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.
Sip and stroll through the Arboretum’s gardens in the glow of the golden hour, all while listening to live music from a variety of local and regional artists! ArborEvenings runs Wednesdays and Thursdays through September 18, 2025 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
**Please note: Outside alcohol is prohibited on the campus of The North Carolina Arboretum.**
There is no additional cost to attend ArborEvenings beyond our standard parking fee. As always, Arboretum Society members and their accompanying guests can enter for FREE (guests must be in member vehicles to receive free entry). Proceeds from ArborEvenings help support the The North Carolina Arboretum Society and further advance the Arboretum’s mission.
Sip and stroll through the Arboretum’s gardens in the glow of the golden hour, all while listening to live music from a variety of local and regional artists! ArborEvenings runs Wednesdays and Thursdays through September 18, 2025 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
**Please note: Outside alcohol is prohibited on the campus of The North Carolina Arboretum.**
There is no additional cost to attend ArborEvenings beyond our standard parking fee. As always, Arboretum Society members and their accompanying guests can enter for FREE (guests must be in member vehicles to receive free entry). Proceeds from ArborEvenings help support the The North Carolina Arboretum Society and further advance the Arboretum’s mission.
Sip and stroll through the Arboretum’s gardens in the glow of the golden hour, all while listening to live music from a variety of local and regional artists! ArborEvenings runs Wednesdays and Thursdays through September 18, 2025 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
**Please note: Outside alcohol is prohibited on the campus of The North Carolina Arboretum.**
There is no additional cost to attend ArborEvenings beyond our standard parking fee. As always, Arboretum Society members and their accompanying guests can enter for FREE (guests must be in member vehicles to receive free entry). Proceeds from ArborEvenings help support the The North Carolina Arboretum Society and further advance the Arboretum’s mission.
Sip and stroll through the Arboretum’s gardens in the glow of the golden hour, all while listening to live music from a variety of local and regional artists! ArborEvenings runs Wednesdays and Thursdays through September 18, 2025 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
**Please note: Outside alcohol is prohibited on the campus of The North Carolina Arboretum.**
There is no additional cost to attend ArborEvenings beyond our standard parking fee. As always, Arboretum Society members and their accompanying guests can enter for FREE (guests must be in member vehicles to receive free entry). Proceeds from ArborEvenings help support the The North Carolina Arboretum Society and further advance the Arboretum’s mission.
Sip and stroll through the Arboretum’s gardens in the glow of the golden hour, all while listening to live music from a variety of local and regional artists! ArborEvenings runs Wednesdays and Thursdays through September 18, 2025 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
**Please note: Outside alcohol is prohibited on the campus of The North Carolina Arboretum.**
There is no additional cost to attend ArborEvenings beyond our standard parking fee. As always, Arboretum Society members and their accompanying guests can enter for FREE (guests must be in member vehicles to receive free entry). Proceeds from ArborEvenings help support the The North Carolina Arboretum Society and further advance the Arboretum’s mission.
Sip and stroll through the Arboretum’s gardens in the glow of the golden hour, all while listening to live music from a variety of local and regional artists! ArborEvenings runs Wednesdays and Thursdays through September 18, 2025 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
**Please note: Outside alcohol is prohibited on the campus of The North Carolina Arboretum.**
There is no additional cost to attend ArborEvenings beyond our standard parking fee. As always, Arboretum Society members and their accompanying guests can enter for FREE (guests must be in member vehicles to receive free entry). Proceeds from ArborEvenings help support the The North Carolina Arboretum Society and further advance the Arboretum’s mission.
The first annual Bodhi Fest, a Buddhist Arts and Film Festival at Asheville Community Theatre on August 16th, 2025 will be a day of illumination as we explore the gladdening qualities of the human spirit ranging from sweet solitude to ecstatic joy. The program will consist of Buddhist films + Q&A, shorts, a dance workshop, a songwriting workshop, musical performances and more. Crafts, art and food from Buddhist sanghas, artists and local vendors will be shared in the front lobby during the festival.
Enjoy an event of immersion in compassionate-wisdom activities that provoke insight and lift the spirit.
Sip and stroll through the Arboretum’s gardens in the glow of the golden hour, all while listening to live music from a variety of local and regional artists! ArborEvenings runs Wednesdays and Thursdays through September 18, 2025 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
**Please note: Outside alcohol is prohibited on the campus of The North Carolina Arboretum.**
There is no additional cost to attend ArborEvenings beyond our standard parking fee. As always, Arboretum Society members and their accompanying guests can enter for FREE (guests must be in member vehicles to receive free entry). Proceeds from ArborEvenings help support the The North Carolina Arboretum Society and further advance the Arboretum’s mission.
