Around Black Mountain & Asheville

A Community Engagement Market open to the public, part of a rotating series held at various sites around Buncombe County. This installment takes place at Deaverview Apartments, giving nearby residents a chance to connect with community resources and vendors close to home.

This hands-on series, offered in partnership with local fashion house House of Sconiers, teaches participants the basics of using a sewing machine and constructing simple garments from scratch. All materials are supplied, so newcomers can join without owning their own equipment.

Two teenage sisters playing an all ages patio show in the late afternoon, with limited seating that's first come first serve.

Asheville-based musician Pat Sheridan brings his singer-songwriter sound to Doc Brown's BBQ, playing original material across multiple instruments. Expect an intimate, roots-leaning live set paired with the restaurant's barbecue menu.

This weekly industry night at Antidote pairs a vinyl DJ set from Nex Millen with drink specials aimed at Asheville's service-industry crowd. The set runs early evening, giving it a low-key, after-shift feel rather than a late-night club atmosphere.

Everyone brings whatever they're reading and sits together in companionable quiet, which sounds strange and somehow works.

Men's soccer under the lights right in town, about as short a trip as an evening out gets.

Three local songwriters sharing one bill, so it's a short trip for a full evening of music.

A trolley ride through the city's grislier history with a murder mystery running alongside it.

Anberlin's back out on the road and playing a small room, with two openers ahead of them.

A big touring rock band stopping in, the kind that usually skips a market this size.

An evening set from GoldFord in one of the best sounding rooms downtown.

This is a recurring drop-in figure-drawing session held without instruction, featuring a live, undraped model, open to artists working in any medium. The session opens with a run of quick one-minute warm-up poses before moving into longer holds of ten, fifteen, and twenty minutes for the remainder of the two-hour class.

This retreat sets aside a day for quiet reflection and renewal at the Arboretum, drawing on themes from early Chinese and Japanese Zen poets. It's framed as a mind-body wellness experience for people looking to slow down and reconnect with the season.

P.F. Chang's is hosting a give-back night where a share of the restaurant's sales for the evening will be donated to the Asheville Music School. Guests dine as they normally would, with an online reservation link provided for the date.

This outdoor popup at Grandfather Mountain highlights birds of prey and the fall hawk migration. Visitors can take part in activities and learn about raptors and their role in local ecosystems. It's framed as a family-friendly seasonal nature event.

A small-batch blues ice cream that only exists in Black Mountain, made to kick off the festival weekend.

An afterschool program at Kolo Bike Park introduces young riders to longboarding over a series of eight sessions, building skills progressively from the basics. No prior experience is required, and boards and safety equipment are provided for participants.

Meherwan Irani cooking a full dinner off his award-winning Indian cookbook, and it's a one-night thing.

The Trusty Hucksters play a live set at Doc Brown's BBQ, a family-owned, wood-smoked Carolina-style barbecue restaurant in Candler. The band's own bio leans into playful, tall-tale humor about its wide-ranging musical influences.

College soccer under the lights at Warren Wilson, five minutes down the road and easy to drop in on.

This is a free karaoke night held in the brewery's High Gravity Room, open to all ages as a casual taproom sing-along. Guests can sign up to perform in front of the crowd throughout the evening.

An ongoing series of guided walks through natural areas around Asheville centered on foraging and connecting with the outdoors. Each session varies and may involve mushroom or plant foraging, close observation of moss and forest life, or other nature-based activities led by local plant educators.

This patio show at The Grey Eagle features Trilby, an alternative rock artist based in Asheville. Patio seating for the show is limited and offered first come, first served.

A weekly gathering for Magic: The Gathering players at a board game cafe, open to newcomers and experienced players alike. Loaner decks are available for anyone without their own cards, and staff are on hand to teach the basics. Regulars are also welcome to bring their own decks to test against others.

A road cycling ride organized by a local bicycle club, departing from a beer garden in Hendersonville. Riders can choose between a social-pace route and a hillier loop option. Full route details are maintained on the club's website.

A beginner-friendly belly dance class covering foundational technique, movements, and combinations set to a varied music playlist. It's positioned as a gentle full-body workout suited to newcomers and returning dancers alike.

An open acoustic blues jam held in the seating area of a Black Mountain music venue, welcoming musicians to bring instruments and sit in. The gathering happens twice a month rather than as a single ticketed show. It's an informal, drop-in format built around local players.

Storyteller Becky Stone performs a theatrical portrait of Josephine Baker, hosted by the Friends of the East Asheville Public Library. Stone has worked as a Chautauqua scholar since 2003, specializing in staged storytelling drawn from African-American history.

This gathering at Asia House marks the fall equinox with a dance and movement session built around themes of balance, transition, and release. It's framed as a reflective, wellness-oriented practice rather than a conventional dance night.

Datrian Johnson on the White Horse stage, which is about as short a walk to live music as it gets.

Hey, Nothing bring their Hound tour to a small Buxton Ave room, so it's close quarters for a band that won't play rooms this size much longer.

Hands-on fall programs at Chimney Rock with the gorge in full color, aimed at homeschool students.

An illustrated lecture examining how Hurricane Helene affected native plant and wildlife communities in Western North Carolina, followed by a short walk through the Arboretum grounds. Attendees get a firsthand look at areas still recovering from the storm.

A neighborhood market held at Pisgah View Apartments, part of a rotating series of community markets that Buncombe County runs at different sites around the area. Offerings and vendors can vary by location and date.

Warren Wilson College's men's soccer team hosts Johnson & Wales University's North Carolina campus for a regular-season match at the college's Swannanoa campus.

Montreat hosts Columbia International, so it's a college match you can walk to.

This is a hands-on art session where attendees make small abstract paintings using materials that glow under black light. An instructor supplies the paint and other materials, with a nature-inspired theme running through the prompts.

This is a hands-on composting class presented in partnership with Seeds of Solidarity, covering a range of composting techniques and methods. Participants learn practical skills for composting at home.

A folk music set on The Grey Eagle's patio from Flora Fauna, an Appalachian folk project led by Asheville-based sibling duo Emeline Scales and Charlie Scales. Their sound draws on bluegrass and porch-music traditions. Patio seating is limited and first come, first served.

A full Coltrane tribute with reserved table seating, and they're saying straight out it'll sell out.

Morgan Wade writes the blunt kind of songs that land hard live, and Susto opens, on the Sierra Nevada lawn.

A trivia night pairing literary questions with general-knowledge rounds, hosted at Battery Park Book Exchange's champagne bar. Open to casual readers and serious trivia buffs alike, with drinks on hand throughout.

Jigsaws, mechanical puzzles and escape-room types all in one room, which is a strange and pleasant way to spend a Wednesday.

Jamgrass from the Saylor Brothers at French Broad, the sort of loose midweek picking session that runs on its own energy.

An evening of deep listening built around the kora, a 21-string West African harp you rarely get to hear in person.

A rave metal show headlined by The Browning, with support from Deadlands, Extortionist, and Blind Equation. The bill leans into heavy, electronic-tinged metal for an evening built around the touring headliner.

Bluegrass in a basement room, which changes how the instruments sound more than you'd expect.

A seated folk and Americana show featuring the Rainbow Girls, a Northern California trio built around three core singers. The group is known for close, layered vocal harmonies blended with indie-rock and stomp-folk influences.

This illustrated lecture looks at the long-term effects of Hurricane Helene on plant and animal communities across Western North Carolina. It's followed by a short walk on Arboretum grounds to view areas still recovering from storm damage.

This concert marks an album release for Admiral Radio, a folk/Americana duo from South Carolina formed by married couple Coty Hoover and Becca Smith. Their sound centers on close vocal harmonies and storytelling songwriting.

A hands-on sewing workshop for reworking secondhand clothing finds. Participants bring their own machine along with thrifted pieces they'd like to alter or refresh, and work through repairs or redesigns as a group. Geared toward anyone looking to give old garments new life instead of replacing them.

A recurring pint night at the Old Fort taproom that raises support for a local trail-building nonprofit. This installment benefits the G5 Trail Collective, the trail program run in partnership with Camp Grier. Expect a casual evening of drinks with proceeds going toward regional trail work.

A social mixer for North Carolina's water-industry professionals, held at Burial Brewing's Forestry Camp location. The gathering centers on craft beer and conversation among people who work in water treatment and utilities, framed as a way to spotlight the field's role in something as ordinary as a pint of beer.

A hands-on art workshop at Flora & Forage where attendees create small shadow-themed artworks under artist Miranda Wildman's guidance, with snacks and drinks served throughout. It's designed to be approachable for any skill level, mixing casual mingling with guided art-making.

Asheville-based singer-songwriter and guitarist Frances Eliza performs a set of folk-rooted original music, drawing on storytelling and melody built up over a decade of playing across the Southern East Coast.

An annual fundraising gala for the Blue Ridge Humane Society, held this year at the organization's new Community Support facility in Mills River. The event supports the group's animal welfare and advocacy work.

A Black Mountain-Swannanoa Chamber of Commerce networking event combining the group's quarterly Business After Hours mixer with its annual meeting. Attendees can add on a Low Country Boil plate for an additional cost.

A free weeknight concert built around alternative rock with a vintage streak, drawing on decades-old riffs and half-forgotten songs reworked into a full-band sound. Expect sharp, hook-driven melodies rather than a straightforward covers set.

A talk and community seed exchange led by William Ritter, an old-time fiddler and seed-saver from Mitchell County who has spent nearly two decades documenting mountain traditions. He shares stories, songs, and heirloom seeds tied to the region's agricultural history. Framed as both a cultural gathering and a practical session for those interested in seed-saving.

Youngblood Bicycles leads a group road ride departing from its shop every Thursday evening, weather and daylight permitting. Riders can pick between a roughly 33-mile route and a shorter 26-mile option, both covering rolling terrain in the surrounding area.

This guided tasting centers on Green River bourbon, pairing an educational walkthrough of the spirit with a cocktail made using it and a curated flight for guests to sample side by side. It's structured as a hands-on introduction to the bourbon rather than a casual pour.

This weekly country line dance and two-step night opens with a beginner-level lesson, followed by additional lessons and open dancing for mixed skill levels. Volunteer dance helpers circulate throughout to assist anyone still learning the steps, and the event is free and welcoming to newcomers.

A guided Dungeons and Dragons session hosted at Well Played Board Game Café, run by a dungeon master for players looking for a structured campaign night.

Jerry's Dead brings a night of Grateful Dead music to the French Broad taproom.

A conversation event built around Michelle Cassandra Johnson's newly released book, held in dialogue with Rev. Marshall K Hammer at Firestorm. The discussion draws on Johnson's work around care, boundaries, and community resilience. Part of the venue's ongoing series of author events.

A whiskey tasting built around the Scottish Highlands and the Swannanoa Valley's own history, run with the local museum.

A hands-on crafting workshop where participants decorate two pumpkins using decoupage — layering decorative paper and napkins with glue to create a finished, take-home piece. All materials are included.

Whistle Hop Brewing runs a weekly music-themed bingo night hosted by an outside events company, playing multiple rounds set to songs spanning different genres. It's free to play, whether solo or with a group, and a tip jar is out for the host.

