A familiar seafood festival will return to the area with a different name, but the same appeal for folks looking for quality entertainment and delicious food. On May 16 and 17, the Orange County SeaFest will set up at the Efland Ruritan Club, and launch into two days of nearly a dozen music performances, and dozens of food and crafts vendors from throughout the region. If all goes well, Terry Rose, the festival’s founder and organizer is expecting to attract as many as 5,000 people to the event.
“You gotta love it,” he said. “Because it ain’t for the money. I kind of run this thing like a county fair — we’ve got a carnival, we’ve got food and we’ve got lots of music.”
Despite his tireless and nonstop efforts, Rose is determined to put the festival in growth-mode by investing more time, money and attention on marketing and the level of music performers.
“We have spent some money on some great acts,” he said. “We’ve been promoting the Orange County SeaFest all over the place. We’ve got a website. We hired a social media person who created a Facebook page and has been active on all forms of social media.”
Rose has employed traditional marketing methods — yard signs, banners and posters — and less-traditional ways, including video ads at a movie theater and a bowling alley in Roxboro. He’s taken out ads on Maverick Radio in Burlington and in the News of Orange County, and cast a larger net in hopes of drawing greater attendance.
“It wouldn’t be smart for us to not tackle the Durham and Raleigh markets,” he said. “That’s something we haven’t done in the past.”
Rose originally started the seafood festival in fall 2019, with very little fanfare or planning. He hoped to attract as many as 250 people. When close to 700 locals showed up, Rose knew he was on to something and began planning for the next year. At that time, the event helped to fund an annual fishing trip at the North Carolina coast for wounded veterans. While Orange County SeaFest will continue the tradition of making donations for that cause, North Carolina Veterans Outdoors now handles the annual trip.
While the festival has seen its share of challenges, including the pandemic and weather-related occurrences, it continues to succeed in growing. Rose said at its current rate, the festival may outgrow the Efland Ruritan Club after this year. He mentioned the Orange County Speedway as a potential location for future events.
The Orange County SeaFest runs 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., May 16, and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. May 17. Tickets are $5 for military (ID required); $8 for seniors (ID required); $10 for general admission; and free for kids 6 years and under.
Performers include the JP Leon Band; Gato Maestro; Mason Lovette Band; Kevin McKirahan; Faster Than Boys; The Holiday Band; Florence Core; Kyler Sullivan; Samuel Obie; 8 Track Minds; and Dr. Bacon.
The Efland Ruritan Club Building is at 3009 Forrest Ave. in Efland.