FALL AND HALLOWEEN EVENTS 2024

SELF GUIDED HAUNTED ASHEVILLE DRIVING TOUR – Any Time LEARN MORE HERE

31 NIGHTS OF HALLOWEEN MOVIES ON FREEFORM CHANNEL – Oct 1st-31st FULL SCHEDULE HERE

DRIVING TOUR OF HOUSES DECORATED FOR HALLOWEEN – Nightly through October MAP COMING SOON

WHEN AND WHERE TO SEE FALL COLOR – Late Sept through October LEARN MORE HERE

SCENIC DRIVING ROUTES TO SEE FALL COLOR – Early Fall – In the early fall (Late Sept/Early October), trees begin changing color at the highest elevations surrounding the Asheville area, and Visit Asheville, our Convention Center and Visitors Bureau, created these scenic driving routes for you, to help you enjoy it! ROUTE OPTIONS HERE

TOP 8 SPOTS TO VIEW FALL COLOR AT BILTMORE – Late Sept through October LEARN MORE HERE

FARMERS MARKETS – Fall is a great time to visit a Farmers Market! Celebrate the harvest season when our farmers are bringing in their fall bounty. Many have live music, and seasonal activities for families to enjoy. FIND THEM ALL HERE

HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF A FALL VISIT TO THE NORTH CAROLINA ARBORETUM – Late Sept through October/November. Their beautiful forests transform into a canvas full of vibrant colors. And their quilt garden blooming with hundreds of mums in Fall colors is a sight to behold. LEARN MORE HERE

SELF GUIDED DRIVING TOUR OF FALL COLOR IN HENDERSONVILLE – Mid to Late October  LEARN MORE HERE

SHADOW OF THE BEAR NATURAL PHENOMENON NEAR CASHIERS – Daily, Mid Oct through Nov 5:30pm-6:00pm(ish) – Coming out of hibernation each Autumn, “The Shadow of the Bear” is visible for 30 minutes on sunny days between 5:30pm and 6:00pm from mid-October through early November due to the setting of the autumnal sun behind the mountain. The best viewing spot for the shadow is right off Highway 64 in a place called Rhodes Big View Overlook, atop Whiteside Mountain. It starts with a small dark shadow at the bottom of the valley, and grows until it finally evolves into the bear. The Shadow of the Bear also occurs in late winter from mid-February through early March. LEARN MORE HERE

POPULAR WALKABLE FESTIVE NEIGHBORHOODS FOR TRADITIONAL DOOR TO DOOR TRICK OR TREATING – Halloween (always on Oct 31st, despite what day of the week it falls on) – We recommend waiting until after dinner time to go, right as it’s beginning to get dark, so somewhere around 6:00-6:30-ish to start. OUR FULL LIST HERE

 

SINGLE DAY FALL FESTIVALS

(NOT Including Church Fall Festivals. Please scroll down for those)

• Sept 20th 3:00pm-6:00pm – Toe River Project Access Fall Festival at Tractor Food and Farms in Spruce Pine. Join us for food, fun, and learn about PATH’s programs plus other great resources in our area. LEARN MORE HERE

• Sept 21st 10:00am-1:00pm – Art in Autumn Arts & Crafts Festival on Main Street in Weaverville. Fine art and craft exhibitors. Food & Live Music. LEARN MORE HERE

• Sept 21st 10:00am-5:00pm – Pioneer Heritage Festival at Riverside Park in Canton. Experience the Past! Join us for a FREE, family-friendly event hosted by the Haywood American 250 and the Haywood County Historical & Genealogical Society. Dive into our rich Appalachian heritage with authentic demonstrations by traditional craftsmen, including blacksmithing, weaving, and broom making. There will be free tours of the historic Shook-Smathers House in Clyde, NC, offering a closer look at the lives of those who came before us. Kids will enjoy hands-on activities that make history fun and engaging, fostering a deep connection to their heritage. LEARN MORE HERE

• Sept 21st 11:00am-4:00pm – Fall Fair at Fifth Season Gardening Co. Local vendors, food truck, $3 local draft beer. LEARN MORE HERE

• Sept 21st 11:00am-6:00pm – Blue Ridge Pride Festival at Pack Square Park in Downtown Asheville. Join us for our big annual Pride Festival! Over 200 vendors, 13 performers across 2 stages, our Welcoming Procession tradition which steps off at 10:30am, and so much more. LEARN MORE HERE

• Sept 21st @ 12:00pm – Oktoberfest at Dry Falls Brewing Company in Hendersonville. Enjoy our beer release, food truck, and games! This is a family friendly event with a few games for kids in the back. LEARN MORE HERE

• Sept 21st 2:00pm-Dark – Cosmic Equinox Music & Arts Festival at One World Brewing West in Asheville. A Fall Equinox celebration of the shifting season with a sonic and visual journey uniting earth and cosmic planes. Dance, create, connect, and set intentions for the new season as we vibe. DJs, Interactive art, fire dancers, taco bar, vendors and flow arts for all ages fun. Come solo, with a friend, or bring the whole fam – good vibes only! LEARN MORE HERE

• Sept 21st 4:30-7:30pm – Fletcher Family Festival in Bill Moore Community Park in Fletcher. Inflatable, Face painting, food trucks, pictures with Llamas, Craft vendors, Car show, Live Music. LEARN MORE HERE

• Sept 28th 10:00am-3:00pm – Dupont Forest Festival at Guion Farm Access Area. An event celebrating the adventure and beauty of DuPont State Recreational Forest. The DuPont Forest Festival is a free, family friendly event open to the public. It is a celebration of the Forest and the diverse user groups who enjoy it. They’ll have a mix of drop-in activities, demonstrations, group tours, and hikes, all perfect for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages. Our number one goal for the Forest Festival is to teach people to love the Forest. Along with having fun, the activities will weave in education about reducing impacts to the Forest, waterfall safety, trails that serve multiple types of recreationalists and Forest conservation. LEARN MORE HERE

• Sept 28th 10:00am-4:00pm – Old Time Fall Festival in Burnsville Town Square. This is a good old fashioned, “Old Timey” local festival. This annual event is used to invite heritage-crafters to come out and demonstrate the old timey methods of producing their crafts. Antique tractors and cars are on display along with the local Farmer’s Market. Music for all ages, food, and rides and games for the kids are all part of this fun, family-friendly day. LEARN MORE HERE

• Sept 28th 10:00am-4:00pm – Harvesting Heritage Festival at Center for Pioneer Life in Burnsville. Explore our 12-acre property featuring the historic Josiah and Frances Ray Young Cabin, enjoy craft demonstrations by local vendors, savor delicious food, groove to live music, and learn about our amazing Appalachian roots. LEARN MORE HERE

• Sept 28th 10:00am-5:00pm – Treasures in the Fall Heritage Festival on Lower Street in Spruce Pine. We will have the Over Mountain Victory marchers, apple butter, antique tractors, fairy hair, Christmas shopping, bluegrass, wood turners, blacksmithing, corn milling, empanadas, fractal wood burning, catfish, best selling authors Michael Hardy and Sharyn McCrumb and all things fall. LEARN MORE HERE

• Sept 28th 11:00am-3:00pm – Fall Festival at Camp Cedar Cliff in Asheville. Our family favorite is back this Fall and we are looking forward to having you all back for our small town festival. Bring your home cooked pies for our pie baking contest – you could win a week of camp! We will have horse rides, a petting zoo, sack races, rock climbing, paint-a-pumpkin, face painting, apple cider, live bluegrass music, a fall Photo Booth, games for the kids and much, much more and the best thing is that it’s FREE! LEARN MORE HERE

• Sept 28th 1:00pm-3:00pm – Michaelmas Celebration with Asheville Waldorf School in Asheville. According to ancient traditions, this festive day honors the archangel Michael who courageously subdued a dragon to save the kingdom. At AWS, this celebration recognizes the powers within each of us to overcome darkness with light that gives strength and purpose in life. All AWS families and the wider community are invited to our celebration that includes challenging activities, feats of strength and courage, harvest soup, dragon bread, a pageant performed by our Grades students and more! LEARN MORE HERE

• Sept 29th 12:00pm-4:00pm – Fall Festival Farm Tour at Bright Branch Farms in Hendersonville. Come visit us at the farm! We’ll be showing folks around our little piece of heaven and displaying all the fall goodies! Free to visit then if you wish sign up for a tour with the family or purchase fall goodies for an additional charge. Apple picking and tractor rides, what could be better!? Also new this year we will have popular fall Ice cream treats available, cider donut truck with fall coffees and drinks plus some amazing food trucks open for your enjoyment along with other seasonal vendors on site to shop at! RESERVE YOUR SPOT HERE

