Boiled, fried, take your pick! The 51st annual Sneads Ferry Shrimp Festival is here
The Sneads Ferry Shrimp Festival is celebrating its 51st anniversary this month, introducing new features and bringing back some old favorites.
The festival will take place on Friday, Oct. 21 and Saturday, Oct. 22 at 126 Park Lane in Sneads Ferry. The festival started back in 1971, according to Sneads Ferry Shrimp Festival Chairman Jonathan Koziol, when a bunch of shrimp boat captains were sitting around having coffee and decided to throw a backyard event for the community.
"It grew to a point where they said, 'hey, we can't do it in our backyard anymore down here at the fish house, let's look at buying some real estate,'" Koziol said. "I think it was in the early 90s, where they bought ten acres of land and that's where, currently, the Sneads Ferry Shrimp Festival grounds are at, so that we could have it every year. Something that was promoting locally caught shrimp, flounder, seafood and really kind of promoting the commercial fishing industry in the Sneads Ferry area."
More:Onslow County military bases 4 years after Hurricane Florence: what's repaired? what isn't?
Follow us on Instagram:Jacksonville Daily News
The festival used to take place in August, but Koziol said the committee decided last year to move it to October due to several factors. Although COVID and the lack of volunteers factored into the decision, the biggest was the change in shrimp movement.
Koziol said when the shrimp boats were coming in in August, they weren't bringing in near as much as they used to. The season has kind of moved, Koziol added, and they're now seeing more in October. In addition, the festival is more enjoyable without the scorching August heat.
Here's what to know about this year's Sneads Ferry Shrimp Festival.
What does the festival have to offer, event schedule?
Gates will open on Friday, Oct. 21 at 5 p.m. and the annual Shrimparoo dinner will run from 5-9 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday.
The Shrimparoo dinner is $15 per person and offers your choice of boiled or fried shrimp, along with sides of coleslaw, french fries and hush puppies.
On Saturday, the Hometown Parade will start at 9 a.m. with gates opening at 10 a.m. A car and bike show will take place from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with judging starting at 1 p.m. and awards at 2:30. Those interested in taking place in the car show must be on site by 9 a.m. Registration prior to the day of the festival will cost $20, but same-day registration will cost $25.
There will be awards for best paint, best engine, best original, special interest, best in show 1989 or older and best in show 1990 or newer.
The festival will also include 15 food vendors, 30 arts and crafts vendors and several non-profit organizations, Koziol said, as well as a shrimp pinning contest, cornhole tournament, inflatables and more.
What's new this year?
The amusements are back, according to Koziol.
"We did have it for a few years, probably five or six years ago, but it kind of faded out, just because of expenses, different things like that," Koziol said. "But we're bringing back amusements. It's a local company, Fun Times Amusement, they're local to the Eastern North Carolina area."
Also new this year is the Sneads Ferry's Got Talent Show that will take place during the Shrimparoo dinners.
Ferry Tales Youth Theater and Star Studded Voices will host the talent shows at the Sneads Ferry Community Center from 6-9 p.m. Koziol said this is the first time the Shrimparoo dinners will enjoy entertainment.
October is here!Pick out a pumpkin at these 7 Onslow-area pumpkin patches
Music lineup
The Sneads Ferry Shrimp Festival is also the place for live music.
On Friday, festivalgoers can enjoy The Corey Stuart Experience and The Conspiracy. On Saturday, the stage will welcome Heart Stop, Joe Baes Project, Donnie Lee Strickland and Indian Outlaw with Tim Hair.
Volunteers, more information
The Shrimp Festival is always looking for volunteers.
Those who would like to volunteer can visit signupgenius.com to review and choose one or more of the available slots. Upon completion, they will sign for military and high school senior volunteer hours.
Keep in mind, no pets are allowed at the festival, although service dogs are permitted. No flags or banners will be allowed on the field, no personal golf carts are permitted within the festival grounds, no camping on festival grounds and no coolers.
For more information on the festival, volunteering or general questions, visit The Sneads Ferry Shrimp Festival website or Facebook page.
Reporter Morgan Starling can be reached at mstarling@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Daily News: What to know about the 51st annual Sneads Ferry Shrimp Festival?
