Fall is the perfect time to celebrate everything North Carolina has to offer, ranging from Raleigh’s annual North Carolina State Fair and Wide Open Bluegrass to local county fairs and festivals. North Carolina has it all.
Whether you’re looking for fairs, food, arts and crafts or outdoor music, take an online tour of fall fairs and festivals at ncdcr.gov/fall-festivals or view events by month at the links below:
September Fairs and Festivals
Outdoor music reigns in September, with the inaugural Piggin’ and Grinnin’ barbecue and bluegrass festival at Tryon Palace in New Bern, Hopscotch Raleigh, the National Folks Festival in Greensboro, and Wide Open Bluegrass in downtown Raleigh.
Other September events include the Festival of Yesteryear at the Museum of the Cape Fear (Fayetteville), the Zoo to Do at the N.C. Zoo (Asheboro), and Bugfest at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences (Raleigh).
October Fairs and Festivals
Celebrate North Carolina food and heritage with the annual North Carolina Seafood Festival in Morehead City; the iconic Woolly Worm Festival in Banner Elk; North Carolina’s official liver mush festival, Mush, Music and Mutts, in Shelby; and the Lexington BBQ Festival.
Of course, it’s North Carolina State Fair time. Head over to the Dorton Arena lobby to learn about North Carolina’s most notorious pirate, Blackbeard, on the 300th anniversary of his Carolina coast exploits. Also at the fair, check out N.C. State Parks, the N.C. Zoo, N.C. Historic Sites, and the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences.
Other October events include the Bluegrass Island Festival at Roanoke Island Festival Park in Manteo, Oktoberfest at the Mountain Gateway Museum in Old Fort, the Vance Birthplace Appalachian Folk Festival in Weaverville, Boo at the Zoo in Asheboro, and the Fall Festival and Living History event at Bentonville Battlefield in Four Oaks. It’s also a great time to savor the crisp fall weather and enjoy the colors of changing leaves in North Carolina State Parks.
November Fairs and Festivals
November is the month for arts and culture. Visit the Wilson Whirligig Festival, the Celebration of Seagrove Potters, Cucalorus Film Festival in Wilmington, Durham Art Walk, and the Holiday Market. November also brings the N.C. Museum of History’s 22nd Annual American Indian Heritage Celebration.