Fall in the Heart of NC is all about festivals and fun outdoor events. Picture this: it’s a crisp Saturday morning. The coffee maker dings and you pour fresh, hot coffee into your favorite mug, handcrafted in Seagrove, NC. Delighting in the brightly colored leaves fluttering in the morning breeze outside of your window, you muse over what the day has in store. Checking out your local event calendar, you realize just how many exciting things are going on that day, from a group hike in the Birkhead Wilderness to a pottery festival in Seagrove, so you throw on your favorite boots and the scarf that you’ve been waiting to bring out of hibernation, and head out for a day full of fun.
Liberty Antiques Festival, September 27th & 28th
The end of September is the kicking off point for Fall events in The Heart of NC and it starts with a bang. The Liberty Antiques Festival rolls around twice a year and attracts 400 dealers from more than 25 states. This event packs a 100-acre farm in Staley with 18th to 20th-century furniture and accessories, pottery, folk art and more. The best part? No crafts or reproductions, just truckloads of antiques and collectibles.
Historic Downtown Asheboro Ghostwalk, October
Sliding right into October, the very first day brings with it the spirits of All Hallows Eve on
the Historic Downtown Asheboro Ghost Walk (pictured). The mile-long theatrical walk takes you by the most haunted and eerie places in the historic district, with reenactments around every corner to spook you to the core. The tour takes place weekly, so you can get your fill of sprites and ghouls all month.
Kersey Valley's "Spooky Woods", September, October, November
Craving something a little darker? Kersey Valley’s Spooky Woods in Archdale, NC has been voted scariest Haunted Attraction and trails in NC and it runs from the end of September through the first weekend in November. This year they are introducing the “Sudden Death Express”, the first haunted train ride of its kind. Spooky Woods boasts a haunted house scary enough to make you scream, escape rooms, corn mazes, and a nighttime zip line over the attraction.
Boo at the North Carolina Zoo, October 26th
On October 26th, bring the little ones to Boo at the North Carolina Zoo. Enjoy trick or treating, games, live music and entertainment, face painting, animal encounters, and a children's costume contest.
Street Festivals, October
October in The Heart of NC is known for its festivals. Every weekend you can find the streets filled with locals, craft vendors, the sound of live music, and the scent of funnel cake and all things deep-fried. The Asheboro Fall Festival (pictured) kicks off festival month annually the first full weekend in October, followed by Randleman’s NASCAR Day Festival, held on October 12th, celebrating the heritage of NASCAR Legend “The King” Richard Petty and his family. Need one more dose of street food, handcrafted items, and fun? The Ramseur Fall Festival is the last street festival of the month on October 19th, and what better way to go out than with one last hurrah.
Annual Pottery Festivals, November 22nd - 24th
When November rolls around, you’ll be stocking up on firewood, looking up recipes for
the best Thanksgiving sides, and starting to think about Christmas gifts for family and friends. Don’t worry, the Seagrove Potteries have you covered with new cookware and gifts! Two of our favorite pottery festivals occur the weekend before Thanksgiving, this year the weekend of the 22nd through the 24th, just a few miles apart. The Annual Celebration of Seagrove Potters (pictured) is a large exhibition of Seagrove pottery, held at the newly renovated Luck Comer Lail Center. The celebration kicks off Friday night with a gala that includes live entertainment, food and drink, and shopping before the weekend goes into full gear. The Annual Seagrove Pottery Festival is held at Seagrove Elementary School and boasts a potters market, auctions of signed and dated pottery, food vendors, and a cruise-in. Just think, all that daunting Christmas shopping will be done in a flash!
#NCFallHasMyHeart
Now that you have an idea of all the fun to be had this Fall in #TheHeartofNC, start planning your weekends now! Check out our event calendar and share with us on social media some of your favorite Fall events, from Hayrides and apple slushies at Millstone Creek Orchards (pictured) to Kiln openings in Seagrove, the Handmade Pottery Capital of the U.S.! Use our hashtag #NCFallHasMyHeart this season and keep up with what festivals and events others are loving in our area too!
