Fall festivals are happening in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and surrounding areas. Please keep reading for a big list of festivals all fall.
We start with a spotlight on some of the biggest festivals, but keep reading for a more comprehensive list, which includes lots of Halloween events as they’re announced.
Our list is getting updated every day.
Also, whether you’re looking for a spooky experience or totally kid-friendly fun, be sure to check out our list of corn mazes, pumpkin patches and haunted trails in the Triangle.
August 28th and 29th Explore fun and diverse art in a relaxed outdoor setting. Saturday, August 28th This festival celebrates Raleigh's culinary and cultural diversity, with food and drink, as well as performances, from many countries. There will be a tricycle race as well! August 28th, 2021 This festival celebrates North Carolina's farming culture and history, It features live music, local arts and crafts vendors, hands-on history, and more. Saturday, August 28th, 2021, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The 45th Annual Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival will feature over 300 artists, live music, children's activities, and food and drink vendors. Saturday, September 4th, and Sunday, September 5th The African American Cultural Festival is returning as an in-person event but is spreading out, with two days of family activities, vendor village and main stage entertainment. Saturday, September 4th, 2021 Taste competitors' brisket and ribs for free. A tent with competition pulled pork will have a suggested donation of $10, to go to local non-profits. There will also be live music and kids' activities. September 9th to 11th, 2021 Hopscotch Music Festival will feature music in just about every venue imaginable, in numerous stages around the city. This year all official programming will take place on outside stages. There will also be free day parties throughout Raleigh. Friday, September 10th, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Live music, rides, games, food, vendors, arts and crafts, more. There will be a ceremony to commemorate 9/11 on Saturday at noon. Saturday, September 11th, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Arts and crafts vendors, live entertainment on two stages and lots of food to enjoy. The day will start with a Patriot Day Ceremony, hosted by the Apex American Legion Post 124. There will be a flag raising at 8:15 a.m., and then a service memorial at 8:30 p.m., at the corner of Saunders Street and N. Salem Street. Friday, September 11th, 2021 Craft vendors, bounce houses, food vendors and live music. The festival features a parade at 10 a.m. with horses, antique cars, trucks and tractors. September 11th, 2021 This Johnston County festival will feature live music, children's activities, food trucks, antique cars, and much more. It starts with a 9/11 remembrance ceremony. Friday, September 17th, 2021, 12 pm. to 9 p.m. This festival, which celebrates motorcycles, features live music, stunt shows, food trucks and more. Saturday, September 18th, 2021 Little German Band will be providing live music and dancing as you enjoy Oktoberfest beer and food specials. September 18th and 19th, 2021 45 diverse musical acts are performing on three stages in Downtown Sanford, which is about 30 minutes from Apex. September 18th, 2021 This is a free street festival with multiple stages of live entertainment. There will also be food trucks, vendors, breweries and cideries. September 24th and September 25th, 2021 This family-friendly event features hot air balloons glowing at dusk. Tethered balloon ride will be available, and there will be food vendors, arts and crafts vendors and kids' activities. September 25th, 2021 Enjoy Italian entertainment, Italian food and wine, kids' activities and more. Saturday, September 25th, 2021 This festival features live entertainment, authentic cuisine from around the world, kids' activities and a raffle. Saturday, September 25th, 2021 This fall festival features live music, a kids' performance area, fun games and interactive exhibits, local food and craft beer, arts and crafts, and a pie-eating contest. October 1st to 3rd, 2021 The Raleigh Greek Festival will take place as a drive-thru event. Enjoy authentic Greek food prepared by the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church family. October 1st and 2nd, 2021 Although the main stage performances at Red Hat Amphitheater are ticketed, the huge street festival, with more than 60 performances, is free. Friday, October 1st, 5 to 9 p.m. This annual festival features Wiener dog races, a stein host competition, a futbol zone, entertainment, traditional Bavarian food and more. October 2nd, 2021 Live entertainment, kids' zone, art vendors, food and craft vendors. October 3rd, 2021 The festival will feature Durham’s international community, with cultural booths, food