Hayley Benton

hbenton@citizen-times.com

1. Pop in to the Asheville Holiday Parade.

It's going to be a grand old time, celebrating 70 years of holiday cheer. The Asheville Holiday Parade begins at the corner of Biltmore Avenue and Charlotte Street and steers up to Vance Monument and Pack Square before heading West down Patton Avenue toward the Interstate ramp, where it winds down. The fun begins at 11 a.m. Saturday, but guests are advised to get downtown early for good seating and parking options. Afterward, there are several festivities to help kick off the winter season in Asheville.

2. The Village Potters celebrate an artsy anniversary.

If artistry is more your style, head over to The Village Potters in the River Arts District's Riverview Station, 191 Lyman St. #180 in Asheville, for the ceramics collective's fifth anniversary. From 4-8 p.m., they'll be demonstrating their craft with a giant pot throwing, Raku firing, a kazegama kiln opening and raffle prizes that benefit the group's student scholarship fund.

3. Thanks for Sharing preThanksgiving talent show.

Yet another Saturday night extravaganza is going down at West Asheville's Mothlight, where locals will be competing in a holiday talent show that's sure to be interesting (knowing our local talent). The "Thanks For Sharing" Thanksgiving talent show is set for 8 p.m. Saturday at the 701 Haywood Road location. Auditions for the show have already been held, but guests are welcome to watch. There's a suggested $5 donation at the door.

4. Folksy benefit for a child in need.

Great show for a great cause, here! Asheville's Altamont Theatre is hosting a Nov. 20 "Songs for the Heart" fundraiser for Jaron Rosser, a local 11-year-old boy suffering from a congenital heart defect. Rosser had a sudden heart attack in January, after having three open heart surgeries in his first few years of life, and is currently on the waiting list for a heart transplant. Performing at the benefit is folk artist Jane Roman Pitt, who will be joined by Danny Ellis, Billy Jonas, Franklin Keel, Matthew Richmond, Chris Rosser, Al Schlimm, Joan D'Entremont and Sara Kim Wilde. The headlining artist's music is so peaceful that it's often described as a lullaby, and, at the event, she'll be releasing her latest CD, "Road to Dreamland." The show begins at 7:30 p.m. at 18 Church St. Tickets to the benefit are $12 in advance at thealtamonttheatre.com or $15 at the door, and all proceeds go toward Jaron's heart transplant.

5. Thanksgiving is coming (to Salvage Station).

While we'll all be busy stuffing our faces on Thursday, Riverside's Salvage Station is hosting a calorie-burning dance party on Thanksgiving Eve, Nov. 23, to celebrate the feasting season. The free event kicks off at 7 p.m. with high energy funk/blues-rock band What It Is. Then, at 10 p.m., DJ Molly Parti pumps out the dance tracks to get the holiday weekend started early. Salvage Station is at 468 Riverside Drive in Asheville.