articles

MacKID's 2024 Guide to Fall Festivals in the Greater Charlotte Area

More than 45 Family-Friendly Festivals to Fill Your Fall

By South Charlotte, Fort Mill and Union County MacaronKID August 26, 2024

The temps are dropping and fall decor is starting to make its way into our living rooms and doorsteps. We've rounded up all the Fall Family Fun in the Greater Charlotte area - from Lake Norman all the way down to Rock Hill and everywhere in between! 

Think we missed one? Drop us a note at rachaelw@macaronikid.com or rebeccap@macaronikid.com and we'll add it in!

September

Yiasou Greek Festival
September 6-8, 2024
Friday/Saturday: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Sunday: 11 a.m.  - 6 p.m.
600 East Boulevard; Charlotte NC 28203
Cost: Donation recommended; rides and food are extra

Charlotte International Arts Festival
September 13-29, 2024
Various locations in Uptown Charlotte, as well as Ballantyne's Backyard
Cost: Many events are FREE

Scarowinds at Carowinds
Weekends September 13 - October 27, 2024
7:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m.
Carowinds - 14523 Carowinds Blvd, Charlotte, NC, 28273
Cost: Free with Gold Pass, ticket prices vary

The Great Pumpkin Festival at Carowinds
Weekends: September 14 - October 27, 2024
Hours: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Carowinds 14523 Carowinds Blvd, Charlotte, NC, 28273
Cost: Free with Gold Pass; ticket prices vary

Flow Fest at U.S. National Whitewater Center
September 14, 2024
All-day event
U.S. National Whitewater Center - 5000 Whitewater Center Parkway, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free (parking is $12)

Stallings Fest
October 14, 2024; 11 a.m. -4 p.m.
Stallings Municipal Park - 340 Stallings Rd, Stallings, NC 28104
Cost: Free

Festival of India
September 14-15, 2024
Saturday: 12 - 8 p.m. at  Belk Theater, 130 North Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Sunday: 12 - 6 p.m. at Ballantyne’s Backyard, 11611, N Community House, Charlotte, NC 20277

Shelby Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch
Sept. 14 – Oct. 27, 2024
Fridays 4 – 10pm | Saturdays  10am-10-pm | Sundays 2-8pm
Haunted Maze: After dark Fridays & Saturdays in October
Location: 120 Broadway Dr. Shelby, NC 28152
Cost: $12-$15

Festival in the Park
September 20-22, 2024
1900 East Boulevard, Charlotte
Cost: Free

2024 Latin American Festival
September 21, 2024 ~ 12 to 9 p.m.
Ballantyne’s Backyard: 11611, N Community House, Charlotte, NC 20277
Cost: Free

Fort Mill Main Street Oktoberfest Jam
September 21, 2024
Time: 3-9 p.m.
Locations: Main Street, Downtown Fort Mill
Cost: Free

CharlOZ
September 26 - 29, 2024
All Day
Various locations uptown
FREE

Enchanting Fairy Festival at Lavender Lane
Saturday September 28, 2024
Dallas Lavender Lane Farm ~ 937 Old Willis School Road, Dallas, NC
Cost: $5 per car

Breakaway Festival
September 27-28, 2024
Times and Lineup available online
Tickets range from $25-1,800
Charlotte Motor Speedway

Hunter Farm Fall Weekends
Schedule coming soon!
Location: 13624 Providence Rd. Weddington, NC 28104
Cost: $10 for ages 2+

Hall Family Farm Fall Weekends
Opening September 20, 2024
Hours: Check website, days/times vary; Closed Tuesdays
Location: Hall Family Farm ~ 445 W. Rebound Rd, Lancaster, SC
Cost: Free to roam; activity costs vary / Pumpkins are by the Lb.

Corn Maze at Rural Hills Farm
September 20 - October27
Weekends; Hours: 10 AM - 5 PM
Location: Rural Hills Farm ~ 4431 Neck Road Huntersville, NC
Cost: $13-20

Mint Hill Family Fun Night
September 21, 2024
6:30 - 9 p.m.
Mint Hill Veterans Park
Cost: Free


October

Carolina Renaissance Festival
October 5 - November 24, 2024
Saturdays and Sundays
16445 Poplar Tent Road, Huntersville
Cost: Ticket price: $34 for adults and $20 for children ages 5-12. Some discounts are available

Hola Charlotte Festival 
October 5th, 2024
Tryon Street, between Stonewall and 4th
Cost: Free

13 Acre at Aw Shucks
September 20 - October 31
Fridays and Saturdays; Sundays October 13, 20 and 27th and Thursday October 31st
Time: 6 - 11 PM
Location: 3718 Plyler Mill Rd., Monroe
Cost: $25-65

Scarigan Farms
September 27 to November 1, 2024
Times: Check website
Location: Carrigan Farms ~ 1213 Oakridge Farm Highway (for Scarrigan Farms) and 1261 Oakridge Farm Highway (for pumpkins and sunflowers), Mooresville, NC 28115
Cost: Price varies by date: $20 to $40 per person.

