This week’s events, in your region, on one page.
Rural Hill Corn Maze & Autumn Festival 2026
Lost in Historic Rural Hill’s Scottish-themed Amazing Maize Maze—tractor hayrides, pumpkin patch, bounce houses, food trucks, and Saturday live music on the 265-acre farm.
WHO Family
WhenWeekends Sep 5–Oct 31, 2026 · Day maze Fri–Sun 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (last entry 3:30 p.m.); night maze Oct Fri–Sat from 5:00 p.m.
WhereHistoric Rural Hill, 4431 Neck Road, Huntersville, NC 28078
CostSee organizer website for details
Carolina Renaissance Festival
Carolina Renaissance Festival — A 25-acre 16th-century marketplace—140+ artisan shops, 16 stages, jousting, falconry, mermaids, and themed weekends—gates 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m., free parking.
WHO Family
WhenSaturdays & Sundays Oct 3–Nov 22, 2026 (list through Oct 31) · Gates 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; pre-opening gate show 9:05 a.m.
Where16445 Poplar Tent Road, Huntersville, NC 28078
CostAdults 13+ $37.99 + tax; Children 5–12 $23.99 + tax; Ages 4 & under Free; Parking FREE
Mint Hill Madness 2026
You celebrate Mint Hill’s founding weekend at Veterans Memorial Park—main-stage concerts, carnival atmosphere, children’s zone, and Saturday 9:30 p.m. fireworks from Mint Hill Events.
WHO Family
WhenThu Oct 15 · 4:00–9:00 p.m.; Fri Oct 16 · 4:00–10:00 p.m.; Sat Oct 17 · 11:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.
WhereMint Hill Veterans Memorial Park, 8500 Fairview Road, Mint Hill, NC 28227
CostFREE admission (food/games/carnival rides paid)
28th Annual Pineville Fall Fest
You spend three evenings-into-Saturday at Jack D. Hughes Park—live music, artisan vendors, carnival rides, chili cook-off, children’s stage, costume contests, and Saturday fireworks from Pineville Parks & Recreation.
WHO Family
WhenThu Oct 15 · 5:00–9:00 p.m.; Fri Oct 16 · 5:00–9:00 p.m.; Sat Oct 17 · 10:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.
WhereJack D. Hughes Park, 513 Main Street, Pineville, NC 28134
CostFREE admission (rides/activities may be ticketed)
E.P.I.C. Studios Carolina BalloonFest 2026 (51st)
You watch mass ascensions, morning flyovers, and evening balloon glows at Statesville Regional Airport—plus drone shows, kids’ zone, marketplace, wine garden, and live entertainment from National Balloon Rally Charities.
WHO Family
WhenFri Oct 16 · gates 3:00–8:30 p.m.; Sat Oct 17 · gates 6:30 a.m.–8:30 p.m.; Sun Oct 18 · gates 6:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
WhereStatesville Regional Airport / festival field, 260 Hangar Drive, Statesville, NC 28677
CostAdvance adult Fri $15 / Sat $25 / Sun $20; weekend pass $50; children 6 & under FREE; +$5 at gate on event days
2026 NC Liver Mush Festival (Mush, Music & Mutts)
Uptown Shelby’s liver-mush day stacks an eating contest, live music, 80-plus vendors, and RollOver Pets’ mutt parade.
WHO Family
WhenSat Oct 17 · 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
WhereUptown Shelby (118 South Washington Street), Shelby, NC 28150
CostFree
2026 Fort Mill Fall Festival
You spend a free afternoon at Fort Mill Amphitheater & Walter Elisha Park—food and craft vendors, live music, Touch-A-Truck, costume contests, and roving entertainment from the Town of Fort Mill.
WHO Family
WhenSaturday, October 17, 2026 · 2:00–6:00 p.m.
WhereFort Mill Amphitheater & Walter Elisha Park, 345 N. White St, Fort Mill, SC 29715
CostFREE
Gastonia Fall Festival
Gastonia Fall Festival — Downtown Gastonia for food trucks, beer garden, live music, vendors, and a free KidsZone with mechanical rides, inflatables, and carnival games—City of Gastonia host.
WHO Family
WhenSaturday, Oct 17, 2026 · 3:00–7:00 p.m.
WhereRotary Centennial Pavilion / downtown Gastonia, 202 W Main Ave, Gastonia, NC 28052
CostFREE (free KidsZone / free entertainment printed)
34th Annual HILLarity
Gadsden Street in downtown Chester fills with a kids zone, a doughnut-eating contest, and food and artisan vendors — rain or shine.
WHO Family
WhenSat Oct 17 · 11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
WhereGadsden Street, Historic Downtown Chester, SC 29706
CostSee organizer website for details
Lincoln County Apple Festival
You walk downtown Lincolnton for 100+ handmade craft vendors, 50+ food vendors, two stages of live music, Kids Orchard, and gem mining—alcohol-free, no dogs.
WHO Family
WhenSaturday, Oct 17, 2026 · 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
WhereDowntown Lincolnton (Intersection Aspen & Main; GPS 115 W Main St), Lincolnton, NC
CostSee organizer website for details
ourBRIDGE 13th International Fall Fest
ourBRIDGE’s 13th International Fall Fest is free 2–6 p.m. at the East Site on Willard Farrow Drive.
WHO Family
WhenSat Oct 17. 2:00–6:00 p.m.
