Calendar of Events
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.
Explore just how far back our fiber art roots go by viewing centuries old textiles alongside contemporary works. Partnering archives reveal the cultural impact cloth and making have played in our region, while local makers of today continue to investigate place, process, and storytelling through the manipulation of fibrous materials. Techniques include weaving, embroidery, appliqué, natural dyeing, pulled-work, bobbin lace, and quilting.
Pisgah Brewing Company is bringing you another Holiday Craft Fair! This event will be held indoors, right in time for the holidays! Come check out an array of local vendors, all from Western North Carolina! Support local this holiday season and keep small businesses strong in our community! This event will surely be a one stop shop for all your holiday and seasonal needs!
*Live music throughout the day featuring the MoonFish 2
*Admission is free. Mimosa bar and beers on tap.
*D.O.G.S. will be on site all day and night if you get hungry…
Author & Maker Melanie Falick will be at Malaprops Cafe with local artist & weaver Jessica Green talking about her new book “Making a Life.” They will also discuss the maker & artist scene in Asheville.
Naturalist and painter John James Audubon (1785-1851) is perhaps best known for Birds of America, his seminal work featuring 435 hand-colored, life-sized prints surveying the wide variety of birds in what was then the American wilderness. Posed in life-like postures with accurate settings, the volume remains an inspiration for artists in a variety of media today. Join author and collector Bill Steiner for a look at Audubon, his contributions to art and science, and his later work The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America. Steiner is joined by Cindy Buckner, associate curator, for a preview of A Telling Instinct: Audubon and Contemporary Art, the Museum’s upcoming exhibition examining Audubon’s anthropomorphic and storytelling approach, and its resonance with contemporary artists.
Presented in conjunction with A Telling Instinct, in partnership with the Elisha Mitchell Audubon Society.
Explore just how far back our fiber art roots go by viewing centuries old textiles alongside contemporary works. Partnering archives reveal the cultural impact cloth and making have played in our region, while local makers of today continue to investigate place, process, and storytelling through the manipulation of fibrous materials. Techniques include weaving, embroidery, appliqué, natural dyeing, pulled-work, bobbin lace, and quilting.
Come join in the fun with stories and songs, then make a hands-on art project just for the little ones! The Education Department staff is visiting public libraries for preschool storytime at locations near your neighborhood.
Storytime & Art takes place at Enka-Candler Library on third Wednesdays at 10:30am.
Our program for preschool-aged students accompanied by an adult is at a library near you! During the school year, come join in the fun with stories and songs, then make a hands-on art project just for the little ones.
Visit ha! as we celebrate our Scandinavian heritage with vintage wall hangings from Denmark and Sweden, Handcrafted serveware from Finland, new holiday lighting by the h in ha! and decadent Scandinavian treats served up by Walnut Schoolhouse.
A beautiful drive from Asheville, Hot Springs and beyond, Third Thursdays Marshall is a great time to visit our sweet historic town tucked into the Blue Ridge Mountains along the French Broad River. Walk through town as the train rolls by and we open our doors to celebrate art openings, open studios, shopping, and creative happenings with eats and drinks along the way.
Explore just how far back our fiber art roots go by viewing centuries old textiles alongside contemporary works. Partnering archives reveal the cultural impact cloth and making have played in our region, while local makers of today continue to investigate place, process, and storytelling through the manipulation of fibrous materials. Techniques include weaving, embroidery, appliqué, natural dyeing, pulled-work, bobbin lace, and quilting.
Come join in the fun with stories and songs, then make a hands-on art project just for the little ones! The Education Department staff is visiting public libraries for preschool storytime at locations near your neighborhood.
Storytime & Art takes place at Skyland/South Buncombe Library on third Thursdays at 10:30am.
Our program for preschool-aged students accompanied by an adult is at a library near you! During the school year, come join in the fun with stories and songs, then make a hands-on art project just for the little ones.
Since 2010 master scientific glass blower, Jason Probstein has been presenting live glassblowing demonstrations here at our art gallery.
