Outdoor Business Alliance (OBA) upcoming events

Roadless Rule Roundtable (04/15/2026)

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 22:00:00 GMT

25 years ago, the Forest Service held more than 600 public meetings to create the Roadless Rule, one of the most important conservation issues in history.

We could soon witness it REPEALED!

The Forest Service's process to repeal may not include a single public meeting, SILENCING CITIZEN VOICES. So we're hosting our own!

Join us. Speak up for our national forests! Make sure your voice is heard!

In collaboration with many partners, we will be hosting a Community Roundtable at the Mule in Asheville, 6-8PM on April 15! All participants are welcome! Members of the public are encouraged to provide comments, written, verbal, and digital! Come help us preserve the Pisgah and Nantahala national forests!

We are joined by partner organizations including MountainTrue, SORBA, The Wilderness Society, Environment America, Roadless.org, and others!

Run, Kayak, Run – Student Pitch Competition & Business Networking (04/20/2026)

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 21:00:00 GMT

Please join the City of Hickory Office of Business Development for the Run, Kayak, Run – Student Pitch Competition & Business Networking Event on Monday, April 20th, at 5:00 PM at Lake Hickory Pub and Marina

This event brings together local businesses, community leaders, and emerging student innovators, who will have 48 hours to develop and present ideas to support our first-ever water-based Run, Kayak, Run Event on Lake Hickory.

For more information, please reach out to Amy Le at mailto:ale@hickorync.gov

RSVP: https://share.hsforms.com/223Ydx35PS4aqU-8dSYvuGg434yi

Paddling Film Festival World Tour & Raffle benefiting MountainTrue in Asheville (04/23/2026)

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 22:00:00 GMT

EVENT DETAILS HERE!

It’s back and you don’t want to miss it! ????

MountainTrue is excited to bring the Paddling Film Festival World Tour back to Asheville on Thursday, April 23, celebrating Earth Month with an unforgettable night of paddling films, community, and clean water inspiration.

Experience the best paddling films from around the world – epic adventures, stunning wild places, and stories that will leave you fired up to get outside and protect our waterways.

The Grey Eagle

Doors: 6 PM | ???? Show: 7 PM

$15 advance | $20 at the door

Kids under 12: $5

(Ticket fees not included)

Seating is general admission, so arrive early to grab a great seat and enjoy food from the Grey Eagle Taqueria. (Need subtitles? Please arrive early for front seating.)

2026 French Broad Paddle Trip (05/01/2026)

Fri, 01 May 2026 14:00:00 GMT

EVENT DETAILS HERE!

2026 Guided French Broad River Paddle Trail Trip!

Collaboration Trip: Headwaters Outfitters with MountainTrue & The French Broad River Keeper

Adventure Chef: Food for Adventures

What: 3-Day Guided French Broad River Paddle Trail Trip in Transylvania County, North Carolina

When: May 1-3, 2026

Where: Headwaters Outfitters (Mile 0 > Penrose Boating

Access Area) 32 River Miles Total

Why: To show people a heck of a good time on the

French Broad Paddle Trail in Transylvania County!

Join Headwaters Outfitters, MountainTrue’s French Broad Riverkeeper team, and Food for Adventures for an unforgettable 3-day float down the French Broad in Transylvania County.

During this 32-mile trip, you’ll experience a beautiful section of river, learn about local stewardship, eat tasty food and drink local beer, camp under the stars, meet new friends, and come away with a new appreciation for this amazing place.

The French Broad is renowned throughout southern Appalachia and beyond for its cultural history, unique flora and fauna, diverse character, opportunities for paddling and fishing, and widespread suitability for multi-day camping trips, and we would love to show one section to you through the eyes of those who know it best.

Registration includes boats (if you need), meals, drinks (including local beer!), campsites, shuttle, and a variety of entertainment. Guests will need to bring their own personal items and camping gear.

Camping gear and personal items will be transported directly to each campsite, so you’ll only need to paddle with what you want to have while on the water.

See details for this trip below, and feel free to reach out with any questions. Email: danielle@headwatersoutfitters.com

Learn more about the river here, and see details on this trip’s itinerary, menu, and packing list, below.

Women's Bike Bash (05/02/2026)

Sat, 02 May 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Blue Ghost Firefly Tour (05/07/2026)

Thu, 07 May 2026 23:30:00 GMT

EVENT DETAILS HERE!

Discover the magic of the rare Blue Ghost Fireflies in a deeply mindful, intentional way – without the crowds.

Each spring for just a fleeting moment, the forests of Western North Carolina light up with one of the world’s rarest natural wonders: the Blue Ghost Fireflies. These mysterious beings glow with a steady, otherworldly blue light, hovering low along the forest floor like tiny spirits dancing beneath the trees.

This isn’t “just” a hike. It’s a journey into wonder.

Our experience begins before the fireflies emerge. As twilight falls, you’ll be gently guided through a mindfulness-based meander deeper into the forest, designed to help you slow down, tune in, and awaken your senses to the night around you.

Rather than rushing to “see something,” we invite you to soften into the experience slowly – to feel it. The rhythm of your breath, the texture of the earth beneath your feet, the hush of dusk settling over the forest. And then, as your awareness heightens and your pace slows, we hope to experience the emerging of the Blue Ghosts, one by one, a quiet and surreal unfolding of magic.

What makes this experience unique:

Private access to 900 acres of pristine, protected forest – far from the crowds

A guided, unrushed experience that offers space for awe, wonder, and reverence

A mindfulness-based approach to support deeper connection and presence

An adventure designed to help you connect with yourself, nature, and a rare moment in time

Your expert guides will support you in settling into the magic with heightened awareness

This night hike is ideal for nature lovers, slow adventurers, and those craving a peaceful, awe-inspiring encounter with the natural world.

No hiking experience necessary — just an open heart, a willingness to unplug, and curiosity about what unfolds when we step quietly into the dark.

This special offering takes place on only 9 evenings with group sizes limited to 15-20 for a more intimate experience. OR, keep the glow going and stay on-site by joining our Blue Ghost Overnight Retreat. Early bird pricing is in effect for a limited time!

Woodslore, Weeds, and Wildwoods Wisdom Walk w/ Doug Elliott (05/09/2026)

Sat, 09 May 2026 17:00:00 GMT

EVENT DETAILS HERE!

Rare chance to wander the home landscape of beloved naturalist Doug Elliott—plants, stories, and the wonder of the wild.

Much more than a plant walk, this is an opportunity to peek into the life of beloved elder and naturalist Doug Elliott. For the first time in Firefly herstory, we will walk with Doug at his home, on the land he and his lovely wife Yanna have tended for more than 30 years.

Doug and Yanna chose their little slice of heaven because it had everything they wanted:

Diversity: located 40 miles from cotton fields in the Piedmont and 40 miles from the tallest peaks of Appalachia, their homestead sits at an intersection of these ecotones, offering a wide range of habitat for plant and animal life.

Features: When Doug and Yanna found it, this little slice of heaven had a house, flats for gardening, a creek and pond for swimming – even a waterfall! Everything they needed to build their dreams upon.

Now, more than 30 years later, we can see the fruits of their labor and witness what living your dreams looks like. We will wander their beautiful landscape, learning about plants and animals as we go. Doug says, “Nature will surprise us and we can’t plan who will show up, but it will be exciting! You never know what we’ll find out there!”

This workshop is a special opportunity to be inspired by an Appalachian folk hero who has followed his heart’s path all of his life. On this ramble, participants will:

Learn to recognize and identify fascinating wild plants and their practical uses.

Encounter birds, insects, and critters, hearing their stories through local cultural and scientific lore.

Laugh out loud with lively harmonica tunes, regional dialects and tales stranger than fiction. You might even get to hear about Doug's favorite animal (o’ possum) and maybe even about the time he got swallowed by a SNAKE!

Gain unique insights from Doug’s decades of experience as a naturalist.

Be inspired by a ever evolving farmstead; it is truly a unique experience to witness the fruits of decades of love and labor.

So join us for this wonderful wander and come and honor and celebrate our beloved Doug Elliott, a man who has truly dedicated his life to opening the eyes and hearts of the people to the wonders of the natural world.

This class will be held outdoors on Saturday, May 9th, 2026, from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm in Union Mills, NC.

Wet Felting a Wool Pouch w/ Colleen Hewlett (05/16/2026)

Sat, 16 May 2026 14:00:00 GMT

EVENT DETAILS HERE!

Learn wet felting and turn wool fibers into a seamless felted pouch. A hands-on fiber arts workshop rooted in ancient textile traditions.

Discover the ancient craft of wet felting and the satisfying transformation of soft wool fibers into a beautiful, seamless pouch. Under the guidance of Colleen Hewlett, accomplished fiber artist and basket weaver, you’ll explore one of humanity’s oldest textile traditions — a technique that predates both spinning and weaving.

