Numerous festivals are held annually in North Carolina in honour of favourite foods, including apples, watermelons, seafood, turkey, pickles and collard greens.
Regional specialities:
• Sweet potato pie.
• Barbecue.

Student bars dominate the university towns of Chapel Hill, Durham and Raleigh; top rock bands appear at the Cat’s Cradle Club in Carroboro. Charlotte offers a wide range of entertainment, including nightclubs and bars around the Uptown Entertainment District.

North Carolina’s aquariums offer workshops for coastal crafts and include shops selling unusual gifts. They are located in Manteo on Roanoke Island, Kure Beach and Pine Knoll Shores. Brevard is also popular for its many craft centres and shops. The world’s largest furniture market is located in High Point near Winston-Salem. Concord Mills, just north of Charlotte, has over 200 outlet and speciality shops, restaurants and a 24-screen cinema.