Crystal Coast Music & Dancing Events - 2026 Schedule

Enjoy a taste of the Crystal Coast while enjoying one of the prettiest spots along the waterfront with a ticket to the Annual Bites & Blues. This popular event combines great bites, great music, and a stunning setting to create an evening that local and visiting food fans alike won’t soon forget.

Initially started nearly 50 years ago as a fundraiser for the Newport development center, the annual Newport Pig Cooking Contest has grown into one of the largest whole hog BBQ contests in the country, with plenty of ways for barbecue pros and everyday visitors alike to join in the fun. Held in the heart of Newport, and attracting visitors from all over the state and beyond year after year, this event is a great opportunity for BBQ fans of all ages to appease an appetite with plenty of great food and fun to go around.

The Beaufort Music Festival has become a beloved event for music lovers everywhere, thanks to its amazing line-up of talented artists, and its home base in the charming coastal town of Beaufort. Featuring two full days of music that are stocked with local, regional, and even nationally recognized artists and performers, the Beaufort Music Festival is an enchanting way for newcomers to discover a range of new sounds and talents without ever leaving the heart of the Crystal Coast.

The springtime on the Crystal Coast is a fine time to break out the motorcycle and enjoy a ride, and bike fans of all tastes and ages can celebrate the warm weather in style at this fundraising event that supports a very worthy cause. The Bluegrass, Bikes and BBQ combines music, food, and a fun bike ride through the heart of Morehead City in a full-day event that will appeal to anyone who loves a lively celebration along the Crystal Coast.

If you’re a southern seafood fan, then you’re going to love the annual Mullet Festival of Swansboro. This two-day affair features a wealth of ways to enjoy this local crystal coast staple, as well as plenty of games and activities that celebrate the food, flavor, and all around fun of the heart of Swansboro and the North Carolina coastline.

Celebrate the holidays Crystal Coast style with this annual event that entices locals and visitors alike to get into the holiday spirit. The Swansboro Christmas Flotilla is a time-honored tradition that combines Swansboro’s love of life on the water with a truly festive atmosphere, and the event is sure to become an annual celebration that Crystal Coast visitors will want to return to again and again.