Take advantage of Carowinds' Youth Performance Opportunities during Festival of Music!

Questions or concerns about the accessibility of our website or need any assistance accessing any of the information you would expect to find on our site, please contact us at (704) 588-2600.
Cart
Park: Closed
Waterpark: Closed
View Hours
Arizona Hurricane Harbor Phoenix Phoenix, AZ California Six Flags Magic Mountain Los Angeles, CA Hurricane Harbor Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA Six Flags Discovery Kingdom San Francisco/Sacramento, CA Hurricane Harbor Concord San Francisco/Sacramento, CA California's Great America Santa Clara/San Jose, CA Knott's Berry Farm Los Angeles, CA Knott's Soak City Los Angeles, CA Georgia Six Flags Over Georgia Atlanta, GA Six Flags White Water Atlanta, GA Illinois Six Flags Great America Chicago, IL Hurricane Harbor Chicago Chicago, IL Hurricane Harbor Rockford Rockford, IL Maryland Six Flags America Baltimore/Washington, DC Massachusetts Six Flags New England Agawam, MA Michigan Michigan's Adventure Muskegon, MI Minnesota Valleyfair Shakopee, MN Missouri Six Flags St. Louis St Louis, MO Worlds of Fun Kansas City, MO New Jersey Savannah Sunset Resort & Spa Jackson, NJ Six Flags Great Adventure Jackson, NJ Hurricane Harbor New Jersey Jackson, NJ Wild Safari Adventure Jackson, NJ New York Six Flags Great Escape Lake George, NY Six Flags Darien Lake Buffalo, NY Darien Lake Lodging Buffalo, NY Great Escape Lodge & Indoor Waterpark Lake George, NY North Carolina Carowinds Charlotte, NC Ohio Cedar Point Sandusky, OH Cedar Point Shores Sandusky, OH Kings Island Mason, OH Oklahoma Frontier City Oklahoma City, OK Hurricane Harbor OKC Oklahoma City, OK Pennsylvania Dorney Park Allentown, PA Texas Six Flags Over Texas Arlington, TX Six Flags Fiesta Texas San Antonio, TX Hurricane Harbor Arlington Arlington, TX Hurricane Harbor Splashtown Houston, TX Schlitterbahn Galveston Galveston, TX Schlitterbahn New Braunfels New Braunfels, TX Virginia Kings Dominion Doswell, VA Ontario Canada's Wonderland Vaughan, Ontario Quebec La Ronde EN Montreal Quebec, QC La Ronde FR Montreal Quebec, QC Mexico Six Flags México Mexico City, Mexico Hurricane Harbor Oaxtepec Montreal Quebec, QC
Park: Closed
Waterpark: Closed
View Hours

Festival of Music

Registration Now Open!

Carowinds Festival of Music is returning in the Spring of 2025 for its 49th year! We are excited to expand our fine arts programming to include not only instrumental and choral ensembles, but dance, show choir & musical theatre ensembles as well! Look for our new Festival of Dance, and Show Choir & Musical Theatre Festival information when you register your group!

We are also thrilled to announce that our calendar has also expanded for 2025 to include 2 weeks of weekday offerings in April!

Don't miss this chance to be part of the fun and excitement of performing at Carowinds in 2025. Sessions fill up quickly and are only available on a first come, first served basis.

Instrumental: 

  • March 15, 22, 28, 29
  • April 4, 5, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26
  • May 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 30, 31

Choral:

  • March 28, 29
  • April 11, 12, 14, 15, 23, 24, 25, 26
  • May 2, 3, 9, 10

Show Choir & Musical Theatre Festival:

  • April 4 & 5

Registration Instructions

Carowinds' Festival of Music is one of the most anticipated and celebrated student performance events in the Carolinas. Middle and high school concert bands, jazz ensembles, orchestras, choral ensembles, and dance troupes are invited to showcase their skills In one of our unique on-site venues.

In addition to a desirable performance opportunity, the Festival of Music is also a valuable chance to learn from the masters. Under the guidance of retired Winthrop University director of bands, Dr. William F. Malambri, nationally-known adjudicators will evaluate and critique your ensemble's performance. All groups will receive a certificate of participation.

PLEASE NOTE: You will select and register for a performance time. Warm-up times will begin prior to the selected time, with 30 minutes for instrumental groups, 15 minutes for choral and 20 minutes for show choir/musical theatre & dance groups.

Loading. Please wait...

How the Festival Works

Register Your Ensembles

In 2025, Festival of Music will host instrumental, choral and show choir groups for performances - plus a new category of Musical Theatre!

Complete the online registration with a $150 registration fee per performing group, to reserve your 2025 Carowinds Festival of Music performance time. However, we are excited to be able to offer an early bird registration fee of $100 for all ensemble registrations that are paid prior to December 31, 2024. Afterwards, the registration fee will increase to $150 per ensemble. 

The registration fee is non-refundable, non-transferable, and must be received prior to finalization of your scheduled performance time. The registration fee is for registration purposes only and does not apply to your ticket purchase. lf paying by check, a copy of the invoice must be mailed with payment to ensure proper credit to the correct ensemble.

Order Your Tickets

Each person entering Carowinds will need to present an admission ticket or a season pass to gain access to the Festival of Music and the park. This includes students, directors, accompanists, chaperones, group members, family, and friends.

Ticket Prices

  • Performer: $50.00 per person
  • Observer/Chaperone: $39.00 per person
  • Season Passholder Performer: $10.00 per person

Meal Options

Carowinds makes it easy to take care of your group during your visit. The following meal and drink options are available:

  • Picnic Buffet: This is an all you can eat buffet that is served between 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM each day. 
  • All Day Drinks: Enjoy refreshing Coca-Cola beverages all day, with only a 15-minute interval between refills.
  • Single Meal Deal: Includes one entree, side, and a regular drink at participating restaurants throughout the park.
  • All Day Dining: Enjoy an entree and one side item every 90 minutes at participating restaurants throughout the park.
  • Premium All Day Dining: Enjoy an entrée and one side item, or a snack, every 90 minutes at participating restaurants throughout the park, plus, All Day Drinks.

Perform and Have Fun at the Park

All selections of music will be adjudicated (three selections for instrumental and two selections for choral).

Scores and packets will be available 15 minutes after your performance at the festival check-in table outside the assigned theater. All groups will receive a certificate of participation.