We are brand new NY to NC transplants and as new Sneads Ferry residents, we just had to attend the…read moreShrimp Festival! We LOVED the festival! It was lovely, small and charming.There was live music, (good!) lots of food vendors (we had Dunn's bbq, awesome!)some cute shows and several rides geared mostly toward little kids. We found it to be an enjoyable afternoon and plan to return for the fireworks later.

This was my first time. It was wonderful! We came at 5 pm…read more Parking was $5 (cash only). Admission was $5 (cash) OR $6 something (cards). It wasn't very packed, and there was live music. The shrimp plate was $15 per person (includes water or tea). You can get either fried or boiled shrimps. The staff/volunteers were very friendly and helpful. A lot of vendors, both for foods and crafts/arts. We will definitely come back next year.

Well organized, and so many groups represented at this event. I have to say it was hot as Hades…read morebut, it did not cut down on the fun, but if the weather is hot, get here when they open, walk through and check it out, They had a Glamping Company(Great Idea see Pictures), Blueberry scones, muffins, ice cream, turnovers, ice tea (amazing), and of course, too much Carnival Fair Food sort of cheapened the ambiance but people like that stuff. We came home with 2 qts, Turnovers, Blueberry Tea, and it was just so darn simple and good. Check out the pictures to see what was there, you will be amazed.

So cute!! This place is great. I love locally grown fruits and vegetables and they have a great…read moreselection. They also have yuuuuummy local honey and all kinds of baked goods, soaps, jams, etc. Know before you go: cash only

Seriously the cutest little place. If you haven't checked it out. You need too. Fresh veggies…read moreand fruits and honey, jelly & many others. I love the honest system! & the family who owns it is so kind. They also have fresh flowers you get to clip yourself!

Although it was a misty evening when my friend and I visited this quaint historic town, we were…read moreinstantly drawn to the avenue of cool shops and the beautiful water views. Despite the weather, we sauntered down Main Street and visited almost all the establishments along the way! There was a small gazebo and benches in the square, I'm sure it hosts some festivities on more pleasant days! The restaurants were inviting and the people were friendly. Some nearby locals suggested we visit this charming area and we were glad we did. I'd love to do some more exploring around this seaside village upon our next trip to the Crystal Coast!

Sweet little historical town ... With shops with unique finds all alone N. Front Street. Shopping…read moreworks up an appetite . No woree ( a story behind the spelling )there's a wonderful Deli on Church St. Inside and outside eating areas . I really only had an hour to explore and most of the shops close at 5:00 . I was able to look around in Merrow and So because I didn't get the full experience of Swansboro I give it 4 stars . I know when I go back I'll be able to change this to 5 .

The North Carolina Pickle Festival is something I wanted to attend as soon as I found out it…read moreexisted. The town of Mount Olive throws this celebration each year to bring folks together and highlight the wonderful things they have to offer. There's a pickle eating contest, a pickleball tournament, a pickle 5k and a pickle costume contest...this festival is a big dill!! There is a recipe contest where you can show off your skills in making a food item including one of the many Mount Olive products, live music, rides, a car show...I could go on and on. The only real down side is..how popular it has gotten. We chose one of the many parking areas in town to utilize the shuttle, and waited over an hour to even get to the downtown area. The lines at nearly all the food and drink vendors were super long as well. I met a woman who waited 90 minutes for a pickle brined turkey leg. We did pick up one of the maps available to locate different areas of interest and while it was helpful, it took forever to travel a few blocks in the heavy crowds. The Mount Olive company itself had two areas where they handed out all sorts of free samples which was lovely. I did not get to spot the mascot Ollie, or try a pickle margarita-maybe next year!

This was our first year attending the Azalea Festival. In years prior, it was canceled due to…read moreCovid, or they just did not have all the festivities so we decided to not attend. Since this year, they would be bringing all the activities back we were like this is our moment. We went to the parade and had bought tickets for the bleachers. I recommend doing this, mainly because you do not have to bring your chairs downtown and depending on when you arrive, you may have to park far away and toting seats around is tough. To purchase your tickets, you just went to the Azalea Festival office. Super easy and I chatted with one of the gentlemen working and he walked me through some of the things to do on Saturday since it was our first time. The parade itself was great and my daughter loved it. It was spaced out alot and did go over the length it was supposed to by 30 mins, but I think it was mainly due to a malfunction with an Elmo float. (I really REALLY feel for those individuals trying to make that guy hover and stand up). The main reason I did not 100% love the festivities was the street fair in the parking lot. It was so cramped, the kids alley was really hard to navigate through and the lines were long, and the vendors were nice, but once again I wish it was more spaced out to accommodate the large amount of people attending.

