As summer days fade into a soft haze and the season of crimson and gold-painted landscapes and cooler temperatures comes to the horizon, we call attention to autumn events throughout our Mast Store communities.

Whether you come from near or far, fall festivals offer the occasion to take in local flavor – sometimes in the literal sense at, say, a fair or an apple festival – and appreciate the uniqueness of a town, a region, or a state. They give us all destinations that will transport us, transform us, and make our lives a little happier as we share in celebrations of the places we call home.

GREENVILLE – Upper South Carolina State Fair
Thursday, August 29 – Sunday, September 8

Late summer/early fall is a “fair” season indeed, and the old-fashioned family fun it brings is a beloved tradition. The biggest joy of the Upper South Carolina State Fair is that there’s something for everyone: rides galore, an assortment of indulgent deep-fried foods, a family of motorcycle-racing daredevils, a demolition derby, the traveling carnival-like World of Wonders Amazement Show, and the man who flies through the air, but not on the flying trapeze – he’s the Human Cannonball!

For more information on ticket packages, a full schedule of events, and a list of vendors to help you plan your visit, go to uppersouthcarolinastatefair.com/.

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HENDERSONVILLE – North Carolina Apple Festival
Friday, August 30 – Monday, September 2

As wholesome and flavorful as the theme of the festival, Hendersonville’s North Carolina Apple Festival is a long-running “gala” the whole family will love. This Labor Day Weekend street festival celebrates not just all things “apple,” but also the culture of the place where they’re grown in the mountains of Western North Carolina. 

A weekend of eating, playing, vendors, crafts, and live, local music, culminates with Monday’s King Apple Parade, which begins, rain or shine, at 2:30 p.m. Children’s rides, inflatables, and more are open each day in the Family Fun Zone. Plan your trip to Hendersonville by starting at ncapplefestival.org/.

Be sure to drop by the Hendersonville Mast Store for a festival-long Sidewalk Sale, Aug. 30 – Sept. 2. 

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BOONE – Antlers and Acorns: The Boone Songwriters Festival
Wednesday, September 4 – Saturday, September 7

For an area as historically rich in Appalachian music as Boone is, it’s no surprise there’s a festival that celebrates the art of songwriting. Hosted at several venues throughout downtown, the event literally and figuratively centers on the image and influence of local legend Doc Watson, whose likeness depicts him flatpicking on a bench at the corner of King and Depot streets.

In addition to experiencing the music of songwriters, Antlers and Acorns uniquely offers attendees the opportunity to get to know the songwriters by going on a hike, kayaking, or fly fishing with them. 

Free events occur throughout the week as well as a ticketed performance sponsored by Antlers and Acorns at the Appalachian Theatre with headliner James McMurtry on Thursday, Sept. 5. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/antlersandacornsboone.

James McMurtry photo (right) is courtesy of the Antlers & Acorns Festival.

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GREENVILLE – euphoria
Thursday, September 19  – Sunday, September 22

Get a taste of the good life during Greenville’s euphoria festival. World-class, locally based chefs bring their talents, skills, and knowledge to the table for a bevy of events sure to delight foodies. 

This festival celebrates Greenville as a burgeoning culinary capital and cultural hub in the Southeast through four days of exceptional food, drink, and music hosted at the city’s trendiest and most dignified venues. As a non-profit organization, it has also partnered with more than 40 area charities over its history giving support to initiatives that support sustenance to those in need, educating through music or performing arts, or those that aid children. Learn more about euphoria and purchase tickets at euphoriagreenville.com/.

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COLUMBIA – Jubilee: Festival of Black History and Culture
Saturday, September 21
11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Jubilee celebrates South Carolina’s Black history and culture on the grounds of Columbia’s Mann-Simons Site, which itself represents the multi-generational entrepreneurial legacy of one of Columbia’s preeminent Black families. 

For more than 45 years, this free outdoor festival has brought together all people in the community through music, dance, arts, crafts, food, and storytelling. A full slate of performances including choirs, singer-songwriters, bands, DJs, a fashion show, and more, begins at 11 a.m. and continues until 6 p.m. with a Kids Zone featuring educational and family-friendly activities, too. The two-house museum on the festival site will be open to tour as well. For more information, visit historiccolumbia.org/events/2023/2023-09/jubilee-festival-black-history-and-culture.

