Available Monday through Friday, 8:00am-12:00pm
Some classes currently have a waitlist; register now and you will receive an update email regarding the enrollment status.
Join us for for our bi-annual campout at Lake Julian Park, Saturday, June 14th to Sunday, June 15th. This bi-annual event will bring together families and friends to connect with nature for a fun and memorable night sleeping under the stars.
Camping is traditionally part of the summertime experience for many families, but can get overlooked in these days of ‘indoor childhood.’ We’re thrilled to provide an experience for all generations to connect with the natural world and one another.
Lake Julian Park will be closed to other users and does not typically allow overnight camping, but an exception is made for this special event. No prior camping experience is required as the campout is designed as a low-frill backyard campout for first time campers. Attendees will need to bring their own tents and sleeping bags.
Campers will be able to participate in a variety of activities on Saturday afternoon. There will be a campfire and more on Saturday evening and campfire with a lesson from one of our staff and – of course, s’mores! Dinner and light breakfast will provided for all attendees. Dinner and Breakfast will be provided for all attendees.
Campsites and On-Site Check-In will be available during the time of 12:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Saturday (NO VEHICLES WILL BE ALLOWED IN PARK PAST 1:30).
Attendees should be packed up by 12:00 p.m. on Sunday.
PLEASE BE ADVISED WE ARE NOT ALLOWING PETS AT THIS EVENT.
*Please note that one (1) ticket covers an entire family. Upon checkout, there will be a section to fill out that asks about family information such as names of all participants, and food allergies or restrictions.
If you’re looking for a spiritual option to summer camp, there are a LOT of churches in our area hosting Vacation Bible Schools, this summer! Not all churches have announced their schedule, so our calendar isn’t complete just yet, but it’s filling up fast. The majority of them are FREE (donations are gladly accepted, though)! SEE THE FULL LIST HERE
You will find Anything and Everything under the Sun. From Peanuts to Bulldozers, it all can be found at Smiley’s!
Great Restaurants and Concessions serving Authentic Mexican, Hamburgers, Sandwiches, Ice Cream, Snowcones, and so much more. Everyone in the family will be happy.
From the Best Produce in the South, to Clothes, Barber Shop, Hair Salon, Electronics, Appliances, Books, Plants, Antiques and Collectibles, New and Used Items, and even a full serve Bakery, are just a few of the things you can find.
Ride Smiley’s Carousel and Bumper Cars every weekend. $1 per ride or $5 for unlimited rides. Family Fun for all.
Come explore Smiley’s to find that long lost treasure or your everyday needs. It’s family fun for everyone!
The City of Hendersonville’s Skate Park is located in Patton Park across from Patton Pool. The skate park is open to the public and is an unattended facility, the hours are 7am-11pm.
NO BIKES ALLOWED ON THE SKATE PARK
The Skate Park features include:
If you haven’t heard of Kids in Parks or TRACK Trails yet, you’ve been missing out! TRACK Trails is a trail program that was started here in Asheville (but has since spread across the country!) by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, a network of local Pediatricians, and the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, to “promote children’s health and the health of our parks”, and we have several in our area. Kids in Parks is an ever expanding network of family-friendly, self-guided outdoor adventures, and “include hiking trails, biking trails, geocaching trails, paddling trails, nature trail disc golf courses, and even adventures you can do in your own back yard”. Register your child online, and as they complete the trail, they earn prizes for tracking their adventures! Best of all, it’s all FREE!
Our comprehensive guide to Asheville Area Playgrounds is your ultimate resource for recreation in Asheville with kids! Indoor playgrounds, as well as outdoor playgrounds are included, with everything you need to know in advance to plan your family friendly outing in Asheville and the surrounding area!
This guide is a continuous work in progress, and we will keep adding to it, so keep checking back!
Asheville is an amazing city with so much to see and do, and while we have some amazing group tour companies, sometimes we want to venture out on our own to learn about the culture and history of our area … with just our family, on our schedule and timetable, to explore our interests, on our own path. A great way to do that, and a great way to save some money (THESE ARE ALL FREE), is to take one of the many self-guided tours that have been created by our local experts at our tourism centers, and historic sites. We’ve compiled the list attached of some of our favorites for you, with links to them all, that we hope you will enjoy and learn as much from as we did and still do. If we’re missing any of your favorites, let us know, so that we can share them, too!
Check them all out at the link above
The Henderson County Public Library has teamed up with local attractions and museums to offer FREE ADMISSION for library card holders with a ZOOM pass! Reservations can be made between 5 and 30 days in advance. Your household may visit one attraction every 30 days. Check the pass details to see how many adults and children gain entry with each pass.
