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.

Sunday, December 3, 2023
Tree Sale
Dec 3 all-day
online

SURPRISE – we’re also having a tree sale to clear out inventory that has gotten too large to be stored in the hoop houses over winter. These are species not typically given away at our adoption events, so here is your chance to add something unique to your home or business.

Youth Garden Grant
Dec 3 all-day
online

In early 2024, 50 organizations will be awarded $500 in funding and a collection of gardening supplies for their youth garden program.

Since 1982, the Youth Garden Grant has supported school and youth educational garden projects that enhance the quality of life for youth and their communities.

In early 2024, fifty organizations will be awarded $500 in funding and a collection of gardening supplies for their youth garden program.

¡Pueden aplicar a los programas en español! Para ver esta oportunidad de subvención en español, visite nuestra página web en español.

Eligibility

Any organization in the United States or US Territories planning a new or improving an existing garden program that serves at least 15 youth between the ages of 0 and 18 is eligible to apply.

KidsGardening grantees from any 2022 or 2023 grant program (Budding Botanist, GroMoreGood Grassroots, Lots of Compassion, and Little Seeds Pollinator Pals) and previous Youth Garden winners from any year are not eligible.

Organizations must:

  • Support, work with, or serve communities with a majority of individuals that are under-resourced (systematically denied resources and opportunities based on race, gender, ethnicity, income level, abilities, geographic location, etc., or currently experiencing hardship such as a natural disaster, etc.)
  • Have fifteen or more youth participate in the garden program.
  • Have received less than $10,000 in grants for the garden program during 2022 and 2023 combined.
Monday, December 4, 2023
Tree Sale
Dec 4 all-day
online

SURPRISE – we’re also having a tree sale to clear out inventory that has gotten too large to be stored in the hoop houses over winter. These are species not typically given away at our adoption events, so here is your chance to add something unique to your home or business.

Youth Garden Grant
Dec 4 all-day
online

In early 2024, 50 organizations will be awarded $500 in funding and a collection of gardening supplies for their youth garden program.

Since 1982, the Youth Garden Grant has supported school and youth educational garden projects that enhance the quality of life for youth and their communities.

In early 2024, fifty organizations will be awarded $500 in funding and a collection of gardening supplies for their youth garden program.

¡Pueden aplicar a los programas en español! Para ver esta oportunidad de subvención en español, visite nuestra página web en español.

Eligibility

Any organization in the United States or US Territories planning a new or improving an existing garden program that serves at least 15 youth between the ages of 0 and 18 is eligible to apply.

KidsGardening grantees from any 2022 or 2023 grant program (Budding Botanist, GroMoreGood Grassroots, Lots of Compassion, and Little Seeds Pollinator Pals) and previous Youth Garden winners from any year are not eligible.

Organizations must:

  • Support, work with, or serve communities with a majority of individuals that are under-resourced (systematically denied resources and opportunities based on race, gender, ethnicity, income level, abilities, geographic location, etc., or currently experiencing hardship such as a natural disaster, etc.)
  • Have fifteen or more youth participate in the garden program.
  • Have received less than $10,000 in grants for the garden program during 2022 and 2023 combined.
Biltmore Estate: Ciao! From Italy Sculptural Postcard Display
Dec 4 @ 8:30 am
Biltmore Estate

Included with admission

Embark on a scenic journey across George Vanderbilt’s Italy with a large-scale outdoor display that combines brilliant botanical designs with authentic messages written by Vanderbilt himself.

Beautifully handcrafted of natural elements, each sculptural postcard depicts a location or landmark Vanderbilt visited more than a century ago. This captivating complement to Biltmore’s Italian Renaissance Alive exhibition reveals Vanderbilt’s passions for travel, culture, architecture, and art as well as his personal experience of such renowned Italian cities as Milan, Florence, Venice, Pisa, and Vatican City.

Adding to the charm and visual appeal of Ciao! From Italy—sure to be a hit among kids of all ages—is the G-scale model train that travels in and out of each postcard in this enlightening display!

