Thursday, Sept. 26
• Learn to identify tasty treats lurking in the forest during a program on edible wildflowers at Lake James State Park, 6883 N.C. Highway 126, Nebo. Trip departs from the Paddy’s Creek Area breezeway. 9 a.m. Free. Info: 584-7728.
• “The American Cancer Society Bark For Life is a noncompetitive walk event for dogs and their owners to raise funds and awareness for the American Cancer Society’s fight against cancer,” according to a website for the event. “By supporting Bark For Life, you help the American Cancer Society save lives, and that helps us move closer to our ultimate goal of a world with less cancer and more birthdays. So bring your best canine friend and join us for a fun-filled day starting with a walk, and then continuing with demonstrations, contests and games.” Get things started with a kick-off party at The Bywater, 796 Riverside Drive, featuring live music, food, a “Ready-Set-Draw: Bark Edition” competition and more.” $5. 7 p.m. The actual walk will be held Saturday, Oct. 19 at Highland Brewing Company.
Friday, Sept. 27
• Enjoy the cool fall air and early autumn colors during a ranger-led, 2.5-mile hike to the Sam Knob summit. Trip meets at the Black Balsam parking area, south of MP 420 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. 10 a.m. Free. Info and directions: 298-5330, ext. 304.
• “A-B Tech Community College is hosting a monthly program, ‘Interviews with Innovators,’ featuring interviews with area professionals and A-B Tech alumni who will speak on the inside story on how they achieved their success,” according to a website for the lectures. “Hosted by A-B Tech’s Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences, Jon R. Wiener, Ph.D., the one-hour series starts at noon, Friday, September 27, in Rhododendron 351 on the Asheville campus with a session on entrepreneurship, featuring Chris Sparks and Jamie King, co-owners of Sparking Design. Sparking Design started in 2010 and is an Asheville web design firm specializing in branding, marketing web design and print projects. They started the firm after finding the job market so difficult to enter. The desire was so great to continue design work, they created their own business.” Free.
• The city of Waynesville will officially celebrate the opening of its new 8,000-square-foot skate park with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 550 Vance St. The event will include free items from Vans, refreshments and more. Info: recdirector@townofwaynesville.org or 456-2030.
• From a Smart Bet in this week’s issue, “Self-described ‘ground-shaking, soul-driven powerhouse’ collective The Broadcast has not only been busily playing shows around the area and across the country (140 dates last year!), it’s also been at work on sophomore album Dodge the Arrow. ‘The blood, the sweat, the tears, the touring, the van breaking down,’ writes the band in a recent blog post. ‘2013 has been a crazy year and we can’t think of a more perfect way to end it than to tie it with the most beautiful bow of all — a brand spankin’ new record!’ Dodge kicks off with Caitlin Krisko’s powerful rasp, backed by dynamic instrumentals and driving grooves. The Broadcast holds an album release party at The Grey Eagle on Friday, Sept. 27. David Earl & the Plowshares and The Deluge also perform. 8 p.m., $10/$12. thegreyeagle.com.” Alli Marshall
Saturday, Sept. 28
• The Cradle of Forestry will celebrate National Public Lands Day with free admission to exhibits, historic trails and guided walks. Interested in lending a hand? The community is also invited to help with biodiversity gardening and other service projects. Route 276, Pisgah National Forest. 9am-5pm.
• From an event page, “Thank Dog Bootcamp is teaming up with Summit CrossFit, Align Yoga and Wellness and Brother Wolf Animal Rescue for some DOGA – that’s right: doggie yoga! 100 percent of donations will benefit Brother Wolf Animal Rescue!” 21 McArthur Lane. 10 a.m. $10 suggested donation.
• From this week’s Xpress, “Dreaming of an island getaway but stuck in the mountains? Look no further than Marshall for its annual Art on the Island Festival located on Blannahassett Island, just over the bridge from Main Street. … This year’s festival takes place Saturday, Sept. 28, from 10 a.m. till 5 p.m. The event will feature potters, fiber artists, wood turners, food and music. A tree-lined picnic area overlooking the French Broad will give folks a place to take a quick snack break. The event is free, family-friendly and open to the public.”
• On Saturday, September 28, Just Die! will play its last show,” begins a Facebook event page. “Just Die!, in a way, taught us (the guys in the band) … how to be in a band. When we were on, we felt unstoppable, and when we were off, we were still having the time of our lives. We traveled to places we never thought we would go and met some of the greatest people and some of the best friends that I still have to this day. I personally felt that we wrote the most honest music we could and definitely weren’t doing anything at the time that anyone else in our city was doing. We felt alienated and accepted at the same time. We invite anyone and everyone that would like to attend to join us for this. We will have some leftover records from most presses. The show will be $5 and all ages and we will most likely get some rad bands to play.” Catch the local punk/hardcore outfit’s final show at The Odditorium, 1045 Haywood Road. 8 p.m.
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