Update, October 1: Due to the effects of Hurricane Helene, programs and events are postponed until further notice to allow our team to assist with recovery efforts.
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 2024 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
Learn creative ways to start a fire, build various types of shelters, use a map and compass…and even find something to eat at Appalachian Survivor: Family Edition on October 7- Bring your four-legged companions to Barktoberfest on October 6 and Canine Trick or Treat on October 19
- Pumpkin carving, scary movies, tricky games, treaty events, and the popular Haunted Castle on the Hill are part of Festival of Frights from October 11-31
- Crafts, food, photobooths, apple decorating stations, and more welcome fall fun at Senior Fall Festival and Therapeutic Recreation Fall Festival on October 12
- Culinary wizards conjure up bewitching treats at Teen Bake Off: Halloween Edition on October 25
Games & Fitness
- Bring your favorite tabletop game and an appetizer to share at Whose Game Is It Anyway? on October 11
- Kickstart your wellness journey with Adult Fitness for Beginners on Wednesday nights and Intro to Fitness on October 17
- Embark on thrilling journeys through forests, oceans, and beyond during EcoPlay Game Club on October 16
- Show your skills every Thursday leading up to the Halloween Championship at Teen Three Point Knockout Challenge
- Register for sports leagues:
- Therapeutic Recreation Noncompetitive Bowling – season starts October 5
- Adult Flag Football – season starts October 15
- Youth Basketball – season starts November 4
- Adult Basketball – season starts November 18
Outdoors
- Raffles, skills courses, and bike safety checks await on the trails during Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day on October 5
- Join other active adults 50+ for stunning views of fall foliage from Bearwallow Mountain with this month’s Treks Hiking Club outing on October 17
- Make sense of our modern world and reground connections to nature and each other at Asheville Ecogathering on October 18
- Immerse yourself in the natural environment with a certified nature therapist with the final Forest Therapy session on October 21
- Register for Fly Fishing Skills events:
Arts & Culture
- Embrace a palette of pasta, produce, recycled materials, and unexpected objects found in everyday life at Beyond Brushes on October 2
- Create your own earrings, necklaces, keychains, and other items at Beginner Jewelry Making on October 4 and Create Your Own Jewelry Workshop on October 9
- Learn the art of cartomancy from a pro at Transcend with Tarot on Wednesday nights starting October 9
- Swap and shop clothes, shoes, and toys at Oakley Community Closet on October 9
- Roll, loop, and twist paper into decorative designs at Quilling Craft Workshop on October 16 and October 23
- Discuss Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson during the new Wild Reads Book Club’s meeting on October 16
Kids & Family
- Drop off the kids and enjoy some time alone with Kids Night In on October 4, Parents Night Out on October 11, and Kids Night Out on October 18
- Kids enjoy a day of games, crafts, science projects, and more while school’s out at Fun Day Out on October 7 and October 8
- Come by yourself, with friends, or with the whole family for friendly competition and quality time at Southside Family Game Night on October 11
- Register for toddler programs:
- Toddler Discovery Time: Autumn Vibes on October 1, Deep Blue Sea on October 15, and I Love My Mummy on October 29
Check Out All APR Programs
APR’s current Program Guide is available in English and español (online and at community centers). 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: