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.
Are you looking for a great way to get involved with your community and make a difference? Board, committee, and commission members aid the governing process by keeping Buncombe County in touch with the ideas and attitudes of our community. They help provide direction for the allocation of funds, the provision of human services, protection of residents, property, and our natural resources.
Public input is vitally important to the success of our County, and right now Buncombe County has vacancies on a number of boards and commissions. Learn more about vacancies, deadlines to apply, and the application process at buncombecounty.org/transparency.
Featured Board & Commission vacancies
Buncombe County is seeking applications to join the Early Childhood Committee
This is a great chance to be a part of shaping the future for children in Buncombe County. The Early Childhood Education and Development Fund is a major driver in assuring every child in Buncombe County has an equal opportunity to thrive during their first 2,000 days. The focus of this initiative is to increase access to quality, affordable early childhood education.
As such, Buncombe County’s Early Childhood Committee, featuring 15 total members including 3 County Commissioners, was established to guide how the fund is invested. The purpose of the committee is to engage with community partners, solicit public input, and make policy and funding recommendations to the Board of Commissioners. This committee typically meets monthly, on the first Tuesdays from 1-2:30 p.m. To learn more about the Early Childhood Fund, click here to visit our website.
There are two open positions designated as Community/At Large for a two-year term that begins July 1, 2022. To apply, click here to complete an online application. The deadline to apply is June 24.
Economic Development Coalition Board Vacancy June 2022: At Large / 2 -year initial term
Are you a Buncombe County resident with interest in the strategies and goals of economic development? Have you carried executive leadership responsibility in the healthcare sector of Buncombe County? Do you offer passion for the needs of Buncombe County businesses and the direct relationship between economic vitality and community health and wellness? The EDC is seeking a c-level healthcare executive with expertise and perspective of a locally headquartered healthcare system for board service.
The Board of the Economic Development Coalition for Asheville-Buncombe County is a partnership of Buncombe County, City of Asheville, and the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce with a mission to improve economic opportunity in Buncombe County by growing wages, employment, tax base and a more diversified and balanced regional economy for all residents. Members of the Board will contribute to priority setting, financial planning, and program evaluation for staff of the EDC according to the AVL 5×5 Strategic Plan for 2025. Members may also be tasked with private sector fundraising for the AVL 5×5 Campaign, strategic plan development, service on ad-hoc advisory committees, or special projects that advance the goals of economic development in Buncombe County.
For more information, contact Lamar Joyner at 250-4105 or [email protected].
Audit Committee Seeking New Members
Looking for a great opportunity to further develop personally and professionally? The Audit Committee is seeking new members and will have three open positions for a four-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2023.
The Audit Committee was originally formed in 2000 to oversee the independent audit of the County’s financial statements and provide an annual evaluation of the budget documents. Since that time, the committee’s duties have expanded to include oversight of the County’s Internal Audit function including approving the annual internal audit plan and evaluating the effectiveness of the internal audit function.
The committee is made up of seven total members including two County Commissioners. We are looking for a member of another governing body, a member of the accounting profession, and a member of the banking community. Find more information on the Audit Committee here.
Time commitment: Minimum of two meetings required per year but typically meets six to seven times a year, on Tuesdays from 9-11 a.m.
PARI’s summer STEM and space camp programming is designed to inspire your young scientist’s curiosity, passion, and confidence to discover something extraordinary. We give campers experiences that encourage deeper thinking and problem solving skills while finding opportunities for comradery, adventure, and fun in the incredible Pisgah Forest region.
Our Mission Control camps provide simulated missions that cover the many topics and skills necessary for a successful exploration of world beyond our own. We’ll use the same kinds of processes that NASA, SpaceX and others use in developing and conducting journeys into space. These missions teach teamwork and STEM principles while giving campers fun and exciting experiences. The camp is an immersive journey amidst our historic campus which played a critical role in the first space race, and will help poise your camper for a role in the next.
Teams will research real technologies and techniques to build and launch a spacecraft, set science and research goals, and ensure everything needed is sent along. They will also need to choose a crew and care for their health and well-being, perform outreach and gain public support, and navigate funding and political challenges.
PARI’s research based camps are aimed at the camper who wants to experience what its like to be a researcher in astronomy, astrophysics, and astrobiology. Scientists and researchers with careers in space science lead this academically challenging curriculum that has been refined for nearly two decades.
Camps begin with an intense first few days of introductions to the instruments, science, and math needed to conduct research. They’ll be guided through choosing a research goal from the menu investigations we believe they can successfully conduct with radio and optical telescopes, and vast archives, provided by PARI and its partners.
