Cape Fear area Music & Dancing Events - 2026 Schedule

The Cape Fear Blues Festival is quickly becoming one of the most anticipated music festivals of the summer season in North Carolina, and newcomers will find plenty of reasons to celebrate at this multiple-day event that has plenty of soul. Featuring local musicians as well as national headliners, the annual Cape Fear Blues Festival lights up the town with plenty of great music at multiple venues, and ample fun to go around for music fans everywhere.

Revered as one of the oldest Independence Day celebrations in the state, the North Carolina 4th of July Festival is a big event that attracts visitors from all along the coastline and miles beyond to the charming town of Southport. Boasting a parade, a fair-style collection of vendors, a myriad of shows and activities, and a stunning display of fireworks over the water, this annual event lives up to its reputation as one of the most beloved 4th of July celebrations on the coast.

The Dock Street Pride Celebration is an annual community event that celebrates diversity, inclusion, and the LGBTQ+ community through a day of entertainment, fellowship, and civic engagement in downtown Wilmington. Held in the city’s historic riverfront district, the event brings together residents, visitors, advocacy organizations, local businesses, artists, and performers for a vibrant celebration of equality and pride. The gathering serves as an opportunity to recognize the contributions of the LGBTQ+ community while fostering a welcoming environment for people of all backgrounds and identities.

Revered as one of the oldest Independence Day celebrations in the state, the North Carolina 4th of July Festival is a big event that attracts visitors from all along the coastline and miles beyond to the charming town of Southport. Boasting a parade, a fair-style collection of vendors, a myriad of shows and activities, and a stunning display of fireworks over the water, this annual event lives up to its reputation as one of the most beloved 4th of July celebrations on the coast.

There’s plenty of ways to have fun along the coast at the annual NC 4th of July Festival Beach Day – a celebration that takes place in the heart of Oak Island. Held in conjunction with Southport’s 4th of July Festival, which is one of the largest Independence Day celebrations in the state, this event features tons of games, activities, contests, and even live music and dancing, to create a festive 4th of Juy that visitors won’t soon forget.

Visitors to Bald Head Island in the middle of the summer will be surprised and delighted to discover that the pirates have taken the beach by storm. The Bald Head Island Pirate Invasion is a fun and engaging annual event that brings some of North Carolina’s first visitors to vivid light through reenactments, a working pirate camp, and many more interactive exhibits and activities that everyone in the crew will adore.

Port City Rock Jam boasts an impressive lineup of twelve remarkable local bands, each bringing their unique style and energy to the stage.

The Dosher Foundation Gala is an annual fundraising event that brings together community leaders, healthcare supporters, local businesses, and residents for an evening dedicated to supporting the mission of the Dosher Memorial Hospital Foundation. Held each year in Brunswick County, the gala serves as one of the foundation’s signature fundraising events, helping generate support for healthcare programs, medical equipment, patient services, and future initiatives that benefit patients and families throughout the region. The 2026 gala is scheduled for Sept. 18 at the Homer E. Wright Event Center in St. James.

The Farewell Summer Jazz Funeral is a unique coastal tradition that combines New Orleans-style pageantry, live music, and community celebration to bid a lighthearted farewell to another summer season. Held each fall at Kure Beach’s Ocean Front Park and Pavilion, the event invites residents and visitors alike to don funeral finery, colorful costumes, masks, beads, parasols, and other festive attire as they join a jazz funeral procession through town. Led by a live brass band, participants march behind a symbolic casket honoring the passing of summer before gathering for an evening of music, entertainment, and celebration.

Second only to the springtime Azalea Festival in terms of size, activities and attendance, the annual Riverfest is an all-encompassing festival that celebrates life by the water. Featuring a lineup of events that include exhibits, vendors, competitions, kid activities, fireworks, and so much more, this family-friendly event ignites the Wilmington downtown area with miles of fun to go around.

Hungry visitors will want to bring along a big appetite for the North Carolina Oyster Festival, which is a popular annual event that offers a whole lot more than the staple shellfish. Featuring everything from BBQ and pizza, to music, arts, and crafts, this extensive festival has plenty of ways to delight attendees of all tastes, and of all ages.

Well known as one of the longest running events in the Port City area, the annual Cape Fear Fair & Expo has been going strong for decades, and is one of the most fun celebrations that the town of Wilmington has to offer. Taking over the grounds of the Wilmington Airport, this expansive festival features rides, exhibits, food, shows, and entertainment al all varieties to create a truly memorable experience for fun-loving visitors of all varieties.

