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.

Monday, June 5, 2023
Tickets go on sale for Fall LEAF Festival
Jun 5 all-day
online

The Festival offers opportunities to connect to the world and each other at the scenic and inspiring Lake Eden. Explore indigenous art and culture as we celebrate Legends of Americas; experience music and traditions of global artists; and be inspired by creatives and thought leaders from both local and international communities. Live music, dance, and performance arts are offered alongside camp and lake outdoor adventures, healing arts workshops and practitioners, the longest continually running poetry slam in the world, kids adventures and workshops, mountain drum circle, and so much more!

Tuesday, June 6, 2023
Tickets go on sale for Fall LEAF Festival
Jun 6 all-day
online

The Festival offers opportunities to connect to the world and each other at the scenic and inspiring Lake Eden. Explore indigenous art and culture as we celebrate Legends of Americas; experience music and traditions of global artists; and be inspired by creatives and thought leaders from both local and international communities. Live music, dance, and performance arts are offered alongside camp and lake outdoor adventures, healing arts workshops and practitioners, the longest continually running poetry slam in the world, kids adventures and workshops, mountain drum circle, and so much more!

Wednesday, June 7, 2023
Tickets go on sale for Fall LEAF Festival
Jun 7 all-day
online

The Festival offers opportunities to connect to the world and each other at the scenic and inspiring Lake Eden. Explore indigenous art and culture as we celebrate Legends of Americas; experience music and traditions of global artists; and be inspired by creatives and thought leaders from both local and international communities. Live music, dance, and performance arts are offered alongside camp and lake outdoor adventures, healing arts workshops and practitioners, the longest continually running poetry slam in the world, kids adventures and workshops, mountain drum circle, and so much more!

Thursday, June 8, 2023
Tickets go on sale for Fall LEAF Festival
Jun 8 all-day
online

The Festival offers opportunities to connect to the world and each other at the scenic and inspiring Lake Eden. Explore indigenous art and culture as we celebrate Legends of Americas; experience music and traditions of global artists; and be inspired by creatives and thought leaders from both local and international communities. Live music, dance, and performance arts are offered alongside camp and lake outdoor adventures, healing arts workshops and practitioners, the longest continually running poetry slam in the world, kids adventures and workshops, mountain drum circle, and so much more!

Slice of Life Comedy Open Mic & Feature Comedy at Pulp Lounge
Jun 8 @ 8:00 pm
Pulp Lounge

6.8.23 The Orange Peel’s Comedy Basement PULPWhat: Stand up Comedy at The Orange Peel’s Pulp Lounge
When: Thursday June 18, 2023. 8p-10p, doors at 7:30p
Where: The Orange Peel’s Comedy Basement, Pulp Lounge103 Hilliard Ave, Downtown Asheville
Tickets: $14 (available at door or The Orange Peel website)
Cocktails available while you laugh the night away to some of the area’s best Stand Up Comics in a ridiculously fun adult environment!! .
We feature the area’s best comics, plus an open mic. Open mic comics signup at door get 3-5m. [Free entry for performing comics, free snacks at comics table]. For more info go to sliceoflifecomedy.com or contact Michele at [email protected] Host: Cody Hughes: Cody is a comedian who cut his teeth in Chicago and Atlanta. He is now based out of West North Carolina and tours the Southeast. He has opened for Lewis Black, John Oliver and Maria Bamford among others and hosts the regular Slice of Life Comedy shows at The Orange Peel’s Pulp Lounge. Featuring Alexis Ramirez About Pulp: The speakeasy inspired hideaway offers a cozy space for show-goers to relax and enjoy a beverage during the concert. Boasting over 200 different Bourbons and Whiskeys, alongside a myriad of other spirits, it is a must-visit for cocktail lovers and Bourbon sippers alike. Pulp will also open various other nights to feature local artists and “Slice of Life” open-mic comedy nights. To stay informed with the happenings at Pulp, visit the Orange Peel’s website, and follow @pulp_avl on Instagram

Friday, June 9, 2023
Tickets go on sale for Fall LEAF Festival
Jun 9 all-day
online

The Festival offers opportunities to connect to the world and each other at the scenic and inspiring Lake Eden. Explore indigenous art and culture as we celebrate Legends of Americas; experience music and traditions of global artists; and be inspired by creatives and thought leaders from both local and international communities. Live music, dance, and performance arts are offered alongside camp and lake outdoor adventures, healing arts workshops and practitioners, the longest continually running poetry slam in the world, kids adventures and workshops, mountain drum circle, and so much more!

