Here Are the Best Annual Outer Banks Events You Must Attend
Clear your calendars! There is an unbelievable number of annual Outer Banks Events occurring each year that you don’t want to miss. Between the seafood festivals, live music, and cultural events that grace the area every year, excitement is always just around the corner!
In addition to these year-round festivities, the Outer Banks is home to an incredible number of attractions and activities for visitors to enjoy. For an extensive list of the area’s best things to do, download our free Vacation Guide and immediately gain access to our top recommendations for restaurants, activities, and attractions in the area!
The Ultimate Annual Outer Banks Events Calendar
- Welcome the Warmer Weather at One of the Spring Festivities
- Have a Spectacular Vacation at One of these Summer Events
- Enjoy the Cooler Weather at One of our Favorite Fall Festivals
- Come Chill at One of The Outer Banks Winter Events
Spring
Taste of the Beach (March)
Location: Nags Head, NC
The annual Taste of the Beach festival takes place every March and involves four days full of local food, craft beer, and fun in the Outer Banks. Sample the area’s delicious cuisine prepared by critically acclaimed chefs and participate in exciting Outer Banks events, including elegant wine dinners and intimate cooking classes!
St. Patrick’s Day Parade (March)
Location: Nags Head, NC
The St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the Outer Banks travels the greenest mile in Nags Head, NC. Over 1,500 participants and approximately 10,000 spectators celebrate an afternoon filled with floats, live music, marching bands, and all things green.
Outer Banks Wedding Weekend & Expo (March)
Location: Manteo, NC
Gain access to over 120 premier local wedding professionals at the annual Outer Banks Wedding Weekend, a perfect event for couples seeking any size OBX wedding on any budget!
Duck & Wine Festival (April)
Location: Duck, NC
One of our favorite Outer Banks Events, the Duck & Wine Festival is a celebration of local cuisine featuring the best chefs from restaurants in Duck, NC. It’s the perfect way to dive into spring and experience the freshest takes on local Outer Banks seafood and wine!
Mustang Music Festival (May)
Location: Corolla, NC
Mustang Music Festival features a collection of national touring bands who play nonstop music from early in the afternoon until well past the sunset. The 2020 Festival has been canceled.
WOOFstock (May)
Location: Nags Head, NC
The family-friendly event, WOOFstock, features your favorite fur-loving local exhibitors and activities for your entire family. There are contests (and first place prizes!) for dogs, as well as music and yummy concessions.
Summer
Editors Note: Due to the local guidelines regarding COVID-19, this list of current local events is subject to change.
Independence Day Celebrations (July)
Location: Corolla
The Outer Banks is home to some of the best 4th of July celebrations! Please note: This year’s fireworks will be located at the Whalehead Club in Corolla and is still planned for July 3, 2020. Other fireworks events have been canceled this year.
Fall
Outer Banks Kayak Fishing Competition (September)
Location: Nags Head, NC
With more than $500 worth of prizes, kayak fishermen from near and far come out to the Outer Banks Kayak Fishing Competition for fun fishing tournaments. It’s capped with a captain’s cookout and awards ceremony.
WRV Outer Banks Pro (September)
The WRV Outer Banks Pro surfing competition brings top-rated surfers and onlookers from all over the world to the Outer Banks for some serious swells and surfing fun.
OBX Triathlon (September)
Location: Manteo, NC
Whether you’re participating in the race or coming to cheer on your friends as a spectator, the Outer Banks Triathlon is an extremely popular race that also offers the chance to visit one of the East Coast’s best beaches
The Lost Colony Wine & Culinary Festival (September)
Location: Manteo, NC, and Roanoke Island, NC
At the Lost Colony Wine & Culinary Festival, Chef Thomas prepares a culinary experience paired with wines from the Virginia Dare Winery while representatives of the Coppola wine family detail the wine accompaniment. You’ll also enjoy relaxing music and a silent auction of select wines and wine gifts, and a tasting trip.
Mustang Music Festival (October)
Location: Corolla, NC
If you’re in town in the fall, attend Corolla’s annual Mustang Rock and Roast which includes an outdoor oyster roast, a pork barbeque cook-off, and plenty of live music from national, regional, and local performers.
Bluegrass Island Festival (October)
Location: Manteo, NC
The Bluegrass Island Festival features live music from several incredible artists such as Grammy Award-winning “Queen of Bluegrass” Rhonda Vincent! Enjoy beautiful blue skies and wonderful music set to the backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean at this year’s Bluegrass Island Festival.
Outer Banks Seafood Festival (October)
Location: Nags Head, NC
Outer Banks Seafood Festival honors the area’s coastal heritage by featuring the best seafood chefs and dishes. The festival provides a delicious, fun, and educational experience. Along with fantastic food and live music, you’ll also find arts and crafts!
Duck Jazz Festival (October)
Location: Duck, NC
Duck Jazz Festival is a one-of-a-kind jazz experience in the Outer Banks! Enjoy fantastic Jazz music in the town of Duck over the Columbus Day weekend!
Wings Over Water Wildlife Festival (October)
Location: Throughout the barrier islands.
Wings Over Water Wildlife Festival is a wonderful wildlife festival full of history trips, tours, programs, and more! The festival takes place twice each year with the main session in October and the WOW Encore session in December.
Halloween Festivities (October)
Location: Throughout the barrier islands.
Halloween in the Outer Banks of North Carolina is a spooky sight to behold. Ghoulish costumes, zombies, skeletons, and scary ghost stories are sure to give you goosebumps. Many Outer Banks Halloween events are family-friendly, but you’ll find plenty of events for thrill-seekers, too.
OBX Gobbler 5K & Fun Run (November)
Location: Nags Head, NC
Start your Thanksgiving Day with a little action before you start digging into the turkey feast. The OBX Gobbler 5k & Fun Run is an annual race that features a family-friendly course, and plenty of ways to explore the local Outer Banks communities.
Thanksgiving Dinner (November)
Location: Throughout the barrier islands.
If you’d rather avoid the stress of cooking and let someone else do the work for you, no problem! There is a wide array of delectable restaurants in the area that serve up Turkey Day meals for you and your loved ones.
Hangin’ With Santa and Kites With Lights (November)
Location: Nags Head, NC
Each year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, you can meet Santa Claus at Kitty Hawk Kites at the Hangin’ With Santa and Kites With Lights event. Then when the sun sets, enormous 19-foot-long kites fly high over the dunes. They’re decked out in Christmas lights and sparkle throughout the sky creating a spectacle to celebrate the holiday season.
Outer Banks Marathon (November)
Location: Begins in Kitty Hawk, NC
The Outer Banks Marathon is a favorite of local runners and visitors alike! The cool November temperatures in the Outer Banks provide the perfect weather for the race.
Winter
New Year in the New World (December)
Location: Manteo, NC
Celebrate the new year at the New Year in the New World celebration. This event in Manteo is full of live music, family-friendly activities, and food. You can even watch the ball drop!
Frank Stick Memorial Art Show (January through February)
Location: Manteo, NC
The Frank Stick Memorial Art Show includes a wide variety of local fine art ranging from conceptual to realistic. If you love art and local flair, then this is the event for you!
Where to Stay When You Attend Annual Outer Banks Events
There are so many annual Outer Banks events to choose from. No matter which one you plan to attend, Shoreline OBX is here to help you plan the trip of your dreams. With premium vacation rentals in every single one of the Outer Banks communities, finding the ideal beach-side accommodation is never an issue. After a day of excitement, spend the night in a place that offers comfort and relaxation around every corner. Browse our properties and start planning your vacation today!