Beaufort, NC Events - 2021 Schedule

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.

Have a lot of stamina and want to explore the coastal North Carolina region in its entirety? Then you’ll want to grab your friends and family and sign up for the massive but all-around fun Tuna Run 200 Relay. This relay race that extends more than 200 miles from start to finish takes participants on a fascinating tour of eastern North Carolina, and eventually lands in the heart of the Crystal Coast in the sunny town of Atlantic Beach.

Celebrate the holidays Crystal Coast style with this annual event that entices locals and visitors alike to get into the holiday spirit. The Swansboro Christmas Flotilla is a time-honored tradition that combines Swansboro’s love of life on the water with a truly festive atmosphere, and the event is sure to become an annual celebration that Crystal Coast visitors will want to return to again and again.

Celebrating more than 15 years, the Emerald Isle Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting is a favorite wintertime event for visitors and locals alike that provides a fun and unforgettable way to ring in the season. Held in the heart of town, and featuring a line of floats that capture both the holiday and the coastal spirit, this annual parade and celebration will make everyone want to celebrate the holidays, Emerald Isle style.

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.

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 32nd year in 2022. 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 48^th celebration in 2022 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 15 years as of 2022, 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 33rd 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.

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.

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.

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.