Don't miss these exciting fall events in The Carolinas!
Benson Mule Days
Benson (NC Piedmont)
Sept 25–28
Benson Mule Days has been a North Carolina tradition since 1949, honoring the hardworking mule with four full days of fun. Visitors can enjoy parades with wagons, rodeos, carnival rides, camping, and live music. Nearly 30,000 people flock to Benson each year for this blend of heritage, small-town charm, and nonstop family entertainment.
*(VIP FREE TICKET EVENT) Spooky Bottom Haunted Trail
Seagrove (NC Piedmont)
Sept 26–Nov 2
This award-winning haunted attraction leads you through eerie woods filled with ghostly scenes and sinister surprises. Brave twisting trails where screams echo, shadows shift, and fear feels all too real. Carolina Traveler VIPs score two free tickets—if they dare to enter!
*(VIP FREE TICKET EVENT) Charlotte Wine & Food Festival
Charlotte (NC Piedmont)
Sept 27
Sip your way through more than 100 wines, beers, and spirits from around the globe at this tasting extravaganza. Pair your pours with delicious bites from local food trucks and pop-up chefs. Live music keeps the energy high—and Carolina Traveler VIPs get in free!
Everybody’s Day
Thomasville (NC Piedmont)
Sept 27
North Carolina’s oldest street festival transforms downtown Thomasville into a hub of arts, crafts, and community fun. Carnival rides, delicious food, and music for every taste fill the streets. It’s over a century of small-town tradition that still shines brighter each year.
NC Seafood Festival
Morehead City (NC Coast)
Oct 3–5
The NC Seafood Festival serves up fresh coastal flavors alongside ocean-themed fun and live entertainment. Now in its 38th year, it’s a feast that also supports scholarships, local businesses, and tourism. Bring your appetite and dive into a celebration that’s good for both the community and the taste buds.
South Carolina State Fair
Columbia (SC Midlands)
Oct 8–19
The South Carolina State Fair is a 12-day extravaganza of thrills, flavors, and fun. From heart-racing rides to the famous Swifty Swine Racing Pigs, it’s nonstop entertainment. Livestock shows, agricultural exhibits, and endless fair food make this a tradition families return to year after year.
Fall for Greenville
Greenville (SC Upstate)
Oct 10–12
Downtown Greenville comes alive with 250+ dishes from 50 local restaurants and drinks from regional breweries and wineries. Music lovers can catch more than 80 live acts across six stages. This three-day street party is one of the Southeast’s top food-and-music festivals.
Little River Shrimp Festival
Little River (SC Coast)
Oct 11–12
Celebrate shrimp season on the waterfront with live music across two stages, fresh seafood, and plenty of family fun. Kids will love stilt walkers and balloon artists while adults shop 100+ vendors. It’s the perfect blend of coastal flavors and festive entertainment.
NC State Fair
Raleigh (NC Piedmont)
Oct 16–26
The NC State Fair is the state’s biggest annual event, drawing crowds for rides, food, and family fun. Livestock shows, live music, contests, and agricultural exhibits fill the fairgrounds. With something for every age, it’s a tradition packed with Southern charm.
NASCAR Day Festival
Randleman (NC Piedmont)
Oct 18
Rev up your engines at the NASCAR Day Festival, a celebration of racing culture and small-town pride. Explore classic cars, enjoy crafts and delicious food, and take in live music. Don’t miss Richard Petty signing autographs and performances across three lively stages.
Wooden Boat Festival
Georgetown (SC Coast)
Oct 18–19
Admire more than 100 classic wooden boats and cheer as teams race to build skiffs in just four hours. Families can join knot-tying workshops, enjoy live music, and sample coastal eats. With free admission, it’s a waterfront weekend filled with maritime history and fun.
*(VIP FREE TICKET EVENT) Charlotte Whiskey, Wine & Fire Festival
Charlotte (NC Piedmont)
Oct 25
Unwind under the stars at Symphony Park with whiskey, wine, fire-roasted BBQ, and cozy fire pits. Live music sets the mood for this indulgent autumn evening. Carolina Traveler VIPs get free tickets to sip, savor, and celebrate.
The Barbecue Festival
Lexington (NC Piedmont)
Oct 25
Uptown Lexington transforms into barbecue heaven for this one-day celebration of the city’s iconic chopped pork. With 200+ vendors, seven entertainment stages, and a 50-ton pig-themed sand sculpture, the fun never stops. Nearly 200,000 visitors come each year for the aroma, the flavor, and the tradition.
NC Cotton Festival
Dunn (NC Piedmont)
Nov 1
Downtown Dunn pays tribute to one of North Carolina’s top crops with a full day of fun. Antique tractors, a car show, live music, and food vendors fill the streets. Families can even tour a working cotton gin for free every half hour.
NC Spot Festival
Hampstead (NC Coast)
Nov 1–2
Hampstead celebrates its claim as the “Seafood Capital of the Carolinas” with this lively festival honoring the Spot fish. Feast on Spot plates, enjoy beach music, and stick around for fireworks. With 100+ vendors, it’s a seaside tradition that keeps the community coming back year after year.
