GOTTA BE NC

North Carolina loves to celebrate – with festivals dedicated to music, food, culture, and tradition year-round. From bluegrass and barbecue to parades and fairs, there’s always something happening.

Heritage & Folk Culture

• Mountain Dance and Folk Festival – Asheville’s annual Appalachian folk celebration, dating back to 1930, and the oldest continuously running folk festival in the U.S. 
• Folkmoot USA – Western North Carolina’s international folk festival in Waynesville/Canton, featuring global dance, music, crafts, and food. Recognized as the state’s official international festival. 
• Loch Norman Highland Games – Huntersville’s Scottish heritage festival in spring, with Highland dancing, bagpipes, clan events, haggis, and more. 
• Grandfather Mountain Highland Games – Linville’s July festival featuring Scottish athletic competitions, piping, dancing, clan ceremonies, and more. 
• Waldensian Festival – Celebrated every August in Valdese, honoring Waldensian heritage with music, drama, food vendors, and crafts.
• Lumbee Homecoming & Pow-Wow – Pembroke’s major Native American cultural celebration including pow-wow dances and the Miss Lumbee pageant—the largest American Indian event in NC. 
• Guilford Native American Association Annual Pow Wow – Greensboro’s indigenous heritage festival with traditional dance, music, artisan booths, and workshops.

Food, Plants, & Regional Traditions

• North Carolina Azalea Festival – Wilmington’s springtime festival (since 1948) celebrating azaleas, featuring garden tours, parades, and community events. 
• Lexington Barbecue Festival – Iconic one-day food festival in October in Lexington, drawing up to 200,000 visitors for barbecue, vendors, and entertainment.
• NC Peach Festival – Candor’s July festival with peach cooking contests, parade, live music, peach ice cream, and a 5K race. 
• North Carolina Watermelon Festival – Murfreesboro’s July event featuring seed-spitting contests, parades, music, vendors, and fireworks.
• NC Apple Festival – Hendersonville’s late-August to early-September festival with crafts, fresh apples, kids’ activities, and an antique aircraft flyover. 
• Ocracoke Fig Festival – Celebrated in early August on Ocracoke Island, featuring fig-based foods, music, history, and dance.
• North Carolina Hot Sauce Contest & Festival – Held each September in Oxford, with spicy food competitions, live music, car shows, and more. 
• BayHaven Food & Wine Festival – Charlotte’s three-day festival celebrating Black culinary heritage, featuring Black chefs and cultural food traditions. 

Music, Dance & Performing Arts

• John Coltrane International Jazz & Blues Festival – High Point’s August event honoring jazz legend John Coltrane, complete with performances and a student instrument contest. 
• Dreamville Festival – Raleigh’s major music and cultural event launched in 2019. The 2024 edition drew over 104,000 attendees, and it’s planned to return in 2025. 
• Wide Open Bluegrass Festival – Raleigh’s urban bluegrass festival in late September, featuring multiple stages and live performances by Grammy-winning artists.
• North Carolina Folk Festival – Greensboro’s free, multi-day folk arts festival held in early September, featuring music, dance, storytelling, crafts, and food. 
• Mountain Song Festival – Brevard’s early-September music festival supporting local youth programs through a lineup of folk, bluegrass, and Americana acts. 
• IBMA World of Bluegrass – Raleigh’s late-September bluegrass convention with ticketed performances and a free seven-stage StreetFest.

Statewide & Large-Scale Community Events

• North Carolina State Fair – Raleigh’s major October event showcasing agriculture, crafts, rides, food, music, and competitions—drawing nearly a million visitors. 
• Mayberry Days – Mount Airy’s September festival celebrating The Andy Griffith Show themes, with contests, entertainment, parades, and nostalgia. 
• Bookmarks Festival of Books and Authors – Winston-Salem’s late September celebration of literature featuring author talks and community engagement. 
• Festival for the Eno – Durham’s summer music, art, and food festival held along the Eno River with numerous entertainers and artisans. 
• African American Cultural Festival – Raleigh’s Labor Day weekend event celebrating African American arts, food, music, and culture. 
• CaribMask Carnival – Raleigh’s mid-August festival highlighting Caribbean culture with music, dance, and festive parades.
• Festival on the Square – Hayesville’s July festival featuring street dance, crafts, and entertainment on the town square.
• Christmas in July Festival – West Jefferson’s early July festival with mountain music, crafts, and family-friendly activities. 
• Avery Fine Art Festival – Sugar Mountain’s July juried craft fair showcasing fine arts, jewelry, pottery, and photography.