Autumn Jubilee

This Annual Festival attracts more than 50,000 visitors from across Rowan County and the state. Held the first weekend in October, the Autumn Jubilee celebrates the season with live music, food, and craft vendors.
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Background

This will be the 40th Annual Autumn Jubilee at Dan Nicholas Park this year and the planning starts almost as soon as the last one ends. This is an ongoing project preparing for this event. This year’s event is set for October 5 and 6 from 10 AM to 6 PM. It occurs annually the first Saturday and Sunday in October.

Originally, this event was run by the United Arts Council as an arts and crafts show. Later, due to popularity, it was taken over by the County and currently over 60,000 attend this event rain or shine.

Crafts

This year, you can plan on seeing over 120 vendors. All crafts at this event are handmade with no duplicate vendors. You can find everything from hand-made soaps, candles, iron works, jewelry, hand-made cutting boards, and more!

Kids Zone

This year for the kids you will be able to find the following: a bungee jump, a climbing wall, Dakota & Friends: a “Live” dinosaur experience, a magician, knights fighting, face painting, sand art, pumpkin painting, wax hands, a Jurassic inflatable obstacle course, a soap bubble circus, and a mime! The Kid’s Zone will be located at the Splash Pad in the park and there will be tickets available for sale.

Live Music

There is always great entertainment on the stage at the Autumn Jubilee and this year there will be plenty! Be sure to make note of the following times so that you get to the “Outdoor Theater” across from the parking lot and see the following talent on each day!

Saturday, October 5, 2019

  • 11:30 AM to 12 PM - Mailvis
  • 12 to 2 PM -  20 Ride
  • 2 to 2:45 PM -  Mailvis
  • 3 to 5 PM - Too Much Sylvia

Sunday, October 6, 2019

  • 10:30 to 11:30 AM - Praise Grass Band
  • 11:30 AM to 12 PM - Mailvis
  • 12 to 2 PM to Motel Soap
  • 2 to 2:45 PM - Mailvis
  • 3 to 5 PM - Kameron Marlowe

Heritage Village

While you are wondering around the park, be on the lookout for Heritage Village. In this village area, you will be able to find bee keepers, soap makers, a blacksmith, and a wood carver. There is also a “selfie” photo station this year to capture the perfect picture of your day at the Jubilee.

Tasty Eats

On top of having a huge array of vendors and entertainment there over the weekend, there is a great line-up of food vendors as well. Can you say “chicken on a stick”? How about homemade ice cream that’s cranked right there on the property? There will be plenty of varieties to suit every taste with 15 vendors on-site. There is something for everyone, so go ahead and pick out your favorites below.

  • WOWZA BBQ
  • Filipino-American Society
  • Happy’s Farm
  • St. Matthews
  • Mike & Deb Old Fashion Homemade Ice Cream
  • Taco Trolley
  • Coburn UMC
  • Carolina Kettle Korn
  • Hoff’s Grill
  • Bavarian Nut Hut
  • Millbridge Ruritan
  • Gigi’s Southern Fried Pies
  • Kyle’s Concessions
  • SnoBiz
  • Bojangles

A Few Things to Know

When you are making plans to attend the Autumn Jubilee here are a few things that you want to keep in mind:

  • No Pets
  • Dan Nicolas Park is tobacco free and alcohol free.
  • BRING CASH! There will be an ATM available and vendors may accept cards as well, but you may want to have cash in case the card readers do not work.
  • Consider taking Stokes Ferry Road to Agner Road for an easier route into the Jubilee.
  • Once you get into Dan Nicolas Park, there will be shuttle hay rides running all day long on both days.

Special Thanks

Autumn Jubilee is the result of a lot of planning and hard work from Andrea Baucom of Rowan County Parks & Recreation, and Joni Hobbs and YourRowan Greenspace Connector Ashley Duncan, both of Rowan County Facilities Management and Parks & Recreation.  

Special recognition also goes to our sponsors: Bojangles, Cheerwine, Carolina Home Remodeling, Bath Fitter, Gerry Wood Auto Group, Novant Health, and Atrium Health.

Thanks also to the Rowan County Sheriff’s Department and the Rowan County Rescue Squad. Specials thanks to Union Lutheran Church for helping with parking and to Rockwell Farms for providing beautiful mums each year.

Lastly, many thanks to the Maintenance Staff at Dan Nicholas that makes sure everything runs smoothly before, during, and after this fun event.

Article excerpted from YourRowan Activities Connector Janet Ruffin: A Fall Tradition: The 40th Annual Autumn Jubilee at Dan Nicholas Park.