Open Hearts Got Talent

Please join us as we host our Annual Talent & Show & Fundraiser at Asheville Community Theatre!

Live Entertainment
Art for Sale
Raffle Items
Snacks
Spirits and Merriment

Open Hearts Art Center provides adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities integration in to the community, creative expression, and income from the sale of their artwork. Combined, these facets of a healthy, productive and independent life further benefit the artists of Open Heart who thrive in an environment that celebrates each individual’s voice and verve through visual and performing arts.

August, 24
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Odditorium Seasonal Yard$ale

Every month through the spring/summer/fall the Odditorium hosts a community yard sale on the fourth Saturday of the month.
We had such a great time last year, we’ve decided to keep going!
This event is made by your donations! It’s spring cleaning time, and you know your garage is full of stuff you haven’t used, or don’t need any more! Contact Veronica Coit to set up drop off of your donations.
100% of everything sold goes directly into the Emergency Fund!

We do ask 2 things; 1. Items that you would like to see go for more, you should come with us to ensure it gets that price. We price all items to move quickly, and love to haggle. 2. Clothing can be a difficult sell, it often requires a lot of space, and doesn’t typically sell well, so we do try to skip it. Exception being unique and/or kitty themed clothes.

This year, I’ll be looking for a couple special volunteers to serve as my right hand for these events. The right volunteer has these Saturdays free, and knows how to move merch, while being comfortable talking to lots of people throughout the day. I’ll also be looking for a great team to keep these running smoothly, folks who want to come a few times and become familiar with how they run.

August, 24
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MEGA Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting!

MEGA Ribbon Cutting/Grand Opening
Community Celebration
WHERE: Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More.
FREE FOOD and DOOR PRIZES (including an Ipad Mini)
FREE (Big Frog) T-Shrts to the 1st 50 People!
Music by Asheville Music School children
Radio remote with Mix 96.5
Cheer by West Henderson High cheerleaders

How can your favorite school win 80 FREE t-shirts? The school with most parents, teachers and students in attendance will win with our 80 FOR ED campaign!!!

We will be Joined by the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, Henderson County Chamber of Commerce, NC, Fletcher Area Business Associationand the Brevard/Transylvania Chamber of Commerce for the ribbon cutting

GIVE BACK:
The Blood Connection will be here taking donations to save lives!
Goodwill Industries of Northwest NC will accept clothing and household items
The The Storehouse of Henderson County, NC would love food and hygiene items for their pantry.
Sgt. S. Matthew Baynard Foundation will be accepting gently used sporting equipment.

HUG A SOLIDER- the US Army Mobile Recruiting Center will be here with an XBOX one station and lots of games.
Anthony Miller Racing will have their race car simulator
Ideal Finish Mobile Auto Detailing will demonstrate complete car detailing
Pisgah Forest Gem Mine will have their mobile mine to pan for the good stuff
Hunter Automotive Group will display some cars for sale
White Squirrel Paddle Boards, LLC will show you what’s SUP (Stand up Paddleboards)
American Eagle Locksmith will have a display

August, 24
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Homeschool Discount Day (4+yrs)

2018 Dates: Apr 19th, May 16th, Aug 24th, & Nov 15th

$25 a person for the Asheville Treetops Adventure Park
$25 per person for the Kid Zip

The Adventure Park is an aerial challenge course in the trees with 60 unique climbing, rolling, walking, jumping, swinging, and rappelling elements in a wooded park.

Enjoy two hours of adventure for ages 4 and over (trail restrictions/escorts ages 4-12). – CLICK HERE TO SEE RESTRICITON INFORMATION

We use a new technology called “smart belays” that, when used properly, are designed to assure Park Guests are attached to safety systems at all times and cannot detach from the system until they have completed the aerial trail and are back on the ground. It is an active adventure that incorporates physical fitness and personal accomplishment.

Max weight 265 lbs.

