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Your weekly guide to life on the Crystal Coast — every Thursday.
Events · Live Music · Beach Happenings
Happening Now
Monster Trucks · Aug 14–15
Live Music Nights
20+ shows this week
Local Markets
Every Saturday
Weather Vibe
Sunny · 88°–90°
Free Movie Night
📍 Atlantic Beach Town Park
📅 Friday, August 14 · 8:30 PM · Free
Grease under the stars, free to everyone. Bring your own seating — a blanket or low beach chairs both work — and get there early enough to claim a good patch of grass. Free popcorn, and the concession stand will be open.
Family Motorsports
📍 Carteret County Speedway · Swansboro
📅 Fri Aug 14 & Sat Aug 15 · 3 shows
Two nights, three chances to go. The Friday evening show runs 7–9 PM, then Saturday brings a 12:30 PM day show plus an evening show. Full-size trucks, big air and a lot of dirt — the loudest family outing on the August calendar.
Live Music
📍 Crystal Coast Civic Center · Morehead City
📅 Saturday, August 29 · 7 – 9:30 PM
The American Tribute to ABBA closes out the month with every song you already know the words to. Individual seats are $41.40, or reserve a table for four at $77.63 — that one comes with four drink tickets and access to a VIP bar just for table guests.
Coming in September
📍 Beaufort Historic Site
📅 Sat–Sun, September 19 – 20
Worth putting on the calendar now. Two days built around Kristy Woodson Harvey's Peachtree Bluff books — a double-decker bus tour of Beaufort narrated by the author, lunch with a cocktail, a reading with wine and cheese, and a Sunday morning of mimosas and book signing. Tickets start around $21.
💡 Insider Tips
Markets, movies, monster trucks and one very big ABBA night. Here's how the rest of the month shapes up across the Crystal Coast.
A ranger-guided bird cruise at Hammocks Beach (Mon), pickleball & pizza in Swansboro and Paint N' Sip at Mountain Brook Vineyard (Tue), then a stacked Friday–Saturday: the Pop-Up Market at Thirsty Surfer, Grease in the park, Casino Night in Swansboro, Surf Like A Girl at Bogue Inlet Pier, and Monster Trucks at the speedway. Plus 20-plus live music shows.
Mac Daddy's Back to School Blast Off brings local vendors, giveaways and family activities to Cape Carteret (Sat Aug 22, 10 AM – 3 PM). Then Mamma Mania closes out August at the Crystal Coast Civic Center (Sat Aug 29).
The Peachtree Bluff Town Takeover lands in Beaufort — a double-decker bus tour narrated by Kristy Woodson Harvey, lunch with a cocktail, a reading with wine and cheese, and a Sunday of mimosas and book signing. Tickets are on sale now.
From this week's Crystal Coast Insider
Insider Tip
Now in its fifth year, this one is all ages and all skill levels — beginners very much included. Lunch is provided, there are free raffles, and a limited number of soft top boards are available to borrow if you don't have your own.
Where We're Going
this week
📍 Swansboro
Downtown Swansboro's cozy Italian gem, where the mozzarella is pulled fresh in-house every day and the pasta is made on-site. Big, generous plates, a warm room built for lingering, and desserts worth saving room for.
Local FavoriteSlow Down
here
Our pick this week:
Elliott Coues Trail
Tucked into Fort Macon State Park, this sandy path winds through maritime forest, salt marsh, and dunes, with both sound-side and ocean-side stretches. Crest the dunes and the open Atlantic rolls out in front of you — shaded boardwalks, birdsong, and salt air the whole way. The kind of slow walk that resets a whole day.
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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