Featured Events in Asheville in May, 2025 (July Updated)

Ecological Aftermath of Helene with Dan Lazar Tuesday, May 27 | 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm BRN - Ecology Core Where do songbirds go during a hurricane? Which trees survive hurricane-force winds, and which are felled? What are the long-term effects of Hurricane Helene on ecosystems in the Southern Appalachian Mountains? These and other topics will be discussed during an illustrated lecture followed by a walk through hurricane-devastated portions of the Arboretum grounds Dan Lazar served for many years as the director of education at the Western North Carolina Nature Center, followed by several years as executive director of the Colburn Earth Science Museum. Dan has a degree in forest biology from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry and has been an instructor in the Blue Ridge Naturalist program since 2005. Members: Remember to enter your promo code upon checkout to receive your 10% member discount! Email adulteducation@ncarboretum.org with questions. See a full listing of Adult Education Programs at the North Carolina Arboretum here ! Questions? Check our FAQs . We are committed to fostering a diverse, supportive learning community. If the cost of a class is a barrier for you, please complete this scholarship form and we will see what kind of assistance we can provide. Follow us on Facebook & Instagram ! Join our Adult Education Student Hub on Discord ! Information Source: The NC Arboretum: Adult Education Programs | eventbrite

Well Played Board Game Café invites adventurers of all ages to our Family Friendly Dungeons and Dragons Night. Embark on magical quests guided by our wise Dungeon Master, where young heroes and seasoned explorers unite. Enjoy an evening filled with epic storytelling, thrilling adventures, and unforgettable memories. Whether you're new to the game or a seasoned player, this event promises laughter, teamwork, and a grand time. Let the adventure begin at Well Played! Family Friendly Ticket - Embark on a wondrous journey with our Family Friendly ticket, perfect for adventurers aged 14 and under. Enjoy the magic of D&D from 5:00 - 8:00pm in the lively atmosphere of our main cafe for just $15. A delightful way to introduce the young ones to the realm of fantasy! Includes a free soft drink with refills and a free game pass for the day. All campaigns are custom, homebrew experiences created by our in-house Dungeon Masters! As always, we'll provide all the elements needed for gameplay: character, dice, miniatures, etc. You are welcome to bring your own pre-made character if you'd like. If you bring your own character they must follow these guidelines: The character must be level 4 Cannot be a fantasy race with a "fly speed" (able to fly) Does not make use of "Feats" Uses the "Standard Array" for stats (15,14,13,12,10,8 - before racial bonuses are applied) Information Source: Well Played Board Game Café | eventbrite

Well Played Board Game Café invites adventurers of all ages to our Family Friendly Dungeons and Dragons Night. Embark on magical quests guided by our wise Dungeon Master, where young heroes and seasoned explorers unite. Enjoy an evening filled with epic storytelling, thrilling adventures, and unforgettable memories. Whether you're new to the game or a seasoned player, this event promises laughter, teamwork, and a grand time. Let the adventure begin at Well Played! Family Friendly Ticket - Embark on a wondrous journey with our Family Friendly ticket, perfect for adventurers aged 14 and under. Enjoy the magic of D&D from 5:00 - 8:00pm in the lively atmosphere of our main cafe for just $15. A delightful way to introduce the young ones to the realm of fantasy! Includes a free soft drink with refills and a free game pass for the day. All campaigns are custom, homebrew experiences created by our in-house Dungeon Masters! As always, we'll provide all the elements needed for gameplay: character, dice, miniatures, etc. You are welcome to bring your own pre-made character if you'd like. If you bring your own character they must follow these guidelines: The character must be level 4 Cannot be a fantasy race with a "fly speed" (able to fly) Does not make use of "Feats" Uses the "Standard Array" for stats (15,14,13,12,10,8 - before racial bonuses are applied) Information Source: Well Played Board Game Café | eventbrite

