ABBE Community Calendar – December 2023

Asheville/Buncombe Black Elders Engagement Project Activities and Events

Special Events

Holiday Bingo – Saturday, December 16 from 12-2 p.m. Good old-fashioned fun with great prizes! Light refreshments will be provided. Please register at www.avlREC.com or call (828) 254-1942. All ages. Free. Burton Street Community Center, 134 Burton Street.

Ugly Sweater Party for Older Adults – Saturday, December 16 from 3-8 p.m. Eat, drink, and be merry in the tackiest holiday sweater you can find. To participate in the gift exchange (not required), bring a new item wrapped or in a gift bag. Ages 50-100. Free. For more information, please call (828) 350-2062. Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center, 121 Shiloh Road.

Holiday Luncheon – Thursday, December 21 from 12-3 p.m. Celebrate the holiday season! Sign up at the Harvest House front desk or by calling (828) 350-2051. Ages 18+. Cost: $5. Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Road.

Community Engagement Markets

ABCCM West – Friday, December 15 at 2 p.m. 1914 Smoky Park Highway, Candler.

Klondyke Homes – Friday, December 15 at 3 p.m. 500 Montford Avenue, Asheville.

Deaverview Apts. – Monday, December 18 at 3 p.m. 275 Deaverview Road, Asheville.

Big Ivy Community Center – Tuesday, December 19 at 8 a.m. 540 Dillingham Road, Barnardsville.

Asheville Middle School – Tuesday, December 19 at 5 p.m. Drive through market in front of the school. 211 S. French Broad Avenue, Asheville.

Shiloh Community Market – Wednesday, December 20 at 3 p.m. 486 Caribou Road, Asheville.

Big Ivy Community Center – Wednesday, December 27 at 1:30 p.m. 540 Dillingham Road, Barnardsville.

View the full list of Community Engagement Markets at www.buncombecounty.org

Council on Aging Senior Dining and Wellness Programs

These events are offered to older adults, age 60+, who are registered with the Council on Aging of Buncombe County Senior Dining and Wellness Program. While there is no charge to participate, individuals are given the opportunity to expand services through consumer contributions.

Senior Congregate Dining at the Grove Street Community Center – Monday-Friday, 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This program offers a variety of educational guest speakers, a nutritious lunch, and more. For more information, please call (828) 350-2062. Grove Street Community Center, 36 Grove Street.

Senior Dining and Wellness at the Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center – Wednesday through Friday, 11:30 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. Eligible adults can enjoy nutritious hot lunches from Moose Café along with weekly fresh produce in a fun, safe, and social setting. Call (828) 277-8288 to register. Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center, 121 Shiloh Road.

Monthly Activities

A Capella Alive – Thursdays, 6-9 p.m. If you love to sing and are looking for a group who does, look no further. A Capella Alive is a small non-profit chorus group looking for a few new members. Join us as we bring joy to others by singing. Grove Street Community Center, 36 Grove Street.

A Matter of Balance – Mondays, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. until December 18. For older adults who are concerned about falls, have sustained falls in the past, are interested in improving flexibility, balance, and strength, and are aged 60 and older, community-dwelling, and able to problem solve. Please contact Brea Kuykendall at [email protected] or call (828) 251-7438 for more information or to register. Free. Asheville Community Yoga, 8 Brookdale Road, Asheville, 28804.

Balance, Agility, Strength, Stretch – Tuesdays, 1:15-2:15 p.m. This class will work on flexibility, balance, stretching and strength. This is a walk-in class; no pre-registration required. Bring your own exercise mat. Free. Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Road.

Billiards with the Q Girls – Fridays, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. If you are looking for a place to play a friendly game of billiards, join us. No registration required. Free. Grove Street Community Center, 36 Grove Street.

Bingo – Fridays, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Join us the 1st and 2nd Fridays of the month for a friendly game of Bingo. A snack will be served. Purchase a second Bingo card for $1. Prizes awarded. Free. Donations welcomed. Grove Street Community Center, 36 Grove Street.

Burton Street Senior Elite Club – Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Senior citizens are invited to participate in fun activities, planned trips, movie days, chair exercise classes, fellowship days, and game days. Special meals prepared by different seniors from the group. Burton Street Community Center, 134 Burton Street.

Chair Volleyball – Held every Monday from 12-1 p.m. Enjoy this light workout while sitting down. Transportation is provided from the Grove Street Community Center. Call (828) 350-2062 to reserve your seat on the van. Free. Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center, 121 Shiloh Road.

