Outer Banks Annual Events - Local Culture & History

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. 

Here at the Outer Banks we love our seafood – the tuna, mussels, oysters, grouper, scallops, mmmm, we could go on and on about it. Have you ever thought about the source of seafood that you buy or eat? Hatteras Island’s Day at the Docks is an event to celebrate seafood and answer all of your questions about it. Learn how seafood affects the Outer Banks community and economy. Discuss marketplace choices and sustainability within local communities. You can participate in the Fishy K Fun Run, put your cooking skills to the test in a chowder cook off, enjoy competitions, demonstrations and much more. The Taste of North Carolina, Hatteras Style event is also held during Day at the Docks, so spend your evening sampling regional food and beverages while listening to live music. For more information, questions or concerns, reach out to Day at the Docks through their Facebook page or by emailing the event's website.

Every Saturday in October finds kids and families at Island Farm on Roanoke Island riding in the ox-drawn wagon to the pumpkin patch to find their special one. After picking out the perfect pumpkin, children can make a corn husk doll, dip candles, stuff a scarecrow, play with 19th-century toys and games, check out the farm animals and more. You might even have the chance to go on a wagon hayride. Roam around on the farm for a bit, just enjoying the beautiful atmosphere around you. Feel the subtle nip of mid-fall in the air even though the sunshine is still warm. This family-friendly event is a great way to jump into autumn.

Previously the Rockfish Rodeo, the Manteo Rotary Club has reformatted this fishing tournament due to the decline in the striper population. But don’t worry, a little change doesn’t take away any of the fun. There are now four categories that participants compete in: stripers, flounder, puppy drum and speckled trout. Prizes and awards are presented in adult, women’s and youth divisions for the heaviest fish from each category. It’s a great way to spend time with your family and friends while also enjoying the sport you love. And no fishing tournament is complete without entertainment. The day ends with a pig picking, live music and a silent auction. Proceeds from this Outer Banks annual event go to scholarships for young members of the Outer Banks community, so you’re fishing for a worthy cause. To register, go to www.rockfishrodeo.org.

Ocracoke celebrates its sweetest tradition in mid-August with the annual Ocracoke Fig Festival sponsored by Ocracoke Preservation Society. Local vendors provide fresh figs, fig preserves, local cookbooks, fig-smoked barbecue 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 afternoon. Everyone is welcome to submit a cake in one or both categories, Traditional or Innovative. A panel of judges chooses the winners, and the best part is free samples for everyone after the contest! Join in a traditional Ocracoke Square Dance on Friday night, enjoy live music all day Saturday and dance to the Ocracoke Rockers in the Community Square on Saturday night.