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13 Awesome Things To Do In Charlotte in the Fall

Author: Jamie Milam

Date: September 27, 2024

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Fall is here, and there's no better place to be than Charlotte, North Carolina. Call me biased, but I love this city. It's got anything you want from a big city while still being easy to get around to various events and attractions.

If you're looking for things to do in Charlotte this fall—look no further. Here's a roundup of 13 awesome things to do in the Queen City.

13 Things To Do in Charlotte in The Fall

Whether you need something to do for your next girl's night or just want to explore the city on your own, there's no shortage of awesome things to do.

Here are 13 things to do in Charlotte in the fall.

Charlotte Events in the Fall

Image of a woman sitting on a rock overlooking trees with fall colors. Text says "13 Awesome Things to do in Charlotte in the fall."

1. Scarowinds

Date: Select nights from mid September to end of October (dates vary per year)

Location: Carowinds Park, 14523 Carowinds Blvd

Price: Tickets start at $39.99

What's happening: Test your nerves at this spooky adventure park. Choose from nerve-wracking scare zones, haunted mazes, and Carowinds' signature thrill rides to have a night to remember! Just watch out for the zombies and vampires waiting around every corner.

2. Scarrigan Farms

Date: Select nights in October

Location: Carrigan Farms, 1213 Oak Ridge Farm Highway, Mooresville (Use the West entrance)

Price: Tickets start at $25.00

What's happening: Each fall, Cariggan Farms turns its 275 acres into the scariest haunted trail in the region. Get your heart pumping this fall and be warned—this trail is not for the faint of heart (or kids under 12)!

3. Carolina Renaissance Festival

Date: Saturdays and Sundays from October 5-November 2024, 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Location: 16445 Poplar Tent Road, Huntersville

Price: Tickets start at $34.00

What's happening: Step back in time at the annual Renaissance Festival! You'll experience immersive interactive elements, arts and crafts at the Artisan market, jousting, delicious food, and non-stop fun for your family.

4. Carolina Balloonfest

Date: October 18-20, 2024

Location: Iredell County Fairgrounds, 630 N. Main St., Troutman

Price: Tickets start at $15.00

What's happening: Stand in awe of high-flying hot air balloons during this unique local festival. You can watch vibrant, decorated balloons dot the sky from the ground or book a ride in one yourself!

5. Rural Hill's Corn Maze

Date: September 20-October 27th, 2024

Location: 4431 Neck Road

Price: Tickets start at $13.00

What's happening: Get lost in one of the biggest corn mazes in the area. You can visit during the day or make it even more challenging during the nighttime! After, grab something to eat at one of the on-site food trucks.

6. Thanksgiving Eve Parade

Date: November 27, 2024 at 5:45 p.m.

Location: Begins at 9th Street and ends at Good Samaritan Way along Tryon Street

Price: Free

What's happening: Head out with your friends and family to this Charlotte tradition. Operating since 1947, the Thanksgiving Eve Parade. Enjoy colorful floats, exciting performances, lively music, and food and drink vendors.

Fall Things To Do in Charlotte

1. Visit a Winery

Check out a local winery with friends this fall. Tasting rooms are typically open for sampling, so you can try your new favorite wine in gorgeous vineyard locations. Here are some options to check out:

Raffaldini: Located in Ronda, NC, this winery boasts beautiful surroundings, world-class wines, and has events and food trucks throughout the month.
Serre Vineyards: Located in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, this winery has simply amazing views. It's the perfect spot to sip some wines, relax, and unwind.
Childress Vineyards: Located in Lexington, this spot has plenty of room to roam and explore the 70 acres. They have seasonal wine tastings for you to try out as well.
Divine Llama Vineyards: Located in East Bend, this spot has wine and llamas—need we say more? Check them out!

Holding up a wine glass in front of the backdrop of a winery. Glass says "Serre Vineyards."

Enjoying my wine at Serre Vineyards!

