This weekend, enjoy plenty of fall festivities, whether it’s carving pumpkins with the family, listening to live performances or exploring a haunted house
Compiled by Anna Southwell
ALL WEEKEND
Fall on the Farm
Smith’s Family Fun Farm in Hillsborough opens its farm to the public for fall-only activities like exploring the sunflower maze, taking a turn at a “giant” slide, riding a hay wagon ride and carving/decorating pumpkins. It’s open Thursday-Friday, 3-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Sunday, noon-6 p.m.
Pumpkin Carving with Goats
Spring Haven Farm offers pumpkin carving with goats in its pasture all weekend long. (Pumpkins and carving tools will be sterilized after each use.) There will also be opportunities to feed animals, ride the tractor train, explore a haunted house and meet a fortune teller. Tickets for Thursday are still available, but Friday-Sunday tickets are sold out.
THURSDAY
Occaneechi Ghost Stories
Hosted by the Orange County Historical Museum, this virtual event features Lawrence Dunmore, a historian for the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation and professional storyteller. He will share ghost stories that have been told for generations among the Occaneechi starting at 7 p.m.
FRIDAY
Photography Exhibition
Art gallery Oneoneone opens the second volume of its Contemporary Series featuring artists from North Carolina. This iteration will feature the work of Ben Alper from Carrboro, Jimmy Fountain from Chapel Hill and New York, and Lindsey Metievier from Carrboro. The exhibition will be on display through the end of November, and viewings are available by appointment.
FRIDAY AND SUNDAY
Virtual Haunted Hillsborough Tour
The Alliance for Historic Hillsborough hosts its virtual “Streams and Screams Tour” at 6:30 p.m. on both Friday and Sunday evening, covering the sights, sounds and scares of haunted Hillsborough history. Sites covered will include the Roulhac-Hamilton House and William Hooper‘s gravesite in the Old Town Cemetery, led by a virtual tour guide.
SATURDAY
Frog Eating Contest
Eat The Frog Fitness, a new small group fitness studio, hosts a contest and open house starting at 7:30 a.m. The morning features fitness challenges, outdoor activities and healthy food vendors. It also includes raffles, refreshments and tours of the studio.
Eno River Farmers Market
The Eno River Farmers Market reopens to the public this weekend starting Saturday at 10 a.m. in downtown Hillsborough. The market offers locally produced, farm-fresh vegetables and fruit, cheese, pasture-raised meat and eggs, wood-fired baked goods, prepared foods and crafts from local growers and producers. It will also feature live music, gardeners, arts and crafts activities and chef demonstrations.
Live Music with a Food Truck
Botanist & Barrel in Cedar Grove hosts local musician, singer and guitarist Jacob Morris at 3 p.m. His show will be accompanied by a visit from Bo’s Kitchen, an authentic Korean food truck, at the tasting room picnic area.
Halloween Bingo for Burwell
The Burwell School Historic Site hosts a virtual benefit night starting at 7 p.m., which includes bingo, music, trivia and interactive contests. Get in the spirit and dress up in a costume! Their team will be giving a prize for the best one.
SUNDAY
Empty Bowls Fundraiser
This year, instead of attendees gathering together in one location, TABLE’s eighth annual fundraiser will be a “to-go” event. Remaining true to the tradition, meal purchasers will be able to choose from several different soup offerings that can be ordered in servings of two or four. There will also be vegetarian and gluten-free options available. All orders will be packaged in environmentally-friendly to-go containers, and purchasers will sign up for a time between 4-7:30 p.m. for curbside pickup at the new Market & Moss restaurant in Southern Village.