About us
AYPROS is Asheville’s young professionals group for ages 18–40. If you’re building your career, new to town, or just hoping to meet others around your age, this is where you’ll find your crowd.
We host casual hangouts, outdoor meetups, volunteer days, and community events that make it easy to meet people without any pressure. AYPROS is also the group behind programs like Get on Board, 828 Lead, and 828 VOTE, all created to help young professionals plug into Asheville’s civic and nonprofit landscape.
Join if you want to meet people your age, get involved in the community at your own pace, and be part of a growing network of young professionals shaping the future of Asheville.
Most up-to-date event details on our instagram @aypros828 or events.aypros.org
Featured event
AYPROS Asheville Mardi Gras Outpost at Bear's Smokehouse
TL;DR: Free Mardi Gras swag, drink specials, food specials, member punch card launch
Join AYPROS at Bear’s Smokehouse as we set up our Mardi Gras Outpost — a casual home base to gather before the parade and reconvene after the festivities roll through downtown.
We’ll kick things off at 2:00 PM with food, drinks, and Mardi Gras energy before heading out for the parade at 3:05. Afterward, swing back through Bear’s to keep the celebration going with the AYPROS crew.
We’ll have classic Mardi Gras beads and festive swag on hand, including doubloons, boas, sunglasses, face tattoos, and other fun extras while supplies last.
This event also marks the launch of our brand new free AYPROS member punch cards. Each event check-in earns you a punch, and once you hit 10 events, you’ll receive an extra drink ticket to use at a future Pub Club! Be there to get your first punch!
Bear’s will be running Mardi Gras-inspired food and drink specials throughout the day, including gumbo, beignets, and Hurricanes served in a souvenir cup.
There is no formal program or agenda for the afternoon. Come early, head out for the parade, come back afterward — or do all three. We’ll be checking people in throughout the event window.
Event Flow
2:00 PM – AYPROS Mardi Gras Outpost opens at Bear’s
3:05 PM – Mardi Gras Parade step-off
Post-Parade – Return to Bear’s to continue the celebration
Throughout the afternoon, you can:
• Pick up Mardi Gras swag and festive extras
• Enjoy food and drink specials from Bear’s
• Receive and punch your new AYPROS member punch card
• Spend time with fellow AYPROS before and after the parade
• Use Bear’s as a gathering point throughout the day to meet with fellow AYPROS
PARKING: There is free parking behind Bear's Smokehouse on Federal Alley.
City Parking Garages (Recommended Options)
The following garages are centrally located and typically the most reliable on parade day:
• Coxe Avenue Parking Garage
40 Coxe Avenue
• Biltmore Avenue / Aloft Hotel Garage
60 S. Lexington Avenue
Street Parking
Street parking is free on Sundays, but parking along the parade route is restricted and enforced. Yellow “No Parking” signs are posted starting Friday. Vehicles left in restricted areas on Sunday will be towed.
Road Closures
Several streets in the South Slope area may close around 10:00 AM, including parts of Banks Avenue, Buxton Avenue, and Coxe Avenue.
Helpful Tip
The City of Asheville App provides real-time parking availability and can be helpful on busy event days:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-asheville-app/id599045777
A Special Thanks
Thank you to Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ for hosting our Mardi Gras Outpost and welcoming the AYPROS community for the day.
Our Mission and the role of Arts & Entertainment
AYPROS connects young professionals, develops leaders, and builds community to attract and retain talent in Asheville. Our Arts & Entertainment programming celebrates Asheville’s culture, food, music, and creative traditions by encouraging engagement with the places and experiences that make Asheville vibrant and alive.
Events like this help foster a sense of place and belonging while supporting local venues and cultural moments that define Asheville.
We hope to see you there.
Warm regards,
AYPROS Leadership Team
Upcoming events
2
AYPROS Asheville Mardi Gras Outpost at Bear's Smokehouse
Bear's Smokehouse BBQ, 135 Coxe Avenue, Asheville, NC, USTL;DR: Free Mardi Gras swag, drink specials, food specials, member punch card launch
Join AYPROS at Bear’s Smokehouse as we set up our Mardi Gras Outpost — a casual home base to gather before the parade and reconvene after the festivities roll through downtown.
We’ll kick things off at 2:00 PM with food, drinks, and Mardi Gras energy before heading out for the parade at 3:05. Afterward, swing back through Bear’s to keep the celebration going with the AYPROS crew.
We’ll have classic Mardi Gras beads and festive swag on hand, including doubloons, boas, sunglasses, face tattoos, and other fun extras while supplies last.
