While I cherish summer’s long, sun-soaked days, the first crisp chill of fall air ignites a quiet peace in the soul. The leaves, once verdant, surrender to a brilliant transformation, painting the mountainsides in fiery reds and burnt oranges. This is fall in the Blue Ridge Mountains—where heaven touches earth, and the cool air brings the landscape to life in a breathtaking display of color and scenery.
Though the colorful leaves mesmerize, what truly makes fall special is its unique ability to bring communities together. The season is a celebration of connection, filled with harvest festivals, pumpkin patches, and cozy bonfires. Whether it’s apple picking with family or relaxing on a camping trip with friends, fall is a time to embrace change and build lasting memories together.
One of the best places to fall in love with autumn is North Carolina’s High Country. You can wind through the breathtaking Blue Ridge Parkway, taking in sweeping vistas and experiencing the wonders of Grandfather Mountain, The Cone Manor, and Julian Price Park. The season offers a delightful mix of activities: sip hot cider and pick apples at local farms, try hard ciders at area breweries, or meander through farmers’ markets with a spiced latte in hand. With a calendar full of fun family festivals and events, you’ll ‘apple-solutely’ fall for the High Country.
Here is a list of A-MAIZE-ING festivals and fun events happening in the High Country to celebrate fall, from Boone to Banner Elk, Blowing Rock, and beyond.
September 2025:
Blowing Rock:
Tweetsie Railroad (starts Sept. 19-November 1): The whisper of the wind beckons you to ride Tweetsie Railroad’s Ghost Train, a spooky and haunted experience that will chill you to the bone. Younger children will love the dance parties, trick-or-treat stations, themed photo opportunities and the Palace Spooktacular Show. While braver kids and adults can face their fears in the scary night-time journey on the Ghost Train and walking through the hallowed halls of the Haunted House and exploring the murky Freaky Forest. You can also check out the Creepy Carnival and fun rides. A spooktacular tradition for the whole family! Plan your visit here
Boone:
Watauga Arts Festival: Busker Fest 2025 (September 20th) Boone has long struck a chord of inspiration for musicians, from Bluegrass legend Doc Watson to modern stars like Eric Church and Luke Combs. As a singer-songwriter myself, I’ve often found inspiration in the Blue Ridge Mountains surrounding Boone and its artsy college vibe. This festival allows you to discover local singer-songwriters and musicians as they perform in public spaces around downtown. Buskers Fest goes beyond music, however, to showcase many genres of art, from painting and craftsmanship to theater. The streets of Downtown Boone will be alive with creative energy and community spirit.
About Watauga Arts Council: WAC seeks to bring Art to the forefront of the High Country through advocacy, education, engagement, support, and inspiration. They work to make the arts accessible for all. Plan your Buskers Fest itinerary here
Boonetoberfest at Lost Province Brewing: September 20th:
This popular local brewery is celebrating the turning of the season with tasty craft beers, delicious food specials, and fun activities for all ages. They will be one of the hosts of Buskerfest – hosting live music from the incredibly talented Abby Bryant at noon for tunes and brews. Website
Appalachian Autumn Market & Fall Festival at Hickory Ridge Museum: September 27th
Step into harvest season with a fun family day at the Hickory Ridge Museum. The museum, which presents the Revolutionary War play ‘Horn in the West,’ every summer, is also a dynamic living history museum. The Appalachian Autumn Market and Fall Festival will have a variety of fall themed events from apple butter making, pumpkin painting, corn shuck doll making, candle-dipping, hatchet throwing, weaving and spinning demonstrations, cabin tours and cool vendors. Website
West Jefferson:
Art on the Mountain: September 27th
Hosted by the Ashe County Arts Council in West Jefferson. This event spotlights arts and crafts in western North Carolina. From fine art to cool crafts and live music this will be an enjoyable day of art and community.
October:
Blowing Rock:
Art in the Park on October 4th (Downtown Blowing Rock): October 4th
Celebrate fall with the final Art in the Park of 2025! This beloved Blowing Rock tradition showcases the arts of the High Country, featuring over 60 talented regional and national artists and local artisans. Stroll through the park, discover unique creations, listen to live music, and enjoy hot cider and delicious food. It’s a fun, family-friendly event that truly brings the community together. Website
Halloween Festival and Monster Mash: October 25th
Looking for a ‘fang-tastic’ way to treat yourself this Halloween – celebrate in Blowing Rock on October 25. Ghouls united for a spirited night of family fun. At 5:45 p.m. Downtown Blowing Rock will host the Monster March – a costume parade, where everyone is invited to showcase their costume. Starting at 6 p.m., kids are invited to go door to door at participating businesses for candy and treats. Don’t miss the Costume Contest at Memorial Park with DJ Taco at 7 p.m.
Sugar Mountain:
Oktoberfest at Sugar Mountain: October 12-13th, 2025
Raise a glass to crisp autumn days, scenic views and community rising with the return of this popular Bavarian themed festival. This festival invites you to put on your Lederhosen or dirndl, grab your stein and have fun in the mountain air. The Harbour Towne Fest Band will provide a festive Bavarian atmosphere to Sugar’s annual Oktoberfest celebration. Check out their website for the full schedule of events and parking and shuttle information
Banner Elk:
Woolly Worm Festival – Banner Elk on October 18th-19th
The Woolly Worm Festival is back! This unique Banner Elk tradition, canceled last year after Hurricane Helene, is returning with woolly worm races, live music, and over 60 vendors. Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind event in the High Country! Official Website
Fun fact: Did you know that legend states that a woolly worm can help predict the severity of winter. Learn more about Woolly Worms here.
Valle Country Fair – Valle Crucis: October 18th
Valle Country Fair is a celebration of community rising and coming together to celebrate mountain culture. Sponsored by the Church of the Holy Cross in Valle Crucis, a few miles from Banner Elk, the fair serves up family fun with delicious homegrown food from NC BBQ, Brunswick Stew, sausages and other good eats. Meander the rows of local and regional vendors selling artisan goods, arts and crafts and more. Sip on a cup of fresh made cider while listening to the area’s best bluegrass, gospel and country bands. A second stage showcases mountain cloggers and storytellers who share tales from the heart of the High Country. Kids and adults will have a ball in a pumpkin rolling contest. I recommend spending Saturday at the Valle Country Fair then heading over to the Woolly Worm on Sunday. Official Website
Grandfather Mountain: Beary Scary Halloween: October 25th
Visit the place where wonders never cease, from the mile high bridge ‘gourd-geous’ views, fall fun abounds at Grandfather Mountain. This fun Halloween event invites you to an afternoon of nature programs about animals that some consider creepy and crawly! The celebration includes an opportunity to trick-or-treat through the animal habitats area and watch special Halloween enrichments be given to the animals. Children in costume will be admitted half-price. Website – I recommend purchasing your tickets in advance.
Roan Mountain State Park (in TN on NC state line)
A scenic drive not far from the greater Banner Elk/Boone area, Roan Mountain is hosting a Fall O’Dendron Festival on October 11th. Roan Mountain is home to the largest natural rhododendron garden in the world. State Park Website
Brushy Mountain Apple Festival – October 4th (Wilkesboro, about 40 minutes from Boone)
The Annual Brushy Mountain Apple Festival is an “apple-tastic” event that celebrates the culture of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge. As one of the top apple-producing states in the U.S., North Carolina’s harvest is truly something to celebrate. This festival transforms Downtown North Wilkesboro with over 300 arts and crafts vendors, 50 food concessionaires, and three music stages featuring Bluegrass, Country, Folk, and Gospel. The streets also come alive with entertainment from cloggers, folk dancers, rope skippers, and square dancers.
