he planned to build his Biltmore Estate, purchased the land and buildings and agreed to relocate the Shiloh church and cemetery.

Home Green Home Silent Auction w/ GreenWorks
May 14 all-day
online w/ Gr

Bid on a Greener Future

Our Silent Auction Features Only-in-Asheville Treats & Unique Experiences to Fund Asheville’s Climate Resilience

May 13-29

Bidding Ends May 29 at 8pm

 

You live in a beautiful, healthy place, and you want to keep it that way.

Us too.

So we put together a fun way to help protect our home — now and for the future.

 

We’ve reached out to our community, and collected items from some of the most fun, most delicious, and most unique Asheville businesses. The auction goes live May 13.

Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive
May 14 all-day
leaving a donation of non-perishable food items next to their mailbox before the delivery of the mail

The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) will conduct its annual national food drive. The longstanding food drive is the largest one-day food drive in the country and provides residents with an easy way to donate food to your local food bank.
Residents in WNC can participate by leaving a donation of non-perishable food items next to their mailbox before the delivery of the mail on May 14th. Letter carriers will then collect these food donations on that day as they deliver mail along their postal routes, and deliver them to MANNA.
If you plan on donating food, there are a few important guidelines to know in terms of what MANNA can and cannot receive.
  • MANNA is unable to accept any food donations that are homemade (i.e., without a nutrition label and ingredients listed, in a sealed container).
  • MANNA cannot accept any glass containers.
  • MANNA cannot accept items that have already been opened.
Special note: If there is a chance of rain, please place your food donation in a plastic or reusable bag to protect the food from the elements.
Thank you for helping us restock our shelves, and our partners’ shelves!
Lights Out! Asheville
May 14 all-day
Asheville Area
Lights Out! Asheville is a program that can benefit birds and also save energy and money. Mayor Manheimer recently signed a proclamation that designates March-May and September-November as “Migratory Bird Awareness Months,” and has entrusted the Blue Ridge Audubon Chapter and the Coalition for a Bird-Friendly Asheville to create a Lights Out program that is supported by the Asheville residential and business community.

The Coalition for a Bird-Friendly Asheville, in partnership with the Blue Ridge Audubon Chapter, and many local environmental organizations, is asking you to participate in Lights Out! Asheville. By doing so, you will reduce light pollution that disrupts bird migration and negatively impacts human and non-human animal health while also reducing your energy consumption.

What you can do:

From Midnight-6AM, March-May and September-November,

 Turn off exterior decorative lighting
 Extinguish spot and flood-lights
 Substitute strobe lighting where possible
 Reduce lobby and atrium lighting where possible
 Turn off interior lighting, especially on upper floors
 Substitute task and area lighting for workers staying late
 Down-shield exterior lighting or limit to ground level

By pledging to participate in Asheville’s Lights Out! program, you will be joining a national Lights Out network comprised of over 40 cities! Together, we can help provide safe passage for our avian migratory friends.

May Day Hosted Weekend with Celebrity Chef Chadwick Boyd at Half-Mile Farm
May 14 all-day
Half-Mile Farm

We’re excited to welcome Celebrity Chef & Author Chadwick Boyd for a celebration of spring.

About Chadwick Boyd
Chadwick Boyd is a food media entrepreneur who began cooking as a child on his family farm and has been cooking along with some of the biggest names, such as Art Smith, Carla Hall, and Tyler Florence for almost 30 years. Today, Boyd’s company, Chadwick Boyd Lifestyle, is a multi-media enterprise that collaborates with magazines, television networks, publishing houses, and consumer brands.

Friday & Saturday, May 13 & 14
Social Hour from 5 – 6 pm | Enjoy recipes from Chadwick Boyd’s Lovely & Delicious platform.
*Complimentary for Half-Mile Farm guests only.

Saturday, May 14
Biscuit-making demonstration, conversation and tasting with Chadwick and Kyle Jones Co-Founder and Media Director of Bitter Southerner in the Woodland View Room from 4 – 5 pm.
*Complimentary for Half-Mile Farm guests only.

Sunday, April 15
May Day Celebration Dinner with Celebrity Chef Chadwick Boyd from 5 pm at The Farm at Old Edwards. Playful Spring Attire is encouraged!

Price: Hosted events are for Half-Mile Farm guests only.
To attend these complimentary events at Half-Mile Farm from Sunday, May 13 – 15, book your stay today.

