MOOREHEAD CITY — Organizers expect a record crowd this weekend for the annual North Carolina Seafood Festival in Morehead City.

The event opens Friday and continues through Sunday. In the past, the festival has attracted nearly 200,000 people to the city's waterfront.

Organizers say it's the largest such festival in eastern North Carolina and one of the largest in the state.

Executive Director Stephanie McIntyre says that while the crowds are large, the festival never loses its small-town atmosphere. The proceeds from the festival are shared with the community organizations that donate their time and support to the event.

This is the festival's 26th season. Over the years, it has raised almost $2 million for nonprofit groups in Carteret County.