AdventHealth Hendersonville invites the community to Propelled by Pink on Wednesday, October 7, from 5:30–7 p.m. at 1151 Naples Road, Hendersonville, across from the hospital. The free event begins with A Time of Hope and Remembrance, followed by a 1-mile Breast Cancer Awareness Walk at 6 p.m. Registration is not required. AdventHealth Cancer Services physicians, nurses, and team members will participate, and refreshments and awareness giveaways will be available. Families and friends are welcome. Learn more.
AmeriHealth Caritas NC is hosting a facilitated workshop on reflection, inquiry and organizational learning on October 20th from 5:30PM–7PM at the AmeriHealth Caritas Wellness & Opportunity Center, 216 Asheland Avenue, Asheville. Robert V. Sylvester, founder of OMLIGN, will lead dialogue examining how assumptions and differing perspectives influence problem-solving and organizational performance. Participants will explore how reflection can expand understanding and reveal possibilities that may be missed when moving directly from problem to solution. Learn more and register here.
ananda hair studio presents a one-night, 1960s-inspired evening of art, fashion, music, and philanthropy on Sunday, October 18, from 5:00–9:00 p.m. at its Merrimon Avenue studio in Asheville, NC. The immersive event will feature a live hair and fashion show, vintage shopping, local artists, makers, musicians, and stylists. Proceeds support Asheville GreenWorks and the River Arts District Artists. Guests are encouraged to wear 1960s-inspired attire. Learn more and register here.
Asheville Oktoberfest returns Saturday, October 3, from 1–5 p.m. on Coxe Avenue in downtown Asheville’s South Slope Brewery District. Presented by Fields Automotive, the event will feature local breweries, traditional Oktoberfest games, live entertainment, food, and beer samples. The new location places the festival within a neighborhood known for breweries, restaurants, and independent businesses. Attendees are encouraged to explore South Slope before, during, and after the afternoon celebration. Learn more and purchase tickets here.
The Asheville Tourists have announced the inaugural Downtown Diamond Dash 5K at HomeTrust Park on Saturday, October 17, 2026. Race-day check-in begins at 7 a.m.; advance pickup is available at the Tourists Box Office from 3–6 p.m. Friday, October 16. Registration includes an official timed bib and a post-race craft beer or Powerade. Registrations completed by September 18, 2026, also include an event T-shirt. Spectators may attend free, with select concessions available. Learn more and register here.
Asheville Yards is hosting an outdoor mini golf pop-up throughout October in downtown Asheville, with food from Asheville Brewing. Rounds cost $10 Tuesday–Friday and $12 Saturday–Sunday. Hours are 4–9 p.m. Tuesday–Friday and 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; last entry is 30 minutes before closing. Local carpenter and mini-golf specialist Justin Kaiser handcrafted the entire course for families, dates and groups of friends. Learn more.
The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area will host the free Feed & Seed Fall Sessions at 7 p.m., featuring five-piece bluegrass band Backline on Oct. 17 and Western North Carolina-based six-piece bluegrass and Americana band Upstream Rebellion on Nov. 14. Presented through Blue Ridge Music Trails with the Jazz Foundation of America, the series continues a Hurricane Helene recovery partnership that creates paid opportunities for musicians and brings audiences to a regional music venue. Learn more.
Bounty & Soul will host Farm to Fork 2026 on October 3 from 5–8 p.m. at The Mule in Asheville. The annual signature fundraiser brings together Western North Carolina chefs and local farmers to create seasonal small plates and celebrate the community supporting the organization’s work. Proceeds benefit Bounty & Soul’s mission to address food insecurity and expand access to fresh, nutritious food across Western North Carolina. 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.
The Center for Craft opens Crafting Variance on Friday, October 9. Guest curator Lola Ben-Alon of Columbia University brings together nine U.S. and international artists working with natural, living, discarded, and changing materials. Sculpture, film, objects, and experiments use sand, clay, maize, plant fibers, fungi, bacteria, recycled plastics, and more. A microscope station and the Center’s Materials Collection let visitors examine and handle samples while exploring connections among craft, science, ecology, history, and diasporic traditions. Learn more.
The City of Asheville is accepting Event Support Grant applications from nonprofits presenting free, public events permitted in Asheville streets, parks, and outdoor spaces. Typical awards range from $3,000 to $10,000, with ArtsAVL administering the program. Priority supports arts access, community engagement, cultural heritage, and quality of life. Awards will be announced in mid-November, and funded programs may occur from January 1 through December 31, 2027. Eligibility guidelines and applications are available. Learn more and apply here.
