2023 Festival & Event Guide - September & October

Food and drink! Music and artworks! Seasonal celebrations galore! Pick your favorite festival theme and start planning.

SEPTEMBER

Sept. 1-3 – Oak Leaf Festival comes to Oak Hill, West Virginia.

Sept. 1-3 – Guest River Rally rolls into Coeburn, Virginia.

Sept. 1-3 – Stuart, Virginia’s Dominion Valley Park will be filled with live Gospel music performances over the Labor Day weekend.

Sept. 1-4 – Labor Day Celebration brings music and carnival rides to Saltville, Virginia.

Sept. 1-4 – North Carolina Apple Festival heads to Hendersonville, North Carolina.

Sept. 1-4 – Step into Hillsville, Virginia, for the annual Gun Show and Flea Market on US-58.

Sept. 2 – Sunflower Festival blooms in Ralph Dean Park in Luray, Virginia. Patsy Cline Music Festival and Block Party comes to Winchester, Virginia, and features a singing contest.

Sept. 2-3 – Mile High Kite Festival breezes atop Beech Mountain, North Carolina.

Sept. 2-3 – Head to Banner Elk, North Carolina, for their final summer Art on the Greene gathering.

Sept. 2-3 – Hiawassee Pro Rodeo is back at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds.

Sept. 2-4 – Breaks Interstate Park Gospel Sing comes to the Kentucky-Virginia border at Breaks.

Sept. 3 – Big Kahuna Wing Festival comes to Knoxville, Tennessee.

Sept. 3 – Papa Joe Smiddy Mountain Music Festival comes to Natural Tunnel State Park in Duffield, Virginia.

Sept. 3 – Labor Day Cookout sizzles at the Dillard House in Dillard, Georgia.

Sept. 4-9 – Antlers and Acorns: The Boone Songwriters’ Festival tunes up in Boone, North Carolina.

Sept. 7-9 – Carolina Mountains Literary Festival visits Burnsville, North Carolina.

Sept. 7-10 – The Culturefest World Music & Arts Festival comes to Appalachian South Folklife Center in Pipestem, West Virginia.

Sept. 7-10 – Skyline Indie Film Festival comes to Winchester, Virginia.

Sept. 7-Oct. 29 – Oktoberfest begins at Helen, Georgia, and features German food and music.

Sept. 8-9 – Upstate Renaissance Faire arrives in Greer, South Carolina.

Sept. 8-10 – Bristol’s Rhythm and Roots Reunion brings music to the Tennessee-Virginia border along the famous State Street.

Sept. (exact dates TBD in July)- Look for the Beaver Dam Sunflower Festival running for a couple of weekends at Buchanan, Virginia.

Sept. 8-10 – North Carolina Mountain State Fair enters Fletcher, North Carolina.

Sept. 8-10 – Tennessee Valley Fair comes to Knoxville, Tennessee.

Sept. 9 – Olde Salem Days comes with crafts in downtown Salem, Virginia.

Sept. 9 – Art in the Park heads back to Blowing Rock, North Carolina.

Sept. 9 – Rockbridge Beer & Wine Festival comes to the Lime Kiln Theater, in Lexington, Virginia.

Sept. 9 – Spiritfest celebrates the heritage of Grundy, Virginia.

Sept. 9 – Autumn Jamboree comes to Bluefield, Virginia.

Sept. 9-10 – Moon River Festival lands in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Sept. 14 – Tennessee’s Taste of Blount offers food sampling in downtown Maryville.

Sept. 14-16 - Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival comes to Dumplin Valley Farms in Kodak, Tennessee.

Sept. 14-16 - Black Gold Festival lands in Hazard, Kentucky.

Sept. 14-16 - Dailey & Vincent’s American Made Music Fest brings three days of bluegrass, gospel and country music to Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds.

Sept. 14-17 – Euphoria Food, Wine & Music Festival arrives in Greenville, South Carolina.

Sept. 14-17 – Treasure Mountain Festival takes over downtown Franklin, West Virginia, in Pendleton County with a parade, music and local crafts.

Sept. 15-16 – Make your way to Virginia’s Spencer-Penn Centre for the Martinsville-Henry County Is For Book Lovers Book-fest.

Sept. 15-16 – Blue Ridge Blues & Barbeque Festival drives into the Blue Ridge City Park in Blue Ridge, Georgia.

Sept. 15 – Sippin’ in Simpsonville: Fall Wine Tasting returns to Simpsonville, South Carolina.

Sept. 15-17 – Hatfield and McCoy Heritage Days brings history to life in Pikeville, Kentucky.

Sept. 15-17 – Stop in Virginia along US-11 for the Edinburg Ole Time Festival.

Sept. 15-17 – The Creative Arts Guild’s Festival of Fine Arts and Crafts weekend is back for its 60th year in Dalton, Georgia.

Sept. 16 – Cherokee Heritage Festival comes to Hayesville, North Carolina.

Sept. 16 – Cedar Bluff Heritage Festival comes to Cedar Bluff, Virginia.

Sept. 16 – Wilderness Trail Festival cruises into Christiansburg, Virginia. Henry Street Heritage Festival comes to Roanoke, Virginia.

