Family Friendly Activities in Haywood

Haywood Handmade Gallery's "Go with the Flow" exhibit celebrates the beauty, power, and importance of Haywood County’s waterways. In partnership with Haywood Waterways, this exhibition invites artists to create works inspired by rivers, streams, and other bodies of water—both literally and metaphorically. From flowing currents to reflections on life’s journeys, the show highlights how waterways inspire creativity while raising awareness of the need to protect and conserve our local watershed. Pictured work is by Peter Brown.

Come to this year’s Haywood County Fair for a blend of classic fun and heart-racing excitement! Featuring carnival games and rides, circus acts, magic and illusion shows, face painting, a viewing zoo, heritage craft demos, and more! Challenge yourself with axe throwing, GellyBall wars, and mechanical bull ride, then grab a bite from Food Truck Row and settle in for the demolition derby! Compete for top honors in in Haywood Idol, livestock contests, the mullet competition (yes, for real), and a cornhole tournament. Attendees with sensory sensitivities and other special needs can enjoy an accommodating Fair experience on a private-entry Inclusion Day!

Held Thursdays from 4pm-7pm at the Sorrells Street Park in downtown Canton, the Mill Town Farmers Market celebrates Haywood County’s local farmers and artisans. Browse handcrafted wood carvings, metal work, and pottery to spruce up your living space, pamper yourself with botanical skincare and perfumes, and stock your pantry with locally grown produce, farm-fresh dairy, homemade jams, baked goods, and much more! Enjoy live music, family-friendly activities, and sip on a fresh lemonade while you browse.

Join the annual C-10s in the Valley, the biggest Chevrolet & GMC truck show of the year! You won't want to miss the chance to see hundreds of top-tier trucks invade the Valley for three days of fun. Shop vendors from the SE Gas & Petroleum Exchange and Maggie Valley Swap Meet and chow down at onsite food trucks. Don’t miss Saturday’s awards ceremony, where registrants can win Top 50 awards, Best of Show, and huge cash prizes. Please refer to the event website for full schedule and pricing.

Set in Haywood's historic mill town, the monthly Mill Around Town event sees downtown Canton come alive with an extended evening of shopping, dining, deals, and entertainment. On the final Friday of each month, "mill" around to the record store, pottery studio, fly fishing shop, cafe, trendy boutique, bookshop, dark-academia flower shop, and more against a backdrop of live music and fun activities. Mill Around Town is free to attend, but supporting local businesses with purchases is encouraged.