Day at the Docks: A Celebration of Hatteras Island Watermen

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Day at the Docks is held in mid-September on the harbor in Hatteras village. The day brings local fishing families and tourists together on the waterfront where commercial fishing boats, charter boats, and fishing gear are displayed. Century-old workboats, including a traditional North Carolina shad boat, dock next to modern, state-of-the-art vessels.

Professional and home chefs square-off in a chowder cook-off, and Outer Banks families share their special seafood cooking techniques. Special activities for children include a fishing contest, fish identification game, and blue crab races.

There is no admission charge. Guests are also invited to witness the local fishing fleet sailing into the harbor for the Blessing of the Fleet.

Day at the Docks has its genesis in the aftermath of Hurricane Isabel in 2003 when a surge of ocean water crossed the island, carving a breech and isolating Hatteras Village from the rest of the island. The first people who were able to get back to work were the watermen. The charter group worked out an arrangement to ferry their customers into and out of Hatteras Village for their trips. The commercial group, thanks to the fish dealers' negotiations, sold its catches when fish trucks were given permsission to cross on the emergency ferry.

Hatteras Island
updated 06/2011 by Down East Ocracoke Hatteras North Carolina