Summer Things to Do

Soak in the Summer Sun In Carolina Beach

Hit the shore with a colorful summer getaway to Carolina Beach where good times and good vibes are easy to come by. Stroll along the Carolina Beach Boardwalk for live music and weekly fireworks. Experience Carolina Beach by sea, with a variety of watersports to enjoy, or by land at one of the island’s parks or during an eco-adventure. Stay original with the best of a North Carolina beach experience from the past with a fun, family-friendly spin for today.

Boardwalk concert

Boardwalk Blast and Summer Events

Enjoy sunset fireworks on the beach at the Fireworks by the Sea and Boardwalk Blast every Thursday night from Memorial Day through Labor Day at the Carolina Beach Boardwalk, featuring local bands opening the evening with live music. Celebrate Independence Day with the festive Pleasure Island July Fourth Fireworks. Experience one of the longest-running music festivals in the country at the Carolina Beach Music Festival in June. For over 40 years the East Coast “Got-Em-On” King Mackerel Tournament has been a staple of the fishing scene in North Carolina, featuring a big prize payout, during the weekend-long celebration in July. Visitors are advised to check event websites or social media pages to determine if events have been canceled or postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions.

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Surf lessons with Tony Silvagni Surf School

WATER ADVENTURE

Summer is the perfect time to experience the island’s top-notch watersports like surfing, stand-up paddleboarding, diving and more. Dive into the area’s shipwrecks, reefs and fossil ledges with one of our SCUBA or diving excursions. Or, opt for a private adventure with a fishing charter. Learn to ride the waves with experienced instructors at surf schools. Enjoy a private lesson, small group lesson or week-long day camp that will have you shredding in no time. Take it up a notch with a high-speed rental from Carolina Beach Jet Ski Rentals. Glide across the ocean with a guide or set out on your own adventure.

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Two women hiking in Carolina Beach State Park

PARKS TO EXPLORE

Visit Carolina Beach State Park for 761 acres of natural beauty, hiking trails, a marina, campgrounds and Cape Fear River views. Spot colorful migrating birds, sand crabs and loggerhead sea turtles during the summer nesting season and learn about the threatened species with the Pleasure Island Sea Turtle Project. Take a jog or leisurely stroll along the path around Carolina Beach Lake Park, which features a lake that was once noted in the Guinness Book of World Records as being the freshwater lake closest to saltwater. Or, enjoy Freeman Park Recreation Area with a variety of activities like fishing, swimming, crabbing or cruise out on the four-wheel-drive beach, with a required permit.

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Kids jumping on the beach

FAMILY-FRIENDLY FUN

With 20 lifeguard stands across three miles of stunning shoreline, take the kids to the beach for a safe and care-free place to play during the summer. Set out on a family kayak or stand-up paddleboard lesson in Carolina Beach State Park and enjoy a tour along the waters of the Cape Fear River. Take a break from the beach at the Carolina Beach Arcade located on the Carolina Beach Boardwalk, where you can even bring your four-legged family members along for the fun.

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