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.

Tuesday, August 17, 2021
Wilco + Sleater-Kinney: It’s Time- Summer Tour 2021
Aug 17 @ 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Salvage Station
Magnetic in the Smoky Park OUTDOOR SHOW
Aug 17 @ 7:00 pm
Smoky Park Supper Club

OUTDOOR SHOW

Join us on Tuesday nights for Magnetic’s signature variety show. There will be an exciting mix of comedy, music, theatre, dance, magic and more! Smoky Park Supper Club is offering us their beautiful outdoor venue, and will be selling food and drinks. The event is BYOC (bring your own chair), and we will, of course, be following strict Covid safety protocols. We can’t wait to see you there!

Smoky Park Supper Club + Magnetic Theatre Outdoor Show
Aug 17 @ 7:00 pm
Smoky Park Supper Club

Join us Tuesday nights, beginning April 13th, as The Magnetic Theatre teams up with the wizards at Smoky Park Supper Club to host a live, outdoor variety show. We’ll be filling Smoky Park’s gorgeous, riverside outdoor space with comedy, theatre, music and so much more.

There will be food and beverages available for purchase.

  • This is a BYOC (Bring-Your-Own-Chair) event.
  • In accordance with safety guidelines this show will be staged outdoors, with mask and social distancing protocols enforced. There will also be temperature checks and COVID waivers that need to be signed by each attendee at the gate.
  • Please arrive at least 15 minutes before the 7pm showtime.
  • We do require that masks be worn at all times unless you are actively eating or drinking.
Tacos + Trivia Tuesday
Aug 17 @ 7:00 pm – 8:15 pm
Down Dog

Tacos & Trivia Tuesday

Join us every Tuesday night for Tacos & Trivia!

Twisted Roots will be cooking up a variety of tacos and authentic sides (vegetarian options available) starting at 5 pm.

Trivia will run from 7-8:15 pm. We will be capping the teams at 20 and teams will not be able to join after 7 so make sure to arrive early to secure your spot!

No reservations needed, just grab your thinking caps and get ready for good food, a good time, and a chance to win a $10, $20, or $30 gift certificate to Down Dog!

Aquanet: Goth Night
Aug 17 @ 9:00 pm – Aug 18 @ 2:00 am
Asheville Beauty Academy
Wednesday, August 18, 2021
Bulldog Athletics Silent Auction
Aug 18 all-day
Online

Bulldog Athletics Fund hosts silent auction beginning August 2

In conjunction with its annual golf tournament, the Bulldog Athletics Fund is hosting a silent auction with all of the proceeds going to support the 270-plus UNC Asheville student-athletes.

The silent auction features a three-night stay at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort and a foursome golf package at the exclusive member’s only Briar’s Creek Golf Club. Bidding will open on August 2, 2021, and will conclude at noon on August 25. Anyone is eligible to bid on this auction item and participation in the annual Bulldog Athletics Fund Golf Classic is not required.

Bidding for this exclusive package, which has an estimated value of $2,500, will begin at $1,000 and will have bid increments of $100. To submit your bid, or for more information, please email or call Betsy Blose at [email protected], 828-252-6907. Additionally, those who bid will be given auction updates every three days via email, and once a day during the last week of the auction.

The 2021 Summer Learning Program: Tails + Tales – an exploration of wildlife and fantastical folktales
Aug 18 all-day
Online

Illustration of animals reading book.

Get ready to go wild at the library for our annual Summer Learning Program. Join us for Tails & Tales – an exploration of wildlife and fantastical folktales. We’ll have an activity sheet with lots of fun adventures for all ages. You can pick up a sheet at any library starting June 1, or download it HERE. Check our calendar to find our most up to date list of programs all summer long.

 

The 2021 Summer Learning Program is open to young people, preschool through teen, with books and activities for every age. All library programs are free and open to children of all abilities. Come in and see what the library has for you!

