Around Black Mountain & Asheville

Five dollar tacos, ten dollar margaritas and fifteen dollar combos, which makes the run out to Old Fort pay for itself.

Drop-in crafts with no signup and no age limit, an easy way to fill a Tuesday morning.

Multiple play stations built around the five senses, with hands in everything, aimed at little kids.

This woodworking class at the Harvest House Center guides participants through building a small stand meant to keep puzzle reference images upright and the work area clear. Attendees sand, assemble, and stain their own piece, with a morning or afternoon session available.

Participants make decorative lanterns out of repurposed glass containers and colorful paper, with materials supplied by the library. The session's registration is already full, though a waitlist is open, and the activity repeats in December under separate registration.

Flights of four half pours run two dollars off, so tasting across the whole tap list is cheap.

This is a weekly trivia night at the brewery, hosted by Rebecca, with prizes awarded to the top two finishing teams. The on-site kitchen stays open for food during the game.

This is a beginner-oriented strength training class aimed at people with little or no experience lifting weights, with a focus on bone health. It's pitched at those who have tried exercising on their own before but struggled to stick with it or weren't sure how to perform the movements correctly.

This workshop combines arts and crafts with an emotional-healing theme, with participants building a small diorama as a reflective, hands-on exercise. It's framed as a therapeutic creative activity rather than a standard art class.

This is a preview event ahead of Asheville Community Theatre's full staging of the Frozen Broadway musical. Cast members and the director discuss the production and perform a few of its songs for the audience.

This recurring life drawing session at Trackside Studios is untutored and features an undraped model, open to all drawing mediums (oil painters are asked to use non-odor solvents). The two-hour session opens with a run of one-minute warm-up poses before moving into longer poses of 10, 15, and 20 minutes.

This is a recurring Irish music jam session held on the second Tuesday of each month, led by musician Tim Griffin.

This is a yoga class built around Ayurvedic principles, led by instructor Marla Moffet, held at Plant Bar in Asheville's South Slope neighborhood.

This is a weekly Magic: The Gathering meetup open to players of any experience level. Loaner decks are available for those without their own cards, and staff are on hand to teach newcomers the basics.

This is a road cycling ride organized by the Blue Ridge Bicycle Club, departing from Blue Ridge Beer Garden in Hendersonville. Riders can choose between a relaxed social-pace route or a hillier loop.

This is a beginner belly dance class aimed at people trying the style for the first time or returning to it after a break. Each session builds foundational form, technique, and movement combinations set to a varied music playlist, framed as a gentle full-body workout.

This is a recurring acoustic blues jam held in the open seating area of the venue. A local host leads the informal session, and attendees are invited to bring an instrument and sit in, or simply listen. It happens twice a month at the venue.

Carolina shag dancing with a club that's been at it since 1988, and newcomers usually get taught the basic step on the spot.

Sage Cafe hosts an open music session for beginners and experienced players, with any instrument welcome. Listeners can hear the informal performances while studying or spending time with friends.

A listening room hitting 19 years and throwing itself a party over it.

A live music set performed in the corner of this Five Points bar, featuring a four-piece group of experienced musicians blending influences from jazz, folk, and exploratory guitar playing. The show is casual and seated, running for a few hours on a Tuesday evening.

The Feels play an indie-soul, R&B, funk, and groove sound fronted by singer-songwriters Lange Eve and Sarah Roberts, whose layered vocal harmonies are backed by a full band. The show is standing room only, with doors opening an hour before the set.

Peter Karp's blues and roots songwriting, on at 7:30 and done at a sane hour.

A standing Wednesday deal pairing a classic smaller burger with a 12-ounce draft beer, with the option to upgrade to a full pint and a bag of chips for a bit more.

A standing weekly drink promotion at the Old Fort location of Appalachian Mountain Brewery, offering discounted pitchers of non-imperial beers every Wednesday. This is a recurring deal rather than a one-time event.

A recurring group sketching class where participants are supplied with pencils, watercolors, and other materials and walked through creating a finished piece in their sketchbook from start to finish, open to any skill level.

A recurring women's mountain bike group ride organized through a local bike shop's Facebook group, offered on both weekday evenings and weekday mornings to accommodate different schedules.

Kudzu gets treated as a pest, but the vines coil into a strong basket, and you leave with the one you wove.

A weekly group run for parents, meeting at Amboy Park before heading out along the French Broad River Greenway. Strollers are optional, and the pace is kept relaxed enough for a range of fitness levels.

This hands-on class introduces pochoir-style gel printing, where hand-cut mylar stencils are inked and layered onto a gel plate to build prints with texture and contrast. Instructor Heidi Drost guides participants through the shape-cutting and layering process at Trackside Studios.

A walk-in jewelry-making session at Ignite Jewelry Studios in downtown Asheville, where visitors customize a pre-made project with stamps and textures or stamp a copper ornament. No appointment or prior experience is required.

Pop Bubble Tea marks Pocky Day, a Japanese snack holiday built around the chocolate-coated biscuit stick the shop already sells by the box. Customers can dip the sticks in a drink or split them with someone else.

Forty minutes through the mash, the still and the barrels, ending with a taste of what comes out the other end, for $20.

Quietude Retreat Center in Black Mountain hosts a drop-in workshop led by Michelle Parkerson using the SoulCollage method, where participants assemble intuitive collage cards as a tool for self-reflection. No registration is required to attend.

A recurring live music gathering at a senior living community, open to residents and the public, featuring a different local artist each installment. This session features Old Sap, a solo musician performing Americana and traditional roots-style songs.

A weekly bar promotion built around discounted whiskey pours alongside wings and bison cigars. It's framed as a casual midweek stop rather than a performance or ticketed event.

A craft session where attendees build or decorate their own foam sword, open to all skill levels. It's framed as preparation for the campus's Ren Fair happening that Saturday, though organizers note it's fine to come just for fun.

A new Dortmunder lager gets tapped at the brewpub, with the release benefiting a Hickory Nut Gap farmland project.

This workshop is the second half of a two-part beekeeping series and covers the practical steps involved in setting up and running a beekeeping operation. It's taught by a beekeeper from a local apiary business, and attendees do not need to have taken the first session to participate.

A weekly no-drop group ride on mixed terrain, departing from the shop with a route that varies by season and typically includes some unpaved sections and climbing. Participants are directed to check the shop's social media beforehand to confirm whether the ride is happening and to get the route.

A free, casual meetup for cycling club members at Cane Creek Cycling Components' facility in Fletcher, organized jointly by the Downtown Asheville Racing Club and Asheville Youth Cycling. It's a social gathering rather than a race or structured program.

A trivia night blending literary and general-knowledge questions, held at the bookstore's bar in partnership with a local reading group. It's pitched as a casual, social evening suited to anyone from devoted readers to trivia regulars, with drinks on offer throughout.

A hosted conversation at the bar in which Sondra Hall discusses artistic inspiration, drawing on her long marriage to musician Alan Hall and her curiosity about how his musical ideas take shape compared to her own process as a writer. It's described as an intimate, seated evening.

An informal evening of spoken word performance and open conversation held in a private home. It is described as a small, intimate gathering centered on shared readings and discussion among attendees.

A recurring experimental music night at Leveller Brewing Co. featuring a rotating lineup of musicians playing non-traditional instrumentation, including drums and hammered dulcimer. Donations collected at the event go directly to the performers.

Warren Wilson hosts Brevard, and courtside at this level means a few rows back from the floor.

Julianna Jade sings the Blossom Dearie songbook, so it's the light, sly end of jazz singing rather than big-band belting.

UNC Asheville's men's basketball team travels to Carrollton, Georgia, for a regular-season road matchup against West Georgia.

A weekly trivia night at Turgua Brewing's Fairview location, with a different theme each week. Teams compete over drinks in a casual bar setting.

This weekly series spotlights bluegrass and related roots music in a basement room in downtown Asheville. A host musician leads the night with a rotating lineup of players joining in.

Americana and blues artist Charlie Parr brings his gritty, roots-inspired sound to Eulogy, with Maisy Owen opening the night.

This henna night takes on a medieval theme, held in the Cowpie Sunroom at Warren Wilson College. The gathering centers on henna application and design in a casual campus setting.

This is a recurring house cocktail discount offered at the brewery's Old Fort location, running on a weekly basis.

This multi-session program gathers a small group of participants in forests and fields around Southern Appalachia for hands-on foraging instruction. Led by Bek Jopling of Foraging Home alongside other local plant teachers, the curriculum covers wild plant and fungi identification, wild food preparation, and herbalism grounded in regional ecology.

An exhibition at the Moogseum tracing the history of the Minimoog synthesizer through different eras of its design, on display for several days in mid-November.

A community market held at Pisgah View Apartments, open to the public, part of a series of similar markets rotating to locations around Buncombe County.

A recurring Thursday-afternoon workshop at Quietude where Martha Scarborough leads participants in making their own greeting cards, with materials supplied. Sessions run over several dates in November and December and are geared toward holiday, birthday, or everyday notes.

An informal discussion gathering at Ransom House where attendees talk about nature and environmental topics over tea, co-hosted by two campus-affiliated groups.

A fundraising dinner in Weaverville organized by several farmland and land conservation groups, opening with a barbecue meal followed by a welcome address from a conservation advisor.

This is a recurring weekly bar show in which a four-piece band performs songs from the Grateful Dead's catalog. The lineup includes guitar, bass, keys, and drums.

A weekly Thursday special at District 42 pairing a dirty martini with a Caesar salad and French fries. It's offered as a recurring, come-as-you-are deal rather than a one-off event.

A literary society-hosted evening with author Christy Scott Cashman, built around cocktails and conversation about her novel, which centers on buried secrets in a small Southern town.

A guided mixed-media art session at a cafe and market, led by an instructor who curates a selection of paint, pastels, vintage ephemera, and other materials for attendees to use.

Knitters and crocheters take over the taproom, and whatever project has been stalled all year is welcome.

A casual, informal drop-in gathering for people working on knitting, crochet, and other fiber crafts.

A weekly karaoke night hosted by KJ Hamza, recently relocated from The Social to Silverados. Singers can get up and perform starting in the early evening.

Andy Ferrell plays folk, blues and old-time that sounds like the mountains it came out of, with barbecue in reach.

An informal book club with no assigned title or required reading, where attendees instead bring whatever book they're currently reading to discuss.

A free weekly group road ride leaves from Youngblood Bicycles every Thursday evening, weather and daylight permitting. Riders can pick between two route options of roughly 33 or 26 miles through the area's rolling hills.

A line dancing session structured in hours: the first is a beginner lesson with beginner-level open dancing, followed by a second lesson and mixed-level open dancing. Experienced dancers circulate on the floor to assist anyone who needs help.

A discussion group at A Thousand Loves Bookshop focused on "Harvest Season," a dark romantic comedy by Brynne Weaver, open to other readers of the genre.

Chefs Jason Swavely and Jacob Sessoms host a multi-course dinner built around Latin American-style asado cooking, with dishes prepared over Golden Hour's live-fire grill and served at a communal table. Each course is paired with a selected wine.

This holiday-season gathering at B.B. Barns Garden Center combines shopping, food and drinks, and live music into an evening that raises money for a local charitable cause.

Spafford build their jams on the spot, so no two of their nights sound the same.

A come-and-make-something evening, and the name tells you exactly how seriously it takes itself.