trucks, musicians, dancers, raffles, souvenirs, and games with prizes. Durham has 9 sister cities around the world! October 9th and 10th, 2021 Raleigh's Arts Festival is returning, with work from more than 175 juried fine artists and craftspeople. There will also be many music performances and arts activities. October 14th to 24th, 2021 Rides, music, entertainment, livestock competitions, and lots of food. October 15th, 2021 Chapel Hill's annual fall arts festival is coming back for 2021, in a slightly different form. It will take place on three evenings. Each block party will feature 20 to 30 artists, artisans and craftspeople, 2-3 gourmet food and drink vendors, and experiential art offerings. Saturday, October 16th, 2021 This celebration of fall and of local businesses features local makers, vendors, food trucks, beer and wine, as well as free hay rides and inflatables, and even a free pumpkin patch. October 22nd, 2021 Watch locally created zombie short films on a huge outdoor screen. Dress as your favorite zombie if you'd like! October 27th to 31st, 2021 This festival features carnival rides and games, a Latin American Festival, BBQ contest, trunk or treat, movie night and much more. October 30th, 2021 This is a day of competition dancing, music and vendors, planned in partnership with indigenous community organizers. Saturday, October 30th, 2021 Live music and entertainment, children's activities, artists, local businesses, food vendors. Saturday, October 30th, 2021 This fun Halloween festival is for families. There will be a costume contest and parade, magical activities for kids, and lots of family-friendly stage performances and vendors. Saturday, October 30th, 2021 Street performers, professional cosplayers, trunk or treat, kiddie castle maze, costume contest, more. Saturday, November 6th, 2021 Music, food, beer, kids' activities, arts and crafts, contests and more.Fall festivals in the Triangle 2021
Every Saturday in September
JimGin Farm
150 Wild Horse Run, Pittsboro
Free
12 p .m. to 10 p.m.
City Plaza, Fayetteville Street, Raleigh
Free
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Duke Homestead, 2828 Duke Homestead Road, Durham
Free
Sunday, August 29th, 2021, 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Cary Town Hall Campus, Downtown Cary
Free
Various locations in Raleigh
Free
12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Mike D's BBQ, 306 S. Driver Street, Durham, NC
Free
Various venues in Raleigh
Price varies per day
Saturday, September 11th, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Angier Depot Square, 19 E Depot Street, Angier
Free
Downtown Apex
Free
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Downtown Bennett
Free
Downtown Four Oaks
Free
Saturday, September 18th, 2021, 9 am. to 10 p.m.
Sunday, September 19th, 2021, 9 a.m.t o 4 p.m.
Tobacco Road Harley-Davidson, 1126 South Sanders Street, Raleigh
Free
1 p.m.
Motorco, 723 Rigsbee Avenue Durham
Free
Downtown Sanford, NC
Free
2 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Downtown Raleigh
Free
5 p.m. to 9 p.m. each night
The Big Field at Dix Park, 101 Blair Drive Raleigh
$10 per car
11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Tucker Street and N. Boylan Street, Raleigh
Free
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
J. Ashley Wall Town Square, 99 W. 3rd Street, Wendell
Free
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
West Chatham Street, Cary
Free
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
5000 Lead Mine Road, Raleigh
12 p.m. to around 11 p.m. each day
Fayetteville Street in Downtown Raleigh
Free
Saturday, October 2nd, 12 to 9 p.m.
Booth Amphitheatre, 8003 Regency Parkway, Cary
$20 to $25 for adults
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Downtown Fuquay-Varina
Free
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Durham Central Park
Free
Downtown Raleigh
NC State Fairgrounds
$10 for adults and $5 for youth, but read more to learn about discounts and free admission
October 23rd, 2021
October 30th, 2021
4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Various locations in Chapel Hill
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Dix Park, 1030 Richardson Drive, Raleigh
Free
7 p.m.
Cary Theater, 122 East Chatham Street, Cary
Free
Several locations in Clayton
Free
11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Big Field at Dix Park, 101 Blair Drive, Raleigh
Free
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sugg Farm
2401 Gribsby Avenue, Holly Springs, NC
Free
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Moore Square
226 E. Martin Street, Raleigh
Free
12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Downtown Franklinton (near Wake Forest)
Free
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
USA Baseball Training Complex
Thomas Brooks Park, Cary
Free
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Peter Starr says
Thanks, so much!