ARCHR, the Asheville Regional Coalition for Home Repair, is launching a summer campaign to raise $500,000 in five weeks beginning Monday, July 27. With a $500,000 leadership gift from Deerfield, the coalition aims to direct another $1 million toward post-Helene home repairs. ARCHR has helped more than 200 low-income households in Buncombe and Madison counties, with about 400 applicants still awaiting assistance. Learn more.
The Asheville Comedy Festival returns August 6–8 with more than 25 nationally touring comedians from across the United States. Now in its 18th year, the festival has become a respected showcase for emerging comedy talent, with alumni advancing to late-night shows, streaming specials and national tours. The event also includes industry workshops, networking opportunities and showcases designed to introduce audiences to rising performers. Learn more and purchase tickets here.
The Asheville Film Festival returns Friday, August 21, through Sunday, August 23. The festival weekend includes a Friday matinée film block, short film screenings, a Saturday awards night gala and additional Sunday film blocks, with filmmaker Q&As following each block. The public may purchase tickets for individual screenings, workshops and the gala, with VIP All-Access Passes and day passes also available. Learn more and buy tickets and passes here.
The Asheville Pickleball Association and Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission are hosting Blue Ridge Pickleball from Wednesday, Aug. 12, through Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, at Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville. Attendees should use the Flint Street entrance, located between the venue and the Basilica near the Flint Street/Hiawassee intersection. Events include introduction to pickleball clinics, open play sessions, paid tournaments, and exhibition matches, with prices varying by event, date, and time. Learn more and register here.
The Asheville Tourists will host a Tourists Fitness series on the HomeTrust Park outfield with local studios ISI Elite Training, Rad Yoga and Pure Barre. The remaining 60-minute beginner sessions are scheduled for Saturday, August 8, and Saturday, September 26, 2026. Gates open at 7:30 a.m.; instruction runs from 8–9 a.m. Tickets are $25 per class. Learn more and register here.
The Asheville Tourists are also hosting Carolina EGGfest at HomeTrust Park — the only Big Green EGGfest in North and South Carolina — on September 19. Held on the outfield, the event invites tasters to sample grilled and smoked dishes while supplies last, explore vendors, and enjoy the ballpark setting. Grill teams can compete on supplied Big Green Eggs and serve attendees. Lightly used demo Big Green Eggs are available for pre-purchase at discounted prices. Learn more and register here.
Arts AVL invites artists of all disciplines to apply for the 2026-2027 Artist Support Grant from July 21 through August 17. Awards of $500 to $1,500 are available for artists in Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Polk, Rutherford and Transylvania counties. Funds may support new work, business operations, audience development, equipment, materials, training, travel or promotion. The regional grant is managed with partner arts councils across Region 17.Learn more and register here.
AVL Sounds Fest returns August 6-9, 2026, as a venue-based music festival across Asheville. Presented by Wicked Weed Brewing and Worthwhile Sounds, the four-day event will feature local, regional and national artists at more than 15 concert halls, clubs and outdoor venues, with wristbands providing access to more than 200 shows. A portion of ticket proceeds will support the WNC Long Haul Recovery and Resilience Fund. Learn more.
The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation is hosting a two-state summit August 25–27 at Biltmore in Asheville, NC, for residents and regional leaders from the 29-county Blue Ridge Parkway corridor. Attendees representing tourism, economic development, outdoor recreation, planning, nonprofits and communities will hear updates, discuss grant programs and next steps, and build connections to advance the Blue Ridge Rising Action Plan. Learn more and register here.
Bridging the Beat is hosting “Go-Go Live AVL” this weekend. The festivities will bring Go-Go, the official music of Washington, D.C., to Asheville from Friday, Aug. 7, through Sunday, Aug. 9. Led by Sekou Coleman and presented with the YMI Cultural Center and community partners, the weekend will include lectures, conversations, visual art, dance exhibitions, youth programming, DJs, food and fellowship. The initiative highlights Black cultural traditions and invites attendees to learn, listen and participate. Learn more.
Buncombe County is recruiting paid poll workers to support safe, secure, and accessible elections for more than 216,000 registered voters. Nearly 200 workers are needed for 13 early voting sites from Oct. 15-31, 2026. Applicants must be available throughout the early voting period and will receive training before serving morning or afternoon shifts of at least seven hours. Pay ranges from $15 to $17 per hour, depending on role. Learn more and apply here.
Buncombe County Special Collection’s Carolina Record Shop is presenting an exhibit featuring 29 artists and 50 years of urban art in Asheville. The July-August 2026 exhibit includes a graffiti “Free Wall” where visitors can learn lettering techniques. A closing reception will be held from 3-5 p.m. on Aug. 28, 2026, with artists present and light refreshments. A separate registration-required event with Zen Sutherland will teach aerosol art and AVL ROMP customization. Learn more.
Exponential Scholars is hosting the NC Idea Challenge for students in grades 5-12 and educators across North Carolina. Participants submit a two-minute video describing an idea to improve their community. Up to 500 winners can receive $1,000, with the possibility of up to $10,000 more as projects progress. The challenge is open now, with submissions due Oct. 4, 2026, and rolling reviews allowing revised entries after initial feedback. Learn more and submit your videos here.
Highland Brewing Company is hosting a free, family-friendly back-to-school art market on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026. The Event Center and Barrel Room will feature a curated selection of local vendors, artisans, makers, and upcyclers offering handcrafted goods, original art, and one-of-a-kind items. Attendees can shop local, enjoy craft beer, and support Asheville’s creative community during an afternoon focused on local goods and seasonal back-to-school energy. Learn more.
