Events Calendar

Join us for the 51^st anniversary edition of ZOOfari — an unforgettable evening of cocktails, cuisine, and conservation!

Experience the nostalgia with flavors from previous ZOOfari events, paired with specialty cocktails throughout the Zoo.

Asheville Plays is eeeek!cited to announce the 13th annual Haunted Trail; Asheville’s only family friendly haunt! This event is ideal for Halloween lovers of all ages, 3-12 being the suggested age range. The Adventure Center of Asheville is the host of this one of a kind live outdoor theatrical experience where guests are promised an entirely immersive and interactive spooky night out while also ensuring no contact. The show is loved by boils and ghouls from all over WNC and is proudly presented by our title sponsor Mellow Mushroom Asheville. The Treetop Adventure Park Aerial Glow Trail is available for purchase for guests 4 years or older to enjoy at this event! Climb on two aerial trails while they are illuminated with thousands of colorful twinkle and laser lights. If you want to enjoy both of these amazing activities, combo passes are available and WILL sell out, so make sure you reserve your tickets early!

*The Haunted Trail does not sell out, however the entrance closes at 9 pm. Join us in saying BOO! to hunger; Each Ticket purchased to this event raises 4 meals for MANNA foodbank. For younger guests who still aren’t sure about being scared, even for fun, a “Sweet Peek Tour’ is offered nightly at 6:45 pm. The trail is actor free at this time and allows any nervous little monsters to decide if they would like to re enter the line and receive the full show. Don’t miss PIRATES COVE! Featuring a 30 ft Pirate Ship Escape Room, Live Mermaid Encounter with photo opportunity, and free pirate themed activities. In addition to the Haunted & Aerial Glow Trails and Pirates Cove, there will be an entire festival with games, local vendors, food and brews, and new this year: a Cotton Candy Robot! Scare you there! Oct 3-4-10-11-17-18-19-23-24-25-26 6-9 PM

Internationally recognized speaker and workforce strategist Kamber Parker Bowden’s debut book, “The Generational Advantage,” delivers practical tips for developing strong, multigenerational teams.

Parker Bowden will be visiting M. Judson from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 4 for a Saturday popup. She will be discussing her business insights and sharing details about her book.

This book is built on more than 10,000 interviews and over 50,000 hours of research, translating real-world insights into practical action items for business leaders. “The Generational Advantage” covers how to attract and retain top talent in a shifting labor market, bridge communication gaps across generational and technological divides, and turn workplace friction into collaboration and measurable business growth.

33rd Annual Colonial & Revolutionary War Weekend

Saturday & Sunday, October 4 & 5

at Historic Walnut Grove Plantation

Step back in time to experience the colonial and revolutionary spirit. Experience life in 1781 during the Revolutionary War with live demonstrations of cannon fire, cooking, spinning, camp life, 18th century music and more!

Children’s activities happening throughout the day, including candle dipping, quill writing, tin punching, tricorn hats, horn books and sweet bags.

Saturday 10/4 10:00-5:00, Sunday 10/5 10:00-4:00

Tickets are good for the entire weekend’s activities!

Back by popular demand, the third Annual Mountain Monarch Festival will be at Gorges State Park in Sapphire on Saturday, Oct. 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This free event, hosted by the park and sponsored by the Friends of Gorges State Park and other partners, will celebrate the monarch butterfly during its migration and raise awareness about the species’ declining numbers. The park lies along the monarchs’ migratory route. The butterflies can be seen in early October each year flying over the park, heading south to the high-elevation fir forests in central-southern Mexico’s Volcanic Belt, where they overwinter until early spring.

The festival will offer educational programs and exhibits as well as children’s crafts, face painting by Brevard College cheerleaders, a butterfly hike, and a Monarch Migration Passport to guide visitors through the activities. The featured speakers will be Heyward Douglas, an entomologist who is a former naturalist and has served on the Foothills Trail Conservancy’s board of directors since 1989, who will talk about visiting the wintering area for the monarchs in Mexico, and Brian Bockhahn, interpretation and education specialist for North Carolina State Parks, who will discuss “Monarch Life Cycle and Tagging.”

The event, activities and programs are free and open to the public. The event will be held rain or shine and is first-come, first-served. For event details, visit https://www.friendsofgorges.org

33rd Annual Colonial & Revolutionary War Weekend

Saturday & Sunday, October 4 & 5

at Historic Walnut Grove Plantation

Step back in time to experience the colonial and revolutionary spirit. Experience life in 1781 during the Revolutionary War with live demonstrations of cannon fire, cooking, spinning, camp life, 18th century music and more!

Children’s activities happening throughout the day, including candle dipping, quill writing, tin punching, tricorn hats, horn books and sweet bags.

Saturday 10/4 10:00-5:00, Sunday 10/5 10:00-4:00

Tickets are good for the entire weekend’s activities!

The Archaeology Society of South Carolina (ASSC) invites you to join us for our annual Fall Field Day at the Cayce Historical Museum in Cayce, SC. Come down to the museum to see real archaeological excavation on a nineteenth century plantation site. If you have curios or artifacts you want to learn more about, bring them with you! We have expert precontact and historic archaeologists available to answer questions. Small boats from the museum’s collections will on view. We are also going to show demonstrations of Ground Penetrating Radar technology and a new archaeology video game. Tour the museum and learn more about 12,000 years of South Carolina culture. The ASSC is also hosting a fundraiser auction and will be selling BBQ plates until they run out.

The YWCA Racial Justice Workshop is open to our entire YWCA Asheville community – including our staff, volunteers, board, donors, program participants, Fitness Center and community members. This 90-minute workshop will take place on the second Tuesday of each month at 11:30 am and will be facilitated by Gerry Leonard, Racial Justice & Outreach Specialist and Lexus Walker, Tzedek Social Justice Fellow.

Calling all mummies, ghosts, and witches! Don’t miss our famous Boo Bash on October 18th from 11 AM – 1 PM. Meet your favorite spooky characters and enjoy performances in center court, trick or treat throughout the mall and enter our costume contest for a chance to win prizes!