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!

Weaverville Library Evening Book Club: The Guncle by Steven Rowley
Jun 6 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Weaverville Public Library

Join us as we discuss, The Guncle by Steven Rowley.  We will meet in person at the Weaverville Library with the option to join the discussion via ZOOM.  Only ZOOM participants need to register.  Copies of this title are available at the Weaverville Library while supplies last. Newcomers are always welcome.

East Asheville Library Book Club: The Other Dr. Gilmer, by Benjamin Gilmer
Jun 6 @ 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
East Asheville Library

Join other literature lovers to discuss your favorite books at the library! This month’s pick is The Other Dr. Gilmer, by Benjamin Gilmer.

Enka Evening Book Club: “West With Giraffes” by Lynda Rutledge
Jun 6 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Enka-Candler Library

We’ll be discussing “West With Giraffes” by Lynda Rutledge. Books are available for pick up at the library.
All newcomers are welcome to participate and no registration is required. Join us!

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!

Asheville Art Museum Book Club: Fierce Poise
Jun 7 @ 12:00 pm – 1:15 pm
Asheville Art Museum

Fierce Poise is a dazzling biography of one of the 20th century’s most respected painters, Helen Frankenthaler, as she came of age as both an artist and a woman in the vibrant art world of 1950s New York. Brought to vivid life by acclaimed art historian Alexander Nemerov, this book comprises a portrait as bold and distinctive as the painter herself.

 

Read Fierce Poise in advance and join museum staff for a book conversation followed by a gallery talk featuring Frankenthaler’s artwork Book of Clouds, on view in SECU Collection Hall, level 3. Books are available at your local library as well as Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café for a 10% discount.

Read to Puptart!
Jun 7 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Enka-Candler Library

Puptart is a tail wagging robot dog who sits and stays, pants when listening, and responds to someone talking to and petting it. It will not jump up or run away, plus it’s fur free, so no sneezes and runny noses coming your way!

Every Wednesday afternoon, Puptart will be available for reading practice in the children’s picture book room. Help establish a joy of reading and develop early literacy skills. Sign up at the front desk, pick a book and practice reading for up to 15 minutes.

Malaprop’s Book Club
Jun 7 @ 7:00 pm
online w/ Malaprop's Bookstore

The Malaprop’s Book Club, hosted by Jay Jacoby, explores a diverse selection of fiction and nonfiction books determined by member suggestion. Click here to see a full schedule of what the club is reading. Club attendees get 10% off the book at Malaprop’s!

The club meets the first Wednesday of every month at 7:00 PM. The club will meet virtually until further notice. To join the club, please email [email protected]

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!

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!

The World Beyond the Redbud Tree: Book Reading + Discussion
Jun 9 @ 7:00 pm
Weaverville Community Center

Madison C. Brightwell (a Weaverville resident) will read from and discuss her new novel – The World Beyond the Redbud Tree.

This novel was written by Brightwell during the COVID pandemic as a response to what she saw as a world that needed some healing and hope. The novel is set partly right here in Weaverville, and partly in a fantasy parallel universe, in which our teenage heroine, Charli, discovers a Utopian world where different and better choices were made – a world in which the native peoples were embraced by the white colonists and not destroyed by them, which created a harmonious and peaceful society. Madison hopes to inspire readers of the book to think about how we can all contribute to making the world a better place.

This event will feature…

An interview with the author,
Q&A with the audience,
A performance of an extract from the book by local actors,
Local musicians, and
A book signing by the author at the end of the evening.

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
53rd Annual AAUW Book Sale
Jun 14 all-day
Boshamer Gym- Brevard College

The Brevard Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) is sponsoring its 53rd Annual Book Sale at Brevard College. Proceeds will support scholarships for local girls and young women. There will be 30,000 well organized books in all genres, puzzles, audiobooks, DVD’s, CD’s and vinyl. There will be ample parking, free admission and dealers are welcome. Prices range from 25 cents and up. Assistance is provided loading books into cars. Payments provided include cash, checks with an ID, or cards.