• Oct 5th 9:00am-4:00pm – Fall Harvest Festival at WNC Farmers Market.Celebrate the harvest season with a focus on the past, present, and future of agriculture with local apple and cider tastings from Moss Farms in Henderson county, a kids tent full of family games, local FFA and 4H groups, touch-a-truck with the Asheville Fire Department, a display of tractors, live music, food trucks, treats, face painting, a special exhibit by our sponsors at Prestige Subaru, and more! LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 6th 10:00am-2:00pm – Barktoberfest at the French Broad River Park with Asheville Parks & Recreation. Grab your best bud for an afternoon of puptastic fun! Lots of interactive activities for furry friends and canine contests that start at 1pm. Meet local pet vendors and get a caricature of your dog. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 6th 11:00am-6:00pm – Asheville VeganFest 2024 in Pack Square Park. We’re excited to bring a VeganFest back to Asheville in 2024. We’re bringing a very FUN Family Fun Zone, shopping, DJ and Emcee, and lots of incredible vegan food, and more to Pack Square Park for our Fall Edition! LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 6th 11:30pm-5:00pm – 2024 Carolina Mountain Cheese Festival at Oak & Grist Distilling Company in Black Mountain. An annual event and fundraiser that benefits the WNC Cheese Trail, a non-profit whose goal is to spread the word about the amazing artisan cheeses being made in Western North Carolina. Ticket holders will be able to taste and purchase cheeses and other products made on the WNC Cheese Trail, attend pairings, chef demos, and more! LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 6th 12:00pm-5:30pm – Fall Market & Festival at Sawyer Springs Vineyard @ 124 Sandy Hill Lane, Hendersonville. Enjoy local vendors, all unique in every way! Live music by Myron Hyman, and Craig St John Oh, and amazing wine specials! LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 8th 10:00am-2:00pm – Barktoberfest at French Broad River Park with Asheville Parks & Recreation. Grab your best bud for a day of fun! Lots of interactive activities for furry friends with canine contests that start at 1:00pm. Meet local pet vendors with special treats and stop by the dog-and-companioon caricature portrait station. FREE.

• Oct 10th 10:00am-5:00pm – Annual Forest Festival Day and Palmer Intercollegiate Woodmen’s Meet at Cradle of Forestry Heritage Site and Discovery Center in Pisgah Forest. This event brings the whole Cradle of Forestry campus to life, showcasing forestry and traditional craft. The festival is an activity-filled, family event that commemorates the traditions of mountain living and craft in a unique and beautiful setting.Festival-goers can cheer as college forestry students compete during the Woodsmen’s Meet that has the flavor of an old-time lumberjack competition. The students test their skills in a number of events including archery, axe throwing, crosscut sawing and pole felling. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 12th 9:00am-4:00pm – Annual Mountain Glory Festival in Downtown Marion, NC.Celebrate small-town life in the mountains. Visitors looking for original handicrafts will find plenty of choices shopping with three jam packed blocks, featuring over 150 craft, food, non-profit and sponsor booths of locally made arts and crafts; festival foods and pubs with local wines, mead and beers. Plus, two stages presenting Marion’s finest musicians. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 12th 10:00am-3:00pm – Fall Festival & Open House at Black Mountain Home for Children, Youth & Families. Bring your family & friends to this special event to enjoy live music, car show, horse show, free games and inflatables for the kids, silent basket auction, campus tours, and so much more! LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 12th 11:00am-2:00pm – Fall Festival at NC Clear Creek Adventures in Hendersonville. We will have pumpkin carving, face painting, a petty zoo, horse drawn carriage rides, fall games and so much more! LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 12th 11:00am-3:00pm – Fall Festival at Martin Luther King Jr Park in Asheville with Christine W. Avery Learning Center.Join us for our 3rd Annual FALLing with Families Festival—an event filled with food, fun, and family! LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 12th 11:00am-6:00pm – The Smoky Mountains Bluegrass Festival at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds with Haywood County Arts Council.HCAC’s Annual Bluegrass Festival Fundraiser is held at the beautiful Maggie Valley Festival Grounds during the leaf season. Our annual fundraiser, the festival brings all the Haywood County Arts Council’s programs, and artists together for a truly one-of-a-kind experience. The festival includes award-winning bluegrass bands, vendors, raffles, artist member demonstrations and artwork, a child and adult playground, and local drinks and food. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 12th 12:00pm-4:00pm – Therapeutic Recreation Fall Festival with Asheville Parks & Recreation at Murphy-Oakley Community Center. Join for the inaugural Therapeutic Recreation Fall Festival featuring games, fall activities, a costume contest, and prizes for the whole family! LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 12th 1:00pm-5:00pm – Farm Fun Day at Historic Johnson Farm in Hendersonville. Everything is included in admission: crafts for kids, games, a farm-wide scavenger hunt, self-guided tours of the farm house, popcorn, school house lessons, animals, the Johnsons’ 1924 Model T, and more! Admission is $5 per person ages 3 and up. 2 and under free. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 19th 11:00am – Treska’s Lakeside Fall Festival at Treska’s Weddings & Events in Flat Rock. Highland Lake Community and BRAM are partnering to bring you an amazing lineup of makers, artists, and growers! Highland Lake Cove is the perfect backdrop to spend your Saturday listening to amazing local music while you shop from local and handmade artists. If that’s not enough, there will be delicious food from Treska’s Catering and Local Food trucks. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 19th 10:00am-5:00pm – Annual Apple Harvest Festival in Downtown Waynesville. Named one of the “10 Best Fall Harvest Festivals in the Nation”, this annual street festival in charming downtown Waynesville is a delicious way to enjoy the tastes of the fall season. This premier arts and crafts event celebrates apples and the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains. Stroll the historic Main Street filled with vendors and a wide variety of shops and restaurants. Admission is free. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 26th 10:00am-5:00pm – HalloweenFest & Spooky Trail 2024 in Brevard. Count Dracula may not live full time in Transylvania County, but we’re pretty sure he clears his schedule every year for Heart of Brevard’s Halloweenfest, held annually on the Saturday before Halloween in downtown Brevard. This “fangtastic” event features FREE family-friendly fun, including bounce houses, our traditional costume competition and parade, the Magic Book Bus, a hula hoop dance party, an array of craft & retail and food vendors, and more. Join us for this amazing event and explore downtown Brevard’s businesses through a downtown Spooky Stroll Open House and downtown trick or treating! LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 26th 11:00am-3:00pm – Touch-A-Truck Family Festival at Asheville Outlets with Junior League of Asheville. Touch-A-Truck is an annual, community-wide event where both kids and kids-at-heart have the opportunity to see, touch, climb, and learn about vehicles of all types! Guests will get to meet the trucks and the drivers who operate them. Children can “Truck-Or-Treat” during the festival! Family-friendly costumes are encouraged but not required. There will be a quiet hour from 11am – 12pm for individuals sensitive to loud noises. Proceeds from this event support the Junior League of Asheville and fund the Be The Change Grant Program. Tickets for Touch-A-Truck are $5 per person for ages 3 and up. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 26th 12:00pm-10:00pm – ScreamFest at The Maggie Valley Festival Grounds with Hot Head Events. The grounds are transformed into a haven of spooky fun. Expect: Over 100 unique vendors, Trick-or-treating, Hauntingly good live music, Spooky fall game activities, Food trucks with frightfully delicious treats, and a haunted house after dark that will chill you to the bone. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 26th 1:00pm-7:00pm – Fall Festival & Trunk or Treat at the Loving Hearts Bear Closet of Marion with the Bookmobile of McDowell County Libraries. Come visit the Bookmobile and check out some books while you participate in this community event! Bear Closet says: “80’s theme outdoor Fall Festival! The event will feature an on-site trunk or treat. This event will feature bounce houses, vendors, resources, hot dog sale, pumpkin painting, and live music from Kickin Country.” LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 26th 1:00-pm-10:00pm – The 13th Surreal Sirkus Arts Festival in Pack Square Park. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 27th 5:00pm-7:00pm – Salvation Army Fall Festival with The Salvation Army of Hendersonville. We will have fall carnival games, face painting & food! LEARN MORE HERE

• Nov 2nd 12:00pm-5:00pm – Dia de los Muertos Festival on Main Street in Downtown Marion.

