Western North Carolina continues to be one of the top epicenters for the production of studio craft in the United States. The surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains shelter a number of internationally renowned artists and many more are inspired by an ever-growing creative community. Forging Futures surveys 24 emerging and established artists shaping the future of studio craft in this region. Their work represents the range of forms, techniques and materials employed to create handmade works of art, including functional and…

Music On Main Street showcases oldies, rock n’ roll, and beach music every Friday night from June - August. Bring a chair, no pets, alcoholic beverages, backpacks or coolers allowed; seating area opens after 5:30pm / early admission is prohibited, an event of Henderson County Tourism Development Authority, Visitor Center 201 South Main Street, Hendersonville, NC 828.693.9708 or 800.828.4244

Asheville Mandala Art Meditation Asheville photographer/fashion designer, Wendy Newman, will debut her unique Asheville reconstructed photographic cityscapes on silk, canvas, metal and clothing in an exhibition at Green Sage Cafe Westgate, 70 Westgate Parkway from July 16 to Oct 15, 2017

Learn about the most common natural materials and techniques for designing an ecologically sound building. Experience natural building techniques such as cob, earthen plasters and paints with your own hands. Tour natural buildings that were built using a variety of techniques to get first hand experience of what is possible from foundations, roofs and wall systems to site selection and passive solar design. This introductory course to natural building will provide you with a foundation to build upon, empowering you…

Coming on August 16, 2017, the Transylvania Community Arts Council will host the opening of “Through the Needle’s Eye”, the 21st National Exhibit of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America. (EGA) This premier event is being held in conjunction with the Blue Ridge Rendezvous, EGA's national seminar to be held in Asheville at the Crown Plaza. Some of the exhibitors will be teaching at the national seminar or will be involved in the seminar's organization. The juried exhibit consists of 46…

Mark St. Germain’s “The Best of Enemies” chronicles the unlikely friendship that developed between black activist Ann Atwater and white Ku Klux Klan Grand Cyclops C.P. Ellis – a friendship that led to the desegregation of the Durham school system in 1971. Directed by Ashleigh Millett-Goff. Performances Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m. at The BeBe Theatre, 20 Commerce St., Downtown Asheville. Tickets: $18 in advance, $21 at the door. $15 in advance for opening weekend.

The Southern Living Custom Builder Program Showcase Home, built by Classic Homes of Myrtle Beach, SC, presents the latest in building technology with design ideas from renowned designed, Susan White of Classic Interiors. Price includes seminars and demonstrations. Proceeds to benefit charities: Operation Finally Home and Teach My People. Come see what everyone is talking about.

Cyclists come from across the country to participate in this adrenaline-pumping ride through the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. The event begins and ends at beautiful Lake Junaluska surrounded by the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains. Four routes specifically designed for all skill levels, offer cyclists an opportunity to experience the breathtaking beauty of Haywood County’s country lanes, scenic byways and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The Come to Leicester studio tour is held every year on the third weekend in August; for 2017, that is 19-20 August. Our community of artists create in a variety of mediums, including painting, iron work, wood work, textiles, pottery, jewelry, aroma therapy candles, and brooms. They welcome you to their open studios so that you can enjoy their talented work. Come to Leicester to see for yourself!

To celebrate the return of Hotbox Porter, we are throwing a coffee fest August 19th at the Tasty Weasel! Come enjoy live music, coffee samples from local roasters, baked goods, and HOTBOX PORTER - on tap and to go! Local roasters include: Independent Bean Roasters Dynamite Roasting Company PennyCup Coffee Co. Pisgah Coffee Roasters Hotbox Roasters and more! +cold treats from Kiwi Gelato

Join Urban Dharma in celebrating our new future with a vegetarian potluck. We will share some great news about our next chapter and the exciting work to come. All are welcome! Please bring friends and family.

It's said that Asheville is becoming even better known for "the two Bs" beer and bees. It's home to the Center for Honeybee Research; the headquarters of Bee City USA, a nonprofit dedicated to creating sustainable habitats for pollinators; and scores of beekeepers making small-batch honey. It's no wonder that Asheville Bee Charmer, opened in 2014 by beekeepers Jillian Kelly and Kim Allen, has become a destination for both local foodies and tourists. This honey purveyor offers a range of…

A collection of autobiographical essays from the editor of The Laurel of Asheville, this book follows the author’s first year of grieving after her mother’s death, her subsequent move to Asheville, turning 50, meeting her husband and reinventing herself using lessons learned from being a caregiver. She welcomes willing participants to take an active part in her readings and conducts the book signing as a celebratory event of sharing about resilient grief.