👉 Have your library card ready and book yours at the link above
The Transylvania County Public Library has teamed up with local attractions and museums to offer FREE ADMISSION for library card holders with a ZOOM pass! Reservations can be made between 5 and 30 days in advance. Your household may visit one attraction every 30 days. Check the pass details to see how many adults and children gain entry with each pass.
👉 Have your library card ready and book yours at the link above
Open Daily with Staff on Hand Starting May 23rd (Memorial Day Weekend) through Labor Day 9:00am-6:00pm – Sliding Rock is a 60 foot natural water slide in Pisgah Forest, that ends in a 8 foot deep pool of (VERY COLD! Reportedly 55°) water. There are 2 observation areas (*** one above and one below, but the lower one sustained severe damage as a result of the debris caused by Tropical Storm Fred in 2021 and has not yet been replaced ***), and it is open for viewing year-round, and sliding starting at the end of April, but only staffed during the season. Children under 7 years of age must slide with an adult (one adult per child and child must be able to swim).
$5/Daily Fee Per Person (Fee revenue allows for expanded hours for lifeguards, and helps pay for maintenance). Cash and credit cards accepted. No entrance fee is taken during the off-season.
Coast guard approved life jackets are the only approved flotation devices allowed.
No alcohol, and no picnicking allowed, but there are nice picnic areas down the road a bit, so pack a cooler and make a day of it.
There are stairs, so it is not stroller or wheelchair accessible beyond the upper overlook platform.
Cell service isn’t accessible past Dolly’s Ice Cream, basically from the beginning of the approach road.
Lockers are available for rent but most people seem to leave their bags at the bottom of the stairs.
Bathrooms and changing rooms are located at the top near the upper observation platform.
The water is SHOCKINGLY COLD. We cannot stress this enough. Even the strongest swimmers get disoriented by it, so we highly recommend kids wearing floatation devices until you know they can handle it (available for rent).
We recommend well fitting water shoes for everyone. You will be climbing over rocks, climbing up a waterfall, and climbing up gravely stairs to get up to the lockers and bathrooms. The water can be a little forceful as well and will knock you out of your shoes if they are loose.
This is a heavily-used recreation area; come early and try to avoid visiting during the peak hours of noon-4 pm.
Dogs are allowed AT Sliding Rock, but not ON Sliding Rock
Join us for a vibrant weekend celebrating all things seasonal craft! Featuring local vendors, seasonal treats, and perfect finds for every occasion, this is the event you won’t want to miss.
Saturday Hours: 10:00am-4:00pm
Sunday Hours: 10:00am-4:00pm
This event is outdoors
SUMMER HOURS (April through October)
WINTER HOURS (November through March)
Closed: Christmas, Easter, 4th of July, Memorial Day and New Years Day
The Western North Carolina Air Museum is a private tax-exempt 501-(c)-3 organization, and home to a unique collection of airplanes celebrating the Golden Age of General Aviation; the decades surrounding the Second World War, when flying commanded the worlds attention. A must see for any aviation enthusiast!
Do you remember the roar of a big radial aircraft engine thundering into life? Or maybe you only have heard about it from Grand Dad’s reminiscences. Well it is still alive, and you can come hear it again here at the Western North Carolina Air Museum.
Come see what is was like: When airports had grass strips and didn’t have fences. When you could wash the airplanes for a ride, and when you could walk right up to the flight line and see, touch, & smell the excitement, up close & personal… come back in time to the Western North Carolina Air Museum.
If you remember when flying was an event instead of a burden, when climbing into an airplane was more exciting than riding a bus, and when every head turned at the sound of a motor buzzing overhead, then rediscover that excitement at the Western North Carolina Air Museum. Here the excitement lives on. It echoes in the fabric wings of the airplanes that brought it to life. It floats in the scent of avgas on a plane just returning from a flight. It lives in the people who show you around and answer questions – most are veterans of that golden age when not everyone knew how to fly, but every kid sure wanted to learn.
Set beside an active airport – we are more than just a place to look at planes. We’re a place to relive a moment in time that is rapidly passing away. You won’t find airplanes under glass. You won’t find velvet ropes to keep you away. You won’t find guards and ticket sellers and concessionaires.You’ll only find airplanes and people who love them. Many are pilots: Some even own and fly some of the airplanes that are on display. If you’re lucky enough to visit on a day when someone is going up, you might just be able to see a flying piece of aviation history.
