Don’t miss these fun and family-friendly events happening across North Carolina this May.
Carolina Strawberry Festival
May 1-2, 2026, Wallace
The Carolina Strawberry Festival in Wallace will be back and better than ever this spring. In 2011, a group of Wallace town leaders revived the historic festival after 50 years, and since then, it has become a fan-favorite across the state. The festival boasts dozens of strawberry and food vendors, along with entertainment for the whole family, including live music, a Little Miss pageant, a 5K walk and run, and an antique car show.
For more details, visit carolinastrawberryfestival.com or call (910) 285-4136.
BBQ Fest on the Neuse
May 1-2, 2026, Kinston
Visit the world’s largest whole-hog cook-off during the first weekend in May at the annual BBQ Fest on the Neuse. Held in downtown Kinston, the two-day event welcomes more than 100 barbecue teams competing for the first-place prize in backyard and professional divisions. In addition to the friendly competition and all the delicious barbecue, the event includes live music, carnival rides, more than 150 vendors, a kids’ zone, helicopter tours, a bike show, a car show, dance demonstrations and more. Admission is free, and barbecue will be available for purchase beginning Saturday at 11 a.m. until sold out. For more details, visit kinstonbbq.com or call 252-523-2500.
North Carolina Strawberry Festival
May 2, 2026, Chadbourn
Head to the “Strawberry Capital of the World” in Chadbourn this May to celebrate the North Carolina Strawberry Festival’s 93rd year. The event is the longest-running agricultural festival in the state and features a full lineup of strawberry-themed activities and entertainment. Highlights include a parade, a strawberry recipe contest, live music performances, a car show, food and craft vendors, and plenty of opportunities to sample fresh, locally grown strawberries in a variety of tasty forms. While the main festival takes place on Saturday, May 2, the festival also hosts other festivities leading up to the big day, including an opening ceremony and a pageant. To learn more or purchase tickets, visit ncstrawberryfestival.com.
Spring Chicken Festival
May 2, 2026, Siler City
Siler City draws in more than 5,000 visitors on the first Saturday in May each year for the Spring Chicken Festival in its historic downtown district. The annual tradition, which began in the 1980s as an art festival, now features activities and events for every guest to enjoy. Festivities include a Ferris wheel, a rock wall, food trucks, a classic car show, live music and inflatable attractions. Attendees will also have the opportunity to browse over 125 booths with crafts, art galleries, craft beverages, gifts, and a variety of foods and sweet treats.
This year’s festival takes place on May 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit silercity.org or call (919) 742-2699.
Smithfield Ham & Yam Festival
May 2, 2026, Smithfield
What originally began as a friendly competition between the ham producers of Smithville, N.C., and those across the state line in Smithfield, Virgina, has evolved into a North Carolina tradition. Johnston County isn’t just known for its pork, but it ranks top in the nation for sweet potatoes (which may be called “yams,” though technically the two are very different).
The annual Smithfield Ham & Yam Festival features a variety of fair food and local entertainment, as well as festival mainstays, like a sweet potato pie-eating contest, the 4-H barbecue cook-off and “What’s That Yam Thing?” contest, in which kids turn sweet potatoes into creative works of art.
To learn more, visit hamandyam.com or call (919) 934-0887.
Buggy Festival
May 9, 2026, Carthage
For over 30 years, the town of Carthage has gathered to celebrate its rich history and to commemorate the famous Tyson & Jones Buggy Factory. One of the largest buggy factories for more than half a century, it put the rural Moore County town on the map during its mid-1800s heyday.
Though much of the original factory was destroyed in a fire, the festival keeps Carthage’s production spirit alive, drawing more than 20,000 attendees.
The Buggy Festival includes more than 125 food and craft vendors, cloggers, live country, pop, rock and gospel music, and an old-fashioned buggy and car show.
To learn more about this unique celebration, visit thebuggyfestival.com or call (910) 947-2331.
23rd Annual Antique Power Show
May 15-16, 2026, Newton
Visit the Anqiue Power Show at the Hickory American Legion Fairgrounds for food, food and antique equipment. Saturday offers demonstrations throughout the day, the Children’s Pedal Pull, the Parade of Power and a tractor pull General admission is $5 and veterans get in free. All proceeds go to local charities including 4-H, Boyscouts, hospice and disabled veterans.
Visit foothillsantique.com for more information.
North Carolina Potato Festival
May 15-17, 2026, Elizabeth City
Celebrate one of northeast North Carolina’s largest crops at the family-friendly North Carolina Potato Festival in Elizabeth City this May. The three-day event will include a street fair featuring arts and crafts, nonprofit, and retail booths, spud-tacular rides, a new and antique tractor display, live music, a Little Miss Tater Tot Contest, free french fries, and much more. Festivalgoers can also try their luck at the National Potato Peeling Contest or cornhole tournament.
Visit ncpotatofestival.com or call (252) 338-4104 for more details.
Got to Be NC Festival
May 15-17, 2026, Raleigh
Enjoy three days of family fun at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds this spring. In addition to exciting carnival rides and interactive exhibits, the Got to Be NC Festival will include animal attractions, food and art vendors, fireworks, live music, and a daily tractor parade. Attendees will also have the chance to sample and purchase items from a variety of local North Carolina companies, restaurants and breweries.
To learn more about the festival or get a full schedule of this year’s events, visit gottobencfestival.com or call (919) 821-7400.
Cheerwine Festival
May 16, 2026, Salisbury
Celebrate a made-in-North Carolina favorite in its hometown of Salisbury at the annual Cheerwine Festival in May. A local tradition since 2017, the free festival welcomes guests for a full day of entertainment and activities downtown. From craft vendors, food trucks and a beer garden to live music performances and children’s activities, the family-friendly event offers something for everyone – including plenty of Cheerwine to enjoy, of course. For more information and a complete schedule of festivities, visit cheerwinefest.com.
White Squirrel Weekend
May 22-24, 2026, Brevard
Head to downtown Brevard for a weekend of music and family fun in late May at the annual White Squirrel Weekend. The free, three-day street festival honors the locally beloved white squirrels, relatives of the gray eastern tree squirrel, which arrived in Brevard in 1949 following a carnival truck accident. Festivities include live music performances, food and craft vendors, a beer garden, a kids’ zone with fun activities for all ages, and opportunities to meet and take photos with Sammy the Squirrel, Brevard’s official downtown mascot. For more information, visit brevardnc.org and facebook.com/whitesquirrelweekend or call 828-884-3278.
Garden Jubilee Festival
May 23-24, 2026, Hendersonville
Hendersonville’s premier spring event is the annual Garden Jubilee Festival, one of the largest lawn and gardening shows in Western North Carolina.
Held each year over Memorial Day weekend, the Jubilee welcomes more than 200 plant and flower vendors from across the country to showcase their varietals and newest garden gadgets. The festival also features hands-on gardening projects for kids, making it a truly family-friendly event.
Learn more at hendersonvillenc.org/garden-jubilee.
