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, November 1, 2023
Win 2 free tix to see Rita Hayworth: The Heat is On!
Nov 1 all-day
online
Win 2 free tix to see

Rita Hayworth: The Heat is On!

at Tryon Fine Arts Center

Saturday, November 4 at 7:30 PM

How much do you know about the Love Goddess

What famous film dancer said Rita Hayworth was his favorite dance partner?

Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire or Danny Kaye

What famous American actor/director was the love of her life?

Clint Eastwood, Orson Welles, John Ford

The winner will receive 2 free tickets to see the November 5 presentation of

Rita Hayworth: The Heat is ON!

at Tryon Fine Arts Center.

To enter, simply submit your answers below. The first person with the correct two answers will win. The next 3 to guess the correct answer will receive 2 vouchers for a glass of wine at the show!

Good luck!

Submit your answers!

Click to answer!
 

 

Thursday, November 2, 2023
Win 2 free tix to see Rita Hayworth: The Heat is On!
Nov 2 all-day
online
Win 2 free tix to see

Rita Hayworth: The Heat is On!

at Tryon Fine Arts Center

Saturday, November 4 at 7:30 PM

How much do you know about the Love Goddess

What famous film dancer said Rita Hayworth was his favorite dance partner?

Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire or Danny Kaye

What famous American actor/director was the love of her life?

Clint Eastwood, Orson Welles, John Ford

The winner will receive 2 free tickets to see the November 5 presentation of

Rita Hayworth: The Heat is ON!

at Tryon Fine Arts Center.

To enter, simply submit your answers below. The first person with the correct two answers will win. The next 3 to guess the correct answer will receive 2 vouchers for a glass of wine at the show!

Good luck!

Submit your answers!

Click to answer!
 

 

Intro to Ukulele
Nov 2 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
LEAF Global Arts

Students will receive a solid foundation in beginner Ukulele skills for vocalists. Chords, Rhythm patterns, and basic theory will be introduced through songs with an uplifting message. Students will also learn to play the song that the Songwriting Class will be writing and get to record it in the One Mic Studio.

Queer Music Exploration
Nov 2 @ 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
LEAF Global Arts

Queer Music Exploration – Students will explore guitar, bass, drums, singing and piano with a focus on learning music by artists from the LGBTQ+ community. Students will have the chance to interact with their peers and share their experiences through music.

Steve Simon + The Kings of Jazz
Nov 2 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
The DFR Lounge

Steve Simon & The Kings of Jazz are Brevard’s newest and most exciting and entertaining jazz band with a sound that combines the funkiness of George Benson, the soulfulness of Ray Charles and the smoothness of Diana Krall all wrapped together in big Count Basie style arrangements of American and Latin jazz classics. If you are looking for an amazing live jazz experience then check out the hottest jazz band in the coolest city in North Carolina performing every Thursday at The DFR Lounge from 7pm to 9pm

When You Wish Upon A Star: A Jazz Tribute to 100 Years of Disney
Nov 2 @ 7:00 pm
Wortham Center for the Performing Arts

Featuring Sean Mason, Kim Nalley and Sasha Dobson

Join us for an unforgettable evening as we celebrate 100 years of Disney through the lens of Jazz. From Snow White to Lady and the Tramp, Mary Poppins and Toy Story to The Jungle Book, popular songs from these famous films have been interpreted and recorded by Disney music fans such as Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, Dianne Reeves and many more. “Someday My Prince Will Come,” “He’s a Tramp,” “Everybody Wants to be a Cat” and “The Bare Necessities” are just a few of the iconic songs which will be celebrated as we look back on the impact of jazz on 100 years of Disney magic!

When You Wish Upon a Star will be performed by the newly created house band of The National Jazz Museum in Harlem, featuring pianist and musical director, Sean Mason, and vocalists Kim Nalley and Sasha Dobson, who will bring these famous songs to life.

This production is not affiliated with, sponsored, or authorized by The Walt Disney Company.

A Case for the Existence of God
Nov 2 @ 7:30 pm
NC Stage Co.

Written by Samuel D. Hunter

Keith, a mortgage broker and Ryan, a yogurt plant worker, are two men who, at first glance, have nothing in common. Their meeting, in Keith’s cubicle, evolves from a business discussion to a thoughtful exploration of parenthood, financial insecurity, and empathy. Both intimate and expansive, Samuel D. Hunter’s heartbreaking new play argues for hope even in the face of extreme disappointment as two men with seemingly very different lives grow to care for one another.

