The Laurel of Asheville

Mapping Home
2026-08-27 16:30 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | Holden Arts Center, 701 Warren Wilson Rd, Swannanoa, NC, 28711, United States
Elizabeth Holden Gallery’s exhibition Mapping Home will be on view at Warren Wilson College from August 27th to October 3rd, 2026.
The notion of home takes on a whole new meaning after a climate disaster like Hurricane Helene. Home is a place of reflection, home is near and far, home provides shelter, home is lost and found, and home is created when a community comes together. In this exhibition we will collectively map our idea of home alongside the WWC community, our Swannanoa Valley neighbors, and WWC Alumni. Featured artists include Galen Bernard, Carolina Corona, Annie Hall, Sonia Norris, Kaye Savage, Tissica Schoch, Jess Self, Carson Whitmore, Rebecca Williams and a community installation organized by Melanie Wilder.
We are inviting community participation for this exhibition through fiber workshops, through art responses and through fundraising for our local nonprofit organization Swannanoa Communities Together, which provides rent assistance programs for residents of Swannanoa.
The opening reception for the exhibition is on Thursday, August 27th from 4:30-6:00 PM. The Elizabeth Holden Gallery is open M-F, 10-4pm and most Saturdays 1-4pm.
This exhibition is in partnership with the Fiber Arts Crew, Swannanoa Artist Collective, Climate Action Now, WWC Art & Craft Department and is supported by the Windgate Foundation and Educating for Character Initiative Grant from the Lily Foundation.

WHIMSICAL ANIMALS IN GOUAGHE (OPAQUE WATERCOLOR, BEGINNER FRIENDLY!)
2026-08-27 08:00 - 17:00 | 310 Art, 191 Lyman Street, Asheville, NC, 28801
with Miriam Hughes, AUG 27 (1PM-4PM) 2026
$145.00
Thursday Aug 27th – 1pm to 4pm – $145 – All materials included!
Discover how Gouache differs from traditional transparent watercolor, and what makes it such a vibrant and illustrative medium!
In this workshop, students will choose a favorite animal, beloved pet, or even something as small as an insect as the inspiration for a whimsical gouache painting! Using bold colors, playful patterns, and expressive textures, each student will transform their subject into a unique work of art full of personality and charm.
The focus here is on creativity rather than realism, encouraging artists to experiment, exaggerate features, and have fun as they explore the versatility of gouache. The unique qualities of gouache are especially well-suited for fun and joyful illustrations, expressive animal portraits, and decorative designs. The rich matte surface enhances bright colors and exciting details without the glare of a glossy finish.
This class seats 10 students. Cancellation and transfer policies can be found at the link in the navigation bar. Please call (828) 776 2716 or email gallery@310art.com for any questions concerning classes.
Originally a medical illustrator, Miriam Hughes works in gouache, watercolors, pens, collage and fibers and makes time to create art daily. She exhibits widely and teaches art in a number of topics.

Jason Curtis and The Blacksheep
2026-08-26 19:00 - 21:00 | The Grey Eagle Music Hall and Pub, 185 Clingman Ave, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
SEATED SHOW
JASON CURTIS AND THE BLACKSHEEP
Jason Curtis and the Black Sheep are a rising pure-country and roots-rock band based in Asheville, North Carolina. Led by Louisiana native Jason Curtis, the band is celebrated for their authentic, classic sound, poignant songwriting, and high-energy honky-tonk.
Originally from the Deep South and raised as a “preacher’s son,” Jason Curtis draws deep inspiration from his country, blues, and gospel roots. The band’s classic honky-tonk vibe—ranging from laid-back country shuffles to rocking, danceable numbers—is brought to life by an all-star lineup of musicians:
Jason Curtis: Lead vocals and guitar
Zach Smith: Bass (formerly of Town Mountain)
Claude Coleman Jr.: Drums (formerly of Ween)
Matt Daniels: Lead guitar and producer
Silas Hamilton: Pedal Steel (formerly of Town Mountain)
The band’s highly anticipated album, Preacher’s Son, debuted recently, spawning a rabid fanbase dubbed the “Black Sheep Nation”. They are a frequent fixture in the Asheville music scene, regularly playing local venues like Highland Brewing Co., Jack of the Wood Pub, and Eda’s Hide-a-Way in Weaverville, 185 King Street…
For a quick taste of the energetic, classic country sound that has been buzzing around the Asheville music scene:

Stop the Bleed w/ Appalachian Medical Solidarity
2026-08-26 17:30 - 19:30 | Asheville Tool Library, 16 Smith Mill Rd, Asheville, 28806
Stop the Bleed: Control Bleeding in an Emergency
Learn to stop the bleed with Appalachian Medical Solidarity! Through instruction, demonstration, and hands on practice you will walk away with the skills to recognize and control severe bleeding in an emergency. Participants will review basic bleed control and introduce recognition of when basic techniques are not enough. Skills include pressure bandaging, wound packing and tourniquet use.
This workshop aims to prepare you to prevent a death from severe bleeding at least long enough for 1st Responders to arrive and continue care.
What to Wear / Safety Notes: Expect cooperative learning, working together with hands on practice within an intense subject matter
Skill Level: Beginner — no experience necessary.

