The fall is the perfect time in Charlotte for outdoor events, and there are plenty planned. Read on for a big (and growing) list of Halloween festivals, harvest festivals, apple festivals, cultural festivals, food festivals and more.
We will be adding to this list all the time, so please keep checking back. You can expect to see more Halloween related festivals as fall grows closer. And, after the list of major festivals, there’s a big day-by-day list of even more festivals, Halloween parties and other fall events. If you’d like to skip the featured festivals and jump to the day-by-day list, go for it!
Also, make sure to check out our list of corn mazes, pumpkin patches and hayrides , as well as our list of Halloween events and Trick or Treat events. They will be updated for 2025 soon.
- Jump to Labor Day Weekend festivals
- Jump to September festivals
- Jump to October festivals
- Jump to November festivals
Labor Day Weekend
Matthews Alive
Matthews Alive
Date: August 29 to September 1, 2025
Time: 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday; 1 to 10 p.m. on Sunday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Place: Downtown Matthews, NC
Cost: Admission is free. There’s a cost for rides, games and inflatable attractions.
Features: Live music, rides, games, vendors, art, a kids’ zone and a Labor Day parade on Saturday at 9:30 a.m.
Queen City Arts Festival
Queen City Arts Festival
Date: Saturday, August 30, 2025
Time: 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Place: Shoppes at University Place, 8931 JM Keynes Drive, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Visual art, dancers, music, drum performances, spoken word, DJ, food, vendors.
Labor Day Celebration at Whitewater Center
Labor Day Celebration
Date: Saturday, August 30, and Sunday, August 31, 2025
Time: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Place: Whitewater Center, 5000 Whitewater Center Parkway, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free, but parking is $12, and activities have fees
Features: The Whitewater Center’s Labor Day Celebration features a trail race, live music, and yoga. There’s a charge for the trail race and for the pass activities, but the music and yoga are free to enjoy. There will be special programming at Wildwoods, an adventure play area. Participants will need an activity pass for Wildwoods.
Battle of Charlotte Living History Weekend
Battle of Charlotte Living History Weekend
Date: Saturday, August 30, and Sunday, August 31, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday
Place: Museum of the Waxhaws, 8215 Waxhaw Hwy, Waxhaw, North Carolina
Cost: $15
Features: Battle re-enactments, artisans, camp life, cooking, kids’ activities, weapons demonstrations, more.
September Festivals
Yiasou Greek Festival
Yiasou Greek Festival
Date: September 5 to 7, 2025
Time: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Place: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 600 East Boulevard, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Admission is $5, with free admission for children under age 12.
Features: Food, kids’ playland, entertainment, music dancing, live reenactments, tours of the cathedral and more.
Cabarrus County Fair
Cabarrus County Fair
Date: September 5 to 13, 2025
Time: 4 to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday; 4 to 11 p.m. on Fridays; 1 to 11 p.m. on Saturdays; 1 to 10 p.m. on Sundays
Place: Cabarrus Events & Arena Center, 4751 NC Highway 49 N, Concord, NC
Cost: Gate admission is $8 for 12 and over, and $6 for ages 6-11, military ID and age 55+. Kids 5 and under are admitted for free. Ride wristbands are $35.
Features: Rides, entertainment, livestock competition, and fair food.
Oktoberfest Celebrations
Oktoberfest Celebrations
Date: Various dates in September and October
Time: Various times
Place: Many places
Cost: Most are free
Features: Follow the above link to learn about dozens of Oktoberfest celebrations in the Charlotte area. Many feature German, or German-inspired food and beer, German music and dancing, stein-hoisting competitions and other festivities.
Charlotte International Arts Festival
Charlotte International Arts Festival
Date: September 1 to 30, 2025
Time: Time varies
Place: Many locations
Cost: Varies, but much of the festival is free.
Features: The festival features interactive art installations and performances in Uptown Charlotte, the Iron District (home of Blue Studios) and Ballantyne’s Backyard. In addition, many Charlotte festivals during this time period will be a part of Charlotte International Arts Festival. CIAF is one of Charlotte’s most anticipated festivals of the year.
Charlotte Soul Fest
Charlotte Soul Fest
Date: Saturday, September 6, 2025
Time: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Place: First Ward Park, 301 E 7th Street, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Live music all day, plus dance workshops, a kids’ zone and an art walk.
Southern Resonance Roots Festival
Southern Resonance Roots Festival
Date: Sunday, September 7, 2025
Time: 12 to 7:30 p.m.
