Weekend best bets: NC State Fair, wine and beer festival, and more

There's a lot happening this weekend in the Triangle!

NC State Fair opens!

The 2026 North Carolina State Fair is Oct. 15 to Oct. 25. Check out WRAL's NC State Fair guide for information on parking, tickets, rides, food and more. 

Spooky fall fun

Find more pumpkin patches, festivals and haunted experiences here.

Oct. 16: Fall Harvest Night - Fall has arrived in downtown Apex. Live music by Polka Time Allstars, Tour of Frights decorations, and a vendor fair, Depot Parking Lot, 220 N. Salem St, Apex. 5-8 p.m.

Oct. 16: Trunk-or-Treat at Lightbridge Academy - Grab the costumes and the kids and enjoy a night of trunk-or-treating, decorative cars, live music and more. Lightbridge Academy, 1075 Newland Ave, Apex. 6-8 p.m. 

Oct. 16-17: Broadway at the Creepy Cafe - A Halloween-inspired theatrical and magic event at the Farmhouse Cafe in Wendell Falls. On Friday, check out Broadway at the Cafe with Poe at 6 p.m. Saturday, there's a Houdini-inspired magic show at 6 p.m. 320 Vintage Point Lane, Wendell Falls Parkway. 

Oct. 17: Halloween Boo Bash - Children’s harvest festival for ages 12 and younger. Enjoy inflatables, food vendors, exhibits and ghostly games and activities. Costumes are optional; best costumes will be featured on social media. Downtown Wake Forest, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Oct. 18: Hillsborough Street Trick-or-Treat: Collect treats from over 50+ candy stations and explore the Trunk-or-Treat Zone, festive crafts, games and entertainment.

Food and festivals

Oct. 16: Durham Foodie Fair - Foodie and art market at Durham Central Park. 5:30 - 9:30 p.m.   

Oct. 16-17: Tar Heel Antiques Festival - A weekend celebrating the love of antiques. Vendor booths, onsite appraisals and on-site auctions., 226 North Lloyd’s Dairy Road, Efland. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Oct. 17: Durham Craft Market - Handmade artisan market at Durham Central Park.Every Saturday from 8:00 to noon.

Oct. 17: Sarduc x Rduae Fall Festival - Celebrating Asian-owned businesses. Find live music, K-Pop mat pilates, crochet and art prints, and plenty of authentic cuisine. The Corner at NCSU Centennial, 941 Main Campus Drive, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. 

Oct. 17: Raleigh’s International Wine & Beer Festival - Spend the day enjoying international wines and unique beer, food, live music and fall fun. City Plaza, downtown Raleigh, Noon to 8 p.m.

Oct. 17: Morrisville Diwali Festival - Cultural performances, holiday activities—including painting diyas and mandalas, live DJ, and a variety of food trucks. Morrisville Community Park, 1520 Morrisville Parkway. 5-8 p.m. 

Oct. 17-18: Pittsboro Pride - Festival and parade. Saturday 6-10 p.m., ages 13+. Sunday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., family-friendly festival. The Plant, 220 Lorax Lane, Pittsboro. 

Oct. 18: Instrument Petting Zoo at Gipson Play Plaza: Invites all ages to explore, try instruments and make music at Dix Park. Performances by two youth quartets with the opportunity for guests to join in. Hosted by the Raleigh Music Collective.