Make the Most of Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day weekend is here, and if you’re lucky enough to have an extra day off, there are plenty of ways to put it to good use.

From art and fair food to football, baseball and live music, there’s a lot happening throughout the area this weekend.

We’ve pulled out a few things that caught our attention. Then keep scrolling for the complete list of events happening Thursday through Labor Day Monday.

It’s an Artsy Weekend

Art lovers have some especially good reasons to get out this weekend.

Friday brings the September First Friday Art Hop in Downtown Newton

This weekend also marks the grand reopening of the Hickory Museum of Art following its major renovation.

The museum will host a Grand Reopening Preview Party Saturday evening, followed by a free Grand Reopening & Ribbon Cutting Celebration Sunday afternoon.

You’ll find even more creative options on the calendar, including open studio pottery, collage night, felting classes, A Chorus Line and live music.

Bring on the Fair Food

Here’s another sure sign that September has arrived: the Hickory American Legion Fair is back.

The fair is underway and continues through Labor Day Monday, giving you several chances to fit in the rides, games, fair food and all the other traditions that come with a trip to the fair.

And that’s just one way to spend the long weekend. Keep scrolling—we’ve got events happening throughout the area all the way through Monday.

Baseball, Football & Live Music

Sports fans have plenty to choose from.

The Hickory Crawdads are home against the Fayetteville Woodpeckers throughout the weekend, and Lenoir-Rhyne Football takes on West Alabama Saturday afternoon.

More interested in music? Check the calendar for live performances, including the Sails Original Music Series, Original Music Night and Music at the Marina.

There’s a lot happening. The hardest part may be deciding what makes the weekend itinerary.

More Anytime Fun

Don’t feel like planning your day around a particular time?

That’s exactly why we created Anytime Fun, and we’ve been busy adding even more parks, historical sites and other places to explore throughout the area.

The idea is simple:

The Events Calendar answers: “What’s happening?”

Anytime Fun answers: “What can we do?”

Pick a park. Explore some local history. Visit a museum. Find someplace you’ve driven past a hundred times but never actually stopped to see.

Check out Anytime Fun!

Buzz Briefs

Why Do We Celebrate Labor Day?

Labor Day became a federal holiday in 1894 as a celebration of American workers and their contributions.

More than 130 years later, it also marks the unofficial end of summer—and gives many of us one last long weekend to enjoy it.

Save the Date: Morganton Fest

Morganton Fest returns September 11 & 12 in Downtown Morganton with live music, good food, local vendors and family fun.

This year’s music lineup includes Purple Madness, a Prince tribute band, so go ahead and put this one on the calendar for next weekend.

Save the Date: Hickory Wedding Expo

The Hickory Wedding Expo returns to the Hickory Metro Convention Center on Sunday, September 13.

Engaged couples can meet local wedding professionals face-to-face, gather ideas and make some progress on that wedding-planning checklist.

Even better, free tickets are currently available when you register online.

Get tickets

Wedding Pros: There’s Still Time

There’s still time for businesses serving the wedding industry to be part of the Hickory Wedding Expo on September 13.

Vendor spaces remain available for wedding venues, photographers, bakers, beauty professionals and other businesses interested in getting in front of engaged couples who are actively planning their weddings.

Learn more

Have a Buzz Brief?

Opening a new business? Celebrating an anniversary? Launching something new? Have a community announcement or something interesting happening around town?

We’d love to hear about it.

Hit Reply or email hello@hickorybuzz.com and tell us what’s happening. Your announcement could be featured in a future Buzz Brief.

Now, Let’s Make Some Plans

That’s just a taste of what’s happening over the long weekend.

Keep scrolling for the complete list of events happening Thursday through Labor Day Monday.

We’ve got farmers markets, classes, sports, music, art, theater, the fair and plenty more. Find something that sounds good, click through for the details, and go enjoy your long weekend.

And remember, the calendar isn’t the only place to look. Anytime Fun is there anytime you’re asking yourself, “What could we go do today?”

Enjoy the long weekend!