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his year’s Croaker Festival was a big one: celebrating America’s 250th birthday.

Anticipating more floats, and more candy.

It was also one of the hottest: temperatures for Saturday’s parade were in the mid 90s with a heat index that topped out around 106.

During the parade, Mariposa owner Mo Jones cooled down the willing with a water hose. Matt McCotter jumps around in the spray.

But it didn’t stop people from getting out and enjoying the weekend events.

Parade watchers also put on costumes for the 250th.

Local vendors brought handmade jewelry, wooden toys and birdhouses among other handmade goods.

Vendor goods for sale: Wood birdhouses, lighted yard signs, and 3D printed articulated dragons.

In addition to the parade and fireworks, there was also a kid’s park, music on the main stage by Lou Mac Park, and a food village.

Parades aren’t complete without an inflatable. This American Flag Eagle does the job.

Competitors submitted pies, cheesecakes and more to the CroakerFest bake-off. Three pageants were held to find a Croaker Queen, Miss Minnow and Mini Miss Minnow.

Mini Miss Minnow winner Estelle Dearing.

Mini Miss Minnow – Estelle Dearing
1st Runner Up – Collins Prescott
2nd Runner Up – Berkley Banks
3rd Runner Up – Guinevere Clark
Mini Miss Photogenic – Halo Gatlin
Spirit of Croaker Fest Mini Miss – Gracie Knowles

Miss Minnow Winner Everly Leonard.

Miss Minnow – Everly Leonard
1st Runner Up – Bethany Burton
2nd Runner Up – Brylee Whorton
3rd Runner Up – Aubrey Leonard
Little Miss Photogenic – Ali Shay Wilkinson
Spirit of Croaker Fest Miss Minnow – Ali Shay Wilkinson

Croaker Queen Catherine Lackey.

Miss Croaker – Catherine Lackey
1st Runner Up – Jenna Buck
2nd Runner Up – Aniyah King
3rd Runner Up – Emma Peters
Miss Photogenic – Melody Armstrong
Spirit of Croaker Fest Miss – Raelyn Hughes
Academic Award Winner – Moriah Phillips

The first place cheesecake winner: a white chocolate raspberry cheesecake.

Bake-off Winners:
Pies:
1st place: Colling Hoyle, Berry American Pie
2nd place: Kelsey Sensenig, Apple Pie
3rd place: Courtney Stevenson & Bailey Grimes, Apple Pie

Quick Breads:
1st place: Kelsey Sensing, Banana Bread
2nd place: Ada McDowell, Pumpkin Spice Bread
3rd place: Mary Dirrane, American-Irish Soda Bread

Decorated Cakes:
1st place: Beth Borch

Dietary Needs Desserts:
1st: McKenna Williams, Basil Blueberry Coffee Cake

Cheesecakes:
1st place: Christie Moser, White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake

Part of the Democratic party parade floats: Happy Birthday.

Saturday’s parade reflected was awash in red, white, and blue with watchers and participants working to stay cool and hydrated.

Angie Propst, and others on the Arts Council float, keep the crowds cool with water guns.

The Oriental Bridge closed to traffic at 3p as the fireworks were staged on the bridge for the evening show. Watchers gathered along the water front to watch.

Fireworks from the town’s free dock. (Joe Clark photo)

The Croaker Festival happens every year on the first weekend in July.

Aurora resident Torrence Purdue displayed his delicately woven wire jewelry.

Stillwater Farms had an expansive live and dried flower display.

Keeping an eye on the candy throwers.

The Croaker Festival information booth was manned by volunteers throughout the day.

The Bean barista Liz watches the parade with her children.

Mini Miss Minnow contestants line up backstage. They were the firsts group to compete in the pageants.

The Cooligans sped through along Broad Street, in choreographed controlled chaos.

At the corner of Broad and Church streets, a celebratory skeleton waves hello.

Volunteers help run the Croaker Festival. Garbology volunteers moved through out the festival, helping keep the grounds clean.

Members of the Oriental Tree Board hang out in the mini truck, waiting for the parade to begin.

The Color Guards lead the parade.

The post-parade candy haul.

Lady Liberty waves to the crowd.

Emma Spain, a Croaker Queen contestant, throws candy to the crowd.

Gracie Knowles, winner of the Mni Miss Minnow Spirit Award, keeps cool in her family’s jeep.

A clown-sized fire truck. (Joe Clark)

A member of the Pamlico Community Band plays during opening ceremonies.

Jim Kellenberger, wearing a Croaekr hat, leads the parade tractors.

Ham Radio operators.

The elephant of the Republican Party flaot.

Celebrating founding father George Washington.

Laura Turgeon shows her appreciation for the Tree Board. (Jennifer Smart photo)

A small dog rides sidecar in parade.

At the end of the parade, members of the EMS truck handed out frozen icicles instead of candy.

A favorite of parades, the old 1950s firetruck of Southeast Pamlico Volunteer Fire Department Station 19.

Belted in, a toddler enjoys a shaded parade viewing perch.

Crowds gather near the dinghy dock to watch fireworks on Saturday night.

Posted Friday July 10, 2026 by Allison DeWeese