Annual Outer Banks Events

The community of Manteo comes together every year to celebrate this nation’s birth with day-long festivities, and you’re invited to this family-friendly event. You can begin your day with a trip to Island Farm to experience an 1850s-style Independence Day. Interact with the farm’s animals, listen to a reading of the Declaration of Independence, play games and eat some watermelon. In the afternoon check out the downtown Manteo waterfront, where you’ll be entertained by musicians, a patriotic parade and all-American contests. After those festivities, head over to Roanoke Island Festival Park, where there's a patriotic concert starting at 8 p.m. Of course, no Fourth of July event is complete without fireworks. The Town of Manteo's fireworks display is launched from Roanoke Island Festival Park at dusk. If you want to take a different approach to the fireworks display, paddle or boat into the sound for a secluded view.

One of the Outer Banks’s biggest claims to fame is the 12 seconds in 1903 that revolutionized the world. The Wright Brothers’ first flight in Kill Devil Hills broke barriers in technology and paved the way for aviation developments. Join the First Flight Society for their annual celebration of Orville and Wilbur Wrights’ achievements on the anniversary of the first flight. Admission to the Wright Brothers National Memorial Park is free on December 17, and there is a special anniversary program. Each year a different aviation honoree is recognized, and guest speakers include notable icons. Join the National Park Service and the First Flight Society as they celebrate aviation and local 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. 

This two out of three day fishing tournament is a low-key Outer Banks event of fishing and socializing. After the initial day of cocktails, a captains’ meeting and mingling, teams head out from Pirate's Cove to compete for the best offshore catches. Fishing starts in the morning and continues well into the afternoon. This tournament concludes with an awards banquet and silent auction. It's called a two out of three day fishing tournament because each team is given one lay day – a great way to enjoy a flexible schedule during the tournament. There are four levels of the Carolina Boat Builders Tournament, so whether you’re an amateur angler or have been a passionate fisher your entire life, there’s a spot for you to compete. The tournament benefits the Dare County Boat Builders Foundation, which promotes the public awareness of the local boat building industry and supports educational opportunities for local students. For information, go to the DCBBF website.

Celebrate Currituck’s down-home, country culture with barbecue and a rodeo. The Currituck Heritage Bulls & BBQ is an annual fall event that brings excitement and family friendly fun to Currituck residents and visitors of all ages – no native ties required. The People’s Choice BBQ and Kansas City BBQ Competition are the cornerstones of this event. Local restaurants and barbecue experts battle it out for title of the best barbecue, and attendees sample the creations, ranging from tangy to sweet and smoky to succulent. After everyone has voted for their favorite barbecue, the competition concludes with an awards ceremony. Following the barbecue competition, the attention turns from pigs to cows as the festival’s evening rodeo opens, presenting the talents of professional bull riders. Other activities during the event include corn hole tournaments, children’s games and browsing the wares from local vendors, including food and funky crafts, products and more. It’s a delicious, engaging but low-key event that shines a little extra love on this interior area of the Outer Banks.

Swap out your witch’s broomstick for running shoes for this Halloween activity. The Dare to Scare 5K and Sweet Treat Fun Run is an annual event held on the last Saturday of October. The 5K course takes runners from the Roanoke Island’s Coastal Studies Institute to the Dare County Center on the scenic trail full of woodland and marsh views. Prizes are awarded to the top three male and female runners. The Sweet Treat Fun Run follows the 5K and is open to both walkers and runners. Costumes are strongly encouraged, so you can channel your outer Nike as well as inner one for this event. The Dare to Scare 5K and Sweet Treat Fun Run is organized by OBX GoFar, and you can register for either race on their website.

Attention jazz lovers! Grab a chair and your family, friends or dog and come to Duck Town Park for a day devoted solely to jazz. One of the most anticipated music events of the year is the Duck Jazz Festival, held in October over Columbus Day weekend. Every year talented artists from all over the country come together to wow concertgoers with their pianos, trumpets, saxophones, voices and more. You might even want to pack a picnic and make a day event of it, but don’t forget that vendors from local restaurants will be present. Bring your own chair, settle in and prepare to be entertained. Best of all, this event is free!

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.

