It’s a star-spangled celebration and we are excited to have so many 4th of July celebrations happening near Emerald Isle this year!
Due to unforeseen circumstances, The Town of Emerald Isle canceled their 4th of July Celebrations for 2021 but don’t fret! We have rounded up a list of nearby fireworks celebrations that you can attend with distances already configured so you can find a 4th of July event near you! Read on for a complete list of Fireworks and 4th of July celebrations near Emerald Isle!
2021 4th of July Events Near Emerald Isle
Swansboro 4th of July Celebration
Distance from Emerald Isle: 11.8 miles (21-minute drive)
Time: Fireworks at 9 PM on July 2nd, Live Music from 6 – 10 PM on July 4th
Details: Enjoy the fireworks display on Friday, July 2nd at 9 PM and live entertainment on July 4th, from 6-10 PM by the Tams at the Harry C Pugliese “Pug” Pavilion. There will be food vendors on-site and we also encourage patrons to visit the downtown restaurants.
Details: Join us for live music by Robert McDuffy from 7 – 9 p.m. at The Circle on Sunday, July 4, 2021. Afterward, fireworks will begin promptly at 9 p.m. The fireworks are set off from the beachfront and can be seen all throughout Town.
Details: At 9 pm, the sky explodes with the Morehead City Fireworks display. Every year, this spectacular show is shot off from across the water on Sugarloaf Island bringing the audience so close to the action, it is almost like being underneath the bursts of light and noise. The fireworks display is sponsored by the Town of Morehead City and hosted by Downtown Morehead City, Inc. The Main Event Band will also be playing live music from 7 PM to 10 PM.
Morehead City 4th of July Invitation from their social media accounts
Beaufort 4th of July Parade & Fireworks Celebration
Distance from Emerald Isle: 19 miles (33-minute drive)
Location: The parade will be along Front Street, We suggest parking along the side streets or arriving early to park at Grayden Paul Park, 718 Front St, Beaufort, NC 28516
Date: Sunday, July 4th
Time: 4 PM – 9 PM
Details: The Beaufort Development Association’s (BDA) annual 4th of July parade will be at 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 4. Line-up begins at 3 p.m. at Gordon Street. The parade route will travel Front Street from Gordon Street to Turner Street and end at the Carteret County courthouse. Fireworks will be a non-gathering event this year. The best viewing will be at the end of Cedar St. looking out to the Maritime property. Fireworks will start at 9 p.m.
If you are anything like us, reading a book set in the location you’re visiting is about one of the most amazing experiences you can imagine. With these North Carolina books, we’ve gone one step further and ensured that they are all set within our beautiful coastal waters. Take a look at our running list of the best beach books set in North Carolina for your vacation to the Atlantic Ocean!
From local author in Emerald Isle, Tom Gill, to New York Times Bestseller & New Bern local, Nicholas Sparks. We have it all!
12 Best Beach Books Set in North Carolina
#1. The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks – We are sure this comes as no surprise if you know anything of famous North Carolina Authors. The Notebook is a #1 New York Times Bestseller that was adapted to film in 2004 and began Nicholas Sparks’ notable career in creating North Carolina based stories. The book itself was actually set in New Bern, North Carolina which is about an hour outside of Emerald Isle. The Notebook begins with the story of Noah Calhoun, a rural Southerner recently returned from the Second World War. Noah is restoring a plantation home to its former glory, and he is haunted by images of the beautiful girl he met fourteen years earlier, a girl he loved like no other. Unable to find her, yet unwilling to forget the summer they spent together, Noah is content to live with only memories…until she unexpectedly returns to his town to see him once again.
#2.Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens – Crawdads are very common to the North Carolina intercoastal waterways which is where this story begins in a fictional coastal town, known as Barkley Cove. Delia Owens’ #1 New York Times Bestseller, ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’, became a hit sensation in the summer of 2018 & has since become a favorite on many reviewers’ lists, including Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club. For years, rumors of the “Marsh Girl” have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl. But Kya is not what they say. Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home, finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the sand. Then the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. When two young men from town become intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new life–until the unthinkable happens.
