Lucky you. You just found AVLtoday’s Plan Ahead, a list of some of the biggest events that are taking place throughout Asheville each month.
Take out your calendar, grab your day planner, or text all your friends — these are the top events we recommend heading into October. Psst: Don’t forget to bookmark this page and come back; we update our guide monthly.
Festivals, fairs + markets
Harvest Festival and Fall Plant Sale | Saturday, Oct. 4 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | WNC Farmers Market | Free | Get everything you need for fall planting and indulge in seasonal treats and artisanal crafts.
Warren Wilson Fall Fest & Working Lands Showcase | Saturday, Oct. 4 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa | Free | The family-friendly fest will be filled with autumnal activities, farm + garden tours, craft demos, and live music from the Cane Creek Hellbenders.
Tour de Fat | Saturday, Oct. 4 | 11 a.m.-8 p.m. | New Belgium Brewing | Free | Don your costume and bring your wheels for a bike parade party, plus free live music by Polyrhythmics, Sam Greenfield, and Electrolust.
Burnpile | Saturday, Oct. 4 | 2 p.m. | Burial Forestry Camp | $52 | Allah-Las, Rattlesnake Milk, and Tombstone Poetry will provide the tunes, and more than 60 breweries from across the country will keep the beer flowing.
AppFest at Wicked Weed | Saturday, Oct. 4-Saturday, Oct. 25 | 2-5 p.m. | Wicked Weed Brewpub | Free+ | Every Saturday in October, the brewery is celebrating the season Appalachian style with live music, a Maker’s Market hosted by Appalachian Artist Collective, new beer releaeses, and pumpkin decorating.
Barktoberfest | Sunday, Oct. 5 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | Riverbend Park | Free | Bring your furry friends for this fest with vendors, special treats, and dog caricatures.
Asheville Veganfest | Sunday, Oct. 5 | 12-5 p.m. | Pack Square Park | Free | Enjoy food trucks, cooking demos, and plenty of food vendors at this plant-based gathering.
Lovely Asheville Fall Festival | Saturday, Oct. 11-Sunday, Oct. 12 | Times vary | Pack Square Park | Free | The family-friendly fest by Asheville Creative Arts and Lovely Asheville is filled with two full days of live music from artists like The Hypnotic Band, Detective Blind, Lyric, and Virtuous.
The 15th Surreal Sirkus Arts Festival | 12-10 p.m. | Pack Square Park | Free | Experimental theater, circus arts, and live music blend together for a festival spookily situated under the stars.
Uncommon Market Asheville | Sunday, Oct. 26 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | A-B Tech | Free | The market enters its 11th season, showcasing incredible antiques, art, vintage decor, jewelry, and more.
All about the arts
Kenilworth Artists Open Studio Tour | Saturday, Oct. 11-Sunday, Oct. 12 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Kenilworth Neighborhood | Free | The studio tour is celebrating its 20th year with a stellar showcase of 27 talented artists.
Community Day | Lasting Legacies | Saturday, Oct. 11 | 12-5 p.m. | Asheville Art Museum | Free | Get free entry to the museum and see the Lasting Legacies exhibit, chronicling the creation of some of Asheville’s most iconic architecture.
Future Histories | Saturday, Oct. 11 | 6-8:30 p.m. | Center for Craft | $ | Celebrate 20 years of the Center’s Craft Research Fund with a multi-course dinner by James Beard semifinalist Chef Eric Morris, a live auction, and exciting afterparty.
Craft Fair Of The Southern Highlands - Fall 2025 | Thursday, Oct. 16 | 10 a.m. | Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville | Explore a variety of fine American craft ranging from contemporary to traditional works of clay, wood, metal, glass, fiber, mixed media, and jewelry.
Beaverdam Studio Tour | Saturday, Oct. 25-Sunday, Oct. 26 | Times vary | North Asheville | Free | Visit 25 talented artists and craftspeople at 14 North Asheville locations to explore their work, hear the stories behind each piece, and connect through inspiring conversations.
Concerts, comedy + theatre
Jacoozy Album Release Show | Wednesday, Oct. 8 | 7 p.m. | The Grey Eagle | $18 | The local band will show off its blend of Southern rock and jam band style to celebrate the release of “Still Afloat.”
Neko Case | Wednesday, Oct. 8 | 8 p.m. | The Orange Peel | $61 | Hear one of the most acclaimed voices in alt-country and indie rock with support from Des Demonas.
Ben Folds With The Asheville Symphony | Friday, Oct. 10 | 8 p.m. | Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville | $56+ | The famed singer-songwriter and alt rock artist will be backed by our local symphony for a special show.
MJ Lenderman & The Wind: 2025 Tour | Wednesday, Oct. 15 | 7 p.m. | Asheville Yards | $53 | The indie rock star is back for a hometown show with David Nance and Mowed Sound.
The Rocky Horror Show | Friday, Oct. 24-Sunday, Nov. 2 | Times vary | Asheville Community Theatre | $37 | Get ready for the interactive performance of this cult-classic musical.
Margaret Cho: Choligarchy | Friday, Oct. 24 | 8 p.m. | The Orange Peel | $55+ | The iconic comedian will grace the stage on her “Choligarchy” tour.
Turnpike Troubadours: Wild America Tour | Saturday, Oct. 25 | 7 p.m. | Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville | $56+ | The country band will take the stage with support from Dawes and Robert Ellis.
S.G. Goodman | Saturday, Oct. 25 | 8 p.m. | Eulogy | $32 | The indie folk artist is in town touring her stellar album “Planting by the Signs” with Fust.
Community gatherings
Hope On The Slope | Friday, Oct. 10 | 6:30-9:30 p.m. | Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ | Free | Uphora instructors will lead a dance party with tunes by DJ Lyric for World Mental Health Day — proceeds support Linked4Life, bringing free therapy to local food and bev workers.
