ChillKids.com 2012 Fall & Halloween Fun Guide

Chapel Hill, Durham, Carrboro, Raleigh NC
Fall Fun & Halloween Events Guide

(oops - Your web browser must have found our outdated page below.
Please click the link below for our 2012 Guide.)

See our 2012 Fall & Halloween Fun Guide

October 2010
Chapel Hill - Durham - Raleigh NC
Fall & Halloween Events
 

Entertainment nightly includes live music with performances by local bands and choirs. The Miss Chatham County Fair Pageant and, for the first time, a county-wide Youth Talent Search competition will be held. Admission is free for all students 18 and under on opening night Wednesday, September 30. Display your arts and crafts, fruits, vegetables, livestock. Cash prizes available for winners of the Ice Cream Churn-Off, Biggest Pumpkin and Watermelon Contests.

(919) 542-5511.

Duke Homestead and Tobacco Museum, COMMUNITY YARD SALE
2828 Duke Homestead Road, Durham, NC 27705.
Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010, 8am - 12pm noon
Find Yard Sale Bargains & Treasures, and/or sell some treasures of your own by renting a space at the Community Yard Sale - without all the hassle of organizing your own yard sale. Buy and sell secondhand items in the site's picnic area at the Duke Homestead's Fall community yard sale. Fee chargedfor space rental. Call 919-477-5498 or e-mail duke@ncdcr.gov to reserve a space.
(919) 477-5498.

Chapel Hill FESTIFALL - 38th Annual Fall Festival,
Sun. October 3, 2010, 1-6 pm
Franklin St., Downtown Chapel Hill, NC
Chapel Hill's Annual Festifall is an outdoor festival celebrating Chapel Hill's local arts and artisans; featuring great food and live music; kids' activities and fun for everyone!
(919) 968-2829

25th International Festival  (Raleigh Convention Center, Raleigh)
See Times / Program Schedule for the 2010 Raleigh International Festival
International Festival event promotes and celebrates the diverse cultures of the Triangle area with ethnic dance, sidewalk cafes, world bazaars, cultural exhibits, biergarten, coffeehouse, and more.  Tickets $7 at the door, FREE for children ages 12 and under.
www.internationalfestival.org

Orange County SHRED-A-THON 2010
University Mall, Estes Dr., Chapel Hill, NC
Weds. October 7, 2010, 10AM - 2PM
Bring up to 10 boxes of your confidential documents in need of shredding, for safe destruction and recycling.  Paper only; no plastic binders or electronic media. FREE!  (Orange County and Chapel Hill residents in Durham County only.)  A second date will be available on Saturday October 16th (10am-2pm) at Hampton Pointe, Hwy 86, behind the Home Depot in Hillsborough, NC.
(919) 968-2788

Shakori Hills Festival of Music and Dance,
Thurs. October 7- Sun. Oct. 10, 2010,
1439 Henderson Tanyard Road
Pittsboro, NC, 27312
A family-friendly festival of music, dance, art, and education. 4 days, 4 stages, and over 50 bands in beautiful, green Chatham County!
Spanning four days (you can camp onsite, or come and go), this festival features LOTS of fun activities for kids and the whole family, music and dance workshops, massage and healing arts, and non-stop, fantastic live music.  A wonderful time for all! The Shakori Hills Festival of Music and Dance takes place every Fall and Spring and has become a favorite local bi-annual tradition not to be missed!
919-542-8142

17th Annual Carolina Renaissance Festival  (near Charlotte, NC)
16445 Poplar Tent Road Crafts Program, Huntersville NC 28078.  Located just north of Charlotte between Concord and Huntersville on Highway 73 at Poplar Tent Road (between I-77 and I-85). Exit 25 on I-77 or exits 52 or 55 on I-85.  Saturdays and Sundays, 10am - 5:30pm.  From the website: "The Carolina Renaissance Festival is a medieval amusement park, a 9-stage theater, a 20-acre circus, an arts and crafts fair, a jousting tournament and a feast -- all rolled into one non-stop, day-long family adventure!"  Rain or shine.  No pets.  Free parking.  Kids under 5 free.