The importance of both individual and team based work is emphasized while campers are guided through the research process. They’ll learn to share their progress and conclusions in the same ways expected in journals and at astronomical conferences.
Register for one of PARI’s summer STEM and Space Camp programs today!
Scholarships opportunities are available!
All ages 6 and up. Students will learn about songwriting, hone their skills on various instruments, and delve into music production and recording. Students will work together to write and record an original song and as well as create a music video of the process. **Please note there will be no camp on July 4th
Join the Western North Carolina Historical Association (WNCHA) Tuesday, July 5 at 6pm for a special History Hour event exploring the history of Asheville’s Skyview Golf Association and tournament. This program airs live via Zoom and will be recorded as well.
The Skyview Golf Association was founded in 1959 as a non-profit promoting golf competition among African Americans in the Asheville area. The following year, they held their first annual Black golfing tournament. The association and tournament were transformative, providing a steppingstone for several Black caddies—who were formerly only allowed to play Asheville’s municipal course on Mondays—to compete and hone their skills against many Black golfers who turned pro. The tournament increasingly drew Black golfers from across the U.S. and also proved to be an immensely popular social event for many Asheville residents. It was the subject of Asheville filmmaker Paul Bonesteel’s 2020 documentary The Muni, of which we will view clips during this program. Join us to learn more about the association and the figures who have kept it going over the years.
About the Speaker:
Matthew Bacoate Jr. has a lengthy list of leadership and service to Asheville, and was the founder, manager, and owner of AFRAM, the largest African American-owned business in Asheville history. He is a Korean War veteran, community activist, and a builder of economic development projects and interracial relationships in Asheville and North Carolina. He has previously served on the boards of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, YMI Cultural Center, Asheville Chapter of the American Red Cross, and the Black Business and Professional League among others. He is also frequently noted as a walking textbook of Asheville history. Once one of the young men who broke the barriers to integrate Asheville’s municipal golf course, today Matthew runs the Skyview Golf Tournament.
Are you looking for a great way to get involved with your community and make a difference? Board, committee, and commission members aid the governing process by keeping Buncombe County in touch with the ideas and attitudes of our community. They help provide direction for the allocation of funds, the provision of human services, protection of residents, property, and our natural resources.
Public input is vitally important to the success of our County, and right now Buncombe County has vacancies on a number of boards and commissions. Learn more about vacancies, deadlines to apply, and the application process at buncombecounty.org/transparency.
Featured Board & Commission vacancies
Buncombe County is seeking applications to join the Early Childhood Committee
This is a great chance to be a part of shaping the future for children in Buncombe County. The Early Childhood Education and Development Fund is a major driver in assuring every child in Buncombe County has an equal opportunity to thrive during their first 2,000 days. The focus of this initiative is to increase access to quality, affordable early childhood education.
As such, Buncombe County’s Early Childhood Committee, featuring 15 total members including 3 County Commissioners, was established to guide how the fund is invested. The purpose of the committee is to engage with community partners, solicit public input, and make policy and funding recommendations to the Board of Commissioners. This committee typically meets monthly, on the first Tuesdays from 1-2:30 p.m. To learn more about the Early Childhood Fund, click here to visit our website.
There are two open positions designated as Community/At Large for a two-year term that begins July 1, 2022. To apply, click here to complete an online application. The deadline to apply is June 24.
Economic Development Coalition Board Vacancy June 2022: At Large / 2 -year initial term
Are you a Buncombe County resident with interest in the strategies and goals of economic development? Have you carried executive leadership responsibility in the healthcare sector of Buncombe County? Do you offer passion for the needs of Buncombe County businesses and the direct relationship between economic vitality and community health and wellness? The EDC is seeking a c-level healthcare executive with expertise and perspective of a locally headquartered healthcare system for board service.
The Board of the Economic Development Coalition for Asheville-Buncombe County is a partnership of Buncombe County, City of Asheville, and the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce with a mission to improve economic opportunity in Buncombe County by growing wages, employment, tax base and a more diversified and balanced regional economy for all residents. Members of the Board will contribute to priority setting, financial planning, and program evaluation for staff of the EDC according to the AVL 5×5 Strategic Plan for 2025. Members may also be tasked with private sector fundraising for the AVL 5×5 Campaign, strategic plan development, service on ad-hoc advisory committees, or special projects that advance the goals of economic development in Buncombe County.
For more information, contact Lamar Joyner at 250-4105 or [email protected].
Audit Committee Seeking New Members
Looking for a great opportunity to further develop personally and professionally? The Audit Committee is seeking new members and will have three open positions for a four-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2023.
