Fall in North Carolina (Peak Colors, Scenic Drives + Can’t-Miss Events)

Fall in North Carolina is the busiest time of year, even with 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 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:

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.

Appalachian State University in Boone keeps its predicted fall foliage map online, so thank you to them and the Fall Color Guy for all their work over the years.

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.

Read More: Winter in Boone (20 Great Activities, Snow Tubing, and More!)

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:

• Blue Ridge Parkway Hikes
  • Graveyard Fields (Mile Post 418.8)
  • Linville Falls (MP 316)
  • Rough Ridge Trail (MP 302.8)
  • Waterrock Knob (MP 450.3)
• Great Smoky Mountains Hikes (coming soon)
  • Deep Creek Trail in Bryson City

• Hikes near Asheville
  • Panthertown Valley Trail to Schoolhouse Falls
  • Hikes in Hendersonville

• Hikes near Boone, Blowing Rock, and Banner Elk
  • Carter Falls in Elkin
  • Stone Mountain Loop inside Stone Mountain State Park
  • Table Rock Mountain in the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area (Pisgah National Forest)

• Hikes near Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point
  • Hanging Rock State Park
    • Hanging Rock Trail
    • Lower Cascades Falls
  • Mayo River State Park
    • Fall Creek Falls Trail

• Hikes near Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill
  • Umstead State Park
    • Pott’s Branch Trail
    • Sycamore Trail

Read More: Colorful Fall Hikes in North Carolina (+ 20 Beautiful Places to Explore!)

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
• 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 3, the Brushy Mountain Apple Festival takes over the Wilkes County town of North Wilkesboro.
• Finally, on October 17, Waynesville in Haywood County will host its annual Apple Festival.

Read More: How to Find 20+ Haywood County Artists on Blue Ridge Craft Trails

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!)

Read More: 25+ Amazing Restaurants in Morganton and Nearby! (Map Included!)

Carolina Balloonfest

Event Date: October 16-18, 2026
Event Info

From here on out, we’ll honor events that were just too unique to group 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.

Read More: 30+ Awesome Things to Do in Statesville

Corn Mazes

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!)
• 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!)
• 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! 

Read More: 50+ Easy Day Trips from Fayetteville (Great Getaways!)

Fall Arts Festivals

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 (September 5-6 and October 17-18)
• Potters’ Pumpkin Patch in Seagrove (Saturdays in Fall, beginning September 19)
• Art on Main in Hendersonville (September 26-27)
• Starworks Pumpkin Patch in Star, Montgomery County (opens October 5)
• WNC Pottery Festival In Sylva (November 7)

Read More: 20+ Amazing Things to Do in Maggie Valley

Fall Beer Festivals

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:

• The Prohibition Hot Rod and Moonshine Festival (September 25-26)
• Hickory (October 9-11)
• Sugar Mountain (October 10-11)
• At OBX Brewtag in Nags Head (October 24)
• The Lighthouse Beer & Wine Festival in Wilmington (October 24)
• Bonus Wine Festival: The Thistle Meadow Wine Festival in Laurel Springs (October 10)

Read More: The Mayton in Cary (+ 7 Things We Love About Staying Here!)

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 15-25), 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.

• NC Mountain State Fair in Fletcher (September 11-20)
• Mountain Heritage Days in Cullowhee (September 21-26)
• The Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair in Dudley (October 1-10)
• The Carolina Renaissance Festival in Huntersville (Every Saturday and Sunday from October 3-November 22).
• Spring Hope National Pumpkin Festival (October 3-4)
• Wilmington Riverfest (October 3-4)
• Cashiers Valley Leaf Festival (October 9-11)
• Autumn Leaves Festival in Mount Airy (October 9-11)
• The Columbus County Agricultural Fair in Whiteville (October 13-18)
• The Woolly Worm Festival in Banner Elk (October 17-18)
• The NC Pecan Music Festival in Whiteville (November 7)

Read More: How to Explore the NC Oyster Trail (10+ Adventurous Ways!