Fall For Matthews Festival
October 12th, 2022; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Downtown Matthews ~ 210 Matthews Station Street, Matthews
Cost: Free

Cherry Place Farm - Corn Maize
Saturdays and Sundays in October
Times: Sat ~ 10-6 / Sun ~ 1-6
Location: 1922 Oakdale Rd. Rock Hill, SC
Details: The October festival is a self-guided tour of the farm that features a two-acre cornmaze, a pumpkin patch, hayrides, petting and feeding the animals, and free popcorn.
Location: 1922 Oakdale Road, Rock Hill, SC 29730
Cost: $10; Under 2 is free

Black's Peaches Fall Festival Weekends
Every weekend in October (Sundays 1-5) ~ enjoy hayrides, a corn maze, pumpkin-chunkin, a farm playground, corn shelling, a hay maze, cow milking, a horse rodeo, and skeeball.
The pumpkin patch is open every day in October.
Location: 1800 Black Highway York, SC 29745
Cost: $7 per person.

Pineville Fall Festival
October 17 - 19, 2024
Thursday/Friday: 6 - 10 p.m. / Saturday: 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Cost: Free with paid food and attractions

Fort Mill Scarecrow Crawl
October 4 - 31, 2024
Location: Downtown Fort Mill
Cost: Free  

Curtin Farms Festival
October 12, 2023
Time: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Location: 407 North Paraham Rd, Clover, SC 29710
Cost: 0-$7

Musica Matthews ~ An Hispanic Heritage Festival
October 15th, 2024, 5 to 9 p.m.
Stumptown Park ~ 120 S. Trade Street, Matthews
Cost: Free

Autumn Treasures
October 12-13, 2024
Hours: Saturday, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM/ Sunday, 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Streets of Downtown Waxhaw, Waxhaw, NC

Catawba Fest
October 12, 2023; 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Glennon Community Center -5083 Molokai Dr, Tega Cay, SC
Cost: Free

Build-Your-Own-Boat competition at U.S. Whitewater Center
Saturday, October 12, 2024
U.S. National Whitewater Center; 5000 Whitewater Center Parkway, Charlotte
Cost: Free (parking is $12)

Mint Hill Scarecrow Contest
October 14-18, 2024
Location: Downtown Mint Hill
Cost: Free

Mint Hill Madness
October 17-19, 2024
All Day
Veteran Park

Carolina Balloon Festival
October 18 - 20, 2024;
Friday: 3 to 8:30 p.m.
Saturday: 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Sunday: 7 a.m. to 6 p .m.
531 Old Airport Rd, Statesville, NC
Cost: $15-$20

Fort Mill Fall Festival
Saturday, Oct. 19; 4-8PM
345 N White St, Fort Mill, SC 29715
Cost: Free entry.

Touch-a-Truck at Fort Mill Fall Festival
Saturday, October 19, 2024
345 N. White Street, Fort Mill, SC
Cost: Free

Charlotte Chalk Art Festival
Saturday, October 19, 2024
NoDa Brewing Company North End, 150 W 32nd Street, Charlotte, NC 28206
Cost: Free

Indian Trail Halloween Spooktacular at Chestnut Park
Oct 25th, 2024;  6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
Chestnut Square Park 320 Chestnut Parkway, Indian Trail, NC, 28079
Cost: Free.

Stalloween
October 25, 2024; 5 - 9 p.m.
Stallings Municipal Park - 340 Stallings Rd, Stallings, NC 28104
Cost: Free

Matthews Play House Halloween Haunted Trail
October 25 - 27, 2024
Times: Not So Spooky- 5:30pm-6:30pm every night / Full Fright- 7:00pm-9:00pm on Friday & Sunday, 7:00pm-10:00pm on Saturday
Location: Matthews Community Center
Cost: $10 / person; 2 and under free

Biketoberfest
October 27, 2024

  • 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Check in at Triple C Brewing Co.’s Barrel Room (2900 Griffith St.)
  • 12:00 - 4:30 p.m. - Explore the city and collect stamps!
  • 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. - After-party at Triple C Brewing Co.’s Barrel Room (2900 Griffith St.)

Cost: Tickets are $45 ($35 early-bird pricing through September 2, 2024).. Children under the age of 18 may participate for free if accompanied by a paying (registered) parent or guardian.

Belmont Boo Fest
October 26th, 2024 2 - 7 p.m.
24 South Main Street, Belmont, North Carolina 28012, United States

Monster Bash at Waverly
DATE TBD
Waverly Shopping Center ~ Providence Road at Ardrey Kell Road, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free

Waxhaw Fright Night
October 26, 2024; 4-10PM
Downtown Waxhaw, NC
FREE

November

Rural Hill Sheepdog Trials
November 2-3, 2023; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Rural Hill ~ 4431 Neck Road, Huntersville, NC
Cost: $6-28; children under 5 are free

Lake Park Fall Festival
November 2, 2024 2 - 8 p.m.
3801 Meeting St, Indian Trail, NC 28079
Cost: Free

Pawsitively Matthews
November 2, 2024 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Sumptown Park, Matthews
Cost: Free






Grab your family and go have some fun - and as always remember to @mackid.union, @mackidrebecca or @mackidfmrh us in your pics!