Best August Festivals in North Carolina (2026): Family-Friendly Events
Looking for the best August festivals in North Carolina? From sunflower festivals and food festivals to mountain craft fairs, beach celebrations, music festivals, and county fairs, August is one of the busiest months for events across NC. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or searching for family-friendly things to do this August, this guide includes festivals happening throughout the mountains, Piedmont, and coast.
August Festivals and Events in Greensboro
8th Annual Firehouse Jeep Fling
Date: August 1, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Website: 8th Annual Firehouse Jeep Fling | Facebook
Location: 7675 Belews Creek Rd, Belews Creek, NC
Description: The 2026 8th Annual Firehouse Jeep Fling is a 4×4 car show and family event open to all builds—not just Jeeps! Enjoy vendors, food trucks, a flex ramp competition, and a fun, family-friendly atmosphere. Come show off your ride and support a great cause, with all proceeds benefiting the Belews Creek Fire Department Junior Fund.
Cost: Spectator entry is free
I am a queen’s 18th annual back to school giveaway
Date: August 1, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Website: I Am A Queen’s 18th Annual Back to School Giveaway (Free School Supplies) | Facebook
Location: The Greensboro Sportsplex, Greensboro, NC
Description: I Am A Queen and its community partners will host the 18th Annual Back to School Giveaway on Saturday, August 1, starting at 10 a.m. at the Greensboro Sportsplex, located at 2400 Sixteenth St., Greensboro, N.C. This event is OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY, however, children must be present to receive school supplies. For more information about the event, please visit www.iamaqueen.org.
Cost: Free
Backpack Giveaway
Date: August 1, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Website: Backpack Giveaway | Facebook
Location: Gate City Vineyard Church, Greensboro, NC
Description: Please join Gate City Vineyard Church for fun and free backpacks! First 100 guests received backpacks with school supplies!
Cost: Free
Popsicles on the Playground
Date: August 3 & 10, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: Christ United Methodist Church, Greensboro, NC
Description: Popsicles, story and playtime.
Cost: Free
Go Green’s National Night Out & Back to School Bash!
Date: August 4, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Website: Go Green’s National Night Out & Back to School Bash! | Facebook
Location: 300 Pomona Dr, Greensboro, NC
Description: Join this National Night Out & Back to School Bash! Enjoy free food, bounce houses, trade tables, a photo booth, giveaways, music, and more while helping Stuff the Service Truck with school supplies for local students!
Cost: Free
Pop-up Party at the park
Date: August 13, 2026
Time: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Website: (1) Pop-Up Party at the Park – Barber Park | Facebook
Location: Barber Park, Greensboro, NC
Description: Summer is here and you know what that means! The Parks and Recreation fun trailer is on the move and is popping up at parks around Greensboro.
Cost: Free
August Festivals and Events in Kernersville
Back to School Bash 2026!
Date: August 1, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Website: Back to School Bash 2026! | Facebook
Location: Triad Park, Kernersville, NC
Description: Join My Therapy Place for a day of FREE fun, school supplies, and community connection! Free school supplies, face painting, games and activities, bouncy house, yummy snacks, music and entertainment.
Cost: Free
Honeybee Festival
Date: August 15, 2026
Time: TBD
Website: Honeybee Festival – Kernersville Parks and Recreation
Location: Fourth of July Park, Kernersville, NC
Description: Today, the Kernersville Honeybee Festival is one of the region’s most popular annual events, attracting over 10,000 visitors each year. Held on the third Saturday of August at Fourth of July Park, the festival features: educational exhibits, celebrating honeybees and their role in our ecosystem, 100+ vendors offering crafts/handmade goods/local products, food trucks serving a variety of delicious options, live entertainment, and family-friendly activities.
Cost: Admission is FREE — but BEE sure to bring spending money for vendors, activities, and food trucks!
August Festivals and Events in Winston-Salem
Back to School Bash!
Date: August 1, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Website: Back to School Bash! | Facebook
Location: CWC Winston-Salem, 2390 Union Cross Rd, Winston-Salem, NC
Description: Enjoy free food, exciting water slides, and a day of community fun for all ages. Children will also receive free loaded backpacks filled with school supplies, available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.
Cost: Free
Back to School Bash
Date: August 1, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Website: Back To School Bash | Facebook
Location: Peace Haven Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, NC
Description: This free community event is designed to help local students start the school year with confidence while connecting families with valuable resources. The first 400 students who attend will receive a free school supply bundle. Students must be present to receive supplies, and bundles will be distributed while supplies last. Families can also enjoy free books, community resource information, and a free hotdog lunch with chips and bottled water.
Cost: Free
TeenTastic Carnival
Date: August 1, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Website: TeenTastic Carnival | NC Black Rep
Location: Winston-Salem Fairgrounds, Winston-Salem, NC
Description: A free carnival experience open to both middle and high school students, packed with games, activities, and entertainment. This event is all about creating fun, safe, and memorable experiences for everyone involved.
Cost: Free
National Night Out 2026
Date: August 4, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Website: National Night Out 2026 | Facebook
Location: 7450 Church St, Rural Hall, NC
Description: Come out for an evening of community fun and activities for the whole family! National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. The first 200 people get a free hotdog, and there will also be free fresh-popped popcorn! Come out and meet the Community Policing Officers, Town Council, and Town Staff that serve Rural Hall.
