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Please submit items to the Calendar of Events by noon Thursday of each week, via e-mail, at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or fax to 252-6567, or mail c/o The Daily Planet, P.O. Box 8490, Asheville, N.C. 28814-8490. Submissions will be accepted and printed at the discretion of the editor, space permitting. To place an ad for an event, call 252-6565.      

CARL SANDBURG HOME PROGRAM, 10:15 a.m., amphitheater, Connemara (Carl Sandburg’s home), Flat Rock. The Carl Sandburg Home and The Vagabond School of Drama will present “The World of Carl Sandburg” at 10:15 a.m. Wednesdays and Fridays and “Rootabaga Stories” at 10:15 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. The 30-minute performances are free and held rain or shine through Aug. 16.
INSTRUMENTAL CONCERT, 11:15 a.m., in front of Hendersonville courthouse, Main Street, downtown Hendersonville. The Hendersonville Community Band will perform an Apple Festival concert of old favorites, Broadway tunes and patriotic marches. Attendees are urged to bring, lawnchairs and lunches.
READINGS, 7 p.m., Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café, 55 Haywood St., downtown Asheville. The publishers of Blue Cubicle Press, who offer the literary journal The First Line and the series of collections “Workers Write!,” will celebrate 10 years of publishing with readings and discussions of their work.
DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN MEETING, 8 p.m., Vincenzo’s Ristorante, 10 N. Market St., downtown Asheville. The Advisory Committee for the Asheville Downtown Master Plan will meet to discuss public comment from the downtown master plan meetings.

Thursday, July 31

CONCERT IN THE PARK, 7 p.m., Lake Tomahawk, Black Mountain. Lauren Jones and the Velvetones will perform in a free outdoor concert.
OUTDOOR CONCERT, 7 p.m., lawn at the Hinds University Center, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee. WCU’s Summer Concert Series will feature Farpoint in concert. Attendees are urged to bring lawnchairs and blankets.Admission is free.
BOOK SIGNING, 7 p.m., Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café, 55 Haywood St., downtown Asheville. Hendersonville native Mark De Castrique will read from his latest novel, “Blackman’s Coffin,” which is set in Asheville.
BENEFIT CONCERT, 8 p.m., Tryon Community/Arts & Crafts Center, Harmon Field, off U.S. 176, Tryon. Four-time Grammy award-winning bass player Victor Wooten, a member of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, will perform in a benefit concert. Joining Wooten will be Earth School’s Richard Cleveland, bassist Churck Rainey, guitaris Shane Pruitt and keyboardist Jim Peterman, of Tryan. The lineup also will include dobro player Mars Fariss, drummer George Waterman and Asheville’s Josh Phillips. Doors will open at 7 p.m. Tickets, which ar $15 for adults and $10 for children, only will be available at the door. No alcolic beverages will be permitted. The concerts is a fundraiser for Earth School’s scholarship program, FENCE, and Wooten’s music and nature camp.
CONTRA DANCE, 8 p.m., Bryson Gym, Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa. A contra dance is held weekly, preceded by beginner’s lessons at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $6.

