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.

Thursday, December 5, 2019
Semi-Wild Women’s Night
Dec 5 @ 10:30 pm – Dec 6 @ 1:00 am
Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards

Ladies, please join us the first Thursday of every month** for great wine, great friends, and lots of fun!

**July’s event will not be held because of the 4th.

https://www.facebook.com/events/2190909954570744/?event_time_id=2190909981237408

Balsam Range Art of Music Festival Kickoff
Dec 5 @ 6:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Folkmoot Center

Tickets for Balsam Range Art of Music Festival Kickoff in Waynesville from ShowClix

For the second year, Balsam Range opens its December Art of Music Festival with an official Waynesville kickoff at the Queen Auditorium, at Folkmoot Center in the Historic Hazelwood School.

Members of Balsam Range will be joined by a strong lineup of special guests to launch their popular weekend festival with a performance on Thursday, December 5.

In a special night honoring the art of songwriting, Balsam Range welcomes John Wiggins, Milan Miller, Aaron Bibelhauser and Missy Armstrong, and adds an appearance by Terry Baucom, a founding member of Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, IIIrd Tyme Out and Boone Creek, and current leader of his band The Dukes of Drive.

Balsam Range will follow the songwriters with its own performance, and will give a sneak-peek of some material from its upcoming album (Note: no recording devices allowed in the auditorium). In addition, Balsam Range’s Marc Pruett will sign copies of his new autobiography “Rascally Mountain Boy”, and may share a tale of two from the book.

The event begins with a social gathering at 6pm, with barbeque and fresh beer available for purchase.

Tickets are $25 in advance, $28 at the door, and can be purchased in advance at Folkmoot.org or by calling 828.452.2997. Tickets sales and contributions support Folkmoot programs that sustain cultural arts for youth and families in Western North Carolina.

Food will be available at the event:
BBQ chopped pork with a choice of 2 sides from; slaw, beans or collards: $12.00
Peach Cobbler: $3.00

Serving: 5:30pm-7:00pm

Capella on 9 Repeal Day Celebration
Dec 5 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Capella on 9

Our ancestors lived in a world without alcohol, so we would never have to. Join Capella on 9 in celebration of Repeal Day on Thursday, December 5, for a night of spirits and celebrations. Sample limited edition bourbons, including the select Maker’s Mark Stave RC6. Hand dip unique Repeal Day ornaments, sip on Prohibition-style cocktails, enjoy small bites and enter to win Maker’s Mark prizes. We hope to see you there!

Festival of Lights -Lake Julian
Dec 5 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Lake Julian Park

Come enjoy the holiday lights at Lake Julian Park.

Friday, December 6, 2019
Carolina Christmas Show
Dec 6 all-day
Colonial Theater

Share the joy & magic of the Christmas season with your friends & families at the Carolina Christmas Show, a dazzling production of live music, dance, & comedy! This heartwarming Broadway-style show features the finest performers from Western NC & special guest artists presenting sacred and secular Christmas favorites, including Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, O Holy Night, Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree, and Go Tell it On the Mountain. Relax, unplug, & experience the Carolina Christmas Show, a celebration of the true spirit of Christmas that’s sure to become an annual tradition! One weekend only, Dec. 6th & 7th at the Colonial Theater in Canton, just west of Asheville!

Festival of Lights -Lake Julian
Dec 6 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Lake Julian Park

Come enjoy the holiday lights at Lake Julian Park.

Saturday, December 7, 2019
Carolina Christmas Show
Dec 7 all-day
Colonial Theater

Share the joy & magic of the Christmas season with your friends & families at the Carolina Christmas Show, a dazzling production of live music, dance, & comedy! This heartwarming Broadway-style show features the finest performers from Western NC & special guest artists presenting sacred and secular Christmas favorites, including Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, O Holy Night, Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree, and Go Tell it On the Mountain. Relax, unplug, & experience the Carolina Christmas Show, a celebration of the true spirit of Christmas that’s sure to become an annual tradition! One weekend only, Dec. 6th & 7th at the Colonial Theater in Canton, just west of Asheville!

