October brings the beginning of cooler weather, campfires, fall foliage, spooky fun, and plenty of treats. Plan October 2026 with this list of the top things to do in the Triangle.
We’re highlighting some of the top things to do in October in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and surrounding areas. But then, scroll down for our huge (and we do mean huge) calendar of things to do in the Triangle in October. This calendar will be updated all the time. You can also jump right to the full calendar.
We focus on the free and cheap, but we do include some great activities and events that cost a little bit more if we think readers would like to hear about them.
Top October Events in the Triangle
Raleigh Wide Open Music Festival
Raleigh Wide Open Music Festival
Date: October 1 to 3, 2026
Time: 6 to 10 p.m. on Thursday, 3 to 11 p.m. on Friday, and 12 to 11 p.m. on Saturday
Place: Multiple stages throughout Downtown Raleigh
Cost: Free
Features: Music on multiple stages, food and drink, vendors, family fun
First Friday Raleigh
First Friday Raleigh
Date: Friday, October 2, 2026
Time: 6 to 9 p.m. (although venues may have different hours)
Place: Downtown Raleigh
Cost: Free
Features: Visit art galleries, studios, alternative art venues and more.
Oktoberfest at Lafayette Village
Oktoberfest at Lafayette Village
Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026
Time: 1 to 4 p.m.
Place: Lafayette Village, 8450 Honeycutt Road, Raleigh, NC
Cost: Free (registration fee to race your dog)
Features: Wiener dog races, German-inspired food, live music and fall brews.
Blessing of the Animals
Blessing of the Animals
Date: Various (mostly the first week of October)
Time: Various
Place: Various churches
Cost: Free
Features: Many churches invite people to bring their pets for the Blessing of the Animals in early October. This special event has become a much-loved part of the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Haunted Trails and Houses
Haunted Trails and Houses
Date: Varies
Time: Varies
Place: Varies
Cost: Varies
Features: We’ve put together a big list of haunted trails and haunted houses in the Triangle. What better way to celebrate Spooky Season?
First Friday Under the Stars
First Friday Under the Stars
Date: Friday, October 2, 2026
Time: 7 to 10 p.m.
Place: Three Bears Acres, 645 Beaver Dam Road, Creedmoor, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Raleigh Astronomy Club hosts a monthly sky viewing session at one of Triangle Land Conservancy’s private sites. Registration is required.
Fall Family Fun
Corn mazes, pumpkin patches and hayrides
Date: Varies
Time: Varies
Place: Varies
Cost: Varies
Features: Check out this list of spots to fall fun! Pumpkin patches, farm activities, hayrides, corn mazes and much more.
Celebrate Fuquay-Varina
Celebrate Fuquay-Varina
Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Place: Downtown Fuquay-Varina, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Live music, kids’ rides, a beer garden and more.
Holly Springs Diwali
Holly Springs Diwali
Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Place: Sugg Farm at Bass Lake Park, 2401 Grigsby Ave., Holly Springs, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Cultural performances, kids’ activities, fireworks, shopping bazaar, more.
Taste of Asia
Taste of Asia
Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026
Time: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Place: Moore Square, 201 s Blount Street, Raleigh, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Cultural performances, authentic Asian cuisine, family activities, more.
Wake Forest Diwali Festival
Wake Forest Diwali Festival
Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026
Time: 12 to 3 p.m
Place: E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road, Wake Forest, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Dance, hands-on crafts, Indian food, music, more.
Falling for Local
Falling for Local
Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026
Time: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Place: Dorothea Dix Park, 2105 Umstead Drive, Raleigh, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Live music, local businesses, inflatables, fall photo ops, much more. There’s a free pumpkin patch.
Wendell Harvest Festival
Wendell Harvest Festival
Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026
Time: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Place: Downtown Wendell, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Live music, parade, kids’ village, food trucks, much more.
Move-a-Bull City
Move-a-Bull City Open Streets
Date: Sunday, October 4, 2026
Time: 12 to 4 p.m.
Place: 1.2 miles of Blackwell, Corcoran and Foster Streets in Downtown Durham
Cost: Free
Features: People traffic will replace car traffic, and the streets will be transformed into car-free public spaces where people can come enjoy walking, biking, rolling, playing, and community celebration.
Bull City Blues Ramble
Bull City Blues Ramble
Date: Sunday, October 4, 2026
Time: 12 to 8 p.m.
Place: Five locations in Durham (all close together)
Cost: Free
Features: Live blues performances on five stages in Durham
Wilson Jazz Festival
Wilson Jazz Festival
Date: October 9 and 10, 2026
Time: 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Saturday
Place: Various locations in Wilson, NC
Cost: The Main Stage is ticketed ($30 in advance) and the rest is free.
Features: Live jazz at several venues in Wilson, plus a Second Line.
A Taste of Greece
A Taste of Greece
Date: October 10 and 11, 2026
Time: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day
Place: St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church, 8306 NC Hwy 751, Durham, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Delicious, authentic Greek food and desserts to enjoy in the festive dining tent or to take home. The festival also features an Attic Treasures Sale, vendors, and tours of the Byzantine-style, domed church,
Hum Sub Diwali
Hum Sub Diwali
Date: Saturday, October 10, 2026
Time: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Place: Koka Booth Amphitheatre, 8003 Recency Parkway, Cary, NC
Cost: Free admission. Parking is $10.
Features: Music and dance performances, handicraft bazaar, Indian art and culture, children’s activities and fireworks.
West End Poetry Festival
West End Poetry Festival
Date: October 15 to 17, 2026
Time: Various times
Place: Several locations in Carrboro, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Carrboro’s annual celebration of poetry includes readings, a poetry open mic, workshops and more.
North Carolina State Fair
North Carolina State Fair
Date: October October 16 to 26, 2026
Time: Varies
Place: North Carolina State Fairgrounds, 4285 Trinity Road, Raleigh, NC
Cost: Adult admission is $13, youth (6-12) is $7, military is $8, seniors (65+) is $5 and children 5 and under are admitted for free. Save money by purchasing tickets in advance. Rides and attractions have a separate cost.
Features: Rides, entertainment, agricultural shows and competitions, food and more.
SARDUC x RDUAE Fall Fest — Asian Festival
SARDUC x RDUAE Fall Fest — Asian Festival
Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Place: The Corner @ NCSU, 941 Main Campus Drive, Raleigh, NC
Cost: Free, but registration is required
Features: Performances of music, dance martial arts and more. Also mahjong, K-pop mat pilates, craft vendors and more.
Morrisville Diwali Festival
Morrisville Diwali Festival
Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026
Time: 5 to 8 p.m.
Place: Morrisville Community Park, 1520 Morrisville Parkway, Morrisville, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Celebration of Diwali, with entertainment, music, food, hands-on activities and more.
Oktoberfest Celebrations
Oktoberfest Festivals
Date: Various dates
Time: Varies
Place: Many locations
Cost: Most are free
Features: We’ve compiled a list of a ton of Oktoberfest celebrations throughout the Triangle. They take place in September and October.
Halloween Events
Halloween events in the Triangle
Date: Various
Time: Various
Place: Various
Cost: Most are free
Features: The Triangle is host to a huge number of Halloween celebrations, including festivals, trick or treat events, costume contests, and much more. There are events for adults, children, and even dogs.
Clayton Harvest Festival
Clayton Harvest Festival
Date: October 22 to 25, 2026
Time: 5 to 10 p.m. on Thursday, 5 to 11 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, 12 to 9 p.m. on Sunday
Place: Various locations in Dowtown Clayton, NC, including Horne Square, Town Square and other locations.
Cost: Free
Features: Midway carnival rides (for a price), vendors, entertainment, much more. On Sunday, the Latin American Festival takes place at Town Square.
Barktoberfest
Barktoberfest
Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026
Time: 1 to 4 p.m.
Place: Boxyard RTP, 900 Park Offices Drive, Durham, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Dog costume contests, agility courses, vendors
HollyFest
HollyFest
Date: Saturday, October 31, 2026
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Place: Jefferson L. Sugg Farm Park at Bass Lake, 2401 Gribsby Avenue, Holly Springs, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Entertainment, food vendors, local businesses, children’s activities and art.
Sculpture in the Garden
Sculpture in the Garden
Date: September 13 to December 6, 2026, except Mondays and holidays
Time: 9 am. to 5 p.m.
Place: North Carolina Botanical Garden, 100 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC
Cost: Free, but a $5 donation is suggested
Features: Nearly 90 sculptures by 66 artists are displayed throughout the display gardens.
Outdoor Concerts
Outdoor Concerts
Date: Various dates
Time: Various times
Place: Various places
Cost: Mostly free
Features: The fall is a great time for outdoor concerts. They are happening everywhere, and most are free. Just follow the above link for a round-up of many concert series, as well as a day-by-day list of outdoor concerts.
North Carolina State Fair
North Carolina State Fair
Date: October 15 to 25, 2026
Time: Varies
Place: North Carolina State Fairgrounds, 4285 Trinity Road, Raleigh, NC
Cost: Adult admission is $13, youth (6-12) is $7, military is $8, seniors (65+) is $5 and children 5 and under are admitted for free. Save money by purchasing tickets in advance. Rides and attractions have a separate cost.
Features: Rides, entertainment, agricultural shows and competitions, food and more.
Outdoor Movies
Outdoor Movies
Date: Various
Time: Various
Place: Parks, grounds of hotels, shopping centers, farms, more.
Cost: Most are free
Features: As the sun goes down, enjoy outdoor movies throughout the Triangle! Follow the above link for a day by day list.
Raleigh’s International Wine Festival
Raleigh’s International Wine Festival
Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026
Time: 12 to 8 p.m.
Place: City Plaza, 443 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh, NC
Cost: Free admission (pay for food and wine)
Features: Wine from a variety of international wine suppliers. Entertainment.
Day of the Dead Festival at Whirligig Park
Day of the Dead Festival at Whirligig Park
Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Place: Whirligig Park, 301 Goldsboro Street S., Wilson, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Folkloric performances, artisan vendors, tamale contest, more.
Full Calendar of October Events
Read on for a list of everything on our calendar for October. Please be patient. It’s a lot!
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