“TO SURF AND PROTECT”
The mission of Ocean Festival 501c(3) is to celebrate and protect Mother Ocean while supporting other like-minded nonprofit organizations.
Each year in Surf City, NC, we host our bi-annual Ocean Fest: an eco/surf/arts/live music festival to benefit the ocean. Although our primary focus is on those events, the organization works throughout the year to mobilize our coastal community to better protect Mother Ocean through beach/coast cleanups, pop-up events, and our ongoing work with Topsail Island chapter of Ocean Friendly Establishments.
“We want the festival to bring in folks to not only enjoy the beach, music, and festivities, but to celebrate and learn how to take better care of the environment and raise money for nonprofits doing the same.”
OUR STORY
Ocean Fest was founded in 2019 by three surfing buddies who can usually be found riding the waves of Surf City, NC. The motivation behind the event was simply to share our love for the ocean, celebrate the pure joy of surfing, and, most importantly, to give something meaningful back to Mother Ocean. With that in mind, Ocean Fest strives to educate the community about ecological threats that exist for our precious marine environments and teach ways we all can better protect those environments. Our motto: “To Surf and Protect.”
OUR PURPOSE
The goal of Ocean Fest is to share our love for the ocean, celebrate the stoke of surfing, and, most importantly, to give something meaningful back to Mother Ocean.
The top priority of Ocean Fest is to educate the community about ecological threats that harm our precious marine environment and teach ways we can all better protect these ecosystems. This is where our motto, ‘To Surf and Protect,’ originated.
OUR AWARDS
In just three short years, Ocean Fest has established itself as one of the premier festivals in the Southeast.
A HUGE THANK YOU goes out to all of our volunteers, sponsors, friends & supporters for making these awards possible. Yew!
Awards for Ocean Fest 2023
Best Green Initiative” Southeast Festivals & Events Association
Best T-Shirt Award, “Surfer Girl Tee”
Best Merch Award NC Association of Festivals & Events
Student’s Choice Merch Award, “beach bag” Southeast Festival + Events Assoc.
Best Festival Video, NC Association of Festivals & Events
1% For the Planet Designation
Awards for Ocean Fest 2022:
“Event of the Year” NC Association of Festivals & Events
“Best Green Initiative” Southeast Festivals & Events Association
“Director of the Year” NC Association of Festivals & Events
“Best Outreach Program” NC Association of Festivals & Events
“Best Merchandise” (for collaboration with Salty Turtle on Ocean Fest Lager) NC Association of Festivals & Events
Candid/Guidestar Platinum Seal of Transparency