Events
Paper & Stars Studio Festivals 2026
A Children's North Pole Market by Paper & Stars Studio at Historic Mordecai Park. Holiday Photos - Crafts - Music - Food - Handmade Goods
Join Santa's elves for a merry celebration of the most wonderful time of the year! Visit our vendors to find a unique gift, create festive crafts, enjoy seasonal entertainment, music, food, and take a holiday photo at the beautifully decorated Historic Mordecai House during their annual Open House weekend.
Magic, mischief, and mayhem abound at Spellbound at Mordecai. Encounter mysterious creatures and amazing magicians, have your fortune told, create spooky crafts, and decorate a pumpkin to take home for All Hallow’s Eve. Wear your best Halloween finery to enter the costume contest and parade. Shop for enchanting handmade items and treats from our vendors, enjoy family-friendly stage performances, and experience Mordecai Park under the spell of Halloween.
This is a family event full of spooky fun for children - no horror, gore, weapons, or full face masks please.
A book festival for fans of fantasy, sci-fi, romantasy, and great fiction!
Stardust & Stories Book Festival is a free celebration of fantasy, sci-fi, romantasy, and creative storytelling. Discover authors and illustrators, interactive performances, music, talented bookish vendors, artisan food, Stardust Bar, and much more.
Come dressed as your favorite book character and participate in a costume contest and giveways throughout the day; join us for a magical celebration immersed in fiction that will spark your imagination and creativity!
2026 Deck the Halls Vendor Fair
The 4th Annual Deck the Halls Vendor Fair takes place on Saturday, November 7, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at Long Mill Elementary School in Youngsville, North Carolina.
Event Details
Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: Long Mill Elementary School, 1753 Long Mill Rd, Youngsville, NC 27596
Admission: $3 per person, or $5 for two shoppers; kids 12 and under are free
What to Expect
Local Vendors: Over 100 local artisans and small businesses offering handmade crafts, unique holiday gifts, and seasonal décor.
Food Trucks: A variety of local food trucks parked on-site for lunch and snacks.
Shopping: Both indoor and outdoor vendor spaces featuring community creators and pop-up market goods.
HollyFest
HollyFest is a free event on Saturday, October 31, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Jefferson L. Sugg Farm Park at Bass Lake, 2401 Gribsby Avenue, Holly Springs.
This is a free event.
This annual, family-friendly event celebrates Holly Springs and all the people, places, and services that our community has to offer. Featuring local artists, businesses, food vendors, children’s activities, and local entertainment, this free event is a Holly Springs tradition.
Pot-Oberfest at Logan's Garden Shop
Durham Bottling Co | Saturday, September 27, 2026
Join us Saturday, October 11th, for a day filled with fun for the whole family! We’ll have activities for the kids, Fall photo ops, live music and of course GREAT DEALS!
GRL MARKET
Durham Bottling Co | Saturday, September 27, 2026
Join us for The GRL Market for a day of shopping, networking, and community with women owned brands! Browse unique vendors, connect with local entrepreneurs, and soak up the lively atmosphere of one of Raleigh’s favorite spots.
Esteamed Coffee - Inclusive Fall Market
Join us in Sept 19th 2026! Mission Statement from Host Found Below:
At Esteamed Coffee®, our mission goes beyond serving coffee - we exist to create opportunities, dignity, and community for adults with intellectual, developmental, communication and/or visual disabilities. Through each of our programs, we provide pathways for individuals to thrive both inside and outside our café. Our initiatives are designed to foster independence, confidence, and connection, while also enriching the wider community. From jobs and scholarships to art showcases and social events, our programs reflect a simple but powerful belief: when people of all abilities are included, everyone benefits.
We support the wider community by using our space to showcase between four and six North Carolina artists with visual, communication, and/or intellectual and developmental disabilities. These artists receive a commission on every sale. We also host several Disability Inclusive Artist Markets in our cafe lot, providing a free platform for artists with disabilities to showcase and sell their work to the wider community. Last year alone, we were able to pay close to $10,000 in commissions and provide economic opportunity to 23 artists with disabilities in North Carolina.
Bookmarks Festival of Books 2026
Downtown Winston-Salem | Saturday, September 26, 2026 | 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Bookmarks announces the 21st Anniversary Festival of Books and Authors! The largest annual book festival in the Carolinas is set to take place Saturday, September 26, 2026. The free street festival is held in downtown Winston-Salem, featuring a day of books, activities, food trucks, vendors and fun for all ages.
At the heart of the festival is a celebration of books for all ages, with author panels, book signings, and readings across all genres. A dedicated children’s area will offer fun activities where every child can get a free book, and visitors can explore a wide variety of exhibitors, vendors and food trucks. Local organizations also will be featured, showcasing the spirit of community in Winston-Salem.
Children with Disabilities Resource Fair
Join us in August 2026!
This is a trade show style event with vendor booth spots available for therapies (OT, PT, Speech, ABA, Feeding), specialty sports, banks and financial advisors, lawyers (trusts and guardianship), medical supplies, tutoring and advocates, nonprofits, and any other company or service specifically for families with disabled children. All in one place to help families see what is in this area to help their family.
Sign-A-Thon
The NC Sign-A-Thon is a vibrant, family-friendly event hosted by Relay North Carolina to celebrate American Sign Language (ASL) and local Deaf communities. It features signed music, visual performances, ASL storytelling, nonprofit exhibitors, and community networking.
I was honored to feature my book collection at the tabling event, in addition to presenting a stage reading of my book, Shining in Silence: The Story of a Deaf Dancer.
I felt very included and welcomed, despite knowing very little sign language. I am excited to continue making connections and learning more of the language and culture in the future.
Strengths in Every Story
Building Classrooms That Celebrate All Learners
In this recorded workshop originally presented at the 2026 NC CEC Conference, I dive into the "why" behind the Lovely Life Library. This session provides a deep dive into the importance of inclusive representation—specifically for neurodiverse children—and offers practical tips for educators and parents to find and utilize stories that reflect the unique strengths of every child.
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Contacts
nelliecarroll1213@aol.com