For More Than 68 Years, This Small Town Has Hosted The Longest-Running Festival In The Crystal Coast North Carolina
Carolyn Harmon
Author
The oldest festival in North Carolina’s Crystal Coast began in 1954. Hosted by the charming town of Swansboro, the Mullet Festival started out of love and respect for mullet — a small, bony fish that was a vital nutrient in the diet of the workers building the White Oak River Bridge. This structure became an important link between Onslow and Carteret counties, and when construction ended, the very first Mullet Festival celebrated the arrival of the modern days to come. What began as a potluck, and a sweet small-town gathering, is going on its 69th year on Oct. 14 and 15, 2023. See who you know in the parade, buy a memory from the street vendors, enjoy good food, play at the Kid’s Zone, and dance to live music. Save the dates for the best party on the streets in North Carolina.
For more about the oldest festival in North Carolina, visit the Swansboro Mullet Festival website.
And while you’re there, visit a lovely hidden beach along the Crystal Coast to find seashells. Then stay the night in a sweet Airbnb.
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