Headlines and summaries by AVL GO, from reporting by .
The short version
A flood advisory is active for Buncombe and Henderson counties until Monday afternoon. Asheville has no impacts to city services, events or programming, and transportation services are running on a normal schedule. City departments have additional personnel and resources ready, while Black Mountain will increase emergency services staffing Saturday afternoon.
The Top 30 events happening in the next 7 days.
High-intensity metalcore and hardcore punk collides with rapid-fire hip hop on a stacked bill with Knocked Loose, Denzel Curry, Superheaven, and Boundaries. Early doors set up a loud, high-energy all-ages night at Hellbender by The Orange Peel.
High-intensity metalcore and hardcore punk collides with rapid-fire hip hop on a stacked bill with Knocked Loose, Denzel Curry, Superheaven, and Boundaries. Early doors set up a loud, high-energy all-ages night at Hellbender by The Orange Peel.
High-intensity metalcore and hardcore punk collides with rapid-fire hip hop on a stacked bill with Knocked Loose, Denzel Curry, Superheaven, and Boundaries. Early doors set up a loud, high-energy all-ages night at Hellbender by The Orange Peel.
Virtuosic electric bass drives a genre-bending blend of jazz fusion, funk, and psychedelic R&B, pairing intricate grooves with playful melodies and experimental sounds.
Virtuosic electric bass drives a genre-bending blend of jazz fusion, funk, and psychedelic R&B, pairing intricate grooves with playful melodies and experimental sounds.
Virtuosic electric bass drives a genre-bending blend of jazz fusion, funk, and psychedelic R&B, pairing intricate grooves with playful melodies and experimental sounds.
Stand-up headliner Daniel Tosh brings sharp, fast-paced joke runs and crowd-sized laughs to a big arena stage on his "My First Farewell Tour." Expect a late-night, high-energy comedy set with ticketed reserved seating.
Stand-up headliner Daniel Tosh brings sharp, fast-paced joke runs and crowd-sized laughs to a big arena stage on his "My First Farewell Tour." Expect a late-night, high-energy comedy set with ticketed reserved seating.
Stand-up headliner Daniel Tosh brings sharp, fast-paced joke runs and crowd-sized laughs to a big arena stage on his "My First Farewell Tour." Expect a late-night, high-energy comedy set with ticketed reserved seating.
Dark, atmospheric songs merge gothic rock, doom metal, and folk, pairing shadowy textures with singer-songwriter intimacy. Moody vocals and brooding arrangements suit listeners drawn to alternative and metal sounds.
Dark, atmospheric songs merge gothic rock, doom metal, and folk, pairing shadowy textures with singer-songwriter intimacy. Moody vocals and brooding arrangements suit listeners drawn to alternative and metal sounds.
Dark, atmospheric songs merge gothic rock, doom metal, and folk, pairing shadowy textures with singer-songwriter intimacy. Moody vocals and brooding arrangements suit listeners drawn to alternative and metal sounds.
Dreamy synthpop and indie-pop grooves take over the room with support from Caroline Kingsbury, setting a late-night dance-forward vibe. VIP "Cheers With Cannons" packages add immersive pre-show visuals and an exclusive pre-show hang.
Dreamy synthpop and indie-pop grooves take over the room with support from Caroline Kingsbury, setting a late-night dance-forward vibe. VIP "Cheers With Cannons" packages add immersive pre-show visuals and an exclusive pre-show hang.
Dreamy synthpop and indie-pop grooves take over the room with support from Caroline Kingsbury, setting a late-night dance-forward vibe. VIP "Cheers With Cannons" packages add immersive pre-show visuals and an exclusive pre-show hang.
Indie rock led by singer-songwriter Conor Oberst brings guitar-driven songs and alternative rock arrangements rooted in the band’s Omaha origins for a concert centered on emotionally direct songwriting.
Indie rock led by singer-songwriter Conor Oberst brings guitar-driven songs and alternative rock arrangements rooted in the band’s Omaha origins for a concert centered on emotionally direct songwriting.
Indie rock led by singer-songwriter Conor Oberst brings guitar-driven songs and alternative rock arrangements rooted in the band’s Omaha origins for a concert centered on emotionally direct songwriting.
Genre-hopping songs collide with sharp workplace satire, absurdist storytelling, and chart-ready hooks in a high-energy performance that swings between concert, comedy special, and surreal fever dream.
Genre-hopping songs collide with sharp workplace satire, absurdist storytelling, and chart-ready hooks in a high-energy performance that swings between concert, comedy special, and surreal fever dream.
Genre-hopping songs collide with sharp workplace satire, absurdist storytelling, and chart-ready hooks in a high-energy performance that swings between concert, comedy special, and surreal fever dream.
A live stage talk with Milo Rossi blending archaeology and history storytelling with multimedia and crowd-friendly humor. Expect an engaging lecture style presentation in a seated performing arts hall.
A live stage talk with Milo Rossi blending archaeology and history storytelling with multimedia and crowd-friendly humor. Expect an engaging lecture style presentation in a seated performing arts hall.
A live stage talk with Milo Rossi blending archaeology and history storytelling with multimedia and crowd-friendly humor. Expect an engaging lecture style presentation in a seated performing arts hall.
Intricate polyrhythms, interlocking guitar lines, saxophone, and percussion drive an adventurous experimental music set, joined by supporting performances that bring electronic textures and exploratory sound to the listening room.
Intricate polyrhythms, interlocking guitar lines, saxophone, and percussion drive an adventurous experimental music set, joined by supporting performances that bring electronic textures and exploratory sound to the listening room.
Intricate polyrhythms, interlocking guitar lines, saxophone, and percussion drive an adventurous experimental music set, joined by supporting performances that bring electronic textures and exploratory sound to the listening room.
Sharp stand-up comedy and personal stories bring together a nationally touring comedian known for sold-out clubs and political activism with a bestselling novelist rooted in North Carolina literature.
Sharp stand-up comedy and personal stories bring together a nationally touring comedian known for sold-out clubs and political activism with a bestselling novelist rooted in North Carolina literature.
Sharp stand-up comedy and personal stories bring together a nationally touring comedian known for sold-out clubs and political activism with a bestselling novelist rooted in North Carolina literature.
Virtuosic saxophone, nimble drums, resonant bass, and guest guitar shape a sophisticated, boundary-pushing jazz fusion set, balancing intricate interplay with adventurous grooves in an all-ages seated concert.
Virtuosic saxophone, nimble drums, resonant bass, and guest guitar shape a sophisticated, boundary-pushing jazz fusion set, balancing intricate interplay with adventurous grooves in an all-ages seated concert.
Virtuosic saxophone, nimble drums, resonant bass, and guest guitar shape a sophisticated, boundary-pushing jazz fusion set, balancing intricate interplay with adventurous grooves in an all-ages seated concert.
A high-energy mountain bike festival in Nebo centered on trail riding and endurance-style racing, with a strong Asheville cycling community presence. Expect rugged singletrack, competitive heats, and all-day bike-culture hangouts.
A high-energy mountain bike festival in Nebo centered on trail riding and endurance-style racing, with a strong Asheville cycling community presence. Expect rugged singletrack, competitive heats, and all-day bike-culture hangouts.
A high-energy mountain bike festival in Nebo centered on trail riding and endurance-style racing, with a strong Asheville cycling community presence. Expect rugged singletrack, competitive heats, and all-day bike-culture hangouts.
Over 100 juried Southern Highland Craft Guild artisans fill the concourse and arena with fine American craft, from contemporary to traditional. Browse clay, wood, metal, glass, fiber, leather, paper, mixed media, and jewelry across multiple levels.
Over 100 juried Southern Highland Craft Guild artisans fill the concourse and arena with fine American craft, from contemporary to traditional. Browse clay, wood, metal, glass, fiber, leather, paper, mixed media, and jewelry across multiple levels.
Over 100 juried Southern Highland Craft Guild artisans fill the concourse and arena with fine American craft, from contemporary to traditional. Browse clay, wood, metal, glass, fiber, leather, paper, mixed media, and jewelry across multiple levels.
A high-voltage night of progressive thrash metal, crust punk, and hard-driving local acts, with VOIVOD’s four decades of metal history anchoring a benefit concert for Asheville’s skate community.
A high-voltage night of progressive thrash metal, crust punk, and hard-driving local acts, with VOIVOD’s four decades of metal history anchoring a benefit concert for Asheville’s skate community.
A high-voltage night of progressive thrash metal, crust punk, and hard-driving local acts, with VOIVOD’s four decades of metal history anchoring a benefit concert for Asheville’s skate community.
Asheville mayoral and City Council candidates will discuss housing, transportation, resilience and land use at a public forum Oct. 14, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Hi-Wire Brewing in the River Arts District. Asheville on Bikes, MountainTrue and Strong Towns Asheville are organizing the event.
The short version
NCDOT says blasting at the I-26 Connector project's initial site is nearly complete, with no additional blasting expected next week. Existing road closures and detours remain in place, including closures of Hill Street and Westgate Loop. NCDOT anticipates no significant new traffic impacts next week.