Gardening Guide for Our Mountains
Dec 4 @ 9:00 am
NC Cooperative Extension Buncombe County Center

Living in Western North Carolina means there is always something to do in the garden, from preparing soil and pruning to fertilizing and transplanting. But when and how? You’ll find the answers in A Gardening Guide for Our Mountains.

Created by NC State Extension Master GardenerSM volunteers of Buncombe County (BCEMG), the guide provides a complete month-by-month description of what to do (and not to do), along with tips on invasive species, mulching, composting, and creating bird- and pollinator-friendly habitats.

This quick reference makes the perfect holiday gift for the gardeners in your life, whether they are old hands, new to gardening, or new to gardening in the mountains. A Gardening Guide for Our Mountains will get them off to the right start and keep their gardens growing all year long. Plus, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that funds raised through this publication go to support the many educational and outreach programs provided by BCEMG volunteers.

How to order: Send $13 (checks payable to Buncombe County Extension Master Gardener) to N.C. Cooperative Extension, Buncombe County Center, 49 Mount Carmel Road, Asheville, N.C. 28806, ATTN:  Buncombe County Master Gardeners. Include mailing address for shipping and a phone number, in case we have a question about your order.

Copies are available for pick up at the office for $10.  Please call in advance. 828-255-5522.

To learn more about the NC State Extension Master Gardener Program in Buncombe County, go to: https://www.buncombemastergardener.org/

LAZOOM: CITY COMEDY TOUR
Dec 4 @ 10:00 am
LaZoom Room

Learn Asheville’s history, discover hidden gems, and laugh at LaZoom’s quirky sense of adventure.

  • Guided comedy tour bus of historical Asheville
  • 90-Minutes – tours run daily
  • 15-minute break at Green Man Brewing
  • $39 per person (ages 13+ only)
Freshen Up Comedy Showcase
Dec 4 @ 6:30 pm
Noble Cider downtown

Freshen Up Comedy Showcase is the first monday of every month. The showcase highlights the best local comics from the Freshen Up Open Mic that happens every Monday at Noble Cider downtown.

Local comics come out each week to try all of their new material and the best come back for the showcase.

Ryan Gordon hosts Freshen Up and this month we also feature secret guests!

.

no cover, but $10 donation is encouraged

The Screwtape Letters
Dec 4 @ 7:00 pm
Gunter Theatre

A battle for your soul is being waged from an office in hell! Recommended for ages 13+. Children under age 4 are not admitted.

Don’t miss The Screwtape Letters, the provocative, faithful, and wickedly funny theatrical adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ classic novel about spiritual warfare from a demon’s point of view.

The Screwtape Letters creates a topsy-turvy, morally inverted universe, set in an eerily stylish office in hell, where God is called the “Enemy,” and the devil is referred to as “Our Father Below.” The play follows His Abysmal Sublimity, Screwtape, as he strives to ruin the life and damn the soul of an unsuspecting human on earth.

Based on the book by the creator of The Chronicles of NarniaThe Wall Street Journal called it, “One hell of a good show!” Newsweek ranked it among the best productions of the year in New York City. The New York Times found it, “Clever and satirical,” and Christianity Today said it is a “Profound experience.”

The Screwtape Letters has played to capacity audiences in major cities across the U.S., including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Atlanta, Boston, Salt Lake City, Orlando, Seattle, Dallas, and in London. Over 500,000 people have seen the production, which continues to attract a national following.

Starring Brent Harris as Screwtape (Scar in The Lion King national tour), it is directed by Fellowship for Performing Arts Founder and Artistic Director Max McLean.

Tuesday, December 5, 2023
Tree Sale
Dec 5 all-day
online

SURPRISE – we’re also having a tree sale to clear out inventory that has gotten too large to be stored in the hoop houses over winter. These are species not typically given away at our adoption events, so here is your chance to add something unique to your home or business.

Youth Garden Grant
Dec 5 all-day
online

In early 2024, 50 organizations will be awarded $500 in funding and a collection of gardening supplies for their youth garden program.

Since 1982, the Youth Garden Grant has supported school and youth educational garden projects that enhance the quality of life for youth and their communities.

In early 2024, fifty organizations will be awarded $500 in funding and a collection of gardening supplies for their youth garden program.

¡Pueden aplicar a los programas en español! Para ver esta oportunidad de subvención en español, visite nuestra página web en español.

Eligibility

Any organization in the United States or US Territories planning a new or improving an existing garden program that serves at least 15 youth between the ages of 0 and 18 is eligible to apply.

KidsGardening grantees from any 2022 or 2023 grant program (Budding Botanist, GroMoreGood Grassroots, Lots of Compassion, and Little Seeds Pollinator Pals) and previous Youth Garden winners from any year are not eligible.

Organizations must:

  • Support, work with, or serve communities with a majority of individuals that are under-resourced (systematically denied resources and opportunities based on race, gender, ethnicity, income level, abilities, geographic location, etc., or currently experiencing hardship such as a natural disaster, etc.)
  • Have fifteen or more youth participate in the garden program.
  • Have received less than $10,000 in grants for the garden program during 2022 and 2023 combined.
Growing Minds Farm to School Mini-Grant
Dec 5 @ 6:30 am
online
ASAP’s Growing Minds mini-grants help early childhood education (ECE) centers and K-12 schools throughout the 23 westernmost counties of North Carolina provide children positive experiences with healthy local foods through these components of farm to school: school gardens, farm field trips and farmer classroom visits, and local foods served in meals, snacks, and/or taste tests.

Mini-grant applications are available three times during the 2023-2024 school year. You may apply one time during this cycle. Mini-grants must be used within a year after receiving the funding. 

Applications due by:

  • November 30, 2023
  • January 30, 2024
  • March 30, 2024

If you have questions about your eligibility to apply for funding, please email us at [email protected] before submitting your application. We are unable to provide mini-grants to schools located outside of our 23-county service area or to folks who have received a grant from us within the past year. Learn more and apply here!

Biltmore Estate: Ciao! From Italy Sculptural Postcard Display
Dec 5 @ 8:30 am
Biltmore Estate

Included with admission

Embark on a scenic journey across George Vanderbilt’s Italy with a large-scale outdoor display that combines brilliant botanical designs with authentic messages written by Vanderbilt himself.

Beautifully handcrafted of natural elements, each sculptural postcard depicts a location or landmark Vanderbilt visited more than a century ago. This captivating complement to Biltmore’s Italian Renaissance Alive exhibition reveals Vanderbilt’s passions for travel, culture, architecture, and art as well as his personal experience of such renowned Italian cities as Milan, Florence, Venice, Pisa, and Vatican City.

Adding to the charm and visual appeal of Ciao! From Italy—sure to be a hit among kids of all ages—is the G-scale model train that travels in and out of each postcard in this enlightening display!

Gardening Guide for Our Mountains
Dec 5 @ 9:00 am
NC Cooperative Extension Buncombe County Center

Living in Western North Carolina means there is always something to do in the garden, from preparing soil and pruning to fertilizing and transplanting. But when and how? You’ll find the answers in A Gardening Guide for Our Mountains.

Created by NC State Extension Master GardenerSM volunteers of Buncombe County (BCEMG), the guide provides a complete month-by-month description of what to do (and not to do), along with tips on invasive species, mulching, composting, and creating bird- and pollinator-friendly habitats.

This quick reference makes the perfect holiday gift for the gardeners in your life, whether they are old hands, new to gardening, or new to gardening in the mountains. A Gardening Guide for Our Mountains will get them off to the right start and keep their gardens growing all year long. Plus, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that funds raised through this publication go to support the many educational and outreach programs provided by BCEMG volunteers.

How to order: Send $13 (checks payable to Buncombe County Extension Master Gardener) to N.C. Cooperative Extension, Buncombe County Center, 49 Mount Carmel Road, Asheville, N.C. 28806, ATTN:  Buncombe County Master Gardeners. Include mailing address for shipping and a phone number, in case we have a question about your order.

Copies are available for pick up at the office for $10.  Please call in advance. 828-255-5522.

To learn more about the NC State Extension Master Gardener Program in Buncombe County, go to: https://www.buncombemastergardener.org/

LAZOOM: CITY COMEDY TOUR
Dec 5 @ 10:00 am
LaZoom Room

Learn Asheville’s history, discover hidden gems, and laugh at LaZoom’s quirky sense of adventure.

