Things to do in North Carolina this weekend. While most events listed are in the Five County Stadium area and surrounding towns, some events are in other parts of the state.
What’s missing? Let the editor know.
Friday, September 30, 2016
Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair (September 29-October 8, 2016)
The 68th annual fair! Come and enjoy excitement like no year before! Entertainment, rides, foods, animals, tractors, and more. The Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair is held at 2801 US-117 S,
Dudley NC. Schedule and details are online at www.waynefair.com.
Spring Hope Pumpkin Festival (September 30-October 1, 2016)
Great annual event with food and fun activities downtown Spring Hope NC, alongside vendors and local shops. Festival updates and schedule are available on this Facebook page.
Railroad Days Festival (September 30-October 1, 2016)
Entertainment, parade, caboose run, family fun walk, and live entertainment on three stages! Carnival, dancing, pageant, and more. The event is scheduled in downtown Selma NC. More information on the town website at www.selma-nc.com/railroad-days-festival.
Enfield Peanut Festival (September 30-October 1)
The 2016 Enfield Peanut Festival will hold a block party on Friday, 6-9pm. Festival vendors and entertainment are on Saturday, noon-8pm. More information on this event and the Town of Enfield NC is on their website here.
Saturday, October 1, 2016
Brushy Mountain Apple Festival (October 1, 2016)
The Annual Brushy Mountain Apple Festival is one of the largest one-day arts and crafts festivals in the Southeast. The Brushy Mountain Apple Festival has become a one of Wilkes County’s biggest fundraisers. Over 100 civic, church, and other nonprofit organizations participate in the festival. For many of them, the festival has become the biggest fundraiser of the year. Over 160,000 people visit this festival during the day and it’s free. The streets of downtown North Wilkesboro NC are filled with over 425 arts and crafts, 100 food concessions, 4 different music stages. More online at www.applefestival.net/festival.php.
Fall Festival 2016 (October 1 at 10am-7pm)
Join New Life Church for a fun-filled day for the whole family. Bounce Houses, Games, Relay Races, Craft Vendors, Bingo, Silent Auction, Face Painting, Hay Rides, Hot Air Balloon Rides, Music and Entertainment, a Bake Sale, Hot Dog Lunch, Popcorn, Cake Walk, Cotton Candy, Chili Cook-off, and a BBQ Chicken/BBQ Pork Dinner fundraiser. Located at New Life Church, 6900 Zebulon Road, Wake Forest NC. More information at www.newlifenow.us/fall-festival.
ABC Craft & Learn (October 1, 2016 @ 10:30-11:30am)
Children ages 3-5 and their caregivers may participate in “an interactive program with an alphabet craft to nurture pre-reading skills through writing and play and to give opportunity to develop fine motor skills children require to start school.” This is a free event, and no Registration is required.
It is held at the Zebulon Community Library, 1000 Dogwood Drive, in Zebulon NC. For more information, contact Margaret at 919.404.3610.
It is also held at the Wendell Community Library, 207 S Hollybrook Road, Wendell NC. The time and date are the same as for Zebulon.
College Fair (October 1, 2016 @ 11am-2pm)
This teen-oriented event provides a chance to meet college and university representatives. Held in the Young Adult area at Braswell Memorial Library, located at 727 N Grace Street, Rocky Mount NC. More information on the library is online here.
Halifax County Harvest Days (September 30-October 1, 2016 @ 9am)
See heritage farm equipment, exhibits, demonstrations, music, and more. Visit the Educational Exhibits, the 1900’s Farm House, and the Ag Museum’s cotton display, tools, and photos of honored military. Admission is free. For more information, call 252.583.5161 or see the www.visithalifax.com event calendar. The Harvest Days location is the 4-H Rural Life Center, Halifax NC.
