Things to Do in North Carolina in June 2022 (30 Best Events)

Last Updated on October 12, 2022

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The heat has definitely made itself known by the time we get to June in North Carolina. Thanks to all the fun local events and things to do throughout, it’s still one of our favorite times to travel around the state.

In case you were wondering, we found these things to do in North Carolina in June. As with every other monthly events roundup, we’ve ordered them by starting date and alphabetized by city when events simultaneously occur. Here’s how you can easily jump around to the date that you’re looking for.

Things to Do in North Carolina in June (All Month)
June 1-10
June 11-20
June 21-30

Read More: Summer in North Carolina

Things to Do in North Carolina in June (All Month)

If you’d like to add to our things to do in North Carolina in June and represent a tourism bureau, destination marketing organization, or PR agency, please contact us.

Lavender Picking, Statewide (June 1-30)

Lavender blooms between the months of May and September. However, the best time to see and pick these beautiful flowers at these lavender farms is typically in June.

Many of the farms in North Carolina offer more than just lavender picking, from culinary treats to baby farm animals. Grab your scissors and head out to a lavender farm near you!

Pride, Statewide (June 1-30)

June, officially recognized as “Pride Month,” features tons of Pride events. In Raleigh, come out for Out! Raleigh Pride (June 25), a day-long festival taking place in the streets of downtown Raleigh, and the Run for Love 5K (June 11).

Apex is also hosting a day-long Pride Festival (June 11) with music, food, vendors, and more.

If you know of any other Pride Events in June or any other time, please let us know in the comments or by email.

Things to Do in North Carolina in June (1-10)

Trail Days Festival, Elkin (June 2-5)

Things to Do in Elkin NC Carter Falls — Carter Falls is one of the Guided Hikes.

Trail Days Festival in Elkin is a great mix of paddling, hiking (including Stone Mountain State Park), and more fun. A low country boil will kick off the weekend at 5:00 pm on the Friday of this four-day June event, with plates available on a pre-purchase basis.

While you’re in the Surry County area, one of these Yadkin Valley Wineries will surely be open and ready to help you relax after the excitement! Many are part of the Surry County Wine Trail if you’re up for a challenge.

Chicken Pickin’, Butner (June 3-4)

Butner’s Chicken Pickin’ kicks off with a street dance on the first night and a full slate of events on the second day. This hot festival will have plenty of live entertainment on two stages.

The fun will include a chicken cook-off, kid-friendly activities, and tons of food to eat.

Toe River Art Council’s Studio Tour, Spruce Pine (June 3-5)

Spruce Pine’s Toe River Arts Studio Tour will give visitors access to artists in the area. Known as one of the longest-running studio tours around, you can see craftspeople and artists up close and personal, exploring where they live and create.

NC Gold Festival, Vein Mountain (June 3-4)

Celebrate our state’s rich history at Vein Mountain’s NC Gold Festival. North Carolina’s “first in gold mining” heritage will be on display here with mining equipment and demos. For some interactive fun, festival-goers can even pan for gold themselves.

Carolina Beach Music Festival, Carolina Beach (June 4)

The Carolina Beach Music Festival is the place to be for barefoot dancing on the sand. You’ll find laid-back fun in Carolina Beach, also known as 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.“

Beaver Queen Pageant, Durham (June 4)

Durham’s annual Beaver Queen Pageant, known this year as “Camp Bushy Valley,” returns to Duke Park. Pageant contestants become beavers for the day, and you can come to watch them in action.

There will also be a parade, food trucks, and other activities.

Read More: 50+ Awesome Things to Do in Durham

Kayak for the Warriors, Pine Knoll Shores (June 4)

Another paddle opportunity awaits on the coast, via Kayak for the Warriors at Pine Knoll Shores. Each sponsored participant will race either a kayak or paddleboard 3.2 miles through the Pine Knoll Shores canals and afterward, an awards ceremony and “Barbecue Feast” will commence.

If you’re in town to enjoy this most exciting of things to do in North Carolina in June, keep Atlantis Lodge on your list of places to stay!

Read More: The Best Beaches in North Carolina

Black Bear Festival, Plymouth (June 4)

The award-winning North Carolina Black Bear Festival returns to Plymouth this June. Attendees will find over 30 bear-themed activities to celebrate the world’s largest black bears, which happen to live along our coast.

