August 27th and 28th, 2022 (12 p.m. until dark)
Every Saturday in September, 2022 (2 p.m. until dark)
JimGin Farm
150 Wild Horse Run, Pittsboro
Free

Explore fun and diverse art in a relaxed outdoor setting. Enjoy live music as you browse the art.

Saturday, September 3rd, 2022
12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Mike D's BBQ, 306 S. Driver Street, Durham, NC
Free

Taste competitors' brisket and ribs for free. The event also includes a small business marketplace, beer tents, food trucks, live music and more.

September 3rd and 4th, 2022
11 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day
City Plaza on Fayetteville Street, Raleigh
Free

Celebrate African American culture with music, art, food and more.

September 8th to 10th, 2022
Various times and locations in Raleigh

Hopscotch Music Festival is ticketed, with the main stages at Moore Square and City Plaza. However, the festival also features free "day parties" in venues all over Raleigh, as well as free late-night club shows at Pour House and Slim's.

Various dates, times and locations

There are many Oktoberfest celebrations throughout the Triangle in September and October. Enjoy live German music and dancing, German-style food and drink, stein holding contests and much more. Learn about each one.

Friday, September 9th, 7 to 10 p.m.
Saturday, September 10th, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Downtown Angier, NC
Free

Enjoy a kickoff concert on Friday night with Rivermist. The main event on Saturday incudes games, rides, food, music, vendors and more.

Saturday, September 10th, 2022
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Downtown Oxford, NC
Free

This free, family-friendly festival features a pepper eating contest, hot sauce competition, a classic car show, live music, food trucks, a hot sauce scavenger hunt, and a kids' area with inflatables, face painting, crafts and more.

Saturday, September 10th, 2022
10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Main Street in Four Oaks, NC
Free

Four Oaks is in Johnston County, about halfway between Benson and Smithfield. The Four Oaks Acorn Festival features live music, a classic car show, food trucks, rides, a handcrafted market, a kids' zone, a business expo and more.

Saturday, September 10th, 2022
12 to 4 p.m.
Mordecai Historic Park
1 Mimosa Street, Raleigh
Free

Celebrate the 50th anniverwsary of Mordecai Historic park with special performances, free crafts, cultural displays, tours and more. Every half hour there will be a tours on Historic Raleigh Trolley, discounted to $5.

Saturday, September 10th, 2022
3 to 6 p.m.
Crabtree Valley Baptist Church
4408 Lead Mine Road, Raleigh, NC
Free

Celebrate Filipino culture with food and games. There will also be inflatables for the kids.

Saturday, September 10th, 2022
2 to 7 p.m.
Historic Moorefields
2201 Moorefields Road, Hillsborough, NC
$15 for adults, $10 for teens 13-17, and free for kids 12 and under

Five bluegrass bands will be performing in this fundraiser for Historic Moorefields. Bring a lawn chair. There will be food trucks and free parking.

Saturday, September 10th, 2022
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Main Street, Bennett
Free

Enjoy a parade and live entertainment at this annual festival. The day before the festival, Friday, September 9th, there will be an Old Fashioned Country Auction.

Friday, September 16th, 5 to 10 p.m.
Saturday, September 17th, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
River Park, 144 East Margaret Lane, Hillsborough, NC
Free

This long-running festival features a BBQ cook-off, craft vendors, the Hog Day 5K, classic car show, a children's area, and more.

Saturday, September 17th, 2022
10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
NC Museum of Natural Sciences
11 W Jones Street, Raleigh
Free

Learn about insects at this very popular annual festival. There will be over 100 exhibits, activities, games and crafts, both inside and outside the museum.

Saturday, September 17th, 2022
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Koka Booth Amphitheatre
8003 Regency Parkway, Cary, NC
$8 (Free for kids under 12 and seniors 65+)

Enjoy arts and crafts, games, ethnic foods, performances, and dragon boat races.

Saturday, September 17th, 2022
12 to 9 p.m.
Old Cary Library site, 310 S Academy Street, Cary
Free

Enjoy aerial and acrobatic shows, free workshops, fire shows, LED shows, a silent auction and a circus arts market.