YW Wellness and Learning Lab: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Aug 18 all-day
YWCA Asheville

YW WELLNESS AND LEARNING LAB

YW Wellness and Learning Lab

At the YWCA of Asheville, we eliminate racism and empower women by providing programs and advocacy for over 3,000 community members annually in Western North Carolina with services that support families, promote holistic wellness, and advance racial justice.

We are seeking dedicated volunteers for our new YW Wellness and Learning Lab beginning on September 8th. Volunteers will assist school-age children with their homework, administer the Read to Succeed curriculum, and build meaningful relationships with students while their parents take time for their health and well-being.

Volunteer Responsibilities:

Time Commitment:

  • Shifts are 4:30–7:30 PM on Monday and Wednesday at the YWCA of Asheville
  • Must commit to one shift per week

Volunteer Requirements:

  • 18 years or older
  • Able to work patiently with students of various ages
  • Previous teaching or tutoring experience a plus
  • Must pass a background check
  • Commitment to the YWCA’s mission of eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all

Training

  • The YWCA will offer training in racial justice, Read to Succeed curriculum, and trauma-informed, equity-focused education. Volunteers must complete orientation and training before working with students.
  • Training will take place on Saturday, August 21st from 10 AM–1 PM at the YWCA

Health and Safety:

  • Masks must be worn at all times when interacting with students
  • Masks and hand sanitizer will be available
The Learning Garden Opens to the Public
Aug 18 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Buncombe Extension Center
The Learning Garden at Buncombe Extension Center
Vegetable gardening at The Learning Garden

Visit The Learning Garden! The gardens are in full summer mode with ripening tomatoes, blooming roses, giant sunflowers, and many other perennials and plants of interest.

The Learning Garden is a dedicated, on-site teaching garden at the Buncombe Extension Center located at 49 Mt. Carmel Road, Asheville. It is managed and cared for by the Extension Master GardenerSM volunteers (EMGVs) of Buncombe County.

Everyone is welcome to visit the gardens Monday and Wednesday mornings from 9 to 12 when temperatures are cool and Master Gardeners are working in the gardens. Or come visit on your own Monday through Friday, 8 to 5.

The Learning Garden (TLG) surrounds the Extension building, includes 8 distinct gardens, and a composting demonstration site. Each garden offers plants that grow well in our region. You will gather new ideas and learn successful horticultural practices that lead to beautiful, healthy gardens.

Look for plant labels in the garden. Find more information and brochures at the kiosk near the building and in the garden mailboxes.

GARDENERS ARE IN THE GARDEN.

Carolina Shine Moonshine Experience
Aug 18 @ 10:30 am – 3:00 pm
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

“Shine and Dine” on the railway! We cordially invite you to hop on board The Carolina Shine, GSMR’s All-Adult First Class Moonshine Car! We will be proudly serving hand crafted, triple-distilled, craft moonshine. Some of the smoothest tasting moonshine in the Carolinas!

Offered on the Nantahala Gorge excursion, this shine and dine experience begins in a renovated First Class train fleet car, The Carolina Shine. The interior features copper lined walls filled with the history of moonshining in North Carolina. Learn about the proud tradition that the Appalachians established when bootlegging was an acceptable way of life and local home brews were the best in town. Read about Swain County’s very own Major Redmond, the most famous mountain moonshine outlaw of the 19th century.

Once your appetite for knowledge is satisfied, enjoy sample tastings of flavors like Apple Pie, Blackberry, Blueberry, Cherry, Peach, and Strawberry moonshine. If the samples are not enough, there will be plenty of Moonshine infused cocktails like Copper Cola or Moonshiner’s Mimosa available for purchase. GSMR is excited to feature multiple craft NC based distilleries to serve our guests only the best! Each jar is handcrafted and authentically infused with real fruit, the way moonshine was meant to be made. Passengers will also enjoy a full service All-Adult First Class ride with an attendant and a specialty boxed lunch. During the month of October. 9am and 2pm departures. 9am will feature the option of a delicious Sausage & Bacon Quiche or Cheesy Ham Hash Brown Casserole. The 2pm departure will be serving the popular BBQ meal.

