If you are looking for something to do this month, the Triangle is brimming with exciting events that will get you out of the house — including the NC State Fair, Triangle Oktoberfest, West End Poetry Festival, TerraVita Food & Drink Festival and a spooky movie at the Lumina Theatre.

The North Carolina State Fair, open now on Blue Ridge Road in Raleigh, will run through October 21. The Fair is famous for its delicious food selections, thrilling rides and much more. To add to the fun, the Fair will feature various promotional days.

For Senior Citizen’s Day, on October 16, the Fair will provide a free Bojangles’ breakfast and entertainment for all those 65 years of age and older. This will take place in the Dorton Arena from 9 to 10:30 a.m.

On October 17, the Fair will host Military Appreciation Day. In celebration, the fair will be featuring special exhibits, as well as a parade and performance by the 440th Army Band. Guests will have the opportunity to observe an Abrams Main Battle Tank, a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, a Mini-C-130 Aircraft and other military-grade vehicles at the Grandstand area until 6 p.m.

Lastly, the Food Lion Hunger Relief Day on October 18 will allow for free entry into the fair for anyone who brings five cans of food, which will be donated to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina.

The annual Triangle Oktoberfest is returning to the Booth Amphitheatre in Cary this Friday and Saturday for its fifth year. The largest Oktoberfest in North Carolina will feature traditional Bavarian food, a variety of German beers from Munich and many other fun events for all ages to enjoy.

In particular, the festival will host a live performance from the Polka Brothers, Weiner dog races, face-painting, a Masskrugstemmen (stein hoist) and a Hammerschlagen (hammer-striking) competition, and last year’s biggest hit: yodeling.

Proceeds from the Triangle Oktoberfest will benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and other local charities.

The 13th annual West End Poetry Festival returns to Carrboro and Chapel Hill on October 17. The festival will host readings from over 50 poets. The festival starts off at Johnny’s on West Main Street in Carrboro with a poet’s reception and ice cream social. Readings will also be held at The Station in Carrboro on October 18 and at Flyleaf Books on October 19, with a wine and cheese reception provided.

The West End Poetry Festival will come to a close on Saturday with a reading and workshop at the Carrboro Century Center from Sandra Beasley, author of books, including I Was the Jukebox. The final event will feature readings from three notable Arab female poets: Ruth Awad, Fatima Abdullah, and Shadab Zest Hashmi.

The acclaimed TerraVita Food & Drink Festival will begin on October 17 with the East Meets West Dinner at the Carolina Inn. Chefs and guests from the mountains to the coast of North Carolina will come together for a “family style,” multi-course meal, displaying some of the state’s greatest culinary talents.

The Food & Drink Festival will run through October 20, featuring events, such as Carla Hall’s Soul Food Book Event on October 18, where the TV personality will be present to discuss her new book, “Soul Food: Everyday and Celebration,” before its October 23 release. The festival will also hold cooking classes and seminars at Southern Season’s cooking school on October 19, as well as the final event, Fall Fête on the Village Green, to cap off the event on October 20.

If you’re looking to get into the Halloween spirit this weekend, the Lumina Theatre is hosting its Halloween movie series “Flick or Treat” all month long! This Saturday features a showing of “Beetlejuice” at 10 a.m. All tickets cost just $1.

Be sure to get out and take advantage of these fun happenings in your area. Stay tuned for more information on the exciting things in store for Halloween in your community.

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