Carolina Beach Boardwalk

Carolina Beach has drawn summer crowds since 1887, and its boardwalk still feels like an old-fashioned beach town. On summer Thursdays there’s a free concert at the gazebo stage, then fireworks over the ocean.

• Carolina Beach
• Free
• Summer evenings
• Fireworks

Why families go

Visitors love the classic feel: ocean views from the boardwalk, swings, an arcade, shops and Britt’s Donuts, which has been frying on the boardwalk since 1939. The summer Thursday concerts and fireworks are the big draw. The flip side is crowds, and paid parking that can get expensive on peak nights. The carnival rides at the north end are privately run and have a troubled recent record, so we’d plan around the boardwalk itself rather than the rides.

Don’t miss

• Thursday concerts and fireworksIn recent summers: free Boardwalk Blast concerts at the gazebo stage from 6:30 p.m., and Fireworks by the Sea at 9 p.m., Memorial Day to Labor Day.
• Britt’s DonutsA boardwalk fixture since 1939. Expect a line on summer nights.
• The arcade and the swingsEasy fun between dinner and the fireworks.
• Carolina Beach Lake ParkTwo blocks inland: a free playground, a loop path around the lake, and summer movies and family nights.

Photo: Town of Carolina Beach

Before you go

• Arrive early on fireworks nights; parking near the boardwalk is paid and fills up.
• The privately run rides were cited by the NC Department of Labor in June 2026 after a rider was injured. The town is buying the land, and the rides’ future there is uncertain.
• Concert and fireworks schedules are set each summer; check the town’s events page.

Plan your visit

• Where: Boardwalk District, between Cape Fear Blvd. and Harper Ave., Carolina Beach, NC 28428
• From Topsail: About 1 hour from central Surf City.
• Hours: The boardwalk is open year-round; concerts, fireworks and many shops are seasonal.
• Admission: Free (paid parking).
• Events: Town of Carolina Beach: boardwalk and events
• More nearby: more family fun in Carolina Beach

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Based on official information from the attraction and on recurring themes in public reviews; checked October 2026. Hours, seasons and prices change, so confirm before you go.