Visit Hillsborough, NC

Historic Hillsborough Guided Tours
2025-10-11 10:30 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | Hillsborough Visitors Center, 150 E King Street, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
Experience American history through the unique perspective of one of North Carolina’s oldest and most historically significant towns, with a guided walking tour of downtown Hillsborough. Established in 1754 as the seat of government for Orange County, Hillsborough’s colonial legacy and signs of its importance in North Carolina and American history can be seen everywhere.
The tour begins at the Hillsborough Visitors Center, located in the eighteenth century Alexander Dickson Farm House, and guides visitors to a variety of historic places from the site of a 1790s African American-owned distillery to the 1840s Orange County Courthouse and the grave of one of North Carolina’s signers of the Declaration of Independence.
This is an in-person walking tour that sometimes crosses uneven terrain. Please plan to be walking or standing for the duration of the event, wear comfortable walking shoes, and bring a water bottle (plus your curiosity)!
For groups that are concerned about the length, duration, or terrain of the tour. Please, contact The Alliance for Historic Hillsborough for other options, including bus tours.
Tickets: https://www.zeffy.com/ticketing/3277bebb-5a4c-48ec-9a1e-0c4e287138b5

The Witch's Haunted Barn & Pumpkin Patch
2025-10-11 12:00 - 19:00, 2025-10-18 12:00 - 19:00, 2025-10-25 12:00 - 19:00 | Firefly Farm, 4911 Hunt Rd, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
Step into the Witch’s Haunted Barn for a whimsical Halloween adventure – just spooky enough to thrill, but not too scary for little ones. Stroll through vibrant flower gardens, wander scenic trails, and meet friendly farm animals. Shop from local vendors and pick the perfect pumpkin from our patch. A festive, memory-making day awaits the whole family. Open all Saturdays in October, noon till 7 pm, rain or shine. Tickets available online at https://fire-fly-farm-nc.square.site/ or at the farm the day of the event.

Josh's Hope Fall Festival
2025-10-18 13:00 - 17:00 | 40 Terry Brook Lane, 40 Terry Brook Lane, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
Our Second Annual Fall Festival fundraiser is just around the corner! Join us on the Josh’s Hope farm for a makers market, live music, food, hayrides, activities for the kids, art demos, and a special performance by magician Joshua Lozoff!
Admission is free; donations welcomed.
Bring canned goods to support PORCH Hillsborough and you’ll be entered into a raffle for a repurposed iPhone, iPad, or laptop.

The Haunting Hour
2025-10-18 13:00 - 21:00 | Hillsborough Visitors Center, 150 E King Street, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
Step into the shadows of Hillsborough’s past at The Haunting Hour, our brand-new take on the dearly departed Spirits Tours! We’ve buried the old format, now join us for an immersive evening of storytelling, where ghostly tales and eerie legends unfold around you in a spine-tingling performance at the historic Hughes Academy. A partnership between the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough and the Orange Community Players. With haunting histories brought to life before your eyes, every twist and turn will keep you on edge.
For those brave enough, add on Tales from the Grave—a moonlit mini walking tour through St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church graveyard, where stories of the departed echo among the stones.
And don’t miss our FREE mini Fall Celebration at the Hillsborough Visitor Center, filled with seasonal fun and shopping for all ages before or after your haunting adventure.
Step into the story… if you dare.
Date: October 18th, 2025
Times:
– Fall Celebration: 1pm to 8pm
– Haunting Hour Performances: 2pm, 3:30pm, 5pm, 6:30pm, 8pm
– Tales From the Grave: 5pm to 8:30pm
Price: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/the-haunting-hour
– The Haunting Hour: $20/person and $10/ child
– Tales from the grave (Add-on): $10

River Park Concert 2025
2025-10-25 12:00 - 20:00 | River Park, 140 East Margaret Lane , Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
The River Park Concert is a volunteer-driven, grassroots, free outdoor music event. RPC is made possible through the cooperation, coordination and support of many local civic, corporate and private entities and is brought to you by The Triangle Music Alliance.Each year we partner with a local nonprofit organization to support them through River Park Concert’s Sustainer Event. A portion of all sustainer tickets and sponsorships are donated. Click here to grab tickets to this year’s sustainer event on October 24th and consider joining us for a fun, all-inclusive party in support of WHUP and keeping RPC free for everyone!