This seasonal class pairs a vinyasa flow practice, aimed at releasing summer's momentum and settling into a slower, more grounded rhythm, with a sound bath using singing bowls, gongs, rainsticks, tongue drums, and chimes. The movement portion leads into an extended period of rest set to the instruments.

This monthly book club meets to discuss a selected title. The group reads and talks through books by Black authors that explore different facets of the Black experience, with each session centered on that month's pick.

A live string band with a caller, and the lesson at 7:30 is free so you can show up knowing none of the steps.

A three-band live bill at Eulogy headlined by Greenleaf, a long-running rock act built from a decade-plus collective of collaborators, with support from Howling Giant and Mean Green. Doors open an hour ahead of the first set.

A New Jersey songwriter and his band playing One World downtown, starting late enough to be a proper night out.

UNC Asheville's men's tennis team is slated to compete at the Davidson Invitational, a multi-team tournament hosted at Davidson College.

Union Mills Learning Center holds regular concerts featuring a rotating lineup of musicians as part of a broader regional traditional-music series. A meal is available beforehand for a small fee, the music itself is free to attend, and a tip jar supports the performing artists.

A dedicated morning session at the Asheville Emporium for young children and their caregivers, offering uninterrupted floor time, a STEAM-themed storytime led by Books Alive, and a process-based art activity. Complimentary coffee is provided.

A guided two-mile round-trip hike up Bearwallow Mountain followed by an hour-long, all-levels yoga session at the summit, with mats supplied by the organizers.

Eight acres of corn maze plus tractor rides, corn cannons, pumpkins and apple slushies, running all day.

The Arboretum's fall plant sale under the tent, and the good stuff tends to go on the first morning.

This lecture is part of BMCA's ongoing art history series exploring notable works from major museum collections. Art historian and curator Julianna Caro leads a session focused on Marcel Duchamp's work at MoMA in New York. The talk aims to deepen attendees' understanding of modern art masterpieces.

This gallery show features new work from Asheville artists Chrys Corn Goodman and Maryana Rivera, made in the two years since Hurricane Helene damaged the River Arts District. The exhibition reflects on their creative process and recovery since the flood.

This workshop walks participants through painting abstract landscapes on wood panels. Local artist Miranda Wildman leads the step-by-step session using a mix of acrylics and watercolors, sharing techniques for building dynamic compositions. The format is aimed at a relaxed, all-levels group setting.

A guided gallery session at the Asheville Art Museum led by a volunteer educator, focused on slowing down and looking closely at individual artworks. Framed as a relaxed, meditative alternative to a standard museum walkthrough.

Free admission food festival with a run of local vendors, which is an easy way to graze through a lot at once.

Peggy Ratusz brings her acclaimed blues vocals to the stage alongside her band Daddy Longlegs. A two-time Asheville Music Award winner for Best Blues Vocalist, she's known for soulful delivery and storytelling rooted in traditional American blues. Expect a set grounded firmly in the genre's roots.

Peggy Ratsuz performs as part of the Black Mountain Blues festival, a reserved-seating event sharing the bill with acts including Daddy LongLegs, Seth Walker, Ra'Shad the Blues Kid, MAMA - Melissa McKinney and Ghost Town Blues Band.

A vintage-style camper van food truck serving National Parks-themed frozen treats, parked at Highland Brewing's taproom for the afternoon. Independently and locally owned.

A veteran-owned food truck serving boiled peanuts, popcorn, and a rotating lineup of shareable snacks, set up at Highland Brewing's taproom.

Seth Walker performs as part of the Black Mountain Blues Experience, a multi-day blues festival set against the Blue Ridge Mountains. The event is described as a curated celebration of blues music and culture across several days.

A live set from folk-rock act Laurel Canyon East, performing music styled after the 1960s and '70s in a short outdoor format at Antler Hill Village's bandstand.

Gov't Mule and Ziggy Marley on one bill, all ages, with doors at 4:30 and the music starting at 6.

An opening reception for a two-artist exhibition at a River Arts District gallery, featuring work by two Asheville artists reflecting on their practice in the aftermath of recent flooding.

Starseer, a rock band formed in Asheville, plays an all-ages patio show. The four-piece blends elements from varied musical backgrounds into high-energy, melodic rock, with patio seating available on a first-come, first-served basis.

This Oktoberfest-themed dinner at Highland Brewing pairs a buffet of Bavarian-inspired dishes with beer and live music. Admission includes a meal, a commemorative stein, and a first beer, with the band Lagerhosen performing through the evening.

Singer-songwriter Tom Cavanaugh performs a live set at One World Brewing's downtown location. The show offers an evening of original acoustic music in a casual brewery setting.

A road women's volleyball match pitting UNC Asheville against USC Upstate, contested as part of the two schools' Ingles I-26 Rivalry series.

Warren Wilson College hosts a women's volleyball match against William Peace University. The game is open to the general public as part of the Owls' regular season schedule.

An Oktoberfest-themed live music night featuring a band blending traditional German drinking-hall songs with pop, rock, and funk influences, aimed at keeping the crowd singing and dancing.

This is a community circle held at West Asheville Yoga in observance of the full moon. It's part of a recurring series the studio also holds at each new moon, and it's open to anyone interested in attending, regardless of experience level.

A social dance evening centered on swing music spanning from the 1920s through today, opening with a beginner-friendly lesson before the floor opens to general dancing at Morris Pavilion.

Pleasure Chest, an Asheville-based band playing blues, soul, and rock and roll, performs as part of Highland Brewing's weekend live music series. The series showcases a mix of local talent, regional acts, and touring national bands.

A stop on a national tour by singer-songwriter Damien Jurado, with St. Yuma opening. The show is standing-room-only inside the venue's music hall.

This show brings bass-heavy electronic music to Fleetwood's in West Asheville, headlined by local DJ/producer project Phantom Overdrive alongside several independent and underground North Carolina DJs. The lineup leans into dubstep, drum and bass, and trap sounds, with doors opening ahead of the performances.

A free performance from Phuncle Sam, one of Asheville's longest-running Grateful Dead tribute acts, on the taproom stage at Pisgah Brewing Company's Black Mountain location.

One day of a multi-day, reserved-seating blues festival in Black Mountain, featuring a rotating lineup of blues performers across separately ticketed dates.

A recurring monthly dance night at Eulogy with DJ Lil Meow Meow on the decks, mixing across genres from grimy to playful for a high-energy set. Held on the last Friday of each month.

A trapeze act led by the Mantras' Keith Allen, doing a flying circus set inside a brewery.

A collegiate women's cross country meet in which Warren Wilson faces off against other teams at the Tryon Sports Complex in Mill Spring, North Carolina.

This beginner-friendly, 60-minute Pure Barre class takes place on the outfield grass at HomeTrust Park, combining low-impact, ballet-inspired movements aimed at building strength, balance, and flexibility.

A guided walk through Lake Julian Park followed by a pontoon boat ride on the lake, focused on spotting the park's resident bird species. The outing pairs time on foot with time on the water for closer views of local wildlife.

Rows of old British and European cars and motorcycles parked on a brewery lawn, which is a good hour of wandering even without knowing the badges.

An educational fair on wildfire and forest management in the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains, aimed at landowners, curious residents, and people considering careers in fire and natural resources work. The event includes talks from people working in the field.

A structured group ride organized by the Blue Ridge Bicycle Club that repeats the same route each week rather than varying it, aimed at helping riders build fitness through consistency. Part of an ongoing training-ride series the club started.

An outdoor yoga class held on the grounds of Animal Haven of Asheville, a small animal sanctuary. After class, participants get a private walk around the property to see the animals living there.

This two-day workshop at ArtPlay Studio in the River Arts District focuses on palette knife painting techniques, led by local artist Tania Dirks. Participants work on color mixing and building texture through knife application rather than traditional brushwork.

A guided walking tour through downtown Asheville that traces the real-life settings behind Thomas Wolfe's novel Look Homeward, Angel. The tour starts at the Thomas Wolfe Memorial, the author's childhood home, now a historic site.

This hands-on class at Asheville Tool Library focuses on drywall patching technique, walking participants through the process of cutting, patching, and priming a damaged section. It's aimed at giving attendees the skills to handle drywall repairs themselves.

This entry in the Tails and Trails Quest series takes place at Lake James, with specifics still to be announced closer to the date.

A hands-on glass fusing class in which participants design two small glass magnets from an assortment of colored glass pieces, with options to add texture using ground glass, glass rods, and pre-made shapes. The finished pieces are kiln-fired to permanently fuse the materials together.

This outdoor sound bath brings an hour of guided tones and resonant frequencies to West Asheville Park. Participants gather in the open air for a slow, meditative listening session meant to encourage rest and quiet reflection.

This exhibition at the Folk Art Center showcases work from the newest members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild. It highlights emerging voices and contemporary approaches within the guild's craft tradition.

This monthly outdoor market brings together local makers, artisans, and small businesses in the courtyard at 43 Wall Street. It runs on the last Saturday of the month from May through October, showcasing handmade goods and locally made products.

Now in its eleventh year, this river cleanup and festival takes place on the First Broad River near Shelby and is organized by the environmental group MountainTrue. Volunteers paddle a shallow, shaded stretch of the river between rock cliffs and rhododendron, picking up litter along the way, in a tradition rooted in the memory of local conservationist Sarah Spencer.

Local Scouts host a barbecue dinner fundraiser at the Riceville Fire Department, with pitmasters smoking North Carolina pork shoulders for thirteen hours before serving. Dinners come with traditional sides, and diners can eat at picnic tables along the creek. Proceeds go to support the Scouts' program.

This marks the first Oktoberfest hosted at AMB's Old Fort Outpost & Kitchen location, combining German-inspired food, craft beer, and live music. The celebration is framed as an all-day gathering built around the brewery's own beer lineup.

Wellness Day turns the Asheville Art Museum into a space for quiet reflection, inviting visitors to slow down and connect with the collection through calming, community-oriented activities held throughout the day. Rather than a single scheduled program, it centers on a series of gentle, art-based experiences built around restoration and creativity.

A dog training class focused on communication and reward-based methods, aimed at owners whose dogs struggle with issues like leash pulling and jumping on visitors. Participants learn foundational techniques for teaching basic obedience and manners.

West Asheville Yoga is marking its twentieth year in the community with an open house followed by an after-party at The Whale. The celebration spans a full day of activities to mark the studio's two decades in operation.

Highland turns the meadow over to steins, polka and fall beer for the afternoon, and it's free to walk in.

Mac Arnold played bass behind Muddy Waters and still brings a full band, and this set starts at lunchtime.

A performance by blues artist Max Hightower as part of the Black Mountain Blues festival at White Horse Black Mountain, presented as a reserved-seating show within a multi-act touring blues lineup.

Fill a bag with apples from local farms and drink cider out in the yard, which is about as fall as an afternoon gets.

Lagerhosen, an Asheville-based Oktoberfest collective, brings a polka-driven set to Highland Brewing's outdoor weekend live music series. The show is part of the brewery's regular rotation of local and regional acts and is open to the public at no cost.

