Last Updated on May 24, 2023
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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.
- Featured Listing
- 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
Featured Events in June
Butner Summer Festival, Butner (June 3)
The famous Chicken Pickin’ is now called the Butner Summer Festival to represent all their activities better.
Don’t worry! They still hold the barbeque cook-off.
They also have a car show, local vendors, and kiddie rides. And there will be plenty of live entertainment on two stages.
NC Memorial Balloon Festival in Louisburg (June 3-4)
Look up in the sky! Due to a weather-related scheduling change, the NC Memorial Balloon Festival is the weekend after Memorial Day (6/3-6/4).
This event honors, remembers, and celebrates service members and families. Watch as balloons inflate and fill the sky at First Fruits Farm in Louisburg, NC.
Balloon Flights are available and must be arranged prior to the event, but there will also be tethered rides on a first-come-first-served basis!
Read More: The NC Tripping Events Calendar
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 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 many Pride events in North Carolina. Here are a few that we know about.
- In Raleigh, come out for Out! Raleigh Pride (June 24), a day-long festival taking place in the streets of downtown Raleigh, and the Run for Love 5K (TBD).
- Apex is also hosting a day-long Pride Festival (June 10) with music, food, vendors, and more.
- Fayetteville is hosting its Pride event on June 24, with live entertainment, vendors, food trucks, a community art project, a kid’s area, 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.
Read More: The NC Museum of History in Raleigh (+7 Things We Love About It!)
Things to Do in North Carolina in June (1-10)
Trail Days Festival, Elkin (June 1-4)
Trail Days Festival in Elkin is a multi-day event with a great mix of outdoor activities, including paddling, hiking (including Stone Mountain State Park), mountain biking, running and more. There also have activities for kids, making it a family-friendly event.
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! If you’re up for a challenge, many are part of the Surry County Wine Trail.
Read More: Colorful Fall Hikes in North Carolina (+ 20 Beautiful Places to Explore!)
NC Gold Festival, Vein Mountain (June 2-3)
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.
Toe River Art Council’s Studio Tour, Spruce Pine (June 2-4)
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.
Read More: Toe River Arts (One Truly Amazing North Carolina Arts Supporter)
Butner Summer Festival, Butner (June 3)
The famous Chicken Pickin’ is now called the Butner Summer Festival to better represent all of the activities they offer. Don’t worry! They still hold the barbeque cook-off. They also have a car show, local vendors and kiddie rides. And there will be plenty of live entertainment on two stages.
Carolina Beach Music Festival, Carolina Beach (June 3)
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.“
Read More: Carolina Beach State Park (and 7 Great Things to Do There!)
Beaver Queen Pageant, Durham (June 3)
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 3)
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 3)
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 8-11)
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.
Read More: 14 Delicious Blowing Rock Restaurants for High Country Travelers
Cherry Bounce Festival, Forest City (June 9-10)
The Cherry Bounce Festival in Forest City brings local and regional art, live music and other acoustic and bluegrass groups, and tons of cherry-inspired food and drink together.
Read More: 20 Spirit-Filled North Carolina Distilleries, Liquor History, and What to Sip!
Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament, Morehead City (June 9-18)
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 65th 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.
Read More: 20 of the Best Things to Do in Beaufort NC (Boat Tours, Wild Horses, and More!)
Washington Summer Festival, Washington (June 9-10)
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.
Read More: Goose Creek State Park near Washington (10 Things that We Really Love About It!)
Blowing Rock Art in the Park, Blowing Rock (June 10)
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.
Read More: How to See Elk River Falls (Trail and Safety Tips)
Pimento Cheese Festival, Cary (June 10)
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 10 for a day of music, drinks, and delicious cheese.
Read More: The Mayton in Cary (+ 7 Things We Love About Staying Here!)
Mount Airy Blooms, Mount Airy (June 10)
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.
Read More: The Surry County Wine Trail (and 17 Amazing Vineyards to Try)
Spruce Pine Alien Festival, Spruce Pine (June 10)
What was formerly known as the SPACE Festival is now all things UFOs with the Spruce Pine Alien Festival. This themed event includes 125+ vendors selling UFO and alien merchandise, out of this world food menus, and the chance to compete in a costume contest. General admission is free.
Don’t miss headline speaker, Mike Bara, from the “Ancient Aliens” TV series. Tickets are required for the speaker panel.
Arts by the Sea, Swansboro (June 10)
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.
Read More: Bear Island in Hammocks Beach State Park (How to Reach It and 10 Fun Things to Do!)
Things to Do in North Carolina in June (11-20)
Blueberry Picking, Statewide (June 15-August)
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 plan your blueberry picking visually, our map lists some of the best blueberry farms you’ll find in this state.
Read More: The NC Tripping North Carolina Travel Map
Boonerang Music & Arts Festival, Boone (June 15-17)
Check out Boone‘s community with this mostly free downtown street festival. We call this June event “mostly free” because there’s a ticketed event on Thursday at the Appalachian Theatre.
The Boonerang Music & Arts Festival features a vendor market, beer gardens with local breweries, and multiple stages for musical performances.
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.
Read More: 25+ Awesome Things to Do in Burnsville and Yancey County
NC Blueberry Festival, Burgaw (June 16-17)
If you want 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, a barbecue cook-off, and blueberries!
Read More: 11 Wonderful Things to Do on Topsail Island (Outdoor & Indoor Ideas for Your Next Beach Vacation!)
301 Endless Yard Sale (June 16-17)
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!
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!
Read More: Eastern North Carolina Map (with 300+ Amazing Places Listed)
Taste of Scotland Festival, Franklin (June 17-18)
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!
Read More: Wayah Bald Tower (and the BEST Mountain Views in Franklin)
Juneteenth Celebrations, Statewide (Starting June 15)
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 Charlotte, which hosts the massive Juneteenth Festival of the Carolinas (June 15-18).
Here are some other places celebrating Juneteenth in North Carolina:
- Concord (June 18)
- Mount Olive (June 16)
- Winston-Salem (June 17)
- Burgaw (June 24)
If you know about any other Juneteenth events in North Carolina, please let us know by email.
Under the Oaks Art Festival, Corolla (June 20-21)
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.
Don’t forget about the awesome Currituck Beach Lighthouse, which is another reason to visit this Outer Banks town.
Read More: Sanderling Resort in Duck (+ 7 Things We Love About It!)
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!
State Annual Singing Convention, Benson (June 23-25)
Thousands of people flock to downtown Benson each year to hear gospel choirs from far and wide singing in a picturesque oak grove. Choirs compete over the three-day Singing Convention. Bring your own chairs or blankets for this free event.
Also plan to check out the Gospel Museum, free and open to the public on Saturday and Sunday.
Summer Solstice Festival, Greensboro (June 24)
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.
Read More: Fun Museums in Greensboro (Kid-Friendly, Contemporary Art, and More!)
Backwoods Beat Music & Art Festival, Sparta (June 24)
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.
Read More: Western North Carolina Map (400+ Wonderful Places Listed)
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.
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?
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