Songwriters Roller Derby Showcase
2026-08-25 19:00 - 21:00 | The Grey Eagle Music Hall and Pub, 185 Clingman Ave, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
SEATED SHOW
SONGWRITERS ROLLER DERBY SHOWCASE
The Songwriters Roller Derby Showcase, presented by the Asheville Songwriters Association, is a quarterly music show with no roller skates included – just four performers “rollin’ out the songs, elbows-n-all.” Curated and hosted by Thomas Kozak and Jodi John Pippin, each “Derby Night” at The Grey Eagle will showcase the craft of songwriting in an intimate and welcoming setting. As an added element of the Songwriters Roller Derby Showcase, a surprise guest will join the performers on stage for interactive, on-the-spot commentary ~ a “look under the hood of the songwriting process” of sorts. The audience will have a chance to share comments as well, if they are inspired to do so. For most of the evening, the songwriters will perform finished songs, but they will also each share a brand new song that has not yet been performed on stage. Come support the songwriters as they show their vulnerable side and help nurture the art and craft of songwriting in the region and beyond.
The performers for this first Derby will be:
Old Sap:
Old Sap. Poet from Chicago, rambled out to Montana, cut a banjo from a tamarack, strings across the country, foot like a freight train, voice rushing down over lush Appalachia, sings a thrush tune through the rush hour and into your long-forgotten prairie dreams. Folk. Folk Rock. Americana.
Silk and Stone:
Silk and Stone is an Ohio-grown duo writing honest songs about life
and the emotions that come with it. With acoustic guitar, close
harmonies, and a shared love of storytelling, their music is rooted in
connection and authenticity.
At the heart of their songwriting is love, in all its forms. From
falling in love and heartbreak to friendship, family, and
self-discovery, they believe love is the thread that ties together the
human experience. Their songs explore the moments that shape us.
Lillie Syracuse:
Pulling from a well of folk-rock, soul, and jazz inspiration, Lillie Syracuse has formed a genre bending artistry and writing style deeply and uniquely her own. With a voice often likened to Norah Jones, Bonnie Raitt and Brandi Carlile, Lillie sings to the fullness that is being alive with a razor sharp focus on the heart of each person in the room with her. Lillie has just released her self produced sophomore album Big New Heart and lives in Blue Ridge mountains of Asheville, NC.
Ryan Furstenberg:
Ryan Furstenberg has been an active member of the Asheville music scene for almost two decades. His main project The Moon and You, a chamber-folk duo with his wife Melissa Hyman, has spent the last decade touring the US and Europe. Ryan also performs his songs under his own name and with his roots rock group Phantom Clutch.
In addition to his role as a bandleader, Ryan enjoys collaborating and performing as a sideman with the long-time Asheville groups Tina and Her Pony, the Dulci Ellenberger band, and The Dark Turn of Mind band, a spooky October collaboration between The Moon and You and local songwriter Hannah Kaminer.

Rising Stars Concert with Anant Malpani & Christopher Tavernier
2026-08-25 18:00 - 19:30 | Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square, Asheville, 28801
Rising Stars Concert is a collaboration between the Asheville Chamber Music Series and the Asheville Art Museum, featuring North Carolina musicians embarking on a major concert career. The event is sponsored and made possible by Heidi DuBose.
Violinist: Anant Malpani
Pianist: Christopher Tavernier

Very Jerry Band
2026-08-24 18:00 - 20:00 | The Grey Eagle Music Hall and Pub, 185 Clingman Ave, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
Standing Room Only
Asheville’s own Very Jerry Band. This favorite Jerry Garcia Band tribute act includes Spiro Nicolopoulos on guitar, Lenny Pettinelli on keyboards, Michael Filippone on bass, and Lee Kram on drums.

Writers Round
2026-08-23 19:00 - 21:00 | The Grey Eagle Music Hall and Pub, 185 Clingman Ave, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
SEATED SHOW
Writers Round
Julie Odell
Quinn Bee
AC Saphire
Claire Whall
Jackie Kelsh
Meschiya Lake

Worthless Comedy, a farewell to Worth Osborne
2026-08-23 19:00 - 21:00 | The River Arts District Brewing Company, 13 Mystery Street, Asheville, 28801
Modelface Comedy Club brings the best comedians from all over the country to Asheville, NC. This week we are sending off AVL favorite Worth Osborne to bigger and better things!
Worth Osborne is a comedian based in Asheville by way of Philadelphia. Worth was told that headliners need a bio. Worth has no real achievements in entertainment. Worth is surprisingly good at stringing words and sentences together despite his history of drug abuse and CTE. Worth is a moderately attractive man (New York 4, Asheville 7), who is a good listener and a great lover. Worth got this gig by moving away to Chicago and he will no doubt con those poor bastards as well.
ages 18+
Doors at 6:30pm, show at 7pm
Tickets $15

