Crystal Coast Vibes August 7-13

Friday, August 7

• Birding Basics
  Hammocks Beach State Park, Swansboro
  Learn the basics of bird identification. You will explore how to use binoculars, field guides, and birding apps while practicing observation techniques and discovering the diverse species that call the park home.
  8-9:30 am | Free

• Beach Scavenger Hunt
  Fort Macon State Park, Atlantic Beach
  Take a stroll on the beach with a park ranger to see what you can find:
  Everything from drift beans to sea glass, and of course, seashells.
  10-11 am | Free

• Board Game Day
  Western Carteret Branch Library, Cape Carteret
  Board Game Day features a variety of classic and modern games, from card games and dominoes to engaging board games for all levels. All ages.
  11 am-1 pm | Free

• Chatham County Line 
  Carteret Community Theater, Morehead City
  A genre-bending live show—an intoxicating blend of bluegrass, folk, country, and rock and roll.
  8 pm | $36.50, $31.50 and $26.50 (plus tax and fees)

• Dueling Piano Show
  Rock the Dock, Morehead City
  Live Dueling Piano Show: Two pianists. One stage. Zero setlist. Dueling piano nights are fast-paced, high-energy, and completely crowd-driven.
  8-11:59 pm | $10 and $20 Age 21+

Saturday, August 8

• Book Lovers Day
  Olde Beaufort Farmers' Market, Beaufort
  Meet a wide range of local authors, chat about their stories, and get your favorite books signed. Browse a diverse selection of titles, discover new favorites, and enjoy a morning filled with the love of reading.
  9 am-1 pm | Free entry

• Mr. Showtime Live 
  Carteret Community Theatre, Morehead City
  Mr. Showtime brings back the style and flair of a bygone era with his signature charisma, blending the best of the Great American Songbook with modern classics and novelty tunes.
  8 pm | $35.00 and $30.00 (plus tax and fees)

• Pottery Puzzle Hunt 
  Newport Branch Library, Newport
  Children are invited to a fun, hands-on way to experience the thrill of a mock archaeological discovery. Ages 6+
  Drop in between 11 am and 4 pm

• Stargazing with a Park Ranger
  Cape Lookout National Seashore, Harkers Island
  Back by popular demand, Cape Lookout National Seashore (a certified International Dark Sky Park), welcomes night sky enthusiasts on a Starlight Cruise to the Cape Lookout Lighthouse.
  7:30-10:30 pm | Call Island Express Ferry Service (252-728-7433) for pricing and to book your tickets

• Summer Concert Series: Morehead City Brass Consortium
  Fort Macon State Park, Atlantic Beach
  A free concert in the visitor’s center.
  3 pm | Free, but limited to the first 130 people.

• Dueling Piano Show
  Rock the Dock, Morehead City
  Live Dueling Piano Show: Two pianists. One stage. Zero setlist. Dueling piano nights are fast-paced, high-energy, and completely crowd-driven.
  8-11:59 pm | $10 and $20 Age 21+

Sunday, August 9

• Sensational Snakes
  Hammocks Beach State Park, Swansboro
  Learn about some of the slithery creatures that call North Carolina home and the important roles they play in our ecosystems.
  1-2 pm | Free

• Shell’n Sundays
  Bear Island Concession at Hammocks Beach State Park, Swansboro
  Experience Bear Island and learn about the common and uncommon beach treasures you may find while combing the beaches of North Carolina.
  2-3 pm | The program is free, but you must purchase a ferry ticket to attend.

• Second Sundays Market 
  On Middle Lane, Beaufort
  A charming vendor market in the middle of Beaufort.
  10 am-2 pm

• Music Bingo with DJ Bubbles
  King Mackerels, Morehead City
  5pm

Monday, August 10

• Bird Cruise
  Hammocks Beach State Park, Swansboro
  A guided birding adventure through the waters surrounding Hammocks Beach State Park. This ranger-led excursion will help you identify wading birds, shorebirds, raptors, and seasonal migrants while exploring some of the area's premier birding locations.
  11 am-Noon

• Music Bingo with DJ Bubbles
   5 O'clock Somewhere at the Compass Hotel, Beaufort
  5pm

Tuesday, August 11

• The U-Boat War Presentation
  Fort Macon State Park, Atlantic Beach
  Join author, historian, and retired Ft. Macon Ranger Paul Branch for a presentation about the German submarines that prowled our state’s coast during World War II.  There will be a Q&A session and book signing after the presentation. 
  2-3:30 pm | Free

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

• Sip and Glaze Pottery Class
  Carolina Home and Garden, Newport
  Discover the art of pottery. Glaze your own pottery bowl.
  6:30 pm | $56.38

• Music Bingo
  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 | $5.13, Small Charcuterie Box $15.38, Large Charcuterie Box $25.63

