🍂Fall in Charlotte, NC has arrived, and with it comes endless ways to enjoy the season.
We’ve gathered all the best fun fall activities near Charlotte, NC in into one easy guide, so planning your fall is as easy as an autumn breeze.
You’ll find local orchards and farms, pumpkin patches, fall festivals, and special events, organized by category!
Want to be listed on our guide? Submit your listing here.
Are you looking for fall things to do in Charlotte, NC? Searching for fall activities for kids in Charlotte, NC? You’ve come to the right place. This fall guide is all about getting out and enjoying fall with your kids, family, and friends. We have great day trip ideas, farms to visit, pumpkin patches and corn mazes you’ll love, where to see animals, fall hiking ideas, and so much more. Have fun this fall in Charlotte, NC!
Included in this Guide of Charlotte, NC Fall Activities
Go on a Hike This Fall in Charlotte, NC
As the weather cools, heading out on a hike is a great activity to do with the kids. Fresh air, lots of space, time to chat or just listen to the birds, de-stress, and have fun on a hike.
Hike close to Charlotte at Anne Springs Close Greenway in York County, SC.
Just a few miles from Downtown Charlotte is Reedy Creek Nature Preserve with hiking trails, playgrounds, and lots more. FREE
Hike the Revolutionary War Battlefields at Kings Mountain.
Enjoy the Amazing Views Hiking up Crowders Mountain!
Take a drive to one of these gorgeous waterfall hikes while peeping at the leaves near Charlotte, NC.
If you want to head out to the mountains, don’t miss our Kidding Around® Hiking Guide.
Fun Fall Day Trips
Seeking a fabulous outdoor adventure? Fall weather is perfect for outdoor day trips, and there are a lot of fun, educational, and adventure-filled things to do that are an easy day trip from Charlotte!
- Take a drive for fall-colored leaves near the mountains.
- Spend the day at Carowinds Amusement Park.
- Head up to Hendersonville, NC, for apples, free fun things to do, great food, and lots more in this mountain town. If you go with young kids, do not skip the Park at Flat Rock. You’ll thank us later.
- Explore history in a “most charming small town,” Newberry, SC.
- Spend the day in Landrum, SC. Enjoy the small-town downtown plus fabulous food, hiking, and more!
- Check out Revolutionary War history in historic Camden, SC.
- With cooler temperatures, a trip to the North Carolina Zoo would be perfect this fall.
- Learn about raptors at the Raptor Center.
- Visit Greenville, SC, and see the gorgeous leaves change along the Reedy River.
For more great day trips, don’t miss our list of South Carolina Day Trips and WNC Day Trips. If you’re exploring small towns, don’t miss this list of Upstate, SC Day Trip Towns.
Thinking a weekend getaway might be fun? Here’s a list of Incredible Vacation Rentals Where You Can See Fall Colors and Vacation Rental Cabins With Private Indoor Pools.
Don’t Miss These Fall Events Near Charlotte, NC
These events are some of the best in the area, and you do not want to miss out!
Love a good festival? We do, too!
Grab your festival adventure crew and get all the details for these festivals and more!
Yiasou Greek Festival
September 5th – 7th, 2025
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral
Offers: Greek food, music, dance, and cultural appreciation.
Charlotte International Arts Festival
September 1st -30th, 2025
Ballantyne’s Backyard, Uptown Charlotte, and multiple locations throughout the Charlotte area
Offers: Art festival featuring interactive exhibits, performances, and art installations
SCarowinds
Select Nights, September 12th – November 2nd , 2025
Carowinds
Offers: The time of year when Carowinds transforms into something a little spookier. Access to roller coasters, along with haunted houses, spooky decorations, live shows, and seasonal food and drink
Carolina Renaissance Festival
Saturdays and Sundays, October 4th – November 23rd, 2025
Offers: Immersive experience into a world of dragons, knights, princesses, and all things Renaissance. Don’t forget your turkey leg!
You’ll find a lot more upcoming fall events on our Kidding Around® Event Calendar for Charlotte.
Plus, find other activities to have a fun week ahead!
