Events and Festivals

North Carolina Events and Festivals

In coastal North Carolina, both visitors and locals find an abundance of reasons to celebrate. There are miles of gorgeous beaches, plenty of charming shops and restaurants and lazy days on the shore during almost any time of the year. But, communities up and down the coast really come alive when it is time for a local festival. From small town festivities to large galas that attract visitors from all over the world, the North Carolina coast holds plenty of fun festivals throughout the year, giving everyone an entertaining new perspective of the breezy coastal communities and all they have to offer.

Day at the Docks

Every September, the residents of Hatteras Island gather in Hatteras Village to pay homage to the area's rich commercial fishing history with the annual Day at the Docks celebration. This relatively new festival that began in 2004 has surprisingly deep roots.

In 1850, the U.S. Census listed commercial fishing as the primary occupation on Hatteras Island. Some descendants of those early fishermen continued the trade for decades, if not centuries, while others took advantage of the growing tourism industry in the late 1930s to start a charter boat business. Throughout the years that followed, the pull of the Pamlico Sound and the Atlantic Ocean remained as irresistible as in earlier times, and the island is still home to these watermen.

In honor of their predecessors and their professions, local captains invite everyone to join them on a Saturday in September each year at the Hatteras docks, where the public embarks on an all-day adventure of demonstrations, crafts, food and fun.

Along the waterfront, local fishing families and tourists can admire the commercial fishing boats, charter boats and fishing gear that are displayed. During the festival, century-old workboats, including a traditional North Carolina shad boat, dock next to modern, state-of-the-art vessels.

Captains and crews demonstrate the tools and skills working watermen use at sea. Exhibits feature pound nets, gill nets, trawl nets, tuna kites and circle hooks. Fishermen and visitors are also invited to compete in a net hanging contest, a concrete marlin competition and a survival suit race.

Perhaps one of the biggest attractions at the Day of the Docks event is the annual Hatteras Clam Chowder Cook-off. Professional and home chefs square off to see who makes the best batch of the clear-based chowder, while local Outer Banks families share their special seafood cooking techniques. There are even special activities for children which include a fishing contest, fish identification game, blue crab races, a touch tank and a scavenger hunt. Close to the action, a working waterfront stage features musicians and story-tellers throughout the day.

There is no admission charge, and lunch featuring fresh local seafood is available at a modest price. At the end of the day, the festival culminates with a parade of boats sailing into the harbor, and a subsequent "Blessing of the Fleet" ceremony.

Dare Day Festival

Summertime visitors to North Carolina's Outer Banks can enjoy a multitude of festivals offered by private businesses and local cultural centers alike. Kitty Hawk Kites holds a number of seasonal festivals along the Outer Banks, like the annual Wil-Bear Wright's Festival of Fun held in June, which is geared towards kids and features face painting, yo-yo and kite stunts and the year's new toys. Later in the summer, in August, visitors can enjoy the Life Is Good Watermelon Festival, a big outdoor summer bash with a homegrown backyard feel. The festival features family entertainment, dozens of spirited games and activities and watermelons galore.

One of the larger Outer Banks festivals that has been celebrated for over 30 years is the annual Dare Day Festival, a fun-filled family outdoor event that is always held on the first Saturday in June, rain or shine.

Started in 1976, the only year it was a two-day event and was called Dare Days as part of the bicentennial celebration, the festival is considered by most locals as the unofficial kickoff of summer. The day provides free fun for the entire family, featuring hours of music, food, crafts and entertainment. Children can hop aboard a kiddie train, take in a magic show, have their faces painted and play games.

Adults can walk along the beautiful downtown waterfront in Manteo and check out the wares of more than 100 vendors offering furniture, toys, carvings, clothing, jewelry, birdhouses, paintings, wind chimes and photography. The aroma of delicious food fills the air with seafood, Polish sausages, hamburgers and hot dogs. There are also plenty of cold, refreshing beverages like fresh-squeezed lemonade, slushes and all kinds of soft drinks.

The Dare Day Festival is co-sponsored by Dare County and the Town of Manteo, with more than 5,000 people estimated to attend each year. The festival opens at 9:00 a.m. with a prayer by a local pastor for the "Blessing of the Season," and then the music begins. There will be two stages with performers playing music throughout the day and an afternoon concert. Everyone is welcome to relax, stroll and enjoy the Outer Banks summertime festivities.

