Festivals & Events

January 

Dolphin Dip. Each New Year’s Day the Dolphin Dip Foundation brings people together to celebrate life and cleanse their souls by taking a dip in the ocean. Surf City, Roland Ave. Beach Access. Details: 910-526-3788, topsailcoc.com.

New Bern Bridal Expo. A great way to shop and browse for wedding ideas, products and services in one place with the help of local and national wedding professionals. Details: 252-635-5658.

New Year Resolution Run. At the stroke of midnight, Dec. 31. Event consists of 5K fun run/walk, as well as a 1-mile course. Registration is available online at active.com. Camp Lejeune, Jacksonville. Details: 252-451-0092.

Running of the Dragon. The Dragon comes out to run the waterfront at Oriental. Folks line the street with noisemakers and gather luck by touching the dragon. Details: visitoriental.com.

February

New Bern Preservation Foundation Antiques Show. Offers the largest antique show and sale east of Raleigh. A variety of antique dealers sell quality goods such as furniture, linens, silver, toys, glassware and more. Details: 252-633-6448, newbernpf.org.

New Bern Historical Society’s annual ABC (Attic-Basement-Closet) Sale. Everything from dishes to dolls to doorknobs are being sold during this one-day-only sale. Details: 252-638-8558.

Carolina Chocolate Festival. Featuring 30 chocolatiers from across the nation offering samples and sales of their tasty treats in Morehead City. Details: 877-848-4976 or carolinachocolatefestival.com.

March

Emerald Isle St. Patrick’s Festival. Featuring more than 75 arts and crafts vendors, food vendors, clowns and static displays along with amusement rides, a climbing wall and face painters. Avid runners can compete in the 8K Road Race. Festival and event details: 252-354-6350.

Down East Chowder Cook Off. Held at the downtown Oriental marina, the event is sponsored by the Oriental Women’s Club and benefits Pamlico County charities. Details: 252-249-9838.

Taste of New Bern.  Local restaurants, eateries and specialty food shops offer a taste of their menus and showcase their skills and innovative cuisine in addition to live music. Details: 252-637-7972. 

Swansboro Rotary’s Oyster Roast. This all-you-can-eat and drink event features steamed oysters, flounder, clam chowder, a pig pickin’, hush puppies, coleslaw, hot dogs with chili, beer, soft drinks and coffee. Details: 910-326-6175.

Tryon Palace’s Decorative Arts Symposium.  A look at the links from continent to continent, region to region, and maker to maker as scholars look closely at the decorative arts from the 17^th through the 19^th century. Details: 252-514-4900, tryonpalace.org.

April

Arts in these Parts. Poplar Grove annual show of the visual arts from students in the Pender County Schools. Poplar Grove Plantation, Wilmington. Details: 910-686-9518.

Azalea Festival. Held in Wilmington during the first weekend of April. Details: ncazaleafestival.org.

Jazz and Blues Fest.  Various Jazz and Blues musicians play New Bern. Details and online ticketing, jazzpreservationsociety.com, jazzandbluesfest.com.

Newport Pig Cookin’ Contest. Dish up some good times and family fun at the nation’s largest whole hog barbecue. Concession stands, rides, crafts, bake sales and live entertainment with plates of the best barbecue around. Details: 252-223-3112 or newportpigcooking.com.

May

Beaufort Music Festival. Whatever style of music makes your heart sing, you’re sure to find it here at this family-oriented weekend of free concerts. Details: beaufortmusicfestival.com or 252-728-6894. 

Mile of Hope. Offering children with cancer and their families a fun-filled “getaway” weekend at Atlantic Beach. The public is invited to the beach in front of Atlantis Lodge to build sandcastles and view the professional works of sandcastle-building experts Sandy Feat. Details: 919-782-6471.

Wooden Boat Show. The week begins with an opportunity to sail aboard traditional boats, and concludes with more than 50 wooden classic and antique boats on exhibit. Demonstrations and hands-on workshops for professional boatbuilders, enthusiasts and new fans of wooden boats round out the event. NC Maritime Museum in Beaufort. Details: 252-728-7317.

