Charlotte’s Fall Festivals and Fairs: 2022
From fairs and festivals to cultural exhibits and Halloween activities
Festival of India
Aug. 27
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. $6
Hours: Noon-8 p.m.
Matthews Alive Labor Day Festival
Sept. 2-5
Come for the food vendors, Kids Connection area (the ninja mobile course is new for 2022), 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. Individual tickets for rides and games are $2 and are also available in sheets of 25 ($30) and 50 ($50).
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.
Photo courtesy of Matthews Alive
Best Wurst Fest
Sept. 3-4
Sausage, sausage, and more sausage in the Biergarten. Test you skills in the Sausage Toss Game, or just enjoy some live music.
Location: Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, 4150 Yancey Road.
Hours: Opens 11 a.m. Sat.; 10 a.m. Sun.
Yiasou Greek Festival
Sept. 9-11
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. noon-6 p.m.
Cabarrus County Fair
Sept. 9-17
Experience rides, food, horticulture and craft exhibits, a petting zoo, and racing pigs.
Location/Cost: Cabarrus Arena and Events Center, 4751 NC Hwy. 49 N., Concord. $6-$8, children 5 and younger free. Rides are $1.50 for one ticket, $20 for 20 tickets and $50 for 52 tickets; wristbands for one day’s unlimited mechanical ride access are $25.
Hours: Fri., 4-11 p.m..; Sat. 1-11 p.m.; Sun. 1-10 p.m.; Mon.-Thurs. 4-10 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Cabarrus County Fair
By the Sweat of Our Brows
Sept. 10
Visit Historic Brattonville for a demonstration of the daily life and work of enslaved people who once worked Bratton Plantation. Meet the descendants of the African-American community as they share stores of their ancestors. Enjoy children’s activities, woodworking, spinning, weaving, quilting, and a historical marker dedication.
Location/Cost: Historic Brattonsville, 1444 Brattonsville Road, McConnells. $5-$8, children 3 and younger free. Pre-registration is encouraged.
Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Charlotte International Arts Festival
Sept. 16-Oct. 2
This multi-week festival features immersive experiences from local, national, and international artists such as walk-through inflatables, vertical and horizontal theater performances, short films, a secret garden, 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
Mecktoberfest
Sept. 16-18 & 23-25
Enjoy pretzels and bier cheese and the special Mecktoberfest Maerzen Lager, plus traditional German food and music.
Location/Cost: Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, 4150 Yancey Road.
Hours: Opens 11 a.m. Fri.-Sat.; 10 a.m. Sun.
Festival in the Park
Sept. 16-18
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.
Sept. 17
Discover different cultures through arts, music, fashion, dance, and food.
Location/Cost: Harrisburg Park, 191 Sims Pkwy., Harrisburg. Free.
Hours: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Flow Fest
Sept. 17
Flow into a Saturday full of yoga. Yoga for kids takes place at 11:30 a.m.; family yoga at 1 p.m. 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 8:30 p.m.
Union County Heritage Festival
Sept. 17
Expect live entertainment, food, vendors, educational and creative activities for kids, free talks, art, raffles, a 5K race, and cooking demonstrations. Don’t miss the Union County 4-H Expo.
Location/Cost: Union County Agricultural Center, 3230 Presson Road, Monroe. Free.
Hours: Race begins at 8 a.m.; festival opens at 9 a.m.
The Great Pumpkin Fest
Sept. 17-Oct. 30
Carowinds presents family-friendly Halloween attractions for young children, including Franklin’s Game Corner, Lucy’s Mummy Pit, Candy Corn Acres (a trick-or-treat trail), and Peppermint Patty’s Hay Bale Maze. Wear your costume and pose with your favorite characters!
Location/Cost: Carowinds Amusement Park, 14523 Carowinds Blvd. Tickets start at $39.99.
Hours: Saturdays and Sundays, noon-5 p.m.
Gold Hill Founders Day
Sept. 24
Immerse yourself in the history and culture of Gold Hill with arts, crafts, a parade, bluegrass music, food, and gold panning.
Location/Cost: Gold Hill Mines Historic Park, 735 Saint Stephens Church Road, Gold Hill. Free.
Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; parade at 10 a.m.
Dog Gone Good Time Festival
Sept. 28
Celebrate the Humane Society of York County at this festival that’s gone to the dogs. Activities include a bake sale, pet adoptions, and games. Bring your pooch (up-to-date on its shots) to participate in all the fun.
Location/Cost: Walter Y. Elisha Park, 345 N. White St., Fort Mill. Free.
Hours: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
‘Tawba Walk Arts and Music Festival
Sept. 28
This music festival and art crawl showcases the best of Cornelius, with hundreds of local local artists and craftsmen; live music on two stages; food trucks; craft beer; and a kids’s zone with obstacle courses, balloon animals, giant bubbles, and more.
Location/Cost: Oak Street Mill, 19725 Oak St., Cornelius. Free.
Hours: 2-8 p.m.
Indian Land Fall Festival
Oct. 1-2
This 16th annual festival features live music, vendors, classic cars, a farm zone, and food trucks.
Location/Cost: Indian Land High School, 8063 River Road, Indian Land. $5.
Hours: Sat., 10 a.m.-7 p.m; Sun. 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Carolina Renaissance Festival
Oct. 1-Nov. 20
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-$32.
Hours: Saturdays and Sundays from 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Carolina Renaissance Festival
Fall Festival in Indian Trail
Oct. 5
This community festival has an array of vendor booths, food trucks, and a large kid’s zone.
