October brings the beginning of cooler weather, campfires, fall foliage, spooky fun, and plenty of treats. October is often the month with the most pleasant weather in Charlotte. Plan October 2025 with this list of the top things to do in October in Charlotte (and surrounding areas.)
We’re highlighting some of the top things to do this month. But then, scroll down for our huge (and we do mean huge) calendar of things to do in Charlotte, and surrounding areas in October. This calendar will be updated all the time. Or jump right to the calendar.
We focus on the free and cheap, but we do include some great activities and events that do cost a little bit more if we think readers would like to hear about them.
Charlotte Kids Fest
Charlotte Kids Fest
Date: Saturday, October 4, 2025
Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Place: Shoppes at University Place, 9325 JW Clay Blvd, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Performances, hands-on activities and interactive workshops for kids
Visit a Haunted Trail
Haunted Trails
Date: Various dates in October
Time: Nighttime!
Place: Various places
Cost: Varies
Features: Check out our list of haunted trails near Charlotte! What better way to celebrate Spooky Season?
Bard at the Barn
Bard at the Barn
Date: Saturdays and Sundays through October 12, 2025
Time: 11 a.m.
Place: The Barn at MoRA, 8492 McAlpine Park Drive, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Free family-friendly performance of The Tempest by Shepherd Shakespeare.
Corn mazes, pumpkin patches, hayrides and more
Fall Family Fun at Local Farms
Date: All October
Time: Various times
Place: Local farms
Cost: Varies
Features: Check out our list of places to enjoy corn mazes, pumpkin patches, hayrides and more fall fun.
Blessing of the Animals
Blessing of the Animals
Date: Various (mostly the first week of October)
Time: Various
Place: Various churches
Cost: Free
Features: Many churches invite people to bring their pets for the Blessing of the Animals in early October. This special event has become a much-loved part of the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi.
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 shows take place on Friday (7:30 p.m.) and Saturday (8 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 is FREE. The Friday night show is ticketed, with prices from $22.50 to $56.50.
Features: FabFest Daytime is an immersive Beatles day with live music, an open mic, authors, memorabilia, a marketplace, drum clinic and much more. Tosco Music Beatles Tribute takes place Friday night.
Armenian Fall Festival
Armenian Fall Festival
Date: October 3 to 5, 2025
Time: 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday; 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday
Place: St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church, 7000 Park Road, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Authentic Armenian food, plus cultural performances and family activities
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. Multiple discount offers and ticket giveaways (follow link above.)
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: Saturday, October 4, and Sunday, October 5, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Place: Dan Nicholas Park, 6800 Bringle Ferry Road, Salisbury, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Live music, kids’ activities, craft vendors, food vendors and more.
Concord International Festival
Concord International Festival
Date: Saturday, October 11, 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.
Whitewater Film Series
Whitewater Film Series
Date: Saturdays in October, 2025
Time: Sunset (time varies)
Place: Whitewater Center, 5000 Whitewater Center Parkway, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free (parking is $12)
Features: Free outdoor film series. Featured films with outdoor themes.
Charlotte Knights Pumpkin Palooza
Charlotte Knights Pumpkin Palooza
Date: Saturday, October 11, 2025
Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Place: Truist Field, 324 S Mint Street, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free (pay for pumpkins)
Features: Pick out your pumpkin in the outfield. Also, kids’ activities, photo ops, games, beer garden, pumpkin-themed food and drink for purchase.
Charlotte Corgi Club Racing Championship
Charlotte Corgi Club Racing Championship
Date: Saturday, October 11, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Place: Renaissance Park, 1536 W Tyvola Road, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free to attend. $40 to register your Corgi to race.
Features: Watch corgis race. There will also be food trucks, music and vendors. All dogs can attend. Only corgis can race.
Lake Norman Diwali
Lake Norman Diwali
Date: Saturday, October 11, 2025
Time: 3 to 7 p.m.
Place: Veterans Park, 201 Huntersville-Concord Road, Huntersville, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Community Diya lighting ceremony, live cultural and Bollywood performances, kids’ activities, fashion walk, art, more.
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: Saturday, October 11, 2025
Time: 12 to 6 p.m.
Place: Victoria Yards, 209 E 7th Street, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free (VIP option available)
Features: A celebration of healthy, sustainable and compassionate eating. Vegan food court, cooking demos, free fitness classes, more.
Halloween Events
Tons of Halloween Events
Date: Varies
Time: Varies
Place: Varies
Cost: Most are free or low-priced
Features: We’ve put together a huge list of Halloween events, including costume contests, trick-or-treat events, and much more. There are some events for kids and some for adults in the list.
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, more.
Latin Night
Latin Night at Camp North End
Date: Saturday, October 11, 2025
Time: 5 to 10 p.m.
Place: Boileryard at Camp North End, 1824 Statesville Avenue, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Live music, authentic food and dancing.
Charlotte BookPalooza
Charlotte BookPalooza
Date: Saturday, October 11, 2025
Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Place: Urban District Market
Cost: Free
Features: Meet authors, kids’ activities, reader’s lounge, DJ, more.
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 and then listen to live music.
Mountaineer Days Heritage Festival
Mountaineer Days Heritage Festival
Date: Saturday, October 11, 2025
Time: 12 to 9 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. Costume contests for kids and dogs. The festival ends with a fireworks show on Saturday night.
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: Saturday, October 18, 2025
Time: 5 to 9 p.m.
Place: McDowell Nature Preserve, 15222 York Road, Charlotte, NC
Cost: $7 (registration required)
Features: Enjoy the nature preserve at night with wagon rides, s’mores, night hikes, crafts, live animals and more.
Lincoln County Apple Festival
Lincoln County Apple Festival
Date: Saturday, October 18. 2025
Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Place: Aspen and Main Street, Lincolnton, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Live entertainment, Apple Queen Pageant, craft vendors, kids’ activities, more
Mount Holly Lantern Parade
Mount Holly Lantern Parade
Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: Mount Holly, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Artful, lit-up lanterns bring magic to downtown Mount Holly in this parade.
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: NoDa 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, fall photo ops, vendors and more.
K-Fest: Celebration of Korean Culture
K-Fest
Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025
Time: 2 to 11 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.
Full Calendar of October Events
Please give the list a moment to load…it’s a LOT!
