Carolina Music Festivals is a comprehensive calendar and guide to multi-act, daylong or multiple-day music festivals in North Carolina.
Dates and other details may be estimated based on last year's festival until this year's plans are confirmed by festival organizers.
Through August 1 An Appalachian Summer Festival - Boone
Through August 1 Brevard Summer Institute & Festival - Brevard
Through August 1 Eastern Festival of Music - Greensboro
July 2 - 4 Ocean City Jazz Festival - North Topsail Beach
The annual contemporary jazz festival showcases jazz legends and up-and-coming acts. The festival, which is in its 17th year in 2027, began as a summertime family celebration to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Ocean City community, the first coastal area in North Carolina that allowed African Americans to buy land. The 2027 festival is to present three acts each evening plus bourbon tastings each afternoon, pilates Friday morning, an easy two-mile "learn and hike" on Saturday and Sunday morning church services. The stage and seating are under a 60x90-foot pavilion tent, food trucks sell food, beer, wine, cocktails and other beverages, and there will be a DJ, vendors and a wellness tent.
Artists
Festival site: North Topsail Beach
Gates open 4 p.m., music at 5 p.m.
Three-day pass (2027 festival): $297.
Free parking and shuttles at North Topsail Beach Public Works Department (3315 Gray Street), all beach accesses and Onslow County Beach Access No. 2 at 2950 Island Drive.
No food or drink may be brought into the festival.
July 5 - August 9 Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival - Highlands and Cashiers
The Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival is primarily a series of concerts presented at two locations in the mountain resort towns to enhance the cultural life of Western North Carolina and foster an appreciation of chamber music. The festival also presents a series of special programs from May to August and salons from June through August (see schedules at link). William Ransom is the festival's artistic director.
Concert Series Artists
Festival site: Highlands Performing Arts Center (map) and Village Green Commons, Cashiers
Concerts: 5 p.m. Saturdays and Mondays in Highlands, Sundays and Tuesdays in Cashiers.
Highlands or Cashiers concert series: 10 concerts (Saturday and Monday) $360; 5 concerts (Saturday or Monday) $200.
July 16 Doc & Rosa Lee Watson MusicFest - Boone
Since 1998, the Doc & Rosa Lee Watson MusicFest had been held each July at the Historic Cove Creek School in Sugar Grove, which houses the Doc & Merle Watson Folk Art Museum. It had expanded to two days and 18 acts in 2024. But in September 2024, the festival grounds were destroyed during Hurricane Helene, and the 2025 and 2026 versions of the festival were moved to downtown Boone for single-evening shows.
Artists
Festival site: Appalachian Theatre of the High Country
Doors 6:30 p.m., show 7 p.m.
Gold seats: $61.91.
July 16 - 17 Party on the Mountain - Beech Mountain
The Party on the Mountain weekend is a two-day event with more than a dozen acts playing an outdoors stage and at several Beech Mountain venues during the resort's summer concert series, which typically includes two more two-act concerts in June and August. Beech Mountain also offers mountain biking, fishing, scenic lift rides, yoga, disc golf, and additional activities during the weekend. A variety of food trucks, craft vendors, and Beech Mountain Brewing Co. will also be onsite. The festival is in its fifth year in 2027.
Artists
Festival site: Beech Mountain Ski Resort
Gates open 5:30 p.m.; shows start 7 p.m.
Two-day general admission: $98.78.
July 22 - 24 Ashe County Bluegrass and Old Time Fiddlers Convention - Jefferson
The convention features a square dance, a concert and competitions for youth and adult musicians and bands with $4,350 in prize money for the winners in 2026. Members of the Junior Appalachian Musicians program provide instruction in fiddle, banjo and guitar for students in grades 3-8. There's typically also a luthiers' tent, a crafters' row, barbecue and more. The convention is sponsored by the Ashe County Arts Council and is in its 56th year in 2027. Proceeds benefit the Ashe County Junior Appalachian Musicians program.
Artists
Festival site: Ashe Arts Center (map), Ashe Civic Center, Ashe County Park
Square Dance: Ashe Arts Center, 7 to 9 p.m., free with donations accepted.
No alcohol.
July 23 - 24 DownEast Music Festival - Rocky Mount
The Southern soul music festival presents about 15 local, regional and national recording artists. There's also a vendor pavilion, exclusive VIP areas and more. The Friday show is an indoor concert, and Saturday is outdoors. Proceeds benefit Itsdoable, an organization that helps under-served youths. The festival is in its 10th year in 2027.
Artists
Festival site: Rocky Mount Sports Complex (map); Brown Auditorium, Nash Community College (Friday)
9 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday.
Weekend pass: $50 until March 1, $90 afterward.
RVs: $90 Saturday, $150 for weekend.
