Crystal Coast Outdoor & Nature Events - 2023 Schedule

Crystal Coast visitors of all ages will want to take a break from the sand and head inland to the small town of Newport for this unique annual festival that puts the flavors of the fall season in the spotlight. The Fall Festival at Camp Albemarle is a family-friendly event that features a wealth of activities that visitors of all ages can enjoy. From outdoor adventures to food trucks and s’mores, everyone can celebrate the cooler and breezy fall season at this event that has tons to offer around every corner.

Wit breezy weather and warm temperatures, the fall is an ideal time to go fly a kite on the Crystal Coast, and this event is an ideal launching point for folks to celebrate their high-flying abilities. The Carolina Kite Festival, which is hosted by the local Kites Unlimited & Bird Stuff, has grown into a stellar and full-day event with hundreds of kites decorating the sky, and plenty of fun to go around.

The annual Veterans Day Parade in Morehead City is a time-honored tradition that honors the servicemen and women who have served their country. Located in the heart of the downtown area, and free and open to the public, this annual celebration is an event that visitors and locals alike won’t soon forget.

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.

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.

The historic Beaufort waterfront comes alive during this holiday celebration that combines this community’s love of the water with a literal boatload of holiday lights. The annual Friends of the Maritime Museum Holiday Flotilla is a fun and festive event that will wow spectators throughout the Crystal Coast, and which will put visitors of all ages in a holiday state of mind.

Get a shockingly refreshing start to 2024 with this annual event that has been attracting brave Atlantic Beach visitors and residents for 20 years. The annual Penguin Plunge is a favorite New Year’s event for participants and spectators alike, with an icy-cold dip into the Atlantic Ocean that is sure to get everyone’s heart pumping.

The annual Wooden Boat Show is a tradition in the town of Beaufort, and its 48th celebration in 2024 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.