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.

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Wednesday, August 25, 2021
COLLEGE STUDY HALL
Aug 25 @ 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.

Read more
Categories: Community Education
Recovering Hope Peer Support Group
Aug 25 @ 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. 

Read more
Categories: Community Education
Thursday, August 26, 2021
Let’s Talk – Back To School Immunizations – Watch it On YouTube
Aug 26 all-day
Online

Let's Talk - Watch the Discussion on Youtube

As the new school year approaches, we know that many Buncombe parents share common questions and concerns about their student(s) safety during in-person instruction. To address your questions, Buncombe County Health and Human Services hosted Let’s Talk- Back to School Immunizations. During this virtual, parent-led event, local experts explain what it will take for our schools to stay open and our students to stay in their classrooms.

Many important questions were addressed, including:

Read more
Categories: Education Health & Wellness
The 2021 Summer Learning Program: Tails + Tales – an exploration of wildlife and fantastical folktales
Aug 26 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!

Read more
Categories: Bookclubs Community Education Family Fun
YW Wellness and Learning Lab: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Aug 26 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
Read more
Categories: Community Education Volunteers
The Learning Garden Opens to the Public
Aug 26 @ 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.

Read more
Categories: Community Education Garden
Unearthing Our Forgotten Past
Aug 26 @ 10:30 am – 4:00 pm
Smith-McDowell House Museum

The exhibit was developed as part of the celebration of the 450th anniversary of the Juan Pardo expeditions. Several years 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 all the way to Mexico. In 2013, archaeologists confirmed that Joara was also the site of Fort San Juan, 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 archaeology, the exhibit showcases the Spanish occupation of Fort San Juan and the lives of the native people who lived in the Joara area.

The exhibit is on loan from the Exploring Joara Foundation Inc. Exploring Joara engages the public in archaeology in the Carolinas, and emphasizes the discovery of the Native American town of Joara and Fort San Juan. The exhibit will be on display at the Western North Carolina Historical Association’s gallery inside the Smith-McDowell House through December 15.

The gallery is open for visitation Thursday, Friday, and Saturday between 10:30am and 4:00pm. Reservations are recommended.

Read more
Categories: Community Education
Understanding The Financial World for Nonprofits
Aug 26 @ 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
(Hybrid): BRCC Small Business Center Straus 160

Small Business Center at Blue Ridge Community College offers FREE seminars/workshops to support Small Business

In-Person & Online

Are you involved in a nonprofit as a board member, a staff person, or a volunteer? Are you wanting to know more about how to understand the finances of a nonprofit? Join us in this class as we talk about the basic financial statements of a nonprofit and explain the art of “telling our nonprofit story” to interested parties. We will learn various forms of financial management reporting, identify elements of good reporting design. We will discuss various ways to track income and expenses for specific programs and how the reporting of those programs is important to the various audiences and users of the financial information such as staff, funders, donors, and the IRS. You will also learn about the importance of the nonprofit tax return, and learn to read and interpret the Form 990. Participants will gain an understanding of the broader financial realm of nonprofit organizations – where they work or volunteer.

Speaker(s): Michelle Tracz, CPA

Co-Sponsor(s): Henderson County Chamber of Commerce, Brevard/Transylvania Chamber of Commerce

Webinar info will be emailed after registration

Read more
Categories: Business and Networking Community Education
COLLEGE STUDY HALL
Aug 26 @ 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.

Read more
Categories: Community Education
FREE Youth Basketball Training! 10yrs. and older
Aug 26 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Shiloh Community Center

Youth Basketball Training Image

Read more
Categories: Education Family Fun Parks & Recreation Sports
Organic Growers Journeyperson Program Info. Session
Aug 26 @ 7:00 pm
Online

Have you been farming for three years and looking to grow your farm business, make connections and deepen your support systems? Our Journeyperson Program might be right up your alley! Nicole DelCogliano will be going live on our instagram account (@organicgrowersschool) to answer questions and discuss the details of this program. Tune in through Instagram, August 26th at 7pm. The info session will be saved to view later if you can’t make it!
Not sure if you are eligible for Journeyerson?

A year-long program

Individualized to meet you where you are
in your farm business journey

 

Starting a farm is a formidable challenge, but keeping a farm business going, growing and thriving is even harder! The Journeyperson Program is designed for farmers who have been independently farming for 3 or more years, and are serious about operating farm businesses in the Southern Appalachian region. This program will give you the space and time to work on your business while making connections that deepen your peer-to-peer support.

 

 This 12-month program starts in November 2021 and ends in October 2022.

Qualifications

 

Eligible applicants have:

  • A minimum of three years independently farming
  • A demonstrated commitment to farming in the Southern Appalachian region
  • Production goals of feeding their community and region
  • A demonstrated commitment to sustainable practices

 

Although not required, The Journeyperson Program is best suited for applicants that have the following: 

  • Secure medium to long-term land tenure (such as owned land or a lease contract)
  • A focus on livestock and/or crop production for direct-to-consumer and/or wholesale markets
  • An established farm business that needs support to refine their vision, apply whole-farm planning practices and willingness to fully utilize the resources of the program

Program Components

 

OGS offers you a comprehensive package of support over 12 months:

 

  • 2-4 Webinar Trainings (Jan-Feb)
    • Topics may include Holistic Financial Planning (including Holistic Goal Setting). Farm Communications, Advanced Enterprise Development, Advanced Marketing, and more.  (topics will be finalized based on the cohort’s needs and interests)
  • Mentorship: Work with an experienced Farmer Mentor for individualized one-on-one support 
  • Seasonal monthly virtual cohort meetings 
  • WNC CRAFT Farmer Network: Membership and mentoring in a regional farmer network
  • Identify & connect with Regional resource providers (lenders, land access organizations, small business centers) 
  • Discount Offers to OGS Services: 
    • 15% off of Sustainability Coaching & Consulting program for farm design and systems development
    • 15% off attendance at OGS Spring Conference
    • 15% off of any other OGS workshops
Read more
Categories: Education Garden
Friday, August 27, 2021
2021 Brevard Music Center Raffle
Aug 27 all-day
Online

Official 2021 Raffle RulesAudi

PROCEEDS

This raffle is a fundraising event, and all net proceeds benefit the Brevard Music Center (BMC). Brevard Music Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. EIN# 56-0729350

DRAWING

The drawing will take place on Monday, November 15, 2021 at 3:00pm EDT. All mail, phone, and internet orders must be received by 11:59pm EDT on Sunday, November 14, 2021.

TICKETS

The cost to purchase a single entry (“Ticket”) for the Raffle is $125 (U.S. Funds only) and is not tax deductible.

Read more
Categories: Fundraisers Music Raffle
Driving Tour with Smith-McDowell House
Aug 27 all-day
Online w/ Western North Carolina Historical Association
The residents of the Smith-McDowell House and grounds were woven in to the fabric of Asheville.

This driving tour begins at the Smith-McDowell House Museum on the campus of A-B Tech and continues through historic sites related to early occupants of the house.
Read more
Categories: Community Education Outdoors Tours
Let’s Talk – Back To School Immunizations – Watch it On YouTube
Aug 27 all-day
Online

Let's Talk - Watch the Discussion on Youtube

As the new school year approaches, we know that many Buncombe parents share common questions and concerns about their student(s) safety during in-person instruction. To address your questions, Buncombe County Health and Human Services hosted Let’s Talk- Back to School Immunizations. During this virtual, parent-led event, local experts explain what it will take for our schools to stay open and our students to stay in their classrooms.

Many important questions were addressed, including:

Read more
Categories: Education Health & Wellness
Organic Growers School Journeyperson Program
Aug 27 all-day
Organic Growers School

A year-long program

Individualized to meet you where you are
in your farm business journey

Applications are due by September 18, 2021.

