Asheville

Asheville's LGBTQ+ community is centered in downtown Asheville and the River Arts District, with a vibrant queer arts and culture scene. Popular venues include O.Henry's, Scandals, and The Getaway. Blue Ridge Pride is a major celebration, and the city hosts various queer events and cultural festivals. Asheville's mountain location and artistic community create a unique queer culture that values both natural beauty and creative expression.

Small-chain smokehouse serving sandwiches, platters & BBQ by the pound in a casual setting.

12 Bones Smokehouse and Brewing

Palm and Pine is a shop in Asheville. Located at 178B Westwood Pl, Asheville, NC 28806, USA.

Palm and Pine

Emote is a shop in Asheville. Located at 444 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC 28806, USA.

Emote

Worker-owned operation offering coffee & tea along with small-press books.

Firestorm Books & Coffee

Homebody Art Collective is a venue in Asheville. Located at 1 Tingle Aly, Asheville, NC 28801, USA.

Homebody Art Collective

Refined Southern choice serving creative upmarket plates in minimalist surrounds with a full bar.

Goldfinch Kitchen & Cocktails

Urban Exhale Massage is a venue in Asheville. Located at 68 N Lexington Ave Suite 207, Asheville, NC 28801, USA.

Urban Exhale Massage

The Pot Stirred Mushroom Cafe and Adaptogen Bar is a restaurant in Asheville. Located at 191 Lyman St #320, Asheville, NC 28801, USA.

The Pot Stirred Mushroom Cafe and Adaptogen Bar

Asheville Bee Charmers (Battery Park location) is a shop in Asheville. Located at 38 Battery Park Ave, Asheville, NC 28801, USA.

Asheville Bee Charmers (Battery Park location)

Energetic bar featuring creative cocktails, brunches & live entertainment in an LGBT-friendly space.

Asheville Beauty Academy

Goldray Super Foods is a shop in Asheville. Located at 19 Brandywine Ln, Asheville, NC 28805, USA.

Goldray Super Foods

Neng Jr.'s is a restaurant in Asheville. Located at 701 Haywood Rd Ste 102, Asheville, NC 28806, USA.

Neng Jr.'s

Different Wrld is a venue in Asheville. Located at 701 Haywood Rd Suite 101, Asheville, NC 28806, USA.

Different Wrld

The Yellow Mug Coffee Lounge is a restaurant in Asheville. Located at 113 N Main St, Weaverville, NC 28787, USA.

The Yellow Mug Coffee Lounge

Bellagio Art to Wear is a shop in Asheville. Located at 5 Biltmore Plaza, Asheville, NC 28803, USA.

Bellagio Art to Wear

Long-standing, gay-friendly dance club with drag shows is part of an entertainment complex.

Scandals Nightclub

Hip, multilevel bar with a vintage vibe serving craft cocktails & locally sourced New American fare.

Sovereign Remedies

Laid-back option serving an array of cocktails & beers plus pool tables & other games.

Banks Ave Bar

Funky, speakeasy-style bar in a tiny house offering regular karaoke, plus a big bourbon list.

Double Crown

The Golden Pineapple is a bar in Asheville. Located at 503 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC 28806, USA.

The Golden Pineapple

Craft brewery for pints, flights & packaged beer, plus a patio, sports facilities & tours.

Highland Brewing Company

New Belgium Brewing Company is a bar in Asheville. Located at 21 Craven St, Asheville, NC 28806, USA.

New Belgium Brewing Company

An all-day menu of Southern comfort food with a creative twist, plus craft beers & cocktails.

O.Henry's Village Tavern

Hip brewery with a tasting room & a restaurant serving high-end, locally sourced New American fare.

Wicked Weed Brewing

Torched AVL is a shop in Asheville. Located at 1056 Haywood Rd A, Asheville, NC 28806, USA.

Torched AVL

No-frills neighborhood hangout hosting live bands & drag shows in a quirky vintage space.

The Odd

Food provided and is completely free! We’re open to anyone queer and questioning 11+. Doors are open at 3pm for unstructured drop-in from 3pm-4pm.

Youth OUTright

Weekly Wednesday Drop-in

A free weekly drop-in for queer and questioning youth aged 11-18 to hang out and enjoy food.

This week's Weekly Wednesday program is Fursuit making. The program starts at 4pm and doors are open starting at 3pm. We'll go over the basics of fursuit making, talking about furry culture, and working on ideas for making your own fursuit head! For Queer Youth 11-18.