"Enjoy live entertainment, beer tent, bounce room for kids, arts & crafts, and of course... chili!…read moreOfficially sanctioned by the International Chili Society, this competitive chili cook-off of Greater Topsail Island in beautiful Sneads Ferry. Hosted by the Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism." It was held in Sneads Ferry on Nov. 16-17. Unfortunately when we got there that Saturday evening the area was completely dark and deserted. No one even bothered to leave a note saying what had happened. It was disappointing as we had planned on going there for dinner and supporting our local community. While this was the first chili festival, it could have been handled better (e.g. put a notice on the website that they were shutting the event down early).

Not accommodating for all vehicles. Our group chartered a bus to get the group there on October…read more4th, 2025. A total of 51 ladies in this church group. No place to park the bus. Really? We existed on the side of the main road and got off the bus as quickly as possible. When the bus returned we were told we had to move. Four police officers walked by, and one officer made her concern know insisting that we move because one lane will not be closed. There were still two lanes and the traffic kept moving. It was enough road for the outer lane to shift over and the enter lane to shift over with no backed up or stalled traffic. The traffic never stop. We moved but had to fine a way to pick up three other passengers, so the driver circled the block on the left side and we were able to wait at the stop light until they crossed the street to get on the bus. There were no vehicles behind us at the stop light as we waited for them. We then left NC Seafood Festival with a mindset of not returning at all. We had a parking problem in 2024, our bus found parking at the Police station, sad. There was another bus and they had the same problem, no where to park. This year , 2025 the same problem, no where to park the bus. The Seafood Festival does not accommodate all groups. Only if you are driving a smaller vehicle is accommodating. The officer was not friendly or understanding even though she may have been doing her job. Well, the other three officers response was like it was no problem because they could see that we were leaving. If this event is for the public and open to all, then please accommodate all, small vehicles or large like a chartered bus. No plans to return.

Went to the festival today with the kiddos. Parking ranged from free, 5- 10 dollars. No ATMs near…read morethe event, which was a downside if you didn't bring cash. Although it rained earlier in the day before we arrived, it was not raining while we were there. Sunday the 4th 2015. To us it was perfect not many people decide to go out in the rain. The food... ugh fried everything. I even went into a few restourants and NO ONE had raw oysters on the half shell. Seafood festival without raw oysters? Needless to say we walked out spending nothing on food, thank god i would have gained 20 pounds just holding the food. We bought postcards from a local store and called it a day after being there for 30 minutes.

I really enjoyed the OCJF this weekend. The performances were on fire! The artists were so down to…read moreearth and mingled with the guests. I was able to take selfies with one of my favorite bands! The only drawback was the vendor MeMaw's ChicknBBQ. The food truck did so well for the kickoff party on Friday, but Saturday, the first full evening of the event, they fell very short. of course, the MC was apologetic and explained to the crowd that they were stuck in traffic, but they were unacceptably late and were slow to set up on top of that. Some of us didn't receive our food until after the show was over. Other than that, I enjoyed the festival, the crowd was super friendly, and the vibe was all about the party!!!

Best Jazz Fest at Beach! Awesome acts! Wonderful atmosphere. Great attendance. 9th annual Ocean…read moreCity Jazz Festival in Topsail Beach, NC, on July 7 - 8, 2018. The annual Ocean City Jazz Festival was launched as a vehicle to promote the history of the Ocean City Community, which was founded in 1949, and was the only place African Americans could purchase coastal property in North Carolina, 15 years before the Civil Rights Act. Would like to see a few more food truck options. You really should make this an annual tradition with your friends and family!!

From planning and decorating to the final moments of the big day, my experience with Barn at the…read moreCovered Bridge was amazing! I loved the bridal suite! My girls and I felt pampered and relaxed in our separate and spacious area :) My wedding ceremony was supposed to be outside by the pond in the beautiful green pasture, bright white fences and the covered bridge in the background- I was so excited about it! Due to weather we had to move the ceremony inside the barn. The main 'barn' space was easy to transform from a structured ceremony space to a relaxed and open reception party. Michelle Cornell was an amazing wedding coordinator- organized and kept everything on schedule and I didn't have to worry about anything on my special day! Hal was an entertaining and engaging MC- we got so many comments from our guests about how beautiful and fun our event was!

From the owner: Nestled on a large and picturesque property, this venue offers stunning views of a glistening…read morewaterfront. The lush greenery and natural surroundings provide a tranquil and romantic setting that is perfect for exchanging vows and celebrating with loved ones. One of the standout features of this venue is the magnificent barn that has been transformed into a luxurious and chic space. The interior is beautifully designed with rustic wooden beams and elegant lighting, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. The barn has ample space to accommodate a large number of guests and offers a flexible layout to suit any wedding theme or style. In addition to the barn, the property offers numerous outdoor spaces to host different parts of the wedding day, such as a waterfront ceremony, cocktail hour on the expansive lawn, and dinner under the stars.