Outer Banks Beach Music Festival

For more music fun on the shore, check out the Outer Banks Beach Music Festival, which is held over Memorial Day weekend at Roanoke Island Festival Park. Visitors to the festival can bring their own lawn chairs and sit outside and enjoy an all-day concert of beach music along the Manteo Waterfront. Food and drink vendors will be on hand to keep everyone supplied with water, beer and snacks, and event t-shirts will be available as well. Because Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer on the Outer Banks, sunscreen and hats are recommended for participants.

Tickets are sold in advance and can be purchased at varying locations along the Outer Banks, including local Brew-Thru stores.

Beaufort Music Festival

In May, music lovers can head to the small coastal town of Beaufort, North Carolina, to attend the annual Beaufort Music Festival. Each year for the past 20 years, visitors enjoy local music on a variety of stages located in multiple Beaufort points of interest, including Downtown Beaufort on the waterfront, at the Beaufort Historic Site and at the North Carolina Maritime Museum, as well as in local pubs and restaurants.

While music fills the air, attendees can stroll through town, stop to eat and drink at a number of restaurants, and bid on local artwork in a silent auction.

There is also a free Family Fun Area at the Beaufort Historic Site located at 130 Turner Street. Children of all ages and their families are welcome to come to the Family Fun Area to share a magical musical experience.

Azalea Festival

One of the largest festivals in North Carolina that attracts thousands of people from all over the world is the annual Azalea Festival, held every spring in Wilmington. The festival is a celebration of Wilmington's exceptional artwork, gardens, rich history and culture, which is honored through five days of entertainment that includes a parade, street fair, circus, concerts, pageantry and all that is Southern hospitality.

Since its inception in 1948, the festival has blossomed into an extended weekend celebration that attracts more than 300,000 people each year. The festival is a non-profit civic organization and this year is sponsored by its four major sponsors: Progress Energy, Image Products, Wachovia Bank and the Hilton Wilmington Riverside.

The festival kicks off with the Queen's Coronation opening ceremony, which welcomes Queen Azalea and celebrity guests. Once the festival begins, the street fair opens in downtown Wilmington and endures for the five days of the festival. There is fun and entertainment everywhere you look, with arts and crafts vendors, concert stages, international foods, displays and exhibits.

The circus also comes to town in conjunction with the festival. The Cole Bros. Circus sets up at the Wilmington International Airport from Thursday through Sunday of the Azalea Festival. There are also a variety of concerts throughout the festival, and the organizers have a proud history of bringing top-notch, national entertainers to Wilmington. Past entertainers include Frank Sinatra, Carrie Underwood, the Beach Boys, Alabama, the Judds, Jessica Simpson and Natalie Cole to name a few. For circus and concert events, tickets may be needed and can be purchased at the ticket office in Wilmington.

On Saturday morning, festival attendees are treated to an annual parade that lasts for three hours and winds through downtown Wilmington. Expect to see massive and elaborate floats, celebrities, marching bands and clowns. Organizers ensure that it is a spectacle of sight and sound not to be missed.

For a celebration that is a bit more subdued, you can take advantage of the Azalea Festival's tours that are held throughout the week. Take a leisurely stroll in one of the many gardens in full bloom, or soak up some fun facts about art, architecture and history in Wilmington's many historic homes and museums. You can even visit one of the varied military attractions or special ships in port. Generally, tickets are required for the tours, which can be purchased in advance.

Tryon Palace and the Christmas Candlelight Tour

Often, a particular cultural center or museum can offer a wealth of events to cater to both seasonal visitors and the local community. Tryon Palace is a historic landmark in New Bern that was originally built between 1767 and 1770 as the first permanent Capitol of the Colony of North Carolina and a home for the Royal Governor and his family. Governor William Tryon brought John Hawks, an English architect, with him when he came to North Carolina in 1764. Hawks designed the Palace in the manner of a number of fashionable houses in the vicinity of London - Georgian style with symmetry maintained throughout. It was soon regarded to be the finest public building in the American colonies.

The Palace was opened to the public in April 1959, as North Carolina's first great public history project. Guides in period dress conduct tours of both floors of the building, as well as the cellar and the expansive 14 acres of gardens that celebrate three centuries of gardening history. From the 18th-century Wilderness Garden with its native plants that greeted the first European settlers in this area through the lush displays favored by the Victorians, to 20th-century colonial revival interpretations of earlier periods, the beautiful gardens offer almost endless variety.

Throughout the spring, summer and fall months, Tryon palace hosts a number of lectures, concerts, gardening classes and festivals, as well as numerous activities to rejuvenate the community. One of the most festive of the special events offered by Tryon Palace is the annual Christmas Candlelight Tour.

