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2014 NORTH CAROLINA - September 2014
Food & Wine Festivals, Shows & Local Events
(see also: 2013 -  2012 - 2010)

September 5-6, 2014
Cherokee BBQ & Bluegrass Throwdown
Cherokee, North Carolina
The Qualla Boundary has long been home to a host of barbeque lovers, purveyors, and enthusiasts. So it’s about time we created a festival to celebrate our passion and skill. If you share our love of all meats grilled, pulled, and smoked, join us.

September 20, 2014
10th Annual Shine to Wine, Wine, Beer, Spirit and Art Festival
North Wilkesboro, North Carolina
'Shine to Wine Festival' A celebration of wine and art.

September 20, 2014  Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry Dinner
Charlotte, North Carolina
No child in should grow up hungry in America, but one in five children struggles with hunger. Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign is ending childhood hunger in this nation by connecting kids in need with nutritious food and teaching families how to cook healthy, affordable meals. You can help surround kids with the nutritious food they need where they live, learn and play.

2013 NORTH CAROLINA - September 2013
Food & Wine Festivals, Shows & Local Events
events still waiting for new dates

September 6-9, 2013  Ayden Collard Festival
Ayden, North Carolina
The Official Collard Festival of the State of North Carolina. Family festival with music, parade, golf, horseshoe & tennis tournaments, art show, collard cooking and eating contests.

September 6-15, 2013  North Carolina Mountain State Fair
Fletcher, North Carolina
The NC Mountain State Fair celebrates the people, agriculture, art and tradition that make our region great. Attended by over 180,000 people annually, the fair features agricultural exhibits, fair food, midway rides, and competitions.

September 7-8, 2013  72nd Annual North Carolina Gourd Festival
Raleigh, North Carolina
Gourds from around the world and from our own backyards. Displays of historic and exotic gourds. Meet crafters and growers who can teach you how to turn a moldy gourd straight from the garden into an object of lasting beauty. On sale will be gourds, gourd craft, supplies and seeds.

September 13-21, 2013  NC Turkey Festival
Raeford, North Carolina
Highlights include live music and performers, dog show, auto & motorcycle shows, turkey cooking contest, kids' activities, parade, turkey dinner, storytelling, card tournament, bingo and the Turkey Throw Down.

September 14, 2013  7th Annual North Carolina Hot Sauce Contest
Oxford, North Carolina
North Carolina’s finest hot sauces and  barbeque sauces, along with breweries and wineries spice up the blends and texture of downtown’s historical streets. Enter the NC Pepper Eating Contest sponsored by Bailey Farms. Watch as Artist Dan Nelson creates our Festival on Canvas. Capture all the history of Oxford by visiting the Granville County Museum and their September Sensations Bazaar as well as at the Harris Exhibit Hall, famous for showcasing local artisans.  Take a horse drawn carriage rides down the residential portion of Main Street (Sponsored by Oxford Bed & Breakfast at the Olde Parsonage).  Visit the Granville Gardeners Plant Sale.  We have activities for children, lovely local shops waiting to greet you and great restaurants, all at your fingertips. And, new this year, we are working to have the Granville County Fire Departments compete for bragging rights in a BBQ chicken cook-off contest.  NC Hot Sauces and Barbecue Sauces, all will be competing for the title of North Carolina's Best!!!!!!!

September 14, 2013  11th Annual Taste Carolina Wine Festival
Colfax, North Carolina
Nothing could be finer than a late summer day filled with wine tasting, art, crafts and music all day.

September 21, 2013  17th Annual Brewgrass Festival
Asheville, North Carolina
Each year in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina, we gather over 40 American breweries to showcase more than 120 different beers. We add a great lineup of national and regional bluegrass musicians. We also feature a variety of area food vendors and plenty of water.  Hosted by the Great Smokies Craft Brewers Association and benefiting Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Western North Carolina.

September 21, 2013  BugFest 2013 - Raleigh, North Carolina
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.  Learn about arthropods, which make up three-quarters of all animals on Earth, during fascinating presentations. Taste delectable dishes featuring creepy crawlers as a major ingredient at Café Insecta.

September 27-28, 2013  9th Annual NC Muscadine Harvest Festival
Kenansville, North Carolina
Features wines from over 20 wineries and great music, wine making & cooking contests, farm implement exhibits, educational seminars, food and craft vendors.

September 28, 2013  The 15th Annual Charlotte Oktoberfest
Charlotte, North Carolina

September 28, 2013  International Food Festival
Clayton, North Carolina
The International Food Festival at St. Ann Catholic Church is the largest ethnic food festival in the Johnston County area and has been serving fine foods to our friends in the surrounding community the past four years.  The wonderful foods associated with the many cultures that make up St. Ann Catholic Church are all prepared by parishioners who have a love for cooking and great pride in their heritage.

September 28, 2013  Annual Yadkin Valley Pumpkin Festival
Elkin, North Carolina
Includes Great Pumpkin Weigh-Off with pumpkins from growers located all over the East Coast. Some will weigh-in at an excess of 1,000 lbs with hopes of placing in the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth top ten. Main Street will be lined with vendors, plus a variety of live entertainment and the ever-popular pie-eating contest.
Attendance: 15,000.

September 28-29, 2013  Annual NC Spot Festival - Hampstead, NC
Celebrating the Spot fish, a staple of Hampstead. Enjoy a spot dinner with all the fixings along with other regional food, plus a firework celebration on Saturday night. Come out both days and take pleasure in the festivities, including arts and crafts and live music with the crowning of our Spot Queen and Princess on Sunday.

2012 NORTH CAROLINA - September 2012
FOOD & WINE FESTIVALS and SHOWS: LOCAL FOOD EVENTS
events still waiting for new dates

Sept 29, 2012  3rd Annual Carolina Cornbread Contest
Cooleemee, North Carolina     (no website)
Enter your cornbread (any kind), no registration fee. Must register by September 24th. Email us for info and form. Three-judge panel. First Prize: $200.   Want to eat great cornbread, come to Cooleemee. For a small price you can sample all this cornbread along with a big bowl of pintos (onions available). More info call (336) 284-6040. Email us at blinky1@yadtel.net  or send request to Cornbread: PO Box 667, Cooleemee, NC 27014.

September 29-30, 2012  Pumpkin Festival - Bear Creek, North Carolina
The long-running annual event, which includes a variety of activities for fall fun:  Molasses making, Basket weaving, Toy tractor pull, Apple cider making, Bluegrass music, Pottery throwing, Arts and crafts, Lawn and garden tractor pull, Cloggers, Working sawmill, Pumpkin putt putt, and more!

2010 NORTH CAROLINA - September 2010
Food & Wine Festivals, Shows & Local Events
events still waiting for new dates

September 18, 2010  FungiFest - Asheville, North Carolina
Held at the North Carolina Arboretum, Fungifest is a day of celebration offered by the Asheville Mushroom Club. The event highlights basic identification techniques and medicinal uses, as well as growing and cooking programs. There’s even a didactic in the use of mushrooms for artistic purposes.