Grifton Shad Festival
- Dates
- Expected April 2027
- Status
- Expected
- Venue
- Downtown Grifton
- Price
- Not announced
- Camping
- None on site
- Last checked
- Oct 16, 2026
The last Grifton Shad Festival was April 17 to 19, 2026, in Grifton, NC. Its 2027 dates haven't been announced yet. Froligo tracks ticket prices, attendee feedback and travel details.
The experience
What's special
The Grifton Shad Festival in Grifton, North Carolina, began in 1971 and is the oldest festival in Pitt County and the second oldest in eastern North Carolina. The town has been recognized by the NC State Legislator as the Official Shad Capital of North Carolina, and in 1974 graffiti reading "Eat Mo Shad" appeared on the drawbridge over Contentnea Creek. The 2026 festival, held in April, was in its 54th year, with music, carnival rides, a car cruise-in, an art show, street food and a parade.
How it works
Most events are held on the weekend. The 2026 parade on Saturday 18 April started at 10:30 am and was free, and that evening the Grifton Train Depot, 485 Queen Street, hosted the Donald Thompson Band from 6:00 pm and the Super Grit Cowboy Band 50th Anniversary Reunion from 8:30 pm. The festival lists free shuttle service, food vendors and fireworks.
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Listen
No official playlist linked yet. Find Grifton Shad Festival on Spotify.
Lineup
Getting there
Nearest airport PGV.
How do I get to Grifton Shad Festival?
By car
Most people drive to Grifton Shad Festival. The nearest major airport is PGV, and from there it is a straightforward drive to the venue. Check current road and traffic conditions before you set off, and see parking below.
By train
No direct passenger rail to the venue was found. Drive, fly in, or use a shuttle instead.
By bus & public transit
No scheduled intercity bus or public transit route to the venue was found. Drive, fly in, or use a shuttle instead.
Taxi & rideshare
Standard PGV pickup outside the terminal. Fare/availability figures found are for the Greenville-downtown leg specifically
Book / infoTaxis and rideshare such as Uber and Lyft can be limited near the venue, especially late at night or in rural areas. Agree a pickup point and time in advance and keep a backup plan.
🅿 Parking
On site parking available. Free parking is available behind the Highway 55 restaurant and along Main Street, with an in-town shuttle carrying visitors between parking areas and festival points, a small-town street-festival parking model, not a ticketed/prepay system.
🚙 Car hire
Compare car hire at PGV
On site parking is available; if you are hiring a car it is worth checking the cost and how early it fills.
Search car hireCar hire links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
Where
Map shows the center of Grifton. The venue's exact point is not confirmed yet.
Venue
Downtown Grifton
Camping & Accommodation
Where can I stay near Grifton Shad Festival?
No on site camping. Here is where to stay nearby.
Budget stays 4
Typically $70-130 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesTypically $70-130 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesTypically $70-130 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesTypically $70-130 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesMid-range hotels 1
Airport hotels 3
420 Moye Boulevard, Greenville, NC 27834
Typically $100-190 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check rates1820 West 5th Street, Greenville, NC 27834
Typically $100-190 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check rates450 Moye Boulevard, Greenville, NC 27834
Typically $100-190 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesAirbnb & private camping
Grifton itself is a small village with limited short-term-rental inventory; nearby Greenville (home to East Carolina University) has denser Airbnb supply.
Search AirbnbThere IS a conventional (non-Hipcamp) RV/tent campground actually inside Grifton itself. Contentnea Creekside RV Park & Walking Trails, with tent sites, 10 hookup RV sites (20/30-amp, some pull-through), and a bathhouse, which is a genuinely useful camping-adjacent option for this festival even though it isn't a Hipcamp listing; noting it here as the honest finding rather than forcing a Hipcamp match that doesn't exist.
Search HipcampSearch all hotels near Downtown Grifton
Hotel links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
Accessibility & comfort
The organizer does not publish accessibility details. Ask them directly before you travel about step-free access, accessible toilets, seating and anything else you need.
Pricing
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Quick answers
When is Grifton Shad Festival 2027?
Not announced yet. The last festival was April 17 to 19, 2026. The next one is expected in April.
Where is Grifton Shad Festival held?
Downtown Grifton, Grifton, NC.