Saddlebred Show, Blowing Rock (June 9-12)

Known as “One Week of Glitz and Glam,” Blowing Rock’s Saddlebred Show is a segment of its Charity Horse Show. Held at L.M. Tate Horse Show Grounds, spectators will get a look at some of the finest horses and ponies competing for prizes. It’s a great experience for equestrians and spectators alike.

Cherry Bounce Festival, Forest City (June 10-11)

The Cherry Bounce Festival in Forest City brings local and regional art, live music from Balsam Range and other acoustic and bluegrass groups, and tons of cherry-inspired food and drink together.

Folks who attend should be on the lookout, for a special appearance from Moonshiners stars Patti Bryan and her dad, David Parker.

Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament, Morehead City (June 10-19)

Small Towns in North Carolina Morehead City

The Big Rock Tournament has long been a fixture on anglers’ lists of things to do in North Carolina in June. It returns for its 64th year of blue marlin fishing and many boats will leave Morehead City in the hopes of snagging a prize marlin.

You can watch the action from Morehead, too, with events held throughout the week.

Things to Do in North Carolina in June (11-20)

Blowing Rock Art in the Park, Blowing Rock (June 11)

The second of six outdoor shows, June’s Art in the Park in Blowing Rock will host more than 90 artists and thousands of visitors. You’ll have opportunities to buy unique handcrafted pieces that you can take home from this mountain town.

Pimento Cheese Festival, Cary (June 11)

The town of Cary is hosting a Festival all about pimento cheese! The Pimento Cheese Festival partners with Cary‘s amazing food trucks on June 11 for a day of music, drinks, and delicious cheese.

Mount Airy Blooms, Mount Airy (June 8)

Mount Airy Blooms is a biennial summer flower celebration in one of our favorite small towns. Tickets can be purchased at the Mount Airy Visitors Center, with an additional fee for a prepaid box lunch.

Attendees will tour multiple private gardens during this event, as well as master gardener demonstrations at The Blue House.

Washington Summer Festival (June 10-11)

One of the most fun things to do in North Carolina in June is in the eastern part of our state.

The Washington Summer Festival is a nice celebration and wonderful fundraiser for the town.
Attendees will be treated to fireworks, music, and more fun in this awesome small town.

Oh, and there’ll be plenty of food there, too.

Arts by the Sea, Swansboro (June 11)

Head to the amazing coastal town of Swansboro for its annual “Arts By The Sea” festival. The town’s best artists line the streets with their products and crafts. The juried show features exhibitions of photography, home decor, paintings, jewelry, and pottery.

Blueberry Picking, Statewide (June 15-August)

Things to Do in North Carolina in June Blueberries in NC

The North Carolina blueberry picking season lasts from mid-June to August. We have some truly great farms for blueberry picking. If you’re looking to visually plan your blueberry picking, our map lists some of the best blueberry farms you’ll find in this state.

North Carolina Rhododendron Festival, Bakersville (June 16-18)

The NC Rhododendron Festival celebrates the beautiful rhododendron flowers blooming in our mountains, specifically Roan Mountain near Bakersville.

If you’re not up for hiking along the rhododendron-lined trails, you can still enjoy a craft fair, music, a car show, and a 10k run. Plus, don’t forget about the event’s long-standing pageant, which provides scholarship opportunities for the area’s young women.

301 Endless Yard Sale (June 17-18)

The Endless Yard Sale stretches for more than 100 miles on US-301. It passes through multiple towns and counties in Eastern NC, including:

Weldon
Rocky Mount
Wilson
Selma
Dunn

Along the way, you will find yard sale items like clothes, kitchen gadgets, vintage records, and toys. Of course, it wouldn’t be a yard sale without unique items like old farm equipment, a boat, and more!

NC Blueberry Festival, Burgaw (June 17-18)

If you’re looking for something sweet this summer, head to Burgaw’s volunteer-led NC Blueberry Festival for the “finest shade of blue.” Thousands will come to this Pender County town for family entertainment, a street fair, barbecue cook-off, and of course, blueberries!

Greenville Grooves Music Festival, Greenville (June 17)

The annual Greenville Grooves Music Festival returns with rain-or-shine entertainment for everyone. During this evening event from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm, Carroll Dashiell returns to the big stage! Food, drink, and more vendors will be waiting for you during this musical experience.

