Happy Monday, Buncombe County!
🗳️ Last week you told us: we asked for the one fall food you can’t skip in Buncombe County, and 28 of you answered. Apple cider donuts or fritters won with 32%, chili or soup beans with cornbread took 21%, and apple butter on a warm biscuit got 18%. The cheese board got zero votes, which is a little humbling after leading Thursday’s issue with a cheese festival. So this week skips the snack table and leans on a good seat and a little culture: an Irish harp duo, a thriller on stage, and a night at the art museum.
This week:
An Irish harp and guitar duo plays Black Mountain on Monday night
The thriller Misery begins its run at NC Stage on Wednesday
Third Thursday at the Asheville Art Museum, with block printing and a youth orchestra
The rest of the week, day by day, plus what to book before the weekend
Parkway debris cleanup, reopened river parks and a playground back in Weaverville
Our full weekend picks land Thursday morning. Let’s get to it.
— Sean Kolina
🎶 An Irish Harp Duo in Black Mountain
The Irish harper Máire Ní Chathasaigh and the English guitarist Chris Newman bring Carolina Celtic to White Horse Black Mountain on Monday night. The duo first played together at the Cambridge Folk Festival in 1987 and has toured in 24 countries since, blending Irish traditional tunes with jazz, bluegrass and baroque. Admission is pay what you can, with $25 suggested, so the price is yours to set.
📍 Where: White Horse Black Mountain, 105 Montreat Rd., Black Mountain
📅 When: Monday, October 12th | 7pm – 9pm
💲 Price: Pay what you can | $25 suggested
🎭 The Thriller Misery Takes the NC Stage
NC Stage Company begins its run of Misery, the thriller based on Stephen King’s novel, on Wednesday night. The first three performances, Wednesday through Friday, are Choose Your Price nights, so you decide what to pay, starting at $18.50 with fees included. It runs about two hours with no intermission, and the theater recommends it for audience members 16 and older. On other nights, regular adult tickets run $30.50 to $57.50.
📍 Where: NC Stage Company, 15 Stage Ln., Asheville
📅 When: Wednesday, October 14th – Thursday, October 15th | 7:30pm
💲 Price: Choose your price from $18.50 | Regular tickets $30.50 – $57.50 | Ages 16 and up
🎨 Third Thursday at the Asheville Art Museum
The Asheville Art Museum stays open until 9pm on Thursday for Third Thursday, and this month’s is billed as Educator’s Night Out. The evening starts with a guided tour of The Art of Paper at 5pm, then a 90-minute block printing workshop at 5:30 with printmaker Denise Markbreit, where you make your own print. From 6 to 8pm, chamber ensembles from the Asheville Symphony Youth Orchestra play live, and the Studio stays open for art making all evening. There is nothing to sign up for. Admission is included with a museum ticket and free for members, and K-12 and college educators get in free with ID if they preregister.
📍 Where: Asheville Art Museum, 2 S. Pack Square, Asheville
📅 When: Thursday, October 15th | 5pm – 9pm
💲 Price: $20 general admission plus tax, free for members | 20% off for Buncombe County residents
Also This Week
The short list, day by day.
MON OCT 12 | Bob Weir Birthday Celebration Grey Eagle, Asheville · Doors 6pm, show 7pm · $16.56 · Local players from several Dead tribute bands, standing room only |
TUE OCT 13 | Jeff Coffin, Jordan Perlson and Viktor Krauss Grey Eagle, Asheville · 8pm · $30.75 – $41.05 · A jazz and funk trio with Snarky Puppy guitarist Bob Lanzetti, seated Bluegrass Open Jam Pisgah Brewing taproom, Black Mountain · 6pm · Free |
WED OCT 14 | Weaverville Tailgate Market Weaverville Community Center · 3pm – 6pm · Every Wednesday Elena Brower and Christy McKenzie Malaprop's, Asheville · 6pm – 7pm · Free, RSVP required · Two yoga and meditation teachers talk through a new book of 45 practices |
THU OCT 15 | The Moth StorySLAM: Magic Grey Eagle, Asheville · Doors 6:30pm, show 7:30pm · $22.21 · Tell a true five-minute story on the theme, or just listen |
FRI OCT 16 | Haunted History Walking Tour Starts at the Swannanoa Valley Museum, Black Mountain · 7pm · $30, $25 for members · About an hour, ages 13 and up |
SAT OCT 17 | The Infamous Stringdusters with Broken Compass Bluegrass Pisgah Brewing outdoor stage, Black Mountain · Doors 6pm, show 7:30pm · $36.30 · Marking 20 years with a new album |
Around the County
Buncombe is a lot bigger than downtown, so this is where the rest of it lives.
🌳 The river parks reopen Monday. Buncombe County Parks and Recreation closed its seven river parks over the weekend because of the storm and has them scheduled to reopen today: Walnut Island, Ledges Whitewater, Bent Creek, Hominy Creek, Glen Bridge, Corcoran Paige and Alexander. Read more
🌳 Helene debris removal starts along the Parkway. The National Park Service says work begins this month on about 208 acres between mileposts 380 and 391 in the Asheville area, aimed at cutting the wildfire risk from storm-downed trees. Expect intermittent one-lane closures, with no full closures planned, and the first phase should wrap up by spring 2027. Read more
🌳 Weaverville’s Lake Louise playground is open again. The town reopened it last week. Fencing stays up around the freshly seeded areas for a couple more months, and parts for the accessible swing and the musical installations are on order. Read more
As always, we read every reply and truly appreciate hearing from you. If there’s something you’d like to see more of locally, let us know. Thanks for being part of the Buncombe County Digest community.
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