We’re home to a unique collection of airplanes celebrating the Golden Age of Aviation, the decades surrounding the Second World War, when flying commanded the world’s attention and an airplane was in everybody’s future.
A place for flying folks to share memories of a disappearing era. And a place to show the young ones a proper airplane, with taut fabric over wooden spars, a single propeller at the nose, and a little wheel under the tail. We are also a place where you can see the actual restoration of such aircraft, as it is happening and talk to the people doing the work. People who will take the time to answer you questions and explain the work they are doing .
The Western North Carolina Air Museum is a center of living history in the popular Hendersonville – Flat Rock region of the state. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to remember flying the way it used to be. Bring your kids, your camera, and your leather jacket. You can view the airplanes in an hour or so, or spend the afternoon hanger-flying with our friendly, informative staff. We can’t guarantee fine weather, but our hangar doors are open rain and shine. And we can’t guarantee that we’ll be flying on the day you visit, but we do promise to propel your imagination back to the golden age of general aviation. Come for the airplanes. Stay for the memories. There’s plenty of both right here at the Western North Carolina Air Museum.
Group tours welcomed!
Celebrate Father’s Day at the Farm!
Kick off the day with Papa Day Yoga from 10–11am. Led by Mary Beth, this all-levels class blends gentle and vinyasa flow, offering a playful yet potent practice designed to expand the body and restore the mind. Bring your mat, and feel free to use props like blocks, blankets, or straps. Drop-in rate: $18.
From 11am–4pm, enjoy a special Father’s Day brunch from Grush’s Cajun Dino Grill food truck, serving up bold, Southern flavors.
And don’t miss Mimosa Service featuring bubbles from Haw River Wine Man, pouring from 10am to close.
May 23rd-June 22nd
It’s lavender season at Grandad’s Apples N’ Such! Join us for a month filled with the sweet aroma of lavender, delicious food, and community spirit. Whether you’re a lavender lover or just looking for the perfect summer outing, Lavender Season promises to be an unforgettable experience for all ages.Come and celebrate the beauty of lavender with us! We can’t wait to see you there!
Join us every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in June for BBQ features all day long! Come hungry and enjoy bold flavors, cold cider, and good vibes all weekend at the taproom.
Explore our brewery nestled in the Appalachians.
When we brewed our first batch of beer in 1980 in Chico, California, the lush forests of North Carolina were far from our mind. Over the last four decades, our thirst to brew quality, flavorful beer led us across the country and around the globe. In 2012, we broke ground on our second production location in order to send the freshest beer possible to our friends and fans all over the world. Come visit our sprawling East Coast home in Mills River, North Carolina and see first-hand how determination and a pioneering spirit can lead to incredible adventures. Our tours fill up quickly. You must make reservations online for all tours except the Guided Tastings and the self-guided Visitor Corridor.
SUNDAY–THURSDAY
11:00am–9:00pm
FRIDAY–SATURDAY
11:00am–10:00pm
GUIDED:
Whether you’re just getting into craft beer or we’re on your brewery bucket list, a Mills River tour is for you — so we recommend you reserve a spot! Our interactive tours offer everything from hop handling to nature hikes to — what you really came for — beer sampling.
Join us for a taste of our iconic Sierra Nevada Pale Ale as we dive into our roots: from humble beginnings in Chico, California to our LEED Platinum certified facility in Mills River, North Carolina. We will walk through our production facility, exploring the brewing process and ingredients, and highlight how our sustainability commitment fits into it all. We will end with guided tasting of eight beers in our Grand Tasting Room and Bar. Wheelchair accessible. No one under 12 years old permitted.
Our Mills River brewery is nestled within over 200 acres of lush, forested land just waiting to be explored, so join us on a Trip in the Woods! On this 1.5-mile guided nature hike, you will explore our beautiful, forested property, visit our resident chickens, donkeys, and sheep who graze freely across nearly 4 acres of pasture, and wrap up with a sampling of a few of our award-winning brews in our Back Porch Beer Garden. Grab your hiking shoes and get ready for a beer adventure! *The loop trail features moderate elevation change. Those with allergies should note that the group will hike near our beehives.
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SELF GUIDED:
Groups not your thing? We get it. For those who prefer to wander solo, our Brewery has been designed with guests in mind! Our upstairs Visitor Corridor includes a raised mezzanine for bird’s-eye views of our copper-clad brewhouse, a real-time look at fermenting beer and a visit to our warehouse and packaging hall. Self-guided tour areas do not require a reservation, and are open to the public during normal business hours.