Sip and stroll through the Arboretum’s gardens in the glow of the golden hour, all while listening to live music from a variety of local and regional artists! ArborEvenings runs Wednesdays and Thursdays through September 18, 2025 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
**Please note: Outside alcohol is prohibited on the campus of The North Carolina Arboretum.**
There is no additional cost to attend ArborEvenings beyond our standard parking fee. As always, Arboretum Society members and their accompanying guests can enter for FREE (guests must be in member vehicles to receive free entry). Proceeds from ArborEvenings help support the The North Carolina Arboretum Society and further advance the Arboretum’s mission.
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.
Sip and stroll through the Arboretum’s gardens in the glow of the golden hour, all while listening to live music from a variety of local and regional artists! ArborEvenings runs Wednesdays and Thursdays through September 18, 2025 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
**Please note: Outside alcohol is prohibited on the campus of The North Carolina Arboretum.**
There is no additional cost to attend ArborEvenings beyond our standard parking fee. As always, Arboretum Society members and their accompanying guests can enter for FREE (guests must be in member vehicles to receive free entry). Proceeds from ArborEvenings help support the The North Carolina Arboretum Society and further advance the Arboretum’s mission.
Sip and stroll through the Arboretum’s gardens in the glow of the golden hour, all while listening to live music from a variety of local and regional artists! ArborEvenings runs Wednesdays and Thursdays through September 18, 2025 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
**Please note: Outside alcohol is prohibited on the campus of The North Carolina Arboretum.**
There is no additional cost to attend ArborEvenings beyond our standard parking fee. As always, Arboretum Society members and their accompanying guests can enter for FREE (guests must be in member vehicles to receive free entry). Proceeds from ArborEvenings help support the The North Carolina Arboretum Society and further advance the Arboretum’s mission.
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.
Sip and stroll through the Arboretum’s gardens in the glow of the golden hour, all while listening to live music from a variety of local and regional artists! ArborEvenings runs Wednesdays and Thursdays through September 18, 2025 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
**Please note: Outside alcohol is prohibited on the campus of The North Carolina Arboretum.**
There is no additional cost to attend ArborEvenings beyond our standard parking fee. As always, Arboretum Society members and their accompanying guests can enter for FREE (guests must be in member vehicles to receive free entry). Proceeds from ArborEvenings help support the The North Carolina Arboretum Society and further advance the Arboretum’s mission.
Sip and stroll through the Arboretum’s gardens in the glow of the golden hour, all while listening to live music from a variety of local and regional artists! ArborEvenings runs Wednesdays and Thursdays through September 18, 2025 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
**Please note: Outside alcohol is prohibited on the campus of The North Carolina Arboretum.**
There is no additional cost to attend ArborEvenings beyond our standard parking fee. As always, Arboretum Society members and their accompanying guests can enter for FREE (guests must be in member vehicles to receive free entry). Proceeds from ArborEvenings help support the The North Carolina Arboretum Society and further advance the Arboretum’s mission.
Gardening in a Changing Climate
with Laura Lengnick
Wednesday, September 10 | 1 – 3pm
The changing weather patterns caused by climate change create new challenges for gardeners in Western NC and beyond. More variable and extreme temperatures and rainfall, a longer growing season and warmer winters disrupt the growth and development of plants and animals common to our region. This course provides an overview of the practices, both old and new, that gardeners can use to cultivate a climate-resilient garden. Learn how to evaluate climate risk, anticipate the arrival of new pests and diseases, and track local changes in weather patterns to improve your ability to adjust seasonal work plans, select well-adapted plant species/cultivars, and manage landscapes to promote climate resilience.
Sip and stroll through the Arboretum’s gardens in the glow of the golden hour, all while listening to live music from a variety of local and regional artists! ArborEvenings runs Wednesdays and Thursdays through September 18, 2025 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
**Please note: Outside alcohol is prohibited on the campus of The North Carolina Arboretum.**
There is no additional cost to attend ArborEvenings beyond our standard parking fee. As always, Arboretum Society members and their accompanying guests can enter for FREE (guests must be in member vehicles to receive free entry). Proceeds from ArborEvenings help support the The North Carolina Arboretum Society and further advance the Arboretum’s mission.
