Cause for Celebration...
there's always cause for celebration...
While the relaxing pace of everyday life is reason enough to come to Oriental, there are several events that generate a rhythm of excitement each year.
croaker festival
This annual salute to a fish that actually croaks when it's caught is the quintessential hometown fair, full of good food and good fun. Always held on the weekend nearest 4th of July, the Croaker Festival plays host to thousands of visitors with a parade, race games, live music and, of course, a major fish fry.
oriental cup regatta
Naturally, on of the year's biggest events in the 'Sailing Capital of North Carolina' has to be a sailing competition. Held annually in mid-September, the Oriental Cup Regatta is a three-day weekend celebration that welcomes sailors and landlubbers alike.
spirit of christmas
Sponsored by local merchants, churches, and civic groups, the Spirit of Christmas in Oriental is an event during which the town literally shines. On the second Saturday each December, Oriental becomes a Christmas wonderland, a sight sure to put anyone in a holiday mood. The annual Christmas parade is held in the afternoon, followed that evening by a display of brightly shinning luminaries lighting the entire length of Broad Street.
running of the dragon
In a celebration that draws its' inspiration from Oriental influences from slightly farther east, the Town of Oriental annually observes New Year's Eve with the Running of the Dragon. twice during the evening, an enormous dragon magically appears beside the harbor. It winds its' way slowly through the streets to welcome the new year, powered by as many children and adults as can fit under its' colorful, flowing canopy.