State Shad Festival of North Carolina: Grifton Shad Festival

by Amy Kemp,
Government and Heritage Library, 2017

See also: North Carolina State Symbols and Official Adoptions main page; Shad Festival; Shad; Shad boats; Blue Monday Shad Fry

In 2011, the General Assembly designated the town of Grifton's Shad Festival as the Official Shad Festival of the State of North Carolina. (Session Laws, 2011-36.) 

About the Grifton Shad Festival

The Grifton Shad Festival is the oldest festival in Pitt County, and one of the oldest in Eastern North Carolina. It was first held in 1970, and has since grown to over 5,000 visitors a year.

Shad related events at the festival include a fishing contest, a Shad throwing contest, a Miss Grifton Shad Queen pageant, a Fishy Tales lying contest, and SHAD-O (bingo). The festival also includes multiple nights of live music and street dancing, a car & truck show, a cornhole tournament, an art show, kayak and canoe races, a 5K mud run, and a parade.

For more information, see Shad Festival.

North Carolina Session Law

SESSION LAW 2011-36
HOUSE BILL 321 *H321-v-3*
AN ACT ADOPTING THE TOWN OF GRIFTON'S SHAD FESTIVAL AS THE OFFICIAL SHAD FESTIVAL OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.

Whereas, the Grifton Shad Festival, held annually since 1970, is the oldest festival in Pitt County and one of the longest running festivals in eastern North Carolina; and
Whereas, the Grifton Shad Festival provides visitors with many family-oriented activities, such as a parade, arts and crafts, and historical exhibits; and
Whereas, each year, citizens in the area demonstrate their community pride by volunteering to make the festival a success; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1. Chapter 145 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read: "§ 145-33. State shad festival. The Grifton Shad Festival is adopted as the official Shad Festival of the State of North Carolina."
SECTION 2. This act is effective when it becomes law. In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 7th day of April, 2011.

 s/ Beverly E. Perdue Governor
Approved 4:15 p.m. this 12th day of April, 2011