Event Cancellations Due to Coronavirus

Several upcoming events have been canceled or postponed due to concerns about the new coronavirus (COVID-19). Events listed on this page may be outdated, so please visit the event website or contact the event organizer for the latest information.
Event organizers can contact us to update their event’s information.

Looking for things to do in Hendersonville, NC? Whether you’re a local or just passing through we’ve got loads of great tips and events to help you find your perfect adventure.

Saturday, April 17, 2021

April is Earth Month: virtual 5k/10k with the Bend Marathon!

Apr 17 all-day

Online w/ Sierra Club

We have 15 entries for free registration for the first 15 people to raise $150. Your virtual race can be completed between April 12 – May 25, plus you can earn other fun prizes:

We’ve set a goal to raise $150k for Earth Month to advance climate solutions, ensure clean air and water for all, and make the outdoors an accessible and safe place for everyone. 2021 is a crucial year for us to come together for the future health of our planet and generations to come.

If you’re interested in learning more about other ways to get involved in Earth Month, we’ll be releasing our schedule of activities later this week, or you can make a $39 donation to get the Marine Layer Earth Day T-shirt.

Categories: Community Donations Fundraisers Outdoors Sports

2021 Ville to Ville Craft Brew Relay

Apr 17 all-day

Asheville NC to Greenville SC

The Ville to Ville Craft Brew Relay celebrates the beautiful region from Asheville, NC to Greenville, SC. It is a 75-mile team running event traveling from the peaks to the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, through local craft breweries, and into quaint southern towns.

The 2021 Ville to Ville Craft Brew Relay will be held on April 17, 2021. The first flight of teams will start the relay around 5:00 am in Asheville, NC. Over the next few hours, additional teams will depart on their journey through the Carolinas.

Categories: Food & Drink Outdoors Sports

Asheville Parks picnic shelter reservations open

Apr 17 all-day

Asheville Parks

Asheville Parks & Recreation is happy to announce that picnic shelter reservations will resume. Rates begin at $40 per day and are available at 11 parks throughout the city. All shelters are available on a first-come, first-serve basis unless reserved. To reserve a shelter online, visit www.avlrec.com.

Under Gov. Roy Cooper’s most recent COVID guidelines executive order, now in effect, the number of people who may gather outdoors has increased from 50 to 100.

The City of Asheville Parks & Recreation Department is committed to providing quality facilities and programs in a safe environment for everyone in our community. For more information about everything Asheville Parks & Recreation offers, visit the website at www.ashevillenc.gov/parks, Facebook page at www.facebook.com/APRCA or call 828-259-5800.

Categories: Family Fun Outdoors Parks & Recreation

Bullington Gardens Annual Plant Sale

Apr 17 – May 31 all-day

online

Bullington Gardens, a horticultural education center and public botanical garden, holds its annual spring plant sale online beginning Monday, April 12. A descriptive list of offerings with photos can be viewed at www.bullingtongardens.org.
April is an ideal time to plant new shrubs and trees. Kick off your gardening season now with Bullington’s selection of ornamental landscape plants, wide variety of annuals, perennials, vegetables, shrubs and trees for sale. Low maintenance ornamental grasses have been a big hit these past few years, and gardeners can add color and texture to their plantings with red switchgrass, little bluestem, and golden sedges. May’s warmer soil temperatures mean it’s time for the more tender plants. Victory vegetable gardens were wildly popular in 2020, and this trend is expected to continue. Gardeners will find many varieties of vegetable starts to feed the body and the palette. Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, squashes, and more are available. Herbs, including lavenders, tarragon, rosemary, and lemongrass, are also offered.
Bullington Gardens is located at 95 Upper Red Oak Trail in Hendersonville. For more information, call Bullington Gardens at 828-698-6104 or visit bullingtongardens.org.

Categories: Community Education Farmers Market Fundraisers Garden Garden Events Market Outdoors

Nantahala River Rafting Fully Guided

Apr 17 all-day

Nantahala Outdoor Center

guests rafting on the Nantahala River Raft & Duck Rentals in North Carolina trip

A guided whitewater rafting trip is one of the best ways to experience the Nantahala Gorge. The crystal-clear Nantahala River is the perfect family-friendly river where experienced river guides will help you navigate through splashy Class II-III rapids and bouncy waves, with occasional calmer waters where you can enjoy the spectacular mountain scenery. The fully guided rafting trip the most popular adventure at NOC, with thousands of families returning year after year.

