Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance

Where: Pittsboro (Find directions here)

When: Thursday-Sunday, Oct 4-7

Grassroots is a key word here. Shakori focuses on local and regional acts from genres as diverse as bluegrass, world music and psychedelic rock. The festival has done a terrific job of creating a great environment for all sorts of people. Attendees can go from one to all four days and camping overnight is an option.

 

Cary Dog Days

Where: Fred G. Bond Metro Park

When: Saturday, Oct 6, 9 am – 1 pm

A Saturday morning overflowing with canine friends, the event will have everything from a frisbee competition, microchipping by Cary Animal control, dog washes by Cary Teen Council, pet adoption and more. Don’t forget a leash!

 

Festifall Arts Festival

Where: West Franklin Street, Chapel Hill

When: Sunday, Oct 7, 12 – 6 pm

Festifall Arts Festival will provide the community and artists with a way to come together and interact. Every year West Franklin Street is shut down and taken over by a sea of artists and crafters selling their wares and demonstrating their talents. There will be live music and plenty of the area’s best food trucks. The festival facilitates interaction between the local arts community and the broader Chapel Hill community. Several of the musicians are from the area and play a wide variety of genres.

 

NC State Fair

Where: NC State Fairgrounds

When:  Thursday Oct 11 – Sunday Oct 21

First started in 1853, the NC State Fair was originally created to give the agricultural community a venue to showcase its crops, livestock and new technology while at the same time sharing with those that may not know much about agriculture. While the State Fair has not strayed from this core mission, it has grown considerably in other aspects, namely food, rides, games and madness.

Expect both adrenaline pumping and calm rides, all sorts of games and monstrosities of gastronomy like deep fried candy bars, hamburgers with donuts for buns, and fried bacon. There will also be plenty of more natural (and traditional) foods like homemade ice cream, barbecue (ever present) and fudge.

The core goal of the fair is still very much alive. Farmers, crafters, agriculturists and everyone in between come from all corners of the state to compete and exhibit their trades. There are contests and exhibits for all sorts of livestock and produce.

 

 

Fall Fest

Where: Ritter Park

When: Saturday, Oct 13, 11 am – 1 pm

I’d like to invite you to our Fall client appreciation event. There will be activities for children, food, a pumpkin or mum to take home and a beautiful day in the park. If you’re interested please contact me for more information.

 

Cary Diwali

Where: Koka Booth Amphietheatre, Cary

When: Saturday, Oct 13, Gates open at 10 am, Fireworks at 8:30 pm

Also known as the “Festival of Light,” Diwali is one of the most widely celebrated religious and cultural events in India. The festival will feature all sorts of live music, performances, delicious food and more. Come out and see one of Cary’s vibrant local communities and enjoy all sorts of fun.

 

Hillsborough Handmade Parade

Where: Downtown Hillsborough

When: Oct 14, 2:30 – 4:30 pm

Best summed up by the event’s site, “The Hillsborough Handmade Parade is a grassroots community participatory celebration sponsored and organized by the Hillsborough Arts Council. This Mardi Gras style street parade is completely created by the community and includes wild costumes, giant puppets, stilt-walkers, marching bands and much more creating a spectacle of art, creativity, and public theater and music.”

The parade goes through Hillsborough’s scenic and historic downtown.

 

SPARKcon 2018 (rescheduled)

Where: Downtown Raleigh

When: Thursday-Sunday, Oct 18-21

SPARKcon is a free 4-day event embracing everything creative. There will be more than 2,000 artists and more than 200 events. The event encompasses music, art, theater, literature, digital design, dance and much, much more. Come out to spectate or even participate!

 

Triangle Oktoberfest

Where: Koka Booth Amphitheatre, Cary

When: Friday, Oct 19, Saturday, 5 – 10 pm October 20, 12 – 9 pm

Oktoberfest is a celebration of beer rooted in 19th century Munich, Germany. Live music will be provided by the Polka Brothers and there will be traditional Bavarian food, wiener dog races, contests, lots and lots of beer and more (including kid-friendly activities).

 

International Festival of Raleigh

Where: Raleigh Convention Center

When: Friday-Sunday, Oct 26-28

The festival is put on by International Focus whose mission is to “promote mutual understanding between the people of N.C. and the international community through education, economic and cultural exchange, arts and the celebration of achievements.” The festival aims to embody this mission and attracts over 40 authentic food booths, 39 interactive cultural booths, representatives of over 65 countries and cultures and 200 live performances.

 

Barktoberfest

Where: Durham Central Park

When: Saturday, Oct 27, 3 – 7 pm

Durham Parks and Recreation and Beyond Fences are teaming up to bring you and your dog an afternoon of fun. Beyond Fences is a non-profit organization that strives to bring basic pet care resources to area neighborhoods. The organization provides free services, supplies, information and support and proactively reaches out to the community to build relationships with families and help keep pets healthy and happy.  There will also be a market, which will be selling pet-related items from local canine businesses, local canine foster and adoption organizations and food and beer.

 

Have a great October!