What's On in Asheville
Events, markets, games, library and parks programs in and around Asheville, with times, prices and the organizer's own link.
Top story
Winter Lights Asheville 2026: dates, $45 to $75 car tickets
Winter Lights at The North Carolina Arboretum runs Nov. 13, 2026, to Jan. 3, 2027, 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $45, $60 or $75 a car by night; peak nights sell out.
Coming up
The full month- Sat. Oct. 24 Día de Muertos
- Now through Nov. 1 Misery
- Now through Oct. 30 Haunted Trail
- Now through Oct. 30 The Haunted Trail
- Now through Oct. 24 New Dialect: 21 Yeses
- Now through Oct. 24 Gillian Welch and David Rawlings Play Grateful Dead: Acoustic Reckoning
- Now through Oct. 25 The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical
- Sun. Oct. 25 Tricks-n-Treats Dog Festival
- Wed. Oct. 28 Swan Lake: Symphony of Lights, Grand Kyiv Ballet
- Wed. Oct. 28 Beck: Ride Lonesome Tour
- Wed. Oct. 28 Kooky Spooky Toddler Fun
- Thu. Oct. 29 Halloween Creepy Climb
Plan your weekend
Fourth of July
Asheville Fourth of July fireworks 2026
Asheville's 2026 Independence Day Block Party filled the South Slope from noon July 4, with fireworks at 9:30 p.m. The 2027 details will be added when announced.
Halloween
Trick-or-treat hours in Asheville 2026
Asheville sets no official trick-or-treat hours; Halloween is Saturday, Oct. 31. City trunk-or-treat 6-8 p.m. at Shiloh, candy grab 4 p.m. at Stephens-Lee.
Holiday parade
Asheville Christmas parade and tree lighting 2026
The 80th Asheville Christmas parade is 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026, downtown, themed A Vintage Holiday. Last year's route, road closings and parking.
High school football
Friday night football 2026: Asheville High schedule
Asheville High has two regular-season games left: at North Buncombe Friday, Oct. 23, and home against Enka Friday, Oct. 30. Both kick off at 7 p.m.
Fall
Fall festivals and pumpkin patches in Asheville 2026
Eliada's 8-acre corn maze and fall festival in West Asheville, the family Haunted Trail on Oct. weekends, the city's Festival of Frights and pumpkin composting Nov. 7.
Halloween
Halloween events in Asheville 2026
Halloween 2026 in Asheville: the Haunted Trail Oct. 22-25 and 29-30, a dog festival Oct. 25, Grove Arcade trick-or-treat and the Wicked Spooky 5K Oct. 31.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving in Asheville 2026: turkey trots, meals, what's open
Thanksgiving in Asheville is Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026: the downtown Turkey Trot at 9:15 a.m., no trash pickup that day and Thursday routes moved to Friday.
Black Friday
Black Friday and holiday shopping in Asheville 2026
Black Friday in Asheville is Nov. 27, 2026, Small Business Saturday Nov. 28. Holiday markets at Biltmore Park, the North Asheville Tailgate Market and more.
Christmas
Holiday lights and Christmas events in Asheville 2026
Asheville holiday lights 2026: Winter Lights at the arboretum Nov. 13 to Jan. 3, Christmas at Biltmore from Nov. 3, the Grove Park Inn gingerbread houses and Santa.
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve in Asheville 2026: concerts, parties, the Jan. 1 run
New Year's Eve in Asheville 2026: The Avett Brothers at the downtown arena Dec. 31, the Grove Park Inn party and the Resolution Run 5K and 10K on Jan. 1.
Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day in Asheville 2027: shows, dances and date ideas
Valentine's Day 2027 is a Sunday. Come From Away at Asheville Community Theatre runs through Feb. 21, Billy Strings plays Feb. 4-9, and city dances return.
Spring break
Spring break in Asheville 2027: school dates, camps, things to do
Asheville City Schools spring break is March 22-26, 2027. City camps, museums, the Nature Center and Arboretum, and what is open on Good Friday.
