Explore galleries from the Southern Highland Craft Guild at the Folk Art Center. | Photo via NPS
If your winter bucket list looks like it’s going to break the bank, it’s time to write a new draft. To help you out, we’ve gathered 10+ free activities for maximizing fun and minimizing spending. Let’s dive in.
Visit a museum
Learn something new at the Folk Art Center, Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center, or Asheville Radio Museum, which all offer free admission.
Bonus: The Asheville Art Museum is currently offering pay-what-you-wish admission for Buncombe County residents — catch its “Greetings From Asheville” exhibition, exploring how the region is depicted in vintage postcards.
Take a tour
Lace up your sneakers and hit the pavement to learn more about our city’s history. The Asheville Urban Trail, Asheville Architecture Trail, and Asheville Black Cultural Heritage Trail are all self-guided tours. If you want a guide to lead the way, embark on an excursion with Asheville Free Walking Tours (just be kind and make sure to leave a tip).
Pro tip: There are always plenty of unique, fun, and(best of all) free, events posted on our events calendar.
Friday Sip & Shop | 4-6 p.m. | Grove Arcade | Free | Every Friday through the end of February, stroll through the storefronts with a glass of bubbly in hand.
Rennie Harris Puremovement | Friday, Jan. 17-Saturday, Jan. 18 | 8-9:30 p.m. | Wortham Center for the Performing Arts | $15+ | Experience the artistry of the hip-hop choreographer as his company enters a new, innovative era.
Saturday, Jan. 18
Community Day | 9 a.m.-2 p.m. | All Bodies Movement and Wellness | Free | Anyone is welcome to join group classes to see what the studio is all about.
Manhattan Short Film Festival | 1-4 p.m. | Pack Memorial Library | Free, RSVP | Spend the afternoon screening short films, all of which are qualified for the 2025 Academy Awards — plus, join the crowd in voting for Best Film and Best Actor.
Weekend at Bernie’s 3 - Take a Trip to Bern-ing Man! | 2 p.m. | The Mule | Free | Dig out your Hawaiian shirt for an afternoon bash with live music, tropical cocktails, and a mini donkey serving Jell-O shots.
Sunday, Jan. 19
Lunch & Learn: Passport to Public Gardens | 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. | The North Carolina Arboretum | $5-$15 suggested donation | Bring a bag lunch and learn how you can tour public gardens across North America with a NC Arboretum membership.
Serenity Sound Bath | 1-2 p.m. | Center for Spiritual Living Asheville | $25 suggested donation | Wear warm and comfortable clothing as you follow the beat to center your mind + body.
Meet Färməsē, a new cocktail lounge tucked underground at 5 Biltmore Ave., near Mehfil. Stop by its grand opening celebration tonight, Jan. 17 for drink specials and a live DJ spinning tunes. (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Arts
Czart Gallery’s “ReClaim The RAD” show is taking residency downtown in Buncombe County Special Collections at Pack Memorial Library. The exhibit will open with an evening reception Tuesday, Jan. 21 and be on view until March. The pieces, made by local artists from Helene’s wreckage, are available for purchase.
Edu
County commissioners, along with the Asheville City Schools and Buncombe County Schools boards, heard a presentation on the School System Consolidation Feasibility Study conducted by Prismatic Services. The study does not recommend the systems consolidate based on financial statuses, current lack of collaboration, and little local support among other reasons.
Real Estate
With some new developments paused and housing supply damaged as a result of Helene, North Carolina Housing Coalition’s executive director expects housing costs to increase. Learn more about how Buncombe County’s new living wage of $23.15 is growing “asymmetrically” from increasing housing costs. (Blue Ridge Public Radio)
Civic
Asheville-Buncombe Continuum of Care will conduct its annual Point-in-Time Count on the evening of Tuesday, Jan. 28 through late morning Wednesday, Jan. 29. The count surveys people experiencing homelessness and includes anyone living in transitional housing or without housing due to Helene. Register to volunteer with the CoC.
Drink
Cultivated Cocktails has introduced a special small batch bourbon honoring the work of its sister company, T&K Utilities, the folks responsible for reconnecting the 36-inch bypass line at North Fork amid Asheville’s water crisis. You can buy a bottle beginning today, Jan. 17 and raise a glass to the crew for their work.
Older Adults
Do you have a loved one aged 55+ who needs home support — but still wants their independence in the comfort of their homes? Enter: CarePartners PACE (Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly), offering community-based care and services for those who might otherwise require nursing home-level care. Learn more.*
Featured Home
This turnkey Marion mountain cabin sits on three acres in a gated community and features a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace, a pair of private en suites, plus stunning sunset views from the tiered back deck. See inside.*
Finance
When this card hit the market, it became the do-it-all card that took the top spot in thousands of peoples’ wallets. Perks include a significant first-year bonus, up to 5% cashback on everyday purchases, no annual fee, and 0% intro APR on purchases + balance transfers into 2026. Cha-ching.*
Shop
Upgrade your home printing with the HP Smart Tank 7602, featuring wireless setup, fast printing speeds, and two years of ink included. Get $120 off for a limited time.*
The Buy
The Buy
A reading journal. Use it to write notes about the books you’re reading — like quotes that catch your eye, pages you want to come back to, and your overall rating. Pro tip: Use multicolor pens to make filling out your journal even more fun.
A reminder that Asheville Restaurant Week is back on Tuesday, running through Monday, Jan. 27 (then coming back in late February). Even more specials have been shared, so take a look at the updated list of participating restaurants.
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