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 confirmed by festival organizers.
May 30 - June 1 Cold Mountain Music Festival - Canton
The Cold Mountain Music Festival is a benefit for the ministries of Camp Henry, a Christian summer camp and leadership program, and the Lake Logan Episcopal Center in Canton. The festival expands to two days for 2025. In addition to bands and JAM musicians on three stages, the festival presents food trucks and a beer garden, a vendors' village, kids' activities planned by Camp Henry staff, and an after-event party. The second annual Bishop’s Cup Golf Tournament will be held on Friday at nearby Laurel Ridge in Waynesville, N.C. The centerpiece of the festival site is a mile-long lake surrounded by the Shining Rock Wilderness Area of the Pisgah National Forest.
Artists
Friday: Melissa Carper, Fireside Collective, The Moon and You.
Saturday: American Aquarium, The Last Revel, Fancy and the Gentlemen, Denitia, Shedhouse Trio featuring Darren Nicholson, Junior Appalachian Musicians.
Festival Site: Lake Logan Episcopal Center
Gates open 10 a.m. Friday; golf tournament 8:30 a.m.
Two-day pass: $90, $45 ages 12 to 17.
Friday: $45, $23 ages 12 to 17.
Younger than 12: free admission.
Golf tournament: $600 team of four.
Camping: tents $60; tent car camping $90; 12 RV sites $250-$300.
Cabins and dorms, breakfast buffet: See website.
June 5 - 7 Cherokee Bluegrass Festival - Cherokee
A long-running bluegrass festival at the gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a family-oriented festival held at a campground pavilion. Bands play afternoon and evening sets, though headliners may only play once.
Artists
Thursday: Authentic Unlimited, Rhonda Vincent and the Rage, Lorraine Jordan and Carolina Road, Fast Track, Deeper Shade of Blue.
Friday: The Kody Norris Show, Junior Sisk Band, Lorraine Jordan and Carolina Road, Edgar Loudermilk Band, Coyote Ugly.
Saturday: Malpass Brothers, Lonesome River Band, Country Grass, Fast Track, Darren Nicholson Band, Native American Show.
Festival site: Happy Holiday RV Village
Noon to 11 p.m., 10 p.m. Saturday.
Three-day pass: general admission $100 advance, $110 at gate; reserved seats $110 advance, $120 at gate; age 7 to 15 $50; younger free with parent.
Daily pass: general admission $50 advance, $55 at gate; age 7 to 15 $20; younger free with parent.
No alcohol.
June 6 - 7 Bluegrass & Old-Time Fiddlers Convention - Mount Airy
The festival dedicated to old-time and bluegrass music and dance includes competitions, jam sessions and workshops in a family-friendly environment. Winners in 15 solo and band competitions are awarded cash prizes. There's a dance after Saturday's competitions. The festival is in its 53rd year in 2025.
Artists
Friday & Saturday: Contestants TBA in old-time and bluegrass bands, and individual bluegrass fiddle, old-time fiddle, bluegrass banjo, old-time banjo (clawhammer), guitar, mandolin, bass fiddle, dobro, dulcimer, autoharp, folk song and dance (adult and youth).
Festival site: Veterans Memorial Park
Friday 7 p.m.; Saturday 9:30 a.m., youth dance and awards 5:45 p.m., band performances 6 p.m. followed by adult dance.
$10 daily; younger than 7 free with adult.
$20 for contestants ($10 refunded Saturday after performance).
$20 for campers for entire weekend (in addition to camping fee).
Camping: $10 per day, RVs $35 per day with water and electricity.
No alcohol or dogs on site.
June 6 - 8 Ocrafolk Festival - Ocracoke Island
Ocrafolk is presented by Ocracoke Alive, a nonprofit cultural arts organization that presents student and community arts programs on Ocracoke Island. In addition to music on three or four stages and musicians' workshops, the festival presents storytellers, visual arts vendors and other activities. Click on the photo for more information.
Musical Artists
Clements Brothers, Larry and Joe, Foreign Landers, Reggie Harris, Jeff Little Trio, Wilder Flower, Josh Goforth, Sam Fribush Organ Trio, Biscuit Eaters, Saltare Sounds, Lipbone Redding, Beleza, Martin Garrish and the Ocracoke Rockers, Jay Turner and The Swinging Doors, Molasses Creek, Aaron Caswell Trio, Bob and Jeanne Zentz, Warren Bodle and Allen, Louis Allen.
Storytellers: Donna Washington, Donald Davis, Philip Howard, Ocracoke Ghost Stories with Amy Howard and David Tweedie.
