NC Oyster Month Shellebrates Stewardship in October
A month of oyster-themed activities benefits our coastal and marine ecosystems
By Rebecca Jones on September 23, 2026 | Reprinted from NC Sea Grant
Oyster Month logo
NC Oyster Month’s fourth anniversary is October 2026. It includes a month of opportunities to enjoy N.C. oysters, explore the coast, and give back to the environment. The theme of this year’s Oyster Month is Shellebrating Stewardship. Throughout October, the NC Oyster Trail will highlight the many ways we can help protect the waters and habitats that make North Carolina oysters possible.
See Governor Stein’s Oyster Month proclamation here.
Two volunteers build a living shoreline with bags of oysters. Credit Jane Harrison
Every oyster tells a bigger story — one of healthy waters, working waterfronts, and traditions that connect generations. Wild oysters protect our shorelines and provide homes for marine life, while farmed oysters support local businesses and bring fresh, distinct flavors to tables across the state. Together, they sustain our coast both ecologically and economically.
However, a healthy oyster industry depends on a healthy environment, and protecting that environment takes all of us. From keeping waterways clean and recycling oyster shells to restoring oyster reefs and building living shorelines, communities across North Carolina find ways to give back to the waters that give us so much. This Oyster Month, check out volunteer opportunities planned for NC Oyster Month at ncoystertrail.org/events.
For example, on Saturday, October 10, from 10 a.m. to noon, volunteers can join a beach cleanup in Kitty Hawk in the Outer Banks. Participants will meet at Kitty Hawk Town Hall (101 Veterans Memorial Drive), with a free lunch to follow.
If you live inland, you can still make a difference for our coastal waters. On October 24, NC Oyster Month will host a trash cleanup in Raleigh’s Caraleigh neighborhood, beginning at 10 a.m. at Earp’s Seafood Market (1414 S Saunders St), an NC Oyster Trail site. Participants will help remove litter while learning about Earp’s oyster shell recycling program. And, of course, you can pick up some fresh N.C. seafood while you’re there.
Oyster Shell recycling at Earp’s Seafood. Credit: Earp’s Seafood
In October, the NC Oyster Trail is also launching a new NC Oyster Trail passport, giving oyster lovers another way to explore the state’s vast oyster community. Participants can pick up a passport booklet at any NC Oyster Trail location and collect stickers as they visit sites along the Trail. The passport includes interactive activities and educational pages to make learning about N.C. oysters fun along the way.
NC Oyster Trail Passport, new for 2026. Credit: Jane Harrison
With more than 100 sites across the state, the NC Oyster Trail offers plenty of opportunities to discover local seafood, meet the people behind the industry, and learn how oysters connect our communities to the coast. After visiting a Trail site, complete a survey <go.ncsu.edu/ncoystertraileval> or share your NC Oyster Month adventures on social media using #NCOysterTrail for a chance to win 50 free oysters.
This statewide celebration is organized by North Carolina Sea Grant and the North Carolina Coastal Federation in partnership with the NC Oyster Trail. With events stretching from the coast to the Triangle, NC Oyster Month is your chance to discover how oysters enrich our environment, our communities, and our cuisine.
For more information on North Carolina Oyster Month 2026, to explore the NC Oyster Trail, and to find upcoming events and volunteer opportunities, visit ncoystertrail.org. You can also read stories about oyster conservation and the people behind North Carolina’s seafood industry in North Carolina Sea Grant’s Coastwatch magazine.
NC Oyster Month Events:
Oct. 1 | Nags Head
40th Annual NC Seafood Festival
Oct. 2-4 | Morehead City
Oct. 3 | Hampstead
Oct. 3 | Nags Head
Oct. 10 | Kitty Hawk
Ocracoke Working Waterman’s Festival
Oct. 10 | Ocracoke
Beach Cleanup with Surfrider Foundation
Oct. 10 | Emerald Isle
Oct. 12 | Frisco
Garner Rotary’s 21st Annual OysterFest
Oct. 15 | Garner
Wild Oyster Season Kick-off Dinner
Oct. 15 | Raleigh
Oct. 16 | Bald Head Island
Coastal Keepsakes: Oyster Shell Decoupage
Oct. 17 | Nags Head
Oysters & Pearls: An Oceanfest Gala
Oct. 17 | Hampstead
Oct. 17-18 | Ocean Isle Beach
Oct. 22 | Fayetteville
Dunn Chamber Annual Oyster Roast
Oct. 22 | Dunn
NC Oyster Trail Volunteer Cleanup with Earp’s Seafood Market
Oct. 24 | Raleigh
Nov. 7 | Raleigh
Out to Sea NC Fest with Seabird
Nov. 8-10 | Wilmington
Oyster Specials all October Long:
Ocracoke Oyster Co. on Ocracoke Island: Fresh local oysters topped with local figs and goat cheese, then baked until bubbling hot.
Jettie Rae’s Oyster House in Asheville: Enjoy $3 oysters Tuesday–Thursday from 5–6 p.m., featuring oysters sourced from N.C. coastal farms.
The Stubborn Mule Oyster Bar & Grill in Little Washington: Enjoy $1.50 oysters Monday-Saturday from 3-6 pm for oyster happy hour. Plus live music on October 1 & October 9, and a tide to table wine dinner on October 21.
Coquina Fish Bar in Wilmington: Enjoy $1.50 oysters by the half or whole dozen every Sunday, plus a new chef-curated oyster special each week in October.
Elijah’s Oyster & Fish Camp in Wilmington: Enjoy $1.50 oysters Sunday-Thursday all hours!
Seabird in Wilmington: Enjoy shucked oysters for $1 every Monday during happy hour (5-6 pm). Holdfast Oyster Co. of Sneads Ferry harvests their oysters exclusively for Seabird.
Three10 in Wilmington: A bone marrow mornay and pickled shallot caviar broiled oyster joins the menu for October, alongside two returning broiled oyster favorites: bacon, burnt creamed collards and cornbread crumbs; and citrus chow-chow butter and candied chile.
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