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46 Fall Festivals in the Charlotte area in 2025
2025-08-05 13:30 UTC by Jody Mace

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.

K-Pop Stan Fest

K-Pop Stan Fest
Date: Saturday, August 30, 2025
Time: 1 to 6 p.m.
Place: Seoul Food Meat Co. (Mill District), 421 E 26th Street, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free
Features: The first ever K-Pop Stan Fest is a celebration of Korean pop culture, with music, dancing, merch, DIY stations and much more. All ages are welcome.

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.

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.

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.

‘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.

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.

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
Features: Watch corgis race. There will also be food trucks, music and vendors. All dogs can attend. Only corgis can race. It costs $40 to register your Cori to race.

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.

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.

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.

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.

More Fall Festivals and Halloween Events

Read on for the next 30 days of festivals.

The post 46 Fall Festivals in the Charlotte area in 2025 appeared first on Charlotte On The Cheap.

   

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