The Justus Family has been growing delicious NC Apples in Hendersonville for more than Four Generations, our Fifth generation is now an active part of Justus Orchard as well.  At our NC Apple Orchard, you will find U Pick or We Pick Apples, Blackberries, and Pumpkins  Whether you choose to U Pick or We Pick, you can sample, mix and match to make sure go home with your favorite apples for eating or cooking.  Review the apple varieties we grow and sell and their usual ripening times here.

We invite you to experience picking your own NC Apples, enjoy a day in the beautiful Western North Carolina Mountains, there is something for everyone and all ages.  Tour the orchard picking apples, stop by the pond to see our ducks, visit the farm animals, let the kids take a ride on the Cow Train through the orchard, visit Apple House for pre-picked Apples, Honey, Jams, Jellies and Preserves and other homemade goodies.  Visit the Bakery which offers our famous homemade Fried Apple Pies, Apple Cider Donuts, Apple Cider, Cider Slushies, Caramels, Apple Bread and more! You can also find fresh Mountain Cabbage, Sweet Potatoes and other local fall vegetables.

We look forward to having you visit one of the oldest U Pick or We Pick Apple Orchards in Western NC.  We guarantee fresh apples, delicious baked good, beautiful views and wonderful hospitality!

Currently picking: Gala, Golden Delicious, Early Fuji, Mutsu, and a few Honeycrisp

Sky Top Orchard has been a family-owned & operated farm since 1967 when father and son duo Everette and David Butler planted the first trees on Mt. McAlpine, in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. For almost 60 years, Apple Dave and his wife Lindsey grew Sky Top from a small roadside tent into what it is today.

Built with love, sweat, and a lot of hard work, Sky Top has grown to include our hayride and bee train, the apple cannon, and of course, our famous apple cider doughnuts. But throughout the years, one thing stays the same: tradition. At Sky Top, we believe family and creating long-lasting memories is the most important part. We look forward to being a place for you to bring your families for years to come.

Old Kentucky Home -The Thomas Wolfe Memorial

American Novelist Thomas Wolfe (1900-1938)

Considered by many to be one of the giants of 20th-century American literature, Thomas Wolfe immortalized his childhood home in his epic autobiographical novel, Look Homeward, Angel. Wolfe’s colorful portrayal of his family, his hometown of “Altamont” Asheville, North Carolina, and “Dixieland” the Old Kentucky Home boardinghouse, earned the Victorian period house a place as one of American literature’s most famous landmarks.

House tours are offered daily at half past each hour. Last tour leaves at 4:30 pm.
Group tours by reservation.

Adult – $5.00
Student (ages 7-17) – $2.00
Adult Group (10+) – $2.50 each
Student Group – $2.00 each
6 & under – Free

Hours of Operation

The Friends of Pack Library will have their Annual Antique and Collectible book sale the third weekend in October at Pack Library in downtown Asheville. There will be a box sale the following Tuesday.

The Oct. 21 and 22 sale will feature antique and collectible books on the lower level of the library, along with comic books and music CDs. Bookends Used Book Store will have a half-price sale on both days. On the second day of the sale, Oct. 22, everything in the sale will be half off.

On Tuesday, Oct. 25, there will be a box sale with a box of books for only $25 or half the price of the books, whichever is lower. Boxes will be provided.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30
10am – 2pm

Get ready for an all new production of Mamma Mia!

New sets! New costumes! New cast!

You’ll be dancing in the aisles to this familiar favorite dressed up in a brand new way!

 

This is the 10th year for Ooh La La Curiosity Market that is an artist’s market that takes place in Pritchard Park, located in the center of beautiful downtown Asheville and will showcase the work of local artists.

Taking place over 14 Saturdays throughout Summer and every Saturday in October.

Ooh La La will feature works by local painters, leather smiths, jewelry makers, potters, up-cycled crafters, and other curious delights, all beneath the colored canopies of large market umbrellas. You will also enjoy three different musicians performing throughout the day.

Ooh La La is also a fundraiser for Animal Haven of Asheville, a no kill shelter.

This campaign is sponsored by Subaru and the ASPCA in an effort to unite animals in need of homes with new families. Blue Ridge Humane Society will receive a $100 grant up to the amount of $3,500 for each cat and dog adopted during this campaign. On Friday, October 21 st from 11 am until 5 pm, Blue Ridge Humane Society will be participating in the WLOS Pet Project located at Hunter Subaru in Fletcher, NC. During this major adoption event, we will
have adoptable dogs onsite and will also be offering discounted adoption fees. View all of Blue Ridge Humane Society’s adoptable animals by visiting www.blueridgehumane.org/adopt.

