If you needed one more reason to love living on the Crystal Coast, your weekend calendar just handed you five. This is one of those stretches where Beaufort and Morehead City pack in a little bit of everything — live theater, live music, a candlelit dinner, and a boat ride under the stars. Whether you're a longtime local or you're here house-hunting and trying to picture what "life on the water" actually feels like, this weekend is basically Exhibit A.
Here's everything happening September 11-12, where to be, and why it's worth clearing your schedule.
1. Opening Night of Come From Away at Carteret Community Theatre
Friday, September 11 — 7:00 PM
Kick the weekend off with opening night of Come From Away, the Tony-nominated musical based on the true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small Newfoundland town that took them in after 9/11. Carteret Community Theatre has built a reputation for punching well above its weight class, and opening nights here always have a special energy — cast nerves, community pride, and a packed house all in one room.
It's a fitting date for a story about strangers becoming neighbors, which, honestly, sounds a lot like Carteret County. Come From Away runs through September 20th, visit the link HERE to get tickets.
2. Cape Lookout National Seashore Starlight Cruise
Saturday, September 12 — 7:30 PM
There's no better way to understand why people fall in love with this coastline than seeing it from the water after dark. The Starlight Cruise winds along Cape Lookout National Seashore as the sky goes from sunset gold to full-on stargazing, with the historic Cape Lookout Lighthouse as your backdrop. Bring a light jacket — the breeze off the sound has a way of sneaking up on you in September.
Click HERE to get your tickets.
3. Wine Pairing & Six-Course Dinner at Ann Street Inn
Saturday, September 12 — 6:00 PM
For a more elevated Saturday night, Ann Street Inn in historic Beaufort is hosting a six-course dinner with wine pairings for each plate. Enjoy an exclusive evening of fine Italian dinning pared with six exceptional wines of Mountain Brook Vineyards.
Click HERE for tickets.
4. Fall Garden Concert at the Beaufort Historic Site
Saturday, September 12 — 7:30 PM
The Beaufort Historic Site's gardens turn into an open-air concert venue for this fall kickoff show. Surrounded by the beauty and history of one of Beaufort's most treasured landmarks, guests will experience an enchanting outdoor concert as the sun sets and the Historic Site comes alive with music.
Click HERE for tickets.
5. Taste of the Coast Celebration
Saturday, September 12 — 6:30 PM
Rounding out a very full Saturday, Taste of the Coast brings together local restaurants, chefs, and makers for an evening built entirely around Down East flavor. If you want a crash course in why Carteret County's food scene is known as the "Napa Valley of oysters", this celebration is the fastest way to get one — and it's a great excuse to discover a new favorite spot.
Click HERE for tickets.
Plan Your Weekend, Crystal Coast Style
Between opening night at the theater, a starlit cruise past the Lighthouse, and enough good food to make a foodie weak in the knees, this weekend is a pretty accurate snapshot of why people don't just visit the Crystal Coast — they move here.
Thinking about making that move official? Mary Cheatham King Real Estate has been Carteret County's #1 real estate team since 2017 for a reason — we know these towns, these events, and these neighborhoods inside and out. Reach out any time you're ready to talk about buying, selling, or just want the inside scoop on what's happening around here.
Have an event we should feature next weekend? Send it our way — we love showing off everything Carteret County has going on.