2. Go Apple Picking (or Pumpkin Picking!)

Fall is the best time to go apple picking in Charlotte. Check out spots close to the city like Windy Hill Orchard or Carrigan Farms. The latter also has pumpkins for picking, as does Hodges Family Farms. Enjoy a day out in nature and make the most of seasonal produce.

My son and I cheering on our teams (CLT FC & Carolina Panthers)!

3. Drink Beer During Octoberfest

While you don't need an excuse to check out the many amazing breweries in Charlotte, Oktoberfest is a pretty good one! Many local breweries and pubs are hosting events throughout the fall. Here are a few that are hosting events you can check out:

4. Catch a Game

Cheer on your favorite teams in Charlotte this fall! Minor-league hockey team, the Charlotte Checkers, are back on the ice this fall and the Charlotte Hornets have a home opener on October 26th if the NBA is more your style.

You can find me in the stands of the Bank of America stadium cheering on my favorite teams, the Carolina Panthers and our very own MLS team, Charlotte FC.

5. Go to a Concert

Love live music? Well, there's a lot of it happening in Charlotte this fall! From Post Malone to Usher, Morgan Wallen to Shakira—there are a ton of options. Check out this Charlotte concert guide for more details.

6. Day Trip to the Mountains

Fall is the absolute best time of the year to visit the Blue Ridge Mountains. It's undoubtedly beautiful at any time, but the leaves changing color during fall is amazing. Take a drive west and go hiking at Boulder Field Overlook, Linville Falls, or Catawba Falls Trail.

If you want fun two-day itinerary to make the most of the season, you could visit Serre Vineyards or Raffaldini and then go west on the Blue Ridge Parkway toward Boone or Linville. Book yourself a cute Airbnb there and enjoy some hiking the next day!

Pro tip: Follow the hashtag #blueridgemountains so you'll see the most up-to-date photos in your feed to gauge when the leaves start changing. You usually get about a two-week period to see them in peak season!

Woman sitting on a rock overlooking trees with fall colors after a hike.

Enjoying the views from Boulder Field Overlook!

7. Buy a Home

If you're on the prowl for a new home and you want to minimize competing with other buyers, then this is the season for you! Many buyers need to plan their timing around the school year, but that doesn't mean there aren't sellers who still need to sell once school is back in session.

As the market slows, you can take advantage of the season (and the just-lowered interest rates as of September 24, 2024) and be in a new home before Christmas! Reach out to me if you want to talk about buying or selling your home in the Charlotte area.

So, what are you going to add to your events calendar this month? I'm personally excited for some live music and fall activities that get me outside into nature. There are lots of things to do in Charlotte in the fall, and I'm excited to explore what the city has to offer—hope you are too!

And if you need somewhere to stay during a Charlotte getaway, check out my uptown Charlotte Airbnb for a conveniently located and comfortable place to stay.

To exploring Charlotte this fall,

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About Me

I'm Jamie Milam, a determined AF woman who's embraced life after divorce by finding peace through self-awareness, intentional decision-making, and thrilling new travel adventures.

As a Realtor® in Charlotte, NC (and your connection to top agents nationwide), I’m passionate about guiding you through your homeownership and design goals—while also helping you create space for the things you love. My mission is to empower you to create a life of alignment too - at home, abroad, and within.

Whether it’s through real estate tips, home design inspiration, or solo travel experiences for divorced, independent women, I hope this space encourages you to discover deeper self-awareness and build a life that aligns with your passions and needs.

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Jamie Milam is a Realtor® in the Charlotte, NC area, licensed in both NC & SC, and has the ability to refer you to a number of agent partners across the nation, regardless of where you may live. She is an enthusiast for the power of awareness and believes it can be used in all facets of life to support aligned living.

**Disclosure** This post may contain affiliate links and they are at no additional cost to you, though I may earn a small commission. Don't worry, I only recommend products or services that I have tried or believe would be of great value to you! All opinions expressed are those of my own!