Chapel Hill, NC - The leaves will be changing soon and the outdoor air will be crisp. It's Fall in North Carolina and our beauty is second to none.   Fall in Chapel Hill and the surrounding communities of Carrboro and Hillsborough NC brings with it outdoor sculpture events, corn mazes, antiques, music and food festivals and even a Halloween event or two.  Here are 12 can't-miss events from September – November 2025.

September

September 21 – December 7. 37th Annual Sculpture in the Garden. Display lasting up to two months in the Fall. North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill. Annual display of more than 50 one-of-a kind sculptures placed amid the native wildflowers and shrubs to delight garden visitors. http://www.ncbg.unc.edu/

September 28 – November 1.  McKee's Cedar Creek Farm Cornfield Maze in Rougemont.  Annual Family Fun in the Country. $16 corn maze admission. Age 2 and Under Free.  Fridays 3-7pm, Saturday 10-7pm, Sunday 1-6pm.  2 mazes – 12 acre cornfield maze and 2 acre fun, interactive adventurous maze for children.  Also hayrides, pumpkins, farm animals, play area, games, picnic area, barrel train rides and more. www.mckeecornfieldmaze.com Maze is about 40 minutes north of Chapel Hill.

September 28. 28th Carrboro Music Festival.   All types of music!  Event features numerous venues throughout downtown Carrboro with dozens of musical acts as well as food, craft and non-profit vendors. Free shuttle bus from Carrboro Plaza Park & Ride. Coordinated effort by the Carrboro Recreation, Parks, & Cultural Resources Department and the Carrboro Music Festival Planning Committee.; (919) 918-7364.  www.carrboromusicfestival.com.

October

October 11-12. Tarheel Antiques Festival. The festival features antique vendors, auctions and appraisals. Located at the historic Barn at Lloyd's Dairy centrally located between the Triangle and Triad regions of North Carolina at the merge of Interstate 40 & 85.  $7 weekend pass. 9 am – 5 pm both days. Festival opens to the public featuring antique and craft vendors, auctions, appraisal and Christmas themed activities and entertainment. 226 N. Lloyds Dairy Rd, Efland (919) 923-3988 or (919) 732-7322  www.tarheelantiquesfestival.com

October 16-18. West End Poetry Festival.  Event Poetry readings and workshops.  Sponsored by the Town of Carrboro and planned by the Carrboro Poets Council. Event features readings, workshops, poetry slam and more. Free. (919) 918-7364   http://www.westendpoetryfestival.org   

October 18 & November 1. Festifall Arts Markets  are 12 pm – 5 pm.  Chapel Hill's annual arts festival returns in October spanning two days  each Festifall Arts Market will have its own theme with artisan vendors, music, performances, and more. October 18 is Carolina Day and November 1 is Dia de los Muertos. https://www.chapelhillarts.org/ 

October 18.  Hillsborough Halloween Fall Festival and Spirits Tours 2025.  Hillsborough, the oldest town in the Triangle, is haunted! Join the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough and The Orange Community Players for the annual Haunted Tour through the historic district to encounter these ghostly residents! Also new this year is a Fall Festival on the Visitors Center grounds at 150 E. King Street. 12 pm – 7 pm. https://historichillsborough.org/

October 18. Salt & Smoke & Sound Festival is 12:30 pm – 10 pm at Blackwood Farm Park at 4215 NC-86 between Chapel Hill and Hillsborough. The exciting new community event merges together two beloved festivals–Acme's Salt & Smoke and Sonark Media's Harvest Festival–into a celebration of food, culture, and music in a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere. Big Something headlines the music stage with The Tan & Sober Gentlemen, Rissi Palmer, Kaira Ba, Nothing Good, Ben Sollee, and My Brother's Keeper rounding out the line-up. Food will be provided by Acme's Kevin Callaghan and a team of local chefs and food trucks offering a wide variety of dishes and dining options. The festival will feature craft beers, curated beverages, and other interesting spirit-free options. All food and drink will be available for purchase and is not included in the price of festival entry. Visit saltsmokesound.com. 

October 24-25.  Orange County Feargounds. Haunted barn and hayride. 226 N. Lloyds Dairy Rd, Efland (919) 732-7322     https://www.facebook.com/OCfeargrounds/ The venue features an expanded 20,000 sq ft haunted barn for those that dare enter and a calmer side option of our spooky hayride with a family friend twist from 7 pm - 11 pm. 

October 25. River Park Concert. The event opens at 12pm, music will begin at 12:30 and wrap up around 8:00pm. www.riverparkconcert.com. Entrance to the park at the River Arch is 228 S. Churton Street in Hillsborough. There will be bands, local beer, food, art vendors, live mural painting, and more.  

November

November 1-2 & 8-9. 31st Annual Orange County Open Studio Tour.   Orange County; Over 90 artists invite you into their studios to see where and how they work.  Sponsor: Orange County Artists Guild (919) 933-7880.  First two weekends in November, Sat 10 am – 5 pm and Sun 12 pm – 5 pm. https://www.ocagnc.org/tour/

November 8.  Fool's Faire 2025 Renaissance Festival at Pluck Farm. Steel String Brewery, Beer Study, and Honeygirl Meadery have come together to host Fool's Faire from 12 pm - 8 pm at Pluck Farm at 6901 NC Hwy 54 West, Mebane in western Orange County. This renaissance festival offers fantastical beverages, craft vendors & artisans, medieval food vendors, feats of strength, cosplay contest, and more. https://www.facebook.com/PluckFarmNC

For information on these Fall Events and more, visit www.visitchapelhill.org