July 23 - 24 Hillbilly Jam - Maggie Valley
The festival once known as Hillbilly Woodstock features regional country, bluegrass, Americana and Southern rock bands in an event focused on Appalachian culture. The festival typically presents a car and bike show, workshops that celebrate moonshine heritage and mountain culture, craft and food vendors, cornhole games, and appearances by country-themed reality TV stars.
Artists
Festival site: Maggie Valley Festival Grounds (Fairgrounds)
10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; music starts 11:45 a.m. Friday, 11 a.m. Saturday.
$10 daily. Younger than 10 free.
July 30 - 31 Fly Around Music and Arts Festival - Lansing
Fly Around celebrates Appalachia's rich musical traditions and beauty while raising money for Ashe County's continued recovery from Hurricane Helene. Shows are presented at sites within walking distance of each other in downtown Lansing on Friday and Saturday, with tickets for Friday evening's indoor show limited because of the venue's capacity. Saturday's shows are indoors and outdoors. Expect several food trucks plus other vendors and local nonprofit groups to be on hand, as well. 2027 is the festival's third year.
Artists
Festival site: Orchard Creek General Store (Friday), Lost Province Center for Cultural Arts (Saturday)
7 to 10 p.m. Friday, doors open at 6 p.m.; music starts 2 p.m. Saturday, gate opens at 1 p.m.
Friday: $20 advance, $24.
July 31 - August 2 Mountain Dance and Folk Festival - Asheville
Since 1928, the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival has presented a wide repertoire from old-timers as well as the newest generation of mountain musicians, dancers and cloggers whose performances echo centuries of Scottish, English, Irish, Cherokee and African heritage. On Saturday afternoon, some 50 young musicians and dancers take part in a "Youth Talent Celebration" for ages 5 to 18. The festival also designates "Legacy Performers" who have made significant contributions to the region's musical heritage over several decades. Stony Creek Boys is the house band.
Artists
Festival site: Asheville High School
Nightly shows 7 p.m.; Youth Talent Celebration 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Three-day pass: $55.
(See the June calendar)
(See the June calendar)
(See the June calendar)
TBA. 2026 lineup included Kirk Whalum, Eric Darius, Big Mike Hart and seven more.
Daily admission TBA.
TBA. 2026 lineup included The American String Quartet, Vieness Piano Duo, Neave Trio and 25 more groups and solo musicians.
Single show: $40, students (younger than 18) $20.
Festival Finale Gala: concert and dinner $200, concert only $100.
TBA. 2026 lineup was The Kody Norris Show, Blue Highway, The Kruger Brothers.
Silver seats: $51.24.
Bronze seats: $40.56.
TBA. 2026 lineup included Gary Clark Jr., Turnpike Troubadours, Willow Avalon and 15 more.
Daily: $60.97.
Two-day VIP (Early entry, access to premium stage-view areas; VIP tent, bar and restrooms; drink ticket): $433.72.
Daily VIP (Early entry, access to premium stage-view areas; VIP tent, bar and restrooms; drink ticket): $271.65.
Lift Ticket (one round trip to 5,506 SkyBar): $23.14.
Younger than 6 get in free.
TBA. 2026 lineup included The Blue Ridge Opry, Sassafrass Bluegrass Band, Big Ivy Stringband and caller Clarke Williams for the square dance, and competition participants.
Blue Ridge Opry: Ashe Civic Center, 7:30 p.m., adults $20, students $7.50.
Radio Show and competitions: Ashe County Park, 11 a.m.
TBA. 2026 lineup included Lacee, Myia B Music, Annie B (host), and 12 more.
Friday: $25 until March 1, $40 afterward.
Saturday: $30 until March 1, $60 afterward.
Weekend VIP (priority entry, access to VIP-only areas in front of stage, Saturday pre-show mixer): $250.
Friday VIP (priority entry, reserved seats, access to VIP-only areas): $75 until March 1.
Saturday VIP (priority entry, access to VIP-only areas in front of stage, pre-show mixer): $150.
TBA. 2026 lineup incuded Jeff Anderson, Misbehavin, Second Chance and seven more.
TBA. 2026 lineup included Jake Xerxes Fussell, Martha Spencer and the Wonderland Country Band, Trish Fore and the Wildcats, and eight more.
Saturday: $69 advance, 79.
Younger than 12 free with paying adult.
TBA. 2026 lineup included Songs From The Road Band, Sons of Ralph, Sheila Kay Adams and 23 more, plus dance teams.
Nightly: $20 advance, $25 at door.
Students: $5 advance, $10 at door.
Younger than 12: $5.
Groups of 10 or more: $15 per person.
Youth Talent Celebration: free admission.
Return to the Carolina Music Festivals full-year calendar - home page.
Go to June Music Festivals // Go to August Music Festivals
Visit Our Sister Site
Carolina Outdoors Guide, a comprehensive guide to state and national outdoor recreation sites in North Carolina.
Carolina Music Festivals and Carolina Outdoors Guide are publications of PC Nelson Communications, LLC.