The City of Asheville and Asheville Tourists will host the inaugural Asheville Grass Open October 2–4, 2026, at HomeTrust Park. A welcome party is October 1 at MLK Park, and different sessions will take place throughout the three event days. Supporters include New Belgium Brewing, Park & Sun Sports, Volleyball Life, AVL Hoppers, Xcel Volleyball, 431 Sports, iHeart Media Asheville, and Mountain Madre. Learn more and register here.
Devil’s Foot will host a soda release party with Asheville-based Instagram influencer “Ashevillish” at The Mule on October 10 from 12–3 p.m. The event will include Hop Ice Cream, live screen printing by Asheville Printing Company, and music from Hot Bread Selectors. Guests can have quotes from the soda cans printed on T-shirts. A portion of proceeds will benefit the Asheville City Schools Foundation. Learn more.
The French Broad Food Co-op is seeking owners to serve on its Board of Directors and guide the community-owned grocery store’s policies and future. Applications are due October 7; questions may be sent to bod@fbfcboard.org. The elected board represents owners, holds legal responsibility, ensures sound management, and sets long-range goals. It does not manage operations, select products, or supervise staff other than the general manager. Terms are three years, limited to two, followed by a two-year wait. Learn more and apply here.
Montford Park Players will present The Hope of Oz at Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre, 92 Gay Street, in Asheville’s historic Montford District, October 2–24, with performances Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Gabby Bailey, a Western North Carolina local and Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians member, directs. Her recent directing credits include Dance Nation at Asheville Community Theatre and The Thanksgiving Play at Attic Salt Theatre Company. Premium seating is available online; other admission is free. Learn more.
NCWorks will host a free remote-work career workshop Thursday, October 29, from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. at the ACNC Wellness & Opportunity Center, 216 Asheland Avenue, using the lower parking lot entrance. The webinar covers credible remote jobs, networking, remote-focused resumes, and work-from-home readiness. Recruiters will discuss opportunities and applications from 12–1 p.m. Attendees must create a free NCWorks account at www.ncworks.gov before the workshop. Learn more and register here.
The North Carolina Arboretum will hold a job fair for the 2026 Winter Lights season Tuesday, October 6, from 5:00–7:00 p.m. in the Arboretum Library. Part-time seasonal openings through early January include Parking Attendants, Admissions, Ticketing, Retail, and other roles starting at $16 per hour. Applicants should bring their availability, including holidays, and prepare for an on-site interview; qualified candidates may receive a conditional offer that evening. Learn more.
North Carolina Stage Company presents the psychological thriller “Misery” Wednesdays–Sundays, Oct. 14–Nov. 1, in downtown Asheville, with matinee and evening performances. Based on Stephen King’s novel and adapted by William Goldman, the production is directed by Charlie Flynn-McIver. Adult tickets are $27–$54 plus tax and fees; student tickets are $15 plus tax and fees. Choose Your Price Nights are Oct. 14, 15, and 16, with seats from $18.50 plus tax. Buy tickets here.
The Pisgah Conservancy is hosting the 2026 Pisgah Project Bike Raffle, with all proceeds benefiting the organization. The featured bike includes a hand-built steel Hall Pass frame from REEB Cycles, a Cane Creek Cycling Components HELM suspension fork and eeWing Titanium cranks, an Industry Nine carbon wheelset, and premium partner components. Entries are $30 each and available from 7 a.m. EDT Wednesday, September 23, 2026, through 8 p.m. EDT Wednesday, November 4, 2026. Learn more and enter here.
Pisgah Legal Services will welcome Brian Goldstone as keynote speaker for the 15th Annual Justice Forum on Thursday, October 22, at 7 p.m. at Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, Harrah’s Cherokee Center, in downtown Asheville. The free event requires registration and examines housing insecurity, poverty, and economic inequality through There is No Place for Us. Goldstone studied at Duke University and Columbia University; the book received honors from the Pulitzer Prize, Los Angeles Times, Carnegie Medal, The New York Times, and The Atlantic. Learn more and register here.
Tourists Signature Events will host a free BOO Ridge Halloween Movie Night on Friday, October 23, 2026, at HomeTrust Park. Gates open at 6 p.m. for the BOO Ridge Trail, with local businesses distributing candy until 7 p.m. An on-field screening of Disney’s 1993 Hocus Pocus begins at 6:30 p.m. and runs 96 minutes. Select concessions will remain available for purchase through 7:45 p.m. Learn more.
