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 festivals 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).

Go to our master festival calendar below and click on an NC music festival's name for more information about that festival, including artist lineup, ticket prices, a map to the festival site and a link to the festival's website. If you're interested in what's happening during a specific month, go to its page ...

Jan            Feb            Mar

Apr            May            Jun

Jul            Aug            Sep

Oct            Nov            Dec

A photo with a festival listing indicates that we have more photos and an essay profiling that festival (like this one); click on the photo for more information.

Stay up to date by following us at , where we are Carolina Music Festivals and during festivals on Instagram. (We no longer post to Twitter or X).

Most music festivals in North Carolina cater to families. If you haven't been to one because you have children, find a festival near you that you and the kids will enjoy.

If we've left out any of your favorite North Carolina music festivals (or just some you know about), please let us know!

 

 

North Carolina Music Festivals 2025

January 2025

24 - 26 Black Notes Project - Charlotte

February 2025

6 - 8 North Carolina Jazz Festival - Wilmington
7 - 8 Appalachian State Old-Time Fiddlers Convention - Boone
TBA North Carolina HIP Music Festival - Triangle
14 - 16 Bluegrass First Class - Asheville
Feb. 27 - March 1 Carolina Jazz Festival - Chapel Hill

March 2025

Feb. 27 - March 1 Carolina Jazz Festival - Chapel Hill

April 2025

5 - 6 Dreamville Festival - Raleigh
10 - 12 Big Lick Bluegrass Festival - Oakboro
11 - 13 Moo, Brew and 'Que Music Fest - Charlotte
12 Strange Fruit Festival - Greensboro
12 Lucknow Music Festival - Dunn
19 North Carolina 'Cuegrass Festival - Raleigh
19 Earth Day Jam - Salisbury
19 RockyFest - Hiddenite
24 - 27 MerleFest - Wilkesboro    

MerleFest

25 - 26 BrightFire Music and Arts Festival - Concord
April 25 - 27 Tuck Fest - Charlotte
26 Beach Fest - Selma

May 2025

  
1 - 4 Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance - Silk Hope

Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival

2 - 3 North Carolina Brewers and Music Festival - Huntersville
2 - 3 Another World 2024 - Concord
2 - 4 Lovin' Life Music Fest - Charlotte
8 - 10 Malpass Brothers Country and Bluegrass Festival - Denton
8 - 11 LEAF Retreat - Black Mountain

The LEAF

9 - 10 Carolina Indie Fest - Sanford
10 - 11 Bear Shadow - Highlands
16 - 17 Beaufort Music Festival - Beaufort

Beaufort Music Festival

17 Atlantic Beach Music Festival - Atlantic Beach
17 Vet Jam 2025 - Fuquay-Varina
17 Carolina Blues Festival - Greensboro
17 Durham Blues and Brews Festival - Durham
17 - 18 Artsplosure - Raleigh
23 - 25 Tony Rice Memorial Day Music Fest - Elon
30 - 31 Good Moon - Durham
May 31 - June 1 Cold Mountain Music Festival - Canton

June 2025

May 31 - June 1 Cold Mountain Music Festival - Canton
7 Carolina Beach Music Festival - Carolina Beach
5 - 7 Cherokee Bluegrass Festival - Cherokee
6 - 7 Bluegrass & Old-Time Fiddlers Convention - Mount Airy
6 - 8 Ocrafolk Festival - Ocracoke Island

Ocrafolk Festival

6 - 8 High Country Jazz Festival - Boone
6 - 8 Cape Fear Blues Festival - Wilmington
7 Carl Sandburg Music Festival - Flat Rock
12 - 14 Willow Oak Park Bluegrass Festival - Roxboro
13 - 14 Charlie Poole Music Festival - Wentworth

Charlie Poole Music Festival

14 Bluff Mountain Festival - Hot Springs
20 - 21 Boonerang Music and Arts Festival - Boone
20 - 21 FlushFest - Hillsborough
20 - 22 State Annual Singing Convention - Benson

State Singing Convention

June 28 - July 26 An Appalachian Summer Festival - Boone
June 28 - Aug. 2 Eastern Music Festival - Greensboro
June 28 - Aug. 3 Brevard Summer Institute & Festival - Brevard
                

July 2024

Through July 27 Eastern Music Festival - Greensboro
Through July 27 An Appalachian Summer Festival - Boone
Through Aug. 10 Brevard Summer Institute & Festival - Brevard
4 & 6 Festival for the Eno - Durham

Festival for the Eno

July 5 - 7 Ocean City Jazz Festival - North Topsail Beach
6 Smokin' Grass Bluegrass & BBQ Festival - Manteo
12 - 14 Black Mountain Blues - Black Mountain