Diesel $109.00 ($114.00 October) Not Permitted
Steam $119.00 ($126.00 October) Not Permitted
Locomotive Adult (21+ Only) Under 21

How to Purchase

You can purchase your tickets online or call our reservations department at (800) 872-4681. Or, you can purchase your tickets the day of in the Bryson City Depot. No matter how you purchase tickets, they’ll be waiting at will call.

Summer Animal Encounters
Aug 18 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Chimney Rock State Park

Join a Park Naturalist to meet some of our resident Animal Ambassadors.  Participants will learn what kind of wildlife inhabits the Park and their important role in the ecosystem.  You might even leave with a newfound appreciation for critters you once misunderstood.

Time: Weekdays only at 11am
Cost: Included with Park admission.
COLLEGE STUDY HALL
Aug 18 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Grind Coffee House

 Mon-Fri from 2-5pm. You have access to high speed internet, work space and HALF-OFF pastries when you present your college ID.

Recovering Hope Peer Support Group
Aug 18 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
HOPE COALITION

Peer Support

Group meetings: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 2:00 – 3:00 PM

 

Please contact us for individual services at 828.388.7979, Option #2

 

Through the “lived-experience” of our peer support specialists, we will assist, encourage, empower and advocate with others on their journey to finding their own path to recovery. Recovery is possible but is not meant to do alone. We do recover together.

About Hope Coalition

Hope Coalition is a grassroots effort initiated by the Henderson County Partnership for Health in 2013 as a community collaborative to educate, evaluate, and implement evidence-based models on substance misuse and underage drinking in Henderson County by building capacity and creating long-term and sustainable plans that are action-oriented and focus on community level change. 

Webinar on Sustainable Ag Grant Opportunities for Farmers
Aug 18 @ 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Online
ASAP Local Food Strong Farms Healthy Communities

The Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SSARE) program will be offering a free webinar this summer discussing its Producer Grants program.

“Testing Sustainable Ag Ideas on the Farm” is designed for farmers, ranchers and farmer groups in the Southern region interested in sustainable agriculture research to learn more about SSARE’s Producer Grants. These grants are a funding opportunity for farmers in the Southern region to test sustainable agriculture ideas on their farm by conducting research projects.

The 60-minute Power Point webinar session, including a Q&A, will be held on two dates: June 16 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. EST, and August 18 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. EST.

Farmers may register for either webinar session at the following link: https://forms.gle/uWengWwQfzaAdSHb6

While the Producer Grants are strictly for farmers/ranchers and farmer groups, ag professionals and other interested individuals/groups may also attend to learn more about the Producer Grant process and share the information with their audiences.

Registrants will receive a Zoom invite via email. The webinar will be recorded and posted to the Southern SARE website at a later date for those who are unable to attend.

The webinar will cover the following topics:

  • An overview of the SSARE program (who we are and what we do);
  • Basic information on Producer Grants (qualification requirements and selecting a research topic);
  • Details of the Call for Proposals covering each section of the Call, including setting up a research project, budgets and outreach;
  • How a proposal is reviewed and why proposals are rejected;
  • Tips for writing a strong proposal; and
  • Step-by-step instructions for submitting a proposal to SSARE’s online submission system.

Recognizing the value and importance of on-the-farm, producer experience in developing solutions to agricultural production challenges, the SSARE Producer Grant program was established in 1994 to give farmers the opportunity to conduct their own research projects. The goal of the grant program is for farmers/ranchers to conduct sustainable ag projects to solve challenges and problems they face, and develop information on what works and doesn’t work so that other farmers and ranchers facing those same problems can benefit from the results of the funded project.

SSARE’s Producer Grant Call for Proposals opens in September 2021 with proposals selected for funding in February 2022.

 

Wednesday Kid’s Night! Chick-fil-A Asheville Mall
Aug 18 @ 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Chick-fil-A Asheville Mall

Join us EVERY Wednesday night for Kid’s Night! Children receive a free four-count kid’s meal with the purchase of an adult meal. See you on Wednesdays!