Starting a farm is a formidable challenge, but keeping a farm business going, growing and thriving is even harder! The Journeyperson Program is designed for farmers who have been independently farming for 3 or more years, and are serious about operating farm businesses in the Southern Appalachian region. This program will give you the space and time to work on your business while making connections that deepen your peer-to-peer support.

 

 This 12-month program starts in November 2021 and ends in October 2022.

What is unique about this program?

Participants can use this program as a tangible step toward achieving their farm goals, and make significant contributions to the agricultural community and economy. This program is designed to give tailored guidance and support for your farm business to answer questions of: scale, market access, land access, risk management, understanding cash flow, and enterprise innovation. You will leave this program with a responsive, adaptable business plan to help your farm achieve long-term farm viability and resilience.

Read more
Categories: Education Garden
Regional Resources: Historical Research
Aug 27 all-day
Online w/ Western North Carolina Historical Association (WNCHA)

Western North Carolina has a rich assortment of county historical societies, archives, and museums. The Western North Carolina Historical Association seeks to help researchers, historians, genealogists, and the general public take full advantage of these resources.

 

Read more
Categories: Community Education
The 2021 Summer Learning Program: Tails + Tales – an exploration of wildlife and fantastical folktales
Aug 27 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!

Read more
Categories: Bookclubs Community Education Family Fun
Victoria: The Forgotten Town Walking Tour
Aug 27 all-day
Online w/ Western North Carolina Historical Association
Contained by its larger growing neighbor (Asheville), the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers, and the Southern Railway line, the Town of Victoria existed from 1887 until 1905, when it was absorbed into Asheville. The community—which included the Smith-McDowell House and Fernihurst mansion—originally incorporated into a town to prevent unwanted development (particularly from the Vanderbilts).
Read more
Categories: Community Education Outdoors Tours
YW Wellness and Learning Lab: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Aug 27 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
Read more
Categories: Community Education Volunteers
The Learning Garden Opens to the Public
Aug 27 @ 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.

Read more
Categories: Community Education Garden
Unearthing Our Forgotten Past
Aug 27 @ 10:30 am – 4:00 pm
Smith-McDowell House Museum

The exhibit was developed as part of the celebration of the 450th anniversary of the Juan Pardo expeditions. Several years 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 all the way to Mexico. In 2013, archaeologists confirmed that Joara was also the site of Fort San Juan, 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 archaeology, the exhibit showcases the Spanish occupation of Fort San Juan and the lives of the native people who lived in the Joara area.

The exhibit is on loan from the Exploring Joara Foundation Inc. Exploring Joara engages the public in archaeology in the Carolinas, and emphasizes the discovery of the Native American town of Joara and Fort San Juan. The exhibit will be on display at the Western North Carolina Historical Association’s gallery inside the Smith-McDowell House through December 15.

The gallery is open for visitation Thursday, Friday, and Saturday between 10:30am and 4:00pm. Reservations are recommended.

Read more
Categories: Community Education
Fun Friday for Families: Jewelry-Making
Aug 27 @ 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Asheville Art Museum

Visit our galleries on a scavenger hunt for inspiration before joining us in the Wells Fargo Art PLAYce to create! Each Friday afternoon for the month of August, use a variety of materials to create your own unique piece of jewelry. Pick up a scavenger hunt anytime between 1:30 and 3pm at the welcome desk or in the Art PLAYce on level 2.

Please note:

  • In accordance with Buncombe County and city directives, a limited number of people can be in the Art PLAYce at one time. To ensure all participants have time to create, we may ask you to limit your time.

FUN FRIDAYS FOR FAMILIES

Drop into our Wells Fargo Art PLAYce to experiment freely and collaborate using different materials, tools, and techniques! Visit a chosen artwork in the galleries for inspiration, then head to Art PLAYce to create. All ages and abilities are welcome (children must be accompanied by an adult); no reservations are required.

Read more
Categories: Art & Craft Education Family Fun
COLLEGE STUDY HALL
Aug 27 @ 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.

Read more
Categories: Community Education
Recovering Hope Peer Support Group
Aug 27 @ 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. 

