North Carolina State University alumni came out in packs Friday for good seafood, live music and catching up with old friends.

It was all part of the N.C. State Alumni Association’s annual Beaufort County Oyster Roast, and this year’s event drew about 200 of the Wolfpack faithful.

“Beaufort County has one of the most active alumni networks in the nation, actually in the world, for N.C. State,” said Paige Harris, who organized the event and serves on the alumni association board.

She said the idea for an oyster roast came five years ago, as alumni networks were competing to see which one could have the most growth. The winner was to be rewarded with a special visit from the university’s chancellor Randy Woodson.

The Beaufort County alumni network won that year with its oyster roast, and has held a roast every year since, and because Woodson enjoyed the first one so much, he promised to attend all of the ones to come.

“He has made good on that promise,” Harris said. “He’s a very active chancellor. He is more active in the community and really putting his personal presence out there.”

Along with Woodson, this year’s roast also welcomed Dereck Whittenburg, N.C. State associate athletic director for community relations and student support, and his wife Jacqueline.

Harris said organizers used to hold the event at the home of Forest Sidbury and his late wife Lalla, but this time it was moved to a new location.

“Steve Griffin has this awesome barn that was ready for the new year,” she said. Considering the event’s track record with the weather — two years ago temperatures were as low as 18 degrees with storms, and last year’s event saw a temperature of 13 degrees — a covered venue was a welcome change, according to Harris.

Ultimately, the event was one meant to encourage nostalgia in a laid-back environment, while also strengthening the alumni base, she said.

“N.C. State alumni are very active and still very attached to their university,” Harris said.