An event at Bellsong Farm connecting food grown in the farm's crop trials with chefs, restaurants, and community partners. The gathering centers on dishes made from the farm's own harvest, bringing growers and diners together around what the land produces.

A hands-on workshop at Winding Stair Farm covers how to draw beneficial organisms — bacteria, fungi, protozoa and nematodes — out of finished compost and apply them to plants through foliar feeding and compost extracts. The session focuses on practical methods for putting compost biology to work in the garden rather than leaving it sitting in the pile.

Warren Wilson College's women's rugby team travels to Charlotte for an away match against Queens University of Charlotte. The game is part of the Owls' regular-season athletic schedule.

Shrektoberfest returns to DSSOLVR's Asheville taproom for a swamp-themed outdoor gathering pairing craft beer with a playful Shrek motif. The brewery is promoting it as a bigger version of a past edition, though specific programming had not yet been announced as of this listing.

This community art workshop invites participants to process and share their experiences of Hurricane Helene by creating altered books, using visual storytelling as a therapeutic outlet. It's framed as a collective contribution to the broader narrative of the region's recovery from the storm.

Lagerhosen's polka collective and the Concord Brass Band turn the Mills River lawn into an Oktoberfest party.

A community gathering at Blunt Pretzels in Swannanoa with live music, held to recognize the business's role in local recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene.

Singer-songwriter Kyley Byrd, a two-decade fixture of the Asheville music scene, headlines this outdoor patio show backed by the High Mountain Flyers.

A jazz quartet performs 45-minute sets at the outdoor bandstand in Antler Hill Village on the Biltmore Estate. The performance is free to attend for visitors on the grounds.

A performance by the blues act Derrick Dove & The Peacekeepers as part of the Black Mountain Blues festival at White Horse Black Mountain, presented as a reserved-seating show within a multi-act touring blues lineup.

The Wilson Springs Hotel, a Virginia-based five-piece act blending rock and roll, bluegrass, and classic country, plays a folk-leaning live set at Highland Brewing's Meadow stage. The band's newest album, released earlier in the year, explores themes of aging and loss.

Grandfather Mountain opens after dark for this program, taking guests on after-hours tours of the park once it's normally closed to the public. Visitors gather around a bonfire for storytelling and have a chance to encounter some of the park's nocturnal wildlife residents up close.

Rising Appalachia is marking two years since Helene with the first of two hometown shows on the outdoor stage.

The Warren Wilson College women's soccer team hosts Toccoa Falls College in a regular-season home match. The game is open to the general public.

Comedian Joe Zimmerman returns to The Grey Eagle for a seated stand-up performance, presented by Modelface Comedy Club, which brings touring comedians from across the country to the venue.

A monthly karaoke night at Lookout Brewing, held on the last Saturday of the month, where guests sign up to sing at the mic alongside friends and other patrons.

Eulogy hosts a singer-songwriter showcase benefiting Asheville Music Professionals, headlined by veteran musician Rhett Miller with support from Jeff Santiago and Claire Whall. The night pairs original acoustic-leaning sets in support of the local music community.

Asheville After Dark hosts a fetish-themed dance party and play space at The Mule, running from evening into the early morning hours.

One World Brewing hosts The Mushroom Forest, a duo pairing the electronic and synthesizer work of Nick Tuttle with the singer-songwriter style of Trevor Beauvois. The two performers bring more than two decades of combined musical collaboration to the set.

An album release show for Domocile, an electronic-infused instrumental jam band from Wilmington, North Carolina. The four-piece group combines live instrumentation with electronic production, drawing on influences like STS9 and The New Deal.

Andy Collins, facilitator with Inward & Artward, leads this shared creative practice session at Story Parlor. The gathering is meant to help participants build creative courage and trust in their own artistic abilities.

Ten dollars buys a full day on the pump tracks and flow lines at Kolo, with beginner runs sitting next to the harder stuff.

Antiques, vintage decor, plants and handmade oddities fill the Foundy lot for the day.

A yoga studio session marking the fall equinox with 108 sun salutations, broken into nine sets of twelve. The instructor leads guided meditation and group discussion between each set.

A recurring outdoor market in the South Slope district featuring local makers, food vendors, and artists, hosted in the outdoor space at a dispensary and plant bar.

A pop-up vegan market hosted by VGN MKT and Bridge & Tunnel at the Bridge & Tunnel Cafe inside A-B Tech's Coman Center. Local vegan vendors set up to sell food and other goods for the day.

A one-year anniversary celebration for a local pottery studio, with fall-themed craft projects for visitors to make, a sale of pottery created by studio members, and a preview of the classes the studio offers.

Read to Succeed Asheville/Buncombe partners with the American Federation of Teachers and other community organizations to host a family literacy fair built around a large-scale book giveaway. Organizers plan to distribute more than 30,000 free books to families at the event.

Rhoda Weaver & The Risers is an Asheville-based band playing a mix of blues, R&B, Motown, and classic soul, fronted by vocalist Rhoda Weaver.

Jettie Rae's Oyster House hosts a Baja-style Sunday social featuring San Felipe-style fish tacos, seafood cocktails, and house-made chips with guacamole, alongside grilled elote, rice, and spiced potatoes. Dessert is churros, each ticket includes a complimentary tequila cocktail, and additional drinks are served from the restaurant's Airstream bar.

A live music set at an Irish pub featuring twelve-string Americana and roots-rock, mixing original songs with covers.

DaShawn and Wendy Hickman perform sacred steel, a gospel slide-guitar tradition. The duo are NC Arts Council featured artists, 2023 Sacred Steel Hall of Fame inductees, and won the 2023 Blues Music Award for Best Emerging Artist Album.

This documentary film examines the life and legacy of Renaissance artist Michelangelo, exploring his relationships with contemporaries and his lasting influence on art history. It screens as part of a museum-hosted film series with multiple showtimes.

Aubrey Eisenman & The Clydes is a four-piece Asheville-based band featuring Aubrey Eisenman on upright bass and vocals, John Duncan on fiddle, Justin Eisenman on guitar and vocals, and James Kylen on drums. The group has recorded for Mountain Fever/Travianna Records since signing with the label in 2018.

House of Black Cat Magic invites guests to unwind with coloring pages inside its cat lounge, an activity built around the calming effects of both coloring and spending time around cats.

Killer Whale is the music project of New Orleans-based singer-songwriter Thomas Johnson, performing at Highland Brewing's outdoor Meadow stage. The sound blends Southern R&B with the more laid-back tones of West Coast surf and dream pop, shaped by Johnson splitting time between Louisiana and California.

This is a live performance by bedrumor, an indie rock outfit from Greensboro fronted by Lazuli Ortiz and Ryan Mole, with a sound shaped by jazz influences. For this show the core duo brings in additional musicians to fill out the band's arrangements onstage.

A stage musical adaptation of the cult film classic, following a mild-mannered florist's assistant whose newfound plant brings equal parts fame and disaster. The production blends horror and comedy with a score drawing on 1960s rock, doo-wop and Motown sounds. Staged by Asheville Community Theatre as part of its mainstage season.

Day two of the anniversary run moves out to Pisgah's field, where the fiddle and banjo harmonies sound better outdoors anyway.

A Sunday evening reggae performance from local band Chalwa at French Broad River Brewery. The show is part of the brewery's regular rotation of weekly live music alongside its taproom and pizza service.

This is a men's collegiate soccer match between the Warren Wilson College Owls and LaGrange College, open to the general public.

Local makers and artists set up inside The Radical every other Sunday, so the market holds up even if the weather turns.

Lookout is marking two years since the storm with a potluck, which is neighbors catching up rather than anything staged.

Memphis soul and gospel-raised harmonies from a band that usually plays rooms three times this size, and it's an early set.

Ross Hollow, an Asheville-based indie folk artist, plays with a full band on the Grey Eagle's patio stage, presented alongside Worthwhile Sounds. Patio seating is limited and first-come, first-served.

This class blends gentle restorative yoga with the application of heated stones, intended to ease physical tension and calm the nervous system.

MJT is a trio of brothers from Long Island whose live sets blend genres through high-energy jamming built around dual keyboards, synth bass, propulsive drums, and atmospheric guitar and vocals. The band has previously shared stages with established rock acts including Slash & Myles Kennedy and Alter Bridge.

The Creatives Book Club gathers to browse and share art project books and other creative references spanning a range of mediums. It's a casual meetup for people who collect these books for inspiration but don't always get around to using them.

Chris McGinnis performs original songs that blend wry humor with emotional weight, often centered on how a hometown can change beyond recognition. His recent EP follows two older adults navigating a relationship across distance and time. Expect introspective, character-driven songwriting rather than straightforward bar-band fare.

An evening gathering for women featuring a screening of the documentary film 'The M Factor 2,' paired with margaritas and snacks. The event centers on open conversation about perimenopause and menopause.

An eight-week creative writing workshop led by writer and teacher Sondra Hall, meeting weekly on Monday evenings at Muse Art Bar in South Slope. Described as a low-pressure, come-as-you-are group for practicing writing techniques together.

Students from the Asheville Music School turn the Grey Eagle patio into a funk and rock set for under ten bucks, and the seating is first come first served.

Mr. Soul Motion spins vinyl at Antidote's cocktail bar, so it's records and dancing rather than a band and a PA.

DSSOLVR hosts a free, drop-in Magic: The Gathering Vintage Cube night, where players draft from a shared pool of iconic cards spanning the game's history. The format is casual and open to any experience level, with games organized on the spot.

This is a college soccer match pitting Montreat College's developmental men's team against Brevard. Fans who can't attend in person can follow along via a streaming video link provided by the team.

LP has one of those enormous whistling-and-belting voices that fills a room, and the Orange Peel is the right size to feel it.

A live performance from Asheville singer-songwriter Teso Ellis, whose sound mixes 90s-influenced alternative rock and classic soul with folk tones and lo-fi hip-hop grooves, with support from Ovadya at the Grey Eagle Music Hall.

An educational workshop exploring how a coffee's growing region and processing method shape its flavor, hosted at Counter Culture Coffee's training center in Asheville.

A solo blues performance by Jim "Ang" Anderson, who performs as Mr. Jimmy, playing traditional Chicago-style blues on guitar and vocals at Doc Brown's BBQ. Anderson has fronted the Chicago Kingsnakes Blues Band for over three decades and has played thousands of shows. The set takes place at the Candler barbecue restaurant, known locally for its Carolina-style smoked meats.

A hands-on hand-dyeing workshop led by Jessica of WAXON Studio at the Asheville Tool Library. Participants learn dyeing techniques they can apply to their own fabric or clothing, bringing their own items to dye or adding a Tool Library t-shirt to their purchase.

A casual improv workshop led by theater teacher Chris Martin, offering games and exercises for people looking to try basic theater and improvisation skills. Sponsored by the public library, the session takes place at the brewery's taproom rather than a library branch, and no advance signup is required.

This is a multi-course wine dinner at Bargello centered on the winemaking history of the Drouhin family, whose roots trace back to Burgundy in 1880. The five-course meal pairs dishes with wines drawn from the family's production across two continents.

