AVL Biz Weekly, Oct 22 - 29 | Spooky Season Meets Small Biz Magic

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).

Hey friends,

Leaf season is wild, people are putting the finishing touches on their costumes, and yet we’ve still got businesses to run. This week I’m highlighting two simple, practical ways to move your business forward — both hosted by me! One helps customers find you on Google. The other helps you find your people over breakfast. Scroll for details and grab a spot.

📋 On Deck

• Business Events: Networking nights, workshops & Google hacks for local pros

• Fun Around Town: Wreaths, witches, and a Halloween dog party

• Bands & Shows: From Margaret Cho to Night Tapes to North Mississippi Allstars

• Marketing Quickies: Bite-sized tips to grow your brand — Asheville-style

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

🗓️ Business Events

• 🗓️ October IBN Evening Social – Wed, Oct 22 · 5:30–7 PM (The Flying Squirrel Pub, 3578 Sweeten Creek Rd, Arden)

  A chill networking night hosted by Incredible Towns of WNC — open to everyone, no fees, no pressure. Bring cards, grab a drink, and meet new faces in Asheville’s small biz scene.

• 🗓️ Happiest of Hours! – Thu, Oct 23 · 11 AM (Online via Zoom)

  A fun spin on networking from Jacqueline Boone of The Dream Academy. Expect lively breakout rooms, creative collabs, and real connections with dreamers worldwide — all without leaving your desk.

• 🗓️ Asheville Spook-tacular Craft & Vendor Market – Sat–Sun, Oct 25–26 · 10 AM–4 PM (Tanger Outlets Asheville, 800 Brevard Rd)

  A Halloween market with local makers, spooky treats, and boo-tiful finds for fall. Costumes welcome, shopping guaranteed.

• 🗓️ Asheville Speechcrafters – Toastmasters Public Speaking Club – Mon, Oct 27 · 6:15–7:45 PM (19 Eagle St, AVL)

  Polish your public speaking skills in a friendly, no-judgment zone. Guests are welcome! Just show up, speak up, and grow your confidence with this long-running local Toastmasters crew.

• 🗓️ Get Your Asheville/WNC Business Found on Google – Wed, Oct 29 · 9:00–10:30 AM (Ernest Co-Warehousing + Co-Working, 135 Sweeten Creek Rd, AVL)

  Fix your Google listing, kickstart reviews, and walk away with a 30-day local visibility plan in this hands-on workshop for WNC-area businesses.

• 🗓️ FREE Workshop + Lunch: Your Combination for Success! – Wed, Oct 29 · 11:30 AM–1 PM (AmeriHealth Caritas Wellness Center, 216 Asheland Ave, AVL)

  Join author Jeff Percival for a free lunch & learn on unlocking your unique formula for success. Bring an appetite and your notebook.

• 🗓️ Connect@ The Village Porch – Halloween Party! – Wed, Oct 29 · 5:30–8 PM (The Village Porch, 61 N Merrimon Ave, AVL)

  PROpel AVL’s annual Halloween bash brings the costumes, brews, and karaoke back to North Asheville. Expect spooky networking, a costume contest, and just enough weirdness to keep it interesting.

• 🗓️ Asheville Business Breakfast: Real Connections, Real Conversations – Wed, Nov 5 · 8:30–10:00 AM (Abuela’s Little Kitchen, 8 Long Shoals Rd, Arden)

  A relaxed, no-pitch breakfast meetup for local owners, freelancers, and creatives to swap ideas, solve challenges, and spark genuine connections over coffee.

Hosting something cool?

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

💡 Marketing Quickies

• 1. Tell your story like a local.

  Skip the generic “About Us” page — instead, share why Asheville chose you back. Post a short video from your shop, studio, or favorite overlook explaining what keeps you here. Local pride + authenticity = better engagement.

  2. Make Google fall in love (for free).

  Claim your Google Business Profile if you haven’t already — then upload one new photo a week. Businesses that post regularly show up 2–3x more often in local searches.

