I’ve never eaten a doughnut I didn’t like.

Doughnuts are like pizza. Some are great. Others are merely good. But there is no such thing as a bad doughnut.

Unless you’re my brother.

Sometime back in the 1980s, he bit into a soft, powdered Sweet Sixteen doughnut and found something dark and crunchy inside. Whatever it was ruined him. Nearly 40 years later, he still hasn’t eaten another doughnut.

Not me. I love a doughnut. And, as I’ve admitted here before, I may love food passed through a small window a little too much.

So when Food Junkee Doughnuts started appearing in my Instagram feed a few years ago, I paid attention. A few times a week, another photo would pop up, and I’d promise myself that one weekend I was going to track down their food truck.

Eventually, I did. It was the fall of 2023, and Food Junkee was serving at a farmers market in Denver one Saturday. What I didn’t know was that Denver had two farmers markets. They were on the same road, separated by about a mile, apparently because the original market had split in two.

Naturally, I went to the wrong one.

After wandering around and wondering how I had missed an entire doughnut truck, I finally figured it out. I climbed back into my truck, drove a little farther down the road and stumbled upon another farmers market.

And there they were, serving what turned out to be the best doughnut I have ever eaten.

It was thick, sweet and made fresh to order right there on the truck. This wasn’t some sad doughnut that had been sitting beneath convenience-store lights since sunrise. This was a serious doughnut.

When I was a kid, the promise of a doughnut could get me out of bed faster than anything else. Cereal couldn’t do it. Toast certainly couldn’t. Doughnuts were, and still are, my love language, as my waistline can attest.

This Saturday, Food Junkee owners Joe and Megan Byrd will celebrate five years in business at The Wandering Cup in Belmont.

I grew up on Krispy Kreme and Sweet Sixteen doughnuts. But when I became an adult, I put childish doughnuts behind me.

Joe and Megan make a five-star doughnut. If you don’t believe me, get there early Saturday and taste one for yourself. The line will be long, and that black truck may sell out sooner than you expect.

Congratulations, Joe and Megan, on five sweet years!

Child support calculations in North Carolina are more complex than most parents realize. Sodoma Law Belmont helps families navigate the process with confidence and less stress. They offer:

Ready to take the first step? LEARN MORE AT SODOMALAW.COM →

Thank you to our local partners who help make this newsletter possible!

Construction is underway to replace the 93-year-old Wilkinson Boulevard bridge with a six-lane crossing featuring multi-use paths, overlooks and decorative lighting. The project also includes a redesigned Catawba Street intersection and connections to Gaston College, Kevin Loftin Riverfront Park, ISWA Nature Preserve and Belmont’s greenway. [Check out the updated renderings here.]

Only a few team spots remain for the Gaston Business Association Golf Classic this Monday, October 12 at Cramer Mountain. The $700 entry includes nine holes in daylight, nine glow-golf holes at night, food, drinks, contests and prizes. Raffles support Leadership Gaston scholarships. Play starts at 4 p.m.

Food Junkee Doughnuts celebrates five years this Saturday, October 10, at The Wandering Cup in Belmont. The party features a mystery doughnut, with clues possibly dropping before the big reveal. Stop by for a treat and help this local favorite toast five years in business.

Chronolog stations along Gastonia’s greenways invite walkers to photograph nature from designated spots. Uploading each image helps create a visual record showing how the landscape changes through seasons and years. When you spot one, place your phone in the stand, snap a picture and contribute.

After nearly a decade of planning, Gaston Aquatics is expected to open near Gaston College this month. The facility will feature swim lessons, therapy, adaptive programs, first-responder training and a permanent home for the Gaston Gators. Residents will receive priority access through memberships and day passes. [Gaston Gazette]

Disclaimer: News items marked with ($) in this section indicate sponsored content.

Market on Main in Downtown Belmont is filled with seasonal décor, cozy accents, gifts, and specialty treats perfect for the season. Every purchase supports Holy Angels and creates meaningful opportunities for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities:

STOP BY TODAY →

Thank you to our local partners who help make this newsletter possible!

Belmont Farmers Market — Sunday, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Gastonia Farmers Market — Tuesday, Thursdays & Saturday, 7:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. 
Mount Holly Farmers Market — Saturday, 8 a.m.–12 p.m.

No game this weekend.

Paws & Pumpkins Fall Festival Fundraiser
📍 508 Woodlawn St., Belmont
⏰ 11 a.m.–3 p.m.; costume contest at 2 p.m.
Bring your pup for adoptable animals, local vendors, food, music, raffles, pet CPR and training demonstrations, nail trims and a costume contest. Proceeds benefit Cool Beans Cat Cafe and Destination Home Puppy Rescue. Free to attend. More Details.

Cleveland County Fair
📍 Cleveland County Fairgrounds, 1751 E. Marion St., Shelby
⏰ Hours vary by day
The Cleveland County Fair continues through October 11 with rides, games, food, livestock exhibits, live entertainment and more than a century of tradition in Shelby. More Details.