Book Online: https://www.oldedwardshospitality.com/half-mile-farm#/booking/step-1

May Special Facial Offer Sensibilities Day Spa
May 14 all-day
Sensibilities Day Spa
Need Help With Water Bills? New Water Assistance Program Could Offer Help.
May 14 all-day
online

If you’re behind on your water bill or afraid your water might get cut off, a new resource might be able to help you. On Jan. 4, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners approved more than $450,000 in federal funding for the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP). The initiative is aimed at preventing water disconnections and helping reconnect drinking and wastewater services.

The LIHWAP will be administered by Buncombe County-based Eblen Charities. The nonprofit will make payments directly to utilities on behalf of qualifying households. The program is slated to run through Sept. 30, 2023 or until funds are exhausted.

Eligibility requirements

Households that currently receive Food and Nutrition Services (FNS), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Work First services, or those that received Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) services from Oct. 1, 2020-Sept. 30, 2021, are automatically eligible to receive this benefit if their water services have been cut off or are in danger of being cut off.

For additional eligibility information or to apply, please contact Eblen Charities at (828) 255-3066.

Outpace Hunger Feed People and Your Passion
May 14 all-day
Online w/ Manna FoodBank

OUTPACE HUNGER

FEED PEOPLE AND YOUR PASSION!

What Is Outpace Hunger?

Looking for a way to make a real impact this spring and summer? Feed people while pursuing your passion through Outpace Hunger, an action-based fundraising campaign that turns a favorite activity into meals!

For decades, MANNA FoodBank has been working to outpace hunger and food insecurity all across 16 counties of Western North Carolina, including the Qualla Boundary. The 2022 campaign runs May 1 through September 30, and we invite you join the growing community of folks who are Outpacing Hunger alongside of us!

How It Works

Participating in Outpace Hunger is easy!

You decide your level of commitment, so every participant can create their own path to helping provide food to our community. Participants also decide how, when, and where they complete their goal, any time now through the campaign end on September 30.

Outpace Hunger participants:

(1) Register to be a part of MANNA’s Outpace Hunger community. The $20 registration fee includes a t-shirt for you and provides 80 MEALS for neighbors facing food insecurity in WNC.

(2) Choose a favorite activity (run, walk, roll, stroll, hike, bike, paddle, climb, float, skate, golf, and everything in between!) to complete individually, or as a family/group/team.

(3) Set a goal to reach. This can be an activity-related goal, a fundraising goal, or both.

(4) Invite friends and family to support your fundraising efforts through your own, personalized Outpace Hunger webpage.

Whether running a 5K, walking your neighborhood, hiking the Mountains to Sea trail, or paddling the French Broad River, Outpace Hunger participants play a vital part in ensuring our WNC neighbors have access to healthy food

READY TO OUTPACE HUNGER WITH US?

REGISTER NOW!

ALREADY AN OUTPACE HUNGER PARTICIPANT?

VISIT YOUR PAGE

 NEED MORE INFORMATION?

OUTPACE HUNGER HOW-TO GUIDE

Race2Reduce this Mind Your Plastic May
May 14 all-day
online

It’s almost Mind Your Plastic May, and this year we’re challenging you to meet your plastic waste face-to-face. Join the Race2Reduce by pledging to decrease your plastic use for the entire month of May. Sign up to receive plastic tips, volunteer opportunities, and educational materials featuring local Asheville businesses.

 

How it works: Earn points to win a $75, $50, or $25 gift certificate to Ware, a local sustainability and refill shop in downtown Asheville.

5pts: Like or share a MYPM Instagram or Facebook post

10pts: Post (and tag us) or email us a video/photo of you using one of our plastic tips

15pts: Answer our Friday Trivia question

20pts: Post (and tag us) or email us a video/photo of you using one of our plastic tips

25pts: Lead your own trash cleanup with GreenWorks’ supplies

Last time we ran this contest, over 400 people stepped up, and in 30 days we were able to divert an estimated 6,750 lbs of trash from the landfill

Race2Reduce: 30-Day Plastic Reduction Challenge
May 14 all-day
online w/ GreenWorks

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Once you start seeing all the plastics you use, you can’t unsee it.

You reach for your chips, your tube of toothpaste, or your plastic sandwich bags, and feel guilty that all that packaging will spend the rest of time in the landfill.

 

Us too.

Plastic is super light, but the average person throws away more than 110 lbs of it each year  – the equivalent of almost 9,100 plastic soda bottles.

