Festive Fall Show in Great Smoky Mountains

Not only do the Smoky Mountains explode with beautiful color in the fall, the small North Carolina town of Bryson City itself puts on a festive fall show, too.

Colorful fall flowers and scarecrows hang out on the streets mixing with the beautiful fall foliage changes. You can go for a hayride, visit a pumpkin patch and a corn maze, hear ghost stories and legends, sample some award-winning chili, fish some trophy waters, sample local produce at the Friday Farmers Market, watch artisans create one-of-a-kind arts and crafts, and more.

Festivals dot the calendar every weekend with several harvest festivals ending with the Great Pumpkin Pursuit race down the Nantahala River.

Music fills the crisp, mountain air in October – free concerts on Saturdays at the train depot, old-time music jam at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, and The Inspirations Gospel "Singing in the Smokies”.

There's fun for the whole family on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad's Pumpkin Patch Express and Leaf-Looker Train Rides; and you can travel by train to Dillsboro, NC for the WNC Pottery Festival, a unique combination vendor sale and "clay olympics" with lots of entertainment.

To learn more, take a look at Bryson City’s Fall Events.

The most often-asked question from people planning an autumn trip to the Great Smoky Mountains is: "When will the color peak?" The truth is, with the wide variety of trees, elevations and microclimates in the Smokies, the leaf season can last up to six weeks. Depending upon the timing of the first frost, the peak of fall color should arrive during the second week of October in the higher elevations, and during the third week of October in the mid-elevations.

No matter when you visit the Smokies in the fall, you should be able to find beautiful leaf color.

For more information about top events in North Carolina take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in North Carolina

A Festive Autumn in Massachusetts

For New Englanders and visitors alike, the changing colours of the leaves to vibrant oranges, reds and browns in the fall are the highlight of the year. Celebrate this visually striking season at festivals throughout Massachusetts and take advantage of falling rates at select hotels and resorts.

The cranberry is Massachusetts' number one agricultural crop and two of the more juicy events are The Milestone Cranberry Bog and the Nantucket Foundation’s 11th Annual Cranberry Festival, Nantucket on October 12 and the Cranberry Harvest Celebration, Wareham on October 12 and 13.

One of the oldest oyster guidelines instructs one to eat only oysters during the months that include the letter “r”. As October fits the bill, what better month to celebrate the Wellfleet Oysterfest at Wellfleet, Cape Cod on October 19 and 20? Once you are full on these little bivalves, visit the booths of more than 75 artisans, enjoy live music and kids activities like face painting and moonbounces. Continue onto an oyster reef tour, a nature walk or act as a spectator at the Annual Oyster Shuck-off Competition. Then it’s back to more oysters at the 12 raw bars at the festival. 

The Paradise City Arts Festival, Northampton on October 12 and 13 showcases the works of some of America’s most prominent craftsmen and artists. It is also home to one of the largest digital image libraries of contemporary craft in the world. At this year’s festival, 275 competitively juried artists from 24 states exhibit original works in ceramics, painting, decorative fiber, art glass and more. Cavernous barns transformed into elegant exhibition halls to host this festival. Admission: $13. 

Visit the studios of 21 artists open throughout the weekend of October 12 to 14 during the Cape Ann Artists Open Studio. Cape Ann Artisans are part of a vibrant community, located along the scenic North Shore of Massachusetts that includes three important cultural districts. For the past two years Gloucester has been named one of the country’s top ten art destinations by American Style Magazine. 

For activities and travel ideas visit www.massvacation.ca. 

For more information about top events in Massachusetts take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Massachusetts.