#3.A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks – If you’re looking for a tear-jerker, Nicholas Sparks delivers in this Beaufort, North Carolina based novel about teenage love turning into the greatest love one can find, true love. Follow along with Landon Carter, a 17 year old boy in 1958 who falls in love with the pastor’s daughter. Can she change his life forever? In 2002, the book was adapted into a movie starring Mandy Moore and Shane West.
#4.Message in a Bottle by Nicholas Sparks – Proving that grief after losing a loved one can truly make us want to send them a “Message in a Bottle,” Nicholas Sparks’ novel captures the essence of what it means to have a second chance at love. This novel is set in Wilmington, North Carolina, and follows the story of two characters who find their way to each other under extraordinary circumstances & get a glimpse at what life could look like together. Unfortunately, sometimes fate has other plans. Message in a Bottle was adapted to film in 1999 and was produced by and starred Kevin Costner.
#5. The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen – Set in a fictional southern town in North Carolina called Mullaby. In her latest enchanting novel, New York Times bestselling author Sarah Addison Allen invites you to a quirky little Southern town with more magic than a full Carolina moon. Here two very different women discover how to find their place in the world–no matter how out of place they feel.
#6. Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks – The only of Sparks’ novels that mentions it’s location in the actual title, ‘Nights in Rodanthe’ is a romance novel set in Rodanthe, North Carolina about 4 hours northwest of Emerald Isle, NC. The novel was adapted to film in 2008 starring Richard Gere and Diane Lane. At forty-five, Adrienne Willis must rethink her entire life when her husband abandons her for a younger woman. Reeling with heartache and in search of a respite, she flees to the small coastal town of Rodanthe, North Carolina to tend to a friend’s inn for the weekend. But when a major storm starts moving in, it appears that Adrienne’s perfect getaway will be ruined — until a guest named Paul Flanner arrives. At fifty-four, Paul has just sold his medical practice and come to Rodanthe to escape his own shattered past. Now, with the storm closing in, two wounded people will turn to each other for comfort — and in one weekend set in motion feelings that will resonate throughout the rest of their lives.
#7. Joyland by Stephen King – Set in a beach town of North Carolina, this thriller mystery follows a college student who takes a summer job at an amusement park called Joyland & discovers the mysteries behind a murder taken place years earlier.
#8. The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks – Taking place just 18 minutes outside of Emerald Isle, ‘The Guardian’ is a romantic thriller set in Swansboro, North Carolina. A little outside of Nicholas Sparks’ norm, this romantic thriller follows Julie Barenson, a 29-year-old who is in search of her next emotional commitment. Julie Barenson’s young husband left her two unexpected gifts before he died: a Great Dane puppy named Singer and the promise that he would always be watching over her. Now, four years have passed. Still living in the small town of Swansboro, North Carolina, Julie is emotionally ready to make a commitment to someone again. But who? Should it be Richard Franklin, the handsome, sophisticated engineer who treats her like a queen? Or Mike Harris, the down-to-earth nice guy who was her husband’s best friend? Choosing one of them should bring her more happiness than she’s had in years. Instead, Julie is soon fighting for her life in a nightmare spawned by a chilling deception and jealousy so poisonous that it has become a murderous desire.
#9. The Bridge by Tom Gill – A touching love story, The Bridge reveals how a family tragedy—kept hidden for fifteen years—ends up wreaking havoc when it is finally revealed. An automobile accident at the Langston Bridge foreshadows events to come when high school sophomore Kirby Smith sets off on an intoxicating summer vacation at her grandparents’ home in gorgeous Emerald Isle, North Carolina. Sparks fly when the two young people get together. But when Kirby innocently stumbles on a shocking secret, readers are taken back to another time, revealing heartrending events that have been concealed for years. Tom Gill also wrote a sequel to ‘The Bridge’ called Return to Emerald Isle which was published in 2017.
#10. Beach Rental by Grace Greene – Set in Emerald Isle, NC along the beautiful Crystal Coast, Beach Rental brings about the story of Juli Cooke. Hard-working and getting nowhere fast, Julie agrees to marry a dying man for a financial settlement, not expecting this will soon set her on a journey of hope and love. The first of three novels, Grace Greene brings to life the seaside escapes of the North Carolina coast in this perfect beach read. Check out her other two books in the Emerald Isle, NC series: Beach Winds and Beach Wedding.
