AVL Biz Weekly: Jan 7–13 | 2026 Has Officially Started

Welcome to AVL BIZ Weekly—your local cheat sheet for what’s happening in Asheville’s small business + creative scenes.

Each week: hand-picked events, marketing ideas that actually work, and a little local flavor to keep things fun.

My name's Jason and I'm writing this (connect with me here).

Welcome to the first full work week of the year.

The "weird limbo" week is over. The out-of-office replies are turned off, the kids are back in school (thank God!), and all the “just circling back” emails have landed like a pile of trash in your inbox.

But here is the permission slip you didn't ask for: You don't have to sprint yet.

If you look at the events happening around Asheville this week, you’ll notice a theme: "Low-pressure," "sustainable," and "supportive." Whether it’s coders eating pizza or real estate agents learning to scale without burning out, the vibe is about finding a rhythm that lasts.

You’re not going to win the year this week. Take a breath. Pick a lane. Let’s get to work.

📋 On Deck

• Business Events: Coffee-fueled masterminds, builder meetups & women-led leadership events

• Fun Around Town: Art nights, fall walks, comedy shows & pumpkin carving

• Bands & Shows: A full week of local talent and touring acts lighting up Asheville stages

• Marketing Quickies: Smart, cozy-season strategies for your local business

🙋 Want your biz featured in front of a few really smart AVL business owners? Email me for details

🗓️ Business Events

• 🗓️ Coders League Low-Pressure Social Get-Together – Wed, Jan 7 · 6:30–8:30 PM (Asheville Pizza and Brewing Co, 675 Merrimon Ave)

  Exactly what it sounds like: a relaxed hang for developers, tech folks, and curious tinkerers who want community without the sales pitch. Hosted by Asheville Tech Events, this biweekly meetup is newcomer-friendly, conversation-forward, and fueled by pizza and beer.

• 🗓️ Asheville Toastmasters Club 436 – Thu, Jan 8 · 6:00–7:45 PM (Asheville Toastmasters Club 436 at the Ivy Building, 10 Genevieve Cir)

  A long-running, low-pressure way to sharpen your speaking and leadership skills alongside a supportive group of locals. Whether you want to feel more confident pitching, presenting, or just speaking up in meetings, this weekly gathering is a solid on-ramp,with nearly eight decades of experience behind it

• 🗓️ Code with Asheville Open Project / Co-Work Day – Sat, Jan 10 · 11:00 AM–2:00 PM (Hi-Wire Brewing – Big Top, 2A Huntsman Pl)

  A laid-back, purpose-driven co-working session hosted by Asheville Tech Events. Bring your own project or plug into an open community project. Everything from coding to data entry to outreach help is welcome. Drop in when you can, collaborate over coffee or a beer, and leave having actually moved something forward.

• 🗓️ Collaborative Content Creation Workshop: Spiritual Entrepreneurs – Sun, Jan 11 · 3:30–5:30 PM (hosted by Senseful Wellness & Yoga)

  A heart-centered content jam for spiritual and soulful business owners who want to create marketing that actually feels good. Expect guided collaboration, idea-sharing, and practical content prompts designed to help you show up online with more clarity, confidence, and alignment.

Hosting something cool?

📬 Hit reply and tell me what you think. Or share an event!

💡 Marketing Quickies

1. Pick One Channel to Win January

   Not Instagram and email and LinkedIn. Choose one place to show up consistently for 30 days. Daily Stories, weekly emails, or 3 solid posts a week.

2. Turn Last Year’s Wins into Content

   Pull your top 3 customer wins from last year and turn each into:

   1. one short post

   2. one testimonial graphic

   3. one email PS

   That’s 9 pieces of content you don’t have to invent.

3. Add One Line to Your Website Today

   Above the fold, answer this plainly:

   “This is for ___ who want ___ without ___.”

   If a stranger can’t tell in 5 seconds, they bounce.

4. Schedule One “Boring but Profitable” Follow-Up

   Set a calendar reminder to email or DM:

   • past clients

   • people who asked but didn’t buy

   • collaborators you like

     A simple “Hey, how’s this year shaping up?” opens more doors than a launch ever will.

5. Set a Theme of the Year for Your Business

   Not a resolution, but a theme. A direction. A purpose.

   Examples: The Year of Systems, The Year of Fewer Offers, The Year of Visibility, The Year of Showing Myself In Public. The Year of Consistent Marketing.

   Let that theme decide what you say yes (and no) to.

🎉 Fun Stuff Around AVL

• 🗓️ Introductory Meeting: The Asheville Creativity Journaling Meetup – Thu, Jan 8 · 6:00–8:00 PM (Zen Mountain Studio, Hatchery Building, River Arts District)

  A gentle, artsy evening for creatives to slow down, journal, meditate, and listen for what’s quietly trying to emerge. Bring a pen, a notebook, and your curious inner voice.

• 🗓️ Art League of Henderson County – Exhibit Opening – Fri, Jan 9 · 5:00–7:00 PM (Art Place Gallery, 730 Locust St, Hendersonville)

  A free, community-forward gallery opening featuring fresh 2D and 3D work from local artist. Perfect for an early-evening stroll, creative inspiration, and low-key art appreciation.

• 🗓️ Roll of the Dice: A Comedy Show of Chance – Fri, Jan 9 · 7:00–9:00 PM (Ginger’s Revenge, 829 Riverside Dr, Suite 100)

  An extra-silly stand-up night from Modelface Comedy where comics roll a 20-sided die to determine their stage time. Anywhere from one-minute chaos to a full 20-minute set.

