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.

Saturday, August 5, 2023
Take Root Festival at Root Cause Farm
Aug 5 @ 3:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Root Cause Farm

Mark your calendars for August 5th from 3-8pm. Come taste, learn, play, and help us cultivate a thriving community rooted in love for the land. Together, let’s celebrate the bountiful harvest of life and the magic that happens when we all Take Root.

Join us for a delightful day of family-friendly fun and a celebration of all things farm-tastic at the Take Root Festival! Come immerse yourself in the vibrant world of gardens and community as we gather at the picturesque Root Cause Farm. With rolling green pastures, blooming flowers, and a thriving community, this is an event you won’t want to miss! We’ll have food trucks, live music, local business representatives, flower bouquets, farm tours, beer and cider, and more!

As a fundraiser, your participation directly supports our farm’s mission to promote sustainable agriculture, community engagement, and feed our community at no-cost. By attending the Take Root Festival, you’re helping us grow a brighter, healthier future for generations to come!

The Mountain Dance and Folk Festival
Aug 5 @ 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Lipinsky Hall Auditorium at UNCA

Bascom Lamar Lunsford founded the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival as a means for people to share and understand the beauty and dignity of the Southern Appalachian music, dance and storytelling traditions that have been handed down through generations in Western North Carolina.  He saw the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival grow to be the oldest gathering of its kind in the nation and it continues in this way, a platform for the talented of the high country lying between the Great Smoky and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Come celebrate the 96th Anniversary of the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival! Doors open each night at 6:00pm with performances starting promptly at 7:00pm. Bonus!  Youth Talent Celebration, August 5, 2023, 2-4:00pm

2023 TICKET PRICES

Advanced Purchase through August 4, 2023:

Adults $20.00, Students & Children (12 years & Under) $5.00, 3-night package $50.00, Group (10 or more) $15.00/person.

At the Door:

Adults $25.00, Students $10.00, Children (6-12 years) $5.00, 3-night package $50.00, Group (10 or more) $20.00/person

Sunday, August 6, 2023
AVL Music Fest
Aug 6 @ 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Various Locations Asheville NC

Spotlighting Asheville’s diverse music and arts scene, AVLFest will fill area concert halls, clubs, and outdoor venues alike with an exceptional
lineup of local, regional, and national talent. Performance showcases are set to take place throughout the week with wristbands granting passholders entry to 20+ Asheville venues, discounts at numerous local retailers and restaurants, as well as presale access and discounts to the 3-4 separately ticketed AVLFest stand alone events.

Participating venues include (listed in order of capacity): Salvage Station, Highland Brewing Company, The Outpost, Burial Beer’s Forestry Camp, The Orange Peel, New Belgium Brewing, The Grey Eagle, Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, Asheville Music Hall, Wicked Weed Brewing’s Funkatorium, One World West, The One Stop, Jack Of the Wood, 27 Club, The Odd, Fleetwood’s, The Cork and Keg, Alley Cat, French Broad River Brewery, and more TBD.

Committed to supporting local community causes, AVLFest has partnered with several Asheville nonprofits including RiverLink, Black Wall Street, Homeward Bound, and Campaign for Southern Equality. In addition to raising awareness for their respective missions, a portion of proceeds from ticket sales will go directly to benefitting these nonprofits.

 

Monday, August 7, 2023
Outdoor Movie Nights – Encanto
Aug 7 @ 8:00 pm
Silverados

Silverado’s, located between Swannanoa and Black Mountain at 2898 U.S. 70, is hosting Family Movie Night under the stars every Monday night through August 21. Tickets are $5 per person, and are only available for purchase on the day of the movie. All movie nights are dependent on weather.

Bring your friends and family, and enjoy a blockbuster outdoor movie on a 24 foot screen. Concessions will be available for purchase. For more info, check the Events tab on the Silverado’s Facebook page.

Tuesday, August 8, 2023
Film Screening: Never Let Me Go
Aug 8 @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Pack Memorial Library

Free film screening of Never Let Me Go (2012) Rated R. Starring Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield, and Keira Knightley.

