Things to do in Winston-Salem this month: October 2026

Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Rebuilt on the first of each month. Events come from the City of Winston-Salem calendar and the organizers’ own pages; for this weekend, see things to do this weekend. Questions about city events: CityLink, 311 or 336-727-8000.

October in Winston-Salem runs from the last day of the Carolina Classic Fair into a busy Halloween season downtown. Times and prices are as the organizers publish them. Events on city streets come with road closures, listed with each item. For Halloween night itself, see our trick-or-treat hours guide.

What this means for you

• Saturday, Oct. 17, and Saturday, Oct. 24, are the two big days; expect downtown and Ardmore road closures.
• Buy Ghoul Times tickets online to save $3 each.
• Fall leaf collection starts Nov. 2; see trash and recycling.

Now to Oct. 11

• Carolina Classic Fair, final day Sunday, Oct. 11, at the fairgrounds, 2825 University Parkway. The fair ran Oct. 2-11, according to the city’s event calendar.

Week of Oct. 12

• BikeSafe-NC rider skills day, Friday, Oct. 16. The Winston-Salem Police Department’s Traffic Enforcement Unit runs a free motorcycle skills class with a classroom session and rides, according to the city’s notice. Register through BikeSafe-NC.
• Ardmore RAH!, 6 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, from 1046 Miller St. A neighborhood race; roads close from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m., according to the city calendar. Sign-up is on the organizer’s site.
• Winston-Salem State University football, Saturday, Oct. 17, at Bowman Gray Stadium against Lincoln University of Pennsylvania. Kickoff is 1 p.m., and the band parades to the stadium from 11:30 a.m. with a rolling road closure on South Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, according to the city calendar. Schedule: wssurams.com.

Week of Oct. 19

• Recycling plant tour, 10:30 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Oct. 21, at the Waste Management Materials Recovery Facility, 280 Business Park Drive, listed on the city calendar.
• Third Annual Witches Walk, 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, on Trade Street at 545 N. Trade St. Free and open to the public; Trade Street closes from 4 to 11 p.m., according to the city calendar.
• Ghoul Times at Kaleideum, noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at the children’s museum, 120 W. Third St. Trick-or-treating through Liberty Plaza and the exhibits, science demos, crafts, a haunted hallway and a laser show in the Digital Dome Theater. Tickets for adults and youth ages 1 to 19 are $7 online or $10 on the day, according to Kaleideum.
• Filipino American Heritage Day Festival, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at 231 W. First St. The street closes from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., according to the city calendar.
• Walktoberfest, 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, in the 2300 block of Walker Avenue. Free; the street closes from 3 to 9 p.m., according to the city calendar.
• Community Band Concert, 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, at Miller Park, 400 Leisure Lane, on the city calendar.

Any day this month

• Salem Lake Nature Center, 815 Salem Lake Road, has more than 20 species of North Carolina wildlife, including snakes, lizards, turtles, frogs and fish. It is open during park hours, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends, according to the city.
• Fall festivals, pumpkin patches and corn mazes around Forsyth County are in our fall festivals and pumpkin patches guide.
• High school football every Friday night: see Friday night football.
• Coming up: the Piedmont Craftsmen’s Fair is Nov. 21-22 and the RiverRun International Film Festival is April 16-24, 2027. Our Carolina Classic Fair page has this year’s prices and parking.

Add your event

Community events are listed free. Submit an event with the date, time, venue, cost and a link to the organizer’s page.

Frequently asked questions

What is happening in Winston-Salem in October 2026?

Highlights include the Ardmore RAH! race and Winston-Salem State football Oct. 17, the Witches Walk on Trade Street Oct. 23, and Ghoul Times at Kaleideum, the Filipino American Heritage Day Festival and Walktoberfest Oct. 24.

When is Ghoul Times at Kaleideum in 2026?

Noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at Kaleideum, 120 W. Third St. Tickets are $7 online or $10 on the day for adults and for youth ages 1 to 19.

Is the Witches Walk in Winston-Salem free?

Yes. The third annual Witches Walk runs 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, on Trade Street and is free and open to the public, according to the city’s event calendar.

When did the 2026 Carolina Classic Fair end?

The 2026 Carolina Classic Fair ran Oct. 2-11 at the fairgrounds, 2825 University Parkway.