Hayley Benton

hbenton@citizen-times.com

1. It's campaign season: Check out Asheville Art Museum's political exhibit.

Art, like politics, can create change, which is why the Asheville Art Museum’s new exhibit, featuring political art, is titled "Creating Change." Let's face it: One of the biggest emotion-evoking issues right now is the election, and art is meant to illicit an emotional response. Running now through Oct. 30, "Creating Change" features photography, sculpture, paintings and prints from the 1930s to the present that challenge viewers to reflect on difficult issues and motivate viewers to action. The Asheville Art Museum is located in Pack Sqaure. A Sept. 30 Art Break event will feature a professor of political science, and an opening reception will be held for the exhibit on Oct. 7. For more information, head to ashevilleart.org.

2. Plan a day trip: Tweetsie Railroad opens its annual Halloween event.

This one's a little far out there, but it should be fun nonetheless. Plan a day trip to Blowing Rock this weekend for Tweetsie Railroad’s Ghost Train Halloween Festival, running Friday and Saturday nights from Sept. 23 through Oct. 29. The ghostly event opens at 7:30 p.m. each evening, and guests will be treated to the Ghost Train ride, a haunted house, Halloween shows, a 3-D maze, the "freaky forest," a warp tunnel and the Spooktacular Black Light Show. The theme park's regular attractions are open during the day. Tickets to the evening event are $36 per person and must be bought in advance at tweetsie.com.

3. "When Jekyll Met Hyde" opens at Magnetic 375.

When The Magnetic Theatre opened its world premiere of Steven Samuels’ "When Jekyll Met Hyde" in 2011, the play was an huge hit, selling out nearly all of its extended run. This year, featuring an unusual twist, "When Jekyll Met Hyde" will be presented in an all-new production honoring the source material’s Victorian setting. Even if you've seen it before: the folks at Magnetic explain that you're in for a new treat. The play opens with low-cost previews on Sept. 29 and 30, and opening night is on Oct. 1. Performances run Thursdays through Saturdays through Oct. 29 at 7:30 p.m. each night. Previews cost $16 online at magnetictheatre.org and $19 at the door. All other performances are $21 online and $24 at the door.

4. Sara Watkins performs at the Grey Eagle.

Here's the first of two Grey Eagle shows you should see this week: Sara Watkins. The singer-songwriter is playing a seated show in Asheville on Sept. 25. She packs a powerful voice and plays the fiddle, and we've got a full story on her performance here. Mikaela Davis opens up the show with her combination of psychedelic rock, folk and chamber pop. The show begins at 8 p.m. and costs $17 in advance at thegreyeagle.com.

5. Don't be offended by Wheeler Walker Jr.

OK — be offended if you want. But don't let it ruin your good time. Wheeler Walker Jr. is the musical persona of comedian Ben Hoffman, but his outlaw country music is no joke (though it is a little bit silly). He's the most profane country singer around, and he's coming to the Grey Eagle on Sept. 28 for a 9 p.m. show. For more information on the show or on the artist behind "Redneck Sh*t," click here. Tickets are $15-$18 and can be purchased at thegreyeagle.com.