The Outer Banks is one of our nation’s most beloved vacation destinations, offering pristine beaches, delicious restaurants, and, of course, the famed wild horses that are descendants of those that once belonged to Spanish Explorers. Your visit here will be one you remember long after you begrudgingly return to real life, and if you want to take your vacation experience to new levels of fun, plan on attending any of the Manteo, North Carolina events listed below. Coming home to Pirate’s Cove will definitely be the cherry on this wonderful sundae of fun!
January in or Near Manteo
It’s quiet in January on the Outer Banks, but it is also the best time to view the stars, and in mid-January, Jockey’s Ridge State Park in Nags Head and the OBX Astronomy host a night of star seeking with their Winter Star Party event. Offering telescopes for viewing and special table activities for the kiddos, this winter event in OBX is a fascinating one.
Feeling the Love in February
It’s still winter and still quiet, but in mid-February, you may choose to visit the Outer Banks as a romantic getaway with your favorite Valentine, and many local restaurants will offer holiday-themed dinners that will make you fall in love at first bite. Striper’s Bar & Grill has also been known to hold a Galentine’s Day brunch on the Sunday following Valentine’s Day, making it the ideal time to visit with your friends.
March Madness
If it’s March it is time for the annual Nags Head St. Patrick’s Day parade, a tradition for over 30 years. It’s a pretty big deal in these parts with thousands of people attending and at least 2000 people participating in the parade, offering everything you would expect from a parade, including floats, classic cars, bands, and even pets dressed in their best green attire; don’t forget to wear yours!
April is for Foodies
The Taste of the Beach event, held every April, is a celebration of food, wine, and fun, offering 3 days of tastings, samplings, and surprises. The Grub like a Pirate event has been a popular one for 2 years now, offering the chance to feast aboard the Jolly Roger Pirate Ship, as well as a plethora of other individual events.
Maybe the Best Month?
OBX Rod & Custom Festival, First Week of May
The car festival to end all car festivals, the OBX Rod & Custom Festival offers 2 days of classic and muscle cars, cruise-ins, family-friendly fun, and food and drink vendors.
Nags Head Woods 5K, Saturday of Mother’s Day Weekend
Also offering a 1-mile “walk in the woods,” the Nags Head Woods 5K is the oldest of its kind in the area, having been held on Mother’s Day weekend for almost 40 years.
Coastal Gardening Festival, Third Saturday in May
April showers really did bring May flowers, many acres of them, and the Coastal Gardening Festival celebrates their beauty with art, workshops, food, and kids’ activities that may foster a lifelong love of gardening.
Kitty Hawk Kites Annual Hang Gliding Spectacular, Third Weekend in May
This might be the coolest of May festivals, offering the opportunity to watch the best hang glider participants compete for prizes and bragging rights!
June Events in the Outer Banks are Magical
Dare Day
Dare Day on the Outer Banks has nothing to do with children’s games or saying no to drugs; it’s a celebration of Dare County. Offering family-friendly activities that include food, entertainment, games, and pig races (yes, we said pig races!) Manteo is the only place to be during this fun annual event.
Sunset Festival, June Through August
Celebrating the sunset has never been this exciting as the Sunset Festival incorporates artisan craft vendors, mermaids, ice cream, yoga, and live music into a summer long event that will bring you joy.
Under the Oaks Art Festival, Mid-June, Corolla Park
Offering the best works of the most talented artists for sale, this two-day festival is a colorful event with a silent auction, delicious food, and a kids’ art tent.
Jam Packed July
4th of July in Manteo
Most of the towns on the Outer Banks will be celebrating our nation’s birthday in a variety of ways, but the Manteo Independence celebration is the largest, offering watermelon eating contests, firecracker cornhole, food, drink, and of course, a fireworks spectacular to end the night with a bang.