Black Mountain Blues

26 - 27 DownEast Music Festival - Rocky Mount
26 - 27 Hillbilly Jam - Maggie Valley
26 - 27 Ashe County Bluegrass and Old Time Fiddlers - Jefferson

August 2024

Through Aug. 10 Brevard Summer Institute & Festival - Brevard
1 - 3 Mountain Dance and Folk Festival - Swannanoa
1 - 4 AVL Fest - Asheville
2 - 4 Gears and Guitars Music Fests - Winston-Salem
9 - 10 McDowell County Country Music Roundup - Marion
15 - 17 N.C. State Bluegrass Festival - Marion
17 NC Beach Blast - Kings Mountain
22 - 24 The Big What? - Pittsboro
Aug. 29 - Sept. 1 Earl Scruggs Music Festival - Mill Spring

Earl Scruggs Music Festival

Aug. 30 - Sept 1 Camp Springs Labor Day Bluegrass Festival - Elon
Aug. 31 Sonark Harvest Festival - Chapel Hill
Aug. 31 - Sept. 1 ProgDay - Chapel Hill

ProgDay

Aug. 31 - Sept. 1 John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival - High Point

September 2024

Aug. 29 - Sept. 1 Earl Scruggs Music Festival - Mill Spring

Earl Scruggs Music Festival

Aug. 30 - Sept 1 Camp Springs Labor Day Bluegrass Festival - Elon
Aug. 31 - Sept. 1 ProgDay - Chapel Hill

ProgDay

Aug. 31 - Sept. 1 John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival - High Point
1 New River Blues Festival - Grassy Creek
4 - 7 Hopscotch - Raleigh
5 - 7 Antlers & Acorns: The Boone Songwriters Festival - Boone
6 - 7 Mountain Song Festival - Brevard
6 - 7 Boomtown Arts and Heritage FestAVL - Asheville
6 - 7 Blue Bear Music Fest - Todd
6 - 8 North Carolina Folk Festival - Greensboro

North Carolina Folk Festival

8 New River Blues Festival - Grassy Creek
12 - 14 Hoppin' John Old-Time and Bluegrass Fiddlers' Convention - Silk Hope
13 - 15 Idlewild Music Fest - Zebulon
14 Carolina Bible Camp Bluegrass Festival - Mocksville
14 CarolinaDaze Music & Arts Festival - Raleigh
20 - 21 Carolina Indie Fest - Sanford
21 Creedmoor Music Festival - Creedmoor
21 Groove Jam - Greensboro
23 - 28 World of Bluegrass - Raleigh

World of Bluegrass

27 - 28 Carolina Jubilee - Harmony
27 - 28 Breakaway Carolina - Concord
28 Mira Music Fest - West End
29 Carrboro Music Festival - Carrboro

October 2024

3 - 6 Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance - Silk Hope

Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival

4 - 5 Ol' Front Porch Music Festival - Oriental

Ol' Front Porch Music Festival

4 - 5 FabFest - Charlotte's Beatles Festival - Charlotte
4 - 5 Bascom Lamar Lunsford Festival - Mars Hill
5 Spruce Pine BBQ Festival - Spruce Pine
11 - 12 Reevestock Music Festival - Elkin

Reevestock

12 - 13 Duck Jazz Festival - Duck
13 CarolinaDaze Music & Arts Festival - Asheville
16 - 20 Bluegrass Island Festival - Manteo

Bluegrass Island Festival

17 - 20 LEAF Global Arts Festival - Black Mountain

The LEAF

26 Sleepy Fest - Saxapahaw

November 2024

7 - 9 Mantrabash - Prospect Hill
12 - 17 Bull City Summit - Durham
14 - 16 Singers and Songbirds Songwriter Festival - Statesville

December 2024

5 - 7 Balsam Range Art of Music Festival - Lake Junaluska

Art of Music Festival

Other Festivals We've Seen

Click on the photos for pages about festivals outside North Carolina we have been to. They are not part of the calendar.

Cayamo
Singer-Songwriter Cruise

French Quarter
Festival 2012

Search for your favorite band, festival or location (i.e., "Boone")
on Carolina Music Festivals:



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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. We try to update each weekend or when notified of new information. Information from the previous year may remain 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. Festivals come and go; we work through websites, Facebook, email, mainstream media sources and the occasional phone call. If a festival's listing has not been updated and it's close to the festival date, it may not be happening this year. We tend to err in favor of the festival happening, and keep festivals listed on the site as long as seems reasonable.
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' websites for information and/or contact them via email or phone to make sure they plan to present the show you expect to see.
Carolina Music Festivals is compiled, designed, written, photographed and published by Christopher E. Nelson.



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