The 17th Annual Music Video Asheville showcases creative collaborations between musicians and filmmakers. Bands from Asheville and beyond submit their full-length music videos for a chance to win cash, a 100-album record pressing by American Vinyl Co and Donaldson Record Pressing Co, a day in the studio at Citizen Vinyl and recognition.
The annual event usually receives around 100 submissions, and approximately 30 of the best entries will be selected as finalists for viewing at the red-carpet runway awards ceremony on September 10, 2025, at Wortham Center’s Diana Wortham Theatre in downtown Asheville. The winners will be chosen by a judging panel of over 25 local and national judges. Attendees will have the chance to vote for People’s Choice.
“The film festival uses judging as an opportunity to share work with film and music industries in other parts of the country,” says MVA founder Jenny Greer Fares. “We’ve worked hard over the years to focus on the art form of putting visuals to music, storytelling, cinematography, etc… as opposed to hosting a popularity contest. We work as a team to get diverse judges from all over, who are experts in the music and film industries. The People’s Choice is a crowd favorite award and is the exception. Audience members text their favorite video selection at the event, and this usually is a locally loved act who deserves recognition, like Andrew Scotchie’s video “Love is Enough” in 2024.”
“This event was invented by musicians, and the filmmakers are the ones submitting the films and helping bring the artistic visions to life,” says Fares. “Filmmaking is very collaborative and so is music making. We want to celebrate those collaborations and Asheville’s culture.”
Presented by Fred Andersen Subaru, Produced by Sound Mind Design and I AM AVL
Sip and stroll through the Arboretum’s gardens in the glow of the golden hour, all while listening to live music from a variety of local and regional artists! ArborEvenings runs Wednesdays and Thursdays through September 18, 2025 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
**Please note: Outside alcohol is prohibited on the campus of The North Carolina Arboretum.**
There is no additional cost to attend ArborEvenings beyond our standard parking fee. As always, Arboretum Society members and their accompanying guests can enter for FREE (guests must be in member vehicles to receive free entry). Proceeds from ArborEvenings help support the The North Carolina Arboretum Society and further advance the Arboretum’s mission.
MountainTrue is BEYOND thrilled to bring the BANFF Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour to Asheville, NC, on September 12 & 13, 2025 — and you’re invited for not one, but TWO unforgettable nights of high-altitude excitement! Join us for a celebration of jaw-dropping adventure, heart-pounding sports, wild places, and inspiring stories from around the globe 🌍 Whether you’re a climber, paddler, trail fanatic, or armchair adventurer, there’s something here to spark your spirit.
Each night features a completely different lineup of films, so go ahead — double-dip the adventure! ALL attendees will be entered in a FREE drawing to win amazing door prizes!
This event is going to be hotter than a campfire on a chilly night! Don’t get left at basecamp — snag your tickets now and secure your spot for the adventure🔥
All proceeds support the work of MountainTrue.
Forest Bathing: A Harvest Season Retreat
with Asheville Wellness Tours
Saturday, September 13 | 10 – 1pm
Celebrate abundance, balance and equilibrium during this immersive morning nature connection retreat. During this seasonal transition, we’ll mark the threshold between summer and fall, honoring the Earth’s bountiful harvest while slowing our pace, awakening our senses, and practicing embodied acts of gratitude. Honoring this liminal fifth season, connecting with ourselves, each other, and the more-than-human-world, nourishing the relationships that sustain and connect us.
Your guide, Christa Hebal, will lead you on a gentle journey through the forest, weaving mindfulness, breathwork, forest bathing and nature therapy together for a restorative morning on some of the trails less traveled at the North Carolina Arboretum. We’ll celebrate the experience with a community Earth offering, followed by a wild-foraged tea ceremony and snacks. Bring an open mind and an open heart. All are welcome. Presented through Adult & Continuing Education Programs in collaboration with Asheville Wellness Tours.
MountainTrue is BEYOND thrilled to bring the BANFF Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour to Asheville, NC, on September 12 & 13, 2025 — and you’re invited for not one, but TWO unforgettable nights of high-altitude excitement! Join us for a celebration of jaw-dropping adventure, heart-pounding sports, wild places, and inspiring stories from around the globe 🌍 Whether you’re a climber, paddler, trail fanatic, or armchair adventurer, there’s something here to spark your spirit.
Each night features a completely different lineup of films, so go ahead — double-dip the adventure! ALL attendees will be entered in a FREE drawing to win amazing door prizes!