Fringe Activates Asheville in 2020! Fringe Freak Passes
Dec 7 all-day
Fringe Feast

Join us January 19 – 26, 2020, as we celebrate our 18th year as the fearless, boundary pushing performing arts festival. We are returning bigger and bolder than ever, beginning a little early, with a free preview party, 7 pm, January 11th at Fleetwood’s in West Asheville. Enjoy art installations from ZedAVL and Geneva Bierce Wilson, be delighted by everyone’s favorite site-specific dance troupe The Accidentals, and grab a newly printed guide so you can start planning your festival!

Fringe Freak Passes go on Sale December 6!

Buy a Freak Pass now to pick from 25 different ticketed shows, which run Thursday, January 23 through Sunday, January 26. The Freak Pass is only $65. Freak Passholders are given priority with reserved seats. There are a limited number available, when they are gone, they’re gone! Price goes up to $75 on January 1st.

As well as over 100 ticketed show times from local, national and international artists, we have FREE Random Acts of Fringe popping up all over town, all week long, and lots of parties!  The Kickoff party returns to the Lazy Diamond at 7 pm, co-hosted by the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority, from 6-9pm, on Sunday, January 19th. Check out the new Artist Wine Party, hosted by Zapow Gallery, 7 pm, Tuesday, January 21st. Free after-parties return, starting at 10 pm, Thursday at Sly Grog, Friday at Mothlight and Saturday at The Block Off Biltmore, There you can enjoy more Random Acts of Fringe, meet the artists and chat about your favorite shows! See AshevilleFringe.org for all the details.

Individual tickets for each show are $14-$19 and go on sale January 1. See www.AshevilleFringe.org individual show descriptions and ticketing links.

Carolina Christmas Show
Dec 7 @ 2:30 pm
Colonial Theater

Share the joy & magic of the Christmas season with your friends & families at the Carolina Christmas Show, a dazzling production of live music, dance, & comedy! This heartwarming Broadway-style show features the finest performers from Western NC & special guest artists presenting sacred and secular Christmas favorites, including Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, O Holy Night, Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree, and Go Tell it On the Mountain. Relax, unplug, & experience the Carolina Christmas Show, a celebration of the true spirit of Christmas that’s sure to become an annual tradition!

One weekend only:  December 6 at 7:30 PM and December 7 at 2:30 PM & 7:30 PM.

Festival of Lights -Lake Julian
Dec 7 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Lake Julian Park

Come enjoy the holiday lights at Lake Julian Park.

Sunday, December 8, 2019
Fringe Activates Asheville in 2020! Fringe Freak Passes
Dec 8 all-day
Fringe Feast

Join us January 19 – 26, 2020, as we celebrate our 18th year as the fearless, boundary pushing performing arts festival. We are returning bigger and bolder than ever, beginning a little early, with a free preview party, 7 pm, January 11th at Fleetwood’s in West Asheville. Enjoy art installations from ZedAVL and Geneva Bierce Wilson, be delighted by everyone’s favorite site-specific dance troupe The Accidentals, and grab a newly printed guide so you can start planning your festival!

Fringe Freak Passes go on Sale December 6!

Buy a Freak Pass now to pick from 25 different ticketed shows, which run Thursday, January 23 through Sunday, January 26. The Freak Pass is only $65. Freak Passholders are given priority with reserved seats. There are a limited number available, when they are gone, they’re gone! Price goes up to $75 on January 1st.

As well as over 100 ticketed show times from local, national and international artists, we have FREE Random Acts of Fringe popping up all over town, all week long, and lots of parties!  The Kickoff party returns to the Lazy Diamond at 7 pm, co-hosted by the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority, from 6-9pm, on Sunday, January 19th. Check out the new Artist Wine Party, hosted by Zapow Gallery, 7 pm, Tuesday, January 21st. Free after-parties return, starting at 10 pm, Thursday at Sly Grog, Friday at Mothlight and Saturday at The Block Off Biltmore, There you can enjoy more Random Acts of Fringe, meet the artists and chat about your favorite shows! See AshevilleFringe.org for all the details.