Friday, Aug. 1

QUILT SHOW, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., N.C. Arboretum, Asheville. The Asheville Quilt Guild will hold its 26th annual quilt show Aug. 1-3. More than 250 quilts from guild members and other regional and national artists will be featured. Vendors, quilting demonstrations and a silent aution of quilts will be held. The show will continue from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 2 and 10 a.m.-5 .m. Aug. 3. Arboretum parkin is $5 during the event only.
ANTIQUES FAIR, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Asheville Civic Center, downtown Asheville. The Asheville Antiques Fair will feature appraisers, lectures and special loan exhibitions. The fair will continue from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 2 and noon to 5 p.m. Aug. 3.
GOTH PROM, 11 p.m., Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café, 55 Haywood St., downtown Asheville. Fans of Edward and Bella will celebrate the new installment of their saga by Stephenie Meyer, “Breaking Dawn,” by coming in costume to a Goth Prom and enjoying an Edward and Bella contest, refreshments, music, and more. Books will go on sale at midnight; reservations will be accepted.
ART FESTIVAL, noon-6 p.m., Main Street, downtown Hendersonville. The 49th annual Art on Main festival will be hosted by the Arts Council of Henderson County. The show will continue from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Aug. 2 and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 3. The show will include more than 70 artists and craftspeople, a live competition, live art demonstrations, street performers and more. An art preview for partrons will be held from 11 a.m. to noon Aug. 1, followed from noon to 5 p.m by a silent auction and a raffle of watercolor work by Tony Couch.
ART GALLERY WALK, 5-8 p.m. downtown Asheville. The Downtown Asheville Art Walks will feature 31 downtown galleries, including the light-filled Bender Gallery (57 Haywood St.), which has the region’s largest studio glass art collection.
GREEN DRINKS DISCUSSION GROUP, 6 p.m., BoBo Gallery, 22 Lexington Ave., Asheville. Asheville Green Drinks will feature an address by Greg-Walker Wilson, chief executive officer of Mountain BizWork. He will discuss the new Green Loan Fund, which will provide sustained green businesses with up to $300,000.
SUMMER COMMENCEMENT, 7 p.m., Ramsey Regional Activity Center, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee. WCU will bestow an honorary doctorate upon Sylva writer and storyteller Gary N. Carden as the university holds summer commencement exercises. Some 430 graduating students will be honored during the ceremony which is open to everyone and for which no tickets are required for admission. WCU Chancellor John W. Bardo will president over the ceremony and deliver the charge to the degree candidates. Faculty member Will Peebles will deliver the primary address.
MUSIC ON MAIN STREET CONCERT, 7-9 p.m., Visitors Information Center, 201 S. Main St., downtown Hendersonville. The Music on Main Street summer concert series will feature Tom Brown, One Man Band, playing variety and oldies rock.
FILM SCREENING/PARTY, 8 p.m., Asheville Art Museum, downtown Asheville. The museum’s ARTmob will host its annual summer film party, Movies at the Rhino, with a screening of Quentin Tarantin’s 1994 film “Pulp Fiction.” Prior to the film screening, earlier arrivers will be able to explore the exhibition “Pleasant Journeys and Good Eats Along the Way: A Retrospective of Paintings by John Baeder.” Admission is free for ARTmob members and $10 for the general public. Tickets cover admission to the museum, popcorn and two drinks. Ticket sales and check-in will be held at the museum’s front desk from 7:30 to 8 p.m. For more information, call 253-3227, ext. 114.

Saturday, Aug. 2

CAR CLUB FUND-RAISER, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., south parking lot, Biltmore Square Mall, Asheville. The Blue Ridge Mustang Club of Asheville will host a Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, which is open to the public. The event will benefit the family of Trooper Shawn Blanton, who was fatally shot during a traffic stop on June 17.
STORYTELLING, 11 a.m. Edneyville Branch Library, Henderson County. Elizabeth Ellis, teller of Appalachian and Texas tales, and stories of heroic women, will perform.
HISTORIANS’ PRESENTATION, 12:30 p.m., Osondu Booksellers, 184 N. Main St., Waynesville. Presentations will be made by several published Haywood County historians, including Frank C. Davis, Ann Davis Melton, Bob Plott and Janet Threikeld Webb.
AUTHOR’S TALK, 1-3 p.m., Barnes & Noble bookstore, 83 S. Tunnel Rd., Asheville. Award-winning author Charles Price will present his novel “Nor the Battle to the Strong” about the Revolutionary War in the South.
BOOK SIGNING, 2 p.m., Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café, 55 Haywood St., downtown Asheville. Victor DiGenti will sign all three titles from his Windrusher Trilogy — “Windrusher,” “Windrusher and the Cave of Tho-hoth” and “Windrusher and the Trail of Fire” — which was inspired by his work as executive director of a non-profit organization for the welfare and protection of abandoned, feral and homeless cats and kittens and his own houseful of furry rabble-rousers
CELEBRATION, 6 pm., home of Adelaide Key, Asheville. An event titled “Celebrating Buncombe County Women” featuring Lllian Exum Clement, the first North Carolina woman legislator from Buncombe, will be held. She was elected the same year — 1920 — that the 10th Amendmend was passed, giving women the right to vote. Former Gov. Jim Hunt and his wife Carolyn wll be special guests at the event. The public is invited to the event hosted by Lillian’s List, a statewide organization dedicated to electing pro-choice Democratic women to the N.C. House and Senate. Tickets, at $50 each, may be purchased at 222.lillianslist.org.
BACK DECK CONCERT, 6-8 p.m., Little Rainbow Row’s back deck, corner of Greenville Highway and West Blue Ridge Road, Flat Rock. Rock Killough will perform. Barbecue and pizza will be available for purchase. Attendees are urged to bring lawnchairs and blankets. Admission is free to the montlhy outdoor concert series.
BOOK SIGNING, 7 p.m., Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café, 55 Haywood St., downtown Asheville. Local author Cecil Bothwell discusses his new book, “Garden My Heart: Organic Strategies for Backyard Sustainability,” a series of essays reflecting more than 30 years as an organic gardener.
RECEPTION, 7-10 p.m., Pump Gallery, 109 Roberts St., River District, Asheville. A reception will be held for the opening of Max Cooper’s show “The District: Photography by Max Cooper,” a collection of after-hours nocturnal imagery. Cooper is a graduate of UNC Asheville’s photography program.
OPERA, 7:30 p.m., Brevard Music Center, Brevard College, Brevard. The opera “Little Women” will be presented.  For tickets and details, visit www.brevardmusic.org.
CONCERT, 8 p.m., Stuart Auditorium, Lake Junaluska. Soprano vocalist Jacquelyn Culpepper will perform a show mixing Broadway favorites and sacred selections in a recital. She will be accompanied by pianist Dewitt Tipton of Asheville. She is a 1979 graduate of Western Carolina University. For tickets, which are $10 each, call 454-6725.

