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 shows 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).
Check out the master calendar below, and click on a festival's name or the month for more information, including maps to festival sites and links to festivals' websites. Photos with calendar listings link to more photos and essays (like this one) about that festival; click on the photo for more information.
Stay up to date by following us as @NCMusicFests on
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If we've left out your favorite North Carolina music festival (or just one you know about), please let us know!
January 2012 | |
| 27 - 28 | All That Jazz Weekend - Asheville |
February 2012 | |
| 2 - 4 | N.C. Jazz Festival - Wilmington |
| 3 - 4 | Bull City Metal Fest - Durham |
| 3 - 4 | Double Barrel Benefit - Raleigh |
| 12 - 13 | Heart 'n' Soul of Jazz - Pinehurst |
| 17 - 18 | Neuse River Music Fest - Kinston |
| 17 - 19 | Bluegrass First Class - Asheville |
March 2012 |
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April 2012 | ||
| 6 - 7 | The Darin and Brooke Aldridge Bluegrass Festival - Cherryville | |
| 12 - 14 | Big Lick Bluegrass Festival - Oakboro | |
| 14 - 15 | Carrboro Gets the HINT - Carrboro | |
| 19 - 22 | Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival - Silk Hope | |
| 20 - 21 | BBQ Cook-Off & Bluegrass Jam - Asheville | |
| 21 - 22 | Annual Spring Festival and Tribute to the Troops - Salemburg | |
| 21 | North Carolina 'Cuegrass Festival - Raleigh | |
| 26 - 28 | Family Style Bluegrass Music Festival - Roxboro | |
| 26 - 29 | MerleFest - Wilkesboro | |
| 27 - 28 | Annual Spring Bluegrass Festival - Stella | |
| 28 | All Go West - Asheville | |
| 28 | Triangle Beach Music Festival - Garner |
May 2012 | |
| 4 - 6 | French Broad River Festival - Hot Springs |
| 5 | Carolina Rebellion - Charlotte |
| 10 - 12 | Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver's Bluegrass Music Festival - Denton |
| 10 - 13 | Lake Eden Arts Festival - Black Mountain |
| 11 - 12 | R.evolution Beach & Music Festival - Carolina Beach |
| 11 - 12 | Beaufort Music Festival - Beaufort |
| 12 | Jam at the Grove - Wilmington |
| 19 | Carolina Blues Festival - Greensboro |
| 19 - 20 | Artsplosure - Raleigh |
| 24 - 26 | Lil Johns Mountain Music Festival - Snow Camp |
| 24 - 27 | The Hillbilly Hoedown - Boiling Springs |
| 25 - 27 | Ole Time Fiddlers and Bluegrass Festival - Union Grove |
| 25 - 27 | Beach Music Festival - Roxboro |
June 2012 | |
| 1 - 2 | Bluegrass & Old-Time Fiddlers Convention - Mount Airy |
| 1 - 3 | Smilefest - Pinnacle |
| 8 - 9 | Charlie Poole Music Festival - Eden |
| 8 - 9 | Blue Ridge BBQ & Music Festival - Tryon |
| 15 - 16 | Edenton Music and Water Festival - Edenton |
| 15 - 17 | Rapids Jam - Roanoke Rapids |
| 21 - 24 | Wild Goose Festival - Silk Hope |
| 22 - 24 | State Annual Singing Convention - Benson |
| 22 - August 5 | Brevard Summer Institute & Festival - Brevard |
| 23 - July 28 | Eastern Music Festival - Greensboro |
| 24 | Singing on the Mountain - Linville |
| 30 - July 1 | Cashiers Mountain Music Festival - Cashiers |
| 30 - July 4 | Red White & Bluegrass Festival - Morganton |
July 2012 | |
| Through July 28 | Eastern Music Festival - Greensboro |
| Through August 5 | Brevard Summer Institute & Festival - Brevard |
| Through July 4 | Red White & Bluegrass Festival - Morganton |
| 1 - 3 | GroverFest - Ferguson |
| 1 - 30 | An Appalachian Summer Festival - Boone |
| 4, 7 - 8 | Festival for the Eno - Durham |
| 6 - 7 | MusicFest 'n Sugar Grove - Sugar Grove |
| 18 - 29 | Folkmoot USA - Western North Carolina |
| 20 - 21 | Dejafest - Raleigh |
| 26 - 29 | Nunn Brothers Bluegrass Festival - Mount Airy |
| 27 - 29 | Bele Chere Festival - Asheville |
| 27 - 29 | Cape Fear Blues Festival - Wilmington |
August 2012 | |
| Through August 5 | Brevard Summer Institute & Festival - Brevard |
| 1 | Island in the Mountains Fest - Marshall |
| 2 - 4 | PreddyFest Bluegrass Festival - Franklinton |
| 2 - 4 | Mountain Dance and Folk Festival - Asheville |
| 10 - 12 | Olla Belle Reed Music Festival - Lansing |
| 11 | TRKfest 2011 - Pittsboro |
| 16 - 18 | N.C. State Bluegrass Festival - Marion |
| 24 - 25 | Music on the Mountaintop - Banner Elk |
| 24 - 25 | Fines Creek Bluegrass Jam - Clyde |
October 2012 | |
| 5 - 6 | Outer Banks Bluegrass Festival - Manteo |
| 11 - 13 | Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival - Silk Hope |
| 12 - 13 | High Country MusicFest - Boone |
| 13 | N.C. Metalfest - Wilson |
| 18 - 21 | Lake Eden Arts Festival - Black Mountain |
| 19 - 20 | Pleasure Island Seafood, Blues & Jazz Festival - Kure Beach |
| 20 | Rowan Blues and Jazz Festival - Salisbury |
| 26 - 28 | MoogFest - Asheville |
November 2012 | |
| 9 - 10 | Homecoming Bluegrass Festival - Burlington |
| 10 | NC Beer & Band Festival - Raleigh |
| 10 | Mustang Music Festival - Corolla |
December 2011 |

Search for your favorite band, festival or location (i.e., "Boone")
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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. Early in the year, information from the previous year may be 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. We try to update each weekend or when notified of new information. 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 visitors to this page since Jan. 15, 2012.