Categories: Family Fun Outdoors Sports

National Park Week Celebrations

Apr 17 all-day

National Parks Near You

JOIN THE CELEBRATION

We invite you to join us and make a difference for the national parks and programs you love. Whether you give, share, join, or do all three, we’re grateful that you are part of the park community!

With over 400 national parks across the country, National Park Week is a great time to #FindYourPark (o major dicho, #EncuentraTuParque), #RecreateResponsibly, and show our treasured national parks that you care. The National Park Foundation is proud to protect wildlife and park lands, preserve history and culture, educate and engage youth, and connect people everywhere to the wonder of parks.

Canyonlands National Park

APRIL 17: PARK RX DAY

Being outdoors supports wellness in a number of ways, making you stronger, happier, healthier, and more productive. Enjoy some fresh air and reflect on the ways you can take care of the parks as much as they take care of you. Discover NPF programs that are helping parks be more resilient and sustainable, as well as those that contribute to landscape and wildlife conservation.

APRIL 18: VOLUNTEERS IN PARKS (VIP) DAY

From clearing trails to planting trees to assisting archaeologists, volunteers are critical in providing support for NPS. Learn more about how you can volunteer in parks and give thanks to those who help our parks run year-round. NPF helps connect volunteers to organizations and parks that need help the most. Explore NPF communities and workforce programs that help grow the capacity of NPS and our partners.

APRIL 19: MILITARY MONDAY

For active-duty military and veterans, as well as their families, national parks can provide a place of solitude, beauty, reflection, and recreation. Discover the stories of veterans and military members that are preserved in parks across the country. NPF helps preserve our military history in national parks and connects veterans and military members to our parks through our work in outdoor exploration as well as communities and workforce.

APRIL 20: TRANSFORMATION TUESDAY

NPS has been protecting and preserving lands and historic structures for over 100 years! Explore the ways our parks have changed over the years, and the work NPS, NPF, and partners continue to do to transform the way we see our history and connections to the world. Discover NPF’s work in landscape and wildlife conservation, our commitment to preserving history and culture, and investments we’re making in parks of the future to ensure parks are enjoyed by future generations.

APRIL 21: WAYBACK WEDNESDAY

With hundreds of historical and cultural sites protected by NPS, there are always new stories to discover. Find a park connected to some of the most inspiring stories in our nation’s multifaceted history. NPF’s continued work in history and culture supports the preservation of historic sites, collections, and artifacts in parks that share these stories, and our support of parks of the future ensures such treasures will be accessible for centuries to come.

APRIL 22: EARTH DAY

Celebrate Earth Day by reflecting upon the natural wonders of our parks and supporting the work we’re doing to ensure the health and vibrancy of our parks. With innovative strategies that make our parks environmentally friendly and sustainable to our work in landscape and wildlife conservation, NPF and partners are dedicated to protecting the natural resources our parks contain.

APRIL 23: FRIENDSHIP FRIDAY

Protecting parks is a big job, and NPS relies on partners, groups, and communities to help accomplish their goals. Learn more about those who partner with NPS and NPF and the work that is being done together for our parks, from our park partner community to our corporate partners. Explore NPF’s work in communities and workforce that helps to expand the capacity of parks nationwide, leading to stronger, healthier parks.

APRIL 24: JUNIOR RANGER DAY

NPS’s Junior Ranger programs help young park visitors connect with our shared history, heritage, and national parks. Find a Junior Ranger program in a park near you or earn a digital Junior Ranger badge from home! NPF and our partners have supported the creation of Junior Ranger programs such as the Junior Ranger Angler and Junior Ranger Railroad Explorer and encourage all young visitors to establish meaningful connections in our parks through our work in youth education and engagement and outdoor exploration.

APRIL 25: B.A.R.K. RANGER DAY

National parks are fun to share with those we love – including man’s best friend. Learn the B.A.R.K. Ranger principles for when you bring Fido on a trip to a pet-friendly park and discover the many roles dogs play in parks. NPF is committed to support programs that help all people feel welcome in our parks, and our work in outdoor exploration encourages multicultural and multigenerational families to spend time outdoors – and maybe bring the family pet along too!

Categories: Outdoors Parks & Recreation

Rafting

Apr 17 all-day

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

Rafting

Available April – October with the morning departure of the Nantahala Gorge Excursion departing Bryson City, NC. Train seating in Open Air Gondola. Booking available by phone only: 1-800-872-4681.

Convenient, Inclusive, and Simple!

