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.

Friday, December 8, 2023
Dancing with Death: The Last Great Adventure – Free Curated Film Series
Dec 8 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Pack Memorial Library

While death is often a taboo topic of conversation, it is inevitable for all of us. A series of award-winning films dealing with end-of-life issues will be shown at Pack Memorial Library on Fridays from October 20 through December 8 from 2:00-5:00 PM. The program is designed to help people better understand and become more comfortable talking about — and perhaps shifting their perspective on — end-of-life experiences.

Each film will be followed by in-depth, thought-provoking, and death-positive discussions moderated by Gail Harris, National Emmy Award-winning journalist for PBS and NPR and former correspondent for ABC News Nightline and World News Tonight. These six exceptional films by new and established filmmakers, animators, and actors about death and dying are entertaining and inspiring. Potential discussion topics will include legacy, the spiritual side of death, alternative ways to die, preparedness, facing fear, and finding courage.

Films:
Oct 20: In the Realm of Death & Dreaming: Does Consciousness Continue After Death?: Documentary. Chapter 1: When You Die Trilogy. Director: Johanna Lunn

Oct 27: Saying Goodbye: Preparing for Death: Documentary. Chapter 2: When You Die Trilogy. Director: Johanna Lunn

Nov 3: Coco, Pixar Animation about Day of the Dead and keeping ancestral memories alive. Disney

Nov 17: Last Ecstatic Days: Documentary about a young man who faces death with courage and even joy. Director: Scott Kirschenbaum

Dec 1: Alternative Endings: Six New Ways To Die In America, Documentary about creative ways to prepare for death and honor our dead. Directors: Matthew O’Neill, Perri Peltz

Dec 8: The Bucket List, Comedy. Director: Rob Reiner; Cast: Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman

Register for the series or for individual screenings at:
events.aarp.org…

Sponsored by AARP, the series is also supported by Asheville Death Cafe; CarePartners; Center for Conscious Living & Dying; Hola Carolina; OLLI; and Pack Memorial Library.

Holiday Lights + Cozy Movie Night 
Dec 8 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Burton Street Community Center

 

FREE | All ages

Take a stroll under festive lights and enjoy a movie on the big screen with light refreshments.

Monday, December 11, 2023
Music Movie Monday presents “A Hard Day’s Night”
Dec 11 @ 7:00 pm
: Grail Moviehouse

Music Movie Mondays:
A Hard Day’s Night
For Immediate Release: The feature film debut from The Beatles,
A Hard Day’s Night captures the humor, exuberance and musical
genius of The group at the height of the Beatlemania
phenomenon. A special December 11 screening as part of the
Music Movie Mondays series at Grail Movie House will be
hosted by Asheville author and music journalist Bill Kopp.
In 1964, pop music wasn’t taken especially seriously (Nor, it should
be emphasized, were pop musicians). Such things were considered
ephemeral. Difficult as it might be to imagine, even The Beatles were
seen as something of a flash in the proverbial pan. Even they thought
so: asked in an interview how long they predicted it would be until
the bubble burst, one of them replied, “Five years.” But as we now know, although The Beatles broke up in 1969, their impact
upon music, pop culture and culture-in-general endures.
Canny observers must have had some sense of all this even in 1964, when The Beatles broke through globally. So it was that the
four – all of them in their twenties – were signed to a motion picture deal. No actors among them, The Beatles were nonetheless
seen as the perfect group to star in a film. And while said film could easily have been a teen-exploitation reel, The Beatles’ film
debut had the good fortune to have been written and directed by people who actually got it.
Screenwriter Alun Owen went so far as to travel with the group from gig to gig, picking up ideas from the whirlwind lives that
John, Paul, George and Ringo were living at the peak of Beatlemania. And director Richard Lester had no interest in making an
empty-headed film. Add to that the fact that the four Beatles – especially drummer Ringo Starr – seemed remarkably natural in
front of the camera. So it was that a classic was made: A Hard Day’s Night.
A Hard Day’s Night manages to be funny, clever, coherent and possessing of an almost documentary level of accuracy with
regard to what Beatlemania was like. But above all, it’s fun. A rousing critical success, the black-and-white film made on a
modest budget quickly became a major box-office hit. Nearly 60 years after its release, A Hard Day’s Night continues to delight
audiences. And this special screening of The Beatles’ first feature film also presents a chance to watch the film with fellow
Beatles fans. And a post-screening discussion led by author and music journalist Bill Kopp provides an opportunity to share
thoughts and insight on the film.
As part of the Music Movie Mondays series, Grail Moviehouse in Asheville hosts a special one-night-only showing of the film.
Presented by Asheville-based speaker, author and music journalist Bill Kopp, the evening will include a screening of the film
followed by an interactive discussion.

