Carolina Catfish Festival in Gastonia September 24-25

Carolina Catfish Festival is coming to Eastridge Mall, 246 N. New Hope Road, Gastonia, on September 24th and 25th, 2021.

The festival is free to attend, although there are costs for some of the activities.

The festival includes catfish races both nights, a Dub Day Cruise-In (show off your Air-cooled VW!), the Little Mr. and Miss Catfish Pageant, food eating contests, a beer and wine garden, music, and more.

And, of course, you’ll want to save some room for the fish fry!

Carolina Catfish Festival Schedule

Friday, September 24th

Festival hours 5 p.m. to 9 p.m

• 5 p.m.: Festival Opening
• 5 to 9 p.m.: Beer and Wine Garden Open, DJ begins
• 5 to 9 pm.: Kids’ Corner, Vendors, Crafts, Food vendors/food trucks
• 6 p.m. until ?: Non Profit Catfish Races

​Fish Fry: $10.00 per plate, tickets can be purchased at festival tent.

​You will be able to register to race in the catfish races on same day. See festival tent to register.

Saturday, September 25th

• Festival hours 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• 2 p.m.: Festival Opens
• 2 to 9 p.m.: Beer and Wine Garden Open, DJ
• 2 to 9 p.m.: Kids’ Corner, Vendors, Crafts, Food vendors/Food trucks
• 6 p.m. until ?: Catfish Races
• 4 to 9 p.m.: Dub Day Cruise In

Fish Fry: $10.00 per plate, tickets can be purchased at festival tent.

​You will be able to register to race in the catfish races on same day. See festival tent to register.

Catfish Races

Catfish races will be held at 6 p.m. both nights. It costs $25 to sponsor a fish. You will strategically pick your catfish from the catfish pool. The catfish are then placed in a run, and, when released, the catfish will race to the end of the run. The first catfish to touch the other end of the run is a winner of that heat.

A judge will sit at the end of the tank and raise their flag once a catfish touches its nose to the end of the tank. A winner is announced for that heat.

There might be multiple rounds.

The person who has sponsored the winning fish gets various prizes and/or trophies. Non-profits benefit from the Catfish Races.

Dub Day Cruise-In

On Saturday, September 25th, 2021, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., the Dub Day Cruise-In will feature Volkswagens, music, food and more.

Included are every style of air-cooled, VW. Beetles, buses, Ghias, Things, Square Backs, Original or Custom are all invited.

This is a donation event. Proceeds will be donated to United Way of Gaston County to be allocated to local residents in need.

 

More Festivals

Check out this list of fall festivals in Charlotte, or take a quick look at a few upcoming festivals: