October in Cary: the Pumpkin Flotilla Oct. 23, Downtown Scary Park Oct. 24, the Art Loop Oct. 30, then Veterans Day and the lantern festival opening Nov. 21.

Last checked Oct. 14, 2026. Rebuilt on the first of each month and refreshed weekly; it covers the next six weeks. Every listing links to the organizer, who sets the times and any prices; check before you go.

October in Cary means the last free outdoor concerts of the year at Downtown Cary Park, the Pumpkin Flotilla at Bond Park and a run of Halloween events, then Veterans Day and the opening of the Chinese Lantern Festival in November. Downtown Cary Park is at 327 S. Academy St.; Koka Booth Amphitheatre is at 8003 Regency Parkway.

For this weekend only, see things to do in Cary this weekend. Shows, galleries and classes are on our arts and exhibitions page.

Who to call

This week

  • Ty Myers: The Legal Tour, with Brent Cobb and Benny G, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15 (doors 5:30 p.m.), Koka Booth Amphitheatre (event page).
  • N.C. State Fair, Raleigh, about 11 miles east, Thursday, Oct. 15, through Sunday, Oct. 25, at the State Fairgrounds, 4285 Trinity Road. Gates open noon on opening day; 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. other days, with entry by 9:45 p.m. (hours of operation).
  • Cary Night Market, 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, Downtown Cary Park. Triangle artisans, food, drinks and music (event page).
  • Light The Night Walk, Saturday, Oct. 17, Koka Booth Amphitheatre. Gates and festival activities at 5:30 p.m., the walk at 7:25 p.m. A fundraiser for Blood Cancer United; register on the event page.
  • CaryLIVE! with Harvey Street, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, Downtown Cary Park Great Lawn Pavilion, free. The Raleigh indie rock band closes the 2026 CaryLIVE! series (event page).
  • Jazz’d Up Sundays with Kobie Watkins, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, Downtown Cary Park, free. The last date of the jazz series (event page).
  • Trampled by Turtles with Futurebirds, 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18 (doors 5 p.m.), Koka Booth Amphitheatre (event page).

Next week

  • Pumpkin Flotilla, 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, Bond Park Boathouse, 801 High House Road, free. Carved jack-o’-lanterns float on the lake at dusk; drop yours off 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22 (town page).
  • Trunk or Treat at Koka Booth, 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, sponsored by the volunteers at WakeMed Cary Hospital, with decorated trunks, a 7 p.m. costume parade and a pumpkin patch while supplies last (event page).
  • Zombiepalooza, 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, Downtown Cary Park, free. The Cary Theater’s zombie short film competition (event page).
  • Downtown Scary Park: Haunted Hotel, 2 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, Downtown Cary Park, free. Pumpkin carving 2 to 6 p.m., then “The Haunted Mansion” at 7:30 p.m. and “Poltergeist” at 9:30 p.m. (event page).
  • Haunting at the Old Hotel, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, Page-Walker Arts and History Center, 119 Ambassador Loop (Page-Walker page).
  • Gavin Adcock: The Day I Hang It Up Tour, 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24 (doors 6 p.m.), Koka Booth Amphitheatre (event page).
  • Legacy of Jazz: “Divine and Dexterous,” 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, and 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, The Cary Theater. Camille Thurman and the Christian Tamburr Trio celebrate Sarah Vaughan and Dexter Gordon (event page).

Later in October

  • Diwali Celebration, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26, Downtown Cary Park, free. Dance and drumming on the Great Lawn Pavilion (event page).
  • Cary Police Department Trunk or Treat, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, Park Street beside Downtown Cary Park, free (event page).
  • Cary Art Loop, Final Friday, 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30. Galleries and studios downtown open for receptions, with One Tribe’s drum circle and fire show at 7 p.m. (Final Friday listings).
  • Cary Town Band: “Frightful Friday,” 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, Cary Arts Center, 101 Dry Ave., free (upcoming concerts).
  • “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, and Saturday, Oct. 31, The Cary Theater (event page).
  • Halloween costume party, 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 31, Western Wake Farmers Market, 101 Town Hall Drive, Morrisville, with trick-or-treating at vendor booths (market event page).

Halloween is Saturday, Oct. 31. Trick-or-treat advice is on our trick-or-treat page, and the whole season is on our Halloween events page.

