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.

Wednesday, October 11, 2023
LEAF announces Festival Line Up
Oct 11 all-day
online
Friday, October 13, 2023
LEAF announces Festival Line Up
Oct 13 all-day
online
38th Annual Fall Harvest Days
Oct 13 @ 8:00 pm – Oct 14 @ 5:00 pm
WNC Agriculture Center

WNC Fall Harvest Days – Engine and Tractor Show
Antique Tractors, Hit n’ Miss Engines, Crafters, Antiques, Toys, Parts,
Tractor Pull, Food and More
Featuring: International Harvester Brands
Included in Admission:
Kids’ Corner
Tractor Pull 1964 or older – under Covered Area on Saturday 10:00am
GATE 1 opens Friday and Saturday 8am to 5pm Rain or Shine
Adult Admission $8 / Children 12 and under Free with paid Adult
Sponsorship Opportunities and Vendor Space Available
Phone: 828-435-0413 / Email: [email protected]
WNC Agriculture Center
1301 Fanning Bridge Rd
Fletcher, NC 28732

Saturday, October 14, 2023
LEAF announces Festival Line Up
Oct 14 all-day
online
InnovationFest
Oct 14 @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
The Franklin School of Innovation

Franklin School of Innovation Presents:
🌟 InnovationFest: Dreaming What Innovation IS 🌟
What is Innovation? What does it mean to you? What IF?
What IF Innovation is more than just technological?
What IF we made all students feel safe?
What IF we ended systemic racism?
What IF we all have the power to lead the way to the future together?
We believe that Innovation is defined by actions we take to creatively change and progress forward. Let’s build a vision of inclusivity, growth, and educational transformation that involves our wider community. Celebrate 10 years of innovation with us Saturday, October 14th, from 12-4 pm!
We’re not just commemorating a decade; we are building an exciting path ahead!
Embrace inclusivity, spark transformation – be an innovator!
Let’s embark on a collective journey of unity and growth. Let’s build a space where every voice and every story matters. Together, we can craft an environment where all students feel safe, seen and valued. How can we ensure that every student finds a place of belonging?
🎉 Envisioning the Next 10 Years – Together! 🎉
Imagine a future where every student’s dream takes flight, and community members play a pivotal role in nurturing these aspirations. Together, we can re-imagine the essence of education – one that honors our roots, nurtures our present, and illuminates our future.
Event Highlights:
🎙️ Gather wisdom from Dr. Life, a renowned motivational speaker, as they guide us toward an empowered future.
🎵 Let local artists’ Whitney Mongé and Grupo Escolta Activado’s melodies wrap you in joy and unity.
🌍 Enjoy multicultural flavors from diverse food trucks in your own backyard!
🌟Get ready to see new and exciting things as we show you cool programs, groups of people who share interests, and other dope projects that are changing the game.
📢 Hear the voices of our student and community leaders, dreamers who will share their “what ifs” and inspire us all.
🗣 Engage in dynamic conversations that explore the pressing topics that shape our educational journey, impacting us all.
🎛️ Dance to the rhythm with DJ Twan, and other local music that’ll have you moving and grooving.
🎉 Immerse yourself in a cultural celebration, a tribute to the rich student diversity that makes us whole.
Save the date and take a journey with us at InnovationFest!🪁 Let’s join hands and spark a future where every student thrives, and our community’s potential is limitless!
Your presence is a testament to your commitment to a better, brighter Franklin School of Innovation for all who walk its halls, for generations to come.
Together, let’s celebrate, innovate, and weave a tapestry of inclusivity and excellence that resonates through the legacy of Franklin School of Innovation.
Make sure to claim your tickets on eventbrite, and we will see you at InnovationFest! 🎉🌟📚

Burnpile 2023
Oct 14 @ 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Burial Beer Co.'s Forestry Camp Facility

Burnpile is Burial Beer Co.’s premier Beer and Music Festival. Hosted at Burial’s Forestry Camp facility near Asheville’s Biltmore Village, attendees enjoy a full-day concert by Deer Tick, S.G. Goodman, and MJ Lenderman alongside a tasting experience from a diverse lineup of 50+ of the best breweries in the country, and much more.

Sunday, October 15, 2023
Sundays Traditional Game Day
Oct 15 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum

The Perspective Café is kicking off 2023 with a classic bang! Grab your friends and join us each Sunday from 2pm to 5pm in the Perspective Café to play an assortment of board and card games. You can even bring your own favorite games from home to share with new friends.

The Perspective Café will be offering special snacks and cocktails to savor while you play and make a memorable afternoon! Enjoy the galleries and then head up to the rooftop.