Elevate Your Experience at the Steep Canyon Rangers Community Concert presented by Oskar Blues Brewery, Dale's and Fred Anderson Subaru. Join us on Thursday, May 29 , in Pack Square Park in Downtown Asheville, NC , for an unforgettable evening of live music featuring the Grammy-winning Steep Canyon Rangers and opener Sam Burchfield and The Scoundrels . While the event is free and open to the public, we’re offering an exclusive access option to enhance your concert experience thanks to our partners at Skyla Credit Union: Preferred Seating Access : Enjoy a reserved chair in the tiered seating area at the front of the park for a comfortable, elevated view of the show. By purchasing a ticket, you’ll not only secure the best spots for the concert but also support the Asheville Downtown Association and its efforts to bring vibrant events and initiatives to our community. Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy an elevated concert experience while giving back. Reserve your access today! Information Source: Asheville Downtown Association | eventbrite

Wildwoods Walk with Alexandra Holland Thursday, May 29 | 1 - 3 pm BRN - Elective | BREG - Elective As spring transitions to summer, we see changes in the plants around us. Naturalist and botanist Alexandra Holland leads this walk at the Arboretum, pointing out the array of late spring wildflowers in bloom and discussing seasonal differences in the landscape. Learn some basics of wildflower and tree ecology and identification while taking in the beauty of the season. 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. Alexandra Holland graduated from Duke University and earned her Master's degree in botany from the University of Texas at Austin. She was in the first class of students to be certified as Blue Ridge Naturalists. Alexandra managed the UTEX Culture Collection of Algae at UT Austin and spent many hours working with education programs at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. She has taught botany for over a decade and leads nature hikes in Western NC for groups of all ages. Members: Remember to enter your promo code upon checkout to receive your 10% member discount! Email adulteducation@ncarboretum.org with questions. See a full listing of Adult Education Programs at the North Carolina Arboretum here ! Questions? Check our FAQs . We are committed to fostering a diverse, supportive learning community. If the cost of a class is a barrier for you, please complete this scholarship form and we will see what kind of assistance we can provide. Follow us on Facebook & Instagram ! Join our Adult Education Student Hub on Discord ! Information Source: The NC Arboretum: Adult Education Programs | eventbrite

Dine with Divas Drag Dinner Show is Back, A Fundraiser for PFLAG Asheville - Asheville’s drag celebrity impersonator dinner show is back by popular demand. The all-star cast of Dine with Divas returns to Hi-Wire Brewing on Thursday, May 29th at 7:00 p.m. Enjoy a star-studded evening of drag queen celebrity impersonators, a tasty dinner, and community joy—all in support of PFLAG Asheville. Tickets are $40 at www.AshevilleDragBrunch.com and are going fast! Audiences can anticipate an extraordinary showcase by performers Calcutta, Jasmine Summers, and Kay Russo as they deliver incredible renditions of chart-topping classics. Past shows have included the likes of Madonna, Beyoncé, Donna Summer, Lady Gaga, Dolly Parton, Liza Minnelli, and Cher. The event takes place at Hi-Wire Brewing in Biltmore Village. Hi-Wire Brewing donates regularly to charities, reduces their carbon footprint with multiple recycling initiatives and shipping procedures, guarantees a living wage for 100% of their employees, and strives to create environments where people feel comfortable coming together. Learn more at: https://HiWireBrewing.com. Information Source: Bearded Lady Productions | eventbrite

Every Friday Modelface Comedy brings you the best comedians from all over the country. This week we have Jason Salmon from NYC! Jason Salmon is a Texas born, NYC based standup whose comedy has been described as “…like getting the best advice you’ve ever gotten…from the dumbest guy you know.”He’s headlined all over the world including performing for the troops in Europe, South America, & Afghanistan.His standup specials have gotten millions of views online and he had one of the top 10 Drybar Standup specials of 2022.His most recent special, Biscuits and Gravity is available now on YouTube. He’s been featured in Red Dead Redemption 2, Orange is the New Black, At Home with Amy Sedaris, Hulu’s Wu Tang Clan Series, & 30 Rock, as well as tons of commercials and his series of Cowboy Explains videos with Comedy Central. ages 18+ doors at 6:30, show at 7pm Tickets $22 GA, $28 Premium Seating* *premium seating is table seating and the front three rows This venue has air conditioning! Food: No food sold at Eulogy but outside food is allowed. Frequently a food truck is parked at Catawba but no guarantees. Snacks available at the show Parkings options: Street parking around brewery and variety of pay lots around the building Refund Policy: no refunds within 48 hours of the start of show or after Information Source: Modelface Comedy | eventbrite

