Beaufort, NC Events - 2020 Schedule

A favorite celebration for more than 15 years, the annual Carolina Chocolate Festival is a welcome event for food lovers who want to indulge a sweet tooth in seemingly endless ways in the heart of the Crystal Coast. Held at the Crystal Coast Civic Center in Morehead City, and overflowing with activities that can range from tastings to spa trips, the Carolina Chocolate Festival is a decadent celebration that shows how sweet life can be along the beach.

Love is in the hair at this event that encourages Crystal Coast residents and visitors to enjoy a fun night out while supporting a fantastic local cause. Now in its third year, the Annual Fur Ball is a fundraiser for Austin Veterinary Outreach and Rescue, but it’s also a shining opportunity to enjoy a wealth of great food, drinks, company, and music all night long.

Art fans can discover a wealth of talented local and regional artists at their leisure with this annual show that shines a spotlight on the brilliantly creative minds of the Crystal Coast area and beyond. The 30th Annual Art From the Heart exhibition and contest features a roughly three-week exhibit, and an opportunity to see a host of works which pay homage to the coastal landscape, and which were created close to home.

Art fans can discover a wealth of talented local and regional artists at their leisure with this annual show that shines a spotlight on the brilliantly creative minds of the Crystal Coast area and beyond. The 30th Annual Art From the Heart exhibition and contest features a roughly three-week exhibit, and an opportunity to see a host of works which pay homage to the coastal landscape, and which were created close to home.

No need to travel to New Orleans for a taste of Mardi Gras – a celebration is waiting close to home in the town of Beaufort, North Carolina! Mardi Gras on Middle Lane is an enticing afternoon event that pays homage to the grand annual party with an array of ways to have fun for visitors of all ages. From activities for the kids, to live Cajun music and jazz, there will be a fun party atmosphere throughout at the Mardi Gras on Middle Lane event.

Art fans can discover a wealth of talented local and regional artists at their leisure with this annual show that shines a spotlight on the brilliantly creative minds of the Crystal Coast area and beyond. The 30th Annual Art From the Heart exhibition and contest features a roughly three-week exhibit, and an opportunity to see a host of works which pay homage to the coastal landscape, and which were created close to home.

Come discover the inherently coastal flavors of the Crystal Coast by attending the always delicious Taste of Core Sound event. Held twice throughout the year to cater to summertime visitors and winter visitors, this exceptional event is always brimming with fresh flavors, local seafood, downhome hospitality, and plenty of reasons to dig in and enjoy.

Find all the décor, furnishings, and indoor and outdoor touches you’ll need to make your vacation home investment a stellar success, or explore little coastal items to take home to spruce up your own off-island residence with a little coastal style. No matter your ambition, you can find everything you need to celebrate the Crystal Coast in your own home and backyard at the Crystal Coast Home and Garden Show. Celebrating its 32nd year in 2020, this annual event is a great way to discover the trends in home décor, landscaping, and much more, while meeting all the area vendors and businesses who brighten up the Crystal Coast, one residence at a time.

Art fans can discover a wealth of talented local and regional artists at their leisure with this annual show that shines a spotlight on the brilliantly creative minds of the Crystal Coast area and beyond. The 30th Annual Art From the Heart exhibition and contest features a roughly three-week exhibit, and an opportunity to see a host of works which pay homage to the coastal landscape, and which were created close to home.

Embark on an exploration of the Crystal Coast that includes plenty of incredible views along the way with the annual Run Crystal Coast Half Marathon, 10k & 5k. Held in the month of March, which is one of the most picturesque and temperate times to explore the area, this unique course that follows the water features a few challenges, tons of scenery, and ample opportunities to get out and get active with fellow Crystal Coast racing fans.

Visitors of all ages will have a ball at the Emerald Isle St. Patrick’s Festival, which is an annual celebration that has become one of the most anticipated events of the springtime season. Going strong for more than 25 years, the Emerald Isle St. Patrick’s Festival features a wealth of food, arts and craft vendors, rides, and activities for kids, which will all combine to get attendees into a festive holiday spirit.

Celebrating its 14^th year in 2020, the Get Hooked Fishing School is a great way for fishing newcomers and experts alike to hone their knowledge on the local waters and techniques that make the Crystal Coast a fishing Mecca for anglers from all across the East Coast. This school features a series of workshops throughout the day designed to give anglers a leg up when it comes to fishing in local waters, we well as a host of giveaways, raffles, and other enticements to create an all-encompassing event that anglers won’t soon forget.