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KNOXVILLE – HoLa Festival
Saturday, September 21 – Sunday, September 22
4 – 10 p.m., Sat. (Kick Off Party) and 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sunday (HoLa Family Festival)

Knoxville’s HoLa Festival kicks off National Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15) with a weekend celebration on the World’s Fair Park Performance Lawn. The celebration features live music, dancing, arts and craft vendors, home-cooked food, craft beer, 21 educational Hispanic Heritage booths, children’s activities and games, community resources, a Parade of Nations, and fireworks at 9 p.m. to cap each evening’s events. 

Admission is $3 and children under 12 get in free. Current members of host organization HoLa Hora Latina receive free admission. Learn more about the festival at holahoralatina.org/hola-festival/.

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WINSTON-SALEM – Bookmarks Festival of Books and Authors
Thursday, Sept. 26 - Sunday, Sept 29

The written word is alive and well at the Carolinas’ largest festival of books and authors. In its 20 year-history the festival has hosted more than 750 authors from around the world. Previous writers in attendance have included winners of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, the American Book Award, the NAACP Image Award, and many more prestigious accolades and recognitions. This year’s Festival Opening Keynote will be delivered by New York Times and USA TODAY-bestselling and Lambda Literary Award-winning fantasy and romance author TJ Klune.

Author announcements for this year’s festival are currently being made on Bookmarks’ website and social media, so be sure to follow and stash away their books in advance to guarantee you’ll have your own copy for a signing. Food trucks will also be present to fuel your hunger for reading. The Bookmarks Festival of Books and Authors is part of the Bookmarks literary arts nonprofit, whose programming promotes the love of literature in Winston-Salem year-round. Find out more at bookmarksnc.org/festival.

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WINSTON-SALEM – Carolina Classic Fair
Friday, Oct. 4 – Sunday, Oct. 13

Winston-Salem’s Carolina Classic Fair ushers in the season with rides, entertainment, games, nightly fireworks, and, of course, tasty food.

A schedule of events is in the process of being posted at on the fair’s website, carolinaclassicfair.com. It’s also still early enough that you can submit entries for your own livestock, baking, wine, photography, and art or register as a vendor. Save a little cash, too, and purchase tickets in advance, which are $8 for anyone ages 12 – 64 and $3 for kids. Rides are paid for separately with unlimited ride and admission package info available online.

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COLUMBIA – South Carolina State Fair
Wednesday, October 9 – Sunday, October 20

“Meet Me at the Rocket” is an intriguing call to head out to a fair, but the largest annual event in the Palmetto State isn’t shy when it comes to making bold statements. With an average attendance of 400,000 visitors, more than 35,000 square feet of exhibition space, and a track record of fun that spans generations since 1869, the South Carolina State Fair knows how to entertain a crowd.

This year’s event will be no different featuring an array of agricultural and livestock competitions, food and craft vendors galore, thrilling rides, and a vintage market among plenty more exciting events. To give back to its attendees, the fair has provided more than $4 million in scholarships to South Carolina students since 1997. Begin planning your trip today at scstatefair.org/.

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GREENVILLE – Fall for Greenville
**Festival Postponed until November 8 - November 10**

This foodie favorite locale invites you to town for a weekend full of flavor. Showcasing tastes, tunes, and taps, Fall for Greenville features cuisine from more than 50 area restaurants, six stages of music hosting 80+ bands, and upwards of 50 beer and wine vendors to keep you refreshed as the perfect complement to your food and fun.

The magazine US News named this as one of its Top 30 festivals in the United States, and it also landed at the number two position in last year’s USA TODAY Readers’ Choice Awards for Best City Food Festival. This one is a “can’t miss” event! Entry and entertainment is FREE to the public, and for information on how to purchase Taste Tickets and wristbands in advance, go to fallforgreenville.net/267/Taste-Tickets.

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ROANOKE – Anthem GO Outside Festival
Friday, October 18 – Sunday, October 20
ON AS SCHEDULED

Roanoke’s GO Fest lets you live the outdoors to the extreme, and what better place to do it than in this outdoor lover’s paradise in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains? Featuring lumberjack shows, climbing and bouldering walls, races, BMX demos, silent disco dances, the BANFF Mountain Film Festival, and MORE, these events engage Star City residents and outdoors enthusiasts far beyond with all adrenaline-pumping activities under the sun.

