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JanuaryPenguin Plunge January 1, 2009. The 2008 Penguin Plunge
marks the fifth year friends gathered to dip into the ocean on New
Year's Day, and more than 120 people took part in last year's event. The
fun starts at 1 PM. Plungers are asked to donate $5 to help with a local
charity. Organized by volunteers Tabbie Nance and Miriam Sutton, the
plunge offers fun seekers a way to get a fresh, a real fresh, start to
the new year. Bridal Fair
This is an event the bride-to-be must attend.
Take the groom, the mother, the future in-laws and any others involved
in the planning. Booths are set up by planners, DJs, photographers,
officiants, honeymoon travel agents and more. You can sample creations
by catering companies and wedding cake bakers, plus see a fabulous
fashion show highlighting wedding gowns, dresses for the mothers of the
bride and groom, bridesmaids and flower girl dresses, and much more. |
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FebruaryArt From the Heart This two-week exhibition and sale of
original, innovative and traditional works by selected area artists
occurs each year in mid-February. The Arts Council of Carteret County
organizes and funds this fine-arts event. Combined with an annual
exhibit of work by area schoolchildren, this exhibition is a great
opportunity for art lovers to view (and buy) original drawings,
paintings, photographs, lithographs, sculpture and pottery pieces.
Proceeds benefit the Arts Council and provide scholarships to Children's
Art Camp. Admission is free. Empty
Bowls This annual event raises money
to feed the hungry and is very popular. Carteret Community College,
local potters, high school students, art classes and area restaurants
team up for this event in an effort to raise money for area soup
kitchens and food banks. For about $12, guests receive a handcrafted
soup bowl and some delicious soup. Tickets are sold in advance at
various locations and at the Civic Center.
Carolina Chocolate Festival This is the event for
chocolate lovers. Started in 2003, the event has continued to grow each
year. The event offers visitors an opportunity to enjoy exhibit booths
with chocolate demonstrations from professional chefs and to support
local non-profit groups selling tasty treats. The festival includes such
events as a special dinner, a Champagne and Truffles party, story
telling, music and a Chocolate Sunday brunch. The festival offers
fondue, music, a baking contest and even a hands-free pudding eating
contest for children. There is also a supervised place for kids to play.
Admission supports local charities and is about $8 for adults, $2 for
children 5 to 12 years of age and free for children younger than 5.
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MarchCoastal Home
and Garden Show This annual trade show assembles the services, wares
and expertise of local businesses that focus on aspects of building,
landscaping and decorating. You can gather ideas, good advice and the right
products for do-it-yourself projects. Or you can shop for professional
services during the show. Easter Egg Hunt March 22, 2008. On the Saturday before Easter Sunday,
the Beaufort Historic Site is the perfect setting for a traditional Easter
egg hunt for the younger members of the family up to age 7. It's a
bring-your-own basket event heaped with small-town warmth and charm. Arrive
by 11 AM. Admission is free, and everyone is welcome. St. Patrick's Day Festival March 15, 2008. Winter hibernation is halted by this
March event, held on the Saturday closest to St. Patrick's Day at Emerald
Plantation Shopping Center. A great day full of fun and games for the entire
family, the event includes corned beef and cabbage, traditional beverages
and music. Green is plentiful when it comes to attire and decorations.
Sponsored by the Emerald Isle Parks and Recreation Department and the
Business Association, the festival supports local craftspeople and civic
organizations. It's free and loads of fun for the entire family. Swansboro Oyster Roast &
Pig Out This is an event not to be missed if you enjoy oysters
or a pig-pickin'. And while you are enjoying all the food and having fun,
you are helping the community. The event funds scholarships awarded each
year by the civic organization. From Swansboro through Emerald Isle and
beyond, the population turns out for all-you-can-eat oysters, flounder, clam
chowder, hot dogs or a pig-pickin' with traditional slaw and hushpuppy
trimmings. The event usually happens around St. Patrick's Day. Tickets are
$40 in advance and $45 at the door. The event takes place from 5 to 8 PM. Fun Fest Fun Fest is an annual fund-raising event of
the North Carolina Seafood Festival (NCSF). Fun Fest features food,
music and lots of fun for families. The NCSF takes place the first
weekend in October and is a wonderful coastal event. |
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AprilNewport Pig Cooking
Contest April 4-5, 2008. The annual Newport Pig Cooking
Contest is one of the largest whole-hog, pig-cooking competitions in the
state. This huge barbecue competition is held on the first Friday and
Saturday in April and draws folks from all along the Eastern seaboard for
the best barbecue on earth. The event kicks off with a hometown-type parade
down Howard Boulevard, and then the teams begin the serious cooking. You'll
find great food, baked goods, live entertainment, rides and children's
activities. Delicious Down East barbecue goes on sale around noon on
Saturday, as soon as judging has been completed. Drive-up service is even
available for folks who want a great lunch but don't want to wade through
the crowds. The event benefits numerous civic organizations. The winning
cooks go on to the state championship. Portsmouth Island Homecoming April 19, 2008. This heritage event celebrates the
history of Portsmouth Village on the Core Banks. Now an Historic District in
Cape Lookout National Seashore, Portsmouth is just south of Ocracoke Inlet.
