Festivals
August
Fine Arts Festival, Campbell House Galleries, 482 E. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines, through Aug. 28. Features work by artists from all over the country in a variety of mediums, as well as an art competition. Information: (910) 692-4356 or www.mooreart.org.
Umoja Festival, Seabrook Park, Aug. 22. This family festival with an emphasis on African-American heritage will feature storytellers, artists, dancers and music. Information: 488-7130.
September
Labor Day Food & Wine Festival, Pinehurst Resort, 80 Carolina Vista Drive, Sept 3-7. There will be wine tastings, seminars and cooking demonstrations from guest chefs. Information: (800) 487-4653 or www.pinehurst.com.
Cape Fear Fair, Sept. 3-12, Fayetteville Motor Speedway, 3704 Doc Bennett Road. Agricultural exhibits, rides, music, monster truck shows. 323-1711 or www.capefearfair.org.
Cumberland County Fair, Crown Coliseum, Fayetteville, Sept. 10-20. Rides, games, food, live entertainment. Information: 323-5088 or www.cumberlandcountyfair.org.
Greek Fest, Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church, Sept. 11-13. Greek foods, live bands, dance troupes and more. Information: 484-2010, 484-8925 or www.stsch.nc.goarch.org.
N.C. Turkey Festival, Raeford, Sept. 11-19. The annual celebration features food, crafts and entertainment including a parade. Information: (910) 904-2424 or www.ncturkeyfestival.org.
Fall Harvest Festival, Wagram, Sept. 12. Music, vendors, wine tastings and a grape stomp. Information: (910) 369-0411 or www.visitnc.com.
31st annual International Folk Festival, downtown Fayetteville, Sept. 25-27. Representatives of dozens of countries celebrate the diversity of the region with food, costumes and a Parade of Nations. Information: (910) 323-1776 or www.theartscouncil.com.
Malcolm Blue Historical Crafts & Farm Skills Festival, Aberdeen, Sept. 25-27. Traditional crafts and skills, barnyard animals, Civil War re-enactments, pony and wagon rides, and museum tours. Information: (910) 944-7558 or www.malcolmbluefarm.com.
October
Denim Days, Erwin, Oct. 2-3. Parade, music, games, crafts and children's activities. Information: (910) 897-7300 or www.erwin-nc.org or www.erwinchamber.org.
Scotland County Highland Games, historic John Blue House complex, Laurinburg, Oct. 3.
Cameron Antiques Fair, Cameron, Oct. 3. Hundreds of dealers display their antiques and collectibles along streets in the historic district of Cameron. Information: (910) 245-3055 or www.antiquesofcameron.com.
Autumnfest and Road Race, Downtown Park, Southern Pines, Oct. 3. One-mile fun run or walk, 5k race, arts, crafts, entertainment and youth activities. Information: (910) 692-2463 or www.artscouncil-moore.org.
Touchstone Energy N.C. Cotton Festival, Dunn, Oct. 7. Family fun, entertainment, education. (910) 892-3282.
International Sardine Festival, Aberdeen, Oct. 9. Sardines, RC Cola, Moon Pies and the crowning of the Sardine Queen. Information: (910) 944-1115.
Antiques Appraisal Fair, Oct. 10, Shaw House, Southern Pines. Information: (910) 692-2051 or www.moorehistory.com.
John Blue Cotton Festival, Laurinburg. Oct. 10-11. Old-time fun with music, arts, crafts, tractors and engines, pre-Civil War cotton gin, grist mill and shingle mill operations. Information: (910) 276-3761 or www.johnbluecottonfestival.com.
Holly Arts and Crafts Festival, Pinehurst. Oct. 17. Nearly 200 exhibitors including woodworkers, jewelry makers and metal sculptors, plus food and entertainment. Information: (910) 295-7462.
Fairmont Farmers Festival, Oct. 17. Country, rock and gospel music, parade, arts and crafts and kiddie rides. Information: (910) 628-9766 or www.fairmontnc.com.
Oktoberfest, Fort Bragg Fairgrounds, Oct. 22-Nov. 1. Food, carnival rides, entertainment. Information: 396-6126.
Ole Mill Days, Hope Mills Municipal Park, Oct. 24. Crafts, food, music, storytelling, kiddie rides and costume contests. Information: 424-4555 or www.townofhopemills.com.
Beast of Bladenboro Festival, Bladenboro, Oct. 31. Classic car show, rides, beach music, street dance, arts and crafts. (910) 863-4655 or www.borobooster.org.
November
Holly Day Fair, Crown Center, Fayetteville. Nov. 5-8. The largest gift and craft show in eastern North Carolina. Sponsored by the Junior League of Fayetteville. Information: (910) 323-5088 or www.jlfay.org.
North Carolina Cotton Festival, Dunn, Nov. 7. Classic car show, street vendors, arts and crafts, cotton gin tours, live music and carriage rides. Information: (910) 892-3282 or www.nccottonfestival.com.