Weekly Wednesday program: Fursuit making

A youth program where queer-identified youth can learn about and work on making their own furry fursuits.

Southeast Asian Comfort Food operating at Burial Beer Co. from Wednesday through Saturday, 5-9 PM.

Burial Beer Co.

Uncle's Kitchen at Burial Beer Co.

A pop-up serving Southeast Asian comfort food at Burial Beer Co. from Wednesday to Saturday evenings.

One World Brewing

Emerald Empire Showcase

A live music event featuring a high-energy band at One World Brewing West.

Karaoke Takeover

A karaoke night where anyone can perform and showcase their singing skills.

Drop-in hours at Youth OUTright. Closed due to icy weather on Monday the 23rd, but open on Thursday the 26th.

Drop-in

A community drop-in hours event at Youth OUTright for everyone.

Timothy Kelley

A weekly live performance happening every Thursday evening at One World Brewing Downtown.

Brian Felix Organ Trio

A jazz-funk music performance by the Brian Felix Organ Trio at One World Brewing.

Scott Stetson

A singer-songwriter performance at One World Brewing Downtown.

Songs From The Road Band

A bluegrass music event called "Winter Bluegrass" at One World Brewing.

Songs from the Road Band with special guest Tray Wellington Band. Late night jam following main event.

Asheville Winter Bluegrass

A live bluegrass music event featuring Songs from the Road Band and Tray Wellington Band.

Del Rio Trio

A live keys and vocals music performance at One World Brewing Downtown.

Join the First Sunday Potluckers at O'Henry's in Toronto on March 1, 2026, from 17:00 to 20:00. This monthly event invites community members to share a meal and connect. For more details, visit the event page or contact the organizers.

O.Henry's Asheville

First Sunday Potluck at O'Henry's

Weekly show featuring local DJs & producers. The motive for this event is to shine a light on the DJ/Production community and pay homage to the music that brought us together. Past, present and future.

The West End Theory

A social party showcasing local DJs, producers, and artists playing hip hop, beatmaking, and dance music to bring the community together.

EMO SYNTH ROCK / SAD LESBIAN MUSIC FROM MADISON, WI

Kat and the Hurricane with Porcelain Parrot at The Odd

A party featuring emo synth rock and sad lesbian music from Madison, Wisconsin.

Open Mic Night

A community event where people can sign up to perform at an open mic night.

Super funky dance night with special guest Marcus White on keys (joining Taylor Pierson on keys!), Kyle Snuffer on trombone & Alex Bradley on trumpet (the Marcus King horns!) and Tyler Housholder on percussion! Music genres include Afrobeats, Reggae, Funk, Soul, and Acid Jazz.

Mashup Mondays

A lively dance party featuring live funk, reggae, Afrobeat, soul, and jazz music with special guest musicians.

Doors are open at 3pm for unstructured drop-in from 3pm-4pm. Food provided and completely free! Open to anyone queer and questioning 11-18.

A free, informal drop-in event with food for queer and questioning youth aged 11-18.

A Youth OUTright classic! Choose your own adventure to create a self portrait in any style you like from realism to abstract shapes representing your personality. Food provided and completely free! Open to anyone queer and questioning 11-18. Doors are open at 3pm for unstructured drop-in from 3pm-4pm.

Self-love Self portraits program

A free art activity where queer and questioning youth can create self-portraits in any style to express their personality.

The Pentagram String Band, Yes Ma'am, Little Foot

A music event featuring The Pentagram String Band, Yes Ma'am, and Little Foot at The Odd.

A weekly live performance held every Thursday evening at One World Brewing Downtown.

Spring craft fair hosted by Sweeten Creek Brewing. Vendor applications are open.

Sweeten Creek Brewing

March Craft Fair

A community spring craft fair with vendors hosted by Sweeten Creek Brewing.

A dance party featuring local DJs and artists playing hip hop, funk, soul, lo-fi, house, and bass music to bring the community together.

A community open mic night where people can sign up to perform at One World Brewing Downtown.

Special guests and different music every week!

MashUp Mondays

A weekly party with special guests and different music every time at One World Brewing West.

A food event featuring Southeast Asian comfort dishes at Burial Beer Co. from Wednesday to Saturday evenings.

A weekly live performance every Thursday evening at One World Brewing Downtown.