Unearthing Our Forgotten Past – Reception
Aug 18 @ 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Smith-McDowell House Museum

“Unearthing Our Forgotten Past: Fort San Juan” is now on display at the Smith-McDowell House in Asheville. We will celebrate the official opening of this excellent traveling exhibit on Wednesday, August 18 from 5:30pm to 7:00pm with live music, refreshments, and games on the front lawn. The event is free and open to the public. We are also celebrating several newly completed renovations on the historic home that serves as our facility including a new copper standing seam roof and new exterior paint.

The exhibit was developed by the Exploring Joara Foundation Inc. as part of the celebration of the 450th anniversary of the Juan Pardo expeditions through Western North Carolina.

Several decades ago, archaeologists identified a site near Morganton as the location of Joara, one of the largest Native American towns in what is today Western North Carolina. Joara was occupied from approximately 1400-1600 A.D. Two Spanish expeditions (led respectively by Hernando de Soto and Juan Pardo) visited the town in the 1500s. The Pardo expedition was part of a larger effort to establish a string of forts from the coast of present-day South Carolina to Mexico.

In 2013, archaeologists confirmed that Joara was also the site of Fort San Juan, which was established by Pardo in 1567, nearly 20 years before the English settlement at Roanoke on the coast of North Carolina and 40 years before the settlement at Jamestown.

Through various artifacts uncovered by the archaeologists, the exhibit showcases the Spanish occupation of Fort San Juan and the lives of the native people who lived in the Joara area.

We’ll have refreshments, live old-time music, yard games, and more.

Bring a lawn chair to sit and listen to live music on the lawn!

Trivia @ Sweeten Creek Brewing
Aug 18 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Sweeten Creek Brewing

Let’s meet at Sweeten Creek Brewing for their Wednesday night trivia. They’ve got a couple of nice covered outdoor spaces we can enjoy

Well-Crafted Wednesdays w/ Matt Smith
Aug 18 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Highland Brewing Company
Witty Wednesday Trivia
Aug 18 @ 6:30 pm
Sweeten Creek Brewing
Scoop: Witty Wednesday Trivia
Brigitte Mars • Herbalist, Author, Professor, + Natural Chef w/ Asheville Wisdom Exchange Meetup
Aug 18 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Online

Brigitte Mars is an herbalist and nutritional consultant of Natural Health with almost fifty years of experience. She teaches Herbal Medicine at Naropa University and The School of Health Mastery in Iceland. She has taught at Omega Institute, Esalen, Kripalu, Sivananda Yoga Ashram, Arise, Envision and Unify Festivals, and The Mayo Clinic. She blogs for the Huffington Post and Care2. She is also a professional member of the American Herbalist Guild.

Brigitte is the author of many books and DVDs, including The Home Reference to Holistic Health and Healing, The Country Almanac of Home Remedies, The Desktop Guide to Herbal Medicine, Beauty by Nature, Addiction Free Naturally, The Sexual Herbal, Healing Herbal Teas, Rawsome!, and co-author of The HempNut Cookbook. Her DVDs include Sacred Psychoactive, Herbal Wizardry for Kids of all Ages, Natural Remedies for Childhood Ailments, Overcoming Addictions, and Natural Remedies for Emotional Health. Her latest project is a phone app called iPlant that helps budding herbalists to identify plants in the wild.

Brigitte and her daughter, Sunflower Sparkle Mars, run Herb Camp for Kids in Boulder, Colorado. Brigitte’s other daughter is world famous activist/yogini-actress/ international model, Rainbeau Mars.