Down Home Antique Fair. Featuring antique and period furniture, old prints, antique toys, books, jewelry & more. Poplar Grove Plantation, Wilmington. Details: 910-686-9519, ext 26 or visit poplergrove.com.

Springfest. Featuring handmade, homemade and homegrown items from Pender County Residents. Courthouse Square in historic downtown Burgaw. Details: 910-259-4844

June 

Swansboro Rotary King Mackerel Blue Water Tournament. Tournament headquarters is at the Swansboro Rotary Civic Center, and the public is invited to come see what the boats bring in at weigh-ins held on fishing days at Hammocks Beach State Park. Details: 910-326 FISH or swansbororotary.com.

Beaufort Old Homes and Gardens Tour. Explore beautifully-restored historic homes, glorious gardens, churches, artist studios, and public buildings throughout Beaufort. Details: 252-728-5225 or beauforthistoricsite.org. 

Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament. Fun and excitement come to the Morehead City waterfront with one of the largest sport-fishing tournaments in the country and a purse that has many times topped $1 million. Details: 252-247-3575 or thebigrock.com.

MCAS Cherry Point Air Show. MCAS Cherry Point in Havelock, the largest Marine Corps Air Station in the world, opens its gates to the public bi-annually for this open house that highlights the latest in Marine Corps war-fighting technology and military aviation along with thrilling air shows. Details: 866-WINGS-NC or cherrypointairshow.com.

Baskets of Summer. This annual basket creation-celebration features projects for beginners to advanced, even some Nantucket basketry. Poplar Grove Plantation, Wilmington. Details: Jeanne Walker, 910-686-9518 ext 22, poplargrove.com.

Kiwanis Sun Fest. Held the third weekend in May at the Soundside Park, Topsail Island. Something interesting for the whole family. Details: 910-329-4446.

The North Carolina Blueberry Festival. Held on the courthouse square in historic downtown Burgaw. Details: visitpender.com.

Scots Heritage Day. Pender County Scots Heritage Day is celebrated during the first week in June. Moore’s Creek National Battlefield, Currie. Details: 910-283-559 nps.gov/mocr.

July

Buddy Pelletier Memorial Longboard Classic. A local charity competition at Oceanana Pier in Atlantic Beach gives spectators a chance to see professional and amateur surfers battle against one another for trophies and bragging rights. Details: 252-727-7917 or visit buddy.pelletier.com.

July Fourth at Tryon Palace and Gardens. Visitors can celebrate the holiday through programs and activities about Revolutionary War-era North Carolina. Details: 252-514-4937 or visit tryonpalace.org.

Oriental Croaker Festival. An all-American, small-town Independence Day celebration. Includes live music, a kids fun park, arts and crafts vendors, nautical flea market, parade and Croaker Festival Regatta. Details: 252-249-0555 or croakerfestival.org.

Poplar Grove Plantation Classy Chassis Car show. Classic cars at a historic site!  Enjoy the beautiful grounds, grassy areas, shade trees and relaxing atmosphere. Poplar Grove Plantation, Wilmington. Details:  910-686-9518 ext. 27 or e-mail us at pgp@poplargrove.com.

August 

Carolina Shakespeare Festival. Theatrics by the Carolina Shakespeare Festival, along with shows by the Young Company and specific performers. Details: New Bern Civic Theatre box office at 252-633-0567 or csfest.com.

Outer Banks Wildlife Shelter’s Sand Sculpting Contest. Held at The Atlantis Lodge in Pine Knoll Shores, participants are invited to spend a day on the beach playing in the sand to raise money for wildlife rescue. Details: 252-240-1200.

September

Crystal Coast Super Boat Grand Prix. Entertainment, including several bands in downtown Morehead City, and a super boat race at the NC State Port. Details: 252-422-8853 or e-mail kmccann@crystalcoastgrandprix.com.

NC Spot Festival. Held at Topsail High School during the last weekend in September. See spot fish. Hampstead. Details: info@spotfestival.com.