Closed for Lunch daily from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

The Blue Ridge Humane Society, Inc., is a 501(c)3 animal welfare organization started in 1950 and
dedicated to ensuring the highest quality of life for animals in Henderson County and our neighboring
communities. BRHS cares for pets awaiting adoption at the Adoption Center; offers low-cost
vaccine clinics, animal education programs, pet training classes, and youth education and projects;
coordinates community pet food assistance, emergency vet assistance, and the Spay Neuter Incentive
Program (SNIP), which is a collaboration with Henderson County, the City of Hendersonville, and the
Henderson County Animal Services Center.

When it comes to Breast Cancer, we know that early detection saves lives! The Buncombe County Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program (BCCCP) offers free lifesaving mammograms to qualifying Buncombe women and transgender individuals who don’t have health insurance. “Last program year, over 1,000 qualifying residents got free mammograms,” reports BCCCP coordinator, Melanie Evans. Melanie continues, “Thanks to our services, eight of those women were diagnosed with breast cancer and were able to seek treatment.”

Receiving a cancer diagnosis is life-changing news. “At Buncombe County BCCCP, we do our best to show up for all of our clients in this emotional time,” says Melanie. “We are here to hold your hand through testing, potential diagnosis, and subsequent treatment to make sure you have all the support and information you need.”

We also offer resources to cover the cost of cancer treatment! NC Breast and Cervical Cancer Medicaid is available to help all individuals who receive a cancer diagnosis through the BCCCP program, pay for cancer treatment. This added layer of service allows those who receive a cancer diagnosis to focus of self-care and healing instead of expensive medical bills.

One of our clients lost her job during COVID. Here is what she had to say about our services:

” What I thought would be no more than 2 months out of work, turned into 7 which challenged me in many ways, financially included. The services and assistance you all offered me was exceptional. The entire cost for my breast imaging was covered and I was able to rest assured that I am cancer free. Please know that you greatly enhance people’s lives and truly are a godsend to this community. ”

Remember, early detection saves lives. Find out if you qualify for BCCCP services on our website www.buncombecounty.org/pink.  If you meet eligibility criteria and are in need of your annual mammogram, call (828) 250-6006 to schedule your appointment today.

Be a lifesaver and share this information. Do you have friends or family who may qualify for BCCCP services? Send them a link to this article. You could be the one who saves their life.

Eliada’s Annual Corn Maze and Fall Festival is the agency’s single largest fundraiser. Through your volunteer support, you are directly impacting the lives of vulnerable children in our community.

Group Volunteer Opportunities If you are a part of a community or church group and are interested in volunteering as a team, we’d love to have you! Contact our Resource Development Officer Rebecca Boline, at [email protected] or (828) 254-5356 x306 to get your volunteer group signed up today! Restrictions We ask that volunteers be 18+ years of age. Besides that, we have no other requirements for volunteering-just your commitment to lending two helping hands and a great attitude during your shift!

Limited Capacity: 12 Guests per Tour
A truly memorable experience featuring rare photo opportunities, this exclusive guided tour offers a behind-the-scenes look at the design and construction of Biltmore House in areas unavailable on the regular house visit. Imagine yourself a Vanderbilt (or cherished Vanderbilt guest) as you take in stunning views seen only from the house’s rooftop and balconies.

Advance reservation required. Tour includes 250 stairs with no elevator access. Wheelchairs, strollers, and baby backpacks are prohibited. Backpacks are not allowed on any guided tours. Guests are required to leave backpacks in a locker or in their vehicle. To participate in this tour, guest must have a daytime ticket, a Biltmore Annual Pass, or a stay at one of the estate’s splendid overnight properties.

TFAC invites all artists: painters, sculptors, writers, performers & more — to a casual weekly drop-in gathering on Saturday mornings at 9 AM to share your works in progress, alert others, and chat about art and what’s happening in your community. The first weekly Coffee is Saturday, August 20 at 9 am. No RSVP needed, just drop by! Free parking available on Melrose Avenue, behind and alongside TFAC.

Asheville Gallery of Art presents Judy Rentner’s rich, colorful paintings, during the month of October, in an exhibition titled ‘Nature’s Gems’. The opening reception will be held on Friday, October 7th from 5:00-8:00pm.