Easter
Easter in Asheville 2027: egg hunts, brunch and what's open
Easter in Asheville is Sunday, March 28, 2027: city egg hunts for toddlers to adults 50+, Spring at Biltmore from March 25 and Good Friday closings.
Mother's Day
Mother's Day in Asheville 2027: brunch, gardens and events
Mother's Day is Sunday, May 9, 2027. Spring at Biltmore, city Mom and Me programs, the Arboretum gardens and brunch once restaurants post menus.
Memorial Day
Memorial Day in Asheville 2027: ceremony, closings, trash pickup
Memorial Day is Monday, May 31, 2027: the ceremony at the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery, trash pickup a day late, pools and what is open.
Summer
Summer in Asheville 2027: camps, pools and Splasheville
Asheville summer camps, the Grant Southside pool, Buncombe County pools and the free Splasheville splash pad: dates, hours, fees and how to register.
Father's Day
Father's Day in Asheville 2027: Tourists baseball, golf, events
Father's Day is Sunday, June 20, 2027. The Asheville Tourists are home at HomeTrust Park all weekend, plus Juneteenth events, golf and brunch.
Labor Day
Labor Day in Asheville 2027: trash pickup, what's open, pools
Labor Day is Monday, Sept. 6, 2027. No trash pickup that day and routes run a day late; buses on the Sunday schedule; the last day of the pool season.
Brunch
Brunch in Asheville: where to go, with days and hours
Brunch in Asheville with days, hours and addresses from each restaurant's own site: downtown, Biltmore Village, West Asheville, Montford and Biltmore Park.
Dogs
Dog-friendly Asheville: dog parks, patios, trails and leash rules
Asheville's open dog park at Riverbend Park, the 8-foot leash rule, the $10 dog license, and dog-friendly grounds at Biltmore, the Arboretum and Highland Brewing.
Kids
Kids' activities in Asheville: museums, story times, splash pad
Things to do with kids in Asheville: library story times, the science and art museums, the WNC Nature Center, Splasheville, city play days and rainy-day picks.
Greenways
Asheville walking and biking trails: greenways, loops, parking
Asheville's six city greenways with lengths and parking, the Arboretum's 10 miles of trails into Bent Creek, Richmond Hill and Beaucatcher Overlook, and what is closed.
River Arts District
A guide to Asheville's River Arts District: studios, hours, parking
Asheville's River Arts District: more than 550 artists, prime hours 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., free parking, Second Saturday strolls and RADfest on Nov. 14-15, 2026.
Live music
Live music and nightlife in Asheville: venues, addresses, links
Asheville's live music venues with addresses, phones and calendar links: The Orange Peel, The Grey Eagle, Asheville Music Hall, the Wortham Center and the arena.
Free
Free things to do in Asheville: trails, art, music and markets
Free things to do in Asheville: the 30-station Urban Trail, greenways, the Blue Ridge Parkway, River Arts District strolls, Splasheville and free city events.
Date night
Date night in Asheville: restaurants, theaters, wine bars, shows
Date night in Asheville: dinner spots with hours from their own sites, the Wortham Center, Asheville Community Theatre, wine bars and evening light shows.
Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands
Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands in Asheville: dates, tickets
The October Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands ran Oct. 15-18, 2026, in downtown Asheville. The next fair is in July 2027; the guild has not posted dates.
Asheville Marathon
Asheville Marathon and Half: race date, course, road delays
The Asheville Marathon & Half is Saturday, March 20, 2027: a 7:30 a.m. start on College Street downtown and a finish at New Belgium Brewing.
Mountain Dance and Folk Festival
Mountain Dance and Folk Festival in Asheville: dates, tickets
Asheville's Mountain Dance and Folk Festival, held since 1928, ran July 30 to Aug. 1, 2026. The 2027 festival will be the 100th; dates are not out yet.