#11. A Field of Fireflies by Joey Jones – Set in Washington, North Carolina this novel takes place about an hour and 30 minutes outside of Emerald Isle, NC. Synopsis: Growing up, Nolan Lynch’s family was unconventional by society’s standards, but it was filled with love, and his parents taught him everything he needed to know about life, equality, and family. A baseball player with a bright future, Nolan’s on his way to the major leagues when tragedy occurs. Six years later, he’s starting over as the newest instructor at the community college in Washington, North Carolina, where he meets Emma Pate, who seems to be everything he’s ever dreamed of—beautiful, assertive, and a baseball fan to boot. Emotionally complex and charged with suspense, A Field of Fireflies is the unforgettable story of family, love, loss, and an old baseball field where magic occurs, including the grace of forgiveness and second chances.
#12. The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han – This trilogy of books by author Jenny Han is based in a fictional coastal town known as Cousins Beach, North Carolina. When asked, Han confirmed that the location is inspired by Cape Cod, the Hamptons, and a splash of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The young adult series is a perfect summer read for any teen wanting a quick read at the beach.
Honorable mentions – More Books Set in North Carolina:
The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon – 5th novel in the Outlander series during the War of the Regulation based in North Carolina (from about 1765-1771). You may know the series from the TV adaptation “Outlander” on Starz Network. Claire and Jamie’s home is located on Fraser’s Ridge in the North Carolina mountains. Gabaldon herself has said that Fraser’s Ridge would be near Boone, NC and Blowing Rock.
Serena by Ron Rash – New York Times Bestseller and newly adapted film starring Jennifer Lawrence and Bradly Cooper. This story is set in the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina.
Serafina and the Twisted Staff by Robert Beatty – Set in Asheville, NC
The Secret Book and Scones Society by Ellery Adams – Set in Miracle Springs, NC
The Queen of Hearts by Kimmery Martin – Set in Charlotte, NC
Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier – A historical fiction set in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina in Cold Mountain, NC.
Outbound Train by Renee Winchester – Set in Bryson City, NC just outside of Asheville.
Carolina Mist by Mariah Steward – Set in a Victorian Estate in Primrose, NC.
We hope this list brings you some well-deserved reading time on the beaches this summer and you continue to find books set in our beautiful state of North Carolina for years to come.
If you can’t stand the heat…visit Emerald Isle Beach in the Fall! One of the best times to visit the beach is during Fall not only because of the cooler crisp weather but also the amazing deals & festivals you can find! It’s the perfect season to visit with your family or go on a weekend getaway with your friends. See our full list of reasons to visit Emerald Isle in the fall below!
1. Off-Season Pricing for all Vacation Rentals
Visiting the beach in the Fall and Winter is one of the best seasons due to price drops in all vacation rentals for the off-season. Typically searching through your preferred rental websites such as Airbnb or HomeAway for off-season pricing is the easiest way to find a lower rate! The Emerald Isle area has a ton of vacation rental homes that are either oceanfront or sound front and with these rates, it’s worth booking.
2. Family Holidays are easy – Everyone under one roof!
Fall family photos at the Beach
Fall is also a huge ‘gathering’ season with Halloween, Thanksgiving, & even Friendsgiving events. This is the perfect time to take your family holiday gatherings to the beach and allow everyone to remain under one roof. Also, for those of us with high-tension family gatherings, this is the perfect neutral zone to gather! We highly recommend getting away for the holidays at Emerald Isle beach. You can also find lots of fully equipped kitchens in these rentals for cooking huge meals together. What fun!
3. Less Crowding – No lines at your favorite restaurants!
As many of us know, the beach can get crowded! That’s why the Fall season is the perfect time to visit since there are so many activities and no lines. The beaches are crowd-free for beautiful sunset walks, fun photoshoots, and any of your favorite seafood restaurants are line-free! Time for some Crab Shack at Salter Path!
