Life in the Currituck Outer Banks is always peachy, but the last weekend in July tends to lend the most credence to this opinion as thousands of visitors flock to the Knotts Island area to pick, eat, and savor the sweet peaches grown in local groves. Now in it’s eighteenth year, the upcoming Knotts Island Peach Festival has joined with the eighth annual Wildlife Festival to offer visitors and residents a glorious weekend of succulent sweets, fellowship, and fun along the North Carolina shore.
The 18th Annual Knotts Island Peach Festival and 8th Annual Wildlife Festival will be held July 28-29, both days from 10AM – 5PM.
What To Expect
One admission price of five dollars gets adults into both festivals – the peach celebration at Knotts Island Ruritan Park and the Wildlife festivities at Knotts Island Elementary School. Children under 12 are admitted free with a paying adult and welcome to sample the array of peach pies, cobblers, ice creams, and other delights set to tempt even the most finicky of eaters.
Where the Peach Festival will provide the bulk of entertainment – including a midway of children’s rides, vendors and raffles, and live entertainment featuring live broadcasts from Dixie 105.7 PM, Sterling Riggs as Elvis, and Jimmy Buffet cover band Fins, the Wildlife Festival will offer guests an opportunity to appreciate the beauty of the sound’s waterfowl and four-footed residents. Wildlife photography and paintings, local crafts, carvings and auctions are among the activities scheduled. Both celebrations are preceded by the traditional festival parade through Knotts Island on Brumley Road, held on Saturday at 10AM.
Getting There
Visitors to the Outer Banks may not realize the wonderful opportunities that await them in Currituck County. A well-kept secret among coastal North Carolina residents, the Currituck part of the Outer Banks provides a secluded alternative to the more crowded, touristy sections of the shoreline. Apart from the unspoiled beaches and wild mustang sightings, Currituck offers visitors the chance to explore beautiful Knotts Island via the Currituck Sound Ferry – free of charge!
Blue ferry signs direct visitors on Rt. 158/168 on the mainland, which lead to the landing area. The Currituck Sound Ferry is active seven days a week, five times a day as it crosses the five miles of water that separate Knotts Island from the rest of Currituck County. A one-way trip is approximately five minutes and the boat can accommodate 10-18 cars depending on the load. If the trip appears to be too long for youngsters, don’t worry. Passengers are permitted to leave their cars and enjoy the view from the observation deck of the ferry and inside two lounge areas.
On both days of the festival, signs will direct visitors to Ruritan Park for festivities.
While You’re There
Once on Knotts Island, guests may wish to make a stop at Knotts Island Market for picnic supplies, or head straight on to the festival areas. There is also the beach for a day of fishing, kayaking, or hiking along the Charles Kurault Trail.
For more information on the Knotts Island Peach Festival and Wildlife Festival, contact the Knotts Island Ruritan Club or the Currituck County Department of Tourism and Travel at (877) 287-7488.
