Outer Banks Annual Events - November

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.

After the Thanksgiving meal’s been finished and the table is clear, Island Farm maintains the spirit of harvest and fall food traditions. Garden to Hearth is an annual event that explores the traditions that surrounded heritage cooking and food preservation during the 1800s. Learn how early settlers in the Outer Banks preserved their food and readied themselves for winter with the help of costumed interpreters who take you behind the scenes. This two-day event is held on the Friday and Saturday following Thanksgiving. Children on Thanksgiving break and visiting loved ones love the interactive program and activities, which include hearth cooking, food preservation, candle making and ox-drawn wagon rides. Visitors are encouraged to bring a nonperishable food item for Roanoke Island Food Pantry, and those who do receive a reduced admission fee.

When it comes to promoting the health and wellness of infants and new mothers, sometimes it’s as easy as walking. The annual March for Babies, presented by the March of Dimes, is a fundraiser that strives to provide resources and programs to mothers and infants living in the Outer Banks. The March meets in a popular Outer Banks location each year, where the team of locals walks around three miles, raising awareness and donations. All donations to this event and to the individual team members goes toward funding research exploring the causes of premature birth, finding ways to prevent it and efforts to support new families with premature babies. This Outer Banks event usually occurs during the fall and the day and location usually vary each year. Visit the local March of Dimes website to learn more about their upcoming events and programs. 

Forget decking the halls – Ocracokers prefer decking the hulls. Get into the holiday spirit the island way with the Ocracoke Parade of Boats. This annual event welcomes aquatic vessels of all shapes and sizes to Silver Lake where they show off their holiday finery. Fishing boats, yachts, sailboats, skiffs, kayaks, Jet skis and more form a procession along the banks of the harbor at Silver Lake, and eager spectators gather along the docks at the waterfront to watch the boats float by. The Ocracoke Parade of Boats is a celebration of both the holiday season and the island’s maritime heritage. This annual event usually happens on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.