Dine on farm-to-table fare during Asheville Restaurant Week. | Photo via The Market Place
Don’t let the January blues get you down. The hustle and bustle of the holidays may be over, but our monthly Plan Ahead is here to keep the fun going — these are the top events we recommend heading into January. Asheville Crankie Fest | Saturday, Jan. 10 | 12 p.m. | The Grey Eagle | $15 | Celebrate the performers keeping the historic art form alive, sharing their analog storytelling devices to a story or song.
Asheville Restaurant Week | Tuesday, Jan. 20-Monday, Jan. 26 | Times vary | Various locations | Price of purchase | Your favorite local restaurants will offer scrumptious specials, from new dishes to prix fixe menus — participating spots include Ukiah, Table, and Quench.
Dolly’s 80th Birthday Bash | Saturday, Jan. 31 | 8 p.m. | The Grey Eagle | $20 | Celebrate the Queen of Country with an all-star band and look-alike contest — a portion of proceeds benefit Buncombe County Partnership for Children, the local chapter of Dolly’s Imagination Library.
Drive-thru coffee chain 7 Brew is planning a location near Healthy Harvest Produce along Smokey Park Highway. Documents show that another location could be coming in the long-vacant Arby’s on Patton Avenue — an early-stages meeting will be held regarding the potential location this week. (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Drink
If you’re participating in Dry January, you’re in luck because Asheville’s NA scene has everything from alcohol free spaces to craft mocktails to NA bottle shops.
Arts
The Asheville Art Museum welcomed 11 new works to its collections, including pieces by contemporary artist Radcliffe Bailey and painter Gifford Beal. Head to the museum to view them and mark your calendars for the Saturday, Feb. 7 debut of the American Impressionism exhibit, “In a New Light.” (WLOS)
Today Is
The twelfth day after Christmas — one of the traditional final days to take your Christmas tree and decorations down. That’s where the “12 Days of Christmas” comes from. Make sure to brush up on Asheville’s tree disposal rules so you aren’t left with a rotting pine on your lawn. (Southern Living)
Try This
However, if you can wait a little longer to toss your tree, save it for Zillicoah’s annual Christmas tree burn is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 11 at 4 p.m.
Cause
Donations to Friends of Buncombe County Special Collections will be matched up to $5,000 this month thanks to support from local author Bruce Johnson and his wife, Leigh Ann Hamon. The org plays a vital role in expanding access to local history through programming and community projects. Learn more and donate.
Seasonal
Mark your calendars, Asheville. This week at the Asheville Yards Holiday Ice Rink includes: half-price skating on Tuesday, live music on Wednesday, and “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” on the big screen on Thursday. Plus, all non-skaters enjoy free admission to the winter wonderland.*
Coming Soon
AVLtoday is launching The Brief, a weekly business newsletter packed with local news, jobs, events, and promotions. Help us shape it by answering a quick survey. Want the inside track? Only five industry-exclusive launch partnerships are available — email rjohnston@6amcity.com for details.
Job
Manifesting a new job for 2026? Let us help. Our Job Board has 240,000 active listings across industries like healthcare, education, manufacturing, and information technology. Search open jobs now.
The Buy
A long puffer vest with sophisticated quilted detailing. It’s under $20 and available in eight different colors.
Pinterest is predicting a pen pal renaissance in 2026. Online searches for cute stamps, letter inspo, and snail mail gift ideas have all seen a recent increase as folks look for new ways to create meaningful connections in an increasingly digitized world. Find some inspo of your own at shops like Whist and Origami Ink’s online storefront.
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