Place: Heist Brewery Barrel Arts, 1030 Woodward Avenue, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Artists representing many styles of American blues and roots music, on indoors and outdoor stages. Includes an artisan market.
Flow Fest
Flow Fest
Date: Saturday, September 20, 2025
Time: 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Place: Whitewater Center, 5000 Whitewater Center Parkway, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free, but parking is $12.
Features: More than 50 yoga and meditation practices and workshops, as well as vendors and live music.
28th Festival of India
29th Festival of India
Date: September 20 and 21, 2025
Time: 12 to 8 p.m. on Saturday; 12 to 6:30 p.m. on Sunday
Place: Saturday: Belk Theater, 130 N Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC. Sunday: Ballantyne’s Backyard, 11611 N Community House, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Check back soon for confirmation. These are the prices from last year: Saturday: $5 in advance, $6 at the door, free for kids under 10. Sunday: Free
Features: Celebrate India with traditional and Bollywood dances, exhibits, visual arts, souvenir bazars, Indian food and much more.
Cornelius Festival of Cultures
Cornelius Festival of Cultures
Date: Saturday, September 13, 2025
Time: 3 to 6 p.m.
Place: Cain Park, 21336 Catawba Avenue, Cornelius, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Live performance, art, cultural booths and food from many cultures.
Mooresville’s Bands Brews & BBQ Festival
Mooresville’s Bands Brews & BBQ Festival
Date: Saturday, September 13, 2025
Time: 4 to 9 p.m.
Place: Liberty Park, 255 E Iredell Avenue, Mooresville, NC
Cost: Free to attend
Features: Live music, live BBQ demos, family fun zone, multiple regional BBQ trucks.
Festival in the Park
61st Festival in the Park
Date: September 19 to 21, 2025
Time: Friday: 4 to 9 p.m.; Saturday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Place: Freedom Park, 1900 East Boulevard, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free
Features: More than 150 artists and artisans will display and sell their art. There will also be food vendors, performances, and family activities.
Serb Fest
Serb Fest
Date: Saturday, September 13, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Place: St. Simeon Serbian Orthodox Church, 7609 Mallard Creek Road, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Live music, authentic food for purchase, kids’ activities and a soccer tournament. Also, view the cultural displays and the beautiful interior of the church.
Festival of Lebanon
Festival of Lebanon
Date: Check back soon.
Time: Check back soon.
Place: St. Matthews Catholic Church’s Gym, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Parkway, Charlotte, North Carolina
Cost: Admission is free
Features: The festival includes Lebanese music, food, a kids’ area, a raffle and more.
Harrisburg Multicultural Festival
Harrisburg Multicultural Festival
Date: Check back soon.
Time: Check back soon.
Place: Harrisburg Park, 191 Sims Parkway, Harrisburg, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Celebrate cultures from around the world with art, music, fashion, games, food and more.
UNC Charlotte International Festival
UNC Charlotte International Festival
Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Place: Barnhardt Student Activity Center, 9290 Barnhardt Lane, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free
Features: This long-standing festival on the UNC Charlotte campus features booths from diverse cultures, dance and music performances, international games and the Parade of Nations.
Latin American Festival
35th Latin American Festival
Date: Saturday, September 20, 2025
Time: 12 to 8 p.m.
Place: Ballantyne’s Backyard, 11611 N Community House Road, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Latin American food, performances, visual artists, handmade crafts and more.
‘Tawba Walk Arts & Music Festival
‘Tawba Walk Arts & Music Festival
Date: Saturday, September 27, 2205
Time: 2 to 8 p.m.
Place: Oak Street Mill, 19725 Oak Street, Cornelius, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Live music on two stages, kids’ zone, multiple food truck courts, 100+ artists, craftspeople and vendors, more.
Autumn Jubilee
Autumn Jubilee
Date: Check back soon.
Time: Check back soon.
Place: Carl J. McEwen Historic Village, 7601 Matthews-Mint Hill Road, Mint Hill, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Tour the historic village and museums, and enjoy face painting, games, pumpkin decorating, vendors, old time music and more.
Ciao Italia Matthews
Ciao Italia Matthews
Date: September 20 and 21, 2025
Time: Check back soon for hours.
Place: Stumptown Park, 120 S Trade Street, Matthews, NC
Cost: Check back soon for ticket prices. Last year: $5 for ages 21+; $3 for ages 12-20; Free for under 12
Features: Italian entertainment, food and beverage, car show, more.
Concord International Festival
Concord International Festival
Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025
Time: 12 to 6 p.m.
Place: Downtown Concord, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Live music performances, a kids’ corner with hand-on experiences, cultural displays, international craft vendors, and food and drink.