It hasn't happened in 38 years, and you gotta be at the right place at the right time to see it. The path of totality is a small path, and Oskar Blues Brewery North Carolina is lucky enough to be in it, so naturally, we are throwin' a party. We are gonna have live tunes all day, Oskar Blues CHUBwagon specials, bouncy house, special eclipse glasses for everyone, and maybe even a guest appearance by the Pisgah Thunder. We are…

Join the Camera Club of Hendersonville on Tuesday, August 22nd for their monthly meeting featuring Don McGowan, speaking on the topic of “Seeing Like a Lens”. Don has been a professional photographer for twenty-four years, and his Asheville-based company is called Earthsong Photograph. His specialties are nature and natural light commercial photography, as well as photographic tours of Great Smoky Mountains, environmental photojournalism, and fine-art nature images. The club meets at 6:30 pm at the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce…

Let them eat cake -- and vegetables, too! Award-winning cookbook author Ken Haedrich serves up 150 delicious baked goods that are full of fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs and go far beyond zucchini bread and carrot cake. From Bacon, Cheddar, and Fresh Corn Muffins to Fresh Fennel and Italian Sausage Pizza, Spaghetti Squash and Parmesan Quiche, and Brown Sugar Rhubarb Tart Squares, these scrumptious recipes add nutrition plus amazing flavor to every meal of the day. The breadth of this…

The Local Food Experience is a casual dining experience. Wander around the beautiful New Belgium Brewing Co. Brewhouse overlooking the French Broad River while meeting with farmers, chefs, and artisans who will be serving small bites highlighting seasonal foods grown and raised right here. There will also be an exclusive local food–themed silent auction, raffle, and door prizes. Tickets are $25 per person. Complimentary beverages provided by New Belgium Brewing Co. Contact ASAP for more information at 828-236-1282.

Brian E. Butler, UNC Asheville professor of philosophy and author of The Democratic Constitution: Experimentalism and Interpretation (Chicago, 2017), will discuss his new book and its connection to BMC-infused ideas related to democratic aims and experimental practice. FREE

Every Saturday morning Appalachian Art Farm hosts a youth art class. The cost of $10 Includes project instruction/demo, materials, and a snack. All ages are welcome! Registration via email or pre-payment highly recommended to reserve your spot! Email us at appalachianartfarm@gmail.com. Appalachian Art Farm is a non-profit organization in Sylva, NC whose mission is to support individual and artistic growth and community wellness through programs in the arts, heritage skills and outdoor recreation. We serve all members of the community…

Voices of Wisdom brings you together with indigenous elders that embody ancestral wisdom. Join us around the Fire and engage the wisdom of Amy Walker (Cherokee) and Wanbdi Wakita (Dakota). Show More Info

Ride for Kids is the longest-running, most successful motorcycle charity event in the nation. Since 1984, motorcyclists have raised funds to help children with brain tumors, which are the top cause of cancer death in children. The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation was created in 1991 by the founders of Ride for Kids, and is now the leading nonprofit funding research into childhood brain tumors. Our events also fund free educational resources, college scholarships for brain tumor survivors and emergency financial…

UNDERCITIES is a short story anthology that focuses on queer narratives in an urban fantasy setting, featuring queer and POC creators. These eleven stories take the glamour off of cities as you know them to reveal the magic beneath. From selkies and sweets in Saint Thomas to secret-spilling potions in Brasília to faeries and werewolves in Toronto, you’ll find that magic and the myriad kinds of people who create it are right where they always have been: everywhere around you.…

A Muslim, a Jew, and a Christian walk into a concert hall… …and put on a great concert together, modeling their mutual respect and affection, entertaining listeners, and creating music that is strengthened by their diversity, rather than hindered by it. These three musicians of the three Abrahamic faiths, each of whom has performed extensively and put out many CDs of original music, team up to play together as Abraham Jam. They don't just take turns sharing songs, but create…

August 29- October 3 Tuesdays 3-5:30pm Have you completed a beginner wheel class and feel ready for more? This class will help you refine your skills on the potter’s wheel and offer tips and strategies for reaching your creative goals. We will practice making multiples of the same form, learn how to throw larger vessels, lidded jars, spouts and more. Laurie will also share an in-depth demonstration on how to get great glaze effects that reflect your unique style. Come…