What we’re about

The Asheville Wisdom Exchange is a sacred space for the non-judgmental exchange of insight and wisdom in our quest to better express the Divine inherent within us. Topics vary weekly utilizing a combination of experts and open discussion in a unique and respectful format based upon the premise that we all can learn from each other. We welcome you to join us and share your voice in the uplifting of humanity.
We meet via Zoom every Wednesday from 7 – 8:15 p.m.
https://www.ashevillewisdomexchange.org

Robert’s Totally Rad Trivia
Aug 18 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
12 Bones Brewing

Totally Rad Trivia invades 12 Bones South every Wednesday evening for two hours of Pop Culture Trivia. Grab a beer, some BBQ and buckle in for some fun and challenging Trivia.
Latin Night Wednesday
Aug 18 @ 9:00 pm – 11:59 pm
One World Brewing West

Latin Night Wednesday

MTN VIBEZ Presents Latin Night-every Wednesday.  Free Dance Lessons 8:30-9PM-All Skill Levels and All Latin Genres-Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, Cumbia, Reggaeton.

DJ Ephcto spins cultural bass music from 6:30pm-9pm and is a perfect time to come for some dinner prior to the start of Latin night.

Move On Up: Soul/R+B
Aug 18 @ 9:00 pm – Aug 19 @ 2:00 am
Asheville Beauty Academy

“Move On Up” is a night of your favorite and forgotten Soul/RB cuts right after Comedy Night.

Thursday, August 19, 2021
Bulldog Athletics Silent Auction
Aug 19 all-day
Online

Bulldog Athletics Fund hosts silent auction beginning August 2

In conjunction with its annual golf tournament, the Bulldog Athletics Fund is hosting a silent auction with all of the proceeds going to support the 270-plus UNC Asheville student-athletes.

The silent auction features a three-night stay at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort and a foursome golf package at the exclusive member’s only Briar’s Creek Golf Club. Bidding will open on August 2, 2021, and will conclude at noon on August 25. Anyone is eligible to bid on this auction item and participation in the annual Bulldog Athletics Fund Golf Classic is not required.

Bidding for this exclusive package, which has an estimated value of $2,500, will begin at $1,000 and will have bid increments of $100. To submit your bid, or for more information, please email or call Betsy Blose at [email protected], 828-252-6907. Additionally, those who bid will be given auction updates every three days via email, and once a day during the last week of the auction.

The 2021 Summer Learning Program: Tails + Tales – an exploration of wildlife and fantastical folktales
Aug 19 all-day
Online

Illustration of animals reading book.

Get ready to go wild at the library for our annual Summer Learning Program. Join us for Tails & Tales – an exploration of wildlife and fantastical folktales. We’ll have an activity sheet with lots of fun adventures for all ages. You can pick up a sheet at any library starting June 1, or download it HERE. Check our calendar to find our most up to date list of programs all summer long.

 

The 2021 Summer Learning Program is open to young people, preschool through teen, with books and activities for every age. All library programs are free and open to children of all abilities. Come in and see what the library has for you!

YW Wellness and Learning Lab: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Aug 19 all-day
YWCA Asheville

YW WELLNESS AND LEARNING LAB

YW Wellness and Learning Lab

At the YWCA of Asheville, we eliminate racism and empower women by providing programs and advocacy for over 3,000 community members annually in Western North Carolina with services that support families, promote holistic wellness, and advance racial justice.

We are seeking dedicated volunteers for our new YW Wellness and Learning Lab beginning on September 8th. Volunteers will assist school-age children with their homework, administer the Read to Succeed curriculum, and build meaningful relationships with students while their parents take time for their health and well-being.

Volunteer Responsibilities:

Time Commitment:

  • Shifts are 4:30–7:30 PM on Monday and Wednesday at the YWCA of Asheville
  • Must commit to one shift per week

Volunteer Requirements:

  • 18 years or older
  • Able to work patiently with students of various ages
  • Previous teaching or tutoring experience a plus
  • Must pass a background check
  • Commitment to the YWCA’s mission of eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all

Training

  • The YWCA will offer training in racial justice, Read to Succeed curriculum, and trauma-informed, equity-focused education. Volunteers must complete orientation and training before working with students.
  • Training will take place on Saturday, August 21st from 10 AM–1 PM at the YWCA

Health and Safety:

  • Masks must be worn at all times when interacting with students
  • Masks and hand sanitizer will be available
The Learning Garden Opens to the Public
Aug 19 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Buncombe Extension Center
The Learning Garden at Buncombe Extension Center
Vegetable gardening at The Learning Garden

Visit The Learning Garden! The gardens are in full summer mode with ripening tomatoes, blooming roses, giant sunflowers, and many other perennials and plants of interest.