Of all of the seasons of the year, fall is the crescendo, the last burst of beauty before nature’s tones soften and become quiet in the winter months. Autumn colors are like precious gems: topaz, sapphires, emeralds, rubies…, an endless sparkling array of brilliance. Although an artist cannot compete with God’s creations, she can capture the awe-inspiring essence of a moment in time to share with her viewers. Judy is such an artist.

Judy Rentner has been painting the landscapes of Western North Carolina for 23 years and they continue to inspire her. Having lived in 10 different states from coast to coast, she still considers North Carolina one of the most beautiful. Although she has been painting most of her adult life, it was here that she found her creative style. Painting in oils, with a palette knife, enabled her to achieve the essence of a scene in light and color. Everything about the creative process is personal and many viewers find themselves drawn to Judy’s unique, inviting style.

A graduate of Ohio University, Judy Rentner did not pursue art until years later when she took workshops, in watercolor, from various artists. This was a pivotal time of discovery as she learned the skills needed to express her ideas in paint. She then experimented with different mediums producing work that was both realistic and abstract. Moving to North Carolina, she placed her work in galleries and taught classes in watercolor, acrylic, and oil. Currently, her passion lies in painting landscapes, with a palette knife, in oils. This technique has given her freedom of expression, using color to its fullest extent.

Judy’s work is represented in several galleries. Check out her website at www.judyrentner.com and be sure to drop by Asheville Gallery of Art this October to view her outstanding autumn paintings. The gallery is open from 11:00am until 6:00pm Monday through Sunday.

Her Painting Titles and writeup:

1. “Crossing into light”….My daughter, a photographer, went to Duke Gardens to “chase the light”. Normally I paint from my own sketches and photos, but this was so striking a scene, that it inspired me to capture it in oil.

2. “Sun Rise in the Mountains” was a combination of many scenes I have painted in our beautiful Smokey Mountains.

3 “Fall Treasure” This is a scene I captured in the Smokey Mountain National Park. Almost every fall I drive through the mountains of Western North Carolina searching for the right landscape. I do not have to go far as this is a painter’s paradise.

Capacity is limited.
Tasting room by reservation only. Make reservations in-person on the day of your Winery visit.

To participate in this activity, guest must have a daytime ticket, a Biltmore Annual Pass, or a stay at one of the estate’s splendid overnight properties.

Reservations are required for all wine tastings and must be made on the day of your visit. Because our complimentary wine tastings fill up quickly, we recommend you reserve your tasting when you arrive for your visit.

Tracey Morgan Gallery is pleased to present Uncharted, a joint exhibition by multiple-disciplinary artists Georgia Deal and Tom Ashcraft. Incorporating both individual and collaborative works, the exhibition will in-clude wooden and cast bronze boat sculptures, prints on hand-made paper, and photographs, all centered around ideas of physical and psychological transitions.

The isolation of the pandemic and the ensuing global geo-political tumult compelled Deal and Ashcraft to re-examine their studio practices. The individual and collaborative works in this exhibition reference a liminal space, that transitional point between “what was” and “what’s next.”

For Deal, the pandemic afforded time to examine ideas of solitude and anticipation and her work echoes the imagery brought on by that period of stasis. Ashcraft’s sculptures, selected versions from his collection of 200+ handmade wooden boats, gather ideas of migration, observation, scale, and object-making. Their col-laborative piece, Uncharted, undertakes these overlapping themes, dealing with both the psychic and antici-patory nature of movement, especially when that movement is only possible through imagination

Deal and Ashcraft each conduct significant individual studio practices and have been committed to the ethic of collaborative art for over 35 years. They are core members of Workingman Collective, founded in 2005 as a cooperative group of artists and other professionals whose membership and objectives evolve to fit each new project. They are interested in process, invention, chance, and the public.

Georgia Deal is Professor Emeritus and former Chair of the Printmaking and Papermaking Program at the Corcoran School of Art & Design of George Washington University in Washington DC. Her work is in multiple collections including the Philadelphia Museum, the Library of Congress, the Corcoran Gallery of Art, and Yale University Library. She currently lives in Asheville, NC and is proprietor of the papermaking studio, Swannanoa Paper.