It’s too much. And we decided it doesn’t have to be that way.

We just have to get creative.

 

When we first started tracking our plastic waste, we challenged ourselves:

How little could we use?

 

Replacing plastic drink bottles with a reusable bottle was simple.

Keeping reusable shopping bags in the car to grab on the way into the store was also easy.

 

What’s the next level?

 

Join our Race2Reduce to find out!

Race2Reduce is your pledge to decrease your plastic use for the entire month of May.

Once you sign up HERE we will send you plastic tips, volunteer opportunities, and educational materials featuring local Asheville businesses!

 

But you won’t do it alone.

You’re joining a whole community of action takers opening their minds and kitchen pantries to plastic alternatives.

 

Plus there’s a little friendly competition…

 

How it works: Earn points to win a $75, $50, or $25 gift certificate to Ware, a local sustainability and refill shop in downtown Asheville.

5pts: Like or share a MYPM Instagram or Facebook post

10pts: Post (and tag us) or email us a video/photo of you using one of our plastic tips

15pts: Answer our Friday Trivia question

20pts: Post (and tag us) or email us a video/photo of you using one of our plastic tips

25pts: Lead your own trash clean up with GreenWorks’ supplies

Enter to win by pledging to reduce your plastic here. 

(*Be sure to check the box that asks if you want to be in the running for prizes.) 

Lots of plastics aren’t recyclable, and when we throw them “away,” they only go as far as the Buncombe County landfill off Panther Branch Road in Alexander.

 

So here’s the thing:

If you want to get in shape, no one else can do your push-ups for you.

If you want to feel awesome, no one else can choose your car dance song for you.

And if you want to protect your home and health from plastic pollution, no one else can choose to consume less plastic for you.

 

But we CAN do it together.

 

Over 400 residents participated in the last Mind Your Plastic May plastic reduction challenge – and together we diverted 6,750 lbs of trash from the landfill in just 30 days.

Will you help us break that record this year? Join here.

 

We’re proud that so many of our fellow Ashevillians are working to end their reliance on plastic! Many thanks to the businesses and restaurants who supported this effort, and are working hard to reduce their own plastic waste. Mind Your Plastic May 2022 is presented for the residents of the City of Asheville in partnership with the City of Asheville. #goingplasticfree.

 

Questions?  Give us a shout at: [email protected]

 

 

P.S. It’s Mind Your Plastic May, which means we’re taking action to reduce plastic all month long!

Check out all our events and activities here: ashevillegreenworks.org/mind-your-plastic-may

White Squirrel Hiking Challenge 6
May 14 all-day
Western North Carolina Mountains

Hiking Challenge 6 is here! In Conserving Carolina’s and WPA’s White Squirrel Hiking Challenge 6, you get to explore the places you’re helping to protect—and they’re amazing! We invite you to take eight hikes on lands that Conserving Carolina has helped to protect, enhance, or open to the public.

This challenge includes two all-new Conserving Carolina trails with gorgeous views! Plus, you can see the highest waterfall east of the Rockies, lakes and waterfalls in DuPont State Recreational Forest, expanded trails in Bracken Mountain Preserve, and a beautiful creek in the Green River Game Lands. There’s also the all-time favorite Bearwallow Mountain with its 360-degree views over the mountains and countryside we’re working to protect.

These hikes will take you to some of our region’s “greatest hits,” as well as hidden gems where you may have the woods to yourself. If you’re into mountain biking, you have the option of biking some of these trails. And if you love to swim, fish, or just be near the water, five of these hikes take you to rivers, lakes, or waterfalls.

And the Hikes Are…

Drumroll please…. Here are the 8 hikes for this new Hiking Challenge! You can find more information and links to the full hike descriptions below. Which one will you do first?

  1. Bearwallow Mountain
  2. Wildcat Rock Trail – Extended
  3. Bracken Preserve
  4. DuPont State Recreational Forest: Fawn Lake and Lake Julia
  5. DuPont State Recreational Forest: Holly Road to Hooker Falls
  6. Green River Game Lands: Green River Cove Trail
  7. Whitewater Falls
  8. Youngs Mountain Trail
  9. LOG YOUR HIKES
    • Log each hike as you complete it. You can check your progress in this roster.
    • You can do the hikes at your own pace. You can take weeks, months, or over a year—whatever works for you.
    • You must complete all your hikes before the start of the next Hiking Challenge. We launch a new challenge about every two years.
    • Only hikes that you’ve done after Oct. 1, 2021 count toward Hiking Challenge 6.
    • You can complete the hikes on your own or as a group.
    • Please share about your hikes with the hashtag #whitesquirrelhikingchallenge (optional)
    • Feel free to share about your hikes and connect with other hikers in our Facebook group, the Conserving Carolina Community.

