Something Is Always Happening on the NC Coast
From seaside festivals to fresh seafood and salt air, plan your next getaway around the moments worth showing up for.
More than a vacation, it's a calendar full of reasons to visit.
From Emerald Isle to Swansboro, Cedar Point to Jacksonville, our corner of North Carolina comes alive year-round with community celebrations, live music, fresh seafood, and traditions you won't find anywhere else. Plan your stay around the events that make this coast unforgettable.
Every October
The Swansboro Mullet Festival
A beloved Swansboro tradition since 1954, the Mullet Festival brings live music, arts and crafts vendors, a fishing tournament, and more mullet than you can shake a rod at. The whole town turns out along the White Oak River waterfront for one of North Carolina's most charming small-town festivals.
Live Music & Food
Local bands, fried fish, and community spirit
Arts & Crafts
Handmade goods from regional artisans
On the Water
Fishing tournaments and boat parades
St. Patrick's Day Parade. Emerald Isle Style.
Every March, Emerald Isle earns its name with one of the coast's most spirited parades. Green beads, floats, fire trucks, and the whole community lining the boulevard. It's a can't-miss tradition for families and friends.
Every October
CedarFest: A Cedar Point Fall Tradition
A free fall festival held every October at Boathouse Creek Park, CedarFest brings together live music, local vendors, festival food, free kayak rides, pony rides, bounce houses, and family-friendly fun along the White Oak River. A small-town celebration that draws thousands and captures the heart of coastal Cedar Point.
All-Day Music
Live performances from local bands keep the park buzzing from morning to evening.
Free Family Activities
Pony rides, bounce houses, petting zoo, fossil digs, and face painting, all free, all day.
Paddle the Creek
Hop in a complimentary kayak and explore Boathouse Creek along the White Oak River.
Annual Swansboro Christmas Boat Flotilla
A cherished holiday tradition held every year on the Friday after Thanksgiving, the Swansboro Christmas Flotilla lights up the historic downtown waterfront with a parade of beautifully decorated boats, visits with Santa, hot cider and cocoa, and a boat decorating competition. The perfect way to kick off the holiday season on the NC coast.
In Their Own Words
"Had all the essentials for a great Thanksgiving get together. Not a better place to watch the Swansboro Christmas boat flotilla!! We watched from the spacious screened porch and the property’s private dock. Staying at this cottage for Thanksgiving could become a family tradition!"
Deborah M.
Waterway Corttage
"Had all the essentials for a great Thanksgiving get together. Not a better place to watch the Swansboro Christmas boat flotilla!! We watched from the spacious screened porch and the property’s private dock. Staying at this cottage for Thanksgiving could become a family tradition!"
Deborah M.
Waterway Corttage
Mark Your Calendar
Year-Round Events Worth Planning Around
There's never a bad time to visit. Here's a taste of what's waiting for you across our four towns.
Emerald Isle Beach Music Festival
Summer nights, sandy toes, and live shag music on the shore
Jacksonville Jazz & Blues Fest
Soulful sounds in the heart of Onslow County
Cedar Point Farmers Market
Fresh produce, honey, baked goods, and local flavor every Saturday
Fourth of July on the Island
Fireworks over the Atlantic, the way summer was meant to be.
Swansboro by Candlelight
A holiday walking tour through one of NC's most historic waterfronts
Surf Fishing Tournaments
Cast a line from the sand at Emerald Isle and Cedar Point all season long
Stay where the action is.
From Emerald Isle to Jacksonville, our homes put you close to the local festivals, parades, and waterfront celebrations that make the NC coast feel like home. Less driving, more salt air, more memories.
Stay Close to the Fun