Southport Music & Dancing Events - 2020 Schedule

For more than 70 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.

You don’t have to be a kid to get a kick out of treasure hunting, and the annual Night Hunt is an Easter-themed event that is designed just for adults. Held at the Leland Municipal Park on the outskirts of Wilmington, this nighttime Easter Egg hunt features live music, food, and plenty of drinks, and is a cool little holiday party that will get the adults in the group in a fun and festive mood.

Celebrate the arrival of warm weather and sunny days along the waterfront with a stop at the always engaging Southport Spring Festival. This two-day festival that takes place in late March features a wealth of activities and attractions for visitors of all ages, and is sure to be a highlight of any getaway to the coastal Cape Fear region.

Celebrating its 27^th year in 2020, the Pleasure Island Seafood, Blues & Jazz Festival is a weekend-long celebration of great food and fantastic music, with plenty to discover for visitors of all tastes. Featuring two stages that attract nationally recognized blues and jazz musicians from all across the country, this event is a music lover’s dream, and is a perfect opportunity to discover the wealth of flavors that call Kure Beach home.

The elegant Thalian Hall turns a little country during the annual Thalian Hall Bluegrass Bash, which is a fun event that features a wealth of ways to get into the spirit of the music, fun, and activity in the heart of the downtown area. Held on the grounds of Thalian Hall, this fun concert and festival features a wealth of talented musicians from all across the Port City and beyond, as well as plenty of ways to enjoy everything that Wilmington has to offer.

Enjoy a full day of feasting, live music, entertainment, games, food, and so much more with a fun-filled stop at the at the Kure Beach Street Festival. This enticing street fair that’s put on every year by the Town of Kure Beach showcases the beauty of this small coastal town, as well as all the fun things that are found in this hopping vacation destination.

Celebrate the arts and culture of southern North Carolina while enjoying a leisurely exploration of one of its most charming inland towns during this annual event that puts local art and music in the spotlight. The Woodsong Porch and Art Stroll is a fun and self-guided tour of the Shallotte art scene, and features a wealth of ways to have fun with more than 20 local artists, food and drink vendors, and live music.

Enjoy a relaxed yet decadent evening out with family and friends with this special event that brings a world of flavors to the heart of Ocean Isle Beach. The Wine Fest Fundraiser at Museum of Coastal Carolina features an exceptional range of wines, fresh fare, and other surprises for attendees, and is a fun way to celebrate the spring season along the Brunswick Islands.

There’s a world of fun to discover at the Festival Latino, which is a weekend-long celebration that celebrates a multi-cultural atmosphere with a wealth of food, music, and entertainment. From special activities designed for kids to dancing lessons and live music, this lively event is a great way to discover the unique global flavors and influences that are found right in the heart of the Cape Fear area.

A world of flavor and fun is waiting at the Wilmington Greek Festival, which is one of the most unique and anticipated global events of the year in the Cape Fear region. Featuring an abundance of authentic food, music, dancing and more, this weekend-long festival is a fun way to discover the Greek culture while enjoying an engaging time that will delight family members of all ages.

Going strong for more than 30 years, the Carolina Beach Music Festival ushers in the summer season with a full day and night of great music that is just steps away from the sand. Billed as the "the biggest and only beach music festival actually held on the beach on the North Carolina coast" by the Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce, this annual festival is a great way to experience the sights, sounds, and all-around fun of this popular beach town while enjoying some great music along the way.

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.

Foodies and all visitors with exceptional taste will have a ball at the Wilmington VegFest, which is a celebration of all things fresh and delicious that correspond with the vegan lifestyle. Featuring cooking demonstrations, guest speakers, dozens of vendors, and plenty of food trucks, this event is brimming with flavorful ways to eat well, and eat wonderfully.

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 reputations as one of the most beloved 4^th of July celebrations on the coast.

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 reputations as one of the most beloved 4^th 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 4^th 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 4^th of Juy that visitors won’t soon forget.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 25 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.