Apple Cider Donut Tour
If you can’t pick just one orchard or farm to visit, try this delicious Apple Cider Donut Tour through Western North Carolina.
We have this particular tour leaving from Greenville, SC (our sister site), however, you can adjust the included Google map to leave from Charlotte, NC, so that you can spend a day exploring the orchards of WNC while eating delicious apple cider donuts!
Farms near Charlotte, NC
Fall is a great time to visit a farm, and there are lots of farms near you in Charlotte, NC. You can sort your farm options by activity in the links below. There are a lot of farms within an hour of Charlotte, and some, especially apple orchards, will be a little farther away! But that’s ok. Make it a day trip. Head to the mountains and enjoy the fall leaves. Or, pick a farm close to home and spend time with the kids on a hayride or finding that perfect pumpkin.
Try this list of Petting Zoos and Farms where you can pet and play with animals.
You may also like to have this handy guide of Tips for Apple Picking With Kids, so you can make your orchard time the best time!
Fall is a Great Time to Visit a Farm!
Perry Lowe Orchard
336.921.3123 8741 North Carolina 16 , Moravian Falls, NC
This orchard is located in Moravian Falls, NC and has U pick apples (by reservation) with a two dollar admission per person. They offer 30 varieties of apples to pick!
2025 Opening Weekend: Labor Day Weekend 2025
Offers:
Upick apples (by reservation)
Apple cider, dried apples, and produce
Tractor rides through the orchard
Tractor playground ($)
Jump Pillow($)
Megaslide ($)
Bee Train ($)
Riverbend Farm is located in Midland, NC, a short drive East of Charlotte. They are only open in October for field trips, fall activities, and a pumpkin patch.
Fall season begins in October. They are open 7 days a week, afternoons and weekends.
Monday- Friday hours: 3:30 pm to 6 pm
Saturday- 10 am – 6 pm
Sunday- 1 pm to 6 pm
Fall activities offered include several unique slides, lots of photo opportunities, a farm-themed playground, a picnic area, an animal barn, wagon rides to the pumpkin patch, and more. Pumpkins are $0.50 per lb and are field placed.
Admission is $6.00 for ages 2 and older.
Shelby Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch offer fall activities including parties, an 8-acre corn maze, pumpkin patch, and more. They also offer a haunted maze in October at night. There is a section of the haunted maze appropriate for younger crowds, with the rest of the maze being for older participants.
Fall Season runs September 20th – November 2nd, 2025 Friday through Sunday. Weekdays are reserved for large groups.
Farm admission is $16 for ages 3 +, Haunted Pass is $16 for ages 3 +, Farm and Haunt Pass is $22 for ages 3+.
There are courtyard activities, mazes, hayrides, a pumpkin patch, and over 40 other attractions to participate in.
Patterson Farm
704.797.0013 | 704.636.4005 10390 Caldwell Road, Mount Ulla, NC
Patterson Farm is located just north of Charlotte in Mt. Ulla, NC. The farm offers educational tours, a produce market, seasonal events, and more.
Fall Season begins early fall 2025. Check their website and Facebook page for updates.
Fall activities include a barnyard, playground, corn maize, hayrides, train rides, pumpkin patch visits, and more.
Hours: Monday – Friday : 12 – 5 pm; Saturday 10 – 5
Admission: Monday – Friday : Starts at $14.00 per person; Saturday – Sunday : starts at $16.99 per person. You can purchase tickets online at a discounted rate or purchase at the gate.
Pumpkins are sold separately from the admission price. It is recommended to purchase tickets in advance.
They also offer special events and birthday parties. Read more about their packages on their website.
This is a great place to explore a corn maze! But that’s not all! Enjoy the pumpkin patch and pick one to go home with you too!
Other u-pick options available seasonally throughout the year.
Lineberger’s Farm is located in Dallas, NC, just 30 minutes from Charlotte. The farm offers U pick, a farm store, and a seasonal pumpkin patch.
Fall season begins in September (weekends only) then they are open daily in October.
