The Grifton Shad Festival is one of the most time-honored and longest running festivals in all of North Carolina. Come out and enjoy several days of Down East Hospitality. Most events are held on the weekend.

Schedule of Events:

April 5, 2025

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm: Miss Grifton Shad Pageant

Celebrate grace, talent, and community pride at the Miss Grifton Pageant! Join us in honoring the remarkable young women of Grifton

April 6, 2025

2:00 pm - 4:00 pm: The Great Contentnea Creek Duck Race - $5.00 - $100.00

Come to the Town Landing and/or Outlook Park. If you're planning to participate in the kayak race, bring your kayak and a life jacket.

April 10, 2025

7:00 pm - 11:00 pm: Home Town Night

Singer, songwriter, guitarist and a blue collar country boy. Be Real and Be yourself. Former Founder and lead vocalist of Blue Soul Redemption.

April 11, 2025

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm: The Donald Thompson Band
9:00 pm - 11:00 pm: The Band of Oz

The Band of Oz is a Southern powerhouse that's been rocking the Carolinas and beyond since the 1970s. Known for their signature blend of beach music, soul, and a touch of country grit, this band brings a party wherever they go. With tight harmonies, killer horns, and a down-home charm, they've become legends in the Southeast, playing everything from dancefloor anthems to heartfelt ballads. Whether you're kicking back with a cold one or tearing up the dance floor, The Band of Oz delivers a show that's as authentic and lively as the South itself.

April 12, 2025

Captain Jim is Magic

Captain Jack will be performing magic all day, in between scheduled events. Captain Jim, Master of Magic and Lt. Lady Louisa, Dance of Swords. Come travel into the future with this award winning show! Magic, dance, comedy, epic music, fun facts of history and family value messages. Captivating for the entire family.

Circus Stella

Circus Stella is a one-ring circus owned and operated by husband and wife team Dextre and Jayna Tripp. Jayna offers stunning aerial acrobatics, including both trapeze and aerial silk. She has a "strong woman" act as well as a trapeze routine on stilts. Dextre has been performing his whole life. He's skilled in rope walking, ladder balancing, acrobatics, unicycling, and juggling. The entire show is family-friendly. To top off the entertainment, Circus Stella has 5 performing dogs. Each dog was adopted from a humane society or a rescue shelter. These special dogs serve as ambassadors of shelter dogs everywhere as Circus Stella promotes the adoption of rescue dogs and attempts to educate the public on the many benefits of choosing a dog from a shelter instead of a puppy mill.

Cowboy Mark

Try your hand at roping a "calf" and watch as the talented Mark Madden demonstrates his skills with a lasso.

10:30 am - 12:00 pm: Grifton Shad Festival Parade
The Grifton Shad Festival parade is second to none! And this year we hope to bring you the best parade experience ever! We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you at the Grifton Shad Festival Parade.

12:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Protown BMX
Protown BMX will be performing shows all day in between other events.  Don't miss these high flying, world-renowned, professional BMX bikers. The team always brings top notch tricks and positive messages to any crowds we come in contact with.

4:30 pm - 7:00 pm: Morgan Hudson and Company
Morgan Hudson and Company is a high energy rock band playing all your favorite rock, blues, pop, and country songs all with their own unique twist! In a set you'll hear music from all different genres paired with their own tunes, original riffs, and fun beats to create a dynamic sound for the listener. The band is made up of a dynamic team whose chemistry is unmatched. When you see their show, you not only hear the music, but you FEEL it, as the band displays not only skill at their craft, but a love and passion for it that is evident in their performance.

Date:
April 5 - 12, 2025

Location:
Various Venues In Grifton, NC

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