10.13.2023

Today’s Forecast

74º | Mostly sunny | 10% chance of precipitation | Sunrise 7:34 a.m. | Sunset 6:57 p.m.

👻 Get in the spooky spirit

Get in the spooky spirit

the cast on stage at the splatter play at magnetic theatre

Take a seat in spine-tingling splash zone of “The Splatter Play.” | Photo by @jenbenmedia

Whether you’re the person who’s been working on their costume since July and has “Practical Magic” playing on repeat or you’re just looking for a festive way to fill up the rest of your October schedule, there’s no shortage of local happenings to get you in a spooky mood.

From ghouls and ghosts to candy and costumes, these Halloween activities are the creep of the crop.

A good scare

The Haunted Farm | Now-Tuesday, Oct. 31 | Times vary | 624 Townsend Rd., Hendersonville | $35-$295 | When the night falls, enter at your own risk for a serious fright because ominous curses, wailing ghosts, terrible derangement, and bloody feuds await on this rural stretch of farmland.

Haunted Castle on the Hill | Friday, Oct. 27-Saturday, Oct. 28 | 7-10 p.m. | Stephens-Lee Community Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave., Asheville | $2 | Expect ghouls, ghosts, things that go bump in the night + a fair share of scares — kids 10-14 must be accompanied by an adult.

Furry frights

Canine Trick or Treat | Saturday, Oct. 14 | 12:30-2:30 p.m. | Burton Street Community Center, 134 Burton St., Asheville | Free | Dress up your furry friend in the best costume for a treat scavenger hunt and giveaways for both pups + their humans.

Haunted Dog House | Friday, Oct. 27 | 4-6 p.m. | Ruff Life Dog Training Services, 95 Thompson St., Asheville | $7 | Get ready for a spook-tastic adventure for your pup as you walk through the haunted dog house, take a photo in the photo booth, and join the raffle — the ticket covers one dog and two humans.

Spine-chilling shows

Punch Bucket Lit Halloween Rapid Reading | Tuesday, Oct. 24 | 6:30-9 p.m. | rEvolve Mercantile, 697 Haywood Rd., Asheville | Free | Settle in for 10 writers’ interpretations of the scary, horrifying, creepy, and unsettling — while you’re there, you can purchase a tarot card reading or raffle tickets with cool prizes.

The Legend of Tommy Hodges | Friday, Oct. 27-Saturday, Oct. 28 | 6:30 p.m., 8 p.m. | Cradle of Forestry in America, 11250 Pisgah Hwy., Pisgah Forest | $6-$26 | Grab your walking shoes for this production that follows a one-mile-long trail, traveling back in time to hear yarns of the legendary Tommy Hodges, fictional student of the Biltmore Forest School.

25 more horrors await

Events

Friday, Oct. 13

Eliada Fall Festival and Corn Maze | Friday, Oct. 13-Sunday, Oct. 29 | Times vary | Eliada Homes, 2 Compton Dr., Asheville | $12-$30 | Get your fill of corn cannons, hay rides, lawn games, and food trucks, then explore the corn maze.
Cricut 101: A Beginner’s Guide | Friday, Oct. 13 | 4-5:30 p.m. | Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St., Asheville | Free | Get ready for holiday crafting, cards, and gifts with this introduction to Cricut cutting machines.

Saturday, Oct. 14

Rooftop Yoga | Saturday, Oct. 14 | 9:30-10:30 a.m. | Asheville Art Museum, 2 S. Pack Square, Asheville | $25 | Asheville Art Museum and West Asheville Yoga are collaborating on a creative flow that incorporates the beauty of art.
InnovationFest | Saturday, Oct. 14 | 12-4 p.m. | Franklin School of Innovation, 21 Innovation Dr., Asheville | Free | Celebrate innovation and creative change with live music, vendors, community organizations, and displays of students’ achievements.
Wisdom and Lore: Plant Identification and Yoga Hike | Saturday, Oct. 14 | 3-5:30 p.m. | Bearwallow Mountain Trail, 4854 Bearwallow Mountain Rd., Hendersonville | $58 | Learn about the medicinal value of local plants on a trek up to Bearwallow bald — then meditate, flow, and sip on tea brewed from the plants you’ve identified.

Sunday, Oct. 15

Off-Season Market | Sunday, Oct. 15 | 1-6 p.m. | Sovereign Kava Bar, 268 Biltmore Ave., Asheville | Free | Browse produce and creative wares, like art, vintage clothing, tattoos + more.
Fall Dried Floral Arrangement Workshop | Sunday, Oct. 15 | 3-4:30 p.m. | PlantHouse, 2 Hendersonville Rd., Asheville | $45 | Take your fall decor to the next level by creating a dried floral arrangement.