September 17th, 2022
10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
American Tobacco Campus
705 Willard Street, Durham, NC
Free (some activities have a cost)

Beats N Bars Festival is an immersive hip hop experience that features performances, art, workshops, and more.

September 17th, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
September 18th, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Downtown Durham
Free, but a $5 donation is requested

This festival is Durham's largest cultural and community event. It features visual art, musical artists, street performers, kids' activities and more.

Sunday, September 18th, 2022
1 to 5 p.m.
Stafford Commons, behind Talley Student Union
2610 Cates Avenue, Raleigh, NC
Free

Celebrate the 50th year of NC State LIVE with a free block party. The family-friendly event is anchored by two performances by Squonk, featuring live music and two giant purple puppet hands. In addition there will be interactive art experiences, student performances, t-shirt giveaways and free cake and Howling Cow ice cream.

September 22nd to 25th, 2022
Thursday: 3 to 11 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Sunday: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Downtown Benson, NC

This is the 73rd year for this festival, which celebrate the role of the mule in rural life. Mule-related events include a mule show, a mule race, Mules Got Talent, the Mule Day Parade and more. In addition, there is a carnival, vendors, concerts, and rodeos. Admission is free, but some events and activities have costs associated with them.

Saturday, September 23rd, 2022, 5 to 10 p.m.
Sunday, September 24th, 2022, 3 to 10 p.m.
Hugger Mugger Brewing, 229 Wicker Street, Sanford, NC
Free

Enjoy two days of live music.

September 23rd to 25th, 2022
11 a.m. to 7 p.m on Friday and Saturday; 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
5000 Lead Mine Road, Raleigh, NC

Raleigh Greek Festival is taking place as a drive-thru. Take home a variety of Greek delicacies, including meals, a la carte items, pastries and family-style frozen meals.

Saturday, September 24th, 2022
2 to 6 p.m.
Town Hall Drive, Morrisville, NC
Free

Explore the diversity of Morrisville with Cricket workshops, Hindu exhibitions, lawn games, music and dance performances, an artisan market and food trucks.

September 24th, 2022
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Fred Fletcher Park
820 Clay Street, Raleigh, NC
Free

This family-friendly festival features a market and lots of fun family activities. Discover a time of castles, knights and dragons, while exploring medieval fantasy and history. Create your own shield, practice sword skills, purchase magical objects and more. Dress in your best high fantasy or medieval finery. Go on an interactive exploration quest throughout the park with Raleigh Historic Sites and learn about early Raleigh history.

September 24th, 2022
11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Tucker Street and N. Boylan Street, Raleigh
Free

Enjoy Italian entertainment, Italian food and wine, kids' activities and more.

Saturday, September 24th, 2022
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
J. Ashley Wall Town Square, 99 W. 3rd Street, Wendell
Free

This festival features live entertainment, authentic cuisine from around the world, kids' activities and a raffle.

Friday, September 30th, and Saturday, October 1st, 2022
12 p.m. to 11 p.m. each day
Various locations in Downtown Raleigh
Free

IBMA World of Bluegrass features ticketed performances at Red Hat Amphitheatre on September 30th and October 1st, but also a FREE StreetFest the same days, at 6 locations in Downtown Raleigh. There will be multiple performances all day by a wide range of musicians.

September 30th to October 1st, 2022
Friday: 5 to 10 p.m.
Saturday: 12 to 8:30 p.m.
Booth Amphitheatre
8003 Regency Parkway, Cary, NC
Tickets: $20-$25 for adults in advance (more at the gate; Kids 15 and under admitted free.

German festival focused on family fun, traditional Bavarian food, and beer. Some of the features are the tapping of the keg, the Black Forest Band, stein hoisting competitions, and wiener dog race and parade.

Saturday, October 1st, 2022
12 to 5 p.m.
Apex Town hall Campus and Community Center
73 Hunter Street, Apex, NC
$10

Tickets are available only online, and in a limited quantity. Children 12 and under admitted for free. Enjoy a day of Japanese culture, art, food, and more.

October 1st, 2022
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Triangle Church of Christ
2103 Page Road, Durham, NC
Free

Bring the kids out to this free festival, which features hay rides, bounce houses, face painting, a pie contest, family games and more.

Saturday, October 1st, 2022
2:30 to 7:30 p.m.
310 S Academy Street, Cary
Free

Enjoy delicious Chinese food while watching Dragon and Lion Dances, martial arts demonstrations, music performances and more. There will also be children's activities, arts and crafts booths, souvenirs for purchase, and Chinese culture and history booths.

October 1st, 2022
5 to 7 p.m.
Outside Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
101 Soccer Park Drive, Cary, NC
Free

Before the North Carolina Football Club's game, there will be a festival outside the stadium. The festival is free, but if you want to go to the game, tickets are $15. The festival will celebrate Venezuelan, Brazilian and Colombian cultures with stage performances. There will also be famiy fun and games.

Saturday, October 1st, 2022
10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Downtown Wendell, NC
Free

Enjoy a kids' village, a parade, stage performances, vendors, food trucks, and a concert by The Brickhouse Band.

October 1st, 2022
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Downtown Fuquay-Varina
Free

Live entertainment, kids' zone, art vendors, food and craft vendors.

Sunday, October 2nd, 2022
All day (check back soon for details)
Various locations in Carrboro
Free

This free music festival features 100 local and regional bands and performers in several locations in Carrboro. Check back soon for details.

October 7th to 9th, 2022
Friday: 2 to 9 p.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday: 12 to 6 p.m.
Downtown Selma
Free

This annual festival includes a parade, BBQ cook-off, Little Engineer stations, live entertainment, the Hispanic American Heritage Festival, model trains, food trucks, and much more.

Saturday, October 8th, 2022
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Bonnie B. Davis Environment and Agricultural Center
1020 US 70 West, Hillsborough, NC
Free

Orange County Master Gardener Volunteers are presenting Plant Fest, which includes a plant sale, kids' activities, gardening exhibits, gardening demonstrations, and food trucks.

October 8th, 2022
11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Dix Park (Big Field)
101 Blair Drive, Raleigh, NC
Free

Celebrate the legacy and culture of indigenous communities in North Carolina. This will be a day of competition dancing, music and vendors.

Saturday, October 8th, 2022
1 to 9 p.m.
Downtown Sanford
Free

Enjoy live music, dancing, a food truck rodeo, a craft market, fireworks and more.

October 8th, 2022
10 a.m. to 9:15 p.m.
Koka Booth Amphitheatre
8003 Regency Parkway, Cary, NC
Free (parking is $7)

This festival (formerly known as Cary Diwali) features music, dance, theater performances, a handicraft bazaar, Indian food vendors, exhibitions of Indian art and culture, demonstrations, children's activities and more. The evening ends with a spectacular fireworks display over Symphony Lake.

Sunday, October 9th, 2022
1 to 6 p.m.
Southern Village
400 Market Street, Chapel Hill, NC

Five bands perform in this free festival. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy the shows!

October 13th to 23rd, 2022
NC State Fairgrounds
Check back soon for ticket prices and information on discounts.

Rides, music, entertainment, livestock competitions, and lots of food.

Saturday, October 15th, 2022
Sunday, October 16th, 2022
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days
Lloyds Farm, 226 North Lloyd's Dairy Road, Efland, NC
$5 (free for ages 12 and under)

Shop from a huge number of antique, vintage and craft vendors. There will also be auctions, appraisals and entertainment.

October 8th, 15th, and 22nd, 2022
1 to 6 p.m.
140 West Franklin Street, Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill's annual fall arts festival is returning as three art markets. There will also be interactive art experiences and entertainment.

October 14th, 2022 (7 p.m.)
October 15th, 2022 (1:30 to 7 p.m.)
Carrboro Century Center
100 North Greensboro Street, Carrboro
Free

The theme this year for this annual poetry festival is "Music in Poetry." Experience a poetry workshop, readings from poets, a community poem reading and more.

