This Weekend May Require Some Decisions. We Have Ideas.

This Weekend Is Packed

If you’ve been looking for something to do this weekend, you picked a good one.

Festivals, theater, live music, farmers markets, robots, football, wrestling, a symphony, the beginning of haunt season—and even a Wedding Expo. There’s a little bit of everything happening throughout the area.

We’ve pulled out a few things that caught our attention, but this is definitely a week to keep scrolling for the complete calendar.

There are a lot of choices to make.

Hickory Wedding Expo

Wedding planning can mean a lot of Googling, scrolling, emailing and trying to figure out who’s out there.

On Sunday, the Hickory Wedding Expo brings local wedding professionals together at the Hickory Metro Convention Center from 12–4 p.m.

Couples can meet photographers, venues, and other wedding vendors face-to-face, gather ideas and hopefully check a few things off that wedding-planning list. PLUS – there will be cake samples!

Price: FREE

It’s a Big Weekend for the Arts

You could practically build your entire weekend around the performing arts.

This weekend’s calendar includes Come From Away, A Chorus Line, Hickory Ballet & Performing Arts’ Imagine a Dragon, and Foothills Pops’ Symphony of the Shire.

Add in the Sails Original Music Series, Music at the Marina and other live performances, and you’ve got plenty of options.

Pick one—or make an arts weekend out of it.

Morganton Festival Is Back

The 44th Annual Morganton Festival takes over Downtown Morganton Friday and Saturday with live music, food, local vendors and family fun.

This year’s music lineup includes Purple Madness, a Prince tribute band, along with plenty more happening throughout the festival.

If Morganton Festival is an annual tradition for you, it’s time. If you’ve never been, you’ll find all the details in the calendar below.

Robots, STEM & a Very Busy Saturday

Saturday may require some decisions.

Hickory Bot Battles continues for a second day, and SPARK: A STEM Career Showcase gives students an opportunity to explore careers in science, technology, engineering and math.

Then there are farmers markets, classes, brunch, ballet, live music, wrestling, theater, the symphony…

Oh, and Lake Hickory Haunts is back.

Like we said: Saturday may require some decisions.

Keep scrolling. You’re going to want the full calendar for this one.

Buzz Briefs

Remembering September 11

Tomorrow marks 25 years since the September 11 attacks.

We pause to remember the lives lost, the families forever changed, and the first responders and others who stepped forward that day.

Here’s One to Plan Ahead For

A Farm-to-Table Wine Dinner at Redbird Ridge Estate is coming later this month, and this is one you’ll want to plan for ahead of time.

Enjoy a special evening built around farm-to-table food and wine in a beautiful setting. Tickets are available now, so take a look at the details and reserve your spot.

Learn More & Get Tickets

Lake Hickory Haunts Is Back

Apparently September isn’t wasting any time getting spooky.

Lake Hickory Haunts is celebrating 15 Years of Fear, and the 2026 season gets underway this weekend.

If haunted attractions are your thing, it might be time to start making those fall plans.

See Details

Okay, What Are You Doing This Weekend?

We weren’t kidding when we said this weekend was packed.

Maybe you’re heading to Morganton Festival. Maybe you’re catching a show. Maybe robots are more your speed. You could visit a farmers market, hear some live music, get an early start on Halloween, or spend Sunday planning a wedding.

And those are just the highlights.

Keep scrolling for the complete list of events happening Thursday through Sunday. Click anything that catches your eye for all the details.

Then go have some fun.