Charlotte’s Fall Festivals and Fairs: 2025

Matthews Alive Labor Day Festival

August 29 – September 1

​Come for the food vendors, Kids Connection area, games, rides and multiple entertainment stages. Don’t miss the parade at 9:30 a.m. Saturday!

Location/Cost: Stumptown Park, 120 S. Trade St. Free admission.

Hours: Fri., 6-10 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sun., 1-10 p.m.; Mon. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. See the full schedule of events here.

Charlotte International Arts Festival

Sept. 1 – 30

This multi-week festival features immersive experiences from local, national and international artists such as larger-than-life bird puppets, bubble and percussion shows, glow yoga, a rock wall, butterfly installations and more. Visit the website for location and parking information.

Location/Cost: Throughout Charlotte. Some experiences are free, others are ticketed.

Hours: Varies by activity

Yiasou Greek Festival

Sept. 5 – 7

Come enjoy cultural exhibits, folk dancing, live music, authentic Greek cuisine and the Kids Playland with rides, children’s activities and cotton candy.

Location/Cost: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 600 East Blvd. $5. Children 12 and younger free.

Hours: Fri. and Sat., 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Cabarrus County Fair

Sept. 5 – 13

Experience rides, food, horticulture and craft exhibits, a petting zoo and racing pigs.

Location/Cost: Cabarrus Arena and Events Center, 4759 NC Highway 49 N., Concord. $6-$8, children 5 and younger free. Rides are additional.

Hours: Fri., 4-11 p.m..; Sat. 1-11 p.m.; Sun. 1-10 p.m.; Mon.-Thurs. 4-10 p.m.

 

 

Mecktoberfest

Sept. 12 – 14 & 19-21 (LoSo Location)

Oct 3 – 5 & 10 – 12 (Ballantyne)

Enjoy traditional German food and live music in the Biergarten, and participate in 1-liter Das Boot and stein-holding contests.

Location/Cost: Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, 4150 Yancey Road. (LoSo) and 15025 Bowl Street (Ballantyne)

Hours: Opens 11 a.m. Fri.-Sat.; 10 a.m. Sun.

Sept 13,

Stroll the historic streets of Downtown Davidson and browse fine art from 40 local artists. There are also handmade gifts and kids crafts. Stay for live music by Billy Jones on the Town Green and more live music at The Crazy Pig.

Location/Cost: Historic Downtown Davidson and South Main, Davidson. Free.

Hours: 4-8 p.m.

The Great Pumpkin Fest

Sept. 13 – Nov 2 (Saturdays and Sundays)

Carowinds presents family-friendly Halloween attractions for young children, including Lucy’s Mummy Pit, Peppermint Patty’s Hay Bale Maze, Woodstock’s Kookie Corn Maze and Linus’ Pumpkin Patch. There’s also trick-or-treating around Camp Snoopy. Wear your favorite costume!

Location/Cost: Carowinds Amusement Park, 14523 Carowinds Blvd. Tickets start at $39.99.

Hours: Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Festival in the Park 

Sept. 19 – 21

Freedom Park will be a hub for music, food and art vendors.

Location/Cost: Freedom Park, 1900 East Blvd. Free.

Hours: Fri., 4-9 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Flow Fest

Sept. 20

Flow into a Saturday full of yoga. Among the practices are puppy yoga, SUP yoga, Vinyasa yoga, meditation and breathwork. See website for full schedule. Look for kombucha sampling, vendors and live music in the evening.

Location/Cost: U.S. National Whitewater Center, 5000 Whitewater Center. Online registration required. $6 for parking.

Hours: First session begins at 8:30 a.m. The event ends with Glow Yoga at 8 p.m.

Festival of India

Sept. 20 (Uptown); Sept 21 (Ballantyne)

The cultural festival showcases the diversity of Indian dance, film, food, art and music. Guests can enjoy yoga, henna tattoos and a kids’ art corner and competition.

Location/Cost: Belk Theater, 130 N. Tryon St., Ballantyne’s Backyard, 11611, N Community House; $6

Hours: Noon-8 p.m. Uptown; Noon – 6 p.m. Ballantyne

Sept. 20

Discover different cultures through arts, music, fashion, dance and food.