A weekly bingo game built around music runs every Thursday evening, hosted by Tavern Tactics Events. Players can join alone or in groups for several rounds spanning multiple music genres.

UNC Asheville’s women’s basketball team takes on Western Carolina. The matchup is presented as a rivalry between the two mountain schools.

AmiciMusic presents a program exploring the diversity of American music. Pianist and artistic director Daniel Weiser performs with Philadelphia violinist Tim Schwarz.

An early evening set right in the middle of town, which is about as easy as live music gets.

Live old-time fiddle with Beth Molaro calling the figures out loud, and a free lesson first so nobody needs experience or a partner.

Latin dance music from a homegrown orchestra, starting early enough to catch the whole set.

This is a hip-hop concert headlined by rapper Benny the Butcher, who began pursuing a music career as a child and built an early following by self-releasing mixtapes in the late 2000s.

Johnny Humphries is an Asheville-based musician who has performed around the area for more than twenty years, playing songs written by his late father, Grammy-nominated musician Don Humphries, along with classic bluegrass and Americana numbers.

This is the women's volleyball team's appearance in the C2C Tournament Championships, played at a site in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

A four-hour workshop, with a lunch break included, focused on building texture in watercolor and mixed-media pieces. Participants work with materials such as granulating and texture mediums, rice paper, plant printing, and inks to develop their own approach to the medium.

In this hands-on class led by instructor Eileen Bos, participants use polymer clay, a rolling pin, and gingerbread-style cookie cutters to sculpt their own small creature figures. Each person shapes and finishes an individual piece over the course of the session. It runs for three hours on a Friday morning in November and requires registration.

This is a hands-on metalsmithing workshop where participants solder, set, stamp, and polish a silver, brass, and cubic zirconia star charm, leaving with a finished piece of jewelry they made themselves. Material upgrades are available.

This is a barbecue food truck serving regional Western North Carolina-style barbecue at the brewery's taproom.

A food truck sets up on-site for the day, serving burgers, fries, and other casual food to go along with the brewery's beer. Visitors can grab a meal while hanging out on the grounds.

Cold Mountain turns thirty, and the release weekend is the one time that beer and the crowd around it are the whole point.

This is a gentle movement class open to all levels, centered on exploring the concept of discernment in the body and mind through yoga. The approach draws on teachings from several established figures in the yoga tradition.

A volunteer educator leads a guided walk through the museum's galleries that encourages visitors to slow down and look closely at individual works of art. The format is built around unhurried observation rather than a typical fast-paced tour.

A weekly Friday promotion at the distillery's tasting room, where one cocktail is spotlighted with a discount and featured in the weekly newsletter alongside other drink specials.

A Bronx school principal grows suspicious that a priest at the school is engaged in improper conduct with a male student, setting off a drama centered on doubt and moral certainty. The play won the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award in 2005.

Passholders get to meet the Biltmore farmers at Deerpark with samples out and 20% off the farm goods.

This library program introduces attendees to a range of artists and art-making techniques, then gives them time to create a piece of their own to take home.

A spruce tip red IPA tapping with the Sawtooth Troubadours playing, and it's a two-minute trip from town.

An acoustic Americana duo performs at the vineyard's tasting room as part of its ongoing live music series. The group's sound combines personal songwriting with close vocal harmonies.

This is a guided electric-bike outing along the paved greenway beside the French Broad River, crossing historic bridges and passing through riverside parks, with stops at breweries along the route.

Ten-plus vintage dealers set up indoors for a night market, so it's a rummage session that doesn't depend on the weather.

A full festival's worth of metal bands at Devil's Foot, which is a lot more fun to stumble into than a single opener.

Dog owners can bring their pets to socialize on the outdoor patio while enjoying drinks and rotating appetizers, with dogs getting a free whipped-cream treat and part of the proceeds going to the local humane society.

This weekly tasting bar event features a new lineup of low-intervention wines each week, with no reservation required to stop in and sample them.

This class covers the basics of operating a sewing machine, with participants working toward a finished project by the end of the session. Attendees can bring their own machine or borrow one on-site from the Tool Library.

A one-hour introductory tarot class held in the shop's cat lounge, covering the basic history of tarot reading alongside the store's resident cats.

A weekly taproom bingo night built around music instead of numbers: a song plays, players mark it on their card, and winners take prizes. Drop-in format, no entry fee.

The gardens go full light display after dark, with folk fusion music from Holler & Crow that's pitched at all ages.

A live music fundraiser at New Belgium Brewhouse supporting trail improvements at Max Patch, organized with the Carolina Mountain Club to raise money for parking upgrades and a new restroom facility at the site.

This is a weekly community gathering at Modern Local ArtSOUP that keeps the Mars Hill First Fridays tradition going through the winter. Expect dance parties, games, and live music along with free hot soup, with the event framed as a neighborly, family-friendly get-together.

Dani Kerr plays soulful rock with real grit, and a 6pm start means it's over at a reasonable hour.

UNC Asheville’s women’s volleyball team plays USC Upstate in a rivalry match. The game has a white-out theme.

A live performance by the John Keck Band at this Fairview venue.

The Leonids peak this week and a working farm with dark skies and an astronomer on hand beats squinting at the sky from a driveway.

Fleetwood Mac songs done properly in a room where you can actually hear the vocals.

A Place to Bury Strangers and ADULT. share the bill at Eulogy. Cold Choir opens the show.

This is a live concert headlined by Eddie 9V, with Leroy From the North opening. The show takes place in a standing-room-only setting at the music hall.

A Sunday afternoon live music set on the patio at Antidote Cocktail Lounge, running from 4 to 7 PM with cocktails made using spirits from the attached distillery.

A Tribe of Horsemen, Safety Coffin and Scribblers perform at Fleetwood’s. The lineup features indie rock and garage rock.

A recurring gothic-themed dance night at Eulogy, with this edition framed as an after-party tied to acts APTBS and ADULT., running late into the night.

The Blackhawk Bolt includes a 5K and a fun run on a course that combines roads and trails entirely within the North Buncombe High School campus. Proceeds support the school’s students, staff, and programs.

Run for Outreach pairs the Tryon Half Marathon with the Fall for the Foothills 5K. The half marathon returns to Tryon International for a second year after Hurricane Helene displaced it from its original venue.

This is the women's cross country team's participation in the NCAA Division III South Regional Championship, held in Salem, Virginia.

This is a weekly no-drop mountain bike ride on local trails, meaning the group stays together regardless of pace. Afterward, riders typically head to a nearby shop for pastries.

Shane Myers leads a birdwatching walk around Lake Junaluska focused on ducks and other migrating waterbirds. Participants will look for birds using the lake as a stop along their migration routes.

This stop-and-go driving tour visits several historic sites in the North Fork area, with talks from local historians and descendants of North Fork families along the way.

This gentle hike introduces forest bathing through mindfulness and attention to the senses. Participants are encouraged to slow their pace and notice their natural surroundings.

A guided e-bike tour departs from The Radical hotel, crosses the French Broad River, and follows the paved greenway trail for an easy ride.

Producer-only means the 30-plus vendors grew or made what they're selling, and SNAP doubles here.

A seasonal gift fair held at the Fairview Community Center, featuring new vendors selling local goods. Parking is free, lunch is available for purchase, and a 50/50 raffle runs during the event.

This is a Saturday morning craft session built around a Thanksgiving theme, including a turkey-related project.

A recurring group cycling ride for women, exploring area mountain bike trails with routes suited to all skill levels and a no-drop format that keeps the group together. Riders gather afterward to continue socializing.

A guided open studio session centered on stamp carving, led by instructor Miranda Wildman. The session is tied to ArtPlay's fifth-anniversary celebration and overlaps with RAD Fest in the River Arts District.

Cut trees, fresh wreaths and an artist market at a nursery, which is a nicer way to start the holiday haul than a parking lot.

An open house at Riverside Studios running both days of RAD Fest, where visitors can view work from a group of resident artists. The studio's programming for the weekend also includes live music.

A hands-on workshop led by Josh Barnwell in which participants build their own candle lantern out of rawhide, learning the material's traditional lantern-making techniques along the way.

A group exhibition bringing together twelve artists from across Western North Carolina, each contributing a piece painted on a 12-by-12-inch canvas. The works span a mix of styles, from landscapes and abstracts to collage and surrealism.

A hands-on metalsmithing class at Ignite Jewelry Studios where participants make a set of three sterling silver rings, with an instructor guiding them through shaping, torch soldering, and finishing before they take the rings home.

Participants learn basic handbuilding techniques to shape a single votive holder sized to fit a tea light, then choose a studio glaze to finish the piece. All clay, tools and glaze are supplied, so no experience or materials are needed ahead of time.

Attendees get hands-on instruction in processing a chicken from live bird to freezer-ready, with lunch provided during the session. Each person leaves with their own packaged chicken to take home.

This is a fast-paced training ride covering 45 to 50 miles, run as a drop ride where slower riders are not waited for. Two pace groups are offered, each starting at a different time from a different nearby location.

Local vendors and crafters set up at Rusty Dog to sell their handmade goods, giving shoppers a chance to browse work by artisans from the Fairview area.

Big Room Studios at Pink Dog Creative opens its space during RADFest, letting visitors view new work from several resident artists in the River Arts District. The open house runs across two days as part of the wider citywide art and music festival.

This monthly community stroll through Asheville's South Slope brewery district features discounted food and drink specials, pop-up vendors, and hands-on art activities. It's held every second Saturday and spotlights local businesses along the route.

This two-day educational event examines cover crop varieties and their uses in agricultural production. It begins with classroom instruction at an address in Morganton.

Children can sign up for a one-on-one session reading aloud to a certified therapy dog at the library. Sessions run about 15 minutes and require advance registration by phone or in person. Kids are asked to bring a book they've already picked out for the appointment.

Participants build a shadow box inspired by Frida Kahlo, working with upcycled fabric, buttons, flowers and other reclaimed materials. The class is aimed at beginners, with younger kids attending alongside an adult and older teens or adults able to take part on their own.

This is a hands-on class where participants build a 12-inch wreath using dried flowers grown on the farm, learning handtied wreath techniques along the way. The session also includes time in the studio and a look at how the farm processes and arranges dried flowers.

A guided sound meditation using layered singing bowls and binaural tones, intended to support relaxation and nervous system regulation. No prior experience is needed. The sessions are held on weekends and are among the final ones offered in Asheville before the organizer relocates.

Eight years running and the farm's big fall blowout, with sausage as the official reason to spend the afternoon there.

Vintage clothing, jewelry, art and antiques from a rotating cast of dealers, held on a golf course.

An outdoor campus festival featuring medieval-style guild performances alongside student-run vendor booths, crafts, and face painting. The event is organized by Warren Wilson College as an open, family-friendly gathering on the lawn.

Live jazz with brunch in a taproom, which is an easy three hours to drop into.

A Reformer-based Pilates class focused on therapeutic movement, strength, balance, and functional fitness, offered in private, semi-private, and small-group formats. The studio markets the class toward beginners, older adults, and people seeking a safer, lower-impact training option.

A visiting Ukrainian artist demonstrates vytynanka, a traditional intricate paper-cutting technique, at a River Arts District studio as part of a district-wide arts festival. Her finished paper artwork is also available for purchase during the demonstration.

Comfortable Shirt is a band performing a mix of pop, rock, country, and rhythm-and-blues at the Lured Market & Grill in Lake Lure. The performance is a return appearance for the group at this venue.

