Special Events

Night Markets

Join Morehead City Parks and Recreation for our Third Thursday Night Markets. Night markets will be held one Thursday a month from 6 - 8 p.m. Check out these exciting events with live music, shopping and fun.  The market is located at 1213 Evans Street. We hope to see you there!

Upcoming Night Markets:

  • October 19th, 2023
  • November 16th, 2023
  • December 7th, 2023 (in coordination with the Morehead City Art Walk)

For more information, or to become a vendor, visit MoreheadCityNC.org, contact 252-241-2773 or email curbmarket@moreheadcitync.org.


Morehead City Chalk Festival

Join Morehead City Parks and Recreation Department at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., City Park, located at 1001 Arendell Street, Morehead City. The festival will be held from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. on September 30th, 2023. The cost to compete is $10/square. Event is free to attend. There will be craft tables, tie-dye and a chalk art competition. To register for the competition Click here. For more information, contact Amanda Beaman at amanda.beaman@moreheadcitync.org or call 252-726-5083 ext. 702. You can also call if you are interested in becoming a vendor or participating in the competition.

Barktober Festival

Join Morehead City Parks and Recreation Department at Rotary Dog Park, located at 2203 Mayberry Loop Road, Morehead City.  The festival will be held from 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. on October 14th, 2022.  There will be a pet costume contest, dog walk, food vendors, and various other pet resources. Event is free to attend.  Pet costume contest cost is $1 per entry. Registration can be found here. For more information, contact Amanda Beaman at amanda.beaman@moreheadcitync.org or call 252-726-5083 ext. 702. You can also call if you are interested in becoming a vendor or participating in the competition.

Trunk or Treat

Morehead City Parks and Recreation Department will be hosting our Annual Trunk or Treat Event. The event will be held on Wednesday, October 25th, 2023 from 5:30pm-7:00pm at the Morehead City Recreation Center, located at 1600 Fisher Street, Morehead City. Sign-ups to host a trunk are now open. Candy donations will be accepted. Register to host a trunk here.  For more information, contact Amanda Beaman at 252-726-5083 ext. 702 or email amanda.beaman@moreheadcitync.org . 

Haunted House

Join Morehead City Parks and Recreation for our second annual Haunted House event. The event will be held on Friday, Saturday, and Monday (October 27th, 28th and 30th) from 6:00-9:00pm at the Morehead City Recreation Center, located at 1600 Fisher Street, Morehead City. Tickets are $5 per person. Sponsorships are available at all levels. This is a great opportunity to support the Morehead City Parks and Recreation Scholarship Fund that helps local kids participate in Recreational sports and programs they may not otherwise be able to participate in.   Click here to buy tickets or purchase a sponsorship.  Click here for sponsorship levels.  For more information, contact Victoria Ward at victoria.ward@moreheadcitync.org or call 252-726-5083 ext. 706. 

Sponsorships Available:

Haunted House Sponsorships are put toward the Morehead City Parks and Recreation Department Scholarship Fund that allows our department to support local children participating in summer camp, youth sports, and other recreational programs. 

  • $100 Buried Bones Level:  Includes a skeleton to decorate and enter in contest.
  • $500 Goblin Level:  Sponsor and decorate one room in the Haunted House. Personal or business name will be on event banner.
  • $750 Executive Ghost Level:  Sponsor one room.  Parks and Rec staff will decorate and present the room with your logo.  You may add any decorations. Personal or business name will appear on banner.
  • $1000 Graveyard Level:  Entitles you to be a named sponsor in all advertising. Logo will appear on event, Personal or business name on event banner.

For more information regarding scholarships, contact Assistant Director, Victoria Ward at Victoria.Ward@MoreheadCityNC.org or call 252-726-5083 ext. 706. 

Veterans Day Parade

Morehead City is a proud sponsor of the Carteret County Veterans Day Parade.  For more information visit https://www.carteretcountyveteransdayparade.com/ . 

Morehead City Christmas Tree Lighting

Join us to ring in the holidays with the lighting of the Christmas Tree with Mayor Jerry Jones and Santa! There will be music, hot cocoa and an ugly Christmas Sweater Contest.  This event will be held on Friday, December 1st, 2023.

For more information, please contact Amanda Beaman at Morehead City Parks and Recreation Department by calling 252-726-5083 ext. 702 or email Amanda/Beaman@moreheadcitync.org. 

Christmas at the Curb Market

The Morehead City Curb Market will be hosting a special Christmas Event on Thursday, December 7th, 2023 from 6:00p.m.-8:00p.m. to get you into the holiday spirit. As it happens, the event coincides with the Carteret County Arts Council's Art Walk. It's the most wonderful time of the year in Morehead City with no shortages of activities or events.  Step into the season and get festive with the Morehead City Parks and Recreation Department's Curb Market Christmas Event. For more information, or to become a market vendor, contact curbmarket@moreheadcitync.org or call 252-241-2773. 

Morehead City Christmas Parade

Join us for the annual Morehead City Christmas Parade! This year’s parade is scheduled for Saturday, December 9th starting at 11:00 am.

The parade will run along Arendell Street, eastbound, from 17th to 6th streets. Bring a chair and get ready for the 2023 Christmas Parade

The Christmas Parade is a tradition in downtown Morehead City. Featuring creative floats from local businesses and community groups, as well as performances from nearby school marching bands and dance teams, the parade is a fun and festive event for the whole family! Even Santa makes an appearance - so you won’t want to miss it!

The Town of Morehead City and Downtown Morehead City Inc partner up to put on this special event.

For questions about the parade, please call Downtown Morehead City, Inc.'s office (252) 808-0440, or email info@downtownmoreheadcity.com.  To register for the parade; click here. 

Morehead City New Years Eve Celebration and Downtown Countdown

Mark your calendars for the annual Morehead City New Years Eve Celebration and Downtown Countdown.  Count down with all of downtown as the crab pot slowly makes its way to the ground.  More details to be announced soon.