The bands come and go, but the festivals play on.
Carolina Music Festivals is a comprehensive calendar and guide to multi-act, daylong or multiple-day music festivals in North Carolina. In addition to the most up-to-date information available about dates, acts and prices, we'll tell you about the festival itself - the layout of the grounds, the best way to see it, what kind of vibe to expect (these additional pages are constantly under development as we make it to more festivals each season).
Go to our master festival calendar below and click on an NC music festival's name for more information about that festival, including artist lineup, ticket prices, a map to the festival site and a link to the festival's website. If you're interested in what's happening during a specific month, go to its page ...
A photo with a festival listing indicates that we have more photos and an essay profiling that festival (like this one); click on the photo for more information.
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Most music festivals in North Carolina cater to families. If you haven't been to one because you have children, find a festival near you that you and the kids will enjoy.
If we've left out any of your favorite North Carolina music festivals (or just some you know about), please let us know!
| If you know of a North Carolina music festival in January, please let us know! |
| 1 - 3 | North Carolina Jazz Festival - Wilmington |
| 2 - 3 | Appalachian State Old-Time Fiddlers Convention - Boone |
| TBA in 2025 | North Carolina HIP Music Festival - Triangle |
| 15 - 16 | Carolina Jazz Festival - Chapel Hill |
| 16 - 18 | Bluegrass First Class - Asheville |
| If you know of a North Carolina music festival in March, please let us know! |
| 6 - 7 | Dreamville Festival - Raleigh | |
| 12 - 14 | Moo, Brew and 'Que Music Fest - Charlotte | |
| 13 | Strange Fruit Festival - Greensboro | |
| 13 | Lucknow Music Festival - Dunn | |
| 18 - 20 | Big Lick Bluegrass Festival - Oakboro | |
| April 19 - 21 | Tuck Fest - Charlotte | |
| 20 | North Carolina 'Cuegrass Festival - Raleigh | |
| 20 | Earth Day Jam - Salisbury | |
| 20 | RockyFest - Hiddenite | |
| 25 - 28 | MerleFest - Wilkesboro | 
MerleFest |
| 26 - 27 | BrightFire Music and Arts Festival - Concord | |
| 27 | Beach Fest - Selma | |
| 2 - 5 | Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance - Silk Hope | 
Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival |
| 3 - 4 | Another World 2024 - Concord | |
| 3 - 5 | Lovin' Life Music Fest - Charlotte | |
| 9 - 11 | Malpass Brothers Country and Bluegrass Festival - Denton | |
| 9 - 12 | LEAF Retreat - Black Mountain | 
The LEAF |
| 10 - 11 | Carolina Indie Fest - Sanford | |
| 11 - 12 | Bear Shadow - Highlands | |
| 17 - 18 | Beaufort Music Festival - Beaufort | 
Beaufort Music Festival |
| 18 | Vet Jam 2024 - Fuquay-Varina | |
| 18 | Durham Blues and Brews Festival - Durham | |
| 18 - 19 | Artsplosure - Raleigh | |
| 24 - 26 | Tony Rice Memorial Day Music Fest - Elon | |
| 1 | Carolina Beach Music Festival - Carolina Beach | |
| 6 - 8 | Cherokee Bluegrass Festival - Cherokee | |
| 7 - 8 | Bluegrass & Old-Time Fiddlers Convention - Mount Airy | |
| 7 - 9 | Ocrafolk Festival - Ocracoke Island | 
Ocrafolk Festival |
| 7 - 9 | Cape Fear Blues Festival - Wilmington | |
| 8 | Carl Sandburg Music Festival - Flat Rock | |
| 13 - 15 | Willow Oak Park Bluegrass Festival - Roxboro | |
| 14 - 15 | Charlie Poole Music Festival - Wentworth | 
Charlie Poole Music Festival |
| 14 - 15 | Boonerang Music and Arts Festival - Boone | |
| 14 - 15 | Surry Old Time Fiddlers Convention - Dobson | |
| 15 | Bluff Mountain Festival - Hot Springs | |
| 21 - 22 | FlushFest - Hillsborough | |
| 21 - 23 | State Annual Singing Convention - Benson | 
State Singing Convention |
| June 22 - July 27 | Eastern Music Festival - Greensboro | |
| June 22 - Aug. 10 | Brevard Summer Institute & Festival - Brevard | |
| June 29 - July 27 | An Appalachian Summer Festival - Boone | |