The Audit Committee was originally formed in 2000 to oversee the independent audit of the County’s financial statements and provide an annual evaluation of the budget documents. Since that time, the committee’s duties have expanded to include oversight of the County’s Internal Audit function including approving the annual internal audit plan and evaluating the effectiveness of the internal audit function.
The committee is made up of seven total members including two County Commissioners. We are looking for a member of another governing body, a member of the accounting profession, and a member of the banking community. Find more information on the Audit Committee here.
Time commitment: Minimum of two meetings required per year but typically meets six to seven times a year, on Tuesdays from 9-11 a.m.
PARI’s summer STEM and space camp programming is designed to inspire your young scientist’s curiosity, passion, and confidence to discover something extraordinary. We give campers experiences that encourage deeper thinking and problem solving skills while finding opportunities for comradery, adventure, and fun in the incredible Pisgah Forest region.
Our Mission Control camps provide simulated missions that cover the many topics and skills necessary for a successful exploration of world beyond our own. We’ll use the same kinds of processes that NASA, SpaceX and others use in developing and conducting journeys into space. These missions teach teamwork and STEM principles while giving campers fun and exciting experiences. The camp is an immersive journey amidst our historic campus which played a critical role in the first space race, and will help poise your camper for a role in the next.
Teams will research real technologies and techniques to build and launch a spacecraft, set science and research goals, and ensure everything needed is sent along. They will also need to choose a crew and care for their health and well-being, perform outreach and gain public support, and navigate funding and political challenges.
PARI’s research based camps are aimed at the camper who wants to experience what its like to be a researcher in astronomy, astrophysics, and astrobiology. Scientists and researchers with careers in space science lead this academically challenging curriculum that has been refined for nearly two decades.
Camps begin with an intense first few days of introductions to the instruments, science, and math needed to conduct research. They’ll be guided through choosing a research goal from the menu investigations we believe they can successfully conduct with radio and optical telescopes, and vast archives, provided by PARI and its partners.
The importance of both individual and team based work is emphasized while campers are guided through the research process. They’ll learn to share their progress and conclusions in the same ways expected in journals and at astronomical conferences.
Register for one of PARI’s summer STEM and Space Camp programs today!
Scholarships opportunities are available!
In this entirely field-based class led by Naturalist Scott Dean, you will learn to identify native mountain flora on the trail, training your eyes and using a non-technical dichotomous keying system. Study the characteristics of plant families and the basics of plant communities all in place. While the focus is on summer wildflowers and trees, you will also pick up a wealth of information on the natural and cultural history of the flora of the Blue Ridge.
Shipwrecks! Betrayals! Romance! Mistaken identities and switcheroos! Magic! A tipsy sea monster! This Shakespearean comedy has everything!
Rehearsals for “The Tempest” will be from 11am-4pm Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays starting June 13, and performances will be July 1-3 and July 8 & 9.
Asheville Area Arts Council funding helps support Moppets after-school program
Taught by Artistic Director Ashleigh Goff and veteran Moppet Eli Hamilton, the class is our first-ever partnership with the City of Asheville. Students in the after-school program are learning basic theater skills and building their self-confidence in a fun and welcoming environment. The program will culminate in a showcase performance for the students’ peers and families.
“One of our overarching goals is to introduce more kids to classical theater, wherever they are,” Moppets Executive Director Rachel Cort said. “This funding helps us to take a big step toward that goal. We are incredibly grateful to the Asheville Area Arts Council for supporting the Moppets and aspiring young actors in our community.”
Did you know our staff had a wild side? Join a Park naturalist to meet some of our live Animal Ambassadors and learn what kind of wildlife inhabits the Park and their important roles in the ecosystem. Some of our best teachers have feathers, fur, shells or scales!
Come check out for yourself the popular West Coast Swing dance style that can be done to a
wide variety of music, including pop, country, blues, and contemporary music, come at 7pm for a group classes: intermediate
classes with Pflumm and Alain Rogozhin and beginner classes with Rachel Harris and Tola Sun, Followed by a social dance at
8pm, Dress is casual and no partner is needed, BYO wine or beer,
Are you looking for a great way to get involved with your community and make a difference? Board, committee, and commission members aid the governing process by keeping Buncombe County in touch with the ideas and attitudes of our community. They help provide direction for the allocation of funds, the provision of human services, protection of residents, property, and our natural resources.
Public input is vitally important to the success of our County, and right now Buncombe County has vacancies on a number of boards and commissions. Learn more about vacancies, deadlines to apply, and the application process at buncombecounty.org/transparency.
Featured Board & Commission vacancies
Buncombe County is seeking applications to join the Early Childhood Committee
This is a great chance to be a part of shaping the future for children in Buncombe County. The Early Childhood Education and Development Fund is a major driver in assuring every child in Buncombe County has an equal opportunity to thrive during their first 2,000 days. The focus of this initiative is to increase access to quality, affordable early childhood education.
