It’s time for festivals in Charlotte. Here’s a big list of Charlotte area fall festivals, Halloween festivals, Halloween movies, trick-or-treat events and more. Most of these are free. Some have a nominal charge and some charge for activities.
Do you know of others? Let me know and I’ll get them on the list. Also, make sure to check out the list of haunted hayrides, corn mazes, and pumpkin patches. And if you haven’t already done this (what are you waiting for?) you can subscribe for one daily email from Charlotte on the Cheap. Make sure to click on each link for the necessary details. Want to get your event highlighted, or even a prime spot at the top of this list? Ask me about sponsoring this post. Email ads@charlotteonthecheap.com.
Yiasou Greek Festival
September 7 – 10
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 600 East Boulevard
Greek music, dancing, cultural displays, kids’ area, food
$3, free for ages 12 and under. Also free if you ride CATS or Lynx
Festival of India
September 9-10
Belk Theater
Music dancing, Henna tattoos, more
$7, free for kids under 10
Catawba Indian Festival
September 9
Schiele Museum of Natural History, 1500 East Garrison Boulevard in Gastonia
Explore the culture and history of the Catawba Indians through music, dance, storytelling, crafts and more.
$3 + museum admission, which ranges from $4 to $7.
Fiddle ‘n’ Pig Shindig
September 9
Anne Close Springs Greenway, 250 Dairy Barn Lane, Fort Mill, SC
Bluegrass music and BBQ.
$10
Oktoberfest at Blue Blaze Brewing
September 16
Blue Blaze Brewing, 528 South Turner Avenue
Oktoberfest games, accordion music, JJ’s Red Hots brat for purchase, more
Free
Peeltoberfest
September 16
Pizza Peel & Taproom Plaza Midwood, 1600 Central Avenue
Games and prizes. Food and drink for purchase
Free
‘Tawba Walk
September 16
Downtown Cornelius
Two stages of music, art, kids’ activities, beer, food trucks, more
Free
Quidditch Day at The Amazing Maize Maze
September 16
Watch a Quidditch match between Charlotte Quidditch UNCC and UNCG Quidditch and then learn some Quidditch skills yourself. After that, challenge yourself in the Amazing Maize Maze ($8-$11)
Free
Lincoln County Apple Festival
September 16
Downtown Lincolnton
Live music, kids’ activities, parade, farmer’s market, more
Free
Festival in the Park
September 22 – 24
Freedom Park
Entertainment on 5 stages
Free
Mecktoberfest
September 22 – 24
Olde Mecklenburg Brewery
Enjoy the popular seasonal brew, German food and live music.
Free
Indian Trail Cultural Arts Festival
September 23
Chestnut Square Park, 320 Chestnut Parkway, Indian Trail
Free
Sugar Creek Brewing Fall Fest
September 23
Sugar Creek Brewing, 215 Southside Drive
Live music, pig roast, games for kids, vendors. Also “Fall Into Desserts.”
Fall Fest: free
Fall Into Desserts: $10
Hola Charlotte
October 7
Tryon Street between Trade and 8th Street
Live Latin music and cultural performances all day, the Latin American Cultural Village, a kids’ zone, and of course authentic Latin cuisine.
Free
UNCC International Festival
October 14
UNCC main campus
Music, dance, cultural display, games, food from many countries
Free
Sycamore Brewing’s 3-year Anniversary Party
October 14
Sycamore Brewing, 2161 Hawkins Street
2 stages of live music, giveaways, beer releases, food trucks
Free
Yadkin Valley Pumpkin Festival
September 23, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Downtown Elkin, NC
Annual Great Pumpkin Weigh-Off, kids’ activities, live music, craft vendors, more
Free
Retro Horror Series
Ayrsley Grand Cinemas 14, 9110 Kings Parade Boulevard
September 29 – November 2
Double features of your favorite horror flicks. $5
Kannapolis Fire Department Open House
September 30
Kannapolis City Hall, Laureate Way, Kannapolis
Emergency vehicles, music, entertainment, rescue helicopters, inflatable games, and a Pit Road, which will consist of community partners with lots of great information, and more. There will be a fire truck parade.
Free
Downtown Davidson Fall Art Festival
September 30
Downtown Davidson
Free
Literary Festival of Charlotte
October 7th, 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Little Rock Cultural Center, 401 North Myers Street
Poetry, readings, face-painting, drum circle, candy, more
Free
Latin American Festival
October 14th
Symphony Park at SouthPark
Music, dance, food, crafts, art
$10; Children 8 and under are free
Pineville Fall Festival
October 20, 21
Pineville Lake Park, 1000 Johnston Drive, Pineville
Carnival rides, live music, kids’ activities, more
Free
Laketoberfest
October 21, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Bailey Road Park, 11536 Bailey Road, Cornelius
Beer, bands, kids’ activities
Free
Community Huntersville Fall Festival
October 14, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Barnette Elementary, 13659 Beatties Ford Rd, Huntersville
Arts & crafts, hayrides, inflatables, carnival games, more
Free
Huntersville Halloween Festival
October 21
Historic Rural Hill, 4431 Neck Road, Huntersville
Games, arts & crafts, moon bounce, pumpkin patch, fireworks
Free
Muggles Market
October 21
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Noah’s Event Venue, 2124 Yorkmont Road
40+ geeky artisans, music tent, kids crafts, food trucks, short film fest, more
Free
Geek Gala
October 21
7 p.m. to midnight
Noah’s Event Venue, 2124 Yorkmont Road
Costume party, Geeks Got Talent, free food, cash bar, photo booth, caricatures, psychic card reader, more
$30 in advance. $35 at the door. First 50 readers to use CLTCHEAP promo code in advance get $5 off.
GUTS Pumpkin Carving Contest
October 21
BB&T Ballpark
$10
Davidson Halloween March
October 27th, 5 p.m.
Main Street, Davidson
Costumed kids march down Main Street, collecting candy from business owners and vendors.
Free
All Hallows Eve celebration
October 28
Historic Latta Plantation, 5225 Sample Road, Huntersville
Trick-or-treating, pumpkin painting, historical Halloween characters.
$9 adults/$8 students and seniors/free for kids 5 and under
Plaza Midwood Fall Crawl & Cankerworm Festival
October 28
Plaza Midwood neighborhood
Kids’ activities, live music, tree banding.
Free
Haunted Tour and Carnival at Ray’s Splash Planet
October 28
Ray’s Splash Planet, 215 N. Sycamore Street
Games, contests, trick-or-treating
$5 ages 4 and up
Day of the Dead Celebration
October 29
Levine Museum of the New South, 200 East 7th Street.
Explore the Mexican tradition of Dia de Los Muertos, with activities, food, storytelling and altars.
Free
Downtown Concord Candy Crawl
October 31, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Union Street, Concord
Trick or Treat at local businesses
Free
Boo HaHa
October 31, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Fountain Park in Rock Hill, SC
Free trick-or-treating at more than 20 vendors, the Boo Ha-Ha Dance Party, our annual Costume Contest and meet The Carolina Ghostbusters (along with Ecto-1). Of of course you don’t want to miss our Grand Marshall of the Festival “Maxx” the Robot (a full action 10 foot Robot)!
Free
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