Shop Local on Hatteras Island
Your guide for weekly markets, roadside stands, and laid-back mornings that make island summers unforgettable.
If your vacation home base is on Hatteras Island this year, carving out a couple of hours for a local farmers market is one of the easiest ways to slow down, meet the community, and bring a little bit of the island home with you.
Here's what's happening on the island this season.
The Market Week
Avon Farmers Market
The longest running market on the island, set up every Tuesday in the field next to Hatteras Realty on NC Highway 12. Sponsored by the Avon Property Owners Association, it's become a true community gathering spot, featuring local food producers, artists, crafters, and makers from across the Outer Banks. Expect fresh produce, homemade goodies, and handcrafted art and gifts you won't find anywhere else. Runs late May through early September.
NC HWY 12, AVON · NEAR MM 40Tri Villages Market
Head up to Camp Hatteras in Waves on Wednesdays for this market, now in its fourth year. Dozens of vendors line the sound side lawn with local art, food, and small business goods, running from late May through mid October, one of the longer seasons on the island, which makes it a great option for guests visiting outside the peak summer weeks too.
CAMP HATTERAS, WAVESOld Trent Market
Over at Frisco Woods Campground, this market brings a relaxed, pop up feel with local artisans and makers each Thursday through the season.
FRISCO WOODS CAMPGROUNDRoadside Stands Worth the Detour
Beyond the organized markets, Hatteras Island is dotted with seasonal produce stands worth a stop, including one around milepost 40 in Rodanthe offering fresh fruits and veggies, potted herbs, butter, eggs, and homemade jam. These stands operate on their own schedules depending on the season and what's ripe, so it's worth checking hours before you go.
Why It's Worth Building Into Your Trip
For guests staying in a vacation rental with a full kitchen, a market morning is a perfect way to stock the fridge with fresh island ingredients for the week, and for anyone just looking for a relaxed activity between beach days, it's a genuinely fun way to meet locals and pick up a truly unique souvenir instead of another tee shirt.
Whether you're after fresh vegetables for a beach house dinner, a handmade piece of art, or just a good excuse for a slow morning, these markets capture the charm of small town life on Hatteras Island.