Editor's Note:  We look forward to the Carolina Renaissance Festival every year - it is one of our favorite annual family outings, and well worth the drive.  The fair is a renaissance village featuring physical buildings and structures that are permanent year-round, but used just for the Festival during Festival season.  (It's not an empty field, it's a reproduction medieval village with trees, grass, shady areas, buildings, stages, all enclosed, with an area encompassing 20 acres.)  When arriving at the gates, visitors feel as though they are entering a medieval town; everyone is dressed in period clothing and acting various roles from knights to knaves, fairies to jugglers, ladies in waiting to falconers.  Watch knights on horseback jousting; see medieval jugglers and jokesters; experience a falconer show; enjoy minstrels and merriment; try your hand at archery; ride a camel; give the Jacob's Ladder a whirl; enjoy live music and comedy; greet the strange and fascinating walking tree; see the royal procession headed by the reigning King & Queen in full renaissance regalia . . There is so much to do it is impossible to summarize everything in a brief paragraph.  Dress up in period clothing (not required) and join in the fun!  Both children and adults love it.

www.royalfaires.com/carolina/

and www.RenFestInfo.com

1-877-896-5544

NC State Fair at the NC State Fairgrounds in Raleigh, NC.
Thursday, October 14 - Sunday, October 24, 2010
The largest annual family-fun event in North Carolina!  It's no wonder that North Carolina families look forward to the State Fair as a not-to-be-missed annual family tradition.  The NC State Fair is a great, old-fashioned State Fair featuring livestock exhibits and competitions, concerts, games, rides, food, craft demonstrations, PBS Kids events, and lots of other family-friendly entertainment.  The mission of the fair is to showcase and promote the state's agriculture, agribusiness, arts, crafts and culture, with lots of fun entertainment and activities for the whole family!

2010 NC State Fair Daily Program / Schedule

www.ncstatefair.org
(919) 821-7400.

17th Annual Carolina Renaissance Festival  (near Charlotte, NC)
16445 Poplar Tent Road Crafts Program, Huntersville NC 28078.  Located just north of Charlotte between Concord and Huntersville on Highway 73 at Poplar Tent Road (between I-77 and I-85). Exit 25 on I-77 or exits 52 or 55 on I-85.  Saturdays and Sundays, 10am - 5:30pm.  From the website: "The Carolina Renaissance Festival is a medieval amusement park, a 9-stage theater, a 20-acre circus, an arts and crafts fair, a jousting tournament and a feast -- all rolled into one non-stop, day-long family adventure!"  Rain or shine.  No pets.  Free parking.  Kids under 5 free.

www.royalfaires.com/carolina/

and www.RenFestInfo.com

1-877-896-5544

OKTOBERFEST at the Carrboro Farmer's Market
301 West Main St in the Carrboro Town Commons from 3:30-6:30pm

From the Carrboro's Farmer's Market website:

On Wednesday October 21st, [2010 Date To Be Announced] the Carrboro Farmers' Market in cooperation with Kidzu Children's Museum, Lantern Restaurant, and the Orange County Partnership for Young Children will be providing an afternoon of fun activities for everyone in the family to enjoy. Take part in pumpkin decorating, scavenger hunt, sack races, face painting and other kids games on the green, as well as cooking demos and sampling from the Lantern Restaurant. Bring the family and come celebrate with us as we say goodbye to our Wednesday Market for the season and welcome our year round Saturday Market. Fall Family Day will be held at the Carrboro Farmer's Market located at 301 West Main St in the Carrboro Town Commons from 3:30-6:30pm. Thanks to farmer donations, the first 100 pumpkins, gourds, and squashes will be free for kids!