PATIO SHOW: Oliver Sayani
2026-08-23 17:30 - 19:30 | The Grey Eagle Music Hall and Pub, 185 Clingman Ave, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
– LIMITED PATIO SEATING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVE
OLIVER SAYANI
Appalachian honky tonk, bluegrass and backwoods blues singer-songwriter and guitarist Oliver Sayani paints raw pictures with original songs, introspective stories and old time melodies with a dark and heavy twist forged deep in the mountains and polished on vast highways touring across the country. As influenced from the rock music of the past 50 years as the bluegrass and country of the past 100, he mixes styles into a unique blend that can be experienced in his debut album, “9 Kinds of Blue,” produced by Colter Wall guitarist Pat Lyons, releasing in 2026. Tour schedule at Oliversayani.com.
Performed Direct Support for: Afroman, The Creekers, Hannah Dasher, Eddie 9V, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Dallas Wayne, Ted Russell Kamp, members of Exile & Little Texas

Seeking Connection Film Block
2026-08-23 16:30 - 18:30 | Asheville Masonic Temple, 80 Broadway , Asheville, 28801
Love short films and documentaries? Want to support local and regional filmmakers? The Asheville Film Festival has film blocks and feature screenings that you don’t want to miss! Tickets are $12/ person, drinks will be available for purchase, and all ticket sales go to supporting the Asheville Film Festival 501(c)3 nonprofit.
Films to be Screened:
“Ms. Rossi 3: Ms. Rossi Meets the Mob”
Directed by: Pat Battistini
While traveling for work, Ms. Rossi gets picked up by the wrong driver at the airport.
“Tandem”
Directed by: Darryl Jones
When two strangers cross paths biking through Raleigh, NC, their chance encounter sparks a romance that changes them both forever.
“Intertwined”
Directed by: John Schwert
Marci’s arrival to a new city finds her facing a crippling fear that conflicts with her determination to fulfill a promise. She follows a handsome local barista named Kurt to his home and work in search of an answer to her pressing question. Marci’s opportunities, days, and courage dwindle as she holds out for the right moment, the right place, and the right sign. As time runs out, she must confront what brought her to Kurt and reveal the truth to him.
“A Game in the Dark at Midnight”
Directed by: Alex Richard Thomas
In the 1890s North Georgia mountains, a young girl’s divination game reveals a future far darker than she bargained for.
“One More Spin”
Directed by: Maurice Victor II & Shea Marelli
A man and a woman cross paths while doing laundry, each stealing glances but exchanging few words. In their minds, the quiet between them fills with a rapid montage of imagined encounters—from instant chemistry to comedic disasters, heartfelt confessions to utterly bizarre twists. We see each version through both sets of eyes, revealing how differently two people can overthink the same moment. As the dryer stops and reality returns, they are faced with the decision to finally make a move.
“Curtains”
Directed by: Oskar Peacock
Eva and Sammy have broken up.
Moving out is expensive.
Curtains are cheap.
“Masterpiece”
Directed by: Kyle Cyr
Two passionate lovers unite their artistic souls on a canvas, channeling their deepest emotions and shared experiences. As their painting evolves, it becomes a reflection of their connection and relationship.
Get your tickets to this screening here: https://theashevillefilmfestival.as.me/?appointmentType=81059955
Want to experience the entire festival weekend without the hassle of buying individual screening tickets? Get your All-Access Pass here: https://theashevillefilmfestival.as.me/?appointmentType=81064462

“Greensboro Massacre” Screening
2026-08-23 15:00 - 16:00 | Asheville Masonic Temple, 80 Broadway , Asheville, 28801
Love short films and documentaries? Want to support local and regional filmmakers? The Asheville Film Festival has film blocks and feature screenings that you don’t want to miss!
Tickets are $10/ person, drinks and snacks will be available for purchase, and all ticket sales go to supporting the Asheville Film Festival 501(c)3 nonprofit.
“Greensboro Massacre” will be screened with a 30-minute Q&A with the filmmakers.
Directed by: Laura Seel
Survivors reflect on the 40th anniversary of the Greensboro Massacre, when 5 Communist Workers Party members were killed by Ku Klux Klan and American Nazi Party members on November 3, 1979.
Get your tickets to this screening here: https://theashevillefilmfestival.as.me/?appointmentType=96077734
Want to experience the entire festival weekend without the hassle of buying individual screening tickets? Get your All-Access Pass here: https://theashevillefilmfestival.as.me/?appointmentType=81064462

Exhibition on Screen | John Singer Sargent: Fashion and Swagger
2026-08-23 14:00 - 16:00 | Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square, Asheville, 28801
JOHN SINGER SARGENT
Directed by David Bickerstaff
John Singer Sargent is known as the greatest portrait artist of his era. What made his ‘swagger’ portraits remarkable was his power over his sitters, what they wore and how they were presented to the audience. Through interviews with curators, contemporary fashionistas and style influencers, Exhibition on Screen’s film will examine how Sargent’s unique practice has influenced modern art, culture and fashion.
Filmed at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Tate Britain, London, the exhibition reveals Sargent’s power to express distinctive personalities, power dynamics and gender identities during this fascinating period of cultural reinvention. Alongside 50 paintings by Sargent sit stunning items of clothing and accessories worn by his subjects, drawing the audience into the artist’s studio.
Step into the glittering world of fashion, scandal and shameless self-promotion that made John Singer Sargent the painter who defined an era.
Explore the unique creative process of the late 19th century’s favorite portrait artist and the way in which his portraits captured the spirit of a vibrant and rapidly changing age.