In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn how to wrap wool roving around a resist, then use hot water, soap and friction to create a durable piece of felted fabric. Colleen will share insights into the history and cultural significance of felting as an ancestral skill, as well as the science behind which fibers work best and why.

Once your pouch has taken shape, you’ll have the chance to add your own flair — sewing on buttons, adding decorative details, and attaching an optional leather strap with rivets. By the end of class, you’ll go home with a completed, ready-to-use felted wool pouch and the confidence to expand your skills into larger projects like hats, bags, mittens, or slippers.

What You’ll Learn:

The history and importance of felt as an ancient and practical craft

How to choose fibers that felt well and understand their properties

The wet felting process: using heat, soap, and agitation to form solid fabric

Troubleshooting tips for common felting challenges

Finishing techniques, including embellishment and leatherwork

Accessible, hands-on, and deeply satisfying, wet felting offers immediate creative rewards. Whether you’re new to working with wool or eager to reconnect with traditional handcrafts, this class will give you both the knowledge and inspiration to keep creating long after the workshop ends. Sign up soon, as this class is sure to fill fast!

This class will be held outdoors on Saturday, May 16th, 2026, from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm in Asheville, NC.

Daniel Summerlin Impact Invitational Golf (06/16/2026)

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 12:30:00 GMT

EVENT DETAILS HERE!

Mark your calendars: June 16, 2026 — The Daniel Summerlin Impact Invitational

Now in its fourth year at Balsam Mountain Preserve, we’re honored to continue partnering with one of the most breathtaking and exclusive golf venues in the Southeast. The Arnold Palmer Championship Course offers a playing experience that’s both pristine and unforgettable—set high in the mountains, surrounded by protected wilderness, and maintained with true excellence.

This year, we’re building on real momentum. The 2025 tournament came within one team of a full sellout, featured more sponsors than ever before, and delivered new on-course contests and elevated prizes. In 2026, we’re adding even more—including an all-new post-round awards lunch and celebration.

Proceeds from this event directly support PIVOTPoint WNC’s school-based prevention programs, which use experiential learning to help students build connection, resilience, and a stronger sense of self. Every team, every sponsor, every swing makes a difference.

Join us for a day of purpose, play, and community at one of the most extraordinary mountain courses in the region.

We’ll see you June 16.

Working with Bone - An Overlooked Gift w/ Josh Barnwell (08/15/2026)

Sat, 15 Aug 2026 14:00:00 GMT

EVENT DETAILS HERE!

Explore traditional bone crafting as you shape tools and adornments by hand—a hands-on workshop rooted in skill, care, and kinship.

Since time immemorial, bone has filled a material niche for humanity. Harder and sharper than wood, less brittle than stone, this often over-looked gift from our four-legged kin brings both beauty and function and has been used by all of our ancestors to shape our world.

With expert guidance from beloved Firefly Gathering instructor Josh Barnwell, participants will pick a project suited to your interests and needs: an awl or needle, a crochet hook, hair pin or even a whistle! In this hands-on workshop, you will transform these material gifts into beautiful functional crafts that invite the natural world into your daily life. Through cleaning, shaping, polishing, and finishing bone by hand, we’ll explore both the practical skills of the craft and the deeper understanding that comes from working directly with animal bodies.

Participants will learn:

Proper sourcing, handling and storage of bone

Basic deer anatomy and how it relates to human anatomy

How to select the right bone for different projects

Understanding and experience of which tools to use while working with bone and how to safely use them

Best practices for cleaning, shaping, polishing, and finishing bone

The basics of scrimshaw and other decorative techniques

Examples of additional bone projects to inspire future exploration

This class is open to all skill levels, from absolute beginners to experienced makers curious to explore a new material. By crafting with bone, participants are invited into a deeper relationship with the more-than-human world—one that can quietly shift how we understand kinship, care, and our human place within the larger living web of life.

This class will be held outdoors on Saturday, August 15th, 2026, from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm in Asheville, NC.

Broom Making: Craft a Turkey-Wing Whisk Broom w/ Emileigh Zola (08/23/2026)

Sun, 23 Aug 2026 17:00:00 GMT

EVENT DETAILS HERE!

Gather in community to make a traditional whisk broom by hand. A calm, intentional workshop rooted in rhythm and care.