And once again we are proud to announce that Jason will be blowing his unique Christmas ornaments and glass artworks here at Mountain Made gallery from now to December 23rd, 2019.
Jason will be demonstrating Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. He will also be blowing glass every Sunday from Noon to 2:00 PM.
We invite you come by Mountain Made for a fun, family-friendly event
Dustin Clemons, RADTIP Construction Manager, will be joining us to talk about a plan for improving the RR crossing on Riverside Drive. Your perspective on this difficult bit of infrastructure is important.
The task force meets the third Thursday of the month at 5:30 p.m. in room A-109 at the City of Asheville Public Works Building at 161 S. Charlotte Street. You can enter the building from the north end, the end where you find the parking lot and bike rack.
Arts Fest is a bi-yearly event taking place on the campus of UNC Asheville that displays the artistic talents of the faculty, staff, and student population at UNC Asheville.
Explore just how far back our fiber art roots go by viewing centuries old textiles alongside contemporary works. Partnering archives reveal the cultural impact cloth and making have played in our region, while local makers of today continue to investigate place, process, and storytelling through the manipulation of fibrous materials. Techniques include weaving, embroidery, appliqué, natural dyeing, pulled-work, bobbin lace, and quilting.
Since 2010 master scientific glass blower, Jason Probstein has been presenting live glassblowing demonstrations here at our art gallery.
And once again we are proud to announce that Jason will be blowing his unique Christmas ornaments and glass artworks here at Mountain Made gallery from now to December 23rd, 2019.
Jason will be demonstrating Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. He will also be blowing glass every Sunday from Noon to 2:00 PM.
We invite you come by Mountain Made for a fun, family-friendly event
Drop in to one of our lunchtime Art Breaks! Taking place on selected Fridays at 12pm, these informal gallery talks and presentations both inform and engage you in dialogue. Today’s Art Break, one of a two-part series, is led by UNC Asheville students.
The Survivors’ Art Show features art work from Our VOICE clients and others in our community who have been affected by sexual violence. Our VOICE is proud to offer the opportunity for those impacted by sexual assault and abuse a channel through which they can share their experiences and heal through the powerful vehicle of art.
Experience Asheville’s BRIGHTEST holiday tradition at Winter Lights at The North Carolina Arboretum. Open nightly November 22, 2019 – January 4, 2020, from 6 to 10 p.m. Walk through an outdoor winter wonderland and see the Arboretum’s gardens and landscapes dressed in more than half-a-million holiday lights. Listen to the sounds of your favorite holiday tunes or enjoy a cup of holiday-inspired cocoa, cider or beer.
$18-$8. See website for tickets and specials.
Specials
Friends & Family Discount Night – Tuesdays
Tickets are reduced to $15 for adults and $10 for children. Arboretum members receive an additional $2 off each ticket. (Excludes Christmas Eve & New Year’s Eve.)
Available on Thursdays through Saturdays only, this special ticketed event offers visitors the chance to enjoy a holly, jolly ride from downtown Asheville or Biltmore Village to Winter Lights courtesy of The Trolley Company. Upon arrival, guests will receive a complimentary cup of hot chocolate and access to the Winter Lights. Pick-up is at 6:00 p.m. from the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Asheville and 6:15 p.m. from the DoubleTree Hotel in Biltmore Village. Guests will be dropped back off at 9:00 p.m. Tickets are $29.50 per person (children 4 & under are free) and can be purchased through The Trolley Company’s website here. (Note: Arboretum member discounts do not apply for this tour). For additional questions, please call Eva Ritchey at The Trolley Company at 828.606.8606.
At the beginning of the winter season, most people are thinking about what deals they can score on gifts and gadgets before the climax of the holiday hits. But a group of farmers and artists in western North Carolina have a very different idea. “In a world of disposability, we are committed to giving people connections to how things are made,” says Greta Dietrich, a local artist and metalsmith who is co-organizing and teaching.
