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What’s made Winston-Salem events special in 2024

We’re looking back on the fun we’ve had in the Twin City and what’s in store this holiday season.

November 5, 2024 • 
Cambridge Wrege
Row of vendors selling food. People are walking down the middle.

Let’s be honest, the food is a big draw of the Carolina Classic Fair.

Photo by WStoday

You only have to browse our events calendar to know there’s plenty to do in Winston-Salem. From festivals and fairs to concerts and sporting events, it’s been a busy year in the Twin City — and we aren’t done yet. Let’s take a brief look at what Winstonians have been up to, what’s still ahead, and what you’d like to see in the city in 2025.

Big brags

  • RiverRun International Film Festival screened a record 197 films from around the world over 10 days in April. It will return for its 27th year April 11-19, 2025.
  • The Piedmont Earth Day Fair continues to be the largest celebration in the state, with 8,500+ attendees visiting the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds for free family fun. The 2025 fair will be held Saturday, April 26.
  • The Twin City welcomed big-name bands Barenaked Ladies + The Fray to the stage in Bailey Park in May, for Summerlark and Gears & Guitars, respectively. The next Summerlark is set for Saturday, May 10, 2025. Cyclists will cruise downtown streets again May 23-24, 2025 for Gears & Guitars.
People sitting in lawn chairs outside in the dark. A stage surrounded by a city skyline is in the distance.

We loved being among the crowd at The Fray concert.

Photo by WStoday

  • Winston-Salem transformed into “Black Theatre Holy Ground” in late July for the International Black Theatre Festival. NC Black Repertory Company’s biannual festival welcomed artists from across the world + ~65,000 attendees for performances, awards, and other activities. The festival will return July 27-Aug. 1, 2026.
  • New fan amenities and competitive tennis drew spectators to the Wake Forest University Tennis Complex for the Winston-Salem Open in August. Lorenzo Sonego clinched the singles title + Nate Lammons and Jackson Winthrow won their second consecutive tournament doubles title. Stay tuned for 2025 dates.
  • Bookmarks’ Festival of Books and Authors drew an estimated 16,000 attendees to the city for four days in September to celebrate the literary arts. It’s grown to become the largest annual book festival in the Carolinas. The 20th festival returns Sept. 25-28, 2025.
  • Fiesta, the Hispanic League’s annual celebration of Hispanic food, dance, and culture is the largest Hispanic street festival in the Triad. It drew ~20,000 people to downtown in September — the date for the 33rd annual festival hasn’t been announced yet.
  • 264,600+ guests walked through the gates of the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds for the Carolina Classic Fair in October. The fair received 1,091 more competitive entries than in 2023, including a pumpkin that weighed 400 lbs. Mark your calendar for more funnel cake Oct. 3-12, 2025.

There’s no place like home for the holidays

The holidays are approaching. That means more fun in the Twin City, including:

  • Holidays at Old Salem: Take a Joy of Christmas evening tour and see how early Moravians celebrated the holiday during Salem Saturdays at Christmas Wednesdsay, Nov. 13-Saturday, Dec. 28.
  • Tanglewood Festival of Lights: The light display at Tanglewood Park that’s an annual tradition for many is back for its 33rd season Friday, Nov. 15-Wednesday, Jan. 1.
  • Reynolda Village Holiday Stroll: The annual shopping event includes carolers, carriage rides, and visits with Santa on Saturday, Nov. 23.
living-room-fireplace-christmas-trees

Reynolda will also host An Enchanted Christmas on Tuesday, Dec. 17.

Photo by WStoday

Making grand plans

Is there an event you’d like to see in the Twin City in 2025? Tell us your ideas — we can’t promise they’ll happen but we might feature them if they do.