Monarch Butterfly Day | Saturday, Oct. 11 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | The North Carolina Arboretum | Learn all about the winged insects and wish monarchs bon voyage as staff offer a tag and release demo.
ACY’s 15th Birthday Party | Sunday, Oct. 12 | 4-6:30 p.m. | Asheville Community Yoga | Free | The studio is marking 15 years with live music, youth yoga classes, food, tarot readings, and more.
Wicked Spooky 5k | Saturday, Oct. 25 | 8-11 a.m. | Wicked Weed’s Funkatorium | See if you can cross the finish line with a wicked fast time.
Seasonal events
Eliada Annual Fall Festival & Corn Maze | Friday, Oct. 3-Friday, Oct. 31 | Times vary | Eliada | $15 | Find your way through the eight-acre corn maze, embark on a tractor ride, and let the kids go wild with fun fall games.
2025 Haunted Trail at the Adventure Center of Asheville | Friday, Oct. 3-Sunday, Oct. 26 | 6-9 p.m. | Adventure Center of Asheville | $0+ | Walk the family-friendly haunted trail with live actors, spooky sounds + a little comedy, then stop by the Aerial Glow Trail or visit Pirates Cove — the event is geared toward kids ages 3-12.
Asheville Oktoberfest | Saturday, Oct. 4 | 2-6 p.m. | Pack Square Park | Free | A full day of live music, games, and German-style food and beer awaits.
Carolinas Horror-Fest | Saturday, Oct. 4 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Haywood Park Hotel | $20+ | The horror convention welcomes all kinds of fandoms for a day filled with vendors, guest speakers, cosplay, and plenty of ghost stories.
HalloWolfbat | Saturday, Oct. 25 | 8 p.m. | The Orange Peel | $25 | See Dennis McNett’s larger-than-life puppets join the crowd as three metal bands take the stage for this annual fundraiser benefiting Foundation Skatepark.
Halloween happenings
Marquee Masquerade Returns | Thursday, Oct. 30 | 6-9 p.m. | Marquee | Free | The theme of this masquerade bash is good vs. evil — but no matter what side you’re on, there’s plenty of music + live entertainment awaiting you.
AMOS After Hours: Creature Feature | Thursday, Oct. 30 | 6-9 p.m. | Asheville Museum of Science | $30 | During this 21+ evening, explore animal science and paleontology to see which Appalachian cryptids might have real teeth to them.
The Pink Lady Party | Thursday, Oct. 30 | 7-10 p.m. | The Omni Grove Park Inn - Elaine’s Dueling Piano Bar | $103 | Don your best costume and dance the frights away with a themed cocktail in hand — plus, get a private tarot card reading.
Lazr Luvr Halloween Party | Thursday, Oct. 30 | 8-11 p.m. | Highland Brewing Company | $10+ | Tease your hair and break out your spandex to dance to high octane hits of the ‘80s.
Trick or Treat at the Grove Arcade | Friday, Oct. 31 | 4-7 p.m. | Grove Arcade | Free | Come in costume to visit local shops and collect candy along the way.
All Hallow’s Eve Purrrty | Friday, Oct. 31 | 4-9 p.m. | House of Black Cat Magic | Free | Feline fun abounds when the cat lounge stays open late — expect a backyard bonfire with s’mores, pumpkin carving, local vendors, and three costume contests.
Brew Pump Halloween Dance Party | Friday, Oct. 31 | 5 p.m. | The Brew Pump | Free | This epic dance party is one of the biggest in West Asheville, with DJs on deck and food trucks on site.
Cryptids Halloween Party | Friday, Oct. 31 | 5-9 p.m. | The Mule | Free | Something legendary this way comes at this family-friendly celebration with immersive photo booths and a costume contest.
Vampires vs. Outlaws: Halloween Honky Tonk | Friday, Oct. 31 | 5-11 p.m. | Fitz and the Wolfe | $10 | Blood suckers and cowboys will two step together while some killer bands play.
Dark Market: Asheville’s Halloween | Friday, Oct. 31 | 5:30-9 p.m. | Hi-Wire Brewing RAD Beer Garden | Free+ | Find all the oddities and curiosities your heart desires at this market filled with 35+ vendors specializing in all things alchemy.
Haunted Parking Lot | Friday, Oct. 31 | 6:15-8 p.m. | Stephens-Lee Community Center | Free | Score some candy in this drive-thru experience full of surprises.
Parlour in the Palm Magic Experience | Friday, Oct. 31 | 7 p.m. | Fitz & the Wolfe | $50 | This special evening of magic is getting a Halloween twist — your ticket includes a cocktail or mocktail.
Auspicious Golden Halloween: A Multimedia Psychedelic Halloween Experience | Friday, Oct. 31 | 8 p.m. | Third Room | $20 | Forget spooky — this night of jams kickstarted by The JLloyd MashUp will be dark and groovy with immersive lights and visuals.
Halloween 12 Year Anniversary 80’s Party | Friday, Oct. 31 | 8 p.m. | Urban Orchard Cider Co. | Free | Cheers to 12 years of spectacular cider while dancing the night away to ‘80s tunes.
Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics | Friday, Oct. 31 | 8:45-10 p.m. | Asheville Masonic Temple | $45+ | The Opal String Quartet will perform a host of haunting tunes under the gentle glow of candlelight.
Have an event of your own you want to share with us? Follow these easy steps to add your events to our calendar:
- Go to our Events page.
- Click “Add Event” in the top right-hand corner.
- Make sure to include a link and fill out important information like the date, time, location, and price of your event.
- Click “Submit,” and you’ve just added an event to our website calendar.