 

Content advisory: strong language

Darrell Scott
Nov 2 @ 7:30 pm
Gunter Theatre

 

Funny Girl
Nov 2 @ 7:30 pm
Peace Concert Hall

WELCOME TO MUSICAL COMEDY HEAVEN!

Featuring one of the most iconic scores of all time by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, an updated book from Harvey Fierstein based on the original classic by Isobel Lennart, tap choreography by Ayodele Casel, choreography by Ellenore Scott, and direction from Michael Mayer, this love letter to the theatre has the whole shebang!

The sensational Broadway revival dazzles with celebrated classic songs, including “Don’t Rain On My Parade,” “I’m the Greatest Star,” and “People.” This bittersweet comedy is the story of the indomitable Fanny Brice, a girl from the Lower East Side who dreamed of a life on the stage. Everyone told her she’d never be a star, but then something funny happened—she became one of the most beloved performers in history, shining brighter than the brightest lights of Broadway.

Friday, November 3, 2023
2 Adult Tickets = 2 Free Youth Tickets: Slowpoke! The True Story of a Tortoise + Hare
Nov 3 all-day
Flat Rock Playhouse

NOV. 3 – 5 ONLY! 2 Adult tickets + 2 Free Youth Tickets

A NEW WORKS PREMIERE by PLAYHOUSE JR.

The race of the century is on, and the fate of the little town of Fable Farms hangs in the balance!
Find out what happens when hometown hero Tori the Tortoise faces off with big city bunny Harriet the Hare in this hilarious retelling of Aesop’s fable, The Tortoise and the Hare.
Even if you think you already know the story, we promise there are plenty of new twists and turns to this race!
Win 2 free tix to see Rita Hayworth: The Heat is On!
Nov 3 all-day
online
Win 2 free tix to see

Rita Hayworth: The Heat is On!

at Tryon Fine Arts Center

Saturday, November 4 at 7:30 PM

How much do you know about the Love Goddess

What famous film dancer said Rita Hayworth was his favorite dance partner?

Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire or Danny Kaye

What famous American actor/director was the love of her life?

Clint Eastwood, Orson Welles, John Ford

The winner will receive 2 free tickets to see the November 5 presentation of

Rita Hayworth: The Heat is ON!

at Tryon Fine Arts Center.

To enter, simply submit your answers below. The first person with the correct two answers will win. The next 3 to guess the correct answer will receive 2 vouchers for a glass of wine at the show!

Good luck!

Submit your answers!

Click to answer!
 

 

A Case for the Existence of God
Nov 3 @ 2:00 pm
NC Stage Co.

Written by Samuel D. Hunter

Keith, a mortgage broker and Ryan, a yogurt plant worker, are two men who, at first glance, have nothing in common. Their meeting, in Keith’s cubicle, evolves from a business discussion to a thoughtful exploration of parenthood, financial insecurity, and empathy. Both intimate and expansive, Samuel D. Hunter’s heartbreaking new play argues for hope even in the face of extreme disappointment as two men with seemingly very different lives grow to care for one another.

 

Content advisory: strong language

Citron Gallery Opening Reception – Evolving Visions: A Contemporary Collective
Nov 3 @ 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Citron Gallery

OPENING RECEPTION: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2023 | 5-8 pm
LOCATION: 60 BILTMORE AVE, #002 LOWER LEVEL, ASHEVILLE, NC 28801

FEATURED ARTISTS
Allison B. Cooke | Anna Carll | Dorothy Ganek | Eric Abrecht | Kento Saisho | Kieta Jackson | Lauren Betty | Rand Kramer | Ruth Hunter | Victoria Pinney

ADDITIONAL WORKS
Elliott Schuessler | Joshua Meyer | Kim Goldstein | Steven Seinberg

Citron Gallery is pleased to present the opening of Evolving Visions: A Contemporary Collective, a group show that celebrates the dynamic and ever-evolving nature of contemporary art. This captivating exhibition brings together a diverse group of talented artists, each with their unique perspectives and artistic voices.

Showcasing the evolution of artistic expression over time, the featured artists draw inspiration from various sources, including cultural and urban influences, personal experiences, and memories. This show serves as a snapshot of the current artist’s expression and vision of where they are now and a clue as to where to where they move creatively from here.

The collective will be exhibiting a captivating blend of abstract and figurative works, with traditional and experimental techniques. This eclectic mix invites viewers to engage in a visual and intellectual journey, fostering a deeper appreciation for the power of art.