    The Hiking Challenge is free and open to all, but you must be a Conserving Carolina member to become a Hiking Challenge 6 Champion. If you are a member and you complete all 8 hikes, you will earn your White Squirrel Patch and exclusive perks from local businesses that support conservation, including Appalachian Coffee CompanyLazy Otter OutfittersMurphy’s Naturals, and YAM Yoga and Massage. Most importantly, you get to experience eight great places and deepen your personal connection to land conservation.

YWCA VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY THIS SPRING
May 14 all-day
YWCA of Asheville

The YW is seeking volunteers to help maintain and ensure a thriving YW Garden. Plants in the YW Garden will be transformed into delicious meals for the children in our care by our nutrition team, used to introduce students to new vegetables and herbs, and leveraged by our teachers as curriculum in our childcare allowing the children to watch as plants grow from seed, to sprout, to thriving plant! To become a volunteer at the YWCA of Asheville, email [email protected].

Spring Photo Contest – “Trees in Bloom”
May 14 @ 12:00 am – 12:45 pm
Chimney Rock State Park

Image result for Chimney Rock Park

NC State Parks’ Year of the Tree continues with a celebration of spring trees. Break out your camera and capture the transformation of trees from winter to spring as they show off their gorgeous blooms throughout the next few months. You may even win a prize for your efforts!

GREAT PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED TO 3 WINNING ENTRIES

1st Prize: The winning photo will be our Facebook cover photo for two weeks, and the photographer will receive two annual passes to Chimney Rock State Park, two boat tour tickets from Lake Lure Tours, and dinner for two at the Old Rock Café.

2nd Prize: After the first place photo, the second place photo will be our Facebook cover photo for one week. The photographer will receive two annual passes to Chimney Rock State Park and dinner for two at the Old Rock Café.

3rd Prize: The third place photographer will receive two adult day passes (or one family pack of day passes) to Chimney Rock State Park and dinner for two at the Old Rock Café.

CONTEST RULES:

  1. There is no fee to enter the contest. All photographs must be taken of Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park only in areas accessible to guests between April 1, 2022 – May 31, 2022.
    The contest is open to amateur and professional photographers.
  2. Up to three photos per person can be submitted via any of the following ways to be eligible to win:
    • Facebook: First, like the Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park page. Next, send us a private message including your contact information specified in rule #3.
    • E-mail: If you don’t have access to social media, you may email your digital photo with your contact information specified in rule #3 to [email protected].
  3. Every entry should be clearly labeled with the photographer’s name, city & state, a brief photo caption, an email address and the best phone number to reach you.
  4. Photos should be available at a minimum resolution of 1200 x 1600 pixels (1 MB minimum) to be eligible to win. Photos taken via smart phones, tablets and other mobile devices are welcome if they meet minimum requirements.
  5. For entries showing human faces, you must list their name(s) and have written permission from any photographed person(s) to use their image.
  6. Entries should reflect the photographer’s interpretation of the theme. Emphasis will be placed on quality, composition and creativity. All entries may be used in promotions of Chimney Rock and park-related activities.
  7. Digital images can be optimized but not dramatically altered with photo editing software. Black and white photographs are welcome.
  8. Finalists will be chosen by Chimney Rock staff and the winner will be voted on by the public. Decisions regarding winners are final.

Winners will be notified personally and announced on Chimney Rock’s social media. For more information, call 1-828-625-9611, ext. 1812 or email us at [email protected].

Get Paid to be a Hero for Democracy: Buncombe County Needs Poll Workers for Early Voting + Primary Election Day
May 14 @ 6:00 am – 9:00 pm
Buncombe County Polls

Looking for a way to get involved in your community, support the democratic process, and also make some money? Buncombe County Election Services is looking for poll workers to help with Early Voting (April 28-May 14, 2022) and the Primary Election Day on Tuesday, May 17.