Admission is free, with tickets purchasable for activities, including wagon rides for $7.50, duck and chicken feeding for $0.50, and more. Pumpkins are not u pick, but they do offer a free pumpkin with the purchase of a wagon ride. Pumpkins can be purchased in their store.
U pick seasons: strawberries (mid-April – June), blackberries (June – July), sunflowers (July & October), muscadines (September – October), and greens (September – October).
Midland Farms offers a store, field trips, homeschool days, festivals, and MORE!
The owners of the Windy Hill Orchard and Cider Mill got their start 20 years ago when they wanted to create the perfect apple cider (they apparently succeeded). Their main apple variety is the Stayman Winesapp and u-pick opens up in late August. The orchard asks that everyone 2 years of age and older have their own pre-purchased bag before heading into the orchard. They also have weekend events that include live music.
2025 season-opening date: August 14th, 2025
Offers:
U-pick Apples
Farm Store with baked apple goods
Hard Cider Tastings
Cider donuts
Apple cider slushies
Opens August 17 for end of Summer event. Follow their Instagram for Fall Season schedule that is going to be shared soon.
Wise Acres is a USDA organic produce farm that offers U pick strawberries in mid-April to early June, Sunflowers from June to July, and U pick Pumpkins from mid-September to mid-November.
On location is Wise Pie Pizza to purchase food and drinks.
They offer wagon rides, a barrel train for ages 12 and under, climbing and swinging structures, farm animals to meet, and locally made products for purchase.
Bush N Vine Farm is located in York, SC, just 40 minutes South of Charlotte. The farm is over 150 years old and focuses on producing fresh produce. They offer U pick produce as well as pre-packed produce for purchase.
Fall Season runs the late September to the end of October.
Fall activities include u pick pumpkins, food for purchase, wagon rides, observation bee hive, hiking, and more.
Hours: Monday – Saturday 8 am – 6 pm (pumpkin patch closes at 5 pm)
U Pick Seasons: strawberries (mid-April through May), blueberries (May through July), blackberries, (June through late July), peaches (summer), flowers (June through October), and pumpkins (mid-September through October 31st).
Bush N Vine participates in the Ag and Art Tour that occurs annually throughout SC.
Annual Pumpkin Patch: Early September 2025 Check their Facebook Page for updates.
Hodges Family Farm is located just north of Charlotte’s Uptown and offers goods for purchase, an annual pumpkin patch, weddings and events, an antique tractor show (October), farm tours, and several agility competitions. They also participate in the Davidson Farmers Market.
During fall, there are barnyard animals, hay mountains to play and climb on, picnic areas, and photo opportunities.
Saturdays and Sundays have food for purchase, with weekend parking being $5.
They also offer school field trips during the fall and offer birthday parties.
Note: Pumpkins are field placed.
The Orchard at Altapass
828.467.4282 1025 Orchard Road, Spruce Pine, NC
The Orchard at Altapass offers U-Pick (only certain apple varieties) in late July/early August 2025. They also have the Apple Core Grill onsite and a full calendar of live music throughout the summer and fall. Check their website before you visit!
The Hunter Farm
704.846.7975 13624 Providence Road, Weddington, NC
Fall Season Hours: TBD for 2025
During the fall season, The Hunter Farms offers a variety of fall activities.
Offers:
Wagon rides
Interactive petting barn
Variety of pumpkins for purchase
Market store
Winter Season Opening day is late November 2025
Offers:
Fresh-cut Fraser Fir Christmas trees
Wagon rides
Hot chocolate & beverages
Barn with animals to visit
Letters to Santa mailbox
Holiday store
Hours:
The tree lot is open 7 days a week 9 am – 9 pm and they are open on Thanksgiving Day.
Wagon rides and holiday store hours are available Tuesday – Sunday: 11 am – 7 pm
Santa Experiences at The Petting Barn dates are TBD for 2025
Thomas Family Corn Maze and Pumpkins
20935 NC-73, Albemarle, NC
2025 Season begins September 20th – November 1st, 2025 (weather permitting)
Hours: Friday, 10 am – 6 pm, Saturday 10 am – 6 pm, and Sunday 1 pm – 6 pm
Offers:
- Family-friendly corn maze
- A lot of kids activities (playground, corn pit, cattle cars, jump pillow, hayride, and more)
- Pumpkins and mums
Millstone Creek Orchards
506 Parks Crossroads Church Road, Ramseur, NC
Millstone Creek Orchards is open daily for u-pick with lots of themed weekends throughout the fall with activities.
