Best fall festivals, events

RALEIGH, N.C. — Fall is almost here and that means cooler weather and tons of events in the Triangle. To help get you ready, we have a list of our five favorite events coming up starting in September. 

Hopscotch Music Festival - In its fifth year, this event brings musicians and fans from across the globe to downtown Raleigh for a three-day celebration. Hailed for its diverse lineup by The New York Times, this festival continues to attract national attention. This year's Hopscotch Music Fest is Sept. 4-6. 

SparkCon - The week following Hopscotch, downtown Raleigh will celebrate music, art, comedy, film, poetry and more during this annual festival in downtown Raleigh. With so many interests being celebrated, there really is something for everyone. SparkCon runs Sept. 11-14. 

CenterFest - Held this year Sept. 20 and 21, this annual event celebrates the arts in Durham. The event features 140 juried visual artists representing 17 states, more than 70 performing acts on six stages and a special creative kids' zone.

Wide Open Bluegrass festival - The International Bluegrass Music Association hosts its annual Wide Open Bluegrass festival in downtown Raleigh. This will be the second year the festival has called Raleigh home. Our favorite event held during this two-day celebration is the free street festival that includes more than 50 bands on four stages, vendors and a dance tent. Wide Open Bluegrass is Oct. 3 and 4 this year. 

N.C. State Fair - This annual event brings together great food, entertainment and people! We love to hang out and enjoy all the fried food and meet the WRAL viewers who stop by the tent! This year, the fair is Oct. 16-26 at the N.C. State Fairgrounds. 

Honorable mention: Bull City Race Fest - A morning of running and a post-race festival that includes food trucks help make this one of our favorite fall events. All races start next to American Tobacco Campus in Durham and end at the post-race festival on the lawn of the Durham Performing Arts Center. The festival also includes a beer garden, kids' zone and entertainment. The entire event raises money for Habitat for Humanity of Durham. This year's festival is Sunday, Oct. 19.