4. Golfing & Putt-Putt
Family playing Putt-Putt at Treasure Golf & Raceway in Emerald Isle
You have the greenways to yourself! The local golf courses in Emerald Isle and Beaufort are open and ready for players! We love visiting Star Hill Golf Club and playing a round of golf since they have 27 holes or offer a short 9-hole game. Another awesome golf activity is of course Putt-Putt! Lost Treasure Golf in Salter Path, NC has an amazing course and also has go-karts that are fantastic for the entire family!
5.Camping & Bonfires on the beach
The Emerald Isle Beaches are also great places to camp out. You can throw up a tent on the beach at night and some rental properties even have fire pits for smores. At Emerald Isle, there are also camping sites like the Holiday Trav-L Park Resort which is an oceanfront camping site that allows Full-Hookup Sites (up to 50 feet), Water & Electric Sites for RVs, and Water & Electric Sites for Tents (one 6 to 8 person tent). They also have an on-site Arcade, 3 direct beach access locations, and a snack shack on the beach.
6. Fishing along the Crystal Coast
Bogue Inlet Pier at Emerald Isle NC
Fishing tournaments like the Annual Gordie McAdams Speckled Trout Surf Fishing Tournament and the Swansboro Rotary King Mackerel Tournament during October are popular tourist attractions. You can also always find a great fishing spot off of the dock at Emerald Isle at the Bogue Inlet Fishing Pier. Pricing at the pier is daily or seasonal. Daily Fishing Passes for Bottom Fishing are $12.50, you get 2 rods per person and children 6 and under are FREE & King Fishing is $25 with 4 rods per person. For reference, the North Carolina recreational fishing size and bag limits are listed on this website.
7. Fall Festivals!
NC Seafood Festival is typically on the first weekend in October and Emerald Isle City also does a Halloween Carnival. During November, Emerald Isle typically celebrates Thanksgiving with their Annual Christmas Parade. This year the Christmas parade is being held on November 30th at 3 pm on Hwy 58 off of Emerald Drive. Click here to learn more about the Emerald Isle Christmas Parade!
We hope you take advantage of this beautiful season and visit Emerald Isle for your Fall Vacation this year! If you are interested in a Fall vacation reach out to PDL Beach Properties and stay in one of our fully equipped rental homes in Emerald Isle. We can’t wait to hear from you!
We all know that Fireworks, BBQ’s and beach vacations are part of the 4th of July celebrations we all have come to know and love. Make sure you get the most out of your vacation by checking our list of 4th of July events you don’t want to miss in Emerald Isle Beach this year!
1. 4th of July Parade in Beaufort, NC
July 4, 2019 | 11:00 am-12:30 pm
A Beaufort tradition and crowd favorite, the Fourth of July Parade steps off at Gordon Street at 11 a.m. The parade and continues through downtown along the beautiful Beaufort waterfront.
The parade always draws some of the most creative minds in town, including Beaufort’s very own Sweet Potato Queens decked out in their crazy costumes. Kids, pets, wagons, and so much more make up this annual Beaufort event.
Co-sponsored by the Beaufort Development Association and the Town of Beaufort, the parade always attracts many floats.
2. July 4 Fireworks – Over the Ocean from Bogue Inlet Pier – 9 pm!
The Town of Emerald Isle is pleased to again partner with Bogue Inlet Pier to offer July 4th fireworks over the ocean!
The show begins at 9 pm, and will be visible from miles away on the beach!
Come on out and enjoy the fun!
Dakota Blue Plays Live On The Beach – 4 pm – 8 pm
Come out early and enjoy eastern NC country-rock performers Dakota Blue on the beach strand just west of Bogue Inlet Pier. This concert is presented by the “Emerald Isle Beach Patrol” (not affiliated with the Town, EIPD, or EIFD), a local group routinely involved in charitable causes. Proceeds from the July 4 event will benefit the Emerald Isle Police Department and Emerald Isle Fire Department, with funds used for the purchase of additional automatic external defibrillators and beach wheelchairs.
Come stroll the historic downtown Swansboro waterfront for the July 4th Celebration presented by Sanders Ford. Enjoy the sounds and celebration as we honor Independence Day on July 4th, 5-10 p.m. There is live music at the Harry C Pugliese “Pug” Pavilion. Food vendors will be along Front St. in preparation for the evening festivities.
