|
Mount Airy,
NC *
25 Years *
October
http://www.mtairyncchamber.org/autumnleavesfestival.aspx - (336) 786-6116 Over 160 juried craftsmen show their wares while the town’s renown for old-timey, bluegrass and gospel music is found on downtown stages, and “food for the soul” adds to the experience. |
|
Lexington,
NC *
25 Years *
October
http://www.barbecuefestival.com - (336) 956-1880 Sports events, crafts, a wide range of foodstuffs, competition cooking from across the state and more join the most important thing: Lexington barbecue and lots of it for a food fest each year. |
|
Benson,
NC *
4 Years *
September Saturday
http://www.bensonmuledays.com - (919) 894-3825 Rodeos, street dances, rides, parades, food, music and, of course, a mule-pulling contest are part of this long-standing event every year. |
|
Carthage,
N.C. *
20 years *
May
http://www.thebuggyfestival.com - (910) 947-2331 This gathering started in 1988 to commemorate the Tyson and Jones Buggy Factory that, from the mid-1800s to the 1920s in Carthage, produced the carriages used throughout rural North Carolina. |
|
Smithfield,
*
24 Years *
May
http://www.downtownsmithfield.com - (919) 934-0887 Celebrating the pig and the sweet potato, side streets of downtown Smithfield come alive with pie eating contests, motorcycle and old car displays, and lots of pork with music and games on the side. |
|
Wilkesboro,
*
21 Years *
April
http://www.merlefest.org - (800) 343-7857 Organized to celebrate mountain music and now a very popular memorial event for namesake Merle Watson, the music flows from all over to the stages just outside Wilkesboro each spring. |
|
Hendersonville,
*
61 Years *
April
http://www.ncazaleafestival.org - (910) 794-4650 From a queen’s coronation to a shag contest and boxing, it’s still essentially about all the beautiful flowers in bloom for a Wilmington weekend. |
|
Morehead City,
*
22 Years *
October
http://www.ncseafoodfestival.org - (252) 726-NCSF Abundant shrimp, crab and oysters – plus stews, salads and sandwiches built around seafood – are at the heart of three days of events and entertainments. |
|
Chadbourn,
*
76 Years *
May
http://www.ncstrawberryfestival.com - (910) 640-8034 “The Strawberry Capital of the World” hosts this family event with activities including judged arts and crafts, foods, hot air balloon rides, music and the namesake strawberries. |
|
Fair Bluff,
*
23 Years *
July
http://www.ncwatermelonfestival.com - (910) 212-0013 On a hot summer’s day, a hobby of two semi-retired farmers has grown into lots of fun for kids, a watermelon contest, the Melon Belle and her court, duck races on the Lumber River and lots more. |
 | |