A one-night-only tribute celebrating the timeless music of Sade. Stacked lineup of AVL All Stars featuring katrinasmusicofficial jlloydavl peterdimeryjazz offdre18 simpson.duane. From smooth, slow-burning classics to deep cuts that make you move, this performance honors the elegance, emotion, and sensual groove that made Sade iconic. Expect lush arrangements, a full live band, and a night steeped in sophistication and feeling.

A Journey Through Sade's Catalogue: Reimagined Live

A live musical tribute celebrating the soulful and elegant music of Sade performed by a full band and all-star musicians.

A pop-up featuring Southeast Asian comfort food at Burial Beer Co. from Wednesday to Saturday evenings.

The annual St. Paddy’s Day Drag Brunch takes place at Ella Events on Sunday, March 15th, with seatings at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. The event features performances by drag artists Indica Gemini, Quindyn Tarantino, and Sya Cox O’Hara, hosted by DeVida. Tickets start at $25 and include a brunch by Celine and Company, with proceeds benefiting the Tzedek Social Justice Fund. The event is open to all ages, with a cash bar and table-sharing seating style. Tickets are available online at www.AshevilleDragBrunch.com.

Asheville Drag Brunch

St. Paddy's Drag Brunch

A music party showcasing local DJs, producers, and artists playing hip hop, beatmaking, and dance music to bring the community together.

A weekly party with special guests and different music every week at One World Brewing West.

A lively dance party featuring live music with jazz, reggae, funk, soul, and Afrobeat styles.

Monthly Wednesdays @ One World events are hosted by One World Brewing on Haywood. Each WOW includes ample time to socialize and network with fellow Democrats and progressive unaffiliated voters, political influencers, elected officials, and candidates. Each month, we bring a substantive and topical panel discussion, an interesting speaker, and/or an opportunity to meet and hear from candidates running for office in NC and Buncombe County. Plan to join us each third Wednesday, purchase a beverage, talk politics, and learn of ways to take meaningful action to secure a win in November.

Wednesdays @ One World (WOW) - Third Wednesday Event

A monthly social and political networking event at One World Brewing where attendees can discuss politics, hear from speakers, and meet candidates.

The HIGH Heels Drag Show is a weeknight drag performance hosted by Natasha Noir Nightly, taking place at Plant Bar Coffee and Tea in Asheville, NC. The event features bold looks, comedy, and a lively atmosphere designed for local attendees seeking fun entertainment without alcohol. Tickets are $5, and the show starts at 7:00 p.m. on March 19, 2026, running until 9:00 p.m.

HIGH Heels Drag Show

A pop-up serving Southeast Asian comfort food at Burial Beer Co. from Wednesday to Saturday in the evenings.

A weekly party showcasing local DJs and producers to celebrate and honor the music community.

A weekly party featuring local DJs and producers celebrating the music that unites the community.

A 2-day ren fest at Sweeten Creek Brewery. They are looking for vendors, musicians, and game hosts to help bring the shire to life.

Hobbit Affairs

A two-day fantasy-themed renaissance festival at Sweeten Creek Brewing featuring vendors, musicians, and game hosts.

A fundraising event for Hendersonville Pride featuring vibrant drag bingo hosted by Divine at Hilltop Event Center. The event includes six rounds of bingo, entertainment, prizes, and encourages attendees to arrive in rainbow-themed attire. Tickets start at $20 and include bingo cards and a drink. Various sponsorship opportunities are available to support the cause.

Apr. 3rd Asheville Drag Bingo

Writers club is every first Monday of the month during drop-in 4-6pm, in February we’ll be writing short stories based a single word that we'll pick for each other! DM or email us at info@youthoutright.org if you need location info! Writers club is open to anyone LGBTQ+ 11-24.

Writers Club

A weekly LGBTQ+ writing group for young people to create stories and share their ideas.

A weekly party showcasing local DJs and producers to celebrate and honor the music that connects the community.

Kava Bar Shakedown Lounge

Open Mic Pride Night

A weekly LGBTQ+ writing club for youth to create stories and share their ideas.

The legendary The Black Angels are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their debut album 'Passover' (2006) with a performance of the album in full, along with their greatest hits. Also featuring la_witch. This event is outdoors and rain or shine. All ages. Attendees under 18 must be accompanied by a legal guardian. Children under 12 do not require a ticket. This is a cashless event. Food by the Forestry Camp chefs will be available for purchase.

Burial Forestry Camp

The Black Angels - Passover 20th Anniversary

An outdoor concert celebrating the 20th anniversary of The Black Angels' debut album with live performances and food options.