  3. Tap the Asheville hashtag hive.

  When posting on Instagram or Threads, use a mix of hyperlocal tags: #AshevilleBusiness, #AVLmusic, #WNCmakers, #AVLdrinks, #AshevilleEats. Pair 2–3 of these with your niche (e.g., #handcraftedjewelry, #livemusicAVL) for algorithmic love.

  4. Go analog for a day.

  Print a QR sticker and slap it on your farmer’s market booth, guitar case, or front door. Link it to your latest offer or event. Asheville folks love discovering new spots IRL — meet them halfway.

  5. Email > social.

  Social media reach is fickle; your email list is gold. Add a “locals only” perk for subscribers (early tickets, secret menu, etc.) and mention it at checkout or during events.

🎉 Fun Stuff Around AVL

• 🗓️ Fall Wreath Workshop with Wander Floral Design – Thu, Oct 23 · 5:30–7 PM (Rooted in Wine, 1327 Charlotte Hwy, Fairview)

  Sip wine, get crafty, and create your own autumn wreath using natural materials and dried blooms — fall coziness at its finest.

• 🗓️ Trivia Night @ Hillman Beer – Thu, Oct 23 · 6–8 PM (Hillman Beer, 25 Sweeten Creek Rd, AVL)

  Low-pressure trivia, good beer, and introvert-friendly company. No need to be a know-it-all to have fun here.

• 🗓️ Hocus Pocus Fall Social – Thu, Oct 23 · 6–8:30 PM (The Foundry Hotel, 51 S Market St, AVL)

  I’m not allowed at these (they’re for women only), but word is Lindsay Levine throws absolute bangers. Go for me and share all the details.

• 🗓️ Halloween Dog Costume Party at AMB Mills River – Fri, Oct 24 · 6–9 PM (Appalachian Mountain Brewery, Mills River)

  Pups in costumes, live music, and local brews, basically the happiest Halloween party on four legs.

• 🗓️ North Carolina Cider Month – Tap Takeover – Sat, Oct 25 · 2–7 PM (Urban Orchard Cider Co., 24 Buxton Ave, AVL)

  Sample the state’s best ciders and meads, meet local makers, and toast to fall at Urban Orchard’s annual tap takeover.

• 🗓️ Asheville Boos & Booze Halloween Bar Crawl – Sat, Oct 25 · 4–10 PM (Downtown AVL, check-in at Daddy Mac’s, 161 Biltmore Ave)

  Six bars, spooky cocktails, costume contests, and downtown mayhem. The ultimate Halloween crawl for Asheville’s party ghouls.

• 🗓️ RAD Comedy featuring Casey Balsham & Robby Slowik – Sun, Oct 26 · 7–9 PM (RAD Brewing Co., 13 Mystery St, AVL)

  Catch NYC comics Casey Balsham and Robby Slowik for a night of big laughs and craft brews in the River Arts District.

• 🗓️ Back Home Bash at Wedge Brewery Foundy – Tue, Oct 28 · 5:30–7:30 PM (Wedge at Foundation, 5 Foundy St, AVL)

  AVL Digital Nomads return to their roots with tacos, craft brews, and plenty of good convo at the newly reopened Wedge.

• 🗓️ Halloween Cookie Decorating at Trailside – Tue, Oct 28 · 6–7:30 PM (Trailside Brewing Co, Hendersonville)

  Get festive (and a little frosted!) at this fun, family-friendly cookie decorating class. Supplies and sweet treats included.

• 🗓️ Halloween Mask Making @ Periscope with Gather Craft Club – Wed, Oct 29 · 5:30–7:30 PM (Periscope Bar, 56 Patton Ave)

  Get crafty with feathers, gems, and paint as you design your own spooky-chic Halloween mask—cocktails encouraged!

