Summer in North Carolina (and 50+ Great Local Events!)

Published by Carl. Last Updated on November 19, 2024.

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Summer in North Carolina is busy, and not just with folks coming in from everywhere. Our state’s residents are joining them, using this time to enjoy our awesome state.

People from all regions of North Carolina have come together in summer to host some of the state’s best events. We’ve uncovered quite a few and want to share them with you, in this guide that covers summer things to do in North Carolina.

Summer in North Carolina (Specific Months)

This post is a part of our seasonal guide series, where we’ve also covered events in spring, winter, and fall! Many of these events also appear in our monthly event guides.

For info about dates, please check the following:

Commemorate Summer in North Carolina

Summer might not officially start until a bit later, but the Washington Summer Festival is a great way to kick things off. There’ll be fireworks, food, music, and more fun in this awesome small town.

If you want to keep things by the book, check out the Summer Solstice Festival in Greensboro. A drum circle, parade, and “Fire Finale” headline this annual showcase of Gate City.

Enjoy the Water

Summer NC Things to Do Waterfalls Image — Upper Whitewater Falls.

Places to Visit in NC Linville Falls Image — Upper Whitewater Falls.

Throughout summer in North Carolina, you’ll likely find us at the beach, searching for waterfalls, or paddling rivers and lakes. We have a hard time picking just one activity for the summer!

What do you think? Do you prefer one particular watery spot in North Carolina? Let us know about it in the comments or by email.

Fireworks Galore

NC Local Events in Summer Fireworks Image

You’ll find Fourth of July fireworks events throughout the state, as far west as Bryson City and all the way to the Outer Banks.

Tweetsie Railroad in Blowing Rock will host their annual Fireworks Extravaganza.
Fort Liberty hosts a lively Fourth of July event with parachute free-fall demonstrations, a flag ceremony, and music.
The fun continues beyond Independence Day, with celebrations in Cashiers and Canton lighting up the sky.
Minor League Baseball games will also hold fireworks after games throughout summer if you’re looking for constantly lit skies.
Throughout the summer, head to Carolina Beach and enjoy the Fireworks by the Sea and Boardwalk Blast. The fun kicks off every Thursday during the summer.

Food Festivals and Events

North Carolina hosts some pretty impressive food festivals. Here’s a breakdown of some of those food festivals hosted in the summer:

The Butner Summer Festival, formerly the Butner’s Chicken Pickin’, kicks off a pretty hot schedule of NC food events during the first weekend of June.
The beaches of Topsail Island (and their restaurants) aren’t the only thing bringing people to Pender County. Burgaw’s NC Blueberry Festival attracts thousands of visitors during this June event.
Tons of foodies will converge at Franklin’s mid-June Taste of Scotland Festival.
Cool off in the August heat at Fair Bluff’s North Carolina Watermelon Festival.
And finally, end the summer at the Ocracoke Fig Festival. Come celebrate the fruit’s history on our coast with a bake-off, tastings, and more.

Also, don’t forget that summer in North Carolina is a great time to join a Taste Carolina Gourmet Food Tour! We had a great experience with it and can’t wait to join the next one!

Flower Celebrations During Summer in North Carolina

Things to Do in North Carolina in July Dorothea Dix Sunflowers Raleigh Image

Summer in North Carolina is also a time of flower celebrations. Here are a few of them:

Enjoy the natural beauty of the azalea flowers at the Graham County Native Azalea Festival in Robbinsville. Hike up Hooper Bald for a look at a species you won’t see anywhere else. Historic Tapoco Lodge is the perfect base for this wonderful summer event!
Also in the mountains is Bakersville’s Rhododendron Festival in June, which brings together a craft fair, car show, and 10k run with its long-standing pageant.
One of our favorite free summer events in Raleigh is the amazing sunflower field at Dorothea Dix Park. There are plenty of other awesome sunflower fields in NC, in case you’re unable to make it to Dix Park.

‘Cue and Trains

Bryson City Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

The Smoky Mountain Beer Run departs from Bryson City a few times throughout the summer.

This adults-only train ride stops at a local brewery in the middle of a three hour train ride. The excursion offers great music, delicious beer, tasty food, and unforgettable memories.