A River Arts District studio hosts a Ukrainian-born botanical artist now based in North Carolina, showcasing work made with ink, watercolor, colored pencil, and digital illustration. The visit is part of a guest-artist program tied to a district-wide festival.

A seasonal craft market featuring handmade goods from local Asheville artisans, including work by members of the FIRSTwnc and disability community. Items on offer include crocheted pieces, hand-printed shirts and totes, and other personalized crafts.

A wellness session examining Pitta dosha, the Ayurvedic concept combining fire and water that governs digestion, metabolism, and energy regulation. The class covers traits associated with high-Pitta individuals and discusses ways to address imbalance.

This event pairs a book signing with a documentary screening about George Masa, the early 20th-century photographer and conservationist whose work helped shape the Blue Ridge Parkway and nearby national forests. Filmmaker Paul Bonesteel, who co-authored the companion biography, signs copies before the film plays at the visitor center.

This hands-on jewelry class teaches participants how to make their own hoop earrings in whatever size they choose. No prior jewelry-making experience is needed, and attendees leave with a finished pair to wear home.

Visitors can drop into the Asheville Art Museum’s studio for an art activity. Museum staff lead the session.

A live performance by Floating Action, the Black Mountain project led by Seth Kauffman, who writes the songs and plays nearly every instrument on the group's recordings. The band grew out of Kauffman's earlier group The Choosy Beggars and brings its soul- and Motown-rooted sound to The Mule.

Christina Chandler, a Memphis-born vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter, performs on the Grey Eagle's patio stage, drawing on folk, soul, and Americana influences. Patio seating is limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Tim Marsh's quartet switching between acoustic and electric in the afternoon, outdoors at the brewery.

An opening reception for a juried group show with more than two dozen local artists working across media including ceramics, stained glass, painting, photography, printmaking, and fiber art. The reception includes light refreshments and live music, and the exhibit itself stays up for several months afterward.

Warren Wilson College's women's basketball team plays an away game against Greensboro College in Greensboro, North Carolina.

A charity basketball game pitting the Fletcher Police Department against Veritas Christian Academy, with proceeds split between the Asheville Humane Society, the Blue Ridge Humane Society, and another beneficiary. It is the second annual edition of the matchup, played at the Veritas gym.

A free ambient light show you walk through, staged across a college farm's barns at dusk, and it's open to all ages.

UNC Asheville’s men’s basketball team faces Georgia Tech. The matchup takes UNC Asheville to Atlanta for an away game.

This is a men's basketball game between Warren Wilson College and Carolina Christian College, played on Warren Wilson's campus in Swannanoa.

5J Barrow performs live at Turgua Brewing's creek-side location, playing a mix of folk, rock, and storytelling-driven songs.

A touring multi-instrumentalist who leads from the bass, which is a rarer thing to watch than it sounds.

Local improvisers perform a comedy show at NC Stage Co. Expect quick-moving scenes and audience participation.

Miss Vee’s Freakshow is a recurring burlesque and variety show at The Mule. The program features a range of local performers.

The Broadcast launching a new album live, and Caitlin Krisko can carry a room on her own.

Greg Freeman headlines a concert at Eulogy. Robber Robber is also on the bill.

Participants make a journal from scratch in this art workshop using plaster and paper. The session allows space to explore materials and make creative choices as the journal develops.

A monthly drop-in gathering at Story Parlor for people looking to be more intentional about their creative practice. Attendees gather over coffee and pastries for a short reading drawn from creativity-focused books, used as a starting point for reflection among the group.

Ten bucks gets you a day on the pump tracks and flow trails, and the cold months are when it's actually quiet enough to session a feature until you get it.

This recurring outdoor yoga class takes place in West Asheville Park. The program also includes occasional pop-up classes.

A multi-studio wellness sampler offering a lineup of short, back-to-back yoga and movement classes from different local studios, plus mini wellness stations attendees can drop into. People can take as many of the sessions as they like, and early sign-ups receive a swag bag.

A seasonal workshop pairing gentle, slow-paced yoga with singing and a nature-based craft project built around making a winter 'nest,' framed as a way to mark the shift into the colder, darker months. It's led by two facilitators and centers on rest, creativity, and connection.

Country hip hop line dancing taught from scratch over brunch, billed as all ages, which is a genuinely odd and fun combination.

A live demonstration of pysanky, the traditional Ukrainian craft of decorating eggshells through a wax-resist dyeing process, led by artist Andrea Kulish Wilhelm. Visitors can watch the technique in progress and learn about the symbolism behind the colors and patterns used.

This is a one-time afternoon tea event run by Table Reserved Supper Club, built around British-style baking and tea service. The listing offers little detail beyond the tea-time format itself.

A recurring, low-key meetup at The Hop and Pop bubble tea shop for Deaf and Hard of Hearing community members, along with their families and allies, to connect in a relaxed social setting. It's framed as an open, inclusive space rather than a structured program.

This hands-on workshop, part of RADFest at Trackside Studios, has participants bring a photo of a pet (their own or a friend's) to turn into a cartoon-style painting on a wooden ornament. All painting supplies are provided and instructor Taryn guides the session, with finished ornaments going home the same day.

Bear's Smokehouse BBQ hosts a watch party for Carolina Panthers games, with Beer City Riot providing atmosphere alongside food and drink specials, lawn games, and prize giveaways sponsored by New Belgium.

A live music set at Burntshirt Vineyards' tasting room, with local act The Suitcase Trio performing on a Sunday afternoon. The event is pitched as a casual visit to the winery's tasting room setting rather than a dedicated concert.

This open studio session lets students work independently on their own fused-glass projects, with an instructor available for input and supervision. It suits people revisiting a missed class, repeating a favorite project, trying a new technique, or working on an idea of their own.

This workshop covers the basics of knitting and crocheting, walking participants through techniques and potential projects to start. All experience levels are welcome, including total beginners as well as more experienced crafters who want to share what they know.

Molly Morningglory leads a workshop in making clay altars for personal sacred spaces. Participants bring meaningful objects, photographs, written wishes or offerings and design a clay arrangement to hold them.

This two-hour workshop invites writers and journal-keepers to approach poetry as a personal, reflective practice rather than a performance. It's framed as a chance to reconnect with one's own voice through writing as a kind of ritual.

Local artist Katie Knorovsky leads a workshop on circular weaving at ArtPlay Studio. Participants bring an image and use its color palette to guide a round woven piece.

A performance built around the idea of song preservation, treating traditional music as something passed down by people singing together in a room rather than through recordings alone. It takes place on the venue's patio stage with limited seating available on a first-come basis.

This theatrical production dramatizes the 1944 killing of Private Booker T. Spicely, a Black soldier recently stationed near Durham, who was shot by a bus driver after a confrontation tied to the South's Jim Crow segregation rules that he was still unfamiliar with.

A full big band blowing through the standards in the afternoon, which is a rare thing to catch anywhere, let alone walking distance from home.

This is a drop-in coloring session held in the venue's cat lounge, pitched as a stress-relief activity that combines coloring with spending time around the resident cats.

A funk and reggae jam band on the Sierra Nevada lawn, where the beer is good and the space is wide open and all ages.

This is a talk or presentation by artist and writer Riva Lehrer examining how portraiture intersects with Jewish tradition, disability, and identity.

This workshop, led by Betty Boards AVL, teaches participants how to build a charcuterie spread, pitched toward upcoming events like football watch parties, Friendsgiving, and holiday gatherings.

Kids' bands tearing through the big 90s rock hits in a taproom, and School of Rock shows are always louder and better than you expect.

Warren Wilson College's women's basketball team faces Pfeiffer University in an away game at Greensboro College in Greensboro, NC.

Volunteer educators or museum staff lead visitors through a changing selection of works drawn from the museum's permanent collection and current exhibitions. Because the selection varies, no two tours cover exactly the same pieces. No reservation is required to join.

A family-oriented orchestral concert pairing the Four Seasons Chamber Orchestra's "Planets" program with guest performer 23 Skidoo, a Grammy Award winner. It's held at Blue Ridge Community College's Bo Thomas Auditorium, which offers free parking.

Chalwa have been the house reggae band around here for years and they play loose and happy on a Sunday afternoon.

An Asheville indie-folk songwriter with real songs, playing an afternoon set right in Old Town.

A hands-on workshop led by Diane Buford introducing the craft of visible mending, where attendees practice the technique themselves.

A potluck-style gathering for people interested in wellness, where attendees are asked to bring a dish of their own to share with the group.

Musician Mowgli Giannitti plays a Sunday afternoon set at Antidote Cocktail Lounge. Seating is available on the patio when weather permits, alongside the bar's cocktail menu.

Volunteers with Strong Towns Asheville and the Asheville Tool Library build, stain, and install wooden benches at some of the city's busiest bus stops, part of an ongoing effort by the local Strong Towns chapter to improve multimodal transit infrastructure.

A yoga class that opens with a slow, deliberate flow sequence to loosen the body and settle the mind, then moves into grounding postures and extended restorative poses meant to release tension and allow deep rest.

A bird-themed trivia night at Turgua Brewing hosted by a local Audubon chapter, testing attendees' knowledge of area bird species.

Frankie Gavin is one of the great Irish traditional fiddlers, a De Dannan founder, and he's playing a small room in town instead of a festival stage.

Mama's Broke play dark, harmony-driven old-time folk with a punk streak, and this is their album release night.

Detroit post-punk band Protomartyr headlines a concert at Eulogy. J.R.C.G is also on the bill.

International Education Week brings programming across WWC's Swannanoa campus centered on global learning, including a study-away fair and meals representing different countries served in Gladfelter Hall. The week highlights the school's international programs and cross-cultural exchange.

Germany against the Netherlands on the patio with sound on, and it's right in town.

A Community Engagement Market set up by Buncombe County takes place at Deaverview Apartments for about an hour and a half. These markets rotate between locations around the county, and the specific vendors or activities for this date weren't detailed.

Teams build roller coasters together on a shared Minecraft server, so it's actual collaborative engineering disguised as screen time.

Bring the shirt with the hole in it and learn to fix it properly, with supplies provided and no experience needed.

This hands-on workshop introduces participants to basic green screen filmmaking techniques, including shooting and editing footage into a short film. No prior filmmaking experience is required, and all equipment and materials are provided.

Participants use their own botanical illustrations, ideally several small drawings of one plant, to assemble a handmade zine or booklet about a plant of their choosing. The session works either as a follow-up to an earlier botanical illustration workshop or as a standalone class.

The group meets monthly to discuss a chosen book, with the current pick being Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez. Anyone interested in joining can email the organizer to be added to the group's list.

DJ Nex Millen plays an all-vinyl set at Antidote at Chemist from 6 to 9pm as part of a recurring vinyl and industry night, with discounted cocktails and shots offered during the evening.

Everyone sits in a cafe and reads their own book in companionable silence, once a month, and you can drop in whenever.

Jay Brown has hosted this songwriter showcase for over a decade, so you get several of the region's best players in one room on a Monday.

A quartet performance centered on original compositions co-written with bassist Steve LaSpina, along with new material contributed by Jacob Rodriguez. The show also serves as an early look at songs from an upcoming trio recording featuring LaSpina and drummer Ryan Ptasnik.

Haywood Community College Student Life is organizing a hiking activity for National Take a Hike Day. Participants who walk at least one mile on or off campus qualify for entry into a drawing.

