Carolina and Kure Beaches, NC -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/10/2012 -- Looking for the best bowl of chowder you’ve ever tasted? How about hearing beach music straight from the source? Both Carolina Beach (www.visitcarolinabeachnc.com) and Kure Beach (www.visitkurebeachnc.com) have great events year-round that are popular with visitors and worth the inexpensive trip to the coast. Fill up your tank and head east to check out one – or several – of these special occasions for lots of food, music and relaxation with your family and friends.

Pleasure Island Chowder Cook-Off
Carolina Beach Lake Park (http://bit.ly/xbuoTq) at the intersection of US Highway 421 and Atlanta Avenue is the site for the 16th annual Pleasure Island Chowder Cook-Off occurring Saturday, April 14, with gates opening at 11:30 a.m. Attendees can enjoy and vote on chowder from restaurants at Pleasure Island, Monkey Junction and Wilmington and other groups beginning at noon, with awards being announced at 5 p.m. In addition to serving up the area’s best chowder, this event includes live music from the Mark Roberts Band and a “Kidz Zone” recreational area which will have face painting, balloon art, and a three-in-one inflatable house. There will be hot dogs, funnel cakes, soft drinks and beer and wine for sale as well.

Admission is $5 per person and free for children ages 12 and under. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/wnUOeN. If you want to enjoy a similar activity in the fall, look for upcoming information on 18th Annual Seafood, Blues and Jazz Festival. During the second weekend in October, this festival includes two days of nonstop jazz and blues on two stages with local and nationally famous musicians (http://bit.ly/zgKdHV). Visitors are encouraged to leave the lawn work behind and bring their lawn chairs to lounge and listen to the one-of-a-kind music while enjoying the warm, breezy weather that Carolina and Kure beaches offer.

Bluegrass By The River
For vacationers who want to add a little twang to their trip, the inaugural Bluegrass By The River festival fits the bill. On Saturday, May 12 at the Fort Fisher Air Force Recreation area in Kure Beach, visitors and locals alike are encouraged to bring their instruments and start “pickin’ and grinnin’” while enjoying the beautiful beach sunshine. Activities include live bluegrass music and workshops, clogging, wash-tub bass instruction, open jam sessions, food, a craft fair and more. Gates open at 11:30 a.m. and music starts at 12:20 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 on the day of the show – children ages 12 and under receive free admission, and student, military and senior discounts are available at the gate. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/GU1EHk.

Carolina Beach Music Festival
For some people, the traditional kick-off of the summer season is this event – it’s the biggest and only music festival held on the beach along the North Carolina coast. On Saturday, June 2, come join thousands of revelers on the shore for the 27th Annual Carolina Beach Music Festival, a daylong celebration of the region’s music. This year’s lineup is the Craig Woolard Band (11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.), the Band of Oz (1 p.m.- 2:30 p.m.) and Jim Quick and Coastline (3 p.m.- 4:30 p.m.). Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 on the day of the show. Coolers, beverages and food are allowed. However, no glass bottles are permitted. Call (910) 458-8434 for advance tickets. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/zuCZDL.

For more information on Carolina Beach activities, go to http://www.visitcarolinabeachnc.com, and for Kure Beach activities, go to http://www.visitkurebeachnc.com.

OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS:
4th Annual Race for the Planet 5K
Sunday, April 22

Eastern Surfing Association Mid-Atlantic Regional Surfing Championship
Thursday, May 3-Sunday, May 6

The Cape Fear Disabled Sportsmen Tournament
Friday, May 11

Carolina Beach Farmer’s Market
Saturdays from May 12 through September 15

The N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher offers a variety of weekly programs and events.

For all event information, visit http://bit.ly/xKgnaf and http://bit.ly/wnAYyN.

NEW MEDIA CONTENT:
Carolina Beach on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/CarolinaBeachNC

Carolina Beach on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/CarolinaBeachNC

Kure Beach on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/KureBeachNC

Kure Beach on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/KureBeachNC

About Carolina Beach, N.C.
Carolina Beach is an original and unique North Carolina beach. This recently renovated seaside town offers family-friendly fun all year long where visitors can experience a classic boardwalk, interesting festivals and colorful characters. For more information, go to http://www.visitcarolinabeachnc.com or call (800) 641-7082.

About Kure Beach, N.C.
Kure Beach offers visitors an inviting, small-town seaside retreat on North Carolina’s beautiful coast. This naturally beautiful setting with easy access to the big attractions the area has to offer is the perfect place to bring the family year-round to unplug and unwind, enjoy a more relaxed pace and reconnect with what really matters. For more information, go to http://www.visitkurebeachnc.com or call (800) 631-1460.

Jake Potter
MMI Public Relations
(919) 233-6600
jake@mmipublicrelations.com
http://twitter.com/mmipr
http://www.mmipublicrelations.com