Thursday, Oct. 18
• Enjoy the rich fall foliage during a difficult 8.2-mile hike to Walkers Knob in Montreat. Hosted by the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy. Bring lunch, water, rain gear, hiking shoes and a camera. Well-behaved dogs welcome. Free. Registration and meeting place: rich@appalachian.org or 253-0095, ext. 205.
• “For four days each July and October, the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville, N.C. comes alive with fine traditional and contemporary crafts,” begins an event page for the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands. “More than 200 craftspeople fill the two levels of the center, selling their works of clay, fiber, glass, leather, metal, mixed media, natural materials, paper, wood and jewelry.” The four-day event, which runs Oct. 18-21, also features a variety of craft demonstrations and live regional music. Thurs.-Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $8; children under 12 free.
• “Shake It Like a Caveman one-man band was born Blake ‘Snake’ Burris in Chattanooga, Tennessee,” explains the rowdy bluesman’s bio. “An early life of sports laid the foundation for what is now one of the most athletic rock ‘n’ roll explosions touring today! The setup is simple, but the sounds are massive. The ‘all live,’ no loops, no pedals show is the pulsating electro-blues beat of the kick drum, hi-hat, slide guitar, harmonica and vocals. The name was taken from the hypnotic effect the sounds have on audiences, causing them to ‘shake it like a caveman.’” Embrace your inner Neanderthal when Burris plays The Bywater, 796 Riverside Drive. 8:30 p.m. Free; donations appreciated.
Friday, Oct. 19
• Interested in becoming more self sufficient? Start with your health. The Mountain Horticultural Crops Research Station, 74 Research Drive, Mills River, presents a workshop on growing, harvesting and marketing Chinese medicinal herbs. Free. Info and registration: Alison_Dressler@ncsu.edu or 684-3562.
• From the gallery’s website, “Downtown Asheville’s newest fine art gallery, ArtEtude Gallery Inc., has held off having a Grand Opening event until now. But the wait is over, and the event is planned for the weekend of Oct. 19-21. … The event itself will kick off Friday evening with an artist’s reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Our artists will be traveling to Asheville from all over the country for the entire weekend-long event. There will be music and hors d’oeuvres along with some great libations. The main show will run from 2 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Saturday, with great jazz, food and drink. This will be a wonderful chance to spend time with your favorite artists from the gallery and to have the artists add a personalized provenance to any work of art you choose to add to your collection. Sunday afternoon will be the cool down time for our traveling guests to enjoy their latest acquisition before they head home and wait for the shipment.” 89 Patton Ave. Info: 252-1466.
• From the Magnetic Field‘s website, “Disclaimer Comedy is proud to present its Underground Local Comedy Showcase. As the comedy scene in Asheville continues to grow, the number of exciting new local stand-up comics grows with it. The Underground Comedy showcase is an opportunity for these local up-and-coming comics to showcase their skills and to make Asheville laugh.” Featuring performances by Grayson Morris, Tom Peters, Taylor Rogers, H.D. Wimbledon, James Hancock, Nick Murphy and more. 372 Depot St. 10 p.m. $5.
• Originally, the Foogmess drone festival was created as a “local alternative to the very expensive, very not locally focused Moogfest.” This year, Foogmess returns for a third year, and while it might still be an alternative to Moogfest, it’s no longer going head to head with the popular electronic festival. Foogmess III will bring more than two dozen experimental, ambient, spaced-out acts to town for a three-day celebration of the bustling local drone scene (the weekend before Moogfest). Performers include Feast of the Epiphany, Lazy Magnet, Difference Clouds, Cumulus, Soft Opening, Ahleuchatistas’ Shane Perlowin and many, many more. Fri. and Sat. shows at Apothecary, 39 S. Market St.; Sun. performances at Blackout Effectors, 98 N. Lexington Ave. 7 p.m. $5. See website for complete lineup and schedule.
Saturday, Oct. 20
• Looking for some good reads to curl up with this winter? Asheville Bookfest returns to the courtyard of Pack Pack Place, featuring publishers, authors, vendors and presenters. Sponsored by Grateful Steps Publishing. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free to attend.
• The N.C. Arboretum invites the community to pet live animals, go on a nature hike and help staff record the wildlife that’s found during “Watching Wildlife.” All ages welcome. Group meets at the Trellis Classroom in the Education Center. 10 a.m. Free with $8 parking fee or membership.
• It’s that time of year for getting spooked. And while sitting through a scary movie can be nerve wrecking, you can’t beat the experience of a well-told tale in a dark and haunting forest. Ditch the rentals and head to The Cradle of Forestry, Route 276 in Pisgah National Forest, for The Legend of Tommy Hodges, the story of a Biltmore School student’s disappearance on Halloween night in 1906, staged on a one-mile walk along the Biltmore Campus Trail. 6:15, 7:45 and 9 p.m. Performances staged on Fri., Oct. 19 and Sat., Oct. 20. $6/$3 children under 16.
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