Montreat hosting Warren Wilson is about as local as a rivalry gets, and it's right in the middle of town.

A guided paint-and-sip session at the taproom, where an instructor walks participants step by step through recreating a seasonal painting of an owl surrounded by autumn leaves. No prior painting experience is required.

This session blends gentle yoga, breathwork, guided meditation, and aromatherapy into a single slow-paced wellness class. It's built around helping participants unwind, reconnect with themselves, and reset rather than get an intense workout.

Austin Corley pours wines with the Fitzgerald era as the through line, so each bottle arrives with the story behind it.

Bayside have been at this for 25 years and still play like a band with something to prove, and it's an early start.

A screening of the only rock documentary Widespread Panic ever allowed, in a seated room full of people who know every note.

A guided sound and breathwork session led by Jahidi, framed as a journey of renewal combining meditative sound with breathing practices. The workshop is held at AyurPrana Listening Room on Haywood Road.

A full play of Abbey Road on a proper listening room system, with everyone talking it over afterward. It's free.

A monthly community kirtan session of call-and-response chanting led by longtime yoga instructor Michael Johnson, held at the Ayurvedic Institute. The gathering is open to all with no chanting experience required, and can be attended in person or online, with donations benefiting Homeward Bound of WNC.

A weekly no-drop social ride hosted by the local DIY bike group Mountain Haulers, starting from the parking area and river dock at Riverside Drive and Craven Street in the River Arts District. The group regroups periodically along the route and pauses for breaks to socialize.

The Black Queen playing Fever Daydream front to back for its tenth anniversary, all synths and low light.

Montreat hosts a men's soccer match at home, which makes for a simple early evening outside.

An all-ages patio set that kicks off at 5:30, with limited seating that goes first come first served.

Pedal steel player Matt Smith curates this one and it runs out on the brewery's meadow while there's still daylight.

A touring hardcore and punk bill hits this all-ages-adjacent venue, pairing Angel Du$t with longtime hardcore act Agnostic Front alongside support from Step 2 This and Killing Floor. Doors open an hour ahead of the first set for what's billed as a full night of heavy, fast-moving sets.

A relaxation class pairing candlelit yin yoga with a gong bath. The session opens with slow, passive postures meant to ease tension and calm the nervous system, then moves into a period of deep rest accompanied by gong sound.

A traveling sideshow act from Coney Island performing circus-style stunts, including sword swallowing, during a stop before continuing on to Las Vegas.

The AMICI ensemble plays a full program built around Italian inspirations.

This is a hands-on automotive class that goes beyond basic diagnostics, teaching participants the mechanical fundamentals behind vehicle safety and performance. Students combine classroom-style theory with practical, driveway-level application to build real working knowledge of how their vehicle operates.

The Southern Highland Craft Guild's flagship fair brings juried potters, weavers and woodworkers under one roof, with makers demonstrating the work as they go.

A walk-in jewelry-making session at Ignite's downtown studio. Participants pick from project options such as rings, earrings, charms, and pendants, then personalize the design while picking up basic jewelry-making techniques.

The Hop is releasing a pumpkin-themed frozen treat for dogs across all of its locations and its online store. It builds on their existing peanut butter-and-banana dog treat, adding carrot and blueberry for a fruitier variation.

This session introduces Gracie, a certified therapy dog available for visitors to interact with and read to. Gracie is a ten-year-old Great Pyrenees mix who has three legs and is known for being active and affectionate.

Asheville singer-songwriter MerylJane plays an outdoor patio set at The Grey Eagle, with seating limited and offered first-come, first-served. She works as a nurse at Mission Hospital and recently released a new full-length album recorded locally in West Asheville.

Short films from filmmakers around the world screen back to back, and everyone in the room votes as part of a worldwide tally.

The Warren Wilson Owls men's soccer team travels to Demorest, Georgia for an away match against Piedmont University.

The library's first craft night of the semester puts out collage supplies for anyone who turns up, and you're welcome to bring your own magazines to cut into.

A new monthly book club puts the spotlight on authors from the local literary scene rather than a general reading list. Each session runs a group discussion of that month's pick followed by a live Q&A with the author who wrote it, with no cost or commitment to join.

Guitarist and vocalist VIVA fronts a power trio known for a bold, theatrical rock sound, joined by drummer Sean Dixon and bassist Mary Feaster for a show at One World Brewing.

This is a guided workshop centered on rhythm-based exercises intended to support emotional well-being and nervous system regulation. Participants take part in mindfulness practices and group activities led by Katbird Dunn.

A recurring Thursday evening mountain bike ride organized by Liberty Bicycles. The route and difficulty level change from week to week and are announced on the shop's Instagram page.

This evening features local musician Meschiya Lake performing an intimate set built around stringed instruments, vocal harmonies, and original songs. Lake has built a presence in the Asheville music scene through her vocal style and original compositions.

This mat-based Pilates class, led by instructor Jaime Haines in partnership with Elemental Pilates Studio, centers on low-impact movement to rebuild core and pelvic floor strength. It's aimed at helping participants move through daily life with more stability and ease.

A weekly karaoke night hosted by KJ Hamza Vandehey, now held at Silverados after moving over from its previous home at The Social. Guests can sign up to take the mic throughout the evening in a casual bar setting.

A trivia night with questions spanning pop culture, general knowledge, and other topics. Teams compete together over drinks in a casual bar setting.

A recurring trivia night at Afterglow hosted by Kelsey Lahr. Players gather at the bar to work through rounds of general-knowledge questions in a casual, low-key format.

A live string band and a caller run an old-time dance in the college gym, and the lesson beforehand is free for anyone who's never tried it.

Big Richard is a bluegrass string band that reworks the genre through original songwriting and tight vocal harmony. The group recently recorded a new album live to tape in order to preserve the energy of their stage performances. This stop brings that same acoustic, harmony-driven live show to a local venue.

This standing-room-only, all-ages show features singer-songwriter Noah Rinker, presented by the Grey Eagle and Worthwhile Sounds. Rinker, 23, draws on his upbringing in the California mountains for songwriting centered on place and perspective.

Participants spend about an hour and a half at Ignite Jewelry Studios making a pair of textured brass earrings, pressing an individually chosen design into the metal with a rolling mill before finishing the piece in the studio's metalsmithing space.

Pawpaw is a wild custardy fruit that barely leaves the woods it grows in, and the dairy and vegan scoops are back with fruit from a local farm.

A wellness class at the North Carolina Arboretum looking at how adaptogenic herbs and other plants may support stress resilience, nervous-system regulation, and healthy blood sugar.

In this workshop at Ignite's metalsmithing studio, participants make a set of three stacking rings in gold fill and silver, or all silver, with an instructor guiding each step, including soldering with a torch.

A winery tasting room hosts a weekday-evening live set from a solo singer-songwriter and guitarist who also performs with other regional acts. The show runs a few hours in the late afternoon alongside the venue's regular wine offerings.

Downtown Asheville's arts district organization is bringing back its long-running gallery walk for the new season, with galleries, studios, restaurants, and other creative spaces across downtown opening their doors for one evening. The relaunch is coordinated with several local business partners.

This First Friday event opens the doors of a newly established gallery space in Mars Hill showing fine art by Catherine Cervas. The artist relocated here after flood damage from Hurricane Helene displaced her previous studio in the River Arts District. Visitors can view the work in the gallery's new setting as part of the town's regular First Friday gallery walk.

A First Fridays art walk hosted at Story Parlor, part of the citywide monthly gallery and studio open-house circuit. The event is casual and drop-in friendly.

A pre-party ahead of Tour de Fat weekend at Bear's Smokehouse BBQ, built around a themed bike gathering with custom hats, a slow-ride competition, and a bike giveaway sponsored by New Belgium, plus a DJ set. The gathering also closes out the venue's community ride season.

American Vinyl Co keeps its doors open two hours later than usual, with live music from local musicians playing out back and beer, wine, cider, and non-alcoholic drinks available. Visitors can watch records being pressed on site or record their own in the shop's live-to-vinyl booth.

A two-hour solo set of NC jam and Americana at the Old Fort outpost, close enough to be an easy after-dinner run.

A biweekly live music evening at Wine & Roses featuring Nick & Brew, led by Nashville-based singer-songwriter Brew Davis, performing on the wine bar's corner stage.

Mars Hill's First Friday moves indoors for the winter, with soup and neighbors and an explicit invitation to show up with kids.

UNC Asheville's women's volleyball team hosts Radford in a regular-season home match, held as a themed "Pink Out" game.

Montreat College's women's volleyball team hosts Johnson University (Tennessee) in this matchup between the two programs. Viewers who can't attend in person have the option to follow along via a streaming video link, and tickets are available for those attending in person.

Warren Wilson throws open a rebuilt arts center and hands the stage to Sister Sadie, a bluegrass band that's won the genre's top vocal group award more than once.

Flood Gallery Fine Art Center hosts a recurring evening film screening in its gallery space, with foreign films selected by curator Carlos Steward. Attendees are welcome to bring their own snacks and drinks to the informal movie night.

Warren Wilson College's women's volleyball team faces Carolina University in a home match in Swannanoa.

Chalwa plays reggae on the Highland meadow, which is a big open field you can let people loose in while the band plays.

UNC Asheville's men's soccer team travels to Boiling Springs for a road match against Gardner-Webb.

Asheville-based singer-songwriter Jordan Durham plays an original set shaped by influences that range from classic folk storytelling to pop songwriting. The show centers on personal, narrative-driven songs rather than a single genre.

A live show from White Denim, a band formed in 2006 that has spent close to two decades mixing garage rock, soul, jazz fusion, and psychedelia.

Total Gold plays a live set at Shakey's, with DJ Abu Disarray opening the night.

This is a recurring monthly promotion in which Bank of America cardholders receive complimentary entry to the Asheville Art Museum on the first full weekend of each month. Visitors show a Bank of America debit or credit card at the welcome desk to receive admission for the day.

This is one of the longest continuously running folk festivals in western North Carolina, held in tribute to musician and folklorist Bascom Lamar Lunsford. Hosted by Mars Hill University's Ramsey Center for Appalachian Studies, it centers on traditional Appalachian music and cultural heritage.

A hands-on class covering psychic development for both newcomers and practicing mediums, focused on building intuitive skills without relying on tarot cards, pendulums, or other physical tools. The session emphasizes working from internal awareness alone.

This is a quiet, early-morning session held in the museum's galleries before the museum opens to the general public. It combines meditation, mindful walking, and reflective time among the artwork for visitors seeking a calmer, less crowded way to experience the collection.

A hands-on workshop on bonsai tree care, covering the basics of maintaining the miniature trees. Participants pot and take home their own bonsai tree by the end of the session.

A jewelry-making class at a downtown Asheville studio where participants craft a set of three stacking rings, add a tube setting to one of them, and set a gemstone of their choosing. Each ring set is finished with a personal touch selected by the maker.

This is a beginner-friendly workshop introducing soft pastels as a medium, led by local artist Casi Fordham. Participants work on mountain landscape and floral compositions while learning foundational pastel techniques.

Twenty-plus makers set up in the pottery studio lot for the sixth year running, and the parking is actually easy.

Warren Wilson opens up its working farm and craft crews for the day, with tours, food trucks and live music between the barns.

The Ten Acre Garden marks the change of season with its annual fall festival, including guided farm tours running throughout the day. Visitors can also browse pumpkins, squash, and gourds available for purchase among the fall foliage.

A 5K road race run directly on the runway and taxiways of Asheville Regional Airport, offering a flat, fast course with airfield views not normally open to the public. The format gives participants a rare vantage point on active airport grounds.

A quiet reading session held among a herd of dairy goats, opening with a short introduction to the animals and their personalities before settling into about an hour of silent reading. Part petting session, part low-key book club.

This hands-on class led by artist Joni Marie Lawler centers on self-portraiture as a form of creative renewal. Participants work in mixed media to explore themes of self-reflection and personal expression.

This dog-friendly gathering returns to the Pack Square Parking Garage, organized by Pack Square Collective as a benefit for a local nonprofit. A partner organization will be on site with information about pet fostering and volunteer opportunities.

Live jazz over a three-hour brunch service at French Broad River Brewery, daytime and unhurried.

Tour de Fat brings a costumed, bicycle-themed street festival to New Belgium Brewing, combining a decorated-bike procession and games with live entertainment on the brewery's grounds. The touring event is presented jointly with Asheville on Bikes and centers on cycling culture and community activities rather than a single performance.

An annual festival hosted by Burial Beer Co. at its Forestry Camp facility, pairing a beer tasting experience with a live concert headlined by Lucero. A separate VIP entry window precedes the general tasting and show.

This beginner workshop introduces the craft of hand spinning yarn using a drop spindle. Participants learn the basics of turning raw fiber into spun thread, a foundational textile-making skill.

A slow guided wander through the Arboretum at peak autumn, less a lecture than two hours of noticing things.

This guided retreat at the North Carolina Arboretum leads participants through a slow, mindful walk through the grounds, a practice known as forest bathing intended to encourage relaxation and connection with nature. The outing is framed as a restorative break from daily routine.

Blue Ridge Betty is an Asheville-based Americana band fronted by mandolin player and songwriter Lindsey Wall. The group released its debut album in 2025 and has performed at regional festivals including Albino Skunk and Toe Down.

A recurring blues and dance party featuring Peggy Ratusz and the Daddy LongLegs Blues & Dance Band. The group plays blues and dance numbers drawn from the 1960s through the 1980s.

UNC Asheville's women's volleyball team faces High Point in a regular-season match. The game falls within a fall slate that includes several other conference and non-conference matchups for the Bulldogs this season.

This fundraiser pairs chefs from around Western North Carolina with local farms to create seasonal dishes for the evening. The event also includes craft drinks, live music, a raffle, and a live auction, with proceeds supporting Bounty & Soul's food access programs.

This Oktoberfest gathering takes place at Wicked Weed's Funkatorium and pairs the brewery's seasonal beer offerings with live music from the German-style band Das Oompapas. Expect a festive, beer-hall atmosphere built around the band's set.

A live set from the rock band Honey Hounds, whose performances move from slower build-ups into louder, faster stretches over the course of the show. Expect dramatic lighting effects timed to the music.

An outdoor stage show in Black Mountain built on Levon Helm and Lowell George songs, so you can walk over and walk home.

A performance by Truphonic, a group led by Jake Salter that blends jam, funk, blues, rock, soul, jazz, and hip-hop influences. Formed in 2017, the band is known for a high-energy live show built around original material and songs from its studio albums.

A touring comedy lineup lands in the Lookout taproom, which is about as close as a night out gets.

A live music performance featuring a set of country and yacht rock songs.

A Mean Girls-themed party in downtown Asheville built around costumes and photo ops. Guests are encouraged to wear pink or dress as The Plastics, pose for Polaroid photos to add to a communal burn book album, and find Kalteen bars set out at the bar. The film plays throughout the night alongside a DJ set.

A recurring house music night held as part of the venue's monthly Saturday Sessions series. This installment is billed as a takeover, bringing together several DJs including acts from Austin, Nashville, and Asheville.

A performance by the band Sequoia Rose, which blends traditional bluegrass with more contemporary influences. The group is known for soulful vocals, layered instrumentals, and arrangements that merge roots music with modern elements.

This academic conference examines the legacy and continuing influence of Black Mountain College, co-hosted by the Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center and UNC Asheville. Sessions take place at UNC Asheville's Reuter Center and feature presenter talks drawing on the college's history and ongoing scholarship.

This wellness gathering centers on the Muse Oracle Deck, using its symbolic cards as a prompt for exploring intuition and creative insight. It's part of Story Parlor's recurring first-Sunday-morning series.

This book club discussion centers on "On Connection" by award-winning writer, poet and musician Kae Tempest, who draws on two decades as a performer to examine how and why people create. Attendees gather at Cooperative Coffee to talk through the book's ideas on creative connection.

Live piano drifts through the galleries all afternoon, so the art comes with a soundtrack instead of museum silence.

Steve Weams and the Caribbean Cowboys perform a live set at Burntshirt Vineyards' tasting room, part of the winery's Music at the Vineyard series. Guests can expect an afternoon of music paired with wine tasting on the vineyard grounds.

A beginner-friendly acrylic painting workshop led by local artist Alison Press, centered on abstract landscape techniques. Participants work with loose, intuitive brushwork inspired by mountain scenery, gardens, coastlines, and invented places rather than realistic representation.

A Sunday afternoon gathering combining astrology and sound therapy, led by a local astrologer and sound practitioner. The session opens with a short astrology talk before moving into a gong-based meditation intended to help attendees unwind. Held at Quietude in Black Mountain.

Comedian and content creator Mercury Stardust presents a one-woman show combining stand-up comedy with reflections on the trans experience and practical home-repair knowledge, tied to her book on homeownership. The performance is followed by a short audience Q&A.

A big band that's been playing Basie, Ellington and Glenn Miller since 1983, right in the middle of town.

Ben Bjorlie grew up around classical music through his family's ties to the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, starting on clarinet before switching to bass as a teenager and teaching himself by ear from players like Stanley Clarke and Marcus Miller. He now fronts his own band, performing at Sierra Nevada's amphitheater in Mills River.

An AC/DC tribute band cranking through the catalog on the outdoor meadow, and a Sunday afternoon rock show is an easy call.

Warren Wilson College's women's soccer team plays an away nonconference match against North Carolina Wesleyan University.

This drop-in tour walks visitors through a rotating selection of pieces from the Asheville Art Museum's collection and current exhibitions, led by a volunteer educator or staff member. Because the selection changes, no two tours cover the same works, and no advance reservation is needed to join.

This hands-on jewelry workshop teaches wire-wrapping techniques used to create a pumpkin-shaped pendant, guided by instructor Rebecca. All materials are supplied, and the class is pitched at students who already have some wire-wrapping experience.

Tinsley Ellis plays gritty, foot-stomping southern blues, and this one's outdoors at a riverside pavilion in the late afternoon.

Atlanta blues-rock guitarist Tinsley Ellis brings his Labor of Love tour to Olivette Riverside Pavilion. Long known for his electric playing, he's built a parallel reputation as an acoustic performer and songwriter, following a critically praised 2024 release.

A gentle yoga class combining slow, mindful movement with restorative postures. The session opens with an easy flow to loosen the body and settle the mind, then shifts into grounding poses meant to release tension before ending in deep rest.

This weekly open mic at Story Parlor welcomes performers of any art form to sign up and take the stage, with doors and sign-up ahead of the show. Beer, wine and non-alcoholic drinks are available for purchase during the event.

Mercury Stardust hosts a book signing to autograph copies of her new book on homeownership. Attendees are encouraged to buy the book through the hosting store in advance and choose in-store pickup so it can be signed at the event.

A stand-up comedy showcase booked through Modelface Comedy Club, featuring touring comedians performing at RAD Brewing in Asheville's River Arts District. Expect a lineup of multiple comedians over the course of the evening.

The California Honeydrops treat a show like a soul and New Orleans dance party, and they rarely stay put on the stage.

A monthly sound healing class exploring Nada Yoga, a yogic tradition that treats sound as a path toward inner harmony and spiritual awareness. The session draws on ancient yogic philosophy and sound meditation technique. Held at West Asheville Yoga Studio.

Nobody learns what's playing until the lights go down, and a different host picks a different weird movie every time.

A singer-songwriter performs a seated concert built around understated, soulful songwriting developed over three decades of touring and recording. The show is presented in partnership with Worthwhile Sounds, with a limited number of premium seats available.

A college soccer match pitting Montreat College's developmental men's team against FHE Hawks, available to watch via a live sports streaming link.

Lambrini Girls are a loud, funny, genuinely unhinged UK punk band, and it's an early start rather than a late one.

A record-release concert pairing Jon Mueller's FRIEND LESS project with Adam Lion and Bryce Franich's Trekchö Ensemble, hosted at AyurPrana Listening Room. The bill spans two acts working in experimental and ambient-leaning live music.

A discussion event centered on Wilma Dykeman's writing about growing up in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, led by her son Jim Stokely. The conversation focuses on her reflections on family and mountain life.

Jay Brown's Local Live puts area songwriters on the White Horse stage on a Monday night, which is a rare thing to have in walking distance.

Tabletop Dungeons and Dragons running in a cocktail tavern, dice and drinks on the same table.

Warren Wilson College's men's soccer team hosts a regular-season match against Carolina University on the Swannanoa campus. The game is open to the general public.

A youth theater production staged as part of a school's fall festival, in which the library goes into lockdown and the students must work together to solve mysteries hidden inside the books before time runs out. Staged by Asheville Community Theatre with a run time of about 30 minutes, followed by a short talkback.

A live-action role-play at the highest point east of the Mississippi, with people dressed in 1890s adventure gear acting out the mountain's history.

This fall gathering at the Asheville Art Museum is held for the museum's Collectors Circle, a membership group organized around the museum's collection.

National Night Out at the police department, so kids can climb on the cruisers and meet the officers who patrol town.

Pack Memorial Library hosts a preview performance by the cast of The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, giving the community an early look before the full show. The musical follows Percy Jackson, the demigod son of a Greek god, as he grapples with newly discovered powers.

This is an untutored life drawing session with a clothed model holding medium-length poses, open to any drawing or painting medium (oil painters are asked to use non-odor solvents). The two-hour session opens with a set of short warm-up poses before moving into longer sittings.

Lesley Dill talks about the paper works on the walls right now, so you can see the art and hear the artist in one stop.

A come-one-come-all blues jam where local players trade licks, and it runs early enough to catch a set before dinner.

Author Abrea Armstrong talks about her debut novel Ferry Tales in conversation with Tamara Olmedo, founder of Cuentos y Café, over coffee and book chat.

The River Arts District Brewing hosts an open mic for storytellers, where guests can sign up on the spot for a chance to share a five-minute true story.

A full symphony ensemble playing Balkan brass and New Orleans second-line at a brewery, outdoors, with mountain views behind them.

