Calendar of Events
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.
On Animal Enrichment Day, guests will see firsthand how Grandfather Mountain cares for its resident animals. Visitors can enjoy watching demonstrations, talk directly with keepers and participate in family-oriented games and crafts. Included with admission.
Biltmore Park’s Farmers Market features fresh seasonal produce, delicious homemade pastries, premium meats and seafood, beautiful vibrant flowers, and more. There’s always something to take home with you! It’s the perfect way to support local small businesses and celebrate community this summer. Visit biltmorepark.com for more information.
In town for the Spartan Race? Enjoy a fun social time or try out some obstacles with fellow Spartans at Triumph, Asheville’s premier OCR Training Center! Music, vendors, and snacks provided! Outside food welcome. RSVP via text or email: 206-931-5868 [email protected]
A Mid-Summer Night White Party
Featuring HOPE 4 the Future students, Freeflow, Virtuous and the John R. Hayes High-Steppin’ Majorettes and Drum Corps
You’re Invited!
Event Theme: “We Are All One”
Dress Code: All White- Semi Formal
$25 General Admission
Free for youth participating in any summer program- as long as they are wearing white.
Raffle: Includes 1 ticket with admission. More tickets available at the door. 3 prizes will be drawn!
Bring the whole family for a day of fun, creativity, and inspiration at the Children’s Entrepreneur Market — where young minds turn big ideas into real-life businesses!
We are partnering with the Wee Trade Children’s Consignment Sale. Come support young entrepreneurs (ages 5–17) as they showcase their talents, sell their handmade products, and learn the ropes of business firsthand. Then check out the Wee Trade Children’s Consignment Sale, the region’s largest selection of quality consigned goods at amazing prices!
📣 Interested in participating?
Young entrepreneurs can register at: https://kidsmarkets.com/
Follow us on Facebook @ChildrenEntrepreneursNorthCarolina for updates, sneak peeks, and more!
✨ Why You’ll Love It:
💡 Educational & Inspiring – Kids learn valuable skills in leadership, creativity, money management, and marketing.
🎨 Hands-On Fun –Family-Friendly Fun
🛍️ One-of-a-Kind Shopping – Support the next generation of business leaders and take home unique, kid-made treasures.
🛡️ Safe & Supervised – A welcoming, secure environment for kids and families.
Biltmore Park’s Farmers Market features fresh seasonal produce, delicious homemade pastries, premium meats and seafood, beautiful vibrant flowers, and more. There’s always something to take home with you! It’s the perfect way to support local small businesses and celebrate community this summer. Visit biltmorepark.com for more information.
End your week on a high note and join us every second Friday this summer for free live music in Biltmore Park Town Square! Bring your friends and family to dance, play games, and enjoy eats and treats from Biltmore Park restaurants.
“Soul Blue” is a charismatic and entertaining classic Soul/Blues/R&B band whose five members hail from both Asheville, NC and Atlanta, GA. These seasoned musicians come together from a variety of popular bands such as: Daddy’s Money, The XL’s, Banks and Shane, and a good many more; enabling them to create an authentic approach to the music of many best-loved Soul, Blues, and R&B artists.
The 7th Annual Light Up the Night 5K is set for Friday, August 8 th , 2025, and there’s still time
to register for this fun and meaningful event supporting Western Carolina Rescue Ministries (WCRM).
This glow-in-the-dark evening fundraiser brings the community together to walk or run to support life transformation for
the homeless, poor, and addicted populations of Western North Carolina. WCRM is a nonprofit organization dedicated to
meeting people in crisis, helping them at their point of need, investing in their future, and walking alongside them until
they can move forward.
The Light Up the Night 5K will take place at Asheville’s Carrier Park, starting at 7:00 p.m., with packet pickup
beginning at 5:30 p.m. Timed by Finish Well Timing, the event welcomes participants of all ages and abilities, regardless
of race, ethnicity, gender, or faith. All proceeds will directly benefit WCRM’s programs and services, which provide
shelter, recovery programs, meals, and long-term support to those in need.
Grandfather Mountain’s Junior Ranger Program is now the Junior Naturalist Program — a new program for our new Conservation Campus! Activities throughout the day will be provided specifically for children ages 5-12 to explore their environment and experience all that Grandfather has to offer.