Sunday, Aug. 3

POETRY READINGS, 3 p.m., Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café, 55 Haywood St., downtown Asheville. Poetrio will feature readings by  Terri McCord, author of “The Art and the Wait” and “In the Company of Animals,” Aaron Baker, author of “Mission Work,” and Jennifer Chang, author of “The History of Anonymity.”
CONCERT, 3 p.m., Brevard Music Center, Brevard College, Brevard. The Brevard Music Center Orchestra will perform, conducted by Daniel Meyer of the Asheville Symphony Orchestra. The concert will feature Chris Martin on trumpet. Highlights will include Saint-Saens’ Symphony No. 3 (“Organ Symphony”) and Arutiunian’s “Trumpet Concerto.” For tickets and details, visit www.brevardmusic.org.
CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERT, 3 p.m., St. Matthias Church, 1 Dundee St., Asheville. The Biltmore Brass Quintet will perform in a concert of chamber music. Admission is free, but a $10 donation is suggested.

Monday, Aug. 4

BOOK CLUB, 3 p.m., Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café, 55 Haywood St., downtown Asheville. The Bridging Differences Bookclub will discuss “In the Name of Identity” by Amin Maalouf, with host Patti Digh.
STREET DANCE, 7-9 p.m., Visitors Information Center, 201 S. Main St., downtown Hendersonville. The street dance will feature Walt Puckett as caller, Bobby and Blue Ridge Tradition and the Mountain Thunder Cloggers. Admission is free and attendees are urged to bring chairs and blankets. At 6:30 p.m., Puckett will teach audience members some basic square dancing moves.

Tuesday, Aug. 5

KIWANIS LUNCHEON/SPEAKER, noon, St. Mark’s Lutheran Fellowship Hall, Merrimon and East Chestnut Street, Asheville. The Kiwanis Club of Asheville will meet for conversation and a catered meal. From 1 to 1:30 p.m., Doug Rostick, a building sign associate with Home Energy Partners.
CRIME PREVENTION EVENT, 5:30 p.m., Murphy-Oakley Park, Fairview Road, Asheville. A National Night out crime prevention event will be hosted by the Asheville Police Department, the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office and the Asheville-Buncombe Community Relations Council. The event is being sponsored by Target Inc. Local law enforcement officials will discuss crime prevention and, along with the CRC, recognized the recipients of the third annual Law Enforcement Community Service Award.
CONCERT, 3 p.m., The Porter Center for the Performing Arts, Brevard College, Brevard. The McDades will perform in concert. For tickets, visit www.theportercenter.org.

Wednesday, Aug. 6

TOUR, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Center for Diversity Education, UNC Asheville. The “Many Faces of Asheville” annual guided tour, histed by the CDE will include both bus and foot travel and incudes a wide range of historical and cultural sites. The tour, which includes lunch, is $25 for teachers or $30 for all other participants. For more information, contact the CDE at 232-5024.
FILM SCREENING, 7 p.m., Laurel Forum, Karpen Hall, UNC Asheville. The film “White Light/Black Rain: The Destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki” will be screened in conjunctin with “Hiroshima-Nagasaki: Images and Stores From Eyewitness Accounts,” educational posters on loan from the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum on view in UNCA’s Karpen Hall Lobby.

Thursday, Aug. 7

CONCERT IN THE PARK, 7 p.m., Lake Tomahawk, Black Mountain. Eliza Lynn and her band will perform in a free outdoor concert.
BOOK SIGNING, 7 p.m., Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café, 55 Haywood St., downtown Asheville. Amber Sherer, the daughter of regional favorite poet Glenis Redmond, will read from her new poetry chapbook, “Phoenix Soul.”
CONTRA DANCE, 8 p.m., Bryson Gym, Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa. A contra dance is held weekly, preceded by beginner’s lessons at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $6.