August 29- October 3 Cayce Kolstad Tuesdays 6:30-9pm Join Cayce for an entertaining examination of the joy of working with the potter’s wheel. In addition to throwing and trimming a variety of forms from mugs to cookie jars, Cayce will demonstrate the wheel’s capabilities beyond throwing, including banding, slipping, and even grinding your pots. This class is for true beginners as well as seasoned beginners. Level: Beginner and Seasoned Beginner Tuition: $200 + $35 Lab Fee

Sadie Blue has been a wife for fifteen days. That's long enough to know she should have never hitched herself to Roy Tupkin, even with the baby. Sadie is desperate to make her own mark on the world, but in remote Appalachia, a ticket out of town is hard to come by, and hope often gets stomped out. When a stranger sweeps into Baines Creek and knocks things off kilter, Sadie finds herself with an unexpected lifeline...if she can just…

August 31- October 5 Thursdays 11am-1:30pm Join popular artist and author, Barbara McGuire for an exploration of metal clay, an exciting new material with remarkable creative possibilities. Learn how to use torches, special metal clay tools and dies. We will explore innovative finishing techniques to create beautiful jewelry and small sculptures that, when fired, yield amazing metallic finishes. Level: All Levels Tuition: $245 +$100 Lab Fee

Gradle Bird is an unusual tale of self-discovery and redemption that explores the infirmities of fatherly love, the complexities of human cruelty, and the consequences of guilt, proving they are possible to overcome no matter how dark and horrible the cause. J.C. Sasser started her professional career at age twelve, working as a dishwasher, waitress, and cook at a truck stop off Georgia's I-16. Over her life, she has worked as an envelope licker, tortoise tagger, lifeguard, Senate page, model,…

The 47th Annual Smoky Mountain Folk Festival will offer two nights of the finest traditional music and dance of the Southern Appalachian Region. The main shows begin at 6:15 p.m. both Friday and Saturday, on the grand stage of Stuart Auditorium overlooking beautiful Lake Junaluska. Lodging and meal packages are available for those wishing to stay at Lake Junaluska.

Odyssey ClayWorks September Session Pottery Class September 1- October 6 Fridays 10am-12:30pm Do you hate glazing? I mean, do you really HATE glazing? Have you experienced the frustration of making a beautiful piece, then ruining it with a flawed, or perhaps worse, boring glaze? Would you rather spend your time doing just about ANYTHING else, even cleaning your studio? This is the class for you! Join Gabriel each Friday as he demystifies the techniques that will help you learn to…

September 2, Warren Wilson College What's the difference between a mushroom and a toadstool? How many varieties are there and how can I tell which ones are edible? Come to the Asheville Mushroom Club's FungiFest at Warren Wilson College on Saturday, Sept. 2, and get answers to all the questions you ever had about mushrooms and the ones you you never thought to ask! As well as a huge display of wild mushrooms in all their varied shapes and colors,…

Labor Day Weekend Rummage sale. Items from more than 100 families. Household goods, pet items, garden things, clothes, children's stuff, books and much more.

Asheville's original vegan festival returns again this year! Asheville VegFest, presented by the Asheville Vegan Society, is a celebration of compassionate eating and sustainable living, where vegetarians, vegans, and the veg-curious alike can explore and celebrate the benefits of plant-based eating. Held in gorgeous Pack Square Park in beautiful downtown Asheville, this family-friendly event will feature live music, speaker sessions, local beer, a kids’ activity area, and best of all—food!

Come paint at our monthly paint and pour. $25 covers all materials, demonstration painting and step-by-step instructions. No painting experience needed. Open to beginner to advanced artists. Bring friends, meet new friends! Any proceeds from this event will benefit our Teen Lounge outreach program. For more info. on outreach, please visit our website: www.appalachianartfarm.org Pre-register via email to secure your seat: appalachianartfarm@gmail.com or prepay via PayPal using this link: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=7Y3RBNCEHCR98

ODYSSEY CLAYWORKS September Session Clay Class For Kids Ages 6-12 September 6- October 4 Wednesdays 4-6pm We will create a magical little house where a Fairy may want to live… or perhaps an elf! You will learn to work with a slab of clay using a fun assortment of templates to build your own piece. We will add whimsical clay attachments by scratching, scoring and using slip, experimenting with patterns and finishing up with glaze. You will be able to…

Please join Wenoca Group Sierra Club for our monthly meeting on Wednesday, September 6, when Pana Columbus and Dave Erb will present an optimistic, achievable vision of first steps toward transforming transportation in western North Carolina and beyond. This event is free and open to the public. Date: Sept. 6, 2017 Location: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, 1 Edwin Place (off of Charlotte) Time: 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Many of the world’s most challenging problems are strongly rooted in the…