As such, Buncombe County’s Early Childhood Committee, featuring 15 total members including 3 County Commissioners, was established to guide how the fund is invested. The purpose of the committee is to engage with community partners, solicit public input, and make policy and funding recommendations to the Board of Commissioners. This committee typically meets monthly, on the first Tuesdays from 1-2:30 p.m. To learn more about the Early Childhood Fund, click here to visit our website.
There are two open positions designated as Community/At Large for a two-year term that begins July 1, 2022. To apply, click here to complete an online application. The deadline to apply is June 24.
Economic Development Coalition Board Vacancy June 2022: At Large / 2 -year initial term
Are you a Buncombe County resident with interest in the strategies and goals of economic development? Have you carried executive leadership responsibility in the healthcare sector of Buncombe County? Do you offer passion for the needs of Buncombe County businesses and the direct relationship between economic vitality and community health and wellness? The EDC is seeking a c-level healthcare executive with expertise and perspective of a locally headquartered healthcare system for board service.
The Board of the Economic Development Coalition for Asheville-Buncombe County is a partnership of Buncombe County, City of Asheville, and the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce with a mission to improve economic opportunity in Buncombe County by growing wages, employment, tax base and a more diversified and balanced regional economy for all residents. Members of the Board will contribute to priority setting, financial planning, and program evaluation for staff of the EDC according to the AVL 5×5 Strategic Plan for 2025. Members may also be tasked with private sector fundraising for the AVL 5×5 Campaign, strategic plan development, service on ad-hoc advisory committees, or special projects that advance the goals of economic development in Buncombe County.
For more information, contact Lamar Joyner at 250-4105 or [email protected].
Audit Committee Seeking New Members
Looking for a great opportunity to further develop personally and professionally? The Audit Committee is seeking new members and will have three open positions for a four-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2023.
The Audit Committee was originally formed in 2000 to oversee the independent audit of the County’s financial statements and provide an annual evaluation of the budget documents. Since that time, the committee’s duties have expanded to include oversight of the County’s Internal Audit function including approving the annual internal audit plan and evaluating the effectiveness of the internal audit function.
The committee is made up of seven total members including two County Commissioners. We are looking for a member of another governing body, a member of the accounting profession, and a member of the banking community. Find more information on the Audit Committee here.
Time commitment: Minimum of two meetings required per year but typically meets six to seven times a year, on Tuesdays from 9-11 a.m.
PARI’s summer STEM and space camp programming is designed to inspire your young scientist’s curiosity, passion, and confidence to discover something extraordinary. We give campers experiences that encourage deeper thinking and problem solving skills while finding opportunities for comradery, adventure, and fun in the incredible Pisgah Forest region.
Our Mission Control camps provide simulated missions that cover the many topics and skills necessary for a successful exploration of world beyond our own. We’ll use the same kinds of processes that NASA, SpaceX and others use in developing and conducting journeys into space. These missions teach teamwork and STEM principles while giving campers fun and exciting experiences. The camp is an immersive journey amidst our historic campus which played a critical role in the first space race, and will help poise your camper for a role in the next.
Teams will research real technologies and techniques to build and launch a spacecraft, set science and research goals, and ensure everything needed is sent along. They will also need to choose a crew and care for their health and well-being, perform outreach and gain public support, and navigate funding and political challenges.
PARI’s research based camps are aimed at the camper who wants to experience what its like to be a researcher in astronomy, astrophysics, and astrobiology. Scientists and researchers with careers in space science lead this academically challenging curriculum that has been refined for nearly two decades.
Camps begin with an intense first few days of introductions to the instruments, science, and math needed to conduct research. They’ll be guided through choosing a research goal from the menu investigations we believe they can successfully conduct with radio and optical telescopes, and vast archives, provided by PARI and its partners.
The importance of both individual and team based work is emphasized while campers are guided through the research process. They’ll learn to share their progress and conclusions in the same ways expected in journals and at astronomical conferences.
Register for one of PARI’s summer STEM and Space Camp programs today!
Scholarships opportunities are available!
Dates: July 11 – 16, 2022
Application: Available now through MyBMC
Cost: A $600 fee covers all housing, meals, classes, materials, and concert tickets. Spots are limited and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Please note: Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required for all students, faculty, and summer staff for the 2022 season. Please see our FAQ page for more information.