SPOOKY SATURDAY at the Museum of Life + Science
433 Murray Avenue, Durham, NC 27704
(919) 220-5429
Saturday, October 23, 2010, 10am - 4pm; (museum closes at 5pm) events are free with Museum Admission

Also visit the Halloween Village (traveling exhibit) on display inside the Museum of Life + Science (mid-October to end of October): A large, intricate and whimsical Halloween village display with a number of moving parts and a train.

HAVE GREAT DAY OF FALL FUN for the whole family at the Museum of Life + Science!

www.lifeandscience.org
(919) 362-5416. 

Boo at the Zoo at the North Carolina Zoological Park
4401 Zoo Parkway, Asheboro, NC 27205.
Saturday, October 23- Sunday, 24 - BOO at the ZOO - A magical weekend featuring, games, music, face painting, treats, costume contest and plenty of Halloween fun.  One of the zoo's most popular events!  This safe daytime addition to nighttime trick-or-treating will be presented in the plaza areas of the zoo. Clowns, jugglers and magicians will rove these areas entertaining visitors of all ages.  Wear costumes - there will be a costume contest at 2pm.

Boo at the Zoo 2010 Schedule:

Games, Tricks, & Treats 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
North America & African Plazas

Guess the Weight of the Pumpkin 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
North America Plaza

Mural Coloring 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
African Plaza

Face Painting 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
North America Plaza & African Plaza

Magic by Chaz 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
North America Plaza

Storytelling by Fred Motley 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
African Plaza

Rick Hubbard's Kazoobie Show 11 a.m. & 1 p.m.
Amphitheater

Costume contest 2 p.m.
Amphitheater- registration begins at 1 p.m., infants to age 12

(800) 488-0444.

SAXAPAHAW OKTOBERFEST Saturdays in Saxapahaw takes place every Spring and Summer Saturday through October 23, 2010

Farmer's Market 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Music 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Sorry No Dogs Allowed

BANDS - BREW - BARBEQUE - KIDS' HALLOWEEN FESTIVITIES - GREAT FALL FAMILY FUN!
1616 Jordan Drive, Saxapahaw, NC 27340.  (Further afield - @ 1/2 hour from Chapel Hill/Carrboro locations.)

Come and enjoy GREAT FREE MUSIC, Farmer's Market, Harvest Goods, Pumpkins, Fresh Food, Halloween Festivities, Crafts, Games & Kids' Events at the Saxapahaw annual Oktoberfest. Bring a blanket or a chair and enjoy some great music by the River.

www.rivermillvillage.com
(336) 376-3122.

Halloween Express Train Rides at the New Hope Valley Railway, Bonsal, NC (25 miles south of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill)
Saturday, October 24, 2009, Times: 4 pm, 5:15 pm, 6:30 pm, 7:45 pm
Hour-long train rides through the spooky woods in Chatham County.
Tickets must be purchased in advance - click here for online tickets. (or purchase tickets in advance at Tom's Trains in Raleigh.)

Saturday October 24, ghosts and ghouls come out to the New Hope Valley Railway!

Trains will operate Saturday Oct. 24 departing at 4:00PM, 5:15PM, 6:30PM, and 7:45PM with each ride taking about an hour.
The fare is $8.00 for all passengers of all ages, and tickets are available ONLY by ADVANCE PURCHASE.

Click here to see Cool New Hope Valley Railway Halloween Express Train Ride Photos  (Editor's note: The two guys at the front of the steam engine in the photo at bottom right really look like ghosts, don't they?!  You can see right through them ... great effect.)

www.nhvry.org
(919) 362-5416. 

