Are you a local business owner? It’s time to brag on yourself. We want you to nominate your biz for Today’s Best. If you’re feeling extra generous, nominate your fellow movers and shakers. Nominations are due Friday, October 3, and voting begins Monday, October 20.
Dive into new Malvern Hills pool designs
The pool is expected to open by summer 2028. | Rendering via City of Asheville
The proposed designs for the Malvern Hills Park pool renovation are making waves. The pool has been closed since a 2023 inspection concluded extensive repairs were needed to meet safety standards.
After an outpouring of grassroots support, a rebuild of the historic pool was greenlit. The $4.75 million project is funded through a parks and recreation general obligation bond approved by voters last November.
Here are key elements of the new design, informed by the results of a spring community preferences survey.
The exterior of the 1935 bathhouse will be preserved.
Rendering via City of Asheville
What’s new?
While the new pool area is roughly 2,100 sqft (about 28.4%) smaller than the original pool, plans state the capacity remains at ~200 people. Diagrams show a more narrow deep end area near the diving board with the rest of the pool ranging between three and five feet. The deck area will be bigger with additional shaded areas.
The exterior of the 1935 bathhouse will remain, but the building will get a new roof and windows, along with new accessible restrooms, showers, and changing stalls. Restrooms will stay open year-round for park and playground users.
John C. Campbell Folk School Fall Festival | Saturday, Oct. 4-Sunday, Oct. 5 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | John C. Campbell Folk School, Brasstown | $10+ | Celebrate Appalachia at the 49th Annual Fall Festival with 230 craft vendors, 29 food vendors, music, dance, demos, and hands-on activities as the Folk School kicks off its 100th Anniversary.*
🎵 Modern music icons Ben Folds + Andrew Bird headline 2 Symphony shows
Presented by Asheville Symphony Orchestra
Our favorite fact: Bird had a guest appearance in Disney’s 2011 film “The Muppets.” | Photos courtesy Andrew Bird and Ben Folds
Roll out the red carpet: Music royalty is on the way.
Two of the most influential artists of their generation are coming to AVL for a pair of shows with the Asheville Symphony.
Ben Folds | Friday, October 10 | Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
Limited seating available for this one-night event with the Emmy-nominated singer-songwriter-composer, New York Times Best Selling author, and genre-bending pianist.
Andrew Bird | Friday, May 29, 2026 | Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
Tickets went on sale last weekand are already selling out for this limited-run tour with the Grammy-award-nominated violinist.
Celebrating the 20th anniversary of his acclaimed record, “The Mysterious Production of Eggs,” Bird will perform the album in its entirety, alongside a suite of fan-favorite tunes from his nearly 30-year repertoire, all backed by the Asheville Symphony.
This Sunday, Oct. 4, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County will host a memorial service honoring James E. Ferguson, a trailblazing civil rights attorney, Stephens-Lee High School graduate, and Asheville native. The service will be held at St. James AME Church at 2 p.m.
Transit
You can help guide the future of Asheville’s public transit system. The city has begun the Asheville Rides Transit (ART) Comprehensive Operational Analysis, and a short survey will inform potential network designs and help create draft recommendations later on. You can take the survey regardless of how often you use the ART system.
Environment
The city will soon begin debris removal in the waterways and roads at North Fork Reservoir to protect the drinking water system and reduce wildfire risk. Contractors will be working seven days a week to chip debris on-site before hauling it to a disposal site.
Try This
Being a newbie isn’t easy — that’s why the Asheville Newcomers Club is here to make recent Asheville residents feel welcome. The women’s organization began in 2008 and now fosters friendships among its 400+ members and 38 special interest groups. Learn more about the club’s mission. (Mountain Xpress)
Number
$40,000. That’s how much money environmentalist drag queen Pattie Gonia raised for Helene relief during her “SAVE HER!” benefit show last Friday, Sept. 26 for Blue Ridge Pride. Plenty of Asheville drag performers joined her on stage for the show — catch a clip of the action.
State
In about 45 days, trolls will take over the arboretum. Yes, you read that right. World-renowned sculptor Thomas Dambo is bringing his iconic trolls to the NC Arboretum for “Trolls: A Field Study,” opening Saturday, Nov. 15. But he’s also bringing trolls to Raleigh, Charlotte, and High Point — anyone up for a troll hunting road trip?
Arts
The Mall R.A.T.S, a local arts collective hosting pop-up exhibitions at the Asheville Mall, has issued an open call for its next show. Artists can bring their “mall friendly” 2D artwork this Saturday, Oct. 4 to be displayed in the “Where Do We Come Together?” exhibition.
Health
AdventHealth is expanding in Weaverville, bringing more care, more convenience, and more support to meet the needs of this growing community. Learn more.*
Finance
Tackling debt is crucial for many Americans in 2025. This trending card — “worth its weight in gold,” according to experts — offers 0% intro APR on balance transfers into 2027. (Read: Nearly two years of interest-free payments.)Learn more + apply.*
Watch
Psst … you shouldn’t be paying for multiple streaming services. Save money and watch all your favorite blockbusters when you bundle Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max. Plans start at $16.99.*
Potential New Boyfriend’s painted sign got a special update just in time for Blue Ridge Pride this past weekend. The maroon brick building now reads “Protect the Dolls,” showing support for WNC’s trans and LGBTQ+ community. Click the post above to watch it painted in real time.
Photo frames for those wedding/vacation/grandkid photos you’ve been meaning to hang. Americanflat is having a sale on its stock of photo frames, exclusive for Prime members:
🖼️ Get a set of 10 frames for under $20 and build an instant gallery wall.
💌 Frame the person closest to your heart with 25% off a heart mat insert frame.
🎓 Finally hang your diplomas in your Zoom background with a diploma frame set for under $12.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
You’ll find more than fresh produce and artisan goods at the West Asheville Tailgate Market today. The snazzy West Asheville raccoon banners will be for sale as well. Stop by from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. to grab one.
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