From IMDB: “The lives of three friends, from their early school days into young adulthood, when the reality of the world they live in comes knocking.”

This is part of a book and movie study series. Our monthly book club will be discussing the book (and movie) on Wednesday, August 9th at 10:30AM. Everyone is welcome to join that discussion.

Popcorn and light beverages will be provided. Please feel free to bring your own bag lunch to this film.

Friday, August 11, 2023
Movies in the Park: Little Giants
Aug 11 @ 8:30 pm
Pack Square Park

👉 Asheville Parks & Recreation Rec n Roll Fun Zone activities start an hour before showtime with games, giveaways, and other activities for kids and teens.

.: MAKE A PLAN :.
📍 All movies are free and begin at dusk in Pack Square Park on 80 Court Plaza in downtown Asheville. Approximate showtimes are listed, but plan to arrive at least 15 minutes prior. Bring blankets and folding chairs for comfort.
📍 Asheville Parks & Recreation Rec n Roll Fun Zone activities start an hour before showtime.
📍 Bring money for food and treats from local vendors. Smokee’s Pizza is scheduled for opening night on May 12 while Tin Can Pizzeria is scheduled for the remaining dates. Kona Ice of Asheville and Kernel Mike’s World Famous Kettle Corn will be available at all dates.
📍 Free parking is available in marked spaces on city streets and in city-owned lots on Marjorie Street after 6pm.
📍 Pets, smoking, and alcohol are prohibited.
📍 Have fun! Dress up as your favorite characters, invite friends, and celebrate cool summer nights.

Movies in the Park allows people to enjoy blockbusters on the big screen with a spectacular backdrop – Asheville City Hall’s art decor exterior flanked by the rising mountains and a night sky full of stars. As Asheville’s town square, Pack Square Park’s central location allows community members in nearby neighborhoods including East End, Montford, South French Broad, and Southside to easily walk, bike, or ride to the show. Free parking in downtown after 6pm makes it a low-cost night out for those traveling from further away.

Saturday, August 12, 2023
4th Annual One Act Play Festival
Aug 12 – Aug 13 all-day
The Magnetic Theatre

The Magnetic Theatre’s One Act Play Festival returns for its fourth year of short plays, featuring a variety of different stories, playwrights, local directors, and incredible performers.

The process began with an open call for plays. A team of readers poured through hundreds of submissions to select a group of plays that varied in theme, subject matter, and style. The result? A two-weekend extravaganza featuring 24 playwrights, 17 directors, and 70+ actors, all working to bring a kaleidoscope of stories to Asheville! The Festival will run August 4-13, 2023: Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30pm, Saturdays at 4pm and 7:30pm, and Sundays at 4pm. There will be two shows, a Show A and a Show B, which will run from August 4-12, 2023, with the August 13th performance being a Best of the Fest show featuring audience voted favorites from both Show A and B! Be sure to come out and vote for your favorites.

Sourwood Festival
Aug 12 @ 9:00 am – 7:00 pm
Downtown Black Mountain

Voted #1 WNC festival in 1977, Black Mountain transforms four streets into a two day festival filled with handcrafted artisan products, two music stages, a petting zoo, food, demonstrations, and of course – Honey!

Wedding Vendor Show
Aug 12 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Point Lookout Vineyards

Join us to meet + mingle with our preferred wedding vendors, tour our venue, and do a tasting! This will be a great opportunity to meet photographers, videographers, florists, caterers and more!
Admission is free.

Sunday, August 13, 2023
Sourwood Festival
Aug 13 @ 9:00 am
Downtown Black Mountain

Voted #1 WNC festival in 1977, Black Mountain transforms four streets into a two-day festival filled with handcrafted artisan products, two music stages, a petting zoo, food, demonstrations, and of course – Honey!