Festival of Trees, Carolina Hotel in Pinehurst, Nov. 11-15. Featuring lavishly decorated trees, wreaths and tabletop trees, as well as live bands, a silent auction and pictures with Santa. Benefits Sandhills Children's Center. Information: (910) 692-3323 or www.festivaloftrees.org.
Cameron Antique Dealers' Christmas Open House, Nov. 21 and 22, downtown Cameron. All shops participating. Information: (910) 245-3055 or www.antiquesofcameron.com.
Seagrove Pottery Festival, Seagrove, Nov. 21 and 22. North Carolina potters present their works. Information: (336) 873-7887 or www.seagrovepotteryheritage.com.
A Dickens Holiday, downtown Fayetteville, Nov. 27. Carolers, carriage rides and costumed actors portraying characters from "A Christmas Carol." Information: 323-1776 or www.theartscouncil.com.
Eastern Carolina Craftsmen's Christmas Festival, Crown Center, Fayetteville, Nov. 27-29. More than 100 exhibitors selling handmade arts and crafts. Information: 323-5088 or 483-2040.
December
New Year's Party in the Park, Festival Park, downtown Fayetteville, Dec. 31. Music, children's activities, fireworks, countdown to the new year. 323-1934.
January
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration, J.W. Seabrook Auditorium, Fayetteville State University, Jan. 18. Information: 672-1474.
March
Eastern Carolina Craftsmen's Festival, March 13-14, Crown Coliseum complex, Fayetteville. Information: (910) 483-2040.
Old-Fashioned Planter's Day, White Oak, late March. Music, antique tractor pull, food and rides. Information: (910) 866-4543.
April
Fayetteville Dogwood Festival, Festival Park, downtown Fayetteville, April 23-25. Street fair, dancing, live music, food, arts and crafts. Information: 323-1934.
North Carolina Pickle Festival, Mount Olive, April 23-24. Celebrates the agricultural heritage of the area with music and more. Information: (919) 658-3113 or www.ncpicklefest.org.
Storytelling Festival of Carolina, April 23-25, Laurinburg. Nationally known and local storytellers at the historic John Blue House. (910) 276-7316 or www.storytellingfestivalofcarolina.org.
Fort Bragg Children's Festival, April 24, Fort Bragg fairgrounds. Games, rides, more. 396-7632.
May
Eastover Heritage Day, May 1. The Cumberland County town celebrates its history with a parade, exhibits, music, food and car display. Information: (910) 483-6725 or www.eastovernc.com.
The North Carolina Strawberry Festival, Chadbourn, May 1. Parade, historic homes tour, beauty queens, food and crafts. Information: (910) 654-4259 or www.ncstrawberryfestival.com.
Sanford Pottery Festival, Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center, Sanford, May 1 and 2. Pottery from all over the Southeast, displays, techniques and music. Information: (919) 770-8002 or www.sandfordpotteryfestival.com.
Field of Honor, downtown Fayetteville, May. Personalized flags will honor veterans and active-duty servicemen. Information: 222-3382.
Fort Bragg Fair, Fort Bragg fairgrounds, early May. Rides, food, concerts and other entertainment over more than two weeks. Information: 396-6126 or www.fortbraggmwr.com.
Buggy Festival, Carthage, May 7 and 8. Old-fashioned buggy displays, children's events, car show, crafts and entertainment. Information: (910) 947-2331 or www.thebuggyfestival.com.
White Lake Water Festival, White Lake, late May. Water skiing, parade, road race and art shows. Information: (910) 862-4800 or www.whitelakenc.com.
Glory Days, downtown Fayetteville, May 29-31. Patriotic celebration. Information: 222-3382.
Cross Creek Blues-N-Brews Festival, Festival Park, downtown Fayetteville. Late May or early June. Micro-brew tasting and live blues music. Information: 323-4234.
June
Ammon Blueberry Festival, Bladen County, June 5. Pancake breakfast, parade, rides, crafts and antique car show. Information: (910) 588-4592.
National Hollerin' Contest, Spivey's Corner, June 19. Information: (910) 567-2600.
Lumbee Homecoming, Pembroke, late June or early July. Sports, pageants, crafts and food. Information: (910) 521-8602.
Bluegrass Festival, Malcolm Blue Farm, Aberdeen, mid-June. (910) 944-7558 or www.malcolmbluefarm.com.
July
Fourth of July festivities. Fort Bragg and the town of Hope Mills are among the communities celebrating the Fourth with games, music, food and fireworks. Information: Call Fort Bragg at 396-6126 or Hope Mills at 424-4500.
Blues Crawl, downtown Southern Pines, July. Call (910) 692-8501 or visit www.sunrisetheater.com.
Christmas in July, Seagrove. Potters will have their wares on display and on sale, and special events will be held. Information: (336) 873-7887 or (800) 626-2672 or www.seagrovepotteryheritage.com.
August 2010
National Airborne Day, Airborne & Special Operations Museum. The salute to the military will feature equipment displays, re-enactments, music performances and a parachute free-fall demonstration. Information: 483-3003 or www.asomf.org.