Location/Cost: Indian Trail Town Hall, 315 Matthews, Indian Trail. Free.
Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Davidson Fall Art Festival
Oct. 8
Stroll the historic streets of Downtown Davidson and browse fine art from local artists, handmade gifts, and kids crafts. Stay for live music by Billy Jones on the Town Green and Stella Rising at The Crazy Pig.
Location/Cost: Historic Downtown Davidson, 108 South Main St., Davidson. Free.
Hours: 4-7 p.m.
Fall Festival: A Taste of the South
Oct. 8
A community favorite, this event has barbecue, live music, baked goods, vendor booths, wellness activities, “touch a tractor,” and games and inflatables for kids.
Location/Cost: Philadelphia UMC, 1691 Hwy 160 W., Fort Mill. Free.
Hours: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Autumn Treasures
Oct. 8-9
Local crafters display wares on Main Street, while local musicians fill the streets with song. The Kids Zone features inflatables, carnival rides, pony rides, petting zoo, children’s entertainment, and crafts.
Location/Cost: Downtown Waxhaw.
Hours: Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., noon-6 p.m.
Curtin Farms Fest 2022
Oct. 12
Experience a relaxing, family-friendly day on the 100-year-old working farm with live music, antiques, food, and crafts.
Location/Cost: Curtin Farms, 407 Paraham Road N., Clover. $10, 10+; $5, 3-9 years; free for those 2 and under.
Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Huntersville Fall Festival
Oct. 12
This fall festival features local art and craft booths, children’s games and crafts, inflatables, scarecrow making, food trucks, a pumpkin patch, and live entertainment.
Location/Cost: Rural Hill, 4431 Neck Road, Huntersville. All-day fun bands, $10; Make a Scarecrow, $15.
Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Pineville Fall Festival
Oct. 14-15
Come enjoy food, music, rides, art, and vendors. Stay tuned to the website for updated information.
Location/Cost: Lake Park, 1000 Johnston Drive, Pineville. Free.
Hours: TBA
Carolina Balloonfest
Oct. 14-16
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-$40. 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.
Oct. 15
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.
Laketoberfest
Oct. 15
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.
Lincoln County Apple Festival
Oct. 15
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.
Windy Hill Apple Harvest Festival
Oct. 15
This annual festival is now in its 29th year. Pick your own apples, taste hard cider at The Cider Bar, and enjoy music from the Glen Watkins Band. Full details available mid-September.
Location/Cost: Windy Hill Orchard and Cider Mill, 1860 Black Hwy., York.
Hours: TBA
Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Tr. Armstrong/Pexels
Mint Hill Madness Family Fun Festival
Oct. 20-22
Come for three days of family entertainment, rides, great music, and a fireworks spectacular to cap off the affair!
Location/Cost: Mint Hill Town Hall, 4430 Mint Hill Village Lane, Mint Hill. Free admission; rides are $1 per ticket or $25 for 30 tickets, $50 for 70 tickets. $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.
BOOllantyne
Oct 28
Explore a ghoulish graveyard, enter the pumpkin contest, enjoy fall food truck fare, spooky shorts and endless activities for all ages, plus catch Hocus Pocus on the big screen.
Location/Cost: Ballantyne’s Backyard, 11611 N Community House Rd. Register for $10 per person for activities scheduled after 4 p.m. Activities before 4pm are free.
Hours: Starts at 11 a.m. Hocus Pocus screening starts at 7:45 p.m.
BooFest and Nightmare on Main Street
Oct. 29
Come to downtown Belmont for a hauntingly fun evening full of costume contests, a Jack-o-lantern contest, carnival rides, arts & crafts vendors, a spooky photo booth, and candy for trick-or-treaters.
Location/Cost: Stowe Park, 24 S. Main St., Belmont. Free.
Hours: 2-7 p.m.
Halloween Treat Trail in Cornelius
Oct. 29
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: 5:30-10:30 p.m.
Catawba Fest
Oct. 29
The event features entertainment by Thirsty Horses (2-5 p.m.), High Fidelity (5:30-8 p.m.), and DJ Tim Brown throughout the day. Find food vendors, arts and crafts booths, a costume parade, and a kid’s zone with a variety of inflatables and games.
Location/Cost: Catawba Park, 2351 New Gray Rock Road, Tega Cay. Free.
Hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Pajamas All Day 5K/10K Spooky Edition
Oct. 29
Get moving at the 5K, 10K, or children’s fun run, then take part in an expo with vendors, a petting zoo, DIY booth, kid’s activities, adult beverages, and more. Supports the Move for Jenn Foundation, which provides prosthetics to those who’ve lost a limb due to sarcoma or other related diseases.
Location/Cost: Blakeney Professional Park, 8840 Blakeney Professional Dr. Free.
Hours: Race registration opens at 7 a.m., with kid’s fun beginning at 8: 30 a.m. and the 5K/10K at 9 a.m.
Statesville Pumpkin Fest
Nov. 5
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: TBA
Photo courtesy of Marius Ciocirlan/Unsplash
Rural Hill Sheepdog Trials and Dog Festival
Nov. 12-13
Handlers command their dogs, mostly champion border collies, to round up herds of sheep at this 24th 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. $11 adults 13+; $8 kids 5-12; free for children 4 and under.
Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Know a festival or fair that we missed? Email us at calendar@charlotteparent.com.
