N.C. State FairRaleigh
October 15 to 25
The biggest event in the state, eleven days of rides, fried food, stunt shows and fireworks every night.
Fall in Charlotte, Raleigh and Asheville2 things
The ones people drive in from other counties for. Most of them run the whole season, so you don't have to pick a weekend yet.
Carolina Renaissance FestivalHuntersville
Saturdays and Sundays, October 3 to November 22
A made up 1500s village with jousting, costumed performers and people making things by hand, and you can dress up too.
The little stuff, by town0 things
The city Halloween parties and the trunk or treats and the free stuff. Cities post their 2026 dates late, so anything marked "check the date" gets fixed the second it's announced.
The cities post these in early November. Check back.
For the rest of your list
These don't need an address, tap them and they go on your list with everything else.
Christmas in Charlotte, Raleigh and Asheville5 things
Biltmore already has its 2026 dates, the rest show last year's windows until they post. The Polar Express and Biltmore evenings book up, so reserve early.
Christmas at BiltmoreAsheville
November 6 to January 10, candlelight evenings by reservation
The biggest house in America decked out with over 100 trees and a 35 foot tree in the Banquet Hall, and at night it glows with candlelight.
Winter Lights at the NC ArboretumAsheville
usually mid November into early January · check the date
A walk through the gardens lit up with thousands of lights, now in its 12th year.
The Polar Express in Bryson CityBryson City
select nights early November through December · check the date
A train ride in pajamas with cocoa and the story read along, out to the North Pole where Santa gets on.
Speedway ChristmasConcord
late November into early January · check the date
Four million lights on a drive around the racetrack, then a Christmas village with fire pits for s'mores.
Christmas Town USAMcAdenville
December 1 to 26 · check the date
A whole little town near Charlotte that lights up every house and tree for Christmas.
Town Christmas stuff
The town stuff, and I'll add the tree lightings as the cities post them in November.
Christmas in Cary
North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival
the holiday season · check the date
Giant glowing lantern displays outside Raleigh.
For the rest of your Christmas list
This is the at-home stuff, tap them and they go on your list with the lights and the train.
put it on the wall
Turn your Christmas picks into a real bucket list
Tap the lights and the trains and the town stuff you want and pick the Christmas design you like, and I'll hold onto your picks. The Christmas lists are coming soon, and the second they're up your picks drop straight into the slots.
Good any weekend0 things
The stuff that doesn't need a date, for the Saturday when nothing's going on.
Charlotte, Raleigh and Asheville fall and Christmas questions
When is the N.C. State Fair in 2026?
October 15 to 25, 2026 at the fairgrounds in Raleigh.
When is Christmas at Biltmore in 2026?
November 6, 2026 to January 10, 2027. Candlelight Christmas Evenings need a separate reservation.
who's writing this
Hi, I'm Amy.
We roadschool six kids out of a van. I'm just a mom with a Ford Transit and a lot of opinions about corn mazes, so if something on here is wrong, or your town's party is missing, email me at hello@bellebucket.com and I'll fix it.
put it on the wall
Turn your picks into a real bucket list
Tap the ones you want and I'll drop them onto whichever fall design you pick, then you add your own stuff (birthdays, carving pumpkins, whatever your family does). It prints big, like 24x36 big, and it hangs on the wall all season.