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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.
Drop in for this Friday’s Art Break and join Alexis Meldrum, curatorial assistant, as she leads an informal Gallery discussion about the new exhibition, In the Age of the Etching Revival, which showcases artists engaging the intaglio printmaking technique of etching in the late 19th and early 20th century.
ART BREAKS
Drop in to one of our afternoon Art Breaks! Taking place on selected Fridays and Sundays, these informal gallery talks and presentations both educate and engage you in dialogue with our staff, docents, or special guests.
Hosted by: The Buddhist Studies Institute
FREE – ONLINE – 30 MINUTES – DAILY
🌺Guided meditation support and community🌺
🌸Stabilization and Liberation:
In order to liberate our minds– we need stable calm.
🌸Consistency & Commitment:
Stabilizing in calm clear presence takes consistent training.
🌸Support & Community:
Daily Meditation is a container and support for your meditation focus.
Expand your meditation circle- join us online any day or every day!
Formerly known as 100 Days of practice to support a Tibetan Yogis tradition to practice 100 days in the winter, this has now been expanded to continue daily. To learn more and register: https://buddhiststudiesinstitute.org/daily-meditation/
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad is back in 2022! The 1¼ hour round-trip passenger excursion comes to life as the train departs the Bryson City depot for a journey through the quiet wilderness for a special visit at the North Pole. Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, guests on board will enjoy warm cocoa and a treat while listening and reading along with the magical story. Children’s faces show the magic of the season when the train arrives at the North Pole to find Santa Claus waiting. Santa will board THE POLAR EXPRESS™, greeting each child and presenting them with a special gift as in the story, their own silver sleigh bell. Christmas carols will be sung as they return back to the Bryson City Depot.
We encourage guests to plan ahead and stay apprised of the latest weather developments. Cancellations of a POLAR EXPRESS departure because of inclement weather are very rare. If you’re staying in the Gatlinburg/Sevierville, Tennessee area, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Service announces road closures and openings on Twitter, or call (865) 436-1200 extension 631 for a recorded message. In such case Highway 441 is closed through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Interstate 40 typically remains open. Use 45 Mitchell Street, Bryson City, North Carolina 28713 as your destination to find an alternate route.
The magic and charm of Historic Biltmore Village, filled with dickens carolers and lit with holiday lights after dark, is truly unparalleled. As in years past, a fully decorated 15+ foot Christmas Tree will be lit on the Village Green (adjacent to the intersection of Boston Way/Kitchin Place/Biltmore Plaza). We invite everyone to come and visit, warm their heart, and get into the holiday spirit.
Experience the enchantment, complete your holiday shopping and dine in seasonal splendor during the Biltmore Village “A Dickens Christmas” and begin your own holiday season tradition.
Dates & Schedule
FRIDAY (Dec. 2):
5 – 8 PM Roving acts/entertainment throughout the village and on stage at Village Green.
4 – 7 PM Christmas Market & Carnival Games for Kids (NEW AND HEAVILY DECORATED), including food vendors and live music (Spartina Parking Lot).
6:30: Santa will appear at the Christmas Market area and lead folks to tree lighting.
SATURDAY (Dec. 3):
11 AM – 6 PM Roving acts/entertainment throughout the village and on stage at Village Green.
1 – 6 PM: Christmas Market (NEW), including food vendors and live music (Spartina Parking Lot).
1 – 6 PM: Merchants hosting various holiday attractions.
Candlelight Christmas tours will be held December 2 and 3. Five tours will be offered each evening, at 5:00, 5:45, 6:30, 7:15 and 8:00 PM. Visitors will take part in a guided tour of the decorated 1880 farm house, visit with the Heritage Weavers and Fiber Artists, listen to live music by local students, and partake in hot cocoa and cookies.
Reservations and advance payment are required for the Candlelight Christmas evenings as space is limited. Under 5 free.