Stepping into the Past Series (October 1, 2016 @ 10am-3pm)
This Saturday retro event includes demonstrations and displays of traditional arts, crafts, and trades at the Tobacco Farm Life Museum, 709 North Church Street, in Kenly NC. All activities are included with regular admission to the Museum ($8 for adults, $7 for Seniors age 55 and over, $6 for children and students, and free for children under 2 years old. More information on the museum website at www.tobaccofarmlifemuseum.org/events/stepping-into-the-past. **October 1 is Spinning, Casting and Knotting: Fabric art demonstrations**
Zebulon Farm Fresh Market (October 1, 2016 @ 9am-1pm)
The Zebulon Farm Fresh Market is holding a special public safety event with the Zebulon Police Department and the Zebulon Fire Department. A ZPD officer and patrol car will be at the Market this Saturday 10am to 12pm. A ZFD fireman will also be at the Market with the ZFD firetruck. Bring the kids out and let them meet these public servants who protect and serve the Zebulon NC community. Music will be provided by BoneDeep. The market and event are on the grounds of the Zebulon Municipal Complex, 1003 N Arendell Avenue, Zebulon NC. For more details, contact Market Manager Maurine Brown at 919.823.0432 or email.
“Bloodsuckers” Exhibit Opening with Free Admission (October 1, 2016 @ 10am-5pm)
Explore the science of what’s biting you. Free admission this Saturday only, to attend the grand opening of the centre’s latest exhibit, “Attack of the Bloodsuckers.” Special games will explore the body parts of parasites, and the science of their attraction to blood. Imperial Centre for the Arts and Sciences is located at 270 Gay Street, in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. More on their website, museum.imperialcentre.org.
Sunday, October 2, 2016
Pepperfest (October 2, 2016 @ 2-7pm)
Celebrate the harvest, enjoy pepper-y foods, listen to music, and support local growers. This event is held at Great Meadow Park at Briar Chapel, 185 Granite Mill Blvd, Chapel Hill NC. Festival details are online at pepperfestnc.org. Tickets available here ($5 to $30).
Coming Soon
Fish Fry (October 3, 2016)
Franklin County Shrine Club is holding their charitable Fish Fry. For more details, call Jerry Chapman at 919.496.3160.
Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance (October 6-9, 2016)
This festival is a collaboration between the Shakori Hills Community Arts Center and the GrassRoots Festival Organization, creating this family-friendly celebration of music, dance, art and education. Tickets range from $27 to $124 depending on days attending in this four stage, 50+ bands event in Chatham County, North Carolina. See schedule and buy tickets from the event website at shakorihillsgrassroots.org.
First Friday Coffee (October 7, 2016 @ 7:30-8:30am)
Nashville NC Chamber of Commerce holds this networking, community event on the first Friday of each month. Join the group at the Nashville Exchange, 229 W Washington Street, Nashville NC. More information on the Chamber website, nashvillechambernc.org.
Outdoor Movie Night (October 7, 2016 @ 5:30-10pm)
Knightdale Parks, Recreation & Cultural Programs hosts this Outdoor Movie Night. This event is free and open to the public. Vendors open at 5:30pm, and the film begins at dusk. Bring a blanket and/or chair for your comfort. The series will be held at the Knightdale Station Park Amphitheater, 810 North First Avenue, Knightdale NC. Proceeds support local schools’ PTA groups.
Eastern Carolina BBQ Throw Down (October 7-8, 2016)
Join the fun and enjoy the food at this annual gathering, held in front of the Helen P. Gay Historic Rocky Mount Train Station, 101 Coastline Street, in Downtown Rocky Mount.
The 2016 BBQ Throw Down is scheduled for 12pm to 8pm on Friday, and 10am to 6pm on Saturday. For details, visit bbqthrowdown.net.
Taste of Wayne County (October 8, 2016 @ 11am-2pm)
Since 1990 the Taste of Wayne County has taken place to benefit United Way of Wayne County. It is Wayne County’s only food festival featuring local food. Held on the City Hall block, 200 N Center Street, in downtown Goldsboro NC. Tickets are $15 per person, with children 6 & under FREE. More information on participating restaurants and event updates may be found at www.tasteofwayne.com.
Monarch Festival (October 8, 2016 @ 10am-4pm)
Come and celebrate the journey of the Monarch butterfly! Sandy Creek Park is a certified waystation for Monarch butterflies as they migrate throughout North America. The festival features music, family-friendly activities, educational talks, pollinator plant sale, and food. This second annual festival is at Sandy Creek Park, 3510 Sandy Creek Drive, Durham NC.
NC State Fair (October 13-23, 2016)
Held at the State Fairgrounds, 1025 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh NC. Visit www.ncstatefair.org for general event information, tickets, and stage/event schedules.