| Through July 27 | Eastern Music Festival - Greensboro | |
| Through July 27 | An Appalachian Summer Festival - Boone | |
| Through Aug. 10 | Brevard Summer Institute & Festival - Brevard | |
| 4 & 6 | Festival for the Eno - Durham | 
Festival for the Eno |
| July 5 - 7 | Ocean City Jazz Festival - North Topsail Beach | |
| 6 | Smokin' Grass Bluegrass & BBQ Festival - Manteo | |
| 26 - 27 | DownEast Music Festival - Rocky Mount | |
| 26 - 27 | Hillbilly Jam - Maggie Valley | |
| 26 - 27 | Ashe County Bluegrass and Old Time Fiddlers - Jefferson | |
| Through Aug. 10 | Brevard Summer Institute & Festival - Brevard | |
| 1 - 3 | Mountain Dance and Folk Festival - Swannanoa | |
| 1 - 3 | PreddyFest Bluegrass Festival - Franklinton | |
| 1 - 4 | AVL Fest - Asheville | |
| 2 - 3 | Reevestock Music Festival - Elkin | 
Reevestock |
| 2 - 4 | Gears and Guitars Music Fests - Winston-Salem | |
| 9 - 10 | McDowell County Country Music Roundup - Marion | |
| 14 | Cold Mountain Music Festival - Canton | |
| 15 - 17 | N.C. State Bluegrass Festival - Marion | |
| Aug. 30 - Sept. 1 | Earl Scruggs Music Festival - Mill Spring | 
Earl Scruggs Music Festival |
| Aug. 30 - Sept 1 | Camp Springs Labor Day Bluegrass Festival - Elon | |
| Aug 31 - Sept. 1 | ProgDay - Chapel Hill | 
ProgDay |
| Aug. 31 - Sept. 1 | John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival - High Point | |
| 3 - 6 | Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance - Silk Hope |
Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival |
| 4 - 5 | Ol' Front Porch Music Festival - Oriental | 
Ol' Front Porch Music Festival |
| 4 - 5 | FabFest - Charlotte's Beatles Festival - Charlotte | |
| 5 | Spruce Pine BBQ Championship and Bluegrass Festival - Spruce Pine | |
| 5 | Play Dead! - Concord | |
| 12 - 13 | Duck Jazz Festival - Duck | |
| 16 - 20 | Bluegrass Island Festival - Manteo | 
Bluegrass Island Festival |
| 17 - 20 | The LEAF - Black Mountain |
The LEAF |
| 18 - 20 | Queen City Jam Session - Charlotte | |
| 26 | Sleepy Fest - Saxapahaw | |
| 12 - 17 | Bull City Summit - Durham |
| 6 - 7 | Balsam Range Art of Music Festival - Lake Junaluska | 
Art of Music Festival |
 Cayamo Singer-Songwriter Cruise |
 French Quarter Festival 2012 |
Search for your favorite band, festival or location (i.e., "Boone")
on Carolina Music Festivals:
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Disclaimer: We've tried to gather the most up-to-date and accurate information available, but everything is subject to change and, for that matter, we and our sources make the occasional mistake. We try to update each weekend or when notified of new information. Information from the previous year may remain posted for certain festivals until updated plans are announced; in particular, fees may change from year to year and dates may be estimated based on the previous festival. Festivals come and go; we work through websites, Facebook, email, mainstream media sources and the occasional phone call. If a festival's listing has not been updated and it's close to the festival date, it may not be happening this year. We tend to err in favor of the festival happening, and keep festivals listed on the site as long as seems reasonable.
We cannot and do not guarantee any of the artists, prices, show times, locations, maps, camping options or other information about the music festivals we refer to on this site. Please let us know about any mistakes or out-dated information you find. And, before you head out, check individual music festivals' websites for information and/or contact them via email or phone to make sure they plan to present the show you expect to see.
Carolina Music Festivals is compiled, designed, written, photographed and published by Christopher E. Nelson.
Established January 2010. We've had visits to this page since this counter re-set itself on Oct. 22, 2012.
Carolina Music Festivals and Carolina Outdoors Guide are publications of PC Nelson Communications, LLC.
