Festivals in Shelby, NC.
Family & Kids Festivals, State Fairs
Lake Eden Reunion
October 16 - 18, 2026
lakeedenretreat.com
Lake Eden - Black Mountain, NC
For 80 years, this land at Lake Eden has been a gathering place for artists and families, and 45 years a festival destination. In 2026, we come home, with the launching of the commemorative coffee table book — Live Life Like a Festival — celebrating 30 years of LEAF (Lake Eden Arts Festival) at Lake Eden. This reunion is its celebration bringing to life traditions we love while dreaming and playing to see what emerges for the next legacy gathering to carry us into the future.
Lincoln County Apple Festival
October 17, 2026
lincolncountyapplefestival.com
Downtown - Lincolnton, NC
9 blocks of Main Street is arts and crafts, fair food, music, kids area, farmer's market, local businesses, and non-profits.
Christmas Made in the South / Charlotte
October 23 - 25, 2026
MadeInTheSouthShows.com
(704) 847-9480
Cabarras Arena & Events Center - Concord, NC
Christmas Made in the South is focused on keeping the world of fine artisans and craftspeople vibrant. Exhibitors will be there all three days demonstrating and selling their handcrafted works, Santa's elves hard at work.
Nascar Day Festival
October 24, 2026
randlemanchamber.com
(336) 495-1100
Downtown - Randleman, NC
NASCAR Day Festival/Racin to Randleman Car Show in the downtown area of Main Street and Commerce Square Park in the hometown of the "King" of NASCAR Richard Petty and the Petty Family. Randleman is home to 4 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees. Petty Fan Club meets at the Petty Museum and the Victory Junction Camp built by the Petty family for children with chronic and life-threatening illnesses is also located in Randleman. Food, fun, arts, crafts, music, car show, and more all in Randleman, NC. Three stages of bands. The dinosaur expo will return again this year. Most of the proceeds from the car show go to support 3 area nonprofit projects
A Dickens Holiday - Twenty-Seventh
November 27, 2026
adickensholiday.com
(910) 818-2157
Downtown Fayetteville NC - E Fayettevlle, NC
A Dickens Holiday returns this year with a larger footprint! Vendors and performers will be throughout the Downtown Fayetteville area with street closures from Hay Street through Franklin Street There will be more room for horse-drawn carriage rides, character actors, musicians, and handmade crafts and food vendors. New this year, downtown businesses can choose to decorate in their favorite Christmas movie theme.
Events in Shelby, NC — upcoming
October 1 - 11, 2026
Cleveland County Fair
Fairgrounds, Shelby, NC
Status: Updated 4/20/2026
This North Carolina State Fair will have commercial/retail, corp./information, crafts, fine art, fine craft and homegrown products exhibitors, and 32 food booths. There will be 3 stages with National, Regional and Local talent and the hours will be Mon-Tue, Thu-Fri 3pm-11pm; Sat 9am-11pm; Sun, Wed 10am-11pm. Admission tickets are $5 - $8.
October 17, 2026
NC Liver Mush Festival
Uptown Shelby Courtsquare, Shelby, NC
Status: Updated 8/27/2026
This North Carolina Food Festival will have antique/collectibles, commercial/retail, corp./information, crafts, fine art, fine craft and homegrown products exhibitors, and 30 food booths. There will be 3 stages with National, Regional and Local talent and the hours will be Sat 9am-4pm. This event will also include: kids parade, kids' zone, pet festival, liver mush eating contest, recipe contest.
November 2026 (dates not updated)
Carolina Pottery Festival
LeGrand Center, Shelby, NC
Status: Updated 10/14/2025
This North Carolina Art Show will have crafts and fine craft exhibitors, and no food booths. Admission tickets are $8. This event will also include pottery demonstrations.
April 2027 (dates not updated)
Foothills Merry Go Round Festival
Shelby City Park, Shelby, NC
Status: Updated 4/6/2026
This North Carolina Festival will have commercial/retail, corp./information, crafts and fine craft exhibitors, and 12 food booths. There will be Roving Performers with National, Regional and Local talent and the hours will be Sat 11am-8pm; Sun 1pm-8pm. Admission tickets are $10.