Tanger Outlets Asheville invites shoppers to kick-off the start of the school season in style with its Back-to-School Bash on Saturday, Aug. 9 from noon – 3 p.m. Families can celebrate their scholars with an array of fun-filled activities, including appearances by Ted. E Tourist and Rocky the UNC Asheville Bulldog, free drink samples provided by Pepsi Cola and free photos by TapSnap Phototainment.
As part of the celebration, Tanger Asheville is teaming up with Mountain Hope for the Kicks for Class New Shoe Collection Drive, benefiting students at Owen Middle School who were impacted by Hurricane Helene. A school bus will be parked near Sportsman’s Warehouse during the event to collect 450 pairs of new shoes. Guests are encouraged to donate new shoes in the following sizes: 3.5-7 youth for girls; 6-9 for women; 4-7 youth for boys; and 6-8 for men.
Tanger Asheville delivers even more value with its Summer of Savings program. Through August, the center will offer the community weekly deals on back-to-school essentials and wardrobe refreshes. Shoppers can expect to find some of the deepest discounts of the year at top brands like Nike, Coach, Old Navy, Polo Ralph Lauren, Under Armour and more.
Join us at the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center (MHCREC) for our annual Field Day. Since 1949, our station has been a hub of agricultural innovation, with the added addition of Field Day being a long-standing tradition. This year’s event promises an engaging, informative, and hands-on look at the latest in horticultural research and extension activities.
Field Day 2025 will feature a comprehensive showcase of ongoing research programs across a variety of crops such as apples, tomatoes, nursery plants, and other specialty crops. In addition to the featured research, the event will highlight various other projects and initiatives that reflect the breadth of work being done here at MHCREC.
Come for the whole day or drop in for part of it — your choice! Admission is free.
Enjoy a complimentary lunch on us! And of course, don’t miss the chance to make your own fresh tomato sandwich right in the field!
We look forward to welcoming growers, researchers, students, and community members alike for a day of learning, networking, and celebration of agricultural innovation.
Biltmore Park’s Farmers Market features fresh seasonal produce, delicious homemade pastries, premium meats and seafood, beautiful vibrant flowers, and more. There’s always something to take home with you! It’s the perfect way to support local small businesses and celebrate community this summer. Visit biltmorepark.com for more information.
Come join us at the Bridge & Tunnel Coffee Cafe at the Coman Center at A-B Tech for a wonderful day filled with good food and good people. We are so excited to have local vegan vendors get together and show you what they’ve got. You can stop by and get some treats to go or, even better, hang out with us for a while. There will be plenty of seating for eating and socializing. Find out more on Instagram and Facebook @vgnmkt
The event is indoors and is Rain or Shine. There will be some food trucks right out front.
Hours are 11:00 – 3:00.
Admission is free and everyone is welcome. It’s a vegan party & you’re invited!
Join us for an enchanting evening at the
Flat Rock Playhouse Annual Gala,
“Vagabonds In The Vineyard!”
This year, we’re bringing the vibrant spirit of the Mediterranean to the beautiful
Monday, August 18th
5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Marked Tree Vineyards,
623 Deep Gap Road, Flat Rock, NC
Call the DEVO office at 828-693-0403 ext. 205
Premier Table Seating
$250 per person
– Guaranteed seat at one of our limited reserved tables
– perfect for sitting with friends.
– Two complimentary drink tickets.
– Prime location close to the evening’s entertainment
– featuring various artists and performers from the Flat Rock Playhouse.
General Admission
$125 per person
– Seating on the scenic terrace of Marked Tree Vineyards
– One complimentary drink ticket.
– Enjoy the entertainment and ambiance of the evening.
Reserved seating is limited for the Premier Table option, so book early!
Dinner:
Indulge in a delectable array of dishes from
the curated food stations provided by
Evening Schedule:
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM: Check-in and Happy Hour
6:30 PM – 8:00 PM: Dinner served from food stations
6:30 PM – 8:00 PM: Silent Auction open for bidding
7:30 PM: Entertainment featuring Flat Rock Playhouse artists and performers
8:30 PM: Final Encore
Dress Code:
Embrace the spirit of the Mediterranean!
We encourage you to wear light, flowing attire suitable for strolling
the charming streets of Mykonos or Santorini. Think chic and comfortable.
