Music is in the Air - Published by Topsail Magazine

Published by Pat Fontana with Topsail Magazine, March 23, 2023 

On the afternoon of Saturday, April 1, beach music will fill the air in North Topsail Beach as three bands, a number of food and beer trucks and hundreds of residents and visitors come together to celebrate a town “first.”

The NTB Music Festival will be the first of its kind for the Topsail Island town. Although the town is proud to host other events throughout the year, including the Ocean City Jazz Festival, Town Manager Alice Derian says, “The NTB Music Festival will be our first large-scale event held by the town.”

Headlining the festival is the Band of Oz, a beach music favorite throughout the Carolinas, Georgia and Virginia. In addition to its talented vocalists, guitars and keyboards, the band now features a full horn section to total a dynamic eight-member group.

Next up on the schedule, The Tonez will entertain with beach, dance and rock music. The band has been described as featuring a “killer horn section, six lead vocalists and energy that doesn’t stop.” Following The Tonez, the Blackwater Band will wrap up the event with a variety of Top 40, blues, funk and country music for all to enjoy.

Derian emphasizes that the NTB Music Festival is a family-friendly event. It will be held at Richard Peters Park. Kids 12 and younger will be admitted for free, and the playground will be open throughout the festival. She adds that the Board of Aldermen wanted to bring more family-friendly events to North Topsail Beach. When they were discussing goals for the year, Derian explains, “the importance of family-friendly events came out of that.”

The town’s Parks and Recreation Committee is hoping this will be the springboard for future events for the town of this magnitude, Derian adds.

The committee is actively seeking new members to help plan those events going forward. Individuals interested in volunteering are encouraged to apply on the town website.

Music festival coordinators include members of the committee as well as town officials and staff members. Mayor Joann McDermon and Alderman Connie Pletl are leading the effort with the assistance of Ashley McDermon, Shelly Barnhill, Town Manager Derian, Fire Chief Chad Soward, Susan Meyer, Sandi Monroe and all town staff members.

While no outside beverages or food are permitted at the NTB Music Festival, there will be plenty of options available inside the gate. Planned food truck vendors include Southern Roots, SmokeN Grind and Baker’s Rise. Crooked Lotus will be the beer vendor for the event.

North Topsail Beach t-shirts, hats, tumblers and stickers will be available for purchase by credit card throughout the afternoon as well. Most food truck vendors will accept cash or credit cards.

NTB Music Festival sponsors include gold sponsor Treasure Realty, Level 3 sponsor North Topsail Rentals and Wagner Insurance and Realty. Sponsors can still sign on to enjoy promotional opportunities including having their names on event advertisements and receiving shoutouts from the stage.

The Richard Peters Park has undergone many improvements over the past few months. Derian says they have “replaced the ramps and stairways and the restroom facilities have undergone a complete makeover.” The work will be wrapping up in time for all to enjoy renovated and refurbished facilities at the NTB Music Festival.

Derian says that she and the Board of Aldermen are working to provide more family-friendly events for town residents and visitors throughout the year. The Christmas Tree Lighting at the end of November 2022 was a first for North Topsail Beach. They are planning to expand that event for 2023 and throughout the next fiscal year will also be planning events such as an Easter egg hunt and a food truck rodeo.

There are a few rules for the NTB Music Festival, to make sure it is a safe and fun event for all. Concert goers are encouraged to bring collapsible beach or camping chairs but no blankets are allowed. Check out the event page for the full list of guidelines and information.

Mark your calendars, get your tickets online, and plan to enjoy a family-friendly first at the NTB Music Festival!

NTB Music Festival Info

• Saturday, April 1 from 1 to 6 pm
• Peters Park, 465 New River Inlet Road, North Topsail Beach
• Tickets are available for purchase here. Adult tickets are $32.50, which includes the processing fee. Children 12 and younger get in free. If the capacity of 1,500 has not been reached by the date of the event, tickets will be available at the gate for $35, plus the processing fee.
• Free parking is available during the festival, at the town lots located at 4021 Island Drive and 315 New River Inlet Road. Topsail Trolley will transport festival goers from the parking lots to Richard Peters Park, also for free.

Questions about the event or about being a sponsor? Email Alice Derian, NTB Town Manager at aderian@northtopsailbeachnc.gov.