7 Reasons to Plan a Fall Trip to Fayetteville, North Carolina

In the fall, Fayetteville, North Carolina, shines, honoring its strong military heritage and agricultural roots as well as opportunities for nature, arts, shopping and dining. Seth Benalt, board chairman for DistiNCtly Fayetteville, the city’s convention and visitor’s bureau, says everyone can enjoy visiting Fayetteville in the fall.

See more: Summer Events and Activities in Fayetteville

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“From history to festivals, sporting events and live entertainment to agriculture to adventure, we have you covered,” Benalt says. “We encourage you to come explore America’s Hometown and ask yourself “Have You Done It ‘Yette?”

1. Military Must-Sees

Fort Liberty, a U.S. Army base and one of the largest military installations in the world, is located adjacent to Fayetteville. To salute its neighbor, Fayetteville’s U.S. Army Airborne and Special Operations Museum (ASOM) chronicles 80 years of military history, from the first American paratroopers through the present day.

Situated next to ASOM, North Carolina Veterans Park is the first park in the state dedicated to every branch of the military.

Seasonal events also showcase the area’s military ties. Fayetteville hosts the Heroes Homecoming Veterans Day Parade every November, and the Field of Honor, located on the parade grounds of the ASOM from Sept. 11 through Nov. 12, features a sea of patriotic colors where each flag tells a story.

2. Agritourism Adventures in Fayetteville

Cumberland County has a rich history of family-owned farms dating back to the early 1700s. Many farm owners are now welcoming visitors to their farms for agritourism events, in addition to selling their products and seasonal harvest at local roadside stands.

Sweet Valley Ranch’s story combines entertainment, adventure and sharing their love of animals with others. Living up to its slogan, “Where Nature Meets Adventure,” this 300-acre working farm features 300 different animals from five different continents and attractions for all ages. They offer individual farm visits and fun fall events such as the Backwoods Terror Ranch and Dinosaur World.

Also in Fayetteville, Gillis Hill Road Produce offers a variety of plants, trees and other seasonal produce along with many value-added products such as signature jellies, chowchow, quail eggs, mango lime salsa and pickled bologna. The playground is a big hit with the kiddos and in the fall, the farm offers a pumpkin patch and a corn maze.

See more: 8 Reasons to Visit the First Peak of the Blue Ridge This Fall

Just down the road in Hope Mills, Gallberry Corn Maze offers much more than their name implies. The farm boasts 6 acres of corn mazes, including one especially for children called the “Fairy Tale” maze. Visitors can also enjoy pig races at the NAS-HAWG Gallberry Speedway, which last fall featured Earnhawg Jr., Danica Porkchop, Stinker Bell and SpongeHog Spampants. Gallberry Corn Maze also features Spookley Barn, farm animals, hayrides and many other attractions.

3. Main Street Fayetteville, North Carolina

Downtown Fayetteville has much to offer with restored historic buildings housing local shops selling everything from antiques and records to candles and locally made gifts. The refurbished Cameo Art House Theatre is another attraction.

Celebrating 20 years in business, City Center Gallery and Books is a haven for readers and art lovers alike. It supports local artists featuring original works and other art-related items, and its shelves contain a large collection of used books representing all genres.

Just down the street, Rude Awakening Coffee House began in the 1990s when Bruce and Molly Arnold saw the need to restore a condemned building. A few years later, the Arnolds opened the doors of the coffeeshop as a place where community means more than just being neighbors. In fact, the Arnolds dedicate a page on their website as “Meet Our Neighbors” to highlight and promote other businesses in the downtown area.

4. Cape Fear Botanical Garden

Venture just 2 miles outside downtown Fayetteville to explore the 80 acres of natural beauty at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden. In addition to specialty gardens focused on camellias, daylilies and shade plants, the attraction also features a butterfly stroll, children’s garden, river trail, and 1886 agricultural structures and homestead.

See more: Why You Should Go Apple Picking at Justus Orchard This Fall

In late October, the gardens are transformed into the heart of Halloween celebrating BOO-tanical, where visitors can dress in their favorite costumes, enjoy lights and hundreds of carved jack-o-lanterns together with the BOO-crew skeletons and entertainment from the BOO-tanical circus.

5. Fall Festivals of Fayetteville

In addition to BOO-tanical and Heroes Homecoming, another popular fall event is the Dogwood Fall Festival. A favorite among residents and visitors alike, the town of Fayetteville closes its streets for a fun-filled weekend that highlights artisans and musicians, plus plenty of food vendors. The 2023 festival is slated for Oct. 20-22.

More autumn events include the Cumberland County Fair, which takes place in early September at the Crown Complex; the International Folk Festival, celebrating cultural and culinary artistry from around the globe each September for more than 40 years; and Ole Mill Days, which celebrates the mill town history of Hope Mills each October and kicks off with a street dance.

6. Outdoor Adventures

If ziplining while enjoying the beauty of nature is on your bucket list, a must-do while in Fayetteville is a visit to ZipQuest Waterfall and Treetop Adventure. Voted as one of the top 10 great ziplines by USA Today, ZipQuest offers adventurers the Waterfall Expedition through the beautiful Carver’s Falls and a Treetop Excursion.

7. History & Heritage

Other places of interest in Cumberland County include the Cultural Heritage Driving Trails. At 750 miles, it includes 17 different themed trails, representing historical, religious, cultural and patriotic heritage.

To discover many more things to do in Fayetteville and plan your visit, go to distinctlyfayettevillenc.com.

– Tathel Miller