A weekly open mic at Warren Wilson College's campus coffee shop, open to musicians, poets, and anyone else who wants to perform. Guests can sign up to take the stage or simply settle in with a drink and watch.

Singer-songwriter Robert Lester Folsom, whose early-1970s recordings are being reissued as part of an ongoing archival series, performs with support from Liz Cooper. The show continues a broader project revisiting Folsom's catalog from that era.

You pull kudzu off the roadside and leave with a woven basket, at the Arboretum.

A free, drop-in community workshop built around SoulCollage, a creative process in which participants make intuitive collage cards as a form of self-reflection. Facilitated by Michelle Parkerson at Quietude Retreat Center, with no registration required.

A drop-in creative writing class that meets on a recurring basis, designed so participants can attend regularly or join individual sessions as their schedule allows.

Scientists talking about their actual work over cider at Devil's Foot, loose and curious rather than lecture-hall.

A community book-club gathering built around Banned Books Week, held at Diatribe Brewing Co. Participants read quietly together in a shared space, with the format tying into the week's broader focus on free expression and challenged literature.

A bookstore conversation exploring the ecological and psychological ties between people and trees, centered on environmental psychologist Lindsay Branham's book on the subject. Branham discusses the work with writer and social theorist Sonya Renee Taylor.

A women's soccer match between Warren Wilson College and Piedmont University, played at Warren Wilson's home field in Swannanoa.

STRFKR's melodic synth-pop at the Sierra Nevada amphitheater, one of the better outdoor rooms around, with a 6pm start.

A gentle yoga class set to R&B music, designed to help participants slow down, breathe deeply, and reconnect with themselves. Held at Plant Bar Coffee and Tea in Asheville.

Bill Bares brings a rotating cast of players through standards and originals, and it's a two-minute drive.

A stand-up comedy show on the rooftop of Antidote Cocktail Lounge at Chemist, featuring touring performers booked through Modelface Comedy Club. The sets are paired with mountain sunset views and cocktail service at the rooftop bar.

A monthly karaoke night at Peri, a converted 1936 Georgian Revival home in Black Mountain that now operates as a coffee and cocktail bar. The evening centers on a casual, living-room-style social space where guests take turns singing.

This is a metal show headlined by Revocation, with support from Defeated Sanity, Fuming Mouth, and Weeping. Doors open an hour ahead of the first set.

Warren Wilson College's women's volleyball team hosts Piedmont University in a regular-season home match. The event is open to the general public.

Shinyribs is a genuinely wild live act, part swamp-funk revue and part variety show, and it's all ages.

UNC Asheville's men's tennis program takes part in the ITA Carolina Regional tournament. The tournament is hosted by the University of South Carolina and held in Columbia, South Carolina.

MountainTrue leads a guided watercolor outing along the Blue Ridge Parkway near Candler, working with artist Amanda Cortina, who provides painting instruction on site. Participants paint a stretch of forest while learning about the 2001 Roadless Rule and the area's exposure under a proposed repeal.

An instructional class on bonsai cultivation at the North Carolina Arboretum, covering how the miniature trees are started and shaped over time. Topics include pruning, root-pruning, and wiring techniques used to train a tree's form.

Sierra Nevada's throwing a rooftop party for a new blue agave and lime seltzer, and an afternoon start means the view is still doing its job.

A hands-on wood-burning workshop open to all skill levels, guided by Chalkley Matlack. Participants learn basic pyrography safety and technique before working with the tool themselves. Adults and children age 12 and up may attend, with children required to have adult supervision.

A high school women's tennis match at Hendersonville High School, with the home team facing Asheville School.

A recurring gathering for men in the Asheville area to connect with one another and learn about local men's groups they can join or get involved with.

MountainTrue's Land of Sky office in Asheville will display a collection of artwork exploring the relationships between humanity, nature, and creative expression. Staff from the organization's southwestern region team will host a gathering for visitors to view the pieces and meet those involved with the project.

Macon Music Revue is a self-described preservation band devoted to the music of Macon, Georgia. The five-piece group draws on the catalogs of hometown artists Little Richard and Otis Redding, along with material connected to Capricorn Records. This is a members-only performance at White Horse Black Mountain.

A community talk hosted as part of the Green Drinks series, featuring Conserving Carolina's floodplain restoration work along the French Broad River. The discussion looks at how these projects aim to build more resilient landscapes for both people and wildlife in the wake of extreme weather events such as Tropical Storm Helene.

Old-time string band music at the brewery, no cover listed, starting early enough that you're not fighting a late night for it.

A poetry reading at UNC Asheville held as part of an ongoing memorial series honoring writer Katherine Min. The English Department hosts poet and interdisciplinary artist Jennifer Sperry Steinorth to read from and discuss her work.

A full circus tent pitched at an outlet mall for a three-week run, with Venardos doing its Broadway-style spin on Alice.

An evening of storytelling and conversation with Ray Christin, a veteran, Moth StorySLAM winner, and podcaster behind "What's Ray Saying?". He reflects on moving between academia, parenting, public speaking, and life on a small farm in the rural South.

Fruition have spent twenty years building harmony-first roots music that bends somewhere new every record, and this one's listed all ages.

A free lesson at 7:30 and then three hours of live contra dancing in a college gym, with a fiddle, mandolin and bass band running it. You can show up knowing nothing.

This concert is presented by Mars Hill University's Department of Music as part of its academic concert series. The performance is held in Moore Auditorium on the Mars Hill campus.

Ryan Zimmerman is a singer-songwriter and musician from Long Beach Island, New Jersey, whose work blends roots rock, folk, soul, and reggae with an improvisational streak. He typically performs solo but also plays alongside other musicians and collaborators.

An acoustic performance from the husband-and-wife duo Seth and Sara at Burntshirt Vineyards' tasting room. The pair left their previous careers in 2018 to travel and perform together full-time.

Trombone Shorty is about as close to New Orleans in one band as you'll get, and the brewery lawn is a good place to hear it.

Fourteen years running and deliberately designed to spook without terrifying, so the Halloween trail works for smaller kids too.

A half-hour dance lesson at six and then live music and two-stepping all night at a honky tonk hall in Old Fort, no charge.

A solo piano performance in Biltmore Estate's Library Lounge, featuring pianist Jamar, who grew up in a multi-generational musical family and has played piano since childhood.

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong bring their big funk party to Flocktoberfest with Hustle Souls opening, two miles from the door.

The Swannanoa Valley Museum walks you through downtown after dark telling the town's ghost stories on the actual sidewalks where they happened.

A social dance evening centered on Savoy Style Lindy Hop, the energetic partner dance that originated in Harlem's swing era and is danced to jazz and big band music. Held at Dragon Phoenix, a martial arts studio that also runs dance and movement classes.

Sax-driven funk fusion out of Tampa playing the meadow, and they're built around improvising rather than running the setlist.

A three-band indie and alt-rock bill at Fleetwood's, headlined by touring Columbus, Ohio act Silvis alongside Asheville groups Scribblers and Porcelain Parrot. Expect a mix of late-2000s and early-2010s indie rock and pop influences, plus progressive rock and power-pop leanings from the openers.

Local musicians playing out among the gardens with the mountains behind them.

This 5K starts behind Lake Lure Classical Academy's gym, near the school's Raptor Center. Proceeds go toward LLCA's athletics programs and recreation equipment.

The Western North Carolina VA Health Care System hosts this run/walk at the Charles George VA Medical Center, now in its second year. It's held in recognition of people affected by breast cancer.

Chimney Rock State Park invites its annual passholders to gather before sunrise for a view over Lake Lure and Hickory Nut Gorge. Coffee and a light breakfast are served ahead of a morning on the park's trails.

A hands-on porcelain workshop led by instructor Leah Leitson, centered on throwing and refining functional forms such as sauceboats and related vessels. Participants work toward well-balanced, expressive pieces under her direct guidance.

Forty-three years running, with the whole downtown given over to craft booths, food and music from nine to four.

A guided driving tour to notable historic sites connected to the North Fork area, paired with talks from local historians and descendants of families who lived there.

A recurring yoga series held inside the Asheville Art Museum, pairing gallery viewing with guided movement. Saturday sessions combine time spent looking closely at artworks with a yoga practice set within the museum's exhibition spaces, aimed at relaxation and a sense of connection to the art on view.

A no-drop group mountain bike ride for women of all skill levels, organized by the nonprofit Blue Ridge Dirt Skrrts on trails around Western North Carolina. Riders typically gather afterward at a local brewery or bike shop to socialize.

This is a charity putting contest hosted by Fireside Golf, now in its fourth year, raising money for a cause tied to the event's pink theme. It's built as a casual community turnout rather than a competitive golf tournament.

A solo exhibition of ceramic work by artist Taylor Robenalt on view at Grovewood Gallery through the end of the year. The figurative pieces draw on imagery like flowers, animals, and female forms to explore themes of growth and resilience.

This festival at SylvanSport's Brevard location brings together outdoor gear brands and retailers with food and live music, aimed at people into hiking, camping, biking, paddling, fishing, or hunting. Attendees can browse gear from area outfitters while taking in the festival's food and music offerings.

A full day of cosplay, panels and anime everything, tickets around thirteen dollars.

A recurring monthly stroll through Asheville's South Slope district, with area food and drink spots offering specials alongside local vendors and art activities.

A recurring open-studio event at Riverview Station held on the second Saturday of each month. Visitors can walk through the building and see resident artists working in their individual studios.

A class on identifying and removing invasive plants that commonly spread from home yards and landscaping into nearby woods and waterways, led by Adam Bigelow. The session covers practical approaches to addressing these species before they establish themselves.

This yoga workshop focuses on alignment as a way to build stability and ease in practice, rather than forcing the body into a fixed shape. It's positioned for both newcomers and more experienced students looking to refine their technique and body awareness on the mat.

This is a full day of community programming at Bear's Smokehouse BBQ marking World Mental Health Day, with proceeds benefiting the nonprofit Linked4Life and its work providing mental health resources. It combines a restaurant gathering with fundraising for mental health support services.

The Blue Ridge Orchestra performs a weekend of classical music for families, with one program built around hands-on crafts, movement, and other activities for younger listeners, and a second concert presenting the same music in a more traditional format.

A botanical art workshop introducing participants to cyanotype printing, one of the oldest photographic processes. The session starts with foraging outdoors for plants and other natural materials, which are then used to create one-of-a-kind blue-toned prints.

The Asheville Art Museum opens with free general admission to mark its paper-focused exhibition. The afternoon includes live music, hands-on art activities, and guided tours of the show.

A class on the seasonal patterns of southern Appalachian birds, covering several major species and how their life cycles unfold across the year.

This is a women's college soccer match between Montreat College and Bryan College, played during Montreat's homecoming and family weekend. The game is free to attend and also available through an online video stream.

A hands-on class at ArtPlay Studio led by local artist Alison Press, focused on painting abstract floral compositions with oil pastels. Participants work with a full set of artist-grade pastels, which they keep afterward to continue practicing at home.

A day-long fall gathering at Creekside Taphouse built around a lineup of four local acts, ranging from DJ sets and looped flute to bluegrass and psychedelic blues rock. The event also brings in local vendors, a beer tub, and food alongside the music.

