April Events in North Carolina

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Mark your calendars for these fun and family-friendly events happening across North Carolina in April.

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North Carolina Azalea Festival

Wilmington, April 3-7, 2024, Wilmington

Touted as one of the best festivals in the South, the North Carolina Azalea Festival is a full week of natural beauty, big-name entertainment, festive galas, fun family events and more. Guests will enjoy community pride and springtime pageantry.

Learn more about the festival at ncazaleafestival.org.

See more: Why You Should Attend the North Carolina Azalea Festival

Pig Cookin’ Contest

Newport, April 5-6, 2024

Go hog wild this April in Newport, when it celebrates the 46th anniversary of one of the largest whole hog, pig-cooking competitions in the country. Each year, more than 60 cooks enter this Coastal Carolina cook-off with hopes of winning the title of perfect pig.

The contest, which began in 1978 to raise funds for a local school, has continued the tradition of giving back to the local community and has even been dubbed the nation’s largest all-volunteer nonprofit whole-hog contest.

For more information about this year’s contest, including a full schedule of events, visit newportpigcooking.com.

Oriental Boat Show event in North Carolina

Photo credit: Keith Smith/TownDock

Oriental In-Water Boat Show & Nautical Flea Market

Oriental, April 12-14, 2024

Visit this historic fishing and boating village for the three-day Oriental In-Water Boat Show & Nautical Flea Market. Highlights include boat dealers, several vendors offering nautical goods for sale, food vendors and a nautical flea market. The show takes place Friday from noon to 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Weekend admission tickets cost $10 on Friday and Saturday and $5 on Sunday. Tickets for children ages 12 and under are free.

For more information and a full schedule of events, visit orientalboatshow.com.

Cherry Blossom Festival

Cherryville, April 19-20, 2024

Welcome the spring season at the Cherry Blossom Festival in Cherryville this April. The annual community event features fun for the whole family. Attendees will enjoy more than 100 craft and commercial vendors, games, rides, the Little Miss Cherry Blossom Pageant, live music, an antique car and truck show, and more.

For more details, visit cityofcherryville.com for more information.

dogwood

Photo by Farm Flavor Media

Farmville Dogwood Festival

Farmville, April 25-28, 2024

For more than 30 years, the annual Farmville Dogwood Festival has been drawing visitors to the town commons. The event centers around an arts and crafts pavilion featuring artisans from throughout the area and products such as jewelry, woodworking, pottery, stained glass and more.

Don’t miss the annual Market on Main event, sponsored by the May Museum & Park, Farmville Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center, and Farmville Community Arts Council. Guests can enjoy live demonstrations, living-history expos and open-air artists that will include blacksmithing, weavers and more. For more information, call (252) 753-6725, email lannis@farmvillenc.gov or visit farmvilledogwoodfest.com.

North Carolina Tribute Festival to the King

Lexington, April 26-28, 2024

The North Carolina Tribute Festival to the King features headliner concerts with renowned Elvis tribute artists, along with contests involving up-and-coming Elvises. These “Kings in waiting” range from age 8 to 48, and they will vie for prize money and the chance to advance to the world championships in Memphis, Tennessee. Events conclude Sunday with the headliners performing a collection of Elvis’ top gospel songs. Main Street businesses go all-out with Elvis window displays, Elvis-themed menu items and even a pig statue (to join the others throughout downtown) in a white jumpsuit and shades known as Elvis Porksley. The festival also has a neat historical tie: Lexington hosted Elvis himself in 1956, when he played a sold-out concert at the YMCA. Learn more at nctributetotheking.com.

Photo credit: Kirk Pullen

North Carolina Pickle Festival

Mount Olive, April 27, 2024

Pickle fans won’t want to miss the North Carolina Pickle Festival in downtown Mount Olive this spring. The festival kicks off on Friday evening from 5 to 10 p.m. with live music, carnival rides, concessions and the Cuke Patch 5K. The fun continues on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. with the main events, including a pickle-eating contest, the “Tour de Pickle” bicycle ride, a car show, artisan vendors, music and much more.

For more information, visit ncpicklefest.org or call (919) 658-3113.

Fire on the Mountain Blacksmithing Festival

Fire on the Mountain Blacksmithing Festival

Spruce Pine, April 27, 2024

Celebrate the art of the blacksmith at the annual Fire on the Mountain, held in Spruce Pine near the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The festival is celebrated all month long with the annual blacksmith exhibit at the Toe River Arts Council, which partners with Spruce Pine Main Street and Penland School of Crafts to put on the event. Fire on the Mountain culminates on the last Saturday of April with a free festival in downtown Spruce Pine featuring blacksmithing demonstrations, forging competitions, master blacksmith lectures at Penland, goods for purchase, food and entertainment.

To learn more about this year’s festivities, visit discoversprucepinenc.com or call (828) 765-3008.

1 Comment

  1. ;hal beasley

    March 16, 2023 at 3:09 pm

    good afternoon.
    is it possible to get a mention in your publication?
    first friday music events are held the first friday of each month, april through december. free music performances along with car cruise in, food & games for the children. 5:30-8:30, 118 washington st. downtown plymouth, nc. at the beartown market.

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