For the last 47 years, Chapel Hill’s Festifall has seen many iterations, but this year’s changes just might be the most exciting to date. After a series of community conversations, the town’s Department of Community Arts and Culture decided to refocus the event on the local arts scene. Gone are the days of booths featuring local businesses and governmental departments; instead, expect to see an Arts & Crafts Market featuring 75 regional vendors, hands-on art activities for the whole family, and artists creating work on-site.
Other changes to this year’s event include a switch to Saturday from Sunday, and a shorter time frame, with all daytime festivities wrapping up at 3pm. Patrons are encouraged to visit one of Downtown Chapel Hill’s many fabulous restaurants for dinner, and then gear up for round two: Festifall After Dark. The “after dark” line-up highlights performances at Nightlight, Local 506, The PIT, and The Cave.
Noted as one of North Carolina’s longest running festivals, Festifall welcomes over a thousand guests annually. In honor of the town’s 200th anniversary, this year’s festival will be a “gathering of all kinds of artists, crafters, arts organizations, and arts educators from the Triangle and beyond” according to the event website.
Festifall takes place Saturday, October 12 from 11am-3pm on Franklin St. Learn more at https://www.chapelhillfestifall.com/.