🎧 Bands on the Horizon (Aug 27–Sep14)

• Bronwyn Keith-Hynes — Thu, Oct 23 · 8:00 PM @ The Grey Eagle Music Hall

• Armchair Boogie — Thu, Oct 23 · 9:00 PM @ The One Stop

• PATIO: Mutlu — Fri, Oct 24 · 5:30 PM @ The Grey Eagle Patio Stage

• Keith Allen & Bradley Turner Acoustic — Fri, Oct 24 · 6:00 PM @ The One Stop

• The Castellows: The Homecoming Tour — Fri, Oct 24 · 8:00 PM @ The Grey Eagle Music Hall

• Margaret Cho: Choligarchy — Fri, Oct 24 · 8:00 PM @ The Orange Peel

• Dangermuffin — Fri, Oct 24 · 9:00 PM @ Asheville Music Hall

• Keith Allen Circus — Fri, Oct 24 · 10:00 PM @ The One Stop

• Blue Country Line Dance’s Giddy-Up Brunch — Sat, Oct 25 · 11:00 AM @ The Grey Eagle Music Hall (Special Event)

• Colors in the Cove — Sat, Oct 25 · 2:30 PM @ North Cove Leisure Club

• Riyen Roots — Sat, Oct 25 · 6:00 PM @ The One Stop

• HALLOWOLFBAT 2025 ft. EYEHATEGOD, BAT & BLACK TUSK — Sat, Oct 25 · 8:00 PM @ The Orange Peel

• Night Tapes — Sat, Oct 25 · 8:00 PM @ The Grey Eagle Music Hall

• Molly Grace w/ Meg Smith — Sat, Oct 25 · 9:00 PM @ Asheville Music Hall

• Px3 — Sat, Oct 25 · 10:00 PM @ The One Stop

• HARMONIES FOR HOMES: A Benefit for Homeward Bound of WNC — Sun, Oct 26 · 3:00 PM @ The Grey Eagle Music Hall

• Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners w/ Field Medic — Sun, Oct 26 · 7:00 PM @ The Orange Peel

• Shakedown Sunday’s — Sun, Oct 26 · 8:00 PM @ The One Stop

• Matt Maeson w/ Joe P — Mon, Oct 27 · 7:00 PM @ The Orange Peel

• Early Tuesday Jam — Tue, Oct 28 · 7:00 PM @ The One Stop

• Rushadicus (The Cello Goblin) + Casey Driessen — Tue, Oct 28 · 8:00 PM @ The Grey Eagle Music Hall

• Hippie Sabotage: Echoes of Time Tour w/ Kembe X — Tue, Oct 28 · 8:00 PM @ The Orange Peel

• Uncle Lenny’s Krazy Karaoke — Tue, Oct 28 · 10:00 PM @ The One Stop

• Grace Helbig – “Let Me Get This Off My Chest” — Wed, Oct 29 · 7:30 PM @ The Orange Peel

• Bombargo w/ The Dirty Turkeys — Wed, Oct 29 · 8:00 PM @ The Grey Eagle Music Hall

• Sound of Sirens — Wed, Oct 29 · 10:00 PM @ The One Stop

• Chaparelle w/ Ramsey Thornton — Thu, Oct 30 · 8:00 PM @ The Grey Eagle Music Hall

• The Beths w/ Phoebe Rings — Thu, Oct 30 · 8:00 PM @ The Orange Peel

• A.G. Hammond — Thu, Oct 30 · 9:00 PM @ The One Stop

• Zach & Colby — Fri, Oct 31 · 6:00 PM @ The One Stop

• Nick Shoulders: Universe of Battle Tour w/ Chris Acker — Fri, Oct 31 · 8:00 PM @ The Grey Eagle Music Hall

• Kitchen Dwellers w/ Fireside Collective — Fri, Oct 31 · 8:00 PM @ The Orange Peel

• North Mississippi Allstars w/ Luther Dickinson & Datrian Johnson — Fri, Oct 31 · 9:00 PM @ Asheville Music Hall

• Coyote Rodeo — Fri, Oct 31 · 10:00 PM @ The One StopWant 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

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