Summer reading and more: Plan your week ahead with WNC Parent

Chris Worthy
·3 min read

We’re all counting down to summer fun. Get ready for summer reading at your local library, but first, kick off the holiday weekend with festivals all around. Get updates and more at wncparent.com. Stay in touch on social media @wncparent, and get your organization’s family-friendly events on our calendar by emailing chris@worthyplace.com.

In-person story times are back at Buncombe County Libraries. Get full details at buncombecounty.org/governing/depts/library/services/story-times.aspx.

Baby Story Time – ages 4 – 18 months:

  • Oakley/South Asheville Library – Friday at 10:30 a.m.

  • Leicester Library – Saturday at 10:30 a.m.

  • Weaverville Library – Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.

Toddler Story Time – ages 18 months – 3 years:

  • North Asheville Library – Friday at 10:30 a.m.

  • Fairview Library and Leicester Library – Thursday at 10:30 a.m.

  • Enka-Candler Library – Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.

Preschool Story Time – ages 3 – 5 years:

  • East Asheville Library and West Asheville Library – Saturday at 10:30 a.m.

  • Swannanoa Library – Thursday at 10:30 a.m.

  • Fairview Library – Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.

  • Black Mountain Library and Weaverville Library – Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.

  • Pack Memorial Library – Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.

Hora Del Cuento/Story Time

  • Skyland/South Buncombe Library – Friday at 10:30 a.m.

  • Oakley/South Asheville Library – Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.

The Highlands Nature Center opens for summer hours, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Mondays – Saturdays, closed Sundays, beginning May 27. Free, daily educational programs are available beginning May 30, including garden tours, animal feedings, nature art, and creature features. For details, visit highlandsbiological.org.

ecoEXPLORE Herptology Family Activity is 1 – 4 p.m. May 28 at the Highlands Biological Station's Valentine Meadow (888 Horse Cove Road). Create a nature-themed craft. Focus on reptiles and amphibians that call the Plateau home as part of ecoEXPLORE's Herpetology Field Season Badge. Visit ecoexplore.net.

The Asheville Memorial Day Weekend Festival of the Arts is May 28 – 29 at Pack Square Park. For details, visit artfestival.com/cities/asheville.

The Lake Lure Arts & Crafts Festival is May 28 – 30 in Lake Lure. The event includes food, entertainment and children’s activities. For hours and details, visit lakelureartsandcraftsfestivals.com.

Hendersonville’s Garden Jubilee Festival is May 28 – 29 in downtown Hendersonville. For details, visit visithendersonvillenc.org/garden-jubilee.

A Spring Fling Art & Craft Walk is May 28 in Dillsboro. It features entertainment and craft demonstrations and more. Visit visitdillsboro.org.

Nature Center Night: Salamander Meander is 9 – 10 p.m. May 31 at the Highlands Nature Center. Search for salamanders in the Botanical Garden. Discover strange and fascinating facts about our slimy amphibian friends, then join naturalists on a walk through the gardens to find local species. Bring a flashlight. This program is weather-dependent. Registration is required. Visit highlandsbiological.org.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library impacts the pre­-literacy skills and school readiness of children under the age of 5 in Buncombe County. The program mails a new, free, age-appropriate book to registered children each month until they turn 5 years old, creating a home library of up to 60 books and instilling a love of books and reading. For details and registration, visit imaginationlibrary.com.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: WNC Parent Family Weekend Calendar May 27-29: Summer reading and more