17th Annual Carolina Renaissance Festival  (near Charlotte, NC)
16445 Poplar Tent Road Crafts Program, Huntersville NC 28078.  Located just north of Charlotte between Concord and Huntersville on Highway 73 at Poplar Tent Road (between I-77 and I-85). Exit 25 on I-77 or exits 52 or 55 on I-85.  Saturdays and Sundays, 10am - 5:30pm.  From the website: "The Carolina Renaissance Festival is a medieval amusement park, a 9-stage theater, a 20-acre circus, an arts and crafts fair, a jousting tournament and a feast -- all rolled into one non-stop, day-long family adventure!"  Rain or shine.  No pets.  Free parking.  Kids under 5 free.

www.royalfaires.com/carolina/

and www.RenFestInfo.com

1-877-896-5544

Cane Creek Campground features 80 acres with woods, a catch-and-release fishing pond (catfish and bass), a bluegrass gallery, and camp sites.  The Halloween Camp & Jam will feature lots of live music (bluegrass music acts), and fun activities for families and children.  There will be a pumpkin-carving contest, best pet costume contest, best decorated golf cart, and best decorated camp site.  Halloween camping fun!

For more info visit www.littlejohnsmountainmusic.com/halloween_camp_&_jam .

(336) 376-8324

Pumpkin Run 4K (2.49 miles) hosted by Fleet Street Sports for the benefit of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA and the Carolina North Forest Land Management Office
Saturday, October 30, 2010, 5PM Race Start, $25 Entry Fee

The Pumpkin Run 4K (2.49-mile) trail race will be held as a single race (men and women running together), on the scenic woodland trails and rolling hills north of Horace Williams Airport in Chapel Hill.  There will also be a Post-Race party for participants and their families: In addition to the award ceremony, we offer food and drinks (Pie, coffee, and cider!), DJ/music, dancing, games (push up contest, limbo, etc!) and socializing with family and friends!

All race proceeds go to support the Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA and the Carolina North Forest Land Management Office.

* No strollers allowed in the race
* No dogs allowed in the race
* No mountain bikes in the race

Race limit is 300 participants due to Carolina North trail use rules.

Where: University Woodlands Trail at Carolina North off of Municipal Road in Chapel Hill, NC (with registration, parking, and bathroom facilities at the YMCA on Airport Road). Be sure to check out the map of the course. 

Spence's Farm Annual Fall Harvest Fest Celebration Saturday
Sat., October 30, 2010 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm
[The following is our description from prior years.  Please check the Spence's Farm website for more information regarding the 2010 Fall Harvest Festival.]
Enjoy a great afternoon and evening of fun featuring hayrides, face painting, pony rides, food, live music, hay maze in the barn, barnyard animal feeding/play, arts & crafts vendors, bonfire, and much more fun for the entire family!   The Spence's Farm annual Harvest Festival is a fundraiser to help bring more children out to enjoy and experience the farm.  Feel free to wear your Halloween costume (no scary costumes please).  Admission fee.
Located near NC86 & I-40 at 6407 Mill House Road, Chapel Hill, 27516.
(919) 968-8581.

Fearrington Halloween Pumpkin Carving Display and Pumpkin Fest at Fearrington
Dozens of elaborately carved jack-o-lanterns will be on display throughout Fearrington Village from Friday, October 29th - Sunday, October 31st. The jack-o-lanterns, intricately carved by the Fearrington gardening staff and The Fearrington House chefs, will be lit each evening from sundown until 10pm.

Halloween Fun at Fearrington!
Fearrington Village annual Halloween festivities begin on Friday evening  (October 29th) with Kids' Night from 6pm-8pm, featuring Spooky Storytime at McIntyre's, Belties in the Village Center, Live Bluegrass Music and the famous Fearrington Jack-O-Lantern display.

Call (919) 542-2121 for more details, or visit www.fearrington.com.

Come to downtown Hillsborough from 6-9 pm on Friday, October 9th for Last Fridays, sponsored by the Hillsborough Arts Council. Enjoy live music, an art walk, various vendors, a free scoop of ice cream, and much more. For more information visit www.hillsboroughartscouncil.org

or call 643-2500.

Come to the Alexander Dickson House in Hillsborough to participate in a spooky, guided walking tour of Hillsborough' Historic District. Tours will be held from 7:00, 7:30, 8:00, and 8:30pm and last one hour.