Friday, Aug. 8

MEGA NETWORKING EVENT, 7:30 a.m.-noon, Ashville Area Chamber of Commerce,  36 Montford Ave., Asheville. Mega Networking will be held, giving chamber members an opportunity to meet prime business contacts in an entertaining format. Space is limited to one person per company and five attendees per business category. For reservations, call Laura Wolf at 232-2247.
BOOK SIGNING, 7 p.m., Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café, 55 Haywood St., downtown Asheville. The New Orleans-based writer James Nolan will read from his prize-winning story collection about the Crescent City, “Perpetual Care.”
MUSIC ON MAIN STREET CONCERT, 7-9 p.m., Visitors Information Center, 201 S. Main St., downtown Hendersonville. The Music on Main Street summer concert series will feature Sound Investment playing oldies rock.

Saturday, Aug. 9

CONCERT, 6 p.m., Fletcher Community Park, Fletcher. The Concert in the Park series will feature a concert by The Caribbean Cowboys, playing island music, a la Jimmy Buffet-style. Attendees are urged to bring lawnchairs. Admission is free.
BOOK SIGNING, 7 p.m., Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café, 55 Haywood St., downtown Asheville. Malaprop’s devotees aged 3-8 (and those who just feel that old) are invited to join attend a rhyming children’s event. Doris Reichardt, author of “My Silly Friends: Funny Poems for Kids,” and Marianne Berkes, author of “Over in the Jungle” and “Over in the Ocean, will read from their books.

Sunday, Aug. 10

BOOK SIGNING, 3 p.m., Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café, 55 Haywood St., downtown Asheville. Elizabeth Wiegand will read from her “Outer Banks Cookbook,” a tribute to the Outer Banks that also includes everything from shipwreck lore to practical tips on throwing an oyster roast.
CONCERT, 3 p.m., Brevard Music Center, Brevard College, Brevard. A performance of Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 will feature Steven Smith, conductor; and Jon Kimura Parker, pianist. The concert will also will include perfomrances of Kevin Puts’ premiere of two orchestral fanfars and Janacek’s “Sinfonietta. For tickets and details, visit www.brevardmusic.org.

Monday, Aug. 11

STREET DANCE, 7-9 p.m., near the Visitors Information Center, 201 S. Main St., downtown Hendersonville. The weekly street dance will feature Walt Puckett as caller and the Piney Mountain Band and Forge Mountain Cloggers.
LEADERSHIP SUMMIT, 8 a.m., Appalachian Regional Development Institute, Appalachian State University, Boone. The ARDI will hold its eighth annual leadership summit. The theme is “Accelerating our Economy: Tapping Creative Assets. To register, which costs $65, visit www.ardisummit.com.

Tuesday, Aug. 12

KIWANIS LUNCHEON/SPEAKER, noon, St. Mark’s Lutheran Fellowship Hall, Merrimon and East Chestnut Street, Asheville. The Kiwanis Club of Asheville will meet for conversation and a catered meal. From 1 to 1:30 p.m., Sharon Fahrer of Historic Walking Tours in Asheville, will discuss the history of downtown Asheville.
OUTDOOR CONCERT, 7 p.m., lawn at the Hinds University Center, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee. WCU’s Summer Concert Series will feature Farpoint in concert. Admission is free.
BOOK CLUB, 7 p.m., Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café, 55 Haywood St., downtown Asheville. The Malaprop’s Bookclub will discuss “The Beautiful Things that Heaven Bears” by Dinaw Mengestu, with host Mary Park Ford.
FILM SCREENING, 7:30 p.m., The Porter Center for Performing Arts, Brevard College, Brevard. The Classic Summer Movie Series will feature “Grease,” which was released in 1978. For tickets, which are $5, call 884-8330.

Wednesday, Aug. 13

BOOK SIGNING, 3 p.m., Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café, 55 Haywood St., downtown Asheville. Asheville native Muller chronicles her attempt to return the mojo to her marriage — by scheduling intimacy with her husband every day for a year — in “365 Nights: A Memoir of Intimacy.”

Thursday, Aug. 14

CONTRA DANCE, 8 p.m., Bryson Gym, Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa. A contra dance is held weekly, preceded by beginner’s lessons at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $6.

