The Outer Banks comes alive with festive spirit each holiday season, offering a range of celebrations perfect for all ages. From twinkling light displays to local artisan markets, photos with Santa, and holiday parades, there’s something for everyone to enjoy along the coast. Whether you’re in search of unique gifts, looking to make magical memories with family, or simply want to soak up the festive atmosphere, the Outer Banks has it all. Here’s a guide to some of the best holiday events happening this season.
Saturday, November 9; Saturday, November 30; Thursday, December 5; Wednesday, December 11; Saturday, December 14
Dowdy Park in Nags Head, NC, offers several holiday events throughout the winter – come by on November 9 (9am to 12pm), November 30 (9am to 12pm), December 5 (4pm to 7pm), or December 14 (9am to 12pm) for the holiday markets, with a tree lighting ceremony and a visit from Santa Claus for the November 30 market! Interested in a candy cane hunt? Come by on December 11 at 4:45pm for some friendly competition. Happy hunting!
Saturday, November 16; Tuesday, November 26; Saturday, December 7; Tuesday, December 17
Come on down to Aviation Park in Kill Devil Hills, NC, for the First Flight Holiday Markets! Nearly 50 local vendors, selling everything from woodworking, paintings, photography, candles, jewelry, soaps and lotions, to sweet and savory snacks, you’ll find something to suit everyone on your gift list! Don’t forget: Aviation Park isn’t just a green scape. Enjoy the playground, dog park, skateboard and roller areas, and the fitness trail while perusing the booths! The holiday markets are open from 10am to 2pm on Saturdays and from 4pm to 7pm on Tuesdays.
Friday, November 22 – Saturday, December 28
6pm to 9pm
Every December, the Elizabethan Gardens transform their 10-acre garden into a winter wonderland! For $22 per adult ($14 for children 2 years and older), enjoy the gardens during the day (10am – 4pm) and then come back (on select nights) to enjoy the WinterLights! For a $6 fee, bring along Fido and wander the illuminated gardens with your pooch.
Tuesday, November 26 – Wednesday, January 1
A collection of 13 bars and restaurants across the Outer Banks have banded together to put on the Misfit Bars of Christmas event! Starting with the inaugural crawl on November 26, 11am to 10pm, enjoy food and drinks from Art’s Place, Noosa Beach Grille, Swells’a Brewery, and more! Pick up a postcard for $10, and get a stamp from all participating restaurants to be entered into a raffle context – the proceeds for the postcard go directly to the Outer Banks Relief Foundation.
If you’re not able to make it to the inaugural bar crawl, look out for Tinsel Tuesdays at Sam & Omie’s, where unique, handmade wares from the staff and friends of the restaurant are for sale – or the Yukon Cornelious & The Caboose with Square Wheels Oyster Roast on November 26, 5pm to 9pm, with music provided by Birddog!
Friday, November 29 – Saturday, November 30
Ever been to Kitty Hawk Kites or Jockey’s Ridge? Well, here’s your chance to visit and get your wish list to Santa Claus! Friday from 10am to 2pm and Saturday from 1 to 4 pm, try some classic toys, get a picture with the jolly red man and his elves, and trek along the sand dunes afterwards!
Friday, November 29 – Tuesday, December 31
Black Friday kicks off the 12 Bars of Christmas – pop-up bars themed after this most wonderful time of year! With puntastic names from all our favorite restaurants on the outer banks like Goombrr’s, Mama Klaus, Jingle 12 Tavern, or Jack Frost’s, you’re bound to find food that you’ll enjoy!
Want a bit more to do beyond enjoying the pop-ups’ unique décor and holiday menus? For $10, you can snag a passport and get a stamp at each pop-up bar to earn a keepsake ornament for your tree – all proceeds go to local charities. Plus, you can submit an entry form at any one of the 12 Bars of Christmas to enter the charity raffle, which will have its live drawing on January 6, 2025.
You can also include your kids in on the fun with the Kids Quest options! The 12 Bars are open all month long, closing at the start of the new year. So come on down and see if you can complete this little ditty yourself!
Saturday, November 30
4pm to 7pm
Come on out to Jockey’s Ridge to see a light display across the park, with 19-to-30-foot kites decked out in lights! Watch the beautiful spectacle with your favorite warm beverage of choice and visit our friends at Kitty Hawk Kites, too.
Sunday, December 1 and Sunday, December 15
12pm to 4pm
Join us at the Soundside Event Site in Nags Head for a unique holiday market experience! Enjoy a cozy campfire to keep you warm, festive photo ops with Santa Claus, and holiday tunes for singing along. With food trucks and over 60 of the Outer Banks’ favorite local makers and artisans, there’s something for everyone. Get all your holiday shopping done in one place and share in the holiday spirit with us!
