As the North Carolina mountains turn a rich shade of green and warm afternoons invite everyone outside, Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR) kicks off a May to remember with opportunities to explore local greenways, celebrate community at neighborhood festivals, and sharpen skills – whether on a tennis court or at a pottery wheel. With events ranging from toddler play days and teen “kickbacks” to adult sports leagues and family movie nights, there is no shortage of ways to find your spring rhythm. Check out highlights below and get ready to make May memories in your city’s parks and community centers!
May 2026 Asheville Special Events and Festivals
- Join Tiny Tykes Day on May 3
- Register for Fiesta del Cinco de Mayo on May 5
- Watch ‘Zooptopia 2’ at Movies in the Park on May 8
- Register for Dog Days of Summer Adoption Fair on May 9
- Register for Walkin’ Tacos Afternoon on May 13
- Join Shiloh Storytelling Day on May 16
- Register for Montford Block Party & Musical Beats Bingo on May 23
- Join Shiloh Fun Day on May 24
- Register for Cake Baking Contest on May 27
Asheville Walks, Runs, Fishing, and Outdoor Recreation Programs
- Register for Burton Street Running Club on Wednesday nights
- Register for Fly Casting for Beginners on May 4
- Register for Advanced Fly Casting on May 5
- Register for Greenway Walking Club on May 6
- Register for Fly Fishing on the Water on May 14
- Register for Camping 101 on May 16
- Register for Nature Nuts Outdoor Camp (Ages 6-8) on June 15-17
Recreation Programs for Teens, Kids, and Toddlers
- Register for Toddler Kickball Extravaganza on May 2
- Register for Short Form Improv for Tweens & Teens on Monday, May 4-18
- Register for Teen Training with Tre on May 5
- Register for Toddler Takeover Themed Play Days on Wednesday, May 6-20
- Register for Sip & Paint: Family Edition on May 6
- Register for Mom & Me Painting on May 7
- Register for Bad Painting Bonanza on May 13
- Register for School’s Out: Murphy-Oakley Play Day on May 22
- Register for Teen Easels & Eats on May 22
- Register for Parents Night Out on May 29
- Register for Teen Zone Kickback on May 29
- Register for Teen Summer Enrichment Camps on June 8-August 14
- Register for Wrestling Camp (Ages 10-14) on June 8-12
- Register for Nature Nuts Outdoor Camp (Ages 6-8) on June 15-17
Arts, Sports and Fitness, and Meetups for Adults
- Register for Open Futsal for Women on Thursday nights through May 28
- Register for Handbuilding Clay Basics on Tuesday, May 5-26
- Register for Adult 4v4 Half Court Basketball League by May 7
- Register for Meetup: Asheville Tourists Baseball Game on May 17
- Register for Lunch Bunch: S&W Market on May 21
- Register for Adult Tennis Clinic on Tuesday and Thursday, May 19-28
- Register for 3v3 Burton Street Basketball Tournament (Ages 16+) on May 30
- Registration for Adult Spring Tennis Tournament opens on May 1
- Registration for Women’s Basketball League opens on May 4
- Registration for Adult Pickleball Doubles League opens on May 12
- Purchase Aston Park Tennis Center Passes
Explore More with Asheville Parks & Recreation
These are just a few of the hundreds of programs, activities, and special events taking place in Asheville parks and community centers every month! 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:
- Pick up a copy of APR’s free program guide at community center locations
- Search programs online, available in multiple languages via Google Translate’s Website Translator
- Follow APR on Facebook and Instagram
- Discover parks, greenways, playgrounds, and recreation locations throughout Asheville