Outer Banks Annual Events - Child & Family Friendly

This event has become an Outer Banks spring tradition, and there could be no more beautiful setting than The Elizabethan Gardens in full bloom. The event features an egg scavenger hunt, photo ops, a homemade bake sale, an egg roll on the Great Lawn, visits from Sir Walter “Peter” Wabbit, make and take crafts, gift certificates, stuffed animals, bake sales and more. All of the family fun activities make this a favorite for the little bunnies in your house. The Great Lawn features entertaining performances from local music groups, dance troupes and storytellers. Kids with festive hats and bonnets will even get to enter a contest for their finery. This Outer Banks event takes place the Saturday before Easter.

You can see fantastic Fourth of July fireworks at many locations on the Outer Banks — Whalehead in Corolla, Avalon Pier in Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head Pier in Nags Head, Roanoke Island Festival Park in Manteo and Avon Pier in Avon. Gather up your family and friends and head out to ooo and ahhh over the crackling fireworks. Just don’t set off any fireworks of your own; it’s illegal in Dare County.

Calling all swashbucklers, buccaneers and everything in between to lace up your finest running shoes and enjoy a great race through some beautiful scenery. You and the members of your crew can walk, jog or run in this half marathon or 5K that’ll take you through the picturesque maritime forest in Nags Head Woods, along the Albemarle Sound and around the Wright Brothers Memorial. And don’t forget, a respectable pirate always looks his or her best, so make sure you’re dressed for the part. Prizes are awarded to the best-dressed and most enthusiastic participants. After the run, you and fellow scallywags can celebrate with the Pirate Jamboree in Nags Head. There is free beer and food for runners and live music to groove to. This Outer Banks event is held in mid-April. Go to www.flyingpiratehalfmarathon.com to register.

Take a step back in time to a Roanoke Island winter in the 1850s. Island Farm invites you to celebrate fall food traditions as they share with visitors how coastal families prepared for winter two centuries ago. Learn about and try your hand at hearth cooking, food preservation and candle making. You can shuck some corn and do a little shelling too. In between all of these activities, tour the farm with a classic ox-drawn wagon ride. If you bring a nonperishable food item with you, you’ll receive a dollar off admission, and the goods will be donated to the Roanoke Island Food Pantry. You’ll be having fun while helping out a great cause. From Garden to Hearth is held the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving Day.

This is one of the most fun fall traditions on the Outer Banks. Stroll around The Elizabethan Gardens, which are beautiful at any time of the year. Take a hayride through the gardens, twist and turn through the hay bale maze, stuff a scarecrow, make an educational craft, get your face painted, listen to music and stories and more. And when the chilly air makes you shiver, cozy up to the bonfire while sipping on some hot apple cider. Extra points if you enjoy a slice of pumpkin pie too. This event is usually held the third weekend in October.