Sept. 16 – Support Dalton, Georgia’s Friendship House by attending their free music festival.

Sept. 16-17 – The Shenandoah Valley Apple Harvest Festival comes to Winchester, Virginia.

Sept. 16-17 – Mauldin BBQ Cook-Off arrives in Mauldin, South Carolina.

Sept. 17-18 – Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival comes to Mariners Landing in Virginia.

Sept. 18-24 – Mayberry Days brings together fans of The Andy Griffith Show for a week of merriment in Griffith’s hometown of Mount Airy, North Carolina.

Sept. 20-Oct. 30- Dollywood’s Harvest Festival carves into Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, with the must-see Great Pumpkin Luminights.

Sept. 21-23 – Apple Atcha Fest: A Celebration of the Arts shows up at the Millwald Theatre in downtown Wytheville, Virginia.

Sept. 21-23 – Nothin’ Fancy Bluegrass Festival comes to Maury Park in Buena Vista, Virginia.

Sept. 22 – Festival of the Arts features vendors in Luray, Virginia.

Sept. 22-23 – Hope in the Hills: Healing Appalachia comes to Lewisburg, West Virginia.

Sept. 22-24 – Covered Bridge Festival arrives at Elizabethton, Tennessee.

Sept. 22-24 – Go see the Chilhowie Apple Festival at Chilhowie, Virginia.

Sept. 22-24 – Jefferson County, West Virginia hosts the Mountain Heritage Arts and Crafts Festival.

Sept. 23 – Grillin’ in the Gap features a steak cook-off at Big Stone Gap, Virginia.

Sept. 23 – Foodies can unite at the WoodsTACO in Woodstock, Virginia.

Sept. 23 – Yadkin Valley Pumpkin Festival hits Elkin, North Carolina.

Sept. 23 – Hops and Herons Beer Festival arrives in Greenville, South Carolina.

Sept. 23-24 – Grayson Highlands Fall Festival features crafters, music and a wild pony auction near Mouth of Wilson, Virginia, at Grayson Highlands State Park.

Sept. 23-24 – Queen City Mischief and Magic mixes it up in Downtown Staunton, Virginia.

Sept. 23-Nov. 4 – Doe Run Farms in Ararat, Virginia, hosts their annual Sunflower Maze Festival, complete with hay rides, pumpkin bowling, bounce pad and more.

Sept. 29-30 – Townsend Fall Heritage Festival falls into Townsend, Tennessee.

Sept. 29-Oct. 1 – Russell Fork Autumn Fest hits Haysi, Virginia.

Sept. 29-31; Oct 6-8, 13-15, 20-22, 27-29 – Sinkland Farms Pumpkin Festival brings fun for the whole family to Christiansburg, Virginia.  

Sept. 30 – North Georgia Highland Games comes to Clayton, Georgia.

Sept. 30 – Tiger Corn Festival lands in Tiger, Georgia.

Sept. 30 – Burke’s Garden Fall Festival at Burke’s Garden, Virginia, brings crafts and music to a hidden valley in Tazewell County.

Sept. 30 – High Knob Naturalist Rally comes to Norton, Virginia.

Sept. 30 – Railfest arrives in Greer, South Carolina.

OCTOBER

Oct. 1 – Annual Harvest Festival, Rockbridge Vineyard & Brewery, comes to Raphine, Virginia.

Oct. 5-7 – Albino Skunk Music Festival arrives in Greer, South Carolina.

Oct. 5-8 – The Vehicle Military Rally comes to WindRock Park in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

Oct. 5-22 – Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair comes to Tennessee.

Oct. 6-7 – Apple Festival enlivens Erwin, Tennessee, with craft booths and sweet treats.

Oct. 6-7 – NOMA Square Oktoberfest arrives in Greenville, South Carolina.

Oct. 6-8 – National Storytelling Festival spins yarns at Jonesborough, Tennessee.

Oct. 6-14 – Georgia Mountain Fall Festival heads into Hiawassee.

Oct. 6-28 – Pumpkin Fest at Silvermont Park is held on Fridays and Saturdays in October at Brevard, North Carolina.

Oct. 7-9 – Knox Pride Fest comes to Knoxville, Tennessee.

Oct. 7 – Steins & Wine Around the Square tips off in Hayesville, North Carolina.

Oct. 7 – Aunt Het Festival arrives in Fountain Inn, South Carolina. Oktoberfest Frontier Culture Museum comes to Staunton, Virginia.

Oct. 7 – Oktoberfest at the Homestead Museum hits Wytheville, Virginia.

Oct. 7 – International Festival hits Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Oct. 7 – Oktoberfest comes to the Vinton Fall Festival at Vinton, Virginia.

Oct. 7 – Dayton Days is being held at Dayton, Virginia, near Harrisonburg.

Oct. 7 – Boones Mill Apple Festival simmers on Main Street in Boones Mill, Virginia. Art in the Park blows back into Blowing Rock, North Carolina.

Oct. 7 – Bush Mill Days comes to Nickelsville, Virginia.

