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 July 25 An Appalachian Summer Festival - Boone
Through August 23 Brevard Summer Institute & Festival - Brevard
Citing "the increasingly extreme heat and severe weather that now define July in North Carolina" and the fact that West Point on the Eno City Park, the longtime home of the festival, is scheduled to close for construction in early summer, organizers of the Festival for the Eno have announced that the 2026 edition will be a benefit concert and community celebration in downtown Durham on September 12. "We plan to return to a festival format in Spring 2027, in a model that reflects both our traditions and the realities of our changing climate," festival organizers say. (More information here.)
Musical Artists
Festival site: West Point on the Eno City Park
Kickoff show 7 p.m., festival 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Two-day pass: $30 in advance, $35 at gate.
This is a daytime festival - there is no camping onsite.
Free parking and shuttle buses are available at Durham County Stadium, and are highly recommended.
July 3 - 5 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 16th year in 2026, 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 2025 festival included bourbon tastings, an easy two-mile "learn and hike," and Sunday morning church services. The stage and seating are under a 60x90-foot pavilion tent, and food trucks sell food, beer, wine, cocktails and other beverages.
Artists
Festival site: North Topsail Beach
Gates open 4 p.m., music at 5:30 p.m.
Daily tickets prices: $120 early bird, ages 13-17 $25; afterward TBA.
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 10 - 11 Doc & Rosa Lee Watson MusicFest - Sugar Grove
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 festival was moved to downtown Boone for a single evening.
Artists
Festival site: Cove Creek School
4 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. Saturday.
General admission and reserved seats TBA.
July 10 - 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 17 - 18 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 fourth year in 2026.
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 24 - 25 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 ninth year in 2026.
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 24 - 25 Ashe County Bluegrass and Old Time Fiddlers Convention - Jefferson
The convention features Friday night concerts, a bluegrass jam camp, and competitions for youth and adult musicians, bands and dancers on Saturday with cash prizes in the adult categories. There's also a luthiers' tent, a crafters' row, barbecue and more. The convention is sponsored by the Ashe County Arts Council and is in its 55th year in 2026. Proceeds benefit the Ashe County Junior Appalachian Musicians program.
Artists
Festival site: Ashe County Park
Campground opens Thursday; jam camp starts 1 p.m. Friday.
Two-day pass: $15.
Camping: $10/night (no hookups); $15/night with electricity (limited availability). Camping opens 3 p.m. Thursday.
No alcohol.
July 24 - 25 Hillbilly Jam - Maggie Valley
The festival once known as Hillbilly Woodstock features regional bluegrass, country, Americana and Southern rock bands. It also typically has a car and bike show, 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 - August 1 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. The festival has changed locations repeatedly in the past few years, and in 2025, moved to the auditorium at Asheville High School.
Artists
Festival site: Asheville High School
Nightly shows 7 p.m.; Youth Talent Celebration 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Three-day pass: $55.
July 31 - August 1 Fly Around Music and Arts Festival - Lansing
Fly Around debuted in 2025 as a celebration of Appalachia's rich musical traditions and beauty, and to raise 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 vendors and local nonprofit groups to be on hand, as well.
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: $14.21 in advance (including service fee), $22.69 at door.
Parking free on Friday, $10 or $5 for vehicles with four or more people on Saturday.
(See the June calendar)
(See the June calendar)
July 3 - 4 Festival for the Eno - Durham
The Festival for the Eno has been the region's premier Independence Day celebration, typically presenting more than 60 acts on four stages plus about 100 art and craft vendors, food and a variety of other entertainment and hands-on activities.
Musical performers have typically included a couple of nationally known Americana or rock acts and regional favorites. Proceeds benefit the Eno River Association and its efforts to preserve land along the river, and the festival has an overall theme of conservation and fostering intelligent use of natural resources. Click on the photo for more info.
TBA. 2025 lineup included The Old Ceremony, Dr. Bacon, Big Daddy Love, Empire Strikes Brass and about 60 more.
Single-day pass: $18 adults, $11 age 13 to 17; $23 and $11 at gate.
Younger than 13 free.
Blake Aaron and Will Donato, Double Bass and Double Sax, Nicholas Cole, Jeff Kashiwa, more TBA.
TBA. 2025 show was by Scythian, The Kruger Brothers, Charles Welch.
Younger than 13 admitted free with adult with general admission ticket.
The American String Quartet; Vieness Piano Duo; Chelsea Guo (piano); Neave Trio; Chee-Yun (violin), Bruce Heim (French horn), William Ransom (piano); The Formosa String Quartet; Erinys String Quartet; Zuill Bailey (cello), Amy Schwartz Moretti (violin), Yinzi Kong (viola); Amy Schwartz Moretti and Kate Ransom (violin), Paul Neubauer and Yinzi Kong (viola), Zuill Bailey and James Kim (cello); Elizabeth Pridgen and Julie Coucheron (piano), Helen Hwaya Kim (violin), Charae Krueger (cello), Cathy Lynn (viola), Jesse McCandless (clarinet); The Borromeo String Quartet; Anton Nel (piano), Abigel Kralik (violin),
The Chamber Music Orchestra: Charae Krueger, Jessica Wu, Joseph Skerik, Guang Wang, Emily Daggett Smith, Yinzi Kong.
Single show: $40, students (younger than 18) $20.
Festival Finale Gala: concert and dinner $200, concert only $100.
Friday: Gary Clark Jr., Goldford, Buffalo Traffic Jam, The Fretliners, Wells Ferrari, Valley Flower, The Wilson Springs Hotel, Upstream Rebellion.
Saturday: Turnpike Trubadors, Willow Avalon, Harper O'Neill, Wyatt Ellis, Tobacco Road, Tan and Sober Gentlemen, Blue Cactus, Time Sawyer, Ali Forrest, Dane Page.
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.
Friday: Annie B (host), Myia B Music, Badd Newz, Lyric, Mr. Magic, Kimberly Britt, Davito Alston, DJ StarrChild.
Saturday: Lacee, Myia B Music, DJ Cleve, Canton Sprituals, Sumthin 4 Tha People, EJ Jones, Fat Daddy, Live in the Flesh Band.
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. 2025 lineup was New Ballard Branch Bogtrotters, Sassafras, Ashe County JAM students, Tucker Conner and Friends, and competitors.
Gates open 4 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Daily: $10.
Younger than 12 free with paying adult.
Free entry for veterans, first responders and law enforcement personnel.
Friday: Second Chance, The Several Devils Band, Upstream Rebellion, Lori and the Freightshakers, Sabella Band.
Saturday: Jeff Anderson, Misbehavin, Kayla McKinney and the Twisted Trail Band, Tricia Ann Band, Brothers Rathbone.
Also: Moonshiners from the TV show, J Creek Cloggers.
TBA. 2025 lineup included Appalachian Consort, Buncombe Turnpike, Sheila Kay Adams/Donna Ray Norton, Laura Boosinger and about 25 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.
TBA. 2025 lineup included Joan Shelley w/ Nathan Salsburg, Grant/McGuire/Flaherty, Magic Tuber Stringband and eight more.
Saturday: $74.63 in advance (including service fee), $91.59 at gate.
Younger than 12 free with paying adult.
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