Saturday, June 10, 2023
Tickets go on sale for Fall LEAF Festival
Jun 10 all-day
online

The Festival offers opportunities to connect to the world and each other at the scenic and inspiring Lake Eden. Explore indigenous art and culture as we celebrate Legends of Americas; experience music and traditions of global artists; and be inspired by creatives and thought leaders from both local and international communities. Live music, dance, and performance arts are offered alongside camp and lake outdoor adventures, healing arts workshops and practitioners, the longest continually running poetry slam in the world, kids adventures and workshops, mountain drum circle, and so much more!

Sunday, June 11, 2023
THE BIG SECRET FESTIVAL: THE SECRET AGENCY WITH YO MAMA’S BIG FAT BOOTY BAND + FIRE CRACKER JAZZ BAND
Jun 11 @ 2:30 pm
Salvage Station

THE SECRET IS OUT! Salvage Station is thrilled to host the second annual Big Secret Family Festival LIVE on the Outdoor Stage on Sunday, June 11th! All profits from this family-friendly MUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA will go directly to BeLoved Asheville. This is gonna be a celebration of GIVING and GETTING DOWN and will feature performances from The Secret Agency (with Secret Agent 23 Skidoo), Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band, and Firecracker Jazz Band.

We’ll have amazing food trucks and Root Down Kitchen open, so come hungry! Oh and did we mention that The Hop will be serving up their famous ice cream and there will also be lemonade and snow cones to enjoy!?

Tickets are now on sale ($23 General Admission)! FREE for kids under the age of 3! Doors open @ 2:30 PM. PAID ON-SITE PARKING STARTING AT 1:30 PM!

Wednesday, June 14, 2023
Juneteenth Festival: The Woman King
Jun 14 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Ferguson Auditorium, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
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The Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County, in partnership with the City of Asheville, has planned the 2023 Juneteenth Celebration with the intended outcomes of a diverse celebration that fosters broad participation, fosters community awareness and appreciation, and celebrates the liberation of enslaved people. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19 th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved were now free. This was two-and-a-half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Thus, starting the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. The City of Asheville designated Juneteenth as a City holiday in 2021, and on June 8, Mayor Esther Manheimer issued a proclamation acknowledging Juneteenth as a day of celebration for Black Americans.

The films listed below will also be shown each evening, June 12 – 16, at Ferguson Auditorium, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

 

  • The Woman King, Wednesday, June 14
  • Ray, Thursday, June 15
  • Madea’s Family Reunion, Friday, June 16
Thursday, June 15, 2023
PIEDMONT PASO FINO HORSE SHOW
Jun 15 @ 8:00 am – 9:00 pm
WNC Agricultural Center

Shows begin every morning at 8:00 am and continue until approximately 9:00pm.

FREE ADMISSION!
A four day competition showcasing Paso Fino horses from across the country. Tack, clothing, jewelry, and latin food vendors on-site throughout the event.

Juneteenth Festival: Ray
Jun 15 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Ferguson Auditorium, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
juenteenth graphic

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County, in partnership with the City of Asheville, has planned the 2023 Juneteenth Celebration with the intended outcomes of a diverse celebration that fosters broad participation, fosters community awareness and appreciation, and celebrates the liberation of enslaved people. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19 th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved were now free. This was two-and-a-half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Thus, starting the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. The City of Asheville designated Juneteenth as a City holiday in 2021, and on June 8, Mayor Esther Manheimer issued a proclamation acknowledging Juneteenth as a day of celebration for Black Americans.

The films listed below will also be shown each evening, June 12 – 16, at Ferguson Auditorium, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

  • Ray, Thursday, June 15
  • Madea’s Family Reunion, Friday, June 16
Bicycle Film Festival – Asheville
Jun 15 @ 8:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Rabbit Rabbit

Get ready to immerse yourself in the world of cycling with a curated selection of short films that showcase the beauty, diversity, and excitement of this sport. From documentaries to animations, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Don’t miss out on this unforgettable event that celebrates everything we love about cycling. Mark your calendars and get ready to ride with us at the Bicycle Film Festival – Asheville, NC!

Friday, June 16, 2023
NC Rhododendron Festival
Jun 16 all-day
Bakersville, NC
Pageantry, Art & Music in Bakersville, NC 
The NC Rhododendron Festival draws hundreds of visitors from all over the region and features the Rhododendron Festival Pageant, the Craft Fair with food vendors, children’s activities, and live music throughout the day, as well as a classic car show, a 10K run, 2 nights of street dancing.  Come discover our Small Town Mountain Paradise!  

NC Rhododendron Pageant

One of the area’s most respected and longest standing scholarship opportunities for young women.

              Rhododendron Craft Fair

Our yearly show offers exhibitors of talented local and regional artists & craftspeople a venue for their work.

Live Music

The Rhododendron Craft Fair showcases a variety of live music performances throughout both days. 

Street Dances

On Friday and Saturday nights, join us for a Square Dance downtown.

Classic Car Show

Join us on Saturday for the Rhododendron Classic Car Show.  ​

10K Run

The Annual Rhododendron 10K Run is held on Saturday morning.  ​
Tickets go on sale for Fall LEAF Festival
Jun 16 all-day
online

The Festival offers opportunities to connect to the world and each other at the scenic and inspiring Lake Eden. Explore indigenous art and culture as we celebrate Legends of Americas; experience music and traditions of global artists; and be inspired by creatives and thought leaders from both local and international communities. Live music, dance, and performance arts are offered alongside camp and lake outdoor adventures, healing arts workshops and practitioners, the longest continually running poetry slam in the world, kids adventures and workshops, mountain drum circle, and so much more!

PIEDMONT PASO FINO HORSE SHOW
Jun 16 @ 8:00 am – 9:00 pm
WNC Agricultural Center

Shows begin every morning at 8:00 am and continue until approximately 9:00pm.

FREE ADMISSION!
A four day competition showcasing Paso Fino horses from across the country. Tack, clothing, jewelry, and latin food vendors on-site throughout the event.

Juneteenth Festival: Madea’s Family Reunion
Jun 16 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Ferguson Auditorium, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
juenteenth graphic

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County, in partnership with the City of Asheville, has planned the 2023 Juneteenth Celebration with the intended outcomes of a diverse celebration that fosters broad participation, fosters community awareness and appreciation, and celebrates the liberation of enslaved people. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19 th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved were now free. This was two-and-a-half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Thus, starting the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. The City of Asheville designated Juneteenth as a City holiday in 2021, and on June 8, Mayor Esther Manheimer issued a proclamation acknowledging Juneteenth as a day of celebration for Black Americans.

The 2023 Juneteenth Celebrations include five “Lunch and Learn” Sessions, five African Americans in Films Entertainment Events, and a two day Juneteenth Festival in Pack Square Park. The full list of Juneteenth celebratory events is listed on the Association’s website.

Saturday, June 17, 2023
NC Rhododendron Festival
Jun 17 all-day
Bakersville, NC
Pageantry, Art & Music in Bakersville, NC 
The NC Rhododendron Festival draws hundreds of visitors from all over the region and features the Rhododendron Festival Pageant, the Craft Fair with food vendors, children’s activities, and live music throughout the day, as well as a classic car show, a 10K run, 2 nights of street dancing.  Come discover our Small Town Mountain Paradise!  

NC Rhododendron Pageant

One of the area’s most respected and longest standing scholarship opportunities for young women.

              Rhododendron Craft Fair

Our yearly show offers exhibitors of talented local and regional artists & craftspeople a venue for their work.

Live Music

The Rhododendron Craft Fair showcases a variety of live music performances throughout both days. 

Street Dances

On Friday and Saturday nights, join us for a Square Dance downtown.

Classic Car Show

Join us on Saturday for the Rhododendron Classic Car Show.  ​

10K Run

The Annual Rhododendron 10K Run is held on Saturday morning.  ​
Tickets go on sale for Fall LEAF Festival
Jun 17 all-day
online

The Festival offers opportunities to connect to the world and each other at the scenic and inspiring Lake Eden. Explore indigenous art and culture as we celebrate Legends of Americas; experience music and traditions of global artists; and be inspired by creatives and thought leaders from both local and international communities. Live music, dance, and performance arts are offered alongside camp and lake outdoor adventures, healing arts workshops and practitioners, the longest continually running poetry slam in the world, kids adventures and workshops, mountain drum circle, and so much more!

PIEDMONT PASO FINO HORSE SHOW
Jun 17 @ 8:00 am – 9:00 pm
WNC Agricultural Center

Shows begin every morning at 8:00 am and continue until approximately 9:00pm.

FREE ADMISSION!
A four day competition showcasing Paso Fino horses from across the country. Tack, clothing, jewelry, and latin food vendors on-site throughout the event.