Kid Zip is one of America’s first zipline adventures designed for kids 4-10 years old. It includes 9 ziplines and 4 fun climbing elements in a park area. It is a self-guided tour except for an adult escort. The ziplines range from 50 feet to 250 feet long. They range in height from 25 feet high to ground level. Enjoy 1 ½- 2 hours of adventure.

Ages 4-10 can zip. Ages 4-6 need a mandatory adult escort who is less than 225 lbs and under 6’2”.

Max weight of guest is 225 lbs.

The Adventure Center of Asheville
open all year ● 5 minutes from Downtown Asheville ● group picnic area

ages 4 and over

6 activities: ziplines, kidzip, mountain bike park, adventure park, climbing trees, quick jump

Reservations are suggested – please call 877.247.5539 or go online at www.adventureavl.com to make reservations. Use the code “homeschool” for your Treetops Adventure Park discount. If your group is 10 people or more, please contact Sarah Dickson at 828.450.3400.

Our activities instill personal development and self-confidence, encourage cooperation with others, enrich problem solving skills, and offer fun outdoor activities with a challenge.

August, 24
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Exploring 100 Years of Grandfather Mountai: A State Park Centennial Celebration

August 26th & 27th

“Exploring 100 Years of Grandfather Mountain – A State Park Centennial Celebration” with Dr. Patrick McMillan

Friday, August 26
7:00pm to 9:00pm (Social from 7 to 7:30pm, Presentation begins at 7:30pm)
ASU Library, 218 College St, Boone (Room 114) (Google Map: https://goo.gl/ancIb2)

We hope that Friday evening’s presentation will inspire you to join us on Saturday for special Expeditions on Grandfather Mountain. These will be guided hikes on the Nuwati and Cragway Trails. Naturalists, scientists and environmental educators will be stationed along the way to enliven your hike with spirited presentations. Hikes will leave on the half hour from the Boone Fork Parking lot from 11am to 1:30pm. The Nuwati Trail is moderately easy with a 700’ gain in elevation. The trail surface is uneven and rocky with some stream crossings. There is an optional strenuous climb to Story Teller’s Rock where we will turn around. Total hiking distance is three miles, round-trip, and will take two hours.

Longer guided hikes will leave at 11:15am and 12:15pm for a four mile loop on the Nuwati, Cragway and Daniel Boone Scout trails. These hikes will not include interpretive stations along the way. This four mile loop gains 950’ in elevation, with 700 of those on the mile long Cragway Trail, which is strenuous, very steep, rocky, and rutted. Participants must be prepared for a strenuous hike and must be wearing appropriate closed toe shoes and must have water. Plan on three hours for this loop.

———–

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27

Expeditions on Grandfather Mountain
Saturday, August 27
11:00am; last expedition hike leaves at 1:30pm
Location: Boone Fork Parking Lot; Blue Ridge Parkway, just north of mile marker 300 (GPS: 36.120076, -81.781358) (Google Map:https://goo.gl/P3YjBb)

Nuwati Hikes leave every 30 minutes beginning at 11:00am, the last hike leaves at 1:30pm.
Cragway loop hikes leave at 11:15am and 12:15pm
Plan two hours for the Nuwati Trail; three hours for the Cragway loop.
No pets, please.
Bring water.
Dress for the weather and wear closed-toe shoes, appropriate for hiking.

August, 23
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Mount Mitchell Centennial Celebration Weekend

August 27th & 28th

Come celebrate where 100 years ago the state’s system to protect land for recreation and conservation with a weekend of festivities and fun.

Saturday – Heritage Day 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Stage Performers includes:
10 a.m. Welcome/Honor Guard
10:15 a.m. Mountain Laurel Band
10:45 a.m. Bailey Mountain Cloggers
11:15 a.m. Dignitaries & SPeakers including dramatic reading for Locke Craig’s poem, presentation of David Boone carvings and winners of the poetry contest
12:00 p.m. Brok Holler
12:30-3:30 p.m. Nitrograss
3:30-4 p.m. Don Pedi Mountain dulcimer