Rapidly becoming a favorite tradition for active Crystal Coast visitors and locals alike, the Emerald Isle Marathon, Half-Marathon & 5K Races are a great opportunity for folks to discover the gorgeous communities and shorelines of Emerald Isle and beyond, while supporting a worthy local cause and enjoying a little competitive spirit in the heart of the Outer Banks.

Eat, drink, and be merry while supporting a host of talented students from all across the Carteret County region and beyond at this fun event that will appeal to anyone who loves food, music, education, and all of the above. The Shuck, Rattle & Roll celebration features live music by The Embers, as well as local beers, southern cuisine, and even educational sessions and talks with area growers, making it an event that everyone will adore from start to finish.

Learn all about the varying species of whales that make subtle but exciting appearances all along the North Carolina coast at this unique event that is both educational and thoroughly engaging. The Annual North Carolina Whales and Whaling Symposium is a day-long session that will provide a wealth of info on these massive local residents, and which will enlighten attendees on the story behind this beloved creature’s connection with the North Carolina shoreline.

Enjoy a taste of the Crystal Coast while enjoying one of the prettiest spots along the waterfront with a ticket to the Annual Bites & Blues. This popular event combines great bites, great music, and a stunning setting to create an evening that local and visiting food fans alike won’t soon forget.

Head to the heart of downtown Beaufort for an annual East Egg Hunt that combines a little history and a ton of local charm. The BHA Annual Easter Egg Hunt has become a beloved event for locals and visitors alike, and features an extensive hunt in one of the prettiest spots along the Crystal Coast – the downtown Beaufort Historic Site.

Treat your taste buds and your senses to a delightfully inviting and engaging experience by attending the Beaufort Wine & Food Festival. This multiple day festival shines a spotlight on the cuisine scene of the Crystal Coast, and offers a wealth of ways for chefs and food fans alike to dive in and satisfy an appetite for delicious coastal flavors and fare.

The small town of Beaufort is well known for its collection of unique boutiques, gift shops, and other stores that can’t be found anywhere else, and visitors can take an area-wide shopping excursion to the next level by attending the annual Publick Day at the Beaufort Historic Site. During this special day-long event, the Beaufort Historic Site will be crowded with vendors of all varieties, selling unique goodies that can range from homemade jewelry to locally crafted artworks, and patrons are free to attend, explore, and discover new treasures to take home as a truly unique souvenir.

Take advantage of the beautiful springtime weather, as well as an opportunity to explore the Crystal Coast in depth, with this annual race that is celebrating its 30^th year in 2019. The Annual Lookout Rotary Road Race is a fun event that is accessible for attendees of all ages and skill levels, and which offers a wide range of courses – from a Fitness Walk to a Half Marathon – to encourage everyone to get out, get active, and join in the fun.

The annual Wooden Boat Show is a tradition in the town of Beaufort, and its 46^th celebration in 2020 promises to be bigger and more engaging than ever before. With a long roster of activities that are slated for the weekend-long event, visitors will be treated to a wealth of activities, displays, exhibits, and interactive ways to join in the fun.

Come and marvel as a fleet of wooden boats are constructed from start to finish before your eyes at this competition that pits boat-builders against each other in one of the most anticipated events of the Annual Wooden Boat Show. The BoatBuilding Challenge is an event that's been going strong for 12 years as of 2019, and the competition features 18 teams who will battle it out to craft the best wooden boat in just four hours’ time.

Now in its 32nd year, the Beaufort Music Festival has become a beloved event for music lovers everywhere, thanks to its amazing line-up of talented artists, and its home base in the charming coastal town of Beaufort. Featuring two full days of music that are stocked with local, regional, and even nationally recognized artists and performers, the Beaufort Music Festival is an enchanting way for newcomers to discover a range of new sounds and talents without ever leaving the heart of the Crystal Coast.

Life on the Crystal Coast revolves around the water, as it has for centuries, and locals and visitors alike can celebrate this heritage with the annual Crystal Coast Boat Show. Going strong for more than a decade, this waterfront festival features a range of vendors, exhibitors, and other enticements to attract water fans from all over the region and beyond, and to provide an exceptional time for mariners of all tastes and ages.

