8 events and attractions in the Eastern Plain & Inner Banks region are confirmed on the organizers’ own pages, from Oct 24, 2026 to Dec 19, 2026. Prices, hours and rules below are quoted from those pages and dated; anything an organizer has not published says “not published” rather than a guess. Towns covered include Greenville, Wilson and New Bern. Next up: Animals of Jones Lake (Jones Lake State Park), Oct 24, 2026.
Eastern Plain & Inner Banks events by date
| Event | Where | Dates | Hours | Price (as published) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animals of Jones Lake (Jones Lake State Park) | Elizabethtown | Oct 24, 2026 | 2:00-3:00 PM | not published | Animal pelts, mounts and skulls; all ages; 4117 NC 242 Hwy N |
| Dismal Day (Dismal Swamp State Park) | South Mills | Oct 24, 2026 | 10 AM-2 PM; free 5K fun run 9 AM | Free | Food trucks, music, bounce house, wagon rides, scavenger hunt, kids crafts, live animals; 5K is stroller-friendly, waiver required, no registration; 2294 US Hwy 17 N |
| Escape at the Millpond (Merchants Millpond State Park) | Gatesville | Oct 24, 2026 to Dec 14, 2026 | Registration required, call 252-357-1191 for day and time; about 1 hour | not published | History escape room, groups max 10; all ages listed |
| ECU Pirates football vs Temple | Greenville | Oct 31, 2026 | Time TBA | not published | Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium; billed Fan Appreciation / Paint It Black; stadium bag, stroller and alcohol rules not published (opponent/date pairing confirmed from schedule text: each game block lists opponent, venue, then date/time; matches posted results for prior games) |
| ECU Pirates football vs South Florida | Greenville | Nov 6, 2026 | 7:30 PM (Friday) | not published | Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium; Military Appreciation Day / Night of the Boneyard; stadium rules not published (opponent/date pairing confirmed from schedule text: each game block lists opponent, venue, then date/time; matches posted results for prior games) |
| ECU Pirates football vs Florida Atlantic (Senior Day) | Greenville | Nov 28, 2026 | Time TBA | not published | Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium; Senior Day; stadium rules not published (opponent/date pairing confirmed from schedule text: each game block lists opponent, venue, then date/time; matches posted results for prior games) |
| Chamber Music by Candlelight (Tryon Palace) | New Bern | Dec 4, 2026 | 7:00-9:00 PM | not published | Palace Council Chamber; Brierwood Ensemble; limited seating; ages not published |
| Candlelight at Tryon Palace | New Bern | Dec 12, 2026 to Dec 19, 2026 | Dec 12 and Dec 19, gates 3:30 PM, fireworks about 9:30 PM, event to 9:30 PM | not published on event page (early-bird pricing ended Oct 1; sells out) | Costumed palace tour with Stanly and Dixon houses; rain or shine, fireworks may cancel in extreme weather; tickets non-refundable; no photography inside historic buildings; no tripods, lights or drones; tavern serves drinks on grounds; food trucks outside gates |
Each event name links to the organizer’s page. Last checked 2026-10-18. Confirm the date and ticket price there before you go, because organizers change both.
Drive times
See drive times to 20 North Carolina destinations from Asheville, Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh and Wilmington.
State parks in this region
For free days outdoors, see the North Carolina State Parks Passport: most state parks charge nothing for day use.
Frequently asked questions
How were these events checked?
Each row was read on the organizer’s or venue’s own page, not copied from a listings site. The link in the first column is that page and the check date is in the log. See our editorial standards and verification log.
What if a price says “not published”?
It means the organizer’s page did not show a price when we looked, often because tickets sit behind a booking widget. We leave it blank instead of guessing; use the event link to see current prices.
What is the next event in the Eastern Plain & Inner Banks region?
Animals of Jones Lake (Jones Lake State Park), Oct 24, 2026, in Elizabethtown. Dates shift, so use the link in the table.
Where do I report a wrong date or price?
Use the contact page. Corrections are logged on our corrections page.
Sources
- Animals of Jones Lake (Jones Lake State Park), checked 2026-10-18
- Dismal Day (Dismal Swamp State Park), checked 2026-10-18
- Escape at the Millpond (Merchants Millpond State Park), checked 2026-10-18
- ECU Pirates football vs Temple, checked 2026-10-18
- ECU Pirates football vs South Florida, checked 2026-10-18
- ECU Pirates football vs Florida Atlantic (Senior Day), checked 2026-10-18
- Chamber Music by Candlelight (Tryon Palace), checked 2026-10-18
- Candlelight at Tryon Palace, checked 2026-10-18
Cite this page: It's North Carolina, “Eastern Plain & Inner Banks NC Events: Oct 2026 to Mar 2027”, itsnorthcarolina.com/eastern-plain-inner-banks-events/ (updated ). By the It's North Carolina editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.