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Crystal Coast Lessons & Educational Events - 2026 Schedule

Crystal Coast Lessons & Educational Events - 2026 Schedule

Event info is subject to change at any time. Check associated official event websites for latest.

Week of October 26, 2026 - November 1, 2026
Saturday, October 31st 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Cape Carteret

Come explore a unique and picturesque corner of the Crystal Coast with this grand event that celebrates all the activities and fun of the fall season. The Town of Cape Carteret Fall Festival features a myriad of food, activities, and entertainment for visitors of all ages, and the free festival is a great opportunity to uncover this scenic town that’s located just a shell’s throw away from the Emerald Isle coastline.

Event info is subject to change at any time. Check associated official event websites for latest.

Week of November 2, 2026 - November 8, 2026
Monday, November 2nd 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Atlantic Beach

Take advantage of the temperate spring weather and uncrowded shorelines to discover the wealth of wildlife that calls this coastal North Carolina region home. The Bird Hike at Fort Macon is a fun and engaging opportunity to explore one of the Crystal Coast’s most renowned landmarks while spotting a myriad of local and migrating birds that flock to this coastal destination.

Event info is subject to change at any time. Check associated official event websites for latest.

Week of November 9, 2026 - November 15, 2026
Friday, November 13th - Saturday, November 14th
Beaufort

The Beaufort Pirate Invasion is one of coastal North Carolina’s most popular history-themed festivals, transforming the waterfront town of Beaufort into a lively seaport filled with pirates, soldiers, merchants, and colonial-era characters. Held annually in downtown Beaufort, the event celebrates the town’s rich maritime heritage and commemorates the historic Spanish attack on Beaufort in 1747, as well as the region’s connections to the legendary pirate Blackbeard and other seafaring figures.

Event info is subject to change at any time. Check associated official event websites for latest.

Week of November 16, 2026 - November 22, 2026
Friday, November 20th - Friday, January 8th
Harkers Island

Celebrate the season with a little bit of coastal style and history at this event that will brighten everybody’s holiday spirits. The annual Gallery of Trees celebrates its opening day on November 18, and patrons will enjoy a wealth of brightly decorated and wholly unique Christmas trees that showcase the culture and the Christmastime beauty of the Crystal Coast.

Event info is subject to change at any time. Check associated official event websites for latest.

Week of November 23, 2026 - November 29, 2026
Friday, November 20th - Friday, January 8th
Harkers Island

Celebrate the season with a little bit of coastal style and history at this event that will brighten everybody’s holiday spirits. The annual Gallery of Trees celebrates its opening day on November 18, and patrons will enjoy a wealth of brightly decorated and wholly unique Christmas trees that showcase the culture and the Christmastime beauty of the Crystal Coast.

Event info is subject to change at any time. Check associated official event websites for latest.

Week of November 30, 2026 - December 6, 2026
Friday, November 20th - Friday, January 8th
Harkers Island

Celebrate the season with a little bit of coastal style and history at this event that will brighten everybody’s holiday spirits. The annual Gallery of Trees celebrates its opening day on November 18, and patrons will enjoy a wealth of brightly decorated and wholly unique Christmas trees that showcase the culture and the Christmastime beauty of the Crystal Coast.

Friday, December 4th - Sunday, December 6th
Harkers Island

The small community of Harkers Island comes to life at this annual event that puts this community’s rich heritage and history in the spotlight. The annual Core Sound Decoy Festival, which is held the first full weekend in December, is a unique celebration that combines exhibits, demonstrations, vendors, food, and much more, to the delight of local visitors and residents alike.

Friday, December 4th - Sunday, December 6th
Harkers Island

The Crystal Coast is renowned as a popular destination for seasonal visitors of all varieties, and that includes the thousands of waterfowl that flock to this region every year. This unique distinction is celebrated annually at the Core Sound Waterfowl Weekend, which is a fantastic opportunity for visitors to learn more about this stunning landscape, and the many feathered visitors who call it home for the winter season.

Event info is subject to change at any time. Check associated official event websites for latest.

Week of December 7, 2026 - December 13, 2026
Friday, November 20th - Friday, January 8th
Harkers Island

Celebrate the season with a little bit of coastal style and history at this event that will brighten everybody’s holiday spirits. The annual Gallery of Trees celebrates its opening day on November 18, and patrons will enjoy a wealth of brightly decorated and wholly unique Christmas trees that showcase the culture and the Christmastime beauty of the Crystal Coast.

Event info is subject to change at any time. Check associated official event websites for latest.

Week of December 14, 2026 - December 20, 2026
Friday, November 20th - Friday, January 8th
Harkers Island

Celebrate the season with a little bit of coastal style and history at this event that will brighten everybody’s holiday spirits. The annual Gallery of Trees celebrates its opening day on November 18, and patrons will enjoy a wealth of brightly decorated and wholly unique Christmas trees that showcase the culture and the Christmastime beauty of the Crystal Coast.

