| 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). Check out the master calendar below, and click on an NC music 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. 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.
Stay up to date by following us as @NCMusicFests on
If we've left out any of your favorite North Carolina music festivals (or just some you know about), please let us know!
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Tweets by @NCMusicFests |
January 2013 | |
| 18 - 20 | Big Band and Swing Dance Weekend - Asheville |
| 25 - 27 | All That Jazz Weekend - Asheville |
February 2013 | |
| 1 - 2 | Bull City Metal Fest - Durham |
| 1 - 2 | Double Barrel Benefit - Raleigh |
| 7 - 9 | N.C. Jazz Festival - Wilmington |
| 9 | Appalachian State Old-Time Fiddlers Convention - Boone |
| 15 - 16 | Neuse River Music Fest - Kinston |
| 15 - 17 | Bluegrass First Class - Asheville |
March 2013 |
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April 2013 | ||
| 5 - 6 | BBQ Cook-Off & Bluegrass Jam - Asheville | |
| 11 - 13 | Big Lick Bluegrass Festival - Oakboro | |
| 12 | Darin and Brooke Aldridge Music Fest - Kings Mountain | |
| 15 - 20 | NCCU Jazz Festival - Durham | |
| 18 - 21 | Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival - Silk Hope | |
| 20 | North Carolina 'Cuegrass Festival - Raleigh | |
| 20 | Earth Day Jam - Salisbury | |
| 25 - 27 | Family Style Bluegrass Music Festival - Roxboro | |
| 25 - 28 | MerleFest - Wilkesboro | |
| 26 - 27 | White Oak Shores Bluegrass Festival - Stella | |
| 27 | Triangle Beach Music Festival - Garner | |
| 27 | All Go West - Asheville |
May 2013 | |
| 3 - 5 | French Broad River Festival - Hot Springs |
| 4 | The Sensational Spring Fling - Marion |
| 4 - 5 | Carolina Rebellion - Concord / Charlotte |
| 9 - 11 | Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver's Bluegrass Music Festival - Denton |
| 9 - 12 | LEAF - Black Mountain |
| 10 - 11 | Beaufort Music Festival - Beaufort |
| 11 | North Carolina Brewers and Music Festival - Huntersville |
| 17 - 19 | FoxFest - Randolph County |
| 17 - 19 | Bikers for Bikers Foundation Spring Rally - Silk Hope |
| 18 | Carolina Blues Festival - Greensboro |
| 18 | Music at the Mills - Union Mills |
| 18 - 19 | Artsplosure - Raleigh |
| 19 | Mustang Spring Jam - Corolla |
| 23 - 25 | Lil Johns Mountain Music Festival - Snow Camp |
| 24 - 26 | Beach Music Festival - Roxboro |
| 24 - 26 | Fiddler's Grove Festival - Union Grove |
June 2013 | |
| Through August 1 | An Appalachian Summer Festival - Boone |
| May 31 - June 1 | Edenton Music and Water Festival - Edenton |
| 1 | Carolina Beach Music Festival - Carolina Beach |
| 1 | Green Swan Music Fest - Swannanoa |
| 7 - 8 | Bluegrass & Old-Time Fiddlers Convention - Mount Airy |
| 7 - 9 | GroverFest - Catawba County |
| 7 - 9 | Ocrafolk Festival - Ocracoke Island |
| 13 - 15 | Cherokee Bluegrass Festival - Cherokee |
| 14 - 15 | Charlie Poole Music Festival - Eden |
| 14 - 15 | Blue Ridge BBQ & Music Festival - Tryon |
| 15 | Bluff Mountain Festival - Hot Springs |
| 21 - 22 | Siren Mountain Jam - Boone |
| 21 - 22 | Uptown Charlotte Jazz Festival - Charlotte |
| 21 - August 4 | Brevard Summer Institute & Festival - Brevard |
| 22 - 23 | State Annual Singing Convention - Benson |
| 22 - July 27 | Eastern Music Festival - Greensboro |
| 23 | Singing on the Mountain - Linville |
| June 30 - July 4 | Red White & Bluegrass Festival - Morganton |
July 2013 | |