Monday, Oct. 16

Playback Theatre Downtown | Monday, Oct. 16 | 5-6 p.m. | Elder and Sage Garden, 37 Page Ave., Asheville | Free | Share your stories in response to questions, then actors will interpret the responses through improv.

Tuesday, Oct. 17

Pisgah Legal’s 13th Annual Justice Forum | Tuesday, Oct. 17 | 7 p.m. | UNC Asheville Kimmel Arena, 227 Campus Dr., Asheville | Free | Pisgah Legal Services leads a conversation with renowned author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning bestseller Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, Matthew Desmond.*

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Watch

A free film series exploring life, death, and what it means to be human

Each film will be followed by an expert-led, in-depth discussion (moderated by Gail Harris) about the issues raised in that night’s feature. | Photo provided by AARP, Mountain Region

While death is often a taboo topic of conversation, it doesn’t need to be something we fear.

“Dancing with Death — The Last Great Adventure”, a free six-film series running Friday afternoons from 2-5 p.m. starting Oct. 20, features a mix of moving dramas, a lively animated film + thought-provoking documentaries at Pack Memorial Library’s Lord Auditorium.

The program is meant to be inspiring, informational, and even humorous — delving into topics like legacy, the spiritual side of death, and facing fear.

See the schedule + register for free

News Notes

Civic

After an assessment — part of a 20-year master plan — City of Asheville’s infrastructure received a ‘C’ grade. It was suggested to the City Council that $3.5 million will need to be budgeted for maintenance, but more would be needed for improvement and growth. (Asheville Citizen-Times)

Outdoors

Woodfin has approved permits for a multi-milllion-dollar wave project, a manufactured rapid for amateur kayakers to practice and potentially for professional competition. Woodfin will be accepting contract bids this month for the wave, which will be built on the French Broad River. (WLOS)

Environment

Even though the Broadway Public Safety Station on Broadway Street is still under construction, it’s already producing solar energy from the panels that were installed on Thursday, Sept. 28. The station will produce ~77,386 kilowatt hours per year, and you can follow along real-time.

Opening

The news of Burial Beer Co.'s new music venue, Eulogy, just got more exciting. This fall, Chef Ashleigh Shanti will be opening Good Hot Fish’s brick-and-mortar location inside the venue. The chef will offer both regular dining service and event concessions. (Asheville Citizen-Times)

Number

10. That’s how many years Urban Orchard Cider Co. is celebrating on Saturday, Oct. 28. The cidery will commemorate the decade with an apocalyptic zombie disco, spicy fire cider flights made with local peppers, and DJs spinning spooky tunes. Admission is free.

State

Need an idea for your next movie night? Well it might be time to embrace your inner child. USDish’s report on every state’s favorite kids’ Halloween movie shows that North Carolina is partial to “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.” See what the rest of the country is watching.

Seasonal

This is the last call for submissions in our AVLtoday Pumpkin Carving Contest. Decorate your pumpkin, take a picture, and submit it by this Sunday, Oct. 15 for a chance to win the inaugural AVLtoday best jack-o’-lantern award. Make a submission.

Ashevillian

And the best neighbor award goes to… you, for directly supporting AVLtoday with the gift of your membership. Not only will you join our super cool membership club (and get perks including birthday shoutouts), but you’ll keep this newsletter free for the entire neighborhood. Way to go, neighbor.

Wellness

Noticing hair changes? Root causes of hair thinning can change over time making it difficult to know where to begin. Learn more about how Nutrafol can help.*

Asked

🍝 Where’s the best pasta in Asheville?

Asked: Where’s the best pasta in Asheville?

We’re getting hungry. | Photo by @vinnies_avl

The weather’s changing, and for us, that always signals a craving for comfort food. As it happens, we’re also gearing up to celebrate National Pasta Day on Tuesday, Oct. 17, so we think it’s time for you to dish.

We want to know where you go when you’ve got an appetite for pasta in Asheville — whether that’s a hole-in-the-wall spot for rich and hearty ravioli, a pop-up that specializes in creative cuisine, or a white tablecloth restaurant for only the finer pasta fare.

We’ll be rounding up your suggestions to share in an upcoming newsletter, so let us know your local go-to by filling out this survey.

Shoutout

Happy birthday, AVLtoday member Betsy Gillespie. We hope your special day (October 14) is filled with your favorite things in Asheville! — AVLoday team

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Molly

From the editor

If you’re still in search of Friday night plans and haven’t yet visited Krafthouse 2023: Forest of the New Trees — or maybe just really love it — see the last night of the immersive installation then head to the wrap party tonight, Friday, Oct. 13, 8-10 p.m. at Citizen Vinyl for music and craft (or kraft?) cocktails.

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