Location/Cost: Harrisburg Park, 191 Sims Parkway, Harrisburg. Free.

Hours: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Catawba Fest

Sept 27

The event features an arts and crafts show with wares from local artisans, a pumpkin pie-eating contest, fall plant potting education, food trucks, a kid’s zone and a Cupcake Challenge for all ages.

Location/Cost: Catawba Park, 2351 New Gray Rock Road, Tega Cay. Free.

Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Oct. 4

Celebrate Latin culture with food, music, dance performances and family activities.

Location/Cost: Uptown Charlotte, on Tryon Street from Brooklyn Village Ave. to 4th Street. Free.

Hours: Noon-6 p.m.

Carolina Renaissance Festival

Oct 4 – Nov 23 (Saturdays and Sundays)

The Carolina Renaissance Festival is filled with charming cottages, castles, kitchens and pubs, all with simulated architecture of a 16th century European village. Interactive entertainment takes place all day long, and there’s an open-air artisan market with arts, crafts, games and rides.

Location/Cost: 16445 Poplar Tent Road, Huntersville. $20-$34.

Hours: Saturdays and Sundays from 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Laketoberfest

Oct. 11

Enjoy live music, NC beer, food trucks and a kid’s zone with crafts and games. All proceeds benefit Lake Norman Wildlife Conservationists.

Location/Cost: Bailey Road Park, 11536 Bailey Road, Cornelius. Free.

Hours: 4-9 p.m.

Autumn Treasures

Oct. 11

Local crafters display wares on Main Street, while local musicians fill the streets with song. The Kids Zone features inflatables, carnival rides, pony rides, a petting zoo, children’s entertainment and crafts.

Location/Cost: Downtown Waxhaw. Street parking is available downtown, or park off-site and take one of the shuttles.

Hours: Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., noon-6 p.m.

Mint Hill Madness Family Fun Festival

Oct. 16 – 18

Come for three days of family entertainment, rides, great music and a fireworks spectacular to cap off the affair!

Location/Cost: Veterans Memorial Park, 8500 Fairview Road, Mint Hill. Free admission; rides are ticketed. $25 all-you-can-ride wristbands available Thursday only.

Hours: Thu., 4-9 p.m.; Fri., 4-10 p.m.; Sat., 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Fireworks start at 9:30 p.m. on Sat.

 

Carolina Balloonfest

Oct. 17 – 19

Bring your cameras, lawn chairs and blankets to experience a family-friendly festival featuring more than 50 hot air balloons, live music, food, wine and craft beer, a kids’ zone and an artisan marketplace.

Location/Cost: Statesville Regional Airport, 260 Hangar Drive, Statesville. $15-$45. General and VIP parking passes are available, or park for free at Troutman Park & Ride.

Hours: Fri., 3-8:30 p.m.; Sat., 7 a.m.-8:30 p.m.; Sun., 7 a.m.-6 p.m.

Lincoln County Apple Festival 

Oct. 18

This festival attracts more than 60,000 visitors each year, thanks to the food, crafts, entertainment, kids’ attractions and plenty of apples.

Location/Cost: Downtown Lincolnton, 115 W. Main St., Lincolnton. Free.

Hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

 

Halloween Treat Trail in Cornelius

Oct. 25

Local businesses hand out nut-free, packaged candy to kids 12 and under who come in silly or scary costumes. Look for festive games along the trail, a photo area and a Halloween-themed movie at sunset.

Location/Cost: Bailey Road Park, 11536 Bailey Road, Cornelius. Free.

Hours: 5:30-8 p.m.

Statesville Pumpkin Fest

Nov. 1

Details are still to be announced, but past fests have included pumpkin pie-eating contests and other pumpkin-themed activities for all ages, plus local food and craft vendors. Bookmark the website for event updates.

Location/Cost: Downtown Statesville, Statesville. Free.

Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Rural Hill Sheepdog Trials and Dog Festival

Nov. 15 – 16

Handlers command their dogs, mostly champion border collies, to round up herds of sheep at this 25th annual festival. Look for Canine Agility Club competitions, heritage-breed livestock, hayrides, historic crafty and cooking demos, pumpkin chuckin’ and much more.

Location/Cost: 4431 Neck Road, Huntersville. $6-$28.

Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.