If you’re not able to make this event, keep an eye out for the GSMR’s Polar Express, one of our favorite Christmas train rides in NC!

Run, Hike, and Bike

Things heat up during summer in North Carolina but there are still plenty of opportunities to get outside and explore!

Head over to Elkin for its NC Trail Days Festival, with a race, guided hikes, paddling events, and more happening over the first weekend in June. Stick around for a meal at one of the town’s awesome restaurants!

And finally, Race to the Rock gives entrants the option of a 5k run or 25-mile bike to the base of Chimney Rock. The path guarantees a beautiful panoramic view of Lake Lure and the Hickory Nut Gorge.

Hang Out with Bears and Other Wildlife

Plymouth’s National Black Bear Festival is back in June with award-winning fun. Over 30 bear-themed activities celebrate the world’s largest black bears, which can be found along the NC coast.

Heat Up with the Arts

There are some interesting arts festivals happening during summer in North Carolina, too!

Easels on the Green in Cashiers will celebrate Western North Carolina’s pottery heritage with featured artisans, demonstrations, and talks.
Mr. and Mrs. Claus usually appear in Seagrove for Christmas in July, which features hand-made pottery demos, weaving, and knitting.
And a couple of times this summer, you can head to Banner Elk for their Fine Arts and Master Crafts Festival which takes place in both July and August. There, a number of vendors will be selling jewelry, sculptures, glass art, pottery, and more. Don’t forget to check out one of the many great restaurants in Banner Elk, too!

Music Festivals

Summer is a big time for concerts and we can’t cover them all here. However, we will share a few interesting music festivals happening:

The State Annual Singing Convention in Downtown Benson remains one of the largest and oldest gospel sings in the US. Thousands of people attend each year, so bring a lawn chair to guarantee a seat.
For laid-back fun in the place where the shag was born, check out the Carolina Beach Music Festival.
The Grooves Music Festival in Greenville commemorates African-American Music Appreciation Month with Carroll Dashiell, more R&B music, and great food.
Forest City’s Cherry Bounce Festival in June is named for the corn-based whiskey “Cherry Bounce.” The festival consists of live bluegrass music, art vendors, food trucks, and lots of cherry-inspired memorabilia.

Celebrate History and Heritage

Our state’s history is rich—both culturally and physically—and you can celebrate this throughout summer in North Carolina.

At Vein Mountain’s NC Gold Festival, learn about our “first in gold mining” heritage and try panning for some yourself.
Commemorate an interesting Revolutionary War event with the 243rd-anniversary reenactment of the Battle at House in the Horseshoe. It takes place in August at the Sanford site.
We can’t talk history without mentioning the steam-powered celebration at Tweetsie’s Railroad Heritage Weekend in Blowing Rock. Also, keep an eye out for Tweetsie Christmas during the holidays.

Outdoor and Indoor Sports

Summer in North Carolina Charlotte Knights Minor League Baseball Image

Minor League Baseball starts in April but it’s in full swing by the time we get to summer in North Carolina.

In addition to fun times at the ballpark, check out these sports events, too. The Big Rock Tournament comes back to take over Morehead City in June. Boats will descend upon the Crystal Coast town to catch blue marlin and then hook that huge prize.

Labor Day Apple Picking

Apple Picking in NC Flat Rock Sky Top Orchards

And just as summer’s end approaches, you can get a sneak peak into fall at the North Carolina Apple Festival in Henderson County. Known as one of the best Street Fairs in the Carolinas, there’ll be a parade, arts and crafts, festival food, and of course, tons of apples from local orchards.

Beyond that Labor Day weekend extravaganza, there are also plenty of places to go apple picking here and elsewhere throughout the state. The NC Apple Festival and apple picking throughout the state are fitting ways to close out summer.

Whether or not you’re able to make the NC Apple Festival, we think you should know about these great restaurants and fun things to do in Hendersonville!

What are Your Favorite Things to Do During Summer in North Carolina?

Wow! So much going on in our state really makes this the hottest and best time of year. With all these fun summer things to do in North Carolina, we’re having a hard time choosing which one to visit first.

If it were up to you, which of these fun events would you start with? Is there something we missed? Let us know in the comments or by email.

Don’t forget to share your summer in North Carolina adventures in our North Carolina Travel Facebook Group.