Summer in NC 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 the best things to do during summer in NC.
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:
Read More: 100+ Unique Things to Do in North Carolina
We love promoting local events in NC and would love to add yours to our featured section here and on our calendar. Check out this page regarding submissions, and let’s talk more!
Beaches, Lakes, Rivers, and Waterfalls
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!
That’s why we’ll include a few of our favorites here:
- Beaches (and Coastal Towns)
- Duck: It’s hard to pick one Outer Banks town, so we at least picked two! (See Ocracoke just two spots down) Duck has it all, including a scenic boardwalk, quick and easy views of the sound and sea, and some of OBX’s best restaurants!
- Emerald Isle: We could’ve easily mentioned Atlantic Beach (home to Atlantis Lodge and more), but will go with the place that usually wins at least one Best of NC award. The Bogue Inlet Fishing Pier and Emerald Isle Woods complement some spectacular beaches and places to watch the sunset.
- Ocracoke Island: Ocracoke Village, the beach, Hammock Hills, and the Pony Pens are just a few reasons we’ve fallen in love with Ocracoke. There’s also nearby Portsmouth Island and a delicious collection of restaurants to keep you full and happy.
- Holden Beach: The family beach of North Carolina lives up to its name in many ways. From the moment you enter over that picturesque bridge that winds over the sound to the day you sadly have to go back home, memories are waiting to be made here.
- Lakes
- Falls Lake (near Durham and Raleigh): The perfect getaway from some of North Carolina’s biggest urban centers, Falls Lake has multiple access points for boating, fishing, and enjoying some quiet time.
- Lake James (near Marion and Morganton): Lake James State Park encompasses 3,743 acres of the lake and offers miles of hiking and biking trails.
- Lake Lure (near Chimney Rock and Chimney Rock State Park): Visitors to Lake Lure can take in the rolling views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and enjoy a sunny afternoon on the beach.
- Lake Norman (near Statesville and Mooresville): The largest manmade lake in the state, Lake Norman is so large that many towns and cities claim part of the shoreline and lake within its borders. Part of it is managed by Lake Norman State Park, one of the state’s most interesting parks.
- Rivers
- The Eno River: The Eno is our happy place in Durham. It’s definitely a can’t-miss for people seeking outdoor fun in Bull City.
- The Nantahala River: The Nantahala flows alongside US-19/US-74 between Fontana Lake behind Fontana Dam (via the Little Tennessee River) and Nanatahala Lake. Tons of picnic spots sit along this route, as well as boat access points. The Nantahala Outdoor Center is one of many outfitters in the area, but hard to beat for all that it offers.
- Waterfalls (revised following Hurricane Helene)
- Dry Falls: Dry Falls is a 75-foot waterfall on the Cullasaja River. It’s one of several waterfalls that flow through the Cullasaja Gorge, which is protected by the Nantahala National Forest.
- Lower Cascades Falls (part of Hanging Rock State Park): Out of all the gorgeous waterfalls at Hanging Rock State Park in Stokes County, our absolute favorite is, without a doubt, Lower Cascades Falls! This beautiful 35-foot waterfall empties into a shallow pool and is quite popular on hot days.
- Widows Creek Falls (inside Stone Mountain State Park): Of the four named waterfalls in the park (including Stone Mountain Falls), we’ll argue that Widow’s Creek Falls is undoubtedly the prettiest!
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.
Read More: 20+ Kid-Friendly Waterfalls In NC (Easy Hikes And Swimming Holes!)
Summer Festivals in North Carolina
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.
Summer might not officially start for a bit, 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.
Read More: Fun Museums in Greensboro (Kid-Friendly, Contemporary Art, and More!)
Arts Festivals
There are some interesting arts festivals happening during the summer in North Carolina, too!
- June
- The Toe River Arts Studio Tour in Spruce Pine: One of the longest-running studio tours, you can see craftspeople and artists up close and personal, exploring where they live and create.
- Art in the Park in Blowing Rock (June, July, and August): Three of its six outdoor shows are held during the summer. The event hosts more than 90 artists and thousands of visitors.
- Arts by the Sea in Swansboro: Head to the amazing coastal town of Swansboro for its annual “Arts By The Sea” festival. Many of the town’s best artists line the streets with their products and crafts, and a juried show features exhibitions of photography, home decor, paintings, and more.