Also: Paperhand Puppets, Jef the Mime, Green Grass Cloggers.
Festival site: Berkley Manor
Three-day pass: $80 through May 31, $90 at gate.
Friday: $40 through May 31, $45 at gate.
Saturday: $45 through May 31, $50 at gate.
Sunday: $30 through May 31, $35 at gate.
Younger than 18 free.
June 7 - 8 Carolina Beach Music Festival - Carolina Beach
The show presented on the sands at the home of beach music and shagging expands to two days for 2025, its 39th year, to present a pair of "pop reggae" bands on Sunday. In addition to music, festivities include a shagging contest with cash prizes.
Artists
Saturday: The Tams, Band of Oz, Jim Quick and Coastline.
Sunday: Tropidelic, Ballyhoo.
Festival Site: On beach near Carolina Beach Boardwalk
Gates open 10 a.m. Saturday, 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
Two-day pass: $59.
Daily: $35.
Younger than 11 free.
10x10-foot tent spaces may be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis at phone nmumber at link above.
June 12 - 14 Willow Oak Park Bluegrass Festival - Roxboro
Bluegrass promoter Mike Wilson and musician Lorraine Jordan partner to carry on the tradition of "family-style" bluegrass festivals. In addition to stage shows, the festival will present musicians' workshops, storytelling and a jamming tent. Bands typically play two sets daily. Lorraine Jordan and Carolina Road are the festival hosts.
Artists
Thursday: Applachian Road Show, Kentucky Just Us, Dave Adkins, Kevin Prater Band, Tennessee Bluegrass Band.
Friday: Lorraine Jordan and Carolina Road, Deeper Shade of Blue, Danny Paisley and Southern Grass, Williamson Branch,
Saturday: Lorraine Jordan and Carolina Road, Malpass Brothers, Little Roy and Lizzy, Drive Time.
Festival site: Willow Oak Park
Music starts 1 p.m. Thursday, noon Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday after musicians' workshops Friday and Saturday. Most bands play afternoon and evening sets.
Three-day pass: $100 until June 1, $120 afterward.
Daily: $40.
Age 13-16: $15 per day.
Younger than 13 free with parent.
Camping: primitive camping $10 per day; parking in camping area $5 per day. Sites with electricity (30 amps) are $25 per day. Sites with full hookups ar $50 per day (four-day minumum).
No alcohol, smoking or pets in the concert area.
June 12 - 15 High Country Jazz Festival - Boone
The festival presents "anchor events" featuring nationally known artists and additional shows, lectures, etc., to raise money for local arts and education programs, including jazz studies at Appalachian State University. The festival is in its fourth year in 2025.
Artists
Thursday: Todd Wright.
Friday: Catherine Russell, Herb Stephens Quartet, Holly Hopkins Jazz with Mike Holstein and Rick Cline, Pavel Wlosok, Late Night Jazz Jam TBA.
Saturday: Dizzy Gillespie Big Band, Jack Wilkins/Cole Peters Duo, Joe Hasty’s Centerpiece Quartet Band, Appalachian State University Hayes School of Music Jazz Program students, Late Night Jazz Jam TBA.
Sunday: Noel Freidline and Maria Howell, Todd Wright Quartet, Don Mikkelsen Trio with Andy Page and Zack Page.
Festival site: Appalachian Theatre and additional venues
Appalachian Theatre shows 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday.
Three Concert Standard Package (Catherine Russell, Dizzy Gillespie Big Band, Noel and Maria): $95.
Three Concert Premium Package: $109.
Individual concert prices vary.
June 12 - 15 Dex Fest - Carrboro & Chapel Hill
Dex Fest debuts in 2025 to celebrate the life, music and cultural legacy of influential rockabilly and roots musician Dexter Romweber of Flat Duo Jets and The Romweber Duo. In addition to shows at multiple venues by blues, garage, roots and folk rock artists, the festival is to present art installations and colorful story exchanges from Romweber's friends.
Artists
Thursday: Reigning Sound, Henri Cash and Seth Carolina's Tribute to Dexter, Boogie Revere.
Friday: Flat Do-Over Jets, Drunken Prayer, Southern Culture on the Skids, Lenny Kaye and Friends, Brass Battery.
Saturday: Blood Red River, Skeeter Feeders, The Spinns, Lud, Lenny Kaye (solo), Bengt and the Walkers, Phatlynx.
Sunday: Onyx Club Boys, George Terry, Rich McLaughlin Plays Chopin.
Festival site: Cat's Cradle (Thursday) (Map), Local 506 (Friday), The Cave (Saturday), Lapin Bleu (Sunday)
Thursday 7 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show; Friday 6 p.m. doors, 7 p.m. show; Saturday 6:30 p.m. doors, 7 p.m. show; Sunday 1 p.m. doors, 3 p.m. show.
Thursday: $20 advance, $25 at door.
Friday: $20 advance, $25 at door.
Saturday: $20 at door.
Sunday: Free.
June 13 - 14 Charlie Poole Music Festival - Wentworth
The Charlie Poole Music Festival honors the legacy of the groundbreaking bandleader Charlie Poole and North Carolina string bands and roots music with more than 20 musicians' competitions in addition to stage shows Friday and Saturday evening. The festival also presents musicians' workshops, local arts and craft vendors, and the presentation of a lifetime achievement award to the headlining artist(s) (Sammy Shelor [Lonesome River Band], Riley Baugus, Wayne Henderson and Helen White in 2025). The festival was revived in 2023 for its first edition since 2016, but had been held for more than 20 years prior to the break. See competition categories here, including Grand Champion Banjo Player, which earns a $1,000 cash prize. Click on the photo for more information.
Artists
Friday: Lonesome River Band, Wayne Henderson, Thomm Jutz, New North Carolina Ramblers, contest competitors, more TBA.
Saturday: Africa to Appalachia w/ Riley Baugus and Cheick Hamala Diabate, John McEuen and the Circle Band, Lonesome River Band, Amythist Kiah, Tray Wellington Band; "Payday at the Mill" featuring Laurelyn Dossett, DaShawn and Wendy Hickman, Mark Dillon, Colin Cutler, Chaisaray Schenk, Tyson Baker and poet Annie Woodford; Jesse Smathers, contest competitors, more TBA.
Festival site: Rockingham Community College
Stage shows start 4 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. Saturday; competitions begin 4 p.m. Friday and 9:30 a.m. Saturday.
Two-day pass: $50.
Daily: $35.
Camping: $20. No water/sewer or electrical hookups. No open campfires, alcohol or tobacco are allowed on campus.
June 14 Bluff Mountain Festival - Hot Springs
The free all-acoustic show presents old time music, bluegrass, ballads and more, including cloggers, a silent auction, raffle, and art and food vendors. The festival benefits the Madison County Arts Council and in 2025, its 28th year, is dedicated to the late hall of fame fiddler Bobby Hicks.
Artists
Nobody's Darling, White Rock Revival, Sourwood Ridge, Roger Howell and Friends, Newfound Gap, Stoney Creek Boys, Josh Goforth, Junior Appalachian Musician String Band, Madison County Ballad Singers, Whitewater Bluegrass Company, Evie Laden, Mtn Mtn Mtn Boys, Brand New Box of Matches.
Also: Southern Appalachian Cloggers, Green Grass Cloggers.
Festival site: Hot Springs Resort and Spa
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Free.
Campground information here.
June 19 - 22 Boonerang Music and Arts Festival - Boone
The free music and arts festival in downtown Boone presents shows on multiple concert stages, as well as food, beer, arts, crafts and other vendors and a kids' zone. The festival starts with the Boone's Got Talent showcase on Thursday. Free silent disco sessions will take place on Friday and Saturday nights following the days' street festival. Boonerang is in its fourth year in 2025.
Artists
Tribal Gold, New Orleans Suspects, Electro Lust, Joslyn and The Sweet Compression, Orchestra K'Che, Adam Church, Funkupation, Drew Foust and The Wheelhouse, Pressley Laton Band, Larry and Joe, The Burnett Sisters Band, Big Daddy Love, Rakish, Kris Truelsen and Country Casserole, Barrett, New Dawn Starkestra, Ska City, Virginia and The Slims, River Eckert, Kattagast's Leopard Lounge, Will Willis, Las Montanitas, Jay Brown, Mariachi Monarchs, Real Companion, Verity Den, New Boss, Lisa Frank, Wison Ridge Roundabouts, High Country Drum Collective, The Weasals, Noah Daniel and the Naked Cowboys, Lucille Klement, Greylan Hall and the Nasty Kings.
Festival site: Downtown Boone
5:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, noon to 8 p.m. Saturday.
Free admission.
June 20 - 22 Cape Fear Blues Festival - Wilmington
The festival put on by the Cape Fear Blues Society and hosted by The Rusty Nail features local, regional and national acts in a local club and outdoors under a beer tent. There's also a vendors' market and food available.