Check out these other exciting things to do in Greenville (including restaurants) while you’re in the area!

Taste of Scotland Festival, Franklin (June 17-19)

The annual Taste of Scotland Festival takes over the town of Franklin each mid-June.

The Scottish-inspired festival is a weekend filled with authentic Scottish foods, a clan parade, Cherokee demonstrations, Highland games, vendors, and more! This is one of the most unique and jovial June events in North Carolina!

Fridays in the Park, West Jefferson (June 17)

Every third Friday in the summer months, the Ashe County Arts Council provides free outdoor entertainment for all! The June edition of Fridays in the Park features The Wildmans, a family folk band.

Registration is required before attending.

Summer Solstice Festival, Greensboro (June 18)

Celebrate the official start of summer with Greensboro’s Summer Solstice Festival. The event is hosted at the Greensboro Arboretum and Lindley Park, both of which will be bustling with talented artists, craftsmen, and vendors.

Headline events include a drum circle, parade, and “Fire Finale” for this event, which is one of the hottest things to do in North Carolina in June.

Juneteenth Celebrations, Statewide (June 18)

While the Emancipation Proclamation was issued on January 1, 1863, it wasn’t actually read to enslaved people in Texas until June 19, 1865. Each year around June 19, Juneteenth celebrations are held throughout the US and North Carolina, too.

One example is in Charlotte, which hosts the massive Juneteenth Festival of the Carolinas. Here are some other places celebrating Juneteenth in North Carolina:

Concord (June 18)
Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh (June 18)
Winston-Salem (June 18)

If you know about any other Juneteenth events in North Carolina, please let us know by email.

Things to Do in North Carolina in June (June 21-30)

The month is almost over but these things to do in North Carolina in June are not worth missing!

Under the Oaks Art Festival, Corolla (June 21-22)

Come to scenic Corolla for a conglomeration of the finest art and wildlife in the state at the Under the Oaks Arts Festival.

The work of dozens of artists will join food concessions and a silent auction to create a vibrant event for all. The silent auction proceeds go towards Whalehead, the famous “mansion by the sea” that’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Don’t forget about the awesome Currituck Beach Lighthouse, which is another reason to visit this Outer Banks town.

State Annual Singing Convention, Benson (June 24-26)

The State Annual Singing Convention in Downtown Benson began with just two choirs and has grown into one of the largest and oldest gospel sings in the US. Join thousands of people who are expected to attend this outdoor event in one of the area’s most beautiful settings.

Be sure to bring lawn chairs for a beautiful afternoon of singing.

Backwoods Beat Music & Art Festival, Sparta (June 25)

The last of our things to do in North Carolina in June takes place in Sparta, Alleghany County. The Backwoods Beat Music & Art Festival is a day of music and art that honors TJ Worthington, a local legend who made quite an impact on the area.

Attendees can enjoy music, a songwriting competition, and a workshop dedicated to Worthington.

Singing on the Mountain, Banner Elk (June 26)

Singing on the Mountain is one of the longest-running things to do in North Carolina in June. This free gospel music festival occurs each year in Banner Elk and is a summer staple.

Not only is this one of NC’s oldest events, Singing on the Mountain is one of the longest-running of its kind in the Southern Appalachian Mountains.

Got Things to Do in North Carolina in June to Add?

Summer has truly arrived, with all these things to do in North Carolina in June. You might even think this is the hottest month of the year. Let’s see what July holds, though, because based on what we wrote about summer, there’s much more fun left during one of the year’s busiest seasons.

And before we move on, which of these events stands out to you? We’d love to read your thoughts in the comments section.

Oh, and is there something we should add to this list? If so, let us know about it here or via email and we’ll gladly take a look!

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

More Things to Do in North Carolina in June (and Beyond!)

2 thoughts on “30+ Amazing Things to Do in North Carolina in June”

Patricia L Cheston

June 20, 2022 at 11:31 am

New to NC, living in Siler City. Grandkids coming for short weekend. Don’t want to spend four hours driving to Boone, Asheville, etc. What’s in central Piedmont area please?
- Carl Hedinger
  
  June 21, 2022 at 9:47 am
  
  Hi there,
  
  Here are a couple of links to help you:
  
  https://www.nctripping.com/central-north-carolina/
  https://www.nctripping.com/central-north-carolina-map/
  
  Thanks,
  
  Carl