Asheville plans to remove Lake Craig Dam following Helene. The storm partially washed out the dam, reopening upstream passage in the Swannanoa River. Surveys by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and Warren Wilson College found smallmouth bass and russet darters upstream, which the commission says were documented there for the first time since the dam was built more than a century ago.
Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller, a Democrat, faces Republican Gary Parris in the Nov. 3 election. Both emphasize staffing and community trust, while Miller identifies gun violence as the greatest safety threat and Parris points to drug activity. Early voting runs Oct. 15-31.
The short version
Two open Buncombe County commissioner seats will have new members after November’s election. Democrat Anna Stearns and Republican Rob Stetson are running in District 1; Democrat Lonnie Israel and Republican Greg Parks are running in District 2. Commissioner Al Whitesides is seeking reelection unopposed in District 3 after redistricting, while Commissioner Martin Moore is running unopposed for district attorney. Early voting runs Oct. 15-31.
The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office said Oct. 8 that charges were forthcoming after an operation found 11 sex offenders violating address verification or other registry requirements. The office worked with Asheville police and N.C. Probation and Parole to complete 266 compliance checks.
The short version
Jennifer Reed was sworn in as Buncombe County Schools superintendent on Sept. 24 after serving as interim superintendent since Sept. 1 following Rob Jackson’s retirement. Her contract runs through June 30, 2030.
Asheville’s Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously Oct. 7 to recommend approval of conditional rezoning for the proposed Enka Costco. City Council is scheduled to take up the proposal Oct. 13. Plans call for a 168,258-square-foot store, a 32-pump fuel station and 914 parking spaces. The proposal seeks a minimum tree canopy of 13%, below the site’s usual 15% requirement.
Buncombe County commissioners unanimously postponed an Oct. 6 vote on a $290,000 Sheriff’s Office request for a fiscal 2027 Fusus/Axon contract renewal and a camera project. Commissioner Drew Ball requested the delay, saying commissioners and the community needed to hear more from the sheriff’s department. Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Matt Marshall said the camera project would provide internal security at properties where evidence is stored.
Buncombe County commissioners approved 15 affordable housing program revisions Tuesday, allowing qualifying homeowners facing foreclosure to apply for up to $2,500 in annual emergency mortgage assistance. Nonprofits apply for funding and connect eligible residents with assistance. The revisions also require certain developments to dedicate 50% of available cash flow to county loan repayment after operating expenses, first mortgages, required reserves and deferred developer fees are covered.
I-26 eastbound between I-40 and Long Shoals Road will close from 8 p.m. Oct. 8 to 6 a.m. Oct. 9 for final work before new lanes open later this week. Drivers will be detoured via I-40 East and Hendersonville Road to Long Shoals Road or Airport Road. Two lanes on the French Broad River bridge will also close during daytime hours later this month for sealing work.
The short version
UNC Asheville will raise Access Asheville’s income eligibility limit from $90,000 to $100,000 in adjusted gross income for new first-year and transfer undergraduates entering fall 2027. Eligible North Carolina students will pay no tuition or mandatory fees after grants and scholarships are applied. Eligible students from Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia will pay $10,000 in tuition and fees after aid.
Buncombe County commissioners approved sidewalk and recycling program grants and revisions to affordable housing services guidelines on October 6, 2026.
Asheville officials say increased production at the Mills River Water Treatment Plant could cause discolored water for customers south of the Blue Ridge Parkway through 5 p.m. Oct. 6. Officials do not anticipate water service interruptions; the North Fork service area will not be affected.
Asheville Fire Department says I-26 Connector construction has changed routes to some emergency calls, particularly near Hill Street and Riverside Drive. The department has not yet measured whether recent closures increased response times. Asheville police report no overall effect on their response times.
The short version
Asheville police have charged Trevon Demarkus Stone, 29, with attempted first-degree murder and other offenses in connection with the April 26 shooting on Atkinson Street. Police say the shooting wounded one person and damaged several vehicles. Two other suspects were charged in September, and Stone is in federal custody on unrelated charges.
Democratic incumbent Lindsey Prather faces Republican Anthony J. Penland in N.C. House District 115, with the candidates differing on taxes and school vouchers. The district includes Candler, Enka, Leicester, Swannanoa and Weaverville. Early voting runs Oct. 15-31, and Election Day is Nov. 3.
The short version
Machelle Lynn Williams, 52, of Asheville, was pronounced dead at 562 Pond Road on Oct. 3. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol says a pickup truck rolled away and ran over her. Deputies initially responded to an overdose call before troopers took over the investigation.