Let Island Farm show you a darker side of the Victorian era. Their annual Evening Lantern Tours explore the death rituals and traditions that accompanied loss and mourning during the mid-19^th Century. Once night sets in on Roanoke Island, you’re transported back in time to the home of a grieving widow. Learn her story and the bygone ways that families dealt with loved ones’ deaths. Make your way to the farm’s family graveyard as the costumed interpreters share stories around the lantern’s glow. This annual event takes place on Friday and Saturday from 7 to 9:30 p.m. during the first two weekends in November.

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.

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.

For more than 40 years, professional hang gliders have met up at Jockey’s Ridge and the Currituck County Airport in May for four days of hang gliding competitions and socializing with friends. It’s also an event just to watch, even if you’re not soaring on wind drafts. More than 60 competitors travel from all over the country to the annual Hang Gliding Spectacular – some are new and many are old friends. Previous Kitty Hawk Kites instructors have their own reunion too, and they definitely have memorable stories to share. The Woody Jones Memorial Street Dance brings everyone comes together for a fun night of dancing to live music with friends. In between the competitions there are also seminars and hang gliding demonstrations. This Outer Banks event is usually held in mid-May.

This week-long fishing tournament seeks to bring families to Hatteras Island for a week of fishing, socializing, fun and more. A cookout kicks off the week, and participants spend their first day enjoying cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, live music and each others’ company. The following days are fish-filled, and crews can spend anywhere from three to five days on the water. While the teams are out on the water, there are a variety of activities kids and family members can enjoy if they’d prefer to stay on land. Each day ends with hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and live music at the Marlin Club, and the event is concluded with an awards banquet and farewell breakfast. This event is one that the whole family can enjoy, so check it out ... before you know it, everyone will be looking forward to next year’s too! Interested? Go to hatterasmarlinclub.com/tournaments.

Grab the best anglers in your crew and start dreaming of a seafood dinner. The Hatteras Village Invitational Surf Fishing Tournament takes advantage of Hatteras’s superior beaches for surf fishing. Teams of six or fewer people come together for a day of friendly competition, beach time and fishing. And you don’t have to be an angler to enjoy this Outer Banks event; it’s fun to watch the participants battling it out with their scaly opponents. If this sounds like the tournament for you, round up your team members and start practicing. For more information or questions, get in touch with the event's organization through their Facebook page.

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. 

If you’re a windsurfing fiend or have a serious appreciation for the sport, the annual Hatteras Wave Jam is an Outer Banks event that shouldn’t be missed. The Wave Jam is part of the U.S. East Coast Windsurfing Competition and Tour featuring the top national and international windsurfers. There are all different levels of competition to add variety to the event. Hatteras is one of the premiere windsurfing spots on the East Coast thanks to the wind and water conditions on the barrier islands. This advantageous environment makes Hatteras windsurfing an awesome sport for athletes and spectators alike. The Outer Banks is proud to host this week-long annual event where you can watch the pros put their talent to the test. For more information or questions, get in touch through the event's Facebook page.

Jockey’s Ridge is all aglow in the month following Thanksgiving. The opening weekend for Jockey’s Ridge State Park Holiday Lights coincides with Kitty Hawk Kites’s annual event, Kites with Lights, on the beloved sand dune and adds even more sparkles to the sky. Outer Banks businesses, organizations and residents congregate in the park’s parking lot for a tailgate-style light display. Come admire the lights and decorations while spreading season’s greetings to your neighbors. Warm fingers and bellies with a cup of hot chocolate from the hot cocoa booth. This event will be held during the evenings starting the first Saturday after Thanksgiving until the last Saturday in December.

Thanksgiving kicks off the holiday season, so start celebrating immediately by visiting Kitty Hawk Kites in Nags Head on the weekend after Thanksgiving. Santa Claus will be there on Friday and Saturday, excited to meet all of the children coming to visit. On Saturday evening, after a meaningful conversation with the jolly ol' elf, head over to Jockey’s Ridge to see the giant delta kites decorated with Christmas lights and flown over the dunes. As the sun starts setting, the lights on the kites will sparkle and fill the night sky. Sip on hot apple cider and munch on cookies as you enjoy this Christmas spectacle.