• Nov 8th 5:00pm-8:00pm – Fall Festival at Jonathan Valley Elementary School in Waynesville. Local vendors, food trucks, inflatables, face painting, fairy hair, games, and more! Wristbands for unlimited games/inflatables available for purchase. 410 Hall Dr, Waynesville, NC LEARN MORE HERE

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OTHER SINGLE DAY FALL & HALLOWEEN EVENTS

(NOT Including Church Fall Festivals or Trunk-or-Treats. Please scroll down for those)

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• Sept 8th is National Public Lands Day. National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is the nation’s largest single-day volunteer event for public lands. NPLD is also a “Fee-Free Day”—one of only five days a year when entrance fees are waived at national parks and other public lands. LEARN MORE HERE

• Sept 18th 10:30am – FREE Guided Fall Hike with Buncombe County Parks & Recreation. One of the best ways to enjoy the changing fall colors in Western North Carolina is through a hike. Join Buncombe County Parks & Recreation for scenic morning hikes this September and October. This hike series is a free four-pack of popular treks led by Parks and Recreation staff on weekday mornings. Ranging in difficulty from easy to moderate, explorers of all skill levels are invited to experience the fun of one hike, all four, or somewhere in between. Learn more HERE: SEPTEMBER 18TH , OCTOBER 2ND , OCTOBER 16TH , and OCTOBER 30TH

• Sept 20th 7:00pm – Haunted History Tour of Downtown Black Mountain with Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center. Traveling some of Black Mountain’s most storied streets, visitors will learn about the humorous, haunting and harrowing history of the Swannanoa Valley while being visited by some of its most famous spirits. Recommend for ages 13 & up. LEARN MORE HERE

• Sept 21st 9:00am-3:00pm – Candy Corn Market at Smoky Mountain Event Center in Waynesville. Candy Corn Market is a one day market offering a wide variety of vintage, repurposed, up-cycled, antiques, handmade jewelry, furniture, art, home decor, traditional crafts, boutique clothing, everything farmhouse, food trucks, pottery and MUCH MORE!!  LEARN MORE HERE

• Sept 21st 10:00am-1:00pm – Harvest Hayride Kids Workshop at Lowe’s Home Improvement Stores. REGISTER HERE

• Sept 21st 5:00pm – Thomas Wolfe’s Buried Lives: An Evening Tour of Riverside Cemetery for Wolfe’s Birthday at Riverside Cemetery with Thomas Wolfe Memorial State Historic Site. Join us for a special evening tour as we explore portions of Riverside Cemetery, piecing together fact and fiction by highlighting many of the folks that inspired various characters in Wolfe’s works, as well as a few other notable people in Asheville at that time. The tour will begin at the front gate of Riverside Cemetery, $5 per person. Tickets can be purchased ahead of time at the Memorial, or at the gate with cash in hand. Plan for two-hour leisurely paced tour! LEARN MORE HERE

• Sept 22nd 12:00pm-5:00pm – Happy Fall Pop-Up Market at Southern Appalachian Brewery in Hendersonville. Happy Pop-Up Markets and Southern Appalachian Brewery host this Art, Craft and Vintage Vendor Market in the courtyard at SAB….. Come enjoy live music, sip on some great cold craft beer while shopping and supporting local artisans, crafters and Carolina pickers! You never know what treasures you’ll find!! Munchy’s Food Truck will be there serving up their delicious food! And toe tapping music provided by Bill Mattocks and Howie Johnson! LEARN MORE HERE

• Sept 22nd 6:00pm – The First Day of Fall Bonfire at The Whale :: West Asheville. We’re celebrating with a bonfire, s’mores, seasonal beers, and kid-friendly fall crafts. The festivities start at 6 but the beer will be available all day. Bring the family and celebrate the fall equinox. Send the kids to the craft table to make jack-o-lantern art using apples! Dinner is available at Haywood Common! LEARN MORE HERE

• Sept 28th 10:00am-3:00pm – Monarch Day at The North Carolina Arboretum. September is a busy time for monarch butterflies as they undergo their fall migration from Eastern North America to Mexico, and Western North Carolina is a pit stop for some of these busy travelers. You can celebrate these colorful creatures at Monarch Day with an amazing collection of activities and events. LEARN MORE HERE

• Sept 28th 10:00am-5:00pm – Happy Fall Y’all Art and Farmers Market at the A-B Tech Conference Center with Shop the Market at. Enter our pumpkin carving contest for a chance to win ‘vendor bucks’ redeemable at any booth! Enjoy live music, delicious food, adult beverages, and more. LEARN MORE HERE

• Sept 28th 11:00am-12:30pm – Halloween Make & Take Workshops at Board & Brush Creative Studio. Make one of the 28 project options for only $19.00. All ages welcome. LEARN MORE HERE

• Sept 28th 1:00pm-3:30pm – Halloween Cookie Decorating Class at Fabulous Vintage in Horse Shoe. This class will last about 2.5 hours, and consists of 6 large shortbread cookies, decorating with royal icing. LEARN MORE HERE

• Sept 28th 6:30pm-7:30pm – Pumpkin Centerpiece Workshop at PlantHouse Asheville. Embrace the beauty of fall by joining us for our Pumpkin Centerpiece Workshop at PlantHouse! In this hands-on workshop, you’ll create a stunning autumn-inspired centerpiece that will bring seasonal charm to your home. LEARN MORE HERE

• Sept 29th 11:00am-4:00pm – Harvest Big Barn Bash at Hickory Nut Gap Farm in Fairview. Come on out and join us to ring in fall at Hickory Nut Gap Farm with our Harvest Big Barn Bash! We have so much fun planned. Shop With Local Makers, Eat With Root Down Farm, Snack With Appalachian Pop Co, Pick The Perfect Pumpkin, Hay + Pony Rides With Project HNG, Sip Apple Cider From The Farm, and more! This is a FREE community event! LEARN MORE HERE

• Sept 29th 2:30pm – Billy Jonas Band ‘Welcome Autumn!’ Family Concert at The Grey Eagle in Asheville. Fun for All Ages! Bring the family, and welcome Autumn. LEARN MORE HERE

• Sept 30th 6:00pm – Fall Cookie Decorating Class at Ms. Arty Pants Creation Station in Waynesville. Decorate and take home 5 cookie designs. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 2nd 10:30am – FREE Guided Fall Hike with Buncombe County Parks & Recreation. One of the best ways to enjoy the changing fall colors in Western North Carolina is through a hike. Join Buncombe County Parks & Recreation for scenic morning hikes this September and October. This hike series is a free four-pack of popular treks led by Parks and Recreation staff on weekday mornings. Ranging in difficulty from easy to moderate, explorers of all skill levels are invited to experience the fun of one hike, all four, or somewhere in between. Learn more HERE: OCTOBER 2ND , OCTOBER 16TH , and OCTOBER 30TH

• Oct 4th 9:30am-11:30am – 2nd Annual Harvest Hootenanny with The Family Place of Transylvania County in Brevard. Join us for a delightful celebration of lawn games, tie dying, face painting, Fall crafts, popcorn, & more. REGISTER FOR THIS FUN, FREE EVENT HERE

• Oct 4th 4:30pm-6:30pm – Art in the Park in Bill Moore Community Park in Fletcher. Join us in discovering that art at an early age is more about the “process” than the product. Lots of arts & crafts, storytelling, music & movement! Fun for the whole family! FREE dinner will be included. Please register by Sept 30th. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 5th 10:00am-2:00pm – Take a Kid Mountain Biking at Richmond Hill Park with Asheville Parks & Recreation. In partnership with Pisgah Area SORBA, kids of all mountain bike skill levels are in for a day of fun riding the trails! Check out the skills paths geared for beginner and intermediate riders or take a longer ride on multi-use trails. Bring your bike and helmet to enjoy raffles, skill clinics, and bike safety checks. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 5th 10:00am-4:00pm – Farm City Day at Jackson Park in Hendersonville. Approximately fifty acres of Jackson Park will be used for agricultural educational displays including a farm animal petting zoo, antique and modern farm equipment and crafters from many generations. Admission is free! Some activities, food and vendors will cost money so bring some cash with you. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 5th 10:00am-4:00pm – Fall Pop-Up Craft Market at Reems Creek Pottery in Weaverville. Pottery, Up-cycling, Jewelry, Fine Art, Woodworking, Hats, Pouches, Totes, Embroidery, Denim, Scarves, Plushies, Metalwork, Greeting Cards, Collages and more! LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 5th 11:00am-3:00pm – Farms and Foliage at Mountain Gateway Museum and Heritage Center in Old Fort. Fall is here! And while everyone is excited about the cooler weather, colorful leaves, and lack of mosquitos, what does did this season mean for the people of the past? Or the natural world today? You can get answers to these questions at our new event, Farms and Foliage. Some demonstrations and exhibits include: Farm chores that happened in the fall, Weaving, Gold panning, a fall activity for miners, Food preservation and making your own pickling spice blend, How bees prepare for winter, Fall gardening to support pollinators and animals on their migratory journey, Cornhusk doll making, and more! LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 5th 5:00pm – Thomas Wolfe’s Buried Lives: An Evening Tour of Riverside Cemetery for Wolfe’s Birthday at Riverside Cemetery with Thomas Wolfe Memorial State Historic Site. Join us for a special evening tour as we explore portions of Riverside Cemetery, piecing together fact and fiction by highlighting many of the folks that inspired various characters in Wolfe’s works, as well as a few other notable people in Asheville at that time. The tour will begin at the front gate of Riverside Cemetery, $5 per person. Tickets can be purchased ahead of time at the Memorial, or at the gate with cash in hand. Plan for two-hour leisurely paced tour! LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 5th 6:30pm – Hop to the Movies 2024 fundraiser featuring Mel Brooks’ classic film “Young Frankenstein”. By donation. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 11th 2:30pm-3:00pm – Pumpkin Palooza at Tempie Avery Montford Community Center with Asheville Parks & Recreation. Pumpkin and autumn themed activities that encourage creativity and imagination while toddlers decorate fall pumpkins. FREE Ages 2-4 with adult.