Restaurants
Where to eat in Asheville: lists by category
Asheville's where-to-eat lists in one place: wings, pizza, Mexican, barbecue, breakfast, burgers, Asian, desserts, bakeries, patios, brunch and date night.
Wings
Where to get wings in Asheville: downtown, Biltmore Park, Tunnel Road
9 places to get wings inside Asheville city limits: downtown, Biltmore Park, Tunnel Road and Fairview Road in East Asheville, and Hendersonville Road.
Pizza
Where to get pizza in Asheville: downtown, Merrimon and Haywood
14 pizza places inside Asheville city limits, downtown and the South Slope, on Merrimon Avenue, Haywood Road, Tunnel Road and in Biltmore Park.
Mexican food
Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants in Asheville
13 Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants inside Asheville city limits: downtown, Tunnel Road, Merrimon Avenue, Patton Avenue, Haywood Road and Biltmore Park.
Barbecue
Where to get barbecue in Asheville: South Slope, Grove Arcade, Merrimon
4 barbecue restaurants inside Asheville city limits: the South Slope, the Grove Arcade downtown, Merrimon Avenue and Biltmore Park, with hours and phones.
Breakfast
Breakfast and coffee in Asheville: downtown, West Asheville, South
22 breakfast spots and coffee shops inside Asheville city limits: downtown, Haywood Road in West Asheville, Montford, Merrimon Avenue and South Asheville.
Burgers
Where to get burgers in Asheville: downtown, Haywood Road and more
9 places to get burgers inside Asheville city limits: downtown, Haywood Road, Merrimon Avenue, Tunnel Road, Hendersonville Road and Biltmore Park.
Sushi
Sushi and Asian restaurants in Asheville: downtown and Haywood Road
9 sushi, Japanese, Chinese, Thai and Indian restaurants inside Asheville city limits: downtown, the South Slope, Haywood Road and Merrimon Avenue.
Ice cream
Ice cream and desserts in Asheville: downtown, Haywood and Merrimon
12 ice cream, gelato, doughnut and dessert shops inside Asheville city limits: downtown, Haywood Road, Merrimon Avenue, Roberts Street and Hendersonville Road.
Bakeries
Bakeries in Asheville: downtown, Charlotte Street and Haywood Road
10 bakeries, bagel shops and doughnut makers inside Asheville city limits: downtown, Charlotte Street, Haywood Road, Merrimon Avenue and South Asheville.
Patios
Patios and outdoor dining in Asheville: downtown to Biltmore Park
11 Asheville restaurants and cafes whose own sites say they have a patio or outdoor seating: downtown, Montford, Merrimon, Haywood Road and Biltmore Park.
Event news
Christmas trees
Christmas tree farms near Asheville 2026: dates and hours
Choose-and-cut Christmas tree farms near Asheville open from Nov. 14, 2026: Fraser fir farms in Leicester and Waynesville, with dates, hours and Santa weekends.
Things to do
Things to do in Asheville this weekend, Oct. 16 to 18
The Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands all weekend, the symphony's Nightfall concerts and a free costume swap Saturday, then the Boo Dash 5K on Sunday.
Christmas
Christmas at Biltmore 2026: Candlelight dates and tickets
Christmas at Biltmore runs Nov. 3, 2026, to Jan. 10, 2027. Candlelight Christmas Evenings tickets start at $135; no evening tours Nov. 17, Nov. 26 or Dec. 24.
Nutcracker
Nutcracker in Asheville 2026: dates, tickets, holiday shows
Four Nutcracker productions play Asheville in December 2026, from Dec. 4 to Dec. 19, plus Frozen at ACT, Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol and the Messiah Dec. 19.
Arts
Arts and exhibitions in Asheville: October 2026
Arts in Asheville into November: Misery at NC Stage, Grand Kyiv Ballet Oct. 28, Dorrance Dance Nov. 11-12, the symphony Nov. 14 and RADfest Nov. 14-15.