Step into a Hallmark movie with the annual Old-Fashioned Christmas celebration, hosted by the Downtown Merchants Association. Stores, boutiques and galleries stay open extended hours and serve holiday treats, carollers stroll the sidewalks, Santa visits with kids on the courthouse plaza and carriage rides take place along the serpentine Main Street.
5:00 to 8:00 pm on Main Street
Jolly Ol’ St. Nick visits with kids of all ages on the square of the Historic Courthouse on Main Street. Santa takes time to meet with all the good little children and get their holiday wish list under the lights of Hendersonville’s 35-foot town Christmas tree.
The festivities will include games, crafts, hot chocolate, carriage rides, special guests and, of course, photos with Santa.
Click here for more details.
5:00 to 8:00 pm on Main Street
Get into the holiday spirit with carriage rides on Hendersonville’s beautiful Main Street. Experience the twinkling Christmas lights and decorations of downtown Hendersonville at the leisurely pace of a horse-drawn carriage.
The free rides begin in front of the Historic Courthouse. They are free and on a first-come, first-serve basis. The carriage rides are part of the Old-Fashioned Christmas celebration by downtown merchants. Stores, shops and boutiques stay open late and Jolly Ol’ St. Nick makes an appearance.
The public is invited to learn more about the Pack Square Plaza Visioning Project and to provide input that helps create a shared vision for the future of the area.
The public is invited to help shape the future of Western North Carolina’s most central civic space by attending one or more special engagement events for the Pack Square Plaza Visioning project in December.
Getting there: Parking is free at the City of Asheville’s parking lot at 17 Marjorie Street on weekdays after 5:00 pm and all weekend.
Wine with DIVINE, the happiest hour! A fundraiser for Healing Solutions Counseling and a great way to unwind after the week. Enjoy the fine wines from Pleb Urban Winery and the company of backwoods busy gal, DIVINE the bearded lady. The show is Friday, December 2nd from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Buy $20+ tickets at https://winewithdivineoct.bpt.me You’ll soon realize that DIVINE’s the best friend you’ve never had. A 30-year veteran to the stage, DIVINE wows audiences with her knack for storytelling, live singing, chit-chat, interviews, and more. Admission starts at $20 and includes a souvenir glass, your first pour, and this exclusive intimate cabaret show. Grab your VIP+ tickets before they sell out! All profits support Healing Solutions Counseling 501c3 with JFS. Produced by Asheville Drag Brunch. Tickets are limited and are available at www.AshevilleDragBrunch.com. Group reservations? Questions? Text/call (828) 333-7247 or email [email protected].
Biltmore House glows with candlelight and firelight during this nighttime tour, changing the daytime visit’s mood and experience. Candlelight Christmas Evenings in Biltmore House allows guests to step back in time with an experience reminiscent of the Vanderbilt’s first Christmas spent in Biltmore House in 1895. Musicians stationed throughout the house perform seasonal favorites. Setting the scene is a 55-foot Norway spruce encircled by illuminated evergreens and shrubs sparkling in the center of the front lawn.
The Historic Johnson Farm, one of the oldest brick structures in Henderson County, hosts candlelight tours of the decorated 1880 farmhouse. Experience what Christmas was like in the 19th Century, visit with the Heritage Weavers and Fiber Artists, listen to live music by local students, and enjoy hot cocoa and cookies.
The farm is owned and operated by the local school system. There are five tours each evening. Advance tickets are required as space is limited.
Seize the day at the APAA with Disney’s Newsies JR! Come and see the Prep & Community Cast fight against all odds through music and dance.
Newsies JR. is a 60-minute version of the 2012 Broadway musical, based on the 1992 film. Inspired by the rousing true story of newsboys in turn-of-the-century New York City, Newsies JR. features a Tony Award-winning score by Alan Menken and Jack Feldman and a book by Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein.