A drop-in art-making session held in the studio at the Asheville Art Museum. Museum staff lead the activity, and participants can join without advance sign-up.

A live music performance at Sierra Nevada's Mills River taproom featuring the band The Late Shifters. Their original songs draw on themes of aging, longing and the pull between staying put and moving on.

UNC Asheville's women's soccer team hosts Longwood in a home match, paired with a Pink Out promotion and an Alumni Day for former players and supporters.

Dark beer, fire pits, s'mores and live music to mark the turn toward autumn, and it's right in town.

Honky tonk with a southern gothic streak, played in a barn on a working farm.

The Asheville Museum of Science runs an after-hours program letting kids have dinner and watch a movie on-site while their parents get a night out downtown.

A park ranger leads a guided walk along the Rumbling Bald Trail at Chimney Rock State Park, focused on the history of land conservation in the area. The hike touches on ecotourism and how responsible outdoor recreation has shaped partnerships between conservation groups and the surrounding community.

Florencia and the Feeling, a pop-funk band from Johnson City, Tennessee, performs at Sierra Nevada's Mills River taproom. The quintet self-released its debut album in 2023 and has been touring regularly since forming in 2021.

This show is part of Highland Brewing's weekend live music series, which brings local, regional, and touring acts across genres like soul, bluegrass, acoustic, country, and folk to the brewery's outdoor Meadow stage.

A longtime local songwriter playing a hometown room with a rotating cast of friends.

This monthly burlesque and variety show at The Mule features a rotating cast of local performers doing specialty cabaret-style acts.

Musical comedy trio On Company Time brings its satirical songwriting to Eulogy, with support from Lewky. The group is known for comedic music videos that have circulated widely online.

An annual half marathon and 8k road race through Hendersonville starting at Jackson Park, part of the Appalachian Trilogy race series and open to competitive and recreational runners.

A recurring gathering where participants share personal true stories in a small, confidential setting. A facilitator walks attendees through a structured practice for speaking openly and listening without judgment. It's part of an ongoing storytelling series held on a regular schedule.

This hands-on workshop guides participants from a rough sketch to a finished fabric piece, with everyone leaving having made their own small painted canvas pouch. Along the way, instruction covers how to move hand-drawn designs from paper onto fabric and what supplies make that possible.

The JackTown Ramblers, a bluegrass group from Morganton, NC, play a live afternoon set at Burntshirt Vineyards' tasting room and winery.

Food vendors and makers taking over a brewery for the afternoon, and admission is free.

A recurring Sunday brunch at The Mule combining food and drink with live entertainment, with the theme and menu changing each month.

A guided watercolor painting class held in the River Arts District, focused on rendering autumn blooms and changing foliage. Participants learn seasonal watercolor techniques inspired by the fall landscape, led by local artist Casi Fordham.

A sound healing session designed specifically for people who use CPAP or BiPAP machines, aimed at making rest feel comfortable rather than something to manage or hide. Attendees are welcome to wear their breathing equipment during the session. It runs as part of a recurring monthly series at the studio.

An immersive group session combining sound, gentle movement, guided listening, and conversation, framed as more interactive than a typical sound bath. Participants are encouraged to take an active role rather than simply receiving sound passively. It's one of the studio's recurring wellness offerings.

A multi-weekend film festival at UNC Asheville screening four award-winning international films exploring contemporary Jewish life and culture across countries including the U.S., Israel, France, and Hungary. The festival includes an opening night reception, free parking, and post-screening discussions.

An afternoon of African rhythm and dance led by Chinobay, part of a running series.

A talk and stage presentation by online creator Milo Rossi, known to his large following as 'miniminuteman' for content debunking archaeology myths and pseudo-history claims. The show blends science communication with comedic commentary rather than a standard lecture format. Two separate performances are being held.

A free outdoor performance by Wrealist, a band formed by musician Ken Chapple that blends American roots music with the improvisational energy of funk, jazz, and rock. The show takes place on the venue's patio stage with limited first-come, first-served seating.

A Cajun cooking competition with sour beer on hand, which is a strong way to spend an afternoon.

Close harmonies and banjo out on the brewery meadow on a Sunday afternoon.

Displace is a four-piece band from Tampa, Florida that blends saxophone and electric violin with funk, jazz, and pop influences. The group is known for improvisational live sets and performs at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.'s amphitheater in Mills River.

This show is part of the Afro Rhythm concert series at White Horse Black Mountain, produced by Chinobay in partnership with the venue. The series focuses on African-rooted rhythm and music traditions, with admission offered on a pay-what-you-can basis.

Every other Sunday the place fills with local artisans and makers, and it's a good long browse.

Christie Lenee is a guitarist and singer-songwriter performing as part of the Sundays on the River series at Olivette Riverside Pavilion. Her set draws on original songwriting and fingerstyle guitar playing.

A free monthly improv comedy jam hosted by Joyride, open to improvisers of all experience levels, featuring warmups, games, and longform scenes.

West Asheville Yoga Studio hosts a New Moon Circle, a recurring gathering held at each new and full moon and open to all who want to attend. The session centers on group reflection tied to the moon's cycles.

Silverada, led by Mike Harmeier of Mike and the Moonpies, performs at The Grey Eagle in Asheville. The show is presented by the venue with Worthwhile Sounds.

A big band that's been at it since 2006, keeping the jazz orchestra tradition alive.

Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors is a stage adaptation by Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen, presented as part of Hendersonville Theatre's season. The production reworks Bram Stoker's vampire story into a comedic take, running in repertory through late October.

A live concert at Eulogy pairing Colombian instrumental group BALTHVS with support act DELAFUNK. BALTHVS, formed in 2020, has built a large streaming following and an extensive catalog of albums and EPs.

Volunteers are invited to help plant a wetland restoration site at Bowditch Bottoms, an 87-acre property in Yancey County with significant soils and farmland. The workday is organized jointly by the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, and Wildbud Natives.

A room of players working through Bob Weir's catalog on his birthday, and it's all ages, standing room.

Horse Lords, an experimental group that formed in Baltimore in 2010, headlines an evening of exploratory and improvisational music. Brett W. Naucke and World Room open the show.

Máire Ní Chathasaigh is about as good as Irish harp gets, and she and guitarist Chris Newman have been playing together long enough that the interplay is the whole point.

Chelsea Wolfe's doom folk is built for a big room, all drone and reverb and slow builds.

A stand-up comedy showcase is held at an indoor venue with seating provided. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are available for purchase along with small snacks, outside snacks are permitted, and the venue is wheelchair accessible.

This outdoor session invites participants to paint directly from the autumn landscape in the Arboretum's gardens. It offers a chance to practice plein air technique amid seasonal color rather than in a studio setting.

A mixed-media workshop led by Alison Press focused on combining landscape painting with collage techniques, part of an ongoing Art Exploration series suited to all experience levels. Pre-registration is required.

An ongoing memoir-writing workshop series at White Horse Black Mountain invites participants to explore and write about their own lived experiences. Sessions are structured as a recurring afternoon class focused on the craft of personal storytelling.

This free karaoke night takes place in Sierra Nevada's High Gravity Room at the Mills River taproom. It's open to all ages, with singers taking turns at the mic in a casual brewery setting.

An early folk set outdoors that's done before dark, though patio seating is first come first serve.

Malaprop's Bookstore hosts a launch event for Elizabeth Kostova's new novel, Mystery Play, at A-B Tech's Ferguson Auditorium. Author Terry Roberts joins for a conversation about the book.

An untutored figure-drawing session with a live undraped model, open to all skill levels and any drawing or painting medium. The session opens with a set of quick one-minute warm-up poses before settling into longer 10, 15, and 20-minute poses for the remainder of the two-hour meetup. Anyone working in oil-based media is asked to bring non-odor solvents out of consideration for the shared studio space.

A string quartet of up and coming North Carolina players, performing among the art instead of in a concert hall.

Certified sound practitioner Joy Bush leads this session, using Crystal Tones Alchemy bowls to build a sustained soundscape. The format centers on physical and mental relaxation rather than performance or instruction.

Chef J Chong hosts a wine dinner centered on Cantonese cuisine at Zelda Dearest, pairing dishes with selected wines. The event is framed as an intimate, seated gathering rather than regular dinner service.

College volleyball moves fast, and Montreat's gym is small enough that you hear every call.

This weekly gathering invites musicians of any skill level to sit in and play together, with all instruments welcome. Non-musicians are welcome too, whether to listen to the informal sets while studying or simply hang out with friends.

A beginner-friendly improv class at Misfit Improv & Acting School introduces the fundamentals of short-form improv in a low-pressure setting. It's aimed at newcomers with no prior performance experience.

A weekly trivia night at Shiloh & Gaines tests players' knowledge of music across genres and eras, with gift card prizes awarded to top-scoring teams. The bar also runs discounted pricing on tequila and house margaritas during the event.

Cannons play dreamy synth pop that hits much bigger live than it does on record, and they don't come through often.

An all female band out of Atlanta leaning hard on big vocals and tight harmony singing.

The CPK Trio — saxophonist Jeff Coffin, drummer Jordan Perlson, and bassist Viktor Krauss — performs together for a seated show, joined by guest guitarist Bob Lanzetti. A limited number of premium seats are offered.

Musicians pull up chairs and play traditional Irish tunes in the round, and at 5PM it's over before bedtime.

This workshop invites adults to reconnect with the kind of imaginative thinking most people lose touch with after childhood. Participants work through exercises meant to loosen up creative and playful thinking as adults.

Josiah Leming writes big, ragged East Tennessee songs and plays them loud, and the room is standing only so it'll move.

Stephen King's two-hander about a writer and his number one fan, staged close enough that you can watch the sledgehammer land. Tickets start at $15.

Horace Trahan brings real Louisiana zydeco and Cajun accordion up to a wine bar back room, and it's music built for dancing rather than standing still.

Great Lake Swimmers bring their Caught Light Tour to Eulogy, blending acoustic instrumentation with rural-inspired soundscapes and reflective vocals. The folk act is known for atmospheric, understated arrangements that favor mood and texture over high-energy performance. Expect an intimate, listening-focused show.

This guided tour of Cataloochee Valley visits historic structures including Palmer Chapel and its cemetery. Local historian John Buckner leads the group and shares stories tied to the valley's past. Wildlife sightings are also possible along the route.

The Guild's flagship fair fills the arena with four days of Southern Highland potters, weavers, woodworkers and smiths, most of them demonstrating as they go.

The Transylvania Heritage Museum in Brevard is opening a new exhibit marking the 250th anniversary of the United States, centered on the region's Revolutionary War history. It traces how veterans, including Transylvania County patriots, carried the fight for independence into the Appalachian frontier. The exhibit focuses on lesser-known stories of soldiers who helped shape the mountain region.

Foundation Studios opens its space on the third Thursday of each month for artists to work alongside one another during extended gallery hours. Both resident and visiting artists are welcome to bring their own supplies and create in a shared, informal setting. The gathering runs from 5 pm until close, with exact timing varying by session.

The museum stays open late with music, tours, art making and cocktails on the rooftop, and it's free.