Individual tickets for each show are $14-$19 and go on sale January 1. See www.AshevilleFringe.org individual show descriptions and ticketing links.

Hendersonville Pub Crawl Benefiting Blue Ridge Humane Society
Dec 8 @ 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Dry Falls Brewing Co.

Join us for a fun day out on the town, visiting all the best breweries Hendo has to offer! We’ll be starting at Dry Falls at 1 PM, then the lineup is as follows (all times approximate):

1 PM – 1:45 PM Dry Falls Brewing Co.
walk

2 PM – 2:45 PM Sanctuary Brewing Company
walk

3:00 – 3:45 Triskelion Brewing Company
walk

4:00 – 4:45 Guidon Brewing Co.
walk

5 PM – ?? Southern Appalachian Brewery

Tickets: $5 at the door (cash, check, and card accepted with cash preferred). No kids or pets please! All proceeds plus a percentage of sales are donated to Blue Ridge Humane Society! Event is organized by the Historic Hendersonville Pub Crawl. Please utilize free parking options near Dry Falls as their parking is limited and we don’t want to use all their parking after we’ve left!

 

Holiday Tour of Historic Inns and Cookie Caper Hendersonville
Dec 8 @ 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Hendersonville Visitor Center

Holiday Tour of Historic Inns and Cookie Caper

The Holiday Tour of Historic Inns and Cookie Caper is a self-guided tour of several of the area’s inns decorated for the holidays, where at the end of each inn tour, participants are given a delicious Christmas treat. Tickets sold at the Hendersonville Visitor Center. Inns TBD, check the website closer to the date for more info!

Festival of Lights -Lake Julian
Dec 8 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Lake Julian Park

Come enjoy the holiday lights at Lake Julian Park.

Monday, December 9, 2019
Festival of Lights -Lake Julian
Dec 9 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Lake Julian Park

Come enjoy the holiday lights at Lake Julian Park.

Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Festival of Lights -Lake Julian
Dec 10 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Lake Julian Park

Come enjoy the holiday lights at Lake Julian Park.

Think Tank Tuesdays Trivia Night
Dec 10 @ 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Hillman Beer

Hillman Beer’s Trivia Night is on Tuesdays from 7pm-9pm! Get ready to drink some beer, test your wit, and have some fun!

Details:
– Please arrive at 6:30pm
– Max 6 people per team
– First place gets a $50 Hillman Beer Gift Card!

Open Mic at Vintage Kava every Tuesday
Dec 10 @ 9:00 pm – 11:45 pm
Vintage Kava

Open Mic at Vintage Kava

Come share your talent with the community! All acts welcome (music, jokes, dancing, poetry, storytelling, etc)

Stop by to sign up for your slot!

Wednesday, December 11, 2019
Reduced Price Growler Fill Wednesdays
Dec 11 @ 9:00 pm – Dec 12 @ 3:00 am
plēb urban winery

Select a wine on draft and fill a plēb urban winery 500mL or 1L growler for a reduced price (see menu for availability and pricing). Growler purchase is separate. Carry out only.

https://www.facebook.com/events/859748727719594/?event_time_id=859748904386243

Festival of Lights -Lake Julian
Dec 11 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Lake Julian Park

Come enjoy the holiday lights at Lake Julian Park.

Studio Zahiya Dance Spectacular
Dec 11 @ 7:30 pm
The Orange Peel

VIP Front Row Seating available!

Join Studio Zahiya as we celebrate the end of the year with a Dance Spectacular! Performances include Studio Zahiya instructors, student dance troupes, our kids and teen groups, and special guests!VIP Front Row Seating available!