When powerful newspaper publishers raise prices at the newsboys’ expense, the charismatic Jack Kelly rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions. Together, the newsies learn that they are stronger united and create a movement to fight for what’s right.
Including the now-classic songs “Carrying the Banner,” “Seize the Day,” and “Santa Fe,” Newsies JR. is a timeless story full of spirit and heart.
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A holiday tradition for many mountain families returns to Lake Julian Park (37 Lake Julian Rd. in Arden) in December. Festival of Lights continues with all its illuminated magic and more, as the annual event now finds itself on a mission.
Festival of Lights is a fun, inexpensive way to celebrate the season and make memories. As the original – and longest running – drive-thru holiday light show in the area, is excited to once again turn on the tradition of making spirits bright.
Mark your calendars, Lake Julian Festival of Lights will thrill visitors of all ages, nightly from 6-9 p.m. from Dec. 2-23, with two special walk-thru nights on Dec. 2 & 3. The festival thrives from its connection to the community; twenty percent of proceeds are donated to Special Olympics Buncombe County, while the remaining income is reinvested to enhance the festival for the following year.
Visitors can expect the drive circling Lake Julian Park to transform into a magical journey with tunnels of dazzling animated and stationary light displays. Watch the lights twinkle over the lake and listen to your own favorite holiday music while taking in the sights.
Vehicle entry for the Festival of Lights is $10 per passenger vehicle, $25 for large vans, and $50 for motor coaches and buses. Stay tuned for more information.
A holiday tradition for many mountain families returns to Lake Julian Park (37 Lake Julian Rd. in Arden) in December. Festival of Lights continues with all its illuminated magic and more, as the annual event now finds itself on a mission.
Festival of Lights is a fun, inexpensive way to celebrate the season and make memories. As the original – and longest running – drive-thru holiday light show in the area, is excited to once again turn on the tradition of making spirits bright.
Mark your calendars, Lake Julian Festival of Lights will thrill visitors of all ages, nightly from 6-9 p.m. from Dec. 2-23, with two special walk-thru nights on Dec. 2 & 3. The festival thrives from its connection to the community; twenty percent of proceeds are donated to Special Olympics Buncombe County, while the remaining income is reinvested to enhance the festival for the following year.
Visitors can expect the drive circling Lake Julian Park to transform into a magical journey with tunnels of dazzling animated and stationary light displays. Watch the lights twinkle over the lake and listen to your own favorite holiday music while taking in the sights.
Vehicle entry for the Festival of Lights is $10 per passenger vehicle, $25 for large vans, and $50 for motor coaches and buses.
Inclement weather note: December can be month for inclement weather in Buncombe County. Make sure to stay up to date with all the latest information by signing up for alerts and notifications from Buncombe County. Text bcalert to 99411.
A holiday tradition for many mountain families returns to Lake Julian Park (37 Lake Julian Rd. in Arden) in December. Festival of Lights continues with all its illuminated magic and more, as the annual event now finds itself on a mission.
Festival of Lights is a fun, inexpensive way to celebrate the season and make memories. As the original – and longest running – drive-thru holiday light show in the area, is excited to once again turn on the tradition of making spirits bright.
Mark your calendars, Lake Julian Festival of Lights will thrill visitors of all ages, nightly from 6-9 p.m. from Dec. 2-23, with two special walk-thru nights on Dec. 2 & 3. The festival thrives from its connection to the community; twenty percent of proceeds are donated to Special Olympics Buncombe County, while the remaining income is reinvested to enhance the festival for the following year.
Visitors can expect the drive circling Lake Julian Park to transform into a magical journey with tunnels of dazzling animated and stationary light displays. Watch the lights twinkle over the lake and listen to your own favorite holiday music while taking in the sights.
Vehicle entry for the Festival of Lights is $10 per passenger vehicle, $25 for large vans, and $50 for motor coaches and buses.
Inclement weather note: December can be month for inclement weather in Buncombe County. Make sure to stay up to date with all the latest information by signing up for alerts and notifications from Buncombe County. Text bcalert to 99411.