All American Dog Show
All American Dog Show
Date: Sunday, September 28, 2025
Time: 2 to 5 p.m.
Place: Robbins Park, 17738 W Catawba Avenue, Cornelius, NC
Cost: Free for spectators (cost to enter your dog in a contest)
Features: Multiple dog contests, vendors and concessions.
October Festivals
Jump to September festivals or November festivals.
Salisbury’s Buskers’ Bash
Salisbury’s 11th Annual Buskers’ Bash
Date: Friday, October 3, 2025
Time: 5 to 9 p.m.
Place: Downtown Salisbury, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Dozens of performers will be performing throughout Downtown Salisbury. Grab a map and vote for your favorites by dropping special guitar picks (provided) into their buckets.
FabFest, Charlotte’s Beatles Festival
FabFest, Charlotte’s Beatles Festival
Date: Friday, October 3, and Saturday, October 4 2025
Time: FabFest Daytime is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday; Evening show takes place on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Place: FabFest Daytime is at The Parr Center at Central Piedmont Community College, 1201 Elizabeth Avenue, Charlotte, NC. The evening show is at Knight Theater, 430 S Tryon Street.
Cost: FabFest Daytime free. The cost for the evening shows vary.
Features: FabFest Daytime is an immersive Beatles day with live music, an open mic, authors, memorabilia, a marketplace and much more. Tosco Music Beatles Tribute takes place Friday night.
Carolina Renaissance Festival
Carolina Renaissance Festival
Date: Saturdays and Sundays from October 4 to November 23, 2025
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Place: 16445 Poplar Tent Road, Huntersville, NC
Cost: $37.99 for adults, $23.99 for children 5-12. Free for children 4 and under. Check for giveaways at the above link soon.
Features: Jousting knights, multiple shows, mermaids, falconry, artisan market and more. More than 14 stages of entertainment and 500 costumed villagers.
Hola Charlotte Festival
Hola Charlotte Festival
Date: Saturday, October 4, 2025
Time: 12 to 6 p.m.
Place: Tryon Street, between Brooklyn Village Avenue and 4th Street, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Latin American cultural performances and art, a family area and more.
Autumn Jubilee at Dan Nicholas Park
Autumn Jubilee at Dan Nicholas Park
Date: Check back soon.
Time: Check back soon.
Place: Dan Nicholas Park, 6800 Bringle Ferry Road, Salisbury, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Live music, kids’ activities, craft vendors, food vendors and more.
Charlotte Corgi Club Racing Championship
Charlotte Corgi Club Racing Championship
Date: Check back soon.
Time: Check back soon.
Place: Check back soon.
Cost: Check back soon.
Features: Watch corgis race. There will also be food trucks, music and vendors. All dogs can attend. Only corgis can race.
Cotton Ginning Festival
Cotton Ginning Festival
Date: October 10 to 12, 2025
Time: Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (tentative times)
Place: Dallas Park, 1303 Dallas Cherryville Hwy, Dallas, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Engine shows, arts and crafts, live music, Parade of Power, kids’ area, heritage area, more.
Charlotte VegFest
Charlotte VegFest
Date: Check back soon.
Time: Check back soon.
Place: Check back soon.
Cost: Check back soon.
Features: A celebration of healthy, sustainable and compassionate eating. Vegan food court, cooking demos, free fitness classes, more.
Fall for Matthews Festival
Fall for Matthews Festival
Date: Saturday, October 11, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Place: Stumptown Park, 120 S Trade Street, Matthews, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Arts and crafts vendors, sip & stroll, live music, food vendors, children’s area pumpkin patch, petting zoo.
Laketoberfest
Laketoberfest
Date: Saturday, October 11, 2025
Time: 4 to 9 p.m.
Place: Bailey Road Park, 11536 Bailey Road, Cornelius, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Live music, North Carolina beer, food trucks, kids’ zone, more.
Build Your Own Boat
Build Your Own Boat
Date: Saturday, October 11, 2025
Time: 12 to 7:30 p.m.
Place: Whitewater Center, 5000 Whitewater Center Parkway, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free to watch. $12 for parking. Cost to participate.
Features: Watch crews in homemade boats race on the whitewater channel. Live music from Dustbowl Revival.
Mountaineer Days Heritage Festival
Mountaineer Days Heritage Festival
Date: Saturday, October 11, 2025
Time: 12 to 10 p.m.
Place: Patriots Park, 220 South Railroad Avenue, Kings Mountain, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Live music, rides, games, historic demonstrations, contests and more.