The WNC Seed & Plant Swap will take place Tuesday, October 20, from 4–7 p.m. at Stephens-Lee Community Center. The free gathering includes songs and storytelling by William Ritter, seed-saving information from Utopian Seed Project and the Appalachian Growers Seed Collective, an Edible Forest tour with Bountiful Cities, and local sustainability organizations. Attendees may bring seeds, houseplant cuttings, or divided perennials, but sharing materials is not required to participate or take items to grow. Learn more.
The Womyn Rising Celebration will take place Saturday, Oct. 17, from 2–7 p.m. at Hellbender, featuring more than 40 womyn-led artisan vendors, local food and beverages, children’s activities, and an Arete relaxation area. Soul-roots artist Abby Bryant and her band will perform two sets, with Sunnie Rae opening. Community groups will participate, and a limited merchandise collection by local artist Erika Busse will benefit Our VOICE, an Asheville nonprofit serving survivors in Buncombe County. Learn more.
New & Noteworthy
The Asheville Botanical Garden will remain at UNC Asheville under a new 50-year ground lease extending through 2072. The previous lease, signed in 2022, was scheduled to expire in 2032. The UNC Asheville Board of Trustees approved the amended agreement on August 19, followed by the UNC Board of Governors on September 17. The extension gives the 14-acre native plant preserve near the W.T. Weaver Boulevard entrance greater security for donor support, grants, maintenance, infrastructure, and botanical resources.
Asheville Media Group released its Best of Asheville 2026 winners after community members cast 255,868 votes. The annual community-choice program recognized 394 winners from 1,834 nominated businesses, people, places, and organizations across Asheville and Western North Carolina. Presented with Lusso Realty, the contest includes open nominations, public voting, and the annual Best of Asheville magazine. Winners across dining, retail, nonprofits, services, wellness, arts, entertainment, and attractions are available online and in the 2026 magazine. Learn more.
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Asheville Region will launch operations this fall, offering free, accessible youth enrichment at three Asheville-area locations. The initiative responds to statewide afterschool shortages identified in the 2025 America After 3PM report, which estimates that approximately 664,000 North Carolina children lack access. BGCAR plans eventual expansion north and west of Asheville while complementing established Clubs in Hendersonville, Brevard, Cashiers, and Forest City. The national network includes more than 5,500 Clubs serving over 4 million young people annually. Learn more.
Buncombe County received $786,000 from the Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program to repair and extend sidewalks in the Swannanoa Commercial Corridor as part of Tropical Storm Helene recovery. The North Carolina Department of Commerce launched the program in April 2025. The project covers Railroad Street, Alexander Place, and South Avenue and will improve approximately 1,000 square yards of pedestrian infrastructure, with construction management by the North Carolina Department of Transportation. A separate $10 million CDBG-DR request would add 2.25 miles along Highway 70.
Buncombe County announced Alex McKnight as Director of Public Safety Communications effective September 21. McKnight began with Buncombe County Public Safety Communications as a telecommunicator and field training communicator, then served as Business Manager for Emergency Services and Public Safety Communications. Appointed Interim Director in May, he holds industry certifications and a Master’s degree in Business Administration. He also serves with North Carolina Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 2, APCO International’s North Carolina Chapter, and the National Emergency Number Association.
Buncombe County Commissioners announced that Crescent Place Apartments in Arden received a $1.36 million 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credit award and $1.73 million in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funding. The awards support 60 new affordable housing units. The site is behind Herc Rentals off Hendersonville Road, across from St. Barnabas Church, and adjacent to the Lutheran Retirement Center and Lutheridge camp. Learn more.
The City of Asheville announced that Jackie Stepp has accepted the permanent position of Police Chief. Stepp has served the Asheville community for more than 20 years and has advocated for community-centered policing. She holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Western Carolina University and completed the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police, the FBI-LEEDA Trilogy Program, and the International Association of Chiefs of Police Women’s Leadership Institute. Learn more.
Devil’s Foot Beverage Company and Devil’s Foot Distillery have received B Corporation certification, verified by B Lab. The certification evaluates governance, labor practices, sourcing, environmental policy, transparency, accountability, and legal commitments beyond shareholder value. Devil’s Foot is the 13th Asheville-area company to earn the designation, joining local B Corps including New Belgium Brewing, East Fork Pottery, and French Broad Chocolates. B Local Asheville + WNC supports area businesses through the certification process. Learn more.
The Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina (GROW NC) unveiled the Western North Carolina Economic Recovery Plan as a long-term framework for rebuilding and growing the region nearly two years after Hurricane Helene. Developed with 28 counties, the Qualla Boundary, five regional councils of government, chambers, and economic development organizations, it establishes nine lines of effort with leads and Year 5 and Year 10 targets. It creates no appropriation and does not supersede local plans. Learn more.
HCA Healthcare is investing more than $32 million across Mission Health, including Mission Hospital, Angel Medical Center, Blue Ridge Regional Hospital, Mission Hospital McDowell, Highlands-Cashiers Hospital, Transylvania Regional Hospital, and CarePartners. More than $30 million will support Mission Hospital, including nearly $15 million for radiology and imaging equipment and $12 million for surgical and cardiovascular equipment. The upgrades will strengthen diagnostic, surgical, emergency, and specialized care across Western North Carolina.
Matcha Nude Founder and CEO Samantha Coffin has been accepted into the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program. The intensive, multi-week business education program features a curriculum designed by Babson College, one-on-one business advice, and connections with small-business owners. Funded entirely by the Goldman Sachs Foundation, participation costs $0. The program has more than 17,000 graduates across all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Learn more.
Mission Health’s Mountain Area Medical Airlift is marking four decades of critical air medical care across Western North Carolina and the surrounding region. Since launching Sept. 29, 1986, MAMA crews have transported more than 31,000 patients. MAMA 1 is based at Mission Hospital in Asheville; MAMA 2 was added at Angel Medical Center in Franklin in October 2004. The program now includes 36 medical crew members, 18 NICU flight team members and respiratory therapists, eight pilots, and five helicopter mechanics.
Pisgah Energy recently designed, developed, and installed a 680kWdc ground-mounted solar project for the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas at their Belmont, NC campus. Using 1,152 Qcells 590W panels and four SMA inverters, the system will generate more than 919,000kWh of emissions-free electricity annually and offset approximately 634 tons of carbon dioxide each year. Pisgah Energy serves commercial, municipal, and institutional clients across the Southeast with solar and energy-storage design, development, and construction. Learn more.
The RADA Foundation is preparing to announce the RAD Creative Campus, a permanent, artist-owned home for River Arts District artists. Plans call for two former industrial buildings totaling approximately 36,000 square feet at 123 and 135 Lyman Street. One would provide a welcome center and flexible space for music, theater, and multidisciplinary work; the other would house nonprofit offices and maker spaces for woodworking, welding, ceramics, and equipment such as kilns and sandblasters. Learn more.
The University of North Carolina Asheville announced Associate Professor of Music Toby King as the new Chair of the UNC System Faculty Assembly. King spoke at his first Board of Governors meeting today and is one of only two UNC Asheville faculty members appointed to the leadership position. His term runs from 2026–2028. He succeeds Wade Maki, Senior Advisor to the Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives at UNC Greensboro, who had served as chair since 2022.
Visit North Carolina launched the NC Hidden Gems GeoTour, leading travelers to 15 cache sites across the mountain, Piedmont, and coastal regions. Using the free Geocaching.com app, participants can download a passport through VisitNC.com or Geocaching.com; passports are also available at NC Welcome Centers. Each listing includes site details, cache hints, and a code word. Travelers who log 10 or more caches are eligible for a custom geocoin. Learn more.
The Western North Carolina VA Health Care System received the “Best Veterans Experience” award for VHA Level 1 complexity at the 2026 VA Customer Experience Symposium Awards Ceremony on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at VA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. This is WNCVAHCS’s fourth Best Experience award in recent years. The recognition reflects primary-care provider and inpatient hospital ratings and the Veteran Signals Trust Score measuring Veterans’ confidence in their facility and care teams. Learn more.
The WNC HR Association is now SHRM Western North Carolina, aligning the chapter more closely with its national affiliation through the Society for Human Resource Management while preserving its regional identity. The organization remains focused on professional development and networking for human resources professionals, people in adjacent fields, and others interested in human resources. As a regional hub, it connects practitioners and supports knowledge sharing that advances individual careers and organizational success. Learn more.
Community Input
The City of Asheville is replacing sidewalks on both sides of northern Lexington Avenue between Walnut Street and Woodfin Street/Hiawassee Street, and it is hosting a stakeholder meeting on Thursday, October 8 from 9-10 a.m. at Dobra Tea. Funded by the 2024 GO Bond, the project will improve pedestrian safety and accessibility. Impacted neighbors are invited to review updated plans and discuss construction timing before the 2027 kickoff at the stakeholder meeting. Learn more.