A free mixed media session open to any skill level, with a different approach each week.

An extension-office class covering techniques for preparing soups and stews.

An introductory workshop on encaustic painting, a technique that uses heated wax to build an original art piece. Participants learn basic tools and methods, including how to layer in materials like paper, fabric, and plant matter.

Norway against Denmark on the patio with the sound actually on, which almost no taproom bothers to do.

This is a beginner-friendly, guided hand-drumming session held at the Fairview Library. An instructor walks participants through basic rhythm and drumming techniques in a group setting.

This class invites participants to paint a portrait of their own pet with guidance from instructors on hand to help, and it is set up for painters of any skill level. It takes place in the brewery's taproom space.

This is a recurring outdoor gathering held in various wild spaces around Asheville, centered on connecting with the natural world. Activities change from week to week and may include foraging for mushrooms or edible and medicinal plants, or quiet observation of moss, fungi, and forest wildlife.

This library speaker series talk focuses on South Carolina's native and rare plant species. It covers ongoing work by botanists to study and conserve the state's plant diversity.

This is a recurring discussion and meditation gathering focused on non-duality teachings, held every other Tuesday evening. Doors open about fifteen minutes before the session starts, and no registration is required to attend.

Acoustic and dark city blues played loose by whoever brings an instrument, and it kicks off early rather than at closing time.

You crochet simple cat toys that go to the Asheville Humane Society, with all the yarn and hooks provided and beginners welcome.

Art Garage at Wesley Grant Southside Center offers practice with different art materials and techniques alongside exploration of art history and cultures. The program also includes a gallery showcase open to the community.

Mandala painting on rocks and leaves, so you walk out with something small and finished instead of a half-done project.

This soundbath at West Asheville Yoga is a 75-minute session centered on attentive listening and meditation. The practice is intended to encourage relaxation and provide space for processing emotions.

This passholder program focuses on the habits of local wildlife at Chimney Rock and what it means to coexist with wild neighbors responsibly. Participants learn practical ways to help animals stay wild and healthy in their natural habitat.

Participants drop off a stuffed animal at the library, which goes on a staged adventure around the building. Families return on November 21 to pick up the stuffed animal along with photos documenting where it went.

An open-format book club where attendees pick their own reading material and bring it to discuss as a group, rather than following a single assigned title. The group normally gathers on the second Wednesday of the month at the Fletcher Library, but this session is shifted to the third Wednesday because of the Veterans Day holiday.

Heidi Drost leads a printmaking class in which participants build collagraph plates from recycled packaging and other simple materials. The plates are then used with a gel plate to make prints that explore texture and layering.

This session looks at how plant and animal communities in the Blue Ridge region have changed since the end of the last ice age roughly 18,000 years ago, drawing comparisons between glacial-era conditions and today's ecosystems. It's led by Dan Lazar and offered through the Arboretum's ongoing naturalist education series.

A class covering practical strategies for staying safe and warm as cold weather sets in.

A sound bath session focused on practical, at-home sound therapy techniques, aimed at helping families bring the practice into their own routines. It's pitched around claimed wellness benefits like stress reduction, better sleep, and related improvements, and is organized jointly by White Horse Community Hub and Quietude.

This is a drop-in writing class held twice a month, on first and third Wednesdays, running from early October through mid-December. Writers are welcome to attend every session but can also come only when their schedule allows, since the format doesn't require consistent attendance.

Kids read aloud to a certified therapy dog, which turns reading practice into something they ask to do again. Registration required.

A recurring community market open to the public, part of a series of Community Engagement Markets held at various locations around Buncombe County. Scheduling and details for these markets can vary.

Needle felt a picture out of raw wool with the fiber crew helping, and you can work from a photo of your own pet.

College basketball two miles up the road that's done well before the night gets late.

This is a potluck-style Friendsgiving gathering for a local group of remote and independent workers, now in its fifth year running. Attendees are expected to bring a dish to share, and organizers mention additional planned activities without specifying what they are.

This fundraiser dinner brings community members together for a shared meal served in handmade ceramic bowls made by Warren Wilson College students and faculty, with diners keeping the bowl afterward. Conversation at the event centers on building more equitable food and housing systems.

A UNC Asheville men's basketball game against Tennessee Tech, paired with a comedy show during halftime and a giveaway of a commemorative beer glass marking the program's 40th anniversary. The game can also be followed via streaming video and audio.

This is a men's basketball game between Warren Wilson College and William Peace University, played on Warren Wilson's campus in Swannanoa.

The Bad Plus are winding up for good, and this trio bends piano jazz closer to rock than to standards.

These group day trips visit Silver Fork Winery and Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort. Transportation departs from Harvest House Center.

This annual gathering marks the tenth year of the WomanUP Celebration, an event that recognizes women in business for their achievements and contributions to the region. It functions as an awards and networking occasion rather than a performance or workshop.

This hands-on class teaches silk screen printing, a stenciling technique where ink is pressed through a screen, paired with watercolor crayons to make leaf-themed prints. Participants create their own autumn-inspired artwork using fallen leaves as part of the process.

A hands-on printmaking workshop where participants carve their own linocut block and use it to stamp designs onto cards. The session is led by local artist Erika Busse and focuses on a simple, repeatable technique that can be applied to other handmade projects.

This casual meetup pairs coffee and pan dulce with Spanish-language conversation practice, hosted in connection with the LSC.

This is a StorySLAM, a competitive storytelling event in The Moth's format, where participants tell short true stories on a given theme in front of an audience. This installment's theme centers on holiday homecoming.

A fitness-themed meetup built around solo and team challenges, framed as friendly competition rather than a formal contest. It's hosted by Workout Anytime at the Old Fort location, and participation doesn't require a gym membership.

A hands-on session for making cyanotype sunprints, run in partnership with the Holden Arts Crew.

This recurring evening series turns the museum's after-hours program into a mix of live music, guided tours, hands-on art making, and specialty drinks served in the rooftop cafe. This installment's performance comes from classical guitarist Eric Congdon, playing a two-hour set.

This is a trivia night testing attendees' knowledge of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, part of a recurring pop culture trivia series at the tasting room.

A recurring monthly gathering that opens the studio's gallery hours so resident and visiting artists can work alongside one another, trade ideas, and build connections. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own supplies and treat it as a shared working session rather than a formal class.

An art workshop led by Miranda Wildman focused on shadow play techniques, structured to welcome participants of any experience level in a relaxed, social setting.

A solo performer introduced as a poet originally from Chicago who later settled in Montana, now writing and playing banjo-driven songs. The set is described as folk-leaning, with influences drawn from Appalachian music traditions.

A plant-themed round of bingo where the prizes are small potted plants rather than typical bingo winnings. No prior experience is needed, and every attendee receives a small plant.

An instructor-led cookie decorating session for the fall season, with each participant decorating six to eight cookies. Supplies and cookies are provided by 3eggs Cakery of Asheville.

This is a hands-on cocktail workshop led by the bar manager at Pretty Vacant, walking participants through the history and technique behind building an aperitif- or liqueur-based drink over a two-hour session.

This is a community dinner paired with live music, held in a barn setting at Garren Creek.

This is a weekly bingo night built around music, hosted by an outside events company. Players can take part solo or in groups across multiple rounds spanning a range of musical genres, with no cost to join in.

This is a yoga session that combines gentle backbends and standing poses with a sound bath for deep relaxation. It's framed around grounding and gratitude, aiming to leave participants calm and present.

This is a comedic competition-style show in which participants demonstrate their personal growth and emotional openness to an audience, with performances judged and ranked.

Ozomatli have spent decades welding Latin music to hip-hop, funk and reggae, and they're horn-heavy and built to move a room.

Warren Wilson's old-time and bluegrass bands play live while Phil Jamison calls the dances, and the free lesson at 7:30 means nobody needs to know the steps beforehand.

Lenny Pettinelli from Empire Strikes Brass plays a solo keys set with no cover, and Farm Burger will deliver to the table until 9.

A hip-hop show featuring the full-band version of Atlanta rapper GRIP, performing under the name Scattrbrain. GRIP is known for dense, personal lyricism and has built a reputation as a sharp live performer.

This is a recurring DJ night featuring resident act teathyme, moving through house, disco, hip-hop and dance music over the course of the evening.

UNC Asheville's women's swimming and diving team competes at the TYR '85 Invite, a collegiate swim meet.

UNC Asheville's cross country team takes part in the NCAA National Championships.

This is a recurring monthly music night at a community learning center. A sit-down meal is available for purchase before the show, and the music performance itself carries no admission charge, though attendees are encouraged to tip the performing musicians.

A two-day indoor sale of handmade crafts and gift items hosted at the retirement community, aimed at holiday shoppers looking for one-of-a-kind items. Multiple vendors and makers are expected to set up shop over the weekend.

This lecture at BMCA's Gail Jackson Theatre closes out the 2026 An Artful Journey series, with art historian Julianna Caro examining Georgia O'Keeffe's engagement with architecture through works connected to the Detroit Institute of Art. It runs as a single morning session rather than a performance or exhibit.

This block covers all four volleyball matches scheduled for Friday, with play running from late morning into the evening. A single ticket covers entry to every match that day, and children five and under can enter the general admission area at no cost.

This hands-on workshop teaches cyanotype printing, one of the oldest photographic techniques. Participants forage for plants and flowers outdoors, then use those botanical finds to create one-of-a-kind blue-toned compositions.

A hands-on botany class exploring how plants survive and reproduce, covering the strategies they use to compete for resources, fend off predators, and interact with neighboring plants. The session is led by instructor Alexandra Holland at the North Carolina Arboretum and requires registration in advance.

Holiday market stalls run from 4 to 8 with the tree lighting at 6:30, which makes it the first proper holiday outing of the season.

A married duo performs an acoustic set at the vineyard's tasting room as part of a recurring live music series. The pair left their previous careers in 2018 to travel and pursue music together, a backstory that shapes their sound.

A regular-season women's college basketball matchup pitting UNC Asheville against Clemson, played on Clemson's home court.

This is a screening of a documentary dealing with farm and food worker rights, followed by a discussion led by a nonprofit human rights organization that advocates for agricultural laborers. Light refreshments are offered alongside the post-film conversation.

Warren Wilson College's women's basketball team faces Meredith College at 5 p.m., with the matchup taking place at William Peace University in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Free s'mores for two hours with all the makings supplied, plus a fire to toast them over.

This class walks participants through blending scents and pouring their own 8-ounce candle to take home.

This is a show by an improvisational trio made up of three local musicians who build instrumental pieces live rather than performing fixed songs. The emphasis is on open-ended jamming and interplay rather than a set list of pre-written tunes.

Ozomatli, a Los Angeles-based band known for blending Latin music with hip-hop, funk, reggae, and rock, performs as part of a two-night run at this venue. This date is the second night, with Debajito also on the bill.

This is a social partner-dance event centered on Savoy-style Lindy Hop, a swing dance form that originated in Harlem ballrooms during the swing era and is danced to jazz and big band music. The event invites dancers of this style onto the floor at the venue.

King Buffalo build enormous slow-burning psych rock, L.A. Witch open with fuzzed-out garage, and it's an all-ages show.

An Asheville bluegrass trio playing as a duo, with a song catalog that wanders a long way past bluegrass.

This is a weekly Friday night live music set in an intimate, lounge-style room at the venue, with a loose, informal atmosphere rather than a polished production. The featured act for this date is the band Dorothy Six.