The Learning Garden is a dedicated, on-site teaching garden at the Buncombe Extension Center located at 49 Mt. Carmel Road, Asheville. It is managed and cared for by the Extension Master GardenerSM volunteers (EMGVs) of Buncombe County.

Everyone is welcome to visit the gardens Monday and Wednesday mornings from 9 to 12 when temperatures are cool and Master Gardeners are working in the gardens. Or come visit on your own Monday through Friday, 8 to 5.

The Learning Garden (TLG) surrounds the Extension building, includes 8 distinct gardens, and a composting demonstration site. Each garden offers plants that grow well in our region. You will gather new ideas and learn successful horticultural practices that lead to beautiful, healthy gardens.

Look for plant labels in the garden. Find more information and brochures at the kiosk near the building and in the garden mailboxes.

GARDENERS ARE IN THE GARDEN.

Educator Workshop – Project WILD: Elk
Aug 19 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Grandfather Mountain

Project WILD is a K-12 interdisciplinary conservation and environmental education program emphasizing wildlife. All participants will receive the Project WILD activity guide and earn six hours of Criteria II or III credits toward their N.C. Environmental Education Certification  (or 0.6 CEU’s). Homework option available to earn up to 10 hours or 1.0 CEU.

About Our Environmental Educator Certification Programs

Join the staff of the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission for the opportunity to learn more and have fun, while earning your certification as an environmental education in North Carolina. We offer Criteria I, II and III programs.

These adult programs are free of charge, and admission to Grandfather Mountain is complimentary for those attending the course. The workshops will take place at high elevation (4,500+ feet) and will include some walking, so please bring appropriate footwear and be prepared for inclement weather. Participants are asked to bring their own lunch, but there is a restaurant on site in the park’s Nature Museum.

The participant limit for each workshop is 12 individuals. Upon registration, you will be sent detailed information on course meeting location and expectations.

Online registration opens June 19.

Educator Workshop- Project WILD: Elk
Aug 19 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Grandfather Mountain

Project WILD is a K-12 interdisciplinary conservation and environmental education program emphasizing wildlife. All participants will receive the Project WILD activity guide and earn six hours of Criteria I credit toward their N.C. Environmental Education Certification  (or 0.6 CEU’s). Homework option available to earn up to 10 hours or 1.0 CEU.

About Our Environmental Educator Certification Programs

Join the staff of the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission for the opportunity to learn more and have fun, while earning your certification as an environmental education in North Carolina. We offer Criteria I, II and III programs.

These adult programs are free of charge, and admission to Grandfather Mountain is complimentary for those attending the course. The workshops will take place at high elevation (4,500+ feet) and will include some walking, so please bring appropriate footwear and be prepared for inclement weather. Participants are asked to bring their own lunch, but there is a restaurant on site in the park’s Nature Museum.

The participant limit for each workshop is 12 individuals. Upon registration, you will be sent detailed information on course meeting location and expectations.

Online Seminar: Managing Water in Your Garden
Aug 19 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Online

Gardening in the Mountains presents:
Managing Water in Your Garden

Standing water in garden

Virtual attendance via Zoom video and audio internet connection

Presenter: James Wade, Extension Master GardenerSM Volunteer

As the heat bears down on our gardens in late summer, watering plants seems like the only thing that will keep them alive into the fall. The mountains of Western North Carolina are unique as summer thunderstorms increasingly become more hit-and-miss. Moisture may come as light showers, severe downpours, or not at all.

Appropriate planning and forethought can reduce the consequences of too little or too much water in the garden. Garden design and maintenance should consider not only how much water a garden will need, but also when and from what sources. As city and well water becomes increasingly expensive, it is more important than ever to manage water use in our gardens in cost effective and environmentally sustainable ways.

This presentation explores the weather conditions of WNC and methods of effective water use for gardeners.