Posted on 4/28/2021

Breaking News! The Rod & Custom Hotrod Festival Returns to The OBX

What Is The Festival And When Does It Take Place?

Matte black hotrod viewed from the side parked in front of the ocean.

At this two-day festival with a variety of activities, car lovers will meet and greet with fellow enthusiasts while exploring some of North Carolina's most beautiful coastlines. The OBX Rod And Custom Festival is a unique celebration of vintage and antique automobiles that will include a variety of family-friendly events such as local food, cruise-ins, and car shows that will delight automotive buffs of all ages and tastes.

With over 300 hot rods registered for the show at The Soundside Event Site, the inaugural OBX Rod and Custom Festival drew attention from car and truck enthusiasts from every state on the East Coast on May 3-4, 2019. "I've had this dream of creating a car week for at least six years now, ever since I took my OBX, SS Monte Carlo, onto the show circuit," explains event organizer Michael Tillett. "I've been out there ever since, building my credibility as a serious car guy and laying the groundwork to finally show the car world my home, the Outer Banks."

This year the Custom Hotrod Festival runs from April 30th through May 1st, 2021. For 2021, the event will again be spread out over a number of locations, to allow social distancing and safer gathering. There are also additional sites for off-site trailer parking. If you are planning to make memories to last a lifetime and decide to bring the whole family you might want to consider booking one of our featured OBX vacation rentals to enjoy during the weekend festivities.

Dates for the 2022 show will be May 6-7. Registration for 2022 will open at midnight 12/31/2021. Additional information can be found on OBXRC.com, or you may call the Public Relations Director, Michael Tillett, at 252-305-5789.

Where Does The Festival Take Place?

Red hot rod parked at a beach access overlooking the atlantic ocean.

The main event location will be the Vertigo Event Site located at 7594 Shipyard Road in Manns Harbor, NC. This is a four-acre site and will accommodate several of the static displays, vendor tents, and food. There will be multiple additional locations throughout the Outer Banks hosting static displays and cruise-ins. These additional locations will be announced prior to the event. The previously announced event site in Nags Head is unavailable so please stay tuned to their Facebook page.

During the weekend-long party, there will be cruise-ins, static exhibits of antique cars, special events, games for adults and kids, and plenty of food to eat in between the action. This event is designed for you to make new memories together with your friends and family on the Outer Banks. In addition, guests are welcome to bring their own car treasures and enjoy a thorough tour of the Outer Banks' numerous historic sites. The OBX Rod And Custom Festival, based in Kill Devil Hills, has the fortunate privilege of being close to a wide range of scenic roadways and attractions, from Corolla's northern beaches to the sandy shorelines of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

Past Charities and Affiliations

A supped up hot rod parked close to the OBX Beaches.

The festival's mission is to create, promote and produce an event for the automotive enthusiast in a family-friendly environment.

They will be using the outer bank's beautiful landscapes as a backdrop for their shows. Reflecting their historical significance, and all the attributes that make our area unique. Money raised through their sponsorship program will be used for the promotion of the event, with residual proceeds donated to local charities.

Just like Joe Lamb Jr. & Associates, The OBX Rod and Custom Festival likes to do good in the community. Both have given generously to some of the following local Outer Banks charities and organizations in the past.

OBX Rod and Custom Festival 2019 & 2020 Charities:

Children & Youth Partnership (CYP) for Dare County is a private, non-profit organization that connects kids and their families with resources to help them thrive. Created following the second State of the Child Conference in Dare County in 1994, the organization was charged with focusing on issues brought forward at that conference and worked to establish the Wright Place for Youth and the Dare County Youth Center. In 1997, the Partnership began administering North Carolina's nationally recognized Smart Start early childhood program for Dare County, ensuring that all children are ready to succeed upon entering school. Since then, CYP has sponsored three additional State of the Child Conferences to focus work on what all kids need to thrive. Today, CYP works with the help of many community groups, businesses, and individuals to offer a variety of programs and services to ensure the healthy development of all children from birth through adolescence.

Dare County Motorsports Charity Group's mission is to offer and promote Motorsports events to benefit underprivileged children in Dare County. Our three main events are the Dare County Motorcycle Toy run, The Cat5 Jeepers Toy Run, and the OBX Bike Rally. Each of these events is designed to raise funds and Toys for the needs of the children of Dare County during the Christmas holiday season each year.

Joe Lamb Jr. & Associates Charitable Community Contributions:

Joe Lamb Jr. is a generous supporter of local educational activities and fundraisers in the Dare County School System. The Lambs place high importance on education. Since 2007, the Joe and Ann Lamb Scholarship has been open to students who have been admitted to UNC-Chapel Hill, with Dare County students receiving first priority, followed by students from other North Carolina counties.

The Dare County Relay for Life is one of the largest fund-raising activities in the area, committed to finding ways to prevent and cure cancer. This annual American Cancer Society event brings people from all over the world together to honor those who have fought cancer, remember loved ones, and join the fight to end cancer forever. Joe Lamb Jr. has been a supporter of the Outer Banks Relief Foundation since 2004. The Outer Banks Relief Foundation has grown into one of the OBX's most important charities, and Joe Lamb Jr. walks hand in hand with them every year as a sponsor of the Couture by the Shore fundraiser in May.

We encourage you to dream, explore, and discover culture & tourism here in the beautiful Outer Banks. With plenty of gorgeous weather on the horizon and more sandy beaches than you will know what to do with the OBX is a wonderful place to book your next vacation!

--
Joe Lamb Jr. & Associates is one of the most trusted vacation rental managers in the local area by growing into a market leader in the Vacation Rental and Sales Industry. Joe Lamb Jr. and his family have played a vital and intricate role in the Outer Banks Community for decades.

Over the past 50+ years, Joe Lamb Jr. & Associates have worked diligently to help promote the Outer Banks for the amazing beach and family vacation destination that it is, helping to increase tourism in the area and grow our beautiful community.