CrabDaddy Seafood & Wine Festival 2026: Visitor Guide

CrabDaddy Seafood & Wine Festival brings one of the Outer Banks’ most satisfying fall combinations to the Currituck mainland: local seafood, North Carolina wine, live music, and an afternoon among the vines. The 2026 festival is scheduled for Saturday, October 10, from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Sanctuary Vineyards in Jarvisburg.

This is an easy event to build a day around, whether you are staying in Corolla, heading toward the beach on U.S. 158, or exploring mainland Currituck. The focus is generous, unfussy coastal food served in a setting that feels distinctly different from an oceanfront festival.

Date, Location, and Tickets

Sanctuary Vineyards is located at 7005 Caratoke Highway, Jarvisburg, NC 27947. The winery’s current event page lists the festival for October 10, 2026, from 11:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

General tickets are $60 for adults and $30 for children. VIP tables for eight are listed at $600. The organizer says no paper ticket will be issued, so guests should bring the identification used for admission. Since this is a ticketed food event with a fixed service window, buying before festival day is the sensible choice.

What Is on the Menu

The meal is the center of CrabDaddy. The advertised spread features all-you-can-eat steamed blue crabs, Carolina barbecue, country sides, and an old-school Currituck fish fry. It is a menu rooted in the waters and food traditions of northeastern North Carolina rather than a collection of generic festival concessions.

Crabs reward a slower pace. Give yourself time to settle in, work through the shells, and enjoy the afternoon instead of treating the festival like a quick lunch stop. If you are bringing younger guests, the fish fry, barbecue, and sides offer options beyond picking steamed crabs.

Sanctuary also uses the event to showcase local wine and beer. Guests planning to drink should bring a valid ID and arrange a safe ride or designated driver. Check the ticket description when purchasing so you know exactly what food, beverages, and keepsakes are included with your ticket type.

Live Music at Sanctuary Vineyards

Two bands are scheduled to provide music throughout the main part of the festival. The organizer lists performance windows from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. That gives the day a continuous soundtrack without turning the event into a concert where guests have to choose between the stage and the food.

The vineyard setting is part of the appeal. Dress for an outdoor October afternoon, bring sun protection, and keep a light layer handy for changing coastal weather. Conditions can feel warm in the sun and much cooler once clouds or a breeze move in.

Make It a Currituck Day Trip

CrabDaddy is held on the mainland side of Currituck County, so it pairs naturally with stops that visitors sometimes pass on the drive to the northern beaches. A morning in Historic Corolla is possible for guests already staying north of Duck, while travelers approaching from the west can make the vineyard their main destination before crossing the Wright Memorial Bridge.

The best plan is the simplest one: arrive close to opening, find your place, and allow most of the afternoon for eating and music. Avoid stacking a tightly timed reservation immediately afterward. Steamed-crab meals are social by nature, and the festival is more enjoyable when no one is watching the clock.

Before You Go

The organizer’s updated date is October 10, 2026. Some older regional listings may still display an earlier October date, so use the winery’s current announcement when making plans. Ticket availability, entry instructions, and any weather updates should also be checked shortly before departure.

Review the latest details and purchase options on the official CrabDaddy event page from Sanctuary Vineyards.

For visitors who want a true taste of Currituck in one relaxed afternoon, CrabDaddy delivers a strong sense of place: crabs from the coastal tradition, a vineyard on the mainland, music in the open air, and plenty of time to enjoy all three.