September/October Events

ASH

October 21-25

Brunswick County
Agricultural Fair & Expo

Wed.-Fri. 4-11pm
Sat. 11am-11pm
Sun. 11am-6pm
2030 Ash Little River Road NW

A five-day county fair featuring amusement rides and agricultural and livestock exhibits at Stump Hill Farms.

BALD HEAD ISLAND

September 5-6

Battle of Fort George
Reenactment & Celebration

Various times | Old Baldy grounds
and Marina Park

The Old Baldy Foundation and N.C. Fourth of July Festival commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Fort George with living history, family activities and commemorative events. Sunday includes free battle reenactments at noon and 3:30pm and a ticketed block party from noon-6pm.

BELVILLE

September 12

Feast of the Pirates Festival

10am-4pm | The Belville Riverwalk Park, 580 River Road SE

A day of pirate-themed family fun featuring games, sword-fighting demonstrations, historic encampments, sea battles, artisan vendors and food trucks. Admission is $5 per group. 

BOILING SPRING LAKES

October 17

Boiling Spring Lakes Fall Festival

Time TBA | Community Center

The city's Special Events Committee will host its annual Fall Festival. The rain date is Saturday, Oct. 24.

BOLIVIA

October 29

Brunswick County Fall Festival

6-9pm | Brunswick County Government, 30 Government Center Drive NE

The Brunswick County Sheriff's Office hosts its free annual fall celebration with hot dogs, popcorn, candy and water, a costume contest, games, hay rides and a haunted trail.

CALABASH

September 26

Celebrate Calabash

10am-3pm | Calabash Town Park,
868 Persimmon Road

A community celebration with local vendors, arts and crafts and other activities at Calabash Town Park.

HOLDEN BEACH

October 24-25

NC Festival by the Sea

Sat. 9am-6pm; Sun. 9am-4pm
0 Jordan Blvd.

Holden Beach's annual coastal arts and crafts festival features local artists and craftsmen, live entertainment, food vendors, contests and children's activities. Admission and parking are free.

OAK ISLAND

September 19

Ride the Tide

Starts at 8am | First Baptist Church of Oak Island, 4608 E. Oak Island Drive

Cycling event. For more information and to register, visit ridethetideoki.com.

October 24

Oak Island Witches Ride

Noon-4pm
Participating locations throughout
Oak Island

Witches, warlocks and other costumed participants travel by bicycle, on foot or by car among participating restaurants and bars. No registration is required; a suggested $10 donation benefits the Oak Island Sea Turtle Protection Program and Sea Biscuit Wildlife Shelter. The afternoon concludes with the Witches Dance at Middleton Park.

October 24

National Night Out & Halloween Spooktacular

4-8pm | Oak Island

A free, pet-friendly community celebration featuring a fall market from 4-8pm and activities and music from 6-8pm. Attractions include trick-or-treating, first-responder displays, a costume contest, carnival games, food and an outdoor concert.

OCEAN ISLE BEACH

October 16

NC Oyster Festival Community Night

6-8pm | Town Center Park,
11 E. Second St.

A free community celebration kicks off Oyster Festival weekend with a flag-raising ceremony, Honor Guard, National Anthem, ribbon cutting and unveiling of the 2026 festival T-shirt and print. The Sea-Cruz Band will perform a free concert. Gates open at 4:30pm, with the ceremony beginning at 5:45pm.

October 17-18

45th Annual North Carolina
Oyster Festival

Sat. 9am-6pm
Sun. 10am-5pm
Town Center Park, 11 E. Second St.

One of Brunswick County's signature fall festivals returns with oysters and other festival food, arts and crafts, live entertainment and activities throughout the weekend. Free shuttle service is available from designated parking lots.

LELAND

September 3

Live in Leland:
Dear MariBella and the Pigkickers

6-8pm | Founders Park

The free Live in Leland series continues with Dear MariBella and the Pigkickers, plus local food trucks, a beer garden and yard games.

September 17

Battle of the Bowls

6-8pm | Founders Park

Leland Fire/Rescue, Leland Police and the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office compete in a community chili cook-off benefiting Manna Ministries. The free family event also includes live music, food trucks, yard games, face painting and a beer garden. Visitors can vote for their favorite chili with canned-food donations or $1 voting tickets.

October 3

Lend a Hand Leland

8am-noon | Founders Park

A community-wide volunteer day bringing residents together for service projects throughout Leland. Participants check in at Founders Park beginning at 8am before heading to projects involving environmental cleanup, tree planting, food assistance and other community needs. Registration is required.

NORTHWEST

October 30

Northwest Fall Festival

5:30-7:30pm | Northwest

The City of Northwest will host its 2026 Fall Festival. For more information visit cityofnorthwest.com.

SHALLOTTE

September 12

Brunswick Quilters
Craft Boutique

9am-1pm | Shallotte Presbyterian Church, 5070 M.H. Rourk Drive

A fall craft boutique featuring work by Brunswick-area quilters and craftspeople. 

September 19

Harvest Fest-Market

9am-2pm | Riverwalk
158 Wall Street

A fall festival and market featuring more than 50 vendors, food trucks and entertainment by Mark and Dora..

SOUTHPORT

September 5

Oak Island Art Guild
Arts & Craft Festival

10am-4pm | William S. "Bill" Smith Park, 4446 Fish Factory Road SE

The Oak Island Art Guild's annual festival brings artists and craftspeople together for a Labor Day weekend show featuring original art, handmade items and distinctive creations.

September 12

MAD Southport Military
Appreciation Day

Various activities scheduled

Military Appreciation Day honors active-duty service members and their families with a day of activities provided by the community. Contact Hank Pomeranz at 910.274.2400 or at MadSouthportPres@gmail.com for more information.

ST. JAMES

September 18

Dosher Foundation Gala

6-10pm | Homer E. Wright Event Center

The annual Dosher Memorial Hospital Foundation fundraiser brings together community members, businesses and healthcare supporters to raise money for programs, equipment and services benefiting area patients.

SUNSET BEACH

September 3, 10, 17 & 24

Sunset Beach Market in the Park

9am-1pm | Sunset Beach Town Park,
206 Sunset Blvd. N.

The weekly outdoor market features local growers, artisans, craftspeople and other vendors.

September 11

9/11 Remembrance Ceremony

2pm | Sunset Beach Town Park,
206 Sunset Blvd. N.

The Committee to Honor America's Veterans and Town of Sunset Beach will host a ceremony remembering the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

October 3

Sunset at Sunset

10am-4pm | Sunset Beach Town Park, 206 Sunset Blvd. N.

The 19th annual community block party features live music, more than 120 artists and businesses, food trucks, children's activities and plenty of opportunities to shop from local vendors.

WINNABOW

September 26
The Carolina Blues:
Indigo on the Cape Fear

11am-3pm | 8884 Saint Phillips
Road SE

Join us at Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site as it hosts this living history program. Call 910-371-6613 for information. This event is FREE. All ages are welcome.