2018 NORTH CAROLINA - October 2018
Food Festivals, and Other Food, Wine & Beer Events
(see also: 2016 - 2015 - 2014 - 2012 - 2011)
October 4-28, 2018
THE GLOW: A Jack O' Lantern Experience
Charlotte, North Carolina
THE GLOW features an enchanting and unforgettable wonderland of more than 5,000 hand carved, illuminated pumpkins transformed into beautiful landscapes, iconic figures and larger than life jack o’ lantern structures. Stroll down Jack’s Lane with a fall beverage and marvel at the amazing details created by our talented artists! These glowing gourds are the perfect backdrop for a few fall photos too, so grab your camera and GLOW with us! October 5-6, 2018 - Annual Enfield Peanut Festival
Enfield, North Carolina
Once again at the The Enfield Volunteer Fire Company Auxiliary has agreed to host the Cake Wheel again this year and we're planning the chicken BBQ, as always. New and improved games will be provided for children's pleasure and, of course, the ever popular Ping Pong Drop. Several of our community members have made a beautiful quilt which will be raffled off and the Silent Auction will be filled with lots of good stuff to bid on. Also, new items of any sort are welcomed as donations for the Auction; art and crafts items are always well-received. Admission: Free. Rain Dates: October 6-7, 2017. October 5-7, 2018 32nd Annual North Carolina Seafood Festival
Morehead City, North Carolina
The weekend will include all of the following: seafood sampling, cooking demonstration by highly renowned chefs, seafood vendors, boat show, ship tours, entertainment on four stages, playground for kids, over 150 arts & crafts vendors, sporting events, rides, fireworks and Blessing of the Fleet. October 6, 2018 Annual Sonker Festival - Mt. Airy, North Carolina
Don't know what sonker is? Then come to this annual festival and find out how delicious this deep dish fruit pie can be! Old-time and bluegrass music, quilt display, weacing, Scottish heritage, sonker, beverages, coffee. Presented by the Surry County Historical Society. October 6, 2018 Brushy Mountain Apple Festival
North Wilkesboro, North Carolina
This festival pays tribute to the fruit grown and harvested each fall by apple orchardists from Northwestern North Carolina. Local apple growers set up throughout the festival selling their apples, apple cider, and dried apples. Over 425 arts & crafts vendors highlighting Appalachian heritage crafts, 100 food concessions, and four music stages. Attendance: 160,000. October 6, 2018 The Great Grapes Wine & Food Festival
Charlotte, North Carolina
Over 200 Wines, Over 20 Wineries, Great Live Music and Wonderful Food and Crafts. October 6, 2018 Ashville Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival
Ashville, North Carolina
Food Truck Festivals of America. Featuring 25+ local (and delicious) food trucks. Also enjoy some of the best regional and national craft beers. October 6, 2018 World Beer Festival--Durham - Durham, North Carolina
Presented by All About Beer Magazine, the World Beer Festivals are among the premier beer events in the country, with sampling of beers from over 100 breweries, education, and the best local music and food. Part of the proceeds will benefit a local cause. October 11-21, 2018 North Carolina State Fair - Raleigh, North Carolina
Come and enjoy "Nothing Could Be Finer"--concerts, livestock displays and competitions, antique farm machinery, flower & garden show, miniature farm for children, village of yesteryear, "buy local, eat local" tent, and much more! Attendance: 1 million October 13-14, 2018 64th Annual Swansboro Mullet Festival
Swansboro, North Carolina
This annual event includes a parade, music, vendors, arts & crafts, kids' area and of course a mullet fry. October 15-19, 2018 - National School Lunch Week - Nationwide
School Nutrition Association.
