Covering Iredell County Since 2026 · Statesville, North Carolina

Statesville Times

Category: Events

  • Carolina BalloonFest Returns to Statesville with Record Lineup

    The 53rd annual Carolina BalloonFest is set to take flight October 16-18 at the Statesville Regional Airport, featuring a record 60 hot air balloons, live entertainment, and a new Friday night balloon glow spectacular.

    The beloved fall festival, one of the Southeast’s premier balloon events, draws over 50,000 visitors annually to Statesville. This year’s lineup includes balloons from 14 states, aerobatic flight demonstrations, and tethered balloon rides available to the public.

    New additions include a craft village featuring 75 artisan vendors, a kids’ STEM zone with aviation-themed activities, and a Saturday night concert headlined by Carolina country artist Scotty McCreery.

    “BalloonFest is Statesville’s signature event,” said festival director Karen Bunch. “Every year we work to make it bigger and better while keeping that small-town festival feeling everyone loves.” Tickets are available at carolinaballoonfest.com.

  • Lake Norman Sailing Club Hosts Regional Regatta This Weekend

    The Lake Norman Sailing Club will host its annual Iredell Cup Regatta this Saturday and Sunday, bringing more than 120 sailboats and crews from across the Carolinas to compete on the largest man-made lake in North Carolina.

    The two-day event features racing in six classes, from youth Optimist dinghies to high-performance keelboats. Last year’s regatta drew spectators from three states and generated an estimated $500,000 in local tourism revenue.

    Race director Amanda Fulton said conditions on Lake Norman are ideal for competitive sailing. “The thermal winds we get in spring create challenging, exciting racing that sailors love.”

    Shore-side festivities include a seafood cookout, live bluegrass music, and boat tours for non-sailors. Spectator viewing is free from the club’s waterfront lawn. Racing begins at 10 a.m. both days.

  • Fort Dobbs Historic Site Unveils New Exhibit on Colonial Frontier Life

    Fort Dobbs State Historic Site has opened a major new permanent exhibit exploring daily life on North Carolina’s colonial frontier, featuring dozens of newly discovered artifacts and interactive displays.

    The exhibit, titled “Edge of Empire: Life at Fort Dobbs, 1756-1764,” includes musket balls, pottery shards, and personal items recovered during recent archaeological excavations at the site. A recreated soldier’s quarters allows visitors to experience the cramped conditions of frontier garrison life.

    Site manager Thomas Harwell said the exhibit fills a significant gap in telling the region’s story. “Fort Dobbs was the westernmost outpost of British colonial defense in North Carolina. This exhibit brings that history to life in ways we’ve never been able to before.”

    The exhibit is free with regular site admission. Fort Dobbs is located on Fort Dobbs Road, just west of downtown Statesville, and is open Wednesday through Saturday.