• Oct 12th 9:00am – Burnsville Harvest Market Craft Show in Burnsville Town Center. Experience the magic of fall! Browse through a splendid array of handcrafted treasures, savor delicious seasonal treats, and soak in the cozy atmosphere of autumn. Bring your friends and family for a day filled with laughter, creativity, and community spirit! LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 12th 10:00am12:00pm – Children’s Movie Matinee at Etowah Library, with Henderson County Libraries. Featured Movie: “Frankenweenie”. (PG). REGISTRATION REQUIRED HERE

• Oct 12th 10:00am-4:00pm – Autumn Craft & Vendor Market at Tanger Outlets Asheville. This festive event will be held in the parking lot near Sportsman’s Warehouse and will feature a wide array of local vendors offering unique handmade items, specialty products, sweet treats, and endless gift inspiration, perfect for the fall season. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 12th 10:00am-5:00pm – Camping in the Old Style event at Cradle of Forestry in Pisgah Forest. Visitors can see fires ignited by flint, steel and friction, old-style campfire cookery, four different styles of period shelters, and traditional camp tools in use. Each camper has expertise in various aspects of woodcraft, history, nature study, and welcomes interacting with visitors and questions. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 12th 11:00am-12:00pm – Create Your Own Scarecrow or Pumpkin Noodle Kid Zone Craft at JCPenney’s. FREE craft for kids, plus extra savings coupon for parents. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 12th 12:00pm-3:00pm – The Great Pumpkin Pop-Up at Grove Arcade in Downtown Asheville. This exciting, family-friendly fall event is back at the Grove Arcade. There will be a free pumpkin decorating activation for kids, appearances from Street Creatures, live music, an artistic pumpkin display, and a pop-up market with our Grove Arcade merchants! LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 12th 12:00pm-6:00pm – Appalachia Day at Hickory Nut Gap Farm in Fairview with Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy. Join friends to celebrate Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy’s 50th year conserving land and water in the Appalachian Mountains. There will be food trucks on site, live music, a craft village market, a raffle and more farm fun for the whole family! Appalachia Day invites attendees to immerse themselves in the essence of Appalachia with an array of engaging activities. You can take the kids on a hayride or pony ride (operating hours are from 11:00 – 4:00). LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 13th 8:30am-12:00pm – Black Bear Fall Market at Jackson Park in Hendersonville. A morning filled with scrumptious food, eye-catching displays, and amazing local items that represent our vibrant community. Whether you’re a local or just visiting, the Black Bear Fall Market is the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the autumn ambiance of Hendersonville while supporting small local artisans and businesses. With the exciting Black Bear Half Marathon & 8k happening simultaneously in the park, there will be foot traffic regardless of the weather, making this a rain or shine event. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 13th 10:00am-4:00pm – Autumn Craft & Vendor Market at Tanger Outlets Asheville. This festive event will be held in the parking lot near Sportsman’s Warehouse and will feature a wide array of local vendors offering unique handmade items, specialty products, sweet treats, and endless gift inspiration, perfect for the fall season. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 13th 3:30pm-5:15pm – The Great Pumpkin Hunt at Evolve Early Learning in Asheville. A family-friendly Day of the Dead and Halloween event perfect for kids ages 2-8, all welcome! Join us at Evolve Early Learning on October 13th and/or 19th for storytime, slime, costumes, face painting, art and an exciting pumpkin hunt with fun prizes. With hands-on pumpkin science activities and plenty of magic, your little ones will have a blast without the sugar overload. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 16th 10:30am – FREE Guided Fall Hike with Buncombe County Parks & Recreation. One of the best ways to enjoy the changing fall colors in Western North Carolina is through a hike. Join Buncombe County Parks & Recreation for scenic morning hikes this September and October. This hike series is a free four-pack of popular treks led by Parks and Recreation staff on weekday mornings. Ranging in difficulty from easy to moderate, explorers of all skill levels are invited to experience the fun of one hike, all four, or somewhere in between. Learn more HERE: OCTOBER 16TH , and OCTOBER 30TH

• Oct 18th All Day – Take & Make Kit: Hanging Spider Web Papercraft at the Waynesville Library with Haywood County Libraries. Get into the spooky spirit by crafting a ghoulish spider web to hang up in your room. Ideal for elementary-aged students. Kits are available at all Haywood County Library branches while supplies last. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 18th 10:00am-12:00pm – Kooky Spooky Toddler Day at Stephens-Lee Community Center with Asheville Parks & Recreation. The gym turns into a fun orange and black Halloween village with inflatables, toys, arts and crafts, and refreshments. Dress up and join the costume parade. $5. Ages 1-4 with adult.

• Oct 18th 3:00pm-7:00pm – Corn Maze for All in the PEP Gym at TC Roberson High School. Cost: Any donation amount. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 18th 4:30pm-7:30pm – Annual Cubcat CRAWL – Monster Dash benefitting Hendersonville Elementary School. The CRAWL is a fun, family-friendly 1.5- or 3-mile race hosted by the Hendersonville Elementary PTO, with proceeds going to help achieve the financial goals for the school year.The CRAWL is not just a race. It is a fun, Halloween activity for the whole family. This year, we’ll have Bounce Runs, Trick or Treat area, Costume Contest, and a Dance Party with a live DJ. Join us for Community Partners, Retail Vendors, and Concessions for Purchase. Plus, we’ll have lots of STEM Activities like the Henderson County Swift Water Rescue Team and a Fire Truck from the Hendersonville Fire Department. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 18th 6:00pm-7:30pm – Halloween Creepy Climbing at Tempie Avery Montford Community Center with Asheville Parks & Recreation. Join an evening of fiendish family fun! Show off your costume, climb for candy, and play ghoulish games. Advance registration required. $5. Ages 6-17 with adult.

• Oct 18th 7:00pm – Haunted History Tour of Downtown Black Mountain with Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center. Traveling some of Black Mountain’s most storied streets, visitors will learn about the humorous, haunting and harrowing history of the Swannanoa Valley while being visited by some of its most famous spirits. Recommend for ages 13 & up. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 18th 7:00pm-8:00pm – Spooky Appalachian Storytelling Event at Vance Birthplace State Historic Site in Weaverville. Join us for an evening of storytelling to get into the spooky spirit of Halloween! Dr. Delanna Reed, professor & member of the Jonesborough Storytellers Guild, will share ghost stories from Appalachia and further afield during this twilight event. Bring your own chairs & blankets and gather around the fire to enjoy Dr. Reed’s stories. Suitable for ages 12 and up. No registration required. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 19th 3:00pm-7:00pm – Frankenfest at White Labs Brewing Co – Asheville Kitchen & Tap. Frankenfest is a monster mash-up of your two favorite fall holidays, Halloween and Oktoberfest. Join us in the Biergarten from 3 PM -7 PM for an evening of frights and Bavarian delights, including the return of fan-favorite beverage, Frankenstout! Our friends Das Oompapas will be here to entertain ghosts and ghouls of all ages. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 19th 3:30pm-5:15pm – The Great Pumpkin Hunt at Evolve Early Learning in Asheville. A family-friendly Day of the Dead and Halloween event perfect for kids ages 2-8, all welcome! Join us at Evolve Early Learning on October 13th and/or 19th for storytime, slime, costumes, face painting, art and an exciting pumpkin hunt with fun prizes. With hands-on pumpkin science activities and plenty of magic, your little ones will have a blast without the sugar overload. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 19th 6:00pm-9:00pm – Ska8 Night: Halloween Edition at Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center with Asheville Parks & Recreation. Ska8 the night away with all your spooky friends while rolling to the rythym to the eerie beat! $3.

• Oct 19th 12:30pm-2:00pm – Canine Trick or Treat at Burton Street Community Center with Asheville Parks & Recreation. Dress up your pups for a treat scavenger hunt with giveaways for all. Refreshments provided for canines and human companions. Dogs must remain on leash. Scavenger hunt starts at 1:15pm. Advance registration encouraged. FREE.