Slice of Life Comedy Open Mic + Feature Comedy at Asheville Pizza
Aug 13 @ 6:30 pm
Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co

Another Great Comedy Show at Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co, Theater 2! Sunday August 13 6:30p, 18+, Get Dinner, Drinks & Laughs with the area’s best standup comics. Featured and Open Mic Comedy. Performing comics get FREE entry and pizza. Get Your Tickets Now, They Go Fast!!
Feature comics Moira Goree & Jason Webb! Special guest to be announced! Hosted by Morgan Marie with a #comedyopenmic [free entry/pizza for performers]
TICKETS:
https://www.ashevillebrewing.com/movies/
Facebook:
https://facebook.com/events/s/stand-up-comedy-at-asheville-p/592425949719588/

Monday, August 14, 2023
Outdoor Movie Nights – Jungle Criuse
Aug 14 @ 8:00 pm
Silverados

Silverado’s, located between Swannanoa and Black Mountain at 2898 U.S. 70, is hosting Family Movie Night under the stars every Monday night through August 21. Tickets are $5 per person, and are only available for purchase on the day of the movie. All movie nights are dependent on weather.

Bring your friends and family, and enjoy a blockbuster outdoor movie on a 24 foot screen. Concessions will be available for purchase. For more info, check the Events tab on the Silverado’s Facebook page.

Tuesday, August 15, 2023
Teen Movie Night: Into the Spiderverse (PG)
Aug 15 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
East Asheville Library

Get together for a screening of Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse (PG)
Free. Recommended for middle and high school-age students.
Questions? Call the library at 828-250-4738.

Wednesday, August 16, 2023
Etowah Lions Farmers Market Tomato Festival
Aug 16 @ 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Etowah Lions Farmers Market

We will be featuring the wonderful world of tomatoes at our market. There will be wonderful tomato sandwiches for the taking. Craig LeHoullier “NC Tomato Man” will be on hand with a variety of tomatoes for tasting and he will also answer your tomato questions. There will be raffles with wonderful goods and produce from our market.

Thursday, August 17, 2023
LEAF announces Festival Line Up
Aug 17 all-day
online
Friday, August 18, 2023
LEAF announces Festival Line Up
Aug 18 all-day
online
Saturday, August 19, 2023
LEAF announces Festival Line Up
Aug 19 all-day
online
Shortcomings at SCREEN AND SUDS
Aug 19 @ 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Grail Moviehouse

Ben, a struggling filmmaker, lives in Berkeley, California, with his girlfriend, Miko, who works for a local Asian American film festival. When he’s not managing an arthouse movie theater as his day job, Ben spends his time obsessing over unavailable blonde women, watching Criterion Collection DVDs, and eating in diners with his best friend Alice, a queer grad student with a serial dating habit. When Miko moves to New York for an internship, Ben is left to his own devices, and begins to explore what he thinks he might want.

Tickets for the August 19, 1:15 screening of SHORTCOMING will be available on the Grail website in the coming week. Advance tickets are recommended. We’ll Meetup at Grail at 1:00. As always, we will gather at Wedge Brewery next door for post-screening conversation.

Sunday, August 20, 2023
18th Annual Come to Leicester Artist Studio Tour
Aug 20 all-day
Leicester Community Center

For the 18th year in a row, artists in this small community will open their studios to the public for the annual Come to Leicester Studio Tour. This free, self-guided event is held every third weekend in August, with this year’s tour dates being August 19th and 20th, 10 AM to 5PM each day.

Visitors choose their own tour stops using a printed brochure with a full-color map of the area, with bold signs directing to the individual studios. The tour route travels through some of the most scenic rural countryside in Western North Carolina. Along the way, visitors can view beautiful, hand-crafted work and meet the artists who create it. The variety of arts and crafts on the tour includes brooms, pottery, paintings, iron work, woodworking, jewelry, fiber, mosaic, enamel, and mixed media. Local food and wine-tasting add to the experience of the day! Visit our website to print a map and see all the artists. http://cometoleicester.org

LEAF announces Festival Line Up
Aug 20 all-day
online
Monday, August 21, 2023
LEAF announces Festival Line Up
Aug 21 all-day
online
Outdoor Movie Nights – The Batman
Aug 21 @ 8:00 pm
Silverados

Silverado’s, located between Swannanoa and Black Mountain at 2898 U.S. 70, is hosting Family Movie Night under the stars every Monday night through August 21. Tickets are $5 per person, and are only available for purchase on the day of the movie. All movie nights are dependent on weather.