Program Summary
Brevard Music Center (BMC) presents The Brevard Project: Reimagining the Future of Orchestral Programming, a six-day intensive seminar and think-tank on orchestral programming intended for professionals and influencers in the orchestral field. Presented by Brevard Music Center in partnership with Bard College, the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University, the Chicago Sinfonietta, the South Dakota Symphony, the University of Michigan School of Music, and Project Director Joseph Horowitz, The Brevard Project takes place July 11-16, 2022. The central goals of The Brevard Project are to re-evaluate the artistic mission of the American orchestra and to share the skills needed to curate a more comprehensive, more inclusive American orchestral repertoire.
Curriculum
The Brevard Project: Reimagining the Future of Orchestral Programing complements Brevard Music Center’s week-long “Dvořák’s Prophecy” festival from July 11-16 and is inspired by Joseph Horowitz’s acclaimed new book Dvořák’s Prophecy and the Vexed Fate of Black Classical Music. Part think-tank, part seminar, this inaugural Project gathering equips practitioners and scholars alike to begin to answer questions about the dense nexus of culture and race, of historical, political, and moral reckonings surrounding the story of American orchestral music. The central goals of this program are to re-evaluate the artistic mission of the American orchestra and to share the skills needed to curate a more comprehensive, more inclusive American orchestral repertoire. The Brevard Project is designed for conductors, artistic administrators, executive directors, community engagement specialists, conservatory students, and engaged orchestra Board members.
Moving forward requires a fresh and closer look at our musical past – and to the lagging formation of an American symphonic canon. A new narrative of American classical music will be proposed that explores timely and topical issues that impact present and future orchestral programming. Why did our repertoire remain so stubbornly Eurocentric? What can we learn from this history? What can be mined from the treasure trove of long-hidden indigenous and Black music that can help to pave the future?
Classroom sessions will be highly interactive, drawing upon first-hand accounts of humanities-infused approaches to programming and community engagement. Topics of exploration include creating a “new paradigm” for American orchestral repertoire, rethinking the concert experience, and redefining the role of the music director. Participants will be challenged to envision programming and organizational initiatives to promote symphonic events grounded in the American experience, past and present.
The Faculty
A remarkable faculty has been assembled for this groundbreaking exercise.
*virtual participant
Joseph Horowitz, Project Director
Leon Botstein, President, Bard College; Music Director, American Symphony; Founder, Bard Festival and The Orchestra Now
Lorenzo Candelaria, Dean, Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University
Mark Clague, Music Historian, University of Michigan
JoAnn Falletta*, Music Director, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
Christopher Gibbs*, Music Historian, Bard Conservatory; Artistic Co-Director, Bard Festival
Delta David Gier, Music Director, South Dakota Symphony
Blake-Anthony Johnson, CEO, Chicago Sinfonietta
Keith Lockhart*, Artistic Director, Brevard Music Center
Douglas McLennan, Founder/Editor, ArtsJournal
Jason Posnock, Chief Artistic Officer, Brevard Music Center
Jesse Rosen, Former CEO, League of American Orchestras
Larry Tamburri, CEO, Newark School of the Arts (former CEO, Pittsburgh and New Jersey Symphonies)
The Performers
Lara Downes, Pianist, producer, arts advocate
Sidney Outlaw, Baritone/pedagogue, Ithaca College
George Shirley, Tenor/pedagogue, University of Michigan
Enrollment Information
Conductors, artistic administrators, executive directors, community engagement specialists, conservatory students, and Board members are all encouraged to apply for The Brevard Project.
Capacity is limited. A $600 fee covers all housing, meals, classes, materials, and concert tickets for the week. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Apply now through MyBMC.
Join us at Eliada Home’s campus for a small group guided walking Farm Tour. Tours last approximately 1 hour. Participants will learn about outdoor and greenhouse growing practices, aquaponics, hydroponics, market gardening, corn maze production, and learn about our Animal Therapy program.
We will be meeting at the PARC building and walking to the different greenhouses, garden site, and a visit with our animals. Reservations required, tickets are $10 each visitor (to be collected at the time of the tour).
We recommend bringing the following: comfortable shoes for walking on pavement and grass, hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. This tour is not handicap accessible and will require participants to climb stairs and walk on uneven ground.
We will begin out tour promptly at the starting time, so please arrive 5-10 min early to allow for parking and check-in. If you are running late or cannot make your tour, please email [email protected] or call #828-348-2287.
All proceeds from ticket sales from your farm tour go directly back to helping the Campus Farm Program grow more food for the children of Eliada!
Click above photo to sign up for a time slot and number of people in your group. Payment for tour will be collected when you arrive. Cards accepted.
This tour is best suited for school age children ages 10+ and adults.
