The Only AVL Events Worth Your Time This Week 5/8/25

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

Each Thursday, I send out 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).

Happy Thursday, Asheville business wranglers! If you survived the pollen tsunami and the latest game of “Guess That Road Closure,” congrats-you’ve officially earned another cup of High Five. As we roll into May, the city’s buzzing with festivals, networking events, and more live music than a drum circle at Pritchard Park.

This week’s edition is stacked: we’ve got anti-networking (yes, really), marketing tips that won’t make your eyes glaze over, and a big ol’ helping of Asheville’s creative spirit. Let’s get you out there and maybe even help you find a parking spot.

Let’s go!

On Deck

• 📅 Upcoming Events: An Anti-Networking Lunch Worth Skipping Work For

• ⚡ Marketing Quickies: Social Media That Actually Works (+ Other Fast Wins)

• 🎭 Fun Stuff Around AVL: Improv Fest, RAD Renaissance, and More

• 🎨 Artist Spotlight: Asheville’s Resilience on Display

• 🙋 Want your biz featured next month? Details on how to become our next sponsor!

Upcoming Events

• 🗓️ Business After Hours Thursday, May 8 · @ Union Transfer & Storage Co. They’ll have appetizers. Live music. Oskar Blues beer. They’ll have prizes. Just go already.

• 🗓️ Marketing Minds Meetup – Thurs, May 8, 5:30 PM: Ditch the PowerPoints-this is a casual gathering for marketers and entrepreneurs to swap ideas and maybe even a few memes

• 🗓️ Be the Best in Business Tuesday, May 13 · 8:30-11:30 AM @ 21 Restaurant Ct. My friends at ActionCOACH host this high-impact opportunity to connect with fellow Asheville business owners. This month's skill-building focus: "What Ratios are Important for Your Business."

• 🗓️ Flourish Networking for Women Tuesday, May 13 · 6:00 PM @ White Labs Brewing Co. A non-competitive business network specifically for women entrepreneurs. Their "selfless networking" approach focuses on supporting others to grow first-because when we lift each other up, everyone flourishes

Hosting something cool?

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

Marketing Quickies

I’m a marketer and educator at heart. Here I’ll share interesting links that you can apply to your business to get more leads, make your life easier, hire better, and grow your business.

• 💬 Feeling overwhelmed by social media? Focus on understanding your audience and picking the right platforms instead of trying to be everywhere; consistent, targeted content beats random posting every time.

• ⚡ Marketing Roadmap for Small Business Month. Forbes just published this gem highlighting three key strategies for Small Business Month: educating your community about the importance of shopping small, creating compelling offers, and building anticipation for your promotions.

Fun Stuff Around AVL

🔥 Asheville Improv Festival – Wednesday, May 7 - Saturday, May 10 @ Multiple Venues. We mentioned this last week, but the Asheville Improv Festival is back with 4 nights, 4 venues, 11 shows, 6 headliners, 11 workshops, and 40+ improv comedy teams from around the country!

🗓️ Guided Blue Ghost Firefly Night Tour – May 8–17, evenings: Not strictly business, but if you need a creative reset, nothing beats a night walk with glowing bugs and fellow entrepreneurs trying not to trip over tree roots

RAD Renaissance – Sat, May 10, 10 AM–5 PM: Art, music, food, and the debut of the RAD Art Market-celebrating the River Arts District’s comeback after Hurricane Helene. Support local artists and maybe pick up something for your office wall

🗓️ Robert Beatty Author Event – Sat, May 10 · 2:00 PM @ Pack Memorial Library. Meet the mind behind the Serafina series. Great for networking with fellow creatives and book lovers.

Bands on the Horizon

• BadBadNotGood – May 10 @ The Orange Peel
  Genre-defying jazz fusion with a cult following.

• Chris Thile & Asheville Symphony – May 10 @ Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
  A masterclass in modern mandolin meets classical finesse.

• Bendigo Fletcher – May 10 @ The Grey Eagle
  Dreamy indie-folk from Kentucky with a psych-soul twist.

• Of Mice & Men – May 11 @ The Orange Peel
  Loud, fast, and heavy — metalcore fans, mark your calendar.

• Exodus – May 13 @ The Orange Peel
  Bay Area thrash legends bringing neck-snapping riffs.

• Tedeschi Trucks Band – May 14 @ ExploreAsheville.com Arena
  Soulful blues rock with Grammy-winning power.

• Wilco & Waxahatchee – May 16 @ Asheville Yards Amphitheater
  Indie rock royalty meets folk-rock brilliance.

• The Crane Wives – May 16 @ The Orange Peel
  Harmonies and heart from one of folk-rock’s hidden gems.

• The Nude Party – May 17 @ The Grey Eagle
  Garage rock meets Appalachian swagger.

• Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue – May 18 @ Rabbit Rabbit
  A high-energy New Orleans brass-funk blowout.

That’s all for this week!

Go make something awesome happen this week, Asheville. I’ll see you next Thursday!

Email me here and tell me what you think, or let me know about an event you’re hosting.

Until next week,

-Jason

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