Known as one of the biggest and best fishing tournaments along the Eastern Seaboard, the annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament is a Crystal Coast-wide celebration that extends from the open and offshore Atlantic waters to the local docks of the Beaufort, Morehead City, and the Atlantic Beach waterfront.

Known as one of the biggest and best fishing tournaments along the Eastern Seaboard, the annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament is a Crystal Coast-wide celebration that extends from the open and offshore Atlantic waters to the local docks of the Beaufort, Morehead City, and the Atlantic Beach waterfront.

There’s a host of reasons to explore a creative side, as well as the picturesque Swansboro waterfront, at the Swansboro Arts by the Sea Festival. This unique and day-long festival has a wealth of activities, entertainment and enticements for everyone in the family, and with plenty of food, crafts, children’s activities, shopping opportunities and more, the festival is sure to be a highlight of any Crystal Coast vacation.

Grab a beach chair, towel, or blanket, and head to the sand to catch one of the most highly anticipated shows of the year along the Crystal Coast. The Emerald Isle 4th of July Fireworks Show is one of the most popular events annually, and visitors throughout the town will be treated to an incredible display over the ocean waters as the Town of Emerald Isle rings in the holiday with a little coastal style and flair.

Take a break from the sunny Crystal Coast beaches and celebrate the 4^th of July holiday with a little local style at the annual Pine Knoll Shores Independence Day Parade. This popular small town celebration features plenty of ways to join in the fun, from donning your best red, white and blue attire, to decorating a bike or cart and marching in the procession, and the high spirits and entertainment is sure to start any Independence Day celebration off with a bang.

Celebrating its 13^th year in 2020, the Carteret Community College Spanish Mackerel & Dolphin Fishing Tournament is a great opportunity for anglers of all ages and abilities to test their skills in the plentiful waters of the Crystal Coast. Launching from the heart of Morehead City, this fun fishing tournament features a world of prizes for kids and adults, and is a great way to celebrate the summer fishing season along the North Carolina coastline.

Celebrate Independence Day with this unique sailing competition that incorporates a little bit of local history into the festivities. The Great 4^th Race is a fast-paced race among traditionally-rigged sailing craft that takes place in the heart of Beaufort, and which is sure to be a thrilling activity for participants, and a thrilling sight for visitors.

Head to one of Beaufort’s favorite local landmarks for one of the most festive and anticipated parties of the year. The Beaufort Historic Association's Summer Party is an annual celebration that features an enchanting atmosphere complete with delicious food, an open bar, ample live music and dancing, auctions, and a host of ways to toast the summer while supporting a beloved local cause.

Dive into an Outer Banks staple that has been making appearances on local menus and dinner tables for generations with this annual event that is celebrating its 13^th year in 2020. The Annual Crab Cake Cook-off is a competition of acclaimed and volunteer local chefs, who serve their best crab cakes to the delight of the hungry crowd. With lots of fresh fare to go around, this fundraiser is a delicious way to sample the heart of the Beaufort cuisine scene.

Head to the Crystal Coast to enjoy some of the best fishing conditions all year long by participating in October’s annual Swansboro Five-0 King Mackerel Tournament. This popular fishing tournament features up to $180,000 in prizes for participants, and is a great way to enjoy the down home culture, hospitality, and great coastal waters of Swansboro and the greater Crystal Coast region.

Get a jump start on your holiday shopping while enjoying an inviting and relaxed atmosphere that is miles away from ordinary at the Jumble Sale at the Beaufort Historic Site. This annual sale that takes place around Thanksgiving is the perfect cure to the Black Friday blues, and offers a wealth of locally made, handcrafted, and wholly unique goodies and presents that can’t be found anywhere else, and which will truly add a dose of local flavor to your holiday gift giving.

Get a jump start on burning off all those excess Thanksgiving Day calories with this scenic run, jog, or walk that takes place along some of the prettiest regions of Pine Knoll Shores. The annual Pine Knoll Shores Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot is a fun and free celebration that is open to vacationers and locals alike, and which features plenty of ways to enjoy the local scenery while enjoying a little community spirit.

Get into the spirit of the season while enjoying a picturesque taste of life on the water in a small North Carolina town with this event that offers plenty of spectacular views and festivities for spectators and participants alike. The Annual Crystal Coast Christmas Flotilla is a local tradition that’s been going strong for more than 25 years, and is an opportunity for both visitors and locals to enjoy a festive display unlike any other along the Crystal Coast.