This weekly series screens a foreign film inside the gallery, with selections chosen by a staff film programmer. The screening starts at 7 p.m., and attendees are encouraged to bring their own snacks and drinks.

Steely Dan's catalog takes real chops to pull off, and Dirty Logic go after the jazz-chord deep cuts instead of just the radio hits.

A trio performs a set rooted in blues and Americana, built around narrative, story-driven songwriting.

A fetish-themed nightlife event and play party aimed at the local kink community, held across the Devil's Foot and The Mule venues, with the party running well into the early morning after doors open.

A two-night concert run bringing jam-oriented acts lespecial and TAUK to Eulogy, with doors opening ahead of the show. lespecial, a Connecticut-based multi-instrumentalist trio, is noted for stretching the conventions of what a three-piece band can sound like.

Two singers perform a live set at Antidote Cocktail Lounge on a Friday evening. The bar's cocktail program, made with Chemist Spirits, runs alongside the music.

MJT is a three-piece band of brothers from Long Island who play instrumental music built around dual keyboards, synth bass, and guitar, with a reputation for high-energy, improvisational sets. This performance is billed as an after-show following a Tauk and Lespecial concert, suggesting a later-night, extended-jam format.

This is a five-mile out-and-back road race held at Rocky Fork State Park. The course is laid out as a straightforward point-to-point route, suited to runners aiming for a fast finish as well as those more interested in the surrounding scenery.

The final hike in the Swannanoa Rim series climbs to a rocky summit called the Garden of Eden, a mile northwest of Lake Eden.

Carson Hill plays acoustic sets over the course of a three-day event at the WNC Agricultural Center's Expo Building in Fletcher.

Participants bring up to six bisque-fired ceramic pieces to this one-day raku firing workshop, where the pieces are glazed with crackle and iridescent finishes before being fired. The format centers on raku's fast, dramatic, and immediate results.

This is a hands-on seasonal workshop at Reems Creek Nursery where participants build a fresh fir wreath, adding greenery and decorative accents under instructor Rachel Brownlee's guidance. Attendees leave with a finished wreath to take home.

A two-day outdoor market set up in a parking area near Outdoor Living at the outlet center, bringing together local makers and small businesses for shoppers to browse and buy from directly.

A live performance of a contemporary classical composition by Morton Feldman, presented at the museum's gallery space.

A free day of literary programming with a local author fair, workshops and an evening event, right in the middle of town.

Twenty-plus WNC makers set up shop while Chalwa plays reggae through the afternoon, so the holiday shopping comes with a soundtrack and a beer.

This is a college football watch party at The Mule, where the taproom opens earlier than its usual hours so patrons can watch the Montana versus Montana State game together.

A workshop at Asheville Community Yoga led by Robyn Tiger focuses on recognizing and working with thought patterns as a way of supporting health, well-being, and personal growth.

Downtown closes to traffic for floats and marching bands, the one morning of the year the streets belong to a parade.

Artist Joni Marie Lawler leads this mixed-media class centered on self-portraiture, approaching the creative process as a form of personal renewal and reflection. Participants work through mixed-media techniques as part of the session.

A group discussion introducing basic astrology concepts, open to anyone regardless of prior background or experience with the subject.

A plant-focused pop-up market held at Art Garden AVL's Canopy space, bringing together local growers and makers selling items like tropical and native plants, handmade pots and trellises, botanical watercolor paintings, and cut flower bouquets. A drink vendor is also on site.

This is a soccer watch party on Lookout Brewing's patio, screening a Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool with the sound turned on.

Fifth Season Gardening leads a hands-on class in building a seasonal wreath and tabletop centerpiece. Participants work with natural materials and leave with their own finished arrangement.

This is a holiday shopping market at The Mule featuring a lineup of local vendors and makers selling gift items, held in partnership with Patton Allen Real Estate.

Local artisans spread out at the brewery with three sets of live music, including Darren Nicholson, and food and beer on site.

Naturalist Carlton Burke surveys the mammal species found throughout the Southern Appalachian mountains, from small shrews to much larger animals. The session carries BRN and BREG naturalist certification credit, and advance registration is required.

This brewery screens select Champions League and English Premier League matches on its outdoor patio, with the sound turned up for anyone who wants to watch along. It functions as a casual bar viewing rather than a hosted watch party.

This is a community potluck held at Asheville's Animal Haven rescue shelter, where attendees bring a vegan dish large enough to share with the group. Visitors can also walk around and meet the shelter's resident rescued animals, and the on-site thrift store stays open during the event.

This hands-on session lets visitors print their own keepsakes using vintage letterpress equipment, guided by Jessica White. Each piece is printed on handmade paper as part of the demonstration.

Visitors can relax in the museum's café space while live musicians perform in the background, adding a sensory layer to the surrounding art. It's a casual, ambient listening experience rather than a staged concert.

This studio session combines yoga movement with exercises aimed at supporting brain health, balance, and spatial awareness. It's framed around how working with the nervous system can open up new ways of moving with strength and flexibility.

This lymphatic-focused wellness session incorporates breath, movement, touch, and sound as a gentle way for participants to relax and reconnect with themselves.

Knitters and crocheters bring their current projects to work on in a casual, drop-in setting at the library's community room. No registration or instruction is involved, and the gathering is open to people at any skill level.

Warren Wilson College's women's basketball team plays an away game against William Peace University in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Warren Wilson College's men's basketball team plays an away game against Southern Virginia University in Buena Vista, Virginia.

This benefit screening presents the documentary American Doctor, made by Emmy-winning filmmaker Poh Si Teng, which follows three American physicians of different backgrounds. It is organized by Asheville BDS together with Reject Raytheon and Jewish Voice for Peace Asheville as a fundraiser.

Steely Dan is a hard band to pull off live, and this one is digging into deep cuts instead of just the radio hits.

This is a co-headlining concert pairing lespecial, a Connecticut-based trio known for blending multiple instruments into a boundary-pushing sound, with fellow act TAUK. Doors open at 7 PM ahead of an 8 PM show at Eulogy.

This is a recurring LGBTQ-focused dance night built around retro and pop music, held at O.Henry's/The Underground in Asheville.

A pre-dawn hike that ends with a polar plunge in Bull Creek, which in late November is a genuinely bold way to start a Sunday.

Warren Wilson College is organizing a group outing to the North Carolina Arboretum, with students meeting at Bryson Gym on campus before departing.

The JackTown Ramblers, a band from Morganton, NC, play a live afternoon set at the vineyard's tasting room, with the music meant to accompany wine tasting in that space.

This hands-on class looks at how food and traditional healing practices connect, drawing on historical approaches from parts of Africa, China, Greece, and India, among other regions. Led by Marc Williams, it covers how various plants and fungi have been used to support human health across different cultures.

This hands-on painting workshop focuses on a color-mixing technique developed by American artist Frank Vincent DuMond. Participants build stepped sequences of individual colors, moving from light to dark, and study how hues relate across the color prism.

Purna Yoga 828 offers a seasonal restorative yoga and acupuncture session led by Letitia Walker and acupuncturist Jodi Lefkowitz. It's framed as a communal practice for pausing and being nourished during a seasonal transition, combining gentle bodywork with acupuncture.

This film screening traces the history of Impressionist art collecting, from the movement's early rejection by critics and the public to the rise of a new generation of collectors who later competed to acquire the same once-dismissed paintings. It's part of a documentary series on art exhibitions and collections.

This session offers sound healing geared toward people who use CPAP or BiPAP machines for sleep apnea, framing rest as something to enjoy rather than manage. It's meant to ease the self-consciousness some feel about snoring or wearing equipment in a quiet group setting.

A chili cook-off with real competition behind it, so there's a lot to taste and a winner to argue about afterward.

Upright bass, fiddle and tight Asheville string-band songs filling the taproom on a Sunday afternoon.

Storytellers take turns on stage as part of the national Tellabration, an afternoon of nothing but people telling stories well.

This is a Sunday-afternoon live music set at Antidote Cocktail Lounge featuring the band Blue Nickels. The performance takes place on the venue's patio, with cocktails and coffee available alongside the music.

This gathering, presented by the Firefly Gathering community, is a hoedown-themed evening built around music and group festivities at the Grey Eagle's special event space. It is framed as a seasonal, community-oriented celebration with a standing-room setup inside the venue.

UNC Asheville's men's basketball team travels to Birmingham for a regular-season road game against Samford.

This class pairs restorative yoga's slow, supported poses with the applied warmth of hot stones, aimed at releasing physical tension and calming the nervous system.

A Thousand Loves Bookshop hosts an author event marking the release of Lauren Connolly's newest book. She appears in conversation with fellow author Kristin Dwyer to discuss the new release.

This is a restorative yoga session combined with sound healing, held by candlelight. The pace is slow and unstructured, aimed at rest and release rather than physical exertion, with no particular skill level or posture expected of attendees.

This long-form improv show has local performers building full scenes, characters, and story arcs out of a single audience suggestion. Several teams perform across the night, each bringing its own comedic style to the format.

This is a multi-act improv comedy show closing out a weekend-long improv festival. The bill strings together several distinct groups performing back to back, including a queer-themed monoscene duo, a comedy trio, a two-person act, and a veteran improv ensemble.

This is a group singing session centered on kirtan, a devotional chanting style performed in a call-and-response format rather than as a staged performance. The practice draws on older spiritual traditions and uses repeated musical phrases as a shared, participatory activity.

This gathering centers on an astrology-themed discussion and ritual marking the start of Sagittarius season.

Martha Spencer plays the old-time mountain music she grew up on in the Blue Ridge, and she dances it too.

RAD Brewing Co. hosts a stand-up comedy show called the Monster Comedy Jam, produced by Modelface Comedy. The title suggests it runs as a recurring Sunday night comedy event at the brewery.

Story Parlor hosts a release show for Jacob Donham's new folk collection, Mystic Radiation, described as quiet and earthy, drawing comparisons to Nick Drake and Van Morrison's Astral Weeks. Visual artist Jered Shults performs live scenes alongside the music over the course of the evening.

This recurring Sunday evening show brings a local band to the stage at Barley's in downtown Asheville, alongside the bar's regular food and drink service. There is no admission charge to attend.

This is a jazz performance led by New York City-based tenor saxophonist and composer Joseph Foglia, backed by a quartet of accompanying musicians. Foglia's playing draws on established jazz traditions while incorporating more contemporary improvisational approaches, and he has previously performed alongside other recognized jazz musicians.

Horror punk band Blitzkid returns to touring in support of their newly released studio album, Modern Hel. The performance takes place at Eulogy in downtown Asheville.

This is a weekly Monday food special at Wicked Weed Brewing pairing a pizza with a dish called a Perni, offered at a set price.

This month's session of an ongoing art series takes words and quotes as its theme, with participants sharing favorite lines as a creative prompt before making their own artwork.

Select Champions League and Premier League matches play on screen on the brewery's patio, with this screening covering a Brentford versus Everton fixture. The setup is built for watching soccer with sound on while drinking at the brewery.

Division III women's basketball against Covenant in a small gym where you can hear the coaches, with an early tip.

Kevin Smith in person, doing the long, profane, very funny movie-industry storytelling that made his name.

A recurring industry and vinyl night returns to the cocktail lounge, with a DJ spinning deep-cut soul, funk, R&B, and rock and roll records. The evening centers on cocktails and dancing to an all-vinyl set.