Cotton Ginning Days
📍 Dallas Park, 1303 Dallas Cherryville Hwy, Dallas
⏰ Various times
Watch a restored 1900 cotton gin roar to life alongside antique steam engines. Enjoy tractor parades, heritage crafts, live music, tasty food, and free admission. More Details

Karaoke Night
📍 The Rooster, 334 W Main Ave, Gastonia
⏰ 8 p.m. (doors 6 p.m.)
Grab the mic and steal the spotlight at this free weekly singalong. All ages welcome, with cheap drink specials fueling courageous performances all night long. More Details

Circus Circus
📍 The Rooster, 334 W Main Ave, Gastonia
⏰ 9 p.m. (doors 8 p.m.)
A dark burlesque and variety show featuring daring performers and bizarre spectacles takes over The Rooster for an adults-only circus night in downtown Gastonia. More Details 

Spirits of Lost Hollow: Date Night Series
📍 Daniel Stowe Conservancy, 6500 S New Hope Rd, Belmont
⏰ 6 - 8 p.m.
Wander moonlit garden paths while sipping handcrafted seasonal cocktails. Spooky storytelling, live music, and a food truck round out this adults-only Halloween date night. More Details

Mount Holly Nights: Earth, Wind & Fire Tribute
📍 Main Street, Downtown Mount Holly
⏰ 6 - 10 p.m.
Dance under the stars as a live tribute band plays funky soul classics. Food trucks and a beer tent round out this free outdoor concert. More Details

Ghost Tours on the Square
📍 Gaston County Museum, 131 West Main Street, Dallas
⏰ 7 and 8 p.m.
Explore haunted local history on a guided evening walking tour. Step inside the 1852 Hoffman Hotel, the most haunted building on the historic town square. More Details

Kennon & Friends at Confluence South Fork
📍 Confluence South Fork, 117 Center St, Cramerton
⏰ 7 - 10 p.m.
Spend Friday evening enjoying live music from Kennon and Friends inside Cramerton’s community-focused gathering place for arts, culture, great food, and meaningful local connection. More Details

Live at Parsifal Books: Alex J. Wolfe
📍 Parsifal Books, 106B E First St, Lowell
⏰ 7 - 9 p.m.
Hear Carolinas songwriter Alex J. Wolfe blend country, blues, and Americana during a free performance, with coffee, snacks, beer, and wine available for purchase. More Details

Next Stop Comedy at Primal Brewery
📍 Primal Brewery, 52 Ervin St, Belmont
⏰ 8 p.m. (seating 7:30 p.m.)
Laugh the night away with top touring stand-up comics in an intimate brewery taproom. Grab a craft pint and settle in for big punchlines. More Details

McAdenville Oktoberfest
📍 115 Craft, 115 Main St, McAdenville
⏰ 8 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Raise a stein at this all-day Bavarian bash with themed coffees, food trucks, four live music sessions, festive games, and plenty of cold beer. More Details

Jeepers Creepers Race
📍 Daniel Stowe Conservancy, 6500 S New Hope Rd, Belmont
⏰ 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Run a spooky 10K, 5K, or one-mile fun run through beautiful garden trails. Costumes encouraged at this festive Halloween-themed morning race for all paces. More Details

Chili Cookoff
📍 3250 W Franklin Blvd, Gastonia
⏰ 1 - 5 p.m.
Taste competing chili recipes while helping raise money for building upgrades at the post. Everyone is welcome to attend or bring their best batch. More Details

Strong Like AK presents the 5th Annual Building Hope Gala: All Hallows Evening
📍 Gaston Country Club, Gastonia
⏰ 6 - 11 p.m.
Support children battling cancer during a Halloween-themed gala featuring cocktails, dinner, an open bar, auctions, Molly Grantham, and an after-party with lively DJ entertainment. More Details

Movies in the Park: Hotel Transylvania
📍 Stowe Park, 24 S Main St, Belmont
⏰ 7 - 9 p.m.
Snuggle up under the stars for a free family movie night featuring a jumbo screen, epic sound, arcade games, cornhole, and tasty snacks for purchase. More Details

2026 Walk to End Alzheimer’s: Gaston, Cleveland and Lincoln
📍 Rotary Centennial Pavilion, 107 N South St, Gastonia
⏰ Registration 9 a.m.; walk 10 a.m.
Join local teams for a community walk raising awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support, and research across Gaston, Cleveland, and Lincoln counties locally. More Details.

October Plant Swap & Shop
📍 Traust Brewing, 128 S Main St, Mount Holly
⏰ 12 - 3 p.m.
Bring a plant to trade or browse plants, accessories, and swag at this free, family-friendly gathering. Food, craft beverages, and nonalcoholic options are available. More Details

Roost & Roots: A Bonsai Workshop
📍 The Rooster, 334 W Main Ave, Gastonia
⏰ 6 - 8 p.m.
Learn bonsai history, pruning, wiring, shaping, and care while styling your own juniper. Admission includes materials, pruning scissors, and hands-on instruction from local experts. More Details 

Disclaimer: Event details are subject to change or cancellation. Please check with the event organizers for the most up-to-date information. We are not responsible for any changes after publication. Events marked with ($) in this section indicate sponsored content.

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Was there something I missed this week? Let me know at [email protected]. Want to get your business in Hello, Gaston!? Let’s talk!