Now’s your chance to bring the whole family on the big purple bus! Educational and entertaining, LaZoom’s Kids’ Comedy tour features a perfect blend of Asheville information and kid-centric comedy. Geared specifically towards the 5-12 year old crowd (but all ages are welcome!), you’ll learn about our city’s history and see the sights in true LaZoom style – complete with our famously outlandish tour guides, hilarious comedy skits, and all sorts of special appearances! Perfect for birthday parties or school field trips, it’s the best thing to do with your kids in Asheville. It’s a show on wheels!
LEARN LOCAL HISTORY … Asheville is the central hub of Western North Carolina. We’ll take you by all the historic spots in Asheville and share super interesting family friendly historical tidbits. Learning should always be this fun!
RIDE IN A COOL BUS … This is not your typical school bus or you typical tour. Our guides and bus are out-of-this-world entertaining! Educational and entertaining, LaZoom’s Kids’ Comedy tour features a perfect blend of Asheville information and kid-centric comedy.
LAUGH AND LAUGH … Your tour guide isn’t a normal tour guide. (Actually nothing at LaZoom is normal) We hired the best comedic and theatrical talent in the region to perform a wholly one of a kind experience. Along the way, you’ll encounter other off-the-wall characters.
The tour is 60 minutes long and includes no stops. The tour is hosted by a zany tour guide, and along the way other characters will hop on the bus and perform kid-centric sketches (Candy Pirate, Ninja, and a Levitator) The tour is not only fun – it’s educational! Kids and adults will learn new and interesting facts about Asheville along the way. There must be 1 adult for every 4 children. We do not allow any unaccompanied children. Children 3 and under do not need a ticket if they are sitting in an adults lap.
VISITING HOURS FOR SELF GUIDED TOURS:
Monday, 11:00am-12:00pm
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 11:00am – 1:00pm
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 3:00pm – 5:00pm
The following options for tours are available:
COMPLIMENTARY GUIDED TOURS – Schedule a tour by completing the online form. Tours Available Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 1:30pm (These tours take 45 minutes), and immediately after Sunday Masses. Mass times are Saturday, 5:00 p.m., Sunday, 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 Noon (these tours take 25 minutes). Tours of the Basilica of Saint Lawrence must be prescheduled at least two weeks in advance and re-confirmed with the Tour Coordinator before your scheduled visit. Trained Docents (tour guides) are provided unless you make other arrangements with the Tour Coordinator.
SELF-GUIDED TOUR – The brochure, The Art & Architecture of the Basilica of Saint Lawrence, D.M., provides a very informative self-guided tour. When visiting the Basilica, copies may be found in the side vestibule. You may also download a copy of the brochure HERE
Tours are free but donations are very much appreciated.
Church parking is located in the first lot to the west of the Parish Office building and behind the Basilica. On weekends additional parking available is in the large gated lot across the street.
The Basilica’s parking lots are clearly marked “Church Parking.” Parishioners and the many Visitors who attend Mass at the Basilica usually find our parking adequate unless they arrive late. There is no charge for parking to attend daily and weekend Masses, and other church activities.
When visiting the Basilica please pay close attention to our parking lot signage, as parking in non-church lots may result in the unpleasant, expensive experience of having your vehicle towed.
Citizen Vinyl is a communal space housing a record press facility, cafe, bar, recording studio & analog art & record store – located in the historic Citizen Times building in downtown Asheville – an incredible specimen of the Art Moderne style whose grand civic space serves to celebrate the history of manufacturing & craft alongside the current state of music, food & beverage within our local community.
A very few walk-up spots are available for most public tours, but reservations are strongly recommended — first come first served! Gather at the Coda Shop Counter for your guide at the scheduled time, Tours will last ~45 minutes. Punctuality is appreciated: Late-comers may join in at any point before the group heads up to the recording studio, about 20 minutes in.
Be advised that there is limited access [ stairs / elevator to the 3rd floor ] due to the nature of the historically preserved 1930’s construction. Please email tours@CitizenVinyl.com ahead of time with any questions or concerns!
“You can watch blobs of vinyl smooshed into discs, then trimmed into perfect circles, while listening to the Daily Sides—curated playlists available in printed form on clipboards. On one molasses-slow Asheville afternoon, as light streamed through some of the twenty-thousand glass bricks, Lauryn Hill’s voice filled the air. “ – Esquire
Tours Offered by Appointment Only, Wed-Sun
Help us kick off the start of our market season on March 16th! Now more than ever, local artists in WNC need your SUPPORT!
