Join two days of historic celebration at the Canton Labor Day Festival! With over a century under its belt, this two-day music festival-parade mashup is the oldest of it’s kind in the Southeast.
118th Canton Labor Day Festival in haywood
A celebration for the history books
As the South’s oldest running festival, the Canton Labor Day Festival celebrates small-town grit, prosperity, and perseverance with two days of lively events and concerts.
A historic parade of over 100 floats winds through downtown, the park is packed with food trucks, local farm stands, a beer garden, a vintage car show, a kids zone, splash pad, the Ultimate Air Dogs Competition, and the WNC Handcraft Expo. Each day brings a new lineup of acclaimed musical acts shredding it on the main stage. Make the Canton Labor Day Festival your new family tradition and join this gem of a town’s living history.
QUICK FACTS
Canton, NC
Where
September 6→7, 2026
When
118
Years of event history
10
Musical acts over 2 days
Tips and practical advice
Mountain weather can turn on a dime, and this is a rain-or-shine event, so be sure to check the forecast and pack accordingly!
Skip the day-of line when you purchase your tickets online. Choose an online-exclusive two-day pass or a classic one-day pass.
Make a game plan for arriving, parking, navigating the festival, and your exit route using the digital map.
Good times in the papertown
Somewhere to kick your boots up
Find a cabin, vacation home, or budget-friendly hotel room to unwind in after the festivities end.