Camp Chestnut Ridge Trail Run
2025-11-22 09:00 - 12:00 | Camp Chestnut Ridge, 4300 Camp Chestnut Ridge Rd, Efland, NC, 27243, United States
Join us at Chestnut Ridge on November 22, 2025 for our Annual Trail Run! We have a 4 mile option for runners/walkers of all ages, and an 8 miles option for runner only. Come join the fun!
Proceeds from the race will benefit ministries at camp such as the Chestnut Ridge Campership Fund which helps provide scholarships for children and youth in financial need, so that they can have positive camp experiences at Chestnut Ridge. By running in the race, you can help send a kid to camp this summer! The race will be run entirely on trails and camp roads (dirt and gravel). The course will feature rolling hills through old hardwood forests and go around a 10 acre lake. Water stations will be provided.

Bar(n)BQ BASH At The Bar(n) at Sonark Farms
2025-11-22 13:00 - 23:00 | sonark Farms, 2592 Sonark Lane, Hillsborough, North Carolina, 27278
Get ready for a toe-tappin’, tastebud-temptin’ good time at The Bar(n) at Sonark Farms as we fire up the grill for our BAR(n)BQ BASH — a full day of food, live music from two bands, and a whole lot of community in the charm of the countryside.
With this classic pig pickin’and community dinner — we’ll provide the BBQ — you bring a side dish to share with friends and neighbors.
1:00 PM – Doors Open
3:00 PM – Scott Buechler, Singer/songwriter
4:00 PM – It’s time to eat!
6:00 PM – Orange County Lockdown
The fun rolls on until 11:00 PM!
No cover charge, but a donation in the range of $10–$20 per person is suggested. All ages are welcome — so bring your family, your friends, and your appetite for great food, great music, and even better company. It’s the perfect way to spend a fall day at Sonark Farms!
Authentic Belgian beers, fine wines, craft cocktails, and non-alcoholic options are available for purchase.
Please RSVP to help us make sure there’s plenty of BBQ for everyone!
RSVP LINK:https://www.sonarkfarms.com/event-details/bar-n-bq-bash
Sat, Nov 22, 1:00PM – 11:00PM
The Barn(n) at Sonark Farms
5292 Sonark Lane, Hillsborough, NC
www.sonarkfarms.com

FeST
2025-12-06 10:00 - 14:00 | St Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 210 St. Mary's Rd, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
Each year St. Matthews Episcopal Church celebrates the many talents of our parishioners at our holiday craft fair, bake sale, and BBQ lunch known as the Festival of the Society Tree (FeST). FeST 2026 will be on Saturday, December 6th from 10am- 2p at St. Matthews Episcopal Church. This event is named in honor of the efforts of the ladies sewing society who in 1867 used what was then a novelty, the Christmas tree, as a way to sell their wonderful handiwork in the community. The Society raised funds for much of the architectural additions and furnishing that still grace our historic church building. Today all proceeds from FeST go to help people in need in Orange and Durham counties through donations to local non-profit organizations. Please come shop for holiday gifts, fill your table with delicious baked goods, sit down at the table with us to enjoy a BBQ lunch, and tour our historic church sanctuary. All are welcome!

Saturday Slowdown at RambleRill Farm: Holiday Market and Open Farm Day
2025-12-06 10:00 - 14:00 | Ramble Rill Farm, 913 Arthur Minnis Road, Hillsborough, NC, 27516, United States
Show your love for local this holiday season. Find gifts galore, farm-fresh food, live music, and fun for kids and families at this weekend’s Holiday Market and Open Farm Day at RambleRill Farm. Shop local makers, bakers, and growers; enjoy live music; visit the goats; bring a picnic; walk in the woods. Kids and families: don’t miss the Open House and Play Date from 10am-noon with the Longleaf Forest School that we host on the farm (bird feeder making and field games). Slowdown with us! 10am-2pm, Saturday, 11.6.25, 913 Arthur Minnis Road, Hillsborough, NC. Free admission.

Jingle & Joy Weekend
2025-12-06 15:00 - 18:00, 2025-12-07 16:00 - 18:00 | Hillsborough Visitors Center, 150 E King Street, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
Jingle & Joy Holiday Weekend | December 6–7, 2025 Hillsborough invites you to unwrap the magic of the season during our Jingle & Joy Holiday Weekend! This festive two-day celebration is packed with cheer for all ages.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6Kick off the holiday fun at the Hillsborough Visitor Center with Photos with Santa, Reading with Mrs. Claus (3:00 PM), Photos with Santa (3:15 – 4:45 PM), a Multicultural Holidays Fair, and Games at the North Pole! Enjoy free yard games and crafts, plus delicious treats for sale — including cocoa, baked goods, and gluten-free options.
Learn about the variety of holidays celebrated in Hillsborough with Kol Haskala and Diamante Arts and Cultural Center while you sip and snack on treats from PORCH and Oat & Co.

Photos with Santa begin around 3:15 PM. Please note that the line for Santa photos will close at 4:45 PM.
At 5:00 PM, join the music with the Color and Light Community Choir in a group procession to the Historic Orange County Courthouse for the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, where we’ll light up downtown with holiday spirit!

Tinsel & Traditions Home Tour | 3–8 PMStep inside Hillsborough’s history with this reimagined take on the beloved Candlelight Home Tours. Visit six homes, each representing a different time period, all within the town’s historic district.

Please note: All tour stops are private residences with limited accessibility. Most feature only the first floor and may require walking up a few front steps.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7End the weekend with one of Hillsborough’s favorite traditions — the Holiday Parade, filled with floats, music, and merry surprises for the whole family!Kick off with the afternoon with the Running of the Elves at 4:00 PM and watch the floats go by starting at 4:20 PM.
Tickets are required only for the Tinsel & Traditions Home Tour.All other events are free and open to the public.

Meet Santa at Spring Haven Farm
2025-12-14 13:00 - 14:30 | Spring Haven Farm, 5306 Homer Ruffin Road, Chapel HIll, NC, 27516, United States
🎅🏼 Santa Claus is coming to Spring Haven Farm! 🎅🏼

📅 December 14, 1:00-2:30 PM | 📍 Chapel Hill, NC

Santa Tickets​

Santa Claus is coming to town! Join us on December 14th for photo ops with Santa Claus, delicious hot cocoa, and friendly baby goats. This ticket includes both farm admission and a meeting with Santa!​
This event runs from 1-2:30 PM. Coming closer to 1:00 PM is advised.

Love Feast at the Chestnut Ridge Community Farm
2025-12-14 16:30 - 18:00 | Chestnut Ridge Community Farm, 2902 Mt Willing Rd, Efland, NC, 27243, United States
Sunday, December 14, 4:30pm: Love Feast
A Moravian tradition with rolls, coffee, and community. Join us as we experience the season of Advent together with a warm fire, carols, and candlelight.

S'mores With Goats
2025-12-26 10:00 | Spring Haven Farm, 5306 Homer Ruffin Road, Chapel HIll, NC, 27516, United States
Gather ‘Round the Fire for S’mores & Snuggles!
The first day of winter has passed us by, and the time to cuddle up in front of a cozy fire is now. Join us at Spring Haven Farm for our winter event,l S’mores with Goats—an unforgettable farm experience for all ages. December 26th – February 1st 10:00am- 5:00pm Wednesday – Sunday
The Sweetest Upgrade Yet!
This year, we’re leveling up your campfire game. Every ticket now includes a premium S’more kit, and for the first time ever, you get to choose your chocolate! Whether you’re a classic milk chocolate lover or looking for something different like GHIRARDELLI caramel or peppermint bark, we’ve got the perfect melt waiting for you.
Meet Our Animals
While the baby goats are the stars of the show, they aren’t the only ones waiting for a snack! Your ticket gives you the chance to feed and pet our entire farm family:
The Big Favorites: Fluffy Highland Cows, Alpacas, and Horses.
The Quirky Crew: Emus, Sheep, and Pigs.
The Tiny Friends: Baby Goats, Bunnies, Chickens, and Ducks.
A Full Day of Farm Fun
Once you’ve had your fill of marshmallowy goodness, explore everything else Spring Haven has to offer:
The Tractor Train: Take a scenic ride around the farm.
Mini Golf: Challenge the family to a round of putt putt on our farm course.
Gem Mining: Sift for hidden treasures.
Shooting Gallery: Test your aim at our paintball shooting range.
Craft Station: Paint ornaments and birdhouses alike.
Plan Your Visit
Where: Spring Haven Farm, Chapel Hill.
Tickets: Includes farm entry and your custom S’more kit!
How: Purchase tickets online or walk in and purchase on location; they’re both the same price!
Don’t wait—these spots disappear faster than a toasted marshmallow! Come experience why Spring Haven Farm is the happiest place in the Triangle.

Braswell Family Farms New Year’s Eve Egg Drop December 31, 2025
2025-12-31 16:00 - 20:00 | NC
Join us for the 3rd Annual Braswell Family Farms NYE Egg Drop – a fun-filled, family-friendly event to ring in the New Year with an Eastern NC vibe! Get ready for an egg-citing evening with our Egg Drop eggs-travaganza. Bring your family and friends for a night of entertainment, music, delicious food vendors, and of course, a spectacular egg drop with fireworks to ring in the new year. Don’t miss out on the festivities!
Event attendees will have the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win swag, gifts, and gift cards from several Nash County area businesses. All raffle proceeds will be donated to Samaritan’s Purse in support of relief efforts in Western North Carolina.