A loose bluegrass jam with local pickers trading tunes, and it's a one-off booking rather than a standing weekly night.

Claudio Simonetti of Goblin plays the Tenebre score live, so it's Italian horror synth performed by the band that actually recorded it, seated.

This is an untutored life drawing session with a live, undraped model, open to any drawing or painting medium, with a request that oil painters use non-odor solvents. The two-hour session opens with a series of one-minute warm-up poses before moving into longer 10-, 15-, and 20-minute poses.

A guided climb through mountain forest to the Wildcat Rock overlook, with a look at trail restoration that isn't normally open to walk.

This is a community kirtan session featuring call-and-response chanting and music, held as a benefit for Homeward Bound of WNC, a local organization that works on homelessness.

Arsenal against Dortmund on the patio with the sound actually turned on, which is rarer than it should be.

A hands-on workshop invites participants to decorate candleholders using a mix of art materials at café tables. The session is led by an instructor in a casual, candlelit setting at the café.

The cast of The Secret Of Everwinter turns up to perform a preview of the show before it opens properly.

A weekly open mic night gives local musicians a chance to perform on stage, hosted by a local classic rock and blues player who performs alongside them. Those who don't want to play can still attend to watch the lineup of local talent.

A hands-on workshop walks participants through building their own charcuterie board with a Thanksgiving theme.

A yoga class timed to the full moon combines movement with reflection and intention-setting at the coffee shop's seating area. The session is open to in-person attendees at the South Slope location.

UNC Asheville's women's basketball team plays a home game against East Tennessee State, with the matchup available through an online video stream and a radio broadcast. A separate giveaway promotion offers entrants a chance to win free pies.

A casual fall gathering invites attendees to make collages while a Thanksgiving-themed movie plays in the background.

This is a group class for acoustic string players of all kinds, including fiddle, guitar, banjo, mandolin, cello, and bass. Students learn and play traditional Appalachian and Celtic fiddle tunes together over the course of the evening.

This is a recurring group bicycle ride organized by a local DIY cycling collective, starting from the parking area and river dock at Riverside Drive and Craven Street in the River Arts District. The pace is no-drop, meaning the group regroups along the way, and riders take breaks mid-route to socialize.

A weekly trivia night tests players on music knowledge across eras and genres, with gift card prizes going to top-scoring teams. The bar also runs drink specials on tequila and house margaritas during the event.

A recurring gathering held at each new and full moon, led by yoga teacher and author Sierra Hollister. The circle is open to anyone who wants to attend and centers on themes tied to lunar cycles.

Electric Voodoo Choir play a big, soulful, horn-forward set, and it's a single night rather than a residency.

This is a regular-season NCAA men's basketball road game, with UNC Asheville traveling to play Florida State at FSU's venue.

A recurring workshop led by writer Ben Fluet that alternates between lessons on specific poetic forms and open freewriting sessions. Roughly ninety minutes are spent writing, followed by a group sharing period where participants offer feedback on each other's work.

Liverpool against Club Brugge out on the patio with the sound actually turned up, which is rare at a brewery.

A karaoke night held at the brewery where attendees can sign up to sing.

The Saylor brothers stretch bluegrass into jam territory, and a 6:30 start keeps it from turning into a late night.

This marks the first North Carolina pop-up event held by the Pom 615 group in Burnsville.

This is a weekly trivia night where teams test general knowledge for a shot at prizes. Food and drink are available on-site, including discounted pitchers of select beer.

This is a candlelit sound and movement class pairing yin yoga with a gong bath. It opens with slow, held yoga postures meant to ease tension and calm the nervous system, then moves into a resting phase accompanied by resonant gong sounds.

An annual organized pub crawl that moves between multiple bars across Asheville on the night before Thanksgiving.

The Travers Brothership play The Last Waltz front to back, the Band's farewell concert resurrected for Thanksgiving eve, and it's listed all ages.

This weekly Latin dance night opens with lessons covering salsa, bachata, merengue, cumbia, and reggaeton for dancers of all skill levels, followed by open social dancing.

Three hours of bluegrass built by whoever shows up with an instrument, all skill levels, and sitting and listening is a fine way to spend it.

This is the 26th annual Asheville Turkey Trot, held Thanksgiving Day and including a 5K race and a shorter Gobble Wobble fun run. Packet pickup and registration take place beforehand at Pack Square in downtown Asheville.

This is the second annual Black Mountain Turkey Trot, a Thanksgiving morning 5K road race held in Black Mountain.

This is a community 5K run and walk through Hendersonville held around Thanksgiving, with proceeds benefiting Hope Coalition. The field is intended for all ability levels, from competitive runners to casual walkers, and some participants dress in costume.

A Thanksgiving-morning 5K road race through the Biltmore Park neighborhood in South Asheville, with themed t-shirts and finisher medals for participants. The event is open to runners, walkers, and spectators.

This is the sixth running of the Waynesville Sunrise Rotary Turkey Trot, a 5K held on Thanksgiving morning around Lake Junaluska. It's organized as a community run for families and friends to start the holiday together.

A Thanksgiving-themed yoga class that blends gentle and strengthening postures aimed at grounding and release, framed as a chance for the community to slow down together. The class is designed to be accessible to all experience levels.

Legends on the Lake is serving a multi-course Thanksgiving dinner with both carved and whole roasted turkey plus ham, oysters, stuffing, several casseroles, and a selection of salads and sides.

A four course prix fixe holiday spread put together at a distillery, served at a civilized midday hour.

Carving stations and the full traditional spread from Chef Rakim Gaines, nine floors up with the mountains out the window.

Jacob Sessoms turns the Thanksgiving classics into a buffet, which is a better deal than it sounds coming from a kitchen this good.

A Thanksgiving dinner served as a multi-course, family-style meal featuring traditional holiday dishes.

Names go in a hat and whoever gets drawn tells a true five minute story on the theme Anything Goes, with the crowd scoring each one.

A weekly mountain bike ride organized by a local bike shop. The meeting spot and route difficulty change each week and are announced ahead of time on the shop's social media.

A recurring book club centered on titles by Black authors that explore different aspects of the Black experience. Members gather monthly to discuss that month's selected book.

A trivia night covering a range of topics including pop culture and general knowledge. Players typically form teams with friends to compete over drinks.

An old-time open band plays while a caller walks the floor through each dance, and the free lesson beforehand means no experience is needed.

A day of community organizing and fundraising activities held in support of a political prisoner, who was arrested in mid-2025 while protesting at an immigration detention facility in Texas. The event frames her as a longtime advocate for human and animal rights causes.

A park naturalist leads an outdoor session introducing visitors to resident animal ambassadors, discussing local wildlife species and their roles in the regional ecosystem. The event is pitched as a way to get outside and move after Thanksgiving gatherings.

A live performance from singer-songwriter Lyric (Leeda Jones), a Western North Carolina musician and music teacher who has released an EP and been recognized multiple times in a regional alt-weekly's readers' poll.

Forest against Chelsea on the patio with the sound turned up and good beer on tap.

The town tree goes on in front of a crowd, with cocoa-and-beer-garden energy around it.

A festive trolley out to the Winter Lights display, which means seeing the lights without fighting for parking.

This is a film screening spotlighting femme filmmakers from western North Carolina, returning after being paused due to a hurricane. The program is split into two blocks, with each block pairing a short film and a feature-length film from local independent filmmakers.

Six years running, it's a theatrical after-dark light walk through the woods rather than a drive-through display, $20 a ticket.

Reggae, speedpunk and ska on one early bill, which is a combination odd enough to be worth hearing.

A singer-songwriter performs a live set blending soul, acoustic pop, and R&B-influenced storytelling. Originally from Phoenix, the performer relocated to the Asheville area's Blue Ridge Mountains in 2020 and has since become a familiar presence in the local music scene.

An evening program at the observatory focused on viewing and learning about the night sky, including planets, the moon, star clusters, and galaxies. Staff share information about constellations, nebulae, meteors, and other astronomy topics.

UNC Asheville's women's basketball team travels to face Appalachian State in a regular-season road game.

A theater company brings back a previous stage production for a performance at this coffee shop's South Slope location.

A duo performs a live set as part of a recurring Friday night series at the venue. The show is framed as an informal, high-energy performance rather than a polished concert.

A local acoustic duo performs a set spanning folk, rock, and blues at the brewery.

Kiah sings roots, folk and blues with a voice that fills a room, and she's out on songs from Still + Bright.

A musician performs a live set at this cocktail lounge over several hours, with the venue serving cocktails and food from its menu alongside the show.

A monthly recurring dance night returns, featuring a DJ set that moves across a mix of club styles, from gritty to upbeat and playful.

A band performs a tribute set covering the music of D'Angelo at this music venue.

This run/walk event lets participants move at their own pace along a set course, whether jogging, running, or walking. Finishers select a prize from a dedicated table, and refreshments are provided at the finish line. Proceeds or participation support a local charitable organization.

A community-painted nutcracker needs a name, and he'll stand there until January 5 wearing whatever gets picked.

A first-ever craft market of handmade, earth-minded work from local makers, set up as the opposite of the big-box Black Friday scramble.

Legends on the Lake Game Room at Rumbling Bald is hosting a brunch event where Santa will be present for guests throughout the gathering. The meal includes items like an omelet station, a waffle bar, and desserts alongside other breakfast and brunch fare.

This hands-on workshop teaches basic hand-cut paper collage techniques, including transferring a photo onto a surface and layering cut paper to build depth. Participants work through cutting and gluing exercises toward completing a portrait of their own pet.

Terramonga Store and Deli hosts a recurring Saturday live-music session on its porch, with musicians performing in a casual outdoor setting.

New Belgium's Asheville location runs a guided tour through production areas not normally open to visitors, covering the brewery's history and brewing process with sample tastings along the way.

Lookout Brewing screens select Champions League and Premier League matches on its patio, including this Ipswich Town versus Aston Villa fixture.

Burntshirt Vineyards hosts a live performance by The Paper Crowns at its tasting room and winery. The act is a two-person group blending multiple instruments and genres, led by Spiro and Nicole.

Ignite Jewelry Studios runs a hands-on workshop where participants hammer and shape their own sterling silver wide-band ring under the guidance of a metalsmithing instructor; no prior jewelry-making experience is needed.

Tanger Outlets Asheville is hosting recurring photo sessions with an Appalachian-themed Santa in the mall's food court, run in partnership with TapSnap. The sessions continue on weekends through the holiday season as a long-running community tradition.

Warren Wilson College's women's basketball team hosts Sewanee in a home game.

A singer-songwriter performs a set of original material, drawing on personal experience and known for an airy, atmospheric vocal style. She is self-taught as a musician.

The arcade's holiday tree lighting comes with a full block party around it, the one downtown evening that actually feels like a spectacle.

This is a weekly casual hangout in a hotel's upper lobby lounge, set up with board games and comfortable seating. Guests order drinks from the on-site bar and can join in games with their group or simply relax in the space.

Jacoozy play their rock, funk and jazz mash as the pre-party ahead of the Fireside Collective show, so you can make a long evening of it.

Singer-songwriter Erick Baker performs a seated set of Christmas songs by candlelight at the Barn at Honeysuckle Hill, in a smaller, quieter format than a typical concert.

This is a recurring Saturday-night DJ set in the venue's After/Glow lounge, with resident DJs playing dance tracks for a late-night bar crowd. Expect a club-style atmosphere with drinks and dancing rather than a seated show.

