Vendors persevere through travel woes to attend North Carolina Seafood Festival

The North Carolina Seafood Festival in Morehead City is in full swing, drawing crowds from across the country to enjoy fried food, live music, and a vibrant atmosphere. Among the attendees are visitors from as far as Southeast Missouri, eager to experience the festival for the first time.

For 38 years, Morehead City has hosted this highly anticipated event, celebrating the culture of Eastern Carolina and the significance of local seafood. Each October, Evans Street becomes a bustling hub of activity, with a variety of vendors and returning visitors.

Alan Ward, owner of Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards in Henderson, North Carolina, is one of the vendors who made the journey to the festival. Ward said, “We tried hard to get into this festival because you guys have such a great festival down here. And we’re very fortunate to get down here.”

However, the trip was not without its challenges. Ward explained that due to massive destruction in Western Carolina, the usual six-hour drive turned into nearly eight hours. “A lot of the areas that we had to come through, we couldn’t go down 40, we had to go through Charlotte. It’s really devastating in the mountains,” he said.

Despite the difficulties, Ward expressed gratitude for the opportunity to participate in the festival, especially given the financial relief it provides. “This helps us out simply because our station room has been closed. This is the busiest month of the year, so with us being able to come down here and with a beautiful venue we’re grateful,” Ward said.

The festival will continue for one more day, and Ward encourages visitors to stop by his tent to sample a wine of their choosing.