Clayton Harvest Festival 2024 in North Carolina

Clayton Harvest Festival is an annual family-friendly event taking place every October at various locations in Downtown Clayton, such as Horne Square and Town Square. The festival, dating back to the 1950s, attracts about 30,000 attendees. This free event features carnival midway rides located at Horne Square, a car and motorcycle show, a Latin American Festival, the Squealin' on the Square BBQ cook-off, food, music, and lots of vendors.

Festival Program

The three-day festival brings lots of excitement to the little ones, who can enjoy Family Night with a Kid’s Trunk-or-Treat event, pony rides, games, and activities. Other highlights include a movie night, delicious treats from food trucks, a hot dog eating contest, a pig calling contest, and the Hometown Talent Showcase with plenty of wonderful performances. The Latin American Festival at Town Square and a car show at Main Street are also part of the Clayton Harvest Festival.

Car Show (October 26, 2024)

One of the highlights of the festival, drawing in hundreds of car enthusiasts, is the car show, showcasing numerous vintage motorized vehicles. The popular event features muscle cars, classic cars, custom cars, and trucks. Winners will receive Best of Show and other prizes. To witness this spectacle, stop by Main Street from 10 am until 3 pm. The event is accompanied by entertainment.

Latin American Festival (October 27, 2024)

To celebrate Latin American culture and heritage, the city of Clayton organizes Latin American Festival as part of the Clayton Harvest festivities. The event closes out the annual fall celebration and takes place at Town Square, spanning from 12 pm to 5 pm. Numerous vendors set up their stalls and sell the best Latin American food has to offer. Vibrant dresses, diverse music and dancing is just a drop in the ocean of what you can witness at Town Square.

Schedule

The festival runs from 5 pm to 11 pm on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and from 12 pm until 9 pm on Sunday. The car show takes place at Main Street from 10 am until 3 pm on October 26th. The Latin American festival runs from 12 pm until 5 pm on October 27th at Town Square.

Admission & Parking

Clayton Harvest Festival is organized by The Clayton Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Food Lion. In addition to free admission, parking at the festival is also free. Carnival tickets cost $1.50, but you can purchase a discounted pack of 60 tickets, with each priced at $1. Another option is an unlimited ride wristband, which costs $30 and can be used from 5 pm until 10 pm on Thursday and from 12 pm until 6 pm on Sunday. Beverages, food, and souvenirs sold by the vendors are subject to a fee, so consider stocking up on cash.