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Fresh, cool, crisp air, warm sunshine, glorious colored leaves – outdoors is where you want to be in the Fall. It’s a perfect time to enjoy all the fall activities and fests happening in and around Winston-Salem. You can gather up the kids and visit a corn maze and pumpkin patch, grab your friends and head to a vineyard or Oktoberfest, or spend the day at an artisan and craftsmen show. Check out our list of fall activities below and plan some fun for you and your family.
Corn Maze Season – Now Through November 8, 2025
- Alpha & Omega Corn Maze
- 1129 Cheek Road, Hamptonville, NC
- All Season, Sat, 10am – 9pm; Sun, 12:30pm – 6:30pm; Also in Oct, Wed & Thurs, 9am – 3pm, Fri, 9am – 9pm; in Nov, Wed – Fri, 9am – 3pm
Located just over a half hour from Winston-Salem, Alpha & Omega Corn Maze offers an exciting day of fun for families. Starting with their 5-acre corn maze with twisting and turning trails that is meant to be challenging but still allow visitors to exit any time they wish. Using their customized QR code interactive app, you can work individually or as a team. The fun does not end with the corn maze; there is a horse-drawn wagon, hayride, Pipe World, farmer football, barnyard baseball and softball, duck races, milk cow contest, giant pounce pillow, pig races, tug of war, corn hole, corn cob express, steer roping, hay bale run, large corn box, Toddler Town, sensory music wall, and more, all included in the general admission price of $15.51 weekend or weekday, $11.37 Senior or Military person. Children 2 and under are free. They have other attractions for additional fees, including feeding the animals, pumpkin blaster, pony rides, and ax throws. They offer packages that include those attractions, or you can purchase tickets for the attractions separately. Season Passes are also available. See their website to buy admission tickets or for more information.
Mayberry Days – September 22-28, 2025
- Mount Airy, NC
- Main Street and other locations
- Events throughout the week; Parade, Saturday, September 28, 9am
Travel back to the simpler and less troubled days of Andy Griffith’s Mayberry with a visit to Mount Airy during the Mayberry Days celebration. They will be celebrating throughout the week with concerts, golf tournaments, and other events, but Saturday, September 27, is the big parade, a spectacle that is also a lot of fun to watch. It begins at 9am on Main Street at Independence Boulevard, near Truist Bank, and travels to the Andy Griffith Playhouse. Following the parade, vendors will be located near the Andy Griffith Playhouse, offering food, drink, and handmade arts and crafts. You will also find a whistling contest, hay bale throwing contest, horseshoe and corn hole competitions, and the Mayberry “Idle” talent competition, with sign-up for that on Friday beginning at 9am at the Information Shelter in front of Andy Griffith’s Playhouse. On Friday and Saturday, September 26, 11am-4pm & Saturday, September 27, from 12pm – 3pm, visit the Mayberry Kids section at the Andy Griffith Playhouse picnic area for Otis Tile Therapy (painting), face painting, sidewalk chalk, checkers, and the Ernest T. Bass Rock Throwing Competition, sponsored by Vulcan Materials. A trophy for the competition will be presented at 1:30pm on Saturday. While in Mount Airy, be sure to tour the Andy Griffith Museum; it is fun to see all the memorabilia from that great show. There are many concerts and shows scheduled during the week. See the Surry Arts Council Mayberry Days Website and Mayberry Days Facebook Page for schedule, information, and tickets.
Apple Fest – September 27, 2025
- Historic Bethabara Park
- 2147 Bethabara Road, Winston-Salem, NC
- 10am – 4pm
Enjoy the day at this free event listening to the music of The Burnett Sisters Band and The Blushin’ Roulettes and Ken Bloom playing his bowed dulcimer. Stroll around and visit the artists and artisans, explore history with eighteenth-century craftsmen, play colonial games, have your face painted, and eat apples! There will be food vendors available so you can grab a meal. Though admission is free, there are charges for food and crafts. Be sure to buy some delicious, fresh apples while you are there! See the Website for Apple history at Bethabara.
