What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm

Onslow County Tourism

Home
United States
Jacksonville, NC
Onslow County Tourism

Directions Website

Welcome to Onslow County, North Carolina where heroes are our heritage and nature is our playground.
(1)

From historical memorials and museums to water recreation and agritourism attractions, a visitor will find their country in this coastal town. Onslow is one of North Carolina's oldest counties, and its past reflects a rich and varied history. Named after Arthur Onslow, early settlements in the area occurred along the fertile waterways of Bear Creek and the White Oak and New Rivers. COMMUNITY GUIDELINES
This page is monitored daily by the Onslow County Tourism Staff. We support the discussion of free speech and engagement with others, however we reserve the right to remove anything posted to this page that we deem to be offensive, including:

• Violent, obscene, profane, hateful, suggestive or racist posts, links or images
• Comments that threaten or defame any person or organization
• Off-topic posts by a single user
• Repetitive posts copied and pasted or duplicated by single or multiple users
• Anything else the Onslow County Tourism Staff deems to be inappropriate

10/21/2026

Celebrate autumn coastal style at Topsail Island Brewing Topsail Island Brewing with seasonal brews, live music, local shopping, and family-friendly festivities!

🍻 3rd Annual Fall Fest
Gather the whole family for a day packed with seasonal fun, delicious treats, and live entertainment! Enjoy a kid’s corn pit, face painting, fairy hair, pumpkin painting, mimosa specials, donuts & c***r, and their seasonal pumpkin b**r release.
Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: Daytime activities starting with live music by The Bugs (1:00 PM - 4:00 PM) followed by Ray Wag (7:00 PM - 10:00 PM)
Location: Topsail Island Brewing

🌕 Autumn Lights Night Market Series
Browse local artisanal vendors while sipping craft b**r and enjoying live music under the evening lights!
Dates: Select Saturdays (October 24 & November 14)
Time: 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Location: Topsail Island Brewing

Bring your friends, family, and appetite for fall fun at the brewery! 🍂

10/20/2026

Celebrate NC Oyster Month with a delicious local tradition this Tuesday in Onslow County! 🦪

Whether you prefer them raw on the half shell, steamed, fried, or pulled straight from renowned local waters, here is where to satisfy your oyster cravings this fall:

🦪 Riverview Cafe
When oysters are in season, this historic local spot in Sneads Ferry serves "oysters in the shell" harvested directly from nearby Stump Sound. Ask any oyster lover, and they will tell you the unique tidal flow of Stump Sound makes these oysters as good as it gets!
Location: 119 Shore Dr, Sneads Ferry

🔥 Jordan's Smokehouse & Seafood
Looking for the ultimate combination of North Carolina barbecue and fresh coastal seafood? Slide on up to the oyster bar at Jordan's Smoke House in Swansboro and enjoy oysters served raw, steamed, or fried alongside their famous smoked barbecue!
Location: 129 Phillips Loop Rd, Swansboro

⚓ Capt. Bob Beck’s Marina Café
Relax dockside along the New River in Jacksonville and take in the crisp fall views with a platter of freshly shucked or fried oysters and a cold drink. This pet-friendly spot also features live music and riverboat cruises!

🦪 JoeDeddy's Bar & Grill
Check out Jacksonville's newest local spot for mouthwatering food and cold drinks! Stop by JoeDeddy's for fresh oysters and seafood favorites, juicy burgers, quesadillas, and draft b**r in a lively, family-friendly setting.
Location: 2421 Gum Branch Rd, Jacksonville, NC 28540

10/19/2026

Looking for Halloween fun across Onslow County this weekend? 🎃👻

From costume contests and kid-friendly dance parties to trunk-or-treating and hot dog roasts, here is what is happening across our community:

