LOCAL HAPPENINGS: Fall festival, an open house at the library, and the Ghostwalk on tap for this week.

THIS WEEK

Fall Festival returns to Asheboro Saturday

ASHEBORO — See the return of all the things you know and love: Crafts, food vendors, family fun and more at the 51st Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 3, in the cordoned off streets of downtown Asheboro, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

The inaugural Fall Festival was held in 1972, including just over 30 vendors, and was located solely on Sunset Avenue in Downtown Asheboro.

The festival is a fundraiser for the Randolph Arts Council, which focuses on the promotion of artists who are dedicated to making their own creations. 

Everything you see to eat or buy is made by the same individuals who are selling to you, giving you a chance to shop local, eat and have fun across the historic Downtown Asheboro while helping out your neighbors and neighboring organizations.

The Randolph Arts Council website says a 2026 vendor map will be available online at https://randolphartscouncil.org/fall-festival.

Want to see what’s in the library’s Randolph Room? Open house Oct. 6

ASHEBORO — The Randolph Room, the local history and genealogy department of the Randolph County Public Libraries, invites the public to an open house celebrating Family History and Archives Month, on Tuesday, Oct. 6, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Asheboro Public Library, 201 Worth St.

The open house will showcase the Randolph Room’s extensive physical and digital local history and genealogy resources, from family surname files, yearbooks, maps, books, microfilm and photographs to online tools such as Ancestry, HeritageQuest and locally-created Revolutionary War research databases.

Also on display will be archival works-in-progress to help viewers understand the processes librarians use to preserve historical material, and how those processes can be adapted for use at home with family memorabilia.

A scavenger hunt will let participants test their sleuthing abilities, and door prizes will be awarded. Stop by and stay a while, or just take a walk through. All ages are welcome.

For more information, call 336-318-6815.

Historic Downtown Asheboro Ghostwalk celebrates 10 years

ASHEBORO  — What do chilly October winds, eerie (TRUE) tales about our beloved downtown Asheboro, orange leaves and an evening walk mean? 

It means it is time for the 10th consecutive year of the Historic Downtown Asheboro Ghostwalk to commence!  Ten years of haunting/historic tales being told by a talented cast of actors.

Enjoy an hour-long theatrical guided tour with the Historic Downtown Asheboro Ghostwalk crew. This is a one-mile route in which historically researched (eerie) stories are recreated by actors portraying various folks from Asheboro’s long ago past. 

Tours begin each evening at the Asheboro Cultural & Recreation Services building at 241 Sunset Avenue.

The dates and times for this season of ghostwalks are Oct. 6, 13, 20 and 27 with shows at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. each night.  These ghostwalks are recommended for thrill-seekers ages 13 and over.

Tickets for this unique and spooky event are $20 each. 

Shop online for your tickets at http://SunsetTheatre.org or buy in person at the Asheboro Cultural & Recreation Services office at 241 Sunset Ave. Phone 336-625-1240 for more information.

Walk, hike destinations for Week 1 of Fitness Challenge

The six-week Mayor’s Fitness Challenge begins this week with a walk on Saturday, Oct. 3, on the Archdale Creekside Park Greenway and a hike on Sunday to Little Long Mountain in the Uwharrie National Forest. Mayor Lewis Dorsett of the City of Archdale will be leading this walk at Creekside Park, beginning at 9 a.m. Gather at the Senior Center parking on the right of the Park entrance. For Sunday’s hike, meet at 1:30 p.m. at the Farmer’s Market in Asheboro, 134 S. Church St., or at 2 p.m. at the Joe Moffit Trailhead, 998 Thayer Road near the Randolph/ Montgomery county line. Join Jim Plant for a steep but short hike to the top where you can experience almost a 360-degree view of the Uwharrie Mountains. Anyone is welcome at the walk or the hike with no cost to participate. Visit www.healthycommunitiesA3.com to participate in the challenge.

‘Strangers On A Train’ is the Thrifty Thursday movie

ASHEBORO — Acquaint (or in all likelihood, reacquaint) yourself with Alfred Hitchcock in the 1951 thriller “Strangers On A Train” at 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, at the Sunset Theatre, 234 Sunset Ave., Asheboro. A $5 ticket includes popcorn and a drink; for those 50 and over, the ticket is free, thanks to local sponsors..