Monday, October 16, 2023
Weekly Ping Pong Tournament
Oct 16 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Sovereign Kava

Asheville’s best ping-pong players join Asheville’s worst table-tennis players at Sovereign Kava every Thursday at 7 p.m. to battle for glory and a $50 bar tab. No charge.
Whether you learned to play in the basement as a kid, or in a prison as a young adult, or in a rehab facility as an older adult, this is the tournament for you.
Located just down the hill on the Asheville-side of Mission Hospital, we are convenient walking distance to medical help after you get your heart broken on our Butterfly table.
Bring your paddle or borrow one of ours. Open to all skill levels and clothing styles. Beginners welcome. Hell, we’re ALL rusty after not playing during the Pandemic so don’t let that stop you.
Our table-tennis table is open for play 7 days a week, noon to 11 p.m. unless there’s a music event.
Here’s a link to a video from our 2019 table tennis tourney:
https://youtu.be/w_1EFEzx9sA

Tuesday, October 17, 2023
Ping-Pong Tuesday Tournament
Oct 17 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Shakedown Kava Lounge

Players of all skill levels gather at Shakedown Kava Lounge (Hendersonville’s kava
bar) every Tuesday for the kava bar’s weekly Table Tennis Tournament, Games to 11, best of 3, double elimination, paddles
included, winner receives eternal glory and a $25 bar tab, Entry is free.

Thursday, October 19, 2023
World Trails Film Festival
Oct 19 @ 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
UNC Asheville Lipinsky Hall

The World Trails Film Festival is a unique event showcasing the best short and feature films centering the stories of trails from around the globe. Join us as we bring it to UNC Asheville (premiering for the first time on the East Coast of the United States) to celebrate why trails matter.

This community-building event will support trails locally and globally by fundraising equally for two leading trail organizations, the first of which is the Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards, a local nonprofit equipping people to steward our wild landscapes, and the World Trails Ambassadors, a program of the World Trails Network.

Doors open at 6 pm, Program begins at 7pm and entry will be limited after 7:15 pm, during the screening. Program will include an intermission and ends at 9:30 pm.

Saturday, October 21, 2023
Outdoor games at the library
Oct 21 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Leicester Library
  Stop by and play a round of cornhole or badminton at the library any Saturday this fall.

We’ll have a variety of fun  games set up outside for anyone to  enjoy from open to close when the weather is clear.

Bring a picnic and enjoy the beautiful mountain views!

Carolina CiderFest
Oct 21 @ 10:30 am – 3:00 pm
McCormick Field

We’re back! Carolina CiderFest, is Asheville’s premier cider festival! Join us on October 21st at McCormick Field as we celebrate the art of cider-making and the vibrant spirit of Asheville. Immerse yourself in a cider wonderland, where you can sample a wide selection of craft ciders, enjoy live music, and savor delicious local eats. From traditional favorites to innovative blends, this festival is a cider lover’s paradise. Don’t miss your chance to sip, savor, and celebrate the best of Asheville’s cider scene at Carolina CiderFest!

Farm Fun Day
Oct 21 @ 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Historic Johnson Farm

Come out to Historic Johnson Farm for an afternoon of fun!
Admission is $20 per family and includes:
Crafts for kids
Scavenger hunt
Wagon rides
Popcorn and drinks
Historic farm house open
One room school house lessons
Visit the donkeys and goats
Caregivers of Mother Earth
AND….the return of the Johnson Family’s 1923 Model T. At 1:15 PM during the event, members of the Walker Family will return this historic vehicle back to the farm after 40 years away. The car will be available for guests to view and ask questions.
General parking will be across the street, and sheriff’s volunteers will help visitors cross. Handicapped parking will be available at the farm.

Sunday, October 22, 2023
LEAF Fall Festival “Legends of the Americas”
Oct 22 all-day
Lake Eden, Black Mountain, NC

We cordially invite you to partake in LEAF’s 51st Fall Festival, Legends of The Americas!

This year, our festival aims to exalt and pay homage to First Nations, Indigenous, and LatinX communities as we journey through the captivating theme of the Legends of The Americas.

We chose this theme for the entire year because of the depth and beauty of this exploration. At our Spring Retreat, we planted seeds of discovery and learning. Many of the artists are returning with their full ensembles for fall. Artists such as Angela Gladue and John John Grant of The Cherokee are attending with their awe-inspiring groups to continue building relationships.

It’s a season of joyous commemoration; an opportunity to look back and appreciate those who came before us. It’s a celebration where wisdom, preserved over generations, is rekindled and shared. It’s an occasion to pay tribute to remarkable legacies, to cherish enduring narratives, and to immerse ourselves in respected traditions.