Catalyst Cinema Film Block
2026-08-23 12:30 - 14:30 | Asheville Masonic Temple, 80 Broadway , Asheville, 28801
Love short films and documentaries? Want to support local and regional filmmakers? The Asheville Film Festival has film blocks and feature screenings that you don’t want to miss!
Tickets are $10/ person, drinks and snacks will be available for purchase, and all ticket sales go to supporting the Asheville Film Festival 501(c)3 nonprofit.
Films to be Screened:
“Highway 251”
Directed by: Grace Ellen Callihan
In July 2025, Jacob Hill and Lennie Antonelli, were struck and killed by a dump truck while riding on Highway 251. This moment impacted not only the cycling community, but the broader Asheville area. Following this event, Brooke Darby, a mountain biker, made a last-minute decision to rush home from college for the Asheville Gran Fondo to be in her home, and do what she loves – bike in her beloved Appalachian Mountains.
“Compass Point”
Directed by: Katie Damien
Follow three homeless individuals as they move from a life on the streets in Asheville, North Carolina into a new supportive housing residence.
“The Other Roe”
Directed by: Wendy Eley Jackson
The Other Roe uncovers the untold story of attorney Margie Pitts Hames, whose Supreme Court victory in Doe v. Bolton—the companion case to Roe v. Wade—reshaped reproductive rights in America and restored a missing chapter of history.
“Wildfire Kitchen”
Directed by: Lily Eliana Levin
In February 2024, Chile’s deadliest wildfires ignited in the Valparaíso region, decimating its hillside poor and rural communities. But in the aftermath of this disaster, ollas comunes — grassroots community kitchens — emerged to feed hundreds each day. These ‘ollas’ were a labor of love, a practice for which to channel care through grief and solidarity through despair. Interwoven with the filmmaker’s self-reflexive experience, Wildfire Kitchen tells the stories of three such ‘ollas’ and the women who led them. Juxtaposing the horrific with the hopeful, this documentary is a testament to the power of community care in the face of catastrophic loss.
“The Damned Thing”
Directed by: Maya Haston
Based on the original 19th-century horror short story, The Damned Thing, comes a modern found-footage spin on the classic tale…
After the violent and unexplainable death of his friend during a remote hunting trip, William Harker – An African American Man- becomes the sole witness and prime suspect, forced to recount an encounter with an invisible predator in this. As he faces growing suspicions and racial bias, the question looms: Is he a traumatized survivor? Or did he do it…?
Get your tickets to this screening here: https://theashevillefilmfestival.as.me/?appointmentType=96077255
Want to experience the entire festival weekend without the hassle of buying individual screening tickets? Get your All-Access Pass here: https://theashevillefilmfestival.as.me/?appointmentType=81064462

Sunday Morning Service Film Block
2026-08-23 10:30 - 12:00 | Asheville Masonic Temple, 80 Broadway , Asheville, 28801
Love short films and documentaries? Want to support local and regional filmmakers? The Asheville Film Festival has film blocks and feature screenings that you don’t want to miss!
Tickets are $10/ person, drinks and snacks will be available for purchase, and all ticket sales go to supporting the Asheville Film Festival 501(c)3 nonprofit.
Films to be Screened:
“An Eternal Sound”
Directed by: Ryan Broussard & Andrew Meriwether
In the heart of rural North Carolina, Tom Lewtak pursues perfection in one of the oldest and most complex living crafts: Pipe organ building. This meditative journey follows Tom in his creation of a new organ, exploring the transcendent resonance of an eternal sound.
“Honoring Long Person”
In the sacred geography of the Cherokee homeland, rivers do not merely cut through the land—they carry memory, sustenance, and spirit. They are the lifeblood of a people whose connection to water predates written history. This documentary seeks to honor that connection, with humility and care, through the voices of those who know it best: Cherokee elders, leaders, stewards, and visionaries.
From the crystalline streams of the Oconaluftee to the broader reach of the Little Tennessee and Tuckasegee Rivers, we follow the course of “Long Person” (Ganvhidv Asgaya) — a revered being in Cherokee cosmology, whose head begins in the mountains and whose feet reach the sea.
This deeply symbolic understanding reflects both a cosmological truth and an ecological mandate: to live in harmony with the river, and to protect it, as it has always protected us.
“Prayer for Change”
Directed by: Charly Louise
“Prayer for Change” follows Medicine Wheel Way as they rebuild through ceremony and community care, transforming climate devastation into collective healing.
“Songs of the Storm”
Directed by: Aaron Stone & Caroline Aylward
Songs of the Storm is a meditative documentary exploring how artists process devastation and grief through their work. The film follows two Western North Carolina creators in the wake of Hurricane Helene: Sarah Elizabeth Burkey, an Appalachian ballad singer who draws her healing inspiration from the natural world, and Doug Carr, a visual artist and musician transforming trauma into powerful electronic sound. Told in two chapters, each shaped by the rhythm of a song, their stories culminate in performances that reflect resilience, loss, and renewal. Though different in practice, both are bound by the same storm and a shared landscape.
Get your tickets to this screening here: https://theashevillefilmfestival.as.me/?appointmentType=81063353
Want to experience the entire festival weekend without the hassle of buying individual screening tickets? Get your All-Access Pass here: https://theashevillefilmfestival.as.me/?appointmentType=81064462

