Seasonal Best Bets

While any season is a great time to visit, FALL is especially exciting. Outdoor festivities are still happening but the weather is so much nicer. There is plenty to celebrate in the communities of Orange County, NC! We celebrate our artists, our food and our farms. We come together to celebrate our cultural diversity. And we invite you to join us!. Scroll down and plan your visit around these best bets for FALL. For a complete listing, jump to the Events Calendar. 

The Second Friday ArtWalk is a great way to experience the local art scene in Carrboro and Chapel Hill, many venues offer refreshments and live entertainment. Best of all, it's at your leisure and FREE. 

Start your holiday shopping early. Shop downtown specialty and boutique stores on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill, Main Street in Carrboro, and Churton Street in Hillsborough. Check out this digital guide of our unique shops to plan your shopping excursion.

The month of October is hopping at Southern Village ! Attend a Saturday matinee at the Lumina Theater featuring Flick or Treat series. Throughout the month there will be festivals and events. La Vita Dolce always has a party going on during Wine Down Wednesday but alas they wind down for the season so be sure to stop by for live music and cocktails. Stay at the Hyatt Place Chapel Hill/Southern Village for a fun weekend getaway only minutes from downtown Franklin Street in Chapel Hill and Main Street in Carrboro.

The Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill hosts Fridays on the Front Porch (FOFP) featuring live music on the front porch/lawn of this historically but modern and charming hotel. Food and cocktails are available for purchase. The concerts begin at 5 pm, no cover and open to the public. Late April through mid October.

And what could be more fun than hanging out with ghosts?  Join the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough and The Orange Community Players for the annual Haunted Tour through the historic district to encounter these ghostly residents! This fun and dramatic tour will bring you face-to-face with Hillsborough’s past. October 25-26 "Spirits of Hillsborough" Hillsborough, the oldest town in the Triangle, is haunted!

Add the Annual Orange County Studio Tour  to your Fall things to do calendar. The Orange County Open Studio Tour features over 70 artists that open their studios to the public, November 2-3 and 9-10.

The annual Carrboro Film Festival  has always been a dynamic event that brings filmmakers and audiences together for a heartfelt celebration of independent cinema. This year the festival begins a new chapter in an effort to support what they see as a renaissance in Southern cinema. Join the the celebration of Southern cinema November 15-17.

Stop by any of our Farmers Markets open Saturdays all year and certain weekdays during the spring, summer and fall months. Many of our local farmers have roadside stands and invite visitors to pick your own berries. Visit Things to Do Farm Life & Markets for a list of our farmers and markets (scroll all the way down).

Looking for more things to do - check out our events calendar for current happenings.