Events

From Scares to Show Cars: A Weekend of Festivals and Community Fun

Posted Monday, October 26, 2026 10:34 am

By: Mason Beam - Wise News Network

Cherryville, NC (WNN) - The weekend starting October 16, 2026, held many events, and WNN’s team visited three: Cherryville, NC’s “Scaryville”, Shelby, NC’s “Mush, Music, and Mutts,” and the Knights of Pythias Lodge #263 Car Show. We’re bringing you a rundown of each event with an attached photo gallery. Use the arrows to navigate the galleries.

Scaryville 2026

2026 Scaryville - Main Street, Cherryville, NC - October 16, 2026

One night a year, Cherryville’s Main Street crawls with ghosts and ghouls, all hoping for scarely good treats, a little bit of music to rattle their bones, and to be crowned the night's best fright, as the winner of the annual costume contest. This year was no different, with the street lined with vendors and attendees happily checking this year's offerings. Others found themselves gathered at the stage to listen to On The Run and, of course, to witness the costume contest. The event also features a haunted hayride put on by the Cherryville Little Theatre.

Mush, Music, and Mutts

NC Livermush Festival Mush, Music, and Mutts - Shelby, NC - October 17, 2026.

The NC Livermush Festival, in Shelby, NC, held its 41st annual celebration on October 17, 2026. The festival has grown steadily over the years, with this year featuring a few new additions. The first of which is the All American Car Show, by Cars By Coffee Shelby and Matt, which took place near Shelby’s downtown restaurants. The second addition was Piggy Bingo, and they have also added a sensory area for those who needed to get away from the large crowd. One of the co-directors, Bailey Jackson, had this to say about the festival:

“We were expecting a big crowd this year. We've got lots of great music, great food, and we're just really excited to be here.” - Bailey Jackson

Bailey Jackson - NC Livermush Festival Mush, Music, and Mutts - Shelby, NC - October 17, 2026.

Mason Beam (WNN)

The 2025 festival faced a strange issue: running out of liver mush, but this was curbed this year by having 3 separate vendors appear at the festival. Of course, the festival is filled with all sorts of other food to be enjoyed aside from this. Another feature of the event is music. Each corner of the town square featured a stage, of which three were dedicated to all-day music. Many of the slots were filled by local musicians, giving the festival a “homegrown” vibe. However the final stage featured something a little bit different. The final piece of the festival was “Mutts,” and, as such, this pet-friendly event featured its annual pet costume contest hosted by Roll-Over Pets, along with many local rescues and shelters, as well as groomers and other pet-themed stands. The contest featured fiercely dressed dogs and, for the first time ever, a duck that seemed not to realize it wasn’t a dog.

The Knights of Pythias Car Show

Knights of Pythias Car Show - Cherryville, NC - October 17, 2026

The Huffman & Camp Lodge #263 also held its own event at the NAPA Auto Parts store in Cherryville, NC, on Highway 150. This was to support those in need and assemble meal kits for families of four, ready for distribution on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Occasionally, money raised at events like this will also go to scholarships offered by the Knights of Pythias. This event raised $ 1,000.00 for these local families through hot dog sales, entry fees, and a half-and-half raffle. If you need a Thanksgiving meal, you can sign up to receive one at the Cherryville Area Ministries located at 212 N Mountain St, Cherryville, NC 28021, or speak with a lodge member. You can find out more about the lodge itself here: https://www.nckop.com/randy-huffman-memorial-lodge-263/

Wayne Watts’ Oldsmobile Cutlass

Knights of Pythias Car Show - Cherryville, NC - October 17, 2026

Mason Beam (WNN)

Wayne Watts is a retiree who enjoys attending car shows. He spent a few years caring for his wife, who sadly passed away on September 17, 2026, and was unable to attend many shows during this time. Watts says he has four cars he likes to show, and for this event he brought out his Oldsmobile Cutlass. When asked what his favorite feature of this car was, he said he reckoned it was the car's white convertible top. Watts also brought along his companion, a golden retriever that may have spent more time stealing the show than the cars!

Eric Withers’ 1971 Ford Bronco

Knights of Pythias Car Show - Cherryville, NC - October 17, 2026

Mason Beam (WNN)

Eric Withers could be found beside his daily driver, a 1971 Ford Bronco that he restored himself. He said the car found its way to him in 2005, when he began restoring it to working order. This included an engine rebuild, suspension rework, adding new floor pans, installing air conditioning, replacing the interior, installing new front disc brakes, and cleaning and painting the frame. Withers states he enjoys the weathered look of his car because if he had made it too shiny, he’d be afraid to drive it. He also noted that Broncos are his favorite type of car, and that he got his first one in 1984. He still has this one; however, it needs repair work before it is show-ready.

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North Carolina Press Association Member

From Scares to Show Cars: A Weekend of Festivals and Community Fun

Scaryville 2026

Mush, Music, and Mutts

The Knights of Pythias Car Show

Wayne Watts’ Oldsmobile Cutlass

Eric Withers’ 1971 Ford Bronco

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