Crystal Coast Vibes
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Crystal Coast Vibes April 3-9

Crystal Coast Vibes April 3-9

What's Happening on the Crystal Coast!

April 02, 2026

April 3-April 9, 2026

Hello friends and neighbors!

It’s April! That came really fast. We hope you made it through April Fools Day unscathed.

For those who celebrate, we wish you a very Happy Easter on Sunday!

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

Have fun!

If someone forwarded this, click here to make sure you get it every Thursday.

Friday, April 3

Annual Horticulture Spring Plant Sale
Carteret Community College, Morehead City
The Annual Horticulture Spring Plant Sale in the greenhouse. Shop a beautiful selection of annuals, perennials, houseplants, and herbs, all carefully grown by the talented students.
9 am-5 pm
Swansboro Soccer Spring Fling
Hammocks Beach Road Soccer Park, Swansboro
Swansboro Soccer Association is excited to announce the return of the Spring Fling / Easter Egg Hunt community event!
3-7 pm

Saturday, April 4

Core Sound Run
Harkers Island
A family-friendly 10K, 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run on one of North Carolina's most beautiful islands -- Harkers Island.
Events begin at 9 am | $15-$35
Annual Easter Egg Hunt
Beaufort Historic Site, Beaufort
Children ages seven and younger are welcome to join the fun. This annual event features prizes, refreshments, and over 2,000 eggs.
11 am | Free, just bring a basket
Easter Egg Hunt
Life Point Church, Newport
Bring your little ones to our 1st Annual Community Egg Hunt.
10 am | Free
Epic Easter Egg Hunt
Newport Community Park, Newport
Get ready for a morning of family fun at Local Point Church’s EPIC Easter Egg Hunt! Bring the kids, bring a basket, and get ready for what might just be the most epic egg hunt of all time.
11 am-1 pm | Free
Spring Festival
Carolina Home & Garden, Newport
It’s back - the annual Spring Festival!! With games, music, food and the Easter Bunny!!
11 am-4 pm
Once Upon a Song: Disney and Beyond
New Bern Civic Theater
A magical musical adventure the whole family will love! Once Upon a Song whisks audiences through a dazzling journey of beloved Disney classics and favorite tunes from beyond the Magic Kingdom. G-rated.
Two performances: 2 pm and 6 pm | $15

Sunday, April 5

Easter Sunday Brunch
Caribsea Restaurant, Emerald Isle
A special brunch experience—perfect for gathering with family and friends. Plus, a special visit from the Easter Bunny will make it even more memorable for the kids!
10 am-2 pm | a la carte pricing, reservations recommended
Easter Brunch Buffet
Island Grille, Atlantic Beach
A delicious Easter Brunch Buffet filled with holiday favorites and chef-prepared specialties. Skip the cooking and enjoy a beautiful Easter meal.
11 am-6 pm | $50 Adults, $20 Children (per person + tax & gratuity)
Shuffleboard Tournament
Beaufort Bar, Beaufort
First Sunday of the month. Grab a partner and join the fun!
3-5 pm | $20

Monday, April 6

Bird Hike
Fort Macon State Park, Atlantic Beach.
A leisurely hike with one of the fantastic rangers at Fort Macon State Park. Learn about the birds native to the area.
9-10 am | Free

Tuesday, April 7

North Carolina Symphony - From Classical to Broadway
Riverfront Convention Center, New Bern
Great moments in music with beloved classical gems from La bohème and Swan Lake, plus hits from Broadway, including The Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, My Fair Lady, and more.
7:30 pm | $53-$77
Wine-O-Rama Wine Flights
Aqua Restaurant. Beaufort.
An evening of friends, fun, and fine cuisine, with FOUR new fresh and fabulous wines during the course of your meal.
5:30-8 pm | $15
4" Nantucket Blue & White Bowl
Beaufort Historic Site, Beaufort
Join the Beaufort Historic Site at the Welcome Center for a Madras Planter Workshop, part of the Living History Series.
9 am | $70
Swing into Spring Dance Class
Carolina Home and Garden, Newport.
Learn a fun cardio dance with swing style vibes, paired with uplifting music! No partner needed, and all skill levels are welcome! Come try something new, or bring your favorite dance partner for a fun and energizing night/
6:30-8 pm | $25.63

Wednesday, April 8

Music Bingo
Carolina Home and Garden, Newport.
Learn how to make a couple of Italian staples: Sunday gravy aka traditional northern Italian tomato sauce, and then... spaghetti and meatballs!
6:30-8:30 pm | $5.13, Small Charcuterie Box $15.38, Large Charcuterie Box $25.63

Thursday, April 9

Cooking Class with Tim Becker
Carolina Home and Garden, Newport.
Songs from all different genres. Sing along as you play against your friends and family.
6:30-8:30 pm | $51.25
Tinker Cakes Cake Decorating Class
Carolina Home and Garden, Newport.
Decorate your own 4” cake/ Learn the fundamentals of cake decorating.
6:30-8:30 pm | $67.19

Future Events

OWLS Fort Macon 5k Trail Run at Fort Macon State Park, Atlantic Beach.
April 11
Coastal Carolina Community Orchestra Concert at Swansboro Middle School, Swansboro.
April 12
Beaufort Wine and Food Spring Fest, throughout Beaufort.
April 15-18
50th Annual Wooden Boat Show at the North Carolina Maritime Museum, Beaufort.
May 2
Pirate Fest in Downtown Swansboro
May 9
Atlantic Beach Beach Music Festival at Atlantic Beach Circle.
May 16

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 Inlet Fishing Pier

Bogue Inlet Fishing Pier at Night

If you've ever spent time in Emerald Isle, chances are you have seen the Bogue Inlet Fishing Pier. Stretching 1,000 feet out into the Atlantic, it's one of those places that feels like it's always been there. And in a way, it nearly has.

The pier's story is closely tied to the town itself. Shortly after Emerald Isle was incorporated in 1957, community leaders decided to build the pier to draw more visitors from Atlantic Beach and the eastern stretches of Bogue Banks. The strategy worked. Campgrounds, mobile home parks, and a motel popped up around the pier not long after it opened, and a little community took root right alongside it.

Of course, life on the Carolina coast isn't always smooth sailing. The pier has had its share of run-ins with hurricanes — particularly Diane in 1984 and Fran in 1997, both of which knocked out several hundred feet of the structure. Each time, it came back. That kind of resilience is part of what makes the place feel more important than just a fishing spot.

Today, the pier is run by the Stanley family, who have kept it going as a family tradition for over 50 years. It reopens each March and draws anglers chasing everything from speckled trout and pompano in the warmer months to puppy drum and gray trout as the seasons cool. One handy perk: you don't need a North Carolina Coastal Recreational Fishing License to fish from the pier, which makes it popular for out-of-state visitors.

Beyond fishing, the pier is just a great place to do some ocean-gazing. Dolphins are spotted near the inlet with some regularity, shorebirds fly overhead, and the sunset views out over the Atlantic are often spectacular.

New Business Alert

This weekend we greet a new business in Beaufort - Cabana Café in the Traders Building at Beau Coast!

Located at 409 Skimmer Cove, Cabana Cafe is introducing a market concept new to the community, featuring baked goods, breakfast and lunch options, grab-and-go meals, and a curated selection of local North Carolina products.

Opening Weekend Hours:
📅 Friday, April 3rd | 8 AM – 4 PM
📅 Saturday, April 4th | 8 AM – 4 PM
📅 Easter Sunday | 8 AM – 12 PM

After opening weekend, Cabana Café will be open Wednesday–Sunday from 8 AM – 4 PM for the remainder of April.

For more information, see their Facebook Page.

Wildlife Impact Calculator

While we all like to do our best to take care of the environment, it’s normal to ponder how much we’re really helping.

Ocean Conservancy has launched an online calculator that lets users see how many seabirds, sea turtles and marine mammals they’ve helped by picking up plastics from the environment. Whether you’re a party of one scooping up plastic trash as you stroll on an ocean beach, or part of an organized group cleanup effort along a roadside, the conservancy’s new wildlife impact calculator lets you plug in different types and amounts of plastics you’ve kept from reaching our oceans and seas.

The calculator then uses data from Ocean Conservancy studies to output the amount of animals that you helped protect had they been exposed to that amount of plastic.

The calculator is available at https://wildlifeimpactcalculator.org/ .