October Festivals and Autumn General Events

Asheville and surrounding towns host various fall festivals and Halloween-themed parties during September and October. From parades to corn mazes to festivals, we've supplied a list of our event recommendations below: 

• August 30-September 2, 2024: The North Carolina Apple Festival in Hendersonville covers eight blocks of Main Street with more than 200 vendors. The festival includes continuous live musical entertainment, arts & crafts, apple products, special exhibits, food, and the King Apple Parade. The festival is free to attend, and pets are not allowed.
  
• September 6-15, 2024: The North Carolina Mountain State Fair - more than 180,000 people attend the 10-day event that celebrates WNC's people, agriculture, art, and tradition. It's fun for all ages, with plenty of exhibits, animals, food, rides, and more. There are also discount days and ticket specials to consider before choosing when to attend.
• September 21, 2024: Autumn in the Mountains Car Show will be held at Mills River Brewing Co. from 9 AM-3:30 PM and include more than 100 classic, exotic sports cars. Registration opens July 1, and attendance is free to the public. 
• 2024 DATES TBA September 29-October 13, 2023: Krafthouse Forest of the New Trees is an immersive art installation in which you will descend into the basement of the Center for Craft to enter a world imagined by artists where craft is the only way to survive and thrive. The experience takes between 30-60 minutes to complete, and guests are invited to mingle and grab a beverage or snack afterward. While the experience is recommended for ages 12+, there is a special Family Experience Day for younger children to enjoy. 
• September 20-October 27, 2024: Eliada Annual Fall Festival & Corn Maze will take place Fridays from 3-7 PM, Saturdays from 10 AM-7:00 PM, and Sundays from 10 AM-6 PM all month long. Expect Corn Cannons, Spider Climber, Custom Corn Maze, Lawn Games, Hay Rides, Scheduled Face Painting, Pumpkins for purchase, Food Trucks, and MORE!
• 2024 DATES TBA October 7, 2023: The Great Pumpkin Pop-Up will take place on Saturday, October 7 at Grove Arcade in downtown Asheville from 12-4 PM. Grab your costume for this family-friendly fall event and enjoy a free pumpkin decorating class, entertainment from local life-size puppetry collective Street Creatures, live music, candy, pop-ups, and plenty of pumpkins!
• 2024 DATES TBA October 8, 2023: Barktoberfest will take place at French Broad River Park in Asheville on Sunday, October 8 from 12-3:00 PM. This event is free to attend, so grab your best bud for a day of fun! Bob for tennis balls, participate in canine contests, get a caricature of you and your dog, and take a photo at the doggy kissing booth.
• 2024 DATES TBA October 13, 2023: Frankenbash at White Labs Brewing will take place on Friday, October 13 from 6-9 PM. This spine-tingling evening will have food specials, cocktail specials, tarot card readings, and a photo booth. White Labs will also resurrect one of their all-time favorite beers, Frankenstout! Don't forget to don your spookiest Halloween attire for a chance to shine in the White Labs Costume contest at 7:30. 
• October 19, 2024: Apple Harvest Festival- Named one of the "10 Best Fall Harvest Festivals in the Nation," this street festival is held annually in downtown Waynesville. Celebrating all things apple, you can expect delicious treats, arts and crafts, and a variety of shops and restaurants to explore. Admission is free, and the event runs from 10 AM-5 PM.
• October 19-20, 2024: Woolly Worm Festival-held annually in Banner Elk during the 3rd weekend of October, this charming festival is an honored tradition for locals. The Woolly Bear caterpillar has 13 brown & black segments that are said to correspond to the 13 weeks of winter. Lighter brown segments correspond to milder weeks of winter while dark black corresponds to colder and snowier weeks. In addition to the 140+ food and craft vendors, woolly worms race, and the winners help predict the winter forecast based on their stripes. The winning worm on Saturday gets the $1,000 first prize, and the Sunday winner gets a $500 prize. Festival hours are Saturday from 9 AM-5 PM and Sunday 9 AM-4 PM. 
• 2024 DATES TBA October 6-7, 13-14, 20-22, 27-30, 2023: The Haunted Trail at The Adventure Center of Asheville - This event is perfect if you're looking for festive family fun for children ages 3-12. You and your family walk through a haunted trail with spooky sounds and spectacular props. $1 from each ticket goes to MANNA Food Bank, as they feed WNC by saying BOO To Hunger.
• October 26, 2024: Fall-O-Ween Fall Festival-while apple picking, leaf peeping, and pumpkin spice define the autumn season for many in the WNC mountains, scarecrows are a notable symbol of farms and the fall harvest in Buncombe County. Every year members from the community construct scarecrows for the annual Scarecrow Festival at Lake Julian Park which can be viewed and voted for the last week of October. The scarecrows will be judged on originality/creativity, design, and workmanship. Winners will be announced in the categories of Traditional, Recycle and Reduce, and Cultural. This is a unique fall activity that will give you a true glimpse into country living. 
• October 26, 2024: Heart of Brevard’s Halloweenfest & Spooky Stroll- This Halloweenfest is easily the trickiest, treatiest, most spooktacular celebration around! Held annually the Saturday before Halloween from 10AM-3PM, this fangtastic fall event features a full day of family (and pet) friendly fun, including the Flight of the Vampire running races, downtown trick or treat, costume contest and parade, a lively street festival with plenty of bewitching vendors, old-time music at the Courthouse gazebo, and much more!
• October 26, 2024: Howl-O-Ween Pet Parade and Costume Contest- This annual celebration of the Halloween holiday shines a spotlight on your furry four-legged friends. Starting at 3:00 PM, the parade routes through downtown Black Mountain so your pups can strut their stuff and show off their adorable costumes. After the parade, stick around for the costume contest and award ceremony!
• 2024 DATES TBA October 27, 28 & 31, 2023: Wolf Howl at the WNC- Spend your evening learning about the Red and Gray Wolves of North America with your family! This program includes fun and educational crafts, games, and an opportunity to meet a live animal, followed by a trek to wolf habitats located onsite at the Nature Center for a howling session (please keep in mind that it will be dark while making this trek). Tickets are $25 for children and $30 for adults. Because this event is close to Halloween, you are encouraged to wear a family-friendly costume!
• 2024 DATES TBA October 28, 2023: BMCA's Vampire Ball- Hosted by the Black Mountain Center for the Arts, this fall fundraiser promises a night of fangs, fun, and fantastic music. Dress to impress in your most haunting Halloween attire and indulge in a night of dancing and mingling with fellow creatures of the night. Your ticket for the fundraiser includes entry and one beverage. Snacks, a spooktacular fun photo booth, and tickets for exclusive raffles will be available for purchase. So, mark your calendars and get ready to sink your teeth into a night of mysterious enchantment at the Vampire Ball!
• 2024 DATES TBA October 31, 2023: Asheville Outlets Boo Bash-join Asheville Outlets for a SPOOKtacular time at their annual Boo Bash Halloween event on Monday, October 31 from 5-7 PM. Attendees will enjoy center-wide trick-or-treating, and TapSnap Phototainment will be onsite with a festive photo booth where guests can receive one free 4x6 photo and digital download of a single image while supplies last!