'Fall' into some great events in Johnston County
Photos courtesy of Carly Fogleman Photography and the Johnston County Visitors Bureau
Festivals 43nd-annual Selma Railroad Days Festival — Set for Friday, Oct. 4 and Saturday, Oct. 5, Railroad Days includes a 5K run, parade, crafts, food, children’s area and even a large model train display at the Selma Train Depot, along with a variety of entertainment.
Bentonville Battlefield’s Fall Festival & Living History Program — There will be demonstrations regarding life on a late 19th century farm and what women and children had to do to maintain the homestead with men away at war on Saturday, Oct. 19.
Wilson’s Mills Pumpkin Festival — Slated for Saturday, Oct. 12, the Pumpkin Festival features retail and craft vendors, lots of children’s activities, a costume contest, face painting, inflatable games, a dunking booth, music and much more.
Smith’s Farm Annual Fall Festival — On Saturday, Oct. 26, you can pick your own pumpkin at the Fall Festival. With a bounce house and farm animals, this is an especially great festival for kids.
Four Oaks Acorn Festival — Set for Saturday, Oct. 12, come out to Downtown Four Oaks for family fun including a children’s carnival, live entertainment, handmade and artisan market, antique car and tractor show, food trucks, business expo and much more.
Clayton Harvest Festival — The annual festival runs from Oct. 30 through Nov. 3. The Clayton Chamber of Commerce’s 2019 Clayton Harvest Festival is fun for all ages. The Midway (carnival rides and games) sponsored by ElectriCities of NC will be open all five days of the festival. It also includes events such as
the Squealin’ on the Square BBQ competition and People’s Choice, the return of the Clayton Idol singing competition, Clayton’s largest vendor fair, a classic car show, concerts, a family movie night, a kid’s hot dog creation contest and a Latin American Festival. Learn more and check for the schedule at ClaytonHarvestFestival.com. Eighth-annual Shindig Music Festival — For beer and bluegrass enthusiasts, Saturday, Nov. 2 will have you sipping and singing along all-day with Americana and Bluegrass genre bands performing on two stages. Find these annual festivals, plus more events and activities, on the Johnston County Visitors Bureau calendar of events as well at johnstoncountync.org/events.
Fall Attractions Clayton Fear Farm (Daytime) — For a bit of non-haunted fun, you can visit this facility on Loop Road near Clayton. Check out hayrides, the pumpkin patch and a 3D adventure in Seymour’s House of Dreams. For more, visit claytonfearfarm. com/daytime. Clayton Fear Farm — When the sun goes down, things get a bit more scary. There’s a haunted hayride, Fear Farm Academy, a haunted cotton maze and much more. To learn more, visit claytonfearfarm.com/home.
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Sonlight Farms — Head on over to Kenly to check out a corn maze, hayride, playground, bounce house, corn crib, 80-foot slide, pedal carts, games and concessions. Farm Daze is set for Oct. 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and there will be farm equipment on display as well as giveaways and crafts for the kids. The Black Out Challenge is from 7-9 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26. This event ($5 admission) gives you the chance to conquer the corn maze at night.
For more information, email sonlightfarmsnc@ gmail.com or call 252-205-5280. Howell Woods — Experience hiking, camping, canoeing, bird watching, hunting, fishing and more at this 2,800-acre natural resource. On Oct. 30, enjoy a “spook-tacular” ride through Howell Woods and search for nocturnal animals such as bats and owls. Register by emailing t_stanforth@ johnstoncc.edu or by calling 919-938-0115. Cost is $5.
