Oysters are a favorite local seafood, and if you love these briny bivalve mollusks, you’re going to have plenty of chances to eat them this month! In addition to all the usual ways to enjoy oysters – at local restaurants or buying them from local seafood vendors and enjoying them in your own backyard – there are several oyster-themed events coming up this month.
Not only do oysters taste great, but also they are hugely important to the water quality of our estuaries. According to the North Carolina Coastal Federation (NCCF), oysters benefit North Carolina’s coastal ecology and economy by filtering the water, providing food for humans and creating reefs that build homes for more fish. While oyster populations are declining worldwide and statewide, NCCF is taking action to build North Carolina’s oyster resources through its N.C. Oyster Blueprint, which outlines actions in oyster restoration, protections, growing, harvesting and education. Through federal funding and grants, NCCF is constructing at least 100 new acres of oyster habitat and doubling its oyster shell recycling efforts. NCCF is also promoting the N.C. Oyster Trail, which includes oyster farms, restaurants and events along the coast.
NCCF, N.C. Sea Grant and the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources have worked together to declare October as N.C. Oyster Month, which means there are a ton of oyster-focused events across the state this month. Here are some of the events you can expect locally.
Dune Street’s One-Year Anniversary & Oyster Roast
Friday, October 4
Dune Street Rawbar & Grill, 4104 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head
Dune Street Rawbar & Grill in Nags Head is celebrating its first year in business with an oyster-focused party. There will be oyster sampling and food and drink specials all day long, plus live music with local bands Hot Sauce and Southern Split from 4 to 10 p.m. The oyster selection will include oysters from local farms, including Little Star Oyster Farm, Kinnakeet Oyster Co., Ocracoke Oyster Co., Savage Inlet Oysters and Herring Shoal Shellfish Co. Get more info here.
Feast on oysters at Dune Street Rawbar & Grill's 1st Anniversary Oyster Roast on October 4. This photo and above from Edible Photography OBX at Dune Street Rawbar & Grill
23rd Annual Oink n Oyster Roast
Saturday, October 5
Jolly Roger Restaurant, 1836 N. Virginia Dare Trail, Kill Devil Hills
First Flight Rotary Club’s annual event features an all-you-can-eat feast of barbecue and oysters from Lighthouse Shoals Oyster Company. There’s also live music and beer. This event will be held from 12 to 4 p.m. The festivities benefit groups like The Beach Food Pantry, Dare to Care (free heart health screenings), ISOP (International Student Outreach Program), the FFHS Band, Ruthie’s Kitchen, Dare County Children and Youth Partnership and so many more. Tickets, $50, are available here.
Gilded Oyster Celebration
Saturday, October 5
Empty Nest Studio & Gallery, 52193 N.C. Highway 12, Frisco
Empty Nest is hosting a celebration featuring a wine tasting by Lee Robinson’s General Store, oysters and a raffle for oyster jewelry. Shop from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and enjoy the wine tasting and oyster from 4 to 6 p.m. Find more information here.
Empty Nest Studio in Frisco specializes in shell art, including this gilded oyster necklace. Photo from Empty Nest Studio Facebook
OBX Green Drinks Oyster Kickoff Party
Thursday, October 17
Waverider’s Coffee, Deli & Pub, 3022 S. Croatan Highway, Nags Head
Green Drinks is an international organization with 14 chapters in North Carolina. OBX Green Drinks, sponsored by NCCF, meets at Waverider’s Coffee, Deli & Pub once a month from October through March, offering a change to learn about the local environment and socialize with people who care about it. The October meeting to kick off the 2024-25 season is an oyster party. Find more information here.
Oysters Uncovered: A Farm-to-Fork Experience
October 16, 23, 30
NCCF Wanchese Office, 637 Harbor Road, Wanchese
Dune Street Rawbar & Grill, 4101 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head
Each Wednesday in October, NCCF is offering kayak adventures and oyster tastings from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. You’ll kayak along Broad Creek in Wanchese to explore NCCF’s demonstration oyster farm and living shoreline along Victoria Blakey, NCCF’s coastal specialist. After your trip, unwind at Dune Street Rawbar & Grill in Nags Head for a sampling of North Carolina oysters. Cost for the kayak trip and oyster sampling is $75. Advance registration is required.
N.C. Coastal Federation's Oysters Uncovered events combine a kayak tour and an oyster tasting. Photo from NCCF
Outer Banks Seafood Festival
Saturday, October 19
Soundside Event Site, 6800 S. Croatan Highway, Nags Head
The Outer Banks Seafood Festival is the place to learn about local commercial fishing heritage, including oystering, and meet the people who harvest the seafood. NC Oyster Trail will have a booth, and oysters will be available for eating. You'll find tons of food, beer and wine, games, live music, vendors and more. Tickets cost $20, which includes $10 in food and beverage coupons. Get tickets and find information here.
Ocracoke Working Watermen's Festival
Saturday, October 19
Ocracoke Preservation Society, 49 Water Plant Road, Ocracoke
The second annual Ocracoke Working Watermen’s Festival celebrates the island’s watermen with a fish fry, porch talks about commercial fishing (including oystering), vendors, activities and more. The festival will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the fish fry will go on from 12 to 2 p.m.
Cancer Shucks Oyster Feast & Low Country Boil
Friday, October 25
The Pavilion at Pirate’s Cove Marina, 3000 Sailfish Drive, Manteo
Outer Banks Health is sponsoring this event of seafood and music to support local cancer care. There will be steamed oysters, shrimp, clams and other seafood, sides, beer and wine and live music with the Blue Crab Boys. There will also be raffles The event runs from 6 to 10 p.m. Tickets, $150 each, went on sale on October 1 and you can get them here.
Serving up steamed oysters at the Big Currishuck at Sanctuary Vineyards. Photo from Sanctuary Vineyards
Don’t Miss These Other Oyster Events
They're not in October, but they will be here before you know it. More oyster-themed events will surely be on the horizon this fall. Be sure to stay tuned to our Events page for all the fun things to do on the Outer Banks.
Big Currishuck All You Can Eat Oyster Festival
Saturday, November 30
Sanctuary Vineyards, 7005 Caratoke Highway, Jarvisburg
Sanctuary Vineyard’s annual Big Currishuck event is a huge feast of steamed oysters and crabs along with barbecue, sides, Sanctuary’s fantastic wines and beer. Plus there's live music, hayrides and more. It’s held from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tickets cost $50, go on sale October 7, go fast so don’t delay. Go here to find tickets.
Shuck Hatteras Oyster Festival
Friday, December 20 and Saturday, December 21
Cape Hatteras/Outer Banks KOA Resort, 25109 N.C. Highway 12, Waves
This is a two-day celebration of oysters, music and heritage on Hatteras Island. There will be vendors, lots of local bands and lots to eat, including, of course, local oysters. Follow the Shuck Hatteras III Facebook page for updates.
About the Author Molly Harrison
Molly Harrison is managing editor at OneBoat, publisher of OuterBanksThisWeek.com. She moved to Nags Head in 1994 and since then has made her living writing articles and creating publications about the people, places and culture of the Outer Banks.