Join longtime Firefly friend Emileigh Zola, for an afternoon of broomcraft and belonging. More than a traditional handcraft class, this workshop is a community-oriented gathering, a connective space; an invitation to slow down, settle in, and create with intention.

Emileigh brings Rhythm & Ritual to everything she does and won't be able to join us at the Annual Gathering this year; so now is your chance to soak up the calm and meditative vibe that Emileigh creates, while learning an ancient skill that serves form, function and connection.

Together, we’ll slow down and work with natural materials to create a traditional turkey-wing whisk broom, learning each step of the tying process along the way. Using broomcorn stems, participants will also weave a decorative handle, gaining a versatile technique that can be adapted to make other styles of whisk brooms in the future.

This class is designed to be accessible to beginners and welcoming to all. The repetitive motions of broom-making offer a grounding, meditative experience, while the shared space encourages presence, intention, and creativity in community.

Participants can expect to:

Learn about broomcorn and its historical role in traditional broom-making

Set intentions for the time together

Take part in an inclusive, supportive creative space

Tie a traditional turkey-wing whisk broom

Weave a decorative handle using broomcorn stems

Participants will leave with a finished whisk broom, the foundational skills to continue making brooms on their own, and a renewed sense of connection: to themselves, to community and to keeping traditional Appalachian craft alive through shared practices and hands-on learning.

This class will be held indoors on Sunday, August 30th, 2026, from 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm in Marshall, NC.

Basket Weaving: Willow Picnic Baskets w/ Tyler Lavenburg (3 Days) (09/18/2026)

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 16:00:00 GMT

EVENT DETAILS HERE!

Weave a traditional willow picnic basket by hand in this immersive 3-day workshop rooted in skill, heritage, and use.

Willow basketry is a craft built slowly—through repetition, patience and the steady conversation between hands and material. In this immersive 3-day willow workshop, you’ll weave a durable, beautifully functional picnic / gathering basket using the traditional European stake and strand method, a technique carried across generations by migrant ancestors and still trusted today.

Working with strong yet supple willow, you’ll create a compact version of a full pack basket, but small enough to manage comfortably, yet still crafted with strength and durability. These baskets are meant to be used: for harvesting food, carrying daily essentials, or heading out into the wilderness for a beautiful picnic! Your finished piece will be completed with your choice of a wrapped willow handle or soft leather straps.

Beloved Firefly friend and willow weaver Tyler Lavenburg, guides the process with care and attention, helping students move through the inevitable moments of challenge toward real skill and confidence. As your basket takes form, you’ll learn a variety of traditional weaves while developing an intuitive understanding of how willow bends, holds, and even breaks–such good metaphors for life.

Open to all experience levels, this class is ideal for anyone drawn to traditional handcraft, practical skill-building, and the quiet pride of making the things we need in our everyday lives.

You’ll Walk Away With:

A beautiful and unique handwoven picnic / gathering basket made start to finish by you

Knowledge of willow propagation, tending and sustainable harvesting techniques

Hands-on experience with a variety of traditional basket weaves

The skills and understanding to replicate the entire weaving process on your own

A deeper connection to an ancient craft rooted in European heritage

A renewed confidence and appreciation for what your hands can make and do

This class will be held outdoors on Friday, Saturday & Sunday, September 18-20, 2026, from 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm on Friday and 9:00 am – 5:00 pm on Saturday & Sunday, near Weaverville, NC.

Appalachian Folk Medicine w/ Byron Ballard (10/10/2026)

Sat, 10 Oct 2026 14:00:00 GMT

EVENR DETAILS HERE!

Discover Appalachian folk medicine through hands-on herbal craft, story, and the living traditions of the mountains.

Just in time for Samhain, step into the wild heart of southern Appalachia and explore its vibrant folk traditions through the wisdom of Appalachian magic practitioner and beloved storyteller, Byron Ballard.

Carried across oceans in the hearts of immigrants and woven together with local Indigenous plant knowledge, Appalachian folk medicine is a unique living, breathing tradition: practical, powerful, ancestral. In this hands-on workshop, we’ll trace the twisty history of these old medicines and discover how culture, land, and spirit shaped a distinctly Appalachian healing practice.

Together, we’ll roll up our sleeves and work with the plants themselves — crafting tinctures and poultices, and creating traditional asfidity (protection) bags from up-cycled fabric. These humble tools carry generations of knowledge about protection, restoration, and care of both body, spirit and the land.

Midway through, we’ll break bread and share a warming bowl of soup, nourishing body and spirit in good company.

