The North Carolina’s Southern Coast is perfect for summer vacations, with its warm weather, white sand beaches, and fun family attractions that will provide memories for years to come. However, Autumn along our coast is an entirely different experience, but one that is just as magical!
In fall, the weather cools just slightly from blazing hot 90 degree summer days, to warm days peaking in the 80s followed by cool evenings. Also, fall is the time of year for local festivals that highlight our area’s unique offerings. So this fall take a trip to the coast, bask in the golden sunshine, visit fun fall festivals, and enjoy having the coast all to yourself!
Sunset at Sunset Festival in Sunset Beach, NC
Sunset at Sunset is the Town of Sunset Beach’s Community Block Party. This year’s festival will be held October 10th from 9m to 5pm!
It’s the 9th year for the festival, which is free for all attendees and boasts numerous vendors from artists to writers, charity booths and local community organizations to local wineries and restaurants. The festival also had several bands playing some great beach music all day long, which may inspire a little shagging on the dance floor! Great food, great fun and great people!
More than 100 vendors, crafters, food services, and non-profit organizations participate in the day’s activities. Throughout the day high quality bands entertain attendees. A photography contest is held each year and a 5K Run/Walk over the Mannon C. Gore Bridge is a highlight of the day.
The North Carolina Oyster Festival in Ocean Isle Beach, NC
The 35th Annual North Carolina Oyster Festival, held October 17th & 18th, 2015, will feature local cuisine, arts and crafts, children’s activities, live music, an oyster eating contest, shag competition, the Oyster Shucking Contest, and the delectable Oyster Stew Cook-off.
The beach center becomes a walking district that offers something for everyone: local cuisine, arts and crafts, children’s activities, live music, Oyster Stew Cook-off and the Oyster Shucking Contest.
Leading up to the festival are the Annual Surf-off Competition and our Annual Road Race which includes a 5K, 10K Road Race, 1 Mile Fun Run and new for this year is a 5k Beach Run Adventure.
Festival goers can enjoy watching the shuckers compete for the title of 2015 North Carolina Oyster Shucking Champion on Saturday and dancers compete for the coveted title of “Shaggin’ Oyster” on Sunday. Enjoy music and entertainment by Whitney Layne, Craig Woolard and The Embers, Jim Quick and Coastline Band, and other live musicians all weekend. Admission: $5.00 / Children under 8 are free.
Riverfest in Wilmington, NC
Riverfest is an annual street fair in historic downtown Wilmington NC and features food, arts and crafts, dance performances, fireworks, children’s activities, car show, street fair with live music, and more — all in a great setting along the banks of the Cape Fear River.
Wilmington’s Riverfest is celebrated in October and runs from the foot of Market Street to Cape Fear Community College. Riverfest has about 200 craft and food vendors plus fireworks, entertainment on two stages, the Great Waiters Wine Race, Run the River 8K Race, various exhibits and a children’s area. Additional Riverfest activities include a Stand Up Paddleboard Competition and the Invasion of Pirates
During Riverfest, the Invasion of the Pirates is a kind of festival within a festival hosting a Pirates Ball on Saturday. Kids can pick up a treasure map and participate in a treasure hunt.
This year’s Riverfest will take place from November 20, 2015 to November 22, 2015 in downtown Wilmington at Riverfront Park, and best of all admission is free!
NC Festival by the Sea in Holden Beach, NC
The last full weekend in October, the Holden Beach Merchants Association hosts the very popular “NC Festival by the Sea.” This 2-day event, October 24th & 25th, 2015, kicks off with a parade down the Holden Beach Causeway. This is the only day of the year that you can walk across the Holden Beach bridge and each year several hundred enjoy this time to take pictures and view our beautiful waterway.
Arts and Crafts vendors are open from 9:00am to 5:00pm on Saturday and 9:00am to 4:00pm on Sunday. You’ll want to plan to be onsite for a couple of meals and a snack or two from the Festivals food vendors.
For the competitive people, there is a horseshoe tournament and a sandcastle building contest. Children can enjoy face painting, huge kites flying overhead and the children’s fun areas. There is live musical entertainment both days at Holden Beach’s Pavilion.
So venture down to the Brunswick Beaches this fall, there’s plenty going on along our coast!
