The Grifton Shad Festival has been a keystone event in Eastern North Carolina for 53 years, celebrating the springtime running of the Shad up the Neuse River, then into tributary creeks such as historic Contentnea Creek, which runs through Grifton. The longest-running festival in Pitt County, the Grifton Shad Festival prides itself on standing for fun, fellowship, and working together towards a common goal.
This Shad-tastic event takes place from April 10-13th 2025, however, most events are held on the weekend, specifically, on Saturday, April 12th. This 3-day festival is the hub of all things Shad, where you can experience true southern hospitality and see exactly why Grifton is recognized as the official Shad Capital of North Carolina.
Photo Credits: Grifton Shad Festival
Fun Fact: The festival slogan “Eat Mo Shad” was adopted after graffiti appeared on the drawbridge over Contentnea Creek in 1974.
Photo Credits: Grifton Shad Festival
At the Grifton Shad Festival, you can enjoy a variety of events across 3 days. This family-friendly event will surely have plenty to entertain everyone, from live music, parades, a petting zoo, the first annual Shad Festival 5K Race, dunking booths, and more. Don’t leave without enjoying iconic entertainment such as the Shad Toss or Protown BMX Stunt Team event.
The festival offers a free shuttle service and additional parking on Main Street.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
Home Town Night: April 10th, 7-11pm
Grifton Shad Festival Parade: April 12th, 10:30am
Protown BMX: April 12th, 12-4pm
Saturday Night Raffle: April 12th, 8pm
Captain Jack is Magic: April 12th, all day
Cowboy Mark: April 12th, all day
LIVE MUSIC
The Donald Thompson Band: April 11th, 6pm
The Band of Oz: April 11th, 9pm
Morgan Hudson & Company: April 12th, 4:30pm
The Lovesick Drifters: April 12th, 7pm
All My Rowdy Friends: April 12th, 9pm
After the festival, stick around to enjoy some of the local attractions! The NC Museum of Natural Sciences at Contentnea Creek, in an expansive 380-acre area to explore. This museum offers astronomy education at their planetarium and environmental education and outdoor recreation for groups of all ages. While the trails are open daily from sunrise to sunset, the museum is open only to the public from 10am - 2pm on Saturdays, though groups are welcome to book reservations any day! Another attraction to visit while in the area is the Historic Indian Village & Museum, a place to appreciate the ingenuity of our ancestors in exhibits of the tools and equipment they developed for office, shop, farm and kitchen. You'll also find Civil War exhibits as well as those of the area's plants, animals, geology, and other natural history. The museum, along the banks of Contentnea Creek in Grifton, is a scaled-down replica of an Indian village located just across the street.
