Old Christmas celebration brings together family, friends and newcomers

Published 5:28 pm Sunday, January 16, 2022

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At the 2022 edition of Old Christmas, Joe Snider and Caroline Raddatz hold winning targets from different rounds of the afternoon’s oyster shoot. Both are first time visitors to the event, though family owns an Outer Banks house. For Raddatz, the win was the first time she had ever fired a gun. Mary Helen Goodloe-Murphy photo

At Old Christmas, Sailor O’Neal, 9, stands by this year’s oyster roaster. The many-shelved smoker would hold trays of tasty oysters from Engelhard. Mary Helen Goodloe-Murphy photo

Mostly twelve-gauge shotguns are arrayed along a table at the 2022 Old Christmas oyster shoot. Mary Helen Goodloe-Murphy photo

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Old Christmas in Rodanthe continued the traditional in-gathering of family and friends as well as newcomers on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022.

The annual event takes place at the Rodanthe-Waves-Salvo Community Building, parts of which date back 100 years.

An oyster shoot started at 1 p.m. and moved into late afternoon. This competition harks back to a marksmanship competition.

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Mostly twelve-gauge, single-barrel shotguns brought by contestants were arrayed along a long table. Shooters aimed at paper targets a basketball court away. Under the pavilion, targets were studied after 10 shooters with the winner awarded oysters.

First time visitors Joe Snider and Caroline Raddatz from Chesapeake claimed prizes. For Raddatz, it was her very first time shooting

Visiting went on during the oyster shoots. For quiet talking, men gathered around the back of a pick-up truck.

The community’s skate park, new in 2019, was in use.

Oyster roasting was carried on in a new way this year. A many-shelved smoker, pulled in on a trailer, was set up. Justin O’Neal prepared the oysters in trays. This year’s 20 bushels of oysters came from Engelhard and were declared “tasty.”

Inside the community building, Connie Page and helpers prepared the traditional chicken and pastry dinner.

Musician Barry Wells came in the late afternoon to set up equipment. Live music started at 7 p.m. with Home Dude, a three-piece band organized for the occasion.

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