• Oct 20th 2:00pm-6:00pm – Annual Fundraiser at Animal Haven Sanctuary in Asheville. Vegan food, live entertainment, a silent auction, beer, wine, NA drinks, and volunteer stations where we will talk about the animals, as well as thrift store shopping. Children under 12 free. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 20th 2:00pm-6:00pm – Fall on the Farm Tractor Day at Buckner Farm in Leicester. Bring out one or one hundred tractors and spend the day fellowshipping and showing off your proud ride! Entry fee is $10 per person which gets you entered in the tractor show as well as access to all the fun at Fall On The Farm. There will be a tractor parade at the end of the show! LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 22nd 5:30pm-7:30pm – Pumpkin Picasso: Teen Carving Challenge at Carrier Park Picnic Shelter with Asheville Parks & Recreation. Get ready for the ultimate carving party! Get creative, carve your best design, and win exciting prizes. Pumpkins and carving tools provided. Advance registration required. FREE. Ages 12-18

• Oct 24th All Day – Take & Make Kit: Spooky Lollipop Craft with Haywood County Libraries. Learn how to create lollipops decorated as creepy-crawly spiders, fang-tastic bats, scream-worthy pumpkins, and hair-raising ghosts. Ideal for elementary-aged students. Kits are available at all Haywood County Library branches while supplies last. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 24th 12:00pm – The Haunted Hop & Pop Halloween Spooktacular at The Hop Ice Cream. Expect to be hypnotized at The Hop & Pop on Miserable Merrimon, in Worst Asheville, by the ghosts inside S&W Market, and in the withered heart of Black Mountain. I suggest you stay put as the bells toll the approach of All Hallows Eve. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 25th 12:00pm-8:00pm – 3rd Annual Halloween Spooktacular at Jumpin’ Around LLC in Marion. For kids of all ages! From spooky drinks, balloon animals to some fun Halloween games, it’s going to be a howling good time! We will also have candy for all kids coming in & so much more including our friends SpongeBob and Poppy! LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 25th 4:00pm-7:00pm – Woman-Owned Expo Trick or Treat at Mad Genius Studios in Asheville. Discover amazing local woman-owned businesses showcasing their unique products and services, enjoy live music with DJ Molly Parti, delicious food, refreshing drinks, and bring your entire family trick-or-treating with us! Plus, don’t miss the launch party for Ramblin’ Rose, Asheville’s newest mobile bar! Come dressed as your favorite inspiration and let’s celebrate the incredible contributions of women entrepreneurs in our community. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 25th 4:00pm-7:00pm – Haunted Pizza & Dance Party at the Marion Train Depot with the McDowell County Bookmobile. Come visit the Bookmobile and check out some books while you participate in this community event! Barefoot Baby Clothing says: “Join us for this free event! We will have a DJ, pizza, games, and candy. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 25th 6:00pm-8:00pm – Junior Wolf Howl-O-Ween at WNC Nature Center in Asheville. See the WNC Nature Center like never before – at night! The Jr. Wolf Howl-o-Ween includes an exploration of biofacts, animal games, a wolf-themed craft, and an opportunity to meet a live animal. Then we will trek to our wolf habitats located onsite at the Nature Center for a howling session. Discover the legends and lore of these top predators and celebrate the spooky season with some sweet treats. This kid-friendly version of our Wolf Howl event is geared toward families. Recommended for kids aged 5-12. Costumes are encouraged! Tickets are not sold at the door. Pre-register HERE: OCTOBER 25TH , OCTOBER 26TH , and OCTOBER 31ST

• Oct 26th 10:00am – The 10th Annual Trick or Trail 5k presented by Hunter Subaru.This Halloween-themed race will bring runners back to the heart of Hendersonville, NC, where they’ll start and finish in the Historic 7th Avenue District. You’ll love running or walking alongside fellow participants dressed in creative costumes. After the race, you can stroll over to the bustling Fall Festival for food, drinks, and vendors at the Farmers’ Market. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 26th 10:00am-2:00pm – Halloween Spooktacular Car Show with Marion Cruise In at Jim Cook Chevrolet in Marion. In its 10th year, this is the Original Halloween Spooktacular! Many said the carstume contest wouldn’t work – now they are copying it – (or tryin to)! Join us for the most fun car show you have ever seen! Adult costume contest, trick or treat for the little bitties and more!! LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 26th 12:00pm-2:00pm – Halloween Carnival at Bill Moore Community Park with Fletcher Parks & Recreation. We will have games, candy, inflatables, face paint, and tractor rides for kids. LEARN MORE HERE

•  Oct 26th 1:30pm-7:00pm – The Pumpkin Pedaller Annual Costumed Community Ride with Asheville on Bikes at New Belgium Brewing. The event includes a pop-up bike park, costume contest, 3 route options, and ongoing cycling fun. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 26th 3:30pm-6:00pm – Barbecue at the Barn at ATRC – Appalachian Therapeutic Riding Center. Pony rides, live music, and food. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 26th 4:00pm – Halloween Festival at Silverados in Black Mountain. Thrills and chills for all ages! Costume Contests for both children and adults. Live music by Westsound and DJ Kyle spinning the best tracks all night! Bob for apples, get your fortune told with Tarot Card Reading, and enjoy a jaw-dropping Fire Dancer show! Food Trucks galore, plus a 50/50 Raffle, Haunted Attraction, and Face Painting for the kids! LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 26th 4:00pm-6:00pm – Trick-or-Treat Trail at in the Back Lot at Pinecrest ARP Church in Hendersonville. Join us for our Trick-or-Treat Trail on our backlot! Games, Prizes, Candy, Costumes, Photo-Op and More! This is a non-scary free event. To register and for more info, VISIT HERE

• Oct 26th 5:00pm-9:00pm – Monster Mash Parents Survival Night at The Little Gym. Gym time, pizza dinner, LEGOS, crafts, and more! Call or text them to sign up! 828-747-2239 LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 26th 5:00pm-9:00pm – Halloween Movie Night at Beaverdam Community Center in Canton. Join us for an outdoor Halloween movie night! If it rains the show will go on and move indoors. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 26th 6:00pm-8:00pm – Junior Wolf Howl-O-Ween at WNC Nature Center in Asheville. See the WNC Nature Center like never before – at night! The Jr. Wolf Howl-o-Ween includes an exploration of biofacts, animal games, a wolf-themed craft, and an opportunity to meet a live animal. Then we will trek to our wolf habitats located onsite at the Nature Center for a howling session. Discover the legends and lore of these top predators and celebrate the spooky season with some sweet treats. This kid-friendly version of our Wolf Howl event is geared toward families. Recommended for kids aged 5-12. Costumes are encouraged! Tickets are not sold at the door. Pre-register HERE: OCTOBER 26TH , and OCTOBER 31ST

• Oct 27th 2:00pm-6:00pm – Fall on the Farm Car Show Day at Buckner Farm in Leicester. Classics, hot rods, rat rods, modern, trucks, & motorcycles.$10 entry per person. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 28th 6:00pm – Halloween Cookie Decorating Class at Ms. Arty Pants Creation Station in Waynesville. Decorate and take home 5 cookie designs. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 29th 6:00pm-8:00pm – Pumpkin Painting Party at Wild Wing Cafe Asheville. Bring the kiddos to The Wing. Pumpkin Painting! (We provide all materials, including the pumpkin!). Kids in Costume Eat FREE! (with purchase of adult entree). DJ Razor will have all the kid friendly music going! Plus, prizes! LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 30th 10:30am – FREE Guided Fall Hike with Buncombe County Parks & Recreation. One of the best ways to enjoy the changing fall colors in Western North Carolina is through a hike. Join Buncombe County Parks & Recreation for scenic morning hikes this September and October. This hike series is a free four-pack of popular treks led by Parks and Recreation staff on weekday mornings. Ranging in difficulty from easy to moderate, explorers of all skill levels are invited to experience the fun of one hike, all four, or somewhere in between. Learn more HERE: OCTOBER 30TH

• Oct 31st 10:30am-11:00am – Spooky Storytime at the Canton Recreation Park Literacy Walk with Haywood County Libraries. Happy Book-O-Ween! Join Mrs. Sara and Mrs. Ashlyn as we dress up as our favorite book character for this fun themed storytime. Storytime will be held outside at the Canton Recreation Park Literacy Walk, located behind Riverview Farm & Garden. Register ahead for a special Take & Make Kit. Ideal for pre-school-aged children and their families. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 31st 3:00pm-5:00pm – Halloween Boo Bash at Green River Library with Henderson County Libraries. Join us for candy, treats, and games! Children of all ages welcome! LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 30th 6:00pm-9:00pm – Movies in the Park: Halloween Edition in Pack Square Park with Asheville Parks & Recreation. Come dressed in costume and enjoy a spooky flick. Featured Movie: Insidious (PG13, 102 Minutes). Devoted parents Josh and Renai are haunted by supernatural forces as their young son inexplicably falls into a coma. When specters begin to emerge from the shadows, the situation quickly turns terrifying. FREE.

• Oct 31st 4:00pm-6:00pm – Trick or Treating at The Asheville Mall. There will be a table in the center court and many of the stores will be handing out candy.

• Oct 31st 5:00pm-7:00pm – Annual Boo Bash at Tanger Outlets Asheville. Join Tanger Asheville for a SPOOKtacular time at our Annual Boo Bash Halloween event on Thursday, October 31, from 5:00 pm. to 7:00 p.m. Families will enjoy free Trick-or-Treating at participating retailers, strolling magic, music and more. Plus, TapSnap Phototainment will also be onsite with a festive photo booth, where guests can receive one free 4” by 6” photo and digital download of a single image (while supplies last). LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 31st 5:00pm-8:00pm – Treat Street on Main Street in Hendersonville. Kids fun zone sponsored by Biltmore Church. Trick or Treating. DJ Dance Party. Costume Contest. Games. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 31st 6:00pm – MALLoween at Blue Ridge Mall in Hendersonville @ 1800 Four Seasons Blvd, Hendersonville, NC. Shop ’til you drop and trick-or-treat in your costumes throughout the Mall beginning at 6 PM.

• Oct 31st 6:00pm-8:00pm – Junior Wolf Howl-O-Ween at WNC Nature Center in Asheville. See the WNC Nature Center like never before – at night! The Jr. Wolf Howl-o-Ween includes an exploration of biofacts, animal games, a wolf-themed craft, and an opportunity to meet a live animal. Then we will trek to our wolf habitats located onsite at the Nature Center for a howling session. Discover the legends and lore of these top predators and celebrate the spooky season with some sweet treats. This kid-friendly version of our Wolf Howl event is geared toward families. Recommended for kids aged 5-12. Costumes are encouraged! Tickets are not sold at the door. Pre-register HERE: OCTOBER 31ST

• Oct 31st 6:00pm-8:00pm – Halloween Bingo at Burton Street Community Center with Asheville Parks & Recreation. Good old-fashioned fun and great prizes await all who dare enter for a night of spooky Halloween Bingo! Spooky good refreshments provided. Advance registration required. FREE.

• Oct 31st 6:00pm-8:00pm – Treats on the Street in front of Town Hall, Waynesville. Step into a world of Halloween magic at our Halloween event, where merchant generosity meets community service in a spectacular celebration. Join us for an unforgettable evening filled with music, tantalizing food vendors, thrilling games, and spooky excitement that will enchant visitors of all ages. Revel in the spirit of the season as local businesses shower attendees with delicious candy treats, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Immerse yourself in a night of fun and festivities, all while supporting a good cause and fostering a sense of togetherness within the community. Main Street, Waynesville. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 31st 6:00pm-9:00pm – Trunk or Treat at Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center with Asheville Parks & Recreation. Join all the ghoulies and ghosties and visit the cauldron of candy! Don’t be scared! FREE.

• Oct 31st 6:00pm-10:00pm – Old Fort Boo Bash with McDowell County Libraries in Downtown Old Fort. Come visit the Bookmobile and check out some books while you participate in this community event! Old Fort Business Association says: “This family-friendly event will feature: Trunk-or-Treat at Old Fort Baptist Church, free food and hot cider, over 100 candy stops along the two main drags of downtown Old Fort, live music, story-telling, commemorative picture spots, free treat bags, hot food and drink stops for quick bites and hot coffees, costume contests (for pets, all ages, adults, and groups), and more!” LEARN MORE HERE

 

OTHER MULTI DAY FESTIVALS & EVENTS

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• Thursdays, Sept & Oct 11:00am-5:00pm – Halloween Miniature Sculpture Workshops at North Carolina Glass Center in the River Arts District, Asheville. You can create your own festive sculpture or pendant! 50 minute class. Ages 13+. $100. LEARN MORE HERE

• Fridays, Sept & Oct 10:30pm-4:40pm – Miniature Pumpkin Sculpture Workshops at North Carolina Glass Center in the River Arts District, Asheville. Celebrate the fall season by creating your own mini glass pumpkin! Ages 13+. $100. LEARN MORE HERE

• Haunted History & Murder Mystery Tour with Gray Line Trolley Tours of Asheville. Sit back if you dare as we illuminate Asheville’s darkest history with astonishing stories of spirits & spies, ghosts & goblins, hauntings & hoodlums and mountain-made murder & mayhem. 75 minutes. LEARN MORE HERE

• Sept 21st & 22nd 10:00am-4:00pm – Heritage Weekend at Folk Art Center. A celebration if Southern Highland Culture. This festival has old-time music and demonstrations of the crafts of yesteryear. Chairmaking, quilting, heirloom apples, sheep shearing, cornshuck dolls, woodcarving, blacksmithing, weaving, stone carving, soap making, crocheting, knitting, spinning, rifle making, natural dyeing, basketry, AND MORE! Oh – and you don’t want to miss the World Gee Haw Whimmy Diddle Competition! LEARN MORE HERE

• Sept 26th-29th – Haywood County Fair at the Smoky Mountain Event Center in Waynesville. LEARN MORE HERE

• Sept 27th & 28th 10:00am-3:00pm – Fall Plant Sale and Vendor Market at The North Carolina Arboretum. The Market features unique plants grown in The North Carolina Arboretum’s Production Greenhouse and includes over 30 local growers and businesses.Shop an outstanding collection of annuals, perennials and crafts to the sounds of live music! On Saturday, September 28, children and adults can participate in Monarch Day activities. LEARN MORE HERE

• Sept 27th & 28th – Madison County Fair in Marshall, NC. We’ll have a huge variety of craft & food vendors, demonstration & info booths, Live music, inflatables, games, cast iron skillet throwing, rooster bingo, queen of the Fair presentation, train rides, poultry & animal exhibits, Craft & agricultural exhibits,Team roping, rodeo & more! Friday 9/27 3pm-9pm & Saturday 9/28 11am-10pm. LEARN MORE HERE

• Sept 27th & 28th 11:00am-9:00pm – 2023 Asheville Greek Festival at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. LEARN MORE HERE

• Sept 27th, 28th & 29th – Asheville’s Goombay Festival 2024. The Goombay Festival was created in 1982 to celebrate the richness and diversity of the African diaspora and Asheville’s African American community, hosted by The YMI Cultural Center. This FREE, family event connects community, and showcases Black culture, art, food and entertainment. Primarily in Pack Square Park. LEARN MORE HERE

• Sept 27th-29th – Fall 2024 M.A.G.M.A. Land of Sky Gem Show at the Land of Sky Event Venue in Swannanoa. Come shop for minerals, crystals, and handcrafted jewelry from locally and nationally known vendors. We have something for everyone, from seasoned rockhounds to new collectors and jewelry lovers. Our vendors enjoy sharing their expert knowledge and you’re sure to learn new things and find some great gems, minerals, and fossils. Sept 27th & 28th 9am-6pm, Sept 29th 10am-4pm. LEARN MORE HERE

• Sept 28th & 29th 10:00am-5:00pm – Art on Main in Historic Downtown Hendersonville with The Art Council of Henderson County. LEARN MORE HERE

• Sept 20th-Oct 27th (Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays) – Eliada Fall Festival & Corn Maze at Eliada. WNC’s ONLY non-profit Corn Maze with 100% of the proceeds benefiting the children at Eliada! Not only does your ticket purchase come with access to family-friendly fun, memories, and adventures, but it directly aids in the growth and success of Eliada’s kids! Attractions will include corn cannons, a spider climber, a custom corn maze, lawn games, hay rides, scheduled face painting, pumpkins for purchase, food trucks, and more! Fridays: 3pm-7pm, Saturdays: 10am-7pm, Sundays: 10am-6pm. LEARN MORE HERE

