The Outer Banks knows how to celebrate the holidays. Tree lightings, holiday markets, and twinkling light displays fill the calendar from Thanksgiving through New Year’s. But as the locals know, some of the best parts of a Christmas here aren’t on an event calendar.
Christmas week on the Outer Banks feels different from any other time of year. The beaches are quiet, the wildlife refuges are full, and early sunsets bring the whole family back to the house for long evenings together. Here are some of our favorite ways to spend the days between the parades and markets, from first light on Christmas morning to a starry night on the beach.
Christmas Morning by the Ocean
Watch the Sunrise Over the Atlantic
The ocean beaches of the Outer Banks face east, so Christmas morning starts with the sun coming up over the Atlantic. Bundle everyone up, fill a thermos with coffee or hot cocoa, and walk down to the water before the presents come out. The beaches are nearly empty in late December, and a sunrise walk makes it feel like your family has the whole coastline to itself.
Early morning is also the perfect time for the family holiday photo. The low, soft light flatters everyone from the grandkids to the grandparents. If you can’t get everyone up in the morning, an evening photo op on the sound side of the islands catches the sunset. December wind off the ocean can be brisk, so pack hats and gloves and keep the photo session short enough for little ones to enjoy.
Go Shell Hunting After a Winter Storm
Winter is one of the best seasons of the year for beachcombing. Rough waves churn up the ocean floor, and winter storms usually leave more behind on the sand than summer storms do. Fewer people walk the beach this time of year, too, so there is less competition for the best finds.
For the best results, start searching a couple of hours before low tide and work your way along the line of seaweed and shells left by the last high tide. Whelks, moon snails, and the black shells common on beaches north of Cape Hatteras all turn up regularly. The prize find is the Scotch bonnet, which became North Carolina’s state shell in 1965. It is a rare find, so anyone who spots one has bragging rights for the rest of the trip. For more winter beachcombing tips, check out our guide to things to do on the Outer Banks in January.
Daytime Adventures for the Whole Family
See Thousands of Wintering Birds at Pea Island
December is one of the most impressive months of the year at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, on the northern end of Hatteras Island. The refuge was established to give migratory birds a place to rest and spend the winter, and tundra swans begin arriving in early November and grow in number as winter goes on. Snow geese, Canada geese, northern pintails, and thousands of other ducks fill the refuge ponds then too.
The refuge is easy to enjoy with kids and grandparents. The North Pond Wildlife Trail starts right behind the visitor center parking area, and the trails are open year-round during daylight hours. Pack binoculars and plan on a scenic drive south of Nags Head across the Oregon Inlet bridge. Pets are not allowed on the refuge’s walking trails, so plan for the dog to sit this one out.
Spot the Wild Horses on the Winter Beach
The wild horses of Corolla are descendants of Colonial Spanish mustangs, and they live year-round on the beaches north of town. Winter weather doesn’t slow them down. A quiet December beach is a beautiful backdrop for watching them graze along the dunes, and a guided tour is the easiest way to find them.
Remember to give them plenty of space. The law requires everyone to stay at least 50 feet away from the horses, and petting or feeding them is illegal.
Fly a Kite at Jockey’s Ridge
The December wind that keeps beach walks brisk also makes for great kite flying. Jockey’s Ridge State Park in Nags Head is home to the tallest sand dune system on the Atlantic coast, and its steady breezes make it one of the best places on the Outer Banks to send a kite up. A new kite also makes a great Christmas gift to open early in the trip.
The park charges no fee for day use, and leashed pets are welcome. In December the main access is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the park is closed on Christmas Day. For a festive event on the dunes, take a look at our December guide for the Kites with Lights event.
Celebrate Wright Brothers Day
Families who arrive the week before Christmas can be part of one of the Outer Banks’ proudest traditions. The Wright brothers made the first powered flight on December 17, 1903, in what is now Kill Devil Hills. Every year on that date, the First Flight Society celebrates the anniversary at the Wright Brothers National Memorial. Check the First Flight Society’s website closer to the date for the full schedule of the morning’s ceremony.
Christmas Evenings at the Beach House
Host a Christmas Eve Oyster Feast
An oyster roast is one of the most beloved cold-weather traditions on the North Carolina coast, and December falls right in the heart of oyster season. North Carolina’s wild oyster harvest opens on October 15, which makes local oysters an easy centerpiece for a Christmas Eve dinner with the whole family.
Pick up a bushel from a local seafood market and steam them in the kitchen while everyone gathers around the table with oyster knives and plenty of crackers and hot sauce. The NC Oyster Trail map is a helpful starting point for finding markets that sell local oysters. Save the shells when you’re done, too. Duck, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, and Nags Head all have oyster shell recycling sites, and the shells go toward rebuilding oyster reefs in local waters.
Stargaze on the Longest Nights of the Year
Long December nights give families plenty of time under the stars, and the beach is a wonderful place to stargaze. The Geminid meteor shower peaks in mid-December, and EarthSky notes that this year a waxing crescent moon will leave the sky dark for viewing. Meteors from the shower can still appear on dark nights through December 25, so families arriving later in the month may catch a few on Christmas Eve.
The winter solstice falls on December 21, which gives families the longest night of the year to enjoy right in the middle of Christmas week. Bring blankets and a thermos down to the beach, give everyone’s eyes time to adjust to the dark, count the shooting stars and look for constellations together before heading back inside to warm up.
Plan Your Christmas Week on the Outer Banks
The best Christmas trips include a home big enough for everyone. Our large family vacation homes have room for multigenerational families to spread out, cook together, and gather around one table on Christmas Eve. Homes in Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head are close to Jockey’s Ridge, the Wright Brothers National Memorial, and the drive south to Pea Island. Families bringing the dog along can browse our pet-friendly rentals.
When you’re ready to start planning, browse our Outer Banks vacation rentals and find the right home for your family’s Christmas by the sea.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some unique things to do on the Outer Banks at Christmas?
Beyond the holiday lights and parades, families can watch a Christmas sunrise over the Atlantic, hunt for shells after winter storms, and see thousands of wintering birds at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge. Kite flying at Jockey’s Ridge, a Christmas Eve oyster feast, and stargazing on the long December nights are other favorite ways to spend a holiday week here.
Can you see wildlife on the Outer Banks in December?
Yes. December is one of the best months for birding at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, where tundra swans, snow geese, and many kinds of ducks spend the winter. The wild horses of Corolla also live on the northern beaches year-round.
Is winter a good time to find shells on the Outer Banks?
Winter is one of the best times of year for shelling. Winter storms usually leave more shells on the sand than summer storms, and with fewer people on the beach, there is less competition for the best finds.
How close can you get to the Corolla wild horses?
The law requires everyone to stay at least 50 feet away from the wild horses. Petting or feeding them is illegal.
When is Wright Brothers Day?
Wright Brothers Day is December 17 every year, the anniversary of the first powered flight in 1903. In 2026, it falls on a Thursday, and the First Flight Society celebrates the anniversary at the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills.
Is Jockey’s Ridge State Park open on Christmas Day?
No. Jockey’s Ridge State Park is closed on Christmas Day. During the rest of December, the main access is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and there is no fee for day use.
