101 North Carolina Festivals: May

Atlantic Beach Music Festival

Kick off the flip flops and get ready to dance the day and night away at this annual festival that entices everyone to have some fun in the sand. The Atlantic Beach Music Festival is a community-wide celebration that takes place just steps away from the oceanfront, and which always features a talented line-up of local, regional, and even national musicians that pay a visit to the sunny Crystal Coast shoreline.

Wooden boat show. Photo courtesy of beaufortwoodenboatshow.com.

Wooden Boat Show

Sponsored by Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative
Beaufort | beaufortwoodenboatshow.com

Beautiful handcrafted boats are on display, celebrating the art of North Carolina traditional wooden boatbuilding and the sport of boat racing.

North Carolina Potato Festival

Elizabeth City | ncpotatofestival.com

The North Carolina Potato Festival is a fun-filled, family festival that celebrates one of Northeast North Carolina's largest crops, the potato. The festival is free to the public and includes spudtacular rides and games, food, live music, a farm and tractor show, a cornhole tournament, an auto and bike show, a Jeep invasion, free french fries (while they last) and bushels of fun for the whole family!

Aurora Fossil Festival

Sponsored by Tideland EMC
Aurora | aurorafossilfestival.net

The North Carolina Fossil Festival celebrates the Aurora Fossil Museum and the rich fossil record of North Carolina. Come join us for food, fun, fossils and fellowship. Celebrated every Memorial Day weekend.

Carolina Strawberry Festival

Wallace | carolinastrawberryfestival.com

In 2011, the Town of Wallace, led by a core group of leaders, brought the "Strawberry Festival" back to Wallace after 50 years. Each year, the Carolina Strawberry Festival has grown bigger and better. Enjoy entertainment, vendors and other attractions in historic downtown Wallace.

LaurelFest

Sponsored by Pee Dee Electric
Laurel Hill | Facebook @laurelfest.laurelhill

Mingle with old friends and some of Scotland County's finest people. Food and merchandise vendors, singing groups, kids activities. Free entry and parking.

NC Strawberry Festival

Sponsored by Brunswick Electric
Chadbourn | ncstrawberryfestival.com

The oldest continuing agricultural festival in North Carolina is celebrated annually on the first weekend in May. This festival features a parade, a beauty contest, cooking and strawberry quality contests, art exhibits, food and craft vendors, a car show and free variety entertainment.

Yadkin Valley Wine Festival

Elkin | yadkinvalleywinefestival.com

Come taste the wines of the Yadkin Valley! Open to the public, including families with children. Wine tasting, food, craft vendors and music, plus a roving Bacchus and activities for the youngsters.