“Going to the movies has always been a kind of communal
experience,” says Kopp, host of Music Movie Mondays.
“Especially in this post-lockdown era, the opportunity to not only
watch a film but then to discuss it with others is something even
more special. And music-related films lend themselves
remarkably well to this shared, interactive experience.”
Music Movie Mondays is a monthly series moderated by Bill Kopp, hosted by Grail Movie House
and sponsored by AshevilleFM. Music Movie Mondays presents a special screening of A Hard
Day’s Night on Monday, Dec. 11 @ 7 pm. The program will feature a brief introduction. Then we’ll watch the film together;
afterward, we’ll engage in a moderated discussion.
The one-night-only screening of A Hard Day’s Night is the latest in the ongoing popular series of Music Movie Mondays at
Grail Moviehouse. Every month, we’ll watch and discuss new releases, classics and cult favorites.

Tuesday, December 12, 2023
December Film Series – Notting Hill
Dec 12 @ 7:00 pm
Tryon Fine Arts Center

 

Join us for the December’s Love Story Film Series movie, Notting Hills.  William Thacker (Hugh Grant) is a London bookstore owner whose humdrum existence is thrown into romantic turmoil when famous American actress Anna Scott (Julia Roberts) appears in his shop. A chance encounter over spilled orange juice leads to a kiss that blossoms into a full-blown affair. As the average bloke and glamorous movie star draw closer and closer together, they struggle to reconcile their radically different lifestyles in the name of love.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the film starts at 7:00 p.m. Concessions will be available.

Wednesday, December 13, 2023
Trivia Night
Dec 13 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Hickory Tavern

Every Wednesday

Trivia Night

Trivia Night at Hickory Tavern
Dec 13 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Hickory Tavern

Trivia Night at Hickory Tavern

Saturday, December 16, 2023
Movie Afternoon: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005)
Dec 16 @ 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Swannanoa Library

Join us for a winter afternoon screening of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005). An adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ beloved childrens book, the magical 2005 adaptation is the highest grossing film from Walden Media Productions and has won several awards, including an Academy Award. The film is rated PG and the runtime is 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Light refreshments will be served.

Monday, December 18, 2023
Free Holiday Movie: ELF
Dec 18 @ 7:00 pm
The Orange Peel
MON, DEC 18

 Show: 7pm
Wednesday, December 20, 2023
Trivia Night
Dec 20 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Hickory Tavern

Every Wednesday

Trivia Night

Trivia Night at Hickory Tavern
Dec 20 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Hickory Tavern

Trivia Night at Hickory Tavern

Friday, December 22, 2023
Bold Rock Holiday Movie Series: Elf
Dec 22 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Bold Rock Hard Cider - Mills River, NC

Join Bold Rock Mills River for a cinematic experience like no other at the Holiday Movie
Series on Friday nights in December leading up to Christmas! Santa’s helper is coming to town as we show the family-friendly classic
“Elf”. You can expect delicious Bold Rock ciders and hot cocoa to enjoy during the screenings, along with fresh popcorn & great
company to share a night of cinematic fun! Admission is free, RSVP if possible, seating is first-come, first-served, so arrive early to
grab the best spots. https://taprooms.boldrock.com/bold-rock-mills-river-cidery-2ae3940fde74

Wednesday, December 27, 2023
Trivia Night
Dec 27 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Hickory Tavern

Every Wednesday

Trivia Night

Trivia Night at Hickory Tavern
Dec 27 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Hickory Tavern

Trivia Night at Hickory Tavern

Wednesday, January 3, 2024
Trivia Night
Jan 3 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Hickory Tavern

Every Wednesday

Trivia Night

Monday, January 8, 2024
Music Movie Mondays Series: IMMEDIATE FAMILY
Jan 8 @ 7:00 pm
Grail Moviehouse

A new documentary film shines a light on four behind-
the-scenes L.A. musicians who were responsible for helping make much of the

era’s best music. A special January 8 screening of Immediate Family is the latest
entry in the popular Music Movie Mondays series hosted by author and music
journalist at Grail Moviehouse.
In the early 1970s music scene of Southern California, you couldn’t get a better bunch
of players than the four musicians who wold come to be known collectively as The
Section. Together and on their own, guitarists Danny “Kootch” Kortchmar and Waddy
Wachtel, bassist Leland Sklar and drummer extraordinaire Russ Kunkel played on a
staggering number of recordings made in that era. And an astounding number of those
songs would become hits.
Playing for and with the likes of Carole King, James Taylor, Stevie Nicks, Don
Henley, Keith Richards, Linda Ronstadt, Stevie Nicks and other well-known names,
that tightly-knit group of musicians would be responsible for the sound of an era. And today those four are the core of a popular
recording and performing unit, the Immediate Family.
Filmmaker Denny Tedesco (The Wrecking Crew) has dug into the collective history of these important musicians, and the result
is a new motion picture documentary, Immediate Family. Drawing from archival footage and contemporary interview with the
musicians (and the artists for whom they provided their expertise), Immediate Family fills in the blanks of an important – yet
often overlooked part of American popular music history.
And a post-screening discussion led by author and music journalist Bill Kopp provides an opportunity to share thoughts and
insight on the film.
As part of the Music Movie Mondays series, Grail Movie House in Asheville hosts a special one-night-only showing of the
film. Presented by Asheville-based speaker, author and music journalist Bill Kopp, the evening will include a screening of the
film followed by an interactive discussion.