Calling all brew fans – the Voracious Rare Beer Festival is the prime opportunity to discover a world of new flavors without ever leaving the heart of downtown Wilmington. Appropriately held in the month of October, this annual festival features plenty of great tastes to go around, with dozens of participating breweries and eateries, and ample reasons to raise a pint and toast the town.

The world of hops, grapes and grains is at your fingertips at the annual Lighthouse Beer & Wine Festival – a fun event that features plenty of delectable tastes from the Cape Fear area and miles beyond. Held at the North Waterfront Park in the heart of Wilmington, this full afternoon-long festival features more than 100 craft breweries and wineries to discover, making it one of the most anticipated events for wine and beer lovers throughout the North Carolina coastline.

There’s a lot to enjoy at the annual Classic Cars n’ Rock n’ Roll Cruise-In – a cool car show that’s held in the heart of Downtown Southport, and which features much more than the array of gorgeous and vintage automobiles. Featuring activities and attractions for visitors of all ages, this annual event that is brimming with live music, contests, and other activities is sure to be a crowd pleaser for the car lovers in your crew, and anyone who wants to dive into the community spirit of this coastal town.

The Cape Fear region is a unique coastal community that’s known for its variety of global influences, and visitors can get a first-hand look at this worldly flavor by attending the annual Polish Festival. Held in the smaller region of Castle Hayne, this family-oriented and fun festival features a wealth of food, music, arts and crafts, beverages, and more to provide a hefty sampling of everything this distinctive culture and heritage has to offer.

The Cucalorus Film Festival has been going strong for 30 years, and this annual film festival is well known as one of the biggest and best of its kind in the Cape Fear region and well beyond. Renowned as one of the largest film festivals in the southern United States, this multiple day event features a wealth of films, shorts, live entertainment, music, and many more ways to celebrate Wilmington’s reputation as the Hollywood of the East Coast.

Join in the fun of the season and enjoy a days-long festival that highlights the community spirit of Southport by attending the highly anticipated WinterFest festival. This annual celebration features a wealth of activities at landmarks and popular spots throughout the coastal town, and is a great way to enjoy the spirit of the holidays while taking in everything this popular vacation destination has to offer.

Join in the fun of the season and enjoy a days-long festival that highlights the community spirit of Southport by attending the highly anticipated WinterFest festival. This annual celebration features a wealth of activities at landmarks and popular spots throughout the coastal town, and is a great way to enjoy the spirit of the holidays while taking in everything this popular vacation destination has to offer.

The aptly-named Pleasure Island is the place to be in the Cape Fear region to ring in the new year, thanks to a hopping beach boardwalk, music and dancing, plenty of refreshments, and a beautiful backdrop next to the Atlantic Ocean. The Island of Lights New Year's Eve Celebration lives up to its name with a traditional fireworks show and a grand beachside party that is sure to have everyone in the family ready to ring in the new year with style.

The North Carolina Jazz Festival is one of the nation’s longest-running traditional jazz festivals, bringing world-renowned musicians and jazz enthusiasts to Wilmington each year for a celebration of America’s original musical art form. Founded in 1980, the festival has built a reputation for showcasing premier traditional jazz performers from across the United States and around the world while preserving the rich heritage of classic jazz styles. Held annually in downtown Wilmington, the event attracts visitors from across the country who come to enjoy performances by internationally acclaimed artists in an intimate concert setting.

Feast Wilmington is an annual food and beverage festival that showcases the culinary talent, craft beverages, and vibrant dining culture of the Wilmington area. Held at the scenic Live Oak Bank Pavilion along the Cape Fear River, the festival brings together more than 70 chefs, 20 breweries, wineries, distilleries, and beverage makers for a weekend of tastings, pairings, live entertainment, and waterfront celebrations. Designed for food lovers of all kinds, Feast highlights the flavors, creativity, and hospitality that have helped establish Wilmington as one of North Carolina’s premier culinary destinations.

For more than 75 years, the North Carolina Azalea Festival has reigned supreme as one of the biggest and best festivals along the southeast coastline, and newcomers are welcome to join in the fun to experience full days of vendors, live music, parades, and other events that shine a spotlight on the lively city of Wilmington. Founded in 1948, the North Carolina Azalea Festival has emerged as one of the most anticipated events in the state, and the celebration attracts visitors from all over the world who want to discover how enchanting the Cape Fear region can be.