Asheville NC Weekend Events: WNC NAture Center Howl-O-Ween

October 25, 2014    Howl-O-Ween at the WNC Nature Center   This family-fun annual event offers spooky arts and crafts, games, and face painting, a hay maze, snacks and hot chocolate, and educational animal encounters throughout the day. All are welcome to come in costume. Regular admission rates apply.

Event Schedule:

11:30 - The Great Slimy Enrichment at the Otter Habitat
12:00 - Meet our Barred Owl at the Turtle Ampitheater
1:30 - Family Feud Game in the Barn
2:30 - The Great Pumpkin Enrichment at the Red Wolf Habitat
3:00 - Family Feud Game in the Barn
4:00 - The Great Pumpkin Enrichment at the Raccoon Habitat
5:00 - Costume Contest at the Petting Area
*There are 6 age categories for the costume contest, and each group will have 3 winners: scariest, cutest and most creative. Parents, you can dress up, too.

Asheville Weekend Events: Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair

October 24 - 26, 2014    Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair    Hosted by the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center, in the McGough Arena, the event includes 100’s of animals, crafters, workshops and demonstrations, See spinning, knitting, weaving, felting and much more!

Join a workshop class to improve your skills or just enjoy browsing and shopping the beautiful and unique apparel and wearable art at SAFF! Fri. and Sat. 9:00AM-6:00PM, Sun. 9:00AM-4:00PM, Admission $3/person, Youth under 13 yrs. old free.

Get complete visitor information on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide. 

 

Fall Harvest Days Antique Engine and Tractor Show in Asheville NC

October 23 - 25, 2014    Fall Harvest Days 27th Annual Antique Engine and Tractor Show    This event is held each year at the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center. This is the largest show in Western NC featuring crafters, demonstrations, farm tools, antique engines, antique tractor pulls & swap meet. The event will be held rain or shine, 8:00AM-5:00PM, Admission $8/day, Children under 12 free with paid adult. 

River Arts District Second Saturday Studio Tours and Events

October 11, 2014    River Arts District Second Saturday   Asheville’s River Arts District Artists open their studios for a day of family friendly fun, educational experiences, live demonstrations and to share their creations. Visit dozens of artists working in all types of media, available for viewing or purchase.

Asheville's River Arts District is a truly remarkable place and a "must see" in Asheville.  The District is open year around for visitors to meet 150+ artists in their studios, browse craft galleries and shops and stop to re-energize at one of the cafes or restaurants or the Brewery.  Schedules are available online. Twice a year, every second weekend in June and November, Asheville’s River Arts District opens to the public for two days of festivities known as the STUDIO STROLL.  On SECOND SATURDAYS artists welcome you into their studios to talk with them, see their latest artwork, watch demonstrations, and experience for yourself the magic hidden inside the time-worn factories and warehouses along the French Broad River. Click HERE for a map of the River Arts District and how to get to there. 

Carolina Bonsai Expo this Weekend in Asheville

October 11 - 12, 2014   Carolina Bonsai Expo   The juried work of bonsai enthusiasts from bonsai clubs in a six-state region of the United States is on exhibit. Every year the Expo includes free educational programming, workshops, a bonsai marketplace featuring plants, pots, tools and books for sale, ikebana displays and a live auction of bonsai and bonsai-related items. 

This year's guest artist is David DeGroot. The Expo is held annually at the North Carolina Aboretum, 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Wayin Asheville NC. The expo is free for Arboretum Society members or with the standard parking fee ($12 per personal vehicle).

Asheville Art in the Park Features Nationally Known Artists

October 11, 2014   Asheville Art in the Park  The finest handcrafted art in the area is on display and for sale at Pack Square in downtown Asheville. Nationally known artists exhibit at this event and the best part is- they are local. Muddy Knees Design and Production is proud to once again offer local artists the opportunity to connect with the public in Asheville‘s Pack Square Park. 3 consecutive Saturday’s in October.

Get links for Asheville lodging and accommodations  on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.

WNC Nature Center Hey Day Fall Family Festival

October 11, 2014   Hey Day Fall Family Festival at the WNC Nature Center   Enjoy the 37th annual Hey Day Festival featuring live music and dance performances, special animal encounters, educational programs, arts and crafts for the kids, and delicious food from local vendors. Hey Day is the Nature Center's biggest event of the year.

The WNC Nature Center is a living museum of plants and animals native to the Appalachian region. Our purpose is to increase public awareness and understanding of all aspects of the natural environment of Western North Carolina through hands-on and sensory experiences.

Each year welcome 100,000 visitors attend - of which 30,000 are school children expanding their classroom curriculum.  The Nature Center is located at 75 Gashes Creek Road in  Asheville NC

Asheville Downtown Art Walk Tonight

October 3, 2014   Asheville Downtown Gallery Association Art Walk   Enjoy the fine art and craft of the Asheville Downtown Gallery Association and see on of the reasons Asheville has been voted #1 small city in the country by the readers of American Style Magazine 2 years running. 20 downtown venues participate with a complete Downtown Gallery Guide and a map available at any participating downtown gallery, the Chamber of Commerce, or Pack Place.