Adult (13 years and older) $109
Child (Minimum of 7 years old or 60 pounds) $92

A Fully-Guided Experience

The original Raft & Rail© since 1988: enjoy the two best adventures in the region in one day, great for families. Southern Living Magazine calls this “an ideal adventure for families, first-timers, young or old.” This full-day guided adventure starts with a Wildwater staff member greeting you at the train depot, followed by a scenic train trip, deli lunch with all the fixings, and a Nantahala River whitewater trip with a guide in every boat. Hot showers and a photo show follow immediately after your 8 mile Nantahala River trip. All transportation is included to and from the Bryson City Train Depot.

Available by phone only. Book now by calling 800-872-4681.

Categories: Family Fun Outdoors Sports

Rail + Trail

Apr 17 all-day

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

Enjoy this trip combining the Great Smoky Mountains Railroads trip with the Waterfall Jeep® tour. You’ll begin your trip in Bryson City, NC, with a 2 hour (approximate) railroad excursion over Fontana Lake and into the Nantahala Gorge. As you travel on the train, watch paddlers challenge the rapids. At the top of the line, disembark from the train and climb aboard Wildwater’s customized Jeep® for a 2-hour (approximate) personal exploration up the mountain, past waterfalls and lakes, up to the Appalachian Trail and back. A delicious deli lunch is included.

Available by phone only. Book now by calling 800-872-4681.

* Children 40 – 80 lbs. are required to sit in the front passenger seat with the airbag disengaged using a child booster seat. Children 80 lbs. or greater will sit in the back using a lap seat belt. If there is more than one child in the 40 – 80 lb. range, the second child will sit in the back using a lap belt.

Categories: Family Fun Outdoors Tours

Spring Photo Contest – “Buds + Blooms”

Apr 17 all-day

Chimney Rock State Park

THURSDAY, APRIL 1 – FRIDAY, APRIL 30

Time: 12:00 am – 11:59 pm

Cost: No additional cost to enter.

The dormancy of winter is coming to an end, and life is beginning to return to the forests. Wildflowers blooming and buds on trees are an indication that spring and warmer weather are right around the corner. This is the perfect opportunity to capture some beautiful images of the Park’s spring blooms and enter them into our “Buds & Blooms” Photo Contest. We’ll use the winning entries on our website and Facebook album, and you’ll win some fun prizes. Photos must be taken within the Chimney Rock section of the Park.

GREAT PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED TO 3 WINNING ENTRIES

Categories: Art & Craft Hike Outdoors

Tarzan Train

Apr 17 all-day

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

Tarzan Train

Our train and canopy combo trip will start in Bryson City at the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad train depot. You will ride through the Smoky Mountains, along Fontana Lake and up into the Nantahala Gorge. On your 2 hour train ride, watch paddlers challenge the rapids on the Nantahala River. A delicious Deli Sandwich lunch is included. At the top-of-the-line, you will disembark the train and travel a short distance to Wildwater’s Nantahala Gorge Canopy Tours.

The original zipline canopy tour in Western North Carolina, Wildwater’s Nantahala Gorge Canopy Tours offers 13 different zip lines and 8 sky bridges. Our two highest platforms have unbelievable views of Clingman’s Dome, Fontana Lake and waterfalls. This gliding experience, naturally fueled by a gradual elevation change, takes you through multiple ecosystems, past hemlocks, into hardwoods and through a deciduous forest packed with native flowering plants. All Canopy Tour Rangers are trained to – and all courses are built and inspected to – ACCT Standards to provide for your well-being and fun. This is a great experience for families.

After enjoying the fully guided zip line tour, check out your photos and buy a t-shirt in Wildwater’s store. Your adventure will end later in the afternoon back at your car in Bryson City, NC. All transportation is included.

Members of your party who can’t – or don’t want to – go on the canopy tour can ride the train round trip. You’ll all meet up shortly after the train’s return in Bryson City, NC.

Categories: Family Fun Outdoors

Tour a Local Greenway w/ GPS based tour app: TravelStorys

Apr 17 @ 7:00 am – 7:00 pm

Online w/ TravelStorys

Take a Tour of a Local Greenway

Greenways are a wonderful place to exercise, recreate, and reconnect with nature! Using a new GPS based tour app called TravelStorys, we’ve created an educational self-guided tour for the local Reed Creek Greenway. On this tour you learn about the plants, animals, and natural features you can find in this beautiful urban green space.

Categories: Community Education Outdoors Tours

Group Trail Run + On Cloudultra Shoe Demo

Apr 17 @ 8:30 am

Bent Creek, Rice Pinnacle Trail Head

Categories: Outdoors Sports

Kids Fishing Tournament at Charles D. Owen Park

Apr 17 @ 8:30 am

Charles D. Owen Park

It’s a sport, a hobby, a profession, a skill! Fishing crosses all gender, cultural, and economic lines. For some, it’s about catching the biggest fish, for others it’s the quantity. The adrenaline rush and pride when a line is pulled in is the same either way.