Join us as we journey into a realm where learning coexists with festivity, where history influences the present, and where together, we appreciate the rich fabric of our collective past. Join us for LEAF’s Fall Festival, Legends of The Americas, October 19-22. Tickets are on sale now!

The 51st LEAF Festival
Oct 22 all-day
Lake Eden

What: The 51st LEAF Festival
When: October 19-22, 2023
Where: Lake Eden, Black Mountain, NC
Weekend Passes Range $164-$239, including camping; day tickets and work exchange available. theLEAF.org/tickets

LEAF 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!

Headlining artists for LEAF Festival include Martha Redbone (headliner), Son Rompe Pera (headliner), Supaman, Angela Gladue & First Nation Dancers, The Secret Agency with 23 Skidoo, and many more to be announced.

Sundays Traditional Game Day
Oct 22 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum

The Perspective Café is kicking off 2023 with a classic bang! Grab your friends and join us each Sunday from 2pm to 5pm in the Perspective Café to play an assortment of board and card games. You can even bring your own favorite games from home to share with new friends.

The Perspective Café will be offering special snacks and cocktails to savor while you play and make a memorable afternoon! Enjoy the galleries and then head up to the rooftop.

Monday, October 23, 2023
Weekly Ping Pong Tournament
Oct 23 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Sovereign Kava

Asheville’s best ping-pong players join Asheville’s worst table-tennis players at Sovereign Kava every Thursday at 7 p.m. to battle for glory and a $50 bar tab. No charge.
Whether you learned to play in the basement as a kid, or in a prison as a young adult, or in a rehab facility as an older adult, this is the tournament for you.
Located just down the hill on the Asheville-side of Mission Hospital, we are convenient walking distance to medical help after you get your heart broken on our Butterfly table.
Bring your paddle or borrow one of ours. Open to all skill levels and clothing styles. Beginners welcome. Hell, we’re ALL rusty after not playing during the Pandemic so don’t let that stop you.
Our table-tennis table is open for play 7 days a week, noon to 11 p.m. unless there’s a music event.
Here’s a link to a video from our 2019 table tennis tourney:
https://youtu.be/w_1EFEzx9sA

Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Ping-Pong Tuesday Tournament
Oct 24 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Shakedown Kava Lounge

Players of all skill levels gather at Shakedown Kava Lounge (Hendersonville’s kava
bar) every Tuesday for the kava bar’s weekly Table Tennis Tournament, Games to 11, best of 3, double elimination, paddles
included, winner receives eternal glory and a $25 bar tab, Entry is free.

Wednesday, October 25, 2023
Trivia Night at The Draftsman
Oct 25 @ 8:00 pm
The Restoration Asheville

Featuring Not Rocket Science Trivia
Put those random facts and obscure obsessions to use at Trivia Night, every Wednesday at The Draftsman! Bring friends and make new ones while you fuel your brain with specials on signature cocktails and bar bites at our laidback basement bar. Bragging rights for the title of Trivia Champion are always up for grabs!

Saturday, October 28, 2023
Beaverdam Studio Tour
Oct 28 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Beaverdam Studio Tour

Twenty-six artists and craftspeople—21 who live in Beaverdam Valley plus 5 invited guest artists—are excited to welcome visitors to view their handmade artwork. Media include ceramics, painting, jewelry, sculpture, book art, textiles, photography, glass, mixed media, and more. Visitors come from Asheville, from over 15 states, and from cities and towns all over North Carolina. What they have in common is an appreciation for art and craft.
This year we have multiple artists in several locations—26 artists in only 17 sites—making this tour easy to see and easy to navigate. We hope you come out and visit all the talented artists. All studios are off Beaverdam Road, reached from Merrimon Avenue in north Asheville. This summer, tour maps will be available online and in our brochure. Visitors can learn more about our two-day, self-directed, geographically convenient tour, and view artists’ work on our website, in our brochure, in print and online advertising, and in articles. A downloadable map is available on the website.

Halloweenfest – Brevard NC
Oct 28 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Heart of Brevard

Count Dracula may not live full time in Transylvania County, but we’re pretty sure he clears his schedule every year for Heart of Brevard’s Halloweenfest, the trickiest, treat-iest, most spooktacular celebration around.

This “fang-tastic” event features FREE family-friendly fun, including bounce houses, our traditional costume competition and parade, the Magic Book Bus, a hula hoop dance party, the LEAF Easel Rider, food vendors and more. Join us for this amazing event and explore downtown Brevard’s businesses through a downtown Spooky Stroll Open House and downtown trick or treating!

This year’s event will be held on October 28th, 10am-5pm, in the Heart of Brevard.

