by Mimi Montgomery

Hard to believe, but fall is approaching, and with it comes a celebration of all things autumnal. Get in the seasonal spirit with the 74th Annual North Carolina Gourd Arts & Crafts Festival, a celebration hosted September 12 and 13 by the North Carolina Gourd Society. It features crafting workshops, local vendors, a display of exotic gourds, and a live auction. “We want to introduce more people and the general public to the world of gourds and to widen people’s horizons about all the different things you can do with them,” says Paul Buescher, treasurer of the Gourd Society. This year’s theme is “Gourd Bling,” so prepare to be dazzled by the wide array of colorful veggies strutting their stuff.

Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.; $2 adults and free for children under 16, workshop students, and NC Gourd Society members; Holshouser Building, 1025 Blue Ridge Rd.; ncgourdsociety.org/festival