This event is held just a few days before Christmas for one evening from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. 5 p.m. Tickets for the inside palace tour are sold in advance for specific tour time slots, and all other activities are generally open to the public throughout the evening. Approximate ticket cost is $15 for adults and $6 for students.

Music from the royal governor's very own Fife and Drum Corps open the festivities as guests step back in time to 1770. On this holiday evening, visitors to Tryon Palace will experience colonial New Bern as Governor and Mrs. Tryon host a "Very Grand and Noble Entertainment and Ball" to celebrate the completion of the Palace and the birthday of King George III.

To align with the festivities, the Palace is beautifully decorated and filled with elegant dancers and musicians. Fascinating characters and colonial entertainers, such as Signora Bella and Otto the Sword Swallower, compete for the title "best colonial entertainer," while outside the Palace gates, Jonkonnu steals the show with their West Indies dance and song. To warm up from the chilly winter weather, Barney's Coffee House is on hand to entertain with colorful characters and serving wenches. There are wandering musicians and characters galore, a Soldier's encampment of local militia, 18th century dancing in the Palace, and fun craft activities for children. This magical evening is topped off with a spectacular fireworks show on the South Lawn of the gardens.

North Carolina Oyster festival

One of North Carolina's most popular coastal events is Brunswick County's own annual NC Oyster Festival, held each year in October. This event was awarded the North Carolina Event of the Year in 2007 by the North Carolina Association of Festivals and Events. Every year, over 45,000 people attend the festival to pay homage to the North Carolina coast's own homegrown mollusk.

The festival, sponsored by the Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce, begins with the Opening Ceremonies including a musical performance and local dignitaries who kick off the event. Once the festival begins, a number of local and nationally known bands and performers are on hand to keep the mood festive. Bands play all day during the festival's events.

Hungry attendees can participate in the annual oyster stew cook-off. Local restaurants provide heaping samples for the contest's 300 judges. There are also a number of vendors providing typical event fare like hot dogs, cotton candy, popcorn and ice cream.

To work off those good festival food calories, attendees can participate in the annual road race, which is divided into 1k, 5k and 10k fun runs, or splash into the surfing contest. There are also 120 local arts and crafts vendors who provide ample shopping opportunities for attendees, and a kids' area where the younger ones in the family can learn about all the critters that call the Atlantic Ocean home.

Naturally, one of the highlights of the NC Oyster Festival is the shucking competition. Each year, a number of amateur and professional shuckers gather at the NC Oyster Festival to compete. Professional shuckers are competing for the title of North Carolina Oyster Shucking Champion and a trip to the National Oyster Shucking Championship in Maryland. The NC Oyster Festival hosts the only North Carolina Oyster Shucking Championships, and is known for sending champion shuckers to the National competition. North Carolina has even produced shuckers that have gone on to compete in the World Oyster Shucking Championships in Galway, Ireland.

But whether you are a master shucker ready to head for the national championships, or just a visitor in the mood for some beach music and an oyster shooter, the North Carolina Oyster festival has a little something for everyone who attends.

North Carolina Seafood Festival

If you want to continue the coastal seafood celebration, then make plans to attend the North Carolina Seafood Festival, held each year in October. The Seafood Festival is held on the waterfront in Morehead City and lives up to its name as a true celebration of all the delicious ways to enjoy fresh North Carolina seafood.

The North Carolina Seafood Festival is a non-profit organization of Carteret County citizens and businesses, in conjunction with the Town of Morehead City. Recognizing the importance of seafood to eastern North Carolina, the Seafood Festival was developed to promote the positive social and economic impact of the seafood industry on the citizens of North Carolina, educate the public about seafood and its importance to the state economy, and publicize the wide variety of seafood indigenous to North Carolina. Not to mention, the Seafood Festival gives folks from all over the opportunity to enjoy fresh fare from North Carolina. Festival proceeds are shared with community organizations who donate their efforts to the event. Since 1987, over $1.8 million has been dispersed among participating Carteret County non-profit groups.

For attendees, a weekend of free entertainment from nationally known recording artists to street clowns begins on Friday night and continues through the close of the festival on Sunday afternoon. Entertain the whole family by visiting all three stages, each featuring continuous acts for attendees to enjoy. There is plenty of seating on the bleachers or in the grass, making this a great place to listen to the music while eating some of the best seafood North Carolina has to offer. You can also enjoy the music while having cold refreshments in the nearby Oyster Rock Pub.