The lovely little Town of Manteo kicks off the holiday season with a tree-lighting ceremony and other festivities on the first Friday night in December. Hundreds of people gather on Queen Elizabeth Avenue in front of the historic Dare County Courthouse to enjoy performances of holiday music, to sip hot cocoa and to watch the lighting of the waterfront Christmas tree. The event coincides with downtown Manteo's monthly First Friday event, which means that after the lighting you can stick around for live music around town, art exhibits and receptions, a book signing, dining in the restaurants and shopping in the shops. Try to arrive downtown by 5:30 p.m., and keep in mind that traffic will be heavy coming into town and that you may have to park a ways back on a Manteo side street and walk to the downtown area. 

Dare County Arts Council's two-day festival on downtown Manteo’s waterfront features artists from all over the country. While some are new to the festival each year, many are returning. You can find exhibitions of all sorts of media ranging from watercolors, drawings, acrylics, photography, jewelry and pottery. While the festival is a juried show, you still have the opportunity to buy directly from the artists. You might find an amazing photograph that you want hanging in your house or a beautifully handcrafted bracelet that will make the perfect present. Admission to this highly anticipated Outer Banks annual event is free, and it’s a family-friendly event. It's held on a Wednesday and Thursday in mid-August.

Bring in the New Year a different way by joining locals and visitors for a 5K along the Beach Road. The start gun goes off at about 10:45 p.m., and you can run, walk or bike your way into the New Year. Just show up at Tortugas' Lie on the Beach Road in Nags Head at 10:45 a.m.; no registration or entry fee is required.

Listen to the engines’ rich purr – and the older, the better – at the OBX Rod and Custom Festival. This Outer Banks annual event celebrates antique and vintage models of cars brought in from not just the Outer Banks but from around the North Carolina and Virginia area. As you drive, park and admire all the cars, check out the family-friendly activities at the event, including food specials, cruise ins, demos, displays and more. The event is based in Nags Head and additional festivities happen in nearby towns too. But of course, what would a trip to the beautiful Outer Banks be without a (N.C. 12) highway breeze ride to see the northern beaches in Corolla or the southern ones in Hatteras?

Fresh local fish fillings, zesty salsa, the flavorful crunch of veggies, a handmade masa tortilla holding it all together – who does it best on the beach? Decide for yourself at the OBX Taco Cook Off. Chefs from popular Outer Banks eateries gather at Ortega’z Southwestern Grill and Wine Bar and compete to craft the top taco creation. Admission to the event includes a taco from each competing restaurant so that you can give everyone a fair chance before voting for your favorite. The event also has live music, raffle prizes and family-friendly activities. Proceeds from this event help send children the summer camps at Jennette’s Pier and the N.C. Aquarium. This annual Outer Banks event usually occurs in late April.

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.

Sell, buy, browse – the Ocracoke Island-Wide Yard Sale invites you to do it all. Maybe you have items that you never use or no longer need. Perhaps you’re in the market for a few knick knacks. Or you could just be looking to earn some cash. Shop an incredible assortment of items and score great bargains at this community yard sale. The Ocracoke Variety Store and the Little Visitors Center distribute maps of yard-sale locations. This Outer Banks annual event occurs in April and again in September.

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.

You don’t have to be a top tier athlete to enjoy the Outer Banks Marathon weekend. The shorter distances of the 8K, 5K and Fun Run offer walkers and runners of any ability a chance to take part in this popular event. Run, jog or walk your way through one of the most picturesque areas on the East Coast. The trail is lined with enthusiastic volunteers and supporters ready to cheer you on as you make your way toward the finish line. After crossing the finish line, celebrate your achievements at the after parties, then by visiting the delicious nearby restaurants or heading out to the beach. These races are held the second Saturday in November.

Support local business owners, encourage entrepreneurship and start your holiday shopping at the annual Outer Banks Entrepreneurs Holiday Bazaar. Usually in the days following Thanksgiving, the Ramada Plaza in Kill Devil Hills turns into an emporium of wares and goods as local vendors set up shop. Booth and tables from artists, craftswomen, salespeople and other small business owners showcase their hard work and talent. Meet and mingle with owners of your favorite Outer Banks business. Admire products like jewelry, pottery, mixed media artwork, textile designs, essential oils, baked goods, decor – including trinkets that will spruce up your home in time for the holidays – and so much more. This free and family friendly event is organized by the Outer Banks Entrepreneurs, a group of female business owners, and is open to all interested applicants.

Outer Banks Forum for the Lively Arts is an annual performance series held in the off-season. Each season offers seven concerts with nationally known and renowned acts, and each season includes a performance by the Virginia Symphony. Season passes or individual show tickets are available. All performances are held at First Flight High School in Kill Devil Hills. 

Every year families of buccaneers and scallywags journey to Kitty Hawk Kites in Nags Head for several days of pirate fun. The Outer Banks Pirate Festival usually takes place in mid-August, so your young mateys can embrace their inner pirates right before going back to school. For three days a group of local pirates bring alive their games, traditions, lore and mischief. Get your face painted, learn the rules of the pirate code, explore the history of pirates on the Outer Banks and attend Scallywag School to prepare yourselves for the treasure hunt. Finish your day the right way by having dinner with the pirates. The hearty grub and camaraderie will keep your pirate spirit alive until the next year’s festival.

Do you ever wonder about the abundant amounts of seafood caught and consumed on the Outer Banks? Well, wonder no more. The Outer Banks Seafood Festival is an event that will educate, entertain and feed you. What more could you want? The local bounty of the sea and the tradition of fishing that puts it on our tables are celebrated at this festival in Nags Head. Learn about the fish that are indigenous as well as the importance between the seafood industry and the Outer Banks community. You’ll leave with a full belly and brain. This Outer Banks Event will be held on October 20 in 2018 and includes live music, beer and wine, kids' activities and more.

It’s time to put your physical prowess to the test with one of Outer Banks athletes’ most anticipated events – the Outer Banks Triathlon. Whether you’re an individual athlete, part of a relay team or even a cheering spectator, this two-day event on Roanoke Island brings excitement and fitness inspiration to everyone involved. If you’re participating, get ready to swim in the Old Swimming Hole, bike through scenic Mashoes and run around the north end of Roanoke Island. It’s fun for people of all athletic abilities. Spectators and volunteers are always welcome – after all, where would these participants be without the much-needed cheers and encouragement? Get training and join in the Sprint, Olympic or Half distances. The Triathlon is held in mid-September. For information go to Outer Banks Sporting Events website.

Where can you enjoy games, friends, music and watermelon all in one place? Try the Outer Banks Watermelon Festival. For several years, locals and visitors have gathered to enjoy summer with this delicious seasonal melon. You can enjoy watermelon-themed games like watermelon bowling, watermelon relays, seed-spitting contests and more. Stir up some friendly competition in a game of corn hole or test your flexibility by trying to beat the limbo stick. This event is held at the Kitty Hawk Kites in Nags Head and welcomes watermelon lovers of all ages. The festival is free to attend, but you have to purchase tickets if you want to play some games. The best part is that all proceeds go to the Outer Banks Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Coalition, so you’ll be helping out something meaningful while having a blast. This event will be held on August 1 in 2018.

Support the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department at the annual OVFD Firemen’s Ball. Because this is island style, this ball isn't the sort to require fancy dress and uncomfortable shoes. What you can expect, however, is a pig-picking, rib-tickling good time. Dig into eastern-style barbecue complete with all the fixings. Peruse the items available for bids at the silent option, and pay attention at the goodies up for grabs at the live auction. And because this is technically a ball, you can still enjoy dancing the night away to the music of bands performing live at the event. This Outer Banks annual event usually occurs during Memorial Day weekend. 

Each year on the final Friday and Saturday of October, boat enthusiasts, builders, artists and craftsmen alike convene at the Roanoke Island Maritime Museum to show off the talents and admire each others’ handicraft. The museum’s annual Wooden Boat Show is a chance for boat builders and woodworkers to put their best skills on display with their wooden boats. See new constructions, restored projects and original creations. Head to Manteo’s waterfront to see the contenders lined along the lighthouse dock and situated in the Creef Boathouse and Park. Judges and spectators determine select their favorite boats, and awards are presented at an awards dinner on Saturday. Advanced registration for the show is required. 

Lace up and join hundreds of other runners and walkers as they complete a 5K or 10K course through the Town of Nags Head and Nags Head Woods Nature Conservancy. Get your heart pounding and blood flowing as you take in the scenery of springtime on the Outer Banks. What better way is there to celebrate the Irish than by running as groups of volunteers and spectators cheer you on? It’s for a great cause too – all proceeds from registration and donations go to local charities. This Outer Banks event, now organized by Outer Banks Sporting Events, is held on the Saturday closest to St. Patrick’s Day. There's a fun after party too.

