Folk Art Center – Southern Highland Craft Guild

The Folk Art Center and Southern Highland Craft Guild is found just off the beautiful scenic Blue Ridge Parkway North Carolina in Asheville at milepost 382. Housing numerous works of art, gallery exhibitions from local and regional craft artists, and featuring craft demonstrations daily, the Folk Art Center is a great place to see unique works of art and buy one of a kind gifts for your family and friends. The Southern Highland Craft Guild Shop is widely noted in regional travel and lifestyle magazines. You will not want to miss this shop! You can call the Folk Art Center at 828.298.7928.

Asheville Community Theatre

The Asheville Community Theatre is not only the oldest continuously operating theatre in the city of Asheville, it is also one of the oldest operating community theatres in the country! For more than six decades the theatre has entertained numerous patrons in its 399 seat auditorium, and this year marks its 63 season. Each peak summer season, the theatre features a variety of different shows including many new screenplays that are not commonly produced by other community theatres. Located at 35 East Walnut Street, in Asheville NC; contact 828.254.1320 for a schedule of shows.

Pack Place Education, Arts, and Science Center

Pack Place Center is located across from historic Pack Square in downtown Asheville. This educational mecca is home to three Asheville Attractions: The Asheville Art Museum, Diana Wortham Theatre, and the Colburn Earth Science Museum. In addition to these unique spots, Pack Place is also home to Asheville’s YMI Cultural Center. Call 828.253.3227 for information on this exhibition center.

Asheville Art Museum

The renowned Asheville Art Museum houses a collection of American works of art from numerous regional artists of the 20th and 21st century. Paying tribute to the cultural heritage of the Western North Carolina Mountains, the Asheville Art Museum typically hosts 14 different exhibition events throughout the calendar year. Located in downtown Asheville at 2 South Pack Square, those looking for more information should call 253-3227.

Colburn Earth Science Museum

Spend the afternoon learning about the area’s precious gems and other metals and explore the rich treasures of Colburn Earth Science Museum. Hailed as a “mini Smithsonian of gems” by the Washington Post, the Colburn Earth Science Museum is an interesting place to spend a few hours. Most visitors allow one to three hours per visit and the center is open Tuesday through Saturday 10am to 5pm. Call 828.254.7162 for more information on the Colburn Earth Science Museum.

Diana Wortham Theatre

Located inside the Pack Place Center, the Diana Wortham Theatre is a large 500 seat entertainment venue that hosts more than 150 performances throughout the year. National professional touring artists as well as local arts organizations use the theatre. During peak vacation season times the theatre runs a special program of events. Most performances last about two hours. Call 828.257.4530 for a list of upcoming performances.

Asheville Symphony Orchestra

The Asheville Symphony Orchestra started in 1958 with volunteer musicians and no resident Director of the Orchestra. Today, the orchestra has grown from a small symphony into a 1.2 million dollar budgeted production that produces seven different full orchestra concerts per year inside the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium at the Asheville Civic Center. Usually, each concert features a guest performance by a well known artist, and this year’s symphony programming includes a line up of old favorites as well as newer favorites that include a very popular Holiday Pops concert. To learn more about the orchestra’s upcoming events call 828.254.7046.

Asheville Lyric Opera

Fans of the opera in Asheville NC and the surrounding regions are happy to enjoy Asheville’s only opera company’s performances. Regularly performing opera hits like Romeo + Juliet, Rigoletto, La Boheme, and La Traviata, the opera performs its full season at the Diana Wortham Theatre at Pack Place Center in downtown Asheville North Carolina. Call 828.236.0670 for more information.