Fall Food Festivals

North Carolina will be abuzz with various fall food festivals, including:

• Ayden Collard Festival (September 11-12)
• NC Hot Sauce Contest and Festival in Oxford (September 11-12)
• The Yadkin Valley Pumpkin Festival in Elkin (September 26)
• The NC Seafood Festival in Morehead City (October 2-4)
• Sonker Festival in Mount Airy (October 3)
• Swansboro Mullet Festival (October 9-11)
• The Outer Banks Seafood Festival in Nags Head (October 17)
• The NC Oyster Festival in Ocean Isle Beach (October 17-18)
• Music, Mush, and Mutts in Shelby, aka the Liver Mush Festival (October 17)
• The Lexington Barbecue Festival (October 24)

Read More: 15 Fantastic Restaurants in Lexington (Barbecue & More!)

Fall Film Festivals

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

• Full Bloom Film Festival in Statesville (September 10-12)
• The Footcandle Film Festival in Hickory (September 18-27)
• The Tryon International Film Festival in Mill Spring, near Tryon (October 8-11)
• Cucalorus Festival in Wilmington (November 19-22)

Read More: Amazing Restaurants in Hickory

Fall Music Festivals

Fall in North Carolina is also a time for music, as you’ll see after attending one of these festivals:

• Hopscotch Music Fest in Raleigh (September 10-12)
• Mountain Song Festival in Brevard (September 11-12)
• North Carolina Folk Festival in Greensboro (September 18-20)
• Breakaway Music Festival Carolina in Concord (September 25-26)
• Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival of Music & Dance in Pittsboro (October 1-4)
• Ol’ Front Porch Music Festival in Oriental (October 2-3)
• Good Moon in Durham (October 8-10)
• Duck Jazz Festival (October 10-11)
• Bluegrass Island Music Festival in Manteo (October 14-17)

Fall Pride Events

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

• On South Elm in Gate City, the Greensboro Pride Festival (September 12) will have one main stage, a Kids Zone, food, and more.
• And, the LGBTQ Center of Durham will host Pride Week from September 27-October 3. This year’s theme is “Always Forward, Never Straight.”

Read More: 7 Fun Museums in Greensboro (Kid-Friendly, Contemporary Art, and More!)

Fall Sports Events

• Auto Races and Monster Trucks:
  • The NHRA Nationals at Rockingham Speedway, aka The Rock (September 25-27)
  • Drive for the Cure 250 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord (October 10)
  • The Bank of America ROVAL 400 in Concord (October 11)
  • The World of Outlaws Finals at the Dirt Track in Concord (November 4-7)

Read More: How to See Speedway Christmas in Concord

• 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.
  • High School Basketball
  • Charlotte Hornets (NBA)
  • NCAA Basketball: 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.
  • Dismal Day and 5K Family Fun Run at Dismal Swamp State Park (October 24)
  • The Outer Banks Marathon in Nags Head (November 6-8)
  • The Blue Ridge Relay in Asheville (September 11-12): This is one of the longest-running races in the United States that starts in the Grayson Highlands State Park in Virginia before crossing the border and winding through the high country.

Read More: 20 Great Things to Do in Duck (for Your Best Vacation!)

• 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 start 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.
  • NCAA Football (Starts late August or early September)
  • Carolina Panthers (Preseason in August, Season starts in September)

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

Halloween Events in North Carolina

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

• The annual Halloweenfest in Transylvania in Brevard (October 24)
• Blackbeard’s Pirate Jamboree on Ocracoke Island (October 30-31)
• A few more Outer Banks towns will host Halloween events throughout October

Read More: 50+ Great Things to Do With Kids in Asheville (and Nearby!)

Haunted Attractions

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

• 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

Read More: 25+ Great Lakes in North Carolina (+ Our Top 5 Picks)

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! 

Read More: 25 of the Most Amazing Winter Hikes in North Carolina

More Things to Do During Fall in North Carolina (Travel Guides)

We’ve featured many of these fall things to do in our NC travel guides. Here are a few of them.