Get ready for an action-packed weekend at the highly anticipated Historic Morganton Festival, presented by UNC Health Blue Ridge, returning to downtown Morganton on Sept. 8-9. This thrilling festival promises to be an unforgettable experience, offering a wide array of activities for all ages.
Spanning nine blocks of downtown streets, the festival will showcase over 250 vendors, each offering a diverse range of crafts. From handmade art and jewelry to woodworking, pottery, soap, candles, and more, there’s something for everyone. The festival also boasts free entertainment across three stages, ensuring there’s never a dull moment.
Food lovers will be delighted by the mouth-watering festival food favorites available from the various food and beverage vendors. From gyros and BBQ to chicken on a stick, egg rolls, roasted corn on the cob, funnel cakes, and ice cream, there’s no shortage of delicious treats to satisfy your cravings.
For families with children, the festival offers the popular Kids Zone and Teen Zone. The Kids Zone features ticketed rides and games, as well as a free craft area known as Litter Critters for children in fifth grade and below. As a special addition this year, the free KidZone Stage will showcase performances from magicians and an awe-inspiring dinosaur. Teens and adults can enjoy the Teen Zone where they can test their skills on Jacob’s Ladder, the Wild West Mechanical Bull, the Volcano Island Rock Climbing Wall, and the Pedestal Joust.
Throughout the festival, visitors can enjoy live music performances at the Courthouse Square Stage by Lucas Jagneaux & the Roadshow, winners of the Texas Music Songwriter award, and The Red Clay Strays, who recently performed at Lollapalooza and toured with Dierks Bentley and Molly Tuttle. These bands are sure to energize the crowd with their vibrant sounds.
On Saturday, the festival continues with a full day of shopping and entertainment starting at 9 a.m. Visitors can explore an array of crafts, including yard art, baskets, crafted toys, wines, carvings, plants, pottery, and an extensive selection of jewelry. Throughout the day, there will be performances from local troupes on the Pepsi Stage and KidZone Stage, providing continuous entertainment for the entire family.
The festival culminates with evening performances at the Courthouse Square Stage. REV ON The Foreigner Experience will take the stage at 7 p.m., playing classic hits from the rock legends Foreigner. The festival will conclude with a performance by Bohemian Queen from 8:30-10 p.m., delivering an energetic set featuring globally known classics from the iconic band Queen.
The Historic Morganton Festival is an animal-free event that will take place rain or shine. With its wide range of activities, diverse crafts, delicious food, and incredible entertainment, this festival promises to be an unforgettable experience for visitors of all ages. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to create lasting memories at the Historic Morganton Festival on September 8-9 in downtown Morganton.
For more information and a complete listing of all the events, including the Courthouse Square Stage, Pepsi Stage, KidZone Stage, Little Miss Historic Morganton Pageant, and more, visit the festival’s website at www.morgantonfest.org or call 828-438-5252.