Friday, Aug. 15

DOWNTOWN AFTER FIVE, 5-9 p.m., North Lexington Avenue, at Interstate I-240 and Hiawassee Street, downtown Asheville. A free outdoor music show will feature two bands — Peggy Ratusz and Shannon Whitworth and the Jeff Sipe Band.
MUSIC ON MAIN STREET CONCERT, 7-9 p.m., Visitors Information Center, 201 S. Main St., downtown Hendersonville. The Music on Main Street summer concert series will feature Phil Urban as Elvis & The TCB Band.
WOMANSONG BENEFIT, 7:30 p.m., Lipinsky Auditorium, UNC Asheville. Womansong will perform in a benefit concert titled “Big Legged Women.” For tickets, which are $15 in advance, $18 at the door and $7 for children and students, call 696-9010.

Saturday, Aug. 16

COIN SHOW, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Holiday Inn West, 425 Smokey Park Hwy., Asheville. The Buncombe County Coin Club Show will feature buying, selling, trading all coins, paper money, scrap gold, platinum and silver. The show will conclude from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 17. Admission is free.
END OF SUMMER LUAU, 4:30-10 p.m., Fairview Community Center, 1357 Charlotte Hwy. (U.S. 74-A) (next to Fairview Elementary School), Fairview. An end of summer luau will feature food (including barbecue), games, beach bingo, free entertainment (including beach music), ukelele minstrels and hula lessons.

Sunday, Aug. 17

STORYTELLING CIRCLE, 6 p.m., Pavilion 1, Buncombe County Recreation Park, 72 Gashes Creek Rd., Asheville. The Asheville Storytelling Circle will host “Folktales and Foolishness.” Attendees are urged to bring chairs and blankets. Admission is free.

Tuesday, Aug. 19

KIWANIS LUNCHEON/SPEAKER, noon, St. Mark’s Lutheran Fellowship Hall, Merrimon and East Chestnut Street, Asheville. The Kiwanis Club of Asheville will meet for conversation and a catered meal. From 1 to 1:30 p.m., Kelly Fain, director of marketing and outreach for the French Broad Food Co-Op, will discuss organic and conventional foods.
TWILIGHT TUESDAY JAZZ CONCERT, 5-7 p.m., N.C. Arboretum, Bent Creek community, off Brevard Road/N.C. 191, south of Biltmore Square Mall, Asheville. The arboretum will feature Latin jazz music by Ahora Si for its Twilight Tuesday concert. Admission to the concert is free.

Thurday, Aug. 21

CONTRA DANCE, 8 p.m., Bryson Gym, Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa. A contra dance is held weekly, preceded by beginner’s lessons at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $6.

Friday, Aug. 22

MUSIC ON MAIN STREET CONCERT, 7-9 p.m., Visitors Information Center, 201 S. Main St., downtown Hendersonville. The Music on Main Street summer concert series will feature Tuxedo Junction will perform top 40 variety music. In addition, a classic car show will be held next to the concert.

Tuesday, Aug. 26

KIWANIS LUNCHEON/SPEAKER, noon, St. Mark’s Lutheran Fellowship Hall, Merrimon and East Chestnut Street, Asheville. The Kiwanis Club of Asheville will meet for conversation and a catered meal. From 1 to 1:30 p.m., Kelly Webb, fire and life safety educator for the Asheville Fire Department, will discuss business and home safety.

Thurday, Aug. 28

CONTRA DANCE, 8 p.m., Bryson Gym, Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa. A contra dance is held weekly, preceded by beginner’s lessons at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $6.

Saturday, Sept. 6

BACK DECK CONCERT, 6-8 p.m., Little Rainbow Row’s back deck, corner of Greenville Highway and West Blue Ridge Road, Flat Rock. Free Range will perform. Barbecue and pizza meal will be available for purchase. Attendees are urged to bring lawnchairs and blankets. Admission is free to the montlhy outdoor concert series.

Friday, Sept. 19

DOWNTOWN AFTER FIVE, 5-9 p.m., North Lexington Avenue, at Interstate I-240 and Hiawassee Street, downtown Asheville. A free outdoor music show will feature two bands — Laura Reed and Deep Pocket and Blue Mountain.

Saturday, Oct. 4

BACK DECK CONCERT, 6-8 p.m., Little Rainbow Row’s back deck, corner of Greenville Highway and West Blue Ridge Road, Flat Rock. Alden Schell will perform. Barbecue and pizza meal will be available for purchase. Attendees are urged to bring lawnchairs and blankets. Admission is free to the montlhy outdoor concert series.