City of Asheville Juneteenth Celebrations: Festival at Pack Square Park
Jun 17 @ 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Pack Square Park
juenteenth graphic

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County, in partnership with the City of Asheville, has planned the 2023 Juneteenth Celebration with the intended outcomes of a diverse celebration that fosters broad participation, fosters community awareness and appreciation, and celebrates the liberation of enslaved people. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19 th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved were now free. This was two-and-a-half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Thus, starting the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. The City of Asheville designated Juneteenth as a City holiday in 2021, and on June 8, Mayor Esther Manheimer issued a proclamation acknowledging Juneteenth as a day of celebration for Black Americans.

The Juneteenth Celebrations will culminate with a two-day Juneteenth Festival at Pack Square Park, Saturday, June 17, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., and Sunday, June 18, 1 p.m. – 6 p.m. Featured groups include:

  • Guest MC, Ty Russell, WLOS
  • The Stanley Baird Group, LLC
  • Westsound Productions
  • Virtuous
  • Malecia Williams
  • Delta House Jazz Band
  • Eaze Dogg
  • Hypnotic Band
  • WIZEDEV
  • The Carolina Diva Diamondz and Others
Sunday, June 18, 2023
NC Rhododendron Festival
Jun 18 all-day
Bakersville, NC
Pageantry, Art & Music in Bakersville, NC 
The NC Rhododendron Festival draws hundreds of visitors from all over the region and features the Rhododendron Festival Pageant, the Craft Fair with food vendors, children’s activities, and live music throughout the day, as well as a classic car show, a 10K run, 2 nights of street dancing.  Come discover our Small Town Mountain Paradise!  

NC Rhododendron Pageant

One of the area’s most respected and longest standing scholarship opportunities for young women.

              Rhododendron Craft Fair

Our yearly show offers exhibitors of talented local and regional artists & craftspeople a venue for their work.

Live Music

The Rhododendron Craft Fair showcases a variety of live music performances throughout both days. 

Street Dances

On Friday and Saturday nights, join us for a Square Dance downtown.

Classic Car Show

Join us on Saturday for the Rhododendron Classic Car Show.  ​

10K Run

The Annual Rhododendron 10K Run is held on Saturday morning.  ​
Asheville Alive Horse Show
Jun 18 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
WNC Ag Center
Featuring two AP Shows with 1 judge each, benefit show with Sponsorship Packages available, Piedmont Breeders Futurity classes on June 17-18, fun activities for all youth riders and guests. Stay tuned for more information soon!
PIEDMONT PASO FINO HORSE SHOW
Jun 18 @ 8:00 am – 9:00 pm
WNC Agricultural Center

Shows begin every morning at 8:00 am and continue until approximately 9:00pm.

FREE ADMISSION!
A four day competition showcasing Paso Fino horses from across the country. Tack, clothing, jewelry, and latin food vendors on-site throughout the event.

City of Asheville Juneteenth Celebrations: Festival at Pack Square Park
Jun 18 @ 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Pack Square Park

The Juneteenth Celebrations will culminate with a two-day Juneteenth Festival at Pack Square Park, Saturday, June 17, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., and Sunday, June 18, 1 p.m. – 6 p.m. Featured groups include:

  • Guest MC, Ty Russell, WLOS
  • The Stanley Baird Group, LLC
  • Westsound Productions
  • Virtuous
  • Malecia Williams
  • Delta House Jazz Band
  • Eaze Dogg
  • Hypnotic Band
  • WIZEDEV
  • The Carolina Diva Diamondz and Others
Friday, June 23, 2023
Tickets go on sale for Fall LEAF Festival
Jun 23 all-day
online

The Festival offers opportunities to connect to the world and each other at the scenic and inspiring Lake Eden. Explore indigenous art and culture as we celebrate Legends of Americas; experience music and traditions of global artists; and be inspired by creatives and thought leaders from both local and international communities. Live music, dance, and performance arts are offered alongside camp and lake outdoor adventures, healing arts workshops and practitioners, the longest continually running poetry slam in the world, kids adventures and workshops, mountain drum circle, and so much more!