OBX Skim Jam
If you are visiting the Outer Banks the last weekend of July, make your way to Jeanette’s Pier in Nags Head for the OBX Skim Jam, a most fun Outer Banks event. Just don’t get discouraged if your skim boarding skills fall short, because the competitors in this event are the best in the nation.
Wright Kite Festival in Kitty Hawk
Of all the seasonal events in the Manteo, North Carolina area, the Wright Kite Festival might be the most wholesome, especially as everyone is invited to fly a kite (you can purchase yours from Kitty Hawk Kites) to commemorate the Wright Brother’s first flight!
August Adventures
Outer Banks Watermelon Festival, Jockey’s Ridge Crossing
Depending on the year, the Outer Banks Watermelon Festival (the juiciest event in the Manteo area) could be held the end of July or the beginning of August, so check the schedule if a day of tie dye, watermelon games, arts, crafts, food trucks, climbing walls, and, of course, the devouring of watermelons sounds like something you would be interested in planning your vacation around.
Outer Banks Pirate’s Festival
Kitty Hawk Kites knows how to have fun and our next Manteo North Carolina event is the perfect example. Featuring a scalawag school for your tiny swashbucklers and the chance to explore the history of pirates in the Outer Banks, now is the best time to brush up on your Arrrgh’s and Matey’s!
September is Still Summer
The events in Manteo begin to slow down as fall arrives, but September is still summer, and events such as the Outer Banks Kite Festival (yes, another Kitty Hawk Kites event) and the Easterns, a surfing championship event that takes place at Jeanette’s Pier, are two wonderful examples. Also offering a Labor Day Lighthouse 5K, September is a great time to visit.
October is About Food, Music, and Spooky Good Times
The Manteo, North Carolina events listed below make October one of our favorite months of the year.
Outer Banks Bluegrass Island Festival Duck Jazz Festival, Mid-October
Live music, tasty food, and refreshing beverages of the two music festivals in Duck and Manteo, with the Island Festival offering a stunning stage that overlooks the water and is one of the best events in Manteo, North Carolina.
Outer Banks Seafood Festival in Nags Head
With a motto like “Eat Like a Local, Drink Like a Fish” you have to know that you are going to have the time of your life at the Outer Banks Seafood Festival. Held on the third Saturday in October and offering locally sourced seafood, live music, arts and crafts vendors, and the chance to learn about our seafood heritage, October shines bright with this event.
Island Farm Pumpkin Patch, Outer Banks Halloween Parade of Costumes, and the Night of 1587 Pumpkins
Halloween is one of our favorite holidays and the events listed above are just some of our annual holiday events you can experience during your October vacation on the Outer Banks.
Outer Banks Veterans Week in November
November brings plenty of things to be thankful about, and perhaps the Manteo event we are most excited about is our Outer Banks Veterans Week. While most places will pay homage to veterans for just a day, we are so grateful to the warriors who sacrifice so much for our freedom; we offer an entire week of discounts, events, and ceremonies.
December Thrills
Annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Christmas Parade in Manteo
It’s not Christmas without lights and hot cocoa, and so the first Friday in December offers up a serving of both. Featuring hot cocoa, kids’ activities, Christmas carols, and a visit from Santa, the tree never fails to elicit gasps of joy as the dark night comes alight with the twinkling of colorful holiday lights. The night must come to an end at some point, but the magic doesn’t end there because the first Saturday of December is reserved for our annual Christmas parade. Offering floats, classic cars, more Christmas carols, marching bands, and an appearance by both Santa and Mrs. Claus, this heartwarming kickoff to Christmas offers a beautiful way to celebrate.
Celebration of the Wright Brother’s First Flight, Mid-December
The holidays aren’t the only seasonal events in Mateo, North Carolina, that we celebrate in December. The 17th of December in 1903 is a very important date as it was the day when the Wright Brothers made their first flight, and so we celebrate at the Wright Brothers Memorial with a variety of events, exhibits, and pride.
Celebrate all the Big Events in Manteo, North Carolina, in Your Pirate’s Cove Realty Retreat!
