China Grove, NC -

China Grove, named for a grove of Chinaberry trees, is more commonly known for its Farmers Day Festival. This special event began in 1982 to honor the local farmers by inviting them to bring their produce to sell at a farmers market. Farmers Day has grown to become one of the best street festivals in North Carolina with attendance estimated at over 25,000 visitors. Farmers Day is held the third Saturday in July.

From the opening ceremony at 9:00 a.m. until the last note of the street dance at 11:00 p.m. Farmers Day offers something for people of all ages. Locally grown produce is a huge hit at Farmers Day. Local FFA Students and the FFA Alumni provide fresh off the farm produce for sale as well as local farmers from across the area. Many local churches and civic clubs participate with bake sales, drink stands, and hand crafted items for sale. Hand churned ice cream can be found which serves as cooling treat on what has been coined as the “hottest day of the year”!

For more information please visit website:  http://www.chinagrovefarmersday.com/

Waynesville, NC -

Celebrate the world’s cultural heritage through folk music and dance.  Held each summer across the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina, Folkmoot features performances, a parade and workshops by up to 350 performers from about ten countries.

Performers demonstrate cultural heritage through colorful, authentic and original reproduction costumes, lively dance and traditional music. During its 28-year history, over 200 folk groups from more than 100 countries have shared their heritage and culture at the Folkmoot Festival.  For more information please visit website:  http://folkmootusa.org/

Lenoir, NC -

On Saturday July 14, 2012, the eleventh annual North Carolina Blackberry Festival will be in downtown Lenoir beginning at 10 a.m. In Caldwell County, blackberries are a part of every day life – children beg to go pick from the wild berries lining every bank and mothers take what isn’t eaten during the day for cobblers. Blackberry cobblers and jam are a strong part of local heritage. The North Carolina Blackberry Festival offers summer fun to all visitors – without the chiggers!
Lineberger Farms will be on hand during the day with fresh blackberries for sale, along with other blackberry items and arts and crafts for sale. A variety of food vendors will be available and local restaurants will be open. For more information, call 828-726-0616 or please visit website:  http://www.caldwellcochamber.org/aboutus.asp?id06=130

Gastonia, NC -

The Red White and New Festival is a celebration of the July 4th holiday and also the many wonderful things going on in downtown Gastonia. There will literally be something for everyone as the downtown merchants move to the streets so you can sidewalk shop and join with other vendors for the many events that are planned. See what’s new downtown!

Don’t miss all of the great food including the Backyard BBQ cook off, the Catfish Cook off, the Pudding and Pie Baking Contest, and the Hot Dog Eating Contest. Blue ribbons, cash prizes, and trophies for the winners. What festival would be complete with out funnel cakes and other carnival goodies? All day excitement capped off by a great fireworks display.  Enjoy it all and indulge on this festive occasion.  For more information please visit:  http://www.gastoniajuly4th.com/

Cashiers, NC –

This year, the fourth annual Cashiers Mountain Music Festival will be held on Saturday, June 30 and Sunday, July 1. This year’s two-day event promises to continue the tradition of bringing top notch regional and national mountain music to Cashiers, N.C.

The 2012 event will feature a special two-night appearance by Grammy award winning bluegrass superstar Tony Rice. The legendary guitar player has earned the International Bluegrass Music Association’s (IBMA) Guitar Player of the Year award six times, the IBMA Instrumental Group of the Year award three times with two different bands, and the IBMA Instrumental Album of the Year award once.

Other performers scheduled to appear are bluegrass supergroup Blue Highway, which has earned two Grammy nominations and multiple IBMA awards over 17 years. The festival also welcomes Acoustic Syndicate, Larry Keel and Natural Bridge, the Songs of Jackson County Band, the Darren Nicholson Band, Whitewater Bluegrass Company, the Wild Hog Band, the Him’s, Glenville Train, Jacob Jones, Will Howell and the Smoky Mountain Highlanders, Rafe Hollister, and a special tribute to Tuckasegee’s Benny Messer by the Boys of Tuckasegee, featuring members of Sweet Tater.

This year’s festival will again utilize the Village Commons area, adjacent to the Village Green grounds where the first two events were held. Music will be featured at both the Village Commons stage, and the original Village Green gazebo stage as well.

The Cashiers Mountain Music Festival isn’t just about the music. In addition to the top-notch performances everyone will enjoy, there will be delicious food and beverages available, a children’s zone, arts and crafts vendors, and fireworks on Sunday, July 1.  For more information please visit:  http://www.cashiersnorthcarolina.com/events.cfm

Corolla, NC –

The Whalehead Club Arts Festival is an outdoor show at Currituck Heritage Park in Corolla, North Carolina. The show is sponsored by the Whalehead Preservation Trust which has restored the beautiful 1920’s residence of Mr. and Mrs. E.C. Knight, Jr., a treasure on the Outer Banks. All proceeds go towards the operation and maintenance of the Whalehead Club and Currituck Heritage Park. The show is set on the North Lawn of the Park overlooking Currituck Sound and surrounded by the historic Whalehead Club, arched bridge, and boathouse.  for more information visit:  http://www.whaleheadclub.com/event/373086-11th-annual-under-the-oaks-arts

Burgaw, NC -

The 9th Annual North Carolina Blueberry Festival will be held on Saturday, June 16, 2012 in Historic Downtown Burgaw. The Festival celebrates the historic, economic, and cultural significance of blueberries in the southeastern region of our state. The first cultivated blueberry production in North Carolina began in the Pender County area in the 1930’s. Today, Pender County ranks second in blueberry production for the entire state.

Nestled in the heart of Pender County, Burgaw is a small town that exemplifies true southern charm. With a population of around 4,000, the town is notorious for friendly folks and picturesque surroundings.  For more information visit:  http://www.ncblueberryfestival.com/

Downtown Winston-Salem, NC

The Texas Pete Twin City Ribfest will return to downtown Winston-Salem after three years at the Dixie Classic Fairgrounds, festival organizers announced Monday.

The festival will be held June 7 to 10 in the Winston-Salem Journal parking lots on the corner of West Fifth and North Marshall streets.

Allen McDavid, the promoter of the event, said that the space available will not allow them to hold their amateur “King of the Grill” competition, but that they hope to spin that off as its own event in the future.  For more information visit:  http://www.twincityribfest.com/BBQ_Teams.html

Carolina Beach, NC

Held the first Saturday in June, the Beach Music Festival hosted by the Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce is billed as “the biggest and only beach music festival actually held on the beach on the North Carolina coast”. You can access this festival via the Carolina Beach Boardwalk. Enjoy a full day of live entertainment with the hottest beach music bands in the South.  For more information visit:  http://smi.wilmingtonandbeaches.com/EventsDetail.aspx?coe_id=50&location=carolinabeach