Tom Ashcraft’s diverse practice is rooted in object-making, public and participatory artwork. He and Work-ingman Collective have exhibited and produced work in the U.S., Europe, the Caribbean and Africa. Awards include a National Endowment for the Arts Design Grant and a Ford Foundation Fellowship, among others. He recently completed a student / artist collaborative work “Public Practice” which was a three-year course focused on creating two permanent artworks for the US Embassy in Niamey, Niger, commissioned by Art in Embassies, US Department of State. Ashcraft is currently based in Asheville, North Carolina and is the MFA Director and Distinguished Professor at the School of Art + Design, Western Carolina University.

Honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month with The MakeHER Market at Reynolds Village

The MakeHER Market returns to Reynolds Village in North Asheville on Saturday, October 22nd in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, an annual campaign to raise awareness about the impacts of breast cancer.

The October 2022 MakeHER Market will feature more than 20 female, independent creatives, makers, and designers and their unique, hand-crafted goods, as well as raise money for a local breast cancer support organization. The Hope Chest for Women is an organization that provides support to women living in all 22 counties of WNC and relieves some of the financial burdens created by breast or gynecological cancer treatment costs. Locally handmade art, accessories, and botanicals, as well as Fair Trade coffee, jewelry, and home décor, will be available to purchase at The MakeHER Market. The event is organized by Pride & Archive, Maadili Collective, and Hello, Gorgeous! Professional Bra Fitting & More, all women-led, local Asheville companies. In addition to shopping for local vendor goods, guests can donate gently used bras to Hello Gorgeous! Bra Drive for HelpMate. This year-round program aims to provide courageous survivors of domestic violence with bra fittings and gently loved, cleaned, and curated bras at no cost to the survivors. The MakeHER Market event aims to honor the empowerment and enterprising ventures of diverse women locally and abroad as well as honor the October observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and promote the mission for every woman to have access to the screenings she needs and the support she deserves.

Started in March 2019, the MakeHER Market began as a way to highlight and create connections between the talented community of Asheville female entrepreneurs, as well as establish a local event to celebrate International Women’s Day. Since its inception, the MakeHER Market has evolved to include a focus on women’s social and health-related issues and partner with local organizations in efforts to fundraise and raise awareness of various causes.

Event hours are 11 am to 5 pm, admission is free and families are welcome.

Natural Collector is organized by the Asheville Art Museum. IMAGE: Christian Burchard, Untitled (nesting bowls), 1998, madrone burl, various from 6 × 6 × 6 to ⅜ × ⅜ × ⅜ inches. Gift of Fleur S. Bresler, 2021.76.01.

Natural Collector | Gifts of Fleur S. Bresler features around 15 artworks from the collection of Fleur S. Bresler, which include important examples of modern and contemporary American craft including wood and fiber art, as well as glass and ceramics. These works that were generously donated by contemporary craft collector Bresler to the Asheville Art Museum over the years reflect her strong interest in wood-based art and themes of nature. According to Associate Curator Whitney Richardson, “This exhibition highlights artworks that consider the natural element from which they were created or replicate known flora and fauna in unexpected materials. The selection of objects displayed illustrates how Bresler’s eye for collecting craft not only draws attention to nature and artists’ interest in it, but also accentuates her role as a natural collector with an intuitive ability to identify themes and ideas that speak to one another.” This exhibition presents work from the Collection representing the first generation of American wood turners like Rude Osolnik and Ed Moulthrop, as well as those that came after and learned from them, such as Philip Moulthrop, John Jordan, and local Western North Carolina (WNC) artist Stoney Lamar. Other WNC-based artists in Natural Collector include Anne Lemanski, whose paper sculpture of a snake captures the viewer’s imagination, and Michael Sherrill’s multimedia work that tricks the eye with its similarity to true-to-life berries. Also represented are beadwork and sculpture by Joyce J. Scott and Jack and Linda Fifield.

Wednesday through Monday from 11am to 6pm

Rebel/Re-Belle: Exploring Gender, Agency, and Identity | Selections from the Asheville Art Museum and Rubell Museum combines works, primarily created by women, from two significant collections of contemporary art to explore how artists have innovated, influenced, interrogated, and inspired visual culture in the past 100 years.