Access is only by boat. The event provides a unique look at early island
life. Friends and descendants of island residents get together for an
old-fashioned church homecoming and dinner on the grounds. Call for details. Woman's Fair April 26, 2008. Women's Fair is a trade show that
focuses on women's lives. The show features booths and demonstrations on
health, well-being, fashion, careers and more. Fashion shows and seminars
take place during the expo. |
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Publick Day
Beaufort Historic Site, 100 block Turner St., Beaufort (252) 728-5225, (800) 575-SITE |
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April 19, 2009. This annual event features a
Colonial-style flea market with the outdoor sale of varied merchandise and
crafts, along with entertainment, mock trials and exhibits. The day recalls
Colonial excitement generated by the arrival of the circuit court judge to
Beaufort. Proceeds benefit the preservation of historic structures through
the Beaufort Historical Association. Admission is free, but expect to have
your pocketbook tempted by the array of crafts and goodies available. Hours
are from 9 AM to 4 PM.
Emerald Isle Homes Tour & Art Show April 19, 2008. The Emerald Isle Homes Tour and Art
Show, in its 11th year in 2008, is sponsored by the Friends of the Western
Carteret Public Library on Taylor Notion Road, where the tour begins. Tour
hours are 10 AM until 4 PM, and hostesses at each home welcome visitors.
Tickets can be purchased at the library and the Tourism Center on N.C.
Highway 58 and are generally about $15. Tickets come with a map to the homes
and gardens found in Emerald Isle and Cape Carteret. The art show features
works by local artists. Money raised goes toward new book purchases at the
library. Books are also on sale. Beaufort Wine and Food
Weekend April 24–27, 2008. Beaufort Wine and Food Weekend is a
four-day event showcasing wine makers, celebrity chefs and other notable
personalities. The weekend includes wine luncheons and dinners, seminars,
art, music and tastings. The main event takes place in Beaufort; however,
various events are conducted at restaurants and other locations in nearby
towns. Vin De Mer Grand Tasting Village is the highlight of the weekend. It
takes place on Saturday in Beaufort and features a huge tasting tent filled
with wines and foods. Fort Macon Civil War Reenactment April 19–20, 2008. This event features Civil
War–period activities performed by members of the 1st N.C. Volunteers.
Similar events take place in July and September. Talks on flags, uniforms
and Civil War dress are held, as well as musket firings and drills.
Admission is free. Lookout Spring Road Race April 26, 2008. This annual family fun and
fitness road race in Morehead City is sponsored by the Lookout Rotary
Club and takes place on the last Saturday of April. The road race begins
and ends at the Sports Center, and participants can run a 10K, 5K or 1
mile, or take part in the baby-jogger race. Proceeds from the event
benefit local charities and civic organizations. There is an entry fee,
and families get a price break. Prizes are awarded. Easter Sunrise Services March 23, 2008. The dawning of Easter morning is
celebrated in services at several locations across the county, many on the
waterfront or beach. The Carteret County News-Times lists service
locations and times the week before Easter
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MayAmerican Music Festival May 17, 2008. The American Music Festival is an
exquisite non-profit chamber music series featuring concerts
performed in the fall, winter and spring. The year 2008 marks the
concert series' 19th season. The series is supported by subscription
ticket purchase, donations and donor sponsorships, and is managed by a
volunteer board of directors. Donations to the fund further promote
music with an educational outreach program that takes the gifted
musicians into area schools. Past concerts included world-class
performances by musicians of Duke University's Ciompi Quartet, the New
Century Sax Quartet, the Degas String Quartet as well as series
favorites such as pianist Barbara McKenzie and the Carolina Piano Trio.
Series subscriptions for five concerts cost $100. Individual performance
tickets cost $25 for adults and $15 for students and military.
Performances take place on Saturdays at 8 PM at The History Place in
Morehead City. Wooden Boat Show May 3, 2008. The Wooden Boat Show of the North
Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort was the first and is the largest
gathering of wooden watercraft in the Southeast. This fascinating event
takes place the first Saturday in May. This is not a commercial show.
Instead it is a full day of scheduled demonstrations, talks and races that
attract people who share an interest in the art, craftsmanship and history
of wooden boats. Enthusiasts race radio-controlled boats in the pool on the
Maritime Museum patio, and the public is given an opportunity to sail in
traditional North Carolina boats. This show has something fun for all ages.