Winter Lights is a spectacular open-air walk-through light show made from over one million lights! Located at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, North Carolina, this year’s event features favorites like the famously tall 50-foot lighted tree and the Quilt Garden, along with enchanting new details designed to delight and surprise.
The Lights!This year’s show features over a million lights and mixes enchanting new displays with old favorites like the 50ft tree and Quilt Garden. Winter Lights is a walk-through light show with countless opportunities for photos. Use our hashtag #NCWinterLights22 to share the magic!
Live performancesLive performances are scheduled nightly at the Education Center, near Bent Creek Bistro. View the music schedule here.
Rocky Cove Railroad*During Winter Lights, our beloved g-scale model train offers nightly service to the North Pole. All aboard!
Storytime at Woodland CoveVisit the Education Center for a whimsical window display that follows a young bear’s journey to discover new habitats. This is an educational exhibit that will delight the whole family.
Gift ShopsStill have a bit of shopping to do for the holidays? our Connections Gallery Gift Shop in the Baker Visitor Center and Winter Lights Shop in the Education Center are open 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. daily, and from 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. nightly, during Winter Lights.
S’mores and Firepits*If the winter nights turn a bit chilly, cozy up to the fire pits and heaters throughout the gardens.
S’mores kits are available for purchase at the Bent Creek Bistro, where there’s an especially large fire pit for all your marshmallow-roasting needs!
Wishing TreesA favorite Winter Lights tradition, the Wishing Trees return this year in a new location! Look for them near Rocky Cove Railroad, and make sure to leave a wish for the coming year.
Eat and Drink**Looking for something to warm you up while you stroll? Cocoa, beer, and wine are available at both the Cocoa Shack and Bent Creek Bistro.
View the menu for Bent Creek Bistro
Bent Creek Bistro Hours: Full menu: 6:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. | Snacks: 9:30-10:00 p.m.
*The Rocky Cove Railroad and the fire pits cannot run in certain weather conditions, and may be closed without notice.
**Alcohol purchased on-site may only be consumed in the event area and is not permitted in the parking lot or on the trails. Outside alcohol is prohibited at all times, on all parts of the property. This includes the parking lot and trails.
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Celebrate the holiday season with a FREE screening of “The Grinch” at the TD Stage at the Peace Center on Friday, December 2 at 6:30 PM. Let us know you’re coming
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The second annual Catalytic Sound Festival is a sprawling international affair, spanning 5 different weekends with versions taking place in Amsterdam, Vienna, New York, Chicago, Washington DC, and Trondheim. All of these various weekends will feature artists who are a part of the innovative Catalytic Sound co-operative, an initiative formed in 2015 to help create a more sustainable working environment for its pool of experimental and innovative musicians across the globe. Curated by Asheville local, Tashi Dorji.
December 2nd – Catalytic Sound and Static Age Records in Partnership with Black Mountain College Museum and Arts Center presents:
Chris Williams / Patrick Shiroishi Duo
Farewell Phoenix
Min Xiao-Fen / Tashi Dorji Duo
MANAS w/ Zoh Amba & Chris Williams
December 3rd – Catalytic Sound and Static Age Records presents:
Otay:onii
Thom Nguyen / Alex Zhang Hungtai Percussion Duo
Lunar Creature
MANAS w/ Che Chen, Alex Hungtai, and Patrick Shiroishi
Drum Major Instinct
BEAM SPLITTER
This has all the makings of a jolly good family tradition!
A European inspired production that brings all of Clara’s adventures and excitement home to Greenville. Continuing the reinvented holiday classic, this 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 Hernan Justo, the refreshed ballet is based on the original Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov ballet.
– AT FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY
– ALL AGES
– PARTIALLY SEATED SHOW (FIRST COME FIRST SERVED)
-Tim Baker has partnered with the PLUS1 Climate Fund so that $1 per ticket goes to supporting grassroots organizations
working to mitigate the current climate crisis and build a sustainable future for all.