Buncombe County Recreation Services spring kids fishing tournament at Charles D. Owen Park (875 Warren Wilson Rd. in Swannanoa) on Saturday, Apr. 17. The tournament is open to anyone 15 years-old or younger. Competitors are divided into age groups with prizes in each for Biggest Fish, Smallest Fish, Most Fish Caught, and Most Accurate Casting Skills.

Current North Carolina guidelines to slow the spread of COVID-19 and save lives will be enforced.

“Fishing builds confidence, improves coordination, teaches patience, and encourages an appreciation of nature,” said Mac Stanley, Outdoors Coordinator for Buncombe County Recreation Services. “This tournament is a great way to introduce our younger residents to healthier lifestyles and decrease screen time – at least for a little while.”

As a catch and release tournament, fish are released back into the lake after they have been weighed and measured. Registration is $10 per competitor and includes a bucket, bait, snacks and drinks, and an I Heart Parks sports bottle. Participants bring their own poles.

Preregistration is available and recommended. On-site registration will begin at 8 a.m. the day of the tournament. Fishing commences at 8:30 a.m. and ends promptly at 11:30 a.m. No fishing license is required for North Carolina residents under 16 years old. No boat fishing is allowed during the tournaments.

Competitors are also encouraged to bring non-perishable healthy grains, protein, fruits, and vegetables from MANNA FoodBank’s Most Needed Food List.

To receive the I Heart Parks monthly newsletter, sign up online. Follow Buncombe County Recreation on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.

Categories: Family Fun Outdoors Parks & Recreation Sports

Adopt-A-Storm Drain Program

Apr 17 @ 9:00 am – 7:00 pm

Online w/ RiverLink

RiverLink is partnering with the City of Asheville and local volunteers to protect water quality through an Adopt-A-Storm Drain Program. Pollution from stormwater runoff is the biggest threat to clean water in our urban streams. Stormwater is rain that flows across the landscape—rather than soaking into the ground—where it picks up pollutants before flowing into a storm drain and emptying into the nearest stream.

With funding from the Pigeon River Fund, a grant administered by the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, this pilot program will pair volunteers with a storm drain in the Central Asheville Watershed.

The goal is to get 100 storm drains adopted in 2021. Volunteers will be awarded with fun prizes for their commitment and enthusiasm, and if successful, the Adopt A Storm Drain program will expand to include other areas in the City of Asheville.

How does it work?

Select a storm drain in a convenient location of the Central Asheville Watershed. It could be in front of your home, business, or where you exercise regularly. By adopting a storm drain, you commit to checking the drain in between rain events and keeping it clear of litter and debris. All it takes are gloves and a trash bag. Then with a smartphone or computer, you can report debris cleaned/cleared, and conditions such as illegal dumping or flooding. In a matter of minutes, you help protect water quality and prevent street flooding from clogged drains!

Categories: Community Other Outdoors

Naturalist Niche: Spring Wildflowers Walk

Apr 17 @ 9:00 am – 11:00 am

Chimney Rock State Park

What’s better than wildflowers to mark the beginning of spring? Hickory Nut Gorge comes alive as wildflowers emerge. Grab your camera and join a Park naturalist on this moderate hike. The journey will take you along the Hickory Nut Falls Trail and down the Four Seasons Trail, but you won’t have to hike back to the top lot. Transportation will be provided.

Categories: Family Fun Hike Hiking Outdoors Parks & Recreation

Sam’s Knob Watercolor Backpacking Trip

Apr 17 @ 9:00 am – Apr 19 @ 5:00 pm

Blue Ridge Hiking Company

Heidi Nisbett, an accomplished backpacker and talented artist, will not only guide you on a 3-day backpacking trip near Sam’s Knob, she’ll teach you the basics of watercolor painting and painting outdoors along the way. We’ve kept the mileage pretty low – around 14 miles total – to leave a couple hours each day for painting. Highlights of this trip include the Sam’s Knob, Black Balsam Knob, Tennant Mountain, and Laurel Creek. You’ll leave the trip with at least 2-3 finished paintings (and the materials you’ll need to keep painting on your future hikes!), drawing inspiration from subjects including rolling mountain views, rivers and creeks, and early spring flora. This is a beginner-friendly trip, or a chance for more experienced backpackers to try something new! No prior painting experience is necessary.