Admission is free. Beaufort
By-the-Sea Music Festival May 9–10, 2008. Music flows along Taylor's Creek and
through downtown Beaufort each year during the Music Festival. Four or five
stages are set up throughout town, and a variety of music is offered, with
something sure to suit the ears of all ages. The is a free community event,
and volunteers do all the work. Carteret County Arts and Crafts
Coalition May 24–25, 2008. This outdoor exhibition and sale of
arts and crafts by juried coalition members is held during Memorial Day
weekend, Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM and Sunday noon to 5 PM.
Demonstrations, food and music enhance the festive atmosphere, and quality
is tops. According to organizers, the show grows each year and the art
options continue to evolve. The group also has a exhibition and sale at the
same site in July and August. Admission is free. Crystal Coast
Quilt Show May 16–17, 2008. Quilts all things to do with quilting
are what you will find at this annual event. Sponsored by the Crystal Coast
Quilt Guild, the show is a wonderful opportunity to see quilts made by local
artists as well as artists from across the country. Each year the talented
members of the guild make a quilt to be raffled off at the show. They also
exhibit their creations in a judged show. Vendors offering quilting and
sewing supplies and materials. Morehead City on the Water May 16–18, 2008. The Downtown Morehead City
Revitalization Association is launching Morehead City on the Water in 2008.
The event is designed to be a family boating and in-water boat show and will
spread along the Morehead City Waterfront. Plans are in the works to have
boat sales of all types plus family boat programs, educational events and
plenty of vendors. |
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Swansboro
Rotary King Mackerel & Blue
Water Fishing Tournament
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May 23-25, 2008. Swansboro Rotary Club's King Mackerel
and Bluewater Tournament is held each May and offers some big prizes.
Registration takes place on the first day. The 2007 event drew a field of
212 king mackerel boats and 59 bluewater boats, and a total purse of nearly
$165,000 was awarded, with the first place taking home $25,000. Proceeds
from the tournament fund a variety of community, youth and school projects.
Participants pay category fees to compete in the tournament. |
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Antiques Show and Sale June 27–29, 2008. This show is held in
conjunction with the Beaufort Old Homes and Gardens Tour on the last weekend
in June each year. You'll find plenty of interesting antiques at the show.
Tickets usually cost $5 and are good Friday through Sunday of Old Homes and
Gardens Tour weekend. A combo ticket for the tour and show/sale is offered. |
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Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament
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June 6–14, 2008. Big Rock — one hardly needs to
say more. The tournament celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2008 and is one
of the oldest and largest sport-fishing tournaments in the country. It
involves fishing, fishing-related events, parties and daily public weigh-ins
on the Morehead City waterfront during the week and uses the Civic Center
for various events. The tournament benefits charities and nonprofit
organizations. Of course, the tournament winners benefit from a handsome
monetary reward.
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Beaufort Old Homes and
Gardens Tour
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June 27–29, 2008. The Old Homes and Garden Tour has
become a favorite of visitors from around the world. During the last full
weekend in June, the tour opens some of the county's oldest private homes
and buildings for narrated tours on Friday and Saturday. New restorations
and those in progress keep the tour fresh. You'll see the Beaufort Historic
Site, Beaufort Fisheries, Living History demonstrations, the Old Burying
Ground and eight delightful gardens. Visitors can also enjoy an antique car
show and militia encampment. Tickets are $16 in advance and $20 on tour
days. Children age 12 and younger get in for half price, and a combo ticket
for the Antiques Show and Sale is available. This fund-raising activity
benefits the Beaufort Historical Association. |
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Concert at Fort Macon
Series June–August 2008. The Concert in the Park
Series begins June 6 and continues on various Friday evenings through August
8. Concerts are scheduled for the following dates: June 6, June 20, June 27,
July 11, July 18, July 25 and August 8. This is one of the many outreach
projects of the Friends of Fort Macon, and admission is free. Each concert
begins at 7 PM. Marine Corps Air Station
Cherry Point Air Show June 6-8, 2008. Marine Corps Air Station
Cherry Point Air show is the state's largest air show on the East Coast's
largest Marine Corps air station. "A Symphony of Flight" is the 2008 show
theme. Friday's Night Show features afterburners, rocket trucks, sky divers
and fireworks. The Saturday and Sunday day shows feature military and
civilian aerobatic demonstrations, historic and modern displays, the Blue
Angels, F-18 Hornets, AV-8B Harrier demonstrations and flybys. The show
features plenty of activities for children.
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JulyCarteret County Arts and Crafts Coalition
Spring Show July 5–6, 2008. This outdoor exhibition and sale of
arts and crafts by juried coalition members is held during Memorial Day
weekend, Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM and Sunday noon to 5 PM.