Shop a variety of local artwork/plants/crafts, sip your favorite craft beverage from Sideways Farm and Brewery, delight your tastebuds with a variety of food options, groove to some great music, and enjoy our acreage.
What makes ours different? Location, space for kids to play (including our NEW Kids Corner area), the farm (pick your own flowers after you shop), Bee 101 class from David at Bee Masters, etc.
Vendors, LIVE music, and food!
Recurs the 3rd Sunday of every month 12-4 PM (unless otherwise stated)
No more teachers … No more books! Bring your kiddo to Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co. on Merrimon with their final report card and get FREE TOKENS to their arcade! And a special prize for straight A’s! Games for grades! PLUS!
They’ll be playing cartoons on the big screen all summer! FREE!
AND!
Wednesdays are Kids Nights! Any kids meal + drink + 5 arcade tokens is only $5.00!
3rd Sundays of each month Sept-May
Welcome to the Asheville Area Family Folk Dance! Come enjoy a tradition of community dance and live music handed down from generation to generation! A dance leader will teach each dance in a way anyone can understand, and the live open band will have your toes tapping no matter what! These simple dances are a good intro for adults and children to traditional social dance such as contra, squares, circles, play-party games, and other formations. We will draw from the American folk tradition as well as a few international favorites. Expect an atmosphere of laughter, encouragement, and connection!
All ages are welcome, no experience necessary. Children must be accompanied by an adult, but adults need not be accompanied by a child.
BUILDING COMMUNITY THROUGH MUSIC. Chatt Hills Music brings a diverse lineup of musicians to Asheville and the surrounding areas. Expect to hear Americana, Singer-Songwriter, Jazz, Rock, or Classical music at any given concert. Kid friendly, and kids attend for FREE!
THE LINEUP:
APRIL 13TH, 2025: A Different Thread & The Wilder Flower TICKETS HERE
MAY 4TH, 2025: MAYA DE VITRY with special guest David Wimbish TICKETS HERE
MAY 18TH, 2025: LIZ LONGLEY with special guest JESSE RUBEN TICKETS HERE
JUNE 8TH, 2025: Heather Maloney & Friends TICKETS HERE
JUNE 15TH, 2025: South for Winter TICKETS HERE
JULY 20TH, 2025: Admiral Radio TICKETS HERE
AUGUST 17TH, 2025: A Tale of Two TICKETS HERE
ALL GAMES 7:30PM KICKOFF (EXCEPT FOR MAY 24TH WOMENS GAME)
PLAYED AT GREENWOOD FIELD, ON THE CAMPUS OF UNCA
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2025 HOME SCHEDULE:
Adult tickets for ages 12 and up
Youth tickets for ages 5 to 12
No ticket needed for ages 5 and under
FREE FAMILY THEATER!
Montford Park Players is North Carolina’s Longest Running Shakespeare Festival. Join them for live Shakespeare and other great classics at the Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre (92 Gay Street, Asheville). Completely FREE to attend on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings all summer long! All productions at 7:30pm.
2025 LINEUP:
If you’re looking for a spiritual option to summer camp, there are a LOT of churches in our area hosting Vacation Bible Schools, this summer! Not all churches have announced their schedule, so our calendar isn’t complete just yet, but it’s filling up fast. The majority of them are FREE (donations are gladly accepted, though)! SEE THE FULL LIST HERE
In addition to story times for the little ones (see our calendar for those), our local libraries have several clubs, classes, and other fun programs on their calendars for families with kids of all ages. And, unless they specify that you must register in advance for an event, you won’t likely need a library account with that county to attend them! Visit the events calendars for the numerous library systems we have in our area, below …
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BUNCOMBE COUNTY LIBRARIES … EVENT CALENDAR HERE
HENDERSON COUNTY LIBRARIES … EVENT CALENDAR HERE
HAYWOOD COUNTY LIBRARIES … EVENT CALENDAR HERE
MCDOWELL COUNTY LIBRARIES … EVENT CALENDAR HERE
6:00am-8:00am and 11:00am-1:00pm, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
The YMCA of Western North Carolina partners with Buncombe County Schools to manage the new Buncombe County Schools Aquatics Center. The 17,380 square foot building features a 10-lane, 400,000 gallon climate-controlled pool. The center also includes 420 spectator seats, a state-of-the-art timing and scoreboard system, UV water filtration, and numerous energy efficient design features.