TIM BAKER (of HEY ROSETTA!)
Tim Baker is a prolific wild-eyed dreamer. In 2022, Baker has returned with The Festival, a sonic embrace, a call in for love, and a cry out for connection. Baker wants us to bring our pain and suffering, and align it all with melody. The Festival is a kaleidoscopic view in these
complicated times.
Best known as the songwriter and leader of Hey Rosetta!, a Juno-nominated, Polaris-shortlisted, and multi award-winning band based in St. John’s, Newfoundland. With over 15 years of performing their high-energy spectacle in stadiums, clubs, theatres and major festivals all over the world, Hey Rosetta! called it quits in 2017.
Baker has since transitioned from being the mover and shaker of a major indie rock band, and ascended to a profound songwriter and producer. His solo LP, Forever Overhead (Arts and Crafts), garnered him a Juno nomination for Songwriter of the Year, three East Coast Music Awards (and several nominations), and a Polaris longlist. In 2019, he released The Eighteenth Hole Variations EP, the Side Door Sessions LP in 2020, and that same year, he released the Survivors EP.
Blissfulness is at the core of Wiseacre, the strikingly purifying sophomore record from Eric Slick. Wiseacre is a location, literally. It’s the place he married the light in his life, Natalie Prass, and titling the record after it is an attempt at bottling the euphoria of his wedding day. The record isn’t just about the joy that comes from a loving existence blossoming out of a new relationship, it’s also about the hard work that it takes to get to that place.
“I’ve always been known as somebody who is on the sidelines,” says Slick, seeking to step out of the shadow of his previous roles. The majority of his time has been behind a drum set, spending the last decade rounding out the industrious outfit Dr. Dog, and as of late, touring as a newlywed alongside his wife. Ironically, the two met on Valentine’s Day at a Dr. Dog show before Slick had even joined the band.
Slick’s previous solo work – his debut Palisades, the orchestral Bullfighter, and Out of Habit, a John Fahey inspired EP pedaled as dollar bin ephemera – established the framework for the most significant project of his career thus far.
Come on out for a sizzlin’, toe-tappin’, knee-slappin’ night of music, brought to you by Tumo Kohrs!
Enjoy a concert by Mark Tuomenoksa & Sarah Kohrs, aka Tumo Kohrs, playing their intimate original compositions, covers from the 60’s & 70’s, and a scattered snowshower of holiday music. A great way to gently invite the holiday season into your consciousness.
2022 HOLIDAY SHOW
By Skyler Goff
From the deviant minds that brought you Spanko: A Tex-Mex Commedia Musical, in partnership with The Magnetic Theatre comes a paranoid, bawdy, and morbid retelling of Charles Dickens’ classic. More information to follow!
December 2 – 17, 2022
Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30pm
Sundays at 4pm
Everyone’s favorite holiday classic comes to life in a spectacular new production of A Charlie Brown Christmas. Adapted from Charles M. Schulz’s timeless story and featuring the music of Vince Guaraldi, A Charlie Brown Christmas is a present the whole family can enjoy. Join Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, and the whole Peanuts gang as they sing, dance, and learn the true meaning of Christmas!
A GREAT WAY TO KICK OFF THE HOLIDAY SEASON!
Expect the brilliantly unexpected from Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre’s eleventh annual performance of The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. ACDT has shocked and surprised audiences over the years with their original version of The Nutcracker. Though The Nutcracker might be the world’s most famous ballet, if it is being performed by ACDT you can guarantee it is something you haven’t seen before. Their version couldn’t be farther from Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet. It is based on the original and much darker story written in 1816 by German author E.T.A. Hoffmann.
School Show – Dec. 2 @ 10:00 a.m. Call the box office for tickets: 828-257-4530, ext. 1.