Perks of Working the Polls:

  • Meaningful work
  • No prior experience needed
  • Part-time and full-time options
  • Paid training
  • Great atmosphere
  • Build highly transferrable skills
  • Temporary setting
  • Doesn’t impact unemployment benefits (Per Session Law 2020-71, any person that is receiving unemployment may work as a poll worker without any effect on their unemployment benefits)
  • Opportunities for students, people looking for supplemental incomes, and retirees with flexible schedules

“Our poll workers are the backbone of safe and fair elections,” said Corinne Duncan, Director of Elections. “Without them, we wouldn’t be able to offer our Buncombe County voters the best experience at the polls, regardless of if they vote early or on Election Day.”

Through the Student Assistant Program, students who will be at least 17 years old by Primary Election Day can work as assistants. Use the Student Election Assistant Application.

To be eligible you must:

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • A registered voter of Buncombe County
  • Able to lift 35 pounds
  • Be comfortable using a laptop to look up voter information
  • Able to sit and stand for long periods of time while greeting voters
  • Unaffiliated voters may be considered as well

Early Voting: During Early Voting, each location is staffed with a Captain and a team of workers. Captains make $14/hour and workers make $12/hour. Working during Early Voting requires a minimum commitment of 17 days, including weekend shifts and mandatory paid training. The captain carries the most responsibility with duties including voting location access, site setup/take down, task delegation, reconciliation, equipment troubleshooting, and voting process/election law familiarity.

For more information about working Early Voting, contact Gretchen Kull at (828) 250-4213.

Election Day: Each of our 80 precincts is staffed with three judges and a number of assistants. Judges make $210-260 and assistants make $175. This is a lump sum payment and includes payment to attend the mandatory four-hour training session. Everyone is required to work the entire Primary Election Day on May 17, which typically runs from 6 a.m-9 p.m. Precincts are located throughout the County, and we do our best to assign you to a precinct near where you live.

For more information about working on Election Day, contact Karen Rae at (828) 250-4224.

COVID-19 Protocols

Buncombe County will follow the latest public health guidance to ensure everyone can participate in a safe and secure election.

Jump Off Rock Half Marathon + 10K
May 14 @ 7:30 am – 10:00 am
Town of Laurel Park

Beautiful, Fast, Fun & Spectator Friendly Event

An endurance running event like none other, the 2nd Annual Jump Off Rock Half Marathon presented by Hunter Subaru and 10k presented by Pardee Health, is one of the fastest half marathon races in the south and runs “downhill to downtown.”

The point-to-point, half marathon begins at Jump off Rock, a national landmark and the Town of Laurel Park’s highest peak, and finishes in the heart of downtown Hendersonville on Main Street. This gently downhill and scenic 13.1 mile course is not only fast, it also has breathtaking views. Half Marathoners wind their way downhill through the beautiful back-roads of Laurel Park then on historic city streets and around Hendersonville’s Osceola Lake before heading into downtown Hendersonville. The point-to-point race and the scenic course are sure to bring PRs and mountain memories to last a lifetime.

10k runners start their race at the base of the Town of Laurel Park at the Hendersonville Family YMCA. They join in on the half marathon route at about the half-way point with half marathoners. The 10k route is moderately flat with a couple gentle rollers. The 10k runners will run on historic city streets, around the Hendersonville’s Osceola Lake and back to downtown Hendersonville.

*New* for 2022 – 10k Cash prizes for the overall top three, male/female winners & two ‘in the pack’ participants!

Both races finish at the same location in Historic Downtown Hendersonville on Main Street.

Buncombe County Opens Its First Dog Park
May 14 @ 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Buncombe County Sports Park

It can be ruff out there for our canine companions, but we have pawsitively great news. Buncombe County’s first-ever dog park is now open at our Sports Park in Candler. While this is a soft open, the park features two fenced-in play areas; one for large dogs and one for smaller pups. “We do have plans to add other amenities and water fountains,” exclaims Recreation Services Program Coordinator Mac Stanley. “People are very excited about this new opportunity. Since it was announced, we have gotten letters of support as well as many emails questioning when will the project be completed.”

So join us in a round of apaws as we celebrate the opening of this new venue for hot dogs and cool people. “It’s an amazing place to bring your dog to run free without a leash and interact with other dogs,” says Stanley. “One of my favorite aspects of this new dog park is being able to cultivate a community. Hopefully, this dog park will be instrumental in connecting dogs as well as people within the community.” Paw-yeah, sounds great.