At this time, we only offer lap swimming. Children under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult and pass a swim test to be in the pool.
The City of Hendersonville’s Skate Park is located in Patton Park across from Patton Pool. The skate park is open to the public and is an unattended facility, the hours are 7am-11pm.
NO BIKES ALLOWED ON THE SKATE PARK
The Skate Park features include:
If you haven’t heard of Kids in Parks or TRACK Trails yet, you’ve been missing out! TRACK Trails is a trail program that was started here in Asheville (but has since spread across the country!) by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, a network of local Pediatricians, and the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, to “promote children’s health and the health of our parks”, and we have several in our area. Kids in Parks is an ever expanding network of family-friendly, self-guided outdoor adventures, and “include hiking trails, biking trails, geocaching trails, paddling trails, nature trail disc golf courses, and even adventures you can do in your own back yard”. Register your child online, and as they complete the trail, they earn prizes for tracking their adventures! Best of all, it’s all FREE!
Our comprehensive guide to Asheville Area Playgrounds is your ultimate resource for recreation in Asheville with kids! Indoor playgrounds, as well as outdoor playgrounds are included, with everything you need to know in advance to plan your family friendly outing in Asheville and the surrounding area!
This guide is a continuous work in progress, and we will keep adding to it, so keep checking back!
Available Monday through Friday, 8:00am-12:00pm
Some classes currently have a waitlist; register now and you will receive an update email regarding the enrollment status.
Asheville is an amazing city with so much to see and do, and while we have some amazing group tour companies, sometimes we want to venture out on our own to learn about the culture and history of our area … with just our family, on our schedule and timetable, to explore our interests, on our own path. A great way to do that, and a great way to save some money (THESE ARE ALL FREE), is to take one of the many self-guided tours that have been created by our local experts at our tourism centers, and historic sites. We’ve compiled the list attached of some of our favorites for you, with links to them all, that we hope you will enjoy and learn as much from as we did and still do. If we’re missing any of your favorites, let us know, so that we can share them, too!
Check them all out at the link above
FREE ADMISSION TO LOCAL ATTRACTIONS! Buncombe County Public Libraries have teamed up with local attractions and museums to offer FREE ADMISSION for library card holders through their ZOOM pass program! All you’ll need is a Buncombe County library card in good standing to reserve one. You can make 1 reservation at a time per library card, up to 30 days in advance, and you may visit each attraction once every 30 days. The process is simple! Reserve your pass on the Buncombe County Libraries website, pick up the pass at the library of your choosing, and go have fun! They’ll even send you an email confirmation of your reservation and a reminder email the day before your visit, so you don’t forget!
All reservations are made online, so you won’t be able to call or email to make a reservation.
WHAT’S CURRENTLY BEING OFFERED:
ASHEVILLE ART MUSEUM … Pass admits 2 adults and 4 children under age 18. For general admission only and doesn’t include special exhibits or events that have an additional charge.
ASHEVILLE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE … Pass admits four people (Children under 2 are admitted free and don’t need a pass). For admission only and doesn’t include additional programming fees.
HANDS ON! CHILDREN’S MUSEUM … Family Pass admits 4 people. You can get $10 off a membership to Hands On! on the day of your ZOOM pass visit.
NORTH CAROLINA ARBORETUM … One pass per car for personal vehicles. Doesn’t include special exhibits or events that have an additional charge (like Winter Lights).
PADDLEBOATS AT LAKE JULIAN … One ZOOM pass = one 30 minute Paddleboat ride. Minimum passenger age is 2 years old. Minimum age to rent a paddleboat is 16 years old and the paddleboat must have at least one person 16 years of age or older on board.
TEAM ECCO AQUARIUM AND SHARK LAB … The ZOOM Family Pass for the Team Ecco Aquarium and Shark Lab admits 4 people. This pass is available Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
WATERCRAFT LAUNCH PASS AT LAKE JULIAN … One ZOOM Pass = one personal watercraft daily launch pass (no gas powered engines on the lake).
WNC NATURE CENTER … Family Pass admits 2 adults and 4 children under age 18 (Children under 2 are admitted free and don’t need a pass).
WELL PLAYES BOARD GAME CAFE … There are two passes available Monday through Thursday starting July 1st. Each pass admits two adults and four kids.
BUNCOMBE COUNTY OUTDOOR POOLS … Seasonally, Beginning May 27th in 2023! Family Pass admits 4 people, and can be used at Cane Creek Pool, Erwin Pool, Hominy Valley Pool, North Buncombe Pool, Owen Pool.
