The first weekend of May is bringing a real mix of things to do around the Topsail area – and the biggest decision may be how much weather, traffic, and crowd energy you want to deal with.
Ocean Fest in Surf City is the clear headliner on Saturday, May 2, with live music, vendors, food, drinks, surf culture, coastal education, and family activities downtown. But it is not the only thing happening.
There are also high school games and theater in Hampstead, a full music festival at Hampstead United Methodist Church, live music at Unwined, family programs in Sneads Ferry, and a few indoor backups if Saturday turns rainy.
Here is what to know before the weekend hits.
Quick Weekend Planner
Best Bets by Day
- Friday, May 1: Best overall weather window, with Topsail High sports, school theater, and live music at Unwined.
- Saturday, May 2: Biggest event day, led by Ocean Fest in Surf City and the Coastal Music Festival in Hampstead. Also the highest weather-risk day.
- Sunday, May 3: Better outdoor weather, with a Topsail High theater matinee and afternoon live music at Unwined.
Ocean Fest Is the Weekend Headliner in Surf City
When: Saturday, May 2
Where: Downtown Surf City / Soundside Park area
Primary location: 517 Roland Ave, Surf City, NC 28445
Cost: Free, with donations encouraged
Official event site: Ocean Fest
Ocean Fest is the biggest event on the Topsail-area calendar this weekend. The official event site describes it as a free, all-day beachside celebration in downtown Surf City with live music, a vintage surf contest, a 5K beach run, eco education, local vendors, food, drinks, and family-friendly fun benefiting Mother Ocean.
That makes it more than a concert or vendor market. It is a full coastal culture event, and it is likely to bring the largest crowd of the weekend into Surf City.
Ocean Fest Schedule Highlights
Ocean Fest has several moving parts, so the easiest way to plan is by time of day.
| Time | Event | What to Know |
|---|---|---|
| 7:00-7:45AM | 5K packet pickup / check-in | For registered runners before the morning race. |
| 8:00AM | Ocean Fest 5K | WECT reported the 5K begins at 8AM on the south side of the pier. |
| Early morning | Vintage Surf Contest | WECT reported an 8AM start on the north side of the pier. A separate regional roundup listed the surf contest at 9AM, so check Ocean Fest channels before heading out if this is your main reason for going. |
| 10:00AM | Main festival activity begins | Vendor market, eco zone, kids zone, food, drinks, and music activity build through the day. |
| 10:00AM-9:00PM | Festival and live music window | Live music continues into the evening, with the largest crowd expected later in the day. |
Most festival activities are free, including the music, vendor market, eco zone, and kids zone. Registration fees apply for the surf contest, 5K, and beach yoga, according to WECT’s Ocean Fest preview.
Named Ocean Fest Performers to Watch
This is where Ocean Fest gets more specific than “live music.” Published local event coverage lists the following performers for this year’s Ocean Fest lineup:
- Shwayze
- Signal Fire
- Oceanic
- The John Wood Band
- Bubba Love
- The Queen’s Giant
- Roland Ave.
Set times were not clearly posted in the public sources reviewed, so if you are going specifically for one performer, check Ocean Fest’s Facebook or Instagram before leaving. That is especially important with Saturday’s forecast looking unsettled.
Vendors, Food, and the Eco Zone
Ocean Fest is also bringing a curated vendor market. WECT reported that organizers expect about 55 vendors, with a focus on sustainable, upcycled, or eco-material goods. Food vendors are also expected to use compostable or sustainable flatware.
That fits the larger mission of the event. Ocean Fest is built around ocean awareness, coastal education, and sustainability, not just food trucks and music. Expect a mix of local makers, coastal brands, nonprofits, eco exhibits, and family-friendly education tied to protecting the ocean and coast.
The public pages reviewed did not surface a clean, confirmed 2026 vendor list by name. For that reason, it is safest not to name or tag individual vendors unless Ocean Fest posts the official 2026 vendor lineup before you publish or share.
How to Plan Ocean Fest Around Weather and Traffic
Saturday is the trickiest weather day of the weekend. Rain, breezier conditions, and possible storms could turn Ocean Fest into more of a come-and-go event for some families instead of an all-day stay.
If Ocean Fest is your priority, the smartest move is to:
- Arrive early, ideally before the midday crowd builds.
- Expect paid parking and downtown Surf City congestion.
- Build extra time around the Surf City bridge and roundabout.
- Check Ocean Fest social channels before leaving for schedule or weather-related changes.
- Have a backup plan ready if the rain becomes more than a passing shower.
