Looking for weekend events in towns around Raleigh, NC? From Cary and Apex to Wake Forest, Garner and Carrboro, October 16–18, 2026, brings fall festivals, Halloween activities, markets and live music.

Highlights include Cary Night Market, Diwali celebrations in Garner and Morrisville, Halloween Boo Bash in Wake Forest, and the Carrboro Songwriters Festival. Many events offer free admission, making this a great weekend to explore nearby communities.

Details are based on the listings supplied. Confirm schedules, registration and weather updates with organizers. Free entry may not include purchases or optional activities.

Cary: Markets and Outdoor Music

Friday, October 16

Cary Night Market
5–9 p.m. | Downtown Cary Park | Free entry

Start the weekend with an evening market in downtown Cary. Vendor purchases are extra.

Saturday, October 17

• Fenton Makers Market: 11 a.m.–4 p.m., Fenton; free entry.
• CaryLIVE! featuring Harvey Street: 7:30–9:30 p.m., Downtown Cary Park; free.

Sunday, October 18

• Kanikapila Ukulele Meetup: 1–3 p.m., KōMANA Brewing Company; free.
• Bluegrass Open Jam: 4–7 p.m., Bond Brothers Eastside; free.
• Jazz’d Up Sundays featuring Kobie Watkins: 6:30–8 p.m., Downtown Cary Park; free.

Apex: Fall Harvest Night and Halloween Fun

Friday, October 16

Love Local — Fall Into Downtown Apex: Fall Harvest Night
5–8 p.m. | Apex Historic Depot | Free

Celebrate the season with an evening gathering in downtown Apex.

Other Friday options include:

• Free Wine Tastings: 4:30–6:30 p.m., Bottle Theory.
• Trunk or Treat: 6–8 p.m., Lightbridge Academy; free.

Saturday, October 17

Live Music
6:30–9 p.m. | Southern Peak Brewery | Free

Sunday, October 18

Woodhaven Church Fall Festival
5–6 p.m. | Woodhaven Church | Free

The listing includes trunk-or-treating, games and free hot dogs.

Garner and Morrisville: Diwali Celebrations

Town of Garner Diwali Celebration
Friday, October 16 | 5–9 p.m. | Garner Recreation Center | Free

Garner hosts a Friday evening community celebration.

Raleigh Concert Band: Ghosts, Gods & Rubber Chickens
Saturday, October 17 | 7 p.m. | Garner Performing Arts Center | Free

The concert offers another reason to visit Garner this weekend.

Morrisville Diwali Festival
Saturday, October 17 | 5–8 p.m. | Morrisville Community Park | Free

Morrisville’s celebration adds a free Saturday evening option.

Wake Forest: Halloween, Art and Ghost Walks

Friday, October 16

• DJ Al-Ski Love: 6–9 p.m., Blackbird Brewery; free.
• Spirits of Wake Forest: Multiple ghost-walk starts between 6:30–9:30 p.m., Wake Forest Town Hall; $20.

Saturday, October 17

Halloween Boo Bash
10 a.m.–1 p.m. | Downtown Wake Forest | Free

Start Saturday with a Halloween celebration downtown.

Additional events include:

• Autumn Art & Plant Festival: 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Wake Forest Historical Museum; free entry.
• Live Music: 6–9 p.m., Fortnight Brewing; free.
• Spirits of Wake Forest: Multiple starts between 6:30–9:30 p.m., Wake Forest Town Hall; $20.

Knightdale, Wendell and Fuquay-Varina: Music and Local Gatherings

Friday, October 16

• Jeffrey Kriz on the Patio: 5–8 p.m., Oak City Brewing Company, Knightdale; free.
• Front Porch Friday: 6–10 p.m., Haven Farm, Knightdale; free entry.
• Heather Rogers: 7 p.m., The Mason Jar Lager Company, Fuquay-Varina; free.

Saturday, October 17

• Pages and Pints Pop-Up Book Shop and Swap: 1–5 p.m., The Mason Jar Lager Company, Fuquay-Varina; free entry.
• Live Music: 7 p.m., Bearded Bee Brewing Company, Wendell; free.

Sunday, October 18

Open Mic
2–5 p.m. | Oaklyn Springs Brewery, Fuquay-Varina | Free

Chapel Hill and Carrboro: Festivals, Gardens and Art

Throughout the Weekend

Carrboro Songwriters Festival | Free

Performances at multiple Carrboro locations are listed for:

• Friday: 4–8 p.m.
• Saturday: Noon–8 p.m.
• Sunday: 1–8 p.m.

Confirm individual venues and performances with the festival.

West End Poetry Festival | Friday–Saturday | Free

Poetry programming takes place at various Carrboro locations. Check the festival schedule for session details.

Sculpture in the Garden | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill

Explore the outdoor exhibition with free admission and a $5 suggested donation. Confirm garden hours before visiting.

Friday, October 16

• Fridays on the Front Porch: 5–8 p.m., Carolina Inn, Chapel Hill; free entry.
• Spooky Movie Night — Hotel Transylvania: 6:30 p.m., Carrboro Town Commons; free.
• Third Space Open Mic Night: 7–9 p.m., Lanza’s Cafe, Carrboro; free.

Saturday, October 17

• Visit Cow Sanctuary: 10 a.m.–2 p.m., Brajboro Cow Sanctuary, Chapel Hill; listed admission $0–$25, with pricing categories to confirm. Also listed Sunday.
• Open Farm: 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sunrise Community Farm Center, Chapel Hill; $8.
• NatureFest: 1–4 p.m., North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill; free.

Sunday, October 18

• Sunday Brunch Music: 11 a.m.–1 p.m., Weaver Street Market lawn, Carrboro; free.
• Bazaar Craft & Art Market: Noon–5 p.m., Carrboro Town Commons; free entry.

Hillsborough and Pittsboro: Haunted Attractions and Farm Fun

The Witch’s Haunted Barn
Firefly Farm, Hillsborough | $13

Friday’s no-actor version runs noon–5 p.m. Saturday’s haunted barn listing runs 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Confirm suitability and participation details with organizers.

Free Petting Zoo
Saturday, October 17 | 10 a.m.–1 p.m. | Pittsboro Feed

Add a daytime animal encounter to a Saturday outing.

Live Music
Saturday, October 17 | 5:30–8:30 p.m. | Carolina Brewery Pittsboro | Free

Hillsborough Really Really Free Market
Sunday, October 18 | Noon–2 p.m. | Gold Park | Free

Plan Your Weekend Around Raleigh

Pair Wake Forest’s Boo Bash with its art and plant festival, or combine NatureFest in Chapel Hill with music in Carrboro. Cary offers activities across all three days, while Garner and Morrisville provide separate opportunities to attend Diwali celebrations.

Reserve ticketed ghost walks when required, check outdoor event updates, and allow travel time between towns.

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