Crushing It! Beer and Comedy
2026-08-22 22:00 - 23:30 | The River Arts District Brewing Company, 13 Mystery Street, Asheville, 28801
Modelface Comedy Club brings you the best comedians from all over the country. This week we have an extra messy beer themed show!
Crushing It comedy showcase is a throwback to our first years of drinking beer. As each comic takes the stage they will chug or shotgun a beer* before telling jokes! It’s going to be messy and fun as hell.
*or beverage of their choice
This show will take place on the RAD Brew Co. patio.
ages 21+
Doors at 9:30, show at 10pm
Tickets $18

54 Bicycles: Widespread Panic Preservation
2026-08-22 20:00 - 23:30 | The Grey Eagle Music Hall and Pub, 185 Clingman Ave, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
ALL AGES
STANDING ROOM ONLY
54 BICYCLES
The current version of Widespread Panic is fantastic, but the tone and energy of a Mikey / Todd show was different. 54 Bicycles plays set lists and plays with an intention of sound and energy closer to the original band. They see the work as preservation and archiving in a real world sense, while also having a hell of a lot of fun.

Don't Tell Comedy Biltmore Village
2026-08-22 20:00 - 22:00 | French Broad River Brewery, 101 Fairview Rd., Asheville, NC, 28803, United States
Show Details
This show will be at an indoor location.
No Outside Drinks permitted.. Drinks will be available for purchase.
Pizza and snacks available for purchase
Non-alcoholic drinks will be available.
This show will have chairs provided.
♿︎ This show is wheelchair accessible.
21+ show.
About Don’t Tell Comedy
Secret Locations.
Shhh…it’s a surprise. As you can see, we only advertise the general area or neighborhood for each show. The precise location and other important show details will be sent to you at 8:00 AM the day of the show. If you don’t see it in your inbox you can find the info on show day right here.
Secret Comedians.
No spoilers! All comedians remain unknown until the moment they take the stage. But don’t fret, we carefully curate lineups of 4-7 different comics to create a hilarious and diverse show. The best part is—you never know who might show up!
You might discover your next favorite underground comedian or see a fan favorite. We specialize in introducing audiences to the best-emerging talent from cities around the world through a mix of the best local and nationally touring comedians.
Unique Live Experience.
Honestly, we’re over the whole debt-inducing two-drink minimum thing. We’re dedicated to providing you with a unique and fun live comedy experience—one which doesn’t require you to take out a second mortgage. We thrive on good vibes and welcome you to be a part of the DTC community.
Doors at 7:30pm, show at 8pm

Don't Tell Comedy, Hendersonville
2026-08-22 20:00 - 22:00 | Trailside Brewing Company Hendersonville, NC, 173 Lenox Park Dr, Hendersonville, NC
Show Details
This show will be at an indoor location.
No Outside Food or Drinks permitted.. Drinks will be available for purchase. Food is available for purchase. Small snacks available for purchase. Non-alcoholic drinks will be available.
This show will have chairs provided.
♿︎ This show is wheelchair accessible.
21+ show.
About Don’t Tell Comedy
Secret Locations.
Shhh…it’s a surprise. As you can see, we only advertise the general area or neighborhood for each show. The precise location and other important show details will be sent to you at 8:00 AM the day of the show. If you don’t see it in your inbox you can find the info on show day right here.
Secret Comedians.
No spoilers! All comedians remain unknown until the moment they take the stage. But don’t fret, we carefully curate lineups of 4-7 different comics to create a hilarious and diverse show. The best part is—you never know who might show up!
You might discover your next favorite underground comedian or see a fan favorite. We specialize in introducing audiences to the best-emerging talent from cities around the world through a mix of the best local and nationally touring comedians.
Unique Live Experience.
Honestly, we’re over the whole debt-inducing two-drink minimum thing. We’re dedicated to providing you with a unique and fun live comedy experience—one which doesn’t require you to take out a second mortgage. We thrive on good vibes and welcome you to be a part of the DTC community.
Doors at 7:30pm, show at 8pm

2026 Asheville Film Festival Awards Night Gala
2026-08-22 19:30 - 21:30 | Asheville Masonic Temple, 80 Broadway , Asheville, 28801
The 2026 Asheville Film Festival will be held August 21st-23rd, 2026 at the Asheville Masonic Temple in beautiful downtown Asheville, North Carolina.
Asheville Film Festival, Co. is a North Carolina 501(c)3 non-profit whose vision is to create and grow a platform for regional and local innovative filmmakers with stories to tell.
The Awards Night Gala is a red carpet, dress-to-impress event where you can rub shoulders with the filmmakers, celebrate the art of film, and see who takes home the Best Film trophy!
Attendees can purchase tickets for the awards night for $25 here: https://theashevillefilmfestival.as.me/?appointmentType=81060985
Weekend passes that get you into all the events throughout the festival are also available for $109 here: https://theashevillefilmfestival.as.me/?appointmentType=81064462

The Misfit Improv Long-Form Comedy Show
2026-08-22 19:30 - 21:30 | NC Stage, 15 Stage Lane, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
Asheville’s top improvisers perform long-form improv—full stories and characters sparked by a single audience suggestion. Each Misfit team brings its own style, creating sharp, surprising worlds in real time.

