WHAT'S UP, DOCK? ׀ Waterfront events you can boat to...

The following is just a sampling of major events in waterfront locales that might entice you to come off the water (at least for an hour or two). Email your waterfront event announcements for the remainder of 2008 to waterfront@nccoast.com. For more regional event listings, visit nccoast.com.

June 2008

June 7 – 14: 50th annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament, one of the largest sport-fishing tournaments in the country celebrates its 50^th anniversary with special events & substantial cash categories, headquartered at Big Rock Landing on the Morehead City waterfront. Details, 252-247-3575, thebigrock.com. 

June 14: Art on the Neuse, Oriental & Pamlico county artists show off their work in this annual outdoor event at Oriental Marina, Details, 252-249-0849. 

June 14: Summer Outdoor Concert Series, Robert McDuffy performs, 7 – 8:30pm, free & open to the public, Jaycee Park, 9th & Shepard St., Morehead City. Details, 252-726-5083. 

June 14: Sneads Ferry Arts & Craft Show, set up at 8:30am, event starts at 9:30am, application & fee $25, provide own booth & table, come buy & browse the handiwork of local crafters. Details, 910-327-1055, 910-467-3677. 

June 14: Swansboro Arts by the Sea Festival, 10am – 5pm, juried show & sale features more than 100 artists & craftsmen from all along the East Coast, food items, etc., Front, Main, Moore & Church streets, downtown Swansboro. Details, 910-326-7370. 

June 16: Tryon Palace South Lawn Concert Series: North Carolina Symphony, gates open 5pm, concert begins 7:30pm, free, pack a picnic, bring lawn chairs & blankets, but leave pets & alcoholic beverages at home, Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens. Details, 252-514-4900, tryonpalace.org.  

June 16: Sound Seafood: Catching Crabs & Clams, 1 – 4pm, learn the art of harvesting crabs & clams & the importance of conserving coastal habitats, ages 5 & up. Registration required, $15, NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. Details, 252-247-4003, ncaquariums.com. 
June 17: Eighth annual Battleship Hootenanny :  come aboard the Battleship North Carolina for a concert of folk & pop favorites, on the Fantail under the stars. Auditorium if inclement weather, John Golden and friends head up a fine cast of local musical groups. Tickets are $10 (cash only) at the door (does not include a tour of the ship). Fresh popcorn & sodas available for $1 each, Battleship North Carolina, 1 Battleship Rd., Wilmington. Details, 910.251.5797, battleshipnc.com.
June 19: Beach Jive After Five, 5:30pm - 7pm, Infectious Blues Band performs, enjoy live music & tranquil ocean breeze, bring chairs, blankets, even dinner, alcoholic beverages prohibited, access to volleyball courts, picnic tables & restrooms, Western Ocean Regional Access in Emerald Isle. Details,  252-354-6350. 
June 20: Concert in the Park, 7pm, the Unknown Tongues (Cajun/Zydeco dance band) gives a free concert in the fort parade ground, Fort Macon State Park, Atlantic Beach. Details, 252-726-3775. 

June 21: NC Country Music Festival, features Joe Diffie appearing at 8pm & performing many of his #1 Hits. Other performers include North Carolina favorite's Dakota Rain, Dixie Driver & Holland Marie, Johnston County Line beginning at 2pm, arts & crafts vendors, rain or shine event, no coolers or pets, Fort Fisher Military Recreation Area, 118 Riverfront Rd., Kure Beach. Details, 910.458.4777, northcarolinacountrymusicfestival.com.

June 27 – 28: Historic Beaufort Old Homes & Gardens Tour, 10am - 5pm, 48th annual event features amazing private homes, gardens, historic churches, artist studios, Book Fair & Beaufort meeting halls. Tickets are $16 in advance & $20 on the tour day. Details, 252-728-5225 or 800-575-7483. 
June 27 – 29: Oriental Cup Regatta, a complete weekend of racing & good times: music on Friday night, the race, dinner & dancing on Saturday, awards brunch on Sunday. Details, 252-249-0334.