Read more
Categories: Community Education
Saturday, August 28, 2021
2021 Brevard Music Center Raffle
Aug 28 all-day
Online

Official 2021 Raffle RulesAudi

PROCEEDS

This raffle is a fundraising event, and all net proceeds benefit the Brevard Music Center (BMC). Brevard Music Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. EIN# 56-0729350

DRAWING

The drawing will take place on Monday, November 15, 2021 at 3:00pm EDT. All mail, phone, and internet orders must be received by 11:59pm EDT on Sunday, November 14, 2021.

TICKETS

The cost to purchase a single entry (“Ticket”) for the Raffle is $125 (U.S. Funds only) and is not tax deductible.

Read more
Categories: Fundraisers Music Raffle
Driving Tour with Smith-McDowell House
Aug 28 all-day
Online w/ Western North Carolina Historical Association
The residents of the Smith-McDowell House and grounds were woven in to the fabric of Asheville.

This driving tour begins at the Smith-McDowell House Museum on the campus of A-B Tech and continues through historic sites related to early occupants of the house.
Read more
Categories: Community Education Outdoors Tours
Let’s Talk – Back To School Immunizations – Watch it On YouTube
Aug 28 all-day
Online

Let's Talk - Watch the Discussion on Youtube

As the new school year approaches, we know that many Buncombe parents share common questions and concerns about their student(s) safety during in-person instruction. To address your questions, Buncombe County Health and Human Services hosted Let’s Talk- Back to School Immunizations. During this virtual, parent-led event, local experts explain what it will take for our schools to stay open and our students to stay in their classrooms.

Many important questions were addressed, including:

Read more
Categories: Education Health & Wellness
Organic Growers School Journeyperson Program
Aug 28 all-day
Organic Growers School

A year-long program

Individualized to meet you where you are
in your farm business journey

Applications are due by September 18, 2021.

Starting a farm is a formidable challenge, but keeping a farm business going, growing and thriving is even harder! The Journeyperson Program is designed for farmers who have been independently farming for 3 or more years, and are serious about operating farm businesses in the Southern Appalachian region. This program will give you the space and time to work on your business while making connections that deepen your peer-to-peer support.

 

 This 12-month program starts in November 2021 and ends in October 2022.

What is unique about this program?

Participants can use this program as a tangible step toward achieving their farm goals, and make significant contributions to the agricultural community and economy. This program is designed to give tailored guidance and support for your farm business to answer questions of: scale, market access, land access, risk management, understanding cash flow, and enterprise innovation. You will leave this program with a responsive, adaptable business plan to help your farm achieve long-term farm viability and resilience.

Read more
Categories: Education Garden
Organic Growers School Mentor Services
Aug 28 all-day
Organic Growers School

Mentor Services

Our Mentor Services help support beginning and intermediate farmers by pairing them with experienced, regional farmers who can provide them with one-on-one practical planning skills.
These skills include systems management, marketing and business development, farm design and production, and connecting to the regional farming community
Read more
Categories: Education Garden
RAIL: The Railroad and Incarcerated Laborer Memorial Project
Aug 28 all-day
Online w/ Western North Carolina Historical Association (WNCHA)

The construction of the Mountain Division of the Western North Carolina Railroad is widely considered one of the greatest human accomplishments in regards to both engineering and construction ever undertaken at the time it occurred. The project took place over a period of several years in the late 1800s. Many people are aware that the railroad provided the first dependable access to and from much of Western North Carolina for the rest of the state as well as much of the nation. Many also know the names of some of those who were instrumental in seeing through the completion of this ambitious project. Names such as Colonel Alexander Boyd Andrews, of Andrews’ Geyser fame. However, what most people are unaware of is that at least 95% of the labor which built the railroad across the Blue Ridge Escarpment was completed by inmates from the North Carolina State Penitentiary… and approximately 98% of those inmates were African American men… the majority of whom were unjustly imprisoned…

This project was created to share the true story behind this human endeavor and to honor the memory of those who labored and those who died here.

Read more
Categories: Community Education