Cost: Free
National Night Out 2026
Date: August 4, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Website: National Night Out 2026 | Facebook
Location: Shallowford Square, Lewisville, NC
Description: Come join the Town of Lewisville at the family-friendly National Night Out event! This event supports the dedicated law enforcement officers, alongside the awesome fire departments, emergency services, and public safety agencies of Lewisville! There will be a wide array of activities, ranging from games to demonstrations and so much more! A FREE dinner of hot dogs, chips, and drinks is on the menu, served by the Vienna Civic Club. National Night Out is a national community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships. Learn more about this initiative at natw.org.
Cost: Free
August Festivals and Events in The Triangle
Durham Fiesta Latina
Date: August 2, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Website: Durham Fiesta Latina | Durham Parks & Recreation, NC
Location: Durham Central Park, 501 Foster St, Durham, NC
Description: The Durham Fiesta Latina in Durham is a joyful celebration of the rich and diverse Latino culture. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience authentic cuisine, lively music, folkloric dancing, and engaging activities that are fun for the entire family. In addition to the festivities, the event will also provide valuable information and resources to support the Latino community.
Cost: Free
Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival
Date: August 22 – 23, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Website: Lazy Daze Arts and Crafts Festival | Town of Cary
Location: Cary Town Hall Campus, Downtown Cary, NC
Description: Showcasing over 250 exceptional artists from across the country! Enjoy live entertainment on four stages, savor delicious offerings from 25+ food & beverage vendors, and relax in our beer garden & and new Lazy Lounge. Kids will love Kid Daze, with fun activities throughout, including the fan-favorite Kid Collectors Market, where they can purchase pint-sized pieces created by our Lazy Daze artists! Participate in interactive art activities, engage with demonstrations by professional artisans, and embrace the “Lazy Daze” of summer.
Cost: Free
August Festivals and Events in Charlotte Area
Charlotte Pride Festival and Parade
Date: August 15 – 16, 2026
Time: Saturday 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM and Sunday 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Website: 2026 Charlotte Pride Festival Zone – Charlotte Pride
Location: Uptown Charlotte, NC
Description: Charlotte Pride’s two-day cultural festival includes a variety of national, regional, and local entertainers, musicians, bands, and hundreds of participating vendor booths, including art exhibits, local nonprofits, retailers, a food court, and more!
Cost: Free
K-Pop Stan Festival
Date: August 29, 2026
Time: TBD
Website: K-Pop Stan Fest – SponsorMyEvent
Location: Charlotte, NC
Description: An all-day celebration of music, dance, culture, and community. Expect a vibrant K-Pop market, jaw-dropping live performances, fan activities, raffles, and the pure joy of K-Unity.
Cost: Free
August Festivals and Events on the NC Coast
NC Watermelon Festival (Murfreesboro)
https://ncwatermelonfest.com/
When: July 30, 2025 – August 2nd, 2025
What: Family-friendly celebration of all things watermelon—seed-spitting, queen crowning, run/walk, carnival rides, parade, music, and food .
20th Annual Outer Banks Watermelon Festival
Date: August 6, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Website: 20th Annual Outer Banks Watermelon Festival | Kitty Hawk Kites
Location: Nags Head – Kitty Hawk Kites, Nags Head, NC
Description: Games, music, food, and LOTS of watermelon. What more could you ask for in a summer celebration? Join Kitty Hawk Kites for a summer bash you won’t want to miss. Corn hole, toy demos, face painting, and tons of watermelon competitions including seed spitting, and a watermelon eating competition just to name a few.
Cost: Free
August Festivals and Events in NC Mountains
Asheville Sounds Fest
Date: August 6 – 9, 2026
Time: Times vary
Website: FESTIVAL SCHEDULE – AVL Sounds Fest
Location: Various locations, Asheville, NC
Description: Spotlighting Asheville’s diverse music and arts scene, AVL Sounds Fest will once again fill area concert halls, clubs, and outdoor venues alike with an exceptional lineup of local, regional, and national talent featuring over 200 unique of acts. Performance showcases are set to take place Thursday August 6 through Sunday August 9 with wristbands granting passholders access to 15+ participating Asheville venues.
Cost: $110 – $161.50
Mount Mitchell Crafts Fair
Date: August 7 – 8, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Website: Mount Mitchell Crafts Fair
Location: Downtown Burnsville, NC
Description: Burnsville is home to the renowned Mount Mitchell Crafts Fair. Come explore the charming downtown, enjoy warm hometown hospitality, and discover a unique selection of handmade arts and crafts at this exceptional event.
Cost: Free
Sourwood Festival
Date: August 8 – 9, 2026
Time: Saturday 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM and Sunday 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Website: Sourwood Festival 2026 – Black Mountain Swannanoa Chamber of Commerce
Location: Downtown Burnsville, NC
Description: Explore the allure of Black Mountain and find out why we proudly hold a ranking as one of the most picturesque towns in America. Downtown Black Mountain’s Sourwood Festival is a vibrant celebration of our bees and locally-produced sourwood honey, proudly presented by the Black Mountain Swannanoa Chamber of Commerce.
Cost: Free
WNC Bigfoot Festival
Date: August 29, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Website: (2) Facebook
Location: Downtown Marion, NC
Description: They want everyone to have a good time, hear some experts speak, eat some good food, hear some great music, check out all the vendors and watch the calling contest!
Cost: The WNC Bigfoot Festival is free to attend, no tickets required. We also have free parking and a free shuttle service to the event.
Related Triad Moms on Main Blogs
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- Summer Concerts & Live Music in the Triad | Triad Moms on Main | Triad
- Outdoor Movies in the Triad: Your Family-Friendly Guide to Movies Under the Stars | Triad Moms on Main | Greensboro, Winston, Burlington, High Point
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