Fall Weekends in Rowan County: Your October Highlights
Rowan County comes alive every October, with festivals, tours, and celebrations happening all across the community. To help you plan, we’ve pulled together some of our favorite weekend highlights — a taste of the incredible energy and community spirit filling the county all month long. However you spend your October, one thing’s for sure: Rowan County knows how to celebrate fall.
Weekend One Highlights (Oct. 2–4)
- Buskers Bash brings the streets to life with live performers setting a joyful tone for the weeks ahead
- Day Out With Thomas™ — a beloved family favorite, with train rides and Thomas the Tank Engine at the N.C. Transportation Museum–themed fun for kids of all ages
- Autumn Jubilee — a beloved Rowan County tradition, full of craft vendors, live music, and the kind of community spirit that’s kept people coming back year after year
- Bell Tower BREWFEST — a great excuse to gather downtown, sample some local brews, and soak up the fall sunshine
- Boos & Brews — join Grove Cartel Brewing Co. for music bingo, shopping, and more
Autumn Jubilee
Weekend Two Highlights (Oct. 9–11)
- 51st Annual OctoberTour Historic Home Tours — over five decades of opening the doors to some of Salisbury’s most beautiful historic homes; a wonderful way to connect with the rich history that makes this community so special
- An Evening in Stars Hollow — transforms downtown into a cozy fall evening full of charm and community spirit, the kind of night that reminds you why small towns are so special
- Trunk or Treat at Texas Roadhouse — a family-friendly event with Kona Ice, a bounce house, and more
OctoberTour
Weekend Three Highlights (Oct. 16–18)
- Boo at the Zoo brings friendly Halloween fun for the little ones
- Town of East Spencer Movie Night provides a family-friendly showing of Coco at Royal Giants Park
- Village Ghost Walk offers a fascinating, guided journey through the county’s history and legends
Historic Village of Gold Hill
Weekend Four Highlights (Oct. 23–25)
- Hippie Fest brings good music and good vibes
- Landis Fall Festival celebrates everything wonderful about small-town fall traditions
- Southern Soul Music Festival — live music with heart and soul
Town of Landis Fall Festival
Halloween Week Highlights (Oct. 30–31)
We’re closing out the month with two full days of celebration — something for everyone, no matter how you love to spend Halloween.
Friday, Oct. 30:
Saturday, Oct. 31:
Make It a Weekend at Patterson Farm
Looking for a fall outing you can enjoy any weekend this season? Fall Fun on the Farm at Patterson Farm is open all season long, with over 40 attractions including a corn maze, barnyard, wagon rides, and PawPaw Carl’s Playground — plus a stop at the Market and Ice Cream Shop for pumpkins, fall treats, and apple cinnamon donuts.
📸 Patterson Farm Market & Tours
Prefer a Quieter Kind of Weekend?
Not every great fall weekend has to be jam-packed — and Rowan County has plenty of ways to slow down and soak in the season, too. Grab a warm cup of coffee from a local coffee shop, spend a relaxed morning browsing the stalls at a local farmers market, or take a crisp walk through downtown or one of the county’s beautiful parks. Sometimes the best way to enjoy fall in Rowan County is simply to slow down and enjoy it.
However you choose to spend your October — big festival energy or a quiet, cozy weekend — Rowan County has a fall experience with your name on it.
Be sure to check exact times and locations for each event so you don’t miss a moment of the fun!