October 17, 2018 An Evening in the Garden with No Kid Hungry
Charlotte, North Carolina
Join us in the garden for an intimate evening under the stars full of great food, drinks, and laughter. October 17-20, 2018 TerraVITA Food & Drink Festival
Chapel Hill & Carrboro, North Carolina
TerraVita Food & Drink Festival has grown into a multi-day celebration that offers you the opportunity to attend a single event or The Whole Shebang – a comprehensive pass offering access to a combination of eight engaging events over three days. You can expect several new events and multiple extended experiences in our line-up. Taking it to a new level, TerraVita has added several non-ticketed events and parties available through The Whole Shebang and increased the number of chefs, drink experts and food artisans involved in evening dinners and tasting events. Get ready for a memorable weekend in the heart of North Carolina. October 19-20, 2018 Mush, Music, Mutts - Shelby, North Carolina
The Official State of North Carolina Fall Liver Mush Festival. Brew Fest & Chili Cook off. Join in the fun with a traditional food festival that has something for everyone. Of course there is Liver Mush to sample, with a variety of preparations and choices. Live Music; LIver Mush; Pet Activities; Little Miss Liver Mush Pageant; Pumpkin Painting; Human Hamster Wheel; Liver Mush Eating Contest; Beer and Wine Garden; much more! October 19-28, 2018 NC Yam Festival - Tabor City, North Carolina
This agricultural festival includes a yam cook-off, yam exhibits, parade, Taste of Tabor, fire fighter competition, sweet potato auction, kids' area, arts & crafts and many more activities. October 20, 2018
Annual Yadkin Valley Grape Festival
Yadkinville, North Carolina
Wine tasting, motorcycle tour of the vineyards and chili cook-off. October 20, 2018
22nd Annual Pumpkinfest
Franklin, North Carolina
You'll need your rest as Saturday's events bring new challenges and fun for everyone. Historic Downtown Franklin is full tilt with everything pumpkin on Saturday. Bring your pumpkin (or purchase one downtown) and sign up early for the World Famous Pumpkin Roll. The Costume Parade and Contest is another highlight of the day, but don't miss out on the great food, mountain arts & crafts, and entertainment including roving street performers. October 20, 2018
Apple Harvest Festival
Waynesville, North Carolina
Juried Arts & Crafts - Live Entertainment - Local Merchants - Great Food. More to do and always great fun! The one-day festival has grown into the region’s premier juried arts and crafts event and celebration of all things apple. Waynesville NC, nestled in the Smoky Mountains, is the perfect spot to enjoy a glorious fall day filled with fun. This year’s festival will feature exhibitors, live entertainment and great food. Come, and be among the crowd of more than 40,000 festival goers strolling the street! Take home a peck of locally grown apples from the county apple growers association. (also: haywoodchamber.com/events-calendar/signature-events/apple-harvest-festival ) October 20, 2018 Taylorsville Apple Festival
Taylorsville, North Carolina
The festival provides a fantastic assortment of entertainment, food and vendors. In honor of the Apple there are an apple peeling contest, an apple dessert contest, an apple theme booth decorating contest, and of course lots of apple vendors from which to buy cider, a large variety of bagged apples, etc. Attendance: 35,000. October 20, 2018 Outer Banks Seafood Festival
Nag's Head, North Carolina
The event features top draw entertainment mixed with great cooking of fresh, local seafood, a bit of education and storytelling about the region’s fishing heritage, cooking demonstrations, local craftspeople and a whole lot of family fun. Nearly 20 local restaurants have committed to serve their signature dishes featuring fish and seafood caught along the Outer Banks – resulting in an unmatched “fusion-style” (small portion sizes) sampling from some of the best restaurants on the beach. October 20-21, 2018 38th Annual North Carolina Oyster Festival
Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina
The coastal waters of Brunswick County produce an abundance of oysters and each year 30,000 people pay homage to the mighty mollusk at this annual event, which includes live entertainment, arts and crafts vendors, festival food, a road race, kids' area, oyster shucking and an oyster stew cook-off. Attendance: 30,000. October 27, 2018 Annual Barbecue Festival - Lexington, North Carolina
Lexington - 'The Barbecue Capital of the World' - The largest one day food festival in NC. Crowds average over 100,000 every year. Crafts, entertainment, childrens area, and the best BBQ in the world! Attendance: 100,000.
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