Core Sound Decoy Festival

The small community of Harkers Island comes to life at this annual event that puts this community’s rich heritage and history in the spotlight. The annual Core Sound Decoy Festival, which is held the first full weekend in December, is a unique celebration that combines exhibits, demonstrations, vendors, food, and much more, to the delight of local visitors and residents alike.

The first festival, which is sponsored by the Core Sound Decoy Guild, was held in 1988, and in the more-than-30 years that followed, the event has become an annual pilgrimage for many decoy carvers and collectors. The festival has a number of attractions to attract visitors of all varieties, including antique decoy exhibits, retriever demonstrations, and several types of competitions including decoys, shorebirds, and head whittling. There is always delicious food at the event, which is offered by Harkers Island Elementary School staff and volunteers, and plenty of shopping opportunities from the many vendors who flock to the festival each year. With so much to discover, and a rich history and heritage that is still going strong, the Core Sound Decoy Festival is a great way for Crystal Coast visitors to explore the unique heritage that this small southern Outer Banks community has to offer.