June 28: Wal-Mart Kids All-American Fishing Derby, 9 – 11am, free event open to kids ages 5 - 12.  Pre-registration (limited to 100 people) is required &l runs through June 27.  Prizes awarded to all participants.  Bring your own rod & reel or rent one from The Reel Outdoors, Island Harbor Marina or The Bogue Inlet Pier.  Bait provided or bring your own.  Details, 252-354-6350. 

July 2008

July 4: Independence Day Celebrations in waterfront towns & cities. Call each town hall for specific information.

July 4:  North Carolina’s First Fourth, hear the Declaration of Independence read from the steps of Tryon Palace in New Bern by costumed characters portraying famous North Carolinians from the Revolutionary era at 11am. Listen to the Tryon Palace Fife & Drum corps & participate in thematic & patriotic craft activities. Free garden admission from 9am to 5pm. Interior tours require the purchase of a ticket, Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens, New Bern. Details, 800-767-1560, tryonpalace.org.

July 4: 12th annual Battleship Blast, One of the largest choreographed fireworks displays in the State explodes over the Battleship North Carolina, Wilmington; Battleship closes at 6pm for fireworks. Details, 910-251-5797, battleshipnc.com.

July 4 – 5: Oriental Croaker Festival, fun waterfront festival with arts, crafts, unique parade on Sat., kids activities & much, more, downtown Oriental & Oriental waterfront. Details, croakerfestival.com.

July 5: Family Night at the Aquarium, the NC Aquarium opens every Thursday night in July (5, 12, 19, 26) with a special family night theme, July 5 Banjos to Beach Music; July 12 Glow Wild; July 19 Pirate Night; July 26 CSI Critter Signs Investigation, NC Aquarium, Pine Knoll Shores. Details, 252-247-4003.

July 5: Classy-Chassis Car Show & Country Flea Market, the most memorable show of the summer takes place under the old shade trees. Cars & trucks 1980 & older compete for top awards. A Country Flea Market spreads front to back on this old peanut farm. Vendors offer handmade crafts, furniture, jewelry, gently used goods & more. Take a break from the summer heat with an ice cream sundae in the air-conditioned barn. Show-goers can treat themselves to real Southern barbecue sandwiches, hot dogs, beverages, funnel cakes & of course, peanuts,  Historic Poplar Grove Plantation, near Wilmington. Details, 910-686-9518, poplargrove.com.
July 5 – 6: Summer Show, Carteret County Arts & Crafts Coalition, show & sale of juried arts and crafts of coastal artisans held at the Beaufort Historic Site, 10am - 5pm Sat, noon – 5pm Sun. Details, 252-729-9311.

July 10 – 13: Reef/Sweetwater Pro-Am Surf Fest , enjoy 3 days of spectacular surfing & watch some of the world's best professional &amateur surfers ride the waves, while you soak up some rays. More than just a killer contest, the festival is sure to be nothing but fun in the sun. Festival starts at 7am daily, Crystal Pier, Oceanic St., Wrightsville Beach. Details, wblivesurf.com.
July 11: Downtown New Bern ArtWalk, enjoy art galleries, shopping & performing arts in downtown New Bern free of charge from 5pm-8pm. The ArtWalks are organized by the Craven Arts Council & include a variety of venues in Downtown New Bern. It’s a great night to stroll. Details, 252-638-2577. July 11: Haunted Evening Historical Drama, includes spirits from the past, southern funeral customs, life in New Bern after the Civil War, recent paranormal activity & investigations. Experience the mystery & shadows of the Attmore-Oliver House by candlelight. Performances begin at 7:30pm & 8:30pm. Tickets are $12 in advance, $14 at the performance. Details, 252-638-8558 or newbernhistorical.org. 

July 16: Free Concert on the Beaufort Waterfront, join Jackie Gore for beach music on the Beaufort waterfront beside the Dock House. Details, 252-504-3396.

