The Venues

Pack Place Education, Arts & Science Center

2 S. Pack Square
The nonprofit Pack Place Education, Arts & Science Center is strategically set in the heart of beautiful downtown Asheville. This bustling complex includes the Asheville Art Museum, Colburn Gem & Mineral Museum, Diana Wortham Theatre, The Health Adventure and the YMI Cultural Center. An Asheville landmark, Pack Place offers meeting rooms and creative spaces for hosting special events. Surrounded by the scenic beauty of Western North Carolina’s mountains and featuring unique museum shops, Pack Place is a short stroll from many galleries, restaurants and other amenities.

Diana Wortham Theatre at Pack Place

Inside Pack Place
The Diana Wortham Theatre at Pack Place boasts exceptional acoustics and sightlines, making it the premier performance space in all of Western North Carolina. It is within walking distance of many shops and restaurants.
Seats 500

YMI Cultural Center

39 S. Market St.
The YMI Cultural Center is an Asheville landmark, conveniently located close to City Hall, Pack Square, Pack Place and many art galleries and other cultural attractions. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the YMI has served Asheville’s African-American community since it was established in 1892 as the Young Men’s Institute. It houses numerous collections and artifacts, including a core exhibit which focuses on the history of African-Americans in Western North Carolina. The YMI presents annual cultural events such as Asheville’s Goombay Festival, a Kwanzaa Celebration, an Evening of Jazz and the Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration. We invite all people to come share the rich heritage and celebration of African-American culture.

Lord Auditorium at Pack Memorial Library

67 Haywood St.
In 1894, a library building was constructed for about $2,000 at the corner of Church and Alston streets. The Asheville Library proved so popular that it quickly outgrew its space, prompting noted benefactor George Willis Pack to donate the First National Bank building on Pack Square to the Library Association. In 1911, the grateful organization changed its name to The George Willis Pack Memorial Library Association. Seven years later, the City of Asheville took over, operating it as a free public library. In 1940, Buncombe County made its first appropriation to the library. In 1980, Pack Memorial Library became the main branch of the new Asheville-Buncombe Library System. The library’s current home on Haywood Street was built in 1978. Pack Library is the largest library in Western North Carolina, circulating more than 300,000 library materials every year and hosting well over 100 library and community events.
Seats 100

Asheville Community Theatre

35 E. Walnut St.
Asheville Community Theatre’s long history of artistic excellence continues as it strides into the new millennium. Voted “Best Theatre Group in Western North Carolina” many times by readers of both the Asheville Citizen-Times and Mountain Xpress, ACT remains an institution committed to providing quality entertainment at a reasonable price. Although it’s best known for large-scale musicals, ACT also offers classic comedies and dramas, contemporary pieces and children’s theatre productions in both its Mainstage Auditorium and black box theatre, 35 below. For more information, call 828-254-1320 or visit us at www.ashevilletheatre.org.
Seats 375

Wild Wing Cafe

161 Biltmore Ave.
Hot Wings, Cold Beer and Good Times! Catch a film or drop by the after-party in the casual atmosphere of Wild Wing Cafe.

The Orange Peel

101 Biltmore Ave.
The Orange Peel Social Aid & Pleasure Club of Asheville is the area’s premiere Live Music Hall and Concert Venue featuring the very best in live music and cultural arts. Acts appearing on stage have included Bob Dylan, The Flaming Lips, Ben Harper, Blondie, Spoon, Sonic Youth, Damien Rice, Sam Bush and many more. The warm atmosphere and beautiful facilities are ideal for private parties and events of all kinds. www.theorangepeel.net.

Haywood Park Hotel Ballroom

One Battery Park Ave.
Feel the difference the moment you arrive! You will be greeted by a courteous professional staff. Polished brass. Rich, warm oak. Gleaming Spanish marble. Thirty-three individually decorated luxury rooms and suites. Complimentary valet parking. Bell staff. Nightly turndown with pillow amenities. All in historic downtown Asheville, within walking distance to the area’s finest restaurants, shops, galleries and museums. Discover the difference yourself at Asheville’s only luxury all-suite hotel. www.haywoodpark.com

Fine Arts Theatre

38 Biltmore Ave.
Located in the heart of Asheville’s Art and Entertainment District, The Fine Arts Theatre offers two screening rooms with state of the art sound and projection. The recently renovated Deco Theatre provides a stylish retro backdrop for first run Art and Independent films. With matinees, evening and weekend late shows, you can always fit a visit to the Fine Arts Theatre into your day. Call 828-232-1536 for current shows and times or visit our Web site at www.fineartstheatre.com.
Lower theater seats 240 – Upper theater seats 75

The Ritz Building

42 S. Market St.
The new Ritz building was built in 1926 and originally housed the Black Masonic Temple. Since that time, the building has been used for various purposes including fraternal organization meetings, housing, a restaurant and performances. The building is on the National Register of Historic Districts in Downtown Asheville. The Block, the neighborhood in which the building is located, has been the focus of African-American commerce and culture for more than a hundred years. The Ritz is a “must” experience in Asheville. Discover South Market Street and visit the Ritz building.