101 North Carolina Festivals: April

Big Lick Bluegrass Festival

Sponsored by Union Power Cooperative
Oakboro | biglickbluegrass.com

The Big Lick Bluegrass Festival is held each April in Oakboro, North Carolina at Big Lick Festival Park. Music lineup includes: The Spinney Brothers (host band), Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice, The Malpass Brothers, Steve Dilling and Sideline, Flatt Lonesome and more.

Miss Gizzard at the 2015 Grifton Shad Festival. Photo courtesy of griftonshadfestival.com.

Grifton Shad Festival

Grifton | griftonshadfestival.com

Entering their 47th year, come out and enjoy five days of Down East Hospitality. Most events are held on the weekend.

Fayetteville Dogwood Festival

Fayetteville | faydogwoodfestival.com

The Fayetteville Dogwood Festival features entertainment of all genres, arts and craft vendors, street performances, and delicious food and beer.

MerleFest

Wilkesboro | merlefest.org

MerleFest was founded in 1988 in memory of Eddy Merle Watson as a fundraiser for Wilkes Community College and to celebrate ‘traditional plus’ music.

Mount Olive Pickle Festival. Photo courtesy of ncpicklefest.org.

NC Pickle Festival

Tri-County EMC
Mount Olive | ncpicklefest.org

Everyone's favorite pickle celebration in Mount Olive, North Carolina! Mark your calendars for the last weekend in April!

North Carolina Azalea Festival. Photo courtesy of VisitNC.com.

North Carolina Azalea Festival

Wilmington | ncazaleafestival.org

The North Carolina Azalea Festival is Wilmington’s annual community celebration and the largest festival of its kind in the state. Founded in 1948, the Azalea Festival has emerged as Wilmington’s premier event. Each April, a full week of natural beauty, big-name entertainment, festive galas, fun family events and Southern hospitality come together to showcase the charms of the Wilmington area. For community pride and springtime pageantry, the North Carolina Azalea Festival has no equal!

PirateFest

Greenville | piratefestnc.com

Swashbucklers of all ages will converge on the banks of the Tar River, a pirate's paradise located in Uptown Greenville on April 13-14th, 2018. Returning for its 12th year, the festival will kick off Friday, April 13th with a free concert, tons of costumed pirates, street food vendors and a carnival. On Saturday, the festival expands along Evans Street, taking over eight city blocks. Featuring fine arts for sale, live music stages, BMX, a beer and wine garden, sword fighting, mermaids, a pirate encampment and much more, there will be plenty of piratical happenings for the whole family.

Springfest

Sponsored by Pee Dee Electric
Rockingham | bit.ly/rockingham-springfest

This event follows the Discovery Place KIDS – Run for the Ribbons 5k at 9:00am. This will be a full day of family fun. SpringFest will feature games and fun for all ages, including a helicopter, a Cruise In, face painters, merchandise vendors and entertainment by the national country music group Confederate Railroad.