Looking for Labor Day events in NC? We’ve got you covered with this guide from the mountains to the sea!
If you aren’t at the beach, knee-deep in waterfalls in Western NC, out hiking trails throughout this beautiful state, or enjoying your backyard, you might be looking for something to do for Labor Day weekend.
For many of us, Labor Day marks the unofficial transition from summer to fall, with a long weekend commemorating the “worker’s holiday”—which is always on a Monday. In 2025, Labor Day is Monday, September 1.
And in North Carolina, Labor Day Weekend and Labor Day will be full of celebrations, entertainment, and activities for family and friends!
To help you find them, this article features a comprehensive list of fun things to do in North Carolina during Labor Day weekend, including the days leading up to it.
The guide is organized by region, starting with Western NC and moving east toward Central NC and the Eastern part of the state.
We love spotlighting North Carolina events and experiences for our readers. If you’d like your destination, business, or event featured here (above the rest!) or highlighted in other guides, contact us about promotion opportunities!
List of Labor Day Events in NC (Table of Contents)
Read More: Things to Do in North Carolina in September
Feature Your Labor Day Event Here
If you represent a tourism bureau, destination marketing organization, local business, or PR agency and want placement in our Labor Day NC guide (or other guides), please visit this page for more info.
Western NC Labor Day Events
As with all of our other NC travel guides, we start in the mountains of Western NC and the amazing small towns that surround Asheville and Boone.
Earl Scruggs Festival
2025 Event Dates: August 29-31, 2025
Address: Tryon Resort, 25 International Blvd, Mill Spring, NC
Ticket Info
The Earl Scruggs Festival is an elevated Bluegrass festival experience, happening this Labor Day Weekend in the foothills of NC at the impressive Tryon Resort. Featured artists include:
- Alison Krauss & Union Station
- Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
- Del McCoury
- Sam Bush
- Watchhouse
- Many more
This will be an epic celebration of Earl Scruggs’ incredible contributions to music and the rich culture of our region! Weekend and 1-Day Passes are on sale!
North Carolina Apple Festival
2025 Event Date: August 29-September 1, 2025
Event Info
If you’re looking for Labor Day events in Asheville and its surroundings, start with Hendersonville, the awesome mountain town known for its plentiful apple orchards.
Thus, it’s no surprise that the town also hosts the state’s premier Apple Festival. During the NC Apple Festival, you can enjoy a preview of the autumn season with delicious apples and apple-inspired treats in Hendersonville.
Over a dozen local NC apple orchards set up shop at the festival, selling handpicked apples and other delicacies.
In addition, there are children’s activities, arts and crafts, live entertainment, and a hug parade that takes over the town on Labor Day.
Read More: 100+ Unique Things to Do In North Carolina (Your NC Bucket List)
Maggie Valley Arts and Crafts Show
2025 Event Date: August 30-31, 2025
Event Info
Maggie Valley hosts multiple arts and crafts shows throughout summer and fall, bringing together the town’s largest gathering of artisans.
Over Labor Day weekend in North Carolina’s Smoky Mountains, artists and crafters from across the Southeast gather to create one of the greatest selections of artwork in the area.
Spend the weekend perusing works like paintings, pottery, jewelry, yard art, and much more. If you miss the Labor Day event, there’s another show on October 19-20, 2024!
Read More: Visiting the Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie Valley (+ 10 Things We Love!)
Canton Labor Day Festival
2025 Event Date: August 31, 2025
Event Info
The town of Canton’s annual Labor Day Festival has been a local favorite for 116 years.
The festival began in 1906 to honor Western NC workers and continues to remember their legacy and the workers.
It’s the oldest Labor Day celebration in NC (and the South) and features local breweries, food vendors, activities, and big-name musicians such as Craig Morgan.
Read More: 75+ Fun Day Trips from Asheville (Within a 2-Hour Drive)
Central NC Labor Day Events
The center of our state is home to our biggest cities and some of the best Labor Day events in NC!
Matthews Alive Festival
2025 Event Date: August 29-September 1, 2025
Event Info
This Charlotte suburb hosts Matthews Alive, a four-day festival to support and raise funds for local nonprofits. The Labor Day event is jam-packed with activities and things to do, from amusement rides, games, live concerts, food, arts and crafts, a petting zoo, and more.
Read More: 25+ Best Day Trips from Charlotte (Within a 90-Minute Drive)
The Pinehurst Barbecue Festival
2025 Event Dates: August 29-31, 2025
Event Info
The fifth annual Pinehurst Barbecue Festival returns to the Sandhills on Labor Day Weekend, featuring award-winning pitmaster Christopher Prieto (of Prime Barbecue) and many of North Carolina’s most-renowned pitmasters.
