Seafood Festival returns to Morehead City waterfront

MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. (WNCT) — Friday marked the first day of the annual Seafood Festival in Morehead City.

This is the 38th year of the festival taking place on the waterfront. “We look forward to this every year,” Vada Palma said. “We live here but we love coming the first day when the peanut oil is still fresh.”

The festival is filled with live music, face-painting, art and of course, seafood with everything from fish tacos to seafood boils.

“It’s a big tradition around here. There’s everything from flounder flinging to main stage music to carnival rides and lots and lots of seafood and food vendors,” N.C. Seafood Festival Executive Director Virginia Yopp said.

The festival also bring in money for the local economy. A consulting firm was hired this year to see that exact impact on the area. “The economic impact to the area is over $12 million for the weekend,” Yopp said.

Friday night is armband Friday fundraiser night, raising money for Watauga County Schools recovering from storm damage due to Helene. The festival is going to go on all weekend long, all while bringing the community fun and food.

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