October apparently didn’t need any time to warm up.

This weekend’s calendar is packed, and Saturday is especially busy. Before you start making plans, though, we have two Featured Events happening October 3 that we want to tell you about.

Featured Event: Oktoberfest!!

Beer, music and food. That’s a pretty solid Saturday.

Liquid Roots Brewing is celebrating Oktoberfest on Saturday, October 3 from 2–10 p.m. in Lenoir, with the release of its 2026 Oktoberfest beer mugs, Oktoberfest beers, games and prizes throughout the day.

The Tri Tippin Food Truck will be serving from 4:30–8:30 p.m., and Soul Watt takes over the live music from 6–9 p.m.

Grab some friends and make an afternoon—or an evening—of it.

[View Oktoberfest Details →]

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Featured Event: True Que: Farm to Fork Heritage Pork BBQ Dinner & Competition

Farm-raised heritage pork. Four competition barbecue teams. One Saturday afternoon.

True Que: Farm to Fork Heritage Pork BBQ Dinner & Competition happens Saturday, October 3 beginning at 4 p.m. at True Cut Ranch in Claremont.

Four competition barbecue teams will prepare farm-raised heritage pork, with plenty of sides and dessert to go along with it. Guests can meet the teams, learn more about the farm and see what happens when local agriculture meets competition barbecue.

Tickets are $50 per person, and seating is available at picnic tables in Creekview or at tables and chairs in the big party tent. There’s also an early-access option available at checkout for guests who want to arrive at 3 p.m.

And not only is there amazing food, they’re giving away some pretty great door prizes, too.

[View True Que Details & Get Tickets →]

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Buzz Briefs

First Things First: Coffee.

Thursday, October 1 is International Coffee Day.

Which seems like a perfectly reasonable way to begin a new month.

We’re not telling you where to get yours. We’re just suggesting that if October requires caffeine, there’s now an official excuse.

Here’s Something to Smile About

Friday, October 2 is World Smile Day, a celebration that traces back to Harvey Ball, the graphic designer who created the familiar yellow smiley face in 1963.

The idea behind the day is pretty simple: do something kind and help someone smile.

We can get behind that.

[Check out the history behind World Smile Day →]

Sunday Comes With Cinnamon Rolls

As if we needed another reason to like Sunday, October 4 is Cinnamon Roll Day—a celebration that began in Sweden in 1999.

We’re going to assume calories consumed in honor of an international tradition don’t count.

Have a Buzz Brief?

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

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.

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Now, About This Weekend…

There’s a lot happening Thursday through Sunday, and Saturday is especially packed.

Rather than trying to choose for you, we’re going to let the calendar do its job. Scroll through, see what catches your eye, and click any event for all the details.

Your weekend starts on the Buzz.

Thursday, October 1

All DayNewton Restaurant Week

3:00 pm – 7:00 pmShowcasing Burke: Around the World

4:00 pm – 7:00 pmNewton Farmers Market

4:30 pm – 5:30 pmLittle Strummers Ukelele Class – Afternoon Session

5:30 pm – 7:30 pmClassic Films with Joe Barrett

5:30 pm – 6:30 pmFactory String Band

6:00 pm – 7:00 pmRidgeview Chess

6:30 pm – 8:30 pmCarolina Style Chorus open rehearsals Thursday nights

6:30 pm – 8:15 pmExtending Hope to Parents of Prodigal Children with Mary DeMuth

8:00 pm – 11:00 pmCarolina Furfare

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Friday, October 2

All DayNewton Restaurant Week

10:00 am – 6:00 pmThe Caldwell Chamber’s Fall Golf Classic

12:00 pm – 2:00 pmNeedle Felting Workshop with Millie Hefner

2:00 pm – 4:00 pmZen Den

3:00 pm – 6:00 pmMahjong At The Marina Meet-Up

5:00 pm – 7:00 pmOctober First Friday Art Hop in Downtown Newton

5:00 pm – 8:00 pmFarm Fridays at Whippoorwill Farm

6:00 pm – 10:00 pmMyra’s Friday Night Cruise-In

7:00 pm – 10:00 pmOpen Mic at Fonta Flora – Morganton

7:00 pm – 11:00 pmLake Hickory Haunts 2026 – Celebrating 15 Years of Fear!

7:00 pm – 11:00 pmPetty Rewind

7:30 pm – 9:30 pmCome From Away

7:30 pm – 9:30 pmHenry IV Part I

8:00 pm – 11:00 pmCarolina Furfare

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Saturday, October 3

8:00 am – 1:00 pmHickory Farmers Market

All DayNewton Restaurant Week

9:00 am – 1:00 pmTaylorsville Farmers Market

10:00 am – 3:00 pm13th Annual Autolawn Euro Classic Car Show

10:00 am – 3:00 pmAdoption Event Partners For Cats Rescue

10:00 am – 12:00 pmBrunch with Chris Day

10:00 am – 6:00 pmRed Wolf Farm- Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze

12:00 pm – 5:00 pmCiao Hickory Italian Festival 2026

1:00 pm – 4:00 pmEverything Is A Puppet!

2:00 pm – 5:00 pmLenoir-Rhyne Football vs. Carson-Newman

2:00 pm – 10:00 pmOktoberfest!!

3:00 pm – 4:00 pmHickory Spanish Club

4:00 pm – 8:00 pmTrue Que: Farm to Fork Heritage Pork BBQ Dinner & Competition

4:00 pm – 6:00 pmLake & Life Cruises

5:30 pm – 10:00 pmClassy & Camo Gala

6:00 pm – 10:00 pmDenim & Diamonds 2026

6:30 pmRicky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder

7:00 pmCoMMA presents Spirit of New Orleans: A Soulful Celebration with The Fabulous Equinox Orchestra

7:00 pm – 11:00 pmLake Hickory Haunts 2026 – Celebrating 15 Years of Fear!

7:30 pm – 9:30 pmDirty Deeds – The AC/DC Experience

7:30 pm – 9:30 pmCome From Away

7:30 pm – 9:30 pmHenry IV Part I

8:00 pm – 11:00 pmCarolina Furfare

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Sunday, October 4

All DayNewton Restaurant Week

10:00 am – 6:00 pmRed Wolf Farm- Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze

1:00 pm – 4:00 pmNFL Watch Party

2:00 pm – 4:00 pmJAZZ LEGACY Concert Series

4:00 pm – 6:00 pmLake & Life Cruises

6:00 pm – 11:00 pmSavannah Dexter

8:00 pm – 11:00 pmCarolina Furfare