This event also marks the launch of our brand new free AYPROS member punch cards. Each event check-in earns you a punch, and once you hit 10 events, you’ll receive an extra drink ticket to use at a future Pub Club! Be there to get your first punch!
Bear’s will be running Mardi Gras-inspired food and drink specials throughout the day, including gumbo, beignets, and Hurricanes served in a souvenir cup.
There is no formal program or agenda for the afternoon. Come early, head out for the parade, come back afterward — or do all three. We’ll be checking people in throughout the event window.
Event Flow
2:00 PM – AYPROS Mardi Gras Outpost opens at Bear’s
3:05 PM – Mardi Gras Parade step-off
Post-Parade – Return to Bear’s to continue the celebration
Throughout the afternoon, you can:
• Pick up Mardi Gras swag and festive extras
• Enjoy food and drink specials from Bear’s
• Receive and punch your new AYPROS member punch card
• Spend time with fellow AYPROS before and after the parade
• Use Bear’s as a gathering point throughout the day to meet with fellow AYPROSPARKING: There is free parking behind Bear's Smokehouse on Federal Alley.
City Parking Garages (Recommended Options)
The following garages are centrally located and typically the most reliable on parade day:
• Coxe Avenue Parking Garage
40 Coxe Avenue
• Biltmore Avenue / Aloft Hotel Garage
60 S. Lexington Avenue
Street Parking
Street parking is free on Sundays, but parking along the parade route is restricted and enforced. Yellow “No Parking” signs are posted starting Friday. Vehicles left in restricted areas on Sunday will be towed.
Road Closures
Several streets in the South Slope area may close around 10:00 AM, including parts of Banks Avenue, Buxton Avenue, and Coxe Avenue.
Helpful Tip
The City of Asheville App provides real-time parking availability and can be helpful on busy event days:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-asheville-app/id599045777A Special Thanks
Thank you to Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ for hosting our Mardi Gras Outpost and welcoming the AYPROS community for the day.Our Mission and the role of Arts & Entertainment
AYPROS connects young professionals, develops leaders, and builds community to attract and retain talent in Asheville. Our Arts & Entertainment programming celebrates Asheville’s culture, food, music, and creative traditions by encouraging engagement with the places and experiences that make Asheville vibrant and alive.Events like this help foster a sense of place and belonging while supporting local venues and cultural moments that define Asheville.
We hope to see you there.Warm regards,
AYPROS Leadership Team5 attendees
AYPROS February Pub Club @ Ace & Eagle/Hi-Wire RAD
HiWire RAD Brewery, 284 Lyman Street,, Asheville, NC, USJoin AYPROS for our February Pub Club at Ace & Eagle, Asheville’s indoor golf lounge built for an easy after-work hang with a little friendly competition mixed in.
Pub Club is intentionally casual. Leave your business cards at home, come as you are, and spend the evening meeting other young professionals in a relaxed, social setting without any pressure or agenda.
Whether you’re brand new to AYPROS or a familiar face, Pub Club is about good conversation, welcoming energy, and getting out into the community together.
The evening kicks off with your first drink on The Brookshire Garside Group of Baird Private Wealth Management, along with light bites provided. Additional drinks will be available for purchase at the bar throughout the night.
Ace & Eagle offers a laid-back atmosphere with indoor golf simulators, comfortable seating, and plenty of space to settle in and enjoy the evening. You’re welcome to take a swing at the simulators or simply relax and soak in the social side of the night.
Please note: Ace & Eagle does not have a kitchen on site. The Hi-Wire bar offers a selection of crunchy snacks, and there will be a food truck on the premises from Blue Collar Diner, which we hear serves an incredible smoked meatloaf sandwich.
### What to expect:
- A relaxed, come-and-go social atmosphere
- First drink included, courtesy of Baird
- Bar snacks available for purchase
- Food truck on site (Blue Collar Diner)
- Indoor golf simulators available for free for us from 6-7, pickleball courts and billiards. Before and after pub club you can reserve anything you want with a discount. Use code: local15 for 15% off.
- A welcoming space to meet other young professionals from across Asheville
Location:
Ace & Eagle 284 Lyman St, Asheville, NC 28801
Asheville, NC
More about the space: https://www.aceandeagleavl.com/No formal program. No pressure. Just a great space, good people, and an easy way to spend a winter evening with the AYPROS community.
We’ll see you there.### Special Thanks to Our Sponsor
A big thank you to Colton Brookshire and the Brookshire Garside Group of Baird Private Wealth Management for sponsoring this Pub Club and helping make AYPROS gatherings possible.
We can’t wait to see you there.6 attendees
Past events
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