The Laura Jane Musser Fund is offering Rural Initiative and Environmental Initiative grants. Rural Initiative applications are accepted September 1 through October 1, 2026, for communities of 10,000 or fewer, with planning grants up to $5,000 and implementation grants up to $25,000. Environmental Initiative applications are accepted September 8 through October 8, 2026, with planning grants up to $8,000 and implementation grants up to $35,000. Learn more and apply here.
The Legacy Neighborhoods Coalition invites Asheville residents, former residents, families, and neighbors to the inaugural Legacy Neighborhoods Coalition Festival. The free, two-day event will honor Burton Street, East End/Valley Street, Emma, Shiloh, and Southside through stories, traditions, creativity, and community action. Planned activities include live music, cultural performances, local food, vendors, visual art, neighborhood storytelling, and youth and family programming focused on sustaining Asheville’s historic communities. Learn more.
The Mars Landing Arts Center in Mars Hill will present Connecting to Place II: Blue Ridge Craft Trails Invitational 2026 from Friday, August 7, through Sunday, September 27, 2026. Curated by M. Anna Fariello, the exhibition features artists from the Blue Ridge Craft Trails working in clay, fiber, metal, paper and wood. The show includes new pieces, and artwork will be available for purchase. Learn more.
The Montford Park Players are producing The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel at the Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre, 92 Gay Street, in Asheville’s Montford District. Performances run August 7-29 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings at 7:30 p.m. The show is free, with premium seating available. Written by local playwright and actor Audrey Kopp, the play offers a new take on Baroness Orczy’s classic stories.
Mountain BizWorks has opened applications for the Catalyst Building Resiliency Micro-Grant Program, supporting early-stage entrepreneurs and small business owners facing barriers to traditional capital in Western North Carolina. Applications are accepted through Monday, August 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Micro-grants begin at $1,000 and may support marketing, equipment, supplies, technology, software, operational improvements or professional coaching. Learn more and apply here.
The Small Business Center Network is hosting an in-person Lunch and Learn workshop, “Culture: Your Competitive Advantage,” on Aug. 19, 2026, from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce, 204 Kanuga Road, Hendersonville, NC 28792. The free 90-minute session will help business leaders assess their culture, identify priority focus areas, create a written 30-day action plan, and choose one immediate “Monday Move.” Learn more and register here.
The YMCA of Western North Carolina is enrolling children in 2026-2027 after-school programs for Asheville City, Buncombe County, and McDowell County schools. Registration for the first week ends Aug. 14, 2026; programs run from school dismissal until 6 p.m., with School’s Out days from 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Options include drop-in, part-time, full-time, and year-round care. A $35 registration fee and valid card are required. Learn more and register here.
New & Noteworthy
AdventHealth has received Certificate of Need approval to establish home-based hospice services in Haywood County, expanding access to faith-based, whole-person end-of-life care. The service builds on AdventHealth’s long-standing presence in Western North Carolina, including cancer care in Haywood County and orthopedic services through AdventHealth | Southeastern Orthopedics and Spine at Haywood. AdventHealth Hospice will provide comfort-focused, multidisciplinary support for patients and families close to home.
Buncombe County received seven 2026 National Association of Counties Achievement Awards, including its first Best-in-Category recognition for Economic Services’ Staff Development Training program. The awards were announced during NACo’s July 2026 conference, which included more than 3,000 counties nationwide. Staff Development Manager Heather Ramsey credited the team’s curriculum development, recorded training sessions, NC FAST trend tracking, and platform improvements. The program is now used by 73 North Carolina counties and state health agencies. Learn more.
DMJPS PLLC (DMJPS), a leading North Carolina CPA and advisory firm, advanced to No. 146 on the INSIDE Public Accounting (IPA) 500 list. They rose from their previous position of No. 169 in 2025. This latest ranking reflects the firm’s continued growth, investment in its people and commitment to delivering exceptional client service across North Carolina and beyond. Learn more.
The North Carolina Department of Public Health has launched a dashboard tracking cyclosporiasis cases as the intestinal illness rises in North Carolina and other states. Cyclosporiasis is caused by the cyclospora parasite, which can contaminate food or water; past outbreaks have involved fresh produce. NCDHHS is working with state and local partners to identify possible sources. Recent North Carolina cases reported parsley and cilantro consumption more often than expected. Learn more.
Potential New Boyfriend was named to USA TODAY’s 2026 Bars of the Year list, released July 29, 2026. The list features 38 venues, from dives to high-end cocktail bars. The West Asheville wine and dessert bar and listening lounge was recognized for its welcoming atmosphere, music and food and drink offerings, including house-made artisan ice cream. The bar’s founders say that the concept is designed to feel unusual, comfortable and inclusive. Learn more.
University of North Carolina Asheville announced Rusty Edwards as the newest member of its Board of Trustees after unanimous approval by the UNC System Board of Governors in July 2026. Edwards is Regional Executive in Commercial Banking for Western North Carolina and the Upstate South Carolina region at First Bank. He brings more than 30 years of banking leadership experience, including roles at First Bank, Wells Fargo/Wachovia and RBC Centura. Learn more.
Community Input
The City of Asheville would like public feedback on The Biltmore Village Infrastructure Recovery Project, which seeks to restore public assets damaged by Tropical Storm Helene. The City is emphasizing that community input is a vital component of this design process. Learn more and submit feedback here. The survey will remain open until August 11, 2026. Learn more and submit feedback here.
The One Book, One Buncombe planning committee is looking for feedback on its next great read. They would specifically like help not only selecting the next book but also in understanding what gets readers excited about the program. Please note that the committee gives special consideration to living authors with a local or regional connection to Buncombe County, North Carolina or the Southern Appalachians. Learn more and submit feedback here.