• Sept 30th-Jan 7th, 2024 9:00am-5:00pm – Monarchs and Milkweed exhibit at the Baker Exhibit The North Carolina Arboretum. Join us on a journey into the world of butterflies and plants, and see the complex relationship between monarchs and milkweed. “Monarchs and Milkweed” explores how very survival of these majestic creatures has been shaped over time by one another, traveling through the seasons of a calendar year and revealing how both insect and plant grow and interact, culminating in a massive migration that crosses a continent. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 3rd, 5th, 10th, 12th, & 17th – Hayride on the Rails at Craggy Mountain Line Railroad in Woodfin. We will take an old fashioned trolley ride down to the Woodfin Riverside Park on our open car trolley for a short layover and back up to the Depot area. The trolley ride is a 4 mile round trip,  20 minutes down to the park with a 20 minute layover to enjoy the beautiful park and French Broad river views , then back on the trolley for the ride back to the depot to enjoy apple cider, apples, and every child will receive a pumpkin to take home. Our locomotive, cabooses and cars will be open and everyone can check out the trains while you’re here. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 5th & 6th 10:00am-5:00pm – Fall Festival and Chili Cook-Off at Ten Acre Garden in Canton. This year, we’re extending the festivities to two full days packed with fun activities for everyone to enjoy! Join us for a weekend filled with: Pumpkin Patch, Sunflower Maze, Vendor Market, Live Music, Farm-to-Table Pizza, Pumpkin Carving Contest, Chili Cook-Off, Tractor-Pulled Hay Wagon Rides, and more! LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 11th & 12th 8:00am-5:00pm – Fall Harvest Days 2024 Antique Engine and Tractor Show with the Apple Country Engine and Tractor Association at WNC Ag Center in Fletcher. 2024 Theme: IN RUST we Trust! Antique Tractors, Hit n’ Miss Engines, Crafters, Antiques, Toys, Parts, Tractor Pull, Food, Swap Meet and More! Included in Admission: Kids play area on Saturday 9:00am to 1:00pm, Tractor Pull under Covered Area on Saturday 10:00am. Rain or Shine. Adult Admission $10.00 / Children 12 and under Free with paid Adult. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 15th-Nov 5th – Yo Ho Ho! Get Ready for a Pirate Pumpkin Adventure at the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge in Lake Lure! Grab your mates and come find all the pirate pumpkins throughout our gardens.

• Oct 17th-20th – LEAF Festival in Black Mountain. Each May & October an intergenerational family and friend gathering upon the beautiful Lake Eden grounds to experience the power music, art and culture has to transform lives, strengthen community, and foster unity. LEAF Festival takes place on the site of the old Historic Black Mountain College with a stunning array of rolling hills, lakes, streams, and mountain beauty on hundreds of acres of comfortable camping grounds. LEAF scours the globe for artists, musicians, performers and facilitators that are not only masters of their craft, but who also care deeply for the power of arts education and family engagement. LEARN MORE HERE
  

• Oct 19th & 20th 9:00am-4:00pm – 2024 Maggie Valley Arts & Crafts Festival at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds in Maggie Valley. Get ready to immerse yourself in creativity and craftsmanship. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 19th & 20th 10:00am-5:00pm – Annual Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands at Harrah’s Cherokee Center in Downtown Asheville.Over 100 juried artisans of the Southern Highland Craft Guild will fill both the concourse and arena levels of the venue. Visitors are invited to explore a variety of fine American craft ranging from contemporary to traditional works of clay, wood, metal, glass, fiber, natural materials, paper, leather, mixed media, and jewelry. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to engage with the region’s finest makers. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 19th & 20th 10:00am – Fall 2024 Lake Lure Arts & Crafts Festival in Lake Lure. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 21st-22nd – Wooly Worm Festival in Banner Elk at Historic Banner Elk School. Since 1978, this quirky, world-famous festival has been used to predict the upcoming winter weather for the North Carolina High Country. According to legend, the 13 bands on the woolly worm (woolly bear caterpillar) represent the 13 weeks of winter. Brown bands indicate a mild week, black bands indicate a cold, snowy week. Since every woolly worm has different colors, the Woolly Worm festival holds races to determine which worm is used to make the forecast. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 25th & 26th 7:30pm – The Legend of Tommy Hodges –  Outdoor Drama at Cradle of Forestry in Pisgah Forest. During this unique and exciting outdoor performance, audiences will travel back in time to the year 1901 and hear yarns about the legendary Tommy Hodges, a fictional student of the Biltmore Forest School. Audiences will be led around the Biltmore Campus Trail by different characters from the play and watch as the story unfolds around them from all sides. Each evening, there will be two showings offered at 6:30pm and 8:00pm. Tickets are limited to a total of 75 participants per showing. The Legend of Tommy Hodges is a homegrown amateur production presented by FIND Team Members and our Cradle hosts. The play is not based on historical facts and the script changes from year to year. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 26th & 27th 10:00am-4:00pm – Halloween Trick or Treat Farm Tours at Winchester Creek Farm Alpacas + Minis in Waynesville. The farm is decorated for Halloween, our staff is in costume, and there are trick or treat stations and games where everyone wins a prize throughout the 45 minute walking tour route. You’ll meet the Alpacas (even som babies) and mini farm animals, and the chickens and have opportunities to interact with them and feed them. LEARN MORE HERE

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TRUNK OR TREATS

!!! (Trunk or Treats are just beginning to be announced. Stay tuned for MANY more! If your church or organization is hosting a trunk or treat, please contact us through our Facebook page to let us know so that we can add you!!) !!!

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• Oct 25th 4:00pm-7:00pm – Carolina Pediatric Therapy @ 9 W Summit Ave, Asheville, NC 28803.

• Oct 26th 2:00pm-4:00pm – OSEGA Gymnastics & Ninja Warrior Training @ 260 Rutledge rd, Fletcher, NC

• Oct 27th 6:00pm-7:30pm – Fruitland Baptist Church @ 150 College Street, Hendersonville NC

• Oct 30th 5:30pm-7:30pm – Contemporary First Missionary Baptist Church @ 429 Harris Street, Hendersonville. Trunk or Treat for Jesus and Fall Festival.

• Oct 31st 4:00pm-8:00pm – Sideways Farm & Brewery @ 62 Eade Rd., Etowah, NC

• Oct 31st 4:30pm-7:00pm – Sandy Mush Community Center @ 19 School Road, Leicester, NC

• Oct 31st 5:00pm-7:00pm – West Hendersonville Baptist Church @ 730 Willow Rd, Hendersonville NC

• Oct 31st 6:00pm-8:00pm – Enka Baptist Church @ 1310 Sand Hill Rd, Candler NC. Photo Ops, and marshmallow roasting at the fire pit!

• Oct 31st 6:30pm-8:00pm – Flat Creek Baptist Church @ 21 Flat Creek Church Rd, Weaverville, NC. enjoy FREE candy, hotdogs, cotton candy, fried Oreos, and more!

• Nov 1st 6:00pm-8:00pm – Trunk or Treat with Jeepers Creepers at Maggie Valley Pavilion @ 3987 Soco Rd, Maggie Valley

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CHURCH FALL FESTIVALS

!!! (Church Fall Festivals are just beginning to be announced. Stay tuned for MANY more! If your church is hosting a Fall Festival, please contact us through our Facebook page to let us know so that we can add you!!) !!!

 

• Oct 5th 12:00pm-8:00pm – October Family Fest 2023 at Immaculata Catholic School. Live music, rides, games, food, silent auction, raffles, and more spill from the Immaculata campus into the streets of HVL. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 19th 10:30am-1:00pm – Family Fun Day at West Hendersonville Baptist Church @ 730 Willow Rd, Hendersonville, NC. Jump House, HOT Dogs, Popcorn, Games, & Music. FREE – Bring a Lawn Chair let the Kids Play. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 26th 10:00am-2:00pm – Fall Festival & Trunk or Treat at Naples Baptist Church @ 788 Rugby Drive, Hendersonville. hot dogs, concessions, pony rides, petting zoo, inflatable, games, trunk or treat, raffles, and more! LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 26th 1:00pm-6:00pm – Fall-O-Ween Jesus Fall Festival & Gleaner’s BBQ Fundraiser at Homers Chapel FWB Church in Black Mountain (202 Chapel Rd). Fall Festival 1:00pm-3:00pm, Gleaner’s BBQ Fundraiser 3:00pm-6:00pm. Tickets available for purchase at the entrance. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 27th 3:00pm-5:00pm – Fall Festival at Covenant Community Church @ 11 Rocket Dr, Asheville. Join us for a hot dog dinner, games, inflatables, costume contest (for kids & dogs!) & Trunk-or-Treat fun! LEARN MORE HERE

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HAUNTED HOUSES/TRAILS

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• Sept 27-28, Oct 4-6, 11-13, 18-20, 22, 25-27, 30-31st, Nov 1-2 – Pinhead’s Graveyard in Canton. LEARN MORE HERE

• Sept 29th, Oct 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 31st, Nov 1, 2 – The Haunted Farm in Hendersonville. LEARN MORE HERE

• October 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 24, 24, 25, 26 and 27 6:00pm-9:00pm – 2024 Haunted Trail at Adventure Center of Asheville with Asheville Plays. This is Asheville’s best Family Friendly haunt created for families with kids ages 3-12. Asheville Plays sete up spooky scenes with live actors, music, games and tons of fun! LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 25th & 26th 7:00pm-9:30pm – Haunted Castle on the Hill at Stephens-Lee Community Center with Asheville Parks & Recreation. Looking for spooky fright? Haunted Castle on the Hill’s inhabitants include plenty of ghosts and ghouls and visions of things that go bump in the night! This event is scary for most, so it’s recommend for ages 10+. $2. Ages 10+

