Get ready for a seafood lover's paradise at the Outer Banks Seafood Festival! This annual celebration in Nags Head, North Carolina, is the perfect opportunity to enjoy fresh, local seafood while soaking in the vibrant coastal culture.
The Outer Banks Seafood Festival is located in Nags Head, at the Soundside Event Site. There is no on-site parking, but there will be a free shuttle service from First Flight High School (available 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.). The shuttles run about once every half an hour from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. No alcohol, coolers, food, or beverages are allowed at the festival, and pets are barred from the festival grounds as well, so make Fido his own feast to enjoy at home before you leave!
If you would prefer to walk or bike to the festival, there will be designated cross walks close to the Festival event site for crossing Route 158. Bike racks will be available onsite, but please bring your own lock. Even better, bike parking is free.
What Food will There be at the Outer Banks Seafood Festival?
Of course, you can’t have a seafood festival without seafood! Basnight’s Lone Cedar Cafe, Dirty Dick’s Crab House, Firehouse Boil, Harbor Grill, Hurricane Mo’s, Jolly Roger Restaurant, Noosa Beach Grille and Scoops, Savage Inlet Oyster Company, Sea Chef Dockside Kitchen, Shipwreck’s Taphouse and Grille, Sticky Bottom Oyster Company, and Street Eats Latin Fusion will be serving up the most succulent feasts on the east coast for your enjoyment.
Just some of the selections on the menu include Sea Chef’s shrimp burger, Dirty Dick’s seafood gumbo and crabcake slider, Jolly Roger’s seafood stuffed baked potato, and Noosa Beach Grill’s crab fries. Make sure to bring an empty stomach, because you’ll be stuffed by the end!
You can bring blankets, towels, and chairs to sit on, but there will even be chairs you can rent at the festival grounds for $5 a piece if you don’t feel like carrying it with you – just make sure to bring cash and get there early! Supplies are limited.
Seafood Festival Event Schedule
At 10 a.m., the gates open, as well as the restaurant and beverage tents, fishing heritage tent, and vendor areas!
Enjoy live music throughout the entire day! From Manteo Murphy, to PIer Pressure, to Celeste Kellogg, to the Daniel Jordan Band, there’s bound to be someone that you’ll enjoy singing along with!
If you’re looking to browse local shops, Bohowave, Coastin’ Outfitters, Cutco, Divine Faith Boutique, Fin Hunter, Hank Sauce, Highway 12 Shirts, House of Hemp, Ignite Life, and Weaverworm Farm and Organic Castings will all have vendor booths available for your shopping enjoyment.
There are quite literally too many artists who will be selling their work at the festival, but trust us: you’ll be able to find anything you’re looking for! Silver jewelry, sun catchers, embroidered house wares, ornaments, pottery, pickles, salsa, jam, candles, paintings, shell art, BBQ sauce, even fairy villages will be on display for sale!
Looking to give back? Non-profit organizations such as the Veterans Advisory Council will also have places to volunteer and donate, should you feel moved to.
The festival itself closes at 6 p.m. - for a full list of events, check out the seafood festival's event schedule!
You can purchase tickets online or at the festival grounds. For $20, you can gain admission into the festival, plus $10 of Beverage/Merchandise Bucks for use on the festival grounds. But don’t worry – you can purchase more “beverage bucks” if you’re still hungry! Children 12 and under get in for free! Looking to take some friends? Outer Banks Seafood Festival offers VIP packages that has admissions tickets for 4, $40 of beverage bucks, and 4 t-shirts with reserved parking. The event will be held rain or shine!
Don’t miss out on the Outer Banks Seafood Festival, where you can indulge in mouthwatering dishes, enjoy live performances, and shop from unique local vendors. It’s a day filled with flavor, community, and entertainment—all with the beautiful backdrop of the Outer Banks. Whether you’re a local or just visiting, make sure to mark your calendar for this must-see event. And if you’re planning to extend your stay, consider booking one of the many comfortable Outer Banks vacation rentals through trusted providers like Outer Banks Blue. It’s the perfect way to enjoy all the Outer Banks has to offer. See you there with a plate of crab fries in hand!
