2026 Appalachian Autumn Market & Fall Festival

October 3, 2026 from 2-6 pm

Celebrating the Craft, Culture, and Community of the High Country

Hickory Ridge History Museum | Boone, NC | Free Admission

Every October, the mountains put on a show. This year, we are putting one on too.

The Appalachian Autumn Market and Fall Festival returns to the historic grounds of Hickory Ridge History Museum for a free afternoon of local makers, live Appalachian music and storytelling, hands-on heritage crafts, tomahawk throwing, apple butter making, fresh pressed cider, food trucks, kid and pet costume contests, and enough mountain magic to carry you through the winter.

Bring the kids. Bring the dog. This is fall in the High Country the way it is meant to be spent!

Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026
Time: 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Location: Hickory Ridge History Museum, 591 Horn in the West Drive, Boone, NC
Admission: Free
Pets: Welcome on leash

BOOK YOUR ACTIVITIES NOW
Person dressed in historical costume stirring a large pot over an open fire outdoors. Hickory Ridge is a hands-on 18th-century history museum in Boone, NC for families and kids.
People browsing jewelry items at a historical museum fair. The display features jewelry, flags, and historical memorabilia on a wooden wall. Hickory Ridge is a hands-on 18th-century history museum in Boone, NC for families and kids.

We are looking for VOLUNTEERS for our 2026 Appalachian Autumn Market & Fall Festival!

SUBMIT YOUR VOLUNTEER APPLICATION HERE!

Volunteer Opportunities:

Need volunteer hours for a resume or school project? We’ll sign off!

We need volunteers for:

  • Vendor Assistance - loading, unloading, packing, grabbing water, etc.

  • Child Supervision - at our KidZone; general supervision; refilling bubble trays, etc.

  • Museum Assistance - giving information and directions, taking down emails, assisting Museum Staff with random tasks.

  • Parking Direction - Keeping the parking lot flowing in an organized and orderly manner.

Volunteers will receive a Museum Pass for the 2027 season and 2 General Admission Ticket Vouchers for the 2027 Season of Horn in the West.

Vendor Applications are CLOSED!

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

ALL DAY: Apple butter making, pumpkin painting, corn shuck doll making, candle-dipping, hatchet throwing, weaving, spinning demonstrations, self-guided cabin tours, and vendors.

2-2:30 pm: Lynn Patterson with a Discussion of the Junaluska Community

2:30-3 pm: TBD

3-3:15 pm: Kid's Costume Contest

3:15-3:30 pm: Pet Costume Contest

3:30-4:30: Orville Hicks Storytelling & South Arts Master Traditional Artist: Mary Greene

Traditional ballads, folk songs, instrumentals, and a touch of storytelling

5-5:30 pm: TBD

5:30-6 pm: Open Old-Time Jam Session

All musicians are invited to join!

2026 Vendors

  • A food truck designed to look like a wooden barn with signage for a deli, sandwiches, and a ham shop. Social media details Facebook and Instagram are displayed on the side.

    The Ham Shoppe

    Locally owned and operated sandwich truck opened in 2024 that seeks to honor the legacy of The Ham Shoppe, a beloved local institution for over 25 years.

    originalhamshoppe.com

  • Boy Scouts Troop

    Selling FRESH apple cider!

  • Smiling woman with curly hair holding a black mug in a kitchen.

    Zyndl

    Zyndl is a small-batch handmade business specializing in candles, wax melts, and home décor. Using natural materials like coconut apricot wax, wooden wicks, and handcrafted vessels, each item is designed to feel cozy, bold, and elevated. Products include jar candles, wax melts, handmade trays, gift sets, and market-only exclusives.

    https://shop.zyndl.com/

  • Wild Moon Wearables LLC

    Wild Moon Wearables creates one-of-a-kind Appalachian-inspired apparel rooted in heritage and comfort. Each piece is handmade from upcycled and nostalgic fabrics like flannel and denim. Offerings include unique crewneck sweatshirts such as “These Mountains Made Me,” “Granny Witch Magic,” and “Wild. Rooted. Magic.”

    https://www.wildmoonwearables.com

  • A woman with glasses, wearing a plaid shirt, kneels next to a large white dog with icy blue eyes, at an outdoor market stall displaying hats and accessories. The woman is smiling and hugging the dog, which is wearing a harness. The background shows a white tent and colorful clothing hanging on a rack.

    Attagirl Boutique

    Attagirl Boutique designs and sells handcrafted accessories for both pets and people. Shop dog bandanas and bowties, as well as scrunchies, quilted makeup bags, and more—each made with care and personality.

    https://www.facebook.com/attagirlboutiqueboone/

  • A table displaying various colorful fabric hair bows with different patterns such as floral, polka dots, chevron, and superhero themes, each attached to a brown paper backing with prices.

    Beech Creek Designs

    Beech Creek Designs offers a colorful assortment of handmade goods including beaded bracelets, hair clips, ornaments, keychains, and earrings—each item crafted with detail and charm.

  • Bethel Colony of Mercy

    Bethel Colony of Mercy

    Handmade with heart and purpose. Bethel Colony of Mercy's women's campus brings you handcrafted jewelry, wood ornaments, and mission-driven merchandise, each piece made by women on a journey of recovery and renewal. When you shop their booth, you are investing in something that goes far beyond the craft.
    bethelcolony.org

  • Copper Zen Studio

    Copper Zen Studio

    Copper Zen Studio handcrafts rings, bracelets, earrings, and necklaces using copper wire, gemstone beads, and crystals, each piece shaped by hand into something wearable and one of a kind.
    copperzenstudio.etsy.com

  • The Yarn Whisperer

    The Yarn Whisperer

    The Yarn Whisperer offers handmade crochet plushies and small-batch hand-dyed yarns. Plushies are colorful, one-of-a-kind pieces. They also offer a variety of crocheted keychains and scrunchies. 100% superwash merino wool is hand-dyed in vibrant colorways for knitters, crocheters, and fiber enthusiasts.

    https://theyarnwhisperershh.etsy.com/