Calendar of Events

Mark your calendars & don’t miss PLANT BAR PRESENTS, an evening of high vibes, immersive energy & community on February 21st at Plant Bar Asheville. Enjoy the rhythmic sounds of Asheville’s hottest local DJ’s, sip endless tea, try a relaxing or invigorating zero-proof botanical elixir, enjoy local healthy food and take in the vibes with old & new friends.

Date: Friday, 2/21/25
Time: 6:00 -10:30 PM
Music: Live DJ’s
Haus Maus – 6:45 – 7:45 PM
Hunter The Gatherer – 8-10PM
Food:
Habibi Village – Organic, gluten-free Lebanese food

Six Hours on the Ridge is back for its 8th year!  Are you up for the challenge?  This annual race features the 6 mile JFA trail with just over 800 feet of elevation gain and fast rolling single track making it the perfect setting for this endurance event. Riders will ride as many laps as they are able within the 6 hour time window.

This race has sold out the past two years so don’t delay sign up today!

THERE WILL BE NO DAY OF REGISTRATION.

The 22nd annual Business of Farming Conference, presented by ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project), will be held Feb. 22 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The conference will take place at Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock, Henderson County, NC—which is a location change from A-B Tech, as originally announced. The A-B Tech Conference Center is undergoing repairs after serving as a disaster relief location during Hurricane Helene.

The conference focuses on the business side of farming, offering beginning and established farmers financial, legal, operational, and marketing tools to improve farm businesses and make professional connections. This year’s conference will also have a strong emphasis on resilience planning and resources for post-Helene recovery. More than a dozen workshops will be led by innovative farmers and specialists, including You Can’t Do It All: Hiring and Keeping a Productive Team and Planning for Farm Resiliency. A full list of workshops is at asapconnections.org.

Registration is now open at asapconnections.org. The cost is $75 by Feb. 1 and $95 after, with a discount for farm partners registering together. Scholarships are available for limited-resource and BIPOC farmers. The registration price includes a locally sourced breakfast and lunch. Lunch is sponsored by Farm Burger.

Support for the conference is provided in part by Dogwood Health Trust, NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission, Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Immerse yourself in an unforgettable evening as The JLloyd MashUp pays tribute to the legendary Paul Simon as February’s intimate Hometown Sound Music Series concert. Featuring a full orchestration of Paul Simon’s timeless songs, this performance spans various points in his iconic career.

Leading the vocals is the remarkable Ben Falcon, whose voice captures the very essence of Paul Simon, delivering a brilliant and heartfelt performance. Backed by a powerhouse band, including a full rhythm section, a horn section, and a vocal choir, this show promises to be a spectacular musical celebration.

Curated and led by the talented Jonathan Lloyd (Dubconscious/Cadillac Jones), The JLloyd MashUp is a collective of Asheville’s top musicians, known for their dynamic performances and unmatched versatility. The band explores a wide array of genres, including acid jazz, funk, soul, Afro beat, reggae, break beat, Latin, and world music.

With every show featuring different special guests and fresh material, no two performances are ever the same. This unique tribute to Paul Simon will highlight his vast repertoire with an innovative twist, all while staying true to the spirit of his music. This celebration of music and community will be as dynamic as it is soulful.

Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime tribute to one of music’s greatest legends. Let The JLloyd MashUp take you on a journey through the sounds of Paul Simon’s incredible career.

Time to recalibrate our nervous systems to peace and harmony!

Join your host Kristin Hillegas, for a one-hour Serenity Sound Bath and experience a deeply immersive, full-body sound and vibrational experience. A sound bath can cleanse your soul, restore your balance, surround you with peace and tranquility and stimulate healing.

Note: Please bring a yoga mat/pillow/blanket since you will be lying on the floor. Wear warm, comfortable, and flexible clothing.

The Sound Bath will take place upstairs in the Education Building. Choose your space starting at 12:45 PM, doors close promptly at 1:00 PM.

This service is being offered on a Love Offering basis. Donations allow us to continue to provide these immersive experiences. (Retail Value $25)

Accessible parking is available in the Center for Spiritual Living Asheville upper parking lot. The entrance to the upper parking lot is off of S. Bear Creek Rd between Science of Mind Way and Sand Hill Rd.
There is a boardwalk from the upper parking lot to the building entrance.

Time to recalibrate our nervous systems to peace and harmony!
Join your host Kristin Hillegas, for a one-hour Serenity Sound Bath and experience a deeply immersive, full-body sound and vibrational experience. A sound bath can cleanse your soul, restore your balance, surround you with peace and tranquility and stimulate healing.

Note: Please bring a yoga mat/pillow/blanket since you will be lying on the floor. Wear warm, comfortable, and flexible clothing.