Location: Buncombe County Sports Park, 58 Apac Circle

Hours of operation: Monday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. (same as the Sports Park)

Dog park drools rules
Dogs must be:

  • On a leash at all times until safely in the fenced-in dog park area
  • Vaccinated, licensed, and in good health
  • At least four months old to enter
  • Wearing a collar with ID tags
  • Under voice control of their human and not aggressive

Humans must:

  • Be with dogs at all times
  • Remove dogs at first sign of aggression
  • Pick up poop and dispose of it in receptacles provided
  • Be liable for any and all injuries caused by their dogs

Not Allowed:

  • Pronged, spike or choke collars
  • Aggressive dogs, aggressive humans, or dogs in heat
  • Unsupervised children 12 years of age or younger
Henderson County Tailgate Market
May 14 @ 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Henderson County Tailgate Market

This is the 43rd year for this weekly tailgate market, where vendors sell fresh-picked seasonal vegetables and fruit, local honey, cut flowers, plant starts and more!

I THINK I CAN 5K
May 14 @ 8:00 am
Asheville Outlets

I Think I Can 5K

Put on your running shoes and support Canterbury Classical School’s annual I think I Can 5K run at Asheville Outlets on Saturday, May 14.

Race proceeds will support both Grammar School and Logic/Rhetoric Schools’ playgrounds that the school and community will use for years to come.

Packet pickup will be Friday, May 13 at Asheville Outlets from 5pm-7pm near Sportsman’s Warehouse.

Race Day Events

Little Sprinters Run- 8:00am

5K start time – 8:30am

1K start time – 9:00am

Click here to register for the 5K

*Virtual run option is available.

I Think I Can – Canterbury 5K – 05/14/2022 – Race Information (raceentry.com)

Jackson Park Bird Outing
May 14 @ 8:00 am – 10:00 am
Jackson Park

Join the Blue Ridge Audubon, a chapter of the National Audubon Society for their monthly bird walk at Jackson Park, a renowned birding location. On the 2nd Saturday of each month, meet at the Administration Building parking lot, located on Glover Street, and join the group to see the many wonderful birds found at Jackson Park, Hendersonville’s largest park.

North Asheville Tailgate Market
May 14 @ 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
North Asheville Tailgate Market

Welcome to Western NC’s most premier farmers market!

Since 1980, we have been providing Asheville and the surrounding area with a full range of local, sustainably produced produce, meats, eggs, cheeses, breads, plants, prepared foods and crafts. Day vendors complement the members’ offerings with additional products and services.

The North Asheville Tailgate Market is a weekly, Saturday morning gathering of the best farmers, craftsmen, and bakers. With over 40 vendors and more than 40,000 annual customers, the market’s energetic and warm environment welcomes all.

Shoppers at the market
Swannanoa Community Yard Sale
May 14 @ 8:00 am – 1:00 pm
Swannanoa Ingles parking lot

It’s time for spring cleaning and that means you’ve probably found some “stuff” you no longer need. As we all know, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure, and nowhere is that more apparent than at the Swannanoa Community Yard Sale, taking place on Saturday, May 14, from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Dozens of sellers and hundreds of buyers will descend on the Swannanoa Ingles parking lot (2299 US 70) to hawk their wares and shop for bargains. Don’t miss out!
Seller spaces are $15 each, with a two space maximum per seller. Please bring your own tables. This year, payment must be made in advance to secure your space. For information on registration and payment options, please call 828-515-1840 or send an email to [email protected]. The sale will go on rain or shine (but let’s hope for shine!).
The Swannanoa Community Yard Sale is sponsored by Friends and Neighbors of Swannanoa (FANS); all proceeds from space rentals help support FANS’ work in the community. FANS would like to thank Ingles for allowing us to hold the yard sale in their parking lot – one of Swannanoa’s highest-visibility locations!
WNC Farmers Market
May 14 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
WNC Farmers Market

NCDA&CS - Marketing Division - Western North Carolina Farmers Market

The WNC Farmers Market is the premier destination for buying and selling the region’s best agriculture products directly from farmers & food producers to household & wholesale customers in an environment that celebrates the region’s diverse culture, food & heritage.

