North Carolina Oyster Festival

Ocean Isle Beach

2026 NC Oyster Festival Highlights

• Community Night Kick-Off – Friday, Oct. 16: The weekend starts with a free community celebration and concert by The Sea-Cruz Band. Gates open at 4:30 p.m., with a ceremony and ribbon cutting before the concert from 6–8 p.m. There are no vendors or shuttle service that evening.
• Live Music: Five bands perform throughout the weekend, including The Caroline Keller Band, Gary Lowder & Smokin’ Hot, Chocolate Chip & Company, and The Embers featuring Craig Woolard. Expect a mix of beach music, funk, country and variety.
• Oyster Shucking Contest – Saturday at noon: Professional and amateur competitors race to see who can shuck oysters the fastest. It’s free to enter and fun to watch.
• Oyster Eating Contest – Saturday at 1:30 p.m.: Oyster lovers compete to see who can eat their way to the title of Oyster Eating Champion.
• Oyster Stew Cook-Off – Sunday at 1 p.m.: Local cooks put their oyster stew recipes to the test, with festivalgoers getting in on the tasting.
• Arts & Crafts: Browse a large selection of vendors offering handmade jewelry, coastal art, woodcraft, clothing, décor, specialty foods and other locally made finds.
• Food: Local restaurants and food trucks serve up plenty to eat throughout the weekend—including, naturally, oysters and other coastal favorites.

The main festival runs Saturday, Oct. 17 from 9 a.m.–6 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 18 from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Admission is $5 cash for adults and free for children 12 and under. Free shuttle service is available from designated parking lots.

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