Puppy Bowl Watch Pawty!
2026-02-08 13:00 - 17:00 | eno river brewing, 329 Eno Mountain Rd, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
Join Hope Animal Rescue at Eno River Brewing for the official PUPPY BOWL WATCH PAWTY!
When: Sunday, 2/8
Time: 1 – 5 PM
Where: Eno River Brewing, Hillsborough
You can expect…

Adoptable pups
Eno River is donating 10% of sales during the event to HAR
Raffle goodies
…and more!

This event is extra special this year because we have TWO HOPE ALUM pups that are IN THE PUPPY BOWL! Both of them will be at the party ready to give their pawtographs. Bring your friends and your pup and come watch the puppy bowl with us!

The Great Backyard Bird Count - Come count at Firefly Farm
2026-02-13 07:00 - 19:00, 2026-02-14 07:00 - 19:00, 2026-02-15 07:00 - 19:00, 2026-02-16 07:00 - 19:00 | Firefly Farm, 4911 Hunt Rd, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
Firefly Farm will be open for the Great Backyard Bird Count from Friday February 13 to Monday February 16. Come and count birds and wander the farm. Free event. For more information about the GBBC 2026, go to https://www.birdcount.org/participate/

Historic Hillsborough Guided Tours 2026
2026-03-07 10:30 - 12:30, 2026-03-14 10:30 - 12:30, 2026-03-21 10:30 - 12:30, 2026-03-28 10:30 - 12:30, 2026-04-04 10:30 - 12:30 | Hillsborough Visitors Center, 150 E King Street, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States

Open Farm Day at Firefly Farm
2026-04-04 08:00 - 18:00 | Firefly Farm, 4911 Hunt Rd, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
You are invited to the Open Farm Day at Firefly Farm . Saturday, April 4, 2026, 8 am till 6 pm. This free event is the perfect opportunity to see what we are growing. We are a U-pick flower farm growing many varieties of flowers. Come out and wander the farm and pet the animals.
Schedule of Events for Open Farm Day at Firefly Farm
No ticket needed – free event, open to the public
8 am – Gates open. Farmer Cindy and staff will be available to answer any questions you may have. Wander the farm – be our guest! While the wildflowers are not ready for the U-pick season yet, this is a great time to see what the farm has to offer. Select flowers will be available for purchase and we may have a special opportunity for U-pick tulips. Park at the barn or in the overflow lot (follow the yellow signs). Check in at the barn to begin your adventure (map available). Walk the labyrinth. Say hello to the farm animals and the unicorn. Swing on the farm swing. Touch a tractor. Find a hammock and take a nap while the kids make a craft. Enjoy the fresh air and run around outside. Make it your day.
Special activity: Farm tours will occur at 10 am, noon, 2 pm and 4 pm. Meet Farmer Cindy at the barn and she will lead you around some of the flower gardens and discuss what is happening on the farm. Feel free to ask questions. During the 10 am and 4 pm tours, we will feed the animals!
Vendors will be on site. Plan on buying some delicious food and sweets, finding your favorite spot on the farm, and having a picnic on a beautiful Spring day!
6 pm – Gates close. Thank you for joining us! www.fireflyfarmnc.com

Climate Challenge Pop-Up at the OC Public Library
2026-04-07 12:00 - 14:00 | Orange County Main Library, 137 W. Margaret Ln, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
Climate Challenge Pop-Up information at the Orange County Public Library — learn about all Hillsborough Climate Challenge activities and events, sign up for Meatless Mondays, learn about climate apps and books to help your household be greener.

Tar Heel Antiques Festival
2026-04-10 09:00 - 17:00 | The Barn at Lloyd’s Dairy Farm, 226 North Lloyd's Dairy Road, Efland, NC, 27243, United States
Join us for a day or the entire weekend to enjoy the love of antiques through our vendors booths, appraisals and onsite auction over this weekend event Friday through Sunday. This event was inspired by a visit from Mike and Frank from the hit TV show to our farm.
Located in the heart of Carolina between the Triangle and Triad you can come and buy or sell your favorite antiques. With affordable prices and opportunities of outdoor and covered vendor spots in our barns our vendors and visitors will enjoy great amenities and downhome Southern hospitality. Our charity this year is the Meridian Community Foundation which is looking to build a large park within Northern Orange County.
Tickets are $5 per day or $8 for a weekend pass. Purchase tickets HERE
We look forward to seeing y’all soon…..
