Fall in Love with Mooresville

There are so many things for visitors to love about Mooresville: the beautiful sunsets over Lake Norman, the unique swimming hole at Carrigan Farms, and the adrenaline-inducing go-kart racing at the Trackhouse Motorplex. While summer in Mooresville is filled with fun activities and things to do, for those of us at the Visitors Center, we tend to love autumn here the best. Maybe it’s the promise of cooler weather, or all of the awesome festivals, or perhaps it’s because of everything PUMPKIN! Whatever the reason, we wanted to share some of our favorite things about Fall in Mooresville.

Get a workout on the water
Most people think fall means starting to bundle up in sweaters, but here in North Carolina, there are still plenty of nice warm days for enjoying Lake Norman. In fact, many of our residents use their boats and water toys almost year round. If you want to try your hand at watersports like stand up paddleboarding or kayaking, fall is a great time to do so. Not only are the temperatures great for outdoor sports, but in some places and at times, you could have the lake almost to yourself. You can rent paddle boards or kayaks at Lake Norman State Park as well as other places around Mooresville. Check out our watersports page for more information.

Hike or bike through the woods
Lake Norman State Park is not only great for watersports, it is a great place to hike or mountain bike. With more than 30 miles of trails, moderate elevation changes and gorgeous scenery, it’s easy to see why Lake Norman State Park has one of the highest visitor rates in the state, with nearly one million visitors in 2017! The Lake Shore Trail offers beautiful water views and was voted a must see trail. Once the leaves start turning, you are in for an awesome display of nature on your walk, run, or ride.

Pick a Pumpkin at Carrigan Farms
Pumpkin. Isn’t that the real reason everyone loves fall? From pumpkin lattes to ice cream to beer, the fruit that screams autumn turns up almost everywhere. Whether you want to decorate your porch or use it in a recipe, what better way to acquire your pumpkin than to pick it straight out of the patch? Better yet, take a tractor-drawn hay ride to get to the patch. Does it get any better than that?

Tap Into Your Wild Side
Though the animal parks near Mooresville are open year-round, fall is a great time to visit, as the animals enjoy the cooler temperatures as much as we do! Get up close and personal at the Lazy 5 Ranch Drive Thru Safari with more than 750 domestic and exotic animals from six continents. Take the horse-drawn wagon ride through the park to get the full experience. The park hosts a Fall Festival from September 28 to October 20, included in the admission price. (Keep in mind that extra additions and snacks are cash only!) See how high you can climb on the straw castle, or try your hand at the pumpkin slingshot.

At Zootastic Park, giraffe selfies are a favorite with visitors! You can feed and pet these gentle giants, as well as many other animals around the zoo. You can also purchase animal encounters where you can play with animals such as Fennec Fox, Lion cubs, Kangaroo or Ring Tail Lemurs.

Craft Brews & Cool Temps
Thanks to some awesome local breweries, enjoying craft beer in Mooresville is easier than ever! Visit the beautifully decorated and happening scene at King Canary Brewing. Owners Matt and Andrea wanted the taproom to be a family place where people could gather and relax, and they have done just that. The outdoor patio area is perfect for the coming cooler temps, and is a great place for kids to play while the adults socialize. There is usually a food truck on hand for meals, and they also serve snacks such as popcorn and pretzels from the bar.

One of the first breweries in Mooresville, Ghostface Brewing prides itself on creating unique and tasty beers – and features up to 20 at any given time. They also serve mead and ciders as well as pizza from a brick oven. Housed in a quaint building with exposed brick walls just a couple blocks off Main Street, this brewery is a popular local hangout. Check their events page for some fun happenings like yoga classes and the Mooresville Artisanal Marketplace where you can sip and shop.

OnTap Crafty Brews is located in the heart of historic downtown, in a corner building with a great view of the Main Street scene. Built in 1907 as a bank, the building’s original vault was converted into a beer cooler in the renovation, preserving a piece of history and adding to the “cool” factor of the bar. OnTap features 23 taps of craft beers and ciders, as well as a prosecco and wine tap. Order up some toasted sandwiches if you’re hungry, and strike up a conversation with other bar patrons for a laid back experience.

Spoooooky Halloween
If your idea of fun is to walk (or run) down a totally dark trail with creepy clowns and freaks with chainsaws jumping out at you, then you will probably get a kick out of Scarrigan Farms! Not for the faint of heart, the one-mile trail promises to be one of the scariest that you can encounter, and it is the perfect way to welcome in the Halloween season. Tickets are sold at the gate only and are first come, first served. Check the website for the full schedule of dates and times. And don’t get into that creepy clown’s van!