Events Calendar

The North Carolina Arboretum is going wild for art and nature in 2021 with Wild Art! On view April 1 through September 26, this outdoor sculpture exhibition features works by 17 local and national artists drawing inspiration from the natural environment. Situated throughout the Arboretum’s spacious, open-air gardens, the show offers guests a doorway into the wild world from the comfort and safety of cultivated landscapes transformed by art.

The 18 sculptures on display represent a variety of approaches to the theme of “wild art,” from the literal to the abstract, and are crafted from a diverse array of materials that will delight and inspire. Let your imagination take you on a wild journey into the world of plants and animals near and far with Wild Art at The North Carolina Arboretum.

The exhibit is available to all guests during normal Arboretum hours, and there is no admission cost to view the sculptures beyond our usual parking fee of $16 per personal vehicle.

With the convenience of being open year-round, 7 days a week, the WNC Farmers Market offers a selection of farm-fresh produce at the lowest prices in Western N.C. Our popular retail buildings, providing a selection of non-perishables, fruits, vegetables, crafts and more, are open daily.

River’s End Restaurant is an iconic spot for locals and visitors to Bryson City. Enjoy spectacular views of the gorge, with paddlers passing through as they complete their Nantahala River Rafting trip. Stop in for year-round lunch and dinner, with weekend brunch during the summer season, and choose from a wide range of appetizing entrees, burgers, salads, pizza, and sandwiches. Hang out for a while and enjoy a large selection of signature cocktails, wine, and beer, including local favorites.

In River’s End Restaurant, every seat has a view of the river! Enjoy music by the river and views of paddlers passing through as they complete their Nantahala River Rafting trip. Join our waitlist online to reserve a table or order online and grab your meal to go, for a sunny lunch right by the river!

Included with admission

Our fun-for-all-ages botanical model train displays invite you to experience our grounds in an engaging new way. Located in the Conservatory in the Walled Garden, the displays feature replicas of structures connected with Biltmore and its founder George Vanderbilt. Each beautifully executed piece was handcrafted from such natural elements as leaves, bark, and twigs.

In compliance with state and local mandates related to COVID-19, all guests must enter the Conservatory via the ADA entrance in the back and follow a one-way route.

Included with admission

A unique-to-Biltmore, large-scale outdoor sculpture will be crafted and installed in Antler Hill Village this spring by Patrick Dougherty. Over the last three decades, this internationally-acclaimed artist has combined his carpentry skills and love of nature to build over 300 of these wondrous works, captivating the hearts and imaginations of viewers worldwide.

Image: Close Ties (2006) Scottish Basketmakers Circle, Dingwall, Scotland. Photo: Fin Macrae
NOTE: This is an example of Patrick Dougherty’s work; the artist will create Biltmore’s unique structure in Antler Hill Village this spring.

Bowls Jim Weber can’t imagine a world without bowls, and he’s spent his life creating them to make sure they remain. Weber’s love of bowls will be highlighted in his exhibition, “Bowls: Imagine Life Without Bowls,” May 4 through 29 in Gallery III at the Artists Collective | Spartanburg.

The Upcountry History Museum will continue its mission of connecting young audiences with hands-on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) learning experiences when it hosts Framed: Step Into Art.
The bilingual (English and Spanish), exhibition transforms the works of well-known painters into interactive environments. Children ages 3-12, enter the exhibit by stepping though an oversized frame and are immersed in the worlds created by well-known artists. Each work is re-created as a three-dimensional, sensory, walk-in environment that includes a print of the artist’s original work as well as important facts about the artist’s life and painting style.
Supporting the National Standards for Arts Education for K through 5th grade, the exhibit provides conversational prompts that employ visual thinking strategies. Children explore the works of four specific artists, as well as enter a Mona Lisa Gallery where they discover a print of the original painting along with famous parodies, and step behind a a cutout version replacing Mona Lisa’s face with their own.

