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Things to do in North Carolina this fall and Christmas

North Carolina in the fall is the State Fair and a Renaissance Festival with jousting, and at Christmas it's Biltmore all lit up by candlelight and the Polar Express through the Smokies and a whole little town called Christmas Town. The hard part is finding it all, because it's spread from the mountains to the coast. So I'm putting it all in one place, and you can tap what you want and put it straight on your bucket list.

North Carolina is up now, and I keep adding to them all season. Last updated September 29, 2026.

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North Carolina

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North Carolina fall and Christmas questions

When is the N.C. State Fair in 2026?

October 15 to 25, 2026 in Raleigh.

When is Christmas at Biltmore in 2026?

November 6, 2026 to January 10, 2027.

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Turn your picks into a real bucket list

Tap the events you want on any area page and they land in the slots of whichever fall design you pick. Add your own stuff, then it prints big and hangs on the wall all season.

See the fall designs