You can also explore heritage crafts like woodcarving, chair making, soap making, pottery throwing, and quilting. Throughout the festival, local apple growers will be selling fresh apples, cider, and dried apples. With over 100,000 people visiting each year, the only person missing is you! Website
Farmers Markets, Apple Orchards and Pumpkin Patches:
One of the best ways to immerse yourself in harvest season is by visiting local farms and farmers markets.
Watauga Farmers Market: Saturdays at Daniel Boone Park (near Hickory Ridge Museum) – listen to live music and peruse vendors selling local produce and delicious food and other goods.
King Street Farmers Market: Boone NC’s connection to fresh local food.
Avery County Farmers Market – Old Banner Elk School – Thursdays through October 4-7 p.m.
Ashe County Farmers Market: West Jefferson NCA covered open-air market located on the Backstreet in West Jefferson. Fresh, locally grown produce, nursery plants, homemade baked goods and handmade crafts.
The Orchard at Altapass:
A Blue Ridge Fall tradition. Located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway near Spruce Pine, they have over 40 apple varieties in the orchard. Pick your own or load up on apples and other amazing items in their country store. Altapass has live music on select days
Sunset Tees and Hattery in downtown Blowing Rock sells fresh North Carolina apples and pumpkins throughout the fall. It is my go to stop for picking up a variety of apples.
J&M Produce – located near Tweetsie Railroad – this produce stands sells fresh apples, pumpkins and local jams and other goodies.
New River Corn Maze
Carve out an adventure at this fun family farm located along the New River near Deep Gap. This corn maze is a destination for many in the fall. Enjoy tram rides, a pick-your-own pumpkin patch, and a maze with over a mile of path.
Lantern Farm
From mid-September to late October, enjoy a 4-acre corn maze, and pick your own pumpkin patch! Enjoy season concessions and hay rides in October.
This working alpaca farm offers daily public tours by reservation through early October! Get up close to alpacas, llamas, angora goats, guardian donkeys, dogs, and all the other animals that call Apple Hill Farm home. The farm specializes in producing alpaca fiber, and the farm shop has a wide selection of yarns and products made with beautifully dyed alpaca.
Planning YOUR Adventure into North Carolina’s High Country:
North Carolina’s High Country invites you stay a while this autumn, taking time to experience Blue Ridge Hospitality. The High Country offers travelers a ton of lodging and itinerary options. I usually stay in Blowing Rock or Boone and use this as a base camp for day trips to Banner Elk, Beech Mountain, Sugar Mountain, Valle Crucis and the greater region. Another option is to stay a few nights in Blowing Rock and Boone then drive to West Jefferson, or to Spruce Pine and Little Switzerland.
Blowing Rock is known for it’s mix of inns and boutique hotels, each with a unique personality. For a cozy laid back experience I love The Cliff Dwellers Inn (the view is amazing). While for a more luxurious mountain lodge retreat I enjoy checking into Chetola. You can learn more about Blowing Rock’s food and lodging on the town’s tourism website, and also via American Nomad’s Blowing Rock Guide.
Banner Elk has several amazing places to stay including my favorite retreats, the Lodge at Elkmont and Little Main Street Inn. Read my Banner Elk Guide here.
Boone has a ton of chain hotels (I’ve stayed at the Comfort Inn, Fairfield Inn and Hampton Inn personally). For help planning your Boone adventures check out Explore Boone – the city’s official travel website.
Beech Mountain – the highest elevation community east of the Mississippi. Check out their website for all upcoming events and lodging options on the mountain.
Don’t miss your chance to experience autumn in North Carolina’s High Country – a place where heaven touches the earth and you’ll be blown away by the natural beauty and local charm of these mountain communities.
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Hi, I’m Adele Lassiter, the travel enthusiast behind American Nomad Traveler. This is where I share my love for history, cool museums, art, and travel tips. When I’m not writing, I’m a singer-songwriter with a passion for Americana music. You can find my new album here: adelelassiter.bandcamp.com
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