Bring your friends and family, and enjoy a blockbuster outdoor movie on a 24 foot screen. Concessions will be available for purchase. For more info, check the Events tab on the Silverado’s Facebook page.

Wednesday, August 23, 2023
LEAF announces Festival Line Up
Aug 23 all-day
online
Thursday, August 24, 2023
RAHZEL OF THE ROOTS AT LEAF FESTIVAL
Aug 24 all-day
online

What!!! Rahzel from the original Roots is coming to LEAF! The Human Beatbox aka the Grammy-winning Rapper/MC from the original, world-renowned Roots lineup, has been added to the Saturday night lineup of the October Festival.

Famous for his jaw-dropping vocal percussion and beatboxing prowess, Rahzel is not just a performer, he’s an experience. Dive deep into the pulse and rhythm of hip-hop (on the 50th anniversary of the genre) with this masterful artist who blurs the line between voice and instrument. It’s more than a show: it’s musical genius live onstage.

Aaaand … there will be a Beatbox Play-Shop for all ages. Don’t miss it! 🔥🔥🔥

Rahzel is one of the biggest names in beatboxing today, and continues to redefine the limits of the human voice. Known as “The Godfather of Noyze,” he was growing up in Queens when hip-hop blew up. LEAF is thrilled to welcome Rahzel to the fall Festival on the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.

Rahzel’s cousin Rahiem was an original member of the Furious Five, and Rahzel recalls sneaking into their shows, “watching Grand Master Flash before I could even see over the gate.” Rahzel embraced the philosophy that “not having’ was never an excuse for ‘not doing. … To me, [beatboxing] saves lives and I’m a prime example of it. It inspires kids to be creative and motivated.”

Through both his solo work and his stint with the live-music hip-hop group The Roots, Rahzel is credited with bringing beatboxing back to the fore of hip-hop in the 1990s. Rahzel can sing a chorus and beatbox the back-up simultaneously, a skill showcased on his signature song, “If Your Mother Only Knew,” from his groundbreaking first album, Make the Music 2000. Rahzel has worked with artists from Björk to Branford Marsalis.

LEAF Global Arts is on a mission CONNECTING CULTURES and CREATING COMMUNITY through world music, arts education, preservation and experiences. The closest distance between two people is a story, a song, or a dance.

Join us at LEAF Festival October 19-22, 2023 at Lake Eden

Friday, August 25, 2023
LEAF announces Festival Line Up
Aug 25 all-day
online
RAHZEL OF THE ROOTS AT LEAF FESTIVAL
Aug 25 all-day
online

What!!! Rahzel from the original Roots is coming to LEAF! The Human Beatbox aka the Grammy-winning Rapper/MC from the original, world-renowned Roots lineup, has been added to the Saturday night lineup of the October Festival.

Famous for his jaw-dropping vocal percussion and beatboxing prowess, Rahzel is not just a performer, he’s an experience. Dive deep into the pulse and rhythm of hip-hop (on the 50th anniversary of the genre) with this masterful artist who blurs the line between voice and instrument. It’s more than a show: it’s musical genius live onstage.

Aaaand … there will be a Beatbox Play-Shop for all ages. Don’t miss it! 🔥🔥🔥

Rahzel is one of the biggest names in beatboxing today, and continues to redefine the limits of the human voice. Known as “The Godfather of Noyze,” he was growing up in Queens when hip-hop blew up. LEAF is thrilled to welcome Rahzel to the fall Festival on the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.

Rahzel’s cousin Rahiem was an original member of the Furious Five, and Rahzel recalls sneaking into their shows, “watching Grand Master Flash before I could even see over the gate.” Rahzel embraced the philosophy that “not having’ was never an excuse for ‘not doing. … To me, [beatboxing] saves lives and I’m a prime example of it. It inspires kids to be creative and motivated.”

Through both his solo work and his stint with the live-music hip-hop group The Roots, Rahzel is credited with bringing beatboxing back to the fore of hip-hop in the 1990s. Rahzel can sing a chorus and beatbox the back-up simultaneously, a skill showcased on his signature song, “If Your Mother Only Knew,” from his groundbreaking first album, Make the Music 2000. Rahzel has worked with artists from Björk to Branford Marsalis.