Thursday, December 12, 2019
The 2020 AIR Passport: Asheville Independent Restaurant Association
Dec 12 all-day
Asheville’s Independent Restaurant Association

The AIR Passport is your buy-one-get-one (BOGO)* ticket to some of Buncombe County’s highly acclaimed independent restaurants. Visit an old favorite or try a new member of the area’s vibrant independent restaurant community. AIR Passports make great gifts, but they go fast.

The AIR Passport offers BOGO from 60 area eateries with discounts up to $15 per participating restaurants. All proceeds from the AIR Passport go to benefit the ongoing efforts of AIR to keep Asheville’s food scene eclectic and authentic.

“It is one of our largest fundraisers of the year,” Anderson said.  “We are able to use these funds throughout the year for educational classes,  events and other opportunities for our members and their staff.”

Participating restaurants in the 2020 AIR Passport:

828 Pizzeria North Ducker Tea Room Rosabees
828 Pizzeria South Early Girl DT Rosetta’s
AUX Bar Early Girl West Roux
Baked Pie North Early Girl North Rustic Grape
Baked Pie South Farm Burger Sante
The Barrelhouse French Broad Choc Sawhorse
Bhramari The Glass Onion The Social Lounge
The Bier Garden The Grey Eagle Strada
Black Bear BBQ Hemingway’s Cuba Sunny Point
The Blackbird Isa’s Bistro Tupelo Honey DT
Blue Dream Curry Jack of the Wood Tupelo Honey South
Bouchon Karen Donatelli Daphne-Twisted Laurel
Button & Co Bagels The Laughing Seed Twisted Laurel West
Buxton Hall Little Jumbo Ultimate Ice Cream N
The Cantina The Lobster Trap Ultimate Ice Cream E
Chai Pani Luella’s North Vinnie’s Italian
Chestnut Luella’s South Well Played
Chupacabra The Native Social White Labs
Collaboratory Pack’s Tavern White Duck Taco DT
Copper Crown The Oysterhouse White Duck Taco RAD
The Corner Kitchen The Red Stag Grill White Duck Taco South
Creekside Taphouse RendezVous
Festival of Lights -Lake Julian
Dec 12 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Lake Julian Park

Come enjoy the holiday lights at Lake Julian Park.

Mistletoe & Merlot: A Holiday Craft Market
Dec 12 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Radius Chiropractic

One of our goals in this community is to support other small, local businesses. This Holiday season we are excited to host Mistletoe & Merlot, A Holiday Craft Market designed to showcase makers, artist and craftspeople of Asheville.

This is a community event open to all of your family and friends. Come and enjoy FREE wine and food, while browsing items from local vendors. Need to cross some things off your Christmas list? This will be a one stop shop for all of your gift-giving needs.

We are excited to host:

Sweet Abode Artisan Soaps, Asheville Bag Lady, Mommabear Hoodies, Art by Pam Granger Gale, Art by Julie Armbruster, Jewelry by Designed to Dream, Poetry Prints by Morgan Holmes, Stones and Rocks by Carolyn Johnson, Winter wear by Coroin, Pottery from Batton Clayworks and candles and body care by Sage and Sunflowers.

And, don’t miss the raffle, where will be gifting items from each vendor throughout the night!

Friday, December 13, 2019
The 2020 AIR Passport: Asheville Independent Restaurant Association
Dec 13 all-day
Asheville’s Independent Restaurant Association

The AIR Passport is your buy-one-get-one (BOGO)* ticket to some of Buncombe County’s highly acclaimed independent restaurants. Visit an old favorite or try a new member of the area’s vibrant independent restaurant community. AIR Passports make great gifts, but they go fast.

The AIR Passport offers BOGO from 60 area eateries with discounts up to $15 per participating restaurants. All proceeds from the AIR Passport go to benefit the ongoing efforts of AIR to keep Asheville’s food scene eclectic and authentic.

“It is one of our largest fundraisers of the year,” Anderson said.  “We are able to use these funds throughout the year for educational classes,  events and other opportunities for our members and their staff.”