The Excelerate Experience (October 14, 2016 @ 8:30am-6:30pm)
For Entrepreneurs, Small and Independent Business Owners Ready and Willing to Excelerate their businesses to go from Great … to Extraordinary!
This ‘experience’ will is not a ‘nuts and bolts for business’ event, but rather you will learn from industry experts the soft skills required for your final ‘leap’ to the greatness you have earned … and deserve. Tickets are $97 and are available online at excelerateexperience.com. Scheduled for the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, 15 TW Alexander Drive, Durham NC.
Free Family Movie Night (October 14, 2016 @ 7pm)
The Zebulon Parks & Recreation Department presents a free movie and popcorn — for all ages — at the Zebulon Community Center, 301 S Arendell Avenue, Zebulon NC. A parent/guardian must be present for all children. This event repeats on the second Friday of each month, with a future showing planned for December 9, 2016 (no movie in November due to Veteran’s Day). Call 919.823.0432 to find out what movie is showing.
Annual Taylorsville Apple Festival (October 15, 2016)
The weather should be as crisp as the apples! The third Saturday in October, this event is expected to draw well over 30,000 visitors to shop at the vendor booths, enjoy food (including apples), watch performances on the stages, and let the kids play in the Kids Korner area. See the Alexander County festival event page, www.alexandercountyonline.com/applefestival/indexAppleFestival.htm, for vendor and attendance details. The Taylorsville Apple Festival is in downtown Taylorsville NC.
Triangle VegFest (October 15-16, 2016)
The Third Annual Triangle VegFest is free, with two days of festival at two locations. The festival highlights “the many benefits and joys of choosing a plant-based lifestyle.” Admission is free; a $5 donation is suggested.
Day 1 (Saturday, October 15, 12-5pm), is being held at Nash Square, in downtown Raleigh NC.
Day 2 (Sunday, October 16, 10am-4pm), is at McKimmon Center, NC State University, Raleigh NC.
Speaker schedules and more details are online at www.trianglevegfest.com.
Wendell Harvest Festival (NEW DATE announced Oct. 5 — First weekend in November)
This event has been rescheduled to November due to Hurricane Matthew.
Fall Festival at ZUMC (October 22, 2016 @ 8am)
*New date, postponed due to Hurricane Matthew. Come out for a day of fun, shopping and good food. We’ll have children’s activities, plant sales, crafts, baked goods, great jams and jellies, etc. in our country store, chicken and pork BBQ plates for $8, and live and silent auctions. Held at Zebulon United Methodist Church, 121 W Gannon Avenue, Zebulon NC.
Rolesville Fall FunFest (October 22, 2016 @ 10am-4pm)
The event will be a street festival held on Main Street near the park in Rolesville NC. This FunFest will feature various arts/crafts vendors. There will be food trucks and live bands. Get an early jump on holiday shopping! Vendor application PDF is available on this link.
Downtown Beats & Eats (October 22, 2016 @ 11am-3pm)
Historic Downtown Wilson presents this event in the Beer Garden, 217 Brew Works, 217 South Street, Wilson NC. The event includes a free concert, and all are encouraged to bring chairs or a blanket. Food trucks and beverages will be available for purchase. Leave pets and coolers at home.
Tea with Belle (October 22, 2016 @ 2-5pm)
Little Princesses and Little Princes are invited to have tea with Belle from Beauty and the Beast. In addition to tea, there will be songs and stories, and etiquette too.Children’s admission is $20, Adults $10. Held at Common Grounds Coffee & Music House, 20 Cheves Road, Bunn NC. Visit their Facebook page for updates.
Koichella (October 22, 2016)
This full day of music, food trucks, beer, peace, and family fun is shaping up to be a blast! Music by Matty Begs, High Hat Hipsy, milo, Acoustic Bus, and Strange Velvet. Organized by Koi Pond Brewing Company in Rocky Mount NC. See details at koipondbrewing.com.
Whirligig Festival (November 5-6, 2016)
Held each year in Historic downtown Wilson NC, this Arts Festival celebrates all things whirly, and draws more than 35,000 attendees for music, arts, crafts, food, kids activities, and much more. There will be three stages of entertainment! The event is 10am-5pm Saturday, and noon-5pm on Sunday, rain or shine. Vendor applications are online, along festival details, at whirligigfestivalnc.org.
Stay tuned for “Things to Do in NC When You’re Bored” from Eastern North Carolina!