Buncombe County Libraries also partners often with Asheville Community Theatre and NC Stage Company for passes to performances
Seasonally, you may even see passes to Buncombe County pools in the summer, and passes to Winter Lights at Lake Julian in the Winter!
Live in neighboring counties? Several other counties have their own version of ZOOM! We know Henderson County, Transylvania County, Madison County, and Polk County all do! You can also apply for an out of county library card with Buncombe County for a small $20 yearly fee, in which case you’ll qualify to participate in their ZOOM Pass program! Apply in person at any Buncombe County Library branch to become an out of county cardholder. Our guide to Buncombe County Library branches HERE
GET YOUR PIN NUMBER READY AND RESERVE YOUR ZOOM PASS HERE
The Henderson County Public Library has teamed up with local attractions and museums to offer FREE ADMISSION for library card holders with a ZOOM pass! Reservations can be made between 5 and 30 days in advance. Your household may visit one attraction every 30 days. Check the pass details to see how many adults and children gain entry with each pass.
👉 Have your library card ready and book yours at the link above
The Transylvania County Public Library has teamed up with local attractions and museums to offer FREE ADMISSION for library card holders with a ZOOM pass! Reservations can be made between 5 and 30 days in advance. Your household may visit one attraction every 30 days. Check the pass details to see how many adults and children gain entry with each pass.
👉 Have your library card ready and book yours at the link above
The Fairy Trail at Bullington Gardens in Hendersonville is open for their summer season, and you should add it to your must do list with the family! Developed by Fairies and dedicated volunteers, Bullington Gardens’ Fairy Trail is a whimsical treat for the young and the young at heart. Featuring charming vignettes and villages, the fairy trail will charm you with its thoughtful design, eye catching displays and secret woodland trail.
When you first enter the parking lot with the main building in front of you, you’ll drive to your left to park, but the entrance to the path that leads you to the Fairy Trail is visible to your right. Park and head back to that area and walk down that path. You’ll pass the Therapy Garden and come upon a little gift shop. Just past the gift shop to your right, you’ll see a pop up tent in the distance with a Fairy Trail Ambassador to greet you. You’ll sign the guest book here, and be given a few instructions as well as a Gnome Quest Scavenger Hunt Sheet (if you find all of the gnomes, you’ll win a prize!). Visitors are spaced apart by 3-4 minutes to help keep the experience magical. Stay on the path and follow the arrows. You are asked not to move anything, but be sure to open the doors at the base of the trees to find the fun surprises behind them! Such a sweet experience!
NEW THIS YEAR! The fairy village will be completely transformed this year, with the addition of a ‘Book Nook’ for storytime, and Fairy Acres for Building your own Fairy Home! They also added a Story Walk last year that was damaged during Hurricane Helene, but it will be back up by June 2nd.
ABOUT BULLINGTON GARDENS … Bullington Gardens was once a private residence and the nursery of a retired NYC policeman with a love for horticulture. After he retired and moved to Hendersonville, he opened a farm nursery which, following his death in 1989, was donated to the Henderson County Education Foundation and became Bullington Horticultural Learning Center.
DONATE IF YOU CAN! … the Fairies would like us to remind you that they are a non-profit and donations are greatly appreciated. Help keep the fairies living in the style with which they’ve become accustomed.
Open Daily with Staff on Hand Starting May 23rd (Memorial Day Weekend) through Labor Day 9:00am-6:00pm – Sliding Rock is a 60 foot natural water slide in Pisgah Forest, that ends in a 8 foot deep pool of (VERY COLD! Reportedly 55°) water. There are 2 observation areas (*** one above and one below, but the lower one sustained severe damage as a result of the debris caused by Tropical Storm Fred in 2021 and has not yet been replaced ***), and it is open for viewing year-round, and sliding starting at the end of April, but only staffed during the season. Children under 7 years of age must slide with an adult (one adult per child and child must be able to swim).
$5/Daily Fee Per Person (Fee revenue allows for expanded hours for lifeguards, and helps pay for maintenance). Cash and credit cards accepted. No entrance fee is taken during the off-season.
Coast guard approved life jackets are the only approved flotation devices allowed.
No alcohol, and no picnicking allowed, but there are nice picnic areas down the road a bit, so pack a cooler and make a day of it.
There are stairs, so it is not stroller or wheelchair accessible beyond the upper overlook platform.
Cell service isn’t accessible past Dolly’s Ice Cream, basically from the beginning of the approach road.
