With spring-like temperatures and sunny skies, annual Hatteras Island Oyster Roast draws a big crowd… WITH SLIDESHOW

Photos by Don Bowers

With temperatures that hovered in the 60s, and sunny weather that lingered all afternoon, the North Carolina Coastal Federation’s (NCCF) annual Hatteras Island Oyster Roast on Feb. 15 drew a large and smiling crowd who appreciated the food, the company, and the much-appreciated break from typical winter weather.

“Even when it’s cold, we still have a big crowd,” said Margaux Kerr, Coastal Resiliency Planner & Manager for NCCF. “But today is just beautiful – we’re so lucky to live here.”

Dare County Commissioner Mary Ellon Ballance was one of the nearly 500 oyster fans at the event, having just completed the Dare County Special Olympics Polar Plunge that morning, and she agreed that this year’s oyster roast stood out for the unusually beautiful weather.

“Normally we have such terrible weather, but this time, you couldn’t ask for a better day,” said Ballance. “I can’t believe how many people are here – It’s really amazing to see it grow the way it’s grown over the years.”

First launched by NCCF in 2014 as a fundraising initiative and an opportunity to highlight local seafood, the February timing usually means that attendees have to get bundled up to brave the cold outdoor setting.

Most of the 500 tickets for the oyster roast had sold well before the Saturday afternoon event, but the remaining at-the-door tickets went quickly, as the lively atmosphere and spring temperatures drew residents and visitors to the docks of Hatteras Village.

The annual event comes together thanks to a team of volunteers, including roughly two dozen NCCF representatives, a crew of oyster-roasting experts led by Parc Greene of Risky Business Seafood, and sponsors who contribute to event funding and the popular silent auction.

“We have ‘village’ in our name, so it made sense that we would come out and support this Hatteras Village event,” said Property Manager Emily Masters of Village Realty, which had an outdoor vendor booth stationed at the site.

This year’s event also had dozens of items donated to the silent auction, a donation-based bake sale, and live music on the edge of the waterfront provided by the Outer Banks’ own Loose Wheel.

As always, the star of the show was the 55 bushels of oysters from Newport River, by way of Fulcher’s Seafood in Alliance, which were roasted and divvied up among the crowd in continuous cycles.

“It’s been about five years that this same group of volunteers has done this, so we have it pretty well down,” said Greene, noting that the main difference from previous years was the need for extra ice due to the unseasonably warm temperatures.

Though the exact amount raised at this year’s event is not yet available, the high attendance, hefty donations, and unprecedented spring-like weather suggest that 2025’s Oyster Roast may be one of the most successful yet, for both organizers and attendees.

For more information on the NCCF and the annual Oyster Roast, which is held every February, click here.