Tickets $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 5-15. Tickets may be purchased in advance beginning October 1st by calling (919) 732-7741.

Carrboro Halloween Carnival
Carrboro's Halloween Carnival is held each year at the Carrboro Town Commons; this year it will be held on Friday, October 29, 2010 from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm. Ghosts and goblins of all ages come out for lots of free games and fun!  Best costumes are awarded with prize ribbons, and activities include a cake walk, howling at the moon, games, prizes, and many other fun-filled activities. The whole family can enjoy this annual event.
(919) 918-7364.

Trick or Treating in Chapel Hill (the Chapel Hill Town Hall has confirmed that the official day for trick-or-treating in Chapel Hill this year is Sunday, October 31, 2010.)

Halloween Festival 2010 on Franklin St., Downtown Chapel Hill - Not for children!
On Halloween, Franklin St. is blocked off and becomes the site of Halloween reveling, drinking and HUGE crowds.  Not for children, and not for those who dislike crowds.  (The streets of downtown Chapel Hill will be closed to traffic at 9 pm.  Residential streets near downtown will also be closed except to residents of those streets and their guests.)  Alcohol is not permitted in the festival area.

Saturday, October 30, 2010 at the Durham Hilton near Duke University
Live music, casino, cocktails, contests, auctions.

"Come join us on the eve of Halloween for a magical night for a good cause.  Celebrity guests, enchanting decor, amazing music, a casino, silent auction and beautiful attire will make this a night to remember.  Our formal black and white masquerade ball encourages men to wear tuxedos and women to wear white.  Dust off your wedding dresses ladies, you are encouraged to wear it again or you can opt for a black dress.  Ladies dresses must be floor length.  Formal period costumes are welcome.  Masquerade masks are highly encouraged.  Tickes on sale for $50 person; tickets include entry, casino, auction, ballroom, entertainment, hors d'oeuvres, open bar cocktail hour, non-alcoholic drinks, 2 raffle tickets, and 2 casino chips."

www.cherubsangelball.org
 

17th Annual Carolina Renaissance Festival  (near Charlotte, NC)
16445 Poplar Tent Road Crafts Program, Huntersville NC 28078.  Located just north of Charlotte between Concord and Huntersville on Highway 73 at Poplar Tent Road (between I-77 and I-85). Exit 25 on I-77 or exits 52 or 55 on I-85.  Saturdays and Sundays, 10am - 5:30pm.  From the website: "The Carolina Renaissance Festival is a medieval amusement park, a 9-stage theater, a 20-acre circus, an arts and crafts fair, a jousting tournament and a feast -- all rolled into one non-stop, day-long family adventure!"  Rain or shine.  No pets.  Free parking.  Kids under 5 free.

www.royalfaires.com/carolina/

and www.RenFestInfo.com

1-877-896-5544

Jordan Lake Festival
2010 DATES TBA
Saving Jordan Lake through arts and music.
The Jordan Lake Festival is an art and music festival to benefit Jordan Lake environmental preservation efforts.  The Festival takes place on Jordan Lake Farm, a historic 1865 farmhouse located in northern Chatham County, on 20 scenic acres adjacent to Jordan Lake.  The Jordan Lake Festival features Live Music, Car Show, Art & Food vendors, children's activities, and more fun on the shores of Lake Jordan.
www.jordanlakeartsandmusic.org

For info contact:  George Faget, (919) 475-1847

Chapel Hill, Durham, Raleigh NC
Farms & Pumpkin Patches

See our Guide to Halloween Events at 
Local Museums, Zoos and Amusement Parks

Children's Halloween Costumes

Looking for natural, silk, high-quality costumes for young children?  Visit locally owned Blueberry Forest Toys to find beautiful high quality silk costumes!  Locally-based online toy store offers beautiful 100% silk costumes, dragonfly wings, butterfly wings, fairy wings, mermaid costumes, wizard costumes, wizard hats, capes, knight costumes, and more!

www.BlueberryForest.com