  • Guided comedy tour bus of historical Asheville
  • 90-Minutes – tours run daily
  • 15-minute break at Green Man Brewing
  • $39 per person (ages 13+ only)
Yoga in The Solarium
Dec 5 @ 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
The Restoration Asheville

Flow with us at our Rooftop Yoga Series hosted by Asheville Community Yoga! This powerful Vinyasa flow is perfect for yogis of every experience level. Bring your water bottle and your mat to The Solarium on the 6th Floor of The Restoration Hotel and get ready to feel restored.

Wednesday, December 6, 2023
Spring Conference Registration Open
Dec 6 all-day
online

Save the date for our 31st Annual Spring Conference, March 8-10, 2024, at Mars Hill University. Registration opens Wednesday, December 6, 2023.

 

Friday pre-conferences in 2024 will include full-day workshops from JM Fortier (founder of Jardins de la Grelinette and the Market Gardener Institute), Jeannie Dunne (director of Red Moon Herbs), and Ember Phoenix (Soul Thrive Apothecary).

 

Our main conference program will feature over 60 classes on 13 learning tracks, including Cooking, Earth Stewardship, Farming Business, Farming Production, Forest Farming, Food Justice, Gardening, Herbs, Living on the Land, Mushrooms, Permaculture, Pollinators & Pests, and Soils. For a deeper dive into these fields, the conference will also include nine half-day classes including speakers like Jesse Frost of the No-Till Market Garden Podcast and workshops exploring fermentation on the farm and in the kitchen, lean farming, seed saving, building your farm brand, fruit tree propagation, and more.

Tree Sale
Dec 6 all-day
online

SURPRISE – we’re also having a tree sale to clear out inventory that has gotten too large to be stored in the hoop houses over winter. These are species not typically given away at our adoption events, so here is your chance to add something unique to your home or business.

Youth Garden Grant
Dec 6 all-day
online

In early 2024, 50 organizations will be awarded $500 in funding and a collection of gardening supplies for their youth garden program.

Since 1982, the Youth Garden Grant has supported school and youth educational garden projects that enhance the quality of life for youth and their communities.

In early 2024, fifty organizations will be awarded $500 in funding and a collection of gardening supplies for their youth garden program.

¡Pueden aplicar a los programas en español! Para ver esta oportunidad de subvención en español, visite nuestra página web en español.

Eligibility

Any organization in the United States or US Territories planning a new or improving an existing garden program that serves at least 15 youth between the ages of 0 and 18 is eligible to apply.

KidsGardening grantees from any 2022 or 2023 grant program (Budding Botanist, GroMoreGood Grassroots, Lots of Compassion, and Little Seeds Pollinator Pals) and previous Youth Garden winners from any year are not eligible.

Organizations must:

  • Support, work with, or serve communities with a majority of individuals that are under-resourced (systematically denied resources and opportunities based on race, gender, ethnicity, income level, abilities, geographic location, etc., or currently experiencing hardship such as a natural disaster, etc.)
  • Have fifteen or more youth participate in the garden program.
  • Have received less than $10,000 in grants for the garden program during 2022 and 2023 combined.
Growing Minds Farm to School Mini-Grant
Dec 6 @ 6:30 am
online
ASAP’s Growing Minds mini-grants help early childhood education (ECE) centers and K-12 schools throughout the 23 westernmost counties of North Carolina provide children positive experiences with healthy local foods through these components of farm to school: school gardens, farm field trips and farmer classroom visits, and local foods served in meals, snacks, and/or taste tests.

Mini-grant applications are available three times during the 2023-2024 school year. You may apply one time during this cycle. Mini-grants must be used within a year after receiving the funding. 

Applications due by:

  • November 30, 2023
  • January 30, 2024
  • March 30, 2024

If you have questions about your eligibility to apply for funding, please email us at [email protected] before submitting your application. We are unable to provide mini-grants to schools located outside of our 23-county service area or to folks who have received a grant from us within the past year. Learn more and apply here!

