•Stokes Stomp, Sept. 10–11 Danbury, N.C.—The Stomp Festival is held in Moratock Park each September on the riverbanks of the Dan River in Danbury, N.C., where crafters, musicians and vendors gather to celebrate the river and the arts. The festival offers crafts, food, music, kayaking demonstrations, children’s activities and more. Stokes Stomp is held on Saturday, Sept. 10 from 10:30 a.m. until 7:15 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 11 from 11:15 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. Admission is free. For more information about Stokes Stomp, go to stokesarts.org or call 336-593-8159.

•Mountain Heritage Festival, Sept. 17, 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Sparta, NC—The Mountain Heritage Festival is for the craft lover with music, food, crafts, children’s activities, antique cars, farm equipment, and the crowning of the Possum Queen. Expert expositions of all kinds are demonstrated including cider pressing, chain-saw carving, blacksmithing, old-fashioned corn meal grinding, and Christmas tree decorating. The Mountain Heritage Festival is on Saturday, September 17 from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Admission is free. For festival information, visit http://www.sparta-nc.com/mhf.aspx or call 800-372-5473.

•Mayberry Days, Sept. 22-25—Visitors from across the country will flock to Mount Airy this September for a four-day celebration of yesteryear known as the Mayberry Days. It allows fans of The Andy Griffith Show to enjoy a glimpse of life in that nostalgic place known as “Mayberry,” while tracing the footsteps of Mount Airy’s most famous son. Several actors from the show will make appearances. The list includes Betty Lynn, who played Barney Fife’s girlfriend “Thelma Lou,” as well as Doug Dillard and Maggie Peterson, who held the roles of “Doug Darling” and “Charlene Darling.” James Best (“Jim Lindsey”) will also be on hand. For info on the 22nd annual Mayberry Days Festival, call 336-786-7998 or go to: www.mayberrydays.org. For lodging availability, go to: www.mayberryhotels.com.

•Yadkin Valley Pumpkin Festival, Sept. 24 Elkin, N.C.—Pumpkin growers from far and wide come to Elkin each year to compete for the “heavyweight title” in several categories for growing produce. This festival is an official weigh-off for the Great Pumpkin Common Wealth, a national body overseeing competitions in giant pumpkin and vegetable growing. Last year, the festival weighed in a massive watermelon at about 275 pounds that was featured on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Show that broke the world record for watermelons. The festival features craft vendors, children’s activities, pie-eating contest, and food. Admission is free. For more information about the Pumpkin Festival, visit yadkinvalley.org/festivals-events/pumpkin-festival or call 336-526-1111.

•Brushy Mountain Apple Festival, Oct. 1, 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. North Wilkesboro, N.C.—Over 160,000 people visit this one-day arts and craft festival. Created to celebrate the apple harvest from the nearby Brushy Mountains, the Brushy Mountain Apple features over 100 food concessions, 400 art and craft vendors, and four large music stages. All of the crafts and exhibits are designed to display the unique heritage and culture of the southern Appalachian Mountains. The Apple Festival will be held on Saturday, Oct. 1, from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. Admission is free. For more detailed information regarding the festival, contact the Brushy Mountain Ruritan Club at 336-984-3022 or visit applefestival.net.

•Yadkin Valley Grape Festival, Oct. 15, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Yadkinville, N.C.—This festival features over 25 wineries from the Yadkin Valley, an American Viticulture Area located in the northwest corner of North Carolina. The event also offers live entertainment, food, children’s activities, chili cook-off, and motorcycle ride to benefit the Hospice of Yadkin County. The festival is designed to showcase grapes and wines produced in the Yadkin Valley Appellation – consisting of Surry, Yadkin, Wilkes, parts of Stokes, Forsyth, Davidson and Davie counties. The festival will be held on Oct. 15, from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. For more information about the Yadkin Valley Grape Festival, visit yvgf.com or call 336-679-2200.

•Autumn Leaves Festival, Oct. 14 – 16 Mount Airy, N.C.—Locals in the nostalgic place known as Mayberry enjoy experiencing a three-day festival in downtown Mount Airy. Mayberry’s downtown is alive with music, food and art. This popular event celebrates the area’s rich musical heritage with nationally renowned local musicians performing bluegrass, old-time and gospel music. Hours are Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call 800-948-0949 or visit AutumnLeavesFestival.com.

•Historic Mount Airy Ghost Tours Mount Airy, N.C.—The Mount Airy Museum of Regional History combines history with a bit of mystery with its newest program, Historic Mount Airy Ghost Tours. The tours are held every Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. through Oct. 22. This lantern-lit walking tour lasts 90 minutes through downtown Mount Airy. Visitors will hear about 13 of Mount Airy’s “less-mortal” friends and some of their final resting places. Tour reservations are $10 per person and can be made at northcarolinamuseum.org or by calling 336-786-4478.

•Wilkes Candlelight Ghost Tours Wilkesboro, N.C.—Historic Wilkesboro is said to be haunted by a variety of locales, and every year, folks check for themselves during the Wilkes Candlelight Ghost Tours. Local historians tour spectators through the town, peeking into the Old Wilkes Jail, the Robert Cleveland house, the Brown-Cowles cabin, the English Cottage, the Hubbard Home, and The Smithy Hotel. Visitors will hear tales of Tom Dooly, paranormal investigations, apparitions of ghosts in town, and sounds in the cemetery. Admission for the Candlelight Ghost Tour is $7 for adults. Children under 5 are admitted free. Purchase tickets at the museum or by calling 336-667-3171. Tour times are 7:30 p.m., 8 p.m., 8:30 p.m., and 9 p.m.