Sunday – Recreation & Education Day 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
10 a.m. NC High Peaks Guided HIke
10-11 a.m. Images of America: Mount Mitchell
12-12:30 p.m. The Life and Death of Elisha Mitchell
1 p.m. Track Trails Opening and Hike
1-2 p.m. An Enviromental Hitory of Mount Mitchell
2 p.m. Swannanoa Valley Musuem Hike
2:30-3 p.m. The Life and Death of Elisha Mitchell
3:30-4:30 p.m.Images of American: Mount Mitchell
4 p.m. Walk to the Springs (Balsam Nature Trail)
5 p.m. The Tress and Shrubs of Mount Mitchell

The park will limit access to private vehicles during the event. The public is encouraged to use the FREE shuttles from Asheville, Burnsville, Black Mountain and Marion or register for a vanpool/carpool pass. The schedule of pick up times and locations and vanpool information is avaialble at www.ncparks.gov.

August, 23
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Annual The Haunted Trail

2025 DATES:

OCT 3-4, 10-11, 17-19, 23-26, 2025

6:00pm: Festival Area & Pirates Cove Doors Open

6:00pm-7:00pm: Arrival Time for Aerial Glow Trail if you have tickets for the Combo Pass. Access will be assigned on arrival.

6:30pm: Haunted Trail “Sweet Peek Tour” is recommended for ages 3 & 4 or anyone nervous about entering the trail. This tour will include only scenes, no actors with the option to come back through the Haunted Trail later when live actors are present.

6:30pm-7:00pm: Aerial Glow Trail Open

7:00pm: Haunted Trail Open

9:00pm: ALL LINES Close

Asheville’s only family-friendly haunt! The Haunted Trail is created and brought to life by Asheville Plays. This event is ideal for Halloween lovers of all ages, however, kids age 3-12 is the suggested age range. This is the fourth year that the Adventure Center has hosted this one-of-a-kind live outdoor theatrical experience where guests are promised an entirely immersive and interactive spooky night out. Every year the show is loved by boils and ghouls from all over WNC and we hope to see you there!

THE HAUNTED TRAIL

The Haunted Trail is 15 live-action outdoor scenes with magical lights and spooky sounds portraying renditions of classic Halloween themes. It is a one-of-a-kind live theatrical experience on an outdoor trail without contact or gore. Geared towards families with kids ages 3-12, visit the Alien Landing, Creepy Circus, and Haunted Pumpkin Patch which are all a part of the trail.

For your little ghouls, The ‘Sweet Peek Tour’ is offered nightly at 6:30 pm. This is a guided tour for younger guests who still aren’t sure about being scared, even for fun. The trail is actor free at this time and they can decide if they would like to re-enter the line and receive the full show.

Play while you wait! The line to enter the Haunted Trail surrounds the game field. Kids can pop out of line to participate in contests and play Asheville Plays Monster-Sized Games.

AERIAL GLOW TRAIL

The Treetops Adventure Park Aerial Glow Trail is also available for guests 4 years or older! Climb on two of our aerial trails while they are illuminated with thousands of colorful twinkle and laser lights. Please review the Glow Trail Section below for age requirements and adult escorts.

If you want to enjoy both of these amazing activities, combo passes are available and WILL sell out, so make sure you reserve your tickets early! *The Haunted Trail does not sell out, however, the entrance closes at 9 pm.

PIRATES COVE AT THE FESTIVAL AREA

Visit our 30 foot Pirate Ship ! If you are up for a game, visit the Pirate Ship Escape Room to “test ‘yer wit mateys!” 10 voyages are available nightly for purchase with groups of up to 6 per voyage. Check in at the pirate ship for your escape time.

Meet a live Mermaid with a photo opportunity. Then walk the plank at the obstacle course or feed a shark.

EAT, DRINK AND BE SCARY!