This event is going to be hotter than a campfire on a chilly night! Don’t get left at basecamp — snag your tickets now and secure your spot for the adventure🔥
All proceeds support the work of MountainTrue.
Sip and stroll through the Arboretum’s gardens in the glow of the golden hour, all while listening to live music from a variety of local and regional artists! ArborEvenings runs Wednesdays and Thursdays through September 18, 2025 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
**Please note: Outside alcohol is prohibited on the campus of The North Carolina Arboretum.**
There is no additional cost to attend ArborEvenings beyond our standard parking fee. As always, Arboretum Society members and their accompanying guests can enter for FREE (guests must be in member vehicles to receive free entry). Proceeds from ArborEvenings help support the The North Carolina Arboretum Society and further advance the Arboretum’s mission.
Sip and stroll through the Arboretum’s gardens in the glow of the golden hour, all while listening to live music from a variety of local and regional artists! ArborEvenings runs Wednesdays and Thursdays through September 18, 2025 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
**Please note: Outside alcohol is prohibited on the campus of The North Carolina Arboretum.**
There is no additional cost to attend ArborEvenings beyond our standard parking fee. As always, Arboretum Society members and their accompanying guests can enter for FREE (guests must be in member vehicles to receive free entry). Proceeds from ArborEvenings help support the The North Carolina Arboretum Society and further advance the Arboretum’s mission.
Signup begins 6pm / Perform 6:30-8:30.
Everyone is welcome! Any genre…song, music, spoken word, poetry, storytelling, comedy, short films, demos, etc. Supportive listening room in an art gallery setting. Each performer gets up to 12 minutes each. All performances will be livecast.
Classic movies from around the world every Friday!
“My American Uncle” (1980, 2h 5m, France, by Alain Resnais)
In this unconventional French film, renowned writer/philosopher Henri Laborit (portraying himself) presents three stories that illustrate the complexities of human behavior. René (Gérard Depardieu) is a man from humble farming roots who becomes manager at a textile factory and must contend with the pressures of the job. Meanwhile, Janine (Nicole Garcia), an actress turned stylist, is involved in an affair with Jean (Roger Pierre), a politician and aspiring writer who faces difficulties at home.
Donation-based admission. Light refreshments available.
Everyone is welcome! Any genre…song, music, spoken word, poetry, storytelling, comedy, short films, demos, etc. Supportive listening room in an art gallery setting. Each performer gets up to 12 minutes each. All performances will be livecast.
Classic movies from around the world every Friday!
“Ciao Professore!” (1992, 1h 40m, Italy, by Lina Wertmüller)
An error puts a strict teacher (Paolo Villaggio) from northern Italy with street-smart third graders to the south.
Donation-based admission. Light refreshments available.
Something extraordinary is coming to Asheville this winter! The North Carolina Arboretum and Explore Asheville are elated to announce the arrival of Trolls: A Field Study. Visiting on their first North American excursion, these twelve interactive troll sculptures will explore the Arboretum, embarking on a curious journey to learn about humankind.
Produced by Imagine in collaboration with Danish artist Thomas Dambo, these friendly and fanciful sculptures evoke a sense of wonder and intrigue as they study our small, intricate and inventive ways of life in Western North Carolina. Standing seven to nine feet tall and lovingly described by the artist as “Baby Trolls”, the creatures are crafted from materials like fallen branches, wooden pallets and twigs.
Through their observations, the trolls reveal a fresh perspective on what makes us human, sparking curiosity and laughter in visitors of all ages.
Only cost is the parking fee. No other admission fees.
Something extraordinary is coming to Asheville this winter! The North Carolina Arboretum and Explore Asheville are elated to announce the arrival of Trolls: A Field Study. Visiting on their first North American excursion, these twelve interactive troll sculptures will explore the Arboretum, embarking on a curious journey to learn about humankind.
Produced by Imagine in collaboration with Danish artist Thomas Dambo, these friendly and fanciful sculptures evoke a sense of wonder and intrigue as they study our small, intricate and inventive ways of life in Western North Carolina. Standing seven to nine feet tall and lovingly described by the artist as “Baby Trolls”, the creatures are crafted from materials like fallen branches, wooden pallets and twigs.
Through their observations, the trolls reveal a fresh perspective on what makes us human, sparking curiosity and laughter in visitors of all ages.
Only cost is the parking fee. No other admission fees.