- July
- The Plein Air Festival in Cashiers: During the Village Green of Cashiers’ Plein Air Festival, you’ll see artists painting around the beautiful Cashiers Village.
- Stepping into the Craft Saturdays in Seagove: Held each weekend in July in the Seagrove Pottery Community, visitors can attend various hands-on activities or sit back and watch demonstrations by some of the area’s most talented potters.
- August
- Mount Mitchell Crafts Fair in Burnsville: Yancey County celebrates the annual Mount Mitchell Crafts Fair in downtown Burnsville, with artists, vendors, and musicians from North Carolina and neighboring states.
- Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival in Cary: The annual Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival in Cary attracts over 250 exceptional artists from across the country. The fun will also include live entertainment on four stages, food from over 25 vendors, fun kids’ activities throughout, and more!
- Penland School of Crafts Auction: The world-renowned Penland School of Craft hosts its annual auction, which is the school’s biggest fundraiser.
Read More: Christmas in North Carolina (the Best Holiday Events)
Fireworks Events
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.
- Asheville hosts 4th of July celebrations in a few places, including the Omni Grove Park Inn and Downtown.
- Tweetsie Railroad in Blowing Rock will host their annual Fireworks Extravaganza.
- Charlotte and Raleigh host massive celebrations during the 4th of July, including Carowinds Amusement Park and Downtown Raleigh.
- Fort Bragg hosts a lively Fourth of July event with parachute free-fall demonstrations, a flag ceremony, and music.
- Minor League Baseball games will also hold fireworks after games throughout the 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.
- Of course, the 4th of July Festival in Southport (and Oak Island) is as iconic a summer celebration as they come.
Read More: Carolina Beach State Park (and 7 Great Things to Do There!)
Flower Celebrations During Summer in North Carolina
Summer in NC is also a time of flower celebrations. Here are a few of them:
- June
- Graham County Native Azalea Festival in Robbinsville: 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!
- The North Carolina Rhododendron Festival in Bakersville: 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.
- Sunflower Fields (Summer to early Fall): One of our favorite summer events in North Carolina is the gorgeous sunflower fields that bloom. Dix Park in Raleigh is one place that we love visiting each year.
Read More: Hiking Roan Mountain from Carvers Gap (near Bakersville)
Food Festivals and Events
North Carolina hosts some pretty impressive food festivals. Here’s a breakdown of some of those food festivals held in the summer:
- June
- The Butner Summer Festival: Formerly the Butner’s Chicken Pickin’, the Butner Summer Festival kicks off a pretty hot schedule of NC food events during the first weekend of June.
- The Cherry Bounce Festival in Forest City: This special festival brings local and regional art, live music and other acoustic and bluegrass groups, and tons of cherry-inspired food and drink together.
- The NC Blueberry Festival in Burgaw: 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 to the area, and you’ll see why after attending.
- The Taste of Scotland Festival in Franklin: Scottish foods, Highland games, and more take over the town of Franklin each mid-June.
- July
- Fair Bluff Watermelon Festival: The Columbus County town of Fair Bluff is the first to celebrate this awesome summer-friendly fruit.
- The Brushy Mountain Peach and Heritage Festival in Wilkesboro: Held in the Brushy Mountain Community Center in Wilkes County, the Peach and Heritage Festival showcases local artisans, homegrown peaches, and Brushy Mountain’s rich heritage.
- August
- Sourwood Festival in Black Mountain: The ever-growing Sourwood Festival will welcome thousands of people to Black Mountain in August. The weekend event will host dozens of vendors serving food for all palettes, honey and bee demos, and some of that delicious sourwood honey.
- The NC Watermelon Festival in Murfreesboro: The second watermelon festival mentioned is in Hertford County, with watermelon samples, concerts, amusement rides, and so much more!
- The Ocracoke Fig Festival: Come celebrate the fig’s history on Ocracoke Island 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!
Read More: Portsmouth Island (How to See this Beautiful Uninhabited Place)
History Events
Our state’s history is rich—both culturally and physically—and you can celebrate this throughout summer in North Carolina.
- June
- The NC Gold Festival in Marion: At Marion’s NC Gold Festival, learn about our “first in gold mining” heritage and try panning for some yourself.
- Heavy Thunder: Artillery and Infantry Event at Bentonville: Hear the roar of cannon fire at this Johnston County historic site! Learn how soldiers loaded and fired weapons during the Civil War. Reenactors will portray Civil War infantry and artillery soldiers.