Demonstrations, food and music enhance the festive atmosphere, and quality
is tops. According to organizers, the show grows each year and the art
options continue to evolve. The group also has an exhibition and sale at the
same site in May and August. Admission is free. Independence Day
Celebrations July 4, 2008. Fourth of July fireworks and festivities
take place throughout the Crystal Coast. Morehead City and Atlantic Beach
regularly have evening fireworks, and Beaufort has a great "small-town"
morning parade that is followed by a community picnic. Consult the local
papers for times and festive locations before the weekend, or call the
Crystal Coast Visitor Center, (252) 726-8148. Fireworks also light up the
Swansboro waterfront every Fourth of July. Family Nights at the
Aquarium July 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31, 2008. The N.C. Aquarium at
Pine Knoll Shores extends its hours on Thursday nights in July for Family
Nights. Activities for all ages begin at 5 PM, with a different theme chosen
for each Thursday night. Call ahead to find out what the theme will be and
about the admission fee. |
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Fort Macon Civil War Reenactment
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July 26–27, 2008. This July event features Civil
War–period activities performed between 10 AM to 4 PM by members of the 1st
N.C. Volunteers. Similar events take place in April and September. Talks on
flags, uniforms and Civil War dress are held, as well as musket firings and
drills. Admission is free. |
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Historic Beaufort Road Race July 20, 2008. This popular road race takes place on
the third Saturday in July, and 2008 marks its 28th year. The morning
event includes a certified 10K run, a certified 5K run and walk, and a
1-mile run and walk. There are also 10K and 5K wheelchair events and a
5K baby-jogger race. All the events start and end on the Beaufort
waterfront. Set for the third Saturday in July each year, the race is
organized by Beaufort Ole Towne Rotary to benefit area youth and
community projects. The race generally attracts more than 800 entries.
There is an entry fee, and families get a price break. Prizes are
awarded. Buddy Pelletier Longboard
Memorial Contest July 26–27, 2008. Each year this event
attracts amateur and professional surfers from the East Coast and
various countries, including former and current East Coast, ESA and
world champions. The contest is held by the Buddy Pelletier Surfing
Foundation, an organization that sponsors fellowships and renders
humanitarian aid to members of the East Coast surfing community. The
contest offers beginning surfers the chance to get in the water with
some of the best the world has to offer while raising funds to help
fellow surfers. |
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AugustCarteret County Arts and Crafts Coalition
Summer Show August 30–31, 2008. This outdoor exhibition and sale
of arts and crafts by juried coalition members is held during Memorial Day
weekend, Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM and Sunday noon to 5 PM.
Demonstrations, food and music enhance the festive atmosphere, and quality
is tops. According to organizers, the show grows each year and the art
options continue to evolve. The group also has a exhibition and sale at the
same site in May and July. Admission is free. Outer Banks Wildlife
Shelter Sand Castle Contest August 2, 2008. This popular event helps support the
efforts of the Outer Banks Wildlife Shelter. The sand-castle building
competition brings out the best and the brightest in Carteret County and
beyond. What began as one energetic family's pastime at a reunion now draws
some serious competition for adults and children. The creations are
spectacular every year, and it's well worth the trip. The competing
sand-sculpting teams raise contributions to benefit the Outer Banks Wildlife
Shelter.
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SeptemberAmerican Music Festival Various Dates. The American
Music Festival is an exquisite chamber music series featuring five
concerts performed from September through May. The year 2007 will mark the
concert series' 16th season. The series is supported by subscription
ticket purchase, donations and donor sponsorships, and by a volunteer
board of directors. Donations to the fund further promote music with an
educational outreach program that takes the gifted musicians into area
schools. Past concerts included world-class performances by musicians of
Duke University's Ciompi Quartet, the New Century Sax Quartet, the Degas
String Quartet as well as series favorites such as pianist Barbara
McKenzie and the Carolina Piano Trio. Series subscriptions for five
concerts cost $90. Individual performance tickets cost $20 for adults and
$10 for students and military. Performances take place on Saturdays at 8
PM at The History Place. |
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Carteret County Arts and
Crafts Coalition Fall Show This organization of fine artists
and craftspeople gathers for an outdoor show and sale of excellent quality
original arts and crafts on Labor Day weekend. Open from 10 AM to 5 PM
Saturday and 1 to 5 PM Sunday, this promises treasures from the best of area
craftsmen and artists. Food and music add to the festive atmosphere.
Admission is free. Fort Macon Civil War Reenactment September 20–21, 2008. This September event features
Civil War–period activities performed by members of the 1st N.C. Volunteers.
Similar events also take place in April and July. Talks on flags, uniforms
and Civil War dress are held, as are musket firings and drills. Admission is
free. Carteret
Numismatic Coin Show September 27–28, 2008. Coins collectors from near and
far travel to this annual event to view, sell, swap and trade coins of all
types. This show is hosted by the local Numismatic Coin Club and is a
popular event.
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