Four Can’t-Miss Events Coming This Summer to North Carolina

North Carolina in the summer is a celebration of the natural beauty of the region, as well as the fantastic quirks that make this state one of the most beloved in the South. Whether you’re looking for music, art, food, or history, the following festivals are sure to please both new and returning festival goers.

1. Grandfather Mountain Highland Games

Running for 60 years, the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games pay fascinating tribute to the Scottish residents of North Carolina. These highland games feature unique attractions such as sheep herding with border collies, a highland wrestling clinic for children, and a Scottish fiddling workshop and jam session. There’s also the Bear, a five-mile footrace to the top of the mountain. The games are held every July.

Festival-goers are welcome to bring their own food, but picnic supplies are offered on site. Campsites are also available on site, but there are lodging options nearby if you would rather spend the night indoors. And shuttle buses taxi participants to and from the festival site. You can buy tickets for just one day or for the whole weekend.

2. NC Pickle Festival

Pickle lovers rejoice! The NC Pickle Festival, hosted every April in Mount Olive, is a fun weekend excursion. There are, of course, plenty of pickles to sample and purchase, as well as an extensive antique car display to peruse. Musicians perform live throughout the weekend, while a dizzying array of vendors and artists exhibit their wares. And don’t miss the petting zoo or the ever popular Tour de Pickle bike ride.

3. Folkmoot USA

One of the largest folk festivals in the country, Folkmoot USA takes place every July across several towns in the stunning Smoky Mountains. Around 100,000 people attend Folkmoot every year for its always bustling, colorful celebration of Americana folk art. With a variety of live performances, workshops, artists, and food vendors to occupy festival-goers’ time, it’s almost impossible to see it all in a single day. Luckily, Folkmoot runs for a full ten days, giving participants enough time to explore all its offerings.

Tickets for the different events are available through its ticketing website. The Grand Opening is an excellent place to start as the ticketing options allow you to pick the acts you wish to see.

4. Festival in the Park

Hosted in Charlotte, Festival in the Park is one of the most visited festivals, popular with residents and visitors alike. With an emphasis on the arts, including music and dance, the Festival in the Park has several stages for live performers, but also has an extensive spread of artists tables and food vendors. Kid-friendly events like face painting and juggling performances are a popular spectacle, but there’s plenty for adults as well. This free event takes place every September. In 2014 it drew over 120,000 guests as one of the liveliest festivals in North Carolina.

Summer is a great time to explore new experiences, and these festivals are an excellent place to start, whether you’re a visitor or resident.

Image via Flickr by Andy Ciordia

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