- Old Homes Tour in Beaufort: This annual event on our coast features some of a beautiful waterfront town’s private homes, glorious gardens, multiple local churches, and artists’ studios.
- July
- The Wright Kite Festival in Kill Devil Hills: The annual Wright Kite Festival takes over the Wright Brothers National Memorial in commemoration of the first flight. You’ll have a chance to partake in kite flying lessons and a kite-making station.
- August
- The Waldensian Festival in Valdese: This unique celebration unites friends, family, and history. The festival commemorates the Waldensian people and their experiences in the 17th century.
- Tweetsie’s Railroad Heritage Weekend in Blowing Rock: We can’t talk history without mentioning the steam-powered celebration at Tweetsie’s Railroad Heritage Weekend. This is a great time for everyone and the perfect accompaniment to the Wild West fun that’s available at Tweetsie.
Read More: 125+ Facts About North Carolina That You Should Know
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:
- June
- The Carolina Beach Music Festival: Enjoy laid-back music in the place where the shag was born. This event is known as “the biggest and only beach music festival actually held on the beach on the North Carolina coast.“
- The Boonerang Music & Arts Festival in Boone: Boonerang features a vendor market, beer gardens with local breweries, and multiple stages for musical performances.
- The State Annual Singing Convention in Benson: This 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.
- July
- Ocean City Jazz Fest in North Topsail Beach: The annual Ocean City Jazz Festival aims to foster an appreciation for jazz and bring artists and audiences together.
- August
- The NC State Bluegrass Festival in Cherokee: The annual NC State Bluegrass Festival is held at a campground in Cherokee, with host band Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road, and more.
- Doc Watson Day in Boone: To commemorate one of NC’s best musicians, a free concert is held at the Jones House in Doc Watson’s honor.
Read More: 50+ Easy Day Trips from Fayetteville (Great Getaways!)
Outdoors-Themed Events
Things heat up during summer in North Carolina, but there are still some opportunities to get outside and explore!
- June
- NC Trail Days Festival in Elkin (sometimes end-May): This wonderful tradition includes a race, guided hikes, paddling events, and more!
- July
- The Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in Linville: The annual Highland Games is a four-day event is known as “America’s grandest games,” thanks to the beautiful setting that’s reminiscent of Scotland.
Read More: 5 Ways to Reach Carter Falls In Elkin (a Beautiful Yadkin Valley Waterfall)
Unique Summer Festivals in North Carolina
Nothing against any of the other summer events in North Carolina that we’ve mentioned, but these were so unique (how unique were they?), that we just couldn’t find a specific spot for them.
- June
- The Spruce Pine Alien Festival: What was formerly known as the SPACE Festival is now all things UFOs with the Spruce Pine Alien Festival. This themed event features 125+ vendors selling UFO- and alien-themed merchandise, out-of-this-world food, and the chance to compete in a costume contest.
- The 301 Endless Yard Sale in Eastern North Carolina: This unique summer event stretches for more than 100 miles on US-301. It passes through multiple towns and counties in Eastern NC, including:
- Dunn
- Weldon
- Rocky Mount
- Wilson
- Selma
- August
- The WNC Bigfoot Festival in Marion: This fun festival includes Bigfoot-themed food and souvenirs and an indoor expo area.
- The OBX Pirate Festival in Nags Head: If you’re in OBX in August with your kids, check out the OBX Pirate Festival. A two-day “Scallywag School” (pre-registration required) and Living History Pirate Encampment headline the event at Nags Head’s Kitty Hawk Kites.
Read More: How to Join Blackbeard’s Pirate Jamboree on Ocracoke Island
Summer Sports
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.
In August, the American Legion World Series plays in Shelby. This six-day youth baseball tournament is one of four national world series in the country.
Read More: 30+ Amazing NC Coastal Towns (+ Things to Do in Each One!)
Labor Day Apple Picking
And just as summer’s end approaches, you can get a sneak peek 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!
Read More: Colorful Fall Hikes in North Carolina (+ 20 Beautiful Places to Explore!)
What are Your Favorite Things to Do During Summer in North Carolina?
Wow! So much is going on in our state that it 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 adventures in North Carolina in our North Carolina Travel Facebook Group.
More Things to Do in North Carolina
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Events good for senior citizens.?
Many of these should be good for all ages. Thanks for reaching out and hope you enjoy!