Participating restaurants in the 2020 AIR Passport:

828 Pizzeria North Ducker Tea Room Rosabees
828 Pizzeria South Early Girl DT Rosetta’s
AUX Bar Early Girl West Roux
Baked Pie North Early Girl North Rustic Grape
Baked Pie South Farm Burger Sante
The Barrelhouse French Broad Choc Sawhorse
Bhramari The Glass Onion The Social Lounge
The Bier Garden The Grey Eagle Strada
Black Bear BBQ Hemingway’s Cuba Sunny Point
The Blackbird Isa’s Bistro Tupelo Honey DT
Blue Dream Curry Jack of the Wood Tupelo Honey South
Bouchon Karen Donatelli Daphne-Twisted Laurel
Button & Co Bagels The Laughing Seed Twisted Laurel West
Buxton Hall Little Jumbo Ultimate Ice Cream N
The Cantina The Lobster Trap Ultimate Ice Cream E
Chai Pani Luella’s North Vinnie’s Italian
Chestnut Luella’s South Well Played
Chupacabra The Native Social White Labs
Collaboratory Pack’s Tavern White Duck Taco DT
Copper Crown The Oysterhouse White Duck Taco RAD
The Corner Kitchen The Red Stag Grill White Duck Taco South
Creekside Taphouse RendezVous
Midnight Summit Release Party
Dec 13 @ 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Highland Brewing Company

Midnight Summit returns! Best enjoined by a roaring fire, this vanilla milk stout perfectly melds together creamy notes of vanilla, chocolate, and coffee.

Get your first taste of this seasonal brew at our Taproom release party!
As with all our seasonal releases, a dollar from every pint of Midnight Summit sold will go to the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, one our Community Partners.

 

18th Annual Enter the Earth Xmas Party
Dec 13 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Enter the Earth

You’re invited to Enter the Earth’s 18th Annual Christmas party on Friday, Dec 13, 2019. Join us from 6-8pm at the Enter the Earth gallery in the Grove Arcade for nibbles and drinks and to kick off the raffle with all proceeds donated to LEAF Community Arts.

At 9pm we will head over to the Asheville Music Hall for a night of funk with George Porter Jr. featuring Joe Marcinek and the Josh Blake Trio. We also welcome local musicians to jam! Showtime is 9:30pm. There will be an online silent auction starting a week before the event. Keep an eye out for some AMAZING items to fulfill your holiday gift list and support LEAF as we enter our 25th year!  All proceeds from this event will also benefit LEAF Community Arts.

Friday, December 13th, 2019
6pm-8pm: FREE Pre-party at Enter the Earth

Grove Arcade
1 Page Ave Suite 125
Asheville, NC 28801

9pm-2am: ETE’s 18th Annual Xmas Party
Asheville Music Hall
31 Patton Ave
Asheville, NC 28801

Festival of Lights -Lake Julian
Dec 13 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Lake Julian Park

Come enjoy the holiday lights at Lake Julian Park.

The Nutcracker: Once Upon a Time in Greenville
Dec 13 @ 7:00 pm
Peace Center

Nutcracker Peace Center.jpg

Carolina Ballet Theatre proudly presents The Nutcracker: Once Upon A Time in Greenville– a European inspired production that brings all of Clara’s adventures and excitement home to Greenville. Continuing our reinvented holiday classic, the production highlights Victorian societal expectations and prosperity while Clara and her beloved Nutcracker dance their way through the cherished landmarks and stunning scenery of Greenville and into the hearts of the audience.

The libretto is adapted from E.T. A. Hoffmann’s classic story, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. Choreographed by Herman Justo, the refreshed ballet is based on the original Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov ballet.

The Asheville Ballet presents The Nutcracker
Dec 13 @ 7:30 pm
Diana Wortham Theatre

The Asheville Ballet presents The Nutcracker 2019

North Carolina’s oldest professional non-profit ballet company presents the full-length classical holiday tradition with stars, story, and sugarplums. Clara’s magical journey to the Lands of Snow and Sweets featuring the traditional Tchaikovsky score has become a favorite holiday family tradition.