As the first full month of fall, October offers opportunities for crisp mornings, cool evenings, and connecting with neighbors and the world around us before the hustle and bustle of the holidays. While the surrounding mountains treat us to a spectacular show of bright yellow, orange, and purple hues, Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR) has activities, special events, and classes to help community members grow and discover.
Asheville Parks & Recreation October 2025 Program Highlights
This is just a sample! Visit ashevillenc.go/apr-guide or stop by an APR community center for a program guide with more opportunities. Spots fill up fast, so advance registration is highly recommended. For most activities, registration opens 30 days prior.
Festivals & Special Events
- Bring your four-legged companions to Barktoberfest on October 5
- Pumpkin carving, scary movies, tricky games, treaty events, murder mysteries, a Lego build off, and more are part of the kooky and spooky Festival of Frights from October 11-31
- Crafts, food, photobooths, and apple decorating stations welcome fall fun at Grove Street Fall Festival on October 17
- Whisk, mix, and bake on the way to glory at Is It Cake: Adult Edition on October 29
Games & Fitness
- Take a pause from chaos and reconnect with your body at Mindful Stretching on Wednesday nights
- Maximize group workouts with friends at Teen Fitness on Thursday nights
- Sample some of the sports for people ages 50+ at Asheville-Buncombe Senior Games Clinics starting October 7 and practice sprints, starts, and jumps at Senior Games Track & Field Club on October 2 and October 16
- Hit the trail at Lake Junaluska with the Therapeutic Recreation Walking Club on October 9 and work together to get out of the escape room Therapeutic Recreation After Dark on October 10
- Jump start a fitness routine and learn how to use equipment at Intro to the Fitness Center on October 16
- Teens step into roles of allowing them to explore derelict spacecraft, unravel ancient mysteries, and confront alien entities at Mothership: Sci-fi Horror Role Playing Game on October 18
- Meet new people and sharpen your skills at Big Bro’s Bowling for men ages 50+ on October 21
- Register for sports leagues:
- Therapeutic Recreation Noncompetitive Bowling – season starts October 4
- Adult Flag Football – season starts October 14
- Youth Basketball – season starts November 3
- Adult Basketball – season starts November 17
Outdoors for All Ages
- Learn the basics of knot tying, safety checks, and belaying at Climbing Wall Belay Clinic on October 9
- Ramps, tunnels, twist, and curves await young riders at Tiny Tykes Bike Obstacle Course on October 15
- Join other active adults 50+ for stunning views of fall foliage along Purchase Knob Trail with this month’s Treks Hiking Club outing on October 16
- Help neighbors at the monthly George Washington Carver Edible Park Workday on October 17
- Build your toddler’s motor skills and balance with climbing and playing on and off the indoor wall when the five-week Little Monkeys begins on October 23
- Register for Fly Fishing Skills events throughout the month:
Arts & Culture
- Community members who may thrive with a little extra encouragement can sample tissue paper painting, pumpkin painting, and clown mask creation at Therapeutic Recreation Adult Crafting on Tuesday mornings
- Hit the road with other active older adults for lunch at Sol y Luna Cali-Mex Grill on October 2 and a tour of Carl Sandburg Home on October 9
- Dive down the rabbit hole for a night of mind-bending presentations at PowerPoint Night: Conspiracy Theories on October 15
- Expand creativity and explore where the canvas leads at Family Paint Night on October 17
- Craft & Connect embraces the season with fall wreaths on October 9 and tea blending and tea candles on October 23
- Newbies to vets are welcome to put their name in a bucket and play when called at Community Improv Jam on October 23 (spectators welcome, too!)
- Forks After Dark Movie Viewing Parties continue with Twilight: New Moon on October 24
- Swap and shop clothes, shoes, and toys at Oakley Community Closet on October 8
Kids & Family
- Drop off the kids and enjoy some time alone with Parents Night Out on October 3
- The new once-a-week APR Afterschool Discovery Den offers a mix of cooking, pottery, STEM, music, and more on Monday afternoons starting October 6
- The focus is on easy and collaborative recipes at Kids Cooking Class on October 21 where kids share the fun with a parent or guardian
- Register for Fun Day Out:
- October 6-7 at Grant Southside Center and Avery Montford Center
- October 13-14 at Crump Shiloh Center and Murphy-Oakley Center
- Register for toddler programs throughout the month:
- Art in the Park: Make & Take Crafts on October 7 and October 27
- Petite Picassos on October 13 and October 20
- Toddler Discovery Time on Tuesday mornings
- STEM for Toddlers on Tuesday afternoons
- Tiny Tykes at Stephens-Lee on Wednesday mornings
- Tiny Tykes at Grant Southside on Friday Mornings
Check Out All APR Programs
APR’s current Program Guide is available in English and español. Programs fill up fast and many require advance registration, so it’s worth spending some time planning which activities and events to attend. Use these resources to discover additional opportunities: