Finding Fall in North Carolina: Fall Colors + Best Events

Published by Carl. Last Updated on September 26, 2024.

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This Fall in North Carolina travel guide will prepare you for our busiest season, including where to see fall colors and the best fall events in NC!

Fall in North Carolina is the busiest time of year, even considering the vacation peak during summer and the Christmas lights and tree fun to start winter. Some of the best things to do during this season include seeing fall foliage, the festive and spooky fun around Halloween, and various harvest festivals.

There are dozens of fall activities and events beyond those popular activities, and this guide will list cover some hidden gems alongside some of the greatest hits. We’ll be sharing each individually in more detail in our monthly events posts covering September, October, and November.

But for now, here’s a rundown of things to do during Fall in North Carolina that belong on your bucket list this year and beyond!

There is so much happening during this season. So if you’re looking for something specific, here’s how we’ve organized this guide:

When is Fall in North Carolina?
Where to See Fall Colors
Fall Hiking
Fall Events in North Carolina

This post on fall in North Carolina is part of our monthly events series, where we’ve featured spring, that long hot summer, and “cold” winter!

When is Fall in North Carolina?

Fall technically begins on September 22 and ends on December 20. For this guide, we’ll include events that occur before then and through December 20.

Fall colors begin their peak from October 1 through October 14 in select areas of Western North Carolina and until October 28 in Central North Carolina.

Each year, Appalachian State University in Boone shares its predicted fall foliage map and we regularly check it throughout the season.

Where to See Fall Colors

The most popular thing to do during the autumn season in North Carolina is to find the best fall colors and foliage. Our state parks and outdoor spaces really shine during this time of year.

Many of our favorite ways to see fall foliage include driving along the Blue Ridge Parkway and hiking through Western North Carolina.

You can even see fall foliage on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad-themed ride that regularly leaves from Bryson City. Speaking of Bryson City, another great way to see the fall colors is by ziplining over the Nantahala Gorge with the Nantahala Outdoor Center.

Fall Hiking

One of the best ways to see fall colors in North Carolina is by hiking. Whether you’re up in the High Country, near Asheville, or elsewhere, we’ve written about our favorite hiking trails and always like to share them during fall in North Carolina.

Here are a few guides that we’ve written about specific regions:

For a quick list, here are a few fall hikes that we absolutely love, with Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost (MP) if applicable:

Carter Falls in Elkin
Crabtree Falls in the Black Mountains (MP 339.5)
Deep Creek Trail in Bryson City
Glen Burney Trail in Blowing Rock
Graveyard Fields (MP 418.8)
Hanging Rock Trail and Lower Cascades Falls inside Hanging Rock State Park
Linville Falls (MP 316)
Panthertown Valley Trail to Schoolhouse Falls
Rough Ridge Trail (MP 302.8)
Stone Mountain Loop inside Stone Mountain State Park

Fall Events in North Carolina (In ABC Order)

After seeing the fall colors, we think these events are the biggest during fall in North Carolina. We’ve grouped them by category, followed by a section dedicated to events in Western NC and Eastern NC that we just couldn’t group.

Apple Festivals
Apple Picking
Carolina Balloonfest
Corn Mazes
Fall Arts Festivals
Fall Beer Festivals
Fall Fairs (The NC State Fair and More)
Fall Food Festivals
Fall Film Festivals
Fall Pride Events
Fall Sports Events
Fall Wine Festivals
Halloween Events
Haunted Attractions
Pumpkin Patches

Note that many fall events in NC may decide to cancel or alter times/dates, sometimes at the last minute. Please visit the links we’ve provided to each event to confirm details and also, to lend your support in cases of cancellation.

Read More: Christmas in North Carolina

Apple Festivals

Apples are a huge deal during fall in North Carolina. Here are a few of the biggest events that commemorate our favorite autumn fruit.

The apple season kicks off with the NC Apple Festival in Henderson County on Labor Day weekend. You’ll find the highest concentration of apple orchards in Hendersonville and its surroundings. Visiting them is one of our favorite things to do in the area! Be sure to grab a meal at these restaurants afterward.
On October 5, the Brushy Mountain Apple Festival takes over the Wilkes County town of North Wilkesboro.
Finally, on October 19, the Haywood County town of Waynesville will host its annual Apple Festival.

Apple Picking

Along with those exciting apple-centric events, you can also enjoy apple-picking throughout fall in North Carolina.

A few of these places also feature in our section that’s dedicated to corn mazes and pumpkin patches. As such, we’ll include what else each apple orchard has to offer.

Apple Hill Orchard in Morganton
Carrigan Farms in Mooresville (Pumpkin Patch and More!)
Coston Farm and Apple House in Hendersonville
Creasman Farms in Hendersonville
Devil Dog Orchard in Reidsville
Grandad’s Apples n’ Such in Hendersonville (Corn Maze, Pumpkin Patch, and More!)
Justus Orchard in Hendersonville (Pumpkin Patch and More!)
Millstone Creek Orchards in Ramseur, Randolph County (Pumpkin Patch and More!)
New River Corn Maze in Boone (Corn Maze, Pumpkin Patch, and More!)
The Orchard at Altapass off the Blue Ridge Parkway (MP 328) in Spruce Pine
Skytop Orchard in Flat Rock (Pumpkin Patch, too!)
Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard in Hendersonville (Corn Maze, Pumpkin Patch, and More!)

Carolina Balloonfest

From here on out, we’ll honor the events that were just too unique to be grouped with others. Carolina Balloonfest is a great example of a festival soaring above the crowd. Each year thousands of hot air balloons take over the skies above Statesville with mass ascensions, a kids zone, skydiving, and tons of food.

This is absolutely a bucket-list-worthy event and one of the most exciting things to do in North Carolina.

Corn Mazes

Fall in North Carolina Riverbend Farm Midland NC — Riverbend Farm.

Two of the most family-friendly things to do during fall in North Carolina are corn mazes and pumpkin patches. At many of these corn mazes, you can pick your own pumpkins, and many of these places offer a variety of rides and fun entertainment.

These corn mazes and pumpkin patches are scattered throughout the state, and here are some of our favorites:

Briley’s Farm Market in Greenville (Pumpkin Patch, Hay Rides, and More!)
Carrigan Farms in Mooresville (Pumpkin Patch and More!)
Deal Farms in Franklin (Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch)
Gross Farms in Sanford (Corn Maze, Pumpkin Patch, and More!)
Hill Ridge Farms in Youngsville (Corn Maze, Free Pumpkin with Admission, and More!)
Ken’s Korny Corn Maze in Garner (Pumpkin Patch and More!)
Kersey Valley Maize Adventure in Archdale (Corn Maze, Pumpkin Patch, and More!)

Mike’s Farm in Beulaville (Pumpkin Patch and More!)
Millstone Creek Orchards in Randolph County (Pumpkin Patch and More!)
Page Farms in Raleigh (Corn Maze, Pumpkin Patch, and More!)
Patterson Farm in Mount Ulla (Pumpkin Patch and More!)
Riverbend Farm in Cabarrus County (Pumpkin Patch and More!)
Rural Hill’s Amazing Maize Maze in Huntersville (Corn Maze and More!)
Sonlight Farms Corn Maze in Kenly (Corn Maze and More!)
Smith’s Nursery in Benson (Pumpkin Patch and More!)

Do you know of a maze that we should mention here? Let us know about it!

Fall Arts Festivals

Fun Things to Do in North Carolina During Fall Starworks Image

It seems like every weekend in the fall features a fun NC art festival. Categorized by start date, here are some of the biggest festivals happening throughout the fall in North Carolina.

The Fall Arts & Crafts Festival in Maggie Valley (August 31 – September 1 and October 19-20)
Art on Main in Hendersonville (September 28-29)
Potters’ Pumpkin Patch in Seagrove (October 5, 12, 19 & 26)
Starworks Pumpkin Patch in Star, Montgomery County (October 5-31)
WNC Pottery Festival In Sylva (November 2)

Fall Beer Festivals

January Events in NC Rare and Vintage Beer Tasting Image

What better way to celebrate North Carolina than to hop through some of its signature craft breweries! From prohibition to popping the alcohol limit, North Carolinians have made huge changes in how we drink and savor our beer.

NC Beer Month is in October (previously April) and we’ve compiled our favorite North Carolina breweries you have to check out then and throughout the year! Some go-to cities for beer include Asheville in Western North Carolina, Charlotte, Raleigh, and Durham in Central NC, and Fayetteville in the East.

Fall beer festivals aren’t limited to NC Beer Month, as we know you’ll be interested in the German-themed Oktoberfests happening in these places:

Hickory (October 11-13)
Jacksonville (TBD)
Sugar Mountain (October 5-6)
Charlotte (TBD)
The Prohibition Hot Rod and Moonshine Festival (October 4-6)
At OBX Brewtag in Nags Head (October 26), contestants will attempt to launch an empty 1/6 keg barrel.
At the end of October in Wilmington, the Lighthouse Beer & Wine Festival (October 26) kicks off with samples from over 100 craft breweries and wineries.

Fall Fairs (The NC State Fair and More)

One of the hottest places to be in October is the North Carolina State Fair in Raleigh (October 17-27), attracting thousands of visitors each year.

Spending time at one of the many harvest festivals is one of the best ways to celebrate fall in North Carolina.

The Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair in Dudley (September 26-October 5)
Mountain Heritage Day in Cullowhee (September 28)
The annual Carolina Renaissance Festival returns to Huntersville and will be waiting for you every Saturday and Sunday from October 5-November 24.
National Pumpkin Festival in Spring Hope (October 5)
Riverfest in Wilmington (October 5-6)
The Columbus County Agricultural Fair in Whiteville (October 8-13)
Valley Leaf Festival in Cashiers (October 11-13)
Autumn Leaves Festival in Mount Airy (October 11-13)
The Woolly Worm Festival in Banner Elk (October 19-20)
The NC Pecan Music Festival in Whiteville (November 2)

Fall Food Festivals

Fall in North Carolina Lexington Barbecue Festival

Eastern North Carolina will be abuzz with various seafood festivals, with The NC Seafood Festival in Morehead City (October 4-6) and the Outer Banks Seafood Festival in Nags Head (October 19). There’s also an Oyster Festival in Ocean Isle Beach (October 19-20).

And, of course, we didn’t forget about NC barbecue!

The Lexington Barbecue Festival (October 26) will be back for more, with food tents, a car show, and the “Tour de Pig” cycle race. This is definitely one weekend to be in Lexington.

Fall Film Festivals

During fall in North Carolina, you’ll also find film festivals galore!

We’ll start with the annual Full Bloom Film Festival (September 5-7) in Statesville. Films in animated, documentary, narrative, and additional genres will be there to support and advance the arts and culture of Iredell County.
The Footcandle Film Festival (September 20-28) in Hickory will also bring unique, challenging, and entertaining feature-length and short films to the Catawba County city.
The Tryon International Film Festival (October 10-13) returns to the Polk County town of Mill Spring (near Tryon) with nearly 100 independent films in six venues.
And in Wilmington, the non-competitive Cucalorus Festival (November 20-24) comes back with more than 150 films.

Read More: Amazing Restaurants in Hickory

Fall Pride Events

Two prominent Pride events popped up on our “Fall in North Carolina” radar, but please let us know if there are others that we missed.

On South Elm in Gate City, the Greensboro Pride Festival (September 22) will have one main stage, a Kids Zone, food, and more.
And, the LGBTQ Center of Durham will host a Pride Festival on September 28. The theme for this year is “Give Them Their Flowers.”

Fall Sports Events

Fall in North Carolina NHRA Carolina Nationals zMax Dragway — zMax during the Carolina Nationals.