Biltmore Estate: Ciao! From Italy Sculptural Postcard Display
Dec 6 @ 8:30 am
Biltmore Estate

Included with admission

Embark on a scenic journey across George Vanderbilt’s Italy with a large-scale outdoor display that combines brilliant botanical designs with authentic messages written by Vanderbilt himself.

Beautifully handcrafted of natural elements, each sculptural postcard depicts a location or landmark Vanderbilt visited more than a century ago. This captivating complement to Biltmore’s Italian Renaissance Alive exhibition reveals Vanderbilt’s passions for travel, culture, architecture, and art as well as his personal experience of such renowned Italian cities as Milan, Florence, Venice, Pisa, and Vatican City.

Adding to the charm and visual appeal of Ciao! From Italy—sure to be a hit among kids of all ages—is the G-scale model train that travels in and out of each postcard in this enlightening display!

Gardening Guide for Our Mountains
Dec 6 @ 9:00 am
NC Cooperative Extension Buncombe County Center

Living in Western North Carolina means there is always something to do in the garden, from preparing soil and pruning to fertilizing and transplanting. But when and how? You’ll find the answers in A Gardening Guide for Our Mountains.

Created by NC State Extension Master GardenerSM volunteers of Buncombe County (BCEMG), the guide provides a complete month-by-month description of what to do (and not to do), along with tips on invasive species, mulching, composting, and creating bird- and pollinator-friendly habitats.

This quick reference makes the perfect holiday gift for the gardeners in your life, whether they are old hands, new to gardening, or new to gardening in the mountains. A Gardening Guide for Our Mountains will get them off to the right start and keep their gardens growing all year long. Plus, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that funds raised through this publication go to support the many educational and outreach programs provided by BCEMG volunteers.

How to order: Send $13 (checks payable to Buncombe County Extension Master Gardener) to N.C. Cooperative Extension, Buncombe County Center, 49 Mount Carmel Road, Asheville, N.C. 28806, ATTN:  Buncombe County Master Gardeners. Include mailing address for shipping and a phone number, in case we have a question about your order.

Copies are available for pick up at the office for $10.  Please call in advance. 828-255-5522.

To learn more about the NC State Extension Master Gardener Program in Buncombe County, go to: https://www.buncombemastergardener.org/

LAZOOM: CITY COMEDY TOUR
Dec 6 @ 10:00 am
LaZoom Room

Learn Asheville’s history, discover hidden gems, and laugh at LaZoom’s quirky sense of adventure.

  • Guided comedy tour bus of historical Asheville
  • 90-Minutes – tours run daily
  • 15-minute break at Green Man Brewing
  • $39 per person (ages 13+ only)
Disclaimer Stand-Up Lounge Comedy Open Mic
Dec 6 @ 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Asheville Music Hall

Asheville’s longest running comedy open mic happening every Wednesday night. The show starts at 8:00, and there is no cover. Anyone wanting to perform can sign up starting at 7pm and will get four minutes on stage. Anyone skill level from professional to first-timers. So you’ll see great, not-so-great, and hilariously awful comedy all in the same night. Always fun though. Always free.

ROBIN PLEMMONS – SPREAD EAGLE
Dec 6 @ 8:00 pm
The Grey Eagle

– ALL AGES
– SEATED SHOW
– LIMITED NUMBER OF PREMIUM SEATING TICKETS AVAILABLE

Hearts & Buttholes presents: Robin Plemmons – Spread Eagle

It’s a comedy thing about Crohn’s. This shit isn’t funny (but sometimes it totally is).  Hearts & Buttholes is the love child of Robin Plemmons & Melanie Losacco. It’s like if Brené Brown was R-rated, depressed, & had a busted asshole.

As the show opener, Melanie will be warming us up in more ways than one.

And Robin will be coming in strong with amusing visuals & insightful commentary on her journey through all of the literal & emotional shit that comes with chronic illness.

Thursday, December 7, 2023
Spring Conference Registration Open
Dec 7 all-day
online

Save the date for our 31st Annual Spring Conference, March 8-10, 2024, at Mars Hill University. Registration opens Wednesday, December 6, 2023.

