Weekly Hatteras Village Community Fish Fry returns for 2024 on May 25, and volunteers are needed

Organizers are gearing up for the 2024 season of the Hatteras Community Fish Fry, a weekly Hatteras village event that has been a tradition for roughly 80 years.

Once again, the Hatteras Volunteer Fire Department will be the seasonal home of the fish fry from May 25 until August 31. Profits from the Fish Fry are shared among various organizations, including the Hatteras United Methodist Church, the Hatteras Village Volunteer Fire Department, the Hatteras Ladies Fire Auxiliary, and the Hatteras Village Civic Association.

A large plate is $15 and includes two pieces of locally caught fish, southern potato salad, cole slaw, and hush puppies, with sweet or unsweet tea, and homemade desserts available for a donation.

The fish fry is held every Saturday at the Hatteras Fire Station from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend, from 5:00 p.m. until dinner is sold out.

Per a recent announcement, volunteers are needed to keep the 2024 weekly fish fry going strong.

“To continue the Hatteras Community Fish Fry, we need your commitment,” stated event organizers in an update. “We will work with you on your schedule. We need people willing to take care of the many jobs that can be done throughout the day. With more volunteers, rotating teams need not feel obligated to come each Saturday during the summer.”

“Our most immediate need is for cooks in the cook shack. It takes at least five people each Saturday to make sure that we continue with the same quality of food that has been the tradition of our Hatteras Fish Fry.”

• The morning crew of about seven people prepare the sides needed for the afternoon.
• The 3:00 p.m. crew of about seven people prepare the fish and puppies for the cook shack and set up the tables.
• The 4:30 crew of about 12 people get ready to serve the faithful customers who come from all over to have a Fish Fry experience.

“Please contact the Fish Fry coordinator, Linda O’Neal, by texting or calling 252-475-4390. You can also talk to any of our volunteers and give them your information and they will pass it on to Linda.”

History of the Hatteras Village Fish Fry

It’s Beginning: 

The Fish Fry began on a small scale in the 1940s, and was the brainchild of the Hatteras United Methodist Church’s Women’s group. When the Volunteer Fire Department was organized in 1959 and its Ladies Auxiliary was organized, the church women decided to include this new women’s group in their weekly efforts. Then when the Civic Center came into being this group too was given a share in the work and the proceeds.

Location:

The fish were cooked and served on the Old Baseball Diamond in Hatteras Village. Hatteras fishermen donated the fish and the women went down to the docks to collect them, armed with their knives because they had to clean the fish themselves. The fish were cooked in a huge skillet over a makeshift “burner” fashioned from concrete block and a grill, fired by wood. The fish are now purchased locally and brought freshly fileted and delivered to the Fire Station kitchen Saturday afternoon assuring us that we have the freshest fish in town.

Tradition:

The families in the village brought meal, pepper, pancake mix, and canned milk to bread fish and mix hushpuppies for the fryers. They brought in cabbage, onions, and mayo to prepare the coleslaw. Dedicated village cooks made 10 lbs. of potato salad at home each week.

Helping the Community & Hatteras Island:

If you have ever said to yourself, I’d like to pay forward or help others. This is one way to help support many. At the end of the season, the earnings after expenses are split four ways. The Hatteras Fire Department, the Hatteras Ladies Fire Auxiliary, The Hatteras Civic Association, and the Hatteras United Methodist Church. These organizations then use their share to support other local requests such as the Hatteras Library, the Hatteras UMC Community Preschool, Cape Hatteras United Methodist Men Food Pantry, HI CERT, Hatteras Island Cancer Foundation, Young Life, Hatteras Church Angel Gift Program, Hatteras Assembly of God Church, Salvation Army, Costa Rico Mission Trip, Hatteras Island Meals, as well as many others.