The Junior League of Asheville is pleased to announce the return of TOUCH-A-TRUCK
Family Festival, Saturday, October 22, 2022 at Asheville Outlets!
TOUCH-A-TRUCK is a community wide event where both kids and kids at heart have the
opportunity to see, touch, climb and learn about vehicles of all types, including public
service, emergency, utility, construction, transportation, and delivery—all in one place!
Guests will get to meet the drivers and people who operate these vehicles. Children will
also be able to “truck or treat” through the festival, and family-friendly costumes are
encouraged but not required.
Additional activities for kids and adults will be on-site as well. Please follow the event for
updates and more information! Parental supervision is required and cameras are highly
recommended to capture the day’s adventures. There will be a quiet hour from 11-12 for
individuals sensitive to loud noises
Tickets are $5 per person for ages 3 and up. For group tickets please contact
[email protected]
If you are interested in participating as a nonprofit or community organization or have a
vehicle you’d like to donate please contact [email protected] .
If you or your business are interested in sponsoring TOUCH-A-TRUCK Family Festival
please reach out to [email protected].

The Junior League of Asheville is pleased to announce the return of TOUCH-A-TRUCK Family Festival, Saturday, October 22, 2022 at Asheville Outlets!
TOUCH-A-TRUCK is a community wide event where both kids and kids at heart have the opportunity to see, touch, climb and learn about vehicles of all types, including public service, emergency, utility, construction, transportation, and delivery—all in one place!
Guests will get to meet the drivers and people who operate these vehicles. Children will also be able to “truck or treat” through the festival, and family-friendly costumes are encouraged but not required. Additional activities for kids and adults will be on-site as well. Please follow the event for updates and more information!
Parental supervision is required and cameras are highly recommended to capture the day’s adventures. There will be a quiet hour from 11-12 for individuals sensitive to loud noises.
Tickets are $5 per person for ages 3 and up. Purchase your tickets in advance and pick them up at will call!
For group tickets please contact [email protected]

Verner Center for Early Learning is a nonprofit agency providing high quality, affordable early care and education to children birth to five years of age throughout Buncombe County. The mission of Verner Center is to foster holistic learning environments where young children and families thrive. The organization embraces a philosophy that includes excellence in early childhood practices, diversity among children and families, and partnerships and collaboration with families and communities. This philosophy is demonstrated through provision of high quality education, family services, health and nutrition services, and professional development for teachers.

We are currently looking for compassionate volunteers to support our experiential garden.

Volunteer Opportunity Includes:

• Pulling weeds
• Cleaning out garden beds
• Prepping new garden beds
• Building small projects
• Mowing
• Weed eating
• Laying mulch
• Watering

Volunteer Requirements:

• Respond to the shift
• Comfortable working in various weather conditions
• Comfortable bending, stooping, twisting
• Ability to stand for 1-2 hours at a time

NOCtoberfest, NOC’s annual fall family fun event returns!

Enjoy leaf season in the Smoky Mountains at Nantahala Outdoor Center’s annual NOCtoberfest event on October 22^nd, 2022.

This free, family favorite celebration offers activities, kid friendly live music, and prizes for all ages to enjoy.

The most anticipated part of the NOCtoberfest celebration is NOC’s Great Pumpkin Pursuit, a free for all dash through Nantahala Falls. Over 400 numbered pumpkins are tossed throughout the Nantahala’s grand finale rapid as paddlers frantically dash to collect as many of the bobbing pumpkins as possible. Contestants are welcome to bring their own boats, rent them on site, or stand along the riverbanks with a net. Registration is between Noon and 2:00 at NOC’s Big Wesser Riverside Pub. Prizes are awarded via raffle: more pumpkins equal more chances to win!

The Great Pumpkin Pursuit has become a popular spectator event. Up to 75+ paddlers hurtle through the Falls flip, swim, collide and bumble their way down the river there collecting pumpkins. Some spectators are asked to help distribute the pumpkins for the paddlers by tossing them in hard-to-reach places. The exciting event only takes minutes to play out, so spectators should plan on arriving early. The competitors meeting will be at 2pm, so paddlers should be going through the Falls at 2:30pm.

Other event highlights include:

• Trick or treating across campus
• 12-4pm Pumpkin Decorating: NOC supplies pumpkins, as well as decorating and kid friendly carving materials. Every child wins a prize after presenting their works of art to the judging panel.
• 1pm Costume Contests: Dress to impress the judges! Costume categories are Kids, Couples, Most in
  Character and Scariest.
• 3pm-6pm Live Music: Enjoy a bonfire and live music at Big Wesser. S’mores included!
• Family Photo Fun with River the Otter, Fall scenery with the River as the backdrop, and more.
• Tarot/Zoltar/Palm Reading