 

Friday pre-conferences in 2024 will include full-day workshops from JM Fortier (founder of Jardins de la Grelinette and the Market Gardener Institute), Jeannie Dunne (director of Red Moon Herbs), and Ember Phoenix (Soul Thrive Apothecary).

 

Our main conference program will feature over 60 classes on 13 learning tracks, including Cooking, Earth Stewardship, Farming Business, Farming Production, Forest Farming, Food Justice, Gardening, Herbs, Living on the Land, Mushrooms, Permaculture, Pollinators & Pests, and Soils. For a deeper dive into these fields, the conference will also include nine half-day classes including speakers like Jesse Frost of the No-Till Market Garden Podcast and workshops exploring fermentation on the farm and in the kitchen, lean farming, seed saving, building your farm brand, fruit tree propagation, and more.

Tree Sale
Dec 7 all-day
online

SURPRISE – we’re also having a tree sale to clear out inventory that has gotten too large to be stored in the hoop houses over winter. These are species not typically given away at our adoption events, so here is your chance to add something unique to your home or business.

Youth Garden Grant
Dec 7 all-day
online

In early 2024, 50 organizations will be awarded $500 in funding and a collection of gardening supplies for their youth garden program.

Since 1982, the Youth Garden Grant has supported school and youth educational garden projects that enhance the quality of life for youth and their communities.

In early 2024, fifty organizations will be awarded $500 in funding and a collection of gardening supplies for their youth garden program.

¡Pueden aplicar a los programas en español! Para ver esta oportunidad de subvención en español, visite nuestra página web en español.

Eligibility

Any organization in the United States or US Territories planning a new or improving an existing garden program that serves at least 15 youth between the ages of 0 and 18 is eligible to apply.

KidsGardening grantees from any 2022 or 2023 grant program (Budding Botanist, GroMoreGood Grassroots, Lots of Compassion, and Little Seeds Pollinator Pals) and previous Youth Garden winners from any year are not eligible.

Organizations must:

  • Support, work with, or serve communities with a majority of individuals that are under-resourced (systematically denied resources and opportunities based on race, gender, ethnicity, income level, abilities, geographic location, etc., or currently experiencing hardship such as a natural disaster, etc.)
  • Have fifteen or more youth participate in the garden program.
  • Have received less than $10,000 in grants for the garden program during 2022 and 2023 combined.
Growing Minds Farm to School Mini-Grant
Dec 7 @ 6:30 am
online
ASAP’s Growing Minds mini-grants help early childhood education (ECE) centers and K-12 schools throughout the 23 westernmost counties of North Carolina provide children positive experiences with healthy local foods through these components of farm to school: school gardens, farm field trips and farmer classroom visits, and local foods served in meals, snacks, and/or taste tests.

Mini-grant applications are available three times during the 2023-2024 school year. You may apply one time during this cycle. Mini-grants must be used within a year after receiving the funding. 

Applications due by:

  • November 30, 2023
  • January 30, 2024
  • March 30, 2024

If you have questions about your eligibility to apply for funding, please email us at [email protected] before submitting your application. We are unable to provide mini-grants to schools located outside of our 23-county service area or to folks who have received a grant from us within the past year. Learn more and apply here!

Biltmore Estate: Ciao! From Italy Sculptural Postcard Display
Dec 7 @ 8:30 am
Biltmore Estate

Included with admission

Embark on a scenic journey across George Vanderbilt’s Italy with a large-scale outdoor display that combines brilliant botanical designs with authentic messages written by Vanderbilt himself.

Beautifully handcrafted of natural elements, each sculptural postcard depicts a location or landmark Vanderbilt visited more than a century ago. This captivating complement to Biltmore’s Italian Renaissance Alive exhibition reveals Vanderbilt’s passions for travel, culture, architecture, and art as well as his personal experience of such renowned Italian cities as Milan, Florence, Venice, Pisa, and Vatican City.

Adding to the charm and visual appeal of Ciao! From Italy—sure to be a hit among kids of all ages—is the G-scale model train that travels in and out of each postcard in this enlightening display!