Biltmore Park’s Farmers Market features fresh seasonal produce, delicious homemade pastries, premium meats and seafood, beautiful vibrant flowers, and more. There’s always something to take home with you! It’s the perfect way to support local small businesses and celebrate community this summer. Visit biltmorepark.com for more information.
Bring the whole family for a day of fun, creativity, and inspiration at the Children’s Entrepreneur Market — where young minds turn big ideas into real-life businesses!
We are partnering with Olivette Farm for their 4th Annual Harvest Fest. Come support young entrepreneurs (ages 5–17) as they showcase their talents, sell their products, and learn the ropes of business firsthand. All while supporting ASAP’s Double SNAP for Fruits and Vegetables program at this special benefit event at Olivette Farm celebrating local farmers, community and music.
📣 Interested in participating?
Young entrepreneurs can register at: https://kidsmarkets.com/
Follow us on Facebook @ChildrenEntrepreneursNorthCarolina for updates, sneak peeks, and more!
✨ Why You’ll Love It:
💡 Educational & Inspiring – Kids learn valuable skills in leadership, creativity, money management, and marketing.
🎨 Hands-On Fun –Family-Friendly Fun
🛍️ One-of-a-Kind Shopping – Support the next generation of business leaders and take home unique, kid-made treasures.
🛡️ Safe & Supervised – A welcoming, secure environment for kids and families.
Join us for our monthly market, where you’ll discover local vendors offering a variety of houseplants, garden plants, and planty-related items, including crafts and jewelry. Show your support by visiting our social table, where we will have branded merchandise for sale to help fund the event, as well as tags for social media pages to follow your favorite vendors. Enjoy live music and a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere.
🅿️Free parking is available! Please park at the front of the building and enter through the hydroponics shop. Vendors will be set up inside the shop as well as outside the back of the shop.
Join the Children’s Entrepreneur Market at Olivette’s Riverside Park for the Harvest Fest, a fun filled day of music, activities and nature in celebration of local farmers, community and music. if you have a kid aged 5-17, they can come and run a booth at our kids-only market! Register today! at https://kidsmarkets.com/event/asheville-3/Included: 1 free adult ticket to Harvest Fest per booth. $25 per ticket for each additional adult to attend Harvest Fest, all children receive free entry.
RISE: A Fly Fishing Festival
Wrong Way River Lodge & Cabins and Uproar Concept are hosting, RISE: A Fly Fishing Festival, taking place on August 24 in Asheville, NC. A portion of proceeds from the one-day event will benefit two local conservation nonprofits: RiverLink & MountainTrue. Both have been vital to recovery efforts in WNC. Borne from Blue Lines, which supports fly fishing guides in Western North Carolina and Tennessee, will host a guide expo during the event in an effort to help them rebuild their customer base after Hurricane Helene.
The riverfront Wrong Way (9 Midnight Drive, on Amboy Road) will host RISE which will be free and open to the public and include activities like casting and fly-tying competitions, clinics, kid-friendly programming, raffles, and shoppable A-frame cabin “takeovers” by outdoor brands. Festival goers will enjoy an eclectic mix of live music in the Wrong Way Meadow and food and drinks from Imposter Pizza Co., Chop Shop Butchery, and featured local breweries.
Gather a team and get ready to spend the day playing 18 holes for our annual, end-of-season Golf Tournament Fundraiser! Hosted at Sprindale Resort in Canton, NC on Thursday, August 28th, 2025, and **NEW THIS YEAR** included in your price of registration is a delicious BBQ Lunch to be served during the Awards Ceremony! Want to play, or interested in becoming a sponsor?
Biltmore Park’s Farmers Market features fresh seasonal produce, delicious homemade pastries, premium meats and seafood, beautiful vibrant flowers, and more. There’s always something to take home with you! It’s the perfect way to support local small businesses and celebrate community this summer. Visit biltmorepark.com for more information.
The iconic Oscar Mayer Wienermobile is rolling into the Biltmore Park Farmers Market on Thursday, August 28! Snap a photo with this one-of-a-kind vehicle and take home fun goodies like whistles, stickers, and postcards. Don’t miss this playful stop that’s sure to spread smiles for the whole family!