• 🗓️ Misfit Science Theater – Fri, Jan 9 · 8:00–9:30 PM (Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co, 675 Merrimon Ave)

  A delightfully ridiculous, fully improvised sci-fi movie dub by Mistfit Improv & Acting School. Think Mystery Science Theater vibes with space lasers, alien chaos, and zero script.

• 🗓️ Bee Hotel Workshop: Supporting Native Bees – Sat, Jan 10 · 10:00 AM–12:30 PM (Reems Creek Nursery, 76 Monticello Rd, Weaverville)

  A hands-on, feel-good workshop where you’ll learn about Western NC’s native bees, build a take-home bee hotel, and leave with seeds and know-how to support pollinators right in your own backyard.

• 🗓️ What’s Your Spiritual New Year’s Resolution? (Free Event) – Sat, Jan 10 · 10:30 AM–12:30 PM (Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston St)

  A welcoming, no-agenda conversation hosted by Meaningful Conversations Asheville exploring purpose, happiness, and spiritual growth through open dialogue that honors every background and belief.

• 🗓️ 2026 Astrology Forecast Collaborative Event – Sat, Jan 10 · 2:30–4:30 PM (West Asheville Library, 942 Haywood Rd)

  A participatory, roundtable-style astrology hang hosted by Asheville Astrology Club where attendees collectively unpack the transits, themes, and vibes shaping 2026.

• 🗓️ RAD Comedy featuring Kevin McCaffrey – Sun, Jan 11 · 7:00–9:00 PM (The River Arts District Brewing Company, 13 Mystery St)

  A sharp, high-energy stand-up night from Modelface Comedy featuring NYC comic Kevin McCaffrey—seen on Letterman, truTV, and SiriusXM—served up with beer and zero chill.

🎧 Bands on the Horizon (Aug 27–Sep14)

• Frances Eliza — Wed, Jan 7 · 6–8 PM @ Pisgah Brewing Company

• Songwriters Roller Derby Showcase — Wed, Jan 7 · 7 PM @ The Grey Eagle

• Sunnyside Stringband — Thu, Jan 8 · 7–9:30 PM @ Pisgah Brewing Company

• Charlie Starr — Thu, Jan 8 · 7 PM @ The Orange Peel

• The Moth Presents: Asheville StorySLAM — Thu, Jan 8 · 7:30 PM @ The Grey Eagle

• Gill Francis — Fri, Jan 8 · 8 PM @ Asheville Music Hall

• The Last Revel — Fri, Jan 8 · 9 PM @ Asheville Music Hall

• Cactus Kate & The Pricks — Fri, Jan 9 · 7–9:30 PM @ Pisgah Brewing Company

• Caverns of Gold — Fri, Jan 9 · 7 PM @ The Orange Peel

• The Get Right Band — Fri, Jan 9 · 8 PM @ The Grey Eagle

• Alex Funk & Friends — Fri, Jan 9 · 9 PM @ Asheville Music Hall

• String Pong — Sat, Jan 10 · 8–11 PM @ Pisgah Brewing Company

• Classic City Wrestling — Sat, Jan 10 · 6:30 PM @ The Orange Peel

• Sunnyside Stringband — Sat, Jan 10 · 8 PM @ Asheville Music Hall

• Winter Jam Fest — Sat, Jan 10 · 8 PM @ Asheville Music Hall

• Pisgah Sunday Jam (hosted by Kyle Travers) — Sun, Jan 11 · 6:30–9 PM @ Pisgah Brewing Company

• Sam Jay — Sun, Jan 11 · 7 PM @ The Orange Peel

• Onkara — Mon, Jan 11 · 7 PM @ The Grey Eagle

• Gill Francis: Grasspenny — Sun, Jan 11 · 7 PM @ Asheville Music Hall

• Winter Jam Fest (Day 2) — Sun, Jan 11 · 7 PM @ Asheville Music Hall

• Ruston Kelly — Tue, Jan 13 · 8 PM @ The Grey Eagle

• Angel Chantel & Underbrush — Wed, Jan 14 · 6–8 PM @ Pisgah Brewing Company

• Fred Eaglesmith — Thu, Jan 14 · 8 PM @ The Grey Eagle

• The Moonshood Power Trio — Wed, Jan 14 · 8 PM @ Asheville Music Hall

• The Feels — Thu, Jan 15 · 7–9:30 PM @ Pisgah Brewing Company

• Slice Standup Comedy Pageant Finale — Thu, Jan 15 · 7:30 PM @ The Orange Peel

• The Basement: Asheville DJ Showcase — Thu, Jan 15 · 9 PM @ One Stop

• Andrew Scotchie — Fri, Jan 16 · 7 PM @ Pisgah Brewing Company

• The Broken Hearts — Fri, Jan 16 · 7 PM @ The Orange Peel

• Coverfest — Sat, Jan 16 · 7 PM @ The Grey Eagle

• Jes Sky — Fri, Jan 16 · 8 PM @ Asheville Music Hall

• SkiiTour — Fri, Jan 16 · 9 PM @ Asheville Music Hall

• Jackson Chisholm & Friends — Sat, Jan 17 · 6–9 PM @ Pisgah Brewing Company

• Atmosphere — Sat, Jan 17 · 7 PM @ The Orange Peel

• River Roots — Sat, Jan 17 · 8 PM @ Asheville Music Hall

• Spiro & Friends — Sun, Jan 18 · 6–9 PM @ Pisgah Brewing Company

Want your biz in front of smart AVL owners & creators? Reply with what you’re up to and we’ll see if it’s a fit.

Until next week,

Jason De Los Santos
Pixelated Stories Digital Marketing
(828) 585-4293