| Through July 27 | Eastern Music Festival - Greensboro |
| Through August 1 | An Appalachian Summer Festival - Boone |
| Through August 4 | Brevard Summer Institute & Festival - Brevard |
| June 30 - July 4 | Red White & Bluegrass Festival - Morganton |
| 4 & 6 | Festival for the Eno - Durham |
| 4 - 6 | The Big What? - Prospect Hill |
| 12 - 13 | MusicFest 'n Sugar Grove - Sugar Grove |
| 17 - 28 | Folkmoot USA - Western North Carolina |
| 26 - 27 | Barnstock - Huntersville |
| 26 - 28 | Bele Chere Festival - Asheville |
| 26 - 28 | Cape Fear Blues Festival - Wilmington |
| 28 - 31 | Nunn Brothers Bluegrass Festival - Mount Airy |
August 2013 | |
| Through Aug. 4 | Brevard Summer Institute & Festival - Brevard |
| 1 - 3 | PreddyFest Bluegrass Festival - Franklinton |
| 1 - 3 | Mountain Dance and Folk Festival - Asheville |
| 2 - 3 | August Jam - Mooresboro |
| 8 - 11 | Wild Goose Festival - Hot Springs |
| 9 - 11 | Olla Belle Reed Music Festival - Lansing |
| 10 - 11 | Activation Music and Arts Festival - Ferguson |
| 15 - 17 | N.C. State Bluegrass Festival - Marion |
| 22 - 24 | Clear Mountain View Music Festival - Polkville |
| 23 - 24 | Fines Creek Bluegrass Jam - Clyde |
| 29 - 31 | Lil Johns Mountain Music Festival - Snow Camp |
| 29 - Sept. 1 | Mantrabash Music & Art Festival - Ferguson |
| 30 - 31 | Smoky Mountain Folk Festival - Lake Junaluska |
| 30 - Sept. 1 | Historic Happy Valley Old-Time Fiddlers' Convention - Lenoir |
| 31 | John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival - High Point |
| 31 | Carolina Foxfire's Battle of the Bluegrass Bands - Cherryville |
| 31 - Sept. 1 | ProgDay - Chapel Hill |
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September 2013 | ||
| 1 | New River Blues Festival - Grassy Creek | |
| 5 - 7 | Hopscotch - Raleigh | |
| 5 - 7 | Coot Williams Road Bluegrass Festival - Cherryville | |
| 13 - 14 | Mountain Song Festival - Brevard | |
| 13 - 14 | Bull Durham Blues Festival - Durham | |
| 14 | Brewgrass Festival - Asheville | |
| 14 | Charlotte Sunset Jazz Festival - Charlotte | |
| 19 - 21 | Hoppin' John Fiddler's Convention - Silk Hope | |
| 20 - 21 | Dailey Vincent Fest - Denton | |
| 20 - 22 | FoxFest - TBA in Triad | |
| 21 | Rock the Block - Winston-Salem | |
| 27 - 28 | World of Bluegrass / Wide Open Bluegrass Festival - Raleigh | |
| 27 - 29 | H Blast Jungle Freak - Locust Hill | |
| 28 | French Broad Fall Fest - Hot Springs | |
| 28 | Dream Acres Music Festival - Pleasant Hill | |
| 29 | Carrboro Music Festival - Carrboro |
October 2013 | |
| 4 - 6 | Outer Banks Bluegrass Festival - Manteo |
| 5 | 3B Music Festival - Union Grove |
| 5 | Bascom Lamar Lunsford Festival - Mars Hill |
| 10 - 13 | Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival - Silk Hope |
| 11 - 12 | Mustang Music Festival - Corolla |
| 12 - 13 | Pleasure Island Seafood, Blues & Jazz Festival - Kure Beach |
| 17 - 20 | LEAF - Black Mountain |
| 18 - 19 | Time Warner Cable BBQ & Blues - Charlotte |
| 19 | Rowan Blues and Jazz Festival - Salisbury |
| 19 | Mountain Oasis Electronic Music Summit - Asheville |
November 2013 | |
| 9 | Homecoming Veteran's Day Weekend Bluegrass Festival - Maiden |
| 9 | Clayton Shindig - Clayton |
December 2013 | |
| 27 - 28 | North Carolina Music and Arts Festival - Lexington |

![]() Cayamo 2013 |
![]() French Quarter Festival 2012 |

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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 this counter re-set itself on Oct. 22, 2012.