Auto Races and Monster Trucks:
- Concord dominates the conversation when talking about fall auto races, with the Drive for the Cure 250 (October 12) followed by the Bank of America ROVAL 400 (October 13).
- The NHRA Carolina Nationals (September 21) will bring the noise and speed to zMax Dragway. And finally, the World of Outlaws Finals (November 6-9) will bring elite dirt racers to Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Basketball Season Begins: North Carolina is the best place to be in this world when you’re a college basketball fan. That’s why fall has another reason to be considered a special season. It’s easy to associate basketball with winter and spring, but the fun gets started in October. That’s when the NBA’s Hornets and high school leagues suit up, with the NCAA joining the fun in November. No night is more special than the 2 or three days a year when the University of North Carolina suits up against crosstown rival Duke. Conference play and the tournaments might be months away, but we’d love to know about your excitement for basketball season.
Fall Running Races: Anyone interested in running a race will have more than a few options during fall in North Carolina.
- The Tuna Run 200 (October 18-19) is an overnight relay that starts in Garner and finishes in Atlantic Beach.
- Another option during the same weekend includes the Dismal Day and 5K Family Fun Run at Dismal Swamp State Park (October 12).
- Later in the fall, long-distance runners can test themselves in the Outer Banks Marathon in Nags Head (November 9-10).
- Get a team together for the Blue Ridge Relay, one of the longest-running races in the United States that starts in the Greyson Highlands State Park in Virginia before crossing the border and winding through the high country. The two-day relay (September 6-7) ends in Asheville, where you can enjoy a few well-deserved craft beers.

Fall in North Carolina College Football Season

Football on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays: Fall means football in North Carolina, but the hits start coming early.
- High School’s Friday night lights gets started in late summer, near the end of August. Playoffs in November will bring families, fans, and scouts together to watch the best of our state.
- On the NCAA side, most schools will kick off in late August or early September.
- The NFL’s Carolina Panthers start their preseason in August.

Which teams are you looking forward to seeing this fall? Got any school spirit to share with us?

Fall Wine Festivals

Fall in North Carolina Muscadine Festival Duplin Winery

A variety of wine festivals are scattered throughout fall in North Carolina. Here are a few we couldn’t leave out.

The North Carolina Muscadine Festival (September 28) returns to Duplin County for its 16th year of wine, arts and crafts, and music.
Later, in Laurel Springs, the Thistle Meadow Wine Festival (October 6) returns with music, food, crafts, and of course, tastings in one of our state’s most beautiful settings.

Halloween Events in North Carolina

Blackbeards Pirate Jamboree Ocracoke Island OBX NC — Blackbeard’s Pirate Jamboree on Ocracoke Island.

For Halloween-themed fun, there are at least a few festivals we have to mention during the last weekend of October.

In Brevard, the annual Halloweenfest in Transylvania (October 26) will take over Broad and Main Streets. Visitors and spectators will enjoy watching or partaking in multiple-distance runs, games, food, and more.
Over on the coast, a few Outer Banks towns will host Halloween events throughout the month of October as well.
Blackbeard’s Pirate Jamboree (November 1-2) on Ocracoke Island is a unique event during fall in North Carolina. It’s primarily a well-produced historical reenactment, with a mix of crowds dressed as pirates or the militia who were sent to Ocracoke to take out the world’s most famous (or infamous) pirate Edward Teach, aka Blackbeard.

Haunted Attractions

Woods of terror actors — Woods of Terror in Greensboro.

Fall in North Carolina also means the revival of our most haunted attractions. Here are a few that we think you should know about:

Granville Haunt Farm in Oxford
The Haunted Farm in Hendersonville
Hillside Horror in Roaring River
Lake Hickory Haunts in Hickory
Midway Wicked Woods in Statesville
Spookywoods at Kersey Valley in Archdale
Woods of Terror in Greensboro
Xtreme Haunt in Durham

Pumpkin Patches in NC

Visiting pumpkin patches in North Carolina is a quintessential fall activity, and we’ve rounded up some of the best for you!

Carrigan Farms in Mooresville
Darnell Farms in Bryson City
Grandad’s Apples n’ Such in Hendersonville
Justus Orchard in Hendersonville
Millstone Creek Orchards in Ramseur, Randolph County
New River Corn Maze in Boone
Skytop Orchard in Flat Rock
Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard in Hendersonville

No matter where you are in the state, there is a ripe vine ready and waiting.

Ready to Enjoy Fall in North Carolina?

So I know there are a lot of Christmas-y things going on during November. I just can’t mention Santa Claus anywhere other than in our winter guide.

I hope you’ll forgive me for that one. As you can see, there are already a ton of things to do in North Carolina, so I’m sorry if you’re anxious about peppermint and gingerbread.

In the meantime, we’d love to know which of these awesome things to do during fall in North Carolina jump out at you as the most fun.

Also, is there something we missed? If so, let us know in the comments, and we’ll take a look!