Garden and Adventure Photography Basics
with Cami Calnan
Friday, August 29 | 10 am – 1 pm
Elevate your photography from the level you are currently working from. In this immersive workshop, we will explore the technical aspects of the camera you photograph with. Bring your phone, your slr or point and shoot digital or film camera, and we will explore the concepts behind taking the kinds of photos you are hoping to capture.
This program will take place outside and will follow easy trails and paved walkways. Dress for the weather and prepare to be outside for the entire program time.
Chasing Dragons and Damsels in WNC
with Shane Myers
Saturday, August 30 | 9 – 10:30am
Dragonflies and damselflies (order Odonata) are some of our most fascinating insects. Come with us as we talk about their natural history, lives, and ecological importance. We’ll go down to Willow Pond and observe some of these enchanting insects in the wild and up close.
This program will take place outside and will follow easy trails and paved walkways. Dress for the weather and prepare to be outside for the entire program time.
Plein Air Painting
with Erika Busse
Monday, September 1 | 9am – 11am
There is no better way to relax and connect with your creative side and nature than en plein air painting. In this class, artist Erika Busse will teach you how to paint an original Appalachian inspired artwork outside at the beautiful North Carolina Arboretum. She will take you through each step of the painting process, all skill levels are welcomed and all supplies are provided.
Celebrate the season at Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard in Hendersonville, NC! Open daily August 15 through the end of October, enjoy u-pick apples, grapes, flowers, and pumpkins. Explore a 5-acre corn maze, take a weekend wagon ride, bounce on the jump pad, and launch apples from the apple cannon. Don’t miss fresh cider donuts, slushies, plus many more sweet treats and local goods from the Apple House. No admission fee—just pay for what you pick or do. Make it a fall tradition your whole family will love!
📍 steppapples.com | 170 Stepp Orchard Dr., Hendersonville, NC
Celebrate the season at Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard in Hendersonville, NC! Open daily August 15 through the end of October, enjoy u-pick apples, grapes, flowers, and pumpkins. Explore a 5-acre corn maze, take a weekend wagon ride, bounce on the jump pad, and launch apples from the apple cannon. Don’t miss fresh cider donuts, slushies, plus many more sweet treats and local goods from the Apple House. No admission fee—just pay for what you pick or do. Make it a fall tradition your whole family will love!
📍 steppapples.com | 170 Stepp Orchard Dr., Hendersonville, NC
Appalachian Wildlife Refuge, a Western North Carolina nonprofit dedicated to rehabilitating injured and orphaned wildlife, is thrilled to announce its Pawprints & Plates fundraising event. This special “Dine Out for National Wildlife Day” will take place on Thursday, September 4, 2025, with six local establishments supporting the organization’s vital mission.
Community members are invited to dine and drink at any of the participating locations to directly contribute to the care of thousands of wild animals rescued each year.
For the most up-to-date information on participating Pawprints & Plates locations please check Appalachian Wild’s website appalachianwild.org. A list of committed locations are:
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Thai Pearl – 747 Haywood Road
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Ivory Road – 1854 Brevard Rd
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RendezVous – 184 New Haw Creek Rd
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Bebop Bottle Shop – 723 Haywood Rd #101
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Copper Crown – 1011 Tunnel Rd #100
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Burning Blush Brewery – 4891 Boylston Hwy
Celebrate the season at Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard in Hendersonville, NC! Open daily August 15 through the end of October, enjoy u-pick apples, grapes, flowers, and pumpkins. Explore a 5-acre corn maze, take a weekend wagon ride, bounce on the jump pad, and launch apples from the apple cannon. Don’t miss fresh cider donuts, slushies, plus many more sweet treats and local goods from the Apple House. No admission fee—just pay for what you pick or do. Make it a fall tradition your whole family will love!
📍 steppapples.com | 170 Stepp Orchard Dr., Hendersonville, NC
Late Summer Tree ID
with Lauren Lampley
Thursday, September 4 | 1 – 4 pm
Join this class as we discuss how to use different characteristics and field guides to identify common trees of Western North Carolina found here at the NC Arboretum. We will look at using different characteristics including habitat, bark, buds, growth pattern, leaf shape, and fruit/nut shape to identify trees.
This program will take place outside and will follow easy trails and paved walkways. Dress for the weather and prepare to be outside for the entire program time.