Soumya Chakraverty & Mallar Goswami with Blake Hornsby
2026-08-22 19:00 - 22:00 | AyurPrana Listening Room, 312 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC, 28806
APLR Presents: Soumya Chakraverty & Mallar Goswami with Blake Hornsby
Saturday, August 22nd, 2026
AyurPrana Listening Room – 312 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC 28806
Doors 6PM || Show 7PM
Soumya Chakraverty
Soumya was born into a family of music lovers. His mother received some early training in the Sitar and vocal music. However, both his parents were avid music listeners and had a large collection of LPs and other recordings of classical music at home. His siblings and cousins were all learning Indian Classical music of some form by the time Soumya was a little boy and with lessons on the tabla, so began Soumya’s initiation into Indian classical music. He turned to playing the Sarod when he was eleven under the tutelage of the highly respected Pt. Samarendranath Sikdar, a senior disciple of the late Pt. Radhika Mohan Maitra of the Shahjahanpur Gharana. For nearly thirty years he has received extensive training under his guru in a multitude of north Indian Ragas, some of which are very rare and unique to his Gharana.
His solid technique and thorough grounding in the roots of his own music notwithstanding, his interests also lie in exploring the commonalities of North Indian Classical music with other music styles.
His playing style has been greatly influenced by the likes of his guru and other masters of his Gharana. It highlights a perfect blend between the Rababiya and Gayaki styles that is unique to the Shahjahanpur Gharana. He is both a purist, who likes to maintain the authentic forms of the Ragas as passed down the generations of Ustads (maestros), and at the same time, he likes to experiment with other forms of Indian as well as world music, to find common strands of melodic expression.
Soumya blossomed as a young artist on All India Radio Calcutta between 1990 and 1995. During a brief stint in Australia for a couple of years in the nineties while pursuing his MBA, he truly established himself as a mature instrumentalist, and also began to collaborate with other forms of world music. He performed live with a Flamenco dancer in a production that combined the gypsy roots of the dance with Latin American percussion, Middle Eastern vocals and Indian Classical instrumental music. He returned to Australia in 2000 and 2011, giving concerts, lecture demonstrations and workshops.
For nearly two decades, Soumya has been performing throughout the US, as well as touring Australia and Mexico. He has performed in major cities such as Cleveland, New York, Princeton, Seattle, and his home town of Washington DC, drawing packed audiences and earning rave reviews. In addition to pure Hindustani he continues to work with other music genres such Classical Carnatic (south Indian), flamenco, jazz and latin American percussion. His recent concert and interview at the Library of Congress has gone into the archives of this prestigious institution. Other performances of note, include Hindustani-Carnatic Jugalbandi at the Embassy of India in Washington DC, a collaboration with Ghazal in a program series titled From Ghalib to Gulzar, and a fusion project combining Rabindrasangeet (Tagore songs), Hindusthani classical music, classical Jazz, and West African percussion in a concert titled ‘Sea Thy Melody’.
Soumya balances his busy music schedule alongside a full-time career in banking and risk management. In addition to performances, he also teaches a number of students of Sarod and other stringed instruments, passing the tradition of the Shahjahanpur Gharana to the next generation. Although his primary interest is in Hindusthani classical, he continues to challenge himself exploring and working on blending with other genres of Indian and world music.
All ages
Ending Time is an estimate
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In Your Head Film Block
2026-08-22 16:30 - 18:00 | Asheville Masonic Temple, 80 Broadway , Asheville, 28801
Love short films and documentaries? Want to support local and regional filmmakers? The Asheville Film Festival has film blocks and feature screenings that you don’t want to miss!
Tickets are $12/ person, drinks and snacks will be available for purchase, and all ticket sales go to supporting the Asheville Film Festival 501(c)3 nonprofit.
Films to be Screened:
“Just for Another Minute”
Directed by: Gabriel Thimoteo
Locked out of her own apartment for just ten minutes, Clara — an anxious, hypervigilant woman quietly in crisis — turns the wait into an existential odyssey.
“Unqualified”
Directed by: Miranda Roldan & Maggie Perrotta
Unqualified is a bold, character-driven short film that challenges outdated ideas of leadership and success. The story follows Valentina Martinez, a Latina mother, military spouse, and entrepreneur applying to an elite MBA program. When her unconventional résumé is questioned during a high-stakes interview, she must defend her lived experience as valid leadership. What unfolds is a quiet act of defiance and a powerful meditation on identity, ambition, and belonging.
“Sweet Dreams”
Directed by: Skylar Lemon
When two friends attempt to enter their dreams to get a break from reality, they must confront their own subconscious; for better or worse.
“Static Skies”
Directed by: David Brian Overholt
Cut off from the internet while visiting his reclusive grandfather, Jamie, a popular teenage TikToker, begins to experience withdrawal as silence replaces the constant pull of his digital world, forcing an uneasy reconnection with both his surroundings and his grandfather, Ray.
“A Little Goldfish”
Directed by: MohammadReza Rahmani
Amid the crowd of Tehran’s bazaar, a little girl sees the world as joyful, beautiful, and full of color — but for her mother, it is bitter, cold, and dark.
“The Rabbit Ballet”
Directed by: Aalia Khan, Kelsey Prudente, Samuel Rodarmel & Layne Sovereign
The Rabbit Ballet is an animated, multimedia student short film that deals with change, control, and choice.
Get your tickets to this screening here: https://theashevillefilmfestival.as.me/?appointmentType=81060274
Want to experience the entire festival weekend without the hassle of buying individual screening tickets? Get your All-Access Pass here: https://theashevillefilmfestival.as.me/?appointmentType=81064462

