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The bands come and go, but the festivals play on.
Carolina Music Festivals is a comprehensive calendar and guide to multi-act, daylong or multiple-day music shows in North Carolina. In addition to the most up-to-date information available about dates, acts and prices, we'll tell you about the festival itself - the layout of the grounds, the best way to see it, what kind of vibe to expect (these additional pages are constantly under development as we make it to more festivals each season).
Check out the master calendar below, and click on a festival's name or the month for more information. Photos with calendar listings link to essays (like this one) about that festival; click on the photo for more information.
Stay up to date by following us on or .
If we've left out your favorite festival (or just one you know about), please let us know!
| 30 - 31 | PineCone Winter Music Festival - Raleigh |
February 2010 | |
| 4 - 6 | N.C. Jazz Festival - Wilmington |
| 12 - 14 | Bluegrass First Class - Asheville |
| 13 - 15 | Heart 'n' Soul of Jazz - Pinehurst |
| 26 - 27 | Kinston Winter Bluegrass Festival - Kinston |
March 2010 |
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| 26 - 28 | BBQ Cook-Off & Bluegrass Jam - Asheville |
April 2010 | |
| 9 - 10 | The Darin and Brooke Aldridge Bluegrass Festival - Cherryville |
| 16 - 17 | Annual Spring Festival and Tribute to the Troops - Salemburg |
| 17 | North Carolina 'Cuegrass Festival - Raleigh |
| 22 - 25 | Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival - Silk Hope |
| 23 - 24 | Family Style Bluegrass Music Festival - Roxboro |
| 24 | Triangle Beach Music Festival - Garner |
| 24 | Thaw Out Boone - Boone |
| 29 - May 2 | Merlefest - Wilkesboro |
| 30 - May 2 | French Broad River Festival - Hot Springs |
July 2010 | |||
| Through July 25 | An Appalachian Summer Festival - Boone | ||
| Through August 8 | Brevard Summer Institute & Festival - Brevard | ||
| 1 - 4 | Red White & Bluegrass Festival - Morganton | ||
| 2 - 4 | Freedom Bike Fest - Fayetteville | ||
| 3 | Bluegrass Festival - Salemburg | ||
| 3 - 5 | Festival for the Eno - Durham | ||
| 10 - 11 | MusicFest 'n Sugar Grove - Sugar Grove | ||
| 16 - 17 | High Country Bluegrass Festival - Boone | ||
| 22 - 25 | Nunn Brothers Bluegrass Festival - Mount Airy | ||
| 22 - August 1 | Folkmoot USA - Western North Carolina | ||
| 23 - 25 | Cape Fear Blues Festival - Wilmington | ||
| 24 - 26 | Bele Chere Festival - Asheville | ||
August 2010 | |||
| Through August 8 | Brevard Summer Institute & Festival - Brevard | ||
| 5 - 7 | Mountain Dance and Folk Festival - Asheville | ||
| 13 - 15 | Olla Belle Reed Music Festival - Lansing | ||
| 19 - 21 | N.C. State Bluegrass Festival - Marion | ||
| 21 | Bluez & Brewz Festival - Kitty Hawk | ||
| 27 - 28 | Music on the Mountaintop - Boone | ||
| 27 - 28 | Fines Creek Bluegrass Jam - Clyde | ||
September 2010 | |||
| 2 - 4 | Lil Johns Mountain Music Festival - Snow Camp | ||
| 3 - 4 | Smoky Mountain Folk Festival - Lake Junaluska | ||
| 4 | Daniel Boone Days - Boone | ||
| 4 - 6 | Historic Happy Valley Old-Time Fiddlers' Convention - Lenoir | ||
| 6 | New River Blues Festival - Jefferson | ||
| 6 | Labor Day Gospel Singing Jubilee - Salemburg | ||
| 9 - 11 | Hopscotch - Raleigh | ||
| 10 - 11 | Bull Durham Blues Festival - Durham | ||
| 17 - 18 | Hoppin' John Fiddler's Convention - Silk Hope | ||
| 18 | Brewgrass Festival - Asheville | ||
| 18 | Rock the Block - Winston-Salem | ||
| 18 - 19 | Fall Bluegrass Festival and Competition - Salemburg | ||
| 19 - 20 | Southern Coastal Bluegrass Festival - Wilmington | ||
| 23 - 25 | FarmPark Bluegrass Festival - Denton | ||
| 24 | Charlotte Sunset Jazz Festival - Charlotte | ||
| 24 - 26 | Carolina In The Fall Festival - North Wilkesboro | ||
| 24 - 26 | Dream Acres Music Festival - Pleasant Hill | 24 - 26 | Flat Rock Festival - Hendersonville |
| 24 - 26 | Signal Fest - Chapel Hill | ||
| 26 | Carrboro Music Festival - Carrboro | ||
October 2010 | |||
| 7 - 10 | Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival - Silk Hope | ||
| 9 - 10 | Pleasure Island Seafood, Blues & Jazz Festival - Kure Beach | ||
| 14 - 17 | Lake Eden Arts Festival - Black Mountain | ||
| 16 | Rowan Blues and Jazz Festival - Salisbury |
November 2010 | |
| 4 - 6 | Troika Music Festival - Durham |
| 20 - 21 | The New Universe Music Festival - Raleigh |
December 2010 | |
| 31 | New Year's Eve Festival - Salemburg |
Disclaimer: We've tried to gather the most up-to-date and accurate information available, but everything is subject to change and, for that matter, we and our sources make the occasional mistake. Early in the year, information from the previous year may be posted for certain festivals until updated plans are announced; in particular, fees may change from year to year and dates may be estimated based on the previous festival. We try to update each weekend or when notified of new information. We cannot and do not guarantee any of the artists, prices, show times, locations, maps, camping options or other information about the music festivals we refer to on this site. Please let us know about any mistakes or out-dated information you find. And, before you head out, check individual music festivals' Web sites for information and/or contact them via e-mail or phone to make sure they plan to present the show you expect to see.