General admission to the Make It! Don’t Buy It! Holiday Skillshare is $10.00, and grants access to the raffle, pop-up vendor gallery, several live craft demos, family activities area, live music and refreshments. Tickets to participate in skill share workshops can be purchased in addition to General Admission, and grant access to an array of events in themed classrooms such as Apothecary Arts, Printmaking, Metalsmithing, Fiber Arts, or Kitchen Crafts, either in the morning from 10am-1pm, or in the afternoon from 2pm-5pm. Children ages 6-14 can be enrolled in the Roots & Wings Youth Program for additional fees. Lunch will be available onsite from local food trucks.
For more information, and to register, visit www.skillsharewnc.com. To apply to the
vendor gallery as a participating artist, visit www.skillsharewnc.com/vendors
Sign up by November 8! In Drawing Journey Journals, travel the Museum’s galleries, drawing as you go in handmade journals with watercolor pencils; then, transform your sketches into paint in the Studio. Engage in basic drawing exercises during each class, as well as learn tips and tricks to inform your drawing with the elements of composition, light, perspective, and color. Carry drawing and writing techniques used in class over into your personal travel journals, plein air painting, and self-expression.
Click the button below to learn more, or call 828.253.3227 x122 to register by phone.
Avery’s Creek Elementary school will be hosting its third annual Merry Market in their newly renovated gym on Saturday, November 23rd from 10am-2pm. Meet Santa in his village for a free photo op and a treat bag! Delicious snacks from Popcorn Boss will be available as well as yummy baked goods from Pixie Treats and Olsen Bakes! Daisy Girl Scouts Troop 2980 will be giving away FREE hot dogs (while supply lasts) and other awesome goodies! Buy a special someone some gorgeous jewelry from Sandra Smathers, Plunder Design, Dazzlebling Dawn, and Oh Snap by Christine. Support local artists with handmade crafts made by TwistyWyns, Decembergirl, Jennifer Sutton, and Faye Martin! Find the perfect gift from Ever Lasting Nails, Thirty One, Essential Bodywear, Norwex, Beautycounter, LulaRoe and so much more!
The Marshall Handmade Market is held the weekend
before Thanksgiving in the Marshall High Studios, a
charming 1920s high school nestled on an island in
the French Broad River. From 10am to 5pm Saturday
and Sunday, the sunny auditorium is filled with
some of the most talented makers in Western North
Carolina, and the resident artists of Marshall High
spruce up the classrooms-turned-studios and open
their doors to share their process and art with visitors.
Grab some bites from the food truck and relax on
the back deck or stop for coffee and sweet treats in
the upstairs lounge. Come enjoy a delightful day of
handcrafted holiday shopping, a stroll around the
island, and a wander through historic downtown
Marshall, NC.
Plan to come – and spread the word!!
We’re so excited for the Woodfin Greenway and Blueway project that we’re a part of! There’s a lot of work that still need to be done though, if you’d like to help us move this area one step closer to some beautiful riverside parks and greenways then this event is for you.
Join us as we work to cleanup some of the future locations of the Woodfin Greenway. RiverLink will provide all of the proper equipment, and Riverside Rhapsody Beer Company will provide some tasty refreshments afterwards! Bring your friends and family and a passion for protecting and improving our local waterways.
Since 2010 master scientific glass blower, Jason Probstein has been presenting live glassblowing demonstrations here at our art gallery.
And once again we are proud to announce that Jason will be blowing his unique Christmas ornaments and glass artworks here at Mountain Made gallery from now to December 23rd, 2019.
Jason will be demonstrating Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. He will also be blowing glass every Sunday from Noon to 2:00 PM.
We invite you come by Mountain Made for a fun, family-friendly event
Join docents for tours of the Museum’s Collection and special exhibitions. Today’s public tour is led by Kennon Webber, touring docent.
Experience Asheville’s BRIGHTEST holiday tradition at Winter Lights at The North Carolina Arboretum. Open nightly November 22, 2019 – January 4, 2020, from 6 to 10 p.m. Walk through an outdoor winter wonderland and see the Arboretum’s gardens and landscapes dressed in more than half-a-million holiday lights. Listen to the sounds of your favorite holiday tunes or enjoy a cup of holiday-inspired cocoa, cider or beer.