LAZOOM Tours: BAND AND BEER TOUR
Nov 3 @ 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
LaZoom Room

Wanna hear the best local music ​and​ drink the best local beers? Hop aboard LaZoom’s Purple Bus and rock out with a local band while we take you on a journey to Asheville’s premiere local breweries.

  • Curated Live Music & Brewery Bus experience
  • 3 Hours long, includes three 30 Minute Local Brewery Stops
  • You Can Drink on the Funky Purple Bus! **Must be purchased at LaZoom or at brewery stop**
Parkway Playhouse-Willy Wonka JR
Nov 3 @ 6:30 pm
Parkway Playhouse

November 3-11, 2023

Directed by Jenny Martin
Music Direction by Roberta Whiteside
Choreography by Melanie Veazey

Slowpoke! The True Story of a Tortoise and Hare
Nov 3 @ 7:30 pm
Flat Rock Playhouse

Join Tori the Tortoise, in this Appalachian retelling of Aesop’s “Tortoise & the Hare” as she stands up for her beloved town, Fable Farms, and races a big city hare with even bigger plans. In this musical for all ages, Tori and her friends, Ruben the Rooster and Bea the Bee, must learn to embrace what makes them unique and the importance of community.

Screen Shot 2023-01-25 at 2.41.13 PM.png

Who Does She Think She Is? A One-Woman Show
Nov 3 @ 7:30 pm
The Magnetic Theatre

Written and Performed by Paula O’Brien
Accompanied by Steve Sensenig

Singing has always been one of Paula’s first loves. After attending a cabaret show at the Irish Arts Center in NYC, she thought, “I could do that” and went about putting together what would become Who Does She Think She Is?: one woman’s journey from Ireland to WNC, with many stops along the way. The show includes original songs (from the songwriting part of the journey) as well as many favorites that tie in with Paula’s stories. It’ll be an evening of caint, ceoil, agus craic (stories, music and fun)! There may or may not be guitar playing. There will most definitely be a keyboard!

Asheville Mind Reading Show
Nov 3 @ 8:00 pm
Story Parlor

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!
After a sold-out show in October, we’re putting on the show again.
It’s 70 minutes of mind blowing entertainment by Asheville native Jonathan Pritchard who will leave you questioning what’s real & what’s possible with this highly interactive mentalism show.
This is the act that has taken him around the world and it is finally here in his home town.
Come see it for yourself!

Funny Girl
Nov 3 @ 8:00 pm
Peace Concert Hall

WELCOME TO MUSICAL COMEDY HEAVEN!

Featuring one of the most iconic scores of all time by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, an updated book from Harvey Fierstein based on the original classic by Isobel Lennart, tap choreography by Ayodele Casel, choreography by Ellenore Scott, and direction from Michael Mayer, this love letter to the theatre has the whole shebang!

The sensational Broadway revival dazzles with celebrated classic songs, including “Don’t Rain On My Parade,” “I’m the Greatest Star,” and “People.” This bittersweet comedy is the story of the indomitable Fanny Brice, a girl from the Lower East Side who dreamed of a life on the stage. Everyone told her she’d never be a star, but then something funny happened—she became one of the most beloved performers in history, shining brighter than the brightest lights of Broadway.

Saturday, November 4, 2023
2 Adult Tickets = 2 Free Youth Tickets: Slowpoke! The True Story of a Tortoise + Hare
Nov 4 all-day
Flat Rock Playhouse

NOV. 3 – 5 ONLY! 2 Adult tickets + 2 Free Youth Tickets

A NEW WORKS PREMIERE by PLAYHOUSE JR.

The race of the century is on, and the fate of the little town of Fable Farms hangs in the balance!
Find out what happens when hometown hero Tori the Tortoise faces off with big city bunny Harriet the Hare in this hilarious retelling of Aesop’s fable, The Tortoise and the Hare.
Even if you think you already know the story, we promise there are plenty of new twists and turns to this race!
Appalachia Day with Wicked Weed Brewing
Nov 4 @ 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Hickory Nut Gap Farm

Embrace the beauty and culture of the Appalachian Mountains at Hickory Nut Gap Farm in Fairview, NC, in support of the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy. Appalachia Day will be held on Saturday, November 4th as a celebration for everything “Appalachia.” Come out and celebrate what you love about the mountains – the raffle, food, music by The Holler Choir, crafts and more!