Saturday, June 24, 2023
Tickets go on sale for Fall LEAF Festival
Jun 24 all-day
online

The Festival offers opportunities to connect to the world and each other at the scenic and inspiring Lake Eden. Explore indigenous art and culture as we celebrate Legends of Americas; experience music and traditions of global artists; and be inspired by creatives and thought leaders from both local and international communities. Live music, dance, and performance arts are offered alongside camp and lake outdoor adventures, healing arts workshops and practitioners, the longest continually running poetry slam in the world, kids adventures and workshops, mountain drum circle, and so much more!

An Appalachian Food and Farms Festival
Jun 24 @ 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Shipley Farms

Come celebrate the 150th Year of Shipley Farms on Saturday, June 24th at the inaugural Good Fields Appalachian Food & Farms Festival.

Experience a variety of dishes using Shipley Farms meats and all the flavors of the High Country prepared by leading chefs and restaurants from across the region.

Chef lineup:

  • Steven Goff (Tastee Diner, Asheville), 2019 NC Chef of the Year
  • Andres Prussing, CEC (Golden Owl Tavern, Charlotte)
  • Andy Long (Over Yonder, Valle Crucis)
  • Ashley Boyd (300 East, Charlotte)
  • Gerald Hawkins (Leah and Louise, Charlotte)
  • Courtney Evans (Leah and Louise, Charlotte)
  • Daniel Wheeler (Culinary Instructor, CCCTI, Charlotte/Hudson/Boone
  • Preeti Waas (Cheeni Indian Food Emporium, Raleigh)
  • Sam Ratchford (Vidalia, Boone)
  • Sera Cuni (Cafe Root Cellar, Chapel Hill)
  • Jamisen Booker (Weathered Soul)
  • and more to come!

The festival will also feature storytelling, sunset around the firepit, and a book signing by Evan Peter Smith, author of “Here By The Owl”, the story of Shipley Farms patriarch R.G. Shipley, from his days of top secret research in World War II, through his entrepreneurial ventures at age 101. Hear live bluegrass music from Nick Chandler and Delivered.

Ticketholders will have access to the Pasture, with complementary food and beverage tastings from all participating chefs.

Rain or shine, 4PM ‘til sunset in the Pasture at the historic Shipley Farm, Vilas, NC

*discounts available for seniors, veterans, Watauga County residents, Ruritan club members, and former students of RG and Agnes*

Sunday, June 25, 2023
Annual Firefly Gathering 2023
Jun 25 all-day
Deerfields

Near the summer solstice each year, over 1,000 people convene from around the world for The Firefly Gathering. Here, folks come together to connect and share skills with the common goal of expanding our capacity to live well with one another and our beloved Earth.

Days are filled with a wide variety of classes focused on deepening our relationship with the wisdom and rhythms of nature, dipping into the deep wells of ancestral knowledge, and integrating these skills into our daily lives and communities.

Evenings are filled with live music, dancing under the moon and stars, opportunities to connect with each other, and of course–the fireflies–who dazzle us with their beautiful display of light as they communicate in the darkness! A variety of nature connection programs guide children and teens to engage through learning and play.

For many, coming to The Firefly Gathering is a life-changing experience that they return to year after year.

Standup Comedy at The Orange Peel’s Comedy Basement
Jun 25 @ 6:30 pm
Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co

We have another great standup comedy show coming up at Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company on Sunday June 25, 6:30 pm. Show is 18+. An always crazy fun comedy open mic with the area’s best comics (performing comics get free pizza & entry)!! Featuring Moira Goree, Ryan Gordan & Ben Atkins
Hosted by Morgan Bost. Morgan is an Asheville based comic capturing the playful and often painful parallels between adolescence and “almost-adulthood.” Vibrant yet vulnerable; her high-energy storytelling is influenced by her background as an improviser. She co-hosts a weekly comedy open mic called “The Hot Seat,” and writes a monthly humor column, “Best Medicine with Morgan Bost,” for the Mountain Xpress. She’s opened for Rob Delaney, Beth Stelling, and has appeared in several breweries and discount grocery stores across Western North Carolina.
Come get delicious food & drinks while laughing the night away! Contact [email protected] for more information!
Tickets at:
https://www.ashevillebrewing.com/movies/

Thursday, June 29, 2023
Western Carolina Amateur Radio Society HAMFest
Jun 29 @ 8:00 am
Smokey Mountain Event Center

Gates open for vendors at 6am, doors open at 8am.
Tickets: $7 in advance*, $10 at the gate
Tables inside: $15 each, Covered flea market spaces: $15 each
Free Parking • Door Prizes • Forum Presentations • VE Testing
Talk-In: N4DTR Repeater, 147.39+ PL 94.8