Farmer Civitans breakfast celebrates Halloween early

FARMER — The monthly Farmer Civitans breakfast — Halloween version for October — is Saturday from 7 to 10 a.m. at the Farmer Civitan Clubhouse, 3986 Old NC 49, Asheboro. Donation jars will be located on the tables to help a young missionary who is fighting cancer for a second time. Learn more of her story at an all-you-can-eat breakfast of eggs, biscuits, gravy (white and red eye), buttered grits, Thomas Brothers center cut ham and sausage and pancakes, plus coffee (reg and decaf), sodas, water and  OJ. The cost is a $10 donation.

UPCOMING

United Way Cereal fundraiser returns 

ASHEBORO — United Way of Randolph County’s popular cereal sale is just around the corner.

The Cereal Sale Fundraiser will be held on Saturday, Oct. 10.

This event is made possible through the generous support of Post Consumer Brands and provides an opportunity for community members to support United Way of Randolph County while stocking up on cereal.

Various kinds of cereal will be on sale for $1 per box. The full lineup was not released by press time.

The event takes place in Bicentennial Park and is a drive-thru event.

Cash only is accepted.

It begins at 8 a.m. and continues until noon or until all the cereal is sold.

41st Annual Hospice Auction & Barbecue adds Bid & Q to menu

ASHEBORO — For many decades, the annual Hospice Auction & Barbecue, Hospice of Randolph’s signature fundraiser, has been a highlight in Randolph County. This year’s 41st annual event includes the Bid & Q live auction and dinner event, a drive-thru BBQ sale and an online auction.

The 5th annual Bid & Q live auction and dinner event is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 15, at 5:30 p.m. and will include a cocktail hour, dinner and live auction showcasing a limited collection of exclusive pieces from local artists and unique experiences. Seating for this event is limited with the deadline to purchase ending soon due to the catering deadline. Tickets for the Bid & Q are $50 each and must be purchased in advance by contacting Lisa Huffman at 336-672-8323. 

The drive-thru BBQ sale is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17, at Sunset Avenue Church of God, 900 Sunset Ave., Asheboro. Prepared by the Randolph Livestock & Poultry Improvement Association, BBQ plates are $12 each and will be sold from 11 a.m. until sold out.

The online auction begins Saturday, Oct. 17, and will end at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22.  The auction showcases more than 200 items, including pottery, gift baskets, gift cards, outdoor adventures, sports memorabilia, original artwork, specialty baked goods, furniture, home accessories and much more. Items purchased through the online auction will be available for pickup at Hospice of Randolph in Asheboro or Hospice of the Piedmont in High Point. 

Public support through the Hospice Auction & Barbecue benefits children, teens and adults in the community who need bereavement support through the Grief Counseling Center and Kids Path program. These services are offered 

to anyone who has experienced a loss regardless of their connection to the organization and at no cost.

For more information about the 41st Annual Hospice Auction & Barbecue or to register for the online auction, visit www.hospiceofthepiedmont.org/event/2026abbq/.

All proceeds from the Hospice Auction & Barbecue benefit Hospice of Randolph and Hospice of the Piedmont, a non-profit organization that provides medical, emotional and spiritual care for terminally-ill patients and their families in eight counties (Randolph, Guilford, Davidson, Forsyth, Alamance, Chatham, Moore, and Montgomery).

Fall Into Franklinville Festival set for Saturday, Oct. 10

FRANKLINVILLE — Franklinville gets in on the fall festival fun this year on Saturday, Oct. 10, from 4 to 8:30 with the Fall Into Franklinville Festival at 123 W. Main St. in Franklinville. Enjoy complimentary apple cider and pastries, heritage demonstrations and even a movie at sunset, “Pocahontas.” There will also be a community scarecrow competition to vote on and the opening of a Town Time Capsule. See more details in today’s Events Calendar on 5A.

Archdale’s Bush Hill Hometown Jamboree is Oct. 10

ARCHDALE — Archdale’s annual Bush Hill festival offers that corner of Randolph County some fall festival fun in downtown Archdale on Saturday, Oct. 10, from 12 to 6 p.m. The family tradition for 40 years includes live music, craft vendors and food trucks, plus a kids’ play area, dinosaurs, face painting and a lot more.

Double book signing Oct. 10 at Brightside Gallery

ASHEBORO — 1 Porch, 2 authors, 3 hours — That’s what’s on tap at Brightside Gallery in downtown Asheboro on Saturday, Oct. 10. Join local authors Claire Merrick (“The Screaming Tree”) and Jarod Cruthis (“The House of Salt and Ash”) for a double book signing on the spacious front porch of Brightside Gallery at 170 Worth St., Asheboro, on Saturday, Oct. 10, from noon to 3 p.m.