Grab dinner at the event! Mellow Mushroom will be serving up delicious pizza. You can preorder a whole pizza for the family when you buy your ticket. Or slices will be available onsite.
Fresh Hot Donuts & Popcorn
S’mores for purchase to roast at the Bonfire
Local Beer and Wine for the big ghouls
Hot Chocolate & Cider
Devils Foot Beverages & Sodas

UNDER THE BIG TENT

Under the big purple/white tent you will find the concessions, Little Ghouls Play Area, and meet our sponsors. You can also get your face painted, purchase balloon art, and snap a photo at our photo booth.

August, 23
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Mornings With Mommy Educational Playdate

First and third Tuesday of the month.

Mornings with Mommy isn’t preschool, and it isn’t childcare, it’s something different.
Mornings with Mommy is a fun and easy way for you to enjoy activities with your children and meet other adults (moms, dads, grandparents, caregivers, etc.). There will be age appropriate activities for infants, toddlers and preschoolers. And the best part is, we do all the planning, you just sign up! Moms can mingle with each other and enjoy activities with their children including: arts and crafts, sensory table, flannel stories and story time, music, educational toys, and a snack.

The program costs only five dollars per family per session and includes all snacks and activities.

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Tuesday, November 6, 2018

Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Tuesday, December 4, 2018

Tuesday, December 18,2018

August, 23
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NICU Parents Circle

If your baby is still in the NICU, or you’re figuring out things at home, join us to share experiences, connection, and community. We understand that having a baby in the NICU is different from what most parents expect, and finding support is important. Come as you are; we get it. (Free. 2nd Monday of the month at 6pm)

Free. Drop in or register at the link above.

August, 23
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8th Annual Sweet Potato Cooking Contest

It is that time of year again when the stirrings of the season change brings our minds to daydreaming about cool autumn days, cozy nights and nourishing food. It also brings our farm fresh sweet potatoes from their hiding places under the ground to our annual Sweet Potato Cooking Contest!

Again this year, I am bringing the farm to the city! The 8th Annual Sweet Potato Cooking Contest will be held at the Homegrown Families Health and Education Center. We will have outdoor tents, live music, activities for the kids, lots of amazing food and beautiful prizes! You know the schpeel ~ invite your friends, enter a dish to win, come to taste, judge and dance into the harvest season with good friends, family, and livemusic!

This year we are supporting Sistas Caring 4 Sistas – Doulas for Social Justice

In 2016 Homegrown Babies: Asheville Childbirth Education & Doula Services was honored to collaborate with the Buncombe Upstream: The Community Centered Health Home which is creating change in our Western North Carolina in community to address the fact that black babies are 2.4 times more likely to die in infancy than white babies. With the amazing leadership of many women in the Pisgah View and Hillcrest Public Housing Communities, Homegrown Babies has worked to train and mentor Black and African American women to become Birth Doulas. This program is now officially called Sistas Caring 4 Sistas (SC4S) – Doulas for Social Justice.

This work invests the much needed equity into these communities, and allows them to earn a living wage, hone skills that give back to their community, cross the color line here in Asheville, and support women of diverse backgrounds throughout their pregnancy and birth and postpartum journeys.

Contest Information and Rules:
~ Sweet Potatoes must be one of the main ingredients in your dish
~ There are both sweet and savory categories
~ There is no fee to enter your dish for judging, but there is a $10/per person tasting/judging/voting fee
~ You must bring your own serving utensils and buffet warmer/crockpot if your dish needs to be warm
~ There will be limited electrical hook-up for crock-pot dishes
~ All entries will remain anonymous and will be voted on by attendees
~ Judging/eating begins promptly at 5:00 p.m. Any dishes brought after 5:30 p.m. will likely not have enough votes to win.
~ There are fantastic prizes including pottery from amazing River Arts District potters, organic sweet potatoes grown on my farm and more! There are first place prizes in both the sweet and savory categories as well as an overall most unusual/original dish

You do not have to enter to participate! We need lots of tasters too! If you are coming to solely judge, we ask you to bring a potluck dish to compliment all of the sweet potatoes!

Bring anyone you like and children are most definitely welcome! We love dogs, but it is a little too much at this event to have them. Please leave your sweet pups at home!

Thanks for your support and we look forward to celebrating the season with you!