Open-sourced by Matt
Open-sourced by Matt
Headlines and summaries by AVL GO, from reporting by .
The short version
The Top 30 events happening in the next 7 days.
Stand up set from actor and comedian Mike Epps in a casino resort theater, blending sharp observational jokes with big stage energy. A late night headliner show suited for an adults night out in Cherokee.
Stand up set from actor and comedian Mike Epps in a casino resort theater, blending sharp observational jokes with big stage energy. A late night headliner show suited for an adults night out in Cherokee.
Stand up set from actor and comedian Mike Epps in a casino resort theater, blending sharp observational jokes with big stage energy. A late night headliner show suited for an adults night out in Cherokee.
Costumed, decorated-bike revelry takes over the brewery grounds with pedal-powered games, bicycle frolic, and colorful characters. Craft beer flows alongside a live-music lineup and awe-inducing sideshow-style performances for a big community festival vibe.
Costumed, decorated-bike revelry takes over the brewery grounds with pedal-powered games, bicycle frolic, and colorful characters. Craft beer flows alongside a live-music lineup and awe-inducing sideshow-style performances for a big community festival vibe.
Costumed, decorated-bike revelry takes over the brewery grounds with pedal-powered games, bicycle frolic, and colorful characters. Craft beer flows alongside a live-music lineup and awe-inducing sideshow-style performances for a big community festival vibe.
Indie rock and dream pop guitar chug with Luna’s graceful, chiming set led by Dean Wareham’s distinctive voice. An evening concert with Sister Ray Davies in an intimate music hall pub atmosphere.
Indie rock and dream pop guitar chug with Luna’s graceful, chiming set led by Dean Wareham’s distinctive voice. An evening concert with Sister Ray Davies in an intimate music hall pub atmosphere.
Indie rock and dream pop guitar chug with Luna’s graceful, chiming set led by Dean Wareham’s distinctive voice. An evening concert with Sister Ray Davies in an intimate music hall pub atmosphere.
Sweeping art rock and chamber pop blend experimental textures, orchestral instrumentation, and emotionally charged songwriting, bringing an acclaimed Cambridge band’s distinctive indie sound to Asheville.
Sweeping art rock and chamber pop blend experimental textures, orchestral instrumentation, and emotionally charged songwriting, bringing an acclaimed Cambridge band’s distinctive indie sound to Asheville.
Sweeping art rock and chamber pop blend experimental textures, orchestral instrumentation, and emotionally charged songwriting, bringing an acclaimed Cambridge band’s distinctive indie sound to Asheville.
Hyper catchy indie electronic and synth pop with glossy hooks that mask existential and emotionally complex lyrics. Expect a dancey outdoor amphitheater set with bright production energy and singalong choruses.
Hyper catchy indie electronic and synth pop with glossy hooks that mask existential and emotionally complex lyrics. Expect a dancey outdoor amphitheater set with bright production energy and singalong choruses.
Hyper catchy indie electronic and synth pop with glossy hooks that mask existential and emotionally complex lyrics. Expect a dancey outdoor amphitheater set with bright production energy and singalong choruses.
Pummeling death-metal night with Revocation’s technical riffs, rapid-fire drumming, and harsh vocals, backed by Defeated Sanity, Fuming Mouth, and Weeping. Expect loud, late, high-intensity pit energy in an intimate club setting.
Pummeling death-metal night with Revocation’s technical riffs, rapid-fire drumming, and harsh vocals, backed by Defeated Sanity, Fuming Mouth, and Weeping. Expect loud, late, high-intensity pit energy in an intimate club setting.
Pummeling death-metal night with Revocation’s technical riffs, rapid-fire drumming, and harsh vocals, backed by Defeated Sanity, Fuming Mouth, and Weeping. Expect loud, late, high-intensity pit energy in an intimate club setting.
An evening of stand up comedy on Brad Williams’ Tall Tales Tour inside the historic Thomas Wolfe Auditorium. Expect a polished, ticketed headliner set with big crowd energy and late night laughs downtown.
An evening of stand up comedy on Brad Williams’ Tall Tales Tour inside the historic Thomas Wolfe Auditorium. Expect a polished, ticketed headliner set with big crowd energy and late night laughs downtown.
An evening of stand up comedy on Brad Williams’ Tall Tales Tour inside the historic Thomas Wolfe Auditorium. Expect a polished, ticketed headliner set with big crowd energy and late night laughs downtown.