Bluegrass Night & Square Dance with Darren Nicholson Band and Dance Caller Heidi Kulas.

Bluegrass Night & Square Dance

A community event featuring bluegrass music and square dancing with live performances and a dance caller.

A weekly LGBTQ+ writing group for youth to create stories and share their ideas.

A celebration of LGBTQ+ pride with various events, performances, and community activities.

Pride Fest 2026

Jackson Park

Hendersonville Pride Festival

Enjoy karaoke with proceeds supporting women's sports and queer culture at LaZoom Room.

LaZoom Room

Sapphic Songbook Karaoke and Costume Contest

Float on the river with Blue Ridge Pride's Alexis Black on a tube, paddleboard, or kayak at Craven Street Bridge River Access.

Craven Street Bridge River Access

Pride Paddle: Paddle for a Purpose

The LGBTQIA+ Health Equity Fair is scheduled for June 16, 2026, from 12:00 to 15:00. This event aims to promote health equity within the LGBTQIA+ community, providing resources, information, and support. Attendees can expect a welcoming environment focused on health education and community engagement.

LGBTQIA+ Health Equity Fair

A 3-day, 2-night backpacking adventure on the Appalachian Trail designed for LGBTQ+ hikers and allies at 70 College Street.

70 College Street

LGBTQ+ Pride Backpacking Trip

Honeysuckle Holler

Hendersonville Pride Presents Show Off Your Pride

Join the 7th annual Pride bar crawl at Catawba Brewing Company, celebrating love and diversity.

Catawba Brewing Company

Pride Bar Crawl

Outdoor cookout hosted by Getaway River Bar to celebrate Pride Month.

Getaway River Bar

Pride Cookout

Participate in a 3.5-mile run or 1.5-mile pride walk with Asheville Run Crew and special guests.

The intersection of Emma Road and Hazel Mill Road

BIPOC + LGBTQIA2S + Ally Run/Walk

Dog parade featuring pride-themed costumes and tricks at Getaway River Bar.

Pride Pup Parade

Asheville Queer Hikers is an informal LGBTQ+ hiking group that organizes weekly hikes of varying difficulty. The Facebook-based group has grown to over 500 members and is known for its inclusive, beginner-friendly adventure hikes .

Asheville Queer Hikers

Asheville Run Crew is an inclusive community run club founded in 2022 to create a safe space for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ runners . The group meets weekly for community runs and is active on Instagram @ashevilleruncrew .

Asheville Run Crew

Blue Ridge Roller Derby is Asheville’s first flat-track roller derby league, founded in 2006 . The league emphasizes diversity, inclusivity, and equity within its community .

Blue Ridge Roller Derby

Out in the Woods is an Asheville-based LGBTQ+ outdoor education nonprofit. They offer workshops (e.g., navigation and wilderness skills) and organized outings to help members build confidence in outdoor activities .

Out in the Woods

Pride Paddlers is an LGBTQ+ paddling group in Asheville. They organize kayaking and paddleboarding excursions during the warmer months .

Pride Paddlers

Pride Sports Asheville Cornhole is a weekly LGBTQ+ friendly cornhole league in Asheville. It is part of Pride Sports USA, a national LGBTQ+ sports organization , and the local chapter runs cornhole games every Wednesday .

Pride Sports Asheville Cornhole

Pride Sports Asheville Pickleball is a weekly LGBTQ+ inclusive pickleball league in Asheville. It is also part of Pride Sports USA , and the chapter organizes pickleball games each Thursday .

Pride Sports Asheville Pickleball

Queer Climbers Asheville is a local LGBTQ+ climbing community. The group meets weekly at local climbing gyms and organizes occasional outdoor climbing trips for members of all experience levels .

Asheville

Upcoming Events

Weekly Wednesday Drop-in

Weekly Wednesday program: Fursuit making

Uncle's Kitchen at Burial Beer Co.

Emerald Empire Showcase

Karaoke Takeover

Drop-in

Uncle's Kitchen at Burial Beer Co.

Timothy Kelley

Sports Leagues

Asheville Queer Hikers

Asheville Run Crew

Blue Ridge Roller Derby

Out in the Woods

Community Groups

Businesses & Venues

12 Bones Smokehouse and Brewing

Palm and Pine

Emote

Firestorm Books & Coffee

Shop Queer-Owned in Asheville

Take Asheville's queer scene with you

Explore LGBTQ+ Asheville

Where Things Are Happening