ASHEBORO — After three years of cancellations, the 48th Fall Festival will be held Saturday, Oct. 7, as a one-day event. The festival will continue to feature arts and craft vendors, musical performances, and food.
“While the Fall Festival has historically been held over two days, this year, based on the responses and feedback of vendors, attendees and community members, the Fall Festival will be a one-day event,” said a statement from the Randolph Arts Guild.
The Arts Guild release said the event would comply “with the recommendations of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services for guidance in all safety measures.” This year will mark the fourth attempt by the group to hold the 48th iteration of the event. The organizers cancelled the event three straight years citing safety concerns. In 2020, the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and emergency orders which prevented large gatherings. In 2021, the group cited concerns over hospital capacity and the pandemic though large events were then allowed. In 2022, the group cancelled the event due to a state of emergency declared by Gov. Roy Cooper which affected transportation and emergency management rules but did not prohibit outdoor events.
The inaugural Fall Festival was held in 1972 on Sunset Avenue in Asheboro. This year’s version will have a larger footprint in downtown Asheboro. The deadline for vendors to register of the event is Friday, Aug. 25.
