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Know what's going on in Statesville this weekend.

What's new, what's open and what to do. One email, five minutes.

Issue No. 1 · Thursday, Oct 15, 2026

The balloons are back

Hey neighbor. Carolina BalloonFest is this weekend, the downtown ghost tours open Friday, Levitt AMP throws a free all-day show Saturday, and early voting starts today. Give me five minutes and I'll get you to Sunday.

This weekend

Top pick · Fri–Sun, Oct 16–18

Carolina BalloonFest

Gates: Fri 3–8:30 p.m. · Sat 6:30 a.m.–8:30 p.m. · Sun 6:30 a.m.–6 p.m.

Festival grounds, 531 Old Airport Rd.

This is the 51st BalloonFest, and the official site calls it the second-oldest hot air balloon festival in the country. It may also be one of the last at the airport. Organizers say planned airport expansion will cut into their space, and they are looking for a new 100–200-acre home in the Statesville area. No new site has been named.

The official schedule lists a mass ascension window of 4:30–6 p.m. each day. Fri and Sat add an evening balloon glow (6:30–7:30 p.m.) and a 7:45 p.m. drone show. Sat and Sun mornings have a 7:30–9 a.m. competition launch. The Kids Zone inflatables are free, and the walk-in balloon is $2. Flights are weather-dependent.

Tickets are required. Parking passes are an add-on at checkout, and the free Park & Ride shuttle from the Iredell County Fairgrounds in Troutman needs no pass (about a 15-minute ride). Active and retired military get in free Sunday with ID.

Tickets & schedule →

Fri & Sat evenings · Oct 16–30

Haunted Statesville Ghost Tours

Check-in: City Hall, 227 S. Center St.

A 60-minute guided walk with the Sharpe House Historic Players. Listen for the unknown soldier said to linger at the old Fourth Creek Burying Ground, and the girl reportedly seen dripping wet in the old Vance Hotel. Yum Baking Co. sells sweets at check-in. Tickets are $17.50, with 25 people per tour. Tours leave in the evening; pick your time slot when you book. Advance registration is required and tickets are nonrefundable. Arrive 15 minutes early.

Tour times & tickets →

Sat, Oct 17 · Gates 11 a.m. · Headliner 6 p.m.

Levitt AMP: Lukas and Frank Live

The Levee Stage, SHA CAST Campus, 108 W. Allison St.

EDM Night at the Levitt AMP Statesville Music Series. DJs start at noon and Lukas and Frank Live headline at 6 p.m. Admission and parking are free, food trucks will be on site, and chairs, blankets and picnics are welcome.

Event details →

Thu 3:30–6 p.m. · Sat 7 a.m.–noon

Two Farmers Markets

Thu: Pecan Park, downtown · Sat: city lot, W. Front & Meeting St.

The Evening Farmers Market runs Thursdays through Oct 29, and the Rotary Club market runs Saturdays through Oct 31. That leaves only a few weeks in the season.

Market info →

Fri 7 p.m. · Sat 5–9 p.m.

Two nights at The Essence on Broad

230 W. Broad St.

Friday is The Spotlight Series, a live talent showcase with singers, musicians, dancers and comedians competing for a $250 grand prize. Saturday is Aloha at The Essence: fire dancers, hula, dinner included and a tiki bar, for $50 a person. Saturday needs an RSVP.

Aloha tickets & details →

Fri, Sun & Mon · RSVP required

Sharpe House Tea and Tales

The Historic Sharpe House, 402 S. Center St.

A traditional cream tea service with a tale of local history. Sunday's seating is at 2 p.m. and Monday's is at 11 a.m. Confirm Friday's time when you RSVP.

Details & tickets →

Sat & Sun, Oct 17–18 · From 9 a.m.

NC Gun Collectors Association Gun Show

Statesville Event Center, 300 S. Center St.

Collectors and dealers from across the region with firearms, knives, military memorabilia and collectibles. Saturday runs 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Check the organizer's page for Sunday hours and admission.

Event details →

Food news

Now open

Delightful Donuts lands in Forest Heights

835 N. Center St. · Mon–Fri 7 a.m.–4 p.m., Sat 7 a.m.–noon

The new shop in Forest Heights Shopping Center is run by the nonprofit Iredell COAST. Because their fryer wasn't approved for commercial use, the team bakes its donuts in a ventless oven. They spent February to June in the old eye doctor store after an inspection found structural problems in the strip mall. Tip: leftover donuts are usually sold the next day at a reduced price.

Read the story →

Coming soon

A bigger Chick-fil-A for Turnersburg Hwy

Council approved a first reading of the rezoning so the restaurant can move to a larger parcel with more drive-thru room. No decision yet on the current site. Chick-fil-A's program manager said some past moves kept both restaurants running.

Story →

Quick hits

  • Early voting Early voting for the Nov 3 election starts today and ends at 3 p.m. Sat, Oct 31. You can vote at any of Iredell's 5 sites, including the Board of Elections at 203 Stockton St. and the I-SS CATS building at 350 Old Murdock Rd. in Troutman. Hours are 8 a.m.–7:30 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m.–3 p.m. Sat, Oct 24 and 31. Sites are closed Oct 17–18 and Oct 25. Photo ID is required. The last day to request an absentee ballot by mail is Tue, Oct 20 at 5 p.m. Source
  • City Hall City Council meets Mon, Oct 19 at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall. The agenda has public hearings on rezonings along Moose Club Rd., Beauty St. and James Farm Rd. The consent agenda includes a second reading of the Turnersburg Hwy rezoning and annexation for the Free Nancy LLC site (the planned Chick-fil-A move; Council member James Pressly, a co-owner, recused himself at first reading), plus $616,868 in design and testing work for a Victory Air hangar. Source
  • Road work The northbound lane of Brookdale Dr. between Davie Ave. and Stockton St. closes Mon, Oct 19 through Tue, Oct 27 for waterline work. Local access stays open, and everyone else should detour. Source
  • Save the date Downtown Trick or Treating is Wed, Oct 28 from 4 to 6 p.m., with a rain date of Thu, Oct 29. Look for the official poster in the windows of participating businesses. New this year: kids' games on the green at Broad Street United Methodist Church. Source
  • Next Thursday The Well Crafted music series at the Iredell Arts Council has Whitney Mongé, Rick Cooper, Mike Rhodes and Matthew Smith on Thu, Oct 22, 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the Old Jail. Source

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