North Carolina: The Most Popular Events in 2021
Now that the COVID-19 vaccine is here, there’s a glimpse of hope that 2021 will be a much better year than 2020. Well, it definitely can’t be worse, right? Let’s remain positive.
With that optimistic thought, let’s start 2021 the right way by picking your next holiday destination. For safety reasons, it might be best for you to stay in the US until the pandemic situation worldwide calms down completely. Does it limit your choices? Absolutely not.
The United States is full of breathtaking destinations. Let’s take a look at North Carolina (NC). It’s a beautiful state, rich in history, arts and crafts, and, yes, awesome fantastic cultural events.
NC is worth your attention, not just by tuning in for the North Carolina Powerball draw. If you need examples, below, you’ll find the most popular events in NC to attend in 2021 (if they don’t get canceled, of course).
Fayetteville Dogwood Festival (Mid April)
Many people think Fayetteville Dogwood Festival is not only the best live event in Northern Carolina but also one of the most entertaining events in the whole Southeast. Exaggeration? Not really!
Held in the historic Downtown Fayetteville, the event features a host of various activities and shows. You’ll find everything from local food, live music, art shows, and many others.
In its 38 years of existence, Dogwood Festival has proven to be one of the NC’s proudest annual events. It creates fantastic opportunities for local vendors, musicians, and artists to show their craft, all in a welcoming and family-friendly atmosphere.
Got to Be NC Festival (May 16 – 17)
GTBNC Festival is an annual event held at the NC State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. For two days in May, the place turns into one huge market filled with regional products.
You’ll be able to enjoy local food and drinks that are the true essence of what NC is about. That’s not the only reason why you should attend it, though.
Every year, the event is filled with awesome activities, including tractor parades and live music. The entrance is free. However, you may have to pay for some of the activities within the festival’s grounds.
If you’re planning a weekend retreat in May, spending your Saturday and Sunday enjoying local food and drinks sounds like an excellent idea. And that’s what Got to be NC Festival offers.
Rogallo Kite Festival (June 18 – 20)
Rogallo Kite Festival has been attracting people from all over the country since 1982. Named after NASA scientist Francis Rogallo, this two-day-event is something you don’t want to miss.
Held in Jockey’s Ridge State Park in June, it had to be canceled in 2020. Fortunately, it looks like we’ll be able to see and admire this breathtaking kite spectacle without any disruptions in 2021.
The weekend event consists of plenty of activities, from looking at kite shows, enjoying food and music to building your own kite. The Rogallo Festival has it all.
Grandfather Mountain Scottish Highland Games (July 8 – 11)
Since 1956, proud Scots of North Carolina have been celebrating their history and tradition. And if that doesn’t convince you to attend the famous Scottish Games in NC, nothing will.
Every July, Scottish clans living in NC show their colors, play their bagpipes, and participate in various competitions. What’s in it for you? How about the weekend spent drinking beer, enjoying live music, and learning more about fantastic Scottish culture?
As the name suggests, games take place at Grandfather Mountain. And frankly, it’s one of the festivals you can’t miss when visiting NC in summer.
Brewgrass Festival (TBA)
If you love drinking beer and listening to live music, the Brewgrass Festival is a summer event you can’t miss. In fact, it’s one of the nation’s best-known annual music festivals nationwide.
It features nationally known bluegrass acts and a list of over 100 beers, ciders, and wine. Brewgrass takes place at The Salvage Station near downtown Asheville, usually at the beginning of October.
However, the 2021 edition of this beer and music celebration is yet to be announced.
NC Seafood Festival (September 1 – 3)
The famous Seafood Festival is North Carolina’s second-largest event and one of the most beloved festivals among food lovers. But fresh and delicious seafood isn’t the only reason why the event is so popular.
Featuring live music, food, arts and crafts, rides, and a road race, NC Seafood Festival a 3-day weekend event you can’t miss when in the Southeast. The festival’s location is Morehead City, and the 2021 edition will take place at the beginning of September.
The Bottom Line
When you look at the number of attractions and festivals, visiting North Carolina this summer should be on top of your to-do list. Oh, and keep in mind that the examples you see above are just the tip of the iceberg.
NC is full of fantastic festivals that you can participate in throughout the year. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, most of them were canceled in 2020, and many of them are in danger in 2021.
But let us remain positive, and hopefully, the streets of Asheville, Charlotte, Raleigh, and Wilmington, will soon be full of music, food, and people enjoying them.
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