Asheville Reporter

As the first full month of fall, October offers opportunities for crisp mornings, cool evenings, and connecting with neighbors and the world around us before the hustle and bustle of the holidays. While the surrounding mountains treat us to a spectacular show of bright yellow, orange, and purple hues, Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR) has activities, special events, and classes to help community members grow and discover.

Asheville Parks & Recreation October 2024 Program Highlights

This is just a sample! Visit ashevillenc.go/apr-guide or stop by an APR community center for a program guide with more opportunities. Spots fill up fast, so advance registration is highly recommended. For most activities, registration opens 30 days prior.

Festivals & Special Events

Learn creative ways to start a fire, build various types of shelters, use a map and compass…and even find something to eat at Appalachian Survivor: Family Edition on October 7.

Bring your four-legged companions to Barktoberfest on October 6 and Canine Trick or Treat on October 19.

Pumpkin carving, scary movies, tricky games, treaty events, and the popular Haunted Castle on the Hill are part of Festival of Frights from October 11-31.

Crafts, food, photobooths, apple decorating stations, and more welcome fall fun at Senior Fall Festival and Therapeutic Recreation Fall Festival on October 12.

Culinary wizards conjure up bewitching treats at Teen Bake Off: Halloween Edition on October 25.

Games & Fitness

Bring your favorite tabletop game and an appetizer to share at Whose Game Is It Anyway? on October 11.

Kickstart your wellness journey with Adult Fitness for Beginners on Wednesday nights and Intro to Fitness on October 17.

Embark on thrilling journeys through forests, oceans, and beyond during EcoPlay Game Club on October 16.

Show your skills every Thursday leading up to the Halloween Championship at Teen Three Point Knockout Challenge.

Register for sports leagues:

Therapeutic Recreation Noncompetitive Bowling – season starts October 5.

Adult Flag Football – season starts October 15.

Youth Basketball – season starts November 4.

Adult Basketball – season starts November 18.

Outdoors

Raffles, skills courses, and bike safety checks await on the trails during Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day on October 5.

Join other active adults aged 50+ for stunning views of fall foliage from Bearwallow Mountain with this month’s Treks Hiking Club outing on October 17.

Make sense of our modern world and reground connections to nature and each other at Asheville Ecogathering on October 18.

Immerse yourself in the natural environment with a certified nature therapist with the final Forest Therapy session on October 21.

Register for Fly Fishing Skills events:

Intro to Fly Fishing.

Knots and Rigging.

Fly Fishing On the Water.

Fly Casting.

Arts & Culture

Embrace a palette of pasta, produce, recycled materials, and unexpected objects found in everyday life at Beyond Brushes on October 2.

Create your own earrings, necklaces, keychains, and other items at Beginner Jewelry Making on October 4 and Create Your Own Jewelry Workshop on October 9.

Learn the art of cartomancy from a pro at Transcend with Tarot on Wednesday nights starting October 9.

Swap and shop clothes, shoes, and toys at Oakley Community Closet on October 9.

Roll loop twist paper into decorative designs at Quilling Craft Workshop on October16andOctober23 .

Discuss Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson during the new Wild Reads Book Club’s meetingonOctober16 .

Kids & Family

Drop off the kids andenjoy some time alonewith Kids Night InonOctober4 , Parents Night OutonOctober11 ,and Kids Night OutonOctober18 .

Kids enjoyadayof games , crafts , science projects ,andmore while school’s outat Fun Day OutonOctober7andOctober8 .

Comeby yourself ,with friends ,orwiththe whole familyfor friendly competitionand quality timeat Southside Family Game NightonOctober11 .

Registerfortoddler programs :

Toddler Discovery Time : Autumn VibesonOctober1 , Deep Blue SeaonOctober15,and I Love My MummyonOctober29 .

Tiny Tykes Wednesday

Toddler Takeover

Toddler&Me Time Out

Rookie Readers

Check Out All APR Programs

APR’s current Program Guide is availableinEnglishandespañol(onlineandatcommunity centers).Programs fillupfastand many require advance registration,sit’s worth spending some time planning which activitiesandevents to attend.Use these resources todicover additional opportunities:

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