Tuesday, January 9, 2024
Love Story Film Series: The End of the Affair
Jan 9 @ 2:00 pm
Tryon Fine Arts Center

“The End of the Affair” is a poignant and passionate drama film released in 1999, directed by Neil Jordan. Set in London during and after World War II, the film explores the complex and intense love affair between Maurice Bendrix (played by Ralph Fiennes), a writer, and Sarah Miles (played by Julianne Moore), the wife of a civil servant.

Love Story Film Series: The End of the Affair
Jan 9 @ 7:00 pm
Tryon Fine Arts Center

“The End of the Affair” is a poignant and passionate drama film released in 1999, directed by Neil Jordan. Set in London during and after World War II, the film explores the complex and intense love affair between Maurice Bendrix (played by Ralph Fiennes), a writer, and Sarah Miles (played by Julianne Moore), the wife of a civil servant.

Wednesday, January 10, 2024
Trivia Night
Jan 10 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Hickory Tavern

Every Wednesday

Trivia Night

Trivia Night at The Draftsman
Jan 10 @ 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
The Draftsman Bar + Lounge

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, January 13, 2024
5Point Adventure Film Festival
Jan 13 all-day
New Belgium Brewing

We are pleased to announce the return of the Asheville 5Point Adventure Film Festival, where art, adventure, film, storytelling, and community come together.
We’ll gather at New Belgium for films on Saturday night. Doors open at 6, films begin at 7. You’ll want to get there early since we will have a super amazing gear giveaway benefitting the G5 Trail Collective, with a chance to win big prizes from our partners and have a beer with your fellow community members.
But wait, there’s more!
The 2024 5Point Asheville includes a full day of programming.

Wednesday, January 17, 2024
Trivia Night at The Draftsman
Jan 17 all-day
The Draftsman Bar + Lounge

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!

Trivia Night
Jan 17 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Hickory Tavern

Every Wednesday

Trivia Night

Monday, January 22, 2024
QUIZZO PUB TRIVIA Hosted by Jason Mencer
Jan 22 @ 7:30 pm
Jack of the Wood


Hosted by the witty & sagacious Jason Mencer, our epic pub trivia night runs every Monday from 7:30-9:30pm! Plus $5.00 well drinks all night!

Come test your brain power with tasty pub fare, an adult beverage or two — and a team of your smartest friends! Win prizes each round and crow a little about what a smarty-pants you are!

Wednesday, January 24, 2024
Trivia Night at The Draftsman
Jan 24 all-day
The Draftsman Bar + Lounge

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!

ᏓᏗᏬᏂᏏ (We Will Speak) Film Screening and Q+A with Filmmakers
Jan 24 @ 5:30 pm – 7:45 pm
Pack Memorial Library

Join Buncombe County Special Collections and Blurry Pictures for a screening of the new award-winning documentary, ᏓᏗᏬᏂᏏ / We Will Speak.

With only 1500 fluent speakers left, this film follows a small group of activists racing to save the Cherokee language from extinction.

A Q&A with the filmmakers will follow.

The screening will be held in the Lord Auditorium at Pack Memorial Library beginning at 5:30 pm Wednesday January 24, 2024.

Trivia Night
Jan 24 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Hickory Tavern

Every Wednesday

Trivia Night

Thursday, January 25, 2024
History Hour: Nature’s Wisdom thru Native Eyes
Jan 25 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Reuter Center - UNCA/OLLI

 

Join us at 6:30pm for this free hybrid event. When storytelling, native wisdom and nature’s intelligence converge, something beautiful can arise. That’s the theme of the new film Nature’s Wisdom Thru Native Eyes by award-winning documentary filmmaker David Weintraub and the Center for Cultural Preservation. Weintraub will be joined by Cherokee elders Davy Arch and Mary Thompson for a screening Thursday, January 25 co-sponsored by Asheville Museum of History and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at UNCA. There will be time for audience questions at the conclusion of the film.

 

More information and tickets: https://www.simpletix.com/e/history-hour-natures-wisdom-thru-native-ey-tickets-153780

Monday, January 29, 2024
QUIZZO PUB TRIVIA Hosted by Jason Mencer
Jan 29 @ 7:30 pm
Jack of the Wood


Hosted by the witty & sagacious Jason Mencer, our epic pub trivia night runs every Monday from 7:30-9:30pm! Plus $5.00 well drinks all night!

Come test your brain power with tasty pub fare, an adult beverage or two — and a team of your smartest friends! Win prizes each round and crow a little about what a smarty-pants you are!

Wednesday, January 31, 2024
Trivia Night at The Draftsman
Jan 31 all-day
The Draftsman Bar + Lounge

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!

Trivia Night
Jan 31 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Hickory Tavern

Every Wednesday

Trivia Night