Bikes and backyard-party energy with a community ride season closeout, custom hats, and a slow ride competition. Expect New Belgium beer vibes, a bike giveaway, and a DJ set driving late-night hangouts.
Bikes and backyard-party energy with a community ride season closeout, custom hats, and a slow ride competition. Expect New Belgium beer vibes, a bike giveaway, and a DJ set driving late-night hangouts.
Bikes and backyard-party energy with a community ride season closeout, custom hats, and a slow ride competition. Expect New Belgium beer vibes, a bike giveaway, and a DJ set driving late-night hangouts.
Roller boogie skating meets hard-hitting Blue Ridge Roller Derby action during a weekend takeover of an indoor arena in downtown Asheville. Expect high-energy laps, crowd-cheering bouts, and a late-night party vibe on wheels.
Roller boogie skating meets hard-hitting Blue Ridge Roller Derby action during a weekend takeover of an indoor arena in downtown Asheville. Expect high-energy laps, crowd-cheering bouts, and a late-night party vibe on wheels.
Roller boogie skating meets hard-hitting Blue Ridge Roller Derby action during a weekend takeover of an indoor arena in downtown Asheville. Expect high-energy laps, crowd-cheering bouts, and a late-night party vibe on wheels.
A late-night country and Americana concert built around story-forward singer-songwriter sets and crowd-sung choruses. Expect an energetic club-room vibe at Hellbender with touring headliners and a standing-room audience.
A late-night country and Americana concert built around story-forward singer-songwriter sets and crowd-sung choruses. Expect an energetic club-room vibe at Hellbender with touring headliners and a standing-room audience.
A late-night country and Americana concert built around story-forward singer-songwriter sets and crowd-sung choruses. Expect an energetic club-room vibe at Hellbender with touring headliners and a standing-room audience.
Electrifying late-night rock set that blurs garage grit with soul grooves, jazz fusion twists, psychedelia, and freewheeling improvisation. A Burnpile pre-party vibe with doors at 7 and an 8pm start in an intimate downtown venue.
Electrifying late-night rock set that blurs garage grit with soul grooves, jazz fusion twists, psychedelia, and freewheeling improvisation. A Burnpile pre-party vibe with doors at 7 and an 8pm start in an intimate downtown venue.
Electrifying late-night rock set that blurs garage grit with soul grooves, jazz fusion twists, psychedelia, and freewheeling improvisation. A Burnpile pre-party vibe with doors at 7 and an 8pm start in an intimate downtown venue.
Four benches have been added at Weaver Park’s playground, and power has been restored to the restrooms and scoreboard. A custom rubber ramp is planned to improve playground accessibility, and the city says ballfield upgrades could begin Oct. 1. The changes follow residents’ concerns about seating, accessibility and playground equipment after the park’s renovation.
According to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, surveys with Warren Wilson College found smallmouth bass and russet darters upstream of Lake Craig Dam for the first time since its construction over 100 years ago. Helene washed out the dam, and Asheville decided not to repair it.
The short version
The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority approved $11,186,513 in tourism tax funding Wednesday for 10 community projects. The North Carolina Arboretum will receive $2.4 million for an education and events plaza, and the River Arts District Artists Foundation will receive $2.1 million to help build a RAD Creative Campus. Grants reimburse recipients after approved expenses are reviewed.
Scott Rogers will retire as ABCCM’s executive director at the end of 2026 after 45 years leading the ministry. Member churches are scheduled to vote Nov. 24 at Transformation Village on the board’s proposed successor, Chief Operating Officer Brandon Wilson. Rogers will remain involved in fundraising and helping establish a foundation to support ABCCM.
The Housing Authority of the City of Asheville will lower affected households’ voucher payment standard from 150% to 120% of Fair Market Rent on Oct. 1. HACA says HUD never approved the higher standard. Some families face hundreds more in monthly costs; the number affected remains unknown.
The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help identifying a suspect in a burglary at Pad Thai Asheville on Sardis Road, and surveillance pictures have been released. Officials say the break-in happened around 12:30 a.m. Sept. 23. Owner Wanwisa Pureelertwanich said someone stole a safe and about $2,700, and damage forced the restaurant to close temporarily for repairs. Anyone with information can call Detective David Reed at 828-250-4420.