The entertainment ranges from the traditional music of the Menhaden Chanteymen, rugged sailors who worked the seas pulling the nets filled with the day's catch aboard the first commercial fishing boats, to country music featuring local artists and nationally known singers, and pop music for today's teenagers. Nationally known performers at past seafood festivals have included Blake Shelton, Tracy Byrd, Ryan Cabrera and The Spinners, among others. Come early, stay late, and be ready to enjoy the best entertainment on the beach.

While at the festival, visitors are amazed at the number of vendors and artisans offering their handmade goods for sale. Many of the vendors are local civic organizations, school groups and church members who use the festival as the main source of raising funds for their annual projects. Photography, painting, glass blowing and molding, wood carvings, wall hangings and pottery are just a few of the arts and crafts you can expect to find along the streets of Morehead City during the festival. Even though the festival attracts well over 150,000 visitors, parking is so abundant and close to the event that you can carry your prized purchases to the car within minutes and return so as not to miss any of the events. Be sure to stop by the festival booth for apparel, posters and other items unique to each year's event.

In addition to having a special playground area set up just for kids, the festival also hopes to educate those of all ages on the delicate North Carolina fishing industry. Featuring children's programs and activities, teacher resources, interactive exhibits and demonstrations, along with live animals, storytelling and seafood sampling, the Festival gives every generation something to enjoy and learn.

The rich cultural traditions of eastern North Carolina come together with music, craftsmen, artists, storytellers, boat builders, net hangers, crab pot makers, quilters, decoy carvers, oar makers and more who share their crafts of yesterday and today.

From traditional "Down East" Clam Chowder, Shrimp Burgers and Charcoal Mullet to Sea Urchin on a stick, Calamari and Marinated Eel, there is something for all to taste at the Seafood Festival. Friday night starts with a Habitat for Humanity Fish Fry. Saturday and Sunday feature nearly 100 individual booths sponsored by restaurants, civic organizations, school groups and churches - all featuring their own interpretation of the best North Carolina has to offer from the bounty of the sea. There are also plenty of raw oysters ready to shuck - a highlight of North Carolina's coastal cuisine.

The last day of the festival features the Blessing of the Fleet at the North Carolina State Port in Morehead City, which is a special celebration and tradition for mariners who call North Carolina home. Without the fleet of commercial fishing vessels that come from Carteret County, the availability of fresh seafood in the state and even the nation would be greatly impacted. The men and women who risk their lives to make a living from the sea are the providers of the bountiful harvest that we currently enjoy in our homes and restaurants. The festival's goal, which is to recognize the many who have given their lives in this occupation and to thank those who are in the business today, is realized with the emotional Blessing of the Fleet on the Morehead City waterfront. Many attendees attest that this simple ceremony is the most memorable experience during a visit to the festival.

Pleasure Island Seafood, Blues and Jazz Festival

If you are in the mood for great food and music, you will want to attend the annual Pleasure Island Seafood, Blues and Jazz Festival. Held every year on a warm October weekend, the festival invites visitors to bring their families and lawn chairs to Kure Beach to relax and celebrate with two days of music. Food vendors are on hand with a variety of snacks, including fresh local seafood, and arts and craft vendors also set up shop for the festivities. There is even a Fine Arts Plaza where attendees can browse and admire the work of local North Carolina artists. Children will stay entertained for hours as they enjoy magicians, juggling acts, clowns and much more in the Kidz Zone.

The big attraction is always the music and the non-stop musical talent, and the festival provides multiple live jazz and blues performances on two stages. Headliners for the festival are announced several months prior to the event. With great music and a great locale, it is no surprise that the Pleasure Island Seafood, Blues and Jazz Festival has enjoyed great success and is enjoyed by many attendees each year.

Washington Summer Festival

Not too far from the coast, inland residents and visitors can celebrate the opening days of summer with the annual Washington Summer Festival, which is held along the picturesque downtown waterfront in the town of Washington. A family-oriented event, the festival kicks off on Friday night with food vendors cooking their specialties and serving everything from seafood, Bar-B-Q, hamburgers and hot dogs, to International foods, and of course famous funnel cakes, smoothies and ice cream. Arts and crafts vendors will also display their wares for purchase and there will be a great variety of homemade items including flags, birdhouses, yard ornaments and hand-blown glass. Visitors to the event can also enjoy children's and adult's amusement rides overlooking the Pamlico River.

On Friday night, Washington celebrates with music from a local band on the main stage for a beach music performance everyone can enjoy, and a fireworks display over the water at 9:15 p.m. to get everyone in a festive and summer mood.

