Explore Smithfield This Season: Festivals, Traditions, and Community Spirit

Come explore Smithfield with us this fall. At Local70, we see the season’s events as moments to gather, celebrate, and discover the everyday character of this town. For residents, it’s a chance to see your hometown with fresh eyes. For those considering a move, it’s a glimpse of a community that could soon be home.

Downtown Comes Alive!

This fall, exploration means gathering with neighbors and leaning into seasonal rhythms. The Ava Gardner Festival (October 10–12) celebrates 25 years of honoring Smithfield’s most famous daughter and shows how a local story can reach far beyond Johnston County.

Just down Main Street, the Oktoberfest & Harvest Market (October 11) and the Harvest Sip & Stroll (November 7) invite us to slow down, share a meal, and reconnect with the people and places that make downtown feel alive.

As the holidays arrive, Smithfield shines a little brighter. The Tree Lighting Festival and Smithfield Christmas Tree Festival (November 28–29) fill downtown with music, lights, and joy. The Country Music Showcase (December 5–6) and the Smithfield Christmas Parade (December 11) bring our community together in ways that feel both nostalgic and welcoming to anyone discovering Smithfield for the first time.

This season, Local70 invites you to explore Smithfield as its residents naturally do — through stories, traditions, and the simple joy of gathering. Exploration here is about seeing how tradition and community come alive all season long.