HCA Healthcare is investing more than $30 million in equipment and improvements at Mission Hospital, including imaging, surgical and cardiovascular technology and two specialized ambulances. Investments also support Mission’s Asheville Surgery Center and CarePartners services.
The short version
Crews are scheduled to slow traffic in both directions on I-26 near Asheville’s Broadway interchange at Exit 25 around 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, for blasting and rock removal. NCDOT says drivers should expect brief delays and possible backups. The work is part of the I-26 Connector project and is weather-dependent, so it may be postponed or adjusted.
Buncombe County District Attorney Todd Williams said Sept. 28 that no criminal charges will be filed against officers involved in the July 15 fatal shooting of Arturo Castillo-Palomar outside Shakey’s Bar in Asheville. Williams said the shooting was justified after reviewing body-camera footage, video from the business and evidence gathered by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.
Asheville City Council requested more research before deciding how to allocate $30 million in federal Helene recovery funds for flooded commercial corridors. No decisions were made at Thursday’s workshop. Staff will provide additional research and workshop notes and seek another discussion before community engagement.
I-26 Connector construction and road closures are narrowing routes from West Asheville and Emma toward downtown. Hill Street and Pearson Bridge Road are closed, while alternate routes also face congestion. An Emma resident said a Tuesday crash on Bowen Bridge contributed to a 55-minute commute.
Asheville police reported 286 violent crime cases through August 2026, 33% below the department’s four-year average for the same period. Police plan to continue targeted deployments and community policing, while the Asheville Housing Authority examines increased incidents in the Livingston community.
The short version
Star Melody Grant is scheduled to return to Buncombe County Superior Court Nov. 30 on three first-degree murder charges and one felony conspiracy charge. The charges concern the deaths of her parents and grandmother in Fairview. The date was announced Sept. 28 at an administrative hearing.
Word of Faith Fellowship leader Brooke Covington entered Alford pleas Monday in Buncombe County Superior Court to false imprisonment and simple assault, maintaining her innocence. She received suspended sentences and 24 months of probation, resolving a case stemming from Matthew Fenner’s allegations about a 2013 prayer session in Spindale.
The short version
According to HACA, Asheville’s housing authority became North Carolina’s first to join HUD’s Work & Dignity Coalition. Its policy requiring eligible household members to complete 15 weekly hours of work-related activity began for new admissions in June 2026 and expands to current eligible residents in January 2027.
Rain from Sept. 25-27, 2024, saturated Asheville before Helene brought flooding, power outages and blocked roads. The Swannanoa River flooded Biltmore Village, and the French Broad River reached a record level in Asheville, damaging the River Arts District.
The short version
Buncombe County officials reported 41 homes completed through RenewNC and federal approval for 263 voluntary property acquisitions as Helene housing recovery continues. FEMA’s housing mission is scheduled to end in September, while state disaster case management has been extended through January 2027.
Photographer Katie Linsky Shaw revisited places in Buncombe County hit hard by Tropical Storm Helene and created a video marking the storm’s second anniversary. Recovery continues across western North Carolina.
The short version
Buncombe County commissioners asked Gov. Josh Stein to adjust Helene recovery housing funding rules in a Sept. 22 letter. Commissioners say current guidelines disqualify projects that would provide needed housing. Stein’s office announced $1.7 million in August for Crescent Place Apartments in Arden, a 60-unit affordable housing complex. The county says it aims to replace all 285 residences destroyed by Helene with affordable housing.
Weaverville Fire Chief Ray Canafax has resigned, with his last day set for Oct. 10. Town Manager Scottie Harris said he understood Canafax had accepted a fire chief position closer to family. The town has not determined how it will fill the vacancy.
Costco’s revised Enka Commerce Park proposal calls for a 168,258-square-foot store and reduces the fueling station from 32 pumps to 16. City staff say they expect another submission with revised tree-canopy and landscaping plans and updated project conditions. The Planning and Zoning Commission is scheduled to review the proposal Oct. 7, followed by a City Council public hearing on zoning amendments Oct. 13.
Two years after Helene, businesses, roads and public spaces have reopened across Asheville, while damaged properties, erosion and landslide concerns persist. City officials say recovery is shifting toward long-term reconstruction and resilience, with major infrastructure projects expected to take years.
Novant Health completed the final phase of South Asheville Medical Park at 1815 Hendersonville Road, adding imaging and outpatient surgery centers. The centers are expected to begin serving patients this fall, though some breast imaging services are already available.