Every Friday Modelface Comedy brings you the best comedians from all over the country. This week we have Jason Salmon from NYC! Jason Salmon is a Texas born, NYC based standup whose comedy has been described as “…like getting the best advice you’ve ever gotten…from the dumbest guy you know.”He’s headlined all over the world including performing for the troops in Europe, South America, & Afghanistan.His standup specials have gotten millions of views online and he had one of the top 10 Drybar Standup specials of 2022.His most recent special, Biscuits and Gravity is available now on YouTube. He’s been featured in Red Dead Redemption 2, Orange is the New Black, At Home with Amy Sedaris, Hulu’s Wu Tang Clan Series, & 30 Rock, as well as tons of commercials and his series of Cowboy Explains videos with Comedy Central. ages 18+ doors at 6:30, show at 7pm Tickets $22 GA, $28 Premium Seating* *premium seating is table seating and the front three rows This venue has air conditioning! Food: No food sold at Eulogy but outside food is allowed. Frequently a food truck is parked at Catawba but no guarantees. Snacks available at the show Parkings options: Street parking around brewery and variety of pay lots around the building Refund Policy: no refunds within 48 hours of the start of show or after Information Source: Modelface Comedy | eventbrite

The Natural History and Ecology of Fungi: From Parasitism to Symbiosis with Todd Elliott Saturday, May 31  |  5 - 6:30 pm BRN - Elective Come learn about the biology and natural history of fungi in the Southeast and beyond. This talk will highlight the interconnections between fungi, animals, and plants. Todd will also discuss some of the region's best edible species along with where and how to find and identify them. Todd Elliott’s studies in biodiversity and interrelationships in nature have taken him to remote corners of the world to explore tropical rainforests, deserts, temperate forests, beaches, and high mountains on six continents. He is particularly interested in edible and medicinal mushrooms and plants and their importance to humans. Todd is an author of the Timber Press field guide Mushrooms of the Southeast and has published academic literature on various aspects of ecology and taxonomy. Todd received his undergraduate degree in interpretive natural history from Warren Wilson College (USA) and his PhD in ecology from the University of New England (Australia). He enjoys sharing his research and knowledge of the natural world through presentations, workshops, and consultations for many different organizations in the US and abroad. To read more about Todd’s research, check out his website: https://toddelliott.weebly.com/ and his Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toddfelliott/ . Members: Remember to enter your promo code upon checkout to receive your 10% member discount! Email adulteducation@ncarboretum.org with questions. See a full listing of Adult Education Programs at the North Carolina Arboretum here ! Questions? Check our FAQs . We are committed to fostering a diverse, supportive learning community. If the cost of a class is a barrier for you, please complete this scholarship form and we will see what kind of assistance we can provide. Follow us on Facebook & Instagram ! Join our Adult Education Student Hub on Discord ! Information Source: The NC Arboretum: Adult Education Programs | eventbrite

Womansong, Asheville’s longest-running women’s community chorus, invites you to our spring concert, “Crowded Table" This will be a performance to uplift, inspire, unite and heal. ​From choral anthems to contemporary pop tunes, there’s something for everyone -- music to make you laugh, cry, and dance. FYI - This event has a no refund policy. If you can no longer attend, you can sell and/or email your eticket to someone else. Children under 12 yrs old may attend for free! Tickets available at the door 30 min before concert Please carpool if possible Information Source: Womansong of Asheville | eventbrite