The 13th Surreal Sirkus Arts Festival
Oct 28 @ 1:00 pm
Pack Square Green

🌙 Under the eerie light of the Full Lunar Eclipse, The Surreal Sirkus returns to Pack Square Park this Halloween weekend with The Surreal Sirkus Arts Festival! Join the Sirkus (you’ve always wanted to!) for a uniquely local experience of performance, art vendors, food, beer, spirits and more!

🎪 The Surreal Sirkus is a nonprofit performance art troupe with roots deep in Asheville history. Founded in 1996, its annual free Halloween festival was an institution in the city’s art scene. The Surreal Sirkus was laid to rest by a Viking funeral in 2005, and triumphantly resurrected in 2021 with a free all-day fair and evening performance in the city center, with thousands attending throughout the event’s duration.

Sunday, October 29, 2023
Beaverdam Studio Tour
Oct 29 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Beaverdam Studio Tour

Twenty-six artists and craftspeople—21 who live in Beaverdam Valley plus 5 invited guest artists—are excited to welcome visitors to view their handmade artwork. Media include ceramics, painting, jewelry, sculpture, book art, textiles, photography, glass, mixed media, and more. Visitors come from Asheville, from over 15 states, and from cities and towns all over North Carolina. What they have in common is an appreciation for art and craft.
This year we have multiple artists in several locations—26 artists in only 17 sites—making this tour easy to see and easy to navigate. We hope you come out and visit all the talented artists. All studios are off Beaverdam Road, reached from Merrimon Avenue in north Asheville. This summer, tour maps will be available online and in our brochure. Visitors can learn more about our two-day, self-directed, geographically convenient tour, and view artists’ work on our website, in our brochure, in print and online advertising, and in articles. A downloadable map is available on the website.

Sundays Traditional Game Day
Oct 29 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum

The Perspective Café is kicking off 2023 with a classic bang! Grab your friends and join us each Sunday from 2pm to 5pm in the Perspective Café to play an assortment of board and card games. You can even bring your own favorite games from home to share with new friends.

The Perspective Café will be offering special snacks and cocktails to savor while you play and make a memorable afternoon! Enjoy the galleries and then head up to the rooftop.

Monday, October 30, 2023
Weekly Ping Pong Tournament
Oct 30 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Sovereign Kava

Asheville’s best ping-pong players join Asheville’s worst table-tennis players at Sovereign Kava every Thursday at 7 p.m. to battle for glory and a $50 bar tab. No charge.
Whether you learned to play in the basement as a kid, or in a prison as a young adult, or in a rehab facility as an older adult, this is the tournament for you.
Located just down the hill on the Asheville-side of Mission Hospital, we are convenient walking distance to medical help after you get your heart broken on our Butterfly table.
Bring your paddle or borrow one of ours. Open to all skill levels and clothing styles. Beginners welcome. Hell, we’re ALL rusty after not playing during the Pandemic so don’t let that stop you.
Our table-tennis table is open for play 7 days a week, noon to 11 p.m. unless there’s a music event.
Here’s a link to a video from our 2019 table tennis tourney:
https://youtu.be/w_1EFEzx9sA

Tuesday, October 31, 2023
Halloween Open House
Oct 31 @ 2:00 pm
AlignLife Chiropractic of Spartanburg west

*Open to the Public* – we will have food, games and prizes! Learn about chiropractic and nutritional health while you’re here from those who are passionate about what we do and how we do it differently. We can’t wait to meet everyone!

Halloween Bingo 
Oct 31 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Burton Street Community Center

 

FREE | All ages (under 14 must be with adult)

Prizes and fun await as you play for great prizes in your costume. For more info, call 828-507-9003.

Halloween Bingo
Oct 31 @ 6:00 pm
Burton Street Community Center

Halloween Bingo: Free but registration required. Visit www.avlrec.com or call 828-254-1942.

Ping-Pong Tuesday Tournament
Oct 31 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Shakedown Kava Lounge

Players of all skill levels gather at Shakedown Kava Lounge (Hendersonville’s kava
bar) every Tuesday for the kava bar’s weekly Table Tennis Tournament, Games to 11, best of 3, double elimination, paddles
included, winner receives eternal glory and a $25 bar tab, Entry is free.

The Haunted Farm
Oct 31 @ 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm
The Haunted Farm

Hendersonville, NC’s very own Haunted Farm is back for the 2023 Fall and Spooky Season! Bring your friends and family for a night, or more, of spooky and exciting fun that they’ll never forget! Come make memories in our NEW and movie quality sets that are sure to elevate your sense of fun and fear to extreme new heights! Check our website for Dates, Times, & Ticket Info!