5 minute read
Fall into Festivals This Season
Fall into Festivals This Season
BY: RACHEL DUQUETTE
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Cooler weather and crisp mornings, burnt orange leaves, apple pie, hayrides, pumpkin spice and everything nice! The sweet and cozy scent of the fall orchard candles fills the air and the scarecrows are in the ground. It is that time of year again! Autumn has arrived and so have the fun-filled Fall festivities. There are a wide variety of activities and events to attend that help usher in the new season. Whether it is a school or church fall festival, trunkor-treating, trips to the pumpkin patch, the Renaissance Festival, or just hanging seasonal decorations around the house, it is easy to feel, and smell, when Fall is in the air.
There are a few local Fall Festivals and events happening in the Cabarrus region that will have even the warmest of weather lovers happy Summer is over. Not only are these events packed with a memorable time and unique finds, they are also family friendly.
The Carolina Expo brings together vendors of many varieties in one event.
Photo Courtesy: Carolina Expo
Custom Jewelry, like these earrings, can be found at Christmas Made in the South
Photo Courtesy: Christmas Made in the South
Carolina Expo
October 12-13 at Concord Mills
—Lisa Harris, Butterfly Bakeshop LLC
Photo Courtesy: Carolina Expo
Photo Courtesy: Carolina Expo
Concord Mills is a great place to spend the weekend, but it will be even better, October 12 and 13. During regular mall hours, Carolina Expo will have 25 local small business owners showcasing their crafts, services, and merchandise. The vendors will vary from handmade jewelry and accessories, fashion stands, health and wellness and baked goods.
Nadine Ayinuana, organizer and manager of Carolina Fall Expo, shared, “Our mission at Carolina Fall Expo is to empower entrepreneurs and give them a chance to promote their small business.”
This is the second year Carolina Fall Expo will be held at Concord Mills. There are up to 25 vendors, which are all small businesses located in North Carolina. Concord Mills the mall with the highest traffic in the area, which Ayinuana mentioned as the primary reason it is playing host to the Carolina Expo.
“My favorite part of this event is seeing the vendors be able to connect with customers and inspire others. Since these are small businesses, they may not start having the best communication skills, but this event helps them be able to engage with their customers now. My focus is to embrace entrepreneurs; I don’t want to just be the organizer, I am their manager too because I try to help them become better.”, said Ayinuana.
A reappearing baked goods vendor, Butterfly Bakeshop LLC, will be offering traditional and sugarfree baked goods, custom orders, decorated cakes, pound cake, layer cake, cupcakes, pastries, bread, and there will even be gluten-free options available.
The owner of Butterfly Bakeshop LLC, Lisa Harris, said, “I always love getting to know my current customers better (at Carolina Fall Expo), meeting new people, and building new relationships.”
This is Harris’ second time working with the Carolina Fall Expo and says they are expecting a large turnout at Concord Mills this year.
This event is free to the public. The first 50 customers to register for the Expo will receive a free “Swag Bag” filled with free goodies from the vendors. There will also be free product samples, raffles, giveaways, and more
Christmas Made in the South
October 25-27 at The Cabarrus Arena and Events Center,
A perfect event for families and children of all ages, at this show you will find fine arts and crafts which features the work of over 300 master artists and makers. Not only will you find Santa here, but there are toymakers, wooden crafted cars, clothes and jewelry that are a hit with children. It is a juried event, meaning artists must apply and be present at the show all three days.
Christmas Made in the South began within a family. Russ Hunt, executive director and son of the show’s founder, shared the story behind Christmas Made in the South and why it is so special.
“Our show here started in a church, actually in Charlotte. My mother, Janice Hunt, was a crafter and got some of her fellow talented friends together and had the first show with about 75 artists and crafters. After that, we grew to the (old) Charlotte Convention Center, moved to the new Charlotte Convention Center and then moved out to The Cabarrus Arena and Events Center, due to the horrible parking and price for parking in downtown Charlotte. We moved to The Cabarrus Arena and Events Center 15 years ago and our attendance jumped 30 percent and the show still is growing!”, said Hunt.
There is expected to be anywhere from 15,000 to 18,000 people throughout the three days, which is the average attendance over the past several years at the Cabarrus Arena location. Not only is the show held in Concord, but in five other locations as well that include Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida.
Don't forget to visit Santa at this year's Christmas Made in the South
Photo Courtesy: Christmas Made in the South
“We find that, in an age of computers, people desire interaction with artists to hear their stories and watch them work. There are live demonstrations and one-of-a-kind items at this show that you cannot find online, only at Christmas Made in the South.”, Hunt also added. “The support from the communities we go into is astounding and a joy to see.”
In this mass-produced generation of computers, video games, cell phones and tablets, this show teaches children the importance of preserving time-tested artistic techniques. A new appreciation for the finer things in life can be developed by watching just one craft demonstration. As the children watch living, breathing artists form the work to which they have dedicated their lives, their own imaginations and creative spirits have a chance to awaken.
There are skilled craftspeople, outstanding art, unique gourmet food, and diverse entertainment; handmade, one-of-akind designs populate the booths that fill the festival. From leather and silk wearables to fabric bags, from glass jewelry to close-up photography of nature’s creatures. This is another local Fall festival worth attending.
Christmas Made in the South will be held at the Cabarrus Arena and Events Center on October 25, 26, and 27, 2019. You can visit www.madeinthesouthshows. com for more information on showtimes and ticket prices.
Hops and Heat Beer and Chili Festival
(Editor's Note: This event was cancelled after our October issue had gone to press. Therefore, the segment about this event has been removed. You may read it in the October, '19 print edition.)
