2025's Towns In North Carolina That Come Alive In The Fall

There’s something about pumpkin patches, apple picking, cider sipping, and the glow of autumn leaves that makes fall impossible to resist. Even after a wonderful summer, it is natural to start craving the cozy days and crisp air that the new season brings! If all of this fall goodness resonates with you, you are in luck. Across North Carolina, towns are gearing up for a fall season, complete with all the cozy little touches you could wish for. The following towns are some of the top places to be, offering corn mazes, hay rides, panoramic foliage overlooks, and Oktoberfests that will pull you right into the heart of fall fun.

Banner Elk

Sitting at an elevation of roughly 3,700 feet, Banner Elk is surrounded by hardwood-covered peaks that burst into color in the fall months. The town reaches its foliage peak around mid-October, with vibrant colors continuing into early November. One of the best places to spot this foliage in the area is at Grandfather Mountain State Park, which lies about 20 minutes south of town. Throughout September and October, park visitors can appreciate crisp temperatures and plenty of golds and oranges on the trees. The park also holds several seasonal events throughout the fall, including hawk watches and fall color walks. Travelers can continue basking in the fall spirit at Harvest Farm, which lies about 15 minutes from town and has a pumpkin patch, a corn maze, hay rides, and more. You might also consider scheduling your visit for the weekend of October 18th and 19th, during the annual Woolly Worms Festival, which celebrates the fuzzy caterpillar that is commonly spotted in Autumn!

Little Switzerland

Little Switzerland, which sits at an altitude of about 3,400 feet, reaches its peak in fall foliage around the third week of October. The town sits along the famed Blue Ridge Parkway, a 469-mile route lined with more than 100 species of native trees that show brilliant colors in the fall, along with fall wildflowers to keep your eye out for. Crabtree Falls is also just a short drive away, a 60 to 70-foot cascade that is framed by bright foliage each fall. Want to go apple picking? The Orchard at Altapass offers U-picking during this season, along with periodic live music events to enjoy. The Artisan League of Little Switzerland Fall Arts & Crafts Market is also coming up on October 10th and 11th, featuring a lively artisan market with jewelry, paintings, pottery, woodwork, and more.

Statesville

Come mid-October, Statesville is not just about fall foliage; the skies also fill with hot air balloons, bringing even more color to the season. From October 17th through 19th, the town hosts the Carolina BalloonFest, the second-oldest balloon festival in the United States. Activities during the weekend include a balloon ascension and evening balloon glow, a wine garden, a pilot meet and greet, and more. After appreciating the colorful skies, head over to Lake Norman State Park for some colorful trees, which peak around late October. There are plenty of scenic trails to explore, including the Lakeshore Trail and Alder Trail. It is also a great time to go fishing for perch, crappie, bluegill, and other species. Conclude your fall-themed adventure at Beaver Farms, a family-owned farm that has pumpkins for sale in the fall months.

Blowing Rock

Located along the Blue Ridge Parkway in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the arrival of fall is undeniable in Blowing Rock, as the weather becomes crisp and cool and the trees change to hues of crimson and gold. With the peak taking place around the third week of October, there are numerous spots around town to appreciate these colors, with one of the favorites being The Blowing Rock, which sits about 3,000 feet above Johns River Gorge, offering panoramic views of the trees below. While in town, stop into some of the town’s festive events, such as the Art in the Park show, taking place on October 4th, and the Blowing Rock Brewing Company’s Oktoberfest, taking place the same weekend on the 4th and 5th.

Hendersonville

Part of Henderson County, the Hendersonville area grows more apples than any other in the state! As a result, the orchards around this time of year are bustling with activity, offering all kinds of fall fun. Grandad's Apples is a great orchard to check out for apple picking and fall festivities, offering U-pick apples on select weekends, a pumpkin patch, a corn maze, an apple cannon, and more. Jeter Mountain Farm Apple Orchard is another town favorite, home to a farm bakery that sells delicious apple pastries, a cider taproom, a farm market, and live music during the U-pick season. Foliage, meanwhile, usually peaks between the last half of October and the first week of November, with places like Jump Off Rock being a great place to witness it. This overlook is just 15 minutes from downtown, offering views of colorful valleys and mountain tops that are part of the Blue Ridge and Pisgah ranges.

Franklin

Each year, in October, Franklin gears up for the fall season with its annual PumpkinFest. This year, the festival will take place on October 18th and will offer a costume parade and contest, over 120 vendors and artisans, and its world-famous pumpkin roll! This festival is just in time for peak foliage in the area as well, with foliage generally reaching its full color around October 16th through 23rd, bursting with reds, oranges, and golds. Travelers can head out to Wayah Bald for some foliage views, looking over the Nantahala National Forest at an elevation of more than 5,300 feet. Finish off your festivities by visiting H&H Farmstand, a 500-acre farm that is widely known in the area for its giant corn maze, which it hosts each autumn season.

Bryson City

Bryson City lies in the heart of the Smokies, where fall brings an abundance of color. Thanks to the varying elevations, foliage peaks at different times, generally between late September and early November. Around the third weekend of October, for example, travelers can explore the Nantahala National Forest near town, which has over 600 miles of hiking trails along with places to go camping and white water rafting. The following week, downtown Bryson City and Mingus Mill hit their peak colors, and the Nantahala Gorge offers a beautiful drive. While in the Smoky Mountains, keep your ears open for the bugle of the elk! Each fall during rutting season, their calls echo through the valleys. Concluding your outdoor adventures, you can visit Darnell Farms, which truly comes to life each autumn. Activities on the farm include hay rides, a corn maze, and its annual Plow Days festival, which celebrates the fall harvest.

Final Thoughts

Your fall adventure is right around the corner, and what better time to plan the trip than the present? It is hard to go wrong with any of these destinations: You will find incredible fall foliage in each and every one of them, accompanied by cozy events like apple picking and fall festivals. You might even stumble upon a hidden celebration or two to make your trip feel even cozier! So get out there and get ready to see what this fall season has planned for you.