• Oct 25th-26th 7:30pm-9:30pm – The Sandy Mush Community Center presents The Haunted House Asylum Tour. Come experience TWO floors of complete terror. 19 School Rd, Leicester. LEARN MORE HERE

 

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ORCHARDS / FARMS WITH U-PICK AND FALL ACTIVITIES

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• Pilot Mountain Pears | Circle L Farm Drive, Hendersonville, NC | 828-685-2605 … activities include u-pick Asian Pears. Open weekends (Fri, Sat, & Sun). PLAN YOUR VISIT HERE

• Coston Farm & Apple House | 3748 Chimney Rock Rd, Hendersonville, NC | 828-685-8352 …. Activities include U-Pick apples, a farm store with pre-picked apples, pumpkins, fall decor, baked goods, ice cream & gifts in the Apple House! PLAN YOUR VISIT HERE

• Creasman Farms | 280 Bent Arrow Lane, Hendersonville NC | 828-685-7728 … Open Sundays only through October 27th, 2024. Activities include u-pick heirloom and new varieties of apples. PLAN YOUR VISIT HERE

• Grandad’s Apples & Such | 2951 Chimney Rock Rd, Hendersonville NC | 828-685-1685 … They have u-pick apples, a bakery with hot apple cider donuts and Mountain Glaciers, a corn maze, cow train rides, a playground, apple cannon, food trucks, picking a pre-cut pumpkin and a country store and bakery. PLAN YOUR VISIT HERE

• Hickory Nut Gap Farm | 57 Sugar Hollow Road, Fairview, NC | 828-628-1027 … Join them and bring the whole family for a festive fall experience on the farm with Pony Rides, Hay Rides, Creekside play area with a treehouse and wee slide, Local Apples for purchase, Fresh Pressed Cider, Sound Silo in the big barn full of instruments to play on and make noise, their famous and fast culvert tunnel slides for all ages on the grassy slope behind the big barn, hammocks on the hill, tetherball, trikes on the trike track around a REAL tractor, corn hole boards, local pumpkins, and animals to see. FREE Admission. PLAN YOUR VISIT HERE

• Jeter Mountain Farm | 1126 Jeter Mountain Rd, Hendersonville NC | 828-513-0404 … activities include u-pick apples, tractor rides, a farm market, hard apple ciders, apple cider donuts, an incredible indoor play area for kids, and a food truck. PLAN YOUR VISIT HERE

• Justus Orchard | 187 Garren Rd, Hendersonville NC | 828-974-1232 … activities include u-pick apples, an animal barn and petting zoo, apple cannons, cow train rides, playground with jumping pillow, jump pad, restaurant, and bakery. PLAN YOUR VISIT HERE

• Mountain Fresh Orchard | 2887 Chimney Rock Rd, Hendersonville NC | 828-435-0020 … activities include u-pick apples, an Apple Express train, bakery, and country store. PLAN YOUR VISIT HERE

• Sky Top Orchard | 1193 Pinnacle Mountain Rd, Flat Rock NC | 828-692-7930 … activities include u-pick apples, apple cannons, animals in the barnyard to visit with, tractor-pulled hayrides, bee train rides, gem mining, and a full bakery. PLAN YOUR VISIT HERE

• Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard | 170 Stepp Orchard Dr, Hendersonville NC | 828-685-9083 … Daily activities include u-pick apple and pumpkin picking and a Corn Maze. Weekend activities also include Wagon Rides, an Apple Cannon, and Jump Pad. Stepp’s is also one of the last places left to pick your own pumpkins off the vine, in the fall. PLAN YOUR VISIT HERE

• The Ten Acre Garden | 148 Chambers Farm Ln, Canton, NC | (828) 235-9667 … Pumpkin Patch (pre-picked), Hay Rides through the pumpkin patch on the hour, Pizzas on Saturdays 12-6, farm tours, chicken visits in the chicken coop, and gorgeous mountain views. PLAN YOUR VISIT HERE

• Twisted Apple Orchard | 4039 Chimney Road Road, Hendersonville NC | 828-712-1919 … Unfortunately, NO u-pick for 2023, but surrounded by fall colors in the mountains, you can enjoy their locally grown food, freshly pressed apple cider and experience small farm life in a picturesque setting. PLAN YOUR VISIT HERE

• The Orchard at Altapass | 1025 Orchard Road, Spruce Pine NC | 828-765-9531 … Come for the apples, stay for the music and a bite. Hayrides are back! Altapass Orchard is a not-for-profit working orchard, educational, and music venue, that grows over 20 varieties of heirloom apples available for u-pick, and seeks to preserve the fragile ecosystem of the land. PLAN YOUR VISIT HERE

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PUMPKIN PATCHES

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• Sept 4th-Nov 3rd – Glass Pumpkin Patch at North Carolina Glass Center. Come explore the Gardner Gallery, where you’ll be enchanted by hundreds of unique, handmade glass pumpkins in every color, shape, and size imaginable—crafted by over 30 talented local artists. And don’t miss out on other spooky glass creations that will leave you spellbound! Open most days of the week. Closed on Tuesdays. LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 12th 10:00am-1:00pm – Pumpkin Sale at The Park at Flat Rock (pre-picked) LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 12th & 13th 10:00am-5:00pm – Glass Pumpkin Patch at Small Batch Glass Company. Join us for live glass blowing demonstrations, food & drink, and an enchanting pumpkin patch adorned with hundreds of handcrafted glass pumpkins. Our live demos will be held inside our hot shop, right next to our pumpkin patch! LEARN MORE HERE

• Barnwell’s Apple House (pre-picked) @ 2900 Chimney Rock Rd, Hendersonville, NC LEARN MORE HERE

• Hickory Nut Gap Farm (pre-picked) @ 57 Sugar Hollow Rd, Fairview, NC 28730. Locally grown jack-o-lantern pumpkins as well as both edible and decorative squash. Available mid-late September. PLAN YOUR VISIT HERE

• Grandad’s Apples & Such (pre-picked) @ 2951 Chimney Rock Rd, Hendersonville, NC PLAN YOUR VISIT HERE

• Henderson Farms (pre-picked) @ 705 Tracy Grove Rd, Flat Rock, NC PLAN YOUR VISIT HERE

• Jeter Mountain Farm (pre-picked) @ 1126 Jeter Mountain Road, Hendersonville, NC PLAN YOUR VISIT HERE

• Linda’s Plants & Shrubs (pre-picked) @ 308 Stepp Acres Ln, Hendersonville, NC PLAN YOUR VISIT HERE

• Owenby’s Fruit Stand (pre-picked) @ 4500 Chimney Rock Road, Hendersonville, NC

• Packa’s Place (pre-picked) @ 4210 Brevard Road, Horse Shoe, NC. PLAN YOUR VISIT HERE

• Sky Top Orchard (u-pick) @ 1193 Pinnacle Mtn Rd, Zirconia, NC PLAN YOUR VISIT HERE

• Stepp’s Hillcrest (u-pick) @ 170 Stepp Orchard Dr, Hendersonville NC PLAN YOUR VISIT HERE

• The Nix Pumpkin Patch (u-pick) @ 3726 Chimney Rock Road, Hendersonville, NC PLAN YOUR VISIT HERE

• The Ten Acre Garden (pre-picked) @ 148 Chambers Farm Ln, Canton, NC PLAN YOUR VISIT HERE

• Worley Flower Farm @ 2682 New Leicester Hwy, Leicester, NC PLAN YOUR VISIT HERE

 

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CORN MAZES

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• Eliada Corn Maze (see above under multi day festivals)

• Cold Mountain Corn Maize @ 4168 Pisgah Drive, Canton, NC. The Cold Mountain Corn Maize is open 4:00pm-9:00pm Wednesday through Friday, and 1:00pm-9:00pm Saturday and Sunday through the month of October. Admission is $12, which includes a hayride. LEARN MORE HERE

• Creek Bank Corn Maze @ McDaniel Family Farm, Lake Lure (Corner of Rock Springs Church Rd & Hwy 64. Fridays 2:00pm-9:00pm, Saturdays 10:00am-9:00pm, and Sundays 2:00pm-9:00pm. LEARN MORE HERE

• Grandad’s Apples & Such (see above under orchards)

• Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard (see above under orchards)

• Indoor Pumpkin Maze at Linda’s Plants & Shrubs @ 308 Stepp Acres Ln, Hendersonville, NC. $5/Admission LEARN MORE HERE

• Oct 18th 3:00pm-7:00pm – Indoor Corn Maze for All in the PEP Gym at TC Roberson High School. Cost: Any donation amount. LEARN MORE HERE

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HALLOWEEN MEALS & DEALS