October

Autumn with Topsail. Held the third weekend in October in Topsail Beach and sponsored by the Topsail Island Historical and Cultural Arts Council. Come for food, live music, events and craft booths. Details: autumnwithtopsail.com.

Big Fall Festival. Pumpkins, food, music, crafts and FUN for all! Hampstead. Details: John Harris 910-270-4780 

Carolina Kite Fest. See and fly colorful kites of every kind at the Sheraton in Atlantic Beach. Activities for the whole family. Details: 252-247-7011 or visit kites-birdstuff.com.

Havelock Chili Festival—North Carolina’s Chili Cooking Competition. Featuring red chili, salsa, chili verde and wing competitions. There will also be live entertainment, food, games, arts and crafts. Details: contact the Havelock Chamber of Commerce at 252-447-1101 or havelockchamber.net.  

Mum Fest. New Bern will blossom with the Chrysanthemum Festival: a weekend celebration of flowers, entertainment, great food and of course, good old-fashioned Southern hospitality. Offers attractions, outdoor stage entertainment, amusement rides, more than 300 arts and crafts, commercial and food vendors, roving dance troupes, street performers and can view thousands of mums at Tryon Palace Historic Sites and Gardens. Details and a listing of events and activities: 252-638-5781 or go to mumfest.com or downtownnewbern.com. Details on Tryon Palace Historic Sites and Gardens: 800-767-1560 or visit tryonpalace.org.

NC Seafood Festival. Visitors come from all around to the Morehead City waterfront for the state’s second largest and tastiest festival. Enjoy vendors selling seafood specialties of every kind imaginable, arts and crafts, souvenirs and even lottery tickets. Details: ncseafoodfestival.org.

New Bern Ghostwalk. Features a number of historic ghost homes, and “spirits,” each of which providing its own tale of spirits from New Bern’s colorful past. Details: call New Bern Historical Society at 252-638-8558 or newbernhistorical.org.

Poplar Grove Halloween Fest. Plowman’s Park in Big Rock. Two haunted houses, stage shows, clowns, face painting, magicians, hay rides, games and craft making, a bon fire, costume parade, and pumpkin carving contest. Details: http://halloween-fest.com.

November

A Dickens of a Christmas in Downtown New Bern. Enjoy a Celebration throughout the Christmas Season with Downtown Illumination– luminaries throughout the business district, Theme Fridays in the shops and Illumination Trolley Tours. Visit Santa in his house in Bear Plaza, listen to the NC Symphony and other holiday concerts and even get a tree from the Christmas Tree Ship! Details: New Bern Chamber of Commerce at 252-637-3111 newbernchamber.com.

December

A Dickens of a Christmas in Downtown New Bern. Enjoy a Celebration throughout the Christmas Season with Downtown Illumination– luminaries throughout the business district, theme Fridays in the shops and Illumination Trolley Tours. Visit Santa in his house in Bear Plaza, listen to the NC Symphony and other holiday concerts and even get a tree from the Christmas Tree Ship! Details: New Bern Chamber of Commerce at 252-637-3111 newbernchamber.com.

A Grand Illumination, the Christmas Candlelight Tour. Visitors can tour Tryon Palace with magical lighting. Details and tickets: 252-514-4935.

Centuries of Celebrations at Tryon Palace. Tryon Palace houses are decorated for the holidays in different time periods, with “very special” holiday tours. Details: 252-514-4935.

Core Sound Decoy Festival. Over 90 exhibitors will be displaying and selling decoys and waterfowl artifacts at Harkers Island Elementary School in Harkers Island. The decoy competition consists of both decorative and non-decorative (floating) contemporary carvings. Details: 252-838-8818 or decoyguild.com. 

Poplar Grove Plantation Christmas Open House. Take a self guided tour, shop for handmade gifts & enjoy hot cocoa and cookies in the manor house. The scenic plantation is beautifully trimmed for the holidays and, in the spirit of Christmas admission is free today. Details: 910-686-9518.