Outer Banks Annual Events - Outdoor & Nature

On this page you will find the annual outdoor and nature events on the Outer Banks.

Outer Banks Annual Events by Category or Month

4th of July Celebration in Ocracoke

Outer Banks Outdoor & Nature
Island-wide, Ocracoke
(252) 928-6711

Ocracoke Village celebrates Independence Day with a family-oriented, fun-filled annual event offering many activities for all ages. July Fourth kicks off with a flag-raising ceremony at the school circle followed by the annual Sand Sculpture Contest. Other activities include lighthouse tours, a vintage car show, live music and the annual Classic Old-Time Parade in which visitors and locals build floats, decorate bikes and...read more

Ocracoke Village celebrates Independence Day with a family-oriented, fun-filled annual event offering...read more

Alice Kelly Memorial Ladies Only Billfish Tournament

Outer Banks Outdoor & Nature
2000 Sailfish Drive, Pirate's Cove Marina, Manteo
(252) 305-3610

Ladies, gather your fishing poles and your finest crew members. In early August it's time to fish for a cure at the Alice Kelly Memorial Billfish Tournament. This Outer Banks annual event, whose home base is Pirate's Cove Marina, invites teams of women to come out for a weekend of fishing and good times. Participants start the event with registration of competitors and teams and...read more

Ladies, gather your fishing poles and your finest crew members. In early August it's time...read more

Blackbeard's Half-Marathon and Scallywag 5K/10K on Ocracoke

Outer Banks Outdoor & Nature

Ocracoke's fun-filled race weekend, held the last weekend of April, draws runners of all skill levels for a half-marathon, 10K and 5K. If you're looking to set a PR, the courses are flat (there's hardly even a hill on this island) and therefore very fast. The 10K and 5K are held on Saturday morning, beginning at Gaffer's Sports Pub and winding through the village. The...read more

Ocracoke's fun-filled race weekend, held the last weekend of April, draws runners of all skill...read more

Blackbeard's Pirate Jamboree

Outer Banks Outdoor & Nature
(252) 928-6711

Come to Ocracoke to commemorate more than 300 years since Blackbeard's historic last battle. Held annually in October, this three-day event is highlighted by an all-day, family-friendly, true-to-life Pirate Encampment by Blackbeard’s Pirate Crew. Wear your costumes and enjoy the entertainment with interactive living history exhibits, music, a shopping marketplace and lots of other pirate activities. The event culminates with the last battle reenactment at...read more

Come to Ocracoke to commemorate more than 300 years since Blackbeard's historic last battle. Held...read more

Carolina Boat Builders Tournament

Outer Banks Outdoor & Nature
2000 Sailfish Drive, Pirate's Cove Pavilion, Manteo
(252) 216-6914

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....read more

This two out of three day fishing tournament is a low-key Outer Banks...read more

Dare Days

Outer Banks Outdoor & Nature
Downtown Manteo, Manteo
(252) 473-2133

Dare Days celebrates its 48th year in 2023. The festival, always held in downtown Manteo on the first Saturday of June, is a mix of live music, craft and food vendors, dance and activities for all ages. The morning starts with a Blessing of the Day and ends with a big-name music group with people dancing in the streets. In between you can also watch...read more

Dare Days celebrates its 48th year in 2023. The festival, always held in downtown Manteo...read more

Day at the Docks

Outer Banks Outdoor & Nature
N.C. Highway 12, Hatteras Docks, Hatteras

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...read more

Here at the Outer Banks we love our seafood – the tuna, mussels,...read more

Duck Yuletide Celebration

Outer Banks Outdoor & Nature
1200 Duck Road, Duck Town Park, Duck
(252) 255-1286

Meet at the Town Green on the first Saturday in December for an afternoon of caroling, live holiday music, hot cocoa and a visit from the jolly ol' elf himself. The Town of Duck kicks off its celebration of the holiday season with live music, carolers, the lighting of the town’s Crab Pot Tree and delicious treats. Santa delights spectators as he shows...read more

Meet at the Town Green on the first Saturday in December for an...read more

Eastertide in the Gardens

Outer Banks Outdoor & Nature
1411 National Park Drive, Manteo
(252) 473-3234

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...read more

This event has become an Outer Banks spring tradition, and there could be...read more

ESA Eastern Surfing Championships

Outer Banks Outdoor & Nature
7223 S. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 16.5, Jennette's Pier, Nags Head
(302) 988-1953

Hit the beaches for an exciting day at the ESA Eastern Surfing Championships. Watch some of the best amateur surfers on the East Coast come to Nags Head to show their skills during this competition. The Outer Banks annual event is open to all ages. Cheer on the participants as they put their abilities to the test. For more information about the current...read more

Hit the beaches for an exciting day at the ESA Eastern Surfing Championships....read more

From Garden to Hearth at Island Farm

Outer Banks Outdoor & Nature
1140 U.S. Highway 64, Manteo
(252) 473-6500

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...read more

Take a step back in time to a Roanoke Island winter in the...read more

Hang Gliding Spectacular

Outer Banks Outdoor & Nature
300 W. Carolista Drive, Jockeys Ridge State Park, Nags Head
(252) 441-4124

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...read more

For more than 40 years, professional hang gliders have met up at Jockey’s...read more