Appalachia Day invites attendees to immerse themselves in the essence of Appalachia with an array of engaging activities. You can take part in a private farm tour guided by Farm Director Virginia Hamilton, offering insights into the workings of this regenerative farm.
While enjoying the festivities, you can savor delectable offerings from food trucks on-site and cold beers, including the Appalachia Session IPA by Wicked Weed Brewing. What’s particularly noteworthy is that the proceeds from beer sales and a raffle held during the event will also contribute to the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy.

Our partnership with Wicked Weed Brewing underscores their commitment to supporting the preservation of local farms, streams, watersheds, mountains, forests, and outdoor recreation areas. They do this through their #BeersThatBuild program, and your participation in this event acknowledges and appreciates their dedication to protecting the places we all cherish in the Appalachian region. We’re also grateful to our friends at Hickory Nut Gap Farm for donating the space for this event.  Their partnership over the years as landowners and as donors to the SAHC has been invaluable. Appalachia Day offers a unique and enjoyable way to immerse yourself in the vibrant culture, natural beauty, and community spirit of the Appalachian Mountains while actively supporting conservation efforts crucial to preserving this treasured region for generations to come.

“This is a great partnership event,” says Membership Director Cheryl Fowler. “The land at Hickory Nut Gap Farm was permanently protected by Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy in 2008 with a farmland conservation easement, and SAHC is grateful to Wicked Weed Brewing for supporting ongoing local conservation efforts as a corporate partner. We look forward to enjoying a great day on the farm with friends and neighbors!”

If you’re interested in being a vendor, there’s still time. Please contact Cheryl Fowler at [email protected] and join the many groups of like minded artists that are participating.

We will also host a hike as part of Appalachia Day – Details TBA!

DESIGNER SERIES: QLAB + AUDACITY BASICS
Nov 4 @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
The Magnetic Theatre

Have you ever wanted to try your hand at building audio or video files for a production? Magnetic’s Tech Director Abby Auman can help you get started! Join us for this engaging workshop, where you’ll learn how to use Audacity for audio file editing, and QLab, a powerful macOS program for designing and playing back sound, video, light, and show control cues (we’ll be focused on sound for this session).
*Note, you will be expected to download the free version of Audacity and the free version of QLab if you plan to bring your own macOS computer; for those who don’t have a macOS computer, you can still participate!

About the instructor: Abby is the Technical Director of The Magnetic Theatre. She also works as a lighting designer in theaters all over WNC.

MAGNETIC U – DESIGNER SERIES: QLab + Audacity Basics
Nov 4 @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
The Magnetic Theatre

Taught by Abby Auman

Have you ever wanted to try your hand at building audio or video files for a production? Magnetic’s Tech Director Abby Auman can help you get started! Join us for this engaging workshop, where you’ll learn how to use Audacity for audio file editing, and QLab, a powerful macOS program for designing and playing back sound, video, light, and show control cues (we’ll be focused on sound for this session).
*Note, you will be expected to download the free version of Audacity and the free version of QLab if you plan to bring your own macOS computer; for those who don’t have a macOS computer, you can still participate!

 

About the instructor:

Abby is the Technical Director of The Magnetic Theatre. She also works as a lighting designer in theaters all over WNC.

OUTPOST: Tacos + Tequila Throwdown
Nov 4 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
The Outpost

– ALL AGES
– STANDING ROOM ONLY
– LIMITED VIP TICKETS AVAILABLE

It’s back! Tacos & Tequila Throwdown makes its triumphant return on November 4 at The Outpost. Enjoy live music and tacos from Asheville’s best restaurants + tequila of all varieties. Stay tuned for participating restaurants …

Funny Girl
Nov 4 @ 2:00 pm
Peace Concert Hall

WELCOME TO MUSICAL COMEDY HEAVEN!

Featuring one of the most iconic scores of all time by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill, an updated book from Harvey Fierstein based on the original classic by Isobel Lennart, tap choreography by Ayodele Casel, choreography by Ellenore Scott, and direction from Michael Mayer, this love letter to the theatre has the whole shebang!

The sensational Broadway revival dazzles with celebrated classic songs, including “Don’t Rain On My Parade,” “I’m the Greatest Star,” and “People.” This bittersweet comedy is the story of the indomitable Fanny Brice, a girl from the Lower East Side who dreamed of a life on the stage. Everyone told her she’d never be a star, but then something funny happened—she became one of the most beloved performers in history, shining brighter than the brightest lights of Broadway.

