The
Famous North Carolina Seafood Festival
Imagine for a moment the sounds of music. In front of you two men sit under a large tent, both strumming guitars and singing quiet folk songs in unison. The sound is broken on occasion by the beat of a rock band two blocks away and the laughter of children nearby. You can hear wind chimes tinkling from a craft booth and the squeals of children on the merry-go-round. And then you take a breath and the smell permeates the air — ahhh, seafood. That's what the N.C. Seafood Festival is all about. The rides, musical entertainment and crafts are a merely a bonus. You're here for the seafood.
The story of how North Carolina's second largest festival came to be is somewhat of a legend in Carteret County. As the story (or fish tale, if you prefer) goes, the idea originated as a lunchtime joke in 1986 while several locals ate at a restaurant. One would simply not let the idea of a festival die, and that festival is alive indeed.
Always taking place the first weekend in October on the Morehead City Waterfront, the festival will celebrate its 22nd year in 2008. The first N.C. Seafood Festival saw 35,000 people flock to Carteret County, astounding the organizers. And if they thought that was something, they probably could have never fathomed the three-day event would draw more than 175,000 in 2004.
With a dedicated volunteer board of directors, a small paid staff and lots of volunteers, the N.C. Seafood Festival focuses on promoting the Crystal Coast, emphasizing the seafood industry that has sustained the area since its birth. It also offers an ideal outlet for area nonprofit organizations to raise needed funds. You'll find high school band boosters frying shrimp, Rotarians grilling hot dogs and football teams selling T-shirts. If they don't have something to vend themselves, the festival board allows non-profit groups to sell festival mementos, keeping a portion of the funds for themselves. Through the years, the number of commercial food vendors has been lowered to allow the nonprofit groups the opportunity to reap the benefits of the community festival. In past years, over $120,000 has gone back into county non-profits such as churches, schools, and youth and civic groups. The N.C. Seafood Festival has become a true community event.
Local music and culture is mixed with well-known contemporary artists. The N.C. State Port, one of only two industrial ports in the state, opens its gates for vessels tours and provides free parking with shuttle service. The festival now includes a family fishing tournament, an 8K road race, a photo contest, a sailing regatta, the Southern Outer Banks Boat Show, the Oh Boy! Oberto Red Fish Cup Fishing Tournament on ESPN, fireworks and more.
Numerous stages are set up throughout the waterfront area and offer everything from country music and storytellers to children's performances and sing-a-longs. On Sunday morning at the Port, commercial fishermen are honored with the annual Blessing of the Fleet, a commemorative religious ceremony that recognizes fishermen who have passed away. In addition to the great seafood, the outstanding music and the wonderful crafts, Coastal Yesterday is one area that features the traditional crafts of the past — boat building, decoy carving, net mending along with environmental education displays and hands-on activities.
Above all, the N.C. Seafood Festival is a great
introduction to the culture and seafood of the Crystal Coast. It is an ideal
way to see what Carteret County is all about. Come and have a look, or a
taste, for yourself.