The Clayton Harvest Festival is the big finish each October. But Johnston County has a month of small town festivals before it. Here is a road trip guide for the season near Portofino: three classic festivals, each with its own character, spread across the county's historic downtowns and main streets.
One of the quiet advantages of living in Portofino is where it sits. The gated community is on Clayton's eastern edge, which puts the whole county within an easy drive: Clayton for the St. Ann festival, Selma and Smithfield a little farther east for the bigger community events, and downtown Clayton again at month's end for the Harvest Festival. For residents of 297 Bonaventure Dr, fall weekends practically organize themselves.
Between mid-September and the end of October, the county calendar moves in a friendly rhythm: farm season opens, the small towns take turns hosting their festivals, and downtown Clayton builds toward its biggest weekend of the year. For families, it is the season when the calendar is worth printing and putting on the fridge, because the best weekends are the ones planned a week or two ahead.
Selma Railroad Days: October 2-3, 2026
Selma has Railroad Days on the first weekend of October. This year the 51st annual Selma Railroad Days Festival runs Friday and Saturday, October 2-3, 2026 in downtown Selma, with free admission and a celebration that has been part of Johnston County since 1975. Expect live music, model trains, food trucks and a parade.
The festival also brings carnival rides, a classic car show, local vendors and artisans, and railroad-themed exhibits up and down Raiford Street, in the heart of the town that grew up around the rail line. Model train displays are especially popular with kids, and the parade gives the whole weekend a proper small-town opening. For the official schedule, check the Town of Selma's Railroad Days page.
From Portofino, Selma is an easy drive east out of Clayton, close enough that the festival works as a day trip with plenty of time left over for an early dinner back home.
Smithfield Oktoberfest: Saturday, October 10, 2026
Historic downtown Smithfield turns German later that month. Oktoberfest & Harvest Market takes over historic downtown Smithfield on Saturday, October 10, 2026 from noon to 4 p.m., and it is free, family-friendly, and a genuinely fun way to spend a fall afternoon. Craft beer, live music, vendors and a kids zone line the streets.
The festival packs the 100 block of South Third Street with German-inspired food from local vendors, a Bier Garden featuring craft beer from regional breweries, live music that usually includes an oompah-polka band, and a lineup of German pub games. Kids get their own zone, and the adjacent harvest market brings in local vendors selling seasonal goods. If you have never been, it is a friendly introduction to Smithfield's historic downtown, which is roughly a 15-minute drive from Portofino. Details and the full schedule are posted on the Downtown Smithfield Oktoberfest page.
Smithfield's downtown is worth arriving early for. The festival block sits in the heart of the town's walkable historic district, a short stroll from the Neuse River behind the downtown storefronts, so an early arrival leaves time to browse the vendor rows, watch a few rounds of the German pub games, and pick a table before the music really gets going. Families with little ones usually start at the Kid Fun Zone, then work their way through the harvest market, which keeps the afternoon from ever feeling rushed.
St Ann International Food Festival: Saturday, October 3, 2026
Clayton hosts an international food day in early October. The St. Ann International Food Festival returns on Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at St. Ann Catholic Church on US 70 Business West, with free admission and free parking. St Ann brings cuisines and neighbors together right in town.
Parishioners cook and serve dishes representing more than 20 countries, from Cuban and Mexican to Italian, Irish, Indian, Filipino, Greek, Haitian, Jamaican, Polish, and Venezuelan cooking, all alongside live entertainment, children's games, and a silent auction. In a county that loves its barbecue and sweet potatoes, the festival is a great reminder of how diverse Johnston County has become. Because it sits right on US 70 Business, it is arguably the closest of the three festivals to the Portofino gate, just a few minutes from home.
How to plan the month
One thing to know up front: Railroad Days and the St. Ann festival share the same weekend this year, both landing on Saturday, October 3. Most families simply pick the one that fits the day best, or focus on Selma and save the St. Ann option for another year. Whichever you choose, the month is genuinely easy to schedule because everything is within a short drive.
Add the Harvest Festival at month end and you have a season. The 75th annual Clayton Harvest Festival runs October 22-25, 2026 on downtown Main Street, four days of carnival rides, the Squealin' on the Square barbecue competition, the Latin American Festival, and a classic car show, capped by the family-friendly Boo Bash on October 23. For the full rundown, see our complete Harvest Festival guide.
For Portofino the weekends basically plan themselves: October 3 is the county's opening weekend, October 10 belongs to Smithfield, and the last stretch of the month belongs to the Harvest Festival and Halloween. Families who like to keep the season organized can also follow our Halloween guide for pumpkin patches and corn mazes around the same dates.
The geography helps, too. Every stop on this list is an easy drive from Portofino, so the month stays local no matter which festival you choose. Start in Clayton at the St. Ann festival, head east to Selma and Smithfield on the weekends that follow, and finish back in Clayton for the Harvest Festival. Nothing about the season requires a long trip, which is exactly why Johnston County's small towns work so well for families.
Why small-town festivals fit the Portofino lifestyle
These three festivals are a good example of the balance that makes Portofino special. Inside the gate at 297 Bonaventure Dr, life is quiet: half-acre wooded lots, screened porches, community pools, and miles of trails. Outside the gate, Johnston County's small towns keep a year-round calendar of real community events, and this is the season when that calendar is at its best.
Buyers comparing Clayton communities often focus on the homes themselves, but the surrounding community is what turns a house into a hometown. Festivals like these create the connections that make neighbors feel like people you know, and they are the reason Clayton and its neighboring towns consistently feel like more than just a commute. To see how close all of it is to the community, explore the Portofino neighborhood guide and the local guide, which map out the restaurants, parks, and everyday services around 297 Bonaventure Dr.
These are also the kind of events where a community's character shows itself. Watch how neighbors catch up at the St. Ann food tables, or how whole families of every age work a Selma parade crowd, and you will understand what Johnston County means when it talks about small-town life. It is a genuine, repeatable quality, not something a photo gallery can fake, and it is one of the strongest reasons families choose to put down roots here.
Frequently asked questions
Are these festivals free to attend?
Yes. Admission to Selma Railroad Days is free, Smithfield Oktoberfest is free, and the St. Ann International Food Festival offers free admission and free parking. You will pay only for food, drinks, rides, and vendor purchases.
Which festival is closest to Portofino?
The St. Ann International Food Festival on US 70 Business in Clayton is the closest, just a few minutes from the Portofino gate. Smithfield's Oktoberfest is roughly 15 minutes away, and Selma's Railroad Days is an easy drive east of Clayton.
Does Oktoberfest have anything for kids?
Yes. The festival includes a Kid Fun Zone and a family-friendly atmosphere, with German pub games, live music, and a harvest market that keeps the event interesting for every age.
What else is happening in October near Clayton?
The 75th annual Clayton Harvest Festival runs October 22-25, with Boo Bash on October 23 and downtown trick-or-treating on Halloween. Pumpkin season also kicks off at local farms, which our Halloween guide covers in detail.
For the full month-ahead calendar of concerts, markets, and festivals, see our fall events guide. And when you are ready to call Clayton home, Schedule a tour of 297 Bonaventure Dr or call Phil at 919-899-2320 to see the Portofino lifestyle in person.
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