NC Oyster Festival
The NC Oyster Festival is a two-day annual festival in Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, held at Town Center Park in Brunswick County. The 2026 edition, its 45th, runs October 17 and 18, 2026, with oyster dishes, arts and crafts, food vendors, live music and a Saturday oyster shucking contest. Adult admission is $5.00 in cash only, and children 12 and under are free, according to the Brunswick County tourism site.
| Question visitors ask | NC Oyster Festival 2026 dates parking tickets |
|---|---|
| County | Brunswick County |
| Official site | ncoysterfestival.com |
How do you get to the NC Oyster Festival?
The NC Oyster Festival is held at Town Center Park, 11 E. 2nd Street, Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469, according to the Brunswick County tourism listing at ncbrunswick.com. The festival website has a "Directions to Festival" page, but the sources used for this guide did not include its contents, so check that page before you drive.
Parking details are on the festival's "Parking & Admission Info" page. That page was not read for this guide, so no parking rules, costs or lot locations are given here. Check before you go.
How much does the NC Oyster Festival cost, and when is it open?
The Brunswick County tourism listing gives the price range as $5.00 cash only for adults and free for children 12 and under. The listing does not give daily opening or closing hours, and the festival website's hours were not read for this guide. Check before you go, because prices and hours can change between years.
The 2026 dates are October 17 and 18, 2026, according to the festival homepage at ncoysterfestival.com. The Oyster Shucking Contest is held on Saturday, October 17, according to the Brunswick County listing.
What can you bring to the NC Oyster Festival?
The festival homepage lists a no-bring rule for alcohol, smoking, vapes, pets, coolers, backpacks, outside food, outside drinks, outside water, and outside cups or containers. The homepage also has a "Guidelines / Best Practices for 2026" notice. That notice was not read for this guide, so check it before you go.
The Brunswick County listing suggests bringing a chair to sit and listen to the live music.
When should you go to the NC Oyster Festival?
The festival runs over two days, Saturday, October 17 and Sunday, October 18, 2026. The festival homepage and the Brunswick County listing both give these dates. The sources used for this guide do not give crowd levels or weather for either day, so check the festival website and a local forecast before you go.
NC Oyster Festival: questions visitors ask
What are the NC Oyster Festival 2026 dates?
The 2026 NC Oyster Festival is held October 17 and 18, 2026, at Town Center Park in Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina. The festival homepage gives these dates.
How much are NC Oyster Festival tickets?
The Brunswick County tourism listing gives adult admission as $5.00, cash only, and free admission for children 12 and under. Check before you go, because the price was not confirmed on the festival's own Parking & Admission Info page.
Where is the NC Oyster Festival held?
The festival is held at Town Center Park, 11 E. 2nd Street, Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469, according to the Brunswick County tourism listing.
Can you bring pets, coolers or outside food to the NC Oyster Festival?
No. The festival homepage lists no pets, no coolers, no backpacks, and no outside food, drinks, water, cups or containers, along with no alcohol, smoking or vapes.
Is there parking at the NC Oyster Festival?
The sources used for this guide do not say how parking works or what it costs. The festival website has a "Parking & Admission Info" page, which should be checked before you go.
Who runs the NC Oyster Festival and how do you contact them?
The festival is run by the Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce, at 112 Pine Street, P.O. Box 1185, Shallotte, NC 28459. The phone number listed is (910) 754-6644.
Is there an oyster shucking contest at the NC Oyster Festival?
Yes. The Brunswick County tourism listing says the festival's signature Oyster Shucking Contest is held on Saturday, and the festival homepage advertises a shucking contest as part of the event.
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