Asheville Parks & Recreation has released its program guide for 2026, offering a range of free and low-cost classes, clubs, and activities for community members of all ages. The guide is available at local community centers and online at ashevillenc.gov/apr-guide.
The new program guide features opportunities for young adults, older adults, teens, kids, tweens, toddlers, and those interested in therapeutic recreation. Registration is required for most activities and opens 30 days before each event.
For young adults, the January schedule includes Hip Hop Dance Fitness on January 5, Bad Painting Bonanza on January 7, Regift Emporium on January 10, Contact Improv Dance sessions on January 12 and 26, an introduction to the fitness center on January 12, a new Fly Fishing Skills series starting January 13, Art Without Borders on January 15, MLK Day of Service on January 19, Soup-er Bowl and Hilarious PowerPoint Presentations: Share Absurd Ideas both on January 21. Indoor sports such as basketball, volleyball, and pickleball are also available throughout the week at multiple locations.
Older adults can participate in Let’s Paint! beginning January 5; Senior Sippers events on January 6 and 20; Dancing Dominos starting January 7; Paper Mache & Masking Tape Art from January 8; Bowling day trips also on January 8; Asheville-Buncombe Senior Games Clinics returning on January 13; Soup-er Bowl on January 21; Lunch Bunch at Don Buyos Mexican Restaurant & Cantina on January 22; and Tech Time Learning scheduled for January 27.
Teens have access to Training with Tre starting January 6; Lifestyle Choices: Male Mentor Group beginning a new session on January 8; a Vision Board workshop for teens on January 9 alongside Teen Fitness: Weight Lifting and Teen Laser Tag. The Fly Fishing Skills series begins again for teens on January 13. Glow Climb is set for January 26. Leadership clubs meet weekdays at several centers. Applications are open through January 16 for the City of Asheville Youth Leadership Academy (CAYLA), which offers paid internships to high school sophomores and juniors. High school students can use community fitness centers free of charge.
Kids’ programming includes a New Years Eve Party on January 2; Dr. Grant Gym Rats Homeschool P.E. from January 5 with REC-cess beginning two days later; Dungeons & Dragons club launching on the thirteenth; STEM Night events scheduled for mid- and late-January; Fun Day Out planned for the twentieth; Learn to Climb classes from the twenty-second; Glow Climb again featured later in the month along with Kids Cooking Class: Snack Boards (January 29) and Parents Night Out (January 30). Registration is currently open for Youth Flag Football and Friday Night Spike.
Toddlers can join Professor Pre-K’s Club: Science for Little Learners or Tiny Tykes Play Dates in early to mid-January at different centers. Tales & Treats: Cookies & A Cozy Story takes place mid-month followed by Little Climbers sessions starting soon after. Tiny Tykes Toddler Discovery Time launches another session later in the month.
Therapeutic recreation options include registration now open for TR Basketball as well as Club Connect board games (January 8) and music (January 22), After Dark Movie Night (January 9), Fun Day Out Snow Tubing (January 14), Adult Crafting Tuesday mornings, and Adult Morning Movement Wednesday mornings.
A spokesperson said that spots fill up quickly so advance registration is highly recommended even when events are free: “This is just a sample! Visit ashevillenc.go/apr-guide or stop by an APR community center for a program guide with more opportunities for people of all ages.”
Community members may search programs online using Google Translate’s Website Translator tool supporting over two hundred languages or sign up for newsletters tailored to active adults or families via APR’s website.
