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You might not want to think about summer drawing to a close, but Labor Day is considered the end to the summer travel season. In North Carolina, you’ll find plenty of popular festivals and signature events taking place during the long holiday weekend. Plus, the weekend after offers some of our state’s largest annual music festivals.
End your summer on a high note by making plans to attend one (or more) of the events below.
1 Matthews Alive Festival
1 Matthews Alive Festival
Aug. 30 – Sept. 2, 2024; Matthews See on map
Enjoy your time off in this town just outside of Charlotte. The four-day festival features amusement rides, games, live concerts, food, arts and crafts, a petting zoo and more. The festival is in support of local nonprofits.
Cost: Free; ticket fees for rides
2 North Carolina Apple Festival
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2 North Carolina Apple Festival
Aug. 30 – Sept. 2, 2024; Hendersonville See on mapThis long-running festival features a street fair on historic Main Street with live music, arts and crafts, apple growers, kids’ activities, special exhibits, food and more. Plus, the King Apple Parade takes place on Labor Day.
Cost: Free
3 Mile High Kite & Craft Festival
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3 Mile High Kite & Craft Festival
Aug. 31, 2024; Beech Mountain See on mapLocated at more than 5,000 feet in elevation, the town meadow makes it easy to sail kites. The festival weekend features open kite flying Saturday afternoon and an all-ages street dance that evening. On Sunday, prizes will be awarded for the biggest kite, smallest kite and best-decorated kite. Other activities include races with kids pulling parachute kites, face painting, and a variety of craft and food vendors.
Cost: Free
4 Oak Island Art Guild Arts & Crafts Festival
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4 Oak Island Art Guild Arts & Crafts Festival
Aug. 31, 2024; Oak Island See on mapMore than 140 artists and craft vendors will show and sell their handmade wares, including fine art, pottery, stained glass, needlecraft, ornaments, photography, jewelry, toys and more. Food vendors will be on site as well.
Cost: Free
5 African American Cultural Festival of Raleigh and Wake County
5 African American Cultural Festival of Raleigh and Wake County
Aug. 31 – Sept. 1, 2024; RaleighSee on mapThis annual celebration of African American culture is expressed through art, music, food and community. Local, national and international artists, performers, food vendors and area business owners will be a part of the showcases.
Cost: Free
6 Fork Fest
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6 Fork Fest
Aug. 31 – Sept. 1, 2024; McAdenville and CramertonSee on mapA floating concert – need we say more? Though Fork Fest is two days full of live music, food trucks, kids' activities and vendors, the highlight is the concert that begins in McAdenville on Saturday evening and floats down the South Fork River to Cramerton over a 1.5-hour span. You're free to bring your own canoe or kayak to float with the band, or you can rent one onsite.
Cost: Free
7 John Coltrane International Jazz & Blues Festival
7 John Coltrane International Jazz & Blues Festival
Aug. 31 – Sept. 1, 2024; High Point See on mapNamed for the legendary saxophonist and composer, this festival brings jazz and blues musicians and fans from around the country. Enjoy live performances from Bilal, Nik West and more.
Cost: $85 and up
8 Labor Day Celebration at US National Whitewater Center
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8 Labor Day Celebration at US National Whitewater Center
Aug. 31 – Sept. 1, 2024; Charlotte See on mapThe Friday evening before features the River Jam concert series; Saturday begins with a trail race and ends with concerts; and Sunday features a full day of events and live music. Plus, all the activities at the US National Whitewater Center will be open, including rafting, ropes courses, zip lining, and the restaurants and beer garden.
Cost: Free, but prices vary to participate in activities; parking is $12
9 Maggie Valley Arts & Crafts Show
9 Maggie Valley Arts & Crafts Show
Aug. 31 – Sept. 1, 2024; Maggie ValleySee on mapMaggie Valley's largest gathering of artisans, including makers from the entire Southeast, gather here to sell all kinds of incredible goodies: yard art, paintings, pottery, jewelry, household items and much more. If you miss the Labor Day event, you're in luck – another show is held Oct. 19-20, 2024.
10 Around the Crown 10K
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10 Around the Crown 10K
Sept. 1, 2024; CharlotteSee on mapBeginning and ending at Truist Field in Uptown on Sunday morning, the Around the Crown 10K shuts down I-277, offering participants a one-of-a-kind chance to run the Queen City’s entire 3-mile loop while taking in spectacular skyline views. Before you race – or if you choose to cheer on runners instead – hit up the expo at Camp North End on Saturday.
Cost: Price varies for race registration; Expo festival, free
11 Canton Labor Day Celebration
11 Canton Labor Day Celebration
Sept. 1-2, 2024; Canton See on mapMore than 10 bands and dance groups perform across two days, along with a kids’ village, handmade crafts, a car show, farmers market, food trucks and more.
Cost: $10 per day
After Labor Day
12 Ayden Collard Festival
12 Ayden Collard Festival
Sept. 5-7, 2024; Ayden See on mapFind lots of food and fun at the “Official Collard Festival of North Carolina.” The itinerary includes a pageant, parade, road race, art show, live entertainment, carnival rides, games, and collard cooking and eating contests.
Cost: Some activities, such as rides, have a fee
13 Hopscotch Music Festival
13 Hopscotch Music Festival
Sept. 5-7, 2024; Raleigh See on mapThis annual festival has been called “America's (Secretly) Best Festival” and “the premier experimental and underground festival in America.” More than 100 bands will perform over four days, including St. Vincent, Faye Webster, Waxahatchee and more.
Cost: Starting at $159
14 Mountain Song Festival
14 Mountain Song Festival
Sept. 6-7, 2024; Brevard See on mapHeld at Brevard Music Center’s Whittington-Pfohl Auditorium, the scheduled performers include Steep Canyon Rangers, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway and more. There will be plenty of food, local artists, children’s activities and nature displays. Proceeds benefit the local Boys and Girls Club.
Cost: $46 and up
15 North Carolina Hot Sauce Contest and Festival
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15 North Carolina Hot Sauce Contest and Festival
Sept. 6-7, 2024; Oxford See on mapNorth Carolina’s finest hot sauces and barbecue sauces, local craft breweries and wineries, and live bands spice up the blends and texture of historic downtown. Enter the main event of the day, the pepper-eating contest, for your chance to grab the hottest title in the state. There will also be kids’ activities and an antique car show.
Cost: Free
16 Autumn at Oz
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16 Autumn at Oz
Sept. 6-8; Sept. 13-15; Sept 20-22, 2024; Beech Mountain See on mapWhile it won’t technically be fall yet, you can get excited about the upcoming season with this event that sells out every year. Travel back in time to 1939 to the world of “Oz” high atop Beech Mountain at the Land of Oz theme park. Children and adults alike will be enchanted as they experience the re-creation of Dorothy’s trip from her farm home in Kansas through the twister and down the yellow brick road to the “Land of Oz.”
Cost: Starting at $60
