Crystal Coast Vibes April 10-16

What's Happening on the Crystal Coast!

April 09, 2026

April 10-April 16 2026

Hello friends and neighbors!

High-season is inching ever closer. The signs are there: the pollen has come and gone, the lifeguard stations are back, and the bridges are busy on the weekends. But, as always, there’s plenty to see and do.

In this issue, you will find Crystal Coast Events, the Spotlight, Local Buzz, Entertainment, and the Parting Shot.

Have fun!

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April 15-18

  • Beaufort Wine and Food Spring Fest 
    Throughout the Crystal Coast. Four days of events, including wine dinners, wine tastings, coffee tastings, and olive oil tastings. See the website for all the details.

Friday, April 10

  • Talk of the town with Henry Hinton
    Gaffer's, Emerald Isle
    Come enjoy the live radio show with no other than Henry Hinton on 96.3!!!
    7-9 am

  • Battle of the Breweries
    Carolina Home & Garden, Newport
    Four great breweries go head to head to see who has the best beer!
    6:30-8:30 pm | $20.50

  • Master Gardener Spring Plant Sale
    Beaufort Historic Site, Beaufort
    Load up your home and garden at the Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteer Association’s Spring Plant Sale.
    9 am-3 pm

  • Spring Garden Concert with International Guest Artists: Novos Caminhos
    Beaufort Historic Site, Beaufort
    The Ian Coury Trio presents a virtuosic concert that celebrates the richness of Brazilian music in dialogue with contemporary jazz led by award-winning Brazilian mandolinist, Ian Coury.
    7:30-10 pm | $58.71 - $133.44

  • Night Hike
    Fort Macon State Park, Atlantic Beach
    Join a ranger for a casual sunset/night hike on the 3.2 mi Elliot Coues trail.
    6 pm | Free

  • Naughty Nibbles: A Kitchen Cabaret, 2026
    New Bern Civic Theater, New Bern
    In this decadent burlesque-inspired cabaret, a brigade of daring performers whip up culinary chaos and comedy as a dinner party slowly goes off the rails. Utensils, ingredients, and appliances spring to life in dazzling aerial acts and dance artistry that delight from every corner of the kitchen.
    7:30 & 11 pm | $27 R-rated

Saturday, April 11

  • OWLS Fort Macon 5k Trail Run 
    Fort Macon State Park, Atlantic Beach.
    A cross country style surface with moderate elevation. The trail is both wooded and full sun with footbridge crossings and views of Beaufort Inlet, Bogue Sound and Atlantic Ocean throughout the course.
    9 am | $35

  • Olde Beaufort Farmers' Market Opening Day
    Courthouse Square, Beaufort
    The Olde Beaufort Farmers’ Market returns Saturday, April 11.
    9 am-1 pm

  • “Skirmish at Tryon Palace” Fencing Tournament
    Tryon Palace, New Bern
    Tryon Palace hosts the “Skirmish at Tryon Palace” fencing tournament on the South Lawn!
    Starts at 10 am and runs through the day | Free

  • Colonial Era Apothecary Remedies and Gardens: A Living History Series 
    Beaufort Historic Site, Beaufort
    A lecture and demonstration that will be led by Apothecary-Surgeon, Dr. Charles Brett, who specializes in interpreting 17th and 18th century Medicine with a focus on British North America and Maritime medical practices, surgery, and apothecary.
    11 am | Free

  • Blazin’ Keys Dueling Pianos
    Atlantic Station, Atlantic Beach
    This sold out event was a blast last year. Don’t miss this year’s show!
    7 pm | $40-$200

  • Naughty Nibbles: A Kitchen Cabaret, 2026
    New Bern Civic Theater, New Bern
    In this decadent burlesque-inspired cabaret, a brigade of daring performers whip up culinary chaos and comedy as a dinner party slowly goes off the rails. Utensils, ingredients, and appliances spring to life in dazzling aerial acts and dance artistry that delight from every corner of the kitchen.
    7:30 pm | $27 R-rated

Sunday, April 12

  • Coastal Carolina Community Orchestra Concert 
    Swansboro Middle School, Swansboro.
    Made in America - Music form American Composers.
    3 pm | Free

  • It’s an Herb Party
    Hammocks Beach State Park, Swansboro
    A program all about the world of herbs! Look at some of the herbs found in your garden (and maybe at the park!) and discover some of the edible qualities of these delicious plants!
    2-3 pm | Free

  • April Showers Garden Market
    Carolina Home & Garden, Newport
    Amazing local vendors are coming to the Gardens on April 12th~ over 40 unique booths for you to enjoy!!
    Noon-5 pm | Free admission

  • Crystal Coast Chamber Music: Debut Concert
    Emerald Isle Baptist Church
    The first concert of Crystal Coast Chamber Music will feature acclaimed pianist Yujin Lee, who will be performing alongside director Chadwick Thomas for an exciting clarinet and piano duo recital.
    3 pm | Free, but donations are appreciated

  • NC Pint Day 2026  
    Nacho Brewery, Morehead City
    NC Pint Day at Nacho Brewery! To celly, with select $5 pints and the limited-edition 2026 NC Pint Glass.
    2 pm

Tuesday, April 14

  • Lil Stitches Craft Club at The Periwinkle, Beaufort.
    Meet the second tuesday of the month - a new craft each month!
    6-8 pm | $10

Wednesday, April 15

  • Beaufort Wine and Food Spring Fest

  • Wilderness Workout
    Hammocks Beach State Park, Swansboro
    A full body workout mimicking animal movements. The first 5-10 minutes will focus on stretching and warming up muscle groups. This will be followed by 10 minutes of body movement practice leading into a 20-minute circuit of those learned movements, then ending with a 10-minute cool down. Weather dependent.
    3-4 pm | Free

Thursday, April 16

Future Events 

Recurring Events

  • Upcycle at Art Council of Carteret County, Morehead City | Daily 11am-5 pm, March 7-April 25

  • Beach Yoga Every Day - Western Beach Access, Emerald Isle | Daily 8 am | Donation

  • Championship Trivia at Snapperz Grill, Morehead City | Mondays |
    6:30 pm

  • Roosevelt Natural Area Paddle Trip - NC Aquarium, Pine Knoll Shores.
    Explore tidal flats and quiet backwaters with an aquarium educator as you learn about the intricate web of life thriving in this pristine natural environment. Mondays and Wednesdays 9-11 am | $

  • Music Bingo at The Dock House, Beaufort | Tuesdays | 6:30-8:30 pm

  • Taproom Trivia at Nacho Brewery | Morehead City | Tuesdays | 7-9 pm

  • Trivia Tuesday - The Emerald Club, Emerald Isle | Tuesdays 7:30-9:15 pm

  • Small Arms Demo at Fort Macon State Park- Fort Macon, Atlantic Beach | Wednesdays 10:30-11 am | Free | Small Arms history and demonstrations.

  • It's All Write - Western Carteret Library, Cape Carteret | 1st and 3rd Wednesdays 4-5:30 pm | 18+ | Writer’s Group Workshop.

  • Chess Club - Nacho Brewery, Morehead City | Wednesdays 6 pm

  • Booze Farm Bingo - Bogue Sound Distillery, Bogue | Wednesdays
    6-10 pm | 21+ only

  • Smoke on the Water - 34° North Restaurant, Beaufort | Wednesdays | 7 pm | A celebration of slow-cooked Southern comfort.

  • Poker Night - Gaffer's Catering & Event Center, Cape Carteret | 21+ | Thursdays 6 & 8 pm

  • Musical Bingo - The Trading Post, Emerald Isle | Wednesdays 7-9 pm

  • Cru Collabs: Open Jam for Musicians and Djs at Cru Bar, Beaufort | Thursdays | 7-11 pm

  • Boot & Brews Line Dancing - Dancing Baristas Cafe, Beaufort | Thursdays

  • Thursday Night Flights - MF Chappell Wine Merchant, Atlantic Beach | Thursdays 5-6:30 pm | $ | Wine Tasting.

  • Weekly Trivia - Church Street Market & Pub, Swansboro | Thursdays |
    6:30 pm

  • Almost Live Concert Karaoke - Bogue Sound Distillery, Bogue | Thursdays | 7-11 pm

  • Karaoke Bingo - Mug Shot Lounge, Morehead City | Thursdays | 8-11 pm

  • Friday Night Flights - 34° North Restaurant, Beaufort | Fridays | 5-10 pm | $ | Whisky flights

  • Bingo Beats Saturdays - Billfish Coastal Grill & Bar, Indian Beach. Music Bingo! | Saturdays | 7-9 pm

  • Karaoke Night - Tackle Box Tavern, Atlantic Beach | Saturdays 9:30 pm -
    2 am

  • Lil Story Time - The Periwinkle, Beaufort | Saturdays 10:30 am - 1:30 pm | Free

  • Olde Beaufort Farmers Market - Beaufort. | Saturdays 9 am - 1 pm

  • Saturday Farmer’s Market - The Market at Cedar Point | Saturdays
    10 am-2 pm

  • Blind Draw Darts Tournament Series - Rock The Dock Dueling Piano Bar. Morehead City. | 2:30-3:30 pm Sundays through May 3 | $10

Bogue Sound Distillery

Tucked along Bogue Commercial Drive in Bogue, North Carolina, Bogue Sound Distillery is one of the Crystal Coast's most distinctive destinations — blending craft spirits, local history, and lively entertainment under one roof.

The distillery was founded by Richard Chapman, who, after successful careers in textiles, real estate, and construction, chose to pursue his dream of creating a high-quality distillery in Bogue, North Carolina. Chapman comes from a long line of distillers — his great-grandfather, John A.P. Conoley, made whiskey until his still was stolen in a raid — and that family legacy is part of the identity of the business. Bogue Sound Distillery opened for tastings, tours, and a touch of history in January 2018.

The distillery offers premium, gluten-free vodka, white whiskey, single malt whiskey, and gin. The entire process — from grinding the grain to bottling and labeling — takes place on site, using only the best grains available and safe, low-pressure steam cooking methods.

A visit here is as much a history lesson as it is a tasting experience. The large facility houses a museum showing how stills and spirits were made in the late 1700s and early 1800s, featuring a restored 1923 Ford Model-T pickup loaded with whiskey barrels and a 1900s grist mill. Guests can tour the museum and watch the distillery's 500-gallon still and 27-gallon test still actively engaged in production.

But Bogue Sound is more than a daytime attraction. When the sun goes down, the distillery comes alive with live music and food trucks, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights — making it a go-to evening hangout for locals and visitors alike. The distillery has built a reputation for premium spirits, craft cocktails, and live entertainment along the coastal Carolina landscape.

Whether you're sipping a handcrafted cocktail, exploring the on-site museum, or dancing to live music on a warm coastal night, Bogue Sound Distillery offers an experience that's authentically, unmistakably North Carolina.

The Bear Island Ferry Returns

It’s April, so that means the ferry to Bear Island from Hammocks Beach State Park is once again operating.

In April, the ferry runs Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only through April 26.  Departures are on the half-hour from 9:30 am through 4:30 pm. Return trips are on the hour from 10 am through 6 pm.
 
For May through October, you can see the schedule here, 

North River Wetlands Preserve Expands by Nearly 800 Acres

Great news for Carteret County's natural landscape: the North Carolina Coastal Federation has acquired approximately 787 acres of new land to expand the North River Wetlands Preserve, bringing the protected area to nearly 7,000 total acres.

The $1.8 million land purchase will pay environmental dividends for years to come. The expanded preserve will help filter stormwater runoff, improve water quality, and support healthy, productive fisheries in downstream waters — benefits that ripple throughout the region's coastal ecosystem.

The Federation has been quietly transforming this corner of Eastern Carolina for more than twenty years, steadily converting unused farmland into a thriving wetland system. This latest acquisition continues that long-term restoration mission.

The expansion also brings welcome news for outdoor enthusiasts. A portion of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail will be rerouted off busy roadways and through the new preserve, offering hikers a safer path and a far more scenic natural setting.

Perhaps less expected is the acquisition's benefit to national defense. The protected land helps preserve low-altitude helicopter training routes, allowing Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point to continue its critical flight operations without interference.

Friday, April 10

  • Clarence Coley @ Willy Nilly Warehouse | Swansboro | 6-9 pm

  • Hot Revolver Band @ Gaffer's | Emerald Isle | 6-9 pm

  • Stevie John @ Nacho Brewery | Morehead City | 7-10 pm

  • Stephen Poole @ 34° North Restaurant | Beaufort | 8-11 pm

  • Barefoot Wade @ Idle Hour Biergarten | Atlantic Beach | 6-10 pm

  • Dakota Blue @ Thristy Surfer | Emerald Isle | 7-10 pm

  • The I-42 Band @ Jack's Waterfront Bar | Morehead City | 9 pm

  • Thorn @ King Mackerels | Morehead City | 10 pm

  • Dueling Piano Show: Jeremy Oren & Jay Jones @ Rock the Dock |
    Morehead City | 8-11:59 pm

  • Patrick Smith @ Preston’s Corner | Swansboro | 7-10 pm

  • Christopher Siren @ Baxter’s 1892 | New Bern | 7-10 pm | $2

  • Crossroads Band @ The Brown Pelican | New Bern | 7-10 pm

  • Swimming with Sharks @ The flying Fox | New Bern | 8-11 pm

  • Smokehouse @ Pinky’s Pub | New Bern | 7:30-10:30 pm

  • Robbie Quinn @ BrÜtopia | New Bern | 6-9 pm

  • Dan Jam Phillips @ Michael’s Pub and Patio | New Bern | 6-9 pm

Saturday, April 11

  • Barry Charlton @ Southern Salt | Morehead City | Noon-3 pm

  • Black Eyed Daisies @ Preston’s Corner | Swansboro | 7-10 pm

  • Sean Mills @ Gaffer's | Emerald Isle | 6-9 pm

  • Robbie Alton @ Willy Nilly Warehouse | Swansboro | 6-9 pm

  • John Carter @ 34° North Restaurant | Beaufort | 8-11 pm

  • Dueling Piano Show: Jeremy Oren & Jay Jones @ Rock the Dock |
    Morehead City | 8-11:59 pm

  • Barefoot Wade @ Cru Bar | Beaufort | 8 pm

  • Donnie Lane @ NC Beaufort Bar | Beaufort | 9 pm

  • Pure T Mommicked @ Thristy Surfer | Emerald Isle | 6-9 pm

  • Southern Hellcats @ Bogue Sound Distillery | Bogue | 7 pm

  • Eric Metts @ Baxter’s 1892 | New Bern | 7-10 pm | $3

  • Wailin’ Maylon @ The Flying Fox | New Bern | 8-11 pm

  • Tommy Duzan @ Firefly Cafe | New Bern | 7-9 pm

  • Doc & Roll @ Pinky’s Pub | New Bern | 7:30-10:30 pm

Sunday, April 12

  • Barry Charlton @ Southern Salt | Morehead City | Noon-3 pm

  • Patrick Bliss @ Birdies at Star Hill | Cape Carteret | 3-6 pm

  • Sean Mills @ Gaffer's | Emerald Isle | 1-4 pm

  • Ray Wag @ Willy Nilly Warehouse | Swansboro | 4-7 pm

  • Piano Brunch with Lynne Cox @ Baxter’s 1892 | New Bern | 11 am-2 pm

  • Dayton Vesper @ Baxter’s 1892 | New Bern | 5-7 pm

Monday, April 13

  • Jim Kohler and Friends @ Blackbeard’s Triple Play | New Bern | 7-10 pm

Thursday, April 16

  • Dueling Piano Show: Alex Ivy & Tattoo Slover @ Rock the Dock |
    Morehead City | 8-11 pm

  • Mikele Buck @ Birdies at Star Hill | Cape Carteret | 6 pm

  • Dinner & Music with Izzy McCarthy @ Baxter’s 1892 | New Bern |
    5:30-7:30 pm

Some venues listed here might have a cover charge. Events and times can be subject to change.

They’re Back!!

Thanks for reading. Have a fantastic time on the Crystal Coast this week. And be safe!

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