Are you looking for a way to develop your Spanish language skills or a way to keep your skills fresh? Join this friendly and welcoming Spanish Language Practice Group organized by Pack Library. Newcomers are always welcome on the first Thursday of each month at 5 p.m. This group meets online and is focused on providing an intermediate level, immersive discussion experience. This event is free, but you do need to register. Please visit the library web page and use the link on the calendar for this program to sign up.
Join the Western North Carolina Historical Association (WNCHA) Thursday, July 7 at 6PM as we kick off our month of music history programming. This event airs live via Zoom and will be recorded.
From early Native Americans to buskers on modern street corners, music and musical instruments have always been part of the cultural landscape of WNC. In previous events, we have learned about many of the region’s musicians, but this time, the instruments themselves will shine. This program will explore the arrival, creation, and development of instruments and playing styles in the mountains and their cultural origins and influences. We will also hear/see a few demonstrations of this musical progression. Join us to learn more about:
- – Pre-Columbian Instruments
- – Akonting
- – Banjo
- – Fiddles
- – Mandolins
- – Guitars
- – Slide Guitar/Lapsteel
- – How Three Finger and Flatpicking developed here
- – Recent Innovations
About the Presenter:
John Martin is a 10th generation Western North Carolina musician who wrote his Master’s Thesis on the development of flatpicking and crosspicking guitar styles at Appalachian State University. He currently lives in Asheville and teaches History at AB Tech Community College.
Are you looking for a great way to get involved with your community and make a difference? Board, committee, and commission members aid the governing process by keeping Buncombe County in touch with the ideas and attitudes of our community. They help provide direction for the allocation of funds, the provision of human services, protection of residents, property, and our natural resources.
Public input is vitally important to the success of our County, and right now Buncombe County has vacancies on a number of boards and commissions. Learn more about vacancies, deadlines to apply, and the application process at buncombecounty.org/transparency.
Featured Board & Commission vacancies
Buncombe County is seeking applications to join the Early Childhood Committee
This is a great chance to be a part of shaping the future for children in Buncombe County. The Early Childhood Education and Development Fund is a major driver in assuring every child in Buncombe County has an equal opportunity to thrive during their first 2,000 days. The focus of this initiative is to increase access to quality, affordable early childhood education.
As such, Buncombe County’s Early Childhood Committee, featuring 15 total members including 3 County Commissioners, was established to guide how the fund is invested. The purpose of the committee is to engage with community partners, solicit public input, and make policy and funding recommendations to the Board of Commissioners. This committee typically meets monthly, on the first Tuesdays from 1-2:30 p.m. To learn more about the Early Childhood Fund, click here to visit our website.
There are two open positions designated as Community/At Large for a two-year term that begins July 1, 2022. To apply, click here to complete an online application. The deadline to apply is June 24.
Economic Development Coalition Board Vacancy June 2022: At Large / 2 -year initial term
Are you a Buncombe County resident with interest in the strategies and goals of economic development? Have you carried executive leadership responsibility in the healthcare sector of Buncombe County? Do you offer passion for the needs of Buncombe County businesses and the direct relationship between economic vitality and community health and wellness? The EDC is seeking a c-level healthcare executive with expertise and perspective of a locally headquartered healthcare system for board service.
The Board of the Economic Development Coalition for Asheville-Buncombe County is a partnership of Buncombe County, City of Asheville, and the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce with a mission to improve economic opportunity in Buncombe County by growing wages, employment, tax base and a more diversified and balanced regional economy for all residents. Members of the Board will contribute to priority setting, financial planning, and program evaluation for staff of the EDC according to the AVL 5×5 Strategic Plan for 2025. Members may also be tasked with private sector fundraising for the AVL 5×5 Campaign, strategic plan development, service on ad-hoc advisory committees, or special projects that advance the goals of economic development in Buncombe County.
For more information, contact Lamar Joyner at 250-4105 or [email protected].
Audit Committee Seeking New Members
Looking for a great opportunity to further develop personally and professionally? The Audit Committee is seeking new members and will have three open positions for a four-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2023.
The Audit Committee was originally formed in 2000 to oversee the independent audit of the County’s financial statements and provide an annual evaluation of the budget documents. Since that time, the committee’s duties have expanded to include oversight of the County’s Internal Audit function including approving the annual internal audit plan and evaluating the effectiveness of the internal audit function.
The committee is made up of seven total members including two County Commissioners. We are looking for a member of another governing body, a member of the accounting profession, and a member of the banking community. Find more information on the Audit Committee here.
Time commitment: Minimum of two meetings required per year but typically meets six to seven times a year, on Tuesdays from 9-11 a.m.
PARI’s summer STEM and space camp programming is designed to inspire your young scientist’s curiosity, passion, and confidence to discover something extraordinary. We give campers experiences that encourage deeper thinking and problem solving skills while finding opportunities for comradery, adventure, and fun in the incredible Pisgah Forest region.