Lockers are available for rent but most people seem to leave their bags at the bottom of the stairs.
Bathrooms and changing rooms are located at the top near the upper observation platform.
The water is SHOCKINGLY COLD. We cannot stress this enough. Even the strongest swimmers get disoriented by it, so we highly recommend kids wearing floatation devices until you know they can handle it (available for rent).
We recommend well fitting water shoes for everyone. You will be climbing over rocks, climbing up a waterfall, and climbing up gravely stairs to get up to the lockers and bathrooms. The water can be a little forceful as well and will knock you out of your shoes if they are loose.
This is a heavily-used recreation area; come early and try to avoid visiting during the peak hours of noon-4 pm.
Dogs are allowed AT Sliding Rock, but not ON Sliding Rock
The Children & Family Resource Center of Henderson County GLO (Grow Learn Outreach) Mobile supports and enhances kindergarten readiness and transition activities in the Henderson County community. Our early learning outreach bus aims to remove barriers such as transportation, availability of care, and expenses that often keep children out of a preschool setting and will allow parents to access the necessary support for their children to begin kindergarten ready to learn. The mobile unit enhances kindergarten readiness and transition activities in Hendersonville removing barriers such as transportation, availability of care, and expenses that often keep children out of a preschool setting and will allow parents to access the necessary support for their children to begin kindergarten ready to learn.
The mobile unit is intended to be a vehicle for outreach into our community to engage children ages birth through 5, not in licensed child care centers. We know the earliest days of a child’s life can be one of the most important indicators of future success and by bringing quality early childhood experiences into neighborhoods with barriers like transportation, primary language, and limited income, we hope to build the child’s foundation for future learning. It is our goal to assist these caregivers in becoming their child’s first educator, empowering them to be the support their children need to start kindergarten prepared.
The GLO Mobile visits areas of the community furthest from child care centers that may have issues with transportation. These visits help engage children and caregivers to create positive connections with other families, provide developmentally appropriate activities for the caregiver and child to do together, and connect families to resources.
Every Monday, Wednesday & Thursday June 2nd-Aug 7th, 10:00am, 10:15am and 10:30am (all 3 times on all 3 days)
Summer Movie Clubhouse is back at The Carolina Cinemark Asheville this summer, with 10 weeks of kid-approved movies, starting June 2nd! Enjoy safe and exciting big-screen entertainment for just $1.75 per ticket for each movie. They’ll have something for every young movie lover (and their parents). Save even more with $1 OFF deals on kids’ snack packs or any size popcorn and drink combo during Summer Movie Clubhouse showtimes. Tickets can be made online or at the box office.
2025 SCHEDULE:
FREE | 10am-12pm
Giant building blocks, tunnels, and fun games await on special days of open play geared for ages 2-5 years-old. No advance registration or sign up required, adults must accompany children the entire time.
Story Times for Kids at the library focuses on early literacy as it helps children develop a joy for learning language and enjoying books. Story times are subject to cancellation or rearrangement on the schedule without notice. Please check to be sure that the story time is still scheduled to occur, at the link we’ve provided.
DESCRIPTIONS:
Preschool Story Time is for children ages 3 to 5 years. Activities include stories, songs, flannel board stories, action rhymes, and more. Each program concludes with a special craft kit.
Family Story Time is designed for children and their families. Activities include stories, songs, flannel board stories, action rhymes, and more. Each program concludes with a special craft kit.
Music & Movement is an interactive program designed for children and their families. Activities include music, movement, flannel board stories, action rhymes, and more.
Bouncing Babies is a special program for babies ages 0 to 18 months and their caregiver. Activities include lap rhymes, songs, stories, and more. Each program concludes with playtime and exploration.
MONDAYS:
TUESDAYS:
WEDNESDAYS:
THURSDAYS:
Mobile Food Markets visit dozens of locations each month, pairing free healthy food with tasty recipes, practical cooking demonstrations, and valuable nutrition information that’s easy to understand. Spanish-speaking community staff are also on hand to connect attendees with local resources. Distributions are FREE and open to the public, no questions asked.
FIND THE SCHEDULE AT THE LINK HERE
Every Monday of each month @ 10:30am
Get your body moving while making connections with other parents! Meet at French Broad River Park in front of the bathrooms before heading out on our hour-long stroll.
Interested in leading this group, either consistently or occasionally? Become one of their Community Ambassadors by sending them a DM!
Be sure to check the Homegrown families community page for cancellations due to weather or changes in dates AT THIS LINK each Monday morning to confirm location.