Pineville Fall Fest
Pineville Fall Fest
Date: October 16 to 18, 2025
Time: 5 to 9 p.m. on Thursday and Friday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday
Place: Jack D. Hughes Park, 513 Main Street, Pineville, NC
Cost: Free for admission. There’s a cost for the rides.
Features: Carnival rides, arts and crafts vendors, live music, children’s entertainment and more. The festival ends with a fireworks show on Saturday at 10 p.m.
Mush, Music & Mutts: NC’s Liver Mush Festival
Mush, Music & Mutts: NC’s Liver Mush Festival
Date: Saturday, October 18, 2025
Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Place: Uptown Shelby
Cost: Free
Features: Liver mush eating contests, recipe contest and more. Plus, live music, craft vendors, kids’ zone, and pet contests.
Nature at Night
Nature at Night
Date: Check back soon
Time: Check back soon
Place: McDowell Nature Preserve, 15222 York Road, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Check back soon
Features: Enjoy the nature preserve at night with wagon rides, s’mores, night hikes, crafts, live animals and more.
Charlotte Chalk Art Festival
Charlotte Chalk Art Festival
Date: October 18 and 19, 2025
Time: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. each day
Place: No Brewing Co., 150 W 32nd Street, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free (cost to compete)
Features: Watch artists compete in a chalk art competition. There will also be a community chalking area, art and crafts vendors, food and drink vendors and more. Family friendly event.
Fort Mill Fall Festival
Fort Mill Fall Festival
Date: Saturday, October 18, 2025
Time: 3 to 7 p.m.
Place: Walter Elisha Park, 345 N White Street, Fort Mill, SC
Cost: Free
Features: Live music, costume contest, and more fall fun.
K-Fest: Celebration of Korean Culture
K-Fest
Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025
Time: 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Place: Seoul Food Meat Co., Mill District, 421 E 26th Street, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Celebrate Korean culture through games, music, food and drink, K-Pop dance contest and more.
Halloween in Huntersville
Halloween in Huntersville
Date: Check back soon
Time: Check back soon
Place: Huntersville Recreation Center, 11826 Verhoff Drive, Huntersville, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Rides, live music, costume contest, pumpkin patch photo op, drone show and more.
November Festivals
Jump to September festivals or October festivals.
Day of the Dead Celebration at Camp North End
Day of the Dead Celebration
Date: Check back soon
Time: Check back soon
Place: Camp North End, 300 Camp Road, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free
Features: This celebration features traditional music and dancing, face painting, an expansive altar exhibition, a Catrina parade and much more.
Pawsitively Matthews
Pawsitively Matthews
Date: Saturday, November 8, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Place: Stumptown Park, 120 S Trade Street, Matthews, NC
Cost: Free
Features: This pet-focused festival features demos, music, pet-friendly vendors, a beer “pawvilion,” food trucks and more.
Romanian-American Festival
Romanian-American Festival
Date: Saturday, November 15, 2025
Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Place: Stumptown Park, 120 S Trade Street, Matthews, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Traditional folk music and dance, kids’ cultural craft zone, local vendors and artisans, Romanian and American street food and desserts.
The Geekery Market
The Geekery Market
Date: Saturday, November 15, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Place: Cabarrus Arena & Events Center, 4751 NC Highway 49, Concord, North Carolina
Cost: Free admission. Parking is $10.
Features: This festival features artists and artisans who create products across all fandoms. There will also be geeky music, pictures with Geeky Santa, kids’ crafts and a treasure hunt, Star Wars costumers, swordfighting demonstrations, medieval courtyard demonstrations and more.
EpicFest Literary Festival for Kids and Teens
EpicFest Literary Festival
Date: Saturday, November 8, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Place: ImaginOn, 300 E 7th Street, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Author visits and other book-related celebrations.
Double-Check Before You Head Out!
We make every effort to make sure that everything on Charlotte on the Cheap is 100% accurate.
However, sometimes things change without notice, and we are not always notified. It's also possible that we can make a mistake.
Please verify all deals and events with the venue or organizer before you go.
You might also be interested in:
- Subscribing to Charlotte on the Cheap's email list
- Scenic drives for fall color in North Carolina
- Charlotte area hayrides, corn mazes, pumpkin patches
- Charlotte area haunted trails
- Halloween events in Charlotte
- Trick or Treat and Trunk or Treat events
- U-pick farms in the Charlotte area
- Farmers' markets in the Charlotte area
- Restaurant deals
- Free events this week
- Concerts this week in Charlotte
More Fall Festivals and Halloween Events
Read on for the next 30 days of festivals.
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