Wednesday, August 12

• Kayak with a Ranger
  Hammocks Beach State Park, Swansboro
  Join a ranger-led kayaking tour through the estuary. Limited to 10 participants, minimum age is 13.
  8:30-11:30 am | Registration is required

• Eco Cruise
  Hammocks Beach State Park, Swansboro
  a guided cruise through the rich estuarine habitats surrounding Hammocks Beach State Park. This ranger-led adventure will explore the plants, animals, and natural processes that make our coastal ecosystems so unique. Limited to 11 participants
  11 am-Noon | Registration is required

• Day Camp at the Gardens
  Carolina Home and Garden, Newport
  A fun, hands-on morning of learning, creativity, and exploration at the gardens!
  10 am-Noon | $25,64 for the first child, $15.38 for each additional sibling

• Kid's Cove: Birds 
  NC Maritime Museum, Beaufort
  A free-play program designed for children ages 0-5 and their caregivers with a different maritime themed craft and wiggle activity each month.
  9-11 am | Free

• Open Mic Night 
  Carolina Artist Gallery, Morehead City
  Featuring various comedians, poets and musicians from around our area. Wine and finger foods provided.
  6-9 pm | Free

• Sound Bath 
  NC Aquarium, Pine Knoll Shores
  A meditative experience where participants rest comfortably, either laying down or seated comfortably, while being immersed in soothing sounds and vibrations. This is created by playing instruments such as crystal singing bowls, chimes, and other harmonic tools.
  5:30-6:30 | $30, members $27

• Trivia Night 
  Carolina Home and Garden, Newport.
  Test your brain skills with family fun trivia. Cash prizes! 
  6:30-8:30 pm | Seat reservation $5.13, Small Charcuterie Box $15.38, Large Charcuterie Box $25.63

Thursday, August 13

• Emerald Fest
  Western Regional Access, Emerald Isle
  Featuring East Coast Jam.
  6:30-8 pm | Free

• Music in the Park
  Newport Community Park, Newport
  Featuring The Gas Money Band
  6-9 pm | Free

• Dueling Piano Show
  Rock the Dock, Morehead City
  Live Dueling Piano Show: Two pianists. One stage. Zero setlist. Dueling piano nights are fast-paced, high-energy, and completely crowd-driven.
  8-11:59 pm | Free admission, VIP $10 Age 21+

Future Events 

• Wild Caught - Annual Seafood and Music Festival
  Gloucester, NC (Down East)
  August 26-29

• 2026 Taste of the Coast Celebration
  Crystal Coast Civic Center, Morehead City
  September 12

• North Carolina Seafood Festival
  Morehead City
  October 2-4

Recurring Events

• Birds of a Feather - Arts Council of Carteret County, Morehead City
  Artists bring their love and fascination of birds to life in the form of art in this beautiful show.
  August 8-September 19 | 11 am-5 pm

• Morehead City Marlins - Big Rock Stadium, Morehead City
  Enjoy local baseball with the Marlins! August 1st.
  5:30 pm | Prices vary, see the website

• 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 | $

• Summer Cornhole League at Rock the Dock, Morehead City | Tuesdays |
  6:30-9:30 pm | $5

• 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

• 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

• The Garden Run Club - Carolina Home and Garden, Newport | Saturdays 8:30 am

• 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

Swansboro's Oldest Treasure: The Jonathan Green Jr. House

Tucked quietly along Elm Street in the heart of historic Swansboro, the Jonathan Green Jr. House stands as the oldest surviving residence in town — a tangible link to the very founding of the community.

Believed to date to around 1770, the house was built by Jonathan Green Jr., son of the town site's first owners. The family's roots here run deep: around 1730, Jonathan Green Sr. and his wife Grace had settled at the mouth of the White Oak River, having come all the way from Massachusetts. When Green Sr. died, Grace remarried Theophilus Weeks, who would go on to lay out the original town plat — making the Green family inseparable from Swansboro's origins.

Jonathan Green Jr. apparently built his house on lot #40 before his death in 1784, when the sheriff of the county sold the lot to settle a debt the deceased owed to Mrs. Mary Pitts. Despite that turbulent beginning, the house endured.

Green is credited, along with fellow ship captain Peter Ringware, with the construction of two substantial frame houses that still stand on Main Street to this day. The craftsmanship within the Green Jr. House reflects the care and skill of its era. The house features a beautiful concave frieze fireplace and Flemish bond brickwork on the eastern chimney, as well as a ballast stone foundation and turned porch columns. The basement kitchen has been recently restored.

Evidence suggests the house was already standing when the original town plot was laid out — meaning it may have predated Swansboro itself as an officially recognized town.

Today, the Jonathan Green Jr. House at 114 Elm Street stands as a cherished stop on Swansboro's Historic Walking Tour, a quiet but powerful reminder that the stories of this community stretch back well over 250 years — to a New England family who found their home at the edge of the Carolina coast.

Friday, August 7

• Big Daddy Love Trio @ Gaffer's | Emerald Isle | 6:30-9:30 pm

• Juice @ Floyd’s 1921 | Morehead City | 6:30-9:30 pm

• Justin Castellano @ On the Rocks | Atlantic Beach | 7:30-9:30 pm

• Jimmy Parker @ The Wheelhouse | Atlantic Beach | 8-11 pm

• Mykel Barbee @ Flipperz Family Bar & Grill | Emerald Isle | 6-9 pm

• Schofield Music @ The Thirsty Surfer | Emerald Isle | 7-10 pm

• Todd Barnes @ 34° North Restaurant | Beaufort | 9-11 pm

• Steele Country Express @ Jack's Waterfront Bar | Morehead City | 9 pm

• Barefooot Wade @ Idle Hour | Atlantic Beach | 6 pm

• Quincy Jones @ Beaufort Bar | Beaufort | 9 pm

• Shaina Marie Duo @ Bogue Sound Distillery | Bogue | 7-10 pm

• Michael Schott @ Willy Nilly Warehouse | Swansboro | 6-9 pm

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

• Morgan Hudson & Co. @ The Flying Fox | New Bern | 8-11 pm

Saturday, August 8

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

• Big Daddy Love Trio @ Gaffer's | Emerald Isle | 6:30-9:30 pm

• Chris Overstreet @ Floyd’s 1921 | Morehead City | 6:30-9:30 pm

• Rollin’ Woods @ 34° North Restaurant | Beaufort | 9-11 pm

• Orquesta K’Che @ The Thirsty Surfer | Emerald Isle | 6 pm

• Stevie John @ Mill Whistle Brewing | Beaufort | 5-7 pm

• Alex Williams @ The Trading Post | Emerald Isle | 6:30-9:30 pm

• Lounge Lizards @ Jack's Waterfront Bar | Morehead City | 9 pm-1 am

• Jimmy Parker @ On the Rocks | Atlantic Beach | 7:30-9:30 pm

• Knock Knock @ Birdies at Star Hill | Cape Carteret | 6 pm

• Barefoot Wade @ The Dock House | Beaufort | 7 pm

• Donnie Lane @ Beaufort Bar | Beaufort | 9 pm

• NRP-Rhyme @ Bogue Sound Distillery | Bogue | 7-10 pm

• Tommy @ Willy Nilly Warehouse | Swansboro | 6-9 pm

• Denver Nixon & Julia @ The Boro | Swansboro | 8-11 pm

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

• Spare Change @ Blackbeard’s Triple Play | New Bern | 7:30-11 pm

• Beth and Dee. @ The Flying Fox | New Bern | 8-11 pm

• Ben Marshall @ The Firefly Cafe | New Bern | 6-8 pm

Sunday, August 9

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

• Jenkins & The Rabbit @ Flipperz Family Bar & Grill | Emerald Isle |
  3-6 pm

• The Shoal Brothers @ Jack's Waterfront Bar | Morehead City | 3-6 pm

• Barry Charlton @ Homer’s Point Marina | Salter Path | 6-9 pm

• Cpt. Dick Knight @ Bogue Sound Distillery | Bogue | 3-6 pm

• Jimmy Parker Live @ Idle Hour Biergarten | Atlantic Beach | 5-8 pm

• Patrick Bliss @ Willy Nilly Warehouse | Swansboro | 3-6 pm

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

• Dinner Music with Quincy Jones @ Baxter’s 1892 | New Bern | 5-7 pm

Monday, August 10

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

Tuesday, August 11

• Patrick Bliss @ Caribsea Restaurant | Emerald Isle | 6-9 pm

• Wes Ryder @ The Thirsty Surfer | Emerald Isle | 6-9 pm

• Robbie Alton @ Preston’s Corner | Swansboro | 7-10 pm

Wednesday, August 12

• Mikele Buck @ Gaffer’s | Emerald Isle | 6-9 pm

• The Will and Tony Show @ Flipperz Family Bar & Grill | Emerald Isle | 6 pm

• Barefoot Wade @ Homer’s Point Marina | Salter Path | 6 pm

Thursday, August 13

• Big Sam @ The Trading Post | Emerald Isle | 6-9 pm

• Barry Charlton @ On the Rocks | Atlantic Beach | 7-9 pm

• Ed Frankfort @ Birdies at Star Hill | Cape Carteret | 6 pm

• Barefoot Wade @The Compass Hotel | Beaufort | 5 pm

• Casey Cotton @ Caribsea Restaurant | Emerald Isle | 6-9 pm

• Ginger and Dylan @ Preston’s Corner | Swansboro | 7-10 pm

• Stephen Poole @ Willy Nilly Warehouse | Swansboro | 6-9 pm

• Wren @ Baxter’s 1892 | New Bern | 6-8 pm

• Arlin Tart @ The Flying Fox | New Bern | 7-10 pm

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