Outer Banks Events Calendar
We have done the research for you!
Scroll through the calendar to find fun Outer Banks events in every month of the year. The Outer Banks is known for authentic experiences and we celebrate all that is unique about the Outer Banks.
Visit during the off season to take advantage of some of the best events the OBX has to offer, from Family events, kite events, events celebrating our heritage, events celebrating the Outer Banks history, holiday events, music events, culinary events and much more!
Wings Over Water Wildlife Festival
- Location: Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge
In 1997 Wings Over Water Wildlife Festival was begun as a way to encourage and offer the public wildlife and wild land interpretation, educational opportunities and experiences on regional national wildlife refuges. This annual national wildlife refuge fundraising event has grown from a few offered activities in 1997, to over 70 birding, paddling, photography, art & natural history programs. The festival takes place in 6 national wildlife refuges over 6 northeast North Carolina counties. It is one of the premier east coast wildlife festivals.
Locally, many activities take place on National Park Service property, specifically Cape Hatteras National Seashore, one of the Festival partners. What keeps Wings Over Water going year-after-year with a high registrant return rate? Great, knowledgeable activity leaders along with a small ratio of participants-to-leader (so you don’t get lost in the crowd) and of course wonderful wildlife opportunities. Every festival leader is a professional in their own field, volunteering their time, travel and expertise. Wings Over Water leaders come from a wide range of professions & fields such as professors, top birders, well-respected botanists and biologist, authors and award-winning photographers and artists. We also have a Wings Over Water session in December just for birding called Wings Over Water (WOW) Encore (dates vary year to year).
Wings Over Water is an annual refuge fundraising event sponsored by Coastal Wildlife Refuge Society (CWRS). CWRS is a non-profit group which exists to support regional national wildlife refuges. WOW, besides providing funds for educational grants to schools, is a part of many CWRS refuge support projects such as maintaining trails and signs and other refuge structures. Also, WOW helps CWRS provide volunteers and staff who are essential to the maintenance and operation of the regional national wildlife refuges visitor centers and refuges. One of the recent large projects using funds raised by WOW and CWRS went to raising the Pea Island Refuge Visitor Center about 5 feet. This was done in hopes of prolonging the life of this important gathering location for hundreds of thousands of birders and nature lovers until another facility is built. The project was completed in May of 2020.
Bluegrass Island Music Festival
- Location: 1 Festival Park Manteo, NC 27954
Music lovers from all over the world flock to the Outer Banks for this tradition that adds a roster of acclaimed bands with one of the most beautiful venues anywhere. The Outer Banks Bluegrass Island Festival has quickly become one of the most highly anticipated events of the year, and this year's event is no exception, with a number of regionally and nationally famous bands set to take the stage.
The festival is held at the stunning Roanoke Island Festival Park, which overlooks miles of pristine sound waters. This unique 22-acre island becomes Bluegrass Island each year to host the event. Attendees are encouraged to purchase tickets and lodging well in advance, and despite its off-season timing, this event tends to fill up fast year after year. If your dream vacation involves laying back in your most comfortable beach chair and taking in the best bluegrass acts the country has to offer, then you'll definitely want to set this long weekend aside for the Outer Banks' most popular festival!
Halloween Island
- Location: Downtown Manteo
Crawl through the decorated, downtown Manteo social district and visit the 13 themed restaurants/bars and Inns, who are excited to welcome you with specialty food and drink menus to suit the occasion!
Downtown shops will remain open later than usual. Bring the whole family and friends to browse, shop and stroll through this unique, small-town experience. Be sure to scoop a Halloween Island t-shirt from various participating vendors around town. (more details to follow)
Outer Banks Seafood Festival
- Location: Soundside Event Site in Nags Head at 6800 S Croatan Hwy Nags Head
- Starts: 10:00am
- Ends: 6:00pm
Admission: $20 for anyone 13 and over (12 & under FREE). Price includes $10 in Beverage/Merchandise Bucks good for the purchase of beverages and festival merchandise. Additional “beverage bucks” may be purchased at the event.
Outer Banks Seafood Festival is a fun and educational experience promoting, honoring and celebrating the area's seafood heritage and community. The festival offers opportunities to meet Outer Banks watermen and see the tools of their trade, including boats, crab pots and pound nets. You'll find educational booths, live music, an arts and crafts village and, best of all, the chance to eat fresh, local seafood from more than a dozen restaurants.
Island Farm Pumpkin Patch Saturdays
- Location: Island Farm, Manteo, NC
- Starts: 9:00 am
- Ends: 3:00 pm
Bring your friends and family to celebrate the arrival of fall at Island Farm! On the first four Saturdays in October, Island Farm will host its 14th annual Pumpkin Patch event. There will be no shortage of fun memories to be made, with a diverse array of fall games and activities offered. This event will take place on October 4, 11, 18, and 25 from 9 A.M. until 3 P.M. Admission for visitors aged four and older is $10. Children 0-3 years old are admitted for free.
This year’s Pumpkin Patch will feature plenty of pumpkins – grown locally in Chowan County by a descendant of Island Farm. During the event, visitors will enjoy historic games, wagon rides, doll crafting, candle making, free blacksmith shop giveaways, and a new lineup of fall activities. The very best open-fire cooked popcorn, hearth-cooked corn cakes and apple cider will appease the taste-buds while visitors take in the sounds and sites of fall. In addition to the farm’s activities, there will be a variety of local art vendors and locally-grown produce for purchase on site.
Island Farm is a living history site located on the north-end of Roanoke Island; it offers a trip back in time to 1850’s Outer Banks through hands-on activities, historic building tours, demonstrations, livestock, and more. Open Tuesday through Friday, the living history site offers live interpretation, daily mini-programs and special weekend events. The farmstead is located at 1140 N US Highway 64, north of Manteo, on Roanoke Island.