Yadkin Valley Pumpkin Festival – September 27, 2025
- Elkin, NC
- 257 Standard Street and Main Street
- 9am – 4pm
Would you like to see the largest pumpkin east of the Mississippi? You will have the chance to do just that if you attend the Yadkin Valley Pumpkin Festival. They will be awarding $1000 to the winning pumpkin after the weigh-in of pumpkins brought in by growers from all over the East Coast. Some of them could weigh over 1000 pounds! You will see some huge pumpkins that would make awesome jack-o-lanterns! You can find the pumpkins at 257 Standard Street, along with the new Kid Zone – a fun place with bounce houses, pony rides, and a petting zoo. The Main Street of Elkin will be filled with music and lined with vendors featuring antiques, pottery, funnel cakes, wood furnishings, baked goods, handcrafted goods, polish sausage, BBQ, and pumpkin butter. There will also be pumpkin painting and sand art. See Website for more information.
Winston-Salem OktoberFest Bar Crawl – September 27, 2025
- Wise Man Brewing
- 826 Angelo Bros Avenue, Winston-Salem, NC
- Check-In 4pm – 6pm | Event lasts 4pm-11pm
Gather your friends, dress in your best Oktoberfest attire, and go from bar to bar celebrating the spirit of Oktoberfest. Follow the digital map on this self-guided tour, where each venue offers different drink specials, music, and a high-energy atmosphere. Your Bar Crawl ticket includes access to over 4+ venues, free entry into the best bars, a PubCrawls.com wristband, a detailed custom digital bar crawl map, generously low drink specials, live entertainment, free after-party access, hundreds of crawlers ready to celebrate, a feature on their social media, and helpful PubCrawl.com staff on site to be sure you have a blast. Check-in is 4pm – 6pm. Go to this Website for additional information and tickets.
Kernersville OktoberFest – October 4, 2025
- Körner’s Folly
- 401 S Main Street Kernersville, NC
- October 4, 3pm – 6pm
This 21-and-over event celebrates the spirit of OktoberFest! Breweries, vineyards, chefs, and restaurants come together for you to sample beers, wine, and delicious food, while supporting Historic Körner’s Folly. Each guest will receive a tasting glass to keep, allowing them to sip and sample the brews from a selection of breweries. Enjoy mouthwatering bites, from savory to sweet, to go along with your beverages. You can bring your own lawn chair or blanket to sit back and enjoy the music and fun, or participate in the fun activities, such as the stein-holding contest or the speed pretzel-eating competition. Your ticket includes a self-guided tour of Körner’s Folly, featuring 22 whimsical rooms, starting at 1:30pm, before the event begins at 3pm. Visit this site for more information and tickets, which are limited.
Pumpkins In The Dark Greensboro – October 2 – 31, 2025
- Wet & Wild Emerald Park Waterpark
- 3910 S Holden Road, Greensboro, NC
- Thursdays Through Sundays, 6:30pm – 11pm
Enter a glowing world where 10,000 hand-carved pumpkins light the night with dragons, dinosaurs, and pop culture icons. Walk the magical path filled with spooky sounds, live pumpkin carving, a Monster Maze, and roaming performers. Enjoy fall treats from food trucks, and capture memories at the photo spots. It’s a fun family experience with no jump scares. Visit this website for more information and to purchase tickets.
Visit The Vineyards In Fall – Through November, 2024
- Various Wineries and Vineyards
- Located throughout the Yadkin Valley
- Most open Saturday & Sunday, some have weekday hours
The beautiful countryside on a Fall day, the cool air, and sipping a glass of fine wine sound like a pleasant way to spend an afternoon. You might enjoy a wine tasting or a meal at a bistro, or just sit and take in your surroundings and relax. Some of the vineyards may have music; some offer wine tours. There are many to choose from within a short distance from Winston-Salem. Look at our best Yadkin Valley wineries article to decide where you want to go for your Fall outing. You should also plan to go to the Yadkin Valley Grape Festival on October 18, 2025 in downtown Yadkinville. Admission is free, and wine tasting begins at 11am.
Salem Saturdays In Autumn – Through November, 2025
- Old Salem Museum and Gardens
- 900 Old Salem Road, Winston-Salem, NC
- Saturdays, 10am – 4pm
Fall is a wonderful time to visit the historic village of Old Salem. Interact with historic tradespeople demonstrating their craft, speak with costumed interpreters, and learn the seasonal practice of harvesting and processing food for the winter season. Enjoy hands-on historical activities and games at The Boys’ School and learn about education in Salem. At the Single Brothers’ Workshop, learn how gardens support the community, what is growing this time of year, and how the seeds tell stories. Be sure to include the Winkler Bakery in your tour to learn its history and purchase some delicious sugar cake, cookies, or lovefeast buns. The Old Salem tour is always an interesting and educational way to spend the day, and beautiful in the Fall. For more information and tickets, see their website here.
Carolina Classic Fair – October 3 – October 12, 2025
- Winston-Salem Fairgrounds
- 421 27th Street, Winston-Salem, NC
- Sunday-Friday, 11am – 11pm; Saturdays, 9am – 11pm
The Carolina Classic Fair is celebrating its 143rd year and is the most anticipated fall event in Winston-Salem. Originally known as The Dixie Classic Fair, it brings with it the sounds, sites, smells, and excitement that draw people in and make it magic. The fair features many rides for all ages, various entertainment, live music throughout the park, games, food booths, demolition derby, a petting zoo, a circus, magic shows, pig races, and so much more. There is the Beer Garden, Yesterday Village, Competitive Entries in arts, crafts, food, livestock, agriculture, wine, and many more categories, as well as fireworks nightly. And the Food Trucks – Elephant Ears, Funnel Cakes, Cotton Candy, Candy Apple, Gator and Taters – Beer Cheese, Ribbon Fries, Pulled Pork, Gourmet Kettle Corn, Turkey Legs, Italian and Polish Sausage, Waffle Cones, Corn Dogs, Jerk Chicken, Pizza, Calzones, Roasted Corn, and so much more! See our Carolina Classic Fair article for pricing and special promotion days.
Boo At The North Carolina Zoo – October 18 & 19, 25 & 26, 2025
- North Carolina Zoo
- 4401 Zoo Parkway, Ashboro, NC
- Saturdays & Sundays, 9am – 3pm
Two weekends to celebrate family and enjoy Halloween fun at the North Carolina Zoo. The event serves sweet treats and more, making it perfect for kids aged 4-12. Dress up your little ones to enter fun costume contests, enjoy trick or treating, and have a howling good time with festive games. The event incurs an extra cost in addition to zoo admission. Costumes must be suitable for a family environment and not contain any items that could be mistaken for actual weapons. Costumes must be safe to wear throughout the zoo and not drag on the ground or contain sharp objects or materials. For participants 13 and older, costumes, masks, makeup, or face paint cannot cover the face. For more information, see here. To purchase tickets, visit this site.
Boo At Bethabara – October 25, 2025
- Bethabara Historic Park
- 2147 Bethabara Road, Winston-Salem, NC
- Saturday, October 25, 1:30pm – 4:30pm
Gather under a tent to hear Ghost Stories, listen to spooky songs in the 1788 Gemeinhaus, meet a few “spirits” of Bethabara’s past while walking through God’s Acre, watch a magic show, make a corn husk doll, play colonial games, and get your face painted during this free fall event. See Historic Bethabara’s Website for more information.
Woods Of Terror – September 13 – November 8, 2025
- Woods of Terror
- 5601 N Church Street, Greensboro, NC
- Saturdays in September; Friday, Saturday, and Sundays in October
Woods of Terror features 17 terrifying haunted attractions, including Jack’s Revenge, Neon Nightmare, The Mortuary, and Pirates Cove. There is also a Monster Midway, full of food and fun. The average wait time for general admission is 1-1.5 hours. You get your ticket, answer some questions, and you can enjoy the concessions, bootique, and DJ while waiting for a text to line up. With Fast Pass, the wait is 10 to 30 minutes, and an All Access Pass offers immediate entry, plus many other perks. There is also a Golden Ticket Meet & Greet available. See hours, information, and ticket costs on this site.