WhereourBRIDGE East Site, 3925 Willard Farrow Drive, Charlotte, NC
CostFREE
Charlotte Chalk Art Festival (CCAF2026)
You watch youth and adult chalk competitors fill NoDa Brewing North End’s lot, join the community chalk zone, and catch all-ages open mic—FREE shine-or-rain weekend from Creative Canvas Productions.
WHO Family
WhenSat Oct 17–Sun Oct 18, 2026 · 12:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. each day
WhereNoDa Brewing Company North End, 150 W 32nd St, Charlotte, NC 28206
CostFREE
Cherry Place Farm Fall Festival
Corn maze, hayrides and barnyard animals fill the last two October weekends at Cherry Place Farm, with free popcorn on the way out.
WHO Family
WhenSat Oct 17–Sun Oct 25, 2026 · Sat Oct 17 & 24 10 AM–6 PM; Sun Oct 18 & 25 1–6 PM
WhereCherry Place Farm, 1950 Oakdale Rd, Rock Hill (York County)
Cost$12 ages 2+ (all activities included)
Black's Peaches Fall Festival
October Saturdays at Black's Peaches mean a hayride, a corn maze, the farm playground and skee-ball. Leave the dog at home.
WHO Everyone
WhenSat Oct 17–Sat Oct 31, 2026 · Saturdays in October 10 AM–4 PM
WhereBlack's Peaches, 1800 Black Highway, York (York County)
Cost$12 + tax; ages 2 and under free
Honey & Harvest Festival
Laurel Haven Estate celebrates local honey and the harvest with honey vendors, live music from Tim Hong at midday and room for leashed pets.
WHO Everyone
WhenSat Oct 24, 2026 · 11 AM–5 PM · live music 12–3 PM
WhereLaurel Haven Estate, 3341 Taxahaw Rd, Lancaster (Lancaster County)
CostSee organizer website for details
Boo Fun Fest
Carnival rides, kids' games, a DJ and a haunted house from the Community Playhouse line South Main for the city's Halloween night.
WHO Family
WhenMon Oct 26, 2026 · 5:00–9:00 PM
WhereAmerican Legion Fairground, 823 S Main St, Lancaster (Lancaster County)
CostFree
Halloween Spooktacular
Old Town Rock Hill keeps Halloween going after BOO-HaHa! with inflatables, rides, live music, and train rides.
WHO Family
WhenSat Oct 31 · 1:00–7:00 p.m.
WhereMain Street / Old Town, 300 East Main Street, Rock Hill, SC 29730
CostFree
Lancaster County Spooktacular
Rides, a magic show, a costume contest and a trunk-or-treat take over the Buford Athletic Complex for the afternoon. An ASL interpreter is on site.
WHO Family
WhenSat Oct 31, 2026 · 12:00–4:00 PM
WhereBuford Athletic Complex, 4073 Hurley Walters Road, Lancaster (Lancaster County)
CostFree
MoTownCon
MoTownCon’s sixth year at the Concord Convention Center brings cosplay, panels, an itasha showcase, and a Halloween trunk-or-treat.
WHO Everyone
WhenSat Oct 31 · 11:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
WhereConcord Convention Center, 5400 John Q. Hammons Drive NW, Concord, NC 28027
Cost$20 ages 13+ · $10 ages 12 and under · age 2 and under free · VIP $50 (includes parking) · standard parking $5
Carolina Pottery Festival
Cleveland County Arts Council’s pottery-only festival puts 45-plus potters and live demos in the LeGrand Center.
WHO Everyone
WhenSat Nov 7 · Contact organizer for hours
WhereLeGrand Center, 1800 East Marion Street, Shelby, NC 28152
CostSee organizer website for details
Christmas Market at Cotton Hills Farm
Cotton Hills Farm’s fifth Christmas Market lines up 50-plus vendors, the Bradley Dulaney Band from 11 a.m., Santa photos, and a tractor train.
WHO Family
WhenSat Nov 7 · 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
WhereCotton Hills Farm — The Market, 2575 Lowrys Highway, Chester, SC 29706
CostFree admission and parking (tractor train $2 per rider)
Clover Highland Games
Town of Clover’s Highland Games at New Centre Park bring caber and stone athletics, music, crafts, and vendors — a Larne sister-city day.
WHO Family
WhenSat Nov 14 · 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
WhereNew Centre Park, Memorial Drive at Knox Street, Clover, SC
CostSee organizer website for details
3rd Annual Holly Jolly Christmas Show
Sunny Day Markets’ holiday vendor show at the Stanly County Agricultural Center mixes shopping vendors, food trucks, and craft beverages.
WHO Family
WhenSat Nov 14 · 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
WhereStanly County Agricultural Center, 26032 Newt Road #B, Albemarle, NC 28001
CostFree admission · free parking
The Geekery Market
The Charlotte Geeks’ indoor market puts 90-plus geek artisans, gaming, and activities in Cabarrus Arena, and asks for a canned good or cash donation for Second Harvest Food Bank.
WHO Everyone
WhenSat Nov 21 · 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
WhereCabarrus Arena & Events Center, 4751 NC Highway 49 North, Concord, NC
CostFree admission (canned good or cash donation for Second Harvest Food Bank requested) · parking $10
Mooresville Fine Arts Festival (2nd Annual)
Mooresville Arts’ juried indoor festival at Charles Mack Citizen Center shows up to 70 artists — painting, pottery, photography, jewelry, and more — on the Arts on Main weekend.
WHO Everyone
WhenSat Nov 21–Sun Nov 22 · Sat 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. · Sun 12:00–4:00 p.m.
WhereCharles Mack Citizen Center, 215 North Main Street, Mooresville, NC 28115
CostFree admission and parking