The biggest crowd window will likely be late afternoon into the evening, when music, food, drinks, and the full festival atmosphere overlap.
Other Events Worth Building Around This Weekend
Ocean Fest is the headliner, but it is not the only thing locals can plan around. Here are the other weekend options with dates, times, locations, and details.
Friday, May 1
Parent and Baby Class at Big Moves Physical Therapy
When: Friday, May 1, 10:00-11:00AM
Where: Big Moves Physical Therapy & Performance
Address: 13094 NC Hwy 50, Suite B, Surf City, NC 28445
Best for: Parents and caregivers with babies around 9-12 months
This is a smaller daytime option for local families, focused on infant movement, play, and development. It is indoors, which makes it easy to plan around the forecast.
Topsail High School Friday Sports Cluster
When: Friday afternoon and evening
Where: Topsail High School campus
Address: 245 N. St. Johns Church Road, Hampstead, NC 28443
Friday has a real Topsail High cluster, with multiple home games and a theater performance on the same campus. If the weather holds, this is one of the most local-feeling ways to spend Friday evening without heading over the bridge.
| Time | Event | Opponent / Details |
|---|---|---|
| 4:00PM | JV Baseball | Topsail vs. New Hanover |
| 4:00PM | Softball | Topsail vs. New Hanover |
| 5:00PM | Girls Lacrosse | Topsail vs. West Brunswick |
| 6:30PM | Varsity Baseball | Topsail vs. New Hanover |
| 6:30PM | The Drowsy Chaperone Jr. | Indoor theater performance at Topsail High |
| 6:45PM | Boys Lacrosse | Topsail vs. West Brunswick |
Because school athletics can shift quickly due to weather, check the Topsail athletics or GoFan listing before heading out, especially for outdoor fields.
The Drowsy Chaperone Jr. at Topsail High
When: Friday, May 1 at 6:30PM; Saturday, May 2 at 6:30PM; Sunday, May 3 at 2:00PM
Where: Kenneth I. Lanier, Jr. Performing Arts Center / Topsail High Auditorium
Address: 245 N. St. Johns Church Road, Hampstead, NC 28443
Best for: Families, students, theater supporters, and anyone needing an indoor option
This may be the best weather-proof event of the weekend. If Saturday turns wet, the evening show becomes a strong indoor alternative. Sunday’s matinee is also a good option if you want something local without dealing with festival traffic.
Live Music with MidLife Crisis at Unwined
When: Friday, May 1, 5:00-8:00PM
Where: Unwined
Address: 114 N. Topsail Drive, Unit B, Surf City, NC 28445
Performer: MidLife Crisis
Unwined gives Surf City a low-commitment Friday night option before Saturday’s larger festival crowd arrives. This is a good fit if you want music and a smaller setting without making the weekend all about Ocean Fest.
Sneads Ferry Branch Library Family Programs
Where: Sneads Ferry Branch Library
Address: 1330 Highway 210, Sneads Ferry, NC 28460
| Time | Event | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00AM-6:00PM | Writing Contest: “What Freedom Looks Like to Me” | School-age kids and families |
| 10:30-11:00AM | Baby Steps | Ages 0-18 months |
| 4:30-5:30PM | Family Fun Friday | Families looking for a quiet indoor activity |
These are not headline events, but they are useful local options if you have younger kids and want something simple, indoors, and close to Sneads Ferry.
Saturday, May 2
Ocean Fest in Downtown Surf City
When: Saturday, May 2, all day, with major activity from morning into evening
Where: Downtown Surf City / Soundside Park area
Primary location: 517 Roland Ave, Surf City, NC 28445
Cost: Free, with paid registration for select activities
This is the main event of the weekend. Plan around weather, crowds, parking, and the downtown Surf City traffic pattern.
Coastal Music Festival at Hampstead United Methodist Church
When: Saturday, May 2, 12:00-8:00PM
Where: Hampstead United Methodist Church
Address: 15395 US Hwy 17 N, Hampstead, NC 28443
More info: Hampstead United Methodist Church
If Ocean Fest feels too crowded, too wet, or too much of a parking headache, Hampstead has the best mainland alternative.
The Coastal Music Festival will feature local praise bands and guest performers, including:
- The Living Stones
- The Edge
- Faith Harbor UMC Praise Team
- God’s Chosen
- 33Blurr
Hampstead United Methodist Church says the event will also include food trucks, local vendors, and live entertainment throughout the day, with more than 1,000 guests expected. Proceeds and gifts benefit Share the Table, and attendees are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items.