July 17: Beach Jive after Five, Deja Groove performs 5:30 – 7pm, enjoy live music & the tranquil ocean breeze.  Bring chairs, blankets, even dinner!  Access also features volleyball courts, picnic tables & restrooms.  Alcoholic beverages prohibited,  Western Ocean Regional Access (WORA) in Emerald Isle.  No admission fee, sponsored by Emerald Isle Parks & Recreation. Details, 252-354-6350.

July 19: Beaufort Olde Towne Rotary Road Race, a run or walk for the entire family in historic waterfront Beaufort. Details, 252-728-1210.

July 25 – 27: Cape Fear Blues Festival, a 3-day celebration of blues music between the beautiful beaches of the Cape Fear Coast & the historic riverfront of downtown Wilmington. Events include a Blues Cruise, workshops, outdoor concert, live club shows & an all-day blues jam in the park. Details, 910-350-8822, capefearblues.org.
July 26: Wooden Boat Festival, presented by the CFCC Boat Building program, the festival serves as an annual celebration of the tradition & craft of wooden boat building. CFCC's wooden boat festival attracts thousands of visitors every year. This year, the event will feature over 50 wooden boats, including kayaks, skiffs & boats from the Simmons Sea Skiff Club. Students in CFCC's Boat Building program exhibit their own work & conduct demonstrations of traditional boat building techniques like bending wood using steam. Build Your own boat! If you have ever wanted to build your own boat, now is your chance, CFCC Campus on the riverfront, Water St., Wilmington. Details, 910-362-7151.

August 8 & 9: Beaufort Pirate Invasion, invasion begins at 1:30pm on Saturday, August 9 from the Beaufort Waterfront. After invasion, those captured will be marched to the Beaufort Historic Site for a mock trial. Pirate Ball Saturday night at 7:30pm. Events centered around Beaufort Historic Site, Beaufort waterfront & NC Maritime Museum. Details, 252-728-3917.
August 21: Free Concert on the Beaufort Waterfront, Scearce & Ketner perform on the Beaufort waterfront beside the Dock House in downtown Beaufort. Details, 252-504-3396.

August 21: Beach Jive after Five Summer Concert, 5:30 – 7pm, STRETCH performs, bring your lawn chairs, blankets & coolers or even dinner. Enjoy live music & the tranquil ocean breeze. This beach access also features sand volleyball courts, picnic tables & restrooms. Alcoholic beverages prohibited, Western Ocean Regional Access, Emerald Isle. Details, 252-354-6350.

August 30 – 31: Carteret County Arts & Crafts Coalition Fall Show, a juried show & sale of arts & crafts of coastal artisans. Four shows occur throughout the year during holidays: Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day & Thanksgiving which is a Christmas exhibition that shows for three weeks. All but the Christmas show occur at the Beaufort Historic Site. Details, 252-729-9311.

September 2008

September 1: Stanly-Spaight Duel Reenactment, tour the New Bern Academy & then watch the spectacle of the September 5, 1802 Stanly-Spaight duel unfold before your eyes. In this historical reenactment of a duel between Nineteenth-century New Bern political rivals, costumed characters will fire reproduction flintlock pistols, 1 – 4pm, Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens, New Bern. Details, 252-514-4900.

September 6: Seventh annual Art & Antique Walk, showcases various paintings, photographs, jewelry, sculptures & antiques from New Hanover, Pender & Brunswick counties. With over 20 area vendors, this event offers the best art & antiques from the region in one location. Entire event held on Front Street & will be closed to vehicular traffic for the duration of the Walk. Downtown City parking decks will be free for the entire day. Details, 910-251-0727.

September 13: Tasting with Topsail Wine Tasting & Hors d’oeuvres, 2 – 6 pm, sponsored by The Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism, Assembly Building. Details, 910-329-4446.

Read more feature articles in the print edition of Waterfront Magazine.