- bakery
- hayrides
- pumpkin patch in the fall
- u-pick pecans in November
- live music
- animal visits
- U-pick blackberries (June)
- U-pick blueberries (June/July)
- U-pick apples early Augustthe to beginning of September 2025
- Fall orchard tours start in September 2025
No pets allowed. Service animals are allowed but must wear a leash.
Blueberry Thrill Farm offers U-Pick blackberries, blueberries, and tomatoes. They also sell peaches and other produce with occasional u-pick. Visit them select Saturdays in the fall for apples, pumpkins, and muscadines. Dates TBD.
The best way to see what Blueberry Thrill Farm is currently offering is to check the Blueberry Thrill Farm Facebook page.
This farm offers a corn maze every year and tons of fun activities on the farm. Opening day is Friday, September 26th, 2025.
Season runs from September 6th – October 31st, 2025
Be sure to check out this 7-acre corn maze this fall! It’s just one of many exciting activities taking place at Rural Hill. You won’t want to miss out! They are open on weekends only.
Red Wolf Farm is located north of Charlotte in Maiden, NC. They offer special events, field trips, weekend pumpkin patch activities starting in September, and more.
Fall season for 2025 begins September 27th, 2025. It is open Saturdays and Sundays until October 26th.
Fall activities include a corn maze, hayride, a kids corn maze, large play structures for kids, corn “swimming”, inflatables, pumpkin bowling, concessions for purchase, and more.
Hours: 10 am to 6 pm, Saturday and Sunday; school field trips all other days of October.
Admission: $9.00 per person, children 2 and under are free
Hall Family Farm
704.562.4021 info@hallfamilyfarm.com 445 West Rebound Road , Lancaster, SC
Opening for the fall season on September 19th, 2025. Hall Family Farm is a 4th generation farm located in Lancaster, SC just south of Charlotte. The farm offers birthday and group parties, Hall’s Kitchen dining, Fall season events, Spring season events, school tours, and more.
Fall Season: 7-acre corn maze, pumpkin patch ($0.70 cent per pound), hay ride, activities for kids, pedal go-karts, and more. There is no admission fee. There is a corn maze ($11.99 per person ages 3 and up), as well as a kids corn maze ($4.49 per person ages 3 and up). Tent with bonfire rentals are also available starting at $75.00 for 4 hours.
Spring Season: Pre-picked and U-pick strawberries, musical hayride, kids activities, and food/ drink for purchase. Hayrides are $3.50 for ages 3 and older (all ages allowed). They also have gem mining and a kids playground.
Outlaw Acres
704.709.7000 3718 Plyler Mill Road, Monroe, NC
Formerly, Aw Shucks Farms is now Outlaw Acres! They are located in Monroe, NC, just 20 miles from Charlotte. They offer a wild-west themed attraction with a corn maze, pumpkins, live music, shows, and more!
Fall Season runs September 20th through November 2nd, 2025; They are only open Saturdays 11 am to 5 pm and Sundays 12 pm to 5 pm.
Carrigan Farms is a 5th generation farm that specializes in produce, educational tours, special events, and swim parties. Advanced registration is required for U pick seasons.
Fall pumpkin picking begins September, 27th, 2025, and includes a hay ride, petting zoo, and a u-pick pumpkin from the patch. The cost is $15 per person ($5 online deposit + $10 cash at the door).
They also offer a Haunted Trail in October.
Apple picking begins September 2nd, 2025, and includes a hay ride, petting zoo, and a half peck bag for picking apples. The cost is $15 per person ($5 online deposit + $10 cash at the door).
Strawberry picking begins in late April.
Sunflowers bloom in September.
Carrigan farms offers swimming throughout the summer in the quarry. Reservations must be made ahead of time. You can read our Kidding Around review on the quarry.