Oct. 7 – Sonker Festival moves into Mount Airy, North Carolina.

Oct. 7 – Foxfire Mountaineer Festival hits Clayton, Georgia.

Oct. 7-8 – Heritage Festival comes to Luray, Virginia.

Oct. 7-8 – Bland County Festival of Leaves makes Bland, Virginia.

Oct. 7-8 – Visit Laurel Hill in Patrick County, Virginia, for their annual Civil War Reenactment and Living History event.

Oct. 8 – Molasses Festival sweetens Whitetop, Virginia.

Oct. 11-14 – Blue Highway Fest hits Big Stone Gap, Virginia, with bluegrass and roots music, food and more.

Oct. 13-14 – In Virginia’s Heart of Appalachia region, look for the Davenport-Council Oktoberfest with music, food and crafts.

Oct. 13-15 – Heritage Days comes to Rogersville, Tennessee.

Oct. 13-15 – Fall for Greenville arrives in Greenville, South Carolina.

Oct. 13-15 – Motorcar Festival revs into Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Oct. 14 – Appalachian Heritage Festival comes to Hungry Mother State Park in Marion, Virginia.

Oct. 14 – Taste of Our Towns comes to Lewisburg, West Virginia.

Oct. 14 – Look for action at Martin’s Station inside the Wilderness Trail State Park at Ewing, Virginia, where the Fall Encampment takes place, alongside the annual fall festival along US-58.

Oct. 14-15 – Oktoberfest sweetens Sugar Mountain, North Carolina.

Oct. 14-15 – The Wise Fall Fling lands in Wise, Virginia.

Oct. 14-15 – Fall Arts in the Park comes to Blue Ridge, Georgia.

Oct. 14-15 – The Fall Foliage Art Show arrives in Waynesboro, Virginia.

Oct. 14-15 & 21-22 – Escape to Georgia: Blairsville Sorghum Festival shares two weekends with the Apple Festival of Ellijay, Georgia, with Apple Arts in the downtown district and the Georgia Apple Festival at the nearby fairgrounds.

Oct. 19 – History & Haunts brings the past to life in Sevierville, Tennessee.

Oct. 20-21 – Take a Haunted Ghost Walk at Dawsonville, Georgia’s Racing Hall of Fame Museum.

Oct. 20-22 – Home Craft Days offers crafts and mountain music on the scenic campus of Mountain Empire Community College in Big Stone Gap, Virginia. Greenville Country Music Fest arrives in Simpsonville, South Carolina.

Oct. 21 - Sky Valley Fall Festival slides into Sky Valley, Georgia.

Oct. 21 - Valle Country Fair sets up tents at Valle Crucis, North Carolina, near Boone.

Oct. 21 - Apple Dumpling Festival hits Stuart, Virginia.

Oct. 21 - Yadkin Valley Grape Festival offers wine tastings, music and more in Yadkinville, North Carolina.

Oct. 21 - In West Virginia, look for the famous Bridge Day at the New River Gorge near Oak Hill.

Oct. 21 - Paws in the Park proudly brings the city park of Blue Ridge, Georgia, to the dogs.

Oct. 21 - The Appalachian Brew, Que, and Stew Festival brings tasty drinks and eats as well as live music to Hiawassee, Georgia.

Oct. 21-22 – Punkin’ Chunkin celebrates fall in Hayesville, North Carolina.

Oct. 21-22 – Maggie Valley Fall Arts and Crafts Show rolls into Maggie Valley, North Carolina.

Oct. 21-22 – Woolly Worm Festival finds Banner Elk, North Carolina.

Oct. 21-22 – NC Mountaineer and Apple Butter Festival takes place in Bakersville, North Carolina.

Oct. 21-22 – Pan for local history and fun with the Gold Rush Days at Dahlonega, Georgia.

Oct. 22 – Howl-O-Ween Pooch Parade & Pet Expo comes to Knoxville, Tennessee.

Oct. 26-28 – Venture to the Southern Gap Outdoor Center at Grundy, Virginia, for the three-day Elkfest, which features music and wild elk tours.

Oct. 27-29 – Visit Dawsonville, Georgia, for the 56th Annual Mountain Moonshine Festival & Car Show.

Oct. 28 – Blowing Rock Halloween Festival scares up some fun in Blowing Rock, North Carolina.

Oct. 28 – Blue Ridge Folklife Festival celebrates its 50th annual in Ferrum, Virginia.

Oct. 28 – The Shenandoah Valley town of Mount Jackson, Virginia, hosts an Apple Harvest Festival.

Oct. 28 – Smoky Mountain Bluegrass Festival arrives in Maggie Valley, North Carolina. Pennington Gap celebrates the Tobacco Festival in Lee County, Virginia.

Oct. 31 – Stuart Spooktacular brings a howling fun time with llamas, candy and street performers in Stuart, Virginia.

Oct. 31 – Head over to Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds for their “Fangtastic” Halloween celebration.

Discover More Great 2023 Mountain Festivals & Events:

The story above first appeared in our May / June 2023 issue. For more like it subscribe today or log in with your active BRC+ Membership. Thank you for your support!