Our Mission Control camps provide simulated missions that cover the many topics and skills necessary for a successful exploration of world beyond our own. We’ll use the same kinds of processes that NASA, SpaceX and others use in developing and conducting journeys into space. These missions teach teamwork and STEM principles while giving campers fun and exciting experiences. The camp is an immersive journey amidst our historic campus which played a critical role in the first space race, and will help poise your camper for a role in the next.
Teams will research real technologies and techniques to build and launch a spacecraft, set science and research goals, and ensure everything needed is sent along. They will also need to choose a crew and care for their health and well-being, perform outreach and gain public support, and navigate funding and political challenges.
PARI’s research based camps are aimed at the camper who wants to experience what its like to be a researcher in astronomy, astrophysics, and astrobiology. Scientists and researchers with careers in space science lead this academically challenging curriculum that has been refined for nearly two decades.
Camps begin with an intense first few days of introductions to the instruments, science, and math needed to conduct research. They’ll be guided through choosing a research goal from the menu investigations we believe they can successfully conduct with radio and optical telescopes, and vast archives, provided by PARI and its partners.
The importance of both individual and team based work is emphasized while campers are guided through the research process. They’ll learn to share their progress and conclusions in the same ways expected in journals and at astronomical conferences.
Register for one of PARI’s summer STEM and Space Camp programs today!
Scholarships opportunities are available!
Shipwrecks! Betrayals! Romance! Mistaken identities and switcheroos! Magic! A tipsy sea monster! This Shakespearean comedy has everything!
Rehearsals for “The Tempest” will be from 11am-4pm Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays starting June 13, and performances will be July 1-3 and July 8 & 9.
Asheville Area Arts Council funding helps support Moppets after-school program
Taught by Artistic Director Ashleigh Goff and veteran Moppet Eli Hamilton, the class is our first-ever partnership with the City of Asheville. Students in the after-school program are learning basic theater skills and building their self-confidence in a fun and welcoming environment. The program will culminate in a showcase performance for the students’ peers and families.
“One of our overarching goals is to introduce more kids to classical theater, wherever they are,” Moppets Executive Director Rachel Cort said. “This funding helps us to take a big step toward that goal. We are incredibly grateful to the Asheville Area Arts Council for supporting the Moppets and aspiring young actors in our community.”
Join us at Eliada Home’s campus for a small group guided walking Farm Tour. Tours last approximately 1 hour. Participants will learn about outdoor and greenhouse growing practices, aquaponics, hydroponics, market gardening, corn maze production, and learn about our Animal Therapy program.
We will be meeting at the PARC building and walking to the different greenhouses, garden site, and a visit with our animals. Reservations required, tickets are $10 each visitor (to be collected at the time of the tour).
We recommend bringing the following: comfortable shoes for walking on pavement and grass, hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. This tour is not handicap accessible and will require participants to climb stairs and walk on uneven ground.
We will begin out tour promptly at the starting time, so please arrive 5-10 min early to allow for parking and check-in. If you are running late or cannot make your tour, please email [email protected] or call #828-348-2287.
All proceeds from ticket sales from your farm tour go directly back to helping the Campus Farm Program grow more food for the children of Eliada!
Click above photo to sign up for a time slot and number of people in your group. Payment for tour will be collected when you arrive. Cards accepted.
This tour is best suited for school age children ages 10+ and adults.

Brews and Bears is an after-hours summer event series where you can enjoy the WNC Nature Center in the evening with a beer or cider in hand. There are also food vendors and educational programming, along with popsicle enrichment for black bears Uno and Ursa!
Brews & Bears happens the second Friday of the month on May 13, June 10, July 8, and August 12, from 5:30 to 8 pm.
The events will feature beer from Highland Brewing; cider from Urban Orchard; food from Gypsy Queen Cuisine and Cecilia’s Food Truck, Blunt Pretzels, and KONA Ice; and music by Mix 96.5, 98.1 The River, and 105.9 The Mountain.
Tickets are $15 to $35, with options for members, non-members, and VIPs!
Are you looking for a great way to get involved with your community and make a difference? Board, committee, and commission members aid the governing process by keeping Buncombe County in touch with the ideas and attitudes of our community. They help provide direction for the allocation of funds, the provision of human services, protection of residents, property, and our natural resources.
Public input is vitally important to the success of our County, and right now Buncombe County has vacancies on a number of boards and commissions. Learn more about vacancies, deadlines to apply, and the application process at buncombecounty.org/transparency.