Homebrew Night Tonight at Hops and Vines Plus Weekend FREE Beer and Wine Tastings

October 2, 4:30 - 7:30 PM at Hops and Vines, 797 Haywood Rd, Ste 100 in Asheville NC: Homebrewers Night. Homebrewers - bring in a few bottles of your labeled homebrew to share with others. This event is free and held ever 1st Thursday of the month. Don't miss this popular AVL beer event.
October 3,  5 - 7 PM:  Free tasting this Friday. Hobsons Brewery, Shropshire's sustainable brewer and creator of award winning beers. Dedicated to an ethos of using the finest locally sourced ingredients teamed with sustainable technologies has produced a range of award winning cask ale and bottled beers. Come check out their line up of English session beer including:

Manor Ale - Brewed specially to celebrate Severn Valley Railway's Manor Class steam engines. Severn Valley, one of Britain's finest Heritage Railways, chose Hobsons for its integrity and commitment to its roots in the heart of England. With aromas that reflect fresh grain, hops Manor Ale is a crisp refreshing amber bitter with biscuit overtones. 4.2%

Town Crier is a golden ale with a big voice, the elegant straw coloured bitter has a hint of sweetness which is complemented by subtle hop flavors, lending a dry finish. 4.5%

Postman's Knock is a beer offering an intelligent blend of complex ingredients, the rich brown beer with a smooth fine head has a very chocolately character. The combination of subtle flavour notes of vanilla, treacle and roast malt gives an initial rich sweetness leading to a velvety chocolate finish. 4.8%

October 4, 3 - 6 PM:  FREE Sherry Wine Tasting. Sherry is a unique kind of fortified wine made in what's called a "Solera" system. Come learn all about Sherries this Saturday as we taste three estate bottled, small production, family owned wines. The tastings will include:

Cesar Florido Fino:   Flor grows year-round in Chipiona making the Finos here very unique. Even more unique is the fact that this Fino is made from estate-grown palomino from the Balbaína and Miraflores vineyards. On the palate this Fino is light and soft with a pleasing brackish quality that is due to the winery’s proximity to the Atlantic Ocean.

La Cigarrera Manzanilla:  Aged four years on the lees before being bottled. Vibrant and fresh with aromas of yeasts and salinity. The wine on the palate is rich and substantial with a long finish.  El Maestro Pedro Ximenez:

El Maestro Pedro Ximenez:  This Pedro Ximénez is aged for 15 years in the solera system. A great nose of exotic spices and almost red fruits combine with more classic caramel overtones with great acidity.

10% off all featured bottles on Saturday.

Upcoming Homebrew Classes:  All-grain/advanced class with be held Sunday, October 5th from 11-4pm. This class is intended for those already familiar with extract brewing and want to advance their skills. We cover everything you need to know about all-grain brewing and you keep a six pack of the brew. $50/pp

Next Beginners class we be held Sunday, November 2nd from 12-4pm. We'll be brewing something for winter stout. $45 pp in advance.

About the Hops and Vines Classes...  All classes include a bottling class two weeks following the class date from 11am - noon. You keep a six pack of the beer we brew!  All classes brew on premises and cover everything from equipment to recipe formulation, fermentation, sanitation, bottling and more.  Call 828-252-5275, stop by the shop or e-mail info@hopsandvines.net to sign up, spaces are limited.

Mid-Year Marketing Session in Asheville Tomorrow

October 2, 2014 -  Registration will be held onsite for the Mid-Year Marketing Update regional session in Asheville tomorrow (Thursday). The session will be 9:30 AM - 2:00 PM at the Doubletree Hotel Biltmore Village in Asheville. Make plans to attend this free, interactive sessions. Since historic changes are coming to the N.C. Dept. of Commerce and the Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development, learn how these changes will impact the state's tourism marketing efforts at the Division's annual Mid-Year Marketing Updates. This year's updates will cover:

• Changes to the Dept. of Commerce and the Division
• Information on first year results from the new VisitNC.com
• The target marketing program slated for Atlanta and Washington, D.C.
• A new social media initiative highlighting the 150th observance of the Carolinas Campaign during the Civil War
• The full range of the state's marketing programs and more
• Updates from N.C. Dept. of Cultural Resources and N.C. Dept. of Environment & Natural Resources

Online registration is still open for the final MYMU meeting scheduled from 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM on Octtober 10 at the Winston-Salem Marriott (at the conclusion of the N.C. Tourism Leadership Conference). The regional forums will feature Executive Director Wit Tuttell and representatives from the state's agency partners, LGA, DCI and Journal Communications. Similar to last year, the meetings will allow for partner input and discussion.

American Craft Week Begins this Weekend in Asheville and other WNC Locations

October 3-12, 2014   American Craft Week A celebration of the wonders of American craft and its contribution to the culture and economy of the country. Dozens of participants in Western North Carolina host special events from open studios to major gallery exhibits. This year's events kick off with an address by Asheville mayor Esther Manheimer and a reception at 5:30 PM. Get a complete list of participants and events on the website.