Roots & Dore, a blues, roots, and soul duo based in Asheville, play a mix of original songs and covers drawing from blues, southern soul, and rock traditions.

Opening night for a new monthly comedy show that's genuinely built to be clean, with touring standups on the bill for $10.

Fireside Collective turn their hometown night into a jamboree, and their bluegrass runs loose and fast live.

This show features Chris McGinnis, a singer-songwriter from Morganton, North Carolina, performing original material. His songs tend to be narrative, everyday-life observations delivered in a sincere, unadorned style.

This gathering brings together electronic dance music, movement-based performance, and a lineup of independent local vendors under one roof. Local DJs and performers share billing alongside craft and goods sellers, with an emphasis on showcasing area talent and small businesses.

French Broad River Brewery hosts a touring lineup of comedians booked by Modelface Comedy, with the show built around live sketch comedy rather than standard stand-up sets.

The Weinhaus hosts Zydeco Ya Ya for a dance-floor set of zydeco music, with two-steps and waltzes meant for dancing rather than a seated show.

The JackTown Ramblers play a bluegrass set at this Irish pub as part of a regular live-music night that pairs pub atmosphere with acoustic string-band music.

A traveling DJ-led dance party built around emo and pop-punk music runs late into the night at Eulogy. Rather than a live band, it's a themed club night drawing on genre favorites for a sing-along, nostalgia-driven crowd.

A guided workshop led by Nataraj that walks participants through a three-part approach to forgiveness based on the Hawaiian ho'oponopono practice. The session is aimed at helping people work through lingering anger or grief to find more ease in everyday life.

A recurring morning session led by facilitator Andy Collins gives attendees a shared space to work on creative practice together. The gathering is framed as a way to build confidence in one's own creative abilities and takes place on the last Sunday of each month.

A barn full of makers and a farm decked out for the holidays, so you can knock out gift shopping and still get a hayride-and-hot-cider kind of afternoon.

Arsenal against Manchester City with the sound turned on and the patio open early, which is a rare thing to find walking distance from home.

Harpist Lo Wolf performs live inside the museum's galleries, pairing the instrument's sound with the surrounding artwork. The program is framed as a way to experience the exhibits on a more sensory, emotional level rather than a standard concert.

A hands-on class making a holiday-themed sculpture out of polymer clay, finished with hand-painted glass eyes and acrylic paint. The session runs roughly four hours, with food available for purchase nearby for anyone who gets hungry partway through.

A craft workshop centered on making a sleep cap, pitched as a relaxed, self-care-focused project for winding down at the end of the semester.

A hands-on workshop teaching the Ukrainian craft of making a Zirka, a wooden star traditionally representing the Star of Bethlehem. The finished star is mounted on a pole so it can be carried while caroling or in a lantern parade, placed in a nativity scene, or displayed as a decoration.

A group of musicians from the Hendersonville and Brevard area who began playing together informally has grown into an active band, performing live as a collective.

Honky tonk, blues and a bit of southern gothic on a Sunday afternoon at a brewery with plenty of room to spread out.

A 300-piece puzzle race against other tables, which is a far more competitive way to spend a Sunday than it sounds.

A Sunday-afternoon live set at a cocktail lounge featuring vocalist Cara Morgan, who also performs with the swing trio We Three Swings. The performance is an intimate, lower-key set rather than a full band show.

A recurring open-mic night where local comedians sign up to perform short sets in front of a live audience. The lineup rotates week to week rather than featuring a single headliner, so the mix of material and experience level varies.

Asheville-based artist and producer Planet Ruti the Wizard marks a new album with a live release show. The performer's work is described as blending multiple styles and energies into one set.

A stand-up comedy showcase booked through a national comedy club brand, bringing together a lineup of touring and local comedians for a Thanksgiving-themed show at the brewery.

A homegrown tribute to The Band marking 50 years since The Last Waltz, which means Up on Cripple Creek and The Weight played properly loud.

Nobody knows what's screening until it starts, a different host picks a different oddity each week, and there's pizza while you watch.

Singer-songwriter Ellis Paul performs a seated acoustic show, with doors opening an hour ahead of the performance. A limited number of premium seats are offered separately from general admission.

A recurring pint night at the brewery's Old Fort location directs a portion of sales toward a different local nonprofit each month. This installment benefits the Community Land Trust of WNC, a nonprofit founded in 2025 that works on land trust initiatives in the region.

Scotchie brings a rotating cast of songwriters in once a month, so you get several writers' material in one early-evening set.

A recurring gathering for people who collect art-project books and inspiration resources but rarely act on them. Participants bring their own stacks and work together on turning ideas from those books into finished projects.

A recurring vinyl listening night at a cocktail lounge, built around a guest DJ playing deep cuts of soul, funk, R&B, and rock and roll from physical records. The room is set up for both drinking and dancing.

A young French songwriter playing funk-tinged, self-deprecating chanson in a room built specifically for listening quietly.

It's the all-ages cut of the D&D revenge comedy, full of paper monsters and 1990s nostalgia.

This recurring life drawing session features a clothed model posing for a mix of durations, starting with quick one-minute warm-up poses before moving into longer holds of up to twenty minutes. Artists may work in any medium, though oil painters are asked to use non-odor solvents. No instruction is given; it runs as an open studio for about two hours.

This is a video screening program organized by Firestorm and WNCCAP in partnership with Visual AIDS, part of the annual Day With(out) Art observance. The hour-long program consists of four newly commissioned short videos examining the lasting effects of colonialism alongside the ongoing HIV epidemic.

An acoustic jam rolls into a dark city blues set, and anybody who brings an instrument can sit in.

A benefit dinner organized by Project HNG, featuring a three-course meal prepared by chef Ashleigh Shanti of Good Hot Fish, paired with two drinks and a live auction. Proceeds go toward funding scholarships that send local children to summer camp.

This is an open-mic night for storytellers, where attendees sign up to tell a five-minute true story in front of an audience. Spots in the lineup are claimed at the venue rather than reserved in advance.

A three-part workshop series centered on somatic myofascial release, aimed at helping participants notice and let go of chronic physical tension held in places like the jaw, hips, and shoulders. Led by Cat Matlock, the series treats bodywork as a way of addressing stress that accumulates physically over time.

The Asheville Symphony's loose side takes over a rock club for Broadway and Great American Songbook numbers, played loud instead of polite.

This is a recurring discussion meetup for readers of fantasy romance fiction at the bookshop. The current session centers on discussing a specific novel, The Knave and the Moon by Rachel Gillig.

Warren Wilson College's men's basketball team travels to Fayetteville, North Carolina for a matchup against Methodist University.

Cattail leaves and colored ribbon get woven into ornaments, taught by a wilderness skills instructor who actually knows plant fiber.

A museum educator leads a slower-paced walkthrough of the galleries, encouraging visitors to spend extended time looking closely at individual artworks. The format is framed as a way to unwind and connect with the pieces on view rather than cover the whole collection.

This is a regular-season women's college basketball game between UNC Asheville and Warren Wilson, tied to an Education Day program for school groups attending the game. Streaming audio is available for those not attending in person.

This is a women's college basketball matchup between Warren Wilson College and UNC Asheville.

College hoops two miles up the road, and a small gym makes basketball sound twice as big.

Participants get hands-on instruction in boiling water bath canning, working directly with apple preserves to learn the fundamentals of the preservation method.

The Vinyl Brothers play a loud holiday kickoff at a 6pm start, early enough to still be a proper night out.

This weekly meetup at Peri Social House gathers people looking to practice Spanish in a casual setting, starting with an hour of Spanish-only conversation before shifting into a more open social format. Organizers describe it as welcoming to all skill levels, from beginners to fluent speakers.

A holiday party hosted by the Asheville chapter of the American Institute of Architects, built around a disco theme.

A recurring karaoke night takes place on the first Wednesday of every month at a converted 1936 Georgian Revival home that now operates as a coffee and cocktail bar, with a casual lounge-style seating area.

Driessen plays a five-string fiddle through loops and chops, which sounds nothing like what you expect from a fiddle.

Dr. Bill Bares leads a straight-ahead jazz showcase right in town, the kind of playing the room was built for.

This is a regular-season men's college basketball road game between UNC Asheville and Lipscomb, played at Lipscomb's home arena in Nashville. Tickets are sold through Lipscomb's athletics ticket site.

A recurring December event at Peri Social House built around tap wine sold by the bottle. A weekly game lets participants earn credit toward a self-guided walk past a rotating selection of decorated trees around town.

A no-cost cocktail-making class at Peri Social House led by bartender Ellse, aimed at teaching attendees the basics of mixing drinks at home.

Sixteen years in, decorated trees light up across the Swannanoa Valley from tonight through New Year's Day, so the whole walk through town turns into the attraction.

Three hours of making festive cards by hand with artist Shoshana Avree, which beats anything that comes in a box of twelve.

This three-week indoor rock climbing class introduces beginners ages 8 to 12 to the basics of the sport. A parent or guardian is required to attend each session in order to belay their child.

A casual gathering at Randsom House pairing coffee and pan dulce with Spanish-language conversation practice, run in partnership with LSC.

Visitors can meet and read aloud to Gracie, a certified therapy dog. She is a ten-year-old Great Pyrenees mix missing one leg, described as energetic and affectionate, enjoying running and swimming.

Hatmaker grew up backstage with a stand-up dad and an actress mom, and the early set time means it's done before bedtime.

An oyster-centered fundraiser at Highland Brewing Company organized by the NC Brook Trout Association to support the group's activities.

A recurring gathering for readers to bring their own book and spend the evening reading quietly alongside others, bookended by informal chatting before and after the silent reading period. The venue is dog-friendly.

A conversation meetup at Ginger's Revenge Riverside Tasting Room where attendees practice English and Spanish together in an informal setting. Discussion prompts are provided, and participants of any fluency level are welcome.

A monthly book club at Battery Park Book Exchange spotlighting a different local author's book each session. Each gathering combines a group discussion with a question-and-answer segment featuring the author.

A two-hour vinyasa yoga class set entirely to Radiohead's music, combining guided breathwork, creative movement sequences, and musical meditation. The session is framed as a way to calm and reset the nervous system.

Rowdy California Americana with tight harmonies and banjo, in a taproom where the floor actually gets used for dancing.

A trivia night hosted by Kelsey Lahr, where attendees order drinks at the bar and work through rounds of questions.

The Blue Wall Ramblers play live fiddle and banjo while Elijah Jaime calls the steps, and the free lesson beforehand means nobody needs to know what they're doing.

This show marks a farewell performance from Day & Dream, a duo whose music draws on nature and open-road imagery, with support from Blue Roses and The Moon and You. Doors open an hour before the music starts.

The science museum floor goes kid-only for two hours, with no older crowds to dodge at the exhibits.

An early look at the restoration work on Wildcat Rock Trail, climbing through forest to one of the better overlooks in the Hickory Nut Gorge.

A jewelry studio holds its annual holiday sale, offering in-person shopping with discounted pieces. The same sale also runs online, and the studio takes appointments on weekdays outside the main sale window.

A two-day holiday market hosted at a local gallery, featuring handmade gifts from regional and American makers alongside a discount on gallery merchandise and drink tastings supplied by a local wine shop.

A two-day woodcarving class at Trackside Studios led by instructor Dave Trydahl. The first day covers carving safety, knife sharpening and honing, and basic cuts; on the second day participants finish and paint a carved Santa figure. Wood is supplied for the class.

