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Upcoming Events in Oriental and Eastern North Carolina: Your Fall and Holiday Guide for 2026
Updated: Oct 12
Around Oriental, enjoying the outdoors doesn’t end when summer does. Fall brings community festivals, waterfront outings, live music, and a holiday season full of small-town traditions.
At SMG Lawn Care, we appreciate the places and people that make this area feel like home. We’ve put together this roundup to help our neighbors find something to enjoy close by—or plan a day trip a little farther across Eastern North Carolina.
Grab your calendar, invite a friend, and make room for a few local adventures.
Event information checked October 12, 2026.
Confirm schedules, ticket availability, and weather updates with event organizers before heading out.
October Events: Fall Festivals and Halloween Fun
New Bern Ghostwalk — October 22–24
Location: Historic downtown New Bern and Cedar Grove Cemetery
Time: 6–9:30 p.m.
If you enjoy local history, put Ghostwalk on your list. Volunteer actors bring people from New Bern’s past to life through stories performed at historic locations.
This family-friendly event combines guided cemetery stops with self-guided visits to other downtown sites. Tickets cover all three evenings, with each ghost site available to visit once per ticket.
Wear comfortable shoes and give yourself time to explore. It’s a great way to spend an evening learning more about a neighboring town.
Fall Into Pamlico — October 24
Location: Pamlico Community College, Grantsboro
Time: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Looking for a fall outing close to Oriental? Pamlico Community College’s inaugural Fall Into Pamlico festival offers free admission and activities for different ages.
Planned attractions include food trucks, craft and product vendors, cornhole, pumpkin decorating, children’s activities, and a Touch-a-Truck exhibit.
Bring the family, grab something to eat, and spend a Saturday supporting the community while enjoying a little fall fun.
Chicken Mull Festival — October 24
Location: Downtown Bear Grass
Time: 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
For a farther day trip, head to Martin County for the Chicken Mull Festival.
The event celebrates a regional comfort food made with chicken, broth, and crushed saltine crackers. Along with chicken mull, the lineup includes live music, vendors, a poultry show, and a classic car cruise-in.
Admission is free. Arrive early if tasting chicken mull is your main reason for going—it’s served while supplies last.
Witches Crawl Halloween Performance — October 31
Location: First and King Streets, Oriental
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Oriental’s Witches Crawl brings Halloween entertainment and community fundraising together. This year’s performance supports HeartWorks.
Bring your Halloween spirit and enjoy an evening close to home. It’s a chance to have some fun while supporting an organization serving our community.
November Events: Music, Coastal Food, and Holiday Lights
Hayde Bluegrass Orchestra — November 1
Location: The Old Theater, Oriental
Times: 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
You don’t have to leave Oriental for an afternoon or evening of live music. Hayde Bluegrass Orchestra returns from Norway with a blend of bluegrass, Americana, and folk.
With two performances scheduled, you can make it an afternoon outing or an evening plan. Check with The Old Theater for tickets and availability.
Shuckapalooza — November 5–7
Location: Beaufort; locations vary by event
For seafood lovers, Shuckapalooza offers several reasons to visit Beaufort.
Beaufort Wine & Food’s lineup includes wine dinners on November 5, Brews & Bivalves on November 6, and an oyster roast on November 7. The celebration combines coastal food, beverages, and live music.
These are separate ticketed experiences, so check the schedule and choose the event that fits your plans.
If your idea of a good fall outing includes oysters and time along the coast, this one belongs on your calendar.
All That Glitters Gala and Auction — November 6
Location: Broad Strokes Gallery, 730 Broad Street, Oriental
Time: 6–9 p.m.
Support local arts at Broad Strokes Gallery’s gala and auction. The evening includes art, live music, food, drinks, and a silent auction.
It’s an opportunity to meet artists, enjoy an evening in town, and help support the arts in Pamlico County. Contact the gallery for ticket information.
Beaufort Pirate Invasion — November 14–15
Location: NC Maritime Museum’s Gallants Channel Annex, Beaufort
Add a little maritime adventure to your November calendar. The Beaufort Pirate Invasion is scheduled for November 14–15, with free and ticketed activities.
Check the event schedule before traveling so you can plan around the activities you most want to see.
Swansboro by Candlelight — November 14
Location: Historic downtown Swansboro
Time: 5–9 p.m.
Ready to start the holiday season? Swansboro by Candlelight brings illuminated streets, decorated storefronts, seasonal refreshments, and entertainment to downtown.