Night Watchman Tours, Halloween 2025 – October 17, 18, 24, 25 & 30, 2025
- Old Salem Museum & Gardens
- Check in: The Boys’ School, 3 E Academy Street, Winston-Salem, NC
- Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, time slots between 6:30pm – 7:45pm, advance tickets required
Groups of 12 people ages 10+ will join the Night Watchmen on their lantern-lit rounds, hear of the mysteries and tragedies that took place in the very buildings you enter, and learn about Salem’s most famous ghost. Grab your lantern and experience the chilling truths and ghostly legends that once haunted the streets of Salem. This is a partially outdoor walking tour on uneven streets and in buildings with stairs, so wear comfortable shoes. All tours may be held regardless of weather conditions, so dress accordingly. Those under 18 must be accompanied by a ticketed adult in the same group. All parties should arrive 15 minutes before their scheduled time. See the Website here for more info and to select a time slot and purchase tickets.
Spookywoods – September 26 – November 1, 2025
- Kersey Valley
- 6948 Cecil Farm Road, Archdale, NC
- Parking opens at 6:30pm; Tickets available for 8pm – 10 or 11pm
Halloween is a fall favorite, and Spookywoods is one of America’s most thrilling and haunted experiences! It is the ultimate scare for those brave enough to dare to enter. The Midway may send shivers down your spine, but it offers refreshments to tantalize your taste buds. Be sure to bring your ID. Club Spooky has a DJ to set the tempo for the night, and a quick trip through the original haunted farmhouse begins your trek. ICONS is R-rated. To bypass this section, Do Not Board The Wagon, which will take you to a place where horror themes come to life like never before. The final haunted complex is in the pine forest, home of local legends and nightmares. Tickets are available for general admission, VIP, and Immediate access. The wait time for general admission is approximately 1 hour from when you enter the line. Cash is required for parking, which is $10 per car and $20 for large vehicles. Small purses only are allowed. Cash is accepted at the ticket booth, but throughout the park, only credit/debit cards or mobile payments are accepted. You can exchange cash for a Kersey Valley gift card at the Gotcha Covered location at the farm and use that as well. Be sure to see the FAQ on the website. Purchase tickets and see more information at the Kersey Valley Spookywoods Website.
Carolina BalloonFest – October 17 – 19, 2025
- Statesville, NC
- 531 Old Airport Road Statesville, NC
- Friday, 3pm – 8:30pm, Saturday, 6:30am – 8:30pm, Sunday, 6:30am – 6pm
Carolina BalloonFest is the 2nd-oldest hot air balloon festival in the country. Enjoy breathtaking balloon competitions, mass ascensions, and evening glows, along with live music, tethered balloon rides, an Artisan Village, a Kids Zone, an NC wine garden, great festival foods, and more. You may bring lawn chairs, blankets, small umbrellas, unopened bottles of water, and snacks in a small bag. No large hard-sided coolers allowed. All bags will be checked upon entry. Wagons and strollers are permitted, but pets are not allowed. Tickets are available for advance purchase online with additional fees. Friday tickets are $16.50, Saturday tickets are $27.50, and Sunday tickets are $22.20. Child tickets are $11.60 each day. There is an additional $15 fee for general parking. See parking options here. For more information and tickets, visit the Carolina BalloonFest Website.
Piedmont Craftsmen Fair – November 22 & 23, 2025
- Benton Convention Center
- 301 W 5th Street, Winston-Salem, NC (Parking at 527 N Cherry Street)
- Nov 22, 10am – 6pm; Nov 23, 12pm – 5pm
In 2025, The Piedmont Craftsmen Fair celebrates its 62nd year of bringing work of quality craftsmanship and excellent design to Winston-Salem. Held annually, the fair showcases the work of over 100 artisans from across the Southeast. The artists include those working in glass, clay, fiber, jewelry, metal, mixed media, wood, works on paper, and leather. Spend the day meeting the artists, learning about their work, and finding unique gifts. To see a list of and information about this year’s artists, visit the Piedmont Craftsmen Fair Website.
Continue To Celebrate The Season
There are more ways to celebrate the Fall with the many festivals that take place around Winston-Salem. Celebrating the season can be about changing colors, pumpkins, wooly worms, and even good food! Though you really don’t need any reason to celebrate Fall! Take a trip to one or more of these exciting and fun-filled fall festivals.
What do you enjoy doing to celebrate the Fall? Tell us in the comments.