November

  • Movie Night: “Minions,” 7:30 to 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, Downtown Cary Park, free (event page).
  • Skate the Square, Fenton’s outdoor ice rink on Fenton Square, opens Friday, Nov. 6, and runs to Feb. 7; hours vary (ticket page).
  • Old North State Storytelling Festival, Nov. 6-7, The Cary Theater: Showcase 1 at 7:30 p.m. Friday; a sensory-friendly showcase at 10 a.m., Showcase 2 at 1:30 p.m. and Showcase 3 at 7:30 p.m. Saturday (Showcase 1).
  • Concert Singers of Cary: “To Be Sung on the Water,” 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, Cary Arts Center (concert page).
  • Taste of China Food and Culture Festival, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, Downtown Cary Park. The sixth year of the Chinese-American Friendship Association of North Carolina’s festival of food, performances and cultural exhibits (event page).
  • Veterans Day Observance, 11 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Nov. 11, Veterans Freedom Park, 1517 N. Harrison Ave., with parking at Cary Academy. Closings and trash changes are on our Veterans Day page.
  • The GRL Market, women-owned brands, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, Waverly Place (Waverly events).
  • Waverly Tree Lighting, 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, Waverly Place, 302 Colonades Way, with The Embers featuring Craig Woolard and free photos with Santa (event page).
  • Cary Night Market, 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, Downtown Cary Park (event page).
  • N.C. Chinese Lantern Festival opens Saturday, Nov. 21, at Koka Booth Amphitheatre for its 11th year, through Jan. 10, 6 to 10 p.m. nightly except Christmas Day (festival page). Tickets and parking are on our Chinese Lantern Festival page.
  • Live and Local!: Triangle Youth Jazz Orchestra and Ensemble, 3 to 4:45 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, Downtown Cary Park, free (event page).
  • Triangle Pop Up Maker’s Market, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, Fenton Square (Fenton events).
  • Turkey Leg Day: Feast on Fitness, Nov. 25-29, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., Downtown Cary Park, free. A self-guided circuit of leg exercises around the park (event page).

Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26; the turkey trot and closings are on our Thanksgiving page.

Regular events

  • Cary Downtown Farmers Market: Saturdays on East Park Street, 8 a.m. to noon through October and 9 a.m. to noon from November (park calendar). More on our farmers markets page.
  • Live at Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Academy Plaza at Downtown Cary Park, with Chris Overstreet Oct. 15 and Mysti Mayhem Oct. 29 (park calendar).
  • Trivia Night at the Bark Bar: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 22, Nov. 5 and Nov. 19, Downtown Cary Park (park calendar).
  • Art Cart: free drop-in crafts for children at Downtown Cary Park several days a week (park calendar).
  • Triangle Pop Up Maker’s Market: the third Saturday of each month at Fenton Square, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Fenton events).

Send us your event

Running an event in Cary? Email hello@carydaily.com with the date, time, venue, price and a photo. Listings are free, and they go on this page and in the site’s diary.

Frequently asked questions

What free events are in Cary in October 2026?

Downtown Cary Park hosts CaryLIVE! with Harvey Street Oct. 17, Jazz’d Up Sundays Oct. 18, Zombiepalooza Oct. 23, Downtown Scary Park Oct. 24, a Diwali celebration Oct. 26 and the Cary police trunk-or-treat Oct. 29, all free. The Pumpkin Flotilla at Bond Park Oct. 23 is free too.

When is the Pumpkin Flotilla in Cary?

5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at the Bond Park Boathouse. Drop off a carved pumpkin 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22.

Who is playing Koka Booth Amphitheatre in October 2026?

Ty Myers on Thursday, Oct. 15, Trampled by Turtles with Futurebirds on Sunday, Oct. 18, and Gavin Adcock on Saturday, Oct. 24, according to the amphitheater’s schedule.

What is on in Cary in November 2026?

Skate the Square opens at Fenton Nov. 6, the Old North State Storytelling Festival is Nov. 6-7, the Taste of China festival is Nov. 7, the town’s Veterans Day Observance is Nov. 11, Waverly Place lights its tree Nov. 20 and the N.C. Chinese Lantern Festival opens Nov. 21.