Saturday, October 15th, 2022
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Dix Park, 1030 Richardson Drive, Raleigh
Free

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.

Thursday, October 20th, 2022
5 to 9 p.m.
Fenton
855 Cary Towne Blvd, Cary, NC
Free general admission (VIP seats with ticket price of $15 to $30)

Enjoy a large-format collaborative fashion show directed by Models for Charity, interactive experiences, music from DJs, and a silent auction that benefits The Women's Center.

Saturday, October 22nd, 2022
10 a.m.to 5 p.m.
IAR Raleigh Masjid
808 Atwater Street, Raleigh
Free

This is a full-day celebration of the beauty of Islamic art. Local Muslim artists will be showcases a wide variety of art. In addition, there will be an International Food Pavilion, children's art activities, a henna station and much more.

Saturday, October 22nd, 2022
12 to 9 p.m.
City Plaza
443 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh
Free (wine punch cards for purchase)

Buy a punch card and sample wine from around the globe. There will also be live music and a Halloween costume contest, with the prize of a Delta ticket to anywhere in the United States.

Friday, October 28th, 2022
4 to 7 p.m.
Bond Park
801 High House Road, Cary
Free

This is the Triangle's only pumpkin flotilla. Watch carved, lit pumpkins float on Bond Park Late at twilight. If you'd like to participate, you can drop off a carved pumpkin on October 27th.

October 28th, 2022
7 p.m.
Cary Theater, 122 East Chatham Street, Cary
Free

Watch locally created zombie short films on a huge outdoor screen. Dress as your favorite zombie if you'd like!

October 27th to 30th, 2022
Several locations in Clayton
Free

This festival features carnival rides and games, a Latin American Festival, BBQ contest, trunk or treat, movie night and much more.

Saturday, October 29th, 2022
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Moore Square
226 E Martin Street, Raleigh
Free

At this fun family event you can enjoy stage performances, have your fortune told, shop for handmade items and treats, decorate pumpkins, watch magicians and more.

Saturday, October 29th, 2022
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sugg Farm
2401 Gribsby Avenue, Holly Springs, NC
Free

Live music and entertainment, children's activities, artists, local businesses, food vendors.

Saturday, October 29th, 2022
12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Downtown Franklinton (near Wake Forest)
Free

Street performers, trunk or treat, costume contest, more.

October 29th, 2022
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Redford Park Place
121 Redford Place Drive, Rolesville, NC
Free

Celebrate fall at Rolesville's annual festival.

Monday, October 31st, 2022
5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
West Point on the Eno
5101 N Roxboro Road, Durham
Free

The whole family is invited to this annual Halloween celebration but it's especially for kids ages 12 and under. Enjoy a campfire, hayrides, songs, treats, face painting, games and more.

Saturday, November 5th, 2022
4 to 9 p.m.
Durham Central Park
501 Foster Street, Durham, NC
Free

This is an exciting and unique art event. Liberty Arts will be pouring 4,000 pounds of 3,000 degree molten iron into molds. In addition, the event features drumming performances, fire breathers, kid-friendly activities, local food trucks, craft beer and more.

Saturday, November 5th, 2022, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday, November 6th, 2022, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
NC State Fairgrounds Expo Building
4285 Trinity Road, Raleigh
Early bird tickets are $5 for Saturday and $4 for Sunday

Enjoy performances, a kids' town, live music, international food, bazaars, dance party and more.

Saturday, November 12th, 2022
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
11 West Jones Street, Raleigh, NC
Free

Spend the day learning about Darwin and what his theories of natural selection have done for the world of science, research and education. Meet some of the scientists who are continuing his work, and learn how Darwin’s (and others’) theories are being applied in cutting-edge research.

November 19th, 2022
Time TBA
North Carolina Museum of History
5 E Edenton Street, Raleigh
Free

This festival is an annual celebration of the rich diversity and contributions of American Indians in North Carolina for over 14,000 years.