Annual Festivals in JoCo
Mark Your Calendar for These Annual Festivals
February
Black History Month activities are held around the county at Johnston Community College, the Heritage Center, and the Benson Museum of Local History.
March
Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site commemorates the anniversary of the battle on the third weekend of each year, with large reenactments held every five years.
Skyfest is a community festival with professional aerial demonstrations. This event includes parachute team jumps, flyovers, helicopter rappelling, and other aerial performances.
April
Classic Antique Power Heritage Festival showcases tractor games, antique tractors & farm equipment demonstrations, craft vendors, food vendors, a corn hole tournament, free live entertainment, bouncy houses, pedal tractor raffle, and a farm equipment auction.
May
Smithfield Ham and Yam Festival is teaming with ham biscuits, barbecue, and sweet potato treats. Held the first Saturday in May, enjoy arts, crafts, and live music.
JoCo Latino Festival celebrates all things Latino with food, vendors, live entertainment, and a kids zone!
The East Coast Truckers Jamboree is a three-day truck and car show, featuring big rigs and muscle cars. The event also boasts live music, games, and an impressive closing fireworks display.
June
301 Endless Yard Sale runs along the US Highway 301 from Weldon down to Dunn, in North Carolina, with over 500 vendors and 100 miles of yard sales.
The State Annual Singing Convention is the oldest Southern Gospel convention in the nation and includes a weekend filled with music featuring duets, trios, quartets, and more.
September
Benson Mule Days, a four-day family-fun festival packed with mule competition events, rodeos, carnival rides, arts and crafts, and concerts.
Four Oaks Acorn Festival is great family fun, including children's activities, live entertainment, vendor fair, antique car and tractor show, barbecue competition, and more.
October
NC Beer Month is a month-long celebration of NC Craft Beer with events at Deep River, JoCo Brewing, and Fainting Goat Breweries.
Selma Railroad Days celebrates the town’s rail heritage with a 5K run, parade, crafts, food, and music.
The Smithfield Historical Ghost Walk is fun event for all ages held at the Riverside Cemetery in Smithfield with costumed actors telling stories of famous or infamous persons buried there.
Clayton Harvest Festival in late October has roots dating back to 1951 and is one of the largest festivals in Johnston County. It includes a midway with fair rides, games, and food, Clayton Idol singing competition, Clayton’s largest vendor fair, classic car show, tractor show, and bike show, as well as local performances, and a Latin American Festival celebration.
November and December
Christmas Live@The Rudy brings visitors from around the region for a show that captures the magic of the holidays, with comedy, song, and costumes.
Meadow Lights is the largest and oldest Christmas light display in Eastern North Carolina, with an old fashion candy store, train rides, and of course, Santa.