👻 Not So Spooky Halloween Party at Zing Zumm, Children's Museum of Jacksonville
Creep on over for a bewitching evening filled with dancing, trick-or-treating, and ghoulishly creative crafts! Costumes are a must, so come dressed as your favorite monster, superhero, or magical creature!
Date: Friday, October 23
Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: Zing Zumm Children's Museum, 625 New Bridge St, Jacksonville, NC
Cost: $10

🌭 Halloweenie Roast & Truck-a-Treat (Town of Swansboro)
Get ready for a spooktacular evening of fun at the annual Halloweenie Roast! Enjoy a costume contest, dog costume contest, pumpkin pie contest, crafts, games, and free hot dogs!
Date: Friday, October 23
Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: 830 State Rd 1447, Swansboro, NC 28584

🏮 Yopp’s Meeting House Ghost Walk
Step into the shadows of history for a lantern-lit guided walk through the historic grounds and cemetery! Experience live historical interpreters, local food trucks, a costume contest with prize drawings, and handcrafted wood frame raffles—all supporting historic preservation in Sneads Ferry.
Date: Saturday, October 23 & 24
Time: Various Times (buy tickets here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/yopps-meeting-house-ghost-walk-for-preservationfor
Location: Yopp’s Meeting House, 2363 NC-172, Sneads Ferry, NC 28460

🎃 Onslow County Monster Bash & Trunk or Treat (Onslow County Parks and Recreation)
Enjoy a safe and fun evening packed with Halloween-themed games, trunk-or-treating for the kids, a costume contest for all ages, food vendors, and a dedicated kid zone!
Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Location: Onslow Pines Park, 1244 Onslow Pines Rd, Jacksonville, NC
Admission: FREE

Dress up the whole family and join in the spooky fun! 🍂

10/16/2026

Just out here having an otter-ly amazing time cruising down the waters in Onslow County, NC! 🦦🌊 Who knew our local wildlife had this much main-character energy?

10/15/2026

Eat oysters like a local in Onslow County! 🦪✨

Whether you are enjoying fresh oysters on the half shell, taking a boat tour of a working shellfish farm, or diving into a steamed seafood platter right by the water, coastal North Carolina is an oyster lover’s dream. From wild-harvested classics to local farm-raised beauties, there are so many ways to sample and celebrate our coastal flavors. 🌊

10/14/2026

Congratulations to our July, August and September Hospitality Service Award Honorees! Each month, our office honors three individuals for his/her exemplary hospitality and friendliness to visitors that come to to our area to enjoy restaurants, attractions and events in Onslow County. 👏

Seaview Restaurant | The Kettle Diner | Blue Jay Play Cafe | Jagger's | Hampton Inn & Suites, Swansboro, North Carolina | Overruled Smash Kitchen | Towneplace Suites | Lil’ Bean Cafe | Miladas

10/13/2026

Happy Tasty Tuesday! October is officially North Carolina Oyster Month, and we are "shellebrating" the history, culture, and coastal flavors of oysters across Onslow County!

Whether you want to tour a working farm, learn about coastal restoration, or enjoy fresh shellfish dockside, here is how you can celebrate the NC Oyster Trail throughout our region:

🦪 Shellfish Farm Tours & Sustainable Aquaculture
Hop on a boat, smell the salt breeze, and discover how oysters are cultivated along our coastline! Ghost Fleet Oyster Company in Topsail Sound offers customized farm tours, sunset cruises, and deserted island strolls. You can also connect with small-batch shellfish growers like Hold Fast Oyster Co near the New River, Middle Sound Mariculture LLC in Stump Sound, Three Little Spats Oyster Company, and Carolina Beach Oyster Co.

🌊 The Oyster Highway & Environmental Education
Did you know Sturgeon City in Jacksonville converted a former wastewater treatment plant into an environmental education center? Visit to learn about hands-on science programs, coastal protection, and the New River Estuary Oyster Highway Project!

♻️ Protect Our Waters: Recycle Your Oyster Shells
It is illegal in North Carolina to throw oyster shells in landfills or use them as mulch. Shells are vital for building new wild reefs! Drop off clean shells at recycling points in Onslow County, including the Hammocks Beach State Park maintenance area in Swansboro, Morris Landing in Holly Ridge, or Onslow County Solid Waste drop-off sites. 🦪

10/12/2026

Looking for spooky, family-friendly fun across our region this weekend? 🎃👻

From hands-on Halloween science to zombie fun runs, interactive haunted laser tag, and cozy campground trick-or-treating, there is something for ghosts and ghouls of all ages to enjoy! Here’s what’s happening this weekend:

🧪 Sturgeon City's Spooktacular
Don’t miss your chance to be part of a Halloween event that’s as educational as it is entertaining! Join in for an evening of treats, science, and spooky surprises infused with interactive science stations that will amaze and educate.
Date: Friday, October 16
Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Location: 50 Court St, Jacksonville, NC 28540
Admission: $5 per person

🧟 Town of Holly Ridge ZomBee Run & After-Party
Buzz on over dressed as your finest zom-bee for a hauntingly delightful stroll around Holly Ridge! Open to all ages, the start and finish are at the Holly Ridge Community Center, followed by a family-friendly Halloween After-Party featuring a DJ, light refreshments, and festive Halloween fun!
Date: Friday, October 16
Time: 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: 404 Sound Rd, Holly Ridge, NC 28445
Admission: $8 Residents | $10 Non-Residents

🔫 Haunted Zombie Shoot at Jacksonville Paintball & Ai***ft Park
Enter Zombie Land on an interactive rescue mission where you become part of the action! Equip your squad with safety gear and 500 Acid Balls to fight your way through a terrifying course packed with zombies, live scares, special effects, food trucks, fire pits, and a bonus haunted maze (zombies do not shoot back).
Date: Friday, October 16 & Saturday, October 17
Time: Doors open at 6:30 PM (Friday 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Saturday 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM)
Location: 130 Imperial Ln, Jacksonville, NC 28540
Admission: $25 General Admission | $15 Ages 4–5 | Free for Ages 3 & under

🏕️ JCO Campground Annual Halloween Bash at JCO Campground at Lee Baysden Pond
Head out for their annual autumn celebration! Enjoy trick-or-treating at the cabins and RVs, a potluck dinner, hot dog roast, games, music, and a community trunk-or-treat.
Date: Saturday, October 17
Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: 211 Baysden Pond Rd, Chinquapin, NC 28521

Grab your cozy sweaters and costumes and come celebrate the season with us, ! 🍂

10/11/2026

Get ready for an extraordinary evening where style, culture, and community meet on one runway! 👗🌎✨

FTM Fashion Week Season 13 is taking Jacksonville on a journey around the globe with this year's theme, "Fashion Around the World." Join designers, models, creatives, and fashion lovers at the Jacksonville Country Club for a high-energy evening celebrating international diversity, cultural storytelling, emerging talent, and local business connections.

📍 Location: Jacksonville Country Club, 2201 Country Club Rd, Jacksonville, NC 28546
📅 Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM (VIP doors open at 5:00 PM)

10/10/2026

Enjoying the rainy 72nd Annual Swansboro Mullet Festival!

Update: Due to the latest weather forecast, today’s festival schedule has been adjusted.

• Vendor close-downs: Vendors will begin closing at 1:30 p.m. in staggered 30-minute intervals.
• Final entertainment: The Tim Clark Band will perform from 2:00 p.m. until approximately 4:00 p.m.
• Canceled activities: The Mullet Toss and Mullet Hair Competition have been canceled.
• Performance cancellation: The Blackwater Rhythm and Blues Band will not perform today.

Be sure to follow Town of Swansboro | Swansboro Festivals for event updates.
Visit Swansboro NC

Address

1099 Gum Branch Road
Jacksonville, NC
28540

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Website

http://www.onlyinonslow.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Onslow County Tourism posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Want your business to be the top-listed travel agency in Jacksonville?