This event starts on June 10th, 2023 and will be from 10am-7pm. It continues into June 11th, 2023 and is open from noon-7pm. On June 12th and 13th it is open 10am-7pm except the 13th (the 13th ONLY) is half price day. June 14th, 2023 is the final day and it is open from 10am-3pm. On that same day (June 14th) from 3-5pm (only) is free books for local Non-Profits as well.

Pack Library Book Club
Jun 14 @ 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Pack Memorial Library
  The Pack Library Book Club is a book discussion group that meets the second Wednesday of each month at 10:30AM at the library.
Read to Puptart!
Jun 14 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Enka-Candler Library

Puptart is a tail wagging robot dog who sits and stays, pants when listening, and responds to someone talking to and petting it. It will not jump up or run away, plus it’s fur free, so no sneezes and runny noses coming your way!

Every Wednesday afternoon, Puptart will be available for reading practice in the children’s picture book room. Help establish a joy of reading and develop early literacy skills. Sign up at the front desk, pick a book and practice reading for up to 15 minutes.

Juneteenth Festival: The Woman King
Jun 14 @ 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.

 

  • The Woman King, Wednesday, June 14
  • Ray, Thursday, June 15
  • Madea’s Family Reunion, Friday, June 16
Thursday, June 15, 2023
Flat Rock Book Club
Jun 15 @ 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
The 2nd Act

Please join us at The 2nd Act in Hendersonville, NC for our first monthly book club meeting that strives to read books that create a closer knit and more inclusive community! We will meet virtually and in person monthly to discuss a book, so read the book and then join in the discussion in person or online every third Thursday. All are welcome! At the end of each meeting we will vote on the next book! The virtual club meeting will be in Zoom format and will meet 2.5 hours after the in-person meeting (8:00pm EST). After the meeting there is live acoustic music so stay and enjoy the vibe with your new friends! Put us down on your calendar for every third Third Thursday!

The first book is going to be called Disability Visibility.

Synopsis from the back cover: One in five people in the United States lives with a disability. Some disabilities are visible, others less apparent—but all are underrepresented in media and popular culture. Now, just in time for the thirtieth anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, activist Alice Wong brings together this urgent, galvanizing collection of contemporary essays by disabled people.

From Harriet McBryde Johnson’s account of her debate with Peter Singer over her own personhood to original pieces by authors like Keah Brown and Haben Girma; from blog posts, manifestos, and eulogies to Congressional testimonies, and beyond: this anthology gives a glimpse into the rich complexity of the disabled experience, highlighting the passions, talents, and everyday lives of this community. It invites readers to question their own understandings. It celebrates and documents disability culture in the now. It looks to the future and the past with hope and love. Preview:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51456746-disability-visibility
Message me for the Zoom link to the online meetup. Thanks!

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!

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!

Land of the Sky 101 Book Club
Jun 17 @ 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Pack Memorial Library

Land of the Sky 101 is a community learning circle for those who are interested in an introduction to the history of Asheville, Buncombe County and Western North Carolina. A nine -part series of readings and discussions is modeled after the themes of the exhibit “An Incomplete History of Buncombe County” mounted in the BCSC reading room. From October 2022 through July 2023 (with a break in December) participants will explore the history of our region focusing on themes ranging from ancient history to the late 20th century revitalization of the Downtown area.

Read
Each month readers can choose from two selections; one light read like a novel, or groups of essays and poems, and one rigorous non-fiction read written by an expert on the subject. Pick one or both! The choice is yours!

Learn
Each session will be facilitated by a Buncombe County Special Collections librarian or special guest who will share their expert knowledge, additional resources, and set the context for the conversation.

Discuss
At least 45 minutes of each session will be set aside for group discussion. The learning circle is a place to get curious about your community and meet new friends. Come for the history, stay for the fellowship!
Click here to view a complete list of dates and titles.

Registration is limited and required. Sessions for the 2022-2023 cohort will be held at 10:30 am on the third Saturday of each month at Pack Memorial Library. Sessions run from October 2022 until July 2023. Your registration will reserve your place for all nine sessions, and we hope participants will plan to attend each meeting.  If you cannot attend a session, please let us know in advance so we may allow those on the waiting list to participate.

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.  ​
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