LEAF Global Arts is on a mission CONNECTING CULTURES and CREATING COMMUNITY through world music, arts education, preservation and experiences. The closest distance between two people is a story, a song, or a dance.

Join us at LEAF Festival October 19-22, 2023 at Lake Eden

Standup Comedy at plēb urban winery
Aug 25 @ 7:00 pm
plēb urban winery

TICKETS:
Standup Comedy at plēb urban winery
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/standup-comedy-at-pleb-urban-winery-tickets-668281476887?aff=oddtdtcreator

Standup Comedy at plēb urban winery
Join us for a night filled with laughter and good vibes at plēb urban winery! Get ready to have wine and beer options complete your night of standup comedy by some of the best standup comedians in the region. This in-person event is happening on Fri Aug 25 2023 at7p-9p! Featuring Hilliary Begley, Petey Smith McDowell & Morgan Bost. Hosted by Cary Goff.
Hilliary Begley- Opened for: Jon Reep, Judah Friedlander, Chanel Ali, and Fortune Feimster. Film debut in the Netflix original Dumplin’ as Aunt Lucy, or “Jennifer Anniston’s fat sister,” In Austin Film Festival winning movie When We Last Spoke with Cloris Leachman, now streaming on Amazon Prime.
Located at 289 Lyman Street, Asheville, NC 28801, plēb urban winery offers the perfect setting for an evening of comedy and wine pairings. Sit back, sip on some exquisite wine, and let the talented comedians entertain you with their hilarious jokes. Food options will be available!
Don’t miss out on this unforgettable night of laughter and fun. Grab your friends and come join us at plēb urban winery for an evening that will leave you in wine-blurred stitches!

Fb:
https://facebook.com/events/s/standup-comedy-at-pleb-urban-w/818921102840895/?mibextid=RQdjqZ

Saturday, August 26, 2023
LEAF announces Festival Line Up
Aug 26 all-day
online
RAHZEL OF THE ROOTS AT LEAF FESTIVAL
Aug 26 all-day
online

What!!! Rahzel from the original Roots is coming to LEAF! The Human Beatbox aka the Grammy-winning Rapper/MC from the original, world-renowned Roots lineup, has been added to the Saturday night lineup of the October Festival.

Famous for his jaw-dropping vocal percussion and beatboxing prowess, Rahzel is not just a performer, he’s an experience. Dive deep into the pulse and rhythm of hip-hop (on the 50th anniversary of the genre) with this masterful artist who blurs the line between voice and instrument. It’s more than a show: it’s musical genius live onstage.

Aaaand … there will be a Beatbox Play-Shop for all ages. Don’t miss it! 🔥🔥🔥

Rahzel is one of the biggest names in beatboxing today, and continues to redefine the limits of the human voice. Known as “The Godfather of Noyze,” he was growing up in Queens when hip-hop blew up. LEAF is thrilled to welcome Rahzel to the fall Festival on the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.

Rahzel’s cousin Rahiem was an original member of the Furious Five, and Rahzel recalls sneaking into their shows, “watching Grand Master Flash before I could even see over the gate.” Rahzel embraced the philosophy that “not having’ was never an excuse for ‘not doing. … To me, [beatboxing] saves lives and I’m a prime example of it. It inspires kids to be creative and motivated.”

Through both his solo work and his stint with the live-music hip-hop group The Roots, Rahzel is credited with bringing beatboxing back to the fore of hip-hop in the 1990s. Rahzel can sing a chorus and beatbox the back-up simultaneously, a skill showcased on his signature song, “If Your Mother Only Knew,” from his groundbreaking first album, Make the Music 2000. Rahzel has worked with artists from Björk to Branford Marsalis.

LEAF Global Arts is on a mission CONNECTING CULTURES and CREATING COMMUNITY through world music, arts education, preservation and experiences. The closest distance between two people is a story, a song, or a dance.

Join us at LEAF Festival October 19-22, 2023 at Lake Eden

Sunday, August 27, 2023
LEAF announces Festival Line Up
Aug 27 all-day
online