• First Friday | Friday, Oct. 6 | 5-8 p.m. | The Block (Eagle and S. Market), 39 S. Market St., Asheville | Free | Celebrate the three-year anniversary of Noir Collective, stop by LEAF for a live musical performance, and visit Eagle Market Place to view two films about the contributions of the Asheville Black community.
• Community Build of Candace Pickens Memorial Park | Friday, Oct. 6-Sunday, Oct. 8 | Times vary | Former Jones Park Playground in North Asheville, Ottari Rd, Asheville | Free | Skilled and unskilled workers are invited to volunteer to build a community playground.
• Appa-Laffin’ Mountain Revue | Friday, Oct. 6 | 8-10 p.m. | Citizen Vinyl, 14 o’henry ave, Asheville | $20-$25 | Enjoy drinks, late night eats, and laughs at this variety + comedy game show.

• Asheville Oktoberfest | Saturday, Oct. 7 | 2-6 p.m. | Pack Square Park, 80 Court Pl., Asheville | $20-$55 | Break out the lederhosen and arrive in style for drinks from 20+ craft beverage makers, local food vendors, games, and live music.
• Kenilworth Artists Studio Tour | Saturday, Oct. 7-Sunday, Oct. 8 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Various locations, Asheville | Free | Travel through 14 studios and appreciate the craft of 25 local artists.
• Tour de Fat | Saturday, Oct. 7 | 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. | New Belgium Brewing Co., 21 Craven St., Asheville | Free | Get started with a costumed bike parade then spend the day listening to music, walking a fashion show, and competing in a dance contest.

• Asheville Veganfest 2023 | Sunday, Oct. 8 | 11 a.m.-6 p.m. | Pack Square Park, 80 Court Pl., Asheville | Free | Get your fix of plant-based food and enjoy a family fun zone, live music, and shopping.
• Sunday Morning Trivia Brunch | Sunday, Oct. 8 | 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. | Well Played, 162 Coxe Ave #101, Asheville | Free | Cheers to delicious breakfast, mimosas, beers, cocktails, and nerd-centric trivia.
• The Splatter Play | Sunday, Oct. 8 | 4 p.m. | The Magnetic Theatre, 375 Depot St., Asheville | $25-$30 | The play follows Tina on the day of the open house for her childhood home/mother’s evil laboratory — certain rows will be in the splash zone.

• Trade barks for boos because there’s plenty of fall fun for you and your four-legged friends. This Sunday, Oct. 8 from 12 to 4 p.m., Asheville Parks and Recreation will host Barktoberfest at French Broad River Park, with tennis ball bobbing, caricatures of you and your pet, and more. Plus, mark your calendars for Canine Trick or Treat on Saturday, Oct. 14.

• Give us pumpkin to talk about. The AVLtoday Pumpkin Carving Contest is underway. Decorate your pumpkin however you see fit (no knives required) and submit your creations to us by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 15. Finalists will be announced in our newsletter on Friday, Oct. 20 and will go head-to-head in a final reader’s choice showdown.

• If you’re a fan of the Portlandia sketch where Fred + Carrie have a cat band, boy do we have a treat for you. The Amazing Acro-Cats will show off their skills + agility, followed by a performance from Tuna and the Rock Cats, the only all-cat band in the world. Catch shows this Sunday, Oct. 8 and Monday, Oct. 9.

Why go?

• Gastro travel. On top of the city’s world-renowned Creole and Cajun food scene, two New Orleans restaurants were just named on the third annual New York Times Restaurant List of 2023’s 50 best restaurants in the country.

Act like a local:

• Listen: A few of our favorite live music venues (where you can see live jazz and other acts all year round) include Maple Leaf, Preservation Hall, The Spotted Cat, Tipitina’s, and d.b.a. — but that’s just the start of the list. (Make sure to stop by the open-air market Frenchmen Art Bazaar to browse local art, clothing + more before or after Spotted Cat.)

Where to stay:

• Vrbo: Try this beautifully updated second-floor unit in a historic home with a large balcony overlooking St. Charles Avenue, located in a super convenient spot between the Garden District and Uptown. (~$248/night)

• It’s here — Allure’s 2023 Best of Beauty Award Winners list. Shop Best of Skin and Best of Hair winners to discover today’s breakthrough beauty technology.

• Four Sigmatic’s organic protein powder is the ultimate smoothie booster with 18 grams of protein and 1500 milligrams of adaptogens per serving — nourishing your mind + body.

• The Bentgo stackable lunch box includes two stackable containers, built-in silverware, and dividers to snugly fit food portions into individual compartments.

• We’re at the start of a very busy month — and we don’t want you to miss a thing. That’s why we’ve rounded up 22 events going on to help you plan a fun-filled October.

• Asheville Adventure Center’s Haunted Trail begins this Friday, Oct. 6, running Fridays + Saturdays through Oct. 14 and Friday-Sunday in the final two weekends of October, plus Monday, Oct. 30. Walk the family-friendly 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 families with kids ages 3-13.

• Tickets are on sale for MANNA’s 22nd Annual Empty Bowls fundraiser on Monday, Oct. 23, with proceeds benefiting its food distribution programs. Choose a bowl handcrafted by local potters and enjoy a meal of soup, bread, and dessert — the bowl serves as a keepsake to remind you of those across WNC struggling with food insecurity.