The Carolina Mountain Cheese Fest is an annual festival that benefits the WNC Cheese Trail. The WNC Cheese Trail is a non profit whose goal is to spread the word about the amazing cheese being made in WNC. This year’s festival will be at Oak and Grist Distilling Company in Black Mountain, NC
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MAR Circus Tricks and Contact Hooping with Caroleeena! (8+yrs)
Contact Rolls and Tosses – The only difference between a roll and a toss is if the hoop catches air. In this class, we will move between a variety of contact rolls on the hands, arms, chest and back but also move off the body to explore a variety of creative and unusual tosses from both on and off the body.We will also learn to pair these rolls
and tosses with other movement, such as traveling and turns, to make them more interesting and fun. We will also play with balances.
Circus Tricks for Hoops – There are just some tricks that make people gasp. In this class, we will explore those tricks. These tricks will include hooping on the feet, some interesting tosses, step-throughs and jump throughs, and a few surprises you have to see to believe. Many of these moves come straight from the hoop performers with
Ringling Brothers Circus.
“Usually eight years of age is when they can focus on something for 90 minutes if they’re really into it. If anyone that young attends this weekend, we would appreciate it if a chaperone would stay on site. Or attend the class too! As long as they’re not disruptive and really want to learn hooping, they may be able to fit right into an adult curriculum.”
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Partner Hooping and Twins with Carolyn Mabry (8+yrs)
Carolyn Louise Mabry will teach partner hooping, as well as twin hooping.
The partnering portion of the workshop will explore how to hoopdance with another person or with groups. We will touch on tandem hooping, two people sharing one hoop, two people utilizing two hoops, tricks and moves for groups of three and/or four. These can also be combined to shape dances with large groups of people.
We will also explore a wide variety of moves for twin hoops. These moves also translate to minis but, for this class, we integrate core twin moves as well, including pizza tosses for twins. Other moves include an exploration of thread-the-needles (including variations, turns and tosses), continuous contact rolls on the chest and back, double contact rolls and tuck tosses, three-beat-weaves, z-spins, tosses, and much more.
“Usually eight years of age is when they can focus on something for 90 minutes if they’re really into it. If anyone that young attends this weekend, we would appreciate it if a chaperone would stay on site. Or attend the class too! As long as they’re not disruptive and really want to learn hooping, they may be able to fit right into an adult curriculum.”
- March, 12
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2016 Are You Smarter Than An Elementary Student Trivia Night!
This year marks the 5th annual Are You Smarter Than An Elementary Student trivia night, where all proceeds will benefit Children First/Communities In Schools! Grab 5 of your smartest friends, make a team, and come out to compete for great prizes as well as the coveted title of Valedictorian!
- March, 11
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The Color Run
The Color Run, also known as the Happiest 5k on the Planet, is a unique paint race that celebrates healthiness, happiness, and individuality. Now the single largest event series in the world, The Color Run has exploded since our debut event. We have more than tripled our growth, hosting more than 225 events in 35+ countries in 2015.
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Serafina Book Signing
Come meet Asheville author Robert Beatty, get a signed copy of his bestselling Disney Hyperion mystery-thriller, Serafina and the Black Cloak, and hear some sneak-peek details about the upcoming sequel, Serafina and the Twisted Staff.
This special event includes a talk by and Q&A time with the author, free food and drink, lots of Serafina giveaways, and a chance to meet other fans of the exciting new book series.
Serafina and the Black Cloak is a spooky mystery-thriller that tells the story of a brave and unusual 12-year-old girl who lives secretly in the basement of Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, during the 1890s, and the mystery that only she can solve. Her adventures continue in the sequel, Serafina and the Twisted Staff, scheduled for nationwide release on July 12, 2016. Both books are written for young readers, ages 8 and up, and for adults.
