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 |
| 10 - 11 | 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 | ||
| 12 - 14 | Big Lick Bluegrass Festival - Oakboro | |
| 13 - 14 | The Darin and Brooke Aldridge Bluegrass Festival - Cherryville | |
| 16 - 21 | NCCU Jazz Festival - Durham | |
| 19 - 22 | Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival - Silk Hope | |
| 20 - 21 | BBQ Cook-Off & Bluegrass Jam - Asheville | |
| 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 | |
| 27 - 28 | R.evolution Beach & Music Festival - Carolina Beach | |
| 27 - 28 | Groove for the Holler - Mebane | |
| 28 | Triangle Beach Music Festival - Garner | |
| Cancelled | All Go West - Asheville |
May 2012 | |
| 4 - 6 | French Broad River Festival - Hot Springs |
| 4 - 6 | Sprang Thang - Franklinton |
| 5 | Carolina Rebellion - Rockingham |
| 6 | Lakefest - Brogden |
| 10 - 12 | Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver's Bluegrass Music Festival - Denton |
| 10 - 13 | LEAF - Black Mountain |
| 11 - 12 | Beaufort Music Festival - Beaufort |
| 12 | Bluegrass by the River - Kure Beach |
| 12 | The Sensational Spring Fling - Moncure |
| 18 - 20 | FoxFest - TBA in Triad |
| 19 | Carolina Blues Festival - Greensboro |
| 19 - 20 | Artsplosure - Raleigh |
| 24 - 26 | Lil Johns Mountain Music Festival - Snow Camp |
| 25 - 26 | Shine Fest - Fontana Dam |
| 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 - 2 | Edenton Music and Water Festival - Edenton |
| 1 - 2 | Railhouse Rockfest - Rockingham |
| 1 - 3 | GroverFest - Ferguson |
| 2 | Carolina Beach Music Festival - Carolina Beach |
| 2 | Green Swan Music Fest - Swannanoa |
| 8 - 9 | Charlie Poole Music Festival - Eden |
| 8 - 9 | Blue Ridge BBQ & Music Festival - Tryon |
| 14 - 16 | Cherokee Bluegrass Festival - Cherokee |
| 21 - 23 | Mantrabash Music & Art Festival - Ferguson |
| 21 - 24 | Wild Goose Festival - Silk Hope |
| 22 - 23 | Uptown Charlotte Jazz Festival - Charlotte |
| 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 |
| 24 - July 28 | An Appalachian Summer Festival - Boone |
| 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 |
| 4, 7 - 8 | Festival for the Eno - Durham |
| 13 - 14 | MusicFest 'n Sugar Grove - Sugar Grove |
| 13 - 14 | Carnavalito - Black Mountain |
| 18 - 29 | Folkmoot USA - Western North Carolina |
| 21 | TRKfest - Pittsboro |
| 27 - 28 | Barnstock - Huntersville |
| 27 - 29 | Bele Chere Festival - Asheville |
| 27 - 29 | Cape Fear Blues Festival - Wilmington |
| 28 - 31 | Nunn Brothers Bluegrass Festival - Mount Airy |
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 |
| 9 - 11 | The Big What? - Prospect Hill |
| 9 - 11 | Gnarnia - Beech Mountain |
| 10 - 11 | Olla Belle Reed Music Festival - Lansing |
| 16 - 18 | N.C. State Bluegrass Festival - Marion |
| 24 - 25 | Fines Creek Bluegrass Jam - Clyde |
| 24 - 26 | Music on the Mountaintop - Banner Elk |
October 2012 | |
| 4 - 7 | Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival - Silk Hope |
| 5 - 6 | Outer Banks Bluegrass Festival - Manteo |
| 11 - 13 | Yep Roc 15 - Carrboro |
| 11 - 13 | Lil Johns Mountain Music Festival - Snow Camp |
| 12 - 13 | High Country MusicFest - Boone |
| 13 - 14 | Pleasure Island Seafood, Blues & Jazz Festival - Kure Beach |
| 13 - 14 | Mustang Music Festival - Corolla |
| 18 - 21 | LEAF - Black Mountain |
| 20 | Rowan Blues and Jazz Festival - Salisbury |
| 26 - 28 | MoogFest - Asheville |
November 2012 | |
| 10 | NC Beer & Band Festival - Raleigh |
| 10 | Homecoming Veteran's Day Weekend Bluegrass Festival - Maiden |
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.