Food Market – The second Wednesday of the month, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. The YMCA Food Truck provides free produce to the public. There is no limit on the amount of produce received. Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center, 121 Shiloh Road.

Gentle Mat Pilates – Tuesdays until December 19 from 10-11 a.m. Interested in trying Pilates? Practicing Pilates, but would like a slower pace? Cost: $5. Dr. Wesley Grant, Sr. Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston Street.

Grove Street Card Sharks – Wednesdays from 2-5 p.m. Play games such as Bid Whist, Spades, Tunk, and more. Bring a partner and join in on the fun! Free. Grove Street Community Center, 36 Grove Street.

Health Education Leading to Prevention (HELP) Program – Held on the third and fourth Wednesdays, 12-2 p.m. Led by Kathey Avery, these classes focus on the self-management of chronic disease and diabetes as well as maintaining a healthy and well-balanced lifestyle. No registration required. Free. Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center, 121 Shiloh Road.

Healthy Living with ABIPA – Held on the first and second Wednesdays, December 13 & January 3, 2024, from 12-2 p.m. ABIPA focuses on promoting healthy living for African Americans and other unserved populations. Free. Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center, 121 Shiloh Road.

Power Hour Exercise – Tuesdays, 10-11 a.m. Build some power with our gentle based chair exercises that are fun and upbeat. Free. Grove Street Community Center, 36 Grove Street.

Relax and Restore – Thursdays from 10:30-11:30 p.m. until December 21. Designed to help you release tension in the tight muscles of your body using foam rollers and gentle movement flows. Improve posture, flexibility, and mood. Cost: $5. Dr. Wesley Grant, Sr. Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston Street.

Senior Strength and Fitness – Mondays, 9:30-10:15 a.m. Get your week started on the right foot. Work on strengthening, stretching, and aerobics. No registration required. Free. Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Road.

Senior Strikers – Second Thursday of the month from 1-4 p.m. Seniors age 50 and up are invited to bowl at Sky Lanes Bowling Alley. Transportation provided from Grove Street Community Center. Space is limited; call (828) 350-2062 to reserve a seat. Free. Grove Street Community Center, 36 Grove Street.

Social Seniors – Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. A variety of activities: socializing and meeting new people, table games, trivia, cornhole, crafts, and more. Free. Grove Street Community Center, 36 Grove Street.

Square Dancing – Tuesdays from 6-9 p.m. Circle 8 Square Dancing is a group that meets every Tuesday. Come out and meet some new people and have a good time square dancing. Grove Street Community Center, 36 Grove Street.

Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention – Held on the third Tuesday of every month from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Improve flexibility, strength, and fitness. Relieve pain, increase balance, and reduce the risk of falls. Free. For more information, please contact Brea at (828) 251-7438 or [email protected]. Grove Street Community Center, 36 Grove Street.

Ultimate Bid Whist/Spades Party – Tuesdays, 6-8 p.m. Join us whether you are a beginner, intermediate, or professional card player. No registration required. Free. Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center, 121 Shiloh Road.

Walk With Ease – Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 1-2 p.m. through December 15. Designed for older adults to help reduce the pain and discomfort of arthritis, increase balance and strength, and improve overall health. Also helpful for people with diabetes and heart disease. To register, call (828) 251-7438 or email Brea Kuykendall at [email protected]. Free for people age 60+. Hominy Baptist Church, 135 Candler School Road, Candler.

Zumba – Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Come join in on the fun of this Latin inspired exercise. Easy to follow. All levels are welcome. Free. Grove Street Community Center, 36 Grove Street.

Zumba Gold – Wednesdays and Fridays, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Come work on your mobility while grooving and moving to the beat to burn off those calories. No registration needed. Free. Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center, 121 Shiloh Road.

Zumba Gold with Liz – Mondays, 10:35-11:30 a.m. Spicy, fun, and a great workout. Walk-in; no registration required. Free. Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Road.

Asheville Buncombe Black Elders Engagement (ABBE) Project is an initiative of Age-Friendly Buncombe County. The mission of ABBE is “Outreach and engagement with Asheville/Buncombe Black Elders to promote wellness and prevent isolation.”

The ABBE calendar is compiled from many sources, including City of Asheville Parks and Recreation, Buncombe County Community and Public Engagement, Land of Sky Area Agency on Aging, and Age-Friendly Buncombe County. If you would like to be part of ABBE or you know of someone who could benefit from the ABBE calendar, please contact Billie Breeden at [email protected]

Learn more at www.buncombecounty.org/countycenter/news-detail.aspx?id=20555