House of Operation:

WNC Farmers Market: 24/7, 361 days a year market access for farmers
Office: Monday- Friday, 8am-5pm
Market Shops: 7 days a week, 8 am-5 pm
Wholesale and Truck Sheds: 7 days a week

WNC Fiber Handweavers Guild | Main Gallery Exhibition
May 14 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Folk Art Center

Featured Artists: Guild Members from the WNC Fiber Handweavers Guild

World Bonsai Day
May 14 @ 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
The North Carolina Arboretum

Join The North Carolina Arboretum as it celebrates the re-opening of its outdoor bonsai display for the 2022 season as part of the twelfth annual World Bonsai Day, an internationally celebrated event dedicated to furthering bonsai awareness and appreciation world-wide.

What is Bonsai?

Bonsai is a challenging and rewarding horticultural activity, in which ordinary plants are grown in an extraordinary way. Through rigorously applied cultivation techniques, trees, shrubs, vines and even herbaceous plants are kept in a miniaturized state, developed into artistic shapes and then displayed in special containers.

What makes the Arboretum’s bonsai endeavor unique among all other public collections in the United States? Regional Interpretation. Visitors will find the Arboretum’s bonsai collection of more than 100 specimens carefully cultivated with a Southern Appalachian accent. The collection draws inspiration from the traditional roots of bonsai, but takes the form of a contemporary, Southern Appalachian influenced American garden. Plantings in the landscape include species and cultivars of American, European and Asian origin.

Volunteers needed for Afghan Asylum Project
May 14 @ 8:30 am – 9:00 am
Pisgah Legal
Pisgah Legal Services is partnering with Catholic Charities and Lutheran Services Corporation to assist 50 Afghan asylum seekers in our community to complete their asylum applications. We are relying on 25 volunteer attorneys, along with Pisgah Legal’s immigration law staff, to make this happen on a very tight timeline to meet many clients’ August 2022 deadlines to submit their applications.

We need volunteers to provide food and drinks for our clients and volunteers who will meet at legal clinics to complete these complex applications. If you’d like to help, please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080e45a8a72ea2f49-volunteers.

Volunteers to Help with Food @ Afghan Asylum Clinics

We are looking for volunteers to coordinate food and drinks for Afghan clients and volunteer attorneys at upcoming legal clinics. Rather than have individual volunteers sign up here to bring various items, we are looking for “lead volunteers” to sign up to be responsible for a particular date and coordinate with friends to get the items needed. Here are food and drinks that are appreciated by our Afghan clients:

  • Dates
  • Nuts
  • Baklava or other pastries (A volunteer ordered pastries from this Middle Eastern bakery for an earlier event and our Afghan clients were completely thrilled: Shatila Bakery, https://shatila.com/)
  • Fresh fruit
  • Seltzer water
  • Fruit juices

Our volunteer attorneys appreciate any typical American snacks & drinks (coffee! :-).

We anticipate 12-24 people on Thursdays and up to 30 people on Saturdays. Once you sign up we will send you more details about dropping off the food and drinks and confirm the number of people.

THANK YOU so much for supporting our efforts to help Afghan newcomers in our community to secure asylum.

ASAP’s Asheville City Market
May 14 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Asheville City Market

After two pandemic years operating as ASAP Farmers Market at A-B Tech, Asheville City Market will return downtown on April 2, from 9 a.m. to noon. Every Saturday, N. Market St. will be closed between Woodfin and E. Walnut streets. Customers can enjoy open-air shopping for local goods from nearly 50 vendors, including farmers, artisan food makers, services, and more.

In addition to in-season fruits and vegetables, vendors from across Western North Carolina provide specialty products like cheese, eggs, grassfed meat and pastured pork, rice, pasta, artisan bread, honey, plants, body care products, and much more. As a producer-only market, each vendor has a personal hand in growing, raising, or crafting their products, giving customers the opportunity to connect directly with farmers and other local producers. A weekly list of vendors is available by subscribing to the market’s newsletter at asapconnections.org.

Asheville City Market will offer ASAP’s Double SNAP for Fruits and Vegetables, which matches SNAP dollars with tokens that can be used for produce. For instance, if a SNAP customer swipes their EBT card for $10, they will receive $10 in SNAP tokens as well as $10 in Farm Fresh Bucks. SNAP tokens may be used for SNAP-eligible products from any vendor, including produce, meat, cheese, eggs, bread, plants, and more. Farm Fresh Bucks may only be used for fruits and vegetables.

Free parking for customers is available at HomeTrust Bank and Family Justice Center (across from the YMCA at 35 Woodfin St.). There are bus stops on the N1 and N2 routes one block away, on Broadway