Outer Banks Annual Events - May

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.

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?

For four days in May, the waterfront area of Manteo is alive with the sound of banjos, fiddles, guitars and phenomenal bluegrass singers. Music enthusiasts won’t want to miss this event where the tunes of the mountains pay a visit to the coast as regional bands and solo musicians showcase their talent. Depending on your affinity for bluegrass, you may choose to spend all four days at the festival or swing by now and then. The festival offers many of the bands you’ve come to know and love with a mixture of new and exciting bands who are sure to become your new favorites. This year’s lineup features The SteelDrivers, Blue Highway, Mountain Faith Band, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage and many others. Visit www.bluegrassisland.com for the entire line-up and tickets. There will be plenty of onsite food options from many local restaurants, plus you can shop among many talented arts and crafts vendors. Roanoke Island Festival Park’s outdoor waterfront amphitheater is the perfect setting for this wildly popular Outer Banks annual event where you can feel a pleasant breeze from the water hit your face as you listen to the best in bluegrass!

Spend a beautiful spring morning at Roanoke Island Festival Park enjoying an Outer Banks event made just for the little kids. KidsFest is geared toward ages 5 and younger, giving them a day of play and exposing them to the Outer Banks community. An array of exhibitors and vendors from all over Dare County convene to provide arts and crafts, face painting, bubbles, vehicle exhibitions, performances from local dance companies and icy treats to keep kids cool on a warm day. This event welcomes children, their parents, grandparents and any other family and friends who want to partake in the fun. Hosted by the Children and Youth Partnership for Dare County, this event is held on a Friday morning in May from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and there is no admission fee. 

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.