Annual Events

Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2023, RiverRun is one of the fastest-growing regional film festivals in the U.S., and a premier film festival in the Southeast. This Academy Award-qualifying film festival showcases a variety of narrative, documentary, student, animated, and short films from all genres. In 2019, USA Today's 10 Best digital platform highlighted the RiverRun International Film Festival as one of, "10 Amazing Film Festivals Worth Traveling For."

Hosted at Bailey Park in downtown Winston-Salem, this celebration of African American traditions and freedom features music, dance, food, panel discussions, as well as arts and crafts, from 1 to 8 p.m.

The Piedmont Craftsmen’s Fair, held in the Benton Convention Center, is now in its 60th year of presenting quality craftsmanship from some of the Southeast's finest makers. The Fair is a holiday shopper’s delight, filled with row upon row of unique home goods, jewelry, ceramics, glass, wearables, furniture, and decor handcrafted by more than 100 skilled artisans and artists. View live demonstrations of various craft techniques, mix and mingle with talented makers, and browse displays of quality craftsmanship and fine design—all hallmarks of the fair.

Tanglewood Park's rolling countryside transforms each holiday season into a shimmering Winter Wonderland with more than a million twinkling lights aglow. Entering its 32nd season, the Festival of Lights at Tanglewood Park is open nightly from 6-11 p.m. starting Nov. 17, 2023, through Jan. 1, 2024. Attendees take in the spectacular sights while listening to festive tunes on the interactive musical displays, with original compositions from the UNC School of the Arts students. Enjoy more than 80 displays along the winding countryside route.

Celebrating 140 years, the Carolina Classic Fair (formerly the Dixie Classic Fair) is the second largest agricultural fair in North Carolina, averages 325,000 visitors each year. The 10-day annual fair features a world-class carnival with numerous rides and games, nationally known musical entertainment, delicious food and beverage, and exhibits of livestock, poultry, fine arts, and crafts.

Bookmarks Festival of Books and Authors, the largest book and author festival in the Carolinas celebrates 18 years with the 2023 festival in downtown Winston-Salem.
 

Gears & Guitars will return to Innovation Quarter, August 4-6, 2023. Marking its tenth annual event, the weekend combines world-class racing, community rides, and a roster of live music into the biggest party on two wheels.

All are welcome, as Winston-Salem proudly celebrates the local LGBTQIA+ community with a downtown parade and festival with live music, entertainment, street vendors, and hands-on activities. The 2023 Pride Winston-Salem Festival will be held in the Downtown Arts District on June 24, beginning at 10 a.m. The festival serves as the kickoff to a weeklong celebration of love, unity, and equal rights — all of which is hosted by Pride Winston-Salem (Pride WS), celebrating their 10th anniversary in 2023!

Did You Know? In 2019, Travel + Leisure named Winston-Salem a Top 10 destination to celebrate LGBT History Month.

The 18th biennial National Black Theatre Festival (NBTF) rolls out the purple carpet July 29-August 3, 2024 in Winston-Salem, transforming North Carolina's city of arts and innovation into a mega-performing arts center with over 130 performances in a number of the city’s venues. Theatre workshops, films, seminars, a teen poetry slam, and a star-studded celebrity gala all work together to accomplish the goal of making the National Black Theatre Festivals one of the best theater festivals in the country.