Asheville Events Roundup: Sirkus, Music, Art Exhibits, and the Fuzzy Rainbows Fest

Good morning, this is your Asheville Local Frequency for Saturday, February 8, 2025. Today is packed with exciting events and activities across Asheville. If you're looking for something unique, head over to Pritchard Park at 6 p.m. for The Surreal Sirkus with Street Creature Puppet Collective. For music lovers, Tommy Prine with Conrad Moore will be performing at Grey Eagle at 6:30 p.m. Meanwhile, the Asheville Artist Coalition is hosting its monthly gallery stroll and movie night at the Refinery Building from 4 to 10 p.m., featuring the film "Through A Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People." If you're in the mood for something festive, Grove Arcade is hosting a Valentine's Day celebration from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., complete with a curated Valentine’s Market, live entertainment, specialty cocktails, and sweet treats. For a taste of the tropics, Wicked Weed is hosting a Winter Warmer pop-up from 1 to 5 p.m., offering authentic Caribbean dishes and classic cocktails. In local news, the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority board recently voted to cut occupancy tax projections for fiscal year 2025 to $22.8 million, a 33% drop, which is the lowest projection since FY20 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. This decision reflects ongoing recovery efforts in the region. Recovery efforts are also underway for those affected by Tropical Storm Helene. FEMA has extended the deadline for applying for federal assistance, and the Small Business Administration has extended the deadline for recovery loans, offering up to $100,000 for homeowners and renters. In community news, Asheville is hosting public meetings on federal disaster funds and unmet community needs. The city is also working on flood ordinance updates to keep in compliance with insurance guidelines and revising the housing plan to maintain zoning in legacy neighborhoods. For those interested in art, the Asheville Art Museum is featuring several exhibitions, including "American Made" through February 9, "Forces of Nature: Ceramics from the Hayes Collection" through March 17, and "Anti Form: Robert Morris' Earth Projects" through May 4. Finally, if you're looking for a fun pre-party, Fuzzy Rainbows Fest 2025 is happening today at Asheville Music Hall & The One Stop from 12 to 6 p.m., featuring live music and fan art vendors in honor of Jamgrass superstar BMFS. This has been Asheville Local Frequency. We'll see you tomorrow with more local updates. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.