The Sound Bath will take place upstairs in the Education Building. Choose your space starting at 12:45 PM, doors close promptly at 1:00 PM.

This service is being offered on a Love Offering basis. Donations allow us to continue to provide these immersive experiences. (Retail Value $25)

Accessible parking is available in the Center for Spiritual Living Asheville upper parking lot. The entrance to the upper parking lot is off of S. Bear Creek Rd between Science of Mind Way and Sand Hill Rd.
There is a boardwalk from the upper parking lot to the building entrance.

Thursday, February 27 from 9am-3pm

Food Connection and Loving Food Resources are collaborating to bring you a one-of-a-kind fundraiser! Brunk Auction House will be offering their appraisal services for $15/item or $40 for 3 items!

Choose the hour time slot that works best for you and bring in family heirlooms, high-valued finds, and other antiques to be appraised by the professionals! All proceeds from tickets sales go to Food Connection and Loving Food Resources and participants may have the option to consign their items through the auction house and make some money themselves!

BRUNK AUCTIONS – 117 Tunnel Rd, Asheville

Brunk is a private auction house specializing in the sale of fine art, jewelry, Asian art, antique furniture, coins, and countless other areas of collecting – ranging from Contemporary Art to Antiquities. Excellence in connoisseurship is the hallmark of our specialist staff. Consistent and thoughtful client service is the foundation of our 40 years in business.

Ross Gay is interested in joy.
Ross Gay wants to understand joy.
Ross Gay is curious about joy.
Ross Gay studies joy.
Something like that.

Ross Gay — Poet, Essayist, & National Book Critics Circle Award Winner — will visit ACS with a profound mission: to explore and understand joy.

Ross Gay is the author of four books of poetry: Against Which; Bringing the Shovel Down; Be Holding, winner of the PEN American Literary Jean Stein Award; and Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude, winner of the 2015 National Book Critics Circle Award and the 2016 Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award. In addition to his poetry, Ross has released three collections of essays— The Book of Delights was released in 2019 and was a New York Times bestseller; Inciting Joy was released in 2022, and his newest collection, The Book of (More) Delights was released in September of 2023.

Beginner’s workshop lesson at 7:30 P.M., then 8-11 P.M. Contra Dance with Country Waltzing at the break and the final dance. This is a partner dance but it’s not necessary to come with a partner. We have different live bands and callers.

These rising stars of the classical music world are well known across Europe and beyond for their impeccable interpretations of the great classical and modern string quartet masterpieces.

PROGRAM

Franz Schubert: Erlkonig, arranged for string quartet by Jakob Enko

Joseph Haydn: String Quartet in F major, Op. 77, No. 2, Hob. III:82

Edvard Grieg: String Quartet No. 1 in F minor, Op. 27

Date and Time: On Fri, 28 Feb 2025 19:30 – 22:00

Venue details: UU Congregation of Asheville, 1 Edwin Place, Asheville, North Carolina, 28801, United States

Prices:
General Admission: USD 48.00,
Students 25 and younger: USD 0.00

Artist: Goldmund Quartet

Be inspired by this ensemble’s unbelievably fine intonation and phrasing, carefully honed and polished to the smallest detail. These rising stars of the classical music world are well known across Europe and beyond for their impeccable interpretations of the great classical and modern string quartet masterpieces.

Ages 5+

Suitable for Beginners to Advanced Birders

This outing takes place at Lake Julian Park from 8:30-11:30 am. Get to know the birds of Lake Julian, one of Buncombe County’s birding hotspots!  We will start with a walk along the shore of Lake Julian and ends with birding on the lake from Lake Julian’s pontoon boat.  Free, Registration Required.  Binoculars are available upon request but supplies are limited. Dress for the weather!

Registration opens 30 days prior to activity.

For more information email [email protected] or call 828-250-4260.

Please join the Blue Ridge Orchestra for two afternoons of orchestral favorites at 3:00 pm: on Saturday, March 1st, and Sunday, March 2nd in Lipinsky Auditorium, UNC Asheville. We open March Melodrama with Gluck’s dramatic Overture to Iphigenie in Aulis. The BRO then highlights pianist Ivan Seng in Mozart’s Concerto No. 23 in A major, K. 488.  The second half of the program shifts to Dvorak’s Symphony no.8 in G major, which takes its inspiration from the nature and folk music of his homeland Bohemia, presently the Czech Republic.