Event info is subject to change at any time. Check associated official event websites for latest.

Week of December 21, 2026 - December 27, 2026
Friday, November 20th - Friday, January 8th
Harkers Island

Celebrate the season with a little bit of coastal style and history at this event that will brighten everybody’s holiday spirits. The annual Gallery of Trees celebrates its opening day on November 18, and patrons will enjoy a wealth of brightly decorated and wholly unique Christmas trees that showcase the culture and the Christmastime beauty of the Crystal Coast.

Event info is subject to change at any time. Check associated official event websites for latest.

Week of December 28, 2026 - January 3, 2027
Friday, November 20th - Friday, January 8th
Harkers Island

Celebrate the season with a little bit of coastal style and history at this event that will brighten everybody’s holiday spirits. The annual Gallery of Trees celebrates its opening day on November 18, and patrons will enjoy a wealth of brightly decorated and wholly unique Christmas trees that showcase the culture and the Christmastime beauty of the Crystal Coast.

Event info is subject to change at any time. Check associated official event websites for latest.

Week of December 28, 2026 - January 3, 2027
Friday, November 20th - Friday, January 8th
Harkers Island

Celebrate the season with a little bit of coastal style and history at this event that will brighten everybody’s holiday spirits. The annual Gallery of Trees celebrates its opening day on November 18, and patrons will enjoy a wealth of brightly decorated and wholly unique Christmas trees that showcase the culture and the Christmastime beauty of the Crystal Coast.

Event info is subject to change at any time. Check associated official event websites for latest.

Week of January 4, 2027 - January 10, 2027
Friday, November 20th - Friday, January 8th
Harkers Island

Celebrate the season with a little bit of coastal style and history at this event that will brighten everybody’s holiday spirits. The annual Gallery of Trees celebrates its opening day on November 18, and patrons will enjoy a wealth of brightly decorated and wholly unique Christmas trees that showcase the culture and the Christmastime beauty of the Crystal Coast.

Event info is subject to change at any time. Check associated official event websites for latest.

Week of April 26, 2027 - May 2, 2027
Saturday, May 1st 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Beaufort

The annual Wooden Boat Show is a tradition in the town of Beaufort, and its 51st celebration in 2027 promises to be bigger and more engaging than ever before. With a long roster of activities that are slated for the weekend-long event, visitors will be treated to a wealth of activities, displays, exhibits, and interactive ways to join in the fun.

Saturday, May 1st 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Beaufort

Come and marvel as a fleet of wooden boats are constructed from start to finish before your eyes at this competition that pits boat-builders against each other in one of the most anticipated events of the Annual Wooden Boat Show. The BoatBuilding Challenge is an event that's been going strong for more than 15 years as of 2026, and the competition features 18 teams who will battle it out to craft the best wooden boat in just four hours’ time.

Crystal Coast Map
Emerald Isle Indian Beach Pine Knoll Shores Atlantic Beach Shackleford Banks Beaufort Morehead City Cape Lookout Cedar Island Harkers Island New Bern
Educational Activities

Considering that the small town of Beaufort is more than 300 years old, and the adjacent communities are famous as historic vacation destinations, port towns, pirate haunts, Civil War battlefields, or all of the above, it’s no wonder that the...

Roosevelt’s Sea Drift Haven - 2 Bed 2 ...

This newly refreshed cavernous condo blends modern design with comfort. This condo provides plenty of room for everybody to spread out. The sizable living room is ideal for movie nights or casual hangouts. The entirely equipped kitchen, with modern...

  • Pine Knoll Shores
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 8
Stunning Ocean Front Condo with Shared A...

New in our program, this home has many great reviews from past guests.Welcome to your ideal hideaway at this impressive oceanfront condo in Atlantic Beach, NC! This family-friendly getaway offers charming beach vistas and a wealth of amenities to...

  • Atlantic Beach
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
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Lost Treasure Golf and Raceway - Crystal Coast

Visitors of all ages will have a blast at this destination that is designed for great times along the Crystal Coast shoreline. Professor Hacker's Lost Treasure Golf and Raceway is situated in the centrally located beach community of Salter Path, and...

1st Floor Unit With  Ocean View, Swimmin...

Dunescape Villas Condominiums are oceanfront and have 3 bedroom, 2 ½ baths, sleeping up to 6 people. You will enter through the front-screened porch, convenient for keeping rafts, beach balls, chairs and sandy shoes. The unit has a wet bar that...

  • Atlantic Beach
  • 3 Bedrooms
  • 2 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6
Lookout Cruises

Visitors can enjoy the Crystal Coast’s most coveted and hard-to-reach shorelines, or just embark on a breezy cruise of the open waters in search of dolphins and sunsets, with a trip that’s guided by Lookout Cruises. This local tour...