That gives this event a stronger local purpose than a standard music listing. It is also easier to reach for mainland residents who want to avoid Surf City bridge traffic.
Fun with Bluey at Sneads Ferry Branch Library
When: Saturday, May 2, 10:00AM-12:00PM
Where: Sneads Ferry Branch Library
Address: 1330 Highway 210, Sneads Ferry, NC 28460
Best for: Families with younger kids
If the Saturday forecast makes outdoor plans less appealing, this is one of the easiest kid-friendly indoor options in the area. It is simple, local, and much easier than fighting festival parking with young kids in the rain.
Live Music with MoJo at Unwined
When: Saturday, May 2, 5:00-8:00PM
Where: Unwined
Address: 114 N. Topsail Drive, Unit B, Surf City, NC 28445
Performer: MoJo
This gives Surf City another music option Saturday evening, but weather is the main caveat. Because it overlaps with Ocean Fest and the highest-risk weather day, check Unwined before heading over.
The Drowsy Chaperone Jr. at Topsail High
When: Saturday, May 2, 6:30PM
Where: Topsail High Auditorium
Address: 245 N. St. Johns Church Road, Hampstead, NC 28443
This is the strongest Saturday evening indoor backup. If rain hangs around or outdoor plans get tiring, the Topsail High show gives families something local, structured, and weather-proof.
Sunday, May 3
The Drowsy Chaperone Jr. Matinee
When: Sunday, May 3, 2:00PM
Where: Topsail High Auditorium
Address: 245 N. St. Johns Church Road, Hampstead, NC 28443
Sunday’s matinee is a good low-stress option after a busy Saturday. It also works well for families who do not want to be out late on a school night.
Live Music with Bland Sawyer at Unwined
When: Sunday, May 3, 3:00-6:00PM
Where: Unwined
Address: 114 N. Topsail Drive, Unit B, Surf City, NC 28445
Performer: Bland Sawyer
Sunday should be the better outdoor day, which makes this one of the easiest live-music picks of the weekend. It also gives locals a way to enjoy Surf City after the Saturday festival crowd thins out.
Not Into Events? Find Some Indoor Fun
If crowds, parking, or Saturday rain are not your thing, there are still ways to make the weekend work.
High Tides & Good Vibes in Surf City
Where: High Tides & Good Vibes
Address: 13971 NC Hwy 50, Surf City, NC 28445
Hours: Sunday-Thursday 11:00AM-9:00PM; Friday-Saturday 11:00AM-11:00PM
More info: High Tides & Good Vibes
High Tides & Good Vibes is one of the newest indoor entertainment options in Surf City, and it is a strong backup if the weather turns or you just want something easier than a festival crowd.
Think of it as a local family entertainment center with:
- 16 bowling lanes
- Laser tag
- Arcade games
- Axe throwing
- Darts
- Ropes course
- Ballistics tower
- Multisport simulator
- Karaoke
- Restaurant and bar
- Beer garden and outdoor stage area
Their site also points to live-show space and weekend entertainment, but performer names for this specific weekend were not clearly surfaced in the public listings reviewed.
Other Indoor or Low-Stress Ideas
- Catch the Topsail High theater show if Saturday is too wet for outdoor plans.
- Take kids to the Sneads Ferry Branch Library for a quieter family option.
- Grab dinner locally and wait out the rain instead of forcing a full outdoor day.
- Save your beach walk for Sunday, when the weather looks much better.
Weekend Planning Tips
- Go early for Ocean Fest. The later you wait, the more you will deal with parking, crowds, and bridge traffic.
- Check same-day updates. Outdoor events can shift quickly if rain or storms move through.
- Use Hampstead as the easy alternative. The Coastal Music Festival gives you music, food trucks, and a community event without island congestion.
- Use indoor plans strategically. High Tides & Good Vibes, Topsail High theater, and library programs are not afterthoughts this weekend. They are smart backups.
- Expect Surf City to be busy. Ocean Fest is the draw, and downtown parking will be part of the experience.
The Bottom Line
This weekend is not just about finding something to do. It is about picking the right plan for the weather, the crowd, and your patience level.
Ocean Fest is the event to watch, especially if you want music, vendors, coastal culture, and a full Surf City atmosphere. But if Saturday gets messy, Hampstead has the best mainland alternative, Topsail High has the best indoor event, and High Tides & Good Vibes gives families a new indoor place to burn a few hours.
Plan around Saturday, keep Sunday in your back pocket, and check event pages before heading out.