Featured Board & Commission vacancies
Buncombe County is seeking applications to join the Early Childhood Committee
This is a great chance to be a part of shaping the future for children in Buncombe County. The Early Childhood Education and Development Fund is a major driver in assuring every child in Buncombe County has an equal opportunity to thrive during their first 2,000 days. The focus of this initiative is to increase access to quality, affordable early childhood education.
As such, Buncombe County’s Early Childhood Committee, featuring 15 total members including 3 County Commissioners, was established to guide how the fund is invested. The purpose of the committee is to engage with community partners, solicit public input, and make policy and funding recommendations to the Board of Commissioners. This committee typically meets monthly, on the first Tuesdays from 1-2:30 p.m. To learn more about the Early Childhood Fund, click here to visit our website.
There are two open positions designated as Community/At Large for a two-year term that begins July 1, 2022. To apply, click here to complete an online application. The deadline to apply is June 24.
Economic Development Coalition Board Vacancy June 2022: At Large / 2 -year initial term
Are you a Buncombe County resident with interest in the strategies and goals of economic development? Have you carried executive leadership responsibility in the healthcare sector of Buncombe County? Do you offer passion for the needs of Buncombe County businesses and the direct relationship between economic vitality and community health and wellness? The EDC is seeking a c-level healthcare executive with expertise and perspective of a locally headquartered healthcare system for board service.
The Board of the Economic Development Coalition for Asheville-Buncombe County is a partnership of Buncombe County, City of Asheville, and the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce with a mission to improve economic opportunity in Buncombe County by growing wages, employment, tax base and a more diversified and balanced regional economy for all residents. Members of the Board will contribute to priority setting, financial planning, and program evaluation for staff of the EDC according to the AVL 5×5 Strategic Plan for 2025. Members may also be tasked with private sector fundraising for the AVL 5×5 Campaign, strategic plan development, service on ad-hoc advisory committees, or special projects that advance the goals of economic development in Buncombe County.
For more information, contact Lamar Joyner at 250-4105 or [email protected].
Audit Committee Seeking New Members
Looking for a great opportunity to further develop personally and professionally? The Audit Committee is seeking new members and will have three open positions for a four-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2023.
The Audit Committee was originally formed in 2000 to oversee the independent audit of the County’s financial statements and provide an annual evaluation of the budget documents. Since that time, the committee’s duties have expanded to include oversight of the County’s Internal Audit function including approving the annual internal audit plan and evaluating the effectiveness of the internal audit function.
The committee is made up of seven total members including two County Commissioners. We are looking for a member of another governing body, a member of the accounting profession, and a member of the banking community. Find more information on the Audit Committee here.
Time commitment: Minimum of two meetings required per year but typically meets six to seven times a year, on Tuesdays from 9-11 a.m.
PARI’s summer STEM and space camp programming is designed to inspire your young scientist’s curiosity, passion, and confidence to discover something extraordinary. We give campers experiences that encourage deeper thinking and problem solving skills while finding opportunities for comradery, adventure, and fun in the incredible Pisgah Forest region.
Our Mission Control camps provide simulated missions that cover the many topics and skills necessary for a successful exploration of world beyond our own. We’ll use the same kinds of processes that NASA, SpaceX and others use in developing and conducting journeys into space. These missions teach teamwork and STEM principles while giving campers fun and exciting experiences. The camp is an immersive journey amidst our historic campus which played a critical role in the first space race, and will help poise your camper for a role in the next.
Teams will research real technologies and techniques to build and launch a spacecraft, set science and research goals, and ensure everything needed is sent along. They will also need to choose a crew and care for their health and well-being, perform outreach and gain public support, and navigate funding and political challenges.
PARI’s research based camps are aimed at the camper who wants to experience what its like to be a researcher in astronomy, astrophysics, and astrobiology. Scientists and researchers with careers in space science lead this academically challenging curriculum that has been refined for nearly two decades.
Camps begin with an intense first few days of introductions to the instruments, science, and math needed to conduct research. They’ll be guided through choosing a research goal from the menu investigations we believe they can successfully conduct with radio and optical telescopes, and vast archives, provided by PARI and its partners.
The importance of both individual and team based work is emphasized while campers are guided through the research process. They’ll learn to share their progress and conclusions in the same ways expected in journals and at astronomical conferences.
Register for one of PARI’s summer STEM and Space Camp programs today!
Scholarships opportunities are available!
Join the Blue Ridge Audubon, a chapter of the National Audubon Society for their monthly bird walk at Jackson Park, a renowned birding location. On the 2nd Saturday of each month, meet at the Administration Building parking lot, located on Glover Street, and join the group to see the many wonderful birds found at Jackson Park, Hendersonville’s largest park.