Categories: Art & Craft Hike Hiking Outdoors

Biltmore Blooms Tour

Apr 17 @ 9:30 am – 6:00 pm

Biltmore

Biltmore Blooms April 1 – May 27, 2021

Escape to Biltmore for a unique spring getaway. Immerse yourself in waves of color as Biltmore Blooms transforms our gardens and grounds. Savor complimentary wine tastings at our Winery. All this and more—an array of outdoor activities, shops, and restaurants, and of course, the timeless beauty of Biltmore House—is yours this spring at Biltmore.

Categories: Outdoors Tours

Biltmore Gardens Railway

Apr 17 @ 9:30 am – 6:00 pm

Biltmore

Included with admission

Our fun-for-all-ages botanical model train displays invite you to experience our grounds in an engaging new way. Located in the Conservatory in the Walled Garden, the displays feature replicas of structures connected with Biltmore and its founder George Vanderbilt. Each beautifully executed piece was handcrafted from such natural elements as leaves, bark, and twigs.

In compliance with state and local mandates related to COVID-19, all guests must enter the Conservatory via the ADA entrance in the back and follow a one-way route.

Categories: Family Fun Garden Outdoors Tours

Asheville Urban Kayak Tour: French Broad River

Apr 17 @ 10:00 am – 10:00 pm

Asheville

Must Register Here:
https://www.rei.com/events/95646/asheville-urban-kayak-tour-on-the-french-broad-river/284512

Join us on a paddle down French Broad River through the heart of Asheville! From the water you will get a fresh perspective of our beautiful mountain city. Our tour will take us under the Blue Ridge Parkway, past the famed Biltmore estate, and into the River Arts District. Our professional guides will provide boats, gear, and the basic kayaking instruction you need to have an enjoyable experience on the water. We’ll travel approximately 8 miles on calm water, making this trip a great option for beginners and seasoned paddlers alike. The best thing about this tour? We do all the planning and packing – you just have to show up. We can’t wait to paddle with you! For directions and more information, please visit the “register here” link.*

Safety updates in response to Covid-19: https://www.rei.com/events/resources/covid-19-classes-events

PAID OUTING
REI Members $79 — Non-Members $89

For questions, email REI Asheville Field Experiences:

*Register Here: https://www.rei.com/events/95646/asheville-urban-kayak-tour-on-the-french-broad-river/284512

Categories: Outdoors Sports

Aston Park Tennis Center

Apr 17 @ 10:00 am – 7:30 pm

Aston Park Tennis Center

Asheville Parks & Recreation is pleased to announce the opening of Aston Park Tennis Center on April 1 for the 2021 season. The tennis facility will be open seven days a week with two sessions of court availability — a morning session from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and an afternoon session from 3 to 7:30 p.m. with a one-hour break for midday cleaning.

Visitors can expect some changes to typical operations to meet current state and local health guidelines including enhanced cleaning, social distancing and mandatory mask wearing except while actively engaged in tennis activity on the court. The Pro Shop will remain closed to foot traffic, however basic tennis supplies, drinks, and racquet drop-off for restringing will be available at the window. Court fees will also be accepted at the window by credit card only and water fountains and showers will not be available.

Tennis Center prices are the same as they were in 2019, with hourly rates beginning at $6 and $7 and season passes starting at $299 and $399 for City of Asheville residents. For more information and to purchase a season pass, visit the City’s Parks & Recreation website at www.ashevillenc.gov/parks.

The Aston Park Tennis Center, 336 Hilliard Ave., is one of the finest public clay tennis court facilities in the US. The complex is open from April through November and offers 12 lighted courts for play.

Categories: Outdoors Parks & Recreation Sports

April 2021 Apr 2021

Calendar of Events

Event Cancellations Due to Coronavirus

JOIN THE CELEBRATION

APRIL 17: PARK RX DAY

APRIL 18: VOLUNTEERS IN PARKS (VIP) DAY

APRIL 19: MILITARY MONDAY

APRIL 20: TRANSFORMATION TUESDAY

APRIL 21: WAYBACK WEDNESDAY

APRIL 22: EARTH DAY

APRIL 23: FRIENDSHIP FRIDAY

APRIL 24: JUNIOR RANGER DAY

APRIL 25: B.A.R.K. RANGER DAY

Rafting

Convenient, Inclusive, and Simple!

A Fully-Guided Experience

THURSDAY, APRIL 1 – FRIDAY, APRIL 30

Tarzan Train

Take a Tour of a Local Greenway

How does it work?

Biltmore Blooms April 1 – May 27, 2021