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.
October 2 - 5 Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival of Music & Dance - Silk Hope
The semiannual Shakori Hills music festival (see May schedule) presents an eclectic mix of music - from rock to jazz and Americana, Cajun and klezmer - on four stages. There are also musicians' competitions, art and craft vendors, food vendors, games, a drum circle, children's activities and more. Donna the Buffalo is the host band. Click on the photo for more information.
Artists
TBA. 2024 lineup included Donna the Buffalo, The Wood Brothers, Lee Fields, Cortadito, Fireside Collective and 47 more.
Festival site: Shakori Hills
Music starts 5 p.m. Thursday, 1 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. Saturday, 12:30 p.m. Sunday.
Four-day pass: $114 early bird, $119 advance, TBA at gate; ages 13-15: $59, $64, TBA.
Daily: TBA.
Younger than 13 free.
Camping: tents $20 early bird, $25 advance, TBA at gate; car camping $79, $84, TBA; RVs $115, $125, TBA.
October 3 - 4 Ol' Front Porch Music Festival - Oriental
About 30 groups and solo performers play a variety of music all day Friday and Saturday in a park at the riverfront and on the front porches of several homes in the picturesque coastal village. Artisans and crafters display their wares, and local restaurants and delis act as food vendors. The festival is in its 11th year in 2025. Click on the photo for more information.
Artists
TBA. 2024 lineup inlcuded Djoukil, Nefesh Mountain Band, Time Sawyer and 28 more.
Festival site: Neuse Riverfont, Main Stage at South Avenue and Freemason Street, more
10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Free admission.
October 3 - 4 FabFest - Charlotte's Beatles Festival - Charlotte
Tosco Music's FabFest includes two evening concerts and a day of live music, speakers and activities, like a Beatles cover song contest, trivia contests, art contests, movies and sing-alongs. The festival also presents memorabilia vendors and a kids' area with music and crafts. FabFest has previously been held in late July. The festival is in its seventh year in 2025.
Artists
TBA. 2024 lineup included Tosco Music Beatles Tribute, Tony Kishman and Live and Let Die: The Music of Paul McCartney, Gregg Bissonette and 12 more.
Festival site: Knight Theater (map) and Central Piedmont Community College
Evening concerts: 8 p.m. Friday, 7:30 p.m. Saturday; daytime activities noon to 5 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
Evening shows (each): $21.50 - $68.50.
Saturday daytime activities: $35; ages 5-17 50% off; younger than 5 free.
October 3 - 4 Bascom Lamar Lunsford Festival - Mars Hill
Regional musicians and dancers remember Bascom Lamar Lunsford, a musician and folklorist who dedicated his life to collecting and promoting the music of the Southern Appalachians. The festival presents performances, workshops and a community dance. The festival website says the "precise performer roster for the ballad swap is fluid and casual." The 2024 festival was cancelled due to damage in the region from Hurricane Helene.
Artists
TBA. 2024 lineup was to be Sheila Kay Adams and William Ritter, Laura Boosinger, Bayla Davis and Cary Fridley and 11 more.
Festival site: Mars Hill University
Friday Ballad Swap 7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Free.
Workshops: $10, $5 younger than 18.
October 4 Spruce Pine BBQ Festival - Spruce Pine
The festival no longer conducts a sanctioned barbecue contest, but for 2024 promised barbecue and music from bluegrass, country, classic rock and traditional genres, along with food and craft vendors, events, and games galore. The festival is in its 13th year in 2025. The 2024 festival was cancelled due to damage from Hurricane Helene.
Artists
TBA. 2024 lineup was to be Michelle Lee, Carolina Bluegrass Style, Jody and Mark, and two more.
Festival site: Riverside Park
Gates open 10 a.m.
$5, younger than 13 free.
October 11 - 12 Duck Jazz Festival - Duck
This free festival presents national, regional and local jazz musicians on two stages. Associated activities taking place in the park and at Duck businesses in the days before and during the festival have included a jazz story and play time for children and an outdoor movie Friday evening, as well as extended hours at local shops. A festival food pavilion features several local restaurants.
Artists
TBA. 2024 lineup included Antonia Bennett, Empire Strikes Brass, The Lao Tizer Band and four more.
Festival Site: Town Green and Duck Town Park
6 p.m. Thursday; Friday children's program 10 a.m., movie 6:50 p.m.; 4 p.m. Saturday; gates open 10 a.m. Sunday, music starts 11 a.m.