On Saturday, the festival continues with food, arts and crafts and amusement rides, beginning at 9:00 a.m. and continuing throughout the day and evening. Ronald McDonald will also stop by to provide a live performance for the children, and the second day of the festival will end with a beach music performance along the waterfront. For Washington locals and newcomers, the Summer Festival provides a wonderful opportunity to stroll along the downtown waterfront walkway and enjoy everything this charming little town has to offer.

MUMfest

Besides the events and tours associated with Tryon Palace, New Bern has another reason to celebrate with its annual MUMfest. The Mumfest is a regular on best festival lists, and has continually been recognized by the Southeast Tourism Society as one of the finest award-winning family festivals on the North Carolina Coast. MUMfest is a combination of fun and entertainment that annually attracts more than 80,000 festival-goers to the revitalized beauty of New Bern's historic downtown and waterfront. One of the reasons why this homegrown festival is so popular is because its wide range of activities and adventurous events.

In 2008, the MUMfest introduced an acrobatic air show into the mix of wild and fun events. The two-day festival offers afternoon shows featuring an amazing display over the Neuse River of high energy daredevil aerobatics by Hubie Tolson, world aerobatic competitor and award-winning champion. This fascinating new addition is combined with a host of activities, displays and traditions that have accompanied the festival for years, like the King BMX Stunt Show. The bike show features three daily displays of high aerial stunts and mind-boggling technical maneuvers, as the best bicyclists in the country take to the air for a high-flying, high-energy ramp and flatland riding show. Watch the best bicycle ramp and flatland riders in the country break out crazy tricks like the Tail Whip, the Truck Driver, and a crowd favorite, Flips, where the rider launches himself and his bike into the air and does a complete back flip.

Sports fans will also get a kick out of the Chevy Racing Tour, where visitors can get a up close and personal look at a few of the vehicles that have influenced drivers over the decades. Displayed vehicles include NASCAR Nextel Cup cars, ALMS Corvette C6.R, Chevy racing Cobalt drag car, four Daytona II interactive race games, trucks, trailers and more.

Other MUMfest favorites include live entertainment throughout the festival, roving magicians, jugglers, stilt-walkers, dance groups, Carolina Puppet Theatre, Ronald McDonald, arts and crafts, commercial vendors, festival foods, new model car show, fire fighting and police exhibits, K-9 and Labrador field demos and haunted evening dramas in the historic Attmore-Oliver House. The Tryon Palace Historic Site and Gardens have a part in the show, and the backdrop is ablaze with the majestic fall colors of thousands of mums.

The Kidstuff and Lil' Kidstuff corner, for kids 10 and under, is located at the corner of Broad and East Front Street, and is a fun area of the festival where kids can delight in a number of creative activities including the famous Gabardine Sisters, the Punch and Judy Puppet Show and the Gary Shelton Magic Shows. There are also a number of fair rides, including a Ferris Wheel, Tilt-a-Whirl, Scrambler and Bumper Cars.

The 7th Annual Boat Show, on the waterfront at Union Point Park, features boats of all sizes from kayaks and canoes to 60' plus power boats, and the 5th Annual Hatteras Family Boat Building Weekend features 10 family and non-profit teams constructing their own eight-foot wooden dinghy crafted from a pre-cut kit. These nautical activities of the event give a coastal touch to the festivities.

As for entertainment, Festival goers are treated to a diversity of talent. David Dyer and the Crooked Smile Band make regular appearances to deliver their own brand of high-energy Americana. Other past headliners include Cold Biscuit, well-known for Classic Country, Motown and Southern Rock, Deja Groove with Rhythm and Blues, Big Band and Swing featuring The Dana Scott Trio and the Pickin-and Grinnin' Band who have fun playing Country Gospel, Blue Grass and Oldies.

Of course, there is also plenty of fair food, seafood and local arts and crafts vendors to keep everyone in the family entertained throughout the two day event. MUMfest is generally held in October right when the autumn mums of Tryon Palace are in full bloom.

These festivals are simply a taste of what North Carolina has to offer, as Southern hospitality and local pride mix together often to produce dozens of small town events and reasons to celebrate. Before you visit a particular area, check out the local Visitors' Bureau to see if there are any festivals or celebrations planned, or simply stroll around the towns and you might just encounter a street fair, art show, or full-blown local gala with music, rides and plenty of fun. Many visitors find that in coastal Carolina, there is always a reason to go out and celebrate.