On the journey back from its summer season in New England, SeaFair- America’s Megayacht Venue- will be stopping in Morehead City, North Carolina to participate in the 25th Anniversary of the North Carolina Seafood Festival which was recently voted the best event in the Southeast. SeaFair will partner with the Arts Council of Carteret County, Downtown Morehead City Revitalization Association and the NC Seafood Festival organizers to present an exhibition of unique works from North Carolina artists as well as internationally renowned artists. A jury of art collectors, museum professionals and artists will select among the submissions to select the best artists to be represented aboard.

The 25th North Carolina Seafood Festival officially opens with a private preview on Thursday evening September 29th aboard SeaFair docked at Portside Marina.

SeaFair will host “ArtSplendor on SeaFair, A Fine Art Show & Sale” in the exhibition salons during the festival, a juried art exhibition sponsored by the Arts Council of Carteret County. Eighteen of the twenty eight gallery salons will be devoted to this juried exhibition of outstanding artists of North Carolina and the Southeast.

Sharon Kearns has been selected to exhibit in one of the ArtSpendor Galleries. She will display several new works for this special fine art show and sale.

In addition to the bevy of artworks onboard, the three-day festival will bring special artist demonstrations. Admission is $ 10 per person, $ 5 for children under 10 years old and Priority Boarding tickets $15. Separate Sky deck access for the Saturday fireworks display – limited tickets available for $15. Tickets may be purchased in advance at www.expoships.com. SeaFair will be centrally located in full view of the N.C. Seafood Festival’s firework display on Saturday night. SeaFair’s Sky Deck – rising 60 feet above the water – is always a spectacular platform to view waterside fireworks events.

In the evening, attendees can enjoy the breathtaking panoramic views from the sky deck paired with live music and unique seafood selections. The Sky Deck bar will present a wide selection of beers, a unique selection of wines as well as lively performances by Flair bartenders.

The Arts Council of Carteret County will hold “Art & Jazz at Sunset,” a cocktail party and private viewing of the exhibition on Sunday, October 2nd from 6:30-10pm. Tickets are $75 per person. This fundraiser will benefit the arts council (a 501(c) 3 non profit organization) and will feature full access to the yacht and all art galleries, fine hors d’oeuvres prepared by a popular local caterer, open bars and live vocal and keyboard jazz by world renowned performer Grenoldo Frazier. For more information: Visit ACCC’s website at www.artscouncilcarteret.org, email artscarteret@yahoo.com or call 252.659.0253. Tickets are limited, and must be purchased by Sept. 22.

ABOUT SEAFAIR

SeaFair is the world’s first mobile megayacht venue and one of the largest private yachts in the United States. Groundbreaking in scale, ingenuity and style, the innovative exhibition facility – which remains dockside during each event – pairs international fine art, jewelry and collectables with harbor view dining and special events in cities along the eastern seaboard.

The ship boasts three decks of international galleries, two outdoor bars, an international coffee bar, as well as a formal glass-walled restaurant and an open-air bistro on the Sky Deck.

The $40M purpose built exhibition yacht was designed by internationally acclaimed yacht designer Luiz de Basto. At 228 feet and 2,800 international tons, it is one of the largest ships built

for commercial operation in the Intracoastal Waterway and requires a draft of only 6.5 feet, allowing it to dock at yacht facilities in central city locations rather than use commercial ports.

Learn more about SeaFair on CNBC!

SeaFair is owned and operated by International Fine Art Expositions (IFAE). IFAE Principals, David and Lee Ann Lester have been in the art fair industry for over 20 years and have organized over 70 international art fairs in art capitals around the world including New York, Chicago, Hong Kong, and London. IFAE has pioneered the Florida market establishing the American International Fine Art Fair (AIFAF) in 1997, now the premiere fine art fair in America, and Art Palm Beach in 1998, one of Florida’s most celebrated contemporary fairs. In addition, the firm founded Miami Florida’s original international art fair, Art Miami, in 1991. In 2011, IFAE launched two of the most successful fairs inaugurated that year, Naples International Art & Antique Fair (NIAAF) and Art Naples.

SeaFair will be docked at Portside Marina, 209 Arendell Street, Morehead City. The ship will be open Friday, September 30th from noon – 10pm, Saturday, October 1st from 10am – 10pm, and Sunday, October 2nd from 11am – 5pm. Dinner service in the glass walled dining room overlooking the harbor will be available by reservation. Lunch and full bar service will be served on the Sky Deck 360 Bar and Luxe Lounge on the second outside deck. For more information on SeaFair and to acquire advance tickets, please visit www.expoships.com.

For more information on the “Art Splendor” exhibition and for ticket information about the “Art & Jazz at Sunset” cocktail party please contact the Arts Council of Carteret County, www.artscouncilcarteret.org/.