Attendees can even party with a purpose, too, at the Project Outside benefit concert. Before you run, cycle, hike, or log-roll to Roanoke, visit roanokegofest.com/ for more festival information.

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WAYNESVILLE – Church Street Art & Craft Festival
Saturday, October 12
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
CANCELLED FOR 2024

Waynesville’s 41st Annual Church Street Art & Craft Festival highlights work by some of the most creative artisans from the mountains of Western North Carolina. Artists, crafters, demonstrators, musicians, and food vendors fill the downtown district of this picturesque retreat in the Smokies.

This is a juried show, so the quality of the pottery, jewelry, woodworking, watercolors, photography, candles, quilts, and more, will be top-notch. Live entertainment from two stages also carries the spirit of the mountains with cloggers and Scottish pipers. Learn more about attending and entering your own crafts HERE.

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ASHEVILLE – Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands
Thursday, October 17 – Sunday, October 20
10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Daily
CANCELLED FOR 2024

The Harrah’s Cherokee Center in Downtown Asheville hosts the 77th Annual Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands. Many of the Southeast’s preeminent creators present wares ranging in style from contemporary to traditional and media including clay, wood, metal, glass, fiber, leather, paper, and more.

Savor the imagination, skill, and beauty as you explore while also enjoying live music and craft demonstrations. Tickets are $12 and children under 12 receive free admission. Learn more at southernhighlandguild.org/craftfair/.

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VALLE CRUCIS – Valle Country Fair
Saturday, October 19
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
CANCELLED FOR 2024

A truly uplifting community event in the heart of the High Country, the Valle Country Fair showcases food, crafts, and mountain music. This long-running fair is sponsored by Holy Cross Episcopal Church, and all proceeds from concessions as well as a portion from craft exhibitors benefit local nonprofits. An array of games and entertainment make the event a joy for the entire family and well worth the visit to the fair’s off-the-beaten-path site amongst the fall foliage in a serene mountain setting. Admission is free, but plan to drive to the site and park for a nominal fee. Learn more at vallecountryfair.org/.

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WAYNESVILLE – Apple Harvest Festival and Mast Store Tent Sale
Saturday, October 19
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
ON AS SCHEDULED

The mountains of Western North Carolina are a hub for apple production, so it’s fitting there are multiple festivals in the region that celebrate this versatile fruit. Waynesville’s Apple Harvest Festival stands out among them and has been called one of the ten best fall harvest festivals in the country.

Dozens of food and craft vendors gather along Main Street to show off apple-icious creations and a love for the culture and scenery of the Great Smoky Mountains. Enjoy local restaurants and shopping – especially at the Mast Store Waynesville Tent Sale, which opens the festival weekend, Oct. 18 – 20 – while you’re there, too. The festival is FREE. For more information, check out haywoodchamber.com/events-calendar/signature-events/apple-harvest-festival/.

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BANNER ELK – Woolly Worm Festival
Saturday, October 19 – Sunday, October 20
CANCELLED FOR 2024

Of course, there should be a fall festival honoring nature’s fluffiest, winter weather-forecasting insect! This High Country event in Banner Elk, just a few miles over the mountain from the Original Mast General Store and Mast Store Annex, has been such a hit, in fact, that it’s entering its 47th year and draws an average annual attendance of 20,000 visitors.

Famous for its woolly worm races, the winners of which receive prizes of $1,000 and $500 on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, the Woolly Worm Festival also includes food, around 150 craft vendors, live music, and kids’ activities. All of the action is set against the backdrop fall foliage so stunning that you’ll want to run up the mountain as fast as a woolly worm! 

Tickets, which can be purchased online, are $10 for adults and $5 for kids ages 6 – 12 while children 5 and under get in free. For festival information and a key to reading woolly worms so that you, too, can predict this winter’s weather, go to woollyworm.com/.

Header photo and photo at right are courtesy of the Woolly Worm Festival.

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Whatever destinations you and your family enjoy in the upcoming season, the Mast Store wishes you safe travels and hopes your journey – whether it be miles from home or just beyond your own backyard – leaves you refreshed and fulfilled.