- March, 11
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Serafina Spring Event
Come on out to Asheville’s big spring Serafina Event for a special reading from Book 2 of the Serafina Series! Robert Beatty–the author of the New York Times bestselling mystery-thriller, “Serafina and the Black Cloak”–will be giving a talk, doing Q&A, meeting fans, and autographing books. But first, a professional Southern storyteller will be reading the first two chapters of Book 2, “Serafina and the Twisted Staff” (July 12 publication). Be among the first to hear it and experience it! All the costumed actors from the book trailer will be in attendance to sign books and talk to people, including the costumes for the new trailer. Free food and drink will be provided, along with lots of Serafina giveaways, and a chance to meet other fans of this exciting new book series.
“Serafina and the Black Cloak” is a spooky mystery-thriller about a brave and unusual 12-year-old girl who lives secretly in the basement of Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC in 1899. All the action of the story takes place in Biltmore House and the Blue Ridge Mountains. A mixture of historical fiction and fantasy-adventure, this book is written for adults and young readers (8 and above). Parents are enjoying it with their children. It’s also being taught in over 300 classrooms nationwide. In addition to being published by Disney Hyperion, it is also being published by Scholastic and translated into many languages around the world.
- March, 11
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Nature Play Day
The Arboretum’s Nature Play Day celebrates how spending time exploring and playing outdoors promotes a wide variety of positive physical, mental and emotional benefits.This year’s festivities will include the grand opening of the Playing Woods, the Arboretum’s nature playscape, fairy house and gnome home building, stick fort building, storytelling, pond life exploration, and much more. Join us as we rekindle our childlike imaginations with a day spent celebrating the magic and splendor of the woods!
This event is part of Spring Into the Arb! Celebrate the return of spring with a series of events and happenings throughout March, April, May and June! Spring is a time of renewal and emergence, and The North Carolina Arboretum is excited to welcome this season with plant shows, nature programs, education, music, art and more!
- March, 11
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Grand Opening Weekend
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Mountain Science Expo
Join us for a free STEM-oriented science festival where you can interact with scientists, explore nature, and grow your curiosity!
The Mountain Science Expo is a part of the larger NC Science Festival, a state-wide and month-long event dedicated to celebrating the impact of science educationally, culturally, and economically on our state. The NC Science Festival and the Mountain Science Expo hope to inspire children to pursue—and adults to support—the sciences, such that North Carolina can lead the country and the world as a place of innovation and learning. This year’s theme is “Science: Everyday, Everywhere, Everyone” highlighting how science is being driven forward within North Carolina.
The Expo will feature live animal presentations, exhibitors from across the region, special interactive activities, and more! It takes place in both of The North Carolina Arboretum’s main buildings, through the gardens, and corresponds with our Native Azalea Day event in its own garden.
Exhibitors
The Mountain Science Expo provides an opportunity for all ages to learn about STEM fields and interact with scientists and science educators in a hands-on and wonder-filled environment. Participating exhibitors include:
- Asheville Makers
- Asheville Museum of Science
- Muddy Sneakers
- The National Center for Environmental Information (NCEI)
- The North Carolina Department of Air Quality (NCDAQ)
- UNCA STEAM Labs
- RiverLink
- Blue Ridge Audubon Chapter
- FIND Outdoors
- And more!
Native Azalea Day
Participants in the 2025 Mountain Science Expo will also have the opportunity to visit the North Carolina Arboretum’s Azalea Collections for a special Native Azalea Day event. This event will feature additional exhibitors, including local horticultural organizations, artists, and ecoEXPLORE educators.
Golden Tickets
Kids can get special Golden Tickets! Simply check out a science book from your local library, and you’ll receive a Golden Ticket good for free parking the day of the event. Participating libraries listed here: Buncombe, Henderson, Rutherford, Transylvania, Madison, McDowell, Haywood.
There is no additional cost to attend Mountain Science Expo beyond our standard parking fee. As always, Arboretum Society members and their accompanying guests can enter for FREE (guests must be in member vehicles to receive free entry).
Mountain Science Expo 2025 is sponsored by Arboretum Community Partners
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