Saturday, March 1st, 2025, 3:00 pm
Sunday, March  2nd, 2025, 3:00 pm
UNC Asheville
Lipinsky Auditorium
300 Library Lane
Asheville, NC. 28804

Tickets:
General Admission: $20
Friends of the Orchestra: $15
Students: $5
Children 6 and under: Free

Peace Concert Hall
Saturday, March 1 at 7:30 pm
Sunday, March 2 at 3:00 pm

PROGRAM
Mary Lou Williams: Zodiac Suite for orchestra
Mason Bates: Liquid Interface
Duke Ellington: Suite from “The River”

Experience the timeless charm and jazzy elegance of Mary Lou Williams’ Zodiac Suite for orchestra, beginning your concert experience with its captivating melodies and intricate rhythms. Then, immerse yourself in a sonic journey unlike any other as we begin the concert with Mason Bates’ mesmerizing Liquid Interface, an evocative exploration of the intersection between nature and technology. Dive into the vibrant world of jazz with Duke Ellington’s Suite from The River, where the music ebbs, gurgles, and flows like our own Reedy River.

EcoGardening: Principles in Practice (3 Sessions)

with Nina Shippen

ON-SITE  |  Sundays, February 16, 23, + March 2  |  10 am – 1 pm

Ecological gardening is a way of thinking in which gardens are no longer seen as a collection of plants, but as an interdependent community of plants, soils, environment and animals. The class introduces ecology-based methods employed in the design process of site assessment, design, installation, and maintenance. A variety of garden conditions are covered in this comprehensive overview. Gardeners of all levels of interest and ability will find this class valuable for learning ecologically-sustainable practices that can be adapted and applied in a variety of landscapes.

Please join the Blue Ridge Orchestra for two afternoons of orchestral favorites at 3:00 pm: on Saturday, March 1st, and Sunday, March 2nd in Lipinsky Auditorium, UNC Asheville. We open March Melodrama with Gluck’s dramatic Overture to Iphigenie in Aulis. The BRO then highlights pianist Ivan Seng in Mozart’s Concerto No. 23 in A major, K. 488.  The second half of the program shifts to Dvorak’s Symphony no.8 in G major, which takes its inspiration from the nature and folk music of his homeland Bohemia, presently the Czech Republic.

Saturday, March 1st, 2025, 3:00 pm
Sunday, March  2nd, 2025, 3:00 pm
UNC Asheville
Lipinsky Auditorium
300 Library Lane
Asheville, NC. 28804

Tickets:
General Admission: $20
Friends of the Orchestra: $15
Students: $5
Children 6 and under: Free

The Storm String Quartet, featuring some of WNC’s most accomplished string musicians, is a testament to perseverance and dedication. With personal ties to Hurricane Helene’s impact, their performance reflects resilience through a powerful program.

Peace Concert Hall
Saturday, March 1 at 7:30 pm
Sunday, March 2 at 3:00 pm

PROGRAM
Mary Lou Williams: Zodiac Suite for orchestra
Mason Bates: Liquid Interface
Duke Ellington: Suite from “The River”

Experience the timeless charm and jazzy elegance of Mary Lou Williams’ Zodiac Suite for orchestra, beginning your concert experience with its captivating melodies and intricate rhythms. Then, immerse yourself in a sonic journey unlike any other as we begin the concert with Mason Bates’ mesmerizing Liquid Interface, an evocative exploration of the intersection between nature and technology. Dive into the vibrant world of jazz with Duke Ellington’s Suite from The River, where the music ebbs, gurgles, and flows like our own Reedy River.

Arboretum visitors will witness some of the most surprising animal behavior in the new National Geographic exhibition, “The Greatest Wildlife Photographs.” The very best wildlife pictures from the pages of National Geographic magazine have been chosen to be displayed in this exhibition. Curated by renowned nature picture editor, Kathy Moran, this exhibition is a celebratory look at wildlife with images taken by National Geographic’s most iconic photographers such as, Michael “Nick” Nichols, Steve Winter, Paul Nicklen, Beverly Joubert, David Doubilet and more. Showcasing the evolution of photography, the images convey how innovations such as camera traps, remote imaging, and underwater technology have granted photographers access to wildlife in their natural habitat.

For 115 years, National Geographic has pioneered and championed the art of wildlife photography, and captivated generations of engaged audiences with a steady stream of extraordinary images of animals in nature. From the very first such image to appear – a reindeer in 1903 – National Geographic Society’s publications have broken new ground and push the bar higher again and again, establishing an unmatched legacy of artistic, scientific, and technical achievement. These are the Greatest Wildlife Photographs. This is included with admission to NC Arboretum.

Birding for Beginners with Ben Bafaloukos

ON-SITE  |  Tuesday, March 4  |  9 – 10:30am

Join us on this birding walk around the NC Arboretum gardens and trails in search of a very common year round resident of North Carolina: Carolina wren. We will take an in-depth look at these noisy and “mousey” birds to observe their behaviors while also looking for other common winter bird species in our area. Bring your own binoculars but if you do not have a pair we have some loaner binoculars available to use during the program.

This program will take place outside and will follow easy trails and paved walkways. Dress for the weather and prepare to be outside for the entire program time.