Note: The Pinehurst Barbecue Festival spans multiple signature events. Each requires its own ticket and here are a few major highlights:
- Friday, August 29, 2025: High on the Hog, a gourmet pitmaster dinner hosted by Matt Register of Southern Smoke Barbecue in Garland, NC.
- Saturday, August 30, 2025
- ”Q”-School Grilling Class, hosted by Christopher Prieto, with cooking and grilling demonstrations (and samples of course)
- Bourbon & Bites, an intimate evening of bourbon pairings! Think Red Snapper Crudo with Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Private Barrel
- Barbecue Reimagined will feature tastings from some of North Carolina’s best chefs using barbecue in nontraditional ways!
- Sunday, August 31, 2025: The Pitmaster Invitational features seven of North Carolina’s finest barbecue pitmasters!
Read More: North Carolina Barbecue (Lexington vs. Eastern vs. Contemporary, and The Best Restaurants to Visit!)
African-American Cultural Festival of Raleigh and Wake County
2025 Event Date: August 30-31, 2025
Event Info
The African-American Cultural Festival is a long-running celebration of African-American culture reflected through arts, food, music, and more. It’s become a major event that draws in thousands of visitors.
This year, over 40,000 attendees are expected to flood the streets of downtown Raleigh. The festival will feature local, national, and international artists and performers, traditional cuisine and food vendors, business owners, and more.
Stop by the African Marketplace for a full selection of traditional crafts and wares, enjoy activities with the family at Family Village, and listen to signature musical shows on the Main Stage.
Read More: Amazing Things to Do in Raleigh (Award-Winning Restaurants, Museums, and More!)
US National Whitewater Center Celebration
2025 Event Date: August 30-31, 2025
Event Info
US National Whitewater Center is another way to enjoy the holiday surrounded by nature. The center’s Labor Day celebration features a weekend 5K and 15K trail race followed by outdoor activities, yoga, live music, ice cream bars, and more.
The two days are divided into sessions featuring all the activities offered at the Whitewater Center, including rafting, zip-lining, kayaking, and more. And, of course, no festival is complete without great food and entertainment.
Read More: The Best Things to Do in Charlotte (Food, Outdoor Adventures, and More!)
Eastern NC Labor Day Events
If you’re looking for Labor Day events in NC’s easternmost reaches, we’ve dedicated the remainder of our guide to the coast.
Carolina Beach Fireworks
2025 Event Date: August 29, 2025
Carolina Beach puts on a dazzling fireworks show every Thursday in the summer, concluding the week before Labor Day. Kick off the long weekend early with the final fireworks display at Carolina Beach, the biggest and best one of the entire summer!
Read More: The Best Beaches in North Carolina (+ Our Personal Tips)
Oak Island Art Guild Arts and Crafts Festival
2025 Event Dates: August 30, 2025
Event Info
Enjoy the last vestiges of summer at Oak Island, a charming beach town in Brunswick County. For Labor Day, Oak Island hosts a recurring arts and crafts festival with over 140 artists and craftspeople in attendance.
The festival offers a juried selection of artwork, pottery, stained glass, ornaments, and more, perfect for some last-minute summer shopping.
Read More: How To See Oak Island Lighthouse (Facts And Tour Info)
Historic Downtown Wilmington Artisan Market
2025 Event Date: August 31, 2025
Event Info
The Historic Downtown Wilmington Artisan Market occurs every Sunday from April to October, including the Sunday before Labor Day. Over 30 artists rotate through the market, and no two markets are ever the same.
Each week displays a changing collection paired with live music.
Read More: 50+ Awesome Things to Do in Wilmington and Nearby
How Will You Celebrate Labor Day Weekend in North Carolina?
We hope you have a wonderful Labor Day Weekend planned, whether you’ll be in North Carolina or not. Thanks to our mix of mountains, cities, and coast, we do this holiday better than anywhere else.
If you’ve settled on one Labor Day event in North Carolina, we’d love to know which you’ll attend this year. Of course, we’d love to hear about your experiences at these celebrations and any others we didn’t mention.
Let us know in the comments and don’t forget to share your adventures in our North Carolina Travel Facebook Group!
More Things to Do During Labor Day in NC and Beyond (Travel Guides)
We’ve covered many of these Labor Day NC events in our extensive NC travel guides collection. Here are a few examples.