$18-$8. See website for tickets and specials.
Specials
Friends & Family Discount Night – Tuesdays
Tickets are reduced to $15 for adults and $10 for children. Arboretum members receive an additional $2 off each ticket. (Excludes Christmas Eve & New Year’s Eve.)
Available on Thursdays through Saturdays only, this special ticketed event offers visitors the chance to enjoy a holly, jolly ride from downtown Asheville or Biltmore Village to Winter Lights courtesy of The Trolley Company. Upon arrival, guests will receive a complimentary cup of hot chocolate and access to the Winter Lights. Pick-up is at 6:00 p.m. from the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Asheville and 6:15 p.m. from the DoubleTree Hotel in Biltmore Village. Guests will be dropped back off at 9:00 p.m. Tickets are $29.50 per person (children 4 & under are free) and can be purchased through The Trolley Company’s website here. (Note: Arboretum member discounts do not apply for this tour). For additional questions, please call Eva Ritchey at The Trolley Company at 828.606.8606.
Join Bellagio Art to Wear for our Annual Open House in our beautiful gallery. Bellagio features collections from renowned artists of handcrafted clothing, accessories, jewelry and gift items. Enjoy cookies, hot cider and free parking in beautiful Historic Biltmore Village.
Ten percent of sales during our annual Holiday Open House will be donated to the Asheville MANNA Food Bank.
Holiday Open House Dates and Times:
Saturday, November 23rd 10:00am – 7:00pm
Sunday, November 24th 12:00pm – 5:00pm
The Marshall Handmade Market is held the weekend before Thanksgiving in the Marshall High Studios, a 1920s two story brick high school nestled on an island in the French Broad River. Some of the most talented makers in the region fill the spacious, sunny auditorium, and the resident artists of Marshall High spruce up the classrooms-turned-studios and open their doors to share their process and art with visitors.
Enjoy coffee and pastries from local artisan bakers and a delicious lunch from the Smashbox Kitchen food truck, as well as music and plenty of seating on the generous back deck. The idyllic island setting, charming historic high school and fantastic artists all combine to make the Marshall Handmade Market a favorite among holiday shows for locals and visitors.
Join us for our Annual Open House and enjoy cookies, hot cider and live music. New Morning Gallery features handcrafted ornaments and gifts by over 1,000 American artists that are housed in an amazing 2 story, 12,000 square foot gallery. There is free parking in beautiful Historic Biltmore Village. Ten percent of sales during our annual Holiday Open House will be donated to the Asheville MANNA Food Bank.
Holiday Open House Dates and Times:
Saturday, November 23rd 10:00am – 7:00pm
Sunday, November 24th 12:00pm – 5:00pm
The Asheville Marathon began 8 years ago with only a marathon option, which sold out quickly in its first year, and again the next year. A nationwide interest in half marathons was becoming popular, so for the 3rd year a half marathon option was added. In the 4th year, the event expanded to two days of races and a half marathon on each day. To add a twist in the 5th year the Backyard to Vineyard Challenge was created, where participants race in the Saturday half and Sunday full. The challenge was very popular and for the 6th anniversary, Backyard to Backyard Challenge was added, where participants run both the Saturday half and the Sunday half. Now in its 8th year both days of races, including the challenges, are expected to be sold out, with 3,100 participants.
The Asheville Marathon & Half at Biltmore Estate is held on and run entirely on the grounds of the Biltmore Estate, where runners will wind through paved and packed dirt roads to see hardwood forest, meadows, gardens, and extraordinary views of the Biltmore House and Estate. This is the original Asheville Marathon and first race of its kind to come to Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina; don’t miss out on being part of history at Biltmore Estate.
For more information about the Asheville Marathon & Half at Biltmore Estate, visit
https://ashevillemarathon.com/. Follow the race on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.