Art, Music, & Food at the Autumn With Topsail Festival

Drawing more than 20,000 attendees in recent years, Autumn With Topsail Festival has boomed into one of the biggest events all year on Topsail Island. This festival is your introduction to fall. Shop 110+ vendors selling all your favorite seasonal wares. Let the live music performances become the soundtrack to your fall vacation. Let the charming oceanfront setting charm you into falling in love with autumn.

Seascape vacation homes are the choice accommodations for visitors in town for the Autumn With Topsail festival. The weather is still pleasant, making it the perfect place to be this October. Here’s everything you need to know about the event and the best places to stay to immerse yourself in the festival action!

History of the Autumn With Topsail Festival

Who would have known a building preservation project would become one of the largest festivals on the island?! Autumn with Topsail Festival began in 1988 as an effort to save the Historical Assembly Building. This building holds historical significance for its role in Operation Bumblebee, a secret US Navy missile testing site. The first festival proved successful in drumming up support for the building—a tradition that continues today, with all festival proceeds benefiting the Historical Society of Topsail Island.

Today, the Historical Assembly Building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is the site of the Missiles and More Museum. It hosts events such as weddings and conferences throughout the year. But the locals will tell you that it’s the Autumn with Topsail Island that’s the most anticipated!

Things to do at the Autumn With Topsail Festival

Gear up for three days of oceanfront fun. Your weekend getaway to Topsail Island will be filled with food, fun, shopping, and entertainment with back-to-back-to-back days of activities. Here are the highlights yo u can look forward to every year.

Jam to live music

Every day of the festival is jam-packed (no pun intended) with an incredible lineup of musicians you don’t want to miss. The band stage is located on Channel Blvd, where The Notorious Clam Slammers returns this year in 2025 to kick off this year’s festival, followed by The Carolina Band, North Tower Band, and the Band of Oz on the following days.

Enjoy live entertainment

Musicians aren’t the only live performances happening at the festival. Sky High Entertainment is ready to shock-and-awe the crowds with magic tricks, juggling, stilt walking, and balloon art. Even the kids will love these talented acts.

Shop the best artists from the coastal region

Every year brings even more talent to Topsail Island for the AWT Festival. In recent years, it’s surged to more than 100 vendors selling everything that gets you in the fall spirit. Browse original paintings as colorful as fall foliage. Shop candles with pumpkin scents and soaps that smell like the autumn breeze. Find autumn spices to make pumpkin pie and other favorite seasonal treats.

Get your grub on

Bring your appetite because there’s endless grub to dig into at AWT. Start the morning with Kiwani’s Pancake Breakfast served inside the Assembly Building. Stop by the food court to refuel before the evening’s live music set. Visitors aged 21+ can enjoy drinks in the Beer and Wine Garden before returning to the family-friendly fun.

Let the kids play

While the adults have their fun, the kids will have plenty to keep them distracted. AWT is a family-friendly event featuring designated activities for children. Kick off your sandals and slide down the inflatable slide or race against your siblings on the inflatable obstacle course (sorry, no adults!). Bring out your child’s creative side with arts and crafts to make bead necklaces, seashell critters, leaf wreaths, and more.

Bid in the silent auction

Support the Historical Society of Topsail Island by casting your bid in the silent auction. AWT has gift bags and other prizes available for bidding. Winners are announced on the last day of the festival.

Attending the Autumn with Topsail Festival

The 2025 Autumn with Topsail Festival will take place from October 17 to 19. Tickets are available in-person at the festival or advanced purchase online (Note that online ticket sales include a processing fee). If you make an online ticket purchase, you must redeem it at 720 Channel Blvd., Topsail Beach, NC.

If you’re planning to attend the festival all weekend, the Three-Day ticket package is the best deal. And purchasing your tickets in person will also save some money. Here are the Autumn with Topsail Festival Ticket packages:

*AWT 2025 ticket prices

Active military and veterans have a discounted price of only $5 on any day with their valid ID. Children under the age of 12 get in free!

Getting to the Autumn With Topsail Festival

The beautiful Topsail Beach plays host to the annual Autumn With Topsail Festival. Use one of these three entrances to get to the festival grounds:

1. Main Gate – located on S. Anderson Blvd (online ticket check-in)
2. Behind Four Cousins Ice Cream – located on Carolina Blvd
3. Lewis Seafood – located on Carolina Blvd

Topsail Beach typically has paid parking. However, for the festival, it will have tons of free parking available for festivalgoers.

Where to stay for the Autumn with Topsail Festival

Stay in Topsail Beach where just a few steps away from the Autumn With Friends festival takes you to an airy coastal escape. You’ll have plenty of quiet time to sleep and be refreshed for the next day’s festival fun. Check out our Topsail Beach vacation rentals to find your quiet festival escape.