The exhibition’s four interactive spaces include:
• Dinner for Threshers by Grant Wood explores rural life at the turn of the century inviting children to tend to the chickens and eggs, prepare a seasonal meal, set the table, and mix and match the farmers patterned shirts.
• Camp at Lake O’Hara by John Singer Sargent invites visitors to Sargent’s 1916 camp in the Canadian Rockies. Children climb inside a tent, explore camping gear like Sargent’s, prepare a meal over the campfire, and create a painting of what today’s campsite might look like.
• Corn Festival by Diego Rivera visitors travel to Mexico through this piece from the Court of Fiestas in the Ministry of Education Building in Mexico City. Children explore a rendition of one of Rivera’s frescos, add flowers and ribbons to the flower tower for a celebration and add their flourish to a miniature building mural.
• Big Chicken by Clementine O’Hara visitors meet Louisiana’s most famous female artist and folk-art icon and create imaginary animals like Hunter’s “goosters”! Children load the cart and climb behind the reins of Hunter’s giant rooster to take the load into town.

In addition to climbing inside works of art, children are invited to curate their own exhibit gallery, draw self-portraits, take part in an art/history hunt through the exhibit and create different images at a three-dimensional pattern puzzle.

Hendersonville yoga studio, YAM, is offering free outdoor yoga at The Park at Flat Rock on Thursdays and Saturdays. Get outside and get moving with these fun and refreshing classes. Click to learn more about YAM’s community yoga.

Well-known Spartanburg artist Bailie’s abusive childhood – one without a father figure – profoundly affected his life, leading to his seeking therapy, which in turn inspired him to put the spotlight on mental illness through his art. His multimedia exhibit, “In the Midst of a Trauma,” will be on display May 4 through 29 in the Solomon Gallery at the Artists Collective | Spartanburg.

The exhibition includes watercolors by DeCrane and acrylic paintings by Roberts. A reception is scheduled for 5 to 9 p.m. May 20 in the gallery.

On Saturday, May 22, 2021, Pet Supermarket stores in your community will be hosting local animal rescues and shelters in hopes of helping pets in need find their “furever” homes. In addition to the adoptable animal meet and greets, there will also be giveaways and raffles for a Pet Supermarket gift card! Customers will also be able to receive a free dog wash and 25% off their first grooming service with proof of adoption of their pets. To find your nearest Pet Supermarket store, visit https://storelocator.petsupermarket.com/.

On exhibit Saturdays and Sundays from 12 – 4 p.m., Rocky Cove Railroad is a G-Scale (garden scale) model train that demonstrates the coming of trains to western North Carolina at the turn of the 20th century. The exhibit is located below the Grand Promenade. Please note, Rocky Cove Railroad will not operate in rainy or wet conditions.

Hit the trails and learn more about the Arboretum’s botanically diverse forest with the return of guided trail walks in 2021! In response to COVID-19, new safety measures have been put in place to protect our guests, members, volunteers and staff: Walks will be limited to 10 people, including the guide, and all participants will be required to wear face coverings for the duration of the walk.

This free hiking program is led by trained volunteer guides who take small groups of participants along woodland trails and through a variety of forest types. Depending on the season, topics of discussion may include wildflowers, plant and tree identification, natural history and more.

Guided trail walks depart from the Baker Exhibit Center Lobby every Tuesday and Saturday at 1 p.m. through the month of October. Walks last 1.5- 2.5 hours and are approximately one to two miles in length, and as such are recommended for guests 14 years or older. Walks are held rain or shine, so all participants should dress appropriately for the weather.

Register In Advance

Space is limited and advance registration is encouraged. Pre-registered participants must check in at the Baker Information Desk no later than 10 minutes before the scheduled program to keep their spot. Unclaimed spots will be offered to other guests.

Guests may sign up for trail walks in the following ways:

• Pre-register online
• Sign up in-person at the Baker Information Desk.

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Relia’s Lost Kitchen is a series of exclusive pop-up dinner events in honor of NOC founder Aurelia Kennedy and the original restaurant that nourished visitors from all over the globe.

Guests will enjoy a freshly prepared five-course dinner, with each course perfectly paired with wines from the renowned Orin Swift portfolio, thoughtfully crafted from the vineyards of California. Dine overlooking Relia’s Garden with the Nantahala River just below.

Tables will be set up to seat four guests at a time and guests are required to book in parties of four to maximize seating availability for this exclusive, socially distanced event. Doors will open at 6PM for the 6:30PM dinner service.