North Carolina Prepares for Fall Color Display

Raleigh, NC – In celebration of the first day of fall and as autumn begins to settle across North Carolina, brilliant colors, excellent weather and fabulous festivals abound across the state. In an effort to assist travelers in making plans for their fall adventures in North Carolina, the Division of Tourism is providing all the tools needed to plan the perfect fall getaway from the tops of the highest peaks east of the Mississippi to the beautiful 300 miles of barrier island beaches along the coast.

Throughout the month of October, weekly fall color and fishing forecasts from across the state will be featured on the state’s travel website, VisitNC.com as part of the “Fall Color Experience.” In addition, toll-free hotlines have been established to assist travelers with their plans to visit North Carolina this fall:
• Fall Color Hotline: 866-6LEAVES (866-653-2837)
• Fall Fishing Hotline: 888-2 FISH NC (888-234-7462)
• General Travel Information: 800-VISIT NC (800-847-4862)

In addition to weekly updates, VisitNC.com’s “Fall Color Experience” also includes scenic drive suggestions, hiking and biking samplers, local leaf peeping tips, photo guidelines, and information about North Carolina trees and their vibrant color as well as a comprehensive guide for fall fishing in our great state.

Why is Fall Color so Brilliant in North Carolina?
Across the state, the diversity of plants and trees, as well as the varied elevation, cause vibrant colors to occur every autumn. In fact, North Carolina is home to over 120 species of trees, most of which are represented in the Mountains. These trees are the masters that create the brilliant kaleidoscope of colors each fall.

North Carolina's mountains are comprised of two primary ranges: the Blue Ridge and the Great Smoky Mountains. Within these mountains are 80 peaks between 5,000 and 6,000 feet, allowing for five distinct forest types to be represented. And, if one hikes from the base of a 6,000-foot peak to its summit, such varying flora would be present that could only be duplicated if you were driving from Georgia to Canada. These varied elevations allow a large selection of trees to thrive in our forests. Since North Carolina's Mountains have a variety of tree species, there is a more gradual and staggered changing in the leaves which gives our Mountains a longer Fall Color season.

Go to VisitNC.com to learn more about the science that makes fall color a reality in North Carolina and to learn more about the best places to visit our great state to view fall color in all of its brilliance.

Fall Festivals and Events
Cycle NC 2005 – Oct. 1-8, 2005
This year, the weeklong ride is from Asheville to Wilmington. City stops include Asheville, Forest City, Hickory, Concord, Albemarle, Laurinburg, Whiteville, and Wilmington.

MOUNTAINS
Asheville Film Festival
Oct. 27, 2005 – Oct. 30, 2005
Experience a variety of independent films of feature length, short and documentaries; plus a student film competition, workshops, location tours and an awards gala. The third annual Asheville Film Festival will welcome 10,000 film lovers to downtown Asheville for four days of independent cinema. Parties, industry networking, educational seminars and technical exhibits highlight the festival.

Woolly Worm Festival
Banner Elk
Oct. 15-16, 2005
The 27th annual Woolly Worm Festival takes place in Banner Elk. Craft and food vendors are open each day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and woolly worm races begin around 10:20 a.m., or as soon as the first heat, which consists of 20 worms, is registered and running. Races continue all day on Saturday until the grand finale, about 4 p.m., when the champion worm and trainer is crowned (and paid!). At that time the official winter forecast will be declared.

PIEDMONT
16th Annual Mayberry Days, Mount Airy
Sept. 22, 2005 – Sept. 25, 2005
Mayberry Days is an annual festival celebrating the anniversary of The Andy Griffith Show, held in the actor’s hometown of Mount Airy. A festival for the whole family with activities and events for the casual fan to those who long for the days when life was simple and the Sheriff didn't carry a gun. Enjoy a bottle of soda while playing checkers, relax to music from many local bands playing the same songs that Andy grew up with in Mount Airy and be sure to get your picture with the TV Land statue of Andy and Opie. There is so much to do during the festival, but there is always time to slow down and enjoy what Mayberry means to you.

55th Annual Benson Mule Days, Benson
Sept. 22, 2005 – Sept. 25, 2005
A southern tradition for over 50 years, this four-day event held in Benson is packed with mule events, rodeos, barbecue cook-offs, arts and crafts, street dances and a concert. Mule Days has been recognized as one of the best festivals in the South.

Oktoberfest, Hickory
Oct. 7, 2005 – Oct. 9, 2005
Oktoberfest is a three-day German-themed festival that brings 100,000 people to downtown Hickory to enjoy live music, rides, beer garden, craft show, "KidsFest", ethnic crafts, rides and games. Bring your appetite and enjoy thirty-three vendors who will be selling a great variety of irresistible food including home-baked chicken pot pies; roasted corn-on-the-cob; many ethnic foods including Greek, Italian and Asian; the always-popular "funnel cakes" and, of course, hot dogs and hamburgers.

22nd Barbecue Festival, Lexington
Oct. 22, 2005
Lexington, the Barbecue Capital of the World, along with 100,000 guests, honors this tantalizing Southern tradition each year by hosting a festival that includes exhibits, entertainment and some of the most legendary barbecue in the world.

COAST
North Carolina Seafood Festival, Morehead City
Sept. 30, 2005 – Oct. 5, 2005
Seafood, music, entertainment and the cultural heritage and traditions that surround commercial fishing begin Friday night on Morehead City's downtown waterfront. Weekend events include a road race, family fishing contests and surfing.

27th Annual U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament, Southport
Sept 29, 2005 - Oct 1, 2005
The U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament is one of North Carolina's oldest and most prestigious fishing tournaments offering over $100,000 in guaranteed cash prizes. No minimum number of boats required. Entertainment and fish fry at the Southport Marina.

North Carolina Oyster Festival
Oct 15, 2005 - Oct 16, 2005
Arts & crafts, food vendors, live entertainment, kids rides and games, surfing contest, 10k and 5k run, one-mile fun run, oyster stew cook-off and the North Carolina Oyster Shucking Contest. Thousands of seafood lovers gather in the Brunswick Islands to pay homage to the mighty mollusk. 2005 will mark the 25th anniversary for the North Carolina Oyster Festival and it just keeps getting better! The festival hosted a record 30,000 people in 2004 - filling the grounds adjacent to the Museum of Coastal Carolina at Ocean Isle Beach. In fact, people come from many of the surrounding states to attend the festival every year.

Natural scenic beauty, adventure and relaxation, a dining experience for every taste, rich history and warm Southern hospitality come together in North Carolina. Call 1-800-VISIT NC or go to VisitNC.com to plan your next getaway.

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