Street closures will be implemented at 3 p.m. Front Street will be closed to vehicular traffic as well as Main and Church Streets up to Elm Street. Water St. will be closed from Moore St. to Broad St. In addition to street closures, all public docks will be closed to pedestrian traffic. Church St. Dock will be closing at 4 p.m. and dockage will be limited to vessels with reservations only. Please note fireworks are tentatively moved to Mullet Festival for the 2019 Season.
Be sure to check out your local events listed on Facebook for more Emerald Isle NC 4th of July events you can’t miss! Happy 4th from PDL Beach Properties!
You may think it’s all fun and games in Emerald Isle NC…
and YOU’D BE RIGHT!
Our curated list comes from years of experience and adventure all along the gorgeous Crystal Coast of North Carolina. Emerald Isle is a town on Bogue Banks Island, part of North Carolina’s Crystal Coast that is full of adventure, relaxation, and beautiful sunsets. Check out our list of the Top 11 Things to Do in Emerald Isle NC!
The most obvious…THE BEACH! Come to Emerald Isle NC to get your summer tan on and enjoy the crystal clear waters of North Carolina. You can bring the family for a beach day with your umbrellas and chairs & build sandcastles along the wide stretch of beach. Listening to rolling waves while reading a good book or sleeping under a huge sun hat sound good right about now!
2. Next up, the ocean! Emerald Isle is a hub for watersports! Anything from Surfing to skimboarding to water skiing. We have it all! The Western and Eastern Ocean Regional Accesses are public entry points to the beach for this watersports hub. You can even rent canoes, paddleboards, and kayaks along the Intercoastal Waterway to avoid any huge waves and stay close to shore. This is ideal for those kids and teens who secretly want to be surfers! Who doesn’t?
3. We told you about the watersports but we forgot to mention one of the biggest tourist attractions…Deep-Sea Fishing! The Bogue Inlet Pier is a popular fishing spot, with views of the Atlantic Ocean. Many of the boats like to charter from Morehead City and Swansboro, NC.
4. If you love to see fish and other sea creatures from a safe distance, the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores is for you!! Our aquarium is by far one of our must-see attractions, if you can only manage a few of these suggestions, let it be the NC Aquarium.
5. Emerald Isle Woods Park has a disc golf course and a dock, plus shoreline and forest trails, including part of the North Carolina Birding Trail. This is a great place for the entire family to find something they will enjoy!
6. The Salty Pirate Water Park is full of water slides that are both big and small, and is perfect for a day trip! Check out that “pirate ship”!!
7. Shopping!! Who doesn’t love a beautiful boutique filled with buried treasures? You will find so many fun places to find those one-of-a-kind souvenirs to bring home to family and friends.
8. Golfing and Putt-putt galore! One of our favorites is Lost Treasure Putt-Putt Golf & Raceway on Salter Path Rd. Bring the whole family and challenge each other to get that hole in one on the last hole to win a secret prize!
9. For our History buffs out there, Emerald Isle is very close to historic Beaufort NC. Learn about the beautiful historic homes and visit the town!
10. Fine Dining and Fun dining with delicious Seafood restaurants and fun beach-style atmospheres. Some of our personal favorites: Caribsea, Crab Claw Oceanfront Restaurant, Michaelangelo’s Pizza and Subs, Jackie’s American Grille, The Trading Post, and The Village Market.
11. Throughout the year Emerald Isle NC is also host to many events like Fairs & Festivals. Here is a list of the upcoming Emerald Isle NC events in 2018:
Beaufort Art Walk and Candlelight Homes Tour – December 8, 2018
In the words of our Property Manager at PDL Beach Properties, “There is always an adventure that awaits and a relaxing paradise when you visit Emerald Isle.” If you are in search of an amazing vacation rental in Emerald Isle NC, reach out to us by using our contact form online, emailing us at joycejones@pdlbeachproperties.com, or calling (919) 753-5751. We can’t wait to help you plan a truly memorable Emerald Isle Vacation with Places Designed for Leisure!