Free admission.
October 16 - 18 Bluegrass Island Music Festival - Manteo
The festival brings top bluegrass acts to a waterside outdoor theater on the Outer Banks where it also presents 50+ local and regional vendors, including beer and wine sales. The weekend also includes two-hour cruises each day with a lunch buffet, open bar and artist performances and meet-and-greets, and artist-led late-night jams at a nearby theater. The 2024 festival featured several bands playing a Wednesday evening kickoff show in another waterside park. The festival is in its 14th year in 2025. Click on the photo for more information.
Artists
Thursday: Rhonda Vincent, Malpass Brothers, Lonesome River Band, Authentic Unlimited, Amanda Cook. Cruise band: Malpass Brothers. Late night TBA.
Friday: The Steeldrivers, Pam Tillis, Wood Box Heroes, Frank Solivan, Unspoken Tradition. Cruise band TBA. Late night TBA.
Saturday: Ricky Skaggs, Steep Canyon Rangers, Dan Tyminski Band, Hayde Bluegrass Orchestra, Jacob Joliff Band. Cruise band TBA. Late night TBA.
Festival site: Roanoke Island Festival Park
Gates open 11 a.m. Thursday - Saturday; Cruises 11 a.m.
Three-day pass: $253.74 (with fees).
Daily: $85.33.
Backstage Pass (Two-hour cruise, onstage covered seating, reserved seating at late night jams, VIP parking, artist meet-and-greets, backstage lawn seating and restrooms, lunch buffet; drinks, snacks and heavy appetizers; souvenirs, more): $826.18.
Cruises: $106.38. Thursday cruise sold out.
The festival has elimiated reserved seating in front of the stage as of the 2025 festival.
VIP Parking (three days): $132.70. All non-VIP parking is about ahalf-mile away at the Manteo Baptist Church parking lot at 406 U.S. 64 in Manteo and is served by a $5 all-day shuttle.
October 16 - 19 LEAF Global Arts Festival - Black Mountain
The semiannual LEAF - Lake Eden Arts Festival - embraces world music, new ageism and the outdoors (see May schedule). The weekend includes a lot of activities, especially for kids, and it's held at a mountain camp well-appointed for weekend festivals. The 2024 festival was canceled due to damage from Hurricane Helene. Click on the photo for more information.
Artists
TBA. 2024 lineup was to include Sheila E, Las Cafeteras, Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn, BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet and 38 more.
Festival site: Camp Rockmont
Ticket prices in several combinations increase periodically or as limited numbers available at each tier are sold out. These are previous final-tier prices for ages 10-17 and adults:
Weekend pass (with tent camping, three days, two nights): $150-$180.
Weekend Plus (with tent camping, three and a half days, three nights, i.e., Thursday): $190-$215.
Community Pass (weekend for local residents): $105-$120.
Friday or Sunday: $45-$55.
Saturday: $60-$65.
Age 9 and younger free; younger than 18 must be with a parent. Packages for spring and fall festivals also available.
Car camping: $90 per 20x20 spot (one vehicle per spot).
RV Parking: $175 per spot (for larger vehicles that do not fit within the 20x20 vehicle camping spots).
Cabins: Sleeps 9 $470; sleeps 10 $490; sleeps 12 $516; sleeps 11 and has bathroom $616; lodge room for five $470; lodge bunk $188; shared 16-bunk room with half bath $1,355. Prices for Thursday through Saturday.
More options at website.
Parking: $8 advance, $10 at festival.
October 25 Sleepy Fest - Saxapahaw
Sleepy Fest is an all-ages celebration of local music and collaboration on indoor and outdoor stages featuring artists from "in and around" the roster of Sleepy Cat Records in Carrboro, N.C. "As in Sleepy Fest's past, you can expect one-time collaborations and improvisations between artists," the website says, There will also be DJ sets and "other special programming," an "art and makers" market with local artisans and small businesses, yard games, two fire pits and a kids' zone with nature activities, and food and beverage vendors. Sleepy Fest is in its fourth year in 2025.
Artists
TBA. 2024 lineup included Magic Al, Blue Cactus, Lou Hazel and 17 more.
Festival site: Haw River Ballroom
Free arts market and show 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., ticketed music festival 2 p.m. to midnight.
$45. Donor tiers: $55, $65 ("extra funds will allow us to pay artists more than our tight budget could support otherwise," the website says).
Ages 6 to 12: $17.50.
Younger than 6: Free.
Parking: $5.
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