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Your weekly guide to life on the Crystal Coast — every Thursday.
Events · Live Music · Beach Happenings
Happening Now
Seafood Festival · Oct 2–4
Live Music Nights
47 shows this week
Local Markets
Every Saturday
Weather Vibe
Warm · 77°–83°
This Weekend
📍 Morehead City Waterfront
📅 Fri–Sun, October 2 – 4 · Free
Forty years in and still the biggest weekend on the coast. Two hundred vendors, three stages of free live music (Mark Wills Friday, Jammy Buffett Saturday), rides and games for the kids, and fireworks over Sugarloaf Island Saturday at 9. Friday noon – 11, Saturday 10 – 11, Sunday 11 – 5. No parking at the port this year: park free at Carteret Community College and ride the shuttle.
Swansboro Tradition
📍 Downtown Swansboro
📅 Sat–Sun, October 10 – 11 · Free
The Mullet Parade rolls down Highway 24 into downtown at 9 AM Saturday, then it's 160-plus craft and food vendors, live music at Pug Pavilion from 11, and fried mullet plates 11 – 5 both days. It starts early: the Blessing of the Fleet is Friday, October 9 at 6 PM at Casper's Marina. Park at Ward Farm and ride the shuttle in.
Coming in October
📍 Newport Flea Mall Event Grounds · Newport
📅 Saturday, October 17 · 9 AM – 5 PM
Caber tossing and stone putting from world champions and first-timers alike, plus a beer tent stocked by local breweries, food trucks, live music, clan tents, highland dancing, sword fighting and a dog-herding demo. There's a kids' area too. Tickets on the Games' website.
Later in October
📍 Fort Macon State Park beach · Atlantic Beach
📅 Sat–Sun, October 24 – 25 · 10 AM – 4 PM · Free
Hundreds of kites over the beach at Fort Macon, from stunt-kite demonstrations to giant show kites, plus candy drops and kite-building for the kids. Bring a chair, find a spot on the sand and look up. One of the easiest, prettiest free days of the fall.
💡 Insider Tips
Seafood Festival weekend, the Mullet Festival, kites on the beach and a whole lot of Halloween. Here's how October shapes up across the Crystal Coast.
It's Seafood Festival weekend on the Morehead City waterfront, Friday through Sunday. Saturday also brings the Twin Bridges 8K, the Movin' Mullet 5K in Swansboro, Fall Fest and the pumpkin patch opening at Humphrey Farm, and Oktoberfest at The Wheelhouse in Atlantic Beach. Plus 47 live music shows.
Swansboro's 72nd Mullet Festival starts with the Blessing of the Fleet Friday evening, then the Mullet Parade Saturday at 9 and 160-plus vendors all weekend. The same weekend brings stargazing with a ranger on Harkers Island (Fri), the World's Largest Yard Sale at the speedway, and Biketoberfest in Beaufort (Sat).
The Highland Games in Newport and a chili cook-off at Humphrey Farm (Oct 17), the Carolina Kite Festival at Fort Macon and the speedway's Halloween Bash (Oct 24 – 25), and Halloween Fest at Humphrey Farm to close the month (Oct 31).
From this week's Crystal Coast Insider
Insider Tip
There's no parking at the state port for the festival this year. Park free at Carteret Community College instead, and ride the shuttle to and from the festival grounds on Saturday and Sunday. Handicap parking is in the South 3rd Street lot off Arendell Street, and the festival asks you to leave the dog at home.
Where We're Going
this week
📍 Emerald Isle · food truck
A wood-fired oven on wheels. The truck moves around Carteret County through the week, so follow them on Instagram to see where it's parked, then get there before the line does. The crust comes out blistered and chewy, the pepperoni cups and crisps, and a whole pie disappears faster than you'd think.
Local FavoriteSlow Down
here
Our pick this week:
Carrot Island
The wild horses of the Rachel Carson Reserve graze the marsh right across Taylor's Creek from the Beaufort waterfront. Grab a coffee, find a bench on Front Street, and watch them work the grass at the water's edge. No ferry ticket, no schedule — just a slow half hour that feels a long way from anywhere.
Best Brunch
Preston's Corner
Swansboro
Order the eggs benedict with ham ~ You won't regret it!
Best Coffee
Historic Grounds Coffee Shop
Beaufort
The pound cake cold brew with house-made vanilla foam ~ is amazing!
Best Wine
Mountain Brook Vineyards
Emerald Isle
Do a wine tasting with the delectable chocolates ~ The perfect afternoon!
Local businesses who help keep the Crystal Coast Insider free for everyone. Give them a look.
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