98 North Carolina events and attractions are confirmed on organizers’ own pages for Oct 2026 to Mar 2027, across 9 regions. Every row links to the organizer and carries a check date; prices an organizer has not published say so.
Browse by region
- Smoky Mountains: 9 events
- Asheville & Foothills: 15 events
- High Country: 6 events
- Charlotte Region: 8 events
- Triad: 13 events
- Triangle: 14 events
- Sandhills: 11 events
- Eastern Plain & Inner Banks: 8 events
- Coast: 14 events
Next up across the state
| Event | Where | Dates | Hours | Price (as published) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animals of Jones Lake (Jones Lake State Park) | Elizabethtown | Oct 24, 2026 | 2:00-3:00 PM | not published | Animal pelts, mounts and skulls; all ages; 4117 NC 242 Hwy N |
| BOO at the NC Zoo | Asheboro | Oct 24, 2026 to Oct 25, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM each day (events calendar lists BOO Oct 17-18 and Oct 24-25) | not published on events page; see the organizer page for prices | Described as family-friendly; 4401 Zoo Parkway, Asheboro |
| Battleship 101 (Battleship NORTH CAROLINA) | Wilmington | Oct 24, 2026 | not published | Free with regular Battleship admission; admission price not published on page | Volunteers at stations; hands-on; page says good for families and scout groups |
| Bootanical: Stowe at Sea (Daniel Stowe Conservancy) | Belmont | Oct 24, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM | Garden admission or membership (price not published on page) | Family-friendly Halloween celebration with pirate entertainer, crafts, face painting (fees apply), food trucks, Scarecrow Hollow in Lost Hollow Children's Garden; costumes welcome; seasonal drinks sold at Stowe bars; Belmont per the Conservancy's Visit page |
| Carolina Kite Festival (Fort Macon State Park) | Atlantic Beach | Oct 24, 2026 to Oct 25, 2026 | Flying expected best 10 AM-4 PM both days | Free | Sponsored by Kites Unlimited; bring your own kites; large flying fields, ample parking; 2303 E. Fort Macon Rd |
| Dismal Day (Dismal Swamp State Park) | South Mills | Oct 24, 2026 | 10 AM-2 PM; free 5K fun run 9 AM | Free | Food trucks, music, bounce house, wagon rides, scavenger hunt, kids crafts, live animals; 5K is stroller-friendly, waiver required, no registration; 2294 US Hwy 17 N |
| Escape at the Millpond (Merchants Millpond State Park) | Gatesville | Oct 24, 2026 to Dec 14, 2026 | Registration required, call 252-357-1191 for day and time; about 1 hour | not published | History escape room, groups max 10; all ages listed |
| Halloween at the BOOtanical Garden (Cape Fear Botanical Garden) | Fayetteville | Oct 24, 2026 to Oct 25, 2026 | 4:30 PM – 9:00 PM nightly (event runs Oct 22-25) | Advance: non-members ages 11+ $14 (walk-up $25); members 11+ $12 (walk-up $20); ages 3-10 $9 (walk-up $15); under 3 free | Outdoor walk-through Wonderland theme, costume contest, candy stations (bring your own bag), timed entry, tickets non-refundable and often sell out; dogs allowed Oct 22 only (not Oct 24-25); limited parking, carpool; bring a flashlight; 536 N. Eastern Blvd |
| Howl at the View (Halloween family night) | Durham | Oct 24, 2026 | 5:00-7:00 PM | not published | Falls Lake SRA Rolling View Community Building, 4201 Baptist Rd; trunk or treat, crafts, hiking; all ages |
| NASCAR Hall of Fame Fall STEM Family Days | Charlotte | Oct 24, 2026 to Oct 25, 2026 | not published | not published | Hands-on STEM and racing activities for kids; see Kids Go Free row; dog and stroller rules not published |
Guides and tools
- Tanglewood Festival of Lights: prices and rules.
- The Polar Express in Bryson City: tickets and dates.
- Drive times to 20 destinations from five cities.
Free days outdoors
Most state parks charge nothing for day use. See the State Parks Passport for admission and dog rules at 43 parks.
Frequently asked questions
How current is this list?
Rows were checked on 2026-10-18. Check dates are shown in each region page’s source list; see our verification log.
Where do I report a wrong date or price?
Use the contact page.
Cite this page: It's North Carolina, “North Carolina Events: Oct 2026 to Mar 2027”, itsnorthcarolina.com/events/ (updated ). By the It's North Carolina editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.