A tabletop gaming club for homeschooled kids held twice a month on Friday afternoons at the Tempie Avery Montford Center, running from September through December. A different board game is played each session, with some sessions featuring games recommended for older children.

A stand-up comedy performance headlined by touring comedian Shaun Jones.

A gallery and studio space hosts a reception with demonstrations from local artists, alongside handmade work intended as holiday gifts or home decor.

The Downtown Arts District is relaunching its First Fridays Art Walk for the new season, with galleries, studios, restaurants, and other cultural spaces across downtown Asheville opening to visitors. The relaunch is organized in partnership with Capua Law, Sound Mind Design, and Thrive Asheville, and invites people to move between participating locations at their own pace.

A monthly First Friday gallery event at Mars Landing Arts Center in Mars Hill, about 20 minutes north of Asheville. Visitors can see painter Catherine Cervas's work on display in Gallery #2.

A multi-day retreat centered on shamanic ceremony and the ritual use of plant-based sacraments, framed by organizers as a path toward healing, connection, and personal transformation.

Montreat College's junior varsity women's basketball team faces South Georgia Tech in a scheduled matchup. The game will also be available to watch via livestream for those not attending in person.

Fake ID, a group of young musicians from the Asheville Music School ranging in age from 15 to 17, performs blues and soul on the patio at Zelda Dearest. The set reflects the band's early but developing dedication to the genre.

An art therapist runs a mixed-media session where the whole point is making something deliberately terrible and enjoying it.

Twelve local artists selling at a buy-sell-trade shop after hours, with free entry and the artists keeping everything they make.

A touring stand-up comedy show presented by a regional comedy promoter, headlined by Louisville-based comedian Mandee McKelvey.

A yoga session paired with live music at West Asheville Yoga, led by instructors Hope and Tara, who have held this combined class together before.

Decades of cowpunk, surf guitar and songs about fried chicken, played loud and listed all ages.

This show features an Americana band with roots in bluegrass, known for layered vocal harmonies and upbeat, danceable rhythms. It is the second of two separately ticketed performances by the same act at this venue.

Every Friday night, The Radical's After/Glow series brings live music into an intimate, lounge-style setting with a loose, unpolished feel. This installment features PSH Trio performing a live set in the venue's front room.

A theatrical retelling of A Christmas Carol told from the perspective of Jacob Marley's ghost, who is shackled and tormented in the afterlife while trying to intervene in Ebenezer Scrooge's fate.

A recurring holiday concert presented by a university music department, featuring seasonal repertoire performed by student and faculty musicians.

A live music show at Shakey's with the band Total Gold, supported by DJ Abu Disarray.

Bank of America cardholders can enter the Asheville Art Museum without a ticket by presenting their card at the welcome desk during this recurring monthly weekend promotion.

This is the first year a 5K race has been added to Elves for Enka, a charity program now entering its 15th year that provides holiday gifts and essential items to students at Enka High School in need. The run follows a course through the Enka High School campus, with proceeds supporting the program.

Before the Asheville Art Museum opens to the public, this guided session leads participants through meditation and mindful walking in the galleries. The format is designed to help attendees slow down and experience the museum as a calm, contemplative space rather than a typical gallery visit.

An hour and a half out in the fields on how the cows, pigs and sheep get through a mountain winter, and it costs nothing.

Twelfth year of vintage Christmas, jewelry and plants, which is where the odd gift nobody else thought of turns up.

Eleven years running, with 26-plus vendors, live music and a kids' area, and admission is free.

This beginner-friendly half-day workshop introduces intuitive, process-based painting, where participants create without following set techniques or aiming for a specific result. Art materials are supplied, and the session is led by instructor Pamela Cisneros.

This three-hour hands-on workshop teaches English paper piecing, a hand-sewing technique that predates home sewing machines, in which two basic stitches join fabric scraps into hexagonal pieces used for quilt tops.

Watching the Christmas parade go by from a porch with food and a drink beats staking out a spot on the curb.

Santa holds court for three hours while a holiday market takes over the square, and it's all done by seven.

UNC Asheville's women's basketball team travels to South Carolina State for a regular-season road game.

Photographer Tanya Triber presents a solo exhibition of 17 landscape and documentary photographs tracing winter's retreat from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Arctic, with an opening reception for the show.

This session combines a slow restorative yoga practice meant to ease physical tension and calm the nervous system with heated stone therapy, set to live violin music for an immersive, meditative atmosphere.

A whole set of Paul McCartney songs rearranged, so tunes everyone already knows land a little differently.

The city's long-running indie craft fair, where the work is handmade and strange rather than mass produced, and admission is ten dollars.

Participants make up to four holiday greeting cards using mixed-media collage techniques, layering paper collage with pens, markers, or acrylics. Card stock and watercolor paper are supplied by the instructor.

Afternoon bingo with winter prizes on the line, which fills an hour without anyone having to plan it.

This is a regular-season men's college basketball game, with UNC Asheville hosting Alice Lloyd College. The game can be followed on local streaming radio, and tickets are sold through an online ticketing link.

The Street Creature Puppet Collective shows how to bend willow into a lantern that actually glows, and it ends with something to carry home.

The Nutcracker Suite and Respighi's Botticelli Pictures played by a full orchestra, in daylight instead of at a concert-hall hour.

A solo set from a multi-instrumentalist who usually plays in a band, and it's early enough to be an afternoon thing.

This is a live music performance by Emma Ruth Rundle, a songwriter and musician who also records under several other band names, with support from opener Cinder Well. The show runs at a small Asheville venue, with doors opening ahead of the main set.

You mix and stretch your own peppermint-scented slime, which is the sort of sticky project nobody wants to host in their own kitchen.

This is a members-only dinner for the museum's Collectors' Circle, held as a year-end gathering tied to the group's recent acquisitions. It caps off a year of social and educational programming for Circle participants and is not open to the general public.

A ticketed evening music set is a rare reason to be inside the Arboretum after the gardens would normally be shut.

It's the full touring Nutcracker, snow scene, Sugar Plum Fairy and all, staged at theater scale rather than studio-recital scale.

Glencoe does a Celtic Christmas set, fiddle and pipes on holiday tunes, and it's walking distance from the middle of Black Mountain.

A live winter game show with buzzers, teams and rapid-fire rounds, written for a young audience rather than adults.

Tim Griffin's Irish jam fills the taproom with fiddles and it kicks off early enough to catch before dinner.

This recurring life-drawing session features a live, undraped model and is open to artists working in any medium. The two-hour format starts with ten one-minute warm-up poses before moving into longer 10-, 15-, and 20-minute poses. It is an untutored, self-directed drawing session rather than an instructed class.

UNC Asheville's women's basketball team hosts Furman in a regular-season home game. The matchup will also be available via streaming audio for fans not attending in person.

This is a three-session class series centered on somatic myofascial release, a hands-on bodywork approach aimed at easing physical tension connected to anxiety.

This punk show pairs headliner The Mainliners with opener The Nu-Viles. The Mainliners formed out of Southern California's DIY punk scene, where the members grew up attending house shows and listening to classic punk records.

Montreat College students take the stage for a showcase, and the room's small enough that you hear every note.

You paint your own taper candle and walk out with it, which is a decent way to spend a Wednesday in town.

Sophia Corinne plays a short local set in the afternoon, the kind of free low-key show that's easy to drop into.

A free monthly craft night where you bring whatever project you've got going and work on it alongside other people.

Live fiddle, keys and drums for a contra dance, with a free lesson first so nobody needs to know the steps.

Florencia & The Feeling on a hometown stage at a reasonable hour, close enough to walk home from.

Turnover's hazy guitar pop fills the Orange Peel, and they don't come through often.

Holiday sweaters at their most regrettable, with the social house in town leaning all the way into it.

The science museum stays open after hours for a kids-only dinner and a movie under the dinosaurs, with parents dropping off at the door.

Old-time fiddle and song in a cidery taproom, starting early enough to be a real night out and still get home.

A full-length professional Nutcracker danced by Asheville's own company, the whole story rather than a trimmed-down holiday version.

Whitney Mongé's holiday set, soul and blues guitar in a room built for listening instead of talking over.

Chatham County Line's winter tour stop, North Carolina bluegrass played tight and loud with holiday songs worked in.

Studio doors open across the old Riverview building once a month, with artists actually working at their benches.

A holiday craft market takes over the music hall for the day, so the shopping comes with a stage and a bar attached.

Santa rappels down the face of the chimney to practice for Christmas Eve, a stunt the park has been pulling off for 29 years.

Cider simmering, a bonfire lit and the big barn decked out at the farm, which is about as good as December gets this close by.

Wolfe's boyhood boarding house dressed for a Victorian Christmas and lit up for evening walk-throughs.

The Jacktown Ramblers playing old-time string band music a short walk from the middle of town.

Diali Cissokho is a Senegalese griot who plays the kora, the 21-string West African harp, and his trio turns it into dance music. It's an afternoon set, not a late one.

A kid teaches this one, walking everyone through a beaded candy cane ornament. Free, open to the public, and no reservation needed.

Kirchen is the guy who played that guitar solo on "Hot Rod Lincoln" and he's earned the Titan of the Telecaster nickname. Honky tonk Christmas songs with an early start.

Amici Music does classical chamber playing the loose, chatty way, with the musicians talking between pieces, and the holiday program leans on carols and showpieces.

Live jazz at breakfast time with pajamas encouraged, which is a strange and genuinely good way to open a Monday.

A free art session with Alison Press, open to the community, though you do have to register ahead.

Two jams run back to back, acoustic first and dark city blues after, so players sit in all night and nothing settles into a fixed set list.

Thee Sinseers play slow-burning lowrider soul, the kind of oldies-style ballads built for a packed room, with Taylor Williams opening.

String band YARN turns their Christmas show into a proper ball, which means holiday songs you know played loud and fast.

An early morning with the watercolors out on the tables, easy to drop into before the rest of the day starts.

The open session becomes a Christmas jazz jam, so holiday standards get pulled apart by whoever shows up with a horn.

Folk players trade songs through the evening, which makes for a loose listening-room night rather than one band holding the stage.

Daily Bread builds bass-heavy, glitchy electronic sets meant for a big room with a good system.

Third Thursday opens the galleries up for an evening, with Jason DeCristofaro's jazz trio playing, tours running, art making tables out and a rooftop café, and it's free.

Lillie Syracuse plays an early set for members, which is about the shortest trip to live music anyone in town can make.

Names go in a hat and whoever gets drawn tells five minutes of true story from memory, no notes, so the night is built on the spot.

A seasonal holiday dinner with dancing at Deerpark, which the estate only puts on a handful of times a year.

Build your own espresso martini for $12 off a bar of sweet, savory and pepperminty garnishes.

Old time players sit in a circle with fiddles and banjos and just play, and it kicks off early in the evening.

A whole night of Linda Ronstadt songs, which is a catalog that needs a real voice and a room small enough to hear it.

The cast takes a single audience suggestion and builds a full story with characters out of it, so the show can't repeat itself.

Bare winter trees open up the long-range views you can't see the rest of the year, with a naturalist setting the pace.

A one-day holiday craft and gift market right in the middle of town, so there's no drive involved.

Local growers and makers selling houseplants and plant-adjacent crafts, with coffee from The Pot Stirred on site, and it's free to wander.