Autumn Treasures 2026: Waxhaw's Free Fall Street Festival.
The Town of Waxhaw's Autumn Treasures takes over downtown on Saturday, October 10, 2026, from 10am to 6pm, with free admission: the Grill'n and Chill'n BBQ Cook-Off, a vendor market, a kids zone, a car show, and live music all in one strollable afternoon. It is Waxhaw's signature fall day, and it shows off everything this historic town does best.
Festival at a Glance
- Date: Saturday, October 10, 2026, 10:00am-6:00pm. This year's event is one day only.
- Location: Downtown Waxhaw, NC, along Main Street and at Downtown Park.
- Admission: Free. Vendors, BBQ tasting tickets, and food sold directly.
- What to expect: The Grill'n and Chill'n BBQ Cook-Off, a vendor market, a kids zone with inflatables and activities, a classic car show, and live music.
- Host: Town of Waxhaw. Official page: waxhaw.com autumn-treasures. Family listing: Kids Out and About Charlotte.
01 What to Expect
Autumn Treasures is a full-day festival built around Waxhaw's picture-perfect downtown. The Grill'n and Chill'n BBQ Cook-Off brings out the smokers and the friendly rivalry, with visitors tasting and voting through the afternoon. Around it you will find a vendor market packed with handcrafted goods, a kids zone with inflatables and plenty of wiggle room, classic cars shining in the October light, and live music drifting down Main Street all day.
The setting does half the work. Waxhaw is one of those historic Union County towns that looks like it has been waiting for you, brick storefronts, a real Main Street, and a park at its center. A festival here is less an event and more the town's personality turned up to ten.
02 Who It Is Best For
For families: free admission plus a kids zone plus an all-day schedule is a formula that works. Bring the kids for the inflatables and the car show, grab BBQ for lunch, and let the music hold the afternoon together. It is a low-cost, high-reward Saturday.
For car buffs and BBQ lovers: this is your day. The car show rewards slow walks and better stories, and the Grill'n and Chill'n Cook-Off means you can taste your way through the competition before voting for your favorite. Arrive hungry.
For relocators eyeing the Waxhaw area: Waxhaw is one of the fastest-growing and best-loved towns in the Charlotte metro, roughly 25 miles south of Uptown, and a festival day is the fastest education you can get in its community life. Come for the festival, walk the downtown, and you will understand the appeal immediately.
03 Plan Your Visit
Plan for the full window, 10am to 6pm, and pace yourself. Arrive early for the easiest parking and the car show at its freshest, buy your BBQ tasting tickets before the lines grow, and bring chairs or a blanket if you want to settle in for the music. Confirm details on the town's official page as the date approaches, since fall dates occasionally shift.
Waxhaw consistently tops my list when relocating families ask about Union County, and Autumn Treasures is the town showing off. If the day leaves you curious about the market here, that is exactly the conversation I love to have, and we can start it whenever you are ready.
Falling for Waxhaw? Let's Find Your Home.
Waxhaw pairs small-town charm with some of the Charlotte area's most desirable neighborhoods and schools. Book a free consultation and let us look at what the market holds for you here.
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Official Links
- Autumn Treasures, Town of Waxhaw (official event page)
- Autumn Treasures, Kids Out and About Charlotte (family listing)
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Tracey De Simon