Fall foliage with a blue overlay
Oct 23

Guest Appreciation Festival

Adventure
Festival
Food and Drink
Live Music
Retail Sale
Vendor Event
  • Date & Time

    October 23, 11:00 AM – October 25, 2026, 8:00 PM

  • Location

    Nantahala Outdoor Center

gaf2025_logo_websitethumbnail

Description

Celebrate the end of the adventure season with a spooky twist at NOC’s Haunted Guest Appreciation Festival! Snag scary-good deals on used boats, gear, and apparel, enjoy thrilling paddling events, live music, and eerie specials on food, drinks, and activities. Explore the Used Gear Graveyard, the Witchy Artisan Market, and the Outfitter’s Store while soaking up haunted mountain vibes. More chilling details coming soon—if you dare. 

Used Gear Market 

Friday 2-7pm 

Saturday 9am-7pm 

Sunday 8am-Until… 

Dig into the ultimate gear treasure hunt at NOC’s Used Gear Market! With 20+ vendors offering everything from boats and PFDs to hiking boots and mountain bike gear, it’s your one-stop shop for outdoor adventure essentials.

Vendors can apply to participate in the used gear market using the button below. 

Artisan Market 

Friday 2-7pm 

Saturday 9am-7pm 

Sunday 8am-Until… 

The local artisan market is a vibrant showcase of local goods, crafts, and art. Come explore unique, handcrafted treasures from talented regional artisans.

Vendors can apply to participate in the Artisan Market using the button below. 

Used NOC Raft Sale 

Friday 9am-5pm 

Saturday 9am-5pm 

Sunday 9am-Until… 

Own a piece of NOC history! During GAF weekend, we’ll host a Used Raft Sale right in front of the Adventure Center. A limited selection of 8-man and 5-man inflatable rafts retired from NOC’s commercial fleet will be available in varying but decent condition, and are being sold as-is (all sales final). 

Outfitter’s Store End of Season Sale  

The Outfitter’s Store will be open all weekend, and you won’t want to miss their large pop-up tent located across from the Adventure Deck in the main parking lot, just across the river from the store. It will be packed with flash sales on end-of-season gear and clothing from your favorite outdoor brands.    

Live Music 

Friday 3-6pm 

Saturday 11am-6pm 

Enjoy free live music all weekend at GAF! On Friday, local singer-songwriter Laura Thurson kicks things off at 3 PM, while Saturday features Blue from 11am-2 PM, followed by Adrienne Blanks & the Oracles closing it out on the main stage from 3–6 PM. 

Spooky Fun Activities 

In the shadowy Backyard of Big Wesser while eerie costumes take center stage in a chilling costume contest, a face painter will help you transform into something spooky or strange, and across all NOC campus stores, trick-or-treating for Halloween candy hidden in every haunted corner. 

Interested in more Events?

Live Chat
Nantahala Outdoor Center
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.