Participants will also spend time with the Seven Sovereign Sisters of the Appalachian mountains, learning the stories and healing relationships surrounding these beloved plant allies. Alongside the herbal work, Byron will guide deep relaxation techniques rooted in traditional practice — reminding us that healing has always been about tending the whole person.

Throughout the day, we’ll explore the culture and heritage behind these practices, dispelling stereotypes and gaining a fuller, truer understanding of Appalachian people and their ways. These traditions are not relics — they are vital threads in the living fabric of the region.

In this workshop, you will:

Learn the history and cultural roots of Appalachian folk medicine

Explore the blending of British Isles traditions and native plant wisdom

Work hands-on with tinctures, poultices, and traditional protection bags

Meet the Seven Sovereign Sisters and their healing uses

Practice deep relaxation techniques grounded in folk tradition

Gain a richer, more nuanced understanding of Appalachian people and culture

Come spend the day in the old ways — practical, grounded, generous — and leave with skills, stories, and a deeper connection to mountain folk medicine.

This class will be held indoors on Saturday, Octber 10th, 2026, from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm in Asheville, NC.

Rawhide Lanterns w/ Josh Barnwell (11/14/2026)

Sat, 14 Nov 2026 15:00:00 GMT

EVENT DETAILS HERE!

Craft a rawhide candle lantern by hand and explore this ancient material’s luminous magic in a hands-on workshop.

As the leaves fall and the diminishing days lead to long November nights, we turn toward one of the oldest human instincts: to tend a small fire and lean in towards the light. Before glass was common, before hardware stores and headlamps, people depended on candles, shaping the materials around them into vessels to protect the light. Rawhide has been meeting this need across continents and cultures since time immemorial. When held to a flame, its translucent surface softens and amplifies candlelight like nothing else, glowing beautifully and coming to life with the flame.

In this hands-on workshop, we’ll join beloved Firefly Gathering friend & instructor, Josh Barnwell, in crafting our own individual rawhide candle lantern rooted in European designs dating back to the Iron Age.

During this workshop, you will:

Learn how rawhide is made and why it behaves so differently from leather

Explore its unique properties as a natural material

Select and assess hides for your project

Create and pattern your own lantern design

Clean and prepare the lantern body

Practice basic rawhide stitching

Assemble your own working candle lantern

This class is open to all skill levels, whether you’re brand new to handcraft or already comfortable with natural materials, you’ll find something here: a new medium, a new technique, a new way of being with the light. Each participant will take home your finished rawhide candle lantern, as well as the knowledge and skill to continue experimenting, adapting and following your inspiration wherever it leads.

This class will be held indoors on Saturday, November 14th, 2026, from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm in Asheville, NC.

Hand-Dipped Beeswax Candle Making w/ Jess Kaufman (12/19/2026)

Sat, 19 Dec 2026 19:00:00 GMT

EVENT DETAILS HERE!

Celebrate the Solstice by hand-dipping beeswax candles in this cozy, hands-on workshop rooted in tradition and light.

On the longest nights of the year, we’ll come together in warmth and good company for this age-old Solstice tradition: hand-dipping beeswax candles, a timeless practice that invites patience, presence and a quiet resilience.

In the 5th Annual cozy, hands-on workshop, you’ll gather around the “fire” of gently simmering cauldrons of golden beeswax, the earthy-sweet smell filling the air. Settle into the calming rhythm of dip, cool, and repeat as your tapers slowly take shape. Jess Kaufman, local batik artist and founder of WAXON, will guide you through the candle-making process while sharing the deeper story of beeswax—an increasingly rare and precious gift from our pollinator kin.

You’ll also learn how WAXON’s zero-waste batik studio reclaims and reuses every drop of wax, honoring this sacred material through careful stewardship and creative reuse. The result is a practice rooted not only in craft, but in sustainability and care.

Participants will leave with:

Two pairs of hand-dipped beeswax taper candles (four total, with the option to make more)

Practical candle-making skills, from wick selection to tapering, trimming, and shaping, along with tricks learned over time

A shared sense of connection and joy as we honor the darkness and welcome the returning light in the 5th Annual Solstice Beeswax Candle Dipping Workshop

Jess says her favorite part of the class is “watching the joy on people’s faces as their candles grow.” Come celebrate the Solstice, kindle your own light, and take part in a tradition that weaves together community, craft, and reverence for the natural world.

This class will be held indoors on Saturday, December 19th, 2026, from 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm in Asheville, NC.