September to Thanksgiving
Fall festivals.
Fall is when Franklin's calendar fills up. The county fair opens the season in September, PumpkinFest takes over Main Street in October, and the Gemboree lands as the leaves peak. Most Saturdays until Thanksgiving there's a festival in town or within an hour of it.
This page does two jobs. The first list is what's actually on the calendar this fall, pulled from the same feed as the home page, so it's current. The second is the every-year ones, so you can plan past this weekend.
On the calendar this fall
All events →The every-year ones
September · four days
Macon County Fair
The county's farm fair at the Wayne Proffitt Agricultural Center on Georgia Road: livestock shows, 4-H, giant pumpkins, quilts and baked goods. No midway, just the real thing.
Third Saturday in October
PumpkinFest
Downtown Franklin's big fall day: the Pumpkin Roll, a costume parade for kids and dogs, and about 120 vendors. 9 to 4, rain or shine. The 30th one is Oct 17, 2026.
Late October · three days
Leaf Lookers Gemboree
The fall gem and mineral show at the Carpenter Community Building: dealers with rough and cut stones, jewelry, fossils and lapidary gear. A few dollars to get in, kids free.
First Saturday in October
Colorfest, Dillsboro
A free one-day arts fair on Front Street in Dillsboro, about 25 minutes away: some 40 artists working on the spot, food and live music. Oct 3 in 2026.
A Saturday in mid-October
Apple Harvest Festival, Waynesville
Waynesville's biggest street festival: apple everything, close to 200 craft booths and cloggers on Main Street. The 38th is Oct 17, 2026.
A weekend in October
Cashiers Valley Leaf Festival
A free festival on the Village Green in Cashiers, timed for the color up on the plateau. Oct 9 to 11 in 2026.
Before you go
- Downtown festivals close Main Street and the close-in parking goes early. Park at the edge of downtown and walk the last few blocks.
- Bring some cash. Not every craft or food vendor takes cards.
- October weekends are leaf season. US-64 through the Cullasaja Gorge toward Highlands and Cashiers is slow, so give yourself extra time for anything up the mountain.
- PumpkinFest and Waynesville's Apple Harvest Festival fell on the same Saturday in 2025 and 2026. If you want both, do one in the morning and the other after lunch.
Dates come from the organizers: Experience Franklin · Macon County Fair · Franklin Area Chamber · Visit Haywood County · Cashiers Area Chamber. More of the year on the annual events page.