This peaceful march shows support for Martin Luther King Jr.'s message. | Photo via The MLK Association of Asheville & Buncombe County, Inc.
Each year, Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed as a federal holiday on the third Monday of January; this year it’s Jan. 20. If you’d like to get involved + honor MLK’s message in the Asheville area, check out these local events:
Sunday, Jan. 19
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County will host a candlelight service at 5:30 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church. It honors people and organizations that are dedicated to social justice with keynote speaker Fletcher Mayor Preston Blakely.
Learn the philosophy + practice of Kingian Nonviolence at the 15th Annual Kenilworth Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the Kenilworth Center starting at 2 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 20
Spread the message of peace and justice with the Peace March + Rally hosted by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County, beginning with an 11:30 a.m. service at St. James A.M.E. Church.
James Tucker with Bucko | 8 p.m. | Pulp | $14 | The NC-based guitarist jams with the rock group from Greenville, SC.
Friday, Jan. 17
The Booth Fairy Project Pop-Up | Friday, Jan. 17-Sunday, Jan. 19 | 12-8 p.m. | The Hideaway | Free | Feel the eclectic, magical vibes as you shop resale + vintage clothing, art, jewelry, and more.
Bottoms Up! Comedy Showcase | 6 p.m. | Catawba Brewing Co. | $15 | Modelface Comedy brings its roster of local + touring comedians to kick the weekend off on a funny note.
Saturday, Jan. 18
Find Your Familiar: Black Cat Adoption Event | 12-5 p.m. | House of Black Cat Magic | Free | Look for a fluffy little shadow at this special adoption event for black cats of all shapes, sizes, and ages.
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Eligible Buncombe County residents can apply for the Disaster Energy Assistance Program to support heating-related costs and repairs. Qualifying residents must earn 60% or less than the state median income and have been directly impacted by the storm — residents can also apply for the Low Income Household Energy Assistance Program.
Civic
Governor Josh Stein and FEMA have extended the Transitional Sheltering Assistance program until Sunday, Jan. 25. The temporary shelter program was set to end late last week, but was extended to support the 3,000+ WNC families who are still in need of housing after Helene. (WLOS)
Biz
Asheville City Council voted to authorize Asheville Downtown Improvement District as its Downtown Business Improvement District provider. Services will be funded by a downtown property tax and will begin on April 1. Projects will include safety and beautification efforts. (Blue Ridge Public Radio)
Coming Soon
The McDonald’s on Hendersonville Road — sometimes called the “fancy McDonald’s” — filed permits to rebuild after indefinite closure from Helene’s damage. It will be the first major redevelopment in Biltmore Village since Helene, but its exact design plan + construction timeline has not yet been determined. (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Award
Explore Asheville tipped 10 Buncombe County small restaurants $10,000 each to support storm recovery efforts through the Cooks for Carolina initiative. The recipients were: The Bull and Beggar, Baby Bull, Gourmand, Cucina24, Table, All Day Darling, Tall John’s, Good Hot Fish, Black Mountain’s The Bush Farmhouse, and Swannanoa’s Zella’s Deli.
Plan Ahead
Tequio Foods’ CEO and Taqueria Rosita owner Luis Martinez will bring two cuisines to one event at “OaxaCarolina.” The five-course tasting is coming to Ivory Road on Friday, Jan. 31 and will celebrate flavors from the Carolinas + the Southern Mexican region. Tickets are on sale for $90 with an optional wine pairing.
Edu
With AVL scoring a top 20 spot in the New York Times’ 52 Places to Go in 2025 list, we’ve got rankings on our minds. Did you know?UNC Asheville consistently ranks highly in categories like sustainability, quality of life, and affordability. Learn more + apply.*
Featured Home
This 2022 cottagesimply has it all — a pristine location just above Black Mountain’s golf course, a two-tiered porch with a hot tub and screened-in section, and the kind of unbelievably gorgeous modern kitchen we lay and dream about at night.*
Finance
Did you know some credit cards can actually help you get out of debt faster? (It sounds wild, but it’s true.) The secret: Find a credit card with a “0% intro APR” period for balance transfers. This is hands-down one of the best of 2025.*
Volunteer
Did you know MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service? Join AmeriCorps this MLK Day to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King and help your community by volunteering on Monday, Jan. 20. Find volunteer opportunities to serve locally.*
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Trending
🍳 Scrambling to find eggs?
Empty shelves are common for the time being, like this one at Ingles on Haywood Road. | Photo by AVLtoday
It’s not just you, finding eggs has gotten eggstra difficult. Across the US, shoppers have been greeted with empty shelves, and Asheville is no exception.
Data from the US Department of Agriculture shows egg prices surged in December 2024, but have slowly been falling. This week, a dozen large, white eggs averaged $4.62 in the US, but it’s higher in NC — statewide, a dozen eggs averaged $6.49.
Luckily, you won’t have to shell out as much in Asheville. A dozen large, white eggs can be found for around $4. Based on our recent checks, we spotted eggs for $4.17 at the Walmart Supercenter on Hendersonville Road or $4.29 at the Harris Teeter off of Merrimon Avenue.
USDA attributes the price increase to limited egg supplies, a result of the avian flu that reduced the number of egg-producing hens. Fortunately, prices are expected to ease throughout the year. Current projections expect the national average will decline to $2.35 by the end of 2025.
The Buy
The Buy
A pair of 14K gold plated heart hoops. The huggie-sized earrings are hypoallergenic and tarnish-resistant. Psst — they’re also the perfect Valentine’s Day accessory.
We teased this in a prior newsletter, but Devil’s Foot Beverage Co.'s “Stronger Together” Sparkling Chai Tea Lemon Soda is now available for pre-order. The collaborative drink is made with tea from Asheville Tea Company and a portion of proceeds will benefit WNC relief efforts. You might also find the drink on shelves around town — it looks like Trout Lily Market had some in stock.
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