Happenings at Zelda Dearest
A FEW THINGS WORTH
PLANNING AROUND.
From Zelda Fitzgerald Week to evenings at the Parlour Bar, these are the gatherings that give the calendar a little more character.
Some are ticketed, some come and go quickly, and all are best caught at just the right moment.
ZELDA WEEK
Step into the Jazz Age for Zelda Week at Zelda Dearest. Enjoy an evocative lecture, a NYT bestseller signing, and a 1920s party. A week of immersive events and community you don’t want to miss.
Monday, May 4 | The Ghost in the Garden: A Guided Forum
Tuesday, May 5 | Whimsical Watercolor Workshop
Wednesday, May 6 | Zelda Reclaimed: An Evening with Therese Anne Fowler
Thursday, May 7 | To My Dearest: An Immersive Journey through Letters
Friday, May 8 | Zelda’s Midnight Revelry: The Flapper Party
Saturday, May 9 | The Ephemeral Garden: A Mystical Soirée
Zelda Week: Monday
The Ghost in the Garden: Zelda’s "Beautiful and Damned" Relationship with Her Roots
5 PM - 9 PM
A Guided Forum with Alaina Dotten & Marie Martello of the Fitzgerald Museum
Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald is often remembered as a shimmering icon of the Jazz Age, yet her identity was deeply rooted in the "perfumed decay" of the American South. Join us for a provocative, guided forum as we peel back the layers of the woman behind the myth.
Featuring Alaina Dotten and Marie Martello from the Scott & Zelda Fitzgerald Museum, this evening explores Zelda’s rebellious youth in Montgomery and her lifelong, conflicted love for a South caught between its aristocratic past and a modernizing future.
This is not a traditional lecture, but a guided conversation. We will navigate the "Ghost of the Confederacy" that haunted her upbringing and examine whether her "Flapper" persona was a true break from tradition—or simply a modern evolution of the performative Southern Belle.
Zelda Week: Tuesday
Whimsical Watercolor: An Artful Evening Inspired by Zelda Fitzgerald
Led by Miranda Wildman
Ticketed - $55 – all supplies included
6 PM - 9 PM
A guided critique and lesson in art making suitable for all levels of art making experience, all materials included, each participant will be able to create several smallish watercolor paintings, light guidance, lots of inspiration.
You are invited to an artful evening of whimsical watercolor painting inspired by Zelda Fitzgerald at the delightfully intimate Zelda Dearest Hotel in Asheville, NC with local artist Miranda Wildman as your creative guide. Let yourself be enchanted by examples of Zelda’s artwork, vibrant watercolor paints, delicious libations, laughter & conversation, and the gorgeous surroundings of Zelda Dearest while you create several small, abstract pieces of art.
Art is for Everyone!
Zelda Week: Wednesday
Zelda Reclaimed: A Reading and Signing by Bestselling Author Therese Anne Fowler
5 PM - 9 PM
A Literary Journey from the Page to the Screen
Before she was a Jazz Age icon or a tragic muse, she was a woman striving for a voice of her own. Join us for an exclusive evening with Therese Anne Fowler, the New York Times bestselling author of Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald.
Since its publication, Z has redefined how the world perceives the "original flapper," moving beyond the myths to reveal the complex, ambitious woman underneath. The novel’s hauntingly beautiful prose was the inspiration for the Amazon Studios original series Z: The Beginning of Everything, starring Christina Ricci.
About the Author
Therese Anne Fowler is a contemporary American master of biographical fiction. Best known for her transformative work on Zelda Fitzgerald, her writing breathes life into historical figures with breathtaking empathy and historical accuracy.
Zelda Week: Thursday
To My Dearest: An Immersive Journey through Zelda’s Letters and Art
5 PM - 9 PM
A Two-Part Scripted Promenade from the Asheville Art Museum to Zelda Dearest
Experience the private world of Zelda Fitzgerald through the very medium she used to navigate her life: the written word. This immersive evening begins with a public performance and concludes with a private act of creation, tracing the line between Zelda’s artistic legacy and our own personal narratives.
Part I: The Museum Performance (5:00 PM – 6:00 PM)
Part II: The Promenade & The Writing Salon (6:00 PM – 8:30 PM)
Zelda Week: Friday
Zelda’s Midnight Revelry: An Immersive Jazz Age Celebration
5 PM - 10 PM
Dust off your dancing shoes and prepare to step back a century. For one night only, Zelda Dearest transforms into a private estate party straight out of 1926. This isn't just a party—it’s a time capsule. From the first notes of the live band to the secret "Prohibition Pop-up" hidden on the grounds, the world of the "Beautiful and Damned" is yours to inhabit.
The Aesthetic: Strict 1920s Attire. Think shimmering sequins, sweeping pearls, sharp tuxedos, and feathered headbands. If you wouldn’t have been let into a Fitzgerald speakeasy, you won't be let in here.
"Here's to the bright young things, the wild hearts, and the nights we’ll never forget."
Zelda Week: Saturday
The Ephemeral Garden: A Mystical Marketplace & Soirée
3 PM - 9 PM
Cocktails and Mocktails, Local Market, Mystics, and more in this lovely Garden Party.
Experience the charm of a 1920s outdoor gathering reimagined for today. Muses & Mystics brings together Asheville’s finest artisans, psychics, and performers for a full-property celebration at Zelda Dearest. Spend your afternoon browsing our Vendor Market, then transition into a twilight of live music, interactive monologues, and classic games of Dominoes and Backgammon. Whether you’re here for the high tea sandwiches or a glimpse into your future through a tarot spread, this is a garden party designed for the curious and the creative.
JChong Dinner Series
Join us at Zelda Dearest for a truly special night with Chef J Chong, as we gather around the table for an unforgettable Cantonese dinner experience filled with heart, heritage, and hospitality.
Tuesday, April 7
Sunday, May 17
Tuesday, June 16