What’s Shaking Music Summer Send-Off
2026-08-22 15:00 - 17:00 | The Mule at Devi’s Foot Brewing, 131 Sweeten Creek Rd, Asheville, 28803
It’s almost time for back-to-school, but we’re going to celebrate summer one more time! Come sing and dance with us at The Mule (inside, in the air conditioning) on Saturday, August 22. 3-4:30 p.m.
Special guest Elaine Scott! Live music, dance party, drum jam, singalongs, poems, and more! Delicious cool beverages from Devil’s Foot.
Mountain grooves for Pre-K and cool kids of all ages. Fun for all! Free for all!

That Hits Different Film Block
2026-08-22 14:30 - 16:30 | Asheville Masonic Temple, 80 Broadway , Asheville, 28801
Love short films and documentaries? Want to support local and regional filmmakers? The Asheville Film Festival has film blocks and feature screenings that you don’t want to miss! Tickets are $12/ person, drinks will be available for purchase, and all ticket sales go to supporting the Asheville Film Festival 501(c)3 nonprofit.
Films to be Screened:
“UN-DEAD”
Directed by: Bo Webb
A zombie outbreak is ruining Jane’s first day at her new job, but she does something desperate and crazy that changes everything in funny and unexpected ways.
“Fairy Tale”
Directed by: Ann Heatherington
A hard-living stripper is mistaken for a fairy by a grieving little girl. Will she shatter the girl’s impossible dream with a cold shock of reality – or meet her destiny as the Big Fairy who can magically bring mom back?
Fairy Tale takes is a poignant, dark comedy about a magical connection between two strangers – a girl desperate for her mom and a woman desperate for hope – who choose to believe in each other.
“The Border at Tolstoi”
Directed by: Bob Kotyk
A border guard at the US-Canada crossing of Tolstoi, Manitoba falls victim to the effects of a strange weapon that separates her mind from her body.
“For Your Future Wife”
Directed by: Megan Peterson
After leaving an aggressive voicemail post-breakup, a young man moves on to find the beauty in a new relationship with great promise, but his ex-girlfriend struggles to find a new path after his abuse.
“Temporia”
Directed by: Eugene Rocco Utley
A woman visits a botanist with the power to bend nature itself, and with her enchanted herb she journeys through space and time to reach her husband, only to learn that saving him may unleash a dangerous new future.
“Toxic Tampons”
Directed by: Elaina Penn
This PSA/Commercial-style spoof highlights all the dangers of using Toxic Tampons. The producer discovered that most of them have toxic levels of arsenic and metals. She is the writer, producer, videographer, and actor in the piece.
“The Bauk”
Directed by: Will Backer
Fleeing from her abusive husband to her religious mother, a woman must decide whether to keep her pregnancy.
“Crazy B!*#h”
Directed by: Katie Harbin
This crime scene just got crazy.
“Thickly Settled”
Directed by: Brian D. Jones & Jordan Brooks
When a lost man in a crumbling marriage discovers through a chance encounter that traveling back in time may actually be possible, he’s faced with a choice: to change the past risking an uncertain future, or reclaim the path he’s already on.
Get your tickets to this screening here: https://theashevillefilmfestival.as.me/?appointmentType=81063838
Want to experience the entire festival weekend without the hassle of buying individual screening tickets? Get your All-Access Pass here: https://theashevillefilmfestival.as.me/?appointmentType=81064462

FILMMAKER WORKSHOP: Directing in Pre-Production- Creating, Honing, & Communicating Your Vision
2026-08-22 14:00 - 16:00 | Asheville Masonic Temple, 80 Broadway , Asheville, 28801
You’ve got your script together, your producer on board, and you’re assembling a great team to shoot your film, but how do you communicate your vision? Where do you begin when analyzing a script in order to discuss symbolism, look/feel, and motif and how do you tell your team what you need? Where is your place in all of it the work that happens before the camera rolls?
In this workshop we will take apart a general script, discuss the importance of using symbolism and precisely how to do it, create individual visions, and learn how to communicate these to each member of the creative team, from production designer to talent, Production Day 1. You’ll leave with tools for discussion, communication, actor meetings, fielding questions, storyboarding, shotlisting, and more.
If you’ve ever felt frustrated on set because folks don’t seem to “get it”, felt lost in the sauce in production meetings while the crew makes plans around you, or you simply want to learn more about the craft of directing, this workshop is for you.
Get your tickets to this workshop here: https://theashevillefilmfestival.as.me/?appointmentType=96336259
Want to experience the entire festival weekend without the hassle of buying individual screening & workshop tickets? Get your All-Access Pass here: https://theashevillefilmfestival.as.me/?appointmentType=81064462

Make Your Mark: Drawing Improv Workshop | Taught by Greg Benge
2026-08-22 13:00 - 2026-08-23 16:00 | Story Parlor, 227 Haywood Road, Asheville, 28806
An empty page is a lot like an empty stage. Many people who want to draw are stopped by self-consciousness and comparison. Even working artists and performers can become rigid, disconnected from spontaneity.
In this 2-day workshop, we’ll employ the values of improvisation to increase creative confidence and encourage play.
We’ll cover things like:
– Simple drawing tips and practical techniques for clearer, more confident mark-making
– Discussing how drawings can generate scenes, and how scenes can generate drawings
– Appreciating drawing as a live, relational act—not a final product
– Visual drawing exercises that build upon each other
This 2-day workshop is designed for improvisors of all artistic skill levels to foster thinking visually and explore the vibrant relationship between drawing and performing. Participants will learn emerging improvisational drawing formats and collaborate to design their own novel format.