Artists
Friday: BG and The Mojo Hands.
Saturday: Papa Midnight Blues Band, Bobby Messano, Frank Grant and The Feeling, The Nasty Chaps.
Sunday: The Rhythm Bones.
Festival site: The Rusty Nail
8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Friday: $10.
Saturday: $30.
Sunday: Free.
June 20 - 22 State Annual Singing Convention - Benson
For 2025, the gospel singing competition is to present local church choirs on Friday night, winning groups from past conventions on Saturday and competitions on Saturday morning. In previous years, the weekend has included concerts by nationally recognized gospel acts and additional performances by competition winners Sunday evening. The festival is held the weekend of the fourth Sunday in June each year. The "Benson Sing" is in its 104th year in 2025. Click on the photo for more information.
Artists
Friday: Central Baptist Choir, Wilmington Celebration Choir, Midway Baptist Church Choir, Johnston County Choir.
Saturday: The Inspirations, Rivenbarks (2024 winner) and competing groups.
Sunday: The Tribute Quartet, The Joys, Graceway, Advent Christian Choir, Chris and Bonita, Cameronian Boys, Jeri and Larry Mercer with Chris Bays, Molded Clay, Justins Choir, The Marksmen, Masters Hand, Larry Chason.
Festival site: Benson Singing Grove
Friday: 7 p.m.
Saturday: singing begins 10 a.m., concert 7 p.m.
Sunday: signing begins 10:30 a.m., concert 4 p.m.
Free admission.
Competition categories: Junior, Duet, Trio, Mixed Trio, Quartet, Mixed Quartet, Family, Bluegrass, Choir.
June 20 - August 24 Brevard Summer Institute & Festival - Brevard
The Brevard Music Center's summer institute for classical music students aged 14 and older presents some 50 concerts throughout its month-long-plus festival, showcasing nationally recognized artists and the center's faculty musicians. The Independence Day concert at the Whittington-Pfohl open-air auditorium typically features live cannons during the 1812 Overture. Keith Lockhart is musical director.
Artists
NC Guitar Celebration with Bryan Sutton (with Ricky Skaggs, Dan Tyminski, Julian Lage, Alice Gerrard, Sharon White, Casey Driessen, Woody Platt, and more), The Yellowjackets, Steep Canyon Rangers with Orchestra, Mavis Staples, Bela Fleck's Blue Ridge Banjo Concert, Fiddle Forward with Casey Driessen, Rickie Lee Jones and Patty Griffin, Yuja Wang (piano), Richard Goode (piano), more.
The 2025 season features a Mason Bates world premiere; beloved orchestral works by Beethoven, Mozart, Dvořák, Mahler and others; Jurassic Park in Concert, the film with a live orchestra performance; the Janiec Opera Company's 60 year annversary celebration, and much more.
Festival site: Brevard Music Center and nearby venues
Performance times and individual admission fees vary.
June 28 - July 26 An Appalachian Summer Festival - Boone
An Appalachian Summer Festival is a multi- and inter-disciplinary arts festival presenting and producing programs in music, theater, dance, film and visual arts. The festival also includes the Rosen-Schaffel Competition for Young & Emerging (classical music) Artists, which concludes with a recital. It is in its 41st year in 2025.
Musical Artists
Amos Lee, Pink Martini featuring China Forbes, Joan Osborne, Lisa Loeb, Peabo Bryson, Ranky Tank, Ms. Lisa Fischer; Tessa Lark (violin), Joshua Roman (cello) and Edgar Meyer (double bass); Heather Headley with Western Piedmont Symphony, The 5 Browns, "Celebrating Country and Community through Music" with faculty and student musicians, more.
Festival site: Appalachian State University and nearby venues
Performance times and admission fees vary. Get the schedule here.
June 28 - August 2 Eastern Music Festival - Greensboro
The festival's website says it will not be held in 2025 due to the "unforeseen length and complexity" of labor negotiations with festival faculty. They plan to return in 2026.
The Eastern Music Festival and School trains aspiring musicians between the ages of 14 and 22, and presents classical and chamber music performances by students, faculty and guest artists. Shows will be presented primarily at Guilford College's Dana Auditorium. Gerard Schwarz is the music director. The festival is in its 64th year in 2025.
Artists
TBA. 2024 lineup included William Wolfram, Béla Fleck, Jeffrey Multer and 15 more.
Festival sites: Guilford College
Performance dates, times and ticket prices vary.
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