Once the Labor Day tourists are gone and the hot summer temps start to cool a bit, the fall festivals really start to hit in the Wilmington area.
From music and food/drink festivals to cultural and arts celebrations, there's something — usually, several somethings — nearly every weekend between mid-September and mid-October.
Listed below are several upcoming festivals scheduled for New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender counties between now and Thanksgiving.
Peruse the full list, and don't forget to check back each week for our curated roundup of things to do each weekend in Wilmington. It drops each Wednesday morning at StarNewsOnline.com/entertainment.
SEPTEMBER
American Craft Walk Wilmington
Sept. 12: More than 100 artists and crafters will descend on the streets of downtown Wilmington
in what's probably the area's biggest outdoor art sale of the year. AmericanCraftWalk.com.
Bourbon, Bluegrass & Brews Festival
Sept. 12: Bourbon tastings, barbecue and live bluegrass at Waterline Brewing in downtown Wilmington. WaterlineBrewing.com.
Cape Fear Native Plant Festival
Sept. 16-20: Five-day event features speakers on plant-related topics at the New Hanover County Arboretum, plant sales at multiple locations and garden tours. Details on EventBrite.com.
Wilmington Coffee Fest
Sept. 18-19: Roasters and coffee shops from around the area will assemble to offer samples and purvey their wares in the Cargo District. WilmingtonCoffeeFest.com.
Carolina Beach Dragon Boat Regatta and Festival
Sept. 19: This one-of-a-kind event features costumed teams racing dragon-themed watercraft. TheIslandMen.com.
Cape Fear Latinos Festival
Sept. 26: Fifth annual festival celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month brings live music and dance performances, children’s activities, food, vendors and more to Riverfront Park/Live Oak Pavilion in downtown Wilmington. CapeFearLatinos.org.
OCTOBER
Oktoberfest Under the Bridge
Oct. 3: German beers, food and live music, costume contest and more at Waterline Brewing downtown. WaterlineBrewing.com.
Carolina Beach Music Festival
Oct. 3: Signal Fire headlines the reggae edition of the annual beach music festival held on the strand by the Carolina Beach Boardwalk. Details on Facebook.
Bark in the Park
Oct. 3: Celebration of canines and canine agility has been happening annually at Wrightsville Beach Park for some three decades now. TownOfWrightsvilleBeach.com.
Wilmington Riverfest
Oct. 3-4: Wilmington's biggest annual fall festival since its founding in 1979, Riverfest features a street fair with food booths and vendors, children's entertainment, live music, a car show, a drone show, a BMX bike show and more. WilmingtonRiverfest.com.
Art in the Arboretum
Oct. 10-11: 30th annual festival at the New Hanover County Arboretum features work by dozens of artists displayed in the outdoor gardens. NHCgov.com.
Fire in the Pines Festival
Oct. 10: Educational, family-friendly festival in Halyburton Park is dedicated to raising awareness about controlled burns in the longleaf pine ecosystem. FireInThePines.org.
Pets in the Park
Oct. 10: Carolina Beach festival celebrates and promotes animal welfare organizations and pet-centric businesses. PleasureIslandNC.org.
Belville Fall Festival
Oct. 10: Held in Belville Riverwalk Park 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 5, this event features vendors, games, food trucks, family activities and more. TownOfBelville.com.
Autumn with Topsail
Oct. 16-18: Annual Topsail Beach festival dating to 1988 features a juried arts and crafts court, live tunes, food vendors, a beer and wine tent, silent auctions, children's games, pancake breakfasts and more. AutumnWithTopsail.com.
Burgaw Autumn Fest
Oct. 17: Family friendly fest held at the Pender County Courthouse Square features a 5K race, craft vendors, costume contest, live music, food trucks, pumpkin decorating, a pizza-eating contest and more. BurgawNC.gov.
N.C. Oyster Festival
Oct. 17-18: Longtime Ocean Isle Beach festival dating to 1978 features kids' activities, arts and crafts, live music and contests that include oyster shucking, oyster eating and oyster cooking. NCOysterFestival.com.
Brunswick County Agricultural Fair & Expo
Oct. 21-25: Held in Ash, the fair features live entertainment, rides, animal exhibits, food and more. BrunswickFair.com.
Lighthouse Beer & Wine Festival
Oct. 24-25: Festival features libations from dozens of breweries and wineries, as well as live music, at Riverfront Park/Live Oak Bank Pavilion. LighthouseBeerAndWine.com.
Big Annie’s Bluegrass Festival
Oct. 24: Festival at Humphrey Farms in Burgaw features various vendors as well as the main attraction: live bluegrass music. HumphreyFarmsNC.com.
Fall Fest at Riverlights
Oct. 24: Shopping with more than two dozen local makers, a mobile petting zoo, fall drinks and food, a dog costume contest and more. Details on Facebook.
Holden Beach Festival by the Sea
Oct. 24-25: Annual arts and crafts festival features art by local craftsmen, live entertainment, contests, food vendors, children's activities and more. NCBrunswick.com.
NOVEMBER
Cape Fear Kite Festival
Nov. 6-8: High-flying three-day festival is held at Fort Fisher State Recreation Area in Kure Beach and features dozens of spectacular, colorful kites. PleasureIslandNC.org.
St. Stanislaus Polish Festival
Nov. 7: Annual festival at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Castle Hayne always has Polish food, beer, dancing, live music, children's entertainment, raffles and more. StStansPolishFestival.org.
N.C. Spot Festival
Nov. 7-8: Hampstead festival first held in 1963 is a celebration of the humble fish found in local waters. With fried spot plates, vendors, beer and wine, arts and crafts, area pageant queens and princesses, activities for children and more. TheNCSpotFestival.com.
BAD Day Music & Arts Festival
Nov. 14: Music festival in Wilmington's Brooklyn Arts District features a half-dozen bands, including The Revivalists and Grace Potter. BADdayFest.com.
Taste of Wrightsville Beach
Nov. 14: 13th annual annual food festival features live music and dozens of booths with local food, beer and wine. WeekendMealsOnWheels.org.
Festival Latino
Nov. 14-15: Celebration of Latino culture held at Ogden Park in Wilmington is a family-friendly affair featuring food from all over Latin America, crafts, vendors, live music and dancing, and more. Details on Facebook.
Cucalorus Film Festival
Nov. 19-22: 32nd annual festival of independent film also features fringe-fest-style performances, parties, special events and more. Cucalorus.org.
John Staton is the arts and culture reporter for the StarNews. You can reach him at jstaton@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Every fall festival in the Wilmington area you need to know for 2026