The Art of Letting Go with Alcohol Inks
2026-08-22 13:00 - 15:00 | Open Hearts Art Center, 217 Coxe Ave #4006, Asheville, 28801
Join us Saturday, August 22 from 1–3 PM for The Art of Letting Go with Alcohol Inks, a creative workshop with Angela Modzelewski, MA, ATR-P, LPC-A of Wild Arts Creative Counseling
Are you holding onto a situation, an expectation, or a feeling that you’re ready to release? Through guided meditation and a unique art process using breath to move alcohol ink, we’ll explore the gentle practice of “letting be” and making space for peace.
This workshop is open to everyone in the community ages 12+ and is offered separately from our regular Open Hearts day program. You do NOT have to be a current participant to join. Just bring your curiosity and come create with us!
You’ll leave with a ceramic coaster or two that is uniquely your own.
– All materials provided
– Pay-What-You-Can (Suggested $25)
– Spaces are limited! To officially reserve your spot, please email info@openheartsartcenter.org.
Facilitator Bio: Angela Modzelewski, ATR-P and LPC-A, integrates art-making with mindfulness and nature-based approaches to foster growth through creative expression. Her therapeutic art workshops support personal well-being, resilience, and reflection.

New World, New Me Film Block
2026-08-22 12:30 - 14:00 | Asheville Masonic Temple, 80 Broadway , Asheville, 28801
Love short films and documentaries? Want to support local and regional filmmakers? The Asheville Film Festival has film blocks and feature screenings that you don’t want to miss!
Tickets are $10/ person, drinks and snacks will be available for purchase, and all ticket sales go to supporting the Asheville Film Festival 501(c)3 nonprofit.
Films to be Screened:
“Zona Cesarini”
Directed by: Maryam Rahimi
Mina, a 40- a deaf woman, lives with her young son in a modest apartment. Her life is quiet, meticulous, and structured—until one ordinary day, while cleaning her window, she spots something terrifying: Ivan, her 25-year-old neighbor across the courtyard, is preparing to hang himself.
Without the ability to hear or speak, Mina must act fast. She throws together a plan, grabbing a container of food and heading to his building, hoping to delay his decision long enough to call for help. But how do you knock on a stranger’s door and ask him to live—when you can’t say a single word?
Told with urgency and poetic restraint, Zona Cesarini unfolds in real time, capturing the tension and emotion of a final opportunity. The title refers to a famous Italian football expression used to describe decisive events that happen in the very last moments of a game—the point at which hope seems lost, but change is still possible.
“Going Home”
Directed by: Katie Harbin
A young woman returns home to find that sometimes growing up means growing apart.
“Eye for an Eye”
Directed by: Ashley Bowers
A scavenger in a post-apocalyptic combine attempts to flea their tyrannical leader’s control, but will her sister (their leader) let her?
“Iridescent”
Directed by: A.B. Osborne
Tess, a space explorer, discovers a wondrous new world called Iridescent. As she explores the rich ecosystems of this new planet, she discovers a vibrant new land full of fantastical creatures. Tess reflects on the planet she left behind – a beautiful homeland that was polluted and abandoned.
Handcrafted by Augusta University’s Animation program over 4 years by two cohorts of students and directed by Professor A.B. Osborne, Iridescent is a celebration of the wild world around us.
Get your tickets to this screening here: https://theashevillefilmfestival.as.me/?appointmentType=81062647
Want to experience the entire festival weekend without the hassle of buying individual screening tickets? Get your All-Access Pass here: https://theashevillefilmfestival.as.me/?appointmentType=81064462

ENCOUNTERS WITH CREATIVES – ANN WATCHER, ORIGINAL OIL ARTIST
2026-08-22 12:00 - 16:00 | Lucy Clark Gallery & Studio, 51 West Main Street, Brevard, NC, 28712, United States
(FREE) Ann Watcher will be on hand to share her techniques and experience in oil paintings.
Ann’s inspiration is creating a visual experience. She describes herself as a painter of color and expression. It is not only subject matter that intrigues her, but the play of shapes and colors and light against one another whether an old house, a boat, or a velvet hat. She strives to put modern touches of different colors around the canvas to express what she feels and sees and often blends elements of realism and abstraction to create a dynamic composition. Two of her floral paintings were selected to appear in season three of the Showtime series, “Homeland” and another floral was featured in a commercial for the Levine Cancer Center in Charlotte. Duke University Medical Pavilion and Elon University have commissioned Ann’s art.
