top of page
Potato Festival night street view with Ferris Wheel and carnival games

join

the fun

What's Happening Downtown

From intimate watercolor classes to our big events like the NC Potato Festival, check out the event calendar to see what's happening now in Elizabeth City Downtown or scroll down for more information about our annual sponsored events.

Downtown Events

Add your local event by clicking the blue "Add an event" button and then creating an account with Events.com. All local events will display across all Events.com calendars within the area.

Annual ECDI Events

Thanks to our ECDI Premier Sponsors for making all of these events possible

ECDI Thanks all of our Premier sponsors for making the ECDI Events and activities throughout the year possible. 

Premier Sponsors Square logos 2025 v2.jpg

Every First Friday of the month, many art studios and businesses in downtown Elizabeth City are open from 4:00 pm until 7:00 PM-ish for our First Friday ArtWalk! Guest artists along with food and music abound as businesses remain open later and the downtown streets come to life.

Art Studios Sanford_edited.jpg

The annual TarWheel Cycling Event takes place in April on a scenic, flat countryside course through the beautiful Pasquotank & Perquimans Counties in northeastern NC. You have the option of 33, 64, or 100 mile ride, starting on the waterfront in downtown Elizabeth City.

Cycling in Spring

The annual NC Potato Festival is a fun-filled, family festival that celebrates one of our largest crops. Enjoy rides and games, live music, potato-oriented activities, a cornhole tournament, an car & bike show, free french fries, and bushels of FUN for the whole family!

North Carolina Potato Festival Concessions Stand with people in line

Legends & Lore Scavenger Hunt

Legends & Lore is an annual clue-based scavenger hunt for adults built around a local legend. Participants are given clues and directed around the Downtown area.

Mixologist Preparing a Drink
View Event Details

Classic American films are shown on a large screen with Elizabeth City’s beautiful waterfront at Mariners’ Wharf Park as the backdrop. Held on eight consecutive Tuesdays at dusk during the months of June and July.

Summer Movie Night

A series of free outdoor festival-style concerts Tuesday evenings from August-September. Held on the water at Mariners' Wharf Park.

Music Band

Downtown
Trick-or-Treat

Bring your kids to Downtown Elizabeth City on the Saturday before Halloween for some Trick or Treating in the central business district. Participating Businesses will be handing out candy (while supplies last). Costumes are encouraged! 

Halloween Costumes

The Holiday Celebration & Grand Illumination is always the official start of the holiday season in Elizabeth City! The community comes together throughout the season for caroling, hot cocoa, whispering your gift wishes into Santa’s ear, and many other activities. 

Christmas Interior Decor

A national initiative started by American Express, this day brings attention to the importance of shopping local. ECDI and individual small businesses organize a day of fun experiences, from holiday music to decorated window displays, Santa Claus visits, and SALES!

Christmas Shopping

Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsorship

In addition to specific event sponsorship opportunities, we also have Special Project sponsorship opportunities ranging from $500- $5,000 for public art elements such as metalworks wings, murals, bike racks, and other creative art elements.

Planning Help

Planning Calender

Elizabeth City Downtown Inc. and its partner organizations offer the below linked event list for planning purposes. If you are a partner organization or feel your large event (50+ people) should be on the list, please let us know by emailing us at assistant@elizabethcitydowntown.com or click the "Enter Your Event" button below. This list is for public events only--we do not list weddings, funerals, birthdays, etc.

bottom of page