The Rum Keg Girl of Beaufort + Your NC Coast Weekend Guide

Hey friends! This week we’re heading down the coast to Beaufort for one of the most haunting little legends on the Crystal Coast — the story of the Rum Keg Girl in the Old Burying Ground. We’ve also got your beach conditions, a Wilmington-area spotlight, and events from all along the coast for May 1–3.

We’re sliding into early May with full “spring-almost-summer” vibes. Water temps are mostly in the mid‑60s along the coast, so it’s chilly at first but totally doable once you’re in. Surf is looking mellow to moderate in the 1–3 ft range depending on the day, with Friday and Sunday shaping up as the best windows for long beach walks and getting your feet in the water. Keep a light layer handy for those pier sunsets — evenings can still cool off once the breeze kicks up.

If you wander down Ann Street in Beaufort on a quiet evening and step through the gate of the Old Burying Ground, the modern world drops away almost immediately. The air feels heavier, the live oaks lean in close, and weathered headstones tilt at odd angles like they’re still shifting into place after three hundred years. It’s beautiful, but in that way where you automatically lower your voice without thinking about it.

Some of the graves here belong to pirates, sailors, and sea captains. Some hold families who lived and died within a few blocks of where you’re standing. And then there’s one small grave that almost everyone in town can point out: the little girl buried in a keg of rum.

The story goes back to the 1700s, when an English family settled in Beaufort with their baby daughter. She grew up listening to her parents talk about the country they’d left behind — about London’s streets, ships on the Thames, and a home she was too young to remember. By the time she was old enough to understand, visiting England became her one big wish.

Her mother said no. It was too far, too dangerous, and the Atlantic wasn’t exactly known for being gentle back then. But the girl kept asking, and finally her father — a sea captain — promised he would take her with him on a voyage and bring her safely back home.

So she sailed with him across the ocean, all the way to England. On the way back, somewhere out at sea, she got sick. In the age before modern medicine and antibiotics, a simple illness could turn serious fast. The crew did what they could, but she died before they could reach North Carolina.

Normally, sailors who died at sea were buried at sea. It was the practical thing to do. But her father had promised her mother he’d bring their little girl home, and he couldn’t bring himself to break that promise. So he bought a small keg of rum from the ship’s stores, gently placed her body inside, sealed it, and kept it on board until the ship reached Beaufort.

When they finally arrived, the captain carried the keg ashore and had it buried in the Old Burying Ground. The simple marker that went up over her grave didn’t list dates or long epitaphs — just a note that she was a little girl buried in a rum keg.

Today, that grave is one of the most visited spots in the cemetery. People leave tiny seashells, stuffed animals, beads, toys, and little trinkets along the stone and in the roots of the oak beside it. Tour guides tell the story as the sun goes down, lantern light flickering over the wooden marker while the rest of the world slips into shadow.

Some visitors say they’ve heard the light patter of running footsteps on the path when no one else was around, like a child playing tag in the dark. Others talk about feeling a small, cool hand slip into theirs for just a second before the air goes still again. A few swear they’ve heard the soft laugh of a little girl from somewhere between the headstones — not menacing, just distant, like she’s still playing in her favorite place.

Whether you believe in ghosts or not, it’s hard not to feel something standing at that tiny grave. There’s a sadness to the story, but also a kind of stubborn love running through it: a father who refused to let his daughter disappear beneath the waves, a town that has quietly remembered her for hundreds of years, and strangers who still leave small gifts so she never feels forgotten.

If you visit Beaufort, walk the waterfront, grab dinner, and then, just once, step through the gate of the Old Burying Ground at dusk. Listen to the creak of the oaks and the rustle of leaves overhead. Somewhere in the middle of all that history and quiet, there’s a little girl in a rum keg who finally made it home.

This week’s spotlight is Hi-Wire Brewing Wilmington, tucked into the Soda Pop District just a few minutes from the riverfront. It’s one of our favorite spots to land after a day of exploring — big, colorful space, tons of indoor and outdoor seating, and a rotating lineup of easy‑drinking beers and fun seasonals. Grab a flight, snag a table outside if the weather’s good, and pair it with nearby food trucks or a short walk to local eats around the district.

NC Black Film Festival — May 1–3 throughout Wilmington (Wilmington Region). Film screenings, panels, and events around town celebrating Black filmmakers and stories — an awesome excuse to mix downtown time with beach days.

Boos on the Battleship 2 — May 1–3 at the USS North Carolina, Wilmington. A spooky‑fun weekend on the battleship with ghost‑themed programming and events for horror fans and paranormal‑curious visitors.

Beaufort Wooden Boat Show — Saturday, May 2 in Beaufort (Crystal Coast). Hand‑built boats, maritime demos, and a full waterfront festival vibe that fits perfectly with a day of exploring historic Beaufort.

Bike the Banks & Emerald Isle Rides — Saturday, May 2 in Emerald Isle (Crystal Coast). Hit the coast on two wheels with ride options that span bridges, beach towns, and big water views along the Crystal Coast.

Oak Island Seafood Festival — Saturday, May 2, 12–5 pm at Middleton Park (Oak Island, Southern Beaches). The Second Annual seafood festival with coastal eats, cooking demos, local vendors, and live music from the Lockwood River Band — an easy, family‑friendly way to spend a Saturday on the island.

This week on the blog, we’re heading to the northern Outer Banks for a slower kind of trip — from wild horses and the Currituck Beach Lighthouse in Corolla to soundside boardwalk sunsets and waterfront shops in Duck. If you’re dreaming about an OBX escape with good food, easy shopping, and big sky views over the water, this guide will give you plenty of ideas for your next long weekend.

See you next Thursday! 🌊

— The Hey Coastal Team