Monday, December 2
4pm to 8pm
The first Monday of every month, Outer Surf holds an artisan market, and December is no exception! Come by for art, ceramics, vintage clothing, jewelry, records, food and drink, and more! There’ll even be an open mic if you want to try your hand at a bit of entertainment.
Tuesday, December 3
5pm to 9pm
Come out to the annual TRiO Holiday Market for an afternoon of shopping and fun for a good cause. The restaurant will close at 3pm to host the event, featuring special food and drink offerings. Regular menus won’t be available, but there will be unique items to enjoy. Don’t miss this chance to celebrate the season and support a great cause!
Friday, December 6 – Saturday, December 7
2pm to 7pm
Christmas Past comes to life at Island farm, where costumed interpreters will reenact how Roanoke Island families celebrated the Christmas holiday in the mid-1800s. Food, celebrations, and crafts will be demonstrated for visitors, and visitors can participate in candle making, ornament crafting, and grapevine wreath making. Visit St. Nicholas, get your picture taken for free in the wet-plate collodion photographic method that was used in the antebellum and Civil War periods, and sit around a bonfire while you enjoy fresh cider and sugar cookies.
For only $10 for anyone aged 4 or older, come on down and enjoy this old-fashioned Christmas celebration!
Friday, December 6, Saturday, December 7, and Tuesday, December 31
The Town of Manteo, NC invites you to celebrate the Manteo Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on December 6 at 6pm! Santa, of course, will be in attendance, and you can enjoy hot cocoa and cookies, reindeer games, Christmas carols, and dancing! Mrs. Claus will also be doing a special reading of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.”
Then, at 10:30am the next day, come back down for the Christmas parade! Floats created by community members and powered by holiday cheer are always a site to see!
Not ready to give up the holiday spirit? Return to Manteo on December 31 for the New Year’s Eve celebration. Fireworks, live music, games and activities for the kids, and giveaways will make it a party to remember! There will even be local food trucks, so you won’t have to eat before arriving - dinner and dessert is available on site (including shaved ice). Make sure you don’t miss any of these local events to celebrate the most wonderful time of year!
Saturday, December 7
4pm to 5pm
For the fitness enthusiasts, come on down to Manteo for the Holiday Hustle 5k! Starting at the entrance to the Elizabethan Gardens, this short run takes you all around the National Park at Fort Raleigh! The post-race party will be inside the Gardens with mulled wine for runners of 21 and over, hot chocolate, and cookies – you’ll also receive a hat, a cup, and a medal. Don’t forget to stay for the WinterLights display (see our earlier post about that event) for free with your $50 entry fee. The kids will enjoy the Elf Dash (for kids 10 and under, entry fee $20) and can also stay for the WinterLights show after the race.
Saturday, December 7
3pm to 5pm
Ever wanted to see a lighting of a Crab Pot Tree, or enjoy a holiday celebration in a cozy beach town? The Town of Duck invites you to all that and more at the 14th Annual Duck Yuletide Celebration! Listen to live holiday music by Sam on Sax and the First Flight High School Choir, a visit from Santa Claus, and enjoy tasty treats and activities for the whole family! Cross off all your holiday shopping at the Duck shops and restaurants, and don’t forget to donate to the Outer Banks SPCA and Beach Food Pantry to help the community we all love so much.
Saturday, December 7 – Friday, December 15
Enjoy the classic radio drama Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus live at the Theatre of Dare, as a young girl writes a letter to the editor of the New York Sun, asking for confirmation on the existence of St. Nick. Check out the days and times on the Theatre of Dare’s website to find the time that’s right for you!
Saturday, December 14
9am to 12pm
Come and paint a “Christmas in the Woods” with artist Catherine Hamill! She will be teaching an acrylic paint-a-long class at Dare Arts in Manteo. Whether this is your first time or fiftieth time picking up a paintbrush, there will be something for everyone. Hamill will be showing how to create realistic shapes and shadows, discussing composition, recognizing colors in nature and mixing the right shades, and setting up perspective. You’ll be able to take the painting home at the end of the workshop, too!
Sunday, December 15 – Monday, December 16
5pm to 10pm
The second annual Shuck Hatteras Oyster Festival is a shellabration of oysters, music, and heritage! Come on down to the tri-villages and visit the Cape Hatteras KOA Resort in Rodanthe and enjoy this two-day festival with the whole family!
December 17
9am to 5pm
This year is the 121st Anniversary of Wilbur and Orville Wright’s first flight! Celebrate with us at the Wright Brothers National Memorial, which will be providing free admission for the holiday.
A Christmas to Remember on the Outer Banks!
With so many festive events and activities, the Outer Banks is an ideal destination to celebrate the holiday season. For a cozy home base, look into Outer Banks vacation rentals with Outer Banks Blue, offering a range of comfortable, well-located options to suit every family or group. Make the most of your holiday getaway on the Outer Banks, where coastal charm meets seasonal cheer!