The Christmas tree lighting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Make an evening of it with a walk through town and stops at local shops.
For anyone who enjoys a waterfront town dressed up for the holidays, this is a good reason to take a drive down the coast.
December Events: Coastal Christmas Traditions
Core Sound Waterfowl Weekend — December 4–6
Location: Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center, Harkers Island
Waterfowl Weekend celebrates Down East traditions with local food, artists, carvers, musical performances, and holiday decorations.
It’s a chance to explore the heritage of our coastal communities while enjoying a December outing. The museum’s Gallery of Trees adds a seasonal touch.
Check the museum’s schedule as the weekend approaches for activities and event details.
Oriental’s Spirit of Christmas — December 10–12
Location: Throughout Oriental
Christmas Parade: Saturday, December 12, at 3:30 p.m.
Oriental’s Spirit of Christmas brings three days of waterfront festivities, local shopping, music, and holiday traditions to town.
Friday, December 11: Light Up the Town
Start the evening with the Christmas Flotilla at 5 p.m.
This event features decorated kayaks and paddleboards along Oriental’s waterfront. The Lighting of the Oriental Star follows at 5:15 p.m., with community Christmas carols afterward.
The evening also includes music with Ken Belangia and Mayor Sally Belangia’s open house at the Net House at 6 p.m. Explore decorated homes, businesses, and boats, with music and open houses throughout the evening.
Saturday, December 12: Christmas in the Village
Saturday’s lineup includes:
8–10:45 a.m.: Breakfast with Santa at Brantley’s.
9–11 a.m., or while supplies last: Gingerbread house and cookie decorating, hosted by the Pamlico Arts Council at Brantley’s.
1:30–5:30 p.m.: Old Theater Open House.
2–8 p.m.: Christmas Market featuring holiday vendors, local makers, food, and shopping.
3:30 p.m.: Oriental Christmas Parade, with the theme “Christmas Island, A Jimmy Buffett Celebration.”
Additional activities include the Jingle Through Oriental Passport, a live Nativity presented by the Oriental Children’s Theater, choir performances, caroling, and Christmas lights around town. Some activity times are still being finalized.
Sunday, December 13: Depue Brothers Band
Finish the weekend with the Depue Brothers Band at 4:30 p.m. at the Old Theater, presented by the Pamlico Music Society. Tickets are on sale.
For more information, contact socvendor@yahoo.com. Confirm the latest schedule before attending, as organizers are still finalizing some details.
Tryon Palace Candlelight — December 12 and 19
Location: Tryon Palace, New Bern
Time: Grounds open at 3:30 p.m.; festivities continue through approximately 9:30 p.m.
Tryon Palace’s Candlelight celebration combines decorated historic buildings, costumed interpreters, entertainment, and activities on the grounds.
Palace tours have assigned ticket times. Plan time before or after your tour to enjoy the rest of the event. Fireworks are planned around 9:30 p.m., weather permitting.
Check ticket availability early if you’re planning to make this part of your holiday season.
Oriental’s New Year’s Eve Dragon Run — December 31
Location: Hodges Street waterfront, Oriental
Times: Dragon runs at 8 p.m. and approximately 11:30 p.m.
Finish the year with an Oriental tradition. Bring your noisemakers for the dragon runs, then stay for the midnight Croaker Drop to welcome 2027.
It’s a memorable way to close out the year with neighbors along the waterfront.
Smaller Outings Close to Home
You don’t have to wait for a festival to enjoy Oriental.
The Oriental Farmers Market runs Saturdays from 8–11 a.m. on Hodges Street, weather permitting. Stop by to browse local goods and make a morning of it near the harbor.
For an evening of music, The Silos hosts Wednesday open mic nights starting at 7 p.m.
Local calendars also feature gallery activities, community gatherings, and other outings throughout the season. Check current listings before making plans.
Spend More Time Enjoying Where You Live
A big part of living here is getting outside and enjoying the community around us.
Whether you choose a local market, a concert in Oriental, or a holiday trip along the coast, there’s plenty to put on your calendar.
These outings also give us a chance to support the shops, artists, organizations, and local businesses that help our communities thrive.
And if your yard needs attention while you’re making those plans, SMG Lawn Care is here to help.
Visit www.smglawncarenc.com to ask about lawn care and get your property on the schedule. Save this guide and share it with a neighbor who’s looking for something to do.
WE SELL HOUSES TOO!
CONTACT KYLE STEVENSON AT SMG REALTY TODAY!
(910) 830-6226
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