The Rhythm and Brews Concert Series brings live music and local beer and beverage vendors to downtown on the third Thursday of each month from May through September. A section of South Main Street closes to traffic to make room for the crowd. The series is sponsored by Horizon Heating & Air and the shows are free to attend.

This annual fundraiser supports the Asheville Music School's scholarship and outreach programs. The evening pairs performances by the school's own students with a silent auction featuring getaways, experiences, gift cards, art, and musical gear, alongside food and drinks.

A guest lecture exploring the surprising links between birds and the development of the English language, presented by Iowa State University's Jeremy Withers as part of UNC Asheville's English Department lecture series.

A band on the taproom stage in town, close enough to walk home from.

Allison Russell's voice is the reason people go quiet at her shows, and the Orange Peel is the right size to hear it.

Old-time contra dancing with two fiddles and a caller, and the free lesson at 7:30 means nobody needs to know the steps beforehand.

Ten strangers pull their names from a hat and tell a true story about magic with no notes, and the audience scores them.

This stop on Noah Gundersen's 'Rites of Spring' tour brings the Pacific Northwest singer-songwriter to Eulogy, with support from Breakup Shoes and Nathan Evans Fox. Gundersen is an Emmy-nominated artist known for introspective, folk-leaning songwriting.

A seasonal dinner event at Biltmore pairing the estate's wines with a multi-course meal from its chefs. The evening begins with an outdoor reception among the vineyard rows before guests move into Cedric's Garden for the seated dinner.

This workshop introduces 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 a pet.

Two archaeologists walk the Arboretum grounds and point out who lived on this land before it was a garden.

Appalachian ghost stories told out loud at a 200-year-old homestead, right as October gets going.

A 1930s-style swing and jazz outfit playing the brewery meadow, and the meadow is a good place to sprawl out on a blanket.

Asheville native Andrew Scotchie brings his rock band to the stage for a high-energy live set. His music blends classic rock swagger with blues influences for an intense, guitar-driven performance.

An astronomer sets up on the farm to talk you through the fall night sky, which is a rare excuse to be out in a field after dark.

A hip-hop show at Eulogy headlined by Project Pat, a longtime fixture of the Memphis rap scene and one of its most recognizable voices. Doors open in the early evening ahead of the performance.

Ten miles of Arboretum trail open for hiking, biking and running at the height of leaf season.

Now in its fifth year, this half marathon runs from Black Mountain to Old Fort along a course that passes the historic Andrews Geyser. It takes place during fall leaf season and carries Hillman Beer as its presenting sponsor.

This 5K road race routes runners through downtown Asheville's streets before finishing inside HomeTrust Park's ballpark.

A pop-up market and live music downtown, so you can browse makers and hear a band without leaving town.

A full day of DuPont Forest in festival mode, which is about the easiest way there is to get into one of the best chunks of woods around.

Instructor Kimberly Smith leads this mixed-media class focused on advancing collage technique, working with inks, acrylics, thread, and oil pastels to build up layered imagery.

A singer-songwriter from the North Carolina mountains performs original material spanning country and folk styles. The set draws on real-life stories and showcases his range across multiple instruments.

A beginner-friendly workshop introduces the alcohol-ink painting technique, led by visiting artist Kimberly Deene. Participants experiment with how the inks spread, bloom, and blend to create autumn-themed leaf and floral pieces. No prior painting experience is required.

UNC Asheville's women's volleyball team plays a road match against Gardner-Webb as part of conference play.

Mark Bettis Gallery opens a new exhibition pairing two artists whose work explores how the turn of autumn connects to ideas about the spiritual world. An opening reception accompanies the show's debut.

Pleasure Chest is an Asheville-based band playing blues, soul, and rock and roll. The show is part of Highland Brewing's weekend live music series, which brings in local, regional, and touring acts to the brewery's outdoor stage.

UNC Asheville's women's soccer team travels to Spartanburg to face USC Upstate in a road match billed as part of the two schools' I-26 rivalry.

The Infamous Stringdusters are a serious bluegrass band and they're playing an outdoor stage a few minutes from home.

Chimney Rock after dark with a naturalist, when the owls and the flying squirrels take over.

Birder Clifton Avery of Ventures Birding Tours leads a guided walk through the farm and its surrounding forest to spot birds passing through during the fall sparrow migration. The outing focuses on edge-habitat birding and touches on how the farm's grazing practices affect bird activity.

This hands-on workshop with artist Li Newton covers basic analog paper collage, including cutting, layering, and transferring a photo onto a surface. Participants use those techniques to build several small Halloween-themed pieces over the course of the class, with no prior experience required.

Piano drifting through the galleries while you look at the art, and it costs nothing.

A gathering of local makers selling magical, feline, and magically feline goods, which is about as specific a browse as you'll find on a Sunday afternoon.

A screening of the documentary American Pachuco: The Legend of Louis Valdez, followed by a discussion with filmmaker David Alvarado. The screening is part of the Southern Circuit tour, which brings independent filmmakers to venues across the South with backing from South Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

In this acrylic painting workshop, local artist Miranda Wildman guides participants in turning the landscapes and colors of Western North Carolina into abstract compositions. No previous painting experience is needed to join.

Peggy Ratusz has taken best-in-blues honors for seventeen years running, and she's doing it on the meadow in the afternoon.

Six pieces running rock through reggae through funk, outdoors at the brewery in the middle of the afternoon.

This restorative yoga class pairs slow, supported poses with the added warmth of heated stones, aimed at easing physical tension and calming the nervous system. It leans toward a gentler, more meditative style of practice focused on relaxation rather than exertion.

David Nihill builds whole sets out of going off on tangents, and a 7pm start means you're not out past bedtime.

Lillie Syracuse with Dulci Ellenberger sitting in, a short walk from home instead of a drive into town.

Everyone shows up with whatever they're reading and just reads, together, quietly. It only happens once a month.

Jay Brown's local showcase, five minutes from the house on a Monday night.

The Residents have been playing in giant eyeball masks since the seventies, and Eskimo is the strangest record in a very strange catalog.

Two jams in one night, acoustic and Dark City blues, on a stage where the players change every week.

A free, ongoing creative writing series open to the community, held at White Horse Black Mountain.

A folk session at the Grey Eagle, where the songwriters trade turns rather than one act running the night.

A working jazz jam led by a UNCA music professor, so the playing is real and the lineup shifts with whoever sits in.

Naturalist and environmental educator Eric Young leads this outdoor program on the ways wildlife avoids being seen. Expect a walk through the Arboretum grounds spotting the camouflage, mimicry, and other tricks animals use to stay hidden. It's geared toward families and anyone curious about the wildlife living nearby.

Larkin Poe bring slide guitar and two-part sister harmonies to a 6pm show on the brewery lawn.

This monthly book club reads titles by Black authors that touch on different parts of the Black experience. Members gather at Noir Collective AVL to discuss the month's pick, and copies are available for checkout through the Buncombe County Public Library. It's a recurring discussion series, not a one-off.

A rock set at the Taproom Stage right in town, no drive required.

Nick Shoulders yodels through honky-tonk and old-time country with a voice that sounds beamed in from 1940.

True Loves are a Seattle instrumental soul band built on horns and deep grooves, heavy on the funk.

This class takes participants outdoors to paint en plein air among the Arboretum's gardens, focusing on capturing the changing colors and scenery of autumn directly from the landscape.

This recurring gaming club for homeschooled students meets twice each month to play a rotating selection of tabletop board games, with certain sessions featuring titles suited for older children.

This class covers the groundwork for planning a rose garden during the winter months, so gardeners are prepared to plant and maintain roses successfully once spring arrives.

An open Celtic session with Maura and friends at the cidery, fiddles going in the taproom.

Instrumental horror-themed surf rock in the Highland meadow, which is exactly as fun as it sounds.

Aaron Price plays piano at the White Horse, a five-minute trip from the house.

AJ Lee & Blue Summit bring sharp California bluegrass with the Cody Sisters opening.

Benjamin Tod's Lost Dog Street Band plays raw, hard-lived American roots music.

A ranger-led walk through Hickory Nut Gorge focused on the science behind autumn's color change. Participants learn about the park's fall flora and fauna while taking in the season's foliage.

A hands-on introductory workshop covering western-style mould-and-deckle papermaking. Participants work with several types of pulp and learn how to turn recycled and commercial fibers into paper, along with the basic tools and setup needed to continue the craft at home.

A small courtyard market of WNC makers and artisans, the kind you can browse properly in an hour.

UNC Asheville's women's swimming and diving team hosts Campbell in a dual meet at the university's pool. The meet features standard swimming and diving events between the two collegiate programs.

Local artist Erin Keane leads a weekend workshop blending visual art techniques with personal storytelling, encouraging participants to explore identity through journaling and mixed media. The session is a repeat offering after a previous run filled up.

A Brazilian-flavored jazz trio playing an afternoon set, done and dusted before dinner.

UNC Asheville's men's soccer team takes on USC Upstate in an Ingles I-26 Rivalry matchup, with the crowd encouraged to wear blue in support. The game is played at the university's home field.

UNC Asheville's women's volleyball team travels to face Radford on the road. The match is part of the team's regular conference schedule.

Laron Huntley and the Gravely Brothers play an early evening set on the brewpub patio.

Rock covers out on the brewery meadow, with room to spread out on the grass while the band plays.

The Get Right Band brings its funk-leaning rock to an outdoor stage right in the middle of town.

A country dance night where line dancing takes over the floor and standing still is the odd choice.

A hands-on watercolor workshop led by instructor Patricia Sweet, focused on using subtle shifts in value rather than color to build depth, atmosphere, and light in a painting.

Live harp music drifting through the galleries on a Sunday afternoon, and it's free.

An oil painting workshop with instructor Patricia Sweet that sets color aside to focus on value as the foundation of a painting's structure, light, and sense of depth and distance.

Bingo with a Halloween twist in the middle of the afternoon, silly enough to warrant a costume.

A funky four-piece built from Empire Strikes Brass players, turning the taproom lawn into a brass party.

Singer-songwriter Leeda 'Lyric' Jones plays a Sunday afternoon set out on the brewery meadow.

Local pickers trading bluegrass tunes in an open jam, and the playing is far better than a jam has any right to be.

Nurse Blake turned viral nursing comedy into a full theater tour, and his crowd tends to show up in scrubs.

This drop-in life drawing session features a live, undraped model holding unstructured poses, open to artists working in any medium. The two-hour session opens with a series of one-minute warm-up poses before moving into longer holds of ten, fifteen, and twenty minutes.

This recurring class invites participants to work across a range of artistic mediums and techniques while exploring connections to art history and different cultures. The series builds toward a community gallery showcase of the work produced.

The King Bees play blues and soul the old way, and it's a short walk rather than a drive over the ridge.

Osees are one of the loudest, fastest garage-psych bands touring, with Brigid Dawson back on vocals.

Fiddles, flutes and whoever walks in with an instrument, played around a table in the room instead of up on a stage, and it starts early enough to hear the whole thing.

Regan's out on tour behind new songs, in a room small enough that you catch every word.