Slowpoke! The True Story of a Tortoise and Hare
Nov 4 @ 2:00 pm
Flat Rock Playhouse

Join Tori the Tortoise, in this Appalachian retelling of Aesop’s “Tortoise & the Hare” as she stands up for her beloved town, Fable Farms, and races a big city hare with even bigger plans. In this musical for all ages, Tori and her friends, Ruben the Rooster and Bea the Bee, must learn to embrace what makes them unique and the importance of community.

Screen Shot 2023-01-25 at 2.41.13 PM.png

A Doll’s House
Nov 4 @ 3:00 pm
Hendersonville Theatre

By: Henrik Ibsen

Director: Patricia Sands

Approximate Run Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Rating: G

Written in 1879 by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen, A Doll’s House is about a housewife who becomes disillusioned and dissatisfied with her condescending husband. The play raises universal issues and questions that are applicable to societies worldwide, including gender inequality, materialism, and corruption. Presented in a reader’s theater format, actors don’t memorize scripts but read them to the audience while using their voices and upper bodies to convey the roles they are playing.

Asheville Dulcimer Orchestra in concert
Nov 4 @ 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
East Asheville Library

The Appalachian mountain dulcimer is a fretted stringed instrument of the zither family. It’s closest European ancestor is felt to be the German scheitholt. The mountain dulcimer was “born” in the Appalachian Mountains in the early 1800s. It was, and remains, a major contributor to the development and spread of traditional music of the Southern Appalachians.

The Asheville Dulcimer Orchestra is a group of 18 Appalachian Mountain Dulcimer players. Come hear the group play a varied program that includes music from many classical periods, as well popular and traditional music.

LAZOOM Tours: BAND AND BEER TOUR
Nov 4 @ 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
LaZoom Room

Wanna hear the best local music ​and​ drink the best local beers? Hop aboard LaZoom’s Purple Bus and rock out with a local band while we take you on a journey to Asheville’s premiere local breweries.

  • Curated Live Music & Brewery Bus experience
  • 3 Hours long, includes three 30 Minute Local Brewery Stops
  • You Can Drink on the Funky Purple Bus! **Must be purchased at LaZoom or at brewery stop**
Xiu Xiu
Nov 4 @ 7:00 pm
Eulogy

The project of Jamie Stewart and Angela Seo, Xiu Xiu confronts difficult emotions with music ranging from harsh to tender. Using an intense mix of post-punk, synth pop, folk, Asian percussion music, experimental music, noise, modern composition, and more, the group explores the complexities of love, sex, death, and injustice. From the beginning, Xiu Xiu combined these sounds in striking ways, whether on their brass and percussion-dominated 2002 debut album Knife Play or the hushed electro-acoustic experiments of 2003’s A Promise. Starting with 2004’s Fabulous Muscles, their pop elements became more prominent, but Xiu Xiu’s viewpoint — and Stewart’s impassioned vocals — remained uncompromising. While they often expressed alienation brilliantly, Stewart and Seo frequently worked with artists such as Mary Halvorson, Merzbow, and Charlemagne Palestine. Over the years, the band’s music spanned the rousing synth pop of 2012’s Always to the cathartic darkness of 2019’s Girl with a Basket of Fruit. In the 2020s, the empowering collaborations of 2021’s Oh No and the stark dualities of 2023’s Ignore Grief reaffirmed that Xiu Xiu’s emotional honesty was still as genuine as ever.

Ignore Grief is a record of halves.

Angela Seo sings on half of the record. Jamie Stewart sings on half of the record.

Half of the songs are experimental industrial. Half of the songs are experimental modern classical. Half of it is real. Half of it is imaginary.

The real songs attempt to turn the worst life has offered to five people the band is connected with into some kind of desperate shape that does something, anything, other than grind and brutalize their hearts and memory within these stunningly horrendous experiences. The imaginary songs are an expansion and abstract exploration of the early rock and roll “Teen Tragedy” genre as jumping off point to decontaminate the band’s own overwhelming emotions in knowing and living with what has happened to these five people.

Old friend and new member David Kendrick (Sparks, Devo, Gleaming Spires) joins Angela Seo and Jamie Stewart through whatever this may be and whatever it may mean and why ever it may have occurred. The point of aesthetic examination is to see if there is any way to come out the other side or if there is even any reason. In either case there may not be but to simply turn away would be yet a further act of destruction.

Secret Shame

The members of Secret Shame are driven by their collective passion for creativity, experimentation, and the understanding that some feelings can only be expressed through music.

They’re not decidedly comfortable with those feelings- but no longer afraid of them.

https://secretshame.bandcamp.com/album/autonomy

This is an 18+ event