Every June the carnival comes to town! Join in the fun of rides, fair food and midway games at the Soundside Event Site in Nags Head. This event is extra special fun for families because it benefits the Children and Youth Partnership for Dare County, an organization that advocates for kids from birth through adolescents. This event is held mid-June. 2018 dates are June 14 to 20 from 5 to 11 p.m. each night.

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? 

Before gathering around the Thanksgiving table, gather your crew for a morning run. The Surfin’ Turkey 5K and Puppy Drum Run is an annual Thanksgiving event in Hatteras that lets you and your family participate in a shared activity while working up an appetite for some real turkey later in the day. The runs start at the Hatteras Village Civic Center and wind through the historic fishing village. If you don’t want to commit to the 5K, the Puppy Drum is a half-mile long and open to walkers and runners. Upon finishing the race, enjoy the post-race pancake party, including Carolina Brewery drinks for racers ages 21 and older. The registration fee for the event includes sign up, a goody bag, t-shirt and access to the after party. Children ages 10 and under can register for free. All proceeds from this event go to the Hatteras Island Youth Education Fund, which promotes education opportunities in the local schools. This event is held on Thanksgiving morning.

Give thanks for fleet feet and craft beers by simultaneously enjoying both. The Tipsy Turkey Beer Mile Run is the Outer Banks Brewing Station’s way of welcoming Thanksgiving featuring a bounty of beer and accompanying good spirits. This beer mile is hosted by the OBX Running Company, so participants’ experiences also include chip timing, event swag and possibly prize. Runs are ¼ mile paired with 10-ounce drinks for the length of one mile total. Upon finishing the race, the runners gather at the Brewing Station’s backyard for a party of mixing, mingling and more delicious craft brews. Participants are encouraged to wear their holiday best, and costumes will be judged for the most creative following the race. This annual event usually occurs on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

Enjoy an upscale summer art festival in Corolla with the annual Under the Oaks Art Festival. More than 50 artists present their work to include a fine mix of photography, paintings, ceramics, woodwork and jewelry. You can participate in the art auction, and kids can partake in children’s activities while basking in the shade of the live oaks. Vendors from local restaurants provide food that you can munch on while viewing all the artwork. This event is held in mid- to late June (June 19 and 20 in 2018).

Up for a sophisticated evening activity? Check out Whalehead Wednesdays Wine and Beer Festivals happening from June through the end of September. Every Wednesday evening during the summer months you can sample a variety of wines and beer along with fruit and cheese while you watch the sun set over the Currituck Sound. Different solo artists and bands provide live music every week, so you’ll get a taste of local talent in addition to the wine and beer. Wine is provided by Sanctuary Vineyards, Whalehead Gallery, Vineyards on the Scuppernong and Corolla Wine, Cigar and Gourmet. There'll also be a beer tasting, featuring samples from the Weeping Radish Brewery and Northern Outer Banks Brewing Company. This Outer Banks event is family friendly with activities that children can enjoy too. Admission includes a tasting glass, and nondrinkers are admitted free.

The Elizabethan Gardens transforms into a winter wonderland during the holiday season. Walk outside along the whimsical path lit by Christmas lights and cheery holiday characters, and you’ll pull your coat a little tighter around you because there’s no way you’re going inside yet. This is your chance to revel in the beauty of the holiday season. The gardens are embellished with thousands of twinkling lights, topiaries, displays and more. Decorations in the gardens range from traditional to alternative, and they all work together to create a magical experience. In the center of all the decorations you’ll find a crackling open-air fire on the Great Lawn, perfect for warming your hands and maybe roasting a marshmallow. Special events are held throughout the duration of WinterLights, with offerings such as Dinner with Santa and Thank You Notes to Santa. In late November and early December, WinterLights is held Tuesday through Saturday nights from 6 to 9 p.m. In January it's held on Friday and Saturday nights from 6 to 9 p.m. See the website for more information.

At this annual festival you'll learn about flight where the Wright brothers first took theirs. At the Wright Brothers National Memorial, you’ll learn to fly a stunt or power kite and watch the experts display their skills. This Outer Banks event is held in mid-July at Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills.