Outer Banks Annual Events - Food

Wait ... kegs can fly?! Who knew? Kitty Hawk Kites knows because they sponsor this fun (and funny) festival every October. Various groups around the Outer Banks create "flying" machines out of 1/6 kegs (empty ones) and whatever contraption they can come up with that might – emphasis on the word might – fly off a platform. It's a ton of fun to watch. When you combine that with a craft beer garden, local food vendors, live music, a kids' zone and more, you're in line for a pretty fun experience. For more information or questions, visit the event's website. 

First Friday is a family-oriented festival held in downtown Manteo on the first Friday of every month from April through December. From 6 to 8 p.m. downtown Manteo’s sidewalks come alive with a wide variety of musical performances and festive activities for all ages. Individual shops and restaurants frequently do their own celebratory activity such as live music, special sales, refreshments and hors d’oeuvres. Dare County Arts Council always hosts an opening reception for exhibits in its gallery, and Downtown Books frequently hosts a book signing. It’s a great time to explore all that downtown Manteo has to offer.

Watch – and taste – as the top chefs on the Outer Banks battle it out to turn canned food into culinary masterpieces. The Annual Holiday Chefs' Challenge is a fundraiser for the Beach Food Pantry that brings all of the excitement and energy from cooking show competitions right to Manteo. Participating chefs have 60 minutes to prepare a dish that uses items the Food Pantry usually keeps in stock, always including at least one canned good item. Attendees are invited to judge the chefs’ work and vote for their favorite dishes, and the only way they can determine this is by sampling everything. Standard tickets include event entrance, Chefs' Creations and two drink tickets. Those who opt for the VIP tickets also receive an open bar in addition to a glimpse behind the scenes at the special reception. This event usually occurs in mid-November to early December. 

Come one, come all to OBX Pridefest. This weekend-long annual event, held in September, is an awesome time to celebrate with the LGBTQ community. Starting on Friday and going through Sunday, you can check out a booze cruise, live music, touring productions and comedy shows, a drag brunch, nightly club dancing and the main festival, the Outer Banks Gay Pride Festival. Held at Soundside Event Site in Nags Head, the main festival is free and includes music, food and fun. You might want to attend one or two events, or you can purchase a pass that’ll get you into every event over the weekend. Different restaurants helping to sponsor the event also have vendors at outdoor daytime events and specials throughout the weekend. All daytime events are family friendly; nighttime events are not. Bring your family, friends, a fun-loving attitude and tons of pride – this is one Outer Banks event unlike any other. Contact the event's website for questions and information.

Ocracoke celebrates its sweetest tradition in early August with the annual Ocracoke Fig Festival sponsored by Ocracoke Preservation Society. Local vendors provide fresh figs, fig preserves, local cookbooks and other fig-tastic items. Learn about Ocracoke’s fig history and culture and bring the kids for old-fashioned crafts and games. The showpiece of the Fig Festival is the Fig Cake Bake-Off on Saturday, but look for events all weekend long.

The Ocrafolk Festival is one of the most beloved Outer Banks annual events and traditions. On the first weekend in June, storytellers, musicians and artists bring themselves and their trades to Ocracoke Island for a three-day festival. You can shop directly from artisans and crafters, watch art demonstrations, listen to established and up-and-coming musicians and be absorbed by thrilling tales about Ocracoke Island and North Carolina. Ocrafolk Festival’s music is live and features regional and national bands and solo musicians. As you’re walking around the village during the festival, you can always hear banjos, fiddles, guitars or voices filling the air. Proceeds from Ocrafolk Festival ticket sales support critical student and community programs.

Gone are the days when food trucks only carted around ice cream and hot dogs. The new generation delivers maximum flavor through unlimited creativity. The Outer Banks Food Truck Showdown is your chance to snack your way through not only the beach’s best food trucks but also those from the larger North Carolina and Virginia areas. Vendors include independent trucks as well as the catering trucks from popular Outer Banks restaurants. Sweet, savory and some things downright funky (in a good way), the small snacks or larger meals let you get your fill. Pair your food with a beverage from one of the stands serving beer, wine or water, or check out food trucks with slushies, lemonades and other refreshing beverages. Bands and local musicians perform live during the event, so bring a beach/lawn chair or picnic blanket to relax on while you listen and munch. This Outer Banks annual event is held at the Soundside Events Site in Nags Head.

It’s no secret that some of the world’s tastiest shrimp are found in Outer Banks restaurants. Have you ever wondered where you can find the cream of the crop when it comes to local shrimp dishes? Many of us have, and each year we turn to the Outer Banks Shrimp Cookoff to see which restaurants’ shrimp dishes stand out from the others. Top chefs from local restaurants bring their culinary expertise to Ocean Boulevard Bistro and Martini Bar, and they battle for the title of best shrimp on the beach. The best part is that you get to judge the contenders. Sample the gourmet shrimp creations and vote for your favorite. There’s also the opportunity to leave with goodies from the silent auction and the raffle, made of items and offers donated by local businesses and organizations. The event ends with an awards ceremony determining the Chef’s Choice, Judge’s Choice and People’s Choice for the dishes.

Do you ever wonder who's got the best chili recipe on the beach? Ever think it may be you? Put your skills to the test and judge others' at the Striper's Bar and Grille Annual Chili Cook-Off. Participants can register in advance at  Striper's Bar and Grille, and then they compete to win over the judges with gallons of their signature chili recipe. If you just want to eat chili, that's cool too. Tickets are available for purchase at the door, and admission gives you access to the festivities, fun and, of course, all-you-can-eat chili. Proceeds from the ticket sales benefit a different charity or local organization each year, so you're doing good and eating good. What better way to ward off a chilly winter day than with a bowl (or bowls) of spicy chili? 

When counting your blessings around Thanksgiving, remember to give thanks for oyster season on the Outer Banks. The Big Curri-Shuck Oyster Roast at Sanctuary Vineyards is an all-you-can-eat oyster roast, featuring oysters from I Got Your Crabs in Kitty Hawk and local wines and beer. Barbecue and steamed crabs will be served in addition to oysters. Sample and savor the brews with the food in the tranquil setting in Currituck as live music fills the background. All attendees will receive a signature Sanctuary Vineyards wine glass to take home. This annual event is usually held on the Friday or Saturday following Thanksgiving. It